Characterization of Pd/Y multilayers with B4C barrier layers using GIXR and X-ray standing wave enhanced HAXPES.

Pd/Y multilayers are high-reflectance mirrors designed to work in the 7.5-11 nm wavelength range. Samples, prepared by magnetron sputtering, are deposited with or without B4C barrier layers located at the interfaces of the Pd and Y layers to reduce interdiffusion, which is expected from calculating the mixing enthalpy of Pd and Y. Grazing-incident X-ray reflectometry is used to characterize these multilayers. B4C barrier layers are found to be effective in reducing Pd-Y interdiffusion. Details of the composition of the multilayers are revealed by hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy with X-ray standing wave effects. This consists of measuring the photoemission intensity from the samples by performing an angular scan in the region corresponding to the multilayer period and an incident photon energy according to Bragg's law. The experimental results indicate that Pd does not chemically react with B nor C at the Pd-B4C interface while Y does react at the Y-B4C interface. The formation of Y-B or Y-C chemical compounds could be the reason why the interfaces are stabilized. By comparing the experimentally obtained angular variation of the characteristic photoemission with theoretical calculations, the depth distribution of each component element can be interpreted.

Interactive effects of age and respiratory virus on severe lower respiratory infection.

We investigated risk factors for severe acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) among hospitalised children 8 months were at greater risk from influenza-associated ICU admissions and long hospital stay. Children with ADV had increased LOS across all ages. In the first 2 years of life, the effects of different viruses on ALRI severity varies with age. Our findings help to identify specific ages that would most benefit from virus-specific interventions such as vaccines and antivirals.

[Analysis of funding of projects on obstetrics and gynecology supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China from 2007 to 2016].

Objective: To summarize the funding of scientific research projects on obstetrics and gynecology by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) from 2007 to 2016 and to display the hotspots of scientific research on obstetrics and gynecology. Methods: A systemic search was performed for the information of projects supported by NSFC from 2007 to 2016. The indicators for analysis included the number of projects, total investment, project categories, research units and research field. The research direction of each project was decided based on title, summary and key words provided by the profile of each project. Results: The total investment on obstetrics and gynecology by NSFC was 23.214 million with a total of 82 projects in 2007. It increased year by year and reached the peak in 2014 (359 projects 208.990 million). The investment and number of projects remained stable after 2014. General projects (1 109 projects 608.000 million) formed the majority of projects. Youth science fund projects (1 035 projects 214.976 million) increased steadily and the number was nearly equal to general projects. There were only a small amount of key projects (20 projects 54.720 million) and major projects (7 projects 38.400 million). The investment varied in different research units. The greatest 10 units (less than 6% of total), including 7 comprehensive universities, 2 medical universities and 1 institute of medicine, got 1 113 projects invested (43.84% of total, 1 113/2 539). The hot areas like gynecological tumor (920 projects 350.615 million), hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (91 projects 37.470 million) and polycystic ovarian syndrome (77 projects 29.540 million) were more likely to receive investment, while some interdisciplinary science like maternal and child health (28 projects 12.050 million), imaging and biomedicine (37 projects 14.770 million) began to achieve attention in recent years. Conclusions: The number of researches invested will be increased for the scientific research in obstetrics and gynecology especially the areas of research focus, although the amount allocated for each will be decreased relatively. Besides, multidisciplinary work will be performed so as to develop obstetrics and gynecology of China to a high level.

Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing influenza primary care visits and hospitalisation in Auckland, New Zealand in 2015: interim estimates.

Preliminary results for influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against acute respiratory illness with circulating laboratory-confirmed influenza viruses in New Zealand from 27 April to 26 September 2015, using a case test-negative design were 36% (95% confidence interval (CI): 11-54) for general practice encounters and 50% (95% CI: 20-68) for hospitalisations. VE against hospitalised influenza A(H3N2) illnesses was moderate at 53% (95% CI: 6-76) but improved compared with previous seasons.

Interim estimates of the effectiveness of seasonal trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in preventing influenza hospitalisations and primary care visits in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2014.

We present preliminary results of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in New Zealand using a case test-negative design for 28 April to 31 August 2014. VE adjusted for age and time of admission among all ages against severe acute respiratory illness hospital presentation due to laboratory-confirmed influenza was 54% (95% CI: 19 to 74) and specifically against A(H1N1)pdm09 was 65% (95% CI:33 to 81). For influenza-confirmed primary care visits, VE was 67% (95% CI: 48 to 79) overall and 73% (95% CI: 50 to 85) against A(H1N1)pdm09.

Effect of mechanical ventilation guided by transpulmonary pressure in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mechanical ventilation guided by transpulmonary pressure in patients diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Randomized control trials of ARDS patients that received mechanical ventilation guided by transpulmonary pressure vs. mechanical ventilation guided by traditional lung protective ventilation strategies in adults were retrieved by two reviewers independently from PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, The China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang database before October 2022. The protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022307816). The primary outcome was mortality. The secondary outcomes included mechanical ventilation days, oxygenation function and ventilation parameters, hemodynamics, and cytokines level. RESULTS: Thirteen articles (819 patients) were finally included through our search strategy. The total mortality (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.85; p = 0.0006) and mechanical ventilation days (MD, -2.77; 95% CI, -4.60 - -0.94; p = 0.003) reduced when compared with the control group. Patients in the transpulmonary pressure group had higher oxygen index (MD, 40.74; 95% CI 9.81-71.68, p = 0.010) and lung compliance (MD, 7.98; 95% CI 4.55-11.41, p < 0.00001). Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was higher in the transpulmonary pressure group (MD, 5.47; 95% CI, 3.59 - 7.35; p < 0.00001). The Interlukin-6 (IL-6) level in the control group decreased obviously compared with that in the transpulmonary pressure group (SMD, -2.03; 95% CI, -3.50 - -0.56; p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation guided by transpulmonary pressure tended to have a beneficial prognosis on ARDS patients. Oxygenation and lung mechanics parameters were also improved. The clinical effect of mechanical ventilation directed by transpulmonary pressure was superior to the traditional lung protective ventilation strategies in ARDS patients.

Immunisation against inhibin enhances follicular development, oocyte maturation and superovulatory response in water buffaloes.

This study was carried out to test the feasibility of enhancing embryo production in vivo and in vitro by immunoneutralisation against inhibin or follistatin. In Experiment 1, multi-parity buffaloes were assigned into three groups: High group (n=8), which received one primary (2mg) and two booster (1mg) vaccinations (28-day intervals) with a recombinant inhibin α subunit in 1 mL of white oil adjuvant; Low group (n=8), which received half that dose; and Control group (n=7), which received only adjuvant. Immunisation against inhibin stimulated development of ovarian follicles. Following superovulation and artificial insemination, inhibin-immunised buffaloes had more developing follicles than the Control buffaloes. The average number of embryos and unfertilised ova (4.5±0.6, n=6) in the High group was higher (P<0.05) than in the Control group (2.8±0.6, n=5) and was intermediate (4.1±0.7, n=7) in the Low group. The pooled number of transferable embryos of the High and Low groups (3.2±0.5, n=13) was also higher (P<0.05) than that (1.6±0.7, n=5) of the controls. The immunised groups also had higher plasma concentrations of activin, oestradiol and progesterone. In Experiment 2, the addition of anti-inhibin or anti-follistatin antibodies into buffalo oocyte IVM maturation medium significantly improved oocyte maturation and cleavage rates following parthenogenic activation. Treatment with anti-follistatin antibody also doubled the blastocyst yield from activated embryos. These results demonstrated that immunisation against inhibin stimulated follicular development, enhanced oocyte quality and maturation competence, yielded more and better embryos both in vivo and in vitro.

Bifidobacterium as an oral delivery carrier of oxyntomodulin for obesity therapy: inhibitory effects on food intake and body weight in overweight mice.

INTRODUCTION: Oxyntomodulin (OXM) is a gut hormone released from intestinal L cell. Synthetic OXM and its analog reduce food intake and body weight in both rodents and human beings by being administered intravenously. However, people find intravenous administration difficult because of its side effects and inconvenience. The aim of this study is to develop a novel oral delivery system for OXM and its analog using genetically engineered Bifidobacterium as the carrier. METHODS: An OXM gene expression vector pBBADs-OXM for the Bifidobacterium genus was constructed. Human OXM sequence was fused with extracellular exo-xylanase (XynF) signal peptide (Xs) from Bifidobacterium longum under the control of the pBAD promoter. B. longum NCC2705 was transformed with the recombinant plasmid pBBADs-OXM by electroporation, and the transformed B. longum was selected using MRS plates containing 60 microg ml(-1) ampicillin. The OXM expression in vitro was identified by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay after L-arabinose induction. Overweight BALB/c mice were treated with B. longum transformed with OXM after 0.2% L-arabinose induction every day for 4 weeks to investigate the effects of OXM-transformed B. longum on food intake and body weight by oral administration. The B. longum transformed with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was used as negative control; orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, was used as positive control; Normal saline (NS, 0.9% saline) was used as blank control. The food intakes of each group were measured every day, and body weights were measured once a week. Normal BALB/c (2 months old) mice were treated with OXM-transformed B. longum after induction by intragastric administration every day for 6 days to reveal the mechanism of transformed B. longum, with OXM exerting its biological function by oral administration. Plasma OXM, plasma ghrelin and the OXM of intestinal contents were detected by the ELISA method. Plasma glucose and triglyceride levels were analyzed using the Automatic Biochemistry Analyzer. RESULTS: Transformed B. longum with OXM was selected and identified without biological and morphological alteration. An approximately 4-5 kDa OXM peptide was detected in both the supernatant and the cell pellet of transformed B. longum after L-arabinose induction in vitro. The food intake, body weight and blood triglyceride level of overweight mice treated with OXM-transformed B. longum were all significantly reduced compared with that of the GFP negative control group and NS control group (P<0.01). Interestingly, the plasma triglyceride level of the GFP group was significantly decreased compared with that of the NS control group (P<0.01). The OXM level in the intestinal contents of the OXM group was significantly increased compared with that of the GFP negative control group and the NS group (P<0.05). The plasma ghrelin level of the OXM group was significantly decreased compared with that of the GFP and NS groups (P<0.01). Unexpectedly, the ghrelin level of the GFP group was significantly increased compared with that of the NS control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: A novel oral delivery system of Bifidobacterium for human OXM has been successfully established. The expression of recombinant OXM can be detected in the supernatant and cell pellet of transformed B. longum. OXM-transformed B. longum reduces food intake, body weight and plasma lipid level in overweight mice by oral administration.

Transmissibility of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in New Zealand: effective reproduction number and influence of age, ethnicity and importations.

The first wave of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) has subsided in New Zealand as in other southern hemisphere countries. This study aimed to estimate the effective reproduction number (R) of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) taking into account imported cases. It also aimed to show the temporal variation of R throughout the New Zealand epidemic, changes in age- and ethnicity-specific cumulative incidence, and the effect of school holidays. Using a new modelling method to account for imported cases, we have calculated the peak R during the containment phase of the pandemic as 1.55 (95% confidence interval: 1.16 to 1.86). This value is less than previously estimated in the country early in the pandemic but in line with more recent estimates in other parts of the world. Results also indicated an increase in the proportion of notifications among school-age children after the school holiday (3-19 July 2009). This finding provides support for the potential effectiveness of timely school closures, although such disruptive interventions need to be balanced against the severity of the pandemic.

The impact of the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus on seasonal influenza A viruses in the southern hemisphere, 2009.

Data collected over winter 2009 by five World Health Organisation National Influenza Centres in the southern hemisphere were used to examine the circulation of pandemic and seasonal influenza A strains during the first pandemic wave in the southern hemisphere.There is compelling evidence that the pandemic influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus significantly displaced seasonal influenza A(H1N1) and, to a lesser extent, A(H3N2) viruses circulating in the southern hemisphere. Complete replacement of seasonal influenza A strains, however, was not observed during the first pandemic wave.

Interpreting Google flu trends data for pandemic H1N1 influenza: the New Zealand experience.

For the period of the spread of pandemic H1N1 influenza in New Zealand during 2009, we compared results from Google Flu Trends with data from existing surveillance systems. The patterns from Google Flu Trends were closely aligned with (peaking a week before and a week after) two independent national surveillance systems for influenza-like illness (ILI) cases. It was much less congruent with (delayed by three weeks) data from ILI-related calls to a national free-phone Healthline and with media coverage of pandemic influenza. Some patterns were unique to Google Flu Trends and may not have reflected the actual ILI burden in the community. Overall, Google Flu Trends appears to provide a useful free surveillance system but it should probably be seen as supplementary rather than as an alternative.

Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v viruses currently circulating in New Zealand are sensitive to oseltamivir.

New Zealand, like other southern hemisphere countries with a temperate climate, has been in the winter period with seasonal influenza activity. New Zealand has also experienced a dramatic increase in the number of cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v virus. Early reports from the northern hemisphere at the beginning of the pandemic showed that the virus was sensitive to the antiviral drug oseltamivir. In this study we report that pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v viruses currently circulating in New Zealand are sensitive to oseltamivir, but seasonal influenza A(H1N1) viruses - the co-circulating predominant seasonal strain, is resistant to oseltamivir.

Pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v in New Zealand: the experience from April to August 2009.

Following the detection of imported cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)v on 25 April 2009, New Zealand implemented containment measures that appeared to slow establishment of the pandemic during May. The pandemic accelerated markedly in June, reaching a peak within four to six weeks, and has been declining since mid-July. By 23 August there had been 3,179 recorded cases (97.8% reported as confirmed), including 972 hospitalisations, 114 intensive care admissions, and 16 deaths. Influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance in general practice suggests that 7.5% (95% CI: 3.4-11.2) of the population of New Zealand had symptomatic infection, giving a case fatality ratio of 0.005%. Hospitalisations were markedly higher for Maori (age standardised relative risk (RR)=3.0, 95% CI: 2.9-3.2) and Pacific peoples (RR=6.7, 95% CI: 6.2-7.1) compared with Europeans and others. The apparent decline of the pandemic (shown by all surveillance systems) cannot be fully explained. New Zealand remains in the middle of its traditional influenza season, the influenza A(H1N1)v virus appears relatively infectious, and we estimate that only about 11% of the population have been infected by this novel agent.

Correction: Temporal Patterns of Influenza A and B in Tropical and Temperate Countries: What Are the Lessons for Influenza Vaccination?

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152310.].

Medial plantar flap to repair defects of palm volar skin.

PURPOSE: The methods of repairing defects in fingers, volar skin of the palm and soft tissue were investigated. METHODS: From 2010 to the present, we examined 12 cases in which medial plantar skin flaps were used to repair defects in the fingers and palm. According to skin and soft tissue defects in the fingers and palm, a flap was designed using the medial plantar artery as the vessel pedicle. The flap was dissected and isolated between the abductor hallucis and flexor digitorum brevis, and transplanted to the hand. We then observed the skin colour, skin texture and tactile sensitivity of the hand, as well as the shape and function of the foot. RESULTS: Follow-up for 3-28 months showed that the flaps survived in all 12 cases, with soft skin, healthy appearance, colour consistent with the palm skin and no pigmentation. The two-point discrimination was 5-7 mm. The donor foot functioned well, and the scar at the donor site was slight and had an aesthetic appearance. CONCLUSION: The free medial plantar flap is an ideal flap for repairing soft tissue defects in the palm.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its role in oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma.

AIM: To establish the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the oncogenesis of human gastric carcinoma more directly. METHODS: The expression of VEGF and its receptor kinase-domain insert containing receptor (KDR) in human gastric cancer tissue were observed by immunohistochemical staining. VEGF levels were manipulated in human gastric cancer cell using eukaryotic expression constructs designed to express the complete VEGF(165) complimentary DNA in either the sense or antisense orientation. The biological changes of the cells were observed in which VEGF was up-regulated or down-regulated. RESULTS: VEGF-positive rate was 50%, and VEGF was mainly localized in the cytoplasm and membrane of the tumor cells, while KDR was mainly located in the membrane of vascular endothelial cells in gastric cancer tissues and peri-cancerous tissue. In 2 cases of 50 specimens, the gastric cancer cells expressed KDR, localized in both the cytoplasm and membrane. Introduction of VEGF(165) antisense into human gastric cancer cells (SGC-7901, immunofluorescence intensity, 31.6%)) resulted in a significant reduction in VEGF-specific messenger RNA and total and cell surface VEGF protein (immunofluorescence intensity, 8.9%) (P<0.05). Conversely, stable integration of VEGF(165) in the sense orientation resulted in an increase in cellular and cell surface VEGF (immunofluorescence intensity, 75.4%) (P<0.05). Lowered VEGF levels were associated with a marked decrease in the growth of nude mouse xenografted tumor (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 345.40 +/- 136.31 mm3)(P<0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group: 1534.40 +/- 362.88 mm3), whereas up-regulation of VEGF resulted in increased xenografted tumor size (at 33 days postimplantation, tumor volume: 2350.50 +/- 637.70 mm3) (P<0.05 vs control SGC-7901 group). CONCLUSION: This study provides direct evidence that VEGF plays an important role in the oncogenesis of human gastric cancer.

A preliminary report on the intervention trials of primary liver cancer in high-risk populations with nutritional supplementation of selenium in China.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium (Se) in the prevention of human primary liver cancer. Three intervention trials were conducted among the residents at high risk to primary liver cancer (PLC) in Qidong county, Jiang-su province, the People's Republic of China. This area has the second highest rate of PLC in China. One trial was undertaken among the general population in a township with supplement of table salt fortified with 15 ppm anhydrous sodium selenite (Se-salt) for 5 y and the other four townships with similar PLC incidence rate served as the controls using normal table salt. The second trial was undertaken among hepatitis B virus surface antigen carriers (HBVsAg+) receiving supplement of 200 micrograms Se in form of selenized yeast (Se-yeast) daily vs placebo for 4 y. The third trial was carried out in members of families with high PLC incidence using Se-yeast (200 micrograms of Se daily) vs placebo for 2 y. The results showed that nutritional supplement of Se could reduce the PLC incidence significantly.

Influenza antiviral resistance in the Asia-Pacific region during 2011.

Despite greater than 99% of influenza A viruses circulating in the Asia-Pacific region being resistant to the adamantane antiviral drugs in 2011, the large majority of influenza A (>97%) and B strains (∼99%) remained susceptible to the neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir and zanamivir. However, compared to the first year of the 2009 pandemic, cases of oseltamivir-resistant A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses with the H275Y neuraminidase mutation increased in 2011, primarily due to an outbreak of oseltamivir-resistant viruses that occurred in Newcastle, as reported in Hurt et al. (2011c, 2012a), where the majority of the resistant viruses were from community patients not being treated with oseltamivir. A small number of influenza B viruses with reduced oseltamivir or zanamivir susceptibility were also detected. The increased detection of neuraminidase inhibitor resistant strains circulating in the community and the detection of novel variants with reduced susceptibility are reminders that monitoring of influenza viruses is important to ensure that antiviral treatment guidelines remain appropriate.