Objective To describe the trends of incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in different age groups and regions from 1990 to 2019. Design An international comparative study based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study estimates. Participants Data were publicly available and individuals were not involved. Methods We collected detailed information on cervical cancer from the GBD study between 1990 and 2019. Average annual percentage changes (AAPCs) of age-standardised incidence and mortality rate (ASIR and ASMR) in cervical cancer, by age group and region, were calculated to quantify the temporal trends. Results Globally, the absolute numbers of incident cases and deaths were increasing, with the most cervical cancer cases and deaths being reported in China, India and Brazil. Although the ASIR and ASMR have declined overall from 1990 to 2019, an increasing or stable trend was also observed in East Asia and Southern sub-Saharan Africa. Particularly, we found that the age-specific AAPC of incidence showed an increasing trend in the age group of 15–49 years globally, and the high Sociodemographic Index region increased the most. Conclusions Cervical cancer remains a concerning disease that affects women all over the world, although the ASIR and ASMR are decreasing. Efforts to control the younger trend and to reduce the disparity between regions are imminent.

The gut microbiome and its metabolites may be important role in regulating the pathogenesis of obesity. This study aimed to characterize the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) metabolome in obese children. This case–control study recruited children aged 7‒14 years and divided them into a normal group (NG) and an obese group (OG) based on their body mass index. Whole-genome shotgun metagenomic analysis was performed on fecal samples from the OG and NG groups to characterize the signatures and functional potential of the gut microbiota. Serum metabolite profiles were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS, version 26) and R software were used for data analysis. A total of 99 children were recruited, with 49 in the OG and 50 in the NG. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria were significantly more abundant in children in the OG than those in the NG. At the genus level, Oscillibacter and Alistipes were significantly lower in children in the OG than those in the NG. Caproate levels significantly increased, whereas butyrate and isobutyrate levels decreased in children in the OG than those in the NG. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) functional analysis revealed 28 enriched KEGG pathways, of which/with the phosphotransferase system (PTS) and enhanced biofilm formation by Escherichia coli were particularly significant in the OG. Spearman’s correlation analysis indicated that the genus Oscillibacter and species Clostridium_sp._CAG:302 connect serum metabolites and the gut microbiota in childhood obesity. Childhood obesity is correlated with the symbiotic status of the gut microbiota. The microbiota influences human metabolism via specific pathways, particularly butyrate, caproate, and the genus Oscillibacter, all closely associated with obesity.

Gut microbiota and their metabolic products might play important roles in regulating the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study was to characterize gut microbiota and serum amino acid metabolome profiles in children with ASD. A non-randomized controlled study was carried out to analyze the alterations in the intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in patients with ASD (n = 30) compared with neurotypical controls (NC) (n = 30) by metagenomic sequencing to define the gut microbiota community and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analysis to characterize the metabolite profiles. Compared with children in the NC group, those in the ASD group showed lower richness, higher evenness, and an altered microbial community structure. At the class level, Deinococci and Holophagae were significantly lower in children with ASD compared with TD. At the phylum level, Deinococcus-Thermus was significantly lower in children with ASD compared with TD. In addition, the functional properties (such as galactose metabolism) displayed significant differences between the ASD and NC groups. Five dominant altered species were identified and analyzed (LDA score > 2.0, P < 0.05), including Subdoligranulum, Faecalibacterium_praushitzii, Faecalibacterium, Veillonellaceae, and Rumminococcaceae. The peptides/nickel transport system was the main metabolic pathway involved in the differential species in the ASD group. Decreased ornithine levels and elevated valine levels may increase the risk of ASD through a metabolic pathway known as the nickel transport system. The microbial metabolism in diverse environments was negatively correlated with phascolarctobacterium succinatutens. Our study provides novel insights into compositional and functional alterations in the gut microbiome and metabolite profiles in ASD and the underlying mechanisms between metabolite and ASD.

Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay on anal swabs was recently reported to be persistently positive even after throat testing was negative during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, data about the consistent performance of RT-PCR assay on throat and anal swabs remain limited in pediatric patients. Here, we retrospectively reviewed RT-PCR-testing results of 212 pediatric patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection at Wuhan Children’s Hospital. The diagnostic potential of these two types of specimens were showed significant difference (positive rate: 78.2% on throat swabs vs. 52.6% on anal swabs, McNemar Test P=0.0091) and exhibited a weak positive consistency (Kappa value was 0.311, P<0.0001) in pediatric patients. Furthermore, viral loads detected on both throat and anal swabs also showed no significant difference (P = 0.9511) and correlation (Pearson r = 0.0434, P = 0.8406), and exhibited an inconsistent kinetic change through the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Besides, viral loads in the throat and anal swabs were correlated with different types of immune states, immune-reactive phase, and the resolution phase/immunologic tolerance, respectively. These findings revealed that RT-PCR-testing on throat and anal swabs showed significant difference for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 infection and correlated with different immune state in pediatric patients.