Contamination of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on personal protective equipment and environmental surfaces in nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the extent of contamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) and surfaces by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the nonpatient entry area of a Fangcang shelter hospital, the medical staff accommodation area, and the staff transport bus. METHODS: We collected 816 samples from the nonpatient entry area and floors in a Fangcang shelter hospital, medical staff accommodation area, and scheduled bus, and the five major types of PPE used from April 13 to May 18, 2022. SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Overall, 22.2% of PPE samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Boot covers and gowns were the most contaminated types of PPE. The positive PPE contamination rate of staff collecting respiratory specimens was significantly higher than that of the general-treatment staff group (35.8% vs. 12.2%) and cleaner group (35.8% vs. 26.4%), p < 0.01. In total, 27 of 265 (10.2%) environmental surface samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The contamination-positive rates were 26.8% (22/82), 5.4% (4/74), and 0.9% (1/109) for contaminated, potentially contaminated, and clean zones, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was frequently detected on objects such as mobile phones, tables, computer keyboards and mice, and door handles. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 RNA was widely distributed on high-touch surfaces and on PPE in the contaminated zone of the Fangcang shelter hospital, implying a potentially high infection risk for healthcare workers. Our findings emphasize the need to ensure adequate environmental cleaning, improve hand hygiene, and reduce the risk of infection. Additionally, prevention of self-contamination during PPE donning and doffing is complex and needs more research.

[Rectacted] miR­106b­5p promotes cell cycle progression of malignant melanoma by targeting PTEN.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the colony formation data shown in Fig. 2C on p. 333 had already appeared in previously published articles written by different authors at different research institutes. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 39: 331­337, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.6099].

Long non-coding RNA FENDRR inhibits migration and invasion of cutaneous malignant melanoma cells.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of lncRNA FENDRR on the migration and invasion of malignant melanoma (MM) cells. The expression levels of FENDRR in MM tissues and MM cell lines were detected using qRT-PCR, followed by construction of FENDRR-knocked down and overexpressed stable cells. Then the effects of FENDRR on cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected using MTT assay and Transwell assay. The protein expression levels of matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, and related factors in JNK/c-Jun pathway were detected using Western blot. FENDRR was down-regulated in MM tissues and cell lines. Besides, its expression levels in different MM cells were diverse. Knockdown of FENDRR facilitated MM cells proliferation, migration and invasion in A375 cells, while overexpressing FENDRR had reverse results. In addition, MMPs and JNK/c-Jun pathway involved in the FENDRR-mediated regulation of MM cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Our results demonstrated that FENDRR mediated the metastasis phenotype of MM cells by inhibiting the expressions of MMP2 and MMP9 and antagonizing the JNK/c-Jun pathway.

Selective expression of progesterone receptor in malignant melanoma was inversely correlated with PCNA.

To investigate the role of progesterone receptor (PR) expression in malignant melanoma (MM), PR and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression were immunohistochemistrically evaluated in a series of 35 specimens of MM, and the correlation between the immunohistochemistrical findings and clinicopathological data was also analyzed. PR expression was detected in 25.7% (9/35) of the patients with MM. No PR expression was observed in nevi. PR expression was inversely correlated with PCNA expression (r=-0.353, P=0.026). PR expression was slightly increased in females, subjects aged under 55 y, those with ulceration, non-acral subtype and diagnosis delay longer than 1 y, but the difference was not statistically significant. Selective expression of progesterone receptor in malignant melanoma might be correlated with inhibited tumor growth.

Expression of apoptosis related protein in skin lesions of lichen planus and its implication.

In order to investigate the role of Caspase-3 and Bax in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Caspase-3 and Bax in skin lesions of the patients with lichen planus and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that positive rate of Caspase-3 and Bax expression in lichen planus were significantly higher than that in normal skins (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a obvious correlation between the increase of Caspase-3 and that of Bax in lichen planus. The expression of Caspase-3 and Bax might play an important role in the development of lichen planus.

Expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in lesions of systemic sclerosis and its implications.

In order to investigate the role of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis, the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was immunohistochemically detected in skin lesions of the patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis, skin lesions of the patients with limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the expression of MMP-9 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was significantly lower than that of normal skins (P<0.05). However, no significant difference in the level of MMP-9 in the limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and normal skin was found. Meanwhile, the expression of TIMP-1 in lesions of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis and limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis were significantly higher than that of normal skins (both P<0.05). It was suggested that the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 might play an important role in the development of systemic sclerosis.

The expression of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 in lesions of lichen planus and its implication.

In order to investigate the role of TNF-and ICAM-1 in the pathogenesis of lichen planus, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of TNF-and ICAM-1 in skin lesions of the patients with lichen planus and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that positive rates of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 expressions in lichen planus were significantly higher than those in normal skins (both P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was a obvious correlation between the increase of TNF-alpha and that of ICAM-1 in lichen planus. The expression of TNF-alpha and ICAM-1 might play an important role in the development of lichen planus.

Expression of Th17 cytokines in skin lesions of patients with psoriasis.

In order to investigate the role of Th17 cytokines in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-17, IL-23 (p19/p40), and IL-6 in skin lesions and non-lesions of the patients with psoriasis and skin tissues of normal subjects. The results showed that the mRNA expression levels of IL-17, IL-23p19, IL-23p40 and IL-6 in psoriasis lesion were significantly higher than those of non-lesions (1.231 +/- 0.843 vs 1.003 +/- 0.044, 1.166 +/- 0.142 vs 0.765 +/- 0.133, 1.125 +/- 0.104 vs 0.730 +/- 0.103, 1.186 +/- 0.222 vs 0.976 +/- 0.122, respectively, all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, The expression levels of IL-17 mRNA, IL-23p19 mRNA, IL-23p40 mRNA and IL-6 mRNA were higher in non-lesions than those in normal skin tissues (1.003 +/- 0.044 vs 0.620 +/- 0.104, 0.765 +/- 0.133 vs 0.584 +/- 0.078, 0.730 +/- 0.103 vs 0.000 +/- 0.000, 0.976 +/- 0.122 vs 0.656 +/- 0.121, respectively, all P < 0.05). The overexpression of Th17 cytokines in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis may indicate that Th17 cytokines play a very important role in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis.

A population association study of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and haplotypes with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population.

The aim of the study is to investigate the association of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism, additional gene-gene interaction, and haplotype combination with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk. Pairwise linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis was conducted using SNPstats. The association between four SNPs within VDR gene and SLE risk was investigated by logistic regression. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to analyze the interaction among four SNPs. Four SNPs within VDR gene were selected for genotyping in this study, including rs2228570, rs1544410, rs7975232, and rs731236. The T allele of rs2228570 and the G allele of the rs1544410 were associated with increased MM risk, adjusted ORs (95%CI) were 1.61(1.25-2.11) and 1.78 (1.34-2.23), respectively. GMDR analysis suggested a significant two-locus model (P = 0.0010) involving rs1544410 and rs2228570, and in this model, the cross-validation consistency was 10/10, and the testing accuracy was 62.70%. The haplotype analysis indicated that the most common haplotype was rs1544410-A and rs7975232-G haplotype, the frequencies of which were 0.4701 and 0.5467 in case and control group. Haplotype containing the rs1544410-G and rs7975232-T alleles were associated with increased SLE risk, OR (95%CI) = 2.08 (1.47-2.72), P < 0.001. We found that rs2228570 and rs1544410 within VDR gene, their interaction and haplotype containing the rs1544410-G and rs7975232-T alleles were all associated with increased SLE risk.

The expression of interleukin-23 (p19/p40) and interleukin-12 (p35/p40) in psoriasis skin.

In order to investigate the mRNA expression and function of interleukin-23 (p19/p40) and interleukin-12 (p35/p40) in the psoriatic lesion, no-lesion and normal human skin, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-23 (p19/p40) and IL-12 (p35/p40). The results showed that the expression of IL-23p19 mRNA and p40 (IL-12/IL-23) mRNA were higher in psoriatic lesion than those of non-lesional skin and normal skin. The levels of IL-23p19 mRNA and p40 (IL-12/IL-23) mRNA were higher in psoriatic non-lesional skin than normal skin. However, no significant difference was found in the level of IL-12p35 mRNA among the psoriatic lesional skin, non-lesional skin and normal skin. It was suggested that IL-23 might be more important in the pathogenesis of psoriasis than IL-12.