凝血检验标本采集与处理过程中的质量控制分析

目的观察分析凝血检验标本采集与处理过程中的质量控制。方法选择凝血检验标本采集与处理强化质控措施实施后(2018年3月至2019年2月)和实施前(2017年3月至2018年2月)在本院行凝血检验的健康体检者各41例,分别作为观察组和对照组。收集两组待检查者的标本采集、处理过程记录,比较两组标本不合格发生率。结果观察组凝血检验标本不合格发生率(2.44%,1/41)显著低于对照组(19.51%,8/41),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论强化质控措施可有效提升凝血检验标本采集与处理过程规范性,降低不合格标本风险,有助于保障凝血检验准确性和有效性,临床应用价值较高。     

Rapid Detection of ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae in Blood Cultures

We rapidly identified extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers prospectively among 245 gram-negative bacilli–positive cultured blood specimens using the Rapid ESBL Nordmann/Dortet/Poirel test and direct bacterial identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. This combination identified ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae within 30 min and had high predictive values.     

National survey of physicians in Japan regarding their use of diagnostic tests for legionellosis

IntroductionBacterial culture remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of legionellosis. However, past reports indicate that most physicians use the urinary antigen test (UAT) alone. Combining it with other tests is important, especially in patients with negative UAT results. The aim of this study was to investigate the current situation of legionellosis diagnostics and clarify the issues that need to be addressed.MethodsBetween March 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021, a questionnaire survey was conducted in an anonymous manner among physicians working in Japan. Questionnaires were generated on a website and asked questions in a multiple-choice format.ResultsValid responses were received from 309 physicians during the study period. Most (92.9%) physicians reported using UAT as the initial test for patients suspected of having legionellosis, and <10% reported using other tests (e.g., culture, nucleic acid amplification test [NAAT], Gimenez staining, and serum antibody titer measurement [ATM]). When the initial test result was negative, 63% of physicians reported not conducting additional tests. Even when they chose to run additional tests, at most 27.8%, 23.6%, 12.3%, and 10.4% of all physicians used NAAT, culture, Gimenez staining, and serum ATM, respectively. The major reasons for not using tests other than UAT were “unavailability in the medical facility,” “long turn-around time,” and “difficult to collect sputum.”ConclusionsThe present survey revealed that most physicians in Japan used UAT alone for diagnosing legionellosis. Eliminating barriers to creating a reasonable environment and edification of physicians are needed to improve the current situation.     

Flexor and extensor muscle tone evaluated using the quantitative pendulum test in stroke and parkinsonian patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the flexor and extensor muscle tone of the upper limbs in patients with spasticity or rigidity and to investigate the difference in hypertonia between spasticity and rigidity. The two experimental groups consisted of stroke patients and parkinsonian patients. The control group consisted of age and sex-matched normal subjects. Quantitative upper limb pendulum tests starting from both flexed and extended joint positions were conducted. System identification with a simple linear model was performed and model parameters were derived. The differences between the three groups and two starting positions were investigated by these model parameters and tested by two-way analysis of variance. In total, 57 subjects were recruited, including 22 controls, 14 stroke patients and 21 parkinsonian patients. While stiffness coefficient showed no difference among groups, the number of swings, relaxation index and damping coefficient showed changes suggesting significant hypertonia in the two patient groups. There was no difference between these two patient groups. The test starting from the extended position constantly manifested higher muscle tone in all three groups. In conclusion, the hypertonia of parkinsonian and stroke patients could not be differentiated by the modified pendulum test; the elbow extensors showed a higher muscle tone in both control and patient groups; and hypertonia of both parkinsonian and stroke patients is velocity dependent.     

应用沉淀法消除HLAP患者生化标本乳糜状态的探讨

目的探索磷钨酸镁沉淀法在高脂血症性急性胰腺炎(HLAP)患者标本进行生化检验前对重度乳糜状态的消除作用。方法取外观正常标本经磷钨酸镁处理后做各项生化检验,与处理前数据进行相关性分析;以脂肪乳液配制轻、中、重3组模拟乳糜血清做回收试验,计算各生化项目的回收率;收集HLAP患者标本做实证试验,观察乳糜消除效果和生化检验效果。结果除了二氧化碳结合力(CO2CP)、总胆红素(TBil)、直接胆红素(DBil)、肌酸激酶同工酶MB(CK-MB)、乳酸脱氢酶同工酶1(LD-1)、半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂C(Cys C)、高敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)外,钾离子(K+)、钠离子(Na+)、氯离子(Cl-)、钙离子(Ca2+)、血糖(Glu)、尿素(Urea)、尿酸(UA)、肌酐(Cr)、淀粉酶(AMY)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)、γ-谷氨酰基转移酶(GGT)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)、总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(Alb)、总胆汁酸(TBA)、肌酸激酶(CK)、乳酸脱氢酶(LD)、α-羟丁酸脱氢酶(α-HBDH)经磷钨酸镁处理后均可正确检测,且与处理前呈高度的直线相关,拟合曲线显著性检验显示P均0.01。回收试验中3组模拟乳糜血清各生化项目的回收率最低为98.03%,最高为103.44%,回收效果良好。HLAP患者标本经磷钨酸镁处理后可正确检测的生化项目与相关性分析实验中外观正常的标本一致,甘油三酯(TG)10 mmol/L或TG40 mmol/L的标本乳糜消除效果明显,TG为10~40 mmol/L的标本需先做稀释使TG10 mmol/L再做处理。结论磷钨酸镁沉淀法清除血脂效果显著,对绝大多数的生化检验不会产生干扰,适用于重度乳糜状态的HLAP患者标本生化检验前的处理。     

Visual working memory and perception speed of 3- to 6-year-old children tested with a Matrix Film Battery Test

In this study the visual working memory (VWM) and perception speed of 60 children between the ages of three and six years were tested with an age-based, easy-to-handle Matrix Film Battery Test (reliability R?=?.71). It was thereby affirmed that the VWM is age dependent (correlation coefficient r?=?.66***) as expected. Furthermore, a significant gender effect was found (partial correlation coefficient r_p?=?.42***) indicating that boys generally have a better VWM: they are able to memorise more items and they can process visual information faster. Given that the test was repeated during a period of eight months, strong learning effects could be detected which show that the VWM can be trained and that the test itself is also a good training tool.     

Poor immune response to coronavirus disease vaccines in decompensated cirrhosis patients and liver transplant recipients

Background and aimsRecent studies have reported poor humoral immune response to mRNA vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). However, the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 (vector-based) and BBV152 (inactivated virus) vaccines in patients with CLD and liver transplant recipients (LTRs) is unknown. Therefore, we aimed to assess the immunogenicity of ChAdOx1 and BBV152 vaccines in patients with CLD (including cirrhosis patients) and LTRs.MethodsIn this single-center prospective study, consecutive completely vaccinated (ChAdOx1 or BBV152) non-cirrhosis CLD patients, those with cirrhosis, and LTRs were compared with matched healthy controls for anti-spike antibody and cellular response.ResultsSixty healthy individuals, 50 NCCLD patients, 63 compensated and 50 decompensated cirrhosis, and 17 LTRs were included. The proportion of non-responders was similar among the healthy control (8 %), non-cirrhosis CLD (16 %), and compensated cirrhosis groups (17.5 %;p = 0.3). However, a higher proportion of patients with decompensated cirrhosis (34 %) and LTRs (59 %) were non-responders than the healthy controls (p = 0.001). Cluster of differentiation (CD) 4-effector cells were lower in patients with non-cirrhosis CLD and compensated cirrhosis. CD4-naïve, CD4-effector, B, and B-memory cells were lower in the decompensated cirrhosis group. Although the central memory cells were higher in the decompensated cirrhosis group, they could not differentiate into effector cells. CD4- and CD8-naïve cells were higher in the marrow in the LTRs, while the CD4-effector memory cells and CD4- and CD8-effector cells were lower in the LTRs. Furthermore, B cells were more deficient in the LTRs, suggesting poor antibody response.ConclusionPatients with decompensated cirrhosis and LTRs demonstrated suboptimal humoral and cellular immune responses against recombinant and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines.     

Influence of Surface Area and Geometry of Specimens on Bond Strength in a Microtensile Test: An Analysis by the Three‐Dimensional Finite Element Method

Purpose: This study employed three‐dimensional (3D) finite element analysis to investigate the stress distribution patterns in a microtensile test with the goal of evaluating the effects of the bond surface area and geometry on bond strength. Materials and Methods: Finite element models of six specimens were generated: three stick models and three hourglass models. All models simulated the bond strength between dentin and ceramic. The mechanical properties of the materials—the modulus of elasticity and Poisson's coefficient—were defined according to a literature review. The base of each specimen was considered inserted (constrained area) and possessed nodes with displacements restricted in all directions. A traction load, which was calculated to generate a uniformly distributed stress of 20 N/mm² at the bond interface, was applied to the top of the specimen. The distribution pattern of the generated stress was qualitatively and quantitatively measured based on color scales ranging from blue to red, according to the von Mises equivalent stress. Results: Specimens with similar shapes demonstrated similar stress distributions. Ceramic specimens had a higher stress value (30.35 MPa) compared to specimens consisting of resinous cement (23.59 MPa) and dentin (19.77 MPa). At the bond interface, the specimens with square sections demonstrated stress values ranging from 22.00 to 24.20 MPa. For the circular section, the stress values ranged from 23.40 to 27.00 MPa. Conclusion: The maximum stress values determined for the circular and square sections were similar among specimens with the same interface area. At the bond interface, the highest stress values were observed in hourglass‐shaped specimens.