A microfluidic gradient mixer-flow chamber as a new tool to study biofilm development under defined solute gradients.

Understanding the dynamics of biofilm development in response to chemical cues and signals is required toward the development of controllable biofilm-mediated bioprocesses. In this study, we report a new biofilm growth system that integrates a microfluidic gradient mixer with a biofilm growth chamber. The biofilm growth system allows biofilms to grow under defined solute gradients and enables nondestructive monitoring of the biofilm development dynamics in response to the defined gradients.

[Impact of gastric tube diameter on quality of life of esophagus cancer patient after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy].

Objective: To explore the impact of the gastric tube diameter on quality of life of esophagus cancer patients after Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy.

Methods: Clinical and follow-up data of 188 esophageal cancer patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy at Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Drum Tower Clinical Medicine College, Nanjing Medical University from January 2015 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Inclusion criteria included age <75 years old, good foundation health situation, no distant metastasis, complete follow-up data for one-year after surgery, and middle-lower esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

First assessment of interferon gamma release assay results among healthcare workers at a general hospital in China.

Introduction: China has a very high tuberculosis (TB) burden. The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is more specific for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) than the tuberculin skin test, especially among populations with a high degree of coverage by the BCG vaccine.

Objectives: To evaluate the first screening of healthcare workers (HCW) for LTBI using the IGRA at a general hospital in Beijing.

Integrating fluorescence computed tomography with optical sheet illumination for imaging of live single cells.

We present a new approach for three-dimensional (3D) live single-cell imaging with isotropic sub-micron spatial resolution using fluorescence computed tomography (fCT). A thin, highly inclined and laminated optical (HILO) sheet of light is used for fluorescence excitation in live single cells that are rotated around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis. During a full rotation, 400-500 two-dimensional (2D) projection images of the cell are acquired from multiple viewing perspectives by rapidly scanning the HILO light sheet along the optical axis.

High ratio of measles-specific IgG/IgM associated with nodular pneumonia in vaccinated individuals.

Background: Vaccinated individuals infected with measles can develop nodular pneumonia. These cases can be misdiagnosed due to the absence of specific IgM and typical symptoms. An effective diagnostic tool is needed.

[Microbiological profiles of pathogens causing nosocomial bacteremia in 2011, 2013 and 2016].

To dynamically investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteremia pathogens isolated from different regions in China in 2011, 2013 and 2016. Non-repetitive isolates from nosocomial bloodstream infections were retrospectively collected and detected for antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) by agar dilution or microbroth dilution methods. Whonet 5.

Gene regulatory network construction identified NFYA as a diffuse subtype-specific prognostic factor in gastric cancer.

Lauren classification is a pathology-based gastric cancer (GC) subtyping system, which is widely used in the clinical treatment of patients with GC. However, genome-scale molecular characteristics to distinguish between diffuse (DF) and intestinal (IT) GC remain incompletely characterized, particularly at the transcriptional regulatory level. In the present study, gene regulatory networks were constructed using the Passing Attributes between Networks for Data Assimilation (PANDA) algorithm for DF, IT and mixed GC.

Epidemiological characterization of respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae during epidemic and post-epidemic periods in North China, from 2011 to 2016.

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a commonly causative pathogen for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in humans. The epidemiological features of M.

Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms for different types of acute respiratory infections based on previous trials.

Although evidence indicates that use of procalcitonin to guide antibiotic decisions for the treatment of acute respiratory infections (ARI) decreases antibiotic consumption and improves clinical outcomes, algorithms used within studies had differences in PCT cut-off points and frequency of testing. We therefore analyzed studies evaluating procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy and propose consensus algorithms for different respiratory infection types. Areas covered: We systematically searched randomized-controlled trials (search strategy updated on February 2018) on procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy of ARI in adults using a pre-specified Cochrane protocol and analyzed algorithms from 32 trials that included 10,285 patients treated in primary care settings, emergency departments (ED), and intensive care units (ICU).

Comparative Genomic Analysis of Re-emergent Human Adenovirus Type 55 Pathogens Associated With Adult Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Reveals Conserved Genomes and Capsid Proteins.

Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-B55) is a recently identified acute respiratory disease (ARD) pathogen in HAdV species B with a recombinant genome between renal HAdV-B11 and respiratory HAdV-B14. Since HAdV-B55 first appeared in China school in 2006, no more ARD cases associated with it had been reported until 2011, when there was an outbreak of adult severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Beijing, China. Reported here is the bioinformatics analysis of the re-emergent HAdV-B55 responsible for this outbreak.

Microbial Community Composition and Putative Biogeochemical Functions in the Sediment and Water of Tropical Granite Quarry Lakes.

Re-naturalized quarry lakes are important ecosystems, which support complex communities of flora and fauna. Microorganisms associated with sediment and water form the lowest trophic level in these ecosystems and drive biogeochemical cycles. A direct comparison of microbial taxa in water and sediment microbial communities is lacking, which limits our understanding of the dominant functions that are carried out by the water and sediment microbial communities in quarry lakes.

An Immunocompetent Mouse Model of Zika Virus Infection.

Progress toward understanding Zika virus (ZIKV) pathogenesis is hindered by lack of immunocompetent small animal models, in part because ZIKV fails to effectively antagonize Stat2-dependent interferon (IFN) responses in mice. To address this limitation, we first passaged an African ZIKV strain (ZIKV-Dak-41525) through Rag1 mice to obtain a mouse-adapted virus (ZIKV-Dak-MA) that was more virulent than ZIKV-Dak-41525 in mice treated with an anti-Ifnar1 antibody. A G18R substitution in NS4B was the genetic basis for the increased replication, and resulted in decreased IFN-β production, diminished IFN-stimulated gene expression, and the greater brain infection observed with ZIKV-Dak-MA.

