ObjectivesTo investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 infection among men who had sex with men (MSM) in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, and to provide a scientific reference for acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention and control efforts. MethodsThe research subjects were all newly reported MSM population in Taizhou City from 2020 to 2023. Blood samples without antiviral therapy were collected. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified and sequenced, and the sequences were submitted to the Stanford University drug resistance database to identify the mutation sites and drug resistance. MEGA 11.0 software was used to analyze the nucleic acid sequences, construct phylogenetic tree, and calculate genetic distance of gene sequences. The molecular transmission network diagram of HIV-1 was constructed using Cytoscape_v3.10.1, and the influencing factors of network entry were analyzed by logistic regression. ResultsA total of 363 newly reported HIV-infected MSM patients were included, with a median age [M (P₂₅, P₇₅)] of 34 (26,47) years old. The majority had an educational level of junior high school or below (55.65%). A total of eight subtypes were found, mainly CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The primary drug resistance rate was 10.47% (38/363). The optimal molecular network gene distance was 0.019, with a network access rate of 42.70% (155/363), and a total of 47 molecular clusters were formed. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that compared with the CRF01_AE subtype, the clustering risk of CRF07_BC subtype was higher (OR=1.916, 95%CI: 1.191‒3.109), cases with drug resistance had a higher risk of cluster formation than those without drug resistance (OR=2.011, 95%CI: 1.006‒4.080), and recent infected patients had a lower risk of entering the largest molecular cluster than long-term infected patients (OR=0.376, 95%CI: 0.137‒0.928). ConclusionThe newly diagnosed infections among the MSM population are active in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, with a high level of primary drug resistance. Individuals carrying drug-resistant strains are more likely to cluster. Drug resistance monitoring should be strengthened to prevent further spread of drug-resistant strains in the network.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture on patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction.METHODS One hundred and eight patients were randomly assigned into control group(54 cases)for 5-day intervention of both oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture simulant and conventional treatment,and observation group(54 cases)for 5-day intervention of both oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,GIDS score,Phlegm and Blood Stasis Obstructing Lung Syndrome score,gastrointestinal mucosal barrier serum markers(DAO,D-LA,IFABP),intra-abdominal pressure,gastrointestinal hormones(MTL,GAS,VIP),inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,PCT),pulmonary function indices(FEV1、FEV1％)and PaO2/FiO2 were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed decreased GIDS score,Phlegm and Blood Stasis Obstructing Lung Syndrome score,intra-abdominal pressure,VIP,gastrointestinal mucosal barrier serum markers,inflammatory factors(P＜0.05),and increased MTL,GAS,pulmonary function indices,PaO2/FiO2(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction,the oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture can regulate gastrointestinal hormones,reduce inflammatory degree,protect intestinal barrier functions,alleviate clinical symptoms,and improve pulmonary functions.

This study was aimed at establishing a method of ultra-fast quantitative PCR for Brucella detection.We used an exogenous recombinant plasmid as the internal reference and targeted the T4SS secretion system,an important Brucella viru-lence factor,to design specific primers and probes.The sensitivity,specificity,and repeatability of this method were evaluated,and a standard curve was constructed.The coincidence rate of detection findings with this method versus quantitative PCR was determined.This method markedly decreased the detection time to only 10 minutes.The standard curve demonstrated a good linear relationship(Y=-3.410 7x+38.357,R2=0.998 5)with a low minimum detection limit of 10 copies/μL.The method exhibited good specificity and did not specifically amplify several common clinical bacteria other than Brucella.The de-tection of three concentrations of positive plasmids yielded coefficients of variation(CVs)of 0.20％to 0.91％,thus demonstra-ting the method's excellent repeatability.Furthermore,140 clinical samples were analyzed concurrently with the fluorescence PCR method,which yielded a 100％compliance rate and consistent results.Our findings indicated that the Brucella ultra-fast quantitative PCR was ultrafast;had high sensitivity,high specificity,and good specificity;and can be used for the clinical de-tection of Brucella and emergency investigation of epidemics.Therefore,this method is valuable for the early diagnosis of Bru-cella.

Objective:To determine the prevalence and associates of hyperuricemia (HUA) among the middle- and older-aged population of the island and mountainous areas in Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on individuals aged 45 and above in the island and mountainous area of Taizhou City. The study included questionnaires, physical examinations, and laboratory tests. Data were primarily collected on sociodemographic characteristics, chronic disease history, lifestyle factors, waist circumference, blood pressure, and serum uric acid levels. The association between hyperuricemia and these factors was analyzed by logistic regression.Results:A total of 971 individuals were included in the study, comprising 468 from island and 503 from mountainous area. The prevalence of hyperuricemia was 17.9%, with a significantly higher prevalence in the island area (25.6%) compared to the mountainous area (10.7%). Stratified by gender and age, differences in the prevalence of hyperuricemia between island and mountainous areas were observed in males aged 55 to 64, females aged 45 to 54, 55 to 64, 75 and above (all P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that high intake of sea food (>3 times/week) was positively associated with hyperuricemia ( OR=2.10, 95% CI:1.33-3.34). Furthermore, separate regionally stratified logistic regression analyses showed that in the island area, male gender ( OR=3.15, 95% CI:1.78-5.66), central obesity ( OR=2.38, 95% CI:1.46-3.93), and hypertriglyceridemia ( OR=2.00, 95% CI:1.22-3.30) were positively correlated with hyperuricemia (all P<0.05). In the mountainous area, the age group of 65 and above ( OR=3.50, 95% CI:1.09-12.50), male ( OR=6.79, 95% CI:2.87-17.81), those employed in enterprises and institutions ( OR=6.57, 95% CI:1.92-23.73) and hypertension ( OR=3.68, 95% CI:1.66-8.87) were positively correlated with hyperuricemia (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The prevalence of hyperuricemia among the middle- and older-aged population in the island of Taizhou City is significantly higher than that in the mountainous areas. Targeted comprehensive behavioral interventions such as routine screening of chronic diseases, low-fat diet, alcohol control, reduced seafood intake, enhanced exercise, weight management, and blood pressure control are warranted.

Objective:To investigate the sero-conversion rate of HIV antibody and influencing factors in cross-border couples in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture(Dehong).Methods:A cohort design was used to recruit HIV-negative people in cross-border couples in Dehong in 2017. Follow-up was conducted in 2023, and questionnaire survey and HIV test were carried out to calculate the sero-conversion rate of HIV antibody. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence factors for HIV infections.Results:A total of 36 278 HIV-negative persons in cross-border couples were included in the 2017 baseline survey, of whom 22 438 (61.9%) were tested in follow-up in 2023. The sero-conversion rate between 2017 and 2023 was 0.51% (115/22 438). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that length of marriage <6 years, Jingpo ethnic group, education level of primary school or below, drug use, illegal marriage and HIV infected spouse were the risk factors of HIV infection in male spouses, and length of marriage <6 years, Jingpo ethnic group, illegal marriage and HIV infected spouse were the risk factors in female spouses.Conclusions:The sero-conversion rate of HIV antibody in cross-border couples in Dehong was relatively high. HIV infection was mainly caused by secondary transmission in the couples, and men might also be infected through drug use. It is necessary to strengthen the registration and management of cross-border couples, especially the couples with discordant HIV infection status, and the intervention in drug users to reduce the risk for secondary transmission of HIV in the cross-border couples.

Objective:To describe the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people living with HIV in Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, and identify the factors associated with NAFLD in this population.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2021 to 2023. Based on the routine follow-up management of people living with HIV, liver ultrasound examination, physical examination and laboratory test were conducted to collect the information about the diagnosis of NAFLD and biochemical indicators in this population. Logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with the prevalence of NAFLD.Results:In the 2 550 study participants, the prevalence of NAFLD was 21.5% (548/2 550), abnormal liver function was found in 23.7% (604/2 550) of the study participants, and liver fibrosis was found in 45.2% (1 152/2 550) of the study participants. Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that being women (a OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.42-0.73), being overweight or obese (a OR=3.22, 95% CI: 2.59-4.01), having diabetes (a OR=3.37, 95% CI: 2.15-5.29), having dyslipidemia (a OR=2.96, 95% CI: 2.25-3.89), CD4 + T lymphocyte (CD4) counts <200 cells/μl (a OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.88), and receiving Efavirenz (EFV) + Lamivudine (3TC) + Zidovudine (AZT) for antiretroviral therapy (ART)(a OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.17-1.98) were associated with NAFLD. NAFLD was positively associated with abnormal liver function (a OR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.60-2.52) and inversely associated with liver fibrosis (a OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.98). The 45-59 age group (a OR=7.05, 95% CI: 5.65-8.80), CD4 counts <200 cells/μl (a OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.06-1.97) and receiving Nevirapine (NVP)+3TC+AZT of ART (a OR=1.87,95% CI: 1.44-2.43) were the main factors associated with liver fibrosis. Conclusions:The prevalence of NAFLD in people living with HIV Taizhou was more than 20.0%, with a significant proportion of them having abnormal liver function and liver fibrosis. Being overweight or obese, suffering from diabetes, having dyslipidemia, low CD4 counts, and receiving specific ART were associated with NAFLD. NAFLD, CD4 counts and specific ART were the main factors associated with abnormal liver function and liver fibrosis.

Objective:To investigate the life expectancy of antiretroviral treatment (ART) HIV-infected patients and its trends in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2023.Methods:The data were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention , and the study subjects were HIV-infected patients received ART in Taizhou City. An abbreviated life expectancy table was prepared based on Chiang's method to analyze the differences in life expectancy of HIV-infected patients receiving ART in Taizhou City with different characteristics in 2023 and to compare the trends in life expectancy of patients with different CD4 +T lymphocytes (CD4) counts at the time of initiation of ART from 2014 to 2023. Results:A total of 4 825 patients were enrolled in this study, with a cumulative follow-up of 276 648.56 person-years, and a case-fatality rate of 18.07 (95% CI: 16.48-19.65) /1 000 person-years. In 2023, male patients had lower life expectancy than females in all age groups, and those who were married had higher life expectancy than those who were unmarried and those who were divorced or widowed; patients who had been transmitted heterosexually had lower life expectancy than those who had been transmitted through homosexual transmission. Patients with different CD4 counts at the time of initiating ART had different life expectancies in all age groups. The life expectancy of patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl when initiating the treatment was higher than that of patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl in all age groups. The life expectancy of HIV-infected patients on ART at age 20 and 50 increased from 39.0 years and 19.1 years in 2014 to 46.0 years and 24.1 years in 2023, respectively, with an average annual percentage change of 2.43% (95% CI: 0.81%-4.07%) and 3.34% (95% CI: 1.17%-5.56%). The change in life expectancy was similar for patients with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/μl and 200-349 cells/μl at the time of initiating treatment in 2016-2023, and was higher than that for patients with CD4 counts <200 cells/μl. The rate of increase in life expectancy for patients at age 50 was higher than that at age 20 for all CD4 counts. Conclusions:The rising trend of life expectancy among HIV-infected patients on ART in Taizhou City is obvious. But the disparity between patients with different characteristics is obvious, especially among patients with baseline CD4 counts <200 cells/μl, suggesting the importance of expanded testing, early diagnosis and timely initiation of ART to improve the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients.

AIM To explore the clinical effects of oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture on patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction.METHODS One hundred and eight patients were randomly assigned into control group(54 cases)for 5-day intervention of both oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture simulant and conventional treatment,and observation group(54 cases)for 5-day intervention of both oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture and conventional treatment.The changes in clinical effects,GIDS score,Phlegm and Blood Stasis Obstructing Lung Syndrome score,gastrointestinal mucosal barrier serum markers(DAO,D-LA,IFABP),intra-abdominal pressure,gastrointestinal hormones(MTL,GAS,VIP),inflammatory factors(IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α,PCT),pulmonary function indices(FEV1、FEV1％)and PaO2/FiO2 were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P＜0.05).After the treatment,the two groups displayed decreased GIDS score,Phlegm and Blood Stasis Obstructing Lung Syndrome score,intra-abdominal pressure,VIP,gastrointestinal mucosal barrier serum markers,inflammatory factors(P＜0.05),and increased MTL,GAS,pulmonary function indices,PaO2/FiO2(P＜0.05),especially for the observation group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with gastrointestinal dysfunction,the oral administration and enema of Tongfu Paiqi Mixture can regulate gastrointestinal hormones,reduce inflammatory degree,protect intestinal barrier functions,alleviate clinical symptoms,and improve pulmonary functions.

Schizophrenia (SZ) stands as a severe psychiatric disorder. This study applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in conjunction with graph neural networks to distinguish SZ patients from normal controls (NCs) and showcases the superior performance of a graph neural network integrating combined fractional anisotropy and fiber number brain network features, achieving an accuracy of 73.79% in distinguishing SZ patients from NCs. Beyond mere discrimination, our study delved deeper into the advantages of utilizing white matter brain network features for identifying SZ patients through interpretable model analysis and gene expression analysis. These analyses uncovered intricate interrelationships between brain imaging markers and genetic biomarkers, providing novel insights into the neuropathological basis of SZ. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of graph neural networks applied to multimodal DTI data for enhancing SZ detection through an integrated analysis of neuroimaging and genetic features.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Brain/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; White Matter/pathology* ; Gene Expression ; Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging* ; Graph Neural Networks

Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition caused by dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system, remains difficult to treat due to limited understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis identified cerebellin 2 (CBLN2) as highly enriched in human and murine proprioceptive and nociceptive neurons. We found that CBLN2 expression is persistently upregulated in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. In addition, transcription factor SOX11 binds to 12 cis-regulatory elements within the Cbln2 promoter to enhance its transcription. SNL also induced SOX11 upregulation, with SOX11 and CBLN2 co-localized in nociceptive neurons. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of Sox11 or Cbln2 attenuated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. High-throughput sequencing of DRG following intrathecal injection of CBLN2 revealed widespread gene expression changes, including upregulation of numerous NF-κB downstream targets. Consistently, CBLN2 activated NF-κB signaling, and inhibition with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduced CBLN2-induced pain hypersensitivity, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines production, and neuronal hyperexcitability. Together, these findings identified the SOX11/CBLN2/NF-κB axis as a critical mediator of neuropathic pain and a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
Animals ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism* ; Up-Regulation ; Mice ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; SOXC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Male ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Hyperalgesia/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Spinal Nerves