[Analysis of common viral infection in surveillance cases of febrile respiratory syndrome in 9 provinces of China from 2009 to 2021].

Objective: To understand the common viral infection among the surveillance cases of fever respiratory syndrome (FRS) in nine provinces in China. Methods: The research data were obtained from nine provinces (Anhui, Beijing, Guangdong, Hebei, Hunan, Jilin, Shandong, Shaanxi and Xinjiang) in the "Infectious Disease Surveillance Technology Platform Information Management System" of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention from January 2009 to June 2021. Finally, 8 243 FRS cases with nucleic acid detection results of eight viruses [human influenza virus (HIFV), human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), human adenovirus (HAdV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV) and human Boca virus (HBoV)] were included in the study. The χ2 test/Fisher exact probability method was used to analyze the difference of virus detection rate in different age groups, regions and seasons. Results The M (Q1, Q3) age of 8 243 FRS cases was 4 (1, 18) years old, and 56.56% (4 662 cases) were children under 5 years old. Males accounted for 58.1% (4 792 cases) of all cases. All cases were from outpatient/emergency department (2 043 cases) and inpatient department (6 200 cases). The virus detection rates of FRS cases from high to low were HRSV, HIFV, HPIV, HRV, HAdV, HMPV, HCoV and HBoV. Two or more viruses were detected simultaneously in 524 cases, accounting for 15.66% of virus-positive cases. The difference of the virus detection rate in different age groups was statistically significant (all P values<0.05), and the virus detection rate in children<5 years old was higher (49.96%). The positive rate of any virus in south China was higher than that in north China (P<0.001). The virus-positive FRS cases were detected throughout the year. The detection rate of HRSV was higher in autumn and winter. The detection rate of HIFV was higher in winter. The detection rate of HMPV was higher in winter and spring. The detection rates of HPIV, HRV, HCoV and HBoV were higher in summer and autumn, while there was no significant difference in the detection rate of HAdV in different seasons. Compared with 2009-2019, the detection rate of any virus in 2020-2021 decreased from 41.37% to 37.86%. The detection rate of HIFV decreased sharply from 10.62% to 1.37%. The detection rate of HPIV decreased from 8.24% to 5.88%. The detection rate of HRV and HBoV increased from 5.43% and 1.79% to 9.67% and 3.19%, respectively. Conclusion: HRSV and HIFV infections are more common among FRS cases in nine provinces in China from 2009 to 2021, and the epidemiological characteristics of eight common respiratory viruses vary in different age groups, regions and seasons.

One-point and multi-line calibration method in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

The calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) and its variations are low cost, short time consumption, and high adaptability. However, seeking a more flexible and simple quantitative analysis method remains a challenge. A one-point and multi-line calibration (OP-MLC) was presented as a simple quantitative analysis method of LIBS. The results showed that OP-MLC-LIBS method can achieve quantitative analysis using only one standard sample, and the average relative errors (AREs) are 9, 22, 21 and 36% for Mn, Cr, Ni and Ti elements in six tested low-alloy steel samples, respectively. The method requires neither a large number of standard samples nor complicated calculations, which provides a flexible and low-cost quantitative analysis approach for development and application of LIBS.

Prasugrel vs. clopidogrel in acute coronary syndrome patients treated with prasugrel.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines recommend a combination of clopidogrel and aspirin for management of patients who have experienced an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Additional antiplatelet agents have been recently approved. Few comparative effectiveness studies are available for these new agents. Accordingly, we evaluated effect on time to hospital admission and resource utilization (number of hospitalizations, ER visits and outpatient visits) of prasugrel vs. clopidogrel in prasugrel-treated patients as assessed in a matched cohort. METHODS: Based on the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan database from 01 January 2009 through 31 July 2012, a retrospective prasugrel-clopidogrel matched cohort was created. Inferences for average treatment effect over 1 and 12 months on time to hospitalization and resource utilization were performed by (i) frequentist Kaplan-Meier estimation with a Cox proportional hazard model and Lin's cost history method for censored resource utilization outcomes and (ii) Bayesian discrete-time hazard and negative binomial models. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The 10,963 matched pairs were well balanced on baseline characteristics. Frequentist analyses of time to hospital admission over 365 days and mean all-cause resource utilization over 30 and 365 days showed no statistical differences between prasugrel and clopidogrel (P-values > 0·05). Based on Bayesian analysis of time to admission over 12 months, there was positive evidence of equivalence (0·987 probability of equivalence at a 10% equivalence margin and a Bayes factor of 0·611). Although the frequentist analyses for number of all-cause hospitalizations showed a lack of a significant difference at Months 1 and 12, the Bayesian data analysis showed positive evidence of superiority of clopidogrel at Month 1 (Bayes factor: 5·369); however, at Month 12, there was little evidence of superiority of one treatment over the other (Bayes factor: 0·422). WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Using frequentist and Bayesian data analyses, in prasugrel-treated patients, clopidogrel was equivalent to prasugrel for time to hospital admission over 12 months and there was positive evidence that it was superior to prasugrel for number of hospitalizations over the first month of treatment.

