[Investigation and analysis of protein and energy intake in adult patients with severe burns]

Objective: To investigate and analyze the actual intake of protein and energy in adult patients with severe burns during post burn days (PBDs) 3 to 14. Methods: Records of 52 adult patients with severe burns [37 males and 15 females, (37±9) years old], admitted to the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns of Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 1st 2011 to December 31st 2017 and meeting the study inclusion criteria, were retrospectively analyzed. Nutrition intake from routes of oral diet, enteral nutrition preparations, and parenteral nutrition preparations of patients during PBDs 3 to 14 were obtained from critical care records. During PBDs 3 to 7 and PBDs 8 to 14, the personal daily total energy intake and the ratio of it to energy target of patients were calculated and compared; the personal daily intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein and calorigenic percentages of carbohydrate, fat, and protein accounted for total energy intake, and the ratios of non-protein calories to total nitrogen of patients were calculated and compared; the personal daily energy and protein intake of patients from routes of oral diet, enteral nutrition preparations, and parenteral nutrition preparations were analyzed; the percentages of energy intake from routes of oral diet, enteral nutrition preparations, and parenteral nutrition preparations accounted for total energy intake, and the percentages of protein intake from routes of oral diet, enteral nutrition preparations, and parenteral nutrition preparations accounted for total protein intake of patients were calculated. Vomiting and diarrhea of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 and PBDs 8 to 14 were recorded. Levels of serum albumin, prealbumin, blood glucose, and triglycerides, 24-hour excretion of urinary nitrogen, nitrogen balance values of patients on PBDs 7 and 14 were recorded or calculated. Data were processed with paired t test and chi-square test. Results: (1) The personal daily total energy intake of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 and PBDs 8 to 14 were (8 696±573) and (11 980±1 259) kJ respectively, and ratios of them to energy target [(13 290±1 561) kJ] were 65.4% and 90.1% respectively. The personal daily total energy intake of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 was obviously lower than that during PBDs 8 to 14 (t=18.172, P<0.01). (2) The personal daily intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein of patients during PBDs 8 to 14 were obviously higher than those during PBDs 3 to 7 (t=15.628, 22.231, 10.403, P<0.01). The personal daily calorigenic percentages of carbohydrate, fat, and protein accounted for total energy intake of patients were 56.8%, 25.1%, and 18.3% respectively during PBDs 3 to 7 and 54.2%, 27.0%, and 18.7% respectively during PBDs 8 to 14. The calorigenic constituent ratio of personal daily intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein accounted for total energy intake of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 was close to that during PBDs 8 to 14 (χ(2)=0.185, P>0.05). The ratios of non-protein calories to total nitrogen (kJ∶g) of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 and PBDs 8 to 14 were 469∶ 1 and 456∶ 1 respectively. (3) The personal daily energy intake of patients from routes of oral diet and parenteral nutrition preparations during PBDs 8 to 14 [(4 394±978), (5 723±898) kJ] were obviously higher than those during PBDs 3 to 7 [(2 137±453), (4 855±825) kJ, t=26.516, 6.583, P<0.01], while the personal daily energy intake of patients from routes of enteral nutrition preparations during PBDs 8 to 14 was close to that during PBDs 3 to 7 (t=1.922, P>0.05). The constituent ratio of personal daily energy during PBDs 3 to 7 was close to that during PBDs 8 to 14 (χ(2)=4.100, P>0.05). The personal daily protein intake of patients from route of oral diet during PBDs 8 to 14 was (58±22) g, obviously higher than (25±6) g during PBDs 3 to 7 (t=14.514, P<0.01). The personal daily protein intake of patients from routes of enteral nutrition preparations and parenteral nutrition preparations during PBDs 8 to 14 was close to those during PBDs 3 to 7 (t=1.924, 1.110, P>0.05). The constituent ratio of personal daily protein intake from routes of oral diet, enteral nutrition preparations, and parenteral nutrition preparations accounted for total protein intake during PBDs 8 to 14 was close to that during PBDs 3 to 7 (χ(2)=5.634, P>0.05). (4) There were 3 patients with vomiting and 4 patients with diarrhea during PBDs 3 to 7, and 1 patient experienced both of them during PBDs 8 to 14. The levels of serum albumin, prealbumin, blood glucose, and triglycerides, 24-hour excretion of urinary nitrogen, and nitrogen balance values of patients on PBDs 7 and 14 were (29±4) and (30±4) g/L, (132±42) and (171±48) mg/L, (7.4±2.8) and (6.7±2.8) mmol/L, (1.5±0.7) and (1.4±0.7) mmol/L, (30.5±4.3) and (34.5±2.2) g, -(25.1±2.6) and -(23.7±3.9) g, respectively. Conclusions: The personal daily total energy intake of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 was lower than that during PBDs 8 to 14. The calorigenic constituent ratio of personal daily intake of carbohydrate, fat, and protein accounted for total energy of patients during PBDs 3 to 7 was close to that during PBDs 8 to 14. Energy and protein intake were mostly derived from parenteral nutrition preparations during PBDs 3 to 7, while those during PBDs 8 to 14 were mainly derived from parenteral nutrition preparations and oral diet.

