Objective To investigate the mechanism by which miR-148a affects M2 macrophage polarization and inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation through Wnt3a/β-catenin. Methods The mRNA expression levels of miR-148a, CD206 and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor liver tissues of 84 patients with liver cancer were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. THP-1 cells were separated into blank group (conventional culture), M2 group (200 nmol/L phorbol ester, 20 ng/mL IL-4, 20 ng/mL IL-13), M2 combined with negative control (miR-NC) group (transfected with miR-NC on the basis of M2 group), M2 combined with miR-148a mimics (transfected with miR-148a mimics on the basis of M2 group) group, M2 combined with miR-148a mimics combined with Wnt3a (treated with 100 μg/L Wnt3a on top of M2 combined with miR-148a mimics group) group. The proliferation of HuH7 cells was detected by CCK-8 and EdU methods. Apoptosis and M2 macrophage marker CD206 was detected by flow cytometry. The level of IL-10 in cell supernatant was detected by chemiluminescence method; The mRNA levels of miR-148a, CD206 and IL-10 were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein levels of Wnt3a and β-catenin were detected by Western blot. Results The expressions of CD206, IL-10 mRNA, Wnt3a and β-catenin in tumor tissue were higher than those in non-tumor liver tissues, and the miR-148a level was decreased. The mRNA expression of M2 macrophage markers CD206 and IL-10 were significantly increased. Compared with the blank group, the OD450 value, EdU positive rate, the mRNA expressions of CD206 and IL-10, the level of IL-10 in the supernatant, and the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin were increased in M2 group, while the apoptotic rate and miR-148a level were decreased. Compared with M2 group and M2 combined with miR-NC group, the OD₄₅₀ value, EdU positive rate, the mRNA expressions of CD206 and IL-10, the level of IL-10 in the supernatant, and the expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin were decreased in M2 combined with miR-148a mimics group, while the apoptotic rate and miR-148a level were increased. Wnt3a reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-148a overexpression on the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Conclusion Overexpression of miR-148a inhibits M2 polarization of macrophages and prevents the proliferation of liver cancer cells, which may be related to the inhibition of the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway.
Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Wnt3A Protein/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; beta Catenin/genetics* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Interleukin-10/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Male ; Mannose Receptor ; Lectins, C-Type/metabolism* ; Mannose-Binding Lectins/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism*

Objective: To study the etiological characteristics of an imported Chikungunya fever (CHIK) epidemic in Fujian province in 2018. Methods: Serum samples collected at different days after the onset of the two CHIK cases were detected by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. Structural protein E1 gene was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced for nucleotide characteristics analysis and phylogenetic tree analysis. Results: RNA of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was detected in the 4 serum samples collected on the first 5 days of the disease, and the earliest IgM antibodies were detected in specimens on the 5th day of the disease, however, IgG antibodies were only detected in specimen on 10th day. Compared with the S27-African prototype strain, 12 mutant points were found in the amino acids of E1 genes in this study. The E1 genes of the two CHIK cases were exactly the same, and they were closest to the evolutionary relationship with the strain isolated in the Philippines in 2014. Their genotype was Asian genotype. Conclusions This epidemic was confirmed to have been imported from the Philippines after the infection with the Asian genotype CHIKV, which suggests that Fujian province should strengthen the monitoring of persons entering from the CHIK epidemic area, so as to prevent imported cases from causing local outbreaks.

Objective: To elucidate the epidemiological and etiological features of a local outbreak of dengue fever (DF) in Taijiang district in Fuzhou, Fujian province in 2017, and speculate possible viral source based on phylogenetic analysis. Methods: The clinical and demographic data of cases were collected through field investigation and the outbreak was characterized epidemiologically by descriptive method. The patient′s serum were collected and the adult mosquitoes were captured by anti-mosquito double-net method for the laboratorial test and viral isolation. The viral isolates were typed by real-time fluorescent RT-PCR and their full length of viral envelope (E) genes were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. The E gene sequences obtained in this study, together with the reference sequences, were used for the phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 13 cases of autochthonous DF were confirmed in the outbreak. All cases presented obvious clinical manifestations and clustered spatially and temporally. The Breteau Index (BI) of mosquito larva density was the highest in epidemic foci of Xingang street and was relatively low in surrounding areas. Four DENV-1 strains, three from patients and one from the captured adult Aedes albopictus, were isolated and identified by real-time RT-PCR. Full length E gene sequences of the four isolates were completely identical and phylogenetic analysis showed that the isolates were genetically closest to the strain (GenBank No. KT825033) from Vietnam in 2014, rather than the DENV-1 strains found in Fujian previously. Conclusions The DF outbreak occurred in Fuzhou in 2017 was caused by DENV-1 which was imported possibly from somewhere outside of Fujian province and subsequently led to local DF transmission in human via the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

Objective To explore the expression level of OTUB1 and its clinical significance in breast cancer.Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression level of OTUB1 in 78 cases of breast cancer tissues and 30 cases of normal breast tissue adjacent to carcinoma,and the relationships between OTUB1 and the clinical pathological features of breast cancer were analyzed.Results The positive expression rate of OTUB1 in breast cancer tissues [66.7％ (52/78)] was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal breast tissues [30.0％ (9/30)],with a statistically significant difference (x2 =11.851,P =0.001).OTUB1 expression level was related to the lymph node metastasis (x2 =5.029,P =0.025),postoperative TNM staging (x2 =4.478,P =0.034),expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) (x2 =8.775,P =0.003),expression of P53 (x2 =4.708,P =0.030),expression of estrogen receptor (ER) (x2 =10.364,P =0.001) and molecular subtypes (x2 =10.934,P =0.012).However,OTUB1 expression level in breast cancer was not related to the age (x2 =2.194,P =0.139),menopausal status (x2 =1.843,P =0.175),tumor size (x2 =0.643,P =0.423),histological grade (x2 =3.580,P =0.167),expression of progestin receptor (PR) (x2 =3.371,P =0.066) and expression of Ki-67 (x2 =1.345,P =0.246).Conclusion OTUB1 expression level increases in breast cancer,which is associated with the lymph node metastasis,TNM staging,expressions of HER-2,P53,ER and molecular subtypes of breast cancer.It suggests that the expression of OTUB1 is related to the progression and metastasis of breast cancer.

Objective: To analyze factors influencing antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients receiving ART at the town level in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture (Ili) in May 2015 and to document enhanced ART for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using one-on-one interviews and data collection from the system of AIDS follow-up management in three ART services centers at the town level of Ili. The subjects were HIV-infected individuals, aged 18 years or older, who were receiving ART during the survey. The surveys collected demographic characteristics, information related to ART and status of engaging ART, smoking and drinking behavior, depression, and quality of life. Results: A total of 412 participants completed the survey. The age was (41.1±8.0) years (range, 19-67 years). Approximately 60.9% (251) were male and 39.1% (161) were female. The survey showed that 75.0% (309) of participants were in good adherence and the P₅₀ (P₂₅, P₇₅) of quality of life was 56.31 (50.55, 59.42). Females demonstrated better adherence to ART (82.6% (n=133)) than males (70.1% (n=76)) (χ²=8.16, P=0.005). The compliance rate of participants (78.0% (n=54)) with depression was higher than non-depressed participants (63.5% (n=255)) (χ²=7.52, P=0.008). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the probability of good adherence to ART increased with increasing quality of life (OR=1.06, 95%CI:1.02-1.09). Moreover, participants who consumed alcohol or disclosed their HIV infection status to families were less likely to have good adherence to ART (OR=0.26, 95% CI:0.13-0.53 and OR=0.31, 95% CI:0.13-0.72, respectively). Additionally, employed participants were also less likely to have good adherence to ART compared with unemployed participants (OR=0.45, 95% CI:0.21-0.97). Conclusion HIV/AIDS patients primarily showed good adherence to ART. Factors related to ART adherence included alcohol consumption, informing family of infection, work status, and quality of life.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the status of multiple sexual partners and unprotected sexual behaviors and related influencing factors among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODSHIV-positive men having sex with men aged 18 years or older, living in Chengdu, Chongqing or Guangzhou were recruited by using the " snowballing" sampling method. Participants completed the questionnaire on computers, after filling in the Informed Consent Form. Content of the study would include social demographic characteristics, number of sexual partners, sexual behaviors, and the symptoms assessment on depression and anxiety.χ(2)-test,t-test and non-conditional Multiple logistic Regression methods were used to examine the risky sexual behaviors with multiple sexual partners among the participants engaged in this project.

RESULTSMean age of the 501 participants was (30.24±7.70) years old. In the past 6 months, 17.4% (87/501) of them had engaged in unprotected sexual behavior with two or more sexual partners. Factors at risk would include: being married (OR=1.93, 95%CI: 0.77-4.84), divorced or widowed (OR=3.94, 95%CI: 1.66-9.36), having primary male sexual partners (OR=5.04, 95%CI: 1.08-23.54) and casual or commercial male sexual partners (OR=2.54, 95%CI: 1.34-4.80) in the past 6 months, drinking alcohol (OR=3.00, 95%CI: 1.37-6.62) or Rush (alkyl nitrite) (OR=3.53, 95%CI: 1.72-7.23) during sexual acts, sharing their HIV-infection status to their partly primary male sexual partners (OR=1.84, 95%CI:0.78-4.33) or not (OR=2.68, 95% CI: 1.25-5.73), and having high sexual sensation seeking scores (OR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.03-1.15).

CONCLUSIONSUnprotected sexual behaviors with multiple sexual partners among HIV-positive MSM played an important role in expediting the HIV transmission. Development of intervention programs to minimize the risk sexual behaviors and setting up efficient medical and biological measures in controlling the HIV transmission were in urgent need.

Adult ; Coitus ; Depression ; Depressive Disorder ; Family Characteristics ; Homosexuality, Male ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infection ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Male ; Marriage ; Middle Aged ; Risk ; Risk-Taking ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Unsafe Sex ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Young Adult