Objective To investigate the changes in the prevalence of Babesia microti infections, spleen morphology and proportions of splenic immune cells in BALB/c mice following intravenous and intraperitoneal injections, so as to provide insights into unraveling the immune regulatory mechanisms of Babesia infections. Methods Laboratory - maintained B. microti strains were prepared into whole blood samples with 10% prevalence of B. microti infection. A total of 75 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups, including the normal control group, intravenous injection group, and intraperitoneal injection group, of 25 mice in each group. Mice in the intravenous and intraperitoneal injection groups were administered 100 μL of whole blood samples with 10% prevalence of B. microti infection, with the day of injection recorded as d0, and animals in the normal control group were given no treatments. Blood was sampled from mice in each group via the tail tip on d7, d14, d21, d28 and d35, and prepared into thin-film blood smears, and B. microti infection was observed in red blood cells. Five mice were randomly sampled from each group and sacrificed on d7, d14, d21, d28 and d35, and spleen was collected for measurement of spleen size and weight. In addition, splenic cells were isolated, and the proportions of CD3e⁺ T cells, CD45R⁺ B cells, CD49b⁺ nature killer (NK) cells, and F4/80⁺ macrophages were detected in CD45⁺ lymphocytes using flow cytometry. Results The prevalence of B. microti infection in the intravenous (22.80%) and intraperitoneal injection groups (44.82%) peaked on d7 (χ² = 8.141, P < 0.01) and then rapidly decreased, and no parasites were observed on d35. The longest mouse spleen length [(32.91 ± 2.20) mm] and width [(9.82 ± 0.43) mm], and the greatest weight [(0.78 ± 0.10) g] were found on d14 in the intravenous injection group, and the longest spleen length [(32.42 ± 3.21) mm] and width [(10.25 ± 0.73) mm], and the greatest weight [(0.73 ± 0.09) g] were seen in the intra-peritoneal injection group on d21, d7 and d14, respectively. There were significant differences among the intravenous injection group, intraperitoneal injection group and the normal control group in terms of spleen length (F = 10.310, P < 0.05), width (F = 9.824, P < 0.05), and weight (F = 10.672, P < 0.05) on d21, and the mouse spleen length, width and weight were all significantly greater in the intraperitoneal injection group than in the intravenous injection group (allP values < 0.05). The proportions of splenic CD3e⁺ T cells [(60.60 ± 6.20)% and (39.68 ± 7.62)%], CD45R⁺ B cells [(43.32 ± 2.08)% and (49.53 ± 4.90)%], CD49b⁺ NK cells [(6.88 ± 1.34)% and (7.71 ± 1.59)%], and F4/80⁺ macrophages [(2.21 ± 0.29)% and (3.80 ± 0.35)%] peaked on d14, d21, d21 and d14 in the intravenous and intraperitoneal injection groups, respectively. There were significant differences in the proportions of CD3e⁺ T cells (F = 16.730, P < 0.05) and F4/80⁺ macrophages (F = 15.941, P < 0.05) among the intravenous injection group, intraperitoneal injection group and normal control group on d14, and a higher proportion of CD3e⁺ T cells and a lower proportion of F4/80⁺ macrophages were detected in the intravenous injection group than in the intraperitoneal injection group (both P values < 0.01). There were significant differences among the intravenous injection group, intraperitoneal injection group and normal control group on d21 in terms of proportions of splenic CD3e⁺ T cells (F = 9.252, P < 0.05), CD45R⁺ B cells (F = 14.349, P < 0.05), CD49b⁺ NK cells (F = 13.436,P < 0.05), and F4/80⁺ macrophages (F = 8.180, P < 0.05), and a higher proportion of CD3e⁺ T cells and lower proportions of CD45R⁺ B cells and F4/80⁺ macrophages were detected in the intravenous injection group than in the intraperitoneal injection group (all P values < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant difference in the proportion of CD3e⁺ T cells among the intravenous injection group, intraperitoneal injection group and normal control group on d28 (F = 9.772,P < 0.05), and a lower proportion of CD3e⁺ T cells was found in the intravenous injection group than in the intraperitoneal injection group (P < 0.01). Conclusions Both intraperitoneal and intravenous routes are effective to induce B. microti infections in BALB/c mice, and the prevalence of B. microti infections is higher in BALB/c mice through the intraperitoneal route than through the intravenous route. Intraperitoneal and intravenous injections with B. microti cause diverse spleen morphologies and proportions of splenic immune cells in mice, indicating routes of B. microti infections cause different impacts on immune response mechanisms in mice.

