Relevance of genetic causes and environmental adaptation of Cronobacter spp. isolated from infant and follow-up formula production factories and retailed products in China: A 7-year period of continuous surveillance based on genome-wide analysis.

The possible contamination routes, environmental adaptation, and genetic basis of Cronobacter spp. in infant and follow-up formula production factories and retailed products in mainland China have been determined by laboratory studies and whole-genome comparative analysis in a 7-year nationwide continuous surveillance spanning from 2012 to 2018. The 2-year continuous multicenter surveillance of the production process (conducted in 2013 and 2014) revealed that the source of Cronobacter spp. in the dry-blending process was the raw dry ingredients and manufacturing environment (particularly in the vibro sieve and vacuum cleaner), while in the combined process, the main contamination source was identified as the packing room. It is important to note that, according to the contamination control knowledge obtained from the production process surveillance, the contamination rate of retail powdered infant formula (PIF) and follow-up formula (FUF) products in China decreased significantly from 2016 onward, after improving the hygiene management practices in factories. The prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in retailed PIF and FUF in China in 2018 was dramatically reduced from 1.55 % (61/3925, in 2012) to an average as low as 0.17 % (13/7655 in 2018). Phenotype determination and genomic analysis were performed on a total of 90 Cronobacter spp. isolates obtained from the surveillance. Of the 90 isolates, only two showed resistance to either cefazolin or cefoxitin. The multilocus sequence typing results revealed that C. sakazakii sequence type 1 (ST1), ST37, and C. malonaticus ST7 were the dominant sequence types (STs) collected from the production factories, while C. sakazakii ST1, ST4, ST64, and ST8 were the main STs detected in the retailed PIF and FUF nationwide. One C. sakazakii ST4 isolate (1.1 %, 1/90) had strong biofilm-forming ability and 13 isolates (14.4 %, 13/90) had weak biofilm-forming ability. Genomic analysis revealed that Cronobacter spp. have a relatively stable core-genome and an increasing pan-genome size. Plasmid IncFIB (pCTU3) was prevalent in this genus and some contained 14 antibacterial biocide- and metal-resistance genes (BMRGs) including copper, silver, and arsenic resistant genes. Plasmid IncN_1 was predicted to contain 6 ARGs. This is the first time that a multi-drug resistance IncN_1 type plasmid has been reported in Cronobacter spp. Genomic variations with respect to BMRGs, virulence genes, antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), and genes involved in biofilm formation were observed among strains of this genus. There were apparent differences in copies of bcsG and flgJ between the biofilm-forming group and non-biofilm-forming group, indicating that these two genes play key roles in biofilm formation. The findings of this study have improved our understanding of the contamination characteristics and genetic basis of Cronobacter spp. in PIF and FUF and their production environment in China and provide important guidance to reduce contamination with this pathogen during the production of PIF and FUF.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic characterization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from aquatic foods in 15 provinces, China, 2020.

Prevalent in marine, estuarine and coastal environments, Vibrio parahaemolyticus is one of the major foodborne pathogens which can cause acute gastroenteritis through consumption of contaminated food. This study encompassed antimicrobial resistance, molecular characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of 163 V. parahaemolyticus isolated from aquatic foods across 15 provinces in China. The isolates showed high resistance rates against ampicillin (90.80 %, 148/163) and cefazolin (72.39 %, 118/163). Only 5 isolates demonstrated multi-drug resistance (MDR) phenotypes. A total of 37 different antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in correlation with seven antimicrobial categories were identified. tet(34) and tet(35) were present in all 163 isolates. Other most prevalent ARGs were those conferring resistance to ß-lactams, with prevalence rate around 18.40 % (30/163). The virulence genes tdh and trh were found in 17 (10.43 %) and 9 (5.52 %) isolates, respectively. Totally 121 sequence types (STs) were identified through whole genome analysis, among which 60 were novel. The most prevalent sequence type was ST3 (9.20 %, 15/163), which shared the same genotype profile of trh_, tdh+ and blaCARB-22+. Most of the tdh+V. parahaemolyticus isolates was clustered into a distinctive clade by the phylogenetic analysis. Our study showed that the antimicrobial resistance of V. parahaemolyticus in aquatic foods in China was moderate. However, the emerging of MDR isolates implicate strengthened monitoring is needed for the better treatment of human V. parahaemolyticus infections. High genetic diversity and virulence potential of the isolates analyzed in this study help better understanding and evaluating the risk of V. parahaemolyticus posed to public health.

Unlocking the potential of the 3-hydroxykynurenine/kynurenic acid ratio: a promising biomarker in adolescent major depressive disorder.

Metabolites disruptions in tryptophan (TRP) and kynurenine pathway (KP) are believed to disturb neurotransmitter homeostasis and contribute to depressive symptoms. This study aims to investigate serum levels of KP metabolites in adolescent major depressive disorder (AMDD), and examine their relationship with depression severities. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze serum levels of TRP, kynurenic acid (KYNA), kynurenine (KYN), and 3-hydroxy-kynurenine (3-HK) in 143 AMDD participants and 98 healthy controls (HC). Clinical data, including Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) scores, were collected and analyzed using statistical methods, such as ANOVA, logistic regression, Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and a significance level of p < 0.05 was used for all analyses. AMDD showed significantly decreased serum levels of KYNA (-25.5%), KYN (-14.2%), TRP (-11.0%) and the KYNA/KYN ratio (-11.9%) compared to HC (p < 0.01). Conversely, significant increases were observed in 3-HK levels (+50.4%), the 3-HK/KYNA ratio (+104.3%) and the 3-HK/KYN ratio (+93.0%) (p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis identified increased level of 3-HK as a contributing factor to AMDD, while increased level of KYNA acted as a protective factor against AMDD. The 3-HK/KYNA ratio demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.952. This study didn't explore AMDD's inflammatory status and its metabolites relationship explicitly. These findings indicate that metabolites of TRP and KP may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AMDD, emphasizing the potential of the 3-HK/KYNA ratio as a laboratory biomarker for early detection and diagnosis of AMDD.

The efficacy and safety of continuous intravenous infusion of rh-endostatin combined with platinum-based doublet chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy is commonly used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A growing body of evidence indicates that incorporating antiangiogenic agents into platinum-based chemotherapy may enhance the survival outcomes for NSCLC patients. However, the optimal administration protocol for intravenous recombinant human endostatin (rh-endostatin), an antiangiogenic agent, remains uncertain at present. AIM: This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of 5-d continuous intravenous infusion of rh-endostatin in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced NSCLC. The predictive biomarkers for this treatment regimen were further probed. METHODS: This prospective, single-arm multicenter study enrolled a total of 48 patients with advanced NSCLC who were histologically or cytologically confirmed but had not received any prior treatment from January 2021 to December 2022. Prior to the chemotherapy, these patients received a continuous intravenous infusion of rh-endostatin (210 mg) over a period of 120 h, using an infusion pump. The chemotherapy regimen included a combination of platinum with either pemetrexed or paclitaxel, given in 21-day cycles. The primary endpoint of the study was median progression-free survival (mPFS), and the secondary endpoints included median overall survival (mOS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and assessment of adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: The mPFS was 6.5 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-9.1 m) while the mOS was 12.3 months (95% CI: 7.6-18.5 m). The ORR and DCR was 52.1% and 75.0%, respectively. Leukopenia (52.1%), anemia (33.3%), and thrombocytopenia (20.8%) were the most common adverse effects and these toxicities were deemed acceptable and manageable. In addition, a correlation was noted between elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels and decreased PFS and OS. CONCLUSIONS: The incorporation of a 5-day continuous intravenous infusion of rh-endostatin into platinum-based doublet chemotherapy has demonstrated both safety and efficacy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC. Furthermore, the baseline serum levels of CEA may potentially function as a predictor for the efficacy of rh-endostatin when combined with chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. CLINICALTRIALS: GOV: NCT05574998.

