Lineage-specific positive selection on contributes to the genetic susceptibility of COVID-19.

The Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 () gene, located on Xp22.2, attracts a great deal of attention because the protein it encodes is believed to be the functional cellular receptor for the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). However, recent studies are controversial, especially concerning the intrinsic link between diversity and COVID-19 susceptibility.

The AhR ligand phthiocol and vitamin K analogs as quorum sensing inhibitors.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein senses microbial-secreted metabolites to trigger the host's innate immune system. The quinolone signal (PQS) and (MTb) metabolite phthiocol (Pht) are both ligands of AhR with similar chemical structures. As PQS is an essential quorum-sensing molecule that regulates a wide range of virulence factors in , we hypothesized that Pht and its analogs are potential quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs) with immune-modulating functions.

Effect of IMB Model Combined with Spousal Support Breastfeeding Intervention on PBSES Score and Breastfeeding Rate of Primipara with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Objective: To analyze the effects of the info-motivation-behavior skills (IMB) model combined with spousal support breastfeeding intervention on breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale (PBSES) scores and breastfeeding rate of primiparas with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: Seventy-four first-term pregnant women and 74 of their spouses were selected as the traditional control group by the convenience sampling method from July to September 2021 in obstetrics department of Shenzhen Third People's Hospital. 74 pregnant women with their first child and 74 spouses who had their first child checked during October to December 2021 were classified as the IMB model group.

Gene editing monkeys: Retrospect and outlook.

Animal models play a key role in life science research, especially in the study of human disease pathogenesis and drug screening. Because of the closer proximity to humans in terms of genetic evolution, physiology, immunology, biochemistry, and pathology, nonhuman primates (NHPs) have outstanding advantages in model construction for disease mechanism study and drug development. In terms of animal model construction, gene editing technology has been widely applied to this area in recent years.

Liver transplantation in rare late-onset ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency with central nervous system injury: A case report and review of the literature.

Background: Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD) is a genetic metabolic disease. Its clinical manifestations are mainly central nervous system dysfunction caused by high blood ammonia. Late-onset OTCD combined with central nervous system injury has a poor therapeutic response, which is one of the main factors affecting the prognosis and quality of life of patients.

Low-dose PD-1 inhibitor combined with lenvatinib for preemptive treatment of recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: Case report and literature review.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), as one of the curative methods for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has brought hope to patients with HCC. However, treatment options for HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation are limited. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, have been successfully used in advanced or metastatic HCC, but the data on the safety of PD-1 inhibitor after liver transplantation is limited.

Higher Risk of Dyslipidemia With Coformulated Elvitegravir, Cobicistat, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Alafenamide than Efavirenz, Lamivudine, and Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate Among Antiretroviral-Naive People Living With HIV in China.

Background: We aimed to examine the evolution of blood lipids and compare the risk of dyslipidemia between antiretroviral-naive people living with HIV who received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), lamivudine (3TC), and efavirenz (EFV) (TDF + 3TC + EFV) and those who received coformulated elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (E/C/F/TAF).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 2343 antiretroviral-naive people living with HIV who initiated TDF + 3TC + EFV or E/C/F/TAF. A propensity score matching method was used to compare longitudinal changes of blood lipids between the 2 groups.

COVID-19: imbalanced cell-mediated immune response drives to immunopathology.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses an imminent threat to humanity. SARS-CoV-2 invades host cells, causing a failure of host immune recognition. Instead of an effective antiviral immunological response after SARS-CoV-2 invasion, the cascading pathological syndrome of COVID-19, especially in severe disease, is exacerbated by an overt inflammatory response and the suppression of SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses.

Factors Associated with Nutritional Risk in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Structural Lung Disease: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Patients with tuberculosis have a high nutritional risk, and patients with tuberculosis and structural lung disease have a poor quality of life. However, few studies have investigated the nutritional risk of patients with tuberculosis and structural lung disease. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional risk in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and structural lung disease and to identify factors associated with nutritional risk in this population.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 SNPs as Common Genetic Loci and Optimal Early Identification Genetic Markers for COVID-19.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is implicated as a host cell receptor that causes infection in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its genetic polymorphisms in the ACE2 gene may promote cardiovascular disease and systemic inflammatory injury in COVID-19 patients. Hence, the genetic background may potentially explain the broad interindividual variation in disease susceptibility and/or severity. Methods: Genetic susceptibility to COVID-19 was analyzed by examining single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE2 in 246 patients with COVID-19 and 210 normal controls using the TaqMan genotyping assay.

