Objective:To analyze the molecular characteristics of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) among the cases with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) in Henan Province.Methods:Nasal/throat swab samples collected from patients with severe acute respiratory tract infection (SARI) in Luohe and patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) in Zhengzhou were used in this study. HPIV nucleic acids in the samples were detected using real-time fluorescent PCR. HPIV3-positive samples were subjected to RT-PCR for the amplification of HN genes and the sequences were analyzed with Sanger method. CExpress and MEGA7.0 software were used for sequences editing, evolution tree construction and gene sequence analysis.Results:A total of 374 throat swab samples collected form ARI cases in Luohe and Zhengzhou were tested and 20 (5.3%) of them were positive for HPIV3. Eighteen HPIV3 HN gene sequences were successfully amplified and all belonged to C3 subgroups, including 16 sequences of C3f genotype and two sequences of C3a genotype. The 18 HN gene sequences shared the homology of 97.6%-100.0% in nucleotide and 99.3%-100.0% in amino acid, but the differences between them and the prototype strain Wash/47885/57 were significant. There were 12 amino acid mutations shared by them, including four function-related mutations (H295Y, I391V, D556N and I53T). There were no significant differences in the nucleotide or amino acid sequences as compared with the epidemic strain of China/BCH4210A/2014.Conclusions:The C3f and C3a branches of HPIV3 were the epidemic genotypes in Henan Province in recent years and a local circulating prevalence might be established. Continuous and in-depth monitoring of HPIV3 C3 subtype would be of great significance for the prevention and control of HPIV3-associated diseases.

Humans ; COVID-19 ; Consensus ; SARS-CoV-2 ; China

Objective To investigate the effect of bilateral knee osteoarthritis (KOA) ondynamic balance ability of ankle strategy in aged women. Methods The dynamic balance ability tester was used to test the balance score, the rotation speed, the maximum rotation speed, and the percentage of the target ball's residence time in each area of KOA patients (KOA group)and the general elderly (control group), and a comparative analysis between groups was conducted. Results The balance score of KOA group was lower than that of control group; the dynamic balance control ability of KOA group in the horizontal direction was basically the same as that of control group, but the dynamic balance control ability of KOA group in the vertical direction was weaker than that of control group.Bilateral KOA reduced dynamic balance ability of ankle strategy in the aged women.It could not affect the left-right symmetric balance ability of the aged women, but it would reduce its forward-backward symmetrical balance ability. Conclusions Bilateral KOA aged women may be more likely to fall forward or backward, while not easy to fall laterally. For elderly female patients with bilateral KOA, methods such as strengthening ankle joint strength, proprioception and responsiveness can be used to prevent falls that may be caused by reduced dynamic balance ability, especially falls in the forward and backward directions.

Objective To construct an early warning model of fall risk for the elderly based on six kinds gait parameters. Methods A digital field was used to collect parameters from six kinds of gait for the elderly with or without the history of falls, and the binomial logistic regression analysis was used to establish a regression equation for predicting the fall risks in the elderly, and an early warning model was constructed. Results The regression equations constructed according to the parameters from six kinds of gait were statistically significant. The overall correct rate was predicted from high to low: walking forward with closed eyes (97.1%), walking backward with open eyes (92.9%), walking backward with closed eyes (88.6%), walking forward with open eyes (87.1%), turning head up and down with open eyes (85.7%), turning head left and right with open eyes(82.9%). The constructed early warning model for fall risk of the elderly mainly included five steps, namely, judgment, test, extraction, calculation and early warning, which was suitable for gait testing and evaluation of the elderly in the laboratory. Conclusions Parameters from six kinds of gait could predict the fall risk of the elderly. Among them, walking forward with closed eyes was best to predict the fall risk in the elderly. The established early warning model of fall risk for the elderly could be used to predict the fall risk of 65-75 year old people within one year, which could provide early warning based on the probability of falling, playing a positive effect on preventing falls in the elderly.

Objective To determine the relative and independent risk factors of survival in patients with non-hepatitis B and non-hepatitis C hepatocellular carcinoma (NBNC-HCC).Methods The clinical records of 109 patients who underwent surgical resection for NBNC-HCC at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital between January 2010 and January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.The risk factors influencing disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were used as primary outcome measures.Univariate analysis was conducted to determine the relative risk factor predicting prognosis of NBNC-HCC,and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine independent risk factors of DFS and OS.Results For the 109 NBNC-HCC patients,the 1-,2-,3-year overall survival rates were 90.8％,78.0％ and 65.1％,respectively.The compounding disease-free survival rates were 74.0％,63.3％ and 55.8％,respectively.Univariate analysis showed the AFP level,ascites,and TNM staging were the risk factors of OS (all P ＜ O.05).The AFP level,ascites,BCLC stage,TNM staging were related with DFS (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate analysis demonstrated AFP and ascites to be the independent risk factors of OS and DFS.Conclusions AFP and ascites were independent risk factors of OS and DFS.For the NBNC-HCC patients,a strong positive AFP with ascites indicated poor prognosis.

Objective To explore the MRI characterisitics of primary dilated cardiomyopathy and isolated left ventricular non-compaction.Methods The patients who were diagnosed as primary dilated cardiomyopathy (n=18) and isolated left ventricular non-compaction (n=10) were enrolled,and the MRI was performed.The thickness of non-compaction myocardium (NC),compaction myocardium (C) in end-diastole,the feature of movement of myocardium,the number of non-compaction segment,the fraction shortening of non-compaction and the distribution were compared.Results Totally 823 segments were analyzed in primary dilated cardiomyopathy,in which 124 segments were non-compaction myocardium;397 segments were analyzed in isolated left ventricular non-compaction,in which 115 segments were non-compaction myocardium.The NC,NC/C,NC/(NC+C),and the fraction shortening of the isolated left ventricular non-compaction patients were higher than those of primary dilated cardiomyopathy patients (all P＜0.05).The features of distribution showed that the apical segment was mostly involved,and the basal segment was less involved or hardly involved.The anterior and lateral segments were more involved in the free wall,the septal was less involved.Conclusion The MRI characteristics of primary dilated cardiomyopathy and isolated left ventricular non-compaction are different,especially in the distribution,non compacted segments,NC and NC/C,which is important for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the two diseases.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of hydrogen inhalation on serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors and intestinal injury in severe septic mice. Methods 176 male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group, hydrogen control group ( sham + hydrogen inhalation ), model group ( severe sepsis model ) and hydrogen treatment group ( severe sepsis model+hydrogen inhalation ), with 44 mice in each group. Severe sepsis model was reproduced by cecal ligation and puncture ( CLP ). 2%hydrogen inhalation was given for 1 hour at 1 hour and 6 hours after sham or CLP operation. Twenty animals in each group were selected and observed for 7-day survival rate. Six animals in each group were selected and sacrificed at 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after sham or CLP, the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α), interleukins ( IL-6, IL-10 ) and high mobility group box 1 ( HMGB1 ) in serum were determined, the intestinal histopathological changes and scores were evaluated by light microscopy, and the activities of myeloperoxidase ( MPO ) and caspase-3 were determined. Results The 7-day survival rate of severe sepsis mice was 0; the 7-day survival rate was increased to 60% in hydrogen treatment group, with statistical significance in variables compared with model group ( P<0.05 ). Compared with sham operation group, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and HMGB1 were obviously increased, the intestine were heavily injured along with higher histopathological scores, and the intestinal MPO and caspase-3 activities were significantly enhanced at different time points after CLP in model group ( all P<0.05 ). Compared with model group, the serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1 were significantly decreased [ TNF-α( ng/L ):6 hours:110.34±9.28 vs. 440.55±25.78, 12 hours: 82.29±8.43 vs. 448.36±32.54, 24 hours: 79.68±9.04 vs. 346.42±22.24, 48 hours: 80.79±10.06 vs. 368.94±31.58; IL-6 ( ng/L ): 12 hours: 58.68±8.55 vs. 158.28±16.73, 24 hours: 46.98±7.58 vs. 146.74±18.02, 48 hours: 38.67±8.22 vs. 136.45±15.45; HMGB1 (μg/L ): 6 hours: 15.75±4.32 vs. 55.56±10.04, 12 hours:32.02±9.33 vs. 89.65±15.65, 24 hours: 35.87±8.54 vs. 86.44±20.33, 48 hours: 23.85±9.83 vs. 98.33±18.88, all P<0.05 ], the serum concentrations of IL-10 ( ng/L ) at 24 hours and 48 hours after CLP were obviously increased ( 24 hours:135.44±16.43 vs. 79.22±12.03, 48 hours:110.92±12.54 vs. 74.47±11.18, both P<0.05 ), the intestinal injury were ameliorated with decreased histopathological scores ( 12 hours: 1.70±0.06 vs. 3.23±0.44, 24 hours:2.12±0.31 vs. 4.51±0.58, 48 hours:2.03±0.42 vs. 4.27±0.58, all P<0.05 ), and the intestinal MPO and caspase-3 activities were significantly decreased [ MPO ( U/g ):6 hours:13.75±4.21 vs. 25.56±5.34, 12 hours:14.72±4.22 vs. 30.53±6.87, 24 hours:11.62±3.14 vs. 33.58±7.24, 48 hours:11.33±4.03 vs. 38.57±8.12;caspase-3 ( fluorescence intensity ): 6 hours: 0.37±0.07 vs. 0.69±0.23, 12 hours: 0.42±0.07 vs. 0.86±0.13, 24 hours: 0.53±0.11 vs. 1.36±0.23, 48 hours:0.50±0.08 vs. 1.48±0.15, all P<0.05 ] in hydrogen treatment group. Conclusion Hydrogen inhalation can down-regulate the systemic inflammatory response to ameliorate the intestinal injury, and it may improve the septic process and increase the survival rate of mice with severe sepsis.

To generate an epitope-mutated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) as a marker vaccine, the infectious clone pAsia 1-FMDV containing the complete genomic cDNA of Asia 1 type FMDV was used as backbone, the residues at positions 27 and 31 in the 3D gene were mutated (H27Y and N31R). The resulting plasmid pAsia 1-FMDV-3DM encoding a mutated epitope was transfected into BHK-21 cells and the recombinant virus rAsia 1-3DM was rescued. The recombinant virus showed similar biological characteristics comparable with the parental virus. In serological neutralization test the antisera against recombine virus have a good reactivity with parental virus. The antisera against the mutant virus were shown to be reactive with the mutated epitope but not the wild-type one. The results indicated that the two virus strains could be distinguished by western blotting using synthetic peptides. This epitope-mutated FMDV strain will be evaluated as a potential marker vaccine against FMDV infections.
Animals ; Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; Epitopes ; genetics ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus ; genetics ; Immune Sera ; Neutralization Tests ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for allergic rhinitis (AR) of different symptom severity. METHOD: This retrospective analysis to receive SLIT treatment of 143 cases of patients with allergic rhinitis, according to the severity of disease symptoms divid- ed into two groups, moderate group (62 patients) and severe group (81 patients). Before SLIT and after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1. 5-2.0 years, the TNSS, TMS and sign scores of patients with allergic rhinitis were evaluated. RESULT: The TNSS, TMS and sign scores had continuously improved significantly after SLIT for half year, 1 year and 1.5-2.0 years in two groups as compared with baseline (P < 0.05). Before SLIT, TNSS and sign scores of severe group had a significantly higher level than moderate group (Z = 10.40, 2.40, P < 0.05), while TMS of two groups had no significant differences (Z = 0.00, P > 0.05). Half year after SLIT treatment, in two groups for sign scores, there were significant differences (Z = 3.32, P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences for TNSS (Z = 1.58, P > 0.05) and TMS (Z = 0.37, P > 0.05). 1 and 1.5-2.0 years after SLIT, there were no significant differences in two groups for TNSS, TMS and sign scores (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION SLIT with Dermatophagoides farinae drops for 1.5-2.0 years is effective in the patients with allergic rhinitis of different symptom severity. And equivalent efficacy could be achieved for different symptom severity.
Administration, Sublingual ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; drug therapy ; Sublingual Immunotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharide ( APS) on tumor growth, cytokine and immune function impairment induced by cisplatin ( DDP) in mice bearing Lewis lung cancer.Methods A total of 90 mice were used in this study:10 for blank control group, and 80 mice with transplanted Lewis lung cancer were randomly divided into 8 groups:model control group (physiological saline), positive control group treated with DDP (6 mg/kg), low dose APS (50 mg/kg), moderate dose APS (100 mg/kg) and high dose APS (200 mg/kg) groups and three combinations of APS+DDP groups ( the same three APS levels with half dose of DDP, respectively) .0.3 mL of the drugs was intraper-itoneally injected to the mice, respectively, on the second day after moldeling.DDP was injected once a week and other drugs were injected once per day for consecutive 20 days.On the 21st day, blood samples were collected and serum levels of cytokine IL-2, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-αwere determined by ELISA, and the tumor inhibition rate and immune organ in-dexes were assessed.Results The tumor inhibition rates of the positive control, low, moderate and high dose APS groups and three combinations of APS+DDP groups of mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma were 49.30%, 17.21%, 39.68%, 17.21%, 51.02%, 57.21%and 65.11%, respectively.Compared with the model group, P<0.05 or P<0.01, and compared the three combination groups with the DDP group, P<0.05.Compared with the blank control group, the spleen index was significantly increased in the moderate and high dose APS groups and the three combinations of APS +DDP groups.There was a significant difference between the spleen indexes of the model control group, and the spleen indexes of high dose APS and the combination with high dose APS groups were significantly higher than that of the model control group (P<0.05).Compared with the DDP group, APS in various doses and combinations increased the thymus index and spleen index.Conclusions APS can improve the levels of cytokine IL -2, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-αin mice bearing Lewis lung cancer, enhance the immune function impairment induced by DDP, has certain protective effect on the immune organs, and inhibit the growth of Lewis lung cancer in mice.When APS is used in combination with a half-dose of DDP, APS enhanced the inhibition of tumor growth.This mechanism may be related to the enhanced body immune function.Our results indicate that APS enhances the therapeutic effect of DDP and reduces its toxicity, therefore, may have potential application value in future treatment of solid tumors.