Objective The current outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKV) poses a severe threat to human health. Two ZIKV strains were isolated from mosquitoes collected from the Dejiang prefecture in China in 2016, which was the first isolation of ZIKV in nature in China.Methods In this study, serum samples were collected from 366 healthy individuals and 104 animals from Dejiang prefecture in 2017, and the plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) was used to evaluate the seroprevalence of ZIKV.Results None of the 366 residents from whom the samples were collected were seropositive for ZIKV. None of the 11 pigs from whom the samples were collected were seropositive for ZIKV, while 1 of 63 (1.59%) chickens and 2 of 30 (6.67%) sheep were seropositive for ZIKV.Conclusions The extremely low seropositivity rate of ZIKV antibodies in animals in the Dejiang prefecture, Guizhou province in this study indicates that ZIKV can infect animals; however, there is a low risk of ZIKV circulating in the local population.
Objective Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global concern and is especially severe in China. To effectively and reliably provide AMR data, we developed a new high-throughput real-time PCR assay based on microfluidic dynamic technology, and screened multiple AMR genes in broiler fecal samples.Methods A high-throughput real-time PCR system with an new designed integrated fluidic circuit assay were performed AMR gene detection. A total of 273 broiler fecal samples collected from two geographically separated farms were screened AMR genes.Results The new assay with limits of detection ranging from 40.9 to 8,000 copies/reaction. The sensitivity rate, specificity rate, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and correct indices were 99.30%, 98.08%, 95.31%, 99.79%, and 0.9755, respectively. Utilizing this assay, we demonstrate that AMR genes are widely spread, with positive detection rates ranging from 0 to 97.07% in 273 broiler fecal samples. blaCTX-M, blaTEM, mcr-1, fexA, cfr, optrA, and intI1 showed over 80% prevalence. The dissemination of AMR genes was distinct between the two farms.Conclusions We successfully established a new high-throughput real-time PCR assay applicable to AMR gene surveillance from fecal samples. The widespread existence of AMR genes detected in broiler farms highlights the current and severe problem of AMR.
Objective Accumulation of estrogenic compounds and other carcinogens in normal breast tissues contributes to unpredictable breast cancer incidence during adolescence and throughout life. To assess the role of parabens in this phenomenon, the paraben content of adjacent normal-malignant breast tissues is measured in women with breast cancer living in Isfahan Province, Iran.Methods Adjacent normal-malignant breast tissue samples were obtained from 53 subjects. The parabens including methyl-paraben (MePB), ethyl-paraben (EtPB), propyl-paraben (PrPB), and butyl-paraben (BuPB) were extracted from the sample supernatant and then subjected to gas chromatography analysis.Results Some risk factors for breast cancer were stimulated by parabens in adjacent malignant-normal breast tissues among young and middle-aged women with breast cancer. We observed a significant association for dose-response pattern of MePB [OR = 98.34 (11.43–185.2), P = 0.027] for both ER+ and PR+ women and MePB [OR = 164.3 (CI: 112.3–216.3), P < 0.001] for HER2+ women than women with negative receptors. The risk of 95-fold increase in MePB dose and 164-fold increase in ∑PBs dose were significant for women with hereditary breast cancer in first-degree relatives.Conclusions These results may promote future epidemiology studies and strategies to improve women’s lifestyle and consume paraben-free products.
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the association between triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) at baseline, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence in a general Chinese population. Further, it aimed to evaluate the ability of TG and TC to predict T2DM incidence.Methods Qingdao Diabetes Prevention Program participants recruited between 2006 and 2009 were followed up in 2012–2015. TG, TC, and T2DM status were measured. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association between TG, TC, and T2DM incidence. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the ability of TG and TC to identify T2DM participants.Results The incidence of T2DM significantly increased with TG in women and TC in both men and women (Ptrend < 0.05). Univariate Cox regression indicated that higher TG {borderline high TG [hazards ratio (HR): 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40, 3.00] and hypertriglyceridemia [HR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.68, 4.15]} and TC [hypercholesterolemia (HR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.43, 2.95)] were significantly associated with increased risk of T2DM incidence in women but not in men. Multivariate Cox regression showed that hypertriglyceridemia in women (HR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.97), borderline high TC in men (HR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.48), and hypercholesterolemia in women (HR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.81, 2.61) had a higher significant risk of T2DM incidence. The optimal cutoff values of TG were > 1.15 and > 1.23 mmol/L in men and women, respectively. For TC, they were > 5.17 and > 5.77 mmol/L in men and women, respectively. The area under the ROCs of TG and TC were 0.54 (0.51–0.57) and 0.55 (0.52–0.58), respectively, in men, and 0.60 (0.58–0.62) and 0.59 (0.56–0.61), respectively, in women.Conclusion Elevated TG and TC were risk factors for T2DM incidence. However, no predictive capacity was found for both factors to identify T2DM incidence in Chinese men and women. Hence, TG and TC levels in both Chinese men and women might be used for decreasing the incidence of T2DM but no clinical predictive capacity for T2DM.
Objective Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque as manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis have been used as markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) are linked to CVD, but the association between MetS and CVD is controversial.Methods A total of 8,933 Chinese adults aged 40 years or older from 2010 to 2014 were selected from the Jidong and Kailuan communities. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria. CIMT and carotid plaque were measured using color Doppler ultrasound. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association of MetS with carotid plaque and CIMT.Results MetS was found among 3,461 (3,461/8,933) participants. The odds ratio and 95% confidence internal (CI) for carotid plaques in participants with MetS was 1.16 (1.03−1.30). The risk of carotid plaques increased with the number of MetS components. The average CIMT was higher in participants with MetS (β = 0.020, 95% CI, 0.014−0.027) and in participants with more MetS components.Conclusion Individuals with MetS are at an increased risk for carotid atherosclerosis compared to those without MetS.
West Nile virus (WNV) causes West Nile fever and West Nile encephalitis. Because infection by WNV creates serious public health problems, its simple, rapid, and visual detection is very important in clinical practice, especially in resource-limited laboratories. We have developed a rapid, specific, and highly sensitive internally controlled reverse transcription recombinase-aided amplification (RT-RAA) assay to detect WNV, using both real-time fluorescence and the lateral flow dipstick (LFD) at 39.0 °C for 30 min. The analytical sensitivity of the RT-RAA assay was 10 plasmid copies and 1.6 pfu per reaction with real-time fluorescence, and 1,000 plasmid copies per reaction with the LFD. No cross-reaction with other control viruses was observed. Compared with the RT-qPCR assay, the RT-RAA assay demonstrated 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for WNV.
Quick Links