Association of vaccine policy with virus infection and awareness of hepatitis B in Fujian, China.

China has regulated its hepatitis B vaccination policy. However, data on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have not been updated since 2014. In addition, the impact of the policy on awareness of hepatitis B is limited, especially in Fujian Province where HBV infection is highly prevalent. We conducted a sero-epidemiological survey in five national monitoring counties to address these concerns. A total of 5,873 subjects were included and classified into four birth cohorts according to the policy time nodes (1981, 1992, and 2002). The HBsAg carrier rate for the general population was 8.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.9-9.3). Compared with those born before 1981, adjusted odds ratios (OR) for HBV infection were 0.51 (95% CI: 0.43-0.62), 0.10 (0.08-0.12), and 0.015 (0.01-0.023) among the 1981-1991, 1992-2001, and ≥2002 birth cohorts, respectively; while the OR was 1.26 (1.00-1.57), 0.39 (0.26-0.58), and 0.019 (0.006-0.06) for HBsAg carriage, respectively. Among the 4865 residents aged ≥15 years, hepatitis B awareness has been declining since the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine into the immunization program (ß = -0.25, SE = 0.08, P = .001, and ß = -0.20, SE = 0.08, P = .017 for 1992-2001 and ≥2002 birth cohort, respectively). This decline was obvious for the initiation time of the first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Although the hepatitis B vaccination policies have helped reduce the infection, the awareness has declined. More measures on the target population are warranted to improve the public's awareness of hepatitis B vaccination in the context of great achievements.

MicroRNA-140-5p aggravates hypertension and oxidative stress of atherosclerosis via targeting Nrf2 and Sirt2.

In the present study, the function of microRNA (miR)­140­5p on oxidative stress in mice with atherosclerosis was investigated. A reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was used to determine the expression of miR­140­5p. Oxidative stress kits and reactive oxygen species (ROS) kits were used to analyze alterations in oxidative stress and ROS levels. The alterations in protein expression were determined using western blot analysis and an immunofluorescence assay. miR­140­5p expression was increased in mice with atherosclerosis with hypertension. Consistently, miR­140­5p expression was also increased in mice with atherosclerosis. Upregulation of miR­140­5p increased oxidative stress and ROS levels by suppressing the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2­related factor 2 (Nrf2), sirtuin 2 (Sirt2), Kelch­like enoyl­CoA hydratase­associated protein 1 (Keap1) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO­1) in vitro. By contrast, downregulation of miR­140­5p decreased oxidative stress and ROS levels by activating the protein expression of Nrf2, Sirt2, Keap1 and HO­1 in vitro. Sirt2 agonist or Nrf2 agonist inhibited the effects of miR­140­5p on oxidative stress in vitro. Collectively, these results suggested that miR­140­5p aggravated hypertension and oxidative stress of mice with atherosclerosis by targeting Nrf2 and Sirt2.

[Molecular epidemiology of HFMD-associated pathogen coxsackievirus A6 in Fujian Province, 2011-2013].

In order to characterize the molecular epidemiology of HFMD-associated Coxsackievirus A6 (CVA6) in Fujian Province, a total of 1340 specimens from non-EV71 non-CVA16 HFMD patients were collected during 2011-2013. Isolated virus strains were identified and subtyped. Full-length coding regions for the VP1 gene of the predominant serotype CVA6 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Among the 375 non-EV71 non-CVA16 HFMD cases confirmed by virus isolation and molecular subtyping, 182 (48.5%) were found to be caused by CVA6, accounting for 7.9%, 16.2% and 39.6% HFMD-associated enteroviruses in FujianProvince during 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. Compared with general features observed in the HFMD epidemic, no difference in CVA6-specificity or severity rates was observed between geographical origins, gender, or age groups. Nucleotide sequence analyses of VP1 genes revealed high diversity levels of 16.2%-18.6% among CVA6 strains from Fujian Province, in contrast to the prototype CVA6 strain, and showed low levels of diversity in the amino acid sequences (4.3%-6.2%). Phylogenetic analysis also indicated that CVA6 isolates from Fujian Province were distinct from the prototype strain and other isolates from abroad; however, it was homologous to domestic strains, although the Fujian isolates clustered into multiple branches. These results suggested that significant changes in the pathogenic spectrum of HFMD in Fujian Province occurred during 2011-2013, as CVA6 was one of the predominant serotypes of HFMD. CVA6 isolates from Fujian Province were co-circulating and co-evolving with other domestic strains as multiple closely related CVA6 transmission chains were observed in Fujian Province overall and within each prefecture.

Molecular epidemiology of Echovirus 30 in Fujian, China between 2001 and 2011.

Echovirus 30 (E-30) was responsible for an outbreak of aseptic meningitis between April 1 and June 2, 2011 in Fujian Province, China. A molecular epidemiology study of 115 E-30 strains was performed to characterize the genetic features of the etiologic agent of the 2011 aseptic meningitis outbreak. The phylogenetic trees of the complete VP1 gene (876 bp) from 74 of 115 isolates and 50 reference sequences were analyzed. Three lineages (E-30_h, i, and j) were detected that had co-circulated in Fujian in the last decade, of which E-30_j was new. The other 72 Fujian strains and 16 representative strains from other provinces of China all belong to E-30_h and E-30_i. Two distinct E-30 clusters including virus isolates obtained during adult surveillance were associated with the 2011 outbreak and differed from Fujian isolates prior to 2011, suggesting that the viruses may vary and adult infections play an important role in viral transmission. Thus, the multiple lineages of E-30 in Fujian and variant viruses enhanced transmissibility, which may be related to the epidemic activity of E-30.

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus among different groups of people in the province of Fujian, China.

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) can provide valuable information for prognosis and treatment duration prediction. To explore the genetic diversity of HCV in Fujian Province, China, 112, 104 and 48 anti-HCV-positive serum samples were collected from volunteer blood donors, IDUs and patients, respectively, from Jan 2008 to Dec 2008 and were genotyped through sequence analysis, followed by phylogenetic analysis in the C/E1 and NS5B regions. Genotypes could be determined for 85.61 and 84.85 % of samples in the C/E1 and NS5B region, respectively. 6a was the most prevalent subtype, which accounted for 42.04 and 43.75 % in the C/E1 and NS5B region, respectively. Mixed infection and potential recombination were detected in this study. Kappa tests indicated that similar results were obtained by two genotyping methods targeting the C/E1 and NS5B regions. The differences in the main prevalent subtype between the three target groups suggest diversity of HCV prevalence in different populations.

[Analysis of neutralized antibody level of the poliomyelitis in healthy population in Fujian province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the neutralized antibody level of the poliomyelitis among healthy people and provide scientific evidence for the immunization strategy since routine and intensified immunization with oral polio vaccine (OPV) in Fujian province. METHODS: The poliomyelitis antibody level of healthy people were detected by neutralization test of the micro cells. RESULTS: The neutralizing antibody positive rates were 99.0%, 99.3%, 97.5% and GMTs were 1:79.1, 1:31.2, 1:24.7 for polio I, II, III respectively in 400 serum specimens from 1-59 years old. GMTs present a trend of decreasing as age's increasing. CONCLUSION: A protective barrier had been built against poliomyelitis in healthy people in Fujian province through routine and intensified immunization with OPV.

[Analysis of the chemical constituents of essential oil from Magnolia biondii by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: The chemical components of essential oil from Magnolia biondii were analyzed by GC-MS. METHODS: Essential oil was extracted by steam distillation (SD). The chemical components of essential oil were analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS: The chemical components in the oil were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by GC-MS. 63 components were separated and 50 components were identified. The main components were Eucalyptol (28.92%), P-pinene (12.39%), alpha-Terpineol (8.28%). CONCLUSION: This is the first time to adopt GC-MS to analyze the chemical components of volatile oil of Magnolia biondii, and this study can provide science basis for further research development of Magnolia biondii.

[Molecular identification and genetic analysis of an echovirus 19-associated epidemic of aseptic encephalitis].

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the pathogen of aseptic encephalitis epidemic in Long-Yan city in Fujian, and to find out the genetic characteristics of the virus. METHODS: Rapid detection of enteroviral RNA by reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction (RT-PCR) was directly carried out in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) to isolate and identify the viruses from CSF at the same time, and to detect the neutralization antibody in two serum specimens collected in acute and convalescence phase. Nucleotides of VP1 region was also analyzed by constructing phylogenetic tree. RESULTS: ECHO 19 infection was rapidly diagnosed and sequence analysed by RT-PCR, and then echovirus type 19 from 16 of 30 CSF samples (53.33%) was isolated and detected using RD and Hep-2 cells simultaneity. The titer of ECHO 19 neutralization antibody became positive or increased by 4 times from acute to convalescence phase in 4 of the 5 patients. Phylogenetic analyses of the VP1 genes of these isolates showed that their nucleotides identity were 98.9% -100.0% which were different from those ECHO 19 from GeneBank database by 13.0%-22.4%. CONCLUSION: The etiology of the epidemic of aseptic encephalitis was attributed to ECHO 19. The method of molecular identification not only provided rapid diagnosis of enterovirus infections, but also information about the genetic character of the viruses.