Exploring the spatiotemporal relationship between influenza and air pollution in Fuzhou using spatiotemporal weighted regression model.

Air pollution has become a significant concern for human health, and its impact on influenza, has been increasingly recognized. This study aims to explore the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the impacts of air pollution on influenza and to confirm a better method for infectious disease surveillance. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the correlation between air pollution and the influenza case counts. VIF was used to test for collinearity among selected air pollutants. OLS regression, GWR, and STWR models were fitted to explore the potential spatiotemporal relationship between air pollution and influenza. The R2, the RSS and the AICc were used to evaluate and compare the models. In addition, the DTW and K-medoids algorithms were applied to cluster the county-level time-series coefficients. Compared with the OLS regression and GWR models, STWR model exhibits superior fit especially when the influenza outbreak changes rapidly and is able to more accurately capture the changes in different regions and time periods. We discovered that identical air pollutant factors may yield contrasting impacts on influenza within the same period in different areas of Fuzhou. NO2 and PM10 showed opposite impacts on influenza in the eastern and western areas of Fuzhou during all periods. Additionally, our investigation revealed that the relationship between air pollutant factors and influenza may exhibit temporal variations in certain regions. From 2013 to 2019, the influence coefficient of O3 on influenza epidemic intensity changed from negative to positive in the western region and from positive to negative in the eastern region. STWR model could be a useful method to explore the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the impacts of air pollution on influenza in geospatial processes. The research findings emphasize the importance of considering spatiotemporal heterogeneity when studying the relationship between air pollution and influenza.

PNPLA3 rs738409 Polymorphism Associated with Hepatic Steatosis and Advanced Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The recognition of a correlation between patatin-like phospholipase domain containing-protein 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 (C>G) and the severity of liver steatosis or fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has not reached a consensus. This meta-analysis sought to investigate with accuracy the association between the PNPLA3 rs738409 (C>G) polymorphism and liver steatosis and advanced fibrosis in CHC patients. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive literature search from the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases up to December 31, 2014. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12.0 software. RESULTS: The meta-analysis revealed the severity of liver fibrosis was significantly higher in CHC patients with PNPLA3 rs738409 GG in Caucasians (versus CC+CG: OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.57 to 3.35; pG) was associated with the risk of both advanced liver fibrosis and steatosis in patients with CHC, especially among Caucasian populations.

Effects of siRNA­mediated Cdc2 silencing on MG63 cell proliferation and apoptosis.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA)­induced inhibition of cyclin­dependent kinase 2 (Cdc2) expression on osteosarcoma MG63 cell proliferation and apoptosis. An siRNA expression plasmid, psilencer 2.1­U6/Cdc2, targeting the Cdc2 gene, and a control psilencer 2.1­U6/Scramble plasmid were constructed and transfected into MG63 cells using liposomes. Cdc2 expression in the MG63 cells was investigated by western blot analysis and real­time polymerase chain reaction. Cell morphology was also examined. The effects of psilencer 2.1­U6/Cdc2 on MG63 cell proliferation and the cell cycle were detected via MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. Expression levels of apoptosis­related molecules, B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2) and Bcl­2­associated X (Bax) were determined by western blot analysis. MG63 cells stably transfected with the psilencer 2.1­U6/Cdc2 plasmid (MG63­siRNA/Cdc2) and negative control cells, MG63­siRNA/Scramble, were successfully obtained. The silencing efficiencies of the Cdc2­expressing mRNA and protein in MG63­siRNA/Cdc2 were 86 and 89% of that of the control MG63­siRNA/Scramble cells, respectively. Interference of Cdc2 expression inhibited MG63 cell proliferation and was demonstrated to significantly increase and decrease cells in the G2/M and S phases, respectively. Cdc2 expression silencing had negligible effects on Bcl­2 and Bax expression in MG63 cells. In conclusion, silencing of Cdc2 expression suppresses proliferation of osteosarcoma MG63 cells but has negligible effects on apoptosis.

Establishment of a stable cell line replicating hepatitis B virus DNA carrying the reverse transcriptase region derived from a clinical isolate / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a stable cell line that can replicate hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA carrying the reverse transcriptase sequence derived from a clinical isolate.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nested PCR was used to amplify the HBV DNA fragment from the serum. The fragment was cloned into a plasmid that can support HBV replication in vitro by fragment substitution reaction (FSR), followed by the cloning of the neomycin expressing fragment downstream from HBV DNA. G418 selection was conducted after the transfection of HepG2 cells with the recombinant DNA. Real-time PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to screen stable cell lines that can replicate HBV DNA, and the replication of HBV DNA by the cell line was confirmed by using Southern blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fragment nt55-1654 amplified from the serum DNA was substituted to the plasmid pLL, generating the plasmid p11. The neomycin fragment was cloned into p11, leading to the plasmid p11-neo, and p11-neo was confirmed to be HBV-replication-competent. A stable cell line named 3-10 that can replicate HBV DNA was obtained.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A stable cell line was established that can replicate HBV DNA carrying the reverse transcriptase sequence derived from a clinical isolate. Real-time PCR plus ELISA may help to rapidly screen out stable cell lines replicating HBV DNA.</p>

[Development and applications of an auto-analyzing system for Model TJ-IV vector-cardiogram].

A new computer-assisted vector-cardiogram analyzing system Model TJ-IV developed based on Model TJ-III, has been using in the routine clinical work in order to evaluate its features and performances. The system employs a 586 computer with a CPU of 120 MHz, a special low-noise amplifier, a 12 bit A/D tranducer and the C language for programming. The examinations of 206 cases were performed and all the vector-cardiograms were analyzed by the computer system and by manipulative methods respectively. In comparison with the manipulative methods the system has a very high accuracy of picture-recognition. The accuracy for distinguishing the onsets and terminals of orthogonal ECG waves is 98% while that for distinguishing the peaks and troughs of the waves is 100%. These waves include P, Q, R, S, R' and S' waves. The new system is capable to provide the parameters of more than 591 items, including 46 newly-developed diagnostic parameters. The testing and analyzing of 12 parameters of orthogonal ECG and plane VCG have proved that the results of the aboved two methods have no difference. The new system has a very high accuracy of picture-recognition and index calculation with many technical problems existing in the old versions, solved--a great improvement of safety and anti-interference and an increase of the detecting & diagnostic speed.

Construction of recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing 1.3-fold-overlength genome of HBV and its expression in HepG2 cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To transfer 1.3-fold-overlength genome of HBV expression plasmid into HepG2 cells, and observe the dynamic changes of viral replication as well as expression in the transfected cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>4.1 kb fragment of HBV genome, derived from pGEM-HBV, was cloned into Hind III site of the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3.1 to construct the recombinant plasmid pHBV. Then HepG2 hepatoma, cells were transfected with pHBV, using Lipofectamine2000 transfection reagent. After 24, 48, 72 hours, the levels of HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatant of HepG2 cells were determined with Abbott MEIA Kit. Intracellular viral DNA and RNA were analyzed by Southern and northern blot hybridization. In addition, viral-specific proteins (HBsAg and HBcAg) were assayed by immunofluorescence staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression vector pCDNA3.1 was constructed successfully. The levels of HBsAg were 5.36+-0.25, 13.42+-1.24, 7.52+-0.43, and the values of HBeAg were 9.16+-0.32, 22.75+-1.49, 15.96+-1.03 after 24, 48, 72 hours, respectively. All expected HBV replicative intermediates and specific transcripts were verified by Southern and northern blot analysis. The HBsAg-positive cells peaked after 24 hours, and then dropped slowly. HBsAg positive staining scattered in the cytoplasm, whereas HBcAg lied maily in the cytoplasm apart from nuclears.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This recombinant plasmid, which initiates viral replication efficiently in infected cells, is expected as a novel tool for investigating HBV replication in vitro.</p>