Biomolecular condensates are formed through phase separation of biomacromolecules such as proteins and RNAs. These condensates exhibit liquid-like properties that can futher transition into more stable material states. They form complex internal structures via multivalent weak interactions, enabling precise spatiotemporal regulations. However, the use of inconsistent and non-standardized terminology has become increasingly problematic, hindering academic exchange and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the terminology related to biomolecular condensates in order to clarify concepts, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance research efficiency, and support the healthy development of this field.

Objective:To investigate the improvement of radiation-induced cognitive dysfunction and its preliminary mechanism by Ilex pubescens var.kwangsiensis.Methods:SPF grade male Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group(Control),Ilex pubescens var.kwangsiensis(IP),radiation group(Rad)and radiation+Ilex pubescens var.kwangsiensiss group(Rad+IP),with 10 mice in each group.Morris water maze test and dark avoidance test were used to detect the changes in cognitive function of mice before and after drug intervention.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and electron microscopy were used to observe the changes of brain histopathology and ultrastructure in the hip-pocampus of mice.The expressions of nuclear factor E2-associated factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase 1(HO-1),man-ganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD),B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2(Bcl-2)and Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax)were detected by immunohistochemical assay.Results:The expressions of MnSOD and Bcl-2 in hippocampal tissue of mice in Rad group were significantly decreased,the expressions of Nrf2,Bax and HO-1 were significantly increased,and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was also significantly increased.After intervention,he expressions of MnSOD,Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly increased,and the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased.Conclusion:Ilex pu-bescens var.kwangsiensis improved cognitive dysfunction in mice after radiation,and the mechanism may be related to Nrf2 activation and regulation of HO-1 transcription and expression,reducing oxidative stress damage.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided endovascular therapy for autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis.Methods:It was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Data of patients undergoing ultrasound-guided intravascular therapy due to AVF thrombosis in the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from August 2018 to June 2021 were analyzed. According to different surgical procedures, the patients were divided into two groups. Patients treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) + drilling thrombectomy were in group A, and patients treated with PTA only were in group B. After 1 year of follow-up, the surgical technique success rate, primary patency rate, secondary patency rate and complications were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 152 patients were enrolled, including 74 in group A and 78 in group B. There were no significant differences in gender, age, proportion of patients with diabetes and hypertension, and thrombosis time of AVF between the two groups (all P>0.05). Compared with group B, the diameter and length of thrombus in group A were larger [13.0(9.0, 16.0) mm vs. 6.0(5.0, 6.5) mm, Z=-9.362, P<0.001; 12(8, 15) cm vs. 3(3, 4) cm, Z=-10.061, P<0.001], and the establishment time of AVF was longer [5(2, 7) years vs. 2(1, 5) years, Z=-2.698, P=0.007]. Among the overall patients, the success rate of surgery was 96.7% (147/152), and the success rate of surgery was 95.9% (71/74) in group A and 97.4% (76/78) in group B respectively, with no statistical difference ( χ2=0.004, P=0.952). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that, overall, the primary patency rate at 3rd, 6th and 12th month after operation was 87.1%, 71.4% and 56.6%, and the secondary patency rate was 97.1%, 96.4% and 94.1%, respectively. The primary patency rate of group A at 3rd, 6th and 12th month was 82.4%, 66.7% and 53.6%, and the secondary patency rate was 95.7%, 94.2% and 89.7%, respectively. The primary patency rate of group B at 3rd, 6th and 12th month was 91.5%, 73.2% and 59.7%, and the secondary patency rate was 98.6%, 98.6% and 98.5%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the primary and secondary patency rate between group A and group B at 3rd, 6th and 12th month (all P>0.05). The duration of operation in group A was longer than that in group B [2.0(1.9, 2.0) h vs. 2.0(1.0, 2.0) h, Z=-5.181, P<0.001], but no serious complications occurred in both groups. Conclusion:The two surgical methods are effective, safe and reliable in the treatment of AVF thrombosis, and have high clinical application value.