Oxidation of organoarsenicals and antimonite by a novel flavin monooxygenase widely present in soil bacteria.

Arsenic can be biomethylated to form a variety of organic arsenicals differing in toxicity and environmental mobility. Trivalent methylarsenite (MAs(III)) produced in the methylation process is more toxic than inorganic arsenite (As(III)). MAs(III) also serves as a primitive antibiotic and, consequently, some environmental microorganisms have evolved mechanisms to detoxify MAs(III). However, the mechanisms of MAs(III) detoxification are not well understood. In this study, we identified an arsenic resistance (ars) operon consisting of three genes, arsRVK, that contribute to MAs(III) resistance in Ensifer adhaerens ST2. ArsV is annotated as an NADPH-dependent flavin monooxygenase with unknown function. Expression of arsV in the arsenic hypersensitive Escherichia coli strain AW3110Δars conferred resistance to MAs(III) and the ability to oxidize MAs(III) to MAs(V). In the presence of NADPH and either FAD or FMN, purified ArsV protein was able to oxidize both MAs(III) to MAs(V) and Sb(III) to Sb(V). Genes with arsV-like sequences are widely present in soils and environmental bacteria. Metagenomic analysis of five paddy soils showed the abundance of arsV-like sequences of 0.12-0.25 ppm. These results demonstrate that ArsV is a novel enzyme for the detoxification of MAs(III) and Sb(III) and the genes encoding ArsV are widely present in soil bacteria.

Seasonal migratory activity of SPODOPTERA FRUGIPERDA (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) across China and Myanmar.

BACKGROUND: The fall armyworm (FAW) Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) invaded Myanmar and China in 2018 and greatly impacted agricultural production and ecosystem balance in these areas. FAW is a migratory insect, but its seasonal migration pattern between the two countries has been largely unknown. From 2019 to 2021, we monitored the seasonal migration of FAW in the China-Myanmar border area using a searchlight trap, assessed the reproductive development status of female migrants and traced the migratory routes by trajectory simulation. RESULTS: FAW moths were trapped by the searchlight trap in Lancang County (Yunnan, China) all year, with obvious seasonal differences in the number caught. There were small-scale persistent trapping peaks in spring and summer, and obvious peaks in autumn; only a small number of moths were trapped in winter. Examination of the ovaries of female moths collected in different seasons showed that most females had matured, indicating that the moths were migrating and did not take off from the local area. In the migration trajectory simulation, FAW mainly migrated from Myanmar to Southwest China in spring and summer and back to Myanmar in autumn. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that FAW migrates between China and Myanmar according to the monsoon circulation, which will help guide cross-border regional monitoring and management strategies against this pest. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Efficacy and safety of azithromycin combined with glucocorticoid on refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of azithromycin (AZI) combined with glucocorticoid (GC) in the treatment of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae. METHODS: Computer search for PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBMdisc), China Knowledge Network (CNKI), Wanfang, VIP (VIP), and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of AZI combined with GC in the treatment of children with refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia test (RCT), the search time limit is built until March 20, 2019. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and literature risk bias, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 12 RCTs were included, including 1130 patients. Meta-analysis showed that AZI combined with GC therapy significantly improved the total effective rate of the disease compared with the conventional treatment group (odds ratio [OR] = 6.37; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.03, 10.07; P < .00001; I = 0%), effectively shortened the antipyretic time (SMD = -2.29; 95% CI -2.70, -1.88; P < .0001); promoted lung inflammation absorption (SMD = -1.89; 95% CI -2.38, -1.40; P < .0001), reduced cough time (SMD = -2.39; 95% CI -2.80, -1.99; P < .0001); shortened hospital stay (SMD = -2.19; 95% CI -3.21, -1.17; P < .0001); improved imaging findings (OR = 5.38; 95% CI 1.09, 26.51, P = .04); reduced inflammation index (SMD = -3.15; 95% CI -4.93, -1.36; P = .004); improved immune function (SMD = 1.29; 95% CI -0.02, 2.60; P < .0001); had no significant adverse reactions (OR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.71, 1.98; P = .53). CONCLUSIONS: According to the current limited research evidence, the addition of GCs to the conventional treatment of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children can improve the clinical efficacy to a certain extent, and the safety is better. However, due to the quality and quantity of the included literature, the conclusions of this study need to be confirmed by more high-quality studies.

Prevalence of allergen sensitization among 1,091 patients with urticaria.

The etiology of urticaria is heterogeneous and allergic responses may be involved in it. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and distribution of sensitivity to inhaled and food allergens among patients with urticaria in Henan province (China). The levels of specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) were detected using the AllergyScreen test and a total of 524/1,091 cases (48.0%) tested positive for sIgE to at least one of the 19 allergens. The most common inhaled allergens the urticaria patients were sensitive to were D. pteronyssinus (34.5%), cockroach (12.5%) and tree pollen mix (11.1%), while the food allergens with the highest rate of allergic reactions were cashew nut (8.1%), shrimp (6.8%) and crab (6.4%). The positive rates for D. pteronyssinus, dog hair, cockroach, mold mix, tree pollen mix and shrimp in the chronic urticaria group were higher than those in the acute urticaria group (P<0.05). Furthermore, positive rates for the majority of allergens were higher in males than in females and were significantly different between age groups (P<0.05). The results of the present study provided information on the characteristics of allergen sensitization of patients with urticaria and may facilitate the prevention, diagnosis and management of urticaria in Henan province.

TIPE2 is negatively correlated with tissue factor and thrombospondin-1 expression in patients with bronchial asthma.

The interaction between inflammatory processes and a hypercoagulant state may aggravate the severity of asthma and stimulate the airway remodeling of asthma. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between the negative inflammatory regulator tumor necrosis factor α induced protein-8 like-2 (TIPE2) and the coagulating substances tissue factor (TF) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) in patients with bronchial asthma. Compared with healthy controls, TIPE2 expression was significantly downregulated, whereas TF expression was upregulated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with bronchial asthma. In addition, levels of TF and TSP-1 in the sera were up-regulated in patients with asthma compared with healthy controls. TIPE2 expression was negatively correlated with TF in the PBMCs and sera and was negatively correlated with TSP-1 levels in the sera of patients with bronchial asthma. The results of the current study indicated that anti-inflammatory TIPE2 levels are associated with levels of the coagulation substances TF and TSP-1. However, further studies are required to determine whether TIPE2 participates in the pathogenesis of asthma by interacting with the coagulation substances TF and TSP-1.

Prevalence and genotype distribution of human papillomavirus: implications for cancer screening and vaccination in Henan province, China.

INTRODUCTION: To provide information for cervical cancer screening and vaccination in Henan province, China, the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) was analyzed. METHODS: The HPV genotypes were detected using gene array and flow-through hybridization. RESULTS: Overall, 38.1% (1,536/4,033) of the women were human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV DNA) positive. The prevalence of high-risk HPV types was 32.4%. HPV 16 was the most prevalent genotype (8.9%), followed by HPV 52 (5.8%) and HPV 58 (4.4%). CONCLUSIONS: The data support close surveillance of women for cervical cancer screening, and HPV prophylactic vaccines including HPV16, HPV 52, and HPV 58 might offer greater protection in this area.

Clinical applicability of multi-tumor marker protein chips for diagnosing ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the value of multi-tumor marker protein chips in the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve tumor markers (CA19-9, NSE, CEA, CA242, CK19, ß-HCG, AFP, SCC, c-PSA, CA125, CA724 and CA15-3) were detected by protein biochip in 220 patients with ovarian carcinomas, 205 with benign ovarian tumors and 200 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The positivity rate was obviously higher in ovarian cancer (77.7%), than that in the benign cases (26.3%, p<0.01) and healthy subjects (4.5%, p<0.01). Serum levels of tumor markers were furthermore significantly higher in cases with lymph node metastasis (86.8%) than those without metastasis (44.7%), p<0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-tumor marker protein chips provide important assistance in the diagnosis and treatment evaluation in ovarian cancers.