A Single Drop of Fingerstick Blood for Quantitative Antibody Response Evaluation After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

Among several COVID vaccines that have been approved, the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are mRNA vaccines that are safe and highly effective at preventing COVID-19 illness. Studies have demonstrated that neutralizing antibody responses elicited by these vaccines correlate strongly with antibodies measured by immunoassays such as ELISA. To monitor the antibody level duration of vaccine-induced immune responses in vaccinated population, cost-effective and easily implementable antibody testing methodologies are urgently needed. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using a single drop of fingerstick blood collected with flocked swabs for a high-throughput and quantitative anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S1) IgG antibody immunoassay. A total of 50 voluntary subjects participated and donated fingerstick blood samples before and after receiving the Moderna mRNA vaccine. Among all individuals tested, no anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG antibody was detected before vaccination and on day 7 after receiving the first vaccine dose. On day 14 after the first dose, a significant amount of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG antibody was detected in all participants samples. By the end the third week from the first dose, the median anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG concentration increased to 44.9 ug/mL. No anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein IgG antibody was detected in any of the participants during the study period, indicating that the anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG assay is specific for the mRNA vaccine induced antibodies.Comaprison of venous blood plasma and fingerstick blood for anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 IgG shown a higher correlation. Furthermore, the fingerstick blood dried swab samples are stable for at least 4 days. In summary, we demonstrated that a single drop of fingerstick blood collected with flocked swab can be used for quantitative detection and monitoring of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG responses after receiving COVID-19 vaccination. This testing platform does not require venous blood draw and can be easily implemented for large scale antibody testing in vaccinated populations.

A Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Variant Detection by Molecular-Clamping Based RT-qPCR

We applied XNA-based Molecular Clamping Technology to develop a multiplex qPCR assay for rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. A total of 278 previously tested SARS-COV-2 positive samples originating primarily from San Francisco Bay Area were tested, including 139 Samples collected in middle January and 139 samples collected at the end of February 2021, respectively. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike-gene D614G mutation was detected from 58 samples (41.7%) collected in January 2021 and, 78 samples (56.1%) collected in February. Notably, while there were no N501Y mutation detected in samples from January, seven of the February samples were tested positive for the N501Y and D614G mutations. The results suggest a relatively recent and speedy spreading of the UK variant (B.1.1.7) in Northern California. This new Molecular Clamping technology-based multiplex RT-qPCR assay is highly sensitive and specific and can help speed up large scale testing for SARS-CoV-2 variants.

A High-throughput Microsphere-based Immunoassay of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM Testing for COVID-19 Diagnostics

The pandemic of novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 is rapidly expanding across the world. A positive result of antibody tests suggests that the individual has potentially been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, thus allowing to identify asymptomatic infections and determine the seroprevalence in a given population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of a newly developed high throughput immunoassay for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody detection on the Luminex MAGPIX platform. Clinical agreement studies were performed in 42 COVID-19 patient serum samples and 162 negative donor serum/plasma samples. Positive percent agreement (PPA) was 42.86% (95% CI: 9.90% to 81.59%), 71.43% (95% CI: 29.04% to 96.33%), and 28.57% (95% CI: 13.22% to 48.67%) for samples collected on 0-7 days, 8-14 days, and 2-8 weeks from symptom onset, respectively. Negative Percent Agreement (NPA) was 97.53% (95% CI: 93.80% to 99.32%). There was no cross-reactivity with the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody Hemoglobin (200 mg/dL), bilirubin (2 mg/dL), triglyceride (250 mg/dL) and EDTA (10 mM) showed no significant interfering effect on this assay. In conclusion, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody assay with high sensitivity and specificity has been developed. With the high throughput, this assay will speed up the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM testing.

Clinical characteristics and pathogenic distribution of late-onset sepsis among premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks in Henan Province / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective:To analyse the pathogenic bacteria distribution and clinical characteristics of late-onset sepsis (LOS) among premature infants with gestational age less than 34 weeks in Henan Province.Methods:The clinical data of 6 590 premature infants admitted to 17 medical institutions in Henan Province from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The gestational age of infants was less than 34 weeks and was admitted to the neonatal ward within 7 days after birth. SPSS 19.0 statistical software was used for data analysis.Results:Among 6 590 premature infants LOS developed in 751 cases (11.40%), of whom the diagnosis was confirmed in 276 cases (36.75%) and 475 cases (63.25%) were diagnosed clinically. The fatality rate related to LOS was 13.58%. There were significant differences in the incidence of LOS and infection-related mortality among infants with different gestational ages and body weights ( χ2=388.894 and 13.572, χ2=472.282 and 9.257, P<0.05 or <0.01). Among 276 children with confirmed LOS, 286 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated. Gram-negative bacteria were most prevalent (178 strains), accounting for 62.24% of all infections, followed by fungi (58 strains, 20.28%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was most frequently detected Gram-negative bacteria (117 strains, 40.91%), among which 32.48% (38/117) was carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. The proportion of diagnosed sepsis, the proportion of catheterization, and the infection-related mortality of infants with LOS in tertiary hospitals were all higher than those in secondary hospitals ( χ2=6.212, 5.313 and 4.435, all P<0.05). The proportion of exclusive breastfeeding in secondary hospitals was lower than that in tertiary hospitals ( χ2=19.216, P<0.05). The time of antibacterial drug use before infection in specialized hospitals was longer than that in general hospitals ( χ2=3.276, P<0.05). Conclusion:The incidence of LOS among preterm infants in Henan Province is high, which was mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria. The clinical characteristics of LOS caused by different pathogens and in different health institutions are different, the prevention and control strategy should be developed accordingly to reduce the incidence LOS of preterm premature infants.

Advances in study on factors related to avascular necrosis of the femoral head after paediatric femoral neck fractures / 中华骨科杂志

Femoral neck fractures in pediatric fractures account for less than 1% which is very rare, and its mechanism is commonly caused by high-energy trauma. If children with femoral neck fracture cannot receive timely and effective treatment, they are at high risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN), coxa vara, bone nonunion, premature physeal closure, leg length discrepancy and other complications. Surgical treatment is currently preferred over conservative treatment, which has a higher complication rate. Among them, AVN is one of the most common and the most difficult complications to manage. So far, no effective treatment measures and reliable predictors have been reported, and the related factors affecting the occurrence of AVN have also been controversial. Once femoral head necrosis occurs in children, the prognosis is not ideal due to the lack of appropriate treatment methods. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress on the related factors of AVN after femoral neck fracture in children based on the literature reports in the past decade.

Saliva as a testing specimen with or without pooling for SARS-CoV-2 detection by multiplex RT-PCR test

BackgroundSensitive and high throughput molecular detection assays are essential during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The vast majority of the SARS-CoV-2 molecular assays use nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) or oropharyngeal swab (OPS) specimens collected from suspected individuals. However, using NPS or OPS as specimens has apparent drawbacks, e.g. the collection procedures for NPS or OPS specimens can be uncomfortable to some people and may cause sneezing and coughing which in turn generate droplets and/or aerosol particles that are of risk to healthcare workers, requiring heavy use of personal protective equipment. There have been recent studies indicating that self-collected saliva specimens can be used for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and provides more comfort and ease of use for the patient. Here we report the performance of QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test using saliva as the testing specimens with or without pooling. MethodsDevelopment and validation studies were conducted following FDA-EUA and molecular assay validation guidelines. Using SeraCare Accuplex SARS-CoV-2 reference panel, the limit of detection (LOD) and clinical evaluation studies were performed with the QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test. For clinical evaluation, 85 known positive and 90 known negative clinical NPS samples were tested. Additionally, twenty paired NPS and saliva samples collected from recovering COVID-19 patients were tested and the results were further compared to that of the Abbott m2000 SARS-CoV-2 PCR assay. Results of community collected 389 saliva samples for COVID-19 screening by QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test were also obtained and analyzed. Moreover, saliva pooling with 6 and 12 samples together were also evaluated. ResultsThe LOD for the QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test was confirmed to be 100-200 copies/mL. The clinical evaluation using contrived saliva samples indicated that the positive percentage agreement (PPA) of the QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test is 100% at 1xLOD, 1.5xLOD and 2.5xLOD. No cross-reactivity was observed for the QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test with common respiratory pathogens. Testing of clinical samples showed a positive percentage agreement (PPA) of 100% (95% CI: 94.6% to 100%) and a negative percentage agreement (NPA) of 98.9% (95% CI: 93.1% to 99.9%). QuantiVirus SARS CoV-2 multiplex test had 80% concordance rate and no significant difference (p=0.13) in paired saliva and NPS specimens by Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test. Positive test rate was 1.79% for 389 saliva specimens collected from the communities for COVID-19 screening. Preliminary data showed that saliva sample pooling up to 6 samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection is feasible (sensitivity 94.8% and specificity 100%). ConclusionThe studies demonstrated that the QuantiVirus SARS-CoV-2 multiplex test has a LOD of 200 copies/mL in contrived saliva samples. The clinical performance of saliva-based testing is comparable to that of NPS-based testing. Pooling of saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection is feasible. Saliva based and high-throughput QuantiVirusSARS-CoV-2 multiplex test offers a highly desirable test during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A High-throughput Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG Testing Platform for COVID-19

BackgroundSerology tests for detecting the antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can identify previous infection and help to confirm the presence of current infection. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of a newly developed high throughput immunoassay for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody detection. ResultsClinical agreement studies were performed in 77 COVID-19 patient serum samples and 226 negative donor serum/plasma samples. Positive percent agreement (PPA) was 42.86% (95% CI: 9.90% to 81.59%), 55.56% (95% CI: 21.20% to 86.30%), and 96.72% (95% CI: 88.65% to 99.60%) for samples collected on 0-7 days, 8-14 days, and [≥]15 days from symptom onset, respectively. Negative Percent Agreement (NPA) was 98.23% (95% CI: 95.53% to 99.52%). No cross-reactivity was observed to patient samples positive for IgG antibodies against the following pathogens: HIV, HAV, HBV, RSV, CMV, EBV, Rubella, Influenza A, and Influenza B. Hemoglobin (200 mg/dL), bilirubin (2 mg/dL) and EDTA (10 mM) showed no significant interfering effect on this assay. ConclusionAn anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay with high sensitivity and specificity has been developed. With the high throughput, this assay will speed up the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG testing.

Influence of Shexiang Wulong pill on Expressions of serum IL-1, TGF-β1, MMP3, TIMP-1 in knee osteoarthritis / 中国综合临床

Objective:To observe the effects of Shexiang Wulong pill on serum interleukin-1 (IL-1), transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), matrix tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP-1) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) expression.Methods:Using prospective cohort study method, the subjects were KOA patients from Department of Rheumatology and Immunology clinic of North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital from March 2016 to June 2018.According to random number table The patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (treated with shexiangwulong pill) with 46 cases and the control group (Kanggu Zengsheng tablet) with 46 cases.The treatment group was treated with Shexiang Wulong pill, 30 capsules per time, twice a day; the control group was treated with Kanggu Zengsheng tablet, four tablets per time, twice a day.The treatment period was 8 weeks.The levels of IL-1, TGF-β1, MMP3 and TIMP-1 in the serum of the patients in the treatment group and the control group were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the differences of relevant indexes between the two groups were statistically analyzed.Results:Forty-six cases were completed in the treatment group and 44 cases were completed in the control group.After treatment with Shexiang Wulong pill and Kanggu Zengsheng tablet, the levels of IL-1 were (30.99±2.80) μg/L, (32.90±2.84) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.21, P<0.001). There was no significant difference of TGF-β1 levels between the treatment group((214.87±17.30) μg/L) and the control group ((208.85±15.53) μg/L, ( t=1.73, P=0.08). The levels of TIMP-1 were (139.60±6.79) μg/L, (135.09±6.16) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.29, P<0.001). The levels of MMP3 were (1.19±0.10) μg/L, (1.23±0.06) μg/L in the treatment group and the control group, resectively ( t=2.28, P=0.03). The rate of TIMP1/MMP3 were 111.04±8.81, 118.46±12.06 in the treatment group and the control group, resectively( t=3.34, P<0.001). Conclusion:Shexiang Wulong pill can decrease the levels of IL-1 and MMP-3, and increase the levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and the rate of TIMP1/MMP3, so as to protect the articular cartilage and improve the knee joint function in patients with KOA.

