The Economic Burden of Brucellosis Care in China: Socioeconomic Status Inequality.

The economic burden of brucellosis care on patients can lead to significant financial strain, despite partial coverage by medical insurance. However, there is limited research on the out-of-pocket costs faced by brucellosis patients. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the costs and out-of-pocket expenses of brucellosis care, specifically examining the varying socioeconomic status of patients in Xinjiang, China. We collected cost and demographic data from 563 respondents and their hospital bills and employed latent variable analysis to assess socioeconomic status. The majority of patients belonged to the middle and lower socioeconomic status categories (85.97%), and they were primarily farmers and herders (82.77%). The median direct cost per brucellosis episode was USD 688.65, with out-of-pocket expenses amounting to USD 391.44. These costs exceeded both the 2020 Xinjiang and national per capita health expenditures (USD 233.66 and USD 267.21, respectively). Notably, the overall medical reimbursement rate was 48.60%, and for outpatient costs, it was merely 12.82%. Despite higher out-of-pocket costs among high socioeconomic status patients, the percentage of income spent was higher (37.23%) for patients in the lower socioeconomic status group compared to other groups (16.25% and 12.96%). In conclusion, our findings highlight that brucellosis patients are predominantly from the middle and lower socioeconomic status, with high out-of-pocket expenses placing them under significant financial pressure. Moreover, there is notable inequity in economic consequences across different socioeconomic status groups. These results call for policy interventions aimed at reducing brucellosis-related poverty and promoting equitable access to care.

Design of high performance p-type sensitizers with pyridinium derivatives as the acceptor by theoretical calculations.

Based on triphenylamine as an electron donor and thiophene as a π-linker, Series P and A p-type sensitizers were designed to investigate the effects of the different acceptors on the properties of the sensitizers. The optimized molecular structures, electronic and optical properties were investigated by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results showed that the properties of the dyes can be tuned by the introduction of the different electron-withdrawing groups to the N atom in the pyridinium acceptor. Compared with the synthesized Series P dyes used in p-type sensitizers, the properties of Series A dyes, except for two dyes that cannot be used as p-type sensitizers, are improved by means of modifying pyridinium acceptors. Due to the suitable electron-withdrawing ability of the hexafluorodiacetylamino group in its acceptor, A6 has the narrowest energy gap (1.90 eV), the largest driving force of hole injection (ΔG inj, -0.68 eV), the high light harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.9984) and the smallest internal reorganization energy (λ int, 5.05 kcal mol-1). Hence, A6 not only enhances electronic excitation, but also improves the reorganization energy. Importantly, A6 shows the largest red shift and the maximum integral values of the adsorption over the visible light, as well as the strongest adsorption energy (-74.80 kcal mol-1) on a NiO surface. Thus, A6 may be a promising sensitizer for the p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), and the acceptor of A6 may provide a new and easily accessible high performance acceptor for p-type sensitizers.

Theoretical study of nitrogen cation modified aromatics containing thiophene as π-linker for p-type photosensitizers.

On the basis of triphenylamine as an electron donor with attachment of two -COOH anchoring groups and dicyanovinyl as acceptor, ten dyes with D-π-A structures were designed to investigate the effects of different π-linker groups on the properties of the sensitizers, especially the influence of the π-linkers containing nitrogen cation (N+). The optimized structures and electronic and optical properties were investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results show that all the investigated dyes can be used as dye sensitizers for the p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) except one dye which contains two N+. The N+ modified dye (named S3-PZL1C) has narrow energy gap (2.02 eV), the best light-harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.9974), and the smallest internal reorganization energy (λint = 7.00 kcal/mol). Importantly, S3-PZL1C displays the largest red shift of the UV-vis absorption, the maximum integral values of the adsorption-wavelength curves over the visible light (400~800 nm), and the strongest adsorption energy (- 66.84 kcal/mol) on NiO surface. In addition, S3-PZL1C not only enhances the electronic excitation but also improves the reorganization energy and charge separation. The intramolecular charge transfer towards the acceptor is sensitive to the N+ position in π-linkers. Therefore, the suitable introduction of N+ in dyes can improve the performance of the dyes, and the PZL1C moiety may be a promising π-linker for p-type DSSCs. Graphical abstract.

Effect of Nitrogen Cation as "Electron Trap" at π-Linker on Properties for p-Type Photosensitizers: DFT Study.

On the basis of thieno(3,2-b)thiophene and dithieno[3,2-b:2',3'-d]thiophene (T2 and T3 moieties) as π-linker, the A, D and S series dyes were designed to investigate the effect of the introducing N+ as an "electron trap" into T2 and T3 on the properties of the dyes. The optimized structures, electronic and optical properties were investigated by the density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT). The results show that the properties of the dyes are sensitive to the N+ position in π-linkers. D series dyes with electron-withdrawing units located near the donor have better properties than the corresponding A series with the electron-withdrawing units located near the acceptor. For A and D series, the N+ modified dye named T2N+1-d displays the largest red shift of the UV-vis absorption, the maximum integral values of the adsorption-wavelength curves over the visible light, the highest light harvesting efficiency (LHE, 0.996), and the strongest adsorption energy (-44.33 kcal/mol). T2N+1-d also has a large driving force of hole injection (ΔGinj, -0.74 eV), which results in a more efficient hole injection. Bearing a lengthier π-linker than T2N+1-d, the properties of T2N+1-s are further improved. T2N+1-d moiety or its increased conjugated derivatives may be a promising π-linker.

[Hydatidosis Prevalence in 6- to 12-year-old Children in Southern Xinjiang].

Objective: To understand the hydatidosis prevalence in 6- to 12-year-old children in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and provide scientific basis for formulation of control measures. Methods: One primary school was selected from each of the pastoral area, pastoral-agricultural area, agricultural area, and township area in 42 counties （cities） of southern Xinjiang, using the stratified sampling method. With the consent of their parents, B ultrasonic abdominal scan and venous blood collection were performed on all the children （6-12 years） in the selected schools. Serum level of echinococcus antibody IgG was determined by ELISA. Hydatidosis prevalence and the serum level of IgG in these children were analyzed. Results: A total of 80 429 children were examined from 168 primary schools. B ultrasonic scan revealed hydatidosis in 9 children （0.01%）, comprising 3 cases in Kezhou, 2 in Aksu, 2 in Bazhou, and 2 in Kashi. ELISA results showed that 4 189 children were positive for serum IgG, with a positive rate of 5.21%. The positive rate was highest in Kashi （8.41%, 2 143/25 495）, followed by Aksu （5.69%, 913/16 051）, with significant difference between different areas （χ2=977.303， P<0.01）. The positive rate was lowest in 6-year children （2.13%, 44/2 065） and highest in 11-year children （5.68%, 822/14 462） （χ2=48.221, P<0.01）. In addition, the positive rate was highest in Uighur children（5.19%, 3 899/75 115）, followed by Mongolian children （4.27%, 68/1 592）, with no significant difference between ethnic groups （χ2=4.072, P>0.05）. Among the children of residents, children with a nomadic lifestyle, and children settled in winter and living in a nomadic lifestyle in summer, hydatidosis occurred in 7 residents and 2 children who settled in winter and living in a nomadic lifestyle in summer; and the positive rate of serum antibody was 5.45% （184/77 512）, 2.97% （3/101）, 0.07% （2/2 816）, respectively（χ2=148.609, P<0.01）. Conclusion: There is a low hydatidosis prevalence in 6- to 12-year-old children in southern Xinjiang, but the positive rate of serum echinococcus IgG in kashgar region, Uighur ethnicity, and children of the resident group are relatively high.

[Retrospective analysis of echinococcosis surgerical cases in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2013].

UNLABELLED: [Abstract] OBJECTIVE: To analyze the situation of echinococcosis surgerical cases in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2005 to 2013. METHODS: The surgery cases of echinococcosis in Xinjiang from 2005 to 2013 were collected, and analyzed with SPSS 17.0 and Epi Info 3.5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 8 639 hydatid disease cases were reported during 2005-2013 from 94 counties (cities and districts) of 14 prefectures (municipalities) in the Region. The average number of annual operation cases were 960 cases (8,639/9 years), and the annual incidence was 4.40/100,000 (960/21.81 million). 82.8% (7,152/8,639) of report cases came from northern Xinjiang area with an incidence of 7.59/100,000, and 17.2% (1,487/8,639) distributed in southern Xinjiang area with an incidence of 1.58/100,000. There were 373 cases (4.4%, 373/8,639) reported in 2005, and increased to 1434 cases (16.5% 1,434/8,639) in 2013 (P<0.05). The cases mainly distributed in Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture (2,028 cases), Tarbagatai Prefecture (1,218 cases), Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture (1,179 cases), and Urumqi City (1,128 cases) of the northern Xinjiang area. There were 4,557 male (52.8%, 4,557/8,639) and 4 082 famale patients (47.3%, 4,082/8,639)(P<0.05). The age distribution showed a single-peak curve, and more patients concentrated in the age group of 31-40 years, accounting for 26.2% (2,265/8,639). Among 8,639 cases, farmers accounted for 47.9% (4 134/8 639). CONCLUSION: The nunber of surgical cases of echinococcosis increases every year in Xinjiang since 2005, and the distribution of the disease shows a trend from the agricultural and pastoral areas to the towns.