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An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) was reported in Yongchuan district of Chongqing, China in March 2022, while the source was unknown. We aimed to investigate the origin and transmission route of the virus in the outbreak. We conducted field investigations for all cases and collected their epidemiological and clinical data. We performed gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for the cases, and draw the epidemic curve and the case relationship chart to analyze interactions and possible transmission mode of the outbreak. A total of 11 cases of COVID‐19, including 5 patients and 6 asymptomatic cases were laboratory‐confirmed in the outbreak. The branch of the virus was Omicron BA.2 which was introduced into Yongchuan district by a traveler in early March. Patient F and asymptomatic case G had never contact with other positive‐infected individuals, but close contact with their pet dog that sniffed the discarded cigarette butts and stepped on the sputum of patient B. Laboratory test results showed that the dog hair and kennel were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), and the 10 isolates were highly homologous to an epidemic strain in a province of China. The investigation suggested that the contaminated dog by SARS‐CoV‐2 can act as a passive mechanical carrier of the virus and might transmit the virus to humans through close contact. Our findings suggest that during the COVID‐19 pandemic, increasing hygiene measures and hand washing after close contact with pets is essential to minimize the risk of community spread of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delphinidin is a type of anthocyanin monomer with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects. However, the biological mechanisms underlying its anti-breast cancer activity have not been thoroughly studied. We further studied the effect of delphinidin on breast cancer cells through comprehensive network pharmacology, cellular and molecular experiments. We acquired the know therapeutic targets of delphinidin and obtained differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of breast cancer using RTCGA. We used topological analysis to screen out the 106 core targets of delphinium anti-breast cancer and performed functional analysis. These genes were mainly enriched in the pathways in cancer, Progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation and cell cycle. Then, by taking the intersection of the three analyzed data sets, important core targets (EGFR, TOP2A and PTGS2) were obtained and molecular-docking was performed to validate the result. Additionally, In Vitro experiments, MCF-7 and BT-474 cell proliferation was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by delphinidin and the expressions of EGFR, TOP2A and PTGS were reduced. Moreover, delphinidin influenced cell cycle, the expressions of cdk1 and cyclin B1 were reduced. Furthermore, delphinidin induced apoptosis by activating the MAPK-Signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings suggested that delphinidin may offer effective approaches in breast cancer prevention and therapy. Supplemental data for this article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.2012582 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The zinc finger protein A20 is an important negative regulator of inflammation; polymorphisms in the corresponding gene, TNFAIP3, have been reported to be associated with several inflammation diseases. However, only a few studies have focused on the relationship between TNFAIP3 polymorphisms and acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods: We enrolled 201 healthy controls and 190 acute pancreatitis patients (including 47 systemic inflammatory response syndrome patients) for this study and used DNA sequencing to investigate polymorphisms in the TNFAIP3 promoter. The functional effects of these variants on transcriptional activity, A20 expression, NF-κB activity, and TNF-α and IL-1β levels, after in vitro lipopolysaccharide stimulation, were assessed. Results: Two SNPs (rs59693083 and rs5029924) in the TNFAIP3 promoter were selected based on bioinformatic analysis. Neither of these SNPs was associated with susceptibility to AP; however, acute pancreatitis patients who possessed the T allele of rs5029924 were more likely to experience systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Moreover, rs5029924 was found to affect TNFAIP3 promoter activity. After lipopolysaccharide stimulation, the expression of A20 protein significantly decreased, while the activity of NF-κB and the production of TNF-α and IL-1β significantly increased in whole blood leukocytes from subjects with the T allele. Conclusion: The rs5029924 polymorphism in the TNFAIP3 promoter may alter the risk of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in acute pancreatitis patients by influencing the expression of A20 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The buff-throated partridge, Tetraophasis szechenyii Madarasz, 1885, is a species endemic to west China. The complete mitochondrial genome of this species was sequenced. It was 16,706 base pairs (bp) in length and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and a control region (CR). The phylogenetic relationships of the buff-throated partridge and 19 other Phasianidae species were inferred by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses based on 12 protein-coding genes. With the exception of a few nodes, most internal branches were supported by a high Bayesian posterior probability (BPP = 1.0). The resulting trees clarified the phylogenetic position of T. szechenyii within Phasianidae. The genetic diversity and population structure of the Pamulin population of T. szechenyii were examined based on the mitochondrial DNA CR. Nucleotide sequence analysis defined 18 haplotypes in 24 individuals. Haplotype diversity (h) was 0.953 and nucleotide diversity (π) was 0.0044. The results revealed that the genetic diversity of this population was not particularly low. Combined with the field work conducted by our lab, we found that members of the Pamuling population are cooperative breeders and the population may contain individuals from neighbouring groups. Our work provided genetic background information for the conservation and management of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate lead contamination in commercial foods in Chongqing City, and to assess the health risk of dietary lead exposure of residents in Chongqing City., Methods: Lead concentration data was obtained from the food safety risk monitoring system, which included a total of 2347 lead-containing food samples in 11 categories in Chongqing from 2016 to 2020. Consumption data was derived from the China Health and Nutrition Survey Project in Chongqing in 2018(3 day, 24 h dietary recall survey). The dietary exposure to lead of residents in Chongqing was calculated by the Monte Carlo simulation method and the margin of exposure(MOE) method was used to evaluate the health risk of the population., Results: The average content of lead in 2347 food samples from 11 categories ranged from 0.0328 to 0.0363 mg/kg, with an overall detection rate of 58.5%. For people aged between 3-6, 7-17, 18-59, and ≥ 60 years, the mean dietary lead intakes in Chongqing were 0.935-1.070, 0.600-0.684, 0.367-0.416, 0.369-0.419 μg/(kg·BW·d), respectively; and the high levels of dietary lead exposure(P95) were 1.642-1.852, 1.147-1.299, 0.651-0.729, 0.659-0.740 μg/(kg·BW·d), respectively. MOE values for lead were less than 1 for age groups 3-6 and 7-17 years. Mean MOE values for lead were greater than 1 for ages 18 to 59 and ≥ 60. Cereals and their products, vegetables and their products, and meat and meat products were the main sources of dietary lead exposure, accounting for more than 85% of the total dietary lead exposure., Conclusion: There are potential health risks of lead for residents in Chongqing.

Objective: To investigate the effect of dose-painted intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DP-IMRT) combined with chemotherapy on stage IIIB cervical cancer., Methods: A total of 107 stage IIIB cervical cancer patients were treated with DP-IMRT combined with chemotherapy. The planning target volume (PTV) was divided into regions with different prescribed absorbed doses (so-called PTV-subvolume [PTVsv]): PTVsv 1 (the part of the PTV that overlaps with the organ at risk (OAR)) received 39.6-45 Gy, 1.8 Gy/fraction (fx); and PTVsv 2 (the part of the PTV that does not overlap with the OAR) received 44-50 Gy, 2.0 Gy/fx. The lymph nodes were simultaneously boosted; lymph nodes with a short axis dimension <1 cm received 50-55 Gy, 2.0-2.4 Gy/fx, while nodes with a short axis dimension >1 cm received 55-66 Gy, 2.2-2.6 Gy/fx. External radiotherapy was followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. Patients were followed up regularly to collect the survival information., Results: Five years after therapy, the overall survival rate and progression-free survival rate were 61.0% and 55.0%, respectively. The cumulative rates for total grade 3 or higher chronic gastrointestinal or genitourinary toxicity were 4.67% and 1.9% respectively., Conclusion: Without compromising the primary PTV, DP-IMRT achieved good outcomes for stage IIIB cervical cancer patients with a favorable gastrointestinal toxicity profile., Competing Interests: None., (AJTR Copyright © 2021.)

Objective: To analyze the status of consumption of cereal and tuber and its impact on macronutrients in among Chongqing City adults., Methods: Data were collected from 2010-2012 China National Nutrition and Health Survey Surveillance. Multi-stage cluster random sampling was used to collect data among 1435 adults residents in 4 surveillance sites of China National Nutrition and Health Survey in Chongqing City. The number of male was 639, female was 796. The dietary investigation survey method of24-hour recall for three consecutive days were used to collect information on cereal and tuber intakes. Standardization was performed based on the Chinese population data published by National Statistics Bureau in 2009. The cereal and tuber intakes were calculated after weight adjustment with complex sampling., Results: The average consumption of cereal and tuber was 323. 6 g( d. person) for Chongqing City adults in2010-2012. The proportion of energy from the cereal and tuber were 46. 5% and 2. 9%. The proportion of protein from the cereal was 40. 1%. The residents in urban had a lower intake( 280. 8 g) and proportion of energy of cereal and tuber( 37. 6%) than that of rural( 370. 2 g, 62. 1%), so doalso in the proportion of protein from the cereal( urban 28. 9%, rural 53. 9%)., Conclusion: The intake of cereal and tuber level of the adult residents of in Chongqing City is lower than the national. The residents in urban had a lower intake than that in rural.