[Association of DNA methylation of IFNG gene with no/low response to hepatitis B vaccine in children].

Objective: To explore the association of DNA methylation with immune response to hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine in Han nationality children from Guangxi province. Methods: A total of 263 children aged 8-9 months who had completed HepB immunization program were recruited from three hospitals in Guangxi province by using unmatched case-control method. Children with the HepB surface antibody concentration(Anti-HBs)<100 mIU/ml was set as the case group and ≥100 mIU/ml as the control group. Multiplex PCR and heavy sulfite sequencing were used to treat the samples. Illumina platform was used for high-throughput DNA methylation sequencing of IFNG gene target regions and CpG sites. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the association between cytosine-phospho-guanosine DNA methylation at 18 loci of IFNG gene and HepB immune response level. Results: There were 104 children in the case group and 159 in the control group. The median (Q1, Q3) level of anti-HBs in two groups were 62.34 (30.06, 98.88) mIU/ml and 1 089.10 (710.35, 1 233.45) mIU/ml. The methylation levels of IFNG_1 gene 44 and 93 locus in the case group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The unconditional logistic regression model showed that the DNA methylation level of IFNG_1 gene at 44 (OR=1.18, 95%CI: 1.03-1.35) and 93 (OR=1.21, 95%CI: 1.07-1.38) locus was associated with the HepB response level. Conclusion: The changes of DNA methylation at locus 44 and 93 of IFNG_1 gene may be relevant factors affecting the response level of HepB in Han nationality children from Guangxi province.

[Study on the distribution and related factors of birth weight of live births in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China from 2016 to 2018].

Objective: To investigate the distribution and related factors of birth weight of live births and full-term infants in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Methods: Based on Guangxi women and children information system from 2016 to 2018, a large real-time database about maternal and live-birth information was established. It covered 1 712 midwifery institutions in Guangxi. A total of 2 394 240 cases of live births were collected and 2 243 129 cases of which were full-term infants. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of low birth weight. Results: The birth weight of 2 394 240 live births, (3 123.49±461.08) g, in Guangxi was approximately normal distribution with a peak distribution to the left. The incidence of low birth weight was 8.05%, and the incidence of macrosomia was 2.07%. The incidence of low birth weight was 10.92% for the puerpera with body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)) <18.5, 16.82% for the puerpera with height <145 cm, 8.92% for the puerpera with age <20 years old, 7.67% for the puerpera with age ≥35 years old, and 54.65% for the puerpera with premature birth. The birth weight of 2 243 129 full-term infants, (3 176.01±400.78) g, was approximately normal distribution with a peak distribution to the right. The incidence of low birth weight was 2.97%, and the incidence of macrosomia was 2.19%. The incidence of low birth weight was 4.73% for puerpera with BMI<18.5, 8.17% for puerpera with height<145 cm, 4.83% for puerpera with age <20 years old, and 3.05% for puerpera with age ≥35 years old. The risks of low birth weight [OR (95%CI) value] of pregnant women aged <20, 25-29 and 30-34 years old were 1.31 (1.28-1.35), 0.88 (0.86-0.90) and 0.89 (0.87-0.91) times of those aged ≥35 years old. The risks of low birth weight [OR (95%CI) value] of pregnancy BMI <18.5 and 18.5-23.9 kg/m(2) group were 1.98 (1.94-2.03) and 1.20 (1.18-1.23) times of those pregnancy BMI ≥24 kg/m(2). The risks of low birth weight [OR (95%CI) value] of pregnant women's height (cm)<145, 145-154, 155-159 and 160-164 cm were 4.67 (4.39-4.97), 2.36 (2.29-2.44), 1.58 (1.53-1.63) and 1.22 (1.18-1.26) times of those heights ≥165 cm group. The risks of low birth weight [OR (95%CI) value] of pregnant women's gestational age <28, 28-31 and 32-36 years old were 136.65 (124.33-150.20), 1 704.37 (1 509.02-1 925.02) and 33.45 (32.98-33.94) times of those gestational age ≥37 years old. Conclusion: The incidence of low birth weight of live births was higher in Guangxi from 2016 to 2018. There is a higher risk of low birth weight for younger, older, low height, low BMI and preterm women in Guangxi from 2016 to 2018.

[Study on the characteristics of major birth defects in 1.69 million cases of fetus in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].

Objective: Tracking the information on 1.69 million fetal cases across Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) so as to study the occurrences of total and major birth defects in order to evaluate the ability on related prevention and control programs in Guangxi. Methods: Using the self-developed "Gui Women's System" to establish a database of 1.69 million fetal cases in Guangxi and to analyze the distribution of time, space and population, as well as the outcomes of pregnancy, using the big data. Results: During the 29 months of observation, the overall live birth rate was 99.25%, with stillbirth rate during pregnancy as 0.44%, stillbirth rate during birth as 0.02%, and the 0-6 days mortality rate as 0.14%. The total detection rate on birth defects was 197.63/10 000; the incidence rate was 103.04/10 000, the birth rate was 102.55/10 000. The overall discovery rate of major birth defects was 48.33/10 000, with the incidence rate as 783 000, the birth rate as 0.58/10 000. The discovery rates of major birth defects in 14 cities were between 35 and 68/10 000, and the birth rate dropped significantly to less than 1.00 in 10 000. Nationalities showed that the number of pregnant women with birth defects more than 50 000 would include Hui (9.68/10 000), Yao (9.57/10 000), and Jing (9.37/10 000). With the increasing age of gestation, number of birth defects, incidence of major birth defects also increased. Ninety-five percent of the major birth defects were found within <28 weeks and with the top 5 kinds of major birth defects as complicated congenital heart disease (9.11/10 000), alpha thalassemia (8.36/10 000), and 21-trisomy syndrome (7.85/10 000), beta thalassemia (5.32/10 000) and fetal edema syndrome (4.92/10 000). The top 5 major birth defects appeared as complicated congenital heart disease (9.11/10 000), alpha thalassemia (8.36/10 000), and 21-trisomy syndrome (7.85/10 000), beta thalassemia (5.32/10 000) and fetal edema syndrome (4.92/10 000). Conclusion: Programs leading to increase the rate on discovery of major birth defects were fundamental in effectively reducing the major birth defects.

Optical response of a disordered bicontinuous macroporous structure in the longhorn beetle Sphingnotus mirabilis.

We studied the structural and optical properties of scales in the longhorn beetle Sphingnotus mirabilis. Structural characterizations revealed that the scale interior possesses a disordered bicontinuous macroporous structure, resembling a phase-separated structure obtained by spinodal decomposition. Its optical response was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Our results show that this structure has interesting optical properties due to the existence of only short-range order and the lack of well-defined local structures.

Structural coloration and photonic pseudogap in natural random close-packing photonic structures.

Scales on the elytra of longhorn beetle Anoplophora graafi display diverse non-iridescent colors ranging from blue, green, yellow, and red to purple. By structural characterizations, optical measurements, and theoretical calculations, we found that the scale colors stem from an amorphous photonic structure possessing only short-range order: random close-packing of chitin nanoparticles. Our results showed that direction-independent photonic pseudogaps found in the photon density of states of the random close-packing photonic structure are the ultimate physical origin for non-iridescent coloration of scales. The color steering strategy of scales is ingenious, simply by varying the size of chitin nanoparticles. Revealed natural random close-packing photonic structures and the color steering strategy of scales could render valuable inspiration for the artificial fabrication and design of photonic structures and devices as well.

Provider-initiated testing and counselling for human immunodeficiency virus among tuberculosis patients in Guangxi.

To assess the prevalence of TB-HIV (tuberculosis-human immunodeficiency virus) co-infection and the effect of provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) strategy among TB patients, we applied the PITC strategy to recruit and investigate 2795 newly registered TB patients from 15 TB institutes in Guangxi Province, Southern China. HIV test acceptance rate and HIV positivity were respectively 99.1% and 2.2%. This study indicates that it is feasible and effective to implement PITC HIV testing in TB patients. Guangxi Province had a high burden of HIV infection among TB patients.

Structural color change in longhorn beetles Tmesisternus isabellae.

The elytra of longhorn beetles Tmesisternus isabellae show iridescent golden coloration which stems from long and flat scales imbricated densely on the elytral surface. The scales are able to change coloration from golden in the dry state to red in the wet state with water absorption. Structural characterizations revealed that the iridescent coloration of scales originates from a multilayer in the scale interior. Measurements on both water contact angle and chemical composition indicated that scales are hydrophilic. The change in scale coloration to red in the wet state is due to both the swelling of the multilayer period and water infiltration. The unraveled structural color change and its strategy may not only help us get insight into the biological functionality of structural coloration but also inspire the designs of artificial photonic devices.

Analysis of care-seeking pathways of tuberculosis patients in Guangxi, China, with and without decentralised tuberculosis services.

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) care has been decentralised to township hospitals in a rural, poor area of Guangxi, China, since 1 April 2005. Routine county-based TB care was provided in a comparable control area. OBJECTIVE: To compare patients' care-seeking behaviours between the intervention and control groups. METHODS: In February 2007, all 230 new pulmonary TB smear-positive patients registered in the intervention and control groups between 1 April 2005 and 31 July 2006 were approached; of these, 171 were surveyed using a structured questionnaire. Their patient records were reviewed to minimise recall bias. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group spent less for treating TB symptoms prior to TB diagnosis compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Travel costs were lower in the intervention than control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Diagnostic delays for patients in the intervention and control groups were respectively 26 and 38 days (t = -0.835, P> 0.05). Logistic regression suggested that visiting county general hospitals tended to prolong patient diagnostic delay and cost more before TB diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Decentralising TB services to township hospitals brought TB care closer to rural patients, shortened TB patient care-seeking pathways and reduced costs before TB diagnosis.

