Abstract: Schistosomiasis, an important zoonotic parasitic disease, is one of the six major tropical diseases identified by WHO, and also one of the most important parasitic diseases for prevention and control in China. After more than 70 years of efforts, the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China has made great achievements, and the current epidemic of schistosomiasis in China has entered an extremely low epidemic state, but the distribution base of the only intermediate host of schistosomiasis, Oncomelania hupensis, is still large. For now, the techniques used to monitor schistosomiasis have shortcomings such as time-consuming, laborious and low sensitivity, which cannot meet the current needs of China. Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples (such as soil, water or air) without isolating any target organisms, which is a complex mixture of genomic DNA and its degradation products from different organisms in the same environment. eDNA technology can reflect the community or species composition information in the ecosystem through DNA extraction and detection of environmental samples. Compared with traditional biological monitoring methods, eDNA technology has the advantages of high efficiency, high sensitivity and environmental friendliness. eDNA has been successfully used for the specific detection of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum. This paper reviews the current detection methods of eDNA, the application and technical limitations of eDNA technology in schistosomiasis monitoring, aiming to provide scientific reference for research in the field of schistosomiasis surveillance.

OBJECTIVETo determine the recognition of healthy medical students on deqi after acupuncture, reveal the qualitative and quantitative rules of deqi and understand whether these rules are the factors of the clinical application of acupuncture therapy.

METHODSThe class questionnaires were used for the investigation study on the understanding of deqi after acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) or Zusanli (ST 36) in 86 healthy students in the clinical medicine class.

RESULTS(1) Deqi was a kind of complicated compound feelings, with many sensation qualities such as distending pain, distension and pain. (2) Deqi was a kind of mild and moderate sensations. In 10-score credit sys tem of Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scale (MASS), the scores of distending pain (4.69 +/- 2.83), distension (4.39 +/- 2.91) and soreness and distension (3.93 +/- 2.93) were around 5 (moderate degree), the scores of stabbing pain (1.89 +/- 2.02) were around 2 (mild degree). (3) The differences in the quantitative scores were significant for stabbing pain, distending pain, distention, soreness and distention and the others before and after treatment (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDeqi of acupuncture is the mild and moderate complicated sensations manifested as distension, soreness, pain and numbness. As the invasive therapy, the filiform needle puncture will bring a certain psychological impacts on the receptors. The subjective sensation is possibly the factor for the patients' selection of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Qi ; Schools, Medical ; Sensation ; Young Adult

In order to optimize the ~(18)O labeling method, two key aspects, peptide dispersion and trypsin deac tivation were discussed o The addition of Rapigest SF in H_2~('8)O and microwave heating enhanced labeling efficiency of α-casein digested peptides(~(18)O/~(16)O) ratio >99%).Chemical modification with tris(2-carboxyeth yl) phosphine (TCEP) and iodoacetamide (IAA) resulted in trypsin deactivated completely.No significant back-exchange from ~(18)O to ~(16)O was observed after labeling in 6 days.The experiment result with peptide mixture from showed that the improved method could be effectively used to label protein and peptide.

ObjectiveTo explore the value of simvastatin in improving endothelial function in the patients with acute coronary syndromes in shorter time.Methods60 patients with acute coronary syndrome(acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina/non-ST elevation myocardial infarction) were randomized to be treated with placebo(n=30) or simvastatin 20 mg daily(n=30) for 3～5 d.At the admission and endpoint,Brachial ultrasound was used to measure endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation(FMD) and response to endothelium-independent nitroglycerin. ResultsFMD was unchanged with placebo,but increased with simvasatin,from(2.65±2.95)% to(4.19±2.59)%(P=0.027).Responses to nitroglycerin were similar during the time course of the study in the 2 groups.The improvement of FMD was not correlated with the level of TC(R2=0.081,P=0.37),LDL-C(R2=0.056,P=0.46) or HDL-C(R2=0.073,P=0.40).ConclusionSimvastatin initiated early after acute coronary syndromes rapidly improves endothelial function in short course.No correlation has been detected between the pharmacological effects of simvastatin with the fall in TC and LDL-C.

