Identification and epidemiology of a novel Hepacivirus in domestic ducks in Hunan province, China.

The genus Hepacivirus comprises a diverse range of genetically distinct viruses that infect both mammalian and non-mammalian hosts, with some posing significant risks to human and animal health. Members of the genus Hepacivirus are typically classified into fourteen species (Hepacivirus A-N), with ongoing discoveries of novel hepaciviruses like Hepacivirus P and Hepacivirus Q. In this study, a novel Hepacivirus was identified in duck liver samples collected from live poultry markets in Hunan province, China, using unbiased high-throughput sequencing and meta-transcriptomic analysis. Through sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis, it was determined that this newly discovered Hepacivirus belongs to a new subspecies of Hepacivirus Q. Moreover, molecular screening revealed the widespread circulation of this novel virus among duck populations in various regions of Hunan province, with an overall prevalence of 13.3%. These findings significantly enhence our understanding of the genetic diversity and evolution of hepaciviruses, emphasizing the presence of genetically diverse hepaciviruses duck populations in China. Given the broad geographical distribution and relatively high positive rate, further investigations are essential to explore any potential associations between Hepacivirus Q and duck-related diseases.

Molecular epidemiology of Coxiella burnetii infection in sheep and goats in Henan province, China.

Q fever is a significant zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, an obligate intracellular gram-negative bacterium. Although C. burnetii infection has been identified in various animal species, domestic ruminants serve as the primary reservoirs and main sources of human infection. Understanding of the epidemiology of C. burnetii in domestic ruminants is crucial for preventing and controlling of C. burnetii infection in humans. In this study, spleen tissues from sheep and goats were collected in Hennan province, China. Through PCR screening, C. burnetii was detected in sheep and goats in Henan province with an overall infection rate of 6.8 %. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all newly identified C. burnetii strains shared a close genetic relationship with those found in humans worldwide. These findings highlight the high risk of C. burnetii infection among slaughterhouse workers and emphasize the importance of epidemiological studies that investigate samples from both humans and animals within the "One Health" framework. Such surveillance will contribute to a better understanding of the epidemic situation and aid in the development of effective prevention and control strategies for C. burnetii infections in humans.

[Rat prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro and their barrier function].

OBJECTIVE: To culture rat prostate glandular epithelial cells and study their barrier functions in vitro. METHODS: Rat prostate glandular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro. The expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 was determined by immunohistochemistry, the structure and composition of the epithelial cells observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope. The transepithelial electrical resistances (TEERs) were monitored with the Millicell system. The permeability of the prostate glandular epithelial cells was assessed by the phenol red leakage test. RESULTS: Compact monolayer cell structures were formed in the prostate glandular epithelial cells cultured in vitro. Immunohistochemistry showed the expression of the tight junction protein claudin-1 and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of tight junctions between the adjacent glandular epithelial cells. The TEERs in the cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells reached the peak of about (201.3 ± 3.5) Ω/cm2 on the 8th day. The phenol red leakage test manifested a decreased permeability of the cell layers with the increase of TEERs. CONCLUSION: The structure and function of rat prostate glandular epithelial cells are similar to those of brain capillary endothelial cells, retinal capillary endothelial cells, and intestinal epithelial cells. In vitro cultured prostate glandular epithelial cells have the barrier function and can be used as a model for the study of blood prostate barrier in vitro.

[Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells suppress E coli-induced bacterial prostatitis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the inhibitory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on E coliinduced prostatitis in rats. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated, cultured and amplified by the attached choice method. Fifty SD rats were randomized into five groups of equal number: normal control, acute bacterial prostatitis (ABP) , chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP), ABP + BMSCs, and CBP + BMSCs, and the animals in the latter four groups were injected with E. coli into both sides of the prostate under ultrasound guidance for 1 - 14 days to induce ABP and for 4 - 12 weeks to induce CBP. The control rats were injected with the same amount of PBS. Two weeks after injection of BMSCs into the prostates, pathomorphological changes in the prostate were observed under the light microscope and the mRNA and protein levels of IL-1ß and TNF-α determined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively, followed by statistical analysis with SPSS 18.0. RESULTS: Histopathological evaluation showed typical pathological inflammatory changes in the prostates of the rats in the ABP and CBP groups, including glandular structural changes, interstitial edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrous hyperplasia, which were all remarkably relieved after treated with BMSCs. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-ß ([0.829 ± 0.121] and [271.75 ± 90.59] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0.913 ± 0. 094] and [105.78 ± 19. 05] pg/ml) in the ABP and those of IL-1ß ([0. 975 ± 0. 114] and [265. 31 ± 71. 34] pg/ml) and TNF-α ([0. 886 ± 0. 084] and [107. 45 ± 26. 11 ] pg/ml) in the CBP groups were significantly higher than those in the control rats ([0. 342 ± 0.087] and [45.76 17. 99] pg/ml, P <0. 05); ([0.247 ± 0.054] and ([19.42 ± 7. 75] pg/ml, P <0. 01) as well as than those in the ABP + BMSCs ([0. 433 ± 0. 072] and [51. 34 ± 22. 13] pg/ml, P < 0. 05 ) ; ( [0. 313 ± 0. 076] and [28. 38 ± 8. 78] pg/ml, P < 0. 01) and the CBP + BMSCs group ([0.396 ± 0.064] and [56.37 ± 21.22] pg/ml, P <0.05); ([0.417 ± 0.068] and [29.21 ± 10.22] pg/ml, P <0.01). CONCLUSION: Injection of BMSCs can reduce E coli-induced prostatic inflammation reaction, which.may be associated with its reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration and the expressions of IL-1ß and TNF-α in the prostate tissue.

[Prostate stem cells: an update].

Stem cells are characterized by self-renewing, multipotent differentiation, and high proliferation and receiving more and more attention for their roles in the development and management of various diseases. There are epithelial stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells in the prostate. The markers of the epithelial stem cells include cytokeratin, stem cell antigen-1, and integrins alpha2beta1, CD49f, CD133, CD117, and CD44. The markers of the mesenchymal stem cells include CD30, CD44, CD133, neuron-specific enolase, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1. Prostate stem cells are involved in the development and treatment of prostatic diseases. This review focuses on the latest progress in the studies of prostate stem cells.

[Prophylactic effect of inductive intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin on postoperative recurrence of bladder cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Intravesical instillation is an important adjuvant therapy on preventing postoperative recurrence of superficial bladder transitional cell carcinoma, but the recurrence rate is still high. This study was to evaluate the prophylactic effect of intravesical instillation of hydroxycamptothecin (HYD) plus bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) on postoperative recurrence of bladder transitional cell cancer. METHODS: A total of 45 bladder cancer patients who underwent TURBT or partial cystectomy were divided into two groups: 24 patients in combination group received single intravesical instillation of HYD in Week 1 after operation and regular intravesical instillation of BCG since Week 2; 21 patients in BCG group received regular intravesical instillation of BCG since Week 1 after operation. All the patients were followed up for 24 months. RESULTS: Three patients had recurrence at 2, 10, and 12 months after operation individually in BCG group; no recurrence developed in combination group. The recurrence rate was significantly higher in BCG group than in combination group (14.28% vs. 0, P<0.05). No serious adverse events and complication developed in both groups. CONCLUSION: Early use of single intravesical instillation of HYD plus subsequent regular intravesical instillation of BCG is markedly effective for preventing postoperative recurrence of bladder transitional cell cancer, with few adverse events.

Hypogastric artery autograft treating hemorrhage with infection of external iliac artery secondary to renal transplantation.

Massive hemorrhage from infected anastomosed site between the graft artery and the external iliac artery is one of the most serious complications of renal transplantation. Clinically, it is a rare but fatal occasion. We reported here one case of hemorrhage with infection in the iliac artery anastomosed site treated successfully with hypogastric artery autograft interposition in March 2003.

[RDP1258 on proliferation of rat splenocytes in vivo].

AIM: To explore the immunosuppressive effects of a novel HLA-derived peptide, RDP1258, on rat splenocyte proliferation in vivo and its underlying mechanisms. METHODS: RDP1258 was synthesized through artificial solid-phase synthesis method. Its effects on proliferative reaction of rat splenocytes in vivo were observed by (3)H-TDR incorporation method. And its effects on the heme oxygenase(HO) enzyme activity were analyzed by enzyme chemistry method. RESULTS: The results showed that the synthetic HLA-derived peptide RDP1258 obviously inhibited the proliferation of rat splenocytes stimulated by isoantigen and mitogen. In vivo administration of RDP1258 peptide to rats resulted in upregulation of splenic HO activity and rapid upregulation of HO-1 protein expression. CONCLUSION: HO-1 might participate in RDP1258 inhibiting the proliferation of rat splenocytes induced by mitogen and isoantigen in vivo.

Arterial anastomosis without sutures using ring pin stapler for clinical renal transplantation: comparison with suture anastomosis.

PURPOSE: The metal ring pin stapler was initially developed for microvascular surgery and there has been little experience of their use in larger vessels. We determined if the titanium ring pin coupling system could be safely and rapidly applied for arterial reconstruction in clinical renal transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The donor renal artery was end-to-end anastomosed to the internal iliac artery with titanium ring pin staplers in 36 patients. Anastomotic, clamp and total operative time and vascular problems were compared with those in the control group of sutured anastomosis in 39 transplant recipients. RESULTS: The completion of mechanical anastomosis required half the time of suture anastomosis. Mean clamp time was 17.8 minutes in the nonsuture group and 28.1 minutes in the control group. There was no significant difference in total operative time between the 2 groups. A small anastomotic line leak was noted in each group, which was temporary and self-limited. There were no postoperative anastomotic failures, postoperative bleeding episodes or need to revise the anastomosis (100% patency rate) in the 2 groups. Of the patients 61 were followed for 2 to 5 years. Transplant renal artery stenosis was observed in 1 patient in the nonsuture group but 3 in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The anastomotic technique with the ring pin system is safe and simple, permitting an expeditious and everting anastomosis with a smooth intima-to-intima junction. Application of this technique may decrease warm ischemia time and the incidence of anastomotic artery stenosis, thus, improving outcomes.

Observation of injection drug speed in ropivcaine combined spinal epidural anesthesia / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the effect of ropiyacaine combined with intra-spinal epidural anesthesia by using the same volume but different injection speed on anaesthetic level.Methods 80 cases of patients of ASA～Ⅱdegree suitable to use intra-spinal epidural combined anesthesia for gynecologic operation were selected and ran- domly divided into three groups,0.75 % ropivacaine 2mg(15mg)administered,group A the speed of injection was 10 seconds,group B injection speed was 20 seconds,group C injection speed was 30 seconds,the anaesthetic level reached T_(10).The time of highest level in spinal anesthesia,30 minutes after spinal anesthesia MAP,and number of cases need to add epidural drug were all recorded.Results The best effect of anesthesia was found in group B,the block level of anesthesia was satisfactory,blood dynamic was stable,and there was no need to add epidural drug.Conclusion The speed of 0.75 % ropivacaine 2ml spinal epidural combined with anesthesia was suitable at the speed of 20 seconds.

Outpatient procedures on the glans and anterior urethra under a new local anaesthesia: intracorpus spongiosum anaesthesia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of intracorpus spongiosum anaesthesia during minor procedures on the glans and anterior urethra in the outpatient clinic. METHODS: Sixty-nine consecutive male patients underwent various procedures on the glans penis or anterior urethra under intracorpus spongiosum anaesthesia, which was performed by injection of 3 mL of 1% lidocaine into the glans penis. The effect of this anaesthetic technique was assessed by questionnaire using a pain scale. RESULTS: Following injection of lidocaine, the anaesthetic effect was immediate and very satisfactory. The minor procedures, varying from 8 to 68 minutes in duration, were successfully completed under the new local anaesthesia. Of the 69 patients, 63 (91.3%) felt no pain and six (8.7%) reported either minor or moderate discomfort that was tolerable and could be ignored. There were no serious complications with this anaesthetic technique except for three patients (4.3%) who had instantaneous trance during lidocaine injection. CONCLUSION: Intracorpus spongiosum anaesthesia is an effective, simple, safe anaesthetic technique for minor procedures on the glans and anterior urethra in an outpatient setting. With this new local anaesthesia, the total cost of many procedures on the glans and anterior urethra can be markedly reduced.

[Inhibitory effects of HLA-derived peptide RDP1258 on proliferation and heme oxygenase-1 activity of rat splenocytes].

AIM: To observe the immunosuppression effect of a novel HLA-derived peptide RDP1258, and to explore its mechanisms. METHODS: RDP1258 was synthesized chemically. The effect of the peptide on alloreactive proliferation of rat splenocytes was observed by (3)H-TdR incorporation method. The heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) activity was analyzed by the enzyme assay. RESULTS: The results showed that the synthetic HLA-derived peptide could obviously inhibit the proliferation of rat splenocytes and HO-1 activity in a dose-dependent manner in-vitro. CONCLUSION: HO-1 may participate in the inhibitory effect of RDP1258 on the proliferation of rat splenocytes induced by mitogen or alloantigen.