Articles: disease.
-
The use of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for autoimmune diseases has become the first indication for transplant in nonmalignant disease. Mucormycosis is a rare invasive infection with increasing incidence in patients treated with AHSCT. We report the first case of pulmonary mucormycosis following AHSCT for systemic sclerosis (SSc). ⋯ With the progressively increasing use of AHSCT and other stem cell therapy for treatment of severe SSc and other autoimmune diseases, the potential onset of rare post-transplant fungal infections, such as mucormycosis, requires careful patient monitoring and better awareness of early initiation of adequate therapy.
-
The diameter of femoral vessels was angiographically explored in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and compared with anthropometric and demographic indexes. A total of 153 pediatric patients younger than 3 years old were recruited. The sex, age, weight, and height of patients were recorded daily, and the body surface area (BSA) was calculated with the Mosteller formula. ⋯ The FA-Dm and FV-Dm were closely associated with the height of pediatric patients. Furthermore, the FA-Dm/FV-Dm ratio was stable in these patients. Such estimations could help clinicians select the appropriate diameter of cannulation needles and catheters for interventional therapy pediatric patients with CHD.
-
Observational Study
Genetic mapping of northern corn leaf blight-resistant quantitative trait loci in maize.
Northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), a corn disease infected by Exserohilum turcicum, can cause loss of harvest and economy. Identification or evaluation of NCLB-resistant quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes could improve maize breeds. This study aimed to identify novel QTLs for NCLB-resistance. ⋯ In BB, QTL of the NCLB resistance was on chromosome 1 and 3 (LOD scores between 2.74 and 5.44); in BC, QTL of NCLB resistance was on chromosome 1, 2, 4, 8, and 9 (LOD scores between 2.52 and 8.53). A number of genes or genetic information related to NCLB resistance in both BB and BC were identified with the maximum number of genes/NCLB resistance-related QTL on chromosome 3 for BB and on chromosome 1 for BC. This study successfully mapped and identified NCLB-resistant QTL and genes for these 2 different maize strains, which provides insightful information for future study of NCLB-resistance and selection of NCLB-resistant maize variants.
-
The potential role for serological tests in the current COVID-19 pandemic has generated very considerable recent interest across many sectors worldwide, inter alia pathologists seeking additional weapons for their armoury of diagnostic tests; epidemiologists seeking tools to gain seroprevalence data that will inform improved models of the spread of disease; research scientists seeking tools to study the natural history of COVID-19 disease; vaccine developers seeking tools to assess vaccine efficacy in clinical trials; and companies and governments seeking tools to aid return-to-work decision-making. However, much of the local debate to date has centred on questions surrounding whether regulatory approval processes are limiting access to serological tests, and has not paused to consider the intrinsically limiting impact of underlying fundamental biology and immunology on where and how different COVID-19 serological tests can usefully be deployed in the response to the current pandemic. ⋯ We interpret this scientific evidence in terms of mooted clinical applications for current COVID-19 antibody tests in identifying acute infections, in confirming recent or past infections at the individual and population level, and in detecting re-infection and protective immunity. We conclude with guidance on where current COVID-19 antibody tests can make a genuine impact in the pandemic.
-
Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) has been widely applied as a standard surgical procedure to treat periampullary diseases. The placement of a pancreaticojejunal anastomotic stent is considered an effective and safe method for preventing pancreatic fistula after PD. Recently, the role of pancreaticojejunal anastomotic stents has been challenged, as gradually increasing complications have been observed. Stent-related small bowel perforation has only occurred in 2 cases as long-term complications but has not been reported to occur within 1 week after surgery. ⋯ We caution that stent-related complications can occur when perioperative patients suffer from unexplained or sudden changes in vital signs after PD. In addition, the function of the pancreaticojejunal anastomotic stent needs to be reevaluated by future studies.