Rapid detection and identification of infectious pathogens based on high-throughput sequencing / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The dilemma of pathogens identification in patients with unidentified clinical symptoms such as fever of unknown origin exists, which not only poses a challenge to both the diagnostic and therapeutic process by itself, but also to expert physicians.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this report, we have attempted to increase the awareness of unidentified pathogens by developing a method to investigate hitherto unidentified infectious pathogens based on unbiased high-throughput sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Our observations show that this method supplements current diagnostic technology that predominantly relies on information derived five cases from the intensive care unit. This methodological approach detects viruses and corrects the incidence of false positive detection rates of pathogens in a much shorter period. Through our method is followed by polymerase chain reaction validation, we could identify infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and in another case, we could identify infection with Streptococcus viridians based on the culture, which was false positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This technology is a promising approach to revolutionize rapid diagnosis of infectious pathogens and to guide therapy that might result in the improvement of personalized medicine.</p>

Correlation of sex hormones and parathyroid hormone with biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation of serum sex hormones and parathyroid hormone (PTH) with the biochemical markers of bone turnover in aged men.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected the laboratory data of 465 men aged 60- 93 (73. 1 +/- 8. 3) years old, who came for routine physical examinations in our hospital. We obtained the levels of serum follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 (25(OH) D3), and bone turnover markers C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin (OC) and amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP). We also determined free testosterone (FT) , bioactive testosterone (BT) , testosterone secretion index (TSI) and FT index (FTI), and analyzed the correlation of each index with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The concentrations of serum FSH, LH, and SHBG increased, while the levels of FT, BT, TSI, FTI, PTH, CTX, OC and PINP decreased with age, especially in those over 80 years old (P <0.05). PTH was positively correlated with CTX, OC and PINP (r =0. 227, 0. 269 and 0. 162, P <0. 01), even after the adjustment for age, while SHBG negatively correlated with OC (r = -0. 100, P <0.05). The bone turnover markers increased with the elevation of the PTH quartiles, with significant differences between the first and the fourth quartile (P <0. 01). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age was correlated inversely with CTX, OC and PINP ( beta = -0. 126, -0. 141 and -0. 122, P <0.05) , PTH positively with the three markers (beta = 0. 196, 0.279 and 0.189; P <0. 001), and SHBG negatively with OC ( beta = -0. 100, P <0.05) .</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aging is the fundamental cause of reduced bone turnover in aged men. The levels serum PTH and SHBG are significantly associated with the biochemical markers of bone turnover.</p>

Clinical research strategy for cN0 thyroid papillary carcinoma central lymph node dissection / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the pattern of central lymph node metastasis of cN0 single thyroid papillary carcinoma and provide clinical evidence-supported proof for central lymph node dissection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The performed thyroidectomy and bilateral central lymph node dissection for 150 patients with cN0 single papillary thyroid carcinoma. The bilateral central lymph nodes were divided into 4 parts: the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of ipsilateral central area, the lower part of ipsilateral central area, the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of contralateral central area, the lower part of contralateral central area on the baseline of 1 cm below the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae. We analyzed the differences and influencing factors of lymph node metastasis in these 4 parts.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lymph node metastasis rate in lower part of ipsilateral central area was the highest (56.7%), followed by the lower part of contralateral central area (28.0%), the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of ipsilateral central area (17.3%), and the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of contralateral central area (0). In the logistic analysis of multiple factors, invaded thyroid capsule was an independent factor for lymph node metastasis in both the cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of ipsilateral central area (β = 0.1835, χ(2) = 0.3102, P < 0.05) and lower part of contralateral area (β = 0.3166, χ(2) = 1.4640, P < 0.05). The patients' age ≥ 45 years (β = 0.5737, χ(2) = 6.5923) and invaded thyroid capsule (β = 0.4258, χ(2) = 3.4735) were independent factors for lower part of ipsilateral central area (both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cornu inferius cartilaginis thyroideae region of contralateral central area of cN0 single PTC patients could not be cleared routinely.</p>

The role of CXCL16 in immunological liver injury induced by BCG and LPS in mice / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the pathophysiological role of CXCL16 in immunological liver injury induced by Bacille de Calmette et Guerin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunological liver injury was induced by BCG and LPS in mice, and the expression of CXCL16 was detected in the liver tissues by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical examination. The relationship of the expression of CXCL16 and the extent of hepatic necrosis was investigated histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Mononuclear cells were isolated from the liver tissues and their numbers were counted; T lymphocytes populations in the liver tissue were also analyzed with FACS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The immunological liver injury model was successfully created. Up-regulation of CXCL16 in injured livers correlated with the extent of liver injury and the amountmononuclear cell infiltrations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These findings suggest that up-regulation of CXCL16 was closely correlated with liver injury extent during the immunological liver injury induced by BCG-LPS in mice, and intrahepatic recruitment of specific lymphocytes might be an important mechanism of liver injury.</p>