Artificial Intelligence to Detect Meibomian Gland Dysfunction From Laser Confocal Microscopy.

In recent years, deep learning has been widely used in a variety of ophthalmic diseases. As a common ophthalmic disease, meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) has a unique phenotype in laser confocal microscope imaging (VLCMI). The purpose of our study was to investigate a deep learning algorithm to differentiate and classify obstructive MGD (OMGD), atrophic MGD (AMGD) and normal groups.

Potential Role and Clinical Value of PPP2CA in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is associated with many cancers. This study aimed to clarify whether PPP2CA, which encodes the alpha isoform of the catalytic subunit of PP2A, plays a role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to identify the potential underlying molecular pathways.

Methods: Based on bioinformatics, public databases and our in-house RNA-Seq database, we analyzed the clinical value and molecular mechanism of PPP2CA in HCC.

The Expression and Potential Role of Tubulin Alpha 1b in Wilms' Tumor.

We explored the difference in expression of tubulin alpha 1b (TUBA1B) between Wilms' tumor (WT) and normal tissues (NT) from in-house patients and databases, to determine TUBA1B expression in WT and the predictive pathways of coexpressed genes. In-house RNA-sequencing data were performed with WT and NT from three patients from our institute. Other four RNA-sequencing and microarray data were also downloaded from multiple public databases.

Impact of Influenza on Outpatient Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths by Using a Time Series Poisson Generalized Additive Model.

Background: The disease burden associated with influenza in developing tropical and subtropical countries is poorly understood owing to the lack of a comprehensive disease surveillance system and information-exchange mechanisms. The impact of influenza on outpatient visits, hospital admissions, and deaths has not been fully demonstrated to date in south China.

Methods: A time series Poisson generalized additive model was used to quantitatively assess influenza-like illness (ILI) and influenza disease burden by using influenza surveillance data in Zhuhai City from 2007 to 2009, combined with the outpatient, inpatient, and respiratory disease mortality data of the same period.

Anti-Human H1N1pdm09 and swine H1N1 Virus Antibodies among Swine Workers in Guangdong Province, China.

To assess the potential transmission for zoonotic influenza, sero-antibodies against two kinds of influenza viruses--classical swine H1N1 and human H1N1pdm09 virus were detected in persons whose profession involved contact with swine in Guangdong province, China. Compared to the non-exposed control group, a significantly higher proportion of subjects with occupational contact to pigs exhibited positive seroreaction against the classical H1N1 SIV. Participants aged 26-50 years were at high risk of classic swine H1N1 infections.

Clinical, virological and immunological features from patients infected with re-emergent avian-origin human H7N9 influenza disease of varying severity in Guangdong province.

Background: The second wave of avian influenza H7N9 virus outbreak in humans spread to the Guangdong province of China by August of 2013 and this virus is now endemic in poultry in this region.

Methods: Five patients with H7N9 virus infection admitted to our hospital during August 2013 to February 2014 were intensively investigated. Viral load in the respiratory tract was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) and cytokine levels were measured by bead-based flow cytometery.

Novel phage display-derived H5N1-specific scFvs with potential use in rapid avian flu diagnosis.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype infect poultry and have also been spreading to humans. Although new antiviral drugs and vaccinations can be effective, rapid detection would be more efficient to control the outbreak of infections. In this study, a phage-display library was applied to select antibody fragments for HPAI strain A/Hubei/1/2010.

The prevalence and endemic nature of dengue infections in Guangdong, South China: an epidemiological, serological, and etiological study from 2005-2011.

Objectives: Frequent outbreaks of dengue are considered to be associated with an increased risk for endemicity of the disease. The occurrence of a large number of indigenous dengue cases in consecutive years indicates the possibility of a changing dengue epidemic pattern in Guangdong, China.

Methods: To have a clear understanding of the current dengue epidemic, a retrospective study of epidemiological profile, serological response, and virological features of dengue infections from 2005-2011 was conducted.

[Current situation on the China infectious disease automated-alert and response system in Guangdong Province, China].

Objective: To analyze the current situation on China Infectious Disease Automated-alert and Response System (CIDARS) in Guangdong province, China.

Methods: Early-warning signals and response time were analyzed by using three approaches of CIDARS. Positive rates of early-warning signals and error early-warning rates prior and after the adjustment,were compared.

[Epidemiological and etiological characteristics of diarrheal disease among children under 5 years of age in Guangdong province, in 2012].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of diarrheal disease among children under 5 years of age in Guangdong province, in 2012.

Methods: 64 hospitals in 21 cities were chosen as the diarrheal syndromic surveillance sites, of which 14 hospitals were selected to carry out etiological surveillance among children under 5 years of age, including isolation and culture of both Vibrio cholera and Shigella as well as nucleic acid detection of rotavirus and norovirus by PCR. Descriptive method was used to analyze data from syndromic and etiological surveillance programs on diarrheal, from 1932 parents of the children.

Development of an ERIC sequence typing scheme for Laribacter hongkongensis, an emerging pathogen associated with community-acquired gastroenteritis and travellers' diarrhoea.

Laribacter hongkongensis is a potential emerging pathogen, associated with community-acquired diarrhoea. For epidemiological purposes, different molecular typing methods, such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing, have been developed for this pathogen. However, these methods require specialized equipment and costly reagents.

Epidemiologic and economic burden of influenza in the outpatient setting: a prospective study in a subtropical area of China.

Objectives: To understand the incidence of outpatient influenza cases in a subtropical area of China and the associated economic burden on patients' families.

Methods: A hospital-based prospective study was conducted in Zhuhai City during 2008-2009. All outpatient influenza-like illness (ILI) cases were identified in 28 sentinel hospitals.

The prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and PFGE profiles of Laribacter hongkongensis in retail freshwater fish and edible frogs of southern China.

Laribacter hongkongensis is a novel emerging pathogen associated with human gastroenteritis. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and genotypic relationship of 199 L. hongkongensis isolates from 690 intestinal samples of fish and frogs.

[Survey on the recessive infection of pathogen to hand-foot-mouth disease among healthy adults and children in Guangdong province].

Objective: To understand the pathogen-carrying status of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) among healthy people in Guangdong province.

Methods: Stool specimens were collected randomly on 7 age groups from 7 cities in Guangdong province. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect enterovirus (EV), enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackie virus A16 (CA16).

An outbreak of angiostrongyliasis in Guanging, People's Republic of China: migrants vulnerable to an emerging disease.

Angiostrongyliasis has been frequently reported from the People's Republic of China during the last decade. An outbreak of angiostrongyliasis among migrant laborers in Guangning, Guangdong Province is described here. A questionnaire was developed to collect epidemiological and clinical information about 17 migrant laborers from the Bai ethnic group in Dali, Yunnan Province.

Evaluation of the mass measles vaccination campaign in Guangdong Province, China.

Objective: To evaluate the mass measles vaccination campaign of 2009 in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: Data on the campaign implementation, measles surveillance, and serological surveillance were reviewed and analyzed by statistical methods.

Results: Rapid coverage surveys showed that 98.

An enterovirus 71 epidemic in Guangdong Province of China, 2008: epidemiological, clinical, and virogenic manifestations.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is shown to be a major causative agent in outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) reported in Guangdong (GD) Province of China in 2008. A total of 48,876 HFMD cases (131 severe and 21 fatal) were reported to the GD HFMD web-based surveillance system, which covers 871 clinics. The main causes of death included central nervous system damage, heart failure, and pulmonary edema.

[Sero-epidemiological survey on general community population to understand the infection status after the first wave of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza in Guangdong province].

Objective: To understand the infection status of pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza after the first epidemic wave and to estimate the infected population.

Methods: Multi-stage stratified random sampling was introduced with 4500 subjects chosen in Guangdong province. 1500 people were selected from 5 districts (3 streets were selected in every district) in Guangzhou city which was representing the large cities.

Cross-host evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus in palm civet and human.

The genomic sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses from human and palm civet of the 2003/2004 outbreak in the city of Guangzhou, China, were nearly identical. Phylogenetic analysis suggested an independent viral invasion from animal to human in this new episode. Combining all existing data but excluding singletons, we identified 202 single-nucleotide variations.

Epidemiologic clues to SARS origin in China.

An epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) began in Foshan municipality, Guangdong Province, China, in November 2002. We studied SARS case reports through April 30, 2003, including data from case investigations and a case series analysis of index cases. A total of 1,454 clinically confirmed cases (and 55 deaths) occurred; the epidemic peak was in the first week of February 2003.

[Effectiveness of personal protective measures in prevention of nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome].

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of personal protective measures of health care workers (HCWs) against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: A case-control study from ten hospitals in Guangdong, with 180 non-infected and 77 infected staff members that accessed the isolation unit every day, and participated in direct first aid for severe SARS patients. All participants were surveyed about how they were using personal protective equipment (PPE), protective drugs and hygiene habits when caring for patients with SARS.