As a neglected tropical disease, schistosomiasis remains a major public health challenge in underdeveloped areas, notably Africa. Currently, the national schistosomiasis control programmes in Africa mainly depend on foreign aids; however, conventional international aid models have multiple limitations. To enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of global schistosomiasis control programmes, this article proposes a trinity collaboration model based on international rules, China’s experiences and local needs, which is explained with China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar as an example. Based on the successful experiences from the national schistosomiasis control programme in China, this model emphasizes the compliance with World Health Organization guidelines and fully considers local actual needs to promote the effectiveness and sustainability of the schistosomiasis control programme through integrating international resources and promoting China’s experience to meet local needs. The successful practice of the China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar provides strong evidence that the model is of great theoretical significance and practical value to improve the efficiency of multilateral collaboration and promote global health governance.

Social working memory (SWM)-the ability to maintain and manipulate social information in the brain-plays a crucial role in social interactions. However, research on SWM is still in its infancy and is often treated as a unitary construct. In the present study, we propose that SWM can be conceptualized as having two relatively independent components: "externally oriented SWM" (e-SWM) and "internally oriented SWM" (i-SWM). To test this external-internal hypothesis, participants were tasked with memorizing and ranking either facial expressions (e-SWM) or personality traits (i-SWM) associated with images of faces. We then examined the neural correlates of these two SWM components and their functional roles in empathy. The results showed distinct activations as the e-SWM task activated the postcentral and precentral gyri while the i-SWM task activated the precuneus/posterior cingulate cortex and superior frontal gyrus. Distinct multivariate activation patterns were also found within the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex in the two tasks. Moreover, partial least squares analyses combining brain activation and individual differences in empathy showed that e-SWM and i-SWM brain activities were mainly correlated with affective empathy and cognitive empathy, respectively. These findings implicate distinct brain processes as well as functional roles of the two types of SWM, providing support for the internal-external hypothesis of SWM.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Empathy/physiology* ; Young Adult ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Adult ; Brain/diagnostic imaging* ; Brain Mapping ; Facial Expression ; Social Behavior ; Facial Recognition/physiology* ; Social Perception ; Personality/physiology*

Objective To establish high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)characteristic chromatograms of Xinqingduyin Granules(composed of Taraxaci Herba,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Chrysanthemi Indici Flos,etc.)and content determination of chicory acid and glycyrrhizic acid,and to optimize the preparation process of Xinqingduyin Granules.Methods Using the characteristic chromatograms of Xinqingduyin and the retention rate of chicory acid and glycyrrhizic acid as indexes,we carried out orthogonal experiment to optimize the extraction process of Xinqingduyin,and studied the concentration process.The molding process of Xinqingduyin Granules was conducted by screening the types and dosage of auxiliary materials,then three batches of pilot experiments were carried out.Results HPLC characteristic chromatograms of Xinqingshuyin Granules and the determination methods of chicory acid and glycyrrhizic acid were established.The optimal preparation technology was as follows:8 times amount of water was added,the drug was decocted for 3 times,with 1 hour per time.After the extract was concentrated under reduced pressure at 80℃,the appropriate amount of steviol glycoside and lactose was added into the extract and mixed.One-step granulation and packaging were adopted.The retention rates of chicoric acid and glycyrrhizic acid in the 3 batches of Xinqingduyin Granules,which were prepared on the pilot scale,were(54.56±1.63)%and(54.96±1.08)%,and the rate of finished product was(87.47±0.49)%,respectively.The quality is uniform,and the characteristic map of Xinqingduyin Granules showed high similarity with that of decoction prepared from the same batch of slices.Conclusion The optimized preparation technology is reasonable,feasible and reproducible.This preparation can be used to obtain the granule with similar materials of Xinqingduyin decoction.

Objective To establish a HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of artemisinin,arteannuin B,chrysosplenetin and chrysosplenol-D in the water extract of Artemisia annua L.Methods The analysis was performed on Agilent ZORBAX SB-C18(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm)column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile(A)-water(B)and the flow rate of 0.8 mL·min-1 in a gradient elution manner.The column temperature was 30℃.The injection volume was 10 μL,and the detection wavelength was 210 nm.Results Artemisinin,arteannuin B,chrysosplenetin and chrysosplenol-D were correlated well linearly with peak area in their respective ranges 1.608 8-16.088 μg(r=0.999 9),0.014 1-0.141 4 μg(r=1),0.185 1-1.850 9 μg(r=0.999 9),0.144 1-1.441 4 μg(r=0.999 9),the average recovery rate(n=6)were 102.44%,97.82%,95.07%,95.55%,and the RSD values were 1.12%,1.44%,1.29%,1.53%.Conclusion This method is convenient and accurate.It has good stability and repeatability,and can be used to simultaneously determine the content of artemisinin,arteannuin B,chrysosplenetin and chrysosplenol-D in the water extract of Artemisia annua L.

Objective:To summarize the clinical manifestations and diagnostic methods of adult neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID), improve understanding of the disease, and avoid misdiagnosis.Methods:Clinical data of 8 adult NIID patients in the Hunan region were collected, and their clinical manifestations, cranial imaging, genetic testing, skin biopsy, and other characteristics were analyzed.Results:Among the 8 patients, 4 were males and 4 were females; The initial symptoms of 2 patients were dizziness, 2 were mental abnormalities, 2 were stroke like attacks, 1 was urinary incontinence, and 1 was limb tremor; Six patients experienced slow progression of the disease, while two patients experienced sudden progression after several years of slow progression; The GGC repeat amplification mutation in the 5′untranslated region of the NOTCH2NLC gene, as well as the lace like sign in the brain cortex medullary junction on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and the presence of eosinophilic transparent inclusion bodies in the nucleus on skin biopsy, were helpful in diagnosing NIID.Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of NIID are highly heterogeneous, and some patients have rare initial clinical symptoms, which are prone to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. It is necessary to combine imaging, genetic testing, and skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis; Some patients may experience sudden progression and poor prognosis after years of slow progression.

Tibetan medicine is an essential part of Chinese medicine and has unique theoretical experience and therapeutic advantages. According to the development principle of inheriting the essence, sticking to the truth, and keeping innovative, the supervision department should give clear and reasonable guidance considering the characteristics of Tibetan medicine, establish a standard system for quality control, clinical verification and evaluation, and accelerate the research and commercialization of new drugs. In view of the needs of drug supply-side reform and the current situation of Tibetan medicine and new pharmaceutical research, we ponder and provide suggestions on the confusion faced by the current supervision of Tibetan drug registration, hoping to contribute to the supervision strategy of Tibetan drug registration and the high-quality development of Tibetan medicine industry.
Tibet ; Medicine, Tibetan Traditional ; Quality Control ; Pharmaceutical Research ; Drug Industry

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and safety of endoscopic ultrasound-guided portal pressure gradient (EUS-PPG) measurement in the normal porcine model.Methods Four pigs,2 male and 2 female,aged 8-12 months,weighing 20-30 kg were selected in the experiment.Under general anesthesia and EUS guidance,a 22 G fine needle connected to electrocardiograph monitor with a central vein pressure manometer was used to puncture and measure pressures in the portal vein (PV) and hepatic vein (HV) or inferior vena cava (IVC).Pressures were measured three times for each vessel and the mean pressure was recorded.The PPG was recorded as the difference between the PV pressure and HV or IVC pressure.Vital signs during and after the procedure and operation-related complications were monitored.Results EUS-PPG measurement was successful in all targeted vessels.The PV pressure,HV or IVC pressure,and PPG was 11.0±1.0 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),7.3±1.1 mmHg and 3.8±0.9 mmHg,respectively.No adverse event occurred.Conclusion EUS-PPG measurement has a high successful rate and reliable accuracy and safety reflecting the portal vein pressure.

Objective To discuss the surgical treatment of primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease(PPNAD).Methods twenty-four cases of PPNAD were treated in our hospital from January 2005 to December 2017.Clinical data of these patients were reviewed.It included 8 males and 16 females with a mean age of 23 years old (range 14 to 58).23 cases presented with typical symptoms of Cushing syndrome, 1 case presented with hypertension.Eight cases could be diagnosed with Carney complex.All cases were confirmed as ACTH-independent Cushing syndrome.Adrenal imaging showed bilateral multiple nodules in 11 cases, unilateral multiple nodules in 4 cases, unilateral single mass or nodule in 3 cases, normal adrenals in 6 cases.Results All of the 24 cases received laparoscope unilateral adrenalectomy or laparoscope unilateral mass resection.After the operation, 8 cases underwent secondary operation because of symptom recurrence and the elevated 24-hour urinary free cortisol.Among them, 5 cases received contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy, 3 cases received contralateral total adrenalectomy.Seven cases with a slightly elevated 24-hour urinary free cortisol but a good recovery of Cushing symptoms were followed-up.Nine cases recovered well after the first operation and they didn't undergo secondary surgical treatment, but 1 of the 9 cases needed glucocorticoid replacement.Conclusions Bilateral adrenalectomy followed with long-term glucocorticoid replacement is the standard treatment of PPNAD.Unilateral adrenalectomy or subtotal adrenalectomy may be suitable for elected patients, but appropriate criteria need to be explored.

Objective To investigate the effects of the erythropoietin (EPO) on ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats with nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). Methods Fifty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly after right kidney nephrectomy: Sham group, NSS group (PBS+NSS) and EPO group (EPO+NSS). During NSS, renal artery was clamped for 40 min to induce IRI. Sham group just adopted exposure renal artery without vascular clamped. Rats in NSS group were injected intraperitoneally with PBS for 3 days before NSS. Rats in EPO group were injected intraperitoneally with EPO for 3 days before NSS. After 12 h, 24 h, 72 h, blood sample and renal tissues were collected. The serum creatinine (Scr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) were evaluated. The pathology injury was evaluated by HE staining. The CD24/CD133 double-positived renal progenitor cells (RPCs) were tested by flow cytometry. The CD133 and PCNA protein were quantified by immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of Wnt7b and β-catenin protein were detected by Western blotting. Results Rats in NSS group had more elevated Scr, BUN and pathology injury scores 12 h, 24 h and 72 h after operation than those in Sham group (all P<0.05). Compared with those in the NSS group, the Scr and BUN in the EPO group were significantly lower 24 h after the surgery (all P<0.05), and the pathology injury score also decreased (P<0.05). The proportion of RPCs, expressions of CD133 and PCNA, and expressions of Wnt7b and β-catenin protein were significantly higher after 24 h of the surgery in NSS group than those in the Sham group (all P<0.05). While compared with those in the NSS group, the proportion of RPCs and expressions of CD133, PCNA, Wnt7b and β-catenin increased at the EPO group (all P<0.05). Conclusions EPO can reduce the IRI after NSS, and its mechanism may be related to the mobilization of the RPCs by the Wnt7b/β-catenin signal pathway.

Objective To study the effects of lipopolysaccharide(LPS) on the expression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), reactive oxygen species(ROS) and on the proliferation of cells as well as secretion of six proinflammmatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 levels in SKOV3 cells. And to explore the mechanism of SKOV3 cells in regulation. Methods Cultured primary SKOV3 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of LPS (0.01 μg/ml, 0.1 μg/ml, 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml) for 4 h, the TLR4 expression in SKOV3 cells were examined by flow cytometry;1 μg/ml LPS stimulated SKOV3 for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h respectively, the TLR4 expression and cell cycle in SKOV3, cell proliferation, ROS level as well as cells and TNF-α and IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 levels in the culture medium were assayed by flow cytometry, MTT, CBA assay respectively. Results LPS with different concentrations of LPS stimulation in-duced an increased TLR4 expression, however, the expression was reduced when LPS concentration up to 10 μg/ml. LPS stimulation for 4 h, 8 h induced an increased TLR4 expression and cell proliferation. Stimulated for 24 h, however, the TLR4 expression and cell growth were inhibited in S period. Meanwhile, LPS stimulation for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h induced a higher ROS secretion in comparison with control group. LPS stimulation induced a stronger cytokine response in comparison with control group, as demonstrated by the production of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 secretion in cultured SKOV3 cells, while IL-10 and IL-12 with low expression have no obvious difference in the all medium samples. Conclusion TLR4 expression, cell proliferation, ROS and proin-flammmatory cytokine secretion could be induced in SKOV3 through LPS stimulation. The study provide new ex-periment evidences for human ovarian cells SKOV3 immunity regulation and inflammation reaction to promote cells inhibition after LPS stimulation.