Research Note: Antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity of geese-derived Riemerella anatipestifer isolated from eastern regions of Hebei Province, China.

Riemerella anatipestifer (R. anatipestifer) can cause serositis in multiple poultry species, resulting in significant losses. Although R. anatipestifer-caused infections in ducks have been well established, the literature about this disease in geese is rare. Here, we isolated and identified 56 strains of R. anatipestifer from the eastern regions of Hebei Province, China, and further determined their serotypes, antibiotic resistance, and pathogenicity. A total of 75 strains of causative bacteria were isolated from 70 sick geese with serositis. After Gram staining microscopy, PCR, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, 56 isolates were identified as members of R. anatipestifer and 19 as Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results of serotyping showed that there were 4 serotypes prevalent in the isolate, including serotype 1 (37/56), serotype 2 (9/56), serotype 11 (8/56), and serotype 13 (2/56). The results of antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that all 56 R. anatipestifer isolates showed varying degrees of multidrug resistance (MDR). A total of 10 antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) were determined in these isolates. Four isolates of different serotypes were selected for pathogenicity examination, and all were able to reproduce serositis-like symptoms in 15-day-old goslings, with neurological symptoms and a 100% mortality rate. Hemorrhagic congestion of the brain tissue, steatosis of the hepatocytes, and disorganization of some cardiac myofibers were observed in R. anatipestifer-infected geese. All these findings will contribute to our insights into the prevalence characteristics, antibiotic resistance profile, and pathogenicity of R. anatipestifer infection in geese in eastern Hebei Province and provide scientific guidance for the treatment and control of this disease.

Application of Muscle Thickness and Quality Measured by Ultrasound in Frailty Assessment in China.

To explore the correlation between Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP) and the muscle thickness and quality of local muscle, and to provide a reasonable basis for the application of ultrasound measurement in the frailty assessment. A total of 150 people (age ≥ 65 years, 58 women, 92 men) were included from the First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University. They were divided into Normal group (40 cases), Prefrailty group (69 cases) and Frailty group (41 cases). The thickness and the quality of local muscle were detected by ultrasound. Participants in the prefrailty group had a higher grayscale value of the vastus lateralis muscle, indicating the deterioration of muscle quality. At the frailty stage, the muscle thickness and quality of the vastus lateralis muscle and the anterior tibialis muscle decreased significantly compared with the normal and the prefrailty group. Pearson's correlation analysis also showed FFP was negatively correlated with muscle thickness and quality of the lower limbs. In multiple regression model, FFP was positively associated with gray value (Vastus lateralis muscle:ß =0.457, p < 0.001; Anterior tibialis muscle: ß = 0.220, p = 0.037) and inversely associated with muscle thickness (Vastus lateralis muscle:ß = -0.973, p = 0.031; Anterior tibialis muscle: ß = -4.551, p = 0.004) in the frailty stage. Together, FFP was closely related to muscle thickness and quality, especially vastus lateralis muscle. Moreover, Muscle quality has deteriorated in the prefrailty stage, which is earlier than muscle thickness.

The correlation of muscle thickness and pennation angle assessed by ultrasound with sarcopenia in elderly Chinese community dwellers.

Background: Sarcopenia is typically defined as the loss of muscle mass, strength and low physical performance with aging. Ultrasound is a safe and easy method for evaluating muscle mass and quality by muscle thickness (MT) and pennation angle (PA), respectively. Although the positive correlations between MT and muscle mass and handgrip strength were observed, the relationship between MT, PA and physical performance remains unclear. Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the correlation of aforementioned ultrasound parameters with muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance and explore the utility of ultrasound in predicting sarcopenia. Patients and methods: A total of 265 elderly Chinese community dwellers were included. MT of both forearm and lower leg as well as PA of gastrocnemius was assessed by ultrasound. Muscle mass was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Muscle strength was measured by a Jamar hand dynamometer. Physical performance was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Results: Anterior radial MT in men and regional MTs except posterior fibula in women were negatively correlated with the age. No significant correlation was observed between PA and the age in both genders. Posterior tibial MT and posterior fibula MT were positively correlated with the relative appendicular skeletal muscle mass in men and women, respectively. Anterior ulnar MT was positively correlated with grip strength in both genders. Moreover, gastrocnemius medialis PA showed a positive association with gait speed and SPPB in women but not in men. Conclusion: A combination of posterior fibula MT, anterior ulnar MT and gastrocnemius medialis PA measured by muscle ultrasound is helpful for the assessment of sarcopenia in Chinese elderly women. In addition, a combination of posterior tibial MT and anterior ulnar MT measured by muscle ultrasound is helpful for the assessment of sarcopenia in Chinese elderly men.

Health literacy, computer skills and quality of patient-physician communication in Chinese patients with cataract.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to assess levels of health literacy and computer skills in Chinese patients with cataract, and their impact on the doctor-patient relationship. METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional study of cataract patients scheduled for cataract extraction procedures in Guangdong Province, China. Generic health literacy was assessed using 3 established screening questions. Adequate computer skills was determined if patients had used a computer and routinely used search engines on the Internet. Socio-demographic measures (e.g., age, sex, education) were obtained from a standardized interview. Participants who indicated that they could not understand what their doctors mean were considered to have had poor patient-physician communications. RESULTS: Of the 211 participants, 92 (43.6%) had inadequate health literacy and 204 (96.7%) inadequate computer skills. In multivariate analysis, females were more likely to have inadequate health literacy (odds ratio = 2.5, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.3 to 4.7). People with inadequately health literacy were more likely to have a poor patient-physician communication (odds ratio = 3.5, 95% CIs: 1.3 to 9.0). Similar associations were found for inadequate computer skills. CONCLUSION: Chinese elderly patients with cataract have inadequate health literacy and very limited computer skills, which place them at high risk of misunderstanding and mismanaging their ocular conditions. Patient education information other than online materials may improve the eye care and outcomes of these patients.

Validation of Catquest-9SF questionnaire in a Chinese cataract population.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a Chinese version of the Catquest-9SF questionnaire in a cataract population. METHODS: The Catquest-9SF Questionnaire was translated and back translated into Chinese. Preoperative patients were recruited at a tertiary eye hospital and their demographic information and visual acuity were documented. Psychometric properties of the Catquest-9SF, including ordered thresholds, the ability to distinguish between different strata of person ability, absence of misfitting items, unidimentionality, differential item functioning (DIF) and construct validity were tested, using Rasch analysis. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients (100% response rate) were enrolled. The participants'mean age was 70.2 year (SD = 12.1) and 46.9% were female. Rasch analysis showed that this version of the questionnaire had ordered response thresholds and was free of DIF. The items fit a single overall construct and unidimensional by principal components analysis of the residuals. Patients with visual impairment had significantly poorer Rasch scores on the Catquest-9SF (mean change, -2.5, p = 0.035, compared with non-visually impaired patients). CONCLUSION: The Chinese version of Catquest-9SF is a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing the visual disability outcomes of Chinese patients with cataract, and it may be recommended for routine clinical use.

Lactate down-regulates matrix systhesis and promotes apoptosis and autophagy in rat nucleus pulposus cells.

The intervertebral disk (IVD) is avascular and anaerobic glycolysis has been recognized as the main source of energy. Due to anaerobic glycolysis, there are high levels of lactate production in disk. Previous study shows lactate concentration is elevated in the degenerated IVD. However, it is not clear how lactate causes degeneration of disks. In this study, we found that 2 mM lactate promote proliferation of NP cells, while 6 mM lactate slightly inhibit their proliferation. By detection under transmission electron microscopy, and western bolt for autophagy related protein beclin-1, LC3 and p62, we demonstrated that 6 mM lactate leads to autophagy induction of NP cells. TUNEL results showed that the apoptosis incidence was increased. High lactate concentration induced the degradation in protein expression and mRNA level of GAG content, type II collagen and slight increase of type I collagen. Based on these observations, we conclude that high lactate concentration is a pathogenic factor for IVD degeneration, and lactate metabolism may be a new therapeutic target for IVD degeneration.