A Detailed Epidemiological and Clinical Description of 6 Human Cases of Avian-Origin Influenza A (H7N9) Virus Infection in Shanghai

Background

The world’s first reported patient infected with avian influenza H7N9 was treated at the Fifth People’s Hospital of Shanghai. Shortly thereafter, several other cases emerged in the local area. Here, we describe the detailed epidemiological and clinical data of 6 cases of avian influenza H7N9.

Methods and Findings

We analyzed the epidemiologic and clinical data from clustered patients infected with H7N9 in the Minhang District of Shanghai during a 2-week period. Of the 6 patients, 2 were from a single family. In addition, 3 patients had a history of contact with poultry; however, all 6 patients lived in the proximity of 2 food markets where the H7N9 virus was detected in chickens and pigeons. The main symptoms were fever, cough, and hemoptysis. At onset, a decreased lymphocyte count and elevated creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein levels were observed. As the disease progressed, most patients developed dyspnea and hypoxemia. Imaging studies revealed lung consolidation and multiple ground-glass opacities in the early stage, rapidly extending bilaterally. All patients were treated with oseltamivir tablets beginning on days 3–8 after onset. The main complications were as follows: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS; 83.3%), secondary bacterial infection (66.7%), pleural effusion (50%), left ventricular failure (33.3%), neuropsychiatric symptoms (33.3%), and rhabdomyolysis (16.7%). Of the 6 patients, 4 died of ARDS, with 2 patients recovering from the infection.

Conclusions

An outbreak of H7N9 infection occurred in the Minhang District of Shanghai that easily progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Two cases showed family aggregation, which led us to identify the H7N9 virus and indicated that human transmission may be involved in the spread of this infection.     

Enantioselective Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Tetrahydro‐Β‐Carboline Diketopiperazines

A series of single isomers tetrahydro‐β‐carboline diketopiperazines were stereoselectively synthesized starting from l ‐tryptophan methyl ester hydrochloride and six aldehydes through a four‐step reaction including Pictet‐Spengler reaction, crystallization‐induced asymmetric transformations (CIAT), Schotten‐Baumann reaction, and intramolecular ester amidation. The chemical structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and elemental analysis, among which two compounds were determined by x‐ray single crystal diffraction. Moreover, antimicrobial activities of all the compounds were also tested. Chirality 25:656–662, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

MicroRNA-141 promotes the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cells by regulating expression of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2

The dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) is crucially implicated in the development of various cancers. In this study, we explored the biological role of miR-141 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). miR-141 expression was significantly up-regulated in NSCLC tissues, and its overexpression accelerated NSCLC cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. We subsequently identified the antagonists of PI3K/AKT signaling, PH domain leucine-rich-repeats protein phosphatase 1 (PHLPP1) and PHLPP2, as direct targets of miR-141. Re-introduction of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 abrogated miR-141-induced proliferation of NSCLC cells. Together, the results of this study suggest that miR-141 and its targets PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 play critical roles in NSCLC tumorigenesis, and provide potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC treatment.     

周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾的寄生功能反应

【目的】周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)是寄生椰子织蛾蛹期的本土天敌。研究周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾的功能反应,能为该蜂室内扩繁和室外控害利用提供基础。【方法】在室内观察周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生行为基础上,研究了营养(10%蜂蜜)、寄主蛹(初、中、晚)期对周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生功能反应的影响。【结果】镜下观察1头周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)可寄生多头椰子织蛾蛹,寄生量随寄主密度的增大而增加,但当寄主密度达到一定程度后,其增长率随寄主密度的增大逐渐减缓,属于HollingⅡ功能反应。在无营养条件下,周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾初、中、晚期蛹的理论最大寄生量分别为1.5、1.4、1.2头·d~(-1);在10%蜂蜜饲喂条件下,周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)对椰子织蛾初、中、晚期蛹的理论最大寄生量分别为1.8、1.7、1.3头·d~(-1)。【结论】HollingⅡ型拟合结果表明,椰子织蛾初期蛹是周氏啮小蜂(海南种群)寄生的最佳时期,补充营养能够提高椰子织蛾的寄生力。     

吉林珲春自然保护区东北虎和东北豹及其有蹄类猎物的多度与分布

珲春国家级自然保护区是东北虎(Panthera tigris altaica)、东北豹(Panthera pardus orientalis)等濒危物种在中国的核心分布区。为了探究该区域野生动物的多度水平和空间分布, 了解人类干扰情况, 我们运用相对多度指数(relative abundance index, RAI)分析了2013年4-6月设置于此的83个红外相机位点的监测数据。红外相机的总捕获天数6,060 d, 共捕获10科18种野生哺乳动物, 其中鼬科4种, 猫科动物3种, 犬科、鹿科和松鼠科各2种, 猪科、熊科、麝科、猬科和兔科各1种。研究期间共拍摄到东北虎11只个体, 东北豹13只个体。从相对多度指数来看, 东北虎的相对多度(0.84)远高于东北豹(0.48), 它们的有蹄类猎物中梅花鹿(Cervus nippon)的相对多度最高(2.18), 其次为狍(Capreolus pygargus)(1.53)和野猪(Sus scrofa)(0.92)。人类活动和放牧的相对多度水平(分别为40.64和2.76)显著高于野生动物。在空间分布上, 东北虎和梅花鹿主要在保护区的核心区分布, 且与保护区社区共管区的多度水平差异显著, 而东北豹在不同功能区之间的分布差异不显著, 狍在保护区北部的多度水平较高, 但各功能区之间差异不显著, 野猪在社区共管区的多度水平显著高于核心区。可见, 核心区频繁的人类活动和放牧活动对野生动物的保护产生了影响, 未来应加强关于人类干扰对虎、豹种群及其有蹄类猎物的影响评估。     

NAD+ and its precursors in human longevity

Aging is a complex issue due to its nature in progressive physiological and functional decay. As better medicine, technology, and living conditions became accessible to many people, the longevity of human beings increased during the past centuries. Recent research established vital roles for NAD⁺ and its precursors in protecting and maintaining the redox homeostasis in cells, which might be applicable therapeutically to prevent cell degeneration. Notably, the contribution of NAD⁺ metabolites to lifespan extension in model systems indicates that the potential beneficial effects of NAD⁺ precursors. In this mini review, by introducing the background of NAD⁺-consuming enzymes in “caloric restriction”, we focus on NAD⁺ and its precursors in diet, with further emphasis on its association with health and diseases. We also provide insights in future utilization of NAD⁺ and its precursors as nutrition supplement for lifespan extension.