Clinical and pathogen features of COVID-19-associated infections during an Omicron strain outbreak in Guangzhou, China.

Unlabelled: Although the Omicron variant has been associated with greater transmissibility and tropism of the upper respiratory tract, the clinical and pathogenic features of patients infected with the Omicron variant during an outbreak in China have been unclear. Adults with COVID-19 were retrospectively enrolled from seven medical centers in Guangzhou, China, and clinical information and specimens ( BALF, sputum, and throat swabs) from participants were collected. Conventional detection methods, metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS), and other methods were used to detect pathogens in lower respiratory tract samples.

Microbiological characteristics of the lower airway in adults with bronchiectasis: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Microbial infection and colonization are frequently associated with disease progression and poor clinical outcomes in bronchiectasis. Identification of pathogen spectrum is crucial for precision treatment at exacerbation of bronchiectasis.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients with bronchiectasis exacerbation onset and stable state.

Diagnostic value of orbicularis oculi muscle electromyography in functional epiphora.

Background: Functional epiphora is a clinical condition which is not due to an anatomic defect. Most studies agree that it involves the action of the orbicularis oculi muscle, particularly its deeper segment (Horner's muscle), but the exact mechanism is not clear.

Aim: To evaluate the orbicularis oculi muscle in functional epiphora patients using electromyography (EMG).

Role of Tim-3 in hepatitis B virus infection: An overview.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has received increasing public attention. HBV is the prototypical member of hepadnaviruses, which naturally infect only humans and great apes and induce the acute and persistent chronic infection of hepatocytes. A large body of evidence has demonstrated that dysfunction of the host anti-viral immune response is responsible for persistent HBV replication, unresolved inflammation and disease progression.

Tim-4 Inhibits NO Generation by Murine Macrophages.

Objective: T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-4 (Tim-4) receives much attention as a potentially negative regulator of immune responses. However, its modulation on macrophages has not been fully elucidated so far. This study aimed to identify the role of Tim-4 in nitric oxide (NO) modulation.

[Early production of interleukin-17 in airway upon Chlamydia trachomatis infection increases the local secretion of IL-6 and MIP-2].

Objective: To evaluate the early interleukin-17 (IL-17) production in airway upon Chlamydia trachomatis infection and its relationship with the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) in local site.

Methods: In vivo, a murine model of pneumonia induced by intranasal inoculation with Chlamydia trachomatis mouse pneumonitis (MoPn, now classified as a new species C. muridarum) was used for the study.

[Survey on host animal and molecular epidemiology of hantavirus in Chuxiong prefecture, Yunnan province].

Objective: To determine the hosts of hantavirus (HV) and its molecular epidemiological characteristics, to provide evidence for prevention and control on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

Methods: Rodents were captured by a special trap within the residential area. The antigens of HV in lung tissues were detected by direct immuno-fluorescence assay (DFA).

Blockade of Tim-3 pathway ameliorates interferon-gamma production from hepatic CD8+ T cells in a mouse model of hepatitis B virus infection.

T cell immunoglobulin- and mucin-domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) has been reported to participate in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. However, whether Tim-3 is involved in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains unknown. Here, we studied the expression and function of Tim-3 in a hydrodynamics-based mouse model of HBV infection.

Blockade of TRAIL pathway ameliorates HBV-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in an acute hepatitis model.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) may play important roles during hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we used a recombinant human soluble death receptor 5 (sDR5) to explore its effect in a mouse model of HBV-induced acute hepatitis. By measuring blood transaminase activity and hepatocyte apoptosis, we found that sDR5 could alleviate liver damage by blocking TRAIL-induced apoptosis of HBV-transfected hepatocytes.

Human endostatin gene transfer, either naked or with liposome, has the same inhibitory effect on growth of mouse liver tumor cells in vivo.

Aim: To explore a safe and efficient strategy of tumor therapy using anti-angiogenetic agents.

Methods: Endostatin gene with a signal sequence of human IgGgamma chain was amplified by PCR and cloned into pVAX1 plasmid which was the only vector authorized by FDA in clinical trial to construct a recombinant plasmid named as pVAX-sEN. The recombinant plasmid was detected with EcoRI/KpnI and DNA sequencing.

Establishment of mice model with human viral hepatitis B.

Aim: To establish a mice model of hepatitis B by using HBV-transgenic mice, and to transfer HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) induced from syngeneic BALB/c mice immunized by a eukaryotic expression vector containing HBV complete genome DNA.

Methods: HBV DNA was obtained from digested pBR322-2HBV and ligated with the vector pcDNA3. Recombinant pcDNA3-HBV was identified by restriction endonuclease assay and transfected into human hepatoma cell line HepG2 with lipofectin.

A novel HBV antisense RNA gene delivery system targeting hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To construct a novel HBV antisense RNA delivery system targeting hapatocellular carcinoma and study its inhibitory effect in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: GE7,a 16-peptide specific to EGFR, and HA20,a homologue of N-terminus of haemagglutinin of influenza viral envelope protein, were synthesized and conjugated with polylysin. The above conjugates were organized into the pEBAF-as-preS2, a hepatocarcinoma specific HBV antisense expression vector, to construct a novel HBV antisense RNA delivery system, named AFP-enhancing 4-element complex.

Detection of soluble TRAIL in HBV infected patients and its clinical implications.

Aim: To detect the expression of soluble TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand, TRAIL) in the peripheral blood of HBV infected patients and try to elucidate whether the expression level of sTRAIL have any correlativity with the clinical staging, the expression level of HBV markers and the degree of liver damage.

Methods: 52 cases of HBV infected patients were investigated, including 8 HBV carriers, 30 chronic hepatitis B, 11 cirrhotics and 3 HBV infection related hepatocellular carcinoma. Expression of soluble TRAIL and markers of the hepatitis B were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.