The hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits global genotypic diversity. HCV genotyping plays an important role in epidemiological studies and clinical management. Herein, we report the results of HCV genotype and subtype detection in a large number of clinical samples, as performed by an independent laboratory in China. In total, four HCV genotypes and 18 subtypes were identified among 32 030 patients from 29 provinces and municipalities in China. Five dominant subtypes were detected from 98.84% of the samples: 1b (n=16 713, 52.18%), 2a (n=9188, 28.69%), 3b (n=2261, 7.06%), 6a (n=2052, 6.41%) and 3a (n=1479, 4.62%). Twelve rare subtypes were detected, of which four (that is, 6b, 6j, 6q and 6r) are reported for the first time in the Chinese population. Genotypes 4, 5 and 7 were not detected. Mixed infections of the dominant subtypes were found in a small portion of samples (n=65, 0.203%), in the following combinations: 1b–2a, 1b–3b, 1b–6a, 3a–3b, 1b–3a and 2a–6a. No mixed infections with rare subtypes were found. Males, compared with females, showed higher HCV subtype diversity, a lower percentage of HCV1b and 2a and a higher percentage of rare subtypes and mixed infections. Our analyses revealed the comprehensive distribution patterns of HCV genotypes in the general population of mainland China. HCV genotypic patterns were differentially distributed on the basis of geography, sex and age.

Background:Since the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease

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Background and Aims: The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Region set a target of eliminating mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by 2030. To assess the feasibility of this target in China, we carried out an epidemiological study to investigate the status quo of MTCT in the real-world setting. Methods: One thousand and eight hepatitis B surface antigen-positive pregnant women were enrolled at 10 hospitals. Immunoprophylaxis was administered to infants. In addition, mothers with HBV DNA level >2,000,000 IU/mL were advised to initiate antiviral therapy during late pregnancy. A health application called SHIELD was used to manage the study. Results: Nine hundred and five of the enrolled mothers, with 924 infants, completed the follow-up. Birth-dose hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin were received by 99.7% and 99.7% of infants, respectively, within 24 h after birth. There were 446 mothers who received antiviral therapy, including 72.3% of the mothers with HBV DNA level >2,000,000 IU/mL and 21.0% of the mothers with HBV DNA level <2,000,000 IU/mL. Eight infants were infected with HBV. The overall rate of MTCT was 0.9%. Birth defects were rare (0.5% among infants with maternal antiviral exposure versus 0.7% among infants without exposure; p=1.00). Conclusions:The MTCT rate was lower than the WHO Western Pacific Region elimination MTCT target in this real-world study, indicating that a comprehensive management composed of immunoprophylaxis to infants and antiviral prophylaxis to mothers may be a feasible strategy to achieve the 2030 WHO elimination goal.

A fast and efficient method for purification of dihydromyricetin (3,5,7,3',4',5'-six hydroxy-2,3-dihydro flavonol; DMY) from Ampelopsis grossedentata was created by crystallization eight times at 25°C, and a purity of 98% was finally achieved. The purified DMY exhibited high oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) (30.21 μmol Trolox equiv/mg) and strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50]=0.235 μg/mL). The addition of DMY could also effectively attenuate 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced human erythrocyte hemolysis and cupric chloride (CuCl2)-induced human plasma lipid peroxidation via inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. It was also found that DMY (>12 μg/mL) treatment significantly inhibited intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) formation. Meanwhile, DMY treatment significantly inhibited the obvious increase of anti-oxidant enzymes levels (superoxide dismutase [SOD]; glutathione peroxidase [GPX], and catalase [CAT]) induced by AAPH radicals, suggesting that stress defense mechanisms are associated with protection of DMY against intracellular oxidation.

SUMMARYDengue is a systemic viral infection that is commonly transmitted between humans via mosquitoes. Other modes of transmission such as the vertical one are rare and have been infrequently reported in the literature. This report investigates one case of vertical transmission of dengue in Guangzhou, China. A G1P1 lady at 39 weeks of gestation was referred to the Huzhong Hospital presenting a fever for two days. She subsequently developed a skin rash on the back and lower limb and at that time she had already experienced five days of fever. She subsequently went into labor and delivered a female neonate weighting 3,500 g at birth. The neonate developed fever on the third day of life which was associated with a systemic erythematous skin rash. There was no report or evidence of mosquito bites after birth. A complete blood count showed leucopenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia and the liver function test showed elevated AST, GGT and bilirubin. Dengue was diagnosed in the mother and the neonate by the ELISA dengue virus NS1 antigen test (Wantai, Beijing, China) and dengue virus fluorogenic quantitative PCR test (Liferiver, Shanghai, China).The case report illustrates the possibility of the vertical transmission of dengue. Clinicians should be alert to this possibility and institute early treatment. Further direct evidence and research are required.

Background:Since the pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the health system capacity in highly endemic areas has been overwhelmed. Approaches to efficient management are urgently needed. We aimed to develop and validate a score for early prediction of clinical deterioration of COVID-19 patients.

This meta-analysis suggests that elevated PIVKA-II is a predictor of unfavorable overall survival and recurrence-free survival in hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving curative ablation. More rigorous studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utility of PIVKA-II in determining hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis.