OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of cell lysis method and magnetic beads method in forensic DNA identification and to explore these two methods in forensic DNA identification. METHODS: The genome DNA of THP-1 cells in different quantities was extracted by the cell lysis method and magnetic beads method, and the DNA content was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. The cell lysis method and magnetic beads method were used to type the STR of human blood with different dilution ratios. RESULTS: When the numbers of THP-1 cell were 100, 400 and 800, the DNA content extracted by cell lysis method were (1.219±0.334), (5.081±0.335), (9.332±0.318) ng, respectively; and the DNA content extracted by magnetic beads method were (1.020±0.281), (3.634±0.482), (7.896±0.759) ng, respectively. When the numbers of THP-1 cells were 400 and 800, the DNA content extracted by the cell lysis method was higher than that by the magnetic beads method. The sensitivity of cell lysis method and magnetic beads method was similar in STR typing of human blood at different dilution ratios. Complete STR typing could be obtained at 100, 300 and 500-fold dilutions of blood samples, but could not be detected at 700-fold dilution. STR typing of undiluted human blood could not be detected by cell lysis method. CONCLUSIONS The cell lysis method is easy to operate and can retain template DNA to the maximum extend. It is expected to be suitable for trace blood evidence tests.
Humans ; Forensic Medicine ; DNA/genetics* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Magnetic Phenomena ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; Microsatellite Repeats

In recent years, liver fibrosis has become a hotspot in the field of liver diseases. MicroRNA(miRNA)-mediated Nod-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The present study mainly discussed the role of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. Different miRNA molecules regulated liver fibrosis by mediating NLRP3 inflammasome activation, including miRNA-350-3 p(miR-350-3 p)/interleukin-6(IL-6)-mediated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)/c-myc signaling pathway, miR-148 a-induced autophagy and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells via hedgehog signaling pathway, miR-155-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome by the negative feedback of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1(SOCS-1), miR-181 a-mediated downstream NLRP3 inflammatory pathway activation through mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK)/nuclear transcription factor κB(NF-κB) inflammatory pathway, miR-21-promoted expression of NF-κB and NLRP3 of RAW264.7 cells in mice by inhibiting tumor necrosis factor-α inducible protein 3(A20), and miR-20 b-promoted expression of IL-1β and IL-18 by activating NLRP3 signaling pathway. Additionally, the anti-liver fibrosis mechanism of different active components in Chinese medicines(such as Curcumae Rhizoma, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Aurantii Fructus, Polygoni Cuspidati Rhizoma et Radix, Moutan Cortex, Paeoniae Radix Alba, Epimedii Folium, and Cinnamomi Cortex) was also explored based on the anti-liver fibrosis effect of miRNA-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Animals ; Hedgehog Proteins ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6 ; Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

Biological category is effective to indicate the evolution of organism populations between past and present. Conventional taxonomy of human parasites mainly depends on important morphological features, which suffers from a problem of categorizing related-genera species with similar morphological characteristics. With recent advances in molecular biological technologies, the effective applications of mitochondrial and ribosomal biomarkers and sequencing greatly improve the development of the taxonomic rank of human parasites. Worldwide, the classification of human parasites have been continuously revised and improved. Hereby, we re-categorize parasitic Protozoa, Trematoda, Cestoda and Nematoda, so as to provide insights into the researches on molecular systematics and genetic evolution of human parasites.

As a global zoonotic disease, fascioliasis is a serious threat to human and animal health and animal husbandry development. The complexity of the classification and identification of Lymnaeidae, the intermediate host of Fasciola, notably the emergence of its sibling species, leads to misunderstanding of geographical distribution and transmission potential of Fasciola. This review introduces the classification of flukes of the family Fasciolidae, describes the geographical distribution of F. hepatica and F. gigantic, and discusses the co-evolution of Fasciola and Lymnaeidae host snails, and the effects of human activities and ruminant migration on global spread and transmission of Fasciola. In addition, we revisit the intermediate host snails of Fasciola in Africa based on the latest molecular biological evidence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of indirect haemagglutination assay (IHA) for detection of Schistosoma japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in Dongting Lake region, so as to provide insights into improving the schistosomiasis surveillance program among boatmen and fishermen. METHODS: The boatmen and fishermen were detected for S. japonicum infections using IHA and Kato-Katz technique or miracidium hatching test nylon gauze simultaneously at schistosomiasis testing sites in the anchor sites for boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region during the period from 2014 to 2016, and using IHA for serological screening followed by parasitological testing of seropositives during the period from 2017 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were evaluated for detection of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen, with the 2014-2016 parasitological testing results as a gold standard. In addition, the seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections was compared among boatmen and fishermen with different characteristics and among years. RESULTS: A total of 306 schistosomiasis testing sites were assigned for boatmen and fishermen, and a total of 143 360 person-time boatmen and fishermen were tested for S. japonicum infections in the Dongting Lake region from 2014 to 2019. The sensitivity and specificity of IHA were 69.9%, 97.3% and 96.1% (χ² = 74.6, P < 0.05), and 70.9%, 74.5% and 71.9% for detection of S. japonicum infections from 2014 to 2016 (χ² = 29.4, P < 0.05), respectively. The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 30.3% in 2014 to 1.8% in 2019 among boatmen and fishermen, appearing an overall tendency towards a decline (Z = 1 552.4, P < 0.05). In addition, male, individuals at ages of 45 to 60 years, full-time boatmen and fishermen were more likely to be seropositive for S. japonicum infections (all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The seroprevalence of S. japonicum infections appeared a tendency towards a decline among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region year by year from 2014 to 2019. IHA presented a high efficacy for screening of S. japonicum infections among boatmen and fishermen in the Dongting Lake region.
Animals ; China/epidemiology* ; Hemagglutination ; Humans ; Lakes ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis/epidemiology* ; Schistosomiasis japonica/prevention & control* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

