Objective To investigate the effectiveness of the integrated schistosomiasis control programme in Sichuan Province during the stage moving from transmission interruption to elimination (2015—2023), so as to provide insights into formulation of the schistosomiasis control measures during the post-elimination stage. Methods Schistosomiasis control data were retrospectively collected from departments of health, agriculture and rural affairs, forestry and grassland, water resources, and natural resources in Sichuan Province from 2015 to 2023, and a database was created to document examinations and treatments of human and livestock schistosomiasis, and snail survey and control, conversion of paddy fields to dry fields, ditch hardening, rivers and lakes management and building of forests for snail control and schistosomiasis prevention. The completion of schistosomiasis control measures was investigated, and the effectiveness was evaluated. Results A total of 20 545 155 person-times received human schistosomiasis examinations in Sichuan Province during the period from 2015 to 2023, and 232 157 person-times were seropositive, with a reduction in the seroprevalence from 2.10% (44 299/2 107 003) in 2015 to 1.12% (9 361/837 896) in 2023 (χ² = 7.68, P < 0.001). The seroprevalence of human schistosomiasis appeared a tendency towards a decline in Sichuan Province over years from 2015 to 2023 (b = −8.375, t = −10.052, P < 0.001); however, no egg positive individuals were identified during the period from 2018 to 2023, with the prevalence of human Schistosoma japonicum infections maintained at 0. Expanded chemotherapy was administered to 2 754 515 person-times, and medical assistance of advanced schistosomiasis was given to 6 436 persontimes, with the treatment coverage increasing from 46.80% (827/1 767) in 2015 to 64.87% (868/1 338) in 2023. Parasitological tests for livestock schistosomiasis were performed in 35 113 herd-times, and expanded chemotherapy was administered to 513 043 herd-times, while the number of fenced livestock decreased from 121 631 in 2015 to 103 489 in 2023, with a reduction of 14.92%. Snail survey covered 433 621.80 hm² in Sichuan Province from 2015 to 2023, with 204 602.81 hm² treated by chemical control and 4 637.74 hm² by environmental modifications. The area of snail habitats decreased from the peak of 5 029.80 hm² in 2016 to 3 709.72 hm² in 2023, and the actual area of snail habitats decreased from the peak of 8 585.48 hm² in 2016 to 473.09 hm² in 2023. The mean density of living snails remained low across the study period except in 2017 (0.62 snails/0.1 m²). Schistosomiasis control efforts by departments of agriculture and rural affairs in Sichuan Province included conversion of paddy fields to dry fields covering 153 346.93 hm², hardening of 6 110.31 km ditches, building of 70 356 biogas digesters, replacement of cattle with 227 161 sets of machines, and captive breeding of 21 161 070 livestock from 2015 to 2023, and the control efforts by departments of water resources included rivers and lakes management measuring 5 676.92 km and renovation of 2 331 irrigation areas, while the control efforts by departments of forestry and grassland included building of forests for snail control and schistosomiasis prevention covering 23 913.33 hm², renovation of snail control forests covering 8 720 hm² and newly building of shelterbelts covering 764 686.67 hm². All 63 endemic counties (cities and districts) had achieved the criterion for schistosomiasis elimination criteria in Sichuan Province by the end of 2023. Conclusion Following the integrated control efforts from 2015 to 2023, remarkable achievements have been obtained in the schistosomiasis control programme in Sichuan Province, with all endemic counties successfully attaining the schistosomiasis elimination target at the county level.

Objective To explore the value of multi-parameter spectral CT for differentiating grade G2-3 pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor(pNET)and pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma(pNEC).Methods Preoperative double-layer detector spectral CT(DLCT)data of 35 patients with pNET(pNET group,including 25 cases of G2 grade and 10 cases of G3 grade)and 17 patients with pNEC(pNEC group)were retrospectively analyzed.Conventional CT and spectral CT parameters were compared between groups,and those being significant different between groups according to univariate analysis were respectively incorporated into multivariate logistic regression to select the independent predictors for identifying grade G2-3 pNET and pNEC.Conventional CT model and spectral CT model were constructed,and the combined model was constructed based on the two.The efficacy of each model for distinguishing grade G2-3 pNET and pNEC was evaluated.Results CT values of lesions during venous phase(OR=0.939,P=0.025)and vascular invasion(OR=5.049,P=0.027)shown on conventional CT were both independent predictors,and conventional CT model was constructed,its area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing grade G2-3 pNET and pNEC was 0.808.Normalized iodine concentration during venous phase(OR=0.603)and normalized effective atomic number during venous phase(OR=0.847)on spectral CT were both independent predictors(both P＜0.05),and spectral CT model was constructed.The AUC of spectral CT model was 0.894,higher than that of conventional CT model(Z=2.127,P=0.033).The AUC of combined model was 0.924,higher than that of conventional CT model(Z=2.302,P=0.021)but not significantly different with that of spectral CT model(Z=0.827,P=0.408).Conclusion Multi-parameter spectral CT could effectively differentiate grade G2-G3 grade pNET and pNEC.

An ambitious goal has been set for elimination of schistosomiasis in all endemic counties (districts) in Sichuan Province by 2023. To achieve this goal, and to continue to consolidate the control achievements, it is necessary to understand the current endemic status of schistosomiasis, identify the challenges and analyze the experiences and lessons from the schistosomiasis control program, and develop targeted control strategies and interventions in the province. This paper reviews the progress of schistosomiasis control in Sichuan Province since the 12th Five-Year Plan period, analyzes the challenges in the schistosomiasis elimination program, and proposes recommendations for future directions and priorities.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of newly reported advanced schistosomiasis cases in Sichuan Province, so as to provide the evidence for analyzing the causes and formulating targeted control measures of newly reported advanced schistosomiasis cases. Methods Individual case investigation forms for advanced schistosomiasis cases were collected from the Sichuan Provincial Epidemic Annual Report System from 2011 to 2022, and patients’ demographics, previous medical history and liver parenchymal grading were retrieved. All advanced schistosomiasis cases’ medical records were reviewed, and the subtypes of schistosomiasis-endemic villages where the cases’ household registration were, floating population, survival and death and time of death were collected. Results A total of 321 newly reported advanced schistosomiasis cases were found in Sichuan Province from 2011 to 2022, with a male to female ratio of 0.99 to 1. There were 274 cases at ages of over 50 years (85.4%), with the highest proportion seen at ages of 60 to 69 years (87 cases, 27.1%), and splenomegaly was the most common type (180 cases, 56.1%), with no dwarfism type detected. The highest number of cases was reported in 2011 (78 cases), followed by in 2022 (74 cases), and the highest number of cases were reported in Meishan City (199 cases, 62.0%), Dongpo District (131 cases, 40.8%), and hilly subtype areas (136 cases, 42.4%). As of the end of 2022, there were 111 deaths due to advanced schistosomiasis, with the highest number of deaths seen in 2018 (25 deaths), and the highest mortality was seen among patients with the ascites type (41.2%). There were 47 (37.3%), 40 (59.5%) and 4 (23.5%) cases with grade III liver parenchyma among patients with splenomegaly, ascites, and colonic proliferation types, respectively, and there was a significant difference in the grading of III liver parenchyma among three types of patients (H = 12.092, P < 0.05), with more severe liver parenchyma injuries seen among patients with the ascites type than among those with splenomegaly and colonic proliferation type (Z = 24.262 and 44.738, both P_adjusted values < 0.05). Conclusions There have been newly reported advanced schistosomiasis cases in Sichuan Province during recent years, and patients with the ascites type should be given a high priority among advanced schistosomiasis cases in Sichuan Province. Intensified clue surveys are needed for early identification and treatment of advanced schistosomiasis cases, so as to increase the survival rate and improve the quality of life.

To evaluate the implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) in schistosomiasis-endemic foci, two schistosomiasis-endemic counties were selected from two provinces of Sichuan and Anhui. Professional staff working in province-, city-, county- and township-level disease control and prevention institutions, parasitic disease control institutions or medical institutions were recruited, and the understanding, use and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) were investigated using questionnaires and interviews. The awareness, use, proportion of propagation and implementation and correct rate of answering questions pertaining to Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) were analyzed. A total of 270 questionnaires were allocated, and 269 were recovered, including 254 valid questionnaires. The overall awareness of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was 84.64% (215/254), and propagation and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was not performed in 23.28% (17/73) of the survey institutions following implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017), with meeting training and allocation of propagation materials as the main type of propagation and implementation. Among 254 respondents, 77.16% (196/254) were familiar with the standard, 66.14% (168/254) understood the conditions for use of the standard during snail surveys, and 96.85% (246/254) had the approach for identifying snails. In addition, there were 41.73% (106/254), 50.78% (129/254) and 7.48% (19/254) of respondents that considered the operability of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) was very good, good and general, respectively. The findings demonstrate that the issue and implementation of Survey of oncomelanid snails (WS/T 563—2017) has filled the gap for the standardization of snail control techniques, and which plays an importang guiding role in the national schistosomiasis control program.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of coping style between family function and psychological resilience in patients with diabetes retinopathy (DR) .Methods:From September 2021 to August 2022, 310 DR patients who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected as the study subject by convenience sampling. Patients were surveyed using the General Information Questionnaire, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ) , Family Assessment Device (FAD) , and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) . Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between coping style, family function, and psychological resilience in DR patients. AMOS 21.0 software was used to establish structural equation models and verify mediating effects. A total of 310 questionnaires were distributed, and 297 valid questionnaires were collected, and the effective response rate of the questionnaire was 95.81% (297/310) .Results:Among 297 DR patients, the positive coping dimension score in SCSQ was (14.79±3.58) , while the negative coping dimension score was (16.37±4.02) . the FAD score was (169.28±23.34) . The total score of CD-RISC was (65.62±11.52) . The score of the positive coping dimension was negatively correlated with the FAD score ( P<0.05) , and positively correlated with the total score and each dimension score of CD-RISC ( P<0.05) . The score of negative coping dimension was positively correlated with the score of FAD ( P<0.05) , and negatively correlated with the total score and each dimension score of CD-RISC ( P<0.05) . The FAD score was negatively correlated with the total score and each dimension score of CD-RISC ( P<0.05) . Coping styles played a partial mediating effect between family function and psychological resilience, with the mediating effect accounting for 53.65% of the total effect. Conclusions:DR patients have poor family functional and moderate psychological resilience, and their coping styles tend to be negative. Medical and nursing staff should pay attention to and improve the family function of patients, promote their positive response to diseases, and enhance their family function and psychological resilience.

Objective:To explore the effect of transitional care network platform based on information-motivation-behavior skills (IMB) on self-management and quality of life of patients with diabetes retinopathy (DR) .Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 102 DR inpatients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2019 to June 2021. The patients were divided into research group ( n=51) and control group ( n=51) according to the random number table method. The control group received routine care, while the research group used the network platform based on IMB to conduct transitional care on the basis of the control group. Patients were evaluated before and six months after the intervention. The self-management, blood glucose indicators [hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 hPG) ], and quality of life of the two groups of patients before and after intervention were analyzed. Results:After intervention, the scores of self-management environment, self-management behavior, and self-management cognition in the research group were higher than those in the control group, while the FPG, HAb1c, and 2 hPG were lower than those in the control group. The scores of psychological, physical, social function, and material life in the observation group were higher than those in the control group. The above differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Applying the network platform based on IMB to carry out transitional care can enhance the self-management of DR patients, improve their blood glucose indicators and quality of life, which has high clinical value.

The lung is one of the most common sites for cancer metastasis. Collagens in the lung provide a permissive microenvironment that supports the colonization and outgrowth of disseminated tumor cells. Therefore, down-regulating the production of collagens may contribute to the inhibition of lung metastasis. It has been suggested that miR-29 exhibits effective anti-fibrotic activity by negatively regulating the expression of collagens. Indeed, our clinical lung tumor data shows that miR-29a-3p expression negatively correlates with collagen I expression in lung tumors and positively correlates with patients' outcomes. However, suitable carriers need to be selected to deliver this therapeutic miRNA to the lungs. In this study, we found that the chemotherapy drug cisplatin facilitated miR-29a-3p accumulation in the exosomes of lung tumor cells, and this type of exosomes exhibited a specific lung-targeting effect and promising collagen down-regulation. To scale up the preparation and simplify the delivery system, we designed a lung-targeting liposomal nanovesicle (by adjusting the molar ratio of DOTAP/cholesterol-miRNAs to 4:1) to carry miR-29a-3p and mimic the exosomes. This liposomal nanovesicle delivery system significantly down-regulated collagen I secretion by lung fibroblasts in vivo, thus alleviating the establishment of a pro-metastatic environment for circulating lung tumor cells.

Bone regeneration remains a great clinical challenge. Low intensity near-infrared (NIR) light showed strong potential to promote tissue regeneration, offering a promising strategy for bone defect regeneration. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of NIR on bone regeneration remain unclear. We demonstrated that bone regeneration in the rat skull defect model was significantly accelerated with low-intensity NIR stimulation. In vitro studies showed that NIR stimulation could promote the osteoblast differentiation in bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and MC3T3-E1 cells, which was associated with increased ubiquitination of the core circadian clock protein Cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in the nucleus. We found that the reduction of CRY1 induced by NIR light activated the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways, promoting SMAD1/5/9 phosphorylation and increasing the expression levels of Runx2 and Osterix. NIR light treatment may act through sodium voltage-gated channel Scn4a, which may be a potential responder of NIR light to accelerate bone regeneration. Together, these findings suggest that low-intensity NIR light may promote in situ bone regeneration in a CRY1-dependent manner, providing a novel, efficient and non-invasive strategy to promote bone regeneration for clinical bone defects.
Animals ; Rats ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Cell Differentiation ; Circadian Clocks ; Cryptochromes/metabolism* ; Osteoblasts/metabolism* ; Osteogenesis ; Transcription Factors/metabolism*

Investigation on how nature produces natural compounds with chemical and biological diversity at the genetic level offers inspiration for the discovery of new natural products and even their biological targets. The polyketide rumbrin ( 1) is a lipid peroxide production and calcium accumulation inhibitor, which contains a chlorinated pyrrole moiety that is a rare chemical feature in fungal natural products. Here, we identify the biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) rum of 1 and its isomer 12E-rumbrin ( 2) from Auxarthron umbrinum DSM3193, and elucidate their biosynthetic pathway based on heterologous expression, chemical complementation, and isotopic labeling. We show that rumbrins are assembled by a highly reducing polyketide synthase (HRPKS) that uniquely incorporates a proline-derived pyrrolyl-CoA starer unit, and followed by methylation and chlorination. Sequent precursor-directed biosynthesis was able to yield a group of rumbrin analogues. Remarkably, inspired by the presence of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-Nef-associated gene in the rum cluster, we predicted and pharmacologically demonstrated rumbrins as potent inhibitors of HIV at the nanomolar level. This work enriches the recognition of unconventional starter units of fungal PKSs and provides a new strategy for genome mining-guided drug discovery.