Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis snails in Yunnan Province fol-lowing interruption of schistosomiasis transmission, so as to provide the evidence for assessing the risk of schistosomiasis transmission and scientifically formulating the schistosomiasis surveillance program. Methods According to the requirements of the National Schistosomiasis Surveillance Scheme (2020 Edition), O. hupensis snail surveillance data were collected from 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) in Yunnan Province from 2020 to 2024, including area of snail survey, area of snail habitats, area of re-emerging snail habitats, number of frames surveyed, number of frames with O. hupensis snails, number of O. hupensis snails captured, and number of living snails, and the occurrence of frames with snails and mean density of living snails were calculated. Changes in snail status over the 5-year period from 2020 to 2024 and the differences in snail distributions specified by epidemic intensity, environmental type, and vegetation type were analyzed. Results The areas of snail survey increased from 1 727.96 hm² in 2020 to 3 894.45 hm² in 2024 (peak) across 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) in Yunnan Province during the period from 2020 through 2024. The areas of snail habitats increased from 70.36 hm² in 2020 to a peak in 2023 (172.04 hm²), followed by a reduction to 132.36 hm² in 2024, and the areas of re-emerging snail habitats increased from 42.71 hm² in 2020 to a peak in 2022 (78.43 hm²), followed by a reduction to 40.21 hm² in 2024. The occurrence of frames with snails and mean density of living snails increased from 1.24% (3 025/244 404) and (0.033 2 ± 0.038 7) snails/0.1 m² in 2020 to peaks at 2.03% (6 231/307 563) and (0.066 9 ± 0.068 4) snails/0.1 m² in 2023, followed by reductions to 1.04% (5 829/559 941) and (0.032 6 ± 0.057 7) snails/0.1 m² in 2024, respectively. There was a significant difference in the occurrence of frames with snails over the 5-year study period (χ² = 1 962.95, P < 0.05), and the occurrence of frames with snails reduced by 48.71% in 2024 relative to in 2023 (χ² = 1 411.05, P < 0.005); however, there was no significant difference in the mean density of living snails over the 5 years (H = 5.310, P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 481.27, P < 0.05) and mean density of living snails (H = 6.872, P < 0.05) in schistosomiasis-endemic areas with different epidemic intensities. The occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 25.32 and 38.70, both P values < 0.017) and mean density of living snails (Z = 28.55 and 49.96, both P values < 0.017) were higher in schistosomiasis transmission-interrupted and eliminated areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-eliminated areas without snails, and the occurrence of frames with snails (χ² = 453.54, P < 0.017) and mean density of living snails (Z = −56.97, P < 0.017) were higher in schistosomiasis-eliminated areas with snails than in schistosomiasis transmission-interrupted areas with snails. O. hupensis snails were mainly distributed in paddy fields, dry farmlands and ditches; however, the occurrence of frames with snails (13.40%, 424/3 164) and mean density of living snails [(0.252 8 ± 0.158 7) snails/0.1 m²] were higher in ponds/weirs than in other types of environments (both P values < 0.05). Rice, dry farmland crops and weeds were main vegetations in which O. hupensis snails were distributed, and the occurrence of frames with snails (2.29%, 7 111/310 140) and mean density of living snails [(0.072 3 ± 0.018 9) snails/0.1 m²] were higher in weeds than in other types of environments (both P values < 0.05). Conclusions O. hupensis snails have been effectively controlled in Yunnan Province following implementation of integrated schistosomiasis control measures; however, there are still risk factors for schistosomiasis transmission, including reduced attention to schistosomiasis control and snail re-emergence. Improved control efforts and surveillance system construction and timely identification of risk factors of snail status and timely management are recommended to ensure the achievement of the target of schistosomiasis elimination as scheduled.

Background/Aims: Natural killer (NK) cell function is generally considered dampened in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection; however, the NK cell pool exhibits phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, and the antibody--mediated effect of NK cells remains less characterized. This study evaluated the dynamic changes in antibody-mediated NK cell responses and the involvement of distinct NK subsets across disease stages and during antiviral treatment. Methods: A T-cell receptor-like antibody specific for the HBV core 18–27 peptide (cTCRL-Ab) was used to determine the antibody-mediated effect of NK cells, and an array of NK cell surface markers were analyzed in cross-sectional and longitudinal cohorts of patients with chronic HBV infection. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to identify the heterogeneity of NK subsets. Results: The cTCRL-Ab enabled the detection of NK cell cytolytic activity and IFNγ production. Notably, cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell responses were compromised in chronically HBV-infected patients, particularly in those receiving pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFNα), which was associated with the downregulation of CD16 expression. Correspondingly, Peg-IFNα inhibited cTCRL-Ab-mediated NK cell function by reducing CD16 expression in vitro. scRNA-seq revealed that CD16 downregulation occurred mainly within a dysfunctional CD16hi NK subset exhibiting exhaustion properties. In contrast, an activated CD16hiNK subpopulation (CX3CR1⁺KLRC2–CD16hi) with high cytotoxicity was enriched in patients who experienced favorable treatment responses. Furthermore, the intrahepatic CX3CR1+KLRC2–CD16hi subset tended to exhibit functional restoration in HBsAg-loss individuals. Conclusions Our data contribute to the understanding of antibody-mediated responses of NK cells in chronic HBV infection, and highlight a previously unappreciated functional CX3CR1+KLRC2–CD16hiNK subset as a potential therapeutic target.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of paeoniflorin （PF） on neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease （AD） and to clarify whether its mechanism is associated with regulation of the Janus kinase 2 （JAK2）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） signaling pathway. MethodsGlycosides related to AD-associated neuroinflammation were screened through bibliometric analysis， and the potential targets of PF were predicted through network pharmacology and molecular docking. A rat model of AD was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose （100 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）. Rats were assigned into a control group， a model group， a PF （200 mg·kg^-1） group， and a donepezil （0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and drugs were administered by gavage for 21 days. The learning and memory abilities were evaluated by the Morris water maze （MWM）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Nissl staining were performed to observe hippocampal neuronal morphology. The mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein levels of molecules in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group showed prolonged escape latency and decreased platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， accompanied by increased expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as elevated ratios of phosphorylated （p）-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the PF group and donepezil group exhibited shortened escape latency and increased platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α， upregulated mRNA levels of interleukin-4 （IL-4） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and reduced ratios of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionPaeoniflorin can alleviate cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation in the rat model of AD by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the current status and influencing factors of eating behaviors in adolescents, so as to provide a theoretical foundation for health promotion education among adolescents. Methods: Based on the database from Survey of Chinese Family Health Index (2021), by a random number table method, 1 065 teenagers were selected from the provincial capitals of 22 provinces and 5 autonomous regions in China, as well as 4 municipalities directly under the central government. A general characteristic questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Short Form of the Family Health Scale (FHS-SF), 10-item Short Version of the Big Five Personality(BFP-10), Content-based Media Exposure Scale (CM-E) and Sakata Eating Behavior Scale Short Form(EBS-SF) were used to collect information. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis was employed to identify and analyze related factors of eating behaviors among adolescents. Receiver operating characteristic was used to validate the predictive ability of the EBS-SF score for overweight and obesity among adolescents. Results: The average scores of BFI-10,C-ME, FHS-SF, PHQ-9 and EBS-SF were (33.08±4.64)(19.20±4.55)(38.48±6.65)(6.09±5.63)(16.75±4.36), respectively. Multivariate linear regression showed that family type (other types), agreeableness, conscientiousness, family health and depression were the main related factors of EBS-SF scores among adolescents( B =2.61,-0.42,0.20,-0.11,0.23, P <0.05).The analysis of receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the EBS-SF scores had a good ability in predicting obesity among male adolescents ( AUC= 0.73, P <0.01). Conclusions Family type, big five personality, family health,depression are the related factors of eating behaviors among adolescents. EBS-SF scores are predictive of obesity in adolescents, which would provide a new perspective for promoting healthy eating habits among adolescents.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC and pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT in the ferroptosis phenotype of ovarian cancer （OC） cells and the regulatory mechanism of gypenoside L （Gyp-L） on mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC and pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT in OC cells. MethodsThe proliferation of human ovarian adenocarcinoma OVCAR3 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） values of cisplatin （DDP）， Gyp-L， and DDP in the presence of Gyp-L were calculated to determine the intervention concentration for subsequent experiments. Cell cloning assay and scratch assay reflected the proliferation and migration ability of OVCAR3 cells. PANDORA-seq small RNA sequencing was used to detect the differentially expressed transfer RNA-derived small RNAs （tsRNAs） in the cells after Gyp-L intervention， and the corresponding target genes of the tsRNAs were found by the RNAhybrid software. Malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione （GSH）， and lipid peroxide （LPO） levels were measured by colorimetry or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method， Fe²⁺ content by FerroOrange fluorescent probe， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） content by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe to reflect the occurrence of ferroptosis in OVCAR3 cells. OVCAR3 cells were divided into a control group， a 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L group， and a 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） was performed to detect the expression of mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC， mature-tRNA-Leu-CAA， mature-mt_tRNA-Tyr-GTA_5_end， mature-tRNA-Val-CAC， mature-mt_tRNA-Glu-TTC， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT， mature-tRNA-Asn-GTT， hydroxymethylbilane synthase （HMBS）， Wnt， β-catenin， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （KEAP1）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， activating transcription factor 3 （ATF3）， cystine/glutamate antiporter xCT， lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 （LPCAT3）， and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase （ALOX15）. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of HMBS， Wnt， β-catenin， GPX4， KEAP1， Nrf2， ATF3， xCT， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 proteins. ResultsThe 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L， 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L， DDP， 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L+DDP， and 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L+DDP groups showed significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of OVCAR3 cells （P<0.05） and exacerbated cell ferroptosis as reflected by the increase in the content of ROS， MDA， LPO， and Fe²⁺， as well as a decrease in the content of GSH （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， Gyp-L effectively interfered with the expression of 25 tsRNAs in OVCAR3 cells （P<0.05， |log₂Fc|>1）. Pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/HMBS/Wnt/β-catenin/GPX4， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/KEAP1/NRF2/xCT， mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/NRF2/xCT， and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 axial expression was significantly aberrant after Gyp-L intervention （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/HMBS/Wnt/β-catenin/GPX4， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT， mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT， and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 signaling pathways are involved in OC development. Gyp-L inhibits OC development by activating OVCAR3 cell ferroptosis onset mainly through the mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 signaling axes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC and pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT in the ferroptosis phenotype of ovarian cancer （OC） cells and the regulatory mechanism of gypenoside L （Gyp-L） on mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC and pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT in OC cells. MethodsThe proliferation of human ovarian adenocarcinoma OVCAR3 cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） values of cisplatin （DDP）， Gyp-L， and DDP in the presence of Gyp-L were calculated to determine the intervention concentration for subsequent experiments. Cell cloning assay and scratch assay reflected the proliferation and migration ability of OVCAR3 cells. PANDORA-seq small RNA sequencing was used to detect the differentially expressed transfer RNA-derived small RNAs （tsRNAs） in the cells after Gyp-L intervention， and the corresponding target genes of the tsRNAs were found by the RNAhybrid software. Malondialdehyde （MDA）， glutathione （GSH）， and lipid peroxide （LPO） levels were measured by colorimetry or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method， Fe²⁺ content by FerroOrange fluorescent probe， and reactive oxygen species （ROS） content by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe to reflect the occurrence of ferroptosis in OVCAR3 cells. OVCAR3 cells were divided into a control group， a 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L group， and a 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L group. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （PCR） was performed to detect the expression of mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC， mature-tRNA-Leu-CAA， mature-mt_tRNA-Tyr-GTA_5_end， mature-tRNA-Val-CAC， mature-mt_tRNA-Glu-TTC， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT， mature-tRNA-Asn-GTT， hydroxymethylbilane synthase （HMBS）， Wnt， β-catenin， glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPX4）， Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （KEAP1）， nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， activating transcription factor 3 （ATF3）， cystine/glutamate antiporter xCT， lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 （LPCAT3）， and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase （ALOX15）. Western blot was performed to detect the expression of HMBS， Wnt， β-catenin， GPX4， KEAP1， Nrf2， ATF3， xCT， LPCAT3， and ALOX15 proteins. ResultsThe 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L， 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L， DDP， 50 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L+DDP， and 100 µmol·L^-1 Gyp-L+DDP groups showed significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of OVCAR3 cells （P<0.05） and exacerbated cell ferroptosis as reflected by the increase in the content of ROS， MDA， LPO， and Fe²⁺， as well as a decrease in the content of GSH （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， Gyp-L effectively interfered with the expression of 25 tsRNAs in OVCAR3 cells （P<0.05， |log₂Fc|>1）. Pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/HMBS/Wnt/β-catenin/GPX4， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/KEAP1/NRF2/xCT， mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/NRF2/xCT， and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 axial expression was significantly aberrant after Gyp-L intervention （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/HMBS/Wnt/β-catenin/GPX4， pre-tRNA-Arg-TCT/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT， mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT， and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 signaling pathways are involved in OC development. Gyp-L inhibits OC development by activating OVCAR3 cell ferroptosis onset mainly through the mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/ATF3/KEAP1/Nrf2/xCT and mature-tRNA-Asp-GTC/LPCAT3/ALOX15 signaling axes.

BACKGROUND: Urolithiasis is a widespread disease with a high prevalence worldwide. This study aims to evaluate the disease burden of urolithiasis and its trends from 1990 to 2021 globally, based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 database. METHODS: The numbers and age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality of urolithiasis were extracted from GBD 2021 to represent the disease burden. Joinpoint regression analyses were conducted to assess the temporal trends in the burden of urolithiasis. The male-to-female ASR ratio indices were used to evaluate sex disparities. Additionally, we explored the relationship between the ASR ratio and the sociodemographic index (SDI). RESULTS: The total numbers of incidence, DALY, and mortality of urolithiasis were 105,983,780 cases (95% uncertainty interval [UI] = 88,349,356-128,645,155 cases), 693,444 cases (95% UI = 567,765-850,490 cases), and 17,672 cases (95% UI = 13,932-21,241 cases), respectively, in 2021. There is an increasing trend in the number of these measures globally, whereas the ASRs have decreased over the past 30 years. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) were significantly higher in males than in females in 2021. The sex disparities in the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) and ASMR of urolithiasis were negatively correlated with the SDI. In 2021, the ASIR of urolithiasis was 964.70 (95% UI = 801.26-1175.09) per 100,000 people in China, which is much lower than the global average (1242.84 [95% UI = 1034.94-1506.99] per 100,000 people). Compared with the global average, a more pronounced decline in ASIR was observed in China from 1793.16 (1446.0-2235.14) in 1990 to 964.70 (801.26-1175.09) per 100,000 people in 2021. CONCLUSIONS Urolithiasis poses a significant healthcare burden worldwide. More robust global and national strategies are warranted to address the prevention and treatment, especially in low SDI countries and regions.
Humans ; Urolithiasis/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Incidence ; Global Burden of Disease ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors

This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.