Although microscopy still remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria, rapid diagnostic tests （RDTs） and PCR assays have been shown to be sensitive and specific. Very few comparative studies have been rep...Although microscopy still remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria, rapid diagnostic tests （RDTs） and PCR assays have been shown to be sensitive and specific. Very few comparative studies have been reported of the three diagnostic methods on the same samples in vulnerable groups. Microscopy, RDTs and PCR assays were used for detection and speciation of Plasmodium falciparum （P）＇）, Plasmodium malariae （Pm） and Plasmodium ovale （Po） in patients in a rice culture savanna ecotype. Fifty four children and 16 pregnant women presenting with a fever were recruited. Bloods collected was used for thin and thick smears, perform RDTs and spotted blood on filter paper for DNA extraction and performance of a PCR. Mean parasitaemia was 37,619.06 （＋ 33,599.04） p/pL and 7,512.5 （＋ 12,446.11） p/μL for children and pregnant women, respectively. A total of 87.14% were positive by microscopy, 85.71% by RDTs and 90% by PCR. Distribution of Plasmodium species as identified by PCR was 72.86% Pf/Pm, 11.43% Pf/Pm/Po and 5.43% Pm while 10% were negative. Cohen＇s Kappa value for PCR and RDTs was K = 0.75 （CI = 0.28-1.22） while PCR and microscopy was K = 0.64 （CI = 0.18-1.10）. Malaria infection in Bangolan was mostly due to mix infection predominantly P. falciparum/P, malariae.展开更多
Recent developments in studies of directed transport processes in interacting particle systems are retrospected. Due to the interactions among elements, the directed transport process exhibits complicated and novel co...Recent developments in studies of directed transport processes in interacting particle systems are retrospected. Due to the interactions among elements, the directed transport process exhibits complicated and novel cooperative dynamics. We considered various possibilities in achieving ratchet motion by breaking different symmetries of many-body systems. It is shown that the directional transport can even be induced by breaking the coupling symmetry and the spatiotemporal symmetries.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during h...Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during hospitalization were recruited from the Hospital Inpatient System between January 1996 and December 2005. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory measurements, echocardiographic and treatment features, and in-hospital outcomes were retrospectively reviewed by using a standardized data collection form. Results One hundred and fifry-three consecutive patients were recruited. Mild, moderate and large pericardial effusion occurred in 61 （40%）, 52 （34%） and 40 （26%） patients, respectively. The most frequent etiologic diagnoses were tuberculous pericarditis （ n = 50, 33% ） , malignancy （ n = 36, 24% ） and idiopathic pericarditis （n = 35, 23% ）. Large effusions were more likely＇ associated with malignancy （P 〈 0. 01 ）. Compared to the initial 5 years （from 1996 to 2000） , the incidence of tuberculous effusion was decreased but neoplastic effusion increased significantly in the recent 5 ）,ears （from 2001 to 2005 ）. Forty-four patients underwent percardiocentesis （tuberculous in 23, neoplastic in 16, and others in 5） and 28 patients required pericardectomy （tuberculous in 11 and neoplastic in 17）. One patient with tuberculous and 3 patients with neoplastic pericardial effusion died during hospitalization. Conclusion Tuberculosis remains the major cause of pericardial effusion, but neoplastic pericardial effusions are on the rise. Pericardial drainage or pericardectomy are often required for symptomatic relief in those with malignancy-caused pericardial effusion.展开更多
文摘Although microscopy still remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria, rapid diagnostic tests （RDTs） and PCR assays have been shown to be sensitive and specific. Very few comparative studies have been reported of the three diagnostic methods on the same samples in vulnerable groups. Microscopy, RDTs and PCR assays were used for detection and speciation of Plasmodium falciparum （P）＇）, Plasmodium malariae （Pm） and Plasmodium ovale （Po） in patients in a rice culture savanna ecotype. Fifty four children and 16 pregnant women presenting with a fever were recruited. Bloods collected was used for thin and thick smears, perform RDTs and spotted blood on filter paper for DNA extraction and performance of a PCR. Mean parasitaemia was 37,619.06 （＋ 33,599.04） p/pL and 7,512.5 （＋ 12,446.11） p/μL for children and pregnant women, respectively. A total of 87.14% were positive by microscopy, 85.71% by RDTs and 90% by PCR. Distribution of Plasmodium species as identified by PCR was 72.86% Pf/Pm, 11.43% Pf/Pm/Po and 5.43% Pm while 10% were negative. Cohen＇s Kappa value for PCR and RDTs was K = 0.75 （CI = 0.28-1.22） while PCR and microscopy was K = 0.64 （CI = 0.18-1.10）. Malaria infection in Bangolan was mostly due to mix infection predominantly P. falciparum/P, malariae.
文摘Recent developments in studies of directed transport processes in interacting particle systems are retrospected. Due to the interactions among elements, the directed transport process exhibits complicated and novel cooperative dynamics. We considered various possibilities in achieving ratchet motion by breaking different symmetries of many-body systems. It is shown that the directional transport can even be induced by breaking the coupling symmetry and the spatiotemporal symmetries.
文摘Objective To evaluate the evolution of etiology, clinical characteristics, and in-hospital outcomes of pericardial effusions in the recent decade. Methods All patients with a diagnosis of pericardial effusion during hospitalization were recruited from the Hospital Inpatient System between January 1996 and December 2005. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory measurements, echocardiographic and treatment features, and in-hospital outcomes were retrospectively reviewed by using a standardized data collection form. Results One hundred and fifry-three consecutive patients were recruited. Mild, moderate and large pericardial effusion occurred in 61 （40%）, 52 （34%） and 40 （26%） patients, respectively. The most frequent etiologic diagnoses were tuberculous pericarditis （ n = 50, 33% ） , malignancy （ n = 36, 24% ） and idiopathic pericarditis （n = 35, 23% ）. Large effusions were more likely＇ associated with malignancy （P 〈 0. 01 ）. Compared to the initial 5 years （from 1996 to 2000） , the incidence of tuberculous effusion was decreased but neoplastic effusion increased significantly in the recent 5 ）,ears （from 2001 to 2005 ）. Forty-four patients underwent percardiocentesis （tuberculous in 23, neoplastic in 16, and others in 5） and 28 patients required pericardectomy （tuberculous in 11 and neoplastic in 17）. One patient with tuberculous and 3 patients with neoplastic pericardial effusion died during hospitalization. Conclusion Tuberculosis remains the major cause of pericardial effusion, but neoplastic pericardial effusions are on the rise. Pericardial drainage or pericardectomy are often required for symptomatic relief in those with malignancy-caused pericardial effusion.
