OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Humans ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Ketosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Clostridium perfringens can produce many kinds of toxins and hydrolase, causing gas gangrene, enteritis and enterotoxemia in both human and animals. It is known that C. perfringens can produce more than 20 toxins and hydrolases. The different toxin types are associated with specific disease types. At present, molecular toxin-typing method by PCR has replaced the traditional serological typing method. In this study, we systematically summarize the types, basic characteristics, pathogenic mechanism and the relationship with disease of C. perfringens toxins to provide evidence for the establishment of rapid detection method, immune antigen screening, antibody preparation and research of related pathogenic mechanism.
Animals ; Humans ; Clostridium perfringens ; Antibodies ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To explore the transmission chain of COVID-19 by serum antibody detection, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of the epidemic. Methods Field epidemiological investigation was used to determine the COVID-19 cases and their close contacts. The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid in throat swabs and anal swabs were examined by RT-PCR. Serum specimens were collected for anti-2019-nCoV IgM antibody detection and combined IgM/IgG detection. Results Case A had no confirmed exposure to COVID-19. However, case C and D had dinner and lived together with case A; they reported contact history and dinner history with other confirmed COVID-19 cases(H, L). Case A tested positive for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid, whereas case C and D were negative. Moreover, case A and C were IgM antibody positive, while case D was negative. Case A, C and D were all positive for combined IgM/IgG. In addition, case D had clinical symptom, while case C did not. Conclusion Serum antibody detection can be used as an effective supplement to the inference of transmission chain of COVID-19, which may facilitate determining the source of infection and improving the evidence.

C18 ceramide plays an important role in the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. However, the function of ceramide synthase 1, a key enzyme in C18 ceramide synthesis, in oral squamous cell carcinoma is still unclear. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between ceramide synthase 1 and oral cancer. In this study, we found that the expression of ceramide synthase 1 was downregulated in oral cancer tissues and cell lines. In a mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma model induced by 4-nitroquinolin-1-oxide, ceramide synthase 1 knockout was associated with the severity of oral malignant transformation. Immunohistochemical studies showed significant upregulation of PCNA, MMP2, MMP9, and BCL2 expression and downregulation of BAX expression in the pathological hyperplastic area. In addition, ceramide synthase 1 knockdown promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Overexpression of CERS1 obtained the opposite effect. Ceramide synthase 1 knockdown caused endoplasmic reticulum stress and induced the VEGFA upregulation. Activating transcription factor 4 is responsible for ceramide synthase 1 knockdown caused VEGFA transcriptional upregulation. In addition, mild endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by ceramide synthase 1 knockdown could induce cisplatin resistance. Taken together, our study suggests that ceramide synthase 1 is downregulated in oral cancer and promotes the aggressiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma and chemotherapeutic drug resistance.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Mice ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Oxidoreductases

Neck dissection for oral squamous-cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a clinically controversial issue and has therefore been the subject of abundant research. However, no one has performed a bibliometric study on this topic to date. The aim of this study was to assess the development of research on neck dissection for OSCC in terms of the historical evolution, current hotspots and future directions, particularly including research trends and frontiers from 2010 to 2019. Literature records related to research on neck dissection for OSCC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). CiteSpace was used as a tool to perform a bibliometric analysis of this topic. The survey included 2 096 papers. "Otorhinolaryngology" was the most popular research area. The most active institutions and countries were Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the USA, respectively. Shah J.P. was the most cited author. Among the six identified "core journals", Head & Neck ranked first. The top three trending keywords were 'invasion', 'upper aerodigestive' and 'negative neck'. 'D'Cruz AK (2015)' was the most cited and the strongest burst reference in the last decade. The study evaluated the effect on survival of elective versus therapeutic neck dissection in patients with lateralized early-stage OSCC. The depth of invasion and the management of N0 OSCC were research frontiers in this field. The present study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on neck dissection for OSCC, which will assist investigators in exploring potential research directions.
Bibliometrics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neck Dissection

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of 8 clusters of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） in Chenzhou City， and provide scientific basis for epidemic prevention and control. Methods:Descriptive epidemiological analysis was conducted for 8 COVID-19 clusters， comparing and analyzing the differences of infection rates among close contacts within and outside the family， and emphatically describing two typical cases. Results:8 COVID-19 clusters were reported in Chenzhou with a total of 31 cases from January to February， 2020. The main source of infection of the family index cases was Hubei Province. Cough symptoms were observed in 67.74% of the cases， followed by fever （54.84%）. The infection rate of close contacts within the family （55.00%） was higher than that outside the family （2.56%）， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=28.177， P<0.001）. The infection rate of spouse of the family index cases was 85.71%， higher than that of parents （77.78%）， other family members （44.44%） and children （40.00%）， and the difference was not statistically significant （χ²=6.004， P=0.120）. Two typical cases suggested that both COVID-19 pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients have the potential to excrete the virus from the body and become sources of infection. Conclusion:Effective family prevention and control measures and early sampling and screening of people in key epidemic areas are conducive to early detection， early isolation and early treatment of infected people， so as to avoid the occurrence and spread of family clusters.

Objective To investigate epidemic characteristics of a family aggregation COVID-19, and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of family aggregation epidemic. Methods] Field epidemiological methods were used to investigate the cases and close contacts of a family aggregation COVID-19 in Y County, Chenzhou City, Hunan Province. Descriptive statistical analysis was used on epidemiological data . The 2019-nCoV nucleic acid was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR. Results It was found that Ms. Deng was infected with COVID-19 and became the infectious source of the family aggregation epidemic , who had lived in Wuhan Hubei Province. Her boyfriend Mr. Cao became a second-generation case of COVID-19..Another two asymptomatic but infected persons were family members living with Ms.Deng . Conclusion COVID-19 easily spreads within families. The awareness of family members' protection, the education of new coronavirus pneumonia prevention and control in key groups should be strengthened to avoid the occurrence and spread of family aggregation epidemic.

Objective To study the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province, so as to provide the reference for consolidating the malaria elimination and formulating the prevention and control strategies of imported malaria. Methods The epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria were statistically analyzed in Chenzhou City from 2010 to 2017. Results Totally 46 malaria cases, which were all imported, were reported in Chenzhou City from 2010 to 2017, with an average annual incidence of 0.12/10⁵. The reported malaria cases were mainly falciparum malaria, accounting for 60.87% of the total number of cases. There was no obvious seasonal distribution of malaria cases, but the top of reported cases were in June. Totally 73.91% of malaria cases were concentrated in Beihu District, Suxian District, Guiyang County and Zixing City. These cases were mainly the young and middle-aged and 69.57% of the cases were from 36 to 60 years old. There was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of malaria patients among the age groups (χ² = 47.80, P < 0.01). The median time from onset to diagnosis was 6 days, and the case confirmed institutions were dominated by municipal and above medical institutions, accounting for 52.17% of the total number of cases. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of confirmed cases among medical and health institutions at all levels ( χ² = 41.96, P < 0.01). Conclusions The importation of malaria in Chenzhou City is still severe. The awareness of malaria diagnosis and treatment in primary medical institutions, malaria patients' serum tests, and the health education of malaria control and prevention knowledge should be strengthened to consolidate the malaria elimination results.

Objective:To investigate the expressions of cardiac cycle, myocardial pathology, galectin-3 (Gal-3),transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β),Smad homologue 3 recombinant protein (Smad3) in rats with heart failure and heart failure after ischemia-reperfusion, and the intervention effect of Dendrobii Officinalis Caulis (DOC) myocardial fibrosis in model rats. Method:A rat model of heart failure and Qi deficiency was established through ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The rats were divided into blank group, model group, valsartan group (9.43 mg·kg^-1) and DOC group (10 mg·kg^-1), with 10 in each group. The blank group and the model group were given an equal volume of physiological saline. The changes in left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic dimension(LVESD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) of the cardiac cycle of rats in each group were recorded by high-resolution ultrasound system. The carboxyterrninal propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP), and carboxyterrninal propeptide of type Ⅲ procollagen (PⅢNP)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The morphological changes of myocardial cells were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The changes of myocardial fiber tissue and collagen were observed by Masson staining. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Gal-3, TGF-β, Smad3. Result:Compared with the blank group, the levels of LVEDD, LVEF, and LVFS were lower in the model group (P<0.05), the levels of LVESD, PICP and PⅢNP were increased (P<0.05), while the expression levels of Gal-3, TGF-β, and Smad3 were decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, LVEDD, LVEF, LVFS of the control group and the experimental group were better than the model group (P<0.05), and LVESD, PICP, PⅢNP levels of the experimental group were lower than the control group (P<0.05), LVESD, PPIC, PⅢNP were lower than those of the model group (P<0.05), expression levels of Gal-3, TGF-β and Smad3 were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05), and the experimental group was lower than the control group (P<0.05). According to HE staining, the morphological changes in myocardial cells in the experimental group were more significant than that in the control group. Masson staining showed that the morphological changes of myocardial fibrous tissue and collagen tissue in the experimental group were more significant than that in the control group. Conclusion:DOC can effectively inhibit myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure and heart Qi deficiency syndrome after ischemia-reperfusion. The mechanism may be correlated with the reduction of the expressions of Gal-3, TGF-β and Smad3.