ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of a cluster of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection in a kindergarten in Gongshu District of Hangzhou City in May 2024, and to provide reference for the prevention and control of similar outbreaks. MethodsAn on-site investigation was conducted using an epidemiological case investigation form. Throat swab specimens collected from cases were screened for 13 respiratory pathogens using real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For HMPV nucleic acid positive specimens, the F gene of HMPV was used as the target gene for amplification and sequencing. The sequencing results were then compared with sequences in GenBank database to determine the virus subtypes and perform phylogenetic analyses. ResultsThe outbreak occurred in a kindergarter junior class with a total of 28 preschoolers and 3 teachers and childcare workers. A total of 11 cases (10 preschoolers and 1 teacher) were identified, including 8 male cases and 3 female cases. Clinical manifestations included fever in all 11 cases (100.00%), cough in 8 cases (72.72%), catarrhal symptoms in 4 cases (36.36%), and headache in 3 cases (27.27%). All symptoms were mild, and no severe cases were observed. A total of 11 throat swab samples were collected. Real-time fluorescent PCR test results showed that 3 samples were positive for HMPV nucleic acid, 2 samples were positive for both HMPV and Streptococcus pneumoniae, and 1 sample was positive for both HMPV and rhinovirus. The sequences of the 6 HMPV nucleic acid positive specimens were amplified and analyzed using specific primers, and all were determined to be HMPV subtype A2b. The F gene fragment sequence showed the highest similarity to PV081665.1/Brazil/2024 (99.65%), and also exhibited high similarity to PP683455.1/Indonesia/2021 (99.48%), PV016275.1/Beijing/2024 (99.31%), and PV052230.1/USA/2024 (99.13%). ConclusionThis cluster of acute respiratory tract infection was caused by HMPV subtype A2b, with co-infection of rhinovirus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The F gene fragment sequences of the HMPV in this outbreak were highly homologous to those of the A2b strains isolated from Brazil, Beijing, Indonesia, and the the United States.

Pristimerin, which is one of the compounds present in Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, has antitumor effects. However, its mechanism of action in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of pristimerin on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of pristimerin on cell growth was assessed using trypan blue exclusion and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell transfection and RNA interference assays were utilized to examine the role of key proteins in pristimerin?s effect. Xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of pristimerin in vivo. Pristimerin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. Upregulation of Noxa was crucial for pristimerin-induced apoptosis. Pristimerin activated the Forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling pathway and triggered FoxO3a recruitment to the Noxa promoter, leading to Noxa transcription. Blocking FoxO3a reversed pristimerin-induced Noxa upregulation and cell apoptosis. Pristimerin treatment suppressed xenograft tumors in nude mice, but these effects were largely negated in Noxa-KO tumors. Furthermore, the chemosensitization effects of pristimerin in vitro and in vivo were mediated by Noxa. This study demonstrates that pristimerin exerts an antitumor effect on ESCC by inducing AKT/FoxO3a-mediated Noxa upregulation. These findings suggest that pristimerin may serve as a potent anticancer agent for ESCC treatment.
Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

Objective:To find out the distribution of water iodine in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and provide scientific basis for scientifically delimiting the distribution range of different water iodine level areas.Methods:From March to August 2024, by using a cross-sectional survey method, the administrative villages (communities, abbreviated as administrative villages) were used as units in 11 counties (districts, cities, abbreviated as counties) of the city to verify the changes in the names and administrative divisions of counties, townships, and administrative villages based on the survey results of iodine content in drinking water in the city in 2017. Population data, water source information, and water supply project operation were investigated, and 10% sampling method was used to collect drinking water samples. Cerium sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry was used to test water iodine level.Results:A total of 2 402 centralized water supply projects in 2 181 administrative villages were investigated and all were operating normally. The median iodine concentration in the city's water was 2.43 μg/L, ranging from 0.15 to 556.45 μg/L. The number of villages and population covered by water iodine level of < 40, 40 - 100, and > 100 μg/L was 1 990 villages and 2 841 752, 153 villages and 372 085, 38 villages and 75 493, respectively.Conclusions:According to the classification of water iodine standards, Jinzhong City presents a coexistence of iodine deficiency, adequate iodine, and high iodine areas, with iodine deficiency areas still being the main focus. Therefore, it is necessary to continue implementing salt iodization measures. Areas with high iodine levels need to continue to promote the implementation of measures to improve water quality, reduce iodine levels, and supply non iodized salt. Efforts should be made to promote disease prevention knowledge among key areas and populations, guide the public to scientifically supplement iodine, and effectively control the hazards of high iodine.

