Mental health and psychosocial problems among laboratory technicians in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Hebei, China.

Objective: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, an increased mental burden has been widely reported among medical health workers such as physicians and nurses. However, data on laboratory technicians exposed to COVID-19 have rarely been published. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of psychological symptoms among laboratory technicians and analyze potential risk factors associated with these symptoms.

The value of fecal calprotectin in infection: A systematic review.

As a marker of inflammation, calprotectin has potential application value in a variety of inflammatory diseases, such as arthritis and bacterial infections. infection (CDI) is an infectious disease that causes intestinal damage and inflammation. This systematic review aims to determine whether fecal calprotectin has application value in CDI.

The role of short-chain fatty acids in Clostridioides difficile infection: A review.

Clostridioides difficile is a Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic, spore-producing intestinal opportunistic pathogen. CDI outbreaks in Europe and the Americas in recent years are a major health concern. Intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are an important energy source for colonic epithelial cells, and the roles of SCFAs in reducing intestinal inflammation, inhibiting intestinal tumors, and regulating gut microbial homeostasis are being actively researched.

Carriage of Clostridioides difficile in healthy infants in the community of Handan, China: A 1-year follow-up study.

Objective: Clostridioides difficile may colonize healthy infants and young children asymptomatically and for the long-term. C. difficile genotypes and the rate and determinants of colonization differ substantially and vary among countries and regions.

Molecular evolution of influenza B virus during 2011-2017 in Chaoyang, Beijing, suggesting the free influenza vaccine policy.

Two influenza B virus lineages, B/Victoria and B/Yamagata, are co-circulating in human population. While the two lineages are serologically distinct and TIV only contain one lineage. It is important to investigate the epidemiological and evolutionary dynamics of two influenza B virus lineages in Beijing after the free influenza vaccine policy from 2007.

The putative compatible solute-binding protein ProX from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv: biochemical characterization and crystallographic data.

In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the proX gene encodes a putative compatible solute-binding protein (MtProX). However, it was found through sequence alignment that the MtProX protein has very different ligand-binding residues compared with other compatible solute-binding proteins, implying that MtProX may bind to ligands that are as yet uncharacterized. In this work, it was demonstrated that MtProX binds to polyphenols such as phloretin, monoacetylphloroglucinol and 2,4-dihydroxyacetophloroglucinol with dissociation constants between 20 and 70 µM.

Expression of soluble programmed death-1 protein in peripheral blood regulatory T cells and its effects on rheumatoid arthritis progression.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of the soluble programmed death‑1 (sPD-1) protein, which is released by peripheral blood regulatory T cells (Treg) during the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). From October 2012 to May 2014, 82 RA patients (RA group) and 90 healthy volunteers (healthy controls; HC) were recruited. Cluster of differentiation (CD)4, CD25 and forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3 (Foxp3) and expression of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and Foxp3 were detected by flow cytometry.

Molecular Characterization of Clostridium difficile Isolates from Human Subjects and the Environment.

Clostridium difficile is a spore-forming, gram-positive, anaerobic bacillus that can cause C. difficile infection (CDI). However, only a few studies on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of C.

Effect of dimethyl fumarate on rats with chronic pancreatitis.

Objective: To discuss the effect of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on rats with l-arginine induced chronic pancreatitis (CP).

Methods: Male Wistar rats were given DMF treatment (25 mg/kg) by oral lavage method; then Wistar rats were given the intraperitoneal injection of l-arginine for 5 times (250 mg/100 kg, twice per time, each interval of 1 h) for building of CP model. Rats were divided into control group, CP group, DMF group and CP + DMF group.

Lead Induces Apoptosis and Histone Hyperacetylation in Rat Cardiovascular Tissues.

Acute and chronic lead (Pb) exposure might cause hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of early acute exposure to Pb on the cellular morphology, apoptosis, and proliferation in rats and to elucidate the early mechanisms involved in the development of Pb-induced hypertension. Very young Sprague-Dawley rats were allowed to drink 1% Pb acetate for 12 and 40 days.

[Analysis of resistance tendency of bloodstream-infecting pathogens in China].

Objective: To investigate the resistance profiles and the trend of bloodstream-infecting pathogens isolated from hospitalized patients during 2004-2010.

Methods: The bloodstream isolates were collected from 18 hospitals in 17 cities. Minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) were determined using the agar dilution method recommended by CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute), and susceptibility results were analyzed according to the 2011 CLSI guideline.

Longitudinal increases in PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations in human milk in northern China.

There is a dearth of information on the temporal changes in polychlorinated dibenzodioxin/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) contamination, in both environmental and biological specimens, in China. We compared the concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in human milk collected in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, in northern China in 2002 (n=30) and 2007 (n=20). The level of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs showed an increasing trend.

Optimization of separation of heavy metals by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

The separation of four toxic metal ions (Cr(3+) , Pb(2+) , Hg(2+) , Ni(2+) ) was achieved by optimizing the composition of the histidine/tartaric acid background electrolyte. An on-column preconcentration technique, viz. field amplified sample injection, was performed to improve the sensitivity.

[The characteristics of biofilm formation in endotracheal tubes in ventilated patients].

Objective: To evaluate the etiology and drug resistance of biofilms in endotracheal tubes in respiratory intensive care unit (RICU).

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. The biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscopy at different times of ventilation.

Determination of pharmaceuticals classified as emerging pollutants using capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

A study on the simultaneous separation of 13 pharmaceutical products by capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection was presented. The parameters of the background electrolyte, such as pH, organic additives as well as types and concentrations of cyclodextrins (CD) were studied. The optimal separation conditions were achieved with a background electrolyte consisting of 9 mM Tris/5 mM lactic acid at pH 8.

Floating resistivity detector for microchip electrophoresis.

A newly developed conductivity detector, the floating resistivity detector (FRD), for microchip electrophoresis was introduced in this work. The detector design permits decoupling of the detection circuit from the high separation voltage without compromising separation efficiency. This greatly simplifies the integration of microchip electrophoresis systems.

Capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection for low molecular weight organic acids in different samples.

CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE-C(4)D) was explored and validated for the identification and quantification of organic acids in various types of samples. The analyses were performed under optimized conditions, using a buffer system composed of 20 mM MES-histidine (His), pH 6.0, 0.

Rapid identification of purified enteropathogenic Escherichia coli by microchip electrophoresis.

In this work, the potential of PDMS-based microchip electrophoresis in the identifications and characterizations of microorganism was evaluated. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was selected as the model microorganism.

[Expression and clinical significance of Beclin1 and PTEN in endometrial carcinoma].

Background & Objective: The pathogenesis of endometrial carcinoma is unclear. This study was to explore the expression of beclin1 (BECN1) and PTEN in endometrial carcinoma, and investigate their correlations to clinicopathologic features of endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: The expression of BECN1 and PTEN in 79 specimens of endometrial carcinoma, 34 specimens of endometrial hyperplasia, and 22 specimens of normal endometria were detected by PowerVision immunohistochemistry.

Determination of tobramycin in human serum by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

A study on the determination of the antibiotic tobramycin by CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection is presented. This method enabled the direct quantification of the non-UV-absorbing species without incurring the disadvantages of the indirect approaches which would be needed for optical detection. The separation of tobramycin from inorganic cations present in serum samples was achieved by optimizing the composition of the acetic acid buffer.