Objective:This study aimed to assess the clinical application of subjective visual vertical（SVV） and subjective visual horizontal（SVH） tests at different head deflection angles in the diagnosis of vestibular neuritis（VN）, offering insights for a more precise evaluation of otolith dysfunction. Methods:A total of 40 patients with VN who were diagnosed at the Hearing Impairment and Vertigo Centre, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, between January and December 2024 were retrospectively analysed, and 31 healthy adults served as the control group. All participants underwent computer-assisted SVV/SVH tests at three head tilt angles: upright head position 0°（0°）, left head deflection 45°（L45°）, and right head deflection 45°（R45°）, and the deviation values were recorded and compared with those of the healthy control group for statistical analysis. Results:①Compared with normal controls, the difference in the rate of SVV/SVH abnormalities at 0°, L45° and R45° deflection angles was statistically significant in patients with VN（P<0.05）, with the highest rate of abnormality at 0°; ②The rate of abnormalities on the affected side of SVV and SVH was significantly higher in VN patients than on the healthy side（P<0.05）; ③Statistically significant differences were found in the comparison of the absolute values of different head deflection angles of SVV between VN patients and healthy controls（P<0.05）, and in the comparison of the absolute values of SVH in upright head position 0° and L45° between VN patients and healthy controls（P<0.05）, while the difference in the comparison of the absolute values of R45° was not statistically significant（P>0.05）. Conclusion:The SVV and SVH tests are important tests for assessing otolith dysfunction in patients with VN, with high sensitivity, and can quickly determine the side and degree of damage, of which the upright head position 0o is the most helpful for diagnosis, and is recommended as a routine examination head position, and this test can be an important method for the refined assessment of otolith dysfunction in patients with VN.

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified at least 17 genetic variants associated with gastric cancer risk. However, the underlying genetic regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. We systematically performed genome-wide analyses of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), splicing QTLs (sQTLs), and alternative polyadenylation QTLs (apaQTLs) using gastric biopsy tissues from 262 Chinese individuals, and we integrated these data with GWAS results from 10,254 gastric cancer cases and 10,914 controls. We identified 4,636 eGenes, 1,422 sGenes, and 511 apaGenes, with 55.3% of sGenes and 49.5% of apaGenes being distinct from eGenes. Notably, over half of the variants associated with shared genes were unique to a specific QTL type, with these variants characterized by a wide physical separation (median distance = 25.01 kb) and weak linkage disequilibrium (median r2 = 0.42). Gastric cancer risk variants showed significant enrichment across all three QTL categories. Integrative transcriptome-wide association studies (TWASs) across expression, splicing, and alternative polyadenylation identified 34 genes at false discovery rate (FDR) <0.05; PSCA was implicated across all three regulatory layers. The candidates DIP2B and RMC1 were experimentally validated to promote gastric tumorigenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Functional analyses revealed that the rs11264361-T allele reduced FDPS exon 9 skipping, leading to increased expression of the full-length transcript, while the apaVariant rs7445 regulated UBE2L3 polyadenylation via ATXN2 binding, contributing to gastric cancer risk. Collectively, these results provide a comprehensive QTL resource in gastric tissues and demonstrate distinct regulatory mechanisms of eQTLs, sQTLs, and apaQTLs in gastric cancer development.

IntroductionHIV molecular network technology can identify HIV transmission hotspots and individuals at risk of HIV transmission, facilitating precise and targeted interventions. This study explored the molecular network parameters, namely degree centrality (DC) and betweenness centrality (BC), to effectively pinpoint individuals at high risk of HIV transmission within the network.MethodsA previous whole-population sampling cohort comprising all newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLWH) in Shenyang, from 2016 to 2019, was analyzed. Molecular networks based pol gene were constructed, the DC and BC of each node were calculated, and six groups of nodes were identified based on DC, BC, and DC+BC: high DC group, low DC group, high BC group, low BC group, high DC+BC group, and non-high DC+BC group. The average risk of HIV transmission in each group was calculated by dividing the total probability of recent HIV infection (identified by HIV-1 LAg-Avidity EIA) by the number of cases in each group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics of the high-risk group.ResultsOf the 2882 PLWH, 1162 were included in the molecular network. The mean DC and the mean BC of all nodes were 2.6 (range: 1-29) and 0.09 (range: 0-1), respectively. The top three groups with the highest average risk of HIV transmission were the high DC+BC group at 0.62, followed by the high BC group at 0.56, and the high DC group at 0.53. The characteristics of the high DC+BC group were low education levels, Housekeeping, housework, and unemployment, and high baseline viral load (≥105copies/mL) (P<0.05).DiscussionThe combined utilization of DC and BC can effectively identify individuals at high risk of HIV transmission, enabling precisely targeted interventions using molecular network technology.