Long-term oncological outcomes of local excision versus radical resection for early colorectal cancer in young patients without preoperative chemoradiotherapy: a population-based propensity matching study.

The incidence and mortality of colorectal carcinoma are rising in young adults. This population-based propensity matching study aimed to compare long-term oncological outcomes of local excision with radical resection for early localized colorectal cancer (CRC) in young patients without preoperative chemoradiotherapy. Patients under 45 years old with T1 colon or rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent local excision or radical resection were included from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 1998 and 2014.

Fabrication of Multiple-Layered Hydrogel Scaffolds with Elaborate Structure and Good Mechanical Properties via 3D Printing and Ionic Reinforcement.

A major challenge in three-dimensional (3D) printing of hydrogels is the fabrication of stable constructs with high precision and good mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Existing methods typically feature complicated reinforcement steps or use potentially toxic components, such as photocuring polymers and crosslinking reagents. In this study, we used a thermally sensitive hydrogel, hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC), for 3D-printing applications.

Effects of age, comorbidity and adherence to current antimicrobial guidelines on mortality in hospitalized elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Limited information exists on the clinical characteristics predictive of mortality in patients aged ≥65 years in many countries. The impact of adherence to current antimicrobial guidelines on the mortality of hospitalized elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has never been assessed.

Methods: A total of 3131 patients aged ≥65 years were enrolled from a multi-center, retrospective, observational study initiated by the CAP-China network.

TNF-α inhibits SCF, ghrelin, and substance P expressions through the NF-κB pathway activation in interstitial cells of Cajal.

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon where intestinal motility is disturbed. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) are required to maintain normal intestinal motility. In the present study, we assessed the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on viability and apoptosis of ICC, as well as on the expression of stem cell factor (SCF), ghrelin, and substance P.

Dynamic Variation and Reversion in the Signature Amino Acids of H7N9 Virus During Human Infection.

Background: Signature amino acids of H7N9 influenza A virus play critical roles in human adaption and pathogenesis, but their dynamic variation is unknown during disease development.

Methods: We sequentially collected respiratory samples from H7N9 patients at different timepoints and applied next-generation sequencing (NGS) to the whole genome of the H7N9 virus to investigate the variation at signature sites.

Results: A total of 11 patients were involved, from whom 29 samples were successfully sequenced, including samples from multiple timepoints in 9 patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in China (the China Pulmonary Health [CPH] study): a national cross-sectional study.

Background: Although exposure to cigarette smoking and air pollution is common, the current prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown in the Chinese adult population. We conducted the China Pulmonary Health (CPH) study to assess the prevalence and risk factors of COPD in China.

Methods: The CPH study is a cross-sectional study in a nationally representative sample of adults aged 20 years or older from ten provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in mainland China.

Development and Characterization of Novel Genic-SSR Markers in Apple-Juniper Rust Pathogen Gymnosporangium yamadae (Pucciniales: Pucciniaceae) Using Next-Generation Sequencing.

The Apple-Juniper rust, , is an economically important pathogen of apples and junipers in Asia. The absence of markers has hampered the study of the genetic diversity of this widespread pathogen. In our study, we developed twenty-two novel microsatellite markers for from randomly sequenced regions of the transcriptome, using next-generation sequencing methods.

Factors Associated With Prolonged Viral Shedding in Patients With Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus Infection.

Background: Data are limited on the impact of neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) treatment on avian influenza A(H7N9) virus RNA shedding.

Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective study, data were collected from adults hospitalized with A(H7N9) infection during 2013-2017 in China. We compared clinical features and A(H7N9) shedding among patients with different NAI doses and combination therapies and evaluated factors associated with A(H7N9) shedding, using Cox proportional hazards regression.

The chemical diversity and structure-based evolution of non-peptide CXCR4 antagonists with diverse therapeutic potential.

The CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) is a highly reserved G-protein coupled 7-transmembrane (TM) chemokine receptor which consists of 352 amino acids. CXCR4 has only one endogenous chemokine ligand of CXCL12, besides several other natural nonchemokine ligands such as extracellular ubiquitin and noncognate ligand of MIF. CXCR4 strongly binds to CXCL12 and the resulting CXCLl2/CXCR4 axis is the molecular basis of their various biological functions, which include: (1) mediating immune and inflammatory response; (2) regulation of hematopoietic stem cell migration and homing; (3) an essential co-receptor for HIV entry into host cells; (4) participation in the process of embryonic development; (5) malignant tumor invasion and metastasis; (6) myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and acute kidney injury.

A comparative study on the quality of bio-oil derived from green macroalga Enteromorpha clathrata over metal modified ZSM-5 catalysts.

The green macroalga Enteromorpha clathrata was pyrolyzed with or without catalysts at the temperature of 550 °C for producing high-quality bio-oil. The ZSM-5 and 1,2,3 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalysts were introduced to investigate the yields and components distribution of bio-oil. Increase of bio-oil production was obtained with the use of ZSM-5 and 1,2,3 mmol Mg-Ce/ZSM-5 catalysts.

Disease characteristics and management of hospitalised adolescents and adults with community-acquired pneumonia in China: a retrospective multicentre survey.

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and management of patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in China.

Design: This was a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

Setting: 13 teaching hospitals in northern, central and southern China from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2014 PARTICIPANTS: Information on hospitalised patients aged ≥14 years with radiographically confirmed pneumonia with illness onset in the community was collected using standard case report forms.