ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological trends and characteristics of brucellosis in humans (hereinafter referred to as brucellosis) in Tangshan City, Hebei Province from 2016 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating brucellosis prevention and control strategies in the region. MethodsThe incidence data of human brucellosis in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023 were collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The diagnosis time, infection route, and clinical characteristics of the cases were obtained from the case investigation reports. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, spatial, demographic distributions, and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis. Brucella species were identified using agglutination tests with bacterial suspension and A/M antigen-positive serum. ResultsA total of 2 193 cases of human brucellosis were confirmed and clinically diagnosed in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023, with the peak incidence occured from March to August, and which exhibited distinct geographic distribution patterns. The highest incidence rate was found in people aged 60‒<70 years. The occupation of cases were primarily farmers. The incidence rate in males (528/100 000) was higher than that in females (184/100 000). All cases had confirmed exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products. ConclusionThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Tangshan exhibited an overall steady downward trend from 2016 to 2023, except for a slight increase in 2016 and 2021, with the incidence rate controlled at 289/100 000‒335/100 000. The prevention and control situation of human brucellosis still remains severe, with the highest incidence rate in the eastern region of Tangshan, which are characterized by the breeding, slaughtering, and processing of cattle and sheep. Therefore, it it is necessary to enhance the prevention and control of human brucellosis among the personnel engaged in these industries in the eastern areas.

In order to clarify the effects of drought stress training on the quality and drought resistance of Codonopsis pilosula, this study used PEG to simulate drought stress and employed potting with water control for the drought stress training of C. pilosula plants. The polysaccharide content, secondary metabolites, antioxidant system, and photosynthetic pigment system of C. pilosula after drought stress training were analyzed. The results showed that the content of fructans in the root of C. pilosula increased after two rounds of drought stress treatment, and it was significantly higher than that of the control group. The accumulation of fructans in the root of C. pilosula showed an upward trend during the rehydration treatment. The content of lobetyolin and tangshenoside Ⅰ increased after drought stress treatment compared with that of the control group. The rehydration treatment caused first increasing and then decreasing in the content of lobetyolin, while it had no significant effect on the tangshenoside Ⅰcontent. The content of photosynthetic pigments decreased after drought stress treatment, and it gradually increased during the first round of rehydration and the second round of rehydration. Moreover, the increase was faster in the second round of rehydration than in the first round of rehydration. The content of the peroxidation product malondialdehyde(MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD), peroxidase(POD), and catalase(CAT) increased after drought stress treatment compared with those of the control group, and they showed a tendency of decreasing during rehydration. Moreover, the decrease was faster in the second round of rehydration than in the first round of rehydration. When the plants of C. pilosula after drought stress training were again subjected to severe drought stress, the wilting rate decreased significantly, and the biomass increases significantly. This study showed that the drought stress training could promote the accumulation of polysaccharides and secondary metabolites in the root of C. pilosula. When encountering drought stress again, C. pilosula plants could quickly regulate the antioxidant system and delay the decomposition of chlorophyll to respond to drought stress. The findings provide a theoretical basis for the ecological cultivation of C. pilosula in arid and semi-arid areas.
Codonopsis/growth & development* ; Droughts ; Polysaccharides/metabolism* ; Stress, Physiological ; Water/metabolism* ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Photosynthesis ; Drought Resistance

The cellular and molecular components of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and their information exchange processes significantly influence the trends of anti-tumor immunity. In recent years, numerous studies have begun to evaluate TIME in the context of previous cancer treatment strategies. This review will systematically summarize the compositional characteristics of TIME and, based on this foundation, explore the impact of current cancer therapies on the remodeling of TIME, aiming to provide new insights for the development of innovative immune combination therapies that can convert TIME into an anti-tumor profile.
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/therapy* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Animals

Objective To investigate whether PLCB1 expression leads to gastric adenocarcinoma metastasis and poor prognosis, and to preliminarily analyze its mechanism. Methods 122 gastric adenocarcinoma patients and their adjacent non-cancerous tissues were selected, and tissue microarray technology was used to detect the expression levels of PLCB1, epithelial cadherin(E-cadherin), vimentin and CD8⁺ T cells by immunohistochemistry, and scored by two pathologists. According to the immunohistochemical score of PLCB1, the patients were divided into PLCB1 high expression group (IHC>90) and PLCB1 low expression group (IHC≤90). The clinical pathological characteristics, epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related proteins and CD8⁺ T cells expression differences between the two groups were compared. The overall survival of the patients was collected, and COX regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curve were used to evaluate the relationship between PLCB1 expression level and prognosis. Results PLCB1 was highly expressed in 55 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma tissues, while only 12 cases in adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The tumor invasion depth, lymph node metastasis degree and TNM stage of the PLCB1 high expression group were higher than those of the PLCB1 low expression group. Chi-square test showed that PLCB1 expression level was negatively correlated with E-cadherin (r=-0.339), positively correlated with vimentin (r=0.211), and negatively correlated with CD8⁺ T cells (r=-0.343). Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the overall survival and disease-free survival of gastric adenocarcinoma patients with high PLCB1 expression were significantly reduced. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that except for lymph node metastasis, tumor invasion depth, TNM stage, E-cadherin and vimentin were also independent prognostic factors for gastric adenocarcinoma patients. Conclusion PLCB1 is highly expressed in gastric adenocarcinoma, and is closely related to tumor aggressiveness and prognosis. PLCB1 may induce EMT and inhibit CD8⁺ T cell infiltration to affect gastric adenocarcinoma metastasis and immune response.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/genetics* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Adenocarcinoma/genetics* ; Cadherins/metabolism* ; Aged ; Adult ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Vimentin/metabolism* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway involving various cellular players. Among the different phenotypes of asthma, neutrophilic asthma is often associated with severe airway inflammation and a notable resistance to corticosteroid treatment. Macrophages, as innate immune cells, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma. They regulate neutrophil recruitment and activation to promote the progression of airway inflammation. During this process, macrophages also undergo changes in aspects such as efferocytosis. We reviewed the recent research progresses regarding the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of neutrophilic asthma, aiming to provide valuable insights for future studies in this area.
Humans ; Asthma/pathology* ; Neutrophils/pathology* ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Animals ; Phagocytosis

Objective:To compare the efficacy of fractional CO 2 laser combined with topical delivery of fluorouracil versus compound betamethasone injections in the treatment of vitiligo. Methods:Clinical data were collected from 94 patients with localized, non-segmental, and stable vitiligo, who received fractional CO 2 laser combined with drug delivery at the Cosmetological Center, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University from October 2018 to May 2023, and were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 40 cases in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group, and 54 cases in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group. All the patients received the above treatment once a month for 5 sessions. A 4-level grading scale was used to evaluate the pigmentation improvement, and the clinical efficacy and safety of the two therapeutic regimens were compared. Comparisons between groups were performed using chi-square test, Fisher′s exact test, and t test. Results:In the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group, there were 22 males and 18 females, their ages were 21.95 ± 12.88 years, and the disease duration was 25.46 ± 11.42 months; in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group, there were 36 males and 18 females, their ages were 22.26 ± 8.79 years, and the disease duration was 26.51 ± 12.81 months. One month after the first treatment, no significant difference was observed in the efficacy between the two groups ( χ2 = 1.39, P = 0.238). One month after the fifth treatment, 2 (5.0%) patients showed an excellent response, 4 (10.0%) showed a good response, 12 (30.0%) showed a mild response, and 22 (55.0%) showed a poor response in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection group; in the fractional CO 2 laser combined with compound betamethasone injection group, 8 (14.8%) patients showed a good response, 8 (14.8%) showed a mild response, and 38 (70.4%) showed a poor response; there was no significant difference in the efficacy between the two groups after 5 sessions of treatment ( χ2 = 2.35, P = 0.125). After either 1 or 5 sessions of treatment, there were no significant differences in the efficacy for lesions on the face and neck, trunk and limbs, hands and feet between the two therapeutic regimens (all P > 0.05). Comparisons of the efficacy for skin lesions on different body sites showed that one session of the fractional CO 2 laser combined with fluorouracil injection was more effective for the treatment of skin lesions on the face and neck compared with those on the hands and feet ( P = 0.039) ; after 5 sessions of treatment, the two therapeutic regimens both showed better efficacy for facial skin lesions compared with hand and foot skin lesions ( P = 0.005, 0.049). There was no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse reactions such as pigmentation, infection and scarring between the two groups. Conclusion:The fractional CO 2 laser combined with topical delivery of fluorouracil and compound betamethasone injections showed similar efficacy and safety in the treatment of vitiligo, and both can be used as treatment options for vitiligo.

Objective To investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the phagocytosis of MH-S alveolar macrophages and its related mechanisms. Methods A mouse acute lung injury (ALI) model was constructed by instilling lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the airway. ELISA was used to detect the content of IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In vitro cultured MH-S cells, in the presence or absence of signal transducer and activator 3 of transcription(STAT3) inhibitor Stattic (5 μmol/L), IL-6 (10 ng/mL~500 ng/mL) was added to stimulate for 6 hours, and then incubated with fluorescent microspheres for 2 hours. The phagocytosis of MH-S cells was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), actin-related protein 2 (Arp2) and filamentous actin (F-actin). Results The content of IL-6 in BALF was significantly increased after the mice were injected with LPS through the airway. With the increase of IL-6 stimulation concentration, the phagocytic function of MH-S cells was enhanced, and the expression levels of Arp2 and F-actin proteins in MH-S cells were increased. The expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins increased in MH-S cells stimulated with IL-6(100 ng/mL). After blocking STAT3 signaling, the effect of IL-6 in promoting phagocytosis of MH-S cells disappeared completely, and the increased expression of Arp2 and F-actin proteins in MH-S cells induced by IL-6 was also inhibited. Conclusion IL-6 promotes the expression of Arp2 and F-actin proteins by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the phagocytic function of MH-S cells.
Animals ; Mice ; Actins ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-6 ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To study the correlation between electronic screen use and myopia among primary and secondary school students in six provinces and cities in China, in order to provide a scientific basis for comprehensive prevention and control of myopia. Methods: From November 2020 to June 2022, a total of 16 557 primary and secondary school students from six provinces and cities in China (Beijing City, Liaoning Province, Zhejiang Province, Henan Province, Shaanxi Province, Chongqing City) were selected by stratified cluster random sampling and probability smampling methods, and a questionnaire prepared by Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention was used to investigate their electronic screen use. According to Screening Criteria for Myopia in Children and Adolescents, 0.5% mass concentration of compound topicamide eye drops was used to paralyze the ciliary muscle and undergo slit lamp optometry. Chisquare test was used to compare the differences between groups, and binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between electronic screen use and myopia. Results: About 58.3% of primary and secondary school students used electronic screens for more than two hours a day on average, and 63.4% of primary and secondary school students used continuously electronic products for more than 15 minutes at a time for nonstudy purposes. After adjusting for confounding factors, parents unrestricted use of electronic screen time and electronic screen time ≥2 h/d were positively correlated with myopia (OR=1.27, 1.13, P<0.05). Gender stratified analysis showed that boys who used electronic screen time ≥2 h/d had a higher risk of myopia (OR=1.15, P<0.05). The results of grade stratification analysis showed that parents unrestricted electronic screen use time and electronic screen time ≥2 h/d were positively correlated with myopia in the lower grade of primary school students (OR=1.34, 1.18, P<0.05). Among the higher grade of primary school students, continuous use of electronic screens for nonstudy purposes for more than 15 minutes at one time was positively correlated with myopia (OR=1.18, P<0.05). There was a multiplicative interaction between total screen time and one continuous screen time (OR=1.04, P<0.05). Conclusions Primary and secondary students in six provinces and cities in China reports excessive electronic screen usage which is associated with myopia. Schools and parents should jointly limit the use of electronic screen among primary and secondary students to reduce the occurrence of myopia.

Humans ; Female ; Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism* ; Breast Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Estrogen Receptor alpha

Objective: To analyze the current status and related factors of comorbidity of myopia, obesity, and depression symptoms among middle school students in Beijing, so as to provide a basis for comprehensive public health interventions for common diseases. Methods: Through stratified cluster random sampling in October 2022, a total of 11 262 junior high school, senior high school, and vocational high school students in 16 districts of Beijing were surveyed with self administered questionnaires, physical examinations and visual acuity examinations. The χ 2 test and binary Logistic regression model were used to analyze group differences in the comorbidity of myopia, obesity and depression symptoms and factors influencing the comorbidity. Stratified analysis was applied to analyze the associations between health risk behaviors and the comorbidity. Results: The detection rate of comorbidity of myopia, obesity, and depression symptoms among middle school students in Beijing was 3.35%, the comorbidity rate among vocational high school students (4.61%) was higher than that in junior high school students (2.80%) and senior high school students (3.41%). The comorbidity rate was higher among students in suburban areas (3.66%) than that in urban areas (2.92%), and the differences was statistically significant ( χ 2=15.02, 4.63, P <0.05). Binary Logistic regression analyses indicated that middle school students with poor dietary behaviors ( OR =1.59) and excessive screen time ( OR =1.70) were associated with elevated risk of comorbidity of myopia, obesity, and depression symptoms. Both boys and girls with poor dietary behaviors ( OR =1.63, 1.69) and excessive screen time ( OR =1.45, 2.23) had elevated likelihood of comorbidity of myopia, obesity and depression symptoms. Students in junior high school and senior high school with poor dietary behaviors ( OR =2.16, 1.47) and excessive screen time ( OR =2.20, 1.63 ) had elevated likelihood of comorbidity of myopia, obesity, and depression symptoms ( P <0.05). Conclusions The current status of comorbidity of myopia, obesity, and depression symptoms among middle school students in Beijing is concerning. Schools and parents should work together to guide students to develop healthy behaviors such as balanced diet and moderate video, in order to achieve the goal of controlling myopia, obesity and depression symptoms.