Objective To describe and analyze the epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus in Huai'an, Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2024 and explore the long-term incidence trend and distribution of high-risk areas, and to formulate targeted prevention and control strategies. Methods The scrub typhus case report data of Huai'an from 2006 to 2024 in the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System were extracted for descriptive analysis. Results A total of 898 cases of scrub typhus were reported in Huai'an, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.96 per 100 000 from 2006 to 2024. There was a turning point in the incidence trend of scrub typhus in 2011. From 2006 to 2011, the annual percentage change (APC) was 47.09% (95% CI: 7.53 - 859.39), and the upward trend was statistically significant (P < 0.05). From 2012 to 2024, the APC was -2.12% (95% CI: -29.09 - 3.75), and the downward trend was not statistically significant. October and November were the high-incidence months, and the total concentration from 2006 to 2024 was 0.93, indicating that scrub typhus had strict seasonality. The circular distribution method estimated that the peak period of the epidemic was from October 11th to November 25th, and the peak day of incidence was November 3rd. Jinhu County was a high-incidence area. The ratio of male to female cases was 1.03. The age group with the highest reported incidence was 40 to < 80 years old. The occupation with the highest proportion was farmers, accounting for 78.03%. Conclusion From 2006 to 2024, scrub typhus in Huai'an shows a peak every 3 - 4 years. Middle-aged and elderly farmers are the key population at risk, and Jinhu County is a key area. In the future, targeted health education should be carried out to effectively control the prevalence of scrub typhus.

Objective To investigate the effects of low background radiation environments in deep underground settings on the biological behavior of NP69 human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells(NP69 cells)and the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods A parallel control experimental design was adopted and NP69 cells were synchronously cultured in settings of three underground depths at the China in situ Deep-Underground Facility&Life Observatory(DeUFO)—ground level(DeUFO-0 m),1 000 m underground(DeUFO-1 000 m),and 1 500 m underground(DeUFO-1 500 m).Changes in cell proliferation and migration capabilities were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay and scratch assay,respectively.High-throughput RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq)was performed to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs).Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs were performed using the Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)databases.Results CCK-8 assay revealed that,after 72 h of culture,the absorbance value of the DeUFO-0 m group was 1.35 times and 1.27 times those of the those of the DeUFO-1 000 m and DeUFO-1 500 m groups,respectively(both P<0.000 1).After 96 h of culture,the absorbance value of the DeUFO-0 m group was 1.52 times and 1.41 times those of the DeUFO-1 000 m and DeUFO-1 500 m groups,respectively(both P<0.000 1).Colony formation assays revealed that the number of cell colonies in the DeUFO-0 m group was 1.59 times and 1.27 times those in the DeUFO-1 000 m group and DeUFO-1 500 m group,respectively(both P<0.001).The scratch assay revealed that the 36-hour wound healing rate of the DeUFO-0 m group was 2.22 times and 4.00 times those of the DeUFO-1 000 m group and DeUFO-1 500 m group,respectively(both P<0.000 1).Transwell assays revealed that the number of migrating cells in the DeUFO-0 m group was 2.08 times and 2.56 times those in the DeUFO-1 000 m group and DeUFO-1 500 m group,respectively(both P<0.000 1).Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed consistent upregulation of CELF2,CELF4,CGB8,GRHL2,and DMRTA2 genes in the DeUFO-1 000 m and DeUFO-1 500 m groups.Pathway enrichment analysis indicated significant enrichment of extracellular matrix(ECM)remodeling-associated pathways and gene expression regulation pathways in the experimental groups(false discovery rate[FDR]<0.05).Conclusion The low background radiation environment in deep underground settings suppresses the proliferation and migration activities of NP69 cells by mediating ECM remodeling and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms through the regulation of target genes such as the CELF family.This study provides experimental evidence for establishing a dose-response relationship between environmental radiation and cellular effects.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) combined with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum LCN2 in patients with PCa (PCa group,n =82),patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH group,n =40) and healthy subjects (NC group,n =30).The levels of serum PSA were measured by chemiluminescence.The diagnostic value of LCN2 combined with PSA in PCa was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.The relationship between the level of LCN2 and clinical parameters in PCa patients was analyzed.Results The levels of serum LCN2 in PCa group,BPH group and NC group were (88.97 ±40.83) pg/ml,(53.12 ±25.66) pg/ml,(13.34 ±4.86) pg/ml (F=61.306,P ＜0.001).The level of LCN2 in PCa group was significantly higher than that in BPH group and NC group (both P＜0.001).The levels of serum PSA in PCa group,BPH group and NC group were (17.65 ± 8.43) ng/ml,(11.27 ±3.56) ng/ml,(2.61 ±0.87) ng/ml (F=60.959,P＜0.001).The level of serum PSA in PCa group was significantly higher than that in BPH group and NC group (both P ＜0.001).There was positive correlation between serum LCN2 and PSA levels (r =0.360,P ＜ 0.001).The levels of serum LCN2 in PCa patients with different Gleason score,TNM stage and distant metastasis were significantly different (F =8.546,P ＜ 0.001;t =3.421,P =0.001;t =3.622,P =0.010).The area under the curve (AUC) of serum LCN2 was 0.763 (95％ CI:0.677-0.850,P ＜0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of serum LCN2 were 62.2％ and 85.0％.The AUC of PSA was 0.750 (95％ CI:0.665-0.836,P ＜ 0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of serum PSA were 51.2％ and 87.5％.The AUC of LCN2 combined with PSA was 0.822 (95％ CI:0.749-0.895,P ＜0.001).Conclusion Serum LCN2 level in the patients with PCa is significantly higher,which participates in tumor invasion.LCN2 may be a potential serum marker for the diagnosis of PCa.Combined detection of LCN2 and PSA contributes to the early diagnosis of PCa.

Objective To explore the relationship between the size and location of the aneurysm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) and its clinical classification. Methods A retrospective study was performed in patients with aSAH from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014. The relevant clinical data were collected including age, gender, aneurysm size, location, and Hunt-Hess (H-H) classification. The aneurysms were classified by size (A group d<5.00 mm, B group 5.00 mm≤d<10.00 mm, C group d≥10.00 mm), location and H-H classification according to the results of CT, digital subtrac?tion angiography (DSA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). The relationship between size, position of aneurysm and H-H classification was observed and analyzed. Results There were 750 cases included in this study, with average age (56.14 ± 11.88), male 292 and female 458. The total number of aneurysms was 903, and the number of multiple aneurysms was 91 (12.13%). There was one case with multiple aneurysms that can be included in A, B and C groups. There were two cases with multiple aneurysms that can be included in A and B groups, two cases can be included in A and C groups, and three cases can be included in B and C groups. The number of aneurysms and the ratios of groups A, B and C were 20(3.9%), 12 (3.8%), 5 (7.5%), 70 (13.6%), 39 (12.2%), 10(14.9%), 2 (0.4%), 4 (1.3%), 2 (3.0%), 165 (32.0%), 94 (29.4%), 6 (9.0%), 130 (25.2%), 90 (28.1%), 6 (9.0%), 17 (3.3%), 11 (3.4%) and 2 (3.0%) for the location in the anterior cerebral artery, the middle cerebral artery, the posterior cerebral artery, the internal carotid artery, the anterior communicating artery, the posterior communicating artery, and the vertebral basilar artery, respectively. The number of aneurysms and the ratios of H-H classificationⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ,ⅣandⅤin groups A, B and C were 48 (9.3%), 45 (14.1%), 12 (17.9%), 228 (44.2%), 150 (46.9%), 14 (20.9%), 68 (13.2%), 54 (16.9%), 30 (44.8%), 142 (27.5%), 43 (13.4%), 9 (13.4%), 30 (5.8%), 28 (8.8%) and 2 (3.0%). There was a negative correlation between the size of aneurysm and the H-H grade (rs=-0.075, P=0.024). Conclusion The anterior communicating artery and posterior communicating artery are high-risk areas for smaller aneurysms. The internal ca?rotid artery is high-risk areas for larger aneurysms. The size of aneurysm is negatively correlated with H-H classification.

ObjectiveUsing dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) to evaluate the hemodynamic perfusion characteristics of bone marrow infiltration in patients with acute leukemia (AL). MethodsForty-seven patients with AL received coronal pelvic T1WI DCE-MRI with fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence. Among them, 25 were initial onset untreated (IOU) patients, 22 were treated AL patients, including 14 with complete remission (CR) and 8 with non-remission ( NR). The hemodynamic perfusion parameters including maximum percentage of enhancement ( Emax ) and slope were determined based on enhancement-time curves ( ETCs ) of iliac and lumbar vertebra. The proportion of marrow myeloblasts was recorded.For all patients, quantitative perfusion parameters of bone marrow infiltration in ilium were compared with those in lumbar. The values of Emax and ES were compared among IOU,CR and NR patients.Correlations between perfusion parameters and histopathological results were assessed. ResultsIn all the 47 patients, the Emax values of bilateral iliac bone marrow ( 15.70 ± 7.06)were slightly higher than that of lumbar bone marrow ( 11. 28 ± 5.52 ), and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜0. 01 ).There was no significant difference in the slop value between bilateral iliac bone marrow (0. 82 ± 0. 12 ) and lumbar bone marrow (0. 80 ± 0. 09 ) ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). In the 25 untreated patients,the Emax and slop values were 17. 15 ± 5.75 and 0. 98 ± 0. 13, respectively; in the 14 CR patients, they were 8. 76 ±3.93 and 0. 26 ± 0. 04, respectively, and in the 8 NR patients, they were 21.62 ± 6. 50 and 1. 38 ± 0. 02, respectively. There was significant difference in the Emax and slop values among the three groups (P＜0. 05).Compared with IOU and NR patients, both the Emax and slop values decreased significantly in iliac bone marrow of AL patients with CR (P ＜ 0. 05 ). There was no significant difference between IOU and NR patients ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). A significant positive correlation was found between Emax value of iliac bone marrow and the proportion of marrow myeloblasts ( r ＝0. 501 ,P ＜0. 05 ). There was a negative correlation between slop value of iliac bone marrow and the proportion of marrow myeloblasts ( r ＝0. 235 ,P ＞0.05).ConclusionsDCE-MRI can beused for evaluating the hemedynamic characteristics of microcirculation of bone marrow infiltration in patients with AL, which can provide useful information in evaluating prognosis and monitoring therapeutic effect.