Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a transformative surveillance tool for estimating substance consumption and monitoring disease prevalence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables the population-level monitoring of illicit drug use, pathogen prevalence, and environmental pollutant exposure. In this perspective, we summarize the key challenges specific to the Chinese context: (1) Sampling inconsistencies, necessitating standardized 24-hour composite protocols with high-frequency autosamplers (≤ 15 min/event) to improve the representativeness of samples; (2) Biomarker validation, requiring rigorous assessment of excretion profiles and in-sewer stability; (3) Analytical method disparities, demanding inter-laboratory proficiency testing and the development of automated pretreatment instruments; (4) Catchment population dynamics, reducing estimation uncertainties through mobile phone data, flow-based models, or hydrochemical parameters; and (5) Ethical and data management concerns, including privacy risks for small communities, mitigated through data de-identification and tiered reporting platforms. To address these challenges, we propose an integrated framework that features adaptive sampling networks, multi-scale wastewater sample banks, biomarker databases with multidimensional metadata, and intelligent data dashboards. In summary, wastewater-based epidemiology offers unparalleled scalability for equitable health surveillance and can improve the health of the entire population by providing timely and objective information to guide the development of targeted policies.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Wastewater/analysis* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Public Health ; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope in the treatment of parapelvic cysts.Methods:The clinical data of 21 patients with parapelvic cysts in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 10 males and 11 females. The average age was (62.86±5.38) years, and median age was 63.0 years, aged from 36-72 years. The maximum diameter of the cyst was 33-71 mm, with an average of (53.46±9.68) mm. There were 15 cases with homolateral hydronephrosis and 6 cases with homolateral renal calculus. The patients included in the study were treated with incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope. The double J ureteral catheter was removed and the urinary system ultrasound was repeated one month after surgery. CT on bilateral kidney was repeated every 6 months until 12 months after surgery. Subsequently, ultrasound on bilateral kidney was reviewed regularly every year. Prognostic indexes sunch as operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative time of getting out of bed, intraoperative blood loss, recurrence and shrinkage of renal cysts were recorded.Results:Of the 21 patients who underwent incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope, 9 cases (42.9%) underwent the one-stage operation and 12 cases (57.1%) underwent the two-stage operation. The mean operative time was (41.57±10.86) min, the mean postoperative hospitalization time was (2.90±1.06) d, the mean time of getting out of bed was (0.53±0.30) d, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was (6.52±2.15) mL. No significant recurrence of cysts was observed in all patients after 6-60 months of follow-up, and the cysts disappeared completely or shrank significantly.Conclusion:Incision and drainage with Holmium laser under flexible ureteroscope is safe and reliable in patients with parapelvic cysts, with short operation time, minor blood loss, rapid postoperative recovery and low recurrence rate, which is one of the ideal treatment options for parapelvic cysts.

This study aims to investigate the effect of bovine leukemia virus encoded microRNAs(BLV-miRNAs)on lactoperoxidase(LPO)in bovine mammary epithelial cells(BMECs).Firstly,the LPO content in the milk of BLV-positive cows,categorized by different viral loads,was quanti-fied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Subsequently,BMECs were cultured in vitro and infected with(1 MOI)full-length BLV and BLV lacking miRNAs(BLV-ΔmiRNAs).Va-rious analytical techniques,including fluorescent quantitative PCR and ELISA,were used to assess LPO expression levels in different BMEC cohorts.Ten BLV-miRNAs were computationally predic-ted to target LPO using software tools such as StarMir.Based on these predictions,transfections of BLV-miRNAs were carried out and preliminary verification of their effects on target genes were performed.The results showed that compared to that of BLV-negative counterparts,the LPO levels in the milk of BLV-positive cows,stratified by high and low viral load,decreased by 8.73％and 9.68％,respectively.Invitro experiments further corroborated these trends,revealing a significant increase(P＜0.05)in LPO expression within BMECs following the deletion of BLV-miRNAs compared to the group infected with full-length BLV-infected group.Computational target site pre-dictions implicated BLV-miR-B1-5p,B3-3p,and B4-5p in the collective regulation of the LPO gene.Transfection of BLV-miR-B1-5p into BMECs resulted in a significant downregulation of LPO gene expression(P＜0.05),with the effect intensifying proportionally with the transfection dose.Simi-larly,the transfection of BLV-miR-B4-3p into BMECs significantly reduced LPO gene expression(P＜0.05)without showing a dose-dependent behavior.In conclusion,this research indicates that BLV-miRNAs can suppress LPO expression in BMECs.

Loganin(LOG),a bioactive compound derived from Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc,has been understudied in the context of osteoarthritis(OA)treatment.In this study,we induced an inflammatory response in chondrocytes using lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and subsequently treated these cells with LOG.We employed fluorescence analysis to quantify reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels and measured the expression of NLRP3 and nuclear factor erythropoietin-2-related factor 2(NRF2)using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR),Western blotting,and immunofluorescence(IF)techniques.Additionally,we developed an OA mouse model by performing medial meniscus destabilization(DMM)surgery and monitored disease progression through micro-com-puted tomography(micro-CT),hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining,safranin O and fast green(S&F)staining,and immunohisto-chemical(IHC)analysis.Our results indicate that LOG significantly reduced LPS-induced ROS levels in chondrocytes,inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,and enhanced NRF2/heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)signaling.In vivo,LOG treatment mitigated cartilage degradation and osteophyte formation triggered by DMM surgery,decreased NLRP3 expression,and increased NRF2 expres-sion.These findings suggest that LOG has a protective effect against OA,potentially delaying disease progression by inhibiting the ROS-NLRP3-IL-1β axis and activating the NRF2/HO-1 pathway.

Aldolase B (ALDOB), a glycolytic enzyme, is uniformly depleted in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues. We previously showed that ALDOB inhibited proliferation through a mechanism independent of its enzymatic activity in ccRCC, but the mechanism was not unequivocally identified. We showed that the corepressor C-terminal-binding protein 2 (CtBP2) is a novel ALDOB-interacting protein in ccRCC. The CtBP2-to-ALDOB expression ratio in clinical samples was correlated with the expression of CtBP2 target genes and was associated with shorter survival. ALDOB inhibited CtBP2-mediated repression of multiple cell cycle inhibitor, proapoptotic, and epithelial marker genes. Furthermore, ALDOB overexpression decreased the proliferation and migration of ccRCC cells in an ALDOB-CtBP2 interaction-dependent manner. Mechanistically, our findings showed that ALDOB recruited acireductone dioxygenase 1, which catalyzes the synthesis of an endogenous inhibitor of CtBP2, 4-methylthio 2-oxobutyric acid. ALDOB functions as a scaffold to bring acireductone dioxygenase and CtBP2 in close proximity to potentiate acireductone dioxygenase-mediated inhibition of CtBP2, and this scaffolding effect was independent of ALDOB enzymatic activity. Moreover, increased ALDOB expression inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft model and decreased lung metastasis in vivo. Our findings reveal that ALDOB is a negative regulator of CtBP2 and inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in ccRCC.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/genetics* ; Fructose-Bisphosphate Aldolase/metabolism* ; Co-Repressor Proteins/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

OBJECTIVE：To study the repa ir effect and mechanism of Taohong siwu decoction on rotator cuff injury in rabbits. METHODS：New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into blank control group ，model group ，Taohong siwu decoction low-dose，medium-dose and high-dose groups （2.75，5.5，11 g/kg），and Taohong siwu decoction+LY 294002 group [ 5.5 g/kg Taohong siwu decoction+ 6.4 μg/kg LY294002（pathway inhibitor ）]，with 11 rabbits in each group. Except for blank control group ， other groups underwent right subscapularis muscle detachment to establish rotator cuff injury model. After modeling ，blank control group and model group were given normal saline intragastrically ；Taohong siwu decoction groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically；Taohong siwu decoction+LY 294002 group was given Taohong siwu decoction intragastrically ，and then injected with LY 294002 at the ear edge ，once a day ，for 12 weeks. After last intragastric administration （injection），the pathological changes of tendon-bone interface was observed ；the levels of TNF-α，IL-10 and IL- 6 in serum were detected ；mRNA and protein expressions of PI 3K，Akt and mTOR in tendon-bone interface were detected ；the expression of autophagy related protein （Beclin1， LC3Ⅱ）were detected. RESULTS ：Compared with blank control group ，the tendon-bone interface was uneven and the intima was swollen in model group. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6，mRNA and protein expressions of PI 3K，Akt and mTOR in tendon-bone interface were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01），while the level of IL- 10 and protein expression of Beclin 1 and LC 3Ⅱ were decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group ，the tendon-bone interface of rabbits in Taohong siwu decoction low-dose and medium-dose groups still had certain intimal damage ，while the tendon-bone interface of rabbits in high-dose group was smooth and flat without an obvious intimal tear ；the levels of most indexes in serum and tendon-bone interface of rabbits were significantly reversed in each dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Swollen tendon-bone interface and obvious intimal tear were obse rved in Taohong siwu decoction + LY group；compared with model group ，there w as no significant difference in above indexes of serum and tendon-bone interface （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ：Taohong siwu decoction may repair the rotator cuff injury of rabbits ，the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway，activating autophagy and inhibiting inflammatory response.

BACKGROUND: The proliferation of peripheral blood stem cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) invitro remains unclear. There is no optimal marker for tracing PBMCs transplanted in vivo.OBJECTIVE: To observe the degree of PBMC proliferation in stem cell medium by EdU labeling and to explore thefeasibility of EdU-labeled peripheral blood stem cells.METHODS: New Zealand rabbit PBMCs were isolated and cultured for 1 to 5 days in stem cell medium supplementedwith EdU. The cells were observed and counted at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days in culture. The cells were harvested at eachtime point and stained with EdU fluorescent reagents. Then, confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detectEdU-labeled cells.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Freshly isolated rabbit PBMCs were rounded and showed clear outline. After 1 dayculture, most of the cells were suspended in the medium, spherical or round. There were also a few cell clusters andadherent cells scattered in a triangle or polygon shape; after 2 days culture, more cell debris were observed, and mostcells were round; when cultured for 3-5 days, increased cell debris, smaller cell mass and decreased cell densitysignificantly were observed. (2) With the prolongation of culture time, the cell count decreased gradually. (3) Whencultured for 1 day, EdU labeled cells in red were scattered. The number of cells marked with EdU red label increasedsignificantly at day 2 and remained unchanged after 3 days of culture. At 5 days of culture, the number of red cellsmarkedly decreased; the highest positive rate of EdU-labeled cells was (2.38±0.10)% at 2 days after culture. To conclude,these results showed that the proportion of proliferating cells in rabbit PBMCs was very low. EdU is capable of labelingproliferative cells among PBMCs.

Objective To study correlation between biochemical markers of bone metabolism and postmenopausal osteoporot-ic vertebral fractures.Methods The clinical data of 100 cases with postmenopausal osteoporotic were study retrospectively.Fifty patients were postmenopausal osteoporotic,the rests were postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Lumbar spine,hip BMD,serum P1NP,β-CTX,N-MID,25-(OH)VitD and Ca2 + were recorded.Results There was a significant difference among ser-um P1NP,β-CTX and 25-(OH)VitD(P <0.05 ).There was positive correlation between postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral fracture with serum P1NP (P <0.05),and negative correlation with serum 25-(OH)VitD (P <0.05),but had no correlation with serumβ-CTX (P >0.05).Conclusion Serum P1NP and 25-(OH)VitD could predict risk of postmenopausal osteoporotic vertebral fractures.Biochemical markers of bone metabolism combined with BMD could reduce postmenopausal osteoporosis fractures.

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic ossification (HO) is common following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which may cause certain influence on functional recovery.OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors for HO after primary THA in AS patients.METHODS: The clinical and radiological data from 87 patients (132 hips) with AS undergoing primary THA between June 2011 and December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed, and followed up for more than 6 months. The radiological information included preoperative and postoperative hip anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. The presence of HO surrounding the prosthesis was evaluated on the radiographs at the last follow-up and graded according to the Brooker classification. Risk factors for HO were divided into invariable factors (age, sex, course and with or without ankylosed hip) and variable factors (preoperative C-reactive protein level, preoperative erythrocyte sedimentation rate, intraoperative blood loss, operation time, prosthesis types and anesthesia methods) to determine the pertinent risk factors.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Totally 43 hips (32.6%) were found to have developed into HO. (2) Invariable risk factors including male (P=0.029), preoperative ankylosed hip (P < 0.001), and course (P=0.029) increased the prevalence of HO. Among the variable risk factors, prolonged operation time (P=0.031) and general anesthesia (P=0.003)were associated with the increased occurrence of HO. Age, preoperative C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, intraoperative blood loss, and prosthesis types had no obvious correlation with HO. (3) These results suggest that to prevent the formation of HO following THA in AS, efforts to reduce the operation time and avoid general anesthesia should be considered.

Objective To discuss the diagnostic value of 3D-ultrasound for cord entanglement in monoam-niotic twins. Methods From November 2013 to March 2016,a total of 65 monoamniotic twinsunderwent routine obstetric ultrasonography to screen fetal abnormalities in our hospital. The cord was meticulously observedusing a systematic continuous sequence approach. Fetuses who showed cord entanglement by 2-D ultrasound or 3-D flow Doppler were all recruited. The gestational weeks,fetal malformation,ultrasonic image feature of cord entangle-ment,and clinicaloutcome were recorded and analyzed retrospectively. Results 4 monoamniotic twins showed cord entanglement. Three-dimensional color Doppler clearly delineated thefeatures of entanglement. At following-up of 8 fetuses,3 fetuses were found intrauterine fetal death and 3 fetuses with structural abnormalities except for 2 well infants.Conclusion Cord entanglement may threaten the safety of fetusesin monoamniotic pregnancies.In aid of 2-D ultrasound or 3-D flow Doppler in monoamniotic twins can help to find it in time ,monitor it carefully and provide evidence for obstetric treatment .