[Analysis of safety and factors influencing the surgical efficacy of benign biliary stenosis treated with autologous gastric flap repair with the vascular tip].

Objective: To investigate the complication rate and risk factors associated with using autologous gastric flap tissue with a vascular tip to treat benign biliary strictures. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 92 patients with benign biliary stenosis who applied autologous gastric flap tissue to repair the stenosis at the PLA General Hospital from January 2006 to May 2022. Among them, there were 40 males and 52 females, aged from 25 to 79 (50.5±12.9) years. The perioperative clinical data of the patients were recorded(Body Mass Index、preoperative platelets et.), and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors influencing postoperative complications. Long-term follow-up was conducted to evaluate the long-term efficacy of autologous gastric flap tissue with vascular tissues for benign biliary stenosis surgery. Results: The incidence of recent postoperative complications in patients was 26.1%, and univariate analysis showed that preoperative bile-intestinal anastomosis, positive intraoperative bile bacterial culture, low preoperative hemoglobin, and low preoperative platelet count were significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications after biliary stenosis repair with a vascularized gastric flap (P<0.05). Multifactorial analysis showed that low preoperative platelets (OR=0.990, 95%CI: 0.982-0.998, P=0.015), low preoperative hemoglobin (OR=4.953, 95%CI: 1.405-15.010, P=0.012) and positive intraoperative bile bacterial culture (OR=19.338, 95%CI: 3.618-103.360, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for the development of postoperative complications. The excellent long-term follow-up rate of patients was 92.0%. Conclusions: The procedure of repairing benign biliary stenosis with a vascularized gastric flap preserves the function of the sphincter of Oddi and reconstructs the normal physiological passage of the bile duct. This procedure is safe and feasible and provides a reliable option for the surgical treatment of bile duct injury and bile duct stenosis.

Theoretical and experimental studies for high-repetition-rate disordered crystal lasers with harmonic self-mode locking.

A harmonically self-mode-locked Nd:Sr3Y2/(BO3)4 disordered crystal laser with subpicosecond pulse duration is demonstrated. We exploit the damped harmonic oscillator model to numerically verify that the mode spacing of the laser cavity can be modified to be the harmonics of the free spectral range of the Fabry-Perot cavity when the optical length of the laser cavity is close to a commensurate ratio of the optical length of the Fabry-Perot cavity. In experiment, the Fabry-Perot cavity can be formed by the pump facet of the disordered crystal and the front mirror. A 110 GHz single-pulse harmonically mode-locked pulse train with pulse duration of 857 fs is experimentally achieved under optical lengths of 27.19 and 4.08 mm for the laser cavity and Fabry-Perot cavity respectively, corresponding to a fractional number of 20/3. A maximum output power of 162 mW is obtained at an incident pump power of 3.1 W.

Effect of age on the immune system and pathology of mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease lupus nephritis.

We investigated the effect of age on the expression of immune molecules [ANA, C4, double stranded DNA (dsDNA), CD16/32, CD19, CD3, and CD64], urine protein, and pathology in mice with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) lupus nephritis (LN), and their relationship with reactivity index score. Mouse models of cGVHD LN were established, and mice were randomly divided into four aged-based groups of nine mice each. Serum levels of ANA, C4, and dsDNA were determined, the urine protein levels were assessed, and expression levels of CD16/32, CD19, CD3, and CD64 were measured. Expression levels of CD16/32+CD19(T1), CD16/CD32+CD3(T2), and CD64+CD3 or CD19(T3) were defined in the thymus, in bone marrow they were defined as CD16/32+CD19(B1), CD16/32+CD3(B2), CD64+CD3 or CD19(B3), and in spleen they were defined as CD16/32+CD19(P1), CD16/32+CD3(P2), CD64+CD3 or CD19(P3), respectively. There were significant differences in the levels of dsDNA and urine protein among the four groups (P < 0.05), which were negatively correlated with age. B1, B2, S1, and S2 were significantly different among the four groups (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation with age for B1 and B2. There was no correlation of expression of ANA, C4, dsDNA, T1-T3, B1-B3, S2-S3 with reactivity index score; S1 was the exception (r = -0.440, P = 0.011). Age influenced levels of dsDNA and urine protein in the mouse cGVHD model of LN. S1 was associated with reactivity index score and might also affect pathological changes.

First Report of Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Glomerella magna on Lobelia chinensis in China.

Lobelia chinensis is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae that is native to China, where it grows well in moist to wet soils. It is commonly used as a Chinese herbal medicine. In May 2012, symptoms of leaf spot were observed on leaves of L. chinensis in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The leaf lesions began as small, water-soaked, pale greenish to grayish spots, which enlarged to gray to pale yellowish spots, 4 to 6 mm in diameter. At later stages, numerous acervuli appeared on the lesions. Acervuli were mostly epiphyllous, and 40 to 196 µm in diameter. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), a fungus was consistently recovered from symptomatic leaf samples, with a 93% isolation rate from 60 leaf pieces that were surface sterilized in 75% ethanol for 30 s and then in 0.1% mercuric chloride for 45 s. Three single-spore isolates were used to evaluate cultural and morphological characteristics of the pathogen. Setae were two to three septate, dark brown at the base, acicular, and up to 90 µm long. Conidia were long oblong-elliptical, guttulate, hyaline, and 11 to 20 × 4.1 to 6.3 µm (mean 15.2 × 5.1 µm). These morphological characteristics of the fungus were consistent with the description of Colletotrichum magna (teleomorph Glomerella magna Jenkins & Winstead) (1). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of one isolate, LC-1, was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. KC815123), and it showed 100% identity to G. magna, GenBank HM163187.1, an isolate from Brazil cultured from papaya (2). Although KC815123 was identified as G. magna, it shows 99% identity to GenBank sequences from isolates of C. magna, and more research is needed to elucidate the relationships between these taxa, especially with consideration to host specificity. Pathogenicity tests were performed with each of the three isolates by spraying conidial suspensions (1 × 106 conidia/ml) containing 0.1% Tween 20 onto the surfaces of leaves of 30-day-old and 6- to 8-cm-high plants. For each isolate, 30 leaves from five replicate plants were treated. Control plants were treated with sterilized water containing 0.1% Tween 20. All plants were incubated for 36 h at 25°C and 90% relative humidity in an artificial climate chamber, and then moved into a greenhouse. Seven days after inoculation, gray spots typical of field symptoms were observed on all inoculated leaves, but no symptoms were seen on water-treated control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of G. magna from diseased leaves. To our knowledge, this is the first report of G. magna infecting L. chinensis worldwide. References: (1) M. Z. Du et al. Mycologia 97:641, 2005. (2) R. J. Nascimento et al. Plant Dis. 94:1506, 2010.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Baphicacanthus cusia in China.

Baphicacanthus cusia is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Acanthaceae that is native to China, where it grows in warm temperate mountainous or hilly regions. It is commonly used as a Chinese herbal medicine. In March 2012, symptoms of leaf spot were observed on leaves of B. cusia in Long'an County, Guangxi, China, where this plant is extensively cultivated. Symptoms were initially small brown dots which developed into irregular to circular leaf spots. These spots enlarged and overlapped, extending until the 7- to 9-cm-long and 3- to 4-cm-wide leaves withered entirely, mostly within 2 months. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), the same fungus was cultured from 92% of 75 symptomatic leaf samples that had been surface sterilized in a 45-second dip in 0.1% mercuric chloride. Fungal structures were observed on diseased leaves: conidiophores (85 to 460 × 4 to 8 µm) were erect, brown, single or in clusters, and conidia (36 to 90 × 5 to 16 µm) were single or in chains of two to four, brown, cylindrical or obclavate, straight or slightly curved, with 3 to 18 pseudosepta and a conspicuous hilum. Three single-spore isolates were identified as Corynespora cassiicola (Berk & Curt.) Wei based on morphological and cultural characteristics (1). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of one isolate, ZY-1, was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JX908713), and it showed 100% identity to C. cassiicola, GenBank FJ852716, an isolate from Micronesia cultured from Ipomoea batatas (2). Pathogenicity tests were performed with each of the three isolates by spraying conidial suspensions (5 × 104 conidia/ml) containing 0.1% Tween 20 onto the surfaces of leaves of 60-day-old, 20-cm tall plants. For each isolate, 30 leaves from five replicate plants were treated. Control plants were treated with sterilized water containing 0.1% Tween 20. All plants were incubated for 36 h at 25°C and 90% relative humidity in an artificial climate chamber, and then moved into a greenhouse. Seven days after inoculation, dark brown spots typical of field symptoms were observed on all inoculated leaves, but no symptoms were seen on water-treated control plants. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of C. cassiicola from diseased leaves. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. cassiicola infecting B. cusia worldwide. References: (1) M. B. Ellis. Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Commonwealth Mycological Institute: Kew, Surrey, England, 1971. (2) L. J. Dixon et al. Phytopathology 99:1015, 2009.

