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Objective: Pleural effusion (PE) is a common pulmonary manifestation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and is associated with disease activity. However, little is known regarding the additive effects of PE on cardiac function. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate multi-parameter cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) findings in SLE patients with PE and to explore whether cardiac involvement is associated with PE. Methods: Patients with SLE and age-matched/sex-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Patients with SLE were diagnosed according to the 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Moreover, the PE diagnosis was based on computed tomography, and the height of the effusion was > 5 mm. All enrolled individuals underwent CMR imaging, including cine and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), T1, and T2 mapping imaging. The left and right ventricular function, LGE, T1, extracellular volume (ECV), and T2 values were evaluated. Results: A total of 111 patients with SLE were enrolled, of whom 26 (23.42%) had PE. White cell count, hemoglobin, CRP, ESR, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were higher in SLE patients with PE than in SLE patients without PE (P<0.05). LGE was more prevalent in SLE patients with PE compared with those without PE (P<0.001). In addition, Native T1 (1348 ± 65 ms vs. 1284 ± 67 ms vs. 1261 ± 41 ms; P<0.001), ECV (31.92 ± 4.16% vs. 28.61 ± 3.60% vs. 26.54 ± 2.94%; P<0.001), and T2 (44.76 ± 3.68 ms vs. 41.96 ± 3.62 ms vs. 39.21 ± 2.85 ms; P<0.001) values were high in SLE patients with PE, intermediate in SLE patients without PE, and the lowest in the control group. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that PE was independently associated with LGE (β=0.329; P<0.05), T1 (β=0.346; P<0.05), ECV (β=0.353; P<0.05), and T2 (β=0.201; P<0.05). Conclusions: SLE patients with PE have a higher prevalence of LGE and more diffuse myocardial fibrosis and edema than SLE patients without PE. Moreover, PE is associated with increased diffuse interstitial fibrosis and edema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the electric vehicle R&D process, the information of vehicles' and key components' operation status need to be collected and monitored. Thus, research on monitoring system for demonstrating operation parameters of electric vehicle is designed and developed. Firstly, data collector which collects real-time vehicle information and transmits the information to the host computer is developed on the lower computer through wireless communication technology. Then, remote monitoring and information management are accomplished on the host computer. Real vehicle test results show that the real-time data can be collected, transmitted and managed accurately and reliably by the system which has an excellent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the difference in clinical indicators of gout patients of different Chinese medical syndromes and its clinical significance., Methods: Form November 2011 to December 2012, syndrome typed were 257 male gout in-/outpatients from Affiliated Hospital of Chuanbei Medical College. Another 50 healthy male subjects were recruited as the control. Their clinical and laboratory data were collected. All were excluded from infections and other inflammatory diseases., Results: Four syndrome types existed in gout patients, i.e., intermingled phlegm-stasis blood syndrome (IPSBS), obstruction of dampness and heat syndrome (ODHS), Pi-deficiency induced dampness syndrome (PDIDS), qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS). Of them, 53 acute phase gout patients suffered from IPSBS, 41 from ODHS, 25 from QBDS, and 17 from PDIDS; 41 non-acute phase gout patients suffered from QBDS, 40 from PDIDS, 24 from ODHS, and 16 from IPSBS. Statistical analysis of clinical data showed that, when compared with the normal control group, there was statistical difference in blood routines (WBC, GR, LY, MO) and blood biochemical indices (UA, Ur, Cr, ALT, AST, ALB, GLOB, TG, HDL-C, VLDL-C, apoA, apoB100) of gout patients of different syndromes (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was also statistical difference or correlation among different syndromes (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: In the acute phase gout patients, IPSBS and ODHS were dominated, while in the non-acute phase gout patients, QBDS and PDIDS were often seen. In patients of IPSBS and ODHS, inflammation and immune response were more obvious, indicating that better efficacy might be achieved by clearing heat and removing blood stasis associated anti-inflammatory and immune regulation therapies. In patients of QBDS and PDIDS, impaired renal functions were more significant, indicating that better efficacy might be achieved by invigorating Pi and tonifying Shen dominated treatment.