Decreased serum levels of SETD1A protein in patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: SET domain-containing protein 1A (SETD1A) histone lysine N-methyltransferase may serve as a biomarker for the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment assessment of schizophrenia (SCZ). The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of SETD1A protein between patients with SCZ and health controls. METHODS: Patients with SCZ and health controls were recruited from the Sixth Hospital of Changchun and the 'Survey on Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors among Adults in Jilin Province', respectively. The quantifications of lysine N-methyltransferase in peripheral serum were conducted by the ELISA method, and data was analyzed using the R software. RESULTS: Forty patients with SCZ (mean age: 33.97 ± 5.99 years) and forty healthy controls (mean age: 39.07 ± 4.62 years) were included. There was significantly lower concentration of SETD1A protein in the SCZ group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). This significant difference still exists after stratification by sex (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that decreased levels of serum SETD1A protein may be utilized as a possible peripheral biomarker for schizophrenia.

Cylindrospermopsin enhances the conjugative transfer of plasmid-mediated multi-antibiotic resistance genes through glutathione biosynthesis inhibition.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a cyanobacterial toxin, has been detected in the global water environment. However, information concerning the potential environmental risk of CYN is limited, since the majority of previous studies have mainly focused on the adverse health effects of CYN through contaminated drinking water. The present study reported that CYN at environmentally relevant levels (0.1-100 µg/L) can significantly enhance the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid in Escherichia coli genera, wherein application of 10 µg/L of CYN led to maximum fold change of ∼6.5- fold at 16 h of exposure. Meanwhile, evaluation of underlying mechanisms revealed that environmental concentration of CYN exposure could increase oxidative stress in the bacterial cells, resulting in ROS overproduction. In turn, this led to an upregulation of antioxidant enzyme-related genes to avoid ROS attack. Further, inhibition of the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) was also detected, which led to the rapid depletion of GSH in cells and thus triggered the SOS response and promoted the conjugative transfer process. Increase in cell membrane permeability, upregulation of expression of genes related to pilus generation, ATP synthesis, and RP4 gene expression were also observed. These results highlight the potential impact on the spread of antimicrobial resistance in water environments.

Chlorite and bromate alter the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: Co-regulation of oxidative stress and energy supply.

The widespread use of disinfectants during the global response to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic has increased the co-occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although DBPs pose major threats to public health globally, there is limited knowledge regarding their biological effects on ARGs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two inorganic DBPs (chlorite and bromate) on the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid among Escherichia coli strains at environmentally relevant concentrations. Interestingly, the frequency of conjugative transfer was initially inhibited when the exposure time to chlorite or bromate was less than 24 h. However, this inhibition transformed into promotion when the exposure time was extended to 36 h. Short exposures to chlorite or bromate were shown to impede the electron transport chain, resulting in an ATP shortage and subsequently inhibiting conjugative transfer. Consequently, this stimulates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the SOS response. Upon prolonged exposure, the resurgent energy supply promoted conjugative transfer. These findings offer novel and valuable insights into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic DBPs on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the management of DBPs.

Multiple pulmonary cavities in an immunocompetent patient: a case report and literature review.

Legionella pneumonia (LP) is a relatively uncommon yet well-known type of atypical community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). It is characterized by a rapid progression to severe pneumonia and can be easily misdiagnosed. In most patients, chest computed tomography (CT) showed patchy infiltration, which may progress to lobar infiltration or even lobar consolidation. While pulmonary cavities are commonly observed in immunocompromised patients with LP, they are considered rare in immunocompetent individuals. Herein, we present a case of LP in an immunocompetent patient with multiple cavities in both lungs. Pathogen detection was performed using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). This case highlights the unusual radiographic presentation of LP in an immunocompetent patient and emphasizes the importance of considering LP as a possible diagnosis in patients with pulmonary cavities, regardless of their immune status. Furthermore, the timely utilization of mNGS is crucial for early pathogen identification, as it provides multiple benefits in enhancing the diagnosis and prognosis of LP patients.

Machine learning-based radiomics strategy for prediction of acquired EGFR T790M mutation following treatment with EGFR-TKI in NSCLC.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) Thr790 Met (T790M) mutation is responsible for approximately half of the acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Identifying patients at diagnosis who are likely to develop this mutation after first- or second-generation EGFR-TKI treatment is crucial for better treatment outcomes. This study aims to develop and validate a radiomics-based machine learning (ML) approach to predict the T790M mutation in NSCLC patients at diagnosis. We collected retrospective data from 210 positive EGFR mutation NSCLC patients, extracting 1316 radiomics features from CT images. Using the LASSO algorithm, we selected 10 radiomics features and 2 clinical features most relevant to the mutations. We built models with 7 ML approaches and assessed their performance through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The radiomics model and combined model, which integrated radiomics features and relevant clinical factors, achieved an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.79-0.81) and 0.86 (0.87-0.88), respectively, in predicting the T790M mutation. Our study presents a convenient and noninvasive radiomics-based ML model for predicting this mutation at the time of diagnosis, aiding in targeted treatment planning for NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations.

The occurrence, ecological risk, and control of disinfection by-products from intensified wastewater disinfection during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increased disinfection of wastewater to preserve its microbiological quality during the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have inevitably led to increased production of toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). However, there is limited information on such DBPs (i.e., trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, nitrosamines, and haloacetonitriles). This review focused on the upsurge of chlorine-based disinfectants (such as chlorine, chloramine and chlorine dioxide) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the global response to COVID-19. The formation and distribution of DBPs in wastewater were then analyzed to understand the impacts of these large-scale usage of disinfectants in WWTPs. In addition, potential ecological risks associated with DBPs derived from wastewater disinfection and its receiving water bodies were summarized. Finally, various approaches for mitigating DBP levels in wastewater and suggestions for further research into the environmental risks of increased wastewater disinfection were provided. Overall, this study presented a comprehensive overview of the formation, distribution, potential ecological risks, and mitigating approaches of DBPs derived from wastewater disinfection that will facilitate appropriate wastewater disinfection techniques selection, potential ecological risk assessment, and removal approaches and regulations consideration.

miR-148a-3p regulates proliferation and apoptosis of idiopathic gingival fibroma by targeting NPTX1.

OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic gingival fibromatosis (IGF) is a rare heterogeneous disease that results in the progressive and diffuse hyperplasia of gingival tissues. MicroRNAs are implicated in the development and progression of various tumors. The present study aimed to explore the potential roles and mechanisms of miR-148a-3p in IGF. METHODS: Gingival fibroblasts (GFs) were transfected with miR-148a-3p mimics, miR-148a-3p inhibitors, or siNPTX1, and then, the proliferation and apoptosis of GFs and the expression of related genes were evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, flow cytometry, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and western blot analysis, respectively. RESULTS: miR-148a-3p was highly expressed in GFs of IGF (IGF-GFs) as compared with normal GFs (N-GFs). Overexpression of miR-148a-3p promoted the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of N-GFs, whereas downregulation of miR-148a-3p had the opposite effect in IGF-GFs. Knockdown of NPTX1 reversed miR-148a-3p-mediated effects in IGF-GFs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that NPTX1 is a direct target of miR-148a-3p. CONCLUSION: These findings identify that miR-148a-3p could regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting NPTX1, providing new insights for the further study of the molecular mechanism and treatment of IGF.

Storytelling and user experience in the cultural metaverse.

