Genomic variations of COVID-19 suggest multiple outbreak sources of transmission

We examined 169 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 and found that they can be classified into two major genotypes, Type I and Type II. Type I can be further divided into Type IA and IB. Our phylogenetic analysis showed that the Type IA resembles the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 most. Type II was likely evolved from Type I and predominant in the infections. Our results suggest that Type II SARS-CoV-2 was the source of the outbreak in the Wuhan Huanan market and it was likely originated from a super-spreader. The outbreak caused by the Type I virus should have occurred somewhere else, because the patients had no direct link to the market. Furthermore, by analyzing three genomic sites that distinguish Type I and Type II strains, we found that synonymous changes at two of the three sites confer higher protein translational efficiencies in Type II strains than in Type I strains, which might explain why Type II strains are predominant, implying that Type II is more contagious (transmissible) than Type I. These findings could be valuable for the current epidemic prevention and control.

Effect of Trichinella spiralis infection on expression and distribution of colonic epithelial E-cadherin in mice and its mechanism / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Trichinella spiralis (T.spiralis) infection on the expression and distribution of colonic epithelial E-cadherin in mice and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BALB/c mice and STAT6-/- mice were infected with T.spiralis, and mice without infection were used as control. Seven days later, the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was infused by rectal enema. Serum HRP was detected in the subsequent 0, 60 and 120 minutes. Then the mice were sacrificed and colon was taken out. The distribution of E-cadherin in colon was detected by immunofluorescence staining, and the expression of E-cadherin was detected by Western blot. The expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in mesenteric lymph nodes was detected by ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Serum HRP level in infected BALB/c mice was significantly higher than that in control mice (P<0.05), while it was not significantly different between infected STAT6-/- mice and controls (P>0.05). In infected BALB/c mice, E-cadherin located in cytoplasm of colonic epithelial cells, while in controls, it located in cellular membrane. E-cadherin expression down-regulated significantly in infected BALB/c mice as compared to controls. E-cadherin expression and distribution did not change obviously in infected STAT6-/- and control mice. IL-4 level in mesenteric lymph nodes of infected BALB/c mice [(193.0±12.5) μg/L] was significantly higher as compared to control BALB/c and infected STAT6-/- mice [(21.0±2.3) μg/L and (15.0±3.1) μg/L, all P<0.05].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>T.spiralis infection can increase colonic epithelial permeability of mice, which may be associated with induction of Th2 cytokine secretion.</p>

The change of intestinal mucosa barrier in chronic severe hepatitis B patients and clinical intervention / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the change of intestinal mucosa barrier in chronic severe hepatitis B patients and clinical intervention.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>(1) 30 normal healthy controls and 60 chronic severe hepatitis B patients were enrolled in this study. The change of intestinal permeability was determined by urine lactulose/ mannitol ratio (L/M), and the serum diamine oxidase (DAO) was measured. (2) 60 chronic severe hepatitis B patients were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the treated group, each group has 30 cases. Patients in the control group received standard treatment for 2 weeks, however, in addition to standard treatment, patients in the treated group also received glutamine 10g tid. Endotoxin (ET), DAO and L/M were compared between the two group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared to healthy controls, the level of L/M and DAO was significantly increased in chronic severe hepatitis B patients (t = 2.762, P less than 0.01 or t = 6.326, P less than 0.01). (2) Compared to the control group, ET, DAO and L/M were significantly lower 2 weeks after treatment (F = 11.662, P less than 0.01; F = 12.699, P less than 0.01; F = 19.981, P less than 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) There is an early intestinal mucosa barrier damage in chronic severe hepatitis B patients. (2) Compared to standard treatment, adding glutamine can reverse intestinal mucosa barrier damage.</p>

Quantitation of albumin in urine by HPLC and initial clinical application / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To measure albumin in urine by HPLC and conduct primary clinical application Methods Solvent gradient and appropriate wave length was optimized and performance of the HPLC method was evaluated.Urine albumin of 46 patients with diabetes was measured.Results In standard and urine,retention time of Alb was 13.1 min.The linear measuring range extends to 1 820 mg/L.The lower limit of measurment for Alb was 4.2 mg/L.The intra-assay CV and the inter-assay CV were 3.36%,4.12% and 1.93%,1.97% at 24.5 mg/L and 546.9 mg/L of Alb respectively.Analytical recovery rate were 96.3%,98.2% and 97.5%.Microalbuminuria rate was 54.3% by HPLC,26.1% by immunoassay in 46 patients with diabetes.Conclusions Measurement of Alb in urine by HPLC is feasible as routine method until quantifying urinary total Alb conveniently.HPLC is the same to suit research for diabetic nephropathy and so on.