Significance of soil moisture on temperature dependence of Hg emission

Soil moisture is a key factor for mercury (Hg) emission from soil. Despite its significance for Hg emissions, the effect of soil moisture on Hg flux and fractions has not been thoroughly investigated. The objective of this study was to elucidate the influences of soil moisture and temperature on Hg fluxes from soils and Hg fractions. A kinetic study was performed to measure Hg emission fluxes of six soil samples under different temperature (T) (15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C, 30 °C, and 35 °C) and moisture conditions (0%, 10%, and 20% added water). The results showed that the Hg fluxes increased with increases in T and soil moisture. A linear correlation was found between ln (Hg emission flux) and 1/T for the six soil samples at different moisture contents (R² = 0.73-0.99). The range of activation energy (Ea) values was 25.31-57.86 kJ/mol. The Hg fractions in soils of different moisture content were determined by a sequential extraction method. The results demonstrated that soil moisture affected the Hg fractions in soils. The Ea values had different relationships with soil moisture in different soils. There were correlations between Ea and the elemental and mercuric sulfide fractions for air-dried soils. However, for moist soils, Ea was negatively correlated with the water-soluble and acid-soluble fractions. Collectively, the combination of the Hg emission kinetics and Hg fraction measurement of different moist soils indicated that Hg emission was affected by both total Hg concentration and Hg fractions.

[Performance of point-of-care testing for cervical cancer screening]

Objective: To evaluate the performance of point-of-care testing for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions screening. Methods: In September 2020, 197 and 273 women were selected by using simple random sampling method from "self-sampling" cohort and "physician-sampling" cohort established in Xiangyuan county, Shanxi Province, China, respectively. Cervical exfoliated cells were collected by women themselves or gynecologists. All samples were detected by POCT and women with positive result were directly referred for colposcopy. Subsequently, all the samples were detected by careHPV and PCR test. Colposcopy and punch biopsy were performed for women with POCT negative but careHPV or PCR test positive at another visit. Using histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard, we calculated sensitivity, specificity and drew the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The accuracy of POCT was analyzed and compared to that of careHPV and conventional PCR test in cervical cancer and precancerous lesions screening. Results: The median (Q₁ , Q₃) age of 470 women was 51 (45, 57) years old. Based on self-sampling, the sensitivity and specificity of POCT for CIN2+ were 100.00% (95%CI: 56.56%-100.00%) and 28.95% (95%CI: 22.97%-35.76%), respectively. Compared with POCT, POCT HPV16/18 test had similar sensitivity and higher specificity of 89.47% (95%CI: 84.30%-93.08%). Self-sampling POCT HPV16/18 test had an AUC of 0.947 (95%CI:0.910-0.985), which was higher than that of careHPV and PCR test. Physician-sampling POCT test had 100.00% sensitivity (95%CI: 64.57%-100.00%) and 55.85% specificity (95%CI: 49.83%-61.70%) for detecting CIN2+. POCT HPV16/18 test had lower sensitivity (71.43%, 95%CI: 35.90%-91.76%) and higher specificity (92.45%, 95%CI: 88.63%-95.06%). POCT HPV16/18 test generally showed similar AUC on both self-collected samples and clinician-collected samples (0.947 vs 0.819, P=0.217). Conclusion: POCT HPV16/18 test is an effective method with relatively high sensitivity and specificity for cervical cancer screening.

Impact of 9-Minute Withdrawal Time on the Adenoma Detection Rate: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Although current quality indicators of colonoscopy recommend 6 minutes as the minimum standard for withdrawal time (WT), the impact of a WT longer than 6 minutes on neoplasia detection is unclear.

METHODS

A multicenter randomized controlled trial involving 1027 patients was conducted from January 2018 to July 2019. Participants were randomly divided into a 9-minute (n = 514) and 6-minute (n = 513) WT group, and a timer was used to adjust the withdrawal speed. The primary outcome was the adenoma detection rate (ADR).

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analysis showed a significantly higher ADR in the 9-minute versus 6-minute WT group (36.6% vs. 27.1%, P = .001). Prolonging WT from 6 to 9 minutes significantly increased ADR of the proximal colon (21.4% vs. 11.9%, P < .001) as well as of the less experienced colonoscopists (36.8% vs. 23.5%, P = .001). Improvements were also observed in the polyp detection rate (58.0% vs. 47.8%, P < .001), and mean number of polyps and adenomas detected per colonoscopy (1.1 vs. 0.9, P = .002; 0.5 vs. 0.4, P = .008, respectively). The higher ADRs in 9-minute WT were also confirmed by the per-protocol (PP) analysis and subgroup analyses, with an increased rate of sessile serrated lesion detection in the 9-minute WT by PP analysis (4.0% vs. 1.3%, P = .04). Multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that the 9-minute WT was independently associated with increased ADR (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonging WT from 6 to 9 minutes significantly improved ADR, especially in the proximal colon and for less experienced colonoscopists. A 9-minute WT benchmark should be considered as one of the quality indicators of colonoscopy. ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier, NCT03399045).

[Identification of traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating myocardial infarction and analysis of their therapeutic mechanisms by network pharmacology and molecular docking]

OBJECTIVE

To identify traditional Chinese drugs that contain active ingredients for treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) and explore their therapeutic mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.

METHODS

The TCMSP database was used for screening the traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating MI, and the related targets of MI and the candidate drugs were obtained from Genecards, OMIM, PharmGkb and PharmMapper databases. The common target network of the drug targets and disease targets was established using Venny2.1.0 software. GO and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis of the common targets was performed, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for the targets. The targets in the PPI network were analyzed to identify the key targets, for which GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was performed for the candidate ingredients and the key targets, and a total score ≥6 was used as the criteria for screening the therapeutic ingredients and their docking binding with key targets was verified. A human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to validate the candidate ingredients and the key therapeutic targets for MI by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae as the candidate drugs rich in active ingredients for treatment of MI. These ingredients involved 16 key therapeutic targets for MI, which participated in such biological processes as inflammatory response, angiogenesis, energy metabolism and oxidative stress and the pathways including HIF-1, VEGF, and TNF pathways. Sclareol and PTGS2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin and KDR in Dalbergiae odoriferae all had high docking total scores. Western blotting showed that at medium and high doses, sclareol significantly inhibited PTGS2 expression and formononetin promoted KDR expressions in the cell models in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae have good therapeutic effects on MI. Sclareol in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin in Dalbergiae odoriferae regulate the expressions of KDR and PTGS2, respectively, to modulate the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism and thus produce myocardial protective effects.

Establishment of prediction models for COVID-19 patients in different age groups based on Random Forest algorithm

BACKGROUND

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a global pandemic. Age is an independent factor in death from the disease, and predictive models to stratify patients according to their mortality risk are needed.

AIM

To compare the laboratory parameters of the younger (≤70) and the elderly (>70) groups, and develop death prediction models for the two groups according to age stratification.

DESIGN

A retrospective, single-center observational study.

METHODS

This study included 437 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, 2020. Epidemiological information, laboratory data and outcomes were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between elderly patients and younger patients. First, recursive feature elimination (RFE) was used to select the optimal subset. Then, two random forest (RF) algorithms models were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients and identify the optimal diagnostic predictors for patients' clinical prognoses.

RESULTS

Comparisons of the laboratory data of the two age groups revealed many different laboratory indicators. RFE was used to select the optimal subset for analysis, from which 11 variables were screened out for the two groups. The RF algorithm were built to predict the prognoses of COVID-19 patients based on the best subset, and the area under ROC curve (AUC) of the two groups is 0.874 (95% CI: 0.833-0.915) and 0.842 (95% CI: 0.765-0.920).

CONCLUSION

Two prediction models for COVID-19 were developed in the patients with COVID-19 based on random forest algorithm, which provides a simple tool for the early prediction of COVID-19 mortality.

Characterization of genetic fundamentals for piglet mortality at birth in Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc sows

Piglet mortality is an economically important complex trait that impacts sow prolificacy. Genetic analyses for piglet mortality at weaning have been reported in dozens of studies, but not for piglet mortality at birth. In this study, we used multi-breed data sets from Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc sows to characterize the genetic fundamentals of piglet mortality at birth. The heritabilities from parity I to III were estimated to be 0.0630, 0.1031, and 0.1140 respectively. By using a combined strategy, a total of 21 SNPs were detected in three parities, of which six were observed in parity I, five in parity II and 10 in parity III. Genome annotation revealed that these SNPs were harbored within or close to 19 candidate genes. The candidate genes were found to associate with the reproductive system and embryonic development in the tissue expression database, which are reasonably related to piglet mortality. These findings are expected to provide much information for understanding the genetic and genomic fundamentals of farrowing mortality.

