A genomic association study revealing subphenotypes of childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome in a larger genomic sequencing cohort.

Dissecting the genetic components that contribute to the two main subphenotypes of steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) strategy is important for understanding the disease. We conducted a multicenter cohort study (360 patients and 1835 controls) combined with a GWAS strategy to identify susceptibility variants associated with the following two subphenotypes of SSNS: steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome without relapse (SSNSWR, 181 patients) and steroid-dependent/frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome (SDNS/FRNS, 179 patients). The distribution of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in and was significant between SSNSWR and healthy controls, and that of two SNPs in and was significant between SDNS/FRNS and healthy controls.

Investigation of topical amniotic membrane suspension and ReGeneraTing Agent on early corneal stromal healing in rats.

Innovative topical bioregenerative materials promoting corneal stromal healing provide valuable alternatives for treating patients with deep corneal ulcers, and particularly beneficial for those with a higher anaesthetic risk. This study aimed to investigate the effects of topical amniotic membrane suspension (AMS) and ReGeneraTing Agent (RGTA) on surgically induced deep stromal ulcers in rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 treatment groups: control group (topical normal saline, TID); AMS group (topical AMS, TID); RGTA group (topical RGTA, Q2D).

Whole-exome sequencing of a multicenter cohort identifies genetic changes associated with clinical phenotypes in pediatric nephrotic syndrome.

Understanding the association between the genetic and clinical phenotypes in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) of different etiologies is critical for early clinical guidance. We employed whole-exome sequencing (WES) to detect monogenic causes of NS in a multicenter cohort of 637 patients. In this study, a genetic cause was identified in 30.

High prevalence of mgrB-mediated colistin resistance among carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is associated with biofilm formation, and can be overcome by colistin-EDTA combination therapy.

The global prevalence of colistin-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (ColRkp) facilitated by chromosomal and plasmid-mediated Ara4N or PEtN-remodeled LPS alterations has steadily increased with increased colistin usage for treating carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CRkp). Our study demonstrated the rising trend of ColRkp showing extensively and pandrug-resistant characteristics among CRkp, with a prevalence of 28.

Features of ophthalmic, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathology of a feline case of idiopathic sclerosing orbital pseudotumor.

In the present report, we describe a case of sclerosing orbital pseudotumor in an 11-year-old castrated male American Shorthair cat. Ophthalmic exam showed lagophthalmos, retracted right upper eyelid, and resistant to retropulsion in his right eye. Under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, increased volume of the extraocular muscles (EOMs) of the right eye was prominent.

Association between HLA alleles and sub-phenotype of childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Few studies have addressed the effects of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles on different clinical sub-phenotypes in childhood steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS), including SSNS without recurrence (SSNSWR) and steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome/frequently relapse nephrotic syndrome (SDNS/FRNS). In this study, we investigated the relationship between HLA system and children with SSNSWR and SDNS/FRNS and clarified the value of HLA allele detection for precise typing of childhood SSNS.

Methods: A total of 241 Chinese Han individuals with SSNS were genotyped using GenCap-WES Capture Kit, and four-digit resolution HLA alleles were imputed from available Genome Wide Association data.

Heterogeneity of Molecular Characteristics among Clinical Isolates (ST2250, ST2793, ST1223, and ST2198) in Northern Taiwan.

is an emerging pathogen that is recognized as non-pigmented . However, the molecular characteristics of and its virulence factors have not been well studied. The present study analyzed 96 isolates of recovered from blood.

Relationships between the clinical phenotypes and genetic variants associated with the immunological mechanism in childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome: protocol for a prospective observational single-centre cohort study.

Introduction: Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is the most common glomerulopathy that results in childhood chronic kidney disease in China, but the relationships between different clinical phenotypes and immunological genetic variants observed in patients with INS are ambiguous and have not been well studied. A cohort study combined with whole exome sequencing might further identify the effects of immunological genetic variants on clinical phenotypes and treatment outcomes.

Methods And Analysis: We describe a 3 year prospective observational single-centre cohort study to be conducted in the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China.

Layer-Dependent Interfacial Transport and Optoelectrical Properties of MoS on Ultraflat Metals.

