Objective:To characterize the vaginal flora of pregnant women during the second trimester using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods:A total of 142 pregnant women were systematically sampled from a pregnancy cohort. Vaginal swabs were collected for full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing，and bioinformatics analysis was performed to characterize the vaginal microbiota and identify associated influencing factors.Results:Among the 142 pregnant women，the most frequently detected species were Lactobacillus iners（83.10%，118/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus（49.30%，70/142）. The majority of samples（90.85%，129/142）were classified as Lactobacillus-dominant vagitypes，with the Lactobacillus iners vagitype accounting for 48.59%（69/142）and the Lactobacillus crispatus vagitype accounting for 38.73%（55/142）. The vaginal microbiota was clustered into five community state types（CSTs）：Ⅰa，Ⅰb，Ⅲa，Ⅲb，and Ⅳ. The most prevalent CSTs were Lactobacillus iners-dominated CST-Ⅲ（51.41%，73/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated CST-Ⅰ（24.65%，35/142）. No samples were classified as CST-Ⅱ or CST-Ⅴ. A significant negative correlation was observed between Lactobacill and vaginosis-associated bacteria. Age，alcohol consumption，smoking，and vaginal treatments showed significant associations or trends toward significance with various Alpha diversity indices. Vaginal douching was associated with CST clustering，while obstetric history（primiparity，previous miscarriage history）was associated with vagitype classification. However，no significant associations were identified between maternal baseline characteristics and Beta diversity indices. Conclusions:Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals that the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women is dominated by Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus. Maternal age，lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption，and obstetric history are significantly associated with variations in vaginal microbiota composition.

Objective:To investigate the association between adiponectin-related copy number variation (CNV) region (CNVR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:Pregnant women who had prenatal screening in Anqing Municipal Hospital, Anhui Province, from February 2018 to December 2020 were surveyed for baseline information collection, and blood samples were collected. The outcome information was obtained by post pregnancy follow-up. Latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry and ASA-CHIA chip were used to detect serum adiponectin levels and CNV of pregnant women, respectively. After genotyping, CNV data were processed with software PennCNV 1.0.5 following standard quality control procedure. CNVR were identified and integrated by using software R 4.3.3. Then the associations between CNVR and adiponectin was evaluated, and gene annotation and over-representation analysis were conducted. The log-binomial regression model was used to adjust relevant covariates and analyze the association between adiponectin-related CNVR and GDM.Results:The detection rate of GDM was 9.54% (176/1 845) in the pregnant women. The genotyping information of 1 840 people (99.73%) passed quality evaluation. A total of 33 878 CNVs were identified, and 1 449 CNVRs were obtained after integration. After the false discovery rate method correction, CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062), CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872), CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were correlated with adiponectin levels (all P<0.05). Over- representation analysis showed that the molecular function of ribonucleotide binding [Gene Ontology (GO): 0032553] was significantly enriched based on the GO database. The log-binomial regression model, adjusting age, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of miscarriage, smoking history, and family history of diabetes, indicated that CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were not statistically associated with the risk for GDM (both P>0.05). However, CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872, a RR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.15-2.91) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539, a RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.23-2.43) might be associated with an increased risk for GDM (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Adiponectin-related CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) might be risk factors for the incidence of GDM.

