The potential utilization of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles in clinical treatment.

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are released by platelets in the blood circulation, which carry a rich bio-molecular cargo influential in intercellular communications. PEVs can enter the lymph, bone marrow, and synovial fluid as nano-sized particles, while platelets cannot cross tissue barriers. Considering the advantages of PEVs such as low immunogenicity, high regulation of signal transduction, and easy obtainment, PEVs may be promising therapeutic tools for medical applications.

UFMylation is involved in serum inflammatory cytokines generation and splenic T cell activation induced by lipopolysaccharide.

UFMylation, a novel ubiquitin-like protein modification system, has been recently found to be activated in inflammation. However, the effects of UFMylation activation on inflammation in vivo remains unclear. In the present study, we generated a UFMylation activated mice using transgenic (TG) techniques.

Commutability evaluation of candidate reference materials and ERM-DA470k/IFCC for immunoglobulin M using two international approaches.

Background: This study aimed to assess the commutability of frozen pooled human serum (PHS), high concentration of Immunoglobulin M (IgM) pure diluted materials (HPDM), commercialized pure materials (CPM), and dilutions of ERM-DA470k/IFCC in IgM detection using the CLSI and IFCC approaches, to support standardization or harmonization of IgM measurement.

Methods: Twenty-four serum samples, relevant reference materials (PHS, HPDM, CPM), and different ERM-DA470k/IFCC dilutions were analyzed in triplicate using six routine methods. The commutability of the relevant reference materials was carried out following CLSI EP30-A and IFCC bias analysis.

Simultaneous quantitation of multiple myeloma related dietary metabolites in serum using HILIC-LC-MS/MS.

Background: Recent studies from targeted and untargeted metabolomics have consistently revealed that diet-related metabolites, including carnitine (C0), several species of acylcarnitines (AcyCNs), amino acids, ceramides, and lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) may serve as potential multiple myeloma (MM) biomarkers. However, most of these approaches had some intrinsic limitations, namely low reproducibility and compromising the accuracy of the results.

Objective: This study developed and validated a precise, efficient, and reliable liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for measuring these 28 metabolic risk factors in human serum.

Establishment and evaluation of digital PCR methods for HER2 copy number variation in breast cancer.

Accurate measurement of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) copy number variation (CNV) is very important for guiding the tumor target therapy in breast cancer. Digital PCR (dPCR) is a sensitive and an absolute quantitative method, which can be used to detect HER2 CNV. Three HER2 exon-specific digital PCR assays along with three new reference genes assays (homo sapiens ribonuclease P RNA component H1 (RPPH1), glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI), and chromosome 1 open reading frame 43 (C1ORF43), on different chromosomes) were established and validated by using standard reference material, 8 different cell lines and 110 clinical Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples.

Application of orthokeratology on myopia control and its effect on ocular surface and meibomian gland function in Chinese myopic adolescents.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of orthokeratology (OK) on myopia control and ocular surface and meibomian gland function in myopic adolescents.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a 12-month period. The subjects were classified into two groups, namely, the OK lens group and the frame glasses control group.

Assessment of choroidal vascularity and choriocapillaris blood perfusion in Chinese preschool-age anisometropic hyperopic amblyopia children.

Purpose: To determine the macular and peripapillary area choroid microstructure parameters of hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia eyes and compare to fellow and age-matched control eyes. To assess the correlation between the axial length (AL), choroidal thickness (CT) and choroid microstructure parameters.

Methods: This cross-sectional comparative, non-interventional study involved 52 hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia children and 48 age-matched heathy controls.

Lentiviral vector-based xenograft tumors as candidate reference materials for detection of HER2-low breast cancer.

The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important biomarker that plays a pivotal role in therapeutic decision-making for patients with breast cancer (BC). Patients with HER2-low BC can benefit from new HER2 targeted therapy. For ensuring the accurate and reproducible detection of HER2-low cancer, reliable reference materials are required for monitoring the sensitivity and specificity of detection assays.

An indirect approach for reference intervals establishment of immunoglobulin A, G and M: the combination of laboratory database and statistics.

Immunoglobulins are affected by sex, age and region, so it is necessary to establish suitable reference intervals (RIs) for clinical diagnosis. Various statistical methods were used to calculate RIs, but there has been a lack of comparison among the methods. Research based on immunoglobulin RIs establishment with various methods would provide a methodological basis for further research.

Comparability of thyroid-stimulating hormone immunoassays using fresh frozen human sera and external quality assessment data.

Background: This study aimed to assess the comparability among assays using freshly frozen human sera and external quality assessment (EQA) data in China.

Methods: Twenty-nine serum samples and two commercial EQA materials, obtained from the National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL), were analyzed in triplicate using eight routine TSH assays. The commutability of commercial EQA materials (NCCL materials) was evaluated in accordance with the CLSI EP30-A and IFCC bias analysis.

Relationship between the higher inflammatory cytokines level in the aqueous humor of Fuchs uveitis syndrome and the presence of cataract.

Background: This study aims to compare the levels of intraocular cytokines between Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS) eyes and the senile cataract eyes. The association between inflammatory cytokine levels and cataract severity in FUS is evaluated to find the possible mechanism of cataract in FUS eyes.

Methods: A retrospective study of 28 eyes with FUS was performed.

Multifidus muscle fatty infiltration as an index of dysfunction in patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis: A case-control study based on propensity score matching.

The multifidus muscle morphology and its relation to the function of patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the multifidus muscle morphology in patients with DLSS and to determine its relations to the patients function. Sixty-two patients with single-segment DLSS at L4-5 and sixty control patients with non-spinal-derived low back pain were retrospectively enrolled and further matched based on propensity scores.

Lumbar lordosis reduction and disc bulge may correlate with multifidus muscle fatty infiltration in patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between fatty infiltration in the multifidus muscle related to the involved nerve root and structural parameters associated with stenosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS).

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four patients with single-segment DLSS at L4-5 were retrospectively enrolled. The fatty infiltration rate (FIR) of the multifidus muscle at L5-S1, lumbar lordosis and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the structural parameters at L4-5, such as dural sac, disc bulge, ligamentum flava and vertebral body of L5 were measured on magnetic resonance images using ImageJ software.

Fat Infiltration in the Multifidus Muscle as a Predictor of Prognosis After Decompression and Fusion in Patients with Single-Segment Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: An Ambispective Cohort Study Based on Propensity Score Matching.

Objective: To determine whether fat infiltration in the multifidus muscle would predict surgical prognosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis (DLSS).

Methods: This ambispective cohort study enrolled 118 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for L4-5 single-segment DLSS. Fat infiltration rate (FIR) on magnetic resonance images of the multifidus muscle at L5-S1 were measured using ImageJ software.

A pilot study for establishing quality indicators in molecular diagnostics according to the IFCC WG-LEPS initiative: preliminary findings in China.

Background Quality indicators (QIs) are crucial tools in measuring the quality of laboratory services. Based on the general QIs of the Working Group "Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS)" of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC), specific QIs have been established in order to monitor and improve the quality of molecular diagnostics, and to assess the detection level of associated disease. Methods A survey was conducted on 46 independent commercial laboratories in China, investigated using questionnaires and on-site inspections.

Colonic Polyp Detection in Endoscopic Videos With Single Shot Detection Based Deep Convolutional Neural Network.

A major rise in the prevalence and influence of colorectal cancer (CRC) leads to substantially increasing healthcare costs and even death. It is widely accepted that early detection and removal of colonic polyps can prevent CRC. Detection of colonic polyps in colonoscopy videos is problematic because of complex environment of colon and various shapes of polyps.

Macular evaluation of the retinal and choroidal vasculature changes in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy-a case control study.

Background: This study aimes to characterize the fundus structural changes in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and the correlation between macular vessel density, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) parameters and visual field sensitivity (VFS) in NAION patients.

Methods: A retrospective case control study was performed using 37 eyes with NAION, 30 uninvolved contralateral eyes, and 27 eyes of healthy age-matched subjects. Data on the retinas and choroidal vessel densities and VFS were compared among the three groups.