Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Shaoxing City from 2006 to 2022, so as provide insights into improvements of the HFRS control strategy. Methods: Data pertaining to HFRS cases in Shaoxing City from 2006 to 2022 were captured from the Surveillance System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The temporal, population and regional distributions of HFRS were analyzed using the descriptive epidemiological method, and the trends in incidence of HFRS were evaluated using annual percent change (APC). Results: Totally 1 022 HFRS cases were reported in Shaoxing City from 2006 to 2022, with annual average incidence of 1.22/105 and three deaths. The incidence of HFRS appeared a tendency towards a decline in Shaoxing City from 2006 to 2022 (APC=-11.101%, t=-9.930, P<0.001), and the incidence of HFRS peaked from May to June and from November to January of the next year. A higher incidence of HFRS was seen in men than in women (1.76/105 vs. 0.68/105; χ2=201.361, P<0.001). There were 714 HFRS cases at ages of 30 to 59 years (69.86%), and farmers were the predominant occupation (78.18%). The three counties with the largest number of HFRS cases included Zhuji (366 cases), Xinchang (263 cases) and Shengzhou (134 cases). The incidence of HFRS was lower in urban districts (Yuecheng, Keqiao and Shangyu) than in counties (Zhuji, Shengzhou and Xinchang) (0.58/105 vs. 1.96/105; χ2=326.880, P<0.001). Conclusion The incidence of HFRS appeared a tendency towards a decline in Shaoxing City from 2006 to 2022, and the incidence was high in late spring, early summer and winter. The HFRS cases were mainly males, young and middle-aged people, and farmers, and predominantly distributed in counties. Targeted control measures are needed.

Objective: To explore the causal association between dietary components (carbohydrate, fat, protein, and sugar) and 119 genera of known gut microbiota using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods. Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for dietary components were collected from the DietGen, while GWAS data for gut microbiota were collected from the MiBioGen. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci associated with the four dietary components were used as instrumental variables, and 119 known gut microbiota genera were used as the outcomes. MR analysis was performed using inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test, horizontal pleiotropy and exclude outliers were tested using MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO test. Common genetic pleiotropic genes between dietary components and gut microbiota were identified by MAGMA and PLACO analyses. Results: The MR analysis revealed causal associations between carbohydrates and 4 gut microbiota genera, fats and 14 genera, proteins and 14 genera, and sugars and 11 genera (all P<0.05). The MR-Egger regression analysis showed no horizontal pleiotropy among the selected SNPs, and the MR-PRESSO test did not identify any outliers (all P>0.05). The MAGMA and PLACO analyses revealed that 74.42% (32/43) of the causal associations had pleiotropic genes, with 1 to 10 pleiotropic genes identified. Multiple causal association groups shared the same pleiotropic genes. Conclusion There are potential genetic and causal associations between dietary components and gut microbiota.

Objective: To investigate the association between childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as well as coronary artery heart disease (CHD). Methods: Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for childhood obesity were collected from the ECG consortium, encompassing information on children aged 2 to 18 years, including 18 613 cases and 12 696 controls. GWAS data for T2DM were collected from the DIAGRAM consortium, including 242 283 cases and 1 569 734 controls. GWAS data for CHD were collected from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium, including 10 801 cases and 137 371 controls. Pleiotropic genes associated with both T2DM and CHD were analyzed using the MAGMA, PLACO and conditional false discovery rate (cFDR) methods. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, exploring the causal relationships among childhood obesity, T2DM and CHD. Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran's Q test, horizontal pleiotropy and exclude outliers were tested using MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO test. The mediating variables among the three diseases were investigated by using a mediation analysis. Results: The results of MAGMA, PLACO and cFDR analyses identified 80 pleiotropic genes associated with both T2DM and CHD, primarily distributed on chromosomes 3, 17 and 19. The MR analysis revealed that childhood obesity increased the risk of T2DM (OR=1.151, 95%CI: 1.033-1.283) and CHD (OR=1.158, 95%CI: 1.068-1.255), T2DM increased the risk of CHD (OR=1.182, 95%CI: 1.139-1.227), and CHD increased the risk of T2DM (OR=1.124, 95%CI: 1.055-1.198). The MR-Egger regression analysis showed no horizontal pleiotropy, and the MR-PRESSO test did not identify any outliers (all P>0.05). Mediation analysis indicated that childhood obesity directly increased the risk of CHD (effect value=0.096, 95%CI: 0.012-0.180) and indirectly increased the risk of CHD through T2DM (effect value=0.023, 95%CI: 0.005-0.041), with the mediation effect accounting for 15.65% of the total effect. Conclusions There are potential causal associations between childhood obesity and T2DM as well as CHD, with a bidirectional causal relationship between T2DM and CHD. T2DM also plays a mediating role in the association between childhood obesity and CHD.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of viral diarrhea among children under 5 years of age in Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into management of viral diarrhea. Methods: The surveillance data on viral diarrhea among children under 5 years of age in Shaoxing City from 2019 to 2022 were collected, including demographics and stool testing results. The epidemiological and etiological characteristics of viral diarrhea were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiological method. Results: A total of 763 diarrheal children under 5 years of age were reported in Shaoxing City from 2019 to 2022, and 236 children were tested positive for virus (30.93%). The detection of virus was 49.01%, 31.61%, 20.43% and 21.89% from 2019 to 2022, which appeared an overall tendency towards a decline (P<0.05). The incidence of viral diarrhea peaked from November to March of the next year and from May to July, and the detection of virus was lower among children with diarrhea living in urban areas (Yuecheng District, Keqiao District and Shangyu District) than among those in suburb areas (Zhuji City, Shengzhou City and Xinchang County) (30.22% vs. 52.00%, P<0.05). There were 206 children tested positive for a single virus, and the detection rates of rotavirus (RV), enteric adenovirus (EAdV), norovirus (NoV), and sapovirus (SaV) were 9.57%, 8.91%, 8.39%, and 0.13%, respectively. There were 25 children with virus co-infections, and the positive rates of EAdV and NoV, RV and EAdV and RV and NoV co-infections were 1.31%, 1.18% and 0.79%, respectively. There were 5 children with triple infections of RV, EAdV and NoV (0.66%). The highest detection of EAdV was seen in April, the highest detection of RV and NoV was seen in January, while SaV was only detected in April. Conclusion The incidence of viral diarrhea among children under 5 years of age peaked in winter and spring in Shaoxing City from 2019 to 2022, and the cases predominantly occurred in urban areas. The detection of virus appeared an overall tendency towards a decline, with high detection of RV, EAdV and NoV.

BACKGROUND:Our prior experiments have confirmed that 10 μmol/L oxytocin can induce transformation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels into myocardial cels. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Ginsenoside Rh2 on oxytocin-induced transformation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels into myocardial cels. METHODS:Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were isolated by differential adherence method. These isolated cels were randomly divided into five groups. In the blank control group, cels were routinely cultured. In the oxytocin group, cels were cultured with 10 μmol/L oxytocin for 2 consecutive weeks. In the Ginsenoside Rh2 low-, middle-, and high-dose groups, cels were treated with 0.5, 1, 2 μmol/L Ginsenoside Rh2respectively for 24 hours and then with oxytocin for additional 2 consecutive weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Optical microscopy showed that compared to the blank control group, some cels in the oxytocin group exhibited an increased soma and some cels grew in clusters and the cel clusters enlarged with the increase in Ginsenoside Rh2 dose. Immunocytochemical staining and western blot analysis showed that cardiac Troponin T and connexin 43 protein expression in the oxytocin, Ginsenoside Rh2 low-, middle-, and high-dose groups were significantly greater than in the blank control group (P < 0.05), and cardiac Troponin T and connexin 43 protein expression in the Ginsenoside Rh2 groups was increased with the increase in Ginsenoside Rh2 dose and was significantly higher than that in the oxytocin group (P < 0.05). Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that the relative fluorescence intensity of free calcium in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels in the oxytocin group was significantly increased after induction by oxytocin for 2 weeks (P < 0.05), while the relative fluorescence intensity in the Ginsenoside Rh2 groups was significantly higher than that in the Ginsenoside Rh2 groups and was positively correlated with the dose of Ginsenoside Rh2. These findings suggest that Ginsenoside Rh2 can obviously promote oxytocin-induced transformation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels into myocardial celsin vitro.

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-tumor activity of SPS in vivo and in vitro and the cytotoxicity of CTL cells, NK cells of T739 lung cancer in mice.

METHODThe transplanted tumor model of S180 Sarcoma was established with KM mouse. The SPS was adminished i.p. for 10 d, the tumor weight was detected. The transplanted tumor model of LA795 lung cancer was established with T739 mouse and SPS was adminished i.p. for 10 d and the tumor weight and the cytotoxicity of CTL cells, NK cells were detected. The Anti-tumor activity of SPS on three types of tumor cells in vitro was observed with trypan blue exclusion staining.

RESULTSPS 40 mg x kg(-1) can significantly inhibit the growth of S180 Sarcoma in mice and inhibitory rate was 51.33% (P<0.01). It can also inhibit the growth of LA795 lung cancer in mice and the tumor volume was reduced obviously for 3.29 mm3 (P<0.05). It can remarkably enhance the cytotoxicity of splenic CTL cells, NK cells in tumor-bearing (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPS have anti-tumor effects, the mechanism of the anti-tumor activity may be related to enhance the cytotoxicity of CTL cell and NK cell.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carthamus tinctorius ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Polysaccharides ; administration & dosage ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID-19 ) in Shaoxing from January 23 to March 31, 2020, so as to provide basis for the prevention and control of COVID-19. Methods: The information of the COVID-19 cases in Shaoxing were collected from the National Diseases Prevention and Control Information System and the field investigation by CDCs. A descriptive analysis was used for the epidemiological characteristics, including time, spatial and population distribution, clinical features and exposure history. Results: Totally 42 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported by March 31, without deaths. The first case was reported on January 23 and the last one was on February 13. The onset of cases peaked in mid-to-late January. All the counties ( cities or districts ) had confirmed cases, 14 cases were reported in Yuecheng District. Twenty-five ( 59.52% ) cases were 45 years old or over. Thirteen ( 30.95% ) cases were engaged in business and eight ( 19.05% ) cases were unemployed. No cases were found among medical staff. The main clinical symptoms were fever, dry cough, fatigue and imaging features of pneumonia, with nine ( 21.43% ) severe cases and three ( 7.14% ) critical cases. There were 34 ( 80.95% ) imported cases, who mainly came from Hubei Province. Totally 1 955 close contacts were tracked down, among whom 4 cases were confirmed, with the infection rate of 0.20%. Conclusions The COVID-19 cases reported in Shaoxing were mainly aged 45 years or over, severe and imported from Hubei Province. There was no continuous transmission in the community, and no infection in medical staff or deaths.

BACKGROUND: The cardiomyocyte apoptosis is considered as one of major contributions to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Numerous studies find that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in a variety of biological functions. However, the role of circ_0068655 in MI and human induced pluripotent stem-derived cardiomyocytes (HCMs) remains unknown. METHODS: The expression of circ_0068655, miR-498, and PRKC apoptosis WT1 regulator (PAWR) in human MI heart tissues and hypoxia subjected HCMs was evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effects of circ_0068655 on hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and cell migration in HCMs were evaluated with qRT-PCR, cell viability, cell death ELISA (POD), and Caspase-3 activity assay, and Trans-well assay, respectively. Furthermore, luciferase assay, qRT-PCR, biotin-labeled miRNA pulldown assay, and Western blot were employed in the functional studies. RESULTS: We found that the expression of circ_0068655 and PAWR was enhanced in MI patients and hypoxia subjected HCMs; by contrast, the expression of miR-498 decreased. Inhibited expression of circ_0068655 in HMCs counteracted hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and impaired cell migration, in sharp contrast to circ_0068655 knockdown. We identified that circ_0068655 sponged an endogenous miR-498 to sequester and inhibit its activity, leading to the increased PAWR expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that the expression of circ_0068655 can promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the modulation of miR-498-PAWR axis in vitro, which highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic value of circ_0068655 in patients with MI.

BACKGROUND: The cardiomyocyte apoptosis is considered as one of major contributions to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Numerous studies find that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in a variety of biological functions. However, the role of circ_0068655 in MI and human induced pluripotent stem-derived cardiomyocytes (HCMs) remains unknown. METHODS: The expression of circ_0068655, miR-498, and PRKC apoptosis WT1 regulator (PAWR) in human MI heart tissues and hypoxia subjected HCMs was evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effects of circ_0068655 on hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and cell migration in HCMs were evaluated with qRT-PCR, cell viability, cell death ELISA (POD), and Caspase-3 activity assay, and Trans-well assay, respectively. Furthermore, luciferase assay, qRT-PCR, biotin-labeled miRNA pulldown assay, and Western blot were employed in the functional studies. RESULTS: We found that the expression of circ_0068655 and PAWR was enhanced in MI patients and hypoxia subjected HCMs; by contrast, the expression of miR-498 decreased. Inhibited expression of circ_0068655 in HMCs counteracted hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and impaired cell migration, in sharp contrast to circ_0068655 knockdown. We identified that circ_0068655 sponged an endogenous miR-498 to sequester and inhibit its activity, leading to the increased PAWR expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that the expression of circ_0068655 can promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the modulation of miR-498-PAWR axis in vitro, which highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic value of circ_0068655 in patients with MI.

Objective:To analyze the clinical data of 203 discharged patients with corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19), and to investigate the predictors for the severe cases.Methods:Confirmed COVID-19 cases hospitalized at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from January 1 to February 1, 2020 were consecutively enrolled, who were divided into severe group and non-severe group.The clinical data of enrolled patients were collected and the clinical manifestations, laboratory results, imaging, treatments and prognosis of patients in the two groups were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U rank sum test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 203 discharged patients with COVID-19 were enrolled. The common clinical manifestations included fever (89.2%, 181/203), dry cough (60.1%, 122/203), chest distress (35.5%, 72/203), shortness of breath(29.1%, 59/203)and myalgia or arthralgia (26.6%, 54/203). The time from disease onset to hospital admission was 5.8 days (1.0 to 20.0 days). Among 203 enrolled patients, 107(52.7%) were divided into severe group and 96(47.3%) were non-severe group. The age in severe group was 60 years (23 to 91 years), which was significantly older than non-severe group (47 years (20 to 86 years)), the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-6.12, P<0.01). There were 63.6%(68/107) patients in severe group with at least one underlying disease, which was significantly more than non-severe group (20.8% (20/96)), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=37.60, P<0.01). The proportions of patients with increased white blood cells, decreased lymphocytes and albumin, elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, lactic acid dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, fasting blood glucose, D-dimer, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and procalcitonin in severe group were all higher. On admission, 172 patients (84.7%) had bilateral patchy shadows or ground glass opacity in the lungs on chest imaging study, 20(9.9%) presented pleural effusion. Fifty-five cases (27.1%) showed progressions of lung lesions on computed tomography (CT) rescan at an average interval of five days. Among 203 patients, 123(60.6%) were given oxygen therapy upon admission, 107(52.7%) were given short-term glucocorticoid therapy, and 131(64.5%) received antiviral therapy; and 26(12.8%) died. The hospital stay was 11.0 days (1.0 to 45.0 days). Conclusions:Fever is the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients.Elderly and patients with underlying diseases are risk factors for progression to severe cases. The elderly patients should be strengthened early monitoring, paid attention to the control of underlying diseases, and reduce the occurrence of critical diseases.