Objective:This study investigated the awareness and consumption of Trogia venenata among populations in regions affected by Yunnan unexplained sudden death (YUSD). The findings aim to support etiological research on YUSD and contribute to the formulation of preventive measures against Trogia venenata poisoning. Methods:This study was a case-control study. From 2018 to 2021, surveys were conducted in 90 villages across 25 counties within YUSD-affected areas in Yunnan Province. Households with YUSD cases were designated as case households, whereas households without YUSD cases served as controls, ande were selected through convenience sampling at a 3:1 ratio. An enhanced questionnaire was designed to collect information on the consumption of Trogia venenata, and symptoms following consumption. Frequency data were presented as percentages, and group comparisons were conducted using χ 2 tests or Fisher’s exact tests. Results:A total of 711 questionnaires were collected (response rate: 100%), comprising 175 case households and 536 control households. Trogia venenata was present in 80.82% of the villages surveyed. Among the 711 households, 15.89% reported consuming Trogia venenata, primarily through stir-frying (53.10%), followed by boiling (29.20%), boiling and stir-frying (15.93%), and steaming (1.77%). Most households (94.69%) consumed fresh fruiting bodies, with 69.02% consuming them fewer than three times annually. The consumption rates were higher among the case households than among the control households. Of the 113 households with a history of Trogia venenata consumption, 35.40% reported symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and limb soreness. The proportions of affected families in each group were compared according to their source, cooking method, fruiting body status and consumption frequency. The proportion of affected families with high consumption frequency (≥3 times/year) was higher than that with low consumption frequency (<3 times/year). Among 421 YUSD cases, 63 cases (14.96%) had a history of Trogia venenata consumption before death, with 43 cases showing symptoms within the longest known latency period (14 d) for poisoning by this mushroom. Conclusions:Trogia venenata is prevalent in 80.82% of YUSD-affected regions, with 16.67% of the population reporting its consumption, predominantly as fresh fruiting bodies prepared by stir-frying or boiling. Confirmed Trogia venenata consumption was identified in 14.96% of YUSD cases, suggesting that mushroom poisoning is a significant risk factor for YUSD. Ongoing health education and interventions are critical for mitigating the risk of Trogia venenata poisoning.

Objective:To analyze the infection status of Coxsackievirus B group (CVB) in regions affected by sudden unexplained death in Yunnan (referred to as sudden death in Yunnan), and to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies.Methods:A cross-sectional survey method was employed. The population from 16 counties (cities, districts, referred to as counties) affected by sudden death in Yunnan Province from 2002 to 2022 and the population from one non-affected county in 2021 and 2022 (control population) were classified into cases of sudden death in Yunnan (7 cases), co-occurring cases (29 cases), high-risk population (1 303 cases), and control population (270 cases). Blood samples were collected from these populations. By using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), CVB immunoglobulin M (CVB-IgM) antibodies in the acute-phase serum samples of the population in the affected areas were detected, and CVB immunoglobulin G (CVB-IgG) antibodies in the convalescent-phase serum samples were detected. Both types of detections were carried out on the control population, and the test results were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 609 serum samples were tested, including 1 339 samples from the population in the affected areas (923 acute-phase samples and 416 convalescent-phase samples) and 270 samples from the control population. Among the 16 affected counties, positive CVB-IgM antibody results were detected in 9 counties. The overall positive rate of the population in the affected areas was higher than that of the control population [7.80% (72/923) vs. 4.44% (12/270), χ 2 = 40.78, P < 0.001]. The positive rates of the high-risk population in Dayao County and Lufeng City were both higher than that of the control population [(22.22% (22/99), 10.92% (25/229) vs. 4.44% (12/270), χ 2 = 27.37, 7.56, P < 0.05]. Positive CVB-IgG antibody results were detected in 7 counties. The overall positive rate of the population in the affected areas was higher than that of the control population [(4.09% (17/416) vs. 0.74% (2/270), χ 2 = 6.81, P = 0.009]. The positive rates of CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of the affected areas in Dayao County [22.22% (22/99), 9.80% (5/51)] were both higher than those of the control population ( P < 0.05). Among the five affected villages in Dayao County, the positive rates of CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of Aji Ju Village were the highest [25.49% (13/51), 3/13]. Conclusions:The positive rates of both CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of the areas affected by sudden death in Yunnan were higher than those of the control population, indicating that CVB infection occurred during the sudden death events in the above-mentioned affected areas.

Objective:To analyze the infection status of Coxsackievirus B group (CVB) in regions affected by sudden unexplained death in Yunnan (referred to as sudden death in Yunnan), and to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies.Methods:A cross-sectional survey method was employed. The population from 16 counties (cities, districts, referred to as counties) affected by sudden death in Yunnan Province from 2002 to 2022 and the population from one non-affected county in 2021 and 2022 (control population) were classified into cases of sudden death in Yunnan (7 cases), co-occurring cases (29 cases), high-risk population (1 303 cases), and control population (270 cases). Blood samples were collected from these populations. By using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), CVB immunoglobulin M (CVB-IgM) antibodies in the acute-phase serum samples of the population in the affected areas were detected, and CVB immunoglobulin G (CVB-IgG) antibodies in the convalescent-phase serum samples were detected. Both types of detections were carried out on the control population, and the test results were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 609 serum samples were tested, including 1 339 samples from the population in the affected areas (923 acute-phase samples and 416 convalescent-phase samples) and 270 samples from the control population. Among the 16 affected counties, positive CVB-IgM antibody results were detected in 9 counties. The overall positive rate of the population in the affected areas was higher than that of the control population [7.80% (72/923) vs. 4.44% (12/270), χ 2 = 40.78, P < 0.001]. The positive rates of the high-risk population in Dayao County and Lufeng City were both higher than that of the control population [(22.22% (22/99), 10.92% (25/229) vs. 4.44% (12/270), χ 2 = 27.37, 7.56, P < 0.05]. Positive CVB-IgG antibody results were detected in 7 counties. The overall positive rate of the population in the affected areas was higher than that of the control population [(4.09% (17/416) vs. 0.74% (2/270), χ 2 = 6.81, P = 0.009]. The positive rates of CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of the affected areas in Dayao County [22.22% (22/99), 9.80% (5/51)] were both higher than those of the control population ( P < 0.05). Among the five affected villages in Dayao County, the positive rates of CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of Aji Ju Village were the highest [25.49% (13/51), 3/13]. Conclusions:The positive rates of both CVB-IgM and CVB-IgG antibodies in the population of the areas affected by sudden death in Yunnan were higher than those of the control population, indicating that CVB infection occurred during the sudden death events in the above-mentioned affected areas.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of comprehensive intervention measures on Yunnan unexplained sudden death (YUSD) in Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, and to provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control measures.Methods:Since 2010, Yunnan Province had implemented comprehensive intervention measures in ward areas according to the etiological pattern of YUSD. In July 2019, 47 families with YUSD were selected as case families and 23 families without YUSD were selected as control families in 31 natural villages of Heqing, Xiangyun, Yunlong, Eryuan, Jianchuan, Binchuan and Nanjian counties of Dali Prefecture. A unified questionnaire was used to investigate the basic information, economic status, dietary structure, and health literacy of the families during the two periods of "the first sudden death case" and "the present".Results:The annual household income of the case families at present (median, 20 492.6 yuan) was significantly higher than that of the first sudden death case (3 883.4 yuan), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = - 5.27, P < 0.001). At present, rice (76.6%, 36/47) was the main diet of the case families; at the time of the first sudden death case, 23.4% (11/47) of the case families could not eat enough, and there was no such situation in the case families at present. Compared with the time of the first sudden death case, the dietary habits of the case families at present were as follows: the proportion of eating Trogia venenata decreased from 19.0% (39/205) to 0 (0/190), the proportion of eating wild fruit decreased from 17.1% (35/205) to 9.5% (18/190), and the proportion of drinking raw water decreased from 55.1% (113/205) to 42.1% (80/190), and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 22.37, 4.90, 6.86, P < 0.05). Lifestyle and health awareness: the proportion of those who washed their hands before meals and after using the toilet increased from 9.8% (20/205) to 41.6% (79/190), those who did not overwork increased from 16.6% (34/205) to 34.2% (65/190), and those who took good protection when spraying pesticides increased from 7.3% (15/205) to 21.6% (41/190), and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 53.17, 33.94, 16.48, P < 0.001). Toilet habits: the proportion of using outdoor toilet decreased from 75.6% (155/205) to 9.5% (18/190), the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 175.21, P < 0.001). When the first sudden death case occurred, the proportions of eating Trogia venenata and using outdoor toilet in the case families were higher than those in the control families (χ 2 = 22.37, 23.70, P < 0.001), the proportions of those who washed their hands before meals and after using the toilet and those who did not overwork in the case families were lower than those in the control families (χ 2 = 7.38, 4.93, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The economic conditions, production and living conditions of YUSD areas in Dali Prefecture have been significantly improved, and the health literacy and health prevention awareness of the population have been greatly improved. Economic conditions and living standard, dietary structure and health literacy may be related factors of YUSD.

Background Air pollution is a major public health concern. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a very important air quality risk communication tool. However, AQHI is usually constructed by single-pollutant model, which has obvious disadvantages. Objective To construct an AQHI based on the joint effects of multiple air pollutants (J-AQHI), and to provide a scientific tool for health risk warning and risk communication of air pollution. Methods Data on non-accidental deaths in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Jilin provinces from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were obtained from the corresponding provincial disease surveillance points systems (DSPS), including date of death, age, gender, and cause of death. Daily meteorological (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and maximum 8 h O₃ concentrations) at the same period were respectively derived from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System and National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform. Lasso regression was first applied to select air pollutants, then a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied. Each case was matched to 3 or 4 control days which were selected on the same days of the week in the same calendar month. Then a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the exposure-response relationship between selected air pollutants and mortality, which was used to construct the AQHI. Finally, AQHI was classified into four levels according to the air pollutant guidance limit values from World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021), and the excess risks (ERs) were calculated to compare the AQHI based on single-pollutant model and the J-AQHI based on multi-pollutant model. Results PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ were selected by Lasso regression to establish DLNM model. The ERs for an interquartile range (IQR) increase and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ were 0.71% (0.34%–1.09%), 2.46% (1.78%–3.15%), 1.25% (0.9%–1.6%), and 0.27% (−0.11%–0.65%) respectively. The distribution of J-AQHI was right-skewed, and it was divided into four levels, with ranges of 0-1 for low risk, 2-3 for moderate risk, 4-5 for high health risk, and ≥6 for severe risk, and the corresponding proportions were 11.25%, 64.61%, 19.33%, and 4.81%, respectively. The ER (95%CI) of mortality risk increased by 3.61% (2.93–4.29) for each IQR increase of the multi-pollutant based J-AQHI , while it was 3.39% (2.68–4.11) for the single-pollutant based AQHI . Conclusion The J-AQHI generated by multi-pollutant model demonstrates the actual exposure health risk of air pollution in the population and provides new ideas for further improvement of AQHI calculation methods.

Background: Cervical cancer is still present a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. In International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2018, allowing assessment of retroperitoneal lymph nodes by imaging and/or pathological findings and, if deemed metastatic, the case is designated as stage IIIC (with r and p notations). Patients with lymph node metastases have lower overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and survival after recurrence, especially those who have unresectable macroscopical positive lymph nodes. Retrospective analysis suggests that there may be a benefit to debulking macroscopic nodes that would be otherwise difficult to sterilize with standard doses of radiation therapy. However, there are no prospective study reporting that resecting macroscopic nodes before concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) would improve PFS or OS of cervical cancer and no guidelines for surgical resection of bulky lymph nodes. The CQGOG0103 study is a prospective, multicenter and randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating lymph node dissection on stage IIICr of cervical cancer. Methods Eligible patients are histologically confirmed cervical squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adeno-squamous cell carcinoma. Stage IIICr (confirmed by computed tomography [CT]/magnetic resonance imaging/positron emission tomography/CT) and the short diameter of image-positive lymph node ≥15 mm. 452 patients will be equally randomized to receive either CCRT (pelvic external-beam radiotherapy [EBRT]/extended-field EBRT + cisplatin [40 mg/m2] or carboplatin [the area under curve=2] every week for 5 cycles + brachytherapy) or open/minimally invasive pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection followed by CCRT. Randomization is stratified by status of para-aortic lymph node. The primary endpoint is PFS. Secondary endpoints are OS and surgical complications. A total of 452 patients will be enrolled from multiple hospitals in China within 4 years and followed up for 5 years.

Objective:To explore the anti-inflammatory effect of pomegranate peel polyphenols on a rat auriclular model of acne and its mechanism of action.Methods:Totally, 36 specific-pathogen-free SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: blank group, model group, low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups and positive control group. In all groups except the blank group, 0.5 ml of 100% oleic acid was applied to the openings of bilateral auricular ducts once a day for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by subcutaneous injections of 50 μl of Propionibacterium acnes suspension at the oleic acid-applied sites once a day for 3 consecutive days, so as to establish a rat auriclular model of acne. After the model was confirmed to be successfully established by naked eyes, the low-, medium-, high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups were topically treated with 0.5 mg of 1.4%, 2.8%, 5.6% (mass fraction) pomegranate peel polyphenol ointment respectively, the positive control group was topically treated with 0.5 mg of clindamycin hydrochloride gel, and the blank group and model group were topically treated with the same amount of distilled water. All the topical treatments were performed twice a day for 2 consecutive weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last topical treatment, abdominal aortic blood samples were collected, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was conducted to detect the serum level of interleukin 17 (IL-17) in rats; rat auricular tissues were resected, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe histopathological changes of the skin tissues in each group, and immunohistochemical study to determine the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) , hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) , and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) in local tissues. Data meeting the assumptions of homogeneity of variances were analyzed by using one-way analysis of variance, and those that did not meet the assumptions of homogeneity of variances were analyzed by using Kruskal-Wallis H test; multiple comparisons were performed by using least significant difference- t test. Results:Compared with the model group, the pomegranate peel polyphenol groups and positive control group showed marked improvement in cysts, desquamation, crusts and epidermal keratinization, and reduced infiltration with inflammatory factors in the dermis at the modeling site. The serum level of IL-17 was significantly lower in the low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (61.03 ± 5.99 ng/L, 55.35 ± 2.24 ng/L, 54.35 ± 4.29 ng/L, respectively) , positive control group (48.11 ± 4.07 ng/L) and blank group (42.10 ± 5.62 ng/L) than in the model group (70.24 ± 3.30 ng/L; t = 3.12, 5.34, 5.70, 8.29, 10.54, respectively, all P<0.05) . Immunohistochemical study revealed that the HIF-1α expression level was significantly lower in the low-, medium- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (0.29 ± 0.05, 0.29 ± 0.03, 0.33 ± 0.02, respectively) and positive control group (0.30 ± 0.01) than in the model group (0.41 ± 0.04; t = 4.89, 5.50, 3.62, 5.21, respectively, all P<0.05) ; the RORγt expression level was significantly lower in the low- and high-dose pomegranate peel polyphenol groups (0.28 ± 0.02, 0.31 ± 0.04, respectively) than in the model group (0.35 ± 0.02, t = 3.68, 2.18, respectively, both P<0.05) ; there was no significant difference in the mTOR expression level among these groups ( P = 0.119) . Conclusion:Pomegranate peel polyphenols could improve inflammatory reactions in the rat auriclular model of acne, which may be related to the down-regulation of HIF-1α/RORγt signaling pathway.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) presents in early childhood, and children have a higher risk of intussusception due to a smaller abdominal space than adults. Double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) has been proven to be a safe and effective method for the diagnosis and treatment of small bowel lesions, but the efficacy and safety of its prophylactic polypectomy in children with PJS need to be determined. Data of 6 children (median age 10.6 years) diagnosed as having PJS from 2018 to 2020 were reviewed. DBE was performed 14 times, and 3 children were successfully relieved of intussusception after DBE treatment. The sizes of the resected intussusception polyps were 50 mm×60 mm, 40 mm×35 mm, and 50 mm×40 mm. Symptoms associated with polyps (abdominal pain, intussusception and obstruction) relieved after DBE in all children. No direct complications such as bleeding or perforation were found during the operation, and no recurrence of intussusception was found during follow-up. It can be seen that DBE polypectomy is safe and effective in the treatment of intussusception caused by PJS.

Objective:To analyze common pathogenic gene mutations of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in Yunnan unexplained sudden death (hereinafter referred to as Yunnan sudden death) cases, and explore the etiological relationship between Yunnan sudden death and ARVC.Methods:Four typical Yunnan sudden death affected counties (cities) were selected as investigation sites. Cryopreserved autopsy cardiac cavity blood samples were collected from Yunnan sudden death cases ( n = 3), and peripheral venous blood samples were harvested from their relatives (first, second, third and immediate degree of kinship, n = 67) and control population ( n = 49). The DNA of blood samples was extracted for amplification and sequencing of 97 exons of 5 common ARVC desmosomal protein [desmoplakin (DSP), desmocollin-2 (DSC2), desmoglein-2 (DSG2), plakophilin-2 (PKP2) and junction plakoglobin (JUP)] genes, and genetic lineage of Yunnan sudden death cases was investigated. Results:A total of 17 gene mutation sites were discovered in Yunnan sudden death cases and their relatives, with 6, 5, 4, 1 and 1 in the DSP, DSC2, DSG2, PKP2 and JUP genes, which were not found in the control population. Among them, 9 were newly discovered mutation sites and 8 were reported mutation sites. The DSP gene exon 24 c.8472 G>C, a pure contractual sense mutation, was common in the relatives of 4 cases in the same family surveyed; and one immediate relative carried a deletion mutation at c.2368 - 2370 of exon 15 of DSC2 gene.Conclusion:Yunnan sudden death cases and their relatives carry mutations in the ARVC desmosomal protein DSP, DSC2, DSG2, PKP2, and JUP genes, and the onset of some Yunnan sudden death may be associated with mutations in the ARVC desmosomal protein genes.

Objective:To explore the relationship between arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) desmosomal protein gene mutations and Yunnan unexplained sudden death (hereinafter referred to as Yunnan sudden death) by detecting 5 common ARVC desmosomal protein gene mutations of Yunnan sudden death cases and their relatives in Heqing County, Yunnan Province.Methods:In January 2021, the autopsy heart cavity blood was collected from Yunnan sudden death cases in 8 villages in Heqing County, and peripheral venous blood samples of relatives of the cases were collected. Blood samples' DNA was extracted, after PCR amplification, 97 exons of 5 desmosomal protein genes [desmoplakin (DSP), desmoglein-2 (DSG2), plakophilin-2 (PKP2), junction plakoglobin (JUP) and desmocollin-2 (DSC2)] were sequenced by Sanger method to analyze gene mutations.Results:Three blood samples of Yunnan sudden death cases and 36 blood samples of relatives were collected. A total of 26 gene mutation sites were detected in 39 blood samples, with a total mutation rate of 26.80% (26/97). There were 13, 5, 3, 3 and 2 mutation sites in DSP, DSG2, PKP2, JUP and DSC2 genes, respectively. Among them, 19 were reported mutations and 7 were new mutations: DSP gene exon 3 c.372G>A, exon 15 c.2090A>G, exon 17 c.2371C>A, exon 24-I c.8458T>G; DSG2 gene exon 8 c.861C>T; PKP2 gene exon 3 c.892C>A, exon 8 c.1725G>T. Three Yunnan sudden death cases and 36 relatives were all carriers of compound gene mutation, and the same person carried 3 - 9 gene mutation sites at the same time.Conclusion:Mutations of ARVC desmosomal protein genes DSP, DSG2, PKP2, JUP and DSC2 exist in Yunnan sudden death cases and their relatives, which may be the genetic background factors of some Yunnan sudden death.