Genome analysis of Streptococcus spp. isolates from animals in pre-antibiotic era with respect to antibiotic susceptibility and virulence gene profiles.

Lyophilized Streptococcus spp. isolates (n = 50) from animal samples submitted to the diagnostic laboratory at the University of Connecticut in the 1940s were revivified to investigate the genetic characteristics using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). The Streptococcus spp. isolates were identified as follows; S. agalactiae (n = 14), S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (n = 10), S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimils (n = 5), S. uberis (n = 8), S. pyogenes (n = 7), S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (n = 4), S. oralis (n = 1), and S. pseudoporcinus (n = 1). We identified sequence types (ST) of S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. uberis, S. pyogenes, and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus and reported ten novel sequence types of those species. WGS analysis revealed that none of Streptococcus spp. carried antibiotic resistance genes. However, tetracycline resistance was observed in four out of 15 S. dysgalactiae isolates and in one out of four S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolate. This data highlights that antimicrobial resistance is pre-existed in nature before the use of antibiotics. The draft genome sequences of isolates from this study and 426 complete genome sequences of Streptococcus spp. downloaded from BV-BRC and NCBI GenBank database were analyzed for virulence gene profiles and phylogenetic relationships. Different Streptococcus species demonstrated distinct virulence gene profiles, with no time-related variations observed. Phylogenetic analysis revealed high genetic diversity of Streptococcus spp. isolates from the 1940s, and no clear spatio-temporal clustering patterns were observed among Streptococcus spp. analyzed in this study. This study provides an invaluable resource for studying the evolutionary aspects of antibiotic resistance acquisition and virulence in Streptococcus spp.

Daily variation of D2 dopamine receptor transcription in the brain of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica and its regulation with dopamine and melatonin.

Dopamine plays a crucial role in controlling reproduction in eels, and its action is mediated through D2-type dopamine receptors. D2A and D2B receptors in the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica were cloned and characterized in the present study. Attention (daily expression patterns in the brain and endogenous regulation) was paid to D2B receptor because it is considered to play a crucial role in eel reproduction. The cDNAs of D2A and D2B receptors had open reading frames comprising 456 and 454 amino acid residues, respectively, which were phylogenetically clustered with those of other teleost species. Both receptors were highly expressed in the brain. D2B receptor transcript levels exhibited high day/low night variation in the midbrain and pituitary, suggesting that its transcription in these tissues is regulated in a daily manner, possibly under influence of melatonin. Intraperitoneal injection of dopamine downregulated D2B receptor transcription significantly in the midbrain and moderately in the pituitary within 1 h, but upregulated its transcription in the forebrain. Co-injection of dopamine with its antagonist (domperidone) reversed the effect of dopamine in the pituitary and forebrain, but not in the midbrain, suggesting that the effect of dopamine on D2B receptor transcription differs among brain regions. The same treatment with melatonin resulted in decreased D2B receptor transcription in the midbrain. These findings indicate that dopamine and melatonin have key roles in the daily variation in D2B receptor transcription in the brain of Japanese eel, and that they are related to a daily base secretion of hormones in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in this species.

Annual patterns of ocular melatonin level in the female grass puffer, Takifugu alboplumbeus: possible involvement in seasonal reproductive response.

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of ocular melatonin in the annual reproductive cycle of the female grass puffer. Spawning season of the female grass puffer is from June to July in Jeju, South Korea. Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay revealed that levels of ocular melatonin, which show an annual change, peaked in May (spawning season). Additionally, expression of reproductive-related genes also showed annual patterns: GnRH1 peaked in August, GnRH2 peaked in February, GnRH3, Kiss2, and LPXRFa peaked in November. These results suggest that ocular melatonin may be related to the annual reproductive cycle in the grass puffer. To better understand the photic regulation of AANAT1a mRNA in the retina, we observed the nocturnal pattern of ocular melatonin levels daily, which shows a nocturnal pattern in both short photoperiod (SD) and long photoperiod (LD) conditions. In the brain, AANAT2 mRNA also shows a nocturnal pattern in both SD and LD; however, the time of peak expression of AANAT2 mRNA was unchanged in both conditions. Following intraperitoneal injection of melatonin for 2 weeks, expression of GnRH2 and LPXRFa mRNA in the brain significantly increased, while that of Kiss2 mRNA was decreased, suggesting that melatonin has a reproduction-related effect. Furthermore, under SD and LD conditions for 14 weeks, the gonadosomatic index more increased and the maturity of the ovary progressed under LD compared with those under SD, suggesting that the SD photoperiodic signal inactivated ovarian development. These results indicate that the ocular melatonin may have a possible role in the reproductive endocrinology of the grass puffer.

A nomogram to predict pathologic complete response (pCR) and the value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for prediction of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: The value of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for prediction of pathologic complete response (pCR) in breast cancer (BC) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has received increasing attention. In human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive BC, advances in HER2-targeted therapy have not yet clarified the clinical implications of pre-NAC TILs. Likewise, the prognostic role of TILs for long-term survival is not well established. METHODS: Pre- and post-NAC TIL levels were evaluated in 248 pair-matched pre-NAC biopsy and post-NAC resection samples, and analyzed for predictive and prognostic significance with other clinicopathologic parameters. Additional 60 pre-NAC biopsy samples of HER2-positive BC treated with a TCHP regimen (docetaxel, carboplatin, and a combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab) were also assessed. RESULTS: High pre-NAC TILs, clinical nodal stage 0-1 (cN0-1), and negative ER expression were shown to be strong predictive markers for pCR. A nomogram based on these significant clinicopathologic predictors was developed, providing integrated probability of achieving pCR after NAC. The association between high pre-NAC TIL levels and significantly increased pCR rate was also confirmed in HER2-positive BC patients treated with a TCHP regimen. After chemotherapy, increased quantity of post-NAC TILs was shown to have extended BC-specific survival and disease-free survival in univariable and multivariable analyses. CONCLUSIONS: High pre-NAC TIL levels were significantly predictive of pCR in BC, and can act as a surrogate marker for predicting therapeutic effects of a TCHP regimen for HER2-positive BC. Post-NAC TILs in residual disease were a new prognostic marker of risk stratification for long-term survival.

Targeted deep sequencing of gastric marginal zone lymphoma identified alterations of TRAF3 and TNFAIP3 that were mutually exclusive for MALT1 rearrangement.

Gastric extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue is a distinct entity in that Helicobacter pylori infection plays the most important causative role in the development of the disease. To investigate the genomic alteration in gastric marginal zone lymphoma that was resistant to the H. pylori eradication therapy, we analyzed 19 cases of the gastric marginal zone lymphoma using fluorescence in situ hybridization for MALT1, BCL10 rearrangement, and targeted sequencing using an Illumina platform. Major genetic alterations affected genes involved in nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway activation and included MALT1 rearrangement (39%), and somatic mutations of TRAF3 (21%), TNFAIP3 (16%), and NOTCH1 (16%). In the MALT1 rearrangement-negative group, disruptive somatic mutations of TRAF3 were the most common alterations (4/12, 33%), followed by somatic mutations of TNFAIP3 (3/12, 25%), and NOTCH1 (3/12, 25%). The present study confirms that genes involved in activation of NF-κB-signaling pathways are a major driver in oncogenesis of H. pylori eradication-resistant gastric marginal zone lymphoma and revealed that TRAF3 mutation is a major contributor in MALT1 rearrangement-negative gastric marginal zone lymphoma.

Quasimetagenomics-Based and Real-Time-Sequencing-Aided Detection and Subtyping of Salmonella enterica from Food Samples.

