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 observe the dynamic time-phase expressions of key genes of brain-gut CaM signal pathway of spleen Qi deficiency rats and the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction.

METHODMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, model 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups, and Sijunzi decoction 14 d, 21 d, 28 d groups. Except for the normal control group, the remaining groups were included into the spleen Qi deficiency model with the bitter cold breaking Qi method (ig 7.5 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹ of Rheum officinale, Fructus aurantii immaturus, Magnolia officinalis preparation) and the exhaustive swimming method. On the 7th day after the modeling, the Sijunzi decoction groups were orally administered with Sijunzi decoction 20 g · kg⁻¹ · d⁻¹. The expressions of key genes CaM/CaMK II of CaM signaling pathway in hippocampus and intestine at different time points by immunohistochemical method and Western blot. At the same time, the intervention effect of Sijunzi decoction on spleen Qi deficiency rats and its mechanism were analyzed.

RESULTSpleen Qi deficiency rats showed higher intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and lower hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression than normal rats (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After the treatment of Sijunzi decoction, spleen Qi deficiency rats showed reduction in intestinal CaM/CaMK II expression and increase in hippocampus CaM/CaMK II expression (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe formation of spleen Qi deficiency syndrome may be related to the high expression of CaM/CaMK II in small intestine tissues and its low expression in hippocampus tissues. Sijunzi decoction may achieve the therapeutic effect in spleen Qi deficiency syndrome by reducing the CaM/CaMK II expression in intestinal tissues and increasing it in hippocampus tissues.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Calmodulin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Male ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; drug effects ; Splenic Diseases ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between ultrasonic bone mineral density (BMD) of calcaneus and age, height, and body weight, and to establish the normal reference value for stiffness index (SI) of healthy subjects in Guangxi autonomous region and provide scientific foundation for the diagnosis and prevention of osteoporosis.

METHODSSI of calcaneus in 1 816 healthy adults aged 11-90 years (775 men, 1 041 women) were measured with quantitative ultrasound. According to their ages, all the men and women were divided into 13 groups by 5-year age group.

RESULTSSI reached peak values in 21-25 year group in men (range: 111.45 +/- 21.19) and in 16-20 year group in women (range: 101.26 +/- 17.51). Then the SI value began to decline with aging. The SI featured by a typical dual-peak curve in women and the decrease rate of SI was faster in women than in men over 61 years. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significantly negative correlation between SI and age (P < 0.001), positive correlation between SI and body weight (P < 0.05 for men; P < 0.01 for women), and positive correlation between SI and height in women (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSI correlates with age, height, and weight. The acquired SI value may provide a reference for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Density ; Calcaneus ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo observe the prevalence, blood pressure change in prehypertensive population and associated cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODSData from a prehypertensive cohort defined with the JNC-7 prehypertension diagnostic criteria were obtained in the employees of kailuan group during the health examination between 2006 to 2007 and the same population was revisited between 2008 to 2009 to observe the change of blood pressure and the associated determinants for blood pressure change.

RESULTS(1) There were 25 474 prehypertensive during the 1(st) visit and 8361 subjects developed hypertension during the 2(nd) visit (35.3% in men and 23.3% in women, 27.2% with baseline blood pressure 120 - 129/80 - 84 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and 43.8% with baseline blood pressure 130 - 139/85 - 89 mm Hg, 34.3% with risk factors and 19.9% without risk factors). (2) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of blood pressure progression with a RR (95%CI) of 1.052 (1.048 - 1.056), 1.009 (1.006 - 1.013), 1.023 (1.021 - 1.026), 1.063 (1.052 - 1.074), 1.554 (1.442 - 1.675), 1.036 (1.029 - 1.043), 1.064 (1.037 - 1.093), 1.043 (1.024 - 1.062), 1.041 (1.021 - 1.062) and 1.035 (1.000 - 1.072), respectively.

CONCLUSIONA third (32.8%) prehypertensive population progressed into hypertension after two years, baseline SBP, waist circumference, age, BMI, gender (male), DBP, TC, FBG, TG, LDL-C were the risk factors of predicting blood pressure progression.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prehypertension ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVEData obtained from a differentially expressed cDNA library constructed previously in this laboratory demonstrated that the extracellular matrix molecule osteopontin (OPN) is one of most considerably over-expressed genes in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). The purpose of the present study was to explore the expression status of OPN in a large scale NSCLC tissue samples, and estimate its significance in progression of the malignant disease.

METHODSRT-PCR was performed with the tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 35 patients with NSCLC, at transcriptional levels of OPN. To determine the expression of OPN protein in the tumor tissues, immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was subsequently carried out on paraffin-embedded sections in tissue microarrays containing 662 samples derived from NSCLC cases. The correlation between the expression level of OPN and clinical characteristics was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSComparing with the paired normal lung tissue, high level RNA of OPN was detected in 80.0% (28/35) of the NSCLC tumor tissues by RT-PCR, which confirmed the information obtained previously by our differentially expressed cDNA library. The results of IHC analysis showed that positively stained OPN protein was observed in 59.6% (331/555) of the tumor tissues, which was remarkably higher than that (25.2%, 27/107) detected in the normal control tissues (P < 0.001). Among the NSCLCs investigated, over-expressed OPN was more frequently found in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than in adenocarcinomas. A further analysis on SCCs demonstrated that the rate of over-expressed OPN was significantly different between the primary tumors with and without lymphatic metastases (68.6% vs. 49.7%, P = 0.001), but similar in the primary tumors and their corresponding metastases in lymph nodes (68.6% vs. 75.5%, P = 0.171).

CONCLUSIONExpression of OPN protein is distinctly increased in NSCLCs, particularly in SCCs. OPN over-expression is considerably correlated with lymph node metastasis, increasing the risk of tumor metastasis (OR = 2.212). The resulting data suggest that OPN facilitates the progression of NSCLCs.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

During July to November in 2007, several outbreaks of Hemangiomas in Hy-line Brown laying hens were observed in China. The virus that infected these flocks was identified in cultured DF-1 cells by PCR and indirect fluorescent assay (IFA) with ALV-J specific monoclonal antibody JE-9. The gp85 gene of one strain named WS0705 of ALV-J was cloned and expressed. Phylogenetic analysis showed that gp85 amino sequences of WS0705 strain had the highest homology with that of the prototype HPRS-103. The gp85 gene from a constructed plasmid pMD18-T-WS0705gp85 was cloned into baculovirus transfer vector. rBac-WS0705gp85 was obtained by the Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. The rBac-WS0705gp85 protein was analyzed by indirect immunofluor escence assay and Western blot. The results showed that positive green fluorescent was present in Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant virus and a 35 kD band was present in western blot. It is concluded that WS0705 gp85 gene was expressed in Sf9 cells infected with the recombinant virus and the SU protein of WS0705 can bind specifically to JE9 MAb of ALV-J. The expressed protein can be used to detect hemangiomas induced by ALV-J.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Avian Leukosis Virus ; classification ; genetics ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gene Expression ; Hemangioma ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

The transmembrane protein (TM) encoded by gp37 gene plays a critical role when virus fusion with cell membrane occurs. Several highly conserved regions in TM are important targets for antivirus studies. Studies on structure and function of TM will provide basic information for anti-retrovirus, especially for avian leukosis virus. In the study, gp37 gene was amplified by PCR from the Chinese strain ALV-J-WS0701. The gp37 gene was cloned into pMD18-T vector, and was sequenced. Then, pFast-BacHTb-gp37 vector was constructed and expressed by baculovirus expression vector system. The expression product of gp37 gene was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence assay and Western blot. The results showed that positive green fluorescence was present in sf9 cells infected with recombinant virus and a protein band with a molecular weight of 21kD was present in Western blot. It is concluded that gp37 gene was expressed in sf9 cells infected with recombinant virus successfully.
Animals ; Avian Leukosis ; virology ; Avian Leukosis Virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line ; Chickens ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression ; Spodoptera ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Two strains of Avian leukosis virus subgroup B (ALV-B) were isolated for the first time in China Hy-line White on the cultured DF-1 cells which were inoculated tissue samples from by an ELISA assay, a histopathology examination and a PCR-based diagnosis. The results from the ELISA assay indicated that the positive rate of serum antibodies to ALV-B and ALV-J virus were 16.3% (15/92) and 13% (12/92), respectively. The histopathological examination indicated that two types of tumor cells existed at same focus in liver and spleen, which mainly were myelocytoma cells and lymphosarcoma cells. The PCR-based diagnosis were performed as follows: the cellular DNA was extracted from the inoculated DF-1 cells; the specific fragments of 1100 bp and 924 bp were obtained by a PCR system with the diagnostic primers of ALV-B and ALV-J; and the PCR results for ALV-A, MDV and REV were all negative. Then, the amplified fragments of the two ALV-B stains were partially sequenced and shown an identity of 92.8%,94.7% with the prototype strain of ALV-B (RSV Schmidt-ruppin B). The identities of two ALV-J strains with the prototype strain HPRS-103 at 96.9%, 91.5%; The identities of two ALV-J strains with the American prototype strain at 85.9%, 81.5%. Our study had shown that ALV-B was isolated for the first time from the ALV-J infected commercial layer flocks in China. It also indicated that the chance of genetic recombination among various subgroups of ALV was increased.
Animals ; Avian Leukosis ; pathology ; virology ; Avian Leukosis Virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cell Line ; Chickens ; China ; Liver ; pathology ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Poultry Diseases ; pathology ; virology ; Spleen ; pathology ; virology

Objective To understand the health status and potential impact resulted in the second stage of Three Gorges Reservoir Areas sluicing. Methods Data were collected on deaths, prevalence rates of infectious and endemic diseases, as well as on vector surveillance through the project entitled 'Three Gorges Population Health Survey System'. Results The main causes of death in the population living in the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas would include: circulatory system diseases, tumors, respiratory system diseases, injuries/poison and digestive system diseases. The number of deaths caused by the above said five kind of diseases accounted for 90.94% of the total number of deaths. The prevalence rates on Water-born diseases related to the sluicing of reservoir and zoonosis-bome diseases related to the changes of vectors were still low. The indoor and outdoor densities of rodents were 3.11% and 3.16%, both were higher than that in 2006 but lower than the average numbers in the five years prior to the sluicing. The constituent ratio of Apodemus agrarius had constantly risen since 2006. The density of mosquitoes found in livestock barns and human households was higher than that in 2006 but lower than the average number of the five-year studies prior to the sluicing. Conclusion Environment change after the sluicing of the Three Gorges Reservoir Areas did not seem to have obvious impact on the health status of the people living in the areas. However, to strengthen the surveillance on the biological features of the vectors which might have related to the transmission of diseases would be highly recommended.

Objective To establish a method for direct orthotopic transplantation of human brain tumors into mouse brain and assess the parental characteristics of the xenografts. Methods Fresh tissues of human brain metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma tissues subcutaneously implanted in nude mice were harvested and minced into pieces. A special trochar was used to inject the tissue pieces into the right caudate nuclei of nude mice through the burr hole in the mouse skull. The efficiency of tumorigenicity, survival time of tumor-bearing mice, histopathological features, expressions of tumor markers in the xenografts and MRI findings were observed. Results The metastatic lung adenocarcinoma and glioma xenografts were passaged for 6 and 13 generations in nude mice, and the average survival time of the tumor-bearing mice was 38.0±0.9 days and 19.0±1.3 days, respectively. The metastatic xenogratts were characterized by expressions of CEA and acid mucin without invasiveness to the normal recipient brain tissue, which were consistent with the features of the parental metastatic tumor. The glioma xenogratts exhibited deep invasiveness to the normal recipient brain tissue and high expression of EGFR, which were identical to the characteristics of the parental tumor. Conclusion Compared with stereotactic cell suspension injection, direct tumor tissue graft injection requires simple procedures and well maintains the characteristics of the parental tumor tissue in the xenograft in nude mice. This method well suits the purposes of establishing orthotopic xenotransplantation models of brain tumors in nude mice.