BACKGROUND:HIV-1 CRF01_AE exhibits multiple distinct sub-subtypes (01_C1-C8) with different transmission dynamics across China. Understanding their geographical distribution, transmission patterns, and key affected populations is critical for optimizing targeted interventions. METHODS:We conducted a comprehensive molecular epidemiological study analyzing 4,011 partial pol sequences and demographic data from newly diagnosed CRF01_AE cases (2016-2019) in Shenyang (Northeast China) and Shenzhen (South China) by constructing the CRF01_AE molecular network in China (n = 6140). Sub-subtyping was performed using an online HIV subtyping tool and phylogenetic analysis. A molecular network was constructed based on genetic distance, and viral dispersal in large clusters (size≥10) in the network was assessed using Bayesian inference. RESULTS:01_C5 (46.7%), 01_C4 (37.2%), 01_C1 (8.1%), 01_C2 (2.3%), 01_C3 (0.3%), and 01_C8 (<0.1%) were detected, with 01_C5 (73.7%) dominating in Shenyang, and 01_C4 (53.0%) in Shenzhen. Molecular network analysis revealed 24 large clusters, including 12 01_C5 clusters (64.7%) and 10 01_C4 clusters (28.5%). Notably, 01_C5 accounted for 75.9% of the mixed large clusters containing sequences from both cities. Bayesian phylodynamic analysis indicated one-way transmission of 01_C5 from Shenyang to Shenzhen was driven by middle-aged MSM (30-49 years old). CONCLUSION:Our findings provided a potential molecular epidemiological evidence for CRF01_AE transmission from Northeast China to South China, and highlighted the urgent need for targeted interventions focusing on middle-aged MSM to prevent cross-regional 01_C5 transmission. This study provided an example for applying traceability analysis based on the HIV molecular transmission network in guiding targeted public health interventions.

Objective:To explore the cognitive function of sensory age-related hearing loss（ARHL） patients and compare it with healthy control group. Methods:Twenty-two patients with bilateral symmetrical sensory ARHL and 21 healthy elderly controls with normal hearing were recruited. All participants were evaluated for cognitive function using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment（MoCA） and the P300 objective electrophysiological test, respectively. P300 latency, amplitude, the total MoCA score, and scores of different dimensions of the MoCA scale were recorded and statistically analyzed. Results:①The healthy control group showed a significantly higher total MoCA score than the sensory ARHL group（P=0.038）. This difference was primarily driven by the visuospatial/executive function（P<0.001）, attention（P=0.003）, and abstraction（P<0.001） domains. ②A significant difference in P300 latency was observed between the healthy control group and the sensory ARHL group（P=0.006）. ③No significant correlation was found between P300 latency and each dimension of the MOCA scale in both groups. Conclusion:Patients with sensory ARHL exhibit cognitive decline, which is primarily manifested as impairments in visuospatial/executive function, attention, and abstraction. The P300 test, as an objective electrophysiological measure, can serve as a crucial complementary tool to the subjective MoCA questionnaire, with prolonged latency being a key indicative parameter.

OBJECTIVE:The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between symptom duration of vestibular-related dizziness/vertigo and cognitive function in elderly patients, and to establish clinical guidance for assessing and intervening in vestibular-related cognitive impairments. METHODS:This study included 100 elderly patients with vestibular dysfunction presenting dizziness, vertigo, or balance disorders, categorized into short-duration (n = 64) and long-duration (n = 36) groups based on symptom duration. A control group of 21 healthy elderly individuals was included. Cognitive assessments comprised P300 event-related potentials (latency/amplitude) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with domain-specific analysis. RESULTS:Significant between-group differences in P300 latency were observed (control vs short-duration vs long-duration: p < 0.001), whereas amplitude showed no difference (p  =  0.817). MoCA total scores differed significantly across groups (p  =  0.001), although abnormality rates were comparable (p  =  0.093). Domain analysis revealed significant differences in visuospatial (p < 0.001) and abstract abilities (p  =  0.005). Symptom duration correlated with: MoCA total (R 2  =  0.113), visuospatial ability (R 2  =  0.181), attention (R 2  =  0.068), and orientation (R 2  =  0.157). P300 latency correlated with: MoCA total (R 2  =  0.141), visuospatial ability (R 2  =  0.090), delayed recall (R 2  =  0.112), and orientation (R 2 = 0.082). CONCLUSION:Prolonged vestibular-related dizziness/vertigo in elderly patients is associated with cognitive deficits, particularly in visuospatial and executive functions. P300 latency demonstrates greater sensitivity than both P300 amplitude and MoCA screening, suggesting that combined electrophysiological and neuropsychological assessment enhances early detection of vestibular-related cognitive impairment. Highlights:Long-duration vestibular-related dizziness or balance disorders are associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment in elderly patients.Among early assessment tools, P300 latency proves more sensitive than both P300 amplitude and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) questionnaire.A combined evaluation using P300 latency and MoCA provides a more effective measure of how dizziness affects cognitive function in this population.

On the basis of the contribution of the gut microbiota to hypertension development, a novel strategy involving fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been proposed to treat hypertension, but its efficacy has not been investigated in the clinic. In a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (2021/03–2021/12, ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04406129), hypertensive patients were recruited from seven centers in China, and received FMT or placebo capsules orally at three visits. The patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio in blocks of four and stratified by center by an independent statistician. The intention-to-treat principle was implemented, as all randomized participants who received at least one intervention were included. The primary outcome was the decrease in office systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to the day 30 visit. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded through the 3-month follow-up to assess safety measures. Alterations in BP, the fecal microbiome, and the plasma metabolome were assessed via exploratory analyses. This study included 124 patients (mean age 43 years, 73.4

Circulating biochemistry markers are commonly used to monitor and detect disease-induced dysfunctions including osteoarthritis (OA). However, the causal nature of this relationship is nevertheless largely unknown, due to unmeasured confounding factors from observational studies. We aimed to reveal the causal relationship between 28 circulating biochemistry markers and OA pathogenesis. We conducted a comprehensive bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study between 28 circulating biomarkers and six OA types, using large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics data from a UK Biobank cohort (n = 450,243) and the latest OA meta-analysis (n = 826,690). We replicated the significant results of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) in an independent large GWAS dataset obtained from the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (GLGC) (n > 800,000). Using 73 to 792 instrumental variables for biomarkers, this large MR analysis identified 11 causal associations at the Bonferroni corrected significance level of 2.98 × 10-4, involving seven biomarkers and five OA types. LDL-C (odds ratio (OR) per SD increase 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.93), apolipoprotein B (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.91), TC (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94), calcium (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.90), and glucose (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.89) are causally associated with a reduced risk of OA, while phosphate (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.30) and aspartate aminotransferase (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.24) are causally associated with an increased risk. Analysis of GLGC summary statistics successfully replicated LDL-C (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.96) and TC (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.95). This comprehensive bidirectional MR analysis provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of OA, as well as understanding the biological mechanism underlying OA pathogenesis. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2025;14(3):259–269.

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), whether newly identified or re-emerging in human and animal populations, pose significant threats to global public health. China has experienced multiple EIDs outbreaks in recent years, underscoring the need for robust surveillance and early warning systems. Although China has established surveillance systems for events affecting climate, wildlife, livestock and poultry, and humans, the current systems remain inadequate for the early detection, monitoring, and prevention of zoonotic spillover events. The “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health, offers a comprehensive strategy for mitigating EIDs risks. This study reviews China’s national-level surveillance and early warning systems from a “One Health” perspective, highlighting key limitations and proposing future directions to enhance preparedness and response capabilities. The findings are intended to inform policy improvements and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration for effective EIDs management.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of vestibular screening in infants and investigate age-related changes in the characteristics of air-conducted sound cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (ACS-cVEMP) and bone-conducted vibration cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (BCV-cVEMP) in infants and children with normal hearing, aiming to provide new insights into the developmental trajectory of vestibular function during early childhood. Methods: A total of 159 subjects aged 3 months to 17 years old were divided into seven age groups. Additionally, 20 adults aged 18-30 years were included as controls to explore developmental changes in the sacculocollic reflex pathway. Results: The response rates of BCV-cVEMP in 3-month-olds were significantly higher than that of ACS-cVEMP (p = 0.048), while no significant difference was observed in other age groups (p > 0.05). Age-related changes were found in both latencies and amplitudes of ACS-cVEMP and BCV-cVEMP. ACS-cVEMP latencies reached adult levels at 13-17 years, while BCV-cVEMP latencies normalized by 7-12 years. ACS-cVEMP amplitudes increased with age, stabilizing at 4 years, whereas BCV-cVEMP amplitudes peaked at 4-6 years before gradually decreasing. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that cVEMP is not only a viable tool for vestibular screening in infants but also reveals crucial age-related developmental changes in the vestibular system. These findings contribute new insights into the maturation of the vestibular reflex pathways and provide normative data that can be used to guide early vestibular screening practices.

BackgroundHIV/AIDS death estimates serve as crucial indicators for monitoring the status of the epidemic and the progress of intervention projects. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study and the World Health Organization (WHO) Mortality Database offer open-access statistics on a global scale. This study compared HIV/AIDS death estimates between these two databases and explored the potential sources of discrepancies.MethodsHIV/AIDS death counts and mortality rates (per 100,000 population) for 2019 were extracted from both databases and categorized based on age, sex, and country. The absolute and standardized differences between the GBD and WHO estimates were analyzed across demographic groups and countries. Spearman’s correlation coefficients and regression plots were used to assess consistency and visualize the associations.ResultsAmong the 78 countries with overlapping data, GBD estimated that there were 108,668 deaths due to HIV/AIDS, while the WHO reported 48,754 deaths, yielding a difference of 59,914 deaths (76.1% of the mean estimate). Despite the overall strong correlations between the two reports (r > 0.80, p < 0.05), notable discrepancies were observed in male individuals, the 15–54 age group, and in several countries, including Thailand (23,563), Brazil (6,063), the Philippines (4,658), Ukraine (4,238), Peru (2,617), and the United States (2,325).ConclusionSubstantial differences in HIV/AIDS death estimates continue to exist in a few countries, likely due to variations in vital registration data quality, ICD coding practices, and estimation methodologies between databases. These findings highlight the need to strengthen mortality data systems and improve methodological transparency to enhance global HIV/AIDS mortality surveillance.

Aims:Circulating biochemistry markers are commonly used to monitor and detect disease-induced dysfunctions including osteoarthritis (OA). However, the causal nature of this relationship is nevertheless largely unknown, due to unmeasured confounding factors from observational studies. We aimed to reveal the causal relationship between 28 circulating biochemistry markers and OA pathogenesis. Methods:We conducted a comprehensive bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study between 28 circulating biomarkers and six OA types, using large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics data from a UK Biobank cohort (n = 450,243) and the latest OA meta-analysis (n = 826,690). We replicated the significant results of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) in an independent large GWAS dataset obtained from the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (GLGC) (n > 800,000). Results:Using 73 to 792 instrumental variables for biomarkers, this large MR analysis identified 11 causal associations at the Bonferroni corrected significance level of 2.98 × 10-4, involving seven biomarkers and five OA types. LDL-C (odds ratio (OR) per SD increase 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.93), apolipoprotein B (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.91), TC (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94), calcium (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.90), and glucose (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.89) are causally associated with a reduced risk of OA, while phosphate (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.30) and aspartate aminotransferase (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.24) are causally associated with an increased risk. Analysis of GLGC summary statistics successfully replicated LDL-C (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.96) and TC (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.95). Conclusion:This comprehensive bidirectional MR analysis provides new insights into the prevention and treatment of OA, as well as understanding the biological mechanism underlying OA pathogenesis.

