Cytokine profile in murine toxoplasmosis

Objective:To investigate which cytokines are produced after acute infection of mice with Toxoplasma gondii(T.Gondii) RH strain.Methods:Mus domesticus domesticus mice in infected group were inoculated with with highly virulent T.Gondii RH strain by intraperitoneally.Serum samples were obtained from infected and non-infected mice for cytokine levels for ELISA assay.Results:The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,interleukin(IL)- 10 and IL-12 in the cardiac blood sample of the infected mice were significantly higher than those in uninfected controls(P【0.05).The levels of transforming growth factor-1βdecreased in mice infected with T.gondii compared to those of the controls,the decrease was statistically significant(P【0.05).No significant difference was observed in levels of IL-4 between infected and healty control groups(P】0.05).Conclusions:According to our findings,immune response into T helper type 1 was predominant during acute T.gondii infection.Further characterization and purification of Toxoplasma molecule(s) implicated in the regulation of cytokines could lead to the development of new drug prospects to control Toxoplasma infection.

Study on the COVID-19 epidemic in China's Mainland between November 2022 and January 2023,with prediction of its tendency

The prediction system EpiSIX was used to study the COVID-19 epidemic in China's Mainland between November 2022 and January 2023,based on reported data from December 9,2022,to January 30,2023,released by The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on February 1,2023.Three kinds of reported data were used for model fitting:the daily numbers of positive nucleic acid tests and deaths,and the daily number of hospital beds taken by COVID-19 patients.It was estimated that the overall infection rate was 87.54%and the overall case fatality rate was 0.078%–0.116%(median 0.100%).Assuming that a new COVID-19 epidemic outbreak would start in March or April of 2023,induced by a slightly more infectious mutant strain,we predicted a possible large rebound between September and October 2023,with a peak demand of between 800,000 and 900,000 inpatient beds.If no such new outbreak was induced by other variants,then the current COVID-19 epidemic course in China's Mainland would remain under control until the end of 2023.However,it is suggested that the necessary medical resources be prepared to manage possible COVID-19 epidemic emergencies in the near future,especially for the period between September and October 2023.

COVID-19 transmission driven by age-group mathematical model in Shijiazhuang City of China

Background:A COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang City was attributed to the complex interactions among vaccination,host,and non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPIs).Herein,we investigated the epidemiological characteristics of all reported symptomatic cases by picking Shijiazhuang City,Hebei Province in Northern China as research objective.In addition,we established an age-group mathematical model to perform the optimal fitting and to investigate the dynamical profiles under three scenarios.Methods:All reported symptomatic cases of Shijiazhuang epidemic(January 2-February 3,2021)were investigated in our study.The cases were classified by gender,age group and location,the distributions were analyzed by epidemiological characteristics.Furthermore,the reported data from Health Commission of Hebei Province was also analyzed by using an age-group mathematical model by two phases and three scenarios.Results:Shijiazhuang epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 wild strain was recorded with the peak 84 cases out of 868 reported symptomatic cases on January 11,2021,which was implemented with strong NPIs by local government and referred as baseline situation in this study.The research results showed that R0 under baseline situation ranged from 4.47 to 7.72,and Rt of Gaocheng Distinct took 3.72 with 95%confidence interval from 3.23 to 4.35 on January 9,the declining tendencies of Rt under baseline situation were kept till February 3,the value of Rt reached below 1 on January 19 and remained low value up to February 3 for Gaocheng District and Shijiazhuang City during Shijiazhuang epidemic.This indicated Shijiazhuang epidemic was under control on January 19.However,if the strong NPIs were kept,but remote isolation operated on January 11 was not implemented as of February 9,then the scale of Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 9,482 cases from age group who were 60 years old and over out of 31,017 symptomatic cases.The investigation also revealed that Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 132,648 symptomatic cases for age group who were 60 years old and over(short for G2)under risk-based strategies(Scenario A),58,048 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine strategies(Scenario B)and 207,124 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine double risk strategies(Scenario C),and that the corresponding transmission tendencies of Rt for three scenarios were consistently controlled on Jan 29,2021.Compared with baseline situation,the dates for controlling Rt below 1 under three scenarios were delayed 10 days.Conclusions:Shijiazhuang epidemic was the first COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas in Hebei Province of Northern China.The targeted interventions adopted in early 2021 were effective to halt the transmission due to the implementation of a strict and village-wide closure.However we found that age group profile and NPIs played critical rules to successfully contain Shijiazhuang epidemic,which should be considered by public health policies in rural areas of China's Mainland during the dynamic zero-COVID policy.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Human Rabies——Shandong Province,China,2010-2020

Introduction:Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease that causes progressive and fatal inflammation in the brain.Rabies has caused more than 5,000 human deaths in Shandong Province since 1955.This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human rabies in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2020 and to provide a scientific basis for policy changes.Methods:The data of reported human rabies cases from 2010 to 2020 were obtained from China’s National Notifiable Disease Reporting System,and data related to exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis(PEP)of the cases were acquired through case investigation.Results:A total of 414 human rabies cases were reported in Shandong Province from 2010 to 2020.Out of the 414 total cases,87.20%were primarily farmers;83.10%were over 40 years old.70.29%(265/377)belonged to categoryⅢexposure;and 96.67%(377/390)were exposed to the virus through infected dogs.The vaccine inoculation rate of these cases after exposure was only 8.85%;1.03%(4/390)had been vaccinated with rabies immunoglobulin,developing the disease 11 to 13 days after categoryⅢexposure.Conclusions:Dogs were still the primary animal hosts.Most rabies patients died due to no or inadequate post-exposure prophylaxis.Vaccine inoculation rates for dogs should reach the target of 70%as soon as possible.Health departments should improve the accessibility and quality of PEP;and improve the health literacy of the elderly in rural areas.

Study and prediction of the 2022 global monkeypox epidemic

The World Health Organization(WHO)declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern(PHEIC)on July 23,2022,their highest level of alert.This raised concerns about the management of the global monkeypox outbreak,as well as the scientific analysis and accurate prediction of the future course of the epidemic.This study used EpiSIX(an analysis and prediction system for epidemics based on a general SEIR model)to analyze the monkeypox epidemic and to forecast the major tendencies based on data from the USA CDC(https://www.cdc.gov)and the WHO(https://www.who.int/health-topics/monkeypox).The global outbreak of monkeypox started in the UK on May 2,2022,which marked the beginning of an epidemic wave.As of October 28,2022,the cumulative number of reported cases worldwide was 77,115,with 36 deaths.EpiSIX simulations predict that the global monkeypox epidemic will enter a low epidemic status on March 1,2023 with the cumulative number of confirmed cases ranging from 85,000 to 124,000,and the total number of deaths ranging from 60 to 87.Our analysis revealed that the basic reproduction number(R0)of monkeypox virus(MPXV)is near to 3.1 and the percentage of asymptomatic individuals is 13.1%–14.5%,both of which are similar to the data for SARS.The vaccination efficiency against susceptibility(VEs)of individuals who have had monkeypox is~79%,and the vaccination efficiency against infectiousness(VEi)of individuals who have had monkeypox is~76%–82%.The mean incubation period for monkeypox is 8 days.In total,94.7%of infected individuals develop symptoms within 20 days and recover within 2 weeks after the confirmation of symptoms.Simulation results using EpiSIX showed that ring vaccination was remarkably effective against monkeypox.Our findings confirmed that a 20-day isolation for close contacts is necessary.

Neglected tropical diseases in Brazilian children and adolescents:data analysis from 2009 to 2013

Background:Neglected tropical diseases(NTDs)prevail in conditions of poverty and contribute to the maintenance of social inequality.Out of the NTDs prioritized by the Brazilian Ministry of Health,four parasitic infections require mandatory notification:acute Chagas disease,leishmaniasis,malaria,and schistosomiasis.Data on the behaviour of these NTDs in the young population are currently limited.This study seeks to analyse the epidemiological aspects of these parasitic infections in children and adolescents in Brazil.Methods:A retrospective exploratory ecological study was conducted.A spatial analysis of the cases reported between 2009 and 2013 in individuals aged between 0 and 19 years that were notified through the Health Notification Aggravation Information System(SINAN)was performed.Results:In total,64,567 cases of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis,malaria,schistosomiasis,and acute Chagas disease were recorded in the SINAN database,representing a rate of 20.15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.The average age of the cases was 12.2 years and 62.32%were male.Four hundred and three deaths related to these obligatorily reported parasites were recorded,indicating a case fatality rate of 0.62%.Visceral leishmaniasis and acute Chagas disease had the highest rates of lethality.A heterogeneous spatial distribution of the studied parasites was observed.Conclusions:The number of cases and the lethality rate described in this study show that these diseases still represent a serious problem for public health in Brazil.This points to the need to encourage new research and the reformulation of social,economic,and public health policies aimed at ensuring better health and living conditions for all individuals,especially those among the populations considered vulnerable,as is the case of the young.

Sanitary Evaluation of Rural Water Supply Projects—China,2020

Summary What is already known about this topic?Over the last decade,the centralized water quality and supply have been substantially enhanced in rural China.However,compared with the urban water supply,most of the rural Water Supply Projects(WaSPs)are small in scale,simple in engineering facilities,and poor in management.What is added by this report?Most of the rural WaSPs have been basically guaranteed sustainable sources of water.More measures should be taken to improve water disinfection effects,water losses control,and operational and maintenance management.The WaSPs with water supply<3,000 m3/d need to be paid more attention.What are the implications for public health practice?Laws and regulations requiring rural WaSPs to carry out a sanitary evaluation should be established.WaSPs should use tools such as World Health Organization Water Safety Plans to identify and control risks.