Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of dengue fever outbreaks in schools from Guangzhou in 2024, so as to provide a reference for formulating targeted prevention and control policies and measures. Methods: By using the National Infectious Disease Surveillance Information Reporting Management System to obtain information on dengue fever cases in Guangzhou from January 1st to December 31st, 2024. Descriptive data analysis was conducted on the temporal distribution, regional distribution, and school distribution of dengue fever outbreaks in schools. A mediation effect model was used to analyze the mediating effect of the time between onset and reporting between the type of school and the occurrence of recurrent cases. Results: In 2024,12.41% (385 cases) of dengue fever cases in Guangzhou involved schools, with 300 schools affected. Among these, 16 schools (5.33%) reported cluster outbreaks, and 24 schools (8.00%) reported secondary cases. The first dengue case at the school was reported at 26 July and the last case was reported at 4 December, the peak reporting period for cases was October 7 to November 3. The incidence of secondary cases in schools in central urban areas (5.19%) was lower than that in suburban schools ( 17.39 %), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=9.15, P <0.01). The time from onset to reporting partially mediated the relationship between school type and the occurrence of recurrent cases ( β=0.23, P <0.05), accounting for 21.50% of the total effect. Conclusions Dengue fever is a key infectious disease facing schools in Guangzhou during summer and autumn. Surveillance of dengue fever outbreaks in schools should be strengthened during the peak season to reduce the risk of cluster outbreaks and the occurrence of secondary cases.

Objective:To identify a novel reassortant H3N2 avian influenza virus using nanopore sequencing technology and analyze its genetic characteristics.Methods:The positive samples of the H3N2 avian influenza virus, collected from the external environment in the farmers' market of Guangzhou, were cultured in chicken embryos. The whole genome was sequenced by targeted amplification and nanopore sequencing technology. The genetic characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatics software.Results:The phylogenetic trees showed that each gene fragment of the strain belonged to the Eurasian evolutionary branch, and the host source was of avian origin. The HA gene was closely related to the origin of the H3N6 virus. The NA gene was closely related to the H3N2 avian influenza virus from 2017 to 2020. The PB1 gene was closely related to the H5N6 avian influenza virus in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Fujian Province from 2016 to 2022 and was not related to the PB1 gene of the H5N6 avian influenza epidemic strain in Guangzhou. The other internal gene fragments had complex sources with significant genetic diversity. Molecular characteristics indicated that the strain exhibited the molecular characteristics of a typical low pathogenic avian influenza virus and tended to bind to the receptors of avian origin. On important protein sites related to biological characteristics, this strain had mutations of PB2-L89V, PB1-L473V, NP-A184K, M1-N30D/T215A, and NS1-P42S/N205S.Conclusions:This study identified a novel reassortant H3N2 avian influenza virus by nanopore sequencing, with the PB1 gene derived from the H5N6 avian influenza virus. The virus had a low ability to spread across species, but further exploration was needed to determine whether its pathogenicity to the host was affected.

Objective:To explore the value of high frequency ultrasound scoring combined with serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in evaluating the prognosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) in children.Methods:A total of 106 children with NRDS who were treated at Shandong Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University from March 2021 to December 2022 were selected. According to the discharge outcome, NRDS patients were divided into a poor prognosis group ( n=11) and a good prognosis group ( n=95), and the clinical data differences between the two groups were compared. At the same time, NRDS patients were divided into mild to moderate group ( n=75) and severe group ( n=31) based on the severity of the disease. The differences in high-frequency ultrasound scores of the lungs and serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT were analyzed in children with different disease severity levels of NRDS. Logistic multiple regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of prognosis; receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of lung high-frequency ultrasound score, IL-6, and their combination predicted the prognostic value of NRDS in children. Results:The gestational age, birth weight, and high-frequency ultrasound scores of the lungs in the poor prognosis group were significantly lower than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05); The proportion of diabetes in pregnancy, the proportion of severe disease, the first use time of pulmonary surfactant (PS) and the level of IL-6 in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher than those in the good prognosis group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT in severe children were significantly higher than those in mild to moderate children (all P<0.05); The high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs in severe children was significantly lower than that in mild to moderate children ( P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that gestational age, pulmonary high-frequency ultrasound score, gestational diabetes, disease severity, and IL-6 were the influencing factors for poor prognosis of children with NRDS (all P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve for predicting poor prognosis in children with NRDS using high-frequency ultrasound score, IL-6, and their combination were 0.745, 0.802, and 0.786, respectively. Conclusions:The severity of NRDS in children is related to the high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs and serum levels of IL-6, CRP, and PCT. At the same time, the high-frequency ultrasound score of the lungs and IL-6 are related to the prognosis of NRDS children, and have certain application value in predicting the prognosis of children.

Objective:To investigate ability of HCA587/MAGE-C2 protein combined with different adjuvants inducing antigen-specific immune response and antitumor effects in mice model.Methods:C57BL/6J mice were immunized with HCA587 protein com-bined with Freund's complete adjuvant(CFA)/Freund's incomplete adjuvant(IFA)and different doses of CpG ODN 1826(CpG),cellular and humoral immunity levels induced by different schemes were compared.ELISpot was used to evaluate frequency of IFN-γ-producing splenocytes.HCA587-specific antibodies were detected by ELISA.Intracellular cytokine staining(ICCS)analysis was mea-sured by flow cytometry.A tumor-bearing animal model was created by subcutaneously injection of B16-HCA587 tumor cells into right flank of C57BL/6J mice,which was treated with strategy with the strongest cellular and humoral immune response in immune compari-son protocol.Vernier calipers were used to measure tumor volume,and Log-rank test was used to analyze survival curve.Results:HCA587 protein combined with CFA and 50 μg CpG elicited strongest specific IFN-γ-secreting splenocytes and anti-HCA587 anti-bodies,which induced highest IFN-γ+CD4+T cells(P<0.05).In tumor treatment model,HCA587 protein combined with CFA and 50 μg CpG significantly inhibited tumor growth(P=0.026),while Log-rank test showed no significant effect on survival(P>0.05).Conclusion:HCA587 protein vaccine formulated with CFA and 50 μg CpG causes a significant cellular and humoral immune response and partial antitumor effect in mice model,providing new experimental data for preclinical research of tumor antigen protein vaccine.

Objective:To explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of thyroid nodules, the clinical characteristics and efficacy evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), respectively.Methods:Clinical data of 1 375 healthy people (1 031 males, 344 females, age: (43.5±10.6) years) who underwent routine physical examination (PE) and 1 450 patients (490 males, 960 females, age: (44.3±12.4) years) with medium-high risk DTC in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from April 2016 to July 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. PE and DTC patients were classified into underweight group (BMI<18.5 kg/m 2), normal weight group (18.5≤BMI<24.0 kg/m 2), overweight group (24.0≤BMI<28.0 kg/m 2) and obesity group (BMI≥28.0 kg/m 2) respectively. χ2 test was employed to analyze the relation between BMI and thyroid nodules (with/without), BMI and clinical characteristics and efficacy evaluation of DTC, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors for the occurrence of thyroid nodules and the aggressiveness of DTC. Results:Among PE, there were 779 cases with nodules, and 596 cases without nodules. Comparing with those without nodules, more overweight and obese were found in PE cases with nodules (42.1%(328/779) vs 37.2%(222/596), 24.5%(191/779) vs 20.5%(122/596); χ2=13.42, P=0.004). Higher risk of developing thyroid nodules was related with older age and lower thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level (odds ratio ( OR): 1.044, 0.919, 95% CI: 1.029-1.060, 0.845-0.999; P<0.001, P=0.046). People with high-risk nodules were more likely to be obese than those with intermediate and lower risk nodules (5/15 vs 24.3% (186/764); χ2=21.11, P<0.001). Among 1 450 DTC patients, comparing with patients with normal weight, patients in the overweight and obesity groups were more likely to have central regional lymph node metastasis ( OR: 1.418, 1.427, 95% CI: 1.075-1.870, 1.044-1.952; P values: 0.013, 0.026), and patients in obese group were with greater risk of lesions being bilateral ( OR=0.696, 95% CI: 0.519-0.934; P=0.016). BMI was not related with the efficacy evaluation of DTC ( χ2=9.13, P=0.425). Conclusions:The incidence of thyroid nodules in people with high BMI is higher. DTC patients with high BMI may have more aggressive incidence. But BMI has no correlation with the efficacy evaluation of DTC patients after treatment.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between dietary composition of residents in endemic fluorosis areas and skeletal fluorosis.Methods:A case-control study was used to analyze the difference of dietary composition between patients with skeletal fluorosis (case group) and residents without skeletal fluorosis (control group). In August 2019, taking the drinking water-borne endemic fluorosis area in Wenshui County, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province as the survey site, a cluster sampling method was adopted to select local residents aged over 18 years old, and a questionnaire survey was conducted by face-to-face interview. The survey contents included gender, age and consumption frequency of various foods. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between food consumption frequency and skeletal fluorosis. The diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis was made by using portable digital radiography (DR) to take X-ray films of forearm and lower leg, combining with clinical signs, and according to the Diagnostic Standard for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS/T 192-2008) to determine.Results:A total of 1 061 subjects were included in this study, including 376 in the case group and 685 in the control group. The age composition of patients in the case group (≤60, > 60 years old: 162, 214 cases) was significantly different from that in the control group (≤60, > 60 years old: 423, 261 cases, χ 2 = 34.52, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in gender ratio (χ 2 = 1.37, P = 0.251). The proportion of patients in the case group who ate meat and eggs > 1 time/week was lower than that in the control group (χ 2 = 8.06, 5.46, P < 0.05), the proportion of patients who ate milk > 1 time/week was higher than that in the control group (χ 2 = 4.01, P = 0.046), and the proportion of patients who ate seafood ≥1 time/week was lower than that in the control group (χ 2 = 4.16, P = 0.046). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, and urinary fluoride, the frequency of eating meat, eggs or milk > 1 time/week and the frequency of eating seafood ≥1 time/week were not related to the risk of skeletal fluorosis ( P > 0.05); however, in the group ≤60 years old, the frequency of eating eggs > 1 time/week was associated with the risk of skeletal fluorosis [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.39, 0.88]. Conclusions:The consumption frequency of meat, milk, eggs and seafood is significantly different between the skeletal fluorosis patients and the control people. In the population ≤60 years old, consumption frequency of eggs > 1 time/week may reduce the risk of skeletal fluorosis.

Objective:Through determination of urinary arsenic metabolites in high water arsenic exposed areas of Jilin and Shanxi provinces, to explore the mode and possible influencing factors of arsenic metabolism in different populations.Methods:From October 2018 to August 2019, a cluster sampling was carried out in villages (arsenic in drinking water ≥0.05 mg/L) of some townships (towns) in Lyuliang City, Shanxi Province and Baicheng City, Jilin Province for epidemiological investigation and general health examination. The residents over 35 years old drinking water from local centralized water supply and small well water sources were selected as arsenic exposure group, and people (nearby low-arsenic water source areas) with the same diet and living habits and similar economic conditions were selected as control group. Urine samples were collected. Liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry(LC-AFS) technology was used to separate and detect 4 species of arsenic compounds, including trivalent inorganic arsenic (iAs Ⅲ), pentavalent inorganic arsenic (iAs Ⅴ), methylated arsine (MMA), and dimethylated arsine (DMA). Total arsenic (tAs), inorganic arsenic percentage (iAs%), MMA percentage (MMA%), DMA percentage (DMA%), primary methylation index (PMI) and the secondary methylation index (SMI) were calculated. The influencing factors of arsenic metabolism were analyzed by multiple linear regression. Results:A total of 1 415 villagers were investigated, including 1 256 in arsenic exposure group and 159 in control group. Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in age, gender ratio and occupation distribution between arsenic exposure group and control group ( P > 0.05), but there were significant differences in smoking, drinking, body mass index (BMI) and education level distribution ( P < 0.05). The median of urinary tAs, iAs%, MMA%, DMA%, PMI and SMI in control group and arsenic exposure group were 12.86 μg/L, 15.03, 5.23, 76.35, 84.97, 93.68 and 69.68 μg/L, 10.24, 8.37, 79.31, 89.76, 90.65, respectively, the levels of urinary tAs, DMA% and PMI in arsenic exposed group were higher than those in control group, while iAs% and SMI were lower than those in control group, the differences were statistically significant ( U=- 13.87, - 4.30, - 6.64, - 6.64, - 1.99, P < 0.05). After analysis of the factors influencing urinary arsenic metabolism in the population, we found that age and BMI had an impact on iAs% ( β=- 0.08, - 0.08, P < 0.05); gender, drinking, BMI and education level were influencing factors of MMA% ( β =- 0.11, - 0.09, - 0.07, 0.08, P < 0.05); DMA% was mainly affected by age, gender, BMI and education level ( β = 0.06, 0.09, 0.10, - 0.09, P < 0.05); PMI was mainly affected by age and BMI ( β = 0.08, 0.08, P < 0.05); while SMI was affected by gender, drinking, BMI and education level ( β=0.09, 0.08, 0.08, - 0.09, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The urinary arsenic metabolism models of different arsenic exposed groups are different. Age, gender, smoking, drinking, BMI and education level may be influencing factors of different arsenic metabolism models.

Objective:To search for the key genes influencing the resistance of rectal cancer to chemoradiotherapy based on the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).Methods:The data were collected from gene expression omnibus. The whole genome expression data GSE119409 of patients receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy were obtained by gene expression ominibus. The weighted gene co-expression networks of pathological complete response group and non-pathological complete response group were constructed respectively. NetRep conservative evaluation method was used to comprehensively analyze the three key network attributes of gene connectivity, gene significance and module membership of each node in the network module, and to determine the key genes closely related to the sensitivity of rectal cancer to radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Results:Network modules including black, blue, green, yellow and purple were obtained by WGCNA, and five key genes including SLC22A14, SIDT2, CABP4, EPHB6 and RAB11B were screened out.Conclusions:Five gene co-expression network modules and five key genes related to chemoradiotherapy resistance of rectal cancer were screened by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, which provided clues for finding molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy resistance evaluation.

Objective:To investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphism at the estrogen receptor 1(ESR1) gene rs1801132 with the risk of brick-tea type skeletal fluorosis.Methods:The typical brick-tea type fluorosis areas in Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia were selected as the survey sites for a cross-sectional study. An epidemiological questionnaire was conducted by the staffs on the sites for participants older than 16 years, and physical examination and X-ray diagnosis were performed. Brick tea, blood, and urine samples were collected at the same time. The diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis through X-ray was based on the "Diagnostic Criteria for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis" (WS/T 192-2008); The determination of tea's fluoride and urinary fluoride was performed by fluoride ion-selective electrode method; gene sequencing analysis of rs1801132 locus of ESR1 gene was done by Sequenom MassARRAY flight mass spectrometry system.Results:A total of 994 patients were included in this study. The total prevalence of skeletal fluorosis was 23.9% (238/994). The prevalence of skeletal fluorosis in Tibetans(39.9%, 123/308) was higher than those of Mongolian and Han nationality [22.2% (58/261), 13.4% (57/425), χ 2=20.435, 67.811, P < 0.05]. Based on binary logistic analysis, the daily tea fluoride intake ≤ 3.5 mg, urinary fluoride content ≤1.6 mg/L, and age ≤45 years were used as the reference groups, and then, when the daily tea fluoride intake > 7.0 mg ( OR=2.865, 95% CI: 1.923-4.268), urinary fluoride content > 1.6-3.2 mg/L ( OR=2.368, 95% CI: 1.686-3.326) and > 3.2 mg/L ( OR=3.559, 95% CI: 2.401-5.276), the age > 45-65 years old ( OR=2.361, 95% CI: 1.603-3.477) and > 65 years old ( OR=4.556, 95% CI: 2.845-7.296), the risk of fluorosis was higher than that of the reference group, respectively. When the daily tea fluoride intake was > 3.5-7.0 mg and the level of urinary fluoride was > 1.6-3.2 mg/L, G allele had a protective effect on skeletal fluorosis in Mongolian population (adjusted OR=0.207, 95% CI: 0.044-0.974); when the daily tea fluoride intake was > 3.5-7.0 mg, gender was male group, G allele had a protective effect on skeletal fluorosis in Han population (adjusted OR=0.315, 95% CI: 0.112-0.887). Conclusion:The single nucleotide polymorphism of the rs1801132 locus at the ESR1 gene may be associated with the risk of susceptibility to brick-tea type skeletal fluorosis in Mongolian and Han nationality.

Objective TGF-β1 can promote EMT,then strengthen the invasion and metastasis ability of cancer ceils.However,the mechanism for TGF-β1 in gastric cancer still keeps unclear.Aim of this study was to investigate the expression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)marker,LMO1 and metastasis related genes on the human gastric cancer cell cell line MKN28 treated with TGF-β1,and test whether down-regulate LMO1 expression can affect the pro-EMT and pro-metastatic roles of TGF-β1 in MKN28 cells.Methods Primary human gastric cancer cell line MKN28 was cultured in vitro.Cells were treated with TGF-β1 to induce cells to undergone EMT.Cells were divided into four groups:control group (5 ％ BSA),TGF-β1 induced group (10 μg/L),negative transfect group (TGF-β1 +negative transfect siRNA),and LMO1-siRNA transfect group (TGF-β1+ LMO1-siRNA).Real time-PCR and Western blot was used to examine the difference of EMT marker (E-cadherin and N-cadherin),LMO1 and metastasis related genes (MMP-9 and VEGF)expression.Transwell assays were performed to identify the differences and changes of invasive and metastatic ability in gastric cancer cell line MKN28.Western blot was used to examine the expression levels of MMP-9 and VEGF.Results TGF-β1 stimulation induced classical EMT morphological change,as was confirmed by E-cadherin decrease and N-cadherin,LMO1,MMP-9,VEGF increase (P＜0.01).Accompanied with the EMT,cell invasion and migration ability was markedly increased (P＜0.01).However,Down-regulation of LMO1 expression reversed the pro-migratory effect of TGF-β1 to a great degree (P＜0.01).Conclusion LMO1 played a central role in coordinating TGF-β1 induced EMT and pro-migratory effects in gastric cancer MKN28 cells.Using siRNA to downregulate the expression of LMO1 can inhibit the invasion and metastasis ability of gastric cancer MKN28 cells.