ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among students sampled from a primary school in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City on April, 2018, and their stool samples were collected for microscopic examinations, in vitro culture and PCR assays to analyze the prevalence of Blastocystis infections and subtype of the parasite. In addition, the risk factors of Blastocystis infections among primary school students were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 466 primary students were surveyed, and the subjects had a mean age of (9.81±1.66) years and included 236 males (50.64%) and 230 females (49.36%). The prevalence of Blastocystis infections was 15.24% (71/466) among the study students, and there was no significance difference in the prevalence between male and fe- male students (16.52% vs. 13.91%; χ2 = 0.616, P = 0.433). In addition, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of Blastocystis infections among grade 1 (6.35%, 4/63), grade 2 (5.17%, 3/58), grade 3 (21.74%, 15/69), grade 4 (25.30%, 21/83), grade 5 (10.19%, 11/108) and grade 6 students (20.00%, 17/85) (χ2 = 15.410, P = 0.009). There were four Blastocystis subtypes characterized (ST1, ST3, ST6 and ST7), in which ST6 was the most common subtype (45.07%, 32/71), followed by ST3 (25.35%, 18/71). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that minority ethnicity [odds ratio (OR) = 4.259, 95% confidential inter- val (CI) : (1.161, 15.621)] and low maternal education level (primary school and below) [OR = 9.038, 95% CI: (1.125, 72.642)] were identified as risk factors of Blastocystis infection among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City. Conclusions There is a high prevalence of Blastocystis infections detected among primary school students in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, and ST6 and ST3 are predominant subtypes. Minority ethnicity and low maternal education level (primary school and below) are risk factors for Blastocystis infections in primary school students.
ABSTRACT
Blastocystis is a unicellular, anaerobic, intestinal protozoan that infects humans and a variety of animals, which is widely prevalent across the world. Blastocystis infections have been detected in healthy populations, children, students, outpatients and inpatients, as well as diarrhea patients in China. High prevalence of Blastocystis infections has been reported in immunocompromised patients, and relatively high prevalence was seen in individuals living in Guangxi and Yunnan regions. Based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence, a total of 17 subtypes (ST1 to ST17) of Blastocystis have been characterized until now, among which ST1 to ST9 and ST12 infect humans and animals, and ST10 to ST17 only infect animals. In China, ST1 to ST3 are predominant human Blastocystis subtypes, and ST1/ST3, ST1/ST2 and ST2/ST3 mixed infections have been also identified. This review mainly describes the epidemiology and genotypes of Blastocystis in humans and animals in China.
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ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Blastocystis hominis infections among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among AIDS patients in Nanchang City during the period between May and September, 2016. B. hominis infection was detected in patients’stool samples using a PCR assay, and the CD4+ T cell count was measured in subjects’blood samples. In addition, the risk factors of B. hominis infection in AIDS patients were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results A survey was conducted in Nanchang City from May to September 2016. A total of 505 AIDS patients were investigated, and the prevalence of B. hominis infection was 4.16%. Univariate analysis revealed that B. hominis infection correlated with the occupation (χ2 = 8.595, P = 0.049), education level (χ2 = 14.494, P = 0.001), type of daily drinking water (χ2 = 10.750, P = 0.020), root of HIV infections (χ2 = 8.755, P = 0.026) and receiving anti-HIV therapy (χ2 = 23.083, P = 0.001) among AIDS patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis identified daily direct drinking of tap water as a risk factor of B. hominis infections [odds ratio (OR) = 7.988, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.160, 55.004)] and anti-HIV therapy as a protective factor of B. hominis infection [OR = 0.183, 95% CI: (0.049, 0.685)]. Conclusions The prevalence of B. hominis is 4.16% among AIDS patients in Nanchang City. Daily direct drinking of tap water is a risk factor, and anti-HIV therapy is a protective factor of B. hominis infection among AIDS patients living in Nanchang City.
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Objective To investigate the optimal centrifugation conditions for preparation of rat and mouse platelet rich plasma (PRP) by single centrifugation.Methods Arterial blood of rats and mice by femoral artery cannulation and cardiac puncture were obtained respectively, anticoagulation with 14％CPDA-1, while white blood cells in the blood were filtered out.Then the blood was divided into sterile EP tubes, while PRP was prepared by centrifugation in different conditions (the centrifugal force was 300×g-600×g, and the centrifugal time was 4-12min).The number of blood cells of the anticoagulant whole blood, the leukocyte-depleted blood sample and PRP were counted by hematology analyzer, and platelet recovery rates were compared between different methods.Results The platelet recovery rate was highest when the blood samples of rats and mice were centrifuged at 400×g and 300×g for 8min respectively.Conclusion It is a key to prepare PRP by single centrifugation that selecting the appropriate centrifugal force and time and reaching a critical state before the formation of the buffy coat.
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Objective To observe the efficacy of tirofiban in the treatment of ischemic progressive stroke. Methods 300 patients who met the diagnostic criteria of ischemic progressive stroke were divided into the control group and tirofiban group. Patients in the control group received treatment of PA2S regiment, i.e., a combination of aspirin, clopidogrel, probucol and atorvastatin. Patients in the tirofiban group received extra tirofiban on the basis of PA2S therapy. National institute of health stroke scale (NIHSS) score was evaluated on patients in both group before the therapy and 3 days, 1 month, 6 months after the therapy respectively. Results For the control group, the average NIHSS score was 11.3±4.2,11.5±4.4,8.8±4.1,6.1±4.1 before therapy and at 3 days, 1 month, 6 months after the therapy. And for the tirofiban group, the average NIHSS score was 11.4±3.9, 10.8±3.6, 7.4±3.2, 4.4±3.0 at the corresponding period respectively. There were statistical differences between the two groups in the period of 1 month and 6 months after treatment with P<0.001. Conclusions Tirofiban hydrochloride can improve the degree of neurological deficit and outcome in patients with ischemic progressive stroke.