Since December 2019,COVID-19 has occurred unexpectedly and emerged as a health problem worldw ide.Despite the rapidly increasing number of cases in subsequent weeks,the clinical characteristics of pediatric cases are ...Since December 2019,COVID-19 has occurred unexpectedly and emerged as a health problem worldw ide.Despite the rapidly increasing number of cases in subsequent weeks,the clinical characteristics of pediatric cases are rarely described.A cross-sectional multicenter study was carried out in 10 hospitals across Hubei province.A total of 25 confirmed pediatric cases of COVID-19 were collected.The demographic data,epidemiological history,underlying discascs,clinical mani festations,laboratory and radiological data,treatments,and outcomes were analyzcd.Of 25 hospitalized patients with COVID-19,the boy to girl ratio was 1.27:1.The median age was 3 years.COVID-19 cases in children aged<3 years,3-6 years,and≥6-years patients were 10(40%),6(24%),and 9(36%),respectively.The most common symptoms at onset of ilness were fever(13[52%]),and dry cough(11[44%]).Chest CT images showed essential normal in 8 cases(33.3%),unilateral involvement of lungs in 5 cases(20.8%),and bilateral involvement in 11 cases(45.8%).Clinical diagnoses included upper respiratory tract infection(n=8),mild pneumonia(n=15),and critical cases(n=2).Two critical cases(8%)were given invasive mechanical ventilation,corticosteroids,and immunoglobulin.The symptoms in 24(96%)of 25 patients were alleviated and one patient had been discharged.It was concluded that children were susceptible to COVID-19 like adults,while the clinical presentations and outcomes were more favorable in children.However,children less than 3 years old accounted for majority cases and critical cases lied in this age group,which demanded extra attentions during home caring and hospitalization treatment.展开更多
Hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx),a 17-kd protein encoded by X gene of hepatitis B virus(HBV),has been shown to function as a transcriptional trans-activator of a variety of viral and cellular promoter/enhancer element...Hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx),a 17-kd protein encoded by X gene of hepatitis B virus(HBV),has been shown to function as a transcriptional trans-activator of a variety of viral and cellular promoter/enhancer elements.The aim of the study is to investigate the extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERKs)pathway of HBx on glomerular mesangial cell(GMC)proliferation and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)expression.The HBV X gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR),inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pCI-neo and confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis.PCI-neo containing HBV X gene(pCI-neo-X)was then transfected into cultured GMC line via liposome.GMC proliferation,TNF-αand its mRNA expression were compared in the condition of with or without U0126 in culture media.HBx,ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 expression in GMCs was assessed by Western blotting.TNF-αmRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR).TNF-αlevel in supernatants was measured by ELISA.GMC proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)kit.The results showed that HBx expression was found in transfected GMCs and became prominent at 36th and 48th h after transfection whether with or without U0126 in culture media.TNF-αmRNA expression was significantly decreased in U0126 group compared with U0126-free group.TNF-αlevels in supernatants in PCI-neo-X transfection without U0126 group were(189.0�18.1)and(172.3�24.3)pg/mL at 36th and 48th h after transfec-tion,respectively.In contrast,TNF-αlevels in supernatants with U0126 were(65.6�11.6)and(84.0�24.6)pg/mL at 36th and 48th h,respectively.The TNF-αlevels in the latter groups were significantly lower than those in the former groups(P<0.05).GMCs proliferation was also lower in added U0126 group at 36th and 48th h after transfection.From above,we can conclude that HBx could induce GMC proliferation and increase TNF-αmRNA expression and its protein production.HBx upregulates TNF-αexpression and induces cell proliferation of GMC line partly through ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway.展开更多
文摘Since December 2019,COVID-19 has occurred unexpectedly and emerged as a health problem worldw ide.Despite the rapidly increasing number of cases in subsequent weeks,the clinical characteristics of pediatric cases are rarely described.A cross-sectional multicenter study was carried out in 10 hospitals across Hubei province.A total of 25 confirmed pediatric cases of COVID-19 were collected.The demographic data,epidemiological history,underlying discascs,clinical mani festations,laboratory and radiological data,treatments,and outcomes were analyzcd.Of 25 hospitalized patients with COVID-19,the boy to girl ratio was 1.27:1.The median age was 3 years.COVID-19 cases in children aged<3 years,3-6 years,and≥6-years patients were 10(40%),6(24%),and 9(36%),respectively.The most common symptoms at onset of ilness were fever(13[52%]),and dry cough(11[44%]).Chest CT images showed essential normal in 8 cases(33.3%),unilateral involvement of lungs in 5 cases(20.8%),and bilateral involvement in 11 cases(45.8%).Clinical diagnoses included upper respiratory tract infection(n=8),mild pneumonia(n=15),and critical cases(n=2).Two critical cases(8%)were given invasive mechanical ventilation,corticosteroids,and immunoglobulin.The symptoms in 24(96%)of 25 patients were alleviated and one patient had been discharged.It was concluded that children were susceptible to COVID-19 like adults,while the clinical presentations and outcomes were more favorable in children.However,children less than 3 years old accounted for majority cases and critical cases lied in this age group,which demanded extra attentions during home caring and hospitalization treatment.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.30772360)the Natural Science Foundation of Health Department of Hubei Province,China(No.JX4B48).
文摘Hepatitis B virus X protein(HBx),a 17-kd protein encoded by X gene of hepatitis B virus(HBV),has been shown to function as a transcriptional trans-activator of a variety of viral and cellular promoter/enhancer elements.The aim of the study is to investigate the extracellular regulated protein kinases(ERKs)pathway of HBx on glomerular mesangial cell(GMC)proliferation and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)expression.The HBV X gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR),inserted into the eukaryotic expression vector pCI-neo and confirmed by restriction endonuclease digestion and sequence analysis.PCI-neo containing HBV X gene(pCI-neo-X)was then transfected into cultured GMC line via liposome.GMC proliferation,TNF-αand its mRNA expression were compared in the condition of with or without U0126 in culture media.HBx,ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 expression in GMCs was assessed by Western blotting.TNF-αmRNA expression was assessed by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR).TNF-αlevel in supernatants was measured by ELISA.GMC proliferation was detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT)kit.The results showed that HBx expression was found in transfected GMCs and became prominent at 36th and 48th h after transfection whether with or without U0126 in culture media.TNF-αmRNA expression was significantly decreased in U0126 group compared with U0126-free group.TNF-αlevels in supernatants in PCI-neo-X transfection without U0126 group were(189.0�18.1)and(172.3�24.3)pg/mL at 36th and 48th h after transfec-tion,respectively.In contrast,TNF-αlevels in supernatants with U0126 were(65.6�11.6)and(84.0�24.6)pg/mL at 36th and 48th h,respectively.The TNF-αlevels in the latter groups were significantly lower than those in the former groups(P<0.05).GMCs proliferation was also lower in added U0126 group at 36th and 48th h after transfection.From above,we can conclude that HBx could induce GMC proliferation and increase TNF-αmRNA expression and its protein production.HBx upregulates TNF-αexpression and induces cell proliferation of GMC line partly through ERK1/2 signal transduction pathway.