Propensity score matching analysis on the safety and short-term outcomes of laparoscopic hepatectomy after conversion therapy versus pure laparoscopic hepatectomy / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective:To compare the safety and short-term prognosis of laparoscopic hepatectomy after conversion therapy versus pure laparoscopic hepatectomy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods:A total of 740 patients with HCC undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2019 and December 2022 were screened for study eligibility, among which 433 patients were eligible, including 364 males and 69 females, aged (57.2±11.1) years. Patients who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy after conversion therapy (including interventional therapy combined with targeted therapy or targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy, etc.) were marked as conversion resection group ( n=36), and those who underwent laparoscopic hepatectomy alone were marked as pure resection group ( n=397). After propensity score matching (PSM), 29 cases in the conversion resection group and pure resection group were finally enrolled. Preoperative (tumor number, maximum tumor diameter, etc.), intraoperative (operation time, intraoperative blood loss, etc.) and postoperative (hospital stay, drainage volume, complications, etc.) data and short-term prognosis were compared between the two groups. Survival curves and rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test. Results:The baseline characteristics including the occurrence of liver cirrhosis, the tumor number and maximum diameter showed no significant differences between the two groups after PSM (all P>0.05), indicating comparability. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative drainage volume etc. (all P>0.05). The incidences of postoperative complications and severe complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥Ⅲ) were 34.5% (10/29) and 6.9% (2/29) in pure resection group, and 41.4% (12/29) and 10.3% (3/29) in conversion resection group, respectively, with no significant difference between the two groups (χ 2=0.29, 0, P=0.588, 1.000). The recurrence-free survival rates at 6, 12 and 18 months after surgery were 79.2%, 70.7% and 70.7% in conversion resection group and 86.2%, 82.8% and 79.3% in pure resection group, the overall survival rates at 6, 12, and 18 months after surgery were 96.4%, 89.5%, 74.6% in conversion resection group, and 100.0%, 96.6% and 93.1% in pure resection group, with no significant difference (χ 2=1.90, 1.91, P=0.168, 0.167). Conclusion:Laparoscopic hepatectomy after conversion therapy for initially unresectable HCC has comparable safety and short-term prognosis with the pure laparoscopic hepatectomy.

Mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycosides against atherosclerotic inflammation through NF-κB signaling pathway / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycosides on the inflammatory response of apolipoprotein E~(-/-)(ApoE~(-/-)) mice and RAW264.7 cells through nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. In the in vivo experiment, ApoE~(-/-) mice were fed with high-fat diets for 12 weeks to induce the animal model of atherosclerosis, and 75 μg·mL~(-1) oxidized low-density lipoprotein(Ox-LDL) incubated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to establish the atherosclerosis cell model. Automatic biochemical analyzer, hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot, and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction(PCR) were used to determine the blood lipid levels, aortic intimal thickness, inflammatory factor content, NF-κB pathway-related proteins, and mRNA expression levels, and evaluate arterial atherosclerotic lesions and anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of the drug. The model of atherosclerosis was successfully established in ApoE~(-/-) mice after 12 weeks of feeding with high-fat diets. In the model group, the plasma levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) were increased(P<0.01), the intima of the blood vessels was thickened, the levels of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) were increased, and the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and inhibitor of NF-κB(IκBα) were significantly increased as compared with the control group. Compared with the model group, the high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside group decreased the plasma levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, reduced the plaque area and thickness and the content of inflammatory factor TNF-α, and inhibited the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IκBα, with the effect same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction. In the in vivo experiment, 75 μg·mL~(-1) Ox-LDL stimulated RAW264.7 cells for 24 h to successfully establish a foam cell model. As compared with the control group, the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα in the model group increased. Compared with the model group, the middle-dose and high-dose Buyang Huanwu Decoction glycoside groups decreased the nuclear amount of NF-κB and the protein and mRNA expressions of IκBα. The above results show that the glycosides are the main effective substances of Buyang Huanwu Decoction against atherosclerosis, which inhibit the NF-κB pathway and reduce the inflammatory response, thus playing the role against atherosclerotic inflammation same as Buyang Huanwu Decoction.

Structural Analysis and Characterization of 4-F-α-PVP Analog 4-F-3-Methyl-α- PVP Hydrochloride / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To identify 1-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) pentan-1-one (4-F-α-PVP) analog 1-(4-fluoro-3-methyl phenyl)-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl) pentan-1-one (4-F-3-Methyl-α-PVP) hydrochloride without reference substance.@*METHODS@#The direct-injection electron ionization-mass spectrometry (EI-MS), GC-MS, electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry (ESI-HRMS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS/MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ion chromatography and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were integrated utilized to achieve the structural analysis and characterization of the unknown compound in the sample, and the cleavage mechanism of the fragment ions was deduced by EI-MS and UPLC-HRMS/MS.@*RESULTS@#By analyzing the direct-injection EI-MS, GC-MS, ESI-HRMS and UPLC-HRMS/MS of the compound in the samples, it was concluded that the unknown compound was a structural analog of 4-F-α-PVP, possibly with one more methyl group in the benzene ring. According to the analysis results of 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, it was further proved that the methyl group is located at the 3-position of the benzene ring. Since the actual number of hydrogen in 1H-NMR analysis was one more than 4-F-3-Methyl-α-PVP neutral molecule, it was inferred that the compound existed in the form of salt. Ion chromatography analysis results showed that the compound contained chlorine anion (content 11.14%-11.16%), with the structural analysis of main functional group information by FTIR, the unknown compound was finally determined to be 4-F-3-Methyl-α-PVP hydrochloride.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A comprehensive method using EI-MS, GC-MS, ESI-HRMS, UPLC-HRMS/MS, NMR, ion chromatography and FTIR to identify 4-F-3-Methyl-α-PVP hydrochloride in samples is established, which will be helpful for the forensic science laboratory to identify this compound or other analog compounds.

Progress of schistosomiasis control in People’s Republic of China in 2021 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and national schistosomiasis surveillance sites in the People’s Republic of China at a national level in 2021. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis in China, Shanghai Municipality, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region continued to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis elimination, and Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces maintained the criteria of transmission interruption, while Yunnan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces maintained the criteria of transmission control by the end of 2021. A total of 451 counties (cites, districts) were found to be endemic for schistosomiasis in China in 2021, with 27 571 endemic villages covering 73 250 600 people at risk of infections. Among the 451 endemic counties (cities, districts), 75.17% (339/451), 22.17% (100/451) and 2.66% (12/451) achieved the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control of schistosomiasis, respectively. By the end of 2021, 29 037 cases with advanced schistosomiasis were documented in China. In 2021, 4 405 056 individuals received serological tests and 72 937 were sero-positive. A total of 220 629 individuals received stool examinations and 3 were positive. In 2021, snail survey was performed in 19 291 endemic villages in China and Oncomelania snails were found in 7 026 villages, accounting for 36.42% of all surveyed villages, with 12 villages identified with emerging snail habitats. Snail survey was performed at an area of 686 574.46 hm2 and 191 159.91 hm2 snail habitats were found, including 1 063.08 hm2 emerging snail habitats and 5 113.87 hm2 reemerging snail habitats. In 2021, 525 878 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic areas of China, and 115 437 received serological examinations, with 231 positives detected. Among the 128 719 bovines received stool examinations, no positives were identified. In 2021, there were 19 927 schistosomiasis patients receiving praziquantel chemotherapy, and 729 113 person-time individuals and 256 913 herd-time bovines were given expanded chemotherapy. In 2021, snail control with chemicals was performed in 117 372.74 hm2 snail habitats, and the actual area of chemical treatment was 65 640.50 hm2, while environmental improvements were performed in snail habitats covering an area of 1 244.25 hm2. Data from the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China showed that the mean prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections were both zero in humans and bovines in 2021, and no S. japonicum infection was detected in snails. The results demonstrate that the overall endemic status of schistosomiasis remained at a low level in China in 2021; however, the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination was slowed and the areas of snail habitats rebounded mildly. Strengthening researches on snail diffusion and control, and improving schistosomiasis surveillance and forecast are recommended to prevent reemerging schistosomiasis.

Endemic status of schistosomiasis in People’s Republic of China in 2020 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People’s Republic of China at a national level in 2020, and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis in China, Shanghai Municipality, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region continued to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis elimination, and Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces maintained the criteria of transmission interruption, while Yunnan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces maintained the criteria of transmission control by the end of 2020. A total of 450 counties (cites, districts) were found to be endemic for schistosomiasis in China, with 28 376 endemic villages covering 71 370 400 people at risk of infections. Among the 450 endemic counties (cities, districts), 74.89% (337/450), 21.87% (98/450) and 3.33% (15/450) achieved the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control of schistosomiasis, respectively. By the end of 2020, 29 517 cases with advanced schistosomiasis were documented in China. In 2020, 11 117 655 individuals received inquiry examinations and 1 798 580 were positive; 5 263 082 individuals received serological tests and 83 179 were sero-positive. A total of 273 712 individuals received stool examinations and 3 were positive, including one case of acute schistosomiasis. In 2020, snail survey was performed in 19 733 endemic villages in China and Oncomelania snails were found in 7 309 villages, accounting for 37.04% of all surveyed villages, with 15 villages identified with emerging snail habitats. Snail survey covered an area of 736 984.13 hm2 and 206 125.22 hm2 snail habitats were found, including 1 174.67 hm2 emerging snail habitats and 1.96 hm2 habitats with infected snails. In 2020, 544 424 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China, and 147 887 received serological examinations, with 326 positives detected, while 130 673 bovines received stool examinations, with no positives identified. In 2020, there were 19 214 patients with schistosomiasis receiving praziquantel chemotherapy, and 964 103 person-time individuals and 266 280 herd-time bovines were given expanded chemotherapy. In 2020, molluscicide treatment was performed in 136 141.92 hm2 snail habitats, and the actual area of chemical treatment was 71 980.22 hm2, while environmental improvements were performed in snail habitats covering an area of 1 464.03 hm2. Data from the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China showed that the mean prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections were both zero in humans and bovines in 2020, and no S. japonicum infection was detected in snails. The results demonstrate that the overall endemic status of schistosomiasis remains at a low level in China and the goal of the National Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for Schistosomiasis Control was achieved as scheduled; however, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis rebounded in local areas. Precision schistosomiasis control and intensified monitoring of the endemic situation and transmission risk of schistosomiasis are required to be performed to facilitate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis steadily.

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis in one convalescent patient with corona virus disease 2019 by oral traditional Chinese medicine decoction: A case report / 中西医结合学报

After one-month of oral treatment with traditional Chinese medicine decoction, without using other drugs, the lung inflammatory exudate, pulmonary fibrosis and quality of life of a 61-year-old female patient with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were significantly improved. No recurrence or deterioration of the patient's condition was found within seven weeks of treatment and follow-up, and no adverse events occurred, indicating that oral Chinese medicine decoction was able to improve the pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in a patient recovering from COVID-19, but further research is still needed.

