Image_1_Integrating systemic immune-inflammation index, fibrinogen, and T-SPOT.TB for precision distinction of active pulmonary tuberculosis in the era of mycobacterial disease research.jpg

BackgroundThe clinical challenge of differentiating suspected tuberculosis with positive T-SPOT.TB results persist. This study aims to investigate the utility of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII), Fibrinogen, and T-SPOT.TB in distinguishing between active pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and non-tuberculous lung diseases.MethodsA retrospective analysis included 1,327 cases of active PTB with positive T-SPOT.TB results and 703 cases of non-tuberculous lung diseases from May 2016 to December 2020 at Meizhou People’s Hospital. These were designated as the case group and the control group, respectively. The detection indicators of T-SPOT.TB: Early Secreted Antigenic Target 6 (ESAT-6), Culture Filtrate Protein 10 (CFP-10), as well as SII and Fibrinogen levels—were compared and analyzed for association and joint diagnostic value between the two groups.ResultsThe case group showed higher values of ESAT-6, CFP-10, SII, and Fibrinogen compared to the control group (all p 0.3). SII and Fibrinogen values in smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were higher than in smear-negative cases (all p 6 PBMC, 22.50 SFCs/106 PBMC, 2128.32, and 5.02 g/L, respectively. Regression logistic analysis showed that ESAT-6 ConclusionSII and Fibrinogen are positively correlated with the degree of tuberculosis inflammation and the bacterial load of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The combined detection of SII, Fibrinogen, and T-SPOT.TB is significant in distinguishing between active PTB with positive T-SPOT.TB results and non-tuberculous lung diseases.</p

Table_1_Clinical, epidemiological, and drug resistance insights into HIV-positive patients in Meizhou, China.docx

The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, resulting from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, exhibits distinct regional characteristics. This study undertakes a retrospective analysis of the epidemiological and clinical features of 195 HIV-positive cases in Meizhou, China, from May 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. Western blotting (WB) confirmed and assessed these cases. Notably, the majority of cases emanated from socio-economic groups with comparatively lower levels of education, with 80% being male. Strikingly, 90% of the cases were found to be in the middle to late stages of infection based on CD4+ T cell counts. Among the 30 different serum antibody profiles examined, reactivity with seven bands (p24, p31, gp41, p51, p66, gp120, and gp160) emerged as the most commonly observed WB pattern. The absence of specific bands, specifically p55 (17.44%), p39 (32.31%), and p17 (25.64%) were most frequent, with the detection frequency of p17 bands significantly reduced among cases in the AIDS and middle stages. An analysis of drug resistance genotypes indicated that, despite viral mutations conferring resistance to certain reverse transcriptase inhibitors, the first-line treatment regimen remained effective for patients in Meizhou. Notably, mutations resistant to protease inhibitors were infrequent (2.7%), suggesting that incorporating protease inhibitors into the treatment regimen may enhance therapeutic outcomes for local patients. These findings provide essential insights into the specific epidemiological patterns, serum antibody profiles, and drug resistance genotypes of HIV-infected patients in Meizhou. Significantly, this research contributes to the formulation of future treatment strategies tailored to the local context.</p

Logistic regression for the two significant variants in subjects with and without NAFLD (subjects of Han Chinese ethnicity).

<p>Logistic regression for the two significant variants in subjects with and without NAFLD (subjects of Han Chinese ethnicity).</p

The comparison of anthropometric and biochemical characteristics based on the presence of variation of <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 (subjects of Han Chinese ethnicity).

<p>The comparison of anthropometric and biochemical characteristics based on the presence of variation of <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 (subjects of Han Chinese ethnicity).</p

Comparison of GGH expression levels in leukemia cells. A: Samples with different methylation level in ALL group. B: Samples with different methylation level in AML group. C: Samples without CpG methylation.

<p>Differences between pairs were assessed using the exact Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. Boxes represent the 5%–95% quartiles, lines in the boxes represent the median level of GGH relative expression level, whiskers represent the non-outlier range, and circles represent the outliers. LM: lower methylation level; HM: higher methylation level.</p

Comparison of mutation rate in <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 and SLC6A2 rs3743788 between NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group (of Chinese Han ethnicity).

<p>Comparison of mutation rate in <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 and SLC6A2 rs3743788 between NAFLD group and non-NAFLD group (of Chinese Han ethnicity).</p

Anthropometric and biochemical characters in NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups (of Han Chinese ethnicity).

<p>Anthropometric and biochemical characters in NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups (of Han Chinese ethnicity).</p

Primer sequences of MS-HRM and BSP for two CpG islands in GGH promoter region.

<p>Primer sequences of MS-HRM and BSP for two CpG islands in GGH promoter region.</p

Methylation status of CpG1 in leukemia cells. A: Analysis results by HRM. B: Representative sequencing results.

<p>Methylated-standard (M-standard) and UnMethylated-standard (UM-standard) were bisulfite-converted from Methylated and UnMethylated Episcope HCT116 DKO gDNA. The different curve shapes are distinguished between methylated samples (M-samples) and unmethylated samples (UM-samples) by referring to standards.</p

Association of <i>MTTP</i> gene variants with pediatric NAFLD: A candidate-gene-based analysis of single nucleotide variations in obese children

<div><p>Objective</p><p>We used targeted next-generation sequencing to investigate whether genetic variants of lipid metabolism-related genes are associated with increased susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A cohort of 100 obese children aged 6 to 18 years were divided into NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups and subjected to hepatic ultrasound, anthropometric, and biochemical analyses. We evaluated the association of genetic variants with NAFLD susceptibility by investigating the single nucleotide polymorphisms in each of 36 lipid-metabolism-related genes. The panel genes were assembled for target region sequencing. Correlations between single nucleotide variations, biochemical markers, and clinical phenotypes were analyzed.</p><p>Results</p><p>97 variants in the 36 target genes per child were uncovered. Twenty-six variants in 16 genes were more prevalent in NAFLD subjects than in in-house controls. The mutation rate of <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 and <i>SLC6A2</i> rs3743788 was significantly higher in NAFLD subjects than in non-NAFLD subjects (OR: 3.879; P = 0.004; OR: 6.667, P = 0.005). Logistic regression analysis indicated the <i>MTTP</i> variant rs2306986 was an independent risk factor for NAFLD (OR: 23.468, P = 0.044).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>The results of this study, examining a cohort of obese children, suggest that the genetic variation at <i>MTTP</i> rs2306986 was associated with higher susceptibility to NAFLD. This may contribute to the altered lipid metabolism by disruption of assembly and secretion of lipoprotein, leading to reducing fat export from the involved hepatocytes.</p></div