A Cas12a-based fluorescent microfluidic system for rapid on-site human papillomavirus diagnostics.

Persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and early diagnosis is crucial for clinical management. However, the easy and rapid on-site diagnostic for HPV genotyping remains challenging. Here, we develop a Cas12a-based fluorescent microfluidic detection system for diagnosing six HPV subtypes (HPV6, HPV11, HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, and HPV33).

VG161 activates systemic antitumor immunity in pancreatic cancer models as a novel oncolytic herpesvirus expressing multiple immunomodulatory transgenes.

The VG161 represents the first recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 carrying multiple synergistic antitumor immuno-modulating factors. Here, we report its antitumor mechanisms and thus provide firm theoretical foundation for the upcoming clinical application in pancreatic cancer. Generally, the VG161-mediated antitumor outcomes were analyzed by a collaboration of techniques, namely the single-cell sequencing, airflow-assisted desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging (AFADSI-MSI) and nanostring techniques.

Tranilast attenuates lipopolysaccharide‑induced lung injury via the CXCR4/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

It has been reported that the expression of C‑X‑C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is increased in patients with lung injury, while CXCR4 downregulation can improve sepsis‑induced lung injury. Previous studies have shown that tranilast can inhibit CXCR4 mRNA expression. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether tranilast could protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced lung injury via the CXCR4/Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Sustainable Treatment and Resource Recovery of Anion Exchange Spent Brine by Pilot-Scale Electrodialysis and Ultrafiltration.

The anion exchange (AIX) spent brine, generated during the NDMP-3 resin regeneration process, highly loaded with organic substances mainly humic substances (HSs) and salts (mainly NaCl) remains an environmental concern. In this study, pilot-scale electro dialysis (ED) and ultrafiltration (UF) hybrid technologies were first used to recover NaCl solution as a resin regeneration agent and HSs, which could be utilized as a vital ingredient of organic fertilizer, from the AIX spent brine. Recovered ≈ 15% w/w NaCl solution obtained by two-stage pilot-scale ED can be used to regenerate saturated NDMP-3 anion exchange resins; the regeneration−readsorption performance of NDMP-3 resins was equivalent to that of fresh ≈ 15% w/w NaCl solution.

Reduction in rectal doses of pelvic radiotherapy with excessive rectal gas extraction: a single-institution case report.

During radiotherapy for pelvic tumors, there might be insufficient radiation doses delivered that result from concerns of immediately adjacent critical organs, most notebly the rectum. Several measures have been proposed to reduce the rectal doses, such as use of a radioprotective spacer to shift the rectum away from the lesion or an endorectal balloon to reduce the internal target volume (ITV). The removal of rectal gas is supposed to achieve the similar effect by reducing the rectal volume and ITV.

microRNA-15a-5p participates in sepsis by regulating the inflammatory response of macrophages and targeting TNIP2.

The mortality rate for patients experiencing sepsis is decreasing; however, an effective therapeutic strategy requires further investigation. Increasing evidence has supported the idea that dysregulated microRNAs (miR) participate in the development of sepsis. Meanwhile, macrophages are crucial players in various inflammatory responses and diseases.

Tunable odd-frequency triplet pairing states and skyrmion modes in chiral p-wave superconductor.

Bogliubov-de Gennes equations are solved self-consistently to investigate the properties of bound states in chiral p-wave superconductive disks. It shows that either an s-wave or the mixed d- and s-wave state with odd-frequency and spin-triplet symmetry is induced at the vortex core, depending both on the chirality of the pairing states and on the vortex topology. It is also found that the odd-frequency triplet even parity (OTE) bound state can be manipulated with a local non-magnetic potential.

Serum C-reactive protein predicts early mortality in hospitalized patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis.

The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether CRP could serve as a potential surrogate marker for 30-day mortality in hospitalized patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis (HBV-DeCi).This was a retrospective cohort study that included 140 patients with HBV-DeCi.

Lymphocyte-monocyte ratio at admission predicts possible outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: The lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) in the peripheral blood is suggested to be a potential biomarker for predicting the clinical outcomes of several diseases. We aimed to evaluate the relative efficiency of LMR for predicting 3-month mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF).

Patients And Methods: In this study, 74 chronic hepatitis B patients, 90 AoCLF patients, and 70 healthy controls were followed up for 4 months.

Immature platelet fraction values predict recovery of platelet counts following liver transplantation.

Background: Thrombocytopenia after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a well-recognized and prevalent early postoperative complication. In the current study, we assessed the clinical utility of the immature platelet fraction (expressed as a percent of total platelets, IPF %) to predict platelet count recovery following OLT.

Methods: We analyzed the changes in peripheral platelet counts, IPF values, and liver function before OLT, and 21 days after transplantation in 30 patients with liver cirrhosis.

Evaluation of mean platelet volume in patients with hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: Mean platelet volume (MPV), which is determined by a routine complete blood count, is a parameter that is usually overlooked by clinicians. The present study was designed to investigate the association between MPV and different disease states in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: A total of 120 patients, including 17 with acute hepatitis B (AHB), 62 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and 41 with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB), as well as 58 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in the study.

Abnormal serum iron markers in chronic hepatitis B virus infection may be because of liver injury.

Objective: In patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, it is not known whether altered serum iron markers are directly because of the infection or the associated liver injury. We determined the serum iron status of patients with chronic HBV infection, and investigated whether it is HBV infection or HBV-related liver injury that likely causes abnormal serum iron markers in chronic HBV infection.

Materials And Methods: For a retrospective study, chronic HBV-infected patients (80 patients with cirrhosis and 76 patients without cirrhosis) and 58 healthy controls were enrolled.

The mean platelet volume is a potential biomarker for cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients.

Background/aims: In recent years, a great interest has been dedicated to the development of noninvasive predictive models to substitute liver biopsy for cirrhosis assessment and follow-up. Our aim was to provide a simple marker for predicting liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients based on routinely available clinical parameters.

Methodology: Three hundred and fifty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B, including 144 with cirrhosis, 210 without cirrhosis, and 68 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Evaluation of an automated microplate technique in the Galileo system for ABO and Rh(D) blood grouping.

Background: A number of automated devices for pretransfusion testing have recently become available. This study evaluated the Immucor Galileo System, a fully automated device based on the microplate hemagglutination technique for ABO/Rh (D) determinations.

Methods: Routine ABO/Rh typing tests were performed on 13,045 samples using the Immucor automated instruments.

Low Serum retinol-binding protein-4 levels in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at intensive care unit admission is a predictor of mortality in elderly patients.

Background: Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are thought to be associated with increased mortality in elderly patients. Low retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) is associated with a high risk of respiratory infections in the general population. Therefore, we hypothesized that low RBP4 levels are associated with an increased risk of AECOPD and can be used as a biomarker for AECOPD in elderly patients.

Thrombocytopenia in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic hepatitis: evaluation of the immature platelet fraction.

The immature platelet fraction (IPF) measures the number of reticulated platelets in peripheral blood, and can be used to help determine if thrombocytopenia is secondary to low-platelet production or increased platelet turnover. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormalities in the IPF were associated with thrombocytopenia in patients with hepatitis B virus-related chronic hepatitis (CHB). One hundred fifty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B, including 80 thrombocytopenia, 76 without thrombocytopenia, and 48 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Serum galectin-3: a risk factor for vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Plasma galectin-3, a mediator of fibrogenesis and inflammation, its potential to associate with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is poorly investigated. Here, we explored its interaction with the serum galectin-3 and vascular complications.

Methods: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey in Zhejiang, China involving 165 men and 119 women (age range, 43 - 84 years), investigating the relationship between serum galectin-3 and vascular disease in patients with T2DM.

Clinical usefulness of measuring red blood cell distribution width in patients with hepatitis B.

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), an automated measure of red blood cell size heterogeneity (e.g., anisocytosis) that is largely overlooked, is a newly recognized risk marker in patients with cardiovascular diseases, but its role in persistent viral infection has not been well-defined.

Changes in peripheral T-lymphocyte subsets in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with artificial liver support system.

Background/aims: HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) is associated with a high mortality rate. An artificial liver support system (ALSS) is a newly emerging therapeutic option, which can be implemented in routine patient care. In order to determine if any pretreatment immunological parameter could be an indicator to evaluate immune states for the outcome of the AoCLF patients, we analyzed the relationship between the level of T-lymphocyte subsets (CD4+, CD8+, CD4/CD8 ratio) and its therapeutic effect and prognosis.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus with extension to the right heart.

A 42-year-old woman admitted with debilitation and engorgement both lower extremities. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound and computerized tomography revealed a lobulated pelvic mass, a mass within right internal iliac vein, both common iliac vein, as well as the inferior vena cava, extending into the right atrium. In addition, echocardiography and abdominal ultrasound showed the tumor of right atrium and inferior vena cave has no stalk and has well-demarcated borders with the wall of right atrium and inferior vena cave.

Changes in peripheral CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells in the acute-on-chronic liver failure patients with plasma exchange treatment.

The prevalence of CD4+CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Tregs) in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (AoCLF) who received plasma exchange (PE) and/or medical treatment was investigated. One hundred five patients with AoCLF in two groups (PE plus routine-care, n = 48 and routine-care, n = 57) were enrolled in our study. In the PE group, there were 27 survivors (27/48) while, in the routine-care group, there were 18 survivors (18/57), both after 30 days treatment.

Mineralization mechanism of calcium phosphates under three kinds of Langmuir monolayers.

Three kinds of Langmuir monolayers formed by dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), arachidic acid (AA), and octadecylamine (ODA) were used as templates to study the initial stage of nucleation and crystallization of calcium phosphates. It was demonstrated that the combination of calcium ions (or phosphates) to the monolayer/subphase interface is a prerequisite for subsequent nucleation. It was found that calcium phosphate dihydrate (DPCD) formed at 25.