Hedgehogs as Amplifying Hosts of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus,China

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne bandavirus mainly transmitted by Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks in East Asia, mostly in rural areas. As of April 2022, the amplifying host involved in the natural transmission of SFTSV remained unidentified. Our epidemiologic field survey conducted in endemic areas in China showed that hedgehogs were widely distributed, had heavy tick infestations, and had high SFTSV seroprevalence and RNA prevalence. After experimental infection of Erinaceus amurensis and Atelerix albiventris hedgehogs with SFTSV, we detected robust but transitory viremias that lasted for 9–11 days. We completed the SFTSV transmission cycle between hedgehogs and nymph and adult H. longicornis ticks under laboratory conditions with 100% efficiency. Furthermore, naive H. longicornis ticks could be infected by SFTSV-positive ticks co-feeding on naive hedgehogs; we confirmed transstadial transmission of SFTSV. Our study suggests that the hedgehogs are a notable wildlife amplifying host of SFTSV in China.     

Dietary Patterns and Nutrient Intake in University Students of Macao: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Nutritional status affects the health of the public and is one of the key factors influencing social-economic development. To date, little research on the nutritional status of the Macao university student population has been conducted. Objectives: To identify and evaluate the dietary pattern and the nutritional intake among Macao university students. Methods: The Macao students were selected by the stratified cluster random sampling method. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate food consumption. Data were analyzed through a t-test and factor analysis by using SPSS Version 24.0. Results: A total of 1230 questionnaires were distributed. From the respondents, 1067 (86.7%) were valid. In general, we identified three major dietary patterns in this population: (1) fruit and vegetable dietary pattern, characterized by abundant consumption of fruits and vegetables; (2) grain and high fat dietary pattern, characterized as high intakes of grains and animal foods; (3) high sugar dietary pattern, characterized by a large quantity of daily sugary drinks. The average daily intake of vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, and iodine were significantly lower than the Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) in the subjects. Conclusions: The dietary pattern of Macao students is similar to that of other Asians. Surprisingly, the daily intake of vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, and iodine by Macao university students is significantly lower than the Chinese RNI.     

Mechanisms of Sodium/Iodide Symporter-Mediated Mammary Gland Iodine Compensation during Lactation

This research aimed to investigate the compensation mechanism of iodine deficiency and excess in the mammary gland during lactation. Female rats were divided into the low iodine group (LI), the normal iodine group (NI), the 10-fold high iodine group (10HI) and the 50-fold high iodine group (50HI). We measured the iodine levels in the urine, blood, milk, and mammary gland. The protein expression of sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), DPAGT1, and valosin-containing protein (VCP) in the mammary gland was also studied. The 24-hour urinary iodine concentration, serum total iodine concentration, serum non-protein-bound iodine concentration, breast milk iodine concentration, and mammary gland iodine content in the 50HI group were significantly higher than those in the NI group (p < 0.05). Compared with the NI group, NIS expression in the 50HI group significantly decreased (p < 0.05). DAPGT1 expression was significantly higher in the LI group than in the NI group (p < 0.05). The expression level of VCP was significantly increased in the 10HI and 50HI groups. In conclusion, milk iodine concentration is positively correlated with iodine intake, and the lactating mammary gland regulates the glycosylation and degradation of NIS by regulating DPAGT1 and VCP, thus regulating milk iodine level. However, the mammary gland has a limited role in compensating for iodine deficiency and excess.     

