Domestic transmission of Rift Valley Fever virus in Diawara (Senegal) in 1998

In 1998, circulation of the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus was revealed in Diawara by detection of IgM antibodies in sheep and isolation of the virus from mosquitoes caught outside a village. A seroprevalence study was carried out. Finger-prick blood samples, individual and collective details were obtained. One thousand five hundred twenty people (6 months - 83 years) were included. Overall prevalence in this group was approximately 5.2%. The prevalence in infants (6 months - 2 years) was 8.5%. Age, gender, contact with a pond, presence of sheep, and abortion among sheep, and individual or collective travel history were not statistically associated with prevalence. Prevalence increased significantly when the distance to a small ravine, located in the middle of the village, decreased. The results suggest a low, recent, not endemic circulation of the virus. Culex quinquefasciatus was captured near the ravine. This mosquito, similar to Culex pipiens, can play a similar role in human-to-human transmission of the RVF virus.     

Cerebral edema and cerebral hemorrhages in interleukin-10-deficient mice infected with Plasmodium chabaudi

During a Plasmodium chabaudi infection in interleukin-10 (IL-10) knockout mice, there is greater parasite sequestration, more severe cerebral edema, and a high frequency of cerebral hemorrhage compared with infection of C57BL/6 mice. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment ameliorated both cerebral edema and hemorrhages, suggesting that proinflammatory responses contributed to cerebral complications in infected IL-10(-/-) mice.     

Is transmyocardial revascularisation of benefit in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting for patients with diffuse coronary disease?

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether the use of transmyocardial revascularisation (TMR) in addition to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is of benefit in patients with ischaemic heart disease with areas of ungraftable myocardium. Altogether 233 papers were found using the reported search, of which 9 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results, and study weaknesses were tabulated. We conclude that while the society of thoracic surgeons now recommend TMR+CABG, and the available studies indicate that mortality is not increased by this additional procedure, it is currently not clear whether TMR reduces symptoms of angina in addition to CABG alone.     

Emergence of Mutations in the K13 Propeller Gene of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Dakar,Senegal, in 2013-2014

The kelch 13 (K13) propeller gene is associated with artemisinin resistance. In a previous work, there were no mutations found in 138 Plasmodium falciparum isolates collected in 2012 and 2013 from patients residing in Dakar, Senegal (M. Torrentino-Madamet et al., Malar J 13:472, 2014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-13-472). However, the N554H, Q613H, and V637I mutations were identified in the propeller region of K13 in 92 (5.5%) isolates in 2013 and 2014. There were five polymorphisms identified in the Plasmodium/Apicomplexa-specific domain (K123R, N137S, N142NN/NNN, T149S, and K189T/N).     

肝硬化、肝癌患者血清sFas和TGF-β1水平的探讨

目的　探讨血清可溶性Fas(sFas)和转化生长因子 β1(TGF β1)水平的变化与乙肝后相关性肝硬化、肝癌的关系。方法　对 2 0例肝炎、2 8例HBV相关性肝硬化及 2 0例肝癌患者血清sFas、TGF β1、血清透明质酸、Ⅲ型前胶原、Ⅳ型胶原进行检测 ,同时对其中 4 3例慢性乙肝和肝硬化患者进行HBV DNA的定量检测。结果　HBV相关性肝硬化、肝癌患者血清sFas和TGF β1水平明显升高 ,与正常对照比较 ,差异有显著意义 (P <0 0 5 ) ;并且其结果与肝纤维化指标有一定的相关性 ;而慢性肝炎、肝硬化患者血清sFas和TGF β1水平与HBV DNA复制程度无显著关系。结论　乙肝后肝硬化、肝癌的发展进程可能与血清sFas及细胞因子TGF β1水平密切相关 ,而与血浆中HBV复制程度无显著关系。     

Long‐TE 1H MRS suggests that liver fat is more saturated than subcutaneous and visceral fat

Cross‐talk between adipose tissue and liver is disturbed in the metabolic syndrome. Moreover, the relative fatty acid composition of adipose and liver fat is poorly characterized. Long‐TE ¹H MRS can determine the unsaturation and polyunsaturation of adipose tissue. The aim of this study was to use long‐TE ¹H MRS to determine the composition of liver fat and its relation to adipose tissue composition. Sixteen subjects with increased liver fat (>5%) were recruited for the study. Using TE = 200 ms, we were able to resolve the olefinic (?CH, 5.3 ppm) and water (H₂O, 4.7 ppm) resonances in liver spectra and to obtain a repeatable estimate of liver fat unsaturation (coefficient of variation, 2.3%). With TE = 135 ms, the diallylic (?C? CH₂? C?, 2.8 ppm) resonance was detectable in subjects with a liver fat content above 15%. Long‐TE ¹H MRS was also used to determine the unsaturation in subcutaneous (n = 16) and visceral (n = 11) adipose tissue in the same subjects. Liver fat was more saturated (double bonds per fatty acid chain, 0.812 ± 0.022) than subcutaneous (double bonds per fatty acid chain, 0.862 ± 0.022, p < 0.0004) or visceral (double bonds per fatty acid chain, 0.865 ± 0.033, p < 0.0004) fat. Liver fat unsaturation correlated with subcutaneous unsaturation (R = 0.837, p < 0.0001) and visceral unsaturation (R = 0.879, p < 0.0004). The present study introduces a new noninvasive method for the assessment of the composition of liver fat. The results suggest that liver fat is more saturated than subcutaneous or visceral adipose tissue, which may be attributed to differences in de novo lipogenesis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Increased apolipoprotein E level and reduced high-density lipoprotein mean particle size associate with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and features of metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) pandemic predisposes patients to low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). To successfully treat low HDL-C, there is an urgent need for a better understanding of the changes in HDL particles in the low-HDL-C state. Especially, apolipoprotein (apo) E metabolism in HDL particles is an emerging and important issue. Therefore, we determined HDL subspecies, apo E distribution, and the impact of the MetS in subjects with low and high HDL-C. We studied 246 subjects derived from the Finnish Health 2000 Health Examination Survey. The 2 groups included 113 low-HDL-C (≤10th percentile) and 133 high-HDL-C (≥90th percentile) subjects. The low-HDL-C subjects had higher apo E concentration (39.4 ± 19.4 vs 25.6 ± 8.0 μg/mL, P < .001) and smaller HDL mean particle size (9.0 ± 0.2 vs 9.8 ± 0.3 nm, P < .001). The distribution of apo E genetic isoforms could not explain the difference. Apolipoprotein E content of very low-density lipoprotein particles was comparable between the study groups. In the low-HDL-C subjects, apo E level in large HDL particles was lower (P < .001) compared with that in the high-HDL-C subjects. The subjects with MetS had smaller HDL mean particle size and higher serum apo E concentration. Serum apo E concentration associated positively with different MetS markers (waist circumference, triglycerides, and glucose), whereas HDL mean particle size associated with those negatively. Our results highlight that, in the low-HDL-C state, there are changes in the size and composition of HDL particles associating with MetS. Apolipoprotein E, although generally considered antiatherogenic, associates with MetS and low HDL-C. Our results emphasize the need for a better understanding of apo E metabolism in HDL particles.     

糖尿病酮症酸中毒40例的救治与监测

１引言 糖尿病酮症酸中毒（ＤＫＡ）是糖尿病最常见的急性重症并发症，文献［１］报道病死率大约５％，但老年人中高达４３％。对其早期采用合理的治疗措施及严密的监测是抢救成功、降低病死率的关键。我院自 １９８８年至 １９９８年间共收治ＤＫＡ４０例，现将救治体会报告如下。２临床资料２．１一般资料 ４０例ＤＫＡ均符合ＷＨＯ糖尿病诊断及分类标准，且尿酮超过（＋），二氧化碳结合力小于２０ ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ。男１５例，女２５例。年龄１４岁至７０岁，中位年龄３９岁。其中１型糖尿病１４例，２型糖尿病２６例。３５例有糖尿病病史…     

Incidence of infections dues to Escherichia coli strains producing extended spectrum betalactamase, in the Zou/Collines Hospital Centre (CHDZ/C) in Benin

OBJECTIVES: Over a 6-month period, extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates of Escherichia coli (EC) were collected from in-patients and their environment at the Zou-Collines Hospital Centre (CHDZ/C) in Benin. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of ESBL and to describe their phenotypic susceptibility to antibiotics in a secondary hospital (500 beds) in Benin. METHODS: From 15 May to 15 November 2005, clinical informations and samples were collected from patients suspected to have nosocomial infections. The isolates were identified, tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and analysed for the presence of ESBL genes blaTEM and blaSHV by PCR. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven enterobacteria were isolated from the clinical samples of 342 patients, these isolates included 143 EC and 32/143 (22%) of these isolates produced ESBL. Forty-six EC were isolated from the environment and 7 (15%) of them produced ESBL. Except for Imipenem for which the difference was not significant, the isolates producing ESBL were more resistant to the other antibiotics (especially to third generation cephalosporins: Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime (P<0.00001)) than non-ESBL producing isolates. Both ESBL genes blaSHV and blaTEM were identified in the EC ESBL strains from patient and from the environment. CONCLUSION: This study shows the presence of ESBL genes among EC in various wards of the CHDZ/C hospital proving that there is a need to implement a strict hospital infection control program and a regular surveillance of resistance to antimicrobial agents.     

北京市属医院护士规范化培训效果评价

目的 :探讨北京市属医院护士进行规范化培训的效果,以期为规范化培养方案的修订及深入开展提供依据。方法:选取4家北京市属三级甲等综合医院,采用整群抽样法抽取这4家医院2013年新入职护士进行一年的规范化培训,通过问卷调查法对培训效果进行评价。结果 :规范化培训一年后,调查对象的核心能力总分为(80.89±11.42)分,高于培训前的总分(77.97±11.27),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。中专、大专学历的调查对象在培训前后核心能力总得分无统计学差异。本科及以上学历的调查对象,培训后核心能力总得分有所提高(P0.05)。结论 :规范化培训对提升护士的核心能力有积极作用,但是培训效果可能需要一段较长的时间才能完全显现。