Objective To investigate the geographical distribution and seasonal fluctuations of visceral leishmaniasis vectors sandflies in Henan Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of visceral leishmaniasis vectors. Methods A total of 23 counties (districts) were sampled from 18 cities of Henan Province from May to September, 2023 as sandfly surveillance sites, and sandflies were captured using human capture and light trapping methods. Following morphological identification, the changes in the sandfly density were calculated at different months and in different breeding habitats. Results A total of 406 light traps were set at sandfly surveillance sites in Henan Province from May to September, 2023, and a total of 3 137 female sandlies were captured, with an average density of 7.73 sandlies/(light·night). A total of 1 494 Phlebotomus chinensis sandflies were captured, including 1 222 female sandflies, with an average density of 3.01 sandflies/(light·night), and the highest density of P. chinensis was found in Gongyi City [17.00 sandflies/(light·night)]. A total of 5 544 sandflies were captured using the human capture method, including 230 P. chinensis, and the density of P. chinensis appeared a unimodal distribution, with a peak in early July [5.81 sandflies/(light·night)]. Among different breeding habitats, the highest P. chinensis density was detected in pigpens [4.50 sandflies/(light·night)]. Conclusions P. chinensis was predominantly distributed in hilly areas of northern and central-western Henan Province in 2023, and the sandfly density appeared a unimodal distribution. Intensified monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis vectors is recommended.

Objective To characterize the species of common sandflies in Henan Province using DNA barcoding with cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as the molecular marker, and to analyze the genetic polymorphisms of sandflies, so as to provide insights into visceral leishmaniasis prevention and control in Henan Province. Methods Sandfly specimens were sampled from 13 sandflies surveillance sites from 2021 to 2023 in Anyang City, Zhengzhou, Luoyang and Xuchang cities (Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xuchang areas) where visceral leishmaniasis cases were reported and in Jiaozuo and Xinxiang cities (Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas) without visceral leishmaniasis cases reported. Genomic DNA was extracted from a single sandfly, and COI gene was amplified. The amplification product was subjected to bidirectional sequencing. Following sequence assembly, the species of sandflies was characterized through sequence alignment using the BLAST tool. The intra-specific and inter-specific genetic distances of sandflies were estimated among different areas using the software Mega 11, and phylogenetic trees were created. The polymorphisms of nucleotide sequences in the sandflies COI gene were estimated using the software DnaSP. The fixation index (F_ST) of different geographical isolates of sandflies was calculated using the Arlequin software, and the gene flow value (Nm) was used to measure the gene flow in the sandflies populations. In addition, the population genetic structure of different geographical populations of Phlebotomus chinensis was analyzed using the STRUCTURE software. Results A total of 978 sandflies were collected from 13 sandflies surveillance sites in Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xuchang areas, Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas and Anyang City of Henan Province from 2021 to 2023, and 475 sandflies were randomly sampled for subsequent detections. A total of 304 Ph. chinensis, 162 Se. squamirostris and 9 Se. bailyi were identified based on molecular biological detection of the COI gene, and Se. bailyi was reported for the first time in Henan Province. The intraspecific genetic distances of sandflies were 0.000 to 0.040, and the inter-specific genetic distances ranged from 0.133 to 0.161. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each of the three sandfly species was clustered into a clade. The genetic polymorphisms of Ph. chinensis populations varied among different areas, with the highest haplotype diversity (0.966 ± 0.007) and the greatest nucleotide diversity (0.011) in Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xuchang areas, and the lowest haplotype diversity (0.720 ± 0.091) and nucleotide diversity (0.004) in Anyang City. The dominant haplotype of Ph. chinensis populations was Pch_Hap_2 in Anyang City and Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas, with moderate genetic differentiation (0.05 < F_ST < 0.15) and frequent gene exchange (Nm value > 1) between Ph. chinensis populations sampled from Anyang City, and Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas. Population genetic structure analysis showed that the dominant component of Ph. chinensis populations was K5 in Anyang City and Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas. No obvious dominant haplotype was observed in Ph. chinensis populations sampled from Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xuchang areas, which had very high genetic differentiation (F_ST > 0.25) and little gene exchange (Nm value < 1) with Ph. chinensis populations from Anyang City, and Jiaozuo-Xinxiang areas, with K3 as the dominant component. In addition, there was no significant difference in the genetic polymorphism level among Se. squamirostris populations from the three areas. Conclusions There are Ph. chinensis, Se. squamirostris and Se. bailyi in Henan Province, and S. bailyi is recorded for the first time in Henan Province by molecular biological assays. There are different levels of genetic differentiation and gene exchange among P. chinensis populations in different areas of Henan Province.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of canine Leishmania infections in villages endemic for visceral leishmaniasis in Xin’an County, Luoyang City, so as to provide insights into visceral leishmaniasis prevention and control. Methods All dogs were captured from Huzhanggou Village, Xin’an County, Luoyang City in August 2020, where local cases with visceral leishmaniasis lived. The basic characteristics of dogs were collected, and venous blood was collected via the ear or neck veins of dogs. The serum anti-Leishmania antibody was detected using the rk39 immunochromatographic test and Leishmania nucleic acid was detected using PCR assay, and the prevalence of Leishmania infection was estimated in dogs. Results A total of 133 domestic dogs were captured from Huzhanggou Village, with a median age of 18.0 (28.5) months. The sero-prevalence of anti-Leishmania antibody was 24.81% (33/133) and the prevalence of a positive PCR assay was 14.29% (19/133) in dogs. The median ages of Leishmania-infected and uninfected dogs were 24.0 (36.0) months and 12.0 (18.0) months, respectively (U = 872.000, P = 0.000), and the prevalence of Leishmania infection was 55.56% (5/9) in “mangy dogs” and 24.19% (30/124) in asymptomatic dogs (χ² = 2.793, P = 0.095). Conclusions There are a large number of asymptomatic dogs with Leishmania infections in Xin’an County, Luoyang City, with a high transmission risk of visceral leishmaniasis. Timely prevention and control measures are required to control the spread of visceral leishmaniasis.

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of Sidaxue, a traditional Miao herbal medicine formula, on articular bone and cartilage destruction and synovial neovascularization in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of Sidaxue at low, moderate and high doses (10, 20, and 40 g/kg, respectively) for 21 days, with Tripterygium glycosides (GTW) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb plantar regions by arthritis index scoring. Pathologies in joint synovial membrane of the rats were observed with HE staining, and serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected with ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB p65, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), MMP2 and MMP9 at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the important target proteins in the pathways correlated with the therapeutic effects of topical Sidaxue treatment for RA, and the core target proteins were screened by topological analysis. Results Treatment with GTW and Sidaxue at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, improved cartilage and bone damage and reduced neovascularization in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of Sidaxue showed a dose dependence. Both GTW and Sidaxue treatments significantly lowered TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB p65, MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovial tissues of CIA rats (P<0.05). Network pharmacological analysis identified MMPs as the core proteins associated with topical Sidaxue treatment of RA. Conclusion Sidaxue alleviates articular bone and cartilage damages and reduces synovial neovascularization in CIA rats possibly by downregulating MMPs via the TNF-α/IL-1β/NF-κB-MMP1, 2, 9 signaling pathway, and MMPs probably plays a key role in mediating the effect of Sidaxue though the therapeutic pathways other than oral administration.

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of Sidaxue, a traditional Miao herbal medicine formula, on articular bone and cartilage destruction and synovial neovascularization in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods In a SD rat model of CIA, we tested the effects of daily gavage of Sidaxue at low, moderate and high doses (10, 20, and 40 g/kg, respectively) for 21 days, with Tripterygium glycosides (GTW) as the positive control, on swelling in the hind limb plantar regions by arthritis index scoring. Pathologies in joint synovial membrane of the rats were observed with HE staining, and serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected with ELISA. The expressions of NF-κB p65, matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1), MMP2 and MMP9 at the mRNA and protein levels in the synovial tissues were detected using real-time PCR and Western blotting. Network pharmacology analysis was conducted to identify the important target proteins in the pathways correlated with the therapeutic effects of topical Sidaxue treatment for RA, and the core target proteins were screened by topological analysis. Results Treatment with GTW and Sidaxue at the 3 doses all significantly alleviated plantar swelling, lowered arthritis index scores, improved cartilage and bone damage and reduced neovascularization in CIA rats (P<0.05), and the effects of Sidaxue showed a dose dependence. Both GTW and Sidaxue treatments significantly lowered TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-κB p65, MMP1, MMP2, and MMP9 mRNA and protein expressions in the synovial tissues of CIA rats (P<0.05). Network pharmacological analysis identified MMPs as the core proteins associated with topical Sidaxue treatment of RA. Conclusion Sidaxue alleviates articular bone and cartilage damages and reduces synovial neovascularization in CIA rats possibly by downregulating MMPs via the TNF-α/IL-1β/NF-κB-MMP1, 2, 9 signaling pathway, and MMPs probably plays a key role in mediating the effect of Sidaxue though the therapeutic pathways other than oral administration.

Objective:To explore the possible pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS/MS) combined with network pharmacology and molecular docking method.Methods:The blood components of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction were analyzed by UPLC-HRMS/MS; the targets of blood components in Shaogan Fuzi Decoction were predicted by PubChem database and Swiss Target Prediction database; DrugBank database, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD) and GeneCards database were used to screen rheumatoid arthritis-related targets, and Venn map of common targets was obtained; the protein interaction network was constructed by STRING database, and the key targets and key components were screened; GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed by DAVID 6.8 database; the "blood component-target-pathway" network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.2.1 software; Autodock software was used to verify the molecular docking between the predicted key components and key targets in the network.Results:Totally 26 blood components of Shaogan Fuzi Decoction, 526 related targets, 478 related targets of rheumatoid arthritis, and 111 common targets were obtained; the key components such as tangeretin, kaempferol, glycyrrhetinic acid, liquiritigenin, quillaic acid and glabrolide were screened, which acted on key targets such as TNF, IL6, VEGFA, PTGS2, JUN and PPARG. They were mainly involved inflammatory response, steroid metabolic process, response to lipopolysaccharide, extracellular region, cytoplasm, RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcription factor activity, steroid bindingand other biological processes. It mainly regulated steroid hormone biosynthesis, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, apoptosis, IL-17 signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritisand other signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the key components had good binding activity with key targets.Conclusion:Shaogan Fuzi Decoction may act on TNF, IL6, VEGFA, PTGS2, JUN, PPARG and other targets through tangeretin, kaempferol, glycyrrhetinic acid and other blood components to regulate PI3K-Akt and other signaling pathways, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis, reducing inflammation, to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To analyze insulin resistance (IR) level and pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) complicated by chronic hypertension (CHT).Methods This is a retrospective case-control study involving 2 457 singleton pregnant women complicated by GDM who received regular prenatal examinations and participated in the one-day-care clinic of GDM in Peking University First Hospital from January 1,2014 to December 31,2016.Clinical data were collected and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated.All subjects were divided into two groups:GDM with CHT group (CHT group,n=47) and GDM without CHT group (non-CHT group,n=2 410).Based on their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI),they were also grouped into normal pre-pregnancy BMI group (n=1 590) and overweight and obese group (n=863).Two-sample independent t test and Chi-square test were used to compared the age,HOMA-IR,pre-pregnancy BMI,weight gain during pregnancy and glucose levels between groups,and logistic regression model was used to analyze the effects of HOMA-IR on pregnancy outcomes.Results HOMA-IR (3.5± 1.8 vs 2.6± 1.5,t=-3.290),fasting plasma glucose [(5.4±0.5) vs (5.2 ±0.5) mmol/L,t=-3.005],pre-pregnancy BMI [(26.7 ±4.7) vs (23.3± 3.4) kg/m2,t=-4.842] and the incidence of preeclampsia [14.9％ (7/47) vs 2.5％ (61/2 410),x2=21.790] were significantly higher in GDM women with CHT than those without (all P＜0.01).The weight gain during pregnancy was less[(9.6±5.8) vs (12.2±4.7) kg,t=3.790,P＜0.001].The incidence of preeclampsia was higher in GDM with CHT group than the non-CHT group [15.2％ (5/33) vs 4.2％ (35/830),x2=6.290,P=0.012] among overweight and obese pregnant women,but no significant difference in HOMA-IR was shown (P＞0.05).For pregnant women with normal pre-pregnancy BMI,HOMA-IR (3.0± 1.5 vs 2.3± 1.2,t=-2.217),fasting plasma glucose [(5.4±0.5) vs (5.1±0.5) mmol/L,t=-2.299] and the incidence of preeclampsia [2/14 vs 1.6％ (26/1 576),x2=6.545] were higher in the CHT group than the non-CHT group (all P＜0.05).HOMA-IR did not significantly increase the risk of caesarean section,premature birth,large for gestational age,small for gestational age or macrosomia in the CHT group (all P＞0.05).After adjusting for age,fasting plasma glucose,pre-pregnancy BMI and weight gain during pregnancy,the elevated HOMA-IR level increased the risk of preterm birth (OR=1.223,95％CI:1.093-1.369,P＜0.001) in GDM women without CHT.Conclusions GDM gravida complicated by CHT have severe insulin resistance and a higher incidence of preeclampsia,but the risk of other pregnancy outcomes are not increased.

This research focuses on the application of multiple interactive modes in online teaching, combined with the actual teaching cases of the anesthesia equipment course of Xiangya Anesthesiology Specialty of Central South University, showing in detail the preparations for interactive teaching before anesthesia equipment learning, the interaction in online classrooms, the extension of interactive teaching outside the classroom, and the evaluation of interactive teaching feedback mechanism throughout the implementation process. By establishing a "host-guest-viewer" mode, the effect of online live broadcasting is maximized. Through the 360-degree materialized explanation with students as the main body, we will make opening in the pain points and blocking points of online teaching in which students do not go to class and students have no thinking, and promote the improvement of online teaching quality and efficiency. In the following practice, we must continue to work on issues such as the improvement of teacher talent quality, the building of an efficient talent team, and the construction of practical application value evaluation systems for teaching.

Objective: To cross-cultural adapt the English version of obturator functioning scale (OFS) to form a simplified Chinese version, to preliminarily verify its reliability and validity in clinic, and to provide an effective tool for evaluating the oral function and quality of life of patients with palatal defect and restored with obturators in China. Methods: The English version of the OFS was taken for forward translation, synthesis, back-translation, and reviewed by expert committee to develop a pre-testing simplified Chinese version. This scale contained demographic data, basic information of diseases, eating problems dimensions (3 items), speech problems dimensions (5 items), and other problems dimensions (7 items). From December, 2016 to December, 2018, forty-two patients who were treated in the Department of Prosthodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University with palatal defect and restored with obturators were evaluated with OFS. Among them, there were 26 males, and 21-84 years old, and 16 females, who were 24-80 years old.The reliability and validity of the data were examined and analyzed. Results: The results showed that Cronbach′s α coefficients of the overall scale and the three dimensions (eating problems, speech problems, and other problems) were 0.926, 0.938, 0.930, and 0.935, respectively. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was very good. The Spearman coefficients between each single dimension and the total score were 0.677, 0.792, and 0.860, respectively, suggesting that the scale convergence was good. The content validity index of 15 items was 0.905, indicating that the content validity was very good. Conclusions The Chinese version of the OFS is exhibiting high reliability and validity, providing an effective evaluation tool of oral function and quality of life for Chinese patients with obturator prostheses to restore palate defects.