Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in Haidian District, Beijing, and to provide a reference for epidemic prevention and control. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to organize and statistically analyze the norovirus outbreak data reported from 2016 to 2022. Results A total of 26 outbreaks of norovirus were reported in Haidian District, with a total of 1595 cases and an attack rate M (Q_R) of 8.23 (16.33)%. There were 24 cases of norovirus type GII (92.31%), 1 case of type GI (3.85%), and 1 case of mixed infection of virus type GI/GII (3.85%). The highest number of reported outbreaks occurred in March and April, with 17 cases, accounting for 65.38%. The highest number of reported cases was in November and December, with 785 cases, accounting for 44.92%. The case age M (Q_R) was 18 (14) years old. The detection rate of positive samples in different age groups had statistical significance（χ²=12.021, P=0.007). The 26 outbreaks were mainly distributed in collective units such as schools, preschool institutions, and enterprises and institutions. There were a total of 11 outbreaks related to foodborne transmission, with 923 cases, accounting for 57.87%. Diarrhea was positively correlated with the age of the cases (r_s=0.572, P<0.001), while vomiting was negatively correlated with the age of the cases (r_s=-0187, P<0.001). The time interval between the onset of acute gastroenteritis symptoms in the first case and the reporting of the epidemic was positively correlated with the duration of the epidemic (r_s=0.586, P=0.002). Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and control of norovirus in schools (primary and secondary schools and colleges), strictly implement health monitoring and regular screening for kitchen workers, carry out publicity and education, detect cases as early as possible, report the epidemic in a timely manner, and effectively reduce the scale of the epidemic and prevent its spread.

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of the norovirus epidemics in Haidian District, Beijing Municipality from 2015 to 2022, so as to provide insights into epidemic prevention and control. Methods: The epidemiological characteristics, case data, and laboratory testing of norovirus epidemics were collected in Haidian District from 2015 to 2022, and the temporal distribution, spatial distribution, population distribution, and norovirus detection were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiological method. Results: A total of 208 norovirus epidemics involving 3 530 cases were reported in Haidian District from 2015 to 2022, with a median attack rate of 25.00% (interquartile range, 18.35%). The main pathogens detected were type GⅡ, accounting for 87.98% (183 cases), and the main transmission mode was interpersonal transmission, accounting for 93.27% (194 cases). Norovirus epidemics peaked from March to June and October to December, accounting for 44.71% (93 epidemics) and 44.23% (92 epidemics), and predominantly occurred in schools and preschool institutions, accounting for 51.92% (108 epidemics) and 40.38% (84 epidemics). The median age of norovirus infected cases was 8 (interquartile range, 13) years. There were 1 920 males and 1 610 females, with a ratio of 1.19︰1. The positive rates of case specimens, key population specimens and environment smeared specimens in epidemic units were 74.32%, 13.91% and 5.86%, respectively. Conclusions The norovirus epidemics in Haidian District from 2015 to 2022 was mainly caused by type GⅡ and spread from person to person. The epidemics peaked in winter and spring, and schools and preschool institutions were the key units of prevention and control.

Biologics have become the first-line drugs in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) , and anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) monoclonal antibodies are widely used now. However, during the course of treatment, patients′ primary non-response and secondary failure often occur. This article mainly reviews some related biomarkers from the perspectives of genetics, cytokines, intestinal microbiome and routine laboratory indicators to predict the response of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies, and then monitor the efficacy of drugs to help the clinicians to switch the treatment and optimize the therapeutic schedule in time.

Biologics have become the first-line drugs in the treatment of moderate to severe inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) , and anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) monoclonal antibodies are widely used now. However, during the course of treatment, patients′ primary non-response and secondary failure often occur. This article mainly reviews some related biomarkers from the perspectives of genetics, cytokines, intestinal microbiome and routine laboratory indicators to predict the response of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibodies, and then monitor the efficacy of drugs to help the clinicians to switch the treatment and optimize the therapeutic schedule in time.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of KIR/HLA alleles with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among ethnic Han Chinese patients from southern China. METHODS: For 95 patients with HCC and 171 healthy controls, the genotype of HLA-C alleles was determined with a PCR sequence-specific oligonucleotides typing method on an Illumina GenDx NGSgo platform. Genotypes comprised of HLA-C and KIR gene alleles were also subjected to statistical analysis. RESULTS: In total 16 KIR genes (2DL2, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS5, 3DS1, 2DS1, 2DL5, 2DS4, 3DL1, 3DP1, 2DL3, 2DP1, 3DL3, 2DL1, 3DL2 and 2DL4) were discovered in the two groups. The frequencies of KIR2DL3 alleles and combinational genotypes of KIR2DL3/HLA-C1C2 were significantly lower in the patient group compared with the controls (0.9368 vs. 0.9883, χ²>3.84; P<0.05, OR = 0.1; 0.0112 vs. 0.2663, χ²>3.84; P<0.05, RR = 0.03). The frequency of HLA-C2C2 genotype of the patient group was significantly lower than that of the controls (0.0316 vs. 0.2690, P<0.05, RR = 0.09), while the frequency of HLA-C1C2 genotype was significantly higher than that of the controls (0.2316 vs. 0.0058, P<0.05, RR = 51.23). CONCLUSION Above results suggested that the KIR2DL3 allele is associated with lower risk for HCC. There may be individual difference in patients with HCC and HBV infection but various combinations of KIR/HLA alleles.
Alleles ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, KIR

Objective Early evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of sorafenib-targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma by RECIST1.1, mRECIST and three-dimensional volume measurement. Methods Seventy patients with pathology or typical imaging findings confirmed as hepatocellular carcinoma along with the sorafenib-targeted treatment for more than 2 months between October 2004 to April 2017 in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were retrospectively analyzed. Patients underwent chest, abdominal and pelvic CT scans and enhanced scans before and after 2 weeks of sorafenib treatment. Two physicians used RECIST 1.1, mRECIST, and volume measurement criteria to evaluate the efficacy of treatment. According to their averaged results, the patients were divided into two groups (control group and non-control group). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the prognostic values between different response evaluation criterias for early predicting the efficacy of sorafenib-targeted therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Kappa test was used to assess the efficacy response consistency in intra-group and inter-group. Results Based on mRECIST and RECIST 1.1 measurements, the control group included 34 cases, and the non-control group included 36 cases. Based on semi-automatic volume measurement, the control group included 38 cases, and the non-control group included 32 cases. Before the treatment with sorafenib, the RECIST 1.1 and mRECIST methods were used. There was a high degree of consistency between the two doctors (Kappa values were 0.79 and 0.71, respectively), and the semi-automatic volume measurement method was extremely consistent (Kappa value was 0.90); the consistency in intra-observer by three different methods was extremely high (Kappa values were 0.91, 0.85, 0.97, respectively). After the treatment with sorafenib, the consistency between the two radiologists using RECIST 1.1 measurement was high (Kappa value was 0.65), the consistency of mRECIST measurement was moderate (Kappa value was 0.52), and the consistency of tumor volume measurement was extremely high (Kappa The value was 0.83), the consistency in intra-observer using the above three methods was high or very high (Kappa values were 0.86, 0.74, 0.90, respectively). The RECIST 1.1 and mRECIST measurements were less sensitive in early evaluation of sorafenib-targeted treatment, and there was no significant difference between the control group and the non-control group (P=0.578 and 0.613) while the semi-automatic volumetric measurement was sensitive (P=0.004). Conclusion Semi-automated three-dimensional volume measurement which has better intra-and inter-group consistency and reproducibility can reflect the efficacy of sorafenib-targeted therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in early stage.