Safety, immunogenicity and protective effect of sequential vaccination with inactivated and recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine in the elderly: a prospective longitudinal study.

The safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in the elderly, a high-risk group for severe COVID-19 infection, have not been fully understood. To clarify these issues, this prospective study followed up 157 elderly and 73 young participants for 16 months and compared the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of two doses of the inactivated vaccine BBIBP-CorV followed by a booster dose of the recombinant protein vaccine ZF2001. The results showed that this vaccination protocol was safe and tolerable in the elderly.

Ergothioneine exhibits longevity-extension effect in regulation of cholinergic neurotransmission, tyrosine metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation.

Many studies have demonstrated the protective effect of ergothioneine (EGT), the unique sulfur-containing antioxidant found in mushrooms, on several aging-related diseases. Nevertheless, to date, no single study has explored the potential role of EGT in the lifespan of animal models. We show here that EGT consistently extends fly lifespan in diverse genetic backgrounds and both sexes, as well as in a dose and gender-dependent manner.

Alterations of the frequency and functions of follicular regulatory T cells and related mechanisms in HIV infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection impairs both cellular and humoral immune system. Follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells are a recently characterised subset of CD4T cells. Tfr also exerts an immunosuppressive effect on humoral immune system through interaction with follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, but the role of Tfr in HIV infection needs to be further elucidated.

[Therapeutic Effects of Berberine Capsule on Patients with Mild Hyperlipidemia].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of Berberine Capsule (BC) on patients with mild hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Totally 102 mild hyperlipemia patients were recruited. All patients were suggested to have proper diet and physical activity as basic therapy for 1 month of run-in period.

Identification of novel DNA methylation markers in colorectal cancer using MIRA-based microarrays.

To identify novel hypermethylated genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) and to test their potential application in CRC early diagnosis, a genome-wide screening of 57,723 CpG dinucleotides covering 4,010 genes was performed using MIRA-based microarrays in paired DNA samples extracted from 3 fresh frozen CRC tissues and their matching non-cancer tissues from 3 CRC patients undergoing curative surgery. Candidate hypermethylated genes screened by MIRA-based microarrays were further validated in independent CRC samples. A total of 297 CpG dinucleotides covering 211 genes were found to be hypermethylated in CRC tissues.

Altered nuclear factor-kappaB inducing kinase expression in insulin-resistant mice.

Background: Insulin resistance is an underlying feature of both type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Currently, it is unclear whether nuclear factor (NF)-κB inducing kinase (NIK) plays a role in the development of insulin resistance. The present in vivo study investigated the roles of NIK and IκB kinase α (IKKα) in obesity-induced insulin resistance using animal models.

Bezafibrate enhances proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells via AMPK and eNOS activation.

Aim: To investigate the effects of bezafibrate on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, and to determine the signaling pathway underlying the effects.

Methods: MC3T3-E1 cells, a mouse osteoblastic cell line, were used. Cell viability and proliferation were examined using MTT assay and colorimetric BrdU incorporation assay, respectively.

Comparative studies on 24-hour urinary excretion in Japanese and Chinese adults and children--need for nutritional education.

In order to evaluate the effect of nutritional education on the risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases, we measured taurine and isoflavone content in 24-hour urine samples (24-U) of 3rd grade Chinese children (CC) and of age-matched Japanese children (JC), as well as adult Chinese and Japanese (CA, JA) according to the WHO-CARDIAC (Cardiovascular Diseases and Alimentary Comparison) Study protocol. There was a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and "thin" individuals in CC compared with JC. While K intake was not significantly different in the children, the sodium to potassium ratio (Na/ K) and the intake of sodium chloride (NaCl) were significantly higher in CC than in JC.

[Comparison of continuous and discontinuous density gradient centrifugation for purification of human pancreatic islets].

Objective: To compare the effect of continuous and discontinuous density gradient centrifugation for purification of human pancreatic islets with COBE 2991 cell processor.

Methods: Human pancreases were obtained from brain-dead donors and stored in cold UW solution. The connective tissues were removed from the pancreases, and the pancreatic ducts were perfused with a cold enzyme (Liberase).

[Isolation and purification of human islet cells with semi-automated digestion].

Objective: To establish an semi-automated effective method for large-scale purification of islet cells from human pancreas.

Methods: Human pancreas tissue was digested with collagenase P using a semi-automated pancreas-digestion system followed by purification in a HCA-Ficoll continuous gradient using Cobe2991 cell separator. After isolation, the islet cell yield and purity was evaluated with light microscope with DTZ staining, and the islet function assessed by insulin release assay in vitro.

[The expression and significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase protein and gene in bile duct carcinomas and their adjacent tissues].

Objective: To detect the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) protein and mRNA in bile duct carcinomas and the adjacent tissues and to elucidate its role in bile duct carcinogenesis.

Methods: The expression of hTERT protein and hTERT mRNA in the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of 71 cases of bile duct cancers and 39 cases of adjacent tissues was detected by streptavidin-peroxidase immunostaining and in situ hybridization. The correlation was analysed statistically between the expression of hTERT protein and mRNA and clinicopathological parameters bile duct carcinomas.

[In situ nucleic acid detection of HBV X gene in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas and its clinicopathological significance].

Objective: To detect the expression of HBV X gene (HBx mRNA) in extrahepatic biliary tract carcinomas and the adjacent non-cancerous tissues, and to analyzed the relationship between HBV infection and incidence of biliary tract carcinomas, thereby to elucidate the possible role of HBx in the carcinogenesis of biliary tract.

Methods: The plasmid pSPX46 was digested by appropriate restriction enzyme. HBx fragment was obtained through gel extraction kit.

[Distribution of HIV-1 coreceptor CX3CR1 allelic polymorphisms in general population, HIV-1 high-risk group and HIV-1 carriers of Chinese indigenous Han and Uygur people].

Objective: To investigate the V249I and T280M allelic polymorphisms of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coreceptor CX3CR1 in HIV-1 infected and uninfected population of Chinese indigenous Han and Uygur people and to probe the association between I249-M280 haplotype and HIV-1 susceptibility as well as AIDS progression.

Methods: Genomic DNA of 223 Uygur subjects and 316 Han subjects were purified from PBMC. I249 and M280 allelic frequencies were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/nest polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.

[Polymorphism of CXCR4 coding region of human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Chinese Han people].

Objective: To study the polymorphism of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 coreceptor CXCR4 in Chinese Han ethnic group for AIDS prevention and treatment.

Methods: Totally 48 individuals were enrolled into the study. CXCR4 (cDNA No-AF147204) was cloned by PCR amplification using 2 pairs of primers, then sequenced using sequencing primers.

[Single nucleotide polymorphism loci of HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 gene in Chinese Han people].

Objective: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) loci of HIV-1 coreceptor CCR5 gene in Chinese Han people.

Methods: The coding region of CCR5 was amplified using 2 pairs of primers and the PCR products of all 42 healthy subjects were sequenced by 4 different primers. The results of sequencing were analyzed by DNAstar in search of SNP loci.

Population survey of CCR5 delta32, CCR5 m303, CCR2b 64I, and SDF1 3'A allele frequencies in indigenous Chinese healthy individuals, and in HIV-1-infected and HIV-1-uninfected individuals in HIV-1 risk groups.

The aim of this study is to determine in indigenous Chinese ethnic groups the frequencies of the chemokine (SDF1 3'A) and chemokine receptors (CCR5 delta32, CCR5 m303, and CCR2b 64I) HIV-1/AIDS restriction alleles. The study includes two cohorts; the first comprised 3165 indigenous healthy subjects representing eight ethnic groups: Han (n = 1406), Uygur (n = 316), Mongolia (n = 134), Hui (n = 386), Tibetan (n = 330), Zhuang (n = 378), Dai (n = 101), and Jingbo (n =114). The second cohort consisted of 330 HIV-1-infected (86 subjects infected by sexual transmission and 198 subjects infected by HIV-1-contaminated blood or by sharing injection equipment; the remaining 46 subjects said nothing about HIV-1 transmission) and 474 HIV-1-uninfected Han Chinese belonging to one of two HIV-1 high-risk groups: intravenous drug users (n = 215) and individuals with sexually transmitted diseases (n = 259).