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Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV; Flaviridae: Flavivirus) causes Japanese encephalitis (JE), which is the most important arboviral disease in Asia and the western Pacific. Among the five JEV genotypes (GI–IV), GI has dominated traditional epidemic regions in the past 20 years. We investigated the transmission dynamics of JEV GI through genetic analyses. Methods: We generated 18 JEV GI near full length sequences by using multiple sequencing approaches from mosquitoes collected in natural settings or from viral isolates obtained through cell culture. We performed phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses to reconstruct the evolutionary history by integrating our data with 113 publicly available JEV GI sequences. Results: We identified two subtypes of JEV GI (GIa and GIb), with a rate of 5.94 × 10−4 substitutions per site per year (s/s/y). At present, GIa still circulates within a limited region, exhibited no significant growth, the newest strain was discovered in China (Yunnan) in 2017, whereas most JEV strains circulating belong to the GIb clade. During the past 30 years, two large GIb clades have triggered epidemics in eastern Asia: one epidemic occurred in 1992 [95% highest posterior density (HPD) = 1989–1995] and the causative strain circulates mainly in southern China (Yunnan, Shanghai, Guangdong, and Taiwan) (Clade 1); the other epidemic occurred in 1997 (95% HPD = 1994–1999) and the causative strain has increased in circulation in northern and southern China during the past 5 years (Clade 2). An emerging variant of Clade 2 contains two new amino acid markers (NS2a-151V, NS4-169K) that emerged around 2005; this variant has demonstrated exponential growth in northern China. Conclusion: JEV GI stain circulating in Asia have shifted during the past 30 years, spatiotemporal differences were observed among JEV GI subclade. GIa is still circulating within a limited range, exhibite no significant growth. Two large GIb clades have triggered epidemics in eastern Asia, all JEV sequences identified in northern China during the past 5 years were of the new emerging variant of G1b-clade 2. Author summary: Although Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genotype I (GI) has circulated in Asia and the western Pacific during the past 30 years, little is known regarding its evolution, geographical distribution, and epidemiology, especially the recent years. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a phylogenetic analysis using all full open reading frame JEV sequences assembled thus far, including 113 viral sequences sampled from eight countries during the past 42 years. We revealed spatiotemporal differences in spread among JEV GI subclades; identified amino acid markers for different clades; made an in-depth study on the evolution of GIb, described the geographical distribution of the recent active GIb clade 2 and identified its emerging variant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided local catheterization for the treatment of spinal tuberculosis (TB) with abscess. Methods. Clinical data from 22 cases of lumbar TB with abscess receiving treatments from July 2015 to January 2021 were analyzed. Some patients (n = 11) underwent pure surgery (control group) and the others (n = 11) received CT-guided catheterization drainage. The operation and hospitalization time, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), visual analog scale (VAS), ASIA damage grade, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels of both groups were compared. Results. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay of the observation group were significantly less than those of the control group P < 0.05 . As the differences in preoperative ESR, CRP, and VAS scores between both groups did not reach significance P > 0.05 , after treatments, the observation group had a lower level of ESR and CRP P < 0.05 ; the postoperative VAS scores of the two groups decreased P > 0.05 . Before treatment, the control group comprised 2 cases of ASIA grade A, 1 case of B, 6 cases of C, and 2 cases of D with 3 patients having dyskinesia. After surgery, the motor function of the patients was improved, and there were 3 cases of ASIA D and 8 cases of E. Meanwhile, the preoperative observation group consisted of 9 cases of ASIA D and 2 cases of E. Due to CT-guided catheterization, all patients achieved clinical healing (ASIA E) when the lesions were significantly alleviated, and symptoms such as low back pain and lower extremity pain disappeared. Conclusion. CT-guided percutaneous catheter drainage for continuous administration of drugs is effective treatment for spinal TB with abscess, when shortening the operation and hospitalization time and reducing intraoperative blood loss and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. It is worthy of popularization and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate identification of poisonous mushrooms and the confirmation of the toxins involved are both of great importance in the treatment of mushroom poisoning incidents. In recent years, cases of mushroom poisoning by Inosperma spp. have been repeatedly reported from tropical Asia. It is urgent to know the real species diversity of Inosperma in this region. In the present study, we proposed two new Inosperma species from tropical Asia, namely I. muscarium and I. hainanense. They were described based on morphology and multilocus phylogeny. Detailed descriptions, color photographs and the discussion with other closely related species of the two new taxa were provided. In addition, a comprehensive muscarine determination of these two new species using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) approach has been performed. Results showed that these two species were muscarine positive, with a content of 16.03 ± 1.23 g/kg in I. muscarium and a content of 11.87 ± 3.02 g/ kg in I. hainanense, much higher than the known species I. virosum. Recovery of muscarine ranged from 93.45% to 97.25%, and the average recovery is 95.56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]