Objective: To understand the incidence risk and risk factors of tuberculosis (TB) among middle school students in Chongqing, so as to provide a basis for formulating TB prevention and control strategies. Methods: From September to December 2022, 32 181 middle school students were selected as the study cohort from 15 administrative districts in Chongqing by using the stratified cluster random sampling method. All cohort members were screened with the tuberculin skin test (TST), and relevant information was collected from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. On the basis of active screening, the follow up data of the participants were compared with the National Tuberculosis Management Information System to obtain the incidence status of the study subjects. The Log rank test was used to compare the TB incidence rates among students with different characteristics, and a Cox proportional hazards model was established to analyze the incidence risk and risk factors of TB. Results: The TST screening rate of the cohort members was 93.0%. During the 2 year follow up period, a total of 36 TB cases occurred, with a cumulative incidence rate of 111.87/100 000 and an incidence density of 55.95/100 000. Among them, the cumulative incidence rate of students from public schools (170.44/ 100 000 ) was higher than that of students from private schools (41.16/100 000), the cumulative incidence rate of students in schools located in high epidemic areas (153.95/100 000) was higher than that in medium epidemic areas (69.00/100 000), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=11.49, 4.73, both P <0.05). The Log-rank test for different TST results showed that the difference in TB comulative incidence rate between students with strongly positive TST results (216.55/ 100 000 ) and those with negative TST results (81.40/100 000) was statistically significant ( χ 2=5.85, P <0.05). Univariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the risk of TB was lower in students from private schools ( HR=0.25, 95% CI = 0.10-0.59) and students in medium epidemic areas ( HR=0.46, 95%CI =0.23-0.94); whereas the risk of TB was increased in students with strongly positive TST results ( HR=1.39, 95%CI =1.05-1.84) (all P <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of TB in students from private schools was lower than that of students from public schools ( HR=0.23, 95%CI=0.08-0.62, P <0.05). Conclusions The annual average incidence rate of TB among middle school students in Chongqing is at a relatively high level. It is necessary to strengthen the management and intervention for student groups, including those in public schools, those in schools located in high epidemic areas, and those with strongly positive TST results, so as to reduce the incidence rate of TB.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is primarily transmitted through the respiratory tract, and remains one of the diseases with the highest mortality rate of single-pathogen infections globally. The cell wall polysaccharides of M. tuberculosis are critical for maintaining bacterial structure, mediating pathogenesis, and enabling immune evasion. Lipoarabinomannan (LAM), a key polysaccharide component, has revolutionized non-invasive diagnostic technologies as a TB biomarker, while polysaccharide-based vaccines have emerged as innovative strategies for TB prevention. This review systematically examines the composition, subcellular distribution, and functional roles of M. tuberculosis cell wall polysaccharides in bacterial metabolism, drug resistance, and immune regulation. A particular emphasis is placed on recent advancements in LAM-based diagnostics and vaccine development. Future studies should utilize advanced technologies to precisely characterize the structural features of TB polysaccharides and explore their biological functions, providing a foundation for targeted diagnostic and therapeutic innovations. This article aims to provide reference for advancing both basic research and clinical applications related to M. tuberculosis.

Objective: To explore the interaction of multi-target stool DNA (MT-sDNA), intestinal flora and environmental factors in the development of colorectal cancer, so as to provide insights into pathogenesis study of colorectal cancer. Methods: A total of 54 cases of colorectal cancer from the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University were included in the case group and 51 healthy subjects were included in the control group. Demographic information, diet and family history of colorectal cancer were collected by a questionnaire survey. MT-sDNA, intestinal flora, cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and other tumor markers were detected. Interactions of MT-sDNA, intestinal flora and environmental factors with the development of colorectal cancer was analyzed by multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR), crossover analysis and additive model. Results: The case group included 20 males (37.04%) and 34 females (62.96%), and had a mean age of (64.89±9.72) years. The control group included 24 males (47.06%) and 27 females (52.94%), and had a mean age of (53.94±10.33) years. MDR analysis showed that subjects with both high absolute intestinal flora indexes and positive MT-sDNA had an increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR=3.782, 95%CI: 1.190-5.034). Crossover analysis showed that subjects with positive MT-sDNA and >5 μg/L of CEA had an increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR=2.121, 95%CI: 1.162-4.033). Additive model analysis showed that MT-sDNA had positive additive interaction with CEA (SI=3.687, 95%CI: 1.229-7.238), and MT-sDNA had negative additive interaction with fruit intake (SI=0.145, 95%CI: 0.020-0.753). Conclusion Positive MT-sDNA can synergistically increase the risk of colorectal cancer with high intestinal flora index and CEA, and fruit intake can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in MT-sDNA-positive population.

Humans ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; Nasopharynx/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology*

Objective     To construct a radiomics model for identifying clinical high-risk carotid plaques. Methods     A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with carotid artery stenosis in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from December 2016 to June 2022. The patients were classified as a clinical high-risk carotid plaque group and a clinical low-risk carotid plaque group according to the occurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attack and other cerebrovascular clinical symptoms within six months. Six machine learning models including eXtreme Gradient Boosting, support vector machine, Gaussian Naive Bayesian, logical regression, K-nearest neighbors and artificial neural network were established. We also constructed a joint predictive model combined with logistic regression analysis of clinical risk factors. Results    Finally 652 patients were collected, including 427 males and 225 females, with an average age of 68.2 years. The results showed that the prediction ability of eXtreme Gradient Boosting was the best among the six machine learning models, and the area under the curve (AUC) in validation dataset was 0.751. At the same time, the AUC of eXtreme Gradient Boosting joint prediction model established by clinical data and carotid artery imaging data validation dataset was 0.823. Conclusion     Radiomics features combined with clinical feature model can effectively identify clinical high-risk carotid plaques.

The mechanisms underlying autophagic defects in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remain largely unknown. We aimed to elucidate the roles of hepatic cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1) in autophagy and the pathogenesis of diet-induced steatohepatitis in mice. Human nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver samples were used to examine the protein expression of COX1 and the level of autophagy. Cox1^Δhepa mice and their wildtype littermates were generated and fed with 3 different NASH models. We found that hepatic COX1 expression was increased in patients with NASH and diet-induced NASH mice models accompanied by impaired autophagy. COX1 was required for basal autophagy in hepatocytes and liver specific COX1 deletion exacerbated steatohepatitis by inhibiting autophagy. Mechanistically, COX1 directly interacted with WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide interacting 2 (WIPI2), which was crucial for autophagosome maturation. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated rescue of WIPI2 reversed the impaired autophagic flux and improved NASH phenotypes in Cox1^Δhepa mice, indicating that COX1 deletion-mediated steatohepatitis was partially dependent on WIPI2-mediated autophagy. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel role of COX1 in hepatic autophagy that protected against NASH by interacting with WIPI2. Targeting the COX1-WIPI2 axis may be a novel therapeutic strategy for NASH.

Aim To investigate the effects of acid sphingomyelinase(ASMase)on high-fat induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice and its regulation of PPARα- PGC-1α pathway. Methods ASMase knockout mice based on C57BL/6 background were constructed. Closed group heterozygotes were obtained through hybridized with wild-type mice(ASMase+/-),together with the littermate WT mice were prepared for NAFLD model in this study. The experiment was divided into four groups:WT+Chow:the WT mice were fed with normal diet for 12 weeks; WT+HFD:the WT mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks; ASMase+/-+Chow:the ASMase+/- mice were fed with normal diet for 12 weeks; ASMase+/- +HFD:the ASMase+/- mice were fed with high fat diet for 12 weeks. Biochemical method was used to detect serum TC,TG and liver TC,TG contents and liver function such as ALT and AST. Oil red staining,HE staining,Masson staining and Sirius red staining were performed to detect liver lipid accumulation,hepatocyte morphology and liver fibrosis. AmplexTM red sphingomyelinase kit was applied to detect ASMase activity. Western blot was performed to detect protein expressions of ASMase,PPARα,PGC-1α and CPT1. Results WT+HFD group displayed hypercholesterolemia and liver dysfunction. Levels of liver triglyceride(TG)were significantly higher than those in WT+Chow group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Meanwhile,the hepatocytes showed marked steatosis,balloon-like changes,and fibrosis. Protein expression and activity of ASMase in liver increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.001),whereas CPT1,PPARα and PGC-1α expressions were not statistically significant compared with matched control group. Heterozygously ASMase-deficient mice reduced the elevated liver TG induced by HFD,as well as improving balloon-like changes and liver fibrosis. Furthermore,the expressions of PPARα,PGC-1α and CPT1 were up-regulated in ASMase+/- +HFD mice compared with WT+Chow group.Conclusions ASMase promotes hepatic steatosis and fibrosis,which may be related to its inhibition of PPARα-PGC-1α pathway.

AIM: To evaluate the bioequivalence of cinacalcet hydrochloride tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers. METHODS: A randomized, open, double-period and crossover trial was conducted, 48 healthy volunteers were administered a single dose of cinacalcet test tablets or reference tablets orally under each fasting and fed condition. The concentration of cinacalcet was determined by validated LC-MS/MS method. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0 to study its bioequivalence. RESULTS: The main pharmacokinetic parameters of test tablets and reference tablets under fasting condition were as follows: C

Abstract: Objective To investigate the willingness to receiving multitarget stool DNA (MT-sDNA) testing and factors affecting the payment among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening, so as to provide the evidence for the formulation and health economic evaluation of colorectal cancer screening strategies. Methods: Individuals at ages of 40 to 75 years that received colonoscopy screening in The Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University Medical School from August 2021 to March 2022 were sampled. Participants' demographics, living behaviors, family history, willingness to receive MT-sDNA testing and willingness to pay for MT-sDNA testing were collected using questionnaire surveys, and factors affecting the willingness to receive and pay for MT-sDNA testing were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results : A total of 546 respondents were enrolled, with a mean age of (56.25±8.66) years and including 282 men (51.65%). There were 504 respondents that were willing to receiving MT-sDNA testing (92.31%) and 480 that were willing to pay for the MT-sDNA testing (88.24%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives (OR=0.246, 95%CI: 0.068-0.888), history of hemorrhoids (OR=0.300, 95%CI: 0.109-0.826) resulted in low willingness to receive MT-sDNA testing, and recognizing the reliability of MT-sDNA testing (OR=5.749, 95%CI: 1.480-22.323), considering no difficulty in sampling for MT-sDNA testing (OR=32.042, 95%CI: 6.666-154.021) and considering a difficulty in sampling for MT-sDNA testing (OR=20.278, 95%CI: 4.405-93.354) resulted in high willingness to receive MT-sDNA testing, while recognizing the reliability of MT-sDNA testing (OR=5.003, 95%CI: 1.761-14.216), concern about the reliability of MT-sDNA testing (OR=4.166, 95%CI: 1.285-13.501), considering no difficulty in sampling for MT-sDNA testing (OR=6.558, 95%CI: 2.105-20.428) and considering a difficulty in sampling for MT-sDNA testing (OR=5.820, 95%CI: 1.810-18.720) resulted in high willingness to pay for the MT-sDNA testing among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening. Conclusion A family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives, history of hemorrhoids and awareness of MT-sDNA testing are factors affecting the willingness to receive and pay for the MT-sDNA testing among individuals receiving colonoscopy screening.