BACKGROUND: One unit of umbilical cord blood does not have a sufficient number of peripheral blood stem cells to meet the requirements of transplantation in adults. One solution of this problem is their ex vivo expansion, which requires not only a longer time and higher culture conditions, but also easily leads to the differentiation of stern cells, thus affecting the effects of transplantation. OBJECTIVE: To transduce human interleukin-3(IL-3) gene into umbilical cord blood CD34" cells and to observe IL-3 expression. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A cell-genomics in vitro experiment was performed in the Chengde Medical College in 2008. MATERIALS: Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy adult were provided by Chengde Blood Center, and umbilical cord blood was provided by Chengde Maternal and Child Care Hospital. Written informed consent was obtained from each donor. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated by Ficoll gradient centrifugation and umbilical blood CD34+ cells were isolated using immunomagnetic beads method. IL-3 mRNA was extracted. IL-3 cDNA was synthesized by RT-PCR, and IL-3 cDNA was subcloned into eukaryotic expressing vector pcDNA3. In the experimental group, pcDNA3/IL-3 vectors were transduced into umbilical cord blood CD34+ cells, while in the control group, transfection was not performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detection of IL-3 level in umbilical cord blood CD34" cells suspension using ELISA kits. RESULTS: Theoretically, the amplified IL-3 cDNA was 616 bp, and actually, after agarose gel electrophoresis, the PCR products exhibited a strip with expected size under ultraviolet ray. Extraction of IL-3mRNA was successful and reversely transcripted cDNA was complete. A 616-bp inserted fragment was observed by agarose gel electrophoresis after double digestion with BamH Ⅰ and Xba Ⅰ, and it was the same as IL-3 sequence. Within 1-7 days after transfection, IL-3 level in the umbilical cord CD34+ cells suspension was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (t = 3.46, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-3 cDNA was successfully cloned, and eukaryotic expressing plasmid pcDNA3/IL-3 that could be effectively expressed within short term in umbilical cord CD34+ cells was successfully constructed.

Objective : To evaluate the quality of neonatal inherited metabolic diseases screening in Chaoyang District, Beijing Municipality from 2012 to 2021, so as to provide insights into improvements in the screening quality and efficiency of neonatal inherited metabolic diseases. Methods: Data pertaining to screening of neonatal inherited metabolic disease in Chaoyang District from 2012 to 2021 were captured from Beijing Center for Neonatal Disease Screening. The percentage of screening, eligible rate of blood smears collection, re-examination rate of suspected cases, and definitive diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH), phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) were analyzed to evaluate the quality of neonatal inherited metabolic diseases screening in Chaoyang District. Results: There were 484 002 live neonates in Chaoyang District from 2012 to 2021, and 481 395 neonates were screened for inherited metabolic diseases, with a screening rate of 99.46% and 99.71% eligible rate of blood smears collection. A total of 4 305 suspected positive cases were screened, including 4 148 cases recalled for re-examinations, with a 96.35% re-examination rate of suspected cases, and the re-examination rates of CH, PKU and CAH were 96.37%, 96.79% and 95.65%, respectively. Totally 482 neonates were definitively diagnosed with inherited metabolic diseases, with an overall incidence rate of 1/999, and the incidence rates of CH (307 cases), hyperthyrotropinemia (103 cases), PKU (66 cases) and CAH (6 cases) were 1/1 568, 1/4 674, 1/7 294 and 1/20 233, respectively. Conclusions The screening rate and re-examination rate of neonatal inherited metabolic diseases was both more than 95% in Chaoyang District from 2012 to 2021. Improving the management of neonatal inherited metabolic diseases screening and the recall of suspected cases is required.

OBJECTIVETo observe enhanced effects of polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) combined Rapamycin on autophagy of H22 hepatoma cells in mice and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe H22 hepatocarcinoma cell suspension was subcutaneously inoculated into 40 Kunming mice. Then tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the control group,the high dose PESV group, the low dose PESV group, and the combination group (high dose PESV + Rapamycin), 10 in each group. Mice in high and dose PESV groups were administered with 20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg PESV respectively by gastrogavage. Mice in the combination group were administered with 2 mg/kg rapamycin and 20 mg/kg PESV by gastrogavage. The intervention lasted for 14 successive days. The tumor volume was measured once every other day, the tumor growth curve was drawn, and then the tumor inhibitory rate calculated. Pathological changes of the tumor tissue were observed by HE staining. Protein expression levels of mammal target of rapamycin (mTOR), UNC-51-like kinase-1 (ULK1), microtubule-associated protein1 light chain3 (MAPILC3A), and Beclin1 were detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSThe growth of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor was inhibited in high and low dose PESV groups and the combination group (P < 0.05). And there was statistical difference in tumor weight and tumor volume between the combination group and high and low dose PESV groups (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in tumor weight or tumor volume between the high dose PESV group and the low dose PESV group (P > 0.05). lmmunohistochemical assay showed that the protein expression of mTOR was higher, but protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, Beclin1 were lower in the control group than in the rest 3 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the high dose PESV group, protein expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1 were obviously lower (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPESV combined Rapamycin might inhibit the development of H22 hepatoma transplantation tumor in mice possibly through inhibiting the activity of mTOR, enhancing expressions of ULK1, MAP1LC3A, and Beclin1.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Liver Neoplasms ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Peptides ; Scorpion Venoms ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To further research the urinary monitoring of the maternal thyroid functional status ,the levels of urine thyroid hormones were analyzed during pregnancy .Methods This study recruited 30 cases of healthy pregnant women at 9-12 ges-tational weeks .Their random urine specimens were collected every four weeks until delivery .The concentrations of urine thyrotro-pin(uTSH) ,urine free triiodothyronine(uFT3) and urine free tetraiodothyronine(uFT4) were detected by electrochemical lumines-cence immunoassay(ECLIA) .The urine retinol binding protein(uRBP) was detected by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) .After correc-ted by uRBP ,the statistical analysis was done to analyze the variation of the ratio of uTSH and uRBP (uTSH/uRBP) ,the ratio of uFT3 and uRBP(uFT3/uRBP)and the ratio of uFT4 and uRBP(uFT4/uRBP)during pregnancy .Results The median levels of u-rine thyroid hormone parameters were obtained from the healthy pregnant women every four weeks and were compared among dif-ferent stages .The difference of uFT3/uRBP and uFT4/uRBP was statistically significant (F= 6 .222 ,P< 0 .05 ;F= 5 .078 ,P<0 .05) ,and the levels of them varied linearity during pregnancy (F=27 .480 ,P<0 .05 ;F=23 .959 ,P<0 .05) .The difference of uT-SH/uRBP had no statistical significance(F=2 .731 ,P=0 .054) .Conclusion After corrected by uRBP ,the levels of uFT3 and uFT4 of healthy pregnant women decreased linearity among different gestational stages ,and the levels of uTSH had no noticeable change .

Objective: To evaluate the impact of anemia on prognosis of elder patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
Methods: A total of 908 consecutive ACS patients elder than 60 years of age with PCI in our hospital from 2010-06 to 2012-06 were studied. According to WHO deifnition of anemia (HB<12.0 g/dL in female and HB<13.0 g/dL in male), the patients were classiifed as Anemia group, n=283 and Non-anemia group, n=625. The patients were followed-up for 1 year. The basic clinical characteristics, incidences of mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebravascular events (MACCE) were compared between 2 groups by cardiac death, myocardial re-infarction, worsening of cardiac function, target vessel revascularization, cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction.
Results: There were 31%of patients suffering from anemia. Anemia group had more patients with the elder age, female gender, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, decreased LVEF, more patients with 3 vessel-disease, and higher mortality at 1 year after PCI, higher rate of MACCE than those in Non-anemia group, all P<0.05. Multiple regression analysis indicated that anemia is the independent predictor for mortality in elder ACS patients at 1 year after PCI, P<0.05.
Conclusion: Anemia may increase the incidences of mortality and MACCE in elder ACS patients after PCI for a long-term.

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene, PcgstA was cloned from the penicillin producing strain Penicillium chrysogenum,which is important for understanding the industrial fermentation process. PcgstA gene has an open-reading-frame of 840 bp in length,which is interrupted by two introns. The deduced amino acid sequence shows about 50% identity to several characterized filamentous fungi GSTs. The recombinant PcGSTA in Escherichia coli were overexpressed and purified. Enzymatic assays showed that the recombinant PcGSTA had a specific activity with 1-chloro-2, 4-dinitrobenzene of (0.159±0.031) μmol/(min· mg). It was found that the expression level of PcgstA in the penicillin producing medium supplemented with phenylacetic acid, the side chain precursor of penicillin G, was significant down regulated than that in medium without phenylacetic acid. This result suggested that PcGST may be related to phenylacetic acid metabolism in the penicillin producing strain.