Prevalence, correlates, and mental health outcomes of social jetlag in Chinese school-age adolescents: A large-scale population-based study.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of social jetlag (SJL) in Chinese adolescents, as well as to test the relationships between SJL and mental health problems. METHODS: A total of 106979 students (Mage = 13.0 ± 1.8 years; Nmale = 58296 [54.5 %]) from Shenzhen, China completed an online survey from May 24th to June 5th, 2022. Information on sociodemographics, lifestyles, sleep characteristics, anxiety symptoms, and depressive symptoms was collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate and binary logistic regression were adopted for data analysis. RESULTS: 17.8 % of participants experienced SJL ≥ 2 h. To adjust the accumulated sleep debt, sleep-corrected SJL (SJLsc) was calculated and 8.3 % of individuals self-reported SJLsc ≥ 2 h. Both SJL and SJLsc show an increasing trend with age. Risk factors of SJL included females, poor parental marital status, being overweight, physically inactive, smoking, drinking, and having a late chronotype. Moreover, males, having siblings, boarding at school, short sleep duration, experiencing insomnia, and frequent nightmares were significantly associated with an increased risk of SJLsc. After adjusting for all covariates, adolescents with SJLsc ≥ 2 h were more likely to have anxiety symptoms (OR: 1.35, 95 % CI: 1.24-1.48) and depressive symptoms (OR: 1.35, 95 % CI: 1.25-1.46) than those with SJLsc < 1 h. CONCLUSIONS: SJL is common among Chinese school-age adolescents. This study is valuable for the development of prevention and intervention strategies for SJL in adolescents at the population level. Additionally, the strong links between SJLsc and emotional problems underscore the critical significance of addressing SJL as a key aspect of adolescent well-being.

Regime Map of the Effective Medium Approximation Modelling of Micro-Rough Surfaces in Ellipsometry.

In this work, we discuss the precision of the effective medium approximation (EMA) model in the data analysis of spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) for solid materials with micro-rough surfaces by drawing the regime map. The SE parameters ψ (amplitude ratio) and Δ (phase difference) of the EMA model were solved by rigorous coupled-wave analysis. The electromagnetic response of the actual surfaces with micro roughness was simulated by the finite-difference time-domain method, which was validated by the experimental results. The regime maps associated with the SE parameters and optical constants n (refractive index) and k (extinction coefficient) of the EMA model were drawn by a comparison of the actual values with the model values. We find that using EMA to model micro-rough surfaces with high absorption can result in a higher precision of the amplitude ratio and extinction coefficient. The precisions of ψ, Δ, n and k increase as the relative roughness σ/λ (σ: the root mean square roughness, λ: the incident wavelength) decreases. The precision of ψ has an influence on the precision of k and the precision of Δ affects the precision of n. Changing σ alone has little effect on the regime maps of the relative errors of SE parameters and optical constants. A superior advantage of drawing the regime map is that it enables the clear determination as to whether EMA is able to model the rough surfaces or not.

Exosome-derived circ_0001785 delays atherogenesis through the ceRNA network mechanism of miR-513a-5p/TGFBR3.

PURPOSE: Endothelial cell dysfunction is a major cause of early atherosclerosis. Although the role of extracellular vesicles in stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques is well established, the effect of circulating exosomes on plaque formation is still unknown. Here, we explored the effect of exosomes on atherosclerosis based on the function that exosomes can act on intercellular communication. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We extracted serum exosomes from the blood of CHD patients (CHD-Exo) and healthy individuals (Con-Exo). The obtained exosomes were co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. In addition, we determined that circ_0001785 functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNAs) in coronary artery disease by dual luciferase reporter gene analysis. The protective effect of circ_0001785 against endothelial cell injury was also verified using over-expression lentiviral transfection functional assays. In vivo experiments, we injected over-expressed circ_0001785 lentivirus into the tail vein of mice to observe its therapeutic effect on a mouse model of atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The vitro co-cultured results showed that the amount of plasma-derived exosomes have an increase in patients with coronary artery disease, and the inflammation and apoptosis of endothelial cells were exacerbated. Over-expression of circ_0001785 reduced endothelial cell injury through the ceRNA network pathway of miR-513a-5p/TGFBR3. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction identified that the expressed amount of circ_0001785 was reduced in the circulating peripheral blood of CHD patients and increased within human and mouse atherosclerotic plaque tissue. The results of in vivo experiments showed that circ_0001785 reduced aortic endothelial cell injury and the formation of intraplaque neo-vascularization, and enhanced left ventricular diastolic function, thereby delaying the development of atherosclerosis in mice. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated a new biomarker, exosome-derived circ_0001785, for atherogenesis, which can reduce endothelial cell injury and thus delay atherogenesis through the miR-513a-5p/TGFBR3 ceRNA network mechanism, providing an exosome-based intervention strategy for atherosclerosis.

[Prognostic Value of Pre-treatment Albumin/Fibrinogen Ratio in Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of pre-treatment albumin/fibrinogen ratio (AFR) on the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: The data of DLBCL patients in the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from April 2014 to March 2021 were retrieved, and 111 newly diagnosed patients who completed at least 4 cycles of R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like chemotherapy with complete data were included in the study. The clinical, laboratory examination and follow-up data of the patients were collected, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn according to patients' AFR before treatment and the survival status at the end of the follow-up, which could be used to preliminarily evaluate the predictive value of AFR for disease progression and patients' survival outcome. Furthermore, the correlation of AFR with the clinical and laboratory characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed, and finally, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze factors affecting PFS and OS of DLBCL patients. RESULTS: The ROC curve indicated that AFR level had a moderate predictive value for PFS and OS in DLBCL patients, with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.616 (P =0.039) and 0.666 (P =0.004), respectively, and the optimal cut-off values were both 9.06 for PFS and OS. Compared with high-AFR (≥9.06) group, the low-AFR (<9.06) group had a higher proportion of patients with Lugano III-IV stage ( P <0.001), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (P =0.007) and B symptoms (P =0.038). The interim analysis of response showed that the overall response rate (ORR) in the high-AFR group was 89.7%, which was significantly higher than 62.8% in the low-AFR group (P =0.001). With a median follow-up of 18.5 (3-77) months, the median PFS of the high-AFR group was not reached, which was significantly superior to 17 months of the low-AFR group (P =0.009). Similarly, the median OS of high-AFR group was not reached, either, which was significantly superior to 48 months of the low-AFR group (P < 0.001). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, AFR <9.06 was an independent risk factor both for PFS and OS (HR PFS=2.047, P =0.039; HR OS=4.854, P =0.001). CONCLUSION: Pre-treatment AFR has a significant value for the prognosis evaluation in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients.

Construction of a prognostic model of acute myeloid leukemia associated with immunogenic cell death.

BACKGROUND: Immunogenic cell death (ICD)is a kind of regulatory cell death, which causes a series of antigen-specific adaptive immune responses by generating and emitting some danger signals or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). At present, little is known about the prognostic value of ICD and its related processes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between ICD and tumor immune microenvironment changes in AML. RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODS: In the study, AML samples were divided into two groups by consensus clustering analysis, and then gene enrichment analysis and GSEA analysis were performed on the ICD high expression group. Furthermore, CIBERSORT was used to analyze the tumor microenvironment and immune characteristics of AML. Finally, a prognostic model related to ICD was constructed by using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: ICD was divided into two groups according to the level of ICD gene expression. The ICD high expression group was associated with good clinical results and high levels of immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The study constructed and verified the prognostic characteristics of AML related to ICD, which has important value in predicting the overall survival time of AML patients.

Integration of daytime radiative cooling and solar heating.

In recent years, sustainable energy development has become a major theme of research. The combination of solar heating and daytime radiative cooling has the potential to build a competitive strategy to alleviate current environmental and energy problems. Several studies on the combination of daytime radiative cooling and solar heating have been reported to improve energy utilization efficiency. However, most integrations still have a low solar/mid-infrared spectrum regulation range, low heating/cooling performance, and poor stability. To promote this technology further for real-world applications, herein we summarize the latest progress, technical features, bottlenecks, and future opportunities for the current integration of daytime radiative cooling and solar heating through the switch mode (including electrical, thermal-responsive, and mechanical regulations) and collaborative mode.

Machine Learning Models of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Prediction After Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to use machine learning algorithms to build an efficient forecasting model of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery, and to compare the predictive performance of machine learning to traditional logistic regression. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 1,400 patients who underwent valve and/or coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from September 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two machine learning approaches (gradient-boosting decision tree and support-vector machine) and logistic regression were used to build predictive models. The performance was compared by the area under the curve (AUC). The clinical practicability was assessed using decision curve analysis. Postoperative atrial fibrillation occurred in 519 patients (37.1%). The AUCs of the support-vector machine, logistic regression, and gradient boosting decision tree were 0.777 (95% CI: 0.772-0.781), 0.767 (95% CI: 0.762-0.772), and 0.765 (95% CI: 0.761-0.770), respectively. As decision curve analysis manifested, these models had achieved appropriate net benefit. CONCLUSION: In the authors' study, the support-vector machine model was the best predictor; it may be an effective tool for predicting atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

High mobility group box 1 derived mainly from platelet microparticles exacerbates microvascular obstruction in no reflow.

INTRODUCTION: No reflow manifests coronary microvascular injury caused by continuous severe myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. Microvascular obstruction (MVO) has emerged as one fundamental mechanism of no reflow. However, the underlying pathophysiology remains incompletely defined. Herein, we explore the contribution of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), derived mainly from platelet microparticles exacerbating MVO in no reflow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 44 STEMI patients undergoing successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in our study. Plasma HMGB1 levels in both the peripheral artery (PA) and infarct-related coronary artery (IRA) were measured by ELISA. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy assessed the level of HMGB1+ platelet derived microparticles (PMPs) and platelet activation. Flow cytometry and western blot evaluated the procoagulant activity (PCA) and the release of inflammatory factors of human microvascular endothelial cells (HCEMCs). RESULTS: HMGB1 levels were significantly higher in the IRA in no-reflow patients. The levels of HMGB1+ PMPs were considerably higher in the IRA of patients with no reflow and were strongly associated with platelet activation. Moreover, our results show that HMGB1 interacts with human microvascular endothelial cells primarily through TLR4, inducing HCMEC proinflammatory, procoagulant phenotype, and monocyte recruitment, accelerating microvascular obstruction and facilitating the development of no reflow. CONCLUSION: Our results illustrate a novel mechanism by which HMGB1, derived mainly from PMPs, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of no-reflow, revealing a novel therapeutic target.

Bioinformatics Analysis of the Key Genes and Pathways in Multiple Myeloma.

Objective: To study the differentially expressed genes between multiple myeloma and healthy whole blood samples by bioinformatics analysis, find out the key genes involved in the occurrence, development and prognosis of multiple myeloma, and analyze and predict their functions. Methods: The gene chip data GSE146649 was downloaded from the GEO expression database. The gene chip data GSE146649 was analyzed by R language to obtain the genes with different expression in multiple myeloma and healthy samples, and the cluster analysis heat map was constructed. At the same time, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of these DEGs were established by STRING and Cytoscape software. The gene co-expression module was constructed by weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA). The hub genes were identified from key gene and central gene. TCGA database was used to analyze the expression of differentially expressed genes in patients with multiple myeloma. Finally, the expression level of TNFSF11 in whole blood samples from patients with multiple myeloma was analyzed by RT qPCR. Results: We identified four genes (TNFSF11, FGF2, SGMS2, IGFBP7) as hub genes of multiple myeloma. Then, TCGA database was used to analyze the survival of TNFSF11, FGF2, SGMS2 and IGFBP7 in patients with multiple myeloma. Finally, the expression level of TNFSF11 in whole blood samples from patients with multiple myeloma was analyzed by RT qPCR. Conclusion: The study suggests that TNFSF11, FGF2, SGMS2 and IGFBP7 are important research targets to explore the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma.

