Etiology and Clinical Characteristics of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) in Outpatients in Beijing, June 2010 to May 2011

BACKGROUND: Since May 2009, exposure of the population of Beijing, China to pH1N1 has resulted in an increase in respiratory illnesses. Limited information is available on the etiology and clinical characteristics of the influenza-like illness (ILI) that ensued in adults following the pH1N1 pandemic. METHODS: Clinical and epidemiological data of ILI in adults was collected. A total of 279 throat swabs were tested for twelve respiratory viruses using multiplex RT-PCR. Clinical characteristics of influenza A in outpatients versus test-negative patients were compared using Pearson's χ2 and the Mann-Whitney U test. 190 swabs were tested for pH1N1 by virus isolation. Consultation rates for ILI were compared between 2009 and 2010. RESULTS: One or two virus were detected in 29% of the samples. Influenza A virus (FLU-A) accounted for 22.9% (64/279). Other viruses were present at a frequency less than 3.0%. Cough was significantly associated with Influenza A virus infection (χ2, p<0.001). The positive rate of FLU-A was consistent with changes in the ILI rate during the same period and there was a significant reduction in the incidence of ILI in 2010 when compared to 2009. During the 2010-2011 influenza season, the incidence peaked in January 2011 in Beijing and north China. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to pH1N1 had no impact on typical influenza seasonal peaks, although FLU-A remained the predominant virus for 2010 in Beijing. Symptomatically, cough was associated with FLU-A infection. The positive rate of influenza virus was consistent with changes in the ILI rate during the same period and there was a significant reduction in the incidence of ILI in 2010 when compared to that of 2009

Systemic Infection and Limited Replication of SHIV Vaccine Virus in Brains of Macaques Inoculated Intracerebrally with Infectious Viral DNA

AbstractSHIV deleted in two accessory genes, ΔvpuΔnef SHIVPPC, functioned well as a vaccine against later challenge with highly pathogenic SHIVKU, and it was able to reach the brain after oral inoculation of live virus. In this study, the proviral genome cloned into a plasmid was inoculated as DNA intracerebrally and spread systemically. Few regions of the brain had detectable proviral DNA by real-time PCR. Two measures of virus replication, detection of viral mRNA expression and circular proviral DNA, were negative for those brain regions, with the exception of the infection site in the right parietal lobe, whereas lymphoid tissues were positive by both measures. Histopathological analyses of all the sampled brain and spinal cord regions did not reveal any abnormalities. Despite intracerebral inoculation of the viral DNA, the brain was not targeted for high levels of virus replication

Potential drug-drug interaction of olverembatinib (HQP1351) using physiologically based pharmacokinetic models

Olverembatinib (HQP1351) is a third-generation BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) (including T315I-mutant disease), exhibits drug-drug interaction (DDI) potential through cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP3A4, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP1A2, and CYP2B6. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was constructed based on physicochemical and in vitro parameters, as well as clinical data to predict 1) potential DDIs between olverembatinib and CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 inhibitors or inducers 2), effects of olverembatinib on the exposure of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 substrates, and 3) pharmacokinetics in patients with liver function injury. The PBPK model successfully described observed plasma concentrations of olverembatinib from healthy subjects and patients with CML after a single administration, and predicted olverembatinib exposure increases when co-administered with itraconazole (strong CYP3A4 inhibitor) and decreases with rifampicin (strong CYP3A4 inducer), which were validated by observed data. The predicted results suggest that 1) strong, moderate, and mild CYP3A4 inhibitors (which have some overlap with CYP2C9 inhibitors) may increase olverembatinib exposure by approximately 2.39-, 1.80- to 2.39-, and 1.08-fold, respectively; strong, and moderate CYP3A4 inducers may decrease olverembatinib exposure by approximately 0.29-, and 0.35- to 0.56-fold, respectively 2); olverembatinib, as a “perpetrator,” would have no or limited impact on CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 enzyme activity 3); systemic exposure of olverembatinib in liver function injury with Child-Pugh A, B, C may increase by 1.22-, 1.79-, and 2.13-fold, respectively. These simulations inform DDI risk for olverembatinib as either a “victim” or “perpetrator”

Untargeted metabolomics reveal rhizosphere metabolites mechanisms on continuous ramie cropping

Ramie is an important fiber feed dual-purpose crop in China and plays an important role in the national economy. However, ramie yield and quality can be reduced after many years of continuous cultivation. Currently, relatively little research has been conducted on rhizosphere metabolites and their pathways in continuous ramie cropping. Therefore, a healthy group (CK) and obstacle groups (XZQG, JZ, DJY, and GXD) with 8 years of continuous cultivation were selected for the study. LC-MS and GC-MS untargeted metabolomics were used to explore and analyze ramie rhizosphere metabolites and pathways. The results revealed that significant differences in the agronomic traits of ramie occurred after 8 years of continuous cultivation, with dwarfed plants and decreased yields in the obstacle groups. Metabolomic analysis identified 49 and 19 rhizosphere metabolites, including lipids, organic acids, phenols, and amino acids. In addition, four differential metabolic pathways (phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism) were elucidated. It was also clarified that sinapic acid, jasmonic acid, glutamine, and inositol might be the main metabolites affecting ramie continuous-cropping obstacle groups, and they were significantly correlated with ramie agronomic traits and physiological indicators. This provided important insights into the mechanisms affecting continuous ramie cropping. Accordingly, it is expected that the increase or decrease of sinapic acid, jasmonic acid, glutamine, and inositol in the soil will alleviate obstacles to continuous ramie cropping and promote the healthy development of the ramie industry in the future

An efficient disposable and flexible electrochemical sensor based on a novel and stable metal carbon composite derived from cocoon silk

Abstract(#br)The present work reports cocoon silk fibroin (SF)as a unique precursor for the in-situ fabrication of well-engineered, stable and leach free gold nanoparticle doped carbonaceous materials (AuNPs@NSC). In principle, at the molecular level, SF has a singular structure that can be converted to a N-doped aromatic carbon structure by heat treatment. The electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite were examined by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. A flexible three electrode sensor system with AuNPs@NSC-modified working electrodes has been developed, to achieve easy operation and quick and accurate responses. The electrochemical results showed that the sensor made by the AuNPs@NSC-modified working electrode demonstrated high sensitivity for the detection of rutin, which is attributed to the good distribution of the AuNPs on the carbon matrix. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the AuNPs@NSC electrode was found to have a linear response in the range of 0.11–250 μM and a comparably low limit of detection of 0.02 μM (S/N = 3). To ensure the accuracy and applicability of the sensors, the concentration of rutin in the commodity (rutin capsule, 10 mg/capsule) was examined, and the sensor provided high precision with a minimum relative error (RE) of 3.3%. These findings suggest that AuNPs@NSC can be considered to be a potential electrode material for the development of electrochemical devices and has great potential in extending their application to the flexible sensor field

Response of fermentation quality and microbial community of oat silage to homofermentative lactic acid bacteria inoculation

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is one of the important forage crops in the world. However, oat grown in Southwest China has higher moisture content and their preservation face significant challenges. In addition, existing commercial lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have poor fermentation effects in hot and humid regions. Consequently, the current study investigated the response of oat fermentation quality and microbial community to self-selected LAB inoculation. The treatments were: CK, sterilized water; LP694, Lactobacillus plantarum 694; LR753, Lactobacillus rhamnosus 753; and LPLR, LP694 combined with LR753, followed by 1, 3, 7, 14, and 60 days (d) of fermentation. The results showed that LAB inoculation significantly raised the lactic acid content, and decreased the level of pH value, acetic acid, and ammonia-N in oat silage. The LR753 group had a significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05) lactic acid content (60.95 g kg–1 DM), and lower pH value (3.95) and ammonia-N content (10.1 g kg–1 DM) followed by the LPLR group. The LR753 showed lower NDF (54.60% DM) and ADF (39.73% DM) contents than other groups. The Lactobacillus was a prevalent genus in LAB-treated groups, and its relative abundance reached maximum in LP694 (69%) on day 3, while in the LR753 group (72%) on 60 days. The Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus fermentum became the dominant species in LAB-treated groups with fermentation time. The Lactobacillus genus was positively correlated with WSC (R = 0.6, p &lt; 0.05), while negatively correlated with pH (R = −0.5, p &lt; 0.05), and BA (R = −0.5, p &lt; 0.01). Overall, the LR753 group had better fermentation quality and preservation of nutritional components providing theoretical support and guidance for future oat silage production in Southwest China

Effect of storage time on the silage quality and microbial community of mixed maize and faba bean in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Tibetan Plateau is facing serious shortage of forage in winter and spring season due to its special geographical location. Utilization of forages is useful to alleviate the forage shortage in winter and spring season. Consequently, the current study was aimed to evaluate the influence of storage time on the silage quality and microbial community of the maize (Zea mays L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) mixed silage at Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Maize and faba bean were ensiled with a fresh weight ratio of 7:3, followed by 30, 60, 90, and 120 days of ensiling. The results showed the pH value of mixed silage was below 4.2 at all fermentation days. The LA (lactic acid) content slightly fluctuated with the extension of fermentation time, with 33.76 g/kg DM at 90 days of ensiling. The AA (acetic acid) and NH3-N/TN (ammonium nitrogen/total nitrogen) contents increased with the extension of fermentation time and no significantly different between 90 and 120 days. The CP (crude protein) and WSC (water soluble carbohydrate) contents of mixed silage decreased significantly (P &lt; 0.05) with ensiling time, but the WSC content remained stable at 90 days. The Proteobacteria was the predominant phyla in fresh maize and faba bean, and Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas were the predominant genera. After ensiling, Lactobacillus was the prevalent genus at all ensiling days. The relative abundance of Lactococcus increased rapidly at 90 days of ensiling until 120 days of fermentation. Overall, the storage time significant influenced the silage fermentation quality, nutrient content, and microbial environment, and it remained stable for 90 days of ensiling at Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Therefore, the recommended storage time of forage is 90 days in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and other cool areas