Objective To provide reliable indicators for effective prevention and control of COVID-19, we examined the biochemical indicators as well as anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies in confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients. Methods A total of 56 confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases quarantined during January-March, 2020 in Gansu Provincial People′s Hospital and People′s Hospital of Xigu District, Gansu Province were included.Based on the results of nucleic acid testing and CT scan finding, they were divided into three groups: positive in both nucleic acid testing and CT scan finding; positive in nucleic acid testing but negative in CT scan finding; negative in both nucleic acid testing and CT scan finding.COVID-19 viral nucleic acid was detected and chest CT scan was performed.The following biochemical indicators were examined: total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase.SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used to analyze the differences in the biochemical indicators among these three groups, as well as the temporal trend of IgM and IgG antibodies at different points of time. Results There were significant differences in the mean values of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase between these three groups (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference in the mean value of total protein and albumin (P>0.05).ROC curve indicated that aspartate aminotransferase had the largest maximum area under the curve (AUC, 0.834), whereas alanine aminotransferase had the highest sensitivity (1.0) and total bilirubin had the highest specificity (0.927).Thus, aspartate transaminase provided the best prediction for the diagnosis of COVID-19, with sensitivity of 0.786, specificity of 0.854, and the maximum AUC of 0.834.In 12 of 16 confirmed COVID-19 patients tested IgG positive after 10 days of diagnosis, and 10 of 10 confirmed COVID-19 patients tested IgG positive after 14 days of diagnosis. Conclusion Aspartate aminotransferase may be the most useful indicator in the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Objective To understand the current situation of statistical management of TCM;To analyze existing problems; To provide references for policy formulation and measure implementation for statistical management of TCM. Methods Literature research, field research, comparative analysis, questionnaire surveys, expert consultation, and Fisher's exact test were used in the study. Results It was found that China’s statistical management of TCM had the problems of imperfect system, unestablished investigation system, incomplete statistical index system, and nonstandard statistical management. No statistical difference was found in the three regions of east, middle and the west. Conclusion Management and investigation system should be established in statistical management of TCM; pilot projects should be conducted before they are spread;information sharing and data mining should be strengthened.

Objective: To investigate the willingness to receive influenza vaccines and its influencing factors among residents in Ezhou City, Hubei Province, so as to provide the evidence for improving the coverage of influenza vaccination. Methods: Residents at ages of 15 years and older were sampled from 12 communities in Ezhou City using a multi-stage random sampling method in May 2022. Participants' demographic features, influenza vaccination, awareness of influenza vaccine knowledge, attitudes towards influenza vaccination and willingness to receive influenza vaccine were collected using questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting the willingness to receive influenza vaccine were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 840 questionnaires were allocated, and 820 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 97.62%. The participants included 385 men (46.95%) and 435 women (53.05%) and had a mean age of (42.04±14.82) years. Among all participants, 47.93% were willing to receive influenza vaccine. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (15-24 years, OR=6.010, 95%CI: 3.342-10.809; 25-39 years, OR=4.555, 95%CI: 2.815-7.369; 40-59 years, OR=1.697, 95%CI: 1.057-2.724), living in Echeng District (OR=4.246, 95%CI: 2.968-6.075), urban household registration (OR=4.424, 95%CI: 3.210-6.096), educational level (junior high school, OR=1.712, 95%CI: 1.149-2.551; high school/technical secondary school, OR=3.883, 95%CI: 2.645-5.702; diploma and above, OR=6.830, 95%CI: 4.033-11.568), occupation (self-employed person, OR=3.195, 95%CI: 1.747-5.843; retiree, OR=6.600, 95%CI: 3.240-13.446; worker, OR=8.250, 95%CI: 4.163-16.349; student, OR=9.562, 95%CI: 4.560-20.051; civil servant/public institution personnel, OR=11.756, 95%CI: 5.571-24.809), monthly income (≥1 500 Yuan, OR=2.177, 95%CI: 1.427-3.321; >4 500 Yuan, OR=6.359, 95%CI: 3.391-10.289), times of influenza vaccination in the past two years (once, OR=6.552, 95%CI: 4.086-10.504; twice, OR=9.601, 95%CI: 3.995-23.073), awareness of influenza vaccine knowledge (OR=14.641, 95%CI: 10.426-20.558), and positive attitudes towards influenza vaccines (OR=28.706, 95%CI: 19.660-41.915) as factors affecting the willingness to receive influenza vaccines. Conclusions The willingness to receive influenza vaccine was 47.93% among residents in Ezhou City, and age, residence, household registration, educational level, occupation, income level, history of influenza vaccination, awareness of influenza vaccine-related knowledge and attitudes towards influenza vaccines correlate with the willingness to receive influenza vaccine.

Isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (IDI) is a key enzyme in the regulation of triterpenes biosynthesis and plays an important role in ginsenoside biosynthesis. In this study, two IDI genes, PvfIDI1 (GenBank No. MZ736417) and PvfIDI2 (GenBank No. MZ736418) were cloned from Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. The open reading frame of both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 was 924 bp encoding 307 amino acids. The molecular weights of PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were 34.84 kDa and 34.66 kDa, respectively, with theoretical pIs of 6.01 and 5.66. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 contained two conserved sequences: TNTCCSHPL and WGEHELDY. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 were closely related to Panax notoginseng IDI. Expression analysis showed that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 genes are expressed in root, rhizome, stem and leaf of P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus. However, PvfIDI1 is highly expressed in the rhizome and PvfIDI2 is highly expressed in the stem. PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli; a functional coloration experiment showed that PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 could promote the accumulation of lycopene, indicating that both PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 encode functional IDI enzymes. The cloning and functional studies on PvfIDI1 and PvfIDI2 provide a foundation for the further study of IDI and the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible relationship between variation of coxsackievirus B3 (CoxB3) VP1 sequence from cerebrospinal fluid of children with severe and mild central nervous system (CNS) infection and damage to CNS in children from Shandong province.

METHODSThe enteroviruses were detected using VP1 typing and sequencing primer for enteroviruses from 73 enterovirus-infected cases confirmed by detection of cerebrospinal fluid by enteroviruses common primer. VP1 sequences (450 nucleotides) were determined and analyzed for 21 CoxB3 enteroviruses strains isolated in Qingdao and Binzhou, and were compared with that of BLAST search procedures from GeneBank in NCBI. The variation of VP1 gene and amino acids sequence of CoxB3 enteroviruses was analyzed for severe and mild CNS infection.

RESULTSThe nucleotide homogeneity of these CoxB3 appeared to be 97% - 99%, however, the homogeneity among different genotypes were 83% - 76%. Replacement of glutamine by histidine at amino acid locus 856 of VP1 CoxB3 was found in 4 cases with severe encephalitis. There were different variation in VP1 nucleotide sequence of CoxB3 in 3 cases with mild encephalitis and 14 cases with meningitis, but amino acids sequences had no regular variation. The modified Glasgow's coma score was below 7 in all the 4 cases with severe encephalitis. Of these 4 cases, 3 had consciousness disturbance for less than 3 days. Lethargy, restlessness and psychiatric symptoms were major manifestations, of whom 3 also had dysphagia, 1 had encephalatrophy obviously, Glasgow's coma score was 3, deep coma lasted for 9 days, and had concomitant fatal epileptic attacks. Of these 4 cases, 2 completely recovered, 1 had high muscle tone, 1 remained under anti-epileptic drug treatment at follow-up 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONThere were a small epidemic of CoxB3 CNS infection in children in 2005 in this area. The amino acid variation of CoxB3 VP1 possibly caused increased viral virulence and caused damage to CNS.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Capsid Proteins ; cerebrospinal fluid ; genetics ; Central Nervous System ; pathology ; virology ; Child ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; cerebrospinal fluid ; epidemiology ; virology ; Encephalitis ; virology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Methylprednisolone and Dexamethasone on the avascular necrosis of femoral head in chickens.

METHODSThirty-six chickens were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 6): control group (group A), Methylprednisolone low dose group (group B), Methylprednisolone large dose group (group C), small dose Dexamethasone and horse serum group (group D), middle dose Dexamethasone and horse serum group (group E), and Dexamethasone large dose group (group F). On the 6th and 12th weeks, blood samples were obtained to determine the level of total cholesterol triglyeride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). On the 12th week, femoral heads were taken off. Paraffin tissue sections were prepared to detect histopathologic change with hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTSOn the 6th week, compared with group A, the level of CHO increased significantly in group C and group F (P < 0.05), and TG increased in group B, C and group E, while HDL decreased in group B, C and group E. On the 12th week, the level of TG and CHO increased in group B, C, E and group F, and HDL decreased in group C, D and group E (P < 0.05). LDL was not detected in most chickens. The ratio of empty lacuna was higher in group C and group E compared with those of the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMethylprednisolone is easier to induce osteonecrosis of femoral head than Dexamethasone. The condition of metabolic disorder in blood may be the basic pathomechanism of steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head.

Animals ; Chickens ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Dexamethasone ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Femur Head Necrosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; Glucocorticoids ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Methylprednisolone ; adverse effects ; Oligopeptides ; blood

OBJECTIVEThe aim was to update the genetic and clinical advances of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD), based on a systematic review of the literature from 1991 to 2017.

DATA SOURCESArticles in English published in PubMed from 1991 to 2017 English were searched. The terms used in the literature searches were CMD.

STUDY SELECTIONThe task force initially identified citations for 98 published articles. Of the 98 articles, 52 studies were selected after further detailed review. Three articles, which were not written in English, were excluded from the study. This study referred to all the important and English literature in full.

RESULTSCMD is a group of early-onset disorders encompassing great clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Patients present with muscle weakness typically from birth to early infancy, delay or arrest of gross motor development, and joint and/or spinal rigidity. The diagnosis of CMD relies on clinical findings, brain and muscle imaging, muscle biopsy histology, muscle and/or skin immunohistochemical staining, and molecular genetic testing.

CONCLUSIONSAdvances in next-generation sequencing and histopathological techniques have enabled the recognition of distinct CMD subtypes supported by specific gene identification. Genetic counseling and multidisciplinary management of CMD play an important role in help patients and their family. Further elucidation of the significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity, therapeutic targets, and the clinical care for patients remains our challenge for the future.

Limitations of polyacrylamide gel or agarose gel electrophoretic methods in genotyping research affect the interpreting of detection results. In order to develop a simple and reliable method for appraising results of ABO genotyping detection, the microfluidic chip analysis system was established by using microfluidic chip to replace the gel electrophoresis and combining with multiplex-PCR-RFLP technique. 150 blood samples were tested by this microfluidic chip analysis system with multiplex-PCR-RFLP technique to evaluate its stability and accuracy. The results showed that all the testing results were consistent with serologic ABO genotyping results and 1 blood sample with decrease of B antigen caused by CML was identified. In conclusion, the established microfluidic chip analysis system is stable and reliable technique. Application of this technique enables the ABO genotyping results to be more objective and accurate.
ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; methods ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; Microfluidics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and compare the histopathology effects and mechanisms of the methods of "invigorating spleen to remove phlem & promoting blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction" and "invigorate the kidney & promoting blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction" preventing hormone induced femoral head necrosis in hens.

METHODSSixty-four healthy hens were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control group, model group, Jianpi group (with therapeutics of invigorating spleen to remove phlem), Bushen group (with the effect of warming kidney for duresis). All hens were injected intramuscularly with Medrat once a week for 16 weeks but normal saline in blank control group. Bilateral femoral heads were dissected on 8 weeks or 16 weeks. Paraffin tissue sections were prepared to detect histopathologic change with hematoxylin and eosin, or mason staining.

RESULTSHistological analysis showed that Huogu recipe I and Huogu recipe II can promote osteogenesis and repair osteonecrosis, increase blood circulation of bone marrow, and inhibit pimelosis of bone marrow. Compared with blank control group, the areas of adipose cells increased significantly (t = -12.9, P < 0.01), the area of immature collagen increased significantly (t = -2.0, P < 0.05) and the ratio of empty lacuna in medullary cavity (t = -3.7, P < 0.05). Compared with model group, both the area of adipose cells and the ratio of empty lacuna decreased in Jianpi group and Bushen group (F = 26.8, 13.5, P < 0.01), so it was with the Bushen group immature collagen (F = 4.6, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth the methods of "invigorating spleen to remove phlem & promoting blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction" and "invigorate the kidney & promoting blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction" can prevent hormone induced femoral head necrosis. The time taking effect in the method of "invigorating spleen to remove phlem" was shorter.

Animals ; Chickens ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Femur Head ; pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Glucocorticoids ; adverse effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rosuvastatin on atherosclerosis in apoE-knockout (apoE-/-) mice.

METHODSEighteen 6-week-old apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet were used as atherosclerosis models, twelve 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice fed with normal diet were used as control. After twelve weeks, six apoE-/- mice were used to observe the formation of atherosclerosis. Another 12 apoE-/- mice were divided into placebo treated group (n = 6) and rosuvastatin group (n = 6, 10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) per gavage) and treated for 12 weeks. Then, blood was collected for measuring lipid, aorta was prepared for morphologic study (HE, Oil red O, Masson) and immunohistochemical analysis (α-smooth active protein, transforming growth factor β(1), macrophage surface molecule-3).

RESULTSSerum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet than in C57/BL6 mice(all P < 0.01)while triglyceride level was similar between the two groups, these were not affected by rosuvastatin. Similarly, atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet was also not significantly reduced by rosuvastatin, while lipid deposition could be significantly reduced and collagen deposition could be significantly increased in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions by treatment with rosuvastatin. Upregulated TGF-β(1) and Mac-3 expression in the aortic atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-/- mice fed with high fat diet could also be significantly reduced by rosuvastatin (all P < 0.01), suggesting reduce inflammatory responses in the atherosclerotic lesion and stable atherosclerotic plaque post rosuvastatin treatment.

CONCLUSIONReducing inflammatory responses and stabilizing plaque properties might contribute to the anti-atherosclerosis effects of rosuvastatin in mice high fat diet fed apoE-/- mice.

Animals ; Antigens, Differentiation ; metabolism ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fluorobenzenes ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; pathology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism