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Background To explore population aging and the epidemic trend of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the elderly, and provide a basis for the prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis among the elderly. Methods We collected clinical information of 239,707 newly active PTB patients in Shandong Province from 2005 to 2017. We analyzed and compared the clinical characteristics, reported incidence and temporal trend of PTB among the elderly group (≥60 years) and the non-elderly group (< 60 years) through logistic model and Join-point regression model. Results Among the total PTB cases, 77,192(32.2%) were elderly. Compared with non-elderly patients, newly active elderly PTB patients account for a greater proportion of male cases (OR 1.688, 95% CI 1.656–1.722), rural population cases (OR 3.411, 95% CI 3.320–3.505) and bacteriologically confirmed PTB cases (OR 1.213, 95%CI 1.193–1.234). The annual reported incidence of total, elderly, pulmonary bacteriologically confirmed cases were 35.21, 68.84, 35.63 (per 100,000), respectively. The annual reported incidence of PTB in the whole population, the elderly group and the non-elderly group has shown a slow downward trend since 2008. The joinpoint regression model showed that the overall reported incidence of PTB in the elderly significantly decreased from 2007 to 2017 (APC = -5.3, P  < 0.05). The reported incidence of bacteriologically confirmed PTB among elderly patients declined rapidly from 2005 to 2014(2005–2010 APC = -7.2%, P  < 0.05; 2010–2014 APC = -22.6%, P  < 0.05; 2014–2017 APC = -9.0%, P  = 0.1). The reported incidence of clinically diagnosed PTB among elderly patients from 2005 to 2017 (11.48–38.42/100,000) increased by about 235%. It rose significantly from 2007 to 2014 (APC = 9.4, P <0.05). Conclusions Compared with the non-elderly population, the reported incidence of PTB in the elderly population is higher. The main burden of PTB will shift to the elderly, men, rural population, and clinically diagnosed patients. With the intensification of aging, more researches on elderly PTB prevention and treatment will facilitate the realization of the global tuberculosis (TB) control targets.

Since the LHCb collaboration announced the observation of the doubly charmed baryon \\[\\Xi _{cc}^{++}\\], a series of studies of doubly heavy baryons have been presented. In this work, I analyse the non-leptonic weak decays of doubly heavy baryons \\[\\Xi _{bc}\\] and \\[\\Omega _{bc}\\] under the flavor SU(3) symmetry. I mainly focus on the W-exchange diagrams, which will contribute to the decay channels with final states are light meson and light baryon. These channels would be helpful for searching for \\[\\Xi _{bc}\\] and \\[\\Omega _{bc}\\] at LHC. And these channels and relations of corresponding decay widths could be examined by the future experimental facilities such as LHC, Belle II and CEPC.

We perform an analysis of angular distributions in semileptonic decays of charmed baryons B1(′)→B2(′)(→B3(′)B4(′))ℓ+νℓ, where the B1=(Λc+,Ξc(0,+)) are the SU(3)-antitriplet baryons and B1′=Ωc- is an SU(3) sextet. We will firstly derive analytic expressions for angular distributions using the helicity amplitude technique. Based on the lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) results for Λc+→Λ and Ξc0→Ξ- form factors and model calculation of the Ωc0→Ω- transition, we predict the branching fractions: B(Λc+→Λ(→pπ-)e+νe)=2.48(15)%, B(Λc+→Λ(→pπ-)μ+νμ)=2.50(14)%, B(Ξc0→Ξ-(→Λπ-)e+νe)=2.40(30)%, B(Ξc0→Ξ-(→Λπ-)μ+νν)=2.41(30)%, B(Ωc0→Ω-(→ΛK-)e+νe)=0.362(14)%, B(Ωc0→Ω-(→ΛK-)μ+νν)=0.350(14)%. We also predict the q2 dependence and angular distributions of these processes, in particular the coefficients for the cosnθℓ (cosnθh, cosnϕ) (n=0,1,2,…) terms. This work can provide a theoretical basis for the ongoing experiments at BESIII, LHCb, and BELLE-II.

Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) disruption is an important pathophysiological process of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), resulting in devastating malignant brain edema and hemorrhagic transformation. The rapid activation of immune cells plays a critical role in BBB disruption after ischemic stroke. Infiltrating blood-borne immune cells (neutrophils, monocytes, and T lymphocytes) increase BBB permeability, as they cause microvascular disorder and secrete inflammation-associated molecules. In contrast, they promote BBB repair and angiogenesis in the latter phase of ischemic stroke. The profound immunological effects of cerebral immune cells (microglia, astrocytes, and pericytes) on BBB disruption have been underestimated in ischemic stroke. Post-stroke microglia and astrocytes can adopt both an M1/A1 or M2/A2 phenotype, which influence BBB integrity differently. However, whether pericytes acquire microglia phenotype and exert immunological effects on the BBB remains controversial. Thus, better understanding the inflammatory mechanism underlying BBB disruption can lead to the identification of more promising biological targets to develop treatments that minimize the onset of life-threatening complications and to improve existing treatments in patients. However, early attempts to inhibit the infiltration of circulating immune cells into the brain by blocking adhesion molecules, that were successful in experimental stroke failed in clinical trials. Therefore, new immunoregulatory therapeutic strategies for acute ischemic stroke are desperately warranted. Herein, we highlight the role of circulating and cerebral immune cells in BBB disruption and the crosstalk between them following acute ischemic stroke. Using a robust theoretical background, we discuss potential and effective immunotherapeutic targets to regulate BBB permeability after acute ischemic stroke.

Executive function plays an important role throughout an individual’s life, and current research has shown that physical activity is an effective way to promote the development of executive function. Further research into the mechanisms in the brain that promote executive function has focused on populations with diseases, and no consistent conclusions have been drawn for healthy populations. Moreover, the differential effects of different exercise doses and sample characteristics on executive function brain activation remain unclear. In this study, we used an activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis integrating 20 task-based and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies to investigate the mechanisms in the brain underlying the effects of different exercise interventions on executive functions in healthy populations. The results showed that exercise interventions significantly altered brain activation patterns during cognitive tasks, particularly in the frontal, precuneus, thalamus and cingulate regions. We examined exercise interventions in various sub-groups, showing patterns of effects in different age groups, exercise types and exercise durations.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are two major infectious diseases posing significant public health threats, and their coinfection (aptly abbreviated COVID-TB) makes the situation worse. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and prognosis of COVID-TB cases. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched for relevant studies published through December 18, 2020. An overview of COVID-TB case reports/case series was prepared that described their clinical characteristics and differences between survivors and deceased patients. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for death or severe COVID-19 were calculated. The quality of outcomes was assessed using GRADEpro. Results: Thirty-six studies were included. Of 89 COVID-TB patients, 19 (23.46%) died, and 72 (80.90%) were male. The median age of non-survivors (53.95 ± 19.78 years) was greater than that of survivors (37.76 ± 15.54 years) ( p < 0.001). Non-survivors were more likely to have hypertension (47.06 vs. 17.95%) or symptoms of dyspnea (72.73% vs. 30%) or bilateral lesions (73.68 vs. 47.14%), infiltrates (57.89 vs. 24.29%), tree in bud (10.53% vs. 0%), or a higher leucocyte count (12.9 [10.5–16.73] vs. 8.015 [4.8–8.97] × 10 9 /L) than survivors ( p < 0.05). In terms of treatment, 88.52% received anti-TB therapy, 50.82% received antibiotics, 22.95% received antiviral therapy, 26.23% received hydroxychloroquine, and 11.48% received corticosteroids. The pooled ORs of death or severe disease in the COVID-TB group and the non-TB group were 2.21 (95% CI: 1.80, 2.70) and 2.77 (95% CI: 1.33, 5.74) ( P < 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: In summary, there appear to be some predictors of worse prognosis among COVID-TB cases. A moderate level of evidence suggests that COVID-TB patients are more likely to suffer severe disease or death than COVID-19 patients. Finally, routine screening for TB may be recommended among suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in countries with high TB burden.

Recently, various sophisticated methods, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, have been employed to examine health-related data. Medical professionals are acquiring enhanced diagnostic and treatment abilities by utilizing machine learning applications in the healthcare domain. Medical data have been used by many researchers to detect diseases and identify patterns. In the current literature, there are very few studies that address machine learning algorithms to improve healthcare data accuracy and efficiency. We examined the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in improving time series healthcare metrics for heart rate data transmission (accuracy and efficiency). In this paper, we reviewed several machine learning algorithms in healthcare applications. After a comprehensive overview and investigation of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, we also demonstrated time series tasks based on past values (along with reviewing their feasibility for both small and large datasets).

ObjectiveThis study was designed to identify the risk factors for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) and the association between comorbidity and drug resistance among retreated pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB).DesignA retrospective study was conducted among all the 36 monitoring sites in Shandong, China, over a 16-year period. Baseline characteristics were collected from the TB Surveillance System. Categorical variables were compared by Fisher’s exact or Pearson’s χ2 test. The risk factors for drug resistance were identified using univariable analysis and multivariable logistic models. The influence of comorbidity on different types of drug resistance was evaluated by performing multivariable logistic models with the covariates adjusted by age, sex, body mass index, drinking/smoking history and cavity.ResultsA total of 10 975 patients with PTB were recorded during 2004–2019, and of these 1924 retreated PTB were finally included. Among retreated PTB, 26.2% were DR-TB and 12.5% had comorbidity. Smoking (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.69, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.39), cavity (aOR: 1.55, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.97) and comorbidity (aOR: 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.02) were risk factors for DR-TB. Of 504 DR-TB, 9.5% had diabetes mellitus, followed by hypertension (2.0%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.8%). Patients with retreated PTB with comorbidity were more likely to be older, have more bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse) and have clinical symptoms (expectoration, haemoptysis, weight loss). Comorbidity was significantly associated with DR-TB (aOR: 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.02), overall rifampin resistance (aOR: 2.17, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.36), overall streptomycin resistance (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.27) and multidrug resistance (aOR: 1.96, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.27) compared with pan-susceptible patients (p<0.05).ConclusionSmoking, cavity and comorbidity lead to an increased risk of drug resistance among retreated PTB. Strategies to improve the host’s health, including smoking cessation, screening and treatment of comorbidity, might contribute to the control of tuberculosis, especially DR-TB, in China.

Microbial remediation of heavy metal polluted environment is ecofriendly and cost effective. Therefore, in the present study, Shewanella putrefaciens stain 4H was previously isolated by our group from the activated sludge of secondary sedimentation tank in a dyeing wastewater treatment plant. The bacterium was able to reduce chromate effectively. The strains showed significant ability to reduce Cr(VI) in the pH range of 8.0 to 10.0 (optimum pH 9.0) and 25–42 ℃ (optimum 30 ℃) and were able to reduce 300 mg/L of Cr(VI) in 72 h under parthenogenetic anaerobic conditions. In this paper, the complete genome sequence was obtained by Nanopore sequencing technology and analyzed chromium metabolism-related genes by comparative genomics The genomic sequence of S. putrefaciens 4H has a length of 4,631,110 bp with a G + C content of 44.66% and contains 4015 protein-coding genes and 3223,  2414, 2343 genes were correspondingly annotated into the COG, KEGG, and GO databases. The qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of chrA , mtrC , and undA genes was up-regulated under Cr(VI) stress. This study explores the Chromium Metabolism-Related Genes of S. putrefaciens 4H and will help to deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of Cr(VI) tolerance and reduction in this strain, thus contributing to the better application of S. putrefaciens 4H in the field of remediation of chromium-contaminated environments.

Large-scale sports events have become a good opportunity for major enterprises to promote due to their high social attention; however, they also force enterprises to confront the risks of uncertainty and extreme loss. During the 2018 Russia World Cup, Vatti Co., Ltd.’s promotion activity “If France Wins, Get a Full Refund” suffered double losses economically and reputationally due to France’s victory and the company’s failure to fulfill its promise. This paper uses option hedging theory, and the risk management tools to construct a risk management model. Case analysis and program improvement were carried out . The research results show that using the winning odds can effectively control the risks. Companies should determine their promotion plan based on sale returns and the maximum implicit income generated by promotional activities. The research paper opens a new field using derivative financial instruments to control corporate promotion risks.