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Canine health is consistently affected by the circulation of the H3N2 strain of canine influenza virus (CIV). Prior research has indicated that the isolation rate of H3N2 CIVs in dogs has gradually increased in China, and these viruses have progressively adapted to humans over the course of their evolution within canine hosts, posing a significant public health threat. However, the key factors influencing the spread of CIVs remain elusive. From January 2020 to December 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, strict epidemic prevention policies were implemented in China. Thus, this measure provides an ideal model for studying factors influencing the prevalence of CIVs. In this study, we continuously monitored the prevalence of CIVs in China before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that the pathogen detection rate and seropositivity rate of domestic CIVs significantly declined after the implementation of epidemic control measures. However, after restrictions on human movement were lifted in 2023, the circulation of CIVs gradually increased. Our results demonstrate that restricting human activity directly impacts the epidemic caused by CIVs and provide a theoretical basis for the implementation of control measures during outbreaks of zoonotic diseases in human companion animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. By conducting a systematic review of the efficacy of acupoint application on children with asthma. Methods. We searched Chinese databases (CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) for studies from the establishment of the database to October 2021. The included literature studies were randomized control studies investigating the treatment of asthma in children by acupoint application. The primary outcomes included the cure rate, the resolution time of cough, and the resolution time of wheezing. The secondary outcomes included pulmonary function and interleukins. Stata 15 and RevMan 5.4 were used to analyze the extracted data. Results. A total of 24 related studies were included containing 2716 cases. The meta-analysis showed that TCM group was superior to control group in terms of cure rate, pulmonary function (FEV1), and resolution time of wheezing in children with asthma [RR = 1.26,95% (1.21,1.31), P < 0.05 ; SMD = 0.81, 95%CI (0.05,1.56), P < 0.05 ; WMD = −1.40, 95%CI (−1.75, −1.05), P < 0.05 ]. Conclusions. The present study shows that acupoint application is an effective treatment for children with asthma in China, especially in alleviating wheezing and improving quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CRISPR-Cas system is a bacterial and archaea adaptive immune system and is a newly recognized mechanism for controlling antibiotic resistance gene transfer. Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is an important organism responsible for a variety of nosocomial infections. A. baumannii infections have become problematic worldwide because of the resistance of A. baumannii to multiple antibiotics. Thus, it is clinically significant to explore the relationship between the CRISPR-Cas system and drug resistance in A. baumannii. This study aimed to analyze the genomic characteristics of the A. baumannii strain AB3 containing the type I-Fb CRISPR-Cas system, which was isolated from a tertiary care hospital in China, and to investigate the relationship between the CRISPR-Cas system and antibiotic resistance in this strain. The whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of the AB43 strain was performed using Illumina and PacBio sequencing. The complete genome of AB43 consisted of a 3,854,806 bp chromosome and a 104,309 bp plasmid. The specific characteristics of the CRISPR-Cas system in AB43 are described as follows: (1) The strain AB43 carries a complete type I-Fb CRISPR-Cas system; (2) Homology analysis confirmed that the cas genes in AB43 share high sequence similarity with the same subtype cas genes; (3) A total of 28 of 105 A. baumannii AB43 CRISPR spacers matched genes in the bacteriophage genome database and the plasmid database, implying that the CRISPR-Cas system in AB43 provides immunity against invasive bacteriophage and plasmids; (4) None of the CRISPR spacers in A. baumannii AB43 were matched with antimicrobial resistance genes in the NCBI database. In addition, we analyzed the presence of antibiotic resistance genes and insertion sequences in the AB43 strain and found that the number of antibiotic resistance genes was not lower than in the "no CRISPR-Cas system" strain. This study supports the idea that the CRISPR-Cas system may inhibit drug-resistance gene expression via endogenous gene regulation, except to the published mechanism that the CRISPR-Cas system efficiently limits the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes that make bacteria sensitive to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Eight undescribed sesquiterpene coumarins, together with six known ones were isolated from Ferula bungeana for the first time. • Eight undescribed sesquiterpene coumarins enriched in F. bungeana have the hydroxyl or carbonyl group at C-7′ and a hydroperoxyl group at C-7′ or C-8′. • The hydroperoxyl group in sesquiterpene coumarins was reported firstly. • Ferubungeanol B (2) and samarcandin acetate (9) could significantly inhibit NO production in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells. This is the first study to profile natural sesquiterpene coumarins (SCs) in Ferula bungeana , a medicinal plant of the genus Ferula in China. Eight undescribed sesquiterpene coumarins (1 – 8), along with six known ones (9 – 14) were obtained from the whole plant of F. bungeana. These unreported SCs (1 – 8) enriched the structural diversity of natural SCs, especially these with the hydroxy or carbonyl group at C-7′ and a hydroperoxy group at C-7′ or C-8′. Compounds (9 – 14) were reported for the first time from this plant. The in vitro anti-neuroinflammatory activity assay showed that compounds 2 and 9 showed stronger inhibitory effect on nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced BV-2 microglia, compared with positive control minocycline, and compounds 5 and 10 showed moderate inhibitory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement spectrum is an essential aspect in displacement-based seismic design (DBSD) philosophy that, comparing to force-based, describes in a more explicit way the structural response and the damage. To better apply DBSD, the displacement spectrum model in period ranging up to 15 s is rephrased using recent high-quality digital strong motion data worldwide, particularly from China territory. After systematical analysis conducted of the influence factors as magnitude, distance, and site conditions on displacement spectrum, it is found that magnitude played a more predominant role in characterizing displacement spectrum that is normalized by peak ground-motion displacement than site conditions and distance. A simplified magnitude-scaled model consisting of four straight line segments constrained by three corner periods and their corresponding amplitudes is proposed to model the normalized displacement spectrum. Comparison with seismic data and the published models verifies the applicability of the proposed model especially for strong earthquakes. Residual analysis indicates the simplified model satisfactorily matches the records with respect to magnitude and distance but the variability of model prediction slightly tends to grow as magnitude and distance increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption that the composition of continental input can be characterized from crustal rock types is the prerequisite for the application of the molybdenum (Mo) isotopic composition as an agent to determine variations in the redox state of the paleo-oceans. The Mo isotopes' behavior in the weathered profile of basalt and granite had been studied in pervious works (Pearce et al., 2010, Voegelin et al., 2012 and Wang et al., 2018). However, the Mo isotopes' behavior in the weathered profile of carbonate rock is unknown. In this work, the Mo concentration and Mo isotopic composition in a weathered profile from Guizhou province, China, are investigated for the first time to understand the behavior of Mo isotopes during carbonate rock chemical weathering. The profile is developed on Early Triassic dolomite. According to the field observation and element ratios, the weathered profile is divided into intensely weathered zone (IWZ), weekly weathered zone (WWZ) and fresh bedrock. The clear correlation between Hf and Zr concentration suggests that the dolomite is the parental material for the terra rossa. The τMo of weather soil ranging from ‒1.37 to –0.14 indicates the significant loose of Mo. The δ98Mo of the soil varies from –0.66 to 0.12‰, markedly lighter than the fresh bedrocks (1.82 to 1.97‰). The difference between soils and fresh bedrocks in δ98Mo suggests that Mo isotopes are fractionated during carbonate rock chemical weathering and heavy Mo isotopes are preferentially released, similar to the weathered profile of basalt and granite. According to the coupling relationship between Mo/Al2O3 and δ98Mo, the weathered model of dolomite was established: (1) the carbonate component is firstly dissolved, releasing most Mo with heavy Mo isotope composition. (2) The detrital component then is weathered to form secondary minerals, which adsorb the Mo from weathering fluid. Thus, the Mo/Al2O3 and δ98Mo of samples from IWZ are greater than that of WWZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many source waters in China are in high levels of natural organic matter (NOM) and bromide ion (Br−), and the control of the formation of regulated and non-regulated disinfection by-products (DBPs) is a great challenge. This study uses the natural water with substantial NOM and Br− from Weishan Lake to evaluate the formation and species transformation of DBPs in three disinfection scenarios of chlorination, chloramination, and chlorine–chloramine sequential treatment (Cl2–NH2Cl process), and the reaction pathways involved are also proposed. Compared with chlorination, the formation of trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids is reduced by 88% and 85% and by 68% and 65% in chloramination and Cl2–NH2Cl process, respectively. During chloramination, the proportion of brominated-DBPs (Br-DBPs) is lower initially, and then increases afterwards due to the continuous reaction between NOM slow reactive sites and N-bromo amines. Additionally, the ratios of dihalogenated acetic acids to total organic halogen increase continuously from 4.5% to 6.3% with pre-chlorination and from 4.3% to 9.8% without pre-chlorination. The halonitriles (HANs) formation during chlorination is the most significant in the initial 30min at the level of 6.5nM, and then decreases to 2.5nM after 72h. During chloramination, however, the formation of HANs increases steadily with prolonged contact time. After 72-h contact time, the level of HANs in Cl2–NH2Cl process is 3.9 and 2.5 times of that in chlorination and chloramination, respectively. In Cl2–NH2Cl process, HOCl rapidly oxidizes Br− to HOBr, and these two active species react with the fast reactive sites within NOM to form Br-DBPs and the intermediates for nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs). The subsequent introduction of ammonia inhibits the hydrolysis and oxidation of the formed N-DBPs and contributes to the most significant formation of N-DBPs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A rapid, sensitive and simple high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method was developed for determination of cefazedone in human plasma using metronidazole as internal standard (IS). The chromatographic separation was achieved on an Ultimate XB-CN column (2.1mm×150mm, 5μm) with an isocratic mobile phase of acetonitrile and 20mM ammonium acetate in 0.1% formic acid in water (15:85, v/v). Detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive ion multiple reaction-monitoring mode (SRM), monitoring the transitions m/z 548.2→344.1 for cefazedone and m/z 172.2→128.1 for IS. Calibration curves were linear over a wide range of 0.20–401.12μg/mL for cefazedone in plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.20μg/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 7.2%. The average recovery of cefazedone was 90.8–91.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of cefazedone in Chinese healthy volunteers following intravenous (IV) administration of 500, 1000 and 2000mg cefazedone injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One major etiology of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) in China is the intake of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). Since PAs-induced HSOS is a rare disease that has not been clearly characterized until now, the aim of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics, CT features, and pathological findings of PA-induced HSOS.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 116 patients with PAs-induced HSOS and 68 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome from Jan 2006 to Sep 2016. We collected medical records of the patients, and reviewed image features of CT, and analyzed pathological findings.Results: Common clinical manifestations of PAs-induced HSOS were abdominal distention (98.26%), ascites (100%), jaundice (52.94%), abdominal pain (36.36%). Abnormal liver function was observed in most of PAs-induced HSOS. On CT scan, common findings included: ascites, hepatomegaly, the thickening of gallbladder wall, pleural effusion, patchy liver enhancement, and heterogeneous hypoattenuation. Most of the patients had a low ascitic total protein (< 25 g/L) and a high SAAG (≥ 11.0 g/L). In acute stage, pathologic features were massive sinusoidal dilatation, sinusoidal congestion, the extravasation of erythrocytes, hepatocellular necrosis, the accumulation of macrophages, the deposition of hemosiderin. In subacute stage, complete loss of pericentral hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, the deposition of pigment granules were observed.Conclusions: The PAs-induced HSOS patients displayed distinct clinical characteristics, imaging features, and pathological findings, which provided some evidences for the diagnosis of PAs-induced HSOS.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-DRD-17010709. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]