To examine the test-retest reliability, calculate minimal detectable change (MDC), and report internal consistency of the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-Third Edition (TVPS-3) in patients with ...stroke.
Repeated-measures design (at an interval of 2wk).
Medical center.
Patients (N=50) with chronic stroke who completed the TVPS-3.
Not applicable.
TVPS-3 that contains 7 subscales, namely, visual discrimination, visual memory, spatial relations, form constancy, sequential memory, visual figure-ground, and visual closure.
The intraclass correlation coefficient value of the overall scale was .92 and those of the 7 subscales were .53 to .82. The MDC values of the overall scale and the subscales were 18.1 and 5.4 to 7.1, respectively. The MDC% value of the overall scale was 16.2% (<30%), showing acceptable random measurement error. However, the MDC% values of the subscales were 33.7% to 44.1% (>30%), indicating substantial random measurement errors. The Cronbach α of the 7 subscales were .71 to .89, indicating good internal consistency.
Our results showed that the overall scale of the TVPS-3 had satisfactory test-retest reliability. However, the subscales demonstrated insufficient test-retest reliability. Therefore, the subscales should be used cautiously to explain the test results over repeated assessments in patients with stroke.
The conserved RNA-binding protein Musashi1 (MSI1) has been characterized as a stem cell marker, controlling the balance between self-renewal and differentiation and as a key oncogenic factor in ...numerous solid tumors, including glioblastoma. To explore the potential use of MSI1 targeting in therapy, we studied MSI1 in the context of radiation sensitivity. Knockdown of MSI1 led to a decrease in cell survival and an increase in DNA damage compared to control in cells treated with ionizing radiation. We subsequently examined mechanisms of double-strand break repair and found that loss of MSI1 reduces the frequency of nonhomologous end-joining. This phenomenon could be attributed to the decreased expression of DNA–protein kinase catalytic subunit, which we have previously identified as a target of MSI1. Collectively, our results suggest a role for MSI1 in double-strand break repair and that its inhibition may enhance the effect of radiotherapy.
Carcinoid heart disease is a rare but important cause of intrinsic right heart valve disorders leading to right heart failure. Occasionally, left-sided heart valves may also be involved. The ...characteristic cardiac pathological findings of carcinoid heart disease are endocardial thickening as a result of fibrous deposits on the endocardium. Echocardiographic examination and right heart catheterization are very useful for the diagnosis of the lesion. If more cardiac valves are affected, multiple valve replacement should be considered. The management of the pulmonary valve lesion depends on the extent of the diseased valve, either by valvulotomy, valvectomy, or valve replacement. Percutaneous valve implantations in the pulmonary and in the inferior vena cava positions have been advocated for high-risk patients.
In the past few decades, enterovirus A71 (EVA71) has caused devastating outbreaks in the Asia-Pacific region, resulting in serious sequelae in infected young children. No preventive or therapeutic ...interventions are currently available for curing EVA71 infection, highlighting a great unmet medical need for this disease. Here, we showed that one novel single-domain antibody (sdAb), F1, isolated from an immunized llama, could alleviate EVA71 infection both
and
We also confirmed that the sdAb clone F1 recognizes EVA71 through a novel conformational epitope comprising the highly conserved region of VP3 capsid protein by using competitive-binding and overlapping-peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Because of the virion's icosahedral structure, we reasoned that adjacent epitopes must be clustered within molecular ranges that may be simultaneously bound by an engineered antibody with multiple valency. Therefore, two single-domain binding modules (F1) were fused to generate an sdAb-in-tandem design so that the capture of viral antigens could be further increased by valency effects. We showed that the tetravalent construct F1×F1-hFc, containing two sdAb-in-tandem on a fragment crystallizable (Fc) scaffold, exhibits more potent neutralization activity against EVA71 than does the bivalent sdAb F1-hFc by at least 5.8-fold. We also demonstrated that, using a human scavenger receptor class B member 2 (hSCARB2) transgenic mouse model, a half dose of the F1×F1-hFc provided better protection against EVA71 infection than did the F1-hFc. Thus, our study furnishes important insights into multivalent sdAb engineering against viral infection and provides a novel strategic deployment approach for preparedness of emerging infectious diseases such as EVA71.
The liver-derived C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive and systemic biomarker of inflammation, and has been associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in populations other than ...Chinese. Therefore, we prospectively examined the relation between plasma levels of CRP and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among a Chinese population.
Plasma high-sensitive CRP (hs-CRP) concentrations were assayed among 571 T2D cases and 571 controls nested in the prospective cohort of the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Both cases and controls were free of physician-diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer at blood collections (1999-2004). Incident physician-diagnosed T2D cases were self-reported during the follow-up visits (2006-2010), and controls were matched for age (±3 years) and date (±6 months) of blood collection and gender. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compute the odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
The mean (SD) concentrations of hs-CRP were 2.79 (2.65) and 1.86 (2.03) mg/L, respectively, in cases and controls (P < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment for T2D risk factors such as lifestyle, body mass index, plasma triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, the OR comparing the extreme quartiles of hs-CRP was 1.74 95% CI 1.12-2.70; P for trend = 0.016. When the analysis was limited to 279 cases who had HbA1c ≥6.5% at the time of blood collection and their controls, the OR comparing the extreme quartiles of hs-CRP was 2.43 (95% CI 1.25-4.71; P for trend = 0.003). When confined to the other 292 subjects with HbA1c <6.5% and their controls, the corresponding OR was 1.24 (95% CI 0.64-2.39; P for trend = 0.93).
We found that CRP was not associated with increased risk of incident diabetes in this cohort of Chinese in Singapore. Previous positive findings from prospective studies might be partly due to undiagnosed T2D among the cases during blood collection.
To assess different bridging anticoagulation therapies early after mechanical heart valve replacement (MHVR) in Chinese patients.
We performed a prospective, single-center, observational cohort study ...of 305 patients who underwent elective MHVR with different bridging anticoagulation regimens. Patients enrolled in the study were divided into three bridging therapy groups: the unfractionated heparin (UFH) group (n = 109), the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) group (n = 97), and the UFH with sequential LMWH (UFH-LMWH) group (n = 99). All patients were followed for 4 weeks.
Two patients experienced thromboembolic stroke events in the UFH group. The LMWH group was associated with an increase in the incidence of bleeding events compared with the UFH group (10.3% VS 2.8%; P = 0.03). With a comparison of LMWH and UFH group in secondary endpoints, the statistical test for significance indicated a trend of reduced ICU length of stay (P = 0.08), postoperative length of stay (P = 0.08) and time of achieving target INR (P = 0.06). The creatinine level (odds ratio = 1.03; 95% confidence interval = 1.01 to 1.05; P = 0.02) and hypertension (odds ratio = 3.72; 95% confidence interval = 1.35 to 10.28; P = 0.01) were risk factors for bleeding events.
For Chinese patients, the LMWH bridging anticoagulation presents the increased the incidence of bleeding events, but enables patients to benefit from achieving an early anticoagulation effect. Close follow-up and personalized management are required in patients with thromboembolic and bleeding risk factors.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1800019841. Registered 2 December 2018 retrospectively.
Although expendable conductivity-temperature-depth (XCTD) profiler has been extensively studied, there are relatively few studies on the transmission performance of XCTD channel, which makes it ...unclear that the signal is affected by the channel in the long-distance transmission process. First, the structure of the XCTD is analyzed. Then, according to the working mode and channel structure characteristics of XCTD, the circuit model of the transmission channel is established. In order to better study the channel compensation method, a laboratory transmission system of XCTD is built. By analyzing the influence of channel impedance parameters on the transmission signal, the channel model of XCTD is optimized, and the compensation channel is determined to be series inductance. Finally, the bit error rate (BER) of unoptimized and optimized channels is compared based on ASK and differential phase-shift keying (DPSK) modulation. It is verified that the optimized channel model of XCTD has a certain significance in reducing the BER of the transmission signal. This article has important theoretical significance and practical application value for the research of transmission signal transmission performance of expendable profiler.
Emissions and by-products from manufacturing torrefied solid recovered fuel using pulp industry waste containing wood waste with pulp sludge (WPS) were studied. Two batches of WPS1 and WPS2 were ...tested. The torrefaction of WSP1 and WPS2 were performed at their respectively optimal temperature of 573 and 593 K and time of 20 min, referred as cases WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20, respectively. WPS1 contained higher fixed carbons and volatile matters but lower ash content than WPS2. The results showed that the solid yields of 56 and 61 wt.%, gas yields of 16 and 16 wt.% and liquid yields of 28 and 24 wt.% for WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20, respectively. The maximal concentration of emissions for WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20 are about 1952.5 and 3743.5 ppmv for CO, 26.5 and 156 ppmv for NOx and 31.5 and 392 ppmv for SO2, respectively. The CCO exceeded the emission standard and required further action. The collected non-condensable gases consisted of hydrocarbons ranging from C1-HC to C6-HC, with C4-HC being the predominant component. Here, Cn-HC represents hydrocarbons with a carbon atom count of n. The GC-MS analysis revealed the primary liquid byproducts. The liquid products can be used directly as pyroligneous liquor in agriculture. Furthermore, with refining techniques, these liquid byproducts can be transformed into high-quality chemicals for applications such as fungicides, pesticides, solvents, surfactants, and as precursors or monomers in the synthesis of other chemicals.
Cardiac myxoma in pregnancy is rare and the clinical characteristics of this entity have been insufficiently elucidated. This article aims to describe the treatment options and the risk factors ...responsible for the maternal and feto-neonatal prognoses.
A comprehensive search of the literature of cardiac myxoma in pregnancy was conducted and 44 articles with 51 patients were included in the present review.
Transthoracic echocardiography was the most common diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma during pregnancy. Cardiac myxoma resection was performed in 95.9% (47/49); while no surgical resection was performed in 4.1% (2/49) patients (P=0.000). More patients had an isolated cardiac myxoma resection in comparison to those with a concurrent or staged additional cardiac operation 87.2% (41/47) vs. 12.8% (6/47), P=0.000. A voluntary termination of the pregnancy was done in 7 (13.7%) cases. In the remaining 31 (60.8%) pregnant patients, cesarean section was the most common delivery mode representing 61.3% and vaginal delivery was more common accounting for 19.4%. Cardiac surgery was performed in the first, second and third trimester in 5 (13.9%), 14 (38.9%) and 17 (47.2%) patients, respectively. No patients died. In the delivery group, 20 (76.9%) neonates were event-free survivals, 4 (15.4%) were complicated and 2 (7.7%) died. Neonatal prognoses did not differ between the delivery modes, treatment options, timing of cardiac surgery and sequence of cardiac myxoma resection in relation to delivery.
The diagnosis of cardiac myxoma in pregnancy is important. Surgical treatment of cardiac myxoma in the pregnant patients has brought about favorable maternal and feto-neonatal outcomes in the delivery group, which might be attributable to the shorter operation duration and non-emergency nature of the surgical intervention. Proper timing of cardiac surgery and improved cardiopulmonary bypass conditions may result in even better maternal and feto-neonatal survivals.
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