Association between maternal lipid profiles and vitamin D status in second trimester and risk of LGA or SGA: a retrospective study.

Background: Accumulating evidence has linked dyslipidemia during pregnancy to the risk of delivering infants born either large for gestational age (LGA) or small for gestational age (SGA). However, the effects of the vitamin D status on these relationships require further investigation. This study investigated whether the relationship between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA or SGA was influenced by vitamin D levels during the second trimester. Methods: Maternal lipid profile levels, including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and vitamin D levels, were measured in a cohort of 6,499 pregnant women during the second trimester. Multivariate regression models and subgroup analyses were employed to evaluate the potential associations between maternal lipid profiles, vitamin D levels, and the risk of LGA or SGA. Results: The prevalence of SGA infants was 9.8% (n=635), whereas that of LGA infants was 6.9% (n=447). Maternal TG levels were found to be positively associated with the risk of LGA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.17-1.70), whereas a negative association was observed between maternal TG, TC, LDL-C levels, and risk of SGA. Additionally, mothers with higher HDL-C levels were less likely to give birth to an LGA infant (OR=0.58, 95% CI:0.39-0.85). Importantly, associations between TG, TC, LDL-c, and SGA as well as between TG and LGA were primarily observed among pregnant women with insufficient vitamin D levels. As for HDL-C, the risk of LGA was lower in mothers with sufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.42, 95% CI:0.18-0.98) compared to those with insufficient vitamin D (OR = 0.65, 95% CI:0.42-0.99). Conclusion: Vitamin D status during the second trimester exerts a modifying effect on the association between lipid profiles and the risk of LGA and SGA infants.

Clinical characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of human enteric adenovirus type 41 (HAdV-F41) from children with gastroenteritis during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Human adenovirus type 41 (HAdV-F41) usually causes pediatrics gastroenteritis. However, it was reported to be associated with the outbreaks of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology (SAHUA) in pediatrics during COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of enteric HAdV-F41 in 37,920 paediatric gastroenteritis cases from 2017 to 2022 in Guangzhou, China. All children presented were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 during the "zero-COVID" period. The main clinical symptom of the children was diarrhea (96.5%). No fatalities nor liver abnormal symptoms was found. In 2021, one year since the pandemic of COVID-19, the prevalence of HAdV-F41 abruptly increased from 3.71% to 8.64% (P < 0.001). All of HAdV-F41 circulating worldwide were classified into eight different subtypes (G1-G8) based on the phylogenetic clustering permutation of the four capsid genes of HAdV-F41. G3 was the predominant subtype (56.2%; 77/137). CRV5 isolates from SAHUA cases belong to this subtype, in which N312D and H335D mutations in the short fiber knob were identified in both Guangzhou and CRV5 isolates, presumably changing the virus tropism by directly interacting with the heparin sulfate (HS) receptor. Additionally, a novel recombinant G6 subtype, which is unique and only circulating in China was first identified in this study. This is the first study highlighting the prevalence of HAdV-F41 in paediatric cases of gastroenteritis during COVID-19 pandemic in China. The clinical and viral evolution finding of HAdV-F41 provide insight into the clinical characteristics of children with HAdV-F41 infections as well as the uncertain role of HAdV-F41 in the cause of SAHUA.

Interaction effects of MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms with maternal glycated haemoglobin levels on adverse birth outcomes.

AIMS: The role of maternal genetic factors in the association between high glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and adverse birth outcomes remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the maternal HbA1c levels of 5108 normoglycemic pregnant women in China were measured, and A1298C and C677T polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene were genotyped. RESULTS: Elevated HbA1c levels during the second trimester were associated with increased risks of macrosomia, large-for-gestational age (LGA), preterm birth (PTB), and reduced gestational age (p < 0.05). Pregnant women with MTHFR A1298C AA or C677T CT + TT genotypes were susceptible to adverse pregnancy outcomes related to HbA1c levels. Among pregnant women with the A1298C AA genotype, each standard deviation (SD) increase in HbA1c levels increased the risk of PTB by 1.32-times and reduced the gestational age by 0.11 weeks (p < 0.05). For MTHFR C677T CC + TT genotype carriers, higher HbA1c levels were associated with 1.49-, 1.24-, and 1.23-times increased risks of macrosomia, LGA, and PTB, respectively (p < 0.05). A U-shaped curve for PTB risk in relation to HbA1c levels was observed among the C677T CC + TT participants, with a cut-off value of 4.58%. Among subjects with the A1298C AA genotype combined with the C677T CT + TT genotype, each SD increase in HbA1c levels was associated with 1.40 and 1.37-times increased risks of LGA and PTB, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the importance of glycaemic control during pregnancy and the potential impact of genetic factors on birth outcomes. However, further large-scale studies are required to confirm these findings.

Detection and Characterization of Bacterial and Viral Acute Gastroenteritis among Outpatient Children under 5 Years Old in Guangzhou, China.

Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children can be attributed to a multitude of bacterial and viral pathogens. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of bacterial and viral AGE in children and to compare clinical characteristics between single and multiple enteric pathogen infections. A total of 456 stool samples were collected from outpatient children under 5 years old with AGE, which were subsequently analyzed for nine bacteria and three viruses using the Luminex xTAG® Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel. The presence of at least one pathogen was detected in 260 cases (57.0%), with Salmonella being the predominant agent, followed by norovirus, Campylobacter, and rotavirus. A total of 69 cases (15.1%) exhibited positive results for two or more enteric pathogens. Although certain co-infections demonstrated significant differences in primary clinical features compared with mono-infections, no statistical variance was observed in terms of disease severity. In outpatient children from southern China, Salmonella emerged as the most prevalent causative agent of AGE, succeeded by norovirus and Campylobacter. This study underscores the burden posed by coinfections and highlights the clinical characteristics associated with AGE when accompanied by coinfections among children under 5 years old.

Hypofibrinogenemia is an independent predictor of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children with sepsis.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a potentially life-threatening condition in children with sepsis. We herein aimed to identify clinical and laboratory predictors of HLH in children with sepsis. We conducted a retrospective study of 568 children with sepsis admitted to Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from January 2019 to June 2022. HLH, while rare (6.34%), proved to be a highly fatal complication (37.14%) in children with sepsis. Children with HLH had higher levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, triglycerides, and ferritin than children without HLH; conversely, they displayed decreased levels of neutrophils, hemoglobin, platelets, fibrinogen, and albumin. Additionally, the HLH group showed higher rates of prolonged fever (> 10 days), hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly than the non-HLH group. Our retrospective analysis identified hypofibrinogenemia (OR = 0.440, P = 0.024) as an independent predictor for the development of HLH in patients with sepsis. The optimal cutoff value for fibrinogen was found to be < 2.43 g/L. The area under the curve for diagnosing HLH was 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.87, P < 0.0001), with a sensitivity of 72.41% and specificity of 76.27%. Thus, hypofibrinogenemia emerges as a potentially valuable predictor for HLH in children with sepsis.

Blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier permeability of metals/metalloids and its determinants in pediatric patients.

Concerns regarding adverse effects of metal/metalloids exposure on brain development and neurological disorders among children are increasing. However, the transport patterns of metals/metalloids across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) need to be clarified in children. A total of 99 Chinese pediatric patients were enrolled from February 2020 to August 2021, with a median age of 6.76 months. We detected 16 metal/metalloid levels in matched serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The BCSFB permeability of metals/metalloids were estimated and the potential effects of biomedical parameters were explored. Most metals/metalloids were detectable among > 80.0% of CSF samples. Significant correlations were observed between strontium (Sr, r = 0.46), molybdenum (Mo, r = 0.50), and cadmium (Cd, r = 0.24) concentrations in serum and CSF (P < 0.05). Ratios of metal/metalloid levels in CSF to serum (Rmetal) ranged from 0.02 to 0.74, and hazardous metals/metalloids including arsenic (As), Cd, lead (Pb), thallium (Tl), and manganese (Mn) showed high transfer efficiencies across the BCSFB (Rmetals > 0.5). With the adjustment of age and sex, albumin, ß2-microglobulin, and total protein levels in CSF were positively associated with copper (Cu) permeability (FDR-adjusted P < 0.05), while glucose in CSF was negatively correlated with calcium (Ca), Cu, Sr, and Mo BCSFB permeability (FDR-adjusted P < 0.05). Q-Alb promoted Cu permeability across the BCSFB (FDR-adjusted P < 0.001), while C-reactive protein levels in serum were positively associated with selenium (Se) permeability (FDR-adjusted P = 0.046). For the first time, our findings provided data for the BCSFB permeability of 16 metals/metalloids in children, and indicated that some biomedical parameters could influence the transformation of metals/metalloids from serum to CSF. Metals/metalloids with strong BCSFB permeability warrant attention for their potential neurotoxicity.

Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, MTHFR polymorphisms, and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women from South China: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests an association between maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI) and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, the effects of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms on these relationships require further investigation. This study aimed to investigate whether the relationship between pre-BMI and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes was influenced by MTHFR gene polymorphisms. METHODS: A total of 5614 mother-fetus pairs were included in the study. The odds ratios (OR) of adverse pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), gestational hypertension (GHT), cesarean delivery (CS), and premature rupture of membranes (PROM), were estimated using adjusted logistic regression models and subgroup analysis. RESULTS: Pregnant women with higher pre-BMI values were positively related to the risk of GDM, GHT, and CS. In the subgroup analysis, underweight BMI was associated with a decreased risk of CS and GDM in pregnant women with the MTHFR A1298C AA or C677T CC genotype, while overweight/obese BMI was associated with an increased risk of GDM and CS in different MTHFR variants. Moreover, pregnant women with MTHFR A1298C AC + CC or C667T CC were found to have an increased risk of GHT in the MTHFR A1298C AA or C667T CT + TT genotype. A remarkable association was observed between the obesity group with MTHFR A1298C AC + CC (OR = 6.49, CI: 2.67-15.79) and the overweight group with the C667T CC genotype (OR = 4.72, CI: 2.13-10.45). CONCLUSIONS: MTHFR gene polymorphisms exert a modifying effect on the association between maternal pre-BMI and the risk of GHT, CS, and GDM. Pregnant women with a high pre-BMI with specific MTHFR genotypes should be considered for GHT development.

Cervical HPV infection in Guangzhou, China: an epidemiological study of 198,111 women from 2015 to 2021.

Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the pivotal cause of cervical carcinogenesis. HPV types distribution varies greatly by region, and its long-term changes of prevalence remain to be fully characterized in China. Here, the largest population of 198,111 consecutive women who underwent routine cervical screening were investigated from 2015 to 2021 in Guangzhou, south China. The results showed that the overall HPV prevalence was 21.66% (42,911/198,111), and the annual prevalence increased significantly from 2015 to 2021 (p < 0.001). HPV52, 16, 58, CP8304, 51, 53, 39, and 68 were the most prevalent HPV types. The relative HPV-positive rate correlated positively with the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p < 0.001); HPV16 was the predominant carcinogenic type, followed by HPV52 and HPV18. HPV infections were significantly age-specific, and 26.51% (11,375/42,911) of cases were caused by multiple HPV types. In addition, HPV infections typically cleared over a median time of 16 (interquartile range 9-31) months, and the clearance of HPV16 was significantly faster than that of other types (p < 0.001). These findings may serve as a guide for local governments to evaluate HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention strategies in south China.

Enterovirus B types cause severe infection in infants aged 0-3 months.

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus (EV) infections are being increasingly seen in younger infants, often being more severe than in older children. The risk factors of EV infection in infants have been inadequately investigated till date. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed EV infection (50 infants aged 0-3 months and 65 older than 3 months) at a tertiary care center in China. Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and genetic features of the virus were analyzed, and independent predictors for severe infection were assessed. RESULTS: Clinical findings showed that severe infection was more common in infants aged 0-3 months than in older children (78.0% vs. 35.4%, p < 0.001), with higher morbidity of pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis (p < 0.01). EV-B types were detected more frequently in infants aged 0-3 months than in older children (88.0% vs. 7.7%, p < 0.001). Echovirus 11 was the most identified EV-B, and it recombined with E6 in P2 and P3 regions. Risk factors for severe EV infection included EV-B types infection, age less than 3 months, elevated alanine aminotransferase level, abnormal platelet count, and abnormal cerebrospinal fluid characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that EV-B types mainly cause severe infection in infants aged 0-3 months. Therefore, knowledge about EV-B types could have implications in designing effective intervention and prevention strategies for young infants with severe EV infection.

Evaluation of microbiological epidemiology and clinical characteristics of maternal bloodstream infection: a 10 years retrospective study.

Objective: Although the incidence of bloodstream infection (BSI) during pregnancy is relatively low, it can lead to unfavorable outcomes. The aim of our study was to analyze the clinical and microbiological characteristics of maternal bacteremia and to assess maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: Our study was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary women and children's hospital in Guangzhou, China, from 2013 to 2022. Data were extracted from medical records and the laboratory information system. The participants were divided into groups, and the difference between the groups was analyzed. Results: The incidence of maternal BSI during the 10 years study period was 10.2 cases/10,000 maternities, with a peak found from 2014 to 2016. Escherichia coli (48%) was the predominant causative pathogen, followed by Streptococcus agalactiae (13%). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (15%) was the most common underlying condition among maternal BSI episodes. Urinary tract (13%) and genital tract (28%) were the predominant source of BSI. About 14% of neonates were infected, and BSI was the most common type of infection. E. coli was the predominant pathogen in mother-neonate pairs with concurrent BSI. Premature rupture of membranes (PROM, OR:4.68) and preterm birth (OR:3.98) were the risk factors predicting neonatal infection. More than 85% of the E. coli were resistant to ampicillin (AMP) and 50% of the E. coli were extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Conclusion: Maternal BSI is a rare event, but continuous monitoring on the aspects of pathogen composition, antimicrobial resistance characteristics, and risk factors for adverse outcomes remains necessary to further reduce poor outcomes and mitigate bacterial resistance.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Priotyrannus closteroides Thomson, 1877 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae).

Priotyrannus closteroides Thomson, 1877 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is the trunk borer of orange trees. In this study, we sequenced and annotated the whole mitochondrial genome of P. closteroides. The results showed that the length of the complete mitochondrial genome is 15,854 bp with an overall GC content of 32.11%. The genome encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The relevant phylogenetic tree distinctly showed that P. closteroides is clustered with Dorysthenes paradoxus and Dorysthenes granulosus. This study provides a piece of valuable genomic information for the population genetics, evolution, and classification of P. closteroides.

Development of a rapid and accurate CRISPR/Cas13-based diagnostic test for GII.4 norovirus infection.

Genogroup II genotype 4 (GII.4) norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis in children, and its infection is more severe than that of other genotypes. Early and precise detection and treatment are critical for controlling its spread and reducing the severity of infection. In this study, a rapid and efficient isothermal assay for the GII.4 norovirus detection (GII.4-CRISPR detection) was developed based on the CRISPR/Cas13a system. The assay can be applied without expensive instrumentation, and the results can be read via both fluorescence and lateral flow strip (LFS). The analytical sensitivity of this assay was 5 copies/reaction, and there was no cross-reaction with other genotypes of norovirus or other clinically common pathogens. There was a coincidence rate of 100% between our assay and commercial quantitative polymerase chain reaction. GII.4-CRISPR detection improves upon the shortcomings of some previously established molecular methods of detection, particularly with regard to accessibility. It provides an alternative tool for outbreak control and early diagnosis of GII.4 norovirus infection.

Genetic and clinical characteristics of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Genital Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is one of the most common agents of sexually transmitted infections and can cause severe disorders. This study aimed to analyse the genetic and clinical characteristics of genital CT infection among women in Guangzhou, China. METHODS: From September 2020 to August 2021, a total of 8955 female patients were enrolled in this study. The presence of genital CT was detected by real-time PCR, and 273 positive samples were randomly selected for further genetic and clinical characteristics analysis. RESULTS: The positive rate of genital CT infection was 7.5% (670/8955), with the highest rate in women aged 21-30 years. A total of 8 genotypes were identified: DH, J, K, and recombinant genotype Ba/D. The predominant genotype was J (n = 78, 28.6%), followed by E (n = 63, 23.1%), F (n = 48, 17.6%), and D (n = 38, 13.9%). Abnormal vaginal discharge (n = 165, 61.8%), cervical columnar epithelial ectopy (n = 124, 46.4%), vaginal itching (n = 77, 28.8%), and lower abdominal pain (n = 61, 22.8%) were the predominant symptoms. Additionally, genotype G infection exhibited a significantly higher rate of abnormal vaginal discharge (P = 0.03) and genotype D infection exhibited a higher white blood cell count (P = 0.01) than the other genotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a total of 20 variants with 25 mutation positions and the H2 variant in four patients was first discovered in our study. CONCLUSIONS: Genotypes J, E, F, and D were the major genotypes of genital CT in Guangzhou, and they manifested as abnormal vaginal discharge, cervical columnar epithelial ectopy, vaginal itching, and lower abdominal pain. The present study provides guidance for future integrated interventions to reduce the burden of genital CT infection and accelerate the development of vaccines.

Prevalence of GII.4 Sydney Norovirus Strains and Associated Factors of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children: 2019/2020 Season in Guangzhou, China.

Norovirus, the leading cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide, is constantly mutating. Continuous monitoring of the evolution of epidemic genotypes and emergence of novel genotypes is, therefore, necessary. This study determined the prevalence and clinical characteristics of norovirus strains in AGE in Guangzhou, China in 2019/2020 season. This study included children aged 2-60 months diagnosed with AGE in Guangzhou Women and Children Hospital, from August 2019 to January 2020. Norovirus was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and clinical data were obtained. Genotyping and phylogenetic analyses were performed with partial gene sequence fragments located within the open reading frames 1 and 2. During the study period, 168 children (61.3% males) were confirmed as norovirus infectious AGE. The main symptoms were diarrhoea and vomiting and 38 patients (22.6%) had seizures. Norovirus was mainly prevalent in October and November, and GII.4 Sydney[P31] was the major genotype circulating in Guangzhou. The phylogenetic tree showed that the Guangzhou strains had high homology with the strains circulating in 2017-2019 worldwide. GII.4 Sydney was the main prevalent norovirus genotype in Guangzhou from August 2019 to January 2020, which had more severe diarrhoea than those of other genotypes. These findings provide a valuable reference for the prevention, control, and treatment of norovirus in the future.

Comparison of cord blood hematological parameters among normal, α-thalassemia, and ß-thalassemia fetuses between 17 and 38 weeks of gestation.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively compare hematological parameters among normal, α-, and ß-thalassemia fetuses between 17 and 38 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women at risk of having fetuses with thalassemia major and underwent cordocentesis for prenatal diagnosis were recruited. Fetal cord blood samples were collected from 249 fetuses for hematological and DNA analysis. Fetuses were divided into subgroups according to thalassemia DNA genotypes. The average and gestational age of subjects were 27.95 ± 5.78 years and 27.78 ± 3.57 weeks, respectively. The distribution of α-thalassemia, ß-thalassemia, and normal cases was 67.87%, 19.68%, and 12.45%, respectively. Significant differences in almost all the hematological parameters (HbF, HbA, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, and NBRCs) were observed in three groups (P < 0.001, except for RBC, P = 0.446). These differences were also observed in four α-thalassemia subgroups (P < 0.001) and were associated with the number of defected genes. Similarly, in five ß-thalassemia genotypes, HbF, HbA, RBC, MCV, MCH and NBRCs were presented differently (P < 0.05). Additionally, the trends in RBC, Hb, and HCT changes in three α-thalassemia subgroups (silent carrier, trait, and major) and ß+/ß+ fetuses' MCV, MCH, and RDW levels with gestation age were opposite to those of normal fetuses. We compared the distribution of hematological parameters in fetuses affected by most genotypes of thalassemia, as well as their trends in relation to gestational age for the first time, which is a good reference for future studies and prenatal diagnostic practices. The investigated hematological parameters are also valuable in diagnosing and differentiating thalassemia.

One-Step Reverse-Transcription Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Using Lateral Flow Strips for the Detection of Coxsackievirus A6.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease affecting mainly children under 5 years of age. Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA-6), a major causative pathogen of HFMD, has caused outbreaks in recent years. Currently, no effective vaccine or antiviral treatments are available. In this study, one-step reverse-transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA), combined with a disposable lateral flow strip (LFS) assay, was developed to detect CVA-6. This assay can be performed in less than 35 min at 37°C without expensive instruments, and the result can be observed directly with the naked eye. The sensitivity of the RT-RPA-LFS was 10 copies per reaction, which was comparable to that of the conventional real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. Moreover, the assay specificity was 100%. The clinical performance of the RT-RPA-LFS assay was evaluated using 142 clinical samples, and the coincidence rate between RT-RPA-LFS and qPCR was 100%. Therefore, our RT-RPA-LFS assay provides a simple and rapid approach for point-of-care CVA-6 diagnosis.

Establishment and application of a novel method based on single nucleotide polymorphism analysis for detecting ß-globin gene cluster deletions.

ß-Globin gene mutations reduce or terminate the production of beta globin chains, of which approximately 10% are large deletions within the ß-globin gene cluster. Because gene deletion leads to loss of heterozygosity at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), a novel method for detecting ß-globin gene cluster deletions based on SNP heterozygosity analysis was established in this study. The location range of SNPs was selected according to the breakpoint of ß-globin gene cluster deletions. SNPs were screened using bioinformatics analysis and population sequencing data. A novel method which enables genotyping of multiplex SNPs based on tetra-primer ARMS-PCR was designed and optimized. Forty clinical samples were tested in parallel by this method and MLPA to verify the performance of this method for detecting ß-globin gene cluster deletion. Six informative SNPs were obtained, achieving heterozygote coverage of 93.3% in normal individuals. Genotyping of six SNPs were successfully integrated into two multiplex tetra-primer ARMS-PCR reactions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the method for detecting ß-globin gene cluster deletion were 100%, 96.30%, 92.86%, and 100%, respectively. This is a simple, cost-effective and novel method for detecting ß-globin gene cluster deletions, which may be suitable for use in combination with MLPA for thalassemia molecular testing.

Co-circulation of coxsackieviruses A-6, A-10, and A-16 causes hand, foot, and mouth disease in Guangzhou city, China.

BACKGROUND: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease occurring in children under 5 years of age worldwide, and Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and Coxsackievirus A16 (CVA-16) are identified as the predominant pathogens. In recent years, Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA-6) and Coxsackievirus A10 (CVA-10) have played more and more important role in a series of HFMD outbreaks. This study aimed to understand the epidemic characteristics associated with HFMD outbreak in Guangzhou, 2018. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data of 1220 enterovirus-associated HFMD patients in 2018 were analysed in this study. Molecular diagnostic methods were performed to identify its serotypes. Phylogenetic analyses were depicted based on the complete VP1 gene. RESULTS: There were 21 enterovirus serotypes detected in Guangzhou in 2018. Three serotypes of enterovirus, CVA-6 (364/1220, 29.8%), CVA-10 (305/1220, 25.0%), and CVA-16 (397/1220, 32.5%), were identified as the causative pathogens and accounted for 87.3% among all 1220 HFMD patients. In different seasons, CVA-6 was the predominant pathogen of HFMD during autumn, and CVA-10 as well as CVA-16 were more prevalent in summer. Patients infected by CVA-6, CVA-10 or CVA-16 showed similar clinical features and laboratory characteristics, and the ratios of severe HFMD were 5.8, 5.9, and 1.5% in the three serotypes. Phylogenetic analyses of VP1 sequences showed that the CVA-6, CVA-10, and CVA-16 sequences belonged to the sub-genogroup E2, genogroup E, and genogroup B1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: CVA-6, CVA-10, and CVA-16 were the predominant and co-circulated serotypes in Guangzhou China, 2018, which should be the new target for prevention and control of HFMD. Our findings provide useful information for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HFMD.

Pregnancy Outcomes After Human Papillomavirus Vaccination in Periconceptional Period or During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: National immunization schedules in many countries recommend HPV vaccination for females until the age of 26 years, and thus substantial numbers with reproductive age may be exposed to HPV vaccines. Objective: To assess whether inadvertent HPV vaccine exposures in the periconceptional period or during pregnancy were associated with increased risks for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Search strategy: A search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases (until March 31, 2019) was performed. Selection criteria: Studies that assess the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in HPV vaccine exposed/unexposed pregnancies were included. The adverse pregnancy outcomes included spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, small for sestational age, preterm birth, and birth defects. Data collection and analysis: The pooled relative risk (RR) was applied for the effect measure of the study. RRs and 95% confidence interval (CI) were measured when the paper did not report the effect. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the Cochrane's Q and I2 statistics. Main results: Of 374 identified citations, 8 met inclusion criteria. Compared with the unexposed pregnancies, HPV vaccine exposed pregnancies were associated with no higher risk for spontaneous abortion (RR, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.90 to 1.08]); stillbirth (RR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.71 to 1.90]); small for gestational age (RR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.86 to 1.07]); preterm birth (RR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.18]); or birth defects (RR, 1.18 [95% CI, 0.97 to 1.43]). Conclusions: Inadvertent bivalent/quadrivalent HPV vaccination during pregnancy was not associated with significantly greater risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Clinical features and phylogenetic analysis of severe hand-foot-and-mouth disease caused by Coxsackievirus A6.

BACKGROUND: Coxsackievirus A6 (CA6) infection may lead to high hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) aggregation in children. We aimed to analyze the clinical and phylogenetic features of severe CA6-associated pediatric HFMD. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory features of 206 and 55 children with mild and severe CA6-associated HFMD, respectively, were summarized. The CA6 phylogenetic tree was depicted using combinatorial analysis of the VP1-encoding regions and neighbor-joining method. RESULTS: CA6 was the major pathogen both in mild and severe HFMD in 2017. Most CA6-associated severe HFMD cases showed high fever, skin rash, age younger than 36 months, and elevated white blood cell and C-reactive protein levels, and there were no significant differences compared to the mild cases (p > 0.05). The severe cases were significantly more likely (p < 0.05) to show male sex, long fever duration, decreased oral intake, tonsil enlargement, diarrhea, vomiting, elevated levels of creatine kinase and blood glucose, and positive fecal occult-blood test results. Severe complications included aseptic meningitis (29/55, 52.7%) and pulmonary edema (6/55, 10.9%) were observed in severe cases. Furthermore, genetic analyses showed all CA6 isolates belonged to lineage E2, and two amino acid changes of V174I and T283A in VP1 may be associated with the severity of HFMD. CONCLUSIONS: CA6 has become a major cause of HFMD with severe systemic disorders. V174I and T283A of VP1 may be associated with the severity of CA6 infection. These findings could raise awareness of the clinical importance of CA6 infection among practitioners.