Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2024, so as to formulate the targeted control strategies for imported malaria. Methods The demographic and epidemiological data of malaria cases reported in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2024 were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The source of malaria cases acquiring infections, composition of malaria parasite species, regional distribution of malaria cases, population characteristics of malaria cases, temporal distribution of malaria cases, time of diagnosis, deaths and institutions reporting malaria cases were statistically analyzed with a descriptive statistical method. Results A total of 1 308 malaria cases were reported in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2017 to 2024, and all cases were overseas imported cases, with no secondary cases identified. Plasmodium falciparum malaria (57.11%, 747/1 308) and P. ovale malaria (27.68%, 362/1 308) were two most common forms of malaria, and three deaths occurred among P. falciparum malaria cases. The number of malaria cases appeared an overall tendency towards a decline from 2017 to 2022, followed by a rise after 2023. The malaria cases predominantly acquired infections from Africa (1 284 cases, accounting for 98.17%), with Ghana (432 cases, accounting for 33.03%) and Cameroon (145 cases, accounting for 11.09%) as two most frequent origin countries, and P. falciparum malaria (58.02%, 745/1 284) was the predominant form of malaria among African imported malaria cases; however, P. vivax malaria cases comprised 89.58% (86/96) of all malaria cases derived from Ethiopia. In terms of regional distribution, malaria cases were highly concentrated in Nanning City (1 075 cases, accounting for 82.19%), with the most prominent situated in Shanglin County (903 cases, accounting for 69.04%), and these cases were predominantly found among individuals at ages of 20 to 59 years (1 280 cases, accounting for 97.86%), males (1 265 cases, accounting for 96.71%), and gold/coal mining workers (1 042 cases, accounting for 79.66%). In terms of temporal distribution, malaria cases were reported throughout the year, with the peak incidence in April (146 cases, accounting for 11.16%). The median duration from onset of disease to initial diagnosis was 1 (interquartile range, 2) day, and the median duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis was 1 (interquartile range, 1) day. Malaria cases were predominantly reported by medical institutions (1 075 cases, accounting for 82.19%), and the proportion of malaria cases reported by medical institutions increased from 75.92% in 2017 to 96.27% in 2024, while the proportion of malaria cases reported by disease control and prevention institutions reduced from 24.08% in 2017 to 3.73% in 2024. There was a significant difference in the proportion of malaria cases reported by medical institutions and disease control and prevention institutions from 2017 to 2024 (both P < 0.001). The 3 dead imported P. falciparum malaria cases predominantly received initial diagnosis at townshipand lower-level institutions (66.67%, 2/3), with 1 (interquartile range, 2) day median duration from onset of disease to initial diagnosis, 2 (interquartile range, 4) days median duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis, and 1 (interquartile range, 19) day median duration from definitive diagnosis to death. Conclusions Imported P. falciparum malaria from Africa is predominant among malaria cases in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and malaria cases are highly concentrated in specific regions and among specific occupational groups. It is recommended to strengthen inter-departmental collaboration, implement refined management among labors going to Africa, improve the integration of medical treatment and disease prevention, and enhance the diagnosis and treatment of severe malaria cases.

ObjectiveStroke remains the leading cause of acquired disability in adults worldwide, imposing a substantial socioeconomic burden on patients, families, and healthcare systems. Among the various neurological deficits caused by stroke, motor dysfunction——particularly contralateral hemiplegia——is the most common and debilitating consequence, and it predominantly results from damage to the cortical motor conduction pathways. When motor cortex neurons or their projecting fibers are damaged, the distal axons and their associated myelin sheaths undergo a series of progressive, programmed degeneration, fragmentation, and eventual phagocytic clearance. This pathological process is termed Wallerian degeneration (WD). However, the temporal progression of WD following ischemic stroke and the associated alterations in the local glial microenvironment remain incompletely understood. The present study was designed to systematically elucidate the time course of corticospinal tract (CST) axonal WD after ischemic stroke in mice, and to simultaneously characterize the dynamic pathological changes of astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocyte lineage cells, and myelinating oligodendrocytes during the WD process. MethodsEight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to control and ischemic stroke groups. A focal cortical ischemic stroke model was established in the right sensorimotor cortex using the photothrombotic method. This method induces localized intravascular thrombosis in the target cortical region through precisely controlled interaction between the photosensitizer and laser light of specific wavelength. At day 1 post‑surgery, 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed to evaluate infarct volume, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for histopathological examination, and Nissl staining for assessment of neuronal injury. For axonal degeneration time-course analysis, rAAV-CAG-mCherry anterograde viral tracing was employed to specifically label CST neurons. Cervical spinal cord sections at the CST region were collected at day 3, 5, 7, 14, and 60 post-injury. Morphological changes of mCherry-positive CST fibers were observed under fluorescence microscopy, and the fluorescence signal area fraction within the defined region was quantitatively analyzed to evaluate the dynamic process of axonal degeneration. For glial response assessment, immunofluorescence staining against Iba1 (microglia), GFAP (astrocytes), Olig2 (oligodendrocyte lineage cells), and APC (myelinating oligodendrocytes) was performed at day 7, 14, and 60 post‑surgery. The numbers of positive cells were counted to quantitatively analyze the dynamic changes in each glial population at different time points after ischemia, thereby revealing the evolution of the glial microenvironment during WD. ResultsThe photothrombotic method stably and reliably established an ischemic brain injury model confined to the sensorimotor cortex. Viral tracing revealed that the proportion of mCherry‑positive CST fibers was significantly reduced at day 7 after ischemic injury to the neuronal soma. Immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that during WD, the numbers of microglia and astrocytes in the CST region were significantly increased, whereas the numbers of oligodendrocyte lineage cells and myelinating oligodendrocytes showed no significant changes. ConclusionWD of CST axons is observed at day 7 post-ischemic stroke in a delayed manner. This degenerative process selectively activates microglia and astrocytes, while leaving the number of oligodendrocyte lineage cells largely unaffected.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.

Objective: Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85. Conclusion Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of sub-hypothermic mechanical perfusion combined with membrane lung oxygenation on ischemic hypoxic injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss. METHODS: This article performed a random controlled trial. Brain tissue of 7 yorkshire was selected and divided into the sub-low temperature anterograde machine perfusion group (n = 4) and the blank control group (n = 3) using the random number table method. A yorkshire model of brain tissue injury induced by traumatic blood loss was established. Firstly, the perfusion temperature and blood oxygen saturation were monitored in real-time during the perfusion process. The number of red blood cells, hemoglobin content, NA⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions concentrations and pH of the perfusate were detected. Following perfusion, we specifically examined the parietal lobe to assess its water content. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were then dissected for histological evaluation, allowing us to investigate potential regional differences in tissue injury. The blank control group was sampled directly before perfusion. All statistical analyses and graphs were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 Student t-test. All tests were two-sided, and p value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The contents of red blood cells and hemoglobin during perfusion were maintained at normal levels but more red blood cells were destroyed 3 h after the perfusion. The blood oxygen saturation of the perfusion group was maintained at 95% - 98%. NA⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were normal most of the time during perfusion but increased significantly at about 4 h. The Ca²⁺ concentration remained within the normal range at each period. Glucose levels were slightly higher than the baseline level. The pH of the perfusion solution was slightly lower at the beginning of perfusion, and then gradually increased to the normal level. The water content of brain tissue in the sub-low and docile perfusion group was 78.95% ± 0.39%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.27% ± 0.55%, t = 10.49, p < 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the blank control group, the structure and morphology of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and CA1 region of the hippocampal gyrus were similar, and their integrity was better. The structural integrity of granulosa neurons was destroyed and cell edema increased in the perfusion group compared with the blank control group. Immunofluorescence staining for glail fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1, markers of glial cells, revealed well-preserved cell structures in the perfusion group. While there were indications of abnormal cellular activity, the analysis showed no significant difference in axon thickness or integrity compared to the 1-h blank control group. CONCLUSIONS Mild hypothermic machine perfusion can improve ischemia and hypoxia injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss and delay the necrosis and apoptosis of yorkshire brain tissue by continuous oxygen supply, maintaining ion homeostasis and reducing tissue metabolism level.
Animals ; Perfusion/methods* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Brain Injuries/etiology* ; Swine ; Male ; Hypothermia, Induced/methods*

The aim of this investigation was to determine the optimal storage medium for testicular hypothermic transportation and identify the ideal concentration for the application of the protective agent 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the protective effects of 5-ALA. First, we collected and stored mouse testicular fragments in different media, including Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS; n = 5), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12; n = 5), and alpha-minimum essential medium (αMEM; n = 5). Storage of testicular tissue in HBSS preserved the integrity of testicular morphology better than that in the DMEM/F12 group ( P < 0.05) and the αMEM group ( P < 0.01). Testicular fragments were subsequently placed in HBSS with various concentrations of 5-ALA (0 [control], 1 mmol l -1 , 2 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 ) to determine the most effective concentration of 5-ALA. The 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group ( n = 3) presented the highest positive rate of spermatogonial stem cells compared with those in the control, 1 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 5-ALA groups. Finally, the tissue fragments were preserved in HBSS with control ( n = 3) and 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA ( n = 3) under low-temperature conditions. A comparative analysis was performed against fresh testes ( n = 3) to elucidate the underlying mechanism of 5-ALA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for WikiPathways revealed that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was downregulated in the 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group compared with that in the control group (normalized enrichment score [NES] = -1.57, false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.229, and P = 0.019). In conclusion, these data suggest that using 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA in HBSS effectively protected the viability of spermatogonial stem cells upon hypothermic transportation.
Male ; Animals ; Testis/cytology* ; Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Organ Preservation/methods* ; Organ Preservation Solutions/pharmacology* ; Cryopreservation/methods*

Objective: Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85. Conclusion Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.

Objective: Accurate evaluation of inflammation severity in ulcerative colitis (UC) can guide treatment strategy selection. The potential value of the pericolic fat attenuation index (FAI) on CT as an indicator of disease severity remains unknown.This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pericolic FAI in predicting UC severity. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients (mean age 48 years; 87 males). The fat attenuation on CT was measured in four different locations: the mesocolic vascular side (MS) and opposite side of MS (OMS) around the most severe bowel lesion, the retroperitoneal space (RS), and the subcutaneous area. The fat attenuation indices (FAI MS, FAI OMS, and FAI RS) were calculated as the fat attenuation measured in MS, OMS, and RS, respectively, minus that of the subcutaneous area, and were obtained in the non-enhanced, arterial, and delayed phases. Correlations between the FAI and UC Endoscopic Index of Severity (UCEIS) were assessed using Spearman’s correlation. Predictors of severe UC (UCEIS ≥7) were selected by univariable analysis. The performance of FAI in predicting severe UC was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores were significantly higher than FAI RS in three phases (all P < 0.001). The FAIMS and FAI OMS scores moderately correlated with the UCEIS score (r = 0.474–0.649 among the three phases). Additionally, FAI MS and FAI OMS identified severe UC, with AUC varying from 0.77 to 0.85. Conclusion Increased CT attenuation of pericolic adipose tissue could serve as a noninvasive marker for evaluating UC severity. FAI MS and FAI OMS of three phases showed similar prediction accuracies for severe UC identification.

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.