Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis: A Case Report

Minhua Chen,Wei Ruan,Lingling Zhang,Bangchuan Hu,Xianghong Yang 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2019 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.57 No.3

Primary amebic encephalitis (PAM) is a devastating central nervous system infection caused by Naegleria fowl- eri, a free-living amoeba, which can survive in soil and warm fresh water. Here, a 43-year-old healthy male was exposed to warm freshwater 5 days before the symptom onset. He rapidly developed severe cerebral edema before the diagnosis of PAM and was treated with intravenous conventional amphotericin B while died of terminal cerebral hernia finally. Com- paring the patients with PAM who has similar clinical symptoms to those with other common types of meningoencephali- tis, this infection is probably curable if treated early and aggressively. PAM should be considered in the differential diagno- sis of purulent meningoencephalitis, especially in patients with recent freshwater-related activities during the hot season.

Clinicopathological Features of Low-Grade Thyroid-like Nasopharyngeal Papillary Adenocarcinoma

Minhua Li,Jiangguo Wei,Xiaofei Yao,Cheng Wang 대한암학회 2017 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.49 No.1

Purpose Primary low-grade thyroid-like papillary adenocarcinomas are extremely rare neoplasms that generally originate in the nasopharynx. Here, we describe a novel case of a 15-year-old Chinese girl who was diagnosed with low-grade thyroid-like papillary adenocarcinoma, including a brief review of the literature to reveal the clinicopathological features of lowgrade thyroid-like nasopharyngeal papillary adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the expression of pan-cytokeratin (CKpan), cytokeratin (CK) 7, thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1), vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), thyroglobulin, CD15, S100, P40, CK20, CDX-2, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Ki-67. Additionally, in situ hybridization investigation was utilized to identify the presence of small Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)–encoded RNA. Results Histopathological analysis revealed florid proliferation of papillary structures lined by columnar epithelial cells with fibrovascular cores. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for CKpan, CK7, TTF-1, vimentin, and EMA, but negative for thyroglobulin, CD15, S100, P40, CK20, CDX-2, and GFAP. The Ki-67–labeling index reached 5% in the most concentrated spot. In situ hybridization for EBV was negative. Conclusion Due to the distinct rarity of low-grade thyroid-like papillary adenocarcinomas with a favorable clinical outcome, a nationwide effort to raise public awareness of this neoplasm is required.

Prediction of the Development of Pulmonary Fibrosis Using Serial Thin-Section CT and Clinical Features in Patients Discharged after Treatment for COVID-19 Pneumonia

Yu Minhua,Liu Ying,Xu Dan,Zhang Rongguo,Lan Lan,Xu Haibo 대한영상의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.21 No.6

Objective: To identify predictors of pulmonary fibrosis development by combining follow-up thin-section CT findings and clinical features in patients discharged after treatment for COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 32 confirmed COVID-19 patients who were divided into two groups according to the evidence of fibrosis on their latest follow-up CT imaging. Clinical data and CT imaging features of all the patients in different stages were collected and analyzed for comparison. Results: The latest follow-up CT imaging showed fibrosis in 14 patients (male, 12; female, 2) and no fibrosis in 18 patients (male, 10; female, 8). Compared with the non-fibrosis group, the fibrosis group was older (median age: 54.0 years vs. 37.0 years, p = 0.008), and the median levels of C-reactive protein (53.4 mg/L vs. 10.0 mg/L, p = 0.002) and interleukin-6 (79.7 pg/L vs. 11.2 pg/L, p = 0.04) were also higher. The fibrosis group had a longer-term of hospitalization (19.5 days vs. 10.0 days, p = 0.001), pulsed steroid therapy (11.0 days vs. 5.0 days, p < 0.001), and antiviral therapy (12.0 days vs. 6.5 days, p = 0.012). More patients on the worst-state CT scan had an irregular interface (59.4% vs. 34.4%, p = 0.045) and a parenchymal band (71.9% vs. 28.1%, p < 0.001). On initial CT imaging, the irregular interface (57.1%) and parenchymal band (50.0%) were more common in the fibrosis group. On the worst-state CT imaging, interstitial thickening (78.6%), air bronchogram (57.1%), irregular interface (85.7%), coarse reticular pattern (28.6%), parenchymal band (92.9%), and pleural effusion (42.9%) were more common in the fibrosis group. Conclusion: Fibrosis was more likely to develop in patients with severe clinical conditions, especially in patients with high inflammatory indicators. Interstitial thickening, irregular interface, coarse reticular pattern, and parenchymal band manifested in the process of the disease may be predictors of pulmonary fibrosis. Irregular interface and parenchymal band could predict the formation of pulmonary fibrosis early.

The Clinical Manifestation of p.Asp50Asn Heterozygous Mutation of GJB2 Gene in 3 Members of a Family Is Similar to That of Clouston Syndrome

Yanjiang Xu,Minhua Wang,Ling Huang,Jie Hu 대한피부과학회 2022 Annals of Dermatology Vol.34 No.5

Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome has genetic heterogeneity, and the clinicalmanifestations of some patients may overlap with Clouston syndrome. A 34-year-old femalepatient came to our department with a complain of “sparse hair, rough skin, photophobiaand deafness for more than 30 years.” We found that the proband and two other familymembers (57-year-old mother and 4-year-old daughter) had similar clinical manifestations:systemic hair loss, generalized skin hyperkeratosis, especially in the metacarpophalangealarea. Subungual hyperkeratosis, finger/toenail dystrophy, as well as photophobia andepiphora. According to the investigation, one of the family members also had similar clinicalmanifestations (grandfather of the proband) and he’s died. The other three members of thefamily had no hearing impairment, and all patients had typical nail dystrophy, hair loss andpalmoplantar hyperkeratosis, similar like as seen in Clouston syndrome, so we suspected todiagnose the case as Clouston syndrome. However, after genetic testing, it was found that theproband, his mother and daughter all had p.Asp50Asn heterozygous mutations in the GJB2gene, and no mutation was detected in GJB6. The modified diagnosis was KID syndrome.

Determination of 5 Natural Selenium Species in Selenium-enriched Bamboo Shoots Using LC-ICP-MS

Zhanglin Ni,Yihua Liu,Minhua Qu 한국식품과학회 2014 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.23 No.4

A method for simultaneous determination ofthe selenium species methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys),selenocysteine (SeCys2), selenite (SeIV), selenomethionine(SeMet), and selenates (SeVI) in natural selenium-enrichedbamboo shoots was developed. Samples were extractedusing sonication with a solution of pepsin. Different seleniumspecies were separated using an anion exchange columnwith isocratic elution and a citric acid mobile phase at pH4.7. Separated selenium species were detected as 80Seusing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS)in dynamic reaction cell (DRC) gas mode. Themethod achieved acceptable quantitative recoveries of 73.9to 113.4% with relative standard deviations of <5%. Thelimits of detection were 1, 2, 2, 3, and 3 μg/kg (fresh weight)for SeCys2, Se, MeSeCys, SeMet, and Se, respectively. Themethod was simple, rapid, accurate, and useful fordetermination of selenium species in natural seleniumenriched bamboo shoots.

The preparation, performance and lithiation mechanism of cobalt-doped zinc oxide as a high performance anode material for LIB

Yue Li,WanWan Li,Minhua Fang,XiaoLin Yao,Chao Chen,Miao Shui,Jie Shu,Yuanlong Ren 한국물리학회 2017 Current Applied Physics Vol.17 No.8

Zn1-xCoxO (0 x 0.15) anode material was prepared by an easy polyacrylamide assisted sol-gel route. The successful replacement of Zinc by Cobalt within Cobalt content x 0.09 was confirmed by structural characterization. The introduction of Cobalt element greatly improved the electro-chemical performances of the matrix Zinc oxide. Without carbon coating, at the 20th cycle, Zn0.91Co0.09O anode still preserved a capacity a little bit more than 1000 mA h g1 and a capacity more than 600 mA h g1 was retained at the end of the 50th cycle. Better rate capability was also witnessed. The SEM, EIS at OCV, CV and in situ XRD were further carried out to elucidate the lithiation mechanism. The role Cobalt doping played can be summarized as follows: the stabilization of the Li2Zn phase, the minimization of charge transfer resistance and the enhanced reversibility of the reduction from metal oxide to metal.

CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism might contribute to coronary artery disease susceptibility in Chinese male: a case–control study

Huang Jingyan,Huang Siyun,Li Jinhong,Li Minhua,Gong Lin,Li Tongshun,Gu Lian 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.4

Background: Calmodulin 1 (CALM1) mutations are involved in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the relationship of CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism with CAD is unknown. Objective: This study aimed to identify the relationship of CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism with CAD susceptibility, CALM1 expression, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood coagulation and serum lipid levels of CAD patients. Methods: 550 CAD patients and 550 control subjects were genotyped for CALM1 using Sequenom MassARRAY technology. CALM1 expression level was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: CALM1 mRNA expression was higher in CAD patients than that in control subjects (P < 0.001). CAD patients with CC genotype had higher CALM1 mRNA expression level than control subjects with CC genotype (P = 0.006). Genotypic frequency of rs3179089 was different between male patients of CAD and control subjects (P = 0.045). Rs3179089 polymorphism was related to CAD risk of males in recessive model (P = 0.039). Moreover, rs3179089 polymorphism was associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and D-Dimer (D-D) level of patients with CAD in recessive model (P = 0.013 for SBP; P = 0.034 for DBP; P = 0.004 for FPG; P = 0.046 for D-D). In addition, rs3179089 polymorphism was correlated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) serum levels of patients with CAD in both addictive (P = 0.025 for LDL-C; P = 0.001 for TC) and recessive models (P = 0.001 for LDL-C; P = 0.001 for TC). Conclusion: CALM1 expression is associated with development of CAD. CALM1 rs3179089 polymorphism affects CAD susceptibility in males, and blood pressure, blood glucose, blood coagulation and serum lipid of CAD patients.

Degrees of Freedom of 3-user MIMO Interference Channels with Instantaneous Relay Using Interference Alignment

( Wang Qiang ),( Shu Yuquan ),( Dong Minhua ),( Xu Ji ),( Tao Xiaofeng ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2015 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.9 No.5

Instantaneous relay (relay-without-delay) using interference alignment is a promising approach to neutralizing interference and improving system capacity. In Wang Chenwei`s work, a 2-user scenario required both source and relay to access the global channel state information (CSI). This paper shows a new method of interference alignment improves the degrees of freedom (DoF) prominently for the 3-user MIMO interference channel with instantaneous relay. This new method is focused on the relay node that completes the alignment interference neutralization so the global CSI is obtained only once and the pressure on the base station can be mitigated. In addition, the 3-user MIMO interference channels with instantaneous relay can achieve 2M DoF when source and destination have M antennas, respectively. This method shows 33% improvement over the conventional method using interference alignment which obtains 3M/2 DoF.

Synthesis and Characterization of 9 nm Pt–Ni Octahedra with a Record High Activity of 3.3 A/mg_Pt for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Choi, Sang-Il,Xie, Shuifen,Shao, Minhua,Odell, Jonathan H.,Lu, Ning,Peng, Hsin-Chieh,Protsailo, Lesia,Guerrero, Sandra,Park, Jinho,Xia, Xiaohu,Wang, Jinguo,Kim, Moon J.,Xia, Younan American Chemical Society 2013 Nano letters Vol.13 No.7

<P>Nanoscale Pt–Ni bimetallic octahedra with controlled sizes have been actively explored in recent years owning to their outstanding activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here we report the synthesis of uniform 9 nm Pt–Ni octahedra with the use of oleylamine and oleic acid as surfactants and W(CO)<SUB>6</SUB> as a source of CO that can promote the formation of {111} facets in the presence of Ni. Through the introduction of benzyl ether as a solvent, the coverage of both surfactants on the surface of resultant Pt–Ni octahedra was significantly reduced while the octahedral shape was still attained. By further removing the surfactants through acetic acid treatment, we observed a specific activity 51-fold higher than that of the state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst for the ORR at 0.93 V, together with a record high mass activity of 3.3 A mg<SUB>Pt</SUB><SUP>–1</SUP> at 0.9 V (the highest mass activity reported in the literature was 1.45 A mg<SUB>Pt</SUB><SUP>–1</SUP>). Our analysis suggests that this great enhancement of ORR activity could be attributed to the presence of a clean, well-preserved (111) surface for the Pt–Ni octahedra.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/nalefd/2013/nalefd.2013.13.issue-7/nl401881z/production/images/medium/nl-2013-01881z_0006.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl401881z'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Potential Antitumor Activity of SIM-89 in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Jun Pei,Baohui Han,Tianqing Chu,Minhua Shao,Jiajun Teng,Huifang Sha,Aiqing Gu,Rong Li,Jialin Qian,Weifeng Mao,Ying Li 연세대학교의과대학 2017 Yonsei medical journal Vol.58 No.3

Purpose: c-Met and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), play a critical role in oncogenesis and metastatic progression. The aim of this study was to identify inhibited enzymogram and to test the antitumor activity of SIM-89 (a c-Met receptor tyrosine kinaseinhibitor) in non-small cell lung cancer. Materials and Methods: Z’-LYTE kinase assay was employed to screen the kinase enzymogram, and mechanism of action (MOA) analysis was used to identify the inhibited kinases. Cell proliferation was then analyzed by CCK8 assay, and cell migration was determinedby transwell assay. The gene expression and the phosphorylation of c-Met were examined by realtime-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Finally, the secretion of HGF was detected by ELISA assay. Results: c-Met, activated protein kinase (AMPK), and tyrosine kinase A (TRKA) were inhibited by SIM-89 with the IC50 values of 297 nmol/L, 1.31 μmol/L, and 150.2 nmol/L, respectively. SIM-89 exerted adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive inhibition on c-Met. Moreover, the expressions of STAT1, JAK1, and c-Met in H460 cells were decreased by SIM-89 treatment, and c-Met phosphorylationwas suppressed in A549, H441, H1299, and B16F10 cells by the treatment. In addition, SIM-89 treatment significantly decreased the level of HGF, which accounted for the activation of c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase. Finally, we showed cell proliferationinhibition and cell migration suppression in H460 and H1299 cells after SIM-89 treatment. Conclusion: In conclusion, SIM-89 inhibits tumor cell proliferation, migration and HGF autocrine, suggesting it’s potential antitumoractivity.