First report of invasive Pomacea snails in Shandong Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To characterize the species of invasive Pomacea snails that were discovered for the first time in Shandong Province. Methods Pomacea snails samples were collected in the field of Jining City, Shandong Province on October 2021 for morphological identification. Pomacea snails were randomly sampled and genomic DNA was extracted from foot muscle tissues of Pomacea snails for multiplex PCR amplification. The PCR amplification product was sequenced. Then, the sequence was aligned and a phylogenetic tree was created using the software MegAlign 7.1.0. In addition, Angiostongylus cantonensis infection was detected in Pomacea snails with the lung microscopy. Results A total of 104 living Pomacea snails were collected, and all were characterized as Pomacea spp. based on morphological features. Of 12 randomly selected adult Pomacea snails, multiplex PCR assay and sequencing identified eleven snails as P. canaliculata and one as P. maculata. No A. cantonensis infection was detected in 104 Pomacea snails. Conclusion This is the first report of invasive Pomacea snails in Shandong Province, where P. canaliculata and P. maculata are found.

Surveillance of Enterobius vermicularis infections among children in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence and changing trend of Enterobius vermicularis infections among children in Shandong Province, so as to provide the scientific evidence for the adjustment and development of the enterobiasis control strategy. Methods Soil-borne nematodiasis surveillance sites were assigned in 51 counties (districts, cities) in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020, and the E. vermicularis infections were detected using a modified Kato-Katz technique and the cellophane tape method among children at ages of 3 to 9 years living in these surveillance sites. The epidemiological profiles of E. vermicularis-infected children were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 5 060 children at ages of 3 to 9 years were detected in 51 soil-borne nematodiasis surveillance sites in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020, and the overall prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was 2.23%. The annual prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was 3.99% (26/651), 1.70% (14/824), 0.96% (8/837), 2.90% (45/1 552) and 1.67% (20/1 196) from 2016 to 2020, respectively, with a significant difference detected among years ( χ2 = 21.455, P < 0.01). The prevalence of E. vermicularis infections was 1.25% (15/1 198), 1.85% (14/755), 3.18% (84/2 640) and 0 (0/467) among children from central, eastern, southern and northern Shandong Province (χ2 = 27.326, P < 0.01). In addition, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of E. vermicularis infections between male (1.98%, 56/2 831) and female children (2.56%, 57/2 229) (χ2 = 1.916, P > 0.05); however, there was age-specific prevalence of E. vermicularis infections among children (χ2 = 16.448, P < 0.05), with the greatest prevalence detected among children at ages of 6 years (3.18%, 25/786), and the lowest prevalence seen among children at ages of 3 years (0.75%, 6/800). Conclusions The prevalence of E. vermicularis infections remained at a medium level among children at ages of 3 to 9 years in Shandong Province from 2016 to 2020, with region-specific prevalence found across the province. An integrated strategy is required for enterobiasis control.

Analysis of drug - resistant gene polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum imported from Equatorial Guinea to Shandong Province in 2015 and 2016 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the drug-resistant gene polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum imported from Equatorial Guinea to Shandong Province. MethodsFrom 2015 to 2016, blood samples were collected from imported P. falciparum malaria patients returning from Equatorial Guinea to Shandong Province, and genome DNA of the malaria parasite was extracted. The drug-resistant Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and K13 genes of P. falciparum were amplified using a PCR assay, followed by DNA sequencing, and the sequences were aligned. Results The target fragments of all 5 drug-resistant genes of P. falciparum were successfully amplified and sequenced. There were 72.8%, 18.6%, and 8.6% of P. falciparum parasites carrying the wild-, mutant-, and mixed-type Pfcrt gene, respectively, and all mutant haplotypes were CVIET (the underline indicates the mutation site). There were 20.0%, 61.4% and 18.6% of P. falciparum parasites carrying the wild-, mutant-, and mixed-type Pfmdr1 gene, respectively, and the mutant haplotypes mainly included YF and NF (the underlines indicate the mutation sites). There were 1.4%, 98.6%, and 0 of P. falciparum parasites carrying the wild-, mutant-, and mixed-type Pfdhfr gene, respectively, and AIRNI was the predominant mutant haplotype (the underline indicates the mutation site). There were 1.4%, 94.3%, and 4.3% of P. falciparum parasites carrying the wild-, mutant-, and mixed-type Pfdhps gene, respectively, and SGKAA was the predominant mutant haplotype (the underline indicates the mutation site). The complete drug-resistant IRNGE genotype consisted of 8.6% of the Pfdhfr and Pfdhps genes, and the K13 gene A578S mutation occurred in 1.4% of the parasite samples. Conclusions There are mutations in the Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, Pfdhps, and K13 genes of P. falciparum imported from Equatorial Guinea to Shandong Province, with a low frequency in the Pfcrt gene mutation and a high frequency in the Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps gene mutations, and the K13 gene A578S mutation is detected in the parasite samples.

Epidemiological analysis of malaria in Shandong Province in 2017 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the malaria epidemiological characteristics of Shandong Province in 2017, so as to provide the evidences for formulating targeted prevention and control strategy and measures. Methods The data of malaria cases of Shandong Province in 2017 were collected from the Information Management System for Infectious Diseases Report and Information Management System for Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention. The epidemiological characteristics of malaria situation and the diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases were analyzed. Results There were 209 malaria cases reported in 2017, all of them were imported cases, and 205 cases (98.09%) were imported from African countries. Among them, 155 cases (74.16%) were falciparum malaria cases. Totally 16 cities had cases reported in 2017, and 154 cases (73.68%) were reported in 6 cities (Yantai, Jining, Weihai, Dezhou, Qingdao, and Tai’an). The malaria cases distributed in 17 cities, and there were 110 cases distributed in 4 cities, namely Yantai, Tai’an, Weihai, and Qingdao, which accounted for 56.41% of the total cases in Shandong Province. Both the median time from onset to seeing a doctor and the median time from seeing a doctor to being diagnosed were one day. Totally 12.92% of the cases went to visit a doctor 7 days later after they had symptoms and 10.53% of the cases were diagnosed 7 days later after the first visit to a doctor. Conclusions At present, the prevention and control of the imported malaria is the focus of malaria control in Shandong Province. According to the central tendency of the malaria situation, the health education and propaganda among the high risk groups and the training on the diagnosis and treatment among medical workers should be strengthened, so as to prevent the risk of reappearance of local cases in the past malaria endemic regions, and to ensure the goal of malaria elimination been achieved on schedule.

Epidemiological analysis of malaria in Shandong Province in 2017 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the malaria epidemiological characteristics of Shandong Province in 2017, so as to provide the evidences for formulating targeted prevention and control strategy and measures. Methods The data of malaria cases of Shandong Province in 2017 were collected from the Information Management System for Infectious Diseases Report and Information Management System for Parasitic Diseases Control and Prevention. The epidemiological characteristics of malaria situation and the diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases were analyzed. Results There were 209 malaria cases reported in 2017, all of them were imported cases, and 205 cases (98.09%) were imported from African countries. Among them, 155 cases (74.16%) were falciparum malaria cases. Totally 16 cities had cases reported in 2017, and 154 cases (73.68%) were reported in 6 cities (Yantai, Jining, Weihai, Dezhou, Qingdao, and Tai’an). The malaria cases distributed in 17 cities, and there were 110 cases distributed in 4 cities, namely Yantai, Tai’an, Weihai, and Qingdao, which accounted for 56.41% of the total cases in Shandong Province. Both the median time from onset to seeing a doctor and the median time from seeing a doctor to being diagnosed were one day. Totally 12.92% of the cases went to visit a doctor 7 days later after they had symptoms and 10.53% of the cases were diagnosed 7 days later after the first visit to a doctor. Conclusions At present, the prevention and control of the imported malaria is the focus of malaria control in Shandong Province. According to the central tendency of the malaria situation, the health education and propaganda among the high risk groups and the training on the diagnosis and treatment among medical workers should be strengthened, so as to prevent the risk of reappearance of local cases in the past malaria endemic regions, and to ensure the goal of malaria elimination been achieved on schedule.

Characteristics of Imported Malaria and Species of Plasmodium Involved in Shandong Province, China (2012-2014)

Malaria remains a serious public health problem in Shandong Province, China; therefore, it is important to explore the characteristics of the current malaria prevalence situation in the province. In this study, data of malaria cases reported in Shandong during 2012-2014 were analyzed, and Plasmodium species were confirmed by smear microscopy and nested-PCR. A total of 374 malaria cases were reported, 80.8% of which were reported from 6 prefectures. Of all cases, P. falciparum was dominant (81.3%), followed by P. vivax (11.8%); P. ovale and P. malariae together accounted for 6.4% of cases. Notably, for the first time since 2012, no indigenous case had been reported in Shandong Province, a situation that continued through 2014. Total 95.2% of cases were imported from Africa. The ratio of male/female was 92.5:1, and 96.8% of cases occurred in people 20-54 years of age. Farmers or laborers represented 77.5% of cases. No significant trends of monthly pattern were found in the reported cases. All patients were in good condition after treatment, except for 3 who died. These results indicate that imported malaria has increased significantly since 2012 in Shandong Province, especially for P. falciparum, and there is an emergence of species diversity.

Effect of astragalus membranaceus on the proliferation, osteogenic capacity and structure of periodontal ligament cells in vitro / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Astragalus membranaceus (APS) on the proliferation, osteogenic capacity and structure of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PDLCs were cultured in vitro with APS of 0.08, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 mg x mL(-1). Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTr), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and cell structure were detected to determine the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs proliferation and differentiation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>When the APS was 0.2 mg x mL(-1), the absorbance of MTT and ALP exhibit significantly increased as compared to the control (P < 0.05). The cells cultured in vitro with APS of 0.2 mg x mL(-1) had the normal structure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>APS with proper concentration in short-term culture may promote the proliferation and differentiation of PDLCs.</p>

Analyzing the inhibition of vitamin B12 to dexamethasone-induced palatognathous mouse using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance based metabonomics method / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Metabonomic analysis has been increasingly used to monitor metabolic abnormalities in cells and their micro-environment in order to detect the biomarkers recently. This study evaluated the feasibility of applying 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) based metabonomic method to detect the differences of the early development of cleft palate in the plasma from control group and experimental group.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Pregnant mice (inbred C57BL/6J strain) with vitamin B12 injected only were assigned as the control group, pregnant mice with excessive Dex, injected after vitamin B12 as the experimental group, each group includes 12 mice. And the effect of B12 to rate of cleft palate was observed. The technology of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to detect the endogenous small molecule metabolites. Finally, changes of metabolites ingredients were ascertained by using the method of principal component analysis (PCA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was significant difference in PCA scores plot between the two groups according to whether cleft palate occurred.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 1H-NMR based metabonomic approach might be used as a feasible and efficient method for a deep exploration of the pathogenesis of cleft lip and palate and an early exploration of the mechanism of vitamin B12.</p>

The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C in oral squamous cell carcinoma and its associations with angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its relation to angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, as well as lymph node metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-seven archival specimens from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were investigated, whose clinicopathologic data were completely conserved. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of VEGF-C, microvessel density (MVD), lymphatic vessel density (LVD). The correlations between VEGF-C expression and MVD, LVD, as well as other clinicopathological features were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Although no correlation between VEGF-C expression and tumor location, histological grade, or gender of the patients was observed (P > 0.05), OSCC patients with more advanced clinical stages and lymph node metastasis were prone to have high expression of VEGF-C (P = 0.015 and P < 0.001, respectively). Cases with high-expression of VEGF-C also showed significantly more often higher LVD (P = 0.001) but not MVD (P = 0.125). In addition, cases with lymph node involvement presented higher LVD than other cases (P = 0.026).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>VEGF-C may promote lymph node metastasis by inducing lymphangiogenesis in OSCC.</p>

Initial study on the discrimination of oral microorganisms with a metabonomics method / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish the spectra of metabolites that coued be employed in identification of oral pathogenic bacteria, and try to find a convenient and rapid way to discriminate oral microorganisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Suspensions of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Streptococcus sanguis ATCC 10556 and Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356 with same density were preparecd and cultured respectively at improved TPY liquid culture medium. The growth quantity were measured periodically by a turbidimeter. And the growth curves of the inoculated bacteria were completed. The culture solutions in stationary phase of the three bacteria were tested with 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy respectively. The data of 1H-NMR spectroscopy results were analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PCA showed the obvious clustering phenomena and the points of three group differentially centralized to three clusters. Therefore, the NMR-based metabonomics profiles could discriminate the three different kinds of bacteria.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The metabonomics is a promising new technology for developing to a rapid discrimination method of oral pathogenic bacteria.</p>

Initial study on discrimination of oral microorganisms with the metabonomics technique / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility of employing metabonomics method in identification of oral pathogenic bacteria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Streptococcus mutans ATCC25175 and Actinomyces viscosus ATCC15987 were respectively inoculated in same certain culture medium. The growth curves of the inoculated bacteria were drown by turbidimetry. The culture solutions in four different growth phases of the both bacteria were used to test with the 1H-Nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy respectively. The data of 1H-NMR spectroscopy results were analyzed by principal components analysis (PCA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The PCA showed the obvious clustering phenomena and the points of two group data stayed differentially together by two clusters. Therefore, the NMR-based metabonomics profiles can discriminate the two different kind of bacteria.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The metabonomics can be expected to be a kind of promising useful method in quick discrimination of oral pathogenic bacteria.</p>