Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by patchy or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall to a variable depth and various gastrointestinal manifestations....Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by patchy or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall to a variable depth and various gastrointestinal manifestations. We describe a case of severe eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting as frequent bowel obstruction and diarrhea in a 35-year-old man. The patient was misdiagnosed and underwent surgery because of intestinal obstruction when he was first admitted to a local hospital. Then he was misdiagnosed as having Crohn’s disease in another university teaching hospital. Finally, the patient asked for further treatment from our hospital because of the on-going clinical trial for treating refractory Crohn’s disease by fecal microbiota transplantation. Physical examination revealed a slight distended abdomen with diffuse tenderness. Laboratory investigation showed the total number of normal leukocytes with neutrophilia as 90.5%, as well as eosinopenia, monocytopenia and lymphocytopenia. Barium radiography and sigmoidoscopy confirmed inflammatory stenosis of the sigmoid colon. We diagnosed the patient as having eosinophilic gastroenteritis by multi-examinations. The patient was treated by fecal microbiota transplantation combined with oral prednisone, and was free from gastrointestinal symptoms at the time when we reported his disease. This case highlights the importance of awareness of manifestations of a rare disease like eosinophilic gastroenteritis.展开更多
The abstraction of complex biological lightweight structure features into a producible technical component is a funda- mental step within the transfer of design principles from nature to technical lightweight solution...The abstraction of complex biological lightweight structure features into a producible technical component is a funda- mental step within the transfer of design principles from nature to technical lightweight solutions. A major obstacle for the transfer of natural lightweight structures to technical solutions is their peculiar geometry. Since natural lightweight structures possess irregularities and often have extremely complex forms due to elaborate growth processes, it is usually necessary to simplify their design principles. This step of simplification/abstraction has been used in different biomimetic methods, but so far, it has an arbitrary component, i.e. it crucially depends on the competence of the person who executes the abstraction. This paper describes a new method for abstraction and specialization of natural micro structures for technical lightweight compo- nents. The new method generates stable lightweight design principles by using topology optimization within a design space of preselected biological archetypes such as diatoms or radiolarian. The resulting solutions are adapted to the technical load cases and production processes, can be created in a large variety, and may be further optimized e.g. by using parametric optimization.展开更多
Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by a combination of symptoms, clinical findings and histological abnormalities. Ulcers are only found in 40% of the patients; 20% of t...Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by a combination of symptoms, clinical findings and histological abnormalities. Ulcers are only found in 40% of the patients; 20% of the patients have a solitary ulcer, and the rest of the lesions vary in shape and size, from hyperemic mucosa to broad-based polypoid. Men and women are affected equally, with a small predominance in women. SRUS has also been described in children and in the geriatric population. Clinical features include rectal bleeding, copious mucus discharge, prolonged excessive straining, perineal and abdominal pain, feeling of incomplete defecation, constipation, and rarely, rectal prolapse. This disease has well-described histopathological features such as obliteration of the lamina propria by fibrosis and smooth muscle fibers extending from a thickened muscularis mucosa to the lumen. Diffuse collage deposition in the lamina propria and abnormal smooth muscle fiber extensions are sensitive markers for differ-entiating SRUS from other conditions. However, the etiology remains obscure, and the condition is frequently associated with pelvic floor disorders. SRUS is difficult to treat, and various treatment strategies have been advocated, ranging from conservative management to a variety of surgical procedures. The aim of the present review is to summarize the clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies associated with SRUS. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.展开更多
While hepatitis B virus(HBV)screening relies on hepatitis B surface antigen to confirm HBV infection since the early days of hepatitis B disease management,hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection screening is based on anti-HC...While hepatitis B virus(HBV)screening relies on hepatitis B surface antigen to confirm HBV infection since the early days of hepatitis B disease management,hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection screening is based on anti-HCV testing which does not discriminate active from past infection.Thus to confirm infection HCV RNA testing has been required;recently a HCV core antigen assay became widely commercially available which could serve to confirm infection.That assay is less sensitive than current HCV RNA assays,but as more than 50%of anti-HCV positive persons will be HCV core antigen positive,HCV core antigen testing can be a cost effective and reflex test to confirm HCV infection in anti-HCV positive individuals and will be easier as it can be applied on the same platform.For treatment monitoring,more data need to be generated,but the early data available at present suggest that HCV core antigen may be an alternative to HCV RNA monitoring.With direct antivirals,HCV core antigen could even be superior to HCV RNA testing,as direct antivirals might already prevent virus formation when HCV core antigen is still produced and thereby correlates better with eventual viral clearance.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent cancers in developed countries.On the other hand,CRC is also one of the most curable cancers if it is detected in early stages through regular colonoscopy or sigmoido...Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent cancers in developed countries.On the other hand,CRC is also one of the most curable cancers if it is detected in early stages through regular colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.Since CRC develops slowly from precancerous lesions,early detection can reduce both the incidence and mortality of the disease.Fecal occult blood test is a widely used non-invasive screening tool for CRC.Although fecal occult blood test is simple and cost-effective in screening CRC,there is room for improvement in terms of the accuracy of the test.Genetic dysregulations have been found to play an important role in CRC development.With better understanding of the molecular basis of CRC,there is a growing expectation on the development of diagnostic tests based on more sensitive and specific molecular markers and those tests may provide a breakthrough to the limitations of current screening tests for CRC.In this review,the molecular basis of CRC development,the characteristics and applications of different non-invasive molecular biomarkers,as well as the technologies available for the detection were discussed.This review intended to provide a summary on the current and future molecular diagnostics in CRC and its pre-malignant state,colorectal adenoma.展开更多
In the Sahelian zone in Africa, groundwater is the main source of drinking water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. The groundwater of the Samba Dia sandy aquifer was assessed for understanding processes...In the Sahelian zone in Africa, groundwater is the main source of drinking water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. The groundwater of the Samba Dia sandy aquifer was assessed for understanding processes controlling the hydrogeochemistry and its drinking and irrigation suitability, on the basis of various water quality parameters. For the present study, thirty-three groundwater samples were collected in wells of the study area during the dry season in March 2021 and subjected to analysis for chemical characteristics (major ions), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). Gibbs plot depicts that the process of ionic exchange is mainly due to the dissolution of water-rock interaction. The Piper diagram indicates a largely dominant sodium chloride facies with 70% of the groundwater samples followed by calcium chloride facies (18%) than calcium bicarbonate facies (12%). Analytical results of hydrogeochemical parameters of groundwater samples reveal that the majority of samples are within the World Health Organization safety range for drinking water. TDS and electrical conductivity (EC) values of groundwater indicate that 70% and 61% are safe for drinking water, respectively. Sodium percentage (% Na), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values, and Ca/Mg ratio were calculated and compared with the standard guideline values recommended by the World Health Organization and agricultural water standards. This study shows that the groundwater in the area is mostly chemically suitable for drinking and irrigation, although some wells at the edge of the area exhibit signs of progressive salinization and traces of pollution.展开更多
Redox balance is fundamentally important for physiological homeostasis. Pathological factors that disturb this dedicated balance may result in oxidative stress, leading to the development or aggravation of a variety o...Redox balance is fundamentally important for physiological homeostasis. Pathological factors that disturb this dedicated balance may result in oxidative stress, leading to the development or aggravation of a variety of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome as well as inflammation, aging and cancer. Thus, the capacity of endogenous free radical clearance can be of patho-physiological importance; in this regard, the major reactive oxygen species defense machinery, the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) system needs to be precisely modulated in response to pathological alterations. While oxidative stress is among the early events that lead to the development of insulin resistance, the activation of Nrf2 scavenging capacity leads to insulin sensitization. Furthermore, Nrf2 is evidently involved in regulating lipid metabolism. Here we summarize recent findings that link the Nrf2 system to metabolic homeostasis and insulin action and present our view that Nrf2 may serve as a novel drug target for diabetes and its complications.展开更多
AIM: To improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with symptoms and signs of appendicitis, but without confirmative computed tomography (CT) findings.
基金Supported by Partially supported by the grant"Intestine Initiative"
文摘Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by patchy or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall to a variable depth and various gastrointestinal manifestations. We describe a case of severe eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting as frequent bowel obstruction and diarrhea in a 35-year-old man. The patient was misdiagnosed and underwent surgery because of intestinal obstruction when he was first admitted to a local hospital. Then he was misdiagnosed as having Crohn’s disease in another university teaching hospital. Finally, the patient asked for further treatment from our hospital because of the on-going clinical trial for treating refractory Crohn’s disease by fecal microbiota transplantation. Physical examination revealed a slight distended abdomen with diffuse tenderness. Laboratory investigation showed the total number of normal leukocytes with neutrophilia as 90.5%, as well as eosinopenia, monocytopenia and lymphocytopenia. Barium radiography and sigmoidoscopy confirmed inflammatory stenosis of the sigmoid colon. We diagnosed the patient as having eosinophilic gastroenteritis by multi-examinations. The patient was treated by fecal microbiota transplantation combined with oral prednisone, and was free from gastrointestinal symptoms at the time when we reported his disease. This case highlights the importance of awareness of manifestations of a rare disease like eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
文摘The abstraction of complex biological lightweight structure features into a producible technical component is a funda- mental step within the transfer of design principles from nature to technical lightweight solutions. A major obstacle for the transfer of natural lightweight structures to technical solutions is their peculiar geometry. Since natural lightweight structures possess irregularities and often have extremely complex forms due to elaborate growth processes, it is usually necessary to simplify their design principles. This step of simplification/abstraction has been used in different biomimetic methods, but so far, it has an arbitrary component, i.e. it crucially depends on the competence of the person who executes the abstraction. This paper describes a new method for abstraction and specialization of natural micro structures for technical lightweight compo- nents. The new method generates stable lightweight design principles by using topology optimization within a design space of preselected biological archetypes such as diatoms or radiolarian. The resulting solutions are adapted to the technical load cases and production processes, can be created in a large variety, and may be further optimized e.g. by using parametric optimization.
文摘Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) is an uncommon benign disease, characterized by a combination of symptoms, clinical findings and histological abnormalities. Ulcers are only found in 40% of the patients; 20% of the patients have a solitary ulcer, and the rest of the lesions vary in shape and size, from hyperemic mucosa to broad-based polypoid. Men and women are affected equally, with a small predominance in women. SRUS has also been described in children and in the geriatric population. Clinical features include rectal bleeding, copious mucus discharge, prolonged excessive straining, perineal and abdominal pain, feeling of incomplete defecation, constipation, and rarely, rectal prolapse. This disease has well-described histopathological features such as obliteration of the lamina propria by fibrosis and smooth muscle fibers extending from a thickened muscularis mucosa to the lumen. Diffuse collage deposition in the lamina propria and abnormal smooth muscle fiber extensions are sensitive markers for differ-entiating SRUS from other conditions. However, the etiology remains obscure, and the condition is frequently associated with pelvic floor disorders. SRUS is difficult to treat, and various treatment strategies have been advocated, ranging from conservative management to a variety of surgical procedures. The aim of the present review is to summarize the clinical features, pathophysiology, diagnostic methods and treatment strategies associated with SRUS. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
文摘While hepatitis B virus(HBV)screening relies on hepatitis B surface antigen to confirm HBV infection since the early days of hepatitis B disease management,hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection screening is based on anti-HCV testing which does not discriminate active from past infection.Thus to confirm infection HCV RNA testing has been required;recently a HCV core antigen assay became widely commercially available which could serve to confirm infection.That assay is less sensitive than current HCV RNA assays,but as more than 50%of anti-HCV positive persons will be HCV core antigen positive,HCV core antigen testing can be a cost effective and reflex test to confirm HCV infection in anti-HCV positive individuals and will be easier as it can be applied on the same platform.For treatment monitoring,more data need to be generated,but the early data available at present suggest that HCV core antigen may be an alternative to HCV RNA monitoring.With direct antivirals,HCV core antigen could even be superior to HCV RNA testing,as direct antivirals might already prevent virus formation when HCV core antigen is still produced and thereby correlates better with eventual viral clearance.
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most prevalent cancers in developed countries.On the other hand,CRC is also one of the most curable cancers if it is detected in early stages through regular colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.Since CRC develops slowly from precancerous lesions,early detection can reduce both the incidence and mortality of the disease.Fecal occult blood test is a widely used non-invasive screening tool for CRC.Although fecal occult blood test is simple and cost-effective in screening CRC,there is room for improvement in terms of the accuracy of the test.Genetic dysregulations have been found to play an important role in CRC development.With better understanding of the molecular basis of CRC,there is a growing expectation on the development of diagnostic tests based on more sensitive and specific molecular markers and those tests may provide a breakthrough to the limitations of current screening tests for CRC.In this review,the molecular basis of CRC development,the characteristics and applications of different non-invasive molecular biomarkers,as well as the technologies available for the detection were discussed.This review intended to provide a summary on the current and future molecular diagnostics in CRC and its pre-malignant state,colorectal adenoma.
文摘In the Sahelian zone in Africa, groundwater is the main source of drinking water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural uses. The groundwater of the Samba Dia sandy aquifer was assessed for understanding processes controlling the hydrogeochemistry and its drinking and irrigation suitability, on the basis of various water quality parameters. For the present study, thirty-three groundwater samples were collected in wells of the study area during the dry season in March 2021 and subjected to analysis for chemical characteristics (major ions), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS). Gibbs plot depicts that the process of ionic exchange is mainly due to the dissolution of water-rock interaction. The Piper diagram indicates a largely dominant sodium chloride facies with 70% of the groundwater samples followed by calcium chloride facies (18%) than calcium bicarbonate facies (12%). Analytical results of hydrogeochemical parameters of groundwater samples reveal that the majority of samples are within the World Health Organization safety range for drinking water. TDS and electrical conductivity (EC) values of groundwater indicate that 70% and 61% are safe for drinking water, respectively. Sodium percentage (% Na), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) values, and Ca/Mg ratio were calculated and compared with the standard guideline values recommended by the World Health Organization and agricultural water standards. This study shows that the groundwater in the area is mostly chemically suitable for drinking and irrigation, although some wells at the edge of the area exhibit signs of progressive salinization and traces of pollution.
基金Supported by An operating grant from Canadian Institutes of Health Research,No.89887 to Jin TRa NSFC grant,No.81072300 to Jin TR and Yu ZWa NSFC grant,No.30730079 to Ling WH in part
文摘Redox balance is fundamentally important for physiological homeostasis. Pathological factors that disturb this dedicated balance may result in oxidative stress, leading to the development or aggravation of a variety of diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome as well as inflammation, aging and cancer. Thus, the capacity of endogenous free radical clearance can be of patho-physiological importance; in this regard, the major reactive oxygen species defense machinery, the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) system needs to be precisely modulated in response to pathological alterations. While oxidative stress is among the early events that lead to the development of insulin resistance, the activation of Nrf2 scavenging capacity leads to insulin sensitization. Furthermore, Nrf2 is evidently involved in regulating lipid metabolism. Here we summarize recent findings that link the Nrf2 system to metabolic homeostasis and insulin action and present our view that Nrf2 may serve as a novel drug target for diabetes and its complications.
文摘AIM: To improve the diagnostic accuracy in patients with symptoms and signs of appendicitis, but without confirmative computed tomography (CT) findings.
