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Background. Lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary is an unusual inflammatory disorder of the pituitary and indicated to be autoimmune in origin. Presentations depend on the site of involvement and degree of destruction of the cellular population of the pituitary and may range from an asymptomatic state to pan-hypopituitarism with or without mass effects. In the present study, we represent a rare case of lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary gland who was diagnosed with such condition and the subsequent management. Case presentation. A 22-year-old male who was admitted with symptoms of increased thirst and excessive fatigue. Following a thorough physical, clinical, laboratory, biochemistry, and imaging examinations a timely diagnosis of lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary was made without using the invasive procedure of pituitary biopsy. In light of the diagnosis prompt management with the mainstay of glucocorticoid was started along with replenishing the other deficient hormones. In this study we describe a rare case of lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary discussing in terms of epidemiology, sign and symptoms, laboratory evaluation, imaging studies, histopathology, management, and the usual outcome. Conclusion. Lymphocytic infiltration of the pituitary gland can be diagnosed with the clinical presentation along with lab evaluation and imaging but without pituitary biopsy, which could help in an early and accurate diagnosis which is the basis for better management of the rare condition.

The formation of heterojunction structures can effectively prevent the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs in semiconductors and result in the enhancement of photoelectric properties. Using TiO2 nanotubes (prepared using the hydrothermal-impregnation method) as carriers, CdS-TiO2NTs were fabricated as a photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor, which can be used under visible light and can exhibit good PEC performance due to the existence of the heterojunction structure. The experimental results show that the prepared CdS-TiO2NTs electrode had a linear response to 2–16 mM glutathione (GSH). The sensor's sensitivity and detection limit (LOD) were 102.9 µA·mM−1 cm−2 and 27.7 µM, respectively. Moreover, the biosensor had good stability, indicating the potential application of this kind of heterojunction PEC biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast constellation selection method was proposed for the low-cost, GPS/SINS (global positioning system/strap-down inertial navigation system) tightly coupled navigation system. To avoid much time-consuming numerical iteration when GPS satellites in the condition of missing lock or constellation geometric distribution changed, geometric dilution of precision (GDOP) estimation carried out taking full advantage of SINS's information. Besides, according to this method, a way of on-line correction to variance covariance matrix of measurement noise has been designed for the tightly coupled integrated navigation system. The result of experiments shows that the proposed method really reduces the number of time-consuming in the procedure of constellation selections, increases accuracy in integrated navigation system, and reduces equipment costs accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The data are inconsistent regarding whether extreme N-terminal fragment pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP) levels are associated with impaired renal function. Furthermore, the relationship between extreme NT pro-BNP levels and cardiac and renal function in elderly patients has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to examine a hypothesis that extreme NT pro-BNP levels may be associated with impaired cardiac and renal function in elderly patients. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic features on 152 consecutive elderly patients aged more than 80 years old (average age, 83.65 ± 3.58 years) with NT pro-BNP levels ≥ 3000 pg/ml. The participants were divided into two categories according to their NT pro-BNP levels: (1) 3000–10000 pg/mL and (2) >10000 pg /mL. Results The number of patients with impaired renal function (P = 0.019) and the mortality (P 10000 pg /mL. The levels of serum creatinine and creatine kinase MB (CK-MB) in the group of NT pro-BNP > 10000 pg / mL were higher than those in the group of NT pro-BNP = 3000-10000 pg/mL (P = 0.001 and P = 0.023, respectively). Furthermore, no significant difference in the distribution by NYHA class in different NT pro-BNP levels was observed. Multiple linear regression analyses demonstrated that with NT pro-BNP levels as the dependent variable, NT pro-BNP levels were positively correlated with CK-MB (β = 0.182, P = 0.024) and creatinine levels (β = 0.281, P = 0.001). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve of NT pro-BNP levels and clinical diagnosis of impaired renal function was 0.596 and reached significant difference (95%CI:0.503-0.688, P = 0.044). Conclusion These data suggest that the extreme elevation of NT pro-BNP levels (≥3000 pg/ml) is mainly determined by impaired renal function in elderly patients above 80 years. Extreme NT pro-BNP levels may be useful for assessing the severity of impaired renal function.

Objective: To investigate the effects of inflammatory mediators in the serum of rats with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) on endothelial cellular cytoskeleton and monolayer cellular permeability and explore the molecular mechanism of VILI-induced lung edema., Methods: Thirty healthy male SD rats were divided into 3 groups, namely group A with normal tidal volume ventilation, group B with high tidal volume ventilation and group C with high tidal volume ventilation plus ulinastatin treatment. The serum was collected from each rat after ventilation and added into endothelial cell line ECV-304 culture medium, and 2 h later the changes of F-actin and cell permeability were observed., Results: Compared to sera from rats with normal tidal volume ventilation, the sera of rats with high tidal volume ventilation caused obvious reorganization of actin cytoskeleton with weakened fluorescent intensity at the peripheral filament bands and formation of long and thick stress fibers in the center, which resulted in endothelial contraction and increased cell permeability. Pretreatment with ulinastatin could lessen these changes significantly. The percentage in change of permeability coefficient (Ppa%) after stimulation with the sera of rats in groups A, B and C was (6.95+/-1.66)%, (27.50+/-7.77)%, and (17.71+/-4.66)%, respectively, showing statistically significant differences (P<0.05)., Conclusion: The pro-inflammatory mediators in the serum of rats with high tidal volume ventilation increases endothelial cell permeability by reorganizing actin cytoskeleton, and pretreatment with ulinastatin can lessen the hyperpermeability by inhibiting multiple pro-inflammatory mediators.

Background: With the widespread use of ventilators in treating critically ill patients, the morbidity of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is increasing accordingly. VILI is characterized by a considerable increase in microvascular leakiness and activation of inflammatory processes. In this study we investigated the effects of inflammatory mediators in VILI rat serum on endothelial cytoskeleton and monolayer cellular permeability, as well as the therapeutic effect of ulinastatin, to explore the pathogenesis and the relationship between biotrauma and lung oedema induced by VILI., Methods: Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (normal tidal volume ventilation), group B (high tidal volume ventilation) and group C (high tidal volume ventilation plus ulinastatin). The serum of each rat after ventilation was added to endothelial cell line ECV-304 medium for two hours to observe the effects of serum and/or ulinastatin on endothelial fibrous actin and permeability., Results: Compared to rats ventilated with normal tidal volume, serum of rats ventilated with high tidal volume caused a striking reorganization of actin cytoskeleton with a weakening of fluorescent intensity at the peripheral filament bands and formation of the long and thick stress fibres in the centre resulting in endothelial contraction and higher permeability. Prior treatment with ulinastatin lessened the above changes significantly. The changes of permeability coefficient of endothelial permeability after group A, B or C rats serum stimulation were (6.95 +/- 1.66)%, (27.50 +/- 7.77)% and (17.71 +/- 4.66)% respectively with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) among the three groups., Conclusions: The proinflammatory mediators in the serum of the rats given high tidal volume ventilation increases endothelial permeability by reorganizing actin cytoskeleton, and pretreatment with ulinastatin lessens the permeability by inhibiting of proinflammatory mediators.