The abnormal distribution of NK cell subsets before HAART treatment may be related to the level of immune reconstitution in HIV patient.

BACKGROUND: HIV infection leads to the damage of NK cells, which is closely associated with the disease's progression, but whether it affects immune reconstitution after Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is not clear. METHODS: From March 9 to October 31, 2017, a total of 75 confirmed cases with HIV in Wenzhou were collected and analyzed. NK cell subsets were measured and compared among three groups: the control group, the group whose CD4+ T cell counts <200/µL (named as low-CD4 group) and the group whose CD4+ T cell counts ≥200/µL (named as high-CD4 group). The lymphocytic subsets were dynamically monitored in patients with HIV after HAART. RESULTS: Patients in low-CD4 group have lower proportion of CD3-CD56dimCD16+ NK cell subset, but have higher proportion of CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cell subsets, which were compared with patients in high-CD4 group (All P values <0.01). There is a positive correlation between the proportion of CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cell subset and CD4+ T cell counts (r = 0.628, p < 0.001). Patients in the low-CD4 group have higher expression of PD-1 and PS on NK cells than patients in the high-CD4 group (All P values < 0.05). The odds ratio of the proportion of the CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cell subset before treatment for HAART efficacy was 0.826 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are abnormalities in the proportion and function of NK cell subsets in HIV patients, which are associated with disease progression. The proportion of the CD3-CD56-CD16+ NK cell subset before treatment is related with HAART efficacy.

Abnormalities of peripheral blood system in patients with COVID-19 in Wenzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first found in Wuhan, China and soon was reported all around the world. METHODS: All confirmed cases with COVID-19 in Wenzhou from January 19 to February 20, 2020, were collected and analyzed. Of the 116 patients with COVID-19, 27 were diagnosed as severe cases. Among severe cases, 9 were treated in ICU. The data of blood routine examination were analyzed and compared among common patients (as common group), severe patients admitted to intensive care unit (as severe ICU group) and severe patients not admitted to ICU (as severe non-ICU group). The blood routine examination results were dynamically observed in the above groups after admission. RESULTS: Patients with COVID-19 have lower counts of leucocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, platelets, and hemoglobin, but have higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), which were compared with controls (P < 0.001). In severe ICU group, patients have the lowest count of lymphocytes, but the highest neutrophil count and NLR among the above three groups (all P values < 0.05); NLR and MLR indicators were combined for diagnostic efficacy analysis of severe COVID-19, and its area under the curve reached 0.925. The odds ratio of the delay in days to the start of the increase of eosinophil count for predicting the outcome of patients with severe COVID-19 was 2.291 after age adjusted. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 have abnormal peripheral blood routine examination results. Dynamic surveillance of peripheral blood system especially eosinophils is helpful in the prediction of severe COVID-19 cases.

The first-trimester maternal serum cyclophilin A concentrations in women with complicated pregnancy as preeeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is a potential mediator of inflammation. We assessed the predictive value of the first-trimester maternal serum CyPA concentrations for complicated pregnancy. METHODS: The first-trimester serum CyPA concentrations were quantified in 100 women with normal pregnancy and in 351 women with complicated pregnancy, including 102 pre-eclampsia women, 131 gestational hypertension (GH) women and 118 gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) women. Its association with complicated pregnancy was ascertained using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median CyPA concentrations were significantly higher in women developing complicated pregnancy as pre-eclampsia, GH or GDM than in women with normal pregnancy. CyPA concentrations were independently correlated with C-reactive protein concentrations in complicated pregnancy as pre-eclampsia, GH or GDM women. Serum CyPA and body mass index were independently associated with the development of complicated pregnancy as pre-eclampsia, GH or GDM. Serum CyPA possessed significantly high area under receiver operating characteristic curve. Meanwhile, CyPA significantly improved the predictive value of body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: Serum CyPA might be utilized as a potential inflammatory biomarker for complicated pregnancy and assessment of serum CyPA might aid in the prediction of complicated pregnancy.

RAD51 Gene 135G/C polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies suggest that the RAD51 gene 135G/C polymorphism could be potentially associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. However, results from observational studies are conflicting rather than conclusive. We performed a meta-analysis of the literature aiming to clarify the relationship between the polymorphism of RAD51 gene 135G/C polymorphism and the risk of ovarian cancer. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated. We identified five eligible articles, 2336 ovarian cancer cases and 3548 controls. Meta-analysis results showed no significant association between 135G/C polymorphism in the RAD51 gene and ovarian cancer risk (GG vs CC: OR=0.42, 95% CI 0.16-1.06; GC vs CC: OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.12-1.16; Dominant model: OR=0.38, 95% CI 0.13-1.06; Recessive model: OR=1.20, 95% CI 0.91-1.58). No publication bias was found in the present study. This meta-analysis suggests that the RAD51 gene 135G/C polymorphism was not associated with risk of ovarian cancer. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.