Trismus originating from rare fungal myositis in pterygoid muscles: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Trismus is a common problem with various causes. Any abnormal conditions of relevant anatomic structures that disturb the free movement of the jaw might provoke trismus. Trismus has a detrimental effect on the quality of life. The outcome of this abnormality is critically dependent on timely diagnosis and treatment, and it is difficult to identify the true origin in some cases. We present a rare case of trismus due to fungal myositis in the pterygoid muscle, excluding any other possible pathogenesis. CASE SUMMARY: The patient presented with a 2-mo history of restricted mouth opening. Computed tomography showed obvious enlargement of the left pterygoid muscles. Furthermore, the patient had trismus without obvious predisposing causes. The primary diagnosis was pterygoid myosarcoma. Consequently, lesionectomy of the left pterygoid muscle was performed. Intraoperative frozen biopsy implied the possibility of an uncommon infection. Postoperative pathologic examination confirmed myositis and necrosis in the pterygoid muscle. Fungi were detected in both muscle tissue and surrounding necrotic tissue. The patient recovered well with antifungal therapy and mouth opening exercises. The rarity of fungal myositis may be responsible for the misdiagnosis. Although the origin of pathogenic fungi is still unknown, we believe that both hematogenous spread and local invasion could be the most likely sources. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature that reported fungal myositis in pterygoid muscles as the only reason that results in trismus. CONCLUSION: Surgeons should remain vigilant to the possibility of trismus originating from fungal myositis.

Immunogenicity and safety of a recombinant fusion protein vaccine (V-01) against coronavirus disease 2019 in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial.

BACKGROUND: Innovative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, with elevated global manufacturing capacity, enhanced safety and efficacy, simplified dosing regimens, and distribution that is less cold chain-dependent, are still global imperatives for tackling the ongoing pandemic. A previous phase I trial indicated that the recombinant COVID-19 vaccine (V-01), which contains a fusion protein (IFN-PADRE-RBD-Fc dimer) as its antigen, is safe and well tolerated, capable of inducing rapid and robust immune responses, and warranted further testing in additional clinical trials. Herein, we aimed to assess the immunogenicity and safety of V-01, providing rationales of appropriate dose regimen for further efficacy study. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial was initiated at the Gaozhou Municipal Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Guangdong, China) in March 2021. Both younger (n = 440; 18-59 years of age) and older (n = 440; ≥60 years of age) adult participants in this trial were sequentially recruited into two distinct groups: two-dose regimen group in which participants were randomized either to follow a 10 or 25 µg of V-01 or placebo given intramuscularly 21 days apart (allocation ratio, 3:3:1, n = 120, 120, 40 for each regimen, respectively), or one-dose regimen groups in which participants were randomized either to receive a single injection of 50 µg of V-01 or placebo (allocation ratio, 3:1, n = 120, 40, respectively). The primary immunogenicity endpoints were the geometric mean titers of neutralizing antibodies against live severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, and specific binding antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD). The primary safety endpoint evaluation was the frequencies and percentages of overall adverse events (AEs) within 30 days after full immunization. RESULTS: V-01 provoked substantial immune responses in the two-dose group, achieving encouragingly high titers of neutralizing antibody and anti-RBD immunoglobulin, which peaked at day 35 (161.9 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 133.3-196.7] and 149.3 [95%CI: 123.9-179.9] in 10 and 25 µg V-01 group of younger adults, respectively; 111.6 [95%CI: 89.6-139.1] and 111.1 [95%CI: 89.2-138.4] in 10 and 25 µg V-01 group of older adults, respectively), and remained high at day 49 after a day-21 second dose; these levels significantly exceed those in convalescent serum from symptomatic COVID-19 patients (53.6, 95%CI: 31.3-91.7). Our preliminary data show that V-01 is safe and well tolerated, with reactogenicity predominantly being absent or mild in severity and only one vaccine-related grade 3 or worse AE being observed within 30 days. The older adult participants demonstrated a more favorable safety profile compared with those in the younger adult group: with AEs percentages of 19.2%, 25.8%, 17.5% in older adults vs. 34.2%, 23.3%, 26.7% in younger adults at the 10, 25 µg V-01 two-dose group, and 50 µg V-01 one-dose group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The vaccine candidate V-01 appears to be safe and immunogenic. The preliminary findings support the advancement of the two-dose, 10 µg V-01 regimen to a phase III trial for a large-scale population-based evaluation of safety and efficacy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx (No. ChiCTR2100045107, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=124702).

Effectively Intervening Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells With a Combination of ROCK and TGF-ß Signaling Inhibitors.

Purpose: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is a key pathological event in proliferative retinal diseases such as proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). This study aimed to explore a new method to reverse EMT in RPE cells to develop an improved therapy for proliferative retinal diseases. Methods: In vitro, human embryonic stem cell-derived RPE cells were passaged and cultured at low density for an extended period of time to establish an EMT model. At different stages of EMT after treatment with known molecules or combinations of molecules, the morphology was examined, transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was measured, and expression of RPE- and EMT-related genes were examined with RT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence. In vivo, a rat model of EMT in RPE cells was established via subretinal injection of dispase. Retinal function was examined by electroretinography (ERG), and retinal morphology was examined. Results: EMT of RPE cells was effectively induced by prolonged low-density culture. After EMT occurred, only the combination of the Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 and the TGF-ß receptor inhibitor RepSox (RY treatment) effectively suppressed and reversed the EMT process, even in cells in an intermediate state of EMT. In dispase-treated Sprague-Dawley rats, RY treatment maintained the morphology of RPE cells and the retina and preserved retinal function. Conclusions: RY treatment might promote mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), the inverse process of EMT, to maintain the epithelial-like morphology and function of RPE cells. This combined RY therapy could be a new strategy for treating proliferative retinal diseases, especially those involving EMT of RPE cells.

Structural and Functional Thalamic Changes in Parkinson's Disease With Mild Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND: The thalamus is a key node of deep gray matter and previous studies have demonstrated that it is involved in the modulation of cognition. PURPOSE: To investigate the volume changes of the thalamus and its subregions and altered thalamus functional connectivity patterns in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). STUDY TYPE: Prospective. POPULATION: Thirty-three patients with MCI (PD-MCI), 36 PD patients having no cognitive impairment (PD-NCI), 21 healthy controls (HCs). SEQUENCE: 3.0T MRI scanner; 3D T1 -weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled echo (3D T1 -FSPGR); resting-state fMRI ASSESSMENT: Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was performed to calculate the volume of the thalamus and its subregions. The left and right total thalamus were considered seeds and seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was analyzed. Additionally, correlations between volumes and cognitive performance and between FC values and cognitive performance were examined separately. STATISTICAL TEST: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA); two-sample t-tests; partial correlation analysis. RESULTS: The volumes of the total thalamus (PD-MCI vs. PD-NCI vs. HCs: 18.39 ± 1.67 vs. 19.63 ± 1.79 vs. 19.47 ± 1.35) and its subregions were significantly reduced in PD-MCI as compared to PD-NCI (total thalamus: P = 0.002) and HCs (total thalamus: P = 0.012). Compared with PD-NCI, PD-MCI showed increased FC between the thalamus and bilateral middle cingulate cortex and left posterior cingulate cortex, and decreased FC between thalamus and the left superior occipital gyrus, left cuneus, left precuneus, and left middle occipital gyrus. Volumes of thalamus and the subregions, as well as the FC of thalamus with the identified regions, were significantly correlated (P < 0.05, FDR-corrected) with neuropsychological scores in PD patients. DATA CONCLUSION: We noted volume loss and altered FC of thalamus in PD-MCI patients, and these changes were correlated with global cognitive performance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1207-1215.

Gypenosides Prevent H2O2-Induced Retinal Ganglion Cell Apoptosis by Concurrently Suppressing the Neuronal Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response.

Our previous study demonstrated that gypenosides (Gp) exert protective effects on retinal nerve fibers and axons in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune optic neuritis. However, the therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. Thus, in this study, a model of oxidative damage in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was established to investigate the protective effect of Gp, and its possible influence on oxidative stress in RGCs. Treatment of cells with H2O2 induced RGC injury owing to the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the activities of antioxidative enzymes decreased and the expression of inflammatory factors increased, resulting in an increase in cellular apoptosis. Gp helped RGCs to become resistant to oxidation damage by directly reducing the amount of ROS in cells and exerting protective effects against H2O2-induced apoptosis. Treatment with Gp also reduced the generation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and increased nuclear respiratory factor 2 (Nrf-2) levels so as to increase the levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase 1/2 (Gpx1/2), which can enhance antioxidation in RGCs. In conclusion, our data indicate that neuroprotection by Gp involves its antioxidation and anti-inflammation effects. Gp prevents apoptosis through a mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. This finding might provide novel insights into understanding the mechanism of the neuroprotective effects of gypenosides in the treatment of optic neuritis.

Orbital myiasis: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Myiasis is a parasitic disease caused by fly larvae of the Diptera order that infest human and other vertebrate animal tissues. Orbital myiasis is a potentially destructive infestation of the orbital tissues, which may affect individuals with previous ocular diseases or disorders of consciousness. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 72-year-old man presented with a complaint of repeated pain for two years after trauma to his right eyelid and aggravated symptoms with larvae wriggling out for 2 days. An orbital computed tomography scan revealed right eyeball protrusion and periocular soft tissue edema. Two days later, magnetic resonance imaging showed that the shape of the right eyeball was changed and that the normal structure of the eyeball could not be identified. DIAGNOSES: Due to the patient's symptoms and imaging examination results, the diagnosis of orbital myiasis was made. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated by exenteration of the right orbit, and all necrotic tissues and larvae were removed. The defect was repaired via reconstruction with a pedicled musculocutaneous flap from the forehead region. Antibiotics and tetanus toxoid therapy were utilized to prevent potential bacterial infection. OUTCOMES: The patient recovered well postoperatively and was discharged uneventfully. During the 6-month follow-up period, the wound healed well. LESSONS: Advanced age and untreated eye trauma are risk factors for orbital myiasis. Timely removal of larvae and elimination of infections are important measures for protecting the eyeball.

Combination of checkpoint inhibitors with radiotherapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treatment: A novel strategy.

Despite the rapid development of numerous types of treatment, including radiotherapy (RT) as the main strategy, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has a poor prognosis. Recent studies demonstrated that immunotherapy can improve the survival of patients with locally advanced and metastatic ESCC. Furthermore, previous studies reported that the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 is significantly associated with esophageal cancer prognosis. At present, several ongoing clinical trials have extended the use of immunotherapy from palliative and salvage treatments to neoadjuvant treatment with concurrent chemoradiation. The first- or second-line treatments were used to explore antitumor efficacy with reduced adverse events. The combination of RT and immunotherapy can exert a local therapeutic effect and improve the function of the immune system, enhancing antitumor efficacy. This review investigated the role of immunotherapy and radiotherapy in ESCC and described the potential efficacy of combining immunotherapy with radiotherapy in ESCC.

Influence of media intervention on AIDS transmission in MSM groups.

To explore the effects of propaganda and education on the prevention and control of AIDS infection, a model of AIDS transmission in MSM population is proposed and theoretically analyzed by introducing media impact factors. The basic reproduction number of AIDS transmission in MSM group without media intervention R0 = 1.5447 is obtained. Based on the comparison of the implementation of three different detection and treatment measures, it can be concluded that the promotion of condom use is more effective than other strategies, and using condoms with a fixed partner can reduce the value of R0 more quickly.

Research on the Potential Mechanism of Gypenosides on Treating Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy Based on Network Pharmacology.

Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy is the commonest orbital disease in adults. However, shortcomings still exist in treatments. The aim of this study was to identify the efficacy and potential mechanism of gypenosides in the treatment of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform was screened for active compounds of gypenosides, and targets were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction. The targets of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy were obtained from Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, Comparative Toxicogenomic Database and GeneCards Human gene database. Gene Ontology (GO), the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Reactome Pathways were determined based on the common targets. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to further understand of relationship among target genes, compounds and proteins. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding ability between gypenosides and hub genes. A total of 70 targets for gypenosides and 804 targets for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy were obtained with 8 common targets identified. GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the hub genes were enriched in JAK-STAT, while Reactome pathways analysis indicated genes enriched in interleukin pathways. PPI network showed STAT1, STAT3, and STAT4 were at the center. Additionally, molecular docking indicated that STAT1 and STAT3 display good binding forces with gypenosides. This study indicates that target genes mainly enriched in JAK-STAT signaling pathway, particularly in STATs, which can be combined with gypenosides. This may suggest that gypenosides have curative effect on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy via the JAK-STAT pathway.

Measurement of the Orbital Soft Tissue Volume in Chinese Adults Based on Three-Dimensional CT Reconstruction.

Quantitative measurement of the orbital soft tissue volume plays a very important role in the study of orbital diseases. The purpose of this study is to establish a computed tomography- (CT-) based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction model and measure the orbital soft tissue volume in Chinese adults. We collected data from 103 Chinese adults (52 males and 51 females) who underwent orbital CT. The CT images of these adults were used to reconstruct a 3D model of the orbital bony cavity, orbital fat, extraocular muscle, and intraorbital optic nerve using Mimics software, and their respective volumes were measured. The mean (±SD) orbital bony cavity volume (OV), orbital fat volume (FV), extraocular muscle volume (MV), and intraorbital optic nerve volume (iONV) of the males were 22.2 ± 2.2 cm3, 8.9 ± 1.8 cm3, 1.9 ± 0.34 cm3, and 0.41 ± 0.08 cm3, respectively. The mean OV, FV, MV, and iONV of the females were 20.2 ± 1.5 cm3, 8.1 ± 1.7 cm3, 1.6 ± 0.3 cm3, and 0.36 ± 0.074 cm3, respectively, which were all significantly lower than those in males (all p < 0.05). FV (r = 0.370; p < 0.001) and MV (r = 0.283; p=0.007) were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI), while iONV was not correlated with BMI (r = -0.070; p=0.480). This study shows that FV, MV, and iONV were higher in males than in females. With increasing BMI, FV and MV both increased, but iONV did not exhibit this trend.

Diabetes inhibits corneal epithelial cell migration and tight junction formation in mice and human via increasing ROS and impairing Akt signaling.

Corneal wounds usually heal quickly; but diabetic patients have more fragile corneas and experience delayed and painful healing. In the present study, we compared the healing capacity of corneal epithelial cells (CECs) between normal and diabetic conditions and the potential mechanisms. Primary murine CEC derived from wild-type and diabetic (db/db) mice, as well as primary human CEC were prepared. Human CEC were exposed to high glucose (30 mM) to mimic diabetic conditions. Cell migration and proliferation were assessed using Scratch test and MTT assays, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the cells was measured using dichlorofluorescein reagent. Western blot was used to evaluate the expression levels of Akt. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression were used to determine tight junction integrity. We found that the diabetic CEC displayed significantly slower cell proliferation and migration compared with the normal CEC from both mice and humans. Furthermore, ROS production was markedly increased in CEC grown under diabetic conditions. Treatment with an antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, 100 µM) significantly decreased ROS production and increased wound healing in diabetic CEC. Barrier function was significantly reduced in both diabetic mouse and human CEC, while NAC treatment mitigated these effects. We further showed that Akt signaling was impaired in diabetic CEC, which was partially improved by NAC treatment. These results show that diabetic conditions lead to delayed wound-healing capacity of CEC and impaired tight junction formation in both mice and human. Increased ROS production and inhibited Akt signaling may contribute to this outcome, implicating these as potential targets for treating corneal wounds in diabetic patients.

Effect of orbital decompression on dysthyroid optic neuropathy: A retrospective case series.

In this study, we try to explore the effect of orbital decompression treatment on severe dysthyroid optic neuropathy.We retrospectively collected demographic and clinical characteristics of thyroid eye disease patients who performed orbital decompression. Then we analyzed the change of best-corrected visual acuity and exophthalmometry after surgery and the correlations among clinical parameters.A total of 22 cases (30 eyes) were included in the study. After orbital decompression, visual acuities improved in 16 eyes, declined in 8 eyes, and had no change in 5 eyes. Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly improved (0.1 vs 0.4, P = .039) and exophthalmometry was significantly declined (22.0 mm vs 16.5 mm, P = .001) after orbital decompression. Better postoperative best-corrected visual acuity was significantly correlated with better preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (r = 0.718, P < .05), and with normal optic disc (r = 0.568, P < .05), but not with age, exophthalmometry, keratopathy, and clinical activity score.These results showed that orbital decompression is a useful approach to manage dysthyroid optic neuropathy. The optimal time for surgery should be chosen based on clinical parameters, such as visual acuity and degree of crowding of orbital apex.

A novel and quick PCR-based method to genotype mice with a leptin receptor mutation (db/db mice).

db/db mice is one of most widely used animal models in studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. The mice carry spontaneous point mutations in the gene encoding the leptin receptor, leading to leptin receptor inactivation. Since homozygous db/db mice are sterile, the maintenance of db/db mice requires breeding between heterozygous pairs, which makes genotyping essential for the identification of offspring. The aim of this study was to develop a quick and highly repeatable method for genotyping db/db mice, which comprised only three simple steps: genomic DNA is extracted from either tail tips or ear notches via alkaline lysis (∼20 min); samples are then subjected to tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) using specially designed and validated primer sets (∼1.5 h); finally, genotypes are be determined by resolving PCR products on regular DNA electrophoresis (∼10 min). The entire db/db mice genotyping procedure can be performed using regular Taq polymerase and PCR amplification within 2 h. Other advantages of this method include high sensitivity and reproducibility. Minimal amounts of tissue from mice are required, and genomic DNA samples can be stably stored at room temperature for up to one month. In conclusion, the method is simple, cost effective, sensitive and reliable, which will greatly facilitate studies using db/db mice.

Gypenosides protect retinal pigment epithelium cells from oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of retinal degeneration. Gypenosides are the major functional components isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. They have been shown to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation and have also demonstrated a protective effect on experimental optic neuritis. In order to determine the protective properties of gypenosides against oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, ARPE-19 cells were treated with H2O2 or H2O2 plus gypenosides for 24 h. ARPE-19 cells co-treated with gypenosides had significantly increased cell viability and decreased cell death rate when compared to cells treated with H2O2 alone. The level of GSH, the activities of SOD and catalase, and the expression of NRF2 and antioxidant genes were notably decreased, while there were marked increases in ROS, MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokines in ARPE-19 cells exposed to H2O2; co-treatment with gypenosides significantly counteract these changes. Our study suggests that gypenosides protect RPE cells from oxidative damage and offer therapeutic potential for the treatment of retinal degeneration.

Yangxin Tongmai Formula ameliorates impaired glucose tolerance in children with Graves' disease through upregulation of the insulin receptor levels.

Graves' disease (GD) is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, and the majority of GD patients eventually develop disorders of glucose handling, which further affects their quality of life. Yangxin Tongmai formula (YTF) is modified from a famous formula of traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this study we investigated the potential effects of YTF in the treatment of pediatric GD patients with impaired glucose tolerance. Forty pediatric GD patients and 20 healthy children were recruited for this clinical study. Based on the glucose tolerance, the GD patients were divided into two groups: 20 patients displayed impaired glucose tolerance, while the other 20 patients displayed normal glucose tolerance. YTF was orally administered for 60 days. YTF administration significantly ameliorated the abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in the GD patients with impaired glucose tolerance. To determine the molecular mechanisms of this observation, the number of plasma insulin receptors was determined by ELISA. Before treatment, the fasting and postprandial levels of the insulin receptor were significantly lower in patients with impaired glucose tolerance compared with those in patients with normal glucose tolerance and healthy children. After YTF treatment, both the fasting and the postprandial circulating insulin receptor levels were upregulated, and close to those in healthy children. Therefore, YTF is a potential effective treatment to enhance glucose handling in GD children with impaired glucose tolerance.

Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs in idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor tissues: a comparative case series.

AIM: To investigate the positive rate and types of cells that express Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNAs (EBERs) and to determine the distribution of EBER-expressing cells in idiopathic orbital inflammatory pseudotumor (IOIP) tissues. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 40 archived paraffin specimens from two teaching hospitals in Southern China between January 2007 and January 2015 that were pathologically determined to exhibit IOIP. Eleven concurrent paraffin specimens of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) composed the control group. In situ hybridization was performed to detect EBERs. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect CD3, CD20, Vimentin, and smooth muscle actin (SMA), and the positive rate, types of positive cells, and distribution and location of EBERs were evaluated. RESULTS: The positive expression rate of EBERs was 47.5% (19/40) in the IOIP group, which was significantly higher than that in the TAO group [0 (0/11), P=0.011]. In the IOIP group, the lymphocyte infiltrative subtype, fibrotic subtype, and mixed subtype exhibited EBER-positive rates of 57.1% (12/21), 12.5% (1/8), and 54.5% (6/11), respectively, and no significant differences were found between these subtypes (P=0.085). Positive signals of EBERs were mainly present in medium-small lymphocytes between or around follicles and in the nuclei of activated immunoblasts (14/19). CONCLUSION: The positive rate, types, and distribution of EBER-expressing cells in IOIP have been documented. These findings are conducive for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of Epstein-Barr virus infection in IOIP pathogenesis.

Neuroprotective effects of gypenosides in experimental autoimmune optic neuritis.

