Objective To investigate the characteristics of V3 loop amino acid sequences of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) quasi-species in long-term non-progressors (LTNP)infected with HIV. Methods End-point limiting dilution polymerase chain reaction (EPLD PCR) was used to amplify the env gene c2-v3-c3 region of single HIV-1 provirus from five LTNPs at sequential time points. The PCR products were then sequenced and the amino acid sequences of V3 loop were analyzed by sequence confirm analysis technology. Results The results showed that there were one to ten kinds of polymorphisms in the V3 region of HIV-1 quasi-species which were found from the serial samples of the five LTNP. However, the sequences of the predominant strains were either completely consistent or at most changed at one or two residues in the serial samples of individual patient. The tetramer compositions of the tip of V3 loop were consistent in each patient. It was GPGR in four patients and GPGK in one patient. It was speculated the co-receptor of HIV-1 was CC chemokine receptor (CCR)-5 based on the amino acids at the residue 11 and residue 25 of V3 loop and the net charge of V3 loop. Conclusions There are various polymorphisms at the HIV V3 loop in LTNP. However, the tetramer composition of the tip part of V3 loop is stable. The LTNP are very likely infected with non-syncytium inducing (NSI) strain.

detection of HIV-1 quasispecies in HIV-1 infected populations with low level viral load.

Objective To identify the pathogens that cause hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in adults and analyze the nucleotide sequences characteristics of enterovirus 71 (EV71). Methods The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was used to detect the enterovirus from the samples of four adult HFMD patients. The 227 bp amplified segments of EVT1 were then sequenced and compared with the sequences of previously isolated EVT1 strains available from GenBank by homogeneity and phylogenetic tree analyses. Results All the results of RT-PCR with enterovirus universal primers and EVT1 specific primers were positive. The EV71 sequences analysis showed that the four new sequences (named as GZ19610, GZ99310, GZ99355 and GZ46477) shared 96.0% to 99.1% nucleotide identify themselves and shared 96.9% to 100.0% homology with the strain Fuyang/17.08/3 isolated in 2008 from Fuyang, Anhui Province. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the genotype of the four new sequences was all subtype C4, they were the same sub-genotype as those strains isolated from Chinese mainland and Chinese Taiwan in 2004, and the genetic distance between them was most closely. Conclusions EV71 can cause adult HFMD. Compared with the nucleotide sequences of EV71 strains that isolated now and formerly in China, there is no large variation of the EV71 sequences isolated from four adult HFMD patients in Guangzhou this time. The adult HFMD patients should be isolated for treatment to avoid them transmitting the virus and causing disease spreading.

Objective To identify the sequence of hepatitis B virus S gene"a"determinant in patients with positive HBsAg and anti-HBs.Methods Nested-PCR Was used to amplify the HBV S gene in 4 patients with positive HBsAg and anti-HBs,and the PCR products were sequenced directly or after cloning.The sequences of"a" determinants were then analyzed by sequence alignment.Results Direct sequencing of PCR products showed that there was one amino acid (aa)residue in"a"determinant less conserved region emerging polymorphism in all 4 patients.Clone sequencing showed that aa residue at 126 of "a"determinant in patient 1 miSht be Thr,Ile and Set,at 134 might be Phe and Set;the aa at 126 in patient 2 misht be Ala and Thr.and in patient 3 might be Ile and Asn;aa polymorphism was not found in patient 4.Conclusion The polymorphism of"a"determinant in HBV S gene might be associated with positivity of both HBsAg and anti-HBs in hepatitis B patients.

As a traditional Chinese medicine, Valeriana jatamansi has a long history of application in China. It is widely distributed and commonly adopted by many ethnic groups. In particular, its roots have a wide range of medicinal value. With the increasingly more attention on it from domestic and foreign researchers, there have been more and more studies on its pharmacological activity and mechanism. This essay summarizes domestic and foreign reports on its pharmacological activity and mechanism.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; Antihypertensive Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Central Nervous System Depressants ; pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; drug effects ; Humans ; Plant Extracts ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Valerian

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between miR-124 rs531564 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to cervical cancer in Chinese Han women in Guangdong Province.

METHODSThe genotypes of miR-124 rs531564 polymorphism were determined using polymerase chain reaction-based ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) in 107 cervical cancer patients and 208 healthy female blood donors. The correlation between the polymorphism and the susceptibility to cervical cancer was evaluated using unconditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe incidence of HPV infection in the patients (93.1%) was much higher than that in the control subjects (16.8%, P<0.001), suggesting the importance of HPV infection as a critical risk factor for cervical cancer. The G allele of miR-124 rs531564 polymorphism in the cervical cancer patients was much less frequent than that in the controls (8.0% vs 15.1%, P=0.014), suggesting its possible role as a protective allele. Compared with those carrying CC genotype, individuals carrying the CG and GG genotypes showed a significantly reduced risk for cervical cancer (OR=0.47, 95% CI=0.26-0.88, P=0.017), and this protective role of the G allele was more prominent in older women (≥45 years old) (OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.10-0.76, P=0.012).

CONCLUSIONmiR-124 rs531564 polymorphism may play a role in cervical cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han women, and G allele is associated with a reduced risk of cervical cancer.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics

【Objective】 To retrospectively analyze the transfusion records of COVID-19 patients from Feb to Mar 2020 in the Optical Valley Branch of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, and summarize the clinical features and blood use of those patients. 【Methods】 1) The utilization of blood components in 81 blood recipients were collected and retrospectively analyzed; 2) Propensity score matching (PSM, by the clinical classification of COVID-19) was used to match the transfused and non-transfused patients according to the ratio of 1∶2, and the clinical features of the two groups were compared. 【Results】 The total transfusion rate in our hospital was 5.5%(81/1 463), among which 88.9%(72/81)transfused red blood cell (RBC). Ten patients received RBC transfusion > 20 U, consumed 48.3%(330/680)RBC, 57.5%(53 500/93 100)plasma, 36.2%(42/116)platelets, and 62.3%(114.25/183.25)cryoprecipitates due to ECMO or gastrointestinal bleeding. Compared to non-transfused patients, transfused patients showed worse lab-indexes related to inflammation, infection, and coagulation at admission, higher incidences of acute liver, kidney and cardiac injury, admission to the ICU and mortality(P<0.01). 【Conclusion】 The related functional indexes and prognosis of transfused COVID-19 patients were significantly worse than non-transfused ones. RBC transfusions were dominant, and massive blood transfusions were seldom.