OBJECTIVES: To investigate the subcellular localization and biological functions of transmembrane protein 240 (TMEM240). METHODS: NCBI BLAST and TMHMM bioinformatics software were used for protein sequence analysis and prediction of transmembrane domain of TMEM240. Brain tissues from male C57BL/6 mice (18-20 days old) were examined for distribution of TMEM240 using in situ hybridization, and qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect TMEM240 expression in different mouse tissues and in cortical neurons at different time points (n=3). In the in vitro experiment, HepG2 and Neuro-2a cells were transfected with plasmids for overexpression of TMEM240, and subcellular localization of TMEM240 was analyzed using cell imaging. In primary cultures of cortical neurons isolated from C57BL/6 mice, TMEM240 expression and its biological functions were investigated using qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Human and mouse TMEM240 proteins share a 97.69% similarity in the protein sequences, and both are transmembrane proteins with two transmembrane domains. TMEM240 mRNA and protein were highly expressed in mouse brain tissues and cortical neurons. In isolated mouse cortical neurons, TMEM240 expression reached the peak level after primary culture for 9 days and distributed in scattered spots within the cells. In HepG2 cells, TMEM240 was characterized as intracellular membrane structures and showed 80% colocalization with peroxisomes. In Neuro-2a cells, TMEM240 overexpression caused significant enhancement of the expressions of Rho GDP dissociation inhibitor β (ARHGDIB) at both the mRNA and protein levels. CONCLUSIONS TMEM240 is a novel intracellular subcellular structure specifically expressed in neurons with significant potential for targeted cellular function regulation.
Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Peroxisomes/metabolism* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Male ; rho-Specific Guanine Nucleotide Dissociation Inhibitors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Brain/metabolism*

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of abnormal blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) in occupational motor vehicle drivers.Methods:In January 2024, a cluster sampling method was used to study 606 occupational motor vehicle drivers from a transportation service enterprise in Beijing who completed occupational health examination in 2023 in Peking University Third Hospital as observation group and 596 non-occupational motor vehicle drivers as control group. The data of personal history, occupational history, blood pressure and ECG were collected, and the effects of occupational motor vehicle driving on hypertension and ECG were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results:The age of workers in the observation group was (34.1±7.8) years old, and the length of service was (7.0±7.1) years. The age of the control group was (33.8±7.6) years old, and the working age was (7.7±6.5) years. There was no significant difference in age and length of service between the two groups ( t=0.62, -1.90, P=0.538, 0.057). Systolic blood pressure (133.0±14.7) mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (83.7±11.6) mmHg, hypertension detection rate of 33.0% (200/606), ECG abnormality detection rate of 39.9% (242/606). They were significantly higher than those in the control group [ (127.8±14.4) mmHg, (77.5±11.0) mmHg, 24.7% (147/596), 31.0% (185/596) ], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that occupational motor vehicle driving were risk factors for hypertension and abnormal ECG ( OR= 1.210, 1.578; 95% CI: 1.145-1.231, 1.237-2.012; P<0.001) . Conclusion:Occupational motor vehicle driving may increase the risk of hypertension and abnormal ECG in workers.

Objective:To analyze the monitoring results of human brucellosis prevention and control project in Gansu Province, in order to provide reference for the next revision of prevention and control plans.Methods:The data from the "China Disease Prevention and Control Information System" in Gansu Province from 2016 to 2022 and the annual data of human brucellosis cases reported by the active monitoring reports in various project counties (districts) were input into Excel 2016 software and a database was established. The epidemiological situation of brucellosis, the coverage of brucellosis prevention and control projects, the number of detected cases and health education were analyzed and compared by descriptive epidemiological method.Results:From 2016 to 2022, 70 to 82 out of 86 counties (districts) in Gansu Province were found to have human outbreaks of brucellosis, with brucellosis prevention and control projects covering 17 to 43 counties (districts). A total of 19 855 cases of human brucellosis were reported online in the province, with an average annual incidence of 11.07/100 000 and an annual incidence ranging from 6.03/100 000 to 20.89/100 000. There was a statistically significant difference in incidence among years (χ 2 = 5 264.84, P < 0.001). Through active monitoring, a total of 433 303 cases of brucellosis (tiger red plate agglutination test, RBT) were initially screened in project counties (districts) throughout the province, with 13 277 positive cases and a positive rate of 3.06% (13 277/433 303). Then the laboratory confirmed test (test-tube agglutination test, SAT) for brucellosis was carried out, with 9 967 positive cases and a positive rate of 2.30% (9 967/433 303). The infection rate of brucellosis in the population (SAT positive) was compared between different years, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 600.12, P < 0.001). In the project counties (districts), 7 481 confirmed cases of brucellosis were detected by active surveillance, and 15 794 cases were reported online, accounting for 47.37% (7 481/15 794) of the total number of cases reported online. The average awareness rate of brucellosis knowledge among medical personnel increased from 70.49% before training to 88.89% after training. The average awareness rate of brucellosis prevention and control knowledge among high-risk groups increased from 63.49% before health education to 89.05% after health education, and the behavior formation rate increased from 62.84% to 86.04%. Conclusions:From 2016 to 2022, the epidemic scope of human brucellosis in Gansu Province has been expanding year by year, and the coverage of prevention and control project is relatively small. The proportion of cases detected through active screening is relatively low. It is necessary to increase special funding investment, expand project coverage, strengthen high-risk group screening, education and behavioral intervention, and follow-up management of acute stage patient, so as to identify patients as early as possible and curb the upward trend of the epidemic.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of abnormal blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) in occupational motor vehicle drivers.Methods:In January 2024, a cluster sampling method was used to study 606 occupational motor vehicle drivers from a transportation service enterprise in Beijing who completed occupational health examination in 2023 in Peking University Third Hospital as observation group and 596 non-occupational motor vehicle drivers as control group. The data of personal history, occupational history, blood pressure and ECG were collected, and the effects of occupational motor vehicle driving on hypertension and ECG were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results:The age of workers in the observation group was (34.1±7.8) years old, and the length of service was (7.0±7.1) years. The age of the control group was (33.8±7.6) years old, and the working age was (7.7±6.5) years. There was no significant difference in age and length of service between the two groups ( t=0.62, -1.90, P=0.538, 0.057). Systolic blood pressure (133.0±14.7) mmHg, diastolic blood pressure (83.7±11.6) mmHg, hypertension detection rate of 33.0% (200/606), ECG abnormality detection rate of 39.9% (242/606). They were significantly higher than those in the control group [ (127.8±14.4) mmHg, (77.5±11.0) mmHg, 24.7% (147/596), 31.0% (185/596) ], and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that occupational motor vehicle driving were risk factors for hypertension and abnormal ECG ( OR= 1.210, 1.578; 95% CI: 1.145-1.231, 1.237-2.012; P<0.001) . Conclusion:Occupational motor vehicle driving may increase the risk of hypertension and abnormal ECG in workers.

Objective To explore the characteristics of vaginal microecology and vaginitis distribution of female patients in Xi'an,so as to provide reliable reference for clinical treatment.Methods A total of 102 124 women in Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to August 2023 were selected as the research objects.Vaginal secretions were collected from patients,and the vaginal microecology was detected and analyzed.Results Among 102 124 female patients,99.87%had vaginal microecological imbalance.The main disease types were vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC),accounting for 16.03%,bacterial vaginitis(BV),accounting for 9.61%and trichomonal vaginitis(TV),accounting for 1.34%.Statistical analysis showed that the age of VVC,BV and TV patients was mainly 21～30 years old.The prevalence of VVC and BV in summer and autumn was higher than that in other seasons,while the prevalence of TV was relatively high in summer.In addition,there were 27 552 cases of simple vaginitis(26.98%)and 1 443 cases of mixed vaginitis(1.41%)in 101 995 female patients with vaginal microecology imbalance.In patients with mixed vaginitis,the BV+VVC combination accounted for the vast majority(79.00%),and the age group was mainly between 21 and 40 years old.Among the 28 995 patients with vaginitis,4 308 patients(14.86%)had recurrence,and the recurrence rate of simple vaginitis(11.44%,3 152/27 552)was much lower than that of mixed vaginitis(80.11%,1 156/1 443).Conclusion The main type of female simple vaginitis in Xi'an is VVC,which has a high prevalence in summer and autumn.The main type of mixed vaginitis is BV+VVC,Compared with simple vaginitis,patients with mixed infection are more likely to relapse.

Objective:To study the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in high incidence areas of brucellosis in Gansu Province, and provide a guidance for precise prevention and control of brucellosis in the areas with high incidence of the disease.Methods:Using a retrospective research method, human brucellosis monitoring data from five high incidence counties of brucellosis in Gansu Province from 2018 to 2020, including Huan County (eastern), Guazhou County (western), Zhangjiachuan County (southern), Gaotai County (northern), and Jingtai County (central), were collected from monitoring database of the Central Transfer Payment Project. The epidemic characteristics of brucellosis in high incidence areas were described and analyzed.Results:From 2018 to 2020, there were a total of 787 laboratory confirmed cases of brucellosis in high incidence areas of brucellosis in Gansu Province, with a prevalence rate of 3.64%. The incidence rates for each year were 2.63% (205/7 780), 4.60% (327/7 111), and 3.78% (255/6 746), with statistically significant differences between different years (χ 2 = 41.44, P < 0.001). The prevalence rates of brucellosis in Huan County, Guazhou County, Zhangjiachuan County, Gaotai County, and Jingtai County were 0.02% (1/4 263), 3.67% (140/3 817), 4.32% (182/4 209), 4.89% (237/4 847), and 5.04% (227/4 501), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in comparison between different regions (χ 2 = 211.59, P < 0.001). In 2018, the incidence rate was highest in Jingtai County in the central region, and scattered to Zhangjiachuan County in the south and Gaotai County in the north in 2019 and 2020. There were statistically significant differences in the prevalence rates among different genders, ages, ethnicities, educational levels, and occupational groups (χ 2 = 111.95, 212.76, 35.32, 89.59, 97.93, P < 0.001). From 2018 to 2020, the incidence of brucellosis in the < 20 (0.78%, 6.36%, 10.00%), 40 - 50 age groups (5.15%, 7.03%, 8.00%), students and young children (0.58%, 9.20%, 13.64%), and cadres (2.86%, 4.55%, 10.53%) showed an increasing trend year by year (χ 2trend = 21.55, 7.00, 30.63, 2.01, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The brucellosis in Gansu Province is still in a high level of growth stage, and the epidemic area is gradually dispersing; the cases are gradually becoming younger, and key occupational personnel are shifting from farmers and herdsmen to social workers. It is recommended to increase the scope of monitoring, increase publicity efforts, and enhance the self-protection and control awareness of key populations.

Objective:To learn about the epidemic dynamics and spatial epidemic characteristics of human brucellosis in Gansu Province.Methods:Data on human brucellosis in Gansu Province reported by China Disease Control and Prevention Information System from January 2016 to December 2020 were collected and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology and spatial clustering analysis.Results:A total of 10 025 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Gansu Province from 2016 to 2020, with a statistically significant difference in incidence rate between years (χ 2 = 242.86, P = 0.001). The incidence was the lowest in 2018 (6.03/100 000), and the highest in 2020 (11.39/100 000). The reported cases were concentrated in 45 - 55 years old, accounting for 34.52% (3 461/10 025); the male to female ratio was 2.91 ∶ 1.00 (7 458/2 567); farmers were the main occupation, accounting for 82.11% (8 232/10 025). Among the 86 counties (cities, districts) in Gansu Province, Yongchang County had the highest number of reported cases in 2020 (339 cases), and Sunan Yugur Autonomous County had the highest incidence in 2020 (190.89/100 000). Spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there was significant spatial positive correlation between the incidence rate of human brucellosis in Gansu Province from 2016 to 2020 (global Moran's I > 0, Z > 1.96, P < 0.05), showing a spatial clustering distribution. The high-high clustering areas were concentrated in Yongchang County and Sunan Yugur Autonomous County. Conclusion:In Gansu Province, the main population of human brucellosis is middle-aged male farmers, and the incidence of brucellosis is spatially clustered.

Objective To investigate the role of histone H4 in the polarization of alveolar macrophages (AM) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in mice. Methods i) The specific pathogen free male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg LPS groups, with six mice in each group. The mice in the LPS groups were intratracheally administered LPS according to their respective doses, while the mice in the control group received an equivalent volume of 0.9% saline. After 12 hours, the arterial blood gas was analyzed, and the pulmonary edema and histopathological changes in lung tissues of mice in each group were observed. The level of histone H4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of mice was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay , and mice AMs of the five group were isolated using adherent method. ii) AMs from normal mice were isolated using adherent method and randomly divided into control group, histone H4 injury group, BALF injury group and anti-histone H4 antibody (anti-H4) intervention group. In the histone H4 injury group, AMs were treated with histone H4 at a final concentration of 20 mg/L. In the BALF injury group and anti-H4 intervention group, AMs were treated with 200 μL BALF supernatant from mice intratracheally administered 6 mg/kg body weight LPS, with the latter group treated with 25 mg/L anti-H4 antibody. The control group AMs were treated with phosphate-buffered saline. iii) After 12 hours of stimulation, the cells were collected, and the relative expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnfa), interleukin-1β (Il1b), differentiation antigen 206 (Cd206) and arginase 1 (Arg1) in AMs was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results i) Compared with the control group, mice in all four LPS groups exhibited rapid breathing, inflammatory reaction and lung edema in lung tissues, which were aggravated in a dose-dependent manner. The ratio of partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen in mice decreased with the increase of LPS dose (P<0.05). The wet/dry weight ratio of lung, the level of histone H4 in BALF and the relative expression of Tnfa and Il1b mRNA in AMs increased with the increase of LPS dose (all P<0.05). The mice in the 6 and 8 mg/kg LPS groups developed ARDS. The level of histone H4 in BALF and the relative expression of Tnfa and Il1b mRNA in AMs of mice in 6 and 8 mg/kg LPS groups were higher than those in the other three groups (all P<0.05). ii) The relative expression of Tnfa and Il1b mRNA increased (both P<0.05), and the relative expression of Cd206 and Arg1 mRNA decreased (both P<0.05) in AMs of histone H4 injury group and BALF injury group compared with the control group. Compared with BALF injury group, the relative mRNA expression of Tnfa and Il1b in AMs of anti-H4 intervention group decreased (both P<0.05), while the relative expression of Arg1 mRNA increased (P<0.05). Conclusion LPS can induce a dose-dependent increase in histone H4 levels in BALF in mice. Histone H4 drives the development of ARDS by activating AMs to M1 polarization. Antagonizing histone H4 to interfere with AM polarization to M1 could be a target for the treatment of ARDS.

Objective:To investigate the value of antithrombin Ⅲ (AT-Ⅲ) in evaluating patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EVB).Methods:From January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, clinical data of 193 hospitalized patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis diagnosed in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were retrospectively analyzed, which included coagulation indicator (AT-Ⅲ), liver function indicators (total bilirubin, etc.), abdominal ultrasound results (portal vein diameter, portal vein blood flow velocity), and the occurrence of esophagogastric varices. According to the presence or absence of main complications, 193 patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis were divided into compensated group (60 cases) and decompensated group (133 cases). According to the presence or absence of EVB, 133 patients of decompensated group were divided into non-bleeding subgroup (96 cases) and bleeding subgroup (37 cases). The above indicators were compared among compensated group, decompensated group and their subgroups. The independent related factors of decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and EVB were analyzed. The level of AT-Ⅲ of each group were compared, and the relationship between AT-Ⅲ and Child-Pugh score was analyzed. The diagnostic capability of AT-Ⅲ in decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test, independent sample t test, chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results:The total bilirubin level of the decompensated group was higher than that of the compensated group, the portal vein diameter was larger than that of the compensated group, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the compensated group (31.50 μmol/L (21.90 μmol/L, 48.80 μmol/L) vs. 19.40 μmol/L (15.00 μmol/L, 25.50 μmol/L); (14.31±3.53) mm vs. (12.57±3.83) mm; (13.39±3.49) cm/s vs. (15.08±4.28) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( Z=-5.76, t=-2.78 and 2.40; P<0.001, =0.006 and 0.018). The incidence of esophagogastric varices of the compensated group and the decompensated group was compared (40.0%, 24/60 vs. 87.2%, 116/133), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=64.06, P<0.001). The diameter of portal vein of the bleeding subgroup was larger than that of the non-bleeding subgroup, and the portal vein blood flow velocity was lower than that of the non-bleeding subgroup ((15.54±4.23) mm vs. (13.87±3.16) mm; (12.05±3.12) cm/s vs. (13.85±3.51) cm/s), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.15 and 2.23, P=0.034 and 0.028). The AT-Ⅲ levels gradually decreased in the non-bleeding subgroup and bleeding subgroup of the compensated group and decompensated group, which were (79.52±16.02)%, (63.91±19.96)% and (35.92±13.69)%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( F=5.71, P=0.018). The AT-Ⅲ level of the compensated group was higher than that of the non-bleeding subgroup and the bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group, and the AT-Ⅲ level of the non-bleeding subgroup of the decompensated group was higher than that of the bleeding subgroup, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=5.11, 13.74 and 7.84, all P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that total bilirubin and AT-Ⅲ were independent related factors of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis ( OR (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.060 (1.018 to 1.104) and 0.945 (0.922 to 0.970), P=0.005 and <0.001). AT-Ⅲ was an independent related factor of decompensation of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB ( OR(95% CI) 0.902 (0.856 to 0.950, P<0.001). AT-Ⅲ was negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score ( r=-0.559, P<0.001). ROC analysis showed that the cut-off values of AT-Ⅲ in the diagnosis of decompensated stage of hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with EVB were 62.5% and 61.5%, the sensitivity was 88.3% and 89.2%, the specificity was 70.7% and 61.5%, and the area under the curve (95% CI) was 0.815 (0.755 to 0.874, P<0.001) and 0.899 (0.828 to 0.971, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion:AT-Ⅲ is an important indicator in evaluating the severity of disease progression in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis, and it has a certain clinical value in evaluating the bleeding tendency of patients with decompensated hepatitis B liver cirrhosis and complicated with esophagogastric varices.

Objective:To analyze the changes of spatial, seasonal, and age distribution of brucellosis among humans and animals in Gansu Province and to provide a reference for the next step in formulating prevention and control measures.Methods:Reported data of brucellosis of humans and animals in Gansu Province from 2018 to 2020 were collected. The human epidemic data were obtained from "China Disease Control and Prevention Information System", and the positive data of animals were obtained from the monthly report provided by Gansu Animal Disease Control Center. Human brucellosis was classified and analyzed according to year, month, age and region, and livestock brucellosis was classified according to year, month, population and region. ArcGIS 10.2 software was used to analyze the spatial epidemiological characteristics of the data. Measuring Geographic tool was used to calculate the shifting distance of the center of the disease incidence in humans and animals from 2018 to 2020.Results:From 2018 to 2020, a total of 6 375 cases of human brucellosis were reported in Gansu Province. The 40 - 59 age group accounted for 54.96% (3 504/6 375), 1 584 cases were reported in 2018, 1 787 cases were reported in 2019, and 3 004 cases were reported in 2020. The high incidence time of human brucellosis was July and November. A total of 48 180 brucellosis-positive animals (heads) were detected, of which 47 342 were positive sheep, accounting for 98.26% (47 342/48 180). The high incidence time of brucellosis among animals was October. Among the 14 cities (prefectures), the top cities of livestock brucellosis reported were Qingyang City, Zhangye City and Jiuquan City. The center of disease incidence among humans was located in Gulang County, Wuwei City. The center of disease incidence among animals was located in Wuwei City in 2018 and Qingyang City in 2020.Conclusions:The cases of brucellosis in humans and animals in Gansu Province are on the increase. In some areas, there are problems of separation of human and animal epidemics. It is necessary to actively strengthen monitoring and implement measures to prevent and control brucellosis in humans and animals in high-risk areas to curb the spread of the epidemic.