Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the midterm clinical efficacy of medial patellofemoral complex (MPFC) reconstruction for recurrent patellar dislocation with high-grade trochlear dysplasia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out among adult patients who underwent arthroscopically assisted MPFC reconstruction between January 2014 and December 2020. Dejour classification was evaluated to grade trochlear dysplasia; tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance and Insall-Salvati index were measured. Preoperative and postoperative patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were compared, including International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Kujala score, Lysholm score and Tegner score. Information regarding returning-to-sport rate, re-instability events and complications was collected. Patellar tilt (PT), lateral patellar displacement (LPD) and bisect offset (BSO) ratio were measured based on axial computed tomography before and after surgery to assess the patellofemoral congruence. RESULTS: A total of 46 MPFC reconstructions in 43 patients were enrolled, including 16 male and 27 female. Mean age at surgery was (22.2±7.6) years (range: 14-44 years). Mean follow-up was (49.9±22.6) months (range: 18-102 months). The percentages of Dejour B, C and D dysplasia were 37.0% (17/46), 43.5% (20/46), and 19.6% (9/46), respectively. Mean Insall-Salvati index was 1.2±0.2 (range: 0.85-1.44), and mean TT-TG distance was (19.6±3.5) mm (range: 10.6-28.7 mm). At latest follow-up, there were significant improvements in all PROMs (P < 0.001): IKDC score, from 56.3±15.1 to 86.2±8.1; Kujala score, from 58.9±15.6 to 92.6±5.4; Lysholm score, from 63.7±15.0 to 94.0±5.7; Tegner score, from 3.1±1.4 to 4.7±1.4, and there were no significant differences in the improvements of the scores between the patients with Dejour B, C and D dysplasia. Overall, ninety percent of the patients returned to their preoperative sports level. One patient reported a postoperative subluxation, while no cases of infection, limited range of motion or patella fracture were observed. PT, LPD and BSO ratio were all significant altered (P < 0.001) after MPFC reconstruction. CONCLUSION Arthroscopically assisted MPFC reconstruction yielded satisfactory midterm clinical results for recurrent patellar dislocation with high-grade trochlear dysplasia. No significant differences of improvements in knee function were observed among the three types of high-grade trochlear dysplasia.
Humans ; Patellar Dislocation/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Patellofemoral Joint/surgery* ; Recurrence ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Patella/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To explore the neuroprotective effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) based on in vivo and metabolomics experiments. METHODS: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was induced via a controlled cortical impact (CCI) method. Thirty rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (10 for each): sham, CCI and XFZYD groups (9 g/kg). The administration was performed by intragastric administration for 3 days. Neurological functions tests, histology staining, coagulation and haemorheology assays, and Western blot were examined. Untargeted metabolomics was employed to identify metabolites. The key metabolite was validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: XFZYD significantly alleviated neurological dysfunction in CCI model rats (P<0.01) but had no impact on coagulation function. As evidenced by Evans blue and IgG staining, XFZYD effectively prevented blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption (P<0.05, P<0.01). Moreover, XFZYD not only increased the expression of collagen IV, occludin and zona occludens 1 but also decreased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which protected BBB integrity (all P<0.05). Nine potential metabolites were identified, and all of them were reversed by XFZYD. Adenosine was the most significantly altered metabolite related to BBB repair. XFZYD significantly reduced the level of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (ENT2) and increased adenosine (P<0.01), which may improve BBB integrity. CONCLUSIONS XFZYD ameliorates BBB disruption after TBI by decreasing the levels of MMP-9 and COX-2. Through further exploration via metabolomics, we found that XFZYD may exert a protective effect on BBB by regulating adenosine metabolism via ENT2.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism* ; Adenosine/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats

Anxiety disorder is a major symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a comorbidity rate of ~40%. However, the neural mechanisms of the emergence of anxiety in ASD remain unclear. In our study, we found that hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) pyramidal neurons (PNs) in Shank3 InsG3680 knock-in (InsG3680^+/+) mice is involved in the development of anxiety. Electrophysiological results also showed increased excitatory input and decreased inhibitory input in BLA PNs. Chemogenetic inhibition of the excitability of PNs in the BLA rescued the anxiety phenotype of InsG3680^+/+ mice. Further study found that the diminished control of the BLA by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and optogenetic activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway also had a rescue effect, which increased the feedforward inhibition of the BLA. Taken together, our results suggest that hyperactivity of the BLA and alteration of the mPFC-BLA circuitry are involved in anxiety in InsG3680^+/+ mice.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism* ; Basolateral Nuclear Complex/metabolism* ; Mice ; Anxiety/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Pyramidal Cells/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated that heavy metals and cholesterol are associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in women and that heavy metal exposure can cause dyslipidemia in humans. However, the potential mediating role of cholesterol in the relationship between heavy metals and female SUI remains unexplored. METHODS: The study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database from 2013-2018. Blood lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), total mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and methyl mercury (MeHg) were included in the study. The single and combined effects of the six metals exposure on SUI were examined using logistic analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS) curves, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). The mediating effects of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were investigated through mediation analysis. RESULTS: The study included 2241 females, with 42.66% experiencing SUI. Initial analysis of six heavy metals revealed the associations between MeHg, Pb, Cd, total Hg, and SUI (all P < 0.05). WQS regression identified that Cd, Se, and Pb were major contributors to the mixed effect causing SUI. BKMR results indicated a positive mixed effect between six heavy metals and SUI. TC partially mediated the relationship of Pb, MeHg, and total Hg with SUI, and LDL-C partially mediated the association of Pb with SUI (all P for mediation < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Blood heavy metal concentrations influence the development of female SUI, with blood cholesterol mediating the association between different heavy metals and SUI.
Humans ; Female ; Metals, Heavy/blood* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; United States/epidemiology* ; Urinary Incontinence, Stress/chemically induced* ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Aged ; Cholesterol/blood* ; Environmental Exposure

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture therapies are known for their effectiveness in treating a variety of gastric diseases, although the mechanisms underlying these effects are not fully understood. This study tested the effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints Zhongwan (RN12) and Weishu (BL21) for managing gastric motility disorder (GMD) and investigated the underlying mechanisms involved. METHODS: A GMD model was used to evaluate the impact of EA on various aspects of gastric function including the amplitude of gastric motility, electrogastrogram, food intake, and the rate of gastric emptying. Immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore the activation of spinal neurons by EA, specifically examining the presence of cholera toxin B subunit (CTB)-positive neurons and fibers emanating from acupoints RN12 and BL21. The stimulation of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn, the inhibition of sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn, and their collective effects on the activity of sympathetic nerves were examined. RESULTS: EA at RN12 and BL21 significantly improved gastric motility compromised by GMD. Notably, EA activated spinal neurons, with CTB-positive neurons and fibers from RN12 and BL21 being detectable in both the dorsal root ganglia and the spinal dorsal horn. Further analysis revealed that EA at these acupoints not only stimulated GABAergic neurons in the spinal dorsal horn but also suppressed sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal lateral horn, effectively reducing excessive activity of sympathetic nerves triggered by GMD. CONCLUSION EA treatment at RN12 and BL21 effectively enhances gastric motility in a GMD model. The therapeutic efficacy of this approach is attributed to the activation of spinal neurons and the modulation of the spinal GABAergic-sympathetic pathway, providing a neurobiological foundation for the role of acupuncture in treating gastric disorders. Please cite this article as: Zhang MT, Liang YF, Dai Q, Gao HR, Wang H, Chen L, Huang S, Wang XY, Shen GM. A spinal neural circuit for electroacupuncture that regulates gastric functional disorders. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 56-65.
Electroacupuncture ; Animals ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Stomach Diseases/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; Rats ; Gastric Emptying ; Neurons ; Spinal Cord ; Stomach/physiopathology*

Objective:To compare the clinical characteristics of monogenic and non-monogenic early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (EO-IBD) in children and to explore the necessity of genetic analysis in EO-IBD research.Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data was conducted on 73 children diagnosed with EO-IBD at the Children's Hospital affiliated with Capital Institute of Pediatrics between January 2017 and December 2023. Genetic analysis was performed utilizing next-generation sequencing technology, with patients stratified into monogenic and non-monogenic groups based on the presence or absence of pathogenic mutations. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of clinical characteristics was conducted between these two cohorts of EO-IBD patients.Results:Among the 73 EO-IBD cases, 27 (37%) were diagnosed as monogenic IBD, and 46 (63%) as non-monogenic IBD. Compared to the non-monogenic group, the monogenic group had an earlier age of onset [1 (0.2, 3.0) months vs. 15 (4.1, 51.3) months, P < 0.001], with a higher incidence within the first month of life (70.4% vs. 13.0%, P < 0.001). Monogenic IBD cases were more likely to present with Crohn's disease (CD) phenotypes (88.9% vs. 52.2%, P = 0.003) and colonic involvement (L2) (91.7% vs. 62.5%, P < 0.001), but were less likely to present with non-penetrating, non-stricturing (B1) disease (87.5% vs. 95.8%, P = 0.019). Children in the monogenic group were more prone to severe malnutrition (74.1% vs. 21.3%, P < 0.001), perianal abscesses (40.7% vs. 8.7%, P < 0.001), perianal tags (22.2% vs. 0%, P = 0.004), fever (74.1% vs. 23.9%, P < 0.001), oral ulcers (44.4% vs. 6.5%, P < 0.001), and skin lesions (33.3% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.001). Regarding treatment, the monogenic group had higher usage of thalidomide (88.9% vs. 54.3%, P = 0.002) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) (37.0% vs. 0, P < 0.001) and a higher mortality rate (22.2% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.017) . Conclusions:For children with IBD presenting at an early age, especially within the first month of life, and showing symptoms like fever, oral ulcers, skin lesions, severe malnutrition, and perianal disease, monogenic IBD should be considered. Genetic testing results can aid in guiding treatment decisions.