Artificial-infection protocols allow immunodetection of novel Borrelia burgdorferi antigens suitable as vaccine candidates against Lyme disease

Vaccination with recombinant outer surface protein A (OspA) from Borrelia burgdorferi provides excellent antibody-mediated protection against challenge with the pathogen in animal models and in humans. However, the bactericidal antibodies are ineffective in the reservoir host, since OspA is expressed by spirochetes only in the vector, but rarely, if at all, in mammals. Using an artificially generated immune serum (anti-10(8) spirochetes) with high protective potential for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment, we have now isolated from an expression library of B. burgdorferi (strain ZS7) three novel genes, zs7.a36, zs7.a66 and zs7.a68. All three genes are located, together with ospA/B, on the linear plasmid lp54, and are expressed in vitro and in ticks. At least temporarily two of them, ZS7.A36 and ZS7.A66, are also expressed during infection. The respective natural antigens are poorly immunogenic ininfected normal mice but elicited antibodies in Lyme disease patients. We show that recombinant preparations of ZS7.A36, ZS7.A66 and ZS7.A68 induce functional antibodies in rabbits capable of protecting immunodeficient mice against subsequent experimental infection. These findings suggest that all three recombinant antigens represent potential candidates for a "second generation" vaccine to prevent and/or cure Lyme disease.     

Alterations in alanine metabolism in diabetic dogs during short-term treatment with an artificial B cell

Summary The flux rates of plasma glucose and alanine were studied isotopically (6-³H-glucose and U-¹⁴C-alanine simultaneously) in resting chronically diabetic dogs during short-term treatment with an artificial B cell where the insulin was infused into a peripheral vein. Despite perfect blood glucose control and normal glucose flux rates, the concentration and rates of appearance and disappearance of alanine were significantly elevated in the diabetic animals before, during and after an exogenous glucose load. The incorporation of the carbon moiety of alanine into circulating glucose was also increased, but diminished to a near-normal extent when exogenous glucose was given. The plasma clearance rates for alanine in the diabetic dogs were normal throughout the study. It is concluded that normal blood glucose control in diabetes does not necessarily mean normalization of the entire metabolic network. On the basis of peripheral hyperinsulinaemia alanine formation from glucose and branched chain amino acids is elevated in muscle. This may explain increased flux of alanine despite normal blood glucose control.     

脑血管性痴呆的辨证治疗经验

大脑动脉粥样硬化引起的脑血管性痴呆,以神智痴呆、记忆力减退、表情淡漠、呆滞或欣快感、头晕肢麻、手足瞤动等为特点,属于祖国医学的“文痴”、“语言颠倒”、“癫狂”、“善忘”等病症。中老年以后,肝血衰少,肾精亏损,脑失所养,大病久病,热灼真阴,心肝肾阴阳失调,肝阳化风,挟火挟痰,冲犯脑髓,元神失聪。因此,本病是本虚标实之证。虚者,治以培补真阴,补髓填精;实者,则平肝泻火,涤痰醒神,调气化瘀。文中附病案两例,经两个多月治疗,智力提高、记忆增强、精神活动基本恢复正常、生活自理,好转出院。     

Artificial Liver: Present and Future

Early in 1956, the first model of a biological artificial liver, using a live dog's liver incorporated in a cross-hemodialyzer, was placed in an experimental animal with portocaval encephalopathy. This "biological artificial liver," a hybrid artificial liver in the present terminology, was the first in the world. In October 1958, the first human patient, a young male patient in hepatic coma due to liver cirrhosis, was placed on the laboratory-made biological artificial liver composed of four parabiotic cross-hemodialyzers connected with four live dogs' livers to which the "hepatic reactors" for ammonium adsorption and acid-base balance were additionally equipped. This first case was very successful, resulting in the patient's recovery from coma. This article introduces the past history of the artificial liver, research of which has mainly been conducted in Japan since the early 1950s by the author, M. Mito, and Y. Nosé. Until recently, little progress has been made in this field through the application of blood purification principles such as hemoadsorption, plasmapheresis, and other modifications and combinations. Accumulation of clinical experiences with such conventional methods has stimulated the third generation of the artificial liver to a return to a hybrid organ applying modern science and technology. A concept of hybrid organs in comparison with organ transplants is introduced. The Japanese national project of developing a new artificial liver system, as conducted by the author as the chairman and his associates, is introduced.     

降低重症患者人工气道湿化不足发生率

目的降低重症患者人工气道湿化不足发生率。方法开展品管圈活动,通过医护双方合作,优化气道管理团队,完善人工气道湿化评估方案,改良气道湿化装置,增加气道湿化途径,实行复合序贯式湿化-排痰护理管理模式等,实现了气道湿化、辅助排痰、气道廓清一体化。结果重症患者人工气道湿化不足发生率从28.57%降低至11.26%,目标达标率为100.58%,进步率为60.59%。结论通过开展品管圈活动,规范了重症患者人工气道湿化方案,降低了气道相关并发症发生率,有效改善了患者治疗结局,提升了医疗质量。     

Assessing the Economic Value of Clinical Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities

ObjectivesClinical artificial intelligence (AI) is a novel technology, and few economic evaluations have focused on it to date. Before its wider implementation, it is important to highlight the aspects of AI that challenge traditional health technology assessment methods.MethodsWe used an existing broad value framework to assess potential ways AI can provide good value for money. We also developed a rubric of how economic evaluations of AI should vary depending on the case of its use.ResultsWe found that the measurement of core elements of value—health outcomes and cost—are complicated by AI because its generalizability across different populations is often unclear and because its use may necessitate reconfigured clinical processes. Clinicians’ productivity may improve when AI is used. If poorly implemented though, AI may also cause clinicians’ workload to increase. Some AI has been found to exacerbate health disparities. Nevertheless, AI may promote equity by expanding access to medical care and, when properly trained, providing unbiased diagnoses and prognoses. The approach to assessment of AI should vary based on its use case: AI that creates new clinical possibilities can improve outcomes, but regulation and evidence collection may be difficult; AI that extends clinical expertise can reduce disparities and lower costs but may result in overuse; and AI that automates clinicians’ work can improve productivity but may reduce skills.ConclusionsThe potential uses of clinical AI create challenges for health technology assessment methods originally developed for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Health economists should be prepared to examine data collection and methods used to train AI, as these may impact its future value.     

递进式目标康复护理对老年股骨颈骨折人工置换患者的临床效果

目的：探究递进式目标康复护理对老年股骨颈骨折人工置换患者术后功能恢复的影响及护理体会。方法：选取河南大学第一附属医院2018年6月至2020年8月期间收治的112例老年股骨颈骨折人工置换患者,按照手术先后顺序分为观察组和对照组,各56例。对照组患者实施常规护理,观察组患者实施递进式目标康复护理干预,比较两组患者自我效能水平、髋关节功能及日常活动能力。结果：干预后观察组患者自我效能、髋关节功能、日常活动能力评分均高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。结论：递进式目标康复护理干预的应用对促进老年股骨颈骨折人工置换患者自我效能水平,提高术后髋关节功能恢复情况,改善其日常活动能力等方面均具有较高的可行性。     

人工股骨头置换术对老年股骨粗隆间骨折患者的影响

目的：探讨应用人工股骨头置换术治疗对老年股骨粗隆间骨折（IFF）患者髋关节功能及并发症情况的影响。方法：选择河南中医药大学第三附属医院2020年5月至2022年5月期间收治的60例IFF患者,随机数字表法分为观察组和对照组,各30例。对照组行股骨近端锁定钢板（LPFP）手术治疗,观察组应用人工股骨头置换术治疗,观察两组患者的并发症发生情况,比较手术前后患者的骨密度水平、视觉模拟评分法（VAS）及Harris髋关节功能评分。结果：两组患者术后1个月骨密度高于术前,且观察组高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）;观察组患者术后的VAS评分低于对照组,Harris评分高于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）;观察组患者的并发症总发生率低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P <0.05）。结论：人工股骨头置换术在IFF患者中手术效果较理想,能恢复患者髋关节功能,术后并发症发生风险低。     

Dietary Habit Is Associated with Depression and Intelligence: An Observational and Genome-Wide Environmental Interaction Analysis in the UK Biobank Cohort

Dietary habits have considerable impact on brain development and mental health. Despite long-standing interest in the association of dietary habits with mental health, few population-based studies of dietary habits have assessed depression and fluid intelligence. Our aim is to investigate the association of dietary habits with depression and fluid intelligence. In total, 814 independent loci were utilized to calculate the individual polygenic risk score (PRS) for 143 dietary habit-related traits. The individual genotype data were obtained from the UK Biobank cohort. Regression analyses were then conducted to evaluate the association of dietary habits with depression and fluid intelligence, respectively. PLINK 2.0 was utilized to detect the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) × dietary habit interaction effect on the risks of depression and fluid intelligence. We detected 22 common dietary habit-related traits shared by depression and fluid intelligence, such as red wine glasses per month, and overall alcohol intake. For interaction analysis, we detected that OLFM1 interacted with champagne/white wine in depression, while SYNPO2 interacted with coffee type in fluid intelligence. Our study results provide novel useful information for understanding how eating habits affect the fluid intelligence and depression.     

新生儿个体化发育支持对极低出生体重儿智力和全身运动发育的影响

目的 分析探讨新生儿个体化发育支持对极低出生体重儿智力和全身运动发育的应用效果和作用。 方法 选取2018年12月1日—2019年7月1日期间在湖南省妇幼保健院出生且符合入选标准的极低出生体重儿90例为研究对象,并随机将其分为对照组(n=37)和观察组(即个体化发育支持组,n=53)。收集所有患儿的基本资料,比较两组体质量恢复时间、完全经口喂养时间及胎粪排尽时间,以及两组患儿的全身运动(general movements,GMs)、患儿智力(mental development index,MDI)、心理运动指数(psychomotor development index,PDI)及发育商(development quotient,DQ)情况,评估两组全身运动及智力发育情况。 结果 观察组的体质量恢复时间为(7.86±2.66)d、完全经口喂养时间为(11.77±3.52)d,胎粪排尽时间为(12.19±4.22)d,时间均短于对照组(均P<0.05);观察组体格变化速度情况高于对照组(P<0.05);随访至矫正胎龄12个月后,观察组全身运动情况、智力发育、心理运动发育指数以及发育商评分均优于对照组(均P<0.001)。 结论 新生儿个体化发育支持可以促进极低出生体重儿智力及全身运动的发育,减少异常GMs发生率,可推广应用。