The immunologic status of newborns born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers in Wuhan, China.

BACKGROUND: Immunologic dysfunction due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is closely related to clinical prognosis, and the inflammatory response of pregnant women may affect the directional differentiation and function of fetal immune cells. OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the immune status of newborns from mothers with COVID-19 in the third trimester. METHODS: Along with collecting the clinical data from 51 newborns and their respective mothers, we recorded the immunophenotypes and cytokine and immunoglobulin levels of the newborns. RESULTS: None of the 51 newborns showed fever or respiratory distress during hospitalization. Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 nucleic acid in pharyngeal swabs was negative. Except for the low level of CD16-CD56 cells, the count and proportion of lymphocytes, CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD19 were all in the normal range. Moreover, the serum IgG and IgM levels were within the normal range, whereas IL-6 showed increased levels. There was no correlation between maternal COVID-19 duration and the lymphocyte subsets or cytokine levels (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α). There was a positive correlation between IL-6 and IL-10 levels and CD16-CD56 cells. One (1.96%) infant with an extremely elevated IL-6 concentration developed necrotizing enterocolitis in the third week after birth, and the remaining 50 infants did not show abnormal symptoms through the end of the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 in the third trimester did not significantly affect the cellular and humoral immunity of the fetus, and there was no evidence that the differentiation of lymphocyte subsets was seriously unbalanced.

[Preliminary study on the health status among the "left-behind" children in the Xiantao rural area of Hubei Province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the health status of the primary school children who remain in their home villages (the "left-behind" children) in a rural area of Hubei Province, Central China, whilst their parents are migrant workers in the cities of China. METHODS: A total of 1000 pupils in the 4th to 6th grade from six rural primary schools in Xiantao City, Hubei Province were enrolled. All subjects were surveyed with questionnaires and received physical examinations. Pupils whose parents had no history of migrant work and who lived with both parents were defined as the control groups. RESULTS: Among the 875 valid questionnaires, there were 590 "left-behind" children and 285 controls. The mean body weight was significantly lower among the "left-behind" children (35.5 ± 7.1 kg) than the controls (36.3 ± 8.8 kg) (P<0.05). The weight/age z score of "left-behind" children (-0.9811 ± 0.54) was also significantly lower than that of the controls (-0.7012 ± 0.34) (P<0.05). However, the other physical indicators including body height, height/age z score, thickness of sebum, and body mass index and the common nutrition status showed no significant differences between the two groups. The "left-behind" children scored significantly higher in the Children's Depression Inventory than the controls (11.4 ± 7.2 vs 8.0 ± 5.8, P<0.01), and the incidence of depression was also significantly higher in "left-behind" children than in controls (15.3% vs 6.0%, P<0.01). Compared with the controls, the "left-behind" children had significantly higher incidences of antiadoncus (32.0% vs 23.2%; P<0.01), respiratory tract infections (14.6% vs 9.5%; P<0.05), and gastrointestinal infections (7.6% vs 3.9%; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although the "left-behind" children have normal nutrition status, they tend to have poor mental health and are more susceptible to infections.

Clinical characteristics and risk assessment of newborns born to mothers with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and other international areas. OBJECTIVE: Here, we report the clinical characteristics of the newborns delivered by SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women. METHODS: We prospectively collected and analyzed the clinical features, laboratory data and outcomes of 7 newborns delivered by SARS-CoV-2 infected pregnant women in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University during January 20 to January 29, 2020. RESULTS: 4 of the 7 newborns were late preterm with gestational age between 36 weeks and 37 weeks, and the other 3 were full-term infants. The average birth weight was 2096 ± 660 g. All newborns were born without asphyxia. 2 premature infants performed mild grunting after birth, but relieved rapidly with non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) ventilation. 3 cases had chest X-ray, 1 was normal and 2 who were supported by nCPAP presented mild neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS). Samples of pharyngeal swab in 6 cases, amniotic fluid and umbilical cord blood in 4 cases were tested by qRT-PCR, and there was no positive result of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The current data show that the infection of SARS-CoV-2 in late pregnant women does not cause adverse outcomes in their newborns, however, it is necessary to separate newborns from mothers immediately to avoid the potential threats.

Gaussian Quantum Bat Algorithm with Direction of Mean Best Position for Numerical Function Optimization.

Quantum-behaved bat algorithm with mean best position directed (QMBA) is a novel variant of bat algorithm (BA) with good performance. However, the QMBA algorithm generates all stochastic coefficients with uniform probability distribution, which can only provide a relatively small search range, so it still faces a certain degree of premature convergence. In order to help bats escape from the local optimum, this article proposes a novel Gaussian quantum bat algorithm with mean best position directed (GQMBA), which applies Gaussian probability distribution to generate random number sequences. Applying Gaussian distribution instead of uniform distribution to generate random coefficients in GQMBA is an effective technique to promote the performance in avoiding premature convergence. In this article, the combination of QMBA and Gaussian probability distribution is applied to solve the numerical function optimization problem. Nineteen benchmark functions are employed and compared with other algorithms to evaluate the accuracy and performance of GQMBA. The experimental results show that, in most cases, the proposed GQMBA algorithm can provide better search performance.

Reduction of intracellular pH inhibits the expression of VEGF in K562 cells after targeted inhibition of the Na+/H+ exchanger.

To explore the effect of inhibition of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and protein in human myeloid K562 cells. The expression of VEGFmRNA was detected by RT-PCR technique. The levels of VEGF protein were measured by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry assay. pHi values were measured with fluorescence spectrophotometer. The three RT-PCR products detected were VEGF121, VEGF165, and VEGF189, respectively. Treatment of K562 cells either with amiloride (an inhibitor of NHE1) or with 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA, a selective inhibitor of NHE1) resulted in significant decrease of VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein levels. Either amiloride or EIPA decreased intracellular pH (pHi) values in K562 cells. These data strongly suggested that the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in K562 cells was inhibited accompanying its reduction in pHi value after targeted inhibition of NHE1.

Human bocavirus induces apoptosis and autophagy in human bronchial epithelial cells.

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is classified in the Bocavirus genus within the Parvoviridae family, first identified from children with respiratory diseases. Previous studies have investigated the stimulating effect of HBoV on cell apoptosis and autophagy. In the present study, human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) were utilized to examine the mechanism of HBoV recombination expressing vector (pWHL-1) on the promotion of cell apoptosis and autophagy. The results from the present study indicated that pWHL-1 inhibited the proliferation of HBECs in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, pWHL-1induced apoptosis, as substantiated by an increased apoptotic rate and presence of autophagosomes. Following pWHL-1 transfection, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, caspase-3 and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein expression levels were decreased, with the exception of Bcl-2 associated × (Bax) protein, which increased. mRNA and protein expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) II and autophagy protein 5 were increased in pWHL-1-transfected HBECs, whereas, the mRNA and protein levels of LC3I and sequestosome 1 were decreased. Notably, pWHL-1 also enhanced the activation of p53 and inhibited AKT activation in HBECs. Results from the present study suggest that pWHL-1 induces apoptosis and autophagy, thus providing a novel insight into the effect of HBoV and its uses in respiratory diseases.

Depression risk of 'left-behind children' in rural China.

The study aims to explore the risk of depression in left-behind children in grades four-six in rural China and to identify the factors associated with increased depression risk in this population. In Hubei Xiantao, a school-based sample of 1000 children was recruited with 875 children (590 left-behind children, 285 controls) providing all relevant information. The adjusted mean children's depression inventory (CDI) score of left-behind children was significantly higher than that of controls (P<0.01). Left-behind children's depression risk rate was much higher than control's (P<0.01). Left-behind children had a higher likelihood of depression risk than controls (migrant fathers: adjusted odds ratio (OR)=3.42, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.86-6.28; migrant mothers: OR=2.62, 95% CI=1.10-6.22; migrant parents: OR=2.73, 95% CI=1.77-4.20). Respondents with low socioeconomic status (SES) (OR=2.64, 95% CI=1.42-4.93) had a higher likelihood of depression risk than the middle SES cohort. With middle levels of social support as the referent, respondents with low levels of social support (OR=5.86, 95% CI=3.90-8.79) had a higher likelihood of depression risk; respondents with high levels of social support (OR=0.50, 95% CI=0.29-0.86) had a lower likelihood of depression risk. The results indicate that the left-behind children are at greater risk for developing depression.

Na+/H+ exchanger blockade inhibits the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in SGC7901 cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression is critically involved in tumor formation. Na+/H+ exchanger isoform (NHE) is elevated in cancer cells. We explored the effect of NHE inhibition on VEGF expression in human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells. VEGF mRNA expression was detected by real-time RT-PCR. VEGF protein expression was measured by western blotting and immunocytochemistry. For determination of viable cells the MTT colorimetric assay was used. Treatment of SGC7901 cells with NHE inhibitors resulted in significant decrease of VEGF mRNA and protein expression. NHE inhibition decreased intracellular pH (pHi) values and VEGF mRNA expression. These data demonstrate that NHE blockade inhibits VEGF expression in SGC7901 cells.

[Effects of supernatant of cord blood CD3AK cells on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells].

OBJECTIVE: The study was to investigate the impact of cord blood CD(3)AK cell culture supernatant (CS) on proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of HL-60 cells. METHODS: HL-60 cells were treated with different concentrations of CS (10%, 15%, 20%) for 3 days, 6 days and 9 days, and the same cells of control group were not treated with CS. The growth of induced cells was assessed with Trypan blue staining and cell counting with cytometer. The differentiation marker CD(11b) on the cell surface and cell-cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), cell morphology (Wright-Giemsa staining) and NBT test to determine the extent of differentiation. Meanwhile, the changes of the apoptosis of the cells induced by 20% CS at different time points (3, 6 and 9 days) were analyzed by TUNNEL-POD, and the apoptotic characteristics of cells were observed. RESULTS: The growth of HL-60 cell was inhibited as CS-inducing time and the dose of CS increased. At the same time, but HL-60 cell number in G(0)/G(1) phase of cell-cycle increased, but HL-60 cell number in S phase decreased compared with untreated group. The HL-60 cells induced by 20% CS for 9 days showed that (52.7 +/- 1.8)% of cells were at G(0)+G(1) phase and (43.8 +/- 1.1)% were at S phase (P < 0.05), which demonstrated that HL-60 cells induced by 20% CS underwent G(0)/G(1) phase cell-cycle arrest. The volume of the differentiated cells was enlarged gradually as CS-inducing time prolonged. After 3 days the differentiating cells began to express differentiating marker CD(11b) on the cell surface and the nuclei morphology of the differentiated cells was also changed and NBT-stained cells increased in number with the increased dose of CS increased. Three days after induction by 20% CS, the induced cells began to show signs of apoptosis and the apoptotic percentage of induced cells gradually increased with CS-induction time. The rate of apoptosis of cells was (33.3 +/- 2.3)% at 9 days (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: CS could not only inhibit the growth of HL-60 cells but also induce the differentiation and apoptosis in HL-60 cells.