The frequent extreme climatic events post multifaceted impacts on the distribution of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in the context of global climate change. This article systematically reviews the effects of four types of extreme climatic events, including floods, droughts, heat waves, and cold waves, on the survival, reproduction, and distribution of Oncomelania hupensis. Floods may expand suitable snail habitats, and increase both emerging and re-emerging snail habitats; however, the impact of floods on O. hupensis density is characterized by a lag effect of a decline followed by a rise. Droughts may cause fragmentation of suitable O. hupensis snail habitats, reduced O. hupensis snail egg production rates, and increased O. hupensis snail mortality, and heat waves may cause an increase in O. hupensis snail mortality, a reduction in numbers of O. hupensis snail populations and shrinking of O. hupensis snail distribution, while cold waves may cause a reduction in O. hupensis snail density and a rise in O. hupensis snail mortality. Extreme climate events pose both shortand long-term effects on the distribution of O. hupensis. Intensified surveillance of O. hupensis snails is required in high-risk environments.

Objective　To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and infection sources of six human Streptococcus suis infection outbreaks in Shenzhen in 2023, and to provide a reference for effective prevention and control of the epidemic. Methods　Field epidemiological methods were used to investigate the disease onset and medical consultation process, exposure history of household and farmer market pork stalls, and other relevant factors. Data on patient demographics, clinical profiles, epidemiological characteristics, and common exposure cases were collected. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and environmental samples were collected for pathogen detection and genotyping. Spatial-geographical analysis of infection characteristics was performed using the professional mapping software ArcMap. Results　In 2023, a total of six cases were reported in Shenzhen, all of which were severe hospitalized cases with no deaths. Among them, five cases were of the meningitis type, and one was of the common type. All patients improved and were discharged after treatment. All six cases were male, with a median age of 47.5 years, and all had a history of direct exposure to raw pork through hand-skin wounds. Two cases were engaged in raw pork sales, while four were non-occupationally exposed individuals. Of the six cases, four were identified as Streptococcus suis serotype 2, and two were serotype 14. The positive rate of raw pork and environmental samples was 8.45% (6/71). Field epidemiological investigation found these six outbreaks were mainly directed toward three slaughterhouses in Guangming District, Bao'an District, and Longgang District. However, different genetic typing results suggested sporadic cases. Conclusions　These six outbreaks in Shenzhen in 2023 were all sporadic individual cases, showing characteristics such as multiple-point sporadic occurrences, diversified case composition, and primarily meningitis-type clinical manifestations. Although the genetic typing of the samples varied, the epidemiological investigation indicated three slaughterhouses as potential sources, providing a scientific basis for source control. In infectious disease epidemic source tracing, gene sequencing combined with field epidemiological surveys is more conducive to determining the source of infection and the relationship between transmission.

OBJECTIVES: In the early stage of central cervical disc herniation, clinical symptoms may be mild. However, as the spinal cord becomes compressed by herniated nucleus pulposus tissue, progressive edema and degeneration may occur, resulting in more severe clinical manifestations, including limb weakness, bladder and bowel dysfunction, spastic paraplegia of the lower extremities, and even respiratory difficulty. The spinal endoscopic Key-hole technique is widely applied in treating radiculopathic cervical spondylosis and has demonstrated good clinical outcomes. This study aims to analyze and summarize the technical points and therapeutic efficacy of the far lateral Key-hole technique in the treatment of central cervical disc herniation, providing reference for clinical application. METHODS: Eight patients with central cervical disc herniation treated with the far lateral Key-hole technique were included as the experimental group. Another 8 patients who underwent single-level anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF) during the same period were selected as the control group. Data collected included gender, age, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, and length of hospitalization. Pain severity was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); cervical function was assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score; and cervical disability was measured by the neck disability index (NDI). Radiological outcomes were assessed using disc height index (DHI), cervical Cobb angle, and operative segment Cobb angle. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the experimental group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss, shorter incision length, and shorter hospital stay (all P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in operation time (P>0.05). Postoperative VAS and NDI scores in both groups were significantly lower than preoperative values, and JOA scores significantly improved (P<0.05). No significant differences were noted between the two groups preoperatively (P>0.05). Postoperatively, the experimental group showed significantly lower VAS and NDI scores and higher JOA scores than the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in DHI before and after surgery in the experimental group (P>0.05), while the DHI increased significantly postoperatively in the control group (P<0.05). Postoperative DHI in the experimental group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the cervical Cobb angle either within or between groups (all P>0.05). The operative segment Cobb angle increased significantly after surgery in the control group (P<0.05), while no other operative segment angle changes were statistically significant (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The far lateral Key-hole technique offers advantages in treating central cervical disc herniation, including reduced intraoperative bleeding, smaller incision length, shorter hospitalization, and improved postoperative pain relief. Additionally, the technique does not affect cervical physiological curvature or stability in the short term, making it suitable for clinical application.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Diskectomy/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods*

Objective To analyze the structural and phylogenetic characteristics of the mitochondrial genome from Bulinus globosus, so as to provide a theoretical basis for classification and identification of species within the Bulinus genus, and to provide insights into understanding of Bulinus-schistosomes interactions and the mechanisms of parasite transmission. Methods B. globosus samples were collected from the Ruya River basin in Zimbabwe. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from B. globosus samples and the corresponding libraries were constructed for high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. After raw sequencing data were subjected to quality control using the fastp software, genome assembly was performed using the A5-miseq and SPAdes tools, and genome annotation was conducted using the MITOS online server. Circular maps and sequence plots of the mitochondrial genome were generated using the CGView and OGDRAW software, and the protein conservation motifs and structures were analyzed using the TBtools software. Base composition and codon usage bias were analyzed and visualized using the software MEGA X and the ggplot2 package in the R software. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was created in the software MEGA X after sequence alignment with the software MAFFT 7, and visualized using the software iTOL. Results The mitochondrial genome of B. globosus was a 13 730 bp double-stranded circular molecule, containing 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 13 protein-coding genes, with a marked AT preference. The mitochondrial genome composition of B. globosus was similar to that of other species within the Bulinus genus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of B. globosus was clustered with B. truncatus, B. nasutus, and B. ugandae into the same evolutionary clade, and gene superfamily analysis showed that the metabolism-related proteins of B. globosus were highly conserved, notably the cytochrome c oxidase family, which showed a significant consistency. Conclusions This is the first whole mitochondrial genome sequencing to decode the compositional features of the mitochondrial genome of B. globosus from Zimbabwe and its evolutionary relationship within the Bulinus genus, which provides important insights for further understanding of the phylogeny and mitochondrial genome characteristics of the Bulinus genus.

Objective To compare the serological and pathological characteristics of 3 nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)models:high-fat diet(HFD)with carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)injection,methionine and choline deficient diet(MCD),and Aymlin liver NASH(AMLN)diet-induced NASH models.Methods 3 NASH models were established by feeding mice an HFD with CCl4 injection for 10 weeks,MCD for 8 weeks and NASH for 26 weeks.After feeding,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),glucose(GLU),liver triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity were measured.Insulin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistant(HOMA-IR)index was calculated.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE),Sirius red,and oil red staining were used to indicate pathological changes to the liver.The NAS score was used to grade the pathology.Results Compared to each normal control(NC)group mice,all mice in the 3 model groups had an obvious increase in serum transaminase and liver TG,TC,MDA levels and SOD activity.The levels of serum FINS,GLU and the HOMA-IR index were significantly increased in the AMLN and CCl4+HFD model groups but decreased in the MCD model group.According to the HE,oil red staining and NAS score,mice in all 3 groups had NASH phenotypic changes.Liver collagen deposition was most obvious in mice in theCCl4+HFD model group.Liver lipid droplets were most abundant in the AMLN model group.Conclusions All the above 3 animal models can stably simulate the serological and pathological changes of NASH in human.The AMLN model can simulate the progress and mechanism of the disease,as well as systemic metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and oxidative stress.However,it is time-consuming and the fibrosis progression rate is slow.The MCD diet can simulate the serological and pathological features of NASH in 8 weeks,but no obesity or insulin resistance occurred.The CCl4 combined with HFD model can induce NASH model in 10 weeks,which can simulate its serological and pathological changes,and the liver has obvious fibrous deposition and oxidative stress damage.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes(CL)in a carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model,and to analyze the transcriptomic features.Methods Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into plain control liposomes for clophosome(PL)and clodronate liposome(CL)groups(n=16 mice per group),and administered intraperitoneal injections of PL and CL,respectively.On day 5,each group was further divided into normal(N)and model(M)subgroups(n=8 mice per subgroup).Mice in group M received 10％CCl4 intraperitoneally to induce liver fibrosis,while mice in group N received an equal volume of olive oil.After 4 weeks,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels were measured,and hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition were evaluated by hematoxylin/eosin and Sirius red staining,respectively.Total RNA was extracted from liver tissues for transcriptomic sequencing and subsequent differential gene expression analysis.Results Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated in the PL-M group(P＜0.01),with fibrosis staging primarily at S3,compared with S1 in the CL-M group.Totals of 1462 and 2119 differentially expressed genes(|log fold change|＞2 and P＜0.05)were identified in the PL and CL groups,respectively.Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in multiple biological processes,cellular components,and molecular functions in both models,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified 29 significantly enriched pathways(P＜0.05).The upregulation of genes including Lgals7 and Timp1 and the downregulation of Mup-ps16 and Mup15 were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,consistent with transcriptomic trends(P＜0.05).Conclusions This study highlights the characteristics and transcriptomic features of macrophage depletion in the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model,providing a theoretical reference for research on the immune mechanisms of liver fibrosis.

Objective To compare the serological and pathological characteristics of 3 nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)models:high-fat diet(HFD)with carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)injection,methionine and choline deficient diet(MCD),and Aymlin liver NASH(AMLN)diet-induced NASH models.Methods 3 NASH models were established by feeding mice an HFD with CCl4 injection for 10 weeks,MCD for 8 weeks and NASH for 26 weeks.After feeding,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),glucose(GLU),liver triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity were measured.Insulin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistant(HOMA-IR)index was calculated.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE),Sirius red,and oil red staining were used to indicate pathological changes to the liver.The NAS score was used to grade the pathology.Results Compared to each normal control(NC)group mice,all mice in the 3 model groups had an obvious increase in serum transaminase and liver TG,TC,MDA levels and SOD activity.The levels of serum FINS,GLU and the HOMA-IR index were significantly increased in the AMLN and CCl4+HFD model groups but decreased in the MCD model group.According to the HE,oil red staining and NAS score,mice in all 3 groups had NASH phenotypic changes.Liver collagen deposition was most obvious in mice in theCCl4+HFD model group.Liver lipid droplets were most abundant in the AMLN model group.Conclusions All the above 3 animal models can stably simulate the serological and pathological changes of NASH in human.The AMLN model can simulate the progress and mechanism of the disease,as well as systemic metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and oxidative stress.However,it is time-consuming and the fibrosis progression rate is slow.The MCD diet can simulate the serological and pathological features of NASH in 8 weeks,but no obesity or insulin resistance occurred.The CCl4 combined with HFD model can induce NASH model in 10 weeks,which can simulate its serological and pathological changes,and the liver has obvious fibrous deposition and oxidative stress damage.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes(CL)in a carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model,and to analyze the transcriptomic features.Methods Thirty-two C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into plain control liposomes for clophosome(PL)and clodronate liposome(CL)groups(n=16 mice per group),and administered intraperitoneal injections of PL and CL,respectively.On day 5,each group was further divided into normal(N)and model(M)subgroups(n=8 mice per subgroup).Mice in group M received 10％CCl4 intraperitoneally to induce liver fibrosis,while mice in group N received an equal volume of olive oil.After 4 weeks,serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels were measured,and hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition were evaluated by hematoxylin/eosin and Sirius red staining,respectively.Total RNA was extracted from liver tissues for transcriptomic sequencing and subsequent differential gene expression analysis.Results Serum ALT and AST levels were significantly elevated in the PL-M group(P＜0.01),with fibrosis staging primarily at S3,compared with S1 in the CL-M group.Totals of 1462 and 2119 differentially expressed genes(|log fold change|＞2 and P＜0.05)were identified in the PL and CL groups,respectively.Gene Ontology analysis revealed enrichment in multiple biological processes,cellular components,and molecular functions in both models,and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis identified 29 significantly enriched pathways(P＜0.05).The upregulation of genes including Lgals7 and Timp1 and the downregulation of Mup-ps16 and Mup15 were validated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction,consistent with transcriptomic trends(P＜0.05).Conclusions This study highlights the characteristics and transcriptomic features of macrophage depletion in the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis model,providing a theoretical reference for research on the immune mechanisms of liver fibrosis.

Objective To assess transcriptomic differences between carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced and diethyl 1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate(DDC)diet-induced mouse models of liver fibrosis to provide a framework for future research using mouse liver fibrosis models.Methods Mouse models of liver fibrosis were induced by a 10％ CCl4(2 mL/kg)injection or a 0.1％DDC diet.After 4 weeks of induction,serum levels of ALT,AST,and TBil were measured.HE and Sirius red staining were used to observe hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition.Jamall's method was used to evaluate hydroxyproline(Hyp)content in liver tissues.Hepatic tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1β were measured by ELISA.Total RNA was extracted from murine liver tissues for RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq).Differentially expressed genes of the two models were analyzed by R software and then GO and KEGG enrichment was performed.Then,genes with significant differences were verified.Results Compared with normal mice,serum levels of ALT,AST,and TBil and hepatic expression of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β were significantly increased in mice that received CCl4 and DDC,while the Alb serum level was decreased.Pathological staining showed that the structures of liver tissues were destroyed and a large number of hepatocytes around the central vein were hyalinized and necrotic in CCl4-treated mice.In DDC diet-treated mice,a large amount of porphyrins had been deposited in the liver and a large number of inflammatory cells had infiltrated into the portal area and bile duct.Different degrees of collagen deposition were observed in the liver tissues of the two model mice.Different genes(DEGs)of CCl4-and DDC diet-treated mice were screened using a filter(|logFC|＞2-fold and P＜0.05).As a result,1820 and 2373 DEGs in CCl4-and DDC diet-treated mice were analyzed,including 1302 and 1978 upregulated genes,and 518 and 395 downregulated genes,respectively.GO annotation showed that the two models had important functions in molecular function,biological process,and cell component.KEGG analysis showed that 22 and 29 signaling pathways were activated in CCl4-and DDC diet-induced models,respectively.Among them,16 signaling pathways,such as extracellular matrix receptor interaction,cell cycle,protein digestion and absorption,focal adhesion,and PI3K-Akt,were significantly enriched in the two models(P＜0.05).Cluster analysis showed that Mup11,Mup15,Mup17,and Mup1 were significantly down-regulated in both models,which were identified by RT-qPCR(P＜0.05).Conclusions This study conducted a comparative analysis of the RNA-Seq transcriptomic features of liver fibrosis models induced by exposure to CCl4 and a DDC diet.It examined the gene expression patterns and the pathways influenced by gene expression.The findings serve as a valuable resource for selecting appropriate animal models for future research on the pathogenesis and treatment of liver fibrosis.

Objective To predict the potential geographic distribution of Oncomelania hupensis in Yunnan Province using random forest (RF) and maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models, so as to provide insights into O. hupensis surveillance and control in Yunnan Province. Methods The O. hupensis snail survey data in Yunnan Province from 2015 to 2016 were collected and converted into O. hupensis snail distribution site data. Data of 22 environmental variables in Yunnan Province were collected, including twelve climate variables (annual potential evapotranspiration, annual mean ground surface temperature, annual precipitation, annual mean air pressure, annual mean relative humidity, annual sunshine duration, annual mean air temperature, annual mean wind speed, ≥ 0 ℃ annual accumulated temperature, ≥ 10 ℃ annual accumulated temperature, aridity and index of moisture), eight geographical variables (normalized difference vegetation index, landform type, land use type, altitude, soil type, soil textureclay content, soil texture-sand content and soil texture-silt content) and two population and economic variables (gross domestic product and population). Variables were screened with Pearson correlation test and variance inflation factor (VIF) test. The RF and MaxEnt models and the ensemble model were created using the biomod2 package of the software R 4.2.1, and the potential distribution of O. hupensis snails after 2016 was predicted in Yunnan Province. The predictive effects of models were evaluated through cross-validation and independent tests, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), true skill statistics (TSS) and Kappa statistics were used for model evaluation. In addition, the importance of environmental variables was analyzed, the contribution of environmental variables output by the models with AUC values of > 0.950 and TSS values of > 0.850 were selected for normalization processing, and the importance percentage of environmental variables was obtained to analyze the importance of environmental variables. Results Data of 148 O. hupensis snail distribution sites and 15 environmental variables were included in training sets of RF and MaxEnt models, and both RF and MaxEnt models had high predictive performance, with both mean AUC values of > 0.900 and all mean TSS values and Kappa values of > 0.800, and significant differences in the AUC (t = 19.862, P < 0.05), TSS (t = 10.140, P < 0.05) and Kappa values (t = 10.237, P < 0.05) between two models. The AUC, TSS and Kappa values of the ensemble model were 0.996, 0.954 and 0.920, respectively. Independent data verification showed that the AUC, TSS and Kappa values of the RF model and the ensemble model were all 1, which still showed high performance in unknown data modeling, and the MaxEnt model showed poor performance, with TSS and Kappa values of 0 for 24%(24/100) of the modeling results. The modeling results of 79 RF models, 38 MaxEnt models and their ensemble models with AUC values of > 0.950 and TSS values of > 0.850 were included in the evaluation of importance of environmental variables. The importance of annual sunshine duration (SSD) was 32.989%, 37.847% and 46.315% in the RF model, the MaxEnt model and their ensemble model, while the importance of annual mean relative humidity (RHU) was 30.947%, 15.921% and 28.121%, respectively. Important environment variables were concentrated in modeling results of the RF model, dispersed in modeling results of the MaxEnt model, and most concentrated in modeling results of the ensemble model. The potential distribution of O. hupensis snails after 2016 was predicted to be relatively concentrated in Yunnan Province by the RF model and relatively large by the MaxEnt model, and the distribution of O. hupensis snails predicted by the ensemble model was mostly the joint distribution of O. hupensis snails predicted by RF and MaxEnt models. Conclusions Both RF and MaxEnt models are effective to predict the potential distribution of O. hupensis snails in Yunnan Province, which facilitates targeted O. hupensis snail control.