Objective To investigate the species of sandflies and the prevalence of Leishmania infections in sandflies from selected areas of northern and northwestern China, so as to provide insights into identification of leishmaniasis vectors and assessment of epidemiological trends of leishmaniasis in China. Methods Sandfly samples were collected from Mentougou District of Beijing Municipality, Xiangning County in Linfen City of Shanxi Province, Ejin Banner in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Payzawat County of Karamay District of Karamay City, Gaochang District of Turpan City in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from July 2023 to July 2024. Approximately 100 intact female sandfly samples were randomly selected from each site and the species of sandflies was identified according to morphological characteristics and molecular assays. Female sandflies originating from the same habitat were grouped into pools of 10 individuals. Leishmania infection was detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) gene, and the prevalence of Leishmania infection was calculated in sandflies from different sampling sites using the minimum infection rate (MIR) method. In addition, positive amplicons were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. Results A total of 6 155 sandflies were collected from different environments at sampling sites across the six aforementioned regions from July 2023 to July 2024. Phlebotomus chinensis (96.00%) was the dominant sandfly species in Mentougou District, Beijing Municipality, with a small proportion of Ph. sergenti (4.00%), and only Ph. chinensis was found in Xiangning County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. Ph. wui was the only sandfly species detected in Ejin Banner, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Payzawat County, Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Ph. caucasicus (97.70%) was the dominant sandfly species in Karamay District, Karamay City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with a small proportion of Ph. wui (2.30%), while Ph. alexandri was the only species in Gaochang District, Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. A total of 40, 60, 34, 18, 18, and 22 pools of sandfly samples were tested from Mentougou District in Beijing Municipality, Xiangning County in Linfen City of Shanxi Province, Ejin Banner in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Payzawat County in Kashgar City, Karamay District in Karamay City, and Gaochang District in Turpan City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, respectively. L. infantum was detected in Ph. chinensis samples from Mentougou District in Beijing Municipality, and Xiangning County of Linfen City in Shanxi Province, with MIR of 0.25% to 1.00%, and L. donovani was detected in Ph. wui from Ejin Banner in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Payzawat County in Kashgar City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with MIR of 0.56% to 0.88%; however, no Leishmania infection was detected in Ph. caucasicus from Karamay District in Karamay City or Ph. alexandri from Gaochang District in Turpan City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Leishmania ITS-1 gene sequences obtained from Mentougou District in Beijing Municipality and Xiangning County in Linfen City of Shanxi Province were clustered into the same clade with the reference sequences of L. infantum ITS-1 gene, while the Leishmania ITS-1 gene sequences obtained from Ejin Banner in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Payzawat County in Kashgar City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region were clustered into the same clade with the reference sequences of L. donovani ITS-1 gene. Conclusions There are variations in sandfly species in selected areas of northern and northwestern China, and variations in the species of Leishmania infecting sandflies. Improved surveillance of sandfly vectors and targeted control strategies with adaptations to geographical features and leishmaniasis vectors are recommended.

Objective To investigate the expression of the circular RNA circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues and its regulatory mechanisms in the proliferation,migration,and invasion of cervical cancer cells.Methods The expression levels of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were analyzed using the GEO database.The correlation between circ-PHC3 expression and the clinical stage as well as prognosis of cervical cancer patients was also evaluated.The expression of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer cell lines HCC94,C33A,HeLa,HCC1106,and SiHa was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The cell line with the highest circ-PHC3 expression was selected for transfection with a circ-PHC3 inhibitor.The interaction between circ-PHC3 and miR-1179 was validated using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay.The expression levels of miR-1179 in transfected cells were further assessed by qRT-PCR.Functional assays,including colony formation,flow cytometry,wound healing,and Transwell assays,were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation,cell cycle progression,migration,and invasion,respectively.Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of key proteins associated with proliferation,migration,and invasion in circ-PHC3-modulated cells.Finally,in vivo experiments were carried out to investigate the impact of circ-PHC3 silencing on the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells in animal models.Results The expression level of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues(P<0.01).Furthermore,circ-PHC3 expression was significantly associated with the clinical stage of cervical cancer(P<0.01).Patients with high circ-PHC3 expression exhibited a notably lower survival rate compared to those with low circ-PHC3 expression(P<0.01).In cervical cancer cell lines including HCC94,C33A,HeLa,HCC1106,and SiHa,circ-PHC3 expression was markedly upregulated(all P<0.01),with the highest expression observed in HCC1106 cells(P<0.01).Circ-PHC3 was found to directly interact with miR-1179(P<0.01),and silencing circ-PHC3 significantly increased miR-1179 expression(P<0.01).Transfection of HCC1106 cells with a circ-PHC3 inhibitor significantly suppressed cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P<0.01),and induced cell cycle arrest(P<0.01);these effects were partially reversed by co-transfection with a miR-1179 inhibitor(all P<0.05).In HCC1106 cells with circ-PHC3 knockdown,the expression levels of key proteins associated with proliferation,migration,and invasion—Cyclin E,CDK2,MMP-9,and N-cadherin—were significantly reduced(all P<0.01),and this reduction was partially attenuated by miR-1179 inhibition(all P<0.01).In vivo experiments further demonstrated that circ-PHC3 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of HCC1106 cells(all P<0.01).Conclusions Circ-PHC3 is highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues,and its overexpression is significantly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.Knockdown of circ-PHC3 upregulates the expression of miR-1179 and suppresses the proliferation,migration,and invasion of cervical cancer cells.

Objective·To investigate the effects of liraglutide on liver fibrosis in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and the underlying mechanisms.Methods·Twenty 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal chow diet group(Chow group)and a methionine-choline-deficient(MCD)diet group(MCD group),with 10 mice per group.The MCD diet was used to induce NAFLD.Each group was further divided into two subgroups,resulting in four subgroups:Chow+saline,Chow+liraglutide,MCD+saline,and MCD+liraglutide group.After daily intraperitoneal injection of liraglutide(400 μg/kg)or an equivalent volume of saline for 4 weeks,an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)was performed.Serum levels of aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TAG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were measured.Liver tissues were collected post-euthanasia to assess TAG content.Histopathological changes,lipid deposition,and fibrosis were evaluated via hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,Oil Red O staining,and Masson staining.Real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)and Western blotting were used to analyze the expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),fibronectin(FN),collagen type Ⅰ α(COL1A),matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1(TIMP1),transforming growth factor β(TGF-β),SMAD3,and phosphorylated SMAD3(pSMAD3).Results·The IPGTT revealed that liraglutide intervention reduced blood glucose levels at 15,30,and 60 min,with a decreased area under the curve(AUC)(both P<0.05).Biochemical analysis showed that liraglutide lowered AST and ALT levels(both P<0.001),increased TC and HDL-C levels(both P<0.05),but had no significant effect on TAG or LDL-C in MCD mice.HE staining and Oil Red O staining revealed reduced lipid droplets,ballooning degeneration,and inflammatory infiltration in hepatocytes after liraglutide treatment.Masson staining indicated decreased collagen fiber deposition in the liver.qPCR and Western blotting analysis demonstrated upregulated expression of α-SMA,FN,COL1A,TIMP1,TGF-β,and pSMAD3/SMAD3,alongside downregulated MMP9 in MCD mice.Liraglutide reversed these changes,lowering α-SMA,FN,COL1A,TIMP1,TGF-β,and pSMAD3/SMAD3 expression while increasing MMP9 expression.Conclusion·Liraglutide ameliorates liver injury,lipid deposition,and fibrosis in NAFLD mice,through modulation of the TGF-β/SMAD3 pathway and regulating fibrosis-associated protein expression.

The wide application of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has brought the hope of fertility to infertile couples worldwide. However, with the gradual popularization of ART, the long-term health status of ART children has attracted extensive attention from society. Adolescence is a critical developmental period for individuals to transition from childhood to adulthood, with significant physical and psychological changes, so the health status of ART offspring during this period has a profound impact on their overall future health. This article reviews the existing studies, focusing on the effects of ART on multiple aspects of adolescent health, especially growth and development, cardiovascular health, endocrine function, fertility, cancer risk, atopic diseases, mental health, epigenetic changes and other aspects. The possible mechanisms leading to these health problems, including genetic factors, environmental exposures, and the long-term effects of early life interventions, were explored. Future research should continue to explore the long-term effects of ART on the health of offspring and further clarify the mechanisms of these effects, so as to provide a scientific basis for the development of effective prevention and intervention measures.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics and the correlation between laboratory indicators and prognosis of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(SMPP)in children.METHODS A total of 85 children with SMPP admitted to Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Nov.2021 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Based on clinical typing at admission,they were divided into a high-risk group(n=59)and a low-risk group(n=26).The clinical manifestations,laboratory indicators and outcomes at 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The duration of fever and cough before admission in the high-risk group was(7.17±1.09)days and(6.79±1.25)days,respectively,which was longer than that in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary auscultation(wheezing rales,moist rales)and extrapulmonary complications between the two groups.The levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),platelets(PLT),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the high-risk group were(11.62±1.45)mg/L,(226.88±36.83)mg/L,(3 18.57±39.82)×109/L,(4.28±0.74)g/L,(0.81±0.12)μg/ml and(2 295.48±413.75)pg/ml,respectively,all of which were higher than those in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).Within 28 days after treatment of children in both groups,one patient in the high-risk group died.CONCLUSIONS Compared with children with SMPP in the low-risk group,those in the high-risk group have a higher risk of prognostic mor-tality,suggesting a correlation between the children's blood CRP,SAA,PLT,FIB,DD and NT-proBNP levels and the prognosis of children with SMPP.

Objective To discuss the effects of the"twelve needles for hands and feet"acupuncture on the brain response mechanism and acupoint specificity in hemiplegic patients after ischemic stroke using fMRI.Methods Totally 43 inpatients from Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from December 2018 to March 2023 were included.The included patients were randomly divided into a true acupoint group of 23 cases and a fake acupoint group of 20 cases using the random number table method for clinical scale evaluation and magnetic resonance scanning.The true acupoint group received"twelve needles for hands and feet"acupuncture;the fake acupoint group was treated with acupuncture by opening 1 inch next to the meridian point,once a day,for consecutive 10 d.Intervention completed,excluding subjects who fell out during the intervention process,had unsatisfactory MRI data quality and had incomplete clinical scales,and conducting data processing and analysis.Bilateral anterior central gyrus(PreCG),amygdala(AMYG),caudate nucleus(CAU),putamen lenticularis(PUT),pallidus lenticularis(PAL)and thalamus(THA)were selected as regions of interest(ROI),and the changes in Granger causality(GC)and differences in scale scores between the two groups before and after treatment were compared.Results After intervention in the true acupoint group,the GC of CAU.R → PreCG.R,AMYG.R → PAL.R was stronger than before intervention,and the GC of THA.L→PAL.L,AMYG.R→THA.R in the true acupoint group was weaker than before intervention(P<0.05);after intervention with fake acupoints,the GC of AMYG.R→PUT.L in the false acupoint group was stronger than before intervention,and the GC of THA.L→PreCG.R,AMYG.L→CAU.L was weaker than before intervention(P<0.05);the GC of THA.R→PAL.L before intervention was stronger than false acupoint group,the GC of CAU.L→PreCG.R,PUT.L→PreCG.R before intervention was weaker than fake acupoint group(P<0.05);the GC of CAU.R→PreCG.R,THA.L→PreCG.R,AMYG.R→CAU.L,THA.L→PAL.R,AMYG.L→THA.L after intervention in the true acupoint group was stronger than the false acupoint group,and the GC of AMYG.R→AMYG.L after intervention in the true acupoint group was weaker than the fake acupoint group(P<0.05).Conclusion"Twelve needles for hands and feet"acupuncture can stimulate preferential compensation of the right motor circuit,bilateral basal ganglia remodeling,and balance regulation of excitatory inhibitory effects on the thalamus in patients with radiation-induced coronary stroke,thereby improving the degree of motor dysfunction and neurological deficits;acupuncture at acupoints stimulates brain activity more than at non-acupoints,indicating acupoint specificity.

OBJECTIVE To explore the value of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis mode(HFMEA)com-bined with enhanced management of link quality in centralized processing of rigid endoscopic instruments.METHODS Totally 80 pieces of rigid endoscopic instruments that were recycled by the endoscopy room of otolar-yngology department of The First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from Jan.2022 to Dec.2022 were as-signed as the control group,and 70 pieces of rigid endoscopic instruments that were recycled under the HFMEA model combined with enhanced management of link quality from Jan.2023 to Dec.2023 were assigned as the ex-perimental group.The effect of the management and the qualified rate of instruments were compared between the two groups of instruments,compare the satisfaction under the different intervention modes.RESULTS The scores of instrument disassembly and assembly,cleaning procedures,cleaning quality,environmental management and packaging quality were higher in the experimental group than in the control group(P＜0.05).The unqualified rate of instruments of the experimental group was 10.00％,lower than 23.75％of the control group(x2=4.926,P=0.026).The staff's satisfaction with the work of the experimental group was 91.67％,higher than 66.67％of the control group(Z=2.026,P=0.043).CONCLUSION For the centralized management of rigid endoscopic in-struments,the implementation of the enhanced management of link quality under the HFMEA mode can effective-ly improve the effect of management of the instruments and reduce the unqualified rate of recycled instruments,demonstrating a positive effect on raising the staff's satisfaction with the recycle process of instruments.

Objective To investigate the expression of the circular RNA circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues and its regulatory mechanisms in the proliferation,migration,and invasion of cervical cancer cells.Methods The expression levels of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues were analyzed using the GEO database.The correlation between circ-PHC3 expression and the clinical stage as well as prognosis of cervical cancer patients was also evaluated.The expression of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer cell lines HCC94,C33A,HeLa,HCC1106,and SiHa was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The cell line with the highest circ-PHC3 expression was selected for transfection with a circ-PHC3 inhibitor.The interaction between circ-PHC3 and miR-1179 was validated using a dual luciferase reporter gene assay.The expression levels of miR-1179 in transfected cells were further assessed by qRT-PCR.Functional assays,including colony formation,flow cytometry,wound healing,and Transwell assays,were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation,cell cycle progression,migration,and invasion,respectively.Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of key proteins associated with proliferation,migration,and invasion in circ-PHC3-modulated cells.Finally,in vivo experiments were carried out to investigate the impact of circ-PHC3 silencing on the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells in animal models.Results The expression level of circ-PHC3 in cervical cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent normal tissues(P<0.01).Furthermore,circ-PHC3 expression was significantly associated with the clinical stage of cervical cancer(P<0.01).Patients with high circ-PHC3 expression exhibited a notably lower survival rate compared to those with low circ-PHC3 expression(P<0.01).In cervical cancer cell lines including HCC94,C33A,HeLa,HCC1106,and SiHa,circ-PHC3 expression was markedly upregulated(all P<0.01),with the highest expression observed in HCC1106 cells(P<0.01).Circ-PHC3 was found to directly interact with miR-1179(P<0.01),and silencing circ-PHC3 significantly increased miR-1179 expression(P<0.01).Transfection of HCC1106 cells with a circ-PHC3 inhibitor significantly suppressed cell proliferation,migration,and invasion(all P<0.01),and induced cell cycle arrest(P<0.01);these effects were partially reversed by co-transfection with a miR-1179 inhibitor(all P<0.05).In HCC1106 cells with circ-PHC3 knockdown,the expression levels of key proteins associated with proliferation,migration,and invasion—Cyclin E,CDK2,MMP-9,and N-cadherin—were significantly reduced(all P<0.01),and this reduction was partially attenuated by miR-1179 inhibition(all P<0.01).In vivo experiments further demonstrated that circ-PHC3 knockdown significantly inhibited tumor growth and metastasis of HCC1106 cells(all P<0.01).Conclusions Circ-PHC3 is highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues,and its overexpression is significantly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer.Knockdown of circ-PHC3 upregulates the expression of miR-1179 and suppresses the proliferation,migration,and invasion of cervical cancer cells.

AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism of pachymic acid(PA)on li-popolysaccharide(LPS)-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice.METHODS:(1)Genes related to AKI were screened using the DAVID database.Core genes were identified by intersecting related genes and analyzed using Cyto-scape software.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analyses were performed through the DAVID database for the cross-targets.Molecular docking and activity assays were conducted on the primary core targets.(2)A total of 100 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups:normal control(NC),model(LPS),solvent control(LPS+DMSO),and treatment groups(LPS+PA-10 and LPS+PA-20),with 20 mice in each group.The LPS-AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 18 mg/kg LPS.The treatment groups received 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg PA,respectively,and the solvent control group was administered an equivalent dose of DMSO.Mice were euthanized 24 h after injection.Serum was collected for biochemical analysis,and Western blot was used to detect neutro-phil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL),kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1),caspase-3,cleaved caspase-3,interleu-kin-1β(IL-1β),and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1)protein expression.RT-qPCR was employed to detect inflammatory factor mRNA levels.Molecular docking was used to simulate the optimal binding site of PA to caspase-3.En-zyme activity assays were performed to assess caspase protein activity,and renal lesions were observed via hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining.Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining.RESULTS:(1)Thirty-one potential targets of PA against AKI were identified through network pharmacology.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that these tar-gets were primarily involved in immune response,inflammatory processes,apoptosis and survival,angiogenesis and hemo-dynamics,oxidative stress,and endoplasmic reticulum stress.Key targets included CASP3(caspase-3),PTGS2,BCL2,CCL2,and CYP219.(2)PA treatment improved renal function and reduced tubular epithelial injury.It significantly de-creased NGAL,KIM-1,and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels,as well as inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1β,and MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression.PA also reduced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells.Enzyme activity assays and mo-lecular docking revealed that PA exerted its anti-apoptotic effect by directly binding to caspase-3,thereby inhibiting its ac-tivation by caspase-8.CONCLUSION:PA demonstrated a therapeutic effect in LPS-AKI,potentially through the inhibi-tion of inflammatory factor synthesis and release,as well as the inhibition of caspase-3 activation by caspase-8,reducing apoptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Objective:To investigate the association between serum ferritin levels, erythrocyte parameters, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:A total of 11 408 subjects aged 40 to 70 years who underwent physical examinations at a hospital in Qingdao from 2014 to 2015 were enrolled in the study. Data were collected through questionnaires, physical examinations, and assessments of blood biochemical indices, serum ferritin, and related erythrocyte parameters. A multivariate logistic regression model was employed to analyze the relationship of serum ferritin and red cell parameters with type 2 diabetes mellitus, while a linear regression model was utilized to examine the association between serum ferritin, red cell parameters and fasting blood glucose levels.Results:The median ( Q1, Q3) age of the subjects was 51 (45, 58) years, with 55.3% (6 305) being male. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in women was 5.9% (300/5 103), which was lower than that in men [13.0% (817/6 305)] ( P<0.001).After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol consumption, and family history of diabetes, serum ferritin levels were found to be positively associated with both type 2 diabetes and fasting blood glucose levels, with OR (95% CI) and β(95% CI) values of 1.70 (1.37, 2.11) and 0.002 (0.002, 0.003), respectively. Additionally, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, and hematocrit were positively correlated with type 2 diabetes and fasting blood glucose, with OR (95% CI) values of 1.72 (1.32, 2.24), 1.91 (1.51, 2.41), and 1.52 (1.17, 1.97), and β (95% CI) values of 0.008 (0.006, 0.011), 0.365 (0.286, 0.445), and 2.543 (1.564, 3.521), respectively. Conversely, mean erythrocyte volume was negatively associated with type 2 diabetes and fasting blood glucose, with OR (95% CI) and β (95% CI) values of 0.54 (0.45, 0.66) and -0.017 (-0.023, -0.011), respectively (all P values<0.001). Conclusion:The findings indicate that serum ferritin and related erythrocyte parameters are significantly correlated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and fasting blood glucose levels.