[SWOT analysis of schistosomiasis elimination in Laos]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos, so as to propose the corresponding healthy policies and suggestions.

METHODS

A SWOT analysis was performed to analyze the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat for the schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, and the corresponding policy suggestions were proposed.

RESULTS

The national schistosomiasis elimination program of Laos receives governmental emphases and great supports. A strategy based on mass drug administration was proposed and a sentinel site-bases surveillance system has been built for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos; however, there are several challenges for the national schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, including insufficient financial supports, inadequate professional capability, weak schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations and difficulty in vector control.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent governmental leadership, increasing financial supports, strengthening professional team building and improving schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations are required to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Laos.

[Investigation on Demodex infections among university students in Kunming City]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of Demodex infection among students in Kunming Medical University, and identify the factors affecting Demodex infections, so as to provide the evidence for the development of the strategy for the prevention of Demodex infections.

METHODS

A total of 1 463 students from Grade 2014 who studied Medical Parasitology in Kunming Medical University were included in the survey. Demodex was examined in students'facial skin using the cellophane tape method, and the species was identified using microscopy. The students'gender, ethnicity, place of origin and skin type were captured using a questionnaire survey.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of Demodex infections was 19.07% (279/1 463) on the facial skin among the university students, and a higher prevalence was seen in girls (21.16%, 183/865) than in boys (16.05%, 96/598) (χ² =5.965,P <0.05).TheprevalenceofDemodex infectionswas18.33%(66/360)amongminorethnicstudents,andnoethnicity-specific prevalence was seen (P > 0.05). Demodex folliculorum was the predominant species, with a prevalence of 50.54% (141/279), and mild infections were predominant among all infections (96.77%, 270/279), without severe infections seen. Multivariate nonconditional logistic regression analysis revealed that gender and roommates with Demodex infections were risk factors of Demodex infections, and the infection was not associated with ethnicity, place of origin or skin type. There were only 2.53% (37/1 463) of the subjects understanding the knowledge pertaining to the prevention and control of Demodex infection.

CONCLUSIONS

A relatively low prevalence of Demodex infection is detected in the facial skin of students from Kunming Medical University, and Demodex infection is associated with gender and roommates with Demodex infections. Health education pertaining to the prevention of Demodex infections is suggested to be intensified among university students.

[Study on the prevalence of Beijing genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its relationship with second-line anti-tuberculosis drug resistance]

Objective: To explore the prevalence risk factors of Beijing genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in Beijing and its correlation with second-line anti tuberculosis drug resistance. Methods: A total of 1 140 clinical MTB positive strains were collected from various districts in Beijing, and the drug sensitivity was detected by proportion method. Beijing genotype and non Beijing genotype MTB were identified by the method of Spoligotyping. Using SPSS 22.0 statistical software, chi square test or Fisher exact probability test was used to analyze the experimental data. Results: Among 1 140 MTB clinical isolates, 941 (82.5%) were Beijing genotype MTB, 199 were non Beijing genotype MTB. There were 663 males (70.5%) in Beijing genotype and 124 males (62.3%) in non Beijing genotype strains. There were significant differences in the proportion of males between the two genotypes [P=0.021, OR (95% CI):1.442 (1.048-1.985)]. There were 441 floating population (46.9%) in Beijing genotype MTB and 78 floating population (39.2%) in non Beijing genotype MTB. There was a significant difference in the proportion of floating population between the two genotypes [P=0.048,OR (95%CI):1.368(1.001-1.869)]. There were 129 patients (13.7%) aged 65 or older in Beijing genotype MTB, 40 patients (20.1%) aged 65 or older in non Beijing genotype MTB. The difference was statistically significant [P=0.021, or (95% CI): 0.631 (0.426-0.936)]. The resistance drug rates of Levofloxacin (Lfx), Amikacin (Am), Capreomycin (Cm), Para-aminosalicylic (PAS) in Beijing genotypes were 5.5% (52/941), 1.3% (12/941), 3.2% (30/941) and 3.0% (28/941), respectively, and those of non Beijing genotypes were 10.6% (21/199), 8.5% (17/199, 12.6% (25/199) and 11.6% (23/199), the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were 58 (6.2%) multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in Beijing genotype MTB and 19 (9.5%) multidrug-resistant strains in non Beijing genotype. There was no significant difference in the proportion of MDR strains between Beijing genotype and non Beijing genotype (P>0.05). Conclusions: Beijing genotype MTB is widespread in Beijing and has a higher proportion in male population and floating population. Compared with non Beijing genotype, Beijing genotype MTB has a lower resistance rate to Lfx, Am, Cm and PAS, and there is no significant difference in the proportion of MDR-TB patients between the two genotypes.

Patient-reported outcomes after surgery or radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer: a retrospective study

INTRODUCTION

To compare the intermediate-term outcomes and patient-reported outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and radical external beam radiotherapy (RT) in Chinese patients with localised prostate cancer.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients with localised prostate cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2011 and treated with either RALP or RT. Baseline patient and disease characteristics, post-treatment complications, and latest disease status were retrospectively collected from hospital records. For assessment of patient-reported outcomes, the Chinese version of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire was completed by the patients.

RESULTS

Ninety three patients aged 58 to 84 years were recruited. Thirty patients were treated by RALP (32.3%), whereas 63 received RT (67.7%). The RALP group had significantly lower baseline prostate-specific antigen levels than the RT group (P<0.001). More patients who underwent RALP reported urinary incontinence (70.0% vs 3.2%, P<0.001), whereas more patients who underwent RT reported other voiding symptoms (87.3% vs 50.0%, P<0.001) and perirectal bleeding (36.5% vs 0%, P<0.001) during follow-up. Of the 85 patients who were still alive at the time of the study, 52 (61.2%) returned completed questionnaires. Patients who underwent RALP had poorer median (interquartile range) EPIC urinary summary scores than patients who underwent RT [81.5 (18.3) vs 88.9 (17.9), P=0.016]. Urinary function [75.9 (20.4) vs 93.6 (16.2), P<0.001] and incontinence [60.5 (31.8) vs 91.8 (14.5), P<0.001] were also significantly worse in the RALP group. The bowel and sexual domain scores were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that RALP and RT were associated with different patterns of complications and patient-reported outcomes. Urinary incontinence was much more prevalent in the patients treated surgically. This may significantly affect patients' quality of life.

Urban-rural disparity of preventive healthcare utilisation among children under the universal health insurance coverage in Taiwan: a national birth cohort analysis

OBJECTIVE

In the context of universal health insurance coverage, this study aimed to determine whether urban-rural inequality still exists in preventive health care (PHC) amongst children in Taiwan.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 184,117 mothers and their children born in 2009 were identified as the study cohort. The number of children born in urban, satellite and rural areas was 40,176, 57,565 and 86,805, respectively. All children were followed for 7 years, before which a total of seven times PHC were provided by Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) programme. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to associate urbanisation level with the frequency of PHC utilisation. Stratified analyses were further performed in accordance with the children's birth weight and the mothers' birthplace.

RESULTS

Children from satellite areas had higher utilisation for the first four scheduled PHC visits. Children living in urban areas received more PHC for the fifth and sixth scheduled visits. Compared with those from rural areas, children in satellite areas exhibited a small but significant increase in odds in PHC utilisation, with a covariate-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.04 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.02-1.06. By contrast, no significant difference was observed between rural and urban areas (aOR = 1.01). Further stratified analyses suggest more evident urban-rural difference in PHC utilisation amongst children with low birth weight and foreign-born mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Given a universal health insurance coverage and embedded mechanisms in increasing the availability of healthcare resources in Taiwan, a slight urban-rural difference is observed in PHC utilisation amongst children. Hence, sociodemographic inequality in utilisation of PHC still exists. This issue should be addressed through policy intervention.

Intercomparison of dose enhancement ratio and secondary electron spectra for gold nanoparticles irradiated by X-rays calculated using multiple Monte Carlo simulation codes

PURPOSE

Targeted radiation therapy has seen an increased interest in the past decade. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed enhanced radiation doses due to gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to tumors in mice and demonstrated a high potential for clinical application. However, finding a functionalized molecular formulation for actively targeting GNPs in tumor cells is challenging. Furthermore, the enhanced energy deposition by secondary electrons around GNPs, particularly by short-ranged Auger electrons is difficult to measure. Computational models, such as Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport codes, have been used to estimate the physical quantities and effects of GNPs. However, as these codes differ from one to another, the reliability of physical and dosimetric quantities needs to be established at cellular and molecular levels, so that the subsequent biological effects can be assessed quantitatively.

METHODS

In this work, irradiation of single GNPs of 50 nm and 100 nm diameter by X-ray spectra generated by 50 and 100 peak kilovoltages was simulated for a defined geometry setup, by applying multiple MC codes in the EURADOS framework.

RESULTS

The mean dose enhancement ratio of the first 10 nm-thick water shell around a 100 nm GNP ranges from 400 for 100 kVp X-rays to 600 for 50 kVp X-rays with large uncertainty factors up to 2.3.

CONCLUSIONS

It is concluded that the absolute dose enhancement effects have large uncertainties and need an inter-code intercomparison for a high quality assurance; relative properties may be a better measure until more experimental data is available to constrain the models.

Immunological and biochemical evidence for identity of tartrate-resistant isoenzymes of acid phosphatases from human serum and tissues

We purified acid phosphatase isoenzyme 5b from a human spleen affected by leukemic reticuloendotheliosis and used it to produce a specific antiserum. The antiserum was used to show complete immunological identity among isoenzymes 5a and 5b in human serum, and 5b isolated from a giant-cell bone tumor and from the spleen of a case of Hodgkin's disease. Acid phosphatase 5b in a giant-cell bone tumor was isolated for biochemical characterization. Its pH optimum and substrate specificity were very similar to those of isoenzyme 5b from human spleen.

The extra domain A of fibronectin facilitates osteoclastogenesis in radicular cysts through vascular endothelial growth factor

AIM

To analyse the effects of the alternatively spliced fibronectin (FN) gene and its isoforms on osteoclastogenesis in radicular cysts.

METHODOLOGY

Specimens of radicular cysts were collected surgically from 22 patients whose radiolucent periapical areas were measured on digital panoramic radiographs before surgery. The associations between the radiolucent areas and FN isoforms, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression or micro-vessel density, as well as the relationships amongst them, were analysed by immunohistochemical staining using the antibodies IST-9, BC-1, P1F11, VEGF and CD34. Fibroblasts isolated from those specimens were used to induce Trap + MNCs, and the effects of induction were assessed by blocking FN containing extra domain A (EDA + FN), COX-2 or VEGF in vitro. The effects of EDA exon knockout using CRISPR/Cas system were also assessed. Quantitative PCR was used to analyse relative expression of FN isoforms and osteoclastogenic genes. Data were analysed using linear regression, Spearman's rank correlation analysis, chi-square test and Student's t-test; P < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Micro-vessel density and EDA + FN staining were positively associated with the size of radiolucent periapical areas (mm² ; P < 0.05), consistent with a positive association between Trap + MNCs and VEGF expression in fibroblasts (P < 0.05). Blocking the interaction between EDA + FN and fibroblasts inhibited Trap + MNC formation. In addition, EDA exon knockout decreased VEGF expression and inhibited Trap + MNC formation to the extent of blocking VEGF by bevacizumab, but osteoclastogenic induction was restored by recombinant VEGF. Using retrospective clinicopathological data, VEGF staining was shown to be positively associated with EDA + FN staining, micro-vessel density and the size of radiolucent areas (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In fibrous capsules of radicular cysts, the alternatively spliced isoform EDA + FN generated by fibroblasts stimulated VEGF expression via an autocrine effect and then facilitated osteoclastogenesis. Both blockage of VEGF and EDA exon knockout could be used to inhibit bone destruction.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment options of hearing impairment caused by hyperbilirubinemia]

