Research progress in site mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) was first discovered in South Africa in November 2021 and has since become a mainstream strain worldwide. Omicron variant was defined as the fifth "variant of concern (VOC)" by World Health Organization on November 26, 2021. This paper illustrates the mutation trends of Omicron variants in terms of SARS-CoV-2 genome and protein structure as well as nucleic acid site mutations and amino acid site mutations, describes the features of Omicron mutation sites in terms of lineage comparison among the VOCs and Omicron sublineages, and further highlights the influences of Omicron site mutations from the aspects of immune escape, virulence and transmission ability. Moreover, this paper also reviews the development of direct antiviral agents, antibodies and vaccines, aiming to provide reference for further investigation.

Advance in Zika virus infection-related myelitis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Zika virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus and is mainly transmitted to humans by Aedes. The outbreak of Zika virus infection in South America in 2015 raised worldwide health concern due to the increasing incidence of microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome and myelitis, although most of the patients were asymptomatic. Here, to further understand and elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of Zika virus infection-associated myelitis, this review summarized the latest advance in biological character-istics, transmission and treatment of Zika virus infection as well as the related case reports and possible mechanisms.

Advance in Zika virus infection-related myelitis / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Zika virus belongs to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus and is mainly transmitted to humans by Aedes. The outbreak of Zika virus infection in South America in 2015 raised worldwide health concern due to the increasing incidence of microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome and myelitis, although most of the patients were asymptomatic. Here, to further understand and elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of Zika virus infection-associated myelitis, this review summarized the latest advance in biological characteristics, transmission and treatment of Zika virus infection as well as the related case reports and possible mechanisms.

[The effect of rosuvastatin therapy on CCR2 expression in mononuclear cells and its upstream pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of rosuvastatin therapy on C-C chemokine receptor(CCR2)expression in mononuclear cells in patients with carotid atherosclerosis and explore the possible upstream mechanism. METHODS: Twenty patients without previous statin treatment were enrolled. Rosuvastatin were given 5 to 20 mg/day for 3 months. At baseline and 12 weeks, lipid profile and plasma monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were examined. The mRNA and protein expressions of CCR2 in the mononuclear cells were measured with RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The mRNA and protein expression of peroxidase proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR ß) were detected with RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: After 3-months rosuvastatin treatment, the patients' low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with baseline, the mRNA and protein expressions of CCR2 in the mononuclear cells showed significantly decrease, as well as plasma MCP-1 levels (P<0.05). Both mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR ß in the mononuclear cells increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Rosuvastatin may attenuate MCP-1/CCR2 through PPARß upstream pathway.

Effect of Yiqi Bufei recipe [see text] on patients with pulmonary incompetence after pneumonectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe ([see text], YBR) on surgical tolerability, pulmonary compensatory function and post-operation rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary incompetence (PI) after pneumonectomy. METHODS: YBR intervention was applied to 60 patients with PI after pneumonectomy (as test group), the pulmonary and cardiac functions changes before and after operation, occurrence of postoperative complications, mortality, and the number of hospitalization days and intensive care unit (ICU) confinement period were observed. Meantime, for the negative and positive controls, the same parameters were observed comparatively in 60 patients with normal lung function, and in 60 patients with PI undergoing a similar operation but untreated with Chinese herbs. RESULTS: Lung function in the test group showed insignificant change before and after operation (P >0.05), while significant decrease was seen in the two control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidences of post-operation complications and mortality as well as the number of hospitalization days and the ICU confinement period in the test group were significantly lower than those in the positive control group respectively (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: YBR could relieve lung injury after pneumonectomy, improve surgical tolerability, reduce the length of postoperative hospitalization days and ICU confinement period, and lower the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in patients with PI after pneumonectomy.

Rule of Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage.

OBJECTIVE: To study the rule of syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage. METHODS: A standard was created referring to the related literature, and it was applied to differentiate the Chinese medicine syndrome in 150 patients before and three days after thoracic operation. RESULTS: Before operation, Chinese medicine syndromes were as differentiated as phlegm type in 45.3%, blood stasis type in 17.3%, and qi-stagnancy type in 16.0%. The patients with asthenia syndrome markedly increased after operation, accounting for 34.0% (51 patients, including qi-, yin-, and blood-deficiency syndromes). The most frequently seen intermixed syndromes were qi-deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome and Pi ()-deficiency with phlegm-dampness syndrome. The intermixed syndromes revealed in 37.5% and 42.0% of the patients before and after operation, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The syndrome in the patients with thoracic disease before operation was mostly the excessive syndrome, mainly the phlegm syndrome type; at postoperation stage, Chinese medicine syndrome in patients become asthenia in essence with excessive superficiality, which is mostly revealed as Pi-deficiency with phlegm-dampness.

Expression pattern of enzymes related to juvenile hormone metabolism in the silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The physiological balance of juvenile hormone (JH) in insects depends on its biosynthesis and degradation pathway. Three key enzymes namely, juvenile hormone esterase (JHE), juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH) and juvenile hormone diol kinase (JHDK) are required for degradation in insects. Our present results showed that JHE and JHEH exhibited expression in almost all the tissues. This indicated that JHE and JHEH might degrade JH simultaneously. In addition, the highest levels of JHDK were observed in the midgut, with trace level being found in the malpighian tubule and haemocytes. Since the midgut is a digestive organ and not a JH target, it was hypothesized that both JHE and JHEH hydrolyzed JH to JH diol (JHd) which was then transported to midgut and hydrolyzed further by JHDK, to be finally excreted out of the body. Also the expression studies on JH degradation enzymes in different tissues and stages indicated that the activities of the three enzymes are specific and coincident with the JH functions in silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

Rule of Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the rule of syndrome differentiation in the patients with thoracic diseases at perioperation stage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A standard was created referring to the related literature, and it was applied to differentiate the Chinese medicine syndrome in 150 patients before and three days after thoracic operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before operation, Chinese medicine syndromes were as differentiated as phlegm type in 45.3%, blood stasis type in 17.3%, and qi-stagnancy type in 16.0%. The patients with asthenia syndrome markedly increased after operation, accounting for 34.0% (51 patients, including qi-, yin-, and blood-deficiency syndromes). The most frequently seen intermixed syndromes were qi-deficiency with phlegm-stasis syndrome and Pi ()-deficiency with phlegm-dampness syndrome. The intermixed syndromes revealed in 37.5% and 42.0% of the patients before and after operation, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The syndrome in the patients with thoracic disease before operation was mostly the excessive syndrome, mainly the phlegm syndrome type; at postoperation stage, Chinese medicine syndrome in patients become asthenia in essence with excessive superficiality, which is mostly revealed as Pi-deficiency with phlegm-dampness.</p>

Effect of Yiqi Bufei recipe see text on patients with pulmonary incompetence after pneumonectomy / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Yiqi Bufei Recipe ([see text], YBR) on surgical tolerability, pulmonary compensatory function and post-operation rehabilitation in patients with pulmonary incompetence (PI) after pneumonectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>YBR intervention was applied to 60 patients with PI after pneumonectomy (as test group), the pulmonary and cardiac functions changes before and after operation, occurrence of postoperative complications, mortality, and the number of hospitalization days and intensive care unit (ICU) confinement period were observed. Meantime, for the negative and positive controls, the same parameters were observed comparatively in 60 patients with normal lung function, and in 60 patients with PI undergoing a similar operation but untreated with Chinese herbs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Lung function in the test group showed insignificant change before and after operation (P >0.05), while significant decrease was seen in the two control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the incidences of post-operation complications and mortality as well as the number of hospitalization days and the ICU confinement period in the test group were significantly lower than those in the positive control group respectively (P <0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YBR could relieve lung injury after pneumonectomy, improve surgical tolerability, reduce the length of postoperative hospitalization days and ICU confinement period, and lower the incidence of postoperative complications and mortality in patients with PI after pneumonectomy.</p>

Identification of leukemia-associated antigens in chronic myeloid leukemia by proteomic analysis.

The immune system plays an important role in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Identification of leukemia-associated antigens (LAAs) eliciting an immune response in patients is a prerequisite for specific immunotherapy of CML. To identify new LAAs in CML, We utilized a novel approach based serology and proteomics technologies. LAAs were identified by comparing the reactivity of proteins resolved by 2-DE with sera from CML patients and healthy donors. Several new LAAs were identified including alpha enolase, aldolase A, HSP70 protein8, beta-tubulin and tropomyosin isoforms. Although, the functions of these identified proteins in CML need further investigation, the detection of autoantibodies in CML may have value on CML screening, diagnosis, or follow-up. Additionally, identification of LAAs in CML may also be of vital importance in antigen-based immunotherapy.

[Development of a freezing drier for lyophilization of biomaterials].

To observe and assess the performance and effect of our self-made FD-1 freezing drier on biomaterials. R502 compressor and R502 refrigerating agent were adopted. In the experiment, FD-1 lyophilized collagen sponge, strain and defibrinogenase. The evaporating-condenser temperature reached -45 degrees C and the small icebox temperature reached -30 degrees C under the loading or free-loading circumstances in the lyophilizing box. The lyophilized collagen sponge had many pores in the structure, and the strain and the defibrinogenase were lyophilized and maintained satisfactorily. This freezing drier is suitable for lyophilizing some biomaterial samples in small or medium batches.