Serological characteristics and clinical implications of IgG subclasses in visceral leishmaniasis.

OBJECTIVES: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) represents the most severe form of Leishmaniasis infection, often resulting in fatality without timely treatment. Previous studies have found that immunosuppression increases the risk of VL disease progression and mortality, and the total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in peripheral blood vary before and after treatment. However, the distinct levels and roles of IgG subclasses in VL have not been documented yet. This study aims to elucidate the characteristics and clinical significance of IgG subclasses in VL. METHODS: A total of 43 cases newly-diagnosed with VL were enrolled in the cohort. We measured the levels of IgG subclasses before and after standard treatment and conducted assessments of bone marrow features. In addition, we analysed other haematological indices and examined the variations in IgG subclasses, as well as their correlation with clinical and laboratory factors. RESULTS: The levels of total IgG, IgG1, and the ratios of both IgG1/IgG and IgG1/IgG2 decreased significantly after treatment, whereas the ratios of IgG2/ IgG showed an obvious increase. The VL patients without hyperglobulinemia displayed significant lower IgG1/IgG2 ratios, but higher IgG2/IgG ratios compared with those with hyperglobulinemia. In addition, VL patients with positive bone marrow amastigotes had significant higher IgG1/IgG and IgG1/IgG2 ratios, but lower IgG2/IgG ratios. IgG subclasses were correlated with abnormal blood test results, particularly immunological elements including IgM and Complement 4 (C4). CONCLUSIONS: IgG1 and IgG2 exhibited contrasting changes after treatment in VL patients. The features of bone marrow and laboratory tests indicated that IgG1 and IgG2 serve different roles in the progression of VL. The ratios of IgG subclasses may be more precise indicators to evaluate immune reaction in VL than traditional total IgG.

Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution Based on Decoherence-Free Subspaces with Logical Bell State Analyzer.

Measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (MDI-QKD) enables two legitimate users to generate shared information-theoretic secure keys with immunity to all detector side attacks. However, the original proposal using polarization encoding is sensitive to polarization rotations stemming from birefringence in fibers or misalignment. To overcome this problem, here we propose a robust QKD protocol without detector vulnerabilities based on decoherence-free subspaces using polarization-entangled photon pairs. A logical Bell state analyzer is designed specifically for such encoding. The protocol exploits common parametric down-conversion sources, for which we develop a MDI-decoy-state method, and requires neither complex measurements nor a shared reference frame. We have analyzed the practical security in detail and presented a numerical simulation under various parameter regimes, showing the feasibility of the logical Bell state analyzer along with the potential that double communication distance can be achieved without a shared reference frame.

Analysis of Liqi decoction for treatment of false intestinal obstruction caused by retroperitoneal hematoma / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficiency of Liqi decoction on false intestinal obstruction caused by retroperitoneal hematoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-five patients were randomly divided into two groups involving Liqi groups and control group. In Liqi group, therer were 45 patients including 28 males and 17 females with an average age of (41.45+/-13.58) years, 32 cases of pelvic fracture, 13 cases of lumber fracture and Liqi decoction were given oral for 2 to 3 days. In control group, there were 30 cases including 19 males and 11 females with an average age of (43.28+/-9.49) years, 24 cases of pelvic fracture, lumber fracture in 6 cases, and 30 cases was fasting and enema, 14 cases were gastrointestinal decompression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to New Chinese Medicine Clinical Research on the Guiding Principles, the efficacy of intestinal obstruction was evaluated, in Liqi group the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 13, fair in 7, and in control group,excellent in 5, good in 7, fair in 18. The fineness rate were compared between two groups by chi2 test, the difference was significant (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Liqi decoction is a simple and effective way to treated the retroperitoneal hecatomb caused by pseudo-obstruction.</p>