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of imported Plasmodium malariae and P. ovale malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Henan Province from 2014 to 2021, so as to provide insights into malaria control in these five provinces. Methods All data pertaining to malaria cases reported in five provinces of China were captured from Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System from 2014 to 2021, and the epidemiological characteristics of imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were analysed using a descriptive epidemiological method. The duration from onset of malaria to initial diagnosis, duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis, institutions of initial and definitive diagnoses, and proportion of correct malaria diagnosis at initial diagnosis were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 1 223 imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were reported in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Henan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2021, there were 158 P. malariae malaria cases (12.92%) and 1 065 P. ovale malaria cases (87.08%). Totally 98.53% (1 205/1 223) of the imported malaria cases were from Africa, with Angola (18.99%, 30/158), Nigeria (11.39%,18/158), Cameroon (10.76%, 17/158), Ghana (10.13%, 16/158) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (10.13%,16/158) as predominant countries where P. malariae malaria cases were from, and Ghana (23.19%, 247/1 065), Cameroon (14.74%, 157/1 065), Nigeria (9.39%, 100/1 065) and Angola (6.95%, 74/1 065) as predominant countries where P. ovale malaria cases were from. There were significant differences in the duration from onset of malaria to initial diagnosis (χ² = 27.673, P = 0.000) and duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases (χ² = 29.808, P = 0.000), and the proportions of correct initial diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were 38.61% (61/158) and 56.53% (602/1 065). There were 74.69% (118/158) of P. malariae malaria cases with definitive diagnosis in county-, city-, and province-level medical institutions, and 79.25% (844/1 065) of P. ovale malaria cases with definitive diagnosis in county- and city-level medical institutions and county-level centers for disease control and prevention. Conclusions The imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Henan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2021 were mainly returned from Africa and the proportion of correct diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria was low at initial diagnosis. Persistent improvements in the diagnostic capability of malaria are required in medical institutions.

Objective:To investigate the effect of overexpression of T cell restricted intracellular antigen 1(TIA1)gene in M2-type tumor-associated macrophages(M2-TAMs)on invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells and its mechanism.Methods:Primary TAMs were extracted from gastric cancer tissues and induced to differentiate into M2-TAMs using IL-4 and IL-13.The TIA1 overex-pression plasmid(oe-TIA1)and its empty vector were transfected into M2-TAMs.The expression levels of TIA1 mRNA and protein were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.The expression levels of CD206 and CD163 were detected by flow cytometry.The levels of IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A and Arg-1 in cell culture supernatant were detected by ELISA.The transfected M2-TAMs were co-cultured with gastric cancer BGC-823 cells by Transwell co-cultivation system,and PI3K agonist 740Y-P was used to intervene in parallel.The cell migration ability was detected by scratch assay.Transwell assay was used to detect cell invasion ability.Protein expression levels of PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT,MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cells were detected by Western blot.Results:①Compared with primary TAMs,the levels of CD206 and CD163 expression in M2-TAMs cells and IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A and Arg-1 in cell culture superna-tant were significantly increased(P<0.05),while the expression levels of TIA1 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased(P<0.05).Overexpression of TIA1 gene significantly decreased the expression levels of CD206 and CD163 in M2-TAMs and IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A and Arg-1 in cell culture supernatant(P<0.05).②Overexpression of TIA1 gene in M2-TAMs could significantly reduce the migration and invasion ability and the expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in BGC-823 cells(P<0.05).③740Y-P could significantly reverse the inhibitory effects of overexpression of TIA1 gene in M2-TAMs on migration,inva-sion and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway of BGC-823 cells.Conclusion:Overexpression of TIA1 gene in M2-TAMs can affect the inva-sion and migration of gastric cancer cells by blocking the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective:To discuss the inhibitory effect of microRNA-487a(miR-487a)on the M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages(TAMs)in gastric cancer,and to clarify its effect on the proliferation,invasion,and migration of the gastric cancer AGS cells.Methods:The TAMs from gastric cancer tissue and adjacent normal tissue macrophages(NTMs)from adjacent tissue of the primary gastric cancer patients were isolated and cultured.The human monocyte THP-1 cells were induced in vitro to differentiate into TAMs,and the differentiated M0,M1,and M2 macrophages were cultured for 24 h by conditioned medium(CM)to obtain the TAMs,M1-TAMs,and M2-TAMs respectively.The TAMs were transfected and then divided into blank group,inhibitor-NC group,miR-487a inhibitor group,miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,and miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group.The transfection efficiencies of the cells in various groups were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)and Western blotting methods.The M2-TAMs were co-cultured with the AGS cells,and divided into AGS group,AGS+inhibitor-NC group,AGS+miR-487a inhibitor group,AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,and AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group.RT-qPCR method was used to detect the expression levels of miR-487a and lymphocyte intracytoplasmic antigen-1(TIA1)mRNA in TAMs from gastric cancer tissue and NTMs from adjacent normal tissue in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression level of TIA1 protein in TAMs from gastric cancer tissue and NTMs from adjacent normal tissue and TAMs in various groups;flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of CD206 and CD163 in TAMs in various groups;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of interleukin-10(IL-10),transforming growth factor-beta(TGF-β),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A),and arginase-1(Arg-1)in culture supernatant of the TAMs cells;CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferative activity of the AGS cells in various groups;wound healing assay was used to detect the migration rates of the AGS cells in various groups;Transwell assay was used to detect the number of invasion AGS cells in various groups.Results:The RT-qPCR results shoued that compared with NTMs from adjacent tissue,the expression level of miR-487a in the TAMs from gastric cancer tissue was significantly increased(P<0.01)and the expression level of TIA1 mRNA was significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with TAMs,the expression level of miR-487a in M1-TAMs was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression level of TIA1 mRNA was increased(P<0.01);the expression level of miR-487a in M2-TAMs was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression level of TIA1 mRNA was decreased(P<0.01).After transfection,compared with blank group and inhibitor-NC group,the expression level of miR-487a in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),indicating successful transfection.The Western blotting results showed that compared with NTMs from adjacent normal tissue,the expression level of TIA1 protein in TAMs from gastric cancer tissue was decreased(P<0.01);compared with TAMs,the expression level of T1A1 protein in M1-TAMs was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression of TIA1 protein in M2-TAMs was significantly decreased(P<0.01);after co-transfection,compared with inhibitor-NC group,the expression level of TIA1 protein in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor group was significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the expression level of TIA1 protein in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The flow cytometry results showed that compared with blank group and inhibitor-NC group,the levels of CD206 and CD163 in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);after co-transfection,compared with inhibitor-NC group,the levels of CD206 and CD163 in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the levels of CD206 and CD163 in the cells in miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group were significantly increased(P<0.01).The ELISA results showed that compared with blank group and inhibitor-NC group,the levels of IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A,and Arg-1 in culture supernatant of the TAMs in miR-487a inhibitor group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);after co-transfection,compared with inhibitor-NC group,the levels of IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A,and Arg-1 in culture supernatant of the TAMs in miR-487a inhibitor group were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the levels of IL-10,TGF-β,VEGF-A,and Arg-1 in culture supernatant of the TAMs in miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group were significantly increased(P<0.01).The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with AGS group,the proliferation activity of the cells in AGS+inhibitor-NC group was significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with AGS+inhibitor-NC group,the proliferation activity of the cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor group was significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the proliferation activity of the cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group was significantly increased(P<0.01).The wound healing assay results showed that compared with AGS group,the migration rate of the cells in AGS+inhibitor-NC group was significantly(P<0.05);compared with AGS+inhibitor-NC group,the migration rate of the cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor group was significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the migration rate of the cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The Transwell assay results showed that compared with AGS group,the number of invasion AGS cells in AGS+inhibitor-NC group was significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with AGS+inhibitor-NC group,the number of invasion AGS cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor group was significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-NC group,the number of invasion AGS cells in AGS+miR-487a inhibitor+si-TIA1 group was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion:Silencing the miR-487a expression can inhibit the M2 polarization of the gastric cancer-associated macrophages by targeted upregulation of TIA1,and suppress the proliferation,migration,and invasion of the gastric cancer cells.

Objective:To analyze the types and functions of CD34 + cells in full-thickness skin defect wounds of normal mice and diabetic mice by single-cell RNA sequencing. Methods:This study was an experimental study. The CD34 + cell lineage tracing mouse was produced, and the visualization of CD34 + cells under the fluorescent condition was realized. Six male CD34 + cell lineage tracing mice aged 7-8 weeks (designated as diabetic group) were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin to establish a diabetic model, and full-thickness skin defect wounds were prepared on their backs when they reached 13 weeks old. Another 6 male CD34 + cell lineage tracing mice aged 13 weeks (designated as control group) were also subjected to full-thickness skin defect wounds on their backs. On post-injury day (PID) 4, wound tissue was collected from 3 mice in control group and 2 mice in diabetic group, and digested to prepare single-cell suspensions. CD34 + cells were screened using fluorescence-activated cell sorting, followed by single-cell RNA sequencing. The Seurat 4.0.2 program in the R programming language was utilized for dimensionality reduction, visualization, and cell clustering analysis of CD34 + cell types, and to screen and annotate the marker genes for each CD34 + cell subpopulation. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of CD34 + fibroblasts (Fbs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), keratinocytes (KCs), and chondrocyte-like cells (CLCs) in the wound tissue of two groups of mice for exploring cellular functions. Results:On PID 4, CD34 + cells in the wound tissue of both groups of mice were consisted of 7 cell types, specifically endothelial cells, Fbs, KCs, macrophages, T cells, SMCs, and CLCs. Among these, Fbs were further classified into 5 subpopulations. Compared with those in control group, the proportions of CD34 + endothelial cells, Fbs subpopulation 1, Fbs subpopulation 4, KCs, and CLCs in the wound tissue of mice were increased in diabetic group, while the proportions of CD34 + Fbs subpopulation 2, Fbs subpopulation 3, and SMCs were decreased. The marker genes for annotating CD34 + CLCs, endothelial cells, Fbs subpopulation 1, Fbs subpopulation 2, Fbs subpopulation 3, Fbs subpopulation 4, Fbs subpopulation 5, KCs, macrophages, SMCs, and T cells were respectively metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1, fatty acid binding protein 4, Gremlin 1, complement component 4B, H19 imprinted maternally expressed transcript, Dickkopf Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor 2, fibromodulin, keratin 5, CD74 molecule, regulator of G protein signaling 5, and inducible T-cell co-stimulator molecule. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis revealed that, compared with those in control group, DEGs with significant differential expression (SDE) in CD34 + Fbs from the wound tissue of mice in diabetic group on PID 4 were significantly enriched in terms related to inflammatory response, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, regulation of cell proliferation, and aging (with Pvalues all <0.05), DEGs with SDE in CD34 + SMCs were significantly enriched in terms related to cell migration, apoptotic process, positive regulation of transcription, and phagosome (with P values all <0.05), DEGs with SDE in CD34 + KCs were significantly enriched in terms related to mitochondrial function, transcription, and neurodegenerative diseases (with P values all <0.05), and DEGs with SDE in CD34 + CLCs were significantly enriched in terms related to rhythm regulation, ECM, and viral infection (with P values all <0.05). Conclusions:CD34 + cells display high heterogeneity in the healing process of full-thickness skin defect wounds in both normal mice and diabetic mice. The significantly enriched functions of DEGs with SDE in CD34 + cell subpopulations in the wound tissue of the two mouse groups are closely related to the wound healing process.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of controlled nutritional status (CONUT) score for overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) after transjugular intrahepatic portosys-temic stent-shunt (TIPSS) in Budd-Chiari syndrome patients.Method:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 48 Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from August 2014 to March 2021 were collected. There were 26 males and 22 females, aged (46±13)years. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations and follow-up; (2) analysis of influencing factors of OHE after TIPSS; (3) predic-tion of OHE after TIPSS. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was performed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented by M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was performed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Logistic regression model with forward method. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the efficacy. Comparison among AUC was performed using the Delong test. Results:(1) Surgical situations and follow-up. All 48 patients underwent TIPSS successfully, and the operation time of the 48 patients was (131±29)minutes. All patients were implanted with 8 mm covered stent. All 48 patients were followed up for 46(25,71)months, and there were 14 cases with OHE and 34 cases without OHE after TIPSS. Of the 14 cases with OHE, 12 cases were evaluated as West-Haven Ⅱ grade and 2 cases were evaluated as West-Haven Ⅲ grade. (2) Analysis of influencing factors of OHE after TIPSS. Results of multivariate analysis showed that history of hepatic encephalo-pathy and CONUT score were independent factors influencing the incidence of OHE of Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS ( odds ratio=8.36, 1.74, 95% confidence interval as 1.02?68.75, 1.12?2.69, P<0.05). (3) Prediction of OHE after TIPSS. Results of ROC curve showed that the AUC of the CONUT score, the Child-Pugh score of liver function and the integrated model of end-stage liver disease (iMELD) score in predicting the incidence of OHE after TIPSS was 0.77(95% confidence interval as 0.64?0.91, P<0.05), 0.71(95% confidence interval as 0.56?0.87, P<0.05) and 0.71(95% confidence interval as 0.53?0.88, P<0.05), respectively, and there was no significant difference between the AUC of the CONUT score and the Child-Pugh score of liver function or the iMELD score ( Z=0.84, 0.59, P>0.05). The optimal cutoff value of CONUT score in predicting the incidence of OHE after TIPSS was 7, with the sensitivity, specificity and Yodon index as 78.6%, 61.8% and 0.40, respectively. Conclusion:The CONUT score can be used to predict the incidence of OHE in Budd-Chiari syndrome patients who underwent TIPSS, and the discrimination of CONUT score is equivalent to the Child-Pugh score of liver function and the iMELD score.

