Seroprevalence of Bartonella in Eastern China and analysis of risk factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>infections are emerging in the Zhejiang Province of China. However, there has been no effort to date to explore the epidemiology of these infections in this region, nor to identify risk factors associated with exposure to <it>Bartonella</it>. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>in both patients bitten by dogs and blood donors (for control) in Eastern China, and to identify risk factors associated with exposure to <it>Bartonella</it>. As no previous data for this region have been published, this study will provide baseline data useful for <it>Bartonella </it>infection surveillance, control, and prevention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from industrial rabies clinic attendees and blood donors living in eight areas of the Zhejiang Province of China, between December 2005 and November 2006. An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was used to determine the presence of <it>Bartonella </it>in these samples. Risk factors associated with <it>Bartonella </it>exposure were explored using Chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis of epidemiological data relating to the study's participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>antibodies were detected in 19.60% (109/556) of blood samples. Seroprevalence varied among the eight areas surveys, ranging from over 32% in Hangzhou to only 2% in Jiangshan (X²= 28.22, P < 0.001). We detected a significantly higher prevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>antibodies in people who had been bitten by dogs than in blood donors (X²= 13.86, P < 0.001). Seroprevalence of <it>Bartonella </it>was similar among males (18.61%, n = 317) and females (20.92%, n = 239).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bartonella </it>antibodies were encountered in people living across Zhejiang Province and the seropositivity rate among those exposed to dog bites was significantly higher than that among blood donors, indicating that dog bites may be a risk factor for <it>Bartonella </it>infection.</p

Estimation of scrub typhus incidence and spatiotemporal multicomponent characteristics from 2016 to 2023 in Zhejiang Province, China

BackgroundChina is one of the main epidemic areas of scrub typhus, and Zhejiang Province, which is located in the coastal area of southeastern China, is considered a key region of scrub typhus. However, there may be significant bias in the number of reported cases of scrub typhus, to the extent that its epidemiological patterns are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to estimate the possible incidence of scrub typhus and to identify the main driving components affecting the occurrence of scrub typhus at the county level.MethodsData on patients with scrub typhus diagnosed at medical institutions between January 2016 and December 2023 were collected from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System (CDCPIS). The kriging interpolation method was used to estimate the possible incidence of scrub typhus. Additionally, a multivariate time series model was applied to identify the main driving components affecting the occurrence of scrub typhus in different regions.ResultsFrom January 2016 to September 2023, 2,678 cases of scrub typhus were reported in Zhejiang Province, including 1 case of reported death, with an overall case fatality rate of 0.04%. The seasonal characteristics of scrub typhus in Zhejiang Province followed an annual single peak model, and the months of peak onset in different cities were different. The estimated area with case occurrence was relatively wider. There were 41 counties in Zhejiang Province with an annual reported case count of less than 1, while from the estimated annual incidence, the number of counties with less than 1 case decreased to 21. The average annual number of cases in most regions fluctuated between 0 and 15. The numbers of cases in the central urban area of Hangzhou city, Jiaxin city and Huzhou city did not exceed 5. The estimated random effect variance parameters σλ2, σϕ2, and σν2 were 0.48, 1.03 and 3.48, respectively. The endemic component values of the top 10 counties were Shuichang, Cangnan, Chun’an, Xinchang, Pingyang, Xianju, Longquan, Dongyang, Yueqing and Qingyuan. The spatiotemporal component values of the top 10 counties were Pujiang, Anji, Pan’an, Dongyang, Jinyun, Ninghai, Yongjia, Xiaoshan, Yinwu and Shengzhou. The autoregressive component values of the top 10 counties were Lin’an, Cangnan, Chun’an, Yiwu, Pujiang, Longquan, Xinchang, Luqiao, Sanmen and Fuyang.ConclusionThe estimated incidence was higher than the current reported number of cases, and the possible impact area of the epidemic was also wider than the areas with reported cases. The main driving factors of the scrub typhus epidemic in Zhejiang included endemic components such as natural factors, but there was significant heterogeneity in the composition of driving factors in different regions. Some regions were driven by spatiotemporal spread across regions, and the time autoregressive effect in individual regions could not be ignored. These results that monitoring of cases, vectors, and pathogens of scrub typhus should be strengthened. Furthermore, each region should take targeted prevention and control measures based on the main driving factors of the local epidemic to improve the accuracy of prevention and control

Association between eating alone and depressive symptom in elders: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Depression is one of the main health concerns in elders which could lead to many negative outcomes. Eating alone is an emerging issue in elders in China and would become more serious along with the fast course of industrialization and urbanization, as well as population aging. However, their relationship was seldom researched. METHODS: Using a two-stage cluster sampling strategy, an investigation was conducted in 2014 among 9,361 permanent residents aged 60 years and above in Zhejiang Province, China. Totally, 7,968 cognitively normal elders were included in our analysis. Multilevel logistic regression was used to explore the association between eating arrangement (number of companions in mealtime) and depressive symptom as well as the association between eating alone and depressive symptom in relation to living alone. RESULTS: In our sample, 17.1 % of the elders ate alone and 8.7 % had depressive symptom. We observed a distinct inverse association between eating arrangement (number of companions in mealtime) and geriatric depressive symptom (female: OR = 1.12, P = 0.027; aged 60–74 years: OR = 1.16, P = 0.002), after adjustment for demography, socioeconomic status, social relation, health behaviors, underlying conditions and living alone. We then introduced a combined variable of eating alone and living alone and examined its relationship with depressive symptom. We found that compared with elders who ate and lived with others, those who ate alone but lived with others had a significant increased odds of depressive symptom (female: OR = 1.62, P = 0.027; aged 60–74 years: OR = 1.59, P = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that a lack of companionship in mealtime might be independently associated with geriatric depressive symptom for females and those aged 60–74 years. What’s more, eating alone might be a stronger factor associated with depressive symptom than living alone. We recommend interventions to be performed in encouraging elders especially females and those aged 60–74 years to eat with others. Longitudinal studies in different populations which focus on this topic are required to better understand this issue

Spatial and temporal analysis of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Zhejiang Province, China, 2011 - 2015

Introduction: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease first discovered in northeast and central China in 2009, and SFTS cases increased year by year in China. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal clusters of SFTS in Zhejiang Province, China. Methodology: We analyzed the surveillance data of SFTS in Zhejiang Province during 2011 - 2015. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general characteristics and overall trend of SFTS. Circular statistic method was utilized to identify the seasonality. Space–time scan analysis was performed to explore the high risk spatio-temporal clusters of SFTS cases at county level. Results: A total of 194 confirmed SFTS cases were reported in Zhejiang Province during 2011 - 2015. We found a significant increase in overall time trend since 2011. The seasonality was statistically significant (P < 0.001), with a mean date (95% CI) of 21st June (12th ~ 30th in June). Totally 21 (23%) counties reported the occurrence of SFTS, which gradually spread throughout Zhejiang. Three spatio-temporal clusters were detected, with one principle cluster (Daishan County, RR 234.48, June 2013 - November 2015) and two secondary clusters (6 counties, RR 30.73, April - October in 2015; Anji County, RR 373.26, May 2014). Conclusions: Our results suggested that SFTS has increased and spatially expanded over the past years, with a remarkable seasonality. Three spatio-temporal clusters were identified. These findings are important for the improvement of SFTS surveillance and control strategies

Case Report: Clinical management of a severe DBA patient with a novel RPS19 mutation

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare congenital bone marrow failure disorder characterized by defective erythropoiesis, typically caused by mutations in ribosomal protein (RP) genes, most commonly RPS19. It usually presents in early infancy with severe anemia, growth retardation, and an increased risk of congenital malformations and malignancies. However, cases of DBA leading to severe anemia and shock are exceedingly rare. This case report describes a life-threatening presentation of DBA in a 56-day-old female infant who presented with severe anemia and shock. The infant was admitted with a 2-day history of poor feeding and persistent crying, accompanied by hypothermia (34.4°C), unresponsiveness, and profound pallor. Initial laboratory findings revealed critical anemia (hemoglobin 18 g/L) and severe metabolic acidosis (pH 6.61, base excess −36.06 mmol/L). Hemodynamic instability, including undetectable blood pressure and prolonged capillary refill time, indicated shock. Immediate interventions, including volume expansion with normal saline, correction of acidosis with sodium bicarbonate, and packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfusion, stabilized the infant. Genetic testing identified a de novo heterozygous mutation in the RPS19 gene (c.3G &gt; T), confirming the diagnosis of DBA. Over the course of a 1-year follow-up, the infant required regular blood transfusions at approximately 4-week intervals to sustain hemoglobin levels within the range of 69–86 g/L. Growth retardation and poor appetite were observed, consistent with the known complications of DBA. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and aggressive management of severe anemia in infants, particularly in the context of DBA, to prevent life-threatening complications such as shock and metabolic acidosis. The role of genetic testing in confirming the diagnosis and guiding long-term management is emphasized. This report also reviews the literature on DBA, focusing on the pathophysiology of anemia, the association between RPS19 mutations and clinical phenotypes, and the challenges of managing transfusion-dependent patients. The findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach to DBA, including regular monitoring for complications such as iron overload, growth retardation, and malignancy risk. Early genetic counseling and tailored therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving outcomes in this rare and complex disorder

Risk Factors for Severe Cases of 2009 Influenza A (H1N1): A Case Control Study in Zhejiang Province, China

Few case control studies were conducted to explore risk factors for severe cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) with the mild cases as controls. Mild and severe cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1), 230 cases each, were randomly selected from nine cities in Zhejiang Province, China, and unmatched case control study was conducted. This study found that it averagely took 5 days for the severe cases of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) to start antiviral therapy away from onset, 2 days later than mild cases. Having chronic underlying diseases and bad psychological health combined with chronic underlying diseases were two important risk factors for severe cases, and their OR values were 2.39 and 5.85 respectively. Timely anti-viral therapy was a protective factor for severe cases (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: [0.18–0.67]). In conclusion, psychological health education and intervention, as well as timely anti-viral therapy, could not be ignored in the prevention, control and treatment of 2009 influenza A (H1N1)

Convenient synthesis of carbon nanodots for detecting Cr(<scp>vi</scp>) and ascorbic acid by fluorimetry

Carbon nanodots (CDs) were simply synthesized from Sophora flavescens Ait. “On–off–on” fluorescent probes for the sensitive and selective detections of Cr(iv) and ascorbic acid (AA) were founded and well applied in real samples.</p