Socio-economic disparities in exposure to and endorsement of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and the associations with vaccine hesitancy and vaccination.

OBJECTIVES: We examined disparities in vaccine misinformation exposure and endorsement and the associations with vaccine hesitancy and vaccination uptake. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based survey. METHODS: A population-based survey was conducted on 5,002 Hong Kong adults oversampling low socio-economic status (SES, n = 2,200). Information on exposure (13 misinformation statements, total 0-13, median = 2), endorsement (13 statements, score 0-10, high scores indicate higher levels of endorsement, median = 5.75) of misinformation, vaccine hesitancy (14 items, score 1-5), and vaccination (two doses) were collected. Multivariable regression (adjusted ß [aß]) and Poisson regression (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]) adjusting for demographic characteristics were used to examine the associations of exposure to and endorsement of misinformation with vaccine hesitancy and vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 71.8% of respondents had at least exposure to one vaccine misinformation, and 35.7% had a high level of endorsement (median or above). Respondents with lower SES had a lower exposure (≤2 statements, 57.1% vs 50.1%, P < 0.001) but a higher level of endorsement (36.6% vs 34.9%, P = 0.01) of misinformation. Overall, 72.9% had been vaccinated for two or more doses, with a lower proportion in respondents with lower SES (83.6% vs 61.1%; P < 0.001). Compared with no exposure to misinformation, high levels of exposure and endorsement were associated with vaccine hesitancy (aß = 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.40-0.48; aß = 0.50, 0.47-0.54, respectively) and lower vaccination rates (aRR = 0.98, 0.97-0.99; aRR = 0.92, 0.88-0.96, respectively). Vaccine hesitancy mediated the associations of exposure (fully, 100%) and endorsement (partially, 73%) with vaccination uptake. CONCLUSION: Endorsement of vaccine misinformation in respondents with lower SES was associated with low vaccination uptake.

[Clinical features and long-term outcomes after laparoscopic surgery in patients co-existing with ovarian endometrioma and deep infiltrating endometriosis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and long-term prognosis of patients co-existing with ovarian endometrioma (OMA) and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Methods: Totally 358 OMA patients were retrospectively analyzed, who had a minimum of 8 years follow-up after laparoscopic cystectomy, which was performed by one professional endometriosis surgery team at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to April 2013. All women were divided into DIE group and non-DIE group, and analysis was performed in preoperative characteristics, surgical findings and postoperative outcomes during follow-up. Results: A total of 358 OMA patients were included, of which 190 patients (53.1%, 190/358) were in the DIE group, while other 168 patients (46.9%, 168/358) in the non-DIE group. The average ages between the two groups were (33.7±5.4), (32.5±5.3) years (P=0.047), the average parity was (0.4±0.6) times vs (0.3±0.5) times (P=0.079). There were significant differences in the proportions of moderate to severe dysmenorrhea [67.4% (128/190) vs 56.5% (95/168)], chronic pelvic pain [24.2% (46/190) vs 7.7% (13/168)], and the increase in CA125 [79.9% (139/190) vs 65.2% (101/168)] between the two groups (all P<0.05). The average operation time in the DIE and non-DIE groups was (75±21) vs (39±36) minutes (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in adenomyosis presence between the two groups [41.6% (79/190) vs 22.0% (37/168); P=0.001]. All patients were followed up for at least 8 years. At the end of the follow-up, though the DIE group was with higher total rate of disease relapse, yet no significant difference was found between the two groups in statistical comparison [21.6% (41/190) vs 16.1% (27/168); P=0.185]. A total of 41 cases in the DIE group recurred, the recurrence rate of pain was 15.8% (30/190), and the recurrence rate of cyst was 8.4% (16/190); 27 cases had recurrence after operation in the non-DIE group, the recurrence rate of pain was 8.9% (15/168), and the recurrence rate of cyst was 10.7% (18/168). There were no significant differences in the pain recurrence rate (P=0.067) and cyst recurrence rate (P=0.460) between the two groups. As for the successfully pregnant patients, live birth rates were 100.0% (65/65) vs 94.4% (68/72) between DIE group and non-DIE groups (P=0.120). Conclusions: Compared with the non-DIE group, OMA patients with concurrent DIE might have severe pain symptoms, higher probability of abnormal CA125 levels and more severe pelvic adhesions. Although there are no significant differences in the total recurrence rate and the recurrence rate of various types between the two groups, the proportion of pain recurrence in the DIE group is higher than that in the non-DIE group. In terms of fertility outcomes, patients in the DIE group are with lower likelihood of pregnancy after surgery during the long-time follow-up. DIE has no significant influence on the fertility outcome.

