Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES最新文献

Objective: We aimed to analyze the current indoor radon level and estimate the population risk of radon-induced lung cancer in urban areas of China.

Methods: Using the passive monitoring method, a new survey on indoor radon concentrations was conducted in 2,875 dwellings across 31 provincial capital cities in Chinese mainland from 2018 to 2023. The attributable risk of lung cancer induced by indoor radon exposure was estimated based on the risk assessment model.

Results: The arithmetic mean (AM) and geometric mean (GM) of indoor radon concentrations were 65 Bq/m³ and 55 Bq/m³, respectively, with 13.6% of measured dwellings exceeding 100 Bq/m³ and 0.6% exceeding 300 Bq/m³. The estimated number of lung cancer deaths induced by indoor radon exposure was 150,795, accounting for 20.30% (95% CI: 20.21%-20.49%) of the lung cancer death toll.

Conclusion: This study provided the most recent data on national indoor radon levels in urban areas and the attributable risk of lung cancer. These results served as an important foundation for further research on the disease burden of indoor radon exposure and radon mitigation efforts.

Objective: We aimed to understand the willingness and barriers to the acceptance of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) among people with latent TB infection (LTBI) in China.

Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted from May 18, 2023 to December 31, 2023 across 10 counties in China. According to a national technical guide, we included healthcare workers, students, teachers, and others occupations aged 15-65 years as our research participants.

Results: Overall, 17.0% (183/1,077) of participants accepted TPT. There were statistically significant differences in the acceptance rate of TPT among different sexes, ages, educational levels, and occupations ( P < 0.05). The main barriers to TPT acceptance were misconceptions that it had uncertain effects on prevention (57.8%, 517/894), and concerns about side effects (32.7%, 292/894).

Conclusion: An enhanced and comprehensive understanding of LTBI and TPT among people with LTBI is vital to further expand TPT in China. Moreover, targeted policies need to be developed to address barriers faced by different groups of people.

Neurosyphilis (NS) is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum invading the central nervous system. It can manifest at any stage of syphilis, and is often misdiagnosed due to its atypical and progressive symptoms. The increasing incidence of NS underscores the necessity for early and accurate diagnosis. Here, we present a case where routine cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was used to diagnose a patient with neurosyphilis. The patient exhibited cognitive impairment and was initially diagnosed with cerebral infarction due to syphilitic cerebral arteritis. Thus, the patient was treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) and statins to stabilize the plaques. Neurosyphilis was treated with penicillin sodium injections, resulting in significant improvement in the patient's mental state. This case is a rare instance of neurosyphilis associated with cerebral infarction. These findings suggest that mNGS is a valuable tool in diagnosing neurosyphilis, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between Chemokine IP10 and its receptor CXCR3 during prion infection.

Methods: We investigated the increases in IP10 signals, primarily localized in neurons within the brains of scrapie-infected mice, using western blotting, ELISA, co-immunoprecipitation, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence assays, and RT-PCR.

Results: Both CXCR3 levels and activation were significantly higher in the brains of scrapie-infected mice and prion-infected SMB-S15 cells. Enhanced CXCR3 expression was predominantly observed in neurons and activated microglia. Morphological colocalization of PrP ^C/PrP ^Sc with IP10/CXCR3 was observed in scrapie-infected mouse brains using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of whole brain sections further revealed increased accumulation of IP10/CXCR3 specifically in brain regions with higher levels of PrP ^Sc deposits. Co-immunoprecipitation and biomolecular interaction assays revealed the molecular interactions between PrP and IP10/CXCR3. Notably, a significantly larger amount of IP10 accumulated within prion-infected SMB-S15 cells than in the normal partner cell line, SMB-PS. Importantly, resveratrol treatment effectively suppressed prion replication in SMB-S15 cells, thereby restoring the accumulation and secretion pattern of cellular IP10 similar to that observed in SMB-PS cells.

Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that the activation of IP10/CXCR3 signaling in prion-infected brain tissues coincides with PrP ^Sc deposition. Modulation of IP10/CXCR3 signaling in the brain represents a potential therapeutic target for mitigating the progression of prion diseases.

Objective: To comprehensively examine the molecular epidemiological characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in Beijing.

Methods: A total of 7,151 children and adults with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) were recruited from 35 sentinel hospitals in Beijing between 2018 and 2022. Their respiratory samples were obtained, and epidemiological and clinical data were collected. Nucleic acid testing for 11 respiratory pathogens, including HRV, was performed on the specimens. We sequenced VP4/VP2 or 5'UTR of HRV isolates to identify their genotypes using phylogenetic analyses.

Results: HRV was detected in 462 (6.5%) cases. A total of 105 HRV genotypes were successfully identified in 359 (77.7%) specimens, comprising 247 (68.8%) with HRV-A, 42 (11.7%) with HRV-B, and 70 (19.5%) with HRV-C. No predominant genotype was observed. HRV was prevalent year-round with two weak peaks in spring and autumn. HRV detection declined gradually between 2018 and 2022, with seven genotypes disappearing and five genotypes emerging. HRV detection rate decreased by age without resurge among old people. HRV-C was more common among children aged less than 5 years with severe community-acquired pneumonia compared to HRV-A and HRV-B. Adults infected with HRV-B had higher rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and complications than those infected with HRV-A and HRV-C.

Conclusion: HRV epidemics in Beijing were highly dispersed in genotypes, which probably resulted in a high prevalence of HRV infection, attenuated its seasonality, and made it more difficult to establish effective population immunity.

Objective: In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome sequences of Kupffer cells exposed to simulated microgravity for 3 d and conducted biological experiments to determine how microgravity initiates apoptosis in Kupffer cells.

Methods: Rotary cell culture system was used to construct a simulated microgravity model. GO and KEGG analyses were conducted using the DAVID database. GSEA was performed using the R language. The STRING database was used to conduct PPI analysis. qPCR was used to measure the IL1B, TNFA, CASP3, CASP9, and BCL2L11 mRNA expressions . Western Blotting was performed to detect the level of proteins CASP3 and CASP 9. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane cells. Transmission electron microscopy was used to detect changes in the ultrastructure of Kupffer cells.

Results: Transcriptome Sequencing indicated that simulated microgravity affected apoptosis and the inflammatory state of Kupffer cells. Simulated microgravity improved the CASP3, CASP9, and BCL2L11 expressions in Kupffer cells. Annexin-V/ PI and JC-1 assays showed that simulated microgravity promoted apoptosis in Kupffer cells. Simulated microgravity causes M1 polarization in Kupffer cells.

Conclusion: Our study found that simulated microgravity facilitated the apoptosis of Kupffer cells through the mitochondrial pathway and activated Kupffer cells into M1 polarization, which can secrete TNFA to promote apoptosis.