Objective To investigate the global burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) from 1990 to 2021 and predict the trends in the burden of VL from 2022 to 2035, so as to provide insights into global VL prevention and control. Methods The global age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates of VL and their 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were captured from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) data resources. The trends in the global burden of VL were evaluated with average annual percent change (AAPC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) from 1990 to 2021, and gender-, age-, country-, geographical area- and socio-demographic index (SDI)-stratified burdens of VL were analyzed. The trends in the global burden of VL were projected with a Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model from 2022 to 2035, and the associations of age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs rates of VL with SDI levels were examined with a smoothing spline model. Results The global age-standardized incidence [AAPC = -0.25%, 95% CI: (-0.25%, -0.24%)], prevalence [AAPC = -0.06%, 95% CI: (-0.06%, -0.06%)], mortality [AAPC = -0.25%, 95% CI: (-0.25%, -0.24%)] and DALYs rates of VL [AAPC = -2.38%, 95% CI: (-2.44%, -2.33%)] all appeared a tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2021, and the highest age-standardized incidence [2.55/10⁵, 95% UI: (1.49/10⁵, 4.07/10⁵)], prevalence [0.64/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.37/10⁵, 1.02/10⁵)], mortality [0.51/10⁵, 95% UI: (0, 1.80/10⁵)] and DALYs rates of VL [33.81/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.06/10⁵, 124.09/10⁵)] were seen in tropical Latin America in 2021. The global age-standardized incidence and prevalence of VL were both higher among men [0.57/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.45/10⁵, 0.72/10⁵); 0.14/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.11/10⁵, 0.18/10⁵)] than among women [0.27/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.21/10⁵, 0.33/10⁵); 0.06/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.05/10⁵, 0.08/10⁵)], and the highest mortality of VL was found among children under 5 years of age [0.24/10⁵, 95% UI: (0.08/10⁵, 0.66/10⁵)]. The age-standardized incidence (r = -0.483, P < 0.001), prevalence (r = -0.483, P < 0.001), mortality (r = -0.511, P < 0.001) and DALYs rates of VL (r = -0.514, P < 0.001) correlated negatively with SDI levels from 1990 to 2021. In addition, the global burden of VL was projected with the BAPC model to appear a tendency towards a decline from 2022 to 2035, and the age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality and DALYs rates were projected to be reduced to 0.11/10⁵, 0.03/10⁵, 0.02/10⁵ and 1.44/10⁵ in 2035, respectively. Conclusions Although the global burden of VL appeared an overall tendency towards a decline from 1990 to 2021, the burden of VL showed a tendency towards a rise in Central Asia and western sub-Saharan African areas. The age-standardized incidence and prevalence rates of VL were relatively higher among men, and the age-standardized mortality of VL was relatively higher among children under 5 years of age. The global burden of VL was projected to continue to decline from 2022 to 2035.

Objective To analyze the structural and phylogenetic characteristics of the mitochondrial genome from Bulinus globosus, so as to provide a theoretical basis for classification and identification of species within the Bulinus genus, and to provide insights into understanding of Bulinus-schistosomes interactions and the mechanisms of parasite transmission. Methods B. globosus samples were collected from the Ruya River basin in Zimbabwe. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted from B. globosus samples and the corresponding libraries were constructed for high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. After raw sequencing data were subjected to quality control using the fastp software, genome assembly was performed using the A5-miseq and SPAdes tools, and genome annotation was conducted using the MITOS online server. Circular maps and sequence plots of the mitochondrial genome were generated using the CGView and OGDRAW software, and the protein conservation motifs and structures were analyzed using the TBtools software. Base composition and codon usage bias were analyzed and visualized using the software MEGA X and the ggplot2 package in the R software. In addition, a phylogenetic tree was created in the software MEGA X after sequence alignment with the software MAFFT 7, and visualized using the software iTOL. Results The mitochondrial genome of B. globosus was a 13 730 bp double-stranded circular molecule, containing 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and 13 protein-coding genes, with a marked AT preference. The mitochondrial genome composition of B. globosus was similar to that of other species within the Bulinus genus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of B. globosus was clustered with B. truncatus, B. nasutus, and B. ugandae into the same evolutionary clade, and gene superfamily analysis showed that the metabolism-related proteins of B. globosus were highly conserved, notably the cytochrome c oxidase family, which showed a significant consistency. Conclusions This is the first whole mitochondrial genome sequencing to decode the compositional features of the mitochondrial genome of B. globosus from Zimbabwe and its evolutionary relationship within the Bulinus genus, which provides important insights for further understanding of the phylogeny and mitochondrial genome characteristics of the Bulinus genus.

Objective To perform a bibliometric analysis of researches on the Plasmodium falciparum repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFIN) protein from 1993 to 2022 and identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research, so as to provide insights into future researches on RIFIN protein. Methods RIFIN protein-associated publications were retrieved in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1993 to 2022 and all bibliometric analyses were performed using the software CiteSpace 6.2.4.0. The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was analyzed from 1993 to 2022, and country, author and institution collaboration networks were created. Keywords were extracted from RIFIN protein-associated publications for plotting keyword co-occurrence, clustering, burst and timeline maps to identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research. Results A total of 745 English RIFIN protein-associated publications were included in the final bibliometric analysis, and there were 18 to 36 publications each year from 1993 to 2022. The top three countries with the highest activity in the RIFIN protein research included the United States, the United Kingdom and France, universities and research institutes were highly active in the RIFIN protein research; however, no authors were identified with a high activity in the RIFIN protein research. There were three keyword clusters in the RIFIN protein-associated publications, including repetitive DNA sequence, molecular epidemiology and antigenic variation. Keyword co-occurrence, burst and timeline analyses showed that previous RIFIN protein-associated publications mainly focused on gene properties and functions, involving keywords of repetitive DNA sequence and evolution, and recent hot topics for the RIFIN protein research shifted to genetic diversity and immune response, involving keywords of genetic diversity, antigenic variation and binding. Conclusions The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was relatively stable from 1993 to 2022. This bibliometric analysis may provide insights into future researches on the RIFIN protein.

With the growth of the global economy , changes in climate and ecological environments, and increased mobility of humans and animals, the transmission risk of vector-borne tropical diseases continues to rise. To address this challenge, strengthening surveillance of vector-borne tropical diseases is urgent. This consensus brought together 29 renowned experts in related professional fields from 26 institutions in China, who, through analyzing the epidemic trend and hazard situation of vector-borne tropical diseases and summarizing the working experiences of experts, have firstly reached following consensus: the burden of vector-borne tropical diseases is heavy with great threats to human health; China has achieved remarkable results in prevention and control of vector-borne tropical diseases , but still needs to strengthen the surveillance and response actively. Secondly, a unanimous consensus has been reached on the aspects of surveillance definition, objectives, contents, and methods of vector-borne tropical diseases. Thirdly, detail requirements have been agreed including: strengthening the concept of early surveillance and forecast, standarding the function, evaluation steps, and construction requirements of surveillance system for vector-borne tropical diseases. Fourthly, key tasks were put forward that need to be investigated and strengthened in the future. This expert consensus provides a standardized reference for the construction of the surveillance pathway and surveillance system for vector-borne tropical diseases in China.

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infection and transmitted by sandflies. There are three main forms of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. China is mainly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, which is a class C notifiable infectious disease in the country. Following concerted efforts, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis had been controlled in most endemic foci of China by the end of 1958, with a few cases reported in western China. Due to global climate changes and population mobility, resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis has recently occurred in historical endemic areas of central and western China, which is characterized by gradual expansion of endemic areas and remarkable rebounding epidemics. Hereby, we summarize the national and global epidemiology and control strategy of visceral leishmaniasis, propose 8 key research areas and 12 key research topics for visceral leishmaniasis control, and recommend the establishment of the joint prevention and control mechanism of “human-animals-vectors” and the working mechanism of animal prevention for human diseases based on the One Health approach, so as to combat the resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in China.

Objective To evaluate the molluscicidal effect of spraying different formulations of niclosamide ethanolamine salt with drones against Oncomelania hupensis in ditches. Methods A semi-dry and semi-wet ditch with O. hupensis snails was selected in the second branch field of Jiangbei Farm, Jiangling County, Hubei Province in May 2023, and divided into 4 experimental areas, named groups A1, A2, B1 and B2. Environmental cleaning was performed in groups A1 and B2, and was not conducted in groups A2 or B2. Then, 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt was sprayed with drones at an effective dose of 2 g/m² in groups A1 and A2, and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granule was sprayed with drones at an effective dose of 2 g/m² in groups B1 and B2. O. hupensis snails were surveyed using the systematic sampling method 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 days after spraying, and the natural mortality and corrected mortality of O. hupensis snails were calculated. Results The occurrence of frames with living snails, mean density of living snails and natural mortality of snails were 97.50% (117/120), 6.30 snails/0.1 m² and 1.18% (9/765) in the test ditch before spraying, respectively. There were significant differences in the mortality of snails among four groups 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after spraying niclosamide formulations with drones (χ² = 17.230, 51.707, 65.184, 204.050 and 34.435, all P values < 0.01). The overall mortality rates of snails were 94.51% (1 051/1 112), 79.44% (908/1 143), 96.54% (977/1 012) and 88.55% (1 021/1 153) in groups A1, A2, B1 and B2 (χ² = 207.773, P < 0.05), respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference in the overall snail mortality between groups A1 and B1 (P > 0.05), and the snail mortality in groups A1 and B1 were both statistically different from that in groups A2 and B2 (all P values < 0.05). Conclusion Both 50% wettlable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granule sprayed with drones are active against O. hupensis snails in ditches, and environmental cleaning may improve the molluscicidal effect.

Objective:To analyze the clinical application of different diagnostic methods for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:It was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Uremia patients who underwent hemodialysis at Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from July 2020 to June 2021 were enrolled. The demographic characteristics, laboratory indicators, and echocardiography parameters were collected. The 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria, H 2FPEF score [composite score based on weighted scores of heavy (H), hypertensive (H), atrial fibrillation (F), pulmonary hypertension (P), elder (E), and filling pressure (F)], and Heart Failure Association (HFA) -PEFF score [including pre-test assessment (P), echocardiography and natriuretic peptide score (E), functional testing (F) and final aetiology (F)] were used to diagnose HFpEF, respectively, and the difference of three diagnostic methods was compared. The association between HFpEF diagnosed by the three methods and poor outcomes (all-cause death, cardiovascular death) was analyzed. Results:A total of 160 MHD patients were included, whose age was (58.5±13.4) years, median dialysis age was 5.0 (2.3, 9.6) years, median H 2FPEF score was 2 (1, 3), median HFA-PEFF score was 4 (3, 5), and 92 (57.5%) were males. Of these patients, 118 patients (73.8%) met the 2016 ESC criteria for diagnosis of HFpEF, 4 (2.5%) met H 2FPEF score for diagnosis of HFpEF, and 56 (35.0%) met HFA-PEFF score for diagnosis of HFpEF. The consistency of three methods in diagnosing HFpEF was poor with κ values of 0.018 between ESC criteria and H 2FPEF score, 0.322 between ESC criteria and HFA-PEFF score, and 0.056 between H 2FPEF score and HFA-PEFF score. After a median follow-up of 2.6 years, 20 (12.5%) of the 160 MHD patients died. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significant difference in mortality between patients diagnosed with HFpEF and those without using the H 2FPEF score (Log-rank test, χ2=6.95, P=0.008). After adjusting for demographic and clinical parameters, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that HFpEF diagnosed by HFA-PEFF score was associated with all-cause mortality ( HR=2.73, 95% CI 1.07-6.98, P=0.036) and cardiovascular mortality ( HR=4.77, 95% CI 1.31-17.30, P=0.018). Conclusions:The 2016 ESC criteria, H 2FPEF score, and HFA-PEFF score have high heterogeneity and poor consistency in diagnosing HFpEF in MHD patients. Among the three diagnostic methods, only the diagnosis based on HFA-PEFF score is associated with the prognosis of MHD patients. The HFA-PEFF score can be used to assess the risk of HFpEF in MHD patients, and more clinical studies are needed to further verify it in the future.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and vaccination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:It was a cross-sectional survey. Through wechat questionnaire star mode, the status of SARS-CoV-2 infection, clinical manifestation after infection and vaccination of MHD patients in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between December 8, 2022 and January 12, 2023 were retrospectively collected during the period that SARS-CoV-2 infection was managed with measures against class B infectious diseases. The patients were grouped according to whether they were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and whether they were complicated with pneumonia after infection during the study period. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection combined with pneumonia or persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 turning negative.Results:A total of 241 questionnaires were issued, and 223 valid questionnaires were returned, of which 175 patients (78.5%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the study period. The time of negative conversion of antigen or nucleic acid after SARS-CoV-2 infection was 10 (7,14) days. Asymptomatic infections accounted for 10.3% (18/175). Symptomatic infections accounted for 89.7% (157/175), and the top five most frequent symptoms were cough (70.1%, 110/157), fever (64.3%, 101/157), pharyngeal pain (35.0%, 55/157), muscle pain (28.7%, 45/157), and nasal obstruction (21.0%, 33/157). Pneumonia was reported in 54.3% (95/175) of infected patients. There were no statistically significant differences in age, gender distribution, proportion of diabetes mellitus, and proportion of history of tumors between SARS-CoV-2-infected and uninfected patients (all P>0.05). Compared with the non-pneumonia group, the proportions of dyspnea (12.6% vs. 1.3%, χ2=8.181, P=0.004) and chest tightness (23.2% vs. 10.0%, χ2=5.293, P=0.021) in the pneumonia group were both higher. There were no significant differences in age, gender distribution, time of negative SARS-CoV-2 transition, number of symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate,and proportions of diabetes mellitus and tumors between the pneumonia group and the non-pneumonia group (all P>0.05). There were 48.6% (85/175) infected patients having long-lasting clinical symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 turning negative. Logistic regression analysis results showed that diarrhea was an independent influencing factor of pneumonia in MHD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 [ OR (95% CI)=6.323 (1.061-37.682), P=0.043]. The number of symptoms at onset [ OR (95% CI)=1.571 (1.318-1.873), P<0.001] and history of tumors [ OR (95% CI)=0.206 (0.054-0.777), P=0.020] were independent influencing factors of long-lasting clinical symptoms. The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination rate was 7.2% (16/223) in MHD patients due to safety concerns (81.2%, 164/202). Conclusions:MHD patients are SARS-CoV-2-susceptible population. The clinical symptoms after infection are diverse, heterogeneous, and the proportion of complicated pneumonia is high. Diarrhea is an independent influencing factor of pneumonia in SARS-CoV-2-infected MHD patients. Nearly half of patients experience long-lasting clinical symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 turning negative. The low rate of vaccination in the MHD population necessitates increased awareness about the safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or tacrolimus (TAC) compared with azathioprine (AZA) as maintenance therapy for active lupus nephritis (ALN). Patients with ALN who responded to 24 weeks of induction treatment were enrolled. Patients who received MMF or TAC as induction therapy continued MMF or TAC treatment during the maintenance period, whereas those who received intravenous cyclophosphamide were subjected to AZA treatment. The primary endpoint was the incidence of renal relapse. Secondary endpoints included extrarenal flares and composite endpoints (deaths, end-stage renal disease, or doubling of serum creatinine levels). A total of 123 ALN patients (47 in the MMF group, 37 in the TAC group, and 39 in the AZA group) were enrolled. The median follow-up time was 60 months. Ten MMF-treated patients, ten TAC-treated patients, and eight AZA-treated patients experienced renal relapses (P = 0.844). The cumulative renal relapse rates in the MMF group (P = 0.934) and TAC group (P = 0.673) were similar to the renal relapse rate in the AZA group. No significant difference in the incidence of severe adverse event was observed among the groups. Long-term maintenance therapies with MMF or TAC might have similarly low rates of renal relapse and similar safety profiles compared with AZA.
Humans ; Mycophenolic Acid/adverse effects* ; Azathioprine/adverse effects* ; Tacrolimus/therapeutic use* ; Lupus Nephritis/complications* ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Treatment Outcome ; Recurrence

Objective:To determine the prevalence of sarcopenia and explore related influencing factors of sarcopenia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:MHD patients aged ≥18 years old and receiving therapies of ≥3 months from March 2019 to December 2019 in Blood Purification Centre of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively enrolled in this study. General data of the patients were collected. Grip strength was measured by the Jamar dynamometer and the chair stand was measured by a chair of standard height to assess skeletal muscle strength and appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Baseline data between MHD patients with and without myasthenia were compared. Logistic regression analysis method was used to analyze the influencing factors for sarcopenia in MHD patients.Results:A total of 125 MHD patients were enrolled, with 68 males (54.4%), age of (59.4±14.9) years and median dialysis age of 51.0(23.5, 101.0) months. Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 39 cases (31.2%). Compared with MHD patients without sarcopenia, age, tumor necrosis factor-α, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and proportion of using α ketones were higher, and serum carbondioxide combining power (CO 2CP), prealbumin, albumin and proportion of regular exercise were lower in MHD patients with sarcopenia (all P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis results showed that low CO 2CP ( OR=0.717, 95% CI 0.576-0.892, P=0.003), high vWF ( OR=1.037, 95% CI 1.016-1.058, P<0.001) and no regular exercise ( OR=0.309, 95% CI 0.118-0.810, P=0.017) were independent influencing factors of sarcopenia in MHD patients. Conclusions:The prevalence of sarcopenia in MHD patients is high. Low CO 2CP, high vWF and no regular exercise are independent influencing factors for sarcopenia in MHD patients.