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Among the failure modes of high-grade steel pipelines, cracking or leakage failures of girth welds account for nearly 1/3 in total. Thus, different assessment methods are adopted for various types of indicators, and a risk assessment method based on comprehensive fuzzy theory and index method was proposed. Specifically, the non-quantifiable assessment indicators were obtained by the fault tree method and the maximum membership degree was calculated by combining the fuzzy assessment and the entropy weight method. On this basis, the quantifiable assessment indicators were determined according to the requirements of relevant standards, and their risk values were calculated by the index method. Finally, a risk assessment matrix was established according to the maximum membership degree and risk values obtained with the index method, so as to determine the risk level of girth welds. Herein, risk assessment was performed for the girth welds in a section of Myanmar-China Natural Gas Pipeline with the proposed method. According to the results, the failure risk of girth welds in the pipeline section is mainly determined by the non-quantifiable indicators and the pipeline section is at high risk. Definitely, poor implementation of pipeline maintenance plan, unacceptable qualification of welders, unclear welding procedure specification and other objective factors are the main causes of girth weld failure, and the assessment results are consistent with the field accident reports. Generally, the proposed method supplements and improves the risk assessment system for girth welds of high-grade steel pipelines, and could provide theoretical reference for solving the problem of girth weld failure in high-grade steel pipelines.

Objective To establish a mouse model of acute pseudomembranous stomatitis and to observe the effect of photoactivated disinfection (PAD) on the removal of Candida albicans in vivo, and initially explore the feasibility of this technology in the treatment of acute pseudomembranous stomatitis. Methods Six-week-old male ICR mice were selected and immunized with 1 × 107CFU/mL Candida albicans solution on the backs of the tongues of immunosuppressed mice. Thirty model mice with acute pseudomembranous stomatitis were successfully established and randomly divided into a control group and a photoactivated disinfection group, with 15 mice in each group. Mice in the photoactivated disinfection group were coated with 1 mg/mL toluidine blue solution on the back of the tongue, incubated for 1 min and irradiated with 750 mW LED red light for 1 min. Immediately after treatment, the tongue fungal load was measured in the photoactivated disinfection group and the control group. Tongue fungal load was measured again 48 h later, and tongue histopathological examination was performed in both groups. Results Forty-eight hours after PAD treatment, the white pseudomembrane on the back of the tongue in the photoactivated group was significantly less than the control group. The fungal load on the dorsum of the tongue in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group immediately and 48 h after treatment for PAD, and the difference was statistically significant (P

To build the foundation of food security and accelerate the pace of building a strong agricultural country, it is necessary to promote the high-quality development of agriculture. This is not only the core path of Chinese-style modernization, but also the key to meeting international and domestic development challenges. In the great journey towards Chinese-style modernization, we must deeply realize that the development of the times, the international situation and domestic demand have jointly shaped the important position of building a strong agricultural country. At present, it is necessary not only to enhance the comprehensive agricultural production capacity, but also to promote the rural economic revitalization and enhance the consumption capacity of rural residents. In addition, it is necessary to give full play to the diversity of agricultural science and technology, improve the sustainable development of rural environment and enhance the competitiveness of agriculture. Therefore, promoting the construction of a powerful agricultural country is an urgent need to pay equal attention to the yield, quality, and safety of food. To promote the construction of a strong agricultural country and consolidate the foundation of food security with Chinese-style modernization, the following measures should be taken: Optimizing the food security system to ensure national food security, accelerate scientific and technological research and realize technological innovation of grain production, explore the diversified development model of agriculture and promote the transformation and upgrading of agricultural industrial structure, promote the construction of agricultural management organizations and improve the efficiency of agricultural management, empowering opening to the outside world and enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese agricultural products in the global market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fermentation is an important strategy for food preservation, and fermented foods are the result of the joint action of a diverse range of microorganisms that impart a special flavor to the product. Quorum sensing system (QS) is a highly targeted and universal microbial regulation mechanism, which is based on population density and regulates the behavior of multiple gene expressions by sensing the concentration of autoinducers (AI). According to different types of AIs, QS systems are classified into three major categories. The article provided an overview of fermented foods and the three major types of QS systems. The positive effects of QS systems on microbial co-culture, the prevention and control of harmful microorganisms, and the effects on fermented food quality were described. From the perspective of QS, the article broadens the research ideas of microorganisms in fermented foods, and lays the foundation for further improving the application of microorganisms in food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation behavior of GH2984 alloy in pure steam at 750℃ and 850℃ was investigated by using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersive spectra (SEM/EDS). Results show that GH2984 alloy is oxidized parabolically with time. The temperature rising greatly promotes the external and internal oxidation and also the evaporation of Cr. The composition and microstructure of the oxide films change obviously. At 750℃, a compact and single-layered (Cr,Mn)2O3 film is formed on alloy surface; the number of voids in oxide scale increases at 850℃, whereas a three-layered oxide scale consisting of thin Fe2TiO5 outer layer and much thicker (Cr,Mn)2O3 middle layer and thinner (Nb,Mo)2O5 inner layer is formed at the elevated temperature. Ti and Al are internally oxidized preferentially along grain boundaries to be TiO2 and Al2O3, respectively; both the number and the size of the two internal oxides increase with the temperature rising.

Unstressed exposure tests of Inconel 740H alloy tube were carried out at 750℃ for 500-3000h. The microstructure evolution and microhardness were studied by means of thermodynamic simulation, OM, FEG-SEM and microhardness testing. The results show that the tube is qualified if both chemical composition and tensile properties of the as-received alloy meet the corresponding requirements of ASME. After long term exposure, the main precipitates are γ' and M23C6, and no η and σ phase. With the prolonging of exposure time, the coarsening of γ' becomes faster and the law of relationship between the radius of γ' and time accords with LSW Ostwald ripening law; meanwhile, the change in size of M23C6 is not so obvious. During the whole process, microhardness increases firstly and then decreases, but the fluctuation is slight. The changes of microstructure and hardness indicate that, after long time exposure, the domestic Inconel 740H has good stability and can be used for further carrying out the investigation on the mechanical property of creep-rupture.

The degradation characteristics of polypropylene carbonate (PPC) mulch film and ordinary mulching film in soil were studied through the field net bag landfill experiment. The results showed that in 0~1,50 days, the PPC film in the soil broke gradually due to the degradation reaction. Moreover, the degradation rate increased gradually and the highest degradation rate was 39.67%, while the surface of the common mulch film did not change and the degradation rate did not increase, with the highest degradation rate for the common mulch film only 1.52%. The absorption peaks of methylene C-H, C=O, C-O-C antisymmetric stretching, C-OH, and C-O decreased in the chemical structure of the PPC film. In 0~150 days, the elongation at break and tensile strength of the PPC film and common mulch film decreased, and the mechanical properties of the PPC film were always lower than that of common mulch film. At 150 d, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the PPC film were 4.08 MPa and 114.17% respectively, while those of the common mulch film were 10.79 MPa and 190.15% respectively. The findings indicated that the degradation rate of PPC film has a power exponential relationship with its mechanical properties, and the mechanical properties will be reduced with an increase in the degradation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop straw is of great significance in improving farmland ecological environment, soil fertility, and enhance crop quality and yield. The application of decomposed livestock manure into soil can not only provide a good breath environment and energy for microorganisms, but also have a short growth cycle of microorganisms, and livestock manure can cause rapid changes in microorganisms. Taking the typical dark brown soil cultivated land in Liaoyuan City, Jilin Province, as the experimental area, the characteristics of in-situ strip composting of livestock manure and corn straw in the field by nylon mesh bag landfill method was studied. Four treatments were set up in the experiment: corn straw (CS), corn straw + pig manure (SPM), corn straw + chicken manure (SCM), corn straw + cow dung (SCD). The samples were collected at 30 d, 60 d, 90 d, 120 d and 150 d after bag burying and the mass loss rate and nutrient release rate of corn straw under each treatment were measured. The results showed that by 150 days after the end of the experiment, the mass loss rate of corn straw under the four treatments increased rapidly in the early stage and slowly increased in the later stage, and the cumulative mass loss rate of corn straw ranged from 42.48%~53.28%. At the same time, the cumulative release rates of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in corn straw under the four treatments were 56.87%~66.95%, 41.01%~46.15%, 44.92%~48.94%, 94.14%~96.24%, respectively. The addition of livestock manure accelerated the decomposition of corn straw, and increased the mass loss rate and nutrient release rate of straw. The best performance was SCM treatment, and the difference between SCM treatment and other treatments was significant (P<0.05). In addition, the cumulative mass loss rate was SCM>SPM>SCD>CS, and the cumulative release of nutrients was K>C>P>N. In conclusion, corn straw in situ strip composting combined with different livestock manure is beneficial to the decomposition of corn straw and promotes the release of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in corn straw, and the straw returning to the field with chicken manure being the best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The static output feedback control problem is studied for a class of discrete-time switched linear systems with polytopic uncertainties subject to actuator saturations. Based on a parameter-dependent discontinuous switched Lyapunov function and some basic lemmas, a switched robust H-infinity static output-feedback controller is designed to guarantee the locally exponential stability of the resulting closed-loop system under average dwell-time switching scheme by using a convex optimization problem subject to linear matrix inequalities (LMI) constraints. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the rate of weight gain in the first and second trimesters and gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)., Methods: A total of 1189 maternal cases were included at baseline from May to September 2019 when they first came to the Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Ma&apos;anshan for delivery and establishment of maternal health handbook(≤14 weeks+6). A total of 968 maternal cases were included in the final analysis, including 289 cases of GDM. Information on maternal socio-demographic characteristics, past history and lifestyle was collected through questionnaires. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed to screen for GDM at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Multi-factor logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the rate of weight gain in the first and second trimesters and GDM., Results: After adjusting for pre-pregnancy BMI, age, occupation, number of births, number of pregnancies, type of residence, family history of diabetes, season of conception and mode of conception, an increased risk of GDM was found for rapid weight gain in early pregnancy compared with appropriate rate of gain(rapid group: aOR=1.92, 95%CI 1.20-3.07). No risk of GDM was found for rapid or slow weight gain in mid-pregnancy(rapid group : aOR=0.89, 95%CI 0.47-1.70)(slow group: aOR=1.57, 95%CI 0.85-2.90). Further stratified by pre-pregnancy BMI, pre-pregnancy BMI &lt;24-overly rapid growth rate in early pregnancy was a risk factor for GDM(rapid group; aOR=1.98, 95%CI 1.16-3.38) and no significant association was observed in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy BMI ≥24(slow group: aOR=0.79, 95%CI 0.29-2.12; rapid group: aOR=1.61, 95%CI 0.60-4.30). A multiplicative model showing no interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI and early pregnancy weight gain rate for GDM., Conclusion: Excessive growth rate in the first pregnancy can affect the risk of GDM.

