Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis in Sichuan Province, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of brucellosis.Methods:Retrospective analysis methods were used to collect the data of reported cases of brucellosis in Sichuan Province from 2018 to 2020 from the "Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System" in the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System". The distribution (population, time and region) and case investigation data (epidemiological contact history and clinical manifestations) were analyzed by descriptive epidemiological.Results:A total of 309 cases of brucellosis were reported in Sichuan Province in 2018 - 2020, and no deaths occurred. The annual incidence rate was 0.123/100 000. Among the 309 reported cases of brucellosis, the sex ratio of men to women was 2.4 ∶ 1.0 (218 ∶ 91); the age of onset was mainly 20 - 60 years old, accounting for 79.9% (247/309); the occupation was mainly farmers, accounting for 51.8% (160/309). Brucellosis cases were reported in every month of the year, mainly from March to August, accounting for 72.5% (224/309) of the total number of cases. Cases were reported in 21 cities (autonomous prefectures) in Sichuan Province from 2018 to 2020. The top 5 cities (autonomous prefectures) in terms of cumulative number of cases were Chengdu, Liangshan, Zigong, Neijiang and Luzhou in order, accounting for 60.5% (187/309) of the total number of cases. Among the 309 reported cases of brucellosis, 279 case investigations were completed. Among them, 258 cases had a history of contact with livestock and their products, accounting for 92.5%; all contacted livestock were sheep; the main mode of transmission was direct contact, accounting for 88.5% (247/279); the main routes of transmission were sheep farming (50.2%, 140/279), sheep slaughtering (18.6%, 52/279), selling mutton or cutting sheep products in mutton restaurants (11.1%, 31/279); the main clinical manifestations were fever, fatigue, hyperhidrosis, and muscle and joint pain, accounting for 91.4% (255/279), 89.2% (249/279), 80.3% (224/279) and 65.2% (182/279), respectively.Conclusions:The spread of brucellosis in Sichuan Province is increasing, and spring and summer are the epidemic seasons. Brucellosis cases are most common in sheep farms, and the infection method is mainly direct contact infection; the clinical manifestations are diverse and non-specific. Relevant departments should strengthen the prevention and control of the disease in key populations and regions to control the outbreak of brucellosis.

Background::Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and diameter, stiffness, and wave reflections, are independent and important clinical biomarkers and risk predictors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of the present study was to establish nationwide reference values of carotid properties for healthy Chinese adults and to explore potential clinical determinants.Methods::A total of 3053 healthy Han Chinese adults (1922 women) aged 18-79 years were enrolled at 28 collaborating tertiary centers throughout China between April 2021 and July 2022. The real-time tracking of common carotid artery walls was achieved by the radio frequency (RF) ultrasound system. The IMT, diameter, compliance coefficient, β stiffness, local pulse wave velocity (PWV), local systolic blood pressure, augmented pressure (AP), and augmentation index (AIx) were then automatically measured and reported. Data were stratified by age groups and sex. The relationships between age and carotid property parameters were analyzed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test and simple linear regressions. The major clinical determinants of carotid properties were identified by Pearson’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and analyses of covariance.Results::All the parameters of carotid properties demonstrated significantly age-related trajectories. Women showed thinner IMT, smaller carotid diameter, larger AP, and AIx than men. The β stiffness and PWV were significantly higher in men than women before forties, but the differences reversed after that. The increase rate of carotid IMT (5.5 μm/year in women and 5.8 μm/year in men) and diameter (0.03 mm/year in both men and women) were similar between men and women. For the stiffness and wave reflections, women showed significantly larger age-related variations than men as demonstrated by steeper regression slopes (all P for age by sex interaction <0.05). The blood pressures, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride levels were identified as major clinical determinants of carotid properties with adjustment of age and sex. Conclusions::The age- and sex-specific reference values of carotid properties measured by RF ultrasound for healthy Chinese adults were established. The blood pressures, BMI, and triglyceride levels should be considered for clinical application of corresponding reference values.

Objective To investigate the health status,functional ability,mental psychology,health care and other longevity-related characteristics of individuals aged ≥ 100 years as well as risk factors in Hainan province,China.Methods China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study (CHCCS) is a community-based,prospective cohort study to establish multi-dimensional database consisting of questionnaire findings,anthropometric parameters and biological specimens as well as imaging features.With the household registration information provided by the Department of Civil Affairs of Hainan province,a baseline survey was conducted in centenarians in 18 counties in Hainan with the oldest old in 5 counties as controls between 2014 and 2017.The survey included face to face interview,physical examination and biological specimen collection.After the baseline survey,the participants of CHCCS were followed up at an interval of 2 years to collect the information about their living status,disease status or major death causes.Results According to the information provided by the Department of Civil Affairs of Hainan province in 2014,the survey found that 1 473 centenarians were still living.By December 2016,1 002 of them had agreed to be surveyed.The average age of 722 centenarians with complete information in the baseline survey was (102.7± 2.7) years,the majority of them were females (83.0％),widows (88.8％),in Han ethnic group (84.5％),lived with family members (87.8％),illiterates (89.7％) and farmers (81.0％).Conclusion CHCCS has provided longevity-related information of the large longevity population and collected the valuable and rare biological specimens with great urgency to establish an interdisciplinary platform and base for longevity,senility and healthy aging research.