Objective The study aimed to elucidate the population composition and seasonal distribution characteristics of mosquitoes in Laoshan District, Qingdao City, providing a scientific basis for the prevention and control of mosquito-borne infectious diseases. Methods Mosquito surveillance was conducted in Laoshan District in Qingdao City using light traps from April to November 2020-2022. Dominant mosquito species were identified using the Berger-Parker dominance index(I)and mosquito density was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. The seasonal distribution characteristics of adult mosquitoes were analyzed using concentration and circular distribution method. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to study the relationship between mosquito populations and meteorological factors with mean monthly temperature, mean monthly relative humidity, and mean monthly rainfall. Results The mean mosquito density for the trapping period was 9.771 females/(trap·night)in 2020,9.771 in 2021, and 9.427 in 2022. There was no statistically significant difference in mosquito density between different years(H = 0.095, P = 0.954). In total, 2 781 adult female mosquitoes comprising five species from four genera were captured over three years. Culex pipiens(I = 0.654), Aedes albopictus(I = 0.202), and Aedes aegypti(I = 0.118)were identified as dominant species. Seasonal fluctuations in the adult mosquitoes were unimodal, and primarily concentrated from June to September. The peak period of adult mosquito varied between years with statistical significance. (F = 3.838, P ＜ 0.05). Mosquito density was highly correlated with mean monthly temperature, mean monthly relative humidity and mean monthly precipitation(P＜ 0.05). Conclusions Cx. pipiens pallens, Ae. albopictus, and Ar. inamoratus are the dominant mosquito species in the Laoshan District of Qingdao City. The activity of adult mosquitoes is seasonal, and primarily concentrated in summer and autumn, during which the risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever is increased.

Objective To explore the protective effect and mechanism of Xinkang Granules-containing serum in adriamycin-induced injury of cardiomyocytes H9C2 based on cGAS-STING signaling axis.Methods Adriamycin was used to induce the H9C2 cells injury model.The cells were divided into normal group,model group,Xinkang Granules group and inhibitor group.After 24 hours of intervention,the CCK-8 method was used to detect cell survival rate,the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used to detect the content of cell reactive oxygen species(ROS),cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry,ELISA was used to detect the content of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in cell supernatant,colorimetry was used to detect lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)in cells,RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A(TFAM),cyclic guanosine-adenylate synthetase(cGAS),stimulator of interferon genes(STING)and TNF-α mRNA,Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the protein expressions of cGAS and STING.Results Compared with the normal group,cell survival rate in the model group was significantly reduced(P<0.01),the ROS content was significantly increased(P<0.01),the apoptosis rate significantly increased(P<0.01),the content of TNF-α in the supernatant significantly increased(P<0.01),the activity of LDH significantly increased(P<0.01),the expression of TFAM mRNA significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of TNF-α,cGAS,STING mRNA and the protein expression of cGAS and STING significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,cell survival rate in Xinkang Granules group and inhibitor group significantly increased(P<0.01),the ROS content significantly decreased(P<0.01),the apoptosis rate significantly decreased(P<0.01),the content of TNF-α in supernatant significantly decreased(P<0.01),the activity of LDH significantly decreased(P<0.01),the expression of TFAM mRNA significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expressions of TNF-α,cGAS,STING mRNA and the protein expressions of cGAS and STING significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Xinkang Granules have a protective effect on adriamycin-induced H9C2 cardiomyocytes,which may be related to the inhibition of cGAS/STING axis activation and the secretion of inflammatory factors.

To investigate the prevalence of influenza D virus(IDV)in cattle and swine populations in Jilin Province,China,277 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from livestock exhibiting influ-enza-like symptoms for IDV detection.Virus isolation was performed using swine testicular(ST)cells for PCR-positive samples,followed by comprehensive analyses including whole-genome se-quencing,phylogenetic analysis,electron microscopic observation of viral morphology,and glycosy-lation site prediction.Two IDV strains were successfully isolated from bovine samples,designated as D/bovine/China/JL22/2024(JL22)and D/bovine/China/JL34/2024(JL34).These strains were demonstrated to have specific hemagglutination activity against turkey red blood cells,while no he-magglutination to chicken,rabbit,or guinea pig erythrocytes.Virus-inoculated ST cells exhibited distinct cytopathic effects(CPE)within 48 h,with a hemagglutination titer of 4 log2 in the culture supernatant.Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin-esterase-fusion(HEF)gene indicated that these strains were most closely related to the Japanese isolate D/Yamagata2019,belonging to the YAMA2019 lineage.Genomic sequence analysis showed the absence of genetic reassortment in these isolates.In this study,two IDV strains were successfully isolated and characterized,which provides preliminary insights into their genomic sequences and biological properties.The findings confirm the presence of IDV in bovine populations in Jilin Province and provide the fundamental data for future epidemiological surveillance and control strategies of IDV.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea(IBS-D)is a common gastrointestinal dysfunction disease,but currently,single Western medicine treatments have significant side effects and are prone to recurrence.Probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine have certain therapeutic effects on IBS-D,but the exact treatment mechanism is still unclear,and there is limited research on the combination of the two.Objective To investigate the effects of Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium on gut microbiota,mucosal barrier function,and neurotransmitter levels in patients with IBS-D and comorbid anxiety and depression,and to analyze its therapeutic mechanisms.Methods A total of 150 patients with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea(IBS-D)and anxiety and depression who were treated in the gastroenterology department of our hospital from January 2021 to June 2022,were selected as the study subjects.A randomized controlled trial was designed with three treatment groups:50 patients in the observation group received Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium for 4 weeks;50 patients in the positive control group received Rifaximin combined with Bifidobacterium for 4 weeks;and 50 patients in the blank control group received Bifidobacterium alone for 4 weeks(to exclude interference from the bacterial species in the Bifidobacterium capsules in intestinal flora detection).The changes in IBS-D symptom severity,stool consistency,anxiety and depression scores(HAM-A/HAM-D),intestinal flora(lactobacilli,Bifidobacterium,bacteroides,enterobacteria),intestinal barrier markers(serum D-lactic acid,DAO),inflammatory factors(IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α),intestinal tight junction proteins(Occludin,ZO-1),neurotransmitters(5-HT),and recurrence rates were compared among the three groups before and after treatment.Results Symptom improvement:the improvement in IBS-SSS scores,stool classification,and HAM-A/HAM-D scores in the observation and positive control groups was significantly better than that in the blank control group(all P<0.001),but there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Flora regulation:after treatment,the observation and positive control groups showed a significant increase in beneficial bacteria(lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium)and a significant decrease in pathogenic bacteria(bacteroides and enterobacteria)compared to the blank control group(all P<0.001).The improvement in flora persisted up to 6 months after treatment(P<0.001).Barrier and inflammation:the reduction in serum D-lactic acid,DAO,and IL-6/IL-8/TNF-α levels was significantly greater in the observation and positive control groups than in the blank control group(all P<0.001).The expression of intestinal barrier proteins(Occludin and ZO-1)was significantly upregulated(P<0.001).Neurotransmitters:the increase in serum 5-HT levels were significantly higher in the two groups than in the blank control group(P<0.001).Recurrence rate:the 3-month recurrence rates in the observation group(8.0%)and positive control group(10.0%)were significantly lower than that in the blank control group(30.0%).The 6-month recurrence rates(14.0%vs.16.0%vs.44.0%)also showed significant differences(all P<0.05).Conclusion Chongkang Capsules combined with Bifidobacterium can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms in patients with IBS-D and comorbid anxiety and depression.The mechanism may be related to regulating intestinal flora balance,repairing the intestinal mucosal barrier,suppressing inflammatory responses,and increasing 5-HT levels.Additionally,the low recurrence rate suggests its clinical application value.

Objective:To investigate the effects of wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point on testosterone(T)synthe-sis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal(HPG)axis in naturally aged mice.Methods:We fed 40 twelve-month-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice with a normal diet for 3 months,randomized them into a moxibustion and an aged group of an equal number,and se-lected 7 four-month-old ones as young controls.We treated the animals of the moxibustion group by wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point,once 5 moxibustion sticks,qd,5 times a week,and fed those of the aged group normally,all for 12 weeks.After treatment,we obtained the testicular index of the mice,observed the histomorphology of the testis tissue by HE staining,measured the contents of T in the testis,gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH)in the hypothalamus and total T(tT),free T(fT),luteinizing hormone(LH)and follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH)in the serum by ELISA,and determined the expressions of silence information regulator-1(SIRT1),P53,glutathione peroxidase(GPX4)and cholesterol side-chain?cleavage enzym e(CYP11A1)in the testis by Western blot.Results:Compared with the young controls,the mice in the aged group showed obviously losing and dull hair,energy declination,loose structure of the spermatogenic tubule with different degrees of cell loss and rupture,reduced testicular index,and ev-ident aging phenotype.In comparison with the aged mice,the animals of the moxibustion group were fairly energetic and exhibited dis-tinct structure of the spermatogenic tubules,orderly arranged and highly differentiated cells at all levels,significantly increased T lev-el,up-regulated expressions of SIRT1,GPX4 and CYP11 A1,and down-regulated expression of P53 in testis tissue,and elevated levels of GnRH,FSH,LH,tT and fT in the HPG axis.Conclusion:Wheat-grain moxibustion at the Guanyuan point protects testosterone synthesis in the testis tissue of naturally aged mice,promotes negative feedback regulation of the HPG axis,and improves low testoster-one.

In view of the few studies on the influence of Armillaria spp. infection on the content of the chemical components in different parts of Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia, this study determined the biomass of P. umbellatus sclerotia and the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia and the uninfected part of the sclerotia in different harvesting years under the conditions of A. gallica and A. mellea infection respectively. According to the difference of content and dynamic changes of the polysaccharide and the steroid substances, the superior Armillaria sp. was screened to obtain the best harvest years of P. umbellatus. Using HPLC and UV-VIS spectrophotometry methods, the contents of ergosterol, polyporusterone A, polyporusterone B and polysaccharide in P. umbellatus sclerotia infected by the two Armillaria spp. in different years were determined. In addition, the differentially expressed genes related to P. umbellatus polysaccharide synthesis were screened according to the transcriptomic data of different parts of P. umbellatus after A. mellea infection. With the increase of years, the biomass of sclerotia infected by different Armillaria spp. had significant differences, and there were significant differences in the four components of sclerotia. The four components of the separated cavity wall of the sclerotia were significantly higher than those of the uninfected part. The best harvest time was the third year after cultivation. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the infection of Armillaria spp. could significantly promote polysaccharide synthesis, which provided a basis for polysaccharide content determination at the molecular level. The study clarified the influence of different Armillaria spp. infection on the accumulation of chemical components of P. umbellatus sclerotia, laying a foundation for exploring the symbiosis mechanism and provided a scientific clue for screening superior Armillaria sp. and guiding the artificial cultivation of P. umbellatus sclerotia.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by impaired motility of cilia and flagella. Mutations in cilia- and flagella-associated protein 300 ( CFAP300 ) are associated with human PCD and male infertility; however, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. In a consanguineous Chinese family, we identified a homozygous CFAP300 loss-of-function variant (c.304delC) in a proband presenting with classical PCD symptoms and severe sperm abnormalities, including dynein arm deficiency and acrosomal malformation, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Histological analysis revealed multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella in CFAP300 -mutant individual, whereas immunofluorescence demonstrated markedly reduced CFAP300 expression in the spermatozoa of the proband. Furthermore, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics showed that the CFAP300 mutation reduced key spermatogenesis proteins (e.g., sperm flagellar 2 [SPEF2], solute carrier family 25 member 31 [SLC25A31], and A-kinase anchoring protein 3 [AKAP3]) and mitochondrial ATP synthesis factors (e.g., SLC25A31, cation channel sperm-associated 3 [CATSPER3]). It also triggered abnormal increases in autophagy-related proteins and signaling mediator phosphorylation. These molecular alterations are likely to contribute to progressive deterioration of sperm ultrastructure and function. Notably, successful pregnancy was achieved via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using the proband's sperm. Overall, this study expands the known CFAP300 mutational spectrum and offers novel mechanistic insights into its role in spermatogenesis.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/pathology* ; Acrosome/pathology* ; Sperm Tail/pathology* ; Pedigree ; Spermatozoa ; Adult ; Loss of Function Mutation ; Ciliary Motility Disorders/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Female

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) could become a gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography. Deep learning (DL)-based CT-FFR has shown promise when compared to invasive FFR. To evaluate the performance of a DL-based CT-FFR technique, DeepVessel FFR (DVFFR). METHODS: This retrospective study was designed for iScheMia Assessment based on a Retrospective, single-center Trial of CT-FFR (SMART). Patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and undergoing both CTA and invasive FFR examinations were consecutively selected from the Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 1, 2016 to December 30, 2018. FFR obtained during invasive coronary angiography was used as the reference standard. DVFFR was calculated blindly using a DL-based CT-FFR approach that utilized the complete tree structure of the coronary arteries. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty nine patients (60.5 ±10.0 years and 209 men) and 414 vessels with direct invasive FFR were included in the analysis. At per-vessel level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of DVFFR were 94.7%, 88.6%, 90.8%, 82.7%, and 96.7%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.95 for DVFFR and 0.56 for CTA-based assessment with a significant difference (P < 0.0001). At patient level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of DVFFR were 93.8%, 88.0%, 90.3%, 83.0%, and 95.8%, respectively. The computation for DVFFR was fast with the average time of 22.5 ± 1.9 s. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that DVFFR was able to evaluate lesion hemodynamic significance accurately and effectively with improved diagnostic performance over CTA alone. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a critical disease in which coronary artery luminal narrowing may result in myocardial ischemia. Early and effective assessment of myocardial ischemia is essential for optimal treatment planning so as to improve the quality of life and reduce medical costs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of Erzhu Jiedu Decoction (EZJDD) Granules in treating mid-advanced hepatitis B virus-associated primary liver cancer (HBV-PLC) patients with Pi (Spleen)-deficiency and dampness-heat syndrome. METHODS: From January 2021 to June 2023, a cohort of 132 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to a control group or a EZJDD group according to the random numbers, with 66 patients in each group. The patients in the control group received conventional treatment for 3 months, followed by a 3-month follow-up. In addition to the conventional treatment, patients in the EZJDD group were administered EZJDD Granules (10.9 g/pack, 2 packs twice per day) orally for same duration. Progression-free survival (PFS) as primary outcome was evaluated by Kaplan Meier method. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) scores were used to assess the quality of life in two groups before and after treatment, and survival rates were determined as well. The efficacy of Chinese medicine syndrome was calculated with Nimodipine method. Liver function, tumor indicators and T lymphocyte subsets were measured, respectively. Safety indicators were recorded and assessed. RESULTS: Of the 116 patients who completed the study, 57 were in the control group and 59 in the EZJDD group. The median PFS was 3.53 months (106 days) in the EZJDD group compared to 2.33 months (70 days) in the control group (P=0.005). Six-month survival rate was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 69.49% (41/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.039). The median KPS score in the EZJDD group [70(63, 90)] was higher than that in the control group [70(60, 80)] (P=0.013). The total effective rate of CM syndrome was 52.63% (30/57) in the control group and 77.97% (46/59) in the EZJDD group (P=0.005). The levels of alpha fetoprotein, alpha fetoprotein-L3, alpha-L-fucosidase and protein induced by Vitamin K absence or antagonist- II in the EZJDD group increased less than the control group (P>0.05). CD8⁺ levels were decreased, while CD3⁺ and CD4⁺ levels, as well as CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were significantly increased in the EZZJD group (P<0.05). No treatment-related adverse reactions were observed during the study. CONCLUSION EZJDD Granules significantly prolonged the median PFS and improved 6-month survival rate in patients with mid-advanced HBV-PLC (Registration No. ChiCTR2200056922).
Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Liver Neoplasms/complications* ; Hepatitis B virus/physiology* ; Hepatitis B/complications* ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Spleen/drug effects* ; Quality of Life ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Aged ; Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI. METHODS: In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro  studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent. CONCLUSION Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals ; Arsenic Trioxide ; Autophagy/physiology* ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Mice ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology* ; Arsenicals/therapeutic use* ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL