BACKGROUNDAn early identification of the composition of arterial thrombus may have diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic implications. The variation of magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity between white and red thrombi, especially in the susceptibility sensitive MR sequence, remains unknown. Our research was to evaluate the feasibility of MRI in differentiating of white and red thrombi with a phantom study.

METHODSA total of 12 red and 12 white thrombi were prepared with the venous blood. Examination of the phantom was completed using a 3.0T MR unit, including fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) T1, T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), FLAIR T2, T2 gradient echo (T2 GRE) imaging, and susceptibility weighted angiography sequences (SWAN). MR signal intensity patterns of the thrombi were objectively classified as hyperintensity, isointensity and hypointensity, compared with the background agar. The volume of thrombus was calculated and correlated with its signal intensity.

RESULTSFor white thrombi, 11/12 clots showed hyperintensity and 1/12 showed isointensity in FLAIR T1 images. In T2WI, 6/12 clots showed hyperintensity, 3/12 isointensity, and 3/12 hypointensity. In FLAIR T2, 8/12 clots showed hyperintensity and 4/12 showed isointensity. In T2 GRE, 3/12 clots showed hyperintensity and the remaining 9/12 clots showed isointensity. In SWAN, 5/12 clots demonstrated hyperintensity and 7/12 isointensity. For the red thrombus, 12/12 clots demonstrated hyperintensity in FLAIR T1, T2WI, and FLAIR T2 sequences. In T2 GRE and SWAN sequences, 3/12 clots displayed hypointensity and the remaining 9/12 clots showed slight hyperintensity. Thrombi with hypointensity displayed in T2 GRE and SWAN sequences were significantly larger than those with hyperintensity.

CONCLUSIONSDifferentiation of white and red thrombi with conventional MR sequence is unreliable, because both kinds of thrombi do not possess unique signal intensity features in these sequences. Red thrombus may or may not show hypointensity in the susceptibility sensitive MR sequences, depending on its size and time course.

Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

BACKGROUNDTo further probe into the role of CD178 in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

METHODSThe expression of CD178 and HLA-DR on T cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with HFRS and their dynamic changes were detected by Flow cytometry.

RESULTSCD4+ CD178+ and CD8+ CD178+ T lymphocytes both in fever and polyuria phases were significantly higher than those in normal controls, while there was no significant difference between the both phases of HFRS (P > 0.05). CD178 expression on CD4+ HLA-DR+ and CD8+ HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes were significantly higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.001), while there was no significant difference between CD4+ HLA-DR+ and CD8+ HLA-DR+ T lymphocytes (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCD178 was expressed on both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets, but mainly on CD8+ T cell subsets both in early stage and in later stage in the pathogenesis of HFRS. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) might kill target cells infected by hantavirus (HV) and eliminate HV via cell apoptosis mediated by CD178 in early stage of HFRS. In later stage of HFRS, CD178 might reduce antigen-specific T lymphocytes by activation induced cell death (AICD) and help to maintain the homeostasis of immune system.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Fas Ligand Protein ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult

Background An early identification of the composition of arterial thrombus may have diagnostic,therapeutic,and prognostic implications.The variation of magnetic resonance (MR) signal intensity between white and red thrombi,especially in the susceptibility sensitive MR sequence,remains unknown.Our research was to evaluate the feasibility of MRI in differentiating of white and red thrombi with a phantom study.Methods A total of 12 red and 12 white thrombi were prepared with the venous blood.Examination of the phantom was completed using a 3.0T MR unit,including fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) T1,T2-weighted imaging (T2WI),FLAIR T2,T2* gradient echo (T2*GRE) imaging,and susceptibility weighted angiography sequences (SWAN).MR signal intensity patterns of the thrombi were objectively classified as hyperintensity,isointensity and hypointensity,compared with the background agar.The volume of thrombus was calculated and correlated with its signal intensity.Results For white thrombi,11/12 clots showed hyperintensity and 1/12 showed isointensity in FLAIR T1 images.In T2WI,6/12 clots showed hyperintensity,3/12 isointensity,and 3/12 hypointensity.In FLAIR T2,8/12 clots showed hyperintensity and 4/12 showed isointensity.In T2*GRE,3/12 clots showed hyperintensity and the remaining 9/12 clots showed isointensity.In SWAN,5/12 clots demonstrated hyperintensity and 7/12 isointensity.For the red thrombus,12/12 clots demonstrated hyperintensity in FLAIR T1,T2WI,and FLAIR T2 sequences.In T2*GRE and SWAN sequences,3/12 clots displayed hypointensity and the remaining 9/12 clots showed slight hyperintensity.Thrombi with hypointensity displayed in T2*GRE and SWAN sequences were significantly larger than those with hyperintensity.Conclusions Differentiation of white and red thrombi with conventional MR sequence is unreliable,because both kinds of thrombi do not possess unique signal intensity features in these sequences.Red thrombus may or may not show hypointensity in the susceptibility sensitive MR sequences,depending on its size and time course.

OBJECTIVETo genotype single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a large number of samples by applying three-dimensional polyacrylamide gel-based microarray.

METHODSThe method relies on copolymerization of acrylamide-modified PCR products with acrylamide monomers and acryl-modified slides to prepare gel-based microarray. Then array is hybridized with a pair of specific probes and the two universal dual-color fluorescent detectors labeled with Cy3 or Cy5 respectively (Tag1 and Tag2). Electrophoresis is used in post-hybridization to remove the nonspecifically bound targets and mismatches. Finally, genotyping is based on the images captured through two-color fluorescent scanning.

RESULTSThe 3-D gel-immobilization of nucleic acids has a high immobilization yield and good hybridization efficiency. As universal dual-color fluorescent detectors are used, it is not required that specific probes be labeled for all SNPs, therefore the expense for synthesis can be reduced considerably. Electrophoresis in post-hybridization can enhance the capability for discriminating a single nucleotide mismatch from the perfectly matched sequence and improve the signal-to-noise ratio significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe gel-based microarray is a rapid, simple and high-throughput method for SNPs genotyping and may be very competitive in the efficiency, fidelity and cost for constructing DNA microarrays, which will hold significant promise for applications in human DNA diagnostics.

DNA Mutational Analysis ; methods ; DNA Probes ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; methods ; Fluorescent Dyes ; Genotype ; Humans ; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

As a new type of cell death, necroptosis is initiated by tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1), and then activated receptor-interacting protein kinase 1(RIP1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3), following by the activation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein(MLKL) to deliver cell death signal. When necroptosis happens, damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) enter into extracellular area through the ruptured cytomembrane, followed by the disordered tissue hemeostasis. In recent years, many researches showed that necroptosis playimportant roles in a few bone related diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteonecrosis, osteosarcoma, etc. Thus, we try to briefly review the researches in this field.
Apoptosis ; Necroptosis ; Protein Kinases

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and the risk factors of fungal sepsis in 25 neonatal intensive care units (NICU) among preterm infants in China, and to provide a basis for preventive strategies of fungal sepsis. Methods: This was a second-analysis of the data from the "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units using the evidence-based practice for improving quality" study. The current status of fungal sepsis of the 24 731 preterm infants with the gestational age of <34⁺⁰ weeks, who were admitted to 25 participating NICU within 7 days of birth between May 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. These preterm infants were divided into the fungal sepsis group and the without fungal sepsis group according to whether they developed fungal sepsis to analyze the incidences and the microbiology of fungal sepsis. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidences of fungal sepsis in preterm infants with different gestational ages and birth weights and in different NICU. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to study the outcomes of preterm infants with fungal sepsis, which were further compared with those of preterm infants without fungal sepsis. The 144 preterm infants in the fungal sepsis group were matched with 288 preterm infants in the non-fungal sepsis group by propensity score-matched method. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors of fungal sepsis. Results: In all, 166 (0.7%) of the 24 731 preterm infants developed fungal sepsis, with the gestational age of (29.7±2.0) weeks and the birth weight of (1 300±293) g. The incidence of fungal sepsis increased with decreasing gestational age and birth weight (both P<0.001). The preterm infants with gestational age of <32 weeks accounted for 87.3% (145/166). The incidence of fungal sepsis was 1.0% (117/11 438) in very preterm infants and 2.0% (28/1 401) in extremely preterm infants, and was 1.3% (103/8 060) in very low birth weight infants and 1.7% (21/1 211) in extremely low birth weight infants, respectively. There was no fungal sepsis in 3 NICU, and the incidences in the other 22 NICU ranged from 0.7% (10/1 397) to 2.9% (21/724), with significant statistical difference (P<0.001). The pathogens were mainly Candida (150/166, 90.4%), including 59 cases of Candida albicans and 91 cases of non-Candida albicans, of which Candida parapsilosis was the most common (41 cases). Fungal sepsis was independently associated with increased risk of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (adjusted OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.04-2.22, P=0.030) and severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (adjusted OR 2.55, 95%CI 1.12-5.80, P=0.025). Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR=2.50, 95%CI 1.50-4.17, P<0.001), prolonged use of central line (adjusted OR=1.05, 95%CI 1.03-1.08, P<0.001) and previous total parenteral nutrition (TPN) duration (adjusted OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.02-1.06, P<0.001) were all independently associated with increasing risk of fungal sepsis. Conclusions: Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main pathogens of fungal sepsis among preterm infants in Chinese NICU. Preterm infants with fungal sepsis are at increased risk of moderate to severe BPD and severe ROP. Previous broad spectrum antibiotics exposure, prolonged use of central line and prolonged duration of TPN will increase the risk of fungal sepsis. Ongoing initiatives are needed to reduce fungal sepsis based on these risk factors.
Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Birth Weight ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight ; Gestational Age ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Sepsis/epidemiology* ; Retinopathy of Prematurity/epidemiology* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology*