Research on the Protection of Personal Health Information in Public Health Emergencies / 中国医学伦理学

The use of digital means has made the public health emergency management more efficient and convenient. However, in the practice of managing public health emergencies, there are dilemmas in the protection of personal health information, such as the imperfect legal system, the weakened right of informed consent and control, the lack of reasonable norms in the collection and use of information, and the disclosure of personal health information. To solve the dilemma of personal health information protection, it is necessary to improve the corresponding legal mechanism, strengthen the classification of health information, standardize the behavior of health information collection and use, enhance the technical support of personal health information protection, build a system combining law and technology, and protect the security of personal health information.

Prediction of coronavirus 3C-like protease cleavage sites using machine-learning algorithms

The coronavirus 3C-like (3CL) protease is a Cysteine protease. It plays an important role in viral infection and immune escape by not only cleaving the viral polyprotein ORF1ab at 11 sites, but also cleaving the host proteins. However, there is still a lack of effective tools for determining the cleavage sites of the 3CL protease. This study systematically investigated the diversity of the cleavage sites of the coronavirus 3CL protease on the viral polyprotein, and found that the cleavage motif were highly conserved for viruses in the genera of Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus and Gammacoronavirus. Strong residue preferences were observed at the neighboring positions of the cleavage sites. A random forest (RF) model was built to predict the cleavage sites of the coronavirus 3CL protease based on the representation of residues at cleavage site and neighboring positions by amino acid indexes, and the model achieved an AUC of 0.96 in cross-validations. The RF model was further tested on an independent test dataset composed of cleavage sites on host proteins, and achieved an AUC of 0.88 and a prediction precision of 0.80 when considering the accessibility of the cleavage site. Then, 1,079 human proteins were predicted to be cleaved by the 3CL protease by the RF model. These proteins were enriched in pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases and pathogen infection. Finally, a user-friendly online server named 3CLP was built to predict the cleavage sites of the coronavirus 3CL protease based on the RF model. Overall, the study not only provides an effective tool for identifying the cleavage sites of the 3CL protease, but also provides insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenicity of coronaviruses.

Uncontrolled preliminary study on the clinical efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in irritable bowel syndrome and its influence on gut microbiota / 中华消化杂志

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to explore the effects of FMT on the gut microbiota of IBS patients.Methods:From September 2016 to August 2017, at Guangzhou First People′s Hospital, 28 hospitalized IBS patients who underwent FMT treatment were enrolled. Before FMT, four and 12 weeks after FMT, all the IBS patients completed the irritable bowel syndrome quality of life scale (IBS-QOL), irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). 16S rDNA sequencing was performed before FMT and four weeks after FMT. The effects of FMT on gut microbiota diversity and microbiota structure of IBS patients were analyzed respectively from the level of phylum, family and genus, and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was further used to screen the different bacteria. Paired t test and paired rank sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Twelve weeks after FMT, the scores of the six dimensions of IBS-QOL including dysthymia, behavioral disorder, auto imagery, health concerns, eating avoidance, and relationship expansion were all lower than those before FMT (43.750, 22.656 to 56.250 vs. 48.438, 32.031 to 60.938; 37.500, 18.750 to 56.250 vs. 46.429, 21.429 to 62.500; 31.250, 14.063 to 42.188 vs. 31.250, 18.750 to 50.000; 41.667, 27.083 to 56.250 vs. 50.000, 41.667 to 66.667; 54.167, 43.750 to 72.917 vs. 66.667, 58.333 to 83.333; 8.333, 0.000 to 33.333 vs. 16.667, 8.333 to 33.333, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-2.157, -3.429, -2.274, -3.197, -3.042 and -2.329, all P<0.05). Twelve weeks after FMT, the scores of the two dimensions of IBS-QOL including behavioral disorder and relationship expansion were both lower than those of four weeks after FMT (37.500, 18.750 to 56.250 vs. 39.286, 19.643 to 62.500 and 8.333, 0.000 to 33.333 vs. 16.670, 2.083 to 41.667, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-1.998 and -2.110, both P<0.05). Four and 12 weeks after FMT, the scores of IBS-SSS and GSRS were both lower than those before FMT ((190.32±106.51), (201.43±102.48) vs. (245.93±86.10) and 5.50, 4.00 to 9.00 and 5.50, 4.00 to 8.75 vs. 7.00, 6.00 to 9.75), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=4.402 and 3.848, Z=-3.081 and -3.609; all P<0.01). No serious adverse reactions occurred in the patients after FMT. At the phylum level, after FMT the abundance of Verrucomicrobia in the feces of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); at the family level, after FMT the abundance of Verrucomicrobiaceae in the feces of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); at the genus level, after FMT the abundance of Akkermansia was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%); and the differences were statistically significant (all Z=-2.589, all P=0.010). The results of LEfSe method indicated that four weeks after FMT the abundance of Akkermansia in the gut microbiota of IBS patients was richer than that before FMT (6.74% vs. 0.37%), and the difference was statistically significant (linear discriminant analysis value=4.5, P=0.049). Conclusions:FMT is safe and effective in the treatment of IBS. The mechanism may be through upregulating the diversity of gut microbiota and changing the structure of gut microbiota of IBS patients.

Biotransformation of polyfluoroalkyl substances by microbial consortia from constructed wetlands under aerobic and anoxic conditions.

The wide application of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) and its precursors results in their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment. This study investigated the biotransformation of 6:2 FTS using fresh slurries collected from constructed wetland under aerobic and anoxic conditions. Biotransformation rates of 6:2 FTS was extremely slow under both aerobic and anoxic conditions. The analysis of transformation products showed that less than 0.7 mol% of initial concentration of 6:2 FTS was biotransformed under anoxic conditions. Effects of 6:2 FTS on the shifts in microbial community in wetland slurry during aerobic and anoxic transformation were evaluated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Under aerobic conditions, 6:2 FTS altered the microbial community structure, in which Methylocaldum (Gamma-proteobacteria) became the predominant genus after being exposed to 6:2 FTS. This means that Methylocaldum appears to have higher tolerance to 6:2 FTS and seems to be potential 6:2 FTS-degrading bacteria. Under anoxic transformation, only the genus Methanomethylovorans (Euryarchaeota) was increased remarkably in wetland slurry exposed to 6:2 FTS.

Piperazine ferulate exerts antihypertensive effect and improves endothelial function in vitro and in vivo via the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

To investigate the effect of piperazine ferulate (PF) on hypertension and endothelial function, and to assess the possible underlying mechanism. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), adult male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats aged 12 to 14 weeks, and spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used for this study. Cell viability, activities of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), in vivo NO synthesis, arterial systolic blood pressure, vascular function, expressions of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and phosphorylated-eNOS (p-eNOS) were determined or assessed as appropriate. The results of MTT assay showed the number of viable cells were significantly increased with increase in PF concentration (p < 0.05). The level of expression of ACE was significantly reduced with increase in PF concentration (p < 0.05), while the level of HO-1 expression significantly increased (p < 0.05). Results of DAF-FM fluorescent staining showed that the amounts of NO synthesized in vivo was significantly higher in aortic rings of SH and SD rats treated with PF than in the corresponding control groups (p < 0.05). Treatment with PF in vivo significantly improved impaired acetylcholine-induced aortic relaxation in SH rats. Total eNOS expression was significantly increased after treatment with PF (p < 0.05). The expressions of total eNOS and p-eNOS in both groups were not affected by PF when compared to the control group. These results indicate that PF exerts antihypertensive effect and improves endothelial function in vitro and in vivo via the activation of eNOS.

Effects of Dual-antiplatelet Medication Time on Efficacy and Safety of Postoperative Complications after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation ：A Meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To systematically evaluate the effects of dual-antiplatelet medication time on efficacy and safety of postoperative complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation （TAVI）， and to provide evidence-based reference for the formulation of antiplatelet therapy after TAVI. METHODS： Retrieved from Cochrane clinical controlled trial registration center， PubMed， Embase， Web of Science， Wanfang database and CJFD， during database establishment to Feb. 2019， RCTs and observational study about efficacy （all-cause mortality and incidence of stroke） and  safety （the incidence of major bleeding events） the effects of dual-antiplatelet therapy for postoperative complications after TAVI at different time points were collected. After data extraction of clinical studies met inclusion criteria， quality evaluation with Cochrane bias risk evaluation tool 5.1.0 （for RCT） or Newcastle- Ottawa Scale （for observational study）， Meta-analysis was conducted by using Rev Man 5.3 and Stata 14.0 statistical software. Meta-regression analysis was also conducted for outcome and different treatment duration. RESULTS： A total of 3 RCTs and 10 observational studies were included， involving 2 868 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of all-cause mortality one month and 6 months after medication were 0.05 [95％CI （0.03， 0.07）， P＜0.001] and 0.07 [95％CI （0.05， 0.08）， P＜0.001]. The incidence of major bleeding events 1， 3 and 6 months after medication were 0.14 [95％CI （0.08，0.19）， P＜0.001]， 0.11 [95％CI （0.03， 0.19）， P＝0.007] and 0.13 [95％CI （0.05， 0.22）， P＝0.002]. The incidence of stroke after one month after medication was 0.04 [95％CI （0.03， 0.05）， P＜0.001]. Results of Meta-regression analysis showed that the all-caused mortality [regression coefficient＝0.005 7， 95％CI （－0.001 6， 0.013 0）， P＝0.116]， major bleeding [regression coefficient＝－0.000 5，95％CI（－0.022 4，0.021 4）， P＝0.959] or the incidence of stroke [regression coefficient＝0.001 4， 95％CI （－0.003 8， 0.006 5）， P＝0.570] were not related to medication duration of dual-antiplatelet therapy.  CONCLUSIONS： The prolongation of the medication time of the dual-antiplatelet therapy has no significant effect on the efficacy and safety of TAVI.

Meta-analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Single or Dual Antiplatelet Therapy for Short-term Complications after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To systematically evaluate effectiveness and safety of single antiplatelet therapy （SAPT） versus dual antiplatelet therapy （DAPT） on short-term complications after transcatheter aortic valve implantation （TAVI）， and to provide evidence-based reference for clinical treatment. METHODS： Retrieved from PubMed， Cochrane clinical controlled trials registry， Web of Science， CNKI， Wanfang database， CBM and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry， RCTs and observational studies about effectiveness （all-cause mortality， incidence of stroke and incidence of myocardial infarction 30 days after operation） and safety （the incidence of bleeding events at 30 days after operation） of SAPT versus DAPT on short-term complications of TAVI were collected during the date of database establishment to Jan. 2019. After data extraction of included studies and quality evaluation with Cochrane system evaluator manual 5.1.0 （for RCT） and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale （NOS） （for observational studies）， Meta-analysis was conducted by using Rev Man 5.3 statistical software. RESULTS： Totally 3 RCTs and 7 cohort studies were included， involving 3 188 patients. Results of Meta-analysis showed that the incidence of all-cause mortality 30 days after operation [OR＝0.48， 95％ CI （0.32， 0.73）， P＜0.001] and the incidence of bleeding events 30 days after operation [OR＝0.43， 95％CI （0.30， 0.59）， P＜0.001] in SAPT group were significantly lower than DAPT group， with statistical significance. There was no statistical significance in the incidence of stroke 30 days after operation [OR＝0.63， 95％CI （0.38， 1.06） ， P＝0.08] or the incidence of myocardial infarction 30 days after operation [OR＝1.09， 95％CI （0.46， 2.59）， P＝0.85] between 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS： Compared with DAPT， SAPT can decrease the incidence of all-cause mortality 30 days after TAVI and the incidence of bleeding events 30 days after TAVI.

Mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by free silicon dioxide in type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) induced by direct or indirect exposure to free silicon dioxide(SiO_2) and the expression of surface protein marker in rat typeⅡalveolar epithelial cell RLE-6TN.METHODS: i) The alveolar macrophages(AM) were isolated from specific pathogen-free SD rat by bronchoalveolar lavage.AM and RLE-6TN were treated with 0-140 mg/L(final concentration) of SiO_2 suspension and were cultured conventionally for 24,48 and 72 hours. The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay. The result of CCK-8 essay was used to choose the SiO_2 concentration for the following study. ii) To establish models of RLE-6TN co-cultured with AM that were seeded in Transwell. The cells were divided into 4 groups: the direct control group(RLE-6TN,no SiO_2 exposed),the direct exposure group(RLE-6TN,treated with 100 mg/L SiO_2),the indirect control group(RLE-6TN and AM were cocultured,no SiO_2 exposed) and the indirect exposure group(RLE-6TN and AM were co-cultured,AM was treated with 100 mg/L SiO_2 directly). Western blotting was used to detect the expression of E-cadherin(E-cad) and α-smooth muscle protein(α-SMA) after cells were cultured for 0,24,48 and 72 hours. RESULTS: i) According to the CCK-8 assay,the final concentration of 100 mg/L SiO_2 was chosen for the following study. ii) The difference of relative expression of E-cad andα-SMA in RLE-6TN was statistically significant in different treatment combination and time(P < 0. 01). The E-cad expression of RLE-6TN at 48 and 72 hours in the direct exposure group and the indirect exposure group was lower than that in direct control group at the same time point(P < 0. 05). The E-cad expression in RLE-6TN at 72 hours in the direct exposure group was lower than that in the 0 and 24 hours(P < 0. 05). The E-cad expression in RLE-6TN at 48 and 72 hours in the indirect exposure group was lower than that in the 0 hour(P < 0. 05). At 48 and 72 hours,the α-SMA expression in the indirect exposure group and the direct exposure group was higher than that in their control groups at the same time point(P < 0. 05). The expression of α-SMA in the indirect exposure group was higher than that in the direct exposure group(P < 0. 05). The expression of α-SMA in both exposure groups increased in a time-effect relationship(P <0. 05). CONCLUSION: Direct or indirect exposure to free SiO_2 can induce EMT in RLE-6TN,and decrease the expression of E-cad and increase the expression of α-SMA in a time-effect relationship. Indirect exposure group is more susceptible to EMT.

Genome-wide analysis of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation by ChIP-chip in rat lung fibroblast transdifferentiation / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE To analyze trimethylation of genome-wide histone H3 lysine 4(H3K4met3) induced by silicon dioxide(SiO2)through chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays(ChIP-chip)in lung fibroblast(LF)of rats. METHODS A primary co-culture model of rat alveolar macrophages (AM)and LF in vitro. AM were exposed to 100 mg · L-1 free SiO2 for 24 h,before LF were collected and the phenotype of LF was determined after transdifferentiation by immunohistochemistry. ChIP-chip was used to profile the variations of trimethylation in H3K4 of lung fibroblasts in CpG island regions. ChIP-qPCR was used to validate the microarray results. The mRNA expression of nfib and kpna3 was analyzed by qRT-PCR. RESULTS Totally 1815 (518 increased and 1297 decreased) genes of H3K4met3 displayed significant differences in SiO2 100 mg·L-1 group compared with control group(Cy3/Cy5 value>2.0 or <0.5,NimbleScan V2.5 software). The results of ChIP-qPCR were quite consistent with those of microarray. CONCLUSION There are significant differences in methylation of genome-wide H3K4 between SiO2 100 mg·L-1 group and control group. These novel candidate genes may become potential biomarkers or new interfered targets.

Diagnostic value of clinical score,plasma D-diner level and ultrasonography in pulmonary Thromboembolism / 中华全科医师杂志

Objective To evaluate the valRe of Geneva score,plasma D-dimer lUmitel,lower extremity compressive ultrasonography and transthoracic echocardiography,as well a8 their combination,in diagnosis for suspected pulmonary thmmboernbolism(PTE)and its exclusion.Methods In total,139 confirmed FrrE patients were enrolled in the study,with 50 patients with suspected PTE at admission but excluding PTE after testing as controls,Geneva scores and plasma level of D-dimer were determined,and deep vein uhrasonography in the lower extremity and transthoracic echocardiography were performed for all the confirmed cases of PTE and controls.Diagnostic values were evaluated with each teat index alone or in combination,to confirm or exclude PTE.Results FrrE could be diagnosed by hish Geneva score,with a positive likelihoed ratio more than 10 and it could not be excluded by a negative likelihood ratio more than 0.1 with Latex semi.quantitative method and quantitative methed Latex method P,rE could be excluded by a multi-tests in parallel with negative likelihoed ratio less than 0.1.High Geneva scores,in combination with ultrasonography of the lower extremity and transthoracic echoeardiography in combination with Youden index greater than 0.6 could indicate PTE.Sensitivity and specificity of P1'E diagnosis could be improved by multi-tests in parallel or in series.Conclusions Geneva SCOre is more objective indicator and hish score has diagnostic value for PTE.PTE could be excluded reliably by negative result of multi-diagnostic tests in paralleL Misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis for PTE can be reduced by Geneva score,blood D-dimer level,lower extremity compressive ultrasonogaphy and transthoracic echocardiography,as well as their combination,in parallel in hospitals without ECT or spiral CT.