Metagenomics analysis of food samples promises isolation-independent detection and subtyping of foodborne bacterial pathogens in a single workflow. The selective concentration of Salmonella genomic DNA by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and multiple displacement amplification (MDA) shortened the time for culture enrichment of Salmonella-spiked raw chicken breast samples by over 12 h while permitting serotyping and high-fidelity single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing of the pathogen using short shotgun sequencing reads. The herein-termed quasimetagenomics approach was evaluated on Salmonella-spiked lettuce and black peppercorn samples as well as retail chicken parts naturally contaminated with different serotypes of Salmonella Culture enrichment of between 8 and 24 h was required for detecting and subtyping naturally occurring Salmonella from unspiked chicken parts compared with 4- to 12-h culture enrichment when Salmonella-spiked food samples were analyzed, indicating the likely need for longer culture enrichment to revive low levels of stressed or injured Salmonella cells in food. A further acceleration of the workflow was achieved by real-time nanopore sequencing. After 1.5 h of analysis on a potable sequencer, sufficient data were generated from sequencing the IMS-MDA products of a cultured-enriched lettuce sample to enable serotyping and robust phylogenetic placement of the inoculated isolate.IMPORTANCE Both culture enrichment and next-generation sequencing remain time-consuming processes for food testing, whereas rapid methods for pathogen detection are widely available. Our study demonstrated a substantial acceleration of these processes by the use of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) with multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and real-time nanopore sequencing. In one example, the combined use of the two methods delivered a less than 24-h turnaround time from the collection of a Salmonella-contaminated lettuce sample to the phylogenetic identification of the pathogen. An improved efficiency such as this is important for further expanding the use of whole-genome and metagenomics sequencing in the microbial analysis of food. Our results suggest the potential of the quasimetagenomics approach in areas where rapid detection and subtyping of foodborne pathogens are important, such as for foodborne outbreak response and the precision tracking and monitoring of foodborne pathogens in production environments and supply chains.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-expressing Lung Adenocarcinoma with Combined Neuroendocrine Component or Neuroendocrine Transformation: Implications for Neuroendocrine Transformation and Response to ALK-tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

BACKGROUND: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) are usually effective in lung adenocarcinoma patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement. However, even after a good response to ALK-TKI therapy, most patients acquire resistance to these agents. Histological transformation is one of several suggested mechanisms of acquired resistance to ALK-TKIs. The clinicopathologic features of four patients with ALK-expressing adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine features were analyzed. METHODS: We selected combined neuroendocrine differentiation in pulmonary adenocarcinoma cases with positive ALK immunostaining. Neuroendocrine differentiation was confirmed by CD56 immunohistochemical stain. Additional ALK fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) study and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation tests were also performed. RESULTS: All four cases were positive for ALK immunohistochemistry and no EGFR mutations were detected. Interestingly, the results of ALK FISH assays showed rearrangement in only two cases. Three cases showed combined adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine component without history of ALK-TKI administration; one of them was treated with crizotinib and experienced partial tumor regression. The remaining case had an adenocarcinoma at initial biopsy and she showed a partial response to crizotinib, and neuroendocrine changes were visible on second biopsy. Then she was treated with ceritinib and achieved a partial response. CONCLUSION: We suggest that ALK-rearranged adenocarcinoma with combined neuroendocrine component is responsive to ALK-TKIs. Moreover, even after neuroendocrine transformation as a result of resistance to ALK-TKIs, the tumor may have partial response to second generation ALK-TKIs.

Rapid detection of Salmonella in raw chicken breast using real-time PCR combined with immunomagnetic separation and whole genome amplification.

We presented the first attempt to combine immunomagnetic separation (IMS), whole genome amplification by multiple displacement amplification (MDA) and real-time PCR for detecting a bacterial pathogen in a food sample. This method was effective in enabling real-time PCR detection of low levels of Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis (SE) (∼10 CFU/g) in raw chicken breast without culture enrichment. In addition, it was able to detect refrigeration-stressed SE cells at lower concentrations (∼0.1 CFU/g) in raw chicken breast after a 4-h culture enrichment, shortening the detection process from days to hours and displaying no statistical difference in detection rate in comparison with a culture-based detection method. By substantially improving performance in SE detection over conventional real-time PCR, we demonstrated the potential of IMS-MDA real-time PCR as a rapid, sensitive and affordable method for detecting Salmonella in food.

