Combining interscalene brachial plexus block with intravenous-inhalation combined anesthesia for upper extremity fractures surgery: A randomized controlled trial

AbstractBackground: A parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the effect of combining the interscalene brachial plexus block (IBPB) with Intravenous–inhalation combined anesthesia to isolated Intravenous–inhalation anesthesia in the upper extremity fractures surgery of elderly patients. Methods: One hundred elderly patients who underwent upper extremity surgery were randomly assigned to received isolated Intravenous–inhalation combined anesthesia (group CI, n = 50) and IBPB associated with Intravenous–inhalation combined anesthesia (group NB, n = 50). Associated side effects, recovery time after operation, as well as the dose of intraoperative vasoactive agents and auxiliary drugs were noted. Results: The two groups were not significantly different in gender (P = 0.539), ages (P = 0.683) and weight (P = 0.212). Five patients (10%) in the group NB and 17 patients (34%) in the group CI suffered from preoperative hypotension (P = 0.004). Besides, lower incidence of other adverse effects such as mental stress, incision pain and hypertension were also found in the group NB; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The consumption of general anesthetics in the group NB was significantly less than that of the group CI (propofol, P = 0.004; lsoflurane, P < 0.001), and the recovery time of the group NB was significantly shorter than that of the group CI (P = 0.020). Conclusion: Combining IBPB with Intravenous–inhalation combined anesthesia in elderly patients hold a greater potential for upper extremity fractures surgery due to its improved clinical effectiveness and fewer side effects

Transmission of H7N9 influenza virus in mice by different infective routes.

BackgroundOn 19 February 2013, the first patient infected with a novel influenza A H7N9 virus from an avian source showed symptoms of sickness. More than 349 laboratory-confirmed cases and 109 deaths have been reported in mainland China since then. Laboratory-confirmed, human-to-human H7N9 virus transmission has not been documented between individuals having close contact; however, this transmission route could not be excluded for three families. To control the spread of the avian influenza H7N9 virus, we must better understand its pathogenesis, transmissibility, and transmission routes in mammals. Studies have shown that this particular virus is transmitted by aerosols among ferrets.MethodsTo study potential transmission routes in animals with direct or close contact to other animals, we investigated these factors in a murine model.ResultsViable H7N9 avian influenza virus was detected in the upper and lower respiratory tracts, intestine, and brain of model mice. The virus was transmissible between mice in close contact, with a higher concentration of virus found in pharyngeal and ocular secretions, and feces. All these biological materials were contagious for naïve mice.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the possible transmission routes for the H7N9 influenza virus were through mucosal secretions and feces

The mouse and ferret models for studying the novel avian-origin human influenza A (H7N9) virus.

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to establish animal models (including mouse and ferret) for the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus.FindingsA/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) virus was administered by intranasal instillation to groups of mice and ferrets, and animals developed typical clinical signs including body weight loss (mice and ferrets), ruffled fur (mice), sneezing (ferrets), and death (mice). Peak virus shedding from respiratory tract was observed on 2 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) for mice and 3-5 d.p.i. for ferrets. Virus could also be detected in brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine from inoculated mice, and in heart, liver, and olfactory bulb from inoculated ferrets. The inoculation of H7N9 could elicit seroconversion titers up to 1280 in ferrets and 160 in mice. Leukopenia, significantly reduced lymphocytes but increased neutrophils were also observed in mouse and ferret models.ConclusionsThe mouse and ferret model enables detailed studies of the pathogenesis of this illness and lay the foundation for drug or vaccine evaluation

A set of novel SNP loci for differentiating continental populations and three Chinese populations

In recent years, forensic geneticists have begun to develop some ancestry informative marker (AIM) panels for ancestry analysis of regional populations. In this study, we chose 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from SPSmart database to infer ancestry origins of continental populations and Chinese subpopulations. Based on the genetic data of four continental populations (African, American, East Asian and European) from the CEPH-HGDP database, the power of these SNPs for differentiating continental populations was assessed. Population genetic structure revealed that distinct ancestry components among these continental populations could be discerned by these SNPs. Another novel population set from 1000 Genomes Phase 3 was treated as testing populations to further validate the efficiency of the selected SNPs. Twenty-two populations from CEPH-HGDP database were classified into three known populations (African, East Asian, and European) based on their biogeographical regions. Principal component analysis and Bayes analysis of testing populations and three known populations indicated these testing populations could be correctly assigned to their corresponding biogeographical origins. For three Chinese populations (Han, Mongolian, and Uygur), multinomial logistic regression analyses indicated that these 48 SNPs could be used to estimate ancestry origins of these populations. Therefore, these SNPs possessed the promising potency in ancestry analysis among continental populations and some Chinese populations, and they could be used in population genetics and forensic research

The role of quality of care and attitude towards disability in the relationship between severity of disability and quality of life: findings from a cross-sectional survey among people with physical disability in China

Background: People with physical disability (PWPD) is the largest subgroup of people with disability (PWD) in China, but few studies have been conducted among this vulnerable population. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of quality of life (QoL), self-perceived quality of care and support (QOCS), severity of disability and personal attitude towards disability among people with physical disability in China, as well as to identify how QoL can be affected by severity of disability through QOCS and personal attitude towards disability among PWPD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,853 PWPD in Guangzhou, China. Data were collected on participants’ QoL, QOCS, personal attitude towards disability and severity of disability. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the effects of the other variables on QoL. Results: Even with a mild disability (mean score:1.72), relatively low levels of QoL (mean score: 2.65- 3.22) and QOCS (mean score: 2.95 to 3.28), as well as unfavorable personal attitude towards disability (mean score: 2.75 to 3.36) were identified among PWPD. According to SEM, we found that the influence of severity of physical disability on QoL is not only exerted directly, but is also indirectly through QOCS and their personal attitudes towards disability, with QOCS playing a more important mediating role than PWPD’s attitudes towards their own disability. Conclusions: Unfavorable health status was identified among PWPD in China. Focusing on improvement of assistance and care services has the potential to substantially improve PWPD’s QoL. Further research should focus on understanding the needs and their current state of health care of PWPD in China thus being able to develop better interventions for them

Study of Benzofuroquinolinium Derivatives as a New Class of Potent Antibacterial Agent and the Mode of Inhibition Targeting FtsZ

New generation of antibacterial agents are urgently needed in order to fight the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. FtsZ is currently identified as a promising target for new types of antimicrobial compounds development because of its conservative characteristics and its essential role played in bacterial cell division. In the present study, the antibacterial activity of a series of benzofuroquinolinium derivatives was investigated. The results show that the compounds possess potent antibacterial activity against drug resistant pathogens including MRSA, VREF and NDM-1 Escherichia coli. Biological studies reveal that the compound is an effective inhibitor that is able to suppress FtsZ polymerization and GTPase activity and thus stopping the cell division and causing cell death. More importantly, this series of compounds shows low cytotoxicity on mammalian cells and therefore they could be new chemotypes for the development of new antibacterial agents targeting the cell-division protein FtsZ

Diagnostic efficiency of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for suspected spinal tuberculosis in China: A multicenter prospective study

BackgroundThe pathogens of suspected spinal tuberculosis (TB) include TB and non-TB bacteria. A rapid and effective diagnostic method that can detect TB and non-TB pathogens simultaneously remains lacking. Here, we used metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to detect the pathogens in patients with suspected spinal TB.MethodsThe enrolled patients with suspected spinal TB were regrouped three times into patients with spinal infection and controls, patients with spinal TB and controls, and patients with non-TB spinal infection and controls. We tested the three groups separately by using mNGS and conventional detection methods.ResultsUltimately, 100 patients were included in this study. Pathogens were detected in 82 patients. Among the 82 patients, 37 had TB and 45 were infected with other bacteria. In patients with spinal infection, the sensitivity of the mNGS assay was higher than that of culture and pathological examination (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001). The specificity of the mNGS assay was not statistically different from that of culture and pathological examination (p = 1.000, p = 1.000). In patients with spinal TB, no statistical difference was found between the sensitivity of the mNGS assay and that of Xpert and T-SPOT.TB (p = 1.000, p = 0.430). The sensitivity of the mNGS assay was higher than that of MGIT 960 culture and pathological examination (p &lt; 0.001, p = 0.006). The specificities of the mNGS assay, Xpert, MGIT 960 culture, and pathological examination were all 100%. The specificity of T-SPOT.TB (78.3%) was lower than that of the mNGS assay (100%; p &lt; 0.001). In patients with non-TB spinal infection, the sensitivity of the mNGS assay was higher than that of bacterial culture and pathological examination (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001). The specificity of the mNGS assay was not statistically different from that of bacterial culture and pathological examination (p = 1.000, p = 1.000).ConclusionData presented here demonstrated that mNGS can detect TB and non-TB bacteria simultaneously, with high sensitivity, specificity and short detection time. Compared with conventional detection methods, mNGS is a more rapid and effective diagnostic tool for suspected spinal TB