Decreased transthyretin predicts a poor prognosis in primary myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background: This study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of transthyretin in newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Methods: The clinical, laboratory, and follow-up data of 280 newly diagnosed patients with MDS were collected. The relationship between serum transthyretin levels and overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox Regression Model.

Laboratory management for large-scale population screening for SARS-CoV-2.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the improvements in laboratory testing procedures and the quality and safety management for large-scale population screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Because of epidemic prevention and control needs in Hebei Province, on January 7, 2021, the Health Commission of Zhejiang Province sent a medical team to Hebei Province, to carry out SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing. Screening for the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test was performed using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Resolution of serologic problems due to cold agglutinin mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia and its transfusion decision.

Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare disease characterized by hemolysis caused by autoantibodies against erythrocyte surface antigen. These antibodies can be classified as warm, cold, or mixed types.

Methods: We report two cases of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), which were eventually diagnosed owing to blood group discrepancy.

Differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia or influenza A pneumonia by clinical characteristics and laboratory findings.

Background: Pneumonia caused by the 2019 novel Coronavirus (COVID-2019) shares overlapping signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, imaging features with influenza A pneumonia. We aimed to identify their clinical characteristics to help early diagnosis.

Methods: We retrospectively retrieved data for laboratory-confirmed patients admitted with COVID-19-induced or influenza A-induced pneumonia from electronic medical records in Ningbo First Hospital, China.

Combining interferon- release assays with lymphocyte enumeration for diagnosis of infection.

Objective: To investigate the possibility of combining tuberculosis (TB)-interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRAs) with lymphocyte enumeration for diagnosis of infection.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 166 TB patients [68 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis TB (PTB) and 98 patients with extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB)] diagnosed in our hospital between January 2016 and May 2018 along with 377 non-TB patients. The diagnostic performance of the TB-IGRA was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Dynamic change process of target genes by RT-PCR testing of SARS-Cov-2 during the course of a Coronavirus Disease 2019 patient.

We report the dynamic change process of target genes by RT-PCR testing of SARS-Cov-2 during the course of a COVID-19 patient: from successive negative results to successive single positive nucleocapsid gene, to two positive target genes (orf1ab and nucleocapsid) by RT-PCR testing of SARS-Cov-2, and describe the diagnosis, clinical course, and management of the case. In this case, negative results of RT-PCR testing was not excluded to diagnose a suspected COVID-19 patient, clinical signs and symptoms, other laboratory findings, and chest CT images should be taken into account for the absence of enough positive evidence. This case highlights the importance of successive sampling and testing SARS-Cov-2 by RT-PCR as well as the increased value of single positive target gene from pending to positive in two specimens to diagnose laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Investigation of antibiotic resistance determinants and virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are prevalent throughout the world resulting in a major public health burden. In this research, we isolated and identified 28 MDR UPEC from one university hospital in China, investigated MDR and pathogenic mechanisms by PCR, including 55 antibiotic resistance determinants (ARDs) genes, 13 genetic markers of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and 6 virulence factors (VFs) genes. In these isolates, we identified 23 ARDs genes and 6 genetic markers of MGEs that played a key role in MDR phenotypes.

Expansion of Typhi clonal lineages with ampicillin resistance and reduced ciprofloxacin susceptibility in Eastern China.

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the dynamics of antimicrobial resistance expansion among different lineages and isolates of . Typhi.

Materials And Methods: The .

[Th17 and Treg cell levels in patients with sarcoidosis and their relation to disease activation].

Objective: To investigate the Th17 cell and Treg cell levels in patients with sarcoidosis, and their relation to disease activation and glucocorticoids treatment.

Methods: Twenty-three sarcoidosis patients admitted in Yinzhou People's Hospital from January 2009 to December 2013 and 25 healthy subjects (controls) were included in this study. The blood samples and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected in all patients before and after glucocorticoids treatment.