Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the integrated schistosomiasis control programme in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023, so as to provide insights into precision control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Methods The integrated measures for schistosomiasis control implemented by health, agriculture, water resources, and forestry departments of Wuhan City, and the epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Wuhan City were collected from 2005 to 2023, and the prevalence of human schistosomiasis, prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans and bovines, areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats, areas of snail habitats in inner embankments, and actual areas of snail habitats were retrieved. In addition, the trends in prevalence of schistosomiasis in humans and livestock and snail status were evaluated in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 using Mann-Kendall test and a Joinpoint regression model. Results Mann-Kendall test revealed a tendency towards a decline in the prevalence of human schistosomiasis (Z = -4.41, P < 0.01), prevalence of S. japonicum infections in humans (Z = -4.89, P < 0.01) and bovines (Z = -4.50, P < 0.01), areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats (Z = -3.91, P < 0.01), areas of snail habitats in inner embankments (Z = -2.28, P = 0.02), and actual areas of snail habitats (Z = -5.95, P < 0.01) in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023. Joinpoint regression analysis showed an average annual reduction of 8.58% in the prevalence of human schistosomiasis in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [average annual percent change (AAPC) = -8.58%, 95% confidence interval (CI): (-10.02%, -6.65%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2013 through 2016 [annual percent change (APC) = -34.41%, 95% CI: (-40.36%, -20.01%), P < 0.01]. The prevalence of S. japonicum human infections appeared an average annual reduction of 51.91% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -51.91%, 95% CI: (-58.12%, -44.25%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2014 and 2017, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2014 through 2017 [APC = -98.17%, 95% CI: (-99.17%, -90.87%), P < 0.01]. The prevalence of S. japonicum infections in bovines appeared an average annual reduction of 53.12% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -53.12%, 95% CI: (-59.65%, -42.44%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2011 and 2014, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2014 through 2017 [APC = -98.63%, 95% CI: (-99.44%, -90.93%), P < 0.01]. The areas of S. japonicum-infected snail habitats appeared an average annual reduction of 47.09% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -47.09%, 95% CI: (-52.92%, -38.26%), P < 0.01], with two joinpoints in 2011 and 2014, respectively, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2011 through 2014 [APC = -97.27%, 95% CI: (-98.65%, -88.06%), P < 0.01]. The areas of snail habitats in inner embankments appeared an average annual reduction of 4.45% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -4.45%, 95% CI: (-5.18%, -3.82%), P < 0.01], with three joinpoints in 2011, 2015 and 2018, respectively, and statistical significance was seen in the tendency towards a decline during the period from 2005 through 2011 [APC = -16.38%, 95% CI: (-20.15%, -14.25%), P < 0.01]. In addition, the actual areas of snail habitats appeared an average annual reduction of 2.65% in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023 [AAPC = -2.65%, 95% CI: (-2.89%, -2.40%), P < 0.01], with a joinpoint in 2013, and the tendency towards a decline showed statistical significance during the period from 2013 through 2023 [APC = -4.06%, 95% CI: (-4.66%, -3.58%), P < 0.01]. Conclusions The integrated schistosomiasis control programme achieved significant effectiveness in Wuhan City from 2005 to 2023, with a tendency towards a decline in morbidity due to schistosomiasis in humans and livestock and snail status. The integrated schistosomiasis control strategy with emphasis on management of the source of S. japonicum infections should continue to be implemented to consolidate the schistosomiasis control achievements and achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in the city.

PURPOSE: To methodically assess the effectiveness of augmentative plating (AP) and exchange nailing (EN) in managing nonunion following intramedullary nailing for long bone fractures of the lower extremity. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched to gather clinical studies regarding the use of AP and EN techniques in the treatment of nonunion following intramedullary nailing of lower extremity long bones. The search was conducted up until May 2023. The original studies underwent an independent assessment of their quality, a process conducted utilizing the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Data were retrieved from these studies, and meta-analysis was executed utilizing Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 8 studies involving 661 participants, with 305 in the AP group and 356 in the EN group. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that the AP group exhibited a higher rate of union (odds ratio: 8.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 4.12 - 17.99, p < 0.001), shorter union time (standardized mean difference (SMD): -1.08, 95% CI: -1.79 - -0.37, p = 0.003), reduced duration of the surgical procedure (SMD: -0.56, 95% CI: -0.93 - -0.19, p = 0.003), less bleeding (SMD: -1.5, 95% CI: -2.81 - -0.18, p = 0.03), and a lower incidence of complications (relative risk: -0.17, 95% CI: -0.27 - -0.06, p = 0.001). In the subgroup analysis, the time for union in the AP group in nonisthmal and isthmal nonunion of lower extremity long bones was shorter compared to the EN group (nonisthmal SMD: -1.94, 95% CI: -3.28 - -0.61, p < 0.001; isthmal SMD: -1.08, 95% CI: -1.64 - -0.52, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION In the treatment of nonunion in diaphyseal fractures of the long bones in the lower extremity, the AP approach is superior to EN, both intraoperatively (with reduced duration of the surgical procedure and diminished blood loss) and postoperatively (with an elevated union rate, shorter union time, and lower incidence of complications). Specifically, in the management of nonunion of lower extremity long bones with non-isthmal and isthmal intramedullary nails, AP demonstrated shorter union time in comparison to EN.
Humans ; Bone Nails/adverse effects* ; Bone Plates/adverse effects* ; Femoral Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary/methods* ; Fractures, Ununited/surgery* ; Lower Extremity/injuries*

Tablets represent the most widely used oral solid dosage form in the pharmaceutical industry. Puerarin monohydrate (PUEM), a solid form of the natural antihypertensive drug puerarin, is commercially available. However, the low solubility of PUEM poses a significant challenge for the development of its tablet dosage form. In this study, we successfully prepared the sodium chelates of puerarin (PUE-Na·7H₂O) using reactive crystallization techniques. The crystal structure of PUE-Na·7H₂O was analyzed using single crystal technology, which revealed the structural characteristics of its metal chelate. Our thermodynamic studies demonstrated that the formation of PUE-Na·7H₂O involved the simultaneous deprotonation of PUE and the chelation of PUE^- and Na⁺. This reaction process was spontaneous and exothermic (ΔG < 0, ΔH < 0), and reducing the temperature facilitated the formation of the chelate. Nucleation kinetics studies revealed that chelate molecules were more likely to nucleate and crystallize under low temperature, high concentration, and high rotational speed conditions. Compared to commercially available PUEM, PUE-Na·7H₂O showed significantly improved water solubility, with a 33.5-fold increase in solubility and a 37.6-fold decrease in intrinsic dissolution rate. Our study identified drug-sodium chelation as an effective means for improving drug solubility and elucidated the mechanisms governing its formation kinetics and thermodynamics. These findings could provide new solutions for related product development and tremendous commercial opportunities.

Objective:To investigate the association between congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and the adverse outcomes during hospitalization in very low birth weight infants (VLBWI).Methods:This prospective, multicenter observational cohort study was conducted based on the data from the Sino-northern Neonatal Network (SNN). Data of 5 818 VLBWI with birth weight <1 500 g and gestational age between 24-<37 weeks that were admitted to the 37 neonatal intensive care units from January 1 st, 2019 to December 31 st, 2022 were collected and analyzed. Thyroid function was first screened at 7 to 10 days after birth, followed by weekly tests within the first 4 weeks, and retested at 36 weeks of corrected gestational age or before discharge. The VLBWI were assigned to the CH group or non-CH group. Chi-square test, Fisher exact probability method, Wilcoxon rank sum test, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between CH and poor prognosis during hospitalization in VLBWI. Results:A total of 5 818 eligible VLBWI were enrolled, with 2 982 (51.3%) males and the gestational age of 30 (29, 31) weeks. The incidence of CH was 5.5% (319 VLBWI). Among the CH group, only 121 VLBWI (37.9%) were diagnosed at the first screening. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CH was associated with increased incidence of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) ( OR=1.31(1.04-1.64), P<0.05) and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) of stage Ⅲ and above ( OR=1.74(1.11-2.75), P<0.05). However, multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed no significant correlation between CH and EUGR, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ intraventricular hemorrhage, neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis in stage Ⅱ or above, and ROP in stage Ⅲ or above ( OR=1.04 (0.81-1.33), 0.79 (0.54-1.15), 1.15 (0.58-2.26), 1.43 (0.81-2.53), 1.12 (0.70-1.80), all P>0.05). Conclusion:There is no significant correlation between CH and in-hospital adverse outcomes, possibly due to timely diagnosis and active replacement therapy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the expression of GLI1 and im-mune invasion and clinical prognosis in gastric cancer.To study the effect of GLI1 expression on drug resistance in gastric cancer.Methods:The expression difference of GLI1 in gastric cancer and normal tissues was analyzed by using TCGA database,and the effect of clinical features and GLI1 gene ex-pression level on prognosis of patients with gastric cancer was analyzed.The correlation between GLI1 gene expression and tumor immune cell infiltration in gastric cancer tissues was analyzed to explore its influence on drug resistance of chemotherapy drugs and targeted drugs.Clinical samples were collect-ed to analyze the difference of GLI1 expression in gastric cancer and paracancer tissues.Results:The expression of GLI1 in gastric cancer tissues was 1.7 times that in normal tissues,and the overall sur-vival and disease-free survival of patients with high expression are shorter than those with low ex-pression(P＜0.05).The interstitial score,immune score and abundance of immunoinfiltrating cells were higher in the high expression of GLI1 in gastric cancer tissues.High expression of GLI1 reduces drug sensitivity and is positively correlated with the expression of immune checkpoint markers PDCD1(P＜0.05).GLI1 expression was significantly increased in patients with subdifferentiated gastric cancer.Conclusions:GLI1 expression is associated with the prognosis and immune infiltration of patients with gastric cancer,and it may lead to poor prognosis of patients by regulating chemotherapy resis-tance,which may be a potential therapeutic target and molecular marker for gastric cancer.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB) patients with skeletal metastasis.Methods:The clinical features of 336 newly treated HR-NB patients with skeletal metastases admitted to the Department of Medical Oncology of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2007 to December 2018 were analyzed retrospectively.Kaplan-Meier method was used for the survival analysis, and Log- Rank test was used for univariate prognosis analysis.The Cox model was used to analyze the multifactorial prognostic analysis. Results:A total of 336 HR-NB patients were recruited, involving 188 males and 148 females with the median age of onset of at 43 (4-148) months.Skeletal metastases affected the viscerocranium (89 cases, 26.5%), neurocranium (193 cases, 57.4%), vertebrae (298 cases, 88.7%), sternum and ribs (183 cases, 54.5%), pelvis (270 cases, 80.4%), upper limbs (182 cases, 54.2%) and lower limbs (240 cases, 71.4%). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate and overall survival (OS) rate were (30.4±2.7)% and (41.3±2.9)%, respectively.Univariate analysis showed a significantly lower 5-year OS rate in skeletal metastatic HR-NB patients with poor prognostic classification, the morphology of neuroblastoma (stroma-poor) and ganglioneuroblastoma (intermixed), high index of mitosis-karyorrhexis index, lactate dehydrogenase≥587 U/L, serum ferritin≥92 μg/L, MYCN amplification and 1p loss of heterozygosity, and metastases in the viscerocranium, neurocranium, vertebrae, sternum and ribs, pelvis, upper limbs and lower limbs (all P<0.05). The 5-year OS rate of HR-NB patients with all 7 regions of skeletal metastases was only (14.2±5.9)%, which was significantly lower than that in patients with a single region metastasis or multi-region metastases[(66.0±10.2)% vs.