Objective:To learn about the clinical characteristics of patients with neurobrucellosis (NB) and provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of NB.Methods:The clinical data of 22 NB patients diagnosed and treated at Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital from January 2018 to November 2024 and 178 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations during the same period were retrospectively collected. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis of NB patients were analyzed.Results:Among the 22 NB patients, 12 were males (54.55%) and 10 were females (45.45%). The age was (51.77 ± 12.75) years old, ranging from 27 to 80 years old. Most of the patients were farmers (95.45%, 21/22), and 16 cases (72.73%) had contacted with cattle/sheep. The onset seasons were mainly in summer (40.91%, 9/22) and spring (31.82%, 7/22). Among all NB patients, there were 10 cases of encephalitis/meningoencephalitis, 9 cases of myelitis, and 3 cases of meningitis. The general symptoms were mainly fever (68.18%, 15/22), the neurological symptoms were mainly nausea and vomiting (36.36%, 8/22), and the physical signs were mainly muscle weakness (50.00%, 11/22) and pathological signs (45.45%, 10/22). The laboratory test results showed that the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, C-reactive protein, total protein, albumin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, α-hydroxybutyric acid dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase in NB patients were significantly different from those in healthy individuals ( P < 0.001). Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed ischemic changes in 5 cases (22.73%), abnormal brain signals in 2 cases (9.09%), and demyelinating lesions in white matter in 1 case (4.55%). After treatment, 18 NB patients were followed up and showed good prognosis, with only 2 cases exhibiting varying degrees of sequelae (walking disorders or memory impairment). Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of NB patients are diverse. A comprehensive judgment should be made by combining epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and imaging examinations.

Objective:To learn about the clinical characteristics of patients with neurobrucellosis (NB) and provide references for clinical diagnosis and treatment of NB.Methods:The clinical data of 22 NB patients diagnosed and treated at Beidahuang Industry Group General Hospital from January 2018 to November 2024 and 178 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations during the same period were retrospectively collected. The epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis of NB patients were analyzed.Results:Among the 22 NB patients, 12 were males (54.55%) and 10 were females (45.45%). The age was (51.77 ± 12.75) years old, ranging from 27 to 80 years old. Most of the patients were farmers (95.45%, 21/22), and 16 cases (72.73%) had contacted with cattle/sheep. The onset seasons were mainly in summer (40.91%, 9/22) and spring (31.82%, 7/22). Among all NB patients, there were 10 cases of encephalitis/meningoencephalitis, 9 cases of myelitis, and 3 cases of meningitis. The general symptoms were mainly fever (68.18%, 15/22), the neurological symptoms were mainly nausea and vomiting (36.36%, 8/22), and the physical signs were mainly muscle weakness (50.00%, 11/22) and pathological signs (45.45%, 10/22). The laboratory test results showed that the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, C-reactive protein, total protein, albumin, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, α-hydroxybutyric acid dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase in NB patients were significantly different from those in healthy individuals ( P < 0.001). Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed ischemic changes in 5 cases (22.73%), abnormal brain signals in 2 cases (9.09%), and demyelinating lesions in white matter in 1 case (4.55%). After treatment, 18 NB patients were followed up and showed good prognosis, with only 2 cases exhibiting varying degrees of sequelae (walking disorders or memory impairment). Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of NB patients are diverse. A comprehensive judgment should be made by combining epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and imaging examinations.

The efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with reduced dose HAD regimen in the treatment of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was investigated. From May 2022 to January 2023, a total of 25 patients with newly diagnosed AML were treated with venetoclax combined with reduced-dose HAD regimen as induction therapy. Accoding to the 2017 ELN recommendations, 13 (52.0%) in favoable, 3 (12.0%) in intemediate, and 9 (36.0%) in adverse. The ORR (CR rate+PR rate) was 88.0%, and the CR rate was 84.0%. By May 30, 2023, with a median follow-up of 9 months, 1 year overall survival, event-free survival, and relapse-free survival were 100%, 94.7%, and 94.7%, respectively. All patients received 1-5 cycles of consolidation therapy and two median cycles. Treatment with venetoclax and reduced dose of HAD regimen in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed AML was high effective and safe.

This study aimed to explore the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the post-transcriptional regulation of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide in the bovine hypothalamus and to screen key regulatory miRNAs. Targetscan was used to predict the potential miRNAs binding to CART 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR). Bioinformatics analysis predicted 7 miRNA binding sites in the bovine CART 3'UTR, which were bta-miR-377, bta-miR-331-3p, bta-miR-491, bta-miR-493, bta-miR-758, bta-miR-877, and bta-miR-381, respectively. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was carried out to determine the endogenous expression of CART and target miRNAs in the bovine hypothalamus. All the 7 target miRNAs and CART were endogenously expressed in the bovine hypothalamus. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was employed to detect the targeted binding relationship between CART 3'UTR and target miRNAs obtained from bioinformatics analysis. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that the 3'UTR of CART had a targeted binding relationship with the 7 target miRNAs. Cell experiments were conducted to examine the effects of target miRNAs on the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of exogenous CART and screen for key regulatory miRNAs. The results of cell experiments showed that the 7 miRNAs downregulated the mRNA level of CART, with bta-miR-491 demonstrating the strongest downregulating effect. Bta-miR-377, bta-miR-331-3p, bta-miR-491, bta-miR-493, and bta-miR-381 downregulated the protein level of CART, with bta-miR-381 exerting the strongest downregulating effect. Animal experiments were conducted to explore the effects of key regulatory miRNAs on the mRNA and protein levels of CART in the hypothalamus and the CART concentration in the serum. The results from animal experiments showed that miR-491 and miR-381 regulated the endogenous expression of CART in the hypothalamus and the concentration in the serum by binding to the CART 3'UTR. These results suggest that miR-491 and miR-381 are the main miRNAs regulating CART expression in the bovine hypothalamus, which can affect serum CART concentration by modulating endogenous CART expression.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Cattle ; Hypothalamus/metabolism* ; 3' Untranslated Regions/genetics* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Binding Sites ; Base Sequence ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Protein

Objective To investigate the current situation of long-term care needs of the elderly with home-based disabil-ity in Beiliu City,and provide data support for the development of Internet plus care services in Beiliu City.Methods A ques-tionnaire survey method was used to design and distribute a survey questionnaire titled"Survey Questionnaire on Home Care Serv-ice Needs of Disabled Elderly People",to investigate the nursing service methods and home care needs of disabled elderly people in Beiliu City.Results Disabled elderly people mainly choose home-based nursing services,with a high demand for basic care,comfortable care,rehabilitation care,psychological care,and other aspects.Conclusion Home care is of great significance for improving the quality of life of disabled elderly people,and requires policy support such as medical insurance to promote the sup-ply of nursing services and meet the care needs of disabled elderly people.

CRISPR/Cas system, an adaptive immune system with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, may interfere with exogenous nucleic acids and protect prokaryotes from external damages, is an effective gene editing and nucleic acid detection tools. The CRISPR/Cas system has been widely applied in virology and bacteriology; however, there is relatively less knowledge about the application of the CRISPR/Cas system in parasitic diseases. The review summarizes the mechanisms of action of the CRISPR/Cas system and provides a comprehensive overview of their application in gene editing and nucleic acid detection of parasitic diseases, so as to provide insights into future studies on parasitic diseases.

With the gradual resumption of international travel, cross-border population movement has become frequent again, risk assessment of imported malaria has important public health significance to maintain malaria elimination status in China. Currently, risk index system construction method, risk index method, mathematical model method, and infectivity-receptivity- vulnerability method are mainly used in imported malaria risk assessment in China. This paper summarizes the common evaluation methods in the risk assessment of imported malaria research in China to provide references for the further research.

Based on the ideas of management systemization, system standardization, process specialisation, post accountability, duty formalization, form informatization, information digitization and digital intelligence, the smart, mobile and paperless bedside billing service was developed which incorporated both functional and financial prospects. The innovation was realized by Internet+ bedside billing and an integrated information platform, so that the inter-hospital billing system could be connected to the medical insurance system, electrical receive system and commercial insurance system. This saved manpower and equipment deployment, and improved service quality. The bedside intelligent mobile billing system of a hospital was launched in January 2021, and the average discharge billing time of inpatients in 2020 and 2021 was 44.36 min and 30.59 min, respectively, and the online billing fee time was significantly shorter than offline billing in 2021, and the differences were all significant( P<0.01).

Objective:This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of dasatinib combined with a multi-agent chemotherapy regimen of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) patients. Methods:This prospective, single-arm, and open clinical study enrolled 30 adult Ph + ALL patients who were newly diagnosed and treated from January 2016 to April 2018 in the center of this study. Standard induction chemotherapy was given for 4 weeks. However, dasatinib (100 mg/d) was continuously administered from day 8 until the end of the whole therapy in the induction therapy. Patients who are available for allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) received transplantation when the disease was evaluated as complete remission. Results:All 30 patients achieved hematological complete remission (HCR) after the induction chemotherapy, and 70.0% (21/30) of them achieved the accumulated molecular complete remission (MCR) . The patients were followed up with a median follow-up time of 37.8 months (32.0-46.6) . The 3 year overall survival (OS) and 3 year hematological relapse-free survival (HRFS) were 68.1% and 61.6%, respectively. Moreover, 63.3% and 43.3% of the patients achieved molecular major remission and MCR, respectively. Consequently, 60.0% of the patients achieved MCR until 6 months. The patients who achieved MCR within 6 months had superior OS ( P=0.004) , HRFS ( P=0.049) , and event-free survival (EFS; P=0.001) . Fifteen patients (50.0%) received SCT at the first HCR. However, HRFS ( P=0.030) and EFS ( P=0.010) in the SCT group were better than those in the chemotherapy group. Conclusions:The regimen of dasatinib combined with a multi-agent chemotherapy was proven safe and effective in the treatment of newly diagnosed adult Ph + ALL patients. Clinical trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02523976.