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

Meta-structure correlation in protein space unveils different selection rules for folded and intrinsically disordered proteins

The number of existing protein sequences spans a very small fraction of sequence space. Natural proteins have overcome a strong negative selective pressure to avoid the formation of insoluble aggregates. Stably folded globular proteins and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) use alternative solutions to the aggregation problem. While in globular proteins folding minimizes the access to aggregation prone regions IDPs on average display large exposed contact areas. Here, we introduce the concept of average meta-structure correlation map to analyze sequence space. Using this novel conceptual view we show that representative ensembles of folded and ID proteins show distinct characteristics and responds differently to sequence randomization. By studying the way evolutionary constraints act on IDPs to disable a negative function (aggregation) we might gain insight into the mechanisms by which function - enabling information is encoded in IDPs

Predictive factors for mortality in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical characteristics of alcoholic cirrhosis (AC), analyze the relationship of alcohol intake with development of AC, and compare the predictive values of biochemical parameters, complications, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and Discriminant Function (DF) score for in-hospital mortality or mortality within 3 months after discharge in patients with AC. MethodsA retrospective statistical analysis was performed on the clinical data of 159 patients with a discharge diagnosis of AC, who were hospitalized in the Department of Hepatology from January 2000 to December 2011. Their medical records and baseline information were collected. The logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for mortality. Three prediction models for mortality from AC were established, and the predictive capacities of the models were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results(1) The risk factors for AC included an alcohol intake higher than 80 g/d (OR=2.807, P＜005) and more than 10 years of alcohol use (OR=3.429, P＜0.028). (2) Model 1 consisted of serum creatinine, white blood cell count, international normalized ratio, and number of complications, which was defined as the number of complications such as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, infection, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Model 2 consisted of MELD score. Model 3 consisted of number of complications and MELD score. In predicting in-hospital mortality, Model 1, Model 2, and Model 3 had areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) of 0.950 (P＜0.001), 0.886 (P＜0.001), and 0.911 (P＜0.001), respectively. In predicting mortality within 3 months after discharge, Model 1, Model 2, and Model 3 had AUCs of 0.867 (P＜0.001), 0.878 (P＜0.001), and 0.893 (P＜0.001), respectively. ConclusionThe risk of AC rises as the alcohol intake and years of alcohol use increase. As to the predictive values for mortality in patients with AC, MELD score is better than CTP and DF scores, and Model 1 and Model 3 have good predictive capacities

Interpretation of guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (2022 edition)

Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of chronic hepatitis B (2022 edition) are updated and revised based on the research advances in chronic hepatitis B virus infection in China and globally and the previous editions of the guidelines. This article introduces the updates in natural history and the noninvasive diagnosis and treatment of fibrosis. In particular, the guidelines further expand the indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, clearly defines the selection of the population benefiting from interferon therapy, and strictly limits the standard of oral nucleos(t)ide analogues. Meanwhile, the guidelines also recommend more active treatment of patients with low-level viremia and children in the immune-tolerant phase. The new edition of the guidelines will provide an important basis for expanding the screening for hepatitis B virus infection, improving diagnostic rate, optimizing treatment regimens, and standardizing clinical management in China

Comprehensive Evaluation of 6 Cherry Tomato Varieties Under the Substrate Bag Cultivation Mode in Multi-span Greenhouse in South China

【Objective】The yield and quality of different varieties of cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) were compared and analyzed under the substrate bag cultivation mode in multi-span greenhouse in South China, with a view to screening suitable high-quality variety and providing theoretical references for production.【Method】We compared and analyzed the growth, single fruit weight, antioxidant capacity, and fruit quality indexes of 6 cherry tomato varieties ('Qianxi', 'Jinyu', 'Baifei', 'Micai', 'Jinyu' and 'Zhanma'), including the contents of soluble solids, vitamin C (Vc), lycopene, total soluble sugar, etc. And principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and correlation analysis were conducted for the above indexes.【Result】The first cluster of the 'Qianxi' and 'Zhanma' bloomed about 3-6 d earlier than that of other varieties, and the 'Zhanma' had the longest flowering period among 6 varieties, and its flowering period of the first and the second clusters lasted for about 37 d. Moreover, the growth vigor of 'Zhanma' was the strongest with lots of leaflets, and its plant height was higher than that of 'Feicui', 'Qianxi', 'Micai', 'Jinyu' and 'Baifei' by 54.8%, 34.7%, 23.4%, 17.2% and 13.9%, respectively. In contrast, 'Feicui' showed short and thick stem, but single fruit weight and single plant yield were significantly higher than those of other varieties. The yield of 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' was higher than that of others, presenting high fruit quantity in each cluster, approximately up to 24 and 32 in each cluster, respectively. There were significant differences in the quality among 6 varieties of cherry tomato. The contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid and lycopene in the fruit of 'Micai' were highest, up to 33.7, 86.1 and 74.5 μg/g, respectively. The fruits of 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' had the highest Vc contents, which were up to 200 and 220 μg/g, respectively. The fruit of 'Jinyu' variety was rich in polyphenols. The quality of the 'Feicui' was relatively poor. The results of principal component analysis, clustering analysis and correlation analysis indicated that the comprehensive evaluation of 'Micai' variety was the best, followed by 'Qianxi' and 'Zhanma', and then by 'Baifei' and 'Jinyu', and that of 'Feicui' variety was the worst. Fruit size had a significant negative correlation with fruit quality, chlorophyll content and fruit quality (carotenoid, lycopene, flavonoids and Vc), while the chlorophyll content of various varieties of cherry tomato was positively correlated with fruit quality (carotenoid, lycopene, flavonoid, Vc content).【Conclusion】The comprehensive evaluation results showed that the 'Micai' and 'Zhanma' varieties had more fruit number in one cluster and higher yield, and the 'Qianxi' had better flavor quality, the comprehensive evaluation of the three varieties was excellent, and were suitable for high-quality and high-yield cherry tomato varieties in the multi-greenhouse matrix bag culture in South China. Mature 'Micai' cherry tomato is rich in chlorophyll, carotenoid and lycopene, which can be used as the variety of cherry tomato with high pigment content as the ideal material in cultivation

