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Background: Human brucellosis continues to be a great threat to human health in China. The present study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019, to analyze the socioeconomic factors, meteorological factors and seasonal effect affecting human brucellosis incidence in different geographical regions with the help of spatial panel model, and to provide a scientific basis for local health authorities to improve the prevention of human brucellosis. Methods: The monthly reported number and incidence of human brucellosis in China from January 2004 to December 2019 were obtained from the Data Center for China Public Health Science. Monthly average air temperature and monthly average relative humidity of 31 provincial-level administrative units (22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities directly under the central government) in China from October 2003 to December 2019 were obtained from the National Meteorological Science Data Centre. The inventory of cattle, the inventory of sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield and gross pastoral product of 31 provincial-level administrative units in China from 2004 to 2019 were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. The temporal and geographical distribution of human brucellosis was displayed with Microsoft Excel and ArcMap software. The spatial autocorrelation and hotspot analysis was used to describe the association among different areas. Spatial panel model was constructed to explore the combined effects on the incidence of human brucellosis in China. Results: A total of 569,016 cases of human brucellosis were reported in the 31 provincial-level administrative units in China from January 2004 to December 2019. Human brucellosis cases were concentrated between March and July, with a peak in May, showing a clear seasonal increase. The incidence of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019 showed significant spatial correlations, and hotspot analysis indicated that the high incidence of human brucellosis was mainly in the northern China, particularly in Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, and Heilongjiang. The results from spatial panel model suggested that the inventory of cattle, the inventory of sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature (the same month, 2-month lagged and 3-month lagged), average relative humidity (the same month) and season variability were significantly associated with human brucellosis incidence in China. Conclusions: The epidemic area of human brucellosis in China has been expanding and the spatial clustering has been observed. Inner Mongolia and adjacent provinces or autonomous regions are the high-risk areas of human brucellosis. The inventory of cattle and sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature, average relative humidity and season variability played a significant role in the progression of human brucellosis. The present study strengthens the understanding of the relationship between socioeconomic, meteorological factors and the spatial heterogeneity of human brucellosis in China, through which 'One Health'-based strategies and countermeasures can be provided for the government to tackle the brucellosis menace. Author summary: Human brucellosis continues to be a great threat to human health in China. It was reported that human brucellosis incidence in China was 4.95/100,000 in 2021, surging from 16th place in 2000 to 5th place in 2021. The present study was designed to investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of human brucellosis in China from 2004 to 2019, to analyze the socioeconomic factors, meteorological factors, and seasonal effect affecting human brucellosis incidence in different geographical regions. The clear seasonal increase of reported human brucellosis cases between March and July, the spatial clustering situation and the spread of epidemic area from northern to the southern coast and southwestern regions were identified. The inventory of cattle and sheep, beef yield, mutton yield, wool yield, milk yield, gross pastoral product, average air temperature (the same month, 2-month lagged and 3-month lagged), average relative humidity (the same month) and season variability played a significant role in the progression of human brucellosis. Spatial panel model was found to have good applicability and interpretability. As each factor plays a different role in different geographical regions, a comprehensive surveillance system for human brucellosis should be established in conjunction with the relevant risk factors to provide early warning of human and animal epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sichuan is a province located in southwestern China, which have a higher incidence of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, as well as drug resistance in culture-confirmed children with Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) in Southwest of China.Methods: We performed a retrospective study on children (< 14 years old) with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture-confirmed TBM between January 2013 and December 2018 at Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu (PHCCC). Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug sensitivity testing (DST) was performed using the MicroDST™ method. The age, gender, family history of tuberculosis, status of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, residential areas information, clinical, laboratory, and radiological features were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics Client 25.0, and the change in drug resistance rate was examined using the Cruskal-Wallis test.Results: Among 319 patients clinically diagnosed with TBM, 42 (13.2%) were Mycobacterial culture positive. Their median age was nine years, and the distribution was equal among female and male patients. Among 42 patients who were enrolled in the study, 1/42 (2.38%) passed away. Children with TBM were concentrated in the minority areas of western Sichuan, where 34/42 (81.0%) patients with TBM belonged to ethnic minorities, and only 2/42 (4.76%) received BCG vaccination in the past. Chest X-rays changes were observed in all patients. Fever and headache were the most common presenting symptom. Thirty-five (83.3%) patients suffered from neck stiffness, and 30/42 (71.4%) had high CSF pressure. DST results showed that the resistance rate was high; resistance to any anti-tuberculosis drug (ATD) was observed in 13 (31.0%) patient isolates, while multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) were found in 2 (4.8%) and 1 (2.4%) patients, respectively.Conclusions: TBM among children in Southwest China was mainly concentrated in the minority areas of western Sichuan and more than 95% of patients did not receive BCG vaccination at birth. The most common symptoms were fever, headache, and neck stiffness and all patients had positive chest X-ray findings. In addition, high rates of drug resistance were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NMHCs concentrations and VOCs components were sampled from 12 typical catering units in Sichuan Province. Combined with literature data, the cooking source profile containing 117 VOCs was established comprehensively, and the NMHCs emission factors were obtained. Based on the bottom-up research method, the volatile organic compounds emission inventory of cooking sources in Sichuan Province was established. The results showed that the oxygen and alkane groups were the most important components for Sichuan cuisine, barbecue, and canteen, and the total proportion of the two groups was greater than 75%. The main VOCs species were ethanol, formaldehyde, ethane, hexanal, ethylene, 1,3-butadiene, and acrolein. Oxygen-containing components contributed the most to OFP, followed by olefin. The major OFP contributors were formaldehyde, ethylene, ethanol, 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, hexanal, etc. In 2019, the VOCs emissions and OFP values of cooking sources in Sichuan Province were 32kt and 141kt, respectively, accounting for approximately 5% of the anthropogenic VOCs emissions and OFP values in Sichuan Province. The VOCs emission from cooking may have an important contribution to ozone formation, which means more attention should be paid to cooking.

The hydrodynamics and environmental factors in the Xiangxi River (XXR) and Shennong River (SNR), which are tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), were monitored from July to August (the low water level period) and in October (the impoundment period) in 2018. The vertical distribution characteristics of chlorophyll a and other indicators of the two tributaries were analyzed during the different operation periods, and the factors that affected the vertical distribution in each period were discussed. The results showed that the vertical distribution of dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH value, and chlorophyll a of the XXR and SNR during the low water level period was relatively consistent. The indexes 0-10 m (0-5 m for chlorophyll a) from the surface of the XXR and SNR, respectively, showed significant stratification and decreased with increasing water depth; the stability index of thermal stratification (RWCS/ H ) was 13.71-29.07 m -1 , which was stable. After the water depth reached 10 m (5 m for chlorophyll a), the indexes tended to be stable along the water depth. During the impoundment period, there was no obvious stratification for each index; the stability index of thermal stratification was 0-0.5 m -1 , the stability of the water body was weak, and the vertical variation of each index was relatively stable. The comprehensive trophic state index (TLI) of the XXR and SNR were 55 and 53 during the low water level period, respectively, indicating that they were in a slightly eutrophic state, and 39 and 46 during the impoundment period, respectively, indicating a mesotrophic state. Linear regression analysis showed that chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, and pH in the two tributaries were significantly correlated in the vertical direction in the low water level period, indicating that dissolved oxygen, water temperature stratification, and pH were important factors affecting the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a. During the impoundment period, a large amount of backflow from the Yangtze River, a large fluctuation in tributary water level, and the decrease in RWCS/ H were the important factors that affected the small vertical change in the water body. The enhancement of vertical mixing and the decrease in Z eu / Z mix were the key factors affecting the nutritional status of the water.

Introduction: To improve compliance with voiding diaries in children with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE), a new modified 3-day weekend frequency-volume chart (FVC) was designed, and the compliance and validity of this modified FVC was evaluated by comparing with the International Children's Continence Society (ICCS) recommended voiding diary., Methods: A total of 1200 patients with PMNE were enrolled in the study from 13 centers in China and were randomly assigned to record this modified FVC or the ICCS-recommended voiding diary. The primary outcome measure was the compliance, assessed by comparing the completing index and the quality score of diaries between two groups. The secondary outcome measure was the validity, evaluated by comparing the constituent of subtypes, micturition parameters and response rate to desmopressin., Results: Among the 1200 participants enrolled in the study, 447 patients completed the ICCS-recommended voiding diary and 469 completed the modified diary. The diurnal completing index and the quality score of the modified FVC group were better than those of the ICCS group. In addition, there was no significant difference between these two groups in the subtype classification, or in the response rate to desmopressin., Conclusions: The modified FVC could be applied to obtain the voiding characteristics of children with PMNE as the ICCS-recommended voiding diary does and offers a reasonable and better choice for children with PMNE from the unselected population in the future., (© 2021. Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.)

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NR704-98 T , was isolated from marine sediment of the northern South China Sea. Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. Growth was observed at 4-30 °C (optimum 20-25 °C), at pH 6-9 (pH 7) and with 0.5-7 % NaCl (2 %). The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain NR704-98 T were Shewanella woodyi MS32 T (97.9 %), Shewanella hanedai 281 T (97.1 %), Shewanella sediminis HAW-EB3 T (96.8 %) and Shewanella canadensis HAW-EB2 T (96.7 %). Based on the results of phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NR704-98 T and the previously mentioned type strains of species of the genus Shewanella were in the range of 74.9-93.1 % and 20.6-51.4 %, respectively. The respiratory quinones were Q-7 and Q-8. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain NR704-98 T were C 16 : 0 , summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1  ω 7 c and/or C 16 : 1  ω 6 c ) and iso-C 15 : 0 . Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids and five unidentified lipids were detected in strain NR704-98 T . Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain NR704-98 T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Shewanella , for which the name Shewanella nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NR704-98 T (=KCTC 82799 T =MCCC 1K06091 T ).

Strains J15B81-2 T and J15B91 T were isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells of both strains were observed to be rod-shaped, non-gliding, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and showing optimum growth at 30 °C. Strains J15B81-2 T and J15B91 T could tolerate up to 9 and 10  % (w/v) NaCl concentration and grow at pH 6.5-9.5 and 6.0-9.0, respectively. The strains shared 97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other but were identified as two distinct species based on 81.1-85.8 % ANIb and 31.5 % dDDH values calculated using whole genome sequences. Strains J15B81-2 T and J15B91 T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Salinimicrobium xinjiangense CGMCC 1.12522 T (98.4 %) and Salinimicrobium sediminis CGMCC 1.12641 T (98.0 %), respectively. Among species with validly published names, S. sediminis CGMCC 1.12641 T shared close genetic relatedness with strains J15B81-2 T [85.1-85.3% average nucleotide identity based on blastBlast+ (ANIb) and 30.6 % digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH)] and J15B91 T (76.6-79.1 % ANIb and 21.5 % dDDH). The major fatty acid of strains J15B81-2 T and J15B91 T were identified as iso-C 15 : 0 and iso-C 16 : 0 , respectively, and the major polar lipids of the two strains consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The strains contained MK-6 as their predominant menaquinone. The genomic G+C contents of strains J15B81-2 T and J15B91 T were determined to be 41.7 and 41.8 mol %, respectively. Both strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinimicrobium and the names Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov. are proposed for strains J15B81-2 T (=KCTC 72867 T =MCCC 1H00410 T ) and J15B91 T (=KCTC 72869 T =MCCC 1H00411 T ), respectively.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, gliding-motile, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated 1494 T , was isolated from marine sediment collected off the coast of Weihai, PR China. Strain 1494 T was found to grow at 4-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl (2 %). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The results of 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain 1494 T belonged to the genus Formosa and exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Formosa spongicola KCTC 22662 T (98.4 %). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C 15 : 1 G and iso-C 15 : 0 . The DNA G+C content of strain 1494 T was 31.1 mol%. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. Based on its phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1494 T is considered to represent a novel species from the genus Formosa , for which the name Formosa maritima sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1494 T (=KCTC 72531 T =MCCC 1H00385 T ).

Background: Human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is increasing worldwide and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is an established microbiologic cause of pulmonary disease, lymphadenitis, and disseminated disease in cases of advanced immune suppression. Data on patients coinfected with HIV and NTM are limited. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, drug resistance, and pathogen spectrum of patients coinfected with both HIV and NTM in the Chengdu area of China., Methods: Data of 59 patients coinfected with both HIV and NTM collected from the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, between January 2014 and December 2018, were analyzed. NTM drug sensitivity testing was performed using the microporous plate ratio method. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19.0, and the change in drug resistance rate was analyzed using the chi-square (χ) test., Results: Seven species/complex of NTM were identified from patients coinfected with HIV and NTM in this study, with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (52.5%) and M. kansasii (27.1%) as the predominant species. Male patients were more affected 50/59 (84.7%); the mean age of the 59 cases was 45 years. The clinical characteristics mainly included anemia (86.4%), cough and expectoration (79.7%). The baseline CD4 count was <50 cells/μL (84.7%). Patients were mainly in advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) stage. Chest imaging mainly showed patchy shadows (42.4%) and nodules (32.2%), with various degrees of AIDS-defining diseases. The drug resistance of NTM was severe, and the rate of isoniazid resistance (100.0%) was the highest, followed by rifampicin (94.9%), streptomycin (94.9%), ofloxacin (93.2%), and others. Ethambutol (52.5%) and clarithromycin (33.9%) were relatively low. No significant difference was found in the drug resistance rate of NTM strain against nine antituberculosis drugs in 5 years (P > 0.05)., Conclusions: The immune level of patients coinfected with HIV and NTM is low in advanced AIDS stage; more male are affected in patients who are mainly infected with MAC and M. kansasii and with serious drug resistance. The drug resistance rate of ethambutol and clarithromycin is relatively low.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of irreversible central blindness among the elderly worldwide. We use exome sequencing to analyse nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) across the whole genome of 216 neovascular AMD cases and 1,553 controls. As a follow-up validation, we evaluate 3,772 neovascular AMD cases and 6,942 controls from five independent cohorts in the East Asian population. Here we show strong evidence of an association at a novel, missense SNV, rs7739323, which is located in the ubiquitin protein ligase E3D (UBE3D) gene (Pmeta=1.46 × 10(-9), odds ratio (OR)=0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-0.88). Furthermore, ablation of the UBE3D protein lead to an abnormal amount of pigment granules deposited in retinal pigment epithelium microvilli area and an abnormal response on electroretinography (ERG) in UBE3D(+/-) heterozygous mice. Our findings indicate that the ubiquitin-proteasome system may play a role in the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD.

Objective: In China, with the development of public health and medical treatment, accident became the first cause of death of children aged form 1 to 14 years, and poisoning became one of the main causes. The present study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of hemoperfusion (HP) on poisoning, and the pharmacokinetics of the poison during and after HP. The study was also to observe the effect of HP on blood cell and blood biochemistry, blood flow and dosage of heparin during HP in children., Methods: Thirty-five children with acute poisoning (including 26 boys and 9 girls aged from 10 months to 13 years, mean 3.35 +/- 2.50 years) were treated with HP for one to three times. Among them 12 children were treated with HP for two times and 4 children for three times. Two ml blood samples of 6 children with Fluoroacetamide (FAM) poisoning and 10 children with Tetramine (TET) poisoning were collected. The concentration of poison was measured by gas chromatography (GC)., Results: The poisoning symptoms of all cases were relieved or alleviated obviously. In the end, 27 (77%) cases recovered and 6 (17%) cases improved, while 2 (6%) cases died of multi-organ failure (MOF). Clinical symptom happened again 6 - 24 hours after HP in 1 case with FAM poisoning and 3 cases with TET whose clinical symptoms were relieved during HP. The PLT, RBC counts and Hb decreased significantly after HP compared with pre-HP (P < 0.05), while WBC, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), reatine kinase (CK), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), Creatine kinase isoenzymes (CK-MB), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and globulim (GLO) after HP did not significantly change (P > 0.05). The FAM concentration was significantly reduced (P < 0.030). The concentration of TET in the poisoned children also significantly decreased with the treatment (P = 0.001). The cleaning efficacy of HP was higher during the first hour than that during the second hour of HP. The concentration of poison rose again 2 - 6 hours after HP in 1 case with FAM poisoning and 3 cases with TET poisoning, but the level was lower compared with pre-HP level. The t(1/2) of FAM and TET with and without HP was (2.40 +/- 0.66) h, (15.60 +/- 8.22) h, (4.10 +/- 1.66) h and (67.01 +/- 48.42) h, respectively. The first dose of heparin was (0.54 +/- 0.15) mg/kg; then (0.20 +/- 0.06) mg/kg was added for every 30 minutes. The velocity of blood flow was (4.39 +/- 0.99) ml/min., Conclusions: The t(1/2) of the poison was shortened, and the poison clearing was accelerated by HP. The HP is a safe and effective therapy in children. The concentration of poison in some patient may rise again 2 to 6 hours after HP temporarily. The charcoal HP cannot remove the poison that conjugated with plasma albumin and globulin. The charcoal HP can cause temporary reduction of platelet and erythrocyte. The dosage of heparin used in children was lower than that in adult.