Abstract: Due to the continued emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the ongoing pandemic has resulted in severe mortality over the past two years. After the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, the most recent new variant of concern (VOC) strain to emerge is Omicron (B.1.1.529), which evolved as a result of the accumulation of a large number of mutations. The Omicron variant, which has a much higher transmission rate than the Delta variant, soon replaced the Delta variant and others, is now the dominant variant worldwide. The emergence of Omicron poses new challenges for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and has raised a number of concerns worldwide. Recently, cases of Omicron infection have been reported in several parts of China, and therefore this paper provides a comprehensive analysis and summary of the epidemiology and immune escape mechanisms of the Omicron variant. We also suggest some therapeutic strategies against the Omicron variant, including rapid diagnosis, genome analysis of emerging variants, ramping up of vaccination drives and receiving booster doses, updating the available vaccines, designing of multivalent vaccines able to generate hybrid immunity, up-gradation of medical facilities and strict implementation of adequate prevention and control measures need to be given high priority to handle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic successfully.

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the expression of p73 gene in lung cancer tissue. Methods： The authors detected quantitatively p73 gene expression in 40 specimens of lung cancer and matched paracancer tissue by RT PCR and analyzed the alteration of p73 by PCR and SSCP. Results： ① Using RT PCR, 24 specimens of lung cancer were determined to be overexpression of p73, 9 of which were moderately differentiated, 15 of which were poor differentiated; 9 of which were Stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ , 15 of which were Stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ . No specimen of paracancer tissue was screened out to be overexpression of p73. There was significantly different expression rates between lung cancer and paracancer tissue (P< 0.01). ② Allele specific analysis showed that expression of G/C： A/T appeared in 10 of 12 heterozygous lung cancer specimens and expression of G/C in 27 specimens. ③ No mutation was detected by SSCP. Conclusion： The expression of p73 gene may be related to differentiation level of lung cancer but not related to clinical stage.

Aged ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Male ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; complications

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the specific killing effects of combination of recombinant adenovirus mediated double suicide gene driven by KDR promoter and survivin antisense oligonucleotide(ASODN) on colorectal cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells.

METHODSThe 293 packaging cells were transfected with the plasmids of pAdEasy-CDglyTK and the recombinant adenovirus were generated. The KDR expressive cells of SW620, ECV304 were infected with adenovirus, meanwhile survivinASODN was transferred into the same cells. The infection rate of adenovirus and transfection efficiency of survivinASODN were observed and the expression of CDglyTK was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of survivin was measured by Western blot. The killing effects and bystander effects on SW620, ECV304 were examined through MTT method.

RESULTSThe cells which were infected with the adenovirus mediated double suicide gene could be transfected with the survivin ASODN and the infection rate was not affected as well as the transfection efficiency. The high expression of CDglyTK gene was found in SW620, ECV304 cells infected with recombinant adenovirus and survivin ASODN decreased the survivin protein level. The survival rate of gene therapy group was significantly lower than that of negative group. The combination of survivin ASODN and AdKDR-CDglyTK gene therapy showed significantly lower survival rate of SW620 and ECV304 cells as compared with the AdKDR-CDglyTK or survivin ASODN used alone (P<0.05). The survival rate was slightly lower in GCV 100 microg/ml, 5-FC 2000 microg/ml than that AdKDR-CDglyTK used alone (P>0.05). The combined therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK and survivin ASODN showed synergistic killing efficacy and more significant bystander effects.

CONCLUSIONThe combined gene therapy of AdKDR-CDglyTK system and survivin ASODN has stronger specific killing effects on colorectal cancer cells and vein endothelial cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; Transcription Initiation Site

OBJECTIVETo compare the durability of quantum dots with that of green fluorescein for labeling survivin antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) and investigate the difference in growth and apoptosis of cells transfected with the labeled survivin ASODN.

METHODSSurvivin ASODN labeled with quantum dots or green fluorescein was transfected into MCF-7 cells via Lipolifectmain(TM2000). The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was assessed with MTT assay, survivin mRNA expression determined by RT-PCR and its protein expression measured by Western blot analysis. The apoptosis rate of the transfected cells was estimated by flow cytometry, and the fluorescence distribution in the cells observed under fluorescent inverted microscope.

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein expressions of survivin were significantly decreased in the MCF-7 cells after cell transfection with survivin ASODN labeled with quantum dots or green fluorescein, and no significant difference was noted between the two labeling methods (P>0.05). Nor did survivin ASODN transfection with different labeling methods produced significant difference in cell proliferation and apoptotic rate (P>0.05). For green fiuorescein labeling, the fluorescence disappeared 4 days after transfection, whereas the fluorescence sustained for 1 week for quantum dots labeling.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin ASODNs labeled with quantum dots and green fiuorescein do not significantly differ in survivin expression or the transfected cell proliferation and apoptosis rate, but quantum dot labeling can be more stable with longer maintcnance of the labeling.

Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; chemistry ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; chemistry ; genetics ; Quantum Dots ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staining and Labeling ; methods ; Transfection

BACKGROUNDSeveral difficulties can arise from wide-neck cerebral aneurysms when treated with endovascular embolization. We aimed to investigate the effect of endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using coil embolization plus an Enterprise stent.

METHODSForty patients were treated with coil embolization plus an Enterprise stent between December 2008 and June 2010.

RESULTSThe mortality of patients was 0. All stents were successfully implanted without any surgery-related complication.

CONCLUSIONThe Enterprise stent has some advantages to be selected.

Adult ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Stents

AC133 Antigen ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism

Objective:To use polyamidoamine(PAMAM)dendrimer as gene delivery system for survivin gene anti- sense oligodeoxynucleotide(asODN)transfection for inhibition of HepG2 cancer cell growth.Methods:The first to the fifth generation of PAMAM and asODN were used to prepare a complex:PAMAM-asODN.The morphology of PAMAM- asODN was observed using agrose electrophoresis and atomic force microscope(AFM).PAMAM-asODN was then used to transfect HepG2 cells and cells transfected with asODN served as control.The transfection efficacy of PAMAM-asODN into HepG2 cells was observed under confocol microscope,the surviving mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR,and the inhibition of HepG2 cell growth was determined by MTT assay.Results:Agrose electrophoresis showed strong complexing action between PAMAM and asODN and they formed a complex with a diameter of 25 nm.Confocol microscope showed the transfection efficacy of PAMAM-asODN was higher than that of asODN.RT-PCR showed a decreased expression of sur- vivin mRNA in PAMAM-asODN transfected cells.MTF results demonstrated that the growth of HepG2 cell was obviously inhibited after transfection of PAMAM-asODN and the inhibition rate increased with culture time,concentration of com- plex,the generation of PAMAM.PAMAM-asODN at 6.0?mol/L G4.0 resulted in a 55% inhibition of HepG2 cells 96 h after culture.Conclusion:PAMAM dendrimers can efficiently mediate the entry of survivin asODN into HepG2 cells,re- sulting in inhibition of HepG2 cells.PAMAM might be a promising gene carrier for potential molecular therapy of cancer.

OBJECTIVESTo find possible factors correlated with combined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 1p and 19q.

METHODSThe status of 1p and 19q of 138 glioma specimen from January 2009 to December 2009 was evaluated by Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method, and the frequencies of combining LOH of 1p/19q were compared between different pathologies, brain sub-regions, genders and ages.

RESULTSThe frequencies of combined LOH of 1p and 19q of oligodendroglial (81.3%) and oligo astrocytic tumors (55.8%) were significantly higher than that of astrocytic tumor (22.2%) (P < 0.01), and the frequency of oligodendroglial tumor was significantly higher than that of oligo astrocytic tumor (P < 0.05). The frequency of combining LOH of 1p and 19q in frontal lobe (61.8%) was higher than that in temporal (31.8%) and insular lobes (34.6%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombining LOH of 1p and 19q has significant correlation with the pathologies and brain sub-regions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; genetics ; Female ; Glioma ; genetics ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct and compare the body mass index (BMI) cutoff points for defining overweight and obesity in school-age children and youths with Uygur and Han ethnic backgrounds in Xinjiang, China.

METHODSA total number of 9146 boys and girls in Urumqi, Xinjiang, aged 7-18 years, were recruited by stratifying and clustering sampling from April to June 2004. Demographic and anthropometric data, including body weight and standing height, were collected. Questionnaires and standard methods were used and BMI was calculated by weight/height2. BMI centile curves with age were drawn according to gender and ethnicity, using LMS software (Tim cole and Huiqi Pan) which were making the centile curves passing through 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2, and 24 kg/m2 and 28 kg/m2 at age of 18 for overweight and obesity respectively.

RESULTSThe age and sex specific BMI centile curves were drawn for children with Uygur and Han ethnicities. Data showed that BMI increased with age. The centile of BMI curves, P94.46 and P99.58 for Uygur boys, P92.44 and P99.64 for Uygur girls, P85.05 and P97.26 for Han boys, P90.92 and P99.03 for Han girls, which passing through 25 kg/m2 and 30 kg/m2 by IOTF recommendation at age 18, were constructed. Under the basis of WGOC recommendation, the points that passing through 24 kg/m2 and 28 kg/m2 at age 18 were P90.54 and P98.86 for uygur boys, P86.96 and P98.77 for uygur girls, P78.98 and P94.72 for Han boys, P86.15 and P97.56 for Han girls. The BMI cutoff points for defining overweight and obesity were suggested.

CONCLUSIONTo the best of our knowledge, the present study established the BMI cutoff points for Uygur ethnic school-aged children and youths for identifying overweight and obesity. There was ethnic difference in the BMI distribution with age. We recommended using the BMI cutoff points proposed by the current study to identify those overweight and obese children in Urumqi.

Adolescent ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; ethnology