SummaryNeonatal hyperbilirubinemia is the most common clinical symptom in neonates. When the concentration of free bilirubin in blood is too high, it crosses through the blood-brain barrier and selectively deposits in specific brain nuclei to cause neurotoxicity and bilirubin neurological dysfunction. The auditory nervous system is highly sensitive to bilirubin. Therefore, auditory neuropathy is the most important or even the only clinical symptom of bilirubin neurological dysfunction. Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy can be classified to three types as mild, moderate and severe，according to the audiological manifestations and other neurological sequelae. Early recognition and intervention of bilirubin-induced hearing impairment is of great significance to improve the speech recognition rate of the referred children. This article reviews the most important studies about the clinical characteristics, pathogenesis and treatment of bilirubin-induced hearing impairment.

[Antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica in Pudong New District, Shanghai]

Objective: To investigate the antimicrobial resistance and molecular epidemiology of foodborne Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica in Pudong New District of Shanghai. Methods: Four kinds of raw food samples were collected in retail circulation sites in Pudong from 2012 to 2016. Cold enrichment method was used to isolate Y. enterocolitica and further detection of biotype, serotype, virulent genes, antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were conducted. Results: A total of 3 900 raw food samples were collected during this period, including poultry product (n=590), livestock product (n=1 074), aquatic product (n=1 488), vegetable (n=748), in which 111 (2.8%) were contaminated by Y. enterocolitica. The detection rates of Y. enterocolitica in poultry product samples (5.3%, 31/590) and livestock product samples (4.5%, 48/1 074) were higher than those in aquatic product samples (1.6%, 24/1 488) and vegetable samples (1.1%, 8/748). The predominant biotype was 1A (95.5%) and predominant serotype was O∶8 (42.3%). All the strains lacked ail, ystA, yadA and virF genes, which encoded pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. Seventy six (68.5%) strains harbored ystB gene, in which 35 (31.5%) belonged to 1A/O∶8/ystB pattern. Most strains were resistant to ampicillin (74.8%) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (70.3%), and non-sensitive rate to Cefoxitin was over 50.0%. No third generation cephalosporin or fluoroquinolone resistant strains were detected, but 38.7% (43/111) strains were multidrug resistant (MDR). Serotype O∶8 and O∶5 strains had 44 and 18 PFGE patterns, respectively. Conclusions: The main foodborne exposure sources of Y. enterocolitica in raw food were poultry and livestock products in Pudong New District. 1A/O∶8/ystB was the predominant pattern with potential pathogenicity despite lacks of typical pathogenic virulent genes. The antimicrobial resistant rates of Y. enterocolitica were at a low level, but MDR strains still existed. Molecular types of the isolates showed highly genetic diversity.

[Effects of two nanotopographies of ultraviolet-treated titanium implant surface on macrophage behaviour and inflammatory cytokines secretion]

Objective: To investigate the effects of two nanotopographies of ultraviolet (UV)-treated titanium surface on macrophage biological behaviour and inflammatory cytokines secretion, and to provide basis for clinical application of UV-treatment in dental implant modification. Methods: Titanium disks were allocated into two groups. Samples in one group were acid-etched in hydrofluoric acid (Acid Ti group), and those in the other group were acid-etched and anodized (Anodization group) to form two nanotopographies respectively. The surface morphology was evaluated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The samples were stored in the dark for 8 weeks. Thirteen samples from each group were exposed to UV-irradiation for 48 h (Acid Ti+UV group and Anodization+UV group), UV-untreated samples from Acid Ti and Anodization groups served as control. Hydrophilicity of samples was measured using contact angle measuring device. After 4, 24 and 72 h of incubation, macrophage cell adhesion and proliferation were conducted using cell counting kit-8. Cytokine/chemokine secretions [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α)] were measured from cell culture supernatants at 24 and 72 h using magnetic luminex assay. Cell morphology was examined using FE-SEM after 2 h of incubation. Results: Micropitted/nanopillar and micropitted/nanotubular topographies were observed in Acid Ti group and Anodization group respectively. Contact angles in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups (20.2°±2.8° and 0.0°±0.0°) were significantly smaller than those in the Acid Ti and Anodization groups (P<0.05). Cell adhesion and proliferation in all groups at 4 and 24 h showed no difference (P>0.05). Cell proliferation in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups at 72 h were (0.92±0.13) and (1.10±0.08) respectively, which were significantly higher than those in Acid Ti and Anodization groups. TNF-α concentration in Acid Ti+UV and Anodization+UV groups at 72 h were (1.03±0.11) and (0.87±0.10) ng/L, MCP-1 were (301.7±50.3) and (240.8±18.7) ng/L, MIP-1α were (224.9±30.6) and (233.9±14.9) ng/L respectively, which were significantly lower than those in Acid Ti and Anodization groups (P<0.05). Conclusions: UV treatment can increase hydrophilicity of two titanium surface topographies, especially of Anodization+UV group. UV-treated titanium surfaces can promote macrophage proliferation and reduce the inflammatory response in vitro.

Effect of tannins and cellulase on growth performance, nutrients digestibility, blood profiles, intestinal morphology and carcass characteristics in Hu sheep

Objective

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of tannins and cellulase on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, and carcass characteristics in Hu sheep.

Methods

A total of 48 three-month-old meat Hu sheep (25.05±0.9 kg) were blocked based on body weight, and randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 3 replicates of 4 sheep each. The experiment lasted for 80 d, and dietary treatments were as follows: i) CON, control diet; ii) TAN, CON+0.1% tannins; iii) CEL, CON+0.1% cellulase; iv) TAN+CEL, CON+0.1% tannins and 0.1% cellulase.

Results

Compared with CON, CEL, and TAN+CEL had greater (p<0.05) final body weight (FBW) and average daily gain but lower (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio, while FBW of TAN+ CEL was lower (p<0.05) than that of CEL. The apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dry matter in TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups were higher (p<0.05) than that in CON. CEL and TAN+CEL groups had greater (p<0.05) ATTD of crude fiber compared with TAN and CON, while TAN group had lower (p<0.05) ATTD of crude protein than other treatments. TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups increased (p<0.05) serum globulin and alkaline phosphatase but decreased (p<0.05) albumin/globulin. Serum total protein was greatest for TAN+CEL, intermediate for TAN and CEL and least for CON (p<0.05). TAN+CEL group increased (p<0.05) dressing percentage compared with CON, while the backfat thickness of CEL was lower (p<0.05) than that of CON. The villus height of jejunum and ileum in CEL and TAN+CEL groups were greater (p<0.05) than that in CON, and the crypt depth and villus height: crypt depth of jejunum were increased (p<0.05) in TAN, CEL, and TAN+CEL groups.

Conclusion

The addition of tannins and cellulase together promoted nutrient digestion, liver protein synthesis and intestinal development and thus improved growth performance and carcass characteristics.

[An analysis of medical X-ray examination frequency in ten hospitals in Tianjin, China]

Objective: To investigate the usage frequency of radiological diagnosis devices in ten hospitals in Tianjin, China, and to provide a basis for the survey of medical radiation frequency in Tianjin. Methods: Ten hospitals from the ten districts in Tianjin were enrolled as subjects by a convenient sampling method. A survey was conducted to assess the general information and radiological diagnosis device information and usage frequency in those hospitals in 2016. The radiological examination frequency in Tianjin was estimated. Results: A total of 610 458 patients received radiological examinations in the sampled hospitals in 2016. In those patients, 371 882 received X-ray examinations for imaging and 238 576 for computed tomography (CT) ; there were slightly more female patients than male patients, suggesting a relatively equal gender distribution; patients older than 40 years accounted for 65.53%, which was the highest among all the age groups. Different types of radiological diagnosis devices were mostly used in tertiary and secondary hospitals. In Tianjin, the estimated frequency of X-ray examination for imaging and CT scanning was 451 and 188 per thousand people, respectively, in 2016. Conclusion: The frequency of radiological diagnosis is relatively high in the ten hospitals in Tianjin. The investigation of medical radiation in Tianjin needs to be improved.

Correlation between resilience and social support and anxiety in obstetric nurses

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the correlation between psychological resilience and social support and anxiety in obstetric nurses and to provide theoretical basis for improving the mental health of obstetric nurses.

Methods

In this study, 190 obstetric nurses were included, using the general information questionnaire and The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Social Support Rating Scale, and survey of Self-evaluation of Anxiety Scale.

Results

There are differences in the type of work and the score of psychological resilience (P <0.05), obstetric nurses’ resilience score was 65.58±10.65; self-rating anxiety score of obstetric nurses was 36.89±6.87; and social support score of obstetric nurses was 44.37±7.86. The psychological elasticity score and anxiety were negatively related (P <0.01), whereas the resilience score and total score of social support were positively related (P <0.01).

Conclusions

Obstetric nurses have many responsibilities and stress. Nursing managers should focus on obstetric nurses’ mental health, lighten the obstetric nurses’ anxiety, and thus improve their mental flexibility and optimize the quality of nursing service better, with more passion into work.

[Clinical characteristics and whole exon sequence study of a Chinese family with autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy]

Objective: To explore the genetic characteristics in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant lateral temporal lobe epilepsy (ADLTE) and analyze the correlation between genotype and phenotype. Methods: The natural history, clinical data and peripheral blood sample were collected in all patients and two healthy members of this ADLTE family. Whole exon sequence (WES) analysis strategy was used to explore the underlying mutations. Possible causative genetic variation was further confirmed by direct PCR and Sanger sequencing. The genotype-phenotype features were compared with previously reported cases. Results: A novel pathogenetic LGI1 frameshift mutation p.T134fs was identified in this study. The clinical phenotype was different from reported. Conclusion: This study reports a pathogenic LGI1 mutation in a Chinese ADLTE family for the first time, which suggests that LGI1 is a new genetic abnormality of ADLTE in Chinese.

[Preparation of chaperone-antigen peptide vaccine derived from human gastric cancer stem cells and its immune function]

Objective: To explore the method of extracting chaperone antigen peptide complexes from gastric cancer stem cells and its immune function. Methods: Gastric cancer stem cells and gastric cancer cells were screened by low temperature ultrasonic lysis. After salting out and dialysis, the lysate supernatant was processed with SDS-PAGE to analyze the expression of chaperone antigen peptide complexes, and then was separated and purified with CNBr-activated SepharoseTM 4B. Reverse high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were used to analyze the purity and nature of the acquired albumen. Lymphocyte proliferation assay and lymphocytotoxicity assay were used to ditermine the immunological activity of the chaperone-antigen peptide complexes. Results: The chaperone antigen peptide complexes of gastric cancer stem cells were prepared and identified successfully, of which the main components were the antigen peptides of HSP60, HSP70, HSP90 and HSP110. 0.75 μg and 1.00 μg HSP70-antigen peptide and 1.00 μg HSP90-antigen peptide activated lymphocytes significantly. Their A(490) values were 0.26±0.03, 0.45±0.05 and 0.32±0.04, respectively, while the corresponding doses of HSP60-antigen peptide and HSP110-antigen peptide did not activate lymphocytes. The killing rates of 1.00 μg HSP70-antigen peptide and 1.00 μg HSP70 were (45.0±2.0)% and (16.0±2.0)%, respectively, showing a significant difference (P=0.012). Similarly, the killing rates of 1.00 μg HSP90-antigen peptide and 1.00 μg HSP90 were (36.0±5.0)% and (13.0±4.0)%, respectively, also showing a significant difference (P=0.048). Conclusions: The amount of chaperone antigen peptide complexes in gastric cancer cells is extremely low, but it is obviously increased in gastric cancer stem cells. After purification, the chaperone antigen peptide complexes with high purity can be prepared. The extracted chaperone antigen peptide complexes have stronger immunogenicity, and can be used to make tumor vaccine in vitro, which may have a good application value in the targeted therapy of gastric cancer.

Polarization-dependent strong coupling between surface plasmon polaritons and excitons in an organic-dye-doped nanostructure

In this work, we demonstrate polarization-dependent strong coupling between surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and excitons in the J-aggregates-attached aperture array. It is shown that the excitons strongly couple with the polarization-dependent SPPs, and Rabi splittings are consequently observed. As a result, the polarization-dependent polariton bands are generated in the system. Increasing the incident angle, the polaritons disperse to higher energies under transverse-electric illumination, while the polaritons disperse to lower energies under transverse-magnetic illumination. Therefore, at different polarization incidence, we experimentally achieve distinct polaritons with opposite dispersion directions. In this way, tuning the polarization of the incident light, we can excite different polaritons whose energy propagates to different directions. Furthermore, by retrieving the mixing fractions of the components in these polariton bands, we find that the dispersion properties of the polaritons are inherited from both the SPPs and the excitons. Our investigation may inspire related studies on tunable photon-exciton interactions and achieve some potential applications on active polariton devices.

[Reducing maternal parenting stress of children with autism spectrum disorder: father's involvement]

Objective: To explore the relationship between fathers' nursing time and maternal parenting stress of children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD). Method: Mothers of 98 ASD children who were first diagnosed in the department of Child Health Care, Children's Hospital of Fudan University during June 2015 to January 2016 were included in the ASD group, with mothers of 92 typical children from a Community Maternal and Child Health Hospital and a kindergarten in the control group. The evaluation of parenting stress, parents' nursing time and other related factors were cross-sectionally analyzed. Interview was conducted with the following tools: Parental Stress Index-Short Form(PSI-SF)for maternal parenting stress, and self-made General Parenting Information Questionnaire for nursing time of both parents and other related factors. The relationships were analyzed by Multiple Linear Regression analysis and Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test. Result: Maternal parenting stress of ASD children had a significant negative correlation with father's nursing time in total score of parenting stress, PCDI domain and PD domain (t=-2.76, -2.98, -2.79; P=0.007, 0.004, 0.006), within which PD domain also included family annual income and mothers' nursing time (R(2)=0.22, 0.24, 0.25); while no such correlation was found in control group in terms of father's nursing time(P=0.22, 0.42, 0.06). Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test showed that in 62 (63.3%) double-income ASD families and 72(78.3%) double-income typical families, there were significant differences between ASD fathers' and ASD mothers'and typical fathers'nursing time(2.0(0.5, 2.1)vs. 3.5(2.4, 6.0)vs. 3.0(2.0, 4.7)h, t=-86.32、-49.65, all P<0.01). Conclusion: Lack of fathers' involvements was common in ASD children's families. Increasing these fathers' nursing time, as well as their enthusiasm and initiative in the family intervention could relieve maternal parenting stress and improve the intervention pattern of ASD children.

[Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses for testing validity and reliability of the Chinese language questionnaire for urinary incontinence diagnosis]

OBJECTIVE

To translate questionnaire for urinary incontinence diagnosis (QUID) into Chinese and to test its reliability and validity.

METHODS

The English version of QUID was translated into Chinese. The clinaical data of 95 patinents with urinary incontinence who were test by urinary dynamic study in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2014 to May 2015 were analyzed prospectively. The reliability of QUID was evaluated by completing QUID twice. The validity of QUID was evaluated by the standard of urinary dynamic study.