[Effect of peripheral hyperinsulinemia on assessment of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin preparations in euglycemic clamp]

Objective: To evaluate the effect of peripheral hyperinsulinemia on assessment of pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of insulin preparations in euglycemic clamp. Method: A total of 40 healthy male volunteers aged 18-45 years old in West China Hospital between 2015 and 2017 were divided into euglycemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (A) group and euglycemic clamp (B) group. Humulin R (0.2 U/kg) was given subcutaneously at steady state of clamp after infusion of short-acting insulin in A group while in B group Humulin R was given subcutaneously without establishment of artificial hyperinsulinemia. The blood glucose was maintained within target range during the whole clamp. Result: Maximum insulin concentration [(667±141) pmol/L vs (267±68) pmol/L, P<0.01] and area under curve (AUC) of insulin concentration [(152±32) nmol·L(-1)·min vs (57±7) nmol·L(-1)·min, P<0.01] in A group were higher while maximum glucose infusion rate (GIR) [(3.70±0.70) mg·kg(-1)·min(-1) vs (7.66±2.11) mg·kg(-1)·min(-1), P<0.01] and AUC of GIR [(931±272) mg/kg vs (1 920±452) mg/kg, P<0.01] were lower compared to B group. The serum C-peptide levels were lower in both groups after administration of insulin compared with baseline. Conclusion: It is not necessary applying euglycemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp to evaluate the PK/PD of insulin preparations, which may overestimate the PKparameters and underestimate the PD parameters of insulin preparations.

Awareness of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons in Germany

Background: Due to current demographic trends age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is becoming more prevalent. When disease progresses to late-stage neovascular AMD, rapid initiation of treatment is required to achieve optimal outcomes. However, many affected individuals may be unaware of their disease impeding and delaying care seeking. Therefore, in an exploratory study we assessed whether elderly persons living independently in the community were aware of their AMD. Methods: Participants were recruited in eleven seniors' community centers. Participants underwent a standardized interview followed by non-mydriatic fundus photography of the macula and the optic disc in both eyes (Canon CR-2AF, Canon, New York, USA). The images were graded by an ophthalmologist and the data were analyzed descriptively. Results: A total of 281 participants (73.9 ± 8.1 years; 71.9% women) underwent bilateral fundus photography. The fundus photographs of 208 participants (74%; 73.6 ± 7.0 years; 73.1% women) could be graded. In a third (32.2%, n = 67) no pathological changes were detected. AMD was present in 24.5% of the examined subjects (n = 51). Half of the cases had early (47.1%), followed by intermediate (41.2%) and late (11.7%) AMD. Only one third (n = 16, 31.4%) were aware of their disease. Conclusions: A quarter of community dwelling elderly had AMD but only a third of these were aware of being affected with AMD. This confirms previous studies demonstrating low awareness for age-related eye diseases in the community. Considering the increase in population aging, awareness campaigns for AMD are needed.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Electrons

Precision results on cosmic-ray electrons are presented in the energy range from 0.5 GeV to 1.4 TeV based on 28.1×10^{6} electrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. In the entire energy range the electron and positron spectra have distinctly different magnitudes and energy dependences. The electron flux exhibits a significant excess starting from 42.1_{-5.2}^{+5.4}  GeV compared to the lower energy trends, but the nature of this excess is different from the positron flux excess above 25.2±1.8  GeV. Contrary to the positron flux, which has an exponential energy cutoff of 810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV, at the 5σ level the electron flux does not have an energy cutoff below 1.9 TeV. In the entire energy range the electron flux is well described by the sum of two power law components. The different behavior of the cosmic-ray electrons and positrons measured by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is clear evidence that most high energy electrons originate from different sources than high energy positrons.

Towards Understanding the Origin of Cosmic-Ray Positrons

Precision measurements of cosmic ray positrons are presented up to 1 TeV based on 1.9 million positrons collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station. The positron flux exhibits complex energy dependence. Its distinctive properties are (a) a significant excess starting from 25.2±1.8  GeV compared to the lower-energy, power-law trend, (b) a sharp dropoff above 284_{-64}^{+91}  GeV, (c) in the entire energy range the positron flux is well described by the sum of a term associated with the positrons produced in the collision of cosmic rays, which dominates at low energies, and a new source term of positrons, which dominates at high energies, and (d) a finite energy cutoff of the source term of E_{s}=810_{-180}^{+310}  GeV is established with a significance of more than 4σ. These experimental data on cosmic ray positrons show that, at high energies, they predominantly originate either from dark matter annihilation or from other astrophysical sources.

[Comparison of machine learning method and logistic regression model in prediction of acute kidney injury in severely burned patients]

Objective: To build risk prediction models for acute kidney injury (AKI) in severely burned patients, and to compare the prediction performance of machine learning method and logistic regression model. Methods: The clinical data of 157 severely burned patients in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident conforming to the inclusion criteria were collected. Patients suffering AKI within 90 days after admission were enrolled in group AKI, while the others were enrolled in non-AKI group. Single factor analysis was used to choose independent factors associated with AKI, including sex, age, admission time, features of basic injuries, initial score on admission, treatment condition, and mortality on post injury days 30, 60, and 90. Data were processed with Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Variables with P<0.1 in single factor analysis and those with possible clinical significance were brought into the establishment of prediction model. Logistic regression and XGBoost machine learning algorithm were used to build the prediction model of AKI. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated, and the sensitivity and specificity for optimal threshold value were also calculated for each model. Nonparametric resampling test was used to compare the significance of difference of AUC of the two models. Results: (1) Eighty-nine (56.7%) patients developed AKI within 90 days from admission. Compared with 68 patients in non-AKI group, 89 patients in group AKI were older (Z=-2.203, P<0.05), with larger total burn area and full-thickness burn area (Z=-5.200, -6.297, P<0.01), worse acute physical and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) Ⅱ score, abbreviated burn severity index score, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score on admission (Z=-7.485, -4.739, -4.590, P<0.01), higher occurrence rate of sepsis (χ(2)=33.087, P<0.01), higher rates of accepting tracheotomy, mechanical ventilation, and continuous renal replacement therapy (χ(2)=12.373, 17.201, 43.763, P<0.01), larger first excision area (Z=-2.191, P<0.05), and higher mortality on post injury days 30, 60, and 90 (χ(2)=7.483, 37.259, 45.533, P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in sex, open decompression, admission time, 24-hour fluid volume after admission, 48-hour fluid volume after admission, the first 24-hour urine volume, the second 24 hour urine volume, the first excision time, and inhalation injury (χ(2)=0.529, 3.318, Z=-1.746, -0.016, -1.199, -1.824, -0.625, -1.747, P>0.05). The rates of deep vein catheterization of patients in the two groups were both 100%. (2) There were twenty possible prediction variables for preliminary establishment of model according to the difference results of single factor analysis and clinical significance of variables. (3) The logistic regression prediction model had three variables: APACHE Ⅱ score [odds ratio (OR)=1.36, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.20-1.53, P<0.001], sepsis (OR=2.63, 95% CI=0.90-7.66, P>0.05), and the first 24-hour urine volume (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.50-1.01, P>0.05). The AUC of the logistic regression prediction model was 0.875 (95% CI=0.821-0.930), with the specificity and sensitivity of optimal threshold value 84.4% and 77.7%, respectively. (4) XGBoost machine learning model had seven main predictive variables: APACHE Ⅱ score, full-thickness burn area, 24-hour fluid volume after admission, sepsis, the first 24-hour urine volume, SOFA score, and 48-hour fluid volume after admission. The AUC of machine learning model was 0.920 (95% CI=0.879-0.962), higher than that of logistic regression model (P<0.001), with the specificity and sensitivity of optimal threshold value 89.7% and 82.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Sepsis and fluid resuscitation are two important predictive variables that can be intervened for AKI in severely burned patients. Machine learning method has a better performance and can provide more accurate prediction for individuals than logistic regression prediction model, and therefore has good clinical application prospect.

Observation of Complex Time Structures in the Cosmic-Ray Electron and Positron Fluxes with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present high-statistics, precision measurements of the detailed time and energy dependence of the primary cosmic-ray electron flux and positron flux over 79 Bartels rotations from May 2011 to May 2017 in the energy range from 1 to 50 GeV. For the first time, the charge-sign dependent modulation during solar maximum has been investigated in detail by leptons alone. Based on 23.5×10^{6} events, we report the observation of short-term structures on the timescale of months coincident in both the electron flux and the positron flux. These structures are not visible in the e^{+}/e^{-} flux ratio. The precision measurements across the solar polarity reversal show that the ratio exhibits a smooth transition over 830±30 days from one value to another. The midpoint of the transition shows an energy dependent delay relative to the reversal and changes by 260±30 days from 1 to 6 GeV.

Precision Measurement of Cosmic-Ray Nitrogen and its Primary and Secondary Components with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

A precision measurement of the nitrogen flux with rigidity (momentum per unit charge) from 2.2 GV to 3.3 TV based on 2.2×10^{6} events is presented. The detailed rigidity dependence of the nitrogen flux spectral index is presented for the first time. The spectral index rapidly hardens at high rigidities and becomes identical to the spectral indices of primary He, C, and O cosmic rays above ∼700  GV. We observed that the nitrogen flux Φ_{N} can be presented as the sum of its primary component Φ_{N}^{P} and secondary component Φ_{N}^{S}, Φ_{N}=Φ_{N}^{P}+Φ_{N}^{S}, and we found Φ_{N} is well described by the weighted sum of the oxygen flux Φ_{O} (primary cosmic rays) and the boron flux Φ_{B} (secondary cosmic rays), with Φ_{N}^{P}=(0.090±0.002)×Φ_{O} and Φ_{N}^{S}=(0.62±0.02)×Φ_{B} over the entire rigidity range. This corresponds to a change of the contribution of the secondary cosmic ray component in the nitrogen flux from 70% at a few GV to <30% above 1 TV.

Observation of Fine Time Structures in the Cosmic Proton and Helium Fluxes with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We present the precision measurement from May 2011 to May 2017 (79 Bartels rotations) of the proton fluxes at rigidities from 1 to 60 GV and the helium fluxes from 1.9 to 60 GV based on a total of 1×10^{9} events collected with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer aboard the International Space Station. This measurement is in solar cycle 24, which has the solar maximum in April 2014. We observed that, below 40 GV, the proton flux and the helium flux show nearly identical fine structures in both time and relative amplitude. The amplitudes of the flux structures decrease with increasing rigidity and vanish above 40 GV. The amplitudes of the structures are reduced during the time period, which started one year after solar maximum, when the proton and helium fluxes steadily increase. Above ∼3  GV the p/He flux ratio is time independent. We observed that below ∼3  GV the ratio has a long-term decrease coinciding with the period during which the fluxes start to rise.

[Reflection on rescue and treatment of mass burn casualties in 21st century]

The rescue and treatment of mass burn casualties is a test for both the burn treatment level and the disaster emergency response ability of a country or a region. In recent years, burn disasters happened occasionally around the world despite of the improvement of safety level in production and the awareness of fire prevention. On one hand, mass burn casualty events caused catastrophic damages to human health. On the other hand, they also promoted the development of burn treatment and disaster medicine. This paper may provide some references for further improving the management of mass burn casualties in the future by reviewing several typical cases of burn disaster rescue and treatment in the world since the 21st century.

[Clinical characteristics and economic burden of influenza among children under 5 years old, in Suzhou, 2011-2017]

Objective: To understand the clinical characteristics and economic burden of influenza-like illness (ILI) children aged 0-59 months in the outpatient settings in Suzhou, China, 2011-2017. Methods: From March 2011 to February 2017, we conducted a prospective surveillance program on ILI for children aged less than 5 years at Soochow University Affiliated Children's Hospital. Through standard questionnaires and follow-up survey via telephone, we collected information regarding the demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical symptoms and both direct and indirect costs associated with influenza, of the patients. We then compared clinical characteristics and economic burden of influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B infections among children with ILI. Results: We enrolled 6 310 patients with ILI from March 2011 to February 2017 and collected all their throat swabs. 791 (12.9%) of the swabs showed positive for influenza virus, including 88 (11.1%) subtype influenza A/H1N1, 288 (36.4%) subtype influenza A/H3N2, and 415(52.5%) type influenza B. The proportions of cough, rhinorrhea, wheezing, vomiting and convulsion in influenza-positive children were higher than those influenza-negative children. Except for the prevalence rates of cough (χ(2)=9.227, P=0.010), wheezing (χ(2)=7.273, P=0.026) and vomiting (χ(2)=8.163, P=0.017), other clinical symptoms appeared similar between the three viral subtypes. Among all the ILI children, the average total cost per episode of influenza was 688.4 Yuan (95%CI: 630.1-746.7) for influenza-negative children; 768.0 Yuan (95%CI: 686.8-849.3) for influenza-positive children and 738.3 Yuan (95%CI: 655.5-821.1) for influenza B. Children with influenza A/H1N1 spent much more than those with influenza A/H3N2 or influenza B in the total cost (χ(2)=7.237, P=0.028). Conclusion: Children infected influenza showed higher prevalence rates of cough, rhinorrhea, wheezing, vomiting and convulsion than those without influenza. Influenza A/H1N1 subtype caused heavier economic burden than the other two influenza subtypes.

[Preemptive analgesia with loxoprofen sodiumorally in extraction of impacted teeth]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of preemptive analgesia with loxoprofen sodium orally, which was a kind of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, in extractions of mandibular impacted third teeth.

METHODS

There were questionnaires about postoperative pain for patients whose mandibular impacted third teeth were extracted from July 2017 to August 2017 in First Clinical Division of Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. All the patients did their routine clinical examinations and imaging examinations. After their mandibular impacted third teeth were extracted, the questionnaires were sent to them. The questionnaires were filled in by the patients on their own and returned one week later. There were 120 questionnaires that were sent and 105 questionnaires returned, of which 98 questionnaires were filled in completely. According to the inclusive criteria and exclusion criteria, 66 questionnaires were totally selected in this study. According to the time when the patients took their loxoprofen sodium orally firstly, the patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group was for patients who didn't take loxoprofen sodium during their extractions (non-medicine group). The second group was for patients who took 60 mg loxoprofen sodium 30 min before their extractions (preoperative group). The third group was for patients who took 60 mg loxoprofen sodium 30 min after their extractions (postoperative group). The operation time among the 3 groups was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis method. The postoperative time points were 2, 4, 12,24 and 48 h after operation. The scores of visual analogue scales (VAS) for postoperative pain in each group at different postoperative time points were analyzed by Friedman method. At each postoperative time point, VAS scores in the different groups were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis me-thod. The numbers of the patients taking loxoprofen sodium home and drug adverse reactions were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The operation time of the 3 groups was 15.0 (5.0,30.0) min and had no significant differences (P=0.848).VAS scores of non-medicine group 2,4, 12,24 and 48 h after operation were 1.75 (0.1,10.0), 6.25 (1.5,10.0), 2.00 (0.1,8.0), 2.00 (0.1,6.0) and 0.5 (0.1,5.5) separately and had significant differences (P<0.001).The VAS score at 4 h after operation was higher than the VAS scores at other time points after operation (P<0.005). Four hours after the operations, the VAS scores of preoperative group [2.0 (0.1,10.0)] and postoperative group [2.0 (0.1,5.0)] were lower significantly than those of non-medicine group [6.25 (1.5,10.0)] (P<0.001).The numbers of the patients taking loxoprofen sodium home were 9(40.9%) in non-medicine group,5(21.8%) in preoperative group and 7(33.3%) in postoperative group. The number of the patients who had drug adverse reactions in preoperative group (n=3,13.0%) and in postoperative group (n=4,19.0%) was less than the number of the patients who had drug adverse reactions in non-medicine group (n=8,36.4%).

CONCLUSION

There were two protocols of preemptive analgesia with loxoprofen sodium orally in extractions of mandibular impacted third teeth, which were taking 60 mg loxoprofen sodium orally 30 min before the extractions and taking 60 mg loxoprofen sodium orally 30 min after the extractions. Both of the two preemptive analgesia protocols could decrease the postoperative pain significantly.

[Clinical characteristics of high-grade B-cell lymphomas with rearrangement of MYC, bcl-6 and bcl-2]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features of patients with high-grade B-cell lymphomas (HGBL) that have rearrangements of MYC, bcl-6 and bcl-2. Methods: One hundred and fifty-eight B-cell lymphomas patients from Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital from January 2016 to April 2017 were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with double color split-apart probes. Results: Among 158 B-cell lymphomas, 3 cases with MYC, bcl-2 and bcl-6 rearrangements were identified, 1 of which also had CCND1/IgH translocation. All three patients were of older age, with poor prognostic parameters, multiple organs involvements, elevated LDH and advanced-tumor stage. Two of the three patients were treated with high-intensity chemotherapy and had no remission with an overall survival of 9 months and 11 months respectively. One patient had follow-up with no treatment. Histologically, all three cases showed a spectrum of morphologic features. Although initially categorized as lymphoblastic lymphoma, diffuse large lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma respectively, two cases were associated with germinal center B-cell (GCB) immunophenotype and 1 case with non-GCB immunophenotype. They had a high proliferation index as assessed by immunostaining for Ki-67 (60%-90%). Conclusions: MYC(+) bcl-2(+) bcl-6(+) HGBL is an aggressive disease with multiple organ involvement, high serum LDH levels, advanced stage disease, poor prognosis and shorter patient survival. The diagnosis should be made by histopathology combined with FISH analysis. Its separation from other types of B cell large cell lymphoma is of clinical importance.

Observation of New Properties of Secondary Cosmic Rays Lithium, Beryllium, and Boron by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report on the observation of new properties of secondary cosmic rays Li, Be, and B measured in the rigidity (momentum per unit charge) range 1.9 GV to 3.3 TV with a total of 5.4×10^{6} nuclei collected by AMS during the first five years of operation aboard the International Space Station. The Li and B fluxes have an identical rigidity dependence above 7 GV and all three fluxes have an identical rigidity dependence above 30 GV with the Li/Be flux ratio of 2.0±0.1. The three fluxes deviate from a single power law above 200 GV in an identical way. This behavior of secondary cosmic rays has also been observed in the AMS measurement of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O but the rigidity dependences of primary cosmic rays and of secondary cosmic rays are distinctly different. In particular, above 200 GV, the secondary cosmic rays harden more than the primary cosmic rays.

Observation of the Identical Rigidity Dependence of He, C, and O Cosmic Rays at High Rigidities by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

We report the observation of new properties of primary cosmic rays He, C, and O measured in the rigidity (momentum/charge) range 2 GV to 3 TV with 90×10^{6} helium, 8.4×10^{6} carbon, and 7.0×10^{6} oxygen nuclei collected by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during the first five years of operation. Above 60 GV, these three spectra have identical rigidity dependence. They all deviate from a single power law above 200 GV and harden in an identical way.

Magnetic and transport properties of a layered compound Ce2Te5

Ce₂Te₅ single crystals were successfully grown using RbCl/LiCl flux method. The structure of Ce₂Te₅ can be viewed as a combination of CeTe₂ and CeTe₃. The experimental results of magnetic susceptibility [Formula: see text], isothermal magnetization M(H), electrical resistivity [Formula: see text], and heat capacity C(T) show two clear anomalies at 5.1 and 2.3 K, which correspond to a ferrimagnetic and a possible antiferromagnetic transition, respectively. Both of [Formula: see text] and C(T) confirm a third transition at 0.9 K. The resistivity shows a huge anisotropy with the current applied in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] directions. Our experimental results prefer the scenario that the three consecutive transitions in Ce₂Te₅ are attributed to two different kinds of origin, which are independent and responsible for the magnetic orders observed in CeTe₂ and CeTe₃.

Epidemiology and outcomes of bloodstream infections in 177 severe burn patients from an industrial disaster: a multicentre retrospective study

OBJECTIVES

To determine the characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and to evaluate the impact of BSIs on mortality in severe burn patients.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study was conducted in 20 tertiary hospitals. A total of 185 patients who experienced a massive dust explosion in eastern China were included.

RESULTS

After exclusion, 177 patients were analysed. The median total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 95% (interquartile range 85%-98%). Inhalation injuries occurred in 97.2%. The overall 90-day mortality was 35% (62/177). During the study period, 120 (67.8%) patients developed 253 episodes of BSI with 323 unique causative pathogens. Sixty-six episodes were polymicrobial infections. Catheter-related BSIs (CRBSIs) accounted for 41.5% of the episodes. Acinetobacter baumannii (19.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.9%) and Candida (12.7%) were the most common organisms. Antimicrobial resistance was found in 63.5% of the isolates, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. Patients who developed BSIs had a greater illness severity at admission to the intensive care unit, and worse outcomes. After adjusting for demographics, severity of illness and treatment characteristics in a multivariate logistic model, there was a trend toward BSI increasing the risk of 90-day mortality (adjusted OR 3.4; 95% CI 0.9-12.9; p=0.069). In subgroup analyses, CRBSIs (adjusted OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.3-24.9; p=0.021 versus no BSI) and polymicrobial BSIs (adjusted OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.3-28.1; p=0.020 versus no BSI) had greater risk of 90-day mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

A strikingly high rate of BSIs was observed in severe burn patients. Gram-negative organisms and fungi were the leading causes. CRBSIs and polymicrobial BSIs were associated with high mortality.

Characterization and Expression Analysis of Attacins, Antimicrobial Peptide-Encoding Genes, from the Desert Beetle Microdera punctipennis in Response to Low Temperatures

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute the insect innate immune defense system. AMP production is usually induced by microbes. However, mounting evidence links insect immune reaction to cold hardiness.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed at characterizing two attacins, MpAtt1 and MpAtt2, from the desert beetle Microdera punctipennis in Coleoptera and investigating the expression profiles of the two genes in response to cold stress.

RESULTS

Full lengths MpAtt1 and MpAtt2 cDNAs were obtained from low temperature transcriptomic data. The newly identified attacins show characteristics different from those previously reported in other insects. MpAtt1 and MpAtt2 encode precursor proteins of 151 and 166 amino acid residues, respectively. These two attacins show 28.1% identity at amino acid level, and 38.3% identity at nucleotide level. Phylogenetic tree shows that the Mp attacins and the other Coleoptera attacins diverge earlier than Diptera and Lepidoptera attacins in evolution. The results of real-time quantitative PCR showed that MpAtt1 and MpAtt2 are highly expressed in hindgut plus Malpighian tube, and MpAtt1 also highly expressed in fat body. The mRNA levels of MpAtt1 and MpAtt2 were increased when the insects were treated at 4 degree C and a4 degree C, but the responsiveness to -4 degree C was lower than to 4 degree C.

CONCLUSION

The cold inducible expression of attacin genes from the desert beetle M. punctipennis from the aspect of antimicrobial peptide synthesis supports the hypothesis that the insect immune system is stimulated during cold exposure.

Precision Measurement of the Boron to Carbon Flux Ratio in Cosmic Rays from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the boron to carbon flux ratio (B/C) is important in understanding the propagation of cosmic rays. The precise measurement of the B/C ratio from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV, based on 2.3 million boron and 8.3 million carbon nuclei collected by AMS during the first 5 years of operation, is presented. The detailed variation with rigidity of the B/C spectral index is reported for the first time. The B/C ratio does not show any significant structures in contrast to many cosmic ray models that require such structures at high rigidities. Remarkably, above 65 GV, the B/C ratio is well described by a single power law R^{Δ} with index Δ=-0.333±0.014(fit)±0.005(syst), in good agreement with the Kolmogorov theory of turbulence which predicts Δ=-1/3 asymptotically.

[Comparision of Different Methods of Area Measurement in Irregular Scar]

OBJECTIVES

To determine a measurement standard of irregular scar area by comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different measurement methods in measuring same irregular scar area.

METHODS

Irregular scar area was scanned by digital scanning and measured by coordinate reading method, AutoCAD pixel method, Photoshop lasso pixel method, Photoshop magic bar filled pixel method and Foxit PDF reading software, and some aspects of these methods such as measurement time, repeatability, whether could be recorded and whether could be traced were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the scar areas by the measurement methods above. However, there was statistical difference in the measurement time and repeatability by one or multi performers and only Foxit PDF reading software could be traced back.

CONCLUSIONS

The methods above can be used for measuring scar area, but each one has its advantages and disadvantages. It is necessary to develop new measurement software for forensic identification.

Increased miR-155-5p expression in dermal mesenchymal stem cells of psoriatic patients: comparing the microRNA expression profile by microarray

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have pleiotropic immuno-modulatory effects and pro-angiogenic ability, leading to the presumption that MSCs may be involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory or autoimmune disorders, including psoriasis. In a previous study, we reported the specific gene expression profile of dermal MSCs from psoriasis. Inflammation- and angiogenesis-related genes, such as lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha transcription factor (LITAF), dual-specificity protein phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFα), and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-5 (IGFBP5), are abnormally expressed in psoriatic dermal MSCs. As a key regulator of gene expression, miRNA are involved in a wide variety of biological processes; in fact, several miRNAs have been implicated in the development and progression of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. In this study, we compared the miRNA expression profiles of dermal MSCs from patients with psoriasis to those in MSCs from normal individuals by microarray, and found that the pro-inflammatory miRNA miR-155 was significantly overexpressed in psoriatic MSCs (2.44 fold, P < 0.001). Additionally, the expression of miR-155 target gene TAB2 (8.47 ± 1.55 vs 6.38 ± 2.10, P < 0.01,) and the downstream gene iNOS (5.26 ± 2.58 vs 3.73 ± 1.89, P < 0.05) was found to be inhibited in psoriatic dermal MSCs by real-time PCR. Therefore, we speculated that the elevation in miR-155 levels may be an indicator of, or a key regulatory pathway in, the pathogenesis of psoriasis, resulting in functionally impaired dermal MSCs.

Discovery of differentially expressed genes in cashmere goat (Capra hircus) hair follicles by RNA sequencing

The mammalian hair follicle (HF) is a unique, highly regenerative organ with a distinct developmental cycle. Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) HFs can be divided into two categories based on structure and development time: primary and secondary follicles. To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the primary and secondary HFs of cashmere goats, the RNA sequencing of six individuals from Arbas, Inner Mongolia, was performed. A total of 617 DEGs were identified; 297 were upregulated while 320 were downregulated. Gene ontology analysis revealed that the main functions of the upregulated genes were electron transport, respiratory electron transport, mitochondrial electron transport, and gene expression. The downregulated genes were mainly involved in cell autophagy, protein complexes, neutrophil aggregation, and bacterial fungal defense reactions. According to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, these genes are mainly involved in the metabolism of cysteine and methionine, RNA polymerization, and the MAPK signaling pathway, and were enriched in primary follicles. A microRNA-target network revealed that secondary follicles are involved in several important biological processes, such as the synthesis of keratin-associated proteins and enzymes involved in amino acid biosynthesis. In summary, these findings will increase our understanding of the complex molecular mechanisms of HF development and cycling, and provide a basis for the further study of the genes and functions of HF development.