Anopheles stephensi is an important malaria vector in many Southeast Asian countries, and is also a widely distributed Anopheles species in parts of Asia. As a potential vector of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, Anopheles stephensi had a relative wide distribution in China. This review gives a brief overview of the morphological characteristics and geographical distribution of Anopheles stephensi, which has been reported in South China, Southwest China and East China, including but not limited to Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, Fujian and other provinces. Thanks to the continuous and effective disease surveillance and mosquito control strategies, the risk of malaria epidemic in China has been greatly reduced. However, Anopheles stepheni is highly invasive and adaptable, in addition to its rapid spread in global distribution, together with global climate anomalies and other factors, there still exists a certain transmission risk of the diseases related to Anopheles stepheni in some parts of China. In order to consolidate the achievements of malaria prevention and control, it is still necessary to conduct continuous monitoring of Anopheles stephensi and other malaria vectors, and to consolidate the implementation of malaria control measures in China.

Objective To evaluate the potential risk of transmission of angiostrongyliasis by common freshwater snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, so as to provide insights into local surveillance of angiostrongyliasis. Methods Common freshwater snails were collected from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province from March to April, 2020, and identified and bred in laboratory. SD rats were infected with third-stage larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis that were isolated from commercially available Pomacea canaliculata snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and freshwater snails were infected with the first-stage larvae of A. cantonensis that were isolated from the feces of SD rats 39 days post-infection at room temperature. The developmental process and morphological characteristics of worms in hosts were observed, and the percentages of A. cantonensis infections in different species of freshwater snails were calculated. Then, SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis that were isolated from A. cantonensis-infected freshwater snails, and the larval development and reproduction was observed. Results More than 3 000 freshwater snail samples were collected from farmlands, ditches and wetlands around Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, and Cipangopaludina chinensis, P. canaliculata, Parafossarulus striatulus, Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni, Galba pervia, Physa acuta, Radix swinhoei, Assiminea spp., Tricula spp. and Bellamya spp. were morphologically identified. A total of 105 commercially available P. canaliculata snails were tested for A. cantonensis infections, and 2 P. canaliculata snails were found to be infected with A. cantonensis, in which the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis were isolated. Ten species of freshwater snails were artificially infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis, and all 10 species of freshwater snails were found to be infected with A. cantonensis, with the highest positive rate of A. cantonensis infections in Bellamya spp. (62.3%, 137/204), and the lowest in C. chinensis (35.5%, 11/31). After SD rats were infected with the third-stage larvae of A. cantonensis isolated from different species of freshwater snails, mature adult worms of A. cantonensis were yielded. Conclusions Multiple species of freshwater snails may serve as intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis under laboratory conditions in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. Further investigations on natural infection of A. cantonensis in wild snails in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture seem justified.

Objective:To evaluate the associations between the renalase single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs2576178 and rs10887800 and the risk of hypertension in OSA patients. Methods:A total of 3, 570 male OSA subjects diagnosed via standard polysomnography were included in this retrospective study. We recorded anthropometric, genomic, and polysomnographic parameters and blood pressure levels. All subjects were divided into four groups based on quartiles of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). The relationships between rs2576178 and rs10887800 and the risk of hypertension were evaluated using the binary logistic regression, and haplotype analysis.Results:In the bottom AHI quartile, rs10887800 was significantly associated with the risk of hypertension according to the dominant model [odds ratio( OR)=0.691, 95% confidence interval ( CI)=0.483-0.990, P=0.044] even after adjustment for age, sex, and the body mass index. The G-A haplotype was associated with a co-effect of the two SNPs, namely, the risk of hypertension decreased ( OR=0.879, 95% CI=0.784-0.986, P=0.028). Conclusions:We find no association between single rs2576178 or rs10887800 variants with the risk of hypertension in our OSA population. But, the synergistic effect of the two polymorphisms is associated with the risk of hypertension in OSA patients.

Objective:To observe the effect of observing good swallowing on the swallowing action of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Eighteen stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=9) and a control group ( n=9). In addition to routine swallowing rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group was asked to simulate swallowing after watching a video of normal people′s swallowing action. They did so 5 times a week for 10 minutes, while the control group just watched landscape videos at the same time. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, both groups were assessed using the eating assessment tool (EAT-10), the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and the penetration and aspiration scale (PAS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was also used to observe their swallowing action. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements before the treatment. After the 8 weeks of treatment the average EAT-10, FOIS and PAS scores of the treatment group were all significantly better than before the treatment and better than the control group′s averages at the time. fMRI showed significantly more areas activated in the precuneus, parietal lobe, posterior central gyrus, BA7, BA5, frontal lobe and paracentral lobule in the treatment group compared with before the intervention and also more than in the control group.Conclusions:Observing proper swallowing action can improve dysphagia and activation of the swallowing-related brain areas of stroke survivors.

OBJECTIVE：To estab lish a me thod for simultaneous determination of morroniside ，loganin，echinacoside and acteoside in Huanshao capsules. METHODS ：HPLC method was adopted. The determination was performed on Zhongpuhong RD-C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile- 0.1％ formic acid solution （gradient elution ）at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was set at 240 nm （morroniside，loganin） and 330 nm （echinacoside，acteoside）. The column temperature was set at 35 ℃，and sample size was 10 μL. RESULTS：The linear range were 5.29-105.80 μg/mL for morroniside， 4.49-89.88 mg/L for loganin ，16.26-325.25 mg/L for echinacoside and 16.31-326.25 mg/L for acteoside ，r values were 0.999 9. RSDs of precision ，stability （24 h），reproducibility and durability tests were all lower than 2.0％ . The recoveries were 94.34％ -96.23％（RSD＝0.81％ ，n＝6），97.04％ -98.89％（RSD＝0.73％ ，n＝6），96.23％ -98.08％（RSD＝0.82％ ，n＝6）， 95.40％-98.47％（RSD＝1.23％，n＝6），respectively. The contents of above 4 components in 11 batches of Huanshao Capsules were 0.190-0.704，0.439-0.857，2.723-4.475 and 0.589-1.035 mg/g，respectively. CONCLUSIONS ：Established method is specific ， precise and can be used for content determination of 4 components in Huanshao capsules.

Objective:To observe the effect of applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing function and auditory evoked potentials in the brain-stems of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given 30 minutes of routine swallowing training 6 times a week for 5 weeks, while the observation group was additionally provided with two-second bursts of rTMS on the left and right brain hemispheres alternately for 20 minutes daily. The frequency was 3.0Hz and the strength was 80% of the resting motor threshold (RMT), with an interval of 10 seconds between bursts. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ swallowing was assessed using the functional communication measure (FCM) and the modified Mann swallowing capacity evaluation scale (MMASA). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded to detect any changes in the peak latency (PL) and inter-peak latency (IPL). The clinical efficacy was also observed.Results:After the treatment, the average FCM results of both groups had improved significantly, but the observation group had improved significantly more. The average MMASA total scores and the average scores on all the sub-items had improved significantly more in the observation group except for the expressive speech disorder and anarthria scores. After the treatment, improvement was observed in respiration, anarthria, range of motion of the tongue muscles, strength of the tongue muscles, gag reflex and soft palate movement compared with before the intervention. Peak and inter-peak latencies had also improved significantly more in the observation than in the control group, on average.Conclusions:rTMS combined with conventional swallowing training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors, and shorten the PL of the BAEP so as to better regulate deglutition.

The mortality rate of lung cancer has been high all over the world. In recent years, targeted drugs have become a new and effective method for the treatment of advanced lung cancer, but the early diagnosis and long-term effective treatment are still great challenges in lung cancer. Circular RNA (circRNA) is a unique RNA molecule with ring structure, which exhibits excellent stability and expression specificity. Increasing studies found that the expression of several circRNAs in tumors were abnormal. This abnormal expression is not only related to malignancy of tumors, but also involved in regulating the progress of tumors, which provides a new way for the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. Therefore, this article reviews the expression, the diagnostic and prognostic value as well as pathogenesis of circRNAs in lung cancer in order to find new targets for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.
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Objective The aim of this study is to explore the changes of expression of integrin αvβ3 in bovine u-terine epithelial cells in vitro induced by estrogen or/and progesterone alone or in combination,and to provide a new refer-ence marker for determining bovine uterine receptivity state. Methods RT-PCR was used to analyze the transcriptional changes of αvβ3 expression in bovine endometrium treated by different concentrations of estrogen,progesterone alone or in combination. Results The expression of integrin αvβ3 reached the highest level when the culture medium was added with progesterone at the concentration of 10 -7mg/mL,and the expression of αv and β3 in the 10 -7mg/mL concentration group was significantly higher than that of the control one(P<0.05). Moreover,the expression of αv was highest in the 10 -10 mg/mL E2group,but the expression of β3 was the lowest in that one. In addition,adding with both estrogen and progester-one,the transcriptional level of integrin αvβ3 was significantly higher than that in the control one. The transcriptional level of αv in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.05),but the transcriptional level of β3 in this group was not(P>0.05). Conclusions It can be concluded that integrin αvβ3 can be used as a new poten-tial reference marker gene for detecting the bovine uterine receptive status.

Objective To correlate the isokinetic strength of stroke survivors' trunk flexors and extensors with the kinematic parameters of their gait.Methods Thirty stroke survivors and 30 healthy counterparts formed an observation group and a control group.The strength of everyone's trunk flexors and extensors was measured isokinetically,including the flexor peak torque (FPT),extensor peak torque (EPT) and the ratio of the two (F/E).The test velocities were 30°/s,60°/s and 90°/s.And the kinematic parameters of their gait,including the step length,stride,velocity,frequency,width and cycle time were measured using a 3D gait analysis system,as well as the percentage of stance phase,swing phase,double support phase and single support phase.Results No significant differences were found between the average FPT,EPT or F/E of the two groups at any of the three test velocities.At the 30°/s test velocity the average FPT,EPT and F/E of the observation group were all positively correlated with the average step length,stride,velocity,steps/min,width and cycle time,as well as with the stance phase,swing phase,double support phase and single support phase percentages.The strongest correlation was between F/E and velocity (r=0.57),followed by frequency (r=0.54).Conclusion litating the walking ability of stroke survivors and correcting their gait should focus on strengthening the trunk muscles and optimizing their coordination.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the effort of applying frontal and occipital bones in extensive cranioplasty and preserving multiple cranial bone flaps adhered to the dura mater in the treatment of sagittal synostosis.

METHODSFrom April 2008 to June 2013, sixty-three children with sagittal synostosis, aged 5 months to 3 years, were included in the study. The frontal bone flap was removed using an air drill. The occipital and bilateral temporal bone flaps were cut open but not detached from the dura mater or fixed to produce floating bone flaps. The skull bone was cut into palisade-like structures. Brain compression from both sides and the base of the skull was released and the brain expanded bilaterally through the enlarged space. Only a long strip-shaped bone bridge remained in the central parietal bone. Subsequently, the frontal bone flaps and occipital bone flap were pushed towards the midline and fixed with the parietal bone bridge to shorten the anteroposterior diameter of the cranial cavity and allow the brain to expand bilaterally to correct scaphocephaly. The CT images showed that both sides of the parietal bone of artificial sagittal groove gradually merged postoperative 1 year, and skull almost completely normal healing after operation 2 or 3 years, without deformity recurrence within 5 years. Among them all, 61 children's intelligence is normal and 2 children's lagged behind normal level, no further improvement.

RESULTSPatients were followed up 1 - 5 years (an average of 43 months). Skull growth was excellent in all patients, the anteroposterior diameter was shortened by 14.6 mm averagely, the transverse diameter was increased by 12.3 mm averagely, the prominent forehead was corrected, and scaphocephaly improved significantly. There were no complications such as death and skull necrosis.

CONCLUSIONSThe application of frontal and occipital bones in extensive cranioplasty and preserving multiple cranial bone flaps adhered to the dura mater can be used in the treatment of sagittal synostosis. Surgery without removing bone flaps is less traumatic and results in no massive bleeding. It can effectively relieve brain compression and promotes transversal expansion of the brain during surgery and subsequent normal brain development.

Bone and Bones ; Brain ; growth & development ; Child, Preschool ; Craniosynostoses ; surgery ; Dura Mater ; Frontal Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Parietal Bone ; surgery ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; Temporal Bone ; surgery