Objective:To analyze the epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and to provide a basis for formulating targeted intervention strategies and implementation measures.Methods:The data of brucellosis cases with onset date from 2014 to 2023 and current address in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were collected from the Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the three-dimensional distribution of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Results:From 2014 to 2023, a total of 131 201 brucellosis cases were reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with no death and an average annual incidence rate of 52.90/100 000. The lowest incidence was in 2016 (6 567 cases, 26.15/100 000), and the highest was in 2021 (21 910 cases, 91.14/100 000). All 12 cities (leagues) in the region had reported cases of brucellosis, with Tongliao City (27 012 cases), Chifeng City (15 286 cases), Hinggan League (14 859 cases), Hulunbuir (12 235 cases) and Ulanqab (11 972 cases) ranking among the top 5 cities (leagues) in terms of reported cases. Among the cases, 90 455 (68.94%) were males, with a incidence rate of 70.93/100 000, and 40 746 (31.06%) were females, with a incidence rate of 33.70/100 000. The age of onset is mainly 50 and less than 60 years old (37 610 cases, 28.67%). The occupational distribution was mainly farmers (102 091 cases, 77.81%), followed by herdsmen (13 209 cases, 10.07%).Conclusions:The incidence of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is at a relatively high level, particularly showing an upward trend from 2016 to 2021. Cities such as Tongliao City, Chifeng City and Hinggan League have a relatively high incidence of brucellosis. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of brucellosis in these areas, implement prevention and control measures, and closely monitor the changes in the trend of human brucellosis outbreaks. Farmers and herdsmen are the primary high-risk groups, and it is recommended to enhance health education and behavioral interventions for these key populations.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and to provide a basis for formulating targeted intervention strategies and implementation measures.Methods:The data of brucellosis cases with onset date from 2014 to 2023 and current address in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were collected from the Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the three-dimensional distribution of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Results:From 2014 to 2023, a total of 131 201 brucellosis cases were reported in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with no death and an average annual incidence rate of 52.90/100 000. The lowest incidence was in 2016 (6 567 cases, 26.15/100 000), and the highest was in 2021 (21 910 cases, 91.14/100 000). All 12 cities (leagues) in the region had reported cases of brucellosis, with Tongliao City (27 012 cases), Chifeng City (15 286 cases), Hinggan League (14 859 cases), Hulunbuir (12 235 cases) and Ulanqab (11 972 cases) ranking among the top 5 cities (leagues) in terms of reported cases. Among the cases, 90 455 (68.94%) were males, with a incidence rate of 70.93/100 000, and 40 746 (31.06%) were females, with a incidence rate of 33.70/100 000. The age of onset is mainly 50 and less than 60 years old (37 610 cases, 28.67%). The occupational distribution was mainly farmers (102 091 cases, 77.81%), followed by herdsmen (13 209 cases, 10.07%).Conclusions:The incidence of human brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is at a relatively high level, particularly showing an upward trend from 2016 to 2021. Cities such as Tongliao City, Chifeng City and Hinggan League have a relatively high incidence of brucellosis. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of brucellosis in these areas, implement prevention and control measures, and closely monitor the changes in the trend of human brucellosis outbreaks. Farmers and herdsmen are the primary high-risk groups, and it is recommended to enhance health education and behavioral interventions for these key populations.

OBJECTIVE To study the effects of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis and its mechanism based on serum metabolomics. METHODS Forty mice were divided into normal control group （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution）， model group （0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution）， and BP low-dose and high-dose groups （50， 100 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group， the other three groups were all treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis model； they were given relevant medicine/solution intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 8 weeks. After the last medication， the levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in serum were detected， and liver pathological changes were observed； the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and Collagen Ⅰ were detected in liver tissue； the serum of the mice was collected for metabolomics analysis. RESULTS Compared with the model group， serum levels of ALT and AST and protein expressions of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅰ in liver tissue were decreased significantly in BP high-dose and low-dose groups （P＜0.05）， while liver fibrosis was improved significantly. Meanwhile， metabolomics analyses showed that there were a total of 175 serum differential metabolites in the BP high-dose group and model group， of which 18 substances were upregulated and 157 substances were downregulated； the main metabolic pathways involved in bergapten intervention were pyrimidine metabolism， butanoate metabolism， fatty acid synthesis， tyrosine metabolism， β-alanine metabolism， nicotinic acid and nicotinamide metabolism， glutathione metabolism， etc. CONCLUSIONS BP is effective in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating pyrimidine metabolism， butanoate metabolism， glutathione metabolism and so on in rats with liver fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of the interaction between occupational and non-occupational noise exposure on the risk of high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) in noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 602 male workers with normal hearing, engaged in an automobile manufacturing company between 2016 and 2018, were selected as the study subjects using the retrospective cohort study method. Pure-tone audiometry and questionnaire surveys were conducted on the workers. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to analyze the interaction between occupational and non-occupational noise exposure and the risk of HFHL in these workers. Results The prevalence of HFHL of the workers was 34.1% in 2020, without any cases of speech frequency hearing loss. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis result showed that the risk of HFHL increased in workers with excessive national occupational noise exposure intensity, self-reported noisy living environments, and both excessive national occupational noise exposure intensity and self-reported noisy living environments (all P<0.01). The results of the Cox proportional hazards model showed that the combined effect of excessive national occupational noise exposure intensity and self-reported noisy living environments [relative risk (RR)=2.40, P<0.01] was higher than the individual effects of excessive national occupational noise exposure intensity (RR=2.09, P<0.01) and self-reported noisy living environments (RR=2.39, P<0.01). There was an antagonistic effect between excessive national occupational noise exposure intensity and self-reported noisy living environments (interaction index <1.00). Conclusion Both occupational and non-occupational noise exposure can increase the risk of HFHL in noise-exposed workers, and there is an interaction between them.

Objective Using cochlear metabolomics to study the mechanisms underlying age-related hearing loss in rat.Methods A total of 30 rats with 2-month-old(young group)and 14-month-old(old group)were select-ed,with 15 rats in each group.The auditory function in each group was detected by auditory brainstem response(ABR),the morphology of cochlear tissue in both groups was observed using HE staining,and the oxidative stress status of cochlear tissue was detected by flow cytometry.Five rats/groups were selected for metabolomic examina-tion of cochlear tissue by untargeted ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy(LC-MS/MS)to analyze the metabolic differences in the aging cochlea.Results Compared with young group,ABR detection of tone burst at 8,16,and 32 kHz and click response thresholds were significantly higher in old group(P＜0.05),HE staining showed cochlear senescence-related vascular stripe atrophy(P＜0.05),and flow cytometric techniques suggested significantly higher levels of oxidative stress in old group(P＜0.05).Metabolomics detection revealed that a total of 124 differential metabolites were identified in the cochlea of the old group,of which 16 metabolites in-cluding sphingosine,all-trans-retinoic acid,and oleamide were significantly upregulated,while the levels of 108 me-tabolites such as purine,taurine,thiamine,and proline and its derivatives were significantly decreased.The results suggested that physiopathological mechanisms such as protein synthesis and catabolism,sphingolipid metabolism,purine metabolism,oxidative stress-related signaling,cell death,and coenzyme biosynthesis may be involved in co-chlear aging.Conclusion Cellular senescence and cochlear metabolic dysfunction may be important mechanisms of age-related hearing loss.

Objective To explore the effect of physical exercise on semen quality in order to provide basic data and theoretical basis for the improvement of male reproductive health.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1 059 males who visited the Reproductive Medicine Center of Shandong Maternal and Child Health Hospital for medical treatment and physical examination during July 2022 and April 2023.Their demographic data and physical exercise data were surveyed with questionnaires.Total sperm count,sperm concentration,total sperm motility,forward movement and normal sperm morphology were analyzed with computer aided analysis.Logistic regression model and multiple linear regression model were applied to analyze the effects of physical exercise on semen quality.Results After adjustment for confounding factors such as age,body mass index,alcohol consumption and smoking,logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of abnormal semen quality was increased in patients with moderate and heavy exercise intensity(OR=2.103,OR=2.229).Compared with the participants with physical exercise ≤10 min per session,those with＞20 min per session had a lower risk of abnormal semen quality(OR=0.357,0.256,0.289 for exercise time for＞20～30,＞30～60,＞60 min,respectively).There was no statistical significance between physical exercise frequency and semen quality(P＞0.05).The participants having exercise well were at a lower risk for abnormal semen quality(OR=0.711).Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the frequency of physical exercise was an influencing factor of sperm concentration(β=7.474,95％CI:4.800～10.149,P＜0.05);the time of physical exercise per session was an influencing factor for total sperm count(β=20.632,95％CI:7.634～33.629);the intensity of physical exercise(β=-1.461,95％CI:-2.392～-0.530)and time of physical exercise per session(β=2.608,95％CI:1.404～3.812,P＜0.05)were influencing factors for percentage of forward motility sperm(P＜0.05);and physical exercise intensity(β=-1.934,95％CI:-3.238～-0.630),time of physical exercise per session(β=4.211,95％CI:2.525～5.897)and frequency of physical exercise(β=-2.008,95％CI:-3.480～-0.536)were influencing factors of total sperm motility(P＜0.05).Conclusion Physical exercise may affect semen quality,greater intensity of physical exercise may be a risk factor for abnormal semen quality,and longer physical exercise time may be related to improving semen quality.Therefore,proper physical exercise can help improve semen quality.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum CC chemokine ligand-11(CCL11)and lipocalin-2(LCN-2)in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and their diagnostic value for NSCLC.Methods NSCLC pa-tients admitted to the hospital from October 2019 to December 2022 were collected as the NSCLC group(80 cases),and 80 patients with benign lung lesions and 80 healthy volunteers treated in the hospital during the same period were collected as benign control group and health control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to measure serum levels of CCL11 and LCN-2.The general data and serum levels of CCL11 and LCN-2 were compared among the three groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic value of serum CCL11 and LCN-2 for NSCLC.Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing factors of the occurrence of NSCLC.Results The serum levels of CCL11 and LCN-2 in NSCLC group were obviously higher than those in benign control group and health control group(P＜0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference between begin control group and health control group(P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in serum CCL11 and LCN-2 levels among NSCLC patients of different genders,ages,and pathological types(P＞0.05),the serum levels of CCL11 and LCN-2 in NSCLC patients with a history of smoking,engaged in work related oil smoke at dust,medium to low differentiation,tumor diameter＞3 cm,lymph node metastasis,and TNM staging Ⅲ-Ⅳ were obviously higher than those in NSCLC patients without a history of smoking,not engaged in work related oil smoke at dust,high differentiation,tumor diameter ≤3 cm,non lymph node metastasis,and TNM stagingⅠ-Ⅱ(P＜0.05).The results of ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of CCL11,LCN-2 alone and their combination in the diagnosis of NSCLC was 0.849,0.841 and 0.926 respectively,the sensitivi-ty was 73.8％,75.0％and 85.0％respectively,and the specificity was 70.1％,70.0％and 75.0％respective-ly.The efficacy of combined detection of the two in diagnosing NSCLC was better than those of single detec-tion(P＜0.05).The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking,engaging in high oil fume,dust related works,and serum levels of CCL11 and LCN-2 were all influencing factors for the occurrence of NSCLC(P＜0.05).Conclusion In NSCLC patients,the levels of serum CCL11 and LCN-2 obviously in-crease,and they are closely related to the clinical pathological characteristics of NSCLC patients.Both have certain clinical value in the diagnosis of NSCLC.

This study was performed to investigate the variation characteristics and functions of Siglec-9 immune checkpoint in pulmonary tuberculosis.R language was used for bioinformatics analysis of GSE83456 chip data.Total of 48 patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)and 46 healthy controls were included.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of Siglec-9 in peripheral blood;flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells.The levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by Cytometric Bead Array(CBA).Furthermore,the correlation of the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells with TNF-α and other cytokines were analyzed.Bioinformatics analysis showed that Siglec-9 was significantly increased in patients with PTB(P＜0.001),and was related to TNF-α/NF-κB,IL-6/JAK/STATA3,PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathways.Experimental data showed that the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells was significantly increased in patients with PTB(P＜0.001)and negatively correlated with the levels of TNF-α and other cytokines.In conclusion,the higher levels of Siglec-9 mRNA and Siglec-9+CD4+T cells in PTB may inhibit the function of CD4+T cells and participate in the occurrence and development of PTB.

This study was performed to investigate the variation characteristics and functions of Siglec-9 immune checkpoint in pulmonary tuberculosis.R language was used for bioinformatics analysis of GSE83456 chip data.Total of 48 patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB)and 46 healthy controls were included.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the mRNA expression of Siglec-9 in peripheral blood;flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells.The levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by Cytometric Bead Array(CBA).Furthermore,the correlation of the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells with TNF-α and other cytokines were analyzed.Bioinformatics analysis showed that Siglec-9 was significantly increased in patients with PTB(P＜0.001),and was related to TNF-α/NF-κB,IL-6/JAK/STATA3,PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathways.Experimental data showed that the proportion of Siglec-9+CD4+T cells was significantly increased in patients with PTB(P＜0.001)and negatively correlated with the levels of TNF-α and other cytokines.In conclusion,the higher levels of Siglec-9 mRNA and Siglec-9+CD4+T cells in PTB may inhibit the function of CD4+T cells and participate in the occurrence and development of PTB.

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is often affected by interference, which could lead to incorrect judgment of physiological information. Therefore, performing a quality assessment before extracting physiological information is crucial. This paper proposed a new PPG signal quality assessment by fusing multi-class features with multi-scale series information to address the problems of traditional machine learning methods with low accuracy and deep learning methods requiring a large number of samples for training. The multi-class features were extracted to reduce the dependence on the number of samples, and the multi-scale series information was extracted by a multi-scale convolutional neural network and bidirectional long short-term memory to improve the accuracy. The proposed method obtained the highest accuracy of 94.21%. It showed the best performance in all sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1-score metrics, compared with 6 quality assessment methods on 14 700 samples from 7 experiments. This paper provides a new method for quality assessment in small samples of PPG signals and quality information mining, which is expected to be used for accurate extraction and monitoring of clinical and daily PPG physiological information.
Photoplethysmography ; Machine Learning ; Neural Networks, Computer