An Outbreak of Gummosis of Mango Trees Caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae in Guangxi, South China.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is an economically important fruit in southern provinces of China. In May 2012, field surveys including 2,250 mango trees were done in nine orchards of five different counties in Guangxi Province. An outbreak of gummosis was observed in the province involving over 30,000 ha with an average of 50% disease incidence (DI) and a maximum of 70% in some orchards. Until then, gummosis had been considered a common but not serious disease. In 2012, high temperatures in April and extensive rain in May favored increased disease development. Infected plants showed abundant gum secretion from branches, stems, and main trunks. Some branches died from the disease. During the early stages of infection, branches or stems turned brown followed by xylem necrosis and exudation of a milky sap. The sap turned yellow and finally formed amber gum within several days. Initially, the gum appeared as small droplets, increasing in number, and covering most of the branches and the trunk with bark cracking under severe conditions. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), isolates with similar morphology were consistently recovered from symptomatic plant tissues after surface sterilization in 75% ethanol for 30 seconds and then in 0.1% mercuric chloride for 1 min. Five single-spore isolates from five different locations in Guangxi Province were used to evaluate characteristics of the pathogen. On PDA, cultures were gray with an irregularly distributed, fast-growing, and fluffy aerial mycelium, showing a dark underside as the colony changed from greenish to black after 5 days at 28°C. After 1 month, cultures produced globose pycnidia. Conidia were elliptical and hyaline when immature, becoming dark brown and one-septate, longitudinally striate when mature, and ranged from 20.0 to 28.0 × 10.5 to 16.0 µm (average 23.3 × 13.7 µm). Paraphyses produced within the tissues of pycnidia were hyaline, cylindrical, nonseptate, and up to 61 µm long. The fungus was identified as Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl. (=Botryosphaeria rhodina (Cooke) Arx) based on morphological and cultural characteristics (1,2). The rDNA internal transcribed spacer region of one isolate showed 100% identity to L. theobromae (GenBank HM346876.2) and was deposited in GenBank (JX982240). Pathogenicity of the five isolates was tested in the field on healthy tissues in June 2012. Five green twigs and five 3-year-old branches were used. Three wounds were made on each twig or branch with a sterilized needle. Mycelial plugs were placed on wounds and covered with Parafilm. Uncolonized PDA plugs were used as controls. Two weeks later, typical brown lesions were observed on inoculated branches, and gum exuded from infected wounds. No symptoms were seen on the controls. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by reisolation of L. theobromae from diseased branches. L. theobromae is well documented as a pathogen of mango. In China, the disease was observed in the 1990s in Hainan Province, and the causal agents were identified as L. theobromae and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. & Sacc based on morphological observation (3). To our knowledge, this is the most severe outbreak reported from China. References: (1) V. S. de Oliveira Costa et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 127:509, 2010. (2) F. Wang et al. Plant Dis. 95:1378, 2011. (3) Q. C. Xiao et al. Tropical Crops Research (in Chinese) 2:25, 1995.

Growth and characterization of self-Q-switched Nd:Cr:YVO4 crystal.

A Nd:Cr:YVO4 crystal was grown by the Czochralski method for the first time to our knowledge. Its structure and cell parameter have been studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) analysis. Polarized absorption spectra were measured at room temperature, which showed that the absorption bands display polarization character and an absorption band of Cr5+ ions at 1110 nm enables the crystal to be a self-Q-switched laser material. We also found that the absorption of Cr5+ ions became much larger and its self-Q-switched laser performance became much better when the Nd:Cr:YVO4 crystal was annealed because the annealing induces more Cr ions to become those with + 5 valence. In the self-Q-switched laser, the maximum output power, shortest pulse width, and largest pulse energy were obtained to be 120 mW, 85.8 ns, and 0.79 µJ, respectively.