Objective To describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2024 and explore the long-term incidence trend and distribution of high-risk areas, and to formulate targeted prevention and control strategies. Methods The scrub typhus case report data of Huai'an from 2006 to 2024 in the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System were extracted for descriptive analysis. Results A total of 898 cases of scrub typhus were reported in Huai'an, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.96 per 100 000 from 2006 to 2024. There was a turning point in the incidence trend of scrub typhus in 2011. From 2006 to 2011, the annual percentage change (APC) was 47.09% (95% CI: 7.53 - 859.39), and the upward trend was statistically significant (P < 0.05). From 2012 to 2024, the APC was -2.12% (95% CI: -29.09 - 3.75), and the downward trend was not statistically significant. October and November were the high-incidence months, and the total concentration from 2006 to 2024 was 0.93, indicating that scrub typhus had strict seasonality. The circular distribution method estimated that the peak period of the epidemic was from October 11th to November 25th, and the peak day of incidence was November 3rd. Jinhu County was a high-incidence area. The ratio of male to female cases was 1.03. The age group with the highest reported incidence was 40 to < 80 years old. The occupation with the highest proportion was farmers, accounting for 78.03%. Conclusion From 2006 to 2024, scrub typhus in Huai'an shows a peak every 3 - 4 years. Middle-aged and elderly farmers are the key population at risk, and Jinhu County is a key area. In the future, targeted health education should be carried out to effectively control the prevalence of scrub typhus.

PURPOSE: The rate of complications among patients undergoing surgery has increased due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 and other variants of concern. However, Omicron has shown decreased pathogenicity, raising questions about the risk of postoperative complications among patients who are infected with this variant. This study aimed to investigate complications and related factors among patients with recent Omicron infection prior to undergoing orthopedic surgery. METHODS: A historical control study was conducted. Data were collected from all patients who underwent surgery during 2 distinct periods: (1) between Dec 12, 2022 and Jan 31, 2023 (COVID-19 positive group), (2) between Dec 12, 2021 and Jan 31, 2022 (COVID-19 negative control group). The patients were at least 18 years old. Patients who received conservative treatment after admission or had high-risk diseases or special circumstances (use of anticoagulants before surgery) were excluded from the study. The study outcomes were the total complication rate and related factors. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify related factors, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on complications. RESULTS: In the analysis, a total of 847 patients who underwent surgery were included, with 275 of these patients testing positive for COVID-19 and 572 testing negative. The COVID-19-positive group had a significantly higher rate of total complications (11.27%) than the control group (4.90%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for relevant factors, the OR was 3.08 (95% CI: 1.45-6.53). Patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 at 3-4 weeks (OR = 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.59), p = 0.005), 5-6 weeks (OR = 0.16 (95% CI: 0.04-0.59), p = 0.010), or ≥7 weeks (OR = 0.26 (95% CI: 0.06-1.02), p = 0.069) prior to surgery had a lower risk of complications than those who were diagnosed at 0-2 weeks prior to surgery. Seven factors (age, indications for surgery, time of operation, time of COVID-19 diagnosis prior to surgery, C-reactive protein levels, alanine transaminase levels, and aspartate aminotransferase levels) were found to be associated with complications; thus, these factors were used to create a nomogram. CONCLUSION Omicron continues to be a significant factor in the incidence of postoperative complications among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery. By identifying the factors associated with these complications, we can determine the optimal surgical timing, provide more accurate prognostic information, and offer appropriate consultation for orthopedic surgery patients who have been infected with Omicron.
Humans ; COVID-19/complications* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Orthopedic Procedures/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Nomograms ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

This consensus will introduce the characteristics of fillers used in the surgical cavities of domestic nasal surgery patients based on relevant literature and expert opinions. It will also provide recommendations for the selection of cavity fillers for different nasal diseases, with chronic sinusitis as a representative example.
Humans ; Nasal Cavity/surgery* ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; China ; Consensus ; Sinusitis/surgery* ; Dermal Fillers

Intracellular overexpression of cytoglobin (Cygb) has been shown to reduce extracellular matrix deposition and promote liver fibrosis recovery, but its mechanism is not yet clear. This study constructed and expressed a fusion protein (TAT-Cygb) of cell penetrating peptide TAT and Cygb, to investigate the effect of fusion protein TAT-Cygb on regulating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) ferroptosis. Cultured human hepatic stellate cells line (LX2) were treated with TAT-Cygb and erastin in vitro, respectively. The effects of ferroptosis phenotype in LX2 cells induced by TAT-Cygb, including cell viability, cell morphology, iron ion (Fe²⁺) content, lipid peroxidation product levels, and antioxidant system indicators, were investigated using trypan blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, Prussian blue staining, and reagent kits detection. After co-treatment with TAT-Cygb and ferrostain-1, the levels of Fe²⁺, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and glutathione (GSH) were measured by reagent kits. The protein expression levels of alpha smooth actin (α-SMA), collagen I and fibronectin were detected by Western blot, and the protein expression level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and desmin relevant to fibrosis were observed by immunofluorescence. The results showed that TAT-Cygb could significantly reduce the viability of LX2 cells and trigger events relevant to ferroptosis, including promoting intracellular Fe²⁺ accumulation, and inducing mitochondrial morphological changes, and intensifying lipid peroxidation products accumulation, and decreasing the level of antioxidant indexes, which played a similar role as erastin; Fer-1 significantly weakened the increase in Fe²⁺, ROS, MDA, 4-HNE levels induced by TAT-Cygb, as well as the decrease in NADPH and GSH levels, while also weakening the TAT-Cygb-induced over-expression levels of α-SMA, collagen I and fibronectin, and TAT-Cygb-induced under-expression levels of EGFR and desmin. This cellular level study indicated that TAT-Cygb can induce ferroptosis of activated HSCs. This study revealed the potential mechanism of TAT-Cygb anti-liver fibrosis, and provided the experimental basis for further research on the molecular mechanism of TAT-Cygb realizing biological function by regulating the ferroptosis pathway.

Background: Genetic defects in the human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR) gene can cause congenital hypothyroidism (CH). However, the biological functions and comprehensive genotype–phenotype relationships for most TSHR variants associated with CH remain unexplored. We aimed to identify TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH, analyze the functions of the variants, and explore the relationships between TSHR genotypes and clinical phenotypes. Methods: In total, 367 patients with CH were recruited for TSHR variant screening using whole-exome sequencing. The effects of the variants were evaluated by in-silico programs such as SIFT and polyphen2. Furthermore, these variants were transfected into 293T cells to detect their Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling activity. Results: Among the 367 patients with CH, 17 TSHR variants, including three novel variants, were identified in 45 patients, and 18 patients carried biallelic TSHR variants. In vitro experiments showed that 10 variants were associated with Gs/cyclic AMP and Gq/11 signaling pathway impairment to varying degrees. Patients with TSHR biallelic variants had lower serum TSH levels and higher free triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels at diagnosis than those with DUOX2 biallelic variants. Conclusions We found a high frequency of TSHR variants in Chinese patients with CH (12.3%), and 4.9% of cases were caused by TSHR biallelic variants. Ten variants were identified as loss-of-function variants. The data suggest that the clinical phenotype of CH patients caused by TSHR biallelic variants is relatively mild. Our study expands the TSHR variant spectrum and provides further evidence for the elucidation of the genetic etiology of CH.

Objective To investigate the infection status and changing trend of hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection in hospitalized patients in medical institutions,and provide reference for formulating HCV infection prevention and control strategies.Methods HCV infection surveillance results from cross-sectional survey data reported to China Healthcare-associated Infection(HAI)Surveillance System in 2020 were summarized and analyzed,HCV positive was serum anti-HCV positive or HCV RNA positive,survey result was compared with the survey results from 2003.Results In 2020,1 071 368 inpatients in 1 573 hospitals were surveyed,738 535 of whom underwent HCV test,4 014 patients were infected with HCV,with a detection rate of 68.93％and a HCV positive rate of 0.54％.The positive rate of HCV in male and female patients were 0.60％and 0.48％,respectively,with a statistically sig-nificant difference(x2=47.18,P＜0.001).The HCV positive rate in the 50-＜60 age group was the highest(0.76％),followed by the 40-＜50 age group(0.71％).Difference among all age groups was statistically signifi-cant(x2=696.74,P＜0.001).In 2003,91 113 inpatients were surveyed.35 145 of whom underwent HCV test,resulting in a detection rate of 38.57％;775 patients were infected with HCV,with a positive rate of 2.21％.In 2020,HCV positive rates in hospitals of different scales were 0.46％-0.63％,with the highest in hospital with bed numbers ranging 600-899.Patients'HCV positive rates in hospitals of different scales was statistically signifi-cant(X2=35.34,P＜0.001).In 2020,12 provinces/municipalities had over 10 000 patients underwent HCV-rela-ted test,and HCV positive rates ranged 0.19％-0.81％,with the highest rate from Hainan Province.HCV posi-tive rates in different departments were 0.06％-0.82％,with the lowest positive rate in the department of pedia-trics and the highest in the department of internal medicine.In 2003 and 2020,HCV positive rates in the depart-ment of infectious diseases were the highest,being 7.95％and 3.48％,respectively.Followed by departments of orthopedics(7.72％),gastroenterology(3.77％),nephrology(3.57％)and general intensive care unit(ICU,3.10％)in 2003,as well as departments of gastroenterology(1.35％),nephrology(1.18％),endocrinology(0.91％),and general intensive care unit(ICU,0.79％)in 2020.Conclusion Compared with 2003,HCV positive rate decreased significantly in 2020.HCV infected patients were mainly from the department of infectious diseases,followed by departments of gastroenterology,nephrology and general ICU.HCV infection positive rate varies with gender,age,and region.

BACKGROUND:MRI is important for the diagnosis of early knee osteoarthritis.MRI image recognition and intelligent segmentation of knee osteoarthritis using deep learning method is a hot topic in image diagnosis of artificial intelligence. OBJECTIVE:Through deep learning of MRI images of knee osteoarthritis,the segmentation of femur,tibia,patella,cartilage,meniscus,ligaments,muscles and effusion of knee can be automatically divided,and then volume of knee fluid and muscle content were measured. METHODS:100 normal knee joints and 100 knee osteoarthritis patients were selected and randomly divided into training dataset(n=160),validation dataset(n=20),and test dataset(n=20)according to the ratio of 8:1:1.The Coarse-to-Fine sequential training method was used to train the 3D-UNET network deep learning model.A Coarse MRI segmentation model of the knee sagittal plane was trained first,and the rough segmentation results were used as a mask,and then the fine segmentation model was trained.The T1WI and T2WI images of the sagittal surface of the knee joint and the marking files of each structure were input,and DeepLab v3 was used to segment bone,cartilage,ligament,meniscus,muscle,and effusion of knee,and 3D reconstruction was finally displayed and automatic measurement results(muscle content and volume of knee fluid)were displayed to complete the deep learning application program.The MRI data of 26 normal subjects and 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis were screened for validation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 26 normal subjects were selected,including 13 females and 13 males,with a mean age of(34.88±11.75)years old.The mean muscle content of the knee joint was(1 051 322.94±2 007 249.00)mL,the mean median was 631 165.21 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(291.85±559.59)mL.The mean median was 0 mL.(2)There were 38 patients with knee osteoarthritis,including 30 females and 8 males.The mean age was(68.53±9.87)years old.The mean muscle content was(782 409.18±331 392.56)mL,the mean median was 689 105.66 mL,and the mean volume of effusion was(1 625.23±5 014.03)mL.The mean median was 178.72 mL.(3)There was no significant difference in muscle content between normal people and knee osteoarthritis patients.The volume of effusion in patients with knee osteoarthritis was higher than that in normal subjects,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).(4)It is indicated that the intelligent segmentation of MRI images by deep learning can discard the defects of manual segmentation in the past.The more accuracy evaluation of knee osteoarthritis was necessary,and the image segmentation was processed more precisely in the future to improve the accuracy of the results.

Objective:To assess the association of -c.108C>T and c. 192Q>R polymorphisms of paraoxonase 1 ( PON1) gene with preeclampsia (PE) and the influence of genotypes on the metabolic and oxidative stress indexes among Chinese women. Methods:This case-control study has included 334 patients with PE and 1337 healthy pregnant women. The -c.108C>T and c. 192Q>R genotypes were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Metabolic and oxidative stress parameters were also analyzed.Results:No statistical difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies for the -c.108C>T and c. 192Q>R polymorphisms of the PON1 gene was found between the PE patients and the healthy controls ( P>0.05). Nevertheless, the 192Q-108T haplotype of these polymorphisms was associated with an increased risk of PE ( P = 0.007). Total antioxidant capacity(TAC)and atherosderosis index were higher in patients with the -108TT genotype compared with those with a CT genotype ( P < 0.05); whilst total oxidant status was lower in patients with a CT genotype compared with those with a CC genotype ( P = 0.036). Malondialdehyde level was higher in patients with a 192RR genotype compared with those with a QQ genotype ( P = 0.019). TAC level was higher in patients with a RR genotype compared with those with a QR genotype ( P = 0.015). Conclusion:The 192Q-108T haplotype of the PON1 gene is associated with the risk for PE. These polymorphisms may be associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and oxidative stress among Chinese PE patients.

Objective:To study the role and specific mechanisms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a key enzyme for glycometabolism, mediated reduction stress in arsenic-induced malignant transformation of cells.Methods:Immortalized human skin keratinocyte-forming cells (HaCaT cells) were treated with sodium arsenite (NaAsO 2) at a concentration of 0.0 (control group) and 1.0 μmol/L (arsenic group), and malignant transformation indicators were tested using cell growth kinetics assay, cell scratch assay, and soft agar colony formation assay. At different stages of arsenic treatment (0, 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 passages of cells), the effects of NaAsO 2 on glycometabolism in HaCaT cells were determined using corresponding reagent kits and Western blot, including glucose-6-phosphate (G6P), lactate, acetyl CoA, G6PD levels, as well as protein expression levels of hexokinase 2 (HK-2), 6-phosphofructose-2-kinase/fructose-2, 6-diphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), 6-phosphoglucose dehydrogenase (PGD), and G6PD. Mitochondria were extracted, and the effects of NaAsO 2 on HaCaT cells and mitochondrial redox [reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP +) ratio, reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio] were determined using corresponding reagent kits. The effect of G6PD on reduction stress and NaAsO 2-induced malignant transformation of HaCaT cells was determined using small interfering RNA (siRNA) intervention method. Results:Compared 1.0 μmol/L NaAsO 2-cultured HaCaT cells up to 35 generations (T-HaCaT cells) with matching passage 0.0 μmol/L NaAsO 2-cultured HaCaT cells [(33.797 ± 0.280) h, 0.177 ± 0.015, 13.667 ± 2.625], the multiplication time [(24.042 ± 0.479) h] was shorter ( t = 30.45, P < 0.001), the cell migration rate (0.396 ± 0.039) was higher ( t = 9.08, P < 0.001), and the number of colonies formed in soft agar (73.667 ± 4.450) was higher ( t = 20.11, P < 0.001). Compared with matching passage control group cells and 0 generation of the same group, G6P level in the arsenic group was higher at passages 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), lactate and G6PD levels were higher at passages 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), acetyl CoA level was lower at passages 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), and protein expression levels of HK-2, PFKFB3, PDK1, PGD, and G6PD were higher at passages 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). The NADPH/NADP + ratio of cells was higher at passages 1, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), GSH/GSSG ratio was higher at passages 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). The ratio of mitochondrial NADPH/NADP + was higher at passages 1, 7, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05), the GSH/GSSG ratio was higher at passages 1, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 ( P < 0.05). G6PD expression was silenced by siRNA in T-HaCaT cells, compared with the T-HaCaT con siRNA-treated group, the T-HaCaT G6PD siRNA-treated group had lower NADPH/NADP + and GSH/GSSG ratios in both cells and mitochondria ( P < 0.05), longer cell multiplication time, lower cell migration rate, and fewer soft agar colonies ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:During the malignant transformation of HaCaT cells induced by NaAsO 2, G6PD and other enzymes related to glycometabolism are activated, leading to reprogramming of glycometabolism, resulting in an imbalance of cell redox homeostasis and enhanced reduction stress in cells and mitochondria, thereby promoting NaAsO 2 induced malignant transformation of HaCaT cells.