Emergence of Erythromycin-Resistant and Pertactin- and Filamentous Hemagglutinin-Deficient Bordetella pertussis Strains - Beijing, China, 2022-2023.

What is already known about this topic?: Pertussis has reemerged as a significant public health threat, primarily due to variations in Bordetella pertussis strains, antimicrobial resistance, and vaccine evasion. What is added by this report?: All isolated strains were identified as ptxA1/ptxC2/ptxP3/prn150/fim2-1/fim3-1/fhaB1/tcfA2 type and exhibited resistance to erythromycin. Two strains showed a deficiency in Fha, thirty in Prn, and one strain exhibited multiple immunogen deficiencies. What are the implications for public health practice?: The emergence and spread of immunogen-deficient strains likely result from prolonged vaccine selection pressure, posing challenges to the efficacy of pertussis vaccines. Additionally, the ongoing dissemination of ptxP3 strains with high-level macrolide resistance presents a significant obstacle to clinical treatment strategies.

The contributions of vaccination and natural infection to the production of neutralizing antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 prototype strain and variants.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the neutralizing antibody (NAb) levels against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants BF.7, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, and XBB.1.5 after vaccination and natural infection. METHODS: The NAbs against the different viral strains of 490 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 and 187 without SARS-CoV-2 in the Beijing COVID-19 outbreak during December 2022 to January 2023 were analyzed. RESULTS: In uninfected individuals, limited levels of NAbs were produced against the prototype and variant strains after two doses vaccine but significantly increased after three or four doses of the vaccine. The infected individuals had high NAbs levels against the BF.7, BQ.1, and BQ.1.1 variants and moderate NAbs levels against the XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 variants. The highest NAbs levels were observed after two inoculation doses. The third and fourth doses vaccine did not result in a significant increase the NAbs levels. After the last dose of vaccination, the NAbs levels peaked at 12 months for the prototype and BF.7 and between 6 to 12 months for the BQ.1, BQ.1.1, XBB.1, and XBB.1.5 variants. CONCLUSIONS: The immune response decreases as the virus mutates. If booster vaccination is considered necessary, it is suggested for at least 6 months after infection.

Green- and Blue-Emitting Tb3+-Activated Linde Type A Zeolite-Derived Boro-Aluminosilicate Glass for Deep UV Detection/Imaging.

Tb3+-activated LTA zeolite-derived boro-aluminosilicate glass samples with a composition of xTb2O3-68(Na2O-Al2O3-SiO2)-32B2O3 (x = 0.2, 1.0 and 10 extra wt%) were prepared using the melt-quenching method. The emission spectra recorded upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation with two different wavelengths of 193 and 378 nm showed blue light (5D3 to 7FJ=6,5,4 and 5D4 to 7F6 transitions of Tb3+) and green light (5D4 to 7F5 transition of Tb3+) emissions with comparable intensities up to a Tb3+ concentration of 10 extra wt%. Of note, the mean decay times of the green luminescence of the glass samples were relatively fast (<20 µs). The synthesized glass has potential in applications concerning UV imaging, UV detection, and plasma display panels.

Highly efficient MoS2/MXene aerogel for interfacial solar steam generation and wastewater treatment.

Interfacial solar steam generation using aerogels holds great promise for seawater desalination and wastewater treatment. However, to achieve aerogels with both durable, high-efficiency evaporation performance and excellent salt resistance remains challenging. Here, a molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) and MXene composite aerogel with vertical pore channels is reported, which has outstanding advantages in mechanical properties, water transportation, photothermal conversion, and recycling stability. Benefiting from the plasmon resonance effect of MXene and the excellent photothermal conversion performance of MoS2, the aerogel exhibits excellent light absorption (96.58 %). The aerogel is resistant to deformation and able to rebound after water absorption, because of the support of an ordered vertical structure. Moreover, combined with the low water evaporation enthalpy, low thermal conductivity, and super hydrophilicity, the aerogel achieves an efficient and stable evaporation rate of about 2.75 kg m-2h-1 under one sun and exhibits excellent self-cleaning ability. Notably, the evaporator achieves removal rates of 99.9 % for heavy metal ions and 100 % for organic dyes, which has great potential in applications including seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

Long noncoding RNA MAGI1-IT1 regulates cardiac hypertrophy by modulating miR-302e/DKK1/Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

Cardiac hypertrophy (CH) is an adaptive cardiac response to overload whose decompensation eventually leads to heart failure or sudden death. Recently, accumulating studies have indicated the implication of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in CH progression. MAGI1-IT1 is a newly-identified lncRNA that is highly associated with CH, while its specific role in CH progression remains masked. In this study, we uncovered that MAGI1-IT1 was distinctly downregulated in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertrophic H9c2 cells. Also, MAGI1-IT1 overexpression in Ang II-treated H9c2 cells strikingly abolished the enlarged surface area and the enhanced levels of hypertrophic markers such as ANP, BNP, and ß-MHC. Mechanically, we found MAGI1-IT1 sponged miR-302e which was identified as a hypertrophy-facilitator here, and that miR-302e upregulation countervailed the inhibition of MAGI1-IT1 overexpression on hypertrophic cells. Moreover, it was confirmed that MAGI1-IT1 boosted DKK1 expression by absorbing miR-302e. Subsequently, we also illustrated that MAGI1-IT1 inactivated Wnt/beta-catenin signaling through a DKK1-dependent pathway. Finally, both the DKK1 inhibition and LiCI (Wnt activator) supplement abrogated the hypertrophy-suppressive impact of MAGI1-IT1 on Ang II-simulated hypertrophic H9c2 cells. Jointly, our findings disclosed that MAGI1-IT1 functioned as a negative regulator in CH through inactivating Wnt/beta-catenin pathway via targeting miR-302e/DKK1 axis, revealing a novel road for CH treatment.

A measles outbreak in a middle school with high vaccination coverage and evidence of prior immunity among cases, Beijing, P.R. China.

BACKGROUND: Age-appropriate receipt of ≥ 2 measles-containing vaccine (MCV) doses has been considered evidence of immunity against measles. Transmission of measles is rarely reported among such persons. METHODS: We report a measles outbreak in a middle school in Beijing that has high coverage with ≥ 2 documented MCV doses. History of previous measles and documentation of MCV receipt were collected for all individuals. Cases were identified by active surveillance and confirmed by laboratory tests. Measles immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers and clinical presentations were obtained for each case. RESULTS: Of 1331 individuals without a prior history of measles, 1172 (88.1% [95%CI:86.4-91.5%]) and 1078 (81.0% [95%CI:78.9-83.1%]) had age-appropriate receipt of ≥ 2 MCV doses by domestic and U.S. CDC/ACIP criteria, respectively. Thirteen measles cases occurred in the outbreak. The index case and 3 secondary cases were students. The 9 tertiary cases included 2 teachers and 7 students. All 11 student cases received ≥ 2 age-appropriate MCV doses by Chinese domestic criteria; 8 were age-appropriately vaccinated by U.S. CDC/ACIP criteria. Measles IgG was detected during the acute phase of measles for all but 2 cases -the first case and 1 tertiary case. Among students with age-appropriate receipt of ≥ 2 MCV doses, the length of time since the last MCV was significantly associated with risk of measles: for the 1172 students, the risk was 4.6 [OR5.6;95%CI:1.4-22.9] and 5.5 [OR6.5;95%CI:1.4-29.8] times higher when the last MCV dose was 5-9 years and ≥ 10 years prior, respectively, compared with <5 years prior; for the 1078 students, the risk was 4.1 [OR5.1;95%CI:1.3-20.7] times higher when the last MCV dose was 5-9 years prior compared with <5 years prior. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report from China showing measles transmission among persons with prior evidence of immunity. Secondary vaccine failure may have played an important role in measles transmission. Further laboratory surveillance is needed to assess the persistence of vaccine-induced immunity of domestically-produced MCV in China.

Survey and coping strategies for job stress of new nurses in pharmacy intravenous admixture service: a pilot study.

To survey the nurse stress and analyze stressors in new nurses from pharmacy intravenous admixture service (PIAS). A questionnaire survey referring to the revised stressor scale was carried out on 52 new nurses of PIAS in four hospitals in Harbin. The average stress score for all participants was 2.43±0.63, as medium level of stress. The stressors were classified into 6 categories: ensuring up-to-date knowledge of professional nursing skills, increased workload and work-time, interpersonal relationship, ensuring knowledge of equipments, attending educational programs, and decreased occupational demand. The most important stressors included fear of medical accident occurrence, fear of failure in performance assessment, fear of occupational injuries, feeling fatigue and lack of sleep. Considering the various kinds of stressors in the working places, it was necessary for managers' to use appropriate strategies to cope with the job stress in new nurses of PIAS.

[Analysis of antibodies of poliviruses in persistent populations in Beijing, 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the polio immunity level of persistent population in Beijing, 2012. METHODS: A total of 1 676 subjects residing more than 6 months in Beijing were selected by stratified random cluster sampling design in 2012. Demographic characteristics, history of oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) immunization were investigated by questionnaire. All 5 ml blood sample were collected for testing of polio neutralizing antibody using the method of microcell neutralization. The positive rate and the geometric mean titer (GMT) of polio neutralizing antibody type I, II and III were analyzed in different groups. RESULTS: The positive rate of type I, II and III were 98.2% (1 645/1 676), 98.1% (1 644/1 676), 97.6% (1 635/1 676); The GMT were 1:130.2, 1: 113.4 and 1: 79.7. Three types of positive rates in<15 years group (99.7% (664/666), 99.8% (665/666), 99.5% (663/666)) were higher than those of ≥ 15 years group (97.1% (981/1 010), 96.9% (979/1 010), 96.2% (972/1 010)), the differences were significant (all the values of P < 0.01); The GMT in<15 years group (1:325.9, 1:250.5, 1:190.7) were higher than that of ≥ 15 years group (1: 71.1, 1: 67.2, 1: 44.8), the difference was significant (all the values of P < 0.01). The positive rate (99.0%-100%) and GMT (1: 128.8-1: 300.7) in vaccination information confirmed population were higher. The highest positive rate (all were 100%) and GMT(1: 409.7-1: 636.7) were observed in children who vaccinated three times. CONCLUSION: The polio antibody of healthy population was at a high level in Beijing in 2012; Especially the age groups of < 15 years which were covered by vaccines.Immunization barrier had been formed firmly to interrupt the transmission of wild poliovirus and vaccine-derived poliovirus.

[Analysis of measles immunity level in persistent populations in Beijing, 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the measles immunity level of persistent population in Beijing. METHODS: A total of 2125 objects from 10 age groups, who had been living in Beijing for over 6 months, were selected from urban and rural areas in Beijing in 2012. Demographic characteristics, history of measles and vaccine immunization were investigated by questionnaire. 5 ml blood sample of each subject was collected, and the Measles IgG antibody was measured by ELISA assay. RESULTS: Positive rate of measles antibody was 84.71% (1800/2125) and standardized positive rate was 88.07% . Median of antibody was 960.46 IU/L. Positive rate and median of measles antibody were significantly different between population from different age groups (χ(2) = 341.60, P < 0.01; H = 216.27, P < 0.01). Antibody positive rate and median were lowest in the <1 year age group, which were separately 43.06% (90/209) and 185.80 IU/L; and highest in the 1-4 (97.31% (181/186) and 2448.81 IU/L) and 5-9 years age group (96.46% (218/226) and 1910.72 IU/L). The range of antibody positive rate and median in adults of ≥ 15 years were 81.98%-90.14% and 744.38-1474.84 IU/L. Antibody positive rate and median in persistent population, which were separately 82.45% (883/1071) and 899.82 IU/L, were lower than those in migrant population, which were 87.00% (917/1054) and 166.19 IU/L, respectively (χ(2) = 8.51, P < 0.01;U = 538 704.00, P < 0.01). Antibody positive rate and median in population with vaccination history, which were separately 91.95% (891/969) and 1443.11 IU/L, were higher than those population without vaccination history and people whose history unknown (32.95% (57/173) , 127.33 IU/L; 86.67% (852/983) , 923.73 IU/L). The difference showed statistical significance (χ(2) = 399.92, P < 0.01; H = 202.11, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Among the persistent population in China, measles antibody level among the children aging 1-9 years old was high enough to prevent outbreak and epidemic of measles. However, we should try our best to strengthen the measles antibody level among the babies younger than 1 year old and the migrant population aging between 15 and 40 years old.

[Application of damage control orthopaedic for the treatment of comminuted fractures of superior tibia in complex injury].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment of comminuted superior tibial fracture in complex injury according to damage control orthopaedic. METHODS: From Jan. 2007 to Jun. 2009,11 patients suffered from comminuted superior tibial fracture with complex injury, including 8 males and 3 females with an average age of 35.2 years. The external fixator were used to fix tibial fracture in emergency treatment, after 6 weeks when the condition of patients were improved, fix the external tibia by LISS plate through litter incision, fix interior tibia by reconstructed plate or sustained plate. The effect evaluated by Lysholm standard, marking system on the basis of limp, walking stick, angina, knee unsteady, pain, swell, up and down floor, squat. RESULTS: All the postoperative CR showed that the superior tibial fractures were acquired functional reduction, the incision got well and no infection occurred. All 11 patients were followed-up for 12 to 18 months with an average of 14.7 months. According to an evaluation standard of Lysholm, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 1 case, poor in 1 case. CONCLUSION: According to damage control orthopaedic, the treatment of comminuted superior tibial fracture by external fixation and LISS plate is a suitable method for the patient with complex injury who undergo comminuted superior tibial fracture.