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This study seeks to understand the reality and psychological difficulties faced by university graduates in Wuhan after the COVID-19 epidemic was controlled. Methods: A total of 6,417 graduate students were surveyed through an online questionnaire from late May to early June 2020. The questionnaire asked questions on depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal behavior. In addition, self-administered epidemic-related questionnaires consisting of eight items were collected from university graduates. Results: Participants' positive detection rates for depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal behavior are 13.4%, 8.3%, 4.4%, and 12.1%, respectively. The three biggest challenges faced by graduates are future development, economic difficulties, and employment problems. Conclusion: The detectable rate of depression, anxiety, and insomnia is low, and the detectable rate of suicide symptoms should be given more attention. The biggest problem of this group is their future development, and what they want to solve the most is the economic difficulty.

Introduction: This cross-sectional study evaluated the involvement of patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) in treatment decision-making, assessed the treatment efficacy according to their self-reports, and investigated the influencing factors. Methods: Patients with advanced CRC were recruited from 19 hospitals from March 2020 to March 2021 by a multi-stage multi-level sampling method. A selfdesigned questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical characteristics, involvement of CRC patients in treatment decision-making, treatment methods, and self-reported efficacy. Univariate and unordered multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the factors affecting the involvement in treatment decision-making and self-reported efficacy. Results: We enrolled 4533 patients with advanced CRC. The average age at diagnosis was 58.7 ± 11.8 years. For the treatment method, 32.4% of patients received surgery combined with chemotherapy, 13.1% of patients underwent surgery combined with chemotherapy and targeted therapy, and 9.7% of patients were treated with surgery alone. For treatment decision-making, 7.0% of patients were solely responsible for decision-making, 47.0% of patients shared treatment decision-making with family members, 19.0% of patients had family members solely responsible for treatment decision-making, and 27.0% of patients had their physicians solely responsible for treatment decision-making. Gender, age, education level, family income, marital status, treatment cost, hospital type, and treatment method were significantly associated with the involvement of patients in treatment decision-making. A total of 3824 patients submitted selfreported efficacy evaluations during treatment. The percentage of patients with good self-reported efficacy was 76.5% (for patients treated for the first time), 61.7% (for patients treated for the second time), and 43.2% (for patients treated after recurrence and metastasis), respectively. Occupation, education level, average annual family income, place of residence, time since cancer diagnosis, hospital type, clinical stage, targeted therapy, and involvement in treatment decision-making were the main influencing factors of self-reported efficacy of treatment. Discussion: Conclusively, CRC patients are not highly dominant in treatment decision-making and more likely to make treatment decisions with their family and doctors. Timely and effective communication between doctors and patients can bolster patient involvement in treatment decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Phytoseiid mites are widely distributed on plants and in soil; they can prey on many phytophagous mites and pests and play an important role in biological control programs. The genus Neoseiulus Hughes is one of the largest genera within the Phytoseiidae family, comprising 14.6% of the family's species worldwide. At present, there are few reports investigating Neoseiulus from Shanxi Province; however, the study on the species diversity of Neoseiulus is helpful to enrich the resource species bank of Phytoseiidae and provide more detailed basis for species identification. We report the discovery of five additional species in Shanxi, and redescribed four of them. Neoseiulus paraki (Ehara) is recorded for the first time in China, and N. neoreticuloides (Liang and Hu) is considered a new junior synonym of N. bicaudus (Wainstein). We provide a key to assist in the identification of the known species of Neoseiulus in Shanxi. The genus Neoseiulus in Shanxi Province is reviewed and seven species are recorded from the province. Four of these are redescribed and detailed taxonomic information are provided. Neoseiulus paraki (Ehara) is recorded for the first time in China and Neoseiulus neoreticuloides (Liang and Hu) is considered a new junior synonym of Neoseiulus bicaudus (Wainstein). Additionally, a diagnostic key to the known species of Neoseiulus in Shanxi is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Microorganisms play a critical role in soil biogeochemical cycles, but it is still debated whether they influence soil biogeochemical processes through community composition and diversity or not. This study aims to investigate variation in bacterial community structure across different soils and its correlation to soil multifunctionality. Soil samples were collected from five typical farmland zones along distinct climatic gradients in China. Methods: The high-throughput sequencing (Illumina MiSeq) of 16S rRNA genes was employed to analyze bacterial community composition in each soil sample. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the difference in soil properties, microbial community and functioning, and their interactions. Results: Cluster and discrimination analysis indicated that bacterial community composition was similar in five tested soil samples, but bacterial richness combined with soil enzyme activities and potential nitrification rate (PNR) contributed most to the differentiations of soil samples. Mantel test analysis revealed that bacterial community composition and richness were more significantly shaped by soil nutrient conditions and edaphic variables than bacterial diversity. As for soil multifunctionality, soil microbial community level physiological profiles were little affected by abiotic and biotic factors, while soil enzymes and PNR were also significantly related to bacterial community composition and richness, in addition to soil N and P availability. Conclusion: Cumulatively, soil enzymes’ activities and PNR were greatly dependent on bacterial community composition and richness not diversity, which in turn were greatly modified by soil N and P availability. Therefore, in the future it should be considered for the role of fertilization in the modification of bacterial community and the consequent control of nutrient cycling in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the only overwintering oil crop in the north area of China, living through winter is the primary feature of winter rapeseed. Roots are the only survival organ during prolonged cold exposure during winter to guarantee flowering in spring. However, little is known about its root development and overwintering memory mechanism. In this study, root collar tissues (including the shoot apical meristem) of three winter rapeseed varieties with different cold resistance, i.e., Longyou-7 (strong cold tolerance), Tianyou-4 (middle cold tolerance), and Lenox (cold-sensitive), were sampled in the pre-winter period (S1), overwintering periods (S2-S5), and re-greening stage (S6), and were used to identify the root development and overwintering memory mechanisms and seek candidate overwintering memory genes by measuring root collar diameter and RNA sequencing. The results showed that the S1-S2 stages were the significant developmental stages of the roots as root collar diameter increased slowly in the S3-S5 stages, and the roots developed fast in the strong cold resistance variety than in the weak cold resistance variety. Subsequently, the RNA-seq analysis revealed that a total of 37,905, 45,102, and 39,276 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), compared to the S1 stage, were identified in Longyou-7, Tianyou-4, and Lenox, respectively. The function enrichment analysis showed that most of the DEGs are significantly involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling pathway, starch and sucrose metabolism, photosynthesis, amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, and spliceosome, ribosome, proteasome, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathways. Furthermore, the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were related to the difference in root development of the three varieties, DEGs involved in photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism processes may participate in overwintering memory of Longyou-7 and Tianyou-4, and the spliceosome pathwaymay contribute to the super winter resistance of Longyou-7. The transcription factor enrichment analysis showed that the WRKY family made up the majority in different stages and may play an important regulatory role in root development and overwintering memory. These results provide a comprehensive insight into winter rapeseed's complex overwinteringmemorymechanisms. The identified candidate overwintering memory genes may also serve as important genetic resources for breeding to further improve the cold resistance of winter rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paddy soils in some areas of southern China are contaminated by arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd), threatening human health via the consumption of As- and/or Cd-tainted rice. To date, a quantitative understanding of how soil characteristics control As and Cd accumulation in rice grains under field conditions is still deficient. Based on 31 paired soil-grain samples collected in southern China, we statistically explored which soil parameter or parameter combination from various soil analyses best estimates As and Cd in rice. We found that CaCl2 extraction of field-moist soil collected at rice harvest provided the best estimation (R2adj = 0.47–0.60) for grain Cd followed by dry soil CaCl2 extraction (R2adj = 0.38–0.49), where CaCl2 extractable Cd from moist or dry soil was the dominant soil parameter. Compared to soil totals, parameters from neither dry soil ascorbate-citrate extraction nor anoxic soil incubation improved model performance for grain As (R2adj ≤ 0.44), despite their closer relevance to soil redox conditions during plant As uptake. A key role of soil-available sulfur in controlling grain As was suggested by our models. Our approach and results may help develop potential soil amendment strategies for decreasing As and/or Cd accumulation from soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pinus tabuliformis adapts to cold climate with dry winter in northern China, serving as important commercial tree species. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR family(TCP)transcription factors were found to play a role in the circadian clock system in Arabidopsis. However, the role of TCP transcription factors in P. tabuliformis remains little understood. Results: In the present study, 43 TCP genes were identified from P. tabuliformis genome database. Based on the phylogeny tree and sequence similarity, the 43 TCP genes were classified into four groups. The motif results showed that different subfamilies indeed contained different motifs. Clade II genes contain motif 1, clade I genes contain motif 1, 8, 10 and clade III and IV contain more motifs, which is consistent with our grouping results. The structural analysis of PtTCP genes showed that most PtTCPs lacked introns. The distribution of clade I and clade II on the chromosome is relatively scattered, while clade III and clade IV is relatively concentrated. Co-expression network indicated that PtTCP2, PtTCP12, PtTCP36, PtTCP37, PtTCP38, PtTCP41 and PtTCP43 were co-expressed with clock genes in annual cycle and their annual cycle expression profiles both showed obvious seasonal oscillations. PtTCP2, PtTCP12, PtTCP37, PtTCP38, PtTCP40, PtTCP41, PtTCP42 and PtTCP43 were co-expressed with clock genes in diurnal cycle. Only the expression of PtTCP42 showed diurnal oscillation. Conclusions: The TCP gene family, especially clade II, may play an important role in the regulation of the season and circadian rhythm of P. tabuliformis. In addition, the low temperature in winter may affect the diurnal oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Germline RET mutations and variants are involved in development of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). The present study investigated a spectrum of RET variants, analyzed genotype-phenotype relationships, and evaluated their effect on the MEN2 phenotype in Han Chinese patients.Methods: Targeted sequencing detected germline RET variants in 697 individuals, including 245 MEN2, 120 sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), and 15 pheochromocytoma (PHEO) patients and their 493 relatives. In silico analyses and classifications following ACMG-2015 were performed. Demographic, clinical variant types, and endocrine neoplasia molecular diagnosis records were also analyzed.Results: Nineteen different RET mutations (18 point and 1 del/ins mutations) in 214 patients with MEN2A (97.7%) or MEN2B (2.3%) were found, of which exon 11/10 mutations accounted for 79% (169/214). Nineteen compound mutations were found in 31 patients with MEN2A. Twenty-three variants (18 single and 5 double base substitution/compound variants) non-classification were also found. Of these, 17 (3 of pathogenic, 10 of uncertain significance, 2 of likely benign and 2 as benign) were found in 31 patients with MTC/PHEO. The remaining 6 variants (4 of uncertain significance and 2 of likely benign) found in 8 carriers had no evidence of MEN2. The entire cohort showed MEN2A-related PHEO, all occurring in exons 11/10, particularly at C634. Kaplan-Meier curves showed age-dependent penetration rates of MTC and PHEO, and occurrence rates of PHEO in patients with exon 11 mutations were all higher than those within exon 10; these bilateral PHEO were always associated with exon 11 mutations (all P < 0.05). While patient offspring had PHEO, parents with MEN2A had none, the frequency was approximately 10%. Interestingly, at least 6.8% of families were adoptive. Also, 3 non-hotspot RET variants (R114H, T278N, and D489N) appeared with high frequency. Conversely, polymorphism S836S was absent.Conclusions: These data are largely consistent with current evidence-based recommendations in the clinical practice guidelines. Diversity of RET variants or carriers may involve a different natural disease course. Further large-scale targeted sequencing studies will serve as an accurate and cost-effective approach to investigating MEN2 genotype-phenotype correlations for discovery of rare or unknown variants of RET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the correlation between stigma and ostomy adjustment in patients with a permanent colostomy. Methods: A total of 118 patients (male 81/female 37 with an average age 57.4±15.0) from six grade 3 hospitals of the Midlands of China with a permanent colostomy were recruited. Participants responded to a questionnaire to obtain sociodemographic data, Social Impact Scale (SIS) scores to ascertain stigma level and Ostomy Adjustment Inventory (OAI-20) scores to identify the level of psychosocial adjustment. Results: The patients' average SIS score was (60.7±10.4). The QAI-20 total score was (41.3±10.8). The SIS total score and SIS subscores were negatively related to the total score and subscore of QAI-20 (r=-0.222~-0.537, all P<0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed the level of self-stoma care performed, the degree of communication with medical staff, financial insecurity and social rejection when added into the regression equation had a significant negative impact on OAI-20. Conclusion: In comparison to the average SIS score, the SIS score in this study sample is higher than midpoint, indicating stigma is closely related to ostomy adjustment. It is suggested that health professionals need to pay more attention to patients' expressed feelings of stigma to improve their ability to adjust to living with a colostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare autosomal dominant disease that is caused by partial ferrochelatase (FECH) deficiency because of a genetic mutation in the FECH gene. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic mechanism of EPP in a Chinese family. Methods: Clinical physical examination, laboratory testing, and medical history tracking were performed for phenotyping. The FECH gene was sequenced for genotyping. Results: The proband presented EPP with severe liver dysfunction. A novel nonsense mutation of c.910 C>T in the FECH gene, resulting in p.Arg304Ter, was identified in the proband as well as her symptomatic mother, aunt, and asymptomatic male cousin. The proband and her living family members, except the asymptomatic male cousin, carried the alleles IVS 3-48C and IVS 1-23T on the FECH gene. The mutation of c.910 C>T in the FECH gene presented its heterozygous autosomal dominant inherent clinicalmanifestations, only in the presence of the heterozygous alleles IVS 3-48C and IVS 1-23T. The frequencies of the alleles IVS 3-48C and IVS 1-23T were 30.8% and 27.9% in a northeast Chinese Han population, respectively. Conclusions: A new nonsense mutation of c.910 C>T was identified in the FECH gene, which expressed EPP with severe liver dysfunction when it was co-inherited with the heterozygous alleles IVS 3-48C and IVS 1-23T, in a Chinese family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: X-ray cross-complementing groups 1 (XRCC1) rs1799782 C>T polymorphisms and colorectal cancer susceptibility were not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between XRCC1 rs1799782 C>T polymorphisms and colorectal cancer susceptibility by meta-analysis.Materials and Methods: Related databases of Medline, CNKI, and Wanfang were systematic searched for the studies related to XRCC1 rs1799782 C>T polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in Chinese Han population. The genotype distribution of CC, CT and TT were extracted from each included studies in the colorectal cancer patients and healthy control subjects. The odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was used to assess the correlation between genetype and colorectal cancer risk. The publications for this study was evaluated by Begg's funnel plot and Egger's line regression test.Results: The median frequency of CC, CT, and TT genotype in cancer group were 48%, 41% and 11%; For control group, they were 51%, 40% and 8%; the pooled results showed that OR = 1.32 (95% CI: 1.041-1.67, P < 0.05). The pooled results indicated that XRCC1 rs1799782 C>T polymorphisms was associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility in recessive genetic model OR = 1.32 (95% CI: 1.041-1.67, P < 0.05), dominant genetic model OR = 1.21 (95% CI: 1.00-1.46, P < 0.05) and homozygous genetic model OR = 1.43 (95% CI: 1.07-1.91, P < 0.05). The funnel plot was significant asymmetric at the bottom and the Egger's test also indicated significant publication bias (t = 2.43, P = 0.04) for recessive genetic model. But, no publication bias was found in dominant and homozygous model (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Chinese Han people with rs1799782 TT/CT genotype of XRCC1 gene may have increased risk of developing colorectal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine protected area (MPAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) have been crucial in protecting endangered species and habitats for sustainable ecosystem and marine biodiversity. China has nearly six decades of experience in the practice of MPAs. However, the management effectiveness of China's MPAs has been impeded by issues accumulated over the years. In 2018, the Chinese government embarked on a major institutional reform (2018 Reform) to upgrade its MPAs into natural protected area (NPA) system. This strategic decision and subsequent actions in transforming the existing protected areas (marine and terrestrial) to NPAs have brought substantial changes with significant implications towards an ecosystem-based management approach of China's national system for marine conservation. Based on the investigation of 27 representative MPAs and OECMs across the country, this study used 12 performance indicators to evaluate the management effectiveness of China's MPA system, and identified key issues affecting the effective operation of the system. The results indicated that the major issues hampering management effectiveness include multiple management agencies, lack of systematic planning for classification and zoning, lack of unified and specific legal system, and insufficient financial supports. On this basis, we examined new policy directives and work in progress relating to the reform, highlighted major changes to illustrate the extent to which the key issues being addressed, and pointed out the implications of the 2018 reform towards an ecosystem-based management approach and China's national effort towards global goals of conserving marine biodiversity. • China's MPAs generated conservation benefits but hampered by ineffective management. • Fragmented management and weak enforcement can impede management effectiveness. • 2018 State Council Institutional Reform unifies and streamlines management agencies. • 2018 Reform consolidates MPAs, simplifies zoning, and unifies new legal system. • Operation supports for fund and research are needed to meet conservation objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Representing the staple crop for half of the world population, rice can accumulate high levels of cadmium (Cd) in its grain, posing concerns on food safety. Different soil amendments have been proposed to decrease Cd accumulation in rice grain by either decreasing soil Cd availability, introducing competitive ions on Cd uptake, or down-regulating the expression of transporters for Cd uptake. However, the effectiveness of soil amendments applied alone or in combinations needs to be tested under field conditions. Here, we present results of field trials with two rice cultivars differing in Cd accumulation grown at three field sites in southern China in two years, to investigate the effects of two Mn-containing soil amendments (MnO 2 , Mn-loaded biochar (MB)), Si fertilizer (Si), limestone, and K 2 SO 4 , as well as interactions among MnO 2 , Si, and limestone on decreasing Cd accumulation in rice grain. We found that single applications of MnO 2 or MB to acidic soils low in Mn decreased grain Cd concentrations by 44–53 % or 78–82 %, respectively, over two years without decrease in performance. These effects were comparable to or greater than those induced by limestone liming alone (45–62 %). Strong interactions between MnO 2 and limestone resulting from their influence on soil extractable Cd and Mn led to non-additive effects on lowering grain Cd. MB addition minimized grain Cd concentrations, primarily by increasing extractable and dissolved Mn concentrations, but also by decreasing Cd extractability in soil. In comparison, Si and K 2 SO 4 amendments affected grain Cd levels only weakly. We conclude that the amendments that decrease labile Cd and increase labile Mn in soils are most effective at reducing Cd accumulation in rice grain, thus contributing to food safety. [Display omitted] • Soil Mn amendment can effectively decrease Cd accumulation in rice grain on acidic soils low in Mn. • Non-additive interactions between soil liming and MnO 2 amendment on grain Cd were discovered using a factorial treatment design. • Mn-loaded biochar was most effective in decreasing grain Cd by simultaneously increasing extractable Mn and decreasing extractable Cd of field-moist soils at rice grain-filling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, the novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus was reported in China. Through enhanced surveillance, infection by the H7N9 virus in humans was first identified in Zhejiang Province. Real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm the infection. Embryonated chicken eggs were used for virus isolation from pharyngeal swabs taken from infected human patients. The H7N9 isolates were first identified by the hemagglutination test and electron microscopy, then used for whole genome sequencing. Bioinformatics software was used to construct the phylogenetic tree and for computing the mean rate of evolution of the HA gene in H7Nx and NA in HxN9. Two novel H7N9 avian influenza A viruses (A/Zhejiang/1/2013 and A/Zhejiang/2/2013) were isolated from the positive infection cases. Substitutions were found in both Zhejiang isolates and were identified as human-type viruses. All phylogenetic results indicated that the novel reassortant in H7N9 originated in viruses that infected birds. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the whole genome revealed the mean rate of evolution of the HA gene in H7NX to be 5.74E-3 (95% Highest posterior density: 3.8218E-3 to 7.7873E-3) while the NA gene showed 2.243E-3 (4.378E-4 to 3.79E-3) substitutions per nucleotide site per year. The novel reassortant H7N9 virus was confirmed by molecular methods to have originated in poultry, with the mutations occurring during the spread of the H7N9 virus infection. Live poultry markets played an important role in whole H7N9 circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's rapid urbanization has resulted in a dramatic loss in cultivated land that threatens future food security. Local and central government have successively launched a series of Low-slope Hilly Regions Comprehensive Development and Utilization (LHRCDU) pilot projects (i.e., the rudiment of China's hillside urbanization) since 2006 to balance the contradiction between urban growth and flat farmland protection. However, the process, quantity and effect of hillside urbanization over China remain unknown. In this study, we conducted an investigation of hillside urbanization (mainly refers to the urban land expansion on hillsides) over China from 2007 to 2017 by combining earth observation satellite data with spatial analysis techniques. Our results revealed that 12.32% of China's urban expansion area came from hillside urbanization, in which Guizhou, Yunnan, Shanxi and Fujian had large areas of hillside urbanization area (accounting for 25.63% of the total hillside urbanization area in China), while Guizhou, Tibet, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hong Kong and Shanxi had higher hillside urbanization rates (>30%). China's hillside urbanization rate also showed a steady upward trend, and 20% of hillside urbanization was high environmental cost (HEC), occupying 1535.94 km2 of hillside forest. Our findings provide timely and transparent monitoring on China's hillside urbanization, and indicate that hillside urbanization can relieve the pressure of urban development on flat farmland but needs to be regulated for ecological safety. • 12.32% of China's urban growth area came from hillside urbanization. • The hillside urbanization rate showed a steady upward trend in China. • 20% of hillside urbanization was the HEC type in China. • Hillside urbanization showed obvious spatial heterogeneity in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently detected a HKU4-related coronavirus in subgenus Merbecovirus (named pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T) from a Malayan pangolin 1 . Here we report isolation and characterization of pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T, the genome sequence of which is closest to that of a coronavirus from the greater bamboo bat (Tylonycteris robustula) in Yunnan Province, China, with a 94.3% nucleotide identity. Pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251T is able to infect human cell lines, and replicates more efficiently in cells that express human-dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (hDPP4)-expressing and pangolin-DPP4-expressing cells than in bat-DPP4-expressing cells. After intranasal inoculation with pangolin-CoV-HKU4-P251, hDPP4-transgenic female mice are likely infected, showing persistent viral RNA copy numbers in the lungs. Progressive interstitial pneumonia developed in the infected mice, characterized by the accumulation of macrophages, and increase of antiviral cytokines, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in lung tissues. These findings suggest that the pangolin-borne HKU4-related coronavirus has a potential for emerging as a human pathogen by using hDPP4., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to investigate the value of the product of peripheral blood platelet and serum C-reactive protein (P-CRP), an inflammatory indicator, for the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. Patients with osteosarcoma who were diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, China, between January 2012 and December 2019 were included in this retrospective study. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to calculate the optimal cut-off values for inflammatory indicators such as P-CRP, the C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CRP/Alb), the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and the platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the peripheral blood of patients before treatment. Based on the cut-off values, the patients were divided into high P-CRP and low P-CRP groups, high CRP/Alb and low CRP/Alb groups, high NLR and low NLR groups, and high NLR and low NLR groups; the Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the overall survival (OS) rates and OS times of the above groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze the effects of various factors on the prognosis of osteosarcoma and to determine the independent influencing factors. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis results suggested that the OS rate of the high P-CRP group was significantly lower than that of the low P-CRP group (14.0% vs 67.2%, P < .001). The univariate analysis results suggested that tumor volume, tumor stage, NLR, PLR, P-CRP and CRP/Alb were factors that affected the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma, and the differences were statistically significant (P < .05). The multivariate analysis results showed that tumor volume (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.061; 95% CI, 1.001-1.125; P = .046) and preoperative P-CRP (HR, 1.037; 95% CI, 1.024-1.050; P < .01) were independent prognostic factors affecting the OS rate after osteosarcoma surgery. The results of our study showed that P-CRP is a novel and promising prognostic indicator for patients with osteosarcoma. The higher the P-CRP level in the peripheral blood of patients is before treatment, the worse the prognosis might be., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objectives: To develop and validate a radiomics model for predicting 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pneumonia., Methods: For this retrospective study, a radiomics model was developed on the basis of a training set consisting of 136 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and 103 patients with other types of viral pneumonia. Radiomics features were extracted from the lung parenchyma window. A radiomics signature was built on the basis of reproducible features, using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO). Multivariable logistic regression model was adopted to establish a radiomics nomogram. Nomogram performance was determined by its discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness. The model was validated in 90 consecutive patients, of which 56 patients had COVID-19 pneumonia and 34 patients had other types of viral pneumonia., Results: The radiomics signature, consisting of 3 selected features, was significantly associated with COVID-19 pneumonia (p < 0.05) in both training and validation sets. The multivariable logistic regression model included the radiomics signature and distribution; maximum lesion, hilar, and mediastinal lymph node enlargement; and pleural effusion. The individualized prediction nomogram showed good discrimination in the training sample (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.959; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.933-0.985) and in the validation sample (AUC, 0.955; 95% CI, 0.899-0.995) and good calibration. The mixed model achieved better predictive efficacy than the clinical model. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the radiomics nomogram was clinically useful., Conclusions: The radiomics model derived has good performance for predicting COVID-19 pneumonia and may help in clinical decision-making., Key Points: • A radiomics model showed good performance for prediction 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia and favorable discrimination for other types of pneumonia on CT images. • A central or peripheral distribution, a maximum lesion range > 10 cm, the involvement of all five lobes, hilar and mediastinal lymph node enlargement, and no pleural effusion is associated with an increased risk of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia. • A radiomics model was superior to a clinical model in predicting 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia.

Objective: To explore the spatial-temporal clustering distribution of schistosomiasis transmission risk in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2015, so as to provide scientific evidence for the future schistosomiasis control and consolidation of the control achievements., Methods: All data pertaining to endemic situation of human and bovine schistosomiasis and snail survey at a township level in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2015 were collected. A descriptive epidemiological method and Joinpoint model were used to describe the changing trends of Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans, bovine and snails, and the hotspots and clusters of schistosomiasis transmission risk were identified using spatial autocorrelation analysis, hotspots analysis and retrospective space-time scan statistic in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2015., Results: The prevalence of S. japonicum infections appeared a continuous decline in humans, bovine and snails in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2015, and the estimated number of schistosomiasis cases reduced from 43 056 in 2004 to 756 in 2015, with a decline rate of 98.24%. There were no acute cases since 2008 and no infected snails since 2014 in Yunnan Province. There were significant differences in the changing trends of human and bovine S. japonicum infections in Yunnan Province between 2012 and 2015 and between 2013 and 2015, respectively using the Joinpoint model ( P < 0.05). In addition, there was a spatial autocorrelation in human S. japonicum infections in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2013 ( P < 0.01), and the hotspots areas for human S. japonicum infections were mainly distributed in some townships from Dali City, Weishan County and Eryuan County. Retrospective spatial-temporal scanning revealed that S. japonicum human, bovine and snail infections were clustered in 23, 15, 4 townships from Dali City, Weishan County, Eryuan County, Nanjian County and Heqing County, respectively, with relative risks of 6.25 to 28.75 ( P < 0.01), which was almost consistent with the cluster areas detected by hotspots analysis., Conclusions: The endemic situation of schistosomiasis significantly reduced in Yunnan Province from 2004 to 2015; however, there is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission. The monitoring and control of schistosomiasis should be intensified in the future in Yunnan Province.

Importance: It is necessary to determine whether psoriasis responds to methotrexate in the same manner in patients with and without psoriatic arthritis., Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of methotrexate in treating patients with psoriasis with and without psoriatic arthritis., Design, Setting, and Participants: In this prospective, single-arm, interventional study, a total of 235 patients with psoriasis, 107 without psoriatic arthritis and 128 with psoriatic arthritis who were receiving methotrexate therapy from April 1, 2015, to December 31, 2017, were recruited from the outpatient department of a hospital at a large Chinese university. There were no significant demographic or clinical differences between the subgroups with the exception of diabetes., Interventions: A 12-week course of low-dosage oral methotrexate (7.5-15 mg weekly)., Main Outcomes and Measures: Changes in disease severity, adverse events, blood cell counts, and liver and renal function., Results: A total of 235 patients with psoriasis (166 male [66.0%]; mean [SD] age, 49.6 [15.1] years) received methotrexate treatment for 12 weeks. The 90% reduction from baseline Psoriasis Area Severity Index response was significantly lower in patients with psoriatic arthritis than in patients without psoriatic arthritis at week 8 (4 0f 128 [3.1%] vs 12 of 107 [11.2%]; P = .02) and week 12 (19 of 128 [14.8%] vs 27 of 107 [25.2%]; P = .049). Furthermore, the incidence of adverse events, including dizziness (12 of 128 [9.4%] vs 1 of 107 [0.9%]; P = .007), gastrointestinal symptoms (32 of 128 [25.0%] vs 13 of 107 [12.1%]; P = .01), and hepatoxicity (34 of 128 [26.6%] vs 16 of 107 [15.0%]; P = .04), was significantly higher in patients with psoriatic arthritis than in patients without psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate-induced elevation of alanine aminotransferase levels was associated with body mass index (mean [SD] body mass index, 26 [4] in patients with [P = .04] vs 26 [4] in those without [P = .005] psoriatic arthritis) and smoking (17 of 34 [50.0%] in patients with [P = .02] vs 9 of 16 [56.3%] in those without [P = .04] psoriatic arthritis)., Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, methotrexate was well tolerated and effective in treating psoriasis. It was more effective, with fewer adverse effects, in patients with psoriasis who did not have psoriatic arthritis than in patients who presented with both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Therefore, methotrexate can be recommended as first-line treatment for psoriasis without arthritis.

Aim: To investigate whether 7-d triple therapies are still valid in populations with low levels of resistance., Methods: A total of 1106 Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients were divided into three groups, each of which received one type of 7-d triple therapy. Therapeutic outcomes of the patients were assessed by the (13)C-urea breath test at 8 wk after treatment. The susceptibility of H. pylori to antibiotics was determined by an agar-dilution method. Data analysis was performed by χ(2) tests., Results: The eradication rates in groups A, B and C were 90.71% (332/366), 90.46% (313/346) and 90.87% (189/208), respectively (P = 0.986). The resistance rates were 8.91% for clarithromycin, 14.78% for levofloxacin and 0% for amoxicillin. The eradication rate was significantly different between clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant patients (P < 0.05) in group A. Patients whose treatment failed in group A also had a higher clarithromycin resistance rate than did successive patients (P = 0.034). However, levofloxacin resistance had no obvious influence on the eradication rate. Furthermore, three main antibiotics (clarithromycin, levofloxacin and amoxicillin) had lower DID (defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day) in this city., Conclusion: Clarithromycin resistance is the main reason for the failure of 7-d triple therapy. In populations with low levels of resistance, a 7-d triple therapy is a viable choice. The choice of therapy should not be influenced by conditions in high antibiotic resistance regions.