Diagnostic performance of specific biomarkers for interstitial lung disease: a single center study.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the clinical significance of Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), surfactant proteins A (SP-A) and D (SP-D) in the evaluation and management of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods: Serum KL-6, SP-A, SP-D levels were measured in 122 unique consecutive patients referred for connective tissue disease (CTD) associated ILD (CTD-ILD) autoantibodies and 120 "healthy" controls. Patients' charts were retrospectively reviewed and categorized as ILD and non-ILD or CTD-ILD and other ILD.

Absence of Anti-Babesia microti antibody in commercial intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

Background: Babesiosis is a worldwide emerging protozoan infection that is associated with a spectrum of disease severity from asymptomatic infection to severe organ damage and death. While effective treatment strategies are available, some immunocompromised patients experience severe acute and prolonged/relapsing illness due in part to an impaired host antibody response. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been used as an adjunctive therapy in some immunocompromised babesiosis patients, but its therapeutic effect is uncertain.

Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Neonate with an Oligohydramnios as a Rare Presentation: A Case Report.

Tracheoesophageal fistula is a challenging anomaly with a rare prevalence with symptoms mainly respiratory, sometimes digestive. We present a rare case of oesophageal atresia with distal Tracheoesophageal fistula in a female child whose mother presented with severe oligohydramnios on ultrasonography with intrauterine growth retardation before cesarean section. After the birth of preterm and very low birth weight neonate, we initially diagnosed as respiratory distress syndrome with a club foot.

High Resistance of spp. and spp. in Blood and Stool Cultures from the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2015-2019.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasing global concern, particularly in Southeast Asian countries like Nepal. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of spp. and spp.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of spp. Isolated from Enteric Fever Patients in Nepal.

Introduction: Enteric fever, a systemic infection caused by Typhi and Paratyphi is one of the most common infections in developing countries such as Nepal. Aside from irrational practices of antibiotic use, mutations in chromosomal genes encoding DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase IV and by plasmid mediated quinolone resistant (PMQR) genes are suggested mechanisms for the development of resistance to nalidixic acid and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin. Regardless of high endemicity of enteric fever in Nepal, there is paucity of studies on prevalence and drug-resistance of the pathogen.

The prevalence and clinical relevance of 2R/2R TYMS genotype in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies treated with fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy regimens.

Introduction: The prevalence of 2R/2R TYMS genotype is variable but estimated to be around 20-30% in Caucasians. The clinical relevance of TYMS 2R/2R genotype in predicting severe fluoropyrimidine-related adverse events (FrAE) is controversial. Here, we explored the prevalence and clinical relevance of 2R/2R TYMS genotype.

Detection and characterization of estradiol (E2) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) immunoassay interference due to anti-bovine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) antibodies.

Objectives: Competitive immunoenyzmatic assays for estradiol (E2) and unconjugated estriol (uE3) on UniCel DxI 800 Access immunoassay systems (Beckman Coulter) utilize bovine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for amplification. In these assays, rare 'IND' error flags indicate that a relative light unit (RLU) raw result is past the high or low end of the calibration curve but cannot be differentiated from an instrument error or analytical interference. The present studies were conducted to establish a protocol to identify analytical interference and to characterize its mechanism when present.

The Prevalence of DPYD*9A(c.85T>C) Genotype and the Genotype-Phenotype Correlation in Patients with Gastrointestinal Malignancies Treated With Fluoropyrimidines: Updated Analysis.

Introduction: The dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD)*9A (c.85T>C) genotype is relatively common. The correlation between DPYD*9A genotype and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency phenotype is controversial.

Characterizing the inflammatory response in esophageal mucosal biopsies in children with eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging allergic, IgE- and non-IgE (Th2 cell)-mediated disease. There are major gaps in the understanding of the basic mechanisms that drive the persistence of EoE. We investigated whether esophageal biopsies from children with EoE demonstrate an inflammatory response that is distinct from normal controls.

Overexpression of miR-122 promotes the hepatic differentiation and maturation of mouse ESCs through a miR-122/FoxA1/HNF4a-positive feedback loop.

Background & Aims: microRNA-122 is the only identified liver-specific miRNA and plays a crucial role in liver development, maintenance of hepatic homeostasis as well as tumourigenesis. In our previous differentiation of ESCs into hepatocytes, microRNA-122 (miR-122) was expressed at a relatively low level. Here, we aim to elucidate the effect and underlying mechanisms of miR-122 during differentiation of ESCs into hepatocytes.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV is a human and murine neutrophil chemorepellent.

In Dictyostelium discoideum, AprA is a secreted protein that inhibits proliferation and causes chemorepulsion of Dictyostelium cells, yet AprA has little sequence similarity to any human proteins. We found that a predicted structure of AprA has similarity to human dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV). DPPIV is a serine protease present in extracellular fluids that cleaves peptides with a proline or alanine in the second position.

Serum amyloid P inhibits granulocyte adhesion.

Background: The extravasation of granulocytes (such as neutrophils) at a site of inflammation is a key aspect of the innate immune system. Signals from the site of inflammation upregulate granulocyte adhesion to the endothelium to initiate extravasation, and also enhance granulocyte adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins to facilitate granulocyte movement through the inflamed tissue. During the resolution of inflammation, other signals inhibit granulocyte adhesion to slow and ultimately stop granulocyte influx into the tissue.

A modified laparoscopic splenectomy for massive splenomegaly in children with hematological disorder: a single institute retrospective clinical research.

Purpose: With the optimal acceptance of its clinical advantages, laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) emerged as a gold standard procedure as compared with open splenectomy (OS). However, it is still controversial and even counted as contraindication for massive splenomegaly. Here, we aim to summarize the experiences, characteristics and trends of modified LS for massive splenomegaly in children with hematological disorders.

High and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid differentially regulate human fibrocyte differentiation.

Background: Following tissue injury, monocytes can enter the tissue and differentiate into fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes, but little is known about what regulates this differentiation. Extracellular matrix contains high molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HMWHA; ∼2×10(6) Da). During injury, HMWHA breaks down to low molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMWHA; ∼0.

RNA folding in transcription elongation complex: implication for transcription termination.

Intrinsic transcription termination signal in DNA consists of a short inverted repeat followed by a T-rich stretch. Transcription of this sequence by RNA polymerase (RNAP) results in formation of a "termination hairpin" (TH) in the nascent RNA and in rapid dissociation of the transcription elongation complex (EC) at termination points located 7-8 nt downstream of the base of TH stem. RNAP envelops 15 nt of the RNA following RNA growing 3'-end, suggesting that folding of the TH is impeded by a tight protein environment when RNAP reaches the termination points.

Toll-like receptor 2 agonists inhibit human fibrocyte differentiation.

Background: In healing wounds, some monocytes enter the wound and differentiate into fibroblast-like cells called fibrocytes. Since Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are present on monocytes, and pathogens that can infect a wound have and/or release TLR agonists, we examined whether TLR agonists affect fibrocyte differentiation.

Results: When human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR7, TLR8 or TLR9 agonists, there was no significant effect on fibrocyte differentiation, even though enhanced extracellular tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α accumulation and/or increased cell surface CD86 or major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II levels were observed.