Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of IKB kinase (IKK-α) and interferon-α (IFN-α) in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to explore the role of IKK-α in the production of IFN-α in SLE patients. Methods SYBR green dye I based real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of IKK-α and IFN-α in the peripheral blood leucocytes of SLE patients and healthy controls. Serum levels of IFN-α were measured with ELISA method. Results IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients were significantly higher than those of normal controls (P<0.05). IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients with active disease were significantly higher than patients with stable disease (P<0.01). IFN-α mRNA expression level in SLE patients was significantly lower than that of the normal controls (P<0.01). IFN-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients with active disease were significantly higher than patients with stable disease (P<0.01). Serum levels of IFN-α in SLE patients with active disease was significantly higher than that of the normal controls and patients with stable disease (P<0.05). The anti-dsDNA antibody correlated positively, and complement C3 correlated negatively with serum concentration of IFN-α. IKK-α mRNA expression levels in SLE patients correlated positively with serum concentration of IFN-α. Conclusion IKK-α correlates positively with serum concentration of IFN-α. The IFN-α level is significantly correlated with disease activity, This suggests that IKK-α may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To explore the status of reproductive health of women at the reproductive age.Method A self-designed questionnaire was used among 960 married women at the reproductive age to investigate the health status.Results The women(59.8%)had an abnormal pregnant history.The reproductive diseases in them were mainly cervicitis(11.6%),pelvic inflammatory disease(5.4%)and uterine fibroids(4.0%).Thirty-one point one perent of them knew well about their fertile time, 58.6%of them wanted most to know the choice of contraception,and 30.0%obtained the knowledge on female reproductive health knowledge from the hospitals.Conclusion Such measures as doing health education in various ways,strengthening the reproductive health knowledge and enhancing the knowledge of contraception are important for the improvement of the reproductive health knowledge.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of CD4+CD25+Tregs(Tregs)on the protective efficacy of glutha?tione?S?transferase(GST)against Schistosoma japonicum in mice. Methods Female BALB/c mice were divided randomly into five groups:a normal control group,an infected control group,an anti?CD25mAb group,a GST immunization group and a com?bination group with GST immunization and anti?CD25 mAb. The GST group and combination group were injected percutaneously with GST 50μg each mouse,the other two groups were injected with equal volume PBS. The immunization was performed for 3 times for two?week interval,and 2 weeks after the last immunization,each mouse was challenged with 40 S. japonicum cercaria. Two weeks post?infection,the combination group and anti?CD25 mAb group were injected intraperitoneally with 300μg anti?CD25 mAb each mouse. The mice were succumbed 2 weeks,3 weeks,4 weeks and 5 weeks post?infection respectively. The per?centages of CD4+CD25+Tregs in splenocytes of mice were measured with flow cytometer. The levels of IFN?γ,IL?2,IL?4,IL?5 and TGF?βin cell cultural supernatants were determined by sandwich?ELISA after stimulation with Con A. The liver sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Results The worm burden in the combination group(15.80 ± 2.74)was significantly lower than those of the infected control group(27.78 ± 3.15),anti?CD25 mAb group(21.50 ± 4.21),and GST group(20.84 ± 6.46). Compared to those of the infected control group,the percentages of CD4+CD25+Tregs were significantly higher in the GST group,while the percentages of CD4+CD25+Tregs were significantly lower post?anti?CD25 mAb?administration. Regardless of GST administration,the levels of IFN?γ,IL?2,IL?4 and IL?5 after anti?CD25 mAb were significantly higher than those of the in?fected control groups. There were no significant differences of egg granuloma and the level of TGF?βbetween each group. Con?clusion CD4+CD25+Tregs could be partially blocked by anti?CD25 mAb while Th1 and Th2 type immunization response could be enhanced,which plays a role in improving the protective efficacy of GST against of S. japonicum.

Objective　To timely understand the current status and distribution of nail snails (Oncomelania hupensis) in Tongjiang River channels in Zhenjiang City, providing a scientific basis for achieving the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis. Methods　From 2019 to 2023, nine Tongjiang River channels on the south bank of the Yangtze River under the jurisdiction of Zhenjiang City were selected as the monitoring area. Snail monitoring was carried out onshore and beach nail snails floats in the Tongjiang River channels, nail snails on attachments in hardened areas, snails induced by straw curtains, and snails carried by boats and domestic animals. Results　The monitoring results of shoreline snail from 2019 to 2023 showed that the snail situation in the Tongjiang River channel and its outer river bank remained relatively stable from 2019 to 2020; however, in 2021, under the influence of the Yangtze River flooding disaster in 2020, the area of snails increased significantly. In 2021, the area with snails in the Tongjiang River channel and the outer river bank increased by 45.70% (11.95/26.15) and 100.00% (20.00/20.00) compared to 2020; the average density of nails snails in the Tongjiang River channel and the outer river bank and the emergence rate of snail frames both showed a significant increase, rising by 94.73% (0.18/0.19) and 68.08% (8.68/12.75) compared to 2020, and by 122.73% (0.81/0.66) and 102.78% (43.26/42.09), respectively. The differences in the increase in the occurrence rate of spiked frames in the Tongjiang River channel Chili River and Renmin River were not statistically significant (χ2=0.329, P>0.05; χ2=0.646, P>0.05). From 2022 to 2023, the density of nail snails and the occurrence rate of framed snails in the Tongjiang River channel showed a decreasing trend (F=4.72, P=0.04 and χ2=372.58, P<0.01). The area of nail snails, density of live snails, and occurrence rate of framed snails in the outer river bank showed a decreasing trend (F=13.96, P=0.02; F=23.43, P<0.01; χ2=1 029.69, P<0.01). During the five years, no nail snails were detected in the ancient canal and 11 tributaries. From 2019 to 2023, 180 times of 3 003 kg of floating objects were salvaged, with a total of 148 live snails detected. A total of 17 live snails were captured on attachments in the hardened berm area; a total of 11 live snails were captured by straw curtain snail baiting;112 boats were inspected, and no snails were found; there were 112 boats surveyed, and no snails were found; 97 cattle were observed, and 2 cattle were found to carry 1 live snail on their hooves; 321 sheep were observed, and no snails were found on their hooves; and no infectious snails were found in the monitoring area in 5 years. Conclusions　Nail snails continue to exist in the Tongjiang River channel, and the risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission have not been completely eliminated. It is still necessary to carry out accurate monitoring of the snail situation in the Tongjiang River and the river bank, so as to grasp the risk of transmission in time and take emergency measures.

Objective: To investigate the incidence density of adult sleep disorders (SD) in Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2023, so as to provide insights into formulating the control measures of SD. Methods: The electronic health records of permanent residents aged 18 years and over in Yinzhou District from 2017 to 2023 were collected through the Yinzhou Regional Health Information Platform. New cases of SD were diagnosed for the first time a year after establishing health records. The incidence density was estimated using Poisson distribution. The temporal, population and regional distribution characteristics of new cases of SD were analyzed using a descriptively epidemiological method. Results: From 2017 to 2023, there were 1 255 129 permanent residents aged 18 years and over in Yinzhou District, with a total observed person-time of 6 292 884 person-years and a median of 5.67 (interquartile range, 3.74) person-years. There were 165 490 new cases of SD, including 67 095 males (40.54%) and 98 385 females (59.46%). The incidence density of SD in Yinzhou District from 2017 to 2023 was 26.30/1 000 person-years, with no significant trend observed (P>0.05). The incidence density of SD was higher in females than in males (29.63/1 000 person-years vs. 22.57/1 000 person-years, P<0.05). The highest incidence density of SD was observed in individuals aged 70 to <80 years (63.30/1 000 person-years), and the lowest was in individuals aged 18 to <30 years (7.24/1 000 person-years). The incidence density of SD in individuals aged 30 years and over was higher than that in individuals aged 18 to <30 years (all P<0.05). The incidence density of SD was 32.03/1 000 person-years in individuals with junior high school education or below, which was higher than individuals with senior high school/technical secondary school education (25.93/1 000 person-years) and college degree and above (18.87/1 000 person-years, all P<0.05). Dongliu Street, Dongjiao Street, and Baihe Street had relatively higher incidence densities of SD, at 45.11/1 000 person-years, 42.87/1 000 person-years and 40.16/1 000 person-years, respectively. Conclusions From 2017 to 2023, there was no significant trend in the incidence density of SD in Yinzhou District. Higher incidence density were observed in females, the elderly, and individuals living in central urban areas.

Objective To investigate the dynamic changes of regulatory T cells (Treg ) and the surface expression of programmed death (PD)‐1 and the level of transforming growth factor (TGF )‐βduring antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) .Methods Eighty‐six CHC patients referred to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2012 to October 2013 were included ,and all of them were administered with pegylated interferon α‐2a and ribavirin .Thirty healthy controls were enrolled .The percentage of Treg cells ,PD‐1 expression and TGF‐β level were analyzed by flow cytometry at baseline and at time of achieving rapid virological response (RVR ) , early viral virological (EVR ) , end‐of‐treatment virological response (ETVR ) and sustained virological response (SVR) ,or not achieving SVR .Comparison between two groups was analyzed by t test .Results Among 86 CHC patients ,the proportions of RVR ,EVR ,ETVR ,and SVR at week 24 of follow‐up were 29 cases ,67 cases ,79 cases and 67 cases ,respectively .Percentage of Treg cells in CHC patients was much higher than that in healthy controls (10 .31 ± 5 .61 vs 2 .18 ± 0 .65 ,t = 2 .28 , P< 0 .05) .During antiviral therapy ,percentages of Treg cells declined ,not only in CHC patients with HCV genotype 1b (at baseline , RVR ,EVR ,and ETVR :14 .44 ± 3 .78 ,11 .01 ± 1 .79 ,8 .24 ± 2 .98 ,and 5 .36 ± 1 .47 ,respectively ) ,but also in those infected with HCV genotype 2a (at baseline ,RVR ,EVR ,and ETVR :12 .34 ± 2 .82 ,8 .99 ± 1 .68 ,7 .53 ± 2 .96 ,and 4 .79 ± 1 .23 ,respectively ) .Expressions of PD‐1 and TGF‐β also decreased .At baseline ,the expressions of PD‐1 in patients with SVR and without SVR were 29 .11 ± 14 .65 and 37 .73 ± 11 .65 ,respectively (t = 2 .15 , P = 0 .04) ,and the levels of TGF‐β were 41 .20 ± 18 .96 and 56 .75 ± 14 .42 ,respectively (t= 2 .66 ,P< 0 .01) .At week 24 ,the expressions of PD‐1 in patients with SVR and without SVR were 10 .36 ± 4 .81 and 36 .46 ± 10 .52 ,respectively (t= 13 .95 ,P< 0 .01) ,and the levels of TGF‐β were 10 .06 ± 4 .64 and 45 .23 ± 17 .85 , respectively ( t = 11 .85 , P < 0 .01 ) . Conclusions Percentages of Treg cells and expressions of PD‐1 and TGF‐β decrease during antiviral treatment in CHC patients .Thus ,it could be of assist to predict the treatment response by monitoring these parameters .

Objective To explore the value of prenatal MRI in the diagnosis of fetal simple expansion of lateral ventricle(ventriculomegaly), and follow up the nervous system development status after birth. Methods Simple expansion of the lateral ventricle fetus by prenatal MRI examination were collected in Huzhou Maternal and Child Care Hospital from May 2013 to June 2015, 126 cases of live births in expansion group, 50 normal cases were recruited in the same period as the control group. In expansion group, fetal subgroup analysis was done:(1) unilateral or bilateral lateral ventricle expasion:one group was 98 cases was lateral ventricle expansion (77.8%, 98/126), expansion of bilateral ventricle group was 28 cases (22.2%, 28/126). (2) Prenatal MRI in the diagnosis of the lateral ventricle of expansion: expansion of the lateral ventricle width was greater than 10.0 mm, if both sides were expanding, the expand width was the heavier one side, divided into 3 subgroups: ①Expansion in group A (lateral ventricle width 10.0-12.0 mm) were 88 cases (69.8%, 88/126).②Expansion in group B (lateral ventricle width 12.1-15.0 mm) were 29 cases (23.0%, 29/126). ③Expansion of group C (lateral ventricle width> 15.0 mm) were 9 cases (7.12%, 9/126). All 176 cases were followed up after birth at the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th month (corrected age was used for premature babies), and Gesell developmental schedules (GDS) were used to evaluate the neurobehavioral development. Results (1) The MRI results after birth:21 cases were followed up by MRI after birth. In group A, 11 cases had MRI and 9 were normal (the ventricular width<10.0 mm after birth) , the other 2 cases were stable (the ventricular width measured first time after birth was ≥10.0 mm, but the difference was within 2.0 mm from the MRI before birth). In group B, 4 cases had MRI, 1 was normal, 1 was stable, and 2 cases were getting better (the ventricular width measured first time after birth was ≥10.0 mm, but the width decreased more than 2.0 mm from the MRI before birth). In group C, 6 cases had MRI. 3 cases were getting better and 3 cases were stable. (2) Overall GDS results:expansion group after the birth of the 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th month GDS evaluation results compared with control group, respectively, the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). (3) The GDS results among the subgroups:in each evaluation after birth, there were no statistically significant differences between group A and the control group (all P>0.05). The GDS results of group B at the 3rd and 6th month were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05); while there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 goups at the 12th and 18th month (P>0.05). And for group C, statistically significant differences were found compared to the control group at each follow-up time (all P<0.05). (4) GDS results at different times after birth in the expansion group:there was no statistically significant difference between the results at the 3rd and 6th month (P>0.05). But when the result at the 3rd month was compared to the results of the 12th or 18th month, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). GDS result of 6th months after birth compared with 12th and 18th months, respectively, there were no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the results at the 12th and 18th month (P>0.05). (5) The GDS results in unilateral and bilateral ventricle expansion:at the 18th month, among the 98 unilateral cases, 86 (87.8%, 86/98) had normal GDS results(>85 scores);8 (8.2%, 8/98) had borderline results (75-85 scores);4 (4.1%, 4/98) had delayed results (<75 scores). Among the 28 bilateral cases, 23 (82.1%, 23/28) had normal GDS results;3 (10.7%, 3/28) had borderline results; 2 (7.1%, 2/28) had delayed results. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions Among the simple expansion of lateral ventricle, those whose ventricular width are≤12.0 mm may not need clinical treatment. If the width is between 12.1 to 15.0 mm, closely follow-up and targeted rehabilitation training after birth are recommended. When the width is more than 15.0 mm, the risk of the central nervous system function delay is significantly increased, and early intervention might improve the prognosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has the features of high incidence rate, low survival rate, poor treatment outcome, and complex pathogenesis. In recent years, many studies have shown that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 is upregulated in HCC and can promote the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HCC cells, and it can also guide the diagnosis, prognostic evaluation, and treatment of HCC in clinical practice. This article reviews the current status of research on lncRNA MALAT1 in HCC and discusses its expression pattern, mechanism of action, and clinical significance in predicting and monitoring the progression of HCC, so as to gain a deep understanding of the role of lncRNA MALAT1 in the progression of HCC. It is pointed out that lncRNA MALAT1 is expected to become a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of HCC and may be used as a therapeutic target in clinical practice.

Objective:To understand the current status of gastroscopy in diagnosing gastric lesions in general population, and to recommend the optimal age for the first gastroscopy and intervals for repeated gastroscopy.Methods:The gastroscopy records of residents aged 18-80 years in Yinzhou District of Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, between April 2010 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The detections of gastric lesions across different years, age and genders were described. Goodness of fit tests were applied to compare the differences in detection rates of different lesions in first-time endoscopy in different age groups and different populations. Generalized additive models were used to fit the trend of age specific gastric lesion detection rate explore the optimal age for gastroscopy. The appropriate gastroscopy intervals were determined according to the progress of the gastric lesions detected in repeated gastroscopy.Results:A total of 237 751 participants with 344 398 gastroscopy records were included in analyses. A total of 5 597 cases of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), 9 796 cases of intestinal metaplasia (IM), 165 cases of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN), 52 cases of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) and 435 cases of gastric cancer were detected by the first gastroscopy. The overall detection rate of gastric lesions increased significantly in age group 45-70 years, and remained stable after 70 years old, with LGIN and HGIN showing notable increases at 50 and 55 years old, respectively. Repeated gastroscopy detected CAG, IM, LGIN, and HGIN at a higher rate compared with the first gastroscopy. Normal/superficial gastritis progressed in 3-5 years, whereas CAG or more severe lesions progressed in 1-6 years.Conclusion:Gastroscopy is recommended for general population aged 45 years and above. Furthermore, gastroscopy can be performed every 3-5 years for individuals with normal endoscopy results and once a year for patients with CAG or more severe gastric lesions.