Epidemiology and virologic investigation of human enterovirus 71 infection in the Republic of Korea from 2007 to 2012: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus (EV) 71 is the main pathogen associated with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) or herpangina. Outbreaks of HFMD caused by EV71 infection are associated severe neurological disease and high mortality rates in children. Several sporadic cases of EV71 infection occurred in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 2000, and EV71 infections were not reported thereafter until 2006. In this prospective study, we report the epidemic and virologic characteristics of the EV71 endemic from 2007 to 2012 in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: We analyzed characteristics of the EV71 infection-associated epidemic from collected specimens and clinical information from 9987 patients with suspected EV infection from the National EV Surveillance System in ROK. To identify the EV71 subgenotype, the homology of viral protein 1 sequences obtained using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was compared with the sequences on other countries available from GenBank database. RESULTS: EV71 was detected in 585 (16.7 %) specimens (cerebrospinal fluid, stool or rectal swabs, throat swabs and blood) during study period and was most frequently observed during epidemic seasons in 2009-2012. Major manifestations due to EV71 infection were HFMD (62.2 %) and HFMD with severe neurological complications (28.4 %). Five deaths (0.9 %) due to EV71 infection occurred, with an increased mortality rate during the period after 2009. Most patients (476; 81.4 %) were less than 5 years of age. Analysis of the monthly distribution showed that there was an obvious seasonal pattern to the epidemics, with infections appearing from June to August. The major subgenotype of EV71 isolates circulating in ROK was the C4a strain, which has also appeared in China, Japan and Vietnam. CONCLUSIONS: This surveillance provided valuable data on the epidemic characteristics of EV71 infections in ROK during a 6-year period. Our findings provide data to assist during future outbreaks of EV71 and associated acute neurologic disease.

A national cross-sectional study for poliovirus seroprevalence in the Republic of Korea in 2012: implication for deficiency in immunity to polio among middle-aged people.

BACKGROUND: A worldwide poliomyelitis eradication program was initiated in 1988; however, strains of wild poliovirus (WPV) are still endemic in some countries. Until WPV transmission is eradicated globally, importation and outbreaks of WPV are alarming possibilities. This study is the first report to document the polio immunity after 2004, when an inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was introduced in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: A total of 745 serum samples from randomly selected patients ranging from 6 to 84 years of age were used for neutralization tests, performed in the World Health Organization polio national reference laboratory. RESULTS: Among the 745 tested sera, 439 (58.9%) were seropositive and 19 (2.6%) were seronegative to all PV serotypes. In all age groups, PV3 showed the lowest level of seroprevalence, at 509 cases (68.3%), compared to 616 (82.7%) for PV1 and 685 (91.9%) for PV2. In the 6-10-year age group, which included IPV-immunized children, the highest seropositive rate was observed and the difference in seroprevalence between PV3 and other serotypes was the lowest compared to the other age groups immunized with oral PV vaccines (OPV). In addition, the seronegative rates of all three PV types in children aged 6-10 in this study were found to be lower than those in OPV-immunized children reported in a previous study from the Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, middle-aged subjects (41-60 years) had the lowest seroprevalence and geometric mean titer. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a deficiency in immunity to PV in middle-aged individuals, and low seroprevalence to PV3 in all age groups. In addition, due to the ongoing risk of importing PV, middle-aged people should consider PV vaccination before visiting a PV-endemic country. Our findings provide data to assist those involved in deciding future national polio vaccination strategies for the maintenance of a polio-free status in Korea.

Clinical and enterovirus findings associated with acute flaccid paralysis in the Republic of Korea during the recent decade.

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is described as sudden onset of flaccid paralysis in one or more limbs in children caused by polioviruses (PVs). PV eradication is achieved through intensive immunization and AFP attentive surveillance, according to the World Health Organization. Since 1998, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has conducted surveillance system. This is an overview of surveillance in the Republic of Korea during the 10-year period from 2002 to 2011. The surveillance system for wild PV eradication was conducted through reporting and laboratory testing. Cell culture isolates were identified by neutralization tests using standard polyclonal antisera typing. The molecular methods were used for further characterization to improve specificity. For genotyping, semi-nested RT-PCR was used to amplify part of the viral protein 1 gene. Patients below 5 years of age accounted for the largest proportion of cases, and a positive association between age and incidence was found. In the total 285 cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome was the major leading causes of AFP. Non-polio enterovirus was detected in some AFP patients. EV71 was detected in 21 cases and Coxsackievirus (C) A2, CA6, CA9, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, and Echovirus (E) 25, E30, Sabin strain polio 2, polio 1 and 3 were also detected in some patients. The present study represents a comprehensive 10-year country-based survey of AFP in the Republic of Korea. This surveillance could provide better understanding of the epidemiologic pattern, and clinical manifestations associated with specific genotypes of AFP in the Republic of Korea.

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) seroprevalence in the general population of the Republic of Korea in 2007-2009: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen associated with endemic and acute viral hepatitis. In this study, we investigate the HEV seroprevalence and putative risk factors by a nationwide cross-sectional study in the Republic of Korea. METHODS: The prevalence of anti-HEV antibody was investigated in 2,450 serum samples collected in fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In addition, epidemiological information on possible risk factors including gender, age, education, occupation, and residence location for exposure to HEV was obtained. RESULTS: The frequency of anti-EIA reactive sample was 5.9% (144/2450). The individuals in groups with male, older age, low education level and living in rural or coastal regions had high seroprevalence estimates (P ≤ 0.001). In addition, seroprevalence was significantly higher among individuals with self-identified skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers (31.3%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides valuable data that could be used to investigate associations of HEV seroprevalence and putative risk factors by a nationwide cross-sectional study. The high HEV seroprevalence of skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers and individuals lived in coastal and rural area indicated that zoonotic transmission is an important risk factor for HEV infection in the republic of Korea. Further studies that include detailed and continuous nationwide surveys are required to identify unrecognized risk factors and to monitor the HEV infection prevalence.

Chronic tamoxifen use is associated with a decreased risk of intestinal metaplasia in human gastric epithelium.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal metaplasia (IM), a premalignant lesion, is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Although estrogen exposure, including tamoxifen, has been studied in correlation with gastric cancer, little has been investigated about its effects on IM. AIMS: Therefore, we investigated whether chronic tamoxifen use was associated with the risk of IM in human stomach. METHODS: We evaluated 512 gastric biopsies from 433 female breast cancer patients that underwent endoscopic gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) ≥6 months after breast surgery. Histopathological findings were scored according to the updated Sydney classification. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also included to identify predictive factors for IM. RESULTS: In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, age at EGD (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; P = 0.002), biopsies from antrum (OR 2.08; P < 0.001), and Helicobacter pylori positivity (OR 1.68; P = 0.016) were significantly associated with an increased risk of IM, whereas chronic tamoxifen use (≥3 months) was associated with a decreased risk of IM (OR 0.59; P = 0.025). After stratifying by biopsy site, association between tamoxifen use and IM persisted for corpus (OR 0.42; P = 0.026) but not for antrum (OR 0.74; P = 0.327). In analysis limited to patients with follow-up EGD, chronic tamoxifen use also correlated with improved IM score compared to no tamoxifen use (improved, 77.8 vs. 22.2%; no change, 65.4 vs. 34.6%; worsened, 30.0 vs. 70.0%; P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that chronic tamoxifen use can decrease the risk of IM in human stomach. The effect of tamoxifen is predominantly observed in the corpus.

Molecular epidemiological analysis of five outbreaks associated with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis between 2008 and 2010 on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

With the increasing incidence of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) infections, five SE foodborne outbreaks were identified between 2008 and 2010 on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. In this study, the genetic relatedness of isolates recovered from the five outbreaks was investigated to identify the source of foodborne SE infections. In total, 57 SE isolates from five outbreaks (17 isolates, 5 isolates, 18 isolates, 8 isolates, and 9 isolates, respectively) were used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). SE isolates from 2008 and 2009 were resistant to nalidixic acid, whereas SE isolates from 2010 were resistant to five antibiotics. Of the five outbreaks, outbreaks A, B, and D had identical PFGE-XbaI and PFGE-BlnI patterns, SEGX01.003 and SEGA26.001, respectively. Outbreak C had patterns SEGX01.011 and SEGA26.005, and outbreak E had patterns SEGX01.007 and SEGA26.007. However, MLVA profiles further distinguished the SE isolates from each outbreak into patterns SEGM.014 (outbreak A), SEGM.012 (outbreak B), SEGM.008 (outbreak C), SEGM.016 (outbreak D), and SEGM.015 (outbreak E). Among these five outbreaks, three outbreaks were presumed to be caused by the clonal SE isolates depending on PFGE pattern, but the MLVA results elucidated that these were caused by different SE isolates from the different origins. Therefore, for the epidemiological investigation or surveillance of SE foodborne diseases, both PFGE and MLVA should be used together.

Effects of dopamine and melatonin treatment on the expression of the genes associated with artificially induced sexual maturation in Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica.

Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) is a commercially important fish species in Asia. Understanding factors like photoperiod, temperature, and lunar cycles is crucial for successful aquaculture and managing its reproduction. Melatonin and dopamine (DA) are essential for regulating reproduction in vertebrates, including fish. This study investigated the effects of melatonin and DA on the reproductive system of mature male Japanese eels to better understand reproductive regulation in fish. To clarify the effects of these hormones on sexual maturation in eels, a critical stage in the reproductive process, sexual maturation was induced by injecting human chorionic gonadotropin, which stimulates the production of sex hormones. To check the effect of melatonin and DA on sexual maturation, DA, melatonin, and DA + domperidone were intraperitoneally injected into fish from each group (six per treatment) at a dose of 1 mg/kg body weight. The fish were then examined using quantitative RT-PCR by comparing the messenger RNA level of reproduction-related genes (gonadotropin releasing hormone 1; gnrh1, gonadotropin releasing hormone 2; gnrh2, follicle stimulating hormone; fshß, luteinizing hormone; lhß and DA receptor 2b; d2b), involved in the gonadotropic axis in eels, to those that received a control injection. The results indicate significant differences in the expression levels of gnrh1, gnrh2 and d2b in the brain and d2b, fshß, lhß in the pituitary at different stages of sexual maturation. Melatonin appears to enhance the production of sex gonadotropins, whereas DA inhibits them. These findings suggest an interaction between melatonin and DA in regulating reproduction in Japanese eels.

The complete coding sequence of a rabies lyssavirus (RABV) detected in an American black bear (Ursus americanus) in Connecticut, USA.

The complete coding sequence of a rabies lyssavirus (RABV) detected in a black bear (Ursus americanus) was generated. RNA extracted from brain tissues was amplified using reverse transcription followed by tiling PCR sequencing to obtain RABV whole viral genome. Sequencing was performed using an Illumina ISeq 100 instrument.

Efficacy of live and inactivated recombinant Newcastle disease virus vaccines expressing clade 2.3.4.4b H5 hemagglutinin against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza in SPF chickens, Broilers, and domestic ducks.

A Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-vectored vaccine expressing clade 2.3.4.4b H5 Hemagglutinin was developed and assessed for efficacy against H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, broilers, and domestic ducks. In SPF chickens, the live recombinant NDV-vectored vaccine, rK148/22-H5, achieved complete survival against HPAI and NDV challenges and significantly reduced viral shedding. Notably, the live rK148/22-H5 vaccine conferred good clinical protection in broilers despite the presence of maternally derived antibodies. Good clinical protection was observed in domestic ducks, with decreased viral shedding. It demonstrated complete survival and reduced cloacal viral shedding when used as an inactivated vaccine from SPF chickens. The rK148/22-H5 vaccine is potentially a viable and supportive option for biosecurity measure, effectively protecting in chickens against the deadly clade 2.3.4.4b H5 HPAI and NDV infections. Furthermore, it aligns with the strategy of Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals (DIVA).

