Association of Changes in Metabolic Syndrome Status With the Incidence of Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective Study in Chinese Adults.

Although several cross-sectional studies have shown an association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with nodular thyroid disease, related prospective studies are scarce. This study investigated the association of MetS with thyroid nodule (TN) incidence in Chinese adults, and explored whether the development of or recovery from MetS is associated with changes in the risk of developing TNs. A total of 4,749 Chinese aged 18-65 years were involved in this 6-year prospective study.

Hyperhomocysteinemia Accelerates Acute Kidney Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease Progression by Downregulating Heme Oxygenase-1 Expression.

Aims: The risk factors promoting acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhcy) accelerates the development of renal fibrosis after AKI.

Results: Hhcy aggravated ischemia-reperfusion-induced AKI and the subsequent development of renal fibrotic lesions characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition.

[Detection of a novel human pegivirus HPgV-2 in healthy blood donors and recipients of multiple transfusions: implications for blood safety].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of HPgV-2 in blood donors, transfusion recipients and hemophilia patients and its impact on blood safety.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 1060 healthy blood donors, 1402 HCV-positive and 500 HBV- positive blood donors, 570 transfusion recipients and 248 hemophilia patients for screening anti-HPgV-2 antibodies, HPgV-2 RNA, anti-HCV and HBsAg/HBV-DNA using ELISA and RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of near fulllength genome sequences and NS3 genes of pegiviruses and hepaciviruses were performed using MEGA software.

Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of human parechovirus in individuals with acute diarrhea and healthy controls in Guangzhou, China.

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are prevalent in young children; however, their effects are incompletely understood. We investigated the prevalence, genotype distribution, and phylogeny of HPeVs in individuals with diarrhea (n = 430) and healthy controls (n = 93) by the analysis of stool specimens collected from July 2013 to December 2014; 51 (11.86%) and 6 (6.

Identification and genetic characterization of equine Pegivirus in China.

In 2013, two new viruses, equine pegivirus (EPgV) and Theiler's disease-associated virus (TDAV), both belonging to the genus Pegivirus within the family Flaviviridae, were identified. To investigate the geographical distribution and genetic diversity of these two viruses in China, we screened EPgV and TDAV infection in imported race horses and Chinese work horses by using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). EPgV was detected in 10.

Synovial Fluid Eotaxin-1 Levels May Reflect Disease Progression in Primary Knee Osteoarthritis Among Elderly Han Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The CC chemokine family member eotaxin-1, also named chemokine C-C motif ligand 11 (CCL11), has been detected in knee osteoarthritis (OA) and could induce breakdown of cartilage matrix. This study was performed to investigate the plasma and synovial fluid eotaxin-1 levels with the disease progression in elderly Han Chinese with primary knee OA.

Design: A total of 143 elderly primary knee OA patients and 135 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

The Effect of Social Support on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: The Mediating Roles of Self-Efficacy and Adherence.

Ample evidence suggests that social support, self-efficacy, and adherence significantly, independently, and together affect glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the pathway from social support to glycemic control remains unclear. This study hypothesized that the effect of social support on glycemic control was mediated sequentially by self-efficacy and adherence. Patients with T2DM were recruited from two hospitals in Guangzhou, China, from January 1 to July 31, 2014, and their sociodemographic clinical data and their assessments on social support, self-efficacy, and adherence were obtained from medical records and self-completed questionnaires.

Quasispecies characteristics in mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B virus by next-generation sequencing.

Objectives: To identify within-host quasispecies characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in mothers and children infected via mother-to-child transmission (MTCT).

Methods: Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we analyzed sequences within the non-overlapping pre-core/core (pre-C/C) gene in 37 mother-child pairs.

Results: Phylogenetic and Highlighter analyses suggested that both a single strain and multiple distinct strains may be transmitted in MTCT of HBV.

Characterization of Humoral Immune Responses against Capsid Protein p24 and Transmembrane Glycoprotein gp41 of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in China.

The objective of this study was to extend our previous research and to further characterize the humoral immune responses against HIV-1 p24, gp41 and the specific peptides carrying the immunodominant epitopes (IDEs) that react with human serum samples from HIV-1-infected individuals in China. We found that the majority (90.45%, 180/199) of the samples did not react with any of the three HIV-1 p24 peptides carrying IDEs, but did react with the recombinant full-length p24, suggesting that these samples tested in China were primarily directed against the conformational epitopes of HIV-1 p24.

Characterization of severe hand, foot, and mouth disease in Shenzhen, China, 2009-2013.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by human enteroviruses, especially by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). Patients infected with different enteroviruses show varied clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to determine whether the etiological spectrum of mild and severe HFMD changed, and the association between pathogens and clinical features.

[Etiologic characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains causing outbreaks and sporadic cases in Guangdong, 2013].

Objective: To study the serotypes, antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes and molecular characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from outbreaks and sporadic cases in Guangdong, 2013.

Methods: 36 Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains isolated from outbreaks and 43 strains from sporadic cases were sero-typed and tested for antimicrobial resistance. PCR was used to detect for tdh(thermostable direct hemolysin gene), trh (tdh(-) related hemolysin gene), GS-PCR and orf8 genes.

[Molecular typing and surveillance on Salmonella typhimurium strain in Guangdong province, 2009-2011].

Objective: To understand the distribution and the characteristics on molecular typing of Salmonella (S.) typhimurium isolates gathered from the surveillance program and to construct the standard S. typhimurium databank in the laboratory through surveillance network PulseNet, in Guangdong province to improve the capability of detection on laboratory-based foodborne outbreaks.

Pathological examinations of an enterovirus 71 infection: an autopsy case.

We report an 8-month-old female infant with the fatal enterovirus 71 infection here. Clinically, she developed respiratory failure and severe pulmonary edema rapidly. Histologically, the lung specimen showed diffuse, severe pulmonary congestion and edema with focal intra-alveolar hemorrhage and typical features of acute encephalitis were easily identified under light microscope.

High prevalence of thalassemia in migrant populations in Guangdong Province, China.

Background: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of thalassemia and to analyze the need for public health services for migrant populations in different cities in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 21 cities of Guangdong Province. Twenty-three types of a- and β-globin gene mutations were detected in a total of 14,230 pregnant women and 14,249 husbands.

The association between C-159T polymorphism in CD14 gene and susceptibility to tuberculosis: a meta-analysis.

The association between CD14 gene C-159T polymorphism and tuberculosis (TB) susceptibility remains inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the correlation, we performed a meta-analysis summarize the possible at a systematic manner. PubMed, HighWire and ScienceDirect databases covering all papers (up to November 2012) were searched.

Diversity and recombination of human parechovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis in Guangzhou, China.

Human parechovirus (HPeV), a member of Picornaviridae family, is a widespread pathogen causing a wide spectrum of diseases. Like other picornaviruses, HPeV genome recombination has been detected. A total of 322 fecal samples were collected from children outpatients in Guangzhou, China, including 42 (13.

A humoral immunity survey following the 2012 influenza season after the pH1N1 pandemic in Guangzhou, China.

According to pathogenic surveillance data during the first half of 2012, the H3N2 influenza virus was prevalent in Guangdong, China, but no pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) virus was detected. This study aimed to measure the seroprevalence of pH1N1 and H3N2 infection following the influenza epidemic in 2012. We collected serum samples by stratified random sampling in a cross-sectional survey from August, 2012 to October, 2012.

Genetic mutations in influenza H3N2 viruses from a 2012 epidemic in Southern China.

Background: An influenza H3N2 epidemic occurred throughout Southern China in 2012.

Methods: We analyzed the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza H3N2 strains isolated between 2011-2012 from Guangdong. Mutation sites, evolutionary selection, antigenic sites, and N-glycosylation within these strains were analyzed.

Molecular detection of human parechovirus in children with acute gastroenteritis in Guangzhou, China.

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are widespread pathogens causing a wide spectrum of diseases. The prevalence and genetic diversity of HPeV in children with acute diarrhea in China is not well known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of HPeV in Guangzhou, China.

κ-Selenocarrageenan prevents microcystin-LR-induced hepatotoxicity in BALB/c mice.

Microcystins (MCs) are a family of cyclic heptapeptides that are produced by blooming algae Microcystis. MCs have been implicated in the development of liver cancer, necrosis and even intrahepatic bleeding. Effective prophylactic approaches and complete removal of MCs are urgently needed.

Effectiveness of a prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission program in Guangdong province from 2007 to 2010.

Background: To achieve the goal of United Nations of elimination of new HIV infections, a program of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) was launched in Guangdong province. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the PMTCT program.

Methods: The retrospective cross-section analysis was conducted using the data of case reported cards of HIV positive mothers and their infants from 2007 to 2010 in Guangdong province, and 108 pairs of eligible subjects were obtained.

Class 1 integrons in urinary isolates of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Southern China during the past five years.

We analyzed extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (226) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (53) collected from urine specimens during 2005-2009 for the presence of ESBL genes, class 1 integrons, and characterization of gene cassettes. TEM and CTX-M β-lactamase genes were the most prevalent. One hundred and forty-four E.

Highly conserved antigenic epitope regions of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes between 2009 H1N1 and seasonal H1N1 influenza: vaccine considerations.

An immunoinformatics study was conducted to determine the highly conserved antigenic epitope regions of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes in the humoral immunity and CD4+ and CD8+ T cellular immunity between 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) and seasonal H1N1 (sH1N1) viruses. It was found that in sH1N1 viruses, 29 epitope regions of HA genes and 8 epitope regions of NA genes which had been experimentally identified, were highly conserved (97.1-100.

Change of urinary fluoride and bone metabolism indicators in the endemic fluorosis areas of southern China after supplying low fluoride public water.

Background: Few studies have evaluated health impacts, especially biomarker changes, following implementation of a new environmental policy. This study examined changes in water fluoride, urinary fluoride (UF), and bone metabolism indicators in children after supplying low fluoride public water in endemic fluorosis areas of Southern China. We also assessed the relationship between UF and serum osteocalcin (BGP), calcitonin (CT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bone mineral density to identify the most sensitive bone metabolism indicators related to fluoride exposure.

[Analysis of prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in subjects undergoing routine physical examinations in Guangzhou].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in the subjects undergoing routine physical examinations in Guangzhou.

Methods: This study was conducted among 8302 subjects (5136 male and 3166 female) undergoing routine physical examinations in a hospital in Guangzhou during the period from October 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. For all the subjects, such indices as body height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, heart rate, and blood biochemistry were examined, and the body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio were calculated.