Short-Term Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide Modifies Genetic Predisposition in Blood Lipid and Fasting Plasma Glucose: A Pedigree-Based Study.

(1) Background: Previous studies suggest that exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO) has a negative impact on health. But few studies have explored the association between NO and blood lipids or fasting plasma glucose (FPG), as well as gene-air pollution interactions. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap based on a pedigree cohort in southern China.

A pedigree-based cohort to study the genetic risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases: study design, baseline characteristics and preliminary results.

Background: We initiated the Fujian Tulou Pedigree-based Cohort (FTPC) as the integration of extended pedigrees and prospective cohort to clarify the genetic and environmental risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases.

Methods: FTPC was carried out in Nanjing County, Fujian Province, China from August 2015 to December 2017 to recruit probands with the same surnames and then enroll their first-degree and more distant relatives. The participants were asked to complete questionnaire interview, physical examination, and blood collection.

Evaluation of minor drug-resistant viral variants in patients experiencing virological failure (VF) on a first-line regimen in Fujian Province by high-throughput sequencing.

Background: It is largely unknown how frequently minor HIV drug-resistant variants at levels under limit of detection of conventional genotyping are present in patients experiencing virological failure (VF). Further, the clinical implications of minor drug-resistant variants at time of virologic failure are unknown.

Methods: Fifteen patients experiencing VF on a first-line regimen were evaluated by high-throughput sequencing and compared with the conventional Sanger genotype drug resistance detection method.

[Differential expression and bioinformatic analysis of microRNA in the plasma of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To construct the differential expression profile of microRNA (miRNA) in plasma of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and explore the possibility of using miRNA as the target for diagnosis and treatment of T2DM.

Methods: Agilent miRNA microarray was used to determine the expression profiles of miRNA in the plasma of patients with T2DM (FC> 2, P< 0.05).

Prevalence of HIV Indeterminate Western Blot Tests and Follow-up of HIV Antibody Sero-Conversion in Southeastern China.

HIV-indeterminate Western blotting (WB) results are typically obtained in WB confirmatory assays, and the number of indeterminate samples may increase with the detection of HIV infections, which will present considerable challenges for the management of HIV/AIDS. Nucleic acid detection has been used as a laboratory test for screening suspected or indeterminate samples. However, the effectiveness of these assays for the differential diagnosis of HIV-indeterminate WB samples remained undetermined.

Immunomagnetic enrichment to evaluate the role of home environment specimens in transmission of enterovirus 71.

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) immunomagnetic enrichment technique and routine detection methods were combined to detect swab environmental specimens to elucidate the role of environmental specimens in the spread of EV71. Immunomagnetic beads with specific enrichment of EV71 virus were prepared, then the beads were used to absorb the EV71 virus from environmental samples. Obtained immunomagnetic bead-virus complexes were detected by RT-PCR, RT-qPCR and cell culture.

Incidence of human rabies and characterization of rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs in Fujian Province, Southeast China, 2002-2012.

Background: Rabies is a global fatal infectious viral disease that is characterized by a high mortality after onset of clinical symptoms. Recently, there has been an increase in the incidence of rabies in China. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of human rabies and characterize the rabies virus nucleoprotein gene in dogs sampled from Fujian Province, Southeast China from 2002 to 2012.

Phylodynamics of major CRF01_AE epidemic clusters circulating in mainland of China.

As the most dominant HIV-1 strain in China, CRF01_AE needs to have its evolutionary and demographic history documented. In this study, we provide phylogenetic analysis of all CRF01_AE pol sequences identified in mainland China. CRF01_AE sequences were collected from the Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database and the local Chinese provincial centers of disease control and prevention.

Serotyping and Genetic Characterization of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)-Associated Enteroviruses of No-EV71 and Non-CVA16 Circulating in Fujian, China, 2011-2015.

BACKGROUND Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common contagious disease in infants; it is caused by multiple serotypes of human enterovirus (EV), which belongs to the enterovirus genus of the picornavirus family. According to sentinel surveillance, infection with EVs other than EV71 and CVA 16 have become increasingly common in recent years among HFMD patients, posing new challenges for HFMD control. This study aimed to explore the spectrum of serotypes in the other EVs (non-EV71 and non-CVA16) in Fujian province in southeastern China.

Epidemiological and etiological investigation of dengue fever in the Fujian province of China during 2004-2014.

Dengue fever (DF) is a vector-borne disease and a tremendous socioeconomic burden on tropical and subtropical countries worldwide. To explore the characteristics of DF epidemic in the Fujian province, information of DF cases in Fujian during 2004-2014 was collected and analyzed. The complete E genes of 48 viral isolates were amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis.

Epidemiology and etiology of hand, foot, and mouth disease in Fujian province, 2008-2014.

Millions of cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) have been reported annually in mainland China since 2008. In this study, we investigated the epidemiology and etiology of an HFMD epidemic in Fujian province, which is located in subtropical southeastern China. Our study found similar epidemiological features of HFMD in southern areas of China, including seasonality and demographic distribution, as well as correlation between severity of illness and serotype.

Epidemiological profile and risk factors of HIV and HBV/HCV co-infection in Fujian Province, southeastern China.

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of HIV-infected subjects co-infected with HBV/HCV in Fujian Province, southeastern China, and identify the risk factors. Blood samples were collected from 2,028 HIV antibody-positive subjects in Fujian Province. Serum HBsAg and anti-HCV antibody were detected, and CD4 T cell count was measured.

Shift in HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Southeastern China: A Longitudinal Study from 1987 to 2015.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the shift in the epidemiological features of HIV/AIDS during the last three decades in Fujian Province, southeastern China, so as to provide evidence for the development of novel HIV/AIDS control strategies.

