Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of a pertussis outbreak in Guangzhou, so as to provide references for outbreak response and prevention strategies. Methods: From April 5 to June 9, 2024, case screening was conducted among 246 preschool children, 35 staff members, and one full time school nurse in a kindergarten in Guangzhou based on case definition. Field epidemiological investigation methods were employed to collect relevant information, and screening samples were collected from individuals involved in the outbreak. The clinical manifestations, epidemiological characteristics, and risk factors for transmission of the outbreak were analyzed, with rate comparisons performed using the χ 2 test. Results: There were a total of 15 confirmed cases of pertussis in the kindergarten. The main clinical manifestations included intermittent cough in 14 cases ( 93.33 %), sputum production in 5 cases (33.33%), fever in 2 cases (13.33%), paroxysmal spasmodic cough in 1 case (6.67%), and vomiting in 1 case (6.67%). There was no statistically significant difference in the reporting rates of interrupted cough symptoms between pertussis cases (93.33%) and non pertussis cases (92.86%)( χ 2=3.74, P >0.05). The cases were aged 4-5 years, including 5 males and 10 females. The interval between symptom onset and diagnosis ranged from 2 to 25 days, with a median of 10 days. The outbreak involved two classes, with attack rates of 48.28% and 3.45%, respectively. Laboratory testing confirmed 14 close contacts positive for Bordetella pertussisnucleic acid. Among close contacts, only one received prophylactic medication as required. Conclusion The outbreak is a pertussis outbreak in a kindergarten caused by Bordetella pertussis infection, demonstrating distinct temporal and spatial clustering characteristics.

Objective To gain insights into the biological characteristics of different populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus within and around the Yellow Sea wetland from the perspective of the occurrence of resistance, we investigated the levels of resistance to deltamethrin and kdr gene mutation in the wetland and its peripheral areas. Methods Specimens were collected from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations at two monitoring sites in the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area, and also from two populations in Yancheng City and the Liuhe District of Nanjing, and the resistance of these mosquitoes to deltamethrin was determined using the CDC biotest bottle method. For each concentration of deltamethrin assessed, a random subset of exposed specimens was selected for amplification of the kdr gene fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify and analyze resistance-associated mutations. Results The LC50 levels of deltamethrin among mosquitoes from the four populations in Luhe, Yancheng, the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area were 2.048 5, 7.798 2, 3.473 3, and 17.695 5 mg/mL, respectively, with corresponding concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.005 to 5.000,0.050 to 50.000,0.050 to 25.000 and 0.050 to 50.000 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges of the KT50 values were 11.76-107.43, 67.05-216.30,29.77-107.43 and 28.40-329.51 min; the 1-h knockdown rates were 34.58%-99.15%, 9.52%-43.80%, 55.09%-73.01%, and 10.09%-68.07%; and the 24-h mortality rates were 12.15%-67.52%,9.52%-79.56%,13.17%-82.21%, and 11.01%-78.99%, respectively. With respect to kdr gene mutation, we assayed a total of 63,70,59, and 57 mosquitoes for the four populations, for which we detected L1014F mutation frequencies of 14.29%, 35.00%, 20.34%, and 31.58%, respectively, with a majority of these mutations being heterozygous for resistance. In addition, five adult mosquitoes were identified has having synonymous mutations at site 1011[i. e. , AAT(asparagine)mutation to AAC(asparagine)]. Conclusions Our findings revealed the clear resistance of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus to deltamethrin in the Yancheng region of the Yellow Sea wetland, and the resistance phenotype and kdr frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment were comparable to those of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment, thereby indicating that the resistance of different populations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was homogeneous under the pressure of different insecticide selection within and around the wetland. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied.

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression level of HBV cccDNA in patients in the convalescence stage of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure （HBV-ACLF） and its correlation with HBV markers and liver histopathological changes. MethodsA total of 30 patients in the convalescence stage of HBV-ACL who were hospitalized in The Ninth Hospital of Nanchang from January 2015 to October 2023 were enrolled as liver failure group， and 9 patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB）， matched for sex and age， were enrolled as control group. The content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue was measured， and its correlation with clinical data and laboratory markers was analyzed. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and a one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups； the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A Spearman correlation analysis was performed. ResultsThe liver failure group had a significantly lower content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue than the control group （-0.92±0.70 log₁₀ copies/cell vs -0.13±0.91 log₁₀ copies/cell， t=2.761， P=0.009）. In the liver failure group， there was no significant difference in the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue between the HBeAg-positive patients and the HBeAg-negative patients （P>0.05）； there was no significant difference in the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue between the patients with different grades （G0-G2， G3， and G4） of liver inflammatory activity （P>0.05）； there was no significant difference in the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue between the patients with different stages （S0-S2， S3， and S4） of liver fibrosis （P>0.05）； there was no significant difference in the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue between the patients with negative HBV DNA and those with positive HBV DNA （P>0.05）. For the liver failure group， the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue was positively correlated with the content of HBV DNA in liver tissue （r=0.426， P=0.043） and was not significantly correlated with the content of HBV DNA in serum （P>0.05）. ConclusionThere is a significant reduction in the content of HBV cccDNA in liver tissue in the convalescence stage of HBV-ACLF. HBV cccDNA exists continuously and stably in liver tissue and can better reflect the persistent infection and replication of HBV than HBV DNA in serum and liver tissue.

To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.

To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.

To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.

To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.

ObjectiveTo understand the seropositivity of neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and low-level NAb against SARS-CoV-2 infection in the community residents, and to explore the impact of COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 infection on the levels of NAb in human serum. MethodsOn the ground of surveillance cohort for acute infectious diseases in community populations in Shanghai, a proportional stratified sampling method was used to enroll the subjects at a 20% proportion for each age group (0‒14, 15‒24, 25‒59, and ≥60 years old). Blood samples collection and serum SARS-CoV-2 NAb concentration testing were conducted from March to April 2023. Low-level NAb were defined as below the 25^th percentile of NAb. ResultsA total of 2 230 participants were included, the positive rate of NAb was 97.58%, and the proportion of low-level NAb was 25.02% (558/2 230). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age, infection history and vaccination status were correlated with low-level NAb (all P<0.05). Individuals aged 60 years and above had the highest risk of low-level NAb. There was a statistically significant interaction between booster vaccination and one single infection (aOR=0.38, 95%CI: 0.19‒0.77). Compared to individuals without vaccination, among individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 once, both primary immunization (aOR=0.23, 95%CI: 0.16‒0.35) and booster immunization (aOR=0.12, 95%CI: 0.08‒0.17) significantly reduced the risk of low-level NAb; among individuals without infections, only booster immunization (aOR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.14‒0.52) showed a negative correlation with the risk of low-level NAb. ConclusionsThe population aged 60 and above had the highest risk of low-level NAb. Regardless of infection history, a booster immunization could reduce the risk of low-level NAb. It is recommended that eligible individuals , especially the elderly, should get vaccinated in a timely manner to exert the protective role of NAb.

To investigate whether Tasquinimod can influence cisplatin resistance in drug-resistant ovarian cancer (OC) cell lines by regulating histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) or p21, we explored its effects on the cell cycle, and associated mechanisms.RT-PCR and Western blot analyses, flow cytometry, CCK8 assay, and immunofluorescence were utilized to investigate the effects of Tasquinimod on gene expression, cell cycle, apoptosis, viability, and protein levels in OC cells. The results showed that Tasquinimod inhibited cell viability and promoted apoptosis in SKOV3/DDP (cisplatin) and A2780/DDP cells more effectively than DDP alone. In combination with cisplatin, Tasquinimod further enhanced cell apoptosis and reduced cell viability in these cell lines, an effect that could be reversed following HDAC4 overexpression. Tasquinimod treatment down-regulated HDAC4, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1, and CDK4 expression and up-regulated the cleaved-Caspase-3, and p21 expression in SKOV3/DDP and A2780/ DDP cells. Additionally, Tasquinimod inhibited DDP resistance in OC/DDP cells. These effects were similarly observed in OC mouse models treated with Tasquinimod. In conclusion, Tasquinimod can improve OC cells' sensitivity to DDP by down-regulating the HDAC4/p21 axis, offering insights into potential strategies for overcoming cisplatin resistance in OC.

Process analytical technology(PAT) is a key means for digital transformation and upgrading of the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) manufacturing process, serving as an important guarantee for consistent and controllable TCM product quality. Near-infrared(NIR) spectroscopy has become the core technology for measuring the TCM manufacturing process. By incorporating NIR spectroscopy into PAT and starting from the construction of a smart platform for the TCM manufacturing process, this paper systematically described the development history and innovative application of the combination of NIR spectroscopy with chemometrics in measuring the TCM manufacturing process by the research team over the past two decades. Additionally, it explored the application of a validation method based on accuracy profile(AP) in the practice of NIR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the software development progress driven by NIR spectroscopy supported by modeling technology was analyzed, and the prospect of integrating NIR spectroscopy in smart factory control platforms was exemplified with the construction practices of related platforms. By integrating with the smart platform, NIR spectroscopy could improve production efficiency and guarantee product quality. Finally, the prospect of the smart platform application in measuring the TCM manufacturing process was projected. It is believed that the software development for NIR spectroscopy and the smart manufacturing platform will provide strong technical support for TCM digitalization and industrialization.
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Software ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Quality Control