HIV-1 Proteins gp120 and Tat Promote Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasiveness of HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Neoplastic Genital and Oral Epithelial Cells.

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated anogenital and oropharyngeal cancer in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals is substantially higher than in HIV-uninfected individuals. HIV may also be a risk factor for the development of HPV-negative head and neck, liver, lung, and kidney cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying HIV-1-associated increase of epithelial malignancies are not fully understood.

Behavior Characteristics and Risk for Metabolic Syndrome Among Women in Rural Communities in China.

Background: Rapid economic growth and lifestyle changes in China have resulted in increased metabolic syndrome (MetS) rates. Few investigators have examined sex-specific risk factors and the role of menopause, stress, and sleep on MetS among women in China.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to identify the risk factors for MetS among women in rural China.

Are the factors associated with overweight/general obesity and abdominal obesity different depending on menopausal status?

Rapid modernization in China has impacted the daily lives and health of women, including a rise in obesity. However, little is known about the impact of menopausal status, behavior, and psychosocial factors on the risk of obesity for rural women in China. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors, including demographic information (education, family history of T2DM, menopausal status), obesity-related behavior, and psychosocial factors associated with overweight/general obesity and abdominal obesity.

HIV-1 proteins gp120 and tat induce the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral and genital mucosal epithelial cells.

The oral, cervical, and genital mucosa, covered by stratified squamous epithelia with polarized organization and strong tight and adherens junctions, play a critical role in preventing transmission of viral pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV-1 interaction with mucosal epithelial cells may depolarize epithelia and disrupt their tight and adherens junctions; however, the molecular mechanism of HIV-induced epithelial disruption has not been completely understood. We showed that prolonged interaction of cell-free HIV-1 virions, and viral envelope and transactivator proteins gp120 and tat, respectively, with tonsil, cervical, and foreskin epithelial cells induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Plasma Cell-Free DNA Next-Generation Sequencing to Diagnose and Monitor Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients are at risk for common and atypical infections. Superior diagnostics can decrease infection-related morbidity and mortality. A novel plasma cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing test detected an uncommon presentation of and recurrent and metastatic complications of bacteremia before standard microbiology.

HIV internalization into oral and genital epithelial cells by endocytosis and macropinocytosis leads to viral sequestration in the vesicles.

Recently, we showed that HIV-1 is sequestered, i.e., trapped, in the intracellular vesicles of oral and genital epithelial cells.

Release of HIV-1 sequestered in the vesicles of oral and genital mucosal epithelial cells by epithelial-lymphocyte interaction.

Oropharyngeal mucosal epithelia of fetuses/neonates/infants and the genital epithelia of adults play a critical role in HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission and sexual transmission of virus, respectively. To study the mechanisms of HIV-1 transmission through mucosal epithelium, we established polarized tonsil, cervical and foreskin epithelial cells. Analysis of HIV-1 transmission through epithelial cells showed that approximately 0.