Effects of 10-Day Complete Fasting on Physiological Homeostasis,Nutrition and Health Markers in Male Adults

Fasting shows great potential in preventing chronic diseases and has to be surmounted under some extraordinary circumstances. This study aimed to investigate the safety, time effects of metabolic homeostasis and health indexes during prolonged fasting. Thirteen participants were recruited to conduct a 10-day complete fasting (CF) in a controlled health research building under medical supervision including 3-day Baseline (BL), 10-day CF, 4-day calorie restriction (CR) and 5-day full recovery (FR). Body healthy status was assessed by surveying pulse, blood pressure, body weight (BW), blood glucose and ketones, body composition and nutritional and biochemistry indexes at different times. BW declined about 7.28 kg (−9.8%) after 10-day CF, accompanied by increased pulse and decreased systolic blood pressure, but there were no changes to the myocardial enzymogram. Body composition analysis showed fat mass was constantly lost, but lean mass could recover after CR. The energy substrate switch from glucose to ketone occurred and formed a stable dynamic balance between 3–6 days of CF. The lipid metabolism presented increased total cholesterol, LDL-C, ApoA1 and almost no changes to TG and HDL-C. Prolonged CF did not influence liver function, but induced a slight decrease of kidney function. The interesting results came from the marked increase of lipid-soluble vitamins and a significant decrease of sodium and chlorine. Adults could well tol-erate a 10-day CF. A new metabolic homeostasis was achieved. No vitamins but NaCl supplement should be considered. These findings provide evidence to design a new fasting strategy for clinical practice.     

J-Shaped Association of Tomato Intake with New-Onset Hypertension in General Adults: A Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study

We aim to examine the prospective association between the intake of dietary tomatoes and the risk of new-onset hypertension and its modifiable factors in general adults. A total of 11,460 adults without hypertension from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) were enrolled, with follow-up beginning in 1997 and ending in 2015. Dietary tomato intake was measured by three consecutive 24-h dietary recalls combined with a household food inventory. The study outcome was new-onset hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg or diagnosed by physicians or under anti-hypertensive treatment during the follow-up. Finally, 4015 subjects developed new-onset hypertension during 92,335.5 person-years of follow-up. After multivariate adjustment for dietary and non-dietary risk factors, hazard ratios for increased consumption of dietary tomatoes were 0.42 (95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.47), 0.51 (0.46–0.57), and 0.82 (0.74–0.92) compared with non-consumers. Overall, cubic spline regression suggested a novel J-shaped association between dietary tomato intake and new-onset hypertension, with the lowest risk observed at approximately 10 to 13 g/day (p < 0.001 for curvature). Moreover, the association between dietary tomato intake and risk of new-onset hypertension was stronger in females or individuals who refrained from smoking or drinking (p = 0.024, p = 0.043, and p = 0.044 for interaction, respectively).     

Primary renal glomus tumor with concurrent papillary renal cell carcinoma and multiple papillary adenomas in a patient with end stage renal disease: a case report and clinicopathologic analysis

Glomus tumors are mesenchymal tumors commonly seen in the extremities, and rarely seen in deep visceral organs. This is due to the lack of glomus bodies in visceral organs. Here, we describe an unusual association between glomus tumor and co-existing papillary renal cell carcinoma, multiple papillary adenomas, and end stage renal disease. We discuss our diagnostic approach and differential diagnoses, along with an extensive review of all reported benign and malignant primary glomus tumors. A 63-year-old male with a known history of a kidney transplant, end-stage renal disease, and previous nephrectomy of his right kidney due to a renal mass (papillary renal cell carcinoma) presented with a renal mass. Microscopic examination showed papillary carcinoma, multiple papillary adenomas, and a small nodule with uniform, round to oval cells. Immunohistochemical work-up revealed the small nodule to be a glomus tumor. Only 28 cases of primary renal glomus tumors have been reported in the literature. Most were discovered incidentally. None of the reported cases have occurred along with other renal tumors. This is the first case of the unusual combination of primary renal glomus tumor arising in the native kidney of a renal transplant patient with concurrent papillary renal cell carcinoma and multiple papillary adenomas (renal adenomatosis). We also explore the possible genetic basis behind this association.     

应用项目化管理模式提高病原学送检率

目的 通过应用项目化管理模式,提高住院患者病原学送检率。方法 选取某三级甲等综合性医院2022年1—12月份治疗性使用抗菌药物的住院患者为研究对象,其中1—6月份为对照组,7—12月份为干预组。干预组运用项目化管理模式处理,包括项目启动、计划、执行、监控、收尾5个阶段实施,比较干预前后两组患者病原学送检相关监测指标。结果 共调查治疗性使用抗菌药物的住院患者35 488例,其中对照组15 536例,干预组19 952例。病原学送检率干预组较对照组提高(69.52%VS 44.10%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.001),目标达成率为430.85%,进步率为57.64%。两组住院患者抗菌药物治疗前病原学送检率、抗菌药物使用率、抗菌药物使用强度、多重耐药菌检出率[除耐碳青霉烯类肠杆菌(CREC)、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(MRSA)外]比较,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。相关标志物检查的送检率干预后较干预前提高(53.61%VS 25.01%),增长率达114.35%,高于微生物培养及显微镜检查、免疫学检测及其他检测项目的增长。干预后抽查的87例送检降钙素原(PCT)/白...     

Amygdala abnormalities across disease stages in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

To examine selective atrophy patterns and resting‐state functional connectivity (FC) alterations in the amygdala at different stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and to explore any correlations between amygdala abnormalities and neuropsychiatric symptoms. We used the King''s clinical staging system for ALS to divide 83 consecutive patients with ALS into comparable subgroups at different disease stages. We explored the pattern of selective amygdala subnucleus atrophy and amygdala‐based whole‐brain FC alteration in these patients and 94 healthy controls (HCs). Cognitive and emotional functions were also evaluated using a neuropsychological test battery. There were no significant differences between ALS patients at King''s stage 1 and HCs for any amygdala subnucleus volumes. Compared with HCs, ALS patients at King''s stage 2 had significantly lower left accessory basal nucleus and cortico‐amygdaloid transition volumes. Furthermore, ALS patients at King''s stage 3 demonstrated significant reductions in most amygdala subnucleus volumes and global amygdala volumes compared with HCs. Notably, amygdala‐cuneus FC was increased in ALS patients at King''s stage 3. Specific subnucleus volumes were significantly associated with Mini‐Mental State Examination scores and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores in ALS patients. In conclusions, our study provides a comprehensive profile of amygdala abnormalities in ALS patients. The pattern of amygdala abnormalities in ALS patients differed greatly across King''s clinical disease stages, and amygdala abnormalities are an important feature of patients with ALS at relatively advanced stages. Moreover, our findings suggest that amygdala volume may play an important role in anxiety and cognitive dysfunction in ALS patients.     

Collateral Flow in Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Prognostic Value for Vertebrobasilar Stenosis With Stroke Recurrence

Background and PurposeIntracranial vertebrobasilar atherosclerotic stenosis (IVBAS) is a major cause of posterior circulation stroke. Some patients suffer from stroke recurrence despite receiving medical treatment. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of a new score for the posterior communicating artery and the P1 segment of the posterior cerebral artery (PCoA-P1) for predicting stroke recurrence in IVBAS.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled patients with severe IVBAS (70%–99%). According to the number of stroke recurrences, patients were divided into no-recurrence, single-recurrence, and multiple-recurrences groups. We developed a new 5-point grading scale, with the PCoA-P1 score ranging from 0 to 4 based on magnetic resonance angiography, in which primary collaterals were dichotomized into good (2–4 points) and poor (0 or 1 point). Stroke recurrences after the index stroke were recorded. Patients who did not experience stroke recurrence were compared with those who experienced single or multiple stroke recurrences.ResultsFrom January 2012 to December 2019, 176 patients were enrolled, of which 116 (65.9%) had no stroke recurrence, 35 (19.9%) had a single stroke recurrence, and 25 (14.2%) had multiple stroke recurrences. Patients with single stroke recurrence (odds ratio [OR]=4.134, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.822–9.380, p=0.001) and multiple stroke recurrences (OR=6.894, 95% CI=2.489–19.092, p<0.001) were more likely to have poor primary collaterals than those with no stroke recurrence.ConclusionsThe new PCoA-P1 score appears to provide improve predictions of stroke recurrence in patients with IVBAS.