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.

Background Pneumoconiosis is the most serious occupational disease in China, among which silicosis accounts for more than 50%. microRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the occurrence process of silicosis fibrosis, but the mechanism of it has not been fully clarified yet. Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which miR-411-3p modulates the ubiquitination degradation of SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (SMURF) 2/Smad7, thereby suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells and counteracting silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Twenty-four 8-week-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, silica group, silica +miR-411-3p agomir-NC group, and silica +miR-411-3p agomir group, with 6 mice in each group. Silicosis model was prepared by a one-time bronchial infusion of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) (200 mg·mL^-1, 50 μL). In vitro MLE-12 cells were divided into (1) control group and SiO₂ group, (2) SiO₂+negative control siRNA (siRNA-NC) group and SiO₂+Smurf2 gene silencing (si-Smurf2) group, (3) SiO₂+solvent (DMSO) group and SiO₂+protease inhibitor (MG132) group, (4) mutant sequence plasmid (Mut)+miR-411-3p mimic control (miR-NC) group, Mut+miR-411-3p mimic group, wild sequence plasmid (Wt)+miR-NC group, and Wt+miR-411-3p mimic group, (5) SiO₂+miR-NC group and SiO₂+miR-411-3p mimic group. The pathological morphology and collagen deposition of lung tissue were observed after staining. Detection of miR-411-3p and proteins was conducted by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot. The binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 protein and Smad7 to ubiquitin (Ub) were detected by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) method. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was adopted to verify the regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2. Results In the SiO₂-induced MLE-12 cells, compared to the control group, the SiO₂-treated group showed significantly upregulated expressions of N-cadherin (N-Cad), collagen I (CoL I), SMURF2, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3). In contrast, the expressions of E-cadherin (E-Cad), Smad7, and miR-411-3p were significantly downregulated (P<0.05). The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay revealed a regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, in the MLE-12 cells induced by SiO₂, the miR-411-3p mimic down-regulated the protein expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3, while up-regulated the protein expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 (P<0.05). The silenced Smurf2 gene inhibited the expressions of N-Cad, CoL I, and p-Smad2/3 proteins, while promoted the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 proteins in the MLE-12 cells (P<0.05). The Co-IP results showed that the binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 was enhanced, and the ubiquitin binding ability of Smad7 was enhanced in the SiO₂ group. In the lung tissue of mice, the results of pathological observation with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and sirius red (VG) staining showed that compared with the agomir-NC, the lesion was relieved in the lung tissue of the miR-411-3p agomir group. Meanwhile, the expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3 were significantly down-regulated, while the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion MiR-411-3p alleviates the EMT of alveolar type II epithelial cells and antagonizes silicosis fibrosis progression in mice by inhibiting SMURF2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Smad7.

Objective To investigate the genetic diversity of sandfly populations in endemic areas of visceral leishmaniasis in China, so as to provide references insights into management of visceral leishmaniasis and the vector sandflies. MethodsSixteen sampling sites were selected from main endemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in China from June to September 2024, including Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Henan Province, Gansu Province, Sichuan Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Sandflies were captured using light traps and manual aspirators from sheep pens, chicken coops, cave dwellings, bovinesheds, and pig pens at each sampling site. A single sandfly sample was washed in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and genomic DNA was extracted from sandfly samples. Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene was amplified using PCR assay with universal primers, and analyzed and retrieved with the nucleotide sequence analysis tool (BLAST) software, and the sequence of COI gene was aligned with the ClustalX 1.83 and MEGA 7.0 software. The base composition and variation site of the COI gene sequence were analyzed using the software MEGA 7.0, and the number of haplotypes, total number of segregating sites, haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity, and average nucleotide differences were calculated in the COI gene sequence using the software DnaSP 5.10, followed by Tajima’s D test for neutrality. Haplotypes were screened using the software DnaSP 5.10, and the haplotype network map of sandfly samples was plotted using the software Network 5.0. MEGA 7.0 software was employed for gene sequence editing and alignment, and calculation of genetic distances among sandfly species sampled from different regions, and a phylogenetic tree was built with a neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 466 sandflies were captured from 16 sampling sites in China from June to September 2024, and 430 gene sequences were yielded following PCR amplification and sequencing of the COI gene, with 652 to 688 bp in the length of amplification fragments. The captured sandfly samples were characterized as Phlebotomus chinensis, Sergentomyia squamirostris, Se. koloshanensis, Ph. sichuanensis, and Ph. longiductus following the COI gene sequence alignment in BLAST. A total of 251 haplotypes were identified in the 430 gene sequences from sandfly samples (50.5%), and the average haplotype diversity, nucleotide diversity and average number of nucleotide difference were 0.885, 0.257 and 160.761, respectively. The Tajima’s D values were -0.92 for sandfly populations from Yangquan City, Shanxi Province and -1.73 for sandfly populations from Sanmenxia City, Henan Province, and were all more than 0 for sandfly populations from other sampling sites. Haplotype analysis identified 50 haplotypes, which were classified into two haplogroups. Heplogroup 1 included 29 haplotypes, which had a high homology, and heplogroup 2 included 21 haplotypes. The average genetic distance was 0.000 to 0.604 among sandfly samples from different sampling sites, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the five sandfly species were clustered into distinct clades, all with 100% clade confidence. Conclusions There is a high genetic polymorphism in the COI gene from five sandfly populations in main endemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in China, and COI gene may serve as a marker gene for analysis of the genetic structure of sandfly populations.

Objective To investigate the factors affecting the distribution of Pomacea and project the trends in the spread of suitable distribution areas of Pomacea in 2050 and 2070 in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, so as to provide insights into Pomacea control in the prefecture. Methods The longitudes and latitudes of Pomacea sampling sites were captured based on Pomacea field survey data in 12 cities (counties) of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from 2023 to 2024. A total of 19 climatic factors (annual mean temperature, mean diurnal range, isothermality, temperature seasonality, maximum temperature of the warmest month, minimum temperature of the coldest month, temperature annual range, mean temperature of the wettest quarter, mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest month, mean temperature of the coldest month, annual precipitation, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest quarter, precipitation of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the warmest quarter, and mean temperature of the coldest quarter) and representative concentration pathways (RCPs) were retrieved from the world climate database (www.worldclim.org). All climatic variables were employed to create a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model. The predictive accuracy of the model was assessed with the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC), and the contributions of these 19 climatic factors to the distribution of Pomacea were analyzed in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture using Jackknife test. In addition, the suitable distribution areas of Pomacea were predicted with the MaxEnt model in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in 2024 and in 2050 and 2070 under RCP4.5. Results Data pertaining to 91 Pomacea sampling sites were captured. ROC analysis revealed the MaxEnt model had an AUC value of 0.885 ± 0.088 for predicting the suitable distribution areas of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Of the 19 climatic factors, the maximum temperature of the warmest month had the highest contribution to the distribution of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, followed by mean temperature of the driest quarter, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and minimum temperature of the coldest month. The suitable distribution area of Pomacea was predicted to be 14 555.69 km² in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in 2024, and would expand gradually to the southeastern part of the prefecture in the future due to climatic factors. The suitable distribution areas of Pomacea were projected to expand to 21 475.61 km² in 2050 and 25 782.52 km² in 2070 in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, respectively. Conclusions Temperature is an important contributor to the distribution of Pomacea in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and the suitable distribution area of Pomacea will gradually expand to the southeastern part of the prefecture in 2050 and 2070.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with diquat mixed with paraquat poisoning.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 210 patients admitted to the department of emergency at our hospital with paraquat, diquat or mixed poisoning from January 20, 2016, to June 10, 2024. Based on the detection results of plasma toxicants, patients were categorized into three groups: the paraquat group (PQ group), and the diquat group (DQ group), the diquat-paraquat mixed group (mixed group). We compared clinical indices, occurrence, and severity of AKI among these groups. In the mixed group, patients were further divided into AKI and non-AKI subgroups based on the presence of AKI during hospitalization, and differences in clinical indices between these subgroups were analyzed. Univariate logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regressions were used to screen risk factors, and multivariate logistic regression was applied to establish the model. ROC curves were generated, and factors influencing AKI occurrence in the mixed group were identified.Results:A total of 88 patients were included in the PQ group, 28 in the DQ group, and 57 in the mixed group. Significant differences were observed among the three groups in terms of age, mortality rate, ingestion amount, body mass index(BMI), occurrence of AKI, the incidence of organ support therapy, SIRS score, PSS score, and APACHE Ⅱ score on admission ( P < 0.05). All three groups exhibited various degrees of AKI, with the mixed group showing a higher proportion and more severe conditions. In the mixed group, compared with the non-AKI group, the AKI group showed significantly higher values for age, number of deaths, ingestion amount, SIRS score, PSS score, APACHE Ⅱ score, plasma PQ concentration on admission, plasma DQ concentration on admission, white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (NEUT), monocyte count (MONO), serum creatinine (SCr), procalcitonin (PCT), c-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood lactic acid (Lac), and cystatin C (CysC) ( P < 0.05). Conversely, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were significantly lower in the AKI group ( P < 0.05). Additionally, in the mixed group, SCr levels at various times post-poisoning were significantly higher compared with the non-AKI group ( P < 0.05), showing an increasing trend and peaking at 212.19 ± 101.67 μmol/L on the fifth day after poisoning. Age, ingestion amount, SIRS score on admission, WBC, MONO, and PCO 2 were extracted by Lasso-Logistic regression. Multivariate logistic regression identified ingestion amount and SIRS score on admission as the independent risk factors for the occurrence of AKI in the mixed group. The area under the ROC curve for ingestion amount and SIRS score on admission was 0.991 (95% CI: 0.976-1.000), the sensitivity was 0.940 and the specificity was 1.000. Conclusions:The diquat mixed with paraquat poisoning is associated with a higher incidence and greater severity of AKI compared with poisoning with either PQ or DQ alone. Additionally, ingestion amount and SIRS score on admission have been identified as independent risk factors for the occurrence of AKI in patients with the mixed poisoning. The combined assessment of these two factors improves AKI prediction in patients with the mixed poisoning.

Chinorhodopyr is a widely used pesticide in agriculture, and the mortality rate of acute chinorhodopyr poisoning patients is high, with no effective treatment currently available. This paper summarized the clinical data of 8 patients with acute chlorfenapyr poisoning recently admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, including clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination and treatment process, so as to provide references for disease diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinicians' understanding of acute chlorfenapyr poisoning.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics of the patients with severe infections who were treated with polymyxin B and compare the plasma concentration of polymyxin B among the patients with severe infections with different creatinine clearance rates(Ccr).METHODS The clinical data were collected from 152 patients with severe infections who were treated with intravenous polymyxin B in intensive care unit(ICU)of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from Jan.2021 to Mar.2023.The trough concentration(Cmin),median concen-tration(C1/2t)and peak concentration(Cmax)of polymyxin B were determined after 5 doses were completed.Based of the area under the curve(AUC)of drug concentration of polymyxin B(AUC0～24h)combined with the Ccr level[the ≤30 to＜60 ml/min group(n=40),the 60 to＜130ml/min group(n=79),and the ≥ 130ml/min group(n=33)],the AUC0～24h of polymyxin B were calculated,and the influence of Ccr on the plasma concentration was observed.RESULTS Among the 152 patients with severe infections,118 were male,and 34 were female,with the age ranging between 20 and 90 years old;the patients with high blood pressure accounted for 14.47％(22/152),the patients with diabetes mellitus 7.24％(11/152).Polymyxin B is primarily used in clinical settings for the treatment of pulmonary infections and bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae.The median initial dose and the median maintenance dose were 1.35(1.00,1.67)mg/kg q12 h and 1.07(0.83,1.25)mg/kg q12 h,respectively.The median AUC0～24h of polymyxin B was 76.57(54.65,106.47)μg·h/ml among the 152 patients,and the patients with AUC0～24 h ranging between 50 and 100 μg·h/ml accounted for 53.95％(82/152).Although the median AUC0～24h of polymyxin B of all the three groups ranged between 50 and 100)μg·h/ml,there were significant differences in Cmin,C1/2t,Cmax and AUC0～24h among the three groups(P＜0.05).In addition,there were significant differences in the AUC0～24h of polymyxin B less than 50 μg·h/ml,ranging between 50 and 100 μg·h/ml and more than 100 μg·h/ml among the three groups of patients(x2=21.632,P＜0.001).CONCLUSION Therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM)is nec-essary for the patients with severe infection who receive the polymyxin B for treatment,especially for the patients with Ccr ≤30 to＜60 ml/min and Ccr ≥130 ml/min.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics of the patients with severe infections who were treated with polymyxin B and compare the plasma concentration of polymyxin B among the patients with severe infections with different creatinine clearance rates(Ccr).METHODS The clinical data were collected from 152 patients with severe infections who were treated with intravenous polymyxin B in intensive care unit(ICU)of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from Jan.2021 to Mar.2023.The trough concentration(Cmin),median concen-tration(C1/2t)and peak concentration(Cmax)of polymyxin B were determined after 5 doses were completed.Based of the area under the curve(AUC)of drug concentration of polymyxin B(AUC0～24h)combined with the Ccr level[the ≤30 to＜60 ml/min group(n=40),the 60 to＜130ml/min group(n=79),and the ≥ 130ml/min group(n=33)],the AUC0～24h of polymyxin B were calculated,and the influence of Ccr on the plasma concentration was observed.RESULTS Among the 152 patients with severe infections,118 were male,and 34 were female,with the age ranging between 20 and 90 years old;the patients with high blood pressure accounted for 14.47％(22/152),the patients with diabetes mellitus 7.24％(11/152).Polymyxin B is primarily used in clinical settings for the treatment of pulmonary infections and bloodstream infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae.The median initial dose and the median maintenance dose were 1.35(1.00,1.67)mg/kg q12 h and 1.07(0.83,1.25)mg/kg q12 h,respectively.The median AUC0～24h of polymyxin B was 76.57(54.65,106.47)μg·h/ml among the 152 patients,and the patients with AUC0～24 h ranging between 50 and 100 μg·h/ml accounted for 53.95％(82/152).Although the median AUC0～24h of polymyxin B of all the three groups ranged between 50 and 100)μg·h/ml,there were significant differences in Cmin,C1/2t,Cmax and AUC0～24h among the three groups(P＜0.05).In addition,there were significant differences in the AUC0～24h of polymyxin B less than 50 μg·h/ml,ranging between 50 and 100 μg·h/ml and more than 100 μg·h/ml among the three groups of patients(x2=21.632,P＜0.001).CONCLUSION Therapeutic drug monitoring(TDM)is nec-essary for the patients with severe infection who receive the polymyxin B for treatment,especially for the patients with Ccr ≤30 to＜60 ml/min and Ccr ≥130 ml/min.

Chinorhodopyr is a widely used pesticide in agriculture, and the mortality rate of acute chinorhodopyr poisoning patients is high, with no effective treatment currently available. This paper summarized the clinical data of 8 patients with acute chlorfenapyr poisoning recently admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, including clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination and treatment process, so as to provide references for disease diagnosis and treatment, and improve clinicians' understanding of acute chlorfenapyr poisoning.

Objective To observe the value of SimGrid(SG)and S-Enhance(SE)for improving image quality of low-dose X-ray films in children.Methods Data of 344 children in intensive care unit who underwent 410 times bedside X-ray examinations,including 290 times of chest X-ray,51 of abdominal X-ray and 69 of chest and abdominal combined X-ray were enrolled.SG and SE were respectively used for post-processing,and the quality of post-processed images were analyzed.Results Among 410 SG post-processing images,250 images were classified as 2-point,147 as 1-point and 13 as 0-point.SG could significantly improve image quality of children≥1 year and body mass≥10 kg(all P＜0.05),with better ability for displaying bones,trachea,peripheral blood vessels,foreign objects,psoas major muscle and intestinal gas(all P＜0.05).Among 410 SE post-processing images,250 images were classified as 2-point,58 as 1-point and 102 of 0-point.SE could significantly improve image quality of children≥0.5 years and with body mass＞4 kg(all P＜0.05),with better ability for displaying bones,trachea,large blood vessels,peripheral vessels,heart posterior blood vessels and foreign objects(all P＜0.05).Conclusion SG could significantly improve displaying of bones,trachea,peripheral blood vessels,foreign objects,psoas major muscle and intestinal gas in children≥1 year and body mass≥10 kg,while SE could improve displaying of bones,trachea,large blood vessels,peripheral blood vessels,heart posterior blood vessels and foreign objects in children aged≥0.5 years and body mass＞4 kg on low-dose X-ray films.