Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Preventive chemotherapy is one of the pivotal interventions for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis, which is effective to reduce the morbidity and prevalence of schistosomiasis. In order to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the targets set for schistosomiasis control in the Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis in 2022, with major evidence-based updates of the current preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis. In China where great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, the preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis has been updated several times during the past seven decades. This article reviews the evolution of the WHO guidelines on preventive chemotherapy and Chinese national preventive chemotherapy schemes, compares the current Chinese national preventive chemotherapy scheme and the recommendations for preventive chemotherapy proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, and proposes recommendations for preventive chemotherapy during the future implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control among public health professionals engaging in healthcare foreign aid.

One-stage transpedicular debridement, posterior internal fixation and fusion for the treatment of senile thoracolumbar tuberculosis / 中国骨伤

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the clinical outcomes of one-stage transpedicular debridement, posterior internal fixation, RBK mixed streptomycin filled bone grafting for the treatment of elderly patients with thoracolumbar tuberculosis.@*METHODS@#The clinical data of 20 elderly patients with thoracolumbar tuberculosis underwent one stage transpedicular debridement, posterior internal fixation, OSTEOSET RBK mixed streptomycin-filled bone grafting from September 2006 to July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 8 females, aged from 62 to 83 years with an average of (72.4±6.9) years old. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI)were used to evaluate the pain and spinal function. The kyphosis angle (Cobb angle) of the lesion segment and the bone growth of the lesion area were observed by the X-ray films.@*RESULTS@#All the operations were successful, the operation time was (160.9±23.8) min, and the intraoperative blood loss was (317.9± 112.7) ml. The incisions were healed by first intention, and no sinus and incision were delayed. Spinal tuberculosis was completely cured, Frankel grade has one or more improvements. The VAS score decreased from (7.50±1.15) points before surgery to (1.70±1.39) points at 12 months after surgery (<0.05). The ODI score decreased from preoperative (92.50±1.17)% to (12.80±0.89)% at the final follow up (<0.05). The sagittal Cobb angle of the lesion segment decreased from preoperative (24.2±1.6)° to (8.3±0.7)°at 12 months after surgery(<0.05), the kyphosis deformity was significantly corrected. In all cases, bone fusion was achieved in bone graft area, without bone nonunion and device fracture complications.@*CONCLUSION@#One-stage transpedicular debridement, posterior internal fixation, RBK mixed streptomycin filled bone grafting is suitable for thoracolumbar tuberculosis patients with good general condition and less vertebral destruction.

Impact of “Elaphurus davidianus return home project” on the transmission of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake areas / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections in Elaphurus davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas and evaluate the impact of the project of “E. davidianus released to wild environments for natural reproduction and growth” “(E. davidianus return home project”) on the transmission of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake areas. Methods During the period from April 2018 to December 2019, the population distribution, inhabiting activity and natural reproduction of E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas were investigated by means of GPS and artificial observations. The S. japonicum infection was identified in animal feces in E. davidianus inhabitats using a hatching test, and snail distribution was surveyed in E. davidianus inhabiting grass islands using a systematic sampling method. Results A total of 51 E. davidianus were released to the Poyang Lake areas in 2018, which subsequently produced 5 E. davidianus habitats in Yinlong Lake, Longkou, Nanchi Lake, Lianzi Lake and Zhu Lake. E. davidianus was found to predominantly inhibit in grass islands, farmlands and forest lands in hilly regions around the Poyang Lake areas. The natural reproduction rate of E. davidianus was 25% in the habitats in 2019, and the mean density of snails was 0.009 to 0.039 snails/0.1 m2 in E. davidianus inhabitats; however, no S. japonicum infection was identified in snails. In addition, the mean densities of wild E. davidianus and bovine feces were 4.6 samples/hm2 and 2.1 samples/hm2, Conclusions The E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas may get infections with S. japonicum, and cause schistosomiasis transmission through fecal contamination in grass islands. The impact on and the prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 4.35% and 13.16% (P = 0.236), respectively; however, the intensities of S. japonicum infections were “+++” and “+”, respectively. Conclusions The E. davidianus released to Poyang Lake areas may get infections with S. japonicum, and cause schistosomiasis transmission through fecal contamination in grass islands. The impact on local schistosomiasis transmission and the response strategy requires to be investigated following the release of E. davidianus to lake regions, to ensure the achievement of the goal of schistosomiasis elimination and the successful implementation of the “E. davidianus return home project” in Poyang Lake areas.

Comprehensive analysis of long non-coding RNA and mRNA expression profile in rectal cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Rectal cancer (RC) is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human health. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in tumor regulation. Nevertheless, their exact expression features and functions remain obscure, and therefore was the aim of the current study.@*METHODS@#We utilized the Affymetrix human GeneChip to screen differentially expressed profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs from the cancer tissues and matched paracancer tissues of 6 RC patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses identified crucial functions and pathways of the aberrantly expressed mRNAs. We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction to verify the significant expression differences of 11 candidate lncRNAs between the cancer and paracancer tissues. LncRNA-mRNA coexpression networks were built by calculating the Pearson correlation value to identify significant correlation pairs. Online bioinformatics tools GEPIA2, ONCOMINE, and PROGgeneV2 were used to mine the expression and prognosis of three crucial mRNAs and six verified lncRNAs. Competing endogenous RNA networks were constructed by predicting microRNA response elements and calculating free energy.@*RESULTS@#We found 1658 differentially expressed lncRNAs (778 up-regulated and 880 down-regulated) and 1783 aberrantly expressed mRNAs (909 up-regulated and 874 down-regulated). GO and pathway enrichment analyses revealed the vital functions of the differentially expressed mRNAs, including cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, and cellular response to zinc ion. The canonical signaling pathways mainly included the interleukin-17, cell cycle, Wnt, and mineral absorption signaling pathways. Six lncRNAs including AC017002.2 (P = 0.039), cancer susceptibility 19 (CASC19) (P = 0.021), LINC00152 (P = 0.013), NONHSAT058834 (P = 0.007), NONHSAT007692 (P = 0.045), and ENST00000415991.1 (P = 0.045) showed significant differences in expression levels between the cancer tissue and paracancer tissue groups. AC017002.2, NONHSAT058834, NONHSAT007692, and ENST00000415991.1 have not yet been reported in RC. The crucial mRNAs myelocytomatosis viral oncogene (MYC), transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI), and solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5) were selected. AC017002.2 and LINC00152 were positively correlated with MYC, TGFBI, and cytochrome P450 family 2 sub-family B member 6 (All r > 0.900, P < 0.050). NONHSAT058834 was positively associated with MYC (r = 0.930, P < 0.001), and CASC19 was positively correlated with SLC7A5 (r = 0.922, P < 0.001).@*CONCLUSION@#This study offers convincing evidence of differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs as potential biomarkers in RC.

Role of acute schistosomiasis control in facilitating the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Acute schistosomiasis is a clinical type of schistosomiasis with severe symptoms. The number of acute schistosomiasis cases is not only a sensitive indicator to assess the endemic situation and control effects, but also an important indicator to define schistosomiasis outbreaks and evaluate the achievements of infection control or transmission control. Acute schistosomiasis control is therefore of great significance to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China. This paper analyzes the features and causes of acute schistosomiasis, and proposes some suggestions for future acute schistosomiasis control in China.

Survey of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in hilly transmission-controlled areas of Jiangxi Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in transmission-controlled schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide scientific evidence for implementing precision control interventions and achieving the goal of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis. Methods Five endemic villages from Ruichang City and Pengze County that were heavily endemic for schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province, were selected as the study villages. Wild animals like wild mice were captured, and the livers of wild animals were purchased from the snail habitats in the study villages for detection of S. japonicum infections. In the study villages, S. japonicum human infections were screened using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) followed by parasitological examinations with miracidial hatching test and Kato-Katz method, and the S. japonicum infection in livestock was tested using a miracidial hatching test with a plastic tube. In addition, snail survey was conducted in the study villages by means of systematic sampling combined with environmental sampling, and the S. japonicum infection in snails was detected using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. Results A total of 240 liver specimens were sampled or purchased from 5 species of wild animals in the study villages, including wild mice, weasels, pigs, deer and rabbits. A total of 172 wild mice were captured, with a 2.91% rate of S. japonicum infection, and there was no S. japonicum infection detected in other wild animals. The prevalence of Capillaria hepatica infection was 12.21%, 1.96% and 12.50% in wild mice, deer and pigs, respectively. In addition, there was no S. japonicum infection found in either humans or livestock in the study villages, and the mean snail density varied from 0.13 to 0.80 snails/0.1 m2 in the study villages. LAMP assay detected S. japonicum infection in 2 tubes in a study village. Conclusions The role of wild animals in schistosomiasis transmission and their potential risks can not be neglected in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Jiangsu Province after transmission control. Intensified surveillance and targeted control measures should be implemented to consolidate schistosomiasis control achievements.

Role of acute schistosomiasis control in facilitating the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Acute schistosomiasis is a clinical type of schistosomiasis with severe symptoms. The number of acute schistosomiasis cases is not only a sensitive indicator to assess the endemic situation and control effects, but also an important indicator to define schistosomiasis outbreaks and evaluate the achievements of infection control or transmission control. Acute schistosomiasis control is therefore of great significance to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China. This paper analyzes the features and causes of acute schistosomiasis, and proposes some suggestions for future acute schistosomiasis control in China.

Survey of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in hilly transmission-controlled areas of Jiangxi Province / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in transmission-controlled schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide scientific evidence for implementing precision control interventions and achieving the goal of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis. Methods Five endemic villages from Ruichang City and Pengze County that were heavily endemic for schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province, were selected as the study villages. Wild animals like wild mice were captured, and the livers of wild animals were purchased from the snail habitats in the study villages for detection of S. japonicum infections. In the study villages, S. japonicum human infections were screened using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) followed by parasitological examinations with miracidial hatching test and Kato-Katz method, and the S. japonicum infection in livestock was tested using a miracidial hatching test with a plastic tube. In addition, snail survey was conducted in the study villages by means of systematic sampling combined with environmental sampling, and the S. japonicum infection in snails was detected using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. Results A total of 240 liver specimens were sampled or purchased from 5 species of wild animals in the study villages, including wild mice, weasels, pigs, deer and rabbits. A total of 172 wild mice were captured, with a 2.91% rate of S. japonicum infection, and there was no S. japonicum infection detected in other wild animals. The prevalence of Capillaria hepatica infection was 12.21%, 1.96% and 12.50% in wild mice, deer and pigs, respectively. In addition, there was no S. japonicum infection found in either humans or livestock in the study villages, and the mean snail density varied from 0.13 to 0.80 snails/0.1 m2 in the study villages. LAMP assay detected S. japonicum infection in 2 tubes in a study village. Conclusions The role of wild animals in schistosomiasis transmission and their potential risks can not be neglected in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Jiangsu Province after transmission control. Intensified surveillance and targeted control measures should be implemented to consolidate schistosomiasis control achievements.

Study on distribution status of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in Jiangxi Province Ⅱ Spatial-temporal distribution of snail-infested environments / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

To grasp the status of Oncomelania hupensis snail-infested environments in schistosomiasis endemic areas of Jiangxi Province, and establish the spatial database of snail-infested environments with the administrative village as the unit.The spatial and temporal distributions of the historical snail environments, existing snail environments, and suspicious snail-infested environments were analyzed by the historical data review and field investigations.The distribution of snail-infested environments in Jiangxi Province included two popular types of lakeshore and hills. The O. hupensis snail-infested environments were mainly concentrated in the Poyang Lake area, which accounting for 66.97% of the total snail-infested areas. The potential snail-infested environment area was 204 745.48 hm2, among which the potential snail-infested environment areas in the lakeshore and hills were 146 548.58 hm2 and 58 196.90 hm2, accounting for 71.58% and 28.42%, respectively. The real existing snail area was 83 234.50 hm2, among which the real existing snail areas in the lakeshore and hills were 80 890.81 hm2 and 2 343.69 hm2, accounting for 97.18% and 2.82%, respectively. The compressed snail area was 114 253.30 hm2 with a compression rate of 57.85%, of which the compression rates in the lakeshore and hills were 46.51% and 94.97%, respectively. In the four types of snail-infested environments, the areas of Type I, Type II, Type III and Type IV accounted for 55.77%, 25.75%, 13.91% and 4.57% of the total area, respectively.The spatial database of O. hupensis snail-infested environments is established comprehensively and systematically, that will be conducive to tracking and performing the dynamic updates of the data of snails, so as to provide an important technical support for investigation and monitoring in the future.

Repeatability and Reproducibility of Quantitative Assessment of the Retinal Microvasculature Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Based on Optical Microangiography / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) based on optical microangiography (OMAG) measurements of macular vessels in normal eyes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this prospective cohort study, 40 eyes of 40 healthy volunteers underwent repeated OCTA (Cirrus HD-OCT 5000 angiography system, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) scans on two separate visit days. On each visit day, the eyes were scanned three times. The following parameters were used to quantitatively describe the OCTA images of the superficial vascular network: vessel area density (VAD), vessel skeleton density (VSD), vessel diameter index (VDI), vessel perimeter index (VPI), vessel complexity index (VCI), flux, and foveal avascular zone (FAZ). Coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated for evaluating intravisit and intervisit repeatability, as well as interobserver reproducibility.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The measurements showed high repeatability [CVs ⪕ 4.2% (intravisit) and ⪕ 4.6% (intervisit)] and interobserver reproducibility (ICCs ⪖ 0.923) for all parameters.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study demonstrated good repeatability and reproducibility of OCTA based on OMAG for the measurement of superficial vessel parameters in normal eyes.</p>

The protection effect of a new combined anti-G measure / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To observe the protection effect of a new combined anti-G measure which was composed of KH-x anti-G suit, unassisted PBG (positive pressure breathing for G, PBG) and PHP maneuver. The problem of fatigue and pain when using this measure was also discussed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five fully qualified centrifuge subjects were exposed to 5 groups of +Gz exposure: (1) relaxed tolerance, (2) KH-x and KT-x, (3) PBG, (4) 6.5 G 45 s, (5) 9.0 G 15 s. The subjective feeling of fatigue and pain induced by +Gz exposure was evaluated by the questionnaire after runs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no incidents of G-induced lose of consciousness in this study. The protective effect of KH-x and KT-x was 2.3 G while it was 1.7 G for PBG. All the subjects have accomplished the 4th and 5th runs. The pain has developed on neck, waist, arm and hands. The problem of waist pain was very significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The new combined anti-G measure could meet the requirement of +9.0 Gz protection for high performance plane. How to prevent the occurrence of neck injury and alleviate the pain induced by G when using this measure should be studied further.</p>