Chornobyl radiation—congenital anomalies: A persisting dilemma

We report population prevalence rates of neural tube defects (NDT) and microcephaly (MIC) as well as levels of incorporated Cs137 by pregnant women in two areas of the Rivne Province of Ukraine, a northern half (Polissia) polluted by Chornobyl radiation and not‐Polissia areas. Monitoring of congenital malformations was conducted with adherence to methods adopted by a European surveillance network (EUROCAT). Incorporated Cs137 (Bq/kg) by pregnant women residing in the Polissia and not‐Polissia areas were obtained concurrently with prenatal ultrasound examinations. In Polissia, the incorporated Cs137 levels by pregnant women as well as the prevalence rates of NDTs and MIC are significantly higher than in not‐Polissia. In Polissia, the prevalence rates of NDTs and MIC are among the highest in Europe. The debate concerning the teratogenic impact of chronic exposures to low levels of ionizing radiation was re‐ignited by our 2010 report. Health agencies uphold the notion that exposure to Chornobyl radiation levels are too low to be teratogenic, which is inconsistent with our observations. Further investigations in Rivne by international teams can, we believe, contribute facts to the ongoing debate. Our monitoring system, experience and data can facilitate concurrent investigations of teratogenic risks from exposures to other sources of ionizing radiation, alcohol, folate, and zinc deficiencies, among other risk factors. Study of genomic impacts can likewise be undertaken.     

二维斑点追踪技术评价低温兔左室纵向功能

目的:探讨应用二维斑点追踪技术评价低温条件下兔左心室纵向功能的价值。方法:30只新西兰兔随机分成对照组(n=10),低温组A(n=10),低温组B(n=10)。先行常规心脏数据测量,然后采用组织多普勒(TDI),之后应用斑点追踪成像(STI)中的获取基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL、SrLs.SrL E,SrL A及分层应变技术获取3个长轴切面心内膜下、中层和心外膜下心肌收缩期纵向峰值应变(SL)。结果:①与对照组相比,A组心内膜下心肌LS值的减低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),B组3层心肌SL值的减低明显,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01)②与对照组相比,A组大部分纵向应变及应变率减低(P<0.05);B组基底段、中间段、心尖段及整体水平SL,SrL S、SrLE、SrLA均减低(P<0.01)结论:随低温时间延长,左室壁3层心肌SL值受累程度不同,心内膜应变较心外膜更加敏感,二维班点追踪技术比LVEF及TDI更早发现左室功能减低。     

Skin temperature and vascular attributes as early warning signs of pressure injury

ObjectivesThis study aimed to validate the skin temperature on sacral region and vascular attributes as early warning signs of pressure injury.MethodsTotally 415 patients admitted to the adult intensive care unit from August 2018 to April 2019 were prospectively screened. Daily blood pressure and blood glucose affecting vascular attributes and the relative skin temperature of sacral region were measured for 10 consecutive days. Collect the changes of these indicators during the occurrence of pressure injury. The optimal cut-off values of indicators were determined by X-tile analysis. The risk ratios of indicators associated with pressure injury were compared using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.ResultsThere were no obvious interactions among blood pressure, blood glucose and relative skin temperature (P > 0.05). The optimal cutoff value for above indicators was 63.5 mmHg, 9.9 mmol/L and −0.1 °C, respectively. The incidence of pressure injury peaked on the 4th and 5th day after hospitalization when categorizing the patients into low- and high-risk groups according to the cutoff values (P < 0.05). Based on relative skin temperature, patients in the high-risk group were more likely to develop pressure injury (hazard ratio = 6.36, 95% confidence interval = 3.91, 10.36), when compared to the other two indicators of blood pressure and blood glucose.ConclusionStringent skin temperature and vascular attributes measurements were necessary for preventing pressure injury. Nursing measures should be taken according to warning sings to reduce the incidence of pressure injury.     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

模拟舰船磁场与噪声、高温复合对机体作用的方差分析

目的 研究模拟舰船两种剂量水平磁场复合噪声、高温对机体联合作用的特点。方法 采用有交互作用的三因素二水平的正交试验设计方法及方差分析法，按正交表L8（2^7）的要求安排8种复合暴露剂量组合，分别将兔和大鼠分为8个复合暴露组和8个对照组。结果 兔球结膜毛细血管管径、大鼠肝和脾脏HSP70的分析结果显示出磁场是对其影响的主因素（均为P〈0．01），其次是高温（均为P〈0．05）,大鼠下丘脑AVP和大鼠脑组织HSP70的分析结果显示出磁场是对其影响的主因素（均为P〈0．05）。兔血浆内皮素的分析结果显示出磁场与噪声交互作用所对应的F值有非常显著性意义（P〈0．01），磁场与噪声、高温三者之间交互作用所对应的F值也有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论 磁场是对上述指标影响的主因素，而高温也是重要因素；磁场与噪声有交互作用，磁场与噪声、高温三者之间也有交互作用；应该重视舰船环境因素对舰船人员的复合作用。     

Development of a new sensor based on micro-electro-mechanical systems for objective in vivo measurement of the cutaneous temperature: application to foundations

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this work was to develop a new sensor for objective in vivo measurement of the cutaneous temperature based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and to compare these performances with those of a classical thermocouple. Research on this new sensor was carried out to allow the quantification of the thermal properties of the made-up skin. METHODS: Sixteen female subjects divided into two different age groups (18-35 and >50 years old) were recruited for this study. Several zones of the face and forearms were made up at random with foundations containing or not a thermoregulator raw material. The quantity of foundation applied on the skin was standardized and measurements were carried out first before make-up, and then 10 s and 5 min after make-up. The new sensor and the thermocouple were used successively on each zone. The cutaneous temperature was expressed in degrees celsius. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: The two systems are similar in terms of repeatability and reproducibility, with some differences in sensibility. The data measured by the MEMS sensor appear lower than those measured by the thermocouple. After make-up, the MEMS sensor detects a progressive increase of the temperature in time whereas the thermocouple detects a decrease. We found the same evolution on the face but in a more attenuated way. These results tend to show that the devices do not measure the same phenomenon. The thermocouple appears more sensitive to the thermal response of the made-up surface whereas the MEMS sensor appears more sensitive to the heat transfers in the interface between the skin and make-up.     

用Lyman NTCP模型分析原发性肝癌三维适形放疗引起的放射性肝病

目的建立原发性肝癌三维大分割适形放疗Lyman NTCP模型的参数和探讨放射性肝病的影响因素。方法109例患者进行大分割三维适形放疗,其中93例患者肝硬化Child-Pugh分级A级,16例为B级。患者每星期治疗3次,每次间隔48h,(4．8±0．5)Gy/次,平均剂量(53．5±5．5)Gy。用最大拟然比方法分别得到Child-A和Child-B患者Lyman模型中的NTCP参数。结果共有17例发生放射性肝病,发生在Child-A组8例,Child-B组9例。多因数分析表明,肝硬化分级程度是与放射性肝病相关的独立因素(P=0．000)。所有患者的NTCP参数为n=1．1,m=0．35,TD_(50) (1)=38．5Gy；Child-A级为n=1．1,m=0．28,TD_(50)(1)=40．5Gy；Child-B级为n=0．7,m=0．43,TD_(50)(1)=23Gy。结论肝硬化分级是预测放射性肝病发生的危险因子。Child-B患者进行适形放疗易引起放射性肝病。     

An experimentally supported, mathematical explanation of the gas chromatographic elution behaviour of the long-chain carbon members of the homologous series

By substituting the saturated vapour phase tension of the pure normal hydrocarbons described by the Clausius-Clapeyron law into the accepted expression of the specific retention volume (V_g,T), a theoretically coherent and relatively simple mathematical evidence of the elution behaviour of the homologous members has been deduced. It gives exponential retention time dependence on carbon number for isothermal, and nearly equidistant (i.e., approximately linear retention-time dependence on carbon number) elution for linear temperature programmed gas chromatographic runs. The final equations are in close correlation with the experimental results. Special emphasis is placed on the fact that a good approximation—not strict physical laws—have been found.     

充气温控毯用于神经外科手术患者的控温效果

目的评价充气温控毯用于神经外科手术患者的控温效果。方法40例择期行平卧位脑肿瘤切除术患者,年龄16—65岁,体重41-72 kg,ASAⅠ-Ⅲ级,随机分为2组(n=20):A组,术中充气温控毯24℃风档进行降温,肿瘤切除完毕前30 min进行复温;B组,术中充气温控毯维持中心温度正常(35．2—36．60℃)。均采用气管内静吸复合麻醉,静脉注射异丙酚1．5～2 mg／kg、芬太尼4-6μg／kg、维库溴铵0．1～0．2 mg／kg诱导,吸入0．6％-1．2％异氟醚维持;吸入氧浓度40％;异丙酚1．5～2 mg·kg-1·h-1持续输注;维库溴铵1～2 mg间断静脉注射。每5分钟记录1次中心温度(鼻咽温),观察围术期不良反应及并发症。结果A组2例患者因手术时间超过24 h剔除,共38例进行统计。A组患者降温速率(1．11±0．05)℃／h,复温速率(0．74±0．09)℃／h。A组患者89％(16/18)在硬脑膜打开前达到目标温度34℃,平台期平均中心温度(34．3±0．5)℃,距34℃最大升幅0．52℃,最大降幅为0．23℃。A组患者67％(12／18)手术结束时中心温度恢复正常。返回ICU后A组患者中心温度(返回ICU时实测温度的均值)(35．8±0．6)℃低于B组(36．6±0．4)℃(P<0．05)。A组患者4例术后出现寒颤、3例发热、1例死亡。结论神经外科手术中应用充气温控毯可较理想地降低体温,相对于降温效率其复温效率偏低。