This study investigated the influence of Leptospira interrogans infection on the expression of the autophagy-related proteinsmyosin-like BCL2 interacting protein(Beclin-1),microtubule-associated proteinlight chain 3B(LC3B),and sequestosome 1(P62).C3H/HeJ mice were infected with L.interrogansserovar stain Lai for construction of an animal model of leptospirosis.Silver strain-ing was used to detect leptospires in lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected mice.Histological changes in these tis-sues were detected with hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.The morphology of autophagosomes and leptospires in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected micewere determined through transmission electron microscopy.Expression of the autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1,LC3B,and P62 in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected C3H/HeJ mice was measured with immunohistochemistry.In these tissues,silver straining examination revealed leptospires.These tissues also showed histopathological changes typical of leptospirosis,such as pulmonary hemorrhage,extensive hepatocyte necrosis,both glomerular and tubular necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration;moreover,the leptospires were surrounded by autophagosomes.Immunohistochemi-cal examination indicated elevated expression of both Beclin-1 and LC3B in the lung,liver and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected mice(P<0.05),whereas the P62 level was significantly diminished in every tissue sample during L.interrogans infection(P<0.05).These results indicated that autophagy is activated during L.interrogans infection in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of C3H/HeJ mice.

This study investigated the influence of Leptospira interrogans infection on the expression of the autophagy-related proteinsmyosin-like BCL2 interacting protein(Beclin-1),microtubule-associated proteinlight chain 3B(LC3B),and sequestosome 1(P62).C3H/HeJ mice were infected with L.interrogansserovar stain Lai for construction of an animal model of leptospirosis.Silver strain-ing was used to detect leptospires in lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected mice.Histological changes in these tis-sues were detected with hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.The morphology of autophagosomes and leptospires in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected micewere determined through transmission electron microscopy.Expression of the autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1,LC3B,and P62 in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected C3H/HeJ mice was measured with immunohistochemistry.In these tissues,silver straining examination revealed leptospires.These tissues also showed histopathological changes typical of leptospirosis,such as pulmonary hemorrhage,extensive hepatocyte necrosis,both glomerular and tubular necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration;moreover,the leptospires were surrounded by autophagosomes.Immunohistochemi-cal examination indicated elevated expression of both Beclin-1 and LC3B in the lung,liver and kidney tissues of L.interrogans-infected mice(P<0.05),whereas the P62 level was significantly diminished in every tissue sample during L.interrogans infection(P<0.05).These results indicated that autophagy is activated during L.interrogans infection in the lung,liver,and kidney tissues of C3H/HeJ mice.

This study was aimed at understanding the effects of Leptospira interrogans on autophagy in macrophages,as well as the role of autophagy in the killing of L.interrogans by macrophages.Human THP-1 monocytic cell lines were pretrea-ted with PMA to induce differentiation into macrophages.The morphology of intracellular leptospires and autophagosomes was determined with transmission electron microscopy.Confocal microscopy combined with LC3-Ⅱ-GFP plasmid liposome transfec-tion technology was used to detect intracellular autophagosome formation and co-localization with leptospires.The expression of the autophagy related protein LC3 and P62 was determined with western blotting.Confocal microscopy was used to detect the co-localization of autophagosomes with lysosomes,and the viability of intracellular leptospires.The leptospires were surrounded by autophagosomes in macrophages.After L.interrogans infection,the number of LC3-Ⅱ-GFP aggregation points,the co-localization of LC3-Ⅱ-GFP with leptospires,and the co-localization of autophagosomes with lysosomes significantly in-creased.The protein expression of LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased,whereas that of P62 significantly decreased after L.interro-gans infection.Moreover,the numbers of dead leptospires were significantly elevated in autophagy-activated cells but signifi-cantly diminished in cells without autophagy activation.Thus,L.interrogans induces autophagy in human macrophages,and autophagy aids in the killing of leptospires in cells.

This study was aimed at understanding the effects of Leptospira interrogans on autophagy in macrophages,as well as the role of autophagy in the killing of L.interrogans by macrophages.Human THP-1 monocytic cell lines were pretrea-ted with PMA to induce differentiation into macrophages.The morphology of intracellular leptospires and autophagosomes was determined with transmission electron microscopy.Confocal microscopy combined with LC3-Ⅱ-GFP plasmid liposome transfec-tion technology was used to detect intracellular autophagosome formation and co-localization with leptospires.The expression of the autophagy related protein LC3 and P62 was determined with western blotting.Confocal microscopy was used to detect the co-localization of autophagosomes with lysosomes,and the viability of intracellular leptospires.The leptospires were surrounded by autophagosomes in macrophages.After L.interrogans infection,the number of LC3-Ⅱ-GFP aggregation points,the co-localization of LC3-Ⅱ-GFP with leptospires,and the co-localization of autophagosomes with lysosomes significantly in-creased.The protein expression of LC3-Ⅱ significantly increased,whereas that of P62 significantly decreased after L.interro-gans infection.Moreover,the numbers of dead leptospires were significantly elevated in autophagy-activated cells but signifi-cantly diminished in cells without autophagy activation.Thus,L.interrogans induces autophagy in human macrophages,and autophagy aids in the killing of leptospires in cells.

With the recent ongoing autumn/winter 2022 COVID-19 wave and the adjustment of public health control measures, there have been widespread SARS-CoV-2 infections in Chinese mainland. Here we have analyzed 369 viral genomes from recently diagnosed COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, identifying a large number of sublineages of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron family. Phylogenetic analysis, coupled with contact history tracing, revealed simultaneous community transmission of two Omicron sublineages dominating the infections in some areas of China (BA.5.2 mainly in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and BF.7 mainly in Beijing) and two highly infectious sublineages recently imported from abroad (XBB and BQ.1). Publicly available data from August 31 to November 29, 2022 indicated an overall severe/critical case rate of 0.035% nationwide, while analysis of 5706 symptomatic patients treated at the Shanghai Public Health Center between September 1 and December 26, 2022 showed that 20 cases (0.35%) without comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions and 153 cases (2.68%) with COVID-19-exacerbated comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions. These observations shall alert healthcare providers to place more resources for the treatment of severe/critical cases. Furthermore, mathematical modeling predicts this autumn/winter wave might pass through major cities in China by the end of the year, whereas some middle and western provinces and rural areas would be hit by the upcoming infection wave in mid-to-late January 2023, and the duration and magnitude of upcoming outbreak could be dramatically enhanced by the extensive travels during the Spring Festival (January 21, 2023). Altogether, these preliminary data highlight the needs to allocate resources to early diagnosis and effective treatment of severe cases and the protection of vulnerable population, especially in the rural areas, to ensure the country's smooth exit from the ongoing pandemic and accelerate socio-economic recovery.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy and high-risk pathological factors on the prognosis of early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix (NECC). Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of early-stage NECC in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to April 2022 were enrolled. The patients were treated with radical hysterectomy±adjuvant treatment. They were divided into postoperative non-radiation group and postoperative radiation group. The possible postoperative recurrence risk factors identified by univariate analysis were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), recurrence rate, and mortality rate. Results: (1) Sixty-two cases were included in the study, including 33 cases in postoperative non-radiation group and 29 cases in postoperative radiation group. (2) The median follow-up time was 37 months (ranged 12-116 months), with 23 cases (37%) experienced recurrences. There were 7 cases (11%) pelvic recurrences and 20 cases (32%) distant recurrences, in which including 4 cases (6%) both pelvic and distant recurrences. Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation group had a lower pelvic recurrence rate (18% vs 3%; P=0.074) but without statistic difference, a slightly elevated distant recurrence rate (24% vs 41%; P=0.150) and overall recurrence rate (33% vs 41%; P=0.513) without statistically significances. Univariate analysis showed that lymph-vascular space invasion and the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 were risk factors for postoperative recurrence (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed lymph-vascular space invasion was an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence (OR=23.03, 95%CI: 3.55-149.39, P=0.001). (3) During the follow-up period, 18 cases (29%, 18/62) died with tumor, with 10 cases (30%, 10/33) in postoperative non-radiation group and 8 cases (28%, 8/29) in postoperative radiation group, without significant difference (P=0.814). The postoperative 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 79.2%, 60.8%. The depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 was more common in postoperative radiation group (27% vs 64%; P=0.011), and postoperative radiation in such patients showed an extended trend in PFS (32.3 vs 53.9 months) and OS (39.4 vs 73.4 months) but without statistic differences (P=0.704, P=0.371). Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation did not improve PFS (54.5 vs 37.3 months; P=0.860) and OS (56.2 vs 62.4 months; P=0.550) in patients with lymph-vascular space invasion. Conclusions: Postoperative radiation in early-stage NECC patients has a trend to reduce pelvic recurrence but not appear to decrease distant recurrence and overall recurrence, and has not improved mortality. For patients with the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2, postoperative radiation has a trend of prolonging OS and PFS but without statistic difference. Lymph-vascular space invasion is an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence, but postoperative radiation in such patients does not seem to have any survival benefits.
Female ; Humans ; Cervix Uteri/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/surgery* ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/surgery* ; Recurrence

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Anmeidan on the sleep quality and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， glial fibrillary acidic protein （GFAP）， and irisin in the patients with chronic insomnia. MethodA multicenter， randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled clinical study was carried out， including 480 patients with chronic insomnia （deficiency syndrome） in Wuhan （Hubei）， Guangzhou （Guangdong）， and Lanzhou （Gansu）. They were randomized into an observation group and a control group at a ratio of 1∶1. The observation group was orally administered with Anmeidan granules at a dose of 11 g， 3 times per day， and the control group with Anmeidan simulant at a dose of 11 g， 3 times per day， Both groups of patients received sleep education after enrollment. After 4 weeks of medication， the Athens insomnia scale （AIS） scores， Spiegel scale scores， and serum levels of BDNF， GFAP， and irisin were compared between the two groups as well as between before and after treatment. ResultA total of 480 adult patients with chronic insomnia were enrolled in this study， with 64 patients falled off. Finally， the 415 patients were included in the analysis， including 213 patients in the observation group and 202 patients in the control group. There was no difference in age or sex between the two groups of patients. Compared with before treatment， the treatment in both groups decreased the AIS and Spiegel scores （P<0.01）. After treatment， the observation group had lower AIS and Spiegel scores than the control group （P<0.01）. The treatment in the observation group slightly lowered the level of BDNF， elevated the level of irisin （P<0.05）， and lowered the level of GFAP （P<0.05） in the serum. After treatment， the observation group showed higher level of irisin （P<0.05） and lower levels of BDNF and GFAP in the serum than the control group. ConclusionAnmeidan may improve the sleep quality of patients with chronic insomnia by elevating the irisin level and lowering the GFAP level in the serum.

Objective:To explore the current status of surgery for portal hypertension to grasp current status and future development of surgery in China.Methods:This study is jointly sponsored by China Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic Specialist Alliance & Portal Hypertension Alliance in China (CHESS).Comprehensive surveying is conducted for basic domestic situations of surgery for portal hypertension, including case load, surgical approaches, management of postoperative complications, primary effects, existing confusion and obstacles, liver transplantation(LT), laparoscopic procedures and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS), etc.Results:A total of 8 512 cases of portal hypertension surgery are performed at 378 hospitals nationwide in 2021.Splenectomy plus devascularization predominated(53.0%)and laparoscopy accounted for 76.1%.Primary goal is preventing rebleeding(67.0%) and 72.8% of hospitals used preventive anticoagulants after conventional surgery.And 80.7% of teams believe that the formation of postoperative portal vein thrombosis is a surgical dilemma and 65.3% of hospitals practiced both laparoscopy and TIPS.The major reasons for patients with portal hypertension not receiving LT are due to a lack of qualifications for LT(69.3%)and economic factors(69.0%).Conclusions:Surgery is an integral part of management of portal hypertension in China.However, it is imperative to further standardize the grasp of surgical indications, the handling of surgical operation and the management of postoperative complications.Moreover, prospective, multi-center randomized controlled clinical studies should be performed.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CSF3R mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and analyze its clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 212 patients with AML who were newly diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 1th 2018 to June 30th 2021, including 22 patients with CSF3R mutations as mutation group and 190 patients with CSF3R wild type ［66 cases of them were screened by propensity score matching (PSM), as control group］. The early efficacy and survival between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The median age of patients in the mutation group was 50(17-73) years old, and the ratio of male to female was 1.2:1 The main types were AML with maturation (11 cases) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (9 cases). Prognostic stratification was carried out according to the risk stratification system of the European leukemia network in 2017, with 16 cases (72.73%) in the middle and high-risk group. At the initial diagnosis, the median count of white blood cell (WBC) was 44.75(1.30-368.71)×10⁹/L, among which 15 cases (68.18%) were >10×10⁹/L, and the median count of platelet (PLT) was 24(4-55)×10⁹/L. CSF3R T618I (68.18%) was a common mutation site, which had concomitant gene mutations, in which CEBPA mutation was the most common (10 cases, 45.45%), but only existed in CSF3R T618I mutation. The CR/CRi rate was 68.18% and 71.21% in the mutant group and the control group (P >0.05), the median over all survival time was 15 months and 9 months (P >0.05), and the median disease-free survival time was 8 months and 4 months (P >0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION Most AML patients with CSF3R mutation are middle-aged patients, the main types are AML with maturation and acute myelomonocytic leukemia, and most of them have middle and high-risk prognosis. CSF3R mutation may not be an independent prognostic marker for newly diagnosed AML patients.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute ; Retrospective Studies ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Mutation ; Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor/genetics*

The Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants are currently driving the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we analyzed the clinical laboratory test results of 9911 Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages-infected symptomatic patients without earlier infection histories during a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Shanghai in spring 2022. Compared to an earlier patient cohort infected by SARS-CoV-2 prototype strains in 2020, BA.2.2 infection led to distinct fluctuations of pathophysiological markers in the peripheral blood. In particular, severe/critical cases of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection were associated with less pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and stronger interferon alpha response in the bronchoalveolar microenvironment. Importantly, the abnormal biomarkers were significantly subdued in individuals who had been immunized by 2 or 3 doses of SARS-CoV-2 prototype-inactivated vaccines, supporting the estimation of an overall 96.02% of protection rate against severe/critical disease in the 4854 cases in our BA.2.2 patient cohort with traceable vaccination records. Furthermore, even though age was a critical risk factor of the severity of COVID-19 post BA.2.2 infection, vaccination-elicited protection against severe/critical COVID-19 reached 90.15% in patients aged ≽ 60 years old. Together, our study delineates the pathophysiological features of Omicron BA.2.2 sublineages and demonstrates significant protection conferred by prior prototype-based inactivated vaccines.
Humans ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics/prevention & control* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks/prevention & control* ; Vaccination