Objective To investigate the current distribution and predict the future suitable habitats of Haemaphysalis longicornis in Nanjing City, so as to provide insights into control and early warning of ticks and management of tick-borne diseases in Nanjing City. Methods The electronic map of Nanjing City was obtained from the National Platform for Common GeoSpatial Information Services. The distribution of H. longicornis and the longitude and latitude of distribution points from 2022 to 2024 were obtained from centers for disease control and prevention across each district in Nanjing City. Climatic and environmental variable data in Nanjing City were captured from the Worldclim database. Initially, 19 bioclimatic variables in this database were selected, including annual mean temperature, mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the warmest month, temperature annual range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, mean temperature of the coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest quarter, precipitation of the warmest quarter, and precipitation of the coldest quarter. The elevation and normalized difference vegetation index were obtained from Data Sharing Platform of the Center for Resources and Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Then, the distribution points of H. longicornis, elevation, vegetation index and 19 bioclimatic variables were loaded into the software MaxEnt 3.4.4 to evaluate and screen out the variables with a contribution rate of 1% and higher. ArcGIS 10.8.1 software was used to extract the elevation, vegetation index and 19 bioclimatic variables of the distribution points of H. longicornis for a correlation analysis. If the absolute value of the correlation coefficient was 0.8 and higher, the variable with the higher contribution was retained. The 2050 dataset of the BCCCSM2-MR atmospheric circulation model in the coupled model intercomparison project phase 6 (CMIP6) were obtained from the Worldclim database as climate data for 2050. Screened H. longicornis species data and environmental and climate data were loaded into the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model with the software MaxEnt 3.4.4 for training and validation, and then, all data generated from the model were imported into the software ArcGIS 10.8.1 to generate raster data and yield the map pertaining to the distribution of H. longicornis risk in Nanjing City. The accuracy of the model was evaluated with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the predictive effect of the model was assessed with area under the ROC curve (AUC). The suitable habitats of H. longicornis were classified in Nanjing City with the software ArcGIS 10.8.1, and the areas of distribution of suitable habitats in various categories were recorded to create the map of current H. longicornis suitable habitats classification in Nanjing City. The climatic and geographic information data in 2050 were employed as future environmental and climatic factors, and current environmental and climatic factors and current H. longicornis distribution data were additionally used to predict the future suitable habitats of H. longicornis in Nanjing City. In addition, the contributions of environmental and climatic factors to distribution of suitable habitats of H. longicornis was evaluated with the Jackknife method in Nanjing City. Results A total of 10 environmental and climatic variables were screened for analysis of the suitability of H. longicornis in Nanjing City based on correlation analyses and contributions of the MaxEnt model, including annual mean temperature, precipitation of the warmest quarter, vegetation index, precipitation of the wettest month, temperature annual range, annual precipitation, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, elevation, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, and maximum temperature of the warmest month, and annual mean temperature (34.8%), precipitation of the warmest quarter (17.3%), vegetation index (13.1%), and precipitation of the wettest month (10.8%) contributed relatively highly to the distribution of suitable habitats of H. longicornis in Nanjing City. The mean AUC of the ROC curve was 0.810 ± 0.055 for 10 repeated modeling results of the MaxEnt model, indicating high predictive performance of the model. The potential distribution areas of H. longicornis were predicted to be mainly located in Luhe District, Pukou District, Jiangning District, Lishui District, and Gaochun District in Nanjing City with the MaxEnt model. Under current climatic conditions, the area of potential suitable habitats of H. longicornis was 4 182.42 km² in Nanjing City, including 1 252.94 km² highly suitable habitats, which accounted for 19.00% of the total area of Nanjing City. Under the climate scenario in 2050, the area of potential suitable habitats of H. longicornis was projected to increase to 5 467.58 km² in Nanjing City, accounting for 82.95% of the total area of the city, and these habitats were mainly concentrated in Luhe District, Pukou District, Jiangning District, Lishui District, and Gaochun District. The areas of suitable habitats of H. longicornis at various categories were predicted to vary greatly in 2050, and the area of highly suitable habitats of H. longicornis was projected to increase to 2 378.82 km², accounting for 36.08% of the total area of Nanjing City. Based on jackknife tests and contributions of environmental and climatic variables, 6 dominant environmental and climatic factors were screened, including annual mean temperature (34.8% contribution), precipitation of the warmest quarter (17.3% contribution), vegetation index (13.1% contribution), precipitation of the wettest month (10.8% contribution), temperature annual range (5.4% contribution), and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (5.0% contribution), with cumulative contributions of 86.4%. Conclusion The distribution of H. longicornis is strongly associated with vegetation, temperature and precipitation in Nanjing City. Future climate change may lead to an expansion of the distribution area of H. longicornis in Nanjing City.