Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and epidemic situation of children with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in China,and provide the basis for formulating prevention and control measures. Methods Fixed-point monitoring,moving-point monitoring,and full coverage of monitoring were promoted successively from 1990 to 2023. Some children (7-12 years old) underwent clinical and right-hand X-ray examinations every year. According to the KBD diagnosis criteria,clinical and X-ray assessments were used to confirm the diagnosis. Results In 1990,the national KBD detectable rate was 21.01％. X-ray detection decreased to below 10％ in 2003 and below 5％ in 2007. Between 2010 and 2018,the prevalence of KBD in children was less than 0.4％,which fluctuated at a low level,and has decreased to 0％ since 2019. Spatial epidemiological analysis indicated a spatial clustering of adult patients prevalence rate in the KBD areas. Conclusion The evaluation results of the elimination of KBD in China over the last 5 years showed that all villages in the monitored areas have reached the elimination standard. While the adult KBD patients still need for policy consideration and care.

ObjectiveTemporal heterogeneity in lung cancer presents as fluctuations in the biological characteristics, genomic mutations, proliferation rates, and chemotherapeutic responses of tumor cells over time, posing a significant barrier to effective treatment. The complexity of this temporal variance, coupled with the spatial diversity of lung cancer, presents formidable challenges for research. This article will pave the way for new avenues in lung cancer research, aiding in a deeper understanding of the temporal heterogeneity of lung cancer, thereby enhancing the cure rate for lung cancer. MethodsRaman spectroscopy emerges as a powerful tool for real-time surveillance of biomolecular composition changes in lung cancer at the cellular scale, thus shedding light on the disease’s temporal heterogeneity. In our investigation, we harnessed Raman spectroscopic microscopy alongside multivariate statistical analysis to scrutinize the biomolecular alterations in human lung epithelial cells across various timeframes after benzo(a)pyrene exposure. ResultsOur findings indicated a temporal reduction in nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and carotenoids, coinciding with a rise in glucose concentration. These patterns suggest that benzo(a)pyrene induces structural damage to the genetic material, accelerates lipid peroxidation, disrupts protein metabolism, curtails carotenoid production, and alters glucose metabolic pathways. Employing Raman spectroscopy enabled us to monitor the biomolecular dynamics within lung cancer cells in a real-time, non-invasive, and non-destructive manner, facilitating the elucidation of pivotal molecular features. ConclusionThis research enhances the comprehension of lung cancer progression and supports the development of personalized therapeutic approaches, which may improve the clinical outcomes for patients.

Objective:To investigate the dynamic prevalence of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in 2020, and to provide the basis for assessment of KBD control and elimination.Methods:According to the "Kashin-Beck Disease Monitoring Plan (2019 Edition)", collection of basic information of endemic areas and children KBD examination were executed in all endemic areas from every endemic county (city, district, banner) of 13 endemic provinces. All children aged 7 - 12 years in endemic areas underwent clinical examination, X-ray examination was performed for clinically positive children. According to the criteria of "Diagnosis of Kashin-Beck Disease" (WS/T 207-2010), KBD cases were diagnosed by both clinical examination and X-ray check.Results:In monitoring of 827 986 children of 7 - 12 years old, a total of 703 children with similar clinical signs of KBD were suspected positive cases. X-ray results showed that 703 children were normal, with no X-ray positive change, they were not children KBD cases.Conclusions:In 2020, no cases of Kashin-Beck disease are detected in children nationwide, and the condition of Kashin-Beck disease in children nationwide continues to be at a level of elimination.

To explore pathogens in several tick species in endemic areas of Shandong province,unfed ticks and parasitic ones were collected in seven areas of Shandong province during 2021-2022 and morphologically identified.Five common tick-borne pathogens were detected by PCR with universal primers on the tick samples and phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences from positive pathogens were also performed as well.The results showed that the collected tick samples included 2 genera and 4 species,respectively comprising 145 of Haemaphysalis longicornis,2of Hae.concinna,2of Hae.campanulate,and 5 of Rhipicephalus sanguineus.A total of 34 collected ticks were found with spotted fever group Rickettsia infection,with a total positive rate of 22.08%,29 samples carried Anaplasma,with a total infection rate of 18.83%,the total infection rate of Theileria and Borrelia burgdorferi were revealed as 5.84% and 0.65%,respectively,and no positive samples were detected for Borrelia recurrentis.In conclusion,Hae.longicornis was shown as the dominant tick species in the sampling areas in Shandong province,and various pathogens were found harbored in different tick species.Local surveillance and awareness of tick-borne diseases should be strengthened for the purpose of efficient prevention and control measures.

Objective:To investigate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic ventral rectopexy (LVR) for obstructive defecation with overt pelvic structural abnormalities.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of 31 obstructive defecation patients with overt pelvic structural abnormalities who were admitted to the Renji Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from June 2014 to August 2020 were collected. There were 6 males and 25 females, aged 59(range, 32?81)years. All 31 patients underwent LVR through transabdominal approach. Observation indicators: (1) the Cleveland clinic constipation score (CCCS); (2) severity of obstructive defecation; (3) patients assessment of constipation quality of life (PAC-QoL). Follow-up was conducted using telephone interview and outpatient examination up to October 2021. One professional researcher assessed the constipation symptoms and quality of life of patients through outpatient interview or mobile software platform of Questionnaire Star. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison before and after operation was conducted using the Wilcoxon sign rank test. Results:(1) The CCCS. All 31 patients underwent LVR for the first time and were followed up for 61.8(range, 11.0?87.0)months. The constipation symptoms of the 22 patients were improved. The CCCS of the 31 patients before surgery and at the last follow-up time were 15.8(range, 8.0?26.0) and 10.7(range, 2.0?20.0), respectively, showing a significant difference ( Z=?3.98, P<0.05). (2) Severity of obstructive defecation. The severity scores of frequency of bowel movements, difficult of bowel movements, sensation of incomplete defecation, abdominal distension or pain, time of each bowel movements, daily unsuccessful times of defecation, artificial assisted defecation for the 31 patients were 2.9(range, 1.0?4.0), 3.0(range, 1.0?4.0), 1.9(range, 0?3.0), 0.5(range, 0?3.0), 2.6(range, 2.0?4.0), 2.0(range, 0?4.0), 0.9 (range, 0?2.0) before surgery, versus 1.7(range, 0?4.0), 1.6(range, 0?4.0), 1.2(range, 0?4.0), 0.3(range, 0?3.0), 1.7(range, 0?3.0), 1.4(range, 0?3.0), 0.7(range, 0?2.0) after surgery, respectively. There were significant differences in the frequency of bowel movements, difficult of bowel movements, sensation of in-complete defecation, abdominal distension or pain, time of each bowel movements, daily unsuccessful times of defecation for the 31 patients before and after surgery ( Z=?3.38, ?3.80, ?2.54, ?2.31, ?3.64, ?2.75, P<0.05) and there was no significant difference in the artificial assisted defecation for the 31 patients before and after surgery ( Z=?1.31, P>0.05). (3) PAC-QoL. The score of physical discomfort, satisfaction, worries and concerns, psychological discomfort for the 31 patients were 2.3(range, 1.0?4.0), 3.2(range, 1.0?4.8), 2.2(range, 0.6?4.0), 1.8(range, 0.4?3.9) before surgery, versus 1.6(range, 0?4.0), 2.3(range, 0?4.0), 1.7(range, 0?4.0), 1.3(range, 0?4.0)after surgery, respectively, showing significant differences before and after surgery ( Z=?3.49, ?2.17, ?2.50, ?3.05, P<0.05). Conclusions:The long-term outcomes of LVR for obstructive defecation with overt pelvic structural abnorma-lities are satisfactory. Symptoms as frequency of bowel movements, difficult of bowel movements, sensation of incomplete defecation, abdominal distension or pain, time of each bowel movements and daily unsuccessful times of defecation will be significantly improved after LVR and the constipation quality of life of patients will be improved.

Objective:To investigate the effects of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and diacerein on liver function in patients with Kashin-Beck disease.Methods:According to the criteria of "Diagnosis of Kashin-Beck Disease" (WS/T 207-2010), 333 cases of Kashin-Beck disease were selected from the disease severely affected areas, and randomly divided into 3 groups according to the matching principle of age, gender and disease grading: glucosamine sulfate group (group A, 118 cases), chondroitin sulfate group (group B, 99 cases) and diacerein group (group C, 116 cases), and the patients in each group were treated for 180 days. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from the patients in the three groups at 0, 90 and 180 days after treatment. Serum was separated. The biochemical analyzer was used to determine the serum levels of albumin (ALB), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), direct bilirubin (DBIL), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBIL), and total protein (TP) of the three groups of patients.Results:There was no difference in the expression levels of 8 liver function indexes between the groups on day 0 of treatment ( P > 0.05). After 90 days of treatment, the expression level of GGT in group B was higher than that in group A ( P < 0.05); compared with 0 day of treatment, ALB levels of groups A, B and C were all decreased, ALP and TBIL levels increased ( P < 0.05), the abnormal expression rate of ALB index decreased in all the three groups ( P < 0.001), the abnormal expression rate of TBIL index in group A was decreased ( P = 0.006). After 180 days of treatment, ALB level of group B was higher than that of group A, ALP level of group B was higher than that of groups A and C, and AST level of group B was higher than that of group C ( P < 0.05); compared with 90 days of treatment, ALB levels of groups A, B and C were all increased, ALP, ALT and AST levels of groups A and C were decreased, GGT levels of groups B and C were decreased ( P < 0.05); compared with 0 day of treatment, the abnormal expression rate of ALB index increased in all the three groups at 180 days of treatment ( P < 0.001), and the abnormal expression rate of ALP index decreased in group C ( P = 0.031). Conclusion:The liver function indicators ALB, ALP and TBIL should be monitored when taking the three oral drugs for a short time, especially the GGT, ALP and AST indicators when taking chondroitin sulfate for a long time.

Objective:To master the status of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in 2019, to provide the basis for assessment of KBD control and elimination.Methods:Data of endemic areas basic information collection and children KBD examination were executed in all endemic villages from every endemic county (city, district, banner) of 13 endemic provinces. All children aged 7 - 12 years in endemic villages underwent clinical examination, and X-ray examination was performed for clinically positive children. When both the clinical examination and X-ray reexamination were positive, the diagnosis was KBD.Results:In monitoring of 823 365 7 - 12 years old children, a total of 3 057 children with similar clinical signs of KBD were suspected positive cases. The results of X-ray reexamination showed that the X-ray manifestations of 3 057 children were normal, and no X-ray positive changes were found, that is, there was no case of KBD in children. A total of 16 559 endemic villages in 13 endemic provinces were monitored, and all reached the criteria for KBD elimination. Surveillance of all endemic villages was completed except Tibet Autonomous Region, the KBD elimination rates of endemic villages were 100.00% in 12 endemic provinces and 99.01% (16 559/16 725) in all 13 endemic provinces.Conclusions:No children KBD case is detected in 2019, children KBD stays at its eliminating level throughout the country. And 100.00% endemic villages meet the criteria for KBD elimination in the remaining 12 endemic provinces except Tibet Autonomous Region.

Objective:To investigate the effects of glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and diacetarine on urinary renal function indexes UREA, creatinine (CREA), urinary microprotein(mALB) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (NAG) in adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease.Methods:According to the criteria of "Diagnosis of Kashin-Beck Disease" (WS/T 207-2010), adult patients with degrees Ⅰ and Ⅱ Kashin-Beck disease in Heilongjiang Province were selected in 2019. They were randomly divided into three treatment groups according to age, gender, disease classification and other condition by clinical randomized controlled trial, group A (glucosamine sulfate group), group B (chondroitin sulfate group) and group C (diacetarine group). Fasting mid-morning urine was collected at 0, 90 and 180 days of treatment. The levels of UREA, CREA, mALB and NAG were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. And the abnormal rates of the above indexes were analyzed.Results:At 0 day of treatment, there were 118, 99 and 116 people in the 3 groups, respectively; after 90 days of treatment, 115, 93 and 106 people remained in the 3 groups; after 180 days of treatment, 95, 80 and 93 people remained in the 3 groups. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the levels of UREA, CREA, NAG and mALB among the 3 groups at 0 and 180 days of treatment ( H = 0.055, 0.923, 0.276, 1.125, 1.635, 3.873, 1.045, 4.135, P > 0.05). After 90 days of treatment, there was no significant difference in CREA level among the 3 groups ( H = 1.719, P > 0.05), the levels of UREA and NAG in group C were higher than those in group B ( P < 0.05), and the level of mALB in group B was higher than that in group C ( P < 0.05). The comparison results of all indexes before and after treatment showed that after 90 days of treatment, the levels of mALB in the 3 groups were lower than those of 0 day ( Z = - 2.858, - 3.217, - 2.124, P < 0.05), the levels of NAG were higher than those of 0 day ( Z = - 3.700, - 2.222, - 4.672, P < 0.05); and the level of UREA in group C was higher than that of 0 day ( Z = - 2.393, P < 0.05). After 180 days of treatment, the levels of CREA in the 3 groups were higher than those of 0 day ( Z = - 5.853, - 6.984, - 6.255, P < 0.05), and the levels of mALB in the 3 groups were lower than those of 0 day ( Z = - 3.785, - 2.624, - 3.427, P < 0.05). The abnormal rates of CREA in the 3 groups after 180 days of treatment were higher than those of 0 and 90 days (χ 2 = 39.499, 37.707, 71.534, 57.959, 58.160, 55.129, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the abnormal rate of CREA between 0 day and 90 days of treatment (χ 2 = 0.004, 2.068, 0.053, P > 0.05). The abnormal rates of NAG in groups A and C after 90 days of treatment were higher than those of 0 day (χ 2 = 8.999, 11.227, P < 0.05). The abnormal rates of NAG in group C after 180 days of treatment was higher than that of 0 day (χ 2 = 5.006, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the abnormal rate of NAG between group A and group C after 90 days and 180 days of treatment (χ 2 = 1.976, 1.413, P > 0.05). The abnormal rates of mALB in groups A and B after 90 days and 180 days of treatment were lower than those of 0 day (χ 2 = 6.461, 8.881, 7.563, 4.999, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between 90 days of treatment and 180 days of treatment (χ 2 = 0.638, 0.013, P > 0.05). Conclusions:The effects of glucosamine sulfate, compound chondroitin sulfate and diacetarine on renal function of the patients are not significantly different after 180 days of medication, but the three drugs all have certain effects on CREA and NAG. Follow-up work should be done during drug treatment to closely monitor the changes of the two indicators.

Aconiti Lateralis Radix (Fuzi) is a toxic traditional Chinese medicine with definite efficacy. In order to improve the quality control of its different prepared products and ensure the security in clinic, it is significant to establish a method of quality evaluation related to clinic adverse effects. Aiming at the important biological marker of early cardiac toxicity reaction, there was no method to detect it. In this manuscript, a novel approach for measuring the minimal toxic dose (MTD) of premature ventricular contractions (PVC) poisoning of rats was established. Then, the determination methodology and conditions were optimized to meet the needs of the quality and biological assessment, including animal sex, weight, stability of standards and test solutions. Using this method, the MTD value of different Fuzi products were determined, such as Heishunpian, Baifupian, Zhengfupian, Baofupian, and Paotianxiong. The results showed that the MTD of Fuzi was significantly decreased after detoxification processed (P<0.05) and the MTD of Heishunpian, Zhengfupian, Baofupian and Baifupian was as much as 15.76, 22.36, 19.65 and 20.97 times to that of unprocessed Shengfuzi. In addition, Paotianxiong could not induce PVC in rats, which indicated that Paotianxiong was nontoxic and safe.This method could appropriately reflects the cardiotoxity of Fuzi and its prepared samples. Together with the chemical composition analysis, the contents of diester alkaloids were explored including aconitine, mesaconitine and hypaconitine as well as monoester alkaloids in Fuzi and its prepared products were significantly associated with PVC. Furthermore, there may be some components undetermined facilitating arrhythmia to be worth exploring. This research provides an overall and comprehensive approach to diagnose early clinical cardiotoxity and control the quality of Fuzi, which could not only be a complementary solution for the chemical evaluation, but a new method to ensure its efficacy and security of clinical application.

Objective To explore the optimal experiment conditions of CCK-8 and MTS for cell proliferation assays in human amniotic epithelial cells and to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these reagents. Methods Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) in logarithm growth stages were prepared in different cell concentrations with DMEM/F12 and 10% FBS. The sensitivity and optimal wavelengths was determined based on the optical density (OD) measured at 450 nm and 492 nm. The optimal time was determined under the conditions of the same cell concentration and defined OD values. HAECs were treated with DMSO, CCK-8 and MTS for 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, and 4 h, respectively. 24 h later, cytotoxicity of the CCK-8 and MTS was evaluated by determination of cell proliferation and Trypan Blue staining. Results The optimal detection wavelength was 450 nm for CCK-8, and 492 nm for MTS. The sensitivity of CCK-8 was slightly lower then that of MTS. The optimal time for incubation hAECs with CCK-8 was 4 h within 1~4 h. The inhibitory on cell proliferation and cytotoxicity of CCK-8 were weaker then those of MTS. Conclusion CCK-8 is a convenient reagent with low cytotoxicity for detection of the proliferation of hAECs.