Currently, the national schistosomiasis control program of China is moving from transmission interruption to elimination, and there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards the progression of schistosomiasis elimination, including a high difficulty in shrinking snail-infested areas, unstable achievements for infectious source control, imperfect surveillance system and a reduction in schistosomiasis control and administration. Based on the core suggestions proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, recommendations on schistosomiasis surveillance system building, development of novel diagnostics, adjustment of the schistosomiasis control strategy and maintaining and improvements of the schistosomiasis control capability are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China in the new era according to the actual status of schistosomiasis control in China. Formulation of the national schistosomiasis control strategy and goal from One Health perspective, verification of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis, precision implementation of schistosomiasis control interventions with adaptations to local circumstances, development and application of highly sensitive and specific diagnostics are recommended for elimination of schistosomiasis in China. In addition, the implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis may guide the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.
Animals ; China/epidemiology* ; Goals ; Humans ; Schistosomiasis/prevention & control* ; Snails ; World Health Organization

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) has been regarded as a new genetic marker due to its rich dynamics and relatively stable heredity. SNP can express the relationship between genes and diseases to seek disease-linked genes particularly. A number of domestic and international studies have demonstrated that the formation of schistosomiasis egg granuloma is closely linked to HLA-Ⅱ related antigen. By detecting alleles loci of HLA-Ⅱ gene, researchers can identify the gene or haplotype that is associated with the susceptibility and progression of schistosomiasis. The detected candidate genes can serve useful therapeutic and preventative purposes by providing new technical methods to defeat schistosomiasis. In-depth study on SNP is beneficial to evaluate schistosomiasis inclination clinically, as well as to promote early diagnosis and preventive treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shenfu Injection (SF) on the apoptosis of prostate cancer PC-3 cells and its possible mechanism.

METHODSWe divided prostate cancer PC-3 cells into a blank control group and three experimental groups, the latter treated with SF at 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml, respectively, for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Then we determined the proliferation of the cells by MTT assay, measured their apoptosis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, and detected the expression of P53 mRNA by RT-qPCR.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the survival rates of the prostate cancer PC-3 cells in the 50, 100, and 200 microl/ml SF groups were (93.76 +/- 2.63)%, (81.21 +/- 1.80)% and (18.01 +/- 3.84)% at 24 hours, (94.67 +/-1.11)%, (78.33 +/- 2.89)% and (10.34 +/- 1.44)% at48 hours, and (91.30 +/- 0.47)%, (36.67 +/- 1.56)% and (1.33 +/- 0.32)% at 72 hours, all significantly increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The expression of p53 mRNA was also markedly increased in all the three experimental groups at 48 hours (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSF can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells, which may due to its upregulation of the p53 mRNA expression.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Objective To design mechanical structure of exoskeleton which simulates physiological structure and kinematic characteristics of lower limbs according to kinematics analysis of human body, and investigate biomechanical properties of exoskeleton under two different phases of human gait period, so as to provide references for such exoskeleton design and optimization. Methods Based on clinical gait analysis of lower limbs, the mechanical structure of exoskeleton was first established by using 3D modeling software. Then the physical model was assembled, meshed and materialized by 3D modeling software, and surface to surface contact relationship between each component was also constructed to simulate and analyze the stress distributions of exoskeleton. Results Under the load of 1 kN, the maximum stress of double stance (calculating condition I) was 91.45 MPa and the maximum stress of vertical tibia (calculating condition II) was 154.55 MPa, occurring at the back support and hip, respectively, and such results were in accordance with the analysis results of force transmission mechanism got before design. Conclusions The stress distributions of exoskeleton under different calculating conditions were obviously different. Some uncertain factors such as some shock caused during the walking period, which have not been taken into account in the calculation, should be considered for the design and optimization of exoskeleton and multiplied by a certain safety coefficient.

BACKGROUNDStatins improve arterial stiffness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypertension is a predominant contributor of arterial stiffening. However, the influence of hypertension on the effect of statins for improving arterial stiffness in CAD patients has seldom been investigated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the relationships between statin use and arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

METHODSBrachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) was measured in 437 patients, including 220 hypertensive CAD patients (121 used statins, 99 did not) and 217 normotensive CAD patients (105 used statins, 112 did not). The normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients were matched according to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTSIn the normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients, lipid profiles were significantly improved in the statin group compared with the non-statin group. No significant differences in the administered statins (i.e., atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, and pravastatin) and statin therapy duration were found between normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). No significant correlation of ba-PWV and statin therapy duration was found in all CAD patients, normotensive CAD patients, or hypertensive CAD patients (all P > 0.05). ba-PWV in the statin group was significantly lower than that in the non-statin group in normotensive CAD patients ((1331.68 ± 167.52) cm/s vs. (1468.61 ± 244.54) cm/s, P = 0.002) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05). In multiple linear regression analyses, statin therapy was significantly associated with ba-PWV after adjusting for confounding variables in normotensive CAD patients (P = 0.018) but not in hypertensive CAD patients (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSStatins may significantly improve arterial stiffness in CAD patients, and hypertension may probably influence the effectiveness of statin therapy in improving arterial stiffness in this population. Further studies are required to investigate the effect of statins on arterial stiffness in normotensive and hypertensive CAD patients.

Aged ; Ankle Brachial Index ; Coronary Artery Disease ; physiopathology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Vascular Stiffness ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo know the prevalence and probable causes of breakthrough hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among children born after the introduction of universal infant hepatitis B vaccination in Shandong province, China.

METHODSThe subjects of this study were selected from the provincial hepatitis B serosurvey conducted in 2006, who were born between 1992 and 2005 (aged 1-15 years) and were confirmed to have completed three or more doses of hepatitis B vaccine. Finally 3527 subjects were involved in this study and were investigated using a unified question are. Blood samples were collected from them to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against HBsAg (Anti-HBs) and antibody against hepatitis B core antigen (Anti-HBc). The parents of children positive for HBsAg were followed up. Blood samples were collected from their parents to detect for HBsAg. The rate and correlative factors of breakthrough HBV infection were gotten by single-factor and multiple-factor analysis.

RESULTSFor the 3527 subjects, the overall prevalence rates of breakthrough HBV infection were 3.15% (111/3527), which decreased while birth year grew (χ(2)(Trend) = 44.83, P < 0.01) , the rate of subjects born in 1992 was the highest (9.9%, 16/161) , subjects born in 2000 was the least (0.8%, 2/258) , the rate of the self-report positive HBsAg status of mother, father and the other family members (15.22%, 7/46;34.09%, 15/44;17.65%, 6/34) were higher than the negative (2.99%, 104/3481, 2.76%, 96/3483, 3.01%, 105/3493) (χ(2) values were 22.28, 13.97, 23.68, respectively, all P values were < 0.01) , timely first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (5.37%, 41/763) was higher than the subjects that not in time (2.53%, 70/2764) (χ(2) = 15.596, P < 0.01) . The overall prevalence rates of breakthrough chronic HBV infection was 1.08% (38/3527), which decreased while birth year grew (χ(2)(Trend) = 9.96, P < 0.05) , the rate of subjects born in 1992 was the most (3.1%, 5/161) , subjects born in 1997 was the least (0.4%, 1/261) , the rate of the self-report positive HBsAg status of mother, father and the other family members (13.04%, 6/46;29.55%, 13/44;17.65%, 6/34) were higher than the negative (0.92%, 32/3481;0.72%, 25/3483;0.92%, 32/3493) (χ(2) values were 62.62, 338.80, 88.44, respectively, all P values were < 0.05) , timely first dose of hepatitis B vaccine (1.83%, 14/763) was lower than the subjects that not in time (0.87%, 24/2764) (χ(2) = 5.16, P = 0.02) . Multiple factors analysis showed that compared to the negative, the self-report positive HBsAg status of father, mother increased the risk of breakthrough HBV infection,OR (95%CI) values were 3.73 (1.09-12.75) and 26.76 (11.86-60.37) , respectively (all P values were < 0.05) , compared with eastern cities, the risk of western cities were the highest (OR (95%CI) = 6.00 (2.50-14.40) , P < 0.05) the risk of children born in 1992-2001 was higher than those born in 2002 ( (OR (95%CI) = 1.91 (1.10-3.32) , P < 0.05) . Compared to the negative, the self-report positive HBsAg status of father, mother and the other family members increased the risk of breakthrough chronic HBV infection,OR (95%CI) values were 7.51 (1.44-39.17) , 99.99 (34.29-291.62) , 8.94 (1.81-44.10) , respectively (all P values were < 0.05) , compared with eastern cities, the risk of western rural areas were the highest (OR (95%CI) = 12.51 (2.78-56.25) , P < 0.05) , sharing tooth brush with the others increased the risk (OR (95%CI) = 8.67 (1.14-66.14) , P < 0.05) . Among HBsAg-positive children, those with HBsAg positive mother and father accounted for 12/23 and 6/19, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of breakthrough HBV infection and breakthrough chronic HBV infection among children was low in Shandong province. Mother to infant transmission might be the main reason for the infection while the role of the horizontal transmission within the family shouldn't be ignored.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Population Surveillance ; Risk Factors

Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose Diseases ; Syndrome

BACKGROUNDImmune cells within a tumor microenvironment have shown modulatory effects on tumor angiogenic activity. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypervascular tumor that reportedly increases the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tumor tissues. This study investigated the correlation between Tregs infiltration and angiogenic status in RCC.

METHODSThirty-six patients with RCC were enrolled in the present study, and twenty age-matched healthy donors were included as the control. Tregs were defined as CD4(+)CD25(high)CD127(low/-) T cells. The frequency of Tregs in peripheral blood and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in surgical resection specimens were measured with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Microvessel density (MVD) was calculated on slides stained with CD34 antibody. Spearman's rank correlation was performed to evaluate the correlation between the frequencies of Tregs in TILs and VEGF values, as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD determinations.

RESULTSCompared to healthy controls, the frequency of peripheral blood Tregs was significantly increased in patients with RCC (P < 0.05). The percentage of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was higher than that of peripheral blood Tregs in patients with RCC (P < 0.01). In addition, the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs was shown to significantly correlate with the pathological stage (P < 0.05) and nuclear grade (P < 0.01). Importantly, a significant positive correlation was observed between the frequency of tumor-infiltrating Tregs and VEGF protein expression (r = 0.51, P < 0.05), as well as between frequencies of Tregs and MVD score (r = 0.39, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese observations suggest that the high pro-angiogenic status of RCC may be associated with the accumulation of Tregs in the local microenvironment. Angiogenesis networks may be connected with immune tolerance units and cooperate with each other to facilitate tumor growth and progression.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

BACKGROUNDThe morbidity and mortality of prostate cancer have been increasing rapidly in recent China. There were few studies investigating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values ranges in the healthy Chinese population. We performed this study to determine the distribution of serum PSA in a large healthy Chinese population.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to May 2008, 11 150 healthy Chinese men aged 30 - 79 years came to our hospital for routine health check-up. All subjects without a previous diagnosis of prostate cancer, a history of prostate surgery, or urogenital tract infection were proposed to undergo systematic serum PSA measurement and digital rectal examination (DRE). Men with normal DRE and PSA ≤ 4.0 ng/ml and those PSA > 4.0 ng/ml or abnormal DRE but without adverse findings on prostate biopsy were included (n = 9358). Age and serum PSA concentration were recorded and correlated through Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSThe 95th percentile serum PSA concentration was 1.89 ng/ml for men aged 30 to 39 years, 2.19 ng/ml for men aged 40 to 49 years, 2.88 ng/ml for men aged 50 to 59 years, 4.42 ng/ml for men aged 60 to 69 years, and 6.52 ng/ml for men aged 70 to 79 years. The serum PSA concentration correlated with age (P < 0.0001) with an annual increase of 0.97% for men in 40 years, 1.58% for men in 50 years, 3.04% for men in 60 years, and 3.99% for men in 70 years.

CONCLUSIONSThe serum PSA level correlates directly with age in Chinese men older than 40 years, not in Chinese men younger than 40 years old. Chinese men have lower PSA level compared with white men above 60 years of age, not in those under 60 years of age.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; epidemiology