Whole-genome sequencing and genetic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus using multiplex PCR-based nanopore sequencing, Republic of Korea.

BACKGROUND: Whole-genome sequencing plays a critical role in the genomic epidemiology intended to improve understanding the spread of emerging viruses. Dabie bandavirus, causing severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), is a zoonotic tick-borne virus that poses a significant public health threat. We aimed to evaluate a novel amplicon-based nanopore sequencing tool to obtain whole-genome sequences of Dabie bandavirus, also known as SFTS virus (SFTSV), and investigate the molecular prevalence in wild ticks, Republic of Korea (ROK). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A total of 6,593 ticks were collected from Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, ROK in 2019 and 2020. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of SFSTV RNA in three Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks. Two SFTSV strains were isolated from H. longicornis captured from Pocheon and Cheorwon. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based nanopore sequencing provided nearly full-length tripartite genome sequences of SFTSV within one hour running. Phylogenetic and reassortment analyses were performed to infer evolutionary relationships among SFTSVs. Phylogenetic analysis grouped SFTSV Hl19-31-4 and Hl19-31-13 from Pocheon with sub-genotype B-1 in all segments. SFTSV Hl20-8 was found to be a genomic organization compatible with B-1 (for L segment) and B-2 (for M and S segments) sub-genotypes, indicating a natural reassortment between sub-genotypes. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: Amplicon-based next-generation sequencing is a robust tool for whole-genome sequencing of SFTSV using the nanopore platform. The molecular prevalence and geographical distribution of SFTSV enhanced the phylogeographic map at high resolution for sophisticated prevention of emerging SFTS in endemic areas. Our findings provide important insights into the rapid whole-genome sequencing and genetic diversity for the genome-based diagnosis of SFTSV in the endemic outbreak.

Long-term Efficacy of Dacryoendoscopy-guided Recanalization and Silicone Tube Intubation.

PURPOSE: To investigate the long-term efficacy of dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation in patients with obstruction in the lacrimal drainage system and to identify factors related to surgical outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with primary nasolacrimal duct obstruction and canalicular obstruction who underwent dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation between August 2014 and March 2016. Factors related to surgical outcome were examined and compared between the success group (eyes with complete response and partial response) and the failure group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the success rate according to the factors found to have statistical significance. RESULTS: The study included 74 eyes of 51 patients. The mean age of the patients was 60.3 ± 10.0 years (range, 34-80 years). The success group consisted of 66 eyes (89.2%) (complete response, 56 eyes, 75.7%; partial response, 10 eyes, 13.5%) and the failure group consisted of eight eyes (10.8%). The median follow-up period was 58 months (range, 6.5-72 months), and the overall success rate was 89.2%. Compared to the eyes with preoperative lacrimal irrigation test of partial passage, the eyes with no passage were associated with a lower success rate (95.9% vs. 76.0%, p = 0.01). Postoperative inflammation was also associated with a lower success rate (96.6% vs. 60.0%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dacryoendoscopy-guided recanalization and silicone tube intubation is effective and can be considered a first choice of treatment for eyes which show partial passage in the lacrimal irrigation test. The management of postoperative inflammation is essential to ensure surgical success.

Comparison of digital subtraction dacryocystography and dacryoendoscopy in patients with epiphora.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic information provided by digital subtraction dacryocystography (DCG) and dacryoendoscopy in patients with epiphora. METHODS: Sixty-eight lacrimal systems of 34 patients with epiphora were prospectively studied. Patients were initially examined with syringing, followed by digital subtraction DCG and dacryoendoscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Obstructions in lacrimal pathways were evaluated by degree, location, and cause. The weighted kappa coefficient was used to compare the agreement between the tests. RESULTS: Of the 68 lacrimal pathways, partial or complete obstructions were identified in 56 cases (82.3%) with syringing, in 38 cases (55.9%) with DCG, and in 60 cases (88.2%) with dacryoendoscopy. DCG and dacryoendoscopy showed the same result in 42 of the 68 (61.8%) lacrimal pathways. The weighted kappa value for DCG and dacryoendoscopy was 0.60 (95% CI: 0.40-0.81). The most common sites of obstruction were the common canaliculus (36.7%) and the nasolacrimal duct (28.3%) in dacryoendoscopy. Thirty-three lacrimal pathways (48.5%) were identified to have obstructions on the same level between DCG and dacryoendoscopy. Among the 30 lacrimal pathways (44.1%) that were normal by DCG, obstruction was revealed in 22 cases by dacryoendoscopy, with 11 cases in the common canaliculus. Additional useful information on the cause of obstruction and identification of multiple obstructed sites was provided by dacryoendoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: DCG and dacryoendoscopy showed moderate agreement in detecting lacrimal pathway obstruction. Dacryoendoscopy allowed for comprehensive investigations of the lacrimal pathway and can help explain unidentified factors associated with lacrimal pathway obstruction in patients with epiphora.

Crystallization and Martensitic Transformation Behavior of Ti-Ni-Si Alloy Ribbons Prepared via Melt Spinning.

Ti-(50-x)Ni-xSi (at%) (x = 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0) alloy ribbons were prepared via melt spinning and their crystallization procedure and transformation behavior were investigated using differential scanning calorimtry, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Ti-Ni-Si alloy ribbons with Si content less than 1.0 at% were crystalline, whereas those with Si content more than 3.0 at% were amorphous. Crystallization occurred in the sequence of amorphous →B2 → B2 → Ti5Si4 + TiNi3 → B2 + Ti5Si4 + TiNi3 + TiSi in the Ti-47.0Ni-3.0Si alloy and amorphous →R → R + Ti5Si4 + TiNi3 → R + Ti5Si4 + TiNi3 + TiSi in the Ti-45.0Ni-5.0Si alloy. The activation energy for crystallization was 189 ±8.6 kJ/mol for the Ti-47Ni-3Si alloy and 212±8.6 kJ/mol for the Ti-45Ni-5Si alloy. One-stage B2-R transformation behavior was observed in Ti-49.5Ni-0.5Si, Ti-49.0Ni-1.0Si, and Ti-47.0Ni- 3.0Si alloy ribbons after heating to various temperatures in the range of 873 K to 1073 K. In the Ti-45.0Ni-5.0Si alloy, one-stage B2-R transformation occurred after heating to 893 K, two-stage B2-R-B19' occurred after heating to 973 K, and two-stage B2-R-B19' occurred on cooling and one-stage B19'-B2 occurred on heating, after heating to 1073 K.

A chromogenic molecular capsule attributable to dipolar amide resonance structure.

A new chromogenic, self-assembled molecular capsule G@22 is developed by introducing four (N,N-dimethyl-4-aminophenyl) azobenzyl moieties on the upper rim of a resorcin[4]arene-based amidoimino-cavitand. The tuning of conjugation between amido and (N,N-dimethyl-4-aminophenyl)azobenzyl groups by acid-base titration allows naked-eye detection of molecular capsule formation.

Strain-dependent response to Cu(2+) in the expression of laccase in Pycnoporus coccineus.

The effects of Cu(2+) on the activity and expression of laccase were investigated in seven different strains of Pycnoporus coccineus collected from different regions in Korea. Cu(2+) was toxic to mycelial growth at concentrations greater than 0.5 mM CuSO4 and showed complete growth inhibition at 1 mM in the liquid culture. However, Cu(2+) significantly upregulated the extracellular laccase activity at 0.2 mM in five strains of P. coccineus, IUM4209, IUM0032, IUM0450, IUM0470, and IUM4093, whereas two strains, IUM0253 and IUM0049, did not respond to Cu(2+), despite being closely related to the other five strains. Subsequent RT-PCR analysis also showed that the laccase mRNA was highly expressed only in the former five strains in the presence of Cu(2+). Taken together, these results indicate that Cu(2+) regulates expression of the laccase gene in a strain-dependent manner. The five strains commonly produced a single predominant laccase protein with a molecular weight of 68 kDa. Peptide sequencing revealed that the laccase was a homolog of Lcc1 of P. coccineus, which was isolated in China. The Cu(2+)-induced culture supernatants exhibited high degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, indicating that the 68-kDa laccase is the primary extracellular degradative enzyme in P. coccineus.

Comparison of phaco-chop, divide-and-conquer, and stop-and-chop phaco techniques in microincision coaxial cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of coaxial microincision cataract surgery (MICS) performed with 3 phacoemulsification techniques (phaco-chop, divide-and-conquer, and stop-and-chop) according to cataract density. SETTING: Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, South Korea. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Eyes with nuclear density from grade 2 to 4 were randomly subdivided into 3 groups (phaco-chop, divide-and-conquer, and stop-and-chop). Intraoperative measurements included ultrasound time (UST), mean cumulative dissipated energy (CDE), and balanced salt solution use. Clinical measurements included preoperative and 1 day, 1 month, and 2 month postoperative corrected distance visual acuity, central corneal thickness, and endothelial cell count. RESULTS: Intraoperative measurements showed significantly less UST, CDE, and balanced salt solution use with the phaco-chop technique than with the divide-and-conquer and stop-and-chop techniques in the grade 4 cataract density group (P<.05). The percentage of endothelial cell loss was significantly lower in the phaco-chop group than in the divide-and-conquer and stop-and-chop groups in the grade 4 cataract density group 2 months after cataract surgery (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: All 3 techniques may be effective for coaxial MICS in mild and moderate cataracts. However, in eyes with hard cataract having coaxial MICS, the phaco-chop technique can be more effective for lens removal, with less corneal endothelial damage, than the divide-and-conquer and stop-and-chop techniques. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Versatile self-assembled molecular capsule formation of a resorcin[4]arene-based benzamidoiminocavitand.

The facile synthesis of a resorcin[4]arene-based imino-cavitand with benzamido moieties and its self-assembly into molecular capsules are reported. Benzamido-iminocavitand efficiently self-assembled into thermally inert molecular capsules in the presence of suitable guests via the eight intermolecular N-H···O=C hydrogen bonds.

Isolation of Fungal Pathogens to an Edible Mushroom, Pleurotus eryngii, and Development of Specific ITS Primers.

Fungal pathogens have caused severe damage to the commercial production of Pleurotus eryngii, the king oyster mushroom, by reducing production yield, causing deterioration of commercial value, and shortening shelf-life. Four strains of pathogenic fungi, including Trichoderma koningiopsis DC3, Phomopsis sp. MP4, Mucor circinelloides MP5, and Cladosporium bruhnei MP6, were isolated from the bottle culture of diseased P. eryngii. A species-specific primer set was designed for each fungus from the ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequences. PCR using the ITS primer set yielded a unique DNA band for each fungus without any cross-reaction, proving the validity of our method in detection of mushroom fungal pathogens.

The orientation of the lacrimal fossa to the bony nasolacrimal canal: an anatomical study.

PURPOSE: To examine the relative positions of the lacrimal fossa (LF) and the bony nasolacrimal canal (BNLC) in relation to each other and a reference plane. METHODS: Forty-two orbits and BNLCs from 21 Asian cadavers (9 men and 12 women; average age at death, 84.4 years; range, 70-99 years) had been fixed in 10% buffered formalin before use. After exposing the LF and the medial half of the BNLC, the authors measured the angles of the longitudinal axis of the LF and the BNLC relative to the aesthetic horizontal plane respectively. Based on these values, the relative orientation of the LF and the BNLC was determined and defined in terms of Δ BNLC-LF. A positive Δ BNLC-LF represents a nasolacrimal canal that descends posteriorly relative to the LF. RESULTS: The mean LF, BNLC, and Δ BNLC-LF were 9.5°, 19.8°, and 10.3°, respectively. In 39 passages (92.9%), the Δ BNLC-LF was positive, representing a nasolacrimal canal that is more posteriorly oriented than the LF. In 3 passages (7.1%), the Δ BNLC-LF was equal to or less than 0°; 2 of them (4.8%) had a straight course and 1 passage (2.4%) had a negative value. CONCLUSIONS: In most patients, the BNLC is directed more posteriorly than the LF. This finding may help in preventing an inadvertent false passage during probing and intubation in patients with epiphora.

Profile of Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of blepharospasm.

Even though conventional botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) products have shown successful treatment results in patients with benign blepharospasm (BEB), the main, potential long-term side effect of BoNT use is the development of immunologic resistance due to the production of neutralizing antibody to the neurotoxin after repeated injections. Xeomin(®) (incobotulinumtoxinA), a unique botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) drug free of complexing proteins otherwise contained in all conventional BoNT/A drugs, was recently approved by US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of cervical dystonia or blepharospasm in adults. The newly approved BoNT/A drug may overcome this limitation of previous conventional products, since it contains pure neurotoxin (150 kDa) through a manufacturing process that separates it from complexing proteins such as hemagglutinins produced by fermentation of Clostridium botulinum. Many studies have also shown that Xeomin(®) has the same efficacy and safety profile as complexing protein-containing products such as Botox(®) and is exchangeable with Botox(®) using a simple 1:1 conversion ratio. Xeomin(®) represents a new treatment option for the repeated treatment of patients with blepharospasm in that it may reduce antibody-induced therapy failure. But, long-term comparative trials in naïve patients between Xeomin(®) and conventional BoNT/A drugs are required to confirm the low immunogenicity of Xeomin(®).

Changes to upper eyelid orbital fat from use of topical bimatoprost, travoprost, and latanoprost.

PURPOSE: To confirm the possible mechanism by which topical prostaglandin antiglaucoma drugs cause a deep superior sulcus. METHODS: Among patients who used bimatoprost (Lumigan), latanoprost (Xalatan), or travoprost (Travatan) and who developed a deep upper lid sulcus, 18 eyes of 11 patients (mean age, 58.2 ± 8.9 years) were studied. Seven patients were binocular users of one of the eye drops and four were monocular users. Preaponeurotic orbital fat was obtained, and the mean adipocyte density compared. RESULTS: In the four monocular users, mean adipocyte density of treated eyes was 1758.21 ± 158.15 cells/mm(2), and that of untreated eyes was 1258.73 ± 127.54 cells/mm(2). This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.04), suggesting that the adipocytes were atrophied in the treated eyes. The mean adipocyte density of the bimatoprost group was 2073.35 ± 184.89 cells/mm(2), that of the travoprost group was 1623.46 ± 218.99 cells/mm(2), and that of the latanoprost group was 1468.20 ± 113.44 cells/mm(2). The densities of the bimatoprost and travoprost groups, but not of the latanoprost group (P = 0.75), were significantly different from that of the untreated group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Fat atrophy can be considered a mechanism of upper eyelid sulcus deepening in patients using topical prostaglandin analogs.

Development of a nonintrusive blood pressure estimation system for computer users.

An individual's cardiovascular health is important. The measurement of blood pressure (BP) can be performed nonintrusively during normal daily activities. A study was designed to estimate systolic BP by measuring pulse arrival time (PAT) nonintrusively. PAT was obtained nonintrusively to estimate each individual's BP while he or she worked at a computer. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was measured with a capacitive-coupled electrocardiogram (CC-ECG) system and photoplethysmogram (PPG) was measured using specially installed circuits in a computer mouse. PAT was calculated from CC-ECG and PPG, and compared to PAT measured by the standard method. Three individuals participated in this study. Results correlated well. An equation to estimate BP from the measured PAT was derived for each of three individuals during a training period. Estimated BP was compared with measured BP in a series of experiments under varied BP conditions. For each individual, the estimated BP followed the measured BP within a tolerable error range. This method was also used for long-term BP monitoring. Results showed that this method could be useful for monitoring BP for telemedicine and e-health.

A Preliminary Study for Unconstrained Pulse Arrival Time (PAT) Measurement on a Chair.

A method of measuring the pulse arrival time (PAT) non-consciously on a chair is proposed. In this method, the electrically non-contact ECG measurement system and the air cushion with balancing tubes are used. In this paper, the correlation between the typical PAT and the unconstrained PATs (A-PATs) are compared. The typical PAT is measured as the difference of R-peak of ECG and the steepest descent point of the PPG in toe. The three different A-PATs were measured from the pressure pulse of the air cushion (APP). The correlation between the typical PAT and the A-PAT from the steepest descent point of the APP was the highest (R=0.9663).

Unconstrained pulse transit time measurement system for computer users.

Pulse Transit Time (PTT) is a simple non-invasive method to evaluate vascular function using photoplethysmography(PPG) and electrocardiography(ECG). This study introduces unconstrained PTT measurement method for computer users and evaluates that. The proposed system consists of chair and mouse those can measure ECG and PPG respectability. PTT was defined as time delay between ECG R peak and PPG steepest point. The correlation coefficient between PTT that measured from this system and conventional PTT was 0.93. This work will provide many opportunities for ubiquitous health monitoring.