OBJECTIVETo investigate the source, transmission route and risk factors of an outbreak of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS).

METHODSCase definition was made and suspected cases were searched. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic features (age, gender, occupation, residential address), history of exposure, clinical signs and symptoms etc. Blood samples were collected from 12 suspected cases while index patient's blood samples were collected from walls of the residence. All samples were detected for SFTS virus using RT-PCR. Sero-prevalence rates of SFTS virus IgG were also conducted among healthy people, host and vectors.

RESULTSA total of 13 cases including 6 male and 7 female were identified during this outbreak in May 2014. Index patient developed illness onset on April 23 and died on May 1. Secondary patients would include 8 family members, 3 neighborhoods, 1 individual who lived in the same village, developing illness onset between May 10 and 16, with a peak on May 13. The incubation period was 9-15 days. Clinical signs and symptoms appeared as fever (100%), chill (92%), anergy (92%), body aches (92%), anorexia (92%), headache (77%), nausea (69%) etc. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia also appeared. History of the index patient showed that she collected tea leaves in her hometown 1 month before the illness onset. After index patient died on May 1, 9 secondary patients had directly contacted the blood of the deceased. Data from the retrospective cohort study showed that 'direct contact with blood' was an important risk factor (RR = 43.36, 95% CI: 13.66-137.63, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONMajority of the secondary patients of these clusters contracted the SFTS virus infection through exposure to the blood of the index patient. However, aerosol transmission could not be ruled out, suggesting that precaution should be taken for doctors, nurses and family members when looking after the patients with SFTS virus infection.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Environment ; Female ; Fever ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Syndrome ; Thrombocytopenia ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo explore a new method for the treatment of ankle joint fractures, and to evaluate its therapeutic effects.

METHODSAmong 42 patients with ankle joint fractures, 34 patients had complete data for analysis, 19 patients were male and 15 patients were female, ranging in age from 21 to 61 years, with an average of 37 years. According to Weber-AO classification, there are 28 patients of B-type and 6 patients of C-type. The Baird and Jackson Rating System was used to evaluate therapeutic effects, and the relationship between the final function and fracture type, fracture fixation and, the time of functional training after operation were analyzed. Thirty-four patients with ankle joint fractures of B and C type were treated with internal fixation of posterior fibula plate to avoid injury of articular facet by the nails. The patients combined with the fractures of posterior malleolus were treated with fixation of both fibula and posterior malleolus through the same incision.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up ranging from 1.2 to 3.2 years, with an average of 1.8 years. According to evaluation criterion, 24 patients got an excellent result, 6 good and 4 fair, the excellent and good rate was 88.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe internal fixation of posterior fibula plate, as a treatment for ankle joint fractures, successfully avoids the injury of articular facet by the nails. Not only does it enhance the pullout strength of the nails, but it is able to treat the fracture of lateral malleolus and posterior malleolus with a single incision. It has provided a new way for the treatment of ankle fractures.

Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fibula ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Recovery of Function ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveTo characterize delayed visits of elderly patients with tuberculosis aged ≥60 years in Anji County， Zhejiang Province from 2010 to 2021， and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in elderly population. MethodsData of elderly patients with tuberculosis in Anji County from 2010 to 2021 were collected through the Tuberculosis Management Information System of National Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the influencing factors of delayed visits. ResultsA total of 1 191 cases of elderly tuberculosis were reported in Anji County from 2010 to 2021， with an average annual incidence of 112.43/10⁵， showing a decreasing trend （χ²_trend=11.297， P=0.001）. The male-to-female ratio was 2.29∶1， the active detection rate was 0.34%， and the pathogen-positive rate was 50.63%. There were 718 cases of delayed hospital visits， with a median delay time of 19 days and a delayed visit rate of 60.29%， showing an increasing trend （χ²_trend=6.651， P=0.01）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that local household registration status was a risk factor affecting the delayed visits for elderly tuberculosis patients （OR=1.944， 95%CI：1.388‒2.729）. ConclusionThe elderly patients with tuberculosis are a key population for tuberculosis prevention and control. It is necessary to strengthen early diagnosis and treatment， improve the active detection rate， reduce delayed hospital visits， so as to lower the risk of community transmission.

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. This study investigated the role of miR-379 on proliferation, invasion, and migration of VSMCs and explored underlying mechanisms thereof. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MicroRNA, mRNA, and protein levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and western blot. The proliferative, invasive, and migratory abilities of VSMCs were measured by CCK-8, invasion, and wound healing assay, respectively. Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the target of miR-379. RESULTS: Platelet-derived growth factor-bb was found to promote cell proliferation and suppress miR-379 expression in VSMCs. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-379 inhibited cell proliferation, cell invasion, and migration. Flow cytometry results further showed that miR-379 induced apoptosis in VSMCs. TargetScan analysis and luciferase report assay confirmed that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) 3'UTR is a direct target of miR-379, and mRNA and protein levels of miR-379 and IGF-1 were inversely correlated. Rescue experiments showed that enforced expression of IGF-1 sufficiently overcomes the inhibitory effect of miR-379 on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in VSMCs. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that miR-379 plays an important role in regulating VSMCs proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting IGF-1.
Apoptosis ; Cell Movement/*physiology ; Cell Proliferation/*physiology ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/*physiology ; MicroRNAs/*physiology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/*cytology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis/*physiology ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sincalide/physiology ; Wound Healing/physiology

The quality markers(Q-markers) of Shujin Huoxue Capsules were comprehensively discriminated based on the five principles of transfer and traceability, specificity, compatibility, effectiveness and measurability. The compounds that could be transferred from the original medicinal materials to the preparation were selected with the principle of transfer and traceability. The specific components in the prescription were screened by reviewing literature with the principle of specificity. According to the principle of compatibility, the attributes of compounds were evaluated by the sovereign, minister, assistant and guide combination rules of the original medicinal materials in the prescription. According to the principle of measurability, the measurable components were summarized by reference to the pharmacopoeia and literature combined with the content. The mechanism of Shujin Huoxue Capsules in the treatment of osteoporosis was studied through network pharmacology based on the principle of effectiveness, which was the evaluation index of effectiveness. The chemical components screened out above were regarded as candidate Q-markers, and the cobweb model was plotted to obtain the comprehensive score of Q-markers. Hydroxysafflor yellow A, trachelosid, eleutheroside B, α-cyperone, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde and 4-methoxy salicylaldehyde were discriminated as the Q-markers of Shujin Huoxue Capsules based on the five principles combined with cobweb model.
Biomarkers ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hand-transmitted vibration on the subjective symptoms of mine drilling workers. METHODS: A total of 117 mine drilling workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration were selected as the exposure group, and 46 workers without hand-transmitted vibration exposure were selected as control group by judgment sampling method. The Occupational Epidemiology Questionnaire of Mine Drilling Workers was used to investigate their subjective symptoms. RESULTS: The prevalence of tinnitus, hearing loss, cough and sputum in the exposure group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). The occurrence rate of numbness, tingling, self-reported white fingers and cold hands in the exposure group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05). The total rate of symptoms of hand in the exposure group was higher than that in the control group(38.5% vs 21.7%, P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis results indicated that hand-transmitted vibration exposure and service length were risk factors of abnormal hand symptoms(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Occupational hand-transmitted vibration exposure can affect the hand subjective symptoms of mine drilling workers, and the length of service is a synergistic influencing factor.

Humans ; Bacteremia ; Cross Infection ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology* ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Tertiary Care Centers ; China