Modified Cuff Leak Test for Predicting the Risk of Reintubation in Patients With Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The cuff leak test (CLT) is an important tool to assess the risk of upper airway obstruction after extubation.

Research Question: Does a modified CLT approach have superior ability in predicting reintubation compared with the traditional method?

Study Design And Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, randomized control trial. The primary end point was the incidence of the need for reintubation within 48 hours of extubation.

Gut microbiota and its metabolic products in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The prevalence rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is estimated at approximately 10% in critically ill patients worldwide, with the mortality rate ranging from 17% to 39%. Currently, ARDS mortality is usually higher in patients with COVID-19, giving another challenge for ARDS treatment. However, the treatment efficacy for ARDS is far from satisfactory.

Evaluation of Disease Activity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by D-dimer Combined with Red Blood Cell Distribution Width.

Background: To investigate the value of D-dimer combined with red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in evaluating the disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A total of 105 SLE patients confirmed in our hospital from July 2018 to September 2020 were collected as the SLE group, and 60 healthy persons matched in age and gender during the same period were collected as the control group. According to the SLEDAI score, SLE patients were divided into SLE active group and SLE inactive group, and RDW and D-Dimer levels were detected.

Gene Expression Analysis in Three Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Cohorts Implicates Inflammation and Innate Immunity Pathways and Uncovers Shared Genetic Risk With Major Depressive Disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychiatric disorder that can develop following exposure to traumatic events. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD group (PGC-PTSD) has collected over 20,000 multi-ethnic PTSD cases and controls and has identified both genetic and epigenetic factors associated with PTSD risk. To further investigate biological correlates of PTSD risk, we examined three PGC-PTSD cohorts comprising 977 subjects to identify differentially expressed genes among PTSD cases and controls.

Diagnostic value of urinary microprotein concentration for patients with negative urinary protein test results and positive urinary casts on microscopic examination.

Objective: To analyze the association between positive urinary casts on microscopic examination and urinary microprotein concentration in the case of negative urinary protein test results. This study also investigated the diagnostic value of urinary microprotein examination.

Subjects: A total of 949 samples that were analyzed with a UF-1000i Urine Analyzer and returned cast alarm results were categorized into two groups, a positive and negative group, according to qualitative urinary protein sulfosalicylic acid test results.

An epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder in US veterans implicates several new DNA methylation loci.

Background: Previous studies using candidate gene and genome-wide approaches have identified epigenetic changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Methods: In this study, we performed an EWAS of PTSD in a cohort of Veterans (n = 378 lifetime PTSD cases and 135 controls) from the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) cohort assessed using the Illumina EPIC Methylation BeadChip which assesses DNAm at more than 850,000 sites throughout the genome. Our model included covariates for ancestry, cell heterogeneity, sex, age, and a smoking score based on DNAm at 39 smoking-associated CpGs.

International meta-analysis of PTSD genome-wide association studies identifies sex- and ancestry-specific genetic risk loci.

The risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following trauma is heritable, but robust common variants have yet to be identified. In a multi-ethnic cohort including over 30,000 PTSD cases and 170,000 controls we conduct a genome-wide association study of PTSD. We demonstrate SNP-based heritability estimates of 5-20%, varying by sex.

Dysregulation of WTI (-KTS) is Associated with the Kidney-Specific Effects of the LMX1B R246Q Mutation.

Mutations in the LIM homeobox transcription factor 1-beta (LMX1B) are a cause of nail patellar syndrome, a condition characterized by skeletal changes, glaucoma and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Recently, a missense mutation (R246Q) in LMX1B was reported as a cause of glomerular pathologies without extra-renal manifestations, otherwise known as nail patella-like renal disease (NPLRD). We have identified two additional NPLRD families with the R246Q mutation, though the mechanisms by which LMX1B causes a renal-specific phenotype is unknown.

CCL22 is involved in the recruitment of CD4+CD25 high T cells into tuberculous pleural effusions.

Background And Objective: CD4(+)CD25(high) regulatory T cells are increased in tuberculous pleural effusions (TPE). However, the mechanism by which CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells infiltrate into the pleural cavity is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the chemokines CCL22 and CCL17 are present in TPE, and the chemoattractant activity of these chemokines for infiltration of CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells into the pleural space.

AQP1 and SLC4A10 as candidate genes for primary open-angle glaucoma.

Purpose: Recent evidence supports the role of reduced cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). We investigated the association of variants in two candidate genes that are important in CSF production, aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and solute carrier family 4, sodium bicarbonate transporter, member 10 (SLC4A10), with POAG in the Caucasian population.

Methods: POAG subjects (n=382) met the criteria of glaucomatous optic neuropathy with consistent visual field loss.

CCL22 recruits CD4-positive CD25-positive regulatory T cells into malignant pleural effusion.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the presence of the chemokines CCL22 and CCL17 in malignant pleural effusion, and the chemoattractant activity of these chemokines on CD4-positive CD25-positive Foxp3-positive regulatory T cells infiltrating into the pleural space.

Experimental Design: The concentrations of CCL22 and CCL17 in both pleural effusions and sera from 33 patients with lung cancer were determined. Flow cytometry was done to determine T lymphocyte subsets in cell pellets of pleural effusion.

Expression of soluble triggering receptor expression on myeloid cells-1 in pleural effusion.

Background: Triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) proteins are a family of cell surface receptors expressed broadly by cells of the myeloid lineage. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of soluble TREM-1 (sTREM-1) in pleural effusions, and to determine the effects of pneumonia on pleural sTREM-1 concentrations.

Methods: Pleural fluid was collected from 109 patients who presented to the respiratory institute (35 with malignant pleural effusion, 31 with tuberculous pleural effusion, 21 with bacterial pleural effusion, and 22 with transudate).

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes in tuberculous pleural effusion.

Background: Active suppression by CD4+CD25+ regulatory T lymphocytes plays an important role in the down-regulation of T cell responses to foreign and self-antigens. This study was conducted to analyze whether the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells exist and function normally in tuberculous pleural effusion.

Methods: The percentages of CD4+CD25+ T cells in pleural effusion and peripheral blood from patients with tuberculous pleurisy and peripheral blood from healthy control subjects were determined by flow cytometry.

Diagnostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen in malignant pleural effusion: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Many studies have investigated the utility of pleural carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in the early diagnosis of MPE. The present meta-analysis determined the accuracy of CEA measurement in the diagnosis of MPE.

Diagnostic accuracy of adenosine deaminase in tuberculous pleurisy: a meta-analysis.

Background: Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Many studies have investigated the usefulness of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in pleural fluid for the early diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the accuracy of ADA measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

A SAGE study of apolipoprotein E3/3, E3/4 and E4/4 allele-specific gene expression in hippocampus in Alzheimer disease.

APOE4 allele is a major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD). The mechanism of action of APOE in AD remains unclear. To study the effects of APOE alleles on gene expression in AD, we have analyzed the gene transcription patterns of human hippocampus from APOE3/3, APOE3/4, APOE4/4 AD patients and normal control using Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE).

Diagnostic value of interferon-gamma in tuberculous pleurisy: a metaanalysis.

Background: Conventional tests are not always helpful in making a diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Many studies have investigated the usefulness of interferon (IFN)-gamma measurements in pleural fluid for the early diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. We conducted a metaanalysis to determine the accuracy of IFN-gamma measurements in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Increase in concentration of soluble CD86 after segmental allergen challenge in patients with allergic asthma.

Study Objective: To investigate the effects of segmental allergen challenge on the concentration of soluble CD86 (sCD86) in BAL fluids in patients with allergic asthma.

Methods: BAL fluid and peripheral blood were collected at baseline, 24 h after segmental saline solution or allergen challenge by fiberoptic bronchoscopy and venepuncture, respectively, from 10 patients with allergic asthma. Total and differential cell counts in BAL fluid were performed, and sCD86 levels in both BAL fluid and serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from patients with asthma].

Objective: To explore whether regulatory CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) cells exist in patients with atopic asthma.

Methods: The numbers of peripheral blood CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) cells in peripheral blood of atopic asthmatics and healthy nonatopic subjects were determined using flow cytometry. CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(-) cells from atopic asthmatics and normal donors were isolated, and were cultured to observe the effects of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) cells on proliferation response as well as Th1/Th2 cytokine production of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(-) cells in vitro.