[Epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above in Henan province, 1995-2020].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above in Henan province during 1995-2020, and to provide evidence for strategies on HIV/AIDS prevention and control. Methods: Information about newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above in Henan between 1995 and 2020 were collected from the National Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information System. The demographic and behavioral characteristics of HIV-infected cases aged ≥50 were analyzed, and the mixed linear model based on CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) counts back calculation was used to estimate the years, time and age of the HIV infection. Results: During 1995-2020, a total of 25 038 HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above were newly reported, accounting for 25.8% (25 038/96 867) of the total number of newly reported HIV-infected cases in Henan. The proportion of newly reported cases over 50-years-old gradually increased from 4.5% (18/396) in 1995-2000 to 35.5% (9 666/27 239) in 2016-2020, with statistically significant difference (χ2=3 105.53, P<0.001). Among them, the proportion of HIV-infected cases aged 60 years and above were increasing year by year. The proportion of male cases were increasing along with ageing. The proportion of HIV-infected cases detected by medical institutions also showed an upward trend. The newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above were mainly transmitted through sexual contact. The proportion of heterosexual transmission increased from 5.5% (1/18) in 1995-2000 to 86.2% (8 334/9 666) in 2016-2020, and the proportion of MSM-behavior-related transmission increased from 0.0% in 1995-2000 to 13.5% (1 304/9 666) in 2016-2020. The majority of cases had extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior (48.1%, 4 007/8 334) and the proportion showed an upward trend. The majority of male cases had commercial heterosexual behavior (54.9%, 3 169/5 775), and with increasing proportion along with the increase of age. The majority of female cases had extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior (62.5%, 1 600/2 559), with increasing proportion of extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior. The proportion of heterosexual behavior with spouse or stable sexual partners showed a downward trend. The estimations based on CD4 counts back calculation model showed that among the newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above, the average age being infected was (54.8±10.2) years, with 33.8% (4 263/12 621) infected before 50. The interval between infection and diagnosis was (5.7±6.2) years, of which 52.6% (6 636/12 621) were infected for 5 years or longer and 34.7% (4 384/12 621) were in the last 3 years. There was no linear correlation trend in the composition of infection years among the newly reported HIV-infected cases over 50-years-old. Conclusions: In Henan, from 1995 to 2020, the number of newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above was increasing and sexual transmission becoming the main transmission route. The increase of prevalence was mostly seen in 60-years-old men, low education level and detected mainly by medical institutions. For this age group, the focus of HIV/AIDS prevention and control should target on those who were transmitted through extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual, commercial heterosexual and MSM behavior and it is necessary to strengthen the HIV testing and detection in this population and in the elderly floating group.

[Analysis of factors associated with the structure of the gut microbial community in HIV/AIDS patients in some areas of Henan province].

Objective: To investigate the related factors associated with the structure of the gut microbial community in HIV infection/AIDS cases (HIV/AIDS) in Henan province. Methods: The convenience sampling method was used to select 122 cases who were receiving Antiviral Treatment (ART) or ART-naive in Henan. Whole blood and stool specimens were collected. Genomic DNA of stool samples was extracted, and the V3-V4 hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene were sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq 6000 high-throughput sequencing system. The analysis was performed mainly at the genus level, and the 30 genera with the highest abundance were selected as a measure of the gut microbial community structure. The correlation between community structure and related factors was analyzed using redundancy analysis and Envfit function. Results: 122 cases were finally completed sequencing and analysis, the average BMI was (23.62±2.78) kg/m2 and the average age was (47±13) years. Among them, male accounted for 66.39% (81/122), and heterosexual transmission route constituted the largest ratio, accounting for 51.64% (63/122). 36 cases were treatment naive (29.51%, 36/122). The top five dominant genera of the total population (122 cases) were Prevotella, Roseburia, Megamonas, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium and the top five dominant genera of the ART population (86 cases) were Prevotella, Megamonas, Bacteroides, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium. The top five dominant genera of the ART-naive population (36 cases) appeared as Prevotella, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Bacteroides and Megamonas. In the total population, ART (P<0.001) was the most significant factors of community structure. Other significant factors were: duration of diagnosis (P=0.009), viral load (P=0.022) and anti-HCV (P=0.018). ART was positively correlated with Megamonas and negatively correlated with Prevotella, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium, while the other three factors of duration of diagnosis, viral load and anti-HCV were positively correlated with Prevotella, Roseburia and Faecalibacterium and negatively correlated with Megamonas. In the ART-naive population, duration of diagnosis (P=0.003) were the factors significantly associated with community structure. Duration of diagnosis was positively correlated with Roseburia, Faecalibacterium, Megamonas and Prevotella and negatively correlated with Bacteroides. Conclusion: ART and duration of diagnosis were factors significantly associated with gut microbial community structure and had a significant impact on multiple high-abundance genera.

[Iodine status of vulnerable populations in Henan Province of China three years after the implementation of new iodized salt standard].

Iodine nutrition surveillance of vulnerable population was conducted in 18 cities of Henan Province in 2015. The medians and quartiles of urinary iodine concentration in women of reproductive-age (n=3 318), pregnant women (n=36 366), lactating women (n=4 153), infants <2 years of age (n=1 017), and children aged 8-10 years (n=4 806) were 202.1(124.0, 310.0), 192.4(133.6, 262.4), 168.3(119.1, 248.3), 214.2(156.1, 272.3) and 90.0 (121.8, 285.6) µg/L, respectively. Iodine status of the vulnerable populations was generally regarded as adequate in Henan Province. But the median of urinary iodine concentration of reproductive-age women were slightly above the adequate level. The proportions above iodine adequate level were 26.7% in reproductive-age women, 29.4% in pregnant women and 22.5% in children aged 8-10 years.

Denitrosylation of nNOS induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion contributes to nitrosylation of CaMKII and its inhibition of autophosphorylation in hippocampal CA1.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between CaMKII S-nitrosylation and its activation, as well as the underlying mechanism, after global cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was established by four-vessel occlusion of 15 min and reperfusion of different times. nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), exogenous nitric oxide donor GSNO (nitrosoglutathione), or N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist MK-801 were administered before ischemia. The expressions of S-nitrosylation and phosphorylation of CaMKII and nNOS were detected by biotin switch assay, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemical staining after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. The survival of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells after administration of the three drugs was examined by cresyl violet staining. RESULTS: Following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the S-nitrosylation of CaMKII was increased, accompanied by a decrease of phosphorylation, suggesting a decrease of activity (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the phosphorylation and S-nitrosylation of nNOS were notably decreased at the same time point (p<0.05). The administration of 7-NI, GSNO, and MK-801 increased the S-nitrosylation and phosphorylation of nNOS, leading to the attenuation of increased S-nitrosylation and decreased autophosphorylation of CaMKII after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (p<0.05). Administration of MK-801, GSNO, and 7-NI significantly decreased the neuronal damage in rat hippocampal CA1 caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, the decrease of autophosphorylation of CaMKII regulated by its S-nitrosylation may be due to the denitrosylation of nNOS and subsequent NO production. Increasing the phosphorylation of CaMKII by nNOS inhibitor, exogenous NO donor or NMDA receptor antagonist exerted neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.

[Human leukocyte antigen polymorphism of HIV infected persons without disease progress for long-term in Henan province, 2011-2016].

Objective: To understand the disease progression and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene polymorphism of HIV-infected persons without disease progress for long term, also known as long-term non-progressors (LTNPs), in Henan province. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 48 LTNPs with complete detection and follow-up information during 2011-2016 in Henan. Changes of CD(4)(+)T cells counts (CD(4)) and viral load (VL) during follow-up period were discussed. Polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) was used for the analyses of HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 alleles between LTNPs and healthy controls. Results: From 2011 to 2016, forty-eight LTNPs showed a decrease of the quartile (P(25)-P(75)) of CD(4) from 601.00 (488.50-708.72)/µl to 494.00 (367.00-672.00)/µl, and the difference was significant (P<0.05). The increase of the quartile (P(25)-P(75)) of log(10)VL from 3.40 (2.87-3.97) to 3.48 (2.60-4.37), but the difference was not significant (P>0.05). HLA polymorphism analysis revealed that HLA-B*13:02 and HLA-B*40:06 were more common in LTNPs (P<0.05), while HLA-B*46:01 and HLA-DRB1*09:01 were more common in healthy controls (P<0.05). Conclusions: The CD(4) of LTNPs in Henan showed a downward trend year by year. HLA-B*13:02 and B*40:06 might be associated with delayed disease progression for HIV infected persons in Henan.

[Correlation analysis between the progression of HIV infection and HLA polymorphism].

Objective: To analyze the polymorphisms of human leukocyte differentiation antigens Ⅰ and Ⅱ (HLA-A, B, DRB1) alleles and explore the association between HIV infection and HLA loci, for discovering the distribution of HLA loci in HIV-infected with different disease progression in different parts of Henan Province. Methods: A total of 48 cases of slow progressers and 80 typical progressers in Weishi County, Shangcai County, Xihua County and Xuchang City of Henan Province were studied, and compared with 380 healthy blood donors.For analyzing HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles and comparing difference among the study subjects, the method of polymerase chain reaction-sequence special oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) was used. Results: The association of HLA alleles and HIV infection showed that HLA-B*40∶02, HLA-DRB1*04∶05 was significantly more common in healthy people, while HLA-B*15∶18, B*44∶02, B*67∶01 and HLA-DRB1*14∶01 were present in HIV/AIDS.HLA-A*02∶06, HLA-B*13∶02, B*40∶06 in slow progressers were higher than typical progressers from the grouped study, and HLA-B*46∶01 only appeared in the typical progressers. Conclusion: HLA-B*15∶18, B*44∶02, B*67∶01, and HLA-DRB1*14∶01 may be associated with HIV susceptibility.HLA-A*02∶06, HLA-B*13∶02, and B*40∶06 may be associated with delayed disease progression in HIV-infected people, while HLA-B*46∶01 may be associated with accelerated disease progression.

Neuroprotection of S-nitrosoglutathione against ischemic injury by down-regulating Fas S-nitrosylation and downstream signaling.

S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) has been reported to protect against ischemic brain injury, however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of GSNO pre-treatment on the S-nitrosylation of Fas and subsequent events in the Fas pathway, and reveal the correlation between Fas S-nitrosylation and nNOS activation in the rat hippocampal CA1 region after global cerebral ischemia. The results showed that GSNO pre-treatment not only facilitated the survival of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons, but also abolished the activation of pro-apoptotic Caspase-8, Bid, Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. The S-nitrosylation of Fas increased sustainedly after global ischemia, and GSNO blocked such an increase. Global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion promoted the binding between neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and postsynaptic density protein 95 that has been reported to activate nNOS, and GSNO inhibited the post-ischemic nNOS activation and NO release. A selective nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole diminished the ischemia/reperfusion-induced Fas S-nitrosylation, suggesting a critical role of endogenous NO from nNOS activation in Fas S-nitrosylation. In addition, pre-administration of GSNO decreased the translocation of Fas to membrane, the formation of CD95(hi) on the membrane, the internalization of Fas aggregates to plasma, as well as the assembly of DISC/hiDISC. These results indicate that GSNO-induced nNOS inactivation associates with the down-regulation of Fas S-nitrosylation and consequent Fas signal cascade, which is responsible for the GSNO-mediated neuronal survival after brain ischemia. The understanding of GSNO neuroprotection provides a novel strategy to find potential therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.

Changes and mechanisms of protein-tyrosine kinase and protein-tyrosine phosphatase activities after brain ischemia/reperfusion.

AIM: To study the changes and mechanisms of protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) and protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activities in the hippocamal synaptosome following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in gerbil. METHODS: Transient (15 min) global ischemia was produced by bilateral carotid artery occlusion. Total PTK and PTP activities were measured by [r-32P] incorporation and colorimetric analysis, respectively. Src and proline-rich tyrosine kinase2 (PYK2) activities were measured by immunoprecipitation and [r-32P] incorporation. RESULTS: Total PTK activity increased significantly after I/R, but the PTP activity did not change. The Src activity was much higher than PYK2 activity in sham-operated controls. I/R mainly caused a pronounced increase in Src activity, but not PYK2 activity. The increase in Src activity had no relation to the expression of Src protein. Administration of ketamine (KT) or nifedipine (ND) 20 min before ischemia caused a decrease in total PTK and Src activities, and no change in the PYK2 and PTP activities. CONCLUSION: The increase in PTK activity caused by I/R may be mainly due to the increase in Src activity. This increase in Src activity has no relation to the expression of Src protein. But it is related to the activation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor (NR) and L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (L-type VGCC). In other words, the increase in total PTK and Src activities induced by I/R may be mediated via NR and L-type VGCC. The PTP activity did not change during I/R.

[Epidemiologic investigation on the occurrence of brucellosis in a rabbitry family].

This article reports epidemiologic investigations on the occurrence of brucellosis in a rabbitry family in Laoting County, Hebei Province. Three persons of this family were all examined. The results of examinations by serology, bacteriology, clinical observations, and epidemiological history showed that: Two of the three cases were suffering from Brucellosis. Domestic animals in this house and the domestic animals and feeders in the neighborhood were investigated by serology and bacteriology. The results demonstrated that the source of infection was the dog fed by the family and infected by Brucella sheep biotype.

[In vitro cultivation and scanning electron microscopic observation of Plasmodium berghei].

To compare the effects of sera on the growth of Plasmodium berghei, the erythrocytic stages were cultured with rat serum, human umbilical cord serum, human B-type serum, rabbit serum, calf serum and calf serum with hypoxanthine respectively. The topography of the erythrocyte and parasite cultured with calf serum were observed before and 12, 20 and 28 hours after cultivation. All of the sera used did not effectively improve the long-term culture of P. berghei, regardless of some differences in short-term cultures. Under SEM, erythrocytes agglutinated with each other and the surface adhesive materials on the erythrocytes and parasites agglomerated gradually with the cultivation time. The results suggested that the surface adhesive materials were correlated with the destruction of erythrocytes, malnutrition of the parasites and blockade of merozoite reinvasion.