Witnessing Quantum Resource Conversion within Deterministic Quantum Computation Using One Pure Superconducting Qubit

Deterministic quantum computation with one qubit (DQC1) is iconic in highlighting that exponential quantum speedup may be achieved with negligible entanglement. Its discovery catalyzed a heated study of general quantum resources, and various conjectures regarding their role in DQC1's performance advantage. Coherence and discord are prominent candidates, respectively, characterizing nonclassicality within localized and correlated systems. Here we realize DQC1 within a superconducting system, engineered such that the dynamics of coherence and discord can be tracked throughout its execution. We experimentally confirm that DQC1 acts as a resource converter, consuming coherence to generate discord during its operation. Our results highlight superconducting circuits as a promising platform for both realizing DQC1 and related algorithms, and experimentally characterizing resource dynamics within quantum protocols.

Overexpression of TUG1 promotes neuronal death after cerebral infarction by regulating microRNA-9

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at investigating whether TUG1 (Taurine Upregulated Gene 1) can regulate FOXO3 expression through competitive binding to microRNA-9, thus leading to increased neuronal death and promoting the occurrence and development of acute cerebral infarction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

TUG1 and FOXO3 expressions in cerebral cortical neurons of MCAO mice, control mice and primary neurons were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of TUG1 and FOXO3 on neuronal apoptosis were determined by TUNEL after cerebral infarction area was stained with TTC. The binding condition of microRNA-9, TUG1 and FOXO3 was verified by the Luciferase reporter gene assay. Western blot was performed to detect the protein expressions of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and BCL2-Associated X (BAX) after altering the TUG1 or FOXO3 expression in primary neurons.

RESULTS

TUG1 and FOXO3 were overexpressed in cerebral cortical neurons of MCAO mice and primary neurons. The inhibition of TUG1 or FOXO3 resulted in less neuronal apoptosis. Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that TUG1 regulates FOXO3 via TUG1/microRNA-9/FOXO3 regulatory network. Besides, TUG1 inhibited BCL-2 but promoted BAX expression in primary neurons.

CONCLUSIONS

The overexpression of TUG1 can promote neuronal death after cerebral infarction in mice by competitive binding to microRNA-9 and promotion of FOXO3 expression.

Methionine and arginine supplementation alter inflammatory and oxidative stress responses during lipopolysaccharide challenge in bovine mammary epithelial cells in vitro

Mastitis, inflammation of the udder, is one of the most common diseases hampering milk yield of dairy cows. Methionine (Met) and arginine (Arg) are key nutrients with potential to regulate inflammation and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increased supply of Met and Arg on mRNA and protein abundance associated with innate immune response and redox balance during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC). Primary BMEC (n = 4 replicates per treatment) were pre-incubated for 12 h in media with the following amino acid combinations: ideal profile of amino acids (control; Con), increased Met supply (incMet), increased Arg supply (incArg), and increased supply of Met and Arg (incMetArg). Subsequently, cells were challenged with or without LPS (1 µg/mL) and incubated for 6 h. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). The downregulation of SLC36A1 and SLC7A1 mRNA abundance induced by LPS was attenuated in the incArg cultures. Although challenge with LPS led to lower abundance of proteins related to the antioxidant response (NFE2L2, NQO1, GPX1), lower levels of ATG7, and lower mRNA abundance of GPX3, we found little effect in cultures with incMet or incArg. Cultures with incMet, incArg, or incMetArg led to attenuation of the upregulation of SOD2 and NOS2 induced by LPS. Abundance of phosphorylated p65 (RELA) was greater after LPS stimulation, but the response was attenuated in cultures with incMet. The greater ratio of pRELA to total RELA in responses to LPS was also attenuated in cultures with incMetArg. The greater mRNA abundance of the proinflammatory cytokine IL1B induced by LPS was attenuated in cultures with incMet, and the same trend induced by LPS on CXCL2 was also alleviated in cultures with incArg. Overall, the data suggest that greater supply of Met and Arg alleviated the proinflammatory responses triggered by LPS through controlling the abundance of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines and activity of NF-κB. Little benefit on oxidative stress induced by LPS challenge in BMEC was detected with greater supply of Met and Arg.

MiR-17-5p promotes cervical cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by targeting transforming growth factor-β receptor 2

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in post-translational gene expression. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of miR-17-5p in cervical cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifteen clinical cervical cancer tissue samples, as well as their paired adjacent noncancerous tissues, were collected. The microarray was performed to identify differential miRNAs in cervical cancer. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to identify the target gene of selected miRNA. SiHa was transfected with mimics, inhibitors as well as negative controls of miR-17-5p and Targeting Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor 2 (TGFBR2) open reading frame or siRNA. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and transwell experiment were performed to detect the proliferation rate and metastasis, respectively. Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis were used to analyze TGFBR2 expression. Balb/c nude mice were utilized to verify the effect of miR-17-5p in vivo.

RESULTS

Microarray analysis identified miR-17-5p as our interesting miRNA, and luciferase reporter assay identified TGFBR2 as its target gene. MiR-17-5p overexpression significantly enhanced cervical cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. In-vivo study also verified that miR-17-5p overexpression stimulated cervical cancer growth.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-17-5p enhances cervical cancer proliferation and metastasis via targeting TGFBR2. It is proposed that targeting miR-17-5p may be a promising therapeutic approach for cervical cancer.

29Prognostic safety of automatic cancellation of rest myocardial perfusion scan by machine learning: a report from multicenter REFINE SPECT registry of new generation SPECT

Background

We aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) computer score derived from stress imaging and clinical data, which indicates if the rest scan could be automatically and safely canceled in the routine stress/rest myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS).

Methods

A total of 20414 stress/rest cases from the REFINE SPECT registry collected from 5 sites in 3 countries with Tc-99m-based MPS images, clinical data, and clinical follow-up were included in the study. All images were automatically processed at our Medical Center. The automatically generated myocardial contours were checked by experienced technologists. In total, 93 variables (26 clinical, 17 stress-test, and 50 stress-imaging variables) were used to build a LogitBoost model for prediction of adverse events (AE), including coronary revascularization, death, myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. 10-fold cross-validation was performed to separate test from validation data for the assessment of ML. The overall ML predictive performance was compared to quantitative (stress total perfusion deficit [TPD]) by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC). ML cut-off (ML1) to simulate the decision of cancellation of the rest scan was set to result in the same % of normal scans as these determined by the normal clinical reader diagnosis on a 4-point scale in the whole population, or the same % of scans with visual summed stress scores (SSS) = 0 in the subpopulation with available SSS. A second ML cutoff (ML2) was established to achieve a 1% annual risk of AE. The annual risk of AE of the normal ML score was compared with normal clinical diagnosis and with the finding of SSS = 0.

Results

The mean follow-up interval was 4.7±1.5 years. Overall, 3542 AE were observed (3.7% annual risk). The AUC for AE was higher for ML (0.780±0.005) than for stress TPD (0.698±0.006) (p<0.001). Normal clinical diagnosis was reported in 60% cases. In 70% (14242 scans) with available segmental scores, 53% had SSS=0. ML1 and ML2 thresholds were compared with normal visual diagnosis and with SSS = 0 for AE (Figure). ML1 achieved a lower annual risk (1.5%) than normal clinical diagnosis (2.1%) or SSS = 0 (1.6% versus 2.3%) (p<0.001). The more conservative ML2 threshold with a 1% annual risk of AE resulted in a 40% canceling rate.

Figure 1

Conclusion

ML could be used to automatically cancel the rest MPS scan with the same proportion as using normal visual MPS reading, but with significantly lower AE rate in stress-only scans.

Acknowledgement/Funding

R01HL089765 from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/National Institutes of Health (NHLBI/NIH)

P2437Screening for cardiac relaxation abnormalities using surface ECG wavelets for identifying high-risk cardiac phenotypic abnormalities

Background

The impairment of myocardial relaxation is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality and has been proposed to be a potential tool for cardiovascular (CV) risk stratification. We investigated a novel signal-processed electrocardiography (spECG) technique to extract the features of abnormal myocardial relaxation as a screening tool to identify high-risk CV patients.

Methods

Time–frequency-energy features extracted from continuous wavelet-transformed spECG (Fig. A) were obtained in 1,006 cases. A machine learning model was trained for predicting abnormal myocardial relaxation as a screening tool for detecting high-risk CV patients. High-risk CV phenotype was defined as presence of LV hypertrophy, advanced LV diastolic dysfunction (grade 2 or 3), LV ejection fraction <50%, and/or significant valvular heart disease.

Results

After training with 5-fold cross validation using data from 810 patients, the machine learning model when tested in an independent hold-out validation set of 180 cases, showed an area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.83 (p<0.001) for prediction of myocardial relaxation impairment (Fig. B). A prediction of abnormal relaxation was associated with older patients (64±11 vs. 45±16 years old, p<0.001) with a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease (23% vs. 7%, p=0.004), hypertension (70% vs. 40%, p<0.001), and diabetes (30% vs. 9%, p=0.001). Furthermore, a prediction of abnormal myocardial relaxation was associated with increased likelihood of high-risk CV phenotypes (Odds ratio: 3.93, p<0.001) including LV hypertrophy (Odds ratio: 2.62, p=0.028), advanced LV diastolic dysfunction (Odds ratio: 11.4, p=0.020), and LV ejection fraction <50% (Odds ratio 10.5, p=0.025). Age and gender modified the prediction of abnormal relaxation with higher diagnostic value seen for patients under 60 years (Fig C, AUC: 0.88, p<0.001) and in male patients (Fig D, AUC: 0.87, p<0.001). The algorithm for abnormal relaxation also showed robust prediction of LV ejection fraction <50% (Fig E, AUC: 0.91, p<0.001) in male patients. spECG showed significant net reclassification improvement (0.47, p<0.001) and integrated discrimination improvement (0.16, p<0.001) over traditional surface ECG interpretation using Glasgow score for predicting abnormal relaxation and other high-risk phenotypic presentations.

ROC curves

Conclusion

The spECG provided a robust prediction of abnormal myocardial relaxation and may be a valuable screening strategy for early detection of high-risk cardiac structural and functional abnormalities.

P04.13 Prognostic role of single stranded DNA binding protein 2 in IDH wild type lower grade glioma

Comprehensive and integrative characterizations of genomic analysis including somatic alterations and molecular subtypes of glioma have been established. However, diffuse gliomas (World Health Organization grades II and III, hereafter referred to collectively as lower-grade gliomas,LGG) consist of highly variable clinical behaviors, leading to emerging studies to identify prognostic factors. Through comparative analyses of 516 cases of primary LGG patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset, we reported that the expression level and methylation level of SSBP2 (encoding single stranded DNA-binding protein 2) gene vary among LGG patients and SSBP2 expression or gene body methylation can be served as prognostic biomarkers for LGG survival. Cox regression results confirmed that SSBP2 as an independent predictor of survival in LGG, with a cox coefficient of 0.534 indicating a worse prognosis. Furthermore, lower-grade glioma was statistically ranked first among 21 different cancer types according to the FDR correction. We further investigated the combination of SSBP2 with other known genetic prognostic factors(IDH mutation and 1p19q co-deletion) of LGG. By matching gene expression profile of LGG patients, IDH-mutant gliomas had decreased expression of SSBP2 compared with IDH-wildtype gliomas and 1p19q intact gliomas had increased expression of SSBP2 compared with 1p19q codeletion gliomas. Moreover, we found that the combination of IDH or 1p19q status with SSBP2 identified LGG subsets with significantly diverse survival effects. Patients with low SSBP2 expression had significantly better 5-, 10-, and 15-year OS in IDH wild type, but not in the cohorts of IDH mutant. Our findings offer an explanation for the specificity of SSBP2 effect on survival rate in IDH wild type LGG patients.

Energy calibration of high-resolution X-Ray TES microcalorimeters with 3 eV optical photons

With the improving energy resolution of transitionedge sensor (TES) based microcalorimeters, performance verification and calibration of these detectors has become increasingly challenging, especially in the energy range below 1 keV where fluorescent atomic X-ray lines have linewidths that are wider than the detector energy resolution and require impractically high statistics to determine the gain and deconvolve the instrumental profile. Better behaved calibration sources such as grating monochromators are too cumbersome for space missions and are difficult to use in the lab. As an alternative, we are exploring the use of pulses of 3 eV optical photons delivered by an optical fiber to generate combs of known energies with known arrival times. Here, we discuss initial results of this technique obtained with 2 eV and 0.7 eV resolution X-ray microcalorimeters. With the 2 eV detector, we have achieved photon number resolution for pulses with mean photon number up to 133 (corresponding to 0.4 keV).

[Analysis of clinical effects of artificial dermis in functional reconstruction in the late stage of extremely severe burn]

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of artificial dermis combined with autologous split-thickness skin transplantation in the treatment of functional reconstruction in the late stage of extremely severe burn. Methods: From May 2015 to May 2017, medical records of 40 patients with limited activity after scar hyperplasia and conforming to the study criteria, injured in August 2nd Kunshan factory aluminum dust explosion accident in 2014, and had surgeries in our hospital and rehabilitation treatment in our hospital's alliance rehabilitation hospital, Rehabilitation Hospital of Kunshan Zhou City, were retrospectively analyzed. According to the treatment methods, 20 patients (12 males and 8 females, aged 20 to 45 years) were enrolled in artificial dermis group. They were conducted with stage Ⅰ functional site scar loosening and artificial dermis (PELNAC) implanting+ stage Ⅱ transplantation of autologous split-thickness skin. Another 20 patients (14 males and 6 females, aged 20 to 45 years) were enrolled in conventional skin grafting group. They were conducted with stage Ⅰ functional site scar loosening and transplantation of autologous thin medium-thickness skin. After 5 days of autologous skin transplantation, the survival rates of autologous skin in patients of 2 groups were calculated. The autologous skin infection and complete healing time of skin grafting area in patients of 2 groups were recorded. In 3, 6, and 10 months after autologous skin transplantation, the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used to assess the scar condition of recipient site in patients of 2 groups. The complete healing time of donor site in patients of 2 groups was recorded. In 10 months after autologous skin transplantation, VSS was used to assess the scar condition of donor site in patients of 2 groups. In 12 months after autologous skin transplantation, the functional recovery of surgical function reconstruction site in patients of 2 groups was evaluated and rated. Data were processed with t test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact probability test, and Bonferroni correction. Results: (1) After 5 days of autologous skin transplantation, the survival rate of autologous skin in patients of artificial dermis group was (95±3)%, similar to (93±3)% in conventional skin grafting group (t=1.262, P>0.05). The results of autologous skin infection of patients in the 2 groups were similar (P>0.05). (2) After autologous skin grafting, the complete healing time of skin grafting area in patients of artificial dermis group was (12.3±2.5) d, similar to (12.7±2.0) d of conventional skin grafting group (t=-0.139, P>0.05). In 3, 6, and 10 months after autologous skin transplantation, the VSS scores of scars in recipient site of patients in artificial dermis group were significantly lower than those of conventional skin grafting group (t=-4.428, -5.655, -6.839, P<0.01). (3) After autologous skin grafting, the complete healing time of donor site in patients of artificial dermis group was obviously shorter than that in conventional skin grafting group (t=-12.435, P<0.01). In 10 months after autologous skin transplantation, the VSS score in donor site of patients in artificial dermis group was significantly lower than that of conventional skin grafting group (t=-16.971, P<0.01). (4) After 12 months of autologous skin transplantation, the functional improvement levels of the functional site of patients in artificial dermis group were good in 4 patients, fair in 15 patients, and bad in 1 patient, while the functional improvement levels of the functional site of patients in conventional skin grafting group were good in 5 patients, fair in 8 patients, and bad in 7 patients. The functional improvement levels of the functional site of patients between the two groups were similar (Z=371.5, P>0.05). Conclusions: Compared with conventional stage Ⅰ functional site scar loosening and transplantation of autologous thin medium-thickness skin, stage Ⅰ functional site scar loosening and artificial dermis implanting+ stage Ⅱ transplantation of autologous split-thickness skin does not affect the survival of skin in the early stage and can effectively improve functional site function, reduce VSS scores of donor site and recipient site, and shorten complete healing time of donor site.

Neurobiological mechanisms of TENS-induced analgesia

Pain inhibition by additional somatosensory input is the rationale for the widespread use of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) to relieve pain. Two main types of TENS produce analgesia in animal models: high-frequency (∼50-100 Hz) and low-intensity 'conventional' TENS, and low-frequency (∼2-4 Hz) and high-intensity 'acupuncture-like' TENS. However, TENS efficacy in human participants is debated, raising the question of whether the analgesic mechanisms identified in animal models are valid in humans. Here, we used a sham-controlled experimental design to clarify the efficacy and the neurobiological effects of 'conventional' and 'acupuncture-like' TENS in 80 human volunteers. To test the analgesic effect of TENS we recorded the perceptual and brain responses elicited by radiant heat laser pulses that activate selectively Aδ and C cutaneous nociceptors. To test whether TENS has a long-lasting effect on brain state we recorded spontaneous electrocortical oscillations. The analgesic effect of 'conventional' TENS was maximal when nociceptive stimuli were delivered homotopically, to the same hand that received the TENS. In contrast, 'acupuncture-like' TENS produced a spatially-diffuse analgesic effect, coupled with long-lasting changes both in the state of the primary sensorimotor cortex (S1/M1) and in the functional connectivity between S1/M1 and the medial prefrontal cortex, a core region in the descending pain inhibitory system. These results demonstrate that 'conventional' and 'acupuncture-like' TENS have different analgesic effects, which are mediated by different neurobiological mechanisms.

Manipulating irreversible phase transition of NaCrO2 towards an effective sodium compensation additive for superior sodium-ion full cells

During the first charge process of full cells, a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) film is formed when the active ion from the cathode is consumed, resulting in irreversible capacity loss. This phenomenon has shown to be more serious in sodium-ion full cells than in lithium-ion full cells. Although many strategies have been employed to alleviate the loss of sodium ions, such as presodiation and construction of an artificial solid electrolyte interface, they are both cumbersome and time-consuming. For the first time, NaCrO₂ was used as an effective self-sacrificing sodium compensation additive in sodium-ion full cells due to the irreversible phase transition of NaCrO₂ in a high voltage region can deliver an irreversible capacity of up to 230 mAh g^-1. Based on this design, sodium-ion full cells coupled with hard carbon as the anode exhibited higher capacity, less polarization, greater energy density, and superior cycle stability than those of a pristine electrode. This is mainly attributed to the removal of sodium ions from NaCrO₂, which compensates for the loss of sodium ions consumed during the formation of the SEI film on the anode surface during the first charge process. Overall, this work opens up a new avenue for exploring sodium compensation strategy and contributing to practical application of sodium-ion full cells.

[Digital necrosis revealing lung cancer: Case-report and review of the literature]

We report the case of a 51-year-old patient who presented necrosis affecting all of the toes in a context of confusion and declining general health. The etiology work-up disclosed a lung mass. Biopsy and search for extension led to the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma with liver metastasis. Unfortunately, symptomatic treatment of the digital necrosis did not lead to improvement and the patient was given palliative care. Digital necrosis generally affects the fingers. Localization on the toes is atypical and few cases have been reported in the literature.

Oromandibular reconstruction using microvascularized bone flap: report of 1038 cases from a single institution

This retrospective study was performed to review 1038 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with free vascularized bone flaps at a single institution between 2006 and 2017. Of these patients, 827 (79.67%) had fibula flaps, 197 (18.98%) had deep circumflex iliac artery perforator (DCIA) flaps, and 11 (1.06%) had scapula bone flaps. The most common pathological diagnosis was ameloblastoma (n=366, 35.26%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (n=278, 26.78%) and osteoradionecrosis (n=152, 14.64%). Fifty-seven patients (5.49%) had major complications requiring surgical intervention and one patient died of a pulmonary embolism. Venous crisis was the most frequent major complication (n=20, 1.93%), followed by haematoma (n=17, 1.64%) and flap necrosis (n=14, 1.35%). One-stage mandibular reconstruction was preferred whenever possible, as this generally decreases the financial and hospitalization burden. The four-segment method of jaw reconstruction appeared to achieve good aesthetic appearance results in Asian patients and this was not associated with a higher risk of segment ischemia compared with the three-segment method.

Nitrogen-Doped Carbon as a Host for Tellurium for High-Rate Li-Te and Na-Te Batteries

A nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon sponge, used as a matrix for tellurium accommodation, was designed and prepared in this work. The porosity of the matrix played an important role in enhancing the electrochemical performance of Li/Na-Te batteries. Specifically, the mesopores could accommodate active materials whereas the macropores provided sufficient space for partial Te accommodation and volume expansion in discharge. In addition, N heteroatoms in carbon species could enhance the electrical conductivity and widen its application in lithium/sodium storage. The monolithic and flaky architecture of the nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon sponge/tellurium composite offered a highly conductive network for fast electron transportation. As a result, the nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon sponge/tellurium composite achieved a superior rate performance for Li-Te and Na-Te batteries.

[The Occupational and Procreation Health of Road Sweeping Female Sanitation Workers in a District of a City]

Objective: To investigate occupational and procreation health of roadsweeping female sanitation workers in a city district. Methods: Using cross-sectional survey methods, all 303 the road sweeping female sanitation workers of one company were selected and interviewed face to face with questionnaires in june 2017. Data were analysed by SPSS22.0 statistical software. Results: The total prevalence of reproduction tract infection was 21.47%. The prevalence of uterine fibroids was 6.38%, and menstruation abnormal rate was 25.17%. The sanitation worker of menstruation abnormal rate was 31.03%, which were exposed low temperature, automobile exhaust and air contaminant at the same time, or else was 19.61%. There were statistical significance between them. (χ(2)=5.161, P<0.05) The sanitation worker of menstruation abnormal rate was 28.81%, which were not satisfied with women/s rights protection, or else was 11.67%. There were statistical significance between them. (χ(2)=7.435, P<0.01) . Conclusion: Female sanitation workers in the city district were exposed to many occupational hazards. The status of procreation health among road sweeping female sanitation workers in the city district is not optimistic. Occupational health protection and laborers's rights protection should be emphasized to improve health status of female sanitation workers.

[Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of enterovirus 71 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease based on the active monitoring in Guangdong Province in 2011-2015]

Objective: To analyze the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) enterovirus 71 (EV-A71) infection epidemic characteristics of Guangdong Province from 2011 to 2015. Methods: We colleted data on common cases of hand-foot-mouth disease infected with EV-A71 reported from eight sentinel hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2011 to December 2015, through the "Guangdong Province Acute Infectious Disease Surveillance Information Platform System" , including the age and incidence of cases. Time and etiological data, etc.We also collected data on the number of reported cases of HFMD disease and the number of laboratory-confirmed cases, through the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" , including data on common cases of HFMD disease, data on epidemics of severe cases and deaths, and the age, onset time, and pathogens of cases. Learning data, etc.The data from two sources were used to estimate the incidence of HFMD in EV-A71 and describe its distribution characteristics.Chi-square test was used to compare the positive rate of HF-A71 infection in hand-foot-mouth disease and the difference in estimated incidence among different age groups and months. Results: Eight sentinel hospitals from 2011 to 2015 reported a total of 1 855 common cases of EV-A71 infection, of which the highest was in 2014 (31.6%, 605/1 916) and the lowest was in 2015 (6.8%, 134/1 971) (χ(2)=521.85, P<0.001).According to the Disease Surveillance Reporting Information System, 1 772 516 cases of HFMD disease were reported from 2011 to 2015 in Guangdong Province, and 1 902 cases of severe and fatal cases of EV-A71 infection.The composition ratio of EV-A71 infected was 72.6% (1 775/2 444) and 97.0% (127/131) of severe HFMD disease in Guangdong province during 2011-2015.The average annual incidence of HF-A71 infection in all age groups showed a decreasing trend with age (χ(2trend)=990 273.20, P<0.001), and it was the highest in the 1-year-old group, which was 1 697.67/100 000, and the lowest in the 4-year-old group, which was 705.46/100 000. The difference of monthly average incidence of EV-A71 infection in HF-A71 in each month was statistically significant (χ(2)=401.23, P<0.001), the highest in May at 15.51 per 100 000, and the lowest in July at 9.42 per 100 000. Conclusion: EV-A71 infection rate of ordinary HFMD varies in different years. The most severe and death cases of HFMD were EV-A71 infected. 1 year old children were the high-risk group of infected with EV-A71 HFMD. April was the epidemic months of EV-A71 HFMD infection.

[Clinical study on microcirculation changes of bulbar conjunctiva after contact lens wear]

Objective: To explore the changes of microcirculation of the bulbar conjunctiva after wearing the contact lens and the relationship between contact lens discomfort and bulbar conjunctiva microcirculation. Methods: Prospective cohort study. The postgraduate students from School of Ophthalmology & Optometry and School of Biomedical Engineering of Wenzhou Medical University were included in this prospective cohort study. The subjects wore soft contact lenses, and the right eye was selected as the experimental eye. The ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer I and tear break-up time tests were completed before and after wearing the contact lens, and the conjunctival blood flow velocity and microvascular network density were also assessed by using functional slit lamp biomicroscopy. The changes of the indicators after wearing the contact lens were observed and the correlation between the subjective feelings of the wearers and the microcirculation parameters of the bulbar conjunctiva and the main factors affecting the subjective feelings of the wearers were analyzed. Results: Twenty-seven subjects were enrolled in the study, including 8 males and 19 females, aged (22.7±1.6) years. The OSDI score was 11.860± 7.783 before wearing the contact lens and 24.017±12.181 after wearing the contact lens. The comparison before and after wearing the contact lens was statistically significant (t=-4.356, P<0.001). The conjunctival blood flow velocity was (0.534±0.132) mm/s before wearing the contact lens and (0.587±0.134) mm/s after wearing the contact lens. The comparison was statistically significant before and after wearing the lens (t=-2.076, P=0.048). OSDI was positively correlated with blood flow velocity at 1 month after wearing the contact lens (correlation coefficient r=0.383, P=0.048). The test results of the independent variables in the generalized estimating equation model showed that time and blood flow velocity were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions: The blood flow velocity of the bulbar conjunctiva was increased after wearing the contact lens, and the contact lens discomfort of the wearers was positively correlated with the blood flow velocity of the bulbar conjunctiva. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 98-104).

Incidence and predictors of aorta calcification in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

Artery calcification, as subclinical atherosclerosis, is attracting attention. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of artery calcification in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods

641 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were enrolled in the study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were collected. Calcification score was quantified from the multi-detector computed tomography scan image using the Agatston Score method.

Results

The total incidence of artery calcification was 25.9% (166/641), of which the percentages of aorta calcium and coronary artery calcification were 23.1% (148/641) and 8.4% (54/641), respectively. In multivariate models, systemic lupus erythematosus patients with artery calcification had longer disease duration than patients without artery calcification ( p < 0.05). Presence of serositis (OR 2.559, 95%CI 1.414–4.632), pneumonia (OR 2.022, 95%CI 1.102–3.711) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score (OR 1.049, 95%CI 1.004–1.095) were independently associated with increased risk of aorta calcium, while the duration of corticosteroids use (OR 1.039, 95%CI 1.002–1.078) and cyclophosphamide therapy (OR 8.251, 95%CI 2.496–27.279) were independently associated with increased risk of coronary artery calcification in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. In systemic lupus erythematosus patients, aorta calcium was prone to occur at a younger age compared to coronary artery calcification, and aorta calcium score was positively correlated with age.

Conclusions

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients had a much earlier onset and higher incidences of aorta calcium than coronary artery calcification. Presence of serositis, pneumonia, and higher SLEDAI score may predict increased risk of aorta calcium.

Improvements in epidermal function prevent relapse of psoriasis: a self-controlled study

While therapeutic approaches for psoriasis are widely available, preventive regimens are lacking. We aimed to determine whether improvements in epidermal function could prevent psoriasis relapse. Two self-controlled cohort studies were designed, enrolling two cohorts of patients with psoriasis (n = 30 and n = 60) to be treated topically with an in-house-prepared emollient or ATOPALM^® cream applied twice daily to one forearm for 20 and 30 days, respectively, while the same sites on the contralateral arm served as the untreated control. Epidermal function on both arms was assessed prior to and at the end of the trials. Delayed relapse on the treated arm was seen in 54.5% and 71% of patients in the first and second cohort, respectively. The time of psoriatic relapse correlated with the extent of abnormalities in baseline epidermal function. These results suggest that improvements in epidermal function with topical emollients can prevent/attenuate the development of psoriasis.