Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Background: As a carcinogenic environmental pollutant, arsenic has been observed to be associated with the development of coronary artery heart disease (CAD) in previous observational studies of occupational populations or populations residing in contaminated areas. Recently, it has been found that arsenic accumulates in rice and other crops that radiate globally with active commodity trade, providing a potentially underestimated arsenic exposure environment for the general population. However, there have been no studies on whether this low-dose arsenic contamination via food sources could lead to CAD of current concern. At present, studies have determined that the strength of arsenic metabolism is related to arsenic poisoning, and three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to arsenic metabolism have been found. The study aims to infer causality between arsenic poisoning and CAD at the genetic level, and especially applies to such low-dose, long-term exposure to arsenic using mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: Using data on three different populations from genome-wide association study, we estimated the association of CAD risk with three types of urinary arsenic (representing metabolic efficiency): inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsinate (MMA), and dimethylarsinate (DMA) by two-sample MR. Results: No significant associations were obtained in Mixed population (iAs% P = 0.882, MMA% P = 0.925, DMA% P = 0.901), East Asian population (iAs% P = 0.959, MMA% P = 0.505, DMA% P = 0.662) and European population (iAs% P = 0.242, MMA% P = 0.395, DMA% P = 0.317). Heterogeneity of the three SNPs observed in Asian populations. Conclusions: This study did not provide evidence to support a causal relationship between arsenic poisoning and CAD at the genetic level in multiple populations irrespective of gender.

SummaryBackgroundThe measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) trivalent vaccine constitutes a cornerstone in controlling mumps incidence. However, variations in vaccination timing coupled with the gradual waning of vaccine-induced immunity have contributed to an increase in mumps cases among adolescents, alongside dynamic shifts in age distribution. This study aims to elucidate the optimal vaccination strategies for both the general population and age-specific cohorts through a comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation.MethodsWe systematically collected and integrated global annual average mumps incidence data (2000–2023) from 23 countries and immunization schedule databases to construct 16 hypothetical vaccination strategies, including the baseline regimen (a single dose administered at 18–24 months), an improved timing regimen (an additional primary dose at 8–9 months before 24 months), and booster regimens (one to two supplementary doses during childhood or adolescence). We developed an individual-based disease transmission model (IBM) incorporating real-time vaccination, age growth, and age-specific contact frequency and preference, driven by estimated time-varying reproduction numbers, to simulate the impact of different strategies after five years of steady-state implementation on cumulative case counts, overall infection numbers, outbreak magnitude, and age-specific infection risks. This comprehensive evaluation framework enables us to assess the impact of dosing and vaccination timing on the immunological control of mumps.FindingsFor overall population control, a strategy entailing a single vaccine dose at 18–24 months, a booster at 13–14 years, and another at 18–19 years yielded optimal results, achieving a reduction of 99.79% in both cumulative infections and cases over the subsequent five years. When implementing immunization exclusively before 24 months, a dual-dose primary regimen reduced cumulative infections and cases by an additional 4.79% and 4.91% over the subsequent five years, respectively, compared to a single-dose approach. Moreover, within identical booster vaccination age groups, completing a dual-dose primary immunization before 24 months generally provided superior protection relative to the single-dose protocol. Age-specific analyses further revealed that while the dual-dose strategy before 24 months lowered the proportion of cases and infections in the 0–4 year age group compared to the single-dose regimen, the absolute numbers remained largely unchanged; under the same primary immunization framework, delaying the administration of the final dose decreased the infection proportion in the 20–25 year age group, with a dual-dose booster implemented after age 2 effectively minimizing the proportion of cases among individuals over 20. Notably, administering the booster at ages 13–14 years consistently suppressed the primary infection peak observed in individuals aged 10–14 years, reducing infection numbers by more than 99.00%.InterpretationA phased immunization strategy that integrates primary vaccination with sequential booster doses may help reduce the transmission of mumps in our simulations. Model projections suggest that prioritizing booster vaccinations during adolescence could lower infection risks among vulnerable age groups and may provide additional protection for women of reproductive age.Funding10.13039/501100012166National Key Research and Development Program of China (2024YFC2311404).

Tetracycline (TC), commonly utilized in medicine and aquaculture, frequently enters aquatic environments, raising ecological concerns. This study examined TC-contaminated wastewater treated through ultraviolet (UV), potassium persulfate (PS), and combined UV/PS disinfection processes. The degradation of TC followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with removal efficiency ranked as UV/PS > UV > PS. High-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) identified 20 disinfection byproducts (DBPs) across all processes. Based on the identified intermediates, the degradation pathways of TC under different disinfection processes (UV, PS, and UV/PS) were elucidated. Using the ECOSAR program, both acute and chronic aquatic toxicities of TC and its DBPs were predicted. The biological effects on Chlorella were also investigated. DBPs from UV and PS treatments inhibited algal growth, reducing it by 4.8–9.4% relative to the control. Conversely, DBPs formed under UV/PS disinfection stimulated growth, increasing rates by 3.4–6.6%. To counteract oxidative stress from TC and its DBPs, Chlorella enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. These findings highlight that while TC degradation occurs efficiently, the nature of DBPs and their ecological impacts vary significantly depending on the disinfection method. Overall, the UV/PS process not only improved TC removal but also reduced harmful effects on microalgal growth compared with UV or PS alone.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is a highly contagious epidemic caused by the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). Characterized by reproductive disorders in pregnant sows and respiratory symptoms in pigs of all ages, it poses a severe threat to the global swine industry. In recent years, the high mutation rate of PRRSV has increasingly limited the effectiveness of vaccines against it, prompting the search for new anti-PRRSV drugs. scutellarin (SCU), a natural flavonoid compound extracted from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis, possesses multiple biological activities. Its antiviral effects have been demonstrated in numerous studies; however, its inhibitory activity against PRRSV and the underlying mechanism remain unknown. In this study, through in vitro cell experiments, we found that scutellarin significantly inhibits PRRSV infection in PAMs. Furthermore, it directly acts on PRRSV to exert antiviral effects. Transcriptomic analysis suggests that scutellarin may exert its anti-PRRSV effects by regulating host immunity and anti-inflammation through immune-related signaling pathways, including the complement and coagulation cascades, ECM-receptor interaction, Rap1 signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Brucellosis is a typical zoonotic disease. The study aimed to identify key molecular markers and immune cell imbalances in brucellosis by integrating transcriptomic profiling, co-expression network analysis, and immune cell scoring. Gene expression profile of 103 patients with brucellosis and 46 healthy controls were obtained from the GSE69597 dataset. Differential analysis was conducted on gene expression and immune cell score, followed by co-expression network construction. Diagnostic value of module genes was assessed using Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) and Random Forest (RF) models to screen marker genes. Peripheral blood samples from 88 brucellosis patients and 70 healthy individuals were collected for validation using flow cytometry, RT-qPCR and Western blot. A total of 4924 DEGs were identified, and 11 co-expression modules were constructed. The Brown module showed the highest positive correlation with normal controls, while the Greenyellow module had the highest negative correlation. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes in the Brown module were mainly involved in the cell cycle and virus infection, genes in the Greenyellow module were primarily associated with the PI3K-Akt and Wnt signaling pathway. CDK1, MAPK11, and PDIA3 were identified as marker genes with high importance in both models. The marker genes were significantly higher expression in brucellosis. CD8 + T cells and NK cells were higher in brucellosis than in the control group, whereas B cells and CD4 + T cells were lower, which was confirmed by flow cytometry. The abnormal levels of CDK1, MAPK11, PDIA3, and immune cells in brucellosis may be involved in the disease's pathogenic mechanisms.

Introduction Psychoactive Psilocybe spp. mushrooms pose significant public health risks. We report a cluster of Psilocybe keralensis poisonings in Chengdu, China, highlighting its unique clinical features and cardiovascular complications. Case Series Four patients ingested 16–90 g of wild mushrooms (misidentified as an edible species, but later molecularly confirmed as Psilocybe keralensis). Prodromal symptoms (e.g., dizziness) emerged within 5–20 min, but the onset of hallucinations varied widely (10–180 min). All patients developed hypertension (systolic blood pressure >150 mmHg), with one patient exhibiting rapid blood pressure elevation to 182/110 mmHg at 4 h post-ingestion, which was accompanied by evidence of myocardial injury (peak cardiac troponin T concentration 188.70 pg/mL [reference range <14 pg/mL]) and transient mild skeletal muscle involvement (peak myoglobin concentration 127.3 ng/mL, which normalized by day 2). Supportive treatment (gastric lavage, intravenous ranitidine, and fluid therapy) led to full recovery without sequelae. Discussion We observed altered myocardial biomarkers following Psilocybe keralensis poisoning, which signals potential cardiovascular risks. Conclusion Future clinical research on psilocybin should prioritize cardiovascular comorbidity screening and implement cardiac monitoring for high-risk patients. We believe that public health education should emphasize that both traditional morphological identification methods and folk-based toxicity testing lack scientific basis; it must advocate avoidance of wild mushroom foraging, which is the most reliable prevention strategy.

ABSTRACT Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are classified as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and studies suggest that exposure to POPs may contribute to the development of metabolic diseases. However, the specific link between single and mixed BFRs and hyperlipidemia remains unclear, as does the potential mediating role of oxidative stress in this relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 2005 to 2016, encompassing 6800 participants, to investigate the association between BFRs and hyperlipidemia. Our findings from weighted multiple logistic regression models suggest that PBB153 and PBDE28 are significantly associated with hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, both the weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression model and the quantile g-computation (QGcomp) model demonstrated a positive association between mixed BFRs exposure and hyperlipidemia. Additionally, we revealed positive associations between individual and combined BFRs and levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Furthermore, the oxidative stress marker γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) plays a mediating role in the relationship between BFRs and hyperlipidemia, TC and TG. Our study concludes that BFRs are associated with an increased prevalence of hyperlipidemia and lipid levels, with oxidative stress likely acting as a mediator in this process.