Deep Autoencoder for Real-time Single-channel EEG Cleaning and its Smartphone Implementation using TensorFlow Lite with Hardware/software Acceleration.

OBJECTIVE: To remove signal contamination in electroencephalogram (EEG) traces coming from ocular, motion, and muscular artifacts which degrade signal quality. To do this in real-time, with low computational overhead, on a mobile platform in a channel count independent manner to enable portable Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) applications. METHODS: We propose a Deep AutoEncoder (DAE) neural network for single-channel EEG artifact removal, and implement it on a smartphone via TensorFlow Lite. Delegate based acceleration is employed to allow real-time, low computational resource operation. Artifact removal performance is quantified by comparing corrupted and ground-truth clean EEG data from public datasets for a range of artifact types. The on-phone computational resources required are also measured when processing pre-saved data. RESULTS: DAE cleaned EEG shows high correlations with ground-truth clean EEG, with average Correlation Coefficients of 0.96, 0.85, 0.70 and 0.79 for clean EEG reconstruction, and EOG, motion, and EMG artifact removal respectively. On-smartphone tests show the model processes a 4 s EEG window within 5 ms, substantially outperforming a comparison FastICA artifact removal algorithm. CONCLUSION: The proposed DAE model shows effectiveness in single-channel EEG artifact removal. This is the first demonstration of a low-computational resource deep learning model for mobile EEG in smartphones with hardware/software acceleration. SIGNIFICANCE: This work enables portable BCIs which require low latency real-time artifact removal, and potentially operation with a small number of EEG channels for wearability. It makes use of the artificial intelligence accelerators found in modern smartphones to improve computational performance compared to previous artifact removal approaches.

PAHs removal by soil washing with thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate.

Remediating soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) presents a significant environmental challenge due to their toxic and carcinogenic properties. Traditional PAHs remediation methods-chemical, thermal, and bioremediation-along with conventional soil-washing agents like surfactants and cyclodextrins face challenges of cost, ecological harm, and inefficiency. Here we show an effective and environmentally friendly calixarene derivative for PAHs removal through soil washing. Thiacalix[4]arene tetrasulfonate (TCAS) has a unique molecular structure of a sulfonate group and a sulfur atom, which enhances its solubility and facilitates selective binding with PAHs. It forms host-guest complexes with PAHs through π-π stacking, OH-π interactions, hydrogen bonding, van der Waals forces, and electrostatic interactions. These interactions enable partial encapsulation of PAH molecules, aiding their desorption from the soil matrix. Our results show that a 0.7% solution of TCAS can extract approximately 50% of PAHs from contaminated soil while preserving soil nutrients and minimizing adverse environmental effects. This research unveils the pioneering application of TCAS in removing PAHs from contaminated soil, marking a transformative advancement in resource-efficient and sustainable soil remediation strategies.

Energy landscape analysis of brain network dynamics in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative dementia, characterized by abnormal dynamic functional connectivity (DFC). Traditional DFC analysis, assuming linear brain dynamics, may neglect the complexity of the brain's nonlinear interactions. Energy landscape analysis offers a holistic, nonlinear perspective to investigate brain network attractor dynamics, which was applied to resting-state fMRI data for AD in this study. Methods: This study utilized resting-state fMRI data from 60 individuals, comparing 30 Alzheimer's patients with 30 controls, from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Energy landscape analysis was applied to the data to characterize the aberrant brain network dynamics of AD patients. Results: The AD group stayed in the co-activation state for less time than the healthy control (HC) group, and a positive correlation was identified between the transition frequency of the co-activation state and behavior performance. Furthermore, the AD group showed a higher occurrence frequency and transition frequency of the cognitive control state and sensory integration state than the HC group. The transition between the two states was positively correlated with behavior performance. Conclusion: The results suggest that the co-activation state could be important to cognitive processing and that the AD group possibly raised cognitive ability by increasing the occurrence and transition between the impaired cognitive control and sensory integration states.

Cobalt's Dual Role in Promoting C3-Glycosylation of Indoles: Unraveling Mechanistic Insights.

In this study, we present a cobalt-catalyzed C3-glycosylation of indoles using unfunctionalized glycals, yielding 3-indolyl-C-deoxyglycosides. These compounds hold promise as sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors for treating type 2 diabetes. Control experiments unveiled that cobalt assumes a dual role, facilitating catalytic C-glycosylation while unexpectedly driving the anomerization of α-anomers through endocyclic cleavage of the C1-O5 bond, resulting in the formation of ß-C-deoxyglycosides. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations shed light on the reaction mechanism, emphasizing the significant role of the pyridine group of indole in stabilizing transition states and intermediates.

Stanniocalcin-1 secreted by human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells regulates interleukin-10 expression via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in alveolar macrophages.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a syndrome of acute respiratory failure caused by infection, trauma, shock, aspiration or drug reaction. The pathogenesis of ARDS is characterized as an unregulated inflammatory storm, which causes endothelial and epithelial layer damage, leading to alveolar fluid accumulation and pulmonary edema. Previous studies have shown the potential role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in combating the inflammatory cascade by increasing the anti-inflammatory mediator interleukin-10 (IL-10). However, the involved mechanisms are unclear. Here we investigated whether a key immunomodulatory regulator, stanniocalcin-1 (STC-1), was secreted by MSC to activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT)/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway to increase IL-10 expression in alveolar macrophages. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated alveolar macrophages co-cultured with human umbilical mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSC) secreted high levels of IL-10. HUMSC co-cultured with alveolar macrophages expressed high STC-1 levels and increased PI3K, AKT and mTOR phosphorylation after LPS activation in alveolar macrophages. STC-1 knockdown in HUMSC decreased the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT and mTOR and suppressed IL-10 expression in alveolar macrophages. Rapamycin (an mTOR inhibitor) reduced IL-10 secretion in alveolar macrophages. These results, together with our previous study and others, indicate that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is involved in the regulation of IL-10 production by STC-1 secreted by HUMSC in alveolar macrophages.

Relationship between serum concentration and clinical response of quetiapine in adolescents and adults with bipolar disorders in acute stage: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: It is found that there are great differences in the efficacy of quetiapine at the same dose in many patients with bipolar disorders. Therefore, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is a valuable tool for guiding treatment with quetiapine. The aims of this study were to assess the relationship between serum concentration and clinical response of quetiapine in adolescents and adults with bipolar disorders in acute stage. METHODS: The study design was prospective and observational. Within the naturalistic setting of a routine TDM service at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed using the HAMD (Hamilton Depression Scale), YRMS (Young manic rating scale) and CUDOS-M (Clinically Useful Depression Outcome Scale-Mixed Subscale). The decline of HAMD and YMRS scores was were used to assess clinical outcome of bipolar disorders respectively. RESULTS: 169 inpatients (23.7 % male, 76.3 % female) were enrolled in the study. We found that there was a strong correlation between quetiapine serum concentrations and clinical outcomes (rs = 0.702, p < 0.001). While, quetiapine daily dose was not correlated with clinical outcome. We found that when the quetiapine serum level is >146.85 ng/ml in depression episodes patients could obtain a satisfactory treatment effect after 2 weeks of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: We found a significant positive relationship between serum concentration and clinical outcome, and also determined the serum concentration of quetiapine for the treatment of bipolar depression.

Clinical value of frontal P-wave axis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To observe the correlation between the frontal P-wave axis and the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the prognosis evaluation system.Methods:Patients with COPD>45 years old who were followed up in the outpatient department of Hunan Chest Hospital from January to July 2022 were continuously selected as subjects. At the same time, the healthy people who examined in the health management center of our hospital were in the control group. Both groups of subjects completed electrocardiogram and pulmonary function tests. The level of frontal P-wave axis and the results of pulmonary function examination were recorded, and the differences of frontal P-wave axis between the COPD group and the control group were compared, so as to clarify the value of frontal P-wave axis in the diagnosis, disease severity and prognosis evaluation of COPD.Results:The level of forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC )in the COPD group was significantly lower than that in the control group, while the level of P-wave axis was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of P-wave axis showed that the AUC of P-wave axis in predicting COPD was 0.96 ( P<0.001), the best cut-off value was 63.80, the sensitivity was 0.89, and the specificity was 0.93. There were significant difference in P-wave axis level, the forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV 1%pred), body mass index (BMI) and BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index between groups according to the degree of airflow limitation (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that P-wave axis level was positively correlated with BODE index ( r=0.77, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with pulmonary function FEV 1%pred ( r=-0.76, P<0.001). Conclusions:There is a good correlation between the level of frontal P-wave axis and the severity of COPD and the prognosis evaluation system, which has clinical application value.

Effect of disability severity on home-based care quality among families with Uygur and Kazakh disabled older adults in far western rural China: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To explore how family functioning and family resilience mediate the relationship between disability severity and quality of home-based care among families with disabled older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 431 families with Uygur and Kazakh disabled older adults in Xinjiang, China, in 2020. The data were collected using the Katz Activity of Daily Living Scale; Mini-Mental State Examination; Family Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve Index Scale; Family Resilience Assessment Scale; and Family Caregiving Consequences Inventory Scale. All mediation effects were estimated in SPSS26.0. RESULTS: Disability severity, family functioning and family resilience were all significantly correlated with home-based care quality. Disability severity had a 46.16% direct effect on home-based care quality and a 53.84% indirect effect on home-based care quality independently and in series through family functioning and family resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Disability severity directly affected home-based care quality and had an indirect influence via family functioning and family resilience. Multidisciplinary care teams should focus on families with disabled older adults and help them improve family functioning and family resilience by implementing targeted interventions, so as to improve home-based care quality.

Improved volume variable cluster model method for crystal-lattice optimization: effect on isotope fractionation factor.

The isotopic fractionation factor and element partition coefficient can be calculated only after the geometric optimization of the molecular clusters is completed. Optimization directly affects the accuracy of some parameters, such as the average bond length, molecular volume, harmonic vibrational frequency, and other thermodynamic parameters. Here, we used the improved volume variable cluster model (VVCM) method to optimize the molecular clusters of a typical oxide, quartz. We documented the average bond length and relative volume change. Finally, we extracted the harmonic vibrational frequencies and calculated the equilibrium fractionation factor of the silicon and oxygen isotopes. Given its performance in geometrical optimization and isotope fractionation factor calculation, we further applied the improved VVCM method to calculate isotope equilibrium fractionation factors of Cd and Zn between the hydroxide (Zn-Al layered double hydroxide), carbonate (cadmium-containing calcite) and their aqueous solutions under superficial conditions. We summarized a detailed procedure and used it to re-evaluate published theoretical results for cadmium-containing hydroxyapatite, emphasizing the relative volume change for all clusters and confirming the optimal point charge arrangement (PCA). The results showed that the average bond length and isotope fractionation factor are consistent with those published in previous studies, and the relative volume changes are considerably lower than the results calculated using the periodic boundary method. Specifically, the average Si-O bond length of quartz was 1.63 Å, and the relative volume change of quartz centered on silicon atoms was  - 0.39%. The average Zn-O bond length in the Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide was 2.10 Å, with a relative volume change of 1.96%. Cadmium-containing calcite had an average Cd-O bond length of 2.28 Å, with a relative volume change of 0.45%. At 298 K, the equilibrium fractionation factors between quartz, Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide, cadmium-containing calcite, and their corresponding aqueous solutions were [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] respectively. These results strongly support the reliability of the improved VVCM method for geometric optimization of molecular clusters.

Analysis of the change of pulmonary function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis treated regularly for three months / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To observe and compare the changes of pulmonary function in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis regular treatment for 3 months.Methods:From April 2018 to June 2019, 500 tuberculosis patients who received regular anti tuberculosis treatment in our hospital were selected.The pulmonary function of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was measured before treatment and at the end of three months; the results of pulmonary ventilation function, lung volume, diffusing capacity, and the value of forced vital capacity (FVC), maximum expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1), maximum expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV 1/FVC), total lung volume (TLC), residual volume (RV), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (D LCO) were compared. Results:252 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were included. Before treatment and at the end of three months, the abnormal pulmonary function results were 204 cases (80.95%) and 193 cases (76.59%), respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Among them, abnormal pulmonary ventilation function is the most common, especially with obstructive, followed by abnormal diffusing capacity. At the end of three months, the proportions of patients with normal pulmonary ventilation function and normal lung volume were higher than that before treatment ( P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the proportion of normal diffusing capacity before and after treatment ( P>0.05). The values of FVC, FEV 1, TLC and D LCO at the end of three months were higher than those before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-6.414, -6.754, -3.863, -3.311, all P<0.01). Conclusions:Most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have abnormal pulmonary function. At the end of the three months treatment, the normal rates of the pulmonary ventilation function and lung volume as well as the values of FVC, FEV 1, TLC and D LCO in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were significantly improved compared with those before treatment.

Distribution of Avian Influenza A Viruses in Poultry-Related Environment and Its Association with Human Infection in Henan, 2016 to 2017.

OBJECTIVE: To survey avian influenza A viruses (AIVs) in the environment and explore the reasons for the surge in human H7N9 cases. METHODS: A total of 1,045 samples were collected from routine surveillance on poultry-related environments and 307 samples from human H7N9 cases-exposed environments in Henan from 2016 to 2017. The nucleic acids of influenza A (Flu A), H5, H7, and H9 subtypes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A total of 27 H7N9 cases were confirmed in Henan from 2016 to 2017, 24 had a history of live poultry exposure, and 15 had H7N9 virus detected in the related live poultry markets (LPMs). About 96% (264/275) Flu A positive-environmental samples were from LPMs. H9 was the main AIV subtype (10.05%) from routine surveillance sites with only 1 H7-positive sample, whereas 21.17% samples were H7-positive in H7N9 cases-exposed environments. Samples from H7N9 cases-exposed LPMs (47.56%) had much higher AIVs positive rates than those from routine surveillance sites (12.34%). The H7+H9 combination of mixed infection was 78.18% (43/55) of H7-positive samples and 41.34% (43/104) of H9-positive samples. CONCLUSION: The contamination status of AIVs in poultry-related environments is closely associated with the incidence of human infection caused by AIVs. Therefore, systematic surveillance of AIVs in LPMs in China is essential for the detection of novel reassortant viruses and their potential for interspecies transmission.

Bites from the same dog, different outcomes for two patients: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a serious reemerging zoonosis in China. At present human rabies cases are primarily diagnosed based on clinical presentation. CASE PRESENTATION: In August 2012, a woman and her son were attacked by a stray dog in Henan, China. The son received rabies postexposure prophylaxis (wound treatment followed by vaccine, no immunoglobulin), however, the mother did not. Rabies infection was subsequently laboratory confirmed in the mother and she died in December; her son is alive and healthy after 2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION: This report documents that the timely utilization of postexposure prophylaxis is a required measure in preventing rabies after exposure to an animal bite.

Outbreak of dengue Fever in central China, 2013.

In 2013, the first dengue fever (DF) outbreak in central China was reported in the central of Henan province, northern temperate regions, although they have been sequentially recorded in Southern China. 106 suspected DF cases were reported and 73 patients were confirmed dengue virus type 3 (DEN-3) infections. 62/392 (15.8%) local health persons showed DEN antibodies positive. To this day Henan is the northernmost province in China which has been reported about outbreak of DF and what is important is that it warns us the endemic range of DF has been expanded geographically in China.

[Expression of survivin in ameloblastoma and its clinical significance].

PURPOSE: To study the expression of survivin in ameloblastoma and its clinical significance. METHODS: Immunohistochemical S-P method was used to detect the expression of survivin in clinical significance. Seventy cases of ameloblastoma (AB), 15 cases of malignant AB and 30 cases of normal oral mucosa were included. SPLUS13.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Survivin was strongly expressed in AB and malignant AB. The positive rate in malignant AB was up to 100%, followed by 82.9% in AB. Survivin was weakly expressed in normal oral mucosa, with a positive rate of 30%. The difference among the 3 groups was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Survivin is overexpressed in AB compared to normal oral mucosa. Survivin is involved in the development and progress of AB, and the ability of invasion and canceration of AB is correlated with the overexpression of survivin.

Outbreak of dengue Fever in central China, 2013 / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

In 2013, the first dengue fever (DF) outbreak in central China was reported in the central of Henan province, northern temperate regions, although they have been sequentially recorded in Southern China. 106 suspected DF cases were reported and 73 patients were confirmed dengue virus type 3 (DEN-3) infections. 62/392 (15.8%) local health persons showed DEN antibodies positive. To this day Henan is the northernmost province in China which has been reported about outbreak of DF and what is important is that it warns us the endemic range of DF has been expanded geographically in China.

[Establishment of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detection of IgG antibody against new bunyavirus].

OBJECTIVE: To develop an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detection of IgG antibodies against new bunyavirus. METHODS: The antigen slides were prepared with 5 new bunyavirus strains isolated using Africa green monkey kidney (Vero) cells. Specificity and sensitivity evaluation of IFA were carried out by optimizing working conditions of IFA. Using established IFA, serum samples from both acute and recovery phases were tested for 126 cases with fever thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome in Xinyang, Henan province in 2007 - 2011. The results were compared with detections by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The new bunyavirus stable immunofluorescence specific WZ69 strain was selected to prepare antigen slides of IFA. The optimum conditions of IFA were: optimum dilution for primary antibody (serum) and secondary antibody (isosulfocyanic acid fluorescence marked goat anti-human IgG antibody) was 1:40 and 1:150 respectively. The optimum dilution for Evans blue in secondary antibody was 1:20 000. Among the 126 patients, 96 paired serum specimens were tested positive to the new bunyavirus and 30 patients were tested negative to the virus. The positive rate of antibodies was 76.19%. There was no significant difference in results between IFA and RT-PCR (72.22% (91/126)) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The IFA has high sensitivity and specificity with easy operation. It can be used in detecting the new bunyavirus infection in patients with fever, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome.

[Etiology surveillance of hand-foot-mouth disease in Henan province between 2008 and 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To understand etiological types and distribution features of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Henan province between 2008 and 2011. METHODS: A total of 30 486 specimens of feces, rectal swabs or throat swabs from HFMD patients were collected by each Municipal CDC in Henan from 2008 to 2011. The enterovirus 71 (EV71), coxsackie virus A16 (CA16) and other enterovirus (EV) were detected by RT-PCR or real time RT-PCR. The VP1 gene of EV71 was amplified and the sequences were analyzed by bioinformatics software. A genetic evolution tree of the sequence was constructed as well. RESULTS: The positive rates of EV71, CA16 and other EV were 62.70% (11 209/17 876), 12.03% (2150/17 876), 25.27% (4517/17 876) in 17 876 laboratory diagnosed cases, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 157.17, P < 0.05). The positive rates of EV71, CA16 and other EV were 63.40% (7370/11 624), 11.58% (1346/11 624) and 25.02% (2908/11 624) in male patients and 61.40% (3839/6252), 12.86% (804/6252) and 25.74% (1609/6252) in female patients, respectively. The differences were statistically significant (χ(2) = 4.06, P < 0.05). The children under 5 years old were high-risk population of HFMD, accounting to 97.67% (17 459/17 876) of the laboratory-diagnosed patients.86.92% (15 537/17 876) cases were children between 1 to 3 years old. Constituent ratio of EV71 changed seasonally during a year, there was a high infection ratio of EV71 between April and June, especially in May, the infection ratio reached 69.34% (2384/3438). The positive rates of EV71, CA16 and other EV were 82.48% (5715/6929), 1.76% (122/6929) and 15.76% (1092/6929) among the 6929 laboratory-diagnosed severe cases, respectively. The positive rates of EV71 was higher than CA16 and other EV (χ(2) = 9259.17, 6170.81, P < 0.05, respectively). There were 117 deaths because of severe HFMD, 55 (47.01%) of which were laboratory confirmed. 50 death cases were infected by EV71, and according to the genetic evolution analysis, the VP1 gene of EV71 strain was belonged to subtype C4 of gene C. CONCLUSION: The EV71 and CA16 were the main pathogens which caused HFMD in Henan province, and EV71 virus was the dominant strain, belonging to C4 subtype of gene C.

[Epidemic characteristics and viral antibody level among healthy people of Japanese B encephalitis in Henan province in 2010].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemic characteristics and viral antibody level among healthy people of Japanese B encephalitis (JE) in Henan province in 2010. METHODS: A total of 433 selected JE cases in Henan province in 2010 were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological method. Xinyang and Luoyang were selected as survey sites in 2010.12 administrative villages were randomly selected from both cities. As the investigation objects, 519 healthy people from the two cities were randomly selected by eight age groups:less than one year old, 1 - 2 years old, 3 - 4 years old, 5 - 6 years old, 7 - 14 years old, 15 - 19 years old, 20 - 59 years old, and above 60 years old. A total of 1008 samples of blood specimens were collected both in May and November, and JE viral antibody was detected by micro-cytopathic effect neutralization test. RESULTS: The incidence rate of JE was 0.46/100 000 (433/94 130 434) in Henan province in 2010.97.69% (423/433) of the patients were found between July and September, and 81.06% (351/433) were distributed in Nanyang, Xinyang, Luoyang, Zhumadian and Zhoukou city. Children aged 0 to 14 years were the primarily affected group (82.22%, 356/433), the people above 15 years old accounted for 17.78% (77/433) of whole cases in Henan province, but the same group accounted for 65.79% (50/76) of whole cases in Luoyang city, which obviously higher than the percentage in Henan province (χ(2) = 79.57, P < 0.05). Most patients were scattered children in Henan province, accounting for 58.89% (255/433). In Luoyang city, most patients were peasants, accounting for 44.74% (34/76). The antibody positive rate of JE among health people above 15 years old in Luoyang city was 48.94% (46/94), which was lower than it in Xinyang city at 97.78% (88/90). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 55.42, P < 0.05). The antibody positive rate among healthy people under vaccination was 50.41% (61/121), which was obviously higher than that among people without vaccination, at 16.67% (6/36) in Luoyang city. The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 12.92, P < 0.05). The antibody positive rate among healthy people under vaccination was 67.11% (51/76) in Xinyang city, which was obviously higher than that among people without vaccination, at 46.39% (45/97). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 7.40, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The incidence of JE showed seasonal and regional characteristics, there were differences among ages and occupations. The difference was consistent with the difference in viral antibody level among health people in Henan province and Luoyang city.

Establishment of indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detection of IgG antibody against new bunyavirus / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for detection of IgG antibodies against new bunyavirus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The antigen slides were prepared with 5 new bunyavirus strains isolated using Africa green monkey kidney (Vero) cells. Specificity and sensitivity evaluation of IFA were carried out by optimizing working conditions of IFA. Using established IFA, serum samples from both acute and recovery phases were tested for 126 cases with fever thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome in Xinyang, Henan province in 2007 - 2011. The results were compared with detections by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The new bunyavirus stable immunofluorescence specific WZ69 strain was selected to prepare antigen slides of IFA. The optimum conditions of IFA were: optimum dilution for primary antibody (serum) and secondary antibody (isosulfocyanic acid fluorescence marked goat anti-human IgG antibody) was 1:40 and 1:150 respectively. The optimum dilution for Evans blue in secondary antibody was 1:20 000. Among the 126 patients, 96 paired serum specimens were tested positive to the new bunyavirus and 30 patients were tested negative to the virus. The positive rate of antibodies was 76.19%. There was no significant difference in results between IFA and RT-PCR (72.22% (91/126)) (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The IFA has high sensitivity and specificity with easy operation. It can be used in detecting the new bunyavirus infection in patients with fever, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia syndrome.</p>