Value of serum adenosine deaminase in diagnosis of marked liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of serum adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the diagnosis of marked liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. MethodsA total of 493 patients with chronic HBV infection who underwent liver biopsy in Ningbo No. 2 Hospital from May 2011 to October 2016 were enrolled, and according to the degree of liver fibrosis, these patients were divided into S0 group with 79 patients, S1 group with 254 patients, S2 group with 103 patients, S3 group with 35 patients, and S4 group with 22 patients. Biochemical parameters including total bilirubin (TBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), albumin (Alb), and ADA were measured, routine blood test was performed, and aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) was calculated. These indices were compared between groups. An analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of continuous data with skewed distribution between groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A dichotomous logistic regression analysis was performed for these indices, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of ADA, APRI, or a combination of various indices in the diagnosis of marked liver fibrosis. ResultsThere were significant differences in age, sex, TBil, ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, Alb, ADA, and APRI between the S0, S1, S2, S3, and S4 groups (F=11.41, χ2=14.45, 15.08, 28.27, 48.22, 48.65, 80.53, 17.03, 57.89, and 73.20, all P＜0.05). Sex, age, and serum ADA were independent risk factors for marked liver fibrosis (odds ratio = 2.59, 1.05, and 1.12, all P＜0.01). ADA, APRI, or a combination of various indices had a certain value in the diagnosis of marked liver fibrosis (all P＜0.01), with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70, 0.73, and 0.75, respectively. ConclusionSerum ADA has a certain value in the diagnosis of marked liver fibrosis in patients with chronic HBV infection

Effects of a Detached Eddy Simulation-Curvature Correction (DES-CC) Turbulence Model on the Unsteady Flows of Side Channel Pumps

A side channel pump is a pump with a high head and a small flow that is widely used in various industrial fields. Many scientists have studied the hydraulic performance, pressure fluctuation characteristics, and gas-liquid mixed transport characteristics of this type of pump. However, these studies mainly focused on the single-stage impeller of the side channel pump, without considering the inter-stage connection channel and the multistage timing effect. These characteristics affect the hydraulic performance and pressure-pulsation characteristics of the side channel pump. Therefore, we carried out a numerical simulation and an experimental comparison on the multistage side channel pump to explore its flow characteristics during the stages. This study focused on the influence of different turbulence models on the numerical simulation of multistage side channel pumps. Shear stress transport (SST), detached eddy simulation (DES), and detached eddy simulation-curvature correction (DES-CC) turbulence models were selected for consideration. By studying the pressure and velocity streamline distribution, the turbulent kinetic energy, and the shape and volume of the vortex core area simulated by the three models, we concluded that the DES-CC model, when compared to the other models, can more fully reflect the vortex characteristics and the simulation results that are closer to the experimental data. The results of this study can be used as the basis for future research on multistage side channel pumps

Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections among children in a tertiary hospital in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, 2012-2019.

BackgroundNon-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS), a common cause of diarrheal enterocolitis, may also cause severe invasive diseases. Limited information on NTS infections in children is available in China.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of children admitted to the Ningbo Women and Children's Hospital with culture-confirmed NTS infections between January 2012 and December 2019. Clinical and microbiological information were collected. We compared demographic, clinical and antibiotic resistance variables of invasive NTS (iNTS) infections and non-invasive NTS (non-iNTS) infections, and explored associations between hospitalizations for pediatric NTS infections and temperature and rainfall.ResultsA total of 166 pediatric hospitalizations due to NTS infection were identified during the 8-year study period. Most of the 166 children were ConclusionNon-iNTS accounts for the majority of infections in this study; infants ≤6 months and children with underlying medical conditions of leukemia are more likely to have invasive infection. The rates of antibiotic resistance in the iNTS isolates are generally lower than those in the non-iNTS isolates. On the other hand, high temperatures and heavy rainfall are positively associated with NTS hospitalizations among children in Ningbo

Effect of red blood cell transfusion on the development of retinopathy of prematurity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe effect of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is difficult to establish, because ROP may also be influenced by other factors. Therefore, we carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the relationship between RBC transfusion and the development of ROP.MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to September 1, 2019. Observational studies that reported the relationship between RBC transfusion and ROP after adjusting for other potential risk factors were included. The combined result was analyzed by a random effect model. Heterogeneity and publication bias were tested, and sensitivity analysis was performed.ResultsOf the 2628 identified records, 18 studies including 15072 preterm infants and 5620 cases of ROP were included. A random effect model was used and revealed that RBC transfusion was significantly associated with ROP (pooled OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.27-1.76), with moderate heterogeneity among the included studies (I2 = 44.2%). Subgroup analysis indicated that RBC transfusion was more closely related to ROP in the group with a gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.29-2.43) but not in the groups with a GA ≤34 weeks (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.85-2.18) or a GA ConclusionsOur study revealed that RBC transfusion is an independent risk factor for the development of ROP, especially in younger preterm infants. However, there seemed to be no evidence to support an effect of RBC transfusion on ROP in older groups. Further studies addressing this issue in older preterm neonates are warranted