First Report of Sporobolomyces symmetricus Induced Red Spot Disease of Pleurotus eryngii in China.

Pleurotus eryngii is cultivated on a large scale in China and other Asian countries due to its exceptional flavor and its popularity in cuisine. In January of 2009, red spot disease on cultivated P. eryngii was observed in several workshops of mushroom producing factories located at Fangshan District, Beijing, China. Symptoms of this disease began as orange red spots 2 to 4 cm in diam. on the surface of stipes near pilei. The spots did not arise from wounding, and growth of the affected mushrooms halted. Commercial losses for these factories were estimated at 10 to 15%. Samples of diseased tissue were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and dominant colonies were selected for characterization. After 3 days in YM broth (Difco) at 25°C, yeast cells developed that were ellipsoid, botuliform, 4.8 to 7.2 × 2.4 to 3.6 µm, and sediment-formed. After incubation for 1 month on YM agar at 25°C, streak cultures were nacarat, cheese-like, glistening and had a smooth surface and complete margin. On Dalmau plate cultures on cornmeal agar (Difco), no pseudohyphae were formed. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA were sequenced (GenBank Accession Nos. KF314801 and KF314803). A neighbor-joining (NJ) tree for the D1/D2 domain showed that the yeast belonged to the Urediniomycetes with the highest similarity (99.6%) to Sporobolomyces symmetricus CBS 9727T. BLAST results for the ITS sequence showed that it was 100% identical to S. symmetricus CBS 9727T. Furthermore, the metabolic profile of the fungal strain also closely resembled the database profile of S. symmetricus CBS 9727T with the exception of two phenotypic characteristics (positive assimilation of D-Galactose and D-Xylose). The DNA G+C content of the strain was measured by HPLC and was found to be 55.40 mol%. The whole-cell fatty acid methyl ester major composition determined using the cells harvested from cultures grown on PDA for 3 days at 25°C was as follows: 1.23% C16:1 w7c/16:1 w6c, 21.87% C16:0, 29.40% C18:0 antei/C18:2 w6, 9c, 40.41% C18:1 w9c, 3.36% C18:1 w7c, 1.93% C18:0. After comparing the morphological, phenotypic, and molecular analyses with the type strain of S. symmetricus CBS 9727T, the strain isolated in the present study was identified as S. symmetricus (2). Pathogenicity tests for the isolate were carried out with yeast suspensions (~1 × 106 CFU/ml) grown for 72 h in PDB (Difco) cultures. Mycelia of P. eryngii were cultivated for 35 days in a plastic bottle to serve as a host source. The prepared yeast cell suspensions were directly inoculated on the surface of the young fruiting body. After 5 to 7 days, red spot symptoms identical to those described above developed on the stipes and pilei and development of the mushrooms was inhibited. Fruiting bodies in negative control bottles inoculated with PDB did not develop symptoms. Koch's postulates were thus fulfilled by re-isolating S. symmetricus that was identical to the inoculated strain from lesions on the inoculated fruiting bodies. Sporobolomyces spp. are closely phylogenetically related to the genus Rhodotorula. Pathogenic potential of Rhodotorula species has been increasingly recognized in recent years (1). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. symmetricus-induced red spot disease of P. eryngii in China. Information on this pathogen will be useful in the development of management practices for this emerging disease in the near future. References: (1) M. A. Pfaller and D. J. Diekema. J. Clin. Microbiol. 42:4419, 2004. (2) Q. M. Wang and F. Y. Bai. FEMS Yeast Res. 4:579, 2004.

First Report of Pantoea beijingensis Induced Soft Rot Disease of Pleurotus nebrodensis in China.

Pleurotus nebrodensis is a popular edible fungus in China. In December 2009, soft rot disease appeared on fruiting bodies of P. neberodensis in greenhouses located at Haidian District of Beijing, China. Early symptoms were water-soaked lesions on the pilei of the fruiting bodies. Lesions then spread and purulent tissues were formed. Severe soft rot induced production of deformed fruiting bodies and offensive odor. Diseased fruiting bodies stopped growth and commercial losses were estimated at 5 to 10%. Internal sections of the diseased pilei about 0.5 × 0.5 cm were suspended in 0.85% NaCl and the suspension was spread on trypticase soy agar (TSA) media. After incubation at 30°C for 2 days, dominant bacterial colonies were yellow, smooth, round, and convex. Cells were gram-negative, short rods, non-capsulated, motile, and non-spore forming. The 16S rRNA gene (1,408 bp, GenBank Accession No. KF849293) was amplified by using the universal forward primer P1 (5'-AGAGTTTGATCCTGGTCAGAACGCT-3') and the universal reverse primer P6 (5'-TACGGCTACCTTGTTACGACTTCACCCC-3'). Neighbor-joining tree analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated the isolates belonged to the genus Pantoea and showed highest similarity with Pantoea beijingensis LMG 27579T (99.9% similarity, 2 base pair differences), which was isolated from the diseased fruiting bodies of P. eryngii in China. Pantoea sp. PA4, reported to be the pathogen of soft rot disease of P. eryngii in Korea (1), showed 99.8% similarity with P. ananatis ATCC 33244T, which suggested our isolates belonged to a different species with Pantoea sp. PA4 (supported by 97.9% similarity between the present isolates and Pantoea sp. PA4) (2). Results of physiological properties and enzyme activities determined by the API 20E, API 20NE, API 50CH, API ZYM (bioMérieux), and GN2 MicroPlate (Biolog) system showed that there was no difference between the present isolates and P. beijingensis LMG 27579T. Pathogenicity tests for these isolates were performed with bacterial suspensions (approximately 1 × 106 CFU/ml) that were grown for 24 h in trypticase soy broth (TSB). Fruiting bodies of P. nebrodensis were induced after spawn was run for 30 days in plastic bags. When the young fruiting bodies were forming, the prepared bacterial suspension was sprayed onto the surface of the pilei. Sterilized TSB media was used as a negative control. All inoculated fruiting bodies were then incubated at 16°C with 80 to 95% relative humidity. Assays were conducted twice and five fruiting bodies were used each time. Results were observed after 5 to 10 days of incubation. The symptoms that developed were similar to those observed in the original samples. The negative control remained symptomless. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-isolating bacteria, which were identical to the original isolates based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological properties and enzyme activities. Pantoea ananatis was first reported as a pathogen of Pleurotus eryngii, causing soft rot disease (1), but to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. beijingensis- induced soft rot disease of P. nebrodensis in China. This disease may be an emerging disease problem in the near future and information on this pathogen will be useful in the development of management practices. References: (1) M. K. Kim et al. Plant Dis. 91:109. 2007. (2) Y. Liu et al. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 104:1039, 2013.

Room temperature ferromagnetism in Teflon due to carbon dangling bonds.

The ferromagnetism in many carbon nanostructures is attributed to carbon dangling bonds or vacancies. This provides opportunities to develop new functional materials, such as molecular and polymeric ferromagnets and organic spintronic materials, without magnetic elements (for example, 3d and 4f metals). Here we report the observation of room temperature ferromagnetism in Teflon tape (polytetrafluoroethylene) subjected to simple mechanical stretching, cutting or heating. First-principles calculations indicate that the room temperature ferromagnetism originates from carbon dangling bonds and strong ferromagnetic coupling between them. Room temperature ferromagnetism has also been successfully realized in another polymer, polyethylene, through cutting and stretching. Our findings suggest that ferromagnetism due to networks of carbon dangling bonds can arise in polymers and carbon-based molecular materials.

Structural and magnetic properties of ZnO nanocrystals in (Zn, Al)O films using pulse laser deposition.

In this manuscript, we reported that the room temperature ferromagnetism was observed in (Zn0.70, Al0.30)O film, which was fabricated by a novel physical method (pulse laser deposition (PLD)). The film was deposited from (Zn0.80, Al0.20)O ceramic target onto quartz (110) substrate by PLD at 400 degrees C under an oxygen partial pressure of 10(-4) torr. TEM result shows ZnO NCs with diameter of 4-5 nm and they are quite uniformly embedded into amorphous ZnO-Al2O3 phase. The SAED shows clearly that ZnO NCs possess polycrystalline structure. The SQUID measurement shows that the film has room temperature ferromagnetism (saturation magnetization = 3.6 emu/cm3) with Curie temperature above 300 K. The magnitude of magnetic moment of the films can be changed by tuning ZnO NCs size. Both oxygen partial pressure and film thickness studies show that the origin of ferromagnetism is possibly related to the oxygen defects at the surface of ZnO NCs.

Infantile cardiomyopathy caused by a mutation in the overlapping region of mitochondrial ATPase 6 and 8 genes.

BACKGROUND: Infantile cardiomyopathy is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with significant morbidity and mortality. METHODS: This study aimed to identify the mutation present in four unrelated patients who presented as infants with isolated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: In all four, a novel mitochondrial m.8528T-->C mutation was identified. This results in a change of the initiation codon in ATPase 6 to threonine and a concurrent change from a highly conserved hydrophobic amino acid, tryptophan, at position 55 of ATPase 8 to a highly basic arginine. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a mutation affecting both mitochondrial genome-encoded complex V subunit proteins. Testing of the relatives of one patient indicated that the mutation is heteroplasmic and correlated with disease. CONCLUSION: Mitochondrial genome sequencing should be considered in patients with infantile hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Nitric oxide mediates platelet activating factor-induced microvascular leakage in rat airways.

Platelet activating factor (PAF), a highly potent chemical mediator in inflammation and allergic reactions, induces microvascular leakage in several tissues. In rat airways, PAF-induced microvascular leakage is probably mediated by an endothelial cell receptor in the microvessels. Nitric oxide (NO), first identified as endothelium-derived relaxing factor, has been suggested to be a mediator of airway microvascular leakage. However, the role of NO in PAF-induced microvascular leakage in the airways has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of NO in PAF-induced microvascular leakage in rat nasal mucosa and trachea. We injected PAF (1 microg/kg) intravenously, and the amount of PAF-induced microvascular leakage was measured with extravasation of Evans blue dye (30 mg/kg, injected intravenously 5 minutes before the injection of PAF) by means of spectrophotometry and fluorescence microscopy. Five Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 10 mg/kg, intravenously injected 1 hour before the injection of PAF) to inhibit NO synthase, and control rats (n = 4) were pretreated with normal saline solution. The average amount of extravasated Evans blue dye was significantly lower in the L-NAME-pretreated rats than in the control rats (t-test, p < .01). Tissue sections of the L-NAME-pretreated rats clearly showed a decreased extravasation of Evans blue dye on fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, pretreatment with L-NAME clearly inhibited PAF-induced microvascular leakage in the nasal mucosa and trachea of rats. This finding implies that PAF may activate the constitutive endothelial NO synthase in the microvessels, and that activated endogenous NO may mediate PAF-induced microvascular leakage in rat airways.

[Study on the relationship between congenital toxoplasmosis and monsters of cleft lip and palate accompanied by multiple malformation]

Toxoplasomsis is a zoonotic disease resulted from toxoplasma infection,This paper reports ten monsters that suffered from congenital cleft lip and palate accompanied antigens(RCEP,COA test) were positive.Toxoplasma antibodies (IHA,IFA,RIPEGA test) in mothers' serum were also positive.Microscopic examination revealed toxoplasma trophozoites and pseudocysts in the tissue of cleft lip and palate as well as viscera.In addition,We used SPA method to reveal toxoplasma in the tissue.We indicate that toxoplasma infection of pregnant women is one of the cause of monsters.It is the important biological factor and closely related to eugenics.Stomatologists must pay attention to this etiology.

Pulmonary artery pressure evaluated by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in children with a left-to-right intracardiac shunt.

In a study of 25 children with left-to-right intracardiac shunt we found a good correlation (r greater than 0.92; p less than 0.001) between right ventricular pre-ejection period/acceleration time, derived from pulsed Doppler echocardiography, and pulmonary artery systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures, measured at cardiac catheterization. This may enhance the noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure.