Abstract: Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Ankang City from 2011 to 2021, so as to provide a scientific basis for the formulation of PTB prevention and control strategy. Methods Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of PTB in Ankang City from 2011 to 2021, and a time series model was established to quantitatively predict the incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in 2023. Results The incidence rate in Ankang City showed a significant upward trend from 2011 to 2017, and a more obvious downward trend in 2017-2021 (P<0.05), and the decrease rate in 2021 was 40.36% compared with that in 2017. The proportion of etiological positivity increased from 12.5% in 2014 to over 50.00% after 2019. The incidence season was mainly concentrated in the first quarter, accounting for 28.39% of the annual incidence. High incidence areas were concentrated in the south of Ankang: Langao County, Ziyang County and Zhenping County, with 128.32/100 000, 117.07/100 000 and 110.44/100 000, respectively. Low incidence areas were located in the north of Ankang: Ningshan County, with 60.62/100 000. Farmers and students were the high incidence groups, accounting for 81.80% and 4.97% of the total cases respectively. The incidence of young children was relatively low, but cases were reported every year. The incidence rate of male was 2.39 times that of female. The age of onset increased significantly from 15 years old, and the peak incidence was in the age group of 60-<80 years old, followed by the age group of 45-<60 years old, the average annual incidence was 136.44/100 000 and 104.47/100 000, respectively. The model ARIMA(0,1,1)(0,1,1)12 predicted that the incidence of the disease generally increased from October 2022 to March 2023, then steadily decreased, and increased again in December. Conclusions The incidence of tuberculosis varies in different areas of Ankang City, and males, farmers, students and the elderly are all factors of high incidence of tuberculosis. Therefore, different prevention and control strategies should be adopted according to the characteristics of population in different areas. The number of cases in Ankang City in 2023 showed an overall downward trend, which can provide a reference for the prevention and control of PTB.

Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between RASSF1A gene expression and DNA methylation or histone modification in laryngeal carcinoma tissues.

METHODSChromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and realtime quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (realtime RT-PCR) were used to analyze RASSF1A gene promoter region histone H3 lysine 9 methylation, H3 lysine 4 methylation, H3 lysine 9 acetylation, DNA methylation, and RASSF1A gene expression in laryngeal carcinoma tissue of 50 cases.

RESULTSDNA methylation rate of gene RASSF1A was 62% in 50 cases of laryngeal carcinoma, but no DNA methylation was found in normal control group, with a significant difference (χ(2) = 15.381, P < 0.05). DNA methylation had no correlation with age, gender, differentiation degree, T stage, pathological type and lymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). The affection of DNA methylation group was more than unmethylation group to expression of gene RASSF1A (t = -3.108, P < 0.01). There was positive correlation between RASSF1A deletion and gene hypermethylation or between H3 lysine 9 methylation of RASSF1A gene promoter and DNA methylation in laryngeal carcinoma tissue(r = 0.816, P < 0.05), but there was negative correlation between H3 lysine 4 methylation of RASSF1A gene promoter and DNA methylation (r = -0.837, P < 0.05) and no correlation between H3 lysine 9 acetylation and DNA methylation (r = -0.383, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLaryngeal tumor suppressor gene RASSF1A promoter methylation is a key factor down-regulating the gene expression, and histone modifications also plays an important role in tumor development.

Adult ; Aged ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Silencing ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

BACKGROUNDAlemtuzumab has been used in organ transplantation and a variety of hematologic malignancies (especially for the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia). However, serious infectious complications frequently occur after treatment. The reason for increased infections postalemtuzumab treatment is unknown at this stage. We explore the effect of alemtuzumab on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and intestinal barrier function in cynomolgus model to explain the reason of infection following alemtuzumab treatment.

METHODSTwelve male cynomolguses were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received alemtuzumab (3 mg/kg, intravenous injection) while the control group received the same volume of physiological saline. Intestinal IELs were isolated from the control group and the treatment group (on day 9, 35, and 70 after treatment) for counting and flow cytometric analysis. Moreover, intestinal permeability was monitored by enzymatic spectrophotometric technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSThe numbers of IELs were decreased significantly on day 9 after treatment compared with the control group (0.35 ± 0.07 × 10 8 and 1.35 ± 0.09 × 10 8 , respectively; P < 0.05) and were not fully restored until day 70 after treatment. There were significant differences among four groups considering IELs subtypes. In addition, the proportion of apoptotic IELs after alemtuzumab treatment was significantly higher than in the control group (22.01 ± 3.67 and 6.01 ± 1.42, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, the concentration of D-lactate and endotoxin was also increased significantly on day 9 after treatment.

CONCLUSIONSAlemtuzumab treatment depletes lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and intestine of cynomolgus model. The induction of apoptosis is an important mechanism of lymphocyte depletion after alemtuzumab treatment. Notably, intestinal barrier function may be disrupted after alemtuzumab treatment.

