A Cross-Inoculation Experiment Reveals that Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and Nannizziopsis guarroi Can Each Infect Both Snakes and Lizards.

Host range and specificity are key concepts in the study of infectious diseases. However, both concepts remain largely undefined for many influential pathogens, including many fungi within the Onygenales order. This order encompasses reptile-infecting genera (Nannizziopsis, Ophidiomyces, and Paranannizziopsis) formerly classified as the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV). The reported hosts of many of these fungi represent a narrow range of phylogenetically related animals, suggesting that many of these disease-causing fungi are host specific, but the true number of species affected by these pathogens is unknown. For example, to date, Nannizziopsis guarroi (the causative agent of yellow fungus disease) and Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola (the causative agent of snake fungal disease) have been documented only in lizards and snakes, respectively. In a 52-day reciprocal-infection experiment, we tested the ability of these two pathogens to infect currently unreported hosts, inoculating central bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) with O. ophiodiicola and corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) with N. guarroi. We confirmed infection by documenting both clinical signs and histopathological evidence of fungal infection. Our reciprocity experiment resulted in 100% of corn snakes and 60% of bearded dragons developing infections with N. guarroi and O. ophiodiicola, respectively, demonstrating that these fungal pathogens have a broader host range than previously thought and that hosts with cryptic infections may play a role in pathogen translocation and transmission. IMPORTANCE Our experiment using Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola and Nannizziopsis guarroi is the first to look more critically at these pathogens' host range. We are the first to identify that both fungal pathogens can infect both corn snakes and bearded dragons. Our findings illustrate that both fungal pathogens have a more general host range than previously known. Additionally, there are significant implications concerning the spread of snake fungal disease and yellow fungus disease in popular companion animals and the increased chance of disease spillover into other wild and naive populations.

Changes of Hemodynamic Parameters after Intradialytic Glucose Injection.

BACKGROUND: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a frequent complication of hemodialysis (HD). Current methods of IDH prevention are insufficient. METHODS: We analyzed the intradialytic time course of systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean arterial (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), and heart rate (HR) in a group of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. First, 30 min into HD, a 40% glucose solution was injected into the venous line of the extracorporeal circulation at a dose of 0.5 g/kg of dry weight. Pressures and HR were measured in frequent intervals. Relative volume overload was determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy. RESULTS: Thirty-five participants were studied. SBP increased after 5, 10, and 20 min of glucose infusion. DBP increased after 2 and 3 h and also at the end of HD. PP increased after 5, 10, and 20 min of glucose infusion and fell after the 2nd and 3rd hour and also at the end of HD. MAP increased after 2 and 3 h of glucose injection and at the end of HD. Significant interactions of the time course of SBP, DBP, MAP, with HR at baseline and of the time course of PP with fluid overload were observed. Symptomatic hypotensive episodes were absent. CONCLUSIONS: Glucose infusions during HD prevent symptomatic IDH and do not cause severe hypertensive episodes.

Remote-Controlled Drone System through Eye Movements of Patients Who Need Long-Term Care: An Intermediary's Role.

The use of a remote-controlled drone system (RDS) by eye movements was studied to assist patients in psychiatric long-term care (PLTC) to allow them to view the environment outside the hospital, hoping that this will bring them some enjoyment. However, successfully applying this system requires human intermediaries in facilitating the interactions between patients and RDS operators. The aim of the study was to describe the role of nurses as intermediaries in the application of an RDS through eye movements of patients PLTC. This study employed the Intentional Observational Clinical Research Design. Data collection was performed in November 2021 at a psychiatric hospital with selected patients in PLTC. Seventeen patients took part in the indoor experiment, whereas 23 patients took part in the outdoor experiment. Fifteen of the 23 patients in the outdoor experiment were the same patients who took part in the indoor experiment. Most of the patients in the indoor and outdoor test arenas could successfully, delightfully, and safely fly the drone. This study demonstrated that RDS using just eye movements could increase the quality of life in older patients with psychiatric problems in PLTC. For the successful use of this drone system, nurse intermediaries assumed critically significant roles.

Soft elastic hydrogel couplants for ultrasonography.

Couplants play significant roles in ultrasonography. To ensure imaging quality, it is critical to maintain conformal contact of the couplant with both the skin surface and the ultrasound probe in clinical applications. In addition, either the probe or the couplant should not deform the skin surface significantly, which will result in an overestimated modulus of the tissue for elastography imaging. However, existing liquid gel couplants cannot bear external compressive force, while existing solid gel couplants cannot maintain a conformal contact with skin surface. Especially, the nonconformal contacts and deformation become more severe on body parts of locally high curvatures such as skin tumors, fingers, and elbows. Here we report a bilayer design of couplant for ultrasonography, composing of a stiff layer and a compliant layer of hydrogels. The bilayer hydrogel pad enables it to bear external compression, allowing the probe to move smoothly, conforming high curvature parts and releasing stress concentration. Our clinical experiments further show high quality imaging of thyroid nodules, skin tumors in elbows and fingers using the bilayer hydrogel pad, which represents a promising alternative for a range of applications in ultrasonic diagnosis.

Study on TCM Clinical Research Primary Quality Control and Management / 中国中医药信息杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate and analyze the current primary quality management situation in TCM clinical studies.Methods One sub-center unit from 39 projects of “Prevention and Treatment of Difficult and Complicated Disease of TCM” plan of the“11th Five-year National Key Technology R&D Program” was chosen. Executive condition of the primary quality control of each unit was under field investigation, and quality control quantitative evaluation indexes were used to conduct quantitative evaluation.Results Results were shown as the forms of statistical description and radar map. The average and median scores of primary quality management were 5.05 and 5.2, respectively. The best and preferable proportions of 39 units were 25.64% and 28.21%. Other 46.15% of these units performed poor. The problem mainly manifested on insufficient frequency and bad normalization of primary quality management, such as comprehensiveness and integrity of inspection contents, cases, problem recordings and problems timely feedback.ConclusionAlthough the primary quality management is widely conducted in TCM clinical studies, there are still some problems to be settled and improved.

Arthroscopic assisted percutaneous bone grafting and screw fixation for the treatment of lateral tibial plateau fractures：A 4-year follow-up / 中国组织工程研究

10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2013.26.009

Research of ICF Assessment Form in Ethical Review / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

In order to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the subjects and the interests of the whole society , a relaxed and harmonious environment was created to ensure the normal medical research , clini-cal research trials which fit in trial of ethical review. The protocol assessment form and ICF assessment form to review are two cornerstones of protecting subjects. A good ICF assessment form is a necessary means to help improve the quality of the Ethics Committee for review .

Professor YAN De-xin's experience in diffrerentiating and treating emeda with heart involved from qi and blood / 中华中医药杂志

To introduce professor YAN De-xin's experience in diffrerentiating and treating Emeda with Heart Involved from qi and flood He thinks that pathogenesis of Emeda with Heart Involved is water overflowing due to yang deficiency,internal retention of blood stasis and turbidity.So this disease can be differentiated from these aspects including the disturbance of the functional activities of the lung,failure to transform body fluid;body fluid transformed by blood stasis,simultaneous disorders of both blood and body fluid;deficiency of pectoral qi,derangement of qi and blood.What's more,he proposes the application of drugs for warming yang and promoting blood circulation is very important.