OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of Haematococcus pluvialis (HP) on bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and on TGF-β1-induced human fetal lung fibroblasts (HFL1). METHODS: Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis model group, low- and high-dose HP treatment groups (3 and 21 mg/kg, respectively), and 300 mg/kg pirfenidone (positive control) group. The effects of drug treatment for 21 days were assessed by examining respiratory function, lung histopathology, and expression of fibrosis markers in the lung tissues of the mouse models. In TGF-β1-induced HFL1 cell cultures, the effects of treatment with 120, 180 and 240 μg/mL HP or 1.85 μg/mL pirfenidone for 48 h on expression levels of fibrosis markers were evaluated. Transcriptome analysis was carried out using the control cells and cells treated with TGF-β1 and 240 μg/mL HP. RESULTS: HP obviously alleviated BLM-induced lung function damage and fibrotic changes in mice, evidenced by improved respiratory function, lung tissue morphology and structure, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen deposition and reduced expressions of fibrotic proteins. HP at the high dose produced similar effect to PFD. In TGF-β1-induced HFL1 cells, treatment with 240 μg/mL HP significantly reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of α-SMA and FN. Transcriptome analysis revealed that multiple key genes and pathways mediated the protective effect of HP against pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS HP alleviates pulmonary fibrosis in both the mouse model and cell model, possibly as the result of the synergistic effects of its multiple active components.
Animals ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced* ; Bleomycin/adverse effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Mice ; Fibroblasts/drug effects* ; Lung/pathology* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology* ; Myofibroblasts/drug effects* ; Humans ; Pyridones

Objective To understand the current status of emergency vaccination of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) vaccine in Jingzhou, serological monitoring and the incidence of vaccinated population, and to evaluate the protective effect of emergency vaccination of HFRS vaccine on the control of HFRS epidemic in the city. Methods From 2018 to 2020, HFRS vaccination was carried out in Jianli City, Honghu City, Jiangling County, Gongan County and some townships in Shashi City, Jingzhou City, focusing on people aged 30-59 years old. The incidence of HFRS, vaccination history of cases and HFRS vaccination data of Jingzhou City were collected and analyzed by descriptive epidemiological methods. The sera of those who had not been vaccinated with HFRS vaccine (non-vaccinated group) and those who had been vaccinated with HFRS vaccine (vaccinated group) were collected for IgG antibody detection, and the serum IgG was detected by ELISA method. The correlation between the change in the number of cases in townships where people were vaccinated (comparison between 2017-2018 and 2020) and the vaccination rate before 2019 was analyzed. Results A total of 446 900 doses of HFRS vaccine were vaccinated from 2018 to 2020, covering 22 townships in 5 counties and cities, accounting for 17.19% (22/128) of the total number of townships in the city. A total of 120 953 people completed 3 doses of vaccination, accounting for 11.30% of the total population and 23.77% of the population aged 30-59 in the vaccinated township. The positive rate of IgG in the unvaccinated group in Jingzhou was 9.91% (85/858). The positive rate of IgG in the vaccination group was 40.96% (34/83). The positive rates of IgG in the 1-dose group, 2- dose group, and 3-dose group were 0 (0/2), 18.18% (6/33), and 58.33% (28/48), respectively. From 2017 to 2020, a total of 16 cases had been vaccinated with HFRS before the onset of the disease, and 81.25% (13/16) received 2 doses or less of HFRS vaccine. The changes in the number of cases was negatively correlated with the vaccination rate of the whole population in townships where people were vaccinated (r_s=-0.58, P=0.011). The changes in the number of cases was negatively correlated with the vaccination rate of people aged 30-59 years in townships where people were vaccinated (r_s=-0.46, P=0.055). Conclusion The HFRS vaccination before 2019 has played a certain protective effect on the vaccinated population. However, the inoculation rate of HFRS vaccine in Jingzhou City is still low, and the protective effect on the whole population has not yet appeared.

Objective To explore the optimal combination of parameters for the maximum spatial cluster size and maximum temporal cluster size of scan statistics. Methods The daily incidence data of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in Jingzhou in 2016 was collected as data source. The maximum spatial cluster sizes were set to 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10% of the population at risk. The maximum temporal cluster sizes were set to 7d, 14d, 30d, and 60d. A total of 20 parameter setting schemes were formed and spatial-temporal scanning was conducted one by one. The areas where the number of towns covered by the scanning area was less than 25 were selected, and the clustered epidemic of hand-foot-mouth disease can be detected at the same time in Xiejiaping Town of Songzi City and Sanzhou Town of Jianli County. The combination of large LLR and RR values was the optimal parameter setting. Results When the spatial windows were set to 20% of the population at risk, and the temporal windows were set to 30d, a total of 6 aggregation areas were detected. The number of covered townships was less than 25, and the clustered epidemic of Xiejiaping Township and Sanzhou Town were successfully detected. The LLR and RR values of the detected aggregation area were relatively large. This combination was the optimal parameter setting. Conclusion The combination of different parameters has a significant impact on the results of spatial-temporal scan statistics. It is recommended that parameters be optimized before applying this method.