Heavy metal is one of pollutants existed widely in the environment, its relationship with cardiovascular disease has attracted more and more attention. In this review, the concentrations of heavy metals, including lead, cadium and asenic, in the body from several national surveillance networks and the epidemiological studies on the effects of the exposure of three heavy metals on cardiovascular system were summarized. It is suggested to strengthen nationwide surveillance for body concentrations of heavy metals in general population in order to provide baseline data for quantitative evaluation of the risk of heavy metal exposure on cardiovascular disease.
Cadmium ; Cardiovascular Diseases/chemically induced* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Environmental Pollutants/toxicity* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Humans ; Lead/toxicity* ; Metals, Heavy/toxicity* ; Neoplasms ; Research/trends*

Enolase is a conserved cytoplasmic metalloenzyme existing universally in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. The enzyme can also locate on the cell surface and bind to plasminogen, via which contributing to the mucosal surface localization of the bacterial pathogens and assisting the invasion into the host cells. The functions of the eukaryotic enzymes on the cell surface expression (including T cells, B cells, neutrophils, monocytoes, neuronal cells and epithelial cells) are not known. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (S. suis 2, SS2) is an important zoonotic pathogen which has recently caused two large-scale outbreaks in southern China with severe streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) never seen before in human sufferers. We recently identified the SS2 enolase as an important protective antigen which could protect mice from fatal S.suis 2 infection. In this study, a 2.4-angstrom structure of the SS2 enolase is solved, revealing an octameric arrangement in the crystal. We further demonstrated that the enzyme exists exclusively as an octamer in solution via a sedimentation assay. These results indicate that the octamer is the biological unit of SS2 enolase at least in vitro and most likely in vivo as well. This is, to our knowledge, the first comprehensive characterization of the SS2 enolase octamer both structurally and biophysically, and the second octamer enolase structure in addition to that of Streptococcus pneumoniae. We also investigated the plasminogen binding property of the SS2 enzyme.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Binding Sites ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Humans ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Plasminogen ; metabolism ; Protein Multimerization ; Protein Structure, Quaternary ; Solutions ; Species Specificity ; Streptococcus suis ; enzymology

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is an autoimmune disease manifesting as proximal muscle weakness and skin rash and can involve multiple systems and visceral organs. Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) are highly associated with various complications and prognosis in JDM. Patients with anti-Mi-2 antibodies tend to have good prognosis and typical clinical symptoms. Patients with anti-MDA5 antibodies often have diffuse interstitial lung disease and skin ulcer, with mild symptoms of myositis. Patients with anti-NXP2 antibodies often have calcinosis, and such antibodies are associated with gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation. Patients with anti-TIF1-γ antibodies have diffuse and refractory skin lesions. Anti-SAE antibodies are rarely detected in children, with few reports of such cases. This article reviews the features of clinical phenotypes in JDM children with these five types of MSAs, so as to provide a basis for the clinical treatment and follow-up management of children with JDM.
Autoantibodies ; Dermatomyositis ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial/etiology* ; Myositis ; Prognosis

The fibrous roots are the residues of production of cut crude drug of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza). Enzymatic pretreatment and ultrasonic extraction are beneficial to extract effective constituents from fibrous roots more effectively. The present research was to optimize the enzymatic parameters by the central composite design and response surface method. Under the best conditions, the yields of total tanshinones and total salvianolic acids in the extracts of enzymatic pretreatment increased by 113.92% and 30.64%, comparing with the non-enzymatic extraction, respectively. TLC analysis also showed that the types of effective constituents in the two samples were not affected by enzymatic hydrolysis. Meanwhile, the complex correlation coefficients of the mathematical models were high, which provided a good prediction.
Diterpenes, Abietane ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

China ; Environmental Exposure ; Health Status ; Humans ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Weather

Biotechnology ; China ; Cooperative Behavior ; Cuba ; Federal Government ; Translational Medical Research

Rabies virus ; physiology

Introduction: eHealth is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for health. The use of eHealth closes the gaps in terms of geographical barriers, time constraints, lack of healthcare professionals in healthcare and service delivery. This study is important as it provides the current landscape and status of eHealth in the Philippines. Hence, policymakers, program implementors as well as other stakeholders, including the public, will be able to know which eHealth and telemedicine services and products are available in various sectors of society, either private or government, what are the existing gaps in eHealth, and the trajectory in the future based on the guide of the World Health Organization - International Telecommunication Union (WHO-ITU). Objectives: The objectives of the study are 1) to provide a landscape of eHealth in the Philippines since its start in the country; 2) to identify programs, services, and technology innovations implemented in the country on eHealth and telemedicine; and 3) to identify Philippine systems that correspond to the eHealth components laid out by WHO-ITU for a successful implementation of eHealth at a national level. Methods: We conducted an extensive review of the literature and key informant interviews with eHealth experts in the Philippines. The literature review covered research and studies, gray literature, peer-reviewed journals, databases, and government statistics. The years covered in this study span a total of 24 years from 1997, which is the beginning of the information management system as an institutional approach in the country, to 2020. The assessment tool was based on the framework provided by the WHO-ITU on the context for eHealth development. Results: The National Telehealth Center (NTHC) of the Philippines began with projects for 1) eLearning, 2) eMedicine, 3) eRecords, 4) eHealth Policy and Advocacy, and 5) eSurveillance. Telemedicine services are now being offered by hospitals in the country. This shows eHealth services, in general, and telemedicine are being utilized in not only targeting the poor, but also in giving faster, more efficient, and equally effective virtual health services to the general public, even the private-pay patients. Conclusion The sustainability of eHealth in the Philippines still depends on the national effort to institutionalize an eHealth structure and eHealth system where the various components are interrelated.
Telemedicine ; Health Services

Measles virus is an enveloped virus with a non-segmented negative-sense RNA genome. Two envelope glycoproteins on the viral surface, namely hemagglutinin (H) and membrane fusion protein (F), are responsible for the virus entry into susceptible host cells. The specific interaction between H and its cellular receptors is a key step in successful virus infection, determining the infectivity and tissue tropism of the measles virus. Thus far, three H receptors have been identified, including the complement regulatory molecule CD46, the signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) and the cell adhesion molecule Nectin-4. Here, we reviewed our molecular understanding on the recognition mechanism of these receptors by the viral H protein, aiming to promote future studies on antiviral drug design and measles virus-based oncolytic therapy.
Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Hemagglutinins, Viral ; metabolism ; Humans ; Measles virus ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Membrane Cofactor Protein ; metabolism ; Membrane Fusion ; Membrane Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; Receptors, Virus ; metabolism ; Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Family Member 1

Disinfection ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; Hospitals ; Medical Waste ; Sewage ; Waste Products ; Water Microbiology