OBJECTIVE Cognitive deficit is a com-mon comorbidity in temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)and that is not well controlled by current therapeutics.Currently,how epileptic seizure affects cognitive performance remains largely unclear.The subiculum is the major out-put of the hippocampus,which projects to entorhinal cor-tex and other more distinct brain regions.Physiologically,the subiculum codes spatial working memory and naviga-tion information including place,speed,and trajectory.Importantly,prior studies have noted the importance of the subiculum in the beginning,spreading,and generaliz-ing process of hippocampal seizure.How seizure-activated neurons in subiculum participate in cognitive impairment remains largely elusive.METHODS In this study,we sought to label the subicular seizure-activated c-fos+ neu-rons with a special promoter with enhanced synaptic activity-responsive element E-SARE in the subiculum,combined with chemogenetics and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs(DREADDs),Ca2+ fiber photometry approaches,and behavioral tasks,to reveal the role of these neurons in cognitive impairment in epilepsy.RESULTS We found that chemogenetic inhibi-tion of subicular seizure-tagged c-fos+ neurons(mainly CaMK Ⅱ α+ glutamatergic neurons)alleviates seizure generalization and improves cognitive performance in the hippocampal CA3 kindling TLE model.While inhibition of seizure-labeled c-fos+ GABAergic interneuron shows no effect on seizure and cognition.As a comparison,che-mogenetic inhibition of the whole subicular CaMK Ⅱ α+ neuron impairs cognitive function in na?ve mice in basal condition.Notably,inhibition of subicular seizure-tagged c-fos+ neurons enhances the recruitment of cognition-responsive c-fos+ neurons via increasing neural excitability during cognition tasks.CONCLUSION Our results dem-onstrate that subicular seizure-activated c-fos+ neurons contribute to cognitive impairment in TLE,suggesting sei-zure-tagged c-fos+ neurons as the potential therapeutic target to alleviate cognitive impairment in TLE.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemic status of imported malaria and national malaria control program in China, so as to provide insights into post-elimination malaria surveillance. METHODS: All data pertaining to imported malaria cases were collected from Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2021. The number of malaria cases, species of malaria parasites, country where malaria parasite were infected, diagnosis and treatment after returning to China, and response were compared before (from January 1, 2018 to January 22, 2020) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (from January 23, 2020 to December 31, 2021). RESULTS: A total of 2 054 imported malaria cases were reported in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during the period from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021, and there were 1 722 cases and 332 cases reported before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. All cases were reported within one day after definitive diagnosis. The annual mean number of reported malaria cases reduced by 79.30% in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region after the COVID-19 pandemic (171 cases) than before the pandemic (826 cases), and the number of monthly reported malaria cases significantly reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region since February 2020. There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of species of malaria parasites among the imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ² = 146.70, P < 0.05), and P. falciparum malaria was predominant before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.30%), while P. ovale malaria (44.28%) was predominant after the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by P. falciparum malaria (37.65%). There was a significant difference in the constituent ratio of country where malaria parasites were infected among imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region before and after the COVID-19 pandemic (χ² = 13.83, P < 0.05), and the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in western Africa reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (44.13% vs. 37.95%; χ² = 4.34, P < 0.05), while the proportion of malaria cases that acquired Plasmodium infections in eastern Africa increased after the COVID-19 pandemic that before the pandemic (9.58% vs. 15.36%; χ² = 9.88, P = 0.02). The proportion of completing case investigation within 3 days was significantly lower after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (96.69% vs. 98.32%; χ²= 3.87, P < 0.05), while the proportion of finishing foci investigation and response within 7 days was significantly higher after the COVID-19 pandemic than before the pandemic (100.00% vs. 98.43%; χ² = 3.95, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The number of imported malaria cases remarkably reduced in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Henan Province, Zhejiang Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a decreased proportion of completing case investigations within 3 days. The sensitivity of the malaria surveillance-response system requires to be improved to prevent the risk of secondary transmission of malaria due to the sharp increase in the number of imported malaria cases following the change of the COVID-19 containment policy.
Humans ; Pandemics ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Malaria/prevention & control* ; Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology*