Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.

Objective:To evaluate the stability of percutaneous screw fixation for minimally invasive treatment of intra-articular calcaneal fractures using three-dimensional finite element analysis.Methods:CT scan was performed on the calcaneus of a normal adult for three-dimensional reconstruction. The DICOM data were imported into Mimics software to establish a model of a Sanders type IIB intra-articular calcaneal fracture. Based on the Essex-Lopresti classification of posterior facet morphology, the model was subdivided into two subtypes: tongue-type and depression-type. The calcaneus was divided into four fragments: sustentaculum tali, posterior tuberosity, anterior process (three points), and posterior articular surface (one surface). Two types of fixation methods, classical lateral anatomical plates and combinations of percutaneous screws, were simulated and performed. A three-dimensional finite element analysis was conducted by applying a stress combination of 420 N on the posterior subtalar articular surface, 200 N on the middle subtalar articular surface, and 300 N at the Achilles tendon insertion point. The maximum displacement and von Mises stress values of each bone fragment and implant were recorded to evaluate the biomechanical stability. For clinical validation, 34 patients with Sanders type IIB calcaneal fractures from Orthopedics Department of the Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University were treated with percutaneous reduction and screw fixation using the following configurations.Results:Under simulated stress, the A4 group with medial support screws in the tongue-type fracture subgroup demonstrated minimal overall calcaneal displacement (0.22 mm) and internal fixation displacement (0.14 mm). For the depression-type, the B2 group with medial support screws showed lower maximum stress in the calcaneus and internal fixation, at 22.04 MPa and 41.14 MPa, respectively, along with the lowest overall displacement (0.14 mm). The peak stress of all groups of implants remained below the material yield strength. The A4 and B2 protocols were applied to 15 cases of tongue-type calcaneal fractures and 19 cases of collapse-type calcaneal fractures. At the final follow-up The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot score scale was 86.1±5.82 and 87.2±5.18, respectively, while the visual analog scale for pain was 1.60±1.24 and 1.58±1.02, respectively.Conclusions:Percutaneous screw fixation provided reliable stability for Sanders type IIB calcaneal fractures. The fixation configuration incorporating a medial support screw offers superior biomechanical performance in both tongue-type and depression-type fractures, representing an optimized minimally invasive technique with strong clinical applicability.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of dose-surface histogram(DSH)for radiation proctitis(RP)in prostate cancer(PCa)patients undergoing radiotherapy.Methods This prospective randomized controlled clinical trial included 380 PCa patients who underwent image-guided radiotherapy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Northern University from January 2018 to January 2023.Patients were randomly divided into observation group(n=200)and control group(n=180).The rectal dose distribution of patients in the two groups was evaluated by using DSH and dose-volume histogram(DVH),respectively.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to evaluate the predictive value of DSH for acute RP,with DVH serving as a reference.Results The difference was not statistically significant in clinical information such as age,KPS score,and body mass index(BMI)between the observation and control groups(P＞0.05),as well as in acute RP incidence(P＞0.05).There were significant differences in S40 and V40,S50 and V50,S60 and V60,S70 and V70,and S78 and V78 between the two groups(P＜0.05).S40,S50,V40,and V50 showed low efficacy(P＜0.001)in predicting acute RP at each level,with AUC≤0.700.S60 and V60 showed moderate efficacy(P＜0.001)in predicting acute RP at each level,with AUC 0.700-0.900.S70,S78,V70 and V78 showed high efficacy(P＜0.001)in predicting acute RP at each level,with AUC＞0.900.Conclusions The predictive value of DSH for rectal toxicity in patients with PCa is basically consistent with that of DVH.It is expected to become a novel and valuable tool for evaluating radiotherapy plans in the future.

Aim To study the effect of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody on high-fat diet-induced athero-sclerosis in ApoE-/-mice.Methods Twenty-four ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into the normal group,high-fat group,and high-fat+anti-PD-L1 mAb group.After 70 days,the blood samples were harves-ted.Blood vessels(aortic root to abdominal aorta)and liver from each groups were stained with Oil Red O.Hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE)was employed to vis-ualize structural changes in liver.Enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect the serum levels of total cholesterol(CHO),triglyceride(TG),high-density lipoprotein(HDL-c),low-density lipoprotein(LDL-c)and inflammatory factors(IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1 β).Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of lymphocytes(CD4 and CD8).RT-PCR was utilized to assess the expressions of IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1 β,CD4 and CD8 in liver.Results Compared with the high-fat group,the treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody promoted vascular wall and liver lipid accumulation,and also up-regulated serum and liver content of cholesterol(CHO),triglyceride(TG)and high-density lipoprotein(HDL-c).Treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody up-regulated the con-tent of alanine aminotransferase(GPT)and aspartate aminotransferase(GOT)in serum and liver,but not al-kaline phosphatase(AKP).ELISA test indicated that treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody stimu-lated the serum level of IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-1 β.Fur-thermore,the mRNA level of IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-1 βin liver was also up-regulated after treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody.With flow cytometry,we observed that treatment with anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody promoted hepatic CD8+T and CD8+IFN-γ+T cell activation,but had no effect on CD4+IFN-γ+T cell activation under high-fat feeding conditions.Con-clusions Anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody adminis-tered under high-fat feeding conditions can damage liv-er function and aggravate atherosclerosis by activating liver CD8+IFN-γ+T cells.

The xylitol dehydrogenase(XDH)is a crucial enzyme involved in the xylose utilization in pentose-catabolizing yeasts and fungi.In addition to producing xylulose,XDH can also be employed to develop a biosensor for monitoring xylitol concentration.In this study,the gene encoding the thermophilic fungus Talaromyces emersonii XDH(TeXDH)was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)at 16 ℃ in the soluble form.Recombinant TeXDH with high purity was purified by using a Ni-NTA affinity column.Size-exclusion chromatography and SDS-PAGE analysis demonstrated that the puri-fied recombinant TeXDH exists as a native trimer with a molecular mass of approximately 116 kD,and is composed of three identical subunits,each with a molecular weight of around 39 kD.The TeXDH strictly preferred NAD+as a coenzyme to NADP+.The optimal temperature and pH of the TeXDH were 40 ℃and 10.0,respectively.After EDTA treatment,the enzyme activity of TeXDH decreased to 43.26％of the initial enzyme activity,while the divalent metal ions Mg2+or Ca2+could recover the enzyme activity of TeXDH,reaching 103.32％and 110.69％of the initial enzyme activity,respectively,making them the optimal divalent metal ion cofactors for TeXDH enzyme.However,the divalent metal ions of Mn2+,Ni2+,Cu2+,Zn2+,Co2+,and Cd2+significantly inhibited the activity of TeXDH.ICP-MS and molecular doc-king studies revealed that 1 mol/L of TeXDH bound 2 mol/L Zn2+ions and 1 mol/L Mg2+ion.Further-more,TeXDH exhibited a high specificity for xylitol,laying the foundation for the development of future xylitol biosensors.

China has become the country with the highest global burden of heart failure(HF).Despite the widespread use of prognostic-improving medications today,the mortality rate of HF remains high,reaching 13.7％at one year-particularly among patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF).HF interventional device therapy(structural intervention)targets the structural factors underlying HF,including atrial pressure,ventricular remodeling,and valvular intervention.It leverages the heart's intrinsic physiological properties and pathological progression mechanisms to deliver treatments through interventions without external active forces,achieving anatomical or functional repair.This field has emerged as a rapidly growing area and plays an increasingly critical role in HF management.This article provides a comprehensive review and summary of the latest advancements in HF and cardiomyopathy interventional therapy over the past year.It covers various novel technologies and products currently in the research phase,aiming to provide an in-depth analysis of the current status and future directions of HF interventional therapy,and further advance the development of this discipline.

Objective:To explore the application and clinical significance of pathological diagnostic criteria for medically refractory epilepsy in children.Methods:Cross-sectional study.A retrospective analysis was conducted on 490 children(pathology involved) with medically refractory epilepsy treated continuously in the Pediatric Epilepsy Center of Peking University First Hospital from January 2019 to May 2022.The distribution of different pathological types was observed, and the differences in clinical characteristics among different pathological types were analyzed through Kruskal-Wallis or χ2 tests.The impact of clinical and pathological features on patient prognosis was evaluated through regression analysis. Results:Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) was the predominant lesion (49.59%, 243/490).The electroencephalograms ( χ2=6.720, P=0.035) and clinical seizure characteristics ( χ2=26.370, P<0.001) in FCDⅡ were more focal than those in FCD Ⅰ and Ⅲ.Moreover, the proportions of focal resection in surgery ( χ2=24.286, P<0.001) and central involvement ( χ2=22.849, P<0.001) in FCDⅡ were higher than those in FCD Ⅰ and Ⅲ.Univariate and multivariate regression analyses revealed that FCD Ⅱ had a better prognosis than other dysplastic patients among the 375 cases of dysplasia ( P=0.049).Next-generation sequencing was performed on 35 cases of cortical malformations with such morphological characteristics as increased numbers of neurons in the white matter and Olig2-positive glial cell hyperplasia, and SLC35A2 mutations were detected in 2 cases (5.71%). Conclusions:Pathology of refractory epilepsy is specialized and continuously evolving.Standardized specimen processing and the accumulation of morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic data provide the foundation for clarifying the neuropathological nature of epilepsy, improving integrated classification, and advancing prognosis prediction and targeted therapy.

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with the coexistence of Sj?gren's syndrome(SS)in patients with primary biliary cholangitis(PBC),and to develop and compare diagnostic prediction models for the comorbidity of the two conditions.Methods A total of 183 patients first diagnosed with PBC at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2012 to April 2023 were included.They were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of SS:those with PBC alone(n=96)and those with PBC accompanied by SS(n=87).Clinical manifestations,serological antibody results,and laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups.Continuous data were compared using the t-test or Mann-Whitney U test,while categorical data were compared using the chi-square test.The risk factors for the presence of SS in PBC were identified through a multivariable Logistic regression analysis.Subsequently,an artificial neural network(ANN)model and a multiple logistic regression(MLR)model were constructed to predict the presence of SS in PBS.The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted in MedCalc,and the area under the curve(AUC)was compared using the Delong test.Results Serum IgG level(odds ratio[OR]=1.600,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.364-1.876,P<0.001)was an independent risk factor,while serum total bilirubin level(OR=0.760,95%CI:0.700-0.811,P=0.005)was an independent protective factor against the presence of SS in patients with PBC.The AUCs of the ANN model and the MLR model diagnosing SS in PBC were 0.919(95%CI:0.870-0.954)and 0.896(95%CI:0.843-0.936),respectively,both showing good predictive efficacy,and the predictive efficacy of the ANN model was significantly better than that of the MLR model(P=0.019 2).Conclusion Patients with PBC complicated by SS usually present at an early stage with mild symptoms during their initial medical consultation,when early diagnosis and treatment are beneficial for their prognosis.For patients with PBC showing high serum IgG levels at the first diagnosis or consultation,SS screening is necessary.

AIM:To investigate the mechanism by which interleukin-13(IL-13)influences vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMC)phenotypic transformation and subsequently contributes to vascular intimal hyperplasia in rats.METHODS:A total of 32 male SD rats,aged 5～7 weeks and weighing 330～360 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=8 per group):normal(Nor)group,normal treatment(Nor+IL-13 neutralizing antibody,Nor+IL-13Nab)group,inju-ry(Inj)group,and injruy treatment(Inj+IL-13Nab)group.A 2F balloon catheter was used to induce mechanical injury in the left common carotid artery of SD rats to establish a vascular intimal hyperplasia model.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe vascular structural changes.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)kits were used to measure IL-13 and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)levels.Human aortic smooth muscle cells(HA-SMCs)were cultured in vitro.Flow cytometry was conducted to assess peripheral blood CD4+IL-13+T cell content.Real-time quantita-tive PCR(RT-qPCR)was employed to evaluate gene expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin,osteopontin,calponin,collagen type Ⅰ/Ⅲ,proliferating cell nuclear antigen and Ki-67 antigen.Transwell and scratch wound assays were per-formed to assess cell migration.RESULTS:Compared with the model group,administration of IL-13Nab significantly in-hibited vascular intimal hyperplasia induced by mechanical vascular injury by antagonizing high plasma IL-13 levels(P<0.01).Immunofluorescence and mRNA analysis showed that neutralizing high plasma IL-13 suppressed collagen accumu-lation(P<0.01)and VSMC phenotypic transformation(P<0.01)in the injured vessels but did not inhibit peripheral blood CD4+IL-13+T cell activation.Incubation of HA-SMCs with recombinant human IL-13(rhIL-13)promoted cell pro-liferation and migration(P<0.01)as well as phenotypic transformation(P<0.01).Additional evidence suggested that rhIL-13-induced HA-SMC phenotypic transformation was associated with the regulation of TGF-β1 secretion by HA-SMCs.CONCLUSION:Interleukin-13 promotes vascular intimal hyperplasia by regulating VSMC phenotypic transformation through TGF-β1 secretion in rat models.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),which is essentially primary liver cancer,is closely related to CD8+T cell immune infiltration and immune suppression.We constructed a CD8+T cells related risk score model to pre-dict the prognosis of HCC patients and provided therapeutic guidance based on the risk score.Using integrated bulk RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)and single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)datasets,we identified stable CD8+T cell signatures.Based on these signatures,a 3-gene risk score model,comprised of KLRB1,RGS2,and TN-FRSF1B was constructed.The risk score model was well validated through an independent external validation co-hort.We divided patients into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the risk score and compared the differ-ences in immune microenvironment between these two groups.Compared with low-risk patients,high-risk patients have higher M2-type macrophage content(P＜0.0001)and lower CD8+T cells infiltration(P＜0.0001).High-risk patients predict worse response to immunotherapy treatment than low-risk patients(P＜0.01).Drug sensitivity a-nalysis shows that PI3K-β inhibitor AZD6482 and TGFβRII inhibitor SB505124 may be suitable therapies for high-risk patients,while the IGF-1R inhibitor BMS-754807 or the novel pyrimidine-based anti-tumor metabolic drug Gemcitabine could be potential therapeutic choices for low-risk patients.Moreover,expression of these 3-gene mod-el was verified by immunohistochemistry.In summary,the establishment and validation of a CD8+T cell-derived risk model can more accurately predict the prognosis of HCC patients and guide the construction of personalized treatment plans.