Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and effectiveness of emergency responses to epidemic foci in Guangzhou City in 2024, so as to optimization of the dengue fever control strategy in Guangzhou City. Methods All data pertaining to dengue fever cases in Guangzhou City in 2024 were collected from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Surveillance Information Reporting System. The temporal, spatial and population distributions of dengue fever cases and sources of infections were descriptively analyzed, and the effectiveness of emergency responses to epidemic foci of dengue fever was evaluated through standard space index (SSI), the interval from disease onset to case reporting and the percentage of isolation in hospital. Results A total of 3 656 dengue fever cases were reported in Guangzhou City in 2024, including 3 102 local cases and 554 imported cases. Of all cases, 67.86% (2 481 cases) occurred at ages of 20 to 59 years, and the three most common occupations included housework/unemployment (793 cases, 21.69%), business servants (744 cases, 20.35%) and retirees (669 cases, 18.30%). The peak of dengue fever epidemics was concentrated during the period from the 39th to the 45th weeks in 2024, when a total of 2 317 local cases were reported, accounting for 74.69% of all local cases in 2024. Dengue fever cases were reported across all 11 districts in Guangzhou City in 2024, with local cases concentrated in Baiyun District (754 cases, 24.31%), Liwan District (398 cases, 12.83%), Panyu District (365 cases, 11.77%), Haizhu District (332 cases, 10.70%) and Tianhe District (328 cases, 10.57%). Imported dengue fever cases were predominantly domestically imported (492 cases, 88.81%), with the majority imported from Foshan City (377 cases), and overseas imported cases were predominantly imported from southeastern Asian countries. The mean proportion of case isolation in hospital was 9.16% (284/3 102), and the mean interval from disease onset to case reporting was (3.99 ± 2.70) days, while the percentages of mosquito density meeting the required standard were 61.68% (462/ 749) and 66.32% (126/190) on the 4th and 7th day of emergency responses to epidemic foci, respectively. Conclusions The prevention and control cycle of dengue fever in Guangzhou in 2024 took longer than in previous years, with a larger scale of the epidemic. Although some progress has been made in epidemic management, there are still problems such as unsustainable mosquito vector control and low hospitalization isolation rates for cases. Further optimization of control measures in mosquito vector control, case monitoring and management is required to improve the effectiveness of dengue fever control measures.

AIM:To predict the active compo-nents and targets of Piperlongum L.and the associ-ated signaling pathways involved in pulmonary fi-brosis using network pharmacology and molecular docking technique and evaluate the mechanism of Piperlongum L against pulmonary fibrosis by in vi-tro experiments.METHODS:The active ingredients and targets were retrieved from TCMSP,Swiss Tar-get Prediction and PubChem databases.The dis-ease-related targets were retrieved from Gene-Cards and OMIM databases.The intersection tar-gets of the drugs and disease-related targets were identified using jvenn online tool.String database was used to construct the"drug-component-tar-get"and PPI network and the networks were visual-ized using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software.GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed on the inter-section targets using the DAVID tool.The top 20 KEGG pathways,core targets and drug components were used to construct a"component-target-path-way"network and the network visualization was performed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software.The in-teractions between drug compounds and the tar-gets were evaluated by molecular docking,and the docking results were visualized using Discovery stu-dio.HFL-1 cells were cultured and the effect of the drug compounds on cell viability was determined by MTT assay.The inhibition rate was then calculat-ed to determine the optimal drug concentration.HFL-1 cells were cultured in vitro and were as-signed into 4 groups:control group,TGF-β1 group,TGF-β1+LD group(LD group),TGF-β1+HD group(HD group).CCK-8 kit was used to evaluate the anti-proliferative activity of the drug compounds against HFL-1 cells at 24,48 and 72 h.Plate clone formation assay was performed to evaluate the ef-fect of drugs on the colony formation ability of HFL-1 cells.RT-qPCR and western blot were conducted to determine the effect of the compounds on the mRNA and protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),collagen type Ⅰ(COI-Ⅰ),and collagen type Ⅲ(COI-Ⅲ)in each group.RESULTS:A total of 197 intersection targets of Piperlongum L and anti-pulmonary fibrosis were identified.The core PPI network comprised 29 nodes(targets)and 199 edges(interactions).GO functional analysis showed that the significantly enriched biological processes associated with the compounds in Piper-longum L included negative regulation of apopto-sis,signal transduction,and protein phosphoryla-tion.Significantly enriched cellular components in-cluded cytoplasm,nuclear cytoplasm,plasma mem-brane.Enriched molecular functions associated with the compounds included the same protein binding,serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase activity,and protein binding.A total of 155 significantly en-riched KEGG signaling pathways were identified,with PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was highly associ-ated with PF and was the fourth most enriched pathway.PIK3CA,MAPK3,MAPK1,MTOR,SRC,CCND1,EGFR,PRKCA,BCL2,and GSK3B had the highest connectivity in the components-target-pathway network.Piperlongine,N-(2,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-4-methoxybenzamide,tetrahydrotanshi-none,pisigenin and piperine were the key com-pounds in Piperlongum L.The molecular docking results showed that all the compounds except N-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-4-methoxybenzamide had good binding activities with interactions observed with 10 proteins.The proliferation ability of the cells in the LD group was significantly lower than that of the TGF-β1 group at 48 h and 72 h(P＜0.05).The proliferation ability of cells HD group was sig-nificantly lower than the LD group at 24,48 and 72 h.The number of clones in each drug group was significantly reduced after treatment with the drugs(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of α-SMA,COI-Ⅰ,COI-Ⅲ in LD and HD groups were significantly lower than the expression levels in the TGF-β1 group.The protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/AKT were significantly lower in the two dose groups compared with the TGF-β1 group(P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:The results showed that the effect of Piperlongum L against PF is probably through modulation of the PI3K-Akt sig-naling pathway.

Bitter taste receptors,also known as type 2 taste receptors(T2Rs),are found not only in the mouth's taste bud cells but also in various tissues and cells,including macrophages.Macrophages,known for their re-markable plasticity,play a crucial role in regulating innate immunity,managing inflammation,and orchestrating immune responses to antigens,pathogens,and environmental factors.Recently,the study of the expression and function of bitter taste receptors within macrophages has garnered significant interest.This review summarizes the expression levels and dis-tribution characteristics of bitter taste receptors in macrophages and examines their effects on macrophage polarization,phagocytosis,and chemotaxis,as well as their potential molecular mechanisms.The purpose of this review is to provide in-sight and perspectives for research on the regulatory role of T2Rs in macrophage functions.

AIM:The effects and mechanisms of paeoniflorin(PF)on sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)in mice were investigated based on cellular pyroptosis and the JNK/NEK7/NLRP3 pathway.METHODS:A murine SA-AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice aged 6～8 weeks were divided into four groups(n=6)using a randomized numerical table method:control(Con)group(an equal amount of DMSO-containing PBS was injected intraperitoneally at the same time);LPS group(LPS was injected intraperitoneally at 15 mg/kg);LPS+PF group(PF was injected intraperitoneally at 50 mg/kg for 30 min prior to modeling);and LPS+PF+anisomycin group(intraperitoneal injection of PF 50 mg/kg and JNK agonist anisomycin 20 mg/kg 30 min before modeling).Samples were taken 24 h after modeling.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues,and Paller scoring of renal injury was performed.ELISA was used to detect the levels of renal in-jury markers:blood creatinine(Scr),kidney injury molecule 1(KIM-1),and the inflammatory factors interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and IL-18.Western blot was used to detect changes in phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase(p-JNK),NIMA-relat-ed expressed kinase 7(NEK7),nucleotide oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),and N-ter-minal fragment of gasdermin D(GSDMD-N)protein levels.RESULTS:Compared with the Con group,HE staining in the LPS group showed congestion and edema in renal tissues,granular or cell-like tubular patterns in the dilated tubular lu-men of renal tubules,and congestion and edema in the renal interstitium.Paller scores,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels in renal tissues were elevated(P<0.05).The expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N also in-creased(P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group,the LPS+PF group exhibited reduced renal histopathological injury,decreased Paller score,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels(P<0.05),and decreased protein expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N(P<0.05).Compared with the LPS+PF group,the LPS+PF+anisomycin group showed increased renal histopathological injury,Paller score,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels(P<0.05),and increased expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Paeoniflorin may at-tenuate SA-AKI by inhibiting the JNK/NEK7/NLRP3 signaling pathway and downregulating cellular pyroptosis.

Background Perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large group of emerging pollutants, are ubiquitous in the ecological environment. Their multiple organ toxic effects on human body are reported. Understanding the exposure level of PFAS in cord serum and associated influencing factors can provide scientific evidence for studying maternal and newborn health effects and risk regulation. Objective To explore the exposure levels of PFAS in cord serum and potential impact factors. Methods This study was based on the maternal and infant database and the cord serum sample bank of the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) established in 2009. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, living environment, and lifestyle of mothers during pregnancy. A total of 1097 cord serum samples were measured utilizing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-Q-Exactive Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression models were used to identify influencing factors related to PFAS exposure level in cord serum. Results A total of 38 types of PFAS were detected in the cord serum samples, including 20 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCA), 14 perfluorosulfonic acids (PFSA), and 4 other types of PFAS. The detection rates of 14 PFAS compounds were above 50%. The detection rates of perfluoro-1-hexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluoro-1-octanesulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUdA) were in the range of 99.18%-100.00%. The median concentrations of PFOA and 6∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (6∶2CI-PFESA) were higher than those of the other compounds, which were 3.76 µg·L⁻¹ and 2.61 µg·L⁻¹, respectively. The correlation coefficients among cord serum PFAS were in the wide range of 0.0911-0.8429 (P < 0.05). The associations between PFHxS and perfluoro-1-heptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) (r=0.8429, P < 0.05), PFOS and PFHpS (r=0.7012, P < 0.05), and PFUdA and perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) (r=0.7875, P < 0.05) were positive. The proportions of PFCA and PFSA in the cord serum samples were 60.1% and 38.4%, respectively. PFOA and 6∶2 Cl-PFESA were the predominant compounds in the cord serum samples, whose proportions were 37.8% and 19.3%, respectively. The concentrations of specific types of cord serum PFAS had varied associations with the following demographic variables of pregnant women: age, parity, education level, gestational age, and occupation. The multiple linear regression analysis found that the concentrations of 8 PFAS (PFHxS, PFHpS, PFNA, PFOS, PFDA, PFUdA, PFDoA, and 6∶2 CI-PFESA) in umbilical cord serum were lower in pregnant women aged 25 years and older than in those under the age of 25 years; compared to pregnant women with education levels at or below junior middle school, those with education levels at or above high school had lower concentrations of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA); the concentration of PFHpA in cord serum was negatively correlated with household annual income; multiparous women had higher concentrations of PFNA, PFUdA, and PFDoA than primiparous women; compared to mothers engaged in manual labor, the concentration of perfluoro-1-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS) in umbilical cord serum was lower in mothers engaged in mental labor, while the concentrations of PFBS and PFOA were lower and the concentrations of perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) and 8∶2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonic acid (8∶2CI-PFESA) were higher in mothers of other occupational types; the concentrations of umbilical cord serum PFOA, PFOS, PFUdA, and PFDoA were positively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women, while N-methylperfluoro-1-octanesulfonamido acetic acid (N-MeFOSAA) was negatively correlated with the gestational age of pregnant women; PFTrDA was negatively correlated with the birth weight of newborns; compared with those with insufficient gestational weight gain, those with adequate gestational weight gain had lower PFDoA, while those with excess gestational weight gain had higher N-MeFOSAA. Conclusion PFAS compounds exposure is common in the mothers and infants in the study area. PFOA and 6∶2 CI-PFESA are the two main compounds in cord serum. Cord serum PFAS are associated with several demographic characteristics of the pregnant women. Future research needs to pay more attention to PFAS alternatives and other emerging contaminants.

Objective:To conjecture the correlation between fetal hydrothorax(FHT)and pregnancy outcome through the analysis of 95 fetuses with hydrothorax and their mothers.Methods:In this case series study, 95 FHT patients admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the pregnancy outcome, these patients were divided into the induced labor group (13 patients) and the delivery group (82 patients). General data and genetic examinations of patients in the induced labor group were analyzed to explore their pathogenesis and genetics.According to the neonatal Apgar score, patients in the delivery group were divided into the normal group and the asphyxia group.Fifteen indicators including the maternal age, gestational week at first diagnosis, maternal complications, FHT location, FHT severity, FHT outcome during pregnancy, fetal ascites, hydrops fetalis, other abnormal fetal structures, amniotic fluid volume, intrauterine treatment, gestational week of delivery, mode of delivery, sex of the newborn, and newborn birth weight in the 2 groups were comparatively analyzed by the chi-square test.With the neonatal Apgar score as the dependent variable, variables that had statistical significance during the univariate analysis were included in the regression analysis, and a multivariate binary Logistic regression equation was established to explore the factors affecting the pregnancy outcome.Results:There were significant differences in the FHT outcome during pregnancy (16/22/13 cases vs.2/18/11 cases, χ2=6.994, P=0.030), FHT severity (27/24 cases vs.9/22 cases, χ2=4.475, P=0.034), hydrops fetalis (14/37 cases vs.23/8 cases, χ2=17.012, P=0.001), amniotic fluid volume (21/30 cases vs.24/7 cases, χ2=10.228, P=0.001), intrauterine treatment (19/32 cases vs.2/29 cases, χ2=9.603, P=0.002), gestational week of delivery[(38.15±2.05) weeks vs.(34.83±3.14) weeks, t=5.748, P=0.001], and newborn birth weight[(3 325.00±637.41) g vs.(2 714.58±837.99) g, t=3.727, P=0.001]between the normal and asphyxia groups(all P<0.05). Among them, hydrops fetalis ( OR=7.070, P=0.020) and severe FHT ( OR=6.927, P=0.043) were risk factors for neonatal Apgar scores.Intrauterine treatment ( OR=0.062, P=0.027) and gestational week of delivery( OR=0.577, P=0.022) could be used as a protective factor for neonatal Apgar scores. Conclusions:Diagnosis of FHT during the early gestational weeks and multiple fetal structural abnormalities, especially hydrops fetalis, have higher probabilities of abnormal genetic examinations, and the fetal prognosis was poor.It is recommended to carry out chromosomal karyo type and microarray tests, as well as whole exome sequencing and detection of genetic syndromes(if necessary), to avoid unnecessary fetal treatment and improve the survival rate of perinatal infants after intrauterine treatment.The poor prognosis is related to hydrops fetalis and severe FHT; however, timely intrauterine treatment and prolonging pregnancy can improve the pregnancy outcome and increase the survival rate of perinatal infants.

Objective:To construct 68Ga-1, 4, 7-trizacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-CD44 as a novel atherosclerosis tracer targeting hyaluronic acid (HA), and evaluate its biological property and molecular imaging features. Methods:Low molecular weight (LMW) recombinant human CD44 protein was selected, and the C-terminal of the protein was modified by sulfonation and coupled to the bifunctional ligand NOTA to synthesize a novel molecular probe 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 targeting HA. The biological properties of the probe, such as labeling rate and in vitro stability, were studied. Three atherosclerotic plaque model mice and three normal C57BL/6 mice were studied by 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 microPET/CT imaging and pathological examination. Results:68Ga-NOTA-CD44 tracer was synthesized and purified with the radiochemical purity above 99%, and the specific activity was up to 62.22 MBq/nmol. lts stability was good in PBS, and the radiochemical purity was over 90% after incubation for 3 h. After intravenous injection, the probe was metabolized mainly by the kidneys, and its metabolic level decreased successively in the liver, lungs and blood. MicroPET/CT imaging results of atherosclerotic model mice suggested that the uptake in the plaque of abdominal aorta was higher at 60 min after injection, with SUV max and target/background ratio (TBR) max of 1.14±0.02 and 4.95±0.93, and the probe had certain atherosclerotic plaque eroded targeting, which was consistent with the pathological result. Conclusions:As a novel probe, 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 is simple to prepare and has a high labeling rate. It has good physicochemical properties and in vivo biological properties, and can display atherosclerotic eroded plaques sensitively. 68Ga-NOTA-CD44 has a promising prospect to be a new molecular probe for early noninvasive recognition of atherosclerotic eroded plaques.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum estradiol(E2)levels on the day before transcervical resection of adhesion(TCRA)and pregnancy outcomes in moderate-severe intrauterine adhesion(IUA).Methods:Clinical data of patients with moderate-severe IUA diagnosed and received TCRA in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were extracted and ana-lyzed.The primary outcome indicator was the pregnancy rate during the 12-month follow-up period.Multiple re-gression analysis,smoothed curve fitting and recursive algorithm analysis were applied in this study.Results:A-mong the 288 patients who met the inclusion criteria,222 met the criteria and were finally included in the analysis.The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the E 2 level on the day before surgery was negatively cor-related with the pregnancy rate after TCRA(aOR 0.77,95% CI 0.63-0.93,P=0.0074).Recursive algorithm a-nalysis showed that when the preoperative serum E2 level was less than 380.6 pmol/L,for every increase of 36.7 pmol/L pregnancy rate decreased by approximately 20% (aOR 0.78,95% CI 0.67-0.89,P=0.0004).Conclusions:The results suggest that preoperative serum E2 levels are negatively associated with pregnancy outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe IUA.

The operating room was the core department of a hospital,and its operational efficiency had a significant impact on the high-quality development of a hospital.An analysis has revealed that low efficiency and irrational allocation in the operating room were mainly due to the lack of operational regulations and norms,the unreasonable arrangement of surgical specialties,and the unbalanced allocation of supporting resources.To address these issues,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University has taken into account the overall allocation of resources for the central operating room and the central operating room,and formulated strategies to improve operational efficiency,including adjusting the operational mechanism,optimizing the structure of surgical specialties,and providing corresponding supporting resources.Based on the adjustment of surgical structure,the implementation effect of the program was measured and evaluated,which provided practical strategies for optimizing operating room efficiency in hospitals.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum estradiol(E2)levels on the day before transcervical resection of adhesion(TCRA)and pregnancy outcomes in moderate-severe intrauterine adhesion(IUA).Methods:Clinical data of patients with moderate-severe IUA diagnosed and received TCRA in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from January 2018 to December 2019 were extracted and ana-lyzed.The primary outcome indicator was the pregnancy rate during the 12-month follow-up period.Multiple re-gression analysis,smoothed curve fitting and recursive algorithm analysis were applied in this study.Results:A-mong the 288 patients who met the inclusion criteria,222 met the criteria and were finally included in the analysis.The results of multiple regression analysis showed that the E 2 level on the day before surgery was negatively cor-related with the pregnancy rate after TCRA(aOR 0.77,95% CI 0.63-0.93,P=0.0074).Recursive algorithm a-nalysis showed that when the preoperative serum E2 level was less than 380.6 pmol/L,for every increase of 36.7 pmol/L pregnancy rate decreased by approximately 20% (aOR 0.78,95% CI 0.67-0.89,P=0.0004).Conclusions:The results suggest that preoperative serum E2 levels are negatively associated with pregnancy outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe IUA.