Objective:To learn about the epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis in Baoji City, and to identify brucellosis strains, so as to provide scientific basis for precise prevention and control of brucellosis in the city.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used to conduct a descriptive epidemiological analysis of brucellosis cases in Baoji City reported in the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2009 to 2022. Bacteriology culture, serum agglutination, biochemical test, phage cleavage and PCR were used to identify the isolates and nucleic acids, respectively.Results:From 2009 to 2022, a total of 314 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Baoji City, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.62/100 000, The incidence rate of different years was compared, the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 51 748 520.36, P < 0.001). The gender ratio of male to female was 3.30 ∶ 1.00 (241 ∶ 73). The age distribution ranged from 2 to 84 years old, with a median of 50 years old. The cases were concentrated in the 30 - 59 age group (206 cases, 65.61%), followed by the 60 - 84 age group (80 cases, 25.48%) and the 2 - 29 age group (28 cases, 8.92%). The peak of incidence was from April to August, with a total of 205 cases, accounting for 65.29%. Cases were reported in 213 townships, with the number of townships increasing from 1 in 2009 to 29 in 2022. The median time interval between onset and diagnosis of the case was 11 days. There was no significant difference in the time interval between onset and diagnosis among different genders, occupation and regions ( P > 0.05). A total of 10 strains of Brucella were isolated and identified as Brucella genus by BCSP31-PCR, and as Brucella melitensis by AMOS-PCR. After comprehensive identification, 4 strains were Brucella melitensis 3, 3 strains were mutant Brucella melitensis, and 3 strains were Brucella melitensis 1. Conclusion:The epidemic of brucellosis in Baoji City shows a fluctuating upward trend, with the epidemic scope gradually expanding, and the infected strains are all Brucella melitensis.

Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of adult patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) in Gansu Province, and provide guidance for rational and effective treatment of KBD patients.Methods:The KBD patients who participated in the "2021 Basic Public Health Service Subsidy Key Endemic Disease Prevention and Control Project" in Gansu Province were selected as the research subjects. Gender, age, clinical grading characteristics, and treatment plan selection of all subjects were analyzed, and the treatment effectiveness of KBD patients in different regions was evaluated.Results:A total of 6 711 KBD patients were included in the treatment program, including 3 139 males (46.8%) and 3 572 females (53.2%), 3 157 cases (47.0%) of patients aged 60 and 3 554 cases (53.0%) over 60 years old. There were 3 921, 2 166, and 624 patients with grades Ⅰ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, respectively, accounting for 58.4%, 32.3%, and 9.3%, respectively. The gender, age composition, and clinical grading among KBD patients included in different regions were compared, and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 194.34, 47.44, 408.61, P < 0.001). In the distribution of treatment schemes, the number of patients who selected "drug treatment", "drug treatment combined with physical therapy", "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage", "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy", and "other treatment schemes" were 4 084 (60.9%), 726 (10.8%), 672 (10.0%), 443 (6.6%), and 786 (11.7%), respectively. The distribution of treatment plans in different regions was compared, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 1 088.38, P < 0.001). The total effective rate of KBD patients was 84.5% (5 668/6 711). The total effective rates of KBD patients with different clinical grades were ranked from high to low as grade Ⅲ (87.3%, 545/624), grade Ⅱ (86.4%, 1 871/2 166), and grade Ⅰ (82.9%, 3 252/3 921). The total effective rate of KBD patients with different treatment schemes from high to low was "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy" (91.0%, 403/443), "drug treatment combined with physical therapy" (87.1%, 632/726), "drug treatment" (86.7%, 3 539/4 084), "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage" (82.3%, 553/672), and "other treatment schemes" (68.8%, 541/786). The total effective rate of KBD patients in different regions, from high to low, was as follows: Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (100%, 144/144), Qingyang City (88.7%, 3 562/4 017), Pingliang City (85.0%, 1 327/1 562), Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (83.9%, 78/93), Dingxi City (70.9%, 151/213), Tianshui City (62.5%, 125/200), and Longnan City (58.3%, 281/482). The total effective rate of KBD patients in different clinical grades, treatment schemes, and regions was compared, and the differences were statistically significant (χ 2 = 16.95, 181.72, 