The Synergy of Chicken Anemia Virus and Gyrovirus Homsa 1 in Chickens

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) and Gyrovirus homsa 1 (GyH1) are members of the Gyrovirus genus. The two viruses cause similar clinical manifestations in chickens, aplastic anemia and immunosuppression. Our previous investigation displays that CAV and GyH1 often co-infect chickens. However, whether they have synergistic pathogenicity in chickens remains elusive. Here, we established a co-infection model of CAV and GyH1 in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens to explore the synergy between CAV and GyH1. We discovered that CAV and GyH1 significantly inhibited weight gain, increased mortality, and hindered erythropoiesis in co-infected chickens. Co-infected chickens exhibited severe immune organ atrophy and lymphocyte exhaustion. The proventriculus and gizzard had severe hemorrhagic necrosis and inflammation. We also discovered that the viral loads and shedding levels were higher and lasted longer in CAV and GyH1 co-infected chickens than in mono-infected chickens. Our results demonstrate that CAV and GyH1 synergistically promote immunosuppression, pathogenicity, and viral replication in co-infected chicken, highlighting the interaction between CAV and GyH1 in the disease process and increasing potential health risk in the poultry breeding industry, and needs further attention

Application of Multiscale Sample Entropy in Assessing Effects of Exercise Training on Skin Blood Flow Oscillations in People with Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes a disruption of autonomic nervous regulation to the cardiovascular system, leading to various cardiovascular and microvascular diseases. Exercise training is an effective intervention for reducing risk for microvascular diseases in healthy people. However, the effectiveness of exercise training on improving microvascular function in people with SCI is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare blood flow oscillations in people with spinal cord injury and different physical activity levels to determine if such a lifestyle might influence skin blood flow. A total of 37 participants were recruited for this study, including 12 athletes with SCI (ASCI), 9 participants with SCI and a sedentary lifestyle (SSCI), and 16 healthy able-bodied controls (AB). Sacral skin blood flow (SBF) in response to local heating at 42 °C for 50 min was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. The degree of the regularity of blood flow oscillations (BFOs) was quantified using a multiscale entropy approach. The results showed that BFO was significantly more irregular in ASCI and AB compared to SSCI during the maximal vasodilation period. Our results also demonstrate that the difference in the regularity of BFOs between original SBF signal and phase-randomized surrogate time series was larger in ASCI and AB compared to SSCI. Our findings indicate that SCI causes a loss of complexity of BFOs and exercise training may improve complexity in people with SCI. This study demonstrates that multiscale entropy is a sensitive method for detecting differences between different categories of people with SCI and might be able to detect effects of exercise training related to skin blood flow

Microfluidic-spinning construction of black-phosphorus-hybrid microfibres for non-woven fabrics toward a high energy density flexible supercapacitor

Supercapacitors that exhibit flexibility and deformability are attractive for wearable devices; however achieving high energy density remains challenging. Here the authors report a non-woven fabric based on black phosphorus and carbon nanotubes for use in a supercapacitor with notable performance

Molecular characteristics and pathogenicity of a novel chicken astrovirus variant

Abstract It is well-established that the genetic diversity, regional prevalence, and broad host range of astroviruses significantly impact the poultry industry. In July 2022, a small-scale commercial broiler farm in China reported cases of growth retardation and a 3% mortality rate. From chickens displaying proventriculitis and pancreatitis, three chicken astroviruses (CAstV) isolates were obtained and named SDAU2022-1-3. Complete genomic sequencing and analysis revealed the unique characteristics of these isolates from known CAstV strains in ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2 genes, characterized by an unusually high variability. Analysis of amino acid mutations in ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2 indicated that the accumulation of these mutations played a pivotal role in the emergence of the variant strain. Inoculation experiments demonstrated that affected chickens exhibited liver and kidney enlargement, localized proventricular hemorrhage, and a dark reddish-brown appearance in about two-thirds of the pancreas. Histopathological examination unveiled hepatic lymphocytic infiltration, renal tubular epithelial cell swelling, along with lymphocytic proventriculitis and pancreatitis. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated viremia and viral shedding at 3 days post-infection (dpi). The proventriculus displayed the highest viral loads, followed by the liver, kidney, duodenum, and pancreas. Liver parameters (AST and ALT) and kidney parameters (UA and UN) demonstrated mild damage consistent with earlier findings. While the possibility of new mutations in the ORF2 gene of CAstV causing proventriculitis and pancreatitis warrants further investigation, these findings deepen our comprehension of CAstV’s pathogenicity in chickens. Additionally, they serve as valuable references for subsequent research endeavors

Efficacy of a WeChat-Based Multimodal Digital Transformation Management Model in New-Onset Mild to Moderate Hypertension: Randomized Clinical Trial

BackgroundThe advantages of multimodal digitally transformed mobile health management for patients diagnosed with mild to moderate hypertension are not yet established. ObjectiveWe aim to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of a novel WeChat-based multimodal digital transforming management model in mobile health blood pressure (BP) management. MethodsThis randomized controlled clinical trial included 175 individuals with new-onset mild to moderate hypertension who were admitted to our center between September and October 2022. The patients were randomly assigned to either the multimodal intervention group (n=88) or the usual care group (n=87). The primary composite outcome was home and office BP differences after 6 months. The major secondary outcomes were 6-month quality-of-life scores, including the self-rating anxiety scale, self-rating depression scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. ResultsThe mean home BP decreased from 151.74 (SD 8.02)/94.22 (SD 9.32) to 126.19 (SD 8.45)/82.28 (SD 9.26) mm Hg in the multimodal intervention group and from 150.78 (SD 7.87)/91.53 (SD 9.78) to 133.48 (SD 10.86)/84.45 (SD 9.19) mm Hg in the usual care group, with a mean difference in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of –8.25 mm Hg (95% CI –11.71 to –4.78 mm Hg; P<.001) and –4.85 mm Hg (95% CI –8.41 to –1.30 mm Hg; P=.008), respectively. The mean office BP decreased from 153.64 (SD 8.39)/93.56 (SD 8.45) to 127.81 (SD 8.04)/ 82.16 (SD 8.06) mm Hg in the multimodal intervention group and from 151.48 (SD 7.14)/(91.31 (SD 9.61) to 134.92 (SD 10.11)/85.09 (SD 8.26) mm Hg in the usual care group, with a mean difference in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure of –9.27 mm Hg (95% CI –12.62 to –5.91 mm Hg; P<.001) and –5.18 mm Hg (95% CI –8.47 to –1.89 mm Hg; P=.002), respectively. From baseline to 6 months, home BP control <140/90 mm Hg was achieved in 64 (72.7%) patients in the multimodal intervention group and 46 (52.9%) patients in the usual care group (P=.007). Meanwhile, home BP control <130/80 mm Hg was achieved in 32 (36.4%) patients in the multimodal intervention group and 16 (18.4%) patients in the usual care group (P=.008). After 6 months, there were significant differences in the quality-of-life total and graded scores, including self-rating anxiety scale scores (P=.04), self-rating depression scale scores (P=.03), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores (P<.001), in the multimodal intervention group compared with the usual care group. ConclusionsThe WeChat-based multimodal intervention model improved the BP control rates and lowered the BP levels more than the usual care approach. The multimodal digital transforming management model for hypertension represents an emerging medical practice that utilizes the individual’s various risk factor profiles for primary care and personalized therapy decision-making in patients with hypertension. Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200063550; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=17581