Objective To examine the impact of extreme temperature and drought stress on the survival of Bulinus globosus, so as to provide the theoretical evidence for the genomic research of Bulinus in absence of reference genes. Methods B. globosus snail samples were collected from Kiwani Shehia in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, and offspring snails were obtained through laboratory breeding and reproduction. A total of 120 10-week-old B. globosus snails from the same generation were selected and randomly assigned into four groups, including the high-temperature drought (HD) group, normal temperature drought (D) group, low-temperature drought (LD) group, and the control (C) group, of 30 snails in each group. Snails in HD, D, and LD groups were placed in beakers containing dry soil at the bottom and subsequently housed in climate chambers at 35, 26 ℃, and 10 ℃, respectively, while snails in Group C were maintained in 500 mL petri dishes containing dechlorinated tap water at 26 ℃. Following 3 days of breeding, living snails in each group were collected, and soft tissues were dissected and isolated. Total RNA was extracted from snail soft tissues for library construction, followed by high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 4000 sequencing system. De novo transcriptome assembly was performed using the Trinity software, and the longest transcripts were selected as unigenes. Gene functional annotations of unigenes were conducted using the Diamond software against Gene Ontology (GO) knowledgebase, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway database, NCBI non-redundant (NR) protein sequences database, Protein Family (Pfam) database, and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot (Swiss-Prot) knowledgebase. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were performed using the topGO and clusterProfiler software, respectively. In addition, four relevant genes were selected for validation using a real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay to verify the reliability of transcriptome sequencing results. Results Following 3 days of breeding, there were 7, 20, 28, and 30 survival B. globosus snails in HD, LD, D, and C groups, with corresponding survival rates of 23.33% (7/30), 66.67% (20/30), 93.33% (28/30), and 100.00% (30/30), respectively (χ² = 52.72, P < 0.001). De novo transcriptome assembly generated 176 942 unigenes, with annotation rates of 0.98%, 13.49%, 26.46%, 12.48%, and 14.39% against GO knowledgebase, KEGG pathway database, NR protein sequences database, Pfam database, and Swiss-Prot knowledgebase, respectively. There were 33 up-regulated and 72 down-regulated genes in Group D, 483 up-regulated and 815 down-regulated genes in Group HD, and 245 up-regulated and 172 down-regulated genes in Group LD relative to in Group C. Following removal of overlapping genes across groups and unmatched genes, 11 candidate genes were identified. GO and KEGG analyses revealed 3 heat shock protein (HSP)-related DEGs in these 11 candidate genes, which were annotated as HSP12.2, HSP70, and HSP20 genes and were all significantly up-regulated in each treatment group. Three immune and nervous system-related DEGs were identified, and were all significantly down-regulated in each treatment group, which were involved in the neural cell adhesion molecule L1-like protein pathway, fibrinogen binding protein pathway, and leukocyte elastase inhibitor-like protein pathway. qRT-PCR assay quantified that the expression trends of four genes related to temperature and drought stress across different treatment groups were highly consistent with transcriptome sequencing data. Conclusion The survival rate of B. globosus significantly reduces under combined stresses of extreme temperature and drought, possibly due to an imbalance in its cellular homeostasis regulatory system.

AIM:To investigate the potential mechanism of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in the pla-centa during the pathogenesis of preeclampsia(PE).METHODS:Differential neutrophil infiltration in PE versus normo-tensive placentas was assessed using placental transcriptome sequencing data.Single-cell sequencing analysis of GSE173193 dataset was conducted to evaluate the expression of NETs formation-related genes in neutrophils from PE pla-centa and control placenta.Immunofluorescence and ELISA were used to measure NETs levels in placental tissues.Fol-lowing NETs generation and treatment of human extravillous trophoblast(EVT)HTR8/Svneo strain with NETs,RNA se-quencing was utilized to identify potential signaling pathways through which NETs regulate trophoblast function.RE-SULTS:Neutrophil infiltration,and expression of NETs formation critical genes,MPO(myeloperoxidase)and ELANE(elastase,neutrophil expressed),in neutrophils were significantly increased in PE placentas compared with controls.The level of NETs was elevated in PE placentas as well.The NETs significantly inhibited the migration of HTR8/Svneo cells.Disrupted F-actin arrangement,aggregate formation,and reduced paxillin expression were observed in NETs-treated HTR8/Svneo cells.Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that focal adhesion and stress fiber pathways were down-regu-lated in the EVT of PE placenta.CONCLUSION:Neutrophil infiltration and NETs formation were increased in PE.The NETs may inhibit EVT migration by inducing stress fiber disassembly and down-regulating paxillin expression,thereby dis-rupting cytoskeletal organization and focal adhesion formation.

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein. It promotes development and coordinates intracellular calcium signal transduction in healthy tissues, but is overexpressed in a variety of solid malignant tumors (such as gastrointestinal tumors, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer). Moreover, it is closely associated with poor tumor prognosis and metastasis risk. As a powerful tool, molecular imaging technology can directly characterize and quantify the molecular metabolic changes after the combination of probes and targets through imaging technology at the in vivo level. It has become a key technology for Trop2 research and plays an important role in specific diagnosis, tumor staging, and therapeutic effect monitoring. A variety of Trop2-targeted molecular probes based on monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and antibody fragments have been used in preclinical and clinical studies of various solid tumors. This article reviews the latest progress of Trop2-related research in the field of tumor molecular imaging technology.

Objective:To summarize assessment tools for taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer and provide a reference for clinical evaluation by healthcare professionals.Methods:A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP for literature on taste dysfunction in head and neck cancer from database inception to May 10, 2025.Results:A total of 31 articles were included: five on tool development, three on tool validation, five on cross-cultural adaptation, and 18 on tool application.A total of 16 assessment tools were identified overall: ten subjective instruments and six objective instruments. Reliability and validity were most commonly examined using internal consistency reliability and criterion-related validity.Conclusions:A wide variety of tools exist for assessing taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer. Tool selection should be based on clinical context and patient characteristics. Future work should develop disease-specific, locally adapted instruments aligned with the features of head and neck cancer.

As a neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis remains a major public health challenge in underdeveloped areas, notably Africa. Currently, the national schistosomiasis control programmes in Africa mainly depend on foreign aids; however, conventional international aid models have multiple limitations. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of global schistosomiasis control programmes, this article proposes a trinity collaboration model based on international rules, China’s experiences and local needs, which is explained with China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar as an example. Based on the successful experiences from the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, this model emphasizes the compliance with World Health Organization guidelines and fully considers local actual needs to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of the schistosomiasis control programme through integrating international resources and promoting China’s experience to meet local needs. The successful practice of the China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar provides strong evidence that the model is of great theoretical significance and practical value to improve the efficiency of multilateral collaboration and promote global health governance.

Objective To compare the short-term outcomes and postoperative complications of endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)and endoscopic mucosal resection(EMR)in the treatment of early colorectal cancer.Methods A total of 110 patients with early colorectal cancer who were admitted to Suining Central Hospital from June 2020 to June 2022 were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups by random number table.Of them,58 patients underwent ESD and 52 patients underwent EMR.Operation related indexes,inflammatory factors(interleukin-6[IL-6],tumor necrosis factor-α[TNF-α],and C-reactive protein[CRP])before operation and 3 days after operation,and postoperative quality of life index(QL-Index)were compared between the two groups.The complications of the two groups were observed.Results The operation time,hospital stay,postoperative exhaust time,defecation time,and intraoperative blood loss in ESD group were lower than those in EMR group,and the rates of complete resection and en bloc resection in ESD group were higher than those in EMR group(P<0.05).The levels of IL-6,TNF-α and CRP were increased 3 d after operation in both groups,but the levels of IL-6,TNF-α and CRP in ESD group were lower than those in EMR group(P<0.05).The total score of QL-Index and the scores of activity,daily activities,health,and overall situation in ESD group were significantly higher than those in EMR group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in ESD group was higher than that in EMR group,without significant difference(P>0.05).Conclusion The pocket ESD can effectively promote postoperative rehabilitation,increase resection rate,reduce postoperative inflammation,and improve the quality of life of patients with early colorectal cancer,and there is no obvious complication.

Stroke is a critical health issue in China, and carotid artery stenosis and plaque play key roles in its prevalence. Despite the acknowledged significance of this condition, detailed information regarding the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque across the Chinese population has been scarce. This study analyzed data from the China Stroke High-risk Population Screening and Intervention Program for 2020-2021, focusing on 194 878 Chinese adults aged 40 years and above. It assessed the prevalence of carotid artery stenosis and plaque and identified their associated risk factors. Results revealed a standardized prevalence of 0.40% for carotid artery stenosis and 36.27% for carotid plaque. Notably, the highest rates of stenosis were observed in north and south China at 0.61%, while southwestern China exhibited the highest plaque prevalence at 43.17%. Key risk factors included older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. This study highlights significant geographical and demographic disparities in the prevalence of these conditions, underlining the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. These measures are essential for reducing the incidence of stroke and improving patient outcomes, addressing this significant health challenge in China.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged ; Carotid Stenosis/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Aged ; Adult ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/epidemiology* ; Stroke/epidemiology* ; Aged, 80 and over

Objective:To investigate the laboratory diagnostic value of 5 new blood routine indexes in chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:The retrospective study included 65 patients with chronic HBV infection, 72 patients with liver cirrhosis and 163 patients with HCC recruited at Liver Disease Center in First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, as well as 52 healthy controls recruited from the Physical Examination Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from October 2022 to April 2023. Five new parameters [early granulated cell percent (EGC%), early granulated cell absolute count (EGC#), microcytic anemia factor (MAF), leukocyte estimate(corrected)from the DIFF optical channel (WDOP) and leukocyte estimate(corrected)from the NRBC optical channel (WNOP)] were detected by UniCel DxH 900 blood cell analyzer. Univariate analysis of the expression levels of the 5 new parameterswere compared among CHB, liver cirrhosis and HCC groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between the 5 new parameters and HBV-related markers in CHB and Child-Pugh score in liver cirrhosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and AUC were used to estimate the diagnostic capacity of the 5 new blood routine indexes in CHB, liver cirrhosis and HCC.Results:In patients with CHB, the levels of EGC% ( Z=4.613, P<0.001) and EGC# ( Z=4.220, P<0.001) were higher than those of healthy controls; EGC# was positively correlated with HBsAg and HBeAg (both P<0.05). In patients with cirrhosis, the level of MAF ( Z=-4.928, P<0.001) was lower than that of healthy controls, and Child-Pugh score was found to be negatively correlated with MAF ( r=-0.349, P<0.05). In HCC patients, WDOP ( Z=2.45, P=0.017) and WNOP ( Z=2.90, P=0.017) levels were higher in patients with tumor volume>3 cm 3 than those in patients with volume ≤3 cm 3. The AUCs of combination of 5 new parameters to diagnose CHB, liver cirrhosis and HCC were 0.901 (95% CI 0.830-0.973, P<0.001), 0.946 (95% CI 0.909-0.984, P<0.001), and 0.904 (95% CI 0.858-0.950, P<0.001). Conclusions:The 5 new parameters based on peripheral blood cell analysis have good clinical value in the diagnosis of CHB, liver cirrhosis and HCC diseases.

Objective:To summarize assessment tools for taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer and provide a reference for clinical evaluation by healthcare professionals.Methods:A computer-based search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, and VIP for literature on taste dysfunction in head and neck cancer from database inception to May 10, 2025.Results:A total of 31 articles were included: five on tool development, three on tool validation, five on cross-cultural adaptation, and 18 on tool application.A total of 16 assessment tools were identified overall: ten subjective instruments and six objective instruments. Reliability and validity were most commonly examined using internal consistency reliability and criterion-related validity.Conclusions:A wide variety of tools exist for assessing taste dysfunction in patients with head and neck cancer. Tool selection should be based on clinical context and patient characteristics. Future work should develop disease-specific, locally adapted instruments aligned with the features of head and neck cancer.

Nucleic acid aptamers are a type of single-stranded oligonucleotides screened through in vitro exponentially enriched ligand phylogenetic technology, and they can bind to various targets with high specificity and high affinity. AS1411 is a 26-base guanine-rich DNA aptamer, and its target nucleolin is widely distributed in multiple locations within the cell, including the nucleolus, nucleoplasm, cytoplasm and cell membrane. AS1411 demonstrates multiple advantages, such as weak immunogenicity, low toxicity, easy structural modification, and strong tissue penetration ability. Despite numerous challenges in the clinical transformation process, with the continuous advancement of molecular imaging technology, AS1411 has demonstrated great potential in the fields of targeted imaging and targeted delivery of cancer drugs. This article mainly focuses on the research progress of AS1411 in the field of molecular imaging, covering its applications in magnetic resonance imaging, fluorescence imaging and nuclear medicine imaging, etc.