Development of ECE/ECEI diagnostics and MHD-related studies on HL-2A tokamak

A novel 60-channel electron cyclotron emission (ECE) radiometer has been designed and tested for the measurement of electron temperature profiles on the HL-2A tokamak. This system is based on the intermediate frequency division technique, and has the features of wide working frequency range (60−90 GHz) and high temporal-spatial resolution (3 µs, 1 cm), which covers almost the entire plasma region. Also, an electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) system has been developed for studying two dimensional electron temperature fluctuations. It is comprised of several front-end quasi-optical lenses, a 24 channel heterodyne imaging array with a tunable RF frequency range spanning 60−135 GHz, and a set of back-end ECEI electronics that together generate two 24×8 array images of the 2nd harmonic X-mode electron cyclotron emission from the HL-2A plasma. The measurement region can be flexibly shifted due to two independent local oscillator sources, and the field of view can be adjusted easily by changing the position of the zoom lenses as well. The temporal resolution is about 2.5 µs and the achievable spatial resolution is 1 cm. The ECE/ECEI diagnostics have been demonstrated to be powerful tools to study MHD-related physics including the multi-scale interaction between macro-scale MHD and micro-scale turbulence on the HL-2A tokamak.

[Quality assessment of the clinical practice guideline for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism, 2018]

Objective: To assess the quality of the clinical practice guideline for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism, 2018 in China, providing the references for updating and developing clinical practice guidelines of this field in the future. Methods: The quality of the clinical practice guideline for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism, 2018 in China was assessed using the internationally recognized instrument Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Ⅱ (AGREE Ⅱ). AGREE Ⅱ instrument consisted of 23 items in six domains, followed by two overall assessment items. Each item was scored from 1 to 7. The final overall guideline quality considered all domain items. Results: The scores of the six AGREE Ⅱ domains were: Scope and purpose 76.4%, Stakeholder involvement 55.6%, Rigor of development 78.1%, Clarity and presentation 83.3%, Applicability 55.2%, and Editorial independence 66.7%. The guideline was recommended for clinical use. Among the 101 recommendations, recommendations based on Levels High, Moderate and Low evidence accounted for 7 (6.9%), 31 (30.7%) and 63 (62.4%), respectively. Conclusion: The methodological quality of the clinical practice guideline for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pulmonary thromboembolism, 2018 in China was great, but the levels of evidence were not high. More efforts were urgently required to improve in Stakeholder involvement and applicability. Especially corresponding economic research evidence, as well as preferences of patients and the public should be considered in the future development of clinical practice guidelines.

[Comparative study on the efficacy and safety between pegfilgrastim (PEG-rhG-CSF) and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in promoting hematopoietic recovery after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation after hematological malignancy]

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety between Pegfilgrastim (PEG-rhG-CSF) and Recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) in hematological malignancy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: 157 patients after allo-HSCT were enrolled in this study from June 2015 to November 2016. Two agents of G-CSF were used to stimulate hematopoietic recovery after transplantation. There were 65 cases in PEG-rhG-CSF and 92 cases in rhG-CSF groups. Patients in PEG-rhG-CSF group were given a single subcutaneous dose of 6 mg on the first day and +8 d, while cases in rhG-CSF group were given in dose of 5 μg·kg(-1)·d(-1) by subcutaneous injection from +1 d continuing to neutrophils more than 1.5×10(9)/L, and then the indicators and survival rates in two groups after transplantation were compared. Results: ①There were no significant differences of the neutrophil implantation time[13.5 (8-12) d vs 13 (9-24) d, P=0.393] and platelet implantation time [14 (9-160) d vs 14 (9-92) d, P=0.094] between PEG-rhG-CSF and rhG-CSF groups respectively. There were no significant differences in terms of neutropenia period (P=0.435) , number of cases who got fever during neutropenia (P=0.622) , and the median time of fever in neutropenia period (P=0.460) , respectively between the two groups. There were no significant differences of erythrocyte and platelet transfusions (P=0.074, P=0.059) within 1 month after transplantation. ②There were no significant differences with regard to the incidences of acute GVHD[23.1% (15/65) vs 34.8% (32/92) , P=0.115], chronic GVHD[20.0% (13/65) vs 32.6% (32/92) , P=0.081], Ⅱ-Ⅳdegree of acute GVHD[30.0% (13/65) vs 30.4% (30/92) , P=0.287] and extensive chronic GVHD[9.2% (6/65) vs 20.7% (19/92) , P=0.135] between PEG-rhG-CSF and rhG-CSF groups. ③There were no significant differences in terms of disease free survival (DFS) (62.5% vs 61.4%, P=0.478) and overall survival (OS) (67.4% vs 67.3%, P=0.718) between PEG-rhG-CSF and rhG-CSF groups. ④There was no significant difference of the non-relapse mortality (NRM) between PEG-rhG-CSF and rhG-CSF groups[20.5% (95%CI 11.4%-37.0%) vs 32.6% (95%CI 22.2%-47.9%) , P=0.141]. The relapse rate was not statistically significant[14.9% (95%CI 7.4%-29.8%) vs 10.0% (95%CI 5.0%-20.0%) , P=0.299]. Conclusion: Compared with rhG-CSF, PEG-rhG-CSF could reduce the times of injection. There were no differences in terms of hematopoietic recovery, the incidence of GVHD, relapse rate, DFS and OS rates after allo-HSCT between two groups.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically assess the prevalence of frailty, including prefrailty, stratified prevalence according to frailty criteria, gender, age, and region, and the risk factors for frailty in China.

DESIGN

We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis using articles available in 8 databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL Plus, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM), and Weipu Database (VIP).

SETTING

Cross-sectional and cohort data from Chinese community.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS

Two authors independently extracted data based upon predefined criteria. Where data were available we conducted a meta-analysis of frailty parameters using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

We screened 915 different articles, and 14 studies (81258 participants) were ultimately included in this analysis. The prevalence of frailty and prefrailty in individual studies varied from 5.9% to 17.4% and from 26.8% to 62.8%, respectively. The pooled prevalence of frailty and prefrailty were 10% (95% CI: 8% to 12%, I2 = 97.4%, P = 0.000) and 43% (95% CI: 37% to 50%, I2 = 98.0%, P = 0.000), respectively. The pooled frailty prevalence was 8% for the Fried frailty phenotype, 12% for the frail index, and 15% for the FRAIL scale. Age-stratified meta-analyses showed the pooled prevalence of frailty to be 6%, 15%, and 25% for those aged 65-74, 75-84, and ≥85 years old, respectively. The pooled prevalence of frailty was 8% for males and 11% for females. The pooled prevalence of frailty in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong was 12%, 8%, and 14%, respectively. The pooled frailty prevalence was 10% in urban areas and 7% in rural areas. After controlling for confounding variables, increasing age (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.2 to 1.36, I2 = 98.0%, P = 0.000), being female (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.43, I2 =92.7%, P=0.000), activities of daily living (ADL) disability (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.57 to 1.90, I2 = 99.7%, P = 0.000), and having three or more chronic diseases (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.78 to 2.18, I2 = 97.5%, P = 0.000) were associated with frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings of this review indicate an overall pooled prevalence of frailty among Chinese community-dwelling older people of 10%. Increasing age, being female, ADL disability, and having three or more chronic diseases were all risk factors for frailty. Further research will be needed to identify additional frailty risk factors in order to better treat and prevent frailty in the community.

[Clinical efficacy of recombinant activated factor Ⅶ a for 16 hematonosis with moderate or severe bleeding]

目的

观察重组人凝血因子Ⅶa（rFⅦa）对血液病及其异基因造血干细胞移植（allo-HSCT）术后出血患者的止血疗效。

方法

以2013年5月至2016年5月住院治疗的16例合并中至重度出血的血液病患者为观察对象，非移植组及移植组患者各8例，两组患者应用rFⅦa的用法、用量无明显差异。同时，以同期15例allo-HSCT后发生肠道急性移植物抗宿主病（aGVHD）肠出血患者为对照组（未应用rFⅦa），将其与allo-HSCT后肠道aGVHD肠出血应用rFⅦa患者进行生存比较，总结患者应用rFⅦa治疗的临床疗效。

结果

①非移植组与移植组患者中，rFⅦa止血显效率分别为75.0%（6/8）和37.5%（3/8），显效中位时间分别为38.5和63.0 h，中位总生存（OS）时间分别为201.0和29.0 d，OS率分别为50.0%（4/8）和25.0%（2/8），出血相关死亡率分别为50.0%（2/4）和83.3%（5/6）。②16例患者中显效者9例，无效者7例，显效组与无效组患者中，中位OS时间分别为268.0和24.0 d，OS率分别为66.7%（6/9）和0（0/7）。③同期肠道aGVHD合并肠出血患者，观察组（6例）与对照组（15例）患者的中位OS时间分别为25.5和20.0 d。

结论

血液病患者尤其是allo-HSCT患者出血相关死亡率高，rFⅦa治疗有一定止血疗效；显效组患者OS率较无效组高；allo-HSCT后肠道出血患者采用rFⅦa治疗止血效果不佳的原因可能与移植后导致出血的并发症控制不佳有关。

Search for CP Violation in Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations by the T2K Experiment with 2.2×10^{21} Protons on Target

The T2K experiment measures muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance in accelerator-produced neutrino and antineutrino beams. With an exposure of 14.7(7.6)×10^{20} protons on target in the neutrino (antineutrino) mode, 89 ν_{e} candidates and seven anti-ν_{e} candidates are observed, while 67.5 and 9.0 are expected for δ_{CP}=0 and normal mass ordering. The obtained 2σ confidence interval for the CP-violating phase, δ_{CP}, does not include the CP-conserving cases (δ_{CP}=0, π). The best-fit values of other parameters are sin^{2}θ_{23}=0.526_{-0.036}^{+0.032} and Δm_{32}^{2}=2.463_{-0.070}^{+0.071}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4}.

Search for Boosted Dark Matter Interacting with Electrons in Super-Kamiokande

A search for boosted dark matter using 161.9 kt yr of Super-Kamiokande IV data is presented. We search for an excess of elastically scattered electrons above the atmospheric neutrino background, with a visible energy between 100 MeV and 1 TeV, pointing back to the Galactic center or the Sun. No such excess is observed. Limits on boosted dark matter event rates in multiple angular cones around the Galactic center and Sun are calculated. Limits are also calculated for a baseline model of boosted dark matter produced from cold dark matter annihilation or decay. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter from the Galactic center or the Sun interacting in a terrestrial detector.

Clinical and molecular insights into Glanzmann's thrombasthenia in China

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare bleeding disorder characterized by spontaneous mucocutaneous bleeding. The disorder is caused by quantitative or qualitative defects in integrin αIIbβ3 (encoded by ITGA2B and ITGB3) on the platelet and is more common in consanguineous populations. However, the prevalence rate and clinical characteristics of GT in non-consanguineous populations have been unclear. We analyzed 97 patients from 93 families with GT in the Han population in China. This analysis showed lower consanguinity (18.3%) in Han patients than other ethnic populations in GT-prone countries. Compared with other ethnic populations, there was no significant difference in the distribution of GT types. Han females suffered more severe bleeding and had a poorer prognosis. We identified a total of 43 different ITGA2B and ITGB3 variants, including 25 previously unidentified, in 45 patients. These variants included 14 missense, 4 nonsense, 4 frameshift, and 3 splicing site variants. Patients with the same genotype generally manifested the same GT type but presented with different bleeding severities. This suggests that GT clinical phenotype does not solely depend on genotype. Our study provides an initial, yet important, clinical and molecular characterization of GT heterogeneity in China.

Genetic characterization of a novel group of avastroviruses in geese

As part of aetiological studies, we tested 28 samples collected from domestic geese showing enteritis and sporadic death. A novel group of avastroviruses was found in six samples. One isolate was completely sequenced, which comprised 7,148 nucleotides. Pairwise comparisons and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the goose astrovirus is highly divergent from all previously described avastroviruses. Our data support the view that domestic geese can be infected by astroviruses with different genetic backgrounds, and have raised a concern about the role of domestic geese as reservoirs for diverse astroviruses.

Isolation and characterization of pectolytic bacterial pathogens infecting potatoes in Nakuru County, Kenya

AIMS

Isolation and characterization of pectolytic bacteria associated with soft rot disease of potatoes in Nakuru, Kenya, to provide the basis for the development of disease control measures.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Potato tubers showing symptoms of soft rot were collected from different farms in Molo and Mau Narok regions within Nakuru county. Isolation was done using crystal violet pectate medium (CVPM). Out of the 71 isolates that showed growth on CVPM, pathogenicity tests revealed that 36 of them had the ability to macerate tissues of potato tubers. All the isolates yielded a fragment of approximately 1500 bp after 16S rDNA amplification. Using the BIOLOG microbial identification system, 20 bacterial isolates were identified as Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, 7 were Pseudomonas fluorescens B while 9 were Ps. fluorescens A. Y1/Y2 primers successfully amplified pectate lyase-encoding (pel) gene, approximately 434 bp, in all the 20 P. carotovorum species. The virulence of the isolated strains to cause disease, according to pectinolytic tests, varied with change in incubation temperature of the test samples. Pectobacterium carotovorum strains were the most virulent at 30°C while disease severity due to infection by Ps. fluorescens A strains was high at 20°C compared to the other isolates.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals the identity of pectolytic bacterial species from two genera, Pectobacterium and Pseudomonas, as causative agents of potato soft rot in Nakuru, Kenya.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Research findings from this study will aid in developing suitable risk mitigation methods for adoption by farmers to prevent losses due to soft rot.

[Study on relationship between Set gene expression and clinical manifestations in bone marrow of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia]

Objective: To explore the expression and significance of Set gene in Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients , and to analyze its effect for the prognosis of AML. Methods: The level of Set gene expression was detected by real-time PCR in 59 AML patients and 20 heathy people. The mutations in C-kit 8/17 gene, NPM1 gene and FLT3-TKD/ITD gene in 59 AML patients were detected by direct sequencing. Results: The level of Set gene expression[1.41(0.41-3.31)]was significantly higher in 59 AML patients.The expression of Set gene was correlated with the percentage of marrow blasts and CR in AML patients (P=0.040, P<0.001); the CR rate of Set gene high expression group was significantly lower than that of Set gene low expression group(32.1% vs 83.9%, P=0.01). In the intermediate-risk of AML patients with chromosome karyotype analysis, the CR rate of Set gene high expression group and low expression group were 34.8% and 88.9%, and there are significantly different between two groups(P<0.001); univariate and multivariate analysis showed that Set gene high expression group correlated with poor OS[4(2-15)months]and EFS[3(2-13)months])(P=0.021, P=0.017). It suggests that the Set gene maybe one of AML independent poor prognostic marker.The level of Set gene expression did not correlate with sex, age, WBC, HGB, PLT, FAB typing, chromosomal karyotype and NPM1, C-Kit8/17, CEBPa, FLT3-ITD/TKD gene mutations in AML patients(all P>0.05). Conclusions: The level of Set gene expression in bone marrow maybe play an important role in AML. The high expression of Set gene indicates poor prognosis in AML patients.