Neutralizing Antibody-Mediated Protection from Prior Delta Variant Infection Against Omicron BA.5 Sub-Lineage Reinfection One Year Later: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Previous SARS-CoV-2 infection provides some level of protection against reinfection. However, few studies have evaluated the neutralizing antibody (NAb) response after Delta variant infection and its ability to prevent reinfection with Omicron BA.5 one year later.

Emergence of Rarely Reported Extensively Drug-Resistant Enterica Serovar Paratyphi B among Patients in East China.

Background: In recent years, global concern over increasing multidrug resistance (MDR) among various serotypes has grown significantly. However, reports on MDR Paratyphi B remain scarce, let alone the extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated the isolates of Paratyphi B in Jiangsu Province over the past decade and carried out antimicrobial susceptibility tests, then the strains were sequenced and bioinformatics analyses were performed.

The Influence of Maternal Condition on Fetal Cardiac Function during the Second Trimester.

Objective: Maternal health has a direct, profound and lasting effect on the formation and development of the fetal cardiovascular system. The aim of this research was to find whether maternal age, BMI hypertension (GH) or gestational diabetic mellitus (GDM) would affect fetal cardiac function in the second trimester.

Method: 329 mothers who had a fetal echocardiogram examination at the International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute, Shanghai, China, from 1 January 2020 to 30 April 2020 were enrolled at the gestational age of 21 to 26 weeks (mean 22.

Unveiling a New Perspective on Distinguishing Omicron Breakthrough Cases and Postimmune COVID-19-Naive Individuals: Insights from Antibody Profiles.

In the situation of mass vaccination against COVID-19, few studies have reported on the early kinetics of specific antibodies (IgG/IgM/IgA) of vaccine breakthrough cases. There is still a lack of epidemiological evidence about the value of serological indicators in the auxiliary diagnosis of COVID-19 infection, especially when the nucleic acid results were undetectable. Omicron breakthrough cases post-inactivated vaccination ( = 456) and COVID-19-naive individuals with two doses of inactivated vaccination ( = 693) were enrolled.

Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in Omicron breakthrough cases with inactivated vaccination: Role in inferring the history and duration of infection.

Background: The quantitative level and kinetics of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in individuals with Omicron breakthrough infections may differ from those of vaccinated individuals without infection. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the difference in NAb levels to distinguish the breakthrough cases from the post-immunized population to identify early infected person in an outbreak epidemic when nasal and/or pharyngeal swab nucleic acid real-time PCR results were negative.

Methods: We collected 1077 serum samples from 877 individuals, including 189 with Omicron BA.

Long-Term Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Impact of Inactivated Vaccine on SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Based on a COVID-19 Patients Cohort.

Background: Understanding the long-term kinetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the impact of inactivated vaccines on SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in convalescent patients can provide information for developing and improving vaccination strategies in such populations.

Methods: In this cohort, 402 convalescent patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR from 1 January to 22 June 2020 in Jiangsu, China, were enrolled. The epidemiological data included demographics, symptom onset, and vaccination history.

Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Specific and Neutralizing Antibodies over Seven Months after Symptom Onset in COVID-19 Patients.

To assess the persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies produced by natural infection and describe the serological characteristics over 7 months after symptom onset among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by age and severity group, we followed up COVID-19 convalescent patients confirmed from 1 January to 20 March 2020 in Jiangsu, China and collected serum samples for testing IgM/IgG and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 between 26 August and 28 October 2020. In total, 284 recovered participants with COVID-19 were enrolled in our study. Patients had a mean age of 46.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression, Relationship to Immune Infiltration and Prognosis of TIM-1 in Cancer.

TIM-1 is a critical gene that regulates T-helper cell development. However, little research has revealed the distribution, prognosis, and immune infiltration of TIM-1 in cancers. TCGA, GEO, Oncomine, TIMER, Kaplan-Meier, PrognoScan, GEPIA, TISIDB, and HPA databases were used to analyze TIM-1 in cancers.

Existence of virulence genes in clinical isolates from Jiangsu Province of China: a multicenter study.

Background: The ability of to invade, colonizes, and eventually kill host cells is influenced by many virulence factors. The aims of this study were to assess the presence of 11 virulence genes of strains isolated in this country.

Methods: A total of 166 was collected from 13 cities of Jiangsu province through the provincial Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from 2010 to 2015 and then the distribution of virulence genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology.

Increasing clinical resistance rate of to cefotaxime in Jiangsu Province, China, between 2012 and 2015.

Background: The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of () and characterize the mechanism of its increasing resistance to cefotaxime, a third-generation cephalosporin agent between 2012 and 2015.

Methods: We investigated the drug resistance in 95 isolates of by K-B dilution method and isolates with the extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.

Results: Over a 4-year period, the resistance rate of to cefotaxime increased from 31.

Metacarpal Bone Plane Examination by Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Fetal Forearm and Hand Deformity.

