Objective This study aims to investigate the etiological relationship among hepatitis B virus （HBV）, hepatitis C virus （HCV）, and alcohol as risk factors in a cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients fr...Objective This study aims to investigate the etiological relationship among hepatitis B virus （HBV）, hepatitis C virus （HCV）, and alcohol as risk factors in a cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients from India. The clinical and biochemical profiles and tumor characteristics in the HCC cases were also evaluated. Methods A total of 357 consecutive cases of HCC fulfilling the diagnostic criteria from the Barcelona-2000 EASL conference were included in the study. The blood samples were evaluated for serological evidence of HBV and HCV infection, viral load, and genotypes using serological tests, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The male/female ratio for the HCC cases was 5.87：1. Majority of the HCC patients （33.9%） were 50 to 59 years of age, with a mean age of 4±13.23 years. More than half the cases （60.8%） had underlying cirrhosis at presentation. Among the HCC patients, 68.9% were HBV related, 21.3% were HCV related, 18.8%, were alcoholic, and 18.2% were of cryptogenic origin. The presence of any marker positive for HBV increased the risk for developing HCC by almost 27 times [OR： 27.33; （12.87-60.0）]. An increased risk of 10.6 times was observed for HCC development for cases positive for ally HCV marker [OR： 10.55; （3.13-42.73）]. Heavy alcohol consumption along with HCV RNA positivity in cirrhotic patients was found to be a risk for developing HCC by 3 folds ]OR： 3.17; （0.37-70.71）]. Conclusions Patients of chronic HBV infection followed by chronic HCV infection were at higher risk of developing HCC in India. Chronic alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor in cirrhotic cases only when it was associated with HCV RNA positivity. Most of the patients had a large tumor size （〉5 cm） with multiple liver nodules, indicating an advanced stage of the disease thus making curative therapies difficult.展开更多
Objectives: To characterize the distribution pattern of biovars and scrotypes or Ureaplasma urealyyicum in normalhealthy women, sexually transmitted infections clinic clients,and in sex workers. Methods: We cultured c...Objectives: To characterize the distribution pattern of biovars and scrotypes or Ureaplasma urealyyicum in normalhealthy women, sexually transmitted infections clinic clients,and in sex workers. Methods: We cultured cervical swabs taken from 261physical check-up clients, 599 STI clinic outpatients and 98 sexworkers using commercial selective medium. Some positivecultures were further biotyped and serotyped by PCR. Results: (1) U. urealyticum is more commonly isolated in sexworkers (90.8%) than in the physical check-up group (60.9%)or the STI outpatient group (61.3%) (P<0.001). (2) Biovar 1of U. 'realyticum (95.0%), especially single infection ofserotype 1. 3, and 6 of biovar 1, is commonly found in healthywomen. (3) Biovar 2 infection of U urealyticum is moreprevalent in sex workers (28.1%) and STI outpatients group(26.6%) than that in the physical check-up group (4.9%) (P<0.001). (4) Mixed infection caused by more than one serotypeof U urealyticum increased from physical check-up group(8.6%) to STI utpatients (12.4%) to sex workers (23.9%) (P<0.01). (5) There is no statistically significant difference in thedistribution of serotype 1, 3, and 6 of biovar 1 among thesethree groups (P=0.763). (6) The PCR method described here isrelatively simple, rapid and specific for the biotyping andserotyping of biovar 1 of U urealyticum. Conclusion: We should pay more attention to biovar 2 andmixed infections of U. urealyticum than single infection ofhiovar 1 in clinic practice. PCR is a good method for biotypingand serotvping.展开更多
Objective: To analyze molecular trends of the HIV epidemic in Shenzhen. Methods: Serum collected from Shenzhen AIDS patientsbetween 1992-1999 was analyzed using molecular techniques.DNA fragments of the HIV-1 Env gene...Objective: To analyze molecular trends of the HIV epidemic in Shenzhen. Methods: Serum collected from Shenzhen AIDS patientsbetween 1992-1999 was analyzed using molecular techniques.DNA fragments of the HIV-1 Env gene were amplified bynested PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMCs) from these serum samples. The C2-C3 region ofthe Env gene was sequenced and analyzed. Specific high-riskbehaviors were also analyzed. Results: We found that the transmission of HIV in the citywas mainly through sexual behaviors (46.0%). There werefour HIV-1 subtypes: B', B, C and E with 6.31%, 7.95%,3.09% and 8.92% gene divergence inside each subtype inShenzhen. These results suggested that epidemic times were 6,8, 3 and 9 respectively. The main cpidemic subtypes were Eand B strains. AIDS patient's antigenic variation was slightlyhigher than that of HIV infected individuals. Conclusion: Surveillance data reflect trends and theepidemic time of HIV which will be useful for policy makersto formulate effeive strategies of HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Shenzhen.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To study Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection in 110 patients with respiratory tract infection admitted to our hospital from January to December 1995 in Nanjing. METHODS: Sputum and throat swab sp...OBJECTIVE: To study Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection in 110 patients with respiratory tract infection admitted to our hospital from January to December 1995 in Nanjing. METHODS: Sputum and throat swab specimens were taken and C. pneumoniae DNA was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the HM-1-HR-1 primer pair. At the same time, serum samples were taken and immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) fractions of antibodies to C. pneumoniae were studied by microimmunofluorescence test. RESULTS: Prevalence of specific IgG was 70% in patients with respiratory tract infection. Seventeen patients (15.5%) were serologically diagnosed as having recent C. pneumoniae infections and 12 patients (10.9%) had positive PCR in sputum and/or swab specimens. The total positive rate was 22.7% (25/110) detected by PCR combined with serological tests. Acute infection of C. pneumoniae was common in patients with asthma (57.1%), pneumonia (35.0%), COPD (25.9%) and bronchitis (25.0%). Clinical features between C. pneumoniae infection and non-C. pneumonia infection showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes infection of the human respiratory tract and attention should be drawn to this special illness.展开更多
Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),caused by SARS-CoV-2,has rapidly spread and caused a severe global pandemic.Because no specific drugs are available for COVID-19 and few vaccines are available for SARS-CoV-2,accurat...Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),caused by SARS-CoV-2,has rapidly spread and caused a severe global pandemic.Because no specific drugs are available for COVID-19 and few vaccines are available for SARS-CoV-2,accurate and rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 has been the most crucial measure to control this pandemic.Here,we developed a portable bifunctional electrical detector based on graphene fieldeffect transistors for SARS-CoV-2 through either nucleic acid hybridization or antigen-antibody protein interaction,with ultra-low limits of detection of~0.1 and~1 fg mL^(−1) in phosphate buffer saline,respectively.We validated our method by assessment of RNA extracts from the oropharyngeal swabs of ten COVID-19 patients and eight healthy subjects,and the IgM/IgG antibodies from serum specimens of six COVID-19 patients and three healthy subjects.Here we show that the diagnostic results are in excellent agreement with the findings of polymerase chain reaction-based optical methods;they also exhibit rapid detection speed(~10 min for nucleic acid detection and~5 min for immunoassay).Therefore,our assay provides an efficient,accurate tool for high-throughput point-of-care testing.展开更多
This study aimed to investigate the serological characteristics of Ebola virus(EBOV) infection during the late phase of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. In total, 877 blood samples from 694 suspected Ebola virus di...This study aimed to investigate the serological characteristics of Ebola virus(EBOV) infection during the late phase of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. In total, 877 blood samples from 694 suspected Ebola virus disease(EVD) cases assessed from March to December 2015, were analyzed via real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) for viral RNA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and Luminex to detect antibodies against EBOV. Viral load and EBOV-specific IgM/IgG titers displayed a declining trend during March to December 2015. Viral RNA load decreased rapidly at earlier stages after disease onset, while EBOV-specific IgM and IgG still persisted in 58.1%(18/31) and 93.5%(29/31) of the confirmed EVD patients and in 3.8%(25/663) and 17.8%(118/663) of the RNA-negative suspected patients in the later phase, respectively. Dynamic analysis of longitudinally collected samples from eight EVD patients revealed typically reversed trends of declining viral load and increasing IgM and/or IgG titers in response to the EBOV infection.The present results indicate that certain populations of Sierra Leone developed immunity to an EBOV infection in the late phase of the outbreak, providing novel insights into the risk assessment of EBOV infections among human populations.展开更多
文摘Objective This study aims to investigate the etiological relationship among hepatitis B virus （HBV）, hepatitis C virus （HCV）, and alcohol as risk factors in a cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） patients from India. The clinical and biochemical profiles and tumor characteristics in the HCC cases were also evaluated. Methods A total of 357 consecutive cases of HCC fulfilling the diagnostic criteria from the Barcelona-2000 EASL conference were included in the study. The blood samples were evaluated for serological evidence of HBV and HCV infection, viral load, and genotypes using serological tests, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The male/female ratio for the HCC cases was 5.87：1. Majority of the HCC patients （33.9%） were 50 to 59 years of age, with a mean age of 4±13.23 years. More than half the cases （60.8%） had underlying cirrhosis at presentation. Among the HCC patients, 68.9% were HBV related, 21.3% were HCV related, 18.8%, were alcoholic, and 18.2% were of cryptogenic origin. The presence of any marker positive for HBV increased the risk for developing HCC by almost 27 times [OR： 27.33; （12.87-60.0）]. An increased risk of 10.6 times was observed for HCC development for cases positive for ally HCV marker [OR： 10.55; （3.13-42.73）]. Heavy alcohol consumption along with HCV RNA positivity in cirrhotic patients was found to be a risk for developing HCC by 3 folds ]OR： 3.17; （0.37-70.71）]. Conclusions Patients of chronic HBV infection followed by chronic HCV infection were at higher risk of developing HCC in India. Chronic alcohol consumption was found to be a risk factor in cirrhotic cases only when it was associated with HCV RNA positivity. Most of the patients had a large tumor size （〉5 cm） with multiple liver nodules, indicating an advanced stage of the disease thus making curative therapies difficult.
文摘Objectives: To characterize the distribution pattern of biovars and scrotypes or Ureaplasma urealyyicum in normalhealthy women, sexually transmitted infections clinic clients,and in sex workers. Methods: We cultured cervical swabs taken from 261physical check-up clients, 599 STI clinic outpatients and 98 sexworkers using commercial selective medium. Some positivecultures were further biotyped and serotyped by PCR. Results: (1) U. urealyticum is more commonly isolated in sexworkers (90.8%) than in the physical check-up group (60.9%)or the STI outpatient group (61.3%) (P<0.001). (2) Biovar 1of U. 'realyticum (95.0%), especially single infection ofserotype 1. 3, and 6 of biovar 1, is commonly found in healthywomen. (3) Biovar 2 infection of U urealyticum is moreprevalent in sex workers (28.1%) and STI outpatients group(26.6%) than that in the physical check-up group (4.9%) (P<0.001). (4) Mixed infection caused by more than one serotypeof U urealyticum increased from physical check-up group(8.6%) to STI utpatients (12.4%) to sex workers (23.9%) (P<0.01). (5) There is no statistically significant difference in thedistribution of serotype 1, 3, and 6 of biovar 1 among thesethree groups (P=0.763). (6) The PCR method described here isrelatively simple, rapid and specific for the biotyping andserotyping of biovar 1 of U urealyticum. Conclusion: We should pay more attention to biovar 2 andmixed infections of U. urealyticum than single infection ofhiovar 1 in clinic practice. PCR is a good method for biotypingand serotvping.
文摘Objective: To analyze molecular trends of the HIV epidemic in Shenzhen. Methods: Serum collected from Shenzhen AIDS patientsbetween 1992-1999 was analyzed using molecular techniques.DNA fragments of the HIV-1 Env gene were amplified bynested PCR from uncultured peripheral blood mononuclearcells (PBMCs) from these serum samples. The C2-C3 region ofthe Env gene was sequenced and analyzed. Specific high-riskbehaviors were also analyzed. Results: We found that the transmission of HIV in the citywas mainly through sexual behaviors (46.0%). There werefour HIV-1 subtypes: B', B, C and E with 6.31%, 7.95%,3.09% and 8.92% gene divergence inside each subtype inShenzhen. These results suggested that epidemic times were 6,8, 3 and 9 respectively. The main cpidemic subtypes were Eand B strains. AIDS patient's antigenic variation was slightlyhigher than that of HIV infected individuals. Conclusion: Surveillance data reflect trends and theepidemic time of HIV which will be useful for policy makersto formulate effeive strategies of HIV/AIDS prevention and control in Shenzhen.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To study Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) infection in 110 patients with respiratory tract infection admitted to our hospital from January to December 1995 in Nanjing. METHODS: Sputum and throat swab specimens were taken and C. pneumoniae DNA was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the HM-1-HR-1 primer pair. At the same time, serum samples were taken and immunoglobulin G and M (IgG and IgM) fractions of antibodies to C. pneumoniae were studied by microimmunofluorescence test. RESULTS: Prevalence of specific IgG was 70% in patients with respiratory tract infection. Seventeen patients (15.5%) were serologically diagnosed as having recent C. pneumoniae infections and 12 patients (10.9%) had positive PCR in sputum and/or swab specimens. The total positive rate was 22.7% (25/110) detected by PCR combined with serological tests. Acute infection of C. pneumoniae was common in patients with asthma (57.1%), pneumonia (35.0%), COPD (25.9%) and bronchitis (25.0%). Clinical features between C. pneumoniae infection and non-C. pneumonia infection showed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Chlamydia pneumoniae is an important pathogen that causes infection of the human respiratory tract and attention should be drawn to this special illness.
基金the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFA0204901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21727806,21772003 and 21933001)+1 种基金the Tencent Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZE,Guangdong Major Project of Basic and Applied Basic Research(2019B030302007)Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences(BNLMS201901)。
文摘Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),caused by SARS-CoV-2,has rapidly spread and caused a severe global pandemic.Because no specific drugs are available for COVID-19 and few vaccines are available for SARS-CoV-2,accurate and rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 has been the most crucial measure to control this pandemic.Here,we developed a portable bifunctional electrical detector based on graphene fieldeffect transistors for SARS-CoV-2 through either nucleic acid hybridization or antigen-antibody protein interaction,with ultra-low limits of detection of~0.1 and~1 fg mL^(−1) in phosphate buffer saline,respectively.We validated our method by assessment of RNA extracts from the oropharyngeal swabs of ten COVID-19 patients and eight healthy subjects,and the IgM/IgG antibodies from serum specimens of six COVID-19 patients and three healthy subjects.Here we show that the diagnostic results are in excellent agreement with the findings of polymerase chain reaction-based optical methods;they also exhibit rapid detection speed(~10 min for nucleic acid detection and~5 min for immunoassay).Therefore,our assay provides an efficient,accurate tool for high-throughput point-of-care testing.
基金supported by National Mega project for Infectious Disease,Ministry of Science and technology(Grant Nos.2016ZX10004222-002,2016ZX10004222-003)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81373141 and 81401312)National key project of Ebola research,National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,Grant No.81590763)
文摘This study aimed to investigate the serological characteristics of Ebola virus(EBOV) infection during the late phase of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. In total, 877 blood samples from 694 suspected Ebola virus disease(EVD) cases assessed from March to December 2015, were analyzed via real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) for viral RNA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and Luminex to detect antibodies against EBOV. Viral load and EBOV-specific IgM/IgG titers displayed a declining trend during March to December 2015. Viral RNA load decreased rapidly at earlier stages after disease onset, while EBOV-specific IgM and IgG still persisted in 58.1%(18/31) and 93.5%(29/31) of the confirmed EVD patients and in 3.8%(25/663) and 17.8%(118/663) of the RNA-negative suspected patients in the later phase, respectively. Dynamic analysis of longitudinally collected samples from eight EVD patients revealed typically reversed trends of declining viral load and increasing IgM and/or IgG titers in response to the EBOV infection.The present results indicate that certain populations of Sierra Leone developed immunity to an EBOV infection in the late phase of the outbreak, providing novel insights into the risk assessment of EBOV infections among human populations.