Enthusiasm for the metaverse is intensifying in academia and industries. The metaverse is a complex concept, combining many technologies to create many different types of user experiences (UX), depending on the intended use. The cultural metaverse was first introduced in this study. This study is an initial attempt to fill the gaps in the practical research and storytelling research in the metaverse. Augmented reality (AR) technology is an applicative tool in cultural experience, which displays computer - generated virtual information on a real-world scene. AR displays digital information realistically, making it appear to be part of the actual environment, deepening or expanding the user's understanding of "reality". This study constructed a cultural metaverse using the innovative AR storytelling. The cultural metaverse is a new cultural ecology in which advanced information technologies are deeply integrated with cultural spaces and exhibits. It combines digital technologies and cultural industries, mixing virtual space and physical space to facilitate the UX in cultural experiences. In this study, the existing AR e-book and the innovative AR version were compared while measuring multiple aspects of UX, including presence, flow, enjoyment, education, and engagement. By analyzing questionnaire data from two groups with a total of 368 participants, the results indicated that the innovative AR storytelling produced a better UX across all variables compared to the AR e-book application. Overall, innovative AR storytelling allows visitors to transition between real and virtual spaces, enriches their interactive experience, and improves user engagement with the metaverse exhibition of cultural experience. Therefore, practitioners can construct a primary cultural metaverse through innovative AR storytelling.

Correlation Analysis of Microbial Contamination and Alkaline Phosphatase Activity in Raw Milk and Dairy Products.

Microbial contamination in raw milk and dairy products can detrimentally affect product quality and human health. In this study, the aerobic plate count, aerobic Bacillus abundance, thermophilic aerobic Bacillus abundance, and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined in 435 raw milk, 451 pasteurized milk, and 617 sterilized milk samples collected from 13 Chinese provinces (or municipalities). Approximately 9.89% and 2.22% of raw milk and pasteurized milk samples exceeded the threshold values for the aerobic plate count, respectively. The proportions of aerobic Bacillus in raw milk, pasteurized milk, and sterilized milk were 54.02%, 14.41%, and 1.30%, respectively. The proportions of thermophilic aerobic Bacillus species were 7.36% in raw milk and 4.88% in pasteurized milk samples, and no bacteria were counted in sterilized milk. Approximately 36.18% of raw milk samples contained >500,000 mU/L of alkaline phosphatase activity, while 9.71% of pasteurized milk samples contained >350 mU/L. For raw milk, there was a positive correlation between the aerobic plate count, the aerobic Bacillus abundance, and the alkaline phosphatase activity, and there was a positive correlation between the aerobic Bacillus abundance, the thermophilic aerobic Bacillus count, and the alkaline phosphatase activity. For pasteurized milk, there was a positive correlation between the aerobic plate count, the aerobic Bacillus abundance, and the thermophilic aerobic Bacillus count; however, the alkaline phosphatase activity had a negative correlation with the aerobic plate count, the aerobic Bacillus abundance, and the thermophilic aerobic Bacillus abundance. These results facilitate the awareness of public health safety issues and the involvement of dairy product regulatory agencies in China.

Validity and Cutoff Score of the Autism Mental Status Exam for an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis in Chinese Children.

The Autism Mental Status exam (AMSE) has demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity in Western high-risk population with suspected autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the AMSE in a sample of high-risk Chinese children, and to determine the optimal cutoff score of the Chinese version of the AMSE in supporting ASD diagnosis. 66 young children aged from 2 to 11 years with suspected ASD were enrolled in the present study. A diagnosis of ASD or non-ASD was determined by a Best Estimate Diagnosis protocol according to the DSM-5 criteria. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the validity of the AMSE and search for the most effective cutoff score. The ROC curve analysis yields the area under the ROC curve of 0.98 which represents excellent diagnostic accuracy. Findings indicate the optimal cutoff score of the Chinese version of the AMSE was estimated as 6, producing the highest sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 87%. Preliminary findings of the study suggest the AMSE has promising psychometric properties as an assessment tool for identifying ASD symptoms and supporting diagnostic decision-making in high-risk Chinese children population.

Antimicrobial-Resistant Evolution and Global Spread of Enterococcus faecium Clonal Complex (CC) 17: Progressive Change from Gut Colonization to Hospital-Adapted Pathogen.

