Biomedical and Environmental Sciences

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Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of the First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China (30 day view times: 47)

Yuliang Feng, Wei Li, Mingfeng Jiang, Hongrong Zhong, Wei Wu, Lyubo Tian, Guo Chen, Zhenhua Chen, Can Luo, Rongmei Yuan, Xingyu Zhou, Jiandong Li, Xiaorong Yang, Ming Pan

2025, 38(3): 279-289. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.014

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Objective This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF. Methods Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus. Results LASV was detected in the patient’s CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response. Conclusion The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.

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Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China 2022: an Updated Summary (30 day view times: 34)

The Writing Committee of the Report on Cardiovascular Health and Diseases in China

2023, 36(8): 669-701. doi: 10.3967/bes2023.106

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In the past 30 years, the accessibility and quality index of medical care have made remarkable progress in China, ranking the first among middle-income countries. Many cardiovascular technologies are at or near the world's leading level, and significant progress has been achieved in China solving the problem of “treatment difficulty” of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, due to the prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles among Chinese residents, a huge population with CVD risk factors, accelerated population aging, and other reasons, the incidence and mortality rate of CVD are still increasing, and the turning point of the decline in disease burden has not appeared yet in China. In terms of proportions of disease mortality among urban and rural residents, CVD still ranks the first. In 2020, CVD accounted for 48.00% and 45.86% of the causes of death in rural and urban areas, respectively; two out of every five deaths were due to CVD. It is estimated that the number of current CVD patients in China is around 330 million, including 13 million stroke, 11.39 million coronary heart disease, 8.9 million heart failure, 5 million pulmonary heart disease, 4.87 million atrial fibrillation, 2.5 million rheumatic heart disease, 2 million congenital heart disease, 45.3 million peripheral artery disease, and 245 million hypertension cases. China has entered a new stage of transformation from high-speed development to high-quality development, and the prevention and control of CVD in China should also shift from previous emphasis on scale growth to strategies focusing more on strategic and key technological development in order to curb the trend of increasing incidence and mortality rates of CVD.

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Environmental Temperature and the Risk of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Transmission in the Yangtze River Region of China (30 day view times: 29)

Yanqing Yang, Min Chen, Jin Li, Kaiqi Liu, Xueyan Guo, Xin Xu, Qian Liang, Xinglu Wu, Suwen Lei, Jing Li

2025, 38(3): 290-302. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.011

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Objective To assess health equity in the Yangtze River region to improve understanding of the correlation between hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) and socioeconomic factors. Methods From 2014–2016, data on HFMD incidence, population statistics, economic indicators, and meteorology from 26 cities along the Yangtze River were analyzed. A multi-city random-effects meta-analysis was performed to study the relationship between temperature and HFMD transmission, and health equity was assessed with respect to socio-economic impact. Results Over the study period, 919,458 HFMD cases were reported, with Shanghai (162,303) having the highest incidence and Tongling (5,513) having the lowest. Males were more commonly affected (male-to-female ratio, 1.49:1). The exposure-response relationship had an M-shaped curve, with two HFMD peaks occurring at 4 °C and 26 °C. The relative risk had two peaks at 1.30 °C (1.834, 95% CI: 1.204–2.794) and 31.4 °C (1.143, 95% CI: 0.901–1.451), forming an M shape, with the first peak higher than the second. The most significant impact of temperature on HFMD was observed between –2 °C and 18.1 °C. The concentration index (0.2463) indicated moderate concentration differences, whereas the Theil index (0.0418) showed low inequality in distribution. Conclusion The incidence of HFMD varied across cities, particularly with changes in temperature. Economically prosperous areas showed higher risks, indicating disparities. Targeted interventions in these areas are crucial for mitigating the risk of HFMD.

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Causal Associations between Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM_2.5), PM_2.5 Absorbance, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study (30 day view times: 29)

Xu Zhang, Zhimeng Wu, Lu Zhang, Binglong Xin, Xiangrui Wang, Xinlan Lu, Guifang Lu, Mudan Ren, Shuixiang He, Yarui Li

2025, 38(2): 167-177. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.142

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Objective Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM_2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD. Methods We assessed the association of PM_2.5 and PM_2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn’s disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM_2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control. Results The results of MR demonstrated that PM_2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.001–1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM_2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC (OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004–1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM_2.5, PM_2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results. Conclusion Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM_2.5, PM_2.5 absorbance, and UC.

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Association of Loneliness and Social Isolation with Ischemic Heart Disease: A Bidirectional and Network Mendelian Randomization Study (30 day view times: 24)

Shuyao Su, Wanyue Wang, Chenxi Yuan, Zhennan Lin, Xiangfeng Lu, Fangchao Liu

2025, 38(3): 351-364. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.170

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Objective Observational studies have shown inconsistent associations of loneliness or social isolation (SI) with ischemic heart disease (IHD), with unknown mediators. Methods Using data from genome-wide association studies of predominantly European ancestry, we performed a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study to estimate causal effects of loneliness (N = 487,647) and SI traits on IHD (N = 184,305). SI traits included whether individuals lived alone, participated in various types of social activities, and how often they had contact with friends or family (N = 459,830 to 461,369). A network MR study was conducted to evaluate the mediating roles of 20 candidate mediators, including metabolic, behavioral and psychological factors. Results Loneliness increased IHD risk (OR = 2.129; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.380 to 3.285), mediated by body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. For SI traits, only fewer social activities increased IHD risk (OR = 1.815; 95% CI: 1.189 to 2.772), mediated by hypertension, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and smoking cessation. No reverse causality of IHD with loneliness and SI was found. Conclusion These findings suggested more attention should be paid to individuals who feel lonely and have fewer social activities to prevent IHD, with several mediators as prioritized targets for intervention.

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The First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China – Implications for Global Health Surveillance (30 day view times: 24)

Qiyong Liu

2025, 38(3): 277-278. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.029

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Mito-TEMPO Ameliorates Sodium Palmitate Induced Ferroptosis in MIN6 Cells through PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy (30 day view times: 23)

Baolei Chang, Yanyu Su, Tingting Li, Yanxia Zheng, Ruirui Yang, Heng Lu, Hao Wang, Yusong Ding

2024, 37(10): 1128-1141. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.111

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Objective Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) could cause damage to pancreatic β-cells, rendering them susceptible to oxidative damage. Hence, investigating the potential of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant (Mito-TEMPO) to protect pancreatic β-cells from ferroptosis by mitigating lipid peroxidation becomes crucial. Methods MIN6 cells were cultured in vitro with 100 μmol/L sodium palmitate (SP) to simulate diabetes. FerroOrange was utilized for the detection of Fe²⁺ fluorescence staining, BODIPY581/591C11 for lipid reactive oxygen species, and MitoSox-Red for mtROS. Alterations in mitophagy levels were assessed through the co-localization of lysosomal and mitochondrial fluorescence. Western blotting was employed to quantify protein levels of Acsl4, GPX4, FSP1, FE, PINK1, Parkin, TOMM20, P62, and LC3. Subsequently, interventions were implemented using Mito-TEMPO and Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) to observe changes in ferroptosis and mitophagy within MIN6 cells. Results We found that SP induced a dose-dependent increase in Fe²⁺ and lipid ROS in MIN6 cells while decreasing the expression levels of GPX4 and FSP1 proteins. Through bioinformatics analysis, it has been uncovered that mitophagy assumes a crucial role within the ferroptosis pathway associated with diabetes. Additionally, SP decreased the expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin, leading to mtROS overproduction. Conversely, Mito-TEMPO effectively eliminated mtROS while activating the mitophagy pathways involving PINK1 and Parkin, thereby reducing the occurrence of ferroptosis in MIN6 cells. CCCP also demonstrated efficacy in reducing ferroptosis in MIN6 cells. Conclusion In summary, Mito-TEMPO proved effective in attenuating mtROS production and initiating mitophagy pathways mediated by PINK1 and Parkin in MIN6 cells. Consequently, this decreased iron overload and lipid peroxidation, ultimately safeguarding the cells from ferroptosis.

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Impact of Laboratory Analytical Indicators on Positive Blood Culture Detection Rates: A Single Center Study (30 day view times: 23)

Di Wang, Lingli Liu, Ruirui Ma, Lijun Du, Guixue Cheng, Yali Liu, Qiaolian Yi, Yingchun Xu

2025, 38(3): 303-312. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.157

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Objective Blood culture remains the gold standard for diagnosing bloodstream infections. Clinical laboratories must ensure the quality of blood culture processes from receipt to obtaining definitive results. We examined laboratory analytical indicators associated with positive blood culture results. Methods Blood cultures collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively analyzed. The mode of transportation (piping logistics delivery vs. staff), source of blood cultures (outpatient/emergency department vs. inpatient department), rotation of personnel, and time of reception (8:00–19:59 vs. 20:00–07:59) were compared between blood culture-positive and -negative results. Results Between 2020 and 2022, the total positive rate of blood culture was 8.07%. The positive rate of blood cultures in the outpatient/emergency department was significantly higher than that in the inpatient department (12.46% vs. 5.83%; P < 0.0001). The time-to-detection of blood cultures was significantly affected by the delivery mode and personnel rotation. The blood culture positive rate of the total pre-analytical time within 1 h was significantly higher than that within 1–2 h or > 2 h (P < 0.0170). Conclusion Laboratory analytical indicators such as patient source, transportation mode, and personnel rotation significantly impacted the positive detection rate or time of blood culture.

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Cover (30 day view times: 23)

2025, 38(3).

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Research Advances in the Construction and Application of Intestinal Organoids (30 day view times: 22)

Qingxue Meng, Hongyang Yi, Peng Wang, Shan Liu, Weiquan Liang, Cuishan Chi, Chenyu Mao, Weizheng Liang, Jun Xue, Hongzhou Lu

2025, 38(2): 230-247. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.010

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The structure of intestinal tissue is complex. In vitro simulation of intestinal structure and function is important for studying intestinal development and diseases. Recently, organoids have been successfully constructed and they have come to play an important role in biomedical research. Organoids are miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) organs, derived from stem cells, which mimic the structure, cell types, and physiological functions of an organ, making them robust models for biomedical research. Intestinal organoids are 3D micro-organs derived from intestinal stem cells or pluripotent stem cells that can successfully simulate the complex structure and function of the intestine, thereby providing a valuable platform for intestinal development and disease research. In this article, we review the latest progress in the construction and application of intestinal organoids.

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Trends of Disease Burden of Pancreatic Cancer Attributed to High Fasting Plasma Glucose in China,1990–2021: Insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (30 day view times: 22)

Xiaochen Chen, Feifei Zhong, Juan Li

2025, 38(3): 379-384. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.027

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A New Classification System for Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Definition of the BCAMS Classification (30 day view times: 21)

Ming Li, Shan Gao

2025, 38(3): 376-378. doi: 10.3967/bes2025.006

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Impact of Endometrial Polyps on Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Endometriosis and Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (30 day view times: 21)

Liang Zhang, Qian Han, Meiru Bao, Ying Wu

2025, 38(3): 341-350. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.175

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Objective To evaluate the impact of endometrial polyps (EP) on postoperative pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with endometriosis (EMs). Methods PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, and WanFang Data databases were searched to include clinical studies on the effect of EP on pregnancy outcomes in patients with EMs, published before August 31, 2020. A meta-analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 software after two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. Results The meta-analysis included ten studies (651 and 1,040 in the combined EP and uncomplicated EP groups, respectively). The spontaneous pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were significantly lower in the group with combined EPs than in the group without combined EPs [Odd’s ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.80, P = 0.0001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48–0.84, P = 0.001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42–0.96, P = 0.03], and the rate of embryonic abortion was significantly higher than that in the uncomplicated EP group [OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.52–6.32, P = 0.002]. Conclusion EP may adversely affect pregnancy outcomes in patients with infertility and EMs. Even after surgical treatment, EP can still reduce natural pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in infertile women with EMs and increase the risk of embryo arrest in these women.

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Comprehensive Analysis of Oncogenic, Prognostic, and Immunological Roles of FANCD2 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Potential Predictor for Survival and Immunotherapy (30 day view times: 21)

Mengjiao Xu, Wen Deng, Tingting Jiang, Shiyu Wang, Ruyu Liu, Min Chang, Shuling Wu, Ge Shen, Xiaoxue Chen, Yuanjiao Gao, Hongxiao Hao, Leiping Hu, Lu Zhang, Yao Lu, Wei Yi, Yao Xie, Minghui Li

2025, 38(3): 313-327. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.182

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Objective Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sensitive to ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death that occurs in most tumor types. However, the mechanism through which ferroptosis modulates HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role and prognostic value of FANCD2 and provide novel insights into the prognostic assessment and prediction of immunotherapy. Methods Using clinicopathological parameters and bioinformatic techniques, we comprehensively examined the expression of FANCD2 macroscopically and microcosmically. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic value of FANCD2 in HCC and elucidated the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of FANCD2 in oncogenesis by promoting iron-related death. Results FANCD2 was significantly upregulated in digestive system cancers with abundant immune infiltration. As an independent risk factor for HCC, a high FANCD2 expression level was associated with poor clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that FANCD2 was mainly involved in the cell cycle and CYP450 metabolism. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively elucidate the oncogenic role of FANCD2. FANCD2 has a tumor-promoting aspect in the digestive system and acts as an independent risk factor in HCC; hence, it has recognized value for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis and may be a potential biomarker for poor responsiveness to immunotherapy.

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Advancements in Mpox Vaccine Development: A Comprehensive Review of Global Progress and Recent Data (30 day view times: 20)

Yuqian Zhai, Yize Han, Wenling Wang, Wenjie Tan

2025, 38(2): 248-254. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.121

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Since May 2022, a severe global Mpox epidemic has underscored the urgent need for a preventative vaccine. On September 16, 2022, the mainland of China reported its first case of imported Mpox, which was subsequently followed by a significant rise in domestic infections commencing from June 2023. This alarming trend has escalated the likelihood of localized outbreaks and covert transmission, posing a heightened risk to public health. Notably, the United States, many European countries, and Japan have approved the use of smallpox vaccines for Mpox prevention and emergency vaccination post-exposure, based on their cross-protection efficacy. In recent years, virology research has broadened its scope to include investigations into various novel vaccine approaches, such as nucleic acid-based vaccines, protein subunit vaccines, and epitope peptide vaccines, and other related methodologies. This review offers a thorough examination of the current global landscape of Mpox prevalence, delves into the advancements in Mpox vaccine development, and highlights the progress achieved in Mpox vaccine research, serving as a valuable resource and providing technical insights essential for the effective prevention and control of Mpox.

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Bone Injury and Fracture Healing Biology (30 day view times: 20)

Ahmad Oryan, Somayeh Monazzah, Amin Bigham-Sadegh

2015, 28(1): 57-71. doi: 10.3967/bes2015.006

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Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment, Gua Sha, can Induce Subtle Molecular Changes in Gene Expression (30 day view times: 19)

QI Fei, CAI Ye, CHEN Jun Jie, CHEN Chun Li, HAN Xue Er, XIA Qiu, KAPRANOV Philipp

2023, 36(5): 441-451. doi: 10.3967/bes2023.053

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Objective Here, we explored molecular changes that could potentially mediate healing effects of Gua Sha — a method employed by the Chinese traditional medicine with proven track records of safe and efficient applications dating back to ancient times as well as support from randomized controlled trials performed by modern medical studies — yet remaining almost entirely unexplored by the modern-day high-throughput methods of the -omics sciences. Methods We investigated transcriptome changes occurring shortly after Gua Sha treatment in the whole blood of healthy volunteers using bulk RNA-seq analysis. We applied various analytical tools to identify genes with consistent expression changes in multiple individuals in response to Gua Sha and their networks. Results We found that while the changes were very subtle and individual-specific, we could identify consistent upregulation of three histone genes. Further analysis of the potential regulatory networks of these histone genes revealed the enrichment of functions involved in the immune response and inflammation. Conclusion The significance of these results in the context of potential effects of Gua Sha and the next steps in exploring the molecular mechanisms of action of this technique are discussed.

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Therapeutic Strategies for Tuberculosis: Progress and Lessons Learned (30 day view times: 17)

Qingfeng Sun, Shanshan Li, Mengqiu Gao, Yu Pang

2024, 37(11): 1310-1323. doi: 10.3967/bes2024.168

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Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, ranking second only to COVID-19 as the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, with 1.3 million TB-related deaths reported in 2022. Treatment efficacy has been compromised by the emergence of drug-resistant strains, including rifampin-resistant TB (RR-TB), multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). Although first-line drugs like isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol form the cornerstone of TB therapy, the rise of resistant strains necessitates the use of second-line drugs, which often come with increased toxicity and limited accessibility. Recent advances have focused on repurposing existing compounds and developing new drugs with novel mechanisms of action. Promising agents such as second-generation bedaquiline analogs (TBAJ-587, TBAJ-876), sudapyridine (WX-081), delamanid, pretomanid, and TBI-166 (pyrifazimine) have shown efficacy against resistant Mtb strains. Innovative treatment regimens like the BPaLM protocol—combining bedaquiline, pretomanid, linezolid, and moxifloxacin—offer shorter, all-oral therapies with higher cure rates. Personalized treatment durations and dose optimizations are becoming feasible through risk stratification algorithms and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies. Immunotherapy is emerging as a complementary strategy to enhance the host’s immune response against Mtb. Agents such as vitamin D, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), statins, metformin, and biological agents like interleukins and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor are under exploration. Additionally, cell therapies involving mesenchymal stem cells and immune effector cells present new therapeutic avenues. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain in achieving the World Health Organization’s “End TB Strategy” goals, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic has diverted resources and attention. Ongoing research and global collaboration are crucial to develop novel therapeutic strategies, optimize treatment regimens, and ultimately reduce the global burden of TB.

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Dietary Guide for Hyperuricemia and Gout Patients (WS/T 560—2017) (30 day view times: 17)

2023, 36(9): 897-898. doi: 10.3967/bes2023.118

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Correlation between Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep Quality in College Students (30 day view times: 15)

ZHANG Yu Tong, HUANG Tao, ZHOU Fang, HUANG Ao Di, JI Xiao Qi, HE Lu, GENG Qiang, WANG Jia, MEI Can, XU Yu Jia, YANG Ze Long, ZHAN Jian Bo, CHENG Jing

2022, 35(7): 648-651. doi: 10.3967/bes2022.084

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