The importance of monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR) has been indicated in the initiation and progression of coronary artery disease. However, few previous researches demonstrated the relationship between MLR and plaque vulnerability. We aimed to investigate coronary non-culprit plaque vulnerability in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) by optical coherence tomography (OCT). A total of 72 ACS patients who underwent coronary angiography and OCT test in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were included in this retrospective study. The plaque vulnerability and plaque morphology were assessed by OCT. The non-culprit plaque in high MLR group exhibited more vulnerable features, characterizing as thinner thickness of fibrous cap ( P = .013), greater maximum lipid core angle ( P = .010) and longer lipid plaque length ( P = .041). A prominently negative liner relation was found between MLR and thickness of fibrous cap (R = –0.225, P = .005). Meanwhile, the proportion of OCT-detected thin cap fibro-atheroma (TCFA) ( P = .014) and plaque rupture ( P = .017) were higher in high MLR group. Most importantly, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed MLR level was identified as an independent contributor to the presence of TCFA (OR:3.316, 95%: 1.448–7.593, P = .005). MLR could differentiate TCFA with a sensitivity of 60.0% and a specificity of 85.1%. Circulating MLR level has potential value in identifying the presence of vulnerable plaque in patients with ACS. MLR, as a non- invasive biomarker of inflammation, may be valuable in revealing plaque vulnerability.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an enteric pathogen of humans and animals, and pigs have been considered an important reservoir of this virus. Recent evidence has indicated the cross-species transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from pigs to humans, causing zoonosis, mostly via consumption of uncooked or undercooked animal meat/viscera. In this study, we have developed a one-step RT-LAMP assay for rapid detection of swine HEV. Specific primer sets targeting the ORF3 gene were designed. The sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assay was 10(1) copies/μl of RNA template, which was tenfold higher than that of RT-nPCR. The specificity of this assay was demonstrated by the lack of amplification of DNA/RNA from other swine viruses. Furthermore, a total of 41 bile samples were subjected to RT-LAMP and RT-nPCR. Eighteen positive samples were detected by RT-nPCR, while 36 positive samples were detected by RT-LAMP, indicating that the sensitivity of the RT-LAMP assay was higher than that of the conventional RT-nPCR assay. The RT-LAMP assay reported here may be used for diagnosis of swine HEV, not only in laboratories but also under field conditions.

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