Neutrophil CD64 index for diagnosis of infectious disease in the pediatric ICU: a single-center prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Infection is a major cause of death in children, and it is particularly important to identify biological indicators of early infection. Previous studies showed that the neutrophil CD64 (nCD64) index may be a useful biomarker for infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate use of the nCD64 index to identify infection in children from a pediatric ICU (PICU) in China. METHODS: This prospective observational study enrolled 201 children who were admitted to our PICU and were divided into an infection group and a non-infection group. In each patient, C-reactive protein (CRP), nCD64 index, procalcitonin (PCT), and white blood cell count were measured during the first 24 h after admission. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic value of the nCD64 index for infection. RESULTS: Among all 201 children, the infection group had greater levels of CRP, nCD64 index, and PCT (all p < 0.05). ROC analysis indicated the nCD64 index had a sensitivity of 68.8%, specificity of 90.7%, accuracy of 80.5%, and an optimal cut-off value of 0.14, which had better diagnostic value than CRP or PCT. For children with postoperative fever, the nCD64 index also distinguished systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) from infection with accuracy of 79%. CONCLUSIONS: The nCD64 index is a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of early infection in children admitted to the PICU.

BODIPY-Decorated Nanoscale Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photodynamic Therapy.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), an emerging class of organic porous materials, have attracted intense attention due to their versatile applications. However, the deliberate fabrication of COF-based nanomaterials for nanomedical application remains challenging due to difficulty in their size- and structure-controlled synthesis and poor aqueous dispersibility. Herein, we report two boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-decorated nanoscale COFs (NCOFs), which were prepared by the Schiff-base condensation of the free end -CHO (bonding defects in COFs) on the established imine-based NCOFs with the amino-substituted organic photosensitizer BODIPY via "bonding defects functionalization" approach. Thus BODIPY has been successfully nanocrystallized via the NCOF platform, and can be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT) to treat tumors. These NCOF-based PDT agents featured nanometer size (∼110 nm), low dark toxicity, and high phototoxicity as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, the "bonding defects functionalization" approach might open up new avenues for the fabrication of additional COF-based platforms for biomedical treatment.

Study of retinal microvessels in a Rhesus monkey model of chronic high intraocular pressure.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes in retinal vessels, especially macular capillaries, under high IOP using the Rhesus monkey high IOP model. METHODS: The trabecular meshwork of the adult Rhesus monkey was cauterized by laser to induce increased IOPs with different degrees of damage. The eyeballs were enucleated, and the optic nerves were stained with toluidine blue in semithick slices. Part of the retina was observed under electron microscope, and the rest was stained by the ADPase method. The damage levels of the optic nerve were evaluated by axon count, and the pathological appearance of the macular capillaries were observed. RESULTS: Five mildly damaged eyes, three moderately damaged eyes and three severely damaged eyes were evaluated. Dense and intact perifoveal vascular rings were observed in all the eyes. The vessels' area percentages, as well as area, perimeter and diameter of the foveal avascular zones, were measured, and no statistically differences were found among different groups (P-values were 0.269, 0.500, 0.951, and 0.555 separately). The ultra structures of the normal capillaries showed regular tubes and intact basement membranes, while lipoid substances in capillary tubes, swollen mitochondria in endothelial cell bodies, and uneven basement membranes were found in the high IOP-damaged eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with normal eyes, no obvious differences were found in macular microvessels and foveal avascular zones in the Rhesus monkey model of high IOP. However, presence of swollen mitochondria in endothelial cells and lipoid substances in capillary tubes might suggest that high IOP could damage the capillary endothelial cells.

Is glaucoma comprehension associated with psychological disturbance and vision-related quality of life for patients with glaucoma? A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether understanding of glaucoma is associated with psychological disturbance and vision-related quality of life (QoL) in patients with glaucoma. DESIGN: A prospective, hospital-based, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS: Five hundred patients with glaucoma were included in the study. Participants were asked to complete the glaucoma comprehension questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, and the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic data and clinical data were collected. Multivariate adjusted linear regression analyses were performed to examine factors related to psychological disorder and QoL. The relationship between understanding of glaucoma and psychological status or QoL was analysed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 56.5±17.2 years, and the mean duration of glaucoma was 4.6±6.3 years. About half (54.2%) of the patients had primary open angle glaucoma, 37.2% had primary angle closure glaucoma, and 8.6% had secondary glaucoma. The total score and the subscores of knowledge of glaucoma, compliance and habits were all negatively correlated with the HADS-Depression and HADS scores. For NEI VFQ-25, the total comprehension score was positively related to general vision, near activity, distance activity, social function, colour vision and the composite score. Habits had a significant influence on both HADS-Depression and the composite score of NEI VFQ-25. CONCLUSIONS: The level of understanding about glaucoma is an independent factor negatively associated with psychological disturbance and positively associated with QoL in patients with glaucoma. However, it is a subjective factor which can be regulated, so imparting knowledge about glaucoma and establishing appropriate habits might help patients alleviate psychological disturbance and enhance their QoL.