Seroprevalence of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus among poultry workers in Jiangsu Province, China: an observational study

Background

Surgical site infection (SSI) are the third most frequently reported nosocomial infection, and the most common on surgical wards. HIV-infected patients may increase the possibility of developing SSI after surgery. There are few reported date on incidence and the preventive measures of SSI in HIV-infected patients. This study was to determine the incidence and the associated risk factors for SSI in HIV-infected patients. And we also explored the preventive measures.

Methods

A retrospective study of SSI was conducted in 242 HIV-infected patients including 17 patients who combined with hemophilia from October 2008 to September 2011 in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. SSI were classified according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria and identified by bedside surveillance and post-discharge follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 statistical software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL).

Results

The SSI incidence rate was 47.5% (115 of 242); 38.4% incisional SSIs, 5.4% deep incisional SSIs and 3.7% organ/space SSIs. The SSI incidence rate was 37.9% in HIV-infected patients undergoing abdominal operation. Patients undergoing abdominal surgery with lower preoperative CD4 counts were more likely to develop SSIs. The incidence increased from 2.6% in clean wounds to 100% in dirty wounds. In the HIV-infected patients combined with hemophilia, the mean preoperative albumin and postoperative hemoglobin were found significantly lower than those in no-SSIs group (P<0.05).

Conclusions

SSI is frequent in HIV-infected patients. And suitable perioperative management may decrease the SSIs incidence rate of HIV-infected patients.     

Transport of nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) coupling with Alcaligenes sp. strain in porous media

Coupling nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) particles with anaerobic bacteria is a potentially powerful approach for remediating polluted groundwater. However, little is known about the transport of these mixed systems in porous media, which could potentially affect the system''s activity and half-life in aqueous environments. This study assessed the transport and stability of nZVI coupled with Alcaligenes sp. TB by column experiments and sedimentation tests. The results showed that combined bio-nZVI systems experienced significantly higher transport and lower sedimentation rates than stand-alone nZVI. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that Alcaligenes sp. TB reduced aggregation of nZVI to some extent, though slight toxicity to bacteria was observed. The results of ζ-potential measurements demonstrated that the presence of bacteria increased the electrostatic force between the particles. Voltammetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed that the bio-nZVI system undergoes different redox processes. The presence of bacteria favored the formation of FeOOH not Fe₂O₃ or Fe₃O₄, resulting in weaker surface magnetic properties.

Coupling nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) particles with anaerobic bacteria experienced significantly higher transport and lower sedimentation rates than stand-alone nZVI.     

有晶状体眼后房型人工晶状体植入矫正高度近视的临床观察

目的探讨有晶状体眼后房型人工晶状体植入术矫正高度近视的有效性和安全性。方法后房型人工晶状体植入治疗高度近视眼患者8例15眼,术后随访分别检查裸眼视力、矫正视力、眼压、角膜及前房情况,UBM观察人工晶体位置。结果 15眼均顺利完成手术,术后视力均达到或超过术前最好矫正视力。术后眼压及人工晶体位置正常,术后1周内有2眼出现人工晶体表面少量色索。随访1年,视力稳定,未出现晶体混浊及眼压升高等严重并发症。结论有晶体眼后房型人工晶体植入治疗高度近视,视力恢复迅速,未发生严重并发症,预测性好,具有安全性和有效性。     

Influence of hyaluronic acid on wound healing using composite porcine acellular dermal matrix grafts and autologous skin in rabbits

This study aims to explore the influence of hyaluronic acid (HA) on wound healing during xenogeneic porcine acellular dermal matrix (PADM) composite skin grafting. The results will facilitate the development of methods for improving graft contracture and poor elasticity of composite transplantation. Exogenous HA was added to composite PADM grafts and to thin autologous skin grafts during rabbit full‐thickness skin wound repair. The influence of HA on wound healing was evaluated according to its contracture rate and its expression of collagen types I and III. The possible mechanism was then explored based on HA metabolism and vascularisation in the skin graft. The results show that exogenous HA relieves graft contracture on rabbit wound surfaces, increases collagen I and III expression and decreases the ratio between collagen types. HA stimulates the generation of more CD44 receptors to strengthen its enzymolysis. The resulting metabolites promote the vascularisation of the wound surface, which are conducive for mitigating graft contracture, and further improve the composite grafting effect.     

Co-exposure of cadmium and lead on bone health in a southwestern Chinese population aged 40-75 years

Both cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are associated with bone health, but studies exploring the effects of Cd and Pb co-exposure on bone health are rare. This study aimed to assess the interactive effects of Cd and Pb co-exposure on bone health. In total, 799 participants, living in the targeted areas (located in southwestern China) for more than 15 years, aged 40-75 years, and subsisted on homegrown rice and vegetables were investigated. Cd and Pb levels in urine and blood samples, as well as bone mineral density, T- and Z-score were determined. After being adjusted for covariates, the T-score was negatively correlated with blood Pb in men (P < .05); for women and non-smoking women, the T-score was negatively correlated with urinary Pb (P < .05). Moreover, after being adjusted for covariates, the Z-score was negatively correlated with urinary Pb in non-smoking women (P < .05). No positive association of prevalence of osteoporosis with Cd and Pb exposure was found. However, at an additive scale, positive interactions of urinary Cd and Pb on the prevalence of osteoporosis for women and non-smoking women, and the same interactions to blood Cd and Pb for men were found. There was also a positive interaction of urinary Cd and Pb for women at a multiplicative scale. This study suggests Cd and Pb exposure could exert detrimental effects on bone health, with possible underlying interactions. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to explore the interactive effects of heavy metal co-exposure.     

Sodium thiosulfate attenuates high phosphorous induced vascular calcification in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy

Objective To observe the expression of Klotho and Na+/Pi cotransporter in high phosphorous-induced rats with 5/6 nephrectomy and its relationship with vascular calcification, as well as to investigate the effect of early intervention by sodium thiosulfate (STS) on the progression of vascular calcification. Methods Either 5/6 nephrectomy (n=21) or sham operation (n=14) was conducted on 35 Sprague Dawley rats, who were then fed with high phosphorus (HP) diet or normal phosphorus (NP) diet for 16 weeks respectively. The rats were divided into 5 groups as follows: (1) remnant kidney rats receiving HP diet (NHP, n=7), (2) remnant kidney rats receiving NP diet (NNP, n=7), (3) sham operation rats receiving NP diet (SNP, n=7), (4) sham operation rats receiving HP diet (SHP, n=7), (5) remnant kidney rats receiving HP diet with STS (THP, n=7). The treatment group was given STS intraperitoneally three times a week for 16 weeks. At the end of the 16th week, rats tail artery blood pressures were tested, serum creatinine (Scr), calcium (Ca2+), phosphorus (P3+), FGF23, iPTH and urine protein were examined. Throacic aorta and kidney were then removed. Vascular calcification was confirmed by Von kossa staining. Klotho and Pit-1 expression in aortas were determined by immunohistochemistry. Renal lesion was determined by PASM-Masson staining. Renal Klotho and NaPi-2a mRNA were determined by real time RT-PCR. Results After 16 weeks, Scr, P3+, FGF23, iPTH, uric protein and blood pressure were significantly higher in NHP than those in SNP rats (all P＜0.05). PASM-Masson staining revealed typical renal pathology of chronic renal failure in NHP group. With the treatment of STS, THP rats showed significant decrease in Scr, P3+, FGF23, iPTH, uric protein and blood pressure by comparison with NHP group (all P＜0.05). Significant vascular calcification was found in NHP group while NNP and SHP group occasionally had vascular calcification; THP group had marked alleviation of vascular calcification. The aorta and renal expression of Klotho decreased remarkably while expression of Pit-1 and NaPi-2a increased significantly in NHP compared with SNP group (all P＜0.05). Accordingly, the aorta and renal expression of Klotho increased and Pit-1 and NaPi-2a decreased significantly in THP compared with NHP group (P＜0.05). Conclusions The early intervention of sodium thiosulfate might regulate Klotho and Na+/Pi cotransporter expression in both aorth and kidney, decreasing serum phosphate, delaying progression of vascular calcification and improving renal function.