Objective:To find out the distribution of water iodine in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, and provide scientific basis for scientifically delimiting the distribution range of different water iodine level areas.Methods:From March to August 2024, by using a cross-sectional survey method, the administrative villages (communities, abbreviated as administrative villages) were used as units in 11 counties (districts, cities, abbreviated as counties) of the city to verify the changes in the names and administrative divisions of counties, townships, and administrative villages based on the survey results of iodine content in drinking water in the city in 2017. Population data, water source information, and water supply project operation were investigated, and 10% sampling method was used to collect drinking water samples. Cerium sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry was used to test water iodine level.Results:A total of 2 402 centralized water supply projects in 2 181 administrative villages were investigated and all were operating normally. The median iodine concentration in the city's water was 2.43 μg/L, ranging from 0.15 to 556.45 μg/L. The number of villages and population covered by water iodine level of < 40, 40 - 100, and > 100 μg/L was 1 990 villages and 2 841 752, 153 villages and 372 085, 38 villages and 75 493, respectively.Conclusions:According to the classification of water iodine standards, Jinzhong City presents a coexistence of iodine deficiency, adequate iodine, and high iodine areas, with iodine deficiency areas still being the main focus. Therefore, it is necessary to continue implementing salt iodization measures. Areas with high iodine levels need to continue to promote the implementation of measures to improve water quality, reduce iodine levels, and supply non iodized salt. Efforts should be made to promote disease prevention knowledge among key areas and populations, guide the public to scientifically supplement iodine, and effectively control the hazards of high iodine.

Objective:To analyze the effect of long-term care insurance on the incidence of falls in old people with disability, and the modification effect of different living arrangements.Methods:Based on the discharge diagnosis records of the hospitalization in urban residents who applied for long-term care insurance in Chengdu from July 2014 to June 2021, those who received long-term care insurance were selected as the intervention group and those who received no long-term care insurance were selected as the control group, the changes in the incidence of falls before and after the long-term care were analyzed using difference-in-differences method, and the modification effects of different living arrangements were explored using stratified analysis.Results:Long-term care insurance significantly reduced the risk for monthly incidence of falls in older adults [average treatment effects on treated (ATT) = -1.21% (95% CI: -1.82%--0.60%)], and the effect increased over time (ATT=-1.26%, 95% CI: -1.93%--0.59%). Long-term care insurance had a significant effect on reducing the incidence of falls in old people living with spouses/family members (ATT=-0.92%, 95% CI: -1.47%--0.37%) and in nursing facilities/hospitals (ATT=-2.10%, 95% CI: -3.81%--0.40%), but it had no significant effect in those living alone. Conclusions:Long-term care insurance can effectively reduce the incidence of falls in old people with disability, showing a positive effect. Living with family members or in nursing facilities/hospitals has a modification effect of the implementation of long-term care insurance policy. It is necessary to pay attention to key populations in the future and expand the coverage of long-term care insurance.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fluorouracil and leucovorin and oxaliplatin(FOLFOX)regimen hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy(HAIC)combined with lenvatinib(LEN)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)in treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after the occurrence of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)refractoriness.Methods The clinical data of 54 HCC patients who developed TACE refractoriness,were admitted to the Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital of China to receive FOLFOX-HAIC combined with LEN and ICIs therapy between January 2019 and December 2022,were retrospectively analyzed.The modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors(mRECIST)was used to statistically analyze the clinical efficacy,the Common Terminology Criteria For Adverse Events version 5.0(CTCAE 5.0)was adopted to record and evaluate the treatment-related adverse events(TRAEs).The primary endpoints were progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS),the secondary endpoints were objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),and safety.Results The median PFS was 11.7 months(95％CI:8.124-15.276 months),the median OS was 23.1 months(95％CI:19.508-26.692 months),the ORR was 46.3％,and the DCR was 87.0％.The most common TRAE at all levels was elevated alanine aminotransferase(51.9％),and the most common TRAE of grade 3/4 was hypertension(9.3％).No treatment-related death occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of HCC patients who developed TACE refractoriness,FOLFOX-HAIC combined LEN and ICIs is clinically safe and effective.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:610-615)

Objective To investigate the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with malignant obstructive jaundice(MOJ)after receiving biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation.Methods The clinical data of 52 patients with MOJ,who received biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation at the Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital of China between January 2019 and January 2023,were retrospectively analyzed.The difference value between preoperative and postoperative number of lymphoid immune cells was recorded as△X.X-tile software was used to calculate the optimal cut-off value of △X,based on which the patients were divided into two groups.Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the risk factors for overall survival(OS).Results The mean survival time of the 52 patients was(201.0±32.1)days.Univariate analysis indicated that postoperative TACE,preoperative ALT,preoperative AST,△lymphocyte cell,△CD3+T cell,△CD8+T cell,△natural killer cell(NK)and △regulatory cell(Treg)were significantly associated with OS,the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Multivariate analysis revealed that △lymphocyte cell(P=0.007)and △Treg(P=0.038)were the independent risk factors for OS.Conclusion For MOJ patients whose△lymphocyte is ≥0.237 or △Treg is ≥0.21,a longer OS can be expected after receiving the treatment of biliary stent placement combined with intraluminal brachytherapy with 125I seed-strip implantation.

Objective:To discuss the method for establishing the rat models of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by chronic water avoidance stress(WAS)method,and to evaluate its feasibility.Methods:Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10)and model group(n=20).The rats in model group were induced by WAS method for 1 h everyday,lasting for 10 consecutive days;the rats in control group underwent no interventions.After modeling,the general conditions and body weights of the rats in two groups were observed and recorded.The elevated plus maze(EPM)test was used to detect the percentages of the number of open arm entries(OE)and the time spent in open arms(OT)of the rats in two groups;the abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)test was used to assess the visceral sensitivity of the rats in two groups;electrocardiography was used to detect the heart rate variability(HRV)of the rats in two groups;electromyography(EMG)of the external oblique muscle was used to detect the colorectal pain sensitivity thresholds of the rats in two groups;multi-channel physiological signal recorder was used to monitor the slow wave frequency of the colon of the rats in two groups.Results:There were no death rats in both groups during the modeling period.After modeling,the rats in model group exhibited poor mental status,reduced spontaneous activity,hypoactivity,disordered and dull fur,irritability,and unclean anal areas;whereas,the rats in control group showed no significant changes in the mental state,spontaneous activity,fur,and perianal area.Compared with control group,the body weight of the rats in model group was significantly decreased(P<0.05).The EPM test results showed that compared with control group,the OE percentage and OT percentage of the rats in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).The AWR test results showed that 12 rats in model group scored≥3 points,indicating that the successful rate in creating the visceral pain models was 60%.Compared with control group,the low frequency(LF)signals and the ratio of LF/high frequency(HF)of the rats in model group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the HF was significantly decreased(P<0.05).The EMG results showed that compared with control group,the coloretal pain sensitivity threshold of the colon of the rats in model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the slow wave frequency of the colon was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:The WAS method for establishing the rat model of IBS effectively demonstrates the changes in behavior and mental state,increased the visceral sensitivity,accelerated colonic slow wave frequency,and autonomic nervous system imbalance;the WAS method can serve as an effective modeling approach for observing and evaluating the related drugs and interventions on treatment of IBS.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of pseudomonas aeruginosa Injection (PAI) in the treatment of coeliac leakage after cervical lymph node dissection for robotic thyroid cancer.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 1262 patients who underwent robotic thyroid surgery at the 960th Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army from Jan. 2021 to Aug. 2023 was made. Postoperative celiac leakage happened in 28 patients. The control and injection groups were divided according to whether pseudomonas aeruginosa injection was used or not. In the control group, there were 4 males and 11 females out of 15 patients, with an average age of (46.20±9.02) years old, and the treatment methods of low-fat diet, negative pressure suction, and pressure bandage were used. In the injection group, there were 7 males and 6 females among 13 patients, with an average age of (41.00±8.87) years. They were treated with low-fat diet, negative pressure suction, pressure bandage, and PAI .The number of lymph node dissection, total drainage volume, peak drainage volume, days of hospitalization and the rate of decline in drainage volume within 24 h after the use of PAI in the injection group, post-injection temperature, number of injections, and post-injection extubation time were statistically analyzed in both groups. Independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test or Fisher’s exact test were used for comparison between groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, extent of thyroidectomy, highest daily drainage volume, and total drainage volume between the two groups ( P>0.05). The difference in the number of lymph node dissection (49.15±23.05 vs. 30.80±11.76, P=0.012) and hospitalization time (11.77±4.64 vs. 16.40±6.42, P=0.041) between the injection group and the control group was statistically significant. After the use of pseudomonas aeruginosa injection, the draining fluid decreased from the previous day (69.56± 20.82) % in the injection group; Twelve patients were successfully extubated after one injection of pseudomonas aeruginosa injection, and one patient was successfully extubated after two injections; the mean time to extubation after injection was (3.85±1.28) days; 76.9% patients (10/13) had fever symptoms within 48 h with body temperature (38.05±0.89) ℃ after injection, body temperature returned to normal after symptomatic treatment,and no other adverse reactions occurred except fever. Conclusion:Pseudomonas aeruginosa injection is safe and effective in the treatment of celiac leakage after cervical lymph node dissection for robotic thyroid cancer, effectively reducing cervical drainage and shortening hospitalization days.

Microneedles (MNs) serve as a revolutionary paradigm in transdermal drug delivery, heralding a viable resolution to the formidable barriers presented by the cutaneous interface. This review examines MNs as an advanced approach to enhancing dermatological pathology management. It explores the complex dermis structure and highlights the limitations of traditional transdermal methods, emphasizing MNs' advantage in bypassing the stratum corneum to deliver drugs directly to the subdermal matrix. The discourse outlines the diverse typologies of MNs, including solid, coated, hollow, hydrogel, and dissolvable versions. Each type is characterized by its unique applications and benefits. The treatise details the deployment of MNs in the alleviation of cutaneous cancers, the administration of inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, and their utility in wound management. Additionally, the paper contemplates the prospects of MNs within the realm of aesthetic dermatology and the burgeoning market traction of cosmetic MN formulations. The review summarizes the scientific and commercial challenges to the clinical adoption of MN therapeutics, including dosage calibration, pharmacodynamics, biocompatibility, patient compliance, sterilization, mass production, and regulatory oversight. It emphasizes the need for ongoing research, innovation, and regulatory harmonization to overcome these obstacles and fully realize MNs' potential in treating skin diseases and improving patient welfare.