Viral aetiology of acute respiratory infections among children and associated meteorological factors in southern China.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are common in children and mostly caused by viruses, but the significance of the detection of multiple viruses in ARIs is unclear. This study investigated 14 respiratory viruses in ARIs among children and associated meteorological factors in Shantou, southern China.

Methods: Paired nasal/throat-flocked swabs collected from 1,074 children with ARIs, who visited outpatient walk-in clinics in a tertiary hospital between December 2010 and November 2011, were examined for fourteen respiratory viruses--influenza viruses (FluA, FluB), respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV A and B), human coronaviruses (hCoV: 229E, OC43, HKU1, NL63), human metapneumoviruses (hMPV A and B), parainfluenza viruses (PIV1-4), human rhinoviruses (HRV A, B, C), enteroviruses (EV), adenoviruses (ADV), human bocavirus (hBoV), and human parechoviruses (hPeV)--by multiplex real-time PCR.

The study on evaluation and improvement of quality of life in patients with advanced cancer by China's hospice program.

This multicenter study evaluated the quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced cancer and assessed the improvement in patients' QOL by hospice service program, using McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire-Hong Kong version (MQOL-HK) questionnaire in China's 32 hospice centers from March to June, 2012. Among 640 recruited cases, data of 630 patients were analyzed. Differences in patients' pre- and posthospice QOL were evaluated.

Limited knowledge and practice of Chinese medical students regarding health-care associated infections.

Introduction: Health-care associated infections (HCAIs) occur worldwide and affect both patients and health-care workers (HCWs), including medical students. This study aimed to investigate HCAI risks associated with clinical medical students attending Shantou University Medical College (SUMC) and the effectiveness of their learning resources.

Methodology: Four cohorts (n = 272) of medical students participated in a questionnaire-based survey was done on (year 5 in the 5-year program and years 5 to 7 in the 7-year program) undergoing internship training in 14 teaching hospitals in Guangdong, China.

Prior knowledge, older age, and higher allowance are risk factors for self-medication with antibiotics among university students in southern China.

Background: Self-medication with antibiotics (SMA) has been reported among university students in many countries, but little research has been done on this issue in China. The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge and behaviors of university students and risk factors concerning SMA.

Methodology/principal Findings: Using a novel questionnaire-based data collection instrument, an anonymous online survey was conducted with the students of Shantou University (STU), a university comprising 8 schools/colleges in eastern Guangdong, China.

Effect of epidermal growth factor and dexamethasone on fetal rat lung development.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a mitogenic polypeptide that binds to cell surface receptors, is an important regulator of cell differentiation and fetal lung surfactant synthesis. We investigated the preventive and therapeutic effects of EGF in respiratory distress syndrome, by administering EGF and dexamethasone (Dex) to mother rat before delivery.

Methods: Six female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to three groups (2 rats each); EGF or Dex was given to pregnant rats (EGF group and Dex group, respectively) from gestational day 16 to day 18 by intraperitoneal injection, while the group with normal saline injection was used as negative controls.

[Biological characteristics of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells and their differentiation into neurocyte-like cells].

Objective: To investigate the isolation and expansion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human umbilical cord Wharton's jelly and their biological identities, and explore the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord-derived MSCs to differentiate into neurocyte-like cells.

Methods: The growth and proliferative abilities of human umbilical cord-derived MSCs were observed, and their immunophenotypes were determined by flow cytometry. Salvia miltiorrhiza and beta-sulfhydryl alcohol were adopted to induce the cells to differentiate.

Human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells differentiation into nerve-like cells.

Background: The two most basic properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the capacities to self-renew indefinitely and differentiate into multiple cells and tissue types. The cells from human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly have properties of MSCs and represent a rich source of primitive cells. This study was conducted to explore the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly-derived MSCs to differentiate into nerve-like cells.