435.80, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The overall effective rate of treatment for KBD patients in Gansu Province is relatively high, but there are significant differences in therapeutic outcomes among cities (prefectures); it is related to the treatment scheme and the clinical grading of patients. The scheme of "drug treatment combined with acupuncture and moxibustion/massage combined with physical therapy" has better efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the role of pyroptosis in T-2 toxin induced articular cartilage injury.Methods:A total of 145 SPF grade male Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank control group ( n = 45), solvent control group ( n = 45), and T-2 toxin group ( n = 55) based on body weight (50 - 70 g). The T-2 toxin group and the solvent control group were given 100 ng·g -1·d -1 T-2 toxin and an equal amount of anhydrous ethanol by gavage, respectively; the blank control group was fed routinely. Fifteen rats from each group were euthanized at 6, 12, and 24 weeks of intervention, and bilateral knee joints of the rats were collected. Pathological changes in rat knee articular cartilage were observed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to detect chondrocyte injury. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of gasdermin D (GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N), NOD like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 18 (IL-18), and apoptosis-associated spike-like protein containing CARD (ASC). Results:At 6, 12, and 24 weeks of intervention, the T-2 toxin group rats showed varying degrees of damage to the knee articular cartilage tissue, including a decrease in the number of chondrocytes and death. At 24 weeks of intervention, the TUNEL staining positivity rates of chondrocytes in the blank control group, solvent control group, and T-2 toxin group were (1.28 ± 0.45)%, (0.73 ± 0.27)%, and (4.01 ± 2.37)%, respectively, with statistically significant differences between the groups ( F = 6.11, P = 0.036); and the T-2 toxin group was higher than the blank control group ( P < 0.05). At 24 weeks of intervention, there were statistically significant differences in the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, and IL-1β proteins among the blank control group, solvent control group, and T-2 toxin group ( F = 3.81, 11.81, 6.74, 3.71, 155.49, P = 0.044, 0.003, 0.023, 0.036, 0.001); and the T-2 toxin group was higher than the blank control group ( P < 0.05). At different intervention cycles, there was no statistically significant difference in the expression levels of ASC and IL-18 proteins among the groups ( F = 0.78, 0.93, 3.73, 2.26, 0.88, 0.11, P > 0.05). Conclusion:The NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway mediated pyroptosis is involved in T-2 toxin induced articular cartilage injury in rats.

Objective:To investigate the dietary iodine intake levels of residents and the dietary iodine contribution rates in Hainan Province.Methods:Using cluster random sampling method, common foods sold in 21 counties (cities, districts) markets in Hainan Province in 2023 were collected to determine iodine content. Each county (city, district) was divided into five sampling areas by east, west, south, north, and center, with one township (street) selected from each area, and 20 permanent residents over 18 years old (non same household, half male and half female) and 20 pregnant women were selected from each township (street). The "Iodine-Specific Food Frequency Questionnaire (I-FFQ)" was used to investigate the daily dietary intake of adults and pregnant woman. The average daily salt intake of the survey subjects was measured by the 3-day weighing method, and the dietary iodine intake and the dietary iodine contribution rates were calculated.Results:A total of 632 food samples were collected, and the iodine content of seaweed was relatively high (4 424.76 μg/100 g); the iodine content of seasoning was relatively low (2.41 μg/100 g). A total of 4 227 individuals in Hainan Province were surveyed for dietary iodine intake. The median dietary iodine intake level of residents was 211.6 μg/d, with the medians dietary iodine intake level of adults and pregnant women being 204.5 and 218.4 μg/d ( n = 2 120, 2 107), respectively. There was a statistically significant differences between different populations ( Z = - 8.64, P < 0.001). The medians dietary iodine intake level in the western coastal areas, central mountainous regions, and eastern coastal areas were 210.0, 207.3 and 211.6 μg/d ( n = 1 205, 1 203, 1 819), respectively, with statistically significant differences between different regions ( H = 15.33, P < 0.001). The contribution rate of dietary iodine from iodized salt was the most (59.4%), followed by kelp (8.1%). Conclusions:Under the condition of consuming iodized salt, the dietary iodine intake of adults in Hainan Province meets the recommended dietary iodine intake ( > 120 μg/d), but the dietary iodine intake of pregnant women is insufficient ( < 230 μg/d). Iodized salt is the main source of dietary iodine for residents in Hainan Province.

Objective:To investigate the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of fluoride in drinking water in rural areas of Shaanxi Province.Methods:From April 2019 to September 2023, rural drinking water monitoring sites were set up in all 108 agriculture-related counties (cities and districts) in Shaanxi Province. The ex-factory water and tap water were collected annually in dry season and wet season for water fluoride determination and water fluoride exceeding standard evaluation, and the exceedance rates of water fluoride were compared according to different years, regions, water period types, water sample types, water source types, and water treatment methods.Results:A total of 31 221 water samples were collected in Shaanxi Province from 2019 to 2023, and the median water fluoride was 0.370 mg/L, ranging from 0.001 to 6.220 mg/L. The exceedance rates of water fluoride in each year were 5.93% (370/6 236), 3.21% (200/6 232), 3.05% (191/6 260), 3.64% (228/6 256), and 2.36% (147/6 237), respectively. The differences between different years were statistically significant (χ 2 = 132.31, P < 0.001). The exceedance rates of water fluoride in Guanzhong, Northern Shaanxi, and Southern Shaanxi were 5.10% (563/11 044), 5.93% (376/6 339), and 1.42% (197/13 838), respectively, with statistically significant differences between different regions (χ 2 = 355.76, P < 0.001). The exceedance rates of water fluoride during the dry season and wet season were 3.68% (574/15 615) and 3.60% (562/15 606), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between the two water periods (χ 2 = 0.12, P = 0.724). The fluoride exceedance rates of ex-factory water and tap water were 3.15% (442/14 024) and 4.04% (694/17 197), respectively. The fluoride exceedance rate of tap water was higher than that of ex-factory water, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 17.21, P < 0.001). The fluoride exceedance rates of surface water and groundwater were 0.37% (39/10 588) and 5.32% (1 097/20 633), respectively. The fluoride exceedance rate of groundwater was higher than that of surface water, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 488.68, P < 0.001). The fluoride exceedance rates of conventional treatment, sedimentation and filtration, disinfection only, and untreated water samples were 1.21% (111/9 174), 2.82% (130/4 604), 3.56% (309/8 686), and 6.69% (586/8 757), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between different water treatment methods (χ 2 = 396.04, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The fluoride exceedance rate of drinking water in rural areas of Shaanxi Province has decreased from 2019 to 2023, and the exceedance water samples are mainly concentrated in Northern Shaanxi and Guanzhong regions. There are differences in the fluoride exceedance rate of water samples in different years, regions, water sample types, water source types, and water treatment methods.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mp-MRI) combined with computed tomography (CT) for brucellar spondylitis (BS).Methods:From March 2019 to March 2024, patients with suspected BS admitted to Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture Friendship Hospital were selected as study subjects. Their clinical characteristics, laboratory tests, and imaging findings (mp-MRI and CT) were analyzed.Results:A total of 60 suspected BS patients were enrolled, including 43 males and 17 females. Among them, 39 cases (65.00%) were diagnosed with BS, while 21 cases (35.00%) were non-BS. CT examination was performed in 48 patients, mp-MRI in 40 patients, and both examinations in 28 patients. Among CT-examined patients, there were 28 BS cases, 1 case had cervical spine involvement, 3 case had thoracic spine involvement, 3 case had thoracolumbar spine involvement, and 21 case had lumbosacral spine involvement. There were 16 cases involved 2 vertebrae, 3 cases involved 3 vertebrae, and 9 cases involved > 3 vertebrae.There were 15 cases had vertebral osteophyte formation, 28 cases had vertebral bone destruction, 22 cases had intervertebral space stenosis, 25 cases had uneven intervertebral disc density, 28 cases had thickening of soft tissues around the vertebrae, 19 cases had paravertebral abscesses, and 6 cases had spinal canal stenosis. In the mp-MRI examination of patients, there were 30 BS patients, among whom 1 case had cervical spine involvement, 2 case had thoracic spine involvement, 4 case had thoracolumbar spine involvement, and 23 case had lumbosacral spine involvement. There were 16 cases involved 2 vertebrae, 3 cases involved 3 vertebrae, and 11 cases involved > 3 vertebrae, 24 cases had intervertebral space stenosis, 27 cases had intervertebral disc destruction. There were 27 cases had swelling and thickening of soft tissues around the vertebrae, and 21 cases had paravertebral, psoas major muscle, and/or spinal canal abscesses. The BS group showed lower fractional anisotropy value and higher apparent diffusion coefficient value compared to the non-BS group, with statistically significant differences ( t = 5.26, 5.63, P < 0.001). The mp-MRI combined with CT showed higher sensitivity (86.36%, 19/22) and specificity (5/6) for BS diagnosis compared to mp-MRI alone (78.57%, 11/14; 80.77%, 21/26) and CT alone (56.25%, 9/16; 71.88%, 23/32). Conclusions:BS patients present diverse imaging manifestations. The combination of mp-MRI and CT demonstrates better diagnostic efficacy for BS than single examinations alone, showing good diagnostic value.

Objective:To investigate the operation of water improvement projects in villages affected by drinking-water-borne endemic arsenic poisoning in Shaanxi Province, the arsenic level in both internal and external environments, the trend of disease development and patient management, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.Methods:From March to December 2023, in accordance with the requirements of the "Notice of the Office of Shaanxi Provincial Health Commission on Issuing the Monitoring Plan for Key Endemic Diseases such as Kashin-Beck Disease" and the "Monitoring Plan for Endemic Fluorosis and Arsenism in Shaanxi Province", all villages affected by drinking-water-borne arsenic disease were monitored. Water arsenic testing was carried out in accordance with the "Standard Test Methods for Drinking Water Inorganic Nonmetallic Indicators" (GB/T 5750.5-2006), and the evaluation of whether water arsenic exceeded the standard was conducted based on the "Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water" (GB 5749-2022). According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenism" (WS/T 211-2015), the arsenic poisoning status of all population in the disease affected areas was investigated. In 5 villages of 3 monitoring counties, 358 people were randomly selected to determine the urinary arsenic level, and the determination was made according to the "Safety Guideline Value of Urinary Arsenic for Human Population" (WS/T 665-2019). According to the "Notice of the National Health Commission on Issuing the Evaluation Measures for Control and Elimination of Key Endemic Diseases (2019 Edition)", elimination evaluation was conducted.Results:A total of 2 cities, 3 counties, 9 towns, and 13 endemic villages were monitored, with a water improvement rate of 100% (13/13), and all were operating normally. The arsenic level in residents' drinking water was < 0.01 mg/L. A total of 12 688 people were examined, and 338 cases of arsenic poisoning were detected, all of whom were historical cases. There were no new cases of arsenic poisoning or skin cancer patients. The geometric mean of urinary arsenic was 0.026 0 mg/L, which was lower than the safety guideline value of 0.032 mg/L for urinary arsenic in the population. All 338 existing arsenic poisoning patients had received family doctor contract services and implemented follow-up management. The drinking-water-borne endemic arsenic poisoning areas counties in Shaanxi Province have reached the elimination standard.Conclusions:The water improvement project in drinking-water-borne endemic arsenic poisoning areas in Shaanxi Province is operating normally. The arsenic content in both the internal and external environments of the population meets the standard. The condition is stable and no new cases have been detected. Follow up management has been implemented for all current cases. All affected counties have reached the elimination standard.

Objective:To screen differential metabolites and their metabolic pathways related to osteoarthritis, and to provide clues for further study of biomarkers of osteoarthritis.Methods:Using group design, 60 male SD rats (weighting 300 - 350 g) were divided into a model group and a control group according to random number table method, with 30 rats in each group. The experimental periods were 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, with 10 rats per group per period. The left knee joint of rats of the model group rats underwent modified Hulth method surgery. After 5 days, the rats were driven to move for 30 minutes a day. At the end of the experiment, 24 h urine of rats in two groups was collected. Small molecule metabolites in urine were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer, and the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways related to osteoarthritis were screened by multivariate statistical analysis and database comparison.Results:A total of 9 differential metabolites associated with osteoarthritis were screened out in urine. Among them, 9 metabolites were screened out at 4 weeks of the experiment. Compared with the control group, the model group had higher levels of kynurenine, citric acid, cysteic acid, malonyl carnitine, ubiquinone-2, L-cystathionine and L-aspartic acid [26 317 (19 439, 33 297) vs 3 595 (512, 23 556), 7 137 (2 901, 9 252) vs 1 854 (660, 4 754), 6 625 ± 4 468 vs 3 006 ± 2 636, 4 254 (2 949, 7 850) vs 2 223 (1 230, 3 390), 14 558 (6 605, 26 047) vs 5 908 (1 172, 10 560), 4 492 (2 541, 33 796) vs 1 038 (885, 2 938), 3 038 ± 2 282 vs 1 286 ± 1 264], while the levels of 5-L-glutamyltaurine and S-adenosylmethionine were lower (2 145 ± 658 vs 6 457 ± 5 457, 872 ± 582 vs 5 572 ± 5 362, P < 0.05). At 8 weeks of the experiment, 7 metabolites were screened out. Compared with the control group, the model group had higher levels of kynurenine, citric acid, cysteic acid, 5-L-glutamyltaurine, malonyl carnitine and ubiquinone-2, while the level of L-cystathionine was lower ( P < 0.05). At 12 weeks of the experiment, 4 metabolites were screened out. Compared with the control group, the model group had higher level of 5-L-glutamyltaurine, while the levels of kynurenine, citric acid, and cysteic acid were lower ( P < 0.05). Two metabolic pathways related to osteoarthritis were identified, namely the cysteine and methionine metabolic pathway, and the arginine and proline metabolic pathway. Among them, cysteic acid, S-adenosylmethionine and L-cystathionine belonged to the cysteine and methionine metabolic pathway, while L-aspartic acid and S-adenosylmethionine belonged to the arginine and proline metabolic pathway. Conclusions:Kynurenine, citric acid, cysteic acid and 5-L-glutamyltaurine are differential metabolites associated with osteoarthritis and may serve as urinary metabolic biomarkers for osteoarthritis. The metabolic pathways of cysteine and methionine, arginine and proline may be closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis.

Objective:To find out the distribution of water iodine in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and provide scientific basis for scientifically delimiting the distribution range of different water iodine level areas.Methods:From March to August 2024, by using a cross-sectional survey method, the administrative villages (communities, abbreviated as administrative villages) were used as units in 11 counties (districts, cities, abbreviated as counties) of the city to verify the changes in the names and administrative divisions of counties, townships, and administrative villages based on the survey results of iodine content in drinking water in the city in 2017. Population data, water source information, and water supply project operation were investigated, and 10% sampling method was used to collect drinking water samples. Cerium sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry was used to test water iodine level.Results:A total of 2 402 centralized water supply projects in 2 181 administrative villages were investigated and all were operating normally. The median iodine concentration in the city's water was 2.43 μg/L, ranging from 0.15 to 556.45 μg/L. The number of villages and population covered by water iodine level of < 40, 40 - 100, and > 100 μg/L was 1 990 villages and 2 841 752, 153 villages and 372 085, 38 villages and 75 493, respectively.Conclusions:According to the classification of water iodine standards, Jinzhong City presents a coexistence of iodine deficiency, adequate iodine, and high iodine areas, with iodine deficiency areas still being the main focus. Therefore, it is necessary to continue implementing salt iodization measures. Areas with high iodine levels need to continue to promote the implementation of measures to improve water quality, reduce iodine levels, and supply non iodized salt. Efforts should be made to promote disease prevention knowledge among key areas and populations, guide the public to scientifically supplement iodine, and effectively control the hazards of high iodine.

Objective:To establish an ion chromatography-integrated amperometric detection method for iodide in water.Methods:After the water sample was filtered through a filter membrane, the AS 11-HC anion chromatography column of ion chromatography method was used to separate iodide ions under the conditions of 70 mmol/L sodium hydroxide solution as the eluent, injection volume of 100 μl, column temperature of 30 ℃, and flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The results were determined by silver working electrode integral amperometric detection method. Under the optimized experimental conditions, methodological evaluations such as method calibration curves, detection limits, quantification limits, precision, and accuracy were conducted.Results:Iodide followed a square correction curve within the concentration range of 0 - 100 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient ( r) > 0.999 9. The detection limit of the method was 0.30 μg/L, and the quantification limit was 1.00 μg/L. The determination results of the national standard substances GBW09113f and GBW09114f for iodine composition analysis in water were within the reference range [(8.4 ± 1.2), (55 ± 6) μg/L]. The recovery rates of low, medium, and high concentration spiked samples with low background values ranged from 91.7% to 97.2%, and the relative standard deviation ranged from 0.40% to 1.60%. Conclusion:This method has the characteristics of simple water sample pretreatment, high sensitivity, and good accuracy, which can meet the determination of trace iodides in bulk water samples for iodine deficiency disorders monitoring.