Viral load of respiratory syncytial virus among children from primary care and hospital settings admitted to a university hospital in Brazil (2009-2013)
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
Authors: Cruz, Jessica Santiago; de Souza Luna, Luciano Kleber; Alves, Vitoria Rodrigues Guimaraes; Conte, Danielle Dias; Bellei, Nancy Cristina Junqueira
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a relevant cause of acute respiratory infection among children. Viral replication and immune conditions may account for severity. RSV viral load (VL) was assessed in 486 children (290 hospitalized and 196 from primary care) attended at Sao Paulo Hospital from 2009 to 2013. VL was calculated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and expressed in Log(10)RNA copies/mL. Coinfection with rhinovirus (RV) and influenza A virus was also tested. Young children (<1 year of age) had a higher mean VL than older children at primary care (6.35 and 4.34 Log(10)RNA copies/mL, respectively;P = .0006). Conversely, hospitalized children >= 2 years of age, presented higher mean VL compared with the same age children of primary care (6.10 and 4.26, respectively;P = .0024). RV was the most codetected virus in RSV positive patients (20% from primary care and 14% in hospitalized), and influenza A virus was found in 11% of primary care and 0.4% in hospitalized children with RSV, without RSV VL association (P = .2903). These findings may guide future therapies and immunization policies considering the role of viral load on clinical presentation among older hospitalized children and also the change of infection transmissions.
Effect of the natural compound trans-resveratrol on human MCM4 gene transcription
ONCOLOGY REPORTS
Authors: Uchiumi, Fumiaki; Katsuda, Chihiro; Akui, Motohiro; Kusaka, Monami; Tanaka, Marie; Asai, Masashi; Tanuma, Sei-Ichi
Abstract
trans-Resveratrol (Rsv) is a natural compound contained in red wine and grape skins that has various beneficial effects for organisms such as lengthening of their life span. Rsv induces expression of the human TP53 and HELB genes, which are involved in the regulation of DNA maintenance. In the present study, a luciferase expression vector containing 309 bp of the 5 ' upstream end of the human MCM4 gene was transfected into HeLa S3 cells. A luciferase assay revealed that Rsv treatment increased the minichromosome maintenance 4 (MCM4) gene promoter activity by GC-box and GGAA (TTCC) motifs. Electro phoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the specific binding factor (complex) contains PU.1 (SPI1). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that MCM4 gene expression was transiently induced by Rsv. Moreover, western blotting revealed that the SP1/PU.1 ratio markedly increased after Rsv treatment, indicating that a balance or profile of these transcription factors may control Rsv-inducible initiation of transcription. These observations indicated that the beneficial effects of Rsv can be attributed to induction of the chromosomal DNA maintenance factor encoding gene expression.