[Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Ejina banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, October 2021].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Ejina banner, Inner Mongolia, in October 2021 and provide evidence for the improvement of COVID-19 prevention and control. Methods: The information about the time, area and population distributions of COVID-19 cases in Ejina before November 13, 2021 and the gene sequencing result of the isolates were collected for a statistical descriptive analysis. Results: The first COVID-19 case in Ejina occurred on 7 October, 2021. A total of 164 COVID-19 cases were reported from October 19 to November 12. Most cases were distributed in 6 communities in Darahub (156 cases, 95.12%). The result of full gene sequencing of the isolates indicted that the pathogen was Delta variant (B.1.617.2). The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.3∶1. The age of cases ranged from 1 to 85 years, and the cases aged 20-59 years accounted for 78.66%. The main clinical symptoms were sore throat (91 cases, 91.92%), cough (49 cases, 49.49%) and fever (23 cases, 23.23%). Most cases were ordinary ones (81 cases, 49.39%) and mild ones (68 cases, 41.46%). The cases were mainly detected at the isolation points (84 cases, 51.22%) and through population based nucleic acid testing (62 cases, 37.80%). The basic reproduction number (R0) of COVID-19 was 5.3, the average incubation period was 3.9 days. The local government rapidly started Ⅳ level emergency response and conducted 10 rounds of nucleic acid tests. The transferring of travelers reduced the risk for the further spread of COVID-19 in Ejina. Conclusions: The epidemic of COVID-19 in Ejina characterized by strong transmission, short incubation period, herd susceptibility and case clustering. Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was the pathogen, which might be imported from Zeke port. Comprehensive prevention and control measures, such as closed-loop management and vaccination, should be continued. The successful transferring of the patients and travelers provided evidence for the effective and precise prevention and control of COVID-19 in a routine manner.

[Expressing foreign genes by Newcastle disease virus for cancer therapy].

An interesting aspect of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is the ability to selectively replicate in tumor cells. Recently, using reverse genetics technology to enhance the oncolytic properties and therapeutic potential of NDV for tumor therapy has become popular in immunocompetent carcinoma tumor models. Expressing foreign genes by recombinant NDV (rNDV-FG) has been shown to be more effective in cancer therapy in preclinical studies. This paper provides an overview of the current studies on the cytotoxic and anti-cancer effects of rNDV-FG via direct oncolysis and immune stimulation. Safety of rNDV-FG as a therapeutic agent for cancer immunotherapy and virotherapy is also discussed.

Ultrastructural evidence of direct synaptic contact of catecholamine terminals with oxytocin-containing neurons in the parvocellular portion of the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Ultrastructural evidence of the direct interaction between catecholamine (CA) terminals and oxytocin (OX)-containing neurons in the parvocellular portion of the rat hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus was demonstrated using immunohistochemistry combined with false transmitter (5-hydroxydopamine, 5-OHDA) histochemistry. At the parvocellular portion, 5-OHDA labelled CA terminals make synaptic contact with proximal dendrites or somas of OX-positive cells, suggesting that the ascending CA system monosynaptically regulates the extrahypothalamic OX system.

An arcuato-paraventricular and -dorsomedial hypothalamic neuropeptide Y-containing system which lacks noradrenaline in the rat.

The origins of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive (NPYI) fibers in the paraventricular and dorsomedial hypothalamic nuclei of the rat were examined using immunohistochemistry. Destruction of the arcuate nucleus resulted in a marked decrease of NPYI fibers ipsilaterally in these nuclei, suggesting that most of NPYI fibers in these nuclei originate from NPYI neurons in the arcuate nucleus. These NPYI systems did not contain noradrenalin.