OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To characterize a species of the genus Tricula and parasitized trematodes in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province using a molecular analysis, so as to understand their taxonomic positions. Methods Tricula spp. and Oncomelania snails were collected from Xiangyun County, Yunnan Province, and cercaria parasitizing snails were observed using crushing followed by microscopy. Cercaria parasitizing Tricula snails at various morphologies were sampled using a shedding method. Genomic DNA was extracted from snail soft tissues and cercariae, and the 16S rRNA, COI, 28S rDNA genes in snails and the ND1 and 28S rDNA genes in cercariae were amplified using a PCR assay and sequenced. The species of Tricula snails and their parasitized trematodes was characterized using sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis. Results Among 382 Tricula snails detected, there were three types of trematode cercariae found, including the non-forked (20.94%, 80/382), double-forked (3.40%, 13/382) and swallow shapes (7.07%, 27/382). Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that the 16S rRNA, COI and 28S rDNA gene sequences of this species of Tricula had high homology to those in Delavaya dianchiensis, and were clustered in a branch. Sequencing analysis of the ND1 and 28S rDNA genes revealed that the non-forked cercariae belonged to the family Pleu- rogenidae, the swallow-shaped cercariae belonged to the family Opecoelidae, and the double-forked cercariae belonged to another species of the genus Schistosoma that was different from S. sinensium and S. ovuncatum. Conclusion The species and taxonomy of Triculla spp. and their parasitized trematodes are preliminarily determined in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province; however, further studies are required to investigate the more definite taxonomy and pathogenicity.

The culture of schistosomiasis control is specific in the history of Chinese culture. Broadly speaking, the culture of schistosomiasis control is a summary of specific social mood, social consciousness and material culture created by Chinese populations during the progress of schistosomiasis control since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Narrowly speaking, the culture of schistosomiasis control is the spiritual culture that is jointly created and nurtured by schistosomiasis control workers since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The spiritual features of Chinese schistosomiasis control culture are characterized by the patriotism and care about the people, the matter-to-fact attitude, the pioneering and enterprising spirit, and the spirit of sacrifice and dedication. The ultimate goal of the research on the culture of schistosomiasis control is to facilitate the achievement of the strategic goal of Healthy China 2030 as scheduled, accelerate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis, and to promote the sustainable development of schistosomiasis control in China.

This paper describes the current epidemic characteristics and endemic status of schistosomiasis, analyzes the main challenges of schistosomiasis control and proposes the emphasis and interventions for future schistosomiasis control activities in Hunan Province, so as to provide insights into the elimination of schistosomiasis in Hunan Province.

AIM:To study the effect of Aurora protein kinase inhibitor VX-680 on homogeneous adhesion and migration ability in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG 2.METHODS:The HepG2 cell were divided into ex-perimental group and control group, respectively.VX-680 was used in experimental groups at 3 concentrations(3.125 μmol/L group,6.25 μmol/L group and 12.5 μmol/L group).DMSO was used in the control group.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the adhesion ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG 2 cells were observed by cell slow aggregation test and separation experiment.The effects of VX-680 at different concentrations on the migration ability of HepG2 cells was detected by wound healing assay.The expression of E-cadherin in HepG2 cells was detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The results of the slow aggregation test showed that compared with the control group,the number of cell clumps formed in experimental groups was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The results of separation experiment showed that the ratio of NTC/NTEgradually decreased with the increased concentration of VX-680.The results of wound healing as-say showed that as the concentration of VX-680 increased, the cell scratch healing ability gradually weakened compared with control group.The results of Western blot showed that the protein expression of E-cadherin in the HepG2 cells in-creased with the increased concentration of VX-680(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:VX-680 increases the homogeneous ad-hesion and inhibits the migration of HepG 2 cells.

Schistosomiasis is one of a few endemic and infectious diseases,which are controlled by the specific prevention and control institutions in China.Through the review of historical data,this paper describes the construction,continuation and changes of schistosomiasis prevention and control institutions in different historical periods and systems,and analyzes and evalu-ates its historical function,contribution and status.

This paper reviewed the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in the Yangtze River Basin in three stages, centered on the measures and achievements. It pointed out the key work of prevention and control which are infectious source control and effective surveillance at present stage. It will be beneficial to schistosomiasis control in China.

To investigate the effects of isovitexin Ⅳ on transient outward potassium current in rat ventricular myocytes. In this study, MTT assay was used to investigate the safe range of isovitexin. The results showed that the IC₅₀ of the drug was in the range of 10-30 μmol•L⁻¹, and the drug concentration of 1-3 μmol•L⁻¹ for the patch clamp test was within the safe range. In addition, the single ventricular myocytes were obtained by single-enzymatic hydrolysis through aortic retrograde perfusion. The transient outward potassium current (Ito) of rat ventricular myocytes was guided and measured by whole-cell patch-clamp technique and the changes of current characteristics were recorded after isovite was applied. When the concentration of IV was less than 0.1 μmol•L⁻¹, there was no significant effect on Ito. However, with the increase in the concentration of IV (≥0.3 μmol•L⁻¹), the peak of Ito was decreased gradually, from (32.32±2.9) pA/pF to （25.83±4.3） pA/pF, 1 μmol•L⁻¹ IV and (19.51±3.5) pA/pF, 3 μmol•L⁻¹ IV respectively, with an inhibition effect in a concentration-dependent manner. In the range of 1-3 μmol•L⁻¹, IV down-regulated the I-V curve of Ito significantly. The activation curve showed that IV can enable the maximum half activation potential (V1/2) to move to the positive direction, and the V1/2 was increased from (19.59±1.6) mV to (22.81±1.7) mV and (28.86±1.4) mV at concentration of 1, 3 μmol•L⁻¹, meanwhile the activation curve moved to the right. However, the maximum half inactivating potential (V1/2) of the steady-state inactivation curve of Ito was significantly decreased from (－51.43±0.99) mV to (－61.81±1.3) mV with concentration of 1 μmol•L⁻¹ and (－71.50±1.4) mV with concentration of 3 μmol•L⁻¹. The inactivation time constant of recovery from inactivation (τ) was up-regulated significantly from (94.89±0.73) ms to (118.5±1.5) ms and (162.4±1.4) ms at concentration of 1, 3 μmol•L⁻¹ respectively. Meanwhile IV could enable the inactivation recovery curve to move to the right, which suggested that it can prolong the recovery time from inactivation of the transient outward potassium channel. In conclusion, isovitexin had a high inhibitory effect on Ito in rat ventricular myocytes.

The role of intestinal microbiota in mammals and humans are gaining increasing attention. The health of piglets requires a dynamically balanced intestinal microbiota. However, there are temporal and spatial changes in the distri-bution and composition of microbiota from the esophagus to the rectum during the life cycle of the pig. The intestinal micro?biota has various beneficial functions in pig, like nutrient metabolism, intestinal mucosal barrier, immune responses and pathogen infection. A variety of factors play an important role in the formation and stabilization of intestinal microbiota, in?cluding the ways of delivery ( vaginal or caesarean) , the diet during infancy ( breast milk or formula feeds) and the usage of antibiotics or antibiotic-like molecules. In this review, we mainly discussed the relationship between intestinal microbi?ota and the intestinal health of piglets from the aspects of the composition and colonization of intestinal microbiota, as well as the functions and influencing factors of intestinal microbiota, so as to further understanding the importance of intestinal microbiota in intestinal function of piglets.

BACKGROUNDPyroptosis is the term for caspase-1-dependent cell death associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. The role of alveolar macrophage (AM) pyroptosis in the pathogenesis of the acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) remains unclear.

METHODSC57BL/6 wild-type mice were assigned to sham, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) + vehicle, LPS + acetyl-tyrosyl-valyl- alanyl-aspartyl-chloromethylketone (Ac-YVAD-CMK) and LPS + Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone groups. Mice were given intraperitoneal (IP) injections of LPS. Drugs were IP injected 1 h before LPS administration. Mice were sacrificed 16 h after LPS administration, and AMs were isolated. Western blot analysis for active caspase-1 and cleaved caspase-3, evaluation of lung injury and a cytokine release analysis were performed. AMs were treated with LPS and adenosine triphosphate (ATP); caspase-1-dependent cell death was evaluated using flow cytometry; the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) pyroptosomes were examined by immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThe expression of activated caspase-1 in AMs was enhanced following LPS challenge compared with the sham group. In the ex vivo study, the caspase-1/propidium iodide-positive cells, caspase-1 specks and ASC pyroptosomes were up-regulated in AMs following LPS/ATP stimulation. The specific caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK inhibited the activation of caspase-1 and pyroptotic cell death. Ac-YVAD-CMK also reduced the lung injury, pulmonary edema and total protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In addition, Ac-YVAD-CMK significantly inhibited interleukin-α2 (IL-1α2) release both in serum and BALF and reduced the levels of IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-α± (TNF-α±), High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1) in BALF during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS.

CONCLUSIONSThis study reported AM pyroptosis during LPS-induced ALI/ARDS in mice and has demonstrated that Ac-YVAD-CMK can prevent AM-induced pyroptosis and lung injury. These preliminary findings may form the basis for further studies to evaluate this pathway as a target for prevention or reduction of ALI/ARDS.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Pyroptosis ; drug effects