Epidemic Characteristics, Spatiotemporal Pattern, and Risk Factors of Other Infectious Diarrhea in Fujian Province From 2005 to 2021: Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Other infectious diarrhea (OID) continues to pose a significant public health threat to all age groups in Fujian Province. There is a need for an in-depth analysis to understand the epidemiological pattern of OID and its associated risk factors in the region. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to describe the overall epidemic characteristics and spatiotemporal pattern of OID in Fujian Province from 2005 to 2021 and explore the linkage between sociodemographic and environmental factors and the occurrence of OID within the study area. METHODS: Notification data for OID in Fujian were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The spatiotemporal pattern of OID was analyzed using Moran index and Kulldorff scan statistics. The seasonality of and short-term impact of meteorological factors on OID were examined using an additive decomposition model and a generalized additive model. Geographical weighted regression and generalized linear mixed model were used to identify potential risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 388,636 OID cases were recorded in Fujian Province from January 2005 to December 2021, with an average annual incidence of 60.3 (SD 16.7) per 100,000 population. Children aged <2 years accounted for 50.7% (196,905/388,636) of all cases. There was a steady increase in OID from 2005 to 2017 and a clear seasonal shift in OID cases from autumn to winter and spring between 2005 and 2020. Higher maximum temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and precipitation were linked to a higher number of deseasonalized OID cases. The spatial and temporal aggregations were concentrated in Zhangzhou City and Xiamen City for 17 study years. Furthermore, the clustered areas exhibited a dynamic spreading trend, expanding from the southernmost Fujian to the southeast and then southward over time. Factors such as densely populated areas with a large <1-year-old population, less economically developed areas, and higher pollution levels contributed to OID cases in Fujian Province. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed a distinct distribution of OID incidence across different population groups, seasons, and regions in Fujian Province. Zhangzhou City and Xiamen City were identified as the major hot spots for OID. Therefore, prevention and control efforts should prioritize these specific hot spots and highly susceptible groups.

Study of the influence of meteorological factors on HFMD and prediction based on the LSTM algorithm in Fuzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: This study adopted complete meteorological indicators, including eight items, to explore their impact on hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Fuzhou, and predict the incidence of HFMD through the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network algorithm of artificial intelligence. METHOD: A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to analyse the influence of meteorological factors on HFMD in Fuzhou from 2010 to 2021. Then, the numbers of HFMD cases in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were predicted using the LSTM model through multifactor single-step and multistep rolling methods. The root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) were used to evaluate the accuracy of the model predictions. RESULTS: Overall, the effect of daily precipitation on HFMD was not significant. Low (4 hPa) and high (≥ 21 hPa) daily air pressure difference (PRSD) and low (< 7 °C) and high (> 12 °C) daily air temperature difference (TEMD) were risk factors for HFMD. The RMSE, MAE, MAPE and SMAPE of using the weekly multifactor data to predict the cases of HFMD on the following day, from 2019 to 2021, were lower than those of using the daily multifactor data to predict the cases of HFMD on the following day. In particular, the RMSE, MAE, MAPE and SMAPE of using weekly multifactor data to predict the following week's daily average cases of HFMD were much lower, and similar results were also found in urban and rural areas, which indicating that this approach was more accurate. CONCLUSION: This study's LSTM models combined with meteorological factors (excluding PRE) can be used to accurately predict HFMD in Fuzhou, especially the method of predicting the daily average cases of HFMD in the following week using weekly multifactor data.

Study on the influence of meteorological factors on influenza in different regions and predictions based on an LSTM algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Influenza epidemics pose a threat to human health. It has been reported that meteorological factors (MFs) are associated with influenza. This study aimed to explore the similarities and differences between the influences of more comprehensive MFs on influenza in cities with different economic, geographical and climatic characteristics in Fujian Province. Then, the information was used to predict the daily number of cases of influenza in various cities based on MFs to provide bases for early warning systems and outbreak prevention. METHOD: Distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs) were used to analyse the influence of MFs on influenza in different regions of Fujian Province from 2010 to 2021. Long short-term memory (LSTM) was used to train and model daily cases of influenza in 2010-2018, 2010-2019, and 2010-2020 based on meteorological daily values. Daily cases of influenza in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were predicted. The root mean squared error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and symmetric mean absolute percentage error (SMAPE) were used to quantify the accuracy of model predictions. RESULTS: The cumulative effect of low and high values of air pressure (PRS), air temperature (TEM), air temperature difference (TEMD) and sunshine duration (SSD) on the risk of influenza was obvious. Low (< 979 hPa), medium (983 to 987 hPa) and high (> 112 hPa) PRS were associated with a higher risk of influenza in women, children aged 0 to 12 years, and rural populations. Low (< 9 °C) and high (> 23 °C) TEM were risk factors for influenza in four cities. Wind speed (WIN) had a more significant effect on the risk of influenza in the ≥ 60-year-old group. Low (< 40%) and high (> 80%) relative humidity (RHU) in Fuzhou and Xiamen had a significant effect on influenza. When PRS was between 1005-1015 hPa, RHU > 60%, PRE was low, TEM was between 10-20 °C, and WIN was low, the interaction between different MFs and influenza was most obvious. The RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and SMAPE evaluation indices of the predictions in 2019, 2020 and 2021 were low, and the prediction accuracy was high. CONCLUSION: All eight MFs studied had an impact on influenza in four cities, but there were similarities and differences. The LSTM model, combined with these eight MFs, was highly accurate in predicting the daily cases of influenza. These MFs and prediction models could be incorporated into the influenza early warning and prediction system of each city and used as a reference to formulate prevention strategies for relevant departments.

Halophytes increase rhizosphere microbial diversity, network complexity and function in inland saline ecosystem.

Salinization is an important global environmental problem influencing sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystems. Salt-tolerant halophytes are often used as a promising approach to remedy the saline soils. Yet, how rhizosphere microbes' association and functions vary with halophytes in saline ecosystems remains unclear, restricting our ability to assess the role of halophytes in remedying saline ecosystems. Herein, we examined bacterial and fungal diversities, compositions, and co-occurrence networks in the rhizospheres of six halophytes and bulk soils in a semiarid inland saline ecosystem, and related these parameters to microbial functions. The microbiomes were more diverse and complex and microbial activity and residues were higher in rhizospheres than bulk soils. The connections of taxa in the rhizosphere microbial communities increased with fungi-fungi and bacteria-fungi connections and fungal diversity. The proportion of the fungi-related central connections were larger in rhizospheres (13-73%) than bulk soils (3%). Moreover, microbial activity and residues were significantly correlated with microbial composition and co-occurrence network complexity. These results indicated that enhanced association between fungi and bacteria increased microbial co-occurring network complexity in halophytes rhizosphere, which contributed to the higher microbial functions (microbial activities and residue) in this inland saline ecosystem.

Erosion reduces soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality.

While soil erosion drives land degradation, the impact of erosion on soil microbial communities and multiple soil functions remains unclear. This hinders our ability to assess the true impact of erosion on soil ecosystem services and our ability to restore eroded environments. Here we examined the effect of erosion on microbial communities at two sites with contrasting soil texture and climates. Eroded plots had lower microbial network complexity, fewer microbial taxa, and fewer associations among microbial taxa, relative to non-eroded plots. Soil erosion also shifted microbial community composition, with decreased relative abundances of dominant phyla such as Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Gemmatimonadetes. In contrast, erosion led to an increase in the relative abundances of some bacterial families involved in N cycling, such as Acetobacteraceae and Beijerinckiaceae. Changes in microbiota characteristics were strongly related with erosion-induced changes in soil multifunctionality. Together, these results demonstrate that soil erosion has a significant negative impact on soil microbial diversity and functionality.

Responses of soil aggregate stability, erodibility and nutrient enrichment to simulated extreme heavy rainfall.

Extreme precipitation regime under global change context is estimated to cause heavy rainstorms and longer drought intervals. Temporal variations of soil structure and erosion characteristics during and after heavy rainstorms were less investigated, particularly across a wide soil texture gradient. In this study, 15 soils were selected with clay content ranging in 12.9-38.2%. Soil erosion characteristics and enrichment ratios of organic carbon (EROC) and nitrogen (ERN) were measured during 3 successive rainfall simulations at slope of 15° and intensity of 120 mm h-1. The water-stable aggregate distribution was measured for soils before and after rainfall and drying. The mean weight diameter (MWD) of water-stable aggregate remained unchanged before (1.476 ± 0.182) and after rainfall and drying (1.406 ± 0.135 mm), but decreased for soils with higher organic carbon contents. Soil erodibility (K factor) averaged in 0.018 ± 0.003, 0.011 ± 0.001 and 0.008 ± 0.001 in 3 successive rainfall events, with 42% and 27% decreases after each event, respectively (P < 0.05); and the decreases were greater for less aggregated soils or coarser textured soils. Stepwise regression showed that the <0.25 mm water-stable aggregate explained most variations of K and its dynamics. The EROC and ERN were close to 1 and were not correlated with clay content or MWD (P > 0.05). The ERN decreased first and then remained stable, and EROC was unchanged during successive rainfalls. These results indicated that soil texture or aggregation status affected soil erodibility and its temporal changes in successive rainstorms.

Drying-wetting cycles consistently increase net nitrogen mineralization in 25 agricultural soils across intensity and number of drying-wetting cycles.

An increase in extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and extreme drought causes intensive and frequent drying-wetting (DW) cycles, which have strong effects on the availability of nitrogen (N) for plant growth and development. How the effects of DW cycles on N turnover vary with the intensity and number of DW cycles and soil properties has not been clearly addressed, which hinders predicting soil biogeochemical cycles in a changing world. Herein, we examined the response of net N mineralization in agricultural soils measured at a standard temperature (25 °C) to DW cycles varying in intensity and number. A total of 25 soils differing in texture and organic matter content were collected to create a soil property gradient. We also established the relationships of DW cycle effects on net N mineralization to soil properties. The DW cycles significantly increased N mineralization by 11.05 ± 0.66 mg kg-1 (+81.7%), and the increase was consistent across DW intensities and numbers for most soils. The release of inorganic N was dependent on soil properties, while the regulation of soil properties on DW effects varied with DW intensity, with stronger regulation under intense DW cycles (60% to 0% field capacity) than under moderate DW cycles (100% to 20% field capacity). The effect of intense DW cycles on NH4+ increased with clay content but decreased with soil pH and sand content. The effect on NO3- has opposite responses to these soil properties when compared with the effects on NH4+. The effect on total inorganic N increased with soil pH and inorganic N concentration. These results indicated that DW cycles have the potential to increase N availability in agricultural soils and highlighted the underestimation of N availability predicted with averaged soil moisture instead of real-time soil moisture under changing soil moisture conditions.

Coal tar pitch extract could induce chromosomal instability of human bronchial epithelial cells mediated by spindle checkpoint-related proteins.

Coal tar pitch (CTP) is a byproduct of coal tar distillation. The workers working with coal tar or in aluminum smelters, potrooms and carbon plants have the opportunities of exposing to coal tar pitch volatiles. Coal tar pitches from which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) originate have been shown to exhibit lung carcinogenicity in humans. Chromosomal instability (CIN) is a mechanism in carcinogenesis, however, whether CIN is involved in coal tar pitch-induced lung cancer remains elusive. In this present study, human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) were first exposed to coal tar pitch extracts (CTPE) to induce a malignant transformation model. Then, the occurrence of severe chromosomal changes detected using G band, R band and multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) staining were examined. It was shown that more clones of transformed BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 following stimulation with CTPE were formed in the soft agar compared with the vehicle control. Moreover, the expression of the spindle checkpoint-related proteins, mitotic arrest defective 2 (Mad2), budding uninhibited in benzimidazole 1 (Bub1), and anaphase-promoting complex (APC), indicators of abnormal chromosomes and carcinogenesis, reduced in CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at Passage 30 compared with the vehicle control using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. In summary, exposure of BEAS-2B cells to CTPE may induce chromosomal instability through spindle checkpoint-related proteins.

[A cohort study on the characteristics of the recurrent epidemics on hand, foot and mouth disease, in Fujian province].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the recurrent epidemiological characteristics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among children aged <4 years to provide evidence for HFMD prevention and control. METHODS: Principles on historical cohort study were followed when analyzing data related to HFMD surveillance in Fujian province. All the research objects were restricted to patients aged <4, with HFMD and who were permanent residents in Fujian province. Characteristics of the study objects were extracted as potential factors when the patients first showed symptoms of HFMD. These factors might cause the recurrence of HFMD and were filtered by the logistic stepwise regression with SAS 9.0. RESULTS: A total of 82 949 children were included. Among them, 2 612 had repetitiously suffered from HFMD(occupied 3.15%), including 2 510 who had the histories of suffering twice, 98 suffering three times, 3 suffering four times, and 1 even suffering five times. Comparing with the objects who had the first onset at the age of 3, also with the risk increased to 4.39 (95%CI:3.80-5.07) times, when compared to those who had the first onset at the age below 2. Again, the risk among children whose first onset was at the age of 2 had increased to 2.73 (95% CI: 2.35-3.18) times. According to the current residents areas, the morbidities of patients under 6 years old were below 2% when the symptoms first started, but the risk of the objects whose morbidities were higher than 4% , had increased 2.15(95% CI:1.88-2.45)times. Again, risk of the objects whose morbidities were between 3% and 4% had increased to 2.10 (95%CI:1.85-2.38) times. Among those whose specific morbidities were between 2% and 3% , the risk had increased to 1.65 (95% CI: 1.44-1.89) times. Comparing with the objects who never visited any maternal/child care settings when started the first onset, the risk among the ones who had been to the maternal/child care settings, had increased to 1.64 (95% CI:1.51-1.78) times. Boys had the risk 1.34 (95% CI:1.23-1.46)times increase than girls. The preponderant pathogen causing HFMD recurrence was EV71 (33/60). Recurrence might cause more severe symptoms or signs (8/2 612). Pathogens causing the initial infection and recurrence might both belonged to the same-EV71 (3/6). CONCLUSION: Recurrence of the disease were closely related to the opportunities of contacting the pathogens. Interventions should be imposed on patients in time as soon as the disease initiated, especially at the younger age.

[Changes of centrosome and related protein in malignant transformation of BEAS-2B cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the centrosome abnormalities in the malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts and to investigate the role and action mechanism of centrosome in the lung cancer induced by coal tar pitch. METHODS: Medium-temperature coal tar pitch smoke extracts were used to treat immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and establish a malignant transformation model. The treated BEAS-2B cells were used as exposure group, and solvent control group and normal control group were also set for passage culture. The changes of centrosome in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression of p53, p21, and cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and their protein levels in BEAS-2B cells seeded on coverslips were measured by semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 20 was 6.56±1.01% in the exposure group, significantly higher than those in the normal control group (3.40±0.86%) and solvent control group (3.14±0.59%) (P < 0.05). In addition, the exposure group had a significantly higher overall rate of centrosome abnormalities in BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 compared with the normal control group and solvent control group (22.39±9.5% vs 4.34±1.04%, P < 0.05; 22.39±9.5% vs 4.33±1.20%, P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and solvent control group, the exposure group had significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of p53 and significantly increased mRNA and protein expression of cyclin E in BEAS-2B cells at passages 20 and 30 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Centrosome abnormalities occur before the malignant transformation in BEAS-2B cells treated with coal tar pitch smoke extracts, and they may be mediated by the p53/p21/cyclin E signaling pathway.

Analysis of coal tar pitch and smoke extract components and their cytotoxicity on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Coal tar pitch and its smoke are considered hazardous by-products and common pollutant generated from coal industry processing. In this study, coal tar pitch and its smoke extracts were characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with dimethylsulfoxide. We identified only 0.3025% of components in the total coal tar pitch using GC/MS. Among 18 identified compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has the highest relative abundance (0.19%). The remaining components were composed of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds and alkenes. In contrast, among 38 coal tar pitch smoke extract constituents that have been profiled, 87.91% were PAHs, and the remaining 12.09% were composed of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic compounds and alkenes. The cytotoxic effect of coal tar pitch and its smoke extracts on BEAS-2B cells were also evaluated by MTT assay. BEAS-2B cells exposed to coal tar pitch showed a non dose-dependent U-shaped cytotoxicity with a dosage for maximal inhibitory of 3.75 mg/L. In contrast, BEAS-2B cells exposed to coal tar pitch smoke extracts showed a dose dependent cytotoxicity with a LC(50) of 8.64 mg/L. Our study demonstrated the significant different composition and cytotoxicity of coal tar pitch and its extracts, suggesting two different underlying mechanisms that are pending future investigation.

[The change of telomere protein in BEAS-2B malignant transformation cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts].

OBJECTIVE: By testing the changes of telomere binding protein in malignant transformation BEAS-2B cells induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts, to study the role of protection of telomeres 1 (POT1), telomeric repeat binding factor 1 (TRF1) and TRF2 in tumorgenesis that contact with coal tar pitch. METHODS: The BEAS-2B cells were induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts to form malignant transformation cell model in vitro. The gene expression levels of mRNA were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the protein expression variations were determined by cell culture overslip of immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: In malignant transformation cells, the mRNA expression level (POT1: 0.63 ± 0.04, TRF1: 0.36 ± 0.01) and the protein expression level (POT1: 0.36 ± 0.05, TRF1: 0.09 ± 0.03) of POT1 and TRF1 was statistically significant decreased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: POT1: 1.00 ± 0.04, TRF1: 1.01 ± 0.16; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.07, TRF1: 0.27 ± 0.07) and DMSO group (mRNA: POT1: 0.89 ± 0.12, TRF1: 0.90 ± 0.08; protein: POT1: 0.55 ± 0.10, TRF1: 0.26 ± 0.04) (P < 0.05); mRNA expression level (1.45 ± 0.07) and the protein expression level (0.88 ± 0.06) of TRF2 was increased compared to that of BEAS-2B group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.07, protein: 0.48 ± 0.06) and DMSO group (mRNA: 1.00 ± 0.06, protein: 0.50 ± 0.06) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The change of gene and protein expression level in POT1, TRF1, and TRF2 involved in the process that evolved into malignant transformation in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts.

[Change of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC)1, SMC3, Separase and Securin expression in BEAS-2B malignant transformation cell induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts].

OBJECTIVE: to study the role of structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC)1, SMC3, Separase and Securin in tumorgenesis that contact with coal tar pitch. METHODS: the BEAS-2B cells was induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts to form malignant transformation cell model in vitro. The gene expression levels of mRNA were assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein expression variation were determined by cell culture overslip of immunohistochemical methods. RESULTS: in malignant transformation cells, the mRNA and the protein expression level of SMC1 gene was not statistically significantly different compared with the BEAS-2B group and DMSO group (P > 0.05); SMC3 and Separase was increased and Securin was decreased (P < 0.05), while the difference between other two control groups was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: the up expression level of SMC3 and Separase and the down expression level of Securin are involved in the process that evolves into malignant transformation in bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B induced by coal tar pitch smoke extracts.