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.

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.

The epidemiology of ischemic stroke is characterized by a high incidence,high mortality and disability rates,and a high recurrence rate,yet current clinical treatment methods are limited.The onset of ischemic stroke is closely related to mitochondrial transfer.Mitochondria plays a crucial role in cellular energy supply,signal transmission,and other functions.In recent years,research on the application of mitochondrial transfer in the treatment of ischemic stroke has made progress.The authors reviewed the current research progress on mitochondrial transfer following ischemic stroke,aiming to highlight the existing research gaps and future prospects.This review provides guidance for the development of new clinical treatment methods for ischemic stroke.

Objective:The investigation and research on the application status of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) is very important to understand the real situation and future development of this technology in China.Methods:This study comprehensively investigated the basic situation of HVPG technology in China, including hospital distribution, hospital level, annual number of cases, catheters used, average cost, indications and existing problems.Results:According to the survey, there were 70 hospitals in China carrying out HVPG technology in 2021, distributed in 28 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central Government). A total of 4 398 cases of HVPG were performed in all the surveyed hospitals in 2021, of which 2 291 cases (52.1%) were tested by HVPG alone. The average cost of HVPG detection was (5 617.2±2 079.4) yuan. 96.3% of the teams completed HVPG detection with balloon method, and most of the teams used thrombectomy balloon catheter (80.3%).Conclusion:Through this investigation, the status of domestic clinical application of HVPG has been clarified, and it has been confirmed that many domestic medical institutions have mastered this technology, but it still needs to continue to promote and popularize HVPG technology in the future.

Excessive theta (θ) frequency oscillation and synchronization in the basal ganglia (BG) has been reported in elderly parkinsonian patients and animal models of levodopa (L-dopa)-induced dyskinesia (LID), particularly the θ oscillation recorded during periods when L-dopa is withdrawn (the off L-dopa state). To gain insight into processes underlying this activity, we explored the relationship between primary motor cortex (M1) oscillatory activity and BG output in LID. We recorded local field potentials in the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) and M1 of awake, inattentive resting rats before and after L-dopa priming in Sham control, Parkinson disease model, and LID model groups. We found that chronic L-dopa increased θ synchronization and information flow between the SNr and M1 in off L-dopa state LID rats, with a SNr-to-M1 flow directionality. Compared with the on state, θ oscillational activity (θ synchronization and information flow) during the off state were more closely associated with abnormal involuntary movements. Our findings indicate that θ oscillation in M1 may be consequent to abnormal synchronous discharges in the BG and support the notion that M1 θ oscillation may participate in the induction of dyskinesia.

Objective:To observe the effects of the Chinese medicine prescription Xiao-Cheng-Qi decoction (XCQD) on acute brain edema and inflammatory factors in rats with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods:A total of 108 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into control group, sham operation group, sTBI model group, and XCQD low, medium, high dose groups by random number table method, with 18 rats in each group. sTBI rat model was prepared according to the modified Freeney method. At 6 hours after injury, the XCQD low, medium, and high dose groups were given XCQD 1.80, 2.78, and 4.59 g/kg by gavage, respectively, and the other three groups were given the same amount of normal saline, once a day for 3 days. After 3 days of injury, rats in each group were sacrificed after the modified neurologic severity score (mNSS) assessed. Pathological changes of brain tissue were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining, water content of brain tissue was measured by dry-wet specific gravity method, and the expressions of aquaporin 4 (AQP4), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in brain tissue were detected by Western blotting. Serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:Compared with the normal group, the mNSS score of rats increased significantly, the structure of brain tissue was disordered, and pathological changes appeared such as inflammation, edema, pyknosis of nerve nuclei, water content, the protein expressions of AQP4, TNF-α and IL-1β in brain tissue, and the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β in serum were significantly increased. After XCQD intervention, the above indexes were significantly improved. Compared with sTBI model group, the mNSS score of XCQD medium and high dose groups significantly decreased (6.94±1.16, 6.88±1.02 vs. 8.61±1.09, both P < 0.05), and the pathological changes such as brain edema and inflammation were alleviated. Brain tissue water content, AQP4 protein expression and contents of serum TNF-α, IL-1β in XCQD low, medium, and high dose groups significantly decreased compared with sTBI model group [brain tissue water content: (78.25±0.71)%, (77.62±0.44)%, (76.70±0.74)% vs. (80.08±0.66)%; the expression of brain AQP4 protein (AQP4/β-actin): 0.86±0.13, 0.84±0.22, 0.65±0.13 vs. 1.08±0.14; serum TNF-α (ng/L): 106.34±15.07, 95.75±17.26, 89.00±17.36 vs. 141.96±29.47; serum IL-1β (ng/L): 90.41±12.88, 72.82±13.51, 71.32±16.79 vs. 128.57±22.56, respectively, all P < 0.05]. The protein expressions of TNF-α,IL-1β in brain tissue of XCQD medium and high dose groups also significantly decreased compared with sTBI model group [TNF-α (TNF-α/β-actin): 0.90±0.24, 0.79±0.35 vs. 1.17±0.15; IL-1β (IL-1β/β-actin): 0.91±0.21, 0.68±0.28 vs. 1.23±0.08, respectively, all P < 0.05]. Brain tissue water content, the expression of brain AQP4 protein, the levels of brain tissue and serum IL-1β in XCQD high dose group improved more significant than those of XCQD low dose group. Conclusions:XCQD can alleviate the acute brain edema in sTBI rats, and it is dose-dependent. The mechanism may be relevant to reduce the secondary inflammatory response of sTBI by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β.

Objective: To observe the effects of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) on nerve regeneration repair in rats with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) from the perspective of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawle (SD) male rats were randomly divided into normal group, STBI model group, ganglioside (GA) treatment group and DG treatment group. The STBI animal model was reproduced referring to modified Feeney free fall impact model. No injury was made in normal group. Six hours after modeling, monosialotetrahexosylganglioside sodium injection and DG injection were injected via tail vein of rats in GA treatment group and DG treatment group respectively, once a day for 7 days. Normal group and STBI model group were given the same amount of normal saline. Six rats in each group were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after the challenge for neurological severity score (NSS), and then the blood of abdominal aorta was drawn and brain tissue was harvested. The contents of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes of sub-granular zone (SGZ) were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, glycogen synthetase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin. Results: ① There was no neurological deficit in the normal group and NSS was 0. NSS score of rats increased significantly on the first day after modeling, and then decreased gradually over time. NSS of the rats treated with GA and DG were significantly lower than that of the STBI model rats (score: 7.33±2.07, 6.17±2.23 vs. 9.33±1.63, both P < 0.01). Though NSS gradually decreased over time, the differences were still statistically significant on the 7th day (score: 2.67±0.82, 1.00±0.00 vs. 6.17±2.23, both P < 0.01), and NSS of DG treatment group was significantly lower than that of GA treatment group. ② In SGZ of rats, cells were arranged in a compact and orderly way in the normal group, but neurons and tissues were damaged and destroyed at different time points in the STBI model group. After either GA or DG treatment, the damage of nerve tissue was improved gradually over time, and the effect of DG was more obvious.③ In the normal group, the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β- catenin were almost not expressed, the mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and Axin were higher, and the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were less. On the 1st day after STBI, the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β- catenin in hippocampus, the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were significantly increased, and the mRNA expressions of GSK-3βand Axin were significantly decreased. The mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β- catenin in the hippocampus and the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were significantly higher than those in the model group 1 day after GA or DG was added, the mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and Axin were significantly decreased, and the effect of DG was more significant than that of GA [Wnt3a mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 3.51±0.14 vs. 2.93±0.05, β- catenin mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 1.90±0.08 vs. 1.75±0.04, BDNF (ng/L): 4.06±0.55 vs. 3.16±0.64, NGF (ng/L): 9.53±1.08 vs. 7.26±0.43, GSK-3β mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 0.75±0.01 vs. 0.79±0.01, Axin mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 0.74±0.02 vs. 0.76±0.02, all P < 0.05]. It was gradually increasing or decreasing over time and the difference was still statistically significant up to the 7th day. Conclusion DG can promote the recovery of nerve function in rats with STBI, and its mechanism may be related to the regeneration of nerve cells proliferation and differentiation by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the reconstruction of nerve tissue in SGZ of hippocampus.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) on nerve regeneration repair in rats with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) from the perspective of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two Sprague-Dawle (SD) male rats were randomly divided into normal group, STBI model group, ganglioside (GA) treatment group and DG treatment group. The STBI animal model was reproduced referring to modified Feeney free fall impact model. No injury was made in normal group. Six hours after modeling, monosialotetrahexosylganglioside sodium injection and DG injection were injected via tail vein of rats in GA treatment group and DG treatment group respectively, once a day for 7 days. Normal group and STBI model group were given the same amount of normal saline. Six rats in each group were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd and 7th day after the challenge for neurological severity score (NSS), and then the blood of abdominal aorta was drawn and brain tissue was harvested. The contents of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The pathological changes of sub-granular zone (SGZ) were observed under light microscope after hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a, β-catenin, glycogen synthetase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin. RESULTS: (1) There was no neurological deficit in the normal group and NSS was 0. NSS score of rats increased significantly on the first day after modeling, and then decreased gradually over time. NSS of the rats treated with GA and DG were significantly lower than that of the STBI model rats (score: 7.33±2.07, 6.17±2.23 vs. 9.33±1.63, both P < 0.01). Though NSS gradually decreased over time, the differences were still statistically significant on the 7th day (score: 2.67±0.82, 1.00±0.00 vs. 6.17±2.23, both P < 0.01), and NSS of DG treatment group was significantly lower than that of GA treatment group. (2) In SGZ of rats, cells were arranged in a compact and orderly way in the normal group, but neurons and tissues were damaged and destroyed at different time points in the STBI model group. After either GA or DG treatment, the damage of nerve tissue was improved gradually over time, and the effect of DG was more obvious. (3) In the normal group, the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin were almost not expressed, the mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and Axin were higher, and the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were less. On the 1st day after STBI, the mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin in hippocampus, the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were significantly increased, and the mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and Axin were significantly decreased. The mRNA expressions of Wnt3a and β-catenin in the hippocampus and the contents of BDNF and NGF in serum were significantly higher than those in the model group 1 day after GA or DG was added, the mRNA expressions of GSK-3β and Axin were significantly decreased, and the effect of DG was more significant than that of GA [Wnt3a mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 3.51±0.14 vs. 2.93±0.05, β-catenin mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 1.90±0.08 vs. 1.75±0.04, BDNF (ng/L): 4.06±0.55 vs. 3.16±0.64, NGF (ng/L): 9.53±1.08 vs. 7.26±0.43, GSK-3β mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 0.75±0.01 vs. 0.79±0.01, Axin mRNA (2^-ΔΔCt): 0.74±0.02 vs. 0.76±0.02, all P < 0.05]. It was gradually increasing or decreasing over time and the difference was still statistically significant up to the 7th day. CONCLUSIONS DG can promote the recovery of nerve function in rats with STBI, and its mechanism may be related to the regeneration of nerve cells proliferation and differentiation by Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the reconstruction of nerve tissue in SGZ of hippocampus.
Animals ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Regeneration ; Wnt Signaling 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.

Objective To investigate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AGS cells. Methods AGS cells were cultured with either Hp11638 (CagA~+ , VacA~+ ) extract or Hp11638 mutant (CagA~+ , VacA~-) extract for 48 hours, then the cells and supernatants were collected. The concentration of ROS in AGS cells was measured by flow cytometry. The eytochrome C reduction was detected by spectrophotometer at 550 nm. Results The ROS levels in the AGS cells were correlated with two H. pylori strains in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The ROS levels in AGS cells treated with Hp11638 extract in different concentrations or times were correspondingly higher than those treated with Hp11638 mutant extract. Similar results were found in examination of cytochrome C reduction. Conclusion The elevation of ROS in AGS cells is related to effects of H. pylori proteins, and the VaeA protein involves in the process.