Australian Hajj pilgrims' knowledge about MERS-CoV and other respiratory infections

正Dear Editor,With the intense crowding in mass gatherings such as Hajj,there is a high risk of acquisition of airborne in-fections with the potential for its transmission in the pilgrims’country of origin(Memish Z A,et al.,2014).The risk of importing serious infections from Hajj has escalated since the emergence of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-CoV)in Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring countries from September2012.Active surveillance of Hajj pilgrims in 2012 and 2013     

Viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims in 2013

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-Co V) has emerged in the Arabian Gulf region, with its epicentre in Saudi Arabia, the host of the ‘Hajj' which is the world's the largest mass gathering. Transmission of MERS-Co V at such an event could lead to its rapid worldwide dissemination. Therefore, we studied the frequency of viruses causing influenza-like illnesses(ILI) among participants in a randomised controlled trial at the Hajj 2013. We recruited 1038 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, Australia and Qatar during the first day of Hajj and followed them closely for four days. A nasal swab was collected from each pilgrim who developed ILI. Respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex RT-PCR. ILI occurred in 112/1038(11%) pilgrims. Their mean age was 35 years, 49(44%) were male and 35(31%) had received the influenza vaccine pre-Hajj. Forty two(38%) pilgrims had laboratory-confirmed viral infections; 28(25%) rhinovirus, 5(4%) influenza A, 2(2%) adenovirus, 2(2%) human coronavirus OC43/229 E, 2(2%) parainfluenza virus 3, 1(1%) parainfluenza virus 1, and 2(2%) dual infections. No MERS-Co V was detected in any sample. Rhinovirus was the commonest cause of ILI among Hajj pilgrims in 2013. Infection control and appropriate vaccination are necessary to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses at Hajj and other mass gatherings.     

Differences in Variation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Sequences from Henan and Shanghai Regions of China

Illegally paid blood donation was a risk factor for HIV acquisition exclusively in Henan and Hubei Provinces of China,and not in Shanghai.Nucleotide sequences in the gag and env genes of HIV-1 were compared between isolates from Henan and Shanghai regions of China to test whether an expected higher degree of a common source of infections from this unique blood donation transmission risk would be evident as decreased variation among Henan isolates in an exploratory cross-sectional analysis.Among 38 isolates studied,23 of 23(100%)from Henan and 8 of 15(54%)from Shanghai were subtype B.In addition,fewer sequence differences were found in gp41 of subtype B isolates from Henan than from Shanghai isolates.Further studies with additional controls are therefore warranted to confirm the role of the degree of a common source of infections in differences in HIV variation across populations.     

Hormones and cancer

Estrogen exhibits a broad spectrum of physiologicalfunctions ranging from regulation of the menstrual cycleand reproduction to the modulation of bone density,brainfunction,and cholesterol mobilization.However,estrogenis also associated with pathological complications par-ticularly with the onset of gynaecological malignanciesincluding breast cancer and endometrial cancer;estrogenis now considered to be a classical etiological factor forbreast cancer and endometrial cancer.In the early 1970s,it was reported that there was a 20-35% increase in incidence of endometrial cancer in WesternCaucasian women who had undergone estrogen therapy[1].Subsequently,a variety of clinical and epidemiologi-cal investigations,with support from studies in cell cultureand animal models,have demonstrated the association ofestrogen with the development and/or progression of thedisease.In 2002,the US National Toxicology Programlisted steroidal estrogens as carcinogens for the first time.The report cites data from human epidemiologic studies thatshow an association between estrogen replacement therapyand an increase in the risk of endometrial cancer,as well asa less consistent increase in the risk of breast cancer.     

酸雨对缙云山林地黄壤汞溶出的影响

Forest yellow soil and arable yellow soil in Jinyun Mountain were collected to study the effect of simulated acid rain(adjusted to pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) on the Hg leaching from soils by the methods of static extraction and dynamic leaching. The results showed that in forest yellow soils, surface accumulation of Hg occurred, and the accumulated Hg was easier to be leached out than that in arable yellow soil by acid rain. The amount of leached Hg was the largest at pH 4.0. To abate the risk of Hg pollution in water bodies by the Hg leaching from this forest soil, the Mountain should be closed, and timber-felling should be forbidden.     

Advances in the reintroduction of rare and endangered wild plant species

Human disturbance and climate change have increased the risk of extinction for rare and endangered wild plant species.One effective way to conserve these rare and endangered species is through reintroduction.In this review,we summarize the advances in wild plant reintroduction from five perspectives:the establishment of reintroduction biology as an important tool for biodiversity conservation;the importance of genetic diversity in reintroduction;reintroduction under global climate change;recruitment limitation in reintroduction;and reintroduction and ecological restoration.In addition,we consider the future of plant reintroduction strategies.     

闽南地区TT病毒的变异及经输血传播的初步证据

TT virus(TTV)DNA was tested by nested-PCR from sera of hepatitis patients and volunteer blood donors in Minnan area. The amplified segment was a 189 base pair region in TTV ORF2. A total of six sequences were obtained from three non-A to G hepatits patients and two from volunteer blood donors. The sequences were found to be with 82.9% to 99.3% homology to TTV Japanese strain and Chinese strain. The divergence of sequence in these six segments varied from 0.7% to 17.1%, which indicated that the TTV had been existing for a long time in this area. In the serum of a non-A to G hepatitis patient who was negative for TTV DNA in the 14th day of disease course turned to be positive in the 30th day, two TTV sequences were obtained which showed 92.1% nucleotide homology. It indicated that different TTV strains can co exist in the same person. This patient's blood had been transfused ten times between the collection of his TTV negative sample and his positive serum sample. Seven of the blood donors were traced and sampled for sera, of which three were positive for TTV. For all 161 patients tested, the history of exposure to blood products was associated with an increased risk of TTV infection(relative risk, 3.0; 95% confidence intervals, 1.89～4.81).     

Leukocyte selenium, zinc, and copper concentrations in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women

Preeclampsia is an important cause of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. The etiology of this relatively common medical complication of pregnancy, however, remains unknown. We studied the relationship between maternal leukocyte selenium, zinc, and copper concentrations and the risk of preeclampsia in a large hospital-based case-control study. One hundred seventy-one women with proteinuric pregnancy-induced hypertension (with or without seizures) comprised the case group. Controls were 184 normotensive pregnant women. Leukocytes were separated from blood samples collected during the patients’ postpartum labor and delivery admission. Leukocyte concentrations for the three cations were measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations for each cation were reported as micrograms per gram of total protein. Women with preeclampsia had significantly higher median leukocyte selenium concentrations than normotensive controls (3.23 vs 2.80 μg/g total protein, p<0.0001). Median leukocyte zinc concentrations were 31% higher in preeclamptics as compared with controls (179.15 vs 136.44 μg/g total protein, p<0.0001). Although median leukocyte copper concentrations were slightly higher for cases than controls, this difference did not reach statistical significance (17.72 vs 17.00 μg/g total protein, p=0.468). There was evidence of a linear increase in risk of preeclampsia with increasing concentrations of selenium and zinc. The relative risk for preeclampsia was 3.38 (adjusted odds ratio [OR]=3.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.53–7.54) among women in the highest quartile of the control selenium distribution compared with women in the lowest quartile. The corresponding relative risk and 95% CI for preeclampsia was 5.30 (2.45–11.44) for women in the highest quartile of the control zinc distribution compared with women in the lowest quartile. There was no clear pattern of a linear trend in risk with increasing concentration of leukocyte copper concentrations (adjusted for linear trend in risk =0.299). Our results are consistent with some previous reports. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether observed alterations in selenium and zinc concentrations precede preeclampsia or whether the differences may be attributed to preeclampsia-related alterations in maternal and fetal-placental trace metal metabolism.     

Convergent synaptic and circuit substrates underlying autism genetic risks

There has been a surge of diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders （ASD） over the past decade. While large, high powered genome screening studies of children with ASD have identified numerous genetic risk factors, research efforts to understanding how each of these risk factors contributes to the development autism has met with limited success. Revealing the mechanisms by which these genetic risk factors affect brain development and predispose a child to autism requires mechanistic understanding of the neurobiological changes underlying this devastating group of developmental disorders at multifaceted molecular, cellular and system levels. It has been increasingly clear that the normal trajectory of neurodevelopment is compromised in autism, in multiple domains as much as aberrant neuronal production, growth, functional maturation, patterned connectivity, and balanced excitation and inhibition of brain networks. Many autism risk factors identified in humans have been now reconstituted in experimental mouse models to allow mechanistic interrogation of the biological role of the risk gene. Studies utilizing these mouse models have revealed that underlying the enormous heterogeneity of perturbed cellular events, mechanisms directing synaptic and circuit assembly may provide a unifying explanation for the pathophysiological changes and behavioral endophenotypes seen in autism, although synaptic perturbations are far from being the only alterations relevant for ASD. In this review, we discuss synaptic and circuit abnormalities obtained from several prevalent mouse models, particularly those reflecting syndromic forms of ASD that are caused by single gene perturbations. These compiled results reveal that ASD risk genes contribute to proper signaling of the developing gene networks that maintain synaptic and circuit homeostasis, which is fundamental to normal brain development.     

Determination of Mercury and Methylmercury in Hair of the Czech Children’s Population

The developed method for mercury speciation analysis has been validated and used for the biomonitoring study of mercury species in human hair. Statistical evaluation proved the reliability of simplified determination of inorganic mercury (difference between total mercury and methylmercury). The results of the validation showed that the method is very well suitable for the determination of both species of mercury in hair for biomonitoring purposes. Non-exposed schoolchildren from three areas in the western and central part of the Czech Republic were chosen as the target group. Tenth of a microgram per gram of the total mercury were generally found in the analyzed hair; values higher than 1 μg g⁻¹ were detected only exceptionally. Comparable results were obtained for two western areas and differed significantly from those for the third area located in the central part of the Czech Republic. In the areas examined, the mean methylmercury contents amounted to 23–46% of the total mercury in the hair. The results confirm an assumption that exposure to mercury does not pose a significant risk to the population in the Czech Republic.     

Cancer profiles in China and comparisons with the USA: a comprehensive analysis in the incidence,mortality, survival,staging, and attribution to risk factors

China faces a disproportionate cancer burden to the population size and is undergoing a transition in the cancer spectrum. We extracted data in five aspects of cancer incidence, mortality, survival, staging distributions, and attribution to risk factors in China, the USA and worldwide from open-source databases. We conducted a comprehensive secondary analysis of cancer profiles in China in the above aspects,and compared cancer statistics between China and the USA. A total of 4,546,400 new cancer...     

One-carbon metabolism and breast cancer: an epidemiological perspective

One-carbon metabolism is a network of biological reactions that plays critical role in DNA methylation and DNA synthesis, and in turn, facilitates the cross-talk between genetic and epigenetic processes. Genetic polymorphisms and supplies of cofactors （e.g. folate, vitamins B） involved in this pathway have been shown to influence cancer risk and even survival. In this review, we summarized the epidemiological evidence for one-carbon metabolism, from both genetics and lifestyle aspects, in relation to breast cancer risk. We also discussed this pathway in relation to breast cancer survival and the modulation of one-carbon polymorphism in chemotherapy. Emerging evidence on modulation of DNA methylation by one-carbon metabolism suggests that disruption of epigenome might have been the underlying mechanism. More results are expected and will be translated to guidance to the general population for disease prevention as well as to clinicians for treatment and management of the disease.     

Association between polymorphism of the cyclin E1 gene and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese Han population of Hubei

This study aimed to explore the relationship between CCNE1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP rs1406 and rs3218038) and the incidence of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Chinese Han population in Hubei. A total of 663 subjects, including 173 HCC patients, 172 HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, 162 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC), and 156 healthy controls, participated in the study. Genotyping of CCNE1 rs1406 and rs3218038 polymorphisms was done by illumina second generation sequence method.Our findings showed that rs1406 G>T variant decreased the risk of HCC (OR 0.710, P=0.035 G vs T), and no significant differences were found between rs3218038 SNP and HCC risk using the χ² test. Furthermore, stratified analysis revealed that differences in genotype frequencies were related to gender. Women who carried the CCNE1 GT genotype were significantly associated with a decreased risk of HCC, compared with healthy controls carrying the GG genotype (additive model, OR 0.378,P=0.030).The results suggest that the rs1406 G allele and CCNE1 rs1406 polymorphism produce an increased the risk of HCC in comparison with the T allele. Whereas, the GT genotype is a protective factor in the development of HCC in female patients.     

Comparing gene expression profiles of Kashin-Beck and Keshan diseases occurring within the same endemic areas of China

In this study, differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood from patients with Kashin-Beck disease and Keshan disease were compared to further investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of both diseases, which occur in a common endemic area of China. Twenty Kashin-Beck disease patients and 12 healthy controls, and 16 Keshan disease patients and 16 healthy controls, were grouped into four pairs. Patients and controls were selected from common endemic areas for the two diseases. Total RNA was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all patients and controls, and gene expression profiles analyzed by oligonucleotide microarrays. Sixteen genes differentially expressed in both Kashin-Beck disease and Keshan disease (versus controls) were identified, and comprised nine genes showing synchronous and seven asynchronous expression. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database shows that expression and biological function of these genes can be affected by multiple environmental factors, including mycotoxin and selenium content, potential environmental risk factors for the two diseases. Thus, these shared differentially expressed genes may contribute to the distinct organ lesions, caused by common environmental risk factors of Kashin-Beck disease and Keshan disease.     

Announcement of Distinguished GPB Articles 2012–2015

正We would like to announce the second batch of distinguished Genomics,Proteomics and Bioinformatics(GPB)selected from articles published in GPB in 2012–2015.The first batch of distinguished GPB articles were selected from the articles published in GPB in 2003–2011 and announced in2014.     

Risks of maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity,excessive gestational weight gain,and bottle-feeding in infancy rapid weight gain: evidence from a cohort study in China

Rapid weight gain(RWG) in infants is associated with numerous health problems, and its risk factors are still unclear. We assessed 98,097 maternal-infant pairs from a population-based cohort study and followed up with them until the infants were6 months old. We assessed the associations between maternal prepregnancy weight status; gestational weight gain; feeding pattern; and infants' RWG at 0–1, 0–3, 1–3, and 3–6 months using multivariate unconditional logistic regression models, with controlled confounders. We found that maternal prepregnancy weight status, gestational weight gain, and feeding pattern at the1 st, 3 rd, and 6 th months had significant impacts on the infants' RWG at each time period(P0.05). Infants with overweight/obese mothers had a higher risk of RWG after birth, whereas those of mothers who experienced excessive gestational weight gain had higher risks of RWG from birth than the other groups(P0.01). Infants who were formula-fed had a higher risk of RWG than breastfed infants at the same time point(P0.01). In conclusion, maternal prepregnancy obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and formula-feeding were risk factors for infants' RWG during the first 6 months of life.     

CONTAMINATED LEVEL AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF PAES IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE YANGTZE RIVER北大核心CSCD

PAEs have been proved to be one of the major organic pollutants. The present study determined the level of PAEs using surface water samples from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The results showed that DEHP contributed the most to PAEs pollution, followed by DBP. Risk Quotients of PAEs were used for preliminary screening, and DEHP and BBP were identified as potential risk factors with RQ of 310 and 70.7. The MOS10 of DEHP and BBP were 1.40 and 1.32×105, respectively, indicating that BBP may pose little risk to aquatic organisms. The potential risk of DEHP was further analyzed with joint probabilistic curves. Among different biological groups, fish and zoobenthos were two major groups sensitive to DEHP-induced damage under current concentrations with 99.4% and 98.3% for 5% species of each group. While among the toxicity endpoints, reproduction may be more sensitive than others. The 5% and 10% aquatic species were suffered from reproductive damages by 100% and 97.8%, respectively. Overall, our results indicated that DEHP in the surface water of the upper Yangtze River may pose potential risk to aquatic organisms, especially on their reproduction. Therefore, more concerns should be paid in species protection and environmental management. © 2019, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.     

Descriptions of two new record species of Scutellonema (Nematoda：Tylenchida) from China

From 2011 to 2012, we collected Scutellonema commune from the rhizosphere soil of coconut(cocos nucifera L.) and Scutellonema magniphasma from the rhizosphere soil of Rosa chinensis in Shenyang, China. S. commune was characterized by rounded scutella, which was varied from two annules anterior to the anus and five annules posterior. The lateral field was not areolated at the level of scutella. S. magniphasma was characterized by varying scutellum, about 7.0 μm in diameter, in position from four annules posterior to four annules anterior to the anus, and areolated at the level of the scutellum.     

Raloxifene hydrochloride treatment leads to better outcomes than medroxyprogesterone acetate when paired with estrogen in ovariectomized cholesterol-fed rabbits

The benefits of estrogen in cardiovascular system include a reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）, decrease in LDL oxidation, and enhancement of vascular function [1]. Estrogen replacement therapy, however, has been linked to an increased risk of tissue-specific side effects including breast cancer and uterine cancer [2]. These issues have led to the development of hormone replacement therapy （HRT） which combines estrogen and progestin. Progestin can reverse endometrial hyperplasia induced by estrogen. The most commonly used progestin in HRT is medroxyprogesterone acetate （MPA）, a synthetic progestin, although there is some evidence that the administration of MPA is not as beneficial as natural progesterone [3]. Findings from randomized placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated that the combination of estrogen and MPA does not confer cardiac protection and may increase the risk of coronary heart disease among healthy postmenopausal women, especially in the first year after initiation of hormone therapy. Furthermore, an increase in the risk of breast cancer was also found with this therapy [4]. Although the role of progestin remains poorly defined, it is possible that the coadministration of progestin could counteract the cardioprotective effects of estrogen .     

Contaminants in tilapia (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis mossambicus</Emphasis>) from the Salton Sea,California, in relation to human health,piscivorous birds and fish meal production

A summary of all existing information collected since 1980 on contaminants in tilapia from the Salton Sea is presented and risks to humans and fish-eating birds assessed. Of the 17 trace elements, 42 organic pesticides and 48 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) analyzed in tilapia whole body and fillet samples, only selenium (Se), arsenic (As) and possibly dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDE) were found at levels high enough to be of concern for fish, birds or humans. Average current concentration of arsenic (As) was 0.7 μg g⁻¹ wet weight (ww) in whole body samples and 1.2 μg g⁻¹ ww in fillet samples, or 2.8 and 5.7 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw), respectively. Inorganic As averaged 0.006 μg g⁻¹ ww (0.03 μg g⁻¹ dw) in fillet samples, which represented 0.3% of total As. By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) guidelines, As levels in tilapia pose no threat of non-cancerous adverse health effects in children and adults. As is a known human carcinogen, however, and U.S.EPA cancer risk assessment procedures indicate that a weekly consumption of 540 g (19 oz) or more for 70 years would increase the upper bound cancer risk by 1 in 100,000 consumers exposed. Average current Se concentration was 2.2 μg g⁻¹ ww in tilapia whole body samples and 1.9 μg g⁻¹ ww in fillet (8.3 and 9 μg g⁻¹ dw, respectively). Consumption of Se-contaminated tilapia was found to present no unacceptable risk for adverse health effects for adults consuming up to 1000 g (35 oz) of fillet per week even when additional intakes of Se from other food items were taken into account. Similarly, children weighing 30 kg or more could safely eat up to 430 g (15 oz) of tilapia fillet on a weekly basis. A health advisory issued by the State of California in 1986 recommended, on the basis of Se levels, that consumption of any fish from the Salton Sea be limited to 114 g (4 oz) every 2 weeks, but the rationale and calculations on which that advisory was based are unavailable. We suggest that the existing health advisory for Salton Sea tilapia be revised by the state in light of this new information and updated risk parameters for As and Se. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDE) was detected in all samples of tilapia, with current levels averaging 0.085 μg g⁻¹ in whole tilapia and 0.032 μg g⁻¹ in fillet ww. Compared to screening values proposed by the U.S. EPA, these concentrations are unlikely to cause non-cancerous health effects in anglers, but one might exceed a 1 × 10⁻⁵ increase in cancer risk by consuming more than 4 meals of tilapia per week. Similarly, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were detected in tilapia fillets at levels that may increase the cancer risk for those anglers also eating more than 4 meals of tilapia per week. These determinations are based, however, on DDE concentrations reported from a small sample size (n = 4), and on screening values recommended by U.S.EPA. The paucity of DDE and total DDT analyses carried out in recent times on the edible portion of Salton Sea tilapia warrants additional analyses in order to evaluate the need for issuance of a fish consumption advisory with regards to long term exposure to total DDT via consumption of Salton Sea fish. With regards to the potential impact on fish and piscivorous birds, we cannot conclude whether concentrations of As in tilapia could pose a threat to the fish and the birds feeding on them. Se concentrations, however, may be elevated enough to negatively affect fish health, and reproduction and immune systems of piscivorous birds, but definitive studies are lacking. Total DDT and PCB concentrations in whole tilapia are not elevated enough to have adverse effects on fish and piscivorous birds. Fish harvesting for fish meal production has been proposed for the Salton Sea. Based on whole fish dry weight values of 61% protein and 21% ash, and the determined contaminant levels, tilapia could yield a meal of reasonable quality for use in formulating poultry, livestock and aquaculture feeds. Guest Editor: John M. Melack Saline Waters and their Biota