Seroprevalence of tetanus immunity among noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients

Tetanus is a preventable disease that continues to affect people in both developing and developed countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunity profile to tetanus in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) and to compare them with healthy controls. The tetanus antitoxin levels in 310 diabetic patients (104 males and 206 females) and in 200 healthy controls (72 males and 128 females) were measured by ELISA (Virotech, Germany). The mean antitoxin concentration in patient and control groups were 0.8238+/-1.61 and 0.9978+/-1.49 IU/ml, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (z=-3.520, P=.0001 and odds ratio was 2.367). There was a definitive inverse correlation between the duration of diabetes and tetanus antibody titers (Spearman's correlation analysis, r=-.155, P=.006). A gender-dependent difference in the susceptibility to tetanus was present in the diabetic group with antibody titers being significantly higher in males compared with females (z=-2.267, P=.023). For both of control (chi(2)=20.207, P=.003) and patient (chi(2)=43.532, P=.0001) groups, there was a significant inverse correlation between the tetanus immunity levels and age. Statistically, a significant drop in antibody titers of both groups was found as the period past from the last immunization increased (Pearson correlation analysis: for patient group r=-.364, P=.0001; for control group r=-.143, P=.044). The tetanus antitoxin levels were significantly increased in individuals who had primary immunization during childhood (for patient group chi(2)=17.191, P=.0001; for control group chi(2)=9.911, P=.007). A significant reduction in the level of antitoxin immunity to tetanus in association with an increased susceptibility to infections in patients with diabetes may implicate the need for improving vaccination rates in this patient group.     

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.     

Evaluation of contralateral kidney, liver and lung after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in rabbits

An experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on contralateral kidney, liver and lung by histopathological and biochemical methods. Twelve New Zealand rabbits were allocated to two groups (n = 6). Tissues of control group (CG, n = 6) were harvested without any intervention. In ESWL group (EG), right kidneys were exposed to 3,000 shock waves at 14 kV energy using electro-hydraulic type ESWL device three times every other day. Both kidneys, liver, and right lobe of lung tissues in EG were harvested on seventh day. Kidneys were examined histopathologically for presence of glomerular and tubular injury, interstitial edema, congestion, inflammation and fibrosis. Livers were examined for hepatocyte vacuolization, congestion, portal inflammation and fibrosis. Lung tissues were examined for loss of normal structure, emphysema, interstitial congestion–edema, prominent alveolar septal vessels, interstitial inflammation, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, intraluminal hemorrhage, peribronchial edema, congestion, inflammation in bronchial wall and epithelial desquamation. Biochemical analysis of tissue samples was performed for oxidative injury markers. Histopathological evaluations revealed that tubular injury was found in both shocked and contralateral kidneys (p < 0.05). EG showed higher grades of portal fibrosis in liver and higher grades of peribronchial congestion in lung when compared to CG (p < 0.05). Biochemical evaluations of both kidneys showed that malondialdehyde levels were higher in EG than in CG (p < 0.05). ESWL causes histopathologic alterations both in shocked and contralateral kidneys. Extrarenal tissues such as liver and lung can be affected by shock waves histopathologically and oxidative injury of contralateral kidney may occur acutely after ESWL.     

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。     

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.