Molecular characterization of a novel mycovirus from binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A strain A46.

The complete genome sequence of a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) virus, Rhizoctonia beny-like virus 1 (RBLV1), isolated from binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-A strain A46, was determined. The RBLV1 genome is 10,280 nt in length and contains a short stretch of adenines at the 3' terminus. It contains a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 376.30-kDa protein with viral helicase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) motifs. The encoded protein exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Rhizoctonia cerealis beny-like virus 0928-1 (RcBeLV 0928-1, 45.25%), with a sequence coverage of 63%. Phylogenetic analysis based on ORF protein sequences revealed that RBLV1 is a novel unclassified mycovirus.

Identification and nucleotide sequencing of a novel partitivirus derived from Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HG III isolate A14.

Rhizoctonia solani is a widely disseminated phytopathogen that is found in the soil and is capable of harming many important species of crops. Here, analysis of the R. solani AG-4 HG III strain A14 led to the identification of a novel mycovirus assigned the tentative name "Rhizoctonia solani partitivirus A14" (RsPV-A14), which was subjected to sequencing and associated analyses. This approach revealed that RsPV-A14 harbored two dsRNA segments, 2022 bp (dsRNA1) and 1905 bp (dsRNA2) in length. dsRNA1 was found to contain a single open reading frame (ORF1) that codes for a 622-amino-acid protein with conserved RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) motifs, and dsRNA2 was found to contain an ORF (ORF2) that is predicted to code for a 558-amino-acid capsid protein (CP). BLASTp analysis using the putative RdRp of RsPV-A14 showed sequence similarity to partitiviruses, including Rosellinia necatrix partitivirus 7 (50.53% identity), an unclassified partitivirus. Phylogenetic analysis based on RdRp protein sequences suggested that RsPV-A14 is a novel member of the family Partitiviridae.

Complete nucleotide sequence of a novel alphapartitivirus from Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HG III isolate SM03.

In this report, the full genome sequence of a novel mycovirus, designated as "Rhizoctonia solani partitivirus SM03" (RsPV-SM03), was determined in Rhizoctonia solani AG-4 HG III isolate SM03. RsPV-SM03 genome consists of two dsRNAs (dsRNA-1 and dsRNA-2), each of them contains one single open reading frame (ORF). ORF1 of dsRNA-1 encodes a putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), while ORF2 of dsRNA-2 encodes a putative viral coat protein (CP). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the RdRp and CP of RsPV-SM03 are closely related to those of other members of the genus Alphapartitivirus, family Partitiviridae, suggesting that RsPV-SM03 represents a novel species in the genus Alphapartitivirus.

Complete nucleotide sequence of a novel mycovirus infecting Rhizoctonia fumigata AG-Ba isolate C-314 Baishi.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a novel mycovirus, designated as "Rhizoctonia fumigata bipartite virus 1" (RfBV1), from Rhizoctonia fumigata AG-Ba isolate C-314 Baishi was determined. The genome of RfBV1 is composed of two double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA). dsRNA-1 (2311 bp) contains one open reading frame (ORF), which codes for the putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the virus. dsRNA-2 (1690 bp) contains one ORF, which encodes a putative protein whose function is unknown. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the RdRp of RfBV1 clustered with several unassigned bipartite viruses belonging to the CThTV-like viruses group, but not the family Amalgaviridae or Partitiviridae. Our study suggests that RfBV1 is a novel mycovirus related to the CThTV-like viruses.

Complete genome sequence of a novel mitovirus from binucleate Rhizoctonia AG-K strain FAS2909W.

The full-length AU-rich (63.14%) 2,794-nucleotide sequence of Rhizoctonia mitovirus K1 (RMV-K1) isolated from the binucleate AG-K strain FAS2909W was determined. The positive strand of RMV-K1 contains a large open reading frame (ORF) when the fungal mitochondrial genetic code is used. This ORF was predicted to encode an RdRp protein exhibiting the highest sequence identity (41.77%) to Rhizoctonia solani mitovirus 30. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RMV-K1 is a novel member of the genus Mitovirus, family Mitoviridae.

General anesthetic neurotoxicity in the young: Mechanism and prevention.

General anesthesia (GA) is usually considered to safely induce a reversible unconscious state allowing surgery to be performed without pain. A growing number of studies, in particular pre-clinical studies, however, demonstrate that general anesthetics can cause neuronal death and even long-term neurological deficits. Herein, we report our literature review and meta-analysis data of the neurological outcomes after anesthesia in the young. We also review available mechanistic and epigenetic data of GA exposure related to cognitive impairment per se and the potential preventive strategies including natural herbal compounds to attenuate those side effects. In summary, anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity may be treatable and natural herbal compounds and other medications may have great potential for such use but warrants further study before clinical applications can be initiated.

Diagnostic accuracy of radiology (CT, X-ray, US) for predicting difficult intubation in adults: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the overall accuracy of radiological measurements in prediction of difficult airway and compare the diagnostic value between the radiological measurements and the modified Mallampati score through a meta-analysis of published studies. METHODS: A comprehensive electronic search of related literature was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. Meta-DiSc 1.4 and STATA 12.0 were selected for data analysis, and QUADAS-2 tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Difficult airway was defined as Cormack-Lehane III-IV. Data from selected studies were pooled to yield summary sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, as well as summary receiver operating characteristic curve. RESULTS: A total of 17 studies dating up to November 2017 with 8779 individuals were enrolled in the present study. Heterogeneity existed in the non-threshold effect, but not in the threshold effect. Subgroup analyses based on radiological methods were conducted. The pooled diagnostic characteristics in the computed tomography subgroup were as follows: sensitivity 0.75 (95%CI, 0.64-0.84), specificity 0.75 (95%CI 0.68-0.81), PLR 3.19 (95%CI 1.91-5.32), NLR 0.38 (95%CI 0.23-0.64), DOR 11.74 (95% CI, 4.19-32.86) and AUC 0.8424 with Q* index 0.7741. In the X-ray subgroup, the sensitivity was 0.78 (95%CI, 0.73-0.82), the specificity was 0.88 (95%CI, 0.87-0.89), PLR was 5.03 (95%CI, 2.44-10.37), NLR was 0.27 (95%CI, 0.22-0.33), DOR was 23.18 (95%CI, 8.81-60.95) and AUC was 0.8970 with Q* index 0.8280. The corresponding values for the ultrasound subgroup were 0.69 (95%CI, 0.63-0.74) for sensitivity, 0.84 (95%CI, 0.82-0.85) for specificity, 6.25 (95%CI, 3.81-10.27) for PLR, 0.36 (95%CI, 0.27-0.47) for NLR, 22.26 (95%CI, 10.45-47.41) for DOR, 0.8942 for AUC with Q* index 0.8251. The pooled sensitivity, specificity and PLR of the modified Mallampati score were 0.61 (95%CI 0.56-0.66), 0.63 (95%CI 0.61-0.64) and 2.11 (95%CI 1.71-2.61) which were significantly lower than that of radiographic methods. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that the diagnostic value of CT, X-ray and US was much better than that of modified Mallampati score. Ultrasound had diagnostic indices and the area under curve similar to those of CT and X-ray in predicting difficult airway. Considering being easy, readily availability, low cost, and free from radiological hazards, it can be considered as prior diagnostic strategy in this condition.

Preparation of novel biodegradable ropivacaine microspheres and evaluation of their efficacy in sciatic nerve block in mice.

In this study, ropivacaine chitosan-loaded microspheres for subcutaneous administration were developed. The systems were characterized in terms of surface morphology, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and in vitro release behavior. Results showed that the microspheres had drug loading rate of 7.3% and encapsulation efficiency of 91.2%, and their average diameter was 2.62±0.76 µm. The morphology study revealed that the microspheres are uniform monodispersed spheres and did not form aggregates in aqueous solution. It was clearly observed that the release profile of ropivacaine microspheres exhibited a biphasic pattern: the initial burst release within the first 2 hours and a following slower and sustained release over a long time. In vivo, a greater area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to t (AUC0- t ) was obtained from the microspheres (4.27-fold), than from the injection group, which indicated that there was a significantly improved systemic exposure to ropivacaine. Pharmacodynamics result showed that preparing ropivacaine as microsphere preparation could not only extend the drug effect time but also decrease the administration dosage.

In vivo and ex vivo effects of propofol on myocardial performance in rats with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Responsiveness of the "jaundiced heart" to propofol is not completely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of propofol on myocardial performance in rats with obstructive jaundice. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40) were randomly allocated into two groups, twenty underwent bile duct ligation (BDL), and 20 underwent a sham operation. Seven days after the surgery, propofol was administered in vivo and ex vivo (Langendorff preparations). Heart rate, left ventricular end-systolic pressure (LVESP) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and maximal rate for left ventricular pressure rise and decline (± dP/dtmax ) were measured to determine the influence of propofol on the cardiac function of rats. RESULTS: Impaired basal cardiac function was observed in the isolated BDL hearts, whereas in vivo indices of basal cardiac function (LVESP and ± dP/dt) in vivo were significantly higher in rats that underwent BDL compared with controls. With low or intermediate concentrations of propofol, these indices of cardiac function were within the normal physiologic range in both groups, and responsiveness to propofol was unaffected by BDL. When the highest concentration of propofol was administrated, a significant decline in cardiac function was observed in the BDL group. CONCLUSIONS: In rats that underwent BDL, basal cardiac performance was better in vivo and worse ex vivo compared with controls. Low and intermediate concentrations of propofol did not appear to impair cardiac function in rats with obstructive jaundice.

[The use of diammonium glycyrrhizinate in the treatment of hepatic dysfunction in burn patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the protective effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate on hepatic function in burn patients. METHODS: Twenty burn patients with hepatic dysfunction were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups, i. e. treatment (T, n = 10, with conventional treatment and intravenous infusion of 150 mg diammonium glycyrrhizinate per day for 14 days), and control (C, n = 10, with conventional treatment) groups. The blood samples in both groups were collected before and 7 and 15 days after the treatment. The serum contents of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and PA in the blood samples were determined and analyzed comparatively. RESULTS: There was obvious difference in the serum contents of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and PA in the T group before treatment (168 +/- 46 U/L, 104 +/- 29 U/L, 162 +/- 37 U/L, 149 +/- 17 U/L, 310 +/- 35 mg/L, respectively) and 15 days after treatment (51 +/- 9 U/L, 31 +/- 3 U/L, 56 +/- 10 U/L, 103 +/- 9 U/L, 372 +/- 44 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.05). There was no difference in these indices in the C group before and after treatment (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diammonium glycyrrhizinate seemed to be beneficial to the management of postburn hepatic dysfunction with obvious rapid depression of hepatic enzymes.