Ruxolitinib Monotherapy for a Child With HAVCR2 Gene Mutation Associated Subcutaneous Panniculitis-like T-cell Lymphoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in patients with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) may be due to HAVCR2 gene mutation, leading to T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 deficiency, T-cell and macrophage activation, and proinflammatory cytokine production. OBSERVATION: We report a patient with SPTCL and HLH for whom ruxolitinib, used as a novel treatment, showed notable therapeutic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Remission of both HAVCR2 mutation-induced high inflammatory characteristics and significant symptoms post-ruxolitinib administration suggested that patients with SPTCL and HLH may not represent typical lymphoma cases. Ruxolitinib, with its relatively low toxic side effects, can provide favorable outcomes.

Sparse reconstruction based on dictionary learning and group structure strategy for cone-beam X-ray luminescence computed tomography.

As a dual-modal imaging technology that has emerged in recent years, cone-beam X-ray luminescence computed tomography (CB-XLCT) has exhibited promise as a tool for the early three-dimensional detection of tumors in small animals. However, due to the challenges imposed by the low absorption and high scattering of light in tissues, the CB-XLCT reconstruction problem is a severely ill-conditioned inverse problem, rendering it difficult to obtain satisfactory reconstruction results. In this study, a strategy that utilizes dictionary learning and group structure (DLGS) is proposed to achieve satisfactory CB-XLCT reconstruction performance. The group structure is employed to account for the clustering of nanophosphors in specific regions within the organism, which can enhance the interrelation of elements in the same group. Furthermore, the dictionary learning strategy is implemented to effectively capture sparse features. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated through numerical simulations and in vivo experiments. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves superior reconstruction performance in terms of location accuracy, target shape, robustness, dual-source resolution, and in vivo practicability.

Generalized conditional gradient method with adaptive regularization parameters for fluorescence molecular tomography.

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an optical imaging technology with the ability of visualizing the three-dimensional distribution of fluorescently labelled probes in vivo. However, due to the light scattering effect and ill-posed inverse problems, obtaining satisfactory FMT reconstruction is still a challenging problem. In this work, to improve the performance of FMT reconstruction, we proposed a generalized conditional gradient method with adaptive regularization parameters (GCGM-ARP). In order to make a tradeoff between the sparsity and shape preservation of the reconstruction source, and to maintain its robustness, elastic-net (EN) regularization is introduced. EN regularization combines the advantages of L1-norm and L2-norm, and overcomes the shortcomings of traditional Lp-norm regularization, such as over-sparsity, over-smoothness, and non-robustness. Thus, the equivalent optimization formulation of the original problem can be obtained. To further improve the performance of the reconstruction, the L-curve is adopted to adaptively adjust the regularization parameters. Then, the generalized conditional gradient method (GCGM) is used to split the minimization problem based on EN regularization into two simpler sub-problems, which are determining the direction of the gradient and the step size. These sub-problems are addressed efficiently to obtain more sparse solutions. To assess the performance of our proposed method, a series of numerical simulation experiments and in vivo experiments were implemented. The experimental results show that, compared with other mathematical reconstruction methods, GCGM-ARP method has the minimum location error (LE) and relative intensity error (RIE), and the maximum dice coefficient (Dice) in the case of different sources number or shape, or Gaussian noise of 5%-25%. This indicates that GCGM-ARP has superior reconstruction performance in source localization, dual-source resolution, morphology recovery, and robustness. In conclusion, the proposed GCGM-ARP is an effective and robust strategy for FMT reconstruction in biomedical application.

Molecular identification of a novel antimicrobial peptide in giant Triton snail Charonia tritonis: mRNA profiles for tissues and its potential antibacterial activity.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in innate immunity against microorganisms. AMPs is an effective antibacterial agent, and the chances of causing pathogens to develop is very low. However, there is little information about AMPs in the giant Triton snail Charonia tritonis. In this research, an antimicrobial peptide gene (termed Ct-20534) was identified in C. tritonis. The open reading frame of Ct-20534 is 381 bp in size and it encodes a basic peptide precursor containing 126 amino acids. Ct-20534 gene was found to be expressed in all five tissues examined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR), but the highest expression was found in the proboscis. This is the first report that antibacterial peptides have been found in C. tritonis, and it has been proved that Ct-20534 has antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, among which the activity of Staphylococcus aureus is most significantly inhibited, this suggests that the newly discovered antimicrobial peptides in C. tritonis may play an important role in the immune system and bacterial resistance of C. tritonis. This study presents the discovery of a newly identified antibacterial peptide from C. tritonis, with its structural properties fully characterized and potent antibacterial activity confirmed. The results provide essential fundamental data for the development of preventive and therapeutic measures against aquatic animal diseases, which in turn can promote the sustainable and stable growth of the aquaculture industry and create economic benefits. Additionally, this research lays the foundation for future development of novel anti-infective drugs.

Application of the Electromagnetic Method to the Spatial Distribution of Subsurface Saline and Fresh Water in the Coastal Mudflat Area of Jiangsu Province.

Interfacial zones straddling terrestrial and marine realms, colloquially known as mudflats, epitomize a dynamic nexus between these environments and are fundamental to the coastal ecosystem. The investigation of these regions is paramount for facilitating infrastructural developments including ports, wharfs, cross-sea bridges, and the strategic utilization of freshwater resources sequestered from mainland islands amid ongoing economic progress. Terrestrial realms conventionally employ electromagnetic techniques as efficacious modalities to delineate subterranean geological information, encompassing structural details and water-bearing strata. However, the peculiar topographic and geological nuances of mudflat regions pose substantial challenges for the efficacious application of electromagnetic methodologies. The present paper endeavors to address these challenges by suggesting innovative modifications to the existing instrumentation and evolving novel data acquisition techniques specifically tailored for electromagnetic exploration within mudflat environments. This paper delves into the electrical characteristics of water-bearing layers within mudflats, and ascertains details pertaining to the subterranean structure and the spatial distribution of fresh and saline water resources, through the holistic interpretation of a multitude of profiles.

Aging-induced atrial fibrosis in If current change and its effect on atrial fibrillation in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common type of cardiac arrhythmia that threatens public health. Aging is an independent AF risk factor. However, the mechanism of age-related AF remains unclear. METHODS: A total of 36 Beagle dogs were selected and divided into three groups (12 in each group): two groups were 9-year-old aged dogs, and one group was 4-year-old adult dogs. Electrophysiological testing was employed to determine if modeling is successful. Patch-clamp technique was employed to measure the If current. The expression of protein and mRNA related to If current were also tested. Collagen deposition was observed with the use of Masson staining. RESULTS: Aging resulted in a higher collagen deposition percentage in the left atrium. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN)2 and HCN4 expressions were increased in the atria and pulmonary veins but decreased in the sinus node of the aged group. Moreover, in the aged group, the left atrium mRNA expressions of Kcnd2 (Potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily D member 2), Kcnh2, Kcnq1, Kcnj2, Kcnj11, and CACNA1H were significantly downregulated. The aged AF group also demonstrated sustained AF and significant changes in electrophysiological characteristics. The If current demonstrated an increased amplitude and was easier to activate in the aged AF group than in younger group. Finally, AF occurrence exacerbated aging-induced cardiac fibrosis, thereby aggravating the above-listed symptoms. CONCLUSION: With age, the increase in atrial fibrosis affected the expression of the ion channels, thereby modulating the If current. Moreover, AF also further exacerbated the degree of atrial fibrosis.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Novel Kunitz-Type Toxin-like Peptide in the Giant Triton Snail Charonia tritonis.

It has been reported that the giant triton snail (Charonia tritonis) inserts its large proboscis and then injects venom or acid saliva from its salivary gland into its prey, the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci (COTS), paralyzing it. A full-length cDNA sequence of the C. tritonis Ct-kunitzin gene was obtained by RACE PCR based on a transcriptomic database constructed by our laboratory (data not published), which contains an open reading frame (ORF) sequence with a length of 384 bp including a 1-32aa Kunitz domain. The Ct-kunitzin peptide was synthesized by solid-phase polypeptide methods according to its conserved amino acid sequence, with a molecular weight of 3746.0 as well as two disulfide bonds. Renatured Ct-kunitzin was injected into mice ventricles to evaluate its potential function. Compared with the normal control group (physiological saline), the spontaneous locomotor activity of the Ct-kunitzin group decreased significantly. There was a significant effect on Ct-kunitzin on mice grip strength in the grip strength test. In addition, Ct-kunitzin exhibited remarkable biological activity in suppressing pain in the pain thresholds test. There were no significant differences between the Ct-kunitzin group and the normal control group in terms of various hematological indexes and histopathological observations. When tested in COTS, the most significant histological change was the destruction, disorganization, and significant reduction in the amount of COTS tube feet tissues. Altogether, the potential paralyzing effect on mice suggests that Ct-kunitzin is a possible agent for novel drug development.

Giant Triton Snail Charonia tritonis Macrophage-Expressed Gene 1 Protein Ct-Mpeg1: Molecular Identification, Expression Analysis, and Antimicrobial Activity.

Macrophage-expressed gene 1 proteins (Mpeg1/Perforin-2 (PRF2)) are a family of pore-forming proteins (PFPs) which can form pores and destroy the cell membrane of invading pathogens. However, little information is available regarding the function of Mpeg1 in the giant triton snail Charonia tritonis. In this study, a homolog of Mpeg1 (Ct-Mpeg1) was identified in C. tritonis. The predicted protein of Ct-Mpeg1 contains several structural features known in Mpegs, including a membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domain and single transmembrane region. The Ct-Mpeg1 gene was constitutively expressed in almost all tissues examined except in the proboscis, with the highest expression level observed in the mantle. As a typical pore-forming protein, Ct-Mpeg1 has antibacterial activities against Vibrio (including Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus). In addition, rCt-Mpeg1 challenge to V. alginolyticus represses the expression of most outer membrane protein synthesis-related genes and genes involved in the TCA cycle pathway, which will lead to reduced outer membrane protein synthesis and less energy capacity. This is the first report to characterize the macrophage-expressed gene 1 protein in C. tritonis, and these results suggest that macrophage-expressed gene 1 protein Ct-Mpeg1 is an important immune molecule of C. tritonis that is involved in the bacterial infection resistance of Vibrio, and this study may provide crucial basic data for the understanding of the innate immunity system of C. tritonis.

Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Short-Type Peptidoglycan Recognition Protein, Ct-PGRP-S1 in the Giant Triton Snail Charonia tritonis.

Peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) are a family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in host antibacterial responses, and their functions have been characterized in most invertebrate and vertebrate animals. However, little information is available regarding the potential function of PGRPs in the giant triton snail Charonia tritonis. In this study, a short-type PGRP gene (termed Ct-PGRP-S1) was identified in C. tritonis. Ct-PGRP-S1 was predicted to contain several structural features known in PGRPs, including a typical PGRP domain (Amidase_2) and Src homology-3 (SH3) domain. The Ct-PGRP-S1 gene was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined except in proboscis, with the highest expression level observed in the liver. As a typical PRR, Ct-PGRP-S1 has an ability to degrade peptidoglycan (PGN) and was proven to have non-Zn2+-dependent amidase activity and antibacterial activity against Vibrioalginolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus. It is the first report to reveal the peptidoglycan recognition protein in C. tritonis, and these results suggest that peptidoglycan recognition protein Ct-PGRP-S1 is an important effector of C. tritonis that modulates bacterial infection resistance of V. alginolyticus and S. aureus, and this study may provide crucial basic data for the understanding of an innate immunity system of C. tritonis.

Removal of Antimony in Wastewater by Antimony Tolerant Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria Isolated from Municipal Sludge.

