[The correlation study on human respiratory syncytial virus daily incidence and meteorological parameters in the main urban area of Chongqing from 2009 to 2019].

Objective: To explore the relationship between the daily incidence of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) and meteorological parameters in the main urban area of Chongqing. Methods: This study took 3 107 children hospitalized with acute lower respiratory tract infections from June 2009 to June 2019 in department of Respiratory medicine, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CHCMU). Nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was collected on the day of admission to detect HRSV and common respiratory virus; combined with the meteorological data of the main urban area of ​​Chongqing during the same period, the correlation and distribution lag nonlinear model analysis of the daily incidence of HRSV and meteorological parameters were carried out. Results: Among 3 107 children, HRSV positive accounted for 34.53% (1 073 cases), the age was 6 (3, 13) months, and males accounted for 64.31% (690 cases). The daily incidence of HRSV was negatively correlated with minimum temperature (r=-0.220, P<0.001), maximum temperature (r=-0.221, P<0.001), average temperature (r=-0.221, P<0.001) and precipitation (r=-0.052, P<0.001), and positively correlated with sunshine time (r=0.011, P<0.001) and average relative humidity (r=0.095, P<0.001). Compared with the reference temperature (20 ℃), when the lowest temperature of 6-10 ℃ lags for 4-8 d, the RR value of HRSV was 1.11-1.14, and when the lowest temperature of 5-19 ℃ lags for 5 d and 2-19 ℃ lags for 10 d, the RR values were 1.02-1.14 and 1.00-1.03. When the cumulative lag is 5, 10, 15 and 21 d, compared with the reference temperature (20 ℃), the RR (95%CI) values at the lowest temperature of 10.4 ℃ were 1.93 (1.08-3.46), 3.49 (1.64-7.45), 5.00 (2.01-12.46) and 6.69 (2.18-20.48); the RR (95%CI) values of the lowest temperature of 22.1 ℃ were 0.87 (0.77-0.98), 0.77 (0.66-0.90), 0.74 (0.62-0.89) and 0.68 (0.55-0.85). In the cumulative effect, compared with the reference temperature (20 ℃), the gender stratification showed that the maximum RR (95%CI) values of the lowest temperature for boys and girls under different lag days were 7.24 (1.84-28.51) and 2.19 (1.07-4.46), the age stratification showed that the maximum RR (95%CI) values of the lowest temperature for children<6 months old and children ≥6 months old under different lag days were 4.72 (1.05-21.23) and 11.98 (1.70-84.35). Conclusions: In the main urban area of Chongqing, the daily incidence of HRSV in children is correlated with climatic parameters. Among them, the lowest temperature has a delayed and cumulative effect on HRSV infection. 6-10 ℃ has a greater impact on the incidence of HRSV when the lag is 4-8 days. The effect has a more obvious impact on the incidence of HRSV in boys and children ≥ 6 months.

Relationship between Wound Age and Serum Marker Metabolites of Rats Skin Incised Wound.

ABSTRACT: Objective To observe the metabolomics changes of serum after skin incision of rats and to determine the wound age of skin incision. Methods A rat skin incision model was established, 21 SD rats were divided into 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h after skin incision groups and the control group, then blood was taken from rats in the experimental groups at the corresponding time points after injury, and taken from the control group directly. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） technology was used to detect serum metabolites and screen marker metabolites, then orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） model was used to establish a regression model for the relationship between marker metabolite content and wound age to determine wound age of skin. Results GC-MS was used to detect the serum collected, and 21 marker metabolites were obtained through initial screening, and 4 marker metabolites were further analyzed and screened using multivariate statistical analysis methods. There was no correspondence between the change rule of the serum content and wound age, therefore it cannot be used directly to determine wound age. OPLS model could be used to obtain regression models of the content and wound age of 21 marker metabolites and 4 marker metabolites, both of which can determine wound age, but the prediction accuracy of the regression model of 21 marker metabolites was significantly higher. Conclusion Using metabolomics to establish a regression model of the metabolite content and wound age has the potential to be applied to skin incision wound age determination.

[Clinical observation of ocular injury caused by chestnut burr].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of ocular injury caused by chestnut burr. Methods: Retrospective case series study. Data of 48 patients (48 eyes) with ocular injuries caused by chestnut burrs hospitalized in Qingdao Eye Hospital were collected from January 2013 to March 2019. All patients were followed up for at least 3 months. The time of seeking medical advice, lesion region, and characteristics and treatment methods were analyzed. Results: There were 48 patients, including 33 males and 15 females, aged 19 to 74 years [mean, (56±10) years]. The time of injury was late September (25 cases) and early October (23 cases). The shortest time to visit our hospital was 3 hours after injury, and the longest was 8 months after injury. There were 13 cases (27.1%, 13/48) with corneal and/or scleral foreign bodies. All patients were treated with corneal or scleral foreign body extraction. Twenty-four patients (50.0%, 24/48) developed fungal keratitis. Among them, 18 patients had a corneal ulcer, and the infection involved the superficial or full-thickness corneal layer. Six patients had no corneal ulcer, and the infection involved the deep stroma and corneal endothelial surface. The positive rate of fungal examination by confocal microscopy was 87.5% (21/24). Antifungal drugs (2 cases), corneal debridement (5 cases), conjunctival flap covering (2 cases), corneal stroma injection (1 case), and penetrating keratoplasty(14 cases) were given according to the depth of fungal infection. Most of the pathogens were Alternaria spp. Eleven patients (22.9%, 11/48) with necrotizing scleritis were treated with exploration of the sclera. Three patients had scleral foreign body residues on ultrasound biomicroscopy examination, which were removed by operation. Four patients were found to have fungi at the necrotic site of the sclera. Conclusions: The main types of ocular injuries caused by chestnut burrs are corneal and/or scleral foreign bodies, fungal keratitis, and necrotizing scleritis. Chestnut burr foreign bodies should be removed as soon as possible. In the case of fungal keratitis, a drug or surgical intervention should be carried out as early as possible. Necrotizing scleritis is often induced by long-term foreign body retention. Scleral incision and exploration is an effective form of treatment. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 370-375).

[Sequential Changes of Serum Biomarkers after Skeletal Muscle Contusion in Rats].

ABSTRACT: Objective To screen serum biomarkers after skeletal muscle contusion in rats based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS） metabolomics technology, and support vector machine （SVM） regression model was established to estimate skeletal muscle contusion time. Methods The 60 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into experimental group （n=50）, control group （n=5） and validation group （n=5）. The rats in the experimental group and the validation group were used to establish the model of skeletal muscle contusion through free fall method, the rats in experimental group were executed at 0 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 96 h, 144 h and 240 h, respectively, and the rats in validation group were executed at 192 h, while the rats in the control group were executed after three days' regular feeding. The skeletal muscles were stained with hematoxylin-eosin （HE）. The serum metabolite spectrum was detected by GC-MS, and orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis （OPLS-DA） pattern recognition method was used to discriminate the data and select biomarkers. The SVM regression model was established to estimate the contusion time. Results The 31 biomarkers were initially screened by metabolomics method and 6 biomarkers were further selected. There was no regularity in the changes of the relative content of the 6 biomarkers with the contusion time and the SVM regression model can be successfully established according to the data of 6 biomarkers and the 31 biomarkers. Compared with the injury time ［（55.344±7.485） hï¼½ estimated from the SVM regression model based on the data of 6 biomarkers, the injury time ［（195.781±1.629） hï¼½ estimated from the SVM regression model based on the data of 31 biomarkers was closer to the actual value. Conclusion The SVM regression model based on metabolites data can be used for the contusion time estimation of skeletal muscles.

LncRNA BCAR4 up-regulates EGFR and thus promotes human thyrocyte proliferation.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the authors. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience.

[Surgical treatment of keratoglobus: key techniques of bridge-shaped flap penetrating keratoplasty and whole lamellar keratoplasty with corneoscleral limbal].

Objective: Introduce the surgical techniques of bridge-shaped flap penetrating keratoplasty and whole lamellar keratoplasty with corneoscleral limbal and the comparison of therapeutic effects on keratoglobus. Methods: Five patients (eight eyes) with keratoglobus from January 2010 to December 2015 were included. Three eyes received bridge-shaped flap penetrating keratoplasty (two eyes with corneal penetrating injury due to trauma, one eye with descemet's membrane detachment) and five eyes received whole lamellar keratoplasty with corneoscleral limbal. Results: The patients (four male, one female) aged 3 to 67 years old. Three younger patients were complicated with blue sclera. The visual acuity of all the patients pre-operation were lower than 0.05. The average visual acuity after whole lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) surgery was 0.2, while the average visual acuity after bridge-shaped flap penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) was 0.5. The corneal epithelium of the three eyes received bridge-shaped flap PKP surgery was completely healed within a week with no recurrence of corneal epithelial defect. Whereas one eye after whole LKP surgery arised persistent corneal epithelial defect and healed after blepharorrhaphy. The corneal epithelial of another eye after whole LKP surgery healed slowly and was completely healed after wearing a bandage lens on corneal for 2 months. The corneal epithelial of the remaining three eyes after whole LKP surgery was completely healed within a week. Two eyes received bridge-shaped flap PKP surgery arised corneal graft rejection 2 months after operation and recovered after anti-rejection treatment. No corneal graft rejection arised in the patients receiving whole LKP surgery. Conclusions: The whole lamellar keratoplasty with corneoscleral limbal could effectively reinforce corneal, avoid corneal penetrating injury caused by minor trauma, and improve visual acuity in keratoglobus whose corneas were gradually thinning and corrected vision cannot be improved. The patients with corneal perforating injury or descemet's membrane detachment could obtain good visual prognosis receiving bridge-shaped flap penetrating keratoplasty. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55:916-922).

Prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and herpes simplex virus in Beijing, China.

The prevalence of sexually transmitted infection (STI) pathogens in Beijing, China, is rarely reported. In this study, 34 911 symptomatic outpatients with suspected genital infections who attended outpatient clinics in a tertiary care hospital were included to investigate the updated prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2016 in Beijing, China. Results indicated that a decrease trend (UU, CT, NG and HSV) in male and an increase trend (UU, CT and NG) in female were observed during the period. Patients aged 20-39 years old were mostly affected by these pathogens, while the prevalence in patients aged 20-29 years old was the highest, The prevalence of UU in male was significantly lower than in female (31.5% vs. 49.3%, P < 0.05), while the prevalence of NG in male was significantly higher than in female (2.5% vs. 0.8%, P < 0.05). In patients with co-infections, 60.6% of male and 71.4% of female were co-infected by UU + CT. In total, 11.9% and 88.1% of patients with HSV infections were confirmed to be infected by HSV-1 and HSV-2. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the current epidemiological features of UU, NG, CT and HSV among symptomatic patients attending an outpatient clinic in Beijing, China, and thus facilitate to develop more effective intervention, prevention and treatment of STI.

Is lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol associated with lower androgen and erectile dysfunction in men?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Therapeutic possibilities now exist to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to very low levels. However, substantial controversy remains in clinical practice with regard to its safety, and the question of whether low LDL-C levels per se may provoke adverse effects in humans arises. We aimed to explore the association of LDL-C with androgen and erectile dysfunction (ED) in a general population of men. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 4203 men without hormone replacement therapy were enrolled from 22 sites in East China. Total testosterone (T) and Free T were assessed. Free androgen index (FAI) was calculated. The IIEF-5 questionnaire was used to assess ED. We found that free T and FAI gradually and markedly increased with increasing LDL-C levels. Using linear regression, after adjusting for age, educational level, economic status, smoking status, drinking status, BMI, diabetes, and use of lipid-lowering medication, LDL-C was positively associated with free T (B = 0.175, 95% CI: 0.084, 0.266) and FAI (B = 0.064, 95% CI: 0.016, 0.112). Meanwhile, there was a U-shaped curvilinear relationship between LDL-C and prevalence of ED. In the logistic regression analysis, compared to those with LDL-C among the 10th-90th percentile, the ORs of ED in men in the lowest and highest deciles were 1.938 (95% CI: 1.121, 3.349) and 1.804 (95% CI: 1.117, 2.916), respectively. CONCLUSION: Lower LDL-C levels were significantly associated with lower free T and lower FAI in a general population of men. Moreover, both low and high levels of LDL-C might be risk factors for ED.

[Changes of intestinal mucosal barrier in mice with chronic ulcerative colitis].

Objective: To study the damage and mechanism of intestinal mucosal barrier function in mice with ulcerative colitis induced by Dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). Methods: Mice models of chronic ulcerative colitis induced by DSS were established. The mice were completely randomized into normal control group and DSS group, 25 mice in each group. The body weight and colon length of the mice were monitored. The pathological examination of colon tissue was confirmed the success of the model and assessed the integrity of the colonic mucosal barrier; Evan's Blue's intestinal permeability analysis assessed the function of colon mucosal barrier; immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to evaluate the expression of intestinal mucosal barrier integrity-related proteins. Results: Compared with the normal control group, the DSS group had lower body weight [(25.6±0.7)g vs (23.5±0.7)g, t=2.14, P<0.05], and the colon length was shorter [(7.3±0.4)cm vs (5.6±0.2)cm, t=3.975, P<0.001]; colonic pathological results showed that the intestinal mucosa became thinner and part of the intestinal mucosa was defective; Evan's Blue instilled into the intestinal lumen was more abundant into the intestinal mucosa, and the optical density at 620 nm (OD(620))/colon tissue weight (g) was higher [(0.11±0.01) vs (0.15±0.01), t=4.174, P<0.05]; immunofluorescence and Western blot results showed lower expression of ZO-1, Claudin-1, and F-actin in colonic mucosa. Conclusion: The structure and function of intestinal mucosal barrier in DSS-induced chronic ulcerative colitis mice is impaired.

[Study on changes of calpain and myocardial damage in rats with burn-blast combined injury].

Objective: To study myocardial damage and rules of calpain change in rats with burn-blast combined injury. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, burn group, blast group, burn-blast group, with 32 rats in each group. CONTROL GROUP: 37 degrees' warm water for 12 s; Burn group: 94 degrees' boiling water for 12 s; Blast group: 5 g cyclonite explode in 75 cm distance from left chest wall of rat; Burn-blast group: burn group and blast group combined modeling method. At 6, 24, 48, 72 h observation points after injury, abdominal aorta blood samples and myocardial specimen were collected. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular fractional shortening index (FS) were measured through color Doppler ultrasound instrument; Myocardial tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE); serum cardiac troponin I (CTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) were detected; detection of cell apoptosis in myocardial tissue was performed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP notch labeling technique (Tunel). Expression levels of calpain mRNA level and protein were detected with Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western imprinting method analysis; calpain activity was detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry. Results: The injury of burn-blast combined injured rats was obvious, including myocardial interstitial edema, large area of myocardial cell degeneration and disintegration and the number of neutrophil infiltration increased. Cardiac function decreased 24 h after injury in burn group, blast group, burn-blast group; both EF and FS were significant lower than those of control group (all P<0.05). FS at 48, 72 h and EF at 72 h in burn-blast group were significantly lower than those of burn group, blast group at the same time points (all P<0.05); the level of cTnI in burn-blast group rose and was higher than control group at all time points, higher than the burn group, blast group at 48 h (all P<0.05). CK-MB in burn-blast group rats increased after injury, lowered at 24 h and rose again at 48 h. The level was significantly higher than control group and burn group (both P<0.05). Comparing to control group, myocardial apoptosis index in burn group, blast group and burn-blast group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Those of burn group (25.3±4.0) at 24 h and (28.8±5.3) at 48 h were significantly lowered than burn-blast group (43.3±9.4), (53.3±10.4) at same time points, and burn group (31.9±6.7) at 72 h was significantly higher than blast group (17.3±6.3) (all P<0.05). Compared to control group, Calpain mRNA and protein expression in myocardial tissue were significantly increased in burn-blast group at all time points (all P<0.05). Calpain activity reached the peak at 24 h after injury, then gradually declined, and was significantly higher than control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Calpain expression and activity increase in burn-blast combined injured rats which leads to myocardial damage.

[Clinical features and treatments of retrocorneal fungal infection].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features of retrocorneal fungal infection and the therapeutic effects. Methods: This was a retrospective, noncomparative study of nine patients with retrocorneal fungal infection and an intact corneal epithelium treated at Qingdao Eye Hospital. The history, clinical features, diagnostic methods, pathogens and therapeutic effects were analyzed. Results: Five patients had a history of trauma by plant, two had a non-plant injury, and two had unidentified reasons. The duration between the initial onset and the first visit to our hospital was 7.9 months (range, 3 months to 2 years). There was endothelial plaque and sometimes with white infiltration in the deep stroma, but the corneal epithelium remained integrated, and the anterior stroma was uninfected. The patients were misdiagnosed as uveitis, herpes simplex keratitis or bacterial keratitis in the other hospitals. Visual acuity was 20/200 in four eyes, 20/60 in one eye, 20/40 in two eyes, and 20/30 in two eyes. Fungal hyphae were detected by confocal microscopy in six eyes. All the eyes had poor response to the antifungal medication before penetrating keratoplasty was performed. The smear examinations of the corneal endothelial plaque showed fungal hyphae in six eyes. Alternaria Nees, Apospory, Phialophora verrucosa, and Fusarium were identified. Conclusions: Plant injury is the most common risk factor of retrocorneal fungal infection. Slow onset and no initially obvious symptoms may lead to delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. The diagnosis can be confirmed by confocal microscopy before surgery. The effect of antifungal medication is usually poor. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:758-765).

[The observation of tacrolimus eye drops preventing the early immunological rejection after penetrating keratoplasty for fungal keratitis].

Objective: To observe the early immunological rejection prevention effect of tacrolimus eye drops combined with glucocorticoids on fungal keratitis patients who received penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods: In a retrospective case series study, medical records of fungal keratitis patients who received PKP in Shandong Eye Institute from March 2013 to December 2015 were reviewed. Twenty-six patients (26 eyes) were given tacrolimus eye drops, and 24 patients (24 eyes) were given 1% cyclosporine A eye drops immediately after PKP. Two weeks after PKP, these patients were given low concentration of glucocorticoids if no fungal recurrence was found. Immune rejection, fungal recurrence, intraocular pressure, and drug irritation symptoms were monitored. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: The average follow-up was 7 months (range, 3 to 12 months) postoperatively. The rejection rate was 15.3% in the tacrolimus group and 47.8% in the cyclosporine A group (χ(2)=5.510, P<0.05). One patient in the tacrolimus group and two patients in the cyclosporine A group suffered fungal recurrence. Two patients in the tacrolimus group and four patients in the cyclosporine A group had secondary glaucoma. The intraocular pressure was controlled. Three patients receiving tacrolimus eye drops and 13 patients receiving cyclosporine A eye drops had mild irritation symptoms. Conclusions: Tacrolimus eye drops combined with low concentration of glucocorticoids can prevent the early immunological rejection after PKP for fungalkeratitis effectively and safely. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53:305-310).

[Impact of gender and age on in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the impact of gender and age on in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study. A total of consecutive 1 102 patients with acute STEMI admitted to our hospital from January 2001 to December 2010 were recruited and clinical data were analyzed. The primary end point was in-hospital death due to any cause, and the secondary end point was in-hospital composite end point including death, re-infarction and stroke. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors of in hospital death and composite end point. Results: The study population included 283(25.7%(283/1 102)) female patients and female patients were older than male patients ((68.7±11.2)years vs. (59.2±12.5)years, P<0.001). Compared with male patients, less female patients received primary percutaneous coronary intervention (50.9%(144/283) vs. 70.9%(581/819), P<0.001), had higher rates of in hospital death(10.6%(30/283)vs. 6.0%(36/819), P<0.001) and composite endpoint(14.1%(40/283)vs. 7.0%(57/819), P<0.001). Among STEMI patients aged <60 years, no differences were found in in-hospital mortality (1.7%(1/58)vs. 1.4%(6/437)) and composite endpoint(3.6%(3/58)vs. 3.4%(15/437)) rates between female and male patients (both P>0.05). Among STEMI patients aged ≥60 years, female patients had higher in-hospital mortality (12.9%(29/225)vs. 7.9%(30/382), P<0.001), and there was no difference on composite endpoint between female and male patients (16.4%(37/225)vs. 11.0%(42/382), P=0.054). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female gender was not the independent risk factor of in-hospital death(OR=1.029, 95%CI 0.564-1.877, P=0.926) and composite end point(OR=1.593, 95%CI 0.989-2.566, P=0.055), but age was the independent risk factor of in-hospital death(OR=1.065, 95%CI 1.037-1.094, P<0.001) and composite end point(OR=1.050, 95%CI 1.029-1.071, P<0.001)in STEMI patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that female was not the independent risk factor of in-hospital death(OR=1.539, 95%CI 0.572-4.142, P=0.394) and composite end point(OR=1.563, 95%CI 0.689-3.546, P=0.285), but age was the independent risk factor of in-hospital death(OR=1.052, 95%CI 1.011-1.096, P=0.013) and composite end point(OR=1.042, 95%CI 1.008-1.077, P=0.016)in STEMI patients received primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Conclusion: Female patients with STEMI have higher incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events than male patients, and age is the independent risk factor of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events of STEMI patients.

[Value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes and analysis of false negative results].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, and to analyze the reasons of false negative results of EBUS-TBNA. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical and imaging data of 389 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA for sampling enlarged hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes from October 2009 to October 2015 in Shandong Tumor Hospital, to evaluate its significance in the diagnosis of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, and to analyze the reasons of false negative results. Results: Among the 389 collected cases, positive biopsy results were obtained in 362 cases, and false negative results in 27 cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92.9%, 100%, 100% and 25.0%, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the size of lymph node and biopsy positive rate (P=0.021). The subcarinal lymph nodes had the highest positive rate (97.7%), followed by the paratracheal lymph nodes (91.2%), with a statistically significant difference (P=0.006). The positive rates obtained by cytology (88.7%) and pathology (92.5%, ) showed no significant difference (P=0.065). The positive rate of EBUS-TBNA was not correlated with pathological types (P=0.932). Needle types (21G, 22G) had no significant effect on diagnosis accuracy (P=0.142). Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is a practical technology for diagnosis of enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes, with unique characteristics such as minimally invasiveness, local anesthesia, good safety and repeatability. Along with the accumulation of surgical experience, improvement of operative skills, more close cooperation between surgeons, cytologists and pathologists, false negative results will be reduced and positive rate of EBUS-TBNA examination will be further improved.

Gastroretentive extended-release floating granules prepared using a novel fluidized hot melt granulation (FHMG) technique.

The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of using a novel granulation technique, namely, fluidized hot melt granulation (FHMG), to prepare gastroretentive extended-release floating granules. In this study we have utilized FHMG, a solvent free process in which granulation is achieved with the aid of low melting point materials, using Compritol 888 ATO and Gelucire 50/13 as meltable binders, in place of conventional liquid binders. The physicochemical properties, morphology, floating properties, and drug release of the manufactured granules were investigated. Granules prepared by this method were spherical in shape and showed good flowability. The floating granules exhibited sustained release exceeding 10 h. Granule buoyancy (floating time and strength) and drug release properties were significantly influenced by formulation variables such as excipient type and concentration, and the physical characteristics (particle size, hydrophilicity) of the excipients. Drug release rate was increased by increasing the concentration of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and Gelucire 50/13, or by decreasing the particle size of HPC. Floating strength was improved through the incorporation of sodium bicarbonate and citric acid. Furthermore, floating strength was influenced by the concentration of HPC within the formulation. Granules prepared in this way show good physical characteristics, floating ability, and drug release properties when placed in simulated gastric fluid. Moreover, the drug release and floating properties can be controlled by modification of the ratio or physical characteristics of the excipients used in the formulation.

Comparative study between Ephedra sinica Stapf and Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis on ET-1 and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α in rats with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the effects of Ephedra sinica Stapf and Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis on angiogenesis in the treatment of bleomycin-induced rat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The rat models were created using bleomycin. The animals were divided into six groups: model, control, Ephedra alone, Schisandrae alone, combination of Ephedra and Schisandrae, and hydrocortisone alone. The treatments were administered for 28 days. After 7 and 28 days, the rats were sacrificed for pathological morphology examination, microvascular density determination, and angiogenesis-related cytokine examination. The Ephedra and hydrocortisone groups demonstrated significantly reduced alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis grades compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The number of blood vessels in the Ephedra group was higher than that in the Schisandrae and combination therapy groups. At 7 days, the expression level of endothelin (ET)-1 in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P < 0.01). The level of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) in the treatment group increased, and there were significant differences between the Ephedra group and the combination therapy and normal groups (P < 0.05). Ephedra inhibited the increase in the lung coefficient. The combination therapy prevented pulmonary artery injury and angiogenesis of the arteries by reducing the level of ET-1 and promoting the level of 6-keto-PGF1α in the blood. Ephedra and Schisandrae prevented alveolitis and the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

First Report of Fusarium equiseti Causing a Sheath Rot of Corn in China.

Corn is the most important cereal crop in China. Over 34.94 million ha of corn is cultivated in the country annually. However, fungal diseases are a major limiting factor in corn production. In August 2008, 50 ha in several corn fields in Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces were observed to be severely affected by a disease causing a yield loss of 30%. Results from field surveys suggested an epidemic during late corn growth stages that affected corn sheaths, causing irregularly circular spots with grayish brown to dark brown lesions. Lesions ranged from 2.5 to 3 × 3 to 5 cm. To isolate the causal agent, tissue was removed from the border of lesions and surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 30 sec and 0.1% HgCl2 for 1 min. The sample was then triple rinsed in sterile distilled water. The isolate was purified and subcultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25 ± 2°C. The initial color of the mycelium was white, turning brown after being cultured for 7 days. A pale brown to dark brown pigment developed in the agar beneath the colony. Chlamydospores, solitary but also in short chains, measuring 7.2 to 15.3 µm, were produced on carnation leaf agar (CLA) after 10 days and became verrucose 20 days later. Macroconidia were produced on CLA in orange sporodochia from monophialides on branched conidiophores, usually 5- to 7-septate, and apical cells were tapered and elongate. Basal cells were prominent, foot-shaped, and elongated in appearance. Microconidia were not observed (1). These morphological characteristics matched the description of Fusarium equiseti reported by Leslie and Summerell (1). A pathogenicity test was conducted with an isolate from each of the 36 corn plants by spraying 2 ml of spore suspension (106 conidia/ml) on 45-day-old corn sheaths (cv. Huang Zao). For the control treatment, 36 corn plants were sprayed with an equal volume of sterilized water. Inoculated plants were placed in a greenhouse at 32 to 34°C and 95% relative humidity. Typical irregularly circular lesions were observed 7 days after inoculation, except in the control samples. Each treatment was replicated three times. The suspected pathogen was consistently re-isolated from diseased tissue according to Koch's postulates, and was found to be morphologically similar to F. equiseti. Preliminary morphological identification of the fungus was confirmed by a PCR assay using genomic DNA extracted from the mycelia of a 7-day-old culture on PDA at 25 ± 2°C. A 750-bp amplified region of the transcription elongation factor (TEF) of rDNA was generated using TEF1 (5'-ATGGGTAAGGAGGACAAGAC-3') and TEF2 (5'-GGAAGTACCAGTGATCATGTT-3') primers. The TEF region (GenBank Accession No. KF754798) was sequenced by Sangon Biotech Co., Ltd. (Shanghai, China) and displayed 99% nucleotide similarity with the rDNA-TEF of F. equiseti (JN127347.1) separately after a BLASTn search in GenBank. Based on the symptoms, fungal morphology, TEF sequence, and pathogenicity testing, this fungus was identified as F. equiseti. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. equiseti on corn sheaths in China. This report will establish a foundation for further study of F. equiseti to address the disease effectively and to determine the severity of damage caused by F. equiseti. Reference: (1) J. F. Leslie and B. A. Summerell. The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell, Ames, IA, 2006.