The Spread of Rice Dwarf Virus among Cells of Its Insect Vector Exploits Virus-Induced Tubular Structures

Various cytopathological structures, known as inclusion bodies, are formed upon infection of cultured leafhopper cells by Rice dwarf virus, a member of the family Reoviridae. These structures include tubules of approximately 85 nm in diameter which are composed of the nonstructural viral protein Pns10 and contain viral particles. Such tubular structures were produced in heterologous non-host insect cells that expressed Pns10 of the virus. These tubules, when associated with actin-based filopodia, were able to protrude from the surface of cells and to penetrate neighboring cells. A binding assay in vitro revealed the specific binding of Pns10 to actin. Infection of clusters of cells was readily apparent 5 days after inoculation at a low multiplicity of infection with the virus, even in the presence of neutralizing antibodies. However, treatment of host cells with drugs that inhibited the elongation of actin filaments abolished the extension of Pns10 tubules from the surface of cells, with a significant simultaneous decrease in the extent of infection of neighboring cells. These results together revealed a previously undescribed aspect of the intercellular spread of Rice dwarf virus, wherein the virus exploits tubules composed of a nonstructural viral protein and actin-based filopodia to move into neighboring cells

Systemic delivery of miR-126 by miRNA-loaded Bubble liposomes for the treatment of hindlimb ischemia

In this text the process of implantation of the politics of quotas for blacks in the higer education is analyzed, taking as base the implementation of this politics in the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS. It was investigated, also, where measured the system of vacant reserve for blacks it can be considered a strategy of access and permanence of the black studentsin the higer education. To reach such objective, pupils who had entered, for the system of quotas for blacks in the Selective Process of 2004 of the UEMS, in the courses of right and nursing had been interviewed, and analyzed referring documents and legislations to the implantation of this system in the UEMS. The data had disclosed that the black pupils understand thesystem of quotas as a right and that the permanence in the courses depends on action effective, on the part of the University, as pedagogical support and scholarships. The quotas represent an affirmative action in the direction of if guaranteeing the respect to the racial diversity and the overcoming of the inaqualities historicamente constructed.Neste texto, analisa-se o processo de implantação da política de cotas para negros na educação superior, tomando como base a implementação dessa política na Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul – UEMS. Investigou-se, também, em que medida o sistema de reserva de vagas para negros pode ser considerado uma estratégia de acesso e permanência dos estudantesnegros na educação superior. Para atingir tal objetivo, foram entrevistados alunos que ingressaram, pelo sistema de cotas para negros, no Processo Seletivo de 2004 da UEMS nos cursos de Direito e Enfermagem e analisados documentos e legislações referentes à implantação desse sistema na UEMS. Os dados revelaram que os alunos negros compreendem o sistema de cotascomo um direito e que a permanência nos cursos depende de ações efetivas, por parte da Universidade, como bolsas de estudo e apoio pedagógico. As cotas representam uma ação afirmativa no sentido de se garantir o respeito à diversidade racial e a superação das desigualdades historicamente construídas

Multiparametric us for identifying patients with high-risk nash: A derivation and validation study

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in the general population but identifying patients with high-risk -nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) who are candidates for pharmacologic therapy remains a challenge. Purpose: To develop a score to identify patients with high-risk NASH, defined as NASH with an NAFLD activity score (NAS) of 4 or greater and clinically significant fibrosis (stage 2 [F2] or higher). Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional secondary analysis of data prospectively collected between April 2017 and March 2019 for a group of patients with NAFLD in Japan (Japan NAFLD, the derivation data set) with contemporaneous two-dimensional shear-wave elastography and biopsy-proven NAFLD (age range, 20-89 years). Three US markers (liver stiffness [LS, measured in kilopascals], attenuation coefficient [AC, measured in decibels per centimeter per megahertz], and dispersion slope [DS, measured in meters per second per kilohertz]) were determined, together with aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and the AST-to-ALT ratio. The best-fit multivariate logistic regression model for identifying patients with high-risk NASH was determined. Diagnostic performance was assessed by using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The findings were validated in an independent data set (Korea NAFLD; age range, 20-78 years). Results: The Japan NAFLD data set included 111 patients (mean age, 53 years. 18 [standard deviation]; 57 men), 84 (76%) with NASH. The Korea NAFLD data set included 102 patients (mean age, 48 years. 18; 43 men), 55 (36%) with NASH. The most predictive model (LAD NASH score) combined LS, AC, and DS. Performance was satisfactory in both the derivation sample (AUC, 0.86; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.93) and the validation sample (AUC, 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.95). The LAD NASH score showed a positive predictive value of 86.5% and a negative predictive value of 87.5% for high-risk NASH in the derivation sample. Conclusion: A score combining three US markers may be useful for noninvasive identification of patients with high-risk nonalcoholic steatohepatitis for inclusion in clinical trials and pharmacologic therapy. (C) RSNA, 2021N

Rice Dwarf Viruses with Dysfunctional Genomes Generated in Plants Are Filtered Out in Vector Insects: Implications for the Origin of the Virus ▿ †

Rice dwarf virus (RDV), with 12 double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome segments (S1 to S12), replicates in and is transmitted by vector insects. The RDV-plant host-vector insect system allows us to examine the evolution, adaptation, and population genetics of a plant virus. We compared the effects of long-term maintenance of RDV on population structures in its two hosts. The maintenance of RDV in rice plants for several years resulted in gradual accumulation of nonsense mutations in S2 and S10, absence of expression of the encoded proteins, and complete loss of transmissibility. RDV maintained in cultured insect cells for 6 years retained an intact protein-encoding genome. Thus, the structural P2 protein encoded by S2 and the nonstructural Pns10 protein encoded by S10 of RDV are subject to different selective pressures in the two hosts, and mutations accumulating in the host plant are detrimental in vector insects. However, one round of propagation in insect cells or individuals purged the populations of RDV that had accumulated deleterious mutations in host plants, with exclusive survival of fully competent RDV. Our results suggest that during the course of evolution, an ancestral form of RDV, of insect virus origin, might have acquired the ability to replicate in a host plant, given its reproducible mutations in the host plant that abolish vector transmissibility and viability in nature

Clinical practice competencies for standard critical care nursing: consensus statement based on a systematic review and Delphi survey

Objectives A clear development process and scientifically validated clinical practice competencies in standard critical care nursing (SCCN) have not yet been developed in Japan. Thus, this study aimed to develop a consensus-based set of SCCN competencies to provide a framework for critical care nursing education, training and evaluation.Design Multistep, modified Delphi study (a systematic review, focus group interviews, a three-round web-based Delphi survey and an external validation process).Participants A systematic review of 23 studies, focus group interviews by 12 experts, a Delphi survey by 239 critical care experts (physicians, nurses and physical therapists) and an external validation by 5 experts (physicians and nurses).Results A systematic review identified 685 unique competencies. The focus group interviews resulted in the addition of 3 performance indicator items, a synthesis of 2 subdomains and 10 elements. Of the 239 participants, 218 (91.2%), 209 (98.9%) and 201 (96.2%) responded in rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the Delphi survey, respectively. After round 3, 57 items were below the consensus level and were removed in the final round. External validation process feedback was received from experts after two revisions to ensure that the final competencies were valid, applicable, useful and clear. The final set of competencies was classified into 6 domains, 26 subdomains, 99 elements and 525 performance indicators.Conclusions This study found a set of SCCN competencies after a multistep, modified Delphi study. The results of this study are robust, and the competency framework can be used in multiple areas to improve clinical practice, including the assessment, training and certification of standard critical care nurses