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.

Background The residues of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environments have become an increasingly prominent urban pollution issue, attracting widespread attention. The analysis of PPCPs pollution in water environments holds profound implications in Zhengzhou, a strategically important city in central China. Objective To analyze the pollution characteristics of PPCPs, such as antidepressants and antibiotics, in rivers of Zhengzhou and assess associated ecological risk. Methods Water samples were collected from three rivers of Zhengzhou, and 13 PPCPs (5 antibiotics and 8 antidepressants) were analyzed quantitatively by high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) after automatic solid phase extraction. Risk quotient (RQ) was applied to assess ecological risk of PPCPs with high concentration. Results The primary antibiotics pollutants were norfloxacin and ofloxacin, both with a detection rate of 100%. Among antidepressants, venlafaxine and citalopram showed the highest detection rates at 92.3% and 88.5%, respectively. The detected antibiotics with the highest average concentrations included ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole with concentrations of 99.8 ng·L⁻¹and 96.2 ng·L⁻¹, respectively, while antidepressants venlafaxine and citalopram were detected with the highest average concentrations of 15.2 ng·L⁻¹and 1.35 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. The inter-river comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in contaminant loads (P<0.05). The sums of average PPCP concentrations at sampling points in the Jialu River and Suoxu River were 83.4 ng·L⁻¹ and 100.4 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. The Xiaoqing River exhibited higher pollution levels than both the Jialu and Suoxu Rivers, with a total average concentration of 478.4 ng·L⁻¹, where ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole were identified as the predominant pollutants. The results of ecological risk assessment indicated the RQ contributed by sulfamethoxazole ranged between 0.50−0.95 in the Xiaoqing River, suggesting a controllable risk but requiring prioritized mitigation strategies. The RQ values of norfloxacin were distributed within the range of 0.10-0.30, indicating a moderate ecological risk. The RQ values for ofloxacin and venlafaxine remained below 0.10, indicating a lower risk level. Conclusion PPCPs contamination is positive in the rivers of Zhengzhou, and sulfamethoxazole and ofloxacin are the primary cantaminants. The Xiaoqing River exhibits the highest pollution levels. The initial risk assessment show that sulfamethoxazole and norfloxacin pose potential ecological risks, requiring prioritized contamination management.

BackgroundCombination of antipsychotic drugs and modified electroconvulsive therapy （MECT） is currently a commonly used method for treating schizophrenia， but its efficacy varies among different patient groups. ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effects of MECT on schizophrenia patients living in different urban versus rural environments， so as to provide references for the selection of treatment plans based on patients' residence. MethodsA total of 587 patients hospitalized at Luzhou Mental Health Center， Zigong Mental Health Center and Yibin Fourth People's Hospital from May 2018 to August 2022， who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） ，were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups： medication-only group （n=106） and MECT combined with medication group （n=481）. In MECT combined with medication group， 24 rural patients residing in urban areas were excluded， leaving the remaining patients divided into urban group （n=103） and rural group （n=354） based on their place of residence. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS） was used to assess the severity of symptoms. Clinical efficacy was evaluated using PANSS score reduction rate， and covariance analysis was used to compare the therapeutic effects of different patients. ResultsThe differences of reduction rate of PANSS total score， positive symptom scale score and negative symptom scale score as well as treatment effectiveness rate between MECT combined with medication group and medication-only group were statistically significant （F=11.149， 12.111， 31.725， χ²=14.010， P<0.01）. Statistically significant differences were also observed in reduction rate of PANSS total score and positive symptom subscale score as well as treatment effectiveness rate between urban and rural patients in MECT combined with medication group （F=3.946， 4.523， χ²=4.033， P<0.05）. ConclusionThe efficacy of MECT combined with medication may be superior to medication alone in the treatment of schizophrenia， and the combined therapy may be more effective in urban patients than that in rural patients， with potentially more pronounced improvements in positive symptoms.

Objective To investigate the significance of auditory brainstem response(ABR)combined with auditory steady-state response(ASSR)for the assessment of mild sensorineural hearing loss in infants.Methods Data from 114 infants with mild sensorineural hearing loss were retrospectively analyzed,and their ABR and ASSR results were collected for rank sum test and correlation analysis.Results In the rank sum test,the difference in thresholds between tone-burst ABR(Tb-ABR)and ASSR at 0.5,1,2,4 kHz was statistically significant(P＜0.05),and they were also correlated at 0.5,1,2,4 kHz(P＜0.05),r=0.613,0.569,0.616,0.71.After grouping by gender and ear,there was a correlation between ABR and ASSR at 0.5,1,2,and 4 kHz,male:r=0.61,0.56,0.671,0.774;female:r=0.581,0.558,0.546,0.608;left ear:r=0.61,0.558,0.576,0.715;right ear:r=0.631,0.581,0.662,0.71.And after grouping by age at diagnosis,only infants diagnosed from 7～12 months of age did not correlate at 0.5 kHz and 1 kHz(P＞0.05),while the rest of the groups had a good correlation(P＜0.05),0～3 months:r=0.686,0.643,0.671,0.742;4～6 months:r=0.671,0.626,0.616,0.693;7～12 months at 2 kHz and 4 kHz:r=0.571,0.706.Conclusion In infants with mild sensorineural hearing loss,ABR and ASSR correlate in assessing hearing thresholds at all frequencies,and the combination of the two tests could provide a more accurate assessment of the subject's true hearing.

Objective:To explore the effects of different blood purification modes on short-term complications, quality of life and survival prognosis of patients with uremia.Methods:The patients with uremia who received hemodialysis treatment at two blood purification centers in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University and Renal Care Hospital from January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2019 were enrolled in this study. According to the different blood purification modes, the patients were divided into high-flux hemodialysis (HFHD) group (HFHD group), HFHD+hemodiafiltration (HDF) per month group (HDF once a month group) and HFHD+HDF per week group (HDF once a week group). The three groups were matched with the ratio of 1∶1∶1 on the duration of hemodialysis based on the HDF once a week group. The differences of clinical indicators, medication and rehospitalization between baseline and end points were compared. The patients were followed up to 12 months after enrolled in the study or death. Patients in each group were divided into two subgroups, newly imported group and non-newly imported group based on whether or not they were newly enrolled in HD therapy from January 1, 2017 to December 1, 2019. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression model were used to analyze the difference of survival prognosis in non-newly imported patients with different dialysis modes, and the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) was used to evaluate the difference of quality of life in newly imported patients after different dialysis modes treatment.Results:A total of 139 patients were enrolled, including 43 cases in the HFHD group, 47 cases in the HDF once a month group, and 49 cases in the HDF once a week group. After treatment, the levels of serum creatinine, serum urea nitrogen and serum potassium in the HDF once a week group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (both P<0.05). Compared with the other two groups, the consumptions of erythropoietin and intravenous iron, the hospitalization times and hospitalization days in the HDF once a week group were significantly decreased, and the level of albumin in the HDF once a week group were significantly increased (all P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis of non-newly imported hemodialysis patients showed that the survival rate in the HDF once a week group was higher than that in the other two groups (Log-rank χ2=7.020, P=0.030). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HDF was a protective factor for post-dialysis survival in uremia patients ( HR=0.472, 95% CI 0.188-0.836, P=0.023). The total efficacy of EQ-5D-5L of the newly imported patients in the HDF once a week group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups ( F=7.293, P=0.002). Conclusions:The combination of HFHD with HDF per week therapy can significantly improve the short-term quality of life and nutritional status, and reduce the hospitalization frequency, length of hospital stay, the consumption of erythropoietin and intravenous iron and mortality risk in uremia patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application value of a novel immobilization system in total marrow irradiation ( TMI) with MVCT image. Methods From 2016 to 2017, a retrospective analysis of the setup errors of 22 patients receiving TMI in two groups ( twelve patients were immobilized with the novel immobilization system in group 1, ten patients were immobilized with the combinatorial immobilization devices in group 2) was performed in this study on Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. Two-sample t-test was used to analyze the differences of setup errors and the consistency of setup between two groups. Results In group 1, the setup errors on left-right, superior-inferior, anterior-posterior and rotation directions were ( 1.06±0.79) , ( 1.34±0.66) , ( 2.45±1.48) mm and ( 0.63°±0.65°) for the head and neck position, ( 1.58±1.13) , ( 2.38±1.99) , ( 2.05± 1.68) mm and ( 0.31°± 0.32°) for the chest position, ( 1.67± 1.24) , ( 3.88±2.20) , ( 1.96± 1.32) mm and ( 0.48°± 0.53°) for the pelvis position, and ( 0.95± 0.73) , ( 1.99± 1.35) , ( 3.66±2.13) mm and ( 0.24°±0.31°) for the lower limb, respectively. In group 2, the setup errors were ( 2.59±2.58) , ( 3.28±1.85) , ( 3.71±2.43) mm and ( 1.15°±1.18°) for the head and neck position, ( 4.38±3.69) , ( 5.64±3.78) , ( 2.72± 1.91) mm and ( 1.55°± 0.86°) for the chest position, ( 4.14± 2.97) , ( 6.97±3.68) , ( 2.21±2.26) mm and ( 1.23°±0.74°) for the pelvis position, ( 2.28± 1.15) , ( 5.97± 3.00) , ( 3.44±1.93) mm and ( 1.09°±0.94°) for the lower limb, respectively. The setup errors significantly differed between two groups on the left-right, superior-inferior and rotation directions for all positions ( all P<0.05) . The setup consistency significantly differed between two groups on the left-right, superior-inferior and rotation directions for the chest and pelvis positions ( all P<0.05) . Conclusion The novel immobilization system can significantly improve the setup accuracy and setup consistency, and enhance the precision of treatment for patients.

The integrated curriculums of basic medicine in Shanxi Medical University are as follows: nine basic medical courses were integrated into 10 medical modules, with additional training including PBL and TBL case discussion, clinical clerkship, flipped classroom and other non-integrated subjects etc. In order to assess the interest of students for integrated curriculum, their intrinsic motivation, as well as their comprehension and application of medical knowledge, we gave anonymous questionnaire to 149 students, 16 teachers in basic medicine, and 10 teachers in clinical medicine. Results showed that more than 90% students were willing to take the integrated curriculum and participate in PBL and TBL case discussion, and students who were unwilling to take the curriculum were less than 10%, they thought that the knowledge of new curriculum system was incoherent. The proportion of students from higher grade who were unwilling to participate in the flipped classroom was increased from 6.7% to 95.0%. Most of the teachers both in basic and clinic medicine believed that new curriculum system was helpful for students to comprehend basic medical knowledge and strengthen their discriminating ability, but did not function in improving students' practical ability. In the further reform on teaching, details like the coherence of knowledge and the content selected when self-studying should be improved.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of Toll-like receptors-4 in peripheral blood and placental tissue in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients.Methods From February 2013 to February 2015.a total of 30 cases of gestational diabetes mellitus patients(GDM group) and 30 cases of normal pregnant people(health group)were selected as research objects.Peripheral blood and placental tissue of two groups were collected.The expression of TLR4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was detected by RT-PCR,the expression of TLR4 protein in placenta tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The expression of TLR4 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the health group[(0.63±0.12) vs.(0.32±0.07)],the difference was statistically significant(t=12.223,P<0.05).The expression of TLR4 in villous trophoblast cells,decidual cells and amniotic epithelial cells in GDM group was significantly higher than that in the health group(Z=2.325,2.374,2.162,P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of TLR4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells,villous trophoblast cells and decidual cells in gestational diabetes mellitus patients significantly enhanced,suggesting that TLR4 might be related to the e gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective To explore the mediating role of self-confidence in the parental rearing style and facing-audience com munication apprehension(FACA).Methods The Chinese College Students' Facing-audience Communication Apprehension Scale (revised version of 2011),the Short-form Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran for Chinese(s-EMBU-C) and the Overall Self-confidence Questionnaire Version of College Students were adopted to survey on 1 072 college freshmen from Guizhou Province.Results FACA in the freshmen of non-one-child was significantly higher than that in the freshmen of one-child,FACA in the freshmen of good performance was significantly lower than that in the freshmen of middle and poor performance;FACA of college freshmen,parental rearing style and self-confidence were significantly correlated with each other;self-confidence played a complete mediated role between the parental care and FACA,and a partial mediated role between the parental control and FACA.Conclusion Self-confidence has significant mediate effect between the parental rearing style and FACA of college freshmen.

Objective To evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a prognostic indicator of renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.Methods A total of 122 patients with CKD were collected,and patients with allergies to sulfur hexafluoride,pregnancy,cardiopulmonary insufficiency,urinary calculus and tumour were excluded.These patients were divided into estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR,ml·min1· (1.73 m2)-1] ≥60 group,eGFR 30-59 group and eGFR ＜ 30 group.CEUS was performed after an intravenous bolus injection of 1.5 ml SonoVue (BR1;Bracco Milan,Italy).Time-intensity curves (TICs) and quantitative indexes were created using QLAB quantification software.Followed up for 2 years,and patients with eGFR dropped 50％,double serum creatinine and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were regarded as having kidney failure events.Risk factors related to kidney survival were investigated using a multivariate Cox regression model.Results One hundred patients were enrolled in the study,with 78％ patients in CKD 1-2 stages,16％ in CKD 3 stage and 6％ in CKD 4-5 stages.Patients were followed for a mean period of 14.1 months,ten (10％) patients exhibited composite kidney failure events.Among 3 groups,significant differences in the left kidney length derived peak intensity (DPI) were noted (P=0.014,P=0.010).Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the DPI was an independent factor of progression of kidney disease.Multiple linear regression showed that age,basic eGFR,peak intensity were associated with eGFR decline rate.Patients with DPI ＜ 12.27 db were less to recover from kidney disease progression as compared with patients with DPI≥ 12.27 db (P=0.008).The area under the curve (AUC) for DPI was 0.778(95％ CI 0.612-0.944,P＜ 0.05),with a sensitivity of 64％ and a specificity of 88％.Conclusions The DPI might be the most valuable CEUS parameter for the evaluation of renal function.The DPI could serve as an independent predictor of the long-term prognosis of CKD patients.