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous trans-hepatic choledochoscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) in the treatment of recurrent hepatobiliary calculi under enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) mode.Methods:Clinical data of 88 patients with recurrent hepatobiliary calculi, who were treated with PTCSL at Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between June 2022 and June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 34 males and 54 females, aged (52.0±13.8) years. The scheme includes preoperative education, prophylactic antibiotic application, ensuring the quality of surgery, early postoperative feeding and activity, etc. The operation can be divided into two fashions: percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and PTCSL, which can be completed in one stage (one-stage expansion method) or in two stages (staged expansion method). Clinical data such as gender, age, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, residual stone, and surgical complications were recorded.Results:All 88 patients underwent PTCSL under ERAS mode successfully, including 52 cases using one-stage expansion method and 36 cases using staged expansion method. The operative time was (53±20) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (9.7±3.8) ml, the postoperative hospital stay was (3.6±1.7) d, and the hospitalization cost was (17 500±4 700) yuan. Sixty-nine patients (78.4%, 69/88) had one-time stone removal in the first PTCSL. A total of 19 cases of residual stones were managed again by percutaneous sinus soft choledochoscopy, of which 12 cases were managed by one-time choledochoscopy, five cases by two-time choledochoscopy, and two cases by three-time choledochoscopy. The rate of residual stone was significantly higher in one-stage expansion method compared to staged expansion method [28.8% (15/52) vs. 11.1% (4/36), P=0.040]. No death, conversion to open surgery, or severe complications such as intra-abdominal hemorrhage or bile leakage occurred in the patients. No residual stones or recurrence were found during the follow-ups of (7.5±2.1) months after discharge. Conclusion:PTCSL under ERAS mode is safe and effective in the treatment of recurrent hepatobiliary calculi.

Objective:To evaluate the role of nemo-like kinase (NLK) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and the relationship with glycolysis.Methods:BMDMs were extracted from the wild type (WT) and NLK knockout (NLK -/-) C57BL/6 mice of either sex, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were used in this study. After induction, differentiation, maturation and purity identification, BMDMs were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) control group (WT+ PBS group, NLK -/-+ PBS group, n=18) and LPS group (WT+ LPS group, NLK -/-+ LPS group, n=18) by a random number table method. LPS at a final concentration of 1 μg/ml was added to stimulate mature BMDMs for 6 h in LPS group, while the equal volume of PBS was given instead in PBS group. The cell viability was measured by Calcein/PI staining, and the expression of cellular NLK, inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β] and IL-6) and key glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase 2 [HK2], pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and lactate dehydrogenase A [LDHA])mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glucose uptake and lactic acid production were measured by hexokinase method and colorimetric method respectively. Results:Compared with WT-type BMDMs, the expression of NLK protein and mRNA in NLK -/--type BMDMs was significantly down-regulated ( P<0.05). Compared with WT+ PBS group, the BMDM viability was significantly decreased, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was up-regulated, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were increased, the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA protein and mRNA was up-regulated, and the glucose uptake and lactic acid production were increased in WT+ LPS group ( P<0.05). Compared with WT+ LPS group, the BMDM viability was significantly increased, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was down-regulated, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were decreased, the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the glucose uptake and lactic acid production were decreased in NLK -/-+ LPS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:NLK may enhance LPS-induced inflammatory responses of BMDMs by promoting glycolysis in BMDMs of mice.