Duration and Determinants of Delayed Diagnosis with Tuberculosis in Shenzhen, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Early diagnosis and timely treatment of tuberculosis are critical for disease control and management. However, diagnostic delay remains severe around the world. We aim to evaluate the duration and factors associated with diagnostic delay of tuberculosis in Shenzhen, China.

A software program for automated compressive vertebral fracture detection on elderly women's lateral chest radiograph: Ofeye 1.0.

Background: Because osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) on chest radiographs is commonly missed in radiological reports, we aimed to develop a software program which offers automated detection of compressive vertebral fracture (CVF) on lateral chest radiographs, and which emphasizes CVF detection specificity with a low false positivity rate.

Methods: For model training, we retrieved 3,991 spine radiograph cases and 1,979 chest radiograph cases from 16 sources, with among them in total 1,404 cases had OVF. For model testing, we retrieved 542 chest radiograph cases and 162 spine radiograph cases from four independent clinics, with among them 215 cases had OVF.

Identification of a 3-Gene Model as Prognostic Biomarker in Patients With Gastric Cancer.

Objective: Although the incidence of gastric cancer (GC) is decreasing, GC remains one of the leading cancers in the world. Surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and neoadjuvant therapy have advanced, but patients still face the risk of recurrence and poor prognosis. This study provides new insights for assessment of prognosis and postoperative recurrence of GC patients.

Nanotechnology in diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal cancer.

Advances in nanotechnology have opened new frontiers in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nanoparticle-based technology improves the precision of tumor diagnosis when combined with imaging, as well as the accuracy of drug target delivery, with fewer side effects. Optimized nanosystems have demonstrated advantages in many fields, including enhanced specificity of detection, reduced toxicity of drugs, enhanced effect of contrast agents, and advanced diagnosis and therapy of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Sex-Specific Differences in the Clinical Profile Among Patients with Tracheobronchial Tuberculosis: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Shenzhen, China.

Purpose: Tracheobronchial tuberculosis (TBTB) has been proposed to occur more commonly in female patients. However, to date, studies that systematically delineate differences between female and male patients with TB infection are lacking. We aimed to comprehensively assess the sex-specific differences in clinical manifestation, bronchoscopy performance, bacteriological examination, and imaging of TBTB in Shenzhen, China.

The Roles of Adipose Tissue Macrophages in Human Disease.

Macrophages are a population of immune cells functioning in antigen presentation and inflammatory response. Research has demonstrated that macrophages belong to a cell lineage with strong plasticity and heterogeneity and can be polarized into different phenotypes under different microenvironments or stimuli. Many macrophages can be recruited by various cytokines secreted by adipose tissue.

A broadly neutralizing antibody protects Syrian hamsters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron challenge.

The strikingly high transmissibility and antibody evasion of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants have posed great challenges to the efficacy of current vaccines and antibody immunotherapy. Here, we screen 34 BNT162b2-vaccinees and isolate a public broadly neutralizing antibody ZCB11 derived from the IGHV1-58 family. ZCB11 targets viral receptor-binding domain specifically and neutralizes all SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, especially with great potency against authentic Omicron and Delta variants.

Aspirin Therapy on Prophylactic Anticoagulation for Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Analysis of the HOPE-COVID-19 Registry.

Background COVID-19 is an infectious illness, featured by an increased risk of thromboembolism. However, no standard antithrombotic therapy is currently recommended for patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of additional therapy with aspirin over prophylactic anticoagulation (PAC) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and its impact on survival.

Bi-exponential fitting excluding =0 data improves the scan-rescan stability of liver IVIM parameter measures and particularly so for the perfusion fraction.

Background: A prerequisite to translating intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging into meaningful clinical applications is sufficient scan-rescan reproducibility. This study aims to confirm the hypothesis that IVIM data fitting by not using =0 images will improve the stability of liver IVIM measurement.

Methods: Healthy volunteers' liver IVIM images were prospectively acquired using a 1.

Can metformin relieve tibiofemoral cartilage volume loss and knee symptoms in overweight knee osteoarthritis patients? Study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease, and is most frequently seen in the knees. However, there is no effective therapy to relieve the progression of knee OA. Metformin is a safe, well-tolerated oral medication that is extensively used as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Efficacy and safety of bicyclol for treating patients with idiosyncratic acute drug-induced liver injury: A multicenter, randomized, phase II trial.

Background And Aims: Evidence for using bicyclol in drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is limited. This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of bicyclol in acute DILI.

Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, active-controlled, superiority and phase II trial.