Hemodynamic Effect of Propafenone and the Experience in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

The effects of propafenone on left ventricular function and hemodynamics are presented in this study. In one group of 13 patients who underwent electrophysiological testing and subsequent chronic oral therapy with propafenone, eight had left ventricular ejection fractions determined by nuclear study before and during therapy with the drug. Initial measurements ranged from 22% to 39% (mean 30%), while those on chronic therapy showed no statistical difference and ranged from 22% to 48% (mean 30%). In a separate dose titration study of 14 patients, left ventricular ejection fraction showed a modest but significant decrease (52%± 9% to 48%± 11%; p < 0.05). This change was more marked in patients with an initial low ejection fraction. Propafenone appears to be safe in these patients but should be administered with caution in patients with particularly low ejection fractions.     

Llama antibody fragments have good potential for application as HIV type 1 topical microbicides

There is an urgent global need for preventive strategies against HIV-1 infections. Llama heavy-chain antibody fragments (VHH) are a class of molecules recently described as potent cross-clade HIV-1 entry inhibitors. We studied the potential of a VHH-based microbicide in an application-oriented fashion. We show that VHH can be inexpensively produced in high amounts in the GRAS organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, resulting in a very pure and endotoxin free product. VHH are very stable under conditions they might encounter during transport, storage, or use by women. We developed active formulations of VHH in aqueous gel and compressed and lyophilized tablets for controlled release from an intravaginal device. The release profile of the VHH from, e.g., a vaginal ring suggests sufficient bioavailability and protective concentration of the molecule at the mucosal site at the moment of the infection. The ex vivo penetration kinetics through human tissues show that the VHH diffuse into the mucosal layer and open the possibility to create a second defense layer either by blocking the HIV receptor binding sites or by blocking the receptors of immune cells in the mucosa. In conclusion, our data show that VHH have a high potential for HIV-1 microbicide application because of their low production costs, their high stability, and their favorable release and tissue penetration properties.     

前白蛋白变化率对肝衰竭预后的预测作用

目的探讨血清前白蛋白(PALB)变化率与肝衰竭预后的关系。方法回顾性分析98例肝衰竭患者的临床资料,对患者进行Child-Pugh分级,并把患者分为好转组与未愈组,收集住院期间初始及末次PALB及其他主要肝功能指标的数值,并计算出PALB及其他主要肝功能指标的变化率。结果入院时患者的初始PALB数值明显下降,且Child-Pugh分级越高,数值越低。好转组与未愈组患者的初始PALB数值相近,当血清PALB数值快速升高时,好转组人数明显多于未愈组;当数值下降时,好转组人数明显少于未愈组;当数值升高不明显时,未愈组与好转组差异无统计学意义,但未愈组人数要多于好转组。PALB变化率的敏感度最高,特异度较总胆红素、凝血酶原活动度、国际标准化比值变化率低,而ROC曲线下面积最大。结论肝衰竭患者初始PALB明显比正常值低,而且病情越重,血清中PALB数值越低,但患者预后与初始PALB无相关性,而与PALB变化率相关。大部分PALB快速升高者,预后好;大部分PALB下降或升高缓慢者,预后差。而且PALB变化率对于预后的预测价值要高于其他主要肝功能指标。     

Public opinion on imposing restrictions to people with an alcohol- or drug addiction: a cross-sectional survey

Purpose

Alcohol- and drug addiction tends to evoke disapproval and rejection among people. This study provides insight into the origin of people’s negative attitudes towards these people. Corrigan’s attribution model is used to examine intentions of the Dutch public to impose restrictions to people who are addicted to alcohol or illicit drugs.

Methods

Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey among a representative panel of the Dutch population (N = 2,793). Path analyses were conducted to test the influence of attribution beliefs, emotional responses and familiarity with addictions on people’s intentions to impose restrictions to these people.

Results

More than half of the respondents agreed with imposing restrictions to someone with an addiction such as excluding from taking public office or forbid to care for children. Corrigan’s attribution model was partially applicable to explain people’s intentions to impose restrictions, since only a rather small percentage of the variance in people’s intentions was explained by the model. The perception of personal responsibility for an addiction and high expectancy of aggressiveness have a positive influence on intentions to impose restrictions. Feelings of anger and fear were also predictors of intentions to impose restrictions.

Conclusions

The Dutch public showed high intentions to restrict people with an alcohol- or drug addiction which has an extensive impact on their life opportunities. Perceived aggressiveness, feeling of anger and fear, and perceived responsibility were associated with higher intentions to impose restrictions.     

基于增强图卷积神经网络的病毒形态识别方法研究

背景 透射电子显微镜（TEM）是检测病毒的重要手段,传统TEM检测常依靠专家手工观察,操作步骤繁琐,且已有机器学习方法易受到背景、噪声的影响,导致病毒检测方法准确率差、效率低且耗时长。 目的 探讨增强图卷积神经网络（EGCN）对TEM图像中的病毒形态自动识别问题,以提高TEM病毒检测的效率。 方法 EGCN模型利用卷积神经网络（CNN）提取像素间的局部特征信息,并结合样本特征之间的最近邻关系利用图卷积网络（GCN）进行图特征学习。在模型优化中联合优化群体超分类损失和分类交叉熵损失以提高EGCN模型对病毒类别信息特征的提取能力,较CNN对TEM病毒图像特征具备更强的特征提取能力。 结果 通过不同方法在15类TEM病毒图像数据集上开展实验,EGCN达到3.40%的top-1错误率、1.88%的top-2错误率、96.65%的精确度和96.60%的召回率,并通过一系列对比实验表明EGCN模型可以有效避免TEM图像中背景、噪声等的影响,提高对病毒识别的准确率。 结论 EGCN可以有效解决病毒形态识别任务,为病毒的诊断提供重要的参考价值。     

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassemia using DNA amplification and nonradioactive probes

We used in vitro DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and nonradioactive probes for prenatal diagnosis of beta thalassemia in Chinese from the Guangdong province. Exact molecular diagnoses were made in all 20 fetuses studied over a 6-month period. We conclude that this method of prenatal diagnosis for beta thalassemia is a viable approach in many parts of the world where this disease is common.     

鞍山市铁东区公共场所使用化妆品存在的主要卫生问题及对策

目的了解鞍山市铁东区公共场所使用化妆品卫生问题,保障使用者身体健康。方法对2013年度鞍山市铁东区卫生防疫站辖区内监管的公共场所随机抽检化妆品,对公共场所使用化妆品单位数及比例,化妆品标签标识卫生问题等进行描述。结果住宿业化妆品使用情况为56%,其他三种场所100%使用。化妆品标签标识检查住宿业合格率最低,仅为50%。国产特殊用途化妆品持有效证件率仅为65%,普通的仅为62%。标签标识问题突出,进货渠道复杂。化妆品抽检合格率低。结论公共场所的化妆品卫生质量令人担忧。