Three-dimensional treatment-planning-based prediction of seed migration to chest after 125I seed brachytherapy for hepatic malignancy.

PURPOSE: To develop and validate risk models incorporating clinical and/or imaging parameters based on three-dimensional treatment-planning systems (3D-TPS) to predict the occurrence of 125I seed migration and the number of migrated seeds <2/≥2 to the chest after brachytherapy for patients with malignant hepatic tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 480 patients diagnosed with malignant liver tumors receiving 125I seed brachytherapy from July 2010 to May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. Variables included 3D-TPS-based CT parameters, that is, the distance from the seed to the inferior vena cava (DSI), the distance from the seed to the second hepatic portal (DSP) and the angle from the seed to the second hepatic portal (ASP), and patients' clinical characteristics, that is, the number of seed implantation procedures (NSP), the maximum number of implanted seeds one time (MAX) and laboratory parameters within 1 week before treatment. Two sets of logistic regression models incorporating clinical and/or imaging variables were developed to predict the occurrence of seed migration and the number of migrated seeds <2/≥2. Model performance was assessed by ROC analysis and decision curve analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the clinical models, the combined model showed a higher discriminative ability for both the prediction of migration occurrence and number of migrated seeds ≥ 2/<2 to the chest (AUC, 0.879 vs. 0.668, p < 0.05; 0.895 vs. 0.701, p < 0.05). The decision curve analysis results indicated higher net benefits of combined models than clinical models. Variables, including DSI, NSP and pretreatment lymphocyte-to-neutrophil ratio, acted as the most important predictors in combined models. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed combined models based on 3D-TPS improved discriminative abilities for predicting 125I seed migration and number of migrated seeds <2/≥2 to the chest after hepatic brachytherapy, being promising to aid clinical decision-making.

Application and management of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetic kidney disease.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that contributes to the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Wide glycemic var-iations, such as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, are broadly found in diabetic patients with DKD and especially ESKD, as a result of impaired renal metabolism. It is essential to monitor glycemia for effective management of DKD. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has long been considered as the gold standard for monitoring glycemia for > 3 months. However, assessment of HbA1c has some bias as it is susceptible to factors such as anemia and liver or kidney dysfunction. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has provided new insights on glycemic assessment and management. CGM directly measures glucose level in interstitial fluid, reports real-time or retrospective glucose concentration, and provides multiple glycemic metrics. It avoids the pitfalls of HbA1c in some contexts, and may serve as a precise alternative to estimation of mean glucose and glycemic variability. Emerging studies have demonstrated the merits of CGM for precise monitoring, which allows fine-tuning of glycemic management in diabetic patients. Therefore, CGM technology has the potential for better glycemic monitoring in DKD patients. More research is needed to explore its application and management in different stages of DKD, including hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Caliper-verified unrestricted kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty in Asian patients showed efficacious mid- to long-term results regardless of postoperative alignment categories.

PURPOSE: There have been insufficient data regarding the long-term results of unrestricted kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty (unKATKA) in Asian patients. We investigated mid- to long-term clinical and radiological follow-up data of Korean patients after caliper-verified unKATKA of minimum 7.4-10 years including categorised data of postoperative tibial component, limb and knee alignment. Additionally, we analysed the preoperative distribution and postoperative restoration of coronal plane alignment of knee (CPAK) phenotypes. METHODS: This study is a retrospective analysis of 63 patients: 96 osteoarthritic underwent consecutive caliper-verified unKATKA between October 2013 and May 2016 by a single surgeon. Implant survivorship was investigated for revision for any reason. Each knee was categorised into an in-range or outlier group by three postoperative alignment parameters: tibial component, knee and limb alignment. Statistical analyses were done for any significant differences in clinical scores and implant survival rates between groups. Finally, all knees were classified into CPAK classification postoperatively and postoperatively. The CPAK restoration rate was calculated. RESULTS: Among 85 knees in the clinically confirmed group, implant survival was 98.8%. There was one case of revision due to periprosthetic fracture. The percentage postoperatively aligned in the varus (valgus) outlier range was 100% (0%) for tibial component, 16.7% (24.8%) for the knee alignment and 51% (0%) for the limb alignment. All three categories did not affect implant survival or clinical scores. Eighty one out of 96 knees (84.4%) were restored to their CPAK phenotype postoperatively. CONCLUSION: With the limitation of a case series having a small number of patients and gender deviation, our study suggests that caliper-verified unKATKA could be a good option regardless of geographical variation of constitutional alignment in patients with osteoarthritis (OA). LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, therapeutic study.