Due to the relative shortage of health resources, rational allocation and utilization of health resources is critical to achieving the maximum economic benefits in developing countries, which requires a health economic assessment to meet the needs to balance the competitive requirements of cost reduction and effectiveness enhancement. This review describes the advances in applications of health economic assessment techniques in four major infectious diseases, including AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and schistosomiasis. Currently, there is no standard economic assessment in the prevention and control of infectious diseases, and notably, the transparency of cost research is limited, which may affect the popularization of the study conclusions. Further health economic assessments of infectious diseases are required to improve the quality, standard and transparency of the economic evaluation through formulating strategies, to improve the standardization of studies, to improve the popularization of the study conclusions and to improve the applicability of the economic evaluation for policies.

Objective To evaluate the conversion of serum antibodies against Schistosoma japonicum in humans and livestock detected by immunological tests following treatment with praziquantel. Methods The studies pertaining to serological tests of schistosomiasis japonica published from 1991 to 2020 were retrieved in electronic databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed and ScienceDirect. Data were extracted from included studies. The publication bias was assessed with funnel plots using the software RevMan version 5.3, and the conversion of antibodies against S. japonicum was evaluated through meta-analysis. Results A total of 40 publications were included in the final meta-analysis, consisting of 33 Chinese publications and 7 English publications, and all immunological tests were performed with indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pooled analysis showed that the negative rates of serum anti-S. japonicum antibody were 45.36% [95% confidential interval (CI): (43.96%, 46.76%)] and 20.83% [95% CI: (19.69%, 21.97%)] detected by ELISA and IHA within 6 months post praziquantel treatment, 62.95% [95% CI: (61.59%, 64.31%)] and 55.61% [95% CI: (54.21%, 57.01%)] within 6 to 12 months after treatment and 85.92% [95% CI: (84.94%, 86.90%)] and 86.90% [95% CI: (85.95%, 87.85%)] over 12 months after treatment, respectively. Conclusions The negative rate of the serum anti-S. japonicum antibody by IHA and ELISA increased with the time of post-treatment with praziquantel. The overall negative rates of anti-S. japonicum antibody detected by IHA and ELISA are low within 12 months post praziquantel treatment. However, a high negative rate of anti-S. japonicum antibody is detected if there is no new contact with infested water after 12 months of praziquantel treatment.

Objective To compare the approaches used for the assessment of disability adjust life years (DALYs) for advanced schistosomiasis japonica, so as to provide scientific evidence for accurate assessment of the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica. Methods The patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica receiving treatment and assistance programs in Hunan Province in 2017 were enrolled, and the years lived with disability (YLD) for the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica was calculated using the common global burden of disease (GBD) estimation method, the modified GBD method with addition of common syndromes of advanced schistosomiasis japonica, and the quality of life assessment method. Results The YLDs of patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica, the mean YLDs per capita, and the percentages of YLD were 673.94, 728.77 person-years and 1 761.99 person-years; 0.181, 0.196 person-years and 0.474 person-years; and 10.61, 11.48 person-years per 100 thousand persons and 27.75 person-years per 100 thousand persons with the common GBD method, modified GBD method and the quality of life method, respectively. The YLDs of the patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province estimated with the modified GBD method and the quality of life method were 8.14% and 2.61 times higher than that with the common GBD method. Of the major symptoms included in the calculation, the 5 symptoms with the greatest contribution to the burden of advanced schistosomiasis japonica included ascites, moderate anemia, severe anemia, diarrhea and hematochezia. Conclusion The quality of life method may more comprehensively assess the YLDs in patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica than the common and modified GBD methods.

With the acceleration of the process of global integration, China’s international exchanges and cooperation with other countries have been further increased. The personnel exchange has led to the frequent occurrence of imported schistosomiasis from abroad, which seriously endangers people’s health. This paper reviews the prevalence and transmission risks of oversea imported schistosomiasis, providing the reference for the entry and exit health quarantine and prevention and control of schistosomiasis in China.

Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid has effects in clearing away heat and detoxifying,and is used to treat pharynx and throat swelling caused by the syndrome of excessive heat and toxin accumulation. Its efficacy is to relieve swelling and pain( redness,swelling and hot pain). It is included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia of 2015 Edition,and has been listed in provincial health insurance directories of Shaanxi,Jiangsu,Liaoning,Hunan,Tianjin,Xinjiang and Hebei. It has been recommended by health departments of Beijing,Chongqing and other provinces as a preferred drug for the prevention and treatment of H1 N1 and HFMD,and listed in the diagnosis and Treatment Guide of HFMD by the Ministry of Health,the Clinical Application Guide of Chinese Patent Medicine edited by the Lung Department Disease Branch of China Association of Chinese Medicine,and the Clinical Practice Guide of Single Administration/Combined Administration of Antibiotics in Treatment of Common Infectious Diseases by China Association of Chinese Medicine. To further improve the clinician's understanding of drugs and better guide the rational clinical application,we invited front-line clinical experts from respiratory department,infectious department and dermatology of traditional Chinese and Western medicine to develop and compile the expert consensus. The consensus fully considered the clinical evidence and the expert clinical experience to give recommendations for clinical problems with evidence support and consensus suggestions for clinical problems without evidence support by the nominal group method.This consensus is based on clinical research evidence and expert experience in a simple and clear format,which provides a preliminary reference for the clinical use of the drug.
China ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Nonprescription Drugs