We explored the value of the metacarpal bone plane in screening for serious fetal forearm and hand deformities, excluding simple polydactyly and dactylion deformity, by ultrasonographic examination. Observed the second to fifth metacarpal bone plane of fetuses in 20,139 pregnant women at a gestational age of 16 to 30 weeks in The International Peace Maternity &Child Health Hospital of China Welfare Institute (IPMCH). There was a total 138 cases of fetal forearm and/or hand deformity among the 20,139 pregnant women.

Ecological effect and risk towards aquatic plants induced by perfluoroalkyl substances: Bridging natural to culturing flora.

In the present study, the concentrations and proportions of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water and sediments (in different seasons) from the Qing River were investigated. The highest concentration of PFASs in water (207.59 ng L) was found in summer.

HBx-induced MiR-1269b in NF-κB dependent manner upregulates cell division cycle 40 homolog (CDC40) to promote proliferation and migration in hepatoma cells.

Background: Occurrence and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. miR-1269b is up-regulated in HCC cells and tissues. However, the regulation of miR-1269b expression by HBV and the mechanism underlying the oncogenic activity of miR-1269b in HCC are unclear.

Susceptibility to Bt proteins is not required for Agrotis ipsilon aversion to Bt maize.

Background: Although Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize has been widely adopted in diverse regions around the world, relatively little is known about the susceptibility and behavioral response of certain insect pests to Bt maize in countries where this maize is not currently cultivated. These are important factors to consider as management plans are developed. These factors were investigated for Agrotis ipsilon, a global pest of maize, with Cry1F and Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 maize.

Susceptibility and aversion of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Cry1F Bt maize and considerations for insect resistance management.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize was developed primarily for North American pests such as European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)). However, most Bt maize products are also cultivated outside of North America, where the primary pests may be different and may have lower susceptibility to Bt toxins. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda JE Smith) is an important pest and primary target of Bt maize in Central and South America.

A genome-wide association study for venous thromboembolism: the extended cohorts for heart and aging research in genomic epidemiology (CHARGE) consortium.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common, heritable disease resulting in high rates of hospitalization and mortality. Yet few associations between VTE and genetic variants, all in the coagulation pathway, have been established. To identify additional genetic determinants of VTE, we conducted a two-stage genome-wide association study (GWAS) among individuals of European ancestry in the extended cohorts for heart and aging research in genomic epidemiology (CHARGE) VTE consortium.

Environmental effects on allergen levels in commercially grown non-genetically modified soybeans: assessing variation across north america.

Soybean (Glycinemax) is a hugely valuable soft commodity that generates tens of billions of dollars annually. This value is due in part to the balanced composition of the seed which is roughly 1:2:2 oil, starch, and protein by weight. In turn, the seeds have many uses with various derivatives appearing broadly in processed food products.

Genome-wide association study identifies novel loci for plasma levels of protein C: the ARIC study.

Protein C is an important endogenous anticoagulant in hemostasis. Deficiencies of protein C due to genetic mutations or a low level of circulating protein C increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. We performed a genome-wide association scan for plasma protein C antigen concentration with approximately 2.

Partitioning degrees of freedom in hierarchical and other richly-parameterized models.

Hodges & Sargent (2001) developed a measure of a hierarchical model's complexity, degrees of freedom (DF), that is consistent with definitions for scatterplot smoothers, interpretable in terms of simple models, and that enables control of a fit's complexity by means of a prior distribution on complexity. DF describes complexity of the whole fitted model but in general it is unclear how to allocate DF to individual effects. We give a new definition of DF for arbitrary normal-error linear hierarchical models, consistent with Hodges & Sargent's, that naturally partitions the n observations into DF for individual effects and for error.

Novel associations of multiple genetic loci with plasma levels of factor VII, factor VIII, and von Willebrand factor: The CHARGE (Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genome Epidemiology) Consortium.

Background: Plasma levels of coagulation factors VII (FVII), VIII (FVIII), and von Willebrand factor (vWF) influence risk of hemorrhage and thrombosis. We conducted genome-wide association studies to identify new loci associated with plasma levels.

Methods And Results: The setting of the study included 5 community-based studies for discovery comprising 23 608 European-ancestry participants: Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, British 1958 Birth Cohort, Framingham Heart Study, and Rotterdam Study.

A Bayesian approach to the alignment of mass spectra.

Motivation: The need to align spectra to correct for mass-to-charge experimental variation is a problem that arises in mass spectrometry (MS). Most of the MS-based proteomic data analysis methods involve a two-step approach, identify peaks first and then do the alignment and statistical inference on these identified peaks only. However, the peak identification step relies on prior information on the proteins of interest or a peak detection model, which are subject to error.

Association of hypertension genotypes and decline in renal function after kidney transplantation.

Background: Polymorphisms of genes such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT), and angiotensin receptor type I (AGTR1) have been associated with hypertension. Hypertension, in turn, has been associated with decreased renal allograft survival. Therefore, this study investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these genes are associated with decline in renal function posttransplantation.