Predictive value of intracranial high-density areas in neurological function.

Background: Intracranial high-density areas (HDAs) have attracted considerable attention for predicting clinical outcomes; however, whether HDAs predict worse neurological function and mental health remains controversial and unclear, which requires further investigation.

Aim: To investigate the predictive value of intracranial HDAs for neurological function and mental health after endovascular treatment.

Methods: In this prospective study, 96 patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who accepted endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (EMT) were included.

Clinical features of varicella-zoster virus caused neurological diseases detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.

Clinical presentation of central nervous system (CNS) infections caused by varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is highly sophisticated, making identification challenging. We retrospectively reported 18 cases of VZV neurologic disease confirmed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). The detection rate of mNGS was higher than that of PCR assay (100 vs 66.

A case report of brainstem hemorrhage due to Rhizopus delemar-induced encephalitis diagnosed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS).

Background: Rhizopus delemar is an invasive fungal pathogen that can cause fatal mucormycosis in immunodeficient individuals. Encephalitis caused by R. delemar is rare and difficult to diagnose early.

Evaluation of Pericardial Thickening and Adhesion Using High-Frequency Ultrasound.

Background: Routine echocardiography using a standard-frequency ultrasound probe has insufficient spatial resolution to clearly visualize the parietal pericardium (PP). High-frequency ultrasound (HFU) has enhanced axial resolution. The aim of this study was to use a commercially available high-frequency linear probe to evaluate apical PP thickness (PPT) and pericardial adhesion in both normal pericardium and pericardial diseases.

The Early Diagnosis of Scrub Typhus by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing.

Scrub typhus is a mite-borne infection widespread in Southeast Asia, with clinical symptoms such as fever, chills, skin rash, eschar at the bite site, and other signs of acute febrile illness. The pathogen () is always difficult to be diagnosed at an early stage by traditional clinical diagnostic methods, especially for patients without typical eschar. This greatly increases the mortality of patients with scrub typhus.

Screening of Parkinson's Differential MicroRNA Based on GEO Database and Its Clinical Verification.

Objective: This study is set out to explore the potential difference of miR in PD through GEO data and provide diagnostic indicators for clinical practice.

Methods: In this study, differential miR was screened through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, 68 PD patients treated in our hospital from May 2017 to March 2018 were collected as the research group (RG), and 50 normal subjects who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period were collected as the control group (CG). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression and diagnostic value of miR-374a-5p in serum of patients.

Subacute Combined Degeneration of the Spinal Cord and Hydrocephalus Associated with Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Background: This study aimed to report the case of a patient who presented with depression, cognitive impairment, ataxic gait, and urinary incontinence associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Case Description: Serum vitamin B12 level was low in this patient, and anti-intrinsic factor antibody was positive. Neuroimaging revealed abnormal hyperintense signals in the cerebellum and dorsal and lateral columns of the spinal cord, and obstructive hydrocephalus.

Strain Driven Spectral Broadening of Pb Ion Exchanged CdS Nanowires.

Broad visible photodetectors based on individual Pb ion exchanged CdS nanowires are reported. They are prepared via an ion exchange reaction initiated on the surface of CdS nanowires with a further diffusion of ionic reactants. The broadening of the response spectrum is relative to electronic band structure transition caused by the tensile strain in the lattice.

Red/blue-shift dual-directional regulation of α-(Ca, Sr)2SiO4:Eu(2+) phosphors resulting from the incorporation content of Eu(2+)/Sr(2+) ions.

In this work, tunable emission from green to red and the inverse tuning from red to green in α-(Ca, Sr)2SiO4:Eu(2+) phosphors were demonstrated magically by varying the incorporation content of Eu(2+) and Sr(2+) ions, respectively. The tunable emission properties and the tuning mechanism of red-shift resulting from the Eu(2+) content as well as that of blue-shift induced by the Sr(2+) content were investigated in detail. As a result of fine-controlling the incorporation content of Eu(2+), the emission peak red-shifts from 541 nm to 640 nm.

Isolation and characterization of porcine amniotic fluid-derived multipotent stem cells.

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize porcine amniotic fluid-derived multipotent stem cells (pAF-MSC). The porcine amniotic fluid (AF) from the amniotic cavity of pregnant gilts in the early stages of gestation (at E35) was collected and centrifuged for 5-10 min at 400 g to pellet cells. The primary culture of AF showed the multiple cell types, including the epithelial-like cells and fibroblast-like cells.

[Induction and characterization of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells: a review].

The somatic cells can be induced into ES-like stem cells when retrovirally infected the defined transcription factors including Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc. These ES-like cells are named induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and this method is called iPS technology. Until the end of 2009, iPS cell lines have been generated in various animal species, such as mouse, human, rhesus monkey, rat and pig.

[Over-expression of phospholipase D3 inhibits Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 myoblasts].

Phospholipase D (PLD) hydrolyzes phosphocholine into choline and phosphatide acid, and these metabolites play an important role in regulating cell physiology and biochemistry. To study the biological function of phospholipase D3 (PLD3) during the insulin stimulation in C2C12 myoblasts, we constructed PLD3 over-expressed cell lines (C2C12/pPLD3) and investigated the phosphorylation of Akt. The results showed that the level of phosphorylated Akt (P-Akt) was significantly increased in control C2C12 cells when insulin concentration was elevated during cell treatment, whereas the level of P-Akt in C2C12/pPLD3 cells was not changed.