Association of plasma vitamin A level with type 2 diabetes mellitus:a community aging population-based cross-sectional study

Recent studies indicated that vitamin A(VA)might be involved in the pathology of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).This cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the association between circulating VA level and T2DM.A total of 1818 subjects aged 50 years old and above were recruited from the community.Binomial logistic regression and restricted cubic spline(RCS)were applied to analyze the association of plasma VA level with the risk of T2DM.Serum VA and lipid-adjusted VA levels of T2DM patients were significantly higher than that of non-T2DM subjects(P<0.05).The ratios of plasma VA/total cholesterol(TC),VA/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-c)and VA/low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-c)were positively associated with the risk of T2DM in the aging population(P<0.05).Compared with the Q1 level,subjects with Q2 to Q3 levels of plasma VA/triglyceride(TG)have decreased risk of T2DM(odds ratio(OR)Q2=0.68,P_(Q2)=0.021;ORQ3=0.59,P_(Q3)<0.01).Our results indicated that the imbalance of circulating lipids and VA might affect the relationship between VA and T2DM.The middle and aging subjects with higher ratios of plasma VA/TC,VA/HDL-c,and VA/LDL-c displayed increased risk for T2DM,but the moderate ratio of VA/TG might protect against risk of T2DM.

Estimation of the actual disease burden of human H7N9 infection in Jiangsu of eastern China from March 2013 to September 2017

The actual incidence of human H7N9 infection is supposed to be much higher than the documented laboratoryconfirmed cases.In this study,we estimated the number of the actual H7N9 cases in Jiangsu,China using a probabilistic multiplier model.Then,disability adjusted life years(DALYs),direct and indirect economic loss caused by this disease were calculated and analyzed.Till September 2017,the estimated total number of H7N9 cases was 2952[median,90%probability range(PR):1487-22094],which was 11.8 times(5.9-88.4)as large as the reported number.The median morbidity was estimated to be 4(90%PR:2-29)per 100000 population.The total DALYs loss was 16548 years,and the total economic loss(direct and indirect)was estimated to be RMB 1044618758(US$16.7 M).The average economic loss for per case and for per year was RMB 353868(US$56440)and RMB 232137502(US$37.0 M),respectively.The actual burden of human H7N9 infections was much heavier than what was documented.Our study provided an approach to estimate actual burden of infectious diseases using laboratory-confirmation.

Etiological characteristics of influenza-like illness in Jiangsu province from 2012 to 2016

Influenza-like illness(ILI)is an acute respiratory infection caused by various pathogens.However,the epidemiologic characteristics of ILI pathogens in Jiangsu province are unclear.To better understand the ILI etiology,the characteristics of the pathogens from nasopharyngeal swab samples of patients with ILI collected from 2012 to 2016 in 6 hospitals in Jiangsu province were studied.The pathogens,including influenza virus,respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),rhinovirus(HRV),adenovirus(ADV),herpes simplex virus(HSV),human coronavirus(hCoV),Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae,were detected by real-time PCR.At least one pathogen was identified in 1334 of the patients(40.23%).Among viruses,HRV,influenza A virus(Flu A),ADV and RSV were the most frequently detected.ADV was the only pathogen that was distributed evenly in different years and regions(P>0.05).The etiological distribution varied in different age groups.Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common pathogen in co-infections with a co-detection rate of 64.57%(319/494).The spectrum of etiologies could help to estimate disease burden and provide guidance for vaccination.

A broadly neutralizing human monoclonal antibody against the hemagglutinin of avian influenza virus H7N9

Background:The new emerging avian influenza A H7N9 virus,causing severe human infection with a mortality rate of around 41%.This study aims to provide a novel treatment option for the prevention and control of H7N9.Methods:H7 hemagglutinin(HA)-specific B cells were isolated from peripheral blood plasma cells of the patients previously infected by H7N9 in Jiangsu Province,China.The human monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)were generated by amplification and cloning of these HA-specific B cells.First,all human mAbs were screened for binding activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Then,those mAbs,exhibiting potent affinity to recognize H7 HAs were further evaluated by hemagglutination-inhibiting(HAI)and microneutralizationin vitro assays.Finally,the lead mAb candidate was selected and tested against the lethal challenge of the H7N9 virus using murine models.Results:The mAb 6-137 was able to recognize a panel of H7 HAs with high affinity but not HA of other subtypes,including H1N1 and H3N2.The mAb 6-137 can efficiently inhibit the HA activity in the inactivated H7N9 virus and neutralize 100 tissue culture infectious dose 50(TCID_(50))of H7N9 virus(influenza A/Nanjing/1/2013)invitro,with neutralizing activity as low as 78 ng/mL.In addition,the mAb 6-137 protected the mice against the lethal challenge of H7N9 prophylactically and therapeutically.Conclusion:The mAb 6-137 could be an effective antibody as a prophylactic or therapeutic biological treatment for the H7N9 exposure or infection.