Background An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Affected patients were geographically linked with a local wet market as a potential source. No data on person-to-person or nosocomial transmission have been published to date. MethodsIn this study, we report the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and microbiological findings of five patients in a family cluster who presented with unexplained pneumonia after returning to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, after a visit to Wuhan, and an additional family member who did not travel to Wuhan. Phylogenetic analysis of genetic sequences from these patients were done.Findings From Jan 10, 2020, we enrolled a family of six patients who travelled to Wuhan from Shenzhen between Dec 29, 2019 and Jan 4, 2020. Of six family members who travelled to Wuhan, five were identified as infected with the novel coronavirus. Additionally, one family member, who did not travel to Wuhan, became infected with the virus after several days of contact with four of the family members. None of the family members had contacts with Wuhan markets or animals, although two had visited a Wuhan hospital. Five family members (aged 36-66 years) presented with fever, upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, or diarrhoea, or a combination of these 3-6 days after exposure. They presented to our hospital (The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen) 6-10 days after symptom onset. They and one asymptomatic child (aged 10 years) had radiological ground-glass lung opacities. Older patients (aged >60 years) had more systemic symptoms, extensive radiological ground-glass lung changes, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and increased C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The nasopharyngeal or throat swabs of these six patients were negative for known respiratory microbes by point-of-care multiplex RT-PCR, but five patients (four adults and the child) were RT-PCR positive for genes encoding the internal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and surface Spike protein of this novel coronavirus, which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of these five patients' RT-PCR amplicons and two full genomes by nextgeneration sequencing showed that this is a novel coronavirus, which is closest to the bat severe acute respiatory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses found in Chinese horseshoe bats.Interpretation Our findings are consistent with person-to-person transmission of this novel coronavirus in hospital and family settings, and the reports of infected travellers in other geographical regions.

Aim: Hyperplasia suppressor gene/mitofusion-2 (HSG/Mfn2) is a hyperplasia suppressor gene and an essential component of mitochondrial fusion machinery; however, the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of HSG/Mfn2 and hypertension is unclear. Methods: In this study, 542 normotensive subjects (NT group) and 539 hypertensive patients (EH group) were screened for an association study between HSG/Mfn2 and hypertension. Results:The results showed that the genotype distribution and allelic frequency of rs873457, rs2336384, rs1474868, rs4846085 and rs2236055 were significantly different (P 0.05 for all) between EH and NT groups, although those of rs4240897 and rs873458 were not. When comparing the dominant model, significant differences still existed (P 0.05 for all). The allelic frequency of rs4240897 was also slightly different between EH and NT groups (P 0.047). When subgrouped by sex, the genotype distribution and allelic frequency of all the SNPs (except rs873458) were significantly different in male (P 0.05 for all) but not in female groups. For all the SNPs, only the allelic frequency of rs4240897 was obviously different in female NT and EH groups (P 0.01). Logistic regression showed that body mass index and rs873457 were closely associated with BP after adjusting for age. The frequency of the C-G-A-A-A-C-C haplotype was significantly higher in essential hypertensive patients versus control individuals, both in the entire population, in male or female groups (P 0.01 for all). As for other haplotypes, most were only significantly different in the entire population and male subjects. Conclusion: The genetic variations of HSG/Mfn2 may be associated with hypertension in male Chinese.J Atheroscler Thromb, 2011; 18:24-31.

Electromagnetic (EM) interference and radiation affecting human health and the operation of precision electronic devices have drawn considerable attention in recent years. Herein, a promising microwave-absorbing material, Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)-decorated Fe/Fe 3 O 4 @N-doped carbon (NC) composite, was designed and fabricated with the Fe 2 O 3 @polydopamine@Ag hexagonal plates as the precursor. Crystalline structure, phase conversion, micromorphology, static magnetic properties, and EM characteristics of the samples were studied by various analytical techniques. The EM parameters of the obtained samples could be manipulated by increasing the pyrolysis temperature, exhibiting gradually enhanced dielectric and magnetic loss. Optimizing the coating thickness turns out to be a critical factor for regulating microwave absorption. The product obtained at 600 °C performs a maximum reflection loss (RL) value of −37.5 dB (10.64 GHz, 1.6 mm) and an effective absorption bandwidth (RL < −10 dB) up to 7.36 GHz (10.64−18 GHz) with a thickness of only 1.4 mm. In addition, the possible EM wave absorption mechanisms were further investigated in detail. In sum, it has been confirmed that the as-obtained AgNPs-decorated Fe/Fe 3 O 4 @NC composite with ultrabroad absorption bandwidths and strong absorption capacity would be an attractive candidate material for effective EM absorption materials in the future.

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Background: Genetic variation is thought to contribute to the etiology of hypertension, and E-selectin is a candidate essential hypertension-associated gene. This study thus sought to investigate possible genetic associations between the T1880C, C602A and T1559C polymorphisms of E-selectin and essential hypertension.

Background Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious herpesvirus with potential for nosocomial transmission. However, the importance of nosocomial chickenpox outbreak in China has often been ignored. With the increasing immunocompromised population in China, a thorough review of issues related to nosocomial transmission and the seroprevalence rate of VZV among healthcare workers is necessary. Methods Retrospective case finding for nosocomial transmission of chickenpox was conducted between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017. Cases were identified based on clinical features compatible with chickenpox. A cross-sectional study on the seroprevalence rate of VZV among healthcare workers (HCWs) was conducted between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017. The serum VZV antibodies of 1804 HCWs were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The seroprevalence rate of VZV antibodies, the positive predictive value and negative predictive value of self-reported history of varicella were analyzed. The economic impact associated with nosocomial transmission of VZV was also assessed. Results A total of 8 cases of chickenpox were identified in three nosocomial transmissions, including 4 HCWs who were infected nosocomially. The overall seroprevalence rate of VZV was 88.4%, which significantly increased with age ( P < 0.01). The seroprevalence rates of HCWs with different genders and occupations showed no statistically significant differences. The positive and negative predictive values of a self-reported history of varicella were 80.8 and 10.6% respectively. An estimation of 163.3 person-days of work were lost in each nosocomial transmission and 86.7 infection control unit person-hours were required for each outbreak investigation. The cost of VZV IgG ELISA screening was estimated to be 83 USD per nosocomial transmission. Conclusions Nosocomial transmission of VZV occurred repeatedly in the hospital setting. An alarming 11.6% of HCWs were seronegative for VZV, which might increase the risk of nosocomial infection and outbreak for other susceptible co-workers and patients. This is especially important in the setting of a teaching hospital where many immunocompromised patients were managed. Furthermore, the positive predictive value of self-reported varicella on seroprevalence rate in our study was lower than those reported in other countries, therefore serological testing of VZV antibodies with subsequent vaccination for all non-immune HCWs should be considered.

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