How Does Self-Sacrificial Leadership Foster Knowledge Sharing Behavior in Employees? Moral Ownership, Felt Obligation and Supervisor-Subordinate Guanxi.

Recent trends in the academic literature indicate growing interest in leadership for fostering employees' knowledge sharing. In this research, we integrate social cognitive theory and social exchange theory to explain how and when self-sacrificial leaders promote employee knowledge sharing. It is found that self-sacrificial leaders influences employees' knowledge sharing by nurturing employee moral ownership and a sense of obligation to the organization. We also found the moderating effect of supervisor-subordinate guanxi on the self-sacrificial leadership-employees' knowledge sharing link. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding and promoting self-sacrificial leaders and employees' knowledge sharing behaviors in the workplace.

Adsorption Mechanism of Chloropropanol by Crystalline Nanocellulose.

Paper packaging materials are widely used as sustainable green materials in food packaging. The production or processing of paper materials is conducted in an environment that contains organic chlorides; therefore, potential food safety issues exist. In this study, the adsorption behavior of organic chlorides on paper materials was investigated. Chloropropanol, which has been extensively studied in the field of food safety, was employed as the research object. We studied the adsorption mechanism of chloropropanol on a crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) model. The results demonstrated that physical adsorption was the prevailing process, and the intermolecular hydrogen bonds acted as the driving force for adsorption. The adsorption effect assumed greatest significance under neutral and weakly alkaline conditions. A good linear relationship between the amount of chloropropanol adsorbed and the amount of CNC used was discovered. Thus, the findings of this study are crucial in monitoring the safety of products in systems containing chloropropanol and other chlorinated organic substances. This is particularly critical in the production of food-grade paper packaging materials.

Anticipated Regret, Entrepreneurial Cognition, and Entrepreneurial Persistence.

Based on the regret regulation theory and entrepreneurial cognition theory, this study aims to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurs' anticipated regret and entrepreneurial persistence through the mediator of entrepreneurial cognition. To that end, we distributed surveys to entrepreneurs who were supported by the "Xing Chuang Tian Di" project and used 248 questionnaire data to examine the hypotheses. The results show that entrepreneurs' anticipated regret has a significant and direct impact on entrepreneurial persistence. Also, entrepreneurship cognition plays a mediating role between anticipated regret and entrepreneurial persistence. In addition, the entrepreneurial environment plays a positive role in moderating the relationship between anticipated regret and entrepreneurial persistence.

[Development and assessment of Schistosoma japonicum antibody test kit (IHA)].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Schistosoma japonicum antibody test kit (IHA). METHODS: According to the requirement of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Quality Control (QC) of drugs, the components of kit as well as its preparation method and procedure were studied, and the test kit was assembled and its diagnostic effect was assessed. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity were up to 94.49% and 97.14% when testing the serum samples of chronic schistosomiasis patients and normal serum samples by the kit, respectively. The Youden Index of the Kit was 0.92. The cross reaction rates with paragonimus and trichina were 15.00% and 10.00%, respectively. Compared with ELISA and another IHA kit produced by An'Ji company which were used to test schistosome antibody in residents of endemic areas at the same time, the coincident rates of the developed kit were 93.06% and 92.25%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The IHA kit for Schistosomajaponicum antibody has a high sensitivity and specificity, and has the value of application and popularization in the field.

[Research and demonstration of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technology. II. Longitudinal evaluation on control effect].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technique. METHODS: The comprehensive measures including forbidding grazing on marshlands, renovating latrines and supplying safe water, and health education were carried out in a demonstrative area, and the schistosomiasis endemic situation and other relative factors were investigated. RESULTS: After the control measures were carried out for 3 years, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in human decreased from 3.57% to 0.83%, and the infection rates of cattle decreased from 17.14% to 0. No infected Oncomelania snails were found on the marshlands in the demonstration area. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive measures aforementioned are effective in the control of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region.

[Diagnostic efficiency of Indirect Hemagglutination Assay Kit for antibody detection of schistosomiasis japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical diagnostic efficiency of Indirect Hemagglutination Assay Kit (IHA kit) for antibody detection of schistosomiasis japonica. METHODS: Schistosomiasis examinations by parasitological method were conducted in the schistosomiasis endemic areas in Jiangxi, Anhui and Hubei provinces, respectively. A total of 371 serum samples of schistosomiasis patients and 761 serum samples of non-patients without history of schistosome infection and infested water contact were collected. All the sera were detected by using IHA Kit. The diagnostic efficiency indicators of the kit, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, negative predicted value etc. were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the kit were 95.1% (95% confidence interval was between 92.9% and 97.3%) and 97.8% (95% confidence interval was between 96.8% and 98.8%), respectively; the positive and negative predicted values were 95.4% and 97.6%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of IHA positive detecting by the kit among the groups with different EPG levels (< or = 40, 41-100, > 100). Also, no significant difference was observed in sensitivity and specificity among the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The IHA kit shows a relative high efficiency for diagnosis and can be used for mass screening of schistosomiasis in field sites.

[Evaluation on application of common diagnosis methods for schistosomiasis japonica in endemic areas of China. III. Analysis and evaluation of underestimation of prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection by routine Kato-Katz technique].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the rates of underestimation of Schistosoma japonicum infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears in field site. METHODS: With 27 Kato-Katz thick smears (3 stool samples with 9 thick smears each) for 3 consecutive years as a "gold standard", the rates of underestimation of schistosome infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears were evaluated in a schistosomiasis endemic village. RESULTS: The examined rates of schistosome infection increased and the rates of underestimation decreased gradually with the increase of the number of Kato-Katz thick smears examined. The rates of underestimation of 3 smears were 40.98%-50.80% and the rates of underestimation of 6 smears were 25.48%-32.39%. The rates of schistosome infection based on the reading of 27 Kato-Katz thick smears were 10.96% in 2008, 8.54% in 2009 and 3.73% in 2010 respectively, but the rates of underestimation of various Kato-Katz thick smears were similar. There were no significant differences among the readings of 3, 6, and 9 smears of 1 stool sample, 3, 6 and 9 smears of 3 stool samples, 6 smears of 2 stool samples, 6 smears of 1 stool sample, and 6 smears of 3 stool samples. CONCLUSIONS: In a community with low-intensity of schistosome infection, the rate of underestimation is big by Kato-Katz technique with the reading of 3 smears of 1 stool sample. It suggested that it is better to increase smears rather than the number of stool samples examined.

[Correlations between serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) level, IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms and the development of sepsis in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlations of serum interleukin-18 (IL-18) level and IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms to the development of sepsis in children. METHOD: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the authors tested the serum IL-18 level in 90 patients with sepsis and 123 normal controls, and their single nucleotide polymorphisms of the promoter region of IL-18 gene at position -607C/A and -137G/C were detected using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers method and sequencing technique. RESULT: (1) The serum IL-18 level in sepsis groups was (196.56 +/- 157.32) pg/ml that was significantly higher than (66.16 +/- 41.63) pg/ml in normal controls (P < 0.01), the more severe the degree of sepsis was, the more significantly higher the serum IL-18 level was. The serum IL-18 level in non serious sepsis group was (152.87 +/- 114.96) pg/ml that was significantly higher than (66.16 +/- 41.63) pg/ml in normal controls, the serum IL-18 level in serious sepsis group was (191.98 +/- 169.72) pg/ml that was significantly higher than that in non serious sepsis group, and the serum IL-18 level in extremely serious sepsis patients was (323.89 +/- 159.35) pg/ml, the difference was highly significant (P = 0.000). The difference was significant among the groups with different severity of sepsis (P < 0.01). There was a negative correlation between PCIS (pediatric critical illness score) of sepsis and the serum IL-18 level (P < 0.01). (2) There were polymorphisms in IL-18 gene promoter of matched healthy children and sepsis in children. The GG genotype frequency (61.8%) of IL-18-137G/C in healthy children was the highest, followed by GC genotype (35.8%) and CC genotype (2.4%) in sequence. The G allele frequency (79.7%) was higher in IL-18-137G/C of healthy children than C allele (20.3%). The GG genotype frequency (71.1%) of IL-18-137G/C in septic children was the highest, the next were GC genotype (26.7%) and CC genotype (2.2%). The G allele frequency (84.4%) was higher in IL-18-137G/C of septic children than C allele (15.6%). The CA genotype frequency (61.0%) of IL-18-607C/A in healthy children was the highest, followed by CC genotype (26.8%) and AA genotype (12.2%). The C allele frequency (57.3%) was higher in IL-18-607C/A of healthy children than A allele (42.7%). The CA genotype frequency (76.7%) of IL-18-607C/A in septic children was the highest, followed by CC genotype (21.1%) and AA genotype (2.2%) in sequence. The C allele frequency (59.4%) was higher in IL-18-607C/A of septic children than A allele (40.6%). (3) The genotype frequency of IL-18-607 CA was 76.7% in sepsis groups that was significantly higher than 61.0% in normal controls, and the genotype frequency of -607 AA was 2.2% in sepsis groups that was significantly lower than 12.2% in normal controls, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). (4) In the order of -137CC, -137GC, -137GG, the serum IL-18 level in normal controls were as follows: (45.67 +/- 28.36) pg/ml, (53.27 +/- 37.91) pg/ml, (76.91 +/- 42.44) pg/ml, and with (140.50 +/- 60.10) pg/ml, (184.42 +/- 157.33) pg/ml, (237.02 +/- 161.76) pg/ml respectively in sepsis groups. In the order of -607AA, -607CA, -607CC, the serum IL-18 level in normal controls were: (48.80 +/- 32.11) pg/ml, (68.41 +/- 42.53) pg/ml, (70.17 +/- 43.87) pg/ml; and with (141.50 +/- 64.35) pg/ml, (151.21 +/- 121.19) pg/ml, (211.16 +/- 163.64) pg/ml respectively in sepsis groups. The difference was not significant among different groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The serum IL-18 level in sepsis groups was significantly higher than that in normal controls, which was related to the severity of sepsis. It was possible that the genotype of -607CA carriers was susceptible to sepsis, which mean that the genotype of -607CA might be susceptible genotype of sepsis. However, the genotype of -607AA might play an oppose role in the risk of sepsis.

[Comparative evaluation of five test kits for antibody detection in Schistosoma japonicum endemic areas of Poyang Lake region].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of five diagnostic test kits for the detection of antibodies to Schistosoma japonicum in endemic areas of Poyang Lake. METHODS: Residents over 5 years old in three schistosomiasis-endemic administrative villages in the lake region were simultaneously examined by modified Kato-Katz thick smears and nylon bag sedimentation/hatching method. At the same time, five sero-diagnostic test kits for detection of IgG antibody against soluble egg antigen of S. japonicum were carried out. RESULTS: The distribution of seropositive rates of S. japonicum IgG antibodies determined by sero-diagnostic tests showed similar trends with that of egg positive rates in different age groups, but the seropositive rate (33.1%-57.1%) was significantly higher than that of egg positive rate (5.0%-8.2%), both reached a peak in 40-49-year-old group. The antibody positive rates determined by each test increased with the infection intensity. The sensitivity of the evaluated test kits ranged from 81.2%-94.5%. 26.9% to 46.1% among those egg negatives were antibody positive by the kits. Furthermore, 5.5%-18.8% of the egg positives were antibody negative by the kits. CONCLUSION: The five sero-diagnostic kits can be used for epidemiological survey in schistosomiasis endemic areas at community level. Among them, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay shows higher sensitivity.