Improved comprehensive evaluation of Crohn's disease activity by intestinal computed tomography enterography combined with endoscopy and biochemical indicators.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: The treatment approach for Crohn's disease (CD) is focused on mucosal healing and resolution of transmural inflammation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between computed tomography enterography (CTE) and other treatments, in particular, endoscopy and biochemical indicators, in newly diagnosed patients with CD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients with CD who received CTE in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China, from April 2017 to April 2019 were included. The clinical case data and imaging results were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical activity of CD was determined by the Crohn's disease activity index (CDAI) score and biochemical indicators. The relationships between CTE and endoscopy, CDAI score, and inflammatory markers were evaluated. RESULTS: The diagnostic rate of CTE of the 123CD patients was 68.3% (84/123). Logistic regression analysis showed that the specific CTE manifestations related to CD activity were intestinal wall stratification, comb sign, and abdominal abscesses (P < 0.05). Spearman's rank correlation analysis showed that inflammatory markers positively correlated with different CTE imaging manifestations. CONCLUSION: Intestinal CTE combined with endoscopy and biochemical indicators is both comprehensive and effective in evaluating the condition of CD patients.

Focal infrared neural stimulation with high-field functional MRI: A rapid way to map mesoscale brain connectomes.

We have developed a way to map brain-wide networks using focal pulsed infrared neural stimulation in ultrahigh-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patterns of connections revealed are similar to those of connections previously mapped with anatomical tract tracing methods. These include connections between cortex and subcortical locations and long-range cortico-cortical connections. Studies of local cortical connections reveal columnar-sized laminar activation, consistent with feed-forward and feedback projection signatures. This method is broadly applicable and can be applied to multiple areas of the brain in different species and across different MRI platforms. Systematic point-by-point application of this method may lead to fundamental advances in our understanding of brain connectomes.

A novel dual closed-loop control scheme based on repetitive control for grid-connected inverters with an LCL filter.

Grid-connected inverters with LCL filters need high steady-state control accuracy, fast dynamic response performance, and strong robustness to guarantee the power quality. However, there are many problems in traditional control strategies that restrict improvements to control system performance, such as poor dynamic performance of traditional single-repetitive control, large ripples, low steady-state accuracy of inverter current feedback based repetitive dual-loop control or grid-current feedback based single-loop proportional-integral control. In this paper, a novel dual closed-loop repetitive control strategy based on grid current feedback is proposed for single-phase grid-connected inverters with LCL filters. The proportional-integral inner loop is stabilized by using an inherent one-beat delay achieved by digital controller. Based on the inner loop system, a detailed design scheme of a repetitive controller is presented, through which direct control of the grid current is realized, the reference is tracked perfectly to a zero phase shift, and high-attenuation gain is achieved in the high frequency range. In particular, the gird-voltage feed forward control and current reference feedforward control are adopted to suppress grid-voltage disturbance and increase dynamic tracking performance. Finally, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method has the advantages of high steady-state accuracy, fast dynamic response, and anti-disturbance ability.

Simultaneous detection of three fish rhabdoviruses using multiplex real-time quantitative RT-PCR assay.

Spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV), infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) are three important fish rhabdoviruses, causing serious Office International des Epizooties (OIE) classified diseases in wild and farmed fish. Here, a new multiplex real-time quantitative RT-PCR (mqRT-PCR) assay was developed for simultaneous detection, identification and quantification of these three rhabdoviruses. The sets of primers and probes were targeted to conserved regions of glycoprotein (G) gene of SVCV, nucleoprotein (N) gene of IHNV and G gene of VHSV and used to amplify. The sensitivity, specificity and interference test of mqRT-PCR assay was analyzed. It was shown that the detection levels of 100 copies of SVCV, 220 copies of IHNV and 140 copies of VHSV were achieved, and there was no non-specific amplification and cross-reactivity using RNA of pike fry rhabdovirus (PFRV), infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) and grass carp reovirus (GCRV). A total of 80 clinical fish samples were tested using the mqRT-PCR assay and the results were confirmed by antigen-capture ELISA and cell culture assay. This assay has the potential to be used for both research applications and diagnosis.