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.

Objective:To study the etiological relationship between Yunnan sudden unexplained death (hereinafter referred to as YNSUD) and the desmosomal protein gene mutation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).Methods:From September 2019 to August 2020, a cross-sectional survey method was used to select 9 key counties (cities) of YNSUD in Yunnan Province as survey sites. Autopsy cardiac blood samples of YNSUD cases ( n = 11) were collected, and peripheral venous blood samples of co-occurring case ( n = 1), case relatives ( n = 128), and control population ( n = 60) were collected. Genomic DNA from blood was extracted. After PCR amplification, 97 exons of 5 ARVC desmosomal protein genes, including plakophilin-2 (PKP2), desmoglein-2 (DSG2), desmocollin-2 (DSC2), desmoplakin (DSP), and junction plakoglobin (JUP) were sequenced by Sanger method, and the gene mutation was analyzed. Results:Compared with the control population, YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives carried 52 gene mutation sites in 36 exons of the ARVC desmosomal protein gene, with a total mutation rate of 37.11% (36/97). Among them, there were 21 in DSP gene, 10 in DSG2 gene, 8 in PKP2 gene, 8 in DSC2 gene, and 5 in JUP gene. YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives carried two same gene mutation sites: DSG2 gene exon 15 c.3321 T>C synonymous mutation and JUP gene exon 3 c.213 T>C synonymous mutation.Conclusions:The mutation rate of ARVC desmosomal protein gene is relatively high in the population of YNSUD. The two same gene mutation sites (DSG2 gene c.3321 T>C and JUP gene c.213 T>C) carried by YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives may be associated with the pathogenesis of YNSUD.

Objective:To study the etiological relationship between Yunnan sudden unexplained death (hereinafter referred to as YNSUD) and the desmosomal protein gene mutation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).Methods:From September 2019 to August 2020, a cross-sectional survey method was used to select 9 key counties (cities) of YNSUD in Yunnan Province as survey sites. Autopsy cardiac blood samples of YNSUD cases ( n = 11) were collected, and peripheral venous blood samples of co-occurring case ( n = 1), case relatives ( n = 128), and control population ( n = 60) were collected. Genomic DNA from blood was extracted. After PCR amplification, 97 exons of 5 ARVC desmosomal protein genes, including plakophilin-2 (PKP2), desmoglein-2 (DSG2), desmocollin-2 (DSC2), desmoplakin (DSP), and junction plakoglobin (JUP) were sequenced by Sanger method, and the gene mutation was analyzed. Results:Compared with the control population, YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives carried 52 gene mutation sites in 36 exons of the ARVC desmosomal protein gene, with a total mutation rate of 37.11% (36/97). Among them, there were 21 in DSP gene, 10 in DSG2 gene, 8 in PKP2 gene, 8 in DSC2 gene, and 5 in JUP gene. YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives carried two same gene mutation sites: DSG2 gene exon 15 c.3321 T>C synonymous mutation and JUP gene exon 3 c.213 T>C synonymous mutation.Conclusions:The mutation rate of ARVC desmosomal protein gene is relatively high in the population of YNSUD. The two same gene mutation sites (DSG2 gene c.3321 T>C and JUP gene c.213 T>C) carried by YNSUD cases, co-occurring case and case relatives may be associated with the pathogenesis of YNSUD.

Objective To compare the external morphological characteristics and movement patterns between Schistosoma japonicum and S. sinensis cercariae. Methods S. japonicum and S. sinensis cercariae were heat-fixed, and well-extended cercariae, of 50 each species, were randomly selected for measurement of body length, body width, tail stem length, and tail fork length. The external morphological characteristics of S. japonicum and S. sinensis cercariae were compared. In addition, S. japonicum-infected Oncomelania snails and S. sinensis-infected Tricula snails were observed under a microscope and the movement patterns of S. japonicum and S. sinensis cercariae were compared. Results The mean body length, body width, tail stem length, and tail fork length were (0.16 ± 0.01), (0.05 ± 0.01), (0.14 ± 0.01) mm and (0.06 ± 0.01) mm for S. japonicum cercariae, and (0.13 ± 0.01), (0.05 ± 0.01), (0.13 ± 0.01) mm and (0.06 ± 0.01) mm for S. sinensis cercariae, respectively, and there were significant differences in terms of cercaria body length (t = 14.583, P < 0.05) and tail stem length (t = 3.861, P < 0.05), while no significant differences were seen in terms of body width (t = 0.896, P > 0.05) or tail fork length (t = −0.454, P > 0.05). Microscopy revealed that the tails of both S. japonicum and S. sinensis cercariae swung from side to side and there was no significant difference in their movement pattern. Conclusion S. sinensis and S. japonicum cercariae share highly similar external external morphological characteristics and movement patterns.

Schistosomiasis was once hyper-endemic in Yunnan Province. Following concerted efforts for over 70 years, remarkable achievements have been made for schistosomiasis control in the province. In 2004, the Mid- and Long-term Plan for Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control in Yunnan Province was initiated in Yunnan Province, and the target for transmission control of schistosomiasis was achieved in the province in 2009. Following the subsequent implementation of the Outline for Key Projects in Integrated Schistosomiasis Control Program (2009—2015) and the 13th Five - year Plan for Schistosomiasis Control in Yunnan Province, no acute schistosomiasis had been identified in Yunnan Province for successive 12 years, and no local Schistosoma japonicum infections had been detected in humans, animals or Oncomelania hupensis snails for successive 6 years in the province by the end of 2020. The transmission of schistosomiasis was interrupted in Yunnan Province in 2020. This review summarizes the history of schistosomiasis, changes in schistosomiasis prevalence and progress of schistosomiasis control in Yunnan Province, and proposes the future priorities for schistosomiasis control in the province.

Objective To investigate the capability for distinguishing between the morphology of Oncomelania hupensis and Tricula snails and its influencing factors among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, so as to evaluate the interference of Tricula snails with O. hupensis surveys. Methods O. hupensis and Tricula snails were sampled from 9 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (districts) in Yunnan Province. The capability for distinguishing between O. hupensis and Tricula snails was evaluated using online questionnaire surveys and field blind tests among schistosomiasis control professionals, and the proportions of correct judgment, misjudgment and missed judgment were calculated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were created using the software SPSS 25.0, and factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails were identified among schistosomiasis control professionals. Results Questionnaire surveys and field blind tests showed that the overall proportions of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails were 56.77% (2 305/4 060) and 68.28% (1 556/2 279) among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis of online questionnaire surveys identified gender [odds ratio (OR) = 1.244, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.073, 1.441), P < 0.05], professional title [OR = 0.628, 1.741, 95% CI: (0.453, 0.871), (1.109, 2.734), both P < 0.05], working duration [OR = 0.979, 95% CI: (0.971, 0.987), P < 0.05] and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci [OR = 1.410, 0.293, 0.523, 95% CI: (1.103, 1.804), (0.237, 0.361), (0.416, 0.657), all P < 0.05] as factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustments showed that the proportion of O. hupensis snail misjudgments was 1.179 times higher among male schistosomiasis control professionals than among females [OR = 1.179, 95% CI: (1.006, 1.382), P < 0.05], and 1.474 times higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in areas without snails [OR = 1.474, 95% CI: (1.145, 1.898), P < 0.05], and the proportions of missed judgments of O. hupensis snails were 0.284 [OR = 0.284, 95% CI: (0.225, 0.359), P < 0.05] and 0.523 times [OR = 0.523, 95% CI: (0.412, 0.664), P < 0.05] higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in transmission-interruption areas with snails and schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-elimination areas without snails. Univariate logistic regression analysis of field blind tests showed age [OR = 2.381, 95% CI: (1.677, 3.381), P < 0.05], professional title [OR = 1.688, 95% CI: (1.103, 2.582), P < 0.05］, working duration [OR = 0.970, 95% CI: (0.956, 0.984), P < 0.05] and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci [OR = 0.262, 0.593, 95% CI: (0.188, 0.364), (0.420, 0.837), both P < 0.05] as factors affecting the proportion of correct judgments of O. hupensis snails among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province, and multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustments showed the proportions of missed judgments of O. hupensis snails were 0.263 [OR = 0.263, 95% CI: (0.176, 0.394), P < 0.05] and 0.604 times [OR = 0.604, 95% CI: (0.416, 0.875), P < 0.05] higher among schistosomiasis control professionals in transmission-interruption areas with snails and schistosomiasis-elimination areas with snails than in schistosomiasis-elimination areas without snails. Conclusions Schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province have a low accuracy rate for distinguishing between the morphology of O. hupensis and Tricula snails, and gender and classification of schistosomiasis epidemics in endemic foci are factors that affect their ability to distinguish. The presence of Tricula snails causes a high degree of interference with O. hupensis surveys in O. hupensis snail-infested areas of Yunnan Province. Reinforced training for distinguishing between O. hupensis and Tricula snails is required among schistosomiasis control professionals in Yunnan Province.

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.

Objective:To investigate the effect of citric acid-induced cough on swallowing function and serum substance P in stroke patients with early tracheotomy.Methods:Forty-nine post-stroke tracheotomy patients admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to July 2019 were selected as study subjects. They were divided into intervention group ( n=24) and control group ( n=25) using the random digit table. The control group was subjected to routine nursing, while the intervention group was given citric acid to induce cough based on routine care. The intervention time was 1 week. The swallowing function and serum substance P levels were compared between the two groups before and after the intervention. Results:After the intervention, 45.8% (11/24) of the patients in the intervention group were assessed as having "strong" swallowing function, compared to 28.0% (7/25) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference in swallowing function between the two groups ( Z= -2.22, P<0.05), and the level of substance P in the intervention group was (283.40 ± 134.82) ng/L, significantly higher than that of the control group (203.59 ± 126.16) ng/L ( t=2.14, P<0.05). Conclusions:Citric acid-induced cough helped stroke patients with early tracheotomy to produce effective swallowing action and up-regulate substance P in serum to promote recovery of swallowing function.

Objective:To translate the Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory-12 (ASK-12) into Chinese, and test its reliability and validity.Methods:Following the classic Brislin back translation model, the original scale was translated and back translated. A nursing expert, a doctor of Nursing, and a bilingual translator of doctoral degree adjusted and revised the scale to form the first draft of the Chinese version of ASK-12, and form the final scale through pre-survey. From July 2018 to July 2020, convenience sampling was used to select 220 patients with pituitary tumor resection via nasal sphenoid approach in a ClassⅢ Grade A hospital in Suzhou City for investigation. SPSS 22.0 was used to test the reliability and validity.Results:The internal consistency Cronbach's α coefficient of the Chinese version of the ASK-12 was 0.819, the equal-length Spearman-Brown half coefficient was 0.794, and the test-retest reliability correlation coefficient was 0.915. The content validity index was 0.9, and the cumulative variance contribution rate of the two common factors extracted by exploratory factor analysis was 54.45%, and the structure validity was good.Conclusions:The Chinese version of the ASK-12 has good reliability and validity, and can be used to evaluate the severity of postoperative nasal symptoms in patients undergoing anterior skull base surgery via the nose, which provides a scientific clinical evaluation tool.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of abdominal massage on gastrointestinal tolerance in critically patients with nasogastric tube feeding. Methods: The Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, The Wang fang database, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, Cochrane Libraty, PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL were searched. Two researchers conducted quality evaluation and data extraction on studies that met the inclusion criteria. Data were analyzed with RevMan5.3 software. Results: Eight randomized controlled trials were included, including 628 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that abdominal massage could reduce the gastric residual volume of critically ill patients (WMD=-45.45, 95%CI -56.62--34.28, P<0.01), and reduce the incidence of gastric retention (OR=0.13, 95%CI 0.06 -0.29, P<0.01), incidence of abdominal distension (OR=0.23, 95% CI 0.13-0.43, P<0.01), incidence of vomiting (OR=0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.36, P<0.01). Conclusions For critically ill patients with nasogastric tube feeding, abdominal massage can reduce the gastric residual volume and reduce the incidence of gastric retention, distension and vomiting.