[Response of Topsoil Fungal Community Structure to Soil Improvement Measures in Degraded Forest of Red Soil Region].

Soil fungal community structure and diversity are highly sensitive to variations in the external environment, as well as soil improvement measures. In order to clarify the effects of soil improvement measures on topsoil fertility or quality, a field experiment was conducted in eroded forest of a red soil region. Organic fertilizer, biochar, and lime+microbial fertilizer were added to the topsoil, respectively.

Next-generation sequencing combined with serological tests based pathogen analysis for a neurocysticercosis patient with a 20-year history:a case report.

Background: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common helminthic infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the larval stage of Taenia solium. Accurate and early diagnosis of NCC remains challenging due to its heterogeneous clinical manifestations, neuroimaging deficits, variable sensitivity, and specificity of serological tests. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based pathogen analysis in patient's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with NCC infection has recently been reported indicating its diagnostic efficacy.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy manifesting as subacute meningoencephalitis with descending myelitis: a case report.

Background: Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) autoimmune astrocytopathy is characterized by GFAP autoantibody positive encephalitis, meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis. The initial clinical presentation may be similar to central nervous system infections making early diagnosis challenging.

Case Presentation: A Chinese female patient presented with subacute meningitis with symptoms of headache, vomiting, and fever.

Molecular identification of Cryptococcus gattii from cerebrospinal fluid using single-cell sequencing: A case study.

A 31-year-old man presented with cryptococcal meningitis (CM) without typical clinical characteristics, but with abnormal walking, difficult leg lifting and frequent falling. He was admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital. After multiple tests failed to identify the pathogen, single-cell sequencing (scS) was used to test the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

[Clinical Characteristics of Autoimmune Disease with Dual Seropositive Antibodies of Leucine-rich Glioma Inactivated 1 and Contactin-associated Protein 2].

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of autoimmune disease with dual seropositive antibodies of leucine-rich glioma inactivated 1(LGI1)and contactin-associated protein 2(Caspr2).Methods The clinical data of seven patients with dual seropositive LGI1 and Caspr2 antibodies who were admitted to the Neurology Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2014 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Central,peripheral and autonomic nervous systems were all involved in the seven cases;100%(7/7)presented with insomnia,myokymia,neuropahic pain and hyperhydrosis;71%(5/7)showed memory decline or psychiatric and behavioral symptoms;57%(4/7)had urinary hesitation or constipation;and 43%(3/7)had seizure.

Seizure semiology: an important clinical clue to the diagnosis of autoimmune epilepsy.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the seizure semiologic characteristics of patients with autoimmune epilepsy (AE) and describe the investigation characteristics of AE using a larger sample size.

Methods: This observational retrospective case series study was conducted from a tertiary epilepsy center between May 2014 and March 2017. Cases of new-onset seizures were selected based on laboratory evidence of autoimmunity.

Utility and Safety of Intrathecal Methotrexate Treatment in Severe Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor Encephalitis: A Pilot Study.

Background: Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a treatable autoimmune neurologic syndrome that occurs with or without tumor association. However, some severe cases are refractory to systemic immunotherapy. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the utility and safety of intrathecal methotrexate injection for severe patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis who did not respond to first-line immunotherapy.

Seizure semiology in leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 antibody-associated limbic encephalitis.

Objective: The objective of this study was to advance the characterization of seizure semiology in leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1) antibody-associated limbic encephalitis (LE).

Methods: Eighteen patients diagnosed with LGI1 LE were identified. Seizure semiology, demographic features, MRI and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), electroencephalograms, and outcomes following immunotherapy were evaluated.

Cranial and lumbosacral hypertrophic pachymeningitis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: A case report.

Background: Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammatory hypertrophy and fibrosis of dura mater. It can be divided into cranial and spinal forms depending on the location of the lesion. HP involving 2 separate sites simultaneously is quite uncommon.

A Chinese female Morvan patient with LGI1 and CASPR2 antibodies: a case report.

Background: Morvan syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the combination of peripheral nerve hyperexcitability, encephalopathy and dysautonomia with marked insomnia. It was reported to have association to antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels including contactin associated protein-like 2 antibodies (CASPR2-Ab) and leucine-rich glioma inactivated protein 1 antibodies (LGI1-Ab). LGI1-Ab was reported to associate with seizures, amnesia, confusion, hyponatraemia and a good prognosis, while CASPR2-Ab with peripheral presentations, probable risk for tumor and a poor prognosis.

[Diagnosis of Muscular Dystrophy Using Western Blot with Micro-sample of Muscle].

Objective: To diagnose muscular dystrophy using Western blot (WB) by improving the method of the protein extraction.

Method: Firstly,we compared the effect of different sample buffer solutions and processing Methods on the extraction of muscle protein in rats,then selected the appropriate extracting method and the process of the muscular protein.

Results: We put the selected sample buffer into the micro-sample,then mixed.

Limbic Encephalitis Associated with Anti-γ-aminobutyric Acid B Receptor Antibodies: A Case Series from China.

Background: Autoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies against γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABA B R) in patients with limbic encephalitis (LE) was first described in 2010. We present a series of Han Chinese patients for further clinical refinement.

Methods: Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients referred to the program of encephalitis and paraneoplastic syndrome of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were tested with indirect immunofluorescence.

Anti-NMDAR encephalitis after resection of melanocytic nevi: report of two cases.

Background: Encephalitis with antibodies against N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) is recognized as a group of antibody-mediated neuropsychiatric syndromes, which occurs with and without a tumor association. Neoplasm may contribute to the pathogenesis of Anti-NMDAR encephalitis in tumor-positive patients. However, the underlying causes in tumor-negative patients are largely unknown.

CSF findings in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-encephalitis.

Purpose: Anti-NMDAR-encephalitis is a recently described form of autoimmune encephalitis. Here, we characterize CSF changes in Chinese patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and explore the relationship between CSF findings and disease outcome.

Methods: The presence of NMDAR antibodies in serum or CSF samples was evaluated in patients diagnosed with encephalitis between October 1, 2010 and August 1, 2014 at the West China Hospital.

Temporal lobe epilepsy with amygdala enlargement: a subtype of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Background: Some recent studies suggest that some imaging-negative temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) had significant amygdala enlargement (AE). Contradictory data were also reported in previous studies regarding the association between AE and TLE. The present study was to investigate the clinical characters of a group of TLE with AE and compare the amygdala volume of the same patient before and after antiepileptic drugs treatment by a larger sample size.

Characterization of immunoglobulin λ light chain variable region (IGLV) gene and its relationship with clinical features in patients with POEMS syndrome.

The M protein of POEMS syndrome is essentially λ light chain restricted. Several studies have demonstrated the restrict usage of immunoglobulin λ light chain variable region (IGLV) genes in patients with POEMS syndrome. However, these studies only included a limited number of cases, and it is not clear whether the clinical features are influenced by the IGLV gene in POEMS syndrome.

Combination of melphalan and dexamethasone for patients with newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome.

POEMS syndrome is a rare clonal plasma cell disorder without standard treatment. Based on the efficacy and low toxicity of a combination of melphalan and dexamethasone (MDex) for light chain amyloidosis, we conducted a prospective study of MDex treatment for patients with newly diagnosed POEMS syndrome. Thirty-one patients (19 men) were enrolled and the median age at the time of diagnosis was 44 years (range, 32-68 years).

[Application of magnetic resonance contrast agent ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide combined with magnetic transfer imaging in the animal model of experimental allergic encephalopathy].

Objective: To explore the sensitivity of magnetic resonance contrast agent ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) enhancement scan in detecting experimental allergic encephalopathy (EAE) lesions and the change of magnetic transfer of USPIO enhancement lesions in the animal model of EAE.

Methods: The routine T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, three dimensional T1 magnetic transfer, three dimensional T1 no magnetic transfer, Dimeglumine Gadopentetate injection (Gd-DTPA) enhancement, and USPIO enhancement scan were performed in 11 EAE rats and 10 control rats respectively. The sensitivity of USPIO and Gd-DTPA enhancement in detecting the lesions in EAE rats was calculated.