Correction: Reasons for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Chinese People Living With HIV/AIDS: Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/33995.].

Reasons for COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Chinese People Living With HIV/AIDS: Structural Equation Modeling Analysis.

Background: Many countries and organizations recommended people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receive the COVID-19 vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy still exists and becomes a barrier for promoting COVID-19 vaccination among PLWHA.

Objective: This study aims to investigate factors that contributed to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among PLWHA.

Changes in NK Cell Subsets and Receptor Expressions in HIV-1 Infected Chronic Patients and HIV Controllers.

Natural killer (NK) cells are major effectors of the innate immune response and purported to play an influential role in the spontaneous control of HIV infection. In the present study, we compared the phenotypes of NK cells in the peripheral blood of three groups of subjects with chronic HIV-1 infection, HIV controllers, and healthy donors. The results showed that CD56/CD16 NK cell subsets decreased in chronic patients and remained unchanged in controllers.

The current status of syphilis prevention and control in Jiangsu province, China: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To analyze the midterm evaluation data from the National Syphilis Prevention and Control Plan (2010-2020) and evaluate the current status of syphilis prevention and control in Jiangsu province, China.

Methods: We collected data via (1) field surveys conducted in 2015 and (2) data recorded in existing syphilis surveillance systems. We conducted descriptive statistical analysis to evaluate the current landscape of syphilis control initiatives and their potential effect in syphilis control.

High HIV incidence epidemic among men who have sex with men in china: results from a multi-site cross-sectional study.

Background: Recent upsurge of new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) is a major concern in China. Paucity of national-level information regarding the burden and predictors of this progressive epidemic of new infections called for a multi-centric, timely and comprehensive investigation.

Methods: Mixed methods were used to recruit MSM from seven cities in China between 2012 and 2013.

The Epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Syphilis Infection, and the Correlates of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China.

A cross sectional survey was performed to investigate the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and HIV-1 subtype infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and to evaluate factors that were correlated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 657 MSM in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, during 2012-2013. Data on socio-demographic parameters and risky behaviors were collected, and blood samples were obtained. In this survey, the prevalence of STIs due to HIV (5.

The epidemic of HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea and the correlates of sexual transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu, China, 2009.

Background: In China, the HIV/AIDS epidemic is expanding among men who have sex with men (MSM). As independent risk factors of HIV infection, the epidemics of Chlamydia (CT) and Gonorrhea (NG) in MSM were not well studied, particular for the risk factors of these infectious. The objectives of current reported study were to understand the dynamics of HIV and other sexual transmitted infections (STIs) among MSM in Jiangsu, China, and to measure factors that correlated with STIs.

siRNA against KIR3DL1 as a potential gene therapeutic agent in controlling HIV-1 infection.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a small interfering RNA (siRNA) against the expression of KIR3DL1 receptor on natural killer (NK) cells, in order to promote the ability of NK cells to destroy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected cells and thus prevent failure of siRNA therapy targeting human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virus among HIV-1 infected patients in vitro.

Methods: A siRNA targeting KIR3DL1 was synthesized and then modified with cholesterol, methylene, and sulfate. The inhibitory action of the siRNAs on primary cultured NK cells was detected.

Syphilis and its correlates among heterosexual males attending sexually transmitted infection clinics - observation from a multicity cohort in Jiangsu Province, China.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of HIV and syphilis, incidence of syphilis and to identify the correlates of syphilis infection among heterosexual male attendees of sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinics (MSC).

Methods: A cohort study of one-year duration was conducted in Yangzhou and Changzhou cities in Jiangsu province of China. The baseline survey commenced in June 2009, recruited 1225 consenting adult MSCs (609 in Yangzhou and 617 in Changzhou) through STI-clinic based convenience sampling.

Worsening epidemic of HIV and syphilis among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu Province, China.

Background: Epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) are major public health concerns in most parts of China. A dearth of information regarding the current trend of HIV in this hard-to-reach population in several regions including Jiangsu, coupled with the reemergence of syphilis, calls for an effort to understand the dynamics of the dual epidemic in this province.

Methods: To estimate the occurrence and burden of these 2 sexually transmitted diseases and the distribution of their potential sociobehavioral correlates among MSM in Jiangsu, 2 cohort studies were conducted in Yangzhou and Changzhou cities.

Correlates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection among female sex workers: the untold story of Jiangsu, China.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among female sex workers (FSWs) in the Jiangsu Province, China and measure the association of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections with their potential correlates.

Design: A cross-sectional study on a representative sample of FSWs in Yangzhou and Changzhou cities of Jiangsu was conducted.

Methods: 185 sex-work venues in Yangzhou and 174 in Changzhou were selected by stratified random sampling.

The prevalences of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections among female sex workers in China.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have become a major public health problem among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. There have been many studies on prevalences of HIV and syphilis but the data about Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are limited in this population in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among FSWs recruited from different types of venues in 8 cities in China.

Asymmetric siRNA targeting the bcl‑2 gene inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are valuable reagents for efficient gene silencing in a sequence‑specific manner via the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. The current synthetic siRNA structure consists of symmetrical duplexes of 19‑21 base pairs (bp) with 2 nucleotide (nt) 3' overhangs. In this study, we report that an asymmetric siRNA (asiRNA) consisting of 17 bp duplex region (17 bp asiRNA) exhibited potent activity in inhibiting bcl-2 gene expression and cancer cell proliferation in vitro.

[Analysis on sexually transmitted diseases and the related risk factors among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu province].

Objective: To investigate infections of syphilis, neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachomatis and the related risk factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Jiangsu province.

Methods: A total of 400 MSM were enrolled by Snowball Sampling Method from August to October in 2010 and then 328 cases were surveyed by a questionnaire and collected serum sample 5 ml per person as well as rectal swab on the spot; all of the serum samples were tested for syphilis by ELISA and TRUST, and all of the rectal swabs were tested for neisseria gonorrhoeae or chlamydia trachomatis. The influencing factors of syphilis, neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachomatis were analyzed by logistic regression analysis.

Emergence of peripheral CD3+CD56+ cytokine-induced killer cell in HIV-1-infected Chinese children.

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are immune effector cells characterized by co-expression of CD3 and CD56 molecules. We examined the quantities of CIK cells and the changes of these cell expressing NK cell receptors in HIV-1-positive children infected via mother-to-child transmission. The percentage of CIK cells was quantified and the changes in the surface cell receptor profiles in 18 HIV-1-infected children were examined.

Chinese human immunodeficiency virus-1 patients with different routes of transmission exhibit altered expression levels of blood dendritic cell subpopulations.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Reduced numbers of blood DCs have been observed in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. In the present study, we analyzed the expression levels of monocytes, myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) precursors, mDCs, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), in HIV-1-infected patients in China who were infected via different routes of transmission, including heterosexual and homosexual sexual contact, and blood transmission through importation of blood or blood products, to further elucidate their role in HIV.

Differences in natural killer cell quantification and receptor profile expression in HIV-1 infected Chinese children.

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play a role in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) disease, and NK cell levels are reduced in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. To assess the effects on quantity of NK cells and the changes of NK cell receptors in HIV-1 infected children via mother-to-child transmission, the percentage of NK cells is quantified and the changes in the NK cell receptor profiles in 20 HIV-1 infected children who are not progressing into AIDS were examined. The results showed that NK cell percentage was decreased in the HIV-1 infected children.

Changes in NK cell counts and receptor expressions and emergence of CD3(dim)/CD56+ cells in HIV-1 infected patients in China.

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play a role in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) disease progression, and NK cell levels are reduced in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. In the present study, we compared the frequency and phenotype of peripheral blood CD3-CD56+ NK cells in HIV-1 infected patients in China who were infected through different routes of transmission, including heterosexual and homosexual sexual contact, and blood transmission through injection drug use or importation of blood or blood products. The results showed significantly reduced numbers of CD3-CD56+ NK cells with no association with route of transmission.

Liposomal plasmid DNA encoding human thymosin alpha and interferon omega potently inhibits liver tumor growth in ICR mice.

Aim: To evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of liposomal gene delivery, genes encoding for human thymosin alpha1 (Talpha1) and interferon omega1 were injected via the tail vein into mice bearing a Hep-A-22 liver tumor.

Methods: The cDNA of human Talpha1 and interferon omega1 were obtained by synthesis or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Eukaryotic expressing vectors pIRES2, encoding Talpha1 and/or interferon omega1, were constructed and injected with liposome via the tail vein into ICR mice bearing a Hep-A-22 tumor.

RNA interference remarkably suppresses bcl-2 gene expression in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Bcl-2 is an anti-apoptotic protein. If the level of Bcl-2 protein can be reduced sufficiently in tumors using RNA interference (RNAi) to target the gene message, the apoptosis of tumor cells may be promoted. In this study, we synthesized 19 nucleotides (nts) small interference RNA (siRNA) constructs suppressing bcl-2 gene expression in human tumor cells (HeLaB2 and BGC-823 cell lines) in vitro.

Overexpression of soluble human thymosin alpha 1 in Escherichia coli.

Synthesized gene of human thymosin alpha 1 (Talpha1) was inserted into pET-28a, pET-9c, pThioHis B, pGEX-2T or pBV222 and then inductively expressed in strains of Escherichia coli. Among the five expression systems, the BL21/pET-28a system provides the highest expression level of fusion protein in a soluble form, which is up to 70% of total expressed bacterial proteins as visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The resulting fusion protein purified through nickel affinity chromatography accounts for 2.

Bifidobacterium longum as an oral delivery system of endostatin for gene therapy on solid liver cancer.

To overcome difficulties that hampered widespread application of a specific delivery system in cancer gene therapy and to inhibit the growth of solid liver cancer, we utilized a strain of Bifidobacterium longum as a delivery system to transport an endostatin gene that can inhibit growth of tumor. The B. longum strain with the endostatin gene (B.

Potent inhibition of angiogenesis and liver tumor growth by administration of an aerosol containing a transferrin-liposome-endostatin complex.

Aim: To obtain an efficient delivery system for transporting endostatin gene to mouse liver tumor xenografts by administration of aerosol.

Methods: Recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0/endostatin containing human endostatin gene together with signal peptide from alkaline phosphatase were transferred into human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) by transferrin(TF)-liposome-endostatin complex.