Strepolyketide D, a new SEK15-derived polyketide compound from salt-lake-derived Streptomyces sp. DBC5.

A new SEK15-derived polyketide compound, strepolyketide D (1), was isolated from salt-lake-derived Streptomyces sp. DBC5, together with two known analogues (2-3). Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis of IR, MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR. Compound 2 elicited moderate antioxidation with IC50 value of 39.26 µg/ml. The results of the study revealed that salt-lake actinomycetes of Lake Dabancheng appear to have immense potential as a source of polyketide compounds.

Evaluation of fecal microbiota transplantation in Parkinson's disease patients with constipation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70-80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study. Eleven patients with PD received FMT. Fecal samples were collected before and after FMT and subjected to 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequencing. Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) grade, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score, and the Non-Motion Symptom Questionnaire (NMSS) were used to assess improvements in motor and non-motor symptoms. PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score were used to assess the patient's constipation symptoms. All patients were tested by the small intestine breath hydrogen test, performed before and after FMT. Community richness (chao) and microbial structure in before-FMT PD patients were significantly different from the after-FMT. We observed an increased abundance of Blautia and Prevotella in PD patients after FMT, while the abundance of Bacteroidetes decreased dramatically. After FMT, the H-Y grade, UPDRS, and NMSS of PD patients decreased significantly. Through the lactulose H2 breath test, the intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) in PD patients returned to normal. The PAC-QOL score and Wexner constipation score in after-FMT patients decreased significantly. Our study profiles specific characteristics and microbial dysbiosis in the gut of PD patients. FMT might be a therapeutic potential for reconstructing the gut microbiota of PD patients and improving their motor and non-motor symptoms.

Anti-fibrosis potential of pirarubicin via inducing apoptotic and autophagic cell death in rabbit conjunctiva.

This study investigated the potential efficacy of pirarubicin (THP) in modulating rabbit conjunctival fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo and characterized the underlying mechanisms. Primary rabbit conjunctival fibroblasts (RCF) were cultured and treated with THP or mitomycin C (MMC) for 5 min, followed by assaying for cell viability, cell cycle distribution, apoptotic and autophagic pathways. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chemotaxis of macrophages by RCF were evaluated using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) labeling and transwell migration assay, respectively. Limbal stem cell excision in combination with alkali burn was performed on the rabbits to establish a model of limbal deficiency and conjunctival fibro-vascular invasion. After three months, the modeled fibro-vascular tissue was excised combined with topical subconjunctival 5-min exposure to THP compared with MMC intraoperatively. The recurrence of postoperative fibrosis and the expression of apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. All modeled rabbits developed conjunctival fibro-vascular lesions, which were similar to human recurrent pterygium (HRP). Both THP and MMC inhibited RCF proliferation and arrested cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. In particular, 7.5 µmol/L THP remarkably promoted RCF autophagy by upregulating the levels of Beclin 1, Atg 5/12 conjugate, and LC3B, whereas, 15 µmol/L THP significantly triggered a cascade of mitochondrial-associated RCF apoptosis. THP induced the production of ROS and enhanced the chemoattraction of macrophages by RCF. Similar to 600 µmol/L MMC, both 7.5 µmol/L and 15 µmol/L THP attenuated postoperative conjunctival fibrosis in the models; 7.5 µmol/L THP preferentially enhanced autophagy while causing fewer side effects. THP exerted its antifibrotic action by modulating autophagy in RCF, inducing cell cycle arrest, and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. THP at the dose of 7.5 µmol/L prevented postoperative conjunctival fibrosis in an animal model.

MiR-199b-5p promotes tumor growth and metastasis in cervical cancer by down-regulating KLK10.

MiR-199 b-5p and kallikrein-related peptidase 10 (KLK10) are related to various disease processes and pathogenesis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of miR-199 b-5p and KLK10 in human cervical cancer. In the present study, we found that miR-199 b-5p was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines, and was positively correlated with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), higher incidences of larger tumor sizes, late International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages and preoperative metastasis. Further, we found that transfecting miR-199 b-5p mimics into cervical cancer cells promoted tumor progression through enhancing the cell viability, migration, and suppressing apoptosis by using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound healing and flow cytometry analysis. Luciferase reporter assays indicated that miR-199 b-5p targeted the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of KLK10. Over-expressing KLK10 reversed the role of miR-199 b-5p in accelerating cervical cancer progression. Suppressing miR-199 b-5p expressions improved apoptosis and reduced the cell viability, while the process was reversed in KLK10-knockdown cervical cancer cells. In vivo analysis verified the effects of miR-199 b-5p on promoting cervical cancer progression, accompanied with reduced KLK10 expressions. In summary, we identified that miR-199 b-5p played as a tumor promoter in cervical cancer cell growth by targeting KLK10, and miR-199 b-5p might function as a novel biomarker for diagnosis or therapeutic targets of human cervical cancer.

MicroRNA-155 inversely correlates with esophageal cancer progression through regulating tumor-associated macrophage FGF2 expression.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignancies with high incidence and mortality. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment have been linked to the accelerated tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miR) are 19-25 nucleotide-long, noncoding RNA molecules, functioning as modulators of gene expression, and mediate a variety of biological functions, including tumor growth. In the present study, the effects and molecular mechanism of miR-155 in TAMs isolated from EC were explored. The expression of miR-155 and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) in EC tissues and cell lines were analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot assays. TAMs were also transfected with the described constructs. Following, the culture medium from TAMs was collected for further analysis. The released FGF2, and inflammatory cytokines were quantified using ELISA. The cell viability, migrated and invaded levels were calculated through Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK8), and transwell analysis. Moreover, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) vasculature formation was determined using matrigel angiogenesis analysis. The results indicated that miR-155 expression was decreased in EC tissues and cell lines, while FGF2 expression was increased in comparison to those in the normal control group. Moreover, miR-155 mimics transfection up-regulated tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-12 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), while down-regulated IL-10, Arginase-1 (Arg-1) and IL-22 levels in the culture medium from TAMs. And enhancing miR-155 expression in TAMs suppressed the cell viability, migration and invasion of ECA109 cells and reduced the angiogenesis. Nevertheless, over-expressing FGF2 abolished the role of miR-155 in cancer cell survival, migration, invasion as well as angiogenesis. Our findings indicated that miR-155-regulated FGF2 expression from TAMs suppressed EC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and inhibited vasculature formation. Thus, miR-155-modulated FGF2 might be a potential therapeutic target to prevent EC progression.

Accuracy of isolated-check visual evoked potential technique for diagnosing primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of isolated-check visual evoked potentials (icVEP) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: Ninety POAG patients and sixty-six healthy controls were recruited consecutively. All subjects underwent icVEP and visual field testing. Swept icVEP response functions were obtained by increasing contrast in six stimulus steps, recording the electroencephalogram synchronized to the stimulus display's frame rate and calculating the corresponding signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the response at the fundamental frequency to evaluate visual function. Depth of modulation of the check luminance was increased as follows: 2, 4, 8, 14, 22 and 32%, about an equal level of standing contrast, so that the pattern appeared and disappeared at a frequency of 10.0 Hz. SNR above 0.85 was deemed to be significant at the 0.1 level and SNR above 1 significant at the 0.05 level. RESULTS: The results show that SNR is contrast dependent. It significantly rose as contrast increased. The areas under receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUCs) indicating classification accuracy for all POAG cases in comparison with normal subjects were 0.790 (sensitivity 91.1%, specificity 69.7%) with the cutoff SNR of 0.85, and 0.706 (sensitivity 95.6%, specificity 51.5%) with the cutoff SNR of 1. The AUC of early glaucoma cases (EG) in comparison with normal subjects was 0.801 (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 69.7%) with the cutoff SNR of 0.85, and 0.717 (sensitivity 97.8%, specificity 51.5%) with the cutoff SNR of 1. CONCLUSION: icVEP has good diagnostic accuracy (high sensitivity and moderate specificity) in distinguishing early POAG patients from healthy subjects. It might be a promising device to use in conjunction with complementary functional and structural measures for early POAG detection.

Retrospective analysis of reproductive outcomes in women with primary ovarian insufficiency showing intermittent follicular development.

The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the reproductive outcomes of IVF treatment in women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) showing intermittent follicular development. A total of 44 POI women with normal karyotype and absent autoimmunity, attending the centre for fertility treatment at Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou from March 2009 to March 2011, were identified as suitable for inclusion in this study. Out of 44 women, 20 (20/44; 45.5%) had growing follicles and 13 underwent 27 oocyte retrievals. The empty follicle rate per oocyte retrieval was 70.4% (19/27); eight oocytes were recovered: one (12.5%) germinal vesicle (GV), two (25.0%) metaphase I (MI), one (12.5%) metaphase II (MII), and four (50.0%) atretic. One MI oocyte matured in vitro and two women had embryo transfer. Only the woman with the MI oocyte matured in vitro conceived, giving birth to a healthy baby at term. These results suggest that intermittent follicular development is common in women with POI but most of the developed follicles are empty or contain atretic oocytes. The pregnancy rate remains very low for IVF treatment.

Generation and characterization of a protective mouse monoclonal antibody against human enterovirus 71.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection has emerged as a major threat to children; however, no effective antiviral treatment or vaccine is currently available. Antibody-based treatment shows promises to control this growing public health problem of EV71 infection, and a few potent monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting viral capsid protein have been well described. Here, we generated an EV71-specific mouse mAb 2G8 that conferred full protection against lethal EV71 challenge in a suckling mouse model. 2G8 belonged to IgM isotype and neutralized EV71 at the attachment stage. Biochemical assays mapped the binding epitope of 2G8 to the SP70 peptide, which spanning amino acid residues 208-222 on the VP1 protein. Alanine scanning mutagenesis defined the essential roles of multiple residues, including Y208, T210, G212, K215, K218, L220, E221, and Y222, for 2G8 binding. Then, a panel of single mutation was individually introduced into the EV71 infectious clone by reverse genetics, and three mutant viruses, K215A, K218A, and L220A, were successfully recovered and characterized. Biochemical and neutralization assays revealed that K218A mutant partially escaped 2G8 neutralization, while L220A completely abolished 2G8 binding and neutralization. In particular, neutralization assays with human sera demonstrated that K218A and L220A substitutions are also critical for antibody neutralization in natural infection population. These findings not only generate a protective mAb candidate with therapeutic potential but also provide insights into antibody-mediated EV71 neutralization mechanism.

Follicular fluid Aß40 concentrations may be associated with ongoing pregnancy following in vitro fertilization.

PURPOSE: To determine whether Aß40 levels in the follicular fluid (FF) of infertile women undergoing IVF demonstrate a relationship with IVF cycle parameters and outcome. METHODS: FF Aß40 levels were compared between patients achieving ongoing pregnancy and those with unsuccessful cycles. Clinical data such as ongoing pregnancy rate, implantation rate, number of oocytes retrieved, number of 8 cells embryos with ≤5 % fragmants, ratio of 8 cells embryos with ≤5 % fragmants to total embryos per patient and cleavage rate were compared among three percentile groups of Aß40. CCK-8 method was used to measure the effect of Aß40 on rat granulosa cells proliferation in vitro. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of steroidogenesis related genes. RESULTS: Patients achieving ongoing pregnancy (n = 26; 50.98%) demonstrated significantly higher FF Aß40 levels compared to those with unsuccessful cycles (n = 25; 49.02%; P = 0.024). No significant differences were observed in APP (amyloid precursor protein) and its other proteolysis products including sAPPα, sAPPßand Aß 42 between the two groups. Statistically significant differences between the three percentile groups of Aß 40 were observed only in the implantation rates and ongoing pregnancy rates. There were no statistically significant differences between the three percentile groups in the age, No. oocytes retrieved, No. 2 pronucleus, No. embryos transferred, No. 8 cells embryos with ≤5% fragmants and cleavage rate. Significantly negative correlation exists between APP and AFC (antral follicle count) (R =-0.360, P = 0.005) and oocytes retrieved (R =-0.378, P = 0.004). There were also significantly positive correlations between Aß40 and Aß42 (R = 0.407, P = 0.000), between AFC and oocytes retrieved (R = 0.476, P = 0.000). Rat granulosa cells treated with Aß40 of different concentrations have improved their proliferative ability. Cells treated with 200 pg/ml Aß40 have the strongest ability of proliferation. 200 pg/ml Aß40 enhanced the expression of key molecules during steroidogenesis such as IGF-1,IGF-1receptor (IGF-1R),FSH receptor (FSHR),P450 aromatase (P450arom),steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochromes P450(P450scc). CONCLUSIONS: Aß40 levels in follicle fluid may be associated with ongoing pregnancy and the moderate expression level of Aß40 is important for oocytes and embryos development.

Clinical characteristics of acute non-varicose upper gastrointestinal bleeding and the effect of endoscopic hemostasis.

BACKGROUND: Acute non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (ANVUGIB) constitutes a prevalent emergency within Gastroenterology, encompassing 80%-90% of all gastrointestinal hemorrhage incidents. This condition is distinguished by its abrupt onset, swift progression, and notably elevated mortality rate. AIM: To gather clinical data from patients with ANVUGIB at our hospital in order to elucidate the clinical characteristics specific to our institution and analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of endoscopic hemostasis. METHODS: We retrospectively retrieved the records of 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB by endoscopy at our hospital between March 2021 and March 2023, utilizing our medical record system. Data pertaining to general patient information, etiological factors, disease outcomes, and other relevant variables were meticulously collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 532 patients diagnosed with ANVUGIB, the male-to-female ratio was 2.91:1, with a higher prevalence among males. Notably, 43.6% of patients presented with black stool as their primary complaint, while 27.4% had hematemesis as their initial symptom. Upon admission, 17% of patients exhibited both hematemesis and black stool, while most ANVUGIB patients primarily complained of overt gastrointestinal bleeding. Urgent routine blood examinations at admission revealed that 75.8% of patients had anemia, with 63.4% experiencing moderate to severe anemia, and 1.5% having extremely severe anemia (hemoglobin < 30 g/L). With regard to etiology, 53.2% of patients experienced bleeding without a definitive trigger, 24.2% had a history of using gastric mucosa-irritating medications, 24.2% developed bleeding after alcohol consumption, 2.8% attributed it to improper diet, 1.7% to emotional excitement, and 2.3% to fatigue preceding the bleeding episode. Drug-induced ANVUGIB was more prevalent in the elderly than middle-aged and young individuals, while bleeding due to alcohol consumption showed the opposite trend. Additionally, diet-related bleeding was more common among the young age group compared to the middle-aged group. Gastrointestinal endoscopy identified peptic ulcers as the most frequent cause of ANVUGIB (73.3%), followed by gastrointestinal malignancies (10.9%), acute gastric mucous lesions (9.8%), and androgenic upper gastrointestinal bleeding (1.5%) among inpatients with ANVUGIB. Of the 532 patients with gastrointestinal bleeding, 68 underwent endoscopic hemostasis, resulting in an endoscopic treatment rate of 12.8%, with a high immediate hemostasis success rate of 94.1%. CONCLUSION: ANVUGIB patients exhibit diverse characteristics across different age groups, and endoscopic hemostatic treatments have demonstrated remarkable efficacy.

Complete genome sequence analysis of human echovirus type 30 isolated in China.

We report here the complete genome sequence of a human echovirus type 30 strain ECV30/GX10/05 isolated in Guangxi, China, in 2010. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ECV30/GX10/05 was closely related to a Korean strain isolated in 2008. The sequence information will help in an understanding of the molecular epidemiology and evolution of echovirus.

High-throughput simultaneous genotyping of human platelet antigen-1 to -16 by using suspension array.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive and accurate detection of human platelet antigens (HPAs) plays a significant role in diagnosis and prevention of the platelet (PLT) alloimmune syndromes and ensuring clinical safety of patients undergoing PLT transfusion. The majority of the available methods are incapable of performing high-throughput simultaneous detection of HPA-1 to -16, and the accuracy of many methods needs to be further enhanced. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We have developed a new HPA-genotyping method for simultaneous detection of HPA-1 to -16 based on suspension array technology. A total of 216 samples from Chinese Han donors in Xi'an were genotyped using the developed method, and all the samples again were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT), which is considered the gold standard. RESULTS: All 216 samples were successfully genotyped for HPA-1 to -16 using both our method and PCR-SBT. Results showed that the genotype and allele frequencies obtained using our method were fully consistent with those obtained using PCR-SBT. CONCLUSION: Our method provides accurate, high-throughput, and simultaneous genotyping of HPA-1 to -16 and will serve as the foundation for large-scale clinical genotyping of HPAs and for the establishment of an HPA-typed PLT donor registry.

Genomic analysis of a newly isolated of Japanese encephalitis virus strain, CQ11-66, from a pediatric patient in China.

BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is one of the major causative agents of viral encephalitis in East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. However, no clinical JEV strain has yet been isolated from JE patients in Chongqing, China. In this study, we report the genomic analysis of a new JEV strain, CQ11-66, isolated from a pediatric patient in Chongqing, China. FINDINGS: Virus isolation was carried out in BHK-21 cells. Nested PCR was used to detect and isolate the JEV strain, and computer analysis of phylogenetic relationships, nucleic acid homology studies and deduction of the amino acid sequence were conducted using ClustalX (1.8) and Mega5 software. The JEV strain CQ11-66 was isolated from patient cerebrospinal fluid. The sequenced genome of CQ11-66 was 10,863 nucleotides in length, whereas other strains, such as SX09S-01, contain 10,965 nucleotides. Sequence comparison of the CQ11-66 polyprotein open reading frame (ORF) with those of 21 other JEV strains revealed that the nucleotide sequence divergence ranged from 1.68% to 18.46%. Sequence analysis of the full-length CQ11-66 E gene sequence with those of 30 other JEV isolates also identified nucleotide divergence, ranging from 1.69% to 18.74%. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the CQ11-66 strain belonged to genotype III. CONCLUSIONS: JEV genotype III still circulates in Chongqing and it is therefore important for active surveillance of JEV genotype III to be conducted in the pediatric population.

Sonic hedgehog promotes autophagy of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogen critically involved in development that is reexpressed in atherosclerotic lesions. It also stimulates proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Autophagy in vascular SMCs is known to promote SMC survival and increase plaque stability. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Shh induces autophagy of vascular SMCs. Our study showed that both Shh protein and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II were increased in SMCs within neointimal lesions of mouse common carotid arteries. In cultured mouse aortic SMCs, recombinant mouse Shh stimulated LC3-II levels. Overexpression of wild-type mouse Shh through the tetracycline-regulated expression-inducible system in human aortic SMCs time-dependently increased the levels of LC3-II and also stimulated protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation. Pretreatment with AKT inhibitor IV (AKTI IV) inhibited AKT phosphorylation and the increase in LC3-II. Shh-induced autophagy was further confirmed by the formation of autophagosomes as detected by immunostaining and transmission electron microscopy, which was inhibited by AKTI IV. Shh further increased SMC LC3-II in the presence of bafilomycin A1, (2S,3S)-trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-3-methylbutane ethyl ester, and pepstatin A or siRNA for the autophagy-related gene 7 (ATG7). In addition, Shh induced SMC proliferation, which was inhibited not only by AKTI IV but also by cyclopamine, an inhibitor of Shh receptor. Inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA), bafilomycin A1, or ATG7 siRNA resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation. Treatment with 3-MA, AKTI IV, or cyclopamine inhibited neointima formation in mouse common carotid arteries. Taken together, our results have shown that Shh induces autophagy of vascular SMCs involving AKT activation, suggesting a role of autophagy in Shh-induced cellular responses.

Development of RT-LAMP and real-time RT-PCR assays for the rapid detection of the new duck Tembusu-like BYD virus.

A new duck Tembusu virus (TMUV), also known as BYD virus, has been identified as the causative agent for the emerging duck egg-drop syndrome in mainland China. The rapid spread and wide distribution of the new TMUV in mainland China result in heavy loss to the poultry industry and pose great threats to public health. Rapid and sensitive detection methods are critical for prevention and control of TMUV infections. In this study, a reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (RT-LAMP) and an SYBR Green-I-based real-time RT-PCR assay specific for the duck TMUV were developed and validated with laboratory and field samples, respectively. The detection limits were 1 × 10(-4) and 1 × 10(-3) PFU per reaction for the RT-LAMP assay and real-time RT-PCR assay, respectively. The specificities were analyzed with other related members of the genus Flavivirus, and no cross-reaction was observed. Furthermore, both assays were evaluated with field samples, and they exhibited high sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the real-time RT-PCR assay worked well in viral load analysis, which revealed that the spleen may be the primary target for the replication of new duck TMUV in ducks. The TMUV-specific RT-LAMP and real-time RT-PCR assays will provide useful tools for the diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of TMUV infection.

Successful Use of a 5G-Based Robot-Assisted Remote Ultrasound System in a Care Center for Disabled Patients in Rural China.

Background: Disability has become a global population health challenge. Due to difficulties in self-care or independent living, patients with disability mainly live in community-based care centers or institutions for long-term care. Nonetheless, these settings often lack basic medical resources, such as ultrasonography. Thus, remote ultrasonic robot technology for clinical applications across wide regions is imperative. To date, few experiences of remote diagnostic systems in rural care centers have been reported. Objective: To assess the feasibility of a fifth-generation cellular technology (5G)-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system in a care center for disabled patients in rural China. Methods: Patients underwent remote robot-assisted and bedside ultrasound examinations of the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys. We compared the diagnostic consistency and differences between the two modalities and evaluated the examination duration, image quality, and safety. Results: Forty-nine patients were included (21 men; mean age: 61.0 ± 19.0 [range: 19-91] years). Thirty-nine and ten had positive and negative results, respectively; 67 lesions were detected. Comparing the methods, 41 and 8 patients had consistent and inconsistent diagnoses, respectively. The McNemar and kappa values were 0.727 and 0.601, respectively. The mean duration of remote and bedside examinations was 12.2 ± 4.5 (range: 5-26) min and 7.5 ± 1.8 (range: 5-13) min (p < 0.001), respectively. The median image score for original images on the patient side and transmitted images on the doctor side was 5 points (interquartile range: [IQR]: 4.7-5.0) and 4.7 points (IQR: 4.5-5.0) (p = 0.176), respectively. No obvious complications from the examination were reported. Conclusions: A 5G-based robot-assisted remote ultrasound system is feasible and has comparable diagnostic efficiency to traditional bedside ultrasound. This system may provide a unique solution for basic ultrasound diagnostic services in primary healthcare settings.

The prevalence of MAFLD and its association with atrial fibrillation in a nationwide health check-up population in China.

Background and aims: The epidemiological characteristics of MAFLD and its relationship with atrial fibrillation (AF) are limited in China. Therefore, we explored the epidemiological characteristics of MAFLD from adults along with the association of MAFLD and 12-ECG diagnosed AF in a nationwide population from health check-up centers. Methods: This observational study used cross-sectional and longitudinal studies with 2,083,984 subjects from 2009 to 2017. Age-, sex-, and regional-standardized prevalence of MAFLD was estimated. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify subclusters of MAFLD. Multivariable logistic regression and mixed-effects Cox regression models were used to analyze the relationship between MAFLD and AF. Results: The prevalence of MAFLD increased from 22.75% to 35.58% during the study period, with higher rates in males and populations with high BMI or resided in northern regions. The MAFLD population was clustered into three classes with different metabolic features by LCA. Notably, a high proportion of MAFLD patients in all clusters had overweight and prediabetes or diabetes. The MAFLD was significantly associated with a higher risk of AF in the cross-sectional study and in the longitudinal study. In addition, the coexistence of prediabetes or diabetes had the largest impact on subsequent AF. Conclusion: Our findings suggested a high prevalence of MAFLD and a high prevalence of other metabolic diseases in the MAFLD population, particularly overweight and glucose dysregulation. Moreover, MAFLD was associated with a significantly higher risk for existing and subsequent subclinical AF in the Chinese population.

Development and evaluation of a reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for rapid detection of enterovirus 71.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is the major etiological agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), which is a common infectious disease in young children and infants. EV71 can cause various clinical manifestations and has been associated with severe neurological complications; it has resulted in fatalities during recent outbreaks in Asian-Pacific regions since 1997. The early and rapid detection is critical for prevention and control of EV71 infection, since no vaccine or antiviral drugs are currently available. In this study, a simple and sensitive reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay was developed for rapid detection of EV71. The detection limit of the RT-LAMP assay was approximately 0.01 PFU per reaction mixture, and no cross-reactive amplification with other enteroviruses was observed. The assay was evaluated further with 40 clinical specimens and exhibited 92.9% sensitivity and 100% specificity. This RT-LAMP assay may become a useful alternative in clinical diagnosis of EV71, especially in resource-limited hospitals or rural clinics of China and other countries in the Asian-Pacific region.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with indocyanine green excretory defect: a case report and review of the literature.

Constitutional indocyanine green (ICG) excretory defect is rare. However, ICG excretory defect concomitant with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare, and only six reports of hepatectomy in patients with constitutional ICG excretory defect have been published in the English language literature through 2020. In this study, we report a case of combined HCC and ICG excretory defect and discuss its clinicopathological features and outcomes. The case featured a 68-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of resectable HCC. The preoperative ICG retention rate at 15 minutes was 82.9%. Despite this finding, the Child-Pugh assessment and hepatobiliary-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not reveal any abnormal findings. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with constitutional ICG excretory defect and performed partial hepatectomy. For patients requiring hepatectomy, the indications and procedure for surgery should be considered. These should be based on liver function tests such as gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI.

A novel CRYBB2 mutation causes autosomal dominant cataract: A report from a Chinese family.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine pathogenic mutation within one Chinese family of five-generations suffering from autosomal dominant cataract. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used to find the pathogenic variants. RESULTS: A rare mutation, c.563G > A, in CRYBB2 gene was found in the proband that showed symptom of non-syndromic congenital autosomal dominant cataract. This mutation had been found in all affected individuals and in one healthy infant, but it did not exist between two individuals who did not develop such disease in that family, as well as in 100 healthy subjects who showed no relation with that family. Cataracts in this family varied with different severity of lens opacities and elongation of axial length. CONCLUSION: One missense mutation c.563G > A is reported in the CRYBB2 gene among one Chinese family suffering from early-onset cataract, and associated novel phenotypes are the elongation of axial length and the types of cataract. Our results expand the spectrum of associated phenotypes of CRYBB2 mutation.