Effects of Pedicularis kansuensis Expansion on Plant Community Characteristics and Soil Nutrients in an Alpine Grassland

Pedicularis kansuensis is an indicator species of grassland degradation. Its population expansion dramatically impacts the production and service function of the grassland ecosystem, but the effects and mechanisms of the expansion are still unclear. In order to understand the ecological effects of P. kansuensis, three P. kansuensis patches of different densities were selected in an alpine grassland, and species diversity indexes, biomasses, soil physicochemical properties, and the mechanism among them were analyzed. The results showed that P. kansuensis expansion increased the richness index, the Shannon&ndash;Wiener index significantly, and the aboveground biomass ratio (ABR) of the Weed group (p &lt; 0.05), but reduced the total biomass of the community and the ABR of the Gramineae and Cyperaceae decreased insignificantly (p &gt; 0.05); soil moisture, soil AOC, and NO3&minus;&middot;N decreased significantly (p &lt; 0.05), while soil pH and total soil nutrients did not change significantly, and available phosphorus (AP) decreased at first and then increased (p &lt; 0.05). The structural equation model (SEM) showed that P. kansuensis expansion had a significant positive effect on the community richness index, and a significant negative effect followed on the soil AOC from the increase of the index; the increase of pH had a significant negative effect on the soil AOC, NO3&minus;&middot;N, and AP. It indicated that P. kansuensis expansion resulted in the increase of species richness, the ABR of the Weed group, and the community&rsquo;s water demand, which promoted the over-utilization of soil available nutrients in turn, and finally caused the decline of soil quality. This study elucidated a possible mechanism of poisonous weeds expansion, and provided a scientific and theoretical basis for grassland management

Monthly distribution of test-positive virus in the PKU People' hospital from June 2010 to May 2011.

<p><a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0028786#pone-0028786-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1A</a> shows the number of respiratory specimens testing positive for influenza, by influenza type and positive rates of respiratory virus. Panel B shows the smaller number of other viruses. The rate of positive cases of the virus gradually increased from August to October, slowly decreased in November, and then increased again in January 2011. The peak of the positive rate occurred in January 2011 and influenza was the predominant virus between August 2010 and March 2011. Particularly in August, September and October 2010, and March 2011, all infections were caused by FLU only( <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0028786#pone-0028786-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1B</a>). The number of positive cases of influenza virus increased rapidly in September and peaked in January 2011, following which it then decreased to normal levels in March 2011. Influenza A(H3) was the predominant viral etiological factor and was only observed from July to December 2010, and again, in January 2011, Influenza A(H3) were replaced by 2009 H1N1. 2009 H1N1 peaked in January 2011. Most influenza viruses were in fact influenza A, with influenza B virus only observed in April 2011. In June, multiple infections predominated. Each identified ILI was caused by a single virus except in June, July and November 2010 and January and February 2011: two FLU-A in August, eight FLU-A in September and in October each, eight FLU-A and one HRCV229E/NL63 in December, four FLU-A in March 2011, one FLU-A, two FLU-B and one ADV in April 2011, No virus was detected in May 2011. On the other hand, two of the three identified ILI samples in June were mixed infections, HRSV and HRV. Other double infections included: One HRCV/FLU-A in July, one FLU-A/HRV in November, two HRSV-A and FLU-A and one HRSV-A and HRV and FLU-A in January 2011, one HRSV-A and HRV and FLU-A in February 2011.</p

The adult outpatient service capacity of the Infectious Diseases Department of PKUPH, 2009–2011.

<p>In 2010, the overall number of outpatients was less than that of 2009, particularly between May and December. From May 2009, when pH1N1 emerged in Beijing, the capacity of the outpatient service of the Infectious Diseases Department of PKU People's Hospital increased rapidly. The number of outpatients peaked in November 2009, following which. The volume declined to reach normal levels in the third month of 2010. The numbers of outpatients was relatively stable in 2010, with an increase during November and December and a further peak in January 2011.</p

ILI rates in North China from June 2009 to May 2010 and June 2010 to May 2011.

<p>The weekly ILI rate increased rapidly in the 35^th week of 2009 in North China, with the highest weekly ILI rate of 12.1 cases per 100 consultations occurring in the 44^th week. However, the rate was relatively stable on the basis of the weekly ILI surveillance system of North China in 2010. The incidence rose slightly in January 2011 and the usual influenza seasonal peak appeared in the 5^th week of 2011. The percentage of patient visits for ILI peaked at 5.0% in the influenza 2010–2011 season. ^▴The ILI rate of North China derived from data obtained from the Chinese National Influenza Center (CNIC).</p