Objective: To explore the independent and combined effects of smoking and passive smoking during pregnancy on maternal depression, anxiety and depressive anxiety comorbidities., Methods: From August 2020 to February 2022, women who underwent 42-day postpartum examination in Changfeng Women&apos;s Center and Shuangfeng Hospital of Hefei were recruited. Their depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using EPDS Scale and GAD Scale, respectively, and smoking and passive smoking status during pregnancy were collected. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent and combined effects of smoking and passive smoking during pregnancy on postpartum depression, anxiety and depression and anxiety comorbidities., Results: A total of 2 447 parturients were included, whose mean age was(29.23±4.20) years old.58.6% of parturients lived in urban areas.97.2% parturients had unassisted reproduction and 73.5% pregnancy intention was spontaneous. Among them, 362(14.8%) had depression, 523(21.4%) had anxiety, and 270(11.0%) had depression and anxiety comorbidities. In an independent analysis of effects, maternal smoking during pregnancy was statistically associated with postpartum depression(OR=3.86, 95%CI 2.37-6.28), anxiety(OR =2.58, 95%CI 1.60-4.17) and depressive anxiety comorbidity(OR = 3.34, 95%CI 2.00-5.71). Maternal passive smoking during pregnancy was also positively associated with the risk of postpartum depression(OR = 1.56, 95%CI 2.00-5.71), anxiety(OR=1.71, 95%CI 1.24-2.37) and depression and anxiety comorbidities(OR = 1.52, 95%CI 1.02-2.28), and the higher the frequency of exposure to passive smoking, the higher risk of depression, anxiety, and depressive and anxiety comorbidities. No interaction between smoking during pregnancy and passive smoking exposure on postpartum depression(RERI = 0.69, 95%CI-4.62-6.00; AP = 10.84, 95%CI-73.37-95.04; S= 0.58, 95%CI 0.02-15.18), anxiety(RERI=0.27, 95%CI 0.05-0.49; AP=4.02, 95%CI-0.52-8.57; S=0.78, 95%CI 0.64-0.94) and depression and anxiety comorbidities(RERI = 0.07, 95%CI-0.25-0.39; AP=1.74, 95%CI-6.03-9.52; S=0.93, 95%CI 0.68-1.27)was observed., Conclusion: Both smoking and passive smoking during pregnancy were positively associated with the risk of postpartum depression, anxiety and depressive anxiety comorbidity.

Working memory is an important foundation for advanced cognitive function. The paper combines the spatiotemporal advantages of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to explore the neurovascular coupling mechanism of working memory. In the data analysis, the convolution matrix of time series of different trials in EEG data and hemodynamic response function (HRF) and the blood oxygen change matrix of fNIRS are extracted as the coupling characteristics. Then, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is used to calculate the cross correlation between the two modal features. The results show that CCA algorithm can extract the similar change trend of related components between trials, and fNIRS activation of frontal pole region and dorsolateral prefrontal lobe are correlated with the delta, theta, and alpha rhythms of EEG data. This study reveals the mechanism of neurovascular coupling of working memory, and provides a new method for fusion of EEG data and fNIRS data.

The effects of environmental factors and bacterial numbers on typical tetracycline resistance genes ( tetQ, tetW, tetM, tetG, tetA , and tetX ) and macrolide resistance genes ( erm 35, erm 36, ermB, ermF, ermT , and ermX ) during cow manure composting were investigated and quantified via real-time quantitative PCR. The results suggested that the abundance of tetQ, tetW, tetG , and tetX increased by 1.7, 0.3, 84.8, and 4.5 times respectively, whereas tetM decreased by 83.1% during the heating stages of cow manure composting. The abundance of tetG and tetX increased by 23.8 and 11.5 times respectively, whereas tetW, tetQ , and tetM decreased by 90% during the maturity stage. However, the macrolide resistance genes ( erm 35, erm 36, ermB, ermF, ermT , and ermX) increased by 2.1, 430.4, 0.6, 11.5, 2.1, and 49.1 times, respectively. Redundancy analysis showed that ORP, temperature, and VS were crucial factors that could explain the variations of 54.8%, 34%, and 11.3%, respectively, in ARGs. ORP, temperature, and VS also had the greatest positive correlation with ermX, ermB, tetQ, ermF , and tetW , in that order.

Diabetes and its complications continue to be an increasing global health problem. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)has emerged as the third gasotransmitter following the nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in the body, and plays an important role in both physiology and pathophysiology. Recent work has suggested important roles for H2S in the regulation of pancreatic β-cell function, as well as development of insulin resistance and diabetic complications. Targeting H2S represents a novel therapeutic approach in diabetes and its associated complications. This review article summarizes the current body of evidence regarding the role of H2S in diabetes mellitus, and especially in its associated vascular complications, as well as the underlying signaling mechanisms.

Objective: To investigate the effect of SH2-containing inositol phosphatase-1 (SHIP-1) on the proliferation, invasion and migration of human leukemia cells as well as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) / protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway., Methods: The overexpression vector pCDNA3.1-SHIP1 was transfected into THP-1 cells by Lipofectamine 2000. The experiment was divided into 3 groups: control group (untreated cells) and empty vector group (transfected with empty vector pCDNA3.1-NC) and overexpression group (transfected with overexpression vector pCDNA3.1-SHIP1). The cell proliferation was tected by CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay was used to evaluate the cell invasion and migration capabilities. The expressions of SHIP-1, AKT, phosphorylated AKT (pAKT), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) protein were analyzed by Western blot., Results: The expression of SHIP-1 in overexpression group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the absorbance of the cells in the empty vector group was not statistically different (P>0.05), and the absorbance in overexpression group decreased significantly(P<0.05). The cell numbers of invasion and migration were not significantly different between empty and control groups(P>0.05), but those in overexpression group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of AKT, pAKT and MMP-9 in the empty vector group was not statistically different (P>0.05); the AKT protein in overexpression group was not significantly different (P>0.05), but the pAKT and MMP-9 significantly decreased(P<0.05)., Conclusion: SHIP-1 plays a role in inhibiting the proliferation, invasion and migration of leukemia cells, the mechanism probably relates with supressing the expression of MMP-9 by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective: To quantify the hemodynamic characteristics of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation., Methods: Twenty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and 15 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation enrolled in this study,while 12 patients with sinus rhythms served as controls. The hemodynamic characteristics of the patients in left atrial appendage were measured by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and vector flow mapping (VFM) using indicators such as vectors,vortex and energy loss (EL)., Results: ① Significant differences appeared between the patients with atrial fibrillation and the controls in heart rate,size of left atrium,size of left atrial appendage (LAA),and velocities of LAA filling and emptying. ② Regular vectors in LAA in early systole and late diastole were found in the patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and the controls; whereas,irregular vectors with direction alternating were visualized in the whole cardiac cycle in the patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. ③ Small vortexes were observed at the opening of the left atrial appendage in late diastole in the patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and the controls. ④ Peak EL values occurred in early systole and late diastole in the patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and the controls. But the patients with persistent atrial fibrillation had increased EL values over the whole cardiac cycle., Conclusion: VFM can visualize and quantify the hemodynamics of LAA in patients with different heart rhythms. It may provide a new method for assessing atrial fibrillation., (CopyrightCopyright© by Editorial Board of Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Science Edition).)

Objective: To explore the role of echocardiography in pre-procedural,peri-procedural and post-procedural stages of transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR)., Methods: 31 patients with pure/dominant AR at a high risk on surgery were enrolled in this study. The degree of their aortic regurgitation was evaluated before TAVI,as well as the related diameters of aortic root and the left ventricular systolic function measured by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TEE was used to reevaluate the valve pathology after general anesthesia. TEE in combination with fluoroscopy provided accurate position of the prosthetic valve for implantation. TEE was also used to monitor complications and to evaluate immediate post-procedure paravalvular regurgitation. The post TAVI follow-up included valve heamodynamic status,complications,left ventricular systolic function and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by TEE., Results: Transapical TAVI was successful in 29 of the 31 patients: 23 experienced no or little paravalvular regurgitation; 6 had mild paravalvular regurgitation. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of the patients decreased significantly one week after TAVI,which progressed until one month later ( P <0.05) . The left ventricular ejection (EF) of the patients also decreased one week after TAVI ( P <0.05) ,but it resumed to the pre-procedural level one month later., Conclusion: Transapical TAVI is a potentially safe and effective therapy for patients with pure/dominant AR at a high risk on open-heart surgery. Echocardiography plays an important role in pre-procedural evaluation,peri-procedural monitoring and post-procedural follow-up in TAVI.

Objective: To investigate the change of plasma IL-16 level in patients with multiple myeloma(MM) and its clinical significance., Methods: Sixty-two patients with multiple myeloma were admitted in our hospital from June 2008 to June 2015. Forty healthy volunteers were selected as control group. The peripheral blood of all the patients and healthy volunteers were collected before the treatment of patients. The levels of IL-16, Cys-C, LDH and β2-MG were measured. ROC curve was used to analyze the optimal IL-16 thresholds in MM patients. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the factors affecting overall survival., Results: The levels of IL-16, Cys-C, LDH and β2-MG in the MM group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-16, Cys-C, LDH and β2-MG in patients with different ISS were significantly different (P<0.05). The levels of IL-16, Cys-C, LDH and β2-MG in ISS III groups were higher than those in ISS I and ISS II groups(P<0.05). When the IL-16 concentration was 171.26 ng/L, the AUC was 0.787 (P<0.01), and the sensitivity and specificity were 82.25% and 75.80%, respectively, when the IL-16 threshold was predicted by ROC curve analysis. The 3-year overall survival rates of patients with IL-16≤171.26 ng/L and IL-16>171.26 ng/L were 91.93% and 51.61%, respectively (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that the changes of IL-16 levels were significantly related with overall survival (P<0.01)., Conclusion: The level of IL-16 in peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma has been cofirmed to be significantly elevated, and the elevated IL-16 is closely related with the prognosis.

Objective: To compare the effects of different dosages of rhG-CSF on duration of aleucocytosis and white blood cell counts after chemotherapy of patients with hematologic malignancies., Methods: Ninety patients in our hospital from December 2011 to June 2016 were chosen as study objects, and all of them were divided into 3 groups: group A (rhG-CSF 200 µg/m 2 ), group B(rhG-CSF 300 µg/m 2 ) and group C(rhG-CSF 400 µg/m 2 ); 30 patients from January 2004 to January 2007 were chosen as control(control group). The WBC (min) and its duration, WBC (max) and its timepoint were compared among different groups. The infection rate, incidence of side reactions and total amount of rhG-CSF used in different groups were compared., Results: In control group, WBC (min) was(1.30±0.11)×10 9 /L, its duration was (3.2±0.7)d, WBC (max) was(5.14±0.41)×10 9 /L, and its time point was (26.1±1.8)d; these in group A were (3.14±0.23)×10 9 /L,(2.7±1.0)d, (10.08±0.69)×10 9 /L and (14.9±1.8)d respectively; these in group B were (3.11±0.32)×10 9 /L, (0.9±0.5)d, (10.17±0.75)×10 9 /L and(10.7±1.5)d respectively; these in group C were (3.15±0.30)×10 9 /L,(0.5±0.3)d, (11.95±0.86)×10 9 /L and (10.6±1.5)d, respectively. Compared with control group, the WBC (min) and WBC (max) were both increased significantly, the duration of WBC (min) was shortened and the timepoint of WBC (max) was moved up(P<0.05). The infection rate of group C (3.33%(1/30)) was significantly lower than that of control group(33.33%(10/30))(P<0.05), total used amount of rhG-CSF and incidence of side reactions were not statistically different among group A,B,C(P>0.05)., Conclusion: Compared with low dosage of rhG-CSF, medium/high dosage of rhG-CSF can help to shorten duration of a leukocytosis after chemotherapy of patients.

