Etiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Guizhou Province, China

OBJECTIVE

Acute respiratory infections are a major global public health concern. However, there are few epidemiological studies investigating pathogens associated with respiratory tract infections in Guizhou Province, China.

METHODS

We collected 17,850 blood samples from Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital between November 2018 and May 2023 to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory pathogens and their spread during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Guizhou Province.

RESULTS

We identified influenza virus and Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the predominant pathogens involved in acute respiratory infections in the study area. Immunoglobulin M positivity for respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, and M. pneumoniae showed a strong correlation with the clinical diagnosis of pneumonia. Seasonal epidemic patterns were observed for influenza A and B viruses. Following the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, there was a significant decrease in the positive rates for most respiratory pathogens, particularly influenza A and B, Legionella pneumophila, and respiratory syncytial virus.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study contributes to the epidemiological evidence regarding respiratory pathogens in Guizhou Province, thereby enhancing the surveillance network for respiratory pathogens in China and providing valuable guidance for local hospitals.

[Establishment and primary clinical application of metabolic evaluation database of urolithiasis]

Objective: To establish the metabolic evaluation database of urolithiasis, perform metabolic evaluation, and provide instructions for treatment and prevention of urolithiasis. Methods: This metabolic evaluation database was developed by JAVA and was established by Oracle11g database and Browser/Server framework. We extracted the clinical data of all patients who had complete information, and analyzed their risk factors of stone formation, stone-related medical history, blood and urine tests results and 24-hour urine analysis. Results: A total of 360 patients diagnosed as urolithiasis were included in this research. Male to female ratio was 1.9∶1, and the urolithiasis was first diagnosed at (35.5±13.5) years old. Family history was positive in 39.7% of patients. Metabolic syndrome occurred in 35.0% of patients. Overweight or obesity occurred in 73.2% and 50.0% of male patients, respectively. Abdominal obesity in 62.3% and 56.1% of male and female patients, respectively. Among all patients, 67.5% had high urine sodium, 53.6% had hypercalciuria, 41.1% had hypocitraturia, 29.7% had hyperuricosuria, 22.5% had hypomagnesuria, 15.8% had hyperoxaluria, 11.7% had hyperphosphoraturia, and 36.4% had low urinary volume. Conclusions: The prevalence of overweight or obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in stone patients were significantly higher than those in general population. The number of 24-hour urinary abnormalities was positively associated with body mass index. The interventions on high urinary sodium, low urinary volume, obesity and metabolic syndrome were important to the treatment of urolithiasis. This database would facilitate the metabolic evaluation, provide evidence for the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis, and lay foundation for finding important controllable risk factors of urinary stone.

Clinicoradiological features associated with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 and 21 mutation in lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

To retrospectively identify clinicopathological and radiological characteristics that could be independent predictors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 and 21 mutation in surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas in a cohort of Asian patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Demographics, histopathology data, and preoperative chest computed tomography (CT) images were evaluated retrospectively in 471 surgically resected lung adenocarcinomas. A total of 24 CT descriptors were assessed. Univariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predicted factors of harbouring EGFR mutations.

RESULTS

EGFR mutations were existed in 252 (53.5%) of 471 patients, and associated with 11 clinicoradiological features. For the model with both clinical and radiological features, the independent predictors of harbouring EGFR mutation were small maximum diameter (≤3.9 cm), non-smokers, micropapillary pattern, pleural retraction, vascular convergence, and absence of solid pattern. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was 0.784. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that non-smokers, vascular convergence, and absence of solid pattern were important independent predictors of EGFR exon 19 mutation, while non-smokers and vascular convergence were independent predictors of EGFR exon 21 mutation. The AUCs were 0.807 and 0.794, respectively. A lepidic growth pattern appeared more frequently in exon 21 mutant tumours than in exon 19 mutant group (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

CT imaging features of lung adenocarcinomas in combination with clinical variables could be used to prognosticate EGFR mutation status. The separate analysis of EGFR exon 19 or 21 mutation could further improve diagnostic performance.

[The prevalence of temporomandibular disorder symptoms in 898 university students and its relationship with psychological distress and sleep quality]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders(TMD) symptoms, psychological distress and sleep quality in a population of Chinese university students, and discuss the relationship between psychological distress, sleep quality and TMD symptoms.

METHODS

A total of 898 stomatological university students from 5 Chinese universities(342 males and 556 females with a mean age of 20.5 years) were included in the study. Self-reported TMD symptoms using diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders symptom questionnaire were collected. Depression, anxiety and stress scales-21(DASS-21) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) were used to measure psychological distress and sleep quality.

RESULTS

61.9% (556/898) of the students had TMD symptoms. The most common symptoms were pain and clicking of joint, with a prevalence of 42.3% (380/898) and 34.2% (307/898), respectively. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and sleep quality among the students who had TMD symptoms was 33.5%(186/556), 63.1%(351/556), 29.5%(164/556) and 30.2%(243/556), respectively, which was significantly higher than those who had no TMD symptoms(24.3% [83/342], 48.5% [166/342], 21.6%[74/342] and 21.9%[75/342])(P<0.05). Stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that anxiety (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.14-2.15) and female(OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.19-2.08) were possible risk indicators for TMD symptoms(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese university students reported a high prevalence of TMD symptoms, which may have a correlation with psychological distress symptoms such as anxiety.

Seasonal variation and source apportionment of organic tracers in PM10 in Chengdu, China

Organic compound tracers including n-alkanes, triterpane, sterane, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dicarboxylic acids of airborne particulate matter (PM10) were characterized for samples collected at five sites from July 2010 to March 2011 using GC/MS. Spatial and temporal variations of these organic tracers in PM10 were studied, and their sources were then identified respectively. Average daily concentrations of PM10 varied in different seasons with the trend of PM10 in winter (0.133 mg/m(3)) > autumn (0.120 mg/m(3)) > spring (0.103 mg/m(3)) > summer (0.098 mg/m(3)). Daily concentrations of n-alkanes (C11-C36) ranged from 12.11 to 163.58 ng/m(3) with a mean of 61.99 ng/m(3). The C max and CPI index of n-alkanes indicated that vehicle emissions were the major source in winter, while the contributions of high plant wax emissions became significant in other seasons. It was discovered that the main sources of triterpenoid and steranes were gasoline and diesel engine emissions. Concentrations of ∑15PAHs in PM10 also varied (12.25-58.56 ng/m(3)) in different seasons, and chrysene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(ghi) perylene and fluoranthene were the dominant components. In the four seasons, the concentration of ∑15PAHs was relatively higher at the northern site because of traffic congestion. The main source of airborne PAHs was traffic emissions and coal combustion. Average daily concentrations of dicarboxylic acids (C4-C10) in PM10 ranged from 12.11 to 163.58 ng/m(3), of which azeleic acid was the major compound (0.49-52.04 ng/m(3), average 14.93 ng/m(3)), followed by succinic acid (0.56-19.08 ng/m(3), average 6.84 ng/m(3)). The ratio of C6/C9 showed that the major source in winter was biological, while the contributions of emissions from anthropogenic activities were much higher in summer.

Vascular stiffness in familial hypercholesterolaemia is associated with C-reactive protein and cholesterol burden

BACKGROUND

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is characterized by very high serum cholesterol and premature coronary atherosclerosis. Arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis are two major underlying pathophysiologies of arterial disease that are predictive of future cardiovascular events. The aims of this study were to quantify atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness and to evaluate their relationship with high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the level of exposure to high serum cholesterol in FH patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured traditional risk factors, hs-CRP, intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid artery, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 35 heterozygous FH subjects and 17 healthy control subjects. Cholesterol-year score (CYS) was calculated to estimate the lifetime cholesterol burden in FH subjects.

RESULTS

FH subjects had significantly elevated total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and carotid IMT compared with those without mutations. Among FH patients, the baPWV and carotid IMT were higher in cases with high cholesterol burden than those without. Similarly, the baPWV and carotid IMT were also higher in cases with elevated hs-CRP (> 1 mg L(-1)) than those without. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated CYS and hs-CRP were significant independent predictors of baPWV and IMT in FH patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Both high cholesterol burden and vascular inflammation are not only associated with atherosclerosis, but also contribute to the development of arterial stiffness in FH patients. Early detection of hypercholesterolaemia in FH patients is warranted to prevent the untoward pathophysiologies.

Identification and characterization of novel low-density lipoprotein receptor mutations of familial hypercholesterolaemia patients in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal dominant disease associated with a very high risk of coronary vascular disease. The study objective was to identify patients with FH in Taiwan and characterize novel mutations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-one patients with suspected FH living in Taiwan were screened for mutations in both the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the apolipoprotein (apoB) genes using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction and exon-by-exon DNA sequencing technique. Functional consequences on LDL receptor activity were characterized in vitro for novel mutations and family pedigree was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Thirteen different functional mutations in the LDL receptor gene and one mutation in the apoB gene were found in 21 patients. Among the 13 mutations in the LDL receptor gene, 10 were single-point missense mutations, one was a two-point mutation in the same allele, one was a non-sense mutation and one was a frame-shift mutation. There were three novel mutations, including two missense mutations (M510K and W512R) and one frame-shift mutation (1953 delTA mutation). The characterization of missense M510K retained 36.2% of the activity of the normal receptor. Conversely, frame-shift 1953 delTA and missense W512R led to defective proteins, with only 0-6% of normal receptor activity.

CONCLUSIONS

The study identified 13 LDL receptor gene mutations and characterized three novel mutations causing FH in Taiwan. This facilitated a better understanding of FH among the Chinese population and may enable diagnosis of FH at the molecular level at a presymptomatic, early age.

[Study of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in Chinese traditional medicines on Pb, Cr, Cd by AAS]

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease are the common and frequently-occurring disease for the old man and are the main cause of death in the world. The Z-8000 polarized zeeman atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the determination of Pb, Cr, Cd in seventeen kinds of Chinese traditional medicines. And studied on Pb, Cr, Cd in Zhennao Ning, Di Ao Xinxue Kang, Linao Xin, Xueshuan Xinmai Ning et al. thirteen kinds of Chinese traditional medicines. The result shows that Chinese traditional medicines of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular drugs contain Pb, Cr, Cd and their efficacies are related to Pb, Cr, Cd.

Mechanisms of tolerance induction: splenocytes from total lymphoid irradiated mice inhibit the IL-2 pathway in TCR-activated CD4 cells

Mice given total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) can be tolerized by an incompletely understood mechanism to foreign Ags given during a brief window of time immediately after completing radiation. We previously showed that splenocytes taken from mice immediately after completing TLI treatment (TLI cells) block the ability of control cells to proliferate or to produce IL-2 in response to alloantigen, suggesting that TLI cells interfere with the IL-2 pathway in responder lymphocytes. To further characterize the mechanism by which TLI cells affect IL-2, we utilized an in vitro system of T cell activation. Adding TLI cells into cultures decreased the ability of TCR-stimulated T cells to proliferate and to secrete IL-2 by 40 to 60%. Exogenous IL-2 did not restore the proliferative response. The inhibition of IL-2 secretion resulted both from a decrease in the number of IL-2-producing cells and a decrease in IL-2 mRNA transcription. TLI cells directly inhibited IL-2 secretion by TCR-stimulated CD4 cells, as determined by ELISPOT. Competitive PCR demonstrated that TLI cells decreased IL-2 transcription of TCR-stimulated CD4 cells by 75%. In situ hybridization confirmed that unfractionated spleen and sorted CD4 cells from TCR-stimulated cultures transcribed less IL-2 RNA in the presence of TLI cells. The results show that TLI cells directly inhibit IL-2 transcription and protein secretion of normal TCR-stimulated CD4 cells.

Mechanisms of tolerance induction: splenocytes from total lymphoid irradiated mice inhibit the IL-2 pathway in TCR-activated CD4 cells

Mice given total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) can be tolerized by an incompletely understood mechanism to foreign Ags given during a brief window of time immediately after completing radiation. We previously showed that splenocytes taken from mice immediately after completing TLI treatment (TLI cells) block the ability of control cells to proliferate or to produce IL-2 in response to alloantigen, suggesting that TLI cells interfere with the IL-2 pathway in responder lymphocytes. To further characterize the mechanism by which TLI cells affect IL-2, we utilized an in vitro system of T cell activation. Adding TLI cells into cultures decreased the ability of TCR-stimulated T cells to proliferate and to secrete IL-2 by 40 to 60%. Exogenous IL-2 did not restore the proliferative response. The inhibition of IL-2 secretion resulted both from a decrease in the number of IL-2-producing cells and a decrease in IL-2 mRNA transcription. TLI cells directly inhibited IL-2 secretion by TCR-stimulated CD4 cells, as determined by ELISPOT. Competitive PCR demonstrated that TLI cells decreased IL-2 transcription of TCR-stimulated CD4 cells by 75%. In situ hybridization confirmed that unfractionated spleen and sorted CD4 cells from TCR-stimulated cultures transcribed less IL-2 RNA in the presence of TLI cells. The results show that TLI cells directly inhibit IL-2 transcription and protein secretion of normal TCR-stimulated CD4 cells.

Mechanisms of total lymphoid irradiation-induced immunosuppression. II. Failure of con A-stimulated splenocytes from TLI-treated mice to express IL-2 and IL-2 receptor RNA

Total lymphoid irradiation is a radiotherapy procedure used as an alternative immunosuppressive regimen in organ transplantation. Following TLI mature lymphocytes are depleted, and splenocytes do not proliferate to mitogens, produce IL-2, or express IL-2 receptors. We now show that mitogen stimulated splenocytes from TLI-treated mice do not secrete IL-2 protein by an IL-2 ELISA assay. Northern blot analysis and RNase protection assays reveal that TLI splenocytes do not make IL-2 RNA or IL-2 receptor RNA following mitogen stimulation. TLI splenocytes produce at least 1000 times less IL-2 RNA after Con A stimulation than normal splenocytes. TLI therapy resembles anti-CD4 therapy and CsA in that each results in an IL-2-"depleted" state.