Summary
Canine parvovirus (CPV) is highly contagious and is a major cause of haemorrhagic enteritis and myocarditis in dogs. We investigated the genetic variation of emerging CPV strains by ...sequencing 64 CPV VP2 genes from 216 clinical samples of dogs from Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong and Hebei in 2014. Genetic analysis revealed that CPV‐2b was predominant in Hebei and CPV‐2a was predominant in the other four provinces. In addition, a CPV‐2c strain has emerged in Shandong province. All samples had a Ser‐Ala substitution at residue 297 and an Ile‐Arg substitution at residue 324. Interestingly, in five separate canine samples, we found a mutation of Gln370 to Arg, until now detected only in isolates from pandas. The phylogenetic analysis showed clear distinctions between epidemic isolates and vaccine strains and between Chinese CPV‐2c strains and CPV‐2c strains found in other countries. Monitoring recent incidence of CPV strains enables evaluation and implementation of disease control strategies.
A coherent electromagnetic field can be described by its amplitude, frequency, and phase. All these properties can influence the interaction between the field and an atom. Here we demonstrate the ...phase shaping of microwaves that are scattered by a superconducting artificial atom coupled to the end of a semi-infinite one-dimensional transmission line. In particular, we input a weak exponentially rising pulse with phase modulation to a transmon qubit. We observe that atom-field interaction can be tuned from a nearly full interaction (interaction efficiency, i.e., amount of the field energy interacting with the atom, of 94.5 %) to effectively no interaction (interaction efficiency of 3.5 %).
White matter (WM) injury in carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication is thought to be related to delayed cognitive sequelae. To determine if microstructural changes in WM are responsible for the delayed ...onset of cognitive symptoms, we performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with CO intoxication.
DTI was performed in 14 patients with delayed sequelae after CO intoxication and in 16 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of several WM regions were measured. We also determined the correlation between FA of the selected WM and neuropsychological rating scores for the CO intoxication group.
FA of patients with CO intoxication decreased in the corpus callosum, orbitofrontal WM, high frontal WM, parietal WM, and temporal lobes in comparison with the corresponding regions of healthy controls. FA of the WM in the occipital lobe and internal capsule of patients was not significantly different from that in controls. ADCs of all measured WM increased significantly in patients exposed to CO. High correlations were found between the FA of all selected WM and the Mini-Mental State Examination score (gamma = 0.631, P = .016) and the digit span backward task (gamma = 0.759, P = .001).
CO intoxication may cause FA decline in associated cortical areas. This observation indicates microstructural WM pathology in CO intoxication, which is related to delayed cognitive encephalopathy.
A novel polysiloxane (PSO) coating, which is synthesized by pre-hydrolysis/condensation of different types of siloxane monomers in the presence of catalyst through a two-step acidification technique, ...is developed in this work to explore its potential use for corrosion protection of AZ31 magnesium alloy. Basic physical properties such as curing speed, water contact angle, hardness, and adhesion on the substrate were examined. The results show that the PSO coating can be cured at room temperature with superior pencil hardness and adhesion grade, without necessity of chemical pre-treatment of the magnesium surface. The coating with the intermediate thickness exhibits homogeneous surface morphology, higher contact angle, and better corrosion resistance, attributed to the fine three-dimensional structural crystalline coating formed after reacting between PSO and water vapor. Moreover, it maintains the mechanical properties and protection ability after weathering test for 28 days. It is believed that this facile and environmental-friendly method offers an effective strategy for promising applications for protection of magnesium alloys.
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of HBV vaccination as an alternative preventive measure against de novo HBV infection in pediatric living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Sixty recipients ...were enrolled in this study. Thirty received grafts from anti‐HBc(+) donors, and another 30 received grafts from anti‐HBc(−) donors. HBV vaccine was given pretransplant to every candidate. Posttransplant, lamivudine was routinely given to recipients receiving anti‐HBc(+) grafts for about 2 years. Forty‐seven (78%) recipients achieved high levels of anti‐HBs titer (>1000 IU/L). Two (3.3%) recipients developed de novo HBV infection where one received an anti‐HBc(−) graft and another received an anti‐HBc(+) graft. Both recipients were in the lower anti‐HBs titer group (<1000 IU/L). The incidence of de novo HBV infection was significantly higher in the lower titer group (15.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.04). The median follow‐up period was 51 months in recipients with anti‐HBc(−) grafts and 57 months in those with anti‐HBc(+) grafts. Active immunization is an effective method to prevent de novo HBV infection. It can result in high levels of anti‐HBs titer (>1000 IU/L) which may prevent de novo HBV infection in pediatric patients with efficient primary vaccination undergoing LDLT.
Active immunization is an effective method to prevent de novo HBV infection in pediatric patients with efficient primary vaccination undergoing living donor liver transplantation.
Background and purpose
Hemodialysis (HD) may increase the risk of acute subdural hematoma (SDH) with high fatality, but the extent of this disease in non‐western populations is unclear. The incidence ...of and fatality from SDH in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD were examined for an Asian population.
Methods
A cohort of 4709 newly diagnosed ESRD patients on HD from 1998 to 2010 and a control cohort of 18 663 subjects without any kidney disease were identified from a universal insurance claims database in Taiwan. The incidence and hazard of SDH for the two cohorts and 30‐day mortality from SDH were measured by the end of 2010.
