ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the effect of kynurenine pathway on the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 19 patients with periodontitis (periodontitis group) and 19 periodontally healthy individuals (health group) in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from June to October of 2022. Contents of kynurenine and the metabolites in saliva samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The expressions of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) were further detected by immunohistochemistry in gingival tissues. The PDLSC used in this study were isolated from extracted teeth for orthodontic treatment in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from July to November of 2022. Experiments were then conducted using the cells by incubating with (kynurenine group) or without kynurenine (control group) in vitro. Seven days later, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and assays of ALP activity were performed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect the expressions of osteogenic related genes ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type-Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ) as well as the kynurenine pathway-associated genes AhR, cytochrome P450 family (CYP) 1A1, CYP1B1. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2, osteopontin (OPN) and AhR proteins on day 10 and alizarin red staining was performed to observe the formation of mineral nodules on day 21 in control group and kynurenine group. Results: Salivary concentrations of kynurenine [8.26 (0, 19.60) nmol/L] and kynurenic acid [11.4 (3.34, 13.52) nmol/L] were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the health group [0.75(0, 4.25) nmol/L, 1.92(1.34, 3.88) nmol/L] (Z=-2.84, P=0.004; Z=-3.61, P<0.001). The expression levels of IDO (18.33±2.22) and AhR (44.14±13.63) in gingival tissues of periodontitis patients were significantly higher than that of the health group (12.21±2.87, 15.39±5.14) (t=3.38, P=0.015; t=3.42, P=0.027). In vitro, the ALP activity of PDLSC in the kynurenine group (291.90±2.35) decreased significantly compared with the control group (329.30±19.29) (t=3.34, P=0.029). The mRNA expression levels of ALP, OCN and RUNX2 in the kynurenine group (0.43±0.12, 0.78±0.09, 0.66±0.10) were decreased compared with the control group (1.02±0.22, 1.00±0.11, 1.00±0.01) (t=4.71, P=0.003; t=3.23, P=0.018; t=6.73, P<0.001), while the levels of AhR and CYP1A1 were increased in the kynurenine group (1.43±0.07, 1.65±0.10) compared with those in the control group (1.01±0.12, 1.01±0.14) (t=5.23, P=0.006; t=6.59, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in COL-Ⅰ and CYP1B1 mRNA levels between groups. The protein levels of OPN, RUNX2 (0.82±0.05, 0.87±0.03) were reduced and that of AhR (1.24±0.14) was increased in the kynurenine group compared with those in the control group (1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00) (t=6.79, P=0.003; t=7.95, P=0.001; t=3.04, P=0.039). Conclusions: Over-activated kynurenine pathway in periodontitis patients can promote upregulation of AhR and suppress the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSC.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the risk of re-emergence of Oncomelania snail(O.snail) from 2015 to 2019, in order to improve the effectiveness of snail control. Methods Collection of report forms and schistosomiasis surveillance data was carried out from 2015 to 2019, and analyzed retrospectively. Results The area of snail-emergence was 6 241.98 hm2 during 2015-2019, 44.29、4 610.18、813.92、446.09 and 327.50 hm2 respectively, for each corresponding year.Among the re-emergence areas, flat-ground subtype was 1 185.49 hm2(18.99%), hilly subtype was 2 536.58 hm2(40.64%), and mountain subtype was 2 519.91 hm2(40.37%).The top 5 cities with O.snail re-emergence areas were Liangshanzhou(2016), Ya′an(2016), Deyang(2016), Meishan(2016), and Meishan(2017).The top 5 disticts with O.snail re-emergence areas were Renshou, Puge, Lushan, Tianquan and Dechang. Conclusion The re-emergence of O.snail attributes to several factors, such as low quality of annual snail survey, unitary method of elimination and complexity of snail habit environment.Surveillance and supervision on the sources of infection and snail spreading should continue with exploration of new method in eliminating snails especially in hilly regions.
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Objective To build a schistosomiasis transmission risk surveillance system in Sichuan Province, so as to provide technical support for facilitating the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in the province. Methods The surveillance sites for schistosomiasis transmission risk were assigned in 63 endemic counties (districts) of 11 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan Province. During the period from 2015 through 2018, wild feces contamination, the sources of Schistosoma japonicum infections (fever patients, livestock and wild animals), water infectivity in key settings, snail distribution in key settings, and snail breeding risk (snail importation and spread, floating debris carrying snails and snail breeding in ecological wetlands) were monitored in the surveillance sites. Results From 2015 to 2018, a total of 1 636 wild faces were detected in Sichuan Province, and 3 faces were positive for S. japonicum, with a 0.18% positive rate; among 3 995 livestock and 59 wild mice monitored, no S. japonicum infection was detected. A total of 49 414 fever patients were monitored in 2018, and 493 were seropositive for S. japonicum infection; then, 445 seropositives were subjected to stool examinations, and no egg-positives were found. From 2010 to 2018, a total of 93 sentinel sites were assigned, and 3 994 sentinel mice were placed for monitoring the water infectivity, with one S. japonicum-infected mouse detected. Between 2015 and 2018, a total of 4 156 key settings were investigated covering an area of 1 998.46 hm2, and 668 settings were detected with snails (16.07%), covering an area of 193.26 hm2; 497 suspected settings with a likelihood of snail importation with plant introduction were monitored from 2017 to 2018, and 65 settings with snails were found with 2 673 snails captured; 593 sites were assigned to collect the floating debris from 2017 to 2018, and 9 191.39 kg floating debris were collected with 186 snails captured; 4 wetlands were monitored for the risk of schistosomiasis transmission from 2013 to 2015, and snail breeding was found in 2 wetlands. No S. japonicum infection was identified in snails captured from all surveillance sites. Conclusions A sensitive and effective schistosomiasis transmission risk surveillance system has been successfully established in Sichuan Province. There is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission risk in local areas of Sichuan Province. Therefore, the integrated schistosomiasis control measures with emphasis on the control of the source of S. japonicum infections should be further intensified, and snail monitoring and control and monitoring and control of schistosomiasis in wetlands should be also intensified.
ABSTRACT
Transmission control and interruption of schistosomiasis has been gradually achieved in the mountainous and hilly endemic areas with the implementation of the schistosomiasis control programmes, which are moving towards the progress of schistosomiasis elimination. As an important measure of schistosomiasis control, health education is experiencing new challenges and problems in the new situation, and conventional health education of schistosomiasis control has already failed to meet the needs of socioeconomic and cultural development and the increasing changes of human production and life styles in the endemic areas. Therefore, a precision health education model for schistosomiasis control is of great need to be established to highly effectively promote the implementation of schistosomiasis control measures. This review summarizes the important role of health education in schistosomiasis control in mountainous and hilly endemic areas, and describes the new health education model based on optimization of the policy environment and creation of the community atmosphere according to the changes in the endemic situation of schistosomiasis and requirements of the schistosomiasis control target, so as to promote the precision and sustainable implementation of health education and health promotion in schistosomiasis control.
ABSTRACT
Objective To build a schistosomiasis transmission risk surveillance system in Sichuan Province, so as to provide technical support for facilitating the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in the province. Methods The surveillance sites for schistosomiasis transmission risk were assigned in 63 endemic counties (districts) of 11 cities (prefectures) in Sichuan Province. During the period from 2015 through 2018, wild feces contamination, the sources of Schistosoma japonicum infections (fever patients, livestock and wild animals), water infectivity in key settings, snail distribution in key settings, and snail breeding risk (snail importation and spread, floating debris carrying snails and snail breeding in ecological wetlands) were monitored in the surveillance sites. Results From 2015 to 2018, a total of 1 636 wild faces were detected in Sichuan Province, and 3 faces were positive for S. japonicum, with a 0.18% positive rate; among 3 995 livestock and 59 wild mice monitored, no S. japonicum infection was detected. A total of 49 414 fever patients were monitored in 2018, and 493 were seropositive for S. japonicum infection; then, 445 seropositives were subjected to stool examinations, and no egg-positives were found. From 2010 to 2018, a total of 93 sentinel sites were assigned, and 3 994 sentinel mice were placed for monitoring the water infectivity, with one S. japonicum-infected mouse detected. Between 2015 and 2018, a total of 4 156 key settings were investigated covering an area of 1 998.46 hm2, and 668 settings were detected with snails (16.07%), covering an area of 193.26 hm2; 497 suspected settings with a likelihood of snail importation with plant introduction were monitored from 2017 to 2018, and 65 settings with snails were found with 2 673 snails captured; 593 sites were assigned to collect the floating debris from 2017 to 2018, and 9 191.39 kg floating debris were collected with 186 snails captured; 4 wetlands were monitored for the risk of schistosomiasis transmission from 2013 to 2015, and snail breeding was found in 2 wetlands. No S. japonicum infection was identified in snails captured from all surveillance sites. Conclusions A sensitive and effective schistosomiasis transmission risk surveillance system has been successfully established in Sichuan Province. There is still a risk of schistosomiasis transmission risk in local areas of Sichuan Province. Therefore, the integrated schistosomiasis control measures with emphasis on the control of the source of S. japonicum infections should be further intensified, and snail monitoring and control and monitoring and control of schistosomiasis in wetlands should be also intensified.
ABSTRACT
Transmission control and interruption of schistosomiasis has been gradually achieved in the mountainous and hilly endemic areas with the implementation of the schistosomiasis control programmes, which are moving towards the progress of schistosomiasis elimination. As an important measure of schistosomiasis control, health education is experiencing new challenges and problems in the new situation, and conventional health education of schistosomiasis control has already failed to meet the needs of socioeconomic and cultural development and the increasing changes of human production and life styles in the endemic areas. Therefore, a precision health education model for schistosomiasis control is of great need to be established to highly effectively promote the implementation of schistosomiasis control measures. This review summarizes the important role of health education in schistosomiasis control in mountainous and hilly endemic areas, and describes the new health education model based on optimization of the policy environment and creation of the community atmosphere according to the changes in the endemic situation of schistosomiasis and requirements of the schistosomiasis control target, so as to promote the precision and sustainable implementation of health education and health promotion in schistosomiasis control.
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Objective: To investigate the current status of antithrombotic strategy for elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after stent implantation in Beijing area and to study the safety and efficacy of different therapeutic strategy. Methods: A total of 467 relevant patients were enrolled by re-travelling electronic medical records from 12 hospitals in Beijing area. The patients' mean age was (78.70±3.32) years and they were divided into 2 groups by antithrombotic therapy condition: Triple therapy group, n=17 (3.64％), Double therapy group, n=450 (96.36％). The incidence of major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCE) including all-caused death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, target vessel revascularization (TVR), stoke and bleeding was compared between Triple therapy group and Double therapy group.Results: The medication in Double therapy group included aspirin+ticagrelor, aspirin+clopidogrel, clopidogrel+warfarin and cilostazol+clopidogrel; in Triple therapy group was aspirin+clopidogrel+warfarin. Patient with HAS-BLED score≥3 was defined as high risk of bleeding and they were all treated by double therapy; HAS-BLED<3 was defined as low risk of bleeding, only 5.03％ patients were treated by triple therapy. 3 patients in Triple therapy group and 33 in Double therapy group suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding, P=0.338; 6 patients in Triple therapy group and 128 in Double therapy group had MACCE, P=0.589; 3 and 80 patients died in Triple therapy group and Double therapy group, P=0.766. Conclusion: Triple therapy was rarely used in elderly AF and ACS patients after stent implantation, double therapy was the main strategy; the incidence of MACCE and mortality were similar between triple and double therapies; patients with triple therapy had the higher incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding.
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Objective To study the prevalence and trend of tuberculosis for related policy development in Shandong.Methods The population under the current study was randomly sampled,using both stratified clustering sampling and proportional population sampling methods,following the national survey protocol.A total of 35 clusters including about 1500 subjects per cluster were established,representing a population of 9.31 million.Questionnaire interview and chest X-ray exam were applied to all inhabitants above 15 years of age.Sputum microscopy and culture were given to all suspected cases with cough longer than 2 weeks or having abnormal X-ray results.Results In total,54 279 subjects were interviewed and examined,accounting for 95.78％ of eligible population.Of them,183 active pulmonary tuberculosis cases were identified,with 60.11％ asymptomatic.Two of the 35 (5.71％) clusters had no active tuberculosis cases found,and 24(68.57％) did not show smear positive results.The standardized prevalence rates of active,smear positive and bacteriologic positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases were 270.87/105,17.45/105 and 29.57/105,with the estimated case numbers as 211 900 (170 100-253 600),13 600 (5800-21 500) and 23 100 (13 200-33 000)respectively.Compared to the survey in 2000,the rates on smear positive and bacteriologic positive tuberculosis had decreased significantly,at a rate of 81.63％,and 75.56％ respectively.The rates in urban areas and in women decreased quickly than those in rural areas and in men.People living in the rural areas,being elderly or males,had significantly higher prevalence rates of tuberculosis.Conclusion Remarkable reduction of tuberculosis prevalence had been achieved despite the fact that tuberculosis remained a major public health problem in Shandong province.Symptomatic patients should be under more serious concern in order to improve the detection of early cases.More efforts should be given to rural population,especially elderly,male population.