ABSTRACT Background: Dragon′s blood is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, isolated mainly from the trunks of Dracaena trees. Overexploitation of the Dracaena resource has resulted in this plant becoming endangered. This work aimed to assess the potential to use various tissues of the Dracaena cochinchinensis tree, such as leaves and roots, to produce dragon′s blood. Results: We found that many dragon′s blood components accumulated in the bark of trunk and roots of D. cochinchinensis under natural conditions. In addition, small amounts of loureirin A were detected in leaves, suggesting that the leaves could be a potential source of dragon′s blood. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that most of the genes tested in this study, which encoded enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of dragon′s blood flavonoids, were highly expressed in the bark of roots and trunk. Conclusion: We confirmed that the bark of roots and trunk of D. cochinchinensis tree were the main tissues for the synthesis and storage of dragon′s blood under natural conditions. This study demonstrated the potential to extract dragon′s blood from the roots that have been abandoned due to mining difficulties without destroying the tree, a process which would be beneficial to the protection of the endangered wild D. cochinchinensis tree populations.

RESUMO Infecção com o vírus Hepatite E (HEV) é uma importante questão de saúde pública global. Infecções HEV são reconhecidas como doença zoológica. Acredita-se que suínos são o principal reservatório de HEV. Recentemente iaques, vacas, e gado amarelo foram reportados como novos reservatórios do HEV. Porém, não se sabe se outras espécies de gado e búfalo são sensíveis a infecção HEV. Para investigar a prevalência de infecção HEV em búfalos, foram realizados prova de imunoabsorção enzimática e polimerização em cadeia inversa ancorada em transcrição. Apenas um búfalo foi positivo para o anticorpo anti-HEV IgM (1/106, 0,94%), e nenhum foi positivo para o anticorpo anti-HEV IgG. Para nossa surpresa cinco (5/106, 4,72%) e três amostras de leite (3/40, 7,50%) de búfalos foram positivos para HEV RNA. Todas as estirpes de HEV isoladas de búfalos pertencem ao genótipo 4. Resultados indicam que búfalos podem ser um reservatório de HEV.

ABSTRACT Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important global public health issue. HEV infections are recognized as a zoonotic disease. Swine are believed to be the main reservoir of HEV. Recently, yaks, cows, and yellow cattle have been reported as new reservoirs of HEV. However, whether other species of cattle and buffaloes are sensitive to HEV infection is unknown. To investigate the prevalence of HEV infection in buffaloes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) were performed. Only one buffalo was positive to anti-HEV IgM antibody (1/106, 0.94%), and none were positive for anti-HEV IgG antibody. To our surprise, five serum (5/106, 4.72%) and three milk samples (3/40, 7.50%) from buffaloes were positive to HEV RNA. All strains of HEV isolated from buffaloes belong to genotype 4. Results indicate that buffaloes may be a new reservoir of HEV.

Abstract Background: There are 6 species of venomous snakes in Taiwan. Two of them, Deinagkistrodon acutus (D. acutus) and Daboia siamensis (D. siamensis), can cause significant coagulopathy. However, a significant proportion of patients with snakebites cannot identify the correct snake species after envenomation, which hampers the application of antivenom. Hence, the differential diagnosis between the two snakebites by clinical presentations is important. This study aims to compare their clinical and laboratory features for the purpose of differential diagnosis between the two snakebites. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who arrived at the emergency department due to D. acutus or D. siamensis envenomation, between 2003 and 2016, in one medical center in eastern Taiwan. Since these snakebites are rare, we also included 3 cases reported from another hospital in central Taiwan. Results: In total, 15 patients bitten by D. acutus and 12 patients by D. siamensis were analyzed. Hemorrhagic bulla formation and the need for surgical intervention only presented for D. acutus envenomation cases (Both 53.3% vs. 0.0%, P= 0.003). As to laboratory features, lower platelet counts (20.0 × 103/μL [interquartile range, 14-66 × 103/μL] vs. 149.0 × 103/μL [102.3-274.3 × 103/μL], P = 0.001), lower D-dimer level (1423.4 μg/L [713.4-4212.3 μg/L] vs. 12,500.0 μg/L [2351.4-200,000 μg/L], P = 0.008), higher proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 103/μL) (80% vs. 16.7%, odds ratio (OR) = 20.0, 95% CI, 2.77-144.31; P = 0.002), and lower proportion of patients with extremely high D-dimer (> 5000 ng/mL) (16.7% vs. 66.7%, adjusted OR = 0.1 (95% CI, 0.01-0.69; P = 0.036) were found among cases of D. acutus envenomation compared to D. siamensis envenomation. The combination of hemorrhagic bulla, thrombocytopenia, and a lack of extremely high D-dimer had good discriminatory power (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.965; 95% CI, 0.904-1.00) for distinguishing D. acutus from D. siamensis envenomation. Conclusions: The presentation of moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 103/μL) and hemorrhagic bulla formation may indicate D. acutus envenomation. However, the envenomed patient with extremely high D-dimer levels may indicate a D. siamensis envenomation. These findings may help diagnose and select the right antivenom in patients with unknown snakebites who present significant coagulopathy.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on amino acid contents and the cerebral ultrastructure of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R). Methods: Thirty-six, male, Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: the sham operation group (group C), the ischemia-reperfusion group (group I/R), and the DEX group (group D). The middle cerebral artery occlusion model was prepared by the modified Longa method. The time of ischemia was 180 min, and 120 min after reperfusion, the amount of glutamate (Glu), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain were measured, and the ultrastructure-level changes in the cerebral cortex were examined using electron microscopy. Results: Compared to group C, Glu contents in group D, and I/R significantly increased. Compared to group I/R, Glu contents in group D significantly decreased. Compared to group C, GABA contents in group D, and I/R significantly increased, and those in group D significantly increased, as compared to group I/R. The cerebral ultrastructure was normal in group C. Vacuolar degeneration in the plastiosome and nervous processes, was more critical than in group D. Vascular endothelial cells (VEC) were damaged. On the contrary, these changes in group D significantly improved. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is capable of decreasing glutamergic content, and increasing GABAergic content, in order to decrease the injury of the cerebral ultrastructure, following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

A novel thermoacidophilic iron and sulfur-oxidizing archaeon, strain YN25, was isolated from an in situ enriched acid hot spring sample collected in Yunnan, China. Cells were irregular cocci, about 0.9-1.02 µm×1.0-1.31 µm in the medium containing elemental sulfur and 1.5-2.22 µm×1.8-2.54 µm in ferrous sulfate medium. The ranges of growth and pH were 50-85 (optimum 65) and pH 1.0-6.0 (optimum 1.5-2.5). The acidophile was able to grow heterotrophically on several organic substrates, including various monosaccharides, alcohols and amino acids, though the growth on single substrate required yeast extract as growth factor. Growth occurred under aerobic conditions or via anaerobic respiration using elemental sulfur as terminal electron acceptor. Results of morphology, physiology, fatty acid analysis and analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain YN25 should be grouped in the species Acidianus manzaensis. Bioleaching experiments indicated that this strain had excellent leaching capacity, with a copper yielding ratio up to 79.16% in 24 d. The type strain YN25 was deposited in China Center for Type Culture Collection (=CCTCCZNDX0050).

The effects of nanosize copper oxide and basic copper carbonate on the physical and mechanical properties of flakeboards were investigated according to ASTM Standard D-1037, and the curing process of phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin containing copper compounds was further investigated using dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results showed that nanosize copper oxide had no or slightly beneficial effects on the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the flakeboards. While basic copper carbonate increased thickness swelling and water absorption to some extent, the difference was not statistically significant. The DSC results indicated that the comparable activation energy and reaction enthalpy, obtained from nanosize copper oxide treated samples, contributed to the higher degree of conversion of PF resin and undiminished bonding strength of flakeboards, which is probably related to the acceleration of the addition reactions taking place among small molecules in PF resin and the enhancement of heat transfer of composite mat caused by nanosize copper oxide.

The effects of three nitrate levels - 14(CK), 56(T-1), and 140 mmol L-1 (T-2) - on growth and photosynthetic capacity of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Xintaimici) seedlings grown in hydroponic culture were investigated. The results showed that at 12 d after treatment plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and leaf number of cucumber seedlings were stimulated by 56 mmol L-1 nitrate, whereas were inhibited significantly by 140 mmol L-1 nitrate compared with CK. Short-term stimulation in photosynthetic rate occurred under T-1 treatment, and then recovered to the level of CK. Photosynthetic rate of T-2 seedlings significantly decreased over treatment course with respect to CK. Photosynthetic pigment content of T-1 and T-2 increased during the first 2 d, and gradually recovered to the level of CK thereafter. Chlorophyll a/b and carotenoids/chlorophyll of T-1 had no significant difference from CK during treatment period. During the first 4 d, there was no significant difference in chlorophyll a/b and carotenoids/chlorophyll between T-2 and CK. After 4 d, chlorophyll a/b of T-2 increased gradually, whereas carotenoids/chlorophyll decreased. Actual PSII efficiency (ΦPSII) and photochemical quenching (qP) of T-1 had no significant difference from CK, and non-photochemical quenching (qN) was a little higher than CK after 2 d. During the first 2 d, there was little difference in ΦPSII and qP between T-2 and CK. After 2 d, both ΦPSII and qP of T-2 decreased to a great extend. A significant increase in qN of T-2 occurred over treatment course. With respect to CK, Hill reaction activity of T-1 slightly decreased, and T-2 treatment resulted in a significant decrease of Hill reaction activity. This evidence indicates that high-level nitrate stress may reduce photosynthesis through its effects not only on stomatal conductance but on the photosynthetic apparatus.

OBJETIVO: Estabelecer um modelo experimental de nefrectomia parcial laparoscópica (NPL) em ratos e analisar as alterações morfológicas no parênquima renal utilizando-se bisturi elétrico e harmônico. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 40 ratos Wistar, distribuídos em dois experimentos com 20 ratos cada: experimento I, NPL utilizando-se de bisturi elétrico e subdividindo-se os ratos em grupos A e B; experimento II, NPL realizada com bisturi harmônico e subdividindo-se os ratos em grupos C e D. Os animais dos grupos A e C foram sacrificados após a cirurgia para a remoção do rim operado e estudo das seguintes variáveis: necrose e degeneração. Nos grupos B e D a laparotomia para a retirada do rim operado foi após o décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório para a análise da cicatriz fibrosa. RESULTADOS: O bisturi elétrico provocou uma necrose e cicatriz fibrosa mais extensas em relação ao bisturi harmônico (p=0.0002 e p=0.0068 respectivamente). Em relação a variável degeneração, não houve diferença entre os tipos de bisturis (p=0.1267). CONCLUSÕES: NPL em ratos é um modelo experimental adequado e factível. O bisturi elétrico causa danos teciduais mais intensos no rim operado quando comparado com o bisturi harmônico.

PURPOSE: To establish an experimental model of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in rats and to analyze morphological alterations in the renal parenchyma utilizing an electric cautery and harmonic scalpel. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were used, divided in 2 experiments with 20 rats each: experiment I, LPN was performed with an electric cautery and the rats were subdivided into groups A and B; experiment II, LPN was performed with a harmonic scalpel and they were subdivided into groups C and D. The animals in groups A and C were sacrificed shortly after surgery and the remnant kidney was removed to study the following variables: necroses and degeneration. In groups B and D a laparatomy was performed for retrieval of the remnant kidney on the 14th day after surgery to analyze fibrous scarring. RESULTS: For the variables necroses and fibrous scarring, the electric cautery creates, on average, greater width than that produced by the harmonic scalpel (p=0.0002 and p=0.0068 respectively). Regarding the variable of degeneration, we found no significant difference between the two types of scalpels (p=0.1267). CONCLUSIONS: LPN in rats is an adequate and feasible experimental model. The electric cautery caused greater damage to remnant renal tissue when compared to harmonic scalpel.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of inactivated and live attenuated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccines given to infants and children in Shanghai. Methods: A decision-analytical model was constructed in order to compare costs and outcomes for three hypothetical cohorts of 100 000 children followed from birth in 1997 to the age of 30 years who received either no JE vaccine, inactivated JE vaccine (P3), or live attenuated JE vaccine (SA 14-14-2). Cumulative incidences of JE from birth to 30 years of age in the pre-immunization era, i.e. before 1968, were used to estimate expected rates of JE in the absence of vaccination. The economic consequences were measured as cost per case, per death, and per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted for the two JE immunization programmes. Findings: In comparison with no JE immunization, a programme using the P3 vaccine would prevent 420 JE cases and 105 JE deaths and would save 6456 DALYs per 100 000 persons; the use of the SA 14-14-2 vaccine would prevent 427 cases and 107 deaths and would save 6556 DALYs per 100 000 persons. Both kinds of immunization were cost saving but the SA 14-14-2 vaccine strategy resulted in a saving that was 47% greater (US$ 512 456) than that obtained with the P3 vaccine strategy (US$ 348 246). Conclusion: Both JE immunization strategies resulted in cost savings in comparison with no JE immunization. This provides a strong economic rationale for vaccinating against JE in Shanghai and suggests that vaccination against JE might be economically justifiable in other parts of China and in certain other developing countries of Asia where the disease is endemic.

Objetivo: Evaluar la relación costo-eficacia de las vacunas inactivada y viva atenuada contra la encefalitis japonesa (EJ) administradas a lactantes y niños en Shanghai. Métodos: Se construyó un modelo analítico de decisiones para comparar los costos y los resultados en tres cohortes hipotéticas de 100 000 niños seguidos desde su nacimiento en 1997 hasta la edad de 30 años, los cuales o bien no recibieron vacuna anti-EJ, o bien recibieron la vacuna anti-EJ inactivada (P3), o bien recibieron la vacuna anti-EJ viva atenuada (SA 14-14-2). Se emplearon las incidencias acumuladas de EJ entre el nacimiento y los 30 años en los años preinmunización, es decir, antes de 1968, para estimar las tasas esperadas de EJ en ausencia de vacunación. Las consecuencias económicas se cuantificaron determinando el costo por caso, por defunción y por AVAD (año de vida ajustado en función de la discapacidad) evitado en los dos programas de inmunización contra la EJ. Resultados: En comparación con la ausencia de vacunación contra la EJ, un programa basado en la vacuna P3 prevendría 420 casos de EJ y 105 defunciones por EJ y permitiría un ahorro de 6456 AVAD por 100 000 personas; usando la vacuna SA 14-14-2 se prevendrían 427 casos y 107 muertes y se ahorrarían 6556 AVAD por 100 000 personas. Ambos tipos de inmunización permitían ahorrar costos, pero la estrategia basada en la vacuna 14-14-2 permitió un ahorro superior en un 47% (US$ 512 456) al obtenido con la vacuna P3 (US$ 348 246). Conclusión: Las dos estrategias de inmunización contra la EJ redundaron en ahorros de costos en comparación con la falta de inmunización contra la enfermedad. Esto constituye un argumento económico de peso para vacunar contra la EJ en Shanghai, y lleva a pensar que la vacunación contra la EJ podría estar justificada desde el punto de vista económico en otras partes de China y en otros países en desarrollo de Asia donde la enfermedad es endémica.

Objectif: Evaluer le rapport coût-efficacité des vaccins inactivés et des vaccins vivants atténués contre l'encéphalite japonaise administrés aux nourrissons et aux enfants à Shanghai. Méthodes: Un modèle d'analyse de décision a été élaboré en vue de comparer les coûts et les issues pour trois cohortes hypothétiques de 100 000 enfants suivis depuis leur naissance en 1997 jusqu'à l'âge de 30 ans et ayant reçu soit aucun vaccin contre l'encéphalite japonaise, soit un vaccin inactivé (P3), soit un vaccin vivant atténué (SA-14-14-2). Les valeurs de l'incidence cumulée des cas d'encéphalite japonaise de la naissance à l'âge de 30 ans à une époque où il n'y avait pas de vaccination contre cette maladie, c'est-à-dire avant 1968, ont été utilisées pour estimer les taux d'encéphalite japonaise qui seraient attendus en l'absence de vaccination. Les conséquences économiques ont été mesurées en termes de coût par cas, par décès et par année de vie ajustée sur l'incapacité (DALY) que chacun des deux programmes de vaccination contre l'encéphalite japonaise aurait permis d'éviter. Résultats: Par rapport à l'absence de vaccination, un programme utilisant le vaccin P3 éviterait 420 cas et 105 décès et économiserait 6456 DALY pour 100 000 personnes; l'utilisation du vaccin SA 14-14-2 éviterait 427 cas et 107 décès et économiserait 6556 DALY pour 100 000 personnes. Les deux programmes de vaccination permettraient de réaliser des économies mais la stratégie utilisant le vaccin SA 14-14-2 entraînerait une économie supérieure de 47 % (US $512 456) par rapport à l'utilisation du vaccin P3 (US $348 246). Conclusion: Les deux stratégies de vaccination contre l'encéphalite japonaise permettraient de réaliser des économies par rapport à l'absence de vaccination. Il s'agit là d'un solide argument en faveur de la vaccination contre cette maladie à Shanghai et qui permet en outre de penser que la vaccination contre l'encéphalite japonaise pourrait se justifier sur le plan économique dans d'autres parties de la Chine et dans certains autres pays en développement d'Asie où cette maladie est endémique.