Imaging features of neonatal systemic juvenile xanthogranuloma: A case report and review of the literature

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is the most common non-Langerhans cell histiocytic disorder in children. This report describes the case of a 28-day-old boy that presented with multiple subcutaneous nodular lesions on the trunk and extremities, and multiple red nodular lesions on the scrotum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed a well-demarcated extra-axial dura-based mass that appeared isointense or slightly hyperintense on T1-weighted images, hypointense on T2-weighted images and had intense enhancement on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images. Computed tomography (CT) or MRI scans of the chest and abdomen revealed multiple scattered nodular or patchy lesions of varying sizes in the lungs, liver and left kidney. Histological analysis of a subcutaneous mass suggested JXG. The patient was diagnosed with neonatal systemic JXG with involvement of the central nervous system, lungs, liver, kidneys, subcutaneous soft tissue and skin. CT and MRI after 3 months of treatment with methylprednisolone sodium succinate demonstrated that the lesions were obviously diminished. This report discusses the imaging findings in this current case of multi-organ JXG and reviews the imaging literature on this condition to improve awareness of the lesions in order to help radiologists establish an accurate differential diagnosis when confronted with similar cases

Leptomeningeal enhancement of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated encephalitis: uncovering novel markers on contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images

BackgroundMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease (MOGAD) is a newly defined autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system (CNS) disease characterized by antibodies against MOG. Leptomeningeal enhancement (LME) on contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (CE-FLAIR) images has been reported in patients with other diseases and interpreted as a biomarker of inflammation. This study retrospectively analyzed the prevalence and distribution of LME on CE-FLAIR images in children with MOG antibody-associated encephalitis (MOG-E). The corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features and clinical manifestations are also presented.MethodsThe brain MRI images (native and CE-FLAIR) and clinical manifestations of 78 children with MOG-E between January 2018 and December 2021 were analyzed. Secondary analyses evaluated the relationship between LME, clinical manifestations, and other MRI measures.ResultsForty-four children were included, and the median age at the first onset was 70.5 months. The prodromal symptoms were fever, headache, emesis, and blurred vision, which could be progressively accompanied by convulsions, decreased level of consciousness, and dyskinesia. MOG-E showed multiple and asymmetric lesions in the brain by MRI, with varying sizes and blurred edges. These lesions were hyperintense on the T2-weighted and FLAIR images and slightly hypointense or hypointense on the T1-weighted images. The most common sites involved were juxtacortical white matter (81.8%) and cortical gray matter (59.1%). Periventricular/juxtaventricular white matter lesions (18.2%) were relatively rare. On CE-FLAIR images, 24 (54.5%) children showed LME located on the cerebral surface. LME was an early feature of MOG-E (P = 0.002), and cases without LME were more likely to involve the brainstem (P = 0.041).ConclusionLME on CE-FLAIR images may be a novel early marker among patients with MOG-E. The inclusion of CE-FLAIR images in MRI protocols for children with suspected MOG-E at an early stage may be useful for the diagnosis of this disease

Expanding the diversity of mycobacteriophages: insights into genome architecture and evolution.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists

Use of two methods to elute anti-IgG and anti-(IgG + C3d) type autoantibody from sensitized erythrocytes

Background: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an immunological disease caused by autoantibodies. Warm autoantibody mainly includes anti-IgG and anti-(IgG+C3d) type, which can cause direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positive. In order to correctly identify blood group and cross match, we compare the effect of using two elution methods to elute anti-IgG and anti-(IgG+C3d) type autoantibody sensitized erythrocyte. Methods: Twenty cases of anti-IgG type autoantibody and 20 cases of anti-(IgG+C3d) type autoantibody were eluted from sensitized erythrocytes using ZZAP (cysteine activated papain and dithiothreitol) and CP (chloroquine phosphate) reagents. Results: The effect of elution on anti-IgG type autoantibody sensitized erythrocytes is better than anti-(IgG+C3d) type with two elution methods (P < 0.05). The effect of absorption on anti-IgG and anti-(IgG+C3d) type autoantibody sensitized erythrocytes by ZZAP reagent is better than CP (P < 0.05), and the effect of absorption autoantibody after anti-IgG autoantibody sensitized erythrocytes with ZZAP is better than anti-(IgG+C3d) type (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Anti-(IgG+C3d) type autoantibody sensitized erythrocytes are all not eluted by ZZAP and CP, but ZZAP are better than CP on anti-IgG type autoantibody sensitized erythrocyte

Boosting the Energetic Performance of Trinitromethyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole Moiety by Increasing Nitrogen-Oxygen in the Bridge

The trinitromethyl moiety is a useful group for the design and development of novel energetic compounds with high nitrogen and oxygen content. In this work, by using an improved nitration method, the dinitromethyl precursor was successfully nitrated to the trinitromethyl product (2), and its structure was thoroughly characterized by FTIR, NMR, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 2 has a high density (1.897 g cm−3), high heat of formation (984.8 kJ mmol−1), and a high detonation performance (D: 9351 m s−1, P: 37.46 GPa) that may find useful applications in the field of high energy density materials

Three-dimensional printing models in congenital heart disease education for medical students: a controlled comparative study

Abstract Background This study sought to assess, using subjective (self-assessment) and objective (MCQ) methods, the efficacy of using heart models with ventricular septal defect lesions produced with three-dimensional printing technology in a congenital heart disease curriculum for medical students. Methods Three computed tomography datasets of three subtypes of ventricular septal defects (perimembranous, subarterial and muscular, one for each) were obtained and processed for building into and printing out 3D models. Then a total of 63 medical students in one class were randomly allocated to two groups (32 students in the experimental, and 31 the control). The two groups participated in a seminar with or without a 3D heart model, respectively. Assessment of this curriculum was carried out using Likert-type questionnaires as well as an objective multiple choice question test assessing both knowledge acquisition, and structural conceptualization. Open-ended questions were also provided for getting advice and suggestion on 3D model utilization in CHD education. Results With these 3D models, feedback shown in the questionnaires from students in experimental group was significantly more positive than their classmates in the control. And the test results also showed a significant difference in structural conceptualization in favor of the experimental group. Conclusion It is effective to use heart models created using current 3D printing technology for congenital heart disease education. It stimulates students’ interest in congenital heart disease and improves the outcomes of medical education

Dexmedetomidine attenuates lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury in rats by inhibition of caveolin-1 downstream signaling

Objective: Toll-like receptor 4(TLR-4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-KB) pathway plays an important role in inducing acute lung injury (ALI). Studies have proved Dexmedetomidine (Dex) inhibits inflammatory response to mitigate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI and protect against multiorgan injury in various scenarios via restraining TLR-4/NF-kappa B signaling pathway. Many of the known downstream molecules have been orientated with a protein caveolin-1 (Cav-1), which is supposed to take part in regulating TLR4-mediated inflammatory responses. However, its mechanisms have not been confirmed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of Dex against LPS-induced ALI in male rats. Methods: Male rats received tail-vein injection of LPS to form ALI model. Rats were administrated with intraperitoneal injection Dex0.5 h before ALI. At 6h after LPS injection, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were harvested. We stained the lung tissue sections with hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining to observe the histopathological damage and measure the ALI pathology score. We also measured the wet-to-dry(W/D) weight ratio of lung tissue. Lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) and inflammatory cytokines in the BALF were detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Protein levels of Cav-1, TLR-4 and NF-kappa B in lung tissue were tested by immunohistochemistry method. The mRNA expression of Cav-1, TLR4 and the NF-kappa B in lung tissue were measured to determine the related mechanisms by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(RTPCR). Results: It was indicated that Dex pretreatment markedly mitigated pathomorphologic changes and pathological lung injury scores. Besides, Dex pretreatment obviously decreased the W/D weight ratio of lung tissue, attenuated MPO activity significantly, along with LPS-stimulated augment of lung inflammatory cells infiltration in BALF. Moreover, compared with LPS model group, Dex pretreatment apparently increased the protein levels of Cav-1 downregulated by sepsis and decreased the protein levels of TLR-4 and NF-kappa B in lung tissue. Furthermore, Dex pretreatment apparently upregulated the expression of Cav-1 mRNA, restrained TLR4 and NF-kappa B mRNA. Conclusion: Dex pretreatment protects against LPS-induced ALI via inhibiting the activation of the TLR-4/NF-kappa B signaling pathway by upregulating the expression of Cav-1 downregulated by sepsis

Liver transcriptome analysis reveals extensive transcriptional plasticity during acclimation to low salinity in Cynoglossus semilaevis

Abstract Background Salinity is an important abiotic stress that influences the physiological and metabolic activity, reproduction, growth and development of marine fish. It has been suggested that half-smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis), a euryhaline fish species, uses a large amount of energy to maintain osmotic pressure balance when exposed to fluctuations in salinity. To delineate the molecular response of C. semilaevis to different levels of salinity, we performed RNA-seq analysis of the liver to identify the genes and molecular and biological processes involved in responding to salinity changes. Results The present study yielded 330.4 million clean reads, of which 83.9% were successfully mapped to the reference genome of C. semilaevis. One hundred twenty-eight differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 43 up-regulated genes and 85 down-regulated genes, were identified. These DEGs were highly represented in metabolic pathways, steroid biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, butanoate metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism and the 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism pathway. In addition, genes involved in metabolism, osmoregulation and ion transport, signal transduction, immune response and stress response, and cytoskeleton remodeling were affected during acclimation to low salinity. Genes acat2, fdps, hmgcr, hmgcs1, mvk, pmvk, ebp, lss, dhcr7, and dhcr24 were up-regulated and abat, ddc, acy1 were down-regulated in metabolic pathways. Genes aqp10 and slc6a6 were down-regulated in osmoregulation and ion transport. Genes abat, fdps, hmgcs1, mvk, pmvk and dhcr7 were first reported to be associated with salinity adaptation in teleosts. Conclusions Our results revealed that metabolic pathways, especially lipid metabolism were important for salinity adaptation. The candidate genes identified from this study provide a basis for further studies to investigate the molecular mechanism of salinity adaptation and transcriptional plasticity in marine fish

Large cohort screening of G6PD deficiency and the mutational spectrum in the Dongguan District in Southern China.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common enzymatic disorder of the erythrocytes that affects 400 million people worldwide. We developed a PCR-reverse dot blot (RDB) assay to screen twenty genotypes of seventeen Chinese G6PD mutations and investigate the spectrum of G6PD deficiency mutations in Dongguan District, Guangdong Province, in southern China.The PCR-RDB assay consists of multiplex PCR amplification of seven fragments in the G6PD target sequence of wild-type and mutant genomic DNA samples followed by hybridization to a test strip containing allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. A total of 16,464 individuals were analyzed by a combination of phenotypic screening and genotypic detection using the PCR-RDB assay and DNA sequence analysis.The PCR-RDB assay had a detection rate of 98.1%, which was validated by direct sequencing in a blind study with 100% concordance. The G6PD deficiency incidence rate in Dongguan District is 4.08%. Thirty-two genotypes from 469 individuals were found. The two most common variants were c.1376G>T and c.1388G>A, followed by c.95A>G, c.871G>A, c.392G>T, and c.1024 C>T. In addition, two rare mutations (c.703C>A and c.406C>T) were detected by DNA sequencing analysis. In our study, 65 cases harbored the C1311T/IVS polymorphism and 67 cases were homozygote.The PCR-RDB assay we established is a reliable and effective method for screening G6PD mutations in the Chinese population. Data on the spectrum of mutations in the Dongguan District is beneficial to the clinical diagnosis and prevention of G6PD deficiency