Acceptance of COVID-19 booster vaccination based on the protection motivation theory: A cross-sectional study in China.

The promotion of the booster shots against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is an open issue to be discussed. Little is known about the public intention and the influencing factors regarding the booster vaccine. A cross-sectional survey in Chinese adults was conducted using an online questionnaire, which designed on the basis of protection motivation theory (PMT) scale and vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to compare the fitness of the PMT scale and VHS for predicting booster vaccination intention. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the factors associated with the acceptance. Six thousand three hundred twenty-one (76.8%) of participants were willing to take the booster shot. However, the rest of the participants (23.2%) were still hesitant to take the booster vaccine. The PMT scale was more powerful than the VHS in explaining the vaccination intention. Participants with high perceived severity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.69) and response cost (aOR = 0.47) were less willing to take the booster shots, but participants with high perceived susceptibility (aOR = 1.19), response efficacy (aOR = 2.13), and self-efficacy (aOR = 3.33) were more willing to take the booster shots. In summary, interventions based on PMT can provide guidance to ensure the acceptance of the booster vaccine.

De novo transcriptome analysis of Tibetan medicinal plant Dysphania schraderiana.

Dysphania schraderiana is widely distributed in Lhasa (Tibet, China) and used as a traditional medicine. However, the lack of genetic information hinders the understanding of its physiological processes, such as the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Herein, we used Illumina Hiseq4000 platform to sequence the transcriptome of flower and leaf tissues from D. schraderiana for the first time. Totally, 40,142 unigenes were assembled from approximately 5.2 million clean reads. All unigenes underwent gene prediction and were subsequently annotated in a NR (NCBI non-redundant protein) database, COG (Clusters of Orthologous Groups of proteins) database, and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) database. Among the 40,142 unigenes, 2,579 genes were identified as differentially expressed between flowers and leaves, and used in further enrichment analysis. Also, 2,156 unigenes were annotated as transcription factors. Furthermore, our transcriptome analysis resulted in the identification of candidate unigenes annotated to enzymes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis. Taken together, this work has laid the foundation for the investigation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis and other physiological processes of D. schraderiana.

Comparison of the Immunogenicity of HIV-1 CRF07_BC Gag Antigen With or Without a Seven Amino Acid Deletion in p6 Region.

HIV-1 CRF07_BC-p6Δ7, a strain with a seven amino acid deletion in the p6 region of the Gag protein, is becoming the dominant strain of HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Previous studies demonstrated that HIV-1 patients infected by CRF07_BC-p6Δ7 strain had lower viral load and slower disease progression than those patients infected with CRF07_BC wild-type strain. However, the underlying mechanism for this observation is not fully clarified yet. In this study, we constructed the recombinant DNA plasmid and adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) vector-based constructs to express the HIV-1 CRF07_BC Gag antigen with or without p6Δ7 mutation and then investigated their immunogenicity in mice. Our results showed that HIV-1 CRF07_BC Gag antigen with p6Δ7 mutation induced a comparable level of Gag-specific antibodies but stronger CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell immune responses than that of CRF07_BC Gag (07_BC-wt). Furthermore, we identified a series of T-cell epitopes, which induced strong T-cell immune response and cross-immunity with CRF01_AE Gag. These findings implied that the p6Gag protein with a seven amino acid deletion might enhance the Gag immunogenicity in particular cellular immunity, which provides valuable information to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of HIV-1 CRF07_BC-p6Δ7 and to develop precise vaccine strategies against HIV-1 infection.

Safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Various modalities of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on different platforms and immunization procedures, have been successively approved for marketing worldwide. A comprehensive review for clinical trials assessing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines is urgently needed to make an accurate judgment for mass vaccination. MAIN TEXT: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the safety of COVID-19 vaccine candidates in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Data search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Scopus, Web of Science, and MedRxiv. Included articles were limited to RCTs on COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 73,633 subjects from 14 articles were included to compare the risks of adverse events following immunization (AEFI) after vaccinating different COVID-19 vaccines. Pooled risk ratios (RR) of total AEFI for inactivated vaccine, viral-vectored vaccine, and mRNA vaccine were 1.34 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11-1.61, P < 0.001], 1.65 (95% CI 1.31-2.07, P < 0.001), and 2.01 (95% CI 1.78-2.26, P < 0.001), respectively. No significant differences on local and systemic AEFI were found between the first dose and second dose. In addition, people aged ≤ 55 years were at significantly higher risk of AEFI than people aged ≥ 56 years, with a pooled RR of 1.25 (95% CI 1.15-1.35, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The safety and tolerance of current COVID-19 vaccine candidates are acceptable for mass vaccination, with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines candidates having the lowest reported AEFI. Long-term surveillance of vaccine safety is required, especially among elderly people with underlying medical conditions.

Changes in Mental Health and Preventive Behaviors before and after COVID-19 Vaccination: A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) Study.

Mass vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing worldwide to achieve herd immunity among the general population. However, little is known about how the COVID-19 vaccination would affect mental health and preventive behaviors toward the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to address this issue among 4244 individuals at several COVID-19 vaccination sites in Guangzhou, China. Using univariate analysis and multiple linear regression models, we found that major demographic characteristics, such as biological sex, age, education level, and family per capita income, are the dominant influencing factors associated with health beliefs, mental health, and preventive behaviors. After propensity score matching (PSM) treatment, we further assessed the changes in the scores of health belief, mental health, and preventive behaviors between the pre-vaccination group and the post-vaccination group. When compared to individuals in the pre-vaccination group, a moderate but statistically significant lower score was observed in the post-vaccination group (p = 0.010), implying possibly improved psychological conditions after COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, there was also a moderate but statistically higher score of preventive behaviors in the post-vaccination group than in the pre-vaccination group (p < 0.001), suggesting a higher probability to take preventive measures after COVID-19 vaccination. These findings have implications for implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions combined with mass vaccination to control the rebound of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among industrial workers in the post-vaccination era: a large-scale cross-sectional survey in China.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a huge threat to public health. Mass vaccination is needed to achieve herd immunity against SARS-CoV-2. Currently, several vaccines are being inoculated on a large-scale. The willingness of COVID-19 vaccination had been well investigated in the pre-vaccination era, but no reported data in the post-vaccination era yet. METHODS: We conducted a large-scale survey among industrial workers during the vaccination campaign in China. Chi-square test and rank sum test were used to identify differences for various intentions regarding COVID-19 vaccination. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression models were utilized to analyze the relationship among demographic factors, related influencing factors and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination. RESULTS: A total of 23,940 industrial workers were included, 66.0% were willing to take COVID-19 vaccine, 16.6% were unwilling, and 17.4% were unsure. Participants were more likely to get vaccinated if they were male, aged 45-65, being good educated, married, or being recommended by doctors or nurses. Participants with strong risk perception of COVID-19 infection, strong confidence in COVID-19 vaccine, high attention to COVID-19 vaccine, good health status, bad health habit, and a history of vaccination within three months were also more likely to be vaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: This study calls for more attention and health-related education among industrial workers to improve their acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination.

Preparation of mouse anti-human rotavirus VP7 monoclonal antibody and its protective effect on rotavirus infection.

The aim of the current study was to prepare and identify mouse anti-human rotavirus (RV) VP7 monoclonal antibodies and explore their protective effects on RV infection. The mouse anti-human RV VP7 monoclonal antibody was produced using the ascites method and identified via western blot analysis. In vitro neutralization of mouse anti-human RV VP7 monoclonal antibodies was detected by performing an MTT assay. The TCID50 value was calculated to obtain antibody neutralization titers. A mouse RV infection model was generated to assess the protective effect of the mouse anti-human RV VP7 monoclonal antibody in experimental animals. Monoclonal antibodies were successfully prepared and their purity reached ≥90%. Western blotting demonstrated that monoclonal antibodies specifically bound to the purified Wa RV strain, with a specific reaction band at ~40 kDa. Monoclonal antibody in vitro neutralization results demonstrated that cell survival rate in the virus + monoclonal antibody group was higher than that in virus + maintenance fluid group (P<0.05). Monoclonal antibody neutralization titer detection revealed that the cytopathic effect did not extend beyond 4 days. In addition, the calculated monoclonal antibody neutralization titer was 1:446. The results revealed that the positive rate of colloidal gold RV in the 100 µl monoclonal antibody group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the protection rate of the 100 µl monoclonal antibody group was 71.4%, whereas the 50 µl monoclonal antibody group was 42.9% and the ribavirin group was 57.1%. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that mouse anti-human RV VP7 monoclonal antibodies can be successfully prepared using ascites method. These antibodies also effectively neutralize the cytotoxic effects of the human RV Wa strain in vitro and mouse anti-human RV VP7 monoclonal antibodies also exhibited a good protective role in mice. Furthermore, greater protective effects were observed at a higher dose and the protective effects of these high dose treatments were superior to that of ribavirin.

Relationship between the iceA gene of Helicobacter pylori and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The complex pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and the features of the host influence the diverse clinical outcomes. A mass of studies about virulence genes have accelerated the exploration of pathogenesis of H. pylori infection. Induced by contact with epithelium gene A (iceA) is one of the biggest concerned virulence genes. In this study, we explored the relationship between iceA and the magnitude of the risk for clinical outcomes and the prevalence of iceA-positive H. pylori in People's Republic of China and other countries. METHODS: We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang by literature search strategy. The studies conforming to the inclusion criteria were assessed. With these data, we systematically analyzed the relationship between the iceA gene of H. pylori and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Nineteen articles with 22 studies, a total of 2,657 cases, were involved in the study. The iceA1 gene was significantly associated with peptic ulcer disease (odds ratio =1.28, 95% confidence interval =1.03-1.60; P=0.03), especially in People's Republic of China (odds ratio =1.40, 95% confidence interval =1.07-1.83; P=0.01). Moreover, the prevalence of iceA1 was significantly higher than iceA2 in People's Republic of China (P<0.0001). The prevalence of both iceA1 and iceA2 was significantly different (P<0.0001) in People's Republic of China and in other countries. CONCLUSION: The system analysis showed that infection with the iceA1-positive H. pylori significantly increased the overall risk for peptic ulcer disease, especially in People's Republic of China. The iceA2 gene status and clinical outcome of H. pylori infection have no significant correlation. H. pylori iceA1 genotype is the major epidemic strain in People's Republic of China.

Therapy-Emergent Drug Resistance to Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitors in HIV-1 Patients: A Subgroup Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.

BACKGROUND: Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are a novel class of anti-HIV agents that show high activity in inhibiting HIV-1 replication. Currently, licensed INSTIs include raltegravir (RAL), elvitegravir (EVG) and dolutegravir (DTG); these drugs have played a critical role in AIDS therapy, serving as additional weapons in the arsenal for treating patients infected with HIV-1. To date, long-term data regarding clinical experience with INSTI use and the emergence of resistance remain scarce. However, the literature is likely now sufficiently comprehensive to warrant a meta-analysis of resistance to INSTIs. METHODS: Our team implemented a manuscript retrieval protocol using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) via the Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases. We screened the literature based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and then performed a quality analysis and evaluation using RevMan software, Stata software, and the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). We also performed a subgroup analysis. Finally, we calculated resistance rates and risk ratios (RRs) for the three types of drugs. RESULTS: We identified 26 references via the database search. A meta-analysis of the RAL data revealed that the resistance rate was 3.9% (95% CI = 2.9%-4.9%) for the selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, the RAL resistance rate reached 40.9% (95% CI = 8.8%-72.9%) for the selected observational studies (OBSs). The rates of resistance to RAL that were associated with HIV subtypes A, B, and C as well as with more complex subtypes were 0.1% (95% CI = -0.7%-0.9%), 2.5% (95% CI = 0.5%-4.5%), 4.6% (95% CI = 2.7%-6.6%) and 2.2% (95% CI = 0.7%-3.7%), respectively. The rates of resistance to EVG and DTG were 1.2% (95% CI = 0.2%-2.2%) and 0.1% (95% CI = -0.2%-0.5%), respectively. Furthermore, we found that the RRs for antiviral resistance were 0.414 (95% CI = 0.210-0.816) between DTG and RAL and 0.499 (95% CI = 0.255-0.977) between EVG and RAL. When RAL was separately co-administered with nuclear nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) or protease inhibitors (PIs), the rates of resistance to RAL were 0.2% (95% CI = -0.1%-0.5%) and 0.2% (95% CI = -0.2%-0.6%), respectively. The ten major integrase mutations (including N155H, Y143C/R, Q148H/R, Y143Y/H, L74L/M, E92Q, E138E/A, Y143C, Q148Q and Y143S) can reduce the sensitivity of RAL and EVG. The resistance of DTG is mainly shown in 13 integrase mutations (including T97T/A, E138E/D, V151V/I, N155H, Q148, Y143C/H/R, T66A and E92Q). CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal that the DTG resistance rate was lower than the RAL resistance rate in a head-to-head comparison. Moreover, we confirmed that the EVG resistance rate was lower than the RAL resistance rate. In addition, our results revealed that the resistance rate of RAL was lower than that of efavirenz. The rates of resistance to RAL, EVG and DTG were specifically 3.9%, 1.2% and 0.1%, respectively. Compared with other types of antiviral drugs, the rates of resistance to INSTIs are generally lower. Unfortunately, the EVG and DTG resistance rates could not be compared because of a lack of data.

Polymorphisms of TGFß1T+869C and C-509T with Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide. A better understanding of the mechanisms may contribute to early diagnosis and establishment of new therapeutic targets. OBJECTIVES: A meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGFß1) T+869C and C-509T polymorphisms with lung cancer susceptibility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through PubMed, Medline, Embase and CNKI databases. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to assess these associations in a fixedor random-effects model. RESULTS: For the TGFß1 T+869C polymorphism, 5 published case-control studies with 1167 cases and 1365 controls were included. Overall, no significant association was found between the TGFß1 T+869C polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility under any genetic models in the total population (p > 0.05). A subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed no significant association among the Asian population as well, while a significant association was observed in Caucasian descendants. For the TGFß1 C-509T polymorphism, 4 studies were considered, including 1029 cases and 1133 controls. However, this polymorphism also did not increase the risk of lung cancer in all genetic comparison models. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that TGFß1 T+869C and C-509T polymorphisms may not contribute to lung cancer risk in the total population, while the T+869C polymorphism may increase the risk of lung cancer in the Caucasian population. However, many studies are still required to evaluate these associations in large populations.

Knowledge, attitude, and behavior of hepatitis B virus infection among chinese dental interns.

BACKGROUND: Blood is frequently involved in dental treatment procedures, which increases the exposure of dentists to a variety of blood-borne pathogens and microorganisms such as Hepatitis B Virus. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to assess Chinese dental and medical interns' knowledge, attitude and behavior (KAB) towards Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection and to evaluate which exact KAB phase respondents were involved in. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted on 313 fifth to eighth year students. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were used to identify correlations between KAB and the results obtained from different grades. RESULTS: Despite the fact that Chinese dental interns had good general knowledge level, they lacked the experience with active and artificial immunities against HBV. Graduates forgot basic knowledge and applied the methods without understanding the terms. Compared with the medical interns, dental interns were less willing to treat patients with HBV infection. All three required vaccination doses were received by a significant number of dental interns. However the frequency of antibody titer status check and the use of eye wear or face mask were not satisfying. CONCLUSIONS: It is therefore recommended that Chinese dental interns continue improving knowledge level, assume more positive attitude by accumulating clinical experience, and pay more attention to the overlooked procedures. The results of the current study can help the Chinese dental interns on theoretical studies and clinical practices regarding HBV.