Objective To investigate the current distribution and predict the future suitable habitats of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Nanjing City, so as to provide insights into control and early warning of ticks and management of tick-borne diseases in Nanjing City. Methods The electronic map of Nanjing City was obtained from the National Platform for Common GeoSpatial Information Services. The distribution of H. longicornis and the longitude and latitude of distribution points from 2022 to 2024 were obtained from centers for disease control and prevention across each district in Nanjing City. Climatic and environmental variable data in Nanjing City were captured from the Worldclim database. Initially, 19 bioclimatic variables in this database were selected, including annual mean temperature, mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the warmest month, temperature annual range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest quarter, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and precipitation of the coldest quarter. The elevation and normalized difference vegetation index were obtained from Data Sharing Platform of the Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Then, the distribution points of H. longicornis, elevation, vegetation index and 19 bioclimatic variables were loaded into the software MaxEnt 3.4.4 to evaluate and screen out the variables with a contribution rate of 1% and higher. ArcGIS 10.8.1 software was used to extract the elevation, vegetation index and 19 bioclimatic variables of the distribution points of H. longicornis for a correlation analysis. If the absolute value of the correlation coefficient was 0.8 and higher, the variable with the higher contribution was retained. The 2050 dataset of the BCCCSM2-MR atmospheric circulation model in the coupled model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) were obtained from the Worldclim database as climate data for 2050. Screened H. longicornis species data and environmental and climate data were loaded into the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model with the software MaxEnt 3.4.4 for training and validation, and then, all data generated from the model were imported into the software ArcGIS 10.8.1 to generate raster data and yield the map pertaining to the distribution of H. longicornis risk in Nanjing City. The accuracy of the model was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the predictive effect of the model was assessed with area under the ROC curve (AUC). The suitable habitats of H. longicornis were classified in Nanjing City with the software ArcGIS 10.8.1, and the areas of distribution of suitable habitats in various categories were recorded to create the map of current H. longicornis suitable habitats classification in Nanjing City. The climatic and geographic information data in 2050 were employed as future environmental and climatic factors, and current environmental and climatic factors and current H. longicornis distribution data were additionally used to predict the future suitable habitats of H. longicornis in Nanjing City. In addition, the contributions of environmental and climatic factors to distribution of suitable habitats of H. longicornis was evaluated with the Jackknife method in Nanjing City. Results A total of 10 environmental and climatic variables were screened for analysis of the suitability of H. longicornis in Nanjing City based on correlation analyses and contributions of the MaxEnt model, including annual mean temperature, precipitation of the warmest quarter, vegetation index, precipitation of the wettest month, temperature annual range, annual precipitation, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, elevation, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, and maximum temperature of the warmest month, and annual mean temperature (34.8%), precipitation of the warmest quarter (17.3%), vegetation index (13.1%), and precipitation of the wettest month (10.8%) contributed relatively highly to the distribution of suitable habitats of H. longicornis in Nanjing City. The mean AUC of the ROC curve was 0.810 ± 0.055 for 10 repeated modeling results of the MaxEnt model, indicating high predictive performance of the model. The potential distribution areas of H. longicornis were predicted to be mainly located in Luhe District, Pukou District, Jiangning District, Lishui District, and Gaochun District in Nanjing City with the MaxEnt model. Under current climatic conditions, the area of potential suitable habitats of H. longicornis was 4 182.42 km² in Nanjing City, including 1 252.94 km² highly suitable habitats, which accounted for 19.00% of the total area of Nanjing City. Under the climate scenario in 2050, the area of potential suitable habitats of H. longicornis was projected to increase to 5 467.58 km² in Nanjing City, accounting for 82.95% of the total area of the city, and these habitats were mainly concentrated in Luhe District, Pukou District, Jiangning District, Lishui District, and Gaochun District. The areas of suitable habitats of H. longicornis at various categories were predicted to vary greatly in 2050, and the area of highly suitable habitats of H. longicornis was projected to increase to 2 378.82 km², accounting for 36.08% of the total area of Nanjing City. Based on jackknife tests and contributions of environmental and climatic variables, 6 dominant environmental and climatic factors were screened, including annual mean temperature (34.8% contribution), precipitation of the warmest quarter (17.3% contribution), vegetation index (13.1% contribution), precipitation of the wettest month (10.8% contribution), temperature annual range (5.4% contribution), and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (5.0% contribution), with cumulative contributions of 86.4%. Conclusion The distribution of H. longicornis is strongly associated with vegetation, temperature and precipitation in Nanjing City. Future climate change may lead to an expansion of the distribution area of H. longicornis in Nanjing City.

Periodontal bone defects, primarily caused by periodontitis, are highly prevalent in clinical settings and manifest as bone fenestration, dehiscence, or attachment loss, presenting a significant challenge to oral health. In regenerative medicine, harnessing developmental principles for tissue repair offers promising therapeutic potential. Of particular interest is the condensation of progenitor cells, an essential event in organogenesis that has inspired clinically effective cell aggregation approaches in dental regeneration. However, the precise cellular coordination mechanisms during condensation and regeneration remain elusive. Here, taking the tooth as a model organ, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the cellular composition and heterogeneity of human dental follicle and dental papilla, revealing a distinct Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) population with remarkable odontogenic potential. Interestingly, a reciprocal paracrine interaction between PDGFRA⁺ dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) and CD31⁺ Endomucin⁺ endothelial cells (ECs) was mediated by Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and Platelet-derived growth factor subunit BB (PDGFBB). This crosstalk not only maintains the functionality of PDGFRA⁺ DFSCs but also drives specialized angiogenesis. In vivo periodontal bone regeneration experiments further reveal that communication between PDGFRA⁺ DFSC aggregates and recipient ECs is essential for effective angiogenic-osteogenic coupling and rapid tissue repair. Collectively, our results unravel the importance of MSC-EC crosstalk mediated by the VEGFA and PDGFBB-PDGFRA reciprocal signaling in orchestrating angiogenesis and osteogenesis. These findings not only establish a framework for deciphering and promoting periodontal bone regeneration in potential clinical applications but also offer insights for future therapeutic strategies in dental or broader regenerative medicine.
Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology* ; Dental Sac/cytology* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Transcriptome ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Animals ; Dental Papilla/cytology* ; Periodontium/physiology* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Regeneration ; Angiogenesis

Objective:To analyze the immune microenvironment characteristics of human dental follicle tissues from the third molars and to explore the mutual communication and the effects of innate immune cells and adaptive immune cells within the dental follicle.Methods:Sequencing data(GSA-Human:HRA008022)in the GSA database were analyzed.Bioinformatics tools were employed for gene identification and GO enrichment analysis was performed to define the biological function of innate and adaptive immune cells.CellChat analysis was used for explaining intercellular communication among immune cell populations.Results:Using t-SNE dimen-sionality reduction analysis for immune cell populations,innate immune cell populations were obtained,including innate lymphoid cells,dendritic cells,mast cells and macrophages,and adaptive immune cell populations including T cells and B cells.Pearson corre-lation analysis showed that innate immune cells,specifically innate lymphoid cells and macrophages,had a strong correlation with adap-tive immune cell populations.GO enrichment analysis revealed mutual coordination among innate immune cell populations and regulato-ry effects on adaptive immune cell populations.Further CellChat analysis indicated biological signal transmission between innate and a-daptive immune cell populations,with CLEC,MIF,ADGRE5,COLLAGEN and MIF signaling pathways is the most significant.Con-clusion:Dental follicle tissues are rich in immune cells and innate immune cell populations interact with adaptive immune cells to regulate immune responses and participate in maintaining the homeostasis of dental follicle.