AIM: To determine whether gypenosides have protective effects in experimental autoimmune optic neuritis (EAON). METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into seven groups: control group, model group, three different density gypenosides monotherapy, methylprednisolone monotherapy, combination of gypenosides and methylprednisolone group. The control group was subcutaneously injected with oil emulsion adjuvant and all other groups were subcutaneously immunized with an emulsified mixture of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) 35-55 peptide to induce EAON. Mice in the gypenosides groups were administered injections daily with three concentrations (15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg) of gypenosides respectively. Mice in the methylprednisolone group and the combination treatment group were injected daily with methylprednisolone (20 mg/kg) or methylprednisolone (20 mg/kg) + gypenosides (30 mg/kg), respectively. After MOG immunization, visual evoked potential (VEP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and histopathologic examination were performed at 14, 20, 30, and 40d post-inoculation (p.i.). All results were expressed as mean±SEM. The data were evaluated by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey or Games-Howell test. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, p2 latency was prolonged in the model group (P=0.041). Combination treatment can alleviated the change in VEP at 20d p.i. (P=0.012). Average peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was reduced in the model group (P=0.000, 30d; P=0.000, 40d) and gypenosides treatment remarkably diminished the degree of RNFL degeneration at 30d and 40d p.i (P=0.000, 30d; P=0.000, 40d). The pathomorphological results showed a decrease in demye-lination (P=0.020) and inflammatory reactions in the combination group compared with the model group (20d p.i.). Gypenosides treatment also alleviated the degree of axonal loss (40d p.i.) (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: Treatment with gypenosides exerts protective effects on retinal nerve fibers and axons in EAON. When combined with gypenosides, methylprednisolone reduces demyelination in the acute stage of EAON.

Characterizing a large outbreak of dengue fever in Guangdong Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Dengue cases have been reported each year for the past 25 years in Guangdong Province, China with a recorded historical peak in 2014. This study aims to describe the epidemiological characteristics of this large outbreak in order to better understand its epidemic factors and to inform control strategies. METHODS: Data for clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed dengue fever cases in 2014 were extracted from the China Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System. We analyzed the incidence and characteristics of imported and indigenous cases in terms of population, temporal and spatial distributions. RESULTS: A total of 45 224 dengue fever cases and 6 deaths were notified in Guangdong Province in 2014, with an incidence of 47.3 per 100 000 people. The elderly (65+ years) represented 11.7 % of total indigenous cases with the highest incidence (72.3 per 100 000). Household workers and the unemployed accounted for 23.1 % of indigenous cases. The majority of indigenous cases occurred in the 37(th) to 44(th) week of 2014 (September and October) and almost all (20 of 21) prefecture-level cities in Guangdong were affected. Compared to the non-Pearl River Delta Region, the Pearl River Delta Region accounted for the majority of dengue cases and reported cases earlier in 2014. Dengue virus serotypes 1 (DENV-1), 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3) were detected and DENV-1 was predominant (88.4 %). CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever is a serious public health problem and is emerging as a continuous threat in Guangdong Province. There is an urgent need to enhance dengue surveillance and control, especially for the high-risk populations in high-risk areas.

Diversity and structure of soil bacterial communities in the Fildes Region (maritime Antarctica) as revealed by 454 pyrosequencing.

This study assessed the diversity and composition of bacterial communities in four different soils (human-, penguin-, seal-colony impacted soils and pristine soil) in the Fildes Region (King George Island, Antarctica) using 454 pyrosequencing with bacterial-specific primers targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia were abundant phyla in almost all the soil samples. The four types of soils were significantly different in geochemical properties and bacterial community structure. Thermotogae, Cyanobacteria, Fibrobacteres, Deinococcus-Thermus, and Chlorobi obviously varied in their abundance among the 4 soil types. Considering all the samples together, members of the genera Gaiella, Chloracidobacterium, Nitrospira, Polaromonas, Gemmatimonas, Sphingomonas, and Chthoniobacter were found to predominate, whereas members of the genera Chamaesiphon, Herbaspirillum, Hirschia, Nevskia, Nitrosococcus, Rhodococcus, Rhodomicrobium, and Xanthomonas varied obviously in their abundance among the four soil types. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed that pH (p < 0.01), phosphate phosphorus (p < 0.01), organic carbon (p < 0.05), and organic nitrogen (p < 0.05) were the most significant factors that correlated with the community distribution of soil bacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the soil bacterial communities in human-, penguin-, and seal- colony impacted soils from ice-free areas in maritime Antarctica using high-throughput pyrosequencing.