Layered materials based on transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising for a wide range of electronic and optoelectronic devices. Realizing such practical applications often requires metal-TMD connections or contacts. Hence, a complete understanding of electronic band alignments and potential barrier heights governing the transport through metal-TMD junctions is critical.

High mortality impact of Staphylococcus argenteus on patients with community-onset staphylococcal bacteraemia.

Staphylococcus argenteus is increasingly reported. Evaluating the impact of S. argenteus infection on patient outcomes for future therapeutic and infection control decision-making is imperative.

Accurate differentiation of novel Staphylococcus argenteus from Staphylococcus aureus using MALDI-TOF MS.

Aim: We evaluated a Staphylococcus argenteus-specific diagnostic profile of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer for accurate identification of this novel bacterium.

Materials & Methods: Staphylococcus argenteus was identified based on negative crtM gene and presence of specific sequence types. A classification model was generated by cluster analysis of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer results and ClinProTools software for 25 S.

Novel Structure of Enterococcus faecium-Originated ermB-Positive Tn1546-Like Element in Staphylococcus aureus.

We determined the resistance determinants in 274 erythromycin-resistant methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates during a 13-year period, 2000 to 2012. The resistance phenotypes, inducible macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (iMLS), constitutive MLS (cMLS), and macrolide-streptogramin (MS) resistance phenotypes, were examined by a double-disk diffusion D test. The ermB gene was more frequent (35%; 97/274) than ermC (27%; 75/274) or ermA (21%; 58/274).

An Attachable Electromagnetic Energy Harvester Driven Wireless Sensing System Demonstrating Milling-Processes and Cutter-Wear/Breakage-Condition Monitoring.

An attachable electromagnetic-energy-harvester driven wireless vibration-sensing system for monitoring milling-processes and cutter-wear/breakage-conditions is demonstrated. The system includes an electromagnetic energy harvester, three single-axis Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers, a wireless chip module, and corresponding circuits. The harvester consisting of magnets with a coil uses electromagnetic induction to harness mechanical energy produced by the rotating spindle in milling processes and consequently convert the harnessed energy to electrical output.

Early resin luting material damage around a circular fiber post in a root canal treated premolar by using micro-computerized tomographic and finite element sub-modeling analyses.

This study utilizes micro-computerized tomographic (micro-CT) and finite element (FE) sub-modeling analyses to investigate the micro-mechanical behavior associated with voids/bubbles stress behavior at the luting material layer to understand the early damage in a root canal treated premolar. 3-dimensional finite element (FE) models of a macro-root canal treated premolar and two sub-models at the luting material layer to provide the void/bubble distribution and dimensions were constructed from micro-CT images and simulated to receive axial and lateral forces. The boundary conditions for the sub-models were determined from the macro-premolar model results and applied in sub-modeling analysis.

A massively parallel pipeline to clone DNA variants and examine molecular phenotypes of human disease mutations.

Understanding the functional relevance of DNA variants is essential for all exome and genome sequencing projects. However, current mutagenesis cloning protocols require Sanger sequencing, and thus are prohibitively costly and labor-intensive. We describe a massively-parallel site-directed mutagenesis approach, "Clone-seq", leveraging next-generation sequencing to rapidly and cost-effectively generate a large number of mutant alleles.

Elucidating common structural features of human pathogenic variations using large-scale atomic-resolution protein networks.

With the rapid growth of structural genomics, numerous protein crystal structures have become available. However, the parallel increase in knowledge of the functional principles underlying biological processes, and more specifically the underlying molecular mechanisms of disease, has been less dramatic. This notwithstanding, the study of complex cellular networks has made possible the inference of protein functions on a large scale.

Comparison of the accuracy of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry with that of other commercial identification systems for identifying Staphylococcus saprophyticus in urine.

Among 30 urinary isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus identified by sequencing methods, the rate of accurate identification was 100% for Bruker Biotyper matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), 86.7% for the Phoenix PID and Vitek 2 GP systems, 93.3% for the MicroScan GP33 system, and 46.

2009 Pandemic influenza H1N1: paediatric perspectives.

Children, especially those younger than 5 years of age and those with chronic medical conditions, such as respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, immunosuppression, receiving longterm aspirin therapy, obesity or co-infection with bacteria, are at an increased risk of pandemic H1N1 infection-related complications. This paper reviews the underlying medical conditions associated with death or complications of pandemic H1N1 infection in children.