BACKGROUND:Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental exposures. In addition, there is limited epidemiological evidence on the interaction between metal exposure and genetic risk for T2D. Therefore, we analyzed the interaction effect of serum concentrations of multiple metals and genetic variants on T2D incidence in the general population. METHODS:A prospective cohort study with 14 years of follow-up was performed with 4507 participants without noncommunicable diseases at baseline. Twenty-one metals were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). T2D-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified by Genome-wide association study (GWAS) were also genotyped. The polygenic risk score (PRS) models based on 46 SNPs identified from East Asians was constructed. A Cox regression model was used to explore the associations of serum metals and their interaction effects with PRS on T2D. RESULTS:Of the 4507 participants, 350 were newly diagnosed with T2D during the 14-year follow-up. After adjusting for covariates, serum vanadium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, barium and lead levels were significantly associated with decreased T2D risk, while zinc levels were correlated with elevated T2D risk (P < 0.05). Furthermore, zinc, molybdenum, barium and lead showed additive interaction with the PRS derived from 46 SNPs specific for east Asians on T2D. CONCLUSIONS:Significant interaction effects were observed for zinc、molybdenum、barium、lead exposure and PRS. Our findings suggest that people with a high genetic risk of diabetes should pay attention to maintaining appropriate levels of metal.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and temporal-spatial distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections among paediatric inpatients with respiratory tract infections in Tianjin, China, across three distinct phases: pre-pandemic (2017–2019), pandemic (2020–2022) and post-pandemic (2023–2024). The primary hypothesis is that the COVID-19 pandemic altered the epidemiology of MP infections in children.Design Retrospective, single-centre study.Setting Secondary care paediatric hospital in a metropolitan area.Participants A total of 60 213 paediatric patients hospitalised with respiratory infections between January 2017 and December 2024 were included. The study population consisted of children aged 0–18 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.22:1.00. Selection criteria included children admitted with a diagnosis of respiratory infection, while those with incomplete clinical data or non-respiratory infections were excluded.Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome was the overall positive detection rate of MP-RNA. Secondary outcomes included annual and seasonal variations in MP-RNA detection rates, differences by sex and age group, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MP epidemiology. All statistical methods, including those used to control for confounding, involved the use of χ² tests for comparing positive rates between groups.Results The overall positive detection rate of MP-RNA among children hospitalised for respiratory infections during the study period was 36.58% (22 023/60 213). The annual MP-RNA-positive detection rates from 2017 to 2024 were as follows: 50.74% (411/810) in 2017, 36.28% (1150/3170) in 2018, 27.41% (1459/5323) in 2019, 10.18% (222/2181) in 2020, 11.42% (928/8129) in 2021, 13.27% (579/4364) in 2022, 28.97% (3064/10575) in 2023 and 55.38% (14 210/25 661) in 2024. The highest annual positivity rate was observed in 2024 (55.38%, 14 210/25 661), while the lowest rate occurred in 2020 (10.18%, 222/2181). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in MP-RNA detection rates across different years (χ²=8331.511, p<0.001). Furthermore, MP-RNA detection rates varied significantly by sex (p<0.001), age group (p<0.001), month (p<0.001) and season (p<0.001) before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic substantially altered MP epidemiology in Tianjin’s paediatric population, with infection rates demonstrating a U-shaped trajectory across pandemic phases. School-aged children and females exhibited heightened susceptibility. These temporal and demographic patterns emphasise the necessity of incorporating epidemiological surveillance into diagnostic algorithms for childhood respiratory infections, particularly in post-pandemic settings. Future research should focus on multicentre studies to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Background Following successful canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs), some patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may experience residual symptoms. There is currently no consensus on whether these residual symptoms are related to the disease duration. Objective To examine the impact of BPPV duration on the persistence of residual symptoms following successful CRP. Methods A total of 102 idiopathic BPPV patients were enrolled and categorized into short-course and long-course groups based on the duration of the disease. The course of disease in the short-course group was less than or equal to 7 days. The long course of disease was longer than 7 days. All patients underwent swivel-chair-assisted CRP and were followed up 7–10 days after successful CRP. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire was administered to all patients before and after CRP. Results Before CRP, significant differences were observed between the two groups in total DHI score and its subdomains: Physical (DHI-P), Functional (DHI-F), and Emotional (DHI-E) ( p < 0.05), indicating that long disease duration significantly affected all patient aspects. After CRP, significant differences remained in total DHI, DHI-P, DHI-F, and DHI-E scores ( p < 0.05), with the long-course group consistently scoring higher. However, no significant differences were found in the changes in DHI scores across dimensions before and after CRP between the two groups. Conclusion The duration of BPPV did not influence CRP outcomes, but patients with a longer disease course were more likely to experience residual symptoms after successful CRP.

IntroductionSeasonal human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is a frequently encountered virus linked to mild upper respiratory infections. However, its potential to cause more severe or widespread disease remains an area of concern. This study aimed to investigate a rare localized epidemic of HCoV-NL63-induced respiratory infections among pediatric patients in Guilin, China, and to understand the viral subtype distribution and genetic characteristics.MethodsIn this study, 83 pediatric patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections and positive for HCoV-NL63 were enrolled. Molecular analysis was conducted to identify the viral subgenotypes and to assess genetic variations in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein.ResultsAmong the 83 HCoV-NL63-positive children, three subgenotypes were identified: C4, C3, and B. Notably, 21 cases exhibited a previously unreported subtype, C4. Analysis of the C4 subtype revealed a unique amino acid mutation (I507L) in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein, which was also observed in the previously reported C3 genotype. This mutation may suggest potential increases in viral transmissibility and pathogenicity.DiscussionThe findings of this study highlight the rapid mutation dynamics of HCoV-NL63 and its potential for increased virulence and epidemic transmission. The presence of a unique mutation in the C4 subtype, shared with the C3 genotype, raises concerns about the virus’s evolving nature and its potential public health implications. This research contributes valuable insights into the understanding of HCoV-NL63’s epidemiology and pathogenesis, which is crucial for effective disease prevention and control strategies. Future studies are needed to further investigate the biological significance of the observed mutation and its potential impact on the virus’s transmissibility and pathogenicity.

Circulating metabolic profiles have shown promising potential in identifying high-risk populations for various diseases, while metabolic perturbation plays an important role in gastric cancer. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 1800 participants to identify plasma metabolite signatures associated with environmental risk factors of gastric cancer. Subsequently, we evaluated the association between these signatures and gastric cancer risk in a nested case-control study involving 326 gastric cancer cases and 326 matched cancer-free controls. We conducted mediation analyses to elucidate the potential impact of metabolites on the association between environmental factors and gastric cancer. In the cross-sectional study, we identified 46 metabolites associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, 365 with alcohol drinking, and 154 with smoking status. In the nested case-control study, 60 plasma metabolites, comprising 30 lipids, 15 amino acids, 6 xenobiotics, 3 nucleotides, 2 cofactors and vitamins, 2 carbohydrate, 1 energy, and 1 peptide, were associated with gastric cancer risk. A one-standard deviation increment in the H. pylori infection-related metabolomic signature was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.09, p = 1.62 × 10-5). Furthermore, the effect of H. pylori infection on gastric cancer was partially mediated by the metabolomic signature (23.28%, 95% CI: 0.09-0.56) or adenine (13.69%, 95% CI: 0.05-0.31). In conclusion, we have identified metabolites associated with environmental factors and demonstrated the association between the H. pylori infection signature and gastric cancer risk. The findings provide novel insights into characterizing high-risk population for gastric cancer.

Objective:To establish the normal values of subjective visual vertical （SVV） in different head deflection angles and analyze its test and retest reliability, in order to provide a reference for the clinical application of SVV in the evaluation of vestibular disorders. Methods:Thirty-one healthy young people were selected to wear VR glasses, and the SVV data were tested in five different head-tilt, namely, 0° in the upright head position, 45°in the left head position, 45° in the right head position, 90° in the left head position, and 90° in the right head position, and were re-tested 2 weeks later. Results:①The mean values of SVV at 5 different head-tilt angles of 0°, left 45°, right 45°, left 90°, and right 90° were -0.07±1.71, 4.30±5.39, -6.51±5.58, -3.76±7.42, and 0.40±8.02, respectively, The 95% confidence limits of SVV at 0°, left 45°, right 45°, left 90°, right 90°, and right 90° were （-3.42, 3.28）, （-6.26, 14.86）, （-17.45, 4.43）, （-18.30, 10.78）, and（-15.32, 16.12）, respectively; ②The absolute values of SVV at 4 different head-tilt angles of left 45°, right 45°, left 90°, and right 90° were 5.62±3.96, 6.90±5.07, 6.82±4.70 and 6.48±4.68, respectively. The 95% confidence limits of SVV at left 45°, right 45°, left 90°, right 90°, and right 90° were（0，12.11）,（0，15.21）,（0，14.53）and（0，14.16）, respectively. The asymmetry ratio is 10% for the absolute value of the 45 ° deviation and 3% for the absolute value of the 90° deviation; ③Intra-class correlation coefficients（ICC） for 0°, left 45°, right 45°, left 90°, right 90°were 0.757, 0.673, 0.674, 0.815, and 0.856, respectively. Conclusion:SVV has good retest reliability and high stability, and the SVV normal value data of different head deviation angles established in the present study can be used as a reference for the diagnosis and evaluation of vestibular disorders.

Mental health problems leads to serious disease burden among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The study aimed at measuring the mental disorders-caused burden of disease based on PLHIV in mainland China. The data used was from the national HIV/AIDS case reporting system, life expectancy (LE) and LE-eliminated suicide were evaluated by the life-table method. The total YLLs and YLLs caused by suicide in each age group were calculated. The disability weights were estimated by the scale of depression symptoms (CES-D) from the multi-center cross-sectional survey, then calculated the corresponding YLDs as a burden of mental illness among PLHIV. Results showed that the LE had been prolonged by implementing antiviral therapy for PLHIV. The proportion of YLLs caused by suicide was the highest (5·46%) in the 15-24 age group. The YLDs in the 25-34 age group were the highest. The YLLs caused by suicide in males were higher than those in the same age group of females. The YLDs and YLLs were higher in heterosexual-infected PLHIV than in homosexual-infected PLHIV, except for YLLs in the 25-34 age group. In summary, this study first provided localized data on the disease burden caused by mental health problems among PLHIV.

Streptococcus suis serotype 2 is an economically important zoonotic pathogen that causes septicemia, arthritis, and meningitis in pigs and humans. S. suis serotype 2 is responsible for substantial economic losses to the swine industry and poses a serious threat to public health, and accurate and rapid detection is important for the prevention and control of epidemic disease. In this study, we developed a high-fidelity detection and serotyping platform for S. suis serotype 2 based on recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas12a system called Cards-SSJ/K. Cards-SSJ had a detection limit of 10 CFU, takes <60 min, and no cross-reaction was found with other S. suis serotypes, closely related Streptococcus spp., or common pig pathogens, and Cards-SSK could differentiate serotype 2 from serotype 1/2. Results from Cards-SSJ and qPCR were equivalent in detecting S. suis serotype 2 in tissue samples. Analysis indicated that despite a relatively high reagent cost compared to PCR and qPCR, Cards-SSJ was less timeconsuming and had low requirements for equipment and personnel. Thus, it is an excellent method for pointof-care detection for S. suis serotype 2.