Objective To understand epidemic characteristics of human influenza A and the genetic and antigenic variations of H1N1 influenza A isolates in Shanghai area in 2009. Methods Throat swabs were collected from patients with influenza-like illness in the sentinel surveillance clinic in Shanghai area in 2009, then inoculated in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell lines. The types of influenza were identified by direct immunofluorescence assay (DIF) and the subtypes were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Segments of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of some 2009 H1N1 influenza A isolates were amplified and sequenced. HA and NA gene mutations of 2009 H1N1 influenza A isolates were analyzed. Results Seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A viruses co-circulated during the spring of 2009 in Shanghai area. Seasonal H3N2 began to co-circulate with 2009 H1N1 in August (the 32nd week) and finally2009 H1N1 became dominate since the 40th week. The phylogenetic tree of 2009 H1N1 HA segment revealed that the isolates from different regions and months were interspersed with each other, but all were clustered into one branch which closed to strains in Spain, Russia, Denmark and other European countries. Mutations were found in some HA amino acid sites, but none of them was in the antigenic determinant region. No change was observed in the 274 NA amino acid residues which were related to the drug resistance to oseltamivir. PB2 protein analysis showed that the 627 and 701 amino acid residues were glutamic acid and aspartic acid respectively, which were the same encoded amino acid with avian flu PB2 protein. Conclusions Seasonal H1N1 and H3N2 co-circulated in the spring of 2009, then both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal H3N2 were prevalent in Summer and Autumn, and 2009 H1N1 finally became dominate in Autumn. Compared to early 2009 H1N1 strains, variations are detected in H1N1 influenza A viruses, but none of them has epidemiological influence, and viruses still show high affinity with human and low-pathogenic characteristics.

Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma cystatin C (CysC) level and carotid atherosclerotic plaque in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods The clinical data in patients with acute ischemic stroke were analyzed retrospectively.According to the results of carotid artery ultrasound,the patients were divided into either a non-plaque group or a plaque group.Then the plaque group was redivided into a stable plaque subgroup and a vulnerable plaque subgroup.Multivariate logistic regression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were used to explore the risk factors for carotid atherosclerotic plaque.Results A total of 226 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled,172 of them had carotid plaque,and 54 had no plaque.Of the patients with carotid plaque,94 were stable plaque and 78 were vulnerable plaque.The age (71.82 ± 9.94 years vs.60.74 ± 13.81 years; t =6.160,P =0.014),proportion of patients with ischemic heart disease (11.6％ vs.1.9％; x2=6.169,P=0.020),systolic blood pressure (148.770± 21.007 mm Hg vs.142.240 ± 19.404 mm Hg; t =2.029,t =0.044),plasma CysC concentration (1.046 ± 0.438 mg/L vs.0.860 ±0.214 mg/L; t =3.006,P =0.003),and carotid IMT (1.122 ±0.278 mm vs.0.878 ±0.250 mm; t =5.762,P=0.000) in the plaque group were significantly higher than those in the non-plaque group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the age (odds ratio [OR] 1.079,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.044-1.116; P=0.000) and IMT (OR 31.450,95％ CI 6.233-158.692; P=0.000) was the independent risk factor for carotid plaque,while there was no significant independent correlation between the plasma CysC level and carotid plaque (P =0.217).Only IMT in the stable plaque subgroup was significantly higher than the vulnerable plaque group (1.176 ±0.285 mm vs.1.058 ±0.258 mm; t =-2.824,P =0.005),and it was the independent protective factor for the carotid plaque stability (OR 0.195,95％ CI 0.059-0.064; P =0.007).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the plasma CysC level was positively correlated with the age (r =0.375,P =0.000) and serum creatinine level (r =0.462,P =0.000),but it was not significantly correlated with carotid IMT (r =0.075,P =0.264).Conclusions In patients with ischemic stroke,no correlations were found between the plasma CysC level and carotid atherosclerotic plaque,plaque stability,and IMT.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of CEUS in Crohn discasc (CD) activity.Methods Thirty-nine patients with CD were analyzed.The clinical disease activity index of 18 cases were less than 150 (inactivity),and 21 cases were between 150 and 450 (activity).The thickness of intestinal walls were measured and Limberg classification were determined by power-Doppler results.The CEUS was performed,and the parameters including rise time,peak intensity,mean transit time,time from peak to one half,wash in slope and time to peak were statistical analyzed.Results The thickness of the lesions,peak intensity and wash in slope of activity CD were greater than those of inactivity CD,which had significant difference (all P＜0.05).The Limberg classification of type Ⅰ was 1 case,type Ⅱ was 4 cases,type Ⅲ was 10 cases and type Ⅳ was 6 cases in activity CD.The Limberg classification of type Ⅰ was 10 cases,type Ⅱ was 7 cases and type Ⅲ was 1 case.The Limberg classification were mainly type Ⅲ and type Ⅳ in activity CD,and type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ in inactivity CD,which had significant difference (P＜0.001).Conclusion CEUS can provide quantitative parameters in CD activity and has great clinical value.

[Objective]This study was designed to investigate the genetic evolution of the neuraminidase(NA)gene of seasonal A/H1N1 and 2009 novel A/H1N1 inflilenza virus,and discuss the genetic variation of influenza A virus.[Methods]The virus strains were separately isolated from the clinical samples collected in 2006 and 2009,and then identified as seasonal A/H1N1 and novel A/H1N1.The full length of the NA gene of these strains was amplified by RT-PCR.Then the genetic evolution and mutations of important functional sites were analyzed.[Results]The homology of NA gene between the 2009 novel A/H1N1 isolates and 2006 seasonal A/H1N1 isolates was low(77.9%～78.8%),so was the homology of NA gene between the 2009 novel A/H1N1 isolates and representative strains of different periods and 1979-2001 WHO recommended vaccine strains(78.1%～79.3%).But compared with the WHO recommended vaccine strains of 2009 novel A/H1N1,the homology reached more than 99%.The genetic evolution analysis revealed that NA gene of 2009 novel A/H1N1 had the closest genetic relationship with the swine influenza A virus(A/swine/Belgium/1/1983)from Eurasian Iineage,and some of the antigenic sites and neuraminidase active sites of NA gene of seasonal A/H1N1 were mutated after 2005.[Conclusion]The NA gene of 2009 novel A/H1N1 may originate from Eurasian Iineage of swine influenza virus.The variation of NA gene of seasonal A/H1N1 has occurred in a certain degree.Hence,it is very necessary to continuously monitor the variant of influenza A virus.

OBJECTIVETo understand provider initiated HIV testing and counseling (PITC) in a region with high HIV/AIDS epidemic in China, and analyze its effect to early detection of HIV infections.

METHODSBetween January and December, 2013, 37 county level medical institutions were selected as the study sites, among which, 19 were public medical institutions and 18 were private institutions. According to the related regulation, procedures and contents of PITC, the study was implemented among outpatients and inpatients who seek for doctors in these medical institutions and PITC were provided for them. The 'Individual Investigation Form' was used to record the information and high-risky factors, and the respondents were taken venous blood and given HIV screening and confirmation. All available serum samples of newly found HIV/AIDS cases were tested using the BED HIV Incidence Capture Enzyme Immunoassay (BED-CEIA) to differentiate the long-term infections and new infections (early detected infections). Chi-square analysis was used to compare the differences of characteristics of newly infected patients.

RESULTSBetween January and December, 2013, a total of 37 medical institutions provided PITC. 55 164 person times were received HIV screening, among which 658 were HIV positive, and 598 were confirmed to be HIV positive. The 598 cases were all provided transferring service. The differences of age, marital status, education levels, transmission routes and testing institutions had statistical significance to early detection (χ(2) equals to 23.54, 10.50, 17.96, 21.22 and 4.80; P equals to < 0.001, 0.005, < 0.001, < 0.001 and 0.029, respectively). And the early detection proportions among patients aged from 20 to 29 and from 50 to 84 were 47.1% (114/242) and 42.1% (24/57), respectively; the proportions among single and married patients were 37.8% (56/148) and 38.9% (143/368), respectively; the proportion among patients with high school education levels were 42.6% (26/61); the proportion among patients transmitted by fixed heterosexual sexual partners was 46.0% (86/187); the proportion among private hospitals was 40.3% (58/144).

CONCLUSIONA certain proportion of HIV infections were early detected by PITC in this region. The HIV early detection proportions among specific age group and population with spouse/fixed sexual partners were relatively high.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Counseling ; Early Diagnosis ; Epidemics ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Outpatients ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess carotid stiffening in a pre-hypertensive (PHT) population using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 626 individuals who underwent clinical interviews, serum tests, and assessments of the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity-beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and pulse wave velocity-end of systole (PWV-ES) between January 2017 and December 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to their blood pressure (BP)—normal BP (NBP): SBP <130 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg (n=215); PHT: 130 mmHg≤SBP<140 mmHg and/or 80 mmHg≤DBP<90 mmHg (n=119); hypertensive (HT): SBP ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg (n=292). Correlation analyses and comparisons were performed among the groups and in the cIMT subgroups (cIMT ≥0.050 cm and <0.050 cm). Results: cIMT and PWV-ES significantly differed among the BP groups (P<0.05). The BP groups had similar PWV-BS when cIMT <0.050 cm or cIMT ≥0.050 cm (all P>0.05). However, the NBP group had a notably lower PWV-ES than the PHT (P<0.001 and P=0.024) and HT (all P<0.001) groups in both cIMT categories, while the PWV-ES in the PHT group were not significantly lower than in the HT group (all P>0.05). Conclusion Carotid morphological and biomechanical properties in the PHT group differed from those in the NBP group. ufPWV could be used for an early evaluation of carotid stiffening linked to pre-hypertension.

Objective To construct an objective analysis system of corneal nerve tortuosity and detect the changes of corneal subbasal nerve tortuosity in patients with dry eye and diabetes. Methods GradeⅠtoⅣnerve tortuosity were evaluated and 80 photos of each grade were randomly chosen from the in vivo confocal microscopy library. Nerve fibers were extracted,segmented and then analyzed by 6 tortuosity related parameters including L C, Seg L C mean,Cur mean,Specific p,ICM and SCC mean. After verifying the validaty of parameters above,a cross-sectional study was conducted. Subjects were collected from June,2018 to February,2019 in Peking University Third Hospital,and were divided into healthy control group (28 persons 56 eyes),dry eye without diabetes group (28 patients 56 eyes),diabetes without dry eye group(24 patients 48 eyes),diabetes with dry eye group (23 patients 46 eyes) . Basic and dry eye information includes sex,age,ocular surface disease index ( OSDI) ,tear film break-up time (TBUT),Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) and corneal fluorescence staining (CFS) score. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were detected in diabetic patients. Cochet-Bonnet examination (C-BE) was detected to evaluate corneal sensation and 2 corneal subbasal nerve photos of each eye were selected for effective tortuosity and density related parameters analysis. Data was analyzed by SPSS and diagnostic test were perfomed by MedCalc. This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki. This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Peking University Third Hospital ( No. IRB00006761-M2017354 ) . Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering study cohort. Results L C,Seg L C mean,Cur mean,Specific p,ICM and SCC mean increased as the nerve tortuosity increased from Grade Ⅰ to Grade Ⅳ,with an overall significance among 4 groups (F=39. 100, 36. 367,57. 743,4. 043,6. 818,33. 493;all at P<0. 01). Among the above 6 parameters,Cur mean and L C of any two groups were of significant difference (all at P<0. 01). Twenty three to twenty eight persons were enrolled in each group of the cross-sectional study. Sex and age were comparable among 4 groups. Diagnostic criteria were met in dry eye and diabetes. Corneal sensation parameter C-BE decreased in diabetes without dry eye group and diabetes with dry eye group compared with healthy control group ( all at Adj P<0. 05 ) , other than in dry eye without diabetes group (AdjP≥0. 05). Nerve density of diabetes without dry eye group and diabetes with dry eye group was lower compared with healthy control group(all at P<0. 001),while no significant difference between dry eye without diabetes group and healthy control group(P≥0. 05). Among the effective parameters of tortuosity,L C,Cur mean,Seg L C mean and SCC mean of dry eye without diabetes group,diabetes without dry eye group,diabetes with dry eye group were higher compared with healthy control group ( all at P<0. 05 ) . Diagnostic tests of tortuosity related parameters all showed an area under curve (AUC) from 0. 5 to 0. 7. Conclusions L C and Cur mean can be used to analyze corneal nerve curvature more reliably. Compared with normal volunteers,patients of dry eye or diabetes show higher corneal subbasal nerve tortuosity.

Purpose: The present study investigated the association between Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE)-estimated cardiovascular risk and carotid stiffening in a middle-aged population using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). Methods: This study enrolled 683 participants without known cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus who underwent ufPWV measurements. Clinical interviews, physical examinations, laboratory findings, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) at the beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and PWV at the end of systole (PWV-ES) were assessed. Each participant underwent an assessment of SCORE risk based on major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), including age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals and ordinal logistic regression were used. Overall CVRFs were adjusted to assess ORs. Results: cIMT and carotid stiffening in PWV-BS and PWV-ES were significantly different between sex subgroups (all P<0.05), but only PWV-ES increased gradually in age and SCORE-estimated risk subgroups (all P<0.05). Compared with cIMT (r=0.388, P<0.001) and PWV-BS (r=0.159, P<0.001), PWV-ES was more strongly correlated with SCORE categories (r=0.405, P<0.001). Higher PWV-ES values were associated with SCORE categories independently of sex, SBP, TC, and smoking in moderate-risk and high-risk subgroups (OR, 1.63; P<0.001 and OR, 2.12; P=0.024, respectively), but were not independent of age in all risk subgroups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Carotid stiffening quantified by ufPWV is linked to SCORE categories, and elevated PWV-ES may aid in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress refers to a cellular stress response triggered when cells are stimulated, which is manifested as the disruption of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis and dysfunction in various pathological conditions, resulting in the accumulation of a large number of misfolded and unfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum and an imbalance of calcium ions. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cells in the liver and play an important role in maintaining liver homeostasis and various liver diseases. Recent studies have confirmed that the unfolded protein response caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress plays an important role in regulating macrophage immune response. This article reviews the mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum stress regulating macrophage immune response and its role in liver diseases such as ischemia-reperfusion injury during organ transplantation, liver fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, in order to deepen the understanding of the mechanism of macrophage immune regulation and provide new ideas for research and interventional treatment related to liver diseases.