For a long time, Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) was thought to be a commensal strain in human and animal digestive tracts. However, over the past three decades, some unique E. faecium clones rapidly acquired multiple antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which led these clones to survive hospital environments and become a hospital-adapted E. faecium clonal complex (CC) 17. Since the adaptation of these clones to changes in habitat, vancomycin-resistant E. faecium CC17 has emerged as the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections worldwide. This epidemic hospital-adapted lineage has diverged from other populations approximately 75 years ago. The CC17 lineage originated from animal strains, but not human commensal lines. We reviewed the evolutionary progress and the molecular mechanisms of E. faecium CC17 from a gut commensal to a multi-antimicrobial resistant nosocomial pathogen.

[Microbial contamination in dried fruit products in China in 2019].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the microbial contamination in dried fruit products in China. METHODS: In 2019, 2917 samples of dried fruit products on the market were collected, and examined for aerobic bacterial count, coliforms, molds, yeasts, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes according to the method specified in GB 4789. RESULTS: A total of 34.42%(1004/2917)of the samples had molds above 50 CFU/g and 9.46%(276/2917)of the samples had yeast above 50 CFU/g. The occurrence of aerobic plate count above 10~4 CFU/g and coliforms above 10~2 CFU/g was 5.01%(146/2917)and 2.98%(87/2917), respectively. The detection rate of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes were 0.14%(4/2917) and 0.03%(1/2917), respectively. Microbial contamination in different kinds of dried fruit products varied widely, with dried wolfberries and dried durian having the worst overall hygiene. There were differences in microbial contamination of dried fruit products in different regions. In general, samples collected in South China, Southwest China and Central China had more serious microbial contamination. There was no significant difference in microbial contamination between dried fruit products with different packaging and sampling places. CONCLUSION: The hygienic condition of dried fruit products is generally poor in 2019.

Presence and Flow in the Context of Virtual Reality Storytelling: What Influences Enjoyment in Virtual Environments?

Virtual reality (VR) has widely been implemented in a variety of industries, with immersive storytelling now gaining popularity in the field of journalism. In this regard, there are many important questions about which direction modern journalism should take as a whole. To test the feasibility of immersive storytelling, this study developed a cognitive experience model containing paths for presence, flow, credibility, empathy, understanding, and enjoyment. A total of 131 participants were divided into three groups and exposed to either VR, 360-degree videos, or two-dimensional (2D) videos, then asked to rate their experiences. With the exception of understanding, results showed that the VR and 360-degree videos were more highly evaluated in each path when compared with 2D videos. In this case, technical attributes did not greatly affect the study variables. However, presence played a vital role in news promotion, while flow was positively affected by presence; flow also affected other variables when combined with presence. Finally, a structural equation model was tested and the weights of the different influences on the enjoyment impact were presented. In sum, this study found that immersive storytelling improved both presence, flow, and credibility, which jointly and positively affected enjoyment. Understanding negatively affected enjoyment. Empathy had little effect on enjoyment in the model.

