Correlations Between Inflammatory Cell Infiltration and Relative Density and the Boundary Manifestation of Pulmonary Non-Neoplastic Ground Glass Nodules.

Purpose: To investigate the influence factors for the various boundary manifestations of pulmonary non-neoplastic ground glass nodules (GGNs) on computed tomography (CT). Materials and Methods: From January 2015 to March 2022, a total of 280 patients with 318 non-neoplastic GGNs were enrolled. The correlations between degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and relative density (ΔCT) and the boundary manifestations of lesions were evaluated, respectively. Results: Nongranulomatous nodules (283, 89.0%) with fibrous tissue proliferation and/or inflammatory cells as the predominant pathological findings were the most common non-neoplastic GGNs, followed by granulomatous nodules (28, 8.8%). Among nongranulomatous GGNs, cases with more and less/no inflammatory cells were 15 (10.9%) and 122 (89.1%) in 137 well-defined ones with smooth margin, 16 (24.6%) and 49 (75.4%) in 65 well-defined ones with coarse margin, 43 (91.5%) and 4 (8.5%) in 47 ill-defined ones with higher ΔCT (>151HU), and 4 (11.8%) and 30 (88.2%) in 34 ill-defined ones with lower ΔCT (< 151HU). The proportion of cases with more inflammatory cells in well-defined nodules was similar to that in ill-defined ones with lower ΔCT (P = 0.587) but significantly lower than that in ill-defined ones with higher ΔCT (P < 0.001). Among the granulomatous nodules, ill-defined cases with higher ΔCT (16, 57.1%) were the most common, and they (7/8, 87.5%) frequently had changes during short-term follow-up. Conclusion: Nongranulomatous nodules are the most common non-neoplastic GGNs, their diverse boundary manifestations closely correlate with degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and density difference.

Bat mammalian orthoreoviruses cause severe pneumonia in mice.

Mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) infections are ubiquitous in mammals. Increasing evidence suggests that some MRVs can cause severe respiratory disease and encephalitis in humans and other animals. Previously, we isolated six bat MRV strains. However, the pathogenicity of these bat viruses remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the host range and pathogenicity of 3 bat MRV strains (WIV2, 3 and 7) which represent three serotypes. Our results showed that all of them can infect cell lines from different mammalian species and displayed different replication efficiency. The BALB/c mice infected by bat MRVs showed clinical symptoms with systematic infection especially in lung and intestines. Obvious tissue damage were found in all infected lungs. One of the strains, WIV7, showed higher replication efficiency in vitro and vivo and more severe pathogenesis in mice. Our results provide new evidence showing potential pathogenicity of bat MRVs in animals and probable risk in humans.

Author Correction: Characterization of a filovirus (Menglà virus) from Rousettus bats in China.

In the version of this Letter originally published, in the 'Phylogenetic analysis' section of the Methods, the authors mistakenly stated that the GenBank accession number for the Ravn virus genome sequence was FJ750958. The correct accession number is DQ447649 for Ravn virus, Kenya, 1987. Accordingly, the label 'RAVN2007' in Fig. 1b should have been 'RAVV1987'. This mistake does not change any conclusions in this study. This statement and figure have now been amended in all versions of the Letter, and the Supplementary Information file has been updated accordingly.

Characterization of a filovirus (Menglà virus) from Rousettus bats in China.

Filoviruses, especially Ebola virus (EBOV) and Marburg virus (MARV), are notoriously pathogenic and capable of causing severe haemorrhagic fever diseases in humans with high lethality1,2. The risk of future outbreaks is exacerbated by the discovery of other bat-borne filoviruses of wide genetic diversity globally3-5. Here we report the characterization of a phylogenetically distinct bat filovirus, named Menglà virus (MLAV). The coding-complete genome of MLAV shares 32-54% nucleotide sequence identity with known filoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis places this new virus between EBOV and MARV, suggesting the need for a new genus taxon. Importantly, despite the low amino acid sequence identity (22-39%) of the glycoprotein with other filoviruses, MLAV is capable of using the Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) as entry receptor. MLAV is also replication-competent with chimeric MLAV mini-genomes containing EBOV or MARV leader and trailer sequences, indicating that these viruses are evolutionally and functionally closely related. Finally, MLAV glycoprotein-typed pseudo-types transduced cell lines derived from humans, monkeys, dogs, hamsters and bats, implying a broad species cell tropism with a high risk of interspecies spillover transmission.

Fatal swine acute diarrhoea syndrome caused by an HKU2-related coronavirus of bat origin.

Cross-species transmission of viruses from wildlife animal reservoirs poses a marked threat to human and animal health 1 . Bats have been recognized as one of the most important reservoirs for emerging viruses and the transmission of a coronavirus that originated in bats to humans via intermediate hosts was responsible for the high-impact emerging zoonosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) 2-10 . Here we provide virological, epidemiological, evolutionary and experimental evidence that a novel HKU2-related bat coronavirus, swine acute diarrhoea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), is the aetiological agent that was responsible for a large-scale outbreak of fatal disease in pigs in China that has caused the death of 24,693 piglets across four farms. Notably, the outbreak began in Guangdong province in the vicinity of the origin of the SARS pandemic. Furthermore, we identified SADS-related CoVs with 96-98% sequence identity in 9.8% (58 out of 591) of anal swabs collected from bats in Guangdong province during 2013-2016, predominantly in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus spp.) that are known reservoirs of SARS-related CoVs. We found that there were striking similarities between the SADS and SARS outbreaks in geographical, temporal, ecological and aetiological settings. This study highlights the importance of identifying coronavirus diversity and distribution in bats to mitigate future outbreaks that could threaten livestock, public health and economic growth.

[Analysis of the Characteristics of Acupoint Selection in the Treatment of Gout by Acupuncture].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze the compatibility laws and the characteristics of acupoint selection in the treatment of gout by acupuncture over the past 16 years. METHODS: "Gout" and "acupuncture" or "electroacupuncture" were used as search terms in the CNKI, VIP, Wanfang and PubMed databases to retrieve relevant literature. The frequency of the main acupoints and auxiliary acupoints were summarized, respectively. Association rule and hierarchical clustering analysis were used to analyze the possible rules for selecting the main acupoints. RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen studies met the inclusiven criteria, and involved 67 main acupoints with a frequency of all points of 630. The most commonly used acupoints were Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ashi point, Zusanli (ST 36), Yinlingquan (SP 9), and Taichong (LR 3). The main acupoints mainly belonged to the Spleen Meridian of Foot-taiyin, Stomach Meridian of Foot-yangming and Liver Meridian of Foot-jueyin. Association rule analysis showed that Ashi point, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) had the highest correlation of all the selected acupoints. The cluster analysis showed five core clustering groups. CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture treatment of gout focuses on acupoints along meridians and the acupoints around the affected joint. The main principles in the treatment of gout are invigorating Spleen, tonifying Kidney, dissipating dampness, resolving blood stasis, clearing away heat, removing toxic substances, soothing Liver, regulating qi, dredging collaterals and relieving pain.

Dynamic Changes in Phenotypic Groups in Patients with Stable Angina Pectoris after Treatment with Xinxuekang Capsule: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the cutoff point and influencing factors in the dynamic change in phenotypic group in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) after Xinxuekang capsule treatment. METHODS: Five hundred and seventy-six SAP patients were randomly assigned to receive Xinxuekang (XXK) capsules or Compound Danshen (CDS) tablets for 8 weeks. Global similarity degree analysis and nonlinear mixed effects modeling (NONMEM) were employed to reveal the cutoff points and influencing factors in dynamic changes in the SAP phenotypic group. The phenotypic group was defined as the six phenotypes in SAP, including angina, choking sensation in the chest, palpitations, dark purple lips, ecchymosis on the tongue, and fine-choppy pulse, which were quantitatively evaluated on Days 0, 14, 28, 42, and 56. RESULTS: Variation in the six individual phenotypes and distribution of the SAP phenotypic profile were similar between the two experimental groups, but cutoff points for changes in the SAP phenotypic group were 7.28 and 10.73 weeks in XXK and CDS groups, respectively. Degree of severity of SAP as well as study site significantly affected the tendency for change in the SAP Xueyu Zheng in both XXK and CDS treatment groups. Different Chinese patent drugs affected the tendency for change in phenotypic group in patients with SAP. XXK was superior to CDS in controlling a clinical phenotypic group. CONCLUSION: Based on global similarity degree analysis and NONMEM, the cutoff point and influencing factors in phenomic variation of SAP may be determined, to improve the development and modification of treatment regimens.

Disruption of secondary wall cellulose biosynthesis alters cadmium translocation and tolerance in rice plants.

Tricheary elements (TEs), wrapped by secondary cell wall, play essential roles in water, mineral, and nutrient transduction. Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that is absorbed by roots and transported to shoot, leaves, and grains through vascular systems in plants. As rice is a major source of Cd intake, many efforts have been made to establish 'low-Cd rice'. However, no links have been found between cellulose biosynthesis and cadmium accumulation. We report here a rice brittle culm13 mutant, resulting from a novel missense mutation (E101K) [corrected] in the N-terminus of cellulose synthase subunit 9 (CESA9). Except for the abnormal mechanical strength, the mutant plants are morphologically indistinguishable from the wild-type plants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and chemical analyses showed a slight reduction in secondary wall thickness and 22% decrease in cellulose content in bc13 plants. Moreover, this mutation unexpectedly confers the mutant plants Cd tolerance due to less Cd accumulation in leaves. Expression analysis of the genes required for Cd uptake and transport revealed complicated alterations after applying Cd to wild-type and bc13. The mutants were further found to have altered vascular structure. More importantly, Cd concentration in the xylem saps from the bc13 plants was significantly lower than that from the wild-type. Combining the analyses of CESA9 gene expression and Cd content retention in the cell-wall residues, we conclude that CESA9(E101K) [corrected] mutation alters cell-wall properties in the conducting tissues, which consequently affects Cd translocation efficiency that largely contributes to the low Cd accumulation in the mutant plants.

[Expression of mGluR1 at primary visual cortex of monocular deprivation amblyopia rat and the observing of ultrastructure].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulation of expression of mGluR1 and the changes of neuron ultrastructure at primary visual cortex of monocular deprivation amblyopia rat within cortical period. METHODS: Taking randomized concurrent controlled trail. Establishing the model of monocular deprivation amblyopia rat. After proving the model successful by PVEP, all of the rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal visual cortex, experimental visual cortex and experimental opposite visual cortex. Immunocytochemical technology, electron microscope, photography microscope, computer image analysis, SPSS 11.5 and ANOV were used to get the results. RESULTS: Compared with the layer IV of normal visual cortex and experimental opposite visual cortex, the area of immunopositive neurons in layer IV of experimental visual cortex are deficiency, there is significant difference between them (P < 0.01). There are no significant differences between the other four corresponding layers (P > 0.05). Morphological abnormals were found in layer IV of experimental visual cortex by observing of ultrastructure. CONCLUSION: The expression of mGluR1 in layer IV of primary visual cortex of monocular deprivation amblyopia is reduced. There are morphological abnormals happened in layer IV of primary visual cortex of monocular derivation amblyopia. Reduced afference of nerve pulse because of monocular deprivation leads to the expression deficiency of mGluR1 in layer IV of the primary visual cortex, then synaptic plasticity happened, then neurons atrophy occurred may be one of the etiopathogenesis of amblyopia.