(43.6±3.4)%, χ2=45.722, P<0.05]. Cox multifactorial analysis showed that MYCN amplification ( HR=4.165, 95% CI: 2.356-7.363) and the viscerocranium metastasis ( HR=2.560, 95% CI: 1.519-4.315) were the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of HR-NB patients with skeletal metastases (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The prognosis is extremely poor in HR-NB patients with multiple skeletal metastases at the initial diagnosis.The amplification of MYCN and the viscerocranium metastasis are the poor prognostic factors for HR-NB patients with skeletal metastases.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most common microvascular complications occurring in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, which often results in patients suffering from severe hyperalgesia and allodynia. Up to now, the clinical therapeutic effect of DPN is still unsatisfactory. Metformin is an anti-diabetic drug that has been safely and widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes for decades. Studies have shown that metformin can improve pain caused by DPN, but its effects on the nerve conduction velocity and morphology of the sciatic nerve of DPN, and the mechanism for improving DPN are not clear. Therefore, the STZ-induced model of type 1 DPN in SD rats was used to study the effects of metformin on DPN, and to preliminarily explore its mechanism in this study. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Experimental Animal Welfare Ethics Committee of the Institute of Materia Medica (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College). After the model was established successfully, STZ diabetic rats were randomly divided into a model group and a metformin treatment group, and 10 normal SD rats were selected as the normal control group, and the rats were intragastrically administered for 12 weeks. The results showed that metformin significantly reduced blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, food consumption and water consumption in STZ rats. Metformin markedly increased the motor nerve conduction velocity and mechanical stabbing pain threshold, prolonged the hot plate latency threshold, and improved the pathological morphological abnormalities of the sciatic nerve in STZ rats. In addition, metformin increased the content of glutathione (GSH), enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum and sciatic nerve of STZ diabetic rats, as well as regulating the expression of genes related to oxidative stress in the sciatic nerve. Metformin obviously reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 in the serum in STZ rats, and inhibited the gene expression of these inflammatory factors in the sciatic nerve. In summary, metformin significantly increased nerve conduction velocity, improved sciatic nerve morphological abnormalities and pain in DPN rats, which may be related to its effect in improving oxidative stress and reducing inflammation.

AIM: To investigate the clinical efficacy of pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)combined with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique in the treatment of macular hole retinal detachment(MHRD)in high myopia.METHODS: A retrospective clinical study was conducted. A total of 63 patients(64 eyes)with high myopia and MHRD who treated at our hospital from October 2017 to October 2021 were selected as research subjects. They were divided into two groups according to different surgery, with 34 cases(35 eyes)who received PPV combined with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique in group A, and 29 cases(29 eyes)received PPV combined with internal limiting membrane peeling in group B. The patients were followed up for 6mo. The two groups were compared in terms of the hole closure rate, the reduction rate of retinal detachment and best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)before operation and at 1wk, 1, 3 and 6mo after operation, and the postoperative complications were recorded.RESULTS: The hole closure rate within 6mo after operation was significantly higher in group A than in group B(P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in the reduction rate of retinal detachment(P>0.05). The BCVA of the two groups was significantly improved over time after operation(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in BCVA between the two groups before operation and at 1wk, 1, 3 and 6mo after operation(P>0.05). Complications were observed in the two groups, but there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: PPV combined with inverted internal limiting membrane flap technique is safe and effective in the treatment of MHRD in high myopia, which can effectively improve the patients' BCVA and the hole closure rate without influence on intraocular pressure.

Objective To analyze the genetic subtypes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance in the newly reported HIV-infected men in Guangxi. Methods The stratified random sampling method was employed to select the newly reported HIV-infected men aged≥50 years old in 14 cities of Guangxi from January to June in 2020.The pol gene of HIV-1 was amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and then sequenced.The mutation sites associated with drug resistance and the degree of drug resistance were then analyzed. Results A total of 615 HIV-infected men were included in the study.The genetic subtypes of CRF01_AE,CRF07_BC,and CRF08_BC accounted for 57.4% (353/615),17.1% (105/615),and 22.4% (138/615),respectively.The mutations associated with the resistance to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI),non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI),and protease inhibitors occurred in 8 (1.3%),18 (2.9%),and 0 patients,respectively.M184V (0.7%) and K103N (1.8%) were the mutations with the highest occurrence rates for the resistance to NRTIs and NNRTIs,respectively.Twenty-two (3.6%) patients were resistant to at least one type of inhibitors.Specifically,4 (0.7%),14 (2.3%),4 (0.7%),and 0 patients were resistant to NRTIs,NNRTIs,both NRTIs and NNRTIs,and protease inhibitors,respectively.The pretreatment resistance to NNRTIs had much higher frequency than that to NRTIs (2.9% vs.1.3%;χ²=3.929,P=0.047).The prevalence of pretreatment resistance to lamivudine,zidovudine,tenofovir,abacavir,rilpivirine,efavirenz,nevirapine,and lopinavir/ritonavir was 0.8%, 0.3%, 0.7%, 1.0%, 1.3%, 2.8%, 2.9%, and 0, respectively. Conclusions CRF01_AE,CRF07_BC,and CRF08_BC are the three major strains of HIV-infected men≥50 years old newly reported in Guangxi,2020,and the pretreatment drug resistance demonstrates low prevalence.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; HIV Infections/drug therapy* ; Drug Resistance, Viral/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; Mutation ; HIV-1/genetics* ; Protease Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Genotype

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cardiac function and local field potential (LFP) in sensory and motor cortices in mice with stress cardiomyopathy (SC), and to explore the possible mechanism of EA in improving SC. METHODS: Twenty-seven female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into a blank group, a model group and an EA group, 9 mice in each group. In the model group and the EA group, SC model was established by continuous intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol (ISO) for 14 days. At the same time of modeling, EA was applied at "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Shenmen" (HT 7) in the EA group, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/15 Hz, 15 min each time, once a day for 14 days. After intervention, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test within 5 minutes were observed; the left ventricular function indexes (left ventricular diameter of end-diastole [LVIDd], left ventricular diameter of end-systole [LVIDs], left ventricular volume of end-diastole [LVEDV], left ventricular volume of end-systole [LVESV], ejection fraction [EF] and fraction shortening [FS]) were detected by echocardiography; the changes in ST-segment amplitude and PR interval of electrocardiogram were observed; the morphology of myocardial tissue was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of cortisol (CORT), cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were detected by ELISA; the changes of LFP in sensory and motor cortices were recorded by Plexon multi-channel acquisition system. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test were decreased (P<0.05); LVIDd, LVIDs, LVEDV and LVESV were increased (P<0.05), EF and FS were decreased (P<0.05); ST-segment amplitude was increased (P<0.05) and PR interval was prolonged (P<0.05); irregular myocardial fiber arrangement, interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed; the serum levels of CORT, cTnT and BNP were increased (P<0.05); in the sensory cortex, the ratios of delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta and beta frequency bands was increased (P<0.05), the power spectral density (PSD) of delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands was increased (P<0.05); in the motor cortex, the ratios of delta, theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum as well as PSD of delta, theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands were increased (P<0.05). Compared with model group, in the EA group, the total movement distance, the number of crossing grid and the number of crossing central grid of open field test were increased (P<0.05); LVIDd, LVIDs, LVEDV and LVESV were decreased (P<0.05), EF and FS were increased (P<0.05); ST-segment amplitude was decreased (P<0.05), and the PR interval was shortened (P<0.05); myocardial fiber injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were reduced; the serum levels of CORT, cTnT and BNP were decreased (P<0.05); in the sensory cortex, the ratios of theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05), the ratio of gamma frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta frequency band as well as the PSD of theta, alpha, beta and gamma frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05); in the motor cortex, the ratios of theta, alpha and beta frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05) and the ratio of gamma frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of delta frequency band was increased (P<0.05), the maximum energy spectrum of theta frequency band as well as the PSD of theta and gamma frequency bands were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA can improve cardiac function in mice with stress cardiomyopathy, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of local field potentials in sensory and motor cortices.
Female ; Mice ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy ; Motor Cortex ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Myocardium