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.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical therapeutic effect of Guan-moxibustion on herpes simplex virus facial neuritis.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty cases were enrolled in 3 centers and 157 cases were completed the study. All he patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, a Guan-moxibustion group and a suspended moxibustion plus acupuncture group. All of them were treated with basic acupuncture, and the Guan-moxibustion group were added with Guan-moxibustion and the suspended moxibustion group with suspended moxibustion. They were treated for 8 weeks, and facial disability index (FDI) and House-Brackmann facial nerve grading system were used to assess therapeutic effects.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 91.0% in the Guan-moxibustion group and 72.2% in the suspended moxibustion group with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05), the Guan-moxibustion being better than the suspended moxibustion group.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of Guan-moxibustion plus acupuncture on herpes simplex virus facial neuritis is better than that of suspended moxibustion plus acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Simplexvirus

The drug-loading system of DMF (dextran - magnetic layered double hydroxide - fluorouracil) was synthesized by "co-precipitation intercalated assembly - dextran composite in situ - solvent conversion" technology. The crystal-phase characteristic and slow-release performance of DMF were investigated through X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectrum (IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry (TG) and in vitro release experiment. The targeted transshipment and slow-release effect of DMF system were evaluated by in vivo animal experiment. It was showed that the XRD of DMF matched with R-sixtetragonum type layered double hydroxide and Fd-3m cubic type ferrite. IR test demonstrated that the DMF system was a supra-molecular complex consisted of Dextran (DET), magnetic layered double hydroxide (MLDH) and fluorouracil (FU) components. The two-level supra-molecular MLDH-FU presented six-edge lozenge TEM morphology, with layered characteristics. DET on the surface of DMF was capable of protecting the layered structure of MLDH-FU, improving particle dispersion properties, and strengthening the slow-release performance of the drug delivery system. The drug release model of DMF at pH 7.35 of PBS in vitro fit to the zero-order kinetics equation C = 1.1716 x 10(-5) + 4.4626 x 10(-7) t. The drug delivery system DMF could transport drugs principally to in vivo target organs with a local effect, targeted specificity, and excellent circulation transshipment performance. The pharmacokinetic process of DMF presented multi-peak phenomenon with peak attenuation and cyclic growth. The peaks appeared at 0.25, 1, 3, 5 and 9 d separately after dosing intervention. The first peak process of DMF accorded with a pharmacokinetic equation of C(FU) = 14.34 e(-0.530t) + 36.04 e(-0.321t) + 24.18 e(-0.96t), and presented the characteristic of slow absorption and fast elimination. As for subsequent peak processes, half-life increased, bioavailability increased, and plasma clearance decreased. The highest peak value of DMF was 1/37 of original value of FU, and the relative bioavailability was 419% to original FU.
Animals ; Biological Availability ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Dextrans ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Half-Life ; Hydroxides ; chemistry ; Magnetics ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; Thermogravimetry ; X-Ray Diffraction

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of cervical minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) and the methods of diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out to evaluate the clinical and pathological data of 15 patients with MDA treated from 1992 to 2007.

RESULTSThe average age of the 15 patients was 42.3 years. The main symptoms were increased discharge and irregular vaginal bleeding. Preoperative Pap smears showed adenocarcinoma in 3 cases (27.3%). The diagnosis of MDA was confirmed in 8 cases by cervical punch biopsies (53.3%) and 2 cases by conization. Several cysts were noted in sections of the endocervix. Microscopic examination showed glands irregular in size and shape. However, the deviation of tumor cells was minimal. Immunohistochemistry revealed positive expression of CEA and alpha-SMA. The mean follow-up time was 51.0 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 85.7%. Four cases experienced recurrence in the vagina and pelvis at 2 years after operation. Three cases died of the disease relapse with an average survival time of 36.3 months.

CONCLUSIONCervical minimal deviation adenocarcinoma is rare, with minimal deviation of cell shape from the normal cervical cells and difficult in diagnosis. A deep biopsy or conization is necessary when punch biopsy is not sufficient for diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry is helpful to make an accurate diagnosis. Surgery is the first choice for cervical minimal deviation adenocarcinoma. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy should be given if needed. The prognosis can be improved if a proper treatment plan is carried out.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Cervix Uteri ; pathology ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Conization ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Papanicolaou Test ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Vaginal Smears

Animals ; Cattle ; Fatty Liver ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Liver Extracts ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Rats

OBJECTIVESTo determine whether -238G/A and -857C/T polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene promoter were associated with outcomes of hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODSA total of 246 HBV self-limited infected subjects and 443 chronic hepatitis B (HB) patients were recruited in this case-control study. TNF-alpha-238G/A and -857C/T gene promoter polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTSThe frequency of TNF-alpha-238 GG (90.7%) in chronic HB group was significantly lower than that (95.1%) in self-limited group (P = 0.041). The frequency of TNF-alpha-857 CC (79.7%) in chronic HB patients was significantly higher than that (70.9%) in self-limited infected subjects (P = 0.021). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both TNF-alpha-238GA and -857CC were independently associated with chronic HB.

CONCLUSIONSTNF-alpha promoter variants are likely to play a substantial role in influencing the outcomes of HBV infection.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Haplotypes ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo clone the glyceraldehydes 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) gene of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and to induce its fusion expression in E. coli.

METHODSGAPDH was obtained by PCR and was inserted into cloning vector pMD-18-T to construct clone recon. Double enzymes digest the recon pMD18-T-GAPDH and the prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a and then connect to get the expressing recon pET-32a-GAPDH. The recombinant expression plasmid which had been confirmed by enzymes digestion was transformed to E. coli competent cells BL21 and induced the expression of GAPDH with isopropyl beta-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) of different density.

RESULTSDNA sequencing showed that the fragment was 99.802% the same to the sequence published in NCBI. Under the best density, IPTG could be highly expressed.

CONCLUSIONThe GAPDH had been successfully cloned and expressed in E. coli which gets ready for the following experiment to study the immunity of GAPDH and the homologues antibody preparation.

Cells, Cultured ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cloning, Organism ; Escherichia coli ; Genetic Vectors ; Glyceraldehyde ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphates ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis

OBJECTIVETo determine whether there are any associations between the -258T/G polymorphism of the promoter and the IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism in parkin gene and Parkinson's disease (PD) from a Han population in Sichuan province.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography(dHPLC) and sequence analysis were used to determine the genotype of each subject. The -258T/G polymorphism and IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism were analysed in 198 patients with sporadic PD and 187 healthy controls, matched for age and gender.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in allele frequency of the -258T/G polymorphism between PD patients and controls, with the G allele more common in cases than controls (52.5% vs 43.3%; chi square is 6.17, P< 0.025, OR is 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-1.86). There were also significant differences in G allele frequency between PD patients with onset age over 50 years old and controls(chi square is 9.048, P< 0.01, OR is 1.57, 95% CI:1.08-2.06). The frequency of TG+GG genotype was significantly higher in PD patients than in controls (78.79% vs 69.51%; chi square is 3.854, P< 0.05, OR is 1.63, 95% CI:0.88-2.38). In addition, there were significant differences in age of onset between PD patients with different genotypes (P< 0.05). The average age of onset in group of GG genotype was later about 5 years compared with the group of TT or TG genotype. The frequency of CC genotype in IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism was much higher than that of TC genotype. No TT genotype was found.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that the parkin promoter -258T/G polymorphism might be a risk factor for late onset PD in Sichuan. CC genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is common in Sichuan Han population. No TT genotype for IVS3 -20T/C polymorphism is found in Sichuan Han population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; ethnology ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

This paper describes the use of piezo-driven micropipette for intracytoplasmic sperm injection of mice eggs. The head of fresh spermatozoa from KM (Kunming) fertile mice was individually injected into mature oocytes of hybrid mice B6D2F1. Approximately eighty three percent of sperm-injected oocytes survived, and 84.0% of them fertilized normally (extrusion of the second polar body and formation of male and female pronuclei). The eggs fertilized by sperm injection could develop in vitro to 2-cell (98% vs 94.7%), 4-cell (89.5% vs 92.1%) stages, no significantly (P > 0.05) different from embryos fertilized in vivo but there were significantly (P < 0.01) few morulae (63.8% vs 84.2%) and blastocysts (25.7% vs 68.4%) developed in vitro after further culture in vitro in the group of ICSI. When 120 embryos at the pronuclear stage were transferred to seven pseudopregnant KM female, 23.3% of the embryos (0 - 50%, depending on the host) reached the full term. Except for three that were cannibalized soon after birth, all of the young (25 pups) developed into normal and fertile adult. Here we report the first birth of mouse offspring following ICSI in China. These studies may increase understanding of the fertilization process and of how ICSI works.
Animals ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Male ; Mice ; Oocytes ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods