Mass-concentration relation of clusters of galaxies from CFHTLenS

Based on weak lensing data from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope Lensing Survey (CFHTLenS), in this paper we study the mass-concentration ($M$-$c$) relation for $\sim 200$ redMaPPer clusters in the fields. We extract the $M$-$c$ relation by measuring the density profiles of individual clusters instead of using stacked weak lensing signals. By performing Monte Carlo simulations, we demonstrate that although the signal-to-noise ratio for each individual cluster is low, the unbiased $M$-$c$ relation can still be reliably derived from a large sample of clusters by carefully taking into account the impacts of shape noise, cluster center offset, dilution effect from member or foreground galaxies, and the projection effect. Our results show that within error bars the derived $M$-$c$ relation for redMaPPer clusters is in agreement with simulation predictions. There is a weak deviation in that the halo concentrations calibrated by Monte Carlo simulations are somewhat higher than that predicted from ${\it Planck}$ cosmology.Comment: Accepted for Publication in ApJ. 18 pages, 8 figures. Updated to match the published versio

Simulation on the Resistance of the Filter Media with Lattice Boltzmann Method

To simulate the resistance of fibrous air filter media it is first necessary to develop an accurate simulation model for the gas flow through the media structure. We present an approach making only one basic simplification to the media geometry to investigate the flow through micro-scale porous geometries with the slip and no-slip boundary conditions by means of Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM). Computed air flow resistance predictions for two kinds of filter media are compared with experimental data and their validity is discussed

Perioperative Antiviral Treatment Facilitate the Postoperative Recovery for Patients with HBV Related to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether perioperative antiviral treatment is facilitate for patients with hepatitis B (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and Child-Pugh grade A cirrhosis in perioperative recovery of liver function and HBV activation. Methods: The study included 115 patients with HBV-related HCC and Child-Pugh grade A cirrhosis who underwent resection. Patients were prospectively assigned to a preoperative antiviral treatment group (n = 51) or postoperative antiviral treatment group (n = 52); twelve patients who had not received antiviral treatment before and after surgery were designated a non-treatment group (n = 12). HBV reactivation during a month after the operation was defined as a HBV DNA value tenfold over preoperative values. Postoperative liver dysfunction was defined as prothrombin activity <50% and serum bilirubin >50 mmol/L on postoperative day 5. Results: Postoperatively, liver dysfunction was present in 1 of 51 (1.96%) patients who received preoperative antiviral therapy, 1 of 52 (1.92%) who received postoperative therapy, and 3 of 12 (25%) who received no antiviral therapy. HBV reactivation postoperatively occurred at similar rates. Conclusions: Preoperative and postoperative antiviral treatment of patients with Child-Pugh grade A cirrhosis and high levels of HBV DNA undergoing hepatic resection for HCC are both facilitate in preventing perioperative liver dysfunction and reactivation of HBV. Thus, in this population with high levels of HBV DNA, perioperative antiviral treatment is important

Comparing Single vs. Combined Cerebrospinal Fluid Parameters for Diagnosing Full-Term Neonatal Bacterial Meningitis

Objectives: To identify and compare the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters that predict the presence of neonatal bacterial meningitis using optimal cutoff values, and to derive and compare predictive profiles based on a combination of individual parameters for the same purpose.Study Design: The retrospective component of the Shanghai Neonate Meningitis Cohort included all term neonates who underwent lumbar puncture between 2000 and 2017. Those with severe neurological diseases, histories of ventricular drainage, or traumatic lumbar punctures were excluded. Reference ranges were determined for non-bacterial meningitis neonates based on the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th CSF parameter quantiles, and their relationships with age were calculated using generalized additive models that tested for linear relationships. The optimal cutoff value for each measured CSF parameter was calculated using receiver operating characteristic analysis and by deriving the Youden's index. Parameters with good diagnostic efficacies were combined to produce predictive profiles using logistic regression. The diagnostic efficacies of the single parameters and profiles were compared in neonates with confirmed bacterial meningitis.Results: White blood cells (WBCs) in CSF showed a higher diagnostic ability for neonatal bacterial meningitis than CSF protein, glucose, lactate dehydrogenase, or chloride. The sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic cutoff value for WBCs (20 × 106/L) were 95.1 and 98.7%, respectively. Profiles based on CSF parameter combinations improved the specificities slightly to 99.0–99.7%. However, employing predictive profiles did not improve sensitivities, which remained at 95.1–96.0%.Conclusions: Profiles for predicting neonatal bacterial meningitis improve the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis slightly, although not appreciably, compared to the single parameter of CSF WBC alone

TNF-α-1031T/C gene polymorphism as a predictor of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer

IntroductionMalnutrition is a complex clinical syndrome, the exact mechanism of which is yet not fully understood. Studies have found that malnutrition is associated with anorexia and inadequate intake, tumor depletion, leptin, tumor-induced metabolic abnormalities in the body, and catabolic factors produced by the tumor in the circulation and cytokines produced by the host immune system. Among these, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are present in the gene encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α.AimThe objective of this study was to investigate TNF-α -1,031 T/C gene polymorphism as an unfavorable predictor of malnutrition in patients with gastric cancer.MethodsThe study group consisted of 220 gastric cancer patients treated at Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. Malnutrition was mainly assessed by the Global Consensus on Malnutrition Diagnostic Criteria (GLIM). DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes of whole blood samples using an animal DNA extraction kit. DNA was amplified using a 1.1× T3 Super PCR mixture and genotyped using SNP1 software.ResultsThere are three major genetic polymorphisms in TNF-α. Among the 220 patients with gastric cancer, there were 7 patients with the CC genotype, 61 with the CT genotype and 152 with the TT genotype. Compared to patients with the TT genotype, patients with the C allele had an approximately 2.5-fold higher risk of developing malnutrition (p = 0.003; OR = 0.406). On the basis of multivariate analysis, patients with the CC genotype had an approximately 20.1-fold higher risk of developing malnutrition (p = 0.013; OR = 20.114), while those with the CT genotype had an almost 3.7-fold higher risk of malnutrition (p = 0.002; OR = 3.218).ConclusionSNP (−1,031 T/C) of the TNF-α may be a useful marker in the assessment of the risk of nutritional deficiencies in gastric cancer patients. Patients with gastric cancer carrying the C allele should be supported by early nutritional intervention, but more research is still needed to explore confirmation

Does sacubitril/valsartan work in children with heart failure?—a pilot study

BackgroundSacubitril/valsartan is an angiotensin receptor neprilysin antagonist (ARNI) approved for adult heart failure (HF). Its safety and efficacy in pediatric HF patients with cardiomyopathy or congenital heart disease are poorly understood. A pilot study was conducted to assess the clinical response, efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in this population at a tertiary care hospital in China.MethodsClinical parameters of patients who received sacubitril/valsartan from January 2019 to March 2023 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Children over 1 month with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45% were included. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by echocardiographic LVEF, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), New York Heart Association (NYHA) HF classification, HF re-admission, and death or transplantation. The initial dose was either 0.2 mg/kg bid or 0.4 mg/kg bid, with a target dose of 2.3 mg/kg bid or 3.1 mg/kg bid.ResultsForty-five patients (60% male) with a median age of 7.86 years were enrolled. Among them, 23 had congenital heart disease and 22 had cardiomyopathies. The median maintenance dose was 0.76 mg/kg. The primary endpoint of LVEF up to 45% was reached by 24 patients (53.3%). The median NT-proBNP was significantly decreased from 5,501.5 pg/ml to 2,241.5 pg/ml (P < 0.001), more in congenital heart disease than in cardiomyopathies (P = 0.032). The NYHA HF class was improved or remained stable in 42 cases (93.3%). During a median follow-up of 1.23 years, 13 patients (28.9%) were re-hospitalized due to HF, and 9 patients (20%) died or underwent transplantation. Hypotension was the main adverse event, occurring in 8 patients.ConclusionsSacubitril/valsartan may be effective in children with HF, but its safety and outcomes may differ depending on the etiology and anatomy of HF. Early post-operative congenital heart disease patients had less tolerance, more hypotension but better recovery and outcomes, while mid- and late- post-operative congenital heart disease patients and cardiomyopathy patients had less side effects but poorer clinical outcomes

Corrigendum: Association between GSDMB gene polymorphism and cervical cancer in the Northeast Chinese Han population

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between GSDMB gene polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to cervical cancer in the Han population in Northeast China. Methods: In this case–control study, the genotypes and alleles of rs8067378 in the GSDMB gene were analyzed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next-generation sequencing methods in 482 cervical cancer (CC) patients, 775 cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) patients, and 495 healthy women. The potential relationships between the SNP of the GSDMB gene with SIL and CC were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis combined with 10,000 permutation tests. Results: In the comparison between the SIL group and the control group, the genotype and allele distribution frequencies of rs8067378 SNP of the GSDMB gene were statistically significant (p = 0.0493 and p = 0.0202, respectively). The allele distribution frequencies of rs8067378 were also statistically significant in the comparison between high-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and low-grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) groups with control group ( p = 0.0483 and p = 0.0330, respectively). Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, the rs8067378 SNP of the GSDMB gene was significantly associated with the reduced risk of SIL under the dominant model (p = 0.0213, OR = 0.764, CI = 0.607–0.961) and the additive model (p = 0.0199, OR = 0.814, and CI = 0.684–0.968), and its mutant gene G may play a role in the progression of healthy people to LSIL and even HSIL as a protective factor. However, there was no significant association between cervical cancer and its subtypes with the control group (p > 0.05). After 10,000 permutations, there was still no correlation that has provided evidence for the accuracy of our study. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that rs8067378 single nucleotide polymorphism of the GSDMB gene may reduce the risk of SIL and protect the susceptibility to cervical precancerous lesions in the Northeast Chinese Han population, but it has no significant correlation with the progression of cervical cancer