Establishment and evaluation of a quantitative TaqMan RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective:To develop a rapid, simple and cost-effective quantitative TaqMan RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) that could be used as an alternative to sequencing for the detection of Omicron variants and to evaluate its performance.Methods:Primers and TaqMan probes targeting the conserved domains of SARS-CoV-2 ORF1ab and the high-frequency mutation sites in the S gene of Omicron variants were designed. Then a RT-qPCR for the detection of Omicron variants was established. The consistency of the method was verified using samples identified by whole-genome sequencing. The specificity and sensitivity of the method were also evaluated.Results:The established RT-qPCR could distinguish Omicron variants from early epidemic A strains and Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2, and the results were consistent with those of whole-genome sequencing with a coincidence rate of 100% (28/28). There was no cross-reactivity with other six respiratory viruses or coxsackievirus group A16. For RNA standards, this method showed good linearity in the range of 10 9-10 3 copies/μl with a correlation coefficient ( R2) greater than 0.99 and detection sensitivity of 10 3 copies/μl. Conclusions:The RT-qPCR designed in this study for Omicron variant detection had good sensitivity and specificity and could be easily performed in laboratories, which would greatly facilitate the monitoring of Omicron variants.

Factors associated with poor short-term pharmacotherapy response in self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To explore risk factors for clinical onset in children with uncontrolled self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) managed by 2 anti-seizure medications (ASMs).Methods:A total of 112 children with SeLECTS who were diagnosed at the Department of Pediatric Neurology of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed.All of them were treated with conventional ASMs, and regularly followed up for 1-2 years.Types of therapeutic drugs, clinical seizure control status, presence of new seizure forms, electroencephalogram (EEG) were reviewed at follow-up visits.According to whether the seizures were controlled after the use of no more than 2 ASMs, patients were divided into poor response group (43 cases) and good response group (69 cases), and their clinical data and EEG characteristics were compared.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the risk factors for seizures that were uncontrolled by 2 ASMs. Results:There were significant differences in the age of onset ( χ2=8.919, P=0.003), seizure form ( χ2=4.218, P=0.040), seizure frequency ( Z=-7.664, P<0.001), EEG background slowing ( χ2=10.284, P=0.001), emergence of electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES)( χ2=11.921, P=0.001), discharge generalization ( χ2=25.377, P<0.001), and presence of epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep (EE-SWAS)( χ2=54.334, P<0.001) between groups.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that seizure frequency ( P<0.001, OR=0.086, 95% CI: 0.022-0.329), discharge generalization ( P=0.006, OR=9.942, 95% CI: 1.918-51.527) and EEG background slowing ( P=0.041, OR=6.648, 95% CI: 1.077-41.038) were the 3 main risk factors associated with poor response to short-term medications of ASMs. Conclusions:Seizures are easily controlled in most SeLECTS patients medicated with ASMs with a favorable prognosis.Seizure frequency, discharge generalization and EEG background slowing are risk factors for the poor response to short-term pharmacotherapy in children with SeLECTS.

Incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

Objective@#To understand the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in tumor registration areas of Zhejiang Province,and to provide reference for prevention and control strategies for colorectal cancer.@*Methods@#The colorectal cancer data was retrieved from fourteen tumor registries in Zhejiang Province were collected,the incidence rate and mortality rate were calculated and standardized according to the Chinese standard population in 2010 and Segi's world population in 2000. The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in different sex,age group and region were analyzed.@*Results@#The crude incidence rate of colorectal cancer from 2010 to 2014 was 35.82/100 000（20 983 cases）. The standardized incidence rate by Chinese and world standard population were 20.80/100 000 and 23.01/100 000. The crude mortality rate of colorectal cancer was 15.25/100 000 （8 934 cases）. The standardized mortality rate by Chinese and world standard population were 8.01/100 000 and 9.39/100 000. The ratio of mortality to incidence was 0.43:1. From 2010 to 2014,the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer were stable（P>0.05）. The incidence rates of colorectal cancer in urban and rural residents were 37.69/100 000 and 31.14/100 000,and the mortality rates were 15.73/100 000 and 14.05/100 000. The incidence rates of colorectal cancer in males and females were 41.53/100 000 and 30.11/100 000,and the mortality rates were 17.74/100 000 and 12.76/100 000. The incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer both increased with age. The incidence rate increased significantly in people after 40 years old,and peaked with 187.35/100 000 in people aged 80-84 years. The morbidity rate peaked with 171.27/100 000 in people aged 85 years or over. @*Conclusion@#The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in Zhejiang Province were stable,but the incidence was higher than the national average level. The incidence of colorectal cancer in people aged over 40 years increased significantly.

Analysis on the age of onset of malignant tumors in cancer registration areas in Zhejiang Province from 2000 to 2015 / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To study the age of onset of malignant tumors in cancer registration areas in Zhejiang province from 2000 to 2015.@*Methods@#Based on the incidence data of cancer from 14 national cancer registration areas in Zhejiang province between 2000 and 2015, the incidence rate, average/standardized average age of onset, and age-specific incidence proportion were calculated, and standardized by Segi′s world population. The population was divided into 7 age groups (0-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, ≥80 years old). The average age of onset and age-specific incidence proportion were analyzed by using a linear regression. The change trend of the proportion; the average annual percent change (AAPC) of the incidence rate was calculated by using the Joinpoint log-linear regression model. The birth cohort was constructed by using the standardized incidence rate and the year of onset of cancer, and the distribution characteristics of the age groups were described.@*Results@#From calendar year 2000 to 2015, the average age of onset of malignant tumors in Zhejiang Province decreased from 59.7 to 57.6, with an average annual percent decrease of 0.09 year (P=0.033). After the merge of age groups, the standardized incidence proportion of 30-49 and ≥60 years old group standardization increased by an average annual change of 0.38% and decreased by an average annual change of 0.39%, respectively (both P values <0.001). The results of the log-linear regression model showed that the standardized incidence rate of the 30-39 and 40-49 years old age groups increased rapidly, with the AAPC (95%CI) about 5.2% (4.4%-6.0%) and 3.4% (2.5%-4.3%), respectively. The incidence rate of female increased rapidly, especially for 30-39 and 40-49 years old age groups with the AAPC about 6.2% (5.1%-7.2%) and 4.9% (4.0%-5.9%), respectively. The results of the birth cohort analysis showed that the population with different birth years in the same age groups saw an increasing trend with the increase of the birth year.@*Conclusion@#The age of onset of malignant tumors in the cancer registration areas in Zhejiang Province is getting younger. The incidence rate and number of people with malignant tumors in 30-49 years old age group is evident. These characteristics are more obvious in female than that in male.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of rabies immunization strategy based on dynamic-decision tree model / 中华预防医学杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the cost-utility of different immunization strategies for rabies in China, and to provide a reference for determining the optimal immunization strategy.@*Methods@#The system dynamics model was used to simulate the epidemic of canine rabies and a decision tree model was conducted to analysis different immune strategies. Relevant probabilities were obtained through literature search and on-site investigation. Sensitivity analysis was used to explore the important influenced factors.@*Results@#At baseline, from a social perspective, 70% vaccination of dogs was the optimal strategy compared to current vaccination strategy (43% vaccination in dogs, human category-Ⅱ exposure vaccination/category-Ⅲ exposure vaccination combined with RIG). The total cost was 14 084 354 CNY, and the total utility value was 22 078 616.23 QALYs, and the incremental cost-utility ratio was-62 148 147 CNY/QALY; if human vaccination was considered, 55% vaccination of dogs combined with strategy one was the optimal strategy, its incremental cost-utility ratio was-444 620 557 CNY/QALY. The probability that an injured dog carries rabies virus was the most sensitive parameter. When it was greater than 0.005 03, strategy four was the optimal strategy. When it was less than 82/100 000, strategy one was the optimal strategy; when it was between 82/100 000 and 120/100 000, strategy two was the optimal strategy; when it was between 120/100 000 and 503/100 000, strategy two was the optimal strategy.@*Conclusion@#It was conducive to increase the vaccination coverage of canine for the prevention and control of rabies.

Data mining analysis of the ointment medication by Prof.Yang Zhimin treating yang deficiency and fatigue state patients / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective The purpose of this research is to use modern statistical methods,to analyze the rules of cointment by Prof.Yang Zhimin treating yang deficiency and fatigue state patients,to increase the pertinence and to improve the clinical efficacy.Methods This paper analyzed 62 cases of Prof.Yang Zhimin in the treatment of the patients with yang deficiency and fatigue state from October 2010 to January 2013.The analyses were frequency analysis and association rules.Results Among the patients with yang-deficiency and fatigue,193 Chinese medicine were used.The monkshood was the highest frequency.Dampness-transforming medicine accounts for about 22.2％ in the top 36 frequency of medicine.Based on analyzing association rules,we found that the compatibility of medicine which were used more frequently came from Sini decoction,Danggui Sini decoction and Jinkui Shenqi pills,such as "monkshood and dried ginger","monkshood and roasted liquorice","dried ginger and roasted liquorice","monkshood and angelica","monkshood and comel","monkshood and prepared rehmannia root" and "monkshood and yam".Futhermore,we found two new core prescription.One was Qian Yang Dan combined with Sini decoction consist of "monkshood,roasted liquorice,dried ginger,fructus amomi".The other one was Tu Si Jian consist of "yam,semen cuscutae,angelica,roasted liquorice".Conclusions "Invigorating spleen and kidney","warming yang and dissipating dampness" and "hiding yang and Seeking Yang in Yin" are the habits and rules of the ointment medication by Prof.Yang Zhimin treatingyang deficiency and fatigue state patients.

Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against human programmed cell death 10(PDCD10) / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To obtain monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death 10(PDCD10) for further study of the structure and function of PDCD10 protein.Methods: Balb/c mice were immunized with recombinant PDCD10,hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against PDCD10 were screened by regular cell fusion and subcloning approach.The specificities of these monoclonal antibodies were determined by ELISA,Western blotting and Immunofluorescecence assay.Results: Three hybridoma cell lines(5G1,4F7 and 3H5) stable in secreting specific monoclonal antibodies were successfully obtained.Subclass of IgG belonged to IgG1(4F7 and 5G1)and IgG2b(3H5),respectively.The ascite titers of these monoclonal antibodies reached 1∶10~7.They could specifically bind to recombinant PDCD10 and endogenous and overexpressed PDCD10 proteins proved by ELISA and Western blotting.They failed to react with E.coli lysates and glutathione S-transferase(GST).In addition,these three monoclonal antibodies could recognize different epitopes of PDCD10 proteins assessed by immune fluorescence competitive binding assay.Both endogenous and overexpressed PDCD10 protein mainly located in the nucleus.Conclusion: Monoclonal antibodies against PDCD10 with high titers and specificity have been successfully prepared,which has laid the foundation for further study of PDCD10 protein.