SlMYC2 promotes SlLBD40-mediated cell expansion in tomato fruit development.

As a plant-specific transcription factor, lateral organ boundaries domain (LBD) protein was reported to regulate plant growth and stress response, but the functional research of subfamily II genes is limited. SlMYC2, a master regulator of Jasmonic acid response, has been found to exhibit high expression levels in fruit and has been implicated in the regulation of fruit ripening and resistance to Botrytis. However, its role in fruit expansion remains unknown. In this study, we present evidence that a subfamily II member of LBD, namely SlLBD40, collaborates with SlMYC2 in the regulation of fruit expansion. Overexpression of SlLBD40 significantly promoted fruit growth by promoting mesocarp cell expansion, while knockout of SlLBD40 showed the opposite result. Similarly, SlMYC2 knockout resulted in a significant decrease in cell expansion within the fruit. Genetic analysis indicated that SlLBD40-mediated cell expansion depends on the expression of SlMYC2. SlLBD40 bound to the promoter of SlEXPA5, an expansin gene, but did not activate its expression directly. While, the co-expression of SlMYC2 and SlLBD40 significantly stimulated the activation of SlEXPA5, leading to an increase in fruit size. SlLBD40 interacted with SlMYC2 and enhanced the stability and abundance of SlMYC2. Furthermore, SlMYC2 directly targeted and activated the expression of SlLBD40, which is essential for SlLBD40-mediated fruit expansion. In summary, our research elucidates the role of the interaction between SlLBD40 and SlMYC2 in promoting cell expansion in tomato fruits, thus providing novel insights into the molecular genetics underlying fruit growth.

Toward an understanding of the detection and function of R-loops in plants.

Although lagging behind studies in humans and other mammals, studies of R-loops in plants have recently entered an exciting stage in which the roles of R-loops in gene expression, genome stability, epigenomic signatures, and plant development and stress responses are being elucidated. Here, we review the strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies, which were largely developed for R-loop studies in mammals, and then discuss the potential challenges of applying these methodologies to R-loop studies in plants. We then focus on recent advances in the functional characterization of R-loops in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice. Recent studies in plants indicate that there are coordinated relationships between R-loops and gene expression, and between R-loops and epigenomic signatures that depend, in part, on the types of R-loops involved. Finally, we discuss the emerging roles of R-loops in plants and directions for future research.

Interplay of DNA and RNA N 6 -methyladenine with R-loops in regulating gene transcription in Arabidopsis.

R-loops and covalent modifications of N 6 -methyladenine on DNA (D-6 mA) or RNA (R-m6A) have been documented to function in various cellular processes in eukaryotes. However, the relationships between R-loops and both covalent modifications are still elusive in plants. Here, we integrated existing ssDRIP-seq with D-6 mA and R-m6A data from Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that the presence of either of both modifications facilitates R-loop formation and transcription of overlapping genes. Interestingly, our study suggests that the presence of R-m6A is key to affect R-loop intensity and positively regulate gene transcription. Moreover, the presence of D-6 mA plays an additive role to facilitate the effect of R-m6A on R-loop intensity, however, D-6 mA may negatively regulate gene transcription when coexisted with R-m6A. Our analyses indicate that D-6 mA, R-m6A, or histone marks may act individually and cooperatively with R-loops in regulating gene transcription. Our study is the first to link R-loops with D-6 mA and R-m6A in plants, thereby providing new insights into interactions between R-loops with D-6 mA, R-m6A, and histone marks for regulating gene transcription. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01010-5.

The Association Between the Use of Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation and Patient Prognosis Using Data from the China Atrial Fibrillation (China-AF) Registry.

BACKGROUND Results of the landmark Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial comparing rhythm control and rate control strategies has led to dramatic changes in the pharmacological management of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients. We sought to investigate the effect of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) on the clinical outcomes of NVAF patients using "real-world" data from China. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated the association between AAD usage and clinical outcomes using clinical data of 8161 NVAF patients who were AAD-naive before enrollment in the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry, recruited between August 2011 and February 2017. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. RESULTS Compared with 6167 patients who never used any AADs, 1994 patients in the AAD group had lower incidence (per 100 person-years) of all-cause mortality (1.44 versus 3.91), cardiovascular death (0.45 versus 2.31), ischemic stroke (1.36 versus 2.03), and cardiovascular hospitalization (9.83 versus 10.22) over a mean follow-up duration of 316.7±90.4 days. After adjusting for potential confounders, AAD usage was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.31-0.81] and decreased risk of cardiovascular death (HR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.13-0.68). Subgroup analysis revealed AAD was associated with higher risk of cardiovascular hospitalization among female patients. CONCLUSIONS AAD usage was associated with lower risk of 1-year all-cause mortality and cardiovascular death in "real-world" patients with NVAF.

Sex Differences in Presentation, Quality of Life, and Treatment in Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Patients: Insights from the China Atrial Fibrillation Registry Study.

BACKGROUND There is a growing recognition of sex-related disparities in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, limited data is available in Chinese AF patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS We compared symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and treatment of AF according to sex from the China AF Registry study. RESULTS We studied 14 723 patients with non-valvular AF, of whom 5645 patients (38.3%) were female. Women were older than men (67.5±10.6 vs. 62.2±12.2). Compared to men, women had more comorbidities and a higher proportion of CHA2DS2-VASC score ≥2. Women with AF experienced more severe or disabling symptoms than men (33.7% vs. 22.9% in age <75 group; 40.3% vs. 28.7% in age ≥75 group; both P<0.0001). After multivariate analysis, women with AF still had lower QoL (OR 0.69; 95%CI, 0.63-0.76; P<0.0001). Women tended to have lower rates of ablation and rhythm-control drug use in those aged <75 years. Oral anticoagulant use was low and had no sex difference in AF patients with a CHA2DS2-VASC score ≥2. CONCLUSIONS In Chinese AF patients, women were older and more symptomatic, and had worse QoL. Despite all these differences, women tended to receive less rhythm-control treatment in those aged <75 years. Oral anticoagulant was substantially underused in high stroke risk patients, regardless of sex.

Spatial variations of pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence co-impacted by socio-economic and geographic factors in People's Republic of China, 2010.

BACKGROUND: The report of the fifth national tuberculosis (TB) epidemiological survey in P. R. China, 2010, roughly showed that pulmonary TB (PTB) prevalence was higher in western China than in central and eastern China. However, accurately estimating the continuous spatial variations of PTB prevalence and clearly understanding factors impacting on spatial variations of PTB prevalence are important for allocating limited resources of national TB programme (NTP) in P. R. China. METHODS: Using ArcGIS Geostatistical Wizard (ESRI, Redlands, CA), an evaluation was performed to decide that which kriging and cokriging methods along with different combinations of types of detrending, semivariogram models, anisotropy and covariables (socio-economic and geographic factors) can accurately construct spatial distribution surface of PTB prevalence using statistic data sampled from the fifth national TB epidemiological survey in P. R. China, 2010, and then the evaluation results were used to explore factors of spatial variations. RESULTS: The global cokriging with socio-economic and geographic factors as covariables proved to be the best geostatistical methods for accurately estimating spatial distribution surface of PTB prevalence. The final continuous surfaces of PTB prevalence distribution demonstrated that PTB prevalence were lower in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and southeastern coast China, higher in western and southwestern China, and crossed between low and high in central China. CONCLUSIONS: The predicted continuous surface perspicuously illustrated the spatial variations of PTB prevalence that were co-impacted by socio-economic and geographic factors, which can be used to better allocate the always limited resources of NTP in P. R. China.

[Epidemic status of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Shandong province, China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the present epidemic status of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in Shandong Province of China, as compared with findings of survey for drug-resistant MTB in 1997, and therefore to provide valuable data for making the current control policy of drug-resistant MTB. METHODS: From October 2004 to December 2011, the culture positive sputum samples of all 5916 new registered sputum smear-positive TB patients at the county-level TB dispensaries were tested for drug susceptibility. Finally 5542 cases with test results were included in the analysis. Of the total cases, 4198 were male and 1344 were female. The age range of the patients were 15 to 92 years old and the average age was (51 ± 20) years old, among whom, 1304 were ≤ 29 years old, 2106 were from 30 to 59 years old and 2132 were ≥ 60 years old. Of all the cases, 4332 (78.2%) only received initial treatment and 1210 (21.8%) received retreatment. The SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis and χ(2) test was used to compare category, gender, and age groups of patients. RESULTS: The total drug resistance (TDR) rate was 19.4% (1075/5542), which was lower than 23.4% (288/1229) in 1997 in Shandong Province (χ(2) = 10.193, P < 0.01). The rates of single drug resistance (SDR), multidrug resistance (MDR) and poly-drug resistance (PDR) were 11.3% (629/5542), 3.7% (203/5542) and 4.4% (243/5542), respectively. The TDR rate in patients with initial treatment was 19.0% (822/4332), and 62.7% (515/822) of which was SDR. The TDR rate of patients with retreatment was 20.9% (253/1210), and 54.9% (139/253) of which tended to be MDR or PDR. Among TDR patients, those with initial treatment accounted for 76.5% (822/1075) and SDR patients accounted for 58.5% (629/1075). The MDR rate of patients with initial treatment was 2.9% (124/4332) and the rate of patients with retreatment was 6.5% (79/1210), the differences being significant (χ(2) = 36.032, P < 0.01). The TDR rate, initial TDR rate, and retreatment TDR rate in males were 19.9% (834/4198), 19.5% (641/3287), and 21.2% (193/911), respectively, as compared to 17.9% (241/1344), 17.3% (181/1045), and 20.1% (60/299) in females, the differences being not significant (χ(2) = 0.170-2.452, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The drug-resistant TB control work in Shandong Province has made great achievements in recent years. However, patients with initial treatment were more likely to have drug-resistant MTB. Therefore the future control work should focus on early detection, effective treatment and management to control the spread of drug-resistant MTB.

Genome-Wide Identification of Open Chromatin in Plants Using MH-Seq.

Functional cis-regulatory elements (CREs) act as precise transcriptional switches for fine-tuning gene transcription. Identification of CREs is critical for understanding regulatory mechanisms of gene expression associated with various biological processes in eukaryotes. It is well known that CREs reside in open chromatin that exhibits hypersensitivity to enzyme cleavage and physical shearing. Currently, high-throughput methodologies, such as DNase-seq, ATAC-seq, and FAIRE-seq, have been widely applied in mapping open chromatin in various eukaryotic genomes. More recently, differential MNase (micrococcal nuclease) treatment has been successfully employed to map open chromatin in addition to profiling nucleosome landscape in both mammalian and plant species. We have developed a MNase hypersensitivity sequencing (MH-seq) technique in plants. The MH-seq procedure includes plant nuclei fixation and purification, differential treatments of purified nuclei with MNase, specific recovery of MNase-trimmed small DNA fragments within 20~100 bp in length, and MH-seq library construction followed by Illumina sequencing and data analysis. MH-seq has been successfully applied for global identification of open chromatin in both Arabidopsis thaliana and maize. It has been proven to be an attractive alternative for profiling open chromatin. Thus, MH-seq is expected to be valuable in probing chromatin accessibility on a genome-wide scale for other plants with sequenced genomes. Moreover, MHS data allow to implement footprinting assays to unveil binding sites of transcription factors.

Regulating Activity and Selectivity of Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction on Cobalt by Rare Earth Compounds.

Cobalt-based catalysts are ideal for CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) due to the strong binding and efficient activation of CO2 molecules on cobalt. However, cobalt-based catalysts also show low free energy of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), making HER competitive with CO2RR. Therefore, how to improve the product selectivity of CO2RR while maintaining the catalytic efficiency is a great challenge. Here, this work demonstrates the critical roles of the rare earth (RE) compounds (Er2O3 and ErF3) in regulating the activity and selectivity of CO2RR on cobalt. It is found that the RE compounds not only promote charge transfer but also mediate the reaction paths of CO2RR and HER. Density functional theory calculations verify that the RE compounds lower the energy barrier of *CO → CO conversion. On the other hand, the RE compounds increase the free energy of HER, which leads to the suppression of HER. As a result, the RE compounds (Er2O3 and ErF3) improve the CO selectivity of cobalt from 48.8 to 69.6%, as well as significantly increase the turnover number by a factor of over 10.

TB-SA antibody test for diagnosis and monitoring treatment outcome of sputum smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the suitability of the TB-SA antibody test to diagnose tuberculosis in sputum smear negative (SS-) pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and its applicability for monitoring treatment outcomes in these patients. This study was conducted in three counties/districts in Chongqing Municipality, Liaoning Province, China between June 2005 and June 2007. A total of 432 SS suspected pulmonary TB patients were recruited and their blood was collected prior to treatment, at the end of 1 month of treatment, 2 months of treatment and 6 months of treatment (E6MT). The serum samples were analyzed with a TB-SA antibody test kit. Of the 432 SS suspected pulmonary TB patients, serum samples were obtained at all time points in 316 patients and analyzed. The 316 patients were divided into three groups according to sputum smear and sputum culture results and the chest X-ray results before treatment and at E6MT. Ten point four percent were SS-/culture positive (C+), 73.1% were SS-/culture negative (C-) with X-rays abnormalities, and 16.5% were SS-/C- without X-rays abnormalities. The positive rates for TB-SA antibody in the three groups were 57.6, 44.6 and 44.2%, respectively, before treatment, and 18.2, 19.1 and 26.9%, respectively, at E6MT. There was a significant decrease in TB-SA antibody positivity with treatment for all 3 groups. The TB-SA antibody test may be a useful adjunct to diagnose tuberculosis in SS- pulmonary TB patients, and may be useful for monitoring treatment outcomes of SS- pulmonary TB patients.

Dynamics analysis for flexion and extension of elbow joint motion based on musculoskeletal model of Anybody.

PURPOSE: Little is known about how biomechanics governs the biological nature for humeral motion dynamically. Elbow motion ought to be investigated based on a musculoskeletal model and evidence the physiologic principle of upper limbs. METHOD: A humeral model was reconstructed by MIMICS after CT images input in *.dicom format, it was processed by Geomagic Studio for Surfaces, then gridded mesh and assigned materials by Hypermesh. On the other hand, a musculoskeletal model was built by AnyBody, physical motions were then simulated to export boundary condition and myodynamia during flexion and extension. Finally, all the humeral model and boundary were imported to Abaqus for finite element analysis. RESULT: During the simulative motion of flexion, the primary muscles are brachii biceps, brachialis anticus and teretipronator, their myodynamia increased and then decreased gradually, and reached its peak value at 30°; During extension, the main muscles are triceps brachii and brachialis anticus, their myodynamia increased and then decreased gradually too, and reached peak at 50°; In these two cases, their strain and displacement distributed at the middle of humerus. CONCLUSION: AnyBody is a novel modelling system to simulate physical motion, for example flexion and extension. Biceps brachii and brachialis anticus are functional for flexion, and triceps brachii plays a key role in extension critically. This simulation confirms the physiologic rule for sport event, humeral fixation and postoperative healing with clinical significance that minimizing joint forces from injury onset may promote pain-free ways.

Intralesional curettage versus prosthetic replacement for bone tumors - a finite element analysis case of limb salvage simulation in biomechanics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To compare mechanical properties of femoral tumor treatments so that better operative strategy for limb tumors surgery is optimized. METHODS: Fourteen femoral CT images were randomly selected to rebuild 3D models by MIMICS. They were then executed by reverse engineering softwares for simulative modes. Mode #1: Intralesional curettage with cement filled plus fixator; Mode #2: Distal femur resection with tumorous prosthesis replaced. Finally, the mechanical aspects such as stress and displacement were compared by finite element analysis. RESULTS: Analyzed by AnSys, the observation indexes were measured as follows: for displacement of femurs, d=1.4762 (< a=3.9042 < c=3.9845 < b=4.1159) in mm is the most staple of all models; for displacement of implants (fixators or prostheses), it's similar to the behavior of femurs and with no significant difference; for stresses of femurs, no significant difference was found among all models; the stresses of implants (fixations and prostheses) were observed as d=39.6334 (< a=58.6206 < c=61.8150 < b=62.6626) in MPa correspondently, which is the least; for stresses of the general system, the average of peak values for integrated devices of all models are: d=40.8072 (< a=58.6206 < c=61.7831< b=62.6626) in MPa, which is also the least. As a final result, both maximum values for displacement and stress of mode 2 are lower than those of mode 1. CONCLUSIONS: Our finite element analysis of limb salvage simulation in biomechanics proved that, to treat distal femoral bone tumors, prosthetic replacement is more efficient than intralesional curettage.

Biomechanical analysis for five fixation techniques of Pauwels-III fracture by finite element modeling.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are many fixation methods for Pauwels- III fracture, the most common implants are Locking Plate (LP), Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS), Multiple Lag Screw (MLS), and mixed fixture (DHS+MLS) implants, the common procedure is HemiArthroplasty (HA). However, how these fixtures biomechanically function is not clear. The aims of this study are to compare the mechanical behaviors of these five implants by finite element modeling and determinate the most suitable procedure for individuals with Pauwels- III fractures. METHODS: We gathered 20 sets of femur images from CT scans in the *.dicom format first, and then processed them by using reverse engineering software programs, such as Mimics, Geomagic Studio, UG-8, Pro-Engineer and HyperMesh. Finally, we assembled and analyzed the five types of fixture models, the LP, DHS, MLS, DHS+LS and HA models, by AnSys. RESULTS: These numerical models of Pauwels III fractures, including fixators and a simulative HA, were validated by a previous study and a cadaver test. Our analytical findings include the following: the displacements of all fixtures were between 0.3801 and 1.0834 mm, and the differences were not statistically significantly different; the resulting average peaks in stress were e(Ha) = 43.859 ≤ d(LP) = 60.435 ≤ b(MLS) = 68.678 < c(LS+DHS) = 98.478 < a(DHS) = 248.595 in Mpa, indicating that the stress of DHS and DHS+LS are greater than those of LP, HA and MLS, while the last 3 models were not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: To optimize the treatment for Pauwels III factures clinically, HA and LP should be proposed.

Analysis and predication of tuberculosis registration rates in Henan Province, China: an exponential smoothing model study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization End TB Strategy meant that compared with 2015 baseline, the reduction in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) incidence should be 20 and 50% in 2020 and 2025, respectively. The case number of PTB in China accounted for 9% of the global total in 2018, which ranked the second high in the world. From 2007 to 2019, 854 672 active PTB cases were registered and treated in Henan Province, China. This study was to assess whether the WHO milestones could be achieved in Henan Province. METHODS: The active PTB numbers in Henan Province from 2007 to 2019, registered in Chinese Tuberculosis Information Management System were analyzed to predict the active PTB registration rates in 2020 and 2025, which is conductive to early response measures to ensure the achievement of the WHO milestones. The time series model was created by monthly active PTB registration rates from 2007 to 2016, and the optimal model was verified by data from 2017 to 2019. The Ljung-Box Q statistic was used to evaluate the model. The statistically significant level is α = 0.05. Monthly active PTB registration rates and 95% confidence interval (CI) from 2020 to 2025 were predicted. RESULTS: High active PTB registration rates in March, April, May and June showed the seasonal variations. The exponential smoothing winter's multiplication model was selected as the best-fitting model. The predicted values were approximately consistent with the observed ones from 2017 to 2019. The annual active PTB registration rates were predicted as 49.1 (95% CI: 36.2-62.0) per 100 000 population and 34.4 (95% CI: 18.6-50.2) per 100 000 population in 2020 and 2025, respectively. Compared with the active PTB registration rate in 2015, the reduction will reach 23.7% (95% CI, 3.2-44.1%) and 46.8% (95% CI, 21.4-72.1%) in 2020 and 2025, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The high active PTB registration rates in spring and early summer indicate that high risk of tuberculosis infection in late autumn and winter in Henan Province. Without regard to the CI, the first milestone of WHO End TB Strategy in 2020 will be achieved. However, the second milestone in 2025 will not be easily achieved unless there are early response measures in Henan Province, China.

Risk factors for syphilis and prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China: implications for HIV prevention.

To examine the correlates for syphilis and the prevalence for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in Beijing, China. A total of 541 MSM was recruited using peer-referral, community outreach, and Internet. Questionnaire-based interviews provided information including, demographics, sexual and other risk behaviors. HIV prevalence was 4.8%, syphilis 19.8%, HCV 0.4% and HBsAg 6.5%. The median number of lifetime male sex partners was ten. In the past 3 months, 20.7% drank alcohol > or =1 times per week. In the past month, 21.3 and 14.6% had unprotected anal intercourse with regular and casual male sex partners, respectively. Syphilis infection was associated with less education, alcohol use, finding male sex partners through bathhouses/public washrooms/parks, and diagnoses of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs). Syphilis is now epidemic among Beijing's MSM. Prevention efforts are urgent as HIV prevalence is already near 5%. Education, condom promotion, STD control, and alcohol-related intervention are needed urgently.

Superplastic Deformation and Dynamic Recrystallization of a Novel Disc Superalloy GH4151.

The superplastic deformation of a hot-extruded GH4151 billet was investigated by means of tensile tests with the strain rates of 10-4 s-1, 5 × 10-4 s-1 and 10-3 s-1 and at temperatures at 1060 °C, 1080 °C and 1100 °C. The superplastic deformation of the GH4151 alloy was reported here for the first time. The results reveal that the uniform fine-grained GH4151 alloy exhibited an excellent superplasticity and high strain rate sensitivity (exceeded 0.5) under all experimental conditions. It was found that the increase of strain rate resulted in an increased average activation energy for superplastic deformation. A maximum elongation of 760.4% was determined at a temperature of 1080 °C and strain rate of 10-3 s-1. The average activation energy under different conditions suggested that the superplastic deformation with 1 × 10-4 s-1 in this experiment is mainly deemed as the grain boundary sliding controlled by grain boundary diffusion. However, with a higher stain rate of 5 × 10-4 s-1 and 1 × 10-3 s-1, the superplastic deformation is considered to be grain boundary sliding controlled by lattice diffusion. Based on the systematically microstructural examination using optical microscope (OM), SEM, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and TEM techniques, the failure and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) nucleation mechanisms were proposed. The dominant nucleation mechanism of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is the bulging of original grain boundaries, which is the typical feature of discontinuous dynamic recrystallization (DDRX), and continuous dynamic recrystallization (CDRX) is merely an assistant mechanism of DRX. The main contributions of DRX on superplasticity elongation were derived from its grain refinement process.

Detection of recent HIV-1 infections among men who have sex with men in Beijing during 2005 - 2006.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become one of the most risky populations for HIV infection in China. Though several cross-sectional sero-prevalence studies have been conducted, the annual HIV incidence remains unknown in this population. METHODS: We applied IgG-capture BED-enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) to define the recent HIV-1 infections among MSM in Beijing in the years 2005 and 2006 and the annual HIV incidence was estimated. RESULTS: Overall, 1067 MSM samples were collected, including 526 samples in the year 2005 and 541 in 2006. In 2005, of 17 HIV seropositive samples, 7 were identified as recent HIV-1 infections and the estimated HIV infection incidence was 2.9% per year (95% CI, 0.8% - 5.0%). In 2006, of 26 HIV seropositive samples, 9 were identified as recent HIV-1 infections and the estimated annual incidence was 3.6% (95% CI, 1.3% - 5.9%), which was 0.7% higher than that in 2005. Individuals engaging in male group sexual intercourse (5.17% vs 0.87%, P = 0.019) and having receptive anal sexual intercourse more than five times (2.79% vs 0.33%, P = 0.047) in the past 6 months significantly increase the risk of being infected by HIV-1. CONCLUSIONS: A high level of annual HIV-1 infection incidence was observed among MSM in Beijing for the consecutive years 2005 and 2006 with a continuous increasing trend. The rising incidence and related high risk behavior among MSM alarmed the health authorities and calls for more effective intervention strategies among this population.

Predictors of unprotected sex among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China.

To estimate the prevalence of HIV and syphilis and to assess the predictors of unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, a community-based survey recruited MSM in 2005 through internet advertisement, community outreach, and peer referral. Demographic, sexual, and HIV risk behavioral information were collected. Serospecimens were tested for HIV and syphilis infections. Of the 526 participants, 3.2% were HIV-positive, 11.2% syphilis-positive, 50% and 43.3% had UAI with regular and casual sex partners, respectively. Participants practicing UAI with regular male partners were independently associated with lower monthly income (adjusted odds ratio-AOR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-3.0) and encountering male sex partners at bathhouses, public washrooms, and parks (AOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-4.9). Participants practicing UAI with casual male partners were associated with encountering male sex partners at bathhouses, publics washrooms, and park (AOR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.8-5.2) and more male sex partners having receptive anal intercourse (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1-2.9), and was inversely associated with receiving money for sex with men (AOR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7). Professional male sex workers were less likely to practice UAI in Beijing, suggesting the benefits of educational outreach to date. Further education, condom promotion, and prevention of sexually transmitted infections should be intensified urgently to combat the rising HIV epidemic among MSM in Beijing.

Space-time clustering and associated risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis in southwest China.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB,both smear positive and smear negative) is an airborne infectious disease of major public health concern in China and other parts of the world where PTB endemicity is reported. This study aims at identifying PTB spatio-temporal clusters and associated risk factors in Zhaotong prefecture-level city, located in southwest China, where the PTB notification rate was higher than the average rate in the entire country. METHODS: Space-time scan statistics were carried out using PTB registered data in the nationwide TB online registration system from 2011 to 2015, to identify spatial clusters. PTB patients diagnosed between October 2015 and February 2016 were selected and a structured questionnaire was administered to collect a set of variables that includes socio-economic status, behavioural characteristics, local environmental and biological characteristics. Based on the discovery of detailed town-level spatio-temporal PTB clusters, we divided selected subjects into two groups including the cases that resides within and outside identified clusters. Then, logistic regression analysis was applied comparing the results of variables between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 1508 subjects consented and participated in the survey. Clusters for PTB cases were identified in 38 towns distributed over south-western Zhaotong. Logistic regression analysis showed that history of chronic bronchitis (OR = 3.683, 95% CI: 2.180-6.223), living in an urban area (OR = 5.876, 95% CI: 2.381-14.502) and using coal as the main fuel (OR = 9.356, 95% CI: 5.620-15.576) were independently associated with clustering. While, not smoking (OR = 0.340, 95% CI: 0.137-0.843) is the protection factor of spatial clustering. CONCLUSIONS: We found PTB specially clustered in south-western Zhaotong. The strong associated factors influencing the PTB spatial cluster including: the history of chronic bronchitis, living in the urban area, smoking and the use of coal as the main fuel for cooking and heating. Therefore, efforts should be made to curtail these associated factors.

Spatial-temporal analysis of pulmonary tuberculosis in the northeast of the Yunnan province, People's Republic of China.

BACKGROUND: The number of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases in China ranks third in the world. A continuous increase in cases has recently been recorded in Zhaotong prefecture-level city, which is located in the northeastern part of Yunnan province. This study explored the space-time dynamics of PTB cases in Zhaotong to provide useful information that will help guide policymakers to formulate effective regional prevention and control strategies. METHODS: The data on PTB cases were extracted from the nationwide tuberculosis online registration system. Time series and spatial cluster analyses were applied to detect PTB temporal trends and spatial patterns at the town level between 2011 and 2015 in Zhaotong. Three indicators of PTB treatment registration history were used: initial treatment registration rate, re-treatment registration rate, and total PTB registration rate. RESULTS: Seasonal trends were detected with an apparent symptom onset peak during the winter season and a registration peak during the spring season. A most likely cluster and six secondary clusters were identified for the total PTB registration rate, one most likely cluster and five secondary clusters for the initial treatment registration rate, and one most likely cluster for the re-treatment registration rate. The most likely cluster of the three indicators had a similar spatial distribution and size in Zhenxiong County, which is characterised by a poor socio-economic level and the largest population in Yunnan. CONCLUSION: This study identified temporal and spatial distribution of PTB in a high PTB burden area using existing health data. The results of the study provide useful information on the prevailing epidemiological situation of PTB in Zhaotong and could be used to develop strategies for more effective PTB control at the town level. The cluster that overlapped the three PTB indicators falls within the geographic areas where PTB control efforts should be prioritised.