Cancer-related fatigue in hospitalised patients treated for lymphoma and its burden on family caregivers.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with lymphoma and to explore the burden of CRF on the family caregivers (FCs).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital in China. Patients with lymphoma who received treatment in the in-patient ward of the Haematology Department were consecutively recruited.

Increased Cerebrospinal Fluid Uric Acid Levels in Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Uric acid (UA) is a natural scavenger for peroxynitrite and can reflect antioxidant activity and oxidative stress in several neurological disorders. Changes in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of UA have been reported in patients with multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. The levels of UA in CSF are relatively poorly understood in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

Comparisons Between Infectious and Autoimmune Encephalitis: Clinical Signs, Biochemistry, Blood Counts, and Imaging Findings.

Objective: Infectious encephalitis (IE) and autoimmune encephalitis (AE) are symptomatically similar in clinic, however essentially different in pathogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify specific features to distinguish the two types of encephalitis for early effective diagnosis and treatments through a comparative analysis.

Methods: Fifty-nine IE patients and 36 AE patients were enrolled.

Procalcitonin as a diagnostic indicator for systemic bacterial infections in patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Elevated serum procalcitonin (PCT) level has been reported to be a diagnostic index in systemic bacterial infections, but it can also increase in some non-infectious inflammatory diseases. Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare immune-mediated cutaneous mucosal reaction which is susceptible to bacterial infections and may have elevated PCT levels. The value of serum PCT has not been assessed in series of SJS/TEN patients.

Perceived Social Support and Its Impact on Mental Fatigue in Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: Although mental fatigue was well-recognized as one of the long-term consequences following mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) that required ongoing support, evidences for the optimal management remained inadequate.

Aims: To investigate the temporal profile of mental fatigue during the first year after MTBI and examine the impact of perceived social support on the recovery from post-MTBI fatigue.

Study Design: Observational case-control study.

Relationship between expression of gastrokine 1 and clinicopathological characteristics in gastric cancer patients.

The aim of the study was to clarify the role of gastrokine 1 in the process of formation and development of gastric cancer. The expression of gastrokine 1 in gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous gastric tissues of 52 gastric cancer patients was assessed with the real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. We also analyzed the relationship between the expression level and clinicopathological characteristics.

Temporal lobe epilepsy induces differential expression of hippocampal miRNAs including let-7e and miR-23a/b.

To understand the role of miRNAs in the molecular mechanisms of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), we investigated the changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression profiles of chronic TLE rat models. MiRNAs microarray analysis results showed that 125 miRNAs were detected in the hippocampus of lithium-pilocarpine-induced TLE rats and normal rats. Compared with normal rats (control group), 23 of the 125 miRNAs were expressed differentially in TLE rats including 5 down-regulated miRNAs (let-7 e included) and 18 up-regulated miRNAs (miR-23 a/b included).

Acute interstitial edematous pancreatitis: Findings on non-enhanced MR imaging.

Aim: To study the appearances of acute interstitial edematous pancreatitis (IEP) on non-enhanced MR imaging.

Methods: A total of 53 patients with IEP diagnosed by clinical features and laboratory findings were underwent MR imaging. MR imaging sequences included fast spoiled gradient echo (FSPGR) fat saturation axial T1-weighted imaging, gradient echo T1-weighted (in phase), single shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) T2-weighted, respiratory triggered (R-T) T2-weighted with fat saturation, and MR cholangiopancreatography.