[Analysis of the results of occupational health examination of radiation workers in Shaanxi Province].

Objective: To analyze the results of occupational health examinations of radiation workers in Shaanxi Province, and to provide basis and reference for effectively conduct occupational health monitoring. Methods: From April 2016 to January 2022, a questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the basic information on occupational health examinations of qualified radiation workers in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2021. Based on the abnormal rate of occupational health among radiation workers, 1018 people were randomly selected using a cluster stratified sampling method to analyze the occupational health examination results of different positions, types of work, gender, length of service, and exposure doses. Results: The chromosomal aberration rates of peripheral blood lymphocytes among radiation workers in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2021 were 0.26% (10/3876), 0.77% (27/3512), 0.16% (16/10153), 0.09% (13/14769), 0.10% (13/13399), and 0.12% (20/16671), respectively. The abnormal rates of thyroid ultrasound examination were 32.33% (150/464), 24.46% (649/2653), 55.24% (786/1423), 32.89% (888/2700), 35.69% (1475/4133), and 42.51% (1993/4688), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the abnormal rates among different years (P<0.05). The abnormal rate of renal function examination in male radiation workers was higher than that in females (P<0.05). Compared with non medical users, the abnormal rates of renal function, thyroid function, and blood routine examination in medical radiation workers were higher (P<0.05), and the abnormal rates of renal function, thyroid function, and blood routine examination in medical applications were higher than those in radiation diagnosis, nuclear medicine, and radiation therapy (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, blood pressure, thyroid function, and blood routine increased with the length of service (P<0.05). The abnormal rates of blood pressure, liver function, kidney function, thyroid function, and blood routine examination increased with the exposure dose (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The occupational health status of radiation workers is not optimistic. Occupational health monitoring should be strengthened, especially interventional radiation diagnosis occupational health examination, as well as changes in the indicators of sensitive organs such as eye lens and thyroid, so as to ensure the health of radiation workers.

[Comparison of efficacy and safety of insulin aspart injection Rishulin and NovoRapid for treatment of diabetes: a multicenter, randomized, open-labeled, controlled trial].

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of Tonghua Dongbao's insulin aspart injection (Rishulin) and NovoRapid (Novo Nordisk) in the treatment of diabetes. Methods: A 26-week, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, positive control drug and non-inferiority trial was conducted in 23 centers in China. A total of 563 diabetes with poor blood glucose control treated with insulin for at least 3 months before were included. The subjects were randomized(stratified block random method) into those receiving Rishulin or NovoRapid at a ratio of 3∶1. Both groups were combined with basal insulin (Lantus). The primary endpoint was the change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to the end of 24 weeks of treatment. Results: For full analysis set, after 24 weeks of treatment, HbA1c level of Ruishulin group decreased from (8.66±1.28)% to (7.77±1.09)% (P<0.001), and that of NovoRapid group decreased from (8.47±1.28) % to (7.65±0.97) % (P<0.001). Treatment difference in HbA1c (NovoRapid group-Ruishulin group) was -0.061% (95%CI -0.320-0.199). HbA1c<7.0% target reacing rates were 24.26% and 21.21% (P=0.456), and HbA1c<6.5% target reacing rates were 9.65% and 6.82% (P=0.310) in Ruishulin group and NovoRapid group, repectively. The standard 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (2hPG) in Ruishulin group decreased from (16.23±5.22) mmol/L to (12.65±4.57) mmol/L (P<0.001), and 2hPG in NovoRapid group decreased from (16.13±5.37) mmol/L to (11.91)±4.21) mmol/L (P<0.001). The fingertips blood glucose at 7-point of both groups exhibited varying degrees of reduction compared with those at baseline, repectively. Positive ratios of specific antibodies were 31.68% in Ruishulin group and 36.36% in NovoRapid group (P=0.320). Ratios of negative to positive were 7.43% and 10.61% (P=0.360), and ratios of positive to negative were 10.40% and 7.58% (P=0.360) in Ruishulin group and NovoRapid group, respectively. The incidence of hypoglycemia was 60.05% and 55.40% (P=0.371), and the incidence of adverse events was 76.60% and 77.70% (P=0.818) in Ruishulin group and NovoRapid group, respectively. Conclusions: Rishulin is not inferior to NovoRapid, and has shown good efficacy and safety. It can be an ideal choice for clinicians in patients with poor blood glucose control with insulin.

[Hepatitis B virus antigen peptide presentation by Epstein-Barr virus-transformed peripheral blood B cells].

Objective: To establish an Epstein-Barr virus-transformed peripheral blood B cell line (BCL), and explore its phenotypic characteristics, the ability to secrete antibodies and cytokines, and the ability to present hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen peptide. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients with HBV infection. Epstein-Barr virus supernatant was incubated to construct BCL. The expression of CD19, CD138, CD38, CD27 and the production levels of IFN - γ, IL-10, IL-6 were detected by flow cytometry. BCL loaded with HBV antigen peptide was incubated with in vitro-expanded autologous T cells. Intracellular staining was used to detect the level of interferon-gamma produced by T cells. Results: Compared with untransformed peripheral blood B cells, BCL had high expression levels of CD138, CD38 and CD27, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), while the level of IL-6 production was decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). BCL loaded with HBV antigen peptide had significantly enhanced the production of interferon-gamma by in vitro-expanded autologous T cells, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Conclusion: BCL highly expresses CD138, CD38 and CD27, but its ability to produce IL-6 decreases. BCL can improve the immune response efficiency of HBV-specific T cells to HBV antigen peptide, and serve as a new tool for hepatitis B immune research.

Experimental realization of universal geometric quantum gates with solid-state spins.

Experimental realization of a universal set of quantum logic gates is the central requirement for the implementation of a quantum computer. In an 'all-geometric' approach to quantum computation, the quantum gates are implemented using Berry phases and their non-Abelian extensions, holonomies, from geometric transformation of quantum states in the Hilbert space. Apart from its fundamental interest and rich mathematical structure, the geometric approach has some built-in noise-resilience features. On the experimental side, geometric phases and holonomies have been observed in thermal ensembles of liquid molecules using nuclear magnetic resonance; however, such systems are known to be non-scalable for the purposes of quantum computing. There are proposals to implement geometric quantum computation in scalable experimental platforms such as trapped ions, superconducting quantum bits and quantum dots, and a recent experiment has realized geometric single-bit gates in a superconducting system. Here we report the experimental realization of a universal set of geometric quantum gates using the solid-state spins of diamond nitrogen-vacancy centres. These diamond defects provide a scalable experimental platform with the potential for room-temperature quantum computing, which has attracted strong interest in recent years. Our experiment shows that all-geometric and potentially robust quantum computation can be realized with solid-state spin quantum bits, making use of recent advances in the coherent control of this system.

[The humor characteristics of young epileptic patients and its correlation with depression].

Objective: To explore the characteristics of humor in young adult epileptic patients and examine the relationship between humor and depression. Methods: We recruited 55 young adult epileptic patients who visited outpatient clinic of the Department of Neurology of Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College between October 2018 and March 2019 and 44 healthy controls to complete the multidimensional humor scale (MSHS), humor style questionnaire (HSQ) and Beck depression scale-Ⅱ (BDI-Ⅱ), and compared their differences between the two groups. Results: The results showed that the young adult patients with epilepsy (PWEs) were affected in humor creation, coping with humor and the totally scores of MSHS. The scores of humor creation, coping with humor and the totally scores of MSHS in the young epilepsy patients were 25.3±5.9, 16.7±5.0 and 61±10, which were significantly lower than those in the control group 29.8±6.1, 21.1±2.6 and 71±8. As for the humor style, self-defeating humor scores in PWEs were higher than controls 14±5 vs 9±3, and the self-enhancing humor scores were lower than controls 18±7 vs 23±6. The scores of BDI-Ⅱ in PWEs were significantly higher than those of normal controls 13±7 vs 6±4. Pearson's correlation test showed that the scores of BDI-Ⅱ were negatively correlated with humor creation, coping with humor, the totally scores of MSHS and self-enhancing humor scores (r=-0.566--0.721, P<0.05), while it was positively correlated with self-defeating humor scores (r=0.818, P<0.05). Among the clinically relevant factors, the scores of BDI-Ⅱ were correlated with seizure control and gender. Multiple stepwise linear regression showed that coping with humor, self-defeating and self-enhancing humor scores were closely related with depression in young epileptic adults. Conclusion: The young adults with epilepsy are affected in sense of humor and humor style, which are closely related with depression.

Experimental Realization of Robust Geometric Quantum Gates with Solid-State Spins.

We experimentally realize a universal set of single-bit and two-bit geometric quantum gates by adiabatically controlling solid-state spins in a diamond defect. Compared with the nonadiabatic approach, the adiabatic scheme for geometric quantum computation offers a unique advantage of inherent robustness to parameter variations, which is explicitly demonstrated in our experiment by showing that the single-bit gates remain unchanged when the driving field amplitude varies by a factor of 2 or the detuning fluctuates in a range comparable to the inverse of the gate time. The reported adiabatic control technique and its convenient implementation offer a paradigm for achieving quantum computation through robust geometric quantum gates, which is important for quantum information systems with parameter-fluctuation noise such as those from the inhomogeneous coupling or the spectral diffusion.

Novel SLCO2A1compound heterozygous mutation causing primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with Bartter-like hypokalemia in a Chinese family.

PURPOSE: Primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO) is an inherited disease characterized by digital clubbing, periostosis and pachydermia with defects in the degradation of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Mutations in SLCO2A1 gene-encoding prostaglandin transporter (PGT) resulted in PHO, autosomal recessive 2 (PHOAR2). The spectrum of mutations and variable clinical complications of PHOAR2 has been delineated. In this study, we investigated a Chinese PHO family with a manifestation of Bartter-like hypokalemia. METHODS: Clinical manifestations were collected and genetic analyses were performed in the PHO family. RESULTS: The 33-year-old male proband had severe hypokalemia due to potassium loss from the kidney, while his brother had mild hypokalemia. After being treated with etoricoxib, the serum potassium level of the patient increased rapidly to the normal range which corresponded with the reduction in his serum PGE2 and PE2 metabolite (PGEM) levels. A novel SLCO2A1 compound heterozygous mutation of p.I284V and p.C459R was identified in two PHO patients in this family. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings supported that the Bartter-like hypokalemia is a new complication of PHOAR2 caused by the high level of PGE2. Etoricoxib was demonstrated to be effective for the renal hypokalemia in PHO patients.

[Establishment of a nomogram model for predicting lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer based on combination of preoperative C-reactive protein/albumin ratio].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between systemic inflammatory markers such as neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), and lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer. To establish a nomogram model to predict the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer. Methods: The preoperative systemic inflammatory markers and clinical data of 134 patients with cN0 gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed, and these markers of patients with negative (pN0) or positive (pN+ ) lymph node metastasis in postoperative pathological diagnosis were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive effect of preoperative systemic inflammatory markers on lymph node metastasis. The influencing factors for lymph node metastasis were assessed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. A nomogram subsequently established by R software was validated by Bootstrap resampling as internal validation. Results: Compared with pN0 group, NE (P=0.022), CRP (P<0.001), NLR (P<0.001), PLR (P=0.003) and CAR (P<0.001) were higher, LY (P=0.003) and Alb (P=0.042) were lower in pN+ group. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of postoperative pathological lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer diagnosed by NLR, PLR and CAR were 0.687, 0.651 and 0.694, respectively, and the best cutoff values were 2.12, 113.59 and 0.02, respectively. The corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 62.9% and 72.2%, 77.4% and 48.6%, 74.2% and 58.3%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that tumor size, depth of invasion, NLR, PLR and CAR were associated with lymph node metastasis in cN0 gastric cancer patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that depth of invasion, NLR and CAR were independent influencing factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer. OR were 8.084, 3.540 and 3.092, respectively (all P<0.05). The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.847 (95% CI: 0.782-0.915). The predicting calibration curve was properly fit with the ideal curve in calibration chart. Conclusion: Combination of NLR and CAR to establish a nomogram model has a good consistency and can accurately predict the risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 gastric cancer.

Antifungal activity of the bioactive substance from Bacillus atrophaeus strain HAB-5 and its toxicity assessment on Danio rerio.

The prevalence of pathogen inhibitors bacteria has motivate the study for antimicrobial compounds. Bioactive fungicide have always received considerable attention. A bacterial isolated strain HAB-5 showed antifungal activity against plant fungi. Based on morphological, physiological, biochemical and 16SrDNA sequence analysis, the strain was identified to be a Bacillus atrophaeus. This strain possessed a broad spectrum antifungal activity against various plant pathogenic fungi. Extraction of antifungal substance was performed and the crude extract had potent antifungal ability and showed great potential for swelling and inhibiting spore germination. This antifungal displayed heat stability and active in a wide pH range 5.0-10.0. Moreover no reduction was found in its activity after enzyme treatment. The toxicity test was evaluated in Danio rerio. The acute toxicity test indicated that the 24, 48, 72, 96h LC50 values of UMTLS to the zebrafish were 14.4, 13.8, 13.4, and 12.9%, respectively. Based on the results obtained in this study, antifungal substance was not toxic to zebra. Analyses of disease suppression showed that HAB-5 was effective to reduce the incidence of anthracnose symptoms on mango fruits, also prevent disease infection and protect tobacco seedling from Phytophtora nicotianae. The bioactive substance from Bacillus atrophaeus HAB-5 could be a candidate in the generation of new antifungal agents in crop.

[Impact of the 2016 new definition and classification system of pancreatic fistula on the evaluation of pancreatic fistula after pancreatic surgery].

Objective: To discuss the impact of updated definition and classification system of pancreatic fistula published in 2016 on the postoperative classification of pancreatic fistula. Methods: Retrospective analysis was made on patients who underwent pancreatic surgery at ward 1 in Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2015 to December 2016.A total of 408 patients were included in this retrospective study, male/female was 184/224, aged from 9 to 81 years with mean age of 51.6 years.One hundred and fifty-two cases were performed pancreaticoduodenectomy, 125 cases for distal pancreatectomy, 43 cases for spleen preservation distal pancreatectomy, 61 cases for partital pancreatectomy or enucleation, 8 cases for middle pancreatectomy, 6 cases for pancreaticojejunostomy and 13 cases for other procedures.Clinical data including postoperative drainage fluid volume, amylase concentration, duration of hospitalization and drainage were obtained, revaluated and re-analyzed, classified grounded on 2005 edition and 2016 edition, respectively.t-test was adopted for data analysis. Results: According to the previous standards, the incident rate of pancreatic fistula was 57.4%, and the incident rate of B-level plus C-level pancreatic fistula was 35.8%, which decreased to 13.7% based on 2016 edition.Nine patients who received percutaneous puncture or endoscopic drainage was regraded from C-level to B-level. The average duration of postoperative hospitalization of patients without pancreatic fistula was (12.5±6.0)days, demonstrating no significant difference compared to (14.1±7.7)days, duration of postoperative hospitalization of A-level(under 2005 edition of criteria) pancreatic fistula group(t=1.66, P=0.09) and (12.4±6.1)days, duration of postoperative hospitalization of biochemical leakage group(t=0.14, P=0.89). Nevertheless, there was statistical significant difference between the average postoperative duration of hospitalization(30.7±16.9) days of B-level(under 2016 criteria) pancreatic fistula patients and pancreatic fistula-free patients as well as the biochemical leakage group patients (t=7.10, 7.13; both P<0.01). Conclusions: Based on the new diagnostic criteria, the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula decreased dramatically.New classification system downgraded part of cases graded C-level pancreatic fistula to B-level and some B-level to biochemical fistula.The new diagnostic classification and criteria facilitated clinical practice, accomplished better conformity to clinical reality and potentially enacted clinical outcome.

[Effects of smoking on concentration of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine in coke oven workers].

Objective: To explore the influence of smoking and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in coke oven workers and investigate their dose-dependent relationships. Methods: A total of 436 workers exposed to coke oven emissions (COEs) and 132 controls were recruited in this study. Questionnaires were completed in a personal interview. Then their urine samples were also collected and the concentrations of urinary four OH-PAHs and 8-OHdG were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) which was used to evaluate the levels of occupational PAHs internal exposure among workers and the DNA damage. Results: The differences of concentrations of urinary 2-NAP (2-hydroxynathalene) , 2-FLU (2-hydroxyfluorene) , 9-PHE (9-hydroxyphenanthrene) , 1-OHP (1-hydroxypyrene) between exposure group and control group were statistically significant (P<0.05) . In exposure group and control group, the level of 8-OHdG in heavy smoking workers were significantly higher than that in other groups (P<0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed high levels of urinary 8-OHdG were associated with a significantly increased risk of having higher urinary1-hydroxypyrene levels[OR=1.43 (95%CI: 1.06-1.94) , P<0.01] and heavy smoking [OR=1.44 (95%CI: 1.08-1.91) , P<0.01], respectively. Trend test showed that linear dose response relationship between smoking, 1-OHP in urine and higher concentrations of 8-OHdG (P<0.05) . Smoking could significant modify the effects of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, while co-exposure to both heavy smoking and high urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels[OR=5.64 (95%CI: 2.15-14.80) , P<0.05]. Conclusion: Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene is a useful biomarker for evaluating total PAHs exposure, coke oven workers with heavy smoking present more serious DNA oxditive damage.

Tumor vasculogenic mimicry predicts poor prognosis in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is the formation of vascular channels by tumor cells or tumor cell-derived, trans-differentiated cells in highly aggressive, solid tumors. However, the disease features and prognostic value of VM for overall survival of cancer patients remain controversial. METHOD: To systematically investigate the roles of VM in cancer progression and its prognostic values, we performed a meta-analysis based on 36 studies (33 eligible articles) including 3609 patients. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs) were used to assess the relationship between VM and overall survival in cancer patients. RESULTS: Vasculogenic mimicry was significantly associated with cancer differentiation, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and TNM stage. The prognostic value of VM was significant in overall survival (HR 2.16; 95 % CI 1.98-2.38; P < 0.001). Analyses stratified by confounders, such as cancer type, ethnicity, VM detection methods, sample size, and Newcastle-Ottawa quality score, found similar significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of VM predicts poorer survival outcomes in cancer patients.

Deep transmission of Laguerre-Gaussian vortex beams through turbid scattering media.

Light scattering and transmission of Gaussian (G) and Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) vortex beams with different orbital angular momentum (L) in various turbid media were investigated. Transmittance was measured with varied ratios of sample thickness (z) to scattering mean free path (ls) of turbid media, z/ls. In the ballistic region, the LG and G beams were found to have no significant difference on transmittance, while in the diffusive region, the LG beams showed a higher received signal than the G beams, and the LG beams with higher L values showed a higher received signal than those with lower L values. The transition points from ballistic to diffusive regions for different scattering media were determined. This newly observed transmittance difference of LG and G beams may be used for deep target detection in turbid media through LG beam imaging.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene is associated with hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage and rehabilitative treatment.

Early rehabilitative therapy is important for patients with hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage to improve long-term function of the extremities. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is closely associated with the pathogenesis of hypertension. To identify the markers contributing to the genetic susceptibility to hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage (HCH) and rehabilitative treatment, we examined the potential association between HCH and 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the VEGF gene. Participants included 244 patients with HCH and 251 healthy controls from our rehabilitation department. The T allelic frequencies of the rs3025020 (intron 6) and rs3025039 (3'-UTR) polymorphisms were significantly higher in the patients with HCH than in the healthy controls (rs3025020 T allele: P = 0.0002, OR = 1.619, 95%CI = 1.256-2.088; rs3025039 T allele: P = 0.001, OR = 1.682, 95%CI = 1.246-2.270). Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed in three blocks (D' > 0.9), and significantly more C-G-C (rs3025020, rs3025030, and rs3025039) haplotypes (P = 0.001) were found in the controls in block 3. Significantly more T-G-C haplotypes were found in the patients with HCH (P = 0.046). Further genotype and clinical phenotype correlation study of the rs3025039 carriers showed that Fugl-Meyer and Barthel index scores were lower in the patients with the TT genotype relative to CT + CC genotypes (P < 0.01). These findings point to a role for VEGF polymorphism in HCH, and may be informative for future investigations on the pathogenesis of rehabilitative treatment.

Synthesis of dye conjugates to visualize the cancer cells using fluorescence microscopy.

The clinical diagnosis of most cancers is based on evaluation of histology microscopic slides to view the size and shape of cellular nuclei and morphological structure of tissue. To achieve this goal for in vivo and in-deep tissues, near infrared dyes-bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin G conjugates were synthesized. The spectral study shows that the absorption and fluorescence of the dye conjugates are in the "tissue optical window" spectral ranges between 650 and 900 nm. The internalization and pinocytosis of the synthesized compounds were investigated at cell level using fluorescence microscopy to obtain the optimal concentration and staining time.

[Estimation of COVID-19 incidence in Shanghai under optimized epidemic prevention and control strategies].

Objective: To quantitatively estimate the incidence of COVID-19 in different backgrounds, including vaccination coverage, non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) measures, home quarantine willingness and international arrivals, and the demands of healthcare resource in Shanghai in the context of optimized epidemic prevention and control strategies. Methods: Based on the natural history of 2019-nCoV, local vaccination coverage and NPI performance, an age-structured Susceptible-Exposed-Infections-Removed (SEIR) epidemic dynamic model was established for the estimation of the incidence of COVID-19 and demand of hospital beds in Shanghai by using the data on December 1, 2022 as the basis. Results: Based on current vaccination coverage, it is estimated that 180 184 COVID-19 cases would need treatment in hospitals in Shanghai within 100 days. When the booster vaccination coverage reaches an ideal level, the number of the cases needing hospitalization would decrease by 73.20%. School closure or school closure plus workplace closure could reduce the peak demand of regular beds by 24.04% or 37.73%, respectively, compared with the situation without NPI. Increased willingness of home quarantine could reduce the number of daily new cases and delay incidence peak of COVID-19. The number of international arrivals has little impact on the development of the epidemic. Conclusions: According to the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 and the actual situation of vaccination in Shanghai, the incidence of COVID-19 and health resource demand might be reduced by increasing vaccination coverage and early implementation of NPI.

[Spatial-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Shanghai from 2013 to 2020].

Objective: To use the spatiotemporal distribution model and INLA algorithm to study the spatiotemporal characteristics and influencing factors of tuberculosis in Shanghai and to provide a theoretical basis for formulating regional tuberculosis epidemic prevention and control measures. Methods: Based on the data of registered pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Shanghai during 2013-2020 derived from the tuberculosis management information system of China Disease Control and Prevention Information System, the hierarchical Bayesian model was adopted to fit the tuberculosis case data, identify the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of tuberculosis, and explore the potential socioeconomic characteristics and other factors related to health services and spatiotemporal characteristics. Results: From 2013 to 2020, 29 281 registered tuberculosis cases were reported in Shanghai, with an average annual incidence of 25.224/100 000. From 2013 to 2020, the incidence trend increased first and then decreased, the highest incidence was reported in 2014 (27.991/100 000). The incidence of tuberculosis in Shanghai is characterized by spatial clustering. Through the spatial characteristics and risk analysis of the reported incidence of tuberculosis, it is found that the high-risk area of tuberculosis in Shanghai is the suburban communities, whereas downtown communities are the low-risk areas. The incidence risk of pulmonary tuberculosis is associated with the gross domestic product per capita (RR=0.48), the number of beds per 10 000 persons (RR=0.56), the normalized vegetation index (RR=0.50), and the night light index (RR=0.80). Conclusions: With the steady progress of tuberculosis prevention and control in the central urban area of Shanghai, special attention should be paid to the prevention and control in the suburbs further to improve the social and economic level in the suburbs and increase the coverage rate of urban green space, to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis and reduce the disease burden of tuberculosis in Shanghai.

Quantifying the contributions of natural and anthropogenic dust sources in Shanxi Province, northern China.

Dust storms have direct or indirect impacts on climate change and human health. Identifying and quantifying natural/anthropogenic dust sources can facilitate effective prevention and control of dust events. Based on surface real-time PM10 monitoring data, satellite remote sensing and the HYSPLIT model, this study determined the specific timing, coverage and sources of dust events in Shanxi Province, Northern China. Thus, a composite fingerprinting technique was established to quantify potential dust sources and dust contributions of single dust events. The dust oxidation model was validated, indicating that the composite fingerprinting technique was well suited to the study region. The results show that natural dust sources (67%) contributed more to the study region than anthropogenic dust sources. They were mainly from the northwest and north of the study region. Particularly, the contributions of Taiyuan (TY) and Linfen (LF) accounted for the largest (82%) and smallest (55%) proportions, respectively, both exceeding 50%. Anthropogenic dust sources contributed 33%, mainly from the east and south of the study region. The contribution of anthropogenic dust sources increased in the study region from north to south. In terms of potential dust sources, the Tengger Desert and Badain Jaran Desert (TDBD) contributed the most (26%), followed by the Otindag Sandy Land (OL) (22%). The Taklimakan Desert (TD) contributed the least (2%). The Middle Farmland region of the Hexi Corridor (HMF) in the west (15%) had the largest proportion of anthropogenic dust sources. Differences in the regional contribution of potential dust sources mainly resulted from winter winds, surface drought severity and particle size. At an insignificant distance from the study region, the contribution of potential dust sources was larger in the west than in the east and increased from south to north overall. These methods and findings can contribute to improving the ecological environment in Northern China.

Stokes shift spectroscopy pilot study for cancerous and normal prostate tissues.

Stokes shift spectroscopy (S3) is an emerging approach toward cancer detection. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the S3 technique for the detection and characterization of normal and cancerous prostate tissues. Pairs of cancerous and normal prostate tissue samples were taken from each of eight patients. Stokes shift spectra were measured by simultaneously scanning both the excitation and emission wavelengths while keeping a fixed wavelength interval Δλ=20 nm between them. The salient features of this technique are the highly resolved emission peaks and significant spectral differences between the normal and cancerous prostate tissues, as observed in the wavelength region of 250 to 600 nm. The Stokes shift spectra of cancerous and normal prostate tissues revealed distinct peaks around 300, 345, 440, and 510 nm, which are attributed to tryptophan, collagen, NADH, and flavin, respectively. To quantify the spectral differences between the normal and cancerous prostate tissues, two spectral ratios were computed. The findings revealed that both ratio parameters R1=I297/I345 and R2=I307/I345 were excellent diagnostic ratio parameters giving 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity for distinguishing cancerous tissue from the normal tissue. Our results demonstrate that S3 is a sensitive and specific technique for detecting cancerous prostate tissue.

[Application of phylogenetic analysis in the molecular epidemiological study of infectious diseases].

The rapid development of sequencing technology brings the explosive growth of pathogen genetic data. The combination of genomic data and phylogenetic method is being used to elaborate the origin and evolution of pathogens, the time and space distribution and parameter changes in the prevalence process, and how phenotypes like antigen, virulence, and resistance change over time. This method is also being used to predict pathogen transmission trends. In this study, we described the aim of phylogeny and the process of the phylogenetic construction method. We elaborated the advantages and disadvantages and scope of application of tree-building methods including distance-based, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and bayesian methods. We have reviewed the application and the estimation methods of major epidemiological parameters of phylodynamics and phylogeography in domestic and foreign studies. We concluded that the time- and location-scaled phylogenetic trees are increasingly used for outbreak investigation and routine surveillance of infectious diseases.