[Re-examination of malaria diagnosis in Hubei Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2017 to 2019]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the re-examination results of malaria cases captured from the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System in Hubei Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2017 to 2019, so as to pro- vide the scientific evidence for improving the malaria control capability in the province.

METHODS

Microscopy and nested PCR assay were performed to re-examine the diagnosis of malaria cases registered in the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System in Hubei Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2017 to 2019, and the coincidences of ma- laria diagnosis and malaria parasite species were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 410 malaria cases were reported in Hubei Province from 2017 to 2019 according to the data retrieved from the National Notifiable Communicable Disease Reporting System. Among the 407 samples re-examined by Hubei Provincial Malaria Diagnostic Reference Laboratory from 2017 to 2019, the diag- nosis 374 malaria cases were confirmed, with an overall coincidence of 91.89% (374/407) for malaria diagnosis and 89.04% (333/374) for parasite species identification. The coincidence rates of malaria diagnosis and parasite species identification were 50.00% to 100.00% and 66.67% to 100.00% in 16 cities (prefectures) of Hubei Province during the re-examinations, which both varied in regions (χ² = 40.46 and 42.30, both P values < 0.01). The coincidence rates of Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale identification were 95.80%, 100.00%, 58.33% and 51.92% during the re-examinations, respectively (χ² = 76.66, P < 0.01). The consistency rate between microscopic and nested PCR results was 89.83% (362/403).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall diagnostic quality of malaria is high in medical institutions at all levels in Hubei Province; however, the diagnostic capability of malaria remains to be improved in some regions.

Effects of esophageal acid perfusion on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The effects of gastroesophageal reflux on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma have yet to be studied in significant detail. The purpose of the present study was to determine how esophageal acid perfusion could change airway responsiveness in patients with bronchial asthma.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS

In seven patients with bronchial asthma (mean +/- SD age, 55.1 +/- 6.4 years; four women and three men), esophageal pH was monitored by a pH meter and airway responsiveness was evaluated by aerosol inhalation of methacholine, during esophageal perfusion through an esophageal tube filled with either saline solution or 0. 1N hydrochloric acid (HCl), the order of which was selected at random, in 1-week intervals. Spirometry was also performed during esophageal pH monitoring.

RESULTS

A significant decrease in the geometric mean of airway sensitivity or the concentration of methacholine causing a 35% fall in respiratory conductance was observed during esophageal HCl perfusion compared with that of saline solution perfusion (p < 0.01 or p < 0.003), although no significant changes were observed in vital capacity, FEV(1), peak expiratory flow, respiratory resistance, or slope of respiratory conductance during the periods of saline solution and HCl perfusion.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that an increase in airway hyperresponsiveness was induced when HCl stimulated the esophagus in patients with bronchial asthma. These results suggest that esophageal reflux is one of the important factors that aggravate asthmatic status.

[Determination of 4 antiseptics and 6 sunscreen agents in cosmetic products by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography]

A method for the quantitative determination of 4 antiseptics (methyl p-hydroxybenzoate, ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-propyl p-hydroxybenzoate, n-butyl p-hydroxybenzoate) and 6 sunscreen agents (2-hydroxy 4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, 2-hydroxy 4-methoxybenzophenone, phenyl salicylate, 2-ethylhexyl 4-dimethyl aminobenzoate, 2-ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate) in cosmetic products was developed successfully. It was based on a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic separation under the conditions of isocratic elution with a mixture of methanol-THF-water (30:100:100, V/V) by using a column packed with 10 microns YWG-C18, and the UV detection at 254 nm and 310 nm. The recoveries(n = 6) ranged from 87.2% to 106.5%, and the relative standard deviations(n = 6) were from 1.2% to 3.3%.