[Research on ZNA probe in the quantitative detection of chlamydia trachomatis nucleic acid].

Objective: To investigate the performance of ZNA(ZIP Nucleic Acid) probes and its application in the quantitative detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT)nucleic acid. Methods: Use CT positive plasmids to compare the PCR amplification curves of ZNA probes coupled with different ZIP numbers. Compare ZNA probes with other three sets of probes [namely, 29mer ordinary Taqman probes (long-DNA probe), 20mer ordinary Taqman probes (short-DNA probe) and MGB probes] for stability in PCR amplification curves and repeated freezing and thawing, and the difference in the detection rate of low-concentration plasmids. Use CT positive clinical samples to compare the difference in amplification curves between ZNA probes, long-DNA probe, short-DNA probe and MGB probes, and the detection rate of low-concentration samples. Results: (1) The Ct value and fluorescence value of the probes coupled with 5ZIP units are both better than those coupled with a smaller number of ZIPs. And the difference is biggest when compared with only coupled with 1 ZIP unit: Ct value increased by 1.34 (sensitivity increased by 2.37 times), and fluorescence value increased by 30%. (2) The amplification efficiency of the ZNA probe coupled with 5 ZIPs is 2.14-2.64 times that of the preferred ordinary Taqman probe and MGB probe, and the fluorescence value is 17%-90% higher. (3) The probe freeze-thaw stability results show that the ZNA probe has the best stability, and the lowest concentration of Ct value has the smallest deviation (CV% = 1.4), which is better than the other three sets of probes (CV%=1.7-3.7). (4) Using 35 CT positive clinical samples to compare the PCR amplification performance, compared with other three sets of probes, the amplification sensitivity of ZNA probes was increased by 1.60, 0.99 and 1.06 times respectively. And the results of the consistency analysis of the Ct value show that compared with short-DNA probe and MGB probes, ZNA probes have better detection performance for clinical samples. (5) Use low concentration plasmid template (200, 100, 50 and 10 copies/mL respectively) to compare the amplification sensitivity of the four sets of probes, the detection rate of ZNA probe is the best. Especially, at the lowest concentration 10 copies/mL, the detection rate of the other sets of probes is only 15%-20%, but the ZNA probe is still 30%. (6) In 20 clinical samples with different low concentrations (200, 150, 100, and 50 copies/mL), the detection rate of ZNA probes was the highest, which were 100%, 95%, 90%, and 70%, respectively. Conclusions: Through testing of the amplification efficiency, fluorescence value, freeze-thaw stability, the amplification performance of clinical samples and the detection sensitivity of low-concentration samples, ZNA probes coupled with 5 ZIPs show better performance than ordinary Taqman probes and MGB probes. As a new probe technology with flexible design and easy synthesis, ZNA probe can further improve detection sensitivity of low concentration samples in the field of gene expression.

Polymorphisms in the androgen receptor CAG repeat sequence are related to tumour stage but not to ERG or androgen receptor expression in Malaysian men with prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Polymorphic expression of a CAG repeat sequence in the androgen receptor (AR) gene may influence the activity of the AR and the occurrence of prostate cancer and the TMPRSS2-ERG fusion event. Furthermore, this polymorphism may be responsible for the ethnic variation observed in prostate cancer occurrence and expression of the ERG oncogene. We investigate the expression of AR and ERG in the biopsies of Malaysian men with prostate cancer and in the same patients relate this to the length of the CAG repeat sequence in their AR gene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From a PSA screening initiative, 161 men were shown to have elevated PSA levels in their blood and underwent prostatic tissue biopsy. DNA was extracted from the blood, and exon 1 of the AR gene amplified by PCR and sequenced. The number of CAG repeat sequences were counted and compared to the immunohistochemical expression of ERG and AR in the matched tumour biopsies. RESULTS: Of men with elevated PSA, 89 were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 72 with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There was no significant difference in the length of the CAG repeat in men with prostate cancer and BPH. The CAG repeat length was not associated with; age, PSA or tumour grade, though a longer CAG repeat was associated with tumour stage. ERG and AR were expressed in 36% and 86% of the cancers, respectively. There was no significant association between CAG repeat length and ERG or AR expression. However, there was a significant inverse relationship between ERG and AR expression. In addition, a significantly great proportion of Indian men had ERG positive tumours, compared to men of Malay or Chinese descent. CONCLUSIONS: CAG repeat length is not associated with prostate cancer or expression of ERG or AR. However, ERG appears to be more common in the prostate cancers of Malaysian Indian men than in the prostate cancers of other Malaysian ethnicities and its expression in this study was inversely related to AR expression.

[Impact of antifungal therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with Candida spp. colonization in lower respiratory tract].

Objective: To explore the impact of antifungal therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with Candida spp. colonization in lower respiratory tract. Methods: In this retrospective study, patients required mechanical ventilation with pulmonary Candida spp. colonization admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) between July 2012 and June 2016 were included. The patients were divided into the treatment group and control group according to whether or not they received antifungal therapy. The isolation rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, total length of hospital stay, the 28-day mortality and the overall mortality were compared between the two groups. Results: Totally, 101 patients were studied. The number of cases in treatment group was 56 and the control group was 45. The treatment group had a lower incidence of MDR bacteria isolation rate and VAP compared with the control group (16.1% vs 33.3%, 5.4% vs 17.8% respectively, both P<0.05). There were significant differences in the duration of mechanical ventilation [(17.3±5.7) days vs (22.5±7.2) days, P<0.05], length of ICU stay [(23.3±5.6) days vs (28.7 ±4.8) days, P<0.05] and the average length of hospital stay [(36.2±8.7) days vs (43.6±9.0) days, P<0.05)] in the treatment group compared with the control group. There were no statistical difference between the two groups in the 28-day mortality and the overall mortality. Conclusion: Treatment of respiratory Candida spp. colonization in mechanically ventilated patients may reduce isolation rate of MDR bacteria, the incidence of VAP, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay and total length of hospital stay.

A new family of insect muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.

Most currently used insecticides are neurotoxic chemicals that target a limited number of sites and insect cholinergic neurotransmission is the major target. A potential target for insecticide development is the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR), which is a metabotropic G-protein-coupled receptor. Insects have A- and B-type mAChRs and the five mammalian mAChRs are close to the A-type. We isolated a cDNA (CG12796) from the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. After heterologous expression in Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells, CG12796 could be activated by acetylcholine [EC50 (half maximal effective concentration), 73 nM] and the mAChR agonist oxotremorine M (EC50 , 48.2 nM) to increase intracellular Ca(2+) levels. Thus, the new mAChR is coupled to Gq/11 but not Gs and Gi/o . The classical mAChR antagonists atropine and scopolamine N-butylbromide at 100 µM completely blocked the acetylcholine-induced responses. The orthologues of CG12796 can also be found in the genomes of other insects, but not in the genomes of the honeybee or parasitoid wasps. Knockdown of CG12796 in the central nervous system had no effect on male courtship behaviours. We suggest that CG12796 represents the first recognized member of a novel mAChR class.

[Factors associated with adherence of highly active antiretroviral therapy among 386 HIV/AIDS patients in 3 provinces of China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate adherence and the influence factors among patients who are on antiretrovirus therapy (ART) of 3 provinces in China. METHODS: This study selected 18-year-old and older AIDS patients as the survey objects who initiated anti-retrovirus therapy between April and September of 2014 and kept on the treatment for one year in Yunnan,Sichuan,and Hu'nan province. Information of demography, treatment and social support was collected by questionnaires. Adopt SSRS questionnaire to calculate the information of objective support, subjective support and utilization of social support. χ(2) test and logistic regression were performed to examine relationships between factors and adherence. RESULTS: A total of 386 patients with medication were investigated. Among them, there were 365 (94.6%) cases who were compliant to the ART, and 357 (92.5%) cases can take their pills on time, and 29 (7.5%) cases take their medication in excess of the prescribed time more than two hours. Social support score was 27.2 ± 7.3, including objective support score (5.6 ± 2.7), subjective support score (16.1 ± 4.8), and utilization of social support (5.5 ± 1.9). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that adherence was significantly associated with the correct cognition of medication (OR (95%CI): 3.24 (1.17-9.00)), the self-awareness of the drug regimen was not complexity (OR (95%CI): 9.34 (3.27-26.68)), taking medication 1 time a day (OR (95%CI): 4.00 (1.35-11.84)), and the batter utilization of social support (OR (95%CI): 1.49 (1.06-2.01)). Married/cohabiting or farmers tend to be nonadherenced, while the OR (95%CI) was 0.24 (0.08-0.67) and 0.23 (0.08-0.69), respectively. CONCLUSION: The patients among these provinces were compliant to the ART, and most of them can take their pills on time. The social support score of these patients was lower than normal person. Participants who have correct cognition of medication, thinking their drug regimen was not complexity; Taking medication 1 time a day or have high level of utilization of social support showed a significantly higher level of self-reported adherence.

[Fine needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules: a cytopathologic study of 2 043 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical value of thyroid fine needle aspiration cytology(FNAC) and the Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathology(TBSRTC). METHODS: FNAC was performed for 2 043 cases and cytopathological data were retrospectively analyzed. Cytopathological diagnoses according to TBSRTC were classified as non-diagnostic, benign, atypia of undetermined significance/follicular lesion of undetermined significance(AUS/FLUS), follicular neoplasm/suspicious for follicular neoplasm(FN/SFN), suspicious for malignancy(SM) and malignancy. The results of 234 FNAC samples in which surgery was performed were compared with the histological diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 2 043 FNAC samples, 15.7%(320/2 043)were non-diagnostic, 51.2%(1 047/2 043)were benign, 16.6%(339/2 043) were AUS/FLUS, 2.3%(46/2 043)were FN/SFN, 8.6%(176/2 043)were SM and 5.6%(115/2 043)were malignant. In 234 cases, there was follow-up histology. Rates of malignancy were as follows: non-diagnostic, 18.2%(2/11); benign(2.2%, 1/45); AUS/FLUS(25.6%, 10/29); FN/SFN(12.1%, 10/39); SM(91.8%, 56/61); malignant(100.0%, 45/45). The sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate and overall accuracy of FNAC in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules was 87.1%(101/116), 95.3%(102/107), 4.7%(5/107), 12.9%(15/116), 91.0%(203/223). CONCLUSIONS: FNAC is a reliable diagnostic method for evaluation of thyroid disease. TBSRTC is a accurate and effective reporting system for cytopathological diagnoses, so it is worthy of being widely popularized in clinical application.

Molecular authentication of Gynostemma pentaphyllum through development and application of random amplification polymorphic DNA sequence-characterized amplified region marker.

Due to the morphological similarities of aerial parts, it is difficult to distinguish Gynostemma pentaphyllum from Cayratia japonica, which is usually an adulterant of the former. To develop a reliable method for the identification and authentication of G. pentaphyllum, a combination of random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique with sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers was studied. Twenty-five samples of G. pentaphyllum and two samples of C. japonica were collected from different regions in Guangxi or bought from different provinces in China. Through the RAPD analysis, significant genetic polymorphism was observed among the intraspecies samples of G. pentaphyllum. Furthermore, a specific marker, J-750, was obtained for authentication. Therefore, the SCAR marker for G. pentaphyllum (359 bp) was developed from the RAPD amplicon. With PCR amplification using the SCAR primers, a specific band of 359 bp was distinctly visible for all tested samples of G. pentaphyllum, but was absent in the samples of C. japonica. Furthermore, the results revealed that the SCAR marker was useful for the identification and authentication of G. pentaphyllum irrespective of whether samples were fresh, dry, or of commercial origin. The SCAR marker obtained in this study successfully authenticated G. pentaphyllum through an integrated PCR system containing SCAR and control primer combinations of two pairs. In addition, it was also used for simultaneous discrimination of G. pentaphyllum from C. japonica.

Epidemiological features of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Shenzhen, China from 2008 to 2010.

This study analysed the spatio-temporal distribution and propagation of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in Shenzhen from 2008 to 2010. Specifically, we examined the epidemiological data, temporal distribution and spatial distribution, and then the relationship between meteorological, social factors and the number of reported HFMD cases was analysed using Spearman's rank correlation. Finally, a geographically weighted regression model was constructed for the number of reported HFMD cases in 2009. It was found that three independent variables, i.e. the number of reported HFMD cases in 2008 and, annual average temperature and precipitation, had different spatial impacts on the number of reported HFMD cases in 2009. In addition, these variables accounted for the propagation mechanism of HFMD in the centre and east of Shenzhen, where the high incidence rate areas are located. These results will be of great help in understanding the spatio-temporal distribution of HFMD and developing approaches to prevent this disease.

AR3 messenger ribonucleic acid expression and its functional implication in human primary testicular failure.

AR3, a major one of androgen receptor (AR) splice variants, has been shown to play a pivotal role in concert with AR signalling in prostate cancer. The present study was undertaken to characterise the expression pattern of AR3 in normal and impaired spermatogenesis. Expression of AR3 mRNA showed significantly lower level in testicular tissues with impaired spermatogenesis when compared to normal tissues. This aberrant expression profile of AR3 in human pathological testes was further confirmed by immunoblotting analysis. Moreover, in situ hybridisation studies revealed that the transcripts of the gene were dominantly localised in the pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, suggesting a potential involvement of this transcriptional regulator in the auto-/paracrine regulation of meiotic and post-meiotic differentiation. This hypothesis was strengthened by the observation that AR3 mRNA expression was positively correlated to average seminiferous tubule score and was negatively correlated to serum FSH level. To the best of our knowledge, such a distinct expression profile of AR3 has not been reported previously in human testis. Overall, our data are suggestive of a novel site of action of AR3 during human spermatogenesis and should shed light on the complicated circuit composed of AR and its splice variants.

[Phase â ¡ clinical trial of PD-1 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness and safety of programmed death 1(PD-1) inhibitory combined with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced resectable oral squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: This study was a randomized controlled phase Ⅱ trial. Patients recruited from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from July 2021 to February 2023 were randomly divided into two groups in a 1∶1 ratio: the experimental group (Toripalimab combined with albumin paclitaxel and cisplatin) and the control group (albumin paclitaxel and cisplatin); patients in both groups underwent three cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. After completion of neoadjuvant therapy, patients were evaluated and subsequent surgical treatment was performed. According to the completion of treatment, the analysis was conducted on both the full analysis set and the protocol set. The effectiveness and safety of treatments were evaluated. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 41 cases with oral cancer were enrolled, including 26 males and 15 females, aged between 34 and 74 years old. There were 23 cases in the experimental group and 18 cases in the control group. A total of 23 cases completed neoadjuvant therapy and surgery according to the protocol. Experimental group and control group showed respectively the complete response rates of 1/19 and 0/17, the partial response rates of 13/19 and 8/17, the stage-down rates of 4/19 and 3/17, the pathologic complete response rate of 8/14 and 2/9, with no statistically significant differences in individual rates between two groups (P>0.05). The major pathological response rate of 13/14 in experimental group was higher than that of 2/9 in control group (P<0.05). The incidence of grade 3-4 adverse reactions related to treatment was low in both groups (4/23 vs. 3/18, χ2=0.13, P=0.72), and the most common serious adverse reactions in the experimental group were granulocyte deficiency and electrolyte disorder. There were no adverse reactions that affected subsequent surgical treatment or caused death, and the safety and tolerability were good. The median follow-up time was 15 months, and the one-year disease-free survival rate of the experimental group was higher than that of control group (92.86% vs. 77.78%, χ2=0.62, P=0.42), with a relative decrease of 87% in the risk of disease progression or death (P=0.029). For patients with programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1) protein expression combined positive score≥20, the experimental group showed higher major pathological response rate than control group (5/5 vs. 0/4, P=0.03). Conclusion: The neoadjuvant therapy of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy can improve the pathological remission of oral squamous cell carcinoma and the long-term survival benefits and the prognosis of patients.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as treatment for acute respiratory failure and subsequent pneumothorax caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a kidney transplant recipient.

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) accompanied by pneumothorax caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is often fatal. We present our experience using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as treatment for ARF and subsequent pneumothorax caused by PJP in a kidney transplant recipient.

Genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in a Han Chinese population.

A genome-wide study has shown an association between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma. Such associations have been identified in several populations, but little is known about the Han Chinese population. We conducted a case-control study in a Han Chinese population to investigate the relationship between SNPs located on 17q21 and asthma; 241 asthmatic patients and 212 healthy controls were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Nanfang Hospital, Guangdong Province, southern China. We genotyped six SNPs (rs8067378, rs8069176, rs2305480, rs4795400, rs12603332, and rs11650680) located on 17q21 with the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform. For two of these six loci (rs2305480 and rs8067378), there was evidence of association with asthma, and there was a weak association of asthma with rs8069176. We confirm that genetic variants on 17q21 are associated with asthma in the Han Chinese population.

Effect of posture positions on the evaporative resistance and thermal insulation of clothing.

Evaporative resistance and thermal insulation of clothing are important parameters in the design and engineering of thermal environments and functional clothing. Past work on the measurement of evaporative resistance of clothing was, however, limited to the standing posture with or without body motion. Information on the evaporative resistance of clothing when the wearer is in a sedentary or supine posture and how it is related to that when the wearer is in a standing posture is lacking. This paper presents original data on the effect of postures on the evaporative resistance of clothing, thermal insulation and permeability index, based on the measurements under three postures, viz. standing, sedentary and supine, using the sweating fabric manikin-Walter. Regression models are also established to relate the evaporative resistance and thermal insulation of clothing under sedentary and supine postures to those under the standing posture. The study further shows that the apparent evaporated resistances of standing and sedentary postures measured in the non-isothermal condition are much lower than those in the isothermal condition. The apparent evaporative resistances measured using the mass loss method are generally lower than those measured using the heat loss method due to moisture absorption or condensation within clothing. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: The thermal insulation and evaporative resistance values of clothing ensembles under different postures are essential data for the ergonomics design of thermal environments (e.g. indoors or a vehicle's interior environment) and functional clothing. They are also necessary for the prediction of thermal comfort or duration of exposure in different environmental conditions.

[Application of weighted adjustments of dropout rates in sensitivity analysis of medical repeated measurements data and implementation with SAS].

Objective: To explore the application of weighted adjustments of dropout rates in sensitivity analysis of medically repeated measurements data and the implementation with SAS 9.4 software. Methods: By compiling SAS codes, mixed-effects models for repeated measures were used to conduct the covariance analysis of multivariable repeated measurements data. Meanwhile, the overall dropout rate and the dropout rates of each group were used to make weighted adjustments by applying pattern-mixture models, which was considered to be a sensitivity analysis to validate the stability of results. Results: The dropout rates of placebo group, low-dose and high-dose groups were 8.77%, 11.79% and 16.15%, respectively, the differences were significant (P=0.025). The results of mixed-effects models for repeated measures showed the differences of curative effect indicators changes from baselines of between high-dose, low-dose groups and placebo group were significant (P=0.008 and P=0.002). The results of pattern-mixture models considering weighted adjustments of the respective groups' dropout rates were consistent with those of mixed-effects models for repeated measures. Conclusions: The pattern-mixture models considering weighted adjustments of dropout rates can be used in the sensitivity analysis of repeated measurements data. The SAS codes can provide a practical basis for the popularization and application of weighted adjustments of dropout rates in the sensitivity analysis of repeated measurements data.

[Effects of Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 pathway inhibitor in skeletal muscle function in severely burned rats and its mechanism].

Objective: To observe the functional changes of skeletal muscle in severely burned rats, and to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) pathway inhibitor in skeletal muscle function. Methods: The experiment research method was applied. One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats of 8-week-old were divided into sham injury group, simple burn group, and burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group according to the random number table, with 40 rats in each group. Rats in simple burn group and burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group were inflicted with 50% total body surface area full-thickness scald on the back and abdomen, and rats in sham injury group were sham injured. Rats in burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group were intraperitoneally injected with JAK/STAT3 inhibitor ruxolitinib. On post injury day (PID) 0 (immediately), 1, 4, 7, and 14, 8 rats in each group were used to measure the specific force generated by extensor digitorum longus in optimal length stimulated with pulse frequency of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 Hz using a multichannel electrophysiological instrument, and specific force in fatigue period of extensor digitorum longus in optimal length stimulated with pulse frequency of 50 Hz for 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 s. On PID 0, 1, 4, 7, and 14, carbonyl compound content of extensor digitorum longus was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry, and ATP content of extensor digitorum longus was determined by micrometry. Data were statistically analyzed with analysis of variance for repeated measurement, analysis of variance for factorial design, Bonferroni method, and t test. Results: Compared with those of sham injury group, specific forces of extensor digitorum longus of rats in simple burn group were significantly decreased after being stimulated with all the pulse frequency on PID 0, 1, 7, and all the pulse frequency except for 20 Hz on PID 4, and pulse frequency of 20 and 40 Hz on PID 14 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with those of simple burn group, specific forces of extensor digitorum longus of rats in burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group were significantly increased after being stimulated with all the pulse frequency except for 20 Hz on PID 1 and all the pulse frequency on PID 4, 7, and 14 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with those of sham injury group, specific forces of extensor digitorum longus of rats in simple burn group were significantly decreased in fatigue period at all the time points post injury and stimulation time points except for 240 s on PID 7 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with those of simple burn group, specific forces of extensor digitorum longus of rats in burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group were obviously increased in fatigue period at all the stimulation time points except for 60 and 300 s on PID 1 and 240 s on PID 4, and all the stimulation time points on PID 7 and 14 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The carbonyl compound content of extensor digitorum longus of rats in simple burn group on PID 0, 1, 4, 7, and 14 was (0.651±0.155), (0.739±0.194), (0.618±0.086), (0.813±0.162), (0.615±0.115) nmol/mg, which were obviously higher than (0.196±0.019), (0.156±0.004), (0.169±0.023) (0.156±0.027), (0.175±0.008) nmol/mg in sham injury group (t=7.219, 6.491, 10.938, 9.182, 11.589, P<0.01) and (0.538±0.069), (0.369±0.059), (0.273±0.061), (0.334±0.109), (0.318±0.101) nmol/mg in burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group (t=2.446, 4.689, 8.355, 5.754, 6.097, P<0.05 or P<0.01). The ATP content in extensor digitorum longus of rats in simple burn group on PID 1, 4, 7, and 14 was obviously lower than that in sham injury group (t=7.159, 7.591, 7.473, 4.026, P<0.01) and burn+JAK/STAT3 inhibitor group (t=2.295, 2.575, 2.453, 2.997, P<0.05). Conclusions: After severe burn, the specific force of extensor digitorum longus in rats decreased significantly after being stimulated with different pulse frequencies, and the extensor digitorum longus in rats was prone to fatigue. Blocking the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway can reduce the oxidative stress of muscle protein and increase ATP content, thereby reducing the muscle strength decline caused by burn injury and improving the muscle strength decline during fatigue period.

"Skin-like" fabric for personal moisture management.

Personal moisture management fabrics that facilitate sweat transport away from the skin are highly desirable for wearer's comfort and performance. Here, we demonstrate a "skin-like" directional liquid transport fabric, which enables continuous one-way liquid flow through spatially distributed channels acting like "sweating glands" yet repels external liquid contaminants. The water transmission rate can be 15 times greater than that of best commercial breathable fabrics. This exceptional property is achieved by creating gradient wettability channels across a predominantly superhydrophobic substrate. The flow directionality is explained by the Gibbs pinning criterion. The permeability, mechanical property, and abrasion resistance (up to 10,000 cycles) of the fabric were not affected by the treatment. In addition to functional clothing, this concept can be extended for developing materials for oil-water separation, wound dressing, geotechnical engineering, flexible microfluidics, and fuel cell membranes.

[Repair of skin and soft tissue defects in shoulder and elbow with rotator scapular artery perforator flap, lateral thoracic perforator flap, or medial brachial artery perforator flap].

From January 2014 to June 2018, 12 patients with skin and soft tissue defects in shoulder and elbow were admitted to General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University with skin and soft tissue defect size of 6 cm×5 cm to 11 cm×8 cm, including 9 males and 3 females aged 15-56 years. Wounds of 5 patients were repaired with rotator scapular artery perforator flap (flap area of 8 cm×7 cm to 12 cm×6 cm), and the donor flap area was sutured directly. Wounds of 3 patients were repaired with lateral thoracic perforator flap (flap area of 8 cm×7 cm to 13 cm×9 cm). The donor flap area of two patients was sutured directly, the majority of the donor flap area of one patient was sutured directly, and a small part was covered by split-thickness skin graft from ipsilateral thigh. Wounds of 4 patients were repaired with medial brachial artery perforator flap (flap area of 6 cm×5 cm to 12 cm×10 cm). The donor flap area of two patients was sutured directly, and two patients were covered with split-thickness skin graft from left chest wall. The flaps of 11 patients survived after surgery. Blood flow disorder at the distal end of the flap was observed in one patient. After treatment, the distal end of the flap presented 3 cm×2 cm necrosis, and the skin graft survived after second skin grafting and debridement. During the follow-up of 6 to 24 months post surgery, all patients had good texture of flap, with light scar hyperplasia in the donor flap area, and good recovery of elbow and shoulder joint function. The rotator scapular artery perforator flap, lateral thoracic perforator flap, and medial brachial artery perforator flap with the advantages being of relatively simple operation, high survival rate, and good surgical outcome, are good choices for repairing the skin and soft tissue defects in shoulder and elbow.