Methods: Data pertaining to the conventional surveillance, sentinel surveillance and epidemiological survey in Fujian Province during the period from 1987 to 2015 were collected. The epidemiological trends were described, and the subtypes of HIV strain were genotyped.

[Molecular epidemiology of hand-foot-mouth disease associated pathogen Coxsackievirus A10 identified in Fujian province, 2011-2014].

Objective: To study the molecular epidemiology of hand-foot-mounth disease (HFMD) associated Coxsackievirus A10 (Cox A10) identified in Fujian province.

Methods: A total of 1 525 specimens from non-EV71 non-Cox A16 HFMD patients were collected during 2011-2014. Isolated virus strains were identified and sub-typed.

[Role of syndromic surveillance program in the practice of early detection on disease outbreak].

Objective: A Dengue outbreak was reported in Dongfen town Jianou county, Fujian province on September 19, 2014. The goal of this project was to explore the role of syndromic surveillance program in the practice of early detection on disease outbreak through the case mentioned above.

Methods: The authors retrospectively collected data related to Outpatient log and Pharmacy drug use in Dongfen township hospital through the electronic information system of the hospital from August to November, 2014.

Effectiveness of first-line antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS patients: A 5-year longitudinal evaluation in Fujian Province, Southeast China.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of first-line antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS patients in Southeast China. A total of 450 eligible patients were selected to initiate first-line antiretroviral therapy from February 2005 through August 2009. During the study period from 2009 through 2013, each subject received clinical and laboratory monitoring for effectiveness, safety and toxicity once every 3 months in the first year, and once every 6 months in the following years.

Prevalence and Characterization of Integrons in Multidrug Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Eastern China: A Multiple-Hospital Study.

Objective: The aim of this multiple-hospital study was to investigate the prevalence of integrons in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) in Eastern China, and characterize the integron-integrase genes, so as to provide evidence for the management and appropriate antibiotic use of MDRAB infections.

Methods: A total of 425 clinical isolates of A. baumannii were collected from 16 tertiary hospitals in 11 cities of four provinces (Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shandong) from January 2009 to June 2012.

[Molecular epidemiology of HFMD-associated pathogen coxsackievirus A6 in Fujian Province, 2011-2013].

In order to characterize the molecular epidemiology of HFMD-associated Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) in Fujian Province, a total of 1340 specimens from non-EV71 non-CVA16 HFMD patients were collected during 2011-2013. Isolated virus strains were identified and subtyped. Full-length coding regions for the VP1 gene of the predominant serotype CVA6 isolates were amplified and sequenced.

A single-loop recombinant pseudotyped-virus-based assay to detect HIV-1 phenotypic resistance.

HIV/AIDS is a leading public health concern throughout the world. Currently, treatment of HIV/AIDS still depends on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); however, there is increasing evidence showing the emergence of resistance to antiretroviral drugs in HIV-1 strains, making ART less effective over time. Intensive monitoring of HIV-1 drug resistance is therefore of great importance to evaluate the current sensitivity of antiretroviral agents and is urgently needed.

[A cohort study on the characteristics of the recurrent epidemics on hand, foot and mouth disease, in Fujian province].

Objective: To explore the recurrent epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among children aged <4 years to provide evidence for HFMD prevention and control.

Methods: Principles on historical cohort study were followed when analyzing data related to HFMD surveillance in Fujian province. All the research objects were restricted to patients aged <4, with HFMD and who were permanent residents in Fujian province.

Neutralizing antibodies respond to a bivalent dengue DNA vaccine or/and a recombinant bivalent antigen.

There is currently no effective vaccine to prevent dengue infection, despite the existence of multiple studies on potential methods of immunization. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of DNA and/or recombinant protein on levels of neutralizing antibodies. For this purpose, envelope domain IIIs of dengue serotypes 1 and 2 (DEN-1/2)were spliced by a linker (Gly‑Gly‑Ser‑Gly‑Ser)3 and cloned into the prokaryotic expression plasmid pET30a (+) and eukaryotic vector pcDNA3.

[Genetic subtype and epidemiological feature of HIV-1 circulating strains among recently infected patients in Fujian province].

Objective: In order to evaluate the distribution of genetic subtypes and epidemiological feature of HIV-1 circulating strains in Fujian province.

Methods: Blood samples and epidemiological data were collected from 104 newly infected patients who were distinguished by BED-CEIA methodology, during 2011-2012. Viral sequences(n = 81) of HIV-1 gag, env, and pol segments were amplified by nested PCR.

The effect of temperature on the extrinsic incubation period and infection rate of dengue virus serotype 2 infection in Aedes albopictus.

Dengue fever is an acute mosquito-borne viral disease caused by dengue virus (DENV). Temperature may affect the efficiency of the mosquito vectors in spreading DENV. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were infected orally with a DENV2 suspension and incubated at different temperatures.

[Characteristics of complete genome of pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza virus isolated in Fujian Province, China].

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of genomic variation of pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza virus isolated in Fujian Province, China. Complete genome sequence analysis was performed on 14 strains of pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza virus isolated from Fujian during 2009-2012. All virus strains were typical low-pathogenic influenza viruses, with resistance to amantadine and sensitivity to neuraminidase inhibitors.

Epidemiology of human infections with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in China.

Background: The first identified cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection in humans occurred in China during February and March 2013. We analyzed data obtained from field investigations to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of H7N9 cases in China identified as of December 1, 2013.

Methods: Field investigations were conducted for each confirmed case of H7N9 virus infection.