With social restrictions serving as a mitigating factor against the severe consequences of public health emergencies, this study investigates the impact of episodic travel restrictions on road traffic injuries (TIs) in Macao during the pandemic, employing Interrupted Time Series Analysis (ITSA) models. We used ITSA models, including Bayesian Structured Time Series and Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models, to assess traffic outcomes, particularly focusing on total road traffic crashes (RTCs) and TIs. Predictive models were developed for traffic fatalities, fatal RTCs, RTCs involving injuries and vehicles sustaining damage. From 2014 to 2020, Macao recorded a total of 99 541 RTCs. Over the study period, there were 32 562 reported injuries. After the outbreak of the epidemic, traffic volume decreased by 53.03%, leading to a 25.54% reduction in RTCs. The severity of crashes also declined, with TIs decreasing by 20.35% compared with the same period in 2019, and fatalities and damaged vehicles decreasing by 37.50% and 26.62%, respectively. Analysis of the interrupted time-series data revealed that the actual number of RTCs after COVID-19 in 2020 was 20% (95% CI: 14% to 26%) lower than expected, and TIs were reduced by 11% (95% CI: 3% to 19%). This study demonstrates that the implementation of episodic travel restrictions significantly reduced TIs and crashes in Macao, providing crucial insights for traffic management and resource allocation during pandemics. These findings contribute to understanding the dynamic relationship between travel restrictions and road traffic outcomes.

Frailty is an underappreciated but modifiable clinical syndrome, but little about how air quality improvements could influence frailty progression is known. Here, we utilized two Chinese cohorts with repeated follow-up visits to address this knowledge gap and explored the underlying DNA methylation mechanisms. We first conducted a multistate modeling analysis in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS), a nationwide cohort with 21,654 older adults who had participated in at least two survey waves. An interquartile range reduction in PM2.5 exposure increased the likelihood of improvement for frail/prefrail individuals by more than 50% while lowering their risks of worsening frailty or mortality. A quasi-experimental study within a CLHLS subcohort of 1816 adults, leveraging the implementation of China's Clean Air Act, further validated these findings. Additionally, in the Guangxi Eco-Environmental Health and Aging Study─a regional prospective cohort based in Guilin, China─we included 235 older adults with follow-up data and identified three frailty-related CpG sites that were associated with PM2.5 exposure. The CpG site cg25453797 mapped to the PRKCE gene was robustly associated with the change in frailty. These findings demonstrate that air quality improvement benefits older adults by alleviating the frailty burden. DNA methylation may serve as a potential biomarker to capture the health benefits of environmental policy interventions.

ABSTRACT Few studies have found an association between extreme temperature events and an increased risk of recurrent ischemic stroke (IS). We examined associations between extreme temperature events (heat waves, cold spells) and recurrent IS risk in Tianjin, China (2019–2020), using a time-stratified case-crossover design, while evaluating greenness’s moderating role. Significant heat wave effects peaked at lag 8, with severe intensity events increasing IS recurrence risk by 39.8% (OR = 1.398, 95% CI:1.032–1.894). Cold spell impacts peaked at lag 3, with moderate intensity cold spells elevating risk by 20.3% (OR = 1.203, 95% CI: 1.052–1.377) and severe intensity cold spells elevating risk by 98.2% (OR = 1.982, 95% CI: 1.407–2.791). Greenness modified these associations: low-greenness areas strengthened heat wave effects(lag9:OR = 2.309,95%CI:1.024–5.209) but weakened cold spell impacts(OR = 1.557,95%CI:1.037–2.340), whereas high-greenness areas attenuated heat wave links(lag8:OR = 1.402,95%CI:1.022–1.924) and nullified cold spell associations. Age and sex disparities emerged – younger individuals and males showed higher susceptibility to heat waves, while older individuals and males were more vulnerable to cold spells. The findings highlight greenness as a potential modifier of extreme temperature events-related IS recurrence risks and underscore demographic-specific vulnerabilities.

The long-tailed ground squirrel (Urocitellus undulatus) is primarily distributed in various regions, including Xinjiang and Heilongjiang in China, as well as in Siberia, Mongolia, the Russian Federation, and Kazakhstan. In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genomes of U. undulatus. The genome consists of 16,456 base pairs, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a control region. The phylogenetic relationship indicates a closer evolutionary relationship between U. undulatus and U. richardsonii. These findings provide a foundation for the taxonomic identification, phylogenetic evolution, and mitochondrial genome research of U. undulatus.

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an important bioactive protein in human milk involved in diverse biological functions. Concentrations of milk Lf are tightly regulated during lactation. This study aims to investigate the longitudinal changes in human milk Lf concentrations during the first year postpartum and identify the factors associated with these changes. This prospective cohort study recruited 160 dyads of healthy mothers and their full-term newborns in Wuqiang, Hebei province, China. Maternal and infant characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. Milk Lf concentrations were measured using an ELISA. A linear mixed model was employed to examine the longitudinal changes in Lf concentrations and identify associated factors. The mean milk Lf concentrations were 7.17 g/L, 4.02 g/L, 2.95 g/L, 2.19 g/L, and 2.43 g/L at 0-7 days, 30 days, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postpartum, respectively. The frequency of breastfeeding in the prior 24 h was negatively associated with Lf concentrations (P = 0.017). Prenatal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) status may influence the longitudinal changes in milk Lf (PMCV*time = 0.011). Milk Lf concentrations decrease during the first 6 months and increase from 6 to 12 months, with these changes potentially associated with breastfeeding frequency and prenatal MCV status. This study represents one of the largest cohort investigations of the dynamic changes and influencing factors of human milk Lf concentration in China. The study investigated the relationship between maternal red blood cell indexes and milk Lf concentrations. Milk Lf concentrations dynamically change throughout lactation, decreasing during the first 6 months and potentially increasing from 6 to 12 months. The concentrations and longitudinal changes of milk Lf were impacted by the frequency of breastfeeding and maternal mean corpuscular volume.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of viral diarrhea in Yantai City, Shandong Province, from 2017 to 2020. A total of 2,773 suspected cases of infectious diarrhea were collected from healthcare institutions across 13 districts and counties in Yantai. Specimens were tested for astrovirus, enteric adenovirus, norovirus genogroups I and II (GI and GII), rotavirus, and sapovirus using nucleic acid detection kits. Positive cases were analyzed to characterize the pathogen spectrum and epidemiological features. Statistical analyses were conducted using chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests. The detection rates of viral diarrhea were higher during spring and winter. The positivity rates for astrovirus, adenovirus, norovirus GI, norovirus GII, rotavirus, and sapovirus were 1.23%, 3.64%, 1.44%, 8.11%, 17.42%, and 0.61%, respectively. Among these, rotavirus and norovirus GII showed consistently high detection rates across the study period. Children under six years of age had the highest pathogen detection rates, with rotavirus being the predominant agent. The viral spectrum remained relatively consistent across age groups, and no significant changes in age distribution were observed over time. In conclusion, viral diarrhea in Yantai exhibited a clear seasonal pattern, with peaks in spring and winter. The overall detection rate showed an upward trend followed by a decline, with notable changes occurring between 2018 and 2019. Rotavirus was the most prevalent pathogen identified. Children under six years old represented the most affected population. These findings highlight the importance of strengthened surveillance for infectious diarrhea, particularly viral diarrhea among young children.

Mounting evidence shows that short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), derived mainly from intestinal bacteria, play a significant role in maintaining the homeostasis of the immune system and the central nervous system (CNS). SCFAs, directly or indirectly mediated by SCFA receptors and transporters in neuronal cells, participate in the pathophysiological processes of various neurodegenerative diseases, but their roles in prion diseases are rarely addressed. Here, the abnormal changes in SCFA receptors and transporters in a prion-infected cell line and in the brains of several prion-scrapie-infected rodent models were evaluated by various methods. Markedly decreased GPR41 and MCT4 levels were observed in the brains of scrapie-infected rodents at the terminal stage and in the prion-infected cell line, whereas GPR43 and MCT1 levels did not change significantly. Morphological assays identified close colocalization of both GPR41 and MCT4 with NeuN-positive cells, while only a low amount was observed with Iba1-positive and GFAP-positive cells in the brains of prion-infected mice. Reduction of HO-1, an antioxidative agent in Nrf2 signaling, was observed in the brains of both prion-infected rodent models and the prion-infected cell line. Reductions of GPR41 and MCT4 in the prion-infected cell line were reversible after the removal of prion replication and stimulation with SCFA (sodium propionate) or a GPR41 agonist, accompanied by recovering the HO-1 level and improving cell viability. Our data presented here demonstrate a correlation between alterations in GPR41/MCT4 expression and the shifts in cellular composition that accompany prion pathogenesis. Furthermore, we explore the potential association between SCFA signaling and prion neurotoxicity, identifying it as a crucial area for future research endeavors.

Abstract Dengue fever remains a major global public health challenge, with increasing incidence and burden over recent decades. Global warming, urbanization, and increased international travel have fueled the global spread of dengue. We analyzed the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) dataset to assess dengue fever's incidence, prevalence, mortality, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021 across 204 countries. Data were stratified by age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI) using age-standardized rates, and time-trend analysis was conducted with general linear regression. Correlations between SDI and disease burden metrics were evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation. From 1990 to 2021, the global burden of dengue increased, with ASIR rising by 0.56% (95% UI: 0.23–2.38), ASPR by 0.56% (95% UI: 0.23–2.36), and ASDR by 0.28% (95% UI: -0.38–0.92). In 2021, there were an estimated 58.96 million cases. Regionally, Tropical Latin America reported the highest ASIR (5,774.82; 95% UI: 1,774.731–11,624.76). At the national level, variations in the change of the ASIR were observed across countries from 1990 to 2021 with Tonga reported the highest ASIR in 2021. Males exhibited a higher ASDR compared to females, particularly in the 0–14 age group. Dengue burden trends varied across SDI regions, with high-middle and middle SDI regions showing increased ASIR, while low SDI regions experienced a decline. The analysis highlights the increase in dengue burden globally, with demographic and geographic disparities. The findings underscore the need for targeted prevention, control, and treatment strategies to mitigate the growing burden of dengue fever worldwide.