Objective:To investigate the epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis and the awareness of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational populations in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province.Methods:The data of brucellosis cases reported from January to December 2023 in the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System's Infectious Disease Surveillance System where the current residence was Xuzhou City, were collected. The epidemiological distribution characteristics across the three dimensions (time, region, and population) were analyzed, and the etiological characteristics of Brucella strains collected from sentinel hospitals in Xuzhou City during the same period were analyzed. Meanwhile, in September 2023, a survey was conducted on the awareness of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational populations in 7 counties (cities, districts) with a high incidence of brucellosis in Xuzhou City. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results:In 2023, a total of 124 human brucellosis cases were reported in Xuzhou City, with an annual incidence rate of 1.37/100 000. Brucellosis occurred in all months of the year, with a peak incidence from May to August, accounting for 46.77% (58/124). The incidence rate of brucellosis in Feng County, Pei County, Suining County, Xinyi City and Pizhou City (1.86/100 000) was higher than that in Gulou District, Yunlong District, Quanshan District, Jiawang District and Tongshan District (0.71/100 000), with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 19.15, P < 0.001). Among 124 cases of brucellosis, 81 cases (65.32%) were males and 43 cases (34.68%) were females. The incidence rate of brucellosis in males (1.78/100 000) was higher than that in females (0.96/100 000), with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 11.08, P < 0.001). The 55 - 64 age group reported a relatively higher number of cases (45 cases, 36.29%), with an incidence rate of 3.97/100 000. The main occupation was farmers (85 cases, 68.55%). In 2023, a total of 9 strains of Brucella were collected from the sentinel hospitals in Xuzhou City, all of which were Brucella melitensis, mainly classified as biotype 3 (7/9). In 2023, a total of 984 occupational population with brucellosis were surveyed in Xuzhou City, and the overall awareness rate of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge was 3.25% (32/984). By binary logistic regression analysis, the awareness rates of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among veterinarians and those with high school or vocational school education, college education or above were relatively high [ OR (95% CI): 21.24 (1.52 - 297.74), 13.32 (3.48 - 50.96), 18.90 (3.68 - 97.13), P < 0.05]. Conclusions:In 2023, the incidence rate of human brucellosis in Xuzhou City is at a relatively high level, with men, middle-aged and elderly people, and farmers as the main population. The awareness rate of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational population is relatively low, and it is necessary to strengthen publicity, education, and behavioral intervention.

Objective:To investigate the epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis and the awareness of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational populations in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province.Methods:The data of brucellosis cases reported from January to December 2023 in the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System's Infectious Disease Surveillance System where the current residence was Xuzhou City, were collected. The epidemiological distribution characteristics across the three dimensions (time, region, and population) were analyzed, and the etiological characteristics of Brucella strains collected from sentinel hospitals in Xuzhou City during the same period were analyzed. Meanwhile, in September 2023, a survey was conducted on the awareness of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational populations in 7 counties (cities, districts) with a high incidence of brucellosis in Xuzhou City. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results:In 2023, a total of 124 human brucellosis cases were reported in Xuzhou City, with an annual incidence rate of 1.37/100 000. Brucellosis occurred in all months of the year, with a peak incidence from May to August, accounting for 46.77% (58/124). The incidence rate of brucellosis in Feng County, Pei County, Suining County, Xinyi City and Pizhou City (1.86/100 000) was higher than that in Gulou District, Yunlong District, Quanshan District, Jiawang District and Tongshan District (0.71/100 000), with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 19.15, P < 0.001). Among 124 cases of brucellosis, 81 cases (65.32%) were males and 43 cases (34.68%) were females. The incidence rate of brucellosis in males (1.78/100 000) was higher than that in females (0.96/100 000), with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 11.08, P < 0.001). The 55 - 64 age group reported a relatively higher number of cases (45 cases, 36.29%), with an incidence rate of 3.97/100 000. The main occupation was farmers (85 cases, 68.55%). In 2023, a total of 9 strains of Brucella were collected from the sentinel hospitals in Xuzhou City, all of which were Brucella melitensis, mainly classified as biotype 3 (7/9). In 2023, a total of 984 occupational population with brucellosis were surveyed in Xuzhou City, and the overall awareness rate of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge was 3.25% (32/984). By binary logistic regression analysis, the awareness rates of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among veterinarians and those with high school or vocational school education, college education or above were relatively high [ OR (95% CI): 21.24 (1.52 - 297.74), 13.32 (3.48 - 50.96), 18.90 (3.68 - 97.13), P < 0.05]. Conclusions:In 2023, the incidence rate of human brucellosis in Xuzhou City is at a relatively high level, with men, middle-aged and elderly people, and farmers as the main population. The awareness rate of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among occupational population is relatively low, and it is necessary to strengthen publicity, education, and behavioral intervention.

Detailed characterizations of genomic alterations have not identified subtype-specific vulnerabilities in adult gliomas. Mapping gliomas into developmental programs may uncover new vulnerabilities that are not strictly related to genomic alterations. After identifying conserved gene modules co-expressed with EGFR or PDGFRA (EM or PM), we recently proposed an EM/PM classification scheme for adult gliomas in a histological subtype- and grade-independent manner. By using cohorts of bulk samples, paired primary and recurrent samples, multi-region samples from the same glioma, single-cell RNA-seq samples, and clinical samples, we here demonstrate the temporal and spatial stability of the EM and PM subtypes. The EM and PM subtypes, which progress in a subtype-specific mode, are robustly maintained in paired longitudinal samples. Elevated activities of cell proliferation, genomic instability and microenvironment, rather than subtype switching, mark recurrent gliomas. Within individual gliomas, the EM/PM subtype was preserved across regions and single cells. Malignant cells in the EM and PM gliomas were correlated to neural stem cell and oligodendrocyte progenitor cell compartment, respectively. Thus, while genetic makeup may change during progression and/or within different tumor areas, adult gliomas evolve within a neurodevelopmental framework of the EM and PM molecular subtypes. The dysregulated developmental pathways embedded in these molecular subtypes may contain subtype-specific vulnerabilities.
Humans ; Brain Neoplasms/pathology* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/metabolism* ; Glioma/pathology* ; Neural Stem Cells/pathology* ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells/pathology* ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective:To observe the incidence of infection related complications after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy.Methods:One hundred and forty-two patients with renal calculi who were treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2017 to December 2018 were divided into control group (71 cases) and experimental group (71 cases) by random number method. Among them, the control group was treated with common sheath, the experimental group was treated with negative pressure lithotomy, and the patients were followed up for 1 year after the operation to count the recurrence. The patients in the two groups were compared in terms of perioperative indexes, intraoperative complication rate, postoperative complication rate, recurrence rate in 1 year′s follow-up and quality of life in 1 year′s follow-up.Results:The operation time in two groups had no significant difference ( P>0.05). The amount of bleeding in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(12.15 ± 1.06) ml vs. (13.03 ± 1.17) ml], the length of hospitalization was significantly shorter than that in the control group [(5.13 ± 0.67) d vs. (6.02 ± 0.78) d], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The incidence of intraoperative complications in two groups had no significant difference ( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group [1.41%(1/71) vs. 11.27%(8/71)], the recurrence rate in the follow-up period of 1 year was significantly lower than that in the control group [1.14%(1/71) vs. 9.86%(7/71)], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The scores of postoperative World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionaire BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) of the two groups had no significant difference ( P>0.05). At 1 year′s follow-up, the scores of WHOQOL-BREF in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusions:With the help of vacuum lithotripsy in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, but the incidence of postoperative complications can be significantly reduced, the length of stay can be shortened, the follow-up recurrence can be reduced, and the quality of life can be improved.

Recently, liposomes have been widely used in cancer therapeutics, but their anti-tumor effects are suboptimal due to limited tumor penetration. To solve this problem, researchers have made significant efforts to optimize liposomal diameters and potentials, but little attention has been paid to liposomal membrane rigidity. Herein, we sought to demonstrate the effects of cholesterol-tuned liposomal membrane rigidity on tumor penetration and anti-tumor effects. In this study, liposomes composed of hydrogenated soybean phospholipids (HSPC), 1,2-distearoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine--[methoxy(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG) and different concentrations of cholesterol were prepared. It was revealed that liposomal membrane rigidity decreased with the addition of cholesterol. Moderate cholesterol content conferred excellent diffusivity to liposomes in simulated diffusion medium, while excessive cholesterol limited the diffusion process. We concluded that the differences of the diffusion rates likely stemmed from the alterations in liposomal membrane rigidity, with moderate rigidity leading to improved diffusion. Next, the tumor penetration and the anti-tumor effects were analyzed. The results showed that liposomes with moderate rigidity gained excellent tumor penetration and enhanced anti-tumor effects. These findings illustrate a feasible and effective way to improve tumor penetration and therapeutic efficacy of liposomes by changing the cholesterol content, and highlight the importance of liposomal membrane rigidity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship of the expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in nasal polyps tissues and the Th2 inflammatory response. METHOD: Sixty patients with nasal polyps were collect ed. The immunohistochemical staining method was used to detect the expression of TSLP in nasal polyps tissues and ELISA method to the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma, IL-13 and analyzed the correlation between them. RESULT: The expression of TSLP in nasal polyp tissues was higher than that in normal inferior turbinate mucosa (P < 0.05). The expression level of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma and IL-13 in nasal polyps tissues were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). TSLP staining was a statistically significant positive correlation with IL-4, IL5 and IL-13 (r = 0.475, 0.594 and 0.582, respectively, P < 0.01), while inverse correlation with IFN-gamma (r = -0.614, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The high expression of TSLP might promote T cell differentiation towards Th2, and participated in the occurrence/development of nasal polyps, aggravated the nose Th2 inflammatory response.
Adult ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-13 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Male ; Nasal Polyps ; immunology ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Young Adult

A total of 189 stool samples from swine with diarrhea, collected in various porcine farms in the central region of China were tested for porcine enteric caliciviruses (PEC) member porcine sapoviruses (SaV) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification using primers designed to detect porcine SaV. Selected amplicons were sequenced to establish phylogenetic relationships with reference strains. Porcine SaV were detected in 12.70% (24/189) of the samples. Phylogenetic studies based on partial RNA polymerase gene sequences indicated that the field strains of viruses isolated in China were closely related (75.6 88.3% identity) to the porcine SaV Cowden reference strain. These results provide evidence that caliciviruses of the genus sapovirus circulate in piglets in China, but further studies are needed to clarify their importance as cause of diarrhea. This is the first report of PEC in China.

Objective To establish a sensitive, rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of amphotericin B (AraB) and itraconazole (ITZ) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methods Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was involved in sample preparation in this method, followed by reverse-phase separation under two different chromatographic systems. Results The tinearity for both AraB and ITZ ranged from 5 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL and the inter-day and intra-day RSD were both below 7.6% at the concentrations of 20,50 and 100 ng/mL. Conclusions The method we established has been applied to the therapeutic drug monitoring on cryptococcal-meningitis-infected patients who were given comedication of these two drugs.

BACKGROUNDMalignant pleural effusion is usually caused by lung cancer, and tumor markers may be helpful to its differential diagnosis. The aim of this study is to explore the clinical value of serum and pleural effusion pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP), neuron specific enolase (NSE), cyto- keratin fragment 19 (CYFRA21-1) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in differential diagnosis and histological typing of malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer.

METHODSAccording to histological type of primary tumor, 99 patients with malignant pleural effusion caused by lung cancer were divided into small cell lung cancer (SCLC) group, adenocarcinoma group and squamous cell carcinoma group, with 37 patients with benign pleural effusion and 35 healthy persons as controls. Diagnostic value of serum and pleural effusion ProGRP , NSE, CYFRA21-1 and CEA was evaluated for each group.

RESULTSThe levels of ProGRP, NSE, CYFRA21-1 and CEA in serum and pleural effusion of all the malignant groups were significantly higher than those in the control groups (P < 0.01). In the SCLC group, detection of pleural effusion ProGRP showed the highest Youden index and accuracy. In the adenocarcinoma group and squamous cell carcinoma group, combined detection of pleural effusion CEA+CYFRA21-1 (on parallel test) showed the highest Youden index and accuracy.

CONCLUSIONSDetection of pleural effusion tumor markers ProGRP, CYFRA21-1, NSE and CEA is of great clinical value in differential diagnosis and histological typing of malignant pleural effusion. Pleural effusion ProGRP is the optimal tumor marker for malignant pleural effusion caused by SCLC. Pleural effusion CEA+CYFRA21-1 (on parallel test) is a good auxiliary diagnosis index for malignant pleural effusion caused by adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of gene delivery to the ischemic myocardium of rabbits by ultrasound-mediated destruction of microbubbles. Methods A ligation model of left circumflex branch coronary artery was established in 48 rabbits. Three days after ligation, the mixture of gene and microbubbles was infused into the vein of rabbits with or without simultaneous ultrasound. Additional controls included ultrasound of microbubbles that did not contain gene, gene alone, gene plus ultrasound,and blank control. Rabbits were killed after two weeks and examined for the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF). Results The hearts of five rabbits that underwent ultrasound-mediated destruction of microbubbles containing gene showed VEGF expression in ischemic myocardium.None of the control animals showed VEGF expression. Conclusions Ultrasound-mediated destruction of microbubbles is a promising method for the delivery of bioactive agents to the heart.