Accuracy of diagnostic methods and surveillance sensitivity for human enterovirus, South Korea, 1999-2011.

The epidemiology of enteroviral infection in South Korea during 1999-2011 chronicles nationwide outbreaks and changing detection and subtyping methods used over the 13-year period. Of 14,657 patients whose samples were tested, 4,762 (32.5%) samples were positive for human enterovirus (human EV); as diagnostic methods improved, the rate of positive results increased. A seasonal trend of outbreaks was documented. Genotypes enterovirus 71, echovirus 30, coxsackievirus B5, enterovirus 6, and coxsackievirus B2 were the most common genotypes identified. Accurate test results correlated clinical syndromes to enterovirus genotypes: aseptic meningitis to echovirus 30, enterovirus 6, and coxsackievirus B5; hand, foot and mouth disease to coxsackievirus A16; and hand, foot and mouth disease with neurologic complications to enterovirus 71. There are currently no treatments specific to human EV infections; surveillance of enterovirus infections such as this study provides may assist with evaluating the need to research and develop treatments for infections caused by virulent human EV genotypes.

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology for high-grade salivary gland tumors.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative differentiation between high-grade malignancy and others (benign or low-grade tumors) is more important than differentiation between malignant and benign tumors for surgical planning, treatment outcome, and prognosis in salivary gland tumors. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has a relatively low sensitivity for differentiating malignant from benign salivary tumors. However, the diagnostic performance of FNAC has not been studied in predicting high-grade salivary malignancy, which can significantly affect patient care. METHODS: Experienced cytopathologists reevaluated the adequate FNAC on 521 salivary gland tumors. The diagnostic performances of FNAC for total malignancy and high-grade malignancy were calculated, and the results were validated in independent 105 cases. In cases of high-grade cancer on FNAC, we recorded the additional diagnostic procedures and the change of surgical extent to decide how FNAC impacts clinical practice. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of FNAC in differentiating malignant from benign tumors were 64.2 % (95 % confidence interval 52.3-75.0), 98.4 % (96.5-99.3), and 92.1 % (89.1-94.6). Meanwhile, FNAC predicted high-grade malignancy accurately (94.6 % [80.0-99.5], 99.2 % [97.8-99.7], 98.9 % [97.3-99.6], respectively), a finding reproduced with similar results in the validation set. FNAC indicative of high-grade malignancy added additional imaging assessments in 94.9 %, frozen biopsy samples during surgery (tumor and lymph nodes) in 71.2 %, and changed the extent of surgery in 59.0 %. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC has an excellent diagnostic performance in discriminating high-grade salivary cancer, which guides clinical decision and surgical planning in salivary gland tumors.

Expression of fibroblast growth factor 19 is associated with recurrence and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19)-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase and the ß-catenin pathway may be involved in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study aimed to elucidate the prognostic significance of FGF19 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. METHODS: By immunohistochemistry, we investigated the expression of FGF19 protein in tumor tissue from 281 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent curative hepatectomy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate its predictive value for tumor recurrence and survival of patients. The median follow-up period was 75.6 months. RESULTS: FGF19 protein expression was observed in 135 (48.0 %) of the 281 hepatocellular carcinomas. FGF19 expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size (P < 0.001), and higher BCLC stage (P = 0.001). FGF19 expression was correlated with the early recurrence (P < 0.001), but not with the late recurrence (P = 0.582). FGF19 expression (P = 0.002), viral etiology (P = 0.028), and intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of early recurrence. Multivariate analyses of survival revealed that FGF19 expression (P < 0.001), intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001), and liver cirrhosis (P = 0.019) were independent predictors of shorter disease-free survival. FGF19 expression (P = 0.005), larger tumor size (P = 0.038), major portal vein invasion (P = 0.048), intrahepatic metastasis (P < 0.001), lower albumin level (P = 0.024), and liver cirrhosis (P = 0.031) were independent predictors of shorter disease-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: FGF19 protein expression might be an effective predictor of early recurrence and a marker for poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy, indicating that FGF19 might be a potential preventive target in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.