Objective To explore the clinical values of voxel-based morphometry(VBM)analysis in magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for detecting secondary damage to the distant thalamus and substantia nigra in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods A total of nineteen patients with first-time unilateral middle cerebral artery(MCA)ischemic stroke were prospectively recruited.Three-dimensional whole-brain MRI scans were performed at 1 week,1 month,and 3 months after onset.VBM analysis was used to analyze changes in the thalamus and substantia nigra volumes.Results VBM analysis revealed that compared to ipsilateral thalamic volume at 1 week after onset,ipsilateral thalamic volume was significantly reduced at 1 month or 3 months after onset(reduced by 637 mm3 and 1488 mm3,respectively;P<0.01),with the atrophy primarily located in the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus.Similarly,compared to ipsilateral substantia nigra volume at 1 week after onset,the ipsilateral substantia nigra volume was significantly reduced at 1 month or 3 months after onset(reduced by 64 mm3 and 76 mm3,respectively;P<0.05).Conclusions VBM technology can be used to evaluate the ipsilateral thalamic and substantia nigra volume reduction in patients with cerebral infarction in the MCA supply area at 1-3 months after stroke,and to detect secondary damage.

Objective:To investigate the predictive values of baseline hematoma mean CT value and shape regularity (SR) for hematoma enlargement (HE) in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).Methods:Patients with ICH admitted to Yulin First Hospital from June 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively included. The first head CT scan was performed within 24 h of onset, and the second head CT scan was performed within 72 h of the first scan. HE was defined as an increase in hematoma volume of at least 6 ml or 33% from the first CT. 3D Slicer software was used to reconstruct 3D images and SR was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent factor for HE. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of baseline hematoma mean CT value for HE. Results:A total of 249 patients with ICH were enrolled, including 134 males (53.8%), and aged 62.2±12.1 years. The median baseline Glasgow Coma Scale score was 12, and the median time from onset to first CT scan was 3.1 h. The median baseline hematoma volume was 10.9 ml, and 58 patients (23.3%) showed HE. The baseline hematoma mean CT value in the HE group (58.5±3.2 HU vs. 60.3±3.3 HU; P<0.01) and baseline SR (0.615±0.146 vs. 0.688±0.100; P<0.001) were significantly lower in the non-HE group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the time from onset to first CT scan (odds ratio [ OR] 0.867, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 0.786-0.957; P=0.004), the baseline hematoma volume ( OR 1.050, 95% CI 1.028-1.073; P<0.001), and the baseline hematoma mean CT value ( OR 0.809, 95% CI 0.725-0.902; P<0.001) were the independent predictors of HE, while the baseline SR had no significant independent correlation with HE. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of baseline hematoma mean CT value for predicting HE was 0.652 (95% CI 0.573-0.731; P<0.001), with an optimal cutoff value of 57.97 HU. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting HE were 50% and 75.9%, respectively. Conclusion:The baseline hematoma mean CT value is an independent factor for HE in patients with ICH and has certain predictive value for HE.

Sympathetic cues via the adrenergic signaling critically regulate bone homeostasis and contribute to neurostress-induced bone loss, but the mechanisms and therapeutics remain incompletely elucidated. Here, we reveal an osteoclastogenesis-centered functionally important osteopenic pathogenesis under sympatho-adrenergic activation with characterized microRNA response and efficient therapeutics. We discovered that osteoclastic miR-21 was tightly regulated by sympatho-adrenergic cues downstream the β2-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) signaling, critically modulated osteoclastogenesis in vivo by inhibiting programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4), and mediated detrimental effects of both isoproterenol (ISO) and chronic variable stress (CVS) on bone. Intriguingly, without affecting osteoblastic bone formation, bone protection against ISO and CVS was sufficiently achieved by a (D-Asp₈)-lipid nanoparticle-mediated targeted inhibition of osteoclastic miR-21 or by clinically relevant drugs to suppress osteoclastogenesis. Collectively, these results unravel a previously underdetermined molecular and functional paradigm that osteoclastogenesis crucially contributes to sympatho-adrenergic regulation of bone and establish multiple targeted therapeutic strategies to counteract osteopenias under stresses.
Adrenergic Agents/pharmacology* ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/pharmacology* ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic/metabolism* ; Humans ; Liposomes ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Nanoparticles ; Osteoclasts ; Osteogenesis/physiology* ; RNA-Binding Proteins/pharmacology*

Objective:To investigate the predominant serotypes and diversification of Echovirus (ECHOV) from viral encephalitis children in Quzhou area of Zhejiang province and the molecular characteristics of the ECHOV VP1 genes.Methods:Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 53 children with viral encephalitis were collected for viral isolation/culture. Fluorescent RT-PCR or PCR was used to detect human enteroviruses (HEV) including ECHOV, coxsackievirus(CoV) and new enterovirus (EV), and japanese encephalitis virus(JEV), mumps virus(MuV), west Nile virus(WNV) and chikungunya virus(CHLKV) or herpes simplex virus(HSV) and cytomegalovirus(CMV) in the cerebrospinal fluid samples. The complete VP1 gene sequence of HEV-B group in the HEV-positive cerebrospinal fluid samples was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced, and then the typing of Echovirus isolates was performed. The VP1 genotypes of Echovirus isolates, gene recombination, inheritance and evolution characteristics were analyzed using multiple bioinformatic software.Results:Six viral strains were isolated by cell culture using rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells but not human epithelial-2 (Hep-2) cells. Eleven cerebrospinal fluid samples were positive for HEV by RT-PCR but the detection result of all the other viruses were negative. In the 11 HEV-positive samples, 6 samples were positive for ECHOV (4 for ECHO6, 1 for ECHO7 and 1 for ECHO30 serotype), which was coincident with the isolation result , but CoV and EV were undetectable. The 4 ECHO6 isolates belonged to ECHO6-C2 subgenotype but can be divided into two epidemic clones (ECHO6-41/46 and ECHO6-45/48). The ECHO7 and ECHO30 isolates belonged to ECHO7-C and ECHO30-C genotypes. The VP1 gene recombination between the ECHO6 and ECHO30 isolates were found during their evolutionary process.Conclusions:ECHOV is the major pathogen of viral encephalitis children in the area, and there is a possibility of local outbreak or epidemic. Because of the possibility of recombination of the VP1 gene of ECHO6 and ECHO30 virus, ECHO6 may become the dominant ECHOV serotype.

Objective To explore the risk factors for postoperative hypoxemia in patients undergoing Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery.Methods The clinical data of 77 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery were analyzed retrospectively.Among the patients, 40 patients occurred hypoxemia(hypoxemia group),and 37 patients did not occur hypoxemia(non-hypoxemia group).The preoperative,intraoperative and postoperative clinical data were compared between 2 groups,and the independent risk factors for postoperative hypoxemia were analyzed by multiple Logistic regression analysis.Results The incidence of postoperative hypoxemia in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection was 51.9% (40/77).The multiple Logistic regression analysis result showed that age (OR =1.088,95% CI 1.018-1.164,P=0.013),body mass index≥25 kg/m2(OR=6.495,95% CI 1.327-31.789,P=0.021),pericardial effusion(OR=6.384,95% CI 1.426-28.576,P=0.015),white blood cell count(OR=1.289,95% CI 1.033-1.609,P=0.024)and using recombinant human coagulationⅦa (OR = 23.757, 95% CI 2.849 - 198.085, P = 0.003) were the independent predictive factors for postoperative hypoxemia in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection.Conclusions The postoperative hypoxemia in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection is related with perioperative systemic inflammation, especially in obese patients who should be given anti-inflammatory treatment during perioperative period.Control of bleeding and reducing the recombinant human coagulationⅦa as far as possible can reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia.

The incidence of stroke increases year by year.It seriously affects the quality of life in patients.The pathogenesis of stroke is related to a variety of factors,involving genetic polymorphisms,biochemical mechanisms,and inflammatory effect.Among them,vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has become one of the hotspots of research on the pathogenesis of stroke in recent years.This article reviews the correlation between VEGF gene polymorphism and stroke.

After ischemic stroke, secondary damages such as neuron loss, gliosis, and axonal degeneration occur in the nonischemic remote brain regions that have synaptic connections with the primary infarction site.These secondary damages in the remote brain regions may affect the recovery of neurological function.Several advanced neuroimaging techniques have been used to detect these secondary damages.This article reviews the research progress in this field.