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the level of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA) in the uterine fluid and the thickness of endometrium in infertile women with chronic endometritis.Methods:A case-control study was conducted to select 122 patients who underwent hysteroscopy and endometrial tissue biopsy at Assisted Reproduction Center, Taiyuan Central Hospital due to infertility from March 2023 to January 2024 as the study subjects. According to the results of hysteroscopy and endometrial tissue biopsy, the patients were divided into 52 cases in the infertility group with normal endometrium (NE infertility group) and the chronic endometritis combined with infertility group (CE infertility group) with 70 cases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of the two groups. General clinical data, AT1-AA absorbance value of uterine fluid and uterine related indexes of the two groups were analyzed, and the correlations between AT1-AA level and the variation of indexes were analyzed.Results:Gravidity (median: 1 vs 1; Z=7.029, P=0.030) and parity (median: 0 vs 0; Z=12.258, P=0.002) in CE infertility group were higher than those in NE infertility group. There was AT1-AA in the uterine fluid, and the level of AT1-AA in CE infertility group was significantly higher than that in NE infertility group (median: 2.07 vs 1.44; Z=3.099, P=0.029). The endometrial thickness of CE infertility group was lower than that of NE infertility group (median: 6.0 vs 7.0 mm; Z=-2.179, P=0.029), and there were no statistical differences in other indexes between the two groups (all P>0.05). Further correlation analysis showed that there were no correlation between the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid and parity, endometrial thickness, gravidity in NE infertility group (all P>0.05). However, the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of CE infertility group was positively correlated with parity (Spearman′s r=0.339, P=0.004), and negatively correlated with endometrial thickness (Spearman′s r=-0.499, P<0.001), but not correlated with gravidity ( P>0.05). Conclusions:AT1-AA is present in the uterine fluid of infertile women. The elevated level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of infertile women with CE is related to the thinning of the endometrium.

Objective:To evaluate the role of nemo-like kinase (NLK) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and the relationship with glycolysis.Methods:BMDMs were extracted from the wild type (WT) and NLK knockout (NLK -/-) C57BL/6 mice of either sex, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were used in this study. After induction, differentiation, maturation and purity identification, BMDMs were divided into phosphate buffer solution (PBS) control group (WT+ PBS group, NLK -/-+ PBS group, n=18) and LPS group (WT+ LPS group, NLK -/-+ LPS group, n=18) by a random number table method. LPS at a final concentration of 1 μg/ml was added to stimulate mature BMDMs for 6 h in LPS group, while the equal volume of PBS was given instead in PBS group. The cell viability was measured by Calcein/PI staining, and the expression of cellular NLK, inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β] and IL-6) and key glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase 2 [HK2], pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and lactate dehydrogenase A [LDHA])mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Glucose uptake and lactic acid production were measured by hexokinase method and colorimetric method respectively. Results:Compared with WT-type BMDMs, the expression of NLK protein and mRNA in NLK -/--type BMDMs was significantly down-regulated ( P<0.05). Compared with WT+ PBS group, the BMDM viability was significantly decreased, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was up-regulated, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were increased, the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA protein and mRNA was up-regulated, and the glucose uptake and lactic acid production were increased in WT+ LPS group ( P<0.05). Compared with WT+ LPS group, the BMDM viability was significantly increased, the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was down-regulated, the concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant were decreased, the expression of NLK, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA protein and mRNA was down-regulated, and the glucose uptake and lactic acid production were decreased in NLK -/-+ LPS group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:NLK may enhance LPS-induced inflammatory responses of BMDMs by promoting glycolysis in BMDMs of mice.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the level of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA) in the uterine fluid and the thickness of endometrium in infertile women with chronic endometritis.Methods:A case-control study was conducted to select 122 patients who underwent hysteroscopy and endometrial tissue biopsy at Assisted Reproduction Center, Taiyuan Central Hospital due to infertility from March 2023 to January 2024 as the study subjects. According to the results of hysteroscopy and endometrial tissue biopsy, the patients were divided into 52 cases in the infertility group with normal endometrium (NE infertility group) and the chronic endometritis combined with infertility group (CE infertility group) with 70 cases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of the two groups. General clinical data, AT1-AA absorbance value of uterine fluid and uterine related indexes of the two groups were analyzed, and the correlations between AT1-AA level and the variation of indexes were analyzed.Results:Gravidity (median: 1 vs 1; Z=7.029, P=0.030) and parity (median: 0 vs 0; Z=12.258, P=0.002) in CE infertility group were higher than those in NE infertility group. There was AT1-AA in the uterine fluid, and the level of AT1-AA in CE infertility group was significantly higher than that in NE infertility group (median: 2.07 vs 1.44; Z=3.099, P=0.029). The endometrial thickness of CE infertility group was lower than that of NE infertility group (median: 6.0 vs 7.0 mm; Z=-2.179, P=0.029), and there were no statistical differences in other indexes between the two groups (all P>0.05). Further correlation analysis showed that there were no correlation between the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid and parity, endometrial thickness, gravidity in NE infertility group (all P>0.05). However, the level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of CE infertility group was positively correlated with parity (Spearman′s r=0.339, P=0.004), and negatively correlated with endometrial thickness (Spearman′s r=-0.499, P<0.001), but not correlated with gravidity ( P>0.05). Conclusions:AT1-AA is present in the uterine fluid of infertile women. The elevated level of AT1-AA in uterine fluid of infertile women with CE is related to the thinning of the endometrium.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous trans-hepatic choledochoscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) in the treatment of recurrent hepatobiliary calculi under enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) mode.Methods:Clinical data of 88 patients with recurrent hepatobiliary calculi, who were treated with PTCSL at Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University between June 2022 and June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed, including 34 males and 54 females, aged (52.0±13.8) years. The scheme includes preoperative education, prophylactic antibiotic application, ensuring the quality of surgery, early postoperative feeding and activity, etc. The operation can be divided into two fashions: percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and PTCSL, which can be completed in one stage (one-stage expansion method) or in two stages (staged expansion method). Clinical data such as gender, age, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, residual stone, and surgical complications were recorded.Results:All 88 patients underwent PTCSL under ERAS mode successfully, including 52 cases using one-stage expansion method and 36 cases using staged expansion method. The operative time was (53±20) min, the intraoperative blood loss was (9.7±3.8) ml, the postoperative hospital stay was (3.6±1.7) d, and the hospitalization cost was (17 500±4 700) yuan. Sixty-nine patients (78.4%, 69/88) had one-time stone removal in the first PTCSL. A total of 19 cases of residual stones were managed again by percutaneous sinus soft choledochoscopy, of which 12 cases were managed by one-time choledochoscopy, five cases by two-time choledochoscopy, and two cases by three-time choledochoscopy. The rate of residual stone was significantly higher in one-stage expansion method compared to staged expansion method [28.8% (15/52) vs. 11.1% (4/36), P=0.040]. No death, conversion to open surgery, or severe complications such as intra-abdominal hemorrhage or bile leakage occurred in the patients. No residual stones or recurrence were found during the follow-ups of (7.5±2.1) months after discharge. Conclusion:PTCSL under ERAS mode is safe and effective in the treatment of recurrent hepatobiliary calculi.

OBJECTIVE To improve the efficiency and quality of dispensed oral drug management in the inpatient pharmacy,and ensure the safety of drug use in patients.METHODS SWOT(strength,weakness,opportunity,threat)analysis method was used to analyze the internal strengths and weaknesses,as well as the external opportunities and threats in the construction of a closed-loop management system for dispensed oral drugs in the inpatient pharmacy of our hospital,and propose improvement strategies.RESULTS&CONCLUSIONS A refined,full-process,closed-loop traceability management system for dispensed oral drugs in the inpatient pharmacies was successfully established,which is traceable in origin,trackable in destination,and accountable in responsibility.After the application of this system,the registration rate of dispensed drug information and the correctness rate of registration content both reached 100%.The proportion of overdue drug varieties in the same period of 2024 decreased by 77.78%compared to March 2020,the inventory volume decreased by 29.50%compared to the first quarter of 2020,the per-bed medication volume decreased by 32.14%compared to the first quarter of 2020;the average workload per post in the same period of 2023 increased by 49.09%compared to 2019,the dispensing accuracy rate reached 100%,and the improvement rate of quality control problem increased by 25.25%compared to 2021.This system effectively improves the safety and accuracy of dispensed oral drug management in the inpatient pharmacy.

Objective:To investigate the role of dopamine receptors in the central amygdala (CeA) in reduction of the anxiety level by propofol in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:Fifty-six SPF healthy adult male C57BL/6 mice, aged 10 weeks, weighing 20-25 g, were divided into 7 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (C group), PTSD group (P group), PTSD+ propofol group (PP group), PTSD+ fat emulsion group (PF group), PTSD+ propofol+ normal saline group (PPN group), PTSD+ propofol+ dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) antagonist group (PP+ DRD1-Ant group), and PTSD+ propofol+ DRD2 antagonist group (PP+ DRD2-Ant group). The PTSD model was developed by continuous plantar electric shock for 3 days. Propofol 120 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected after successful establishment of the model in PP group, and the equal volume of fat emulsion was intraperitoneally injected in PF group. In PPN group, PP+ DRD1-Ant group and PP+ DRD2-Ant group, the equal volume of normal saline, DRD1 antagonist hydrochloride and DRD2 antagonist eticlopride hydrochloride were injected in bilateral CeA regions, respectively, 30 min later the efficacy of drugs reached the peak, and then propofol 120 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected. The anxiety levels were measured at 4 h (T 1) and day 3 after propofol injection (T 2) by the open field test and elevated cross maze test. Results:Compared with C group, the time spent entering the open and central areas was significantly shortened at T 1, 2, and the number of entering the open and central areas was decreased at T 1, 2 in P group ( P<0.001). Compared with P group, the time spent entering the open and central areas was significantly prolonged at T 1, the number of entering the open and central areas was increased at T 1 ( P<0.001), and no significant change was found at T 2 in PP group ( P>0.05), and no significant change was found in the aforementioned parameters at T 1, 2 in PF group ( P>0.05). Compared with PPN group, the time spent entering the open and central areas was significantly shortened at T 1, and the number of entering the open and central areas was decreased at T 1 in PP+ DRD2-Ant group ( P<0.001), and no significant change was found at T 1 in PP+ DRD1-Ant group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Activation of DRD2 in the CeA is involved in the process by which propofol reduces the anxiety level of mice with PTSD.

Objective To investigate the effects of menaquinone-4(MK4)on the activation and function of CD8+T cells.Methods An in vitro culture system for primary mouse CD8+T cells was established by isolating these cells from the spleen using CD8a T cell isolation kit.The isolated CD8+T cells were then incubated and activated in a 96-well plate coated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies.The impact of MK4 on the activation and cytokine secretion of CD8+T cells was explored by quantifying the expression levels of CD8+T cell activation receptors and cytokines using flow cytometry.Additionally,the concentrations of these cytokines in the culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The influence of MK4 on the anti-tumor function of CD8+T cells was evaluated by co-culturing colorectal cancer MC38 cells of mice with CD8+T cells at different ratios,and the effect of MK4 was assessed by detecting tumor cell apoptosis.Results High-purity primary CD8+T cells of mice(97.5％)were isolated using the magnetic bead,which could be activated by pre-coated CD3/CD28 antibodies and showed proliferation.Compared with the control group,the MK4-treated group exhibited increased expressions of CD25,CD69 and CD44 on CD8+T cells,as well as higher production and secretion levels of interleukin-2(IL-2),interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and granzyme B.In addition,CD8+T cells in the MK4-treated group induced a higher percentage of tumor cell apoptosis(36.7％)compared with the control group(29.1％).Conclusion MK4 can enhance the activation of CD8+T cells and promote anti-tumor functions.