COVID-19 outbreaks caused by different SARS-CoV-2 variants: a descriptive, comparative study from China.

Objectives: To understand the epidemic characteristics of various SARS-CoV-2 variants, we mainly focus on analyzing general epidemic profiles, viral mutation, and evolution of COVID-19 outbreaks caused by different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) in China as of August 2022.

Methods: We systematically sorted out the general epidemic profiles of outbreaks caused by various SARS-CoV-2 VOCs in China, compared the differences of outbreaks caused by Delta and Omicron VOCs, and analyzed the mutational changes of subvariants between the same outbreak and different outbreaks.

Findings: By 15 August 2022, a total of 2, 33, and 124 COVID-19 outbreaks caused by Alpha, Delta, and Omicron VOCs, respectively, were reported in different regions of China.

Identifying sex similarities and differences in structure and function of the sinoatrial node in the mouse heart.

Background: The sinoatrial node (SN) generates the heart rate (HR). Its spontaneous activity is regulated by a complex interplay between the modulation by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and intrinsic factors including ion channels in SN cells. However, the systemic and intrinsic regulatory mechanisms are still poorly understood.

Profiling Reduced Expression of Contractile and Mitochondrial mRNAs in the Human Sinoatrial Node vs. Right Atrium and Predicting Their Suppressed Expression by Transcription Factors and/or microRNAs.

(1) Background: The sinus node (SN) is the main pacemaker of the heart. It is characterized by pacemaker cells that lack mitochondria and contractile elements. We investigated the possibility that transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRs) present in the SN can regulate gene expression that affects SN morphology and function.

Resveratrol activates MAPK/ERK pathway to regulate oestrogen metabolism in type I endometrial cancer.

Objective: Endometrial cancer (EC) is an oestrogen-dependent tumour, the occurrence of which is closely related to an imbalance of oestrogen homeostasis. Our previous studies explored the effects of Resveratrol(Res) on oestrogen metabolism. However, systematic research on the exact mechanism of action of Res is still lacking.

16α-OHE1 alleviates hypoxia-induced inflammation and myocardial damage via the activation of β2-Adrenergic receptor.

Objective: Myocardial injuries resulting from hypoxia are a significant concern, and this study aimed to explore potential protective strategies against such damage. Specifically, we sought to investigate the cardioprotective effects of 16α-hydroxyestrone (16α-OHE1).

Methods: Male Sprague‒Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to hypoxic conditions simulating high-altitude exposure at 6000 m in a low-pressure chamber for 7 days.

16α-OHE1, a novel oestrogen metabolite, attenuates dysfunction of left ventricle contractility via regulation of autophagy after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Background: Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) can exacerbate the initial cardiac damage in the myocardial functional changes, including dysfunction of left ventricular contractility. Oestrogen has been proven to protect the cardiovascular system. However, whether the oestrogen or its metabolites play the main role in attenuating dysfunction of left ventricular contractility is unknown.

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 - China, September 26, 2022 to January 29, 2023.

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has generated 2,431 variants over the course of its global transmission over the past 3 years. To better evaluate the genomic variation of SARS-CoV-2 before and after the optimization of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention and control strategies, we analyzed the genetic evolution branch composition and genomic variation of SARS-CoV-2 in both domestic and imported cases in China (the data from Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan, China were not included) from September 26, 2022 to January 29, 2023.

Methods: Analysis of the number of genome sequences, sampling time, dynamic changes of evolutionary branches, origin, and clinical typing of SARS-CoV-2 variants submitted by 31 provincial-level administrative divisions (PLADs) and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) was conducted to assess the accuracy and timeliness of SARS-CoV-2 variant surveillance.

Surveillance and Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Importation - China, January-June 2022.

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is the dominant circulating strain worldwide. To assess the importation of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the mainland of China during the Omicron epidemic, the genomic surveillance data of SARS-CoV-2 from imported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the mainland of China during the first half of 2022 were analyzed.

Methods: Sequences submitted from January to July 2022, with a collection date before June 30, 2022, were incorporated.

YY1 was indispensable for the alleviation of quercetin on diabetic nephropathy-associated tubulointerstitial inflammation.

Background: The emergence of tubulointerstitial inflammation (TI) could accelerate the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Yin Yang 1 (YY1) was a new pro-inflammatory mediator and became the important target of DN-related TIF. Quercetin performed an effective role in anti-inflammation and was probable to bind to YY1.

Inhibition of S100A8/A9 ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is one of the main features of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the molecular mechanisms mediating RIF in DN has yet been fully understood. S100A8 and S100A9 are the proteins associated with immune and inflammation response. Here we reported the expression of S100A8 and S100A9 were significantly increased on tubular epithelial cells in diabetic kidneys through a proteomic analysis.

Genomic Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern from Imported COVID-19 Cases - the Mainland of China, 2021.

Introduction: After the epidemic in Wuhan City was brought under control in 2020, local outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the mainland of China were mainly due to imported COVID-19 cases. The ongoing evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has continued to generate new variants. Some have been designated as variants of concern (VOCs) by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Further insights into the molecular complexity of the human sinus node - The role of 'novel' transcription factors and microRNAs.

Research Purpose: The sinus node (SN) is the heart's primary pacemaker. Key ion channels (mainly the funny channel, HCN4) and Ca-handling proteins in the SN are responsible for its function. Transcription factors (TFs) regulate gene expression through inhibition or activation and microRNAs (miRs) do this through inhibition.

A method of detecting level change of uranium fluorination mixture in the hopper by gamma-ray dose.

The measurement of material level change in uranium fluorination has an essential influence on uranium production quality. In this study, a method to determine the level change of uranium fluorination mixture in the hopper by online radiation meter outside hopper is established. We have designed an experiment to study the change of radiation field outside the hopper with a known height of radioactive material to discover its regular pattern.

Dermatopontin as a potential pathogenic factor in endometrial cancer.

The present study aimed to determine the differential expression profiles of proteins in endometrial carcinoma and to screen the proteins associated with the occurrence and development of endometrial cancer (EC). In total, 15 samples of human EC and paracancerous tissues were selected for proteomic analysis using a label-free quantification method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The differential proteins were analysed using bioinformatics and verified using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting.

Estrogen and calcium handling proteins: new discoveries and mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases.

Estrogen deficiency is considered to be an important factor leading to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Indeed, the prevalence of CVDs in postmenopausal women exceeds that of premenopausal women and men of the same age. Recent research findings provide evidence that estrogen plays a pivotal role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis and therefore fine-tunes normal cardiomyocyte contraction and relaxation processes.

LFG-500, a newly synthesized flavonoid, induces apoptosis in human ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells with involvement of the reactive oxygen species-mitochondria pathway.

Ovarian cancer is the main cause of gynecologic malignancy-related mortality in women. Therefore, the disease requires improvements in treatment options and in the potency of chemotherapeutic drugs. The study of apoptosis in tumor cells is an important field for cancer therapy and cancer molecular biology.

Effect of targeted silencing of IL-8 on migration and invasion of SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells.

The aim of the study was to determine whether interleukin-8 (IL-8) affects human SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting silencing of IL-8 expression. Silencing small-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting gene was constructed to infect SKOV3 cells by lentiviral vector. The expression of IL-8 and p-nuclear factor (NF)-κB protein was detected by western blot analysis.

[Effects of metformin on the estrogen-induced proliferation and the expression of ER in human endometrial cancer cells].

Objective: To assess the effects of metformin on estrogen-induced proliferation of human endometrial cancer cell lines and investigate whether metformin could regulate the expression of ER and estrogen-dependent proliferative genes.

Methods: Human endometrial cancer cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1A underwent treatment with metformin at various concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 mmol/L) for different durations (24, 48 and 72 hours), followed by assessment of cell proliferation by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay.