This study analyzed soil-transmitted nematode infection surveillance data for children 3-9 years of age in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2023,to provide a scientific basis for control strategies for soil-transmitted nematode infections in children in the province.Since 2016,according to the requirements of the National Schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted Nematode Surveillance Program(Trial),several counties and districts in Shaanxi Province were selected as surveillance sites every year.According to geo-graphical position,the surveillance sites were divided into five areas:east,west,south,north and middle,and one administrative vil-lage(community)was selected in each area for monitoring.The eggs of soil-transmitted nematodes(hookworm,Ascaris lumbricoides,Trichuris trichiura,and Enterobius vermicularis)were detected with the Kato-Katz technique in children 3-9 years of age at each sur-veillance site,and the eggs of Enterobius vermicularis were detected again with the cellophane tape anal swab method.The infection rate and intensity for E.vermicularis were calculated.Detection was performed in 12 462 children 3-9 years old at 75 surveillance sites in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2023;84 cases of soil-borne nematode infections were detected,and the overall infection rate was 0.67%.The infection rates for Ascaris lumbricoides and E.vermicularis were 0.18%(22/12 462)and 0.50%(62/12 462),respec-tively,and the infection rates for Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were not found.The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in children were 1.28%(16/1 250),0.16%(2/1 252),1.25%(17/1 365),1.20%(18/1 494),0.17%(2/1 169),1.45%(20/1 382),0.00,and 0.36%(9/251),respectively.A linear trend was observed among years(χ2=11.973,P<0.001).The infection rates in the Weifen Basin ecological region,Loess Plateau ecological region,and Qinba Mountains ecological region were 0.51%,1.19%,and 0.72%,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(χ2=9.726,P=0.008).Significant differences in infection rates were observed among scattered children(1.63%),preschool children(0.66%),and students(0.57%)(χ2=11.189,P=0.004).No significant differences in infection rates were observed by gender,age,and education level.Compared with the infection rates in the entire country and other provinces,the infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes among children in Shaanxi Province was low,and the main infection species were Ascaris lumbricoides and E.vermicularis.The infection rates greatly varied within Shaanxi Prov-ince,possibly because of differences in economic development levels,children′s living habits,and personal hygiene status across re-gions.In the future,comprehensive control measures should be taken to strengthen the monitoring and control of key areas,popula-tions,and parasite species.

Objective:To investigate the local hemodynamic spatial distribution of internal carotid artery stenosis and its correlation with plaque characteristics using high-resolution vessel wall imaging (HR-VWI) combined with computational fluid dynamics.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 70 patients with moderate to severe stenosis at the initiation of the internal carotid artery in First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tianjin First Central Hospital from March 2018 to June 2020. All patients underwent HR-VWI and CT angiography examinations. The parameters related to plaque characteristics, such as plaque length, maximum wall thickness, plaque volume, wall volume percentage and intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) were measured and evaluated on HR-VWI images. CT angiography images were used to construct a local hemodynamic vascular model to measure various wall shear stress (WSS) derived parameters, such as time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and transverse wall shear stress (transWSS), at the narrowest, proximal, and distal parts of the lesion. The Friedman test was used to analyze the difference of hemodynamic parameters in different parts of the lesion. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the correlation between plaque burden and local hemodynamic parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the independent risk factors for predicting IPH.Results:Among the 70 patients, 25 patients with IPH and 45 patients without IPH. The overall differences in TAWSS, OSI, RRT and transWSS at the narrowest, proximal, and distal parts of the lesion in 70 patients were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The TAWSS and transWSS at the narrowest parts were significantly higher than those at the proximal and distal parts ( P<0.05). The OSI at the distal part was significantly higher than that at the narrowest and the proximal parts ( P<0.05). The RRT at the proximal part was significantly lower than that at the narrowest and the distal parts ( P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed RRT at the distal part was correlated with plaque volume ( r s=0.249, P=0.044) and wall volume percentage ( r s=0.286, P=0.016), respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression showed plaque length ( OR=1.315, 95% CI 1.073-1.612, P=0.008) and TAWSS at the narrowest part ( OR=1.631, 95% CI 1.308-1.854, P=0.008) were independent risk factors for predicting IPH. Conclusions:The spatial distribution of local hemodynamics of moderate to severe stenosis at the initiation of the internal carotid artery is different, and the WSS parameters in different parts of the lesion have different effects on plaque volume, wall volume percentage and IPH.

Aim To investigate the anti-acute lung injury(ALI)effect of Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen(SLS)and its mechanism.Methods The main ac-tive components of SLS and their core targets and path-ways of action against ALI were obtained by network pharmacology methods.Subsequently,molecular doc-king technology and in vitro cellular experiments were applied for validation.Results A total of 19 core tar-gets were obtained,including HSP90AA1,CASP3,TNF,MAPK8 and MAPK14.The mechanisms may in-volve signaling pathways such as cancer,PI3K/Akt and MAPK.Molecular docking confirmed that the key targets of SLS formed a better binding activity with the relevant active ingredients.The in vitro results showed that SLS was able to protect the PM2.5-contaminated BEAS-2B cells,inhibit their NO,IL-1β and TNF-αlevels,and reduce the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-JNK proteins.Conclusions The study successfully predicts the active ingredients,targets and signaling pathways of SLS against ALI,and in vitro experiments demonstrate that SLS might protect BEAS-2B cells from PM2.5 stimulus-induced inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting the over-activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.

Aim To observe the mechanism of salvian-olic acid B(SalB)against oxygen glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation(OGD/R)injury in H9c2 cardiomyo-cytes.Methods The protective concentration of SalB against OGD/R-injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes was screened by CCK-8 assay.The levels of lactate dehy-drogenase(LDH),aspartate transaminase(AST)and creatine kinase(CK)were detected by ELISA kit.The mechanism of action of SalB on OGD/R-injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes was explored using high-through-put sequencing of the transcriptome.The binding of SalB to differential proteins was assessed using molecu-lar docking assays.Fatty acid content was determined using free fatty acid kits.The relative expressions of mRNA and protein of differential genes were verified by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The causal relationship between the target of action of SalB and heart failure was examined by Mendelian randomization experiment.Results SalB protected OGD/R-injured H9c2 cardio-myocytes and significantly reduced the levels of CK,LDH and AST compared with the blank control group.One hundred differential genes were screened by tran-scriptome sequencing,which were mainly involved in fatty acid elongation,central carbon metabolism of cancer,tryptophan metabolism pathways.Molecular docking showed that SalB had good binding energy to differential proteins.The mRNA and protein expression of core differential genes Elovl6,Echs1 and Acot1 were consistent with the transcriptome sequencing results.SalB reduced fatty acidsafter OGD/R injury.Mende-lian randomization experiments suggested that SalB might reduce the risk of heart failure through fatty acid metabolism,thereby reducing the risk of heart failure.Conclusion SalB can protect H9c2 cardiomyocytes after OGD/R injury by down-regulating Elovl6,Echs1 and Acot1 expression through the fatty acid metabolism pathway.

This study analyzed soil-transmitted nematode infection surveillance data for children 3-9 years of age in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2023,to provide a scientific basis for control strategies for soil-transmitted nematode infections in children in the province.Since 2016,according to the requirements of the National Schistosomiasis and Soil-transmitted Nematode Surveillance Program(Trial),several counties and districts in Shaanxi Province were selected as surveillance sites every year.According to geo-graphical position,the surveillance sites were divided into five areas:east,west,south,north and middle,and one administrative vil-lage(community)was selected in each area for monitoring.The eggs of soil-transmitted nematodes(hookworm,Ascaris lumbricoides,Trichuris trichiura,and Enterobius vermicularis)were detected with the Kato-Katz technique in children 3-9 years of age at each sur-veillance site,and the eggs of Enterobius vermicularis were detected again with the cellophane tape anal swab method.The infection rate and intensity for E.vermicularis were calculated.Detection was performed in 12 462 children 3-9 years old at 75 surveillance sites in Shaanxi Province from 2016 to 2023;84 cases of soil-borne nematode infections were detected,and the overall infection rate was 0.67%.The infection rates for Ascaris lumbricoides and E.vermicularis were 0.18%(22/12 462)and 0.50%(62/12 462),respec-tively,and the infection rates for Trichuris trichiura and hookworm were not found.The infection rates of soil-transmitted nematodes in children were 1.28%(16/1 250),0.16%(2/1 252),1.25%(17/1 365),1.20%(18/1 494),0.17%(2/1 169),1.45%(20/1 382),0.00,and 0.36%(9/251),respectively.A linear trend was observed among years(χ2=11.973,P<0.001).The infection rates in the Weifen Basin ecological region,Loess Plateau ecological region,and Qinba Mountains ecological region were 0.51%,1.19%,and 0.72%,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(χ2=9.726,P=0.008).Significant differences in infection rates were observed among scattered children(1.63%),preschool children(0.66%),and students(0.57%)(χ2=11.189,P=0.004).No significant differences in infection rates were observed by gender,age,and education level.Compared with the infection rates in the entire country and other provinces,the infection rate of soil-transmitted nematodes among children in Shaanxi Province was low,and the main infection species were Ascaris lumbricoides and E.vermicularis.The infection rates greatly varied within Shaanxi Prov-ince,possibly because of differences in economic development levels,children′s living habits,and personal hygiene status across re-gions.In the future,comprehensive control measures should be taken to strengthen the monitoring and control of key areas,popula-tions,and parasite species.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with pregnancy-related chronic pain visiting the pain clinic.Methods:The number of pregnant patients who completed a pregnancy registration at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 2022 to 2024 was collected. The medical records were reviewed to identify the patients who visited the department of pain of our hospital due to chronic pain related to pregnancy. The clinical characteristics such as the visiting situation, gestational weeks, age and types of pain were analyzed.Results:From 2022 to 2024, the total number of registered pregnant patients was 64, 818, of which, 2, 224 cases visited the pain clinic, and the annual proportions of pregnancy-related chronic pain visits were 2.540%, 3.836% and 3.889% respectively. Among the patients who attended the clinic, 77.97% were pregnant (5.82% in early pregnancy, 41.93% in mid-pregnancy, and 52.25% in late pregnancy), and 21.03% were postpartum patients. A total of 83.72% were aged 20-34 yr. The types of pain were pelvic girdle pain (40.96%), limb joint pain (28.82%), low back pain (14.16%), cervical spondylosis (3.64%), peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome (3.42%), headache (2.97%), chest and back pain (2.79%), pelvic and perineal pain (1.66%), neuralgia (0.94%) and other pains (0.63%).Conclusions:From 2022 to 2024, the proportion of registered pregnant women at our hospital who visited to the pain clinic due to pregnancy-related chronic pain increases year by year. The common types of pain are pelvic girdle pain, limb joint pain and low back pain.

Aim To investigate the anti-acute lung injury(ALI)effect of Sterculiae Lychnophorae Semen(SLS)and its mechanism.Methods The main ac-tive components of SLS and their core targets and path-ways of action against ALI were obtained by network pharmacology methods.Subsequently,molecular doc-king technology and in vitro cellular experiments were applied for validation.Results A total of 19 core tar-gets were obtained,including HSP90AA1,CASP3,TNF,MAPK8 and MAPK14.The mechanisms may in-volve signaling pathways such as cancer,PI3K/Akt and MAPK.Molecular docking confirmed that the key targets of SLS formed a better binding activity with the relevant active ingredients.The in vitro results showed that SLS was able to protect the PM2.5-contaminated BEAS-2B cells,inhibit their NO,IL-1β and TNF-αlevels,and reduce the expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-JNK proteins.Conclusions The study successfully predicts the active ingredients,targets and signaling pathways of SLS against ALI,and in vitro experiments demonstrate that SLS might protect BEAS-2B cells from PM2.5 stimulus-induced inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting the over-activation of p38 MAPK and JNK signaling pathways.

Objective:To explore the relationship between gut microbiota and giant cell arteritis (GCA), and to identifyits potential therapeutic strategies.Methods:Gut microbiota data were obtained from the MiBioGen consortium genome-wide association study (GWAS), and GCA data were obtained from the FinnGen consortium public GWAS. Causal associations between gut microbiota and GCA were assessed using two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, including inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, MR-Egger regression, simple mode, and weighted mode methods. Heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy were evaluated, and false positive results were excluded by using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) method of multiple hypothesis testing. All analyses were completed using the TwoSampleMR and MRPRESSO software packages (version 4.3.0) in R language. The analysis of the intestinal flora data, followed by conducting network pharmacology analysis were carried out by Cytoscape 3.9.1 and perform molecular docking verification was performed with AutoDock Vina software.Results:IVW simulations revealed 13 gut microbiota taxa were associated with GCA, of which Lachnospiraceae was significantly negatively associated with GCA risk[nSNP=16, OR(95% CI)=0.32(0.16, 0.63), β=-1.15, Se=0.35, P=0.001, FDR<0.05], and there was no heterogeneity (Cochran′s Q test, Q=13.42, P=0.490) as well as horizontal pleiotropy ( P=0.370). Further literature search and computer simulation docking analysis showed that genistein binds to MMP2 with a binding energy of -43.1 kJ/mol. Conclusion:Lachnospiraceae in the gut microbiota was is negatively associated with GCA, and genistein may be able to regulate the abundance of Lachnospiraceae through the MMP2 target to treat GCA, providing a new therapeutic approach for giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is sensitive to ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death that occurs in most tumor types. However, the mechanism through which ferroptosis modulates HCC remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic role and prognostic value of FANCD2 and provide novel insights into the prognostic assessment and prediction of immunotherapy. METHODS: Using clinicopathological parameters and bioinformatic techniques, we comprehensively examined the expression of FANCD2 macroscopically and microcosmically. We conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the prognostic value of FANCD2 in HCC and elucidated the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of FANCD2 in oncogenesis by promoting iron-related death. RESULTS: FANCD2 was significantly upregulated in digestive system cancers with abundant immune infiltration. As an independent risk factor for HCC, a high FANCD2 expression level was associated with poor clinical outcomes and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that FANCD2 was mainly involved in the cell cycle and CYP450 metabolism. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to comprehensively elucidate the oncogenic role of FANCD2. FANCD2 has a tumor-promoting aspect in the digestive system and acts as an independent risk factor in HCC; hence, it has recognized value for predicting tumor aggressiveness and prognosis and may be a potential biomarker for poor responsiveness to immunotherapy.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis* ; Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; Immunotherapy ; Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group D2 Protein/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*