Protective effect and mechanisms of umbilical cord tissue transplantation on radiation-induced learning and memory impairment in rats / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To investigate the protective effect and mechanisms of umbilical cord tissue transplantation on radiation-induced learning and memory impairment in rats.Methods:Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups with 20 in each group: control group, model group (whole brain X-ray irradiation, dose 20 Gy) and treatment group (whole brain X-ray irradiation, dose 20 Gy + umbilical cord tissue transplantation). The changes of body mass were observed, and the learning and memory of rats were observed by water maze test on the 14th and 28th day after irradiation, the neuron state of hippocampus was observed by HE staining, and the expressions of NF-κB pathway related proteins and IL-6 in hippocampus were detected by Western blot.Descriptive analysis and hypothesis testing were processed by SPSS 17.0.Results:(1) On the 28th day, the escaping latency in the water maze experiment of the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group and lower than that of the model group (control group: (11.77±3.02) s, model group: (23.75±3.27)s, treatment group: (18.49±2.32)s; t=3.940, -2.943, both P<0.05); the number of crossing platform in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group and higher than that in the model group (control group: (7.20±0.84), model group (3.60±1.14 ), treatment group (5.00±1.00); t=-3.773, 2.064, both P<0.05). (2)HE staining showed that the neurons in the control group were arranged orderly and the cytoplasm was transparent.The neurons in the model group were arranged disorderly and the contraction of the cell body was triangular or irregular.The number of neurons in the treatment group was less than that in the model group. (3) On the 14th day, the relative expression of TLR4 in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group and lower than that in the model group (control group: (0.69±0.03), model group: (1.06±0.11), treatment group: (0.90±0.04); t=7.275, -2.368, both P<0.05). The relative expression of NF-κB p65 in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group and lower than that in the model group (control group: (1.67±0.12), model group: (2.08 ±0.06), treatment group: (1.93±0.08); t=3.236, -2.684, both P<0.05). The relative expression of IL-6 in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group and lower than that in the model group (control group: (0.77±0.08), model group: (1.12±0.07), treatment group: (0.95±0.06); t=3.274, -3.495, both P<0.05). The relative expression of Bcl-2 / Bax in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group and higher than that in the model group (control group: (1.40±0.52), model group: (0.48±0.06), treatment group: (0.72±0.0 3); t=-2.263, 6.350, both P<0.05). The expression trend of IL-6 and Bcl-2 / Bax protein on the 28th day was the same as that on the 14th day. Conclusion:Cord tissue transplantation can improve the learning and memory impairment caused by radiotherapy, which may be related with the inhibition of inflammation caused by radiotherapy.

Correlation between serum cytokine levels and cognitive function in patients with bipolar I manic episode / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective:To explore the relationship between serum cytokine levels and cognitive impairment in patients with bipolar I manic episode.Methods:Forty-four patients with bipolar I manic episode (BDI group) and 42 healthy volunteers (HC group) matched with demographic data were included.Peripheral serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interleukin-23 (IL-23), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status (RSPM) was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the two groups.Young manic rating scale (YMRS) was used to evaluate the clinical manic symptoms of patients.Hypothesis testing and correlation analysis were processed by SPSS 22.0.Results:(1) The expression levels of serum cytokines IL-6, IL-10, IL-23 and TNF-α in BDI group ((38.872±7.803), (33.259±7.260), 42.350(33.600, 55.390), (108.309±19.398)) were significantly different with those in HC group ((24.664±6.083), (29.257±5.208), 17.360(12.870, 30.690), (68.674±13.610)), and the differences were statistically significant (( t=9.387, t=2.947, Z=-5.477, t=10.921, all P<0.01)). (2) In the RBANS cognitive test, the visual span, attention, delayed memory and total scale scores of the BP group ((92.909±16.126). (83.091±8.529), (80.636±9.592), (416.318±33.438)) were significantly different with those of the HC group ((82.905±10.958), (92.381±14.850), (93.714±7.613), (436.905±37.228), t=3.378, t=-3.538, t=-6.982, t=-2.700, all P<0.05). (3)Correlation analysis showed that in the BDI group, the course of disease was positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-23( r=0.509, r=0.298, P<0.05), the visual breadth was positively correlated with IL-10 and TNF-α ( r=0.426, r=0.647, P<0.05), language was negatively correlated with IL-23 level ( r=-0.372, P<0.05), attention was significantly negatively correlated with IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α ( r=-0.315, r=-0.318, r=-0.498, all P<0.05), delayed memory was positively correlated with IL-10 and TNF-α ( r=-0.360, r=-0.621, P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between YRMS score, immediate memory score and cytokines ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Patients with bipolar I disorder manic have changes in serum levels of cytokines and cognitive dysfunction. The course of disease and cognitive function are related with serum cytokine level.

Re-entry hypothesis testing within ligament of Marshall as a mechanisma for sustaining atrial fibrillation in dogs / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

Objective To explore the mechanisms of ligament of Marshall (LOM) initiat and sustain atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods The electrophysiologic properties of canine LOM were investigated using multipolar catheter mapping(normal canines,n =4,group A;AF canines,n =5,group B).The programmed stimulation were performed in the LOM,PV-left atrium(LA)junction and LA,respectively.Activations maps of LOM were analyzed from episodes of spontaneous onset of AF and initiation of induced AF by a single extrastimulus.The effectives refractory period of each part was compared and statistically analyzed among three parts in each group and between the two groups.LOM were cutted with surgical incision technology.The inducing rate of AF and the mapping rate of double potential and fragmented electrocardiogram were compared and statistically analyzed pro and post isolation of LOM.Results The incidence of abnormal potential of LOM in the two groups was significantly different(P ＜0.01),re-entry cycle(group A 25％ vs.B group 80％),tachycardia(group A 25％ vs.B 100％),double potential(group A 25％ vs.group B 80％),fragmentation potential(group A 25％ vs.group 80％).There was a significant difference in the rate of LOM tachycardia induction before and after LOM intervention in group B (P ＜ 0.05,before 100％ vs.after 20％).Conclusion There are two possible mechanisms of LOM involved in the occurrence and maintenance of AF:one is that LOM induces AF through spontaneous excitation,the other is that LOM participates in the reentry of left atrium and pulmonary vein in the form of bypass to induce and maintain AF.

Cooperative medical insurance and the cost of care in Shandong, PR China: perspectives of patients and community members.

This research was conducted to identify the cost of care associated with utilization of village clinics and membership of the New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) in 2 counties of Shandong province, PR China. A total of 397 community members and 297 patients who used the village clinics were interviewed. The average cost for primary care treatment of 1 episode of illness was about 55 yuan (about US$8). Although more than 50% of people had NCMS membership, many consider the monetary reimbursements as insufficient. The low insurance reimbursement rates and inability to pay out-of-pocket expenses compromise access to care. Delays can cause more serious illnesses with potential to overburden the secondary care at the township and county hospitals. Those rural people who have not yet enjoyed the benefits of China's economic development may not benefit from recent health care reform and finance mechanisms unless schemes such as the NCMS provide more substantial subsidies.

Clinical observation of the application of dezocine combined with fentanyl in high intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of uterine fibroids / 重庆医学

Objective To observe the feasibility of combining dezocine with fentanyl in the application of single integral high in‐tensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)ablation of uterine fibroids .Methods One hundred and sixty patients with uterine fibroids trea‐ted by HIFU under conscious sedation were randomly divided into 2 groups(n=80):group A with treatment combined fentanyl and midazolam and group B treated with combined dezocine ,fentanyl and midazolam .Analgesic effect was evaluated with visual analog scale (VAS) .Variation of patients′vital signs (blood pressure ,heart rate ,electrocardiogram ,oxygen saturation) ,pain scores ,com‐fort scores ,sedation scores ,analgesic consumption and side effects were recorded before treatment (T0 ) ,during drug delivery (T1 ) , at the beginning of the treatment(T2 ) ,30 minutes after drug delivery (T3 ) ,at the end of the treatment(T4 ) ,2 hours after treatment (T5 ) ,4 hours after treatment (T6 ) ,8 hours after treatment (T7 )and 24 hours after treatment(T8 ) .Results Both groups showed reliable analgesic effects and vital signs of each time point were stable .VAS scores and Ramsay scores of group A were higher than those of group B ,but there was no statistical difference (P>0 .05) .Three patients in group A showed dysuria and relieved after symptomatic treatment .No respiratory depression occurred in both groups .But compared to group A ,the incidence of the analgesic side effects of group B was significantly lower and patients satisfaction was significantly higher(P<0 .05) .Conclusion The analge‐sic effects of dezocine combined with fentanyl are reliable in HIFU ablation of uterine fibroids with fewer side effects ,and could be worthy to be promoted in clinical use .

Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Giardia lamblia Infection in Pet Dogs using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Giardia lamblia is recognized as one of the most prevalent parasites in dogs. The present study aimed to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid and specific detection of G. lamblia from dogs. The fecal samples were collected and prepared for microscopic analysis, and then the genomic DNA was extracted directly from purified cysts. The concentration of DNA samples of G. lamblia were diluted by 10-fold serially ranging from 10(-1) to 10(-5) ng/microl for LAMP and PCR assays. The LAMP assay allows the amplification to be finished within 60 min under isothermal conditions of 63degrees C by employing 6 oligonucleotide primers designed based on G. lamblia elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1alpha) gene sequence. Our tests showed that the specific amplification products were obtained only with G. lamblia, while no amplification products were detected with DNA of other related protozoans. Sensitivity evaluation indicated that the LAMP assay was sensitive 10 times more than PCR. It is concluded that LAMP is a rapid, highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification technique for detection of G. lamblia, which has implications for effective control and prevention of giardiasis.

Childhood trauma experience and its relation to the eye emotion recognition ability in patients with schizophrenia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the childhood trauma experience and its relation to the eye emotion recognition ability in patients with schizophrenia.MethodsSeventy-one schizophrenic patients and fifty-two healthy subjects were assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Eye Basic Emotion Discrimination Task (EBEDT).ResultsThe CTQ total score in the patients group was significantly higher than those in the control group (47.86 ± 13.26 vs 34.27 ± 7.27,P ＜ 0.01 ).The subscores in emotional abuse,physical abuse,sexual abuse,emotional neglect and physical neglect of CTQ in the patients group were also significantly higher than those in the control group.(all P＜ 0.01 ).Compared with controls,the patients had significantly lower total accuracy( (86.74 ± 6.16vs73.42 ± 11.86) ％,P ＜ 0.01 ) and longer total reaction time ( (2776.75 ± 703.42 vs 4321.40 ± 1956.83 )ms,P ＜ 0.01 )of EBEDT.The significant difference were also found on the accuracy and reaction time of the EBEDT six basic emotion between the two groups ( all P ＜ 0.01 ).Correlation analysis indicated that CTQ total score were negatively correlated with the EBEDT total accuracy ( r=-0.390,P＜0.01 ),and its sub-accuracy of happiness,surprise,sadness,and anger ( respectively r =- 0.419,r =- 0.451,r =- 0.391,r =- 0.344,P ＜ 0.01 ) in the patients group.The correlation between CTQ total score and EBEDT total accuracy was also found in the control group.ConclusionChildhood trauma is related to eye basic emotion recognition in schizophrenia patients,suggesting that the trauma during childhood can affect the social recognition ability.

The role of somatostatin analog octreotide on gastrointestinal cancer and its influence on the serum level of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1) / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To observe the curative effects of octreotide on gastrointestinal cancer and its influenee on the serum level of IGF-1.Methods 33 patients diagnosed as advanced gastrointestinal cancer were randomized into 2 groups.15 cases in therapy group received octreotide 400μg/d subcutaneous injection or intravenous injection,other patients were taken as control.Curative effects of octreotide and serum level of IGF-1 on different time were observed before and after therapy.Results 4 cases in therapy group kept stable condition during treatment,all 18 cases in control group deteriorated gradually.The median survival time of octreotide therapy was 6.9 months,longer than that of control group(2.3 months)(P＜0.05),the feeling of well being in therapy group was reported a remarkable improvement.Serum level of IGF-1 decreased obviously after octreotide injection(P＜0.05),but no significant difference in control group.Conclusion Octreotide can prolong the survival duration and improve living quality of patients with advanced gastrointestinal tumors.The mechanism of antitumor is probably through suppression of IGF-1.

Research advances in gene-enhanced cartilage tissue-engineering / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Articular cartilage injuries are always difficult to repair, but g ene-enhanced cartilage tissue-engineering has proved to be a better alternativ e treatment. Tissue engineering consists of 3 elements; germ cells, signal facto rs (cytokine or growth factor) and biological materials (scaffolds). This paper highlights research on the gene transduction with signal factors into germ cells .

BLOOD AND IRON LOSSES IN MENSTRUAL CYCLE OF WOMEN / 营养学报

0.05). The average loss of blood for all groups was 55.0?44.2 ml and of iron 21.4? 15.9 mg, equal to 0.7 mg iron loss daily.