Objective:To investigate the association between adiponectin-related copy number variation (CNV) region (CNVR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods:Pregnant women who had prenatal screening in Anqing Municipal Hospital, Anhui Province, from February 2018 to December 2020 were surveyed for baseline information collection, and blood samples were collected. The outcome information was obtained by post pregnancy follow-up. Latex-enhanced immunoturbidimetry and ASA-CHIA chip were used to detect serum adiponectin levels and CNV of pregnant women, respectively. After genotyping, CNV data were processed with software PennCNV 1.0.5 following standard quality control procedure. CNVR were identified and integrated by using software R 4.3.3. Then the associations between CNVR and adiponectin was evaluated, and gene annotation and over-representation analysis were conducted. The log-binomial regression model was used to adjust relevant covariates and analyze the association between adiponectin-related CNVR and GDM.Results:The detection rate of GDM was 9.54% (176/1 845) in the pregnant women. The genotyping information of 1 840 people (99.73%) passed quality evaluation. A total of 33 878 CNVs were identified, and 1 449 CNVRs were obtained after integration. After the false discovery rate method correction, CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062), CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872), CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were correlated with adiponectin levels (all P<0.05). Over- representation analysis showed that the molecular function of ribonucleotide binding [Gene Ontology (GO): 0032553] was significantly enriched based on the GO database. The log-binomial regression model, adjusting age, pre-pregnancy BMI, history of miscarriage, smoking history, and family history of diabetes, indicated that CNVR_132 (CHR2: 47611743-47635062) and CNVR_1101 (CHR14: 104248431-104830620) were not statistically associated with the risk for GDM (both P>0.05). However, CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872, a RR=1.83, 95% CI: 1.15-2.91) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539, a RR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.23-2.43) might be associated with an increased risk for GDM (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Adiponectin-related CNVR_254 (CHR3: 10182703-10183872) and CNVR_691 (CHR7: 150637053-150834539) might be risk factors for the incidence of GDM.

Objective:To characterize the vaginal flora of pregnant women during the second trimester using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods:A total of 142 pregnant women were systematically sampled from a pregnancy cohort. Vaginal swabs were collected for full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing，and bioinformatics analysis was performed to characterize the vaginal microbiota and identify associated influencing factors.Results:Among the 142 pregnant women，the most frequently detected species were Lactobacillus iners（83.10%，118/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus（49.30%，70/142）. The majority of samples（90.85%，129/142）were classified as Lactobacillus-dominant vagitypes，with the Lactobacillus iners vagitype accounting for 48.59%（69/142）and the Lactobacillus crispatus vagitype accounting for 38.73%（55/142）. The vaginal microbiota was clustered into five community state types（CSTs）：Ⅰa，Ⅰb，Ⅲa，Ⅲb，and Ⅳ. The most prevalent CSTs were Lactobacillus iners-dominated CST-Ⅲ（51.41%，73/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated CST-Ⅰ（24.65%，35/142）. No samples were classified as CST-Ⅱ or CST-Ⅴ. A significant negative correlation was observed between Lactobacill and vaginosis-associated bacteria. Age，alcohol consumption，smoking，and vaginal treatments showed significant associations or trends toward significance with various Alpha diversity indices. Vaginal douching was associated with CST clustering，while obstetric history（primiparity，previous miscarriage history）was associated with vagitype classification. However，no significant associations were identified between maternal baseline characteristics and Beta diversity indices. Conclusions:Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals that the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women is dominated by Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus. Maternal age，lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption，and obstetric history are significantly associated with variations in vaginal microbiota composition.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of vaginal flora between normal and abnormal pregnant women throughout pregnancy.Methods:Vaginal swab specimens were collected from pregnant women in the first (<14 gestation weeks, GW), second (14~28 GW) and third trimester (>28 GW) in Anqing, Anhui Province from February 2018 to February 2020. Pregnant women were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to all clinical diagnosis. The sequences of 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) from vaginal swabs were analyzed using QIIME2 platform. The differences in the dominance of Lactobacillus, community state type (CST) transition, Alpha diversity and Beta diversity were analyzed. Diversity data after log transition were used in the analysis of linear mixed model. Results:A total of 34 pregnant women (10 normal and 24 abnormal) with 102 samples were included for analysis. The composition of vaginal flora between two groups: the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was the highest at the genus level and Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners was the top two species with high relative abundance. The dominance of Lactobacillus, Alpha diversity and transition of CST were also similar. Both groups had a gradually decreased trend of Alpha diversity with GW, and the Chao1, Observed species and Faith′s PD indexes′ were different in different GW ( P<0.05). All Beta diversity metrics in normal group had descending trend, with lower value of the index of first distance which implied a higher microbiota stability, while Bray-Curtis, Weighted UniFrac distance had ascending trend in abnormal group, indicating lower stability. Jaccard distance′s first distance was statistically differed among GW and Unweighted UniFrac distance′s differed between normal and abnormal groups. Conclusions:The first distance of Unweighte UniFrac distance in abnormal pregnant women is higher than that of normal pregnant women and the vaginal flora in abnormal group has lower stability.

Objective To examine the impact of arid climates on distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area, so as to provide insights into precision control of O. hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area. Methods O. hupensis snails-infested grass islands in Hukou County, Lianxi District and Lushan City in the northern Poyang Lake area, and Jinxian County, Nanchang County and Poyang County in the southern Poyang Lake area were selected as the study areas, and the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were captured from snail surveys in the study areas in spring and autumn each year from 2006 to 2023. Five years 2007, 2011, 2013, 2019 and 2022 were selected as drought years, and the mean daily water levels were collected at the Xingzi hydrological station in the drought years, normal flow year (2012) and flood year (2020). The numbers of days with water levels ranging from the lower elevation (11 m) to the upper elevation (16 m) for snail survival and the numbers of days with water levels of 11 m and below were collected in the Poyang Lake area, and the changes of snail indicators were compared in different grass islands in the Poyang Lake area before and after drought. Results The numbers of days with water levels ranging from 11 to 16 m were 110, 88, 136 d and 125 d at the Xingzi hydrological station in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were less than in the flow year and flood year, and the days with water levels of 11 m and below were 242, 277, 220 d and 198 d in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were longer than in the flow year and flood year. A total of 416 snails-infested marshlands were surveyed in the Poyang Lake area from 2006 to 2021, and the survey marshlands accounted for 43.12% (307/712) and 46.98% (109/232) of total marshlands in the southern and northern Poyang Lake areas, respectively. The median occurrence of frames with living snails and mean density of living snails were 0.60% (interquartile range, 4.04%) and 0.010 1 snail/0.1 m² (interquartile range, 0.076 1 snail/0.1 m²) in drought years, which were both lower than those [1.33% (5.19%) and 0.022 8 (0.098 9) snail/0.1 m²] in non-drought years (χ²= 42.170 and 44.911, both P values < 0.01). The proportion of grass islands with a continuous decline in snail indicators was higher in the southern Poyang Lake area than in the northern Poyang Lake area after the next year of drought (24.24% vs. 2.33%; χ² = 10.633, P < 0.01), and the proportion of grass islands with rebounding snail indicators was higher in the northern Poyang Lake area than in the southern Poyang Lake area (53.49% vs. 15.76%; χ² = 26.966, P < 0.01). A longitudinal analysis of snail indicators in marshlands with rebounding snail indicators after drought showed 1 to 5 years for return to pre-drought snail status, with a median of 2 (interquartile range, 1) years, and snail status was more likely to rebound if the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were 2.11% and 0.025 5 snail/0.1 m² and greater in snails-infested grass islands. Conclusions Drought causes a remarkable decline in O. hupensis snail indicators in the Poyang Lake area, with a more remarkable impact in the southern Poyang Lake area, and 1 to 5 years are required for return to pre-drought snail status.

Objective:To study the characteristics of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and to establish prediction models for PROM.Methods:This study involved 35 women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), 180 with term premature rupture of membranes (TPROM) and 255 term birth cases without premature rupture of membranes (TBWPROM, control group). The V3-V4 hypervariable region sequences in the vaginal samples collected at 16-28 weeks of gestation were detected by 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing. The differences in Alpha and Beta diversity, and the attributes and metabolic function prediction of each recognized species among the three groups were analyzed. Subsequently, a random forest model was used to establish the prediction models for PROM using vaginal microbiota species and environmental risk factors.Results:Compared with the control group, the Alpha diversity of the PPROM group was higher (Observed features, P=0.022; Faith_pd index, P=0.024) and Beta diversity was also significantly different (Unweighted UniFrac, P=0.010; Jaccard index, P=0.008). In PPROM cases, Megasphaera genomosp. typeⅠ was significantly increased ( P=0.017) and Lactobacillus mulieris was significantly decreased ( P=0.003). In the patients with TPROM, Megasphaera was significantly increased ( P=0.009) and Lactobacillus mulieris was significantly decreased ( P=0.002). In terms of functional pathways, sulfur oxidation ( P=0.021), methanogenesis from acetate ( P=0.036), L-histidine biosynthesis ( P=0.009), adenosylcobalamin biosynthesis ( P=0.041) and fucose degradation ( P=0.001) were significantly increased in patients with PPROM; L-histidine biosynthesis ( P<0.001) and fucose degradation ( P=0.030) were significantly increased in patients with TPROM. The prediction models were established using the random forest model with vaginal microbiota species and environmental risk factors and the prediction model for PPROM performed well [AUC: 0.739 (95%CI: 0.609-0.869), sensitivity: 0.928, specificity: 0.659, positive predictive value: 0.750, negative predictive value: 0.906], which had a certain reference value. Conclusions:Vaginal microbiota might be related to the development and progression of PROM. Studying the differences in vaginal microbiota might provide a new idea for the prevention and treatment of PROM. Functional prediction provided a direction for further research on the mechanism of PROM. The established prediction model could prevent the occurrence of PPROM and promote maternal and infant health.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemic trends and current status in the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province from 2002 to 2021， and to provide evidence for formulating and optimizing schistosomiasis control strategies in the province. MethodsEpidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province from 2002 to 2021 were collected. The Joinpoint regression model was used to investigate the epidemic trends of schistosomiasis， and the annual average percent change （AAPC） was used to assess the changing trend of schistosomiasis infection in humans and bovines. SPSS 25.0 software was used to analyze the target achievement status， infection rate of schistosomiasis in humans and the areas with snails in 2021 to evaluate the differences among various districts and epidemic regions. ResultsBy 2021， 24 counties （61.50%） in the province had achieved the elimination goal， with hilly and marsh counties reaching 82.60% and 31.30%， respectively. The seropositive rate of schistosomiasis in human was 3.51% across the province. However， the seropositive rate in marshland areas （4.77%） was significantly higher than that in hilly areas （1.23 %） （χ²=3 827.51， P<0.001）. The total area with snails in the province was 84 938.32 hm²， including 82 196.86 hm² in marshland areas and 2 741.46 hm² in hilly areas. From 2002 to 2021， the infection rate of schistosomiasis in the humans and bovines exhibited a declining trend， with AAPC values of -48.70 and -39.70， respectively. The decline rate in the hilly areas was higher than that in marshland areas. However， the area with snail showed an upward trend （AAPC=0.50）， with a growth rate of 5.80% in hilly areas， which was greater than that in marshland areas （0.40%）. ConclusionFrom 2002 to 2021， the infection rate of schistosomiasis in humans and bovines in Jiangxi Province continued to decline， while the areas with snails increased. The prevention focus should still be on the marshland endemic areas， and attention should also be given to the risk of schistosomiasis in hilly endemic areas. Therefore， it is necessary to continue implementing a comprehensive prevention and control strategy that emphasizes controlling the sources of infection and adopts tailored measures based on local conditions and precise policies.

Objective:To study the characteristics and influencing factors of vaginal microbiota in normal pregnant women.Methods:This study was based on a cohort of pregnant women established in Anqing Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from February 2018 to February 2020. Vaginal samples of normal pregnant women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were ordered by the gestational weeks at sampling. Five samples were randomly selected from each gestational week group and if the samples were less than five, all samples were included. Sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed. Dominant species were analyzed by MicrobiomeAnalyst. Alpha diversity was measured with Chao1, Observed Features, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, Faith_pd and Pielou′s Evenness. The dominant status of Lactobacillus was also described and compared. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing vaginal microbiota. Analysis of variance and Kruskal Wallis test were used for statistical analysis of continuous variables, and Chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used for categorical data. The differences were considered statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.05. Results:This study enrolled 91 pregnant women (91 vaginal samples) with an average age of (27.37±3.60) years. There were 18, 56 and 17 vaginal samples collected at the median gestational age of 11.93 weeks (the first trimester), 19.43 weeks (the second trimester) and 38.29 weeks (the third trimester), respectively. The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was 91.30% and 87.67%, respectively. Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus had a relative abundance of 43.95% and 36.33%, respectively. Moreover, Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota was detected in all trimesters. The number of samples with high relative abundance of Lactobacillus iners gradually decreased with gestational age. Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota was found in the second and third trimesters and the number of samples with high relative abundance gradually increased during pregnancy. The Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota had a decreasing trend during the gestation. There were significant differences in Pielou′s Evenness diversity index of vaginal microbiota between different smoking groups ( P<0.05) and in Shannon diversity index between different drinking groups ( P<0.05). There were significant differences in Chao1, Observed Features and Faith_pd diversity index of vaginal microbiota between pregnant women with different education ( P<0.05) and in Shannon and Simpson diversity index between different income groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Vaginal microbiota was dominated by Lactobacillus in normal pregnant women. The dominance of Lactobacillus iners gradually decreased, while that of Lactobacillus crispatus increased during gestation. In normal pregnant women, the Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota was correlated with smoking, drinking, education and family annual income. Smoking cessation and drinking before pregnancy were related to lower Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women, while lower education and higher family income were associated with higher Alpha diversity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the long-term survival outcomes of Siewert II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) between transthoracic (TT) approach and transabdominal (TA) approach. METHODS: The databases of Gastrointestinal Surgery Department and Thoracic Surgery Department in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2006 to 2014 were integrated. Patients of Siewert II AEG who underwent resection were retrospectively collected. INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) adenocarcinoma confirmed by gastroscopy and biopsy; (2) tumor involvement in the esophagogastric junction line; (3) tumor locating from lower 5 cm to upper 5 cm of the esophagogastric junction line, and tumor center locating from upper 1 cm to lower 2 cm of esophagogastric junction line; (4)resection performed at thoracic surgery department or gastrointestinal surgery department; (5) complete follow-up data. Patients at thoracic surgery department received trans-left thoracic, trans-right thoracic, or transabdominothoracic approach; underwent lower esophagus resection plus proximal subtotal gastrectomy; selected two-field or three-field lymph node dissection; underwent digestive tract reconstruction with esophagus-remnant stomach or esophagus-tubular remnant stomach anastomosis above or below aortic arch using hand-sewn or stapler instrument to perform anastomosis. Patients at gastrointestinal surgery department received transabdominal(transhiatal approach), or transabdominothoracic approach; underwent total gastrectomy or proximal subtotal gastrectomy; selected D1, D2 or D2 lymph node dissection; underwent digestive tract reconstruction with esophagus-single tube jejunum or esophagus-jejunal pouch Roux-en-Y anastomosis, or esophagus-remnant stomach or esophagus-tubular remnant stomach anastomosis; completed all the anastomoses with stapler instruments. The follow-up ended in January 2018. The TNM stage system of the 8th edition UICC was used for esophageal cancer staging; survival table method was applied to calculate 3-year overall survival rate and 95% cofidence interval(CI); log-rank test was used to perform survival analysis; Cox regression was applied to analyze risk factors and calculate hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI. RESULTS: A total of 443 cases of Siewert II AEG were enrolled, including 89 cases in TT group (with 3 cases of transabdominothoracic approach) and 354 cases in TA group. Median follow-up time was 50.0 months (quartiles:26.4-70.2). The baseline data in TT and TA groups were comparable, except the length of esophageal invasion [for length <3 cm, TA group had 354 cases(100%), TT group had 44 cases (49.4%), χ²=199.23,P<0.001]. The number of harvested lymph node in thoracic surgery department and gastrointestinal surgery department were 12.0(quartiles:9.0-17.0) and 24.0(quartiles:18.0-32.5) respectively with significant difference (Z=11.29,P<0.001). The 3-year overall survival rate of TA and TT groups was 69.2%(95%CI:64.1%-73.7%) and 55.8% (95%CI:44.8%-65.4%) respectively, which was not significantly different by log-rank test (P=0.059). However, the stage III subgroup analysis showed that the survival of TA group was better [the 3-year overall survival in TA group and TT group was 78.1%(95%CI:70.5-84.0) and 46.3%(95%CI:31.0-60.3) resepectively(P=0.001)]. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the TT group had poor survival outcome (HR=2.45,95%CI:1.30-4.64, P=0.006). CONCLUSION The overall survival outcomes in the TA group are better, especially in stage III patients, which may be associated with the higher metastatic rate of abdominal lymph node and the more complete lymphadenectomy via TA approach.
Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Databases, Factual ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Esophagogastric Junction ; pathology ; surgery ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; classification ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Analysis ; Thoracic Surgical Procedures