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 Objective To analyze the potential spatial factors affecting the genetic differentiation of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 13 administrative villages were selected from schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province as O. hupensis snail sampling sites. At least 200 snails were collected in each site, and the spatial variable data of each site were recorded, including longitude, latitude and altitude. Thirty active and Schistosoma japonicum uninfected O. hupensis snails were selected from each sampling site by means of the crawling method and the cercarial shedding method. Genomic DNA was extracted from O. hupensis snails. Following PCR amplification, purification of PCR amplification products and sequencing, the gene sequences of O. hupensis snail samples were spliced and edited using the DNAstar software and the NCBI database to yield the complete mitochondrial sequences of O. hupensis snails at each sampling site, and the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni was calculated at each sampling site. The geographical coordinates of each sampling site were marked using the software ArcGIS 10.2, and the straight-line geographical distance between each sampling site was calculated. The altitude difference, longitude difference and latitude difference between each sampling site were calculated using the Excel software, and the correlation between the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni and each spatial variable matrix was examined by using the Mantel test at 13 sampling sites in Yunnan Province. Results Among the 13 O. hupensis snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province, the largest mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Caizhuang Village, Midu County (26.244 2), and the largest geographical distance was seen between Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (272.64 km). The highest altitude difference was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1 086.10 m), and the largest longitude difference was found between Qiandian Village, Eryuan County and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (1.86°), while the largest latitude difference was measured between Leqiu Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1.81°). In addition, the mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was positively correlated with altitude at 13 snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province (r = 0.542 8, P < 0.001), and showed no significant correlations with geographical distance (r = 0.093 4, P > 0.05), longitude (r = −0.199 5, P > 0.05) or latitude (r = 0.205 7, P > 0.05). Conclusion Altitude may be a potential spatial factor affecting the genetic differentiation of O. hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province.

The Pharmacovigilance Guidelines for Clinical Application of Oral Chinese Patent Medicines （hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines） is first specialized in the field of drug safety for oral Chinese patent medicines （OCPMs） in China. Rooted in China's healthcare context， the Guidelines address the unique usage patterns and risk characteristics of OCPMs， filling a regulatory gap in the pharmacovigilance framework specific to this category. To facilitate accurate understanding and effective implementation of the Guidelines， and to promote the standardized development of pharmacovigilance practices for OCPMs， this study offered a systematic interpretation based on its three core components. In the domain of risk monitoring and reporting， the paper analyzed the rationale for multi-source information integration and clarified the criteria for identifying key products and target populations for intensive monitoring. Regarding risk assessment， the Guidelines were examined from three dimensions of formulation components， medication behaviors， and population to address complex safety issues arising from medicinal constituents， irrational use， and individual susceptibility. In the area of risk control， the analysis focused on context-based interventions and dynamic closed-loop management strategies， exploring practical pathways to shift from passive response to proactive risk mitigation. Furthermore， this paper evaluated the applied value of the Guidelines and identified implementation challenges， such as insufficient capacity at the primary-care level and limited digital infrastructure. In response， the study proposed optimization strategies including establishing a dynamic updating mechanism， strengthening training at the grassroots level， and incorporating artificial intelligence to enhance pharmacovigilance capacity. This interpretation aims to provide actionable insights for marketing authorization holders （including manufacturers）， pharmaceutical distributors， healthcare institutions， and research organizations， ultimately supporting the establishment and refinement of a full lifecycle pharmacovigilance system for OCPMs.

Objective: To investigate the damaging effects of red blood cell supernatant (RBC-S) stored for different durations (7 d, 14 d, and 28 d) on vascular endothelial cells, and to explore the underlying mechanisms using bioinformatics analysis, so as to provide references for optimizing red blood cell transfusion strategies. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were co-cultured with RBC-S stored for 7, 14 and 28 days, designated as the 7 d group, 14 d group and 28 d group respectively, which were collectively defined as the experimental groups. Cell damage was evaluated by cell proliferation assay (Cell Counting Kit8, CCK8), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, 4′, 6diamidino2phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and flow cytometry for apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The damage degree of RBC-S on vascular endothelial cells was assessed by statistical analysis of damage data among different groups. Since the damage effect reached a plateau at all time points, the 28 d storage group was selected as the representative for further mechanistic studies. Transcriptomic analysis was performed to explore the role of frizzled class receptor 1 (FZD1) and Wnt signaling pathway in red blood cell storagerelated endothelial dysfunction. Results: Compared with the control group, the storage groups treated with 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d RBC-S showed significantly decreased cell proliferation rates [control group 100%, 7 d group (69.51±2.30)%, 14 d group (74.54±2.89)%, 28 d group (73.59±2.36)%, P<0.05], significantly reduced numbers of DAPI-stained cell nuclei [control group (213±12.5) per field, 7 d group (140.33±17.04) per field, 14 d group (152.00±23.72) per field, 28 d group (144.33±19.09) per field, P<0.05] and significantly increased LDH release [control group (1), 7 d group (8.33±1.41), 14 d group (9.23±0.83), 28 d group (9.16±0.60), P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the degree of damage caused by RBC-S among different storage groups (P>0.05). With the prolongation of storage time, free hemoglobin (FHb) gradually increased [control group (not detected), 7 d (16.57±6.38) mg/L, 14 d (76.80±22.83) mg/L, 28 d (286.97±29.02) mg/L, P<0.05]. The apoptotic rate (20.53±2.94)% and ROS relative intensity (5.13±0.91) in the 28 d storage group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that FZD1 played a key role in vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by red blood cell storage and was closely related to the Wnt signaling regulatory network. Conclusion: RBC-S stored for 7 d, 14 d, or 28 d can all significantly damage vascular endothelial cells, and the damaging effect reaches a plateau at 7 d of storage. Mechanistic investigation of the 28 d group indicated that the downregulation of the FZD1/Wnt signaling pathway may play a critical role in vascular endothelial dysfunction induced by red blood cell storage, providing a theoretical basis for further optimizing red blood cell storage and transfusion strategies.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated the feasibility of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI for assessing disease activity in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Materials and Methods: A total of 88 patients with active TAO, 76 with inactive TAO, and 30 healthy controls were enrolled. CEST MRI-derived magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and MTR asymmetry (MTRasym) at 1 ppm, 2 ppm, and 3.5 ppm were calculated. Clinical data, MTR, and MTRasym values for the extraocular muscles (one representative muscle per eye, yielding two measurements per participant) were compared among the groups. Spearman’s correlation was used to examine associations between imaging parameters and the clinical activity score (CAS) in patients with TAO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent associations between imaging parameters and disease activity in patients with TAO (active vs. inactive). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic performance for discriminating active from inactive TAO. Results: Patients with active TAO showed lower MTR values (P < 0.001) and higher MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) (all P < 0.001) compared with those with inactive TAO. MTR was negatively correlated with CAS (r = -0.402; P < 0.001), while MTRasym (1 ppm), MTRasym (2 ppm), and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) were positively correlated with CAS (r = 0.369, 0.350, and 0.349, respectively;all P < 0.001). MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. The areas under the ROC curve (AUCs) for MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) in discriminating active from inactive TAO were 0.772 and 0.730, respectively. Combining MTR with MTRasym (1 ppm) significantly improved diagnostic performance compared with either parameter alone, achieving an AUC of 0.805 (P = 0.029 and 0.001). Conclusion MTR and MTRasym (1 ppm) were independently associated with TAO activity. Their combination further enhanced diagnostic performance in distinguishing active from inactive TAO, suggesting their potential as quantitative imaging biomarkers to guide treatment in patients with TAO.

Patients with periodontal disease often require combined periodontal-orthodontic interventions to restore periodontal health, function, and aesthetics, ensuring both patient satisfaction and long-term stability. Managing these patients involving orthodontic tooth movement can be particularly challenging due to compromised periodontal soft and hard tissues, especially in severe cases. Therefore, close collaboration between orthodontists and periodontists for comprehensive diagnosis and sequential treatment, along with diligent patient compliance throughout the entire process, is crucial for achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Moreover, long-term orthodontic retention and periodontal follow-up are essential to sustain treatment success. This expert consensus, informed by the latest clinical research and practical experience, addresses clinical considerations for orthodontic treatment of periodontal patients, delineating indications, objectives, procedures, and principles with the aim of providing clear and practical guidance for clinical practitioners.
Humans ; Consensus ; Orthodontics, Corrective/standards* ; Periodontal Diseases/complications* ; Tooth Movement Techniques/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Radiotherapy is a crucial component of the treatment of tumors. In addition to directly causing DNA damage in tumor cells and inducing cell apoptosis, radiotherapy is also involved in the regulation of systemic immune status. Increasing evidence indicates that radiotherapy can remodel the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and reverse the immunosuppressive state, thereby enhancing anti-tumor effects and demonstrating stronger immune responses and therapeutic benefits when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Taking lung cancer as an example to explore the impacts and potential mechanisms of radiotherapy on the TIME and anti-tumor immunity, which can provide a scientific basis for optimizing the treatment strategies of lung cancer.

Objective To explore the value of low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CT angiography(CT A)-cerebral CT perfusion(CTP)for detecting carotid atherosclerosis(CAS).Methods Totally 117 CAS patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into group A(n=19),B(n=52),C(n=46),and low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical CTA-brain CTP scanning,low contrast dose and low flow rate craniocervical CT A scanning,as well as conventional craniocervical CT A scanning were performed,respectively.Virtual monoenergetic images(VMI)of 40,50 and 60 keV were reconstructed in group A and B.The subjective and objective evaluations of image quality were compared among 3 groups.Results Subjective scores of image quality and diagnostic confidence of 40 and 50 keV VMI,and the diagnostic confidence of 60 keV VMI in group A and B were not significant different compared with those in group C(all P＞0.05).Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of each segment of craniocervical blood vessels at 40 and 50 keV VMI in group A and B were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).CNR of cavernous sinus segment of internal carotid artery(C5 segment),horizontal segment of middle cerebral artery(MCA)(A1 segment),lateral sulcus segment of MCA(M2 segment)and basilar artery(BA)segment in group A at 60 keV VMI were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).SNR of C5 segment,A1 segment and BA segment,as well as CNR of BA segment of 60 keV VMI in group B were all higher than those in group C(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Low contrast dose and low flow rate one-stop craniocervical was feasible for detecting CAS.

Parkinson′s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. It is particularly important to find biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity to capture the early features and evolution of the disease. As motor symptoms are the core symptomatic manifestation of PD and subtle changes in motor function occur early in the disease, the objectivity and broad applicability of digital devices make them ideal for screening and monitoring changes in motor function during the development of PD. Digital biomarkers related to motor symptoms in the diagnosis and monitoring of PD are reviewed in this article, with a view to providing some references for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

An 8-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital because of foreign body sensation and lacrimation in both eyes for more than 5 years, and was diagnosed with " Noonan syndrome: (1) entropion and trichiasis; (2) congenital epicanthic folds; (3) ptosis; (4) corneal epithelial damage; (5) nystagmus; (6) ametropia in both eyes" based on her medical history and physical signs. After consultations with ophthalmology, pediatrics and anesthesiology departments, correction of entropion + blepharoplasty + medial canthoplasty in both eyes were performed under general anesthesia. Postoperatively, the patient’s lower eyelid entropion, trichiasis and epicanthic folds were completely corrected. No recurrence was observed during the six-month follow-up. Noonan syndrome with ocular abnormalities is rarely reported. This article summarized the diagnosis and treatment of this case to remind clinicians to pay attention to the facial and systemic manifestations of patients with eyelids abnormity, so as to reduce the misdiagnosis of Noonan syndrome and related medical safety risks.