Histopathological characteristics of liver biopsy performed at different time points in drug-induced liver injury

Background and Aims. Liver biopsy can provide critical information in patients with druginduced liver injury (DILI). Our study aimed to compare the histopathological features of DILI at different time points from the onset to liver biopsy. Methods: We conducted a single-centre retrospective observational study. The clinical and follow-up data were extracted, and the pathological slides were reviewed. Results. 129 patients were included. The median age was 52 and 75% were women. They were divided into 3 months groups according to the durations from onset of the disorder to liver biopsy. The aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin levels showed no significant differences at onset but significantly decreased with time among the three groups (all p3 months group (p<0.01). For patients taking herbs, bridging necrosis and cholestatic injury were significantly more frequent in the <1 month group (p<0.01). Furthermore, ductopenia, cholate stasis, and foam-like cells were equally distributed in the three groups but were significantly associated with poor prognosis. Conclusions. Biopsy time significantly affects liver pathology: the earlier, the more acute cholestatichepatitic pattern, the later, the more chronic injury patterns. The prognostic features (ductopenia, cholate stasis, and foam-like cells) occurred equally in all three groups. Our study provides valuable information for liver pathologists aiding in their better interpretation of the liver biopsy from patients with DILI

Multi-Gene Phylogeny and Taxonomy of <i>Hypoxylon</i> (Hypoxylaceae, Ascomycota) from China

The Hypoxylon species play an important ecological role in tropical rainforest as wood-decomposers, and some might have benefical effects on their hosts as endophytes. The present work concerns a survey of the genus Hypoxylon from Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park of China. Four new species: H. wuzhishanense, H. hainanense, H.chrysalidosporum, and H.cyclobalanopsidis, were discovered based on a combination of morphological characteristics and molecular data. Hypoxylon wuzhishanense is characterized by Rust pulvinate stromata, amyloid apical apparatus and brown ascospores, with most of the perispore being indehiscent in 10% KOH. Hypoxylon hainanense has effused–pulvinate and Violet stromata, amyloid apical apparatus, light-brown to brown ascospores with straight germ slit and dehiscent perispore. Hypoxylonchrysalidosporum is distinguished by glomerate to pulvinate stromata, highly reduced or absent inamyloid apical apparatus, and light-brown to brown ascospores with very conspicuous coil-like ornamentation. Hypoxyloncyclobalanopsidis has Livid Purple pulvinate stromata, highly reduced amyloid apical apparatus, faint bluing, brown ascospores and dehiscent perispore, and it grows on dead branches of Cyclobalanopsis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and contrasts with morphologically similar species are provided. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS, RPB2, LSU, and β-tubulin sequences confirmed that the four new species are distinct within the genus Hypoxylon

Multi-Gene Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Hypoxylon (Hypoxylaceae, Ascomycota) from China

The Hypoxylon species play an important ecological role in tropical rainforest as wood-decomposers, and some might have benefical effects on their hosts as endophytes. The present work concerns a survey of the genus Hypoxylon from Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park of China. Four new species: H. wuzhishanense, H. hainanense, H.chrysalidosporum, and H.cyclobalanopsidis, were discovered based on a combination of morphological characteristics and molecular data. Hypoxylon wuzhishanense is characterized by Rust pulvinate stromata, amyloid apical apparatus and brown ascospores, with most of the perispore being indehiscent in 10% KOH. Hypoxylon hainanense has effused&ndash;pulvinate and Violet stromata, amyloid apical apparatus, light-brown to brown ascospores with straight germ slit and dehiscent perispore. Hypoxylonchrysalidosporum is distinguished by glomerate to pulvinate stromata, highly reduced or absent inamyloid apical apparatus, and light-brown to brown ascospores with very conspicuous coil-like ornamentation. Hypoxyloncyclobalanopsidis has Livid Purple pulvinate stromata, highly reduced amyloid apical apparatus, faint bluing, brown ascospores and dehiscent perispore, and it grows on dead branches of Cyclobalanopsis. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and contrasts with morphologically similar species are provided. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS, RPB2, LSU, and &beta;-tubulin sequences confirmed that the four new species are distinct within the genus Hypoxylon

Correlation between intervertebral disc degeneration, paraspinal muscle atrophy, and lumbar facet joints degeneration in patients with lumbar disc herniation

Abstract Background To assess the correlation between lumbar disc degeneration (LDD), multifidus muscle atrophy (LMA), and facet joints degeneration in patients with L4-L5 lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods Sixty patients with L4-L5 LDH diagnosed by a 1.5 T MRI scanner were enrolled in the study group and another 60 patients with non-specific back pain were enrolled in the control group. LDD, LMA, and facet joints degeneration were examined and analyzed independently by two independent orthopedic surgeons using T2-weighted images. Wilcoxon test was used for analyzing the difference of LDD and facet joints degeneration between L3-L4 and L5-S1 and difference of LMA between the herniated and control groups. Correlation analysis of the three degeneration grades at the same level was determined by Spearman rank correlation test. Results In the herniated group, most LMA at L3-L4 level was grade 1 (42, 70.0%); grade 2 (33, 55.0%) at L4-L5 level; and grade 3 (27, 45.0%) at L5-S1 level. LMA and LDD grading were significantly different between L3-L4 and L5-S1 levels (P  0.05) at the L5-S1 level. The differences in LMA between the herniated and control groups at the three levels were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions Disc degeneration and multifidus muscles atrophy were positively correlated at the L3-L4 disc level. A lumbar extension muscle strengthening program could be helpful in preventing muscle atrophy and lumbar spinal degeneration

Three new Xylaria species (Xylariaceae, Xylariales) on fallen leaves from Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park

Three new species of Xylaria on fallen leaves in Hainan Province of China are described and illustrated, based on morphological and molecular evidence. Xylaria hedyosmicola is found on fallen leaves of Hedyosmum orientale and featured by thread-like stromata with a long sterile filiform apex. Phylogenetically, X. hedyosmicola is closely related to an undescribed Xylaria sp. from Hawaii Island, USA and morphologically similar to X. vagans. Xylaria lindericola is found on fallen leaves of Lindera robusta and characterised by its subglobose stromata and a long filiform stipe. It is phylogenetically closely related to X. sicula f. major. Xylaria polysporicola is found on fallen leaves of Polyspora hainanensis, it is distinguished by upright or prostrate stromata and ascospores sometimes with a slimy sheath or non-cellular appendages. Xylaria polysporicola is phylogenetically closely related to X. amphithele and X. ficicola. An identification key to the ten species on fallen leaves in China is given

Two New Species of Diatrype (Xylariales, Ascomycota) with Polysporous Asci from China

Two new species of Diatrype collected in northeast China are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. Diatrype larissae from Heilongjiang Province is characterised by having 3&ndash;6 perithecia in a stroma, asci polysporous, ascospores allantoid, aseptate, slightly or moderately curved, subhyaline. Diatrype betulaceicola from Inner Mongolia has large stroma with 5&ndash;14 perithecia, perithecium immersed, asci polysporous, long-stalked, ascospores allantoid, aseptate, slightly curved, subhyaline. The phylogenies inferred from the data set of nrDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and beta-tubulin (&beta;-tubulin) supported the two new species both as members in the genus Diatrype and distinct species. The morphological similarities and dissimilarities of the new species with phylogenetically close relatives are discussed. A dichotomous identification key to the Diatrype spp. known from China is proposed

Four New Pale-Spored Species of Xylaria (Xylariaceae, Xylariales) with a Key to Worldwide Species on Fallen Fruits and Seeds

Xylaria, a large and cosmopolitan genus of Ascomycota, plays an important ecological role in forest ecology as wood-decomposers, and serve as a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The present work concerns a survey of Xylaria from Southwest China. Four new species of Xylaria with pale-colored ascospores associated with fallen fruits and seeds are described and illustrated based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences. The phylogeny inferred from a combined dataset of ITS-RPB2-&beta;-tubulin sequences supports these four species as distinct species. The four new taxa, namely Xylariarogersii, X. schimicola, X. theaceicola, and X. wallichii, are compared and contrasted against morphologically similar species. A dichotomous identification key to all the accepted species of Xylaria associated with fallen fruits and seeds is given