Antimony (Sb), a global and priority controlled pollutant, causes severe environmental issues. Bioremediation by microbial communities containing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is considered to be among the safest, economical, and environmentally friendly methods to remove Sb from wastewater. However, the roles of SRB species in these communities remain uncertain, and pure cultures of bacteria that may be highly efficient have not yet been developed for Sb removal. In this study, an Sb tolerant community was enriched from municipal sludge, and molecular ecological analysis showed that Escherichia (40%) and Desulfovibrio (15%) were the dominant bacteria. Further isolation and identification showed that the enriched SRB strains were closely related to Cupidesulfovibrio oxamicus, based on the molecular analyses of 16S rRNA and dsrB genes. Among them, a strain named SRB49 exhibited the highest activity in removal of Sb(V). SRB49 was able to remove 95% of Sb(V) at a concentration of 100 mg/L within 48 h under optimum conditions: a temperature of 37-40 °C, an initial pH value of 8, 4 mM of sulfate, and an initial redox potential of 145-229 mV. SEM-EDX analysis showed that SRB49 did not adsorb Sb(V) but reduced and precipitated Sb(V) via the formation of Sb2S3. The results demonstrated the potential roles that pure cultures of SRB species may play in Sb removal and the use of Sb-tolerant SRB strains for Sb remediation.

M2 muscarinic autoantibodies and thyroid hormone promote susceptibility to atrial fibrillation and sinus tachycardia in an autoimmune rabbit model.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Do autoantibodies to the M2 muscarinic receptor (M2R-AAbs) have the potential to facilitate specific sustained tachyarrhythmias in the presence of thyroxine (T4 ) in rabbits? What is the main finding and its importance? The M2R-AAb and T4 jointly destabilized the electrophysiological properties, thus promoting the occurrence of atrial and sinus tachyarrhythmias in rabbits. These findings provide a practical basis for understanding the pathophysiological role of M2R-AAb alone and with T4 in arrhythmia induction and might provide an innovative option for treatment of Graves' disease with rhythm disturbance. ABSTRACT: Activating autoantibodies toward the ß1/2 -adrenergic receptors (ß1/2AR-AAbs) and M2 muscarinic receptor (M2R-AAbs) are present in a high proportion of patients with Graves' disease. We previously demonstrated that ß1/2AR-AAbs with or without the presence of M2R-AAbs in combination with excessive thyroxine (T4 ) increased the induction of sustained tachyarrhythmias in an autoimmune rabbit model. However, the separate role of M2R-AAbs and their interaction with T4 are not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of M2R-AAbs and T4 on the induction of cardiac arrhythmias in a similar rabbit model. Ten New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (n = 6), the rabbits were immunized with the second extracellular loop peptide of M2R and subjected to 2 weeks of T4 treatment. In group B (n = 4), the rabbits were treated only with T4 for 2 weeks. After induction of general anaesthesia, rabbits were subjected to an electrophysiological study at 0 (pre-immune), 6 (post-immune) and 8 weeks (post-immune+T4 treatment) in group A and at 0 (baseline) and 8 weeks (T4 treatment) in group B. Each rabbit served as its own control. In group A, high levels and activity of M2R-AAbs were detected in all immunized animals. Thyroxine in combination with immunization significantly increased induction of sustained sinus tachycardia and atrial fibrillation in comparison to the pre-immune state. In group B, T4 predominantly induced sustained sinus tachycardia. This study demonstrated that M2R-AAbs and T4 jointly increased the susceptibility to both sinus and atrial tachyarrhythmias. The data supported the pathophysiological role of M2R-AAbs in hyperthyroidism-associated supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor autoantibodies induce polycystic ovary syndrome-like features in a rat model.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Is there a causal relationship between gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor-activating autoantibodies and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)? What is the main finding and its importance? Induction of GnRH receptor-activating autoantibodies in rats resulted in increased luteinizing hormone pulsatility and testosterone concentrations, disrupted oestrous cycles, increased atretic follicles, and activation of insulin signalling in the pituitary and ovary. These changes replicate those seen in humans with PCOS, suggesting that GnRH receptor-activating autoantibodies might be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. ABSTRACT: Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor-activating autoantibodies (GnRHR-AAb) are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In the present study, we examined the impact of GnRHR-AAb on reproductive function in GnRHR-immunized female rats. All immunized rats produced high titres of GnRHR-AAb targeting a dominant epitope located in the central region of the second extracellular loop of the GnRHR. Increased pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion and testosterone concentrations were found in immunized rats. These rats exhibited disrupted oestrous cycles, increased ovarian follicular atresia, and activation of insulin signalling in the pituitary and ovary, as indicated by increased mRNA expressions of insulin receptor substrate, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and glucose transporter 1. No significant changes in inflammatory cytokines were detected in the ovarian tissue. These features mimic those observed in humans with PCOS. Our findings support the concept that chronic stimulation of the GnRHR by GnRHR-AAb, with an associated increase in pituitary luteinizing hormone secretion and ovarian androgen overproduction, might represent a new aetiological mechanism for PCOS.

A prospective comparison of four methods for preventing pacemaker pocket infections.

This study aims to evaluate four pacemaker pocket cleaning methods for preventing implantation-related infections. This single-center trial prospectively randomized 910 patients undergoing first-time pacemaker implantation or replacement into four pocket cleaning methods: hemocoagulase (group A, n = 228), gentamicin (group B, n = 228), hemocoagulase plus gentamicin (group C, n = 227), and normal saline (group D, n = 227). Before implanting the pacemaker battery, the pockets were cleaned with gauze presoaked in the respective cleaning solutions. Then, these patients were followed up to monitor the occurrence of infections for 1 month after implantation. Twelve implantation-related infections occurred in 910 patients (1.32%): four patients from group A (1.75%), three patients from group B (1.32%), two patients from group C (0.88%), and three patients from group D (1.32%) (P > .05). Furthermore, two patients developed bloodstream infections (0.22%), and both of these patients were associated with pocket infection (one patient was from group A, while the other patient was from group C, respectively). No cases of infective endocarditis occurred. The differences in the number of infections in these study groups were not statistically significant. The application of hemocoagulase, gentamicin, hemocoagulase plus gentamicin, or normal saline on the presoaked gauze before implantation was equally effective in preventing pocket-associated infections.

PacBio single molecule long-read sequencing provides insight into the complexity and diversity of the Pinctada fucata martensii transcriptome.

BACKGROUND: The pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii is an economically valuable shellfish for seawater pearl production, and production of pearls depends on its growth. To date, the molecular mechanisms of the growth of this species remain poorly understood. The transcriptome sequencing has been considered to understanding of the complexity of mechanisms of the growth of P. f. martensii. The recently released genome sequences of P. f. martensii, as well as emerging Pacific Bioscience (PacBio) single-molecular sequencing technologies, provide an opportunity to thoroughly investigate these molecular mechanisms. RESULTS: Herein, the full-length transcriptome was analysed by combining PacBio single-molecule long-read sequencing (PacBio sequencing) and Illumina sequencing. A total of 20.65 Gb of clean data were generated, including 574,561 circular consensus reads, among which 443,944 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) sequences were identified. Through transcript clustering analysis of FLNC reads, 32,755 consensus isoforms were identified, including 32,095 high-quality consensus sequences. After removing redundant reads, 16,388 transcripts were obtained, and 641 fusion transcripts were derived by performing fusion transcript prediction of consensus sequences. Alternative splicing analysis of the 16,388 transcripts was performed after accounting for redundancy, and 9097 gene loci were detected, including 1607 new gene loci and 14,946 newly discovered transcripts. The original boundary of 11,235 genes on the chromosomes was corrected, 12,025 complete open reading frame sequences and 635 long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) were predicted, and functional annotation of 13,482 new transcripts was achieved. Two thousand three hundred eighteen alternative splicing events were detected. A total of 228 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) were identified between the largest (L) and smallest (S) pearl oysters. Compared with the S, the L showed 99 and 129 significantly up-and down-regulated DETs, respectively. Six of these DETs were further confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) in independent experiment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results significantly improve existing gene models and genome annotations, optimise the genome structure, and in-depth understanding of the complexity and diversity of the differential growth patterns of P. f. martensii.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1-Induced Protein in Age-Related Atrial Fibrillation and Its Association with Circulating Fibrosis Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF), for which age is an independent risk factor, is the most common persistent arrhythmia. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-induced protein (MCPIP), a transcription factor that induces a series of inflammation and cell death procedures, has been indicated to cause cardiomyocyte death in ischemic cardiomyopathy. The objective of this research was to investigate the relationship between age-related AF and MCPIP. METHODS: A total of 1,084 participants were included in this study, including 542 AF patients and 542 non-AF controls. Their medical histories were collected and analyzed. Moreover, blood samples were collected, and ELISA tests for expression of the inflammatory factor MCPIP and the fibrosis biomarkers pro-collagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) and type I collagen C-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) were conducted. Finally, a correlation analysis of these inflammatory factors and biomarkers was performed based on the ELISA results. RESULTS: We compared the echocardiography results of AF patients and found that the left ventricular ejection fraction and left atrial appendage velocity decreased with age (p < 0.05). Moreover, ELISA analysis of these samples showed that the expression of MCPIP was the highest in elderly patients with AF (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in expression between adult AF patients and elderly controls (p > 0.05). Finally, the correlation analysis demonstrated that the expressions of MCPIP, PIIINP, and ICTP were positively correlated in the elderly AF patient group, the adult AF group, and the elderly control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: MCPIP expression was higher in age-related AF than in the other patient groups and it was associated with AF-induced fibrosis.

A Terbium Metal-Organic Framework for Highly Selective and Sensitive Luminescence Sensing of Hg2+ Ions in Aqueous Solution.

A series of isomorphic lanthanide metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) Ln(TATAB)⋅(DMF)4 (H2 O)(MeOH)0.5 (LnTATAB, Ln=Eu, Tb, Sm, Dy, Gd; H3 TATAB=4,4',4''-s-triazine-1,3,5-triyltri-p-aminobenzoic acid) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Among these MOFs, TbTATAB exhibits good water stability and a high fluorescence quantum yield. Because mercury ions (Hg2+ ) have a high affinity to nitrogen atoms, and the space between multiple nitrogen atoms from triazine and imino groups is suitable for interacting with Hg2+ ions, TbTATAB shows highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+ in aqueous solution with a detection limit of 4.4 nm. Furthermore, it was successfully applied to detect Hg2+ ions in natural water samples.

Inulin with different degrees of polymerization as a functional ingredient: Evaluation of flour, dough, and steamed bread characteristics during freezing.

In the study, the effects of short-chain inulin (OP), natural inulin (OH), and long-chain inulin (OHP) at substitution levels of 3%, 6%, and 9%, as well as freezing of 0, 15, and 30 days, on the farinograph and extensograph characteristics of flour, the rheological properties, water distribution, and microstructure of dough, as well as the quality of the final steamed bread, were investigated. The findings revealed that inulin led to a reduction in the water absorption of the dough while increasing its stable time. Furthermore, inulin delayed the alteration of freezable water within the frozen dough. Notably, the addition of inulin resulted in a more cohesive and evenly arranged network structure within the frozen dough. Steamed bread supplemented with 6% OP, 6% OH, and 3% OHP consistently dislayed a higher specific volume and spread ratio. These findings offer valuable insights into the utilization of inulin in frozen wheat foods.

Analysis of spike and accessory 3c genes mutations of less virulent and FIP-associated feline coronaviruses in Beijing, China.

Mutations in S and 3c genes of feline coronavirus (FCoV) have been associated with the development of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). In the present study, FCoV S and 3c genes mutations were analyzed in healthy and FIP cats. M1058L mutation was found in 13.64% (3/22) feces from FIP cats, but not in feces from healthy cats (0/39). The intact 3c gene was found in feces from both healthy cats (19/19) and FIP cats (12/12). All parenteral samples from FIP cats carried one or more of the M1058L mutation, S1060A mutation and mutated 3c gene. FCoV reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of parenteral samples (including ascites, pleural effusions and tissue) is recommended as the gold standard for clinical diagnosis of FIP rather than detection of the M1058L mutation, but when cats have severe gastrointestinal symptoms and lesions, detection of the M1058L mutation in feces may be helpful in diagnosing FIP.

Resourcefulness Among Initial Ischemic Stroke Patients: A Longitudinal Study of 12 Months.

Objective: To explore distinct longitudinal trajectories of resourcefulness among initial ischemic stroke patients from diagnosis to 12 months, and to identify whether sociodemographic factors, disease-related factors, self-efficacy, family function, and social support can predict patterns in the trajectories of resourcefulness. Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted. Initial ischemic stroke patients who met inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed up when still in hospital (Preparing for discharge, Baseline, T1), at 1 month (T2), at 3 months (T3), at 6 months (T4), at 9 months (T5) and 12 months (T6) (±1 week) after discharge. General information, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Modified Rankin Scale (mRS), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), General Family Functioning Subscale (FAD-GF), and Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) were used in T1. The Resourcefulness Scale© was evaluated at 6 time points. Growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectory patterns of resourcefulness. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of resourcefulness trajectories. Results: Three longitudinal trajectories of resourcefulness were identified and named as the high-stable class (38.9%, n=71), fluctuation class (41.2%, n=75), and low-stable class (19.9%, n=36), respectively. Dwelling areas (x2=6.805, P=0.009), education (x2=44.865, P=0.000), monthly income (x2=13.063, P=0.001), NIHSS scores (x2=44.730, P=0.000), mRS scores (x2=51.788, P=0.000), Hcy (x2=9.345, P=0.002), GSES (x2=56.933, P=0.000), FAD-GF (x2=41.305, P=0.000) and SSRS (x2=52.373, P=0.000) were found to be statistically significant for distinguishing between different resourcefulness trajectory patterns. Lower education (OR=0.404), higher NIHSS(OR=6.672) scores, and higher mRS(OR=21.418) scores were found to be risk factors for lower resourcefulness, whereas higher education(OR=0.404), GSES(OR=0.276), FAD-GF(OR=0.344), and SSRS(OR=0.358) scores were identified as protective factors enhancing resourcefulness. Conclusion: This study obtained three patterns of trajectories and identified their predictive factors in initial ischemic stroke. The findings will assist health care professionals in identifying subgroups of patients and when they may be at risk of low resourcefulness and provide timely targeted intervention to promote resourcefulness.

Sequential catalytic lignin valorization and bioethanol production: an integrated biorefinery strategy.

BACKGROUND: The effective valorization of lignin and carbohydrates in lignocellulose matrix under the concept of biorefinery is a primary strategy to produce sustainable chemicals and fuels. Based on the reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF), lignin in lignocelluloses can be depolymerized into viscous oils, while the highly delignified pulps with high polysaccharides retention can be transformed into various chemicals. RESULTS: A biorefinery paradigm for sequentially valorization of the main components in poplar sawdust was constructed. In this process, the well-defined low-molecular-weight phenols and bioethanol were co-generated by tandem chemo-catalysis in the RCF stage and bio-catalysis in fermentation stage. In the RCF stage, hydrogen transfer reactions were conducted in one-pot process using Raney Ni as catalyst, while the isopropanol (2-PrOH) in the initial liquor was served as a hydrogen donor and the solvent for lignin dissolution. Results indicated the proportion of the 2-PrOH in the initial liquor of RCF influenced the chemical constitution and yield of the lignin oil, which also affected the characteristics of the pulps and the following bioethanol production. A 67.48 ± 0.44% delignification with 20.65 ± 0.31% of monolignols yield were realized when the 2-PrOH:H2O ratio in initial liquor was 7:3 (6.67 wt% of the catalyst loading, 200 °C for 3 h). The RCF pulp had higher carbohydrates retention (57.96 ± 2.78 wt%), which was converted to 21.61 ± 0.62 g/L of bioethanol with a yield of 0.429 ± 0.010 g/g in fermentation using an engineered S. cerevisiae strain. Based on the mass balance analysis, 104.4 g of ethanol and 206.5 g of lignin oil can be produced from 1000 g of the raw poplar sawdust. CONCLUSIONS: The main chemical components in poplar sawdust can be effectively transformed into lignin oil and bioethanol. The attractive results from the biorefinery process exhibit great promise for the production of valuable biofuels and chemicals from abundant lignocellulosic materials.