Characterization of viral infections in children with influenza-like-illness during December 2018-January 2019.

Introduction: Respiratory viral infection (RVI) is of very concern after the outbreak of COVID-19, especially in pediatric departments. Learning pathogen spectrum of RVI in children previous the epidemic of COVID-19 could provide another perspective for understanding RVI under current situation and help to prepare for the post COVID-19 infection control.

Methods: A nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) assay, with 19 pairs of primers targeting various respiratory viruses, was used for multi-pathogen screening of viral infections in children presenting influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms.

Influence of circulation types on temporal and spatial variations of ozone in Beijing.

This study analyzes the impact of circulation types (CTs) on ozone (O) pollution in Beijing. The easterly high-pressure (SWW) circulation occurred most frequently (30%; 276 day), followed by northwesterly high-pressure (AN) circulation (24.3%; 224 day).

Proteome analysis reveals novel serum biomarkers for Henoch-Schönlein purpura in Chinese children.

Purpose: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is diagnosed based on characteristic skin changes. This study aimed to identify the serum biomarkers of HSP in children.

Experimental Design: We performed proteomic analysis of serum samples from 38 paired pre- and posttherapy HSP patients and 22 healthy controls using a combination of magnetic bead-based weak cation exchange and MALDI-TOF MS.

STAT3 potentiates RNA polymerase I-directed transcription and tumor growth by activating RPA34 expression.

Background: Deregulation of either RNA polymerase I (Pol I)-directed transcription or expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) correlates closely with tumorigenesis. However, the connection between STAT3 and Pol I-directed transcription hasn't been investigated.

Methods: The role of STAT3 in Pol I-directed transcription was determined using combined techniques.

Transcription factor GATA4 drives RNA polymerase III-directed transcription and transformed cell proliferation through a filamin A/GATA4/SP1 pathway.

RNA polymerase III (pol III) products play fundamental roles in a variety of cellular processes, including protein synthesis and cancer cell proliferation. In addition, dysregulation of pol III-directed transcription closely correlates with tumorigenesis. It is therefore of interest to identify novel pathways or factors governing pol III-directed transcription.

Efficacy of Huaiqihuang granules as adjuvant therapy for bronchial asthma in children: a real-world study.

Objectives: To study the efficacy of Huaiqihuang granules as adjuvant therapy for bronchial asthma in children.

Methods: A multicenter, prospective, and registered real-world study was performed for the children, aged 2-5 years, who had a confirmed diagnosis of bronchial asthma in the outpatient service of 21 hospitals in China. Among these children, the children treated with medications for long-term asthma control (inhaled corticosteroid and/or leukotriene receptor antagonist) without Huaiqihuang granules were enrolled as the control treatment group, and those treated with medications for long-term asthma control combined with Huaiqihuang granules were enrolled as the combined treatment group.

Tanshinone IIA Combined With Cyclosporine A Alleviates Lung Apoptosis Induced by Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion in Obese Rats.

Acute lung injury (ALI), which is induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR), is one of the leading causes of acute renal IR-related death. Obesity raises the frequency and severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) and ALI. Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) was employed to lessen the lung apoptosis led by renal IR and to evaluate whether TIIA combined with CsA could alleviate lung apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial function through the PI3K/Akt/Bad pathway in obese rats.

A high-efficiency method for site-directed mutagenesis of large plasmids based on large DNA fragment amplification and recombinational ligation.

Site-directed mutagenesis for large plasmids is a difficult task that cannot easily be solved by the conventional methods used in many laboratories. In this study, we developed an effective method for Site-directed Mutagenesis for Large Plasmids (SMLP) based on a PCR technique. The SMLP method combines several effective approaches, including a high-efficiency DNA polymerase for the large DNA amplification, two independent PCR reactions and a fast recombinational ligation.

RNA polymerase I subunit 12 plays opposite roles in cell proliferation and migration.

RNA polymerase I (Pol I) is responsible for the synthesis of the majority of ribosomal RNA molecules in eukaryotes. Pol I subunit 12 (RPA12) is involved in the transcriptional termination and lipid metabolism in yeast. However, its role in human cells hasn't been investigated so far.

[Characteristics of Two Pollution Episodes Before and After City Heating in Beijing from February to March of 2019].

The characteristics of meteorological conditions and pollutant concentrations were analyzed based on two pollution episodes before and after city heating in Beijing during February to March of 2019. The backward trajectory and WRF-CAMx models were used to analyze the evolution of pollutants before and after city heating, and the influences of meteorological conditions, regional transport, and secondary transformation on the episodes were discussed. There was little difference in the average (PM) between February 21-24 (episode 1) and March 18-20 (episode 2), with concentrations of 100.

[Differences in Pollution Characteristics Under the Southerly and Easterly Wind in Beijing].

In this study, the hourly meteorological factors and PM concentrations during 2014-2019 in Beijing were analyzed, in order to explore the characteristics of the prevailing wind direction of pollution, and the corresponding long-term tendency. During the study period, 67% of pollution in Beijing occurred under the influence of southerly and easterly wind, and pollution was most likely to occur in winter, followed by spring and autumn. The average pollution probability of winter, spring, autumn and summer was 45.

Iridium-catalyzed -selective carbon-hydrogen amidation of benzamides with sulfonyl azides in ionic liquid.

An efficient and convenient iridium(iii) catalyzed -C-H bond amidation of weakly coordinating benzamides treated with readily available sulfonyl azides as the amino source has been described. In this transformation, ionic liquids represents an ideal reaction medium, giving rise to a broad range of amidation products under mild conditions in the open air. This protocol offers moderate to excellent chemical yields, exclusive regioselectivities, and good functional group tolerance.

Diagnostic performance of two specific schistosoma japonicum immunological tests for screening schistosoma haematobium in school children in Zambia.

Dipstick Dye Immunoassay (DDIA) and Indirect Haemagglutination Assay (IHA), are two commercially available kits which have been widely used for screening Schistosoma japonicum in P.R. China.

The Shape of the Concentration-Response Association between Fine Particulate Matter Pollution and Human Mortality in Beijing, China, and Its Implications for Health Impact Assessment.

Background: Studies found approximately linear short-term associations between particulate matter (PM) and mortality in Western communities. However, in China, where the urban PM levels are typically considerably higher than in Western communities, some studies suggest nonlinearity in this association. Health impact assessments (HIA) of PM in China have generally not incorporated nonlinearity in the concentration-response (C-R) association, which could result in large discrepancies in estimates of excess deaths if the true association is nonlinear.

[Contribution Assessment of Meteorology Conditions and Emission Change for Air Quality Improvement in Beijing During 2014-2017].

During 2014-2017, the number of haze days and air pollution days declined year by year obviously in Beijing. The average mass concentrations of PM, PM, SO, and NO also decreased with the alleviated pollution level. These decreases were more obvious during the heating period, especially in November and December.

[Investigation on endemic situation of schistosomiasis in infection-controlled regions in Anhui Province].

Objective: To understand the epidemic situation of schistosomiasis in 27 counties (cities, districts) that reached the criteria of schistosomiasis infection controlled in Anhui Province.

Methods: According to the requirement of The National Assessment Scheme of Schistosomiasis, 81 administrative villages where the schistosomiasis epidemic situation was relatively heaver in above-mentioned 27 counties (1 village per town, 3 towns per county) were sampled and investigated.

Results: From 2012 to 2014, 81 villages were investigated, and 34,293 residents received the serum examinations, and 1,086 were positive with a positive rate of 3.

Prevalence and risk factors of intestinal protozoan and helminth infections among pulmonary tuberculosis patients without HIV infection in a rural county in P. R. China.

Although co-infection of tuberculosis (TB) and intestinal parasites, including protozoa and helminths, in humans has been widely studied globally, very little of this phenomenon is known in China. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a rural county of China to investigate such co-infections. Patients with pulmonary TB (PTB) undergoing anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (anti-MTB) treatment were surveyed by questionnaires, and their feces and blood specimens were collected for detection of intestinal protozoa and helminths, routine blood examination and HIV detection.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate protects pancreatic β-cells from oxidative damage through regulation of FoxO1 activity in type 2 diabetes rats.

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) can lower the blood glucose level and improve the insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect of PDTC treatment in diabetic rats remained uncertain. In this study, we evaluated the mechanisms by which PDTC conferred protection against oxidative damage to pancreatic islet β-cells in rats with experimental type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

Intestinal parasite co-infection among pulmonary tuberculosis cases without human immunodeficiency virus infection in a rural county in China.

Epidemiologic studies of co-infection with tuberculosis (TB) and intestinal parasites in humans have not been extensively investigated in China. A cross-section study was conducted in a rural county of Henan Province, China. Pulmonary TB (PTB) case-patients receiving treatment for infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and healthy controls matched for geographic area, age, and sex were surveyed by using questionnaires.

HIV and intestinal parasite co-infections among a Chinese population: an immunological profile.

Background: Parasite infections often result in a switch of the human body's predominant immune reaction from T-helper 1 (Th1)-type to Th2-type. Hence, parasite infections are widely expected to accelerate the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). In the People's Republic of China, both parasitic diseases and AIDS are epidemic in certain rural areas, and co-infections are relatively common.

[Survey on Blastocystis hominis infection in HIV positive individuals in Fuyang City, Anhui Province].

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of co-infection of HIV and Blastocystis hominis and its risk factors.

Methods: A total of 309 people with HIV positive in the development zone of Fuyang City were recruited, and the face to face questionnaires were conducted to collect the information of behavioral characteristics and sociodemographic data of the participants. Meanwhile, the samples of stool and blood were collected to test B.

Co-infection of HIV and intestinal parasites in rural area of China.

Background: Intestinal parasite infections (IPIs) are among the most significant causes of illness and disease of socially and economically disadvantaged populations in developing countries, including rural areas of the People's Republic of China. With the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among rural Chinese populations, there is ample scope for co-infections and there have been increasing fears about their effects. However, hardly any relevant epidemiological studies have been carried out in the country.

[Susceptibilities of Oncomelania hupensis snails to Schistosoma japonicum miracidia from different hosts].

Objective: To understand the susceptibilities of Oncomelania hupensis snails to Schistosoma japonicum miracidia from different hosts.

Methods: The Schistosoma japonicum eggs from different hosts, such as rabbits, cattle and mice were collected. These eggs were incubated for miracidia, respectively.

[A case-control study on depression and anxiety in hypertensive patients].

Objective: To study the current situation of depression and anxiety from patients with hypertension as well as to provide reference for the development of control and prevention program.

Methods: Participants older than 35-year including both hypertensive patients and healthy controls were randomly selected in 2 communities of Pukou district in Nanjing through Health Behavior Survey. All the subjects were assessed by the Zung's self-rating depression scale (SDS) and the Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS).