Baricitinib inhibits type Ⅰ IFN-signaling during SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro / 中国热带医学

@#Abstract: Objective　To explore the antiviral effect of baricitinib in the SARS-CoV-2 infection and influence on cytokine levels. Methods　Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 at MOI of 0.1, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-1β), interferon β (IFN-β) and interferon-stimulated gene, IFIT2 in the infected cells were analyzed by qRT-PCR methods. At the same time, Calu-3 cells were infected with SARS-CoV-2 (MOI=0.1) after being treated with baricitinib for 2 hours. Cells were collected at 0, 24, 36, and 48 hours, and analyzed for the mRNA of the above genes in the drug-treated and untreated groups. Results　The mRNA levels of IL-6, TNF-a, IL-1β, IFN-β and IFIT2 in Calu-3 infected by SARS-CoV-2 cells were increased significantly. These cytokines were increased by nearly 100-fold post-infection 48 h compared with the control (P<0.000 1), and continued to increase with the infection time (P<0.001 or P<0.000 1). The increase of IL-8 mRNA level was not as significant as IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β, but it also showed a 2-4 folds increase. Baricitinib does not affect the level of viral RNA in Calu-3 cells after SARS-CoV-2 infection (P>0.05). However, baricitinib can significantly inhibit the up-regulation of IL-6 and TNF-α levels induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection (5.25-fold and 3.90-fold down-regulation, respectively, P<0.01), and has little effect on the levels of IL-8 and IL-1β . In addition, the drug could also significantly down-regulate the increase in IFN-β and IFIT2 levels caused by viral infection (10.51-fold and 90.78-fold down-regulation, respectively, P<0.000 1). Conclusions　Baricitinib inhibits the release of inflammatory cytokines to some extent, but it drastically down-regulates the expression of interferons and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), and has limited antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2. Considering that interferon signal pathways play important roles on viral infection, caution should be exercised when using baricitinib to treat COVID-19 patients.

Analysis of CYP2C19 gene polymorphism in patients with upper digestive system diseases in Anhui Province / 预防医学

Objective@#To analyze the CYP2C19 gene polymorphism in patients with upper digestive system diseases in Anhui Province, so as to provide evidence for individual treatment.@*Methods@#The 307 patients with upper digestive system diseases in the Department of Gastroenterology, The 901st Hospital of Combined Service Force of People＇s Liberation Army were selected. The CYP2C19 genotypes were detected by DNA microarray microarray. The CYP2C19 genotypes and metabolic types in different genders, ages and diseases were analyzed.@*Results@# There were 197 males ( 64.17% ) and 110 females ( 35.83% ) , with the age of ( 58.00±16.13 ) years old. The gene frequency of CYP2C19*1, CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 was 62.70%, 32.25% and 5.05%, respectively. There were 119 cases (38.76%) of *1/*1 ( 636GG, 681GG ), 129 cases ( 42.02% ) of *1/*2 ( 636GG, 681GA ) , 18 cases (5.86%) of *1/*3 ( 636GA, 681GG ) , 29 cases ( 9.45% ) of *2/*2 ( 636GG, 681AA ) , 11 cases ( 3.58% ) of *2/*3 ( 636GA, 681GA ) , and 1 cases ( 0.33% ) of *3/*3 ( 636AA, 681GG ). In terms of metabolisms, there were 119 cases ( 38.76% ) of fast metabolism type, 147 cases (47.88%) of intermediate metabolism type and 41 cases (13.35%) of slow metabolism type. There were no significant differences in CYP2C19 genotypes and metabolic types among the patients with different gender, age and digestive system diseases ( P＞0.05 ).@*Conclusion@#The CYP2C19 genotypes of patients with upper digestive system diseases were polymorphic, mainly the fast metabolism type and the intermediate metabolism type, which could provide reference for the clinical medication of individualized treatment of proton pump inhibitors.

Assessment of Balance and Vestibular Functions in Patients with Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

This study investigated the relationship among the severity of hearing impairment,vestibular function and balance function in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL).A total of 35 ISSNHL patients (including 21 patients with vertigo) were enrolled.All of the patients underwent audiometry,sensory organization test (SOT),caloric test,cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) test.Significant relationship was found between vertigo and hearing loss grade (P=0.009),and between SOT VEST grade and hearing loss grade (P=0.001).The abnormal rate of oVEMP test was the highest,followed by the abnormal rates of caloric and cVEMP tests,not only in patients with vertigo but also in those without vertigo.The vestibular end organs were more susceptible to damage in patients with vertigo (compared with patients without vertigo).Significant relationship was found between presence of vertigo and SOT VEST grade (P=0.010).We demonstrated that vestibular end organs may be impaired not only in patients with vertigo but also in patients without vertigo.The cochlear and vestibular impairment could be more serious in patients with vertigo than in those without vertigo.Vertigo does not necessarily bear a causal relationship with the impairment of the vestibular end organs.SOT VEST grade could be used to reflect the presence of vertigo state in the ISSNHL patients.Apart from audiometry,the function of peripheral vestibular end organs and balance function should be evaluated to comprehensively understand ISSNHL.Better assessment of the condition will help us in clinical diagnosis,treatment and prognosis evaluation of ISSNHL.

Genetic Polymorphisms of 26 Y-STR Loci in Fujian She Nationality and Its Forensic Application / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the forensic application of Goldeneye DNA ID 26Y Kit in the She nationality.@*METHODS@#Through capillary electrophoresis, the genotype of 26 Y-STR loci were analyzed in 53 unrelated male individuals from Fujian She nationality. The population genetics parameters such as allele frequency and haplotype diversity were calculated. The comparisons among the She nationality and the other nationalities were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 126 alleles were observed on the 26 Y-STR loci of 53 unrelated male individuals. The allele frequencies and GD value ranged from 0.010 1 to 0.886 8 and 0.211 2 to 0.846 2, respectively. The GD value was greater than 0.5 in the 19 loci. A total of 47 haplotypes were observed. Based on R(ST), multidimensional scaling plot indicated that the genetic relationship among Fujian She nationality and Minnan Han nationality was closest, followed by Southern China Han nationality and Northern China nationality.@*CONCLUSION@#Goldeneye™ DNA ID 26Y Kit including 26 Y-STR loci has good polymorphism in the She nationality. As an additional system, it has forensic application value in some special cases.