Assessment of intensity of seasonal influenza activity in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, 2019-2021 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To explore the feasibility of moving epidemic method (MEM) in the assessment of seasonal influenza (influenza) activity intensity from the perspective of urban agglomeration, assess influenza activity intensity in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2019 to 2021 and evaluate the reliability of surveillance data and the effectiveness of the MEM model application. Methods: The weekly reported incidence rate (IR) of influenza and the percentage of influenza-like illness (ILI%) from 2011-2021 in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region were collected to establish MEM models respectively. The model fitting effect and the reliability of the two data were evaluated for the purpose of establishing an optimal model to assess the influenza activity intensity in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region from 2019-2021. A cross-validation procedure was used to evaluate the performance of the models by calculating the Youden's index, sensitivity and specificity. Results: The MEM model fitted with weekly ILI% had a higher Youden's index compared with the model fitted with weekly IR at both Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region level and provincial level. The MEM model based on ILI% showed that the epidemic threshold in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region during 2019-2020 was 4.42%, the post-epidemic threshold was 4.66%, with medium, high and very high intensity thresholds as 5.38%, 7.22% and 7.84%, respectively. The influenza season during 2019-2020 had 10 weeks (week 50 of 2019 to week 7 of 2020). The influenza season started in week 50 of 2019, and the intensity fluctuated above and below medium epidemic level for six consecutive weeks. The high intensity was observed in week 4 of 2020, the threshold of very high intensity was excessed in week 5, and the intensity gradually declined and became lower than the threshold at the end of the influenza season in week 8. The epidemic threshold was 4.29% and the post-epidemic threshold was 4.35% during 2020-2021. Influenza activity level never excessed the epidemic threshold throughout the year, and no epidemic period emerged. Conclusions: The MEM model could be applied in the assessment of influenza activity intensity in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the use of ILI% to assess influenza activity intensity in this region was more reliable than IR data. Influenza activity intensity in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region was higher during 2019-2020 but significantly lower in 2020-2021.

The correlations between influenza and meteorological factors in 15 cities of northern China, 2008-2020 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the influence of meteorological factors on the morbidity of influenza in northern cities of China and explore the differences in the influence of meteorological factors on the morbidity of influenza in 15 cities. Methods: The monthly reported morbidity of influenza and monthly meteorological data from 2008 to 2020 were collected in 15 provincial capital cities, including Xi 'an, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan and Urumqi (5 northwestern cities), Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Hohhot, Ji'nan, Zhengzhou (7 northern cities), Shenyang, Changchun and Harbin (3 northeastern cities). The panel data regression model was applied to conduct quantitative analyze on the influence of meteorological factors on influenza morbidity. Results: The univariate and multivariate panel regression analysis showed that after controlling the population density and other meteorological factors, for each 5 ℃ drop of monthly average temperature, the morbidity change percentage (MCP) of influenza was 11.35%, 34.04% and 25.04% in the 3 northeastern cities, 7 northern cities and 5 northwestern cities, respectively, and the best lag period months was 1, 0 and 1 month; When the monthly average relative humidity decreased by 10%, the MCP was 15.84% in 3 cities in northeastern China and 14.80% in 7 cities in northern China respectively, and the best lag period months was 2 and 1 months respectively; The MCP of 5 cities in northwestern China was 4.50% for each 10 mm reduction of monthly accumulated precipitation, and the best lag period months was 1 month; The MCPs of 3 cities in northeastern China and 5 cities in northwestern China were 4.19% and 5.97% respectively when the accumulated sunshine duration of each month decreased by 10 hours, the best lag period months was 1 month. Conclusions: In northern cities of China from 2008 to 2020, the temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and sunshine duration all had negatively impact on the morbidity of influenza, and temperature and relative humidity were the main sensitive meteorological factors. Temperature had a strong direct impact on the morbidity of influenza in 7 cities in northern China, and relative humidity had a strong lag effect on the morbidity of influenza in 3 cities in northeastern China. The duration of sunshine in 5 cities in northwestern China had a greater impact on the morbidity of influenza compared with 3 cities in northeastern China.

Progress in the practice of surveillance and early warning of infectious diseases in major countries and regions / 中华流行病学杂志

The COVID-19 pandemic is yet another reminder that the threat of infectious disease has never really gone away. As the cornerstone of preventing and controlling infectious diseases, effective surveillance and early warning are of great significance in understanding the outbreak and epidemic of specific infectious diseases and putting forward effective prevention and control measures. Therefore, we must continue strengthening the construction of infectious disease surveillance and early warning system. We reviewed the surveillance and early warning practices of infectious diseases in major countries and regions, then discussed the development direction in the field of surveillance and early warning of infectious diseases to provide the reference for strengthening the construction and capacity of infectious disease surveillance and early warning system in China.

Effects of auricular point sticking on dry eye in myopia patients after SMILE surgery: a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the intervention effect of auricular point sticking on dry eye in myopia patients after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) surgery.Methods: This was a prospective randomized controlled study conducted among the myopia patients who received SMILE surgery at Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University. The post-SMILE operation patients who screened by the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomized into a control group and a treatment group. Patients in the control group were given 0.1％ fluorometholone and 0.5％ carboxymethylcellulose sodium eye drops, while the treatment group was given additional unilateral auricular point sticking for 1 month. The patients were estimated using ocular surface disease index (OSDI), Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1), tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score, corneal sensitivity (CS) and visual quality (VQ) at 1 d, 1 week and 1 month after surgery; the changes in anxiety and depression were also observed in the patients. Results: Compared with the first day after operation, CS in the nasal region was improved in the treatment group, and the VQ score increased in the control group patients at 1 week after operation (both P<0.05); at 1 month after operation, the TF-BUT increased, CFS score decreased, CS in the central and nasal regions increased (all P<0.05), and VQ score increased (P<0.01) in the treatment group, and the CS in the central, upper, lower and nasal regions were improved (all P<0.05), and VQ score increased (P<0.01) in the control group. The between-group comparison showed that the differences in the change of TF-BUT were statistically significant at 1 week and 1 month after surgery, respectively (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Auricular point sticking therapy can increase the TF-BUT and accelerate the repair of ocular surface function in post-SMILE patients.

Clinical observation of Zhen'ai needling method in Nei Jing (Classic of Internal Medicine) for children with allergic rhinitis accompanied by adenoid hypertrophy / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhen'ai needling method in Nei Jing (Classic of Internal Medicine) for children with allergic rhinitis (AR) accompanied by adenoid hypertrophy (AH). Methods: A total of 74 children who met the screening criteria were divided into a Zhen'ai group and a control group by the random number table method, with 37 cases in each group. The control group was treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Hegu (LI 4), Yingxiang (LI 20), Juliao (ST 3), Yintang (GV 29), Shangxing (GV 23) and Baihui (GV 20). The Zhen'ai group added points of Zhen'ai needling method {Shanglianquan [Extra, located at 1 cun above Lianquan (CV 23)], Tianrong (SI 17) and Lieque (LU 7)} in addition to the points in the control group. The needles were retained for 30 min. The treatment was performed twice a week. The total nasal symptom score (TNSS), sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) and symptom scale for AH (SSAH) were assessed before and after 10 treatments. The clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared after treatment. Results: During the treatment, 5 cases dropped out in the control group and 2 cases in the Zhen'ai group. After treatment, the total effective rate of the Zhen'ai group was 94.3％, versus 93.8％ in the control group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The markedly effective rate of the Zhen'ai group was 42.9％, versus 12.5％ in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After treatment, there were significant intra-group differences in the scores of TNSS, SNOT-20 and SSAH in both groups (all P<0.05); the scores of SNOT-20 and SSAH in the Zhen'ai group were lower than those in the control group, and the differences between the groups were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both conventional acupuncture and conventional acupuncture plus Zhen'ai needling method can improve clinical symptoms of children with AR accompanied by AH; and conventional acupuncture plus Zhen'ai needling method has a better effect than conventional acupuncture in improving AH symptoms.

Effects of electroacupuncture on conjunctival cell apoptosis and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Fas and Bcl-2 in rabbits with dry eye syndrome / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective: By observing the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the apoptosis of conjunctival cells of rabbits with dry eye syndrome (DES) and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Fas and Bcl-2, to discuss the mechanism of EA in the treatment of DES from the perspective of cell apoptosis. Methods: Male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group (NG), a model group (MG), an EA group (EAG) and a sham EA group (SEAG). DES rabbit model was developed by eye drop of 0.1％ benzalkonium chloride. The rabbit tear secretion and tear film break-up time (BUT) were measured; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect the apoptosis of conjunctival cells; the expressions of Caspase-3, Fas and Bcl-2 proteins in conjunctival cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with the NG, the rabbit tear secretion decreased and the BUT was shortened in the MG (both P<0.01); compared with the MG and the SEAG, the rabbit tear secretion increased and the BUT was prolonged in the EAG (all P<0.05). Compared with the NG, the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells increased (P<0.01), the expressions of Caspase-3 and Fas proteins increased (both P<0.05), and the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased (P<0.01) in the MG; compared with the MG and the SEAG, the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells decreased (both P<0.01), the expressions of Caspase-3 and Fas proteins decreased (all P<0.05), and the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased (both P<0.01) in the EAG. Conclusion: EA can inhibit the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells, down-regulate the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 and Fas, and up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 protein, which may be one of the mechanisms of EA in treatment of DES.

Clinical observation of Zhen'ai needling method in Nei Jing (Classic of Internal Medicine) on improving quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effect of Zhen'ai needling method in Nei Jing (Classic of Internal Medicine) on quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).Methods:A total of 99 patients with AR who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into a conventional needling group (51 cases) and a Zhen'ai needling group (48 cases).The conventional needling group was treated with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36),Hegu (LI 4),Juliao (ST 3),Yingxiang (LI 20),Yintang (GV 29),Shangxing (GV 23) and Baihui (GV 20).The Zhen'ai needling group added acupoints of Zhen'ai needling method {Lieque (LU 7),Shanglianquan [Extra,located at 1 cun above Lianquan (CV 23)] and Tianrong (SI 17)} in addition to points in the conventional needling group.The needles were retained for 30 min.The treatment was performed twice a week.All patients were assessed by total nasal symptom score (TNSS),total ocular symptom score (TOSS) and sino-nasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20) before and after 15 treatments to evaluate the quality of life.The clinical efficacy was evaluated after 15 treatments.Results:During the treatment,8 cases dropped out in the conventional needling group and 7 cases in the Zhen'ai needling group.There were no significant differences in TNSS,TOSS and SNOT-20 scores between the two groups before treatment (all P＞0.05).After treatment,the total effective rate of the Zhen'ai needling group was 92.7％,versus 88.4％ in the conventional needling group.There was no significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).After treatment,there were no significant differences between the two groups in TNSS and TOSS scores (both P＞0.05).The SNOT-20 score of the Zhen'ai needling group was lower than that of the conventional needling group,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There were statistical differences between the two groups in the scores of cough and nasal reflux (to the throat) of the NOT-20 scale (both P＜0.05).Conclusion:Both Zhen'ai needling method and conventional acupuncture are effective in the treatment of AR.Zhen'ai needling method has a better effect than conventional acupuncture in improving cough and nasal reflux (to the throat) in AR patients.

Effect of moxibustion on CRF and CRFR1 expressions in hypothalamus of TNBS-induced experimental colitis rats / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

Objective:To observe the effect of moxibustion on the protein and mRNA expressions of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)and corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) in hypothalamus of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced experimental colitis rats,and to explore the central mechanisms of moxibustion in improving visceral pain and the pain-related emotions in experimental colitis rats.Methods:Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group (NG),a model group (MG),a herb-partitioned moxibustion group (HPMG) and a sham herb-partitioned moxibustion group (SHPMG).Except the NG,rats in the remaining three groups all received TNBS enema to establish experimental colitis models.The HPMG received herb-partitioned moxibustion (HPM) at bilateral Tianshu (ST 25) and Qihai (CV 6) for intervention;for the SHPMG,the herbal cakes and moxa cones were only placed on the acupoints but not ignited;rats in the MG and NG were only fixed in the same way as those in the HPMG but did not receive any treatment.At the end of the intervention,the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score,the open field test (OFT) score and the elevated plus maze (EPM) score were observed to measure the changes in visceral pain and pain-related emotions of the rats.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine the expressions of CRF and CRFR1 proteins in hypothalamus;the fluorescence-based quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expressions of CRF and CRFR1 mRNAs in hypothalamus.Results:Compared with the NG,the AWR score increased significantly and the OFT and EPM scores dropped significantly in the MG (all P＜0.05),and the expressions of hypothalamic CRF and CRFR1 proteins and mRNAs increased significantly (all P＜0.01).Compared with the MG and SHPMG,the AWR score dropped significantly and the OFT and EPM scores increased significantly in the HPMG (all P＜0.01),and the expressions of hypothalamic CRF and CRFR1 proteins and mRNAs decreased significantly (all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between the MG and the SHPMG (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:HPM can down-regulate the abnormally increased expressions of CRF and CRFR1 proteins and mRNAs in hypothalamus of the TNBS-induced experimental colitis rats,which is plausibly one of its action mechanisms in mitigating visceral pain and the pain-related emotions in the experimental colitis rats.

Full sequence analysis and characterization of the Shenzhen Norovirus strain SZ2010422 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To obtain information on viral molecular structural and evolutionary characteristics, we conducted the SZ2010422 full-length genomic analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primers were designed by New Orleans full sequence, SZ2010422 full genome was amplified by RT-PCR, the whole genome sequence and the capsid domain amino acid sites was analysised after cloned and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genome of G II-4 Norovirus SZ2010422 strain was consist of 7559 bp, it revealed three ORFs composites of the whole genome, ORF1 (5100 bp), ORF2 (1623 bp), ORF3 (807 bp) respectively, ORF1 and ORF2 had 19 nucleotide overlap. By evolutionary comparative analysis found SZ2010422 genomic nucleotide sequences with reference strains of G II-4 New Orleans1805 strains the highest homology with a total length of homology was 99.3%, of ORF1 (99.5%), ORF2 (99.2%), ORF3 (98.6%). Phylogenetic analyses showed SZ2010422 belonging to G II-4 New Orleans variant. Date of 541 amino acid analyses showed: New Orleans variant strains of popular sites: aa310N or K, --> S aa341D --> of N, aa359T--> S, aa396H --> P, aa460H --> Y.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Norovirus SZ2010422 belonged to the G II-4 New Orleans variant. In This study, SZ2010422 full sequence can be used not only as a full-length NoV variant sequence standard for future comparison studies, but also as useful material for the public health field by enabling the diagnosis, vaccine development, and prediction of new emerging variants. Noroviruses; Genes; Sequence analysis</p>

Genetic characterization of G II.12 norovirus in Beijing from 2008 to 2009 / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To reveal the genetic characteristics of GII.12 Norovirus strains isolating from stool samples of adults with diarrhea in Beijing during 2008-2009.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>RdRp, ORF2, ORF3 and ORF1/ORF2 overlap region were respectively amplified by primers using RT-PCR. The products were purified, cloned, sequenced and then aligned, phylogenetic and recombinant analyzed by softwares of DNAStar, MEGA and SimPlot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>According to the phylogenetic analysis, 11 strains belonged to G II.g in the RdRp region,while GII.12 in the ORF2 and ORF3. SimPlot analysis further confirmed the 11 strains were recombinant strains ( G II.g [RdRp]/G II.12 [capsid]).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>G II.12 Norovirus prevailing in Beijing and other regions of the world belonged to the same strain, and we identified the genetic characteristics of G II.12 Norovirus in Beijing.</p>