The study of tuberculosis outbreak in a high school—Shanghai,China, 2017–2018

Journal of Public Health - To investigate the attack rate of active tuberculosis (TB) cases and detection rate of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cases, and to identify possible factors...     

成都市高新区4～18岁儿童青少年近视影响因素分析

目的 了解成都市高新区4～18岁儿童青少年近视患病情况及影响因素,为近视防控工作提供参考。方法 于2021年8—11月采用横断面研究的方法对成都市高新区202所学校82 024名4～18岁学生进行视力筛查及问卷调查,采用logistic回归分析对近视影响因素进行分析。结果 成都市高新区儿童青少年总近视患病率为40.42%,不同性别(男38.76%vs女42.21%,χ2=101.529,P<0.001)、不同学龄段之间近视患病率差异均有统计学意义(1.81%、34.44%、79.73%、83.25%,χ2=22099.288,P<0.001)。4～18岁儿童青少年近视患病率分别为1.90%、1.25%、9.04%、17.20%、31.22%、42.10%、55.79%、65.15%、73.43%、79.95%、84.44%、84.45%、83.25%、81.95%、77.28%。logistic回归分析显示,父母均近视、初次使用电子产品年龄≤3岁、节假日电子产品使用时间较长、阅读学习用眼持续时间≥30 min、有不良用眼习惯、户外活动及睡眠时间不足等是与儿童青少年近视相关的独立影响因素。结论 成都高新区儿童青少年学龄初期近视患病率增长速度快,其影响因素可能与遗传及个人习惯等多个方面有关,早期筛查及预防十分重要。     

四川省卫生资源配置现状综合评价——基于秩和比和密切值法

目的 综合评价四川省21市（州）卫生资源配置现状,为促进卫生健康发展和“健康中国”战略实施提供依据。方法 选取每千人口卫生技术人员数、每千人口执业（助理）医师数、每千人口注册护士数、每千人口医疗机构床位数和每千人口卫生机构数5个衡量指标,利用秩和比法（RSR）和密切值法两种方法共同评价四川省内各市（州）卫生资源配置情况,并比较两种方法结果差异。结果 21市（州）按RSR法最优分档策略分成四档,probit>6:成都、攀枝花、雅安和广元,5     

基于转录组数据的半夏AP2/ERF基因家族鉴定及逆境响应分析

目的：鉴定并研究半夏AP2/ERF转录因子的功能,为推进半夏品种的遗传改良提供理论依据。方法：该文基于半夏三代转录组数据鉴定了半夏中AP2/ERF家族成员,并对其进行系统的生物信息学分析,同时利用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（Real-time PCR）检测半夏AP2/ERF在不同组织及不同胁迫条件下的表达情况。结果：通过转录组数据共筛选出8个全长AP2/ERF转录因子家族成员,归为AP2、ERF和DREB 3个亚家族;半夏AP2/ERF的氨基酸数目为251～512个,等电点为5.29～11.72,不稳定指数为45.90～82.41,且主要定位于细胞核中;半夏AP2/ERF基因的结构域和Motifs相对保守。组织特异性表达模式分析显示,半夏AP2/ERF基因在不同组织部位中具有不同的表达模式,且主要在叶中表达。逆境胁迫应答分析表明,PtERF1主要响应NaCl的胁迫诱导;PtERF2和PtERF4在低温和聚乙二醇（PEG）胁迫下表达量均有较大幅度的上调;PtERF3同时响应低温和NaCl两种逆境的诱导;PtERF5同时响应高温、低温、NaCl、PEG胁迫诱导;PtERF7在高温胁迫下表达...     

Correction to: Cichorium intybus L. promotes intestinal uric acid excretion by modulating ABCG2 in experimental hyperuricemia

The study of sex differences in hyperuricemia can provide not only a theoretical basis for this clinical phenomenon but also new therapeutic targets for urate-lowering therapy. In the current study, we aimed to confirm that estradiol can promote intestinal ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) expression to increase urate excretion through the PI3K/Akt pathway. The estradiol levels of hyperuricemia/gout patients and healthy controls were compared, and a hyperuricemia mouse model was used to observe the urate-lowering effect of estradiol and the changes in ABCG2 expression in the kidney and intestine. In vivo and in vitro intestinal urate transport models were established to verify the urate transport function regulated by estradiol. The molecular pathway by which estradiol regulates ABCG2 expression in intestinal cells was explored. The estradiol level of hyperuricemia/gout patients was significantly lower than that of healthy controls. Administering estradiol benzoate (EB) to both male hyperuricemic mice and female mice after removing the ovaries confirmed the urate-lowering effect of estradiol, and hyperuricemia and estradiol upregulated the expression of intestinal ABCG2. Estradiol has been confirmed to promote urate transport by upregulating ABCG2 expression in intestinal urate excretion models in vivo and in vitro. Estradiol regulates the expression of intestinal ABCG2 through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Our study revealed that estradiol regulates intestinal ABCG2 through the PI3K/Akt pathway to promote urate excretion, thereby reducing serum urate levels.     

Radioprotective Effect of Whey Hydrolysate Peptides against γ-Radiation-Induced Oxidative Stress in BALB/c Mice

Radiation therapy is widely used in the treatment of tumor diseases, but it can also cause serious damage to the body, so it is necessary to find effective nutritional supplements. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of whey hydrolysate peptides (WHPs) against ⁶⁰Coγ radiation damage in mice and explore the mechanism. BALB/c mice were given WHPs by oral gavage administration for 14 days. Then, some mice underwent a 30-day survival test after 8 Gy radiation, and other mice received 3.5 Gy radiation to analyze the changes in body weight, hematology and bone marrow DNA after three and 14 days. In addition, through further analysis of the level of oxidative stress and intestinal barrier function, the possible mechanism of the radioprotective effect of WHPs was explored. The study found WHPs can prolong survival time, restore body weight, and increase the number of peripheral blood white blood cells and bone marrow DNA content in irradiated mice. In addition, WHPs can significantly improve the antioxidant capacity, inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines and protect the intestinal barrier. These results indicate that WHPs have a certain radioprotective effect in mice, and the main mechanism is related to reducing oxidative damage.     

Matcha Green Tea Alleviates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice by Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Inflammatory Responses

Lately, matcha green tea has gained popularity as a beverage and food additive. It has proved to be effective in preventing obesity and related metabolic syndromes. However, the underlying mechanisms of its control effects against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are complicated and remain elusive. In the present study, we performed an in vivo experiment using male C57BL/6 mice fed with a high-fat diet and simultaneously treated with matcha for six weeks. Serum biochemical parameters, histological changes, lipid accumulation, inflammatory cytokines, and relevant indicators were examined. Dietary supplementation of matcha effectively prevented excessive accumulation of visceral and hepatic lipid, elevated blood glucose, dyslipidemia, abnormal liver function, and steatosis hepatitis. RNA sequencing analyses of differentially expressed genes in liver samples indicated that matcha treatment decreased the activity of lipid droplet-associated proteins and increased the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, suggesting improved metabolic capacity and liver function. The current study provided evidence for new dietary strategies based on matcha supplementation to ameliorate lipotoxicity-induced obesity and NALFD.     

Oral Administration of Ginger-Derived Lipid Nanoparticles and Dmt1 siRNA Potentiates the Effect of Dietary Iron Restriction and Mitigates Pre-Existing Iron Overload in Hamp KO Mice

Intestinal iron transport requires an iron importer (Dmt1) and an iron exporter (Fpn1). The hormone hepcidin regulates iron absorption by modulating Fpn1 protein levels on the basolateral surface of duodenal enterocytes. In the genetic, iron-loading disorder hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), hepcidin production is low and Fpn1 protein expression is elevated. High Fpn1-mediated iron export depletes intracellular iron, causing a paradoxical increase in Dmt1-mediated iron import. Increased activity of both transporters causes excessive iron absorption, thus initiating body iron loading. Logically then, silencing of intestinal Dmt1 or Fpn1 could be an effective therapeutic intervention in HH. It was previously established that Dmt1 knock down prevented iron-loading in weanling Hamp (encoding hepcidin) KO mice (modeling type 2B HH). Here, we tested the hypothesis that Dmt1 silencing combined with dietary iron restriction (which may be recommended for HH patients) will mitigate iron loading once already established. Accordingly, adult Hamp KO mice were switched to a low-iron (LFe) diet and (non-toxic) folic acid-coupled, ginger nanoparticle-derived lipid vectors (FA-GDLVs) were used to deliver negative-control (NC) or Dmt1 siRNA by oral, intragastric gavage daily for 21 days. The LFe diet reduced body iron burden, and experimental interventions potentiated iron losses. For example, Dmt1 siRNA treatment suppressed duodenal Dmt1 mRNA expression (by ~50%) and reduced serum and liver non-heme iron levels (by ~60% and >85%, respectively). Interestingly, some iron-related parameters were repressed similarly by FA-GDLVs carrying either siRNA, including ⁵⁹Fe (as FeCl₃) absorption (~20% lower), pancreatic non-heme iron (reduced by ~65%), and serum ferritin (decreased 40–50%). Ginger may thus contain bioactive lipids that also influence iron homeostasis. In conclusion, the combinatorial approach of FA-GDLV and Dmt1 siRNA treatment, with dietary iron restriction, mitigated pre-existing iron overload in a murine model of HH.     

Gestational Women’s Perceptions About the Harms of Cigarette and E-Cigarette Use During Pregnancy

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between perceived harm of cigarette and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use while pregnant and differences between healthcare providers’ communication about these products during pregnancy.

Methods

A convenience sample of gestational women (n?=?218; ages 18–45) living in the US completed an online survey between May and December 2017. Participants reported perceived likelihood of adverse health outcomes (e.g., low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome) among infants/children born to mothers who used cigarettes/e-cigarettes. T-tests and two-way ANOVAs examined differences between risk perceptions of using cigarettes/e-cigarettes while pregnant based on pregnancy status (previously pregnant, currently pregnant, future pregnant). Chi-square analyses examined differences between healthcare provider communication about cigarette/e-cigarette use during pregnancy.

Results

Overall, participants believed adverse health outcomes were significantly more likely to be caused by maternal use of cigarettes than e-cigarettes. Participants who planned to be pregnant reported higher endorsement that smoking combustible cigarettes would cause a miscarriage (p?<?.05) or increased blood pressure (p?<?.05) for a child than currently pregnant participants. Participants reported healthcare providers asked about (p?<?.05), advised them not to use (p?<?.001), and talked to them about health effects of smoking combustible cigarettes while pregnant (p?<?.001) significantly more than e-cigarettes.

Conclusions for Practice

Healthcare providers working with pregnant women should perform the 5As behavioral intervention method to provide pregnant women with tobacco cessation care. They should also discuss the absolute harm nicotine exposure (via cigarettes or e-cigarettes) can have on fetal health and development.

     

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D among patients with haemophilia

The European Journal of Health Economics - The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D, and to compare their performance among patients living with...