Metagenomic survey of viral diversity obtained from feces of piglets with diarrhea.

Pigs are natural host to various zoonotic pathogens including viruses. In this study, we analyzed the viral communities in the feces of 89 piglets with diarrhea under one month old which were collected from six farms in Jiangsu Province of the Eastern China, using the unbiased virus metagenomic method. A total of 89 libraries were constructed, and 46937894 unique sequence reads were generated by Illumina sequencing. Overall, the family Picornaviridae accounted for the majority of the total reads of putative mammalian viruses. Ten novel virus genomes from different family members were discovered, including Parvoviridae (n = 2), Picobirnaviridae (n = 4) and CRESS DNA viruses (n = 4). A large number of phages were identified, which mainly belonged to the order Caudovirales and the family Microviridae. Moreover, some identified viruses were closely related to viruses found in non-porcine hosts, highlighting the potential for cross-species virus dissemination. This study increased our understanding of the fecal virus communities of diarrhea piglets and provided valuable information for virus monitoring and preventing.

Association of body temperature and mortality in critically ill patients: an observational study using two large databases.

BACKGROUND: Body temperature (BT) is routinely measured and can be controlled in critical care settings. BT can impact patient outcome, but the relationship between BT and mortality has not been well-established. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the MIMIC-IV (N = 43,537) and eICU (N = 75,184) datasets. The primary outcome and exposure variables were hospital mortality and first 48-h median BT, respectively. Generalized additive models were used to model the associations between exposures and outcomes, while adjusting for patient age, sex, APS-III, SOFA, and Charlson comorbidity scores, temperature gap, as well as ventilation, vasopressor, steroids, and dialysis usage. We conducted subgroup analysis according to ICU setting, diagnoses, and demographics. RESULTS: Optimal BT was 37 °C for the general ICU and subgroup populations. A 10% increase in the proportion of time that BT was within the 36-38 °C range was associated with reduced hospital mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.90-0.93) and eICU (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.85-0.87). On the other hand, a 10% increase in the proportion of time when BT < 36 °C was associated with increased mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.06-1.10) and eICU (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.16-1.19). Similarly, a 10% increase in the proportion of time when BT > 38 °C was associated with increased mortality risk in both MIMIC-IV (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.07-1.12) and eICU (OR 1.09; 95% CI 1.08-1.11). All patient subgroups tested consistently showed an optimal temperature within the 36-38 °C range. CONCLUSIONS: A BT of 37 °C is associated with the lowest mortality risk among ICU patients. Further studies to explore the causal relationship between the optimal BT and mortality should be conducted and may help with establishing guidelines for active BT management in critical care settings.

Women's experience of polycystic ovary syndrome management: A systematic review and meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common chronic condition in women of child-bearing age. There is currently no effective treatment, so early and long-term management is essential. However, there are many problems in the practice of disease management in women with PCOS that make it difficult to achieve good outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To explore women's experience of PCOS management and identify the relevant facilitators and barriers to management. SEARCH STRATEGY: A structured search was undertaken in five bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane) from the date of establishment of the database up to December 2022. SELECTION CRITERIA: All qualitative and mixed-methods studies available in English describing the experience of PCOS management from the patients' perspective were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: The Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument was used to appraise study quality. The evidence was synthesized using a pragmatic meta-aggregative approach guided by the capability, opportunity, and motivation model of behavior (COM-B). MAIN RESULTS: A total of 13 studies were included with 85 equivocal findings and 12 credible findings. The findings were meta-aggregated into three themes: (1) capability of women with PCOS, including patients' attitudes toward disease and management, knowledge, and skills of the disease; (2) opportunities in PCOS management, including information about PCOS, diagnostic delay, disease characteristics, disease management plan, and logistical and environmental problems; and (3) motivation in PCOS management, including impact of symptoms, perceived needs, support and feedback, and unpleasant medical experience. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies facilitators and barriers to PCOS management from the patient perspective, which can guide the design and implementation of PCOS management programs for patients. This study also provides information for future research into how the COM-B theory can be incorporated into specific management plans to promote patient action.

Effects of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mineralocorticoid receptor blockade could be a potential approach for the inhibition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The benefits and harms of different mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in CKD are inconsistent. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to summarize the benefits and harms of MRAs for CKD patients. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases for trials assessing the effects of MRAs on non-dialysis-dependent CKD populations. Treatment and adverse effects were summarized using meta-analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-three trials with 6 different MRAs involving 22,792 participants were included. Compared with the control group, MRAs reduced urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (weighted mean difference [WMD], -90.90 mg/g, 95% CI, -140.17 to -41.64 mg/g), 24-h urinary protein excretion (WMD, -0.20 g, 95% CI, -0.28 to -0.12 g), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (WMD, -1.99 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI, -3.28 to -0.70 mL/min/1.73 m2), chronic renal failure events (RR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.79-0.93), and cardiovascular events (RR, 0.84, 95% CI, 0.77-0.92). MRAs increased the incidence of hyperkalemia (RR, 2.04, 95% CI, 1.73-2.40) and hypotension (RR, 1.80, 95% CI, 1.41-2.31). MRAs reduced the incidence of peripheral edema (RR, 0.65, 95% CI, 0.56-0.75) but not the risk of acute kidney injury (RR, 0.94, 95% CI, 0.79-1.13). Nonsteroidal MRAs (RR, 0.66, 95% CI, 0.57-0.75) but not steroidal MRAs (RR, 0.20, 95% CI, 0.02-1.68) significantly reduced the risk of peripheral edema. Steroidal MRAs (RR, 5.68, 95% CI, 1.26-25.67) but not nonsteroidal MRAs (RR, 0.52, 95% CI, 0.22-1.22) increased the risk of breast disorders. CONCLUSIONS: In the CKD patients, MRAs, particularly in combination with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, reduced albuminuria/proteinuria, eGFR, and the incidence of chronic renal failure, cardiovascular and peripheral edema events, whereas increasing the incidence of hyperkalemia and hypotension, without the augment of acute kidney injury events. Nonsteroidal MRAs were superior in the reduction of more albuminuria with fewer peripheral edema events and without the augment of breast disorder events.

Factors associated with discontinuation in fertility treatment: a systematic scoping review.

PURPOSE: The discontinuation of fertility treatment could decrease the chances of achieving parenthood for infertile patients and often leads to economic loss and medical resource waste. However, the evidence on the factors associated with discontinuation is unclear and inconsistent in the context of fertility treatment. This scoping review aimed to summarize the evidence on factors associated with discontinuation in fertility treatment, identify the current knowledge gap, and generate recommendations for future research. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CINAHL, American Psychological Association, and http://clinicaltrials.gov from inception to June 2023 without language or time restrictions. We also searched the grey literature in Open Grey and Google Scholar and hand-searched the reference lists of relevant studies to identify potentially eligible studies. Publications that studied factors associated with discontinuation in fertility treatment were included. The identified factors were mapped to the World Health Organization's treatment adherence model. RESULTS: Thirty-seven articles involving 41,973 infertile patients from 13 countries were included in this scoping review. All studies identified the factors from the perspective of patients, except for one that described the factors from the healthcare providers' perspective. A total of 42 factors were identified, with most of them belonging to the patient-related dimension, followed by socio-economic-related, treatment-related, condition-related, and healthcare system-related dimensions. Female education level, social support, and insurance coverage decreased the likelihood of treatment discontinuation, whereas multiparous women, male infertility, depression, higher infertility duration, and treatment duration increased the likelihood of treatment discontinuation. Age, education level, and ethnicity are the commonly nonmodifiable factors for treatment discontinuation, while insurance coverage, depression, and anxiety symptoms are among some of the more commonly reported modifiable factors. CONCLUSION: This is the first scoping review examining and synthesizing evidence on the factors influencing of discontinuation in fertility treatment. This review could inform researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to address modifiable barriers and facilitators to develop personalized and multicomponent interventions that could improve the discontinuation in fertility treatment.

