刺果甘草全基因组Survey及叶绿体基因组特征分析＊

目的 基于基因组Survey分析对刺果甘草Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Maxim.基因组大小和杂合率进行估计，并通过叶绿体基因组序列特征对其在甘草属Glycyrrhiza L.中的系统发育位置进行研究。方法 使用二代测序技术对刺果甘草进行测序，采用K-mer方法对测序reads进行分析，估算刺果甘草基因组大小和杂合率，使用生物信息学方法进行叶绿体基因组组装、注释和系统发育分析。结果 Survey分析结果显示其基因组大小约为577.82 Mb，杂合度约为0.31%，重复序列比例约为53.72%。叶绿体基因组长度为127，267 bp，不具有典型的四分体结构，总GC含量为34.32%，包含110个基因，其中76个蛋白质编码基因，30个tRNA基因和4个rRNA基因。系统发育分析表明，刺果甘草与圆果甘草G. squamulosa Franch.亲缘较接近。结论 刺果甘草存在低杂合和重复序列较多的特点，为了更好地对全基因组进行序列拼接和组装，可尝试采用三代测序结合二代测序的分析策略进行基因组组装；刺果甘草叶绿体全基因组比对和系统发育分析，为后续开展甘草属遗传多样性研究和分子鉴定标记筛选提供了重要依据。     

难治性胃食管反流病临证研究

难治性胃食管反流病是临床疑难病,症状反复,缠绵难愈,治疗棘手。中医药治疗“反酸”“吞酸”证历久源远,充分挖掘古籍,深研病机,提炼治法,发挥中医药特色,对治疗本病意义深远。     

染料木黄酮对前列腺癌细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭的影响及机制

本研究拟探讨染料木黄酮对前列腺癌细胞LNCaP和CWR22RV1的增殖、迁移和侵袭能力的影响。一、材料与方法1.材料:前列腺癌细胞株LNCaP和CWR22RV1(中国科学院上海生命科学研究院);Genistein(天津科瑞泰科技有限公司);RPMI 1640、胎牛血清(FBS)、胰蛋白酶(美国Gibco公司);E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)、N-钙黏蛋白(N-cadherin)、波形蛋白(Vimentin,Abcam公司);聚氰基丙烯酸正丁酯(BCA)试剂盒、十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)上样缓冲液(×5)及蛋白质印迹法(Western blot)试剂盒(上海市碧云天生物公司);2.实验方法:采用噻唑蓝(MTT)实验、划痕实验和Transwell实验检测Genistein对细胞增殖、迁移及侵袭能力的影响。采用Western blot检测E-cadherin、N-cadherin、Vimentin、CD44和Oct-4的表达水平。     

Biomarkers on patient T cells diagnose active tuberculosis and monitor treatment response

BACKGROUND. The identification and treatment of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health priority. Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary active TB (ATB) disease remains challenging and relies on extensive medical evaluation and detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the patient’s sputum. Further, the response to treatment is monitored by sputum culture conversion, which takes several weeks for results. Here, we sought to identify blood-based host biomarkers associated with ATB and hypothesized that immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells would be associated with Mtb load in vivo and could thus provide a gauge of Mtb infection.METHODS. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells from individuals with asymptomatic latent Mtb infection (LTBI) and ATB as well as from ATB patients undergoing anti-TB treatment.RESULTS. Frequencies of Mtb-specific IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells that expressed immune activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR as well as intracellular proliferation marker Ki-67 were substantially higher in subjects with ATB compared with those with LTBI. These markers accurately classified ATB and LTBI status, with cutoff values of 18%, 60%, and 5% for CD38⁺IFN-γ⁺, HLA-DR⁺IFN-γ⁺, and Ki-67⁺IFN-γ⁺, respectively, with 100% specificity and greater than 96% sensitivity. These markers also distinguished individuals with untreated ATB from those who had successfully completed anti-TB treatment and correlated with decreasing mycobacterial loads during treatment.CONCLUSION. We have identified host blood-based biomarkers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells that discriminate between ATB and LTBI and provide a set of tools for monitoring treatment response and cure.TRIAL REGISTRATION. Registration is not required for observational studies.FUNDING. This study was funded by Emory University, the NIH, and the Yerkes National Primate Center.     

Rural–urban disparities in knowledge,behaviors, and mental health during COVID-19 pandemic: A community-based cross-sectional survey

To examine the knowledge level, behaviors, and psychological status of the Chinese population during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the differences between urban and rural areas.We carried out a cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, behaviors related to COVID-19, and mental health in a probability sample of 3001 community residents in 30 provinces or districts across China from February 16–23, 2020. Convenience sampling and a snowball sampling were adopted. We used General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and knowledge and behaviors questionnaire of community residents regarding COVID-19 designed by us to investigate the psychological status, disease-related knowledge, and the behavior of Chinese urban and rural residents during the pandemic.The average score of anxiety and depression among urban residents was 9.15 and 11.25, respectively, while the figures in rural areas were 8.69 and 10.57, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the levels of anxiety (P < .01) and depression (P < .01). Urban participants reported significantly higher levels of knowledge regarding COVID-19 in all aspects (transmission, prevention measures, symptoms of infection, treatment, and prognosis) (P < .01), compared to their rural counterparts. While a majority of respondents in urban areas obtained knowledge through WeChat, other apps, and the Internet (P < .01), residents in rural areas accessed information through interactions with the community (P < .01). Urban residents fared well in exchanging knowledge about COVID-19 and advising others to take preventive measures (P < .01), but fared poorly in advising people to visit a hospital if they displayed symptoms of the disease, compared to rural residents (P < .01). Regression analysis with behavior showed that being female (OR = 2.106, 95%CI = 1.259–3.522), aged 18 ≤ age < 65 (OR = 4.059, 95%CI = 2.166–7.607), being satisfied with the precautions taken by the community (OR = 2.594, 95%CI = 1.485–4.530), disinfecting public facilities in the community (OR = 2.342, 95%CI = 1.206–4.547), having knowledge of transmission modes (OR = 3.987, 95%CI: 2.039, 7.798), symptoms (OR = 2.045, 95%CI = 1.054–4.003), and outcomes (OR = 2.740, 95%CI = 1.513–4.962) of COVID-19, and not having anxiety symptoms (OR = 2.578, 95%CI = 1.127–5.901) were positively associated with affirmative behavior in urban areas. Being married (OR = 4.960, 95%CI = 2.608–9.434), being satisfied with the precautions taken by the community (OR = 2.484, 95%CI = 1.315–4.691), screening to ensure face mask wearing before entering the community (OR = 8.809, 95%CI = 2.649–19.294), and having knowledge about precautions (OR = 4.886, 95%CI = 2.604–9.167) and outcomes (OR = 2.657, 95%CI = 1.309–5.391) were positively associated with acceptable conduct in rural areas.The status of anxiety and depression among urban residents was more severe compared to those living in rural areas. There was a difference in being positively associated with constructive behaviors between rural and urban areas.