Results
The incidence of SDH was 4.47‐fold higher in the HD cohort than in the control cohort (56.3 vs. 12.6 per 10 000 person‐years) with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 3.81 (95% CI 2.77–5.25). HD patients with SDH had a high odds of 30‐day mortality with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.34 (95% CI 2.37–16.9).
Conclusions
ESRD patients with HD were demonstrated to be at high risk of subsequent SDH and to have a high mortality risk from SDH. Proper care for HD patients is necessary to prevent the devastating disorder.
Background and Purpose
Hypoxia‐mediated neovascularization plays an important role in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). There are few animal models or effective treatments for AMD. Here, we ...investigated the effects of the flavonoid silibinin on hypoxia‐induced angiogenesis in a rat AMD model.
Experimental Approach
Retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells were subjected to hypoxia in vitro and the effects of silibinin on activation of key hypoxia‐induced pathways were examined by elucidating the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 alpha (HIF‐1α) protein level by Western blot. A rat model of AMD was developed by intravitreal injection of VEGF in Brown Norway rats, with or without concomitant exposure of animals to hypoxia. Animals were treated with oral silibinin starting at day 7 post‐VEGF injection and AMD changes were followed by fluorescein angiography on days 14 and 28 post‐injection.
Key Results
Silibinin pretreatment of RPE cells increased proline hydroxylase‐2 expression, inhibited HIF‐1α subunit accumulation, and inhibited VEGF secretion. Silibinin‐induced HIF‐1α and VEGF down‐regulation required suppression of hypoxia‐induced phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. In the rat model of AMD, silibinin administration prevented VEGF‐ and VEGF plus hypoxia‐induced retinal oedema and neovascularization.
Conclusion and Implications
The effects of silibinin, both in vitro and in vivo, support its potential as a therapeutic for the prevention of neovascular AMD.
Aim
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second commonest cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Although numerous genes have been associated with tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer, only a few have been ...validated and used as biomarkers for predicting clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to analyse the association of APC gene mutation and miR‐21 expression with clinical outcome in CRC patients.
Method
In total, 195 colorectal cancer patients were enrolled in a single medical centre between 2003 and 2007. APC gene mutation and expression of APC and miR‐21 were analysed by direct DNA sequencing and real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The primary outcome included 5‐year overall survival and univariate (Kaplan–Meier) and multivariate (Cox regression) analyses of prognostic factors.
Results
The results showed that 66 (33.8%) of 195 tumour tissues contained an APC mutation. The predominant APC gene variations were deletion mutations (50.0%). APC gene expression was low in CRC and negatively correlated with miR‐21 expression and gene mutation. In advanced‐stage cancer, patients with APC mutation/high miR‐21 had poorer overall survival rates than those with APC mutation/low miR‐21, APC wild‐type/high miR‐21 and APC wild‐type/low miR‐21.
Conclusion
In Taiwan, downregulation of the APC gene in CRC correlated with gene mutation and miR‐21 upregulation. APC mutation and miR‐21 expression could be used to predict the clinical outcome of CRC, especially in patients with advanced disease.
To evaluate the efficacy of stent placement in the treatment of portal vein (PV) stenosis or occlusion in living donor liver transplant (LDLT) recipients, 468 LDLT records were reviewed. Sixteen (10 ...PV occlusions and 6 stenoses) recipients (age range, 8 months–59 years) were referred for possible interventional angioplasty (dilatation and/or stent) procedures. Stent placement was attempted in all. The approaches used were percutaneous transhepatic (n = 10), percutaneous transsplenic (n = 4), and intraoperative (n = 2). Technical success was achieved in 11 of 16 patients (68.8%). The sizes of the stents used varied from 7 mm to 10 mm in diameter. In the five unsuccessful patients, long‐term complete occlusion of the PV with cavernous transformation precluded catherterization. The mean follow‐up was 12 months (range, 3–24). The PV stent patency rate was 90.9% (10/11). Rethrombosis and occlusion of the stent and PV occurred in a single recipient who had a cryoperserved vascular graft to reconstruct the PV during the LDLT operation. PV occlusion of >1 year with cavernous transformation seemed to be a factor causing technical failure. In conclusion, early treatment of PV stenosis and occlusion by stenting is an effective treatment in LDLT. Percutaneous transhepatic and transsplenic, and intraoperative techniques are effective approaches depending on the situation.
Vascular stents in management of portal venous complications: percutaneous transhepatic and transplenic and intraoperative techniques can be effective in patients with portal venous complications, depending on the situation.
•Piezoelectric-excited membrane is presented for rapid measurement of liquids viscosity and density.•High Q factor of membrane in liquids is considered helpful to improve the signal-to-noise ratio in ...applications.•The relationships of resonant frequency and Q factor of membrane to viscosity and density of liquids were investigated.
This paper presents a piezoelectric-excited membrane device for rapid measurement of liquids viscosity and density. The working principle of the device is based on membrane’s resonant frequency and Q factor responses to the damping effects of a surrounding liquid. The dependences of the resonant frequency and Q factor on liquids viscosity and mass density were theoretically investigated using a sphere-end oscillator model in viscous liquids and compared to experimental results. The theory and experimental results show that the piezoelectric-excited membrane can be used to measure liquids viscosity in a range from 19.88cP to 1733cP and mass density in a range from 0.829g/cm3 to 0.886g/cm3. Hence, the piezoelectric-excited membrane device is a promising candidate for rapid measurement of liquids viscosity and mass density, especially for wide-range viscosity measurement.
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