Biomechanical and histomorphological analysis of the mandible in rats with chronic kidney disease.

The present study aimed to investigate the biomechanical and histomorphological features of mandibles in an adenine-induced chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) rat model of CKD. A total of 14 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into the following two groups: control group and CKD group. At the end of the sixth week, all rats were euthanized, and serum was collected for biochemical marker tests. Macroscopic bone growth and biomechanical parameters were measured in the right hemimandible, while the left hemimandible was used for bone histomorphometric analysis. Compared to the control group, the CKD group showed a significant increase in serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and serum parathyroid hormone at the end of the sixth week. The biomechanical structural properties significantly decreased in the CKD group compared to the control group. Bone histomorphometric analysis indicated that the trabecular bone volume of rats in the CKD group was significantly lower than that of the control group. In the CKD groups, the bone formation parameters of the trabecular bone were significantly increased, while the bone mineralization apposition rates of both the trabecular bone and periosteal cortical bone were significantly increased. The rat CKD model showed deteriorated structural mechanics, low trabecular bone volume, high trabecular bone formation, increased trabecular bone mineralization apposition rate, and increased cortical bone mineralization apposition rate, which met the characteristics of osteitis fibrosa, indicating that this model is a useful tool for the study of mandible diseases in CKD patients.

Aspirin intervention before ICU admission reduced the mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: results from the MIMIC-IV.

Background: Aspirin, with its pleiotropic effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet aggregation, has been widely used for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between the use of aspirin before the intensive care unit (ICU) and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. Methods: Patients with AKI in this retrospective observational study were selected from the Marketplace for Medical Information in Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV). The association between aspirin intervention and 30-day mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards model. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of aspirin intervention with the risks of intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding and blood transfusion. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was adopted to balance the baseline variables. Sensitivity analysis was performed to validate the results by multiple interpolations for the missing data. Results: The study included 4237 pre-ICU aspirin users and 9745 non-users. In multivariate models, we found a decreased risk of mortality in those who received aspirin before ICU compared to those who did not (30-day:hazard ratio [HR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.62-0.79; p < 0.001; 90-day:HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.63-0.77, p < 0.001; 180-day:HR, 0.72; 95%CI,0.65-0.79, p < 0.001). This benefit was consistent in the post-PSM analyses, sensitivity analyses, and subgroup analyses. Moreover, aspirin intervention was associated with a reduced risk of intracranial hemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding (HR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.10-0.25; p < 0.001; HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.88, p = 0.012) after being adjusted by relating covariates, whereas with a increased risk of blood transfusion (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.16-1.46; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with AKI treated with aspirin before ICU admission might have reduced 30-day, 90-day and 180-day mortality without increasing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or gastrointestinal bleeding, but may increase the risk of transfusion.

Genetic and cultural adaptations underlie the establishment of dairy pastoralism in the Tibetan Plateau.

BACKGROUND: Domestication and introduction of dairy animals facilitated the permanent human occupation of the Tibetan Plateau. Yet the history of dairy pastoralism in the Tibetan Plateau remains poorly understood. Little is known how Tibetans adapted to milk and dairy products. RESULTS: We integrated archeological evidence and genetic analysis to show the picture that the dairy ruminants, together with dogs, were introduced from West Eurasia into the Tibetan Plateau since ~ 3600 years ago. The genetic admixture between the exotic and indigenous dogs enriched the candidate lactase persistence (LP) allele 10974A > G of West Eurasian origin in Tibetan dogs. In vitro experiments demonstrate that - 13838G > A functions as a LP allele in Tibetans. Unlike multiple LP alleles presenting selective signatures in West Eurasians and South Asians, the de novo origin of Tibetan-specific LP allele - 13838G > A with low frequency (~ 6-7%) and absence of selection corresponds - 13910C > T in pastoralists across eastern Eurasia steppe. CONCLUSIONS: Results depict a novel scenario of genetic and cultural adaptations to diet and expand current understanding of the establishment of dairy pastoralism in the Tibetan Plateau.

Identification of Multiple Novel Viruses in Fecal Samples of Black-Necked Cranes Using Viral Metagenomic Methods.

The black-necked crane is the only species of crane that lives in the high-altitude region of the Tibet Plateau. At present, there is little research on viral diseases of the black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis). In this study, a viral metagenomic approach was employed to investigate the fecal virome of black-necked cranes in Saga County, Shigatse City, Tibet, China. The identified virus families carried by black-necked cranes mainly include Genomoviridae, Parvoviridae, and Picornaviridae. The percentages of sequence reads belonging to these three virus families were 1.6%, 3.1%, and 93.7%, respectively. Among them, one genome was characterized as a novel species in the genus Grusopivirus of the family Picornaviridae, four new parvovirus genomes were obtained and classified into four different novel species within the genus Chaphamaparvovirus of the subfamily Hamaparvovirinae, and four novel genomovirus genomes were also acquired and identified as members of three different species, including Gemykroznavirus haeme1, Gemycircularvirus ptero6, and Gemycircularvirus ptero10. All of these viruses were firstly detected in fecal samples of black-necked cranes. This study provides valuable information for understanding the viral community composition in the digestive tract of black-necked cranes in Tibet, which can be used for monitoring, preventing, and treating potential viral diseases in black-necked cranes.

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15 suppresses type I interferon production by inhibiting IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), poses a significant threat to global public health security. Like other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 has developed various strategies to inhibit the production of interferon (IFN). Here, we have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp15 obviously reduces the expression of IFN-ß and IFN-stimulated genes (ISG56, CXCL10), and also inhibits IRF3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation by antagonizing the RLR-mediated antiviral signaling pathway. Mechanically, we found that the poly-U-specific endonuclease domain (EndoU) of Nsp15 directly associates with the kinase domain (KD) of TBK1 to interfere TBK1 interacting with IRF3 and the flowing TBK1-mediated IRF3 phosphorylation. Furthermore, Nsp15 also prevented nuclear translocation of phosphorylated IRF3 via binding to the nuclear import adaptor karyopherin α1 (KPNA1) and promoting it autophagy-dependent degradation. These findings collectively reveal a novel mechanism by which Nsp15 antagonizes host's innate immune response.

Metagenomic analysis of herbivorous mammalian viral communities in the Northwest Plateau.

BACKGROUND: Mammals are potential hosts for many infectious diseases. However, studies on the viral communities of herbivorous mammals in the Northwest Plateau are limited. Here, we studied the viral communities of herbivorous mammals in the Northwest Plateau using virus metagenomic analysis to analyze and compare the viral community composition of seven animal species. RESULTS: By library construction and next-generation sequencing, contigs and singlets reads with similar viral sequences were classified into 24 viral families. Analyzed from the perspective of sampling areas, the virus community composition was relatively similar in two areas of Wuwei and Jinchang, Gansu Province. Analyzed from the perspective of seven animal species, the viral reads of seven animal species were mostly ssDNA and dominated by CRESS-DNA viruses. Phylogenetic analysis based on viral marker genes indicated that CRESS-DNA viruses and microviruses have high genetic diversity. In addition to DNA viruses, nodaviruses, pepper mild mottle viruses and picornaviruses were RNA viruses that we performed by phylogenetic analysis. The CRESS-DNA viruses and nodaviruses are believed to infect plants and insects, and microviruses can infect bacteria, identifying that they were likely from the diet of herbivorous mammals. Notably, two picornaviruses were identified from red deer and wild horse, showing that the picornavirus found in red deer had the relatively high similarity with human hepatitis A virus, and the picornavirus carried by wild horse could potentially form a new species within the Picornaviridae family. CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the herbivorous mammalian virus community in the Northwest Plateau and the genetic characteristics of viruses that potentially threaten human health. It reveals the diversity and stability of herbivorous mammalian virus communities in the Northwest Plateau and helps to expand our knowledge of various herbivorous mammalian potentially pathogenic viruses.

Identification of novel anelloviruses in the blood of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca).

In recent years, the continuous development of metagenomics has revealed that in addition to the digestive tract, some viruses are also common in mammalian blood. To explore and monitor potential novel viruses, in April 2015, a blood sample was collected from a healthy captive giant panda at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan Province, China. The genomes of 25 different anelloviruses containing the complete ORF1 region have been identified. The BLASTp results showed that the amino acid sequence identity of these viruses with the best match in GenBank ranged from 27.15% to 41.29%. Based on phylogenetic analysis and SDT (Species Demarcation Tool) analysis of the complete ORF1 regions of these 25 viruses, these sequences were deduced to represent one or several novel virus genera or species. This virological study has increased our understanding of the diversity of anelloviruses in the blood of giant pandas, but further laboratory analysis is needed to verify its possible pathogenicity.

Galactagogue Food Consumption, Perception of Insufficient Milk Supply, and Exclusive Breastfeeding in Chinese Postpartum Women: An Analysis of Repeated Measures.

INTRODUCTION: Little research has explored galactagogue food consumption in China. This study aims to investigate consumption patterns and how they relate to perceived insufficient milk supply and exclusive breastfeeding. METHODS: Data were collected from postpartum women in China at six time points: baseline demographic questionnaire before hospital discharge (T0), galactagogue food questionnaire at 1 month postpartum (T1), Hill and Humenick Lactation Scale at 6 weeks postpartum (T2), and breastfeeding practices at 1, 2, 3 and 4 months postpartum (T1, T3, T4, T5). RESULTS: Of 218 participants who completed the galactagogue food questionnaire, 64.68% were consumers. No association was found between galactagogue food consumption and perceived insufficient milk supply. Consumers were less likely to breastfeed exclusively. DISCUSSION: Future research should emphasize a deeper understanding of consumer behaviors and family support in providing professional guidance on postpartum nutrition that considers not only social and cultural experiences but also broader medical aspects.

Comparison of viral communities in the blood, feces and various tissues of wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Viral diseases caused by new outbreaks of viral infections pose a serious threat to human health. Wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus), considered one of the world's largest and most widely distributed rodents, are host to various zoonotic pathogens. To further understand the composition of the virus community in wild brown rats and explore new types of potentially pathogenic viruses, viral metagenomics was conducted to investigate blood, feces, and various tissues of wild brown rats captured from Zhenjiang, China. Results indicated that the composition of the virus community in different samples showed significant differences. In blood and tissue samples, members of the Parvoviridae and Anelloviridae form the main body of the virus community. Picornaviridae, Picobirnaviridae, and Astroviridae made up a large proportion of fecal samples. Several novel genome sequences from members of different families, including Anelloviridae, Parvoviridae, and CRESS DNA viruses, were detected in both blood and other samples, suggesting that they have the potential to spread across organs to cause viremia. These viruses included not only strains closely related to human viruses, but also a potential recombinant virus. Multiple dual-segment picornaviruses were obtained from fecal samples, as well as virus sequences from the Astroviridae and Picornaviridae. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these viruses belonged to different genera, with multiple viruses clustered with other animal viruses. Whether they have pathogenicity and the ability to spread across species needs further study.

Gut phageome of the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reveals greater diversity than relative species.

The gut flora is a treasure house of diverse bacteriophages maintaining a harmonious and coexistent relationship with their hosts. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), as a vulnerable endemic species in China, has existed for millions of years and is regarded as a flagship species for biodiversity conservation. And yet, limited studies have analyzed the phage communities in the gut of giant pandas. Using viral metagenomic analysis, the phageomes of giant pandas and other relative species were investigated. Our study explored and compared the composition of phage communities from different animal sources. Giant pandas possessed more diverse and abundant phage communities in the gut compared with other relevant animals. Phylogenetic analyses based on the phage terminase large subunit (TerL) showed that the Caudovirales phages in giant pandas also presented highly genetic diversity. Our study revealed the diversity of phage communities in giant pandas and other relative species, contributing to the health maintenance of giant pandas and laying the groundwork for molecular evolution research of bacteriophages in mammals. IMPORTANCE Gut phageome plays an important role in shaping gut microbiomes by direct interactions with bacteria or indirect influences on the host immune system, potentially regulating host health and disease status. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a vulnerable and umbrella species for biodiversity conservation. Our work explored and compared the gut phageome of giant pandas and relative species, contributing to the health maintenance of giant pandas.