This study was designed to determine the association between admission lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) values and clinical outcomes in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
We ...used a prospective and registry-based database, and ICH patients were consecutively recruited in Beijing Tiantan Hospital between January 2014 and September 2016. All participants were stratified by quartiles of the LMR. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were plotted to evaluate the association between LMR levels and functional outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis were also performed to examine the relevance between different LMR quartiles and case fatality at follow-up.
Six hundred and forty patients with spontaneous ICH were finally included in this study. Compared with the patients with LMR values in quartile 1 (Q1), slightly elevated LMR values showed a negative correlation with risks of poor short-term outcomes (adjusted ORs in Q2 were 0.572 95% CI: 0.338-0.968 at 1 month, 0.515 95% CI: 0.305-0.871 at 3 months). Patients with LMR values in Q1 had the highest cumulative death rate. A slightly elevated LMR was also independently relevant to a deduced mortality rate compared to that in Q1 (adjusted HRs in Q2 were 0.471 95% CI: 0.274-0.809 at 1 month, 0.474 95% CI: 0.283-0.793 at 3 months, 0.575 95% CI: 0.361-0.917 at 1 year). Additionally, a higher LMR value was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital infections.
This study suggests that a lower LMR value is associated with higher risks of in-hospital infections, poor functional outcomes, and follow-up mortality in patients with ICH. However, a slightly elevated LMR value, especially in Q2, relates to a favorable prognosis, which may reflect an inner balance between inflammation and immunodepression and thus provides a promising marker for predicting ICH prognosis.
Acute Fibrinous and Organizing Pneumonia (AFOP) is a new pathologic pattern of acute lung injury characterized by the presence of intra-alveolar fibrin in the form of fibrin "balls" in a patchy ...distribution.
A 65-years-old female after a surgical resection of rectal adenocarcinoma presented with typical manifestations of hospital-acquired pneumonia, but she didn't respond to the anti infective therapy. After an explicit diagnosis of AFOP via percutaneous needle lung biopsy, she got an impressive improvement with a long-term therapy of methylprednisolone and low-dose indomethacin. To date, a total of non-overlapped 45 individual AFOP cases and 4 single-center studies involving AFOP have been reported. The most common coexisting diseases are infections, connective tissue diseases and hematological diseases. Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants are the most common agents prescribed in AFOP. The prognosis of AFOP is unfavorable, associated with the pathologic characteristics and the clinical parameters.
The immune system activated by infection may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AFOP. Low-dose indomethacin combined with methylprednisolone may be a new choice for AFOP treatment.
To evaluate a new quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for the rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Primers for Staphylococcus-specific regions of ...16S rRNA gene, spa gene and mecA gene were newly designed. RNAs extracted from broth-cultured strains were tested by qRT-PCR targeting each primer, and the bacterial counts obtained correlated well with those counted by the plating method with detection limits of 10⁰, 10¹ and 10² CFU. The qRT-PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA was 6430-fold or more sensitive than qPCR assay. All Staph. aureus strains tested were detected and none of the other Staphylococcus species and genus strains tested cross-reacted with the assay targeting the spa gene. All MRSAs tested were detected by the assay targeting the mecA gene. Clinical samples, faecal material and bronchial washout solutions were tested by our assay, and MRSAs were detected with a high sensitivity within 6 h. Our qRT-PCR assay targeting three new primers to the target genes is a rapid and sensitive tool for the detection of MRSA directly from clinical samples. Because of its sensitivity and rapidity, our qRT-PCR assay is considered to be a valuable tool for clinical management.
Two thrips species—the yellow tea thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) and the stick tea thrips (Dendrothrips minowai Priesner)—are serious pests affecting tea plants in southern China. Although the ...stick tea thrips is primarily restricted to southern China, the yellow tea thrips is gradually proliferating worldwide. Colored sticky card traps may be useful for monitoring and capturing these species, but a systematic analysis has not been conducted to identify the most effective trap color, height, and orientation. We performed indoor experiments using an orthogonal experimental design, as well as field tests in tea gardens, to identify the color most attractive to the two thrips species. Field tests were then conducted using color-optimized traps—lawngreen (RGB: 124, 252, 0) for yellow thrips and lime (RGB: 0, 255, 0) for stick tea thrips—to determine the most effective trap height and orientation. The greatest numbers of both yellow and stick tea thrips were captured on traps positioned 0–20 cm above the tea canopy in an east–west orientation. We also evaluated the performance of the color-optimized sticky card traps compared with commercially available yellow ones. Significantly more yellow and stick tea thrips and fewer natural enemies were captured on the color-optimized traps than on commercial ones. Although additional research is needed to explain the responses of the two different species and to increase trap effectiveness, our findings should assist in the control of these harmful insects.
The tea geometrid
Ectropis grisescens
is an important pest of tea plant (
Camellia sinensis
(L.) O. Kuntze). It feeds on the new leaves and tender stems of tea plants, causing serious damage. The ...green leaf volatile (
Z
)-3-hexenol (z3HOL) can effectively activate the defense of tea against
E. grisescens
in the laboratory. In this study, z3HOL was confirmed to activate the tea mitogen-activated protein kinase and jasmonic acid (JA) burst in the laboratory. We investigated effects of z3HOL on the defense responses of tea plants under field conditions. Our results showed that tea plants exposed to z3HOL showed higher levels of JA and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and emitted increased quantities of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to non-exposed plants. Less
E. grisescens
larvae were observed in z3HOL-treated plots and less damage was found in z3HOL-treated plants than control. The number of
Apanteles
sp. and the parasitism of
E. grisescens
were also enhanced by z3HOL. These findings indicate that synthetic z3HOL can triggers tea defense responses against
E. grisescens
in the field, and that it could be used as a chemical elicitor to enhance biological control of tea geometrid in the future.
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of recombinant anti-HER2 humanized monoclonal antibody (Cipterbin) combined with vinorelbine in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer.
...Patients were randomized 2∶1 to test group and control group. Patients in test group received Cipterbin (4 mg/kg loading dose and 2 mg/kg maintenance dose each week, IV) combined with vinorelbine (25 mg/m(2) on days 1,8 and 15 of each 28 days, IV). Patients in control group received vinorelbine (25 mg/m(2) on days 1,8 and 15 of each 28 days, IV).The primary end point was progression free survival (PFS).
A total of 315 patients were enrolled from Jan 2009 to Jan 2013 (212 in test group and 103 in control group). The median PFS of test group was significantly longer than that of control group, 39.1 weeks vs 14.0 weeks (
=0.24; 95
, 0.16-0.36;
0.000 1). The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in test group were significantly higher than those in control group, ORR was 46.7% vs 18.45% (
0.000 1) a
Undoped nanodiamond (ND) powder with average particle sizes of 5 and 100
nm were modified with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles by electrodeposition from 1.1
mM chloroplatinic acid solution. The structure ...and morphology of the composites were characterized by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that Pt nanoparticles were well-dispersed on the facet surfaces of ND particles. The electrooxidation of methanol on Pt-modified ND powders was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, which indicated its good electrocatalytic activity. Compared with 100
nm ND powder, the 5
nm ND powder modified with Pt nanoparticles exhibited better electrocatalytic activity.
To analyze the indication and the outcome of trans-sphenoidal surgery (TSS) in Cushing's disease (CD) with negative high dose dexamethasone suppression tests (HDDST) results.
Eighteen cases of ...ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS) with negative HDDST results in the Department of Neurosurgery in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent TSS. There were 5 males and 13 females, with an average age of (41±14) years.
All patients underwent bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) before the surgery and got evidence of pituitary origin of ACTH secretion. They were thus indicated for TSS. Immediate post-operative remission was achieved in ratio 17/18. There were no recurrences within a flow-up of 1 to 3 years. Pituitary ACTH secreting adenomas were pathologically confirmed in 15 cases, including the one who did not achieve post-operative remission. Thus, all 18 patients with negative HDDST results can finally be confirmed as CD.
HDDST
Summary Objective Chondrocyte-seeded agarose constructs of 4 mm diameter (2.34 mm thickness) develop spatially inhomogeneous material properties with stiffer outer edges and a softer central core ...suggesting nutrient diffusion limitations to the central construct region Guilak F, Sah RL, Setton LA. Physical regulation of cartilage metabolism. In: Mow VC, Hayes WC, Eds. Basic Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Philadelphia 1997;179–207.. The effects of reducing construct thickness and creating channels running through the depth of the thick constructs were examined. Methods In Study 1, the properties of engineered cartilage of 0.78 mm (thin) or 2.34 mm (thick) thickness were compared. In Study 2, a single nutrient channel (1 mm diameter) was created in the middle of each thick construct. In Study 3, the effects of channels on larger 10 mm diameter, thick constructs were examined. Results Thin constructs developed superior mechanical and biochemical properties than thick constructs. The channeled constructs developed significantly higher mechanical properties vs control channel-free constructs while exhibiting similar glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen content. Collagen staining suggested that channels resulted in a more uniform fibrillar network. Improvements in constructs of 10 mm diameter were similarly observed. Conclusions This study demonstrated that more homogeneous tissue-engineered cartilage constructs with improved mechanical properties can be achieved by reducing their thickness or incorporating macroscopic nutrient channels. Our data further suggests that these macroscopic channels remain open long enough to promote this enhanced tissue development while exhibiting the potential to refill with cell elaborated matrix with additional culture time. Together with reports that <3 mm defects in cartilage heal in vivo and that irregular holes are associated with clinically used osteochondral graft procedures, we anticipate that a strategy of incorporating macroscopic channels may aid the development of clinically relevant engineered cartilage with functional properties.
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