Molecular characterisation and function analysis of NOD1 gene from Yangzhou goose (Anser cygnoides domesticus)

1. NOD1 is a significant member of the NOD-like receptor (NLR) family. Its main role is to identify microorganisms that invade the body, transmit immune signals and regulate innate immune responses. However, the expression and role of the NOD1 in immune defence against infection in geese remain unknown.2. The RT-PCR method and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) was used to obtain the full-length goose NOD1 (gNOD1) cDNA series. The cDNA for gNOD1 contains 2856-bp nucleotides, i.e. 47-bp 5' UTR, 135-bp 3' UTR, and 1275-bp ORF region, and encodes a 951-amino-acids (AAs) polypeptide chain. The nucleotide sequence of gNOD1 was found more than 90% similar to its homologs from other avian organisms.3. The qRT-PCR results showed that gNOD1 mRNA was widely distributed in different tissues, but highly expressed in liver, spleen, lung and caecum tissues.4. Following stimulation of goose embryo fibroblasts (GEFs) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), the expression of gNOD1 and cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, changed with the response-efficacy correlation at 24 and 48 h post-infection (hpi).5. When the goslings were challenged with Salmonella entertidis (SE) and LPS, the expression of gNOD1 was up-regulated at 3 and 6 hpi in the spleen and caecum tissues, respectively. However, after SE infection, the expression level of gNOD1 fluctuated, while in the LPS group, gNOD1 mRNA increased immediately at a peak time of 6 hpi and then steadily declined. These results indicated that NOD1 was associated with the potency to resist bacterial and viral infections in the goose, both in vivo and in vitro.

Planktonic bacteria in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and channel catfish (Letalurus punetaus) aquaculture ponds in a salt-alkaline region

Aquaculture in salt-alkaline regions is encouraged in China, and culture of many aquatic species has been introduced into these areas. In this study, we cultured two species, white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) and channel catfish (Letalurus punetaus) separately in aquaculture ponds in a salt-alkaline region in northwest China and assessed the impacts of the aquaculture operations on the planktonic bacterial community in the culture ponds. Culture of both species decreased the planktonic bacterial diversity and altered the bacterial community structure in the aquaculture ponds compared with the source water. Among the 10 dominant bacterial phyla, 8 were significantly correlated with environmental parameters; the exception was Actinobacteriota, the most dominant phylum, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota abundances showed significant positive correlations with alkalinity, whereas Patescibacteria, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetota, and Verrucomicrobiota abundance were positively correlated with salinity. Linear regression analysis showed that alkalinity was positively correlated with bacterial beta diversity and salinity was negatively correlated with that. In addition, white shrimp aquaculture significantly lowered the alkalinity, which suggests that culture of this species in inland salt-alkaline regions is a potential dealkalization solution.

[Development of a fluorescent recombinase-aided isothermal amplification-based nucleic acid assay for detection of Leishmania]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a fluorescent recombinase-aided isothermal amplification (RAA)-based nucleic acid assay for detection of Leshimania.

METHODS

Specific primers and probes were designed targeting Leishmania internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene for RAA assay, and a fluorescent RAA assay was developed for detection of Leishmania following screening of primer pairs and optimization of primer and probe concentrations. The sensitivity of RAA assay for detection of Leishmania was evaluated using recombinant plasmid containing Leishmania ITS1 gene sequences at different copies and Leshimania genomic DNA at different concentrations as templates, and the specificity of RAA assay for detection of Leishmania was evaluated using the genomic DNA of transfusion-transmitted parasites, including Babesia microti, Toxoplasma gondii, Plamodium vivax, P. ovale, P. falciparum, P. malariae, L. donovani and L. infantum.

RESULTS

After the optimal primer pair was screened from 9 pairs of primer combinations, the final primer and probe concentrations were optimized as 0.3 μmol/L and 0.08 μmol/L, respectively. Nucleic acid detection of Leishmania was completed by the fluorescent RAA assay at an isothermal temperature of 39 °C within 20 min. Remarkable florescent signals were seen within 5 min following RAA detection of genomic DNA of L. donovani and L. infantum, and no cross-reactions were observed with B. microti, T. gondii, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. falciparum or P. malariae. The lowest limitation of detection of the fluorescent RAA assay was 10 copies/μL recombinant plasmid containing Leishmania ITS1 gene sequences and 1 fg/μL Leishmania genomic DNA.