National surveillance of Oncomelania hupensis in China, 2015—2019 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the monitoring data of Oncomelania hupensis in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2015 to 2019, so as to understand the changes of Oncomelania snail status in the schistosomiasis-endemic areas of China and to provide the scientific evidence for Oncomelania snail control. Methods According to the requirements of National Scheme for Schistosomiasis Surveillance in China (2014 Edition), national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in all schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) and the potential endemic counties (cities, districts) in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas, and Oncomelania snail status was monitored according to different epidemic types. In endemic areas, Oncomelania snail survey was performed by means of systematic sampling and environmental sampling, and the occurrence of frames with Oncomelania snails and the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in Oncomelania snails were calculated, while in potential endemic areas, the risk of imported Oncomelania snails and Oncomelania snails in floating debris were monitored. Results Oncomelania snail survey was performed covering an area of 116 834.16 hm2 in the national schistosomiasis surveillance of China from 2015 to 2019, with 35 007.62 hm2 Oncomelania snail habitats identified. A total of 6 908 292 frames were surveyed during the 5-year period, and there were 364 555 frames detected with Oncomelania snails, with a 5.28% mean occurrence of frames with Oncomelania snails. Among 997 508 living Oncomelania snails captured, no S. japonicum infections were detected, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay detected 18 positive mixed Oncomelania snail samples. During the period from 2015 to 2019, 147.20 hm2 emerging Oncomelania snail habitats were identified, with an overall tendency towards a rise seen in the proportion of emerging Oncomelania snail habitats in plain regions with waterway networks (0.12% to 92.00%), a tendency towards a rise followed by decline seen in marshland and lake regions (0 to 96.72%), and a large fluctuation in hilly regions (0 to 88.49%). A total of 831.10 hm2 re-emerging Oncomelania snail habitats were found in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2015 to 2019, with an overall tendency towards a rise seen in the proportion of re-emerging Oncomelania snail habitats in marshland and lake regions (16.05% to 79.66%), an overall tendency towards a decline seen in hilly regions (19.25% to 81.00%), and a minor fluctuation in plain regions with waterway networks (1.10% to 10.14%). During the 5-year period from 2015 to 2019, a total of 48 656 kg floating debris were captured in 4 surveillance sites in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas, and 2 204 snails were found, with no Oncomelania snails identified. Conclusions The areas of Oncomelania snail habitats tended to be stable in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China during the period from 2015 to 2019, however, there was a gradual rise in the area of Oncomelania snail habitats year by year, and LAMP assay identified positive Oncomelania snail samples, suggesting Oncomelania snail control is far from optimistic in China.

National surveillance of schistosomiasis morbidity in China, 2015—2019 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the morbidity due to Schistosoma japonicum in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China from 2015 to 2019, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control and elimination and provide the scientific evidence for formulating the new scheme for schistosomiasis surveillance in China. Methods According to the requirements of National Scheme for Schistosomiasis Surveillance in China (2014 Edition), national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in all schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) and the potential endemic counties (cities, districts) in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas, and S. japonicum infections were monitored in local residents, mobile populations and livestock according to different epidemic types. The sero-prevalence of S. japonicum infections, adjusted prevalence of human S. japonicum infections, characteristics of egg-positive individuals and prevalence of S. japonicum infections livestock were analyzed. Results S. japonicum infections were monitored in 453 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (cities, districts) from 13 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) and 4 potential endemic counties (cities, districts) from the Three Gorges Reservoir areas in China from 2015 to 2019. During the 5-year period from 2015 to 2019, the sero-prevalence of S. japonicum infections reduced from 3.35% to 1.63% among local residents and from 1.15% to 0.75% among mobile populations, while the adjusted prevalence of infections reduced from 0.05% to 0 among local residents and from 0.20% to 0.001 03% among mobile populations. There were significant differences in the sero-prevalence of S. japonicum infections among local residents and mobile populations in terms of province, occupation and age (all P values < 0.05). A total of 132 egg-positives were identified during the 5-year period, including 97 local residents (inter-quartile range for ages, 47 to 61 years), and 35 mobile populations (inter-quartile range for ages, 26 to 48 years), and there was a significant difference in the age distribution between local residents and mobile populations (P < 0.05). There were totally 6 bovines (5 in 2015 and 1 in 2016) identified with S. japonicum infections in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China, with no S. japonicum infections detected in bovines from 2017 to 2019. Conclusions The prevalence of schistosomiasis is very low in China. Further surveillance including more mobile surveillance sites seems justified to identify the risk of schistosomiasis as soon as possible and interrupt the transmission route, so as to facilitate the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

Expert consensus on the strategy and measures to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis in China / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Since 2015 when the transmission of schistosomiasis was controlled in China, the country has been moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis, with the surveillance-response as the main interventions for schistosomiasis control. During the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, the transmission of schistosomiasis had been interrupted in four provinces of Sichuan, Jiangsu, Yunnan and Hubei and the prevalence of schistosomiasis has been at the historically lowest level in China. As a consequence, the goal set in The 13th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China is almost achieved. However, there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China, including the widespread distribution of intermediate host snails and complicated snail habitats, many types of sources of Schistosoma japonicum infections and difficulty in management of bovines and sheep, unmet requirements for the current schistosomiasis control program with the currently available tools, and vulnerable control achievements. During the 14th Five-Year period, it is crucial to consolidate the schistosomiasis control achievements and gradually solve the above difficulties, and critical to provide the basis for achieving the ultimate goal of elimination of schistosomiasis in China. Based on the past experiences from the national schistosomiasis control program and the challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in China, an expert consensus has been reached pertaining to the objectives, control strategy and measures for The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China, so as to provide insights in to the development of The 14th Five-Year National Schistosomiasis Control Program in China.

Diagnostic value of nucleic acid detection in schistosomiasis japonica: a meta-analysis / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the diagnostic value of variable-temperature and isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques in the detection of schistosomiasis japonica using a meta-analysis. Methods The publications pertaining to the nucleic acid detection of schistosomiasis japonica were searched in electronic databases, including Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, PubMed and ScienceDirect, and the compilations and proceedings of schistosomiasis were manually searched. In addition, the citations of publications associated with the nucleic acid detection of schistosomiasis japonica were traced using a document tracing method. The retrieved literatures were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted from the included literatures. The quality of the included literatures was assessed using the software RevMan version 5.3, and a meta-analysis was performed using the software MetaDiSc version 1.4. Results A total of 19 publications covering 24 groups of studies were enrolled, including 5 Chinese publications and 14 English publications. There were 17 groups of studies reporting the comparison between the variable-temperature nucleic acid amplification technique and the golden standard, and 7 groups of studies showing the comparison between the isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique and the golden standard. Assessment of the literature quality indicated a minor overall bias of the included literatures, and the Deek funnel plot showed a possible publication bias in the documents reports variable-temperature nucleic acid amplification techniques. There was a heterogeneity caused by non-threshold effect among the studies associated with the variable-temperature amplification technique, and the random effects model was therefore used to combine the effects. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the variable-temperature amplification technique were 0.81 (0.79 to 0.83) and 0.73 (0.71 to 0.74) for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica, and area under the SROC curve was 0.944 3. There was no heterogeneity among the studies associated with the isothermal amplification technique, and the fixed effects model was therefore used to combine the effects. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of the isothermal amplification technique were 0.96 (0.94 to 0.98) and 0.95 (0.94 to 0.97) for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica, and area under the SROC curve was 0.989 9. Conclusions Both variable-temperature and isothermal nucleic acid amplification techniques have a high efficiency for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica, and the isothermal amplification technique shows a relatively higher accuracy than the variable-temperature amplification technique.

Endemic status of schistosomiasis in People’s Republic of China in 2019 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis in the People’s Republic of China at a national level in 2019, and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and 455 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis in China, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi continued to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis elimination, Sichuan Province achieved transmission interruption, Jiangsu newly achieved the standard of transmission interruption and 5 provinces of Yunnan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan maintained transmission control by the end of 2019. There were 450 endemic counties (cities, districts) endemic for schistosomiasis, including 28 500 endemic villages covering 70 667 800 people at risk of infections. Among the 450 endemic counties (citis, districts), 66.89% (301/450), 28.44% (128/450) and 4.67% (21/450) kept the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control of schistosomiasis, respectively. By the end of 2019, a total of 30 170 advanced schistosomiasis cases were documented in China. In 2019, a total of 12 090 712 individuals received inquiry examinations and 1 740 764 were positive; 5 158 369 individuals received serological tests and 89 753 were seropositive. A total of 327 475 individuals received stool examinations and 5 were positive, including one case of acute schistosomiasis. In 2019, snail survey was performed in 19 726 endemic villages in China and Oncomelania snails were found in 7 322 villages, accounting for 37.12% of all surveyed villages, with 6 villages with emerging snail habitats. Snail survey covered an area of 585 286.24 hm2 and 174 270.42 hm2 snail habitats were found, including emerging snail habitats of 64.20 hm2; however, no infected snails were identified. In 2019, a total of 605 965 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic areas of China, and 183 313 received serological examinations, with 1 176 positives detected, while 134 978 bovines received stool examinations, with 7 positives identified. In 2019, there were 28 557 patients with schistosomiasis receiving praziquantel chemotherapy, and expanded chemotherapy was given to 1 008 083 person-times; there were 7 bovines with schistosomiasis receiving praziquantel chemotherapy, and 296 053 herd-times expanded chemotherapy was given to bovines. In 2019, snail habitats at an area of 128 754.26 hm2 were given chemical treatment, and the actual area of chemical treatment was 69 605.55 hm2, while environmental improvements were performed in snail habitats covering an area of 2 847.00 hm2. Data from the 455 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China showed that the mean Schistosoma japonicum infection rates were both zero in humans and bovines in 2019, and no infected snails were found. The results demonstrate that the overall endemic situation of schistosomiasis remains at a lower infection level in China; however, there is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission. To achieve the target set in the National Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for Schistosomiasis Control and consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis control, precision control on schistosomiasis still needs to be reinforced in China.

Thinking on schistosomiasis control under the strategy of China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

The construction of Yangtze River Economic Belt has been included in the national strategy of China, aiming to improve the economic level of the whole population, and to build a green ecological corridor with the joint development of economy, balance, ecology and equity. Yangtze River Economic Belt is the main area where schistosomiasis is endemic. During the economic construction, the prevention and control of schistosomiasis should be strictly carried out to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in China. In this paper, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Yangtze River Economic Belt areas and the possible impact on the schistosomiasis control were analyzed. In addition, a few suggestions were proposed for schistosomiasis control in Yangtze River Economic Belt areas.

Thinking on schistosomiasis control under the strategy of China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

The construction of Yangtze River Economic Belt has been included in the national strategy of China, aiming to improve the economic level of the whole population, and to build a green ecological corridor with the joint development of economy, balance, ecology and equity. Yangtze River Economic Belt is the main area where schistosomiasis is endemic. During the economic construction, the prevention and control of schistosomiasis should be strictly carried out to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in China. In this paper, the endemic situation of schistosomiasis in Yangtze River Economic Belt areas and the possible impact on the schistosomiasis control were analyzed. In addition, a few suggestions were proposed for schistosomiasis control in Yangtze River Economic Belt areas.

Endemic features and space-time clustering of schistosomiasis in Xinjian District,Nanchang City from 2009 to 2014 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the endemic situation and distribution features of schistosomiasis in Xinjian District,Nanchang City,Jiangxi Province from 2009 to 2014,so as to provide a reference for the prevention and control of schistosomia-sis in the future.Methods The endemic data of schistosomiasis in Xinjian District were collected by taking the village as a unit from 2009 to 2014.An endemic database was established,and the SaTScan software was applied to analyze the spatiotemporal aggregation areas of Schistosoma japonicum infection in crowd,Oncomelania hupensis snails and cattle.Results The S.japoni-cum infection rate of crowd was decreased from 0.10％in 2009 to 0.000 68％in 2014.The infection rate of O.hupensis snails was greatly fluctuated from 2009 to 2014,the highest was 1.04％in 2012,but it fell to 0 in 2014.The highest infection rate of cattle was 1.98％in 2012,and it fell to 0 in 2014.The spatial temporal clustering detection showed that three areas of crowd infection were mainly concentrated in 20 villages of Changyi Township,Lianyu Township and Songhu Town;two areas of snail infection were mainly concentrated in five villages of Changyi Township and Nanji Township;one area of cattle infection was mainly con-centrated in three villages of Changyi Township.Conclusions The endemic situation of schistosomiasis presents a declining trend in Xinjian District from 2009 to 2014 as a whole.However,the potential risks of the rebound of the disease still exist,and the six clustering areas of infection are still the key areas for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in the future.

Biomarkers for inflammatory bowel disease: current updates and future outlook / 中华检验医学杂志

Inflammatory bowel diseases ( IBD) includes ulcerative colitis ( UC) and Crohn′s disease (CD).Recently, the incidence of IBD in China has been growing rapidly and caused a major public health burden.Although several traditional diagnostic methods can directly evaluate intestinal inflammation in patients with IBD , there are still limitations in these methods such as invasive or unreliable results because of clinical and pathologists′clinical experience .Therefore, there is urgent need for non-invasive, objective and reliable tool for IBD diagnosis or monitoring .With the development of technology and understanding of the pathogenesis of IBD , much progress has been achieved to discover novel IBD biomarkers in genetic , microecological , metabolomics and gut barrier field .In this review , we will demonstrate current updates of IBD related biomarkers and showed future prospective of these biomarkers .

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis with Modified Jingang Pills / 中国中医药信息杂志

Ankylosing spondylitis has become a common disease, whether early stage of the low back pain or disability of the late stage of the disease has a serious impact on life quality. There is an urgent need of safe and effective treatment to treat the disease. This article introduced two cases of ankylosing spondylitis treated by modified Jingang Pills, with significant efficacy.

Tumor volume of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma on multidetector computed tomography: association with N categories

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the gross tumor volume of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma on multidetector computed tomography could predict the presence of regional lymph node metastasis and could determine N categories. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 202 consecutive patients with gastric adenocarcinoma who had undergone gastrectomy 1 week after contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography were retrospectively identified. The gross tumor volume was evaluated on multidetector computed tomography images. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine whether the gross tumor volume could predict regional lymph node metastasis, and the Mann-Whitney U test was performed to compare the gross tumor volume among N categories. Additionally, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to identify the accuracy of the gross tumor volume in differentiating N categories. RESULTS: The gross tumor volume could predict regional lymph node metastasis (p<0.0001) in the univariate analysis, and the multivariate analyses indicated that the gross tumor volume was an independent risk factor for regional lymph node metastasis (p=0.005, odds ratio=1.364). The Mann-Whitney U test showed that the gross tumor volume could distinguish N0 from the N1-N3 categories, N0-N1 from N2-N3, and N0-N2 from N3 (all p<0.0001). In the T1-T4a categories, the gross tumor volume could differentiate N0 from the N1-N3 categories (cutoff, 12.3 cm3), N0-N1 from N2-N3 (cutoff, 16.6 cm3), and N0-N2 from N3 (cutoff, 24.6 cm3). In the T4a category, the gross tumor volume could differentiate N0 from the N1-N3 categories (cutoff, 15.8 cm3), N0-N1 from N2-N3 (cutoff, 17.8 cm3), and N0-N2 from N3 (cutoff, 24 cm3). CONCLUSION: The gross tumor volume of resectable gastric adenocarcinoma on multidetector computed tomography could predict regional lymph node metastasis and N categories.

The evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis / 中华检验医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM).Methods This was a prospective, single center clinical trial.A total of 116 consecutive patients with suspected meningitis who were admitted to Xijing Hospital from October 2013 to June 2015 were recruited.Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MTB) and rifampicin ( RIF) resistance mutations in 1 ml cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF) were detected with Xpert MTB/RIF and the remaining sample was tested by Ziehl-Neelsen staining , MGIT960 liquid culture and other laboratory tests .And the enrolled patients were grouped according to the 2010 South African expert consensus .The diagnostic performance of Xpert MTB/RIF was evaluated by comparing against clinical score >5 points and MGIT960 liquid culture as reference standards respectively .The comparison was performed using a χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test for categorical variables and a nonparametric rank sum test for continuous variables .Results Among the enrolled 116 subjects, 23 subjects were diagnosed as definite-TBM by MGIT960 liquid culture, 16 subjects were classified as probable TBM , 27 subjects were classified as possible TBM , and 50 subjects were classified as non-TBM.When clinical score >5 points was used as a reference standard , the sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF (39.4%) was comparable with that of MGIT960 liquid culture (34.8%) (χ2 =0.292, P=0.589), and significantly better than that of Ziehl-Neelsen staining (9.9%) (χ2 =16.500, 12.771, P<0.001). No significant differences were found among the specificities of Xpert MTB /RIF, MGIT960 liquid culture and Ziehl-Neelsen staining ( 98.0%, 100.0% vs 98.0%, χ2 =1.014, P=0.602 ) .When tested against MGIT960 liquid culture as a reference standard , the sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 91.3%. Conclusions Xpert MTB/RIF is a rapid and specific method to detect MTB and RIF resistance in CSF .It exhibits a good rule in value for the diagnosis of TBM and a comparable sensitivity with MGIT 960 liquid culture, thus it can be used as the initial method for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis .

Nail Selenium Level and Diabetes in Older People in Rural China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between selenium levels and diabetes in an older population with life-long natural exposure to selenium in rural China. A total of 1856 subjects aged 65 years or older from four Chinese rural counties with different environmental selenium levels were evaluated. Analysis of covariance models and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between nail selenium levels and serum glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance [using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)], and the risk of diabetes. The mean nail selenium level was 0.461 μg/g and the prevalence rate of diabetes was 8.3% in this population. The mean nail selenium level was significantly higher in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (P<0.0001). The adjusted odds ratios for diabetes were 2.65 (95% CI: 1.48 to 4.73), 2.47 (95% CI: 1.37 to 4.45), and 3.30 (95% CI: 1.85 to 5.88) from the second selenium quartile to the fourth quartile, respectively, compared with the first quartile group. The mean serum glucose and HOMA-IR in the higher selenium quartile groups were significantly higher than those of the lowest quartile group. However, no significant differences in insulin were observed among the four quartile groups. A long-term, higher level of exposure to selenium may be associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Future studies are needed to elucidate the association between selenium and insulin resistance.

The effect of RNA binding protein Lsm4 on the proliferation and migration of esophageal carcinoma cell line EC109 / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effect of Lsm4 gene interference on the proliferation and migration of esophageal carcinoma EC109 cells, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods: The expression of Lsm4 mRNA in esophageal cancer tissues and para-carcinoma tissues was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative-PCR (RFQ-PCR). After transfection with Lsm4-small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting human Lsm4 gene or a negative control (NC) (NC-siRNA), the expression level of Lsm4 mRNA in EC109 cells was detected by RFQ-PCR, and the abilities of cell proliferation and colony formation were determined by MTT and colony formation assay, respectively. The ability of migration of EC109 cells after transfection with Lsm4-siRNA was examined by Transwell assay, and the expression levels of Lsm4, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and vimentin proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: The expression level of Lsm4 mRNA in esophageal cancer tissues was higher than that in para-carcinoma tissues (P < 0.05). The expression levels of Lsm4 mRNA and protein of EC109 cells in Lsm4-siRNA transfection group were lower than those in NC-siRNA group (P < 0.01). The abilities of proliferation and colony formation of EC109 cells in Lsm4-siRNA transfection group were inhibited (P < 0.05), while the ability of migration was improved (P < 0.01). As compared with NC group, the expression level of PCNA was down-regulated (P < 0.05), and the expression level of vimentin was up-regulated (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The expression of Lsm4 mRNA is higher in esophageal carcinoma tissues. Lsm4 may regulate the growth and migration of EC109 cells. Copyright © 2014 by TUMOR.