Re-understanding of SERS for General and Standardized Quantitative Analysis.

We proposed two physical concepts, i.e., an intramolecular relative cross section (RCS) and an intermolecular relative scattering ability (RSA), to re-understand and re-describe surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and established a general SERS quantification theory. Interestingly, RCS and RSA are intrinsic factors and are experimentally measurable to form datasheets of molecules, namely, SERS cards, with which a standard SERS quantification procedure was established. The validity of the theory and quantification procedure was confirmed by experiments. Surprisingly, RCS and RSA are also valid for complex systems being considered as virtual molecules and are experimentally measurable. This simplifies complex systems into analyte-virtual molecule binary systems. With this consideration, trace-level mitoxantrone (a typical cancer drug metabolite) in artificial urine was accurately predicted. The theory, the SERS cards, the standard quantification procedure, and the virtual molecule concept pave a way toward quantitative and standardized SERS spectroscopy in dealing with real-world problems and complex samples.

Identifying ecological security patterns based on the supply, demand and sensitivity of ecosystem service: A case study in the Yellow River Basin, China.

Ecological security is the basis for ecosystems to provide various ecosystem services (ESs) to humans. Identifying ecological security patterns (ESPs) is an effective approach to determine the priority conservation areas and ensure regional ecological security. However, most previous studies on ESPs were based mainly on the supply of ESs, while the demand and sensitivity of ESs were not fully considered. In this study, a comprehensive ESP identification framework was developed by integrating the supply, demand and sensitivity of ESs with the fuzzy multicriteria decision-making and circuit theory. Taking the Yellow River Basin (YRB) as a case study, our results show that the ecological sources (139,633 km2 or 17.3%) of the YRB were located mainly in the transition area between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau, and in the Qinling Mountains and eastern plains; these areas reliably exhibited high conservation efficiency and low decision-making risk and tradeoff levels. However, the northern and western YRB had few ecological sources due to mismatches among the supply, demand and sensitivity of ESs. Based on circuit theory, ecological corridors (36,905 m and 76,878 km2) effectively connected the western, southern and eastern parts of the YRB. These ecological sources and corridors were both dominated by grassland, forest and cropland. However, ten pinch points, primarily covered by cropland, were also recognized in the eastern YRB and should be considered as priority areas for ecological conservation. Moreover, our results indicate that this comprehensive ESP identification framework could provide useful guidance to decision-makers for maintaining ESs and ecological conservation.

Soil freeze-thaw cycles affect spring phenology by changing phenological sensitivity in the Northern Hemisphere.

The use of frozen soil-vegetation feedback for predictive models is undergoing enormous changes under rapid climate warming. However, the influence of soil freeze-thaw (SFT) cycles on vegetation phenology and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. By synthesizing a variety of satellite-derived data from 2002 to 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere (NH), we demonstrated a widespread positive correlation between soil thawing and the start of the growing season (SOS). Our results also showed that the SFT cycles had a significant impact on vegetation phenology mainly by altering the phenological sensitivities to daytime and nighttime temperatures, solar radiation and precipitation. Moreover, the effects of SFT cycles on the sensitivity of the SOS were more pronounced than those on the sensitivity of the end of the growing season (EOS) and the length of growing season (LOS). Furthermore, due to the degradation of frozen soil, the changes in phenological sensitivity in the grassland and tundra biomes were significantly larger than those in the forest. These findings highlighted the importance of incorporating the SFT as an intermediate process into process-based phenological models.

Comparison of two approaches for measuring household wealth via an asset-based index in rural and peri-urban settings of Hunan province, China.

BACKGROUND: There are growing concerns regarding inequities in health, with poverty being an important determinant of health as well as a product of health status. Within the People's Republic of China (P.R. China), disparities in socio-economic position are apparent, with the rural-urban gap of particular concern. Our aim was to compare direct and proxy methods of estimating household wealth in a rural and a peri-urban setting of Hunan province, P.R. China. METHODS: We collected data on ownership of household durable assets, housing characteristics, and utility and sanitation variables in two village-wide surveys in Hunan province. We employed principal components analysis (PCA) and principal axis factoring (PAF) to generate household asset-based proxy wealth indices. Households were grouped into quartiles, from 'most wealthy' to 'most poor'. We compared the estimated household wealth for each approach. Asset-based proxy wealth indices were compared to those based on self-reported average annual income and savings at the household level. RESULTS: Spearman's rank correlation analysis revealed that PCA and PAF yielded similar results, indicating that either approach may be used for estimating household wealth. In both settings investigated, the two indices were significantly associated with self-reported average annual income and combined income and savings, but not with savings alone. However, low correlation coefficients between the proxy and direct measures of wealth indicated that they are not complementary. We found wide disparities in ownership of household durable assets, and utility and sanitation variables, within and between settings. CONCLUSION: PCA and PAF yielded almost identical results and generated robust proxy wealth indices and categories. Pooled data from the rural and peri-urban settings highlighted structural differences in wealth, most likely a result of localized urbanization and modernization. Further research is needed to improve measurements of wealth in low-income and transitional country contexts.

Field Testing Integrated Interventions for Schistosomiasis Elimination in the People's Republic of China: Outcomes of a Multifactorial Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial.

Despite significant progress, China faces the challenge of re-emerging schistosomiasis transmission in currently controlled areas due, in part, to the presence of a range of animal reservoirs, notably water buffalo and cattle, which can harbor Schistosoma japonicum infections. Environmental, ecological and social-demographic changes in China, shown to affect the distribution of oncomelanid snails, can also impact future schistosomiasis transmission. In light of their importance in the S. japonicum, lifecycle, vaccination has been proposed as a means to reduce the excretion of egg from cattle and buffalo, thereby interrupting transmission from these reservoir hosts to snails. A DNA-based vaccine (SjCTPI) our team developed showed encouraging efficacy against S. japonicum in Chinese water buffaloes. Here we report the results of a double-blind cluster randomized trial aimed at determining the impact of a combination of the SjCTPI bovine vaccine (given as a prime-boost regimen), human mass chemotherapy and snail control on the transmission of S. japonicum in 12 selected administrative villages around the Dongting Lake in Hunan province. The trial confirmed human praziquantel treatment is an effective intervention at the population level. Further, mollusciciding had an indirect ~50% efficacy in reducing human infection rates. Serology showed that the SjCTPI vaccine produced an effective antibody response in vaccinated bovines, resulting in a negative correlation with bovine egg counts observed at all post-vaccination time points. Despite these encouraging outcomes, the effect of the vaccine in preventing human infection was inconclusive. This was likely due to activities undertaken by the China National Schistosomiasis Control Program, notably the treatment, sacrifice or removal of bovines from trial villages, over which we had no control; as a result, the trial design was compromised, reducing power and contaminating outcome measures. This highlights the difficulties in undertaking field trials of this nature and magnitude, particularly over a long period, and emphasizes the importance of mathematical modeling in predicting the potential impact of control intervention measures. A transmission blocking vaccine targeting bovines for the prevention of S. japonicum with the required protective efficacy would be invaluable in tandem with other preventive intervention measures if the goal of eliminating schistosomiasis from China is to become a reality.

A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Schistosomiasis in Hunan Province, China.

Based on annual parasitological data recently collected at county and village levels, this article presents a multiscale spatiotemporal analysis of transmission risk of schistosomiasis japonica in Hunan Province during 2001 to 2015 in a geographic information system environment. The study shows that the incidence and prevalence rate of human Schistosoma japonicum infection in Hunan Province decreased after 2001. A spatial autocorrelation analysis reveals the existence of spatial clusters of human Schistosoma japonicum infection and a growing tendency of spatial clustering over time. The identification of high-risk areas (hot spots) helps find areas of priority for future implementation of control strategies. The research demonstrates the importance of spatial scale in public health studies.

[The initial value evaluation of ¹8F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the diagnosis of chest malignant tumors].

BACKGROUND: ¹8F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (¹8F-FDG PET) is considered as one of the most valuable diagnostic methods of chest malignant tumors, except for pathological diagnosis. But in clinic, the cases whose diagnosis of ¹8F-FDG PET is different from pathological diagnosis are not rare. This study is to evaluate the initial value of ¹8F-FDG PET in the diagnosis and staging of the chest malignant tumors. METHODS: Fifty-one cases of chest tumors in Xi'an who underwent ¹8F-FDG PET were collected. Additionally, pathologic diagnosis had also been experienced on the patients through operation, percutaneous puncture, bronchoscopy or film preparation of pleural fluid. By the comparison of ¹8F-FDG PET diagnosis and the pathologic diagnosis, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, positive predictive and negative predictive of ¹8F-FDG PET were calculated. RESULTS: In 51 patients, there were 34 patients whose ¹8F-FDG PET diagnoses were consistent with the pathological diagnoses, including 31 true positive, 3 true negative. Out of another 17 patients, 11 were false positive, including 2 sarcoidosis, 6 tuberculosis of the lung, 2 inflammatory pseudotumor of the lung and 1 pulmonary cryptococcosis, and 6 were false negative. The calculated values were 66.67% on the overall accuracy, 83.78% on sensitivity, 21.43% on specificity, 78.57% on false positive rate, 16.21% on false negative rate, 73.81% on positive predictive value and 33.33% on negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, ¹8F-FDG PET is still one of the most advanced unwounded technologies for the chest malignant tumor diagnosis. However, this technology experiences difficulties in detection of some high metabolized benign disease, such as tuberculosis from malignant tumor. Hence, in order to take advantage of ¹8F-FDG PET technology and have more accurate diagnosis of chest tumors, both results from the ¹8F-FDG PET and the clinic actuality should be considered.

[c-fos antisense oligodeoxynucleotide reduces VIP-induced upregulation of VEGF expression in small cell lung cancer cells].

BACKGROUND: It has been known that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has the effect of promoting the growth of some malignant tumors, but its mechanism is not clear. The aim of this study is to use c-fos antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) to block c-fos expression and to explore whether c-fos can directly regulate VIP-induced VEGF expression in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. METHODS: Expression levels of c-fos and VEGF genes were detected in SCLC cell line H446 treated with VIP by RT-PCR. After c-fos ASO was added to the H446 cells, the change of VEGF mRNA expression level was analyzed. RESULTS: Administration of VIP resulted in increased expression of c-fos and VEGF mRNA in the H446 cells. The expression of c-fos mRNA reached the peak level at 2h and 4h after VIP treatment, which was significantly higher than that at 0h (P < 0.01). Whereas, the highest expression level of VEGF mRNA was observed at 8h and 16h after VIP treatment, which was significantly higher than that at 0h (P < 0.01). c-fos ASO significantly reversed VIP-induced upregulation of VEGF mRNA expression (P < 0.01) CONCLUSIONS: VIP can increase the expression and secretion of VEGF in lung cancer cells by activating the transcription factor c-fos, then promote the angiogenesis of lung cancer and thus play an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

Applications and outcomes of periodic epidemiological surveys for schistosomiasis and related economic evaluation in the People's Republic of China.

The great success in schistosomiasis control in China is attributable to a range of factors. Periodic epidemiological surveys (PES) used for monitoring and adapting control interventions over time are an integral feature of the national schistosomiasis control programme. PES have enabled the dynamic trends of schistosomiasis epidemics to be closely pursued and have assisted in analysing subtle changes in endemicity. The results can be summarised mathematically allowing the variation in efficacy of control measures to be readily determined and enabling control strategies to be adjusted and updated. PES have been used in both cross-sectional and longitudinal pilot studies selected by appropriate sampling methods. In the early 1990s, when the World Bank Loan Project for schistosomiasis control commenced, economic evaluations were initiated in parallel. Cost-effectiveness analysis became a necessary tool to identify the most financially feasible yet effective options among a range of alternative control strategies. There was, however, a lack of standardised approaches rendering study comparisons across sites difficult. The global burden of disease study established the disability adjusted life year (DALY) as a measure of population health, combining in a single indicator years lost from premature death and years of life lived with disability. However, a recent meta-analysis reveals that the burden of schistosomiasis is underestimated, and hence, needs to be revised. It is envisaged that after the revision of DALYs lost due to schistosomiasis japonica, they will become an essential measure in future schistosomiasis control assessments in China and in other schistosome-endemic areas of the world.

[Vasoactive intestinal peptide enhances the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA in non-small cell lung cancer cells].

BACKGROUND: Some researches have found that the development of tumor could be encouraged by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), but how about the mode of VIP? The aim of this study is to examine the effects of VIP on expression of VEGF mRNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. METHODS: Expression of VEGF mRNA was detected in NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. RESULTS: VEGF mRNA was detected in NSCLC cell lines A549, GLC-82, H157, H460 and SCLC cell line H446. VIP could enhance the expression level of VEGF mRNA in NSCLC cell lines A549 and H157. The expression level of VEGF mRNA reached a peak at 8h and 16h after VIP administration, which was significantly higher than that at 0h (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: VIP may promote the angiogenesis of lung cancer through increasing the expression and secretion of VEGF in lung cancer cells, and thus plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

[Study on the strategy of interrupting schistosomiasis transmission in a hilly new endemic area of Taoyuan County].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a strategy for interrupting the transmission of schistosomiasis japonica in a hilly new endemic area. METHODS: Since 1996, chemotherapy with praziquantel (adult 40 mg/kg, child 50 mg/kg, cattle 30 mg/kg, once a year) on human beings in Taoyuan County who had ever contacted with infectious water and cattle which were herded in endemic situation was the major intervention, with focal control of Oncomelania snails in susceptible areas as supplementary one. RESULTS: The positive rate of stool examination for schistosomiasis in human and cattle reduced from 5.69% and 6.76% in 1996 to 0.04% and 0 in 2005 respectively. The positive rate of indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) in human dropped from 7.45% in 1996 to 1.61% in 2004. Though living snails were still found in most habitats, the density of infected snails decreased from 0.0036/0.11m2 in 1997 to 0 in 2005 and no infected snails were found since 2000. CONCLUSION: Due to less movement of human and cattle populations and the hilly area relatively isolated, chemotherapy combined with focal mollusciciding have been highly effective in eliminating the infection sources and interrupting transmission of schistosomiasis.

[The effect of radio-frequency ablation in the treatment of the VX2 tumor in rabbit lung].

BACKGROUND: To observe the CT appearance and pathological changes of VX2 tumor in rabbit lung after radio-frequency ablation. METHODS: After VX2 tumor tissue suspension was injected into the lungs, the transplanted lung cancer models were established in 36 New Zealand white rabbits. Twenty-eight rabbits were treated with radio-frequency ablation, and another 8 rabbits without any treatment as control. The CT appearances and pathological changes were observed in different time intervals after the treatment in 14 rabbits out of experimental group. The survival periods of the rabbits were recorded in the rest 14 rabbits of experimental group and the control group respectively. RESULTS: Coagulative necrosis and cell apoptosis appeared in the tumor tissues after the ablation, and inflammatory cells were found in the lung tissues around the areas of ablation. Wadding shadows appeared in CT images after the treatment and disappeared with the inflammation vanished, but the tumor shadows ceased to increase. In the experimental group, tumor tissues were almost necrosed in the target areas of 21 rabbits, however, peripheral residual nests of histologically viable tumor were found in the target areas of the other 7 rabbits. The survival periods of rabbits in the experimental group and the control group were 38 days±3.4 days days and 26 days±2.8 days respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Radio-frequency ablation may be an effective method in the treatment of lung cancer.

GPC5, a tumor suppressor, is regulated by miR-620 in lung adenocarcinoma.

In the current study, a proportion of lung adenocarcinoma was shown to reduce GPC5 expression in the absence of transcriptional silencing of the tumor suppressor gene, GPC5, by aberrant methylation of CpG islands. It was hypothesized that the loss of GPC5 expression is associated with upregulation of miR­620 in human lung adenocarcinoma tissue compared with the matched normal lung tissue. The downregulation of GPC5 in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines is regulated by miR­620 through binding of the 3'­untranslated region. Furthermore, blockage of miR­620 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of lung adenocarcinoma cells by directly regulating GPC5, and GPC5 knockdown eliminates this phenotype. These results provided a novel insight into the mechanism of miRNA regulation in lung adenocarcinoma.

MicroRNA-25 regulates small cell lung cancer cell development and cell cycle through cyclin E2.

PURPOSE: We intended to examine the underlying mechanism of microRNA-25 (miR-25) in regulating small cell lung cancer (SCLC). METHODS: The miR-25 expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) in 5 SCLC cell lines and 9 human SCLC tissues. In SCLC cell line H510A cells, endogenous miR-25 was downregulated by stable transfection of antisense oligonucleotide of miR-25 (miR-25-as). Then the effects of miR-25 downregulation on SCLC growth, invasion and chemoresistance were assessed by MTT, migration and cisplatin assays, respectively. Furthermore, the effects of miR-25 downregulation on cancer cell cycle arrest, production of cell cycle proteins cyclin E2 and CDK2 were examined by cell cycle assay, western blot and luciferase assays, respectively. Finally, cyclin E2 was over-expressed in H510A cells to investigate its effect on miR-25 mediated SCLC regulation. RESULTS: In both SCLC cells and human SCLC tumor tissues, miR-25 was overexpressed. Down-regulation of miR-25 in H510A cells significantly reduced cancer cell growth, invasive capability and resistance to cisplatin. Also, it induced G1 cell cycle arrest and downregulated cell cycle related proteins cyclin E2 and CDK2. Luciferase assay demonstrated cyclin E2 was directly targeted by miR-25. Overexpression of cyclin E2 in H510A cells reversed the cell cycle arrest and restored invasive capability impaired by miR-25 downregulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows miR-25 is overexpressed in SCLC and acting as oncogenic regulator by regulating cyclin E2.

[Evaluation on effect of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2013].

OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively evaluate the effect of the program of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province from 2004 to 2013. METHODS: The fund investment of the program, the profits of hospitals and the improvement of the patients' health were investigated by data collection and questionnaire survey. The evaluation index system of treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis in Hunan Province was constructed by the Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process, and the program was assessed comprehensively. RESULTS: The evaluation index system including 6 primary indices and 33 secondary indices was established. Among all the primary indices, the score of the treatment and assistance (22.25) was the highest, and that of the satisfaction assessment (8.15) was the lowest, and the score of the comprehensive assessment was 87.06. The average cure rate of the patients was 13.08% from 2004 to 2013. More than 60% of the patients' disease condition got better, and nearly 70% of the patients' psychological condition improved, and more than 70% of patients' self-help ability and social contact improved, as well as family happiness increased. In addition, the annual average cost for caretakers decreased by 2000 Yuan, and the profits of all the fixed-point hospitals for treatment and assistance increased. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness and efficiency of the treatment and assistance to advanced schistosomiasis patients in Hunan Province is obvious, and the government should continuously invest in the program.

A multi-component integrated approach for the elimination of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China: design and baseline results of a 4-year cluster-randomised intervention trial.

Despite major successes in its control over the past 50years, schistosomiasis japonica continues to be a public health problem in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China). Historically, the major endemic foci occur in the lakes and marshlands along the Yangtze River, areas where transmission interruption has proven difficult. The current endemic situation may alter due to the closure of the Three Gorges Dam. Considerable environmental and ecological changes are anticipated that may result in new habitats for the oncomelanid intermediate snail host of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj), thereby increasing the risk of transmission. The current national control program for P.R. China involves a multi-component integrated strategy but, despite targeting multiple transmission pathways, certain challenges remain. As the Chinese government pushes towards elimination, there is a requirement for additional tools, such as vaccination, for long-term prevention. Whereas the zoonotic nature of schistosomiasis japonica adds to the complexity of control, it provides a unique opportunity to develop a transmission blocking vaccine targeting bovines to assist in the prevention of human infection and disease. Mathematical modelling has shown that control options targeting the various transmission pathways of schistosomiasis japonica and incorporating bovine vaccination, mass human chemotherapy and mollusciciding could lead to its elimination from P.R. China. Here we present the study design and baseline results of a four-year cluster randomised intervention trial we are undertaking around the schistosomiasis-endemic Dongting Lake in Hunan Province aimed at determining the impact on schistosome transmission of the multi-component integrated control strategy, including bovine vaccination using a heterologous "prime-boost" delivery platform based on the previously tested SjCTPI vaccine.

TIAM2 enhances non-small cell lung cancer cell invasion and motility.

BACKGROUND: TIAM2, a Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is closely associated with cell adherence and migration. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of TIAM2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A small interference RNA (siRNA) was introduced to silence the expression of TIAM2. Invasion and motility assays were then performed to assess the invasion and motility potential of NSCLC cells. GST-pull down assays were used to detect activation of Rac1. RESULTS: TIAM2 was highly expressed in NSCLC cells. Knockdown of TIAM2 inhibited the invasion and motility, and suppressed activation of Rac1. Further experiments demonstrated that knockdown of TIAM2 could up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin, and down- regulate the expression of MMP-3, Twist and Snail. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that TIAM2 can promote invasion and motility of NSCLC cells. Activation of Rac1 and regulation of some EMT/invasion-related genes may be involved in the underlying processes.

Health access livelihood framework reveals potential barriers in the control of schistosomiasis in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Access to health care is a major requirement in improving health and fostering socioeconomic development. In the People's Republic of China (P.R. China), considerable changes have occurred in the social, economic, and health systems with a shift from a centrally planned to a socialist market economy. This brought about great benefits and new challenges, particularly for vertical disease control programs, including schistosomiasis. We explored systemic barriers in access to equitable and effective control of schistosomiasis. METHODOLOGY: Between August 2002 and February 2003, 66 interviews with staff from anti-schistosomiasis control stations and six focus group discussions with health personnel were conducted in the Dongting Lake area, Hunan Province. Additionally, 79 patients with advanced schistosomiasis japonica were interviewed. The health access livelihood framework was utilized to examine availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy, and acceptability of schistosomiasis-related health care. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found sufficient availability of infrastructure and human resources at most control stations. Many patients with advanced schistosomiasis resided in non-endemic or moderately endemic areas, however, with poor accessibility to disease-specific knowledge and specialized health services. Moreover, none of the patients interviewed had any form of health insurance, resulting in high out-of-pocket expenditure or unaffordable care. Reports on the adequacy and acceptability of care were mixed. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: There is a need to strengthen health awareness and schistosomiasis surveillance in post-transmission control settings, as well as to reduce diagnostic and treatment costs. Further studies are needed to gain a multi-layered, in-depth understanding of remaining barriers, so that the ultimate goal of schistosomiasis elimination in P.R. China can be reached.

[Multi-disciplinary treatment for advanced schistosomiasis].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficiency of multi-disciplinary treatment (MDT) for advanced schistosomiasis. METHODS: A total of 173 advanced schistosomiasis patients who received MDT were selected from January 2010 to December 2011. These patients included 75 splenomegaly cases and 98 ascites cases. Other 193 advanced schistosomiasis patients who received single-discipline treatment (SDT) from January 2007 to December 2009 were also selected, and of them 84 cases were splenomegaly and 109 were ascites. The clinical efficiencies of the two different treatments were analyzed and assessed. RESULTS: Compared to the SDT group, the splenomegaly cases treated by MDT showed a shorter pre-operative preparation time and less days in hospitalization (both P < 0.01), less operation duration, decreased post-operative complications, lower hospitalization costs (all P < 0.05), and less patient complaints (P > 0.05). The ascites cases treated by MDT, compared to the SDT group, had less pre-treatment time, shorter ascites-disappearing time (both P <0.01), and less hospitalization duration, decreased post-treatment complications, lower hospitalization costs and less patient complaints (all P < 0.05). Conclusion MDT has a better efficiency in the treatment of advanced schistosomiasis, and it reduces the operation complications and improves the life quality of the patients.

[Distribution of susceptible areas of schistosomiasis outside embankment in Hunan Province, 2011].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current distribution of susceptible areas of schistosomiasis outside embankment, so as to provide the evidence for making comprehensive measures in Hunan Province. METHODS: The outside embankment areas where Oncomelania snails possibly or historically distributed and people and animals had activities were surveyed. The schistosomiasis information of the susceptible areas was collected, a database was set up, the positions were marked with GPS, an E-map was drawn with Google Earth, and the distribution was analyzed. RESULT: The number of marshlands with schistosomiasis susceptible areas outside embankment was 787, the length was 1,429.64 km, and the area was 6,2017.17 hm(2). The average density of living snails was 0.37 snails/0.1 m(2), and the average density of infected snails was 0.0019 snails/0.1 m(2). The infected snails were found in 180 marshlands, and the area was 688.07 hm(2). Sixteen rivers had the susceptible areas, and the main vegetation was weeds. CONCLUSIONS: The susceptible area of schistosomiasis outside embankment is wide and complex. Therefore, the comprehensive control measures should be strengthened.