Automated detection and quantification of COVID-19 pneumonia: CT imaging analysis by a deep learning-based software.

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging worldwide threat to public health. While chest computed tomography (CT) plays an indispensable role in its diagnosis, the quantification and localization of lesions cannot be accurately assessed manually. We employed deep learning-based software to aid in detection, localization and quantification of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Does training improve diagnostic accuracy and inter-rater agreement in applying the Berlin radiographic definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome? A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Poor inter-rater reliability in chest radiograph interpretation has been reported in the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), although not for the Berlin definition of ARDS. We sought to examine the effect of training material on the accuracy and consistency of intensivists' chest radiograph interpretations for ARDS diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a rater agreement study in which 286 intensivists (residents 41.

Retinoic acid and human olfactory ensheathing cells cooperate to promote neural induction from human bone marrow stromal stem cells.

The generation of induced neuronal cells from human bone marrow stromal stem cells (hBMSCs) provides new avenues for basic research and potential transplantation therapies for nerve injury and neurological disorders. However, clinical application must seriously consider the risk of tumor formation by hBMSCs, neural differentiation efficiency and biofunctions resembling neurons. Here, we co-cultured hBMSCs exposed to retinoic acid (RA) with human olfactory ensheathing cells (hOECs) to stimulate its differentiation into neural cells, and found that hBMSCs following 1 and 2 weeks of stimulation promptly lost their immunophenotypical profiles, and gradually acquired neural cell characteristics, as shown by a remarkable up-regulation of expression of neural-specific markers (Tuj-1, GFAP and Galc) and down-regulation of typical hBMSCs markers (CD44 and CD90), as well as a rapid morphological change.

Novel immunohistochemical monoclonal antibody against human XBP-1.

The X-box binding protein-1(XBP-1) is a 29 kDa protein belonging to the basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) family of transcription factors. Previous studies showed that XBP-1 mediated a wide range of responses in B-cell differentiation, unfolded protein response (UPR), and tumorigenesis. For these reasons, it is believed that XBP-1 would be a novel therapeutic target in some pathogenic processes.

Up-regulation of IL-1 receptor type I and tyrosine hydroxylase in the rat carotid body following intraperitoneal injection of IL-1beta.

It is well established that reciprocal modulation exists between the central nervous system and immune system. Interleukin (IL)-1beta, a proinflammatory cytokine secreted at early stage of immune challenge, has been recognized as one of the informational molecules in immune-to-brain communication. However, how this large molecule is transmitted to the brain is still unknown.

Effect of dopamine and metaraminol on the renal function of patients with septic shock.

Background: Vasoactive drugs are often necessary for reversing hypotension in patients with severe infection. The standard for evaluating effects of vasoactive drugs should not only be based on the increase of arterial blood pressure, but also on the blood flow perfusion of internal organs. The effects of dopamine and metaraminol on the renal function of the patients with septic shock were investigated retrospectively in this study.

Morphological evidence for existence of IL-6 receptor alpha in the glomus cells of rat carotid body.

The carotid body (CB) senses changes in arterial blood PO2 and modulates respiratory movement. It is generally accepted that the dopaminergic type I cells in the CB are chemoreceptors. However, it has not been clarified whether the carotid body has the ability to perceive the stimulation of proinflammatory cytokines.

Different signaling molecules responsible for IL-1beta-induced oxytocinergic and vasopressinergic neuron activation in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of the rat.

It has been well known that oxytocin (OT)-ergic and arginine vasopressin (AVP)-ergic neurons located in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and super optic nucleus (SON) are two kinds of neuroendocrine cells with diverse functions. It has also been demonstrated that immune stimuli can activate these neurons to secret OT and AVP. However, the intracellular signal transduction molecules responsible for the activation of these OT-ergic and AVP-ergic neurons in PVN by immune stimuli are still unclear.

Fos expression in the rat brain after intraperitoneal injection of Staphylococcus enterotoxin B and the effect of vagotomy.

The current study was designed to locate the neuronal activation in rat brain following intraperitoneal injection of Staphylococcus enterotoxin B (SEB) and observe the consequence of preliminary subdiaphragmatic vagotomy on SEB-induced brain Fos expression to clarify the role of the vagus nerve in sensation and transmission of abdominal SEB stimulation. The results showed that intraperitoneal SEB (1 mg/kg) induced a robust Fos expression in widespread brain areas. A significant increase of Fos immunoreactive cells were observed in the solitary tract nucleus, locus ceruleus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, ventrolateral part of central gray, medial amygdaloid nucleus, central amygdaloid nucleus, ventromedial part of thalamus, dorsomedial part of thalamus, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, lateral habenula, and lateral septum nucleus following SEB challenge.

Simple and efficient technique for evaluating the optical losses from surface scattering and volume attenuation in a thin film.

We present a simple and efficient technique for evaluating the optical losses of a planar film by use of a quasi-waveguide configuration and a prism film coupler configuration. The technique can separate two contributions to optical loss: that from the surface scattering caused by the roughness of surface and that from volume losses including volume scattering and volume absorption.

Evidences for vagus nerve in maintenance of immune balance and transmission of immune information from gut to brain in STM-infected rats.

Aim: To determine whether Salmonella Typhimurium (STM)in gastrointestinal tract can induce the functional activation of brain, whether the vagus nerve involves in signaling immune information from gastrointestinal tract to brain and how it influences the immune function under natural infection condition.

Methods: Animal model of gastrointestinal tract infection in the rat was established by an intubation of Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) into stomach to mimic the condition of natural bacteria infection. Subdiagphragmatic vagotomy was performed in some of the animals 28 days before infection.