HIV associated factors among men who have sex with men in Maanshan, China: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study conducted a survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Maanshan City of Anhui Province to assess the risk behaviors related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June 2016 to June 2019. The MSM were recruited by a peer-driven sampling method. A face-to-face interview with anonymous questionnaire was used for data collection. The information collected by the survey was summarized and epidemiology described the basic characteristics of MSM, and then the related factors were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 934 MSM were recruited with a average age was 30.5 (SD = 8.90) years old, including 816 (87.4%) HIV negative participants and 118 (12.6%) HIV positive ones. This study showed that freelancer (OR = 4.02, 95% CI: 1.96-8.23), scope of sexual partners distribution (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.36-2.33), number of male sexual partners (OR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.47-3.02), role of anal sex with men was receptive (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.25-5.13) and versatile (OR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.31-4.19) and non-steady sex partners (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.56-2.93) were risk factors for HIV infection, while monthly income (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.57-0.82), education level (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66-0.95), frequency of condom use (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35-0.81) and number of oral sex partners (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.24-0.51) in the past 6 months were protective factors for HIV infection. CONCLUSION: Risk behaviors were common in MSM, and urgent need for targeted and comprehensive interventions to reduce risky sexual behaviour and to prevent HIV infection in MSM.

Investigation and Analysis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia Complicated by Splenomegaly.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) complicated by splenomegaly in our hospital over the past 6 years and to analyze the possible causes of this result. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. In total, 668 patients with IDA who were hospitalized in the hematology department of our hospital from 2013 to 2019 were selected as the research subjects and included in the IDA group, and 3201 patients who underwent outpatient physical examinations in our hospital during the same period were included in the control group. The incidences of splenomegaly in the IDA and control groups were calculated, and the difference was analyzed by means of statistical methods. RESULTS: Among the 668 IDA patients, 46 (6.9%) had splenomegaly, and among the 3201 patients in the control group, 21 had splenomegaly (0.7%). The incidence of splenomegaly was significantly higher in the IDA group than in the control group, and the severity of anemia in the IDA group was associated with the occurrence of splenomegaly. Specifically, the incidence of splenomegaly was 12.4% among patients with severe anemia and as high as 50% among patients with extremely severe anemia. CONCLUSION: IDA is correlated with the incidence of splenomegaly, and the incidence of splenomegaly significantly increases as the severity of IDA increases. This is considered to be caused by extramedullary hematopoiesis.

Regional Injection of CAR-T Cells for the Treatment of Refractory and Recurrent Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoma is a common hematological malignancy with many subtypes and considerable heterogeneity. Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. Patients with relapsed, refractory or advanced stage lymphoma have a dismal prognosis. In recent years, chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) have been recognized as powerful tools that redirect antigen-specific T cells independent of human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) restriction and specifically kill tumor cells. Satisfactory results with CAR-based treatments have been achieved in relapsed/refractory B cell leukemia/lymphoma. Our center explored the strategy of subcutaneous injections combined with intravenous drip to overcome certain issues. CASE PRESENTATION: A patient with stage IV refractory and relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma was treated with regional and intravenous CAR-T cells. During the observation period, the temperature of the skin at the abdominal wall mass was slightly elevated, and tolerable pain in the injection area was reported. Imaging showed regional liquefactive necrosis. After the sequential administration of ibrutinib and venetoclax, the abdominal wall mass significantly decreased in size. CONCLUSION: The regional injection of CAR-T cells might be safe and feasible for the treatment of regional lesions in patients with refractory and relapsed advanced lymphoma.

[Analysis of Risk Factors Affecting the Chemotherapy-related Infections in Patients with ALL].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors affecting the chemotherapy-related infections in patients with acute lympho-blastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: The clinical data of 102 patients with ALL from January 2014 to December 2018 were collected and retrospectively studies. The risk factors of chemotherapy-related infections were analyzed by univa-riate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 386 courses of chemotherapy were completed, out of which the infection occurred in 201 course, with the infection rate of 52.07%, identified infection number was 215 case-times, including perianal infection of 13.95% (30/215), oral infection of 13.49% (29/215), blood flow infection of 1721% (37/215), lower respiratory tract infection of 37.21% (80/215), urinary infection of 3.26% (7/215), skin infection of 3.72% (8/215), digestive and intra abdominal infection of 9.30% (20/215), and other infections of 1.86 (4/215). Totally 88 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected, including 29 Gram-positive bacteria (32.95%), 52 Gram-negative bacteria (59.09%) and 7 fungi (7.95%). Gram-positive bacteria mainly were Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Enterococcus faecium, susceptible to tegacycline, vancomycin and linezolid; Gram-negative bacteria mainly were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, susceptible to tegacycline, amikacin, piperacillin/tazobactam and imipenem; Candida was the dominant fungus. Living in an ordinart ward, neutrophil defi-ciency for more than 7 days after chemotherapy and incomplete remission were independent risk factors of related infections during the induction chemotherapy in ALL inpatients, and hospitalization time also closely related with chemo-therapy-related infections in ALL inpatients (P<0.05). Neutrophil deficiency for more than 7 days after chemotherapy was an independent risk factor of chemotherapy-related infections in ALL inpatients in the consolidation chemotherapy (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with ALL are prone to chemotherapeutic-related infections, and those who lack neutrophils for more than 7 days after chemotherapy and who do not reach complete remission are more prone to infection. Living in laminar flow ward and reducing hospitalization stay can help reduce the incidence of infection.

A new species of Micardia Butler, 1878 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Eustrotiinae) from China.

The genus Micardia Butler, 1878 was described based on M. argentata (the type species; Fig. 1) and M. pulchra, both from Japan; in the same paper, Buter transferred a species described from India, Leucania pulcherrima Moore, 1867 to Micardia. Hampson (1990) considered Micardia a synonym of Eustrotia. However, its generic status was revised by Warren (1913) and retained by subsequent authors (Ueda 1984). There are at present 13 species recognized within Micardia (Table 1), of which, M. quadrilinea Scriba 1921 was described from Japan on the basis of female specimens and without high-quality illustrations, and subsequently treated as of uncertain status by Chen Xue (2012). The remaining species are as follows: M. simplicissima Berio 1973 was described from Myanmar based on 2 females. M. munda Leech, 1900, was described from Western China (Sichuan, according to Chen Xue 2012). Chen (1999) extended the range of M. pulcherrima to include China, and Chen Xue (2012) subsequently reviewed Micardia from China, describing three new species, M. pallens, M. distincta and M. minuta. Four species have been described from Madagascar, M. argentoidea and M. terracottoides by Berio (1954), and M. ikoly and M. itremo by Viette (1982). Because they are geographically separated so widely from their congeners in Asia, Chen Xue (2012) considered their generic placement in need of confirmation. Moreover, the distribution of M. pulchra Butler was extended to Russia (Kurile Island) by synonymizing it with M. pulchrargentea Bryk, 1942 (Kononenko 2005). In this paper we report a new species, Micardia yixingensis, sp. nov. from Jiangsu, China. The contribution brings the total number of the species in the genus to 14.

Efficacy of Autologous Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Transplantation Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Studies of the effects of stem cell therapy on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not reached consistent results. Our meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (ABM-MNCs) on T2DM. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between 1980 and May 2018. Two researchers screened the literature independently following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of the pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated based on either a fixed- or random-effects model. RESULTS: We identified six studies with 206 participants investigating the effects of autologous bone marrow stem cell therapy on T2DM after screening 102 studies found after the initial search. According to the pooled estimates, compared with the control group, after 12-month follow-up the ABM-MNC therapy group had a lower level of HbA1c (MD, - 1.18; 95% CI, - 1.40 to 0.95) and lower required insulin dose (MD, - 2.05; 95% CI, - 3.55 to - 0.55). HbA1c decreased after ABM-MNC therapy compared with before (12 months: MD, - 1.22; 95% CI, - 1.43 to - 1.0). We also observed a significant decrease in insulin requirement after 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up in the ABM-MNC group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Autologous stem cell therapy showed a beneficial effect on T2DM.

Association between interleukin 37 (rs3811047) polymorphism and multiple autoimmune diseases in a Chinese population: A PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence suggests that interleukin 37 (IL-37) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases (ADs), but the correlations are still unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to explore whether IL-37 gene (rs3811047) polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to multiple ADs in a Chinese population. METHODS: Relevant studies were searched in the PubMed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese Wangfang databases up to August 31, 2017. Odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to estimate the strength of the association in different genetic models. The results of fixed or random models were adopted according to the heterogeneity. Publication bias and sensitive analysis were also performed to evaluate the reliability of results. RESULTS: A total of 3161 patients and 4078 controls from 6 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Pooling all data together, a significant association between IL-37 gene (rs3811047 A/G) polymorphism and susceptibility to ADs in the Chinese population was found in all 4 genetic models (allelic model A vs G: OR = 0.73 95% CI = 0.67∼0.79; recessive model AA + AG vs GG: OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.65∼0.79; dominant model AA vs AG + GG: OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.45∼0.77; homozygous model AA vs GG: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.42∼0.72). No heterogeneity and publication bias was detected in all models. Sensitive analysis indicated that all of the positive results are reliable. CONCLUSION: The IL- 37 (rs3811047) polymorphism contributes to the development of ADs in a Chinese population.

miR-93-5p/IFNAR1 axis promotes gastric cancer metastasis through activating the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in gastric cancer (GC) development. miR-93-5p has shown opposing functions in different types of cancers, but the exact expression pattern and molecular mechanism of miR-93-5p in GC development remain to be elucidated. Here, we reported that miR-93-5p expression was increased in GC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues and that its overexpression was correlated with distant metastasis and poor survival in GC patients. miR-93-5p knockdown inhibited the migration, invasion and proliferation of GC cells in vitro and in vivo, while its overexpression displayed an opposite result. Using an mRNA microarray, we found that miR-93-5p significantly downregulated IFNAR1 expression in GC cells, which was further identified as a direct target of miR-93-5p. IFNAR1 knockdown promoted GC cell migration and invasion, but its restoration could rescue GC cell migration and invasion induced by miR-93-5p overexpression. Moreover, miR-93-5p-IFNAR1 axis increased MMP9 expression via STAT3 pathway in GC cells. Taken together, we reveal that miR-93-5p overexpression is associated with the poor survival of GC patients and miR-93-5p-IFNAR1 axis promotes GC metastasis through activation of STAT3 pathway.

[Effects of six kinds of Chinese herb extracts on the activities of rat liver microsomes in vitro].

Effects of six kinds of Chinese herb extracts, including Folium Crataegi extract, Herba Epimedii extract, Folium Acanthopanacis Senticosi extract, Trifolium pratense L. extract, Folium Ginkgo extract and Radix Puerariae extract, on the activities of CYP450 isozymes (CYP1A2, CYP2C, CYP2E1, CYP2D, CYP3A) in rat hepatic microsomals were studied by using a UPLC-MS/MS (MRM) and cocktail probe substrates method. The results showed that effects of six kinds of Chinese herb extracts on each CYP450 isozyme activity were inhibitory. The IC50 of Folium Crataegi extract for the inhibition of rat microsomal CYP2D activity was only for 4.04 microg x mL(-1), which showed the highest inhibition; Trifolium pratense L. extract had strong inhibitory action to CYP2D, the IC50 value was 5.73 microg x mL(-1); Folium Crataegi extract also had strong inhibitory action on CYP2E1, the IC50 value was 10.91 microg x mL(-1). Furthermore, the IC50 of Folium Ginkgo extract for the inhibition of rat microsomal CYP3A, 2D, 2E1 activities were 45.12, 35.45 and 22.41 microg x mL(-1), respectively, and the IC50 of Folium Acanthopanacis Senticosi extract on the inhibition of rat microsomal CYP2E1 activity was 32.89 microg x mL(-1). In addition, mechanism of inhibition experimental results showed that the inhibiting abilities of Folium Crataegi extract and Radix Puerariae extract on each CYP450 isozyme increased with the increasing of the preincubation time, therefore, the inhibitory effects were a mechanism-based inhibition.

Different dosages Ganciclovir treatment of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection in neonatal / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Ganciclovir is a first line drug for treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and side effects of relatively low and high doses of Ganciclovir in the treatment of neonatal congenital CMV infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>37 neonates with congenital CMV infection were randomly assigned to high-dose (n = 19) and low-dose Ganciclovir groups (n = 18). The high-dose Ganciclovir group was injected with Ganciclovir of 7.5 mg/kg in the inducement phase and of 10 mg/kg in the maintaining phase. The low-dose Ganciclovir group was injected with Ganciclovir of 5 mg/kg in the inducement and the maintaining phases. The efficacy and side effects were observed in the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of different doses of GCV treatment of congenital CMV infection in symptomatic by the clinical symptoms were improved, high-dose treatment group CMV-IgM negative rate of 89.5%, CMV-DNA negative rate of 73.7%; low-dose treatment group CMV-IgM switch negative rate of 83.3%, CMV-DNA negative rate was 77.8%, no significant difference between the two groups. Low-dose GCV treatment of congenital CMV infection in newborns with symptomatic side effects than high dose GCV, the low dose group neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia was lower than the high dose group, the difference was significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low- dose GCV treatment of symptomatic congenital CMV infection with high-doses of the same clinical efficacy, and less side effects than high-doses of GCV.</p>

Contribution of cyclophilin A to the regulation of inflammatory processes in rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies show that cyclophilin A (CypA) acts as a strong chemotactic cytokine to neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In this study, monocytes were stimulated by purified CypA and the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs), the cell invasion and the release of inflammatory cytokines were detected respectively by gelatin zymography, invasion assay, and cytometric bead array FCM. RESULTS: The elevated level of inflammatory cytokine IL-8 was also detected. Results showed that CypA significantly promoted the invasion of THP-1 cells and increased the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which displayed a biphasic concentration dependency. In vivo experiments found that the cartilage erosion scores in CypA injection group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that CypA significantly enhances the secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9, the cell invasion, and the inflammatory cytokines production of monocytes. Our findings may shed some new light on the inflammatory process and the degradation of cartilage and bone in RA.