Limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator in treatment of peri-elbow bone infection / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effectiveness of limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator in the treatment of peri-elbow bone infection.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 19 patients with peri-elbow bone infection treated with limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator between May 2018 and May 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 males and 4 females with an average age of 44.6 years (range, 28-61 years). There were 13 cases of distal humerus fractures and 6 cases of proximal ulna fractures. All the 19 cases were infected after internal fixation of fracture, and 2 cases were complicated with radial nerve injury. According to Cierny-Mader anatomical classification, 11 cases were type Ⅱ, 6 cases were type Ⅲ, and 2 cases were type Ⅳ. The duration of bone infection was 1-3 years. After primary debridement, the bone defect was (3.04±0.28) cm, and the antibiotic bone cement was implanted into the defect area, and the external fixator was installed; 3 cases were repaired with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, and 2 cases were repaired with lateral brachial fascial flap. Bone defects repair and reconstruction were performed after 6-8 weeks of infection control. The wound healing was observed, and white blood cell (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reaction protein (CRP) were reexamined regularly after operation to evaluate the infection control. X-ray films of the affected limb were taken regularly after operation to observe the bone healing in the defect area. At last follow-up, the flexion and extension range of motion and the total range of motion of the elbow joint were observed and recorded, and compared with those before operation, and the function of the elbow joint was evaluated by Mayo score.@*RESULTS@#All patients were followed up 12-34 months (mean, 26.2 months). The wounds healed in 5 cases after skin flap repair. Two cases of recurrent infection were effectively controlled by debridement again and replacement of antibiotic bone cement. The infection control rate was 89.47% (17/19) in the first stage. Two patients with radial nerve injury had poor muscle strength of the affected limb, and the muscle strength of the affected limb recovered from grade Ⅲ to about grade Ⅳ after rehabilitation exercise. During the follow-up period, there was no complication such as incision ulceration, exudation, bone nonunion, infection recurrence, or infection in the bone harvesting area. Bone healing time ranged from 16 to 37 weeks, with an average of 24.2 weeks. WBC, ESR, CRP, PCT, and elbow flexion, extension, and total range of motions significantly improved at last follow-up ( P<0.05). According to Mayo elbow scoring system, the results were excellent in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 89.47%.@*CONCLUSION@#Limited internal fixation combined with a hinged external fixator in the treatment of the peri-elbow bone infection can effectively control infection and restore the function of the elbow joint.

One-step multiplex nested real-time RT-PCR assay for 2019-nCoV and Influenza A/B viruses detection / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective:To develop a single-tube one-step multiplex nested real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for the simultaneous detection of 2019-nCoV, influenza A virus, influenza B virus and internal-control with human-derived gene.Methods:This study included 30 positive specimens for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid detection and 336 screening specimens collected from the arrivals at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport between February 2020 and February 2022. Sixty-four positive specimens of other respiratory pathogens were also collected from the arrivals at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport during the three-year period before the occurrence of COVID19 outbreak in 2020, and 7 positive viral strains of respiratory pathogens were provided by collaborative laboratories. In order to establish a set of multiplex nested real-time RT-PCR assay, a group of primers and probe combinations for a multiplex nested real-time RT-PCR was designed and screened according to a selection of nucleotide conserved regions of the ORF and N genes of 2019-nCoV and the M gene of influenza A and B viruses, while nested amplification primers and probe for the internal-control with human-derived gene were introduced. Then the prepared pseudovirus-positive quality control and sample discs were applied to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity. Clinical specimens were performed to validate the applicability of the method.Results:The results show that the established one-step multiplex nested real-time RT-PCR assay can specifically detect 2019-nCoV and influenza A and B viruses, with the limit-of-detection of about 125 copies/ml for 2019-nCoV and about 250 copies/ml for influenza A and B viruses. Totally 101 positive samples of various respiratory pathogens were detected, showing that the detection sensitivities of 2019-nCoV and influenza A and B viruses were 96.67%, 92.86% and 96.15%, respectively, with the specificity of 100%. No false-positive detection was found in the applied detection of more than 300 clinical samples.Conclusions:A one-step multiplex nested real-time RT-PCR assay for 2019-nCoV, influenza A and B viruses and human-derived gene internal-control was developed. The assay has good sensitivity and specificity and can be used for rapid screening of 2019-nCoV and influenza A and B viruses in high-volume samples.

Lianhuaqingwen exerts anti-viral and anti-inflammatory activity against novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

PURPOSE: Lianhuaqingwen (LH) as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula has been used to treat influenza and exerted broad-spectrum antiviral effects on a series of influenza viruses and immune regulatory effects Ding et al. (2017). The goal of this study is to demonstrate the antiviral activity of LH against the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and its potential effect in regulating host immune response. METHODS: The antiviral activity of LH against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed in Vero E6 cells using CPE and plaque reduction assay. The effect of LH on virion morphology was visualized under transmission electron microscope. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression levels upon SARS-CoV-2 infection in Huh-7 cells were measured by real-time quantitative PCR assays. RESULTS: LH significantly inhibited SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells and markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, CCL-2/MCP-1 and CXCL-10/IP-10) production at the mRNA levels. Furthermore, LH treatment resulted in abnormal particle morphology of virion in cells. CONCLUSIONS: LH significantly inhibits the SARS-COV-2 replication, affects virus morphology and exerts anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. These findings indicate that LH protects against the virus attack, making its use a novel strategy for controlling the COVID-19 disease.

Laboratory diagnosis of the first imported case of Zika virus infection from Suriname into Guangdong,China / 中国人兽共患病学报

We detected Zika virus (ZIKV) in a febrile case returning from Suriname and entry China from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Port.Serum and saliva samples were collected from a suspected case returning from Suriname.We detected ZIKV RNA using real-time fluorescence RT-PCR methods by both in-house reagent and commercial detection kits.RT-PCR detection was carried out with saliva sample and sequence analysis was performed.Phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze the source of imported cases.Real-time fluorescent RT-PCR result showed that saliva was detected ZIKV RNA positive while for serum was weakly positive.A specific 1 500 bp fragment in size was amplified with saliva sample by RT-PCR.Sequence analysis showed 99％ homologous to the corresponding sequence of Brazil ZIKV (GenBank No.KX197250).Phylogenetic tree indicated it was located on African lineage.According to the epidemiological investigation results,clinical manifestations and nucleic acid detection of case,the suspected case was confirmed to infect Zika virus,being the first case from Suriname into Guangdong Province.

The life cycle of SARS coronavirus in Vero E6 cells.

The aim of the study was to establish the life cycle of severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS CoV) in host cells and determine the pathogenesis of SARS. Vero E6 cells (African green monkey kidney cells) were inoculated with SARS coronavirus for 3, 7, 24, 48, and 72 hr, respectively, and were observed under electron microscope. It was found that the SARS coronavirus entered the cells through membrane fusion instead of endocytosis, and then the nucleocapsids assembled in the RER and matured by budding into the smooth vesicles, which were derived from the Golgi apparatus. The smooth vesicles fused with the cell membrane, and the mature particles were released. A special phenomenon was that some virus-like particles appeared in the nucleus. We propose a scheme of the life cycle of SARS coronavirus and discuss the mechanism of its replication in Vero E6 cells.

Laboratory detection on severe acute respiratory syndrome / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To provide scientific evidence to identify and confirm severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by laboratory detection.Methods Multiple clinical specimens were collected serially and systematically from the 4 suspected SARS patients, which occurred between Dec.2003 to Jan.2004 in Guangdong Province. The samples were tested by serologic and molecular methods.Results IgM or IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV were detectable after 6—8 days of the onset in four patients. The four-fold or greater rising in antibodies was clearly detected in three of the four patients, while the fourth patient’s seroconversion was from negative to positive. The results analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA), immunoflourescence assay (IFA), and neutralization test were highly correlated. SARS-CoV RNA was just detected in 3 throat swab specimens from case 1 by real-time PCR. M, N and S genes were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from the positive samples. Sequencing results showed that they were SARS-CoV gene segments, and most closely matched SARS-CoV gene sequences were isolated from civet cats in Guangdong Province. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV was not isolated from any samples of the 4 patients.Conclusion Based on these results, the 4 reported cases were laboratorily confirmed as SARS cases.

Observation on Microbiological Pollution and Disinfective Effectiveness in Drinking Water Dispensers / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To understand the microbiological pollution of drinking water dispensers and find out the effective disinfection method for dispensers. Methods The counts of bacteria, fungi and yeast in water samples collected from the water stored in liners of 52 drinking water dispensers were determined. The total counts of bacteria in water samples of 8 water dispensers were determined before and after disinfection by 1/10 YOUJIE disinfectant for 2 min. Results The medians and over standard rates were 440 cfu/ml and 96.15% for the total count of bacteria, 0 and 30.77% for fungi and yeast in the water samples before disinfection respectively. After 2_min disinfection by 1/10 YOUJIE disinfectant, 5 of 8 drinking water dispensers showed bactericidal rates of 100% and other 3 water dispensers showed bactericidal rates of 99.56%, 99.77% and 99.78% respectively. Bacillus was found in some unkilled bacteria. Conclusion Microbiological pollution in water stored in liners of drinking water dispensers was high, which could be effectively eliminated and disinfected by 1/10 YOUJIE disinfectant for 2 min.