This study sought to describe and evaluate any relationship between D-dimer values and progressive hemorrhagic injury (PHI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). In patients with TBI, plasma D-dimer was measured while a computed tomography (CT) scan was conducted as soon as the patient was admitted to the emergency department. A series of other clinical and laboratory parameters were also measured and recorded. A logistic multiple regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for PHI. A cohort of 194 patients with TBI was evaluated in this clinical study. Eighty-one (41.8%) patients suffered PHI as determined by a second CT scan. The plasma D-dimer level was higher in patients who demonstrated PHI compared with those who did not (P < 0.001. Using a receiver-operator characteristic curve to predict the possibility by measuring the D-dimer level, a value of 5.00 mg/L was considered the cutoff point, with a sensitivity of 72.8% and a specificity of 78.8%. Eight-four patients had D-dimer levels higher than the cut point value (5.0 mg/L); PHI was seen in 71.4% of these patients and in 19.1% of the other patients (P < 0.01). Factors with P < 0.2 on bivariate analysis were included in a stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for TBI coagulopathy. Logistic regression analysis showed that the D-dimer value was a predictor of PHI, and the odds ratio (OR) was 1.341 with per milligram per liter (P = 0.020). The stepwise logistic regression also identified that time from injury to the first CT shorter than 2 h (OR = 2.118, P = 0.047), PLT counts lesser than 100 x 109/L (OR = 7.853, P = 0.018), and Fg lower than 2.0 g/L (OR = 3.001, P = 0.012) were risk factors for the development of PHI. When D-dimer values were dichotomized at 5 mg/L, time from injury to the first CT scan was no longer a risk factor statistically while the OR value of D-dimer to the occurrence of PHI elevated to 11.850(P < 0.001). The level of plasma D-dimer after TBI can be a useful prognostic factor for PHI and should be considered in the clinical management of patients in combination with neuroimaging and other data.

Mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase (HMGCS2) is the rate-limiting enzyme of ketogenesis. Growing evidence indicates that HMGCS2 may be involved in cancer progression, but its exact role is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that HMGCS2 mRNA expression is associated with poor clinical prognosis and outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In vitro, ectopic expression of HMGCS2 enhanced cancer cell motility in a ketogenesis-independent manner. Moreover, HMGCS2 promoted Src activity by directly binding to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a transcriptional activator of Src. Taken together, these results suggest that HMGCS2 may serve as a useful prognostic marker and vital target for future therapeutic strategies against advanced cancer.

Patients who sustained TBI as a result of motorcycle accidents and those exhibiting a lower GCS score are at the highest risk for concomitant cervical spine injury.

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Posttraumatic cerebral infarction (PTCI) is a severe secondary insult of head injury and often leads to a poor prognosis. Hemocoagulation disorder is recognized to have important effects on hemorrhagic or ischemic damages. We sought to assess if posttraumatic hemocoagulation disorders were associated with cerebral infarction, and evaluate their influence on outcome among patients with moderate or severe head trauma. In this study, PTCI was observed in 28 (10.57%) of the 265 patients within the first week after injury. In multivariate analysis, the thrombocytopenia (odds ratio (OR) 2.210, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.065–4.674), abnormal prothrombin time (PT) (OR 3.241, 95% CI 1.090–7.648), D-dimer (>2 mg/L) (OR 7.260, 95% CI 1.822–28.076), or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) scores (≥5) (OR 4.717, 95% CI 1.778–12.517) were each independently associated with an increased risk of PTCI. Admission Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, abnormal activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and fibrinogen, and D-dimer (>2 mg/L) and DIC scores (≥5) showed an independent predictive effect on poor outcome. In conclusion, recognition of this important treatable cause of PTCI and the associated risk factors may help identify the group at risk and tailor management of patients with TBI.

Our validated prognostic models have good performance and are generalizable to be used to predict outcome of new patients. We recommend the use of prognostic models to complement clinical decision making.

In this study, we developed a facile technique to fabricate a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate. The technique involves self-assembling monodispersive SiO 2 spheres on silicon wafer, then coating with a thin Ag film to form a SERS substrate comprised of a Ag coated monolayer array of SiO 2 spheres. The substrate can detect minute amounts of organic dye. By optimizing the fabrication process, including controlling the size of the SiO 2 spheres, the distribution of the SiO 2 spheres on the silicon wafer, and the thickness of the Ag film, a dramatic increase in the enhancement of Raman scattering signals by surface plasmon resonance can be achieved. The enhancement of Raman scattering is closely correlated to the absorption peak of the organic dye and the excitation wavelength of the Raman system. A 40 000-fold enhancement has been observed for a substrate prepared with 350 nm SiO 2 spheres self-assembled on silicon wafer and coated with a 150 nm Ag layer. Through experimental and theoretical calculations (FDTD), such a strong signal intensity originates from the closeness between the absorption peak of the organic dye and the Raman excitation wavelength occurring at the hot spots of the SERS substrate. The high sensitivity, low cost and quick response provided by this type of SERS substrate are useful for the design and fabrication of functional devices and sensors.