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Worldwide, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm birth remain the leading causes of maternal and fetal pregnancy-related mortality and (long-term) morbidity. Fetal cardiac deformation changes can be the first sign of placental dysfunction, which is associated with HDP, FGR and preterm birth. In addition, preterm birth is likely associated with changes in electrical activity across the uterine muscle. Therefore, fetal cardiac function and uterine activity can be used for the early detection of these complications in pregnancy. Fetal cardiac function and uterine activity can be assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (NI-fECG), and electrohysterography (EHG). This study aims to generate reference values for 2D-STE, NI-fECG and EHG parameters during the second trimester of pregnancy and to investigate the diagnostic potential of these parameters in the early detection of HDP, FGR and preterm bialregister.nl/trials and registered on 21 October 2020 to the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (NL73607.015.20) via https//www.toetsingonline.nl/to/ccmo_search.nsf/Searchform?OpenForm .

Registered on 26 March 2020 in the Dutch Trial Register (NL8769) via https//www.trialregister.nl/trials and registered on 21 October 2020 to the Central Committee on Research Involving Human Subjects (NL73607.015.20) via https//www.toetsingonline.nl/to/ccmo_search.nsf/Searchform?OpenForm .

Tc-pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy is a valid complementary avenue for evaluating thyroid disease in the clinic, the image feature of thyroid scintigram is relatively simple but the interpretation still has a moderate consistency among physicians. Thus, we aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system to automatically classify the four patterns of thyroid scintigram.

We collected 3087 thyroid scintigrams from center 1 to construct the training dataset (n = 2468) and internal validating dataset (n = 619), and another 302 cases from center 2 as external validating datasets. Four pre-trained neural networks that included ResNet50, DenseNet169, InceptionV3, and InceptionResNetV2 were implemented to construct AI models. The models were trained separately with transfer learning. We evaluated each model's performance with metrics as following accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), recall, precision, and F1-score.

The overall accuracy omodel represented considerable performance in the classification of thyroid scintigrams, which may help physicians improve the interpretation of thyroid scintigrams more consistently and efficiently.

Therapy for eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) improves symptoms of H. pylori-associated dyspepsia (HPD), but the effects of eradication in elderly patients are unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate dyspepsia symptoms and long-term effects of eradication in elderly patients.

This retrospective study included 496 patients who received H. pylori eradication therapy. The patients were divided into a group of elderly patients (group E ≧65years old) and a group of non-elderly patients (group N < 65years old). Abdominal symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire about abdominal symptoms before eradication and after eradication (1-2months and more than one year). Dyspepsia was defined as a score of 4 points or more for at least one of 4 items (postprandial fullness, early satiety, epigastric pain, and hunger pain). Improvement of symptoms was defined on the basis of changes in Global Overall Systems scores.

There were no differences in abdominal symptoms before eradication between the two groups. Successful eradication improved symptoms in patients with dyspepsia within 2months (in 75.6% (56/74) of the patients in group N and in 64.5% (20/31) of the patients in group E). The questionnaire showed that 80% (32/40) of the patients in group N and 60% (12/20) of the patients in group E had long-term relief of dyspepsia. The scores for abdominal symptoms in group E continued to improve for a mean period of 54.8months after eradication.

Eradication of H. pylori age-independently improved dyspepsia symptoms for the long term.

Eradication of H. pylori age-independently improved dyspepsia symptoms for the long term.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a systemic inflammatory response caused by the rickettsial bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI) are rare complications of HGA. Here, we report a case of HGA concurrent with rhabdomyolysis and AKI in an elderly patient.

An 84-year old woman with a medical history of hypertension was hospitalised after two days of fever, dizziness, whole body pain, and general weakness. Laboratory investigations showed severe thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, impaired renal function, and elevated cardiac enzyme and myoglobin levels. On the day after admission, peripheral blood smear revealed morula inclusions in neutrophils, a suggestive finding of HGA. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results indicated the presence of A. phagocytophilum. Antibiotics were de-escalated to doxycycline monotherapy. After 10days of antibiotic treatment, laboratory tests showed complete recovery from HGA complicated with rhabdomyolysis and AKI.

HGA can lead to serious complications in patients with associated risk factors. Therefore, in patients with HGA accompanied by rhabdomyolysis, management with antibiotics and hydration should be initiated immediately, and not delayed until diagnostic confirmation.

HGA can lead to serious complications in patients with associated risk factors. Therefore, in patients with HGA accompanied by rhabdomyolysis, management with antibiotics and hydration should be initiated immediately, and not delayed until diagnostic confirmation.

Nucleic acid-based amplification tests (NAAT), above all (q)PCR, have been applied for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae in leprosy cases and household contacts with subclinical infection. However, their application in the field poses a range of technical challenges. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), as a promising point-of-care NAAT does not require sophisticated laboratory equipment, is easy to perform, and is applicable for decentralized diagnosis at the primary health care level. Among a range of gene targets, the M. leprae specific repetitive element RLEP is regarded as highly sensitive and specific for diagnostic applications. METHODS Our group developed and validated a dry-reagent-based (DRB) RLEP LAMP, provided product specifications for customization of a ready-to-use kit (intended for commercial production) and compared it against the in-house prototype. The assays were optimized for application on a Genie

III portable fluorometer. For technical validation, 40 "must not detect Rical validation Both formats showed a negativity rate of 100% and a positivity rate of 100% for high-positive samples and 93-100% for medium positive samples, together with a positive predictive value of 100% and semi-quantitative results. The positivity rate for low-positive samples was 77% (in-house protocol)/43% (ready-to-use protocol) and differed significantly between both formats. CONCLUSIONS The ready-to-use RLEP DRB LAMP assay constitutes an ASSURED test ready for field-based evaluation trials aiming for routine diagnosis of leprosy at the primary health care level.

The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iran were reported in Qom city. Subsequently, the neighboring provinces and gradually all 31 provinces of Iran were involved. This study aimed to investigate the case fatility rate, basic reproductive number in different period of epidemic, projection of daily and cumulative incidence cases and also spatiotemporal mapping of SARS-CoV-2 in Alborz province, Iran.

A confirmed case of COVID-19 infection was defined as a case with a positive result of viral nucleic acid testing in respiratory specimens. Serial interval (SI) was fitted by gamma distribution and considered the likelihood-based R0 using a branching process with Poisson likelihood. Seven days average of cases, deaths, doubling times and CFRs used to draw smooth charts. kernel density tool in Arc GIS (Esri) software has been employed to compute hot spot area of the study site.

The maximum-likelihood value of R0 was 2.88 (95%, CI 2.57-3.23) in the early 14days of epidemic. The case fatility rate for Alborz months. APD334 clinical trial This reduction highpoints the attainment of preventive measures in place, however we must be ready for any second epidemic waves during the next months.

Increasing numbers of tick-borne pathogens are being discovered, including those that infect humans. However, reports on co-infections caused by two or more tick-borne pathogens are scarce.

A 38-year-old male farmer was bitten by a hard tick, presented with fever (37.7°C), severe headache and ejection vomiting. Lumbar puncture was performed in the lateral decubitus. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was clear, and analysis showed severe increased pressure (320mm H

O), mild leukocytosis (126.0 × 10

/L, mononuclear cells accounting for 73%) and elevated total protein concentration (0.92g/L). Bacterial cultures of CSF and blood were negative. The diagnosis of Rickettsia raoultii and Tacheng tick virus 1 (TcTV-1) co-infection was confirmed by amplifying four rickettsial genetic markers and the partial small (S) RNA segment of TcTV-1 from the patient's blood. The patient gradually recovered after treatment with levofloxacin and ribavirin.

This is the first reported co-infection case with fever and meningitis caused by R. raoultii and TcTV-1. link2 It is vital to screen for multiple pathogens in tick-bitten patients, especially in those with severe complex symptoms.

This is the first reported co-infection case with fever and meningitis caused by R. raoultii and TcTV-1. It is vital to screen for multiple pathogens in tick-bitten patients, especially in those with severe complex symptoms.

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the deadliest foodborne pathogens. The bacterium can tolerate severe environments through biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility, resistance genes, virulence, and molecular epidemiology about Listeria from meat processing environments.

This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance and virulence of Listeria isolates from slaughtering and processing plants. All isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using a standard microbroth dilution method. The harboring of resistant genes was identified by polymerase chain reaction. The multilocus sequence typing was used to determine the subtyping of the isolates and characterize possible routes of contamination from meat processing environments. The virulence of different STs of L. monocytogenes isolates was evaluated using a Caco-2 cell invasion assay.

A total of 59 Listeria isolates were identified from 320 samples, including 37 L. mly related to the processing environment. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) revealed that 59 Listeria isolates were grouped into 10 sequence types (STs). The dominant L. link3 monocytogenes STs were ST5, ST9, and ST121 in the slaughtering and processing plant of Jiangsu province. Moreover, ST5 subtypes exhibited high invasion in Caco-2 cells compared with ST9 and ST121 cells.

The dominant L. monocytogenes ST5 persisted in the slaughtering and processing plant and had high antimicrobial resistance and invasion characteristics, illustrating a potential risk in food safety and human health.

The dominant L. monocytogenes ST5 persisted in the slaughtering and processing plant and had high antimicrobial resistance and invasion characteristics, illustrating a potential risk in food safety and human health.