This research aimed to explore the application of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model of time series analysis in predicting road traffic injury (RTI) in China and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of RTI. Database was created based on the data collected from monitoring sites in China from 1951 to 2011. The ARIMA model was made. Then it was used to predict RTI in 2012. The ARIMA model of the RTI cases was Yt = e(Y˙t-1+0.456▿Yt-1+et) (et stands for random error). The residual error with 16 lags was white noise and the Ljung-Box test statistic for the model was no statistical significance. The model fitted the data well. True value of RTI cases in 2011 was within 95% CI of predicted values obtained from present model. The model was used to predict value of RTI cases in 2012, and the predictor (95%CI) was 207 838 (107 579-401 536). The ARIMA model could fit the trend of RTI in China.

Objective: To determine the incidence of work-related acute pesticide poisoning among farmers in Jiangsu Province and to identify the risk factors., Methods: Multi-stage stratified sampling and cluster sampling methods were used to randomly select 1490 farmers from the south (Z village), centre (Y village) and north (X village) of Jiangsu Province. The database was established by EpiData 3.1. SPSS 17.0 and SAS 9.13 were used to do chi-square test, trend chi-square test, single factor and multi-factor logistic regression analysis., Results: Among 1490 farmers, 121 people had work-related acute pesticide poisoning in the past year. The incidence rate in Jiangsu Province was 8.1%. 118 farmers (97.5%) were mild pesticide poisoning.3 farmers (2.5%) were moderate pesticide poisoning. The incidence rate of Work-related acute pesticide poisoning in X village of North Jiangsu Province (13.5%, 68/505) is obviously higher than that in Y village of Central Jiangsu Province (4.8%, 19/399) and Z village of South Jiangsu Province (5.8%, 34/586), and the difference is statistically significant (χ(2) = 29.60, P < 0.01). The incidence rate of Work-related acute pesticide poisoning in female (10.4%, 58/557) is obviously higher than that in male (6.8%, 63/933), and the difference is statistically significant (χ(2) = 6.26, P < 0.05). There are lack of safety guidance, unsafety application methods (without alternate row spraying, without backward application, without down-wind application) and risk behaviors in the spraying (without read labels, preparing pesticides without gloves, wiping sweat with hand (s), equipment leakage, body pollution by pesticide, working when feeling sick, without bath after work). If farmers have risk behaviors above, the incidence rate of Work-related acute pesticide poisoning will be obviously higher than farmers who receive safety guidance and have no such dangerous behaviors, and all the differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05). The group of 24 ∼ 34 years old has the highest risk of work-related acute pesticide poisoning (OR = 7.15)., Conclusion: The incidence rate of work-related acute pesticide poisoning among farmers in Jiangsu Province was higher. Effective measures are needed to prevent and reduce the occurrence of work-related acute pesticide poisoning. We can teach the farmers who spray pesticides about safety guidance, safety application methods and avoiding risky behaviors.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries among the medical staff in an upper first-class hospital and its risk factors and to provide a basis for the infection control department of hospital and health administration department to establish the policies for safe injection., Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in 800 healthcare professionals in an upper first-class hospital in Nanjing, China to investigate the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries in the past year. A total of 641 persons completed the questionnaire, including 239 doctors, 348 nurses, and 54 other healthcare workers. The obtained data were subjected to chi-square test and logistic analysis., Results: Needlestick and sharps injuries occurred in 373 of 641 healthcare professionals, with an incidence rate of 58.19%. There were significant differences in the incidence of needlestick and sharps injuries among the medical staff of different types or in different departments (P < 0.01). The syringe needles, glass, scalp infusion needles, and suture needles were the major medical apparatus that caused needlestick and sharps injuries; the incidence rate of injury caused by suture needles in doctors (48.21%) was significantly higher than that in nurses (6.72%) (P < 0.01), and the incidence rates of injuries caused by syringe needles, scalp infusion needles, and glass in nurses (71.15%, 59.68%, and 49.04%) were significantly higher than those in doctors (46.43%, 6.25%, and 16.96%) (P < 0.01); compared with nurses, the doctors had higher incidence rates of injuries due to body fluid or tissue sample collection, wound flushing, suture, and cutting (P < 0.05); compared with doctors, the nurses had higher incidence rates of injuries due to injection, intravenous infusion, heparin cap sealing, intravenous infusion line connection, and venous or arterial blood collection (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Needlestick and sharps injuries are common in medical staff. The results of the study on risk factors provide a basis for the infection control department of hospital and health administration department to establish the policies for safe injection.

Background: Stroke is responsible for increasingly high rates of mortality and disability worldwide. Approximately two million people suffer from stroke for the first time in China each year. The high incidence (50%) of post-stroke disability brings a heavy burden to patients and their caregivers. Acupuncture has been widely used in the communities for post-stroke rehabilitation in China. The objective of this trial is to apply our acupuncture research achievement to treatment and evaluation of post-stroke hemiplegic patients in community., Methods and Design: A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial will be performed in Longhua Hospital and a number of community health service centers in Shanghai. A total of 124 patients (estimated sample size) with post-stroke hemiplegia will be randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group. The patients undergoing randomization should be stratified according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at baseline. Within the acupuncture group, different acupuncture protocols are administered to patients with flaccid paralysis or spastic paralysis based on the Ashworth Scale. Patients in the acupuncture group will also be treated with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy. The control group will be treated with comprehensive rehabilitation therapy only. The primary outcome measures are the Simplified Fugl-Meyer Motor Scale, the Modified Barthel Index, and the Burden of Stroke Scale. Secondary outcome measures are the modified Rankin Scale, the modified Ashworth Scale and the Stroke Scale of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Outcome measures will be performed after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. The patients will be followed up after 6 months., Discussion: The results of this study are expected to demonstrate that our standardized acupuncture protocol for treating and evaluating post-stroke hemiplegic patients will improve motor function and lessen the burden of post-stroke patients within the communities. This will provide the evidence to support successful translation of acupuncture therapy for post-stroke hemiplegic patients in community hospital use., Trial Registration: This trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with the registration number ChiCTR-TRC-11001347.

To prepare a soluble human extracellular III domain of Flt1 and analyze its biological activity. The gene encoding extracellular domain III of Flt-1 was cloned into the expression vector pAZY by RT-PCR from human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), and induced to express in Escherichia coli by low phosphoric medium, the product was purified by E-tag affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed that Flt-1 gene domain III gene was expressed in E. coli and the yield of the soluble fusion protein was about 1.10 mg/L. Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) revealed that the Flt-1 domain III was able to bind to VEGF165 dose-dependently. Monolayer denudation assay and Transwell assay showed that the fusion protein could inhibit HUVECs migration induced by conditional medium with 50 ng/mL VEGF165 and 100 ng/mL bFGF. In conclusion, Flt-1 gene domain III gene has been successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli, which will be useful in both the research on the function of Flt-1 gene domain III and preparation of anti-Flt-1 monoclonal antibody in the future.

Objective: To monitor the biological levels of environmental endocrine disruptors (EDs, phthalates and surfactants) in the umbilical cord blood and maternal blood of low-birth-weight infants., Methods: All 30 umbilical cord blood samples and 21 maternal blood samples were collected from low-birth-weight infants. The concentration of four kinds of phthalates (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP; mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, MEHP; di-ethyl phthalate, DEP; di-n-butyl phthalate, DBP) and two kinds of surfactants (4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; octylphenol, OP) in these blood samples were measured by using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography., Results: The mean birth weight and birth length of low-birth-weight infants were (2158.48 +/- 125.06) g and (45.36 +/- 2.52) cm, respectively. The concentrations of DEP, MEHP, DBP, DEHP, 4-NP and OP were 18.90, 11.87, 7.67, 8.84, 1.51 and 2. 86 mg/L in maternal blood, and the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%, respectively. In umbilical cord blood, the concentrations of those EDs were 11.92, 9.94, 5.71, 5.20, 1.12 and 1.19 mg/L; the detective rates were 86.7%, 63.3%, 60.0%, 63.3%, 56.7% and 66.7%. No matter in maternal blood or in umbilical cord blood, the contents and detective rates of phthalates were higher than the surfactants. The concentration of MEHP was higher than its primer, DEHP. The contents of the target EDs in umbilical cord blood were less than those in the matched maternal blood. The percentages were 47.82% -84.05%., Conclusion: People could be exposed to EDs from embryo period. And this should be paid attention by the related departments.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of specific/non-specific neuro-reactive autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE)., Methods: Samples of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were collected from 25 NPSLE patients, 11 patients with SLE complicated with central nervous system (CNS) infection (control group 1), and 10 SLE patients without CNS infection (non-NPSLE, control group 2)) were detected, Indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to detect the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) based on the slides with human epithelium cell of laryngocarcinoma of the line Hep-2 or on the slides with cerebellum and peripheral nerve of monkey, he type of immunofluorescence were assayed., Results: The percentages of ANA positive serum of the NPSLE, SLE control 1, and SLE control 2 groups were 92% (23/25), 100% (11/11), and 100% (10/10) respectively without significant differences between any 2 groups (all P > 0.05). The percentage of ANA positive CSF of the NPSLE was 60% (15/25), significantly higher than that of the SLE control group 1 (27%, 3/11, P < 0.01). There was no significant correlation between the titer of serum ANA and the titer of CSF ANA (P > 0.05). The positive rate of neuro-reactive autoantibodies was 40% (10/25), significantly higher than those of the 2 control groups (both 0, both P > 0.001)., Conclusion: (1) The ANA positivity in the CSF of the NPSLE group is associated with the disease activity and CNS involvement, the higher the titer of autoantibodies the severe the clinical manifestations. (2) The neuro-reactive autoantibodies in the serum may associate with NPSLE with still unknown mechanism.

Objective: To study the changes of serum interleukin-15 (IL-15) levels and the expression of CD4(+)T (T-helper lymphocyte) subsets CD4(+)CD45RA(+) and CD4(+)CD45RO(+) in peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA)., Methods: The serum concentration of IL-15 was detected using ELISA in 39 children with JRA. The expressions of CD4(+)CD45RA(+)T and CD4(+)CD45RO(+)T in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry in 24 out of the 39 patients with JRA. Twenty-six age and sex-matched healthy children were used as the Control group., Results: The mean serum IL-15 level in JRA patients was significantly higher than that in controls (1.37 +/- 0.98 pg/mL vs 0.96 +/- 0.41 pg/mL, P <0.05). Among the 39 JRA patients, the serum IL-15 level in 17 patients with systemic JRA increased remarkably (P < 0.01), but not in patients with the other two types of JRA, the oligoarthritis and polyarthritis (n=13, n=9, respectively), compared with that in controls. The mean serum IL-15 level of the JRA patients was significantly reduced after conventional treatment (P < 0.01). The serum IL-15 level in JRA patients positively correlated with white blood cell count (r=0.347, P <0.05) and C reactive protein (r=0.452, P < 0.01) but not with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The patients with high serum IL-15 levels (> or = medium level 1.73 pg/mL) had higher expression of CD4(+)CD45RO(+)T than those with low serum IL-15 levels (< medium level) (16.29 +/- 5.46% vs 11.75 +/- 3.15 %, P < 0.05)., Conclusions: The serum IL-15 levels in JRA patients increased significantly. An increased IL-15 level can transform CD45RA into CD45RO in peripheral blood of patients with JRA, and then result in T lymphocyte activation and mediate the immunopathological impairment. IL-15 may be used a marker for the evaluation of severity of JRA.

Objective: To observe whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the OLF1/EBF-associated zinc finger protein (OAZ) gene are associated with lupus nephritis (LN) susceptibility in Chinese population., Methods: Eight SNPs located around the positive microsatellite marker D16S517 within OAZ gene with relatively high heterozygosity were chosen for genotyping on 184 systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE) patients, including 101 non-LN patients and 83 LN patients, and 286 normal controls using TaqMan MGB allelic discrimination method. Data were collected by SDS 2.0 software. Haplotypes and their frequencies were constructed and estimated, and linkage disequilibrium analysis between pairs of SNPs was evaluated by calculating the D Prime using Helixtree program. Case-control study was performed between the SLE, LN, and non-LN groups and normal control group., Results: (1) The frequency of SNP rs1344531 T allele was 47.0% in the SLE patients, significantly higher than that in the controls [38.1%,; chi(2) = 7.300, P = 0.008, OR (95% CI) = 1.441 (1.105 - 1.878)], which showed that the frequency of SNP rs1344531 T allele is associated with SLE susceptibility. The genotypic distribution of SNP rs1344531(CC/CT/TT) differed significantly between the SLE patients (25.5%/54.9%/19.6%) and normal controls (38.1%/47.6%/14.3%) (chi(2) = 8.394, P = 0.015). The CC genotype frequency of the SLE patients was 25.5%, significantly lower than that of the normal controls [38.1%; chi(2) = 7.976, P = 0.005, OR (95% CI) = 0.557 (0.370 - 0.838)] (2) The SNP rs1344531 T allele frequency of the SLE patients was 53.0%, significantly higher than that of the normal controls [38.1%; chi(2) = 11.769, P = 0.001, OR (95% CI) = 1.832 (1.293 - 2.596)], which showed an associated between SNP rs1344531 T allele frequency and LN susceptibility. The genotypic distribution of SNP rs1344531 (CC/CT/TT) differed significantly between the LN patients (22.9%/48.2%/28.9%) and the normal controls (38.1%/47.6%/14.3%) (chi(2) = 12.065, P = 0.002). The CC genotype frequency of the LN patients was 22.9%, significantly lower than that of the normal controls (38.1%) [chi(2) = 6.578, P = 0.013, OR (95% CI) = 0.481 (0.274 - 0.848)]. The TT genotype frequency of the LN patients was 28.9%, significantly higher than that of the normal controls (14.3%) [chi(2) = 9.423, P = 0.003, OR (95% CI) = 2.431 (1.363 - 4.334)]. No statistical significance was observed between the non-LN patients and normal controls in TT genotype frequency. (3) The frequencies of haplotypes containing rs1344531:rs1420676-rs1344531(C-T) [chi(2) = 11.731, P = 0.001, OR (95% CI) = 1.867 (1.302 - 2.676)], rs3803665-rs1420676-rs1344531(C-C-T) [chi(2) = 8.876, P = 0.004, OR (95% CI) = 1.772 (1.213 - 2.589)], and rs2292155-rs3803665-rs1420676-rs1344531(C-C-C-T) [chi(2) = 9.962, P = 0.002, OR (95% CI) = 1.915 (1.274 - 2.880)] were all significantly higher in the LN patients in comparison with the normal control group (41.0% versus 27.1%; 33.3% versus 21.8%; and 27.0% versus 16.2%); while the frequencies of other haplotypes: rs1344531-rs2080353(C-A) [chi(2) = 8.06, P = 0.005, OR (95% CI) = 0.603 (0.424 - 0.856)], rs1344531-rs2080353-rs933564 (C-A-G) [chi(2) = 7.929, P = 0.006, OR (95% CI) = 0.602 (0.422 - 0.859)] were significantly lower than those of the normal control group (39.5% versus 52.2%, and 36.6% versus 49.2%), which produced additional support for such association., Conclusion: SNP rs1344531 and some haplotypes containing SNP rs1344531 within OAZ are significantly associated with LN susceptibility. Genetic variants of the OAZ gene are involved in the pathogenesis of LN.

Objective: To investigate the reno protective effect of Shenhua recipe on the experimental model of 5/6 renal ablation., Method: 5/6 renal ablation rats were underlying this experiment. They were administered Shenhua, irbesartan respectively by gavage during 12 weeks. Body weight, systolic blood pressure, proteinuria, Scr, BUN, total protein, albumin, Glycero and cholesterol were measured. Histologic glomenular and tubulointerstitial damage scores were measured at 12 weeks., Result: The treated groups showed significantly less histologic glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage scores at 12 weeks. The plasma albumin were higher ( P < 0.05), urine protein excretion rates, serum cholesterol and creatinine were lower than in nontreated group, but arterial blood pressure was not significantly different in the three Shenhua treated groups compared with nontreated group., Conclusion: Shenhua can retard the progression of chronic renal injury in the 5/6 renal ablation without changes in systolic blood pressure.

Objective: To investigate the expression levels of interferon (IFN)-alpha, -beta, -omega and -gamma genes and proteins in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to evaluate any possible connections between these expression levels with clinical features., Methods: 144 SLE patients, 27 non-SLE patients with rheumatisms and 59 normal controls were recruited for the research, and all subjects were drawn blood to isolate plasma and elute total RNA. SYBR Green Dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels of 4 IFNs in patients with SLE and those in the controls. The significance for the correlation of these expression levels and disease activity and specificity was studied., Results: (1) mRNA expression levels of all 4 IFNs in SLE patients were remarkably lower than those observed in normal controls (P < 0.01 in all); IFN-alpha expression levels in SLE patients were increased than those observed in non-SLE group (P < 0.01). (2) The expression levels of all 4 IFNs in active SLE patients were similar to those observed in inactive SLE patients (P > 0.05 in all), and expression levels of all 4 IFNs in patients with SLE were not correlated with involvements of kidney, lung, brain, blood. (3) IFN score in SLE patients was remarkably lower than that observed in normal controls (P < 0.01). (4) The expression levels of all 4 IFNs in both SLE patients and normal controls were positively correlated with each other (P < 0.01 in all). (5) Protein levels of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta and IFN-omega in patients with SLE were similar to those observed in normal group (P > 0.05 in all), protein level of IFN-alpha in active SLE group was apparently elevated than in inactive SLE group (P < 0.01), and protein level of IFN-gamma has a trend to increase in SLE group than in normal group., Conclusions: Decreased expression levels of IFN-alpha, -beta, -omega and -gamma have implicated significance in the determination of SLE disease specificity, of which IFN-alpha is the best. Lower expression level of IFN score has also significance in the determination of SLE disease specificity. Higher protein level of IFN-alpha is helpful to judging SLE disease activity.

Objective: To observe the effect of compound shenhua tablet (CST) on the residual kidney expressed macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) in rats., Methods: CST was used to treat 5/6 nephrectomized rats for 12 weeks and the conditions of blood pressure, urinary protein, blood biochemical indices (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen), kidney pathologic change and MIF expression were observed., Results: CST could significantly lower the serum levels of creatinine (P < 0.05), and 24 hrs urinary protein (P < 0.01), reduce the MIF expression and macrophage infiltration in renal glomerulus and tubular mesenchym, and lower the degree of renal glomerular sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis., Conclusion: The inhibition on the highly expressed MIF may be an important mechanism of the drug in restraining chronic inflammation in residual kidney, delaying the sclerosis and fibrosis progression and protecting renal function.

Objective: To investigate the expression levels of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) and interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1) genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to evaluate the relations between these gene expression levels and disease activity., Methods: The clinical data of 144 SLE patients, 27 non-SLE patients with rheumatic diseases, and 59 normal controls were collected. The SLE patients were further divided into 2 subgroups: active SLE group (n = 87) and non-active SLE group (n = 57) according to SLEDAI scores. Specimens of peripheral blood were drawn; total RNA was extracted and transcribed into cDNA. Sybr green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels (indicated as-DeltaDeltaCT value) of LY6E and IFIT1 in patients with SLE and those in the controls., Results: (1) The-DeltaDeltaCT value of LY6E expression level of the SLE patients was 5.4760 +/- 1.9806, significantly higher than those of the non-SLE patients (3.4323 +/- 1.7456) and normal controls (4.5198 +/- 1.6359, both P = 0.001). (2) The-DeltaDeltaCT value of LY6E and IFIT1 mRNA expression of the active SLE patients were 6.1960 +/- 1.7729 and 6.4997 +/- 2.6297 respectively, significantly higher than those observed in the inactive SLE patients (4.3770 +/- 1.7764 and 4.1327 +/- 2.6044 respectively, both P = 0.000). The-DeltaDeltaCT values of LY6E and IFIT1 mRNA of the SLE patients were correlated with the SLEDAI scores, and with the numbers of matched criteria used in the diagnosis of SLE (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: As IFN-induced genes, elevated expression of LY6E mRNA is specific to diagnosis of SLE. The real time expression levels of LY6E and IFIT1 genes are associated with SLE disease activity. To inhibit the expression of LY6E and IFIT1 may become a novel therapeutic approach for SLE.

Objective: To investigate the protein-to-protein interaction of interferon-induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 1 (IFIT1), a newly discovered systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) related up-regulated gene, and its possible function., Methods: Peripheral blood of 40 SLE patients was obtained to extract total RNA and synthesized cDNA. Real-time PCR was used to determine the IFIT1 expression at transcript level. Peripheral blood of another 10 SLE patients was extracted to obtain specimens of white blood cell lysate. Molecular cloning and a modified gluthion S-transferase (GST)-pull down assay were used to capture the protein interacting with IFIT1 in the specimens of white blood cell lysate. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) was preformed to identify the captured protein that could interact with IFIT1. Twenty-nine sex and age-matched healthy persons were used as controls., Results: By real-time PCR showed that the IFIT1Delta Ct value (x +/- s) was 2.344 +/- 1.200 in the SLE patients and was 3.734 +/- 1.274 in the controls (P < 0.001), showing a significant up-regulation in SLE patients. IFIT1 was cloned and GST-IFIT1 fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. GST-IFIT1 fusion protein was further purified using Glutathione Sepharose 4B column, and was treated as bait to capture prey from peripheral white blood cell lysate of SLE patients. MALDI-TOF MS detected protein interaction between Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor and IFIT1., Conclusion: IFIT1 may interact with Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor, and regulate the activation of Rho/Rac proteins, thus being involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.