携带同源重组修复相关基因突变的消化道肿瘤的临床特点

目的:探讨消化道肿瘤中同源重组修复相关基因(homologous recombination repair related gene，HRR)突变的发生情况及临床意义。方法:共92例消化道肿瘤患者，79例患者进行了血液标本HRR检测，53例患者进行了组织标本HRR检测，40例患者同时行血液和组织的HRR基因检测，收集患者基因检测结果及临床相关资料。结果:在79例患者血液标本检测中发现10例（12.6%）有临床意义HRR突变，在53例患者组织标本检测中发现9例（17.0%）有临床意义HRR突变。40例同时行血液和组织的HRR基因检测患者中常见的有临床意义HRR突变为CDK12突变4例（10.0%）、ATM突变3例（7.5%）、BRCA1突变2例（5.0%）。13例有临床意义HRR突变患者中常见共存突变为TP53突变10例（76.9%）、APC突变5例（38.5%）、PIK3CA突变4例（30.8%）。40例患者中13例患者血液和/或组织中有临床意义HRR突变，27例患者血液和组织中均无任何临床意义HRR突变且两组相比，有临床意义HRR突变组肿瘤突变负荷（tumor mutational burden，TMB）为6.17(2.24～11.52)，而未携带HRR突变组TMB为0.4(0～3.75)，差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。40例患者组织检测中7例HRR有临床意义的突变，33例无HRR突变，血液检测中10例HRR有临床意义的突变，30例无HRR突变，一致性检验的Kappa值为0.333（P=0.031）。结论:携带有临床意义HRR突变的消化道肿瘤患者TMB更高，血液和组织检测HRR突变有较好的一致性。     

Preferences and willingness of accepting COVID-19 vaccine booster: Results from a middle-income country

The recent wave of COVID-19 cases has led to the potential need for booster doses. We surveyed 6,294 people and found that 87.6% reported willingness to take a booster dose, with vaccine efficacy rate being the most common reason cited to accept booster dose. Differences in acceptance rates were noted among those working in non-health related sectors, different ethnic groups as well as those who had taken viral vector vaccines.     

丹参酮生物合成相关SmERF108转录因子的鉴定及其靶基因分析＊

目的 鉴定与丹参酮合成相关转录因子AP2/ERF家族中SmERF108转录因子，并分析转录因子SmERF108的靶基因。方法 利用生物信息学在线分析平台如NCBI、PFAM等分析SmERF108的序列特征；MEGA-X软件用于构建SmERF108与不同功能转录因子的系统进化树；拟南芥原生质体转化法鉴定SmERF108蛋白的亚细胞定位；通过实时荧光定量PCR（Real-time qPCR）对SmERF108基因在丹参不同器官和组织差异表达进行检测；利用酵母体系对SmERF108的转录激活活性进行探究并用酵母单杂技术确定其靶基因。结果 SmERF108具有典型的AP2/ERF保守结构域，属于ERF-B3亚组，系统进化树和保守基序分析显示SmERF108与丹参中SmERF128、青蒿中AaERF2亲缘关系较近且保守基序分布一致；亚细胞定位显示SmERF108蛋白定位于细胞核；SmERF108基因在周皮中表达最高，且呈现周皮（R1）>韧皮部（R2）>木质部（R3）的规律；酵母自激活验证SmERF108具有转录激活活性，同时酵母单杂交确认其能与关键酶基因SmCPS1启动子结合。结论 鉴定到丹参中一个新转录因子SmERF108，生物信息学分析及差异表达分析预测与丹参酮合成相关，分子互作初步证实靶基因为SmCPS1二萜环化酶。     

Clinical effect of early administration of tocilizumab following the initiation of corticosteroid therapy for patients with COVID-19

IntroductionSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first broke out in Wuhan in December 2019, and has since caused a global pandemic. The efficacy of several drugs has been evaluated, and it is now evident that tocilizumab has a beneficial effect, especially combined with corticosteroids, in patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the optimal timing of tocilizumab administration has not yet been established. The goal of the present study was to determine the optimal timing of tocilizumab administration after starting corticosteroid therapy in patients with COVID-19.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids in our hospital. The patients were divided into concurrent and sequential groups. The concurrent group received tocilizumab ≤24 h after corticosteroids, and the sequential group received tocilizumab >24 h after corticosteroid administration.ResultsThe baseline clinical characteristics of tocilizumab administration were similar between the two groups. White blood cell counts were significantly lower and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in the concurrent group than the sequential group. In the concurrent group, tocilizumab administration led to a significant decrease in maximum body temperature. In addition, there were significantly more oxygen-free days in the concurrent group than in the sequential group. However, survival rate was not significantly different between the concurrent and the sequential groups.ConclusionsIn the combination therapy with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, early administration of tocilizumab after starting corticosteroid treatment is effective when treating COVID-19.     

Effect of gender on the reliability of COVID-19 rapid antigen test among elderly

Defining con-founders that affect the reliability of diagnostic tests for coronavirus disease 2019 is vital to breaking the chain of infection. The elderly population is a higher risk group for the emerging virus. However, gender seems to exert a critical role in modifying the infection risk among women owing to hormonal changes. The menopause transition is an exceptional period for older women where the protective and immunomodulatory effects of the estrogen hormone are lost. Accordingly, attention should be given to postmenopausal women since they will have an increased risk compared to their pre-menopausal peers.     

Pan-cancer proteomic map of 949 human cell lines

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Validation of an on-screen application-based measurement of shoulder range of motion over telehealth medium

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Phase 1/2 clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine in Japanese participants: A report of interim findings

We initiated a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the S-268019-b recombinant protein vaccine, scheduled as 2 intramuscular injections given 21 days apart, in 60 randomized healthy Japanese adults. We evaluated 2 regimens of the S-910823 antigen (5 μg [n = 24] and 10 μg [n = 24]) with an oil-in-water emulsion formulation and compared against placebo (n = 12). Reactogenicity was mild in most participants. No serious adverse events were noted. For both regimens, vaccination resulted in robust IgG and neutralizing antibody production at days 36 and 50 and predominant T-helper 1-mediated immune reaction, as evident through antigen-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cell responses with IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-4 production on spike protein peptides stimulation. Based on the interim analysis, the S-268019-b vaccine is safe, produces neutralizing antibodies titer comparable with that in convalescent serum from COVID-19-recovered patients. However, further evaluation of the vaccine in a large clinical trial is warranted.