RESULTS

Internal consistency (Cronbach α) of the items that pertained to stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and to urge urinary incontinence (UUI) were 0.91 and 0.89, respectively. Test-retest reliability (Kappa) was 0.795 and criterion validity (Kappa) was 0.62. Sensitivity and specificity were 83% (43/52) and 86% (37/43), respectively, for SUI, and 72% (13/18) and 86% (66/77), respectively, for UUI.

CONCLUSIONS

QUID has good reliability and validity. It could be used in Chinese urinary incontinence women.

[Hot research topics on cardiovascular diseases in occupational population: a bibliometric analysis]

Objective: To investigate the literature characteristics and research topics on cardiovascular diseases in the occupational population quantitatively via a bibliometric analysis, and to provide a reference for the selection of research directions. Methods: A search strategy was developed according to the words in Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) , and PubMed database was searched for articles on cardiovascular diseases in the occupational population published from 2006 to 2015. The information of published year, authors, journals, and MeSH words was extracted, frequently used MeSH words were screened out, and a cluster analysis was performed for frequently used MeSH words. Results: A total of 1 272 articles were found, and about 150 articles were published annually from 2011 to 2015. Most articles were published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and the author Tohr Nilsson had the highest number of published articles. The influencing factors mainly included occupational mental stress, smoking, and working system, and the health outcomes attracting the most attention were hypertension, hand-arm vibration, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. The articles were clustered into 5 types, and 5 hot topics were summarized. Conclusion: The bibliometric analysis of cardiovascular diseases in occupational population shows that hypertension and hand-arm vibration are hot research topics, which can provide a reference to researchers.

Fermentation of Foc TR4-infected bananas and Trichoderma spp

Fusarium wilt (also known as Panama disease) is one of the most destructive banana diseases, and greatly hampers the global production of bananas. Consequently, it has been very detrimental to the Chinese banana industry. An infected plant is one of the major causes of the spread of Fusarium wilt to nearby regions. It is essential to develop an efficient and environmentally sustainable disease control method to restrict the spread of Fusarium wilt. We isolated Trichoderma spp from the rhizosphere soil, roots, and pseudostems of banana plants that showed Fusarium wilt symptoms in the infected areas. Their cellulase activities were measured by endoglucanase activity, β-glucosidase activity, and filter paper activity assays. Safety analyses of the Trichoderma isolates were conducted by inoculating them into banana plantlets. The antagonistic effects of the Trichoderma spp on the Fusarium pathogen Foc tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4) were tested by the dual culture technique. Four isolates that had high cellulase activity, no observable pathogenicity to banana plants, and high antagonistic capability were identified. The isolates were used to biodegrade diseased banana plants infected with GFP-tagged Foc TR4, and the compost was tested for biological control of the infectious agent; the results showed that the fermentation suppressed the incidence of wilt and killed the pathogen. This study indicates that Trichoderma isolates have the potential to eliminate the transmission of Foc TR4, and may be developed into an environmentally sustainable treatment for controlling Fusarium wilt in banana plants.

Regulation of size and uniformity of In2O3 nanooctahedra

Rational regulation of the size and uniformity of nanoparticles has drawn great interests and shown widespread application, but this cannot be simply achieved by the vapor route. In this work, by adopting a chemical vapor deposition approach, the growth process was intricately regulated to guide the reagent supersaturation, and the large-scale growth of uniform-sized In2O3 nanooctahedra was realized. A one-time nucleation and synchronous growth mode controlled by the reagent supersaturation ratio is proposed to be responsible for the uniformity of size. Furthermore, a series of comparative experiments were conducted to study the size dependence on reaction duration, and temperature difference between the heating and depositing zones. This study demonstrates a feasible approach to prepare uniform-sized nanoparticles through precisely controlling the crystal growth process, and the developed growth strategy could be generalized to synthesize uniform-sized nanostructures of other material systems.