Postural balance in pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum

Objective: To assess postural balance in females with pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Methods: In this observational study, postural balance during the first trimester was measured using the Biodex Balance System (BBS) in 41 pregnant females (20 females with pregnancies complicated by HG and 21 healthy controls). The overall stability index (OA), anterior-posterior stability index (APSI), medial-lateral stability index (MLSI) and fall risk test (FRT) scores were obtained from the mean scores of three trials on the BSS. The four measurements obtained from the BBS (OA, APSI, MLSI and FRT) were compared between healthy pregnant females and those with pregnancies complicated by HG (HG group).

Results: The mean OA and APSI scores were significantly higher in the HG group compared to healthy pregnant controls (p?p?>?0.05). The FRT scores of HG patients were higher than healthy pregnant females (p?=?0.001).

Conclusions: Pregnant females with HG have poor postural stability/balance and high fall risk test scores. HG causes decreased postural equilibrium in the first trimester of pregnancy.     

Flexible anode materials for lithium-ion batteries derived from waste biomass-based carbon nanofibers: I. Effect of carbonization temperature

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with excellent electrochemical performance represent a novel class of carbon nanostructures for boosting electrochemical applications, especially sustainable electrochemical energy conversion and storage applications. This work builds on an earlier study where the CNFs were prepared from a waste biomass (walnut shells) using a relatively simple procedure of liquefying the biomass, and electrospinning and carbonizing the fibrils. We further improved the mass ratio of the liquefying process and investigated the effects of the high temperature carbonization process at 1000, 1500 and 2000 °C, and comprehensively characterized the morphology, structural properties, and specific surface area of walnut shell-derived CNFs; and their electrochemical performance was also investigated as electrode materials in Li-ion batteries. Results demonstrated that the CNF anode obtained at 1000 °C exhibits a high specific capacity up to 271.7 mA h g⁻¹ at 30 mA g⁻¹, good rate capacity (131.3 and 102.2 mA h g⁻¹ at 1 A g⁻¹ and 2 A g⁻¹, respectively), and excellent cycling performance (above 200 mA h g⁻¹ specific capacity without any capacity decay after 200 cycles at 100 mA g⁻¹). The present work demonstrates the great potential for converting low-cost biomass to high-value carbon materials for applications in energy storage.

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) with excellent electrochemical performance represent a novel class of carbon nanostructures for boosting electrochemical applications, especially sustainable electrochemical energy conversion and storage applications.     

The evaluation of safety and efficacy of colistin use in pediatric intensive care unit: Results from two reference hospitals and review of literature

Colistin, an old cationic polypeptide antibiotic, have been reused due to rising incidence of infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative microorganisms and the lack of new antibiotics. Therefore, we evaluated safety and efficacy of colistin in treatment of these infections. This study included 104 critically ill children with a median age of 55,9 months between January 2011 and January 2016. Nephrotoxicity occurred in 11 (10.5%) patients. Nephrotoxicity occurred between the third and seventh day of treatment in 63% of colistin induced nephrotoxicity episodes. The subgroup analysis between the patients who developed nephrotoxicity during colistin treatment and those that did not, showed no significant difference in terms of age, underlying disease, cause for PICU admission and type of infection required colistin treatment, P values were 0.615, 0.762, 0.621, 0.803, respectively. All patients were receiving a concomitant nephrotoxic agent (P = 0,355). The majority of the patients (52%) were having primary or secondary immune deficiency in treatment failure group and the most common cause of PICU admission was sepsis in treatment failure group, P values were 0.007 and 0.045, respectively. Mortality attributed to colistin failure and crude mortality were 14.4% and 29.8%, respectively. In conclusion, colistin may have a role in the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in critically ill children. However, the patients have to be followed for side effects throughout colistin treatment, not for only early stage. And the clinicians should be aware of increase in the rate of nephrotoxicity in patients those have been receiving a concomitant nephrotoxic agent.     

成都市两城区部分成年男性吸烟者吸烟行为调查

目的 分析成都市成年男性吸烟者吸烟行为、吸烟量及其变化的影响因素。方法对成都市两城区320名成年男性吸烟者面对面问卷调查。采用描述性分析、t检验、χ²检验、单因素方差分析、Kruskal-Wails H秩和检验、累积比数logistic回归方法分析数据。结果 分析显示吸烟者更换卷烟后, 吸烟量增加(t=2.327, P=0.021), 焦油量降低(t=-11.251, P<0.001);累积比数logistic回归分析显示, 学历较低(OR=1.968, P=0.040)、收入较高(OR=2.053, P=0.043)、烟蒂较短(OR=2.366, P=0.010)、尼古丁高依赖(OR=7.143, P<0.001)者吸烟量更大。结论 更换卷烟的吸烟者更倾向选择低焦油卷烟;学历低、收入高、尼古丁高依赖的吸烟者是控烟健康教育、行为干预的重点人群。     

初产妇与经产妇焦虑抑郁状态分析及干预

目的：分析初产妇、经产妇心理状态特点,以便采取更有效的干预措施。方法筛选2014年6月至2015年1月在咸阳市旬邑县妇幼保健院产科门诊产前检查的健康初产和经产妇各60名,孕周为28~40周。入组时用焦虑自评量表( SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)对两组孕妇进行心理评定,并给1次支持性心理干预(40~60分钟),1周后再次用SAS、SDS对两组孕妇进行评定分析。结果经产妇干预前SAS(50.73±3.45)、SDS(49.13±3.86)评分明显高于初产妇SAS(42.45±2.08)、SDS(41.77±2.21),差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为-15.921、-12.817,均P<0.01);干预后两组SAS、SDS评分均比干预前明显降低,差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为14.999、15.413;15.724、15.832,均P<0.01);干预后经产妇 SAS(38.61±5.02)、SDS(39.10±3.03)评分明显高于初产妇SAS(34.88±3.31)、SDS(32.01±4.27),差异均有统计学意义(t值分别为-4.805、-10.489,均P<0.01)。结论初产妇和经产妇均伴有焦虑、抑郁情绪,干预前后经产妇抑郁、焦虑情绪均较初产妇明显,支持性心理干预能有效改善孕妇的不良情绪。     

2011—2020年安徽省钉螺分布时空分析

目的　分析2011—2020年安徽省钉螺分布时空特征,为全省钉螺精准防控提供参考。方法　收集2011—2020年安徽省实有钉螺面积、新发钉螺面积和感染性钉螺面积等钉螺分布指标并进行描述性分析,对实有和新发钉螺面积进行空间自相关、热点分析、标准差椭圆分析及时空扫描等分析,探索安徽省钉螺聚集与扩散高风险区。结果　2011—2020年,安徽省实有钉螺面积逐渐降低。2020年全省实有钉螺面积26 238.85 hm2,主要分布在湖沼型血吸虫病流行区。各年份间新发钉螺面积波动较大,2016年最高（1 287.65 hm2）;2020年在池州市贵池区新发现1.96 hm2感染性钉螺面积。空间自相关和热点分析显示,2011—2020年安徽省实有钉螺面积分布具有空间聚集性（Z = 3.00 ~ 3.43,P均 < 0.01）,热点主要集中在湖沼型流行区并沿长江南岸分布;冷点主要集中在皖南山区。2011—2020年安徽省新发钉螺面积分布在整体上不存在空间聚集性（Z = -2.20 ~ 1.71,P均> 0.05）,局部呈散点分布。标准差椭圆分析显示,2011—2020年安徽省实有钉螺面积分布相对稳定,与长江流向一致;新发钉螺面积分布重心逐渐从长江安徽段下游向上游移动。时空扫描分析显示,2011—2020年安徽省实有钉螺面积两个高值聚集区以从长江安徽段下游到中游的顺序出现;新发钉螺面积两个高值聚集区聚集时间和范围类似,均分布在山区。结论　2011—2020年安徽省钉螺分布呈空间聚集性,存在向长江南岸、上游聚集的趋势,但山区钉螺扩散问题亦不容忽视,需加强对山区和长江沿岸新发钉螺孳生地的监测力度。     

Decreased Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Levels in Coronary Artery Aneurysmatic Patients

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial aneurysms through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Increased proteolysis due to elevated matrix degrading enzyme activity in the arterial wall may act as a susceptibility factor for the development of coronary aneurysms. Plasmin strongly stimulates pro-MMP enzyme conversion to the active form. Plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) may cause MMP over activity and coronary aneurysms. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PAI-1 and presence of coronary aneurysms. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with aneurysmal coronary artery disease and stable angina were enrolled into study (Group 1). Twenty-two patients without coronary aneurysm were selected as a control group (Group 2). PAI-1 was measured in peripheral venous blood. RESULTS: The plasma PAI-1 level was lower in the coronary artery aneurysmatic patients compared to the control group (8.41 +/- 4.28 vs. 13.32 +/- 10.05 ng/ml, p = 0.037). Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values were not significantly different between groups (3.83 +/- 1.08 vs. 4.01 +/- 1.35 mg/l, p >0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased matrix degrading enzyme activity can cause arterial wall destruction through increased proteolysis of extracellular matrix proteins. Unregulated plasmin hyperactivity due to decreased inhibition by PAI-1 may play an important role in coronary aneurysm formation.