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Abstract Background Uterine sarcoma is a rare and heterogeneous gynecological malignancy characterized by aggressive progression and poor prognosis. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis of uterine sarcoma in Chinese patients. Methods In this single-center retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 75 patients with histologically verified uterine sarcoma treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University between 2011 and 2020. Information on clinical characteristics, treatments, pathology and survival was collected. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were visualized in Kaplan-Meier curves. Prognostic factors were identified using the log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox-proportional hazards regression models for multivariate analysis. Results The histopathological types included 36 endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS,48%), 33 leiomyosarcomas (LMS,44%) and 6 adenosarcomas (8%). The mean age at diagnosis was 50.2 ± 10.7 years. Stage I and low-grade accounted for the majority. There were 26 recurrences and 25 deaths at the last follow-up. The mean PFS and OS were 89.41 (95% CI: 76.07-102.75) and 94.03 (95% CI: 81.67-106.38) months, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that > 50 years, post-menopause, advanced stage, ≥ 1/2 myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion and high grade were associated with shorter survival (P 50 years and high-grade were independent risk factors of PFS, while high-grade and lymphovascular space invasion were independent risk factors of OS. Conclusion In Chinese patients with uterine sarcoma, post-menopause and advanced stage were associated with a significantly poorer prognosis. The prognosis of ESS was better than that of LMS. Color Doppler flow imaging positive signals of the tumor helped to identify LMS, which needs to be further tested in a larger sample in the future.

To identify novel biomarkers for predicting prognosis and immune function in bladder cancer (BC) patients, we combined weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis by using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and finally screened the junctional adhesion molecule 3 (JAM3) as an independent risk factor in BC. High levels of JAM3 were linked to adverse clinical parameters, such as higher T and N stages. Additionally, a JAM3-based nomogram model accurately predicted 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of BC patients, indicating potential clinical utility. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that high JAM3 expression activated calcium signaling pathway, the extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and was positively correlated with genes associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Subsequently, we found that overexpression of JAM3 promoted the migration and invasion abilities in BC cells, regulating the expression levels of N-cadherin, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) and Claudin-1 thereby promoting EMT levels. Additionally, we showed that JAM3 was negatively correlated with anti-tumor immune cells such as CD8+ T cells, while positively correlated with pro-tumor immune cells such as M2 macrophages, suggesting its involvement in immune cell infiltration. The immune checkpoint CD200 also showed a positive correlation with JAM3. Our findings revealed that elevated JAM3 levels are predictive of poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in BC patients by regulating EMT process.

Abstract Background Uterine sarcoma (US) is a rare malignant uterine tumor with aggressive behavior and rapid progression. The purpose of this study was to constructa comprehensive nomogram to predict cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with US-based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods A retrospective population-based study was conducted using data from patients with US between 2010 and 2015 from the SEER database. They were randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort ata 7-to-3 ratio. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors. Subsequently, a nomogram was established to predict patient CSS. The discrimination and calibration of the nomogram were evaluated by the concordance index (C-index) and the area under the curve (AUC). Finally, net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration plotting, and decision-curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the benefits of the new prediction model. Results A total of 3861 patients with US were included in our study. As revealed in multivariate Cox analysis, age at diagnosis, race, marital status, insurance record, tumor size, pathology grade, histological type, SEER stage, AJCC stage, surgery status, radiotherapy status, and chemotherapy status were found to be independent prognostic factors. In our nomogram, pathology grade had strongest correlation with CSS, followed by age at diagnosis and surgery status. Compared to the AJCC staging system, the new nomogram showed better predictive discrimination with a higher C-index in the training and validation cohorts (0.796 and 0.767 vs. 0.706 and 0.713, respectively). Furthermore, the AUC value, calibration plotting, NRI, IDI, and DCA also demonstrated better performance than the traditional system. Conclusion Our study validated the first comprehensive nomogram for US, which could provide more accurate and individualized survival predictions for US patients in clinical practice.

BackgroundLow klotho is associated with aging-related traits. However, no study has assessed the association between klotho and oral health in a large sample of population. This study aimed to explore the association between serum α-klotho and oral health in US Adults.MethodsData were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Oral health parameters included periodontitis, self-rated oral health, and tooth loss. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models were adopted to evaluate the associations.ResultsA total of 6187 participants were included in the study. The median of the α-klotho level was 815.2 pg/mL. Serum α-Klotho was significantly lower in participants with poor oral health (all P

IntroductionThis meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of placebo during the maintenance therapy of ovarian cancer (OC) patients in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).MethodsA comprehensive literature review was performed for RCTs published up to and including August 2020 from four electronic databases. We analyzed the efficacy and safety in the control arms of the maintenance therapy in advanced OC patients. Hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated in the placebo arms and the observation arms, respectively, using the Frequency Framework method. We also calculated the incidences of common adverse effects (AEs) in the placebo arms.ResultsIn total, 41 articles with 20,099 (4,787 in the placebo arms, 3,420 in the observation arms, and 11,892 in the experiment arms) patients were included in this meta-analysis. Compared with observation, placebo did not improve or reduce PFS (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.87–1.20; P = 0.81) and OS (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.89–1.16; P = 0.76) of OC patients, while other treatments, except for radiotherapy, significantly improved PFS and OS (all P < 0.05). The incidences of AEs produced by placebo were 94.03% in all grades and 20.22% in grade ≥3. The incidences of AEs were 29.75% in fatigue, 26.38% in nausea, 24.34% in abdominal pain, 18.92% in constipation, 16.65% in diarrhea, 14.55% in vomiting, 13.89% in hypertension, and 13.14% in headache.ConclusionsPlacebo did not improve or reduce the PFS and OS benefits of OC patients in RCTs but increased the incidences of AEs.

Abstract Background Scrub typhus is a life-threatening disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, and specific antimicrobial medicine is available. Early and accurate diagnosis is essential for reducing the risk of severe complications and death. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the case diagnosis situation among medical care institutions and geographical regions in China, and the results will benefit both clinical practice and the disease surveillance system. Methods We extracted individual scrub typhus case data 2006–2016 from a national disease surveillance system in China. The diagnosis category and interval time from illness onset to diagnosis were compared among three levels of medical care institutions and provinces. The descriptive analysis method was performed in our study. Results During the 11-year study period, 93 481 scrub typhus cases, including 57 deaths, were recorded in the nationwide surveillance system. The overall proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases was only 4.7%, and this proportion varied greatly among primary medical centres (2.8%), county level hospitals (4.2%), and city level hospitals (6.3%). Notably, the proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases has consistently decreased from 16.3% in 2006 to 2.6% in 2016, and the same decreasing trend was found among all three levels of medical care institutions. The interval from illness onset to case diagnosis (Tdiag) for all cases was 5 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 2–9 days) and decreased from 7 days (IQR: 3–11 days) in 2006 to 5 days (IQR: 2–8 days) in 2016. The risk of death for patients with a Tdiag of > 7 days was 2.2 times higher (OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.05–5.21) than that of patients with a Tdiag of

Electroacupuncture is known as an effective adjuvant therapy in ischemic cerebrovascular disease. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Studies suggest that autophagy, which is essential for cell survival and cell death, is involved in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and might be modulate by electroacupuncture therapy in key ways. This paper aims to provide novel insights into a therapeutic target of electroacupuncture against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury from the perspective of autophagy. Here we review recent studies on electroacupuncture regulation of autophagy-related markers such as UNC-51-like kinase-1 complex, Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein-1 light chain 3, p62, and autophagosomes for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. The results of these studies show that electroacupuncture may affect the initiation of autophagy, vesicle nucleation, expansion and maturation of autophagosomes, as well as fusion and degradation of autophagolysosomes. Moreover, studies indicate that electroacupuncture probably modulates autophagy by activating the mammalian target of the rapamycin signaling pathway. This review thus indicates that autophagy is a therapeutic target of electroacupuncture treatment against ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

BackgroundTo systematically review the clinical value of 18F-DCFPyL prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa).MethodsLiterature concerning 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT in the diagnosis of prostate cancer published from 2015 to 2020 was electronically searched in the databases including PubMed and Embase. Statistical analysis was carried out with STATA 15 software, and the quality of included studies was tested with quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) items. The heterogeneity of the included data was tested.ResultsIn total, nine pieces of literature involving 426 patients met the inclusion criteria. The heterogeneity of the study group was not obvious. The SEN, SPE, LR+, LR−, DOR as well as AUC of 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT diagnosis of prostate cancer were 0.91, 0.90, 8.9, 0.10, 93, and 0.93. The pooled DR of 18F-DCFPyL labeled PSMA PET/CT in PCa was 92%. The pooled DR was 89% for PSA≥0.5 ng/ml and 49% for PSA < 0.5ng/ml.Conclusion18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT had good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. The DR of 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET/CT was correlated with PSA value. Further large-sample, high-quality studies were needed.

Cement asphalt mortar (CAM) in high-speed lines is subjected to varying environmental conditions, which lead to the deterioration of CAM. The nanoparticles of nano-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 are added to improve the performance of CAM, and the temperature sensitivity of CAM with nanoparticles is primarily studied in this paper. The flexural strength and compressive strength of CAM with and without nano-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 were measured and compared to study the effect of nanoparticles on the performance of CAM subjected to different temperatures. Temperature sensitivity factors of flexural and compressive strength based on Arrhenius model were proposed to evaluate the temperature dependence of CAM by nanoparticles. Furthermore, the microstructure of hardened CAM was studied using scan electronic microscope (SEM) to investigate the mechanism of temperature sensitivity of CAM with and without nanoparticles. The results indicated that the flexural and compressive strength of CAM with and without nanoparticles decreased with the increasing temperature; however, the decreasing rate of strength with temperature was different in CAM with and without nanoparticles. The reduction in the decreasing rate of strength was obtained by using nano-SiO2 rather than nano-TiO2 in CAM. Based on the SEM results, the free asphalt was seen to be greatly reduced in the CAM with nano-SiO2, suggesting a positive effect of nano-SiO2 on the mitigation of temperature sensitivity of CAM.

At present, most of the drugs have little effect on the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Analgesia is an important measure in the treatment of RA and is also one of the criteria to determine the therapeutic effects of the disease. Some studies have found that crocin, a kind of Chinese medicine, can effectively alleviate pain sensitization in pain model rats, but the mechanism is not clear. Emerging evidence indicates that crocin may inhibit the metastasis of lung and liver cancer cells from the breast by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin and the Wnt signaling pathway is closely related to RA. Wnt5a belongs to the Wnt protein family and was previously thought to be involved only in nonclassical Wnt signaling pathways. Recent studies have shown that Wnt5a has both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on the classical Wnt signaling pathway, and so, Wnt5a has attracted increasing attention. This study demonstrated that crocin significantly increased the mechanical thresholds of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats, suggesting that crocin can alleviate neuropathic pain. Crocin significantly decreased the levels of pain-related factors and glial activation. Foxy5, activator of Wnt5a, inhibited the above effects of crocin in AIA rats. In addition, intrathecal injection of a Wnt5a inhibitor significantly decreased hyperalgesia in AIA rats. This research shows that crocin may alleviate neuropathic pain in AIA rats by inhibiting the expression of pain-related molecules through the Wnt5a/β-catenin pathway, elucidating the mechanism by which crocin relieves neuropathic pain and provides a new way of thinking for the treatment of AIA pain.

Puerarin suppresses autophagy to alleviate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and accumulating evidence indicates that the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway regulates the activation of the autophagy pathway through the coordinated phosphorylation of ULK1. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of puerarin and its role in modulating autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin, 50 or 100 mg/kg, daily for 7 days. Then, 30 minutes after the final administration, rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion for 90 minutes. Then, after 24 hours of reperfusion, the Longa score and infarct volume were evaluated in each group. Autophagosome formation was observed by transmission electron microscopy. LC3, Beclin-1 p62, AMPK, mTOR and ULK1 protein expression levels were examined by immunofluorescence and western blot assay. Puerarin substantially reduced the Longa score and infarct volume, and it lessened autophagosome formation in the hippocampal CA1 area following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with puerarin (50 or 100 mg/kg) reduced Beclin-1 expression and the LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, as well as p-AMPK and pS317-ULK1 levels. In comparison, it increased p62 expression. Furthermore, puerarin at 100 mg/kg dramatically increased the levels of p-mTOR and pS757-ULK1 in the hippocampus on the ischemic side. Our findings suggest that puerarin alleviates autophagy by activating the APMK-mTOR-ULK1 signaling pathway. Thus, puerarin might have therapeutic potential for treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The fermented Chinese formula Shuan-Tong-Ling is composed of radix puerariae (Gegen), salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen), radix curcuma (Jianghuang), hawthorn (Shanzha), salvia chinensis (Shijianchuan), sinapis alba (Baijiezi), astragalus (Huangqi), panax japonicas (Zhujieshen), atractylodes macrocephala koidz (Baizhu), radix paeoniae alba (Baishao), bupleurum (Chaihu), chrysanthemum (Juhua), rhizoma cyperi (Xiangfu) and gastrodin (Tianma), whose aqueous extract was fermented with lactobacillus, bacillus aceticus and saccharomycetes. Shuan-Tong-Ling is a formula used to treat brain diseases including ischemic stroke, migraine, and vascular dementia. Shuan-Tong-Ling attenuated H2O2-induced oxidative stress in rat microvascular endothelial cells. However, the potential mechanism involved in these effects is poorly understood. Rats were intragastrically treated with 5.7 or 17.2 mL/kg Shuan-Tong-Ling for 7 days before middle cerebral artery occlusion was induced. The results indicated Shuan-Tong-Ling had a cerebral protective effect by reducing infarct volume and increasing neurological scores. Shuan-Tong-Ling also decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels in the hippocampus on the ischemic side. In addition, Shuan-Tong-Ling upregulated the expression of SIRT1 and Bcl-2 and downregulated the expression of acetylated-protein 53 and Bax. Injection of 5 mg/kg silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor EX527 into the subarachnoid space once every 2 days, four times, reversed the above changes. These results demonstrate that Shuan-Tong-Ling might benefit cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing inflammation and apoptosis through activation of the SIRT1 signaling pathway.

Abstract Background To reveal the spatio-temporal distribution of malaria vectors in the national malaria surveillance sites from 2005 to 2010 and provide reference for the current National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) in China. Methods A 6-year longitudinal surveillance on density of malaria vectors was carried out in the 62 national malaria surveillance sites. The spatial and temporal analyses of the four primary vectors distribution were conducted by the methods of kernel k-means and the cluster distribution of the most widely distribution vector of An.sinensis was identified using the empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Results Totally 4 species of Anopheles mosquitoes including An.sinensis, An.lesteri, An.dirus and An.minimus were captured with significant difference of distribution as well as density. An. sinensis was the most widely distributed, accounting for 96.25% of all collections, and its distribution was divided into three different clusters with a significant increase of density observed in the second cluster which located mostly in the central parts of China. Conclusion This study first described the spatio-temporal distribution of malaria vectors based on the nationwide surveillance during 2005–2010, which served as a baseline for the ongoing national malaria elimination program.

Little is known about disability caused by unintentional injury (accidents) worldwide. This study estimates the prevalence of disability caused by unintentional injury amongst people aged 15-60 years across different cities in the People’s Republic of China with the aim of providing a scientific basis for developing prevention and control programmes. The prevalence of disability caused by unintentional injury in this target group in sampled cities across the country was estimated from data from the Second Chinese National Sample Survey on Disability. Using the statistical evolution tree approach, cities automatically clustered into a tree structure according to the level of social security and industrial structure. The Kruskal- Wallis test was applied to compare the prevalence in various types of city. The results show that the prevalence of disability due to unintentional injury in the target population group varied significantly across the 16 types of city investigated, but that it was particularly common among the unemployed and poor. With regard to occupational structure, cities with activities oriented towards transport and construction had the highest average prevalence despite access to local, relatively sound social security systems and adequate medical resources. It was also found that people struck by unintentional injury were treated in various ways depending on the availability of social assistance, medical care and job training, which differed widely between cities depending on each city’s main occupational activity. High-risk cities areas were identified for that would benefit particularly by additional medical resource allocation as it would reduce their burden of unintentional injury.

AIM: To observe the relationship between Prol2Ala polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ2(PPAR-γ2)gene and diabetic retinopathy(DR)with type 2 diabetic mellitus(T2DM)of the Han nationality in Shanxi province. METHODS: Totally 90 patients with T2DM were selected into our research, who were at the age of 40 to 70 years old, diabetic duration from 10 to 20 years, blood pressure PPAR-γ2 gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms(PCR-RFLP)assay in all the patients. RESULTS: PCR results showed that there were 2 alleles and 3 genotypes in the groups. The frequency of genotype PP, PA, AA were 40.0%, 53.3%, 6.7% in NDR group, 70.0%, 30.0%, 0.0% in BDR group, 76.7%, 23.3%, 0% in PDR group, respectively. The allele frequency(χ2=10.208)and gene frequency(χ2=10.351)were statistically significant(PCONCLUSION: The alanine variant of Prol2Ala polymorphism of PPAR-γ2 gene is associated with DR in type 2 diabetes among the Hans in Shanxi area, and the Ala allele might be a protective factor for the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Irradiation from diverse sources is ubiquitous and closely associated with human activities. Radiation therapy (RT), an important component of multiple radiation origins, is a common therapeutic modality for cancer. More importantly, RT provides significant contribution to oncotherapy by killing tumor cells. However, during the course of therapy, irradiation of normal tissues can result in a wide range of side effects, including self-limited acute toxicities, mild chronic symptoms, or severe organ dysfunction. Although numerous promising radioprotective agents have emerged, only a few have successfully entered the market because of various limitations. At present, the widely accepted hypothesis for protection against radiation-caused injury involves the Wnt canonical pathway. Activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may protect the salivary gland, oral mucosa, and gastrointestinal epithelium from radiation damage. The underlying mechanisms include inhibiting apoptosis and preserving normal tissue functions. However, aberrant Wnt signaling underlies a wide range of pathologies in humans, and its various components contribute to cancer. Moreover, studies have suggested that Wnt/β-catenin signaling may lead to radioresistance of cancer stem cell. These facts markedly complicate any definition of the exact function of the Wnt pathway.

Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) is the most common and widespread infectious disease in the People’s Republic of China. Although there has been a substantial increase of HFMD in many parts of the country in recent years, its spatial dynamics and determinants remain unclear. When we collected and analysed weekly data on HFMD cases from 1,456 counties and the corresponding meteorological factors from 1 May 2008 to 27 March 2009, it was found that HFMD was spatially dispersed across the country in the summer and winter, while clustered in the spring and autumn. The spatial variation of HFMD was found to be affected by a combination of climate variables, while its spatio-temporal transmission was largely driven by temperature variations with a 7-week lag implying that (i) the dispersal of the disease can be anticipated based on the variation of the temperature and other climate variables; and (ii) the spatial dynamics of HFMD can be robustly predicted 7 weeks ahead of time using temperature data only. The findings reported allow prompt preparation and implementation of appropriate public health interventions to control and prevent disease outbreaks.

The estimation of disease prevalence in online search engine data (e.g., Google Flu Trends (GFT)) has received a considerable amount of scholarly and public attention in recent years. While the utility of search engine data for disease surveillance has been demonstrated, the scientific community still seeks ways to identify and reduce biases that are embedded in search engine data. The primary goal of this study is to explore new ways of improving the accuracy of disease prevalence estimations by combining traditional disease data with search engine data. A novel method, Biased Sentinel Hospital-based Area Disease Estimation (B-SHADE), is introduced to reduce search engine data bias from a geographical perspective. To monitor search trends on Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in Guangdong Province, China, we tested our approach by selecting 11 keywords from the Baidu index platform, a Chinese big data analyst similar to GFT. The correlation between the number of real cases and the composite index was 0.8. After decomposing the composite index at the city level, we found that only 10 cities presented a correlation of close to 0.8 or higher. These cities were found to be more stable with respect to search volume, and they were selected as sample cities in order to estimate the search volume of the entire province. After the estimation, the correlation improved from 0.8 to 0.864. After fitting the revised search volume with historical cases, the mean absolute error was 11.19% lower than it was when the original search volume and historical cases were combined. To our knowledge, this is the first study to reduce search engine data bias levels through the use of rigorous spatial sampling strategies.

Both pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and intestinal helminth infection (IHI) affect millions of individuals every year in China. However, the national-scale estimation of prevalence predictors and prevalence maps for these diseases, as well as co-endemic relative risk (RR) maps of both diseases' prevalence are not well developed. There are co-endemic, high prevalence areas of both diseases, whose delimitation is essential for devising effective control strategies. Bayesian geostatistical logistic regression models including socio-economic, climatic, geographical and environmental predictors were fitted separately for active PTB and IHI based on data from the national surveys for PTB and major human parasitic diseases that were completed in 2010 and 2004, respectively. Prevalence maps and co-endemic RR maps were constructed for both diseases by means of Bayesian Kriging model and Bayesian shared component model capable of appraising the fraction of variance of spatial RRs shared by both diseases, and those specific for each one, under an assumption that there are unobserved covariates common to both diseases. Our results indicate that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita had a negative association, while rural regions, the arid and polar zones and elevation had positive association with active PTB prevalence; for the IHI prevalence, GDP per capita and distance to water bodies had a negative association, the equatorial and warm zones and the normalized difference vegetation index had a positive association. Moderate to high prevalence of active PTB and low prevalence of IHI were predicted in western regions, low to moderate prevalence of active PTB and low prevalence of IHI were predicted in north-central regions and the southeast coastal regions, and moderate to high prevalence of active PTB and high prevalence of IHI were predicted in the south-western regions. Thus, co-endemic areas of active PTB and IHI were located in the south-western regions of China, which might be determined by socio-economic factors, such as GDP per capita.

A Bayesian geostatistical model was used to identify factors related to topographical variation in the analysis of mortality risk for children less than 5 years of age in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in the People’s Republic of China. Epidemiological data from a standardized survey were available from 115 locations across the study area. Physical and demographic factors measured directly at the township level were examined with respect to risk. The geostatistical model explicitly accounted for spatial correlation present in child mortality by fitting a Gaussian linear model to the data. Results identified the role of several factors in explaining geographical heterogeneity in child mortality and show that it was significantly correlated with earthquake intensity, population density, migrant labour, and the percentage of collapsed houses.

Satellite remote sensing (RS) is an important contributor to Earth observation, providing various kinds of imagery every day, but low spatial resolution remains a critical bottleneck in a lot of applications, restricting higher spatial resolution analysis (e.g., intraurban). In this study, a multifractal-based super-resolution reconstruction method is proposed to alleviate this problem. The multifractal characteristic is common in Nature. The self-similarity or self-affinity presented in the image is useful to estimate details at larger and smaller scales than the original. We first look for the presence of multifractal characteristics in the images. Then we estimate parameters of the information transfer function and noise of the low resolution image. Finally, a noise-free, spatial resolutionenhanced image is generated by a fractal coding-based denoising and downscaling method. The empirical case shows that the reconstructed super-resolution image performs well indetail enhancement. This method is not only useful for remote sensing in investigating Earth, but also for other images with multifractal characteristics.

Sampling and estimation of geographical attributes that vary across space (e.g., area temperature, urban pollution level, provincial cultivated land, regional population mortality and state agricultural production) are common yet important constituents of many real-world applications. Spatial attribute estimation and the associated accuracy depend on the available sampling design and statistical inference modelling. In the present work, our concern is areal attribute estimation, in which the spatial sampling and Kriging means are compared in terms of mean values, variances of mean values, comparative efficiencies and underlying conditions. Both the theoretical analysis and the empirical study show that the mean Kriging technique outperforms other commonly-used techniques. Estimation techniques that account for spatial correlation (dependence) are more efficient than those that do not, whereas the comparative efficiencies of the various methods change with surface features. The mean Kriging technique can be applied to other spatially distributed attributes, as well.

ObjectivesIn epidemiological research, major studies have focused on theoretical models; however, few methods of visual analysis have been used to display the patterns of disease distribution.DesignFor this study, a method combining the space-time cube (STC) with space-time scan statistics (STSS) was used to analyze the pattern of incidence of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Guangdong Province from May 2008 to March 2009. In this research, STC was used to display the spatiotemporal pattern of incidence of HFMD, and STSS were used to detect the local aggregations of the disease.SettingThe hand-foot-mouth disease data were obtained from Guangdong Province from May 2008 to March 2009, with a total of 68,130 cases.ResultsThe STC analysis revealed a differential pattern of HFMD incidence among different months and cities and also showed that the population density and average precipitation are correlated with the incidence of HFMD. The STSS analysis revealed that the most likely aggregation includes the Shenzhen, Foshan and Dongguan populations, which are the most developed regions in Guangdong Province.ConclusionBoth STC and STSS are efficient tools for the exploratory data analysis of disease transmission. STC clearly displays the spatiotemporal patterns of disease. Using the maximum likelihood ratio, the STSS model precisely locates the most likely aggregation.

There has been discrepancies between the daily air quality reports of the Beijing municipal government, observations recorded at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and Beijing residents' perceptions of air quality. This study estimates Beijing's daily area PM(2.5) mass concentration by means of a novel technique SPA (Single Point Areal Estimation) that uses data from the single PM(2.5) observation station of the U.S Embassy and the 18 PM(10) observation stations of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau. The proposed technique accounts for empirical relationships between different types of observations, and generates best linear unbiased pollution estimates (in a statistical sense). The technique extends the daily PM(2.5) mass concentrations obtained at a single station (U.S. Embassy) to a citywide scale using physical relations between pollutant concentrations at the embassy PM(2.5) monitoring station and at the 18 official PM(10) stations that are evenly distributed across the city. Insight about the technique's spatial estimation accuracy (uncertainty) is gained by means of theoretical considerations and numerical validations involving real data. The technique was used to study citywide PM(2.5) pollution during the 423-day period of interest (May 10, 2010 to December 6, 2011). Finally, a freely downloadable software library is provided that performs all relevant calculations of pollution estimation.

BACKGROUND: Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are endemic in Hongta District and their prevalence, at 113 per 100,000 individuals, remains the highest in China. However, the exact sources of the disease and its main epidemiological characteristics have not yet been clearly identified. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Numbers of typhoid and paratyphoid cases per day during the period 2006 to 2010 were obtained from the Chinese Center of Disease Control (CDC). A number of suspected disease determinants (or their proxies), were considered for use in spatiotemporal analysis: these included locations of discharge canals and food markets, as well as socio-economic and environmental factors. Results showed that disease prevalence was spatially clustered with clusters decreasing with increasing distance from markets and discharge canals. More than half of the spatial variance could be explained by a combination of economic conditions and availability of health facilities. Temporal prevalence fluctuations were positively associated with the monthly precipitation series. Polluted hospital and residential wastewater was being discharged into rainwater canals. Salmonella bacteria were found in canal water, on farmland and on vegetables sold in markets. CONCLUSION: DISEASE TRANSMISSION IN HONGTA DISTRICT IS DRIVEN PRINCIPALLY BY TWO SPATIOTEMPORALLY COUPLED CYCLES: one involving seasonal variations and the other the distribution of polluted farmland (where vegetables are grown and sold in markets). Disease transmission was exacerbated by the fact that rainwater canals were being used for disposal of polluted waste from hospitals and residential areas. Social factors and their interactions also played a significant role in disease transmission.

Pb1-xLaxTi1-xMnxO3 (PLTM100x, x = 0.20, 0.40, 0.50, 0.60, and 0.80) ceramics have been prepared and investigated. X-ray diffractions show all ceramics are crystallized into perovskite structures with tetragonal symmetry for PLTMO20 and orthorhombic symmetry for the other compositions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirm that the Mn cations in PLTMO20 and PLTMO40 have the valence state of +3, whereas in other compositions, the Mn cations have mixed valences states of +3 and +4. With increasing x from 0.20 to 0.80, the materials change from superparamagnetic to coexisting ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic magnetic behaviour whereas all compositions persist insulating behaviour, as confirmed by the magnetization-magnetic field (M-H), the temperature dependent magnetization (M-T) and transport measurements. Especially, the PLTMO80 has a large negative magnetoresistance of −41.5% at 10 K with the applied filed of 2 T. By considering the chemical states of Mn cations, these results are attributed to that the coexistence of metallic ferromagnetic and insulating non-ferromagnetic phases.

