Detail Enhancement for Infrared Images Based on Propagated Image Filter

For displaying high-dynamic-range images acquired by thermal camera systems, 14-bit raw infrared data should map into 8-bit gray values. This paper presents a new method for detail enhancement of infrared images to display the image with a relatively satisfied contrast and brightness, rich detail information, and no artifacts caused by the image processing. We first adopt a propagated image filter to smooth the input image and separate the image into the base layer and the detail layer. Then, we refine the base layer by using modified histogram projection for compressing. Meanwhile, the adaptive weights derived from the layer decomposition processing are used as the strict gain control for the detail layer. The final display result is obtained by recombining the two modified layers. Experimental results on both cooled and uncooled infrared data verify that the proposed method outperforms the method based on log-power histogram modification and bilateral filter-based detail enhancement in both detail enhancement and visual effect

Rheumatoid meningitis: a rare neurological complication of rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of rheumatoid meningitis (RM) in Chinese patients. MethodsThe patients admitted to our hospital with the diagnosis of RM in the past 8 years were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsSix patients with RM were identified among 933 patients admitted with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The symptoms of meningitis occurred after onset of arthritis in five patients and before onset in one. Headache (n=6), hyperacute focal neurological deficits (n=4) and seizures (n=3) were the most prevalent symptoms. The nadir modified Rankin Scale score was ≥3 in five patients. Rheumatoid factor was elevated in all patients, and interleukin-6 levels in cerebrospinal fluid were dramatically elevated in three of four tested patients. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed that the meninges were affected in all patients and the cerebral parenchyma was affected in one patient. The lesions were generally located in the frontoparietal region and showed restricted diffusion along the adjacent subarachnoid space. RM occurred during disease-modifying therapy in four patients. In the acute episode, three patients improved on tocilizumab and the other three improved on pulse corticosteroids. For maintenance therapy, two patients received combined therapy of tocilizumab and other immunosuppressive agents, one received adalimumab and methotrexate, and two received low-dose oral corticosteroids with an immunosuppressive agent. Five patients had a good outcome, and one died of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia after stabilization of his neurologic conditions. No relapse of RM occurred on immunotherapy during follow-up. ConclusionsChinese patients with RM share some remarkable clinical and neuroimaging features and respond well to appropriate immunotherapy. Tocilizumab could be a treatment option for this severe complication of RA

Prevalence and diagnostic value of non-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies for antiphospholipid syndrome in Chinese patients

BackgroundThe presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). This study aimed to examine the diagnostic value of a set of non−criteria aPLs and their relevance with APS-related criteria and extra-criteria manifestations.MethodsFrom a prospectively constructed database, consecutive APS patients consisting of 114 primary APS (PAPS group), 54 with APS secondary to SLE (SAPS group), 9 seronegative APS (SNAPS), as well as 209 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 88 healthy controls were included in this study. Levels of criteria aPLs, baseline information, and APS-related criteria and extra-criteria features were extracted from the database. Serum levels of non-criteria aPLs including aPC IgG/IgM, aPI IgG/IgM, aPE IgG/IgM/IgA, aPG IgG/IgM/IgA, anti-phosphatidic acid (aPA) IgG/IgM, aSM IgG/IgM, and aPS/PT IgG/IgM were analyzed with AESKULISA® ELISA Test Kits.ResultsThe addition of aPC IgG/M, aPI IgG/M, aPE IgG/M/A, aSM IgG/M, and aPA IgG/M to aCL or aβ2GPI IgG/M could significantly increase diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy. A significant difference between PAPS or SAPS and HC was presented in all non-criteria aPLs except for aSM IgM and aPG IgA. Eight out of nine SNAPS patients were positive for at least 1 aPL. Pregnancy morbidity was associated with aSM IgM (r = 0.22) and aSM IgG (r = 0.15). Pre-eclampsia or premature birth was associated with aSM IgG (r = 0.16), aPI IgG (r = 0.22), aPC IgG (r = 0.16), and aPG IgG (r = 0.18). Stroke was associated with aPI IgG (r = 0.2). The clinical association was also observed in DVT with aPS/PT IgG (r = 0.17). Valve lesion was positively associated with aSM IgM (Fisher test p = 0.039), APS nephropathy was associated with aPC IgG (OR 3.797), and livedo reticularis was associated with aPE IgM (OR 15.391).ConclusionAdditional detection of non-criteria aPLs including aPC IgG/M, aPE IgG/M/A, aPI IgG/M, aSM IgG/M, and aPA IgG/M could assist in APS diagnosis. The positivity of certain aPLs was statistically associated with both criteria and extra-criteria APS clinical manifestations

Immune Thrombocytopenia Could be an Independent Clinical Phenotype of Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract Background Patients with persistent positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) hardly develop thrombosis but share many similar characteristics with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Methods This is a prospective cohort study consecutively enrolling thrombocytopenic patients with continuous positive aPLs. Patients developing thrombotic events are classified as the APS group. Then we compare the clinical characteristics and prognosis between aPLs carriers and patients with APS. Results This cohort included 47 thrombocytopenic patients with continuous positive aPLs and 55 with diagnosed primary APS. The proportion of smoking and hypertension are higher in the APS group (p = 0.03, 0.04, 0.03, respectively). The platelet count of aPLs carriers at admission was lower than APS patients [26 × 109/l (9 × 109/l, 46 × 109/l) vs. 64 × 109/l (24 × 109/l, 89 × 109/l), p = 0.0002]. Triple aPLs positivity is more common in primary APS patients with thrombocytopenia [24 (51.1%) vs. 40 (72.7%), p = 0.04]. Regarding the treatment response, the complete response (CR) rate is similar between aPLs carriers and primary APS patients with thrombocytopenia (p = 0.2). Nonetheless, the proportion of response, no response, and relapse differed significantly between the two groups [13 (27.7%) vs. 4 (7.3%), p < 0.0001; 5 (10.6%) vs. 8 (14.5%), p < 0.0001; 5 (10.6%) vs. 8 (14.5%), p < 0.0001, respectively]. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, primary APS patients had significantly more thrombotic events than aPLs carriers (p = 0.0006). Conclusions In the absence of other high-risk factors for thrombosis, thrombocytopenia could be an independent and long-lasting clinical phenotype of APS

Identification of potential susceptibility genes in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension through whole exome sequencing

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare complication of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS). Several genes have proven to be associated with pSS and PAH. However, there is no study specifically addressing the genetic susceptibility in pSS combined with PAH. Methods Thirty-four unrelated patients with pSS-PAH were recruited from April 2019 to July 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Demographic and clinical data were recorded in detail, and peripheral blood samples were collected for whole-exome sequencing (WES). Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed to predict the functional effect of mutant genes. Genetic variants identified by WES were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-Sanger sequencing. Results We totally identified 141 pathogenic variant loci of 129 genes in these 34 pSS-PAH patients, using WES analysis. Patients with a family history of rheumatic diseases are more likely to carry FLG mutations or carry gene variations related to the biosynthesis of the amino acids pathway (p  T, BCR c.3275_3278dupCCGG, GIGYF2 c.3463C > A, ITK c.1741C > T, and SLC26A4 c.919-2A > G. Conclusion Our findings provide preliminary data of exome sequencing to identify susceptibility loci for pSS-PAH and enriched our understanding of the genetic etiology for pSS-PAH. The candidate pathogenic genes may be the potential genetic markers for early warning of this disease

Validation of three prediction models for thrombosis recurrence in antiphospholipid syndrome patients based on a prospective cohort

Objectives To validate the performance of the adjusted global antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) score (aGAPSS), Padua score and Caprini score to predict thrombosis recurrence in APS.Methods Consecutive thrombotic-APS patients were included. aGAPSS, Padua and Caprini score at baseline were collected. Harrell c-index and calibration curve were used to validate the prediction models.Results 362 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 36.30±13.88 years old, and 209 (57.7%) were female. Patients were followed up for a median of 2.32 years, with 32 (8.84%) venous and 21 (5.80%) arterial thrombosis. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year thrombosis risks were 5.0%, 14.3% and 17.9%, respectively. The Harrell c-indexes of aGAPSS, Padua and Caprini score were 0.54 (95% CI 0.44 to 0.64), 0.54 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.62), and 0.50 (95%CI 0.42 to 0.58), respectively. Padua score had the best discrimination to predict venous thrombosis (Harrell c-index=0.61, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.69). aGAPSS had the best discrimination to predict arterial thrombosis (Harrell c-index=0.61, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.75). The calibrations for predicting thrombosis within 1, 3 and 5 years of the three models were suboptimal.Conclusion The performance of aGAPSS, Padua and Caprini score to predict thrombosis recurrence in APS were suboptimal. Arterial and venous thrombosis recurrence predictors were different. New prediction models are required for venous and arterial thrombosis separately

Additional file 1 of Identification of potential susceptibility genes in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension through whole exome sequencing

Additional file 1: Supplementary Table 1. Susceptibility genes of primary Sjögren’s syndrome-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension identified by whole genome sequencing