Abstract: Objective To investigate the prevalence of C580Y mutation of kelch13 gene in the imported P. falciparum cases in Wuhan City, China, and to provide a reference basis for the prevention and treatment of imported falciparum malaria. Methods From 2009 to 2015, blood samples were collected from returnees who infected with P. falciparum in endemic areas of Africa and Southeast Asia in Wuhan City. The P. falciparum DNA was extracted from the blood samples, and kelch13 gene was amplified by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and the distribution of C580Y mutation was analyzed. Results C580Y mutation was detected in 16 of the 208 cases tested by LAMP. No mutations were detected in 69 cases of imported falciparum malaria from Africa during 2009-2012, while 13 cases of the C580Y mutation were detected in 114 cases from 2013 to 2015, with a mutation rate of 11.4%. The mutation rate in South Africa, West Africa, and Central Africa was 12.5%, 9.6%, and 19.0%, respectively, with no mutations detected in cases from North Africa and East Africa. Among the 25 cases of falciparum malaria from Southeast Asia between 2009 and 2013, three cases were positive for the C580Y mutation, all from Myanmar, with a mutation rate of 14.3% (3/21) in Myanmar and 12.0% (3/25) in Southeast Asia. There was no significant difference in the mutation rate between Africa and Southeast Asia after 2013 (P>0.05). Conclusions Our findings highlight the varying degrees of C580Y mutations of kelch13 gene in imported P. falciparum cases in Wuhan and suggest the need for enhanced monitoring and evaluation of related resistance genes.

Objective:To compare the effect of modified postauricular transverse incision and traditional vertical incision for microvascular decompression in the treatment of hemifacial spasm.Methods:Prospective study method was used. A total of 116 patients with hemifacial spasm in Handan Central Hospital from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020 were selected, and divided into two groups according to the admission order. Both groups underwent microvascular decompression; control group (57 cases) received traditional vertical incision, while treatment group (59 cases) received modified postauricular transverse incision. The brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP), pain degree, surgical indicators, facial aesthetic satisfaction and complications were compared between two groups.Results:After treatment, the BAEP of latency, wave interval and wave amplitude in the two groups increased compared with that before treatment, and the BAEP of latency, wave interval and wave amplitude in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group: (1.89 ± 0.15) ms vs. (1.62 ± 0.21) ms, (7.89 ± 0.15) ms vs. (6.25 ± 0.41) ms, (1.79 ± 0.19) ms vs. (1.54 ± 0.11) ms ( P<0.05). After treatment, the visual analogue score (VAS) of patients in the two groups decreased compared with that before treatment, and the VAS of patients in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group: (1.15 ± 0.27) points vs. (2.18 ± 0.24) points ( P<0.05). The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume and postoperative scar length of patients in the treatment group were less than those in the control group: (60.41 ± 3.81) h vs. (76.87 ± 3.87) h, (30.18 ± 4.19) ml vs. (56.87 ± 4.15) ml and (4.18 ± 1.07) cm vs. (6.87 ± 1.05) cm ( P<0.05). The satisfaction rate of patients in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group: 91.53% (54/59) vs. 71.93% (41/57) ( P<0.05). The complication rate of patients in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group: 5.08% (3/59) vs. 21.05% (12/57) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with traditional vertical incision, the modified transverse incision for microvascular decompression in the treatment of hemifacial spasm can reduce intraoperative blood loss and postoperative scar area, enhance brainstem auditory evoked potential, and improve facial aesthetics, which is worthy of recommendation.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a significant role in regulating a variety of biological processes. Dys-regulation of H2O2 can lead to various diseases. Although numerous fluorescent imaging probes for H2O2 have been reported, the development of H2O2 ratiometric fluorescent probe with large Stokes shift re-mains rather limited. Such probes have shown distinct advantages, such as minimized interference from environment and improved signal-to noise ratio. In this work, we reported a new pyrene-based com-pound Py-VPB as H2O2 fluorescent probe in vitro. The probe demonstrated ratiometric detection behavior, large Stokes shift and large emission shift. In addition, the probe showed high sensitivity and selectivity towards H2O2 in vitro. Based on these excellent properties, we successfully applied Py-VPB to the visualization of exogenous and endogenous H2O2 in living cells. Cell imaging study also showed that our probe was localized in the mitochondria. We envision that the probe can provide a useful tool for unmasking the biological roles of mitochondrial H2O2 in living systems.

Objective To analyze the trends in Oncomelania hupensis distribution in Wuhan City, Hubei Province from 2003 to 2022, so as to provide insights into precision schistosomiasis control. Methods Data pertaining to O. hupensis snail survey in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 were collected. The trends in the proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection in snails were evaluated in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 with the slope of trend curve (β), annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) using a Joinpoint regression model. Results During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in Wuhan City in 2005 and 2015, with a rise during the period from 2003 to 2005 (β₁ = 5.93, t = 1.280, P > 0.05), a decline from 2005 to 2015 (β₂ = −0.88, t = −2.074, P > 0.05) and a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β₃ = 1.46, t = −2.356, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2006 and 2015, with no significant differences in the trends from 2003 to 2006 (β₁ = 4.64, t = 1.888, P > 0.05) or from 2006 to 2015 (β₂ = −1.45, t = −2.143, P > 0.05), and with a tendency towards a rise from 2015 to 2022 (β₃ = 2.04, t = −3.100, P < 0.05). During the period from 2003 through 2022, there were two turning points for the proportion of areas with snail habitats in inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City in 2012 and 2020, with a tendency towards a decline from 2003 to 2012 (β₁ = −0.39, t = −4.608, P < 0.05) and with no significant differences in the trends from 2012 to 2020 (β₂ = 0.03, t = 0.245, P > 0.05) and from 2020 to 2022 (β₃ = 1.38, t = 1.479, P > 0.05). During the period from 2003 to 2022, the actual area with snail habitats all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City, and in islet and inner embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (AAPC = −2.39%, −5.75% and −2.35%, all P values < 0.05). The mean density of living snails reduced from 0.087 snails/0.1 m² in 2003 to 0.027 snails/0.1 m² in 2022 in Wuhan City, with a significant difference in the tendency towards the decline (APC = AAPC = −11.47%, P < 0.05). The annual mean decline rate of the mean density of living snails was 17.36% in outside embankment endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −17.36%, P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference in the trends in the mean density of living snails in islet endemic areas of Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −0.97%, P > 0.05). In addition, the prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022 (APC = AAPC = −12.45%, P < 0.05). Conclusions The proportion of areas with snail habitats, actual area with snail habitats, mean density of living snails and prevalence of S. japonicum infection in snails all appeared a tendency towards a decline in Wuhan City from 2003 to 2022. Intensified snail control, modification of snail habitats, shrinking of areas with snails and implementation of grazing prohibition in snail-infested settings are required, in order to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Wuhan City.