Association of radiologic findings with mortality of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China

BackgroundRadiologic characteristics of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infected pneumonia (NCIP) which had not been fully understood are especially important for diagnosing and predicting prognosis. PurposeTo summarize the clinical and radiologic characteristics of NCIP cases and analyze the association of radiologic findings with mortality cases. Material and methodsWe retrospective studied 27 consecutive patients who were confirmed NCIP, the clinical characteristics and CT image findings were collected, and the association of radiologic findings with mortality of patients was evaluated. Results27 patients included 12 men and 15 women, with median age of 60 years (IQR 47-69). 17 patients discharged in recovered condition and 10 patients died in hospital. The median age of mortality group was higher compared to survival group (68 (IQR 63-73) vs 55 (IQR 35-60), P = 0.003). The comorbidity rate in mortality group was significantly higher than in survival group (80% vs 29%, P = 0.018). The predominant CT characteristics consisted of ground glass opacity (67%), bilateral sides involved (86%), both peripheral and central distribution (74%), and lower zone involvement (96%). The median CT score of mortality group was higher compared to survival group (30 (IQR 7-13) vs 12 (IQR 11-43), P = 0.021), with more frequency of consolidation (40% vs 6%, P = 0.047) and air bronchogram (60% vs 12%, P = 0.025). An optimal cutoff value of a CT score of 24.5 had a sensitivity of 85.6% and a specificity of 84.5% for the prediction of mortality. Conclusions2019-nCoV was more likely to infect elderly people with chronic comorbidities. CT findings of NCIP were featured by predominant ground glass opacities mixed with consolidations, mainly peripheral or combined peripheral and central distributions, bilateral and lower lung zones being mostly involved. A simple CT scoring method was capable to predict mortality.

Investigation on the levels of interleukins and TGF-β1 in the population in natural high background area / 中华放射医学与防护杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of long-term low dose ionizing radiation on the levels of interleukin (IL) and TGF-β1 in the population in high background radiation area(HBRA).Methods:Appropriate amount of peripheral blood was drawn from 41 and 44 healthy men aged 45-65 years who were randomly selected from Tangkou town of Yangjiang city (HBRA) and Hengpo town of Enping city (control area, CA), respectively. After centrifugation and stratification, the upper plasma of blood was separated to determine IL-2, sIL-2R, IL-4, IL-5 and TGF-β1 by using ELISA. The difference of plasma IL of the residents in those two regions was analyzed. The influence of region, age, smoking, drinking and income on the indexes of ILs and TGF-β1 was evaluated by Covariance analysis.Results:The concentration of IL-2 at HBRA area was slightly higher than those in the control area, but the other indexes were lower than those in CA residents. The differences of IL-5 ( t=7.124, P<0.001) and TGF-β1 ( t=4.900, P<0.001) between two areas were significant statistically. Covariance analysis showed that smoking had a significant effect on IL-2 level ( F=5.283, P<0.05). Conclusions:Under the influence of long-term low-dose ionizing radiation, all kinds of plasma interleukin levels of residents in HBRA were different with that in CA. The immune balance was biased towards Th1 type cytokines, and the immune function in HBRA was slightly stronger than that in CA, suggesting that long-term chronic low-dose ionizing radiation may induce adaptive changes in the immune function, which needs further study.

In vitro method for skin sensitization based on dendritic cell activation / 中国比较医学杂志

Allergy contact dermatitis is a type IV delayed type hypersensitivity that is induced by exogenous compounds and involves many cell types. Traditional animal testing uses guinea pigs or mice as a model. With progress of the adverse outcome pathway(AOP)on skin sensitization, a concept for development of alternative methods based on a molecular initiating event and key events is provided. Dendritic cell(DC)activation plays a key role in the AOP. Many alternative methods have been developed,with several methods validated and accepted as guidance for assays. This paper examines DC screening, characteristics of test parameters, and limitations and applicability of DC-derived methods. Progress on interactions between DCs and other cells, co-culture systems, and the human body-on-a-chip will also be introduced. Altogether,this paper will provide information for optimization of in vitro alternative methods for sensitization detection.

An in vitro skin sensitization test based on THP-1 cell line / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To establish an in vitro skin sensitization test,human cell line activation test (h-CLAT),based on THP-1 cell line (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line),and to assess the sensitizing potency of plant raw materials of chemical and cosmetic products by this in vitro skin sensitization test.Method THP-1 cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to 11 reference skin sensitization chemicals and 9 samples,by monitoring the cell viability,cell surface marker CD54 /CD86 and relative fluorescence intensity of cells surface after the cells was exposures to the substances,and to discover whether there is a positive reaction.At the same time,Buehler test was used to validate the results of samples tested by h-CLAT.Results 11 reference chemicals were distinguished correctly by h-CLAT.Among the 9 samples tested,7 samples were recognized as negative sensitizer and 2 plant extracted substances were identified as suspicious skin sensitizer.The qualitative classification of the 9 samples by h-CLAT test was consistent with the results obtained by animal test.Conclusions The h-CLAT-in vitro test can be used to replace some animal tests for the prediction of soluble skin sensitizing substances.

Construction and characterization of an attenuated recombinant Listeria monocytogenes vector vaccine delivering HPV16 E7 / 生物工程学报

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes, LM) is an excellent tumor vaccine vector. In this study, recombinant LM vaccine candidate expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 protein was constructed and its charactericts were determined. Through homologous recombination, E7 gene was cloned in frame with the LM4 Phly promoter-signal sequence, and introduced into the chromosome of LM4. The recombinant strain named LM4△hly::E7 with the plasmid-free and antibiotic-resistant gene-free was constructed. LM4△hly::E7 could express and secrete E7-LLO fusion protein; its size is 66 kDa and has immunological activity. Furthermore, LM4△hly::E7 could multiply in RAW264.7 macrophages by confocal laser scanning microscope. Additionally, LM4△hly::E7 could induce specific antibodies against E7 in immunized mice in ELISA. Also, the 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of LM4△hly::E7 strain was 3.863×10⁹ CFU (Colony-Forming Units) in C57BL/6 mice with intraperitoneal immunization, which was more attenuated than wild type LM4. Mice immunized with LM4△hly::E7 did not show obvious pathological change. These data show that LM4△hly::E7 expressing E7-LLO fusion protein has good safety, which may provide the materials for research of antitumor effect and would be a promising vaccine candidate for cervical cancer.

Preliminary study for integrating DPRA with h-CLAT to predict skin sensitizers / 中国实验动物学报

Objective To establish a detection method integrating DPRA ( direct peptide reactivity assay) with h?CLAT ( human cell line activation test) to screen the skin sensitization potency of chemicals and plant extracts. Methods 12 chemicals and 7 plant extracts were chosen as the test substances. Firstly, the test substances were incubated together with two different peptides ( cysteine and lysine) respectively for reaction for 24 h. The peptide consumptions were analyzed by HPLC. Simultaneously, THP?1 cells were cultured in vitro and then exposed to different concentrations of test sub?stances for 24 h to examine the cell viability, cell surface markers CD54 and CD86 were assessed by flow cytometry. The predicting results were compared further between DPRA and h?CLAT. Results 12 chemicals were distinguished correctly by DPRA classified as 2 non?sensitizers and 10 sensitizers. The results of DPRA were in accordance with h?CLAT. Predic?ting the sensitization potency of plant extracts by DPRA showed that 6 plant extracts were determined as suspected sensiti?zers except for green tea extract. But using the method of h?CLAT, 4 plant extracts were examined as suspected sensitizers except for green tea extract, herba portulacae extract and ginseng fruit extract. The coherence of DPRA and h?CLAT was 0?57. Conclusion This detection method integrating DPRA with h?CLAT can predict single compound accurately. As for complex compound, it can achieve preliminary prediction and need other integrating methods to make a further identifica?tion.

[Transforming growth factor-ß1 induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells by up-regulating expression of calpain].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in type II alveolar epithelial cells and the relationship with Calpain. METHODS: The type II alveolar epithelial cell line-A549 cells cultured in vitro were divided into 4 groups: the control group, the TGF-ßl group, the TGF-ß1 + PD150606 group, the PD150606 group. Given the corresponding processing,Western-blot and RT-PCR were utilized to evaluate the expression of Calpain- 1,E-cad and α-SMA. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expression of Calpain-1 and α-SMA in the TGF-ß1 group was markedly increased, but the protein and mRNA expression of E-cad was significantly decreased. While, after calpain inhibitor PD150606 was added, the protein and mRNA expression of Calpain-1 and α-SMA was markedly decreased and the protein and mRNA expression of E-cad was significantly increased in the TGF-ßl + PD150606 group, but there was no difference between TGF-ß1 + PD150606 group and control group. But with Calpain inhibitor PD150606 alone, the expression of Calpain-1,E-cad and α-SMA was no difference with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-ßl could induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells by up-regulating expression of calpain which could be inhibited by calpain inhibitor PD150606.

Epidemiology of listeriosis infection in humans and animals, China, 2002-2012 / 中国人兽共患病学报

The prevalence of human and animal listeriosis for nearly 11 years in China was investigated in this study . The literature information about listeriosis in China from 2002 to 2012 was collected through retrieval system to make clinical and epidemiological statistical analysis of listeriosis .Cases of listeriosis were reported in 27 (79% ) provinces of China .The re-sult showed that animal listeriosis was reported for 123 times ,among these reports ,most were from pigs (39% ) ,and the sheep was in second place .Central nervous system infection was the main clinical manifestation of listeriosis in animals (72% ) . For human listeriosis ,84 clinical cases of listeriosis were reported ,including 35% cases in non-perinatal stage and 65% cases in perinatal stage .The main clinical manifestation of listeriosis was septicemia (51% ) .According to the result of investigation about listeriosis based on literatures information ,Listeriamonocytogenes caused humans and animals listeriosis annually ,which were reported in most provinces of China .The epidemic characteristics for listeriosis suggested that it was essential to strength-en the prevention and control of listeriosis .

Progress of Listeria monocy togenes as tumor vaccine vector / 中国人兽共患病学报

Listeriamonocytogenes is a facultative intracellular bacterium that enters professional antigen presenting cells , presents passenger antigens to the major histocompatibility complex class I and II pathways ,then elicits CD+4 and CD+8 T-cell-mediated immune responses .It was demonstrated that attenuated Listeriamonocytogenes as a novel live vaccine vector in deliv-ering tumor antigens of cervical cancer and melanoma etc .,could induce strong protective immune response ,and shows effec-tive antitumor immunotherapeutics .This review discussed the characteristics of immune responses elicited by Listeria monocy-togenes ,and the progress of its antitumor immunotherapeutics as delivery vaccine vector .

MiR-152 suppresses the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by inhibiting FGF2

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Here, we showed that miR-152 was downregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-152 suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation and also limited migration and invasion. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) was confirmed as a direct target of miR-152. FGF2 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, whereas FGF2 overexpression partially reversed the suppressive effect of miR-152. Furthermore, the presence of miR-152 was inversely correlated with FGF2 in NSCLC tissues. Overall, this study demonstrated that miR-152 suppressed the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells by downregulating FGF2. These findings provide novel insights with potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of NSCLC.