ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） complicated by metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） and explore the correlations between these syndrome types and clinical indicators， as well as ocular manifestation characteristics， thereby providing a reference for syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies in traditional Chinese medicine. MethodsGeneral data， information from the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine， clinical indicators， and ocular manifestation data were collected from 506 patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD enrolled at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu between June 2024 and December 2024. Cluster analysis， principal component analysis， and complex network models were employed to identify the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes. Correlations between different syndrome types and clinical indicators， as well as ocular manifestation characteristics， were further analyzed. ResultsThe predominant syndromes identified in patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD were dampness and heat accumulation （51.58%）， liver depression with spleen deficiency （31.62%）， blood stasis obstructing collaterals （8.89%）， and Qi-Yin deficiency （7.91%）. No statistically significant differences were found among the four syndrome types in routine blood tests and liver function indicators. However， patients with the dampness and heat accumulation type exhibited significantly higher levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， liver stiffness measurement （LSM）， controlled attenuation parameter （CAP）， and alpha-fetoprotein （AFP）， along with lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C）， compared with those with other syndrome types. Regarding ocular manifestations， the incidence of moon halo signs was significantly higher in patients with the blood stasis obstructing collaterals type than in those with other syndrome types. Additionally， the incidence in scleral zone 3 （corresponding to the large intestine） was higher in patients with the damp and heat accumulation type. ConclusionDampness and heat accumulation is the core syndrome type in patients with CHB complicated by MAFLD， commonly accompanied by spleen deficiency， liver depression， blood stasis， and Yin deficiency. A complex syndrome pattern characterized by a predominance of dampness and heat， along with a mixture of deficiency and excess， is formed. Different traditional Chinese medicine syndrome types are associated with distinct clinical indicators and ocular manifestation characteristics. Among them， patients with the dampness and heat accumulation type exhibit more pronounced metabolic disturbances and liver injury， whereas those with the blood stasis type show a higher incidence of moon halo signs. Abnormalities in scleral zone 3 are also more prevalent in patients with dampness and heat type.

ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the distribution patterns of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） comorbid with metabolically associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） and analyze their correlation with clinical characteristics and the progression of liver fibrosis. MethodsA cross-sectional study method was employed， and 506 patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD who attended the Hepatology Outpatient Department of Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from June 2024 to December 2024 were enrolled. General information， traditional Chinese medicine syndromes information， laboratory indicators， and imaging examination results were collected using case report forms （CRF）. Tongue images of patients were acquired using a tongue diagnosis instrument， and tongue feature parameters were extracted using computer image processing technology. Frequency analysis， factor analysis， and cluster analysis， and other methods were used to explore syndrome categories and distribution patterns. Non-parametric tests were used to compare the differences in clinical characteristics among different syndromes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine syndromes and the progression of liver fibrosis. ResultsThe main traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD were mainly dominated by damp-heat accumulation syndrome， liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome， and phlegm-blood stasis syndrome， with damp-heat accumulation syndrome accounting for the highest proportion （41.89%）. Compared with those without damp-heat accumulation syndrome， patients with damp-heat accumulation syndrome had significantly lower tongue proper H value， tongue coating H value， and tongue coating a^* value （P<0.05）， significantly higher tongue coating b^* value （P<0.05）， significantly increased levels of white blood cell （WBC）， red blood cell （RBC）， hemoglobin （HGB）， and glucose （GLU）， increased CAP values （P<0.05）， a higher proportion of males （P<0.05）， and a younger age （P<0.05）. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses show that age， hepatitis B surface antigen （HBsAg）， diabetes， and damp-heat accumulation syndrome are independent risk factors for liver fibrosis （P<0.05）， and that damp-heat accumulation syndrome is predominantly distributed in liver fibrosis stage F0-F1. ConclusionDamp-heat accumulation syndrome is a typical syndrome in patients with CHB comorbid with MAFLD， which is significantly associated with enhanced inflammatory response， metabolic disorders， and early liver fibrosis， and is a key link in disease progression. Clinical attention and early intervention are needed.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Qidan Yifei Tongqiao granules （QDYF） alleviate nasal mucosal remodeling in allergic rhinitis （AR） via the interleukin-33 （IL-33）/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 （ST2）/interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein （IL-1RAP） signaling pathway from the perspective of Qi-replenishing and blood-activating therapy. MethodsFirst， according to the previous network pharmacology results， this study predicted the potential mechanisms of QDYF in treating AR by screening key pathways， components， and targets. Molecular docking was performed via AutoDock and PyMOL 2.5.5. Subsequently， a rat model of ovalbumin （OVA）-induced AR was used for validation through in vivo experiments. Forty-eight rats were assigned into 6 groups： Control， model， low-dose QDYF （QDYF-L， 4.04 g·kg^-1）， medium-dose QDYF （QDYF-M， 8.08 g·kg^-1）， high-dose QDYF （QDYF-H， 16.16 g·kg^-1）， and loratadine （0.9 mg·kg^-1）. After 14 days of intervention， behavioral scores of the rats were observed. The morphological changes of nasal mucosa tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Masson staining was used to observe collagen fiber deposition in the nasal mucosal tissue and to calculate the collagen volume fraction （CVF）. The expression of E-cadherin （E-cad） in the nasal mucosa tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. The serum levels of helper T cell 2 （Th2） cytokines interleukin-4 （IL-4）， interleukin-5 （IL-5）， and interleukin-13 （IL-13） as well as helper T cell 1 （Th1） cytokines interleukin-2 （IL-2） and interferon-γ （INF-γ） were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 （TGF-β₁）， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsIL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP had strong binding ability with the main active ingredients—wogonin， 7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone， formononetin， naringenin， stigmasterol， and beta-sitosterol of QDYF， with the binding energy < -4.25 kcal⋅mol^-1（1 cal≈4.184 J）. The results of in vivo experiments showed that compared with the control group， the model group exhibited increased behavioral scores （P<0.05）， aggravated pathological damage of nasal mucosa， increased collagen fiber deposition and CVF （P<0.05）， elevated serum levels of IL-4， IL-5， and IL-13， up-regulated protein levels of TGF-β₁， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）， down-regulated expression of E-cad， and declined serum levels of IL-2， IFN-γ， and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the QDYF groups and loratadine group showed reduced behavioral scores （P<0.05）， alleviated pathological damage of nasal mucosa， reduced collagen fiber deposition and CVF （P<0.05）， and up-regulated E-cad expression （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the QDYF-H group and the loratadine group showed raised levels of INF-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio （P<0.05）， declined serum levels of IL-4， IL-5， and IL-13， and down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β₁， IL-33， ST2， and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. In addition， the QDYF-H group exhibited an elevated serum IL-2 level （P<0.05）. The QDYF-M group showed down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β₁， IL-33 and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. The QDYF-L group demonstrated a down-regulated protein level of ST2 in the nasal mucosa （P<0.05）. ConclusionQDYF may regulate the Th1/Th2 balance through the IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP signaling pathway， thereby ameliorating nasal mucosal tissue remodeling and alleviating AR.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of varying doses of methylprednisolone(MP)on mice with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD)induced with influenza A virus(IAV).Methods Mouse model of COPD was established using LPS combined with smoking for 12 weeks,and then these COPD mice were treated with administration of 40 μL IAV via nasal drip to establish a AECOPD model.A total of 15 AECOPD mice were randomly divided into low-,medium-and high-dose MP groups,oseltamivir group and blank group.The body weight and survival time were monitored within 10 d after IAV infection.On days 1,3,and 5 post-treatment,lung function was assessed using whole-body plethysmography(WBP),inflammatory factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were quantified with ELISA,viral titers in BALF were determined using plaque assays,and colony-forming units were evaluated with blood agar plates.Immunofluorescence analysis:① Pulmonary immunofluorescence assay:Mice were randomly categorized into(n=4):LPS 1-day group,LPS 3-day group,and LPS+MP treatment group.All groups received an initial dose of LPS via atomization;subsequently,the LPS+MP treatment group received a single gavage dose of MP.Lung tissues were harvested from the 1-day LPS group on 1 d post-treatment,and from the 3-day LPS and LPS+MP groups on 3 d for immunofluorescence staining.② Cellular immunofluorescence assay:Mouse bone marrow neutrophils were classified into blank control(no intervention),LPS stimulation(LPS group),MP intervention with LPS stimulation(LPS+MP group),and MP intervention alone(MP group).The above cells were collected in 4 h after corresponding interventions for subsequent cellular immunofluorescence analysis.Results ①The medium-dose MP group demonstrated the most significant improvement in survival rate,weight recovery,and lung function when compared to other groups(P＜0.05).② Treatment of medium-dose MP obviously reduced the levels of IL-6 and neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)(P＜0.05),while,elevated inflammatory factors and NETs were observed in the high-dose MP group on day 5 post-treatment.③ Notable decline in the lung injury score was found in the medium-dose MP group than the other groups(P＜0.05).④The high-dose MP group exhibited substantial bacterial proliferation and delayed viral clearance since day 5 after treatment.Conclusion Medium-dose MP shows best efficacy in treatment of IAV-induced AECOPD,and the dose neither delays viral clearance nor increases the risk of bacterial infection following viral infection.