Autapses selectively form in specific cell types in many brain regions. Previous studies have also found putative autapses in principal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the striatum. However, it remains unclear whether these neurons indeed form physiologically functional autapses. We applied whole-cell recording in striatal slices and identified autaptic cells by the occurrence of prolonged asynchronous release (AR) of neurotransmitters after bursts of high-frequency action potentials (APs). Surprisingly, we found no autaptic AR in SPNs, even in the presence of Sr²⁺. However, robust autaptic AR was recorded in parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons. The autaptic responses were mediated by GABA_A receptors and their strength was dependent on AP frequency and number. Further computer simulations suggest that autapses regulate spiking activity in PV cells by providing self-inhibition and thus shape network oscillations. Together, our results indicate that PV neurons, but not SPNs, form functional autapses, which may play important roles in striatal functions.
Parvalbumins/metabolism* ; Corpus Striatum/metabolism* ; Interneurons/physiology* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Neostriatum

Objective:To analyze the indications for prenatal diagnosis and summarize the pregnancy outcomes and its influencing factors of pregnant women with fetal sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA).Methods:This study retrospectively enrolled 1 372 fetuses prenatally diagnosed with SCA in Medical Genetics Center of Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from January 2013 to December 2021. The relationship between prenatal diagnosis indications and SCA as well as between ultrasound abnormalities, pregnancy outcomes and SCA types were analyzed by Chi-square test and trend Chi-square test. Results:The most common prenatal diagnosis indication was abnormal non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) (61.6%, 845/1 372). The most common SCA type was 47,XXY in cases with indications of abnormal NIPT and advanced maternal age, mosaic in cases with high or borderline risk of Down syndrome, and 45,X in cases with increased nuchal translucency or cystic hygroma. Of 1 372 pregnant women with fetal SCA, 17 were lost to follow-up, seven had intrauterine fetal death, and 1 348 (98.3%) were followed up for pregnancy outcomes including 36.3% (489/1 348) continued pregnancies and 63.7% (859/1 348) terminations. Pregnancy termination rates decreased sequentially in pregnant women carrying fetuses with 45,X, 47,XXY, mosaic, 47,XXX and 47,XYY [99.2% (247/249), 74.5% (307/412), 67.8% (156/230), 36.6% (86/235) and 28.4% (63/222), χ2trend=352.76, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in pregnancy termination rates among the cases with different mosaic mutations (all P>0.05). The pregnancy termination rate was higher in fetuses with SCA complicated by ultrasound structural abnormalities than in those without ultrasound abnormalities and those with ultrasound soft markers [91.5% (182/199) vs 57.1% (535/937) and 67.0% (142/212), χ2 were 83.68 and 36.85, both P<0.001]. Moreover, the pregnancy termination rate in fetuses with SCA complicated by ultrasound soft markers was higher than those without ultrasound abnormalities ( χ2=7.13, P<0.05). Conclusions:NIPT abnormality is the most common indication for prenatal diagnosis of SCA. The types of SCA and ultrasound findings are important factors determining whether the pregnancy would be continued or not.

Enteric nervous system (ENS) is composed of intestinal submucosal and myenteric plexuses. ENS may independently regulate intestinal digestive and absorptive function, and it is also known as "the second brain" or gut brain. ENS has significant specificity relative to central nervous system (CNS) in properties and functional activities of neurons and neural circuits. ENS is connected with CNS through the feedback pathway (brain-gut-axis) of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves and peripheral primary sensory afferent nerves to form the bidirectional brain-gut-axis, which may affect emotion, appetite and behavioral states of individuals. Gastrointestinal functional disorder (GIFD) induced by ENS dysfunction may not only cause abnormal gastrointestinal function but also has been implicated in cognitive and mood disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). GIFD would influence deeply the quality of life in patients. Nevertheless, in the worldwide, ENS has so far received much less attention as compared with CNS. The depth of research and scale of investment in ENS studies have been much lower than those in CNS studies. The situation in China is even more evident. From ENS research history, an outstanding problem is to ignore largely the unique properties of ENS and apply mechanically the hypotheses formed in CNS studies to ENS researches. In this review, the structure and function of ENS are briefly introduced, and the importance of extraordinary characteristics of ENS is illustrated by the problems encountered in our studies.
Brain ; China ; Enteric Nervous System ; Humans ; Quality of Life

Objective: The role of planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in the non-radical resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was unclear. The study aimed to evaluate their therapeutic effect and analyze the prognostic factors. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant radio therapy (33 patients) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (119 patients) from January 2004 to December 2016 in our single-institution database.The survival rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. The prognostic factors were analyzed by using Log rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The median follow-up was 29.8 months. One hundred and one patients survived more than 3 years. The rates of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 3 years were 63.9% and 55.6%, respectively.The rates of complete, partial and minimal pathological response of the primary tumor were 50.3%, 38.4%, 11.3%, the corresponding 3-year OS were 75.5%, 57.4%, 27.3% (P<0.001) and 3-year DFS were 72.0%, 44.7%, 17.6% (P<0.001), respectively.The postoperative lymph node metastasis rate was 27.0%. The 3-year OS and DFS of the lymph node positive group was 45.6% and 32.8%, significantly lower than 70.8% and 63.7% of the negative group (both P<0.001). The 3-year OS and DFS of pathologic stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, ⅢA, ⅢB and Ⅵ A were 76.2%, 57.4%, 64.7%, 35.0%, 33.3% (P<0.001) and 70.1%, 49.3%, 41.2%, 22.1%, 33.3% (P<0.001), respectively.The operation-related mortality was 3.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, more than 15 lymph node dissection and ypTNM stage were the independent prognostic factors of OS (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions The planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for the non-radical resection of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma could result in favorable survival. The chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, the number of lymph node resection and ypTNM stage are the independent prognostic factors of the prognosis of these patients.

Background:Although sustainable control since 1950s has achieved great successes,schistosomiasis japonica remains a major public health problem in China.Since 2004,a new integrated strategy was developed aiming to control the transmission of Schistosoma japonicum through the implementation of a package of interventions.To date,no systematic review or meta-analysis assessing the effectiveness of this new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis control in China has been published.We performed a PubMed-based bibliometric assessment of publications on the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China,to understand the global transmissibility and sharing of the new integrated strategy.Methods:An in-depth bibliometric analysis of all publications on the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China was performed through a PubMed search using the terms "schistosomiasis" and "China,"from January 1,2004 to August 31,2018.All titles and abstracts were read carefully,and the publications reporting the effectiveness,experiences,lessons,or problems of the new integrated strategy were included in the bibliometric analysis.Results:Overall,2,361 titles were screened,and 70 eligible publications were accessed for analyses,including 23 studies in English,published in 15 international journals,and 47 studies in Chinese with abstracts in English,published in 3 national journals.Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control (Zhongguo Xue Xi Chong Bing Fang Zhi Za Zhi) published 60％ of the research output,Research articles (48.6％) and short reports (37.1％) were the dominant manuscript types.Furthermore,471 contributing authors from 277 affiliations across 9 countries produced these 70 publications.Conclusion:This is the first PubMed-based quantitative analysis of the research output of the new integrated strategy,and our data indicate a low global transmissibility of Chinese new integrated strategy.We therefore call for more research outputs of the new integrated strategy for schistosomiasis japonica control in China to be communicated through international platforms.

Objective The role of planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in the non?radical resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was unclear. The study aimed to evaluate their therapeutic effect and analyze the prognostic factors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant radio therapy ( 33 patients) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (119 patients) from January 2004 to December 2016 in our single?institution database.The survival rates were calculated by Kaplan?Meier method. The prognostic factors were analyzed by using Log rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results The median follow?up was 29.8 months. One hundred and one patients survived more than 3 years. The rates of overall survival (OS) and disease?free survival ( DFS) at 3 years were 63.9% and 55.6%, respectively.The rates of complete, partial and minimal pathological response of the primary tumor were 50.3%, 38.4%, 11.3%, the corresponding 3?year OS were 75.5%, 57.4%, 27.3%( P＜0.001) and 3?year DFS were 72.0%, 44.7%, 17.6%(P＜0.001), respectively.The postoperative lymph node metastasis rate was 27.0%. The 3?year OS and DFS of the lymph node positive group was 45.6% and 32.8%, significantly lower than 70.8% and 63.7%of the negative group (both P＜0.001).The 3?year OS and DFS of pathologic stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,ⅢA,ⅢB andⅥ A were 76.2%, 57.4%, 64.7%, 35.0%, 33.3%( P＜0.001) and 70.1%, 49.3%, 41.2%, 22.1%, 33.3%(P＜0.001), respectively.The operation?related mortality was 3.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, more than 15 lymph node dissection and ypTNM stage were the independent prognostic factors of OS ( P＜0.05 for all). Conclusions The planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for the non?radical resection of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma could result in favorable survival. The chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, the number of lymph node resection and ypTNM stage are the independent prognostic factors of the prognosis of these patients.

Objective The role of planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in the non?radical resection of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was unclear. The study aimed to evaluate their therapeutic effect and analyze the prognostic factors. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received neoadjuvant radio therapy ( 33 patients) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy (119 patients) from January 2004 to December 2016 in our single?institution database.The survival rates were calculated by Kaplan?Meier method. The prognostic factors were analyzed by using Log rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. Results The median follow?up was 29.8 months. One hundred and one patients survived more than 3 years. The rates of overall survival (OS) and disease?free survival ( DFS) at 3 years were 63.9% and 55.6%, respectively.The rates of complete, partial and minimal pathological response of the primary tumor were 50.3%, 38.4%, 11.3%, the corresponding 3?year OS were 75.5%, 57.4%, 27.3%( P＜0.001) and 3?year DFS were 72.0%, 44.7%, 17.6%(P＜0.001), respectively.The postoperative lymph node metastasis rate was 27.0%. The 3?year OS and DFS of the lymph node positive group was 45.6% and 32.8%, significantly lower than 70.8% and 63.7%of the negative group (both P＜0.001).The 3?year OS and DFS of pathologic stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,ⅢA,ⅢB andⅥ A were 76.2%, 57.4%, 64.7%, 35.0%, 33.3%( P＜0.001) and 70.1%, 49.3%, 41.2%, 22.1%, 33.3%(P＜0.001), respectively.The operation?related mortality was 3.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, more than 15 lymph node dissection and ypTNM stage were the independent prognostic factors of OS ( P＜0.05 for all). Conclusions The planned neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for the non?radical resection of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma could result in favorable survival. The chest pain, postoperative respiratory failure, pathological differentiation, the number of lymph node resection and ypTNM stage are the independent prognostic factors of the prognosis of these patients.

Objective To understand the integrated ability of parasitic disease prevention and control of professional person-nel of Jiangsu Province through the contest. Methods Totally 56 players from the whole province were selected,and all the players participated in the contest. The theory knowledge and skill scores were collected and the statistical analyses were con-ducted. Results The average theoretical score of the participants was 88.86±15.56 and the passing rate was 91.1％. The aver-age skill operating score was 69.16 ± 16.01 and the passing rate was 67.9％. The average Plasmodium microscopy score was 16.54±8.09 and the passing rate was 50％. The average helminth egg microscopy score was 34.27±10.66 and the passing rate was 67.9％. There were statistical differences among the age groups and different levels of schistosomiasis endemic situation (F =5.10,6.39,both P<0.01). The theoretical knowledge including schistosomiasis,malaria,hydatid disease and others and the score rates were 91.07％,90.94％,85.83％and 90.93％,respectively. The hydatid disease score rate was lower(χ2=19.17, P<0.01). The radar chart displayed that the score rates of tabletting and microscopy test in Kato-Katz film production ,malaria blood film production and microscopy test were all low. Conclusion In Jiangsu Province,the participants have higher score in the theory test. However,they have lower skill test score,especially in the parasite species identification. The operational skills still need to be strengthened for center for disease control(CDC)participants.

Objective: To analyze risk factors of anastomotic leakage after McKeown'sesophagectomy. Methods: The clinical data of 635 esophageal cancer patients, who underwent McKeown's esophagectomy at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2012 to December 2015, were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors of cervical anastomotic leakage were identified through analysis of medical history, surgical procedure, tumor characteristics and vascular calcification. Results: Among all the 635 patients, anastomotic leakage occurred in 111 (17.5%)patients. Univariate analysis showed that the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) risk class, prior thoracic surgery, upper digestive tract ulcer, COPD, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, FEV1% predicted, DLCO% predicted, duration of surgery and calcification of descending aorta, celiac trunk and left postceliac arteries were associated with a statistically significant increase in risk of cervical anastomotic leakage (P<0.05 for all). Logistic regression analysis showed that ASA risk class, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency and calcification of descending aorta and celiac trunk were independent risk factors of cervical anastomotic leakage after McKeown's esophagectomy (P<0.05 for all). Conclusions ASA risk class, peripheral vascular disease, renal insufficiency, calcification of descending aorta and celiac trunk are independent risk factors of cervical esophageal anastomotic leakage after McKeown's esophagectomy.

Objective To investigate the survival of Schistosoma japonicum eggs in goat feces in natural marshlands and the factors affecting its survival,so as to provide evidences for understanding of the role of eggs in goat feces in the transmission of schistosomiasis and the development of the interventions pertaining to disease control and elimination. Methods The goat ani?mals of schistosomiasis japonica were modeled in laboratory,and the feces of infected goat were collected. In laboratory,the ef?fects of environmental temperature and water content in goat feces on egg hatching were evaluated,and in the field,the effect of duration of goat feces on marshland on egg hatching and the effect of direct sunshine on egg survival were evaluated. Results At 25℃in laboratory,the hatching rate of eggs in goat feces was high?positively correlated with the water content in goat feces (r=0.87). If the water content reduced to 7.6%in goat feces,the eggs in goat feces lost the ability to hatch. Under the same wa?ter content in goat feces,the hatching rate of eggs gradually decreased with the extension of the duration of exposure of goat feces to-5℃,which reduced to 0 following 5 h exposure. At 5,15 and 25℃,the hatching rates of eggs gradually decreased with the extension of the duration of exposure of goat feces,and the miracidium hatching rates of eggs were 2.3%,5%and 0.9%respec?tively following the exposure for 52 d. At 35℃,the hatching rate of eggs gradually decreased with the extension of the duration of exposure,which reduced to 0 following 13 d exposure. In winter(-2?10℃),the hatching rate of eggs gradually decreased with the extension of the duration of exposure of goat feces on marshlands,which reduced to 0 after 21 d of exposure,and in spring(16?19℃),the hatching rate of eggs gradually decreased with the extension of the duration of exposure of goat feces on marshlands,which reduced to 0.9%after 5 d of exposure. At the same time point on the same marshland,the hatching rate of eggs in goat feces exposed to marshlands with direct sunshine was lower than that without direct sunshine. Conclusion The sur?vival of S. japonicum eggs in goat feces is associated with environmental temperature and water content(humidity)in goat feces, and the temperature and humidity are major natural factors affecting egg hatching.