Dynamic Characterization of Thermocouples under Double-Pulse Laser-Induced Thermal Excitation.

This study investigated the dynamic characteristics of thermocouples by using double-pulse laser excitation for dynamic temperature calibration under extreme conditions. An experimental device was constructed for double-pulse laser calibration; the device uses a digital pulse delay trigger to precisely control the double-pulse laser to achieve sub-microsecond dual temperature excitation with adjustable time intervals. The time constants of thermocouples under single-pulse laser excitation and double-pulse laser excitation were evaluated. In addition, the variation trends of thermocouple time constants under different double-pulse laser time intervals were analyzed. The experimental results indicated that the time constant increases and then decreases with the decrease in the time interval of the double-pulse laser. A method for dynamic temperature calibration was established for the evaluation of the dynamic characteristics of temperature sensors.

Plasma expression of HIF-1α as novel biomarker for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common breathing disorder during sleep with potential lethality and multi-complications. Polysomnography (PSG) is now the golden standard for the diagnosis obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. However, PSG is expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, it is important to find inexpensive and convenient biomarkers for the diagnosis of OSAHS. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to explore the potential diagnostic value of HIF-1α for OSAHS and its clinical significance. METHODS: This study consisted of 368 patients admitted to the sleep laboratory. The patients were classified according to their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) scores as OSA negative (AHI < 5), mild-moderate (AHI:5-30), and severe OSA (AHI > 30), and severe OSA treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). qRT-PCR was used to detect mRNA levels in the plasma; Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation of HIF-1α mRNA level and the clinicopathological factors of OSAHS; ROC curve was constructed to evaluate the diagnostic value of HIF-1α mRNA. RESULTS: HIF-1α mRNA was significantly up-regulated in the plasma of OSAHS patients, especially patients with severe OSAHS. HIF-1α mRNA was positively correlated with the AHI and ODI but negatively correlated with the mean oxygen saturation in patients with OSAHS. Results of ROC curve showed that HIF-1α is a sensitive biomarker for the diagnosis of OSAHS, especially severe OSAHS. CONCLUSIONS: HIF-1α mRNA might be used as s a convenient and inexpensive method for triaging OSAHS patients PSG assessment in the hospital and evaluate the curative effect.

Diagnostic and Differential Diagnostic Significance of Laboratory Markers in Crayfish-Associated Rhabdomyolysis.

CONTEXT: Haff disease is a rare syndrome of myalgia and rhabdomyolysis occurring within 24h of consumption of certain types of cooked freshwater fish or crustacean. OBJECTIVE: The white blood cell count (WBC), plasma creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), CK-MB/CK, troponin T (cTnT) and creatinine (Cr) were analyzed as diagnostic markers for crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)-associated rhabdomyolysis (Haff disease). The significance of these laboratory markers in differentiating myocardial injury disease and Haff disease was explored. METHODS: 138 patients with symptoms of acute onset (such as chest pain, muscle pain) and high myocardial enzymes were assigned as the Haff disease group and myocardial injury group, respectively. In parallel, 80 healthy individuals were selected as healthy control. Plasma Cr, CK, and CK-MB levels were detected by the Johnson & Johnson DT60II dry biochemistry analyzer; cTnT level was detected by Roche Elecsys 2010; WBC was detected by Sysmex 5300. RESULTS: The WBC levels in the Haff disease group and myocardial injury diseases group were higher than the healthy control group (P<0.05). The plasma CK, CK-MB levels in Haff disease group were the highest, following by the myocardial injury disease group, and the lowest were in the normal control group. There were also statistically significant differences between two groups (P<0.05): the CK-MB/CK and cTnT's levels in the myocardial injury disease group were higher than those in the Haff disease group and healthy control group (P<0.05); the plasma Cr level in the Haff disease group was lower than that in the myocardial injury disease group and normal control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that WBC, plasma CK, and CK-MB increase significantly, whereas Cr decreases significantly in Haff disease. These laboratory markers may be used for the diagnosis of crayfish-associated rhabdomyolysis. CK may be used as a biomarker to evaluate the severity of Haff disease, while cTnT and CK-MB/CK may be used to differentiate myocardial injury disease and Haff disease.