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Background: Seasonal patterns of influenza A subtypes and B lineages in tropical/subtropical regions across age have remained to be explored. The impact of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic on seasonal influenza activity have not been well understood.Methods: Based on a national sentinel hospital-based influenza surveillance system, the epidemiology of influenza virus during 2006/07-2015/16 was characterized in the subtropical city, Chengdu. Chengdu is one of the most populous cities in southwestern China, where the first reported case of A/H1N1pdm09 in mainland China was identified. Wavelet analysis was applied to identify the periodicities of A/H3N2, seasonal A/H1N1, A/H1N1pdm09, Victoria, and Yamagata across age, respectively. The persistence and age distribution patterns were described during the pre-pandemic (2006/07-2008/09), pandemic (2009/10), and post-pandemic (2010/11-2015/16) seasons.Results: A total of 10,981 respiratory specimens were collected, of which 2516 influenza cases were identified. Periodicity transition from semi-annual cycles to an annual cycle was observed for composite influenza virus as well as A/H3N2 along in Chengdu since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Semi-annual cycles of composite influenza virus and A/H3N2 along were observed again during 2014/15-2015/16, coinciding with the emergence and predominance of A/H3N2 significant antigenic drift groups. However, A/H1N1pdm09, Victoria, and Yamagata generally demonstrated an annual winter-spring peak in non-pandemic seasons. Along with periodicity transitions, age groups with higher positive rates shifted from school-aged children and adults to adults and the elderly for A/H1N1pdm09 during 2009/10-2010/11 and for A/H3N2 during 2014/15-2015/16.Conclusions: Differences in periodicity and age distribution by subtype/lineage and by season highlight the importance of increasing year-round influenza surveillance and developing subtype/lineage- and age-specific prevention and control measures. Changes of periodicity and age shifts should be considered in public health response to influenza pandemics and epidemics. In addition, it is suggested to use quadrivalent influenza vaccines to provide protection against both influenza B lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the association between retinal microvasculature and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Methods: The cross‐sectional study was conducted in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, China. Retinal microvasculature parameters were measured by OCTA of the optic disc, including the vessel density (VD) and retinal nerve fibre thickness of the radial peripapillary capillary. In terms of the entire macula, VD of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and foveal density (FD‐300) were included. The Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of coronary artery obstructive lesions in CAD patients. Results: A total of 410 participants (270 CAD patients and 140 controls) were included. Overall, participants showed significantly greater odds of having CAD in the lower versus higher VD for mean SCP, OR = 2.33 (95% CI 1.49–3.65); in the parafoveal SCP, OR = 2.68 (95% CI 1.70–4.23); and in the perifoveal SCP, OR = 2.36 (95% CI 1.49–3.72). Additionally, participants showed significantly greater odds of having CAD in the lower versus higher VD for mean DCP, OR = 4.04 (95% CI 2.53–6.45); in the parafoveal DCP, OR = 4.08 (95% CI 2.54–6.55); and in the perifoveal DCP, OR = 3.88 (95% CI 2.43–6.19). Among CAD patients, lower VD of DCP was associated with significantly greater adjusted Gensini scores (p = 0.004 for mean DCP; p = 0.035 for parafoveal DCP; p = 0.006 for perifoveal DCP). Conclusions: SCP and DCP were found to be associated with the presence of CAD among the whole population, while DCP was found to be associated with Gensini scores in CAD patients. Retinal microvasculature was associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery stenosis in CAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has evolved to tolerate almost all known β-lactam antibiotics, and been exhibiting resistance to vancomycin. Developing new drugs against the MRSA infection are urgently needed. Natural resource is enriched with antimicrobial molecules. Here, we report an extract from leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL), a species of tree native to China and being traditionally cultivated as medicinal plant, which shows a broad spectrum of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects at MIC 50 15.99 ± 0.55 μg/ml against methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus. The ECPL suppresses bacterial expression of FtsZ at both transcriptional and protein levels, inhibits its GTPase activity, blocks the assembly dynamics of FtsZ, and disrupts the formation of Z-ring. The bacteria cells fail to divide, enlarge initially, and lyse eventually. In mouse model, the ECPL facilitates skin wound healing with MRSA infection as effective as vancomycin. Our study unveils the potential of identifying novel molecule in ECPL for development of new class of antibiotic against both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus , and support domestication of the C. paliurus growing from wild to cultivated, and further scale up the cultivation into industrialized farm for sustainable harvest for pharmaceutic interest. [Display omitted] • An extract from Cyclocarya paliurus (ECPL) leaves shows anti-MRSA activity. • The ECPL suppresses bacterial FtsZ at transcriptional and protein levels and eliminates the GTPase enzyme activity. • Bacteria abort Z-ring formation , fail to divide, and die. • This effect bypasses known resistance machineries and shows a potential for new antibiotic development. • Domesticating and scaling up the cultivation will guaranty sustainable harvest for the pharmaceutic interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]