Analysis of sterilizer allocation and related factors in dental health-care settings in Yunnan Province, China: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status and related factors of sterilizers in dental health-care settings in Yunnan Province, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for the health administrative department to formulate regional quality control programs and systems, proposing reasonable suggestions for optimizing the allocation of sterilizer resources in Yunnan's dental health-care settings, thereby improving resource utilization efficiency. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2600 dental health-care settings in Yunnan Province in March 2020. Uni-variable linear regression, multi-variable linear regression, curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to understand the relationship between dental units and sterilizers. RESULTS: A total of 2600 dental health-care settings were included. The disinfection and sterilization work were mainly completed by the dental department in 1510(58.1%) institutions. 44(1.7%) institutions were not allocated sterilization equipment, and 1632 (62.8%) had only one sterilizer. The median allocation of sterilizers was 1.0. Uni-variable linear regression showed significant differences in covariates such as dental unit, dental handpiece, disinfection equipment, dentist, and dental assistant, which were more sensitive (p < 0.001) and statistically significant. The adjusted model was more stable in the multi-variable linear regression, and the differences in covariates between different settings were statistically significant. Curve fitting revealed an S-shaped curvilinear relationship between the number of dental units and sterilizers in oral healthcare settings. CONCLUSION: The disinfection and sterilization work was mainly completed by the dental department in dental health-care settings in Yunnan Province. Sterilizer allocation increases with the number of dental units, but some institutions have insufficient allocation of sterilizer and manpower resources, resulting in certain risks of infection control. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen supervision, inspection and regional quality control work in infection control of dentistry.

[Distribution of vitamin K_2 content in Chinese traditional fermented soybean products].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the content of vitamin K_2 in different types of fermented bean products and analyze the difference of vitamin K_(2 )content. METHODS: A total of 98 kinds of typical fermented bean products were included in Chinese traditional fermented bean products(Douchi, Sufu, soybean paste). Process, region, sales volume, raw materials and flavor were considered, and the content of vitamin K_2 in fermented bean products was determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Chinese bean fermented foods generally contained vitamin K_2, and the subtype menaquinone-7(MK-7)was the main one. The content of vitamin K_2 in Douchi was the highest(437.55 µg/100 g), the content of vitamin K_2 in Sufu and Soybean paste were lower(7.48 µg/100 g and 2.47 µg/100 g). The content of vitamin K_2 in bacterial Douchi was higher than that in Mucor type and Aspergillus oryzae type which were 403.94, 232.98 and 81.00 µg/100 g(P<0.05). Soybean type Douchi was higher than that in black bean type of Douchi which were 610.41, 178.08 µg/100 g(P<0.05), and the content of vitamin K_2 in dry Douchi was higher than the content of vitamin K_2 in water Douchi which were 1 517.45 µg/100 g, 297.58 µg/100 g(P<0.05). However, there were no significant difference in the content of vitamin K_2 in Soybean paste and Sufu in different types and regions(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin K_2 is widely contained in Chinese fermented bean products, and its content is mainly affected by fermentation microorganisms and processing technology.

Creating a Learning Culture for Medical Consortia in China.

In China's recent health care reforms, both individuals and organizations have shown an ever-growing desire and demand for new knowledge and skills. A health care delivery system (HCDS) should explore new ways for creating a learning organization (LO) and should organically combine HCDS culture construction with the LO construction to build a cultural atmosphere that is conducive to the development of the LO. This article describes the implementation phase, characteristics, and realization strategy of an HCDS construction for the ultimate purpose of enhancing HCDS cohesion, solidarity, and sustainable development.

The photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal protonated Schiff base in gas phase: insight from spin-flip density functional theory.

This extensive theoretical study employed the spin-flip density functional theory (SFDFT) method to investigate the photoisomerization of 11-cis-retinal protonated Schiff base (PSB11) and its minimal model tZt-penta-3,5-dieniminium cation (PSB3). Our calculated results indicate that SFDFT can perform very well in describing the ground- and excited-state geometries of PSB3 and PSB11. We located the conical intersection (CI) point and constructed the photoisomerization reaction path of PSB3 and PSB11 by using the SFDFT method. To further verify the SFDFT results, we computed the energy profiles along the constructed linearly interpolated internal coordinate (LIIC) pathways by using high-level theoretical methods, such as the EOM-CCSD, CR-EOM-CCSD(T), CASPT2, NEVPT2, and XMCQDPT2 methods. The SFDFT method predicts that the photoisomerization of PSB3 is barrierless, in accordance with previous complete-active-space self-consistent-field (CASSCF) results. However, an energy barrier is predicted along the LIIC pathways of PSB11. This finding is different from previous CASSCF results and may indicate that the photoisomerization of PSB11 in gas phase is similar to that in solution. However, the higher spin contamination of the SFDFT method in the vicinity of the CI point caused the located CI geometry to deviate from that of the real CI. In addition, the LIIC pathways are only approximations to the minimum energy path (MEP). Thus, further experimental and theoretical studies are needed to verify the existence of an energy barrier along the photoisomerization reaction path of PSB11 in gas phase.

Progress in mechanism-based diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis comorbid with tumor.

Tuberculosis (TB) and tumor, with similarities in immune response and pathogenesis, are diseases that are prone to produce autoimmune stress response to the host immune system. With a symbiotic relationship between the two, TB can facilitate the occurrence and development of tumors, while tumor causes TB reactivation. In this review, we systematically sorted out the incidence trends and influencing factors of TB and tumor, focusing on the potential pathogenesis of TB and tumor, to provide a pathway for the co-pathogenesis of TB comorbid with tumor (TCWT). Based on this, we summarized the latest progress in the diagnosis and treatment of TCWT, and provided ideas for further exploration of clinical trials and new drug development of TCWT.

Research on Hot Deformation Rheological Stress of Al-Mg-Si-Mn-Sc Aluminium Alloy.

The hot compression simulation testing machine was utilized to conduct compression experiments on an Al-Mg-Si-Mn alloy containing the rare earth element Sc at a deformation temperature ranging from 450 to 550 °C and a strain rate of 0.01 to 10 s-1. The study focused on the hot deformation behavior of the aluminum alloy, resulting in the determination of the optimal range of deformation process parameters for the alloy. The relationship between material flow stress, deformation temperature, and strain rate was described using the Arrhenius relationship containing thermal activation energy based on the stress-strain curve of hot compression deformation of aluminum alloy. This led to calculations for structural factor A, stress index n, and stress level parameters as well as thermal deformation activation energy to establish a constitutive Formula for hot deformation rheological stress of aluminum alloy and calculate the power dissipation factor η. Through this process, an optimized range for the optimal deformation process parameter for aluminum alloy was determined (deformation temperature: 490~510 °C; strain rate: 0.05 s-1) and verified in combination with mechanical properties and microstructure through hot extrusion deformation trial production.

The management of acetabular malunion with traumatic arthritis by total hip arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the treatment strategies and clinical effect of the acetabular malunion with traumatic arthritis by total hip arthroplasty. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 47 cases of acetabular malunion with traumatic arthritis from June 2000 to December 2009. All the patients underwent total hip arthroplasty with bone grafting or titanium cage for bone defect of the acetabulum. Harris hip scoring system was used for evaluating the functional recovery of the hip joint. RESULTS: Thirty three cases had an average of 47 months follow-up. No prosthesis was loosened and the function of hip joint was improved obviously with the Harris hip scores improving from 43.5 to 87.6. However, there were one case of sciatic nerve injury and four cases of heterotopic ossification postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Total hip arthroplasty might be an effective treatment of acetabular malunion with traumatic arthritis. Proper evaluation and reasonable reconstruction of acetabular defect as well as reasonable selection of prosthesis are essential to obtain an excellent outcome.

The invalidity of the photo-induced electron transfer mechanism for fluorescein derivatives.

The ground and excited state geometries, the excitation and emission energies for a series of fluorescein derivatives in aqueous solutions have been investigated using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) with B3LYP and a long-range corrected CAM-B3LYP functional. The RI-CC2 method was employed to confirm the CAM-B3LYP results. As far as we know, the excited state geometries for a series of fluorescein derivatives were optimized for the first time, and the conformational changes upon photoexcitation were discussed. Importantly, the previous proposed photo induced electron transfer (PeT) mechanism for dictating the fluorescence quantum yield (Φ(fl)) of fluorescein derivatives was not fully supported by our calculations. Internal conversion may still be the most likely mechanism for dictating the Φ(fl) of fluorescein derivatives, which indicates a need for further experimental and theoretical studies on the excited state dynamics of fluorescein derivatives.

Exact quantum scattering study of the H + HS reaction on a new ab initio potential energy surface H2S (3A").

We present an exact quantum dynamical study and quasi-classical trajectory (QCT) calculations for the exchange and abstraction processes for the H + HS reaction. These calculations were based on a newly constructed high-quality potential energy surface for the lowest triplet state of H(2)S ((3)A"). The ab initio single-point energies were computed using complete active space self-consistent field and multi-reference configuration interaction method with a basis set of aug-cc-pV5Z. The time-dependent wave packet (TDWP) method was used to calculate the total reaction probabilities and integral cross sections over the collision energy (E(col)) range of 0.0-2.0 eV for the reactant HS initially at the ground state and the first vibrationally excited state. It was found that the initial vibrational excitation of HS enhances both abstraction and exchange processes. In addition, a good agreement is found between QCT and TDWP reaction probabilities at the total momentum J = 0 as a function of collision energy for the H + HS (v = 0, j = 0) reaction.

Quantum dynamical study of the electronic nonadiabaticity in the D + DBr → Br(Br*) + D2 reaction on new diabatic potential energy surfaces.

A set of diabatic potential energy surfaces, that describe the D + DBr → Br(P(1/2,3/2)) + D(2) reaction, is constructed based on MRCI/aug-cc-pV5Z calculations at 29,526 grid points. Time-dependent wave packet calculations are performed for ground-state DBr initially with collision energies up to 2.0 eV to investigate possible electronic nonadiabaticity in this reaction. Reaction probabilities and integral cross sections are calculated. The results show negligible nonadiabatic effects for the title reaction in the energy range considered here, confirming experimental work of Zare and co-workers. In addition, the calculated thermal rate constants are in good agreement with experimental ones.

Dissociation and ionization competing processes for H2+ in intense laser field: which one is larger?

Competition between dissociation and ionization of H(2)(+) in intense laser field has been investigated by using an accurate three-dimensional time-dependent wavepacket approach. The disagreement between the experiment and the former one-dimensional theory has been resolved. In a comparison of the calculated results with the available experimental data, a good agreement is reached, not only for the relative probabilities between dissociation and ionization but also for the two-peak structures and the peak energy locations for these two processes.

Racial/ethnic variation in prevalence estimates for United States prediabetes under alternative 2010 American Diabetes Association criteria: 1988-2008.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the racial/ethnic variation in United States prediabetes prevalence estimates for alternative prediabetes definitions currently approved by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) across 20 years and in detailed multivariate comparisons. DESIGN: Using nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1988-2008, we compared trends in the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glycated hemoglobin (IGH) for non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic White, and Mexican American/other Hispanic adults. Using NHANES 2005-2008, we compared prevalence by race/ethnicity in more detail for the three current ADA prediabetes definitions--IFG, IGH, and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)--controlling for associated factors (education, income, weight, age, sex). RESULTS: Prediabetes prevalence during the last 20 years was consistently significantly lower among non-Hispanic Blacks compared to non-Hispanic Whites when measured by IFG, but was significantly higher among non-Hispanic Blacks when measured by IGH. In adjusted models, non-Hispanic Blacks were significantly more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to have IGH (OR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.33-3.70) and less likely to have IFG (OR: 0.46; 0.30-0.73) or IGT (OR: 0.35; 0.24-0.50), but Mexican American/other Hispanic rates did not differ significantly from non-Hispanic White rates. However, rates of prediabetes, when defined by any of three individual diagnostic criteria, were not statistically significantly different across groups (36.8% for non-Hispanic Whites, 36.0% AA, 37.3% Mexican American/other Hispanics). CONCLUSIONS: National prediabetes prevalence estimates vary dramatically across racial/ethnic groups according to diagnostic method, though over 35% in all three racial/ethnic groups met at least one ADA diagnostic criteria for prediabetes.

A TD-DFT study on the cyanide-chemosensing mechanism of 8-formyl-7-hydroxycoumarin.

Proton transfer (PT) and excited-state PT process are proposed to account for the fluorescent sensing mechanism of a cyanide chemosensor, 8-formyl-7-hydroxycoumarin. The time-dependent density functional theory method has been applied to investigate the ground and the first singlet excited electronic states of this chemosensor as well as its nucleophilic addition product with cyanide, with a view to monitoring their geometries and spectrophotometrical properties. The present theoretical study indicates that phenol proton of the chemosensor transfers to the formyl group along the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the first singlet excited state. Correspondingly, the nucleophilic addition product undergoes a PT process in the ground state, and shows a similar structure in the first singlet excited state. This could explain the observed strong fluorescence upon the addition of the cyanide anion in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism.

Formation of hydroxyl radical from the photolysis of salicylic acid.

Photodissociation dynamics of salicylic acid (SA) in the gas phase at different photolysis wavelengths (266, 315-317 nm) is investigated by probing the nascent OH photoproduct employing the single-photon laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. At all the photolysis wavelengths it is found that the nascent OH radicals are produced mostly in a vibrationally ground state (υ'' = 0) and have similar rotational state distributions. The two spin-orbit and Λ-doublet states of the OH fragment formed in the dissociation are measured to have a nonstatistical distribution at each photolysis wavelength. The LIF signal of the OH could be observed upon photolysis at 317 nm but not at 317.5 nm. The threshold of OH formation from SA photodissociation is estimated to be 98.2 ± 0.9 kcal/mol. The effect of the phenolic OH group on the dissociation of SA is discussed.

Glycyrrhizic Acid: A Natural Plant Ingredient as a Drug Candidate to Treat COVID-19.

The total number of cumulative cases and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 is still increasing worldwide. Although many countries have actively implemented vaccination strategies to curb the epidemic, there is no specific efficient therapeutic drug for this virus to effectively reduce deaths. Therefore, the underappreciated macromolecular compounds have become the spotlight of research. Furthermore, the medicinal compounds in plants that provide myriad possibilities to treat human diseases have become of utmost importance. Experience indicates that Traditional Chinese medicine effectively treats SARS and has been used for treating patients with COVID-19 in China. As one of the world's oldest herbal remedies, licorice is used for treating patients with all stages of COVID-19. Glycyrrhizic acid (GA), the main active compound in licorice, has been proven effective in killing the SARS virus. Meanwhile, as a natural plant molecule, GA can also directly target important protein structures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized the immune synergy of GA and its potential role in treating COVID-19 complications. Besides, we reviewed its anti-inflammatory effects on the immune system and its positive effects in cooperation with various drugs to fight against COVID-19 and its comorbidities. The purpose of this review is to elucidate and suggest that GA can be used as a potential drug during COVID-19 treatment.

Stem Cell Therapy in Dengue Virus-Infected BALB/C Mice Improves Hepatic Injury.

Extensive clinical efforts have been made to control the severity of dengue diseases; however, the dengue morbidity and mortality have not declined. Dengue virus (DENV) can infect and cause systemic damage in many organs, resulting in organ failure. Here, we present a novel report showing a tailored stem-cell-based therapy that can aid in viral clearance and rescue liver cells from further damage during dengue infection. We administered a combination of hematopoietic stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells in a DENV-infected BALB/c mouse model and found that delivery of this cell cocktail had improved their liver functions, confirmed by hematology, histopathology, and next-generation sequencing. These stem and progenitor cells can differentiate into target cells and repair the damaged tissues. In addition, the regime can regulate endothelial proliferation and permeability, modulate inflammatory reactions, enhance extracellular matrix production and angiogenesis, and secrete an array of growth factors to create an enhanced milieu for cell reparation. No previous study has been published on the treatment of dengue infection using stem cells combination. In conclusion, dengue-induced liver damage was rescued by administration of stem cell therapy, with less apoptosis and improved repair and regeneration in the dengue mouse model.

Corrigendum: Stem Cell Therapy in Dengue Virus-Infected BALB/C Mice Improves Hepatic Injury.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.637270.].

TD-DFT study on the sensing mechanism of a fluorescent chemosensor for fluoride: excited-state proton transfer.

An excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process, induced by both intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions, is proposed to account for the fluorescence sensing mechanism of a fluoride chemosensor, phenyl-1H-anthra(1,2-d)imidazole-6,11-dione. The time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) method has been applied to investigate the different electronic states. The present theoretical study of this chemosensor, as well as its anion and fluoride complex, has been conducted with a view to monitoring its structural and photophysical properties. The proton of the chemosensor can shift to fluoride in the ground state but transfers from the proton donor (NH group) to a proton acceptor (neighboring carbonyl group) in the first singlet excited state. This may explain the observed red shifts in the fluorescence spectra in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism.

Exact quantum scattering study of the Ne+H(2) (+) reaction on a new ab initio potential energy surface.

We present a new potential energy surface (PES) for the ground state (1(2)A(')) of the chemical reaction Ne+H(2) (+) from a set of accurate ab initio data, which were computed using highly correlated complete active space self-consistent field and multireference configuration interaction wave functions with a basis set of aug-cc-pV5Z. The quantum reactive scattering dynamics calculation was carried out over the collision energy (E(col)) range of 0.5-1.5 eV based on the new PES. In this work we have taken the Coriolis coupling (CC) effect into account. The importance of including the CC quantum scattering calculation has been revealed by the comparison between the CC and the centrifugal sudden approximation calculation. The magnitude and profile of the CC total cross sections for v=0 and j=1 over the collision energy range of 0.5-1.5 eV are found to be in good agreement with the available experimental measurements obtained recently by Zhang et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 119, 10175 (2003)] after taking into account the experimental uncertainties.

A new public health tool for risk assessment of abnormal glucose levels.

INTRODUCTION: Self-reported prediabetes and diabetes rates underestimate true prevalence, but mass laboratory screening is generally impractical for risk assessment and surveillance. We developed the Abnormal Glucose Risk Assessment-6 (AGRA-6) tool to address this problem. METHODS: Self-report data were obtained from the 1,887 adults (18 years or older) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2006 with fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance tests. We created AGRA-6 models by using logistic regression. Performance was validated with NHANES 2005-2006 data by using leave-1-out cross-validation. Standard performance characteristics (sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, area under receiver-operating characteristic curves) were assessed, as was the potential efficiency of the models to reduce laboratory testing in screening efforts. RESULTS: Performance was good for all models under testing conditions. Use of the AGRA-6 in screening efforts could reduce laboratory testing by at least 30% when sensitivity is maximized and at least 52% when sensitivity and specificity are balanced. CONCLUSION: The AGRA-6 appears to be an effective, feasible tool that uses self-reported data compatible with the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess population-level prevalence, identify abnormal glucose levels, optimize screening efforts, and focus interventions to reduce the prevalence of abnormal glucose levels.