Search

The origin and intrafamilial transmission of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) in non-endemic populations such as China is still unknown. In this study, donors from blood banks/centers in China (including 28 provinces and Shenzhen city) during 2019 and 2021 were screened for HTLV-1/2 antibody, and all the reactive samples were tested using a line immunoassay (LIA) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Samples that can be detected using qPCR were amplified and sequenced for the long terminal repeat (LTR) region. The positive donors were contacted to identify their relatives. As a result, 4,451,883 blood donors were totally tested, and 50 of them were confirmed to be HTLV-1/2 positive. Viral LTR sequences genotyped from 26 HTLV-1 carriers demonstrated that all had the HTLV-1a genotype, of which Transcontinental and Japanese subgroups accounted for half each. There were 17 family members of 11 index donors detected, and the HTLV-1 infection rate in the spouses of male index donors (83.3%, 5/6) was significantly higher than that in the husbands of female index donors (0.0%, 0/4). However, 7 children of HTLV-1 positive women were tested and found negative. Therefore, our findings indicated that HTLV-1 is spreading silently fromhigh-endemic to low-endemic areas in China. To prevent further HTLV-1/2 transmission, an efficient HTLV-1/2 screening strategy and counseling of the virus carriers are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) is an HBsAg negative state in HBV infection with usually inactive HBV replication. However, there were a minority of individuals with positive HBeAg and anti-HBs among OBI blood donors and few studies have focused on this unusual serological pattern. Methods: 2022 plasma of blood donors that preliminary screened reactive for HBV DNA and non-reactive for HBsAg were collected from 16 provinces in China from 2015 to 2018. HBV DNA and HBsAg in these samples were retested using the Cobas TaqScreen MPX test and ARCHITECT HBsAg Quantitative II assay. Lumipulse HBsAg-HQ assay and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-double precipitation following HCl and trypsin digestion were performed to detect HBsAg from HBsAg-anti-HBs circulating immune complexes (CICs). Results: 1487 of 2022 samples were positive for Cobas HBV DNA test and non-reactive for ARCHITECT HBsAg assay, while 404 of them were positive using Lumipulse HBsAg-HQ assay. 10 HBsAg-/anti-HBs+/HBeAg+ OBI blood donor samples were further dissociated and HBsAg-CICs were detected in 7 samples. Sequencing analysis showed that D44N, N98T, G73S, Del 56-116, and I161T occurred in the pre-S region, and immune escape mutations such as P127T, F134L, G145R, V168A, and I126T/S in the S region were found. Discussion: In conclusion, there were a minority of HBsAg-/antiHBs+/HBeAg+ individuals in OBI blood donors. The undetectable HBsAg in these individuals was mainly due to HBsAg-CICs. Immune escapeassociated mutations also happened under the host’s selective pressure. HBsAg dissociation methods or Lumipulse HBsAg-HQ assay is recommended to distinguish these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfected with HBV causes severe viral hepatitis, however, the number of HDV infection may be underestimated. In the present study, we enrolled 1,141,331 blood donations, routinely tested for HBsAg and/ or HBV DNA, from 21 blood establishments in China. 2,690 donors were HBsAg and/or HBV DNA positive after screening tests. After verification of HBsAg and HBV DNA, 1,490 samples were HBsAg confirmed-positive, including 1,459 HBV DNA-positive samples, and 825 samples were seronegative but HBV DNA positive. We first analyzed demographic characteristics of involved 2,690 donors with different HBV infection status and found the proportions of males, the older donors, workers and farmers were higher in HBsAg-/HBV DNA+ group. Then we evaluated specificity of HDV IgG and IgM antibody assays with 375 HBsAg and HBV DNA confirmed-negative samples, and 374 were tested negative using the two assays, respectively, suggesting a specificity of 99.73% for both assays (374/375, 95% Cl: 98.51–99.95%). Subsequently, we tested for HDV IgG and IgM of 2,315 HBsAg and/or HBV DNA confirmed-positive samples, and nine showed reactivity for IgG, while two were reactive for IgM. All these 11 reactive samples were tested again with another HDV pan-Ig and IgM testing assays and HDV RNA, and only one donor was identified as HDV IgG positive and HDV RNA negative, showing an HDV seroprevalence of 0.067% (95%CI: 0.012–0.38%) among HBsAg-positive blood donors in China. The positive donor was followed up for 2 years after the donation date, and decreased antibody titer of HDV IgG and HBsAg conversion were observed, and the infection status of the donor was HDV infection with recovery and occult hepatitis B virus infection with genotype C2. These results indicated a low seroprevalence of HDV infection among blood donors and a low risk of HDV transmission through blood transfusion in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the relationship of interference among templates with different primer pairs, the internal control (IC) gene, and the primer dime in duplex real-time (PCR). Topics include factors affecting the sensitivity of duplex quantitative PCR, comparison of amplification efficiencies of different kinds of primer pairs, and adjustment in the amount of IC plasmid and IC primer to find out the key factor that affects the sensitivity of the target template.

BACKGROUND: Aging is related to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality and is affected by environmental factors. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with adverse health outcomes; but the association of such exposure with DNA methylation aging, a novel aging marker, is unclear. OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the association of PAH exposure with methylation aging. METHODS: We trained and validated a methylation age predictor suitable for Chinese populations using whole blood methylation data in 989 Chinese and 160 Caucasians. We defined two aging indicators: Aage, as methylation age minus chronological age; and aging rate, the ratio of methylation to chronological age. The association of PAH exposure with aging indicators was evaluated using linear regressions in three panels of healthy Chinese participants (N = 539, among the aforementioned 989 Chinese participants) whose exposure levels were assessed by 10 urinary monohydroxy-PAH metabolites. RESULTS: We developed a methylation age predictor providing accurate predictions in both Chinese individuals and Caucasian persons (R = 0.94-0.96, RMSE = 3.8-4.3). Among the 10 urinary metabolites that we measured, 1-hydroxypyrene and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene were associated with methylation aging independently of other OH-PAHs and risk factors; 1-unit increase in 1-hydroxypyrene was associated with a 0.53-y increase in Δage [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.18,0.88; false discovery rate (FDR) FDR = 0.004] and 1.17% increase in aging rate (95% CI: 0.36,1.98; FDR = 0.02), whereas for 9- hydroxyphenanthrene, the increase was 0.54-y for Δage (95% CI: 0.17, 0.91; FDR = 0.004), and 1.15% for aging rate (95% CI: 0.31, 1.99; FDR = 0.02). The association direction was consistent across the three Chinese panels with the association magnitude correlating with the panels' exposure levels; the association was validated by methylation data of purified leukocytes. Several cytosine-phosphoguanines, including those located on FHL2 and ELOVL2, were found associated with both aging indicators and monohydroxy-PAH levels. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a methylation age predictor specific for Chinese populations but also accurate for Caucasian populations. Our findings suggest that exposure to PAHs may be associated with an adverse impact on human aging and epigenetic alterations in Chinese populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the chemical compositional analysis of cow manure in terms of holocellulose (35.97%), lignin (19.02%), and ash (17.47%). Activated carbons (of specific surface area 114 to 893 m2/g, iodine value 219 to 718 mg/g, methylene blue adsorption value 40.5 to 501 mg/g, and ash 16.17% to 22.3%) were prepared from cow manure by using various activator compounds such as potassium carbonate. The results showed that the activation effect of potassium carbonate and zinc chloride was better under the given conditions. The main ash found in the activated carbons was silica, which was reduced to about 3% by washing with sodium hydroxide solution. The prepared activated carbons were used to treat the wastewater from the cow farm and for the pollutant removal that effectively met the discharge standard requirements. These results indicated that the production of activated carbons from cow manure is a promising method for the cleaner production in intensive dairy farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical constituents of naturally decayed Qinghai spruce branches were analyzed in terms of holocellulose, lignin, and pentosan. The holocellulose content declined from 57.98% to 35.29% in one year. The rate of change may be related to weather conditions, i.e., the rate of variation was higher when the temperature was high and rainfall was abundant. The changes in lignin and pentosan relative content were completely different from holocellulose; they increased first and then decreased during the decay period. Compared with fresh raw materials, pentosan content (from 14.44% to 25.9%) was increased by 79.4% after four months decay. The highest yield of furfural (10.2%) prepared by a two-stage method from decayed Qinghai spruce branches was similar to the reported yield from corncobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pressure-volume (P-V) curves were measured on shoots of Larix gmelinii and leaves of Fraxinus mandshurica in northeast China to analyze the effects of nonrehydrated, rehydrated, and extended rehydrated treatments on water relations parameters. For L. gmelinii, increasing rehydration time significantly increased the estimate of osmotic potential at full turgor (ψπ100) and at turgor loss point (ψtlp) and decreased the estimate of the relative water content at turgor loss point (RWCtlp), bulk elastic modulus (ε), and symplastic solute content per dry mass (RNs). However, in F. mandshurica, increasing the rehydration time did not significantly change key parameters. The difference in response among these two species relates to the increase in the percent volume of apoplastic water content (AWC) in rehydrated tissues. For L. gmelinii, average AWC was 18.5% in rehydrated and 27.9% in extended rehydration treatments. For F. mandshurica, the average AWC was 4.7% in rehydrated and 4.3% in extended rehydration treatments. In contrast, the AWC value of the nonrehydrated tissue was only 0.7% for L. gmelinii and 2.7% for F. mandshurica. We recommend making P-V curves using unrehydrated tissue whenever possible to avoid potential errors caused by rehydration on the estimates of water relations parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a risk factor for many human diseases. DNA methylation has been related to smoking, but genome-wide methylation data for smoking in Chinese populations is limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate epigenome-wide methylation in relation to smoking in a Chinese population. METHODS: We measured the methylation levels at > 485,000 CpG sites (CpGs) in DNA from leukocytes using a methylation array and conducted a genome-wide meta-analysis of DNA methylation and smoking in a total of 596 Chinese participants. We further evaluated the associations of smoking-related CpGs with internal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) biomarkers and their correlations with the expression of corresponding genes. RESULTS: We identified 318 CpGs whose methylation levels were associated with smoking at a genome-wide significance level (false discovery rate < 0.05), among which 161 CpGs annotated to 123 genes were not associated with smoking in recent studies of Europeans and African Americans. Of these smoking-related CpGs, methylation levels at 80 CpGs showed significant correlations with the expression of corresponding genes (including RUNX3, IL6R, PTAFR, ANKRD11, CEP135 and CDH23), and methylation at 15 CpGs was significantly associated with urinary 2-hydroxynaphthalene, the most representative internal monohydroxy-PAH biomarker for smoking. CONCLUSION: We identified DNA methylation markers associated with smoking in a Chinese population, including some markers that were also correlated with gene expression. Exposure to naphthalene, a byproduct of tobacco smoke, may contribute to smoking-related methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been associated with adverse effects on the respiratory system. However, the association between internal levels of PAH metabolites and lung function levels remains unclear.Objectives: We investigated the relationships between urinary PAH metabolite concentrations and lung function levels in a general Chinese population.Methods: Lung function and 12 urinary PAH metabolites were measured in 2,747 participants from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort in China. Associations between urinary PAH metabolites and lung function were analyzed by linear mixed models. We also investigated associations among urinary PAH metabolite concentrations, traffic exposure time, and dietary PAH exposure.Measurements and Main Results: We found significant associations between increased levels of urinary PAH metabolites and reduced lung function. Each 1-U increase in log-transformed levels of 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 9-hydroxyfluorene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene, or total urinary PAH metabolites was associated with a 23.79-, 19.36-, 41.76-, 36.87-, 33.47-, 27.37-, 39.53-, 34.35-, 25.03-, or 37.13-ml reduction in FEV1, respectively (all P < 0.05). Each 1-U increase in 2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-hydroxyfluorene, 4-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1-hydroxyphenanthrene, 2-hydroxyphenanthrene, or total urinary PAH metabolites was associated with a 24.39-, 33.90-, 27.15-, 28.56-, 27.46-, or 27.99-ml reduction in FVC, respectively (all P < 0.05). The total urinary PAH metabolites concentration was positively associated with both traffic exposure time and dietary PAH exposure among nonsmokers.Conclusions: Total and specific urinary PAH metabolites were associated with lung function reduction in a general Chinese population. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential mechanism by which PAHs induces lung function reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Reduced pulmonary function is an important predictor of environment-related pulmonary diseases; however, evidence of an association between exposures to various metals from all possible routes and altered pulmonary function is limited. We aimed to investigate the association of various metals in urine with pulmonary function, restrictive lung disease (RLD) and obstructive lung disease (OLD) risks in the general Chinese population. Design: A cross-sectional investigation in the Wuhan cohort population. Setting: A heavily polluted Chinese city. Participants: A total of 2460 community-living Chinese adults from the Wuhan cohort were included in our analysis. Main outcome measures: Spirometric parameters (FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volumes in 1 s; FEV1/FVC ratio), RLD and OLD. Results: The dose-response associations of pulmonary function, and RLD and OLD, with 23 urinary metals were assessed using regression analysis after adjusting for potential confounders. The false discovery rate (FDR) method was used to correct for multiple hypothesis tests. Our results indicated that there were positive dose-response associations of urinary iron with FEV1 and FEV1/FVC ratio, vanadium with FEV1, and copper and selenium with FEV1/FVC ratio, while a negative dose-response association was observed between urinary lead and FEV1/FVC ratio (all p<0.05). After additional adjusting for multiple comparisons, only iron was dose dependently related to FEV1/FVC ratio (FDR adjusted p<0.05). The dose-response association of iron and lead, with decreased and increased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk, respectively, was also observed (both p<0.05). Additionally, we found significant association of urinary zinc with RLD and interaction effects of smoking status with lead on FEV1/FVC, and with cadmium on FVC and FEV1. Conclusions: These results suggest that multiple urinary metals are associated with altered pulmonary function, and RLD and OLD prevalences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate indoor factors affecting fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in community residents. Methods: A total of 2404 adults (865 men, 1539 women, mean age 51.7 ± 13.3 years) were recruited to the study. Factors affecting FeNO were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Participants without a kitchen exhaust fan/hood had higher FeNO (GM: 10.21%, 95% CI: 4.18%-16.59%). Participants engaged in home cooking who used only liquefied petroleum gas had higher FeNO (GM: 5.75%, 95% CI: 0.10%- 11.73%) compared to those using natural gas for residential (home) cooking. Conclusion: Nonuse of a kitchen exhaust fan/hood and use of liquefied petroleum gas among persons engaged in home cooking were associated with higher FeNO levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete chloroplast genome of Geranium sibiricum Linne. was sequenced, assembled and annotated. It is a circular form of 150,656 bp in length, which was separated into four distinct regions, a large single copy (LSC) of 73,862 bp, a small single copy region (SSC) of 52,666 bp, two inverted repeats (IR) of 12,064bp. A total of 124 genes were predicted, of which, 87 encode proteins, 4 rRNA, 33 tRNA. The evolutionary history was inferred using Maximum Likelihood method, and the result indicates that G. sibiricum was grouped within Geraniaceae, and comprised a clade with Geranium palmatum under 100% Bootstrap value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Particulate air pollution has been recognized to be associated with a wide range of adverse health effects, including increased mortality, morbidity, exacerbation of respiratory conditions. However, earlier physiological or pathological changes or long-term bodies' reaction to air pollutants have not been studied in depth in China. The Wuhan-Zhuhai (WHZH) cohort study is designed to investigate the association between air pollutants exposure and physiological or pathological reactions on respiratory and cardiovascular system. Methods/Design: The cohort is a community-based prospective study that includes 4812 individuals aged 18-80 years. The collections of data were conducted from April to May 2011 in Wuhan city and in May 2012 in Zhuhai city. At baseline, data on demographic and socioeconomic information, occupational history, family disease history, lifestyle, cooking mode, daily travel mode, physical activity and living condition have been collected by questionnaires. Participants underwent an extensive physical examination, including anthropometry, spirometry, electrocardiography, and measurements of blood pressure, heart rate, exhaled nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. Potential conditions in the lung, heart, liver, spleen, and skin were synchronously performed. In addition, samples of morning urine, fasting blood serum and plasma were collected during physical health examination. DNA were extracted and were stored at -80°C. Environment concentrations of particulate matter and chemicals were determined for 15 days in each of four seasons. Participants are followed for physiological or pathological changes or incidence of cardiopulmonary diseases every 3 years. Discussion: The results obtained in WHZH cohort study may increase a better understanding of the relationship between particulate air pollution and its components and possible health damages. And the potential mechanisms underlying the development of cardiopulmonary diseases has implications for the development of prevention and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulosic pulps were prepared from Stellera chamaejasme roots using soda, soda-anthraquinone (soda-AQ), and kraft pulping processes. S. chamaejasme is composed of 73.5% holocellulose, 39.7% α-cellulose, and 17.6% lignin, similar to wheat straw and other non-wood plant materials. The ethanol-benzene extractives content of 9.2% is higher than other non-woods. The conditions used for all pulping experiments were as follows: a liquid/solid ratio of 5:1; a time-to-maximum temperature of 100 min; a maximum temperature of 160 °C; and a timeat-maximum temperature of 50 min. The results showed that the pulp yield was 31.27 to 36.83%, the kappa number was 16.32 to 19.42, and the pulps' intrinsic viscosity was 854 to 976 mL/g. Tear index, tensile index, burst index, and brightness of the papers made from the above unbleached pulps were 12.60 to 13.62 mN•m²/g, 20.57 to 22.56 mN/g, 2.16 to 2.38 kPa•m²/g, and 15.3 to 18.3%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To investigate the effects of the urinary metabolite pro les of background exposure to the atmospheric pollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and Framingham risk score (FRS), which assesses an individual's cardiovascular disease risk, on heart rate variability (HRV). Methods The study conducted from April to May 2011 in Wuhan, China, included 1978 adult residents with completed questionnaires, physical examinations, blood and urine samples, and 5-min HRV indices (including SD of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square successive difference (rMSSD), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF) and their ratio (LF/HF), and total power) obtained from 3-channel Holter monitor. 12 urinary PAH metabolites were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. FRS was calculated by age, sex, lipid pro les, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking status. Linear regression models were constructed after adjusting for potential confounders. Results Elevated total concentration of hydroxynaphthalene (ΣOHNa) was significantly associated, in a dose-responsive manner, with decreased SDNN and LF/HF (ptrend =0.014 and 0.007, trend respectively); elevated total concentration of hydroxyfluorene (ΣOHFlu) was significantly associated with reduced SDNN, LF and LF/HF (ptrend = 0.027, 0.003, and <0.0001, respectively); and elevated total concentration of all PAH metabolites (ΣOH-PAHs) was associated with decreased LF and LF/HF (ptrend = 0.005 and <0.0001, respectively). Moreover, increasing quartiles of FRS were significantly associated with decreased HRV indices, except LF/HF (all ptrend <0.0001). Interestingly, individuals in low-risk subgroups had greater decreases in SDNN, LF and LF/HF in relation to ΣOH-PAHs, ΣOHNa and ΣOHFlu than those in high-risk subgroups (all p<0.05). Conclusions Environmental PAH exposure may differentially affect HRV based on individual coronary risk profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]