The environmental and socioeconomic effects of tuberculosis patients in the southwest of China: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) and find the risk factors of TB patients with a high burden of TB in socioeconomic level, the high level of TB incidence and the great changes of economic and social factors, explore the possible factors, construct scientific and robust prediction model, and analyse whether the task of stopping TB can be accomplished by the expected global deadline. STUDY DESIGN: This was an ecological study. METHODS: Descriptive analysis, spatial and space-time scan, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were carried out, based on cases of TB in Sichuan Province and ecological data from 2006 to 2017, to explore the characters of TB and ecological factors, using the transfer function-noise model to forecast the trend of TB until 2035. RESULTS: Factors affecting the incidence of TB, increasing per capita green area, reporting status of TB among Tibetans and Yi minorities, comprehensive treatment management, total cost of TB per capita for urban residents, proportion of males with high school education, 20 to 20 h of 24-h accumulated precipitation, reducing HIV at the same time as AIDS deaths, the increase in the proportion of males in junior high school education, and the increase in the number of registered TB cases can reduce the incidence of TB. CONCLUSIONS: There was concentration mainly on enhanced control of the environment and society measures, helpful in guiding government planning to control TB. Reinforcement is required to reduce the TB of population aged 15-24 and aged 25-64 in socioeconomic level by 2035.

Non-invasive Brain Stimulation Can Reduce Unilateral Spatial Neglect after Stroke: ELETRON Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Rehabilitation top-down techniques based on brain stimulation present variable outcomes in unilateral spatial neglect (USN) after stroke. This study aimed to examine the effects of physical therapy after anodal and cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS and C-tDCS, respectively) to improve visuospatial and functional impairments in individuals with USN after stroke. METHODS: This double-blinded, pilot randomized clinical trial enrolled patients with USN after ischemic stroke. Randomization was stratified according to the Behavior Inattention Test-Conventional (BIT-C) and Catherine Bergego Scale (CBS). Outpatient physical therapy was conducted for 7.5 weeks after 20 minutes of tDCS. The primary outcome was the USN degree evaluated by the BIT-C. Secondary outcomes were the difference in CBS score, stroke severity (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS]), disability (modified Rankin Scale), autonomy (Barthel Index, Functional Independence Measure), and quality of life (EuroQol Group 5-Dimension Self-Report Questionnaire). Outcomes were analyzed using an analysis of covariance model corrected by age, baseline NIHSS, and baseline BIT-C. Pairwise post hoc comparisons were performed using Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: In the primary outcomes, A-tDCS led to greater improvement in BIT-C after intervention (mean difference [MD] = 18.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.9-32.8, p = 0.008) compared to sham. However, no significant differences were observed between A-tDCS and C-tDCS (MD = 13.9, 95% CI = -0.3 to 28.1, p = 0.057), or C-tDCS and sham (MD = 4.5, 95% CI = -9.7 to 18.8, p = 0.99). There were no significant differences between groups in terms of secondary outcomes. INTERPRETATION: A-tDCS associated with physical therapy can decrease the severity of USN after stroke. However, these preliminary findings must be confirmed by collecting additional evidence in a larger phase 3 trial. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:400-410.

Structure of the ichthyoplankton community in a Neotropical floodplain lake affected by environmental degradation.

Many Amazonian fish' reproduction is associated to seasonality and to the conditions of habitat integrity. In a Neotropical floodplain lake of the Amazon region, the temporal structure of ichthyoplankton was investigated and the hypothesis that the density of fish eggs and larvae and the diversity of species vary between two areas with different levels of environmental changes occurred was tested. The sampling occurred monthly between September 2017 and August 2018. Six sampling stations were used, distributed in locations close to and far from the altered area. 195 eggs and 1,785 larvae from nine orders and 27 species were captured. The eggs were from non-migratory fish species and occurred during two moments. The larvae presented different abundance peaks during the sample months and all the initial stages of development occurred. Clupeiformes was the most abundant and Characiformes the species richest. The density of the ichthyoplankton and the diversity of species presented temporal variation. However, only the larval density varied between the areas of the lake. The Lake Juá is a spawning area for resident fish and is a nursery and growth area for larvae of species with different ecological categories and socioeconomic importance during different periods of the year.

Triatomine Fauna and Recent Epidemiological Dynamics of Chagas Disease in an Endemic Area of Northeast Brazil.

Updated information of the dispersion dynamics of Chagas disease (CD) and a systemic analysis of these data will aid the early identification of areas that are vulnerable to transmission and enable efficient intervention. This work synthesized spatiotemporal information regarding triatomine fauna and analyzed this information in combination with the results from serological tests to elucidate the epidemiological panorama of CD in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. This is a retrospective analytical study that utilized information from the database of the National Chagas Disease Control Program. Between 2010 and 2016, 838 triatomines of eight species, namely, Panstrongylus geniculatus, which was first recorded in the state of Sergipe, Panstrongylus lutzi, P. megistus, Triatoma brasiliensis, T. pseudomaculata, T. tibiamaculata, T. melanocephala, and Rhodnius neglectus, were collected. Optical microscopy revealed that 13.2% of triatomines examined were infected by Trypanosoma cruzi-like flagellates. The distribution of triatomines exhibits an expanding south-central to northern dispersion, with a preference for semiarid and agreste areas and occasional observations in humid coastal areas due to anthropogenic actions reflected in the environment. Of the human cases analyzed from 2012 to 2016, 8.3% (191/2316) presented positive serology for Trypanosoma cruzi, and this proportion showed a gradual increase in the southern center of the state and new notifications in coastal regions. There is a need for intensification and continuity of the measures adopted by the Chagas Disease Control Program in Sergipe, identifying new priority areas for intervention and preferential ecotopes of the vectors, considering the occurrence of positive triatomines intradomicilliary and a source of new triatomines in the peridomiciles.

Herbicide toxicity, selectivity and hormesis of nicosulfuron on 10 Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) species parasitizing Anagasta ( = Ephestia) kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs.

Selective agrochemicals including herbicides that do not affect non-target organisms such as natural enemies are important in the integrated pest management (IPM) programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the herbicide toxicity, selectivity and hormesis of nicosulfuron, recommended for the corn Zea mays L. (Poaceae) crop, on 10 Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) species. A female of each Trichogramma spp. or Trichogrammatoidea annulata De Santis, 1972 was individually placed in plastic test tubes (no choice) with a cardboard containing 45 flour moth Anagasta ( = Ephestia) kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. Parasitism by these natural enemies was allowed for 48 h and the cardboards were sprayed with the herbicide nicosulfuron at 1.50 L.ha-1, along with the control (only distilled water). Nicosulfuron reduced the emergence rate of Trichogramma bruni Nagaraja, 1983 females, but increased that of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879, Trichogramma acacioi Brun, Moraes and Smith, 1984 and T. annulata females. Conversely, this herbicide increased the emergence rate of Trichogramma brasiliensis Ashmead, 1904, T. bruni, Trichogramma galloi Zucchi, 1988 and Trichogramma soaresi Nagaraja, 1983 males and decreased those of T. acacioi, Trichogramma atopovilia Oatman and Platner, 1983 and T. pretiosum males. In addition, nicosulfuron reduced the sex ratio of T. galloi, Trichogramma bennetti Nagaraja and Nagarkatti, 1973 and T. pretiosum and increased that of T. acacioi, T. bruni, T. annulata, Trichogramma demoraesi Nagaraja, 1983, T. soaresi and T. brasiliensis. The herbicide nicosulfuron was "harmless" (class 1, <30% reduction) for females and the sex ratio of all Trichogrammatidae species based on the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) classification. The possible hormesis effect of nicosulfuron on Trichogrammatidae species and on the bacterium Wolbachia sp. (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) was also discussed.

Nicosulfuron Plus Atrazine Herbicides and Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera) in No-Choice Test: Selectivity and Hormesis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the herbicide mixture nicosulfuron + atrazine on 10 trichogrammatid species. A female of each trichogrammatid was placed in a test tube (no-choice) with a card with 45 Anagasta kuehniella eggs. Parasitism was allowed over a 48 h period, then the cards were sprayed with a solution containing nicosulfuron (30 g ha-1) + atrazine (1500 g ha-1), besides the control (distilled water). The nicosulfuron + atrazine mixture increased the Trichogramma atopovirilia and T. pretiosum female emergence. The percentage of T. acacioi, T. atopovilia and T. pretiosum male parasitoids emerged was higher in the control, and for T. demoraesi and Trichogrammatoidea annulata with nicosulfuron + atrazine. Sex ratio of the trichogrammatids was similar with nicosulfuron + atrazine.

Predicting the incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in Sichuan province, China using the ARIMA model.

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious disease caused by enteroviruses, which usually occurs in children aged <5 years. In China, the HFMD situation is worsening, with increasing number of cases nationwide. Therefore, monitoring and predicting HFMD incidence are urgently needed to make control measures more effective. In this study, we applied an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to forecast HFMD incidence in Sichuan province, China. HFMD infection data from January 2010 to June 2014 were used to fit the ARIMA model. The coefficient of determination (R 2), normalized Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and mean absolute percentage of error (MAPE) were used to evaluate the goodness-of-fit of the constructed models. The fitted ARIMA model was applied to forecast the incidence of HMFD from April to June 2014. The goodness-of-fit test generated the optimum general multiplicative seasonal ARIMA (1,0,1) × (0,1,0)12 model (R 2 = 0·692, MAPE = 15·982, BIC = 5·265), which also showed non-significant autocorrelations in the residuals of the model (P = 0·893). The forecast incidence values of the ARIMA (1,0,1) × (0,1,0)12 model from July to December 2014 were 4103-9987, which were proximate forecasts. The ARIMA model could be applied to forecast HMFD incidence trend and provide support for HMFD prevention and control. Further observations should be carried out continually into the time sequence, and the parameters of the models could be adjusted because HMFD incidence will not be absolutely stationary in the future.

[Influence of sociocultural factors on HIV transmission among men who have sex with men: a qualitative study].

Objective: To understand how social and cultural factors influence sexual perceptions, sexual practices, and HIV transmission among men who have sex with men at selected sites in China. Methods: Qualitative methodology was used and face to face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews conducted from April 2013 to October 2015 in Sichuan, Jiangxi, Henan, Heilongjiang provinces and Chongqing municipality of China. Results: A total of 184 men who have sex with men participated in the interviews. Forty-eight originated from Henan Province, and 12, 50, 47, and 27 from Jiangxi, Heilongjiang, Sichuan provinces and Chongqing municipality, respectively. A total of 122 participants(66.3%)were under 30 years of age, 111 were college graduates(61.3%), 140 were unmarried(76.5%), and 74 were HIV positive(40.2%). Among interviewees, 6%(11 MSM)were employed at nongovernmental organizations. The main findings revealed that: Owing to sociocultural influences and social norms, most homosexual men concealed their sexual orientation and married females so as to fulfill their family obligation; this may encourage HIV transmission from a high-risk population to the general population; the main features of male homosexual behaviors, as well as those of the associated community and subculture, included hedonism, less concern about health, drug abuse, encouraging of high risk behaviors among men who have sex with men, and negative attitudes regarding HIV prevention; subgroups among MSM were found to have differential HIV transmission risk behaviors, with young men more vulnerable to infection with HIV. Conclusion: Sociocultural factors, including external socioenvironmental circumstances and internal MSM community subcultures, have adverse impacts on HIV transmission among men who have sex with men. Because there were varied behavior modes and HIV transmission risks among MSM subgroups, further study focusing on MSM subgroups is imperative, to provide a basis for more targeted and effective prevention strategies.

Frequency of glycated hemoglobin monitoring was inversely associated with glycemic control of patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The frequency of monitoring glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and its impact on glycemic control of Chinese Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have not been well understood. AIM: To explore the current status of the glycemic control, the frequency of HbA(1c) monitoring, and their relationship in T2DM outpatients in urban China. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 15 hospitals purposely sampled from 4 cities of China. T2DM outpatients were consecutively recruited, and underwent a face-to-face interview in outpatient consulting rooms using a self-developed structured questionnaire to collect information. All consented patients were invited to have a free HbA(1c) test. RESULTS: Among 1511 subjects, the average level of HbA(1c) was 8.1±1.6% with the ideal percents of 13.6% and 24.8% (HbA(1c)<6.5% and <7.0%, respectively). Less than 1/3 (339/1157) had received 2 or more HbA(1c) tests per yr, and they had a significantly lower average of HbA(1c) than those having only 1 or no test per yr (F=5.012, p=0.007). After adjustment for possible confounders including age, gender, and city, there was a significantly inverse association with adjusted odds ratios of 2.56 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.71, 3.86] and 1.67 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.50), respectively, between the frequency of monitoring HbA(1c) (null, once vs ≥2 times per yr) and worse glycemic control (HbA(1c)≥7.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic control of T2DM outpatients was poor in urban China. Frequency of HbA(1c) monitoring is seriously insufficient in majority of patients. Lower frequency of HbA(1c) monitoring is significantly associated with poor glycemic control.

Middle cerebral artery blood flow stability in response to high-definition transcranial electrical stimulation: A randomized sham-controlled clinical trial.

Since neuronal activity is coupled with neurovascular activity, we aimed to analyze the cerebral blood flow hemodynamics during and following high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS). We assessed the mean middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCA-BFv) bilaterally using transcranial doppler ultrasound, during and after HD-tDCS, in eleven right-handed healthy adult participants (6 women, 5 men; mean age 31 ± 5.6 years old), with no evidence of brain or cardiovascular dysfunction. The HD-tDCS electrode montage was centered over the right temporo-parietal junction. The stimulation protocol comprised 3 blocks of 2 min at each current intensity (1, 2, and 3 mA) and an inter-stimulus interval of 5 min between blocks. Participants received three electrical stimulation conditions (anode center, cathode center, and sham) on three different days, with an interval of at least 24 h. Stimulation was well tolerated across HD-tDCS conditions tested, and the volunteers reported no significant discomfort related to stimulation. There was no significant difference in the right or the left MCA-BFv during or after the stimulation protocol across all stimulation conditions. We conclude that at a range of intensities, vascular reaction assessed using middle cerebral artery blood flow is not significantly altered during or after HD-tDCS both locally and remotely, which provides further evidence for the safety of HD-tDCS.

Dataset of middle cerebral artery blood flow stability in response to high-definition transcranial electrical stimulation.

This supplementary dataset is supportive of the randomized sham-controlled, double-blind, crossover clinical trial investigating polarity- and intensity-dependent effects of high-definition transcranial electrical stimulation (HD-tDCS) applied over the right temporo-parietal junction on mean middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCA-BFv) bilaterally. Data of eleven healthy right-handed adults (6 women, 5 men; mean age 31 ± 5.6 years old) were analyzed for MCA-BFv, assessed using transcranial doppler ultrasound on the stimulated and the contralateral hemisphere concomitantly, during and after 3 blocks of 2 min HD-tDCS at 1, 2, and 3 mA. Participants received three electrical stimulation conditions (anode center, cathode center, and sham) randomly ordered across different days. The collected data is publicly available at Mendeley Data. This article and the data will inform future related investigations and safety analysis of transcranial non-invasive brain stimulation.

Effect of lutein and doxorubicin combinatorial therapy on S180 cell proliferation and tumor growth.

OBJECTIVE: Multidrug resistance and toxicity significantly compromise the therapeutic efficacy for sarcomas. We aimed at evaluating the effect of lutein-doxorubicin (DOX) combinatorial therapy on inhibiting S180 (Sarcoma 180) cell proliferation and tumor growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: S180 cells in logarithmic growth phase were treated with lutein, DOX, or lutein-DOX combinatorial therapy for 48 h. The cell survival rate was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of PCNA, P53, and NF-κB was assessed by Western blot. Further, mice bearing S180 tumors received lutein, DOX, or lutein-DOX combinatorial therapy by oral gavage. RESULTS: Lutein-DOX combinatorial therapy significantly decreased the proliferation of S180 cells (p<0.01) in vitro. Also, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (p<0.05) and the apoptosis-relevant gene p53 were decreased, which resulted in increased cell apoptosis (p<0.05). The level of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was also decreased by the combinatorial therapy. Lutein-DOX combinatorial therapy reduced the cytotoxicity of DOX and reduced the inflammatory response. The inhibitory effect of lutein-DOX combinatorial therapy on cell proliferation was confirmed in vivo. The growth rate and size of the tumor at 30 d after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group and DOX single therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Lutein and DOX synergistically inhibit sarcoma cell proliferation and tumor growth. This novel therapeutic regimen could potentially improve clinical outcome of sarcoma patients.

MicroRNA-574 enhances doxorubicin resistance through down-regulating SMAD4 in breast cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: Drug resistance has become an important factor that threatens the survival and prognosis of patients with breast cancer, especially in patients with advanced breast cancer. Several microRNAs have been proved to participate in the resistant process; however, the role of miR-574 in doxorubicin (Dox) resistant breast cancer is still unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real-time poly chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to detect the expression level of miR-574 in breast cancer Dox-resistant MCF-7/Adr cell line and parental MCF-7 cell line. Using miR-574 mimics and inhibitors, miR-574 level was up- or down- regulated. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was handled to detect the IC50, and flow cytometric analysis was employed to measure the apoptosis and cell circle. Dual-luciferase and Western-blot experiments were applied to verify the direct target gene of miR-574. RESULTS: miR-574 expression level was significantly higher in MCF-7/Adr cells compared to normal MCF-7 cells. Up-regulation of miR-574 level in MCF-7 cells promoted the cell growth and G0/G1-to-S phase transition but inhibited cell apoptosis. However, knockdown of miR-574 in MCF-7/Adr cells decreased the IC50 and cell growth. Using luciferase assay, SMAD4 was confirmed to be a potential target of miR-574, and the expression of SMAD4 protein was regulated by miR-574. In blood samples of patients, the miR-574 level before chemotherapy was higher than that after chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: We revealed miR-574 could promote doxorubicin resistance of breast cancer MCF-7 cells via down-regulating SMAD4, thus providing a novel target for advancing breast cancer chemotherapy.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Yeast Nadsonia starkeyi-henricii UCD142, Isolated from Forest Soil in Ireland.

We report a draft genome sequence of a strain of the nonfermentative yeast Nadsonia starkeyi-henricii, isolated from soil in a forest in Ireland. Comparison to Nadsonia fulvescens shows few rearrangements and a level of divergence similar to that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae versus Saccharomyces paradoxus Its mitochondrial genome lacks NAD genes.

Analyzing gene expression profiles in dilated cardiomyopathy via bioinformatics methods.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is characterized by ventricular dilatation, and it is a common cause of heart failure and cardiac transplantation. This study aimed to explore potential DCM-related genes and their underlying regulatory mechanism using methods of bioinformatics. The gene expression profiles of GSE3586 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database, including 15 normal samples and 13 DCM samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between normal and DCM samples using Limma package in R language. Pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs was then performed. Meanwhile, the potential transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) of these DEGs were predicted based on their binding sequences. In addition, DEGs were mapped to the cMap database to find the potential small molecule drugs. A total of 4777 genes were identified as DEGs by comparing gene expression profiles between DCM and control samples. DEGs were significantly enriched in 26 pathways, such as lymphocyte TarBase pathway and androgen receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, potential TFs (SP1, LEF1, and NFAT) were identified, as well as potential miRNAs (miR-9, miR-200 family, and miR-30 family). Additionally, small molecules like isoflupredone and trihexyphenidyl were found to be potential therapeutic drugs for DCM. The identified DEGs (PRSS12 and FOXG1), potential TFs, as well as potential miRNAs, might be involved in DCM.

Effects of metoprolol and small intestine RNA on marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells applied for autograft transplantation in heart disease.

AIMS: The objective of this project was to improve the effect of EPC autograft transplantation and observe the tolerance of EPCs to I/R injury affected by metoprolol and small intestine RNA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated bone marrow-derived EPCs and examined the effects of metoprolol and small intestine RNA on EPCs to ischemia at different time points after reperfusion. EPCs growth curve, secretion, apoptosis and mortality were also analyzed. RESULTS: EPCs will be better protected if the blood can be recovered within 4 hours after ischemia for cardiac muscle cells and pretreatment of EPCs with metoprolol or small intestine RNA could protect and promote EPCs proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstated that pretreatment of EPCs with metoprolol or small intestine RNA will increase the EPCs proliferation and may improve the EPCs autograft transplantation ability.