Abstract: Objective　To analyze the laboratory indexes of patients infected with malaria patients and COVID-19, so as to provide reliable evidence for the diagnosis of mixed infection of both. Methods　The routine clinical laboratory items such as routine blood, biochemistry and lymphocyte subsets were tested in three cases of COVID-19 complicated with falciparum malaria who admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from July to December 2020 were tested. Laboratory data were stage-wise analyzed in conjunction with changes in the course of disease. Results　Three patients confirmed COVID-19 infection recruited all had malaria infection history. Fever, headache, and other symptoms emerged on the 4rd to 11th day after admission. Malaria parasite was detected by malaria parasite antigen testing and blood smear testing, and all three patients had re-ignition of malaria after being confirmed COVID-19 infection. In the early stage of malaria relapse, lymphocytes decreased, CRP and SAA increased, and gradually returned to normal level after antimalarial treatment. Interestingly, we only found one patient at the initial stage of malaria detection showed PLT decreased, no other unnormal changes in other routine blood results (WBC, ESO) and liver function results (ALT, AST, GGT, TBIL, DBIL, CG) were found from the beginning to end course of the disease. Conclusion　COVID-19 infection may promote the resurgence of malaria, so the relapse of malaria should be monitored especially for the patient with malaria infection history who begin to develop fever and other symptoms a few days after the diagnosis of COVID-19. The inflammatory indicators would be worth able as an auxiliary judgment basis for the effective treatment of the two combined infection.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of blocking the JAK/STAT signal pathway on the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue of rheumatoid arthritis rats.MethodsFifty rat models of collageninduced arthritis,which had arthritis index more than 2 were divided into the model group,the low dosage of AG490 group,the medium dosage of AG490 group and high dosage of AG490 group.Inaddition,6 rats were treated as normal control group.Normal saline,AG490 1,5,10 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 were given by intraperitoneal injection.Then the volume claws and pathologic scores of the rat models were recorded and the activity of Caspase-3 in the synovial tissue were compared.The results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and LSD-t or Tamhane's T2 test.ResultsThe arthritis of the CIA models progressed fast,the volume of the claws and the pathological score of them were significantly higher than those of the control group.At the same time,no Caspase-3 positive express could be detected in the control group,whilethe model group had slightly increased expression.After different dosages of AG490 were applied,the swollen of joints was significantly improved compared with the model group.The histopathological score of the medium AG490 dosage of group and high dosage group(2.7±0.8,1.8+0.9) were remarkably decreased than those of the model group(4.3+1.2),the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.01).In addition,the Caspase-3 expression in the low,medium and high AG490 dosage group ( 1.90±0.15,3.13±0.33,3.56+0.34) was significantly higher than that of the model group(1.48±0.18)(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01 ).ConclusionBlocking JAK/STAT signal pathway can increase the activity of Caspase-3,reduce the excessive proliferation of synovial tissue,and improve arthritis symptoms.

Objective　To compare the Immunoreactivity of various HEV Antigen with Anti-HEV IgM. Methods Solid-phase enzyme immunoassay( EIA ) was developed for detecting anti-HEV IgM by using synthetic peptides E30, E42, E33, and recombinant antigen from HEV ORF-2. Results Of 60 anti-HEV positive sera by using E30, E42, E33 and recombinant antigen as coating antigen, Anti-HEV IgM positive rates were 76.7%, 26.6%, 18.3% and 66.7% respectively. In Acute-phase and convalescence-phase sera of the patients with Hepatitis E, Anti-HEV IgM positive rate was 90% and 3.3% respectively. Conclusions The HEV E30-based EIA will be very useful in the early diagnosis of Hepatitis E.

BACKGROUNDThe respiratory system changes with age and a better understanding of the changes contribute to detect and prevent respiratory dysfunctions in old population. The purpose of this study was to observe age-associated changes of pulmonary function parameters in healthy young adults and the elderly.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 male and female subjects aged 19 to 92 years. The subjects were divided into three groups by age: young adult (19 - 39 years), middle-aged adult (40 - 59 years), and the elderly (≥ 60 years). The pulmonary function was measured with routine examination methods and 13 parameters including vital capacity (VC), residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity (FRC), total lung capacity (TLC), RV/TLC, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)), FEV(1)/FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory flow at 25% of FVC exhaled (FEF(25)), forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC exhaled (FEF(50)), diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D(L)CO), and specific diffusion capacity of CO (KCO) were collected and analyzed. Changes in pulmonary function parameters among the pre-elderly and elderly subjects, especially the aging influence on FEV(1)/FVC and RV were studied further.

RESULTSTen pulmonary function parameters including VC, FVC, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC, PEF, FEF(25), FEF(50), TLC, D(L)CO and KCO decreased significantly with age in both male and female subjects (P < 0.01). RV and RV/TLC were increased with age (P < 0.01). FRC remained stable during aging. Except FRC, the linear relationship was significant between age and other pulmonary function parameters. In the pre-elderly and elderly subjects, RV had a non-significantly increasing tendency with age (P > 0.05), and FEV(1)/FVC did not change significantly with age (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTotal pulmonary function was declined with advancing age, but FRC was stable, and the increasing tendency of RV and decreasing tendency of FEV(1)/FVC obviously slowed down in the pre-elderly and elderly subjects.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aging ; physiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Functional Residual Capacity ; Humans ; Lung ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vital Capacity ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the expression of STEAP4 gene(a novel obesity-related gene) during the period of human preadipocyte differentiation and to explore the relationship between the STEAP4 gene expression and adipocytes differentiation,adipogenesis.Methods Human preadipocytes were cultured and differentiated into the matured adipocytes in vitro.Adipocytes morphology and lipid accumulation were observed during this process.Total RNA was extracted from adipocytes at various time points (preadipocyte,Day 0,Day 4,Day 6,Day 8,Day 11,Day 14,and Day 17) and the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression was measured by fluorescent real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polyme-rase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results The level of STEAP4 mRNA expression remained high in preadipocytes.In the presence of differentiation medium (Day 4),there was a transient upregulation in the expression of STEAP4 gene.After that,with the human preadipocytes being differentiated into matured adipocytes,the expression of STEAP4 mRNA was downregulated and reached the lowest level in fully differentiated adipocytes.There was a significant difference between any 2 detected phases in the level of STEAP4 mRNA expression (Pa

In order to study function of NAC transcription in development, hormone regulation and the stress response of Salvia miltiorrhiza, the NAC transcription was cloned and analyzed. By retrieving cDNA database of S. miltiorrhiza hairy root one NAC unigene was found, then a full length of cDNA was cloned by designing specific primers and PCR amplifying. Using ORF finder it was found that the cDNA containing a NAC-AB conserved domain in N-terminal, so the cDNA was a NAC transcription factor, named as SmNAC1 (kF006346). Bioinformatics analysis showed that SmNAC1 had an open reading frame (ORF) of 591 bp encoding 196 amino acids. The calculated protein had isoelectric point (pI) of 4.36 with molecular weight about 21.66 kDa. The transcription level of SmNAC1 after dealing with yeast extract (YE) and silver ion (Ag+) in S. miltiorrhiza hairy root was markedly stimulated up regulating. It was 1.4 fold compared with the control after induction 2 h, and maintained 2.0 fold on 4-12 h after induction. SmNAC1 may participate in regulation of stress response of YE + Ag+.
Cloning, Molecular ; Computational Biology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the interference effect of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate (EGCG) on targets of Activator Protein-1 (AP-1) signal transduction pathway activated by EB virus encoded latent membrane protein 1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines.

METHODSSurvival rate of cells was determined by MTT assay. AP-1 and CyclinD1 activation were analyzed by promoter luciferase reporter system. Nuclear translocation of JNK was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence. Protein expression and phosphorylation were observed by Western blot.

RESULTSEGCG inhibited the survival of CNE1 and CNE-LMP1 cells and the activity of AP-1 caused by LMP1 in CNE-LMP1 cells. EGCG also inhibited the nuclear translocation of JNK and the phosphorylation of c-Jun. It also inhibited cyclinD1 promoter activity and cyclinD1 expression.

CONCLUSIONEGCG inhibits AP-1, JNK, c-Jun and cyclinD1 which are key targets on AP-1 signal transduction pathway. The results may explain the molecular mechanism of action of EGCG against nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Kinase 4 ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases ; metabolism ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protein Transport ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo construct wild-type and mutant pEGFP SPAST vectors and to explore the molecular mechanism of hereditary spastic paraplegia.

METHODSMutant SPAST vector was constructed using overlap PCR method following construction of wild-type SPAST vector. Wild-type and mutant constructs were transfected to COS7 cells and subcellular localization of spastin was observed. Co-localizations of spastin and microtubule, spastin and mitochondria were viewed by immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTSWild-type spastin is localized in plasma, and mutant spastin did not change its cellular localization. Wild-type and mutant spastins did not co-localize with microtubules and mitochondria by immunofluorescence analysis.

CONCLUSIONWild-type and mutant SPAST constructs were successfully generated. Mutant spastin did not change its localization in cells. Spastin does not co-localize with microtubules and mitochondria. This study may facilitate further studies on molecular mechanism of hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spastin

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shengmai injection (, SMI) on vascular endothelial and heart functions in coronary heart disease patients complicated with diabetes mellitus (CHD-DM).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients with CHD-DM, their diagnosis confirmed by coronary arteriography, were equally randomized into a control group treated with conventional treatment and a treated group treated with conventional treatment plus SMI. The changes in blood levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II (Ang II), as well as endothelium-dependent vascular dilating function and heart function in the patients were observed before treatment and after the 3-week treatment.

RESULTSAfter being treated with SMI for 3 weeks, in the treated group, blood level of NO was raised significantly from 69.8 + or - 33.1 micro mol/L to 120.1 + or - 50.8 micro mol/L, and ET-1 was lowered from 70.1 + or - 32.1 ng/L to 46.2 + or - 21.3 ng/L, respectively (P<0.01); that of Ang II was lowered from 81.3 + or - 24.3 ng/L to 50.2 + or - 27.3 ng/L (P<0.01); brachial arterial post-congestion blood flow increasing rate was raised from 389.4 + or - 26.3% to 459.3 + or - 27.8% (P<0.01); and the improvement in heart function as seen through the ejection fraction (EF) was increased from 44 + or - 5% to 68 + or - 6% (P<0.01), all the changes being more significant than those in the control group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMI can improve not only the endothelial function in CHD-DM patients, but also heart contraction significantly.

Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Diabetes Complications ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; physiology ; Female ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged