ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological trends and characteristics of brucellosis in humans (hereinafter referred to as brucellosis) in Tangshan City, Hebei Province from 2016 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating brucellosis prevention and control strategies in the region. MethodsThe incidence data of human brucellosis in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023 were collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The diagnosis time, infection route, and clinical characteristics of the cases were obtained from the case investigation reports. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, spatial, demographic distributions, and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis. Brucella species were identified using agglutination tests with bacterial suspension and A/M antigen-positive serum. ResultsA total of 2 193 cases of human brucellosis were confirmed and clinically diagnosed in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023, with the peak incidence occured from March to August, and which exhibited distinct geographic distribution patterns. The highest incidence rate was found in people aged 60‒<70 years. The occupation of cases were primarily farmers. The incidence rate in males (528/100 000) was higher than that in females (184/100 000). All cases had confirmed exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products. ConclusionThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Tangshan exhibited an overall steady downward trend from 2016 to 2023, except for a slight increase in 2016 and 2021, with the incidence rate controlled at 289/100 000‒335/100 000. The prevention and control situation of human brucellosis still remains severe, with the highest incidence rate in the eastern region of Tangshan, which are characterized by the breeding, slaughtering, and processing of cattle and sheep. Therefore, it it is necessary to enhance the prevention and control of human brucellosis among the personnel engaged in these industries in the eastern areas.

Dysregulated RNA splicing is a well-recognized characteristic of colorectal cancer (CRC); however, its intricacies remain obscure, partly due to challenges in profiling full-length transcript variants at the single-cell level. Here, we employ high-depth long-read scRNA-seq to define the full-length transcriptome of colorectal epithelial cells in 12 CRC patients, revealing extensive isoform diversities and splicing alterations. Cancer cells exhibited increased transcript complexity, with widespread 3'-UTR shortening and reduced intron retention. Distinct splicing regulation patterns were observed between intrinsic-consensus molecular subtypes (iCMS), with iCMS3 displaying even higher splicing factor activities and more pronounced 3'-UTR shortening. Furthermore, we revealed substantial shifts in isoform usage that result in alterations of protein sequences from the same gene with distinct carcinogenic effects during tumorigenesis of CRC. Allele-specific expression analysis revealed dominant mutant allele expression in key oncogenes and tumor suppressors. Moreover, mutated PPIG was linked to widespread splicing dysregulation, and functional validation experiments confirmed its critical role in modulating RNA splicing and tumor-associated processes. Our findings highlight the transcriptomic plasticity in CRC and suggest novel candidate targets for splicing-based therapeutic strategies.
Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; RNA Isoforms/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; RNA Splicing ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism* ; Transcriptome

Objective To compare the diagnostic efficacy of 3 lung ultrasound criteria in evaluating cardiogenic pulmonary edema,so as to obtain the optimal diagnostic criterion and to provide effective auxiliary measure for the rapid diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema.Methods A total of 98 patients who underwent lung ultrasound in the Shanghai Chest Hospital from June 2022 to November 2022 were included.Three positive criteria were defined according to the number and distribution of positive points based on the pleural and B lines:criterion 1 was set as at least 2 positive points;criterion 2 was set as at least 3 positive points;criterion 3 was set as at least 1 positive point on each side.The efficacies of 3 criteria in diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema,and their consistencies with clinical diagnosis were compared.Results The sensitivities of criterion 1,criterion 2,and criterion 3 were 88%,72%and 79%,the specificities was 89%,100%and 93%,the accuracies was 87%,88%and 87%,respectively.The criteri on 2 showed a higher consistency in the diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema with clinical diagnosis(Kappa value=0.877);the criterion 1 and criterion 3 were generally consistent in the diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema with clinical diagnosis(Kappa values were 0.783 and 0.727,respectively).Conclusions The diagnostic efficacies of the 3 positive lung ultrasound criteria for cardiogenic pulmonary edema are high,and"at least 3 positive points"is more helpful for clinical diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and maternal and fetal prognosis of pregnant women with acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP). Methods: The clinical data of 86 AFLP pregnant women admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from September 2017 to August 2022 were collected, and their general data, clinical characteristics, laboratory tests and maternal and fetal outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Results: (1) General information: the age of the 86 pregnant women with AFLP was (30.8±5.4) years, and the body mass index was (21.0±2.5) kg/m². There were 50 primiparas (58.1%, 50/86) and 36 multiparas (41.9%, 36/86). There were 64 singleton pregnancies (74.4%, 64/86) and 22 twin pregnancies (25.6%, 22/86). (2) Clinical characteristics: the main complaints of AFLP pregnant women were gastrointestinal symptoms, including epigastric pain (68.6%, 59/86), nausea (47.7%, 41/86), anorexia (46.5%, 40/86), vomiting (39.5%, 34/86). The main non-gastrointestinal symptoms were jaundice of skin and/or scleral (54.7%, 47/86), edema (38.4%, 33/86), fatigue (19.8%, 17/86), bleeding tendency (16.3%, 14/86), polydipsia or polyuria (14.0%, 12/86), skin itching (8.1%, 7/86), and 17.4% (15/86) AFLP pregnant women had no obvious symptoms. (3) Laboratory tests: the incidence of liver and kidney dysfunction and abnormal coagulation function in AFLP pregnant women was high, and the levels of blood ammonia, lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid were increased, and the levels of hemoglobin, platelet and albumin decreased. However, only 24 cases (27.9%, 24/86) of AFLP pregnant women showed fatty liver by imageology examination. (4) Pregnancy outcomes: ① AFLP pregnant women had a high incidence of pregnancy complications, mainly including renal insufficiency (95.3%, 82/86), preterm birth (46.5%, 40/86), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (30.2%, 26/86), gestational diabetes mellitus (36.0%, 31/86), fetal distress (24.4%, 21/86), pulmonary infection (23.3%, 20/86), disseminated intravascular coagulation (16.3%, 14/86), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (16.3%, 14/86), hepatic encephalopathy (9.3%, 8/86), and intrauterine fetal death (2.3%, 2/86). ② Treatment and outcome of AFLP pregnant women: the intensive care unit transfer rate of AFLP pregnant women was 66.3% (57/86). 82 cases were improved and discharged after treatment, 2 cases were transferred to other hospitals for follow-up treatment, and 2 cases (2.3%, 2/86) died. ③ Neonatal outcomes: except for 2 cases of intrauterine death, a total of 106 neonates were delivered, including 39 cases (36.8%, 39/106) of neonatal asphyxia, 63 cases (59.4%, 63/106) of neonatal intensive care unit admission, and 3 cases (2.8%, 3/106) of neonatal death. Conclusions: AFLP is a severe obstetric complication, which is harmful to mother and fetus. In the process of clinical diagnosis and treatment, attention should be paid to the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests of pregnant women, early diagnosis and active treatment, so as to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.
Pregnancy ; Infant, Newborn ; Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Premature Birth/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis* ; Fatty Liver/diagnosis* ; Fetal Death ; Stillbirth

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ARID5B gene and resistance to methotrexate (MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: A total of 144 children with ALL who were treated in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2015 to November 2021 were enrolled and divided into MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group, with 72 cases in each group. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology was used to measure the SNP of ARID5B gene in all children and analyze its correlation with MTX resistant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the genotype and gene frequency of rs7923074, rs10821936, rs6479778, and rs2893881 between MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group (P>0.05). The frequency of C/C genotype in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T/T genotype was opposite (P<0.05). The frequency of C allele in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T allele was opposite (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ARID5B gene rs4948488 TT genotype and T allele frequency were risk factors for MTX resistant in ALL children (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The SNP of ARID5B gene is associated with MTX resistant in ALL children.
Child ; Humans ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Methotrexate ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the effect of CXC chemokine receptor 1/2 (CXCR1/2) targeting inhibitor Reparixin combined with cytarabine (Ara-C) on the malignant biological behaviors of acute myeloid leukemia cells and its effect on the expression of the CXCR family, while exploring the accompanying molecular mechanism, providing scientific basis and reference for new molecular markers and targeted therapy for AML. METHODS: Acute myeloid leukemia U937 cells were treated with different concentrations of Reparixin, Ara-C alone or in combination, and the cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope; Wright-Giemsa staining was used to detect cell morphological changes; CCK-8 method was used to detect cell proliferation; the ability of cell invasion was detected by Transwell chamber method; the ability of colony formation was detected by colony formation assay; cell apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining and Annexin V/PI double-staining flow cytometry; monodansylcadaverine(MDC) staining was used to detect cell autophagy; the expression of apoptosis, autophagy and related signaling pathway proteins was detected by Western blot and the expression changes of CXCR family were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: Reparixin could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration and clone formation ability of U937 cells. Compared with the single drug group, when U937 cells were intervened by Reparixin combined with Ara-C, the malignant biological behaviors such as proliferation, invasion and colony formation were significantly decreased, and the levels of apoptosis and autophagy were significantly increased (P<0.01). After Reparixin combined with Ara-C intervenes in U937 cells, it can up-regulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and significantly down-regulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and also hydrolyze and activate Caspase-3, thereby inducing cell apoptosis. Reparixin combined with Ara-C could up-regulate the expressions of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin-1 proteins in U937 cells, and the ratio of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in cells was significantly up-regulated compared with single drug or control group (P<0.01). MDC result showed that the green granules of vesicles increased significantly, and a large number of broken cells were seen (P<0.01). Reparixin combined with Ara-C can significantly inhibit the phosphorylation level of PI3K, AKT and NF-κB signaling molecule, inhibit the malignant biological behavior of cells by inhibiting the activation of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway, and induce programmed cell death. Ara-C intervention in U937 cells had no effect on the expression of CXCR family (P>0.05). The expression of CXCR1, CXCR2, and CXCR4 mRNA could be down-regulated by Reparixin single-agent intervention in U937 cells (P<0.05), and the expression of CXCR2 was more significantly down-regulated than the control group and other CXCRs (P<0.01). When Reparixin and Ara-C intervened in combination, the down-regulated levels of CXCR1 and CXCR2 were more significant than those in the single-drug group (P<0.01), while the relative expressions of CXCR4 and CXCR7 mRNA had no significant difference compared with the single-drug group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Reparixin combined with Ara-C can synergistically inhibit the malignant biological behaviors of U937 cells such as proliferation, invasion, migration and clone formation, and induce autophagy and apoptosis. The mechanism may be related to affecting the proteins expression of Bcl-2 family and down-regulating the proteins expression of CXCR family, while inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; U937 Cells ; Cytarabine/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, Interleukin-8A ; NF-kappa B ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; RNA, Messenger ; Cell Line, Tumor

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of p-coumaric acid on apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells and its related mechanism. METHODS: Multiple myeloma cell line MM.1s cells were selected and treated with different concentrations of p-coumaric acid (0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2 mmol/L), and the inhibition rate and half inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) were detected by CCK-8 method. Then MM.1s cells were treated with 1/2 IC₅₀, IC₅₀, 2 IC₅₀ and transfected with ov-Nrf-2 and ov-Nrf-2+IC₅₀. The apoptosis, ROS fluorescence intensity and mitochondrial membrane potential of MM.1s cells were detected by flow cytometry, and the relative expressions of cellular Nrf-2 and HO-1 protein were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: P-coumaric acid inhibited the proliferation of MM.1s cells in a dose-dependent manner(r =0.997) with an IC₅₀ value of 2.754 mmol/L. Compared with the control group, apoptosis and ROS fluorescence intensity of MM.1s cells were significantly increased in the 1/2 IC₅₀ group, IC₅₀ group, 2 IC₅₀ group and ov-Nrf-2+IC₅₀ group (P <0.01), the expressions of Nrf-2, HO-1 protein in the IC₅₀ group and 2 IC₅₀ group were significantly decreased (P <0.05). Compared with the IC₅₀ group, the cells apoptosis and ROS fluorescence intensity were significantly decreased (P <0.01), and the expressions of Nrf-2 and HO-1 protein were significantly increased in the ov-Nrf-2+IC₅₀ group (P <0.01). CONCLUSION P-coumaric acid can inhibit the proliferation of MM.1s cells and may target the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathway to affect oxidative stress in MM cells thereby inducing their apoptosis.
Humans ; Reactive Oxygen Species/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Multiple Myeloma ; Oxidative Stress ; Apoptosis

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Ena/VASP gene family on the expression of glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX complex in human megakaryoblastic leukemia Dami cells. METHODS: SiRNAs targeting Ena/VASP gene family were designed and synthesized to interfere Enah, EVL and VASP gene expression. When the siRNAs were transfected into Dami cells by using Lipofectamine^TM 2000 for 48 h, the expression of GPIb-IX complex was detected by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry. RESULTS: We successfully established siVASP , siEVL and si Enah Dami cell lines. And it was found that the expression of GPIb-IX complex had no evident reduction in siEVL or siVASP Dami cells at both mRNA and protein level, while the total protein and membrane protein of GPIb-IX complex were obviously reduced when Enah was knocked down. CONCLUSION Enah could affect the expression of GPIb-IX complex in human megakaryoblastic leukemia Dami cells, but the underlying mechanism still needs to be further explored.
Humans ; Cell Line ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIb-IX Complex/metabolism* ; Leukemia/metabolism* ; Blood Platelets/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and various immune cell composition in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). METHODS: The clinical data of 104 patients with AML undergoing allo-HSCT in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed, and the hematopoietic reconstitution and occurrence of GVHD were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of various types of immune cells in the grafts, the number of graft composition in patients with different degrees of aGVHD was calculated and compared, and to analyze the correlation between the severity of aGVHD in AML patients after allo-HSCT and the immune cell components in the graft. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the time of hematopoietic reconstitution between the high number group of total number of nucleated cells (TNC) and the low number group, while the time of neutrophil and platelet reconstruction in the high number of CD34 group was significantly faster than that in the low number of CD34 group (P＜0.05), and the total hospital stay also tends to be shorten. Compared with patients in 0-Ι aGVHD group, both HLA-matched and HLA-haploidentical transplantation, the infusion amounts of CD3⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells, NK cells and CD14⁺ monocytes were higher in patients of Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD group， but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05); In addition, in patients with HLA-haploidentical transplantation, the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells in Ⅱ-Ⅳ aGVHD group was significantly lower than that in 0-Ι aGVHD group (P<0.05), and the same trend was also observed in HLA-matched transplanted patients, but the difference was not significant (P=0.078). CONCLUSION High number of CD34⁺ cells in the graft is beneficial to hematopoietic reconstitution in AML patients. To a certain degree, high number of CD3⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD4⁺ cells, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells, NK cells and CD14⁺ cells tend to increase the occurrence of aGVHD, but high number of CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T cells is beneficial to reduce the incidence of aGVHD in AML patients.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects* ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/complications* ; Graft vs Host Disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of CSF3R mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and analyze its clinical characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 212 patients with AML who were newly diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 1th 2018 to June 30th 2021, including 22 patients with CSF3R mutations as mutation group and 190 patients with CSF3R wild type ［66 cases of them were screened by propensity score matching (PSM), as control group］. The early efficacy and survival between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: The median age of patients in the mutation group was 50(17-73) years old, and the ratio of male to female was 1.2:1 The main types were AML with maturation (11 cases) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (9 cases). Prognostic stratification was carried out according to the risk stratification system of the European leukemia network in 2017, with 16 cases (72.73%) in the middle and high-risk group. At the initial diagnosis, the median count of white blood cell (WBC) was 44.75(1.30-368.71)×10⁹/L, among which 15 cases (68.18%) were >10×10⁹/L, and the median count of platelet (PLT) was 24(4-55)×10⁹/L. CSF3R T618I (68.18%) was a common mutation site, which had concomitant gene mutations, in which CEBPA mutation was the most common (10 cases, 45.45%), but only existed in CSF3R T618I mutation. The CR/CRi rate was 68.18% and 71.21% in the mutant group and the control group (P >0.05), the median over all survival time was 15 months and 9 months (P >0.05), and the median disease-free survival time was 8 months and 4 months (P >0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION Most AML patients with CSF3R mutation are middle-aged patients, the main types are AML with maturation and acute myelomonocytic leukemia, and most of them have middle and high-risk prognosis. CSF3R mutation may not be an independent prognostic marker for newly diagnosed AML patients.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute ; Retrospective Studies ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Mutation ; Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor/genetics*