Effect of core and veneer porcelain thickness and resin cement on opalescence property of glass-ceramic veneers.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the effect of core and veneer porcelain thickness and resin cement on the opalescence property (OP) of glass-ceramic veneers, which were used to restore discolored teeth. METHODS: IPS e.max CAD LT A3 ceramic specimens were fabricated by computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). The thickness values of core porcelain groups were 0.25 and 0.50 mm, and those of the core/veneer porcelain groups were 0.25 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.50 mm dentin, and 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin/0.25 mm incisal. To simulate the clinical bonding procedure of porcelain veneer, resin cement Variolink N Bleach XL was coated at the bottom of CAD/CAM porcelain veneer specimens to make composite specimens of CAD/CAM porcelain veneer and resin cement. The L*a*b* values of specimens in the reflection and transmission pattern were measured by a spectrophotometer. Then, the OP was calculated. RESULTS: The OP values of 0.25 and 0.50 mm core porcelain groups, and 0.25 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.50 mm dentin, and 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin/0.25 mm incisal core/veneer porcelain groups were 6.10±0.50, 7.00±0.24, 6.40±0.24, 7.08±0.28, 7.16±0.21, and 7.86±0.11 respectively. With increasing thickness of core porcelain, the OP values increased significantly (P<0.05). When 0.25 mm-thick dentin porcelain was added, no significant difference was found in the OP values of specimens with the same core porcelain thickness (P>0.05). For the 0.50 mm core porcelain group, no significant difference was found between 0.25 and 0.50 mm-thick dentin porcelain groups (P>0.05), but the OP values increased significantly after increasing the 0.25 mm incisal porcelain (P<0.05). The OP values of 0.25 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin, 0.50 mm core/0.50 mm dentin, and 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin/0.25 mm incisal CAD/CAM porcelain veneer-resin cement composite specimens were 6.29±0.31, 7.56±0.36, 7.67±0.30, and 8.65±0.53. The OP values increased with increasing thickness of the porcelain layer (P<0.05), but no statistically signi-ficant difference was found between the groups of 0.50 mm core/0.25 mm dentin and 0.50 mm core/0.50 mm dentin (P=0.733). The influence of porcelain layer thickness and resin cement on the OP value was statistically different (P<0.05), and no interaction was found between the total thickness and the presence of resin cement (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When using glass-ceramic veneers for discolored teeth, the following are recommended to improve the OP and obtain a natural and realistic effect: adopt the design of direct sintering incisal porcelain with core porcelain; appropriately increase the thickness of core porcelain; and select resin cement with opaque effect.

The China National Foodborne Pathogen Surveillance System: Twenty Years of Experience and Achievements.

National foodborne pathogen surveillance is a system that collects data regarding food contamination by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other harmful microbial factors. The surveillance data are used to understand the potential microbial risks in different categories of food and to provide science-based data for risk assessment and development of reference standards in the form of maximum limits. This review introduces stepwise expansion of the foodborne pathogen surveillance in China, relevant policies, function and duties of different organizations and institutions, surveillance plans, and quality control. Achievements of the surveillance system and future challenges are also presented.

Psychometric properties of the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire among Chinese parents of children with ADHD or ASD.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need in clinical practice to measure the stress of parenting. The Caregiver Strain Questionnaire (CGSQ) was found to be useful to measure parenting stress, but it has not been validated among the Chinese population. AIMS: To assess the reliability and construct validity of the Chinese version of CGSQ among Chinese parents. METHODS: From 2016 to 2017, 266 parents (patient group) with a child having DSM-5-defined attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n=107) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n=159) and 268 parents of healthy children (control group) were recruited to the present study in Kunming, Yunnan province. All the parents were asked to fill out the Chinese version of CGSQ. We conducted exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to verify construct validity of CGSQ in both patient and control groups. Cronbach's α coefficient as an index of internal consistency was assessed for each subscale. Fourteen days later, 23 subjects filled out the scale again. Intra-class correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the test-retest reliability. RESULTS: (1) Cronbach's alpha of the global scale was 0.901 for the control group and 0.952 for the patient group. The test-retest reliability for the whole scale was 0.890; (2) CFA indicated that the three-factor model had better fitting indices compared with the two-factor model in both groups. Besides, the fitting indices in the patient group were more favourable than those of the control group, with χ2/df=1.564, Goodness-of-Fit Index=0.841, Comparative Fit Index=0.954, and root mean square error of approximation=0.065 for the patient group at three-factor model; (3) The caregiver strain of ASD parents was statistically higher than that of ADHD parents, and caregiver strain of ADHD parents was higher than that of control group. CONCLUSION: These findings provide initial evidence to support the construct validity and reliability of CGSQ as a parenting stress measurement tool for Chinese parents, especially for parents of children with ADHD or ASD.