Detection of a novel and highly divergent coronavirus from asian leopard cats and Chinese ferret badgers in Southern China.

Since an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was averted in 2004, many novel coronaviruses have been recognized from different species, including humans. Bats have provided the most diverse assemblages of coronaviruses, suggesting that they may be the natural reservoir. Continued virological surveillance has proven to be the best way to avert this infectious disease at the source. Here we provide the first description of a previously unidentified coronavirus lineage detected from wild Asian leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) and Chinese ferret badgers (Melogale moschata) during virological surveillance in southern China. Partial genome analysis revealed a typical coronavirus genome but with a unique putative accessory gene organization. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the envelope, membrane, and nucleoprotein structural proteins and the two conserved replicase domains, putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA helicase, of these novel coronaviruses were most closely related to those of group 3 coronaviruses identified from birds, while the spike protein gene was most closely related to that of group 1 coronaviruses from mammals. However, these viruses always fell into an outgroup phylogenetic relationship with respect to other coronaviruses and had low amino acid similarity to all known coronavirus groups, indicating that they diverged early in the evolutionary history of coronaviruses. These results suggest that these viruses may represent a previously unrecognized evolutionary pathway, or possibly an unidentified coronavirus group. This study demonstrates the importance of systematic virological surveillance in market animals for understanding the evolution and emergence of viruses with infectious potential.

Incidence of bacterial meningitis in Asia using enhanced CSF testing: polymerase chain reaction, latex agglutination and culture.

To enhance the detection of bacterial meningitis in an East Asian surveillance study, we employed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bacterial culture, latex agglutination (LA) and polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay (PCR-EIA) testing for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp). The sensitivity and specificity of CSF PCR-EIA testing was compared to LA and culture. A meningitis case was defined by one positive result for any of the three tests. The sensitivity of H. influenzae CSF PCR-EIA, LA, and culture was 100%, 40% and 57.5% respectively; and for Sp CSF PCR-EIA, LA and culture, the sensitivity was 100%, 58.3% and 66.7%, respectively. Hib and Sp specificity was 100% by each method. CSF PCR-EIA was more sensitive than culture or LA for the detection of Hib and Sp meningitis cases increasing their incidence by 74% and 50% compared to culture respectively. CSF PCR-EIA should be included for the detection of bacterial meningitis in surveillance studies.

Prevalence and genetic diversity of coronaviruses in bats from China.

Coronaviruses can infect a variety of animals including poultry, livestock, and humans and are currently classified into three groups. The interspecies transmissions of coronaviruses between different hosts form a complex ecosystem of which little is known. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the recent identification of new coronaviruses have highlighted the necessity for further investigation of coronavirus ecology, in particular the role of bats and other wild animals. In this study, we sampled bat populations in 15 provinces of China and reveal that approximately 6.5% of the bats, from diverse species distributed throughout the region, harbor coronaviruses. Full genomes of four coronavirues from bats were sequenced and analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses of the spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleoprotein structural proteins and the two conserved replicase domains, putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA helicase, revealed that bat coronaviruses cluster in three different groups: group 1, another group that includes all SARS and SARS-like coronaviruses (putative group 4), and an independent bat coronavirus group (putative group 5). Further genetic analyses showed that different species of bats maintain coronaviruses from different groups and that a single bat species from different geographic locations supports similar coronaviruses. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that bats may play an integral role in the ecology and evolution of coronaviruses.

Preparation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against GAM protein: a novel gp130-associated molecule.

gp130-associated-molecule (GAM) is a recently cloned 24-kDa protein, which binds to gp130 at its cytoplasmic membrane-proximal region and has high homology with the N-terminal of Groucho/TLE molecules, a transcription co-repressor family playing an essential role in Notch signaling. Expression of GAM in COS7 cells inhibited the association of JAKs with gp130, and decreased the tyrosine phosphorylation level of these molecules as well. To further investigate the function of GAM, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to GAM were prepared. First, GAM-Thioredoxin(Thio) fusion protein was expressed in E. coli and purified with anti-Thio PAb coupled Sepharose-4B. Using purified GAM-Thio as immunogen, three MAbs against GAM with high affinity were raised by conventional B-lymphocyte hybridoma technique. They could recognize different epitopes of nature and denatured GAM-Thio without any cross-reaction with Thio or components of E. coli or with TLE1-GST fusion protein. In Western blotting and flow cytometric assay, these MAbs can detect cellular GAM protein and verify the increase of GAM expressing in GAM cDNA permanently transfected M1 cells. Furthermore, Western blotting with these MAbs indicated that GAM formed 110 kDa polymers in the nucleus. These MAbs represent powerful in investigating the role of GAM in gp130 signaling and Notch signaling.