Chemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Bruguiera Genus and Its Endophytes: A Review.

The genus Bruguiera, a member of the Rhizophoraceae family, is predominantly found in coastal areas as a mangrove plant, boasting a rich and diverse community of endophytes. This review systematically compiled approximately 496 compounds derived from both the Bruguiera genus and its associated endophytes, including 152 terpenoids, 17 steroids, 16 sulfides, 44 alkaloids and peptides, 66 quinones, 68 polyketides, 19 flavonoids, 38 phenylpropanoids, 54 aromatic compounds, and 22 other compounds. Among these, 201 compounds exhibited a spectrum of activities, including cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antidiabetic, insecticidal and mosquito repellent, and enzyme inhibitory properties, etc. These findings provided promising lead compounds for drug discovery. Certain similar or identical compounds were found to be simultaneously present in both Bruguiera plants and their endophytes, and the phenomenon of their interaction relationship was discussed.

Study of the Bias of the Initial Phase Estimation of a Sinewave of Known Frequency in the Presence of Phase Noise.

The estimation of the parameters of a sinusoidal signal is of paramount importance in various applications in the fields of sensors, signal processing, parameter estimation, and device characterization, among others. The presence, in the measurement system, of non-ideal phenomena such as additive noise in the signals, phase noise in the stimulus generation, jitter in the sampling system, frequency error in the experimental setup, among others, leads to increased uncertainty and bias in the estimated quantities obtained by least squares methods and those derived from them. Therefore, from a metrological point of view, it is important to be able to theoretically predict and quantify those uncertainties in order to properly design the measurement system and its parameters, such as the number of samples to acquire or the stimulus signal amplitude to use to minimize the uncertainty in the estimated values. Previous works have shown that the presence of these non-ideal phenomena leads to increased uncertainty and bias in the estimation of the sinewave amplitude. The present work complements this knowledge by focusing specifically on the effect of phase noise and sampling jitter in the bias of the initial phase estimation of a sinusoidal signal of known frequency (three­parameter sine fitting procedure). A theoretical derivation of the bias of initial phase estimation that takes into consideration the presence of phase noise in the sinewave is presented. Since a Taylor series approximation was used where only the first term was retained, it was necessary to validate the analytical derivations with numerical simulations using a Monte Carlo type of procedure. This process was applied to different conditions regarding the phase noise standard deviation, initial phase value, and number of samples. It is concluded that, in most scenarios, initial phase estimation using sine fitting is unbiased in the presence of phase noise or jitter. It is shown, however, that in cases of extremely high phase noise standard deviation and a very low number of samples, a bias occurs.

Classification of Corrosion Severity in SPCC Steels Using Eddy Current Testing and Supervised Machine Learning Models.

Steel Plate Cold-Rolled Commercial (SPCC) steel is known to have long-term durability. However, it still undergoes corrosion when exposed to corrosive environments. This paper proposes an evaluation method for assessing the corrosion level of SPCC steel samples using eddy current testing (ECT), along with two different machine learning approaches. The objective is to classify the corrosion of the samples into two states: a less corroded state (state-1) and a highly corroded state (state-2). Generative and discriminative models were implemented for classification. The generative classifier was based on the Gaussian mixture model (GMM), while the discriminative model was based on the logistic regression model. The features used in the classification models are the peaks of the perturbated magnetic fields at two different frequencies. The performance of the classifiers was evaluated using metrics such as absolute error, accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score. The results indicate that the GMM model is more conducive to categorizing states with higher levels of corrosion, while the logistic regression model is helpful in estimating states with lower levels of corrosion. Meanwhile, high classification accuracy can be achieved based on both methods using eddy current testing.

Sublethal effects of emamectin benzoate on development, reproduction, and vitellogenin and vitellogenin receptor gene expression in Thrips hawaiiensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae).

Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a sap-sucking pest that seriously damages several crops and reduces their economic value. Exposure to low concentrations of insecticides may have a sublethal effect on surviving insects. In order to provide a reference for the rational application of emamectin benzoate, its sublethal effects on the development and reproduction of T. hawaiiensis were evaluated. Pupal development time was significantly shorter in T. hawaiiensis treated with sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate (LC10 and LC20) than in control. Female adult longevity and female total longevity were significantly longer following LC20 treatment than in the control and LC10 treatment groups. Nevertheless, male adult longevity and male total longevity were significantly shorter in the LC10 treatment group than in the control and LC20 treatment groups. The sublethal concentration of emamectin benzoate (LC20) significantly shortened the preadult stages and the mean generation. Meanwhile, it significantly increased the finite rate of increase, intrinsic rate of increase, and net reproductive rate. The fecundity was significantly higher after LC20 treatment than after LC10 and control treatments. Compared with the control group, the LC10 and LC20 groups of T. hawaiiensis adults showed a significantly higher expression of the vitellogenin (Vg) and vitellogenin receptor (VgR) genes, which played a key role in increasing their fecundity. These findings suggest that short-term exposure to sublethal concentrations of emamectin benzoate may lead to a resurgence and secondary outbreak of T. hawaiiensis infestation. The results have practical applications for the management of this important and noxious pest.

Utility of Ultra-Wide-Field Imaging for Screening of AIDS-Related Cytomegalovirus Retinitis.

PURPOSE: To explore the potential use of ultra-wide-field (UWF) imaging for screening of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in AIDS patients. METHODS: Ninety-four patients whose CD4 count was below 200 cells/µL were enrolled in a prospective study. Each patient underwent UWF imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy. The main outcome measures were the concordance and detection rates of these 2 approaches and the sensitivity and specificity of UWF imaging. RESULTS: Twenty-seven eyes in 18 patients were diagnosed with CMVR by the indirect ophthalmoscopy. UWF imaging missed the diagnosis in 1 eye because of a zone 3 CMVR lesion. The UWF image showed several CMVR patterns and locations: hemorrhagic necrotizing lesion, granular lesion, frosted branch angiitis, and optic neuropathy lesion. The concordance of the 2 approaches was excellent for the diagnosis of CMVR, classification of CMVR pattern, and location of CMVR. The detection rates of UWF imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy were 14.0% (26/186; 95% CI 0.089-0.190) and 14.5% (27/186; 95% CI 0.094-0.196), respectively (p = 1.000). The sensitivity and specificity of UWF imaging were 96.3 and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: UWF imaging is capable of documentation of different CMVR lesions and AIDS-related CMVR screening when examination by an ophthalmologist is not available.

Association of ADAM17 Expression Levels in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

A disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAMs) are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of many fibrosis-related diseases. However, little is known regarding the significance of ADAM17 as a biomarker for interstitial lung disease (ILD). In this study, by using the RT-PCR, western blotting and ELISA, we detected the expression level of ADAM17 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, connective tissue disease associated ILD (CTD-ILD) patients and healthy controls, and correlations between clinical and laboratory parameters were also analyzed. We found that IPF patients and CTD-ILD patients showed higher levels of ADAM17 than healthy controls. Moreover, ADAM17 in IPF patients with acute exacerbation (AE-IPF) was significantly higher than that in stable IPF (S-IPF) patients. Expression of ADAM17 was positively correlated with disease duration and CRP but negatively correlated with diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) and total lung capacity (TLC). Among the CTD-ILD patients, SSc-ILD patients had the highest serum levels of ADAM17 compared with the RA-ILD, SS-ILD and IIM-ILD groups and ADAM17 expression levels were correlated with image grading. In conclusion, this study showed that ADAM17 is highly expressed in ILD patients and is associated with disease activity and severity. Additionally, ADAM17 expression is not only related to the primary CTDs, but also to image grading. ADAM17 may serve as a new biomarker for ILD.

Complete genome sequence of a novel monopartite geminivirus identified in mulberry (Morus alba L.).

The genome sequence of a novel geminivirus from mulberry samples exhibiting crinkle leaf symptoms is reported. The sequence consisted of 2952 nt, containing four open reading frames (ORFs) in the viral-sense strand and two ORFs in the complementary-sense strand. The size of the genome and the conserved origin of replication are similar to those of members of the family Geminiviridae, but the genomic organization, number of ORFs, and especially five contiguous GAAAAA repeats positioned upstream of ORF1 distinguish it from other geminiviruses. Phylogenetic analysis coupled with ORF analysis suggests that this is a novel virus that does not fit into the established seven genera of the family Geminiviridae. The virus, found in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu province, China, is tentatively named mulberry crinkle leaf virus isolate Jiangsu (MCLV-js).

A new nepovirus identified in mulberry (Morus alba L.) in China.

An isometric virus was identified in mulberry leaves showing symptoms of mulberry mosaic leaf roll (MMLR) disease. Its genome consists of two (+)ssRNAs. RNA1 and RNA2 have 7183 and 3742 nucleotides, excluding the 3'-terminal poly(A) tail. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the RNA1-encoded polyprotein and CP amino acid sequences, the properties of the the 3'-UTR of RNA1 and RNA2, and <75 % identity in the CP amino acid sequence, this virus is proposed to be a new member of the genus Nepovirus, subgroup A. Since a causal relationship between this virus and MMLR has not been established, it is tentatively referred to as MMLR-associated virus.

Effect of chlorogenic acid on melanogenesis of B16 melanoma cells.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), the ester formed between caffeic acid and l-quinic acid, is a widespread phenolic compound. It is part of the human diet, found in foods such as coffee, apples, pears, etc. CGA is also was widely used in cosmetics, but the effects of CGA on melanogenesis are unknown. In this study, we analyzed the effects of CGA on cell proliferation, melanin content and tyrosinase of B16 murine melanoma cells. Additionally, the enzymatic reactions of CGA in B16 melanoma cells lytic solution were detected by UV spectrophotometry. Results showed CGA at 30 and 60 µM significantly suppresses cell proliferation. 8-MOP at 100 µM significantly promotes cell proliferation, but CGA can counter this. Incubated for 24 h, CGA (500 µM) improves melanogenesis while suppressing tyrosinase activity in B16 melanoma cells or 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) co-incubated B16 melanoma cells. After 12 h, B16 melanoma cell treatment with CGA leads to an increase in melanin accumulation, however, after 48 h there is a decrease in melanin production which correlates broadly with a decrease in tyrosinase activity. CGA incubated with lytic solution 24 h turned brown at 37 °C. The formation of new products (with a maximum absorption at 295 nm) is associated with reduction of CGA (maximum absorption at 326 nm). Therefore, CGA has its two sidesroles in melanogenesis of B16 melanoma cells. CGA is a likely a substrate of melanin, but the metabolic product(s) of CGA may suppress melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells by inhibiting tyrosinase activity.

[Bioassay-guided fractionation of constituents targeting mediators of inflammation from lycii cortex as inhibitors of NF-kappaB].

Lycii Cortex, a popular herb medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat different inflammation-related diseases. The aim of our work is to find the key constituents inhibiting NF-kappaB, a key regulator of inflammation. In the investigations of cell-based in vitro assays of extracts, we found that both ethyl acetate extract and methanol extract of Lycii Cortex inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB. Through bioassay-guided fractionation, we identified 4 phenolic amides including trans-N-(p-coumaroyl) tyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (2), trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3), and dihydro-N-caffeoyltyramine (4). Four phenolic amides showed differently inhibitory activities on TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. Trans-N-caffeoyltyramine (3) was identified as the key component with an IC50 of 18.41 micromol x L(-1). It was suggested that the hydroxyl group at C-3 in trans-N-caffeoyltyramine might be a key binding site and its C-7,8-double bond might play an important role on NF-kappaB inhibitory activities as the link of the conjugation of pi electrons leading to a partial planar conformation. It might be inferred that the biological activity of compound 3 is attributed to the structure of Michael reaction acceptor containing alpha, beta-unsaturated ketones and benzene along with hydroxyl group in o-diphenol.

Advances in small-molecule insulin secretagogues for diabetes treatment.

Diabetes, a metabolic disease caused by abnormally high levels of blood glucose, has a high prevalence rate worldwide and causes a series of complications, including coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, end-stage renal disease, and retinopathy. Small-molecule compounds have been developed as drugs for the treatment of diabetes because of their oral advantages. Insulin secretagogues are a class of small-molecule drugs used to treat diabetes, and include sulfonylureas, non-sulfonylureas, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors, and other novel small-molecule insulin secretagogues. However, many small-molecule compounds cause different side effects, posing huge challenges to drug monotherapy and drug selection. Therefore, the use of different small-molecule drugs must be improved. This article reviews the mechanism, advantages, limitations, and potential risks of small-molecule insulin secretagogues to provide future research directions on small-molecule drugs for the treatment of diabetes.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities and chemical compositions in the extracts of different edible parts from Camellia tetracocca Zhang (C. tetracocca) with two distinct color characteristics.

The Camellia tetracocca Zhang is a rare and ancient plant, exclusively found in the vicinity of Puan County, Guizhou Province, China. According to leaf color, two distinct variations have been identified: purple C. tetracocca Zhang (PCTZ) and green C. tetracocca (GCTZ). This research was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activities and chemical compositions of different edible parts of PCTZ and GCTZ. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, HSA, and T-AOC assays, while the content of compounds was determined by HPLC. The findings demonstrated that the antioxidant capacity of PCTZ leaves is significantly superior to that of GCTZ leaves. Notably, theacrine, a rare compound, contains up to 2.075% in PCTZ leaves, indicating potential as a novel natural antidepressant and antioxidant. In conclusion, PCTZ is a distinctive tea beverage and a valuable genetic material for tea tree breeding due to its high theacrine and low caffeine characteristics.

Combining ulinastatin with TIENAM improves the outcome of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in mice by reducing inflammation and regulating immune responses.

Despite the high mortality associated with sepsis, effective and targeted treatments remain scarce. The use of conventional antibiotics such as TIENAM (imipenem and cilastatin sodium for injection, TIE) is challenging because of the increasing bacterial resistance, which diminishes their efficacy and leads to adverse effects. Our previous studies demonstrated that ulinastatin (UTI) exerts a therapeutic impact on sepsis by reducing systemic inflammation and modulating immune responses. In this study, we examined the possibility of administering UTI and TIE after inducing sepsis in a mouse model using cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We assessed the rates of survival, levels of inflammatory cytokines, the extent of tissue damage, populations of immune cells, microbiota in ascites, and important signaling pathways. The combination of UTI and TIE significantly improved survival rates and reduced inflammation and bacterial load in septic mice, indicating potent antimicrobial properties. Notably, the survival rates of UTI+TIE-treated mice increased from 10 % to 75 % within 168 h compared to those of mice that were subjected to CLP. The dual treatment successfully regulated the levels of inflammatory indicators (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) and immune cell numbers by reducing B cells, natural killer cells, and TNFR2+ Treg cells and increasing CD8+ T cells. Additionally, the combination of UTI and TIE alleviated tissue damage, reduced bacterial load in the peritoneal cavity, and suppressed the NF-κB signaling pathway. Our findings indicate that UTI and TIE combination therapy can significantly enhance sepsis outcomes by reducing inflammation and boosting the immune system. The results offer a promising therapeutic approach for future sepsis treatment.

Combining Aloin with TIENAM ameliorates cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis in mice by attenuating inflammation and modulating abdominal cavity microbiota.

Despite the high mortality rate, sepsis lacks specific and effective treatment options. Conventional antibiotics, such as TIENAM (TIE; imipenem and cilastatin sodium for injection), face challenges owing to the emergence of bacterial resistance, which reduces their effectiveness and causes adverse effects. Addressing resistance and judicious drug use is crucial. Our research revealed that aloin (Alo) significantly boosts survival rates and reduces inflammation and bacterial load in mice with sepsis, demonstrating strong antimicrobial activity. Using a synergistic Alo + TIE regimen in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model, we observed a remarkable increase in survival rates from 10 % to 75 % within 72 h compared with the CLP group alone. This combination therapy also modulated inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, mitigated tissue damage, regulated immune cells by lowering NK, activated CD8+ and CD4+ T cells while increasing peritoneal macrophages, and decreased the bacterial load in the peritoneal cavity. We noted a significant shift in the abdominal cavity microbiota composition post-treatment, with a decrease in harmful bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Klebsiella, Bacillus, and Escherichia, and an increase in beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus and Mucispirillum. Our study emphasizes the efficacy of combining Alo with TIE to combat sepsis, and paves the way for further investigations and potential clinical applications aiming to overcome the limitations of TIE and enhance the therapeutic prospects of Alo.

Huperzine a ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Sepsis, characterized by high mortality rates, causes over 50 % of acute lung injury (ALI) cases, primarily due to the heightened susceptibility of the lungs during this condition. Suppression of the excessive inflammatory response is critical for improving the survival of patients with sepsis; nevertheless, no specific anti-sepsis drugs exist. Huperzine A (HupA) exhibits neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its underlying mechanisms and effects on sepsis-induced ALI have yet to be elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated the potential of HupA for treating sepsis and explored its mechanism of action. To investigate the in vivo impacts of HupA, a murine model of sepsis was induced through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in both wild-type (WT) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) knockout mice. Our results showed that HupA ameliorates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by activating the α7nAChR. We used the CLP sepsis model in wild-type and α7nAChR -/- mice and found that HupA significantly increased the survival rate through α7nAChR, reduced the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and oxidative stress, ameliorated histopathological lung injury, altered the circulating immune cell composition, regulated gut microbiota, and promoted short-chain fatty acid production through α7nAChR in vivo. Additionally, HupA inhibited Toll-like receptor NF-κB signaling by upregulating the α7nAChR/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 pathways. Our data elucidate HupA's mechanism of action and support a "new use for an old drug" in treating sepsis. Our findings serve as a basis for further in vivo studies of this drug, followed by application to humans. Therefore, the findings have the potential to benefit patients with sepsis.

[Sequence variation and protein structure of pipo gene in Potato virus Y].

The objectives of this study were to understand the sequence variation and the putative protein structure of pipo gene in the Potato virus Y (PVY) collected from Solanum tuberosum. The pipo gene in PVY was cloned using a pair of degenerate primers designed from its conserved region and its sequences were used to re-construct phylogenetic tree in Potyvirus genera by a Bayesian inference method. An expected fragment of 235 bp was amplified in all 20 samples by RT-PCR and the pipo genes in the 20 samples assayed shared more than 92% nucleotide sequence similarity with the published sequences of PVY strains. Among the 20 pipo gene sequences, 13 polymorphic sites were detected, including 4 parsimony informative sites and 9 singleton variable sites. These results indicate that PVY pipo gene is highly conserved but some sequence variations exist. Further analyses suggest that the pipo gene encodes a hydrophilic protein without signal peptide and transmembrane region. The protein has theoretical isoelectric points (pI) ranging from 11.26 to 11.62 and contains three highly conserved regions, especially between aa 10 and 59. The protein is likely located in the mitochondria and has a-helix secondary structure. Bayesian inference of phylogenetic trees reveals that PVY isolates are clustered in the same branch with high posterior probability, while Sunflower chlorotic mottle virus (SoCMoV) and Pepper severe mosaic virus (PepSMV) are closely related, consisting with the classification of Potyvirus genera using other approaches. Our analyses suggest that the pipo gene can be a new marker for phylogenetic analysis of the genera. The results reported in this paper provide useful insights in the genetic variation and the evolution of PVY and can stimulate further research on structure and function of the PIPO protein.

Regional intergenerational mobility and corporate innovation: Evidence from China.

By stimulating social vitality and improving innovation efficiency, intergenerational mobility plays an essential role in economic development. With the data from China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) and A-share listed companies, this paper uses the methodology of intergenerational order correlation to measure regional intergenerational mobility, and examines the impact of regional intergenerational mobility on corporate innovation. The results are as follows: (1) Regional intergenerational mobility promotes corporate innovation both quantitatively and qualitatively, and a series of robustness tests confirm our findings; (2) Two channels identified are government-enterprise human capital allocation and fairness perception; (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the innovation effect of regional intergenerational mobility is more significant in the high-tech industry and private enterprises; (4) Multi-dimensional market-oriented policy can be used to get rid of the shackles of low intergenerational mobility on corporate innovation. Our findings provide implications for developing countries on how to address the relationship between inequality and economic development.

A Comparative Analysis of the Chloroplast Genomes of Three Lonicera Medicinal Plants.

Both Lonicerae japonicae flos and Lonicerae similis flos are important components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with precious medicinal value. However, the absence of studies on their chloroplast genomes and chromatography has considerably hindered the study of their evolutionary and phylogenetic relationships. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of Lonicera acuminata Wall. and Lonicera similis Hemsl. were sequenced using the Illumina sequencing platform and compared with that of Lonicera japonica Thunb., which has been previously reported. Furthermore, the chromatographic fingerprints of the three plants were constructed using HPLC and the content of quality marker (Q-Marker) was calculated. The annotation results showed that the two chloroplast genomes were typical quadripartite structures with lengths of 155,330 bp (L. acuminata) and 155,207 bp (L. similis). A total of 126 different genes were annotated, containing 82 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat (IR) regions suggested that the boundary regions of IR/SC were comparatively conserved in the three species, and six regions (trnH-GUG-psbA, rps2-rpoC2, rbcL-psaI, trnN-GUU-ndhF, rps15-ycf1, and infA) with nucleotide diversity values (Pi) of variable sites higher than 1% were identified. Phylogenetic relation indicated that L. similis had a closer genetic relationship with L. japonica than L. acuminata. Additionally, the chromatographic fingerprints showed that the characteristic peaks of the three medicinal plants were similar, including Neochlorogenic acid, Chlorogenic acid, 4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid, Sweroside, Secoxyloganin, Luteoloside, Isochlorogenic acid A, Isochlorogenic acid B, and Isochlorogenic acid C. The content of chlorogenic acid and total phenolic acid in L. acuminata (7.4633 ± 0.4461%, 14.8953 ± 0.0728%) and L. similis (14.1055 ± 0.2566%, 21.9782 ± 0.1331%) was much higher than that of L. japonica (3.9729 ± 0.0928%, 6.0964 ± 0.1228%), respectively. This study provides appropriate information for species identification, phylogeny, quality assessment, and rational use of three medicinal plants of the genus Lonicera.

A Case of Invasive Fungal Infection Due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a Patient with Psoriasis.

Scedosporium apiospermum (S. apiospermum) is typically reported to be involved in superficial and subcutaneous fungal infections but overlooked in invasive infections, which is associated with a high mortality rate. It poses a diagnostic challenge due to its confusable characteristics to other hyaline hyphomycetes. Here, we reported a psoriasis patient with an invasive S. apiospermum infection. The patient presents an abscess at the intermuscular space of the left hip and an increased C-reactive protein level. Pus culture showed white-greyish, cottonlike colonies with aerial mycelium and terminal oval conidia, suggesting S. apiospermum. This rare fungus was rapidly confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and RNA sequencing. The patient was successfully treated with voriconazole with no recurrence of the abscesses despite delayed treatment. This is the first such case infection report from China that described an unusual case of intermuscular space abscesses due to S. apiospermum. This report highlights the possibility of fungal infections in deeper tissue, as well as the necessity of thorough evaluation and microbiological diagnosis for invasive infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Quantitative analysis of optic disc changes in school-age children with ametropia based on artificial intelligence.

AIM: To explore changes in the optic disc and peripapillary atrophy (PPA) in school-age children with ametropia using color fundus photography combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology. METHODS: Based on the retrospective case-controlled study, 226 eyes of 113 children aged aged 6-12y were enrolled from October 2021 to May 2022. According to the results of spherical equivalent (SE), the children were divided into four groups: low myopia group (66 eyes), moderate myopia group (60 eyes), high myopia group (50 eyes) and emmetropia control group (50 eyes). All subjects underwent un-aided visual acuity, dilated pupil optometry, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, ocular axis measurement and color fundus photography. RESULTS: The width of PPA, horizontal diameter ratio of PPA to the optic disc and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc were significantly different among the four groups (P<0.05). The width of the nasal and temporal neuroretinal rim, the roundness of the optic disc, the height of PPA, the vertical diameter ratio of PPA to the optic disc, and the average density of PPA in the high myopia group were significantly different compared with the other three groups (P<0.05). There were strong negative correlations between SE and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc (r=-0.812, P<0.001) and strong positive correlation between axial length (AL) and area ratio of PPA to the optic disc (r=0.736, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In school-age children with high myopia, the nasal and temporal neuroretinal rims are narrowed and even lost, which have high sensitivity. The area ratio of the PPA to the optic disc could be used as an early predictor of myopia progression, which is of great significance for the development prevention and management of myopia.