Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), comprised of organic ligands and metal ions/metal clusters

As the progress of population aging in China, the proportion of elderly population is increasing. Both chronic diseases and infectious diseases can threaten the health of the elderly. There are many kinds of infectious diseases, including vaccine preventable infectious diseases affecting the health of adults, such as influenza, pneumococcal diseases and herpes zoster. In addition, the newly emerged COVID-19 has caused a pandemic in the world, resulting the highest proportion of deaths occurred in the elderly and posing a serious threat to the health of the elderly. This paper mainly summarizes the prevention and control of vaccine preventable diseases and COVID-19 to which the elderly are susceptible, analyzes the infectious disease problems affecting the health of elderly population, and recommends countermeasures for the prevention and control of these diseases in elderly population.

Objective: To explore the effect of enteral nutrition on tumor cell proliferation activity in rectal cancer patients with nutritional risk treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy. Methods: Sixty-six rectal cancer patients with nutritional risk treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy from January 2016 to January 2018 in the Yongchuan Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University were selected. The patients were divided into experimental group (enteral nutrition combined with neoadjuvant therapy) and control group (simple adjuvant therapy) according to the random digits table method, with 33 cases in each group. The expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 antigen before and after treatment were detected by immunohistochemical method; the albumin and prealbumin before and after treatment were observed, and the nutrition risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) was evaluated. Results: There were no statistical differences in the expressions of PCNA and Ki-67 antigen before treatment between 2 groups (P>0.05); the expressions of PCNA and Ki-67 antigen after treatment in experimental group were significantly lower than those in control group, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in the NRS2002 score, albumin and prealbumin before treatment between 2 groups (P>0.05); the NRS2002 score after treatment in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group: (1.58 ± 0.50) scores vs. (3.65 ± 0.72) scores, the albumin and prealbumin after treatment were significantly higher than those in control group: (35.92 ± 2.77) g/L vs. (31.12 ± 1.76) g/L and (204.58 ± 23.86) mg/L vs. (157.46 ± 18.99) mg/L, and there were statistical differences (P<0.01). Conclusions Enteral nutrition can reduce the proliferation activity of tumor cell in rectal cancer patients with nutritional risk treated with preoperative neoadjuvant therapy, and it can improve the nutritional status of patients.

Objective To compare the production of farnesol between Candida albicans (C.albicans) biofilms formed by resistant and standard strains in different media,and to investigate the changing trend of farnesol production in different phases of biofilm formation and the features of farnesol production by resistant C.albicans.Methods Fluconazole-resistant C.albicans strains were induced in vitro.Standard strains and fluconazole-resistant strains of C.albicans were separately inoculated onto different media,including RPMI 1640 medium,yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) medium,yeast nitrogen base (YNB) + 0.5％ glucose medium,RPMI 1640 + 10％ fetal calf serum (FCS),so as to form C.albicans biofilms.Morphological changes of C.albicans biofilms at 24 hours were observed under an inverted microscope,and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS)was performed to detect the level of farnesol at 1.5,3,6,12,24,36 and 48 hours.Results There were no obvious differences in the morphology of C.albicans biofilms between the resistant and standard strains when they were cultured in the same medium,while the morphology of C.albicans biofilms markedly differed between the 2 kinds of strains in the different media.Three-factor analysis of variance showed that the production of farnesol in the C.albicans biofilms changed over time (F =70.628,P ＜ 0.001).Concretely speaking,during the formation of resistant and standard C.albicans biofilms,the production of farnesol gradually increased in the RPMI 1640,YPD and YNB + 0.5％ glucose media until the biofilms matured,then showed a decreasing trend.However,the time to peak levels of farnesol was different between the 2 kinds of strains in these media.Moreover,the levels of farnesol in the 2 kinds of strains both slowly increased in the RPMI 1640 + 10％ FCS medium within 12-48 hours.Culture media also significantly affected the production of farnesol (F =176.665,P ＜ 0.001),and the levels of farnesol in the resistant and standard C.albicans biofilms were both higher in the YNB + 0.5％ glucose medium.When resistant and standard strains were separately cultured in the RPMI 1640 media and the YPD media,the level of farnesol was significantly higher in the resistant strains than in the standard stains (RPMI 1640 media at 36 hours:1.157 ± 0.064 vs.0.250 ± 0.075,P ＜ 0.05;YPD media at 6 hours:0.262 ± 0.036 vs.0.055 ± 0.062,P ＜ 0.05;YPD media at 12 hours:0.730 ± 0.030 vs.0.482 ± 0.024,P ＜ 0.05).However,when they were separately cultured in the YNB + 0.5％ glucose media,the farnesol level was significantly higher in the standard stains than in the resistant strains (36 hours:2.950 ± 0.677 vs.0.523 ± 0.266,P =0.020).Conclusion The media markedly affect the production of farnesol in the C.albicans biofilms,and there is a certain difference in the production of farnesol between resistant and standard C.albicans strains.

Objective To investigate the effect of dopaminergic neurons of midbrain ventral tegmental area(VTA) in general anesthesia.Methods Forty adult healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into lesion group (n=20) and control group (n=20).The lesion group was given the bilateral infusion of specific dopaminergic neuron injury agent 6-OHDA in midbrain lateral VTA,while the control group received the same volume of normal saline at the same areas.The time of loss of righting reflex (LORR)loss and recovery of righting reflex(RORR)at postoperative 2 week were observed in each group.Results Compared with the control group,the LORR time in the lesion group was shortened and the RORR time was significantly prolonged under propofol-induced anesthesia (P＜0.05).However,the LORR time under the isoflurane anesthesia had no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05),while the RORR time in the lesion group was increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dopaminergic neurons in midbrain VTA might play different roles in the induction and recovery of different general anesthetics.

Objective To observe the effects ofLiuwei Dihuang Decoction on cAMP and PDE3B in adipose tissues of rats with type 2 diabetes;To explore its mechanism.MethodsTotally 80 SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:control group and molding group. Rats in the molding group established the type 2 diabetic models by feeding high sugar and fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of Streptozotocin. The successful modeling rats were divided into model group, Rosiglitazone group, andLiuwei Dihuang Decoction group. Administration groups were given relevant medicine for gavage, while model group and blank group were given the same amount of normal saline for 30 days. FBG levels were detected, and cAMP and INS levels were detected by ELISA. The protein expressions of PDE3B in adipose tissues were determined by Western blot. The mRNA expressions of PDE3B in adipose tissues were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the model group, the FBG and INS levels in type 2 diabetic rats were reduced in Rosiglitazone group andLiuwei DihuangDecoction group (P<0.05,P<0.01). InLiuwei Dihuang Decoction group, the protein and mRNA expressions of PDE3B in the adipose tissues were higher, and cAMP levels were lower than the model group (P<0.01).ConclusionLiuwei Dihuang Decoction can increase PDE3B expression, and decrease cAMP level, which may be one of the mechanisms for improving insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats.

Objective To study the expressions and significances of leptin,estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER) in pulmonary squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.Methods The expressions of leptin and estrogen receptor were detected in 58 cases of lung adenocarcinoma and 63 cases of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma and 50 cases of normal lung tissue samples by immunohistochemical menthod,the levels of estrogen were also detected in patients with venous blood at the same time.Comparison of differential expression of leptin,estrogen and estrogen receptor in lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma,normal tissues,and explore their relationships with lung adenocarcinoma.Results Leptin,estrogen and estrogen receptor positive rates in lung adenocarcinoma group were 65.5％,36.2％ and 58.6％ respectively,and 33.3％,15.9％,30.2％ in lung squamous cell carcinoma group.There were a statistical difference between the two groups (x2 =4.324,P＜0.050;x2 =5.372,P ＜0.050;x2 =5.718,P ＜0.050).In the normal control group the positive rates were 24.0％,4.0％ and 0 respectively,and there was a statistical difference compared with lung adenocarcinoma group (x2 =7.126,P ＜0.010;x2 =9.683,P＜0.005;x2 =22.308,P ＜0.005).In lung adenocarcinoma group,leptin,estrogen and estrogen receptor positive rate have no relationships with tumor stage (x2 =0.001,P=0.950;x2 =0.061,P =0.900;x2 =0.178,P=0.750) and primary tumor size (x2=0.023,P=0.900;x2 =0.001,P=0.950;x2 =0.001,P=0.950).Conclusion Leptin,estrogen and ER were expressed highly in adenocarcinoma of lung tumor.The expressions of leptin,estrogen and ER may associated with the carcinogenesis,development and clinical type of adenocarcinoma of lung.

OBJECTlVE To investigate the myocardiaI toxicity of doxorubicin on the myocardium of rabbits and mechanism. METHODS Doxorubicin 2 mg·kg-1 was injected once a week for eight weeks. After discontinuation of doxorubicin,observation was performed for another 8 weeks. Every weekend, uItrasound examination,cardiac catheterization,angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ)Western bIotting and pathoIogi-caI examination were performed to anaIyze eject fraction( EF),maximaI rate of rise of Ieft ventricuIar pressure(+dp/ dtmax ),AngⅡexpression IeveI,apoptosis index(AI)and the structure of the myocardium. RESULTS At the 7th injection,EF decreased( P ﹤0.05),but reached the bottom vaIue at the 8th injection. At the 3rd injection,Ieft ventricuIar +dp/ dtmax decreased( P ﹤0.05)and reached the bottom vaIue one week after withdrawaI. After that,it increased and reached a high vaIue six weeks after withd-rowaI. But it was stiII Iower than before administration. At the 2nd injection,AngⅡ expression increased (P﹤0.05). At 1 week after withdrawaI,it reached the top vaIue,but than decreased and reached a Iow vaIue six weeks after withdrowaI,but was stiII higher than before administration. At the 1st injection,AI increased( P ﹤ 0.05). At 1 week after withdrawaI,it reached the top vaIue,but then decreased and reached a Iow vaIue 5 weeks after withdrawaI. But it was stiII higher than before administration. CONCLUSlON Doxorubicin cardiac toxicity can induce an eIevated IeveI of myocardiaI AngⅡ,possibIy associated with increased aIdosterone and myocardiaI tension. Increased Ang Ⅱ may induce further myocardiaI structuraI damage and ventricuIar remodeIing through the ROS and caIcium imbaIance.

[Objective]This study was designed to investigate the effects of 5-aminoimidasole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR)on activity of transcription factor Forkhead O 3a(FOXO3a)and expression of ubiquitin ligase muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx),and to explore the role of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)on proteolysis pathways in eardiomyocytes.[Methods]The effect of AICAR on activation of AMPK was observed.Cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was treated with AICAR in different concentration.Cultured cardiomyocytes were then divided into three groups:control group,AICAR group,AICAR+Compound C group.Effects of AMPK activation on phosphorylation of FOXO3a and expression of MAFbx in cardiomyocytes were detected using Western blot.[Results]①Compared with control group,activity of AMPK in cultured cardiomyocytes was increased after treatment with 0.25 mmol/L or 0.5 mmol/L AICAR for 6 h(P＜0.05),and the activity of AMPK was further enhanced after treatment with 1.0 mmol/L or 2.0 mmol/L AICAR for 6 h(P＜0.01).②Activation of AMPK by AICAR significantly increased the transcriptional activity of FOXO3a(P＜0.01),and enhanced MAFbx protein expression in cardiomyocytes when comparing with control group(P＜0.01),however,specific AMPK antagonist Compound C markedly reversed these effects induced by AICAR.[Conclusion]AMPK may regulate cardiomyocytes proteolysis by activation of FOXO3a transcription factor,and up-regulation of MAFbx protein expression.