To investigate the inhibitory effect of imatinib on the migration of normal human epidermal melanocytes (NHEM), the growth and differentiation of NHEM were measured by MTT assay. Transwell Cell Migration Assay was performed to determine the migration of NHEM following imatinib treatment. The phosphorylation of c-kit in NHEM after imatinib treatment was measured by western blot assay. Imatinib at 0.1 ?M, 1.0 ?M and 5.0 ?M could inhibit the SCF (50 ng/mL) induced NHEM migration and suppress the phosphorylation of c-kit in NHEM. The result concluded that imatinib can inhibit SCF induced NHEM migration and suppress the c-kit phosphorylation in NHEM. This provide theoretical basis for the prevention of post-treatment recurrence of nevus spilus.

BackgroundPopulation health attributes (such as disease incidence and prevalence) are often estimated using sentinel hospital records, which are subject to multiple sources of uncertainty. When applied to these health attributes, commonly used biased estimation techniques can lead to false conclusions and ineffective disease intervention and control. Although some estimators can account for measurement error (in the form of white noise, usually after de-trending), most mainstream health statistics techniques cannot generate unbiased and minimum error variance estimates when the available data are biased.Methods and findingsA new technique, called the Biased Sample Hospital-based Area Disease Estimation (B-SHADE), is introduced that generates space-time population disease estimates using biased hospital records. The effectiveness of the technique is empirically evaluated in terms of hospital records of disease incidence (for hand-foot-mouth disease and fever syndrome cases) in Shanghai (China) during a two-year period. The B-SHADE technique uses a weighted summation of sentinel hospital records to derive unbiased and minimum error variance estimates of area incidence. The calculation of these weights is the outcome of a process that combines: the available space-time information; a rigorous assessment of both, the horizontal relationships between hospital records and the vertical links between each hospital's records and the overall disease situation in the region. In this way, the representativeness of the sentinel hospital records was improved, the possible biases of these records were corrected, and the generated area incidence estimates were best linear unbiased estimates (BLUE). Using the same hospital records, the performance of the B-SHADE technique was compared against two mainstream estimators.ConclusionsThe B-SHADE technique involves a hospital network-based model that blends the optimal estimation features of the Block Kriging method and the sample bias correction efficiency of the ratio estimator method. In this way, B-SHADE can overcome the limitations of both methods: Block Kriging's inadequacy concerning the correction of sample bias and spatial clustering; and the ratio estimator's limitation as regards error minimization. The generality of the B-SHADE technique is further demonstrated by the fact that it reduces to Block Kriging in the case of unbiased samples; to ratio estimator if there is no correlation between hospitals; and to simple statistic if the hospital records are neither biased nor space-time correlated. In addition to the theoretical advantages of the B-SHADE technique over the two other methods above, two real world case studies (hand-foot-mouth disease and fever syndrome cases) demonstrated its empirical superiority, as well.

In the title compound, C20H15N3O, the diazepine ring adopts a boat conformation. The dihedral angle between pyridine and benzene rings is 55.2 (1)°. The benzoyl phenyl ring forms dihedral angles of 49.4 (1) and 75.9 (1)°, respectively, with the pyridine and benzene rings. In the crystal, molecules are linked into centrosymmetric dimers by pairs of C—H...N hydrogen bonds.

In the title compound, {[Cu(C10H14N4)2(H2O)2](NO3)2}n, the CuII ion lies on an inversion center and is six-coordinated in an octahedral environment by four N atoms from four different 1,1′-butane-1,4-diyldiimidazole ligands and two O atoms from the two water molecules. Bridging by the ligands results in a ribbon structure. Adjacent ribbons are linked to the nitrate anions via O—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming layers. One nitrate O atom is disordered equally over two positions.