Objective To explore the roles of cytokines in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS). Methods Double-antibody sandwich ELISA was used to determine serum interleukin (IL)-6, urine tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL-6 and IL-8 levels in 56 patients with HFRS. Results Serum IL-6, urine TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in control group, respectively (P＜0.001). The concentrations increased at fever stage, then continued to increase during hypotension stage and peaked at oliguria stage. The concentrations of serum IL-6, urine TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 increased in accord with the severity of the disease and differed greatly among different types of the disease. Serum IL-6 had remarkable relationships with serum specific antibodies. It was positively related to serum β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), blood ureanitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). Significant positive relationships were also found both between urine IL-6 and TNF, and between IL-6 and IL-8 (r=0.5768, P＜0.05; r=0.3760, P＜0.01). Conclusion TNF, IL-6 and IL-8 activated during the course of the disease. IL-6 is associated with the immunopathological lesions caused by the hyperfunction of humoral immune response. IL-6, IL-8 and TNF are involved in the renal immune impairment. Determining them might, in certain extent, be used in predicting the prognosis and outcome of patients with HFRS.

Objective:To analyze the diagnosis and treatment process of a kala-azar case with prominent renal damage treated with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB), and to provide theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used to analyze the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment process and laboratory test results of a case of kala-azar with prominent renal damage who presented to the Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University on June 30, 2020.Results:A 56-year-old female patient presented with fever (the highest body temperature was 38.2 ℃) and chills. The results of clinical laboratory tests showed that hemoglobin(55 g/L), red blood cell (2.68 × 10 12/L), white blood cell (1.06 × 10 9/L) and platelet count (8.00 × 10 9/L) were decreased, renal function showed abnormal blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, spleen enlargement, etc., and the diagnosis of kala-azar combined with kidney insufficiency was confirmed by blood and bone marrow Leishmania spp. examination. With the assistance of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), after a small dose of L-AmB was initially and slowly increased and maintained at a low dose, the patient's body temperature was normal, the blood routine showed that the three-lineage cells gradually increased, and the renal function showed blood urea nitrogen and creatinine decreased gradually the spleen was retracted; no recurrence was found at follow-up after 6 months, and renal function returned to normal. Conclusions:L-AmB is safe and effective in the treatment of kala-azar with renal damage as the prominent manifestation. The patient is not only cured by etiology, but is also recovered renal function.

Objective:To evaluate the visibility of intracranial deep medullary vein (DMV) by sensitivity weighted imaging (SWI), and explore its correlation with recent small subcortical infarct (RSSI).Methods:From March 2021 to May 2022, 277 patients with cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) confirmed by cranial MRI in Department of Neurology, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, were consecutively enrolled. These patients were divided into RSSI group ( n=128) and non-RSSI group ( n=149) according to RSSI presence or not within one week of onset. According to the DMV scores, these patients were divided into mild-moderate DMV group (0-12 scores, n=199) and severe DMV group (13-18 scores, n=78). The clinical and imaging data of these groups were analyzed retrospectively and compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between DMV and RSSI, as well as the independent influencing factors for DMV grading. Results:The cerebral microbleed (CMB), periventricular white matter hyperintensity (WMH) scores, deep WMH scores, total WMH scores, total CSVD burden scores, and DMV scores in patients of the RSSI group were significantly higher than those in the non-RSSI group ( P<0.05); and patients in the RSSI group had significantly younger age and significantly lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level than those in the non-RSSI group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that DMV score ( OR=1.142, 95%CI: 1.026-1.271, P=0.016) was an independent influencing factor for RSSI after adjusting for HDL-C and deep WMH scores. The severe DMV group had significantly older age, statistically higher percentages of patients having history of hypertension, CMB, lacuna and moderate to severe EPVS in basal ganglia, and significantly higher periventricular WMH scores, deep WMH scores, total WMH scores, and total CSVD burden scores as compared with the mild-moderate DMV group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.101, 95%CI: 1.060-1.143, P<0.001) and total CSVD burden scores ( OR=3.589, 95%CI: 2.506-5.141, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for DMV scores. Conclusion:DMV is involved in the mechanism of RSSI, and DMV visibility can be used as an indicator to diagnose RSSI and evaluate RSSI progression.

Primary small bowel tumors have low incidence and contain predominantly solid components, and the lesions are similar and difficult to be detected and distinguished with multislice spiral CT (MSCT) plain scans. In this article we describe contrast-enhanced MSCT technique and imaging characteristics for solid small bowel tumors or small bowel tumors containing predominantly solid components, including the type and use of contrast agents. In contrast-enhanced MSCT, small bowel imaging with CT has the advantages of determining the true extent of intestinal wall lesions, the possible extent of wall penetration, the degree of mesenteric involvement, and distant metastases, as well as easiness to detect and identify the blood supply vessels of small bowel tumors and assessment of the corresponding complications. Contrast-enhanced MSCT has become the best noninvasive imaging technique for the diagnosis, evaluation, and staging of solid small bowel tumors or small bowel tumors containing predominantly solid components. CT texture analysis (CTTA) is a new research hotspot and can be useful for the correct diagnosis of primary small bowel tumors containing predominantly solid components.