CONCLUSIONS

A rapid, simple, sensitive and specific fluorescent RAA assay is successfully developed for detection of L. donovani and L. infantum, which is effective for field screening of leishmaniasis.

Cloning, genome structure and expression analysis of MHC class I gene in Korean quail

1. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a highly polymorphic region of the genome essential to immune responses and animal health. However, avian MHC genetic structure is different from that of mammals. In this study, the structure and expression of Korean quail MHC class I gene was analysed.2. The quail MHC gene consisted of eight exons and seven introns. The open reading frame of the cDNA was 353 amino acids, and the molecular weight was about 38.91 kDa. Exons 1 and 2 coded for leading peptides and alpha 1 regions, respectively. Exons 3 and 4 encoded alpha 2 and alpha 3 regions. Exons 5 to 8 coded for connecting peptides and transmembrane regions/cytoplasmic regions (TM/CY). The Korean quail MHC class I amino acid sequence shared 87% to 99% homology with Japanese quail and 71% to 75% with chicken. The amino acid shared 40% and 43% homology with humans and mice, respectively.3. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that MHC-I was highly expressed in immune tissues such as the bursa of Fabricius. Moreover, the constructed evolutionary tree was consistent with accepted evolutionary pathways.4. MHC-I is closely related to the host's immune system, and these findings may help to better understand the role of Korean quail MHC-I in the immune system.

Esophagectomy combined with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting through left posterolateral incision is safe and feasible for esophageal cancer associated with coronary artery disease

Controversy still exists as to whether surgical treatment has any impact on the long-term survival of esophageal cancer (EC) patients with coronary artery disease treated with curative esophagectomy combined with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). Therefore, the aim of this study was to introduce and assess the effect of esophagectomy combined with OPCABG on both short- and long-term outcomes. From January 2010 to January 2015, 1428 EC or esophagogastric junction cancer patients underwent surgical treatment at Henan Chest Hospital, Zhengzhou, China. The clinical data of 25 patients who underwent EC resection through a left thoracotomy following OPCABG and the perioperative characteristics and follow-up results were analyzed. The majority of the patients were male, and the EC stage was predominantly cT2N0-1M0 II. The most common pathological types were squamous cell carcinoma. The EC surgeries consisted of 15 chest anastomosis procedures and 10 cervical anastomosis procedures with aortocoronary graft implantation (mean: 2.36 grafts per patient). The mean total operative time was 330.8 ± 83.5 minutes. The median intensive care unit and hospital lengths of stay were 1.72 and 21.16 days, respectively. Resection without macroscopic residual disease (R0) was achieved in all of the patients. The most frequent complications included pulmonary infections (24%), arrhythmias (24%), pleural effusion (12%), and esophageal anastomotic leakage (8%). There were no postoperative deaths or myocardial infarctions within 30 days after the surgery. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 88%, 40%, and 24%, respectively, with a median survival time of 43 months. In the short-term, radical resection of EC following OPCABG is a safe and feasible treatment with low postoperative mortality rates. In the long-term, simultaneous surgery is acceptable and is associated with favorable overall and disease-free survival.

Modified anterior midline approach to treat hyperextension bicondylar tibial plateau fractures: Surgical technique and clinical experience with 18 cases

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the modified anterior midline approach and its efficacy for hyperextension bicondylar tibial plateau (HEBTP) fractures.

METHODS

From 2015 to 2019, 18 patients with HEBTP fractures with just little posterior cortical displacement were treated using the modified anterior midline approach. The operative protocols are fully described in this article, and the following parameters: articular step-off height (ASH), posterior tibial slope angle (pTSA), and medial tibial plateau angle (mTPA) were measured perioperatively and at the final follow-up. We also recorded the Rasmussen score and range of motion (ROM) to assess knee joint function at the final follow-up.

RESULTS

No complications, such as percutaneous nerve damage, infection, skin necrosis, and internal fixation breakage or loosening occurred perioperatively. The mean time for bony union was 13.7 weeks, and the mean preoperative ASH of the anterior cortex was 4.49 mm; this was restored to its normal height after surgery. The mean preoperative pTSA and mTPA were - 5.89° and 81.69°, respectively, compared with 3.89° and 87.91°, respectively, postoperatively. Comparing the postoperative and final follow-up radiographs, there were no significant differences in ASH, pTSA, and mTPA (P < 0.05). The average Rasmussen score was 27.2 (range, 23-29) at the final follow-up. Excellent results were achieved in 14 (77.8%) patients and good in 4 (22.2%) patients. The mean ROM in flexion was 123.2° and 2.9° in extension at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggested that the modified anterior midline approach is a reasonable alternative for HEBTP fracture repair.

Spatiotemporal distribution, source apportionment and combined pollution of antibiotics in natural waters adjacent to mariculture areas in the Laizhou Bay, Bohai Sea

The spatiotemporal distribution, source apportionment and combined pollution of 14 antibiotics in natural waters adjacent to mariculture farms of Laizhou Bay in the Bohai Sea were studied. The contribution proportion and quantity of each potential pollution source to antibiotics in natural water bodies were quantitatively described. The correlations between heavy metals and antibiotics and their underlying mechanisms in natural and aquaculture water environment were analyzed. Fourteen antibiotics were detected in natural water and sediment in the coastal area of Laizhou Bay. The maximum concentrations of sulfamethazine and trimethoprim in water reached tens or even hundreds of μg/L in winter. Trimethoprim was the main antibiotic in natural water bodies in winter and summer, and enrofloxacin was the principal antibiotic in sediments. Enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and oxytetracycline were detected in all underground water samples; thus, control of these antibiotics needs to be made a priority to mitigate groundwater contamination. PCA-MLR revealed that the potential sources of antibiotics in natural waters of Laizhou Bay include the mariculture wastewater (18.3%), the domestic sewage (63.3%) and the livestock wastewater (18.4%). Therefore, the antibiotic burden of Laizhou Bay was principally from the domestic sewage. In natural water, the concentration of Cu was positively correlated with antibiotics, which might be related to the common sources, the competitive adsorption in sediments and the easy complexation characteristic of Cu and antibiotics. Positive correlations among antibiotics and heavy metals were observed in mariculture sediments, while negative relationships were observed in natural sediments.

[Establishment of a nucleic acid dipstick test for detection of Schistosoma japonicum specific gene fragments based on the recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay]

OBJECTIVE

To develop a rapid test for detection of Schistosoma japonicum specific gene fragments based on the recombinase-aided isothermal amplification assay (RAA) and nucleic acid dipstick test.

METHODS

The S. japonicum SjG28 gene fragment was selected as the target gene fragment, and the primers and fluorescent probe were designed and synthesized. Then, a S. japonicum nucleic acid dipstick test was established. The sensitivity of this dipstick test was evaluated by detecting different copies of recombinant plasmids containing the S. japonicum SjG28 gene fragment and different concentrations of genomic DNA from adult worms of S. japonicum, and the specificity of the dipstick test was evaluated by detecting the genomic DNA from Clonorchis sinensis, S. mansoni, Ancylostoma duodenale, S. haematobium, Babesia and Paragonimus westermani.

RESULTS

The S. japonicum nucleic acid dipstick test based on the S. japonicum SjG28 gene fragment showed the minimum detectable limit of 10 copies/μL of the recombinant plasmid containing the S. japonicum SjG28 gene fragment and the minimum detectable limit of 1 pg/μL of S. japonicum genomic DNA, and the dipstick assay tested negative for the genomic DNA from C. sinensis, S. mansoni, A. duodenale, S. haematobium, Babesia and P. westermani.

CONCLUSIONS

A rapid, simple, and visualized assay is established for detection of S. japonicum specific gene fragments based on RAA and nucleic acid dipstick test.

P–138 When is low quality really low? Should we transfer low-grade blastocysts?

Study question

What is the live birth rate after single, low-grade blastocyst (LGB) transfer?

Summary answer

The live birth rate for LGBs is 28%, ranging between 15–31% for the different inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) subgroups of LGBs.

What is known already

Live birth rates following LGB transfer are varied and have been reported to be in the range of 5–39%. However, these estimates are inaccurate as studies investigating live birth rates following LGB transfer are inherently limited by sample size (n = 10–440 for LGB transfers) due to LGBs being ranked last for transfer. Further, these studies are heterogenous with varied LGB definitions and design. Collating LGB live birth data from multiple clinics is warranted to obtain sufficient numbers of LGB transfers to establish reliable live birth rates, and to allow for delineation of different LGB subgroups, including blastocyst age and female age.

Study design, size, duration

We performed a multicentre, multinational retrospective cohort study in 9 IVF centres in China and New Zealand from 2012 to 2019. We studied the outcome of 6966 single blastocyst transfer cycles on days 5–7 (fresh and frozen) according to blastocyst grade, including 875 transfers from LGBs (&lt;3bb, this being the threshold typically applied to LGB studies). Blastocysts with expansion stage 1 or 2 (early blastocysts) were excluded.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The main outcome measured was live birth rate. Blastocysts were grouped according to quality grade: good-grade blastocysts (GGBs; n = 3849, aa, ab and ba), moderate-grade blastocysts (MGBs; n = 2242, bb) and LGBs (n = 875, ac, ca, bc, cb and cc) and live birth rates compared using the Pearson Chi-squared test. A logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between blastocyst grade and live birth after adjustment for the confounders: clinic, female age, expansion stage, and blastocyst age.

Main results and the role of chance

The live birth rates for GGBs, MGBs and LGBs were 45%, 36% and 28% respectively (p &lt; 0.0001). Within the LGB group, the highest live birth rates were for grade c TE (30%) and the lowest were for grade c ICM (19%). The lowest combined grade (cc) maintained a 15% live birth rate (n = 7/48). After accounting for confounding factors, including female age and blastocyst characteristics, the odds of live birth were 2.33 (95% CI = 1.88–2.89) for GGBs compared to LGBs and 1.56 (95% CI = 1.28–1.92) for MGBs compared to LGBs following fresh and frozen blastocyst transfers (p &lt; 0.0001, odds ratios confirmed in exclusively frozen blastocyst transfer cycles). When stratified by individual ICM and TE grade, the odds of live birth according to ICM grade were 1.31 (a versus b; 95% CI = 1.15–1.48), 2.82 (a versus c; 95% CI = 1.91–4.18) and 2.16 (b versus c; 95% CI = 1.48–3.16; all p &lt; 0.0001). The odds of live birth according to TE grade were 1.33 (a versus b; 95% CI = 1.17–1.50, p &lt; 0.0001), 1.85 (a versus c; 95% CI = 1.45–2.34, p &lt; 0.0001) and 1.39 (b versus c; 95% CI = 1.12–1.73, p = 0.0024).

Limitations, reasons for caution

Despite the large multicentre design of the study, analyses of transfers occurring within the smallest subsets of the LGB group were limited by sample size. The study was not randomised and had a retrospective character.

Wider implications of the findings: LGBs maintain satisfactory live birth rates (averaging 28%) in the general IVF population. Even those in the lowest grading tier maintain modest live birth rates (15%; cc). It is recommended that LGBs not be universally discarded, and instead considered for subsequent frozen embryo transfer to maximize cumulative live birth rates.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

[Relationship between clinicopathological features and prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between clinicopathologic features and prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma located in the head of pancreas. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 169 patients undergoing radical resection for pancreatic head cancer collected in the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to April 2019. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: Patient's age, tumor differentiation, tumor maximum diameter, resection margin (several resection margins including portal vein groove resection margin, posterior resection margin, and uncinate resection margin), number of positive lymph nodes, number of regional lymph node dissected, and some preoperative and postoperative indicators were associated with prognosis (P<0.05). Direct tumor invasion of organs and surrounding tissues, perineural and vascular invasion, pathologic variants etc. had no statistical significance for survival time. Patient's age, maximum tumor diameter, degree of differentiation, uncinate incision margin, number of regional lymph nodes dissected, and preoperative CA19-9 were independent factors affecting prognosis. Patients older than 74 years of age, with tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter, poorly differentiated, less than 7 regional lymph node dissected, positive uncinate margin, and preoperative CA19-9 higher than 1.5×10⁵ U/L were independent risk factors in patients with pancreatic head cancer. Conclusions: Old age, tumor lager than 3 cm, poor differentiation, low examined lymph nodes, direct uncinate margin involvement and (or) with preoperative CA19-9 higher than 1.5×10⁵ U/L are related to poor prognosis of head pancreatic cancer.

Determining the DNA Fingerprinting Profiles of Salmonella Isolates from Raw Poultry Meats and Human Clinical Samples from the Same Geographic Area Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

ABSTRACT

Foods of animal origin, such as poultry, eggs, and pork, are recognized sources of Salmonella infections, but determination of the proportion of foodborne infections associated with various food sources has been challenging. In the present study, 141 Salmonella isolates recovered from 1,322 poultry product samples purchased over a 1-year period from retail stores across Seattle, WA were subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using restriction enzyme XbaI. The objectives of the study were (i) to analyze the longitudinal distribution of Salmonella PFGE profiles throughout the sampling period and their clonality within and between poultry processing establishments, (ii) to determine the association between PFGE profiles of Salmonella isolates from locally distributed poultry products and those of clinical isolates submitted to the Washington State Department of Health (WA-DOH) laboratories, and (iii) to compare the PFGE profiles of Salmonella isolates from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) retail meats program. During the 1-year sampling period, multiple indistinguishable PFGE patterns were found across multiple poultry processing establishments. Twelve of the 30 unique PFGE profiles of Salmonella isolates from locally purchased poultry products were indistinguishable from the PFGE profiles of clinical Salmonella isolates submitted to the WA-DOH. When the PFGE profiles from the poultry samples were compared with those found in the NARMS database, eight indistinguishable PFGE matches were found with isolates recovered from chicken breasts, ground turkey, and ground beef from multiple states. Although this study revealed some association between PFGE profiles from raw poultry products and those of clinical isolates from the same geographical area, these results do not prove that all of those clinical isolates were from infections acquired through consumption or handling of poultry.

HIGHLIGHTS

[Effectiveness of the thermal ablation in the treatment of human papillomavirus infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in Chinese women]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of thermal ablation in the treatment of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in Chinese women. Methods: The high-risk HPV-positive women aged 20-65 who were detected through a cervical cancer screening project implemented in three rural sites (Etuoke counties in Inner Mongolia, Xiangyuan and Yangcheng counties in Shanxi Province) and one urban site (Shenzhen) in China were included in this prospective study. Follow up evaluation was performed on HPV positive women who underwent thermal ablation (n=166) as well as received no treatment (n=2 716) in cervical cancer screening program. For women with thermal ablation treatment, HPV test and cytology were used for follow-up with the interval of 6 months or longer after treatment. For women without treatment, HPV test was used for annual follow-up. Women with positive results in either of the HPV tests or abnormal cytology were referred for a colposcopy or biopsy if necessary. The HPV clearance rate and the cure rate of CIN were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 152 women treated with thermal ablation and 2 539 women without treatment reported for follow-up evaluation with the age M(Q1, Q3) of 42 (36, 48) and 47 (41, 54) years old, and the median time to follow-up time of 23.4 (12.4, 24.5) and 23.5 (12.4, 24.0)months, respectively. The HPV clearance rate in women undergoing thermal ablation was significantly higher than that in women with no treatment (73.0% vs 46.1%, P<0.001). The HPV16, HPV52 and HPV58 clearance rates among women receiving thermal ablation were higher than that in women without treatment with the OR (95%CI) of 2.8 (1.3-6.1), 3.2 (1.3-7.9) and 5.8 (2.1-15.6). For women with histologically confirmed CIN at baseline, cure rates were 77.4%(n=72) for thermal ablation. Cure rates of the thermal ablation were 81.0%(n=47) for CIN grade one (CIN1) and 71.4% (n=25) for CIN grade two or worse (CIN2+). Conclusions: Thermal ablation is effective to clear the HPV infection as well as to treat CIN. Particularly for the HPV genotypes with the paramount attributable proportion to cervical cancer and precancerous in China, the HPV clearance rate was significantly higher than that reported in the women without treatment.

The acoustical properties of tetraethyl orthosilicate based granular silica aerogels

Available data suggests that granulated aerogels can be of interest in terms of their sound absorption performance in the audio frequency range. However, there is still no thorough understanding of the complex physical phenomena which are responsible for their observed acoustical properties. This work is an attempt to address this gap through advanced material characterization methods and mathematical modelling. Aerogel samples are produced through a two-step, acid-base sol-gel process, with sol silica concentration and density being the main variables. Their pore structure is carefully characterized by nitrogen sorption analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The acoustical properties of hard-backed granular silica aerogels are measured in an impedance tube and the results predicted accurately with the adopted theoretical model. Although silica aerogels have over 90% of open interconnected pores, this was neither reflected in the measured acoustical properties nor the parameter values predicted with the model. Novel results show that only a proportion of the micro and mesopores in the direct vicinity of the grain surface influenced the acoustical properties of aerogels. Further work in the hierarchical pore structure of aerogels is required to better understand the roles of different pore scales on the measured acoustical properties of a granulated aerogel.