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of oral use combined with targeted transdermal delivery of Osteoking in treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA)of cold-damp blockage type.Methods A total of 120 patients with KOA of cold-damp blockage type who admitted to Hunan Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese And West Medicine from September 2022 to September 2023 were randomly divided into the control group,oral use group,transdermal delivery group and combination group according to the random number table method,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with Celecoxib Capsule orally,the oral use group was treated with Osteoking orally,the transdermal delivery group was treated with Osteoking by targeted transdermal delivery,and the combination group was treated with oral use combined with targeted transdermal delivery of Osteoking.One course of treatment covered 12 days,and all of the four groups were treated for two continuous courses.Before and after treatment,the scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome,Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)for pain,Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)for joint function,36-Item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36)for quality of life(QOL),as well as the levels of serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β),interleukin 6(IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α)were observed in the patients of each group.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of patients in each group were evaluated.Results(1)After two courses of treatment,the total effective rate of the combination group was 96.67%(29/30),which was higher than those of the control group[73.33%(22/30)],oral use group and transdermal delivery group[both being 70.00%(21/30)],and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).However,no statistically significant difference of the total effective rate was presented among the control group,oral use group,and transdermal delivery group(P>0.05).(2)After treatment,the scores of TCM syndrome,VAS for pain and WOMAC for joint function in the four groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).The intergroup comparison showed that the scores of TCM syndrome,VAS for pain and WOMAC in the combination group were lower than those in the other three groups(P<0.05),while no statistically significant difference of the scores of TCM syndrome,VAS for pain and WOMAC were presented among the control group,oral use group,and transdermal delivery group(P>0.05).(3)After treatment,the QOL scores of the eight dimensions of SF-36 such as physical functioning(PF),bodily pain(BP),general health(GH),vitality(VT),role-physical(RP),social functioning(SF),role-emotional(RE),and mental health(MH)in the four groups were significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).The intergroup comparison showed that the scores of each dimension of SF-36 in the combination group were significantly higher than those in the other three groups(P<0.05),while no statistically significant difference of the dimension score of SF-36 was presented among the control group,oral use group,and transdermal delivery group(P>0.05).(4)After treatment,the levels of serum inflammatory factors of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α in the four groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01).The intergroup comparison showed that the decrease of serum levels of inflammatory factors in the combination group were significantly superior to those in the other three groups(P<0.05),and the decrease in the control group and oral use group were all superior to those in the transdermal delivery group(P<0.05),while the difference between the control group and oral use group was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(5)During the trial,no serious adverse reactions were found in the patients of four groups,which is of high safety.Conclusion Oral use combined with targeted transdermal delivery of Osteoking is effective on improving the joint pain,joint function and QOL of patients with KOA of cold-damp blockage type,and can speed up the rehabilitation of patients.Its therapeutic mechanism may be related to the decrease of the expression level of inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVE:Anterior cervical decompression and fusion is a classic surgical method for the treatment of degenerative cervical spondylosis.The use of nail plates increases the fusion rate and stability and indirectly leads to adjacent vertebral degeneration and postoperative dysphagia.In this paper,the clinical results and complications of ROI-CTM self-locking system and traditional cage combined with screw-plate internal fixation in the treatment of degenerative cervical spondylosis were compared by meta-analysis to provide evidence-based support for the selection of internal fixation methods in anterior cervical decompression and fusion. METHODS:CNKI,WanFang,VIP,PubMed,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and Embase databases were searched for Chinese and English literature on the application of ROI-CTM self-locking system and fusion cage combined with screw plate internal fixation in the treatment of degenerative cervical spondylosis.The retrieval time range was from inception to July 2023.Two researchers selected the literature strictly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The Cochrane bias risk tool was used to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials.Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of cohort studies.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.Outcome indicators included operation time,intraoperative blood loss,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,Neck Disability Index,C2-C7 Cobb angle,fusion rate,incidence of adjacent vertebral degeneration,cage subsidence rate,and incidence of dysphagia. RESULTS:Thirteen articles were included,including eleven retrospective cohort studies and two randomized controlled trials,with 1 136 patients,569 in the ROI-C group,and 567 in the cage combined with the nail plate group.Meta-analysis results showed that the operation time(MD=-15.52,95%CI:-18.62 to-12.42,P<0.000 01)and intraoperative blood loss(MD=-24.53,95%CI:-32.46 to-16.61,P<0.000 01)in the ROI-C group and the fusion device combined with nail plate group.Postoperative adjacent segment degeneration rate(RR=0.40,95%CI:0.27-0.60,P<0.000 01)and postoperative total dysphagia rate(RR=0.18,95%CI:0.13-0.26),P<0.000 01)were statistically different.The two groups had no significant difference in Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,Neck Disability Index,C2-C7 Cobb angle,fusion rate,or cage subsidence rate(P≥0.05). CONCLUSION:Applying an ROI-CTM self-locking system and traditional cage combined with plate internal fixation in anterior cervical decompression and fusion can achieve satisfactory clinical results in treating degenerative cervical spondylosis.The operation of the ROI-CTM self-locking system is more straightforward.Compared with a cage combined with plate internal fixation,the ROI-CTM self-locking system can significantly reduce the operation time and intraoperative blood loss and has obvious advantages in reducing the incidence of postoperative dysphagia and adjacent segment degeneration.The ROI-CTM self-locking system is recommended for patients with skip cervical spondylosis and adjacent vertebral disease.However,given its possible high settlement rate,using a fusion cage combined with screw-plate internal fixation is still recommended for patients with degenerative cervical spondylosis with multiple segments and high-risk factors of fusion cage settlement,such as osteoporosis and vertebral endplate damage.

BACKGROUND:Buqi Huoxue Compounds have significant clinical efficacy in treating ischemic stroke with Qi deficiency and phlegm stasis;however,the exact mechanism of action is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Buqi Huoxue Compounds on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,brain-derived neurotrophic factor and autophagy related protein Beclin1 and p62 in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. METHODS:Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,Buqi Huoxue Compounds group and autophagy inhibitor group,with 10 rats in each group.In the latter three groups,a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury was established.The Buqi Huoxue Compounds group was intragastrically given Buqi Huoxue Compounds(6.49 g/kg,administered three times a day)2 hours after reperfusion;the autophagy inhibitor group was intragastrically given Buqi Huoxue Compounds(6.49 g/kg,administered three times a day)2 hours after reperfusion and intraperitoneally given 3-methyladenine 2 hours before gavage and at days 1-3 of gavage.The sham operation group and model group were given equal amounts of saline by gavage for 7 consecutive days.Neurological function,cerebral infarct volume,brain tissue morphology and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,brain-derived neurotrophic factor and autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and p62 in the ischemic cortical region of rats were detected at 24 hours after the final administration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Zea-Longa scoring results showed that the neurological function of rats was severely damaged after modeling and neurological deficit of rats in the Buqi Huoxue Compounds group was less than that in the model group and the autophagy inhibitor group(P＜0.05).TTC staining showed that cerebral infarct foci were observed in the model group,Buqi Huoxue Compounds group,and autophagy inhibitor group,and the cerebral infarct volume in the Buqi Huoxue Compounds group was lower than that in the model group and the autophagy inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The results of hematoxylin-eosin staining in ischemic brain tissues showed that there were large gaps between nerve cells in the model group and cell arrangement was not neat,and cytoplasmic agglutination and pyknosis were observed.Immunohistochemical staining results showed that vascular endothelial growth factor was mostly expressed in neuronal cells,glial cells and capillary endothelium;basic fibroblast growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor were mostly expressed in neuronal cells and glial cells;and there was no significant difference in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor,basic fibroblast growth factor,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor among the four groups(P＞0.05).The results of western blot assay showed that compared with the sham operation group,Beclin1 protein expression was decreased(P＜0.05)and p62 protein expression was elevated(P＜0.05)in the model group;compared with the model group,Beclin1 protein expression was increased(P＜0.05)and p62 protein expression was reduced(P＜0.05)in the Buqi Huoxue Compounds group;compared with the Buqi Huoxue Compounds group,Beclin1 protein expression was decreased(P＜0.05)and p62 protein expression was elevated(P＜0.05)in the autophagy inhibitor group.To conclude,Buqi Huoxue Compounds attenuate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by promoting autophagy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Long's spinal manipulation therapy combined with four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuver in treating lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods Sixty-eight patients diagnosed with LDH were enrolled from the Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation at Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between July 2024 and December 2024.Patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table,with 34 cases in each group.The control group received Long's spinal manipulation therapy,while the observation group received additional training in four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuver.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks,with a 1-month follow-up.Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment by comparing Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores,and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)scores before and after intervention.Spinal parameters including maximum lumbar curvature angle,pelvic tilt angle,and maximum vertebral rotation angle were assessed using the DIERS formetric 3D evaluation system.Results(1)The total effective rate was 94.12%(32/34)in the observation group and 91.18%(31/34)in the control group,and both groups achieved ideal therapeutic efficacy,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(2)After treatment,the VAS scores of patients in the two groups significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving VAS scores,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).At the 1-month follow-up after treatment,the VAS score of the observation group significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the JOA and ODI scores of the patients in the two groups significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the JOA and ODI scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).At 1-month follow-up after treatment,JOA and ODI scores of the observation group significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the maximum angle of lumbar flexion,pelvic torsion angle,and maximum rotation angle of the vertebral body of the two groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly better than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).At the 1-month follow-up after treatment,the maximum angle of lumbar flexion,pelvic torsion angle,and maximum vertebral rotation angle of the observation group were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of Long's spinal manipulation therapy and four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuve significantly improves spinal alignment,reduces pain and disability,and enhances quality of life in patients with LDH,demonstrating notable clinical efficacy.

Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) is a widely used technique for structural analysis of small molecular compounds. It can obtain information about the hydrogen-hydrogen correlation, hydrogen-carbon single bond correlation, hydrogen-carbon remote correlation, and hydrogen-hydrogen spatial arrangement of compounds. Thus, 2D NMR has an irreplaceable role in the structure elucidation of small molecular products. However, the sample amount of trace components in phytochemical research is very low, and the traditional sampling method (uniform sampling) has problems of poor spectral quality and too long measure time. Increasing the number of scans results in several hours of the acquisition time for a single two-dimensional spectrum, which in turn causes strain on the NMR machine. The non-uniform sampling (NUS) technique can shorten the acquisition time to a large extent and not affect the quality of 2D NMR data, which greatly improves the efficiency of 2D NMR acquisition. In this paper, fuziline, a small molecular compound in the lateral roots of Aconitum carmichaelii was selected as the research object. Its ¹H-¹³C HSQC, ¹H-¹H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY spectra were acquired by US and NUS methods, respectively. By comparing the integral values of NMR signals of three chemical groups in fuziline, it is confirmed that the NUS technique has the advantages of improving the quality of 2D NMR spectra and shortening the acquisition time in structure elucidation of small molecule compounds. In HMBC spectrum, it was further confirmed that NUS technology can improve the quality of the 2D spectra and the signal resolution. This indicates that NUS technology can improve the efficiency and reliability of the structure elucidation of small molecule compounds.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and socioeconomic factors influencing the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Guangdong Province between 2010 and 2019. METHOD: Spatial and temporal variations in TB incidence were mapped using heat maps and hierarchical clustering. Socioenvironmental influencing factors were evaluated using a Bayesian spatiotemporal conditional autoregressive (ST-CAR) model. RESULTS: Annual incidence of TB in Guangdong decreased from 91.85/100,000 in 2010 to 53.06/100,000 in 2019. Spatial hotspots were found in northeastern Guangdong, particularly in Heyuan, Shanwei, and Shantou, while Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Foshan had the lowest rates in the Pearl River Delta. The ST-CAR model showed that the TB risk was lower with higher per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) [Relative Risk ( RR), 0.91; 95% Confidence Interval ( CI): 0.86-0.98], more the ratio of licensed physicians and physician ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.98), and higher per capita public expenditure ( RR, 0.94; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97), with a marginal effect of population density ( RR, 0.86; 95% CI: 0.86-1.00). CONCLUSION The incidence of TB in Guangdong varies spatially and temporally. Areas with poor economic conditions and insufficient healthcare resources are at an increased risk of TB infection. Strategies focusing on equitable health resource distribution and economic development are the key to TB control.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Bayes Theorem ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis ; Tuberculosis/epidemiology* ; Socioeconomic Factors