Alemtuzumab ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Flow Cytometry ; Intestines ; cytology ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Macaca fascicularis ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of Ezrin in gastric cancer, its role in tumor metastasis.

METHODSEzrin expression in tumor tissues from 90 gastric cancer cases and in normal gastric mucosa from 12 cases with benign disease was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Ezrin expression in gastric cancer cell lines was also detected by Western blot, and in vitro invasion assay was used to examine the invasive ability of the cell lines.

RESULTSThe expression rate of Ezrin was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues than that in normal tissues (P< 0.05), and significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). Western blot showed that MKN-45 cell line had the highest expression of Ezrin among 5 gastric cancer cells. MKN-45 possessed highest invasion ability.

CONCLUSIONEzrin expression is up-regulated, and may be associated with lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Array Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of astrocyte exosomes on hypoxic-ischemic neurons.

METHODSRat astrocytes were cultured in vitro, and differential centrifugation was used to obtain the exosomes from the cell supernatant. Transmission electron microscopy, Nanosight, and Western blot were used for the identification of exosomes. BCA method was used to measure the concentration of exosomes. Rat neurons were cultured in vitro and then divided into control group, exosome group, oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) group, and OGD+exosome group (n=3 each). The OGD and OGD+exosome groups were cultured in glucose-free medium under the hypoxic condition. The exosome and OGD+exosome groups were treated with exosomes at a final concentration of 22 μg/mL. The control and OGD groups were given an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline. ELISA was used to measure the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in neurons. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling was used to measure the apoptotic index of neurons.

RESULTSThe identification of exosomes showed that the exosomes extracted by differential centrifugation had the features of exosomes. Compared with the control and exosome groups, the OGD group had significant increases in LDH level and apoptotic index (P<0.05). Compared with the OGD group, the OGD+exosome group had significant reductions in LDH level and apoptotic index (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe exosomes from astrocytes have a protective effect on neurons with hypoxic-ischemic injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Astrocytes ; physiology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Exosomes ; physiology ; Glucose ; deficiency ; Hydro-Lyases ; analysis ; Neuroprotection ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To optimize proportion of couplet medicine of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix in the treatment of anti-depression, and to explore the possible antidepressant mechanism of this couplet medicine. Method:The dosages of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix in the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia were taken.According to U₇(7²) uniform design table, Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix were carried out into 7 groups.The chronic unpredictable mild depression model mice were induced by intragastric administration of decoction of this couplet medicine and the antidepressant effect was observed by the behavior tests, which included sucrose preference test, tail suspension test, forced swimming test and open field test(crossing scores).The regression equations were established by selecting the effective indexes.The experiments of retest were taken to check the results and the possible antidepressant mechanism was primarily investigated by measuring the phosphorylation level of cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP)-response element binding protein(CREB) and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF). Result:Compared with the blank group, sucrose preference rate of the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01), the number of crossing was also obtained a significant decrease(P<0.01) in the model group, the immobility times of forced swimming and tail suspension were prolonged obviously(P<0.01) in the model group.The decoction of Bupleuri Radix-Scutellariae Radix could reverse the above indexes of model mice, the sucrose preference rate and the number of crossing were increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the immobility times of forced swimming was evidently decreased(P<0.01) and the immobility time of tail suspension was also decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01).The experiment of retest showed that the decoction of Bupleuri Radix-Scutellariae Radix could improve depressive behavior of model mice, sucrose preference rates were significantly increased(P<0.01), the immobility time of forced swimming was significantly shorted(P<0.01) and the time of tail suspension was also decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01).The Bupleuri Radix-Scutellariae Radix(1:1) and (8:3) groups could increase the number of crossing (P<0.05, P<0.01) of model mice, what's more, the Bupleuri Radix-Scutellariae Radix(1:1) group was the most effective than the other groups and it could up-regulate phosphorylation levels of CREB and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus. Conclusion:Compatibility of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix can ameliorate depressive-like behavior of model mice, and the best antidepressant compatibility proportion of Bupleuri Radix and Scutellariae Radix is 1:1, the optimal amounts of them are about 5 g.The antidepressant effect may relate to promoting phosphorylation level of CREB and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus.

Objective:To establish the grading standard of Curcuma phaeocaulis seed rhizoma，and explore the effect of seed rhizoma classification on the growth，yield and quality of C. phaeocaulis. Method:The purity，diameter，weight，length，germination rate and water content of C. phaeocaulis seed rhizoma samples were determined. The grading index was determined by partial correlation analysis，variance analysis and cluster analysis. According to actual conditions of production，the classification standard of C. phaeocaulis seed rhizoma was established. Then the field experiments were carried out with different grades of seed rhizoma for treatment， so as to analyze the effect of seed rhizoma grade on plant growth，yield and quality of medicinal materials. Result:With seed rhizoma diameter and seed rhizoma weight as classification indexes，C. phaeocaulis seed rhizoma were divided into three grades. The field experiments showed that with the growth and development of C. phaeocaulis，there were significant differences in plant height and leaf length among different grades of seed rhizoma during the root tuber expansion period （P<0.05）. The yield of Curcumae Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma produced by different grades of seed rhizoma was in the order of first-class ginger>second-class ginger>third-class ginger>substandard seed rhizoma. According to the analysis of the proportion of the commodity grade of medicinal materials，the higher the grade of seed rhizoma was，the higher the proportion of the first-grade Curcumae Radix occupied. According to the analysis of the quality of medicinal materials，there was no significant difference in the content of extract，volatile oil and germanone in Curcumae Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma produced by different grades of seed rhizoma. Conclusion:The grading standard of seed rhizoma was established based on the systematic study on the classification method of C. phaeocaulis seed rhizoma. According to the field experiment， grading planting of seed rhizoma can promote plant growth and development，increase the yield of medicinal materials，and improve the proportion of first-grade medicinal materials， with no impact on the internal quality of medicinal materials. Therefore， classification of C. phaeocaulis seed rhizoma is scientific and necessary，and can lay the foundation for the standardized cultivation of C. phaeocaulis.

Objective: To analyze the clinical epidemiological characteristics including composition of pathogens , clinical characteristics, and disease prognosis acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in Chinese children. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical and laboratory data of 1 610 children <15 years of age with ABM in 33 tertiary hospitals in China from January 2019 to December 2020. Patients were divided into different groups according to age,<28 days group, 28 days to <3 months group, 3 months to <1 year group, 1-<5 years of age group, 5-<15 years of age group; etiology confirmed group and clinically diagnosed group according to etiology diagnosis. Non-numeric variables were analyzed with the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, while non-normal distrituction numeric variables were compared with nonparametric test. Results: Among 1 610 children with ABM, 955 were male and 650 were female (5 cases were not provided with gender information), and the age of onset was 1.5 (0.5, 5.5) months. There were 588 cases age from <28 days, 462 cases age from 28 days to <3 months, 302 cases age from 3 months to <1 year of age group, 156 cases in the 1-<5 years of age and 101 cases in the 5-<15 years of age. The detection rates were 38.8% (95/245) and 31.5% (70/222) of Escherichia coli and 27.8% (68/245) and 35.1% (78/222) of Streptococcus agalactiae in infants younger than 28 days of age and 28 days to 3 months of age; the detection rates of Streptococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus agalactiae were 34.3% (61/178), 14.0% (25/178) and 13.5% (24/178) in the 3 months of age to <1 year of age group; the dominant pathogens were Streptococcus pneumoniae and the detection rate were 67.9% (74/109) and 44.4% (16/36) in the 1-<5 years of age and 5-<15 years of age . There were 9.7% (19/195) strains of Escherichia coli producing ultra-broad-spectrum β-lactamases. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and blood culture were 32.2% (515/1 598) and 25.0% (400/1 598), while 38.2% (126/330)and 25.3% (21/83) in CSF metagenomics next generation sequencing and Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen detection. There were 4.3% (32/790) cases of which CSF white blood cell counts were normal in etiology confirmed group. Among 1 610 children with ABM, main intracranial imaging complications were subdural effusion and (or) empyema in 349 cases (21.7%), hydrocephalus in 233 cases (14.5%), brain abscess in 178 cases (11.1%), and other cerebrovascular diseases, including encephalomalacia, cerebral infarction, and encephalatrophy, in 174 cases (10.8%). Among the 166 cases (10.3%) with unfavorable outcome, 32 cases (2.0%) died among whom 24 cases died before 1 year of age, and 37 cases (2.3%) had recurrence among whom 25 cases had recurrence within 3 weeks. The incidences of subdural effusion and (or) empyema, brain abscess and ependymitis in the etiology confirmed group were significantly higher than those in the clinically diagnosed group (26.2% (207/790) vs. 17.3% (142/820), 13.0% (103/790) vs. 9.1% (75/820), 4.6% (36/790) vs. 2.7% (22/820), χ²=18.71, 6.20, 4.07, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the unfavorable outcomes, mortility, and recurrence between these 2 groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The onset age of ABM in children is usually within 1 year of age, especially <3 months. The common pathogens in infants <3 months of age are Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, and the dominant pathogen in infant ≥3 months is Streptococcus pneumoniae. Subdural effusion and (or) empyema and hydrocephalus are common complications. ABM should not be excluded even if CSF white blood cell counts is within normal range. Standardized bacteriological examination should be paid more attention to increase the pathogenic detection rate. Non-culture CSF detection methods may facilitate the pathogenic diagnosis.
Adolescent ; Brain Abscess ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Escherichia coli ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meningitis, Bacterial/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Subdural Effusion ; beta-Lactamases