Recombinant Schistosoma japonicum egg ribonuclease SjCP1412 inhibits the activation of LX-2 hepatic stellate cells in vitro / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant Schistosoma japonicum egg ribonuclease SjCP1412 (rSjCP1412) on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and activation of human hepatic stellate cells LX-2 in vitro, and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods The rSjCP1412 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 by prokaryotic expression, and the highly purified soluble rSjCP1412 protein was prepared by Ni NTA affinity chromatography and urea gradient refolding dialysis. Yeast RNA was digested using 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg rSjCP1412 proteins at 37 °C for 2, 3, 4 h, and the enzymatic products were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gel to observe the RNAase activity of rSjCP1412 protein. The proliferation of LX-2 cells stimulated by different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 hours was measured using CCK-8 assay, and the apoptosis of LX-2 cells stimulated by different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 hours was detected using the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, while the percentage of LX-2 cells at G0/G1, S and G2/M phases of cell cycle following stimulation with different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h was detected by DAPI staining. The type I collagen, type III collagen and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA expression was quantified using quantitative florescent real-time PCR (qPCR) assay and Western blotting at transcriptional and translational levels in LX-2 cells following stimulation with different doses of rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h, while soluble egg antigen (SEA) served a positive control and PBS without rSjCP1412 protein as a normal control in the above experiments. The expression of collagen I, α-SMA and Smad4 protein was determined using Western blotting in LX-2 cells following stimulation with rSjCP1412 protein, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) alone or in combination, to examine the signaling for the effect of rSjCP1412 protein on LX-2 cells. Results The rSjCP1412 protein was successfully expressed and the highly purified soluble rSjCP1412 protein was prepared, which had a RNase activity. Compared with the normal group, the survival rates of LX-2 cells significantly decreased post-treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein and SEA for 48 h (F = 22.417 and 20.448, both P values < 0.05). The apoptotic rates of LX-2 cells significantly increased post-treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h (F = 11.350, P < 0.05), and treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h resulted in arrest of LX-2 cells in G0/G1 phase (F = 20.710, P < 0.05). Treatment with 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 µg/mL rSjCP1412 protein for 48 h caused a significant reduction in relative expression levels of collagen I (F = 11.340, P < 0.05), collagen III (F = 456.600, P < 0.05) and α-SMA mRNA (F = 23.100, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells, and both rSjCP1412 protein and SEA treatment caused a significant reduction in collagen I (F = 1 302.000, P < 0.05), α-SMA (F = 49.750, P < 0.05) and Smad4 protein expression (F = 52.420, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells. In addition, rSjCP1412 protein treatment inhibited collagen I (F = 66.290, P < 0.05), α-SMA (F = 31.300, P < 0.05) and Smad4 protein expression (F = 27.010, P < 0.05) in LX-2 cells activated by TGF-β1. Conclusion rSjCP1412 protein may induce apoptosis of LX-2 cells and inhibit proliferation, cell cycle and activation of LX-2 cells through down-regulating Smad4 signaling molecules.

Clinical efficacy of da Vinci Xi surgical system assisted programmed six-hole method anterior resection of rectal cancer / 中华消化外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of da Vinci Xi surgical system assisted programmed six-hole method anterior resection of rectal cancer.Methods:The retrospec-tive cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 102 patients with middle and low rectal cancer who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from August 2020 to June 2021 were collected. There were 62 males and 40 females, aged (53±12)years. Of the 102 patients, 51 cases undergoing da Vinci Xi surgical system assisted programmed six-hole method anterior resection of rectal cancer were divided into the robotic group and 51 cases undergoing laparoscopic anterior resection of rectal cancer were divided into the laparoscopic group. Observa-tion indicators: (1) treatment; (2) postoperative pathological examination; (3) follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA. Results:(1) Treatment. All patients of the two groups under-went radical resection of rectal cancer successfully, and none of patient with intraoperative blood transfusion, conversion to open surgery, and death within 30 days after surgery. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected, time to postoperative first flatus, time to postoperative first liquid food intake, time to postoperative catheter removal, cases with postoperative pain grading as grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, cost of treatment were (170±12)minutes, (73±50)mL, 23±6, (35.1±9.4)hours, (2.1±0.8)days, (2.9±2.7)days, 13, 15, 17, 6, (7.1±4.5) ten thousand yuan in patients of the robotic group, versus (153±22)minutes, (119±66) mL, 15±4, (40.7±1.9)hours, (2.9±0.4)days, (5.3±2.1)days, 6, 7, 26, 12, (6.7±1.6) ten thousand yuan in patients of the laparoscopic group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=6.79, -4.46,20.09, -3.01, -5.54, -16.69, Z=-2.87, t=4.22, P<0.05). (2) Postoperative patho-logical examination. The tumor diameter, length of specimen resected, distance of upper resection margin to tumor, distance of lower resection margin to tumor, cases with mesorectal specimens as integrity and mostly integrity, cases with tumor differentiation as high differentiation, moderate differentiation, low differentiation, cases with postoperative TNM staging as stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ, stage Ⅲ were (3.8±1.1)cm, (18.7±3.2)cm, (11.8±3.6)cm, (2.7±0.8)cm, 48, 3, 4, 41, 6, 6, 17, 28 in patients of the robotic group, versus (3.7±1.0)cm, (18.3±2.8)cm, (10.2±2.7)cm, (2.5±0.6)cm, 46, 5, 6, 39, 6, 5,20, 26 in patients of the laparoscopic group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=1.72, 1.29, 1.64, 1.11, χ2=0.14, Z=-0.42, -0.26, P>0.05). Cases with positive circumferential margin and cases with destruction of mesentery was 0 and 0 in patients of the robotic group, versus 1 and 1 in patients of the laparoscopic group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). (3) Follow-up. All patients in the two groups were followed up for 12 months after surgery and none of patient had postoperative local recurrence and distant metastasis of tumors. The anal incontinence score, low anterior resection syndrome score, international prostate symptom score, night urination score, international index of erectile score, female sexual function index score in patients of the robotic group were 0, 12.25±1.08, 4.43±0.33, 0.49±0.09, 24.07±2.75, 65.84±1.79 before surgery and 1.34±0.11, 18.11±3.54, 4.03±0.26, 1.08±0.28, 22.63±2.03, 38.57±6.13 at postoperative 12 months, respectively. The above indicators in patients of the laparoscopic group were 0, 12.60±1.11, 4.56±0.36, 0.46±0.07, 23.11±2.77, 66.31±1.73 before surgery and 1.99±1.33,20.85±6.19, 6.43±1.78, 2.27±0.23, 21.00±2.73, 27.62±8.20 at postoperative 12 months, respectively. There were significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The oncological effects of da Vinci Xi surgical system assisted programmed six-hole method anterior resection of rectal cancer and lapa-roscopic anterior resection of rectal cancer are comparable. However, robotic surgery is superior to laparoscopic surgery in terms of intraoperative bleeding, lymph node dissection, gastrointestinal function recovery, and pelvic autonomic nerve protection.

Co-morbidity of overweight,obesity and depression and its influencing factors among students in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze the prevalence of overweight, obesity and depression among students in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2019-2022 and explore the relevant factors affecting the co-morbidity of overweight,obesity and depression among students, so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention of co-morbidity.@*Methods@#From September 2019 to 2022, used stratified random cluster sampling, 90 519,71 560,90 079,91 089 students were selected from all 12 leagues in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for questionnaire survey and physical examination. The χ 2 test was used for demographic characteristics and univariate analysis, and a binary Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between lifestyle behaviors and co-morbidity.@*Results@#The detection rate of overweight,obesity among students from 2019-2022 was 29.21%,34.38%,35.20%,34.61%, the detection rate of depression was 18.35%，17.53%，16.43%，16.00%, and the co-morbidity detection rate of the two was 5.52%，5.93%，5.76%，5.46%. The number of overweight,obesity and depression co-morbidity students in 2022 was 4 978 students, and the co-morbidity detection rates of the students were significantly different in terms of the school segments and the family structures ( χ 2=103.51, 99.90, P <0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that consuming sugar sweetened beverages or fried food ≥1 time/d, sometimes or never eat breakfast, watching computer or TV ≥2 h/d, and less than 1 h of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on weekends were positively correlated with the occurrence of the co-morbidity of overweight,obesity and depression, with the value of OR ranging from 1.17 to 1.59 ( P <0.05). Eated fresh fruits or drinking milk and soy milk ≥1 time/d, outdoor activities ≥1 h/d, sleep ≥8 h/d, not smoking and not drinking alcohol were negatively correlated with the occurrence of comorbid overweight,obesity and depression, with the value of OR ranging from 0.47 to 0.92 ( P < 0.05).@*Conclusion@#The occurrence of overweight,obesity and depressive symptoms co-morbidity in students is associated with dietary, exercise and lifestyle behavior. Targeted measures should be taken to maintain students healthy weight and prevent the occurrence of depression from the aspects of diet, exercise and life habits.

Comorbidity of myopia and obesity and the moderating role of lifestyle among primary and secondary school students in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To describe the current status of the prevalence of co-morbid myopia and obesity among 7-18 years students in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021 and to analyze the moderating effect of lifestyle in this association ，so as to provide scientific basis for the establishment of the mechanism of Co-morbidity，Shared Etiology，and Shared Prevention of common diseases in children and adolescents.@*Methods@#A total of 139 630 primary and secondary school students aged 7-18 years from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected by stratified random cluster sampling method in September,2021. Myopia was determined using distance visual acuity examination and refractive error examination, and obesity was determined according to the BMI classification criteria for overweight, obesity screening of Chinese school age children and adolescents. Used a questionnaire, healthy lifestyles were determined according to the American Heart Association s Healthy Lifestyle Score by totaling the six scores for smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, exercise, screen time, and sleep duration.The χ 2 test was used to compare the association between group differences in the co-morbidity rate of myopia and obesity. The multivariable Logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of the co-morbidity of myopia and obesity, and the stratified analysis was used to analyze the moderating effect of lifestyles on the prevalence of the co-morbidity.@*Results@#The prevalence of myopia and obesity co-morbidity among students aged 7-18 years old in the Inner Mongolia Autonmous Region in 2021 was 13.7%, higher among boys than girls ( 15.5 % vs. 11.8%), higher among those aged 10-12 years old than 7-9,13-15,and 16-18 years old (14.7%,13.7%, 13.3%, 12.0%), higher among other ethnic minorities than Han Chinese and Mongolians (15.3%, 14.0%, 12.5%), higher in urban areas than that in suburban areas(15.3%, 13.0%), and middle economic level tracts were higher than poor and good tracts (14.8%, 12.9 %, 12.6%) ( χ 2=392.37，115.73，62.80，119.02，121.60, P <0.05). Multivariable Logistic regression modeling showed that unhealthy lifestyles ( OR=1.24, 95%CI=1.19-1.29 ) and middle level of lifestyle score ( OR=1.15, 95%CI=1.10-1.19 ) students had higher prevalence of co-morbidity, and the results were statistically significant among both boys and girls, the age groups of 10- 12, 13-15, and 16-18 years old, as well as the Han and Mongolian ethnic groups (all P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#In 2021, the current situation of myopia and obesity co-morbidity and unhealthy lifestyles among primary and secondary school students in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are not optimistic.

25G pars plana vitrectomy combined with Dexamethasone intravitreal implants for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage and diabetic macular edema secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM: To evaluate the clinical effect of 25G pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)combined with dexamethasone intravitreal implant(DEX)on the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage and diabetic macular edema(DME)secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).METHODS: Prospective clinical case study. A total of 40 patients(40 eyes)with vitreous hemorrhage and DME secondary to PDR who treated in Tianjin Eye Hospital from July 2020 to January 2022 were included in the study. All eyes underwent 25G PPV and cataract phacoemulsification. The patients were randomly divided into PPV group(20 eyes)and PPV+DEX group(20 eyes). Best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, and central macular thickness(CMT)of the patients before and 1, 3, 6mo after the operation were compared.RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 6mo. The BCVA of the patients in the PPV+DEX group improved better than that of the PPV group at 1, 3 and 6mo after surgery(P&#x003C;0.05). CMT of the PPV+DEX group was lower than that of the PPV group at 1mo after operation(P&#x003C;0.05). Retinal neovascularization or CMT regression with less than 5% was found in 8 eyes in the PPV group, who were supplemented with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, while it was found in only 1 eye in the PPV+DEX group(P&#x003C;0.05).CONCLUSION: PPV combined with DEX could yield synergies, which provide better therapeutic effect for the patients with vitreous hemorrhage and DME secondary to PDR.

Recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus / 中华内科杂志

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with complicated pathogenesis and diverse clinical manifestations. The current recommendations of the Chinese Rheumatology Association are based on a comprehensive investigation of evidence based medicine, domestic and international guidelines for SLE, and experts' proposals, and aim to provide a more scientific and authoritative reference for the diagnosis and management of SLE. The recommendations focus on four aspects; clinical manifestations, laboratory evaluation, diagnosis and disease assessment, and disease treatment and monitoring. The goal of the recommendations is to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of SLE in China so as to improve the prognosis of SLE patients.

Analysis on survival time and influencing factors among reported HIV/AIDS in Yunnan Province, 1989-2021 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To analyze the survival time of reported HIV/AIDS and influencing factors of Yunnan Province from 1989 to 2021. Methods: The data were extracted from the Chinese HIV/AIDS comprehensive response information management system. The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The life table method was applied to calculate the survival probability. Kaplan-Meier was used to draw survival curves in different situations. Furthermore, the Cox proportion hazard regression model was constructed to identify the factors related to survival time. Results: Of the 174 510 HIV/AIDS, the all-cause mortality density was 4.23 per 100 person-years, the median survival time was 20.00 (95%CI:19.52-20.48) years, and the cumulative survival rates in 1, 10, 20, and 30 years were 90.75%, 67.50%, 47.93% and 30.85%. Multivariate Cox proportional risk regression model results showed that the risk of death among 0-14 and 15-49 years old groups were 0.44 (95%CI: 0.34-0.56) times and 0.51 (95%CI:0.50-0.52) times of ≥50 years old groups. The risk for death among the first CD4+T lymphocytes counts (CD4) counts levels of 200-349 cells/μl, 350-500 cells/μl and ≥501 cells/μl groups were 0.52 (95%CI: 0.50-0.53) times, 0.41 (95%CI: 0.40-0.42) times and 0.35 (95%CI: 0.34-0.36) times of 0-199 cells/μl groups. The risk of death among the cases that have not received antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 11.56 (95%CI: 11.26-11.87) times. The risk for death among the cases losing to ART, stopping to ART, both losing and stopping ART was 1.66 (95%CI:1.61-1.72) times, 2.49 (95%CI:2.39-2.60) times, and 1.65 (95%CI:1.53-1.78) times of the cases on ART. Conclusions: The influencing factors for the survival time of HIV/AIDS cases were age at diagnosis in Yunnan province from 1989 to 2021. The first CD4 counts levels, antiretroviral therapy, and ART compliance. Early diagnosis, early antiretroviral therapy, and increasing ART compliance could extend the survival time of HIV/AIDS cases.

Current Practice Patterns of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Tissue Sampling for Pancreatic Solid Mass in Korea: Outcomes of a National Survey

Background/Aims@#Although endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and fine needle biopsy (FNB) are widely used for tissue acquisition of pancreatic solid mass, the optimal strategy of this procedure has not been established yet. The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate the current practice patterns of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass in Korea. @*Methods@#The Policy-Quality Management of the Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) developed a questionnaire containing 22 questions. An electronic survey consisting of the questionnaire was distributed by e-mail to members registered to the KPBA. @*Results@#A total of 101 respondents completed the survey. Eighty respondents (79.2%) performed preoperative EUS-FNA/FNB for operable pancreatic solid mass. Acquire needles (60.4%) were used the most, followed by ProCore needles (47.5%). In terms of need size, most respondents (>80%) preferred 22-gauge needles regardless of the location of the mass. Negative suction with a 10-mL syringe (71.3%) as sampling technique was followed by stylet slow-pull (41.6%). More than three needle passes for EUS-FNA/FNB was performed by most respondents (>80%). The frequency of requiring repeated procedure was significantly higher in respondents with a low individual volume (<5 per month, p=0.001). Prophylactic antibiotics were routinely used in 39 respondents (38.6%); rapid on-site pathologic evaluation was used in 6.1%. @*Conclusions@#According to this survey, practices of EUS-FNA/FNB for pancreatic solid mass varied substantially, some of which differed considerably from the recommendations present in existing guidelines. These results suggest that the development of evidence-based quality guidelines fitting Korean clinical practice is needed to establish the optimal strategy for this procedure.

Infection and Instability Increasing the Risk of Patella Baja and Pseudo-Patella Baja after Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background@#Patella baja with patellar tendon shortening due to traumatic or ischemic injury is a widely known complication after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Pseudo-patella baja may arise from the elevation of the joint line after excessive distal femoral resection. The maintenance of original patellar height is important in revision TKA because postoperative patella baja and pseudo-patella baja can cause inferior biomechanical and clinical results. We investigated the incidence and risk factors of patella baja and pseudo-patella baja after revision TKA. @*Methods@#We retrospectively reviewed data for 180 revision TKAs. Patella baja was defined as a truly low-lying patella with an Insall-Salvati ratio (ISR) of < 0.8 and a Blackburne-Peel ratio (BPR) of < 0.54. Pseudo-patella baja was defined as a relatively lowlying patella compared to the joint line within the normal range of ISR and with a BPR of < 0.54. Clinically, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated. Risk factors increasing the incidence of patella baja and pseudo-patella baja after revision TKA were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. @*Results@#Before revision TKA, 169 knees did not exhibit patella baja or pseudo-patella baja, while 9 knees showed patella baja and 2 knees exhibited pseudo-patella baja. At 2 years after revision TKAs, 25 knees (13.9%) showed patella baja and 23 knees (12.8%) exhibited pseudo-patella baja. Despite no differences in the postoperative WOMAC score between groups with and without patella baja and pseudo-patella baja, the postoperative ROM was significantly smaller in the group with patella baja (113.3°) or pseudo patella baja (110.5°) than in the normal group (122.0°). Infection as the cause of revision TKA increased the risk of patella baja (odds ratio, 10.958; p < 0.001), and instability increased the risk of pseudo-patella baja (odds ratio, 11.480; p < 0.001). @*Conclusions@#Infection and instability resulted in increases in the incidence of patella baja and pseudo-patella baja after revision TKA. Information about the risk factors of patella baja and pseudo-patella baja will help TKA surgeons plan the height of the patella after revision TKA and improve clinical outcomes.

Physical fitness and health status and gender differences of middle school students among five Chinese minorities during 2010 to 2019 / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To analyze physical fitness and health status and gender differences of middle school students among 5 minorities (Mongolian, Hui, Uyghur, Zhuang and Korean), and to provide the theoretical basis for the strategy formulation.@*Methods@#The present data came from 3 waves of Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health (2010, 2014, and 2019). According to National Standards for Students Physical Health (2014 Revision), excellent, and excellent good physical fitness and health status were defined. Cochran Armitage test was used to examine the trends of physical fitness and health status. Chi square test and Logistic regression were used to analyze the difference of physical fitness and health status by sex and survey year.@*Results@#From 2010 to 2019, the excellent physical fitness and health status rate of Mongolian, Hui, Uyghur, Zhuang and Korean students increased from 1.8%, 0.7%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1.3% to 4.3%, 2.8%, 1.2%, 1.3% and 3.5%, respectively. The excellent good physical fitness and health status rate of Mongolian, Hui, Uyghur and Zhuang students increased from 12.9%, 8.0%, 7.2 % and 8.4% to 24.7%, 20.1%, 12.6% and 19.8%( Z =6.15，6.71，4.12，3.06，5.26；11.88，13.42，6.70，11.08， P <0.05), respectively. In 2019, students aged 13 to 15 years showed higher proportion of excellent/excellent good physical fitness and health status than that of students aged 16 to 18. Boys were more likely to be in excellent/excellent good physical fitness and health status than girls from 2010 to 2019. The sex difference in excellent/excellent good physical fitness and health status narrowed during 2010 and 2019.@*Conclusion@#Physical fitness and health status of minority students improved while sex difference narrowed during last decade, but there is still a long way to reach the goal proposed by China. Targeted intervention should be proposed to promote physical fitness and health status in accordance with the developmental characteristics, especially for girls and students aged 16 to 18 years.

Research on rapid detection technology of airborne pathogenic organisms based on up-conversion phosphor technology / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective: To explore the application of up-conversing phosphor technology (UPT) to detect pathogenic organisms in the air. Methods: The performance of UPT was verified with Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia pestis and Escherichia coli O157 as simulated strains, including stability, specificity, sensitivity and response time tests; Air particle sampler is used to collect air samples in the field microenvironment test chamber, and UPT is used for detection. At the same time, compared with the traditional culture method, the practicability of UPT is verified. Results: The coefficient of variation in laboratory was 9.62% and 8.02% when the concentration of 107 CFU/ml and 108 CFU/ml were detected by UPT. The results were less than the allowable target, and the detection system had good stability. The specificity of UPT was verified by Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that no non-Staphylococcus aureus was detected, and the positive detection rate of different kinds of Staphylococcus aureus was 100%. The specificity of the detection system was good. The sensitivity of UPT for detecting Staphylococcus aureus was 104 CFU/ml. Detection sensitivity of Yersinia pestis ≥103 CFU/ml; The detection sensitivity of Escherichia coli O157 is ≥103 CFU/ml, and the response time of UPT to bacteria is within 15 min (all 10 min 15 s). The detection results of bacteria contentration in the air of the on-site microenvironment test cabin by UPT showed that when the concentration of Escherichia coli O157 in the air reached above 104 CFU/m3, the detection results of UPT were positive, and with the increase of air concentration, the numerical concentration measured by UPT showed an upward trend, which was positively correlated with the concentration of bacteria in the air. Conclusion: UPT may be feasible as a rapid method to evaluate the species and contentration of pathogenic organisms in the air.

Effect mechanism of acupuncture for anti-asthmatic airway remodeling based on TGF-β1 / Smad3 signaling pathway / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6) + "Yuji" (LU 10) for the airway remodeling in asthma rats based on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/ Smad family member 3 (Smad3) signaling pathway; and explore the efficacy difference between the two acupoint combinations.@*METHODS@#Forty SPF male SD rats, aged 4 weeks, were randomly divided into a blank group (n = 10) and a modeling group (n = 30). The ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization method was used to establish asthma model in the modeling group. After successful model preparation, the rats of the modeling group were randomized into a model group, an acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) (AAF) group, and acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) (AAK) group, with 10 rats in each one. Starting from day 15 of the experiment, 5 min after motivating, acupuncture was applied to "Feishu" (BL 13) + "Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) and "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) in the AAF group and the AAK group respectively. The intervention was delivered for 30 min each time, once daily, lasting 3 weeks consecutively. Using lung function detector, the airway resistance (RL) and dynamic compliance (Cdyn) of the lungs were detected. The histomorphology of lung tissues was detected with HE staining and Masson staining, and the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 in lung tissues was detected with the real-time PCR and Western blot methods.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the blank group, RL was increased and Cdyn was decreased in the rats of the model group (P<0.01); and RL was reduced and Cdyn was increased in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with those in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). The rats of the model group had bronchial lumen stenosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fibre hyperplasia and thickened smooth muscle in the lung tissues when compared with those in the blank group; and in comparison with the model group, all of the above morphological changes were attenuated in the AAF group and the AAK group. Besides, these morphological changes of the lung tissues were more alleviated in the AAF group when compared with those in the AAK group. In comparison with the blank group, the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 of the lung tissues was increased in the model group (P<0.01), and it was reduced in the AAF group and the AAK group when compared with that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 was lower in the AAF group when compared with that in the AAK group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture at either "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1) or "Kongzui" (LU 6)+"Yuji" (LU 10) reduces the airway remodeling in the rats with asthma, which may be related to the down-regulation of mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3. The better efficacy is obtained with acupuncture at "Feishu" (BL 13)+"Dingchuan" (EX-B 1).

Impact of Awareness Time Interval on the Effect of Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation on Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Study

Purpose@#The awareness time interval (ATI), the time from the witnessed event to emergency medical service (EMS) activation, is an important factor influencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) outcomes. Since bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BCPR) is provided after cardiac arrest is recognized, the effect of BCPR may vary depending on ATI delay. We aimed to investigate whether ATI modifies the effect of BCPR on OHCA outcomes. @*Materials and Methods@#A population-based observational study was conducted with EMS-treated witnessed adult (≥18 years) OHCAs between 2013 and 2018. The exposure variable was provision of BCPR. The primary outcome was a good neurological outcome defined as cerebral performance category scale 1or 2 (good CPC). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted using the ATI group (–1, 1–5, 5– min) as the interaction term. @*Results@#Of 34366 eligible OHCAs, 65.5% received BCPR. EMS was activated within 1 min in 45.9%, within 1–5 min in 29.2%, and after 5 min in 24.9% cases. In the adjusted interaction model, compared with no BCPR, a longer ATI resulted in smaller adjusted odds ratios for good CPC in the BCPR group [5.33 (4.17–6.82) for ATI ≤1 min, 5.14 (4.00–6.60) for 1–5 min, and 2.14 (1.63–2.81) for ATI >5 min]. @*Conclusion@#The effect of BCPR on improving the chances for a good neurological outcome decreased as time from collapse to EMS activation increased. The importance of early recognition of OHCA and EMS activation should be emphasized in BCPR training.

Results of contact tracing for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75) and the household secondary attack risk

Objectives@#This study aimed to assess the contact tracing outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron sub-lineages BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75 within Republic of Korea, and to generate foundational data for responding to future novel variants. @*Methods@#We conducted investigations and contact tracing for 79 confirmed BA.4 cases, 396 confirmed BA.5 cases, and 152 confirmed BA.2.75 cases. These cases were identified through random sampling of both domestically confirmed and imported cases, with the goal of evaluating the pattern of occurrence and transmissibility. @*Results@#We detected 79 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.4 across a span of 46 days, 396 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 in 46 days, and 152 instances of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2.75 over 62 days. One patient with severe illness was confirmed among the BA.5 cases; however, there were no reports of severe illness in the confirmed BA.4 and BA.2.75 cases. The secondary attack risk among household contacts were 19.6% for BA.4, 27.8% for BA.5, and 24.3% for BA.2.75. No statistically significant difference was found between the Omicron sub-lineages. @*Conclusion@#BA.2.75 did not demonstrate a higher tendency for transmissibility, disease severity, or secondary attack risk within households when compared to BA.4 and BA.5. We will continue to monitor major SARS-CoV-2 variants, and we plan to enhance the disease control and response systems.

The effect of heat treatment of the TI6AL4V specimen fabricated by selective laser melting method on the crystalline structure and chemical compositions / 대한치과재료학회지

In this study, the Ti6Al4V specimens were fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM) method (Ti6Al4V-AS group). These specimens were performed to heat treatment at 950℃ and 550℃ using vacuum electric furnace (Ti6Al4V-HT group). The mechanical properties, metallographic shape, crystalline structure, and chemical compositions of the alloy specimens before and after heat treatment were analyzed. The Ti6Al4V-AS group showed ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and low elongation values. Acicular crystal grains were observed in metallographic image and the α'-Ti phase was dominant. After heat treatment (Ti6Al4V-HT group), the UTS was lowered and the elongation was increased. In addition, a lamellar structure in which columnar crystal grains are arranged was observed, α+β-Ti phase was formed, and crystallinity increased. As a result of analyzing the chemical composition, the Ti6Al4V-AS specimen contained a higher carbon content than the Ti6Al4V-HT specimen. This high carbon content could be related to the formation of α'-phase, high strength and low elongation of the Ti6Al4V-AS specimen. Ti6Al4V-HT specimen showed that the overall carbon content was low, but the carbon content was locally high in the α-Ti phase region. Therefore, it is necessary to control effectively the incorporation of carbon gas in the production of Ti6Al4V specimens using SLM.

Prehospital intravenous catheter insertion, scene time interval, and their association with fatality in severe trauma patients with hypotension

Objective@#To investigate the association between prehospital intravenous (IV) catheter insertion, scene time interval (STI), and fatality in severe trauma patients with hypotension. @*Methods@#This study used a 2018 nationwide emergency medical services (EMS)-based trauma database. Adult severe trauma patients whose injury severity score was above or equal to 16 and whose initial systolic blood pressure was under 90 mmHg were included. Patients were divided into four groups based on whether a prehospital IV catheter was inserted and STI was within 10 minutes-group 1, IV catheter (+) and STI <10 minutes; group 2, IV catheter (+) and STI ≥10 minutes; group 3, IV catheter (-) and STI <10 minutes; and group 4, IV catheter (-) and STI ≥10 minutes. W-score (additional survivor expected for every 100 patients) was used as the outcome index. @*Results@#Among the 30,034 EMS-treated severe trauma patients, 550 patients were analyzed. Group 1 comprised 289 patients (53%), group 2, 159 (29%), group 3, 65 (12%), and group 4, 37 (6.7%). The case fatality rate was 104 (36%) in group 1, 38 (25%) in group 2, 23 (35%) in group 3, and 11 (30%) in group 4. The W-score (95% confidence interval) was 2.42 (2.38 to 2.99) in group 1, 1.89 (1.83 to 2.90) in group 2, -4.62 (-4.70 to -2.94) in group 3, and -5.41 (-5.52 to -3.03) in group 4. @*Conclusion@#Prehospital IV catheter insertion in severe trauma patients with hypotension is beneficial for survival, and the positive effect was prominent when STI was short.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Emergency Medical Service:An Analysis of Patient Transportations and Time Intervals

Background@#This study aimed to investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on the Emergency Medical Service (EMS) system in South Korea. The study focused on the differences in EMS time intervals following the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly for patients with fever. @*Methods@#A retrospective analysis of EMS patient transportation data from 2017 to 2022 was conducted using the national EMS database. @*Results@#Starting from the year 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 outbreak, all EMS time intervals experienced an increase. For the years 2017 to 2022, the mean response time interval values were 8.6, 8.6, 8.6, 10.2, 12.8, and 11.4 minutes, and the mean scene time interval values were 7.1, 7.2, 7.4, 9.0, 9.8, and 10.9 minutes. The mean transport time interval (TTI) values were 12.1, 12.3, 12.4, 14.2, 16.9, and 16.2 minutes, and the mean turnaround time interval values were 27.6, 27.9, 28.7, 35.2, 42.0, and 43.1 minutes. Fever (≥ 37.5°C) patients experienced more pronounced prolongations in EMS time intervals compared to non-fever patients and had a higher probability of being non-transported. The mean differences in TTI between fever and non-fever patients were 0.8, 0.8, 0.8, 4.3, 4.8, and 3.2 minutes, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. Furthermore, the odds ratios for fever patients being transported to the emergency department were 2.7, 2.9, 2.8, 1.1, 0.8, and 0.7, respectively, from 2017 to 2022. @*Conclusion@#The study findings highlight the significant impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the EMS system and emphasize the importance of ongoing monitoring to evaluate the burden on the EMS system.

Enhancing Mural Nodules in the Main Pancreatic Duct of Main and Mixed Types of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms: Does Size Matter in Malignancy Risk?

Background/Aims@#Most guidelines recommend surgical resection of all main duct (MD) and mixed-type (MT) intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in suitable patients. However, there is little evidence regarding the malignancy risk of enhancing mural nodules (EMNs) that are present only in the main pancreatic duct (MPD) in patients with MD- and MT-IPMNs.Therefore, this study aimed to identify the clinical and morphological features associated with malignancy in MD- and MT-IPMNs with EMNs only in the MPD. @*Methods@#We retrospectively enrolled 50 patients with MD- and MT-IPMNs with EMNs only in the MPD on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. We evaluated the clinical characteristics and preoperative radiologic imaging results of MPD morphology and EMN size and analyzed the risk factors associated with malignancy. @*Results@#Histological findings of EMNs were low-grade dysplasia (38%), malignant lesions (62%), high-grade dysplasia (34%), and invasive carcinoma (28%). On the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cutoff value of EMN size on magnetic resonance imaging for best predicting malignancy was 5 mm (sensitivity, 93.5%; specificity, 52.6%; area under the curve, 0.753).Multivariate analysis showed that only EMN >5 mm (odds ratio, 27.69; confidence interval, 2.75 to 278.73; p=0.050) was an independent risk factor for malignancy. @*Conclusions@#EMNs of >5 mm are associated with malignancy in patients with MD- and MTIPMNs with EMNs that are present only in the MPD, in accordance with the international consensus guidelines.

National Survey Regarding the Management of Difficult Bile Duct Stones in South Korea

Background/Aims@#This study aimed to investigate the patterns of preferred endoscopic procedure types and techniques for managing difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones in South Korea. @*Methods@#The Committee of Policy and Quality Management of Korean Pancreatobiliary Association (KPBA) conducted a survey containing 19 questions. Both paper and online surveys were carried out; with the paper survey being conducted during the 2019 Annual Congress of KPBA and the online survey being conducted through Google Forms from April 2020 to February 2021. @*Results@#The response rate was approximately 41.3% (86/208). Sixty-two (73.0%) worked at tertiary hospitals or academic medical centers, and 60 (69.7%) had more than 5 years of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography experience. The preferred size criteria for large CBD stones were 15 mm (40.6%), 20 mm (31.3%), and 30 mm (4.6%). For managing of large CBD stones, endoscopic papillary large balloon dilation after endoscopic sphincterotomy was the most preferred technique (74.4%). When performing procedures in those with bleeding diathesis, 64 (74.4%) respondents favored endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) alone or EPBD with small endoscopic sphincterotomy. Fifty-five respondents (63.9%) preferred the doubleguidewire technique when faced with difficult bile duct cannulation in patients with periampullary diverticulum. In surgically altered anatomies, cap-fitted forward viewing endoscopy (76.7%) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy (48.8%) were the preferred techniques for Billroth-II anastomosis and total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y anastomosis, respectively. @*Conclusions@#Most respondents showed unifying trends for the management of difficult CBD stones. The current practice patterns could be used as basic data for clinical quality improvements in the management of difficult CBD stones.

Long-term Outcomes of Endoscopic Intraductal Radiofrequency Ablation for Ampullary Adenoma with Intraductal Extension after Endoscopic Snare Papillectomy

Background/Aims@#There are limitations in treating ampullary adenomas with intraductal extension using conventional endoscopic modalities. Endoscopic intraductal radiofrequency ablation (ID-RFA) may be useful for treating intraductal (common bile duct [CBD] and/or pancreatic duct [PD]) extensions of ampullary adenomas, but long-term data are lacking. We thus evaluated the long-term outcomes of endoscopic ID-RFA for managing ampullary adenomas with intraductal extension. @*Methods@#Prospectively collected endoscopic ID-RFA database at Asan Medical Center was reviewed to identify consecutive patients with ampullary adenoma who underwent ID-RFA for intraductal extension between January 2018 and August 2021. Technical success, short-term and long-term clinical success, and adverse events were evaluated. @*Results@#A total of 29 patients (14 CBD, 1 PD, and 14 CBD and PD) were analyzed. All patients had undergone endoscopic snare papillectomy prior to ID-RFA. A median of one session of IDRFA (range, 1 to 3) for residual or relapsed intraductal extension of ampullary adenoma were successfully performed (technical success=100%). Both biliary and pancreatic stenting were routinely performed after ID-RFA to prevent ductal stricture. After a median follow-up of 776 days (interquartile range, 470 to 984 days), the short-term and long-term clinical success rates were 93% and 76%, respectively. Seven patients experienced procedural adverse events and three patients developed ductal strictures. @*Conclusions@#Endoscopic ID-RFA showed good long-term outcomes in treating residual or relapsed ampullary adenomas with intraductal extension. Repeated ID-RFA may be considered as an option for managing recurrence. Further studies are needed to standardize the procedure.