ABSTRACT
Background@#Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines. @*Objectives@#This study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains. @*Methods@#Cats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats. @*Results@#The FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats. @*Conclusions@#This study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a common pathogen of felids, and FCV vaccination is regularly practiced. The genetic variability and antigenic diversity of FCV hinder the effective control and prevention of infection by vaccination. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological characteristics of FCV should assist in the development of more effective vaccines. @*Objectives@#This study aims to determine the prevalence of FCV in a population of cats with FCV-suspected clinical signs in Hangzhou and to demonstrate the antigenic and genetic relationships between vaccine status and representative isolated FCV strains. @*Methods@#Cats (n = 516) from Hangzhou were investigated between 2018 and 2020. The association between risk factors and FCV infection was assessed. Phylogenetic analyses based on a capsid coding sequence were performed to identify the genetic relationships between strains. In vitro virus neutralization tests were used to assess antibody levels against isolated FCV strains in client-owned cats. @*Results@#The FCV-positive rate of the examined cats was 43.0%. Risk factors significantly associated with FCV infection were vaccination status and oral symptoms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a radial phylogeny with no evidence of temporal or countrywide clusters. There was a significant difference in the distribution of serum antibody titers between vaccinated and unvaccinated cats. @*Conclusions@#This study revealed a high prevalence and genetic diversity of FCV in Hangzhou. The results indicate that the efficacy of FCV vaccination is unsatisfactory. More comprehensive and refined vaccination protocols are an urgent and unmet need.
ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to explore the serum 25-(OH) Vitamin D and its correlation with liver function in children who have suffered from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),and to explore the necessity of vitamin D treatment of NAFLD in children.Methods Forty children with NAFLD diagnosed by imaging were selected from the outpatient of pediatric digestive department of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University,selected as observation group from July 2017 to August 2019,and 37 healthy children were selected as control group.The clinical data were collected and serum 25-(OH) Vitamin D were detected at the same time.Results There was no significant difference in 25-(OH) Vitamin D among children with NAFLD at different ages and gender (P ＞ 0.05).The level of 25-(OH) Vitamin D in children with NAFLD [(21.30 ±8.77) μg/L]was significantly lower than that in the control group [(28.53 ± 10.18) μg/L] (t =3.343,P ＜ 0.01).The incidence of vitamin D deficiency (＜ 20 μg/L) and insufficiency (＜30 μg/L)in children with NAFLD (35/40 =87.50％) was significantly higher than that in the control group (22/37 =59.46％) (x2 =10.035,P ＜ 0.05).Serum 25-(OH) Vitamin D was negatively correlated with fasting insulin (r =-0.464,P ＜ 0.01) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (r =-0.444,P ＜0.01),but not correlated with BMI,transaminase level (ALT,AST),uric acid and blood lipid (TG,TC,HDL-C,LDL-C,sd-LDL,Apo-A1,Apo-B).Vitamin D deficiency was the risk factor of NAFLD (OR =1.088,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency is common in pediatric NAFLD,which may be a risk factor of NAFLD.The mechanism may be that vitamin D deficiency aggravates insulin resistance and further aggravates liver damage in children with NAFLD.
ABSTRACT
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to a syndrome of a series of lesions such as simple fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and even liver cirrhosis. With the improvement of living standards, there is an increasing number of children with obesity, and the detection rate of NAFLD also tends to increase. Major treatment methods for children with NAFLD include the changes in diet and lifestyle and medication. The article reviews the advances in the treatment of NAFLD in children in recent years.
ABSTRACT
Assessment or evaluation of student performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum is difficult to plan or implement.Many medical schools which have switched to a PBL learning format usually use traditional evaluation methods based on factual recalls, which usually has a negative influence on the learning style of the students, thereby reducing the impact of PBL. The purpose of this review is to discuss the various evaluation methods with a particular focus on methods applicable to PBL, so that we can make intelligent use of these methods in our PBL curriculum. In combination with evaluation methods adopted at McMaster University, the article makes an elaboration about them.