Detection of liver and spleen stiffness in rats with portal hypertension by two-dimensional shear wave elastography.

Background: The measurement of liver stiffness (LS) and spleen stiffness (SS) based on ultrasound elastography can be used for non-invasive assessment of portal hypertension (PH). However, there are few studies on the corresponding mechanism of increased spleen stiffness. Our aim was to use two-dimensional shear wave elastrography (2D-SWE) to evaluate the relationship between LS and SS and the severity of PH in rats.

A systematic meta-analysis of immune signatures in patients with COVID-19.

Currently severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission has been on the rise worldwide. Predicting outcome in COVID-19 remains challenging, and the search for more robust predictors continues. We made a systematic meta-analysis on the current literature from 1 January 2020 to 15 August 2020 that independently evaluated 32 circulatory immunological signatures that were compared between patients with different disease severity was made.

Preclinical PK/PD model for combined administration of erlotinib and sunitinib in the treatment of A549 human NSCLC xenograft mice.

Aim: Combined therapy of EGFR TKI and VEGFR TKI may produce a greater therapeutic benefit and overcome EGFR TKI-induced resistance. However, a previous study shows that a combination of EGFR TKI erlotinib (ER) with VEGFR TKI sunitinib (SU) did not improve the overall survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study we examined the anticancer effect of ER, SU and their combination in the treatment of A549 human NSCLC xenograft mice, and conducted PK/PD modeling and simulations to optimize the dose regimen.

Dexamethasone suppresses the growth of human non-small cell lung cancer via inducing estrogen sulfotransferase and inactivating estrogen.

Aim: Dexamethasone (DEX) is a widely used synthetic glucocorticoid, which has shown anti-cancer efficacy and anti-estrogenic activity. In this study we explored the possibility that DEX might be used as an endocrine therapeutic agent to treat human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: The viability and proliferation of human NSCLC cell lines A549 and H1299 were assessed in vitro.

How Work Organization Affects the Prevalence of WMSDs: A Case-control Study.

Objective: In this study, we aimed at exploring the association between work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) and work organization based on a case-control study.

Methods: A total of 1938 workers who claimed to suffer from WMSDs were selected from Beijing, Henan, Hubei, and the Guangdong province. The control group consisted of 2009 workers employed in similar industries without severe disease or musculoskeletal discomforts.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel trifluoromethyl indoles as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs with an improved drug resistance profile.

A novel series of trifluoromethyl indole derivatives have been designed, synthesized and evaluated for anti-HIV-1 activities in MT-2 cells. The hydrophobic constant, acute toxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity were predicted. Trifluoromethyl indoles 10i and 10k showed extremely promising activities against WT HIV-1 with IC50 values at the low nanomolar level, similar to efavirenz, better than nevirapine, and also possessed higher potency towards the drug-resistant mutant strain Y181C than nevirapine.

Diverse reactivity in microwave-promoted catalyst-free coupling of substituted anilines with ethyl trifluoropyruvate and biological evaluation.

Diverse reactivity by coupling of substituted anilines with ethyl trifluoropyruvate was developed under microwave irradiation without catalysts to generate 3-trifluoromethyl-3-hydroxy oxindoles, aromatic hydroxy trifluoromethyl esters, and 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds in a fast and efficient manner. The plausible mechanism for obtaining different products was proposed. Furthermore, the anti-HIV activity of aromatic hydroxy trifluoromethyl esters was first reported.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence of nano-core-shell structure used for sensitive detection of prion protein with a dual-aptamer strategy.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) as a newly recognized technology is widespread throughout biological research. The use of fluorophore-metal interactions is recognized to be able to alleviate some of fluorophore photophysical constraints, favorably increase both the fluorophore emission intensity and photostability. In this contribution, we developed a novel metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) and dual-aptamer-based strategy to achieve the prion detection in solution and intracellular protein imaging simultaneously, which shows high promise for nanostructure-based biosensing.

[A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of HIV drug resistance in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Shenqiu county, Henan province].

Objective: To understand the prevalence of drug resistance in AIDS patients who had been receiving HAART in a long run, in Shenqiu county, Henan province.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 120 HIV infected patients who began receiving ART (antiretroviral therapy) in 2003. Viral loads and CD(4)(+) T cells counts were measured, and In-house drug resistance test was performed in VL > 1000 copies/ml patients.

[Distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 2008-2009].

Objective: To understand the distribution of HIV-1 subtypes in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Methods: 294 participants who were infected by HIV-1 in 2008 - 2009 and residing in 13 cities in Guangxi were enrolled into this study. Epidemiological information showed that heterosexual transmission was the main transmitting route.

A click-activated fluorescent probe for selective detection of hydrazoic acid and its application in biological imaging.

Here we present a new approach to aqueous hydrazoic acid detection through the synthesis and evaluation of an alkyne-based fluorescent probe, which could be applied in the monitoring of hydrazoic acid in both living Hela cells and larval zebrafish. This probe can also serve as an early warning automaton which would alert when both azide and protons exist over the threshold value.

[Men who have sex with men and its relationship with HIV-1 strains prevailing in the paid blood donors from Zhengzhou city, Henan].

Objective: To clarify the genetic characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) circulated in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhengzhou, Henan and to analyze its relationship with HIV-1 prevailing in the paid blood donors (PBDs).

Methods: Thirty-one MSM who were confirmed as HIV positive individuals in 2010 together with 41 HIV-positive former PBDs were enrolled in the study. Information on related epidemiological characteristics and their plasma were collected.

Risk factors of low back pain among the Chinese occupational population: a case-control study.

Objective: To explore the risk factors of low back pain among the Chinese occupational population in several major industries.

Methods: A total of 7200 subjects (3600 cases and 3600 controls) were randomly sampled from a cross-sectional study, and they were investigated for individual and occupational factors of low back pain. The potential risk factors were first selected by using chi-square tests.

[HIV-1 subtype and the distribution in Yunnan province].

Objective: To understanding the genetic subtype and its population and regional distribution of HIV-1 strains circulating in Yunnan province.

Methods: 788 plasma specimens collected in 2008-2009 from 15 distracts of Yunnan, were enrolled. Viral RNA were extracted and subjected to RT-PCR.

Effect of VEGF-targeted antisense gene therapy on retinoblastoma cell line SO-RB50 in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: To evaluate the possibility of generation 4 polyamidoamine (G4PAMAM) dendrimers acting as the delivery system of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (VEGFASODN), and to investigate the anti-tumor effect of G4PAMAM/VEGFASODN complex on the cultured cells and the mouse tumor xenograft model.

Methods: The transfection efficiency was assessed by Flow cytometry (FCM). Thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to determine the relative growth rate (RGR) of the cells after transfection.

[The assessment of reliability and validity of musculoskeletal questionnaire].

Objective: To evaluate the reliability and validity of musculoskeletal questionnaire.

Methods: A self-administered modified musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to investigate 12 098 workers from eight occupations, i.e.

Similar neutralizing activity in the HIV-1 infected long term non-progressors(LTNPs) and typical progressors(TPs).

Neutralizing antibodies are considered to be an important protective parameter used in HIV-1 vaccine evaluation. However, the exact role that neutralizing antibodies plays in controlling the disease progression of HIV-1 infected peoples is still undetermined. In this paper, we compared the protective function of the neutralizing antibody response in the plasma from LTNP and TP against clade B and clade C pseudoviruses.

CD3Z genetic polymorphism in immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in two independent Chinese populations.

Vaccination against hepatitis B virus is an effective and routine practice that can prevent infection. However, vaccine-induced immunity to hepatitis B varies among individuals. CD4(+) T helper cells, which play an important role in both cellular and humoral immunity, are involved in the immune response elicited by vaccination.

[Prevalence status and mutation pattern of H221Y in subtype B' of HIV-1].

Objective: To explore the prevalence and mutation pattern of H221Y at reverse transcriptase (RT) among the subtype B' of human immunodeficiency virus1 (HIV-1) in antiviral therapy-failure patients.

Methods: A total of 1363 sequences, comprising of 1205 therapy-failure individuals and 158 therapy-naive individuals, were submitted to the Stanford HIV drug resistance database (SHDB) to analyze the frequency and mutation pattern of H221Y.

Results: The prevalence of mutation H221Y in the therapy-failure population was significantly higher than that of the therapy-naive (6.

Fluorescence turn-on detection of hypochlorous acid via HOCl-promoted dihydrofluorescein-ether oxidation and its application in vivo.

We report three new water-soluble dihydrofluorescein-ether probes FCN1, FCN2 and FCN3 for the detection of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which were designed on the basis of a specific HOCl-promoted oxidation reaction. This work also provided a useful method to monitor the accumulated HOCl in specific organelles using a zebrafish model.

[Development of China Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and item selection].

Objective: To develop a draft questionnaire (China Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, CMQ) for evaluating of musculoskeletal workload and associated potential hazardous working conditions as well as musculoskeletal symptoms of workers in Sitting Posture.

Methods: Multi-methods, which include the reviewing references, the summarizing results of preliminary studies, the reviewing ergonomic tools, the consulting experts and occupational health workers and the interviewing or discussing with individual workers in sitting posture, were used in developing item pool. The experts and epidemiologists of occupational health scored the importance of every single item in the item pool, and then the survey and sampling were carried out in 325 workers of sitting posture who completed the questionnaire.

[Studying on the prevalence and mutation pattern of N348I which related to the resistance of HIV-1].

Objective: To elucidate the prevalence and the mutation pattern of N348I that related to the resistance seen in the AIDS patients, in China.

Methods: Partial pol gene of HIV-1 comprising of full protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) was obtained from plasma samples of therapy-failure individuals (n = 614) and therapy-naive individuals (n = 619) by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). 1233 sequences were then submitted to the HIV-1 drug resistance database of the Stanford University to analyze the prevalence and the emergence pattern of N348I.

Quantify work load and muscle functional activation patterns in neck-shoulder muscles of female sewing machine operators using surface electromyogram.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have high prevalence in sewing machine operators employed in the garment industry. Long work duration, sustained low level work and precise hand work are the main risk factors of neck-shoulder disorders for sewing machine operators. Surface electromyogram (sEMG) offers a valuable tool to determine muscle activity (internal exposure) and quantify muscular load (external exposure).

Mutations in PRRT2 result in paroxysmal dyskinesias with marked variability in clinical expression.

Background: Paroxysmal dyskinesias (PDs), a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of episodic movement disorders, include kinesigenic PD (PKD), exercise-induced PD (PED) and non-kinesigenic PD (PNKD). These disorders are all transmitted as autosomal dominant traits with incomplete penetrance. Several PD-related genetic disorders, including PKD and familial infantile convulsions with paroxysmal choreoathetosis (ICCA), mapped to the same region on chromosome 16.