Evidence for SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron co-infections and recombination

Between November 2021 and February 2022, SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants co-circulated in the United States, allowing for co-infections and possible recombination events. We sequenced 29,719 positive samples during this period and analyzed the presence and fraction of reads supporting mutations specific to either the Delta or Omicron variant. We identified 18 co-infections, one of which displayed evidence of a low Delta-Omicron recombinant viral population. We also identified two independent cases of infection by a Delta-Omicron recombinant virus, where 100% of the viral RNA came from one clonal recombinant. In the three cases, the 5-end of the viral genome was from the Delta genome, and the 3-end from Omicron including the majority of the spike protein gene, though the breakpoints were different. Delta-Omicron recombinant viruses were rare, and there is currently no evidence that Delta-Omicron recombinant viruses are more transmissible between hosts compared to the circulating Omicron lineages.

Progressive massive fibrosis in pneumoconiosis is mimicking lung malignancy on (18)F-FDGPET-CT: two cases report / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Occupational pneumoconiosis is one of the main occupational diseases in China. Progressive massive fibrosis in pneumoconiosis should be distinguished from lung cancer for their similar imaging features which is often identified by (18)F-FDG PET-CT in clinic. Here we reported two cases of pneumoconiosis. Both of them were suspected of carrying malignant tumors by preoperative PET-CT exam, however, nodules in these two patients were all proved to be benign by intraoperative pathology which suggested that there is false-positive possibility in the distinguishment of pneumoconiosis nodules by (18)F-FDG PET-CT.

Effect of extensin-like OsPEX1 on pollen fertility in rice.

LRXs (leucine-rich repeat extensins) are chimeric cell wall proteins containing an N-terminal leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and a C-terminal extensin domain. Increasing evidences suggest that LRXs family genes play important roles in pollen germination and pollen tube growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the functions of rice (Oryza sativa L.) LRX genes in pollen development remain poorly understood. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the rice LRX gene family consist of eight members, namely OsPEX3, OsLRX3 and OsLRX5 located on chromosome 1, OsLRX1, OsLRX3, OsLRX2,OsPEX1 and OsPEX2 located on chromosome 2, 5, 6, 11 and 12, respectively. The OsPEX1 gene is preferentially expressed in rice anther, suggesting that it may be involved in the regulation of pollen development. Next, we further investigated the role of the OsPEX1 gene in rice by knockdown of its expression using an RNAi approach. The OsPEX1 RNAi transgenic lines showed a significant decrease in seed setting rate (10%~30%) due to pollen sterility. Further quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that the OsPEX1 gene was significantly down-regulated in the RNAi transgenic lines. The results indicate that the OsPEX1plays an important role in the regulation of rice pollen development. Further studies on this gene could provide insights on the molecular and genetic mechanisms in this developmental process.

Effects of emodin on lipid accumulation and inflammation in hepatocytes / 中国中药杂志

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of emodin on lipid accumulation and inflammation in hepatocytes. The cell morphology was observed by microscopy. LDH release was detected by the kit. Levels of intracellular lipid droplets were observed by oil red O staining. The contents of TC and TG in cells were detected by the kit. Western blot was used to determine protein expressions of FASN,SREBF2,APOB,IL-6 and p-NF-κB in hepatocytes. The results showed that the levels of L02 cell LDH were significantly increased after being treated with emodin,and the cells showed shrinkage,volume reduction,decrease in quantity with the increase of dose. Red lipid droplets were observed in L02 hepatocytes. Intracellular TC and TG contents of L02 cell increased in a concentrationdependent manner,with significant differences between medium and high-dose groups( P < 0. 05). Protein expressions of FASN,SREBF2,IL-6 and p-NF-κB were significantly higher than those of the control group,and the expression level of APOB was significantly lower than that of the control group( P<0. 05). In conclusion,emodin could induce lipid accumulation and inflammatory damage in hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner,which in turn could damage liver cells. This process was related to the up-regulation of FASN,SREBF2,IL-6,p-NF-κB,as well as the down-regulation of the protein expression of APOB.

Research progress of de novo colorectal cancer in solid organ transplant cecipients / 中国医师杂志

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is an effective treatment for organ failure in clinic.At present,the survival time of organ transplant recipients is significantly prolonged.The high incidence of a disease and mortality of new malignancies after transplantation has become a common long-term complication in transplant patients.Colorectal cancer (CRC) in the new malignant patients is increasing.This article summarizes the domestic and foreign related research of de novo CRC in SOT patients to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of de novo CRC after transplantation.

Study on Anti-inflammatory Effects and Mechanism of Petroleum Ether Extract from Citrullus lanatus Vine / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This article was aimed to study anti-inflammatory effects of petroleum ether extract from Citrullus lanatus vine (PEECLV) and explore the mechanism. The methods of ear swelling with xylene, increasing of peritoneal capil-lary permeability, and paw edema with egg albumin were used in the establishment of mice models, respectively. Granuloma with cotton pellet, and paw edema with carrageenan were used in the establishment of rat models, re-spectively. Observation was made on anti-inflammatory effects of PEECLV. The content of nitrous oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), as well as the level of TNF-α and IL-1β in blood serum were measured among granu-loma with cotton pellet rat models. Contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 5-HT, histamine (His), and protein in inflammatory exudates from the paw edema with carrageenan rat model, as well as contents of NO and NOS in blood serum, and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in order to study the possi-ble anti-inflammatory effects. The results showed that PEECLV can suppress the ear swelling with xylene, the in-creasing of peritoneal capillary permeability, and the paw edema with egg albumin in mice, as well as granuloma with cotton pellet, paw edema with carrageenan in rats. It had anti-inflammatory effects at different degrees. The content of NO and NOS, as well as the level of TNF-α and IL-1β in blood serum were reduced in granuloma with cotton pellet rat models. The content of MDA, PGE2, 5-HT, His, and protein content were reduced in inflammatory exudates from the paw edema with carrageenan rat model. The increasing of NO and NOS in blood serum was inhib-ited. And the activity of SOD was increased. It was concluded that PEECLV had certain anti-inflammatory effects. Its mechanism may be related to the influence of the production of inflammatory mediators and antioxidant.

Effect of miR-30a-5p on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and migration of SMCC-7721 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of microRNA-30a-5p (miRNA-30a-5p) on the biological behavior of human hepatoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The liver cancer cell line SMCC-7721 cells and the normal liver cell line L02 cells (control) were transiently transfected with miRNA-30a-5p mimics and an miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor by Lipofectamine 2000 (Life Technologies). miR-30a-5p mRNA expression was detected by quantitative real-time (q)PCR. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry.Invasion and migration were measured by transwell chamber assays. The SMCC-7721 cells was injected subcutaneously into nude mice to establish a tumor animal model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The SMCC-7721 cells transfected with miRNA-30a-5p mimics showed significantly higher miRNA-30a-5p mRNA expression than the non-transfected SMCC-7721 cells and the transfected control L02 cells (P<0.01). The miRNA-30a-5p mRNA expression was significantly lower in the SMCC-7721 cells transfected with the miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor than the non-transfected SMCC-7721 cells the control L02 cells (P<0.01). The overexpression of miRNA-30a-5p inhibited the viability, colony formation rate, and invasion and migration abilities, as shown in the cells transfected with the miRNA-30a-5p mimics (P<0.05); in addition, the miRNA-30a-5p promoted proliferation of cells (P<0.05), as shown by more S phase cells detected by flow cytometry. SMCC-7122 cells transfected with miRNA-30a-5p mimics produced tumors with significantly higher average weight than tumors produced by SMCC-7122 cells that were untransfected or transfected with empty vector (both P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overexpression ofmiR-30a-5p had an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, increased the number of cells in S phase, and markedly inhibited invasion and migration of SMCC-7721 HCC cells in vitro and in vivo.</p>

Optimization of processes for recovery of soyasaponins from bean product waste by orthogonal design / 中草药

Object To optimize the process for the recovery of soyasaponins from bean product waste. Methods Conditions for the recovery were studied by orthogonal design guided by the yield of soya-saponins as determined by UV absorbance. Results The most influential factor in the recovery by refluxing was the concentration of alcohol; while in the recovery by percolation the influential factors were in the order of concentration of ethyl alcohol, amount of alcohol used and the rate of percolation.Conclusion The optimal recovery process was found to be a single reflux with eight times of 60% alcohol for 2.5 h.