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The article reports that coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis that has affected healthcare systems worldwide. Topics include examines starting as a pneumonia of unknown cause in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, it quickly swept through the world and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.

Human coronaviruses (HCoV) OC43, 229E, NL63, and HKU1 are common respiratory viruses which cause various respiratory diseases, including pneumonia. There is a paucity of evidence on the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of these four HCoV strains worldwide. We collected 11,399 throat swabs from hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection from July 2009 to June 2016 in Guangzhou, China. These were tested for four strains of HCoV infection using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCoV-positive patients were then tested for 11 other respiratory pathogens. 4.3% (489/11399) of patients were positive for HCoV, of which 3.0% were positive for OC43 (346/11399), 0.6% for 229E (65/11399), 0.5% for NL63 (60/11399), and 0.3% for HKU1 (38/11399). Patients aged 7-12 months had the highest prevalence of HCoV and OC43 when compared with other age groups ( p < 0.001). The peak seasons of infection varied depending on the HCoV strain. Patients infected with a single strain of HCoV infection were less likely to present fever (≥ 38 °C) ( p = 0.014) and more likely to present pulmonary rales ( p = 0.043) than those co-infected with more than one HCoV strain or other respiratory pathogens. There were also significant differences in the prevalence of certain symptoms, including coughing ( p = 0.032), pneumonia ( p = 0.026), and abnormal pulmonary rales ( p = 0.002) according to the strain of HCoV detected. This retrospective study of the prevalence of four HCoV strains and clinical signs among a large population of pediatric patients in a subtropical region of China provides further insight into the epidemiology and clinical features of HCoV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of elderly hip fracture patients who received surgical treatment with those who received non-surgical treatment.Methods: This retrospective study involved 2,756 elderly patients with hip fractures who were admitted over a six-year period. The patients' biodata, complications, ambulatory status at discharge and length of hospital stay were obtained from the institution's hip fracture registry.Results: Among the 2,756 hip fracture patients, 2,029 (73.6%) underwent surgical intervention, while 727 (26.4%) opted for non-surgical intervention. The complication rate among the patients who underwent surgical intervention was 6.6%, while that among the patients who underwent non-surgical intervention was 12.5% (p < 0.01). The mean length of hospital stay for the surgical and non-surgical hip fracture patients was 15.7 days and 22.4 days, respectively (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Surgical management of hip fractures among the elderly is associated with a lower complication rate, as well as a reduced length of hospital stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012, yellowing of camellias was observed in Tai'an in Shandong province, China. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed phytoplasma in the phloem sieve tube elements of symptomatic plants. A specific fragment of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the universal phytoplasma primers P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2. Sequence and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses allowed us to classify the detected phytoplasma into the elm yellows (EY) group (16SrV), subgroup 16SrV-B. Sequence analyses of the ribosomal protein (rp) gene confirmed a close relationship with phytoplasmas belonging to the rpV-C subgroup. Thus, the phytoplasma associated with yellows disease in camellia, designated as 'CY', is a member of the 16SrV-B subgroup. This is the first report of phytoplasma associated with camellia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies reveal high rates of alcohol use among college students affecting their health and performances. This cross-sectional survey was done to study medical students' drinking pattern, its predictors and to develop any possible link between their academic performance and alcohol consumption. Data was collected using newly designed, validated questionnaire from students (n= 348) who consumed and not consumed alcohol. The response rate was 60% (209/348). 94% of drinkers started consuming alcohol before entering into the medical school. Most of them (85%) drank with parents' awareness. Among drinkers, 63% were of Chinese race and 35% of Indian race. None of the Malay respondents reported of drinking. 63% of drinkers and 23% of non-drinkers reported that most of their friends consumed alcohol. Drinking was not associated with smoking or drug abuse. There were no statistically significant differences in exam scores between drinkers and nondrinkers. Non-drinkers considered religious and moral obligations for not consuming alcohol. In conclusion, at our Institute, students did not allow their alcohol use to interfere with their academic performance. The drinking habit developed during school time is more likely to continue during college years. Those who have non-drinking friends are more likely not to consume alcohol themselves. Moral and religious obligations have positive impact on alcohol intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: None

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of elderly hip fracture patients who received surgical treatment with those who received non-surgical treatment., Methods: This retrospective study involved 2,756 elderly patients with hip fractures who were admitted over a six-year period. The patients' biodata, complications, ambulatory status at discharge and length of hospital stay were obtained from the institution's hip fracture registry., Results: Among the 2,756 hip fracture patients, 2,029 (73.6%) underwent surgical intervention, while 727 (26.4%) opted for non-surgical intervention. The complication rate among the patients who underwent surgical intervention was 6.6%, while that among the patients who underwent non-surgical intervention was 12.5% (p < 0.01). The mean length of hospital stay for the surgical and non-surgical hip fracture patients was 15.7 days and 22.4 days, respectively (p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Surgical management of hip fractures among the elderly is associated with a lower complication rate, as well as a reduced length of hospital stay., (Copyright: © Singapore Medical Association)

Objective: To detect the expression of lung aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in mice with acute allergic asthma and the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) treatment on AQP5 expression, and investigate the role of AOP5 in asthma pathogenesis., Methods: Mouse models of acute allergic asthma were randomly divided into acute asthma group, normal control group and DEX treatment group. The total number of white blood cells, the subpopulations, and the levels of IL-5 and IFN-gamma were detected in the bronchoalveolar larvage fluid (BALF). The lung tissue AQP5 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR, and AQP5 distribution by immunohistochemical method., Results: In asthma group, the total white blood cells, eosinophils and IL-5 levels were all significantly higher (P<0.01) and IFN-gamma levels lower than those of the control group (P<0.01). After DEX treatment, the levels underwent a significant reverse change (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01, and P<0.01, respectively). AQP5 mRNA expression in the asthma group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01), and was significantly lowered with DEX treatment (P<0.01). Extensive inflammatory changes, mucus hypersecrection, several edema and inflammatory cell infitration around the blood vessels were observed in the lung tissue of the mice in the asthma group. The morphological changes of the treatment group were significantly ameliorated. AQP5 protein was detected in the type I alveolar epithelial cells, the airway columnar epithelial cells and the apical membranes of the submucosal gland acinar cells in the control group. Stronger AQP5 protein expression was found in the asthma group., Conclusion: AQP5 is over-expressed in mice with acute asthma which is possibly associated with mucus hypersecrection. DEX can inhibit AQP5 expression and ameliorate allergic airway inflammation, edema and mucus hypersecrection.

Objective: In contrast to CD(4)(+) helper T-lymphocytes (T(H)), little is known about the transcriptional regulation of CD(8)(+) cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (Tc) and its role in the pathogenesis of asthma is unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expression on profiles of type 1 and type 2 cytotoxic T lymphocytes in asthmatic children., Method: Totally 38 asthmatic children, including acute attack group composed of 20 cases (age 3 - 13 years, mean 6.2 +/- 2.9), remission group with 18 cases (age 3 - 12 years, mean 6.1 +/- 2.5) and 20 healthy control children (age 3 - 12, 6.9 +/- 2.7) were recruited in this study from Sep. 2005 to Mar. 2006. The mRNA expression of T-bet and GATA-3 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by using semi-quantitative PCR and Tc1, Tc2 cell numbers by flow cytometry analysis system., Result: T-bet mRNA in asthmatic children was lower than that in control group and lower in attack stage than in remission stage (0.14 +/- 0.04, 0.21 +/- 0.03, 0.28 +/- 0.03, P < 0.05). In contrast, GATA-3 mRNA was higher in asthmatic children than in control group and higher in attack stage than in remission stage (0.49 +/- 0.09, 0.44 +/- 0.08, 0.37 +/- 0.04, P < 0.05). It was shown that Tc1 percentage was lower in asthmatic children than those of control group and lower in attack stage than those of remission stage (6.6 +/- 2.4, 14.2 +/- 4.3, 31.2 +/- 3.8, P < 0.05). Tc2 percentage in asthmatic children was higher than that of control group and higher in attack stage than that of remission stage (10.0 +/- 4.2, 5.4 +/- 2.2, 3.5 +/- 1.1, P < 0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that T-bet mRNA was positively correlated with Tc1 percentage (r = 0.704) and negatively correlated with Tc2 percentage (r = -0.629). GATA3 mRNA was negatively correlated with Tc1 percentage (r = -0.612) and positively correlated with Tc2 percentage (r = 0.673). The T-bet/GATA-3 mRNA ratio was positively correlated with Tc1 percentage (r = 0.731) and Tc1/Tc2 (r = 0.773), while negatively correlated with Tc2 percentage (r = -0.642)., Conclusion: The imbalance of T-bet/GATA-3 mRNA expression is closely correlated with skewed Tc2 dominance in asthmatic children.

Background & Objective: T-bet (T box expressed in T cells), a Th1-specific T box transcription factor, controls many kinds of immune cells, such as Th1, NK, CD8+, dendritic cells, and B cells. This study was to explore potential effects of T-bet gene on biological functions of mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells in vitro., Methods: The eukaryotic expression vector carrying mouse T-bet (pcDNA3.0-mT-bet) was constructed and identified by consequence analysis, double restrictive endonucleases digestion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The gene expression in Raw264.7 cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. PBS, pcDNA3.0, and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet were transiently transfected into Raw264.7 cells respectively; cell cycle, MHC I/II expression levels, phagocytic activity of FITC-dextran, nitric oxide (NO) secretion level, and the cytotoxicity of Raw264.7 cells to mouse leukemia cell line L1210 were evaluated 48 hours after transfection., Results: Eukaryotic expression vector which could express T-bet protein in Raw264.7 cells was successfully constructed. There was no difference in cell cycle between pcDNA3.0 group and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group. There was significant difference in MHC I expression level between pcDNA3.0 group (20.8+/-0.7) and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group (24.8+/-0.6, P<0.05), but not in MHC II expression level; there was also difference in mean fluorescence intensity of phagocytized dextran between pcDNA3.0 group (28.2+/-0.4) and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group (32.8+/-0.8, P<0.05); there was also significant difference in NO secretion level between pcDNA3 group (0 pmol) and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group [(1.7+/-0.6) pmol, P<0.05] without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation; meanwhile, significant difference was also observed between pcDNA3.0 group [(10.5 +/-1.3) pmol] and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group [(15.6+/-1.6) pmol, P<0.05] under the stimulation of LPS (10 microg/ml) for 20 h; there was also difference in cytotoxicity of Raw264.7 cells to L1210 cells in vitro between pcDNA3 group [(35.6+/-2.1)%] and pcDNA3.0-mT-bet group [(51.9+/-3.5)%, P<0.05]., Conclusion: T-bet up-regulates MHC I expression and NO secretion level in Raw264.7 cells, increases their cytotoxicity to L1210 cells, but has no influences on the cell cycle and MHC II expression.

Objective: To study the effect of airway gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) plasmid gene transfer on airway inflammation in asthmatic mice., Methods: Forty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (group A), an asthmatic group (group B), a plasmid group (group C) and an IFN-gamma plasmid group (group D), 10 mice in each group. Except group A, other groups were sensitized with 0.1 ml 0.1% ovalbumin (OVA) by a combination of intraperitoneal injection and repeated 50 microl 1% OVA intranasal challenges to establish the mouse asthma model. In group A, normal saline of the equal volume was given instead of 0.1% OVA 0.1 ml and 1% OVA 50 microl. Group C was intranasally administered 50 microl mixture of plasmid pcDNA3.1(-) and Lipofectamine 2000, while 50 microl mixture of IFN-gamma plasmid and Lipofectamine 2000 was administered for the mice of group D. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell count and differential were studied. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and IFN-gamma in BALF were determined. Pathologic changes in lung tissues were observed., Results: The differences were significant (P < 0.05) when the numbers of inflammation cells, eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF of group B [(0.102 +/- 0.020) x 10(9)/L, (0.0193 +/- 0.0047) x 10(9)/L, (0.0107 +/- 0.0039) x 10(9)/L, (0.0255 +/- 0.0042) x 10(9)/L, respectively] were compared with those of group A [(0.082 +/- 0.012) x 10(9)/L, (0.0041 +/- 0.0009) x 10(9)/L, (0.0051 +/- 0.0016) x 10(9)/L, (0.0201 +/- 0.0019) x 10(9)/L, respectively]. The numbers of inflammation cells, eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF of group D [(0.086 +/- 0.016) x 10(9)/L, (0.0116 +/- 0.0031) x 10(9)/L, (0.0062 +/- 0.0018) x 10(9)/L, (0.0182 +/- 0.0041) x 10(9)/L, respectively] were also significantly different (P < 0.05) as compared with those of group B. The IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma levels in BALF of group B [(39.2 +/- 5.1) pg/ml, (83.7 +/- 4.7) pg/ml, (15.7 +/- 2.7) pg/ml, respectively] were significantly different (P < 0.05) as compared with those of group A [(13.3 +/- 1.9) pg/ml, (12.1 +/- 2.3) pg/ml, (31.8 +/- 7.9) pg/ml, respectively]. The IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma levels of group D [(16.4 +/- 3.2) pg/ml, (26.3 +/- 3.4) pg/ml, (65.4 +/- 10.4) pg/ml] were also different (P < 0.05) from those of group B. Lung inflammation was examined in HE stained sections. There was no obvious infiltration of inflammatory cells in the airways of group A. However, there were a great number of inflammatory cells in the interstitial and peribronchovascular regions of group B and group C. Group D exhibited reduced epithelial damage and less infiltration of mononuclear cells and polymorphs in the interstitial and peribronchovascular regions, as compared with group B or group C., Conclusions: These findings suggest that transtracheal IFN-gamma gene transfer is effective in modulating the imbalance of Th1/Th2 in BALF and inhibiting airway inflammation of asthmatic mice. The result provides experimental data for developing a novel therapeutic approach to asthma.