Effects of autologous SCF- and G-CSF-mobilized bone marrow stem cells on hypoxia-inducible factor-1 in rats with ischemia-reperfusion renal injury.

To explore the mechanism whereby stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) jointly mobilize bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) and promote kidney repair, male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups. In the treatment control group, rats were administered SCF (200 µg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) and G-CSF (50 µg·kg-1·day-1) for 5 days. In the treatment group, RIRI models were established, and 6 h later, SCF (200 µg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) and G-CSF (50 µg·kg(-1)·day(-1)) were administered for 5 days. In the model and treatment groups, tubular epithelial cell degeneration and necrosis were noticed, but the extent of repair in the treatment group was significantly better than in the model group. Five days after the operation, renal tissue CD34+ cells significantly increased in the model and treatment groups compared with the control and treatment control groups. HIF-1α, VEGF, and EPO expression in treatment groups increased significantly compared with the other groups. HIF- 1α, VEGF, EPO expression in the treatment control group increased significantly compared with the control group. Joint use of SCF and G-CSF increased the number of BMSCs in damaged kidney tissue and reduced the degree of renal tissue damage. BMSCs promote increased HIF-1α expression in renal tissue. Increased kidney tissue HIF- 1α and its target gene products VEGF and EPO expression possibly induce SCF and G-CSF to promote acute tubular necrosis repair.

[Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis].

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

[Sharing the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis to achieve the goal of schistosomiasis elimination in China].

Currently, the national schistosomiasis control program of China is moving from transmission interruption to elimination, and there are multiple challenges during the stage moving towards the progression of schistosomiasis elimination, including a high difficulty in shrinking snail-infested areas, unstable achievements for infectious source control, imperfect surveillance system and a reduction in schistosomiasis control and administration. Based on the core suggestions proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, recommendations on schistosomiasis surveillance system building, development of novel diagnostics, adjustment of the schistosomiasis control strategy and maintaining and improvements of the schistosomiasis control capability are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China in the new era according to the actual status of schistosomiasis control in China. Formulation of the national schistosomiasis control strategy and goal from One Health perspective, verification of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis, precision implementation of schistosomiasis control interventions with adaptations to local circumstances, development and application of highly sensitive and specific diagnostics are recommended for elimination of schistosomiasis in China. In addition, the implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis may guide the elimination of schistosomiasis in China.

[Contribution to global implementation of WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis by learning successful experiences from the national schistosomiasis control program in China].

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that seriously hinders socioeconomic developments and threatens public health security. To achieve the global elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem by 2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis on February, 2022, with aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for schistosomiasis morbidity control, elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem, and ultimate interruption of schistosomiasis transmission in disease-endemic countries. Following concerted efforts for decades, great achievements have been obtained for schistosomiasis control in China where the disease was historically highly prevalent, and the country is moving towards schistosomiasis elimination. This article reviews the successful experiences from the national schistosmiasis control program in China, and summarizes their contributions to the formulation and implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis. With the progress of the "Belt and Road" initiative, the world is looking forward to more China's solutions on schistosomiasis control.

Absence of a holelike fermi surface for the iron-based K0.8F1.7Se2 superconductor revealed by angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy.

We have performed an angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the new iron-based superconductor K(0.8)Fe(1.7)Se(2) (T(c)∼30 K). Clear band dispersion is observed with the overall bandwidth renormalized by a factor of 2.5 compared to our local density approximation calculations, indicating relatively strong correlation effects. Only an electronlike band crosses the Fermi energy, forming a nearly circular Fermi surface (FS) at M (π, 0). The holelike band at Γ sinks ∼90 meV below the Fermi energy, with an indirect band gap of 30 meV, to the bottom of the electronlike band. The observed FS topology in this superconductor favors (π, π) inter-FS scattering between the electronlike FSs at the M points, in sharp contrast to other iron-based superconductors which favor (π, 0) inter-FS scattering between holelike and electronlike FSs.

Tetranectin and apolipoprotein A-I in cerebrospinal fluid as potential biomarkers for Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The application of biomarkers may potentially improve the efficiency of the diagnosis for Parkinson's disease (PD). However, no reliable biomarker has been identified to date. This study is aimed to identify proteins that might serve as potential biomarkers for PD diagnosis or pathogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) technique, in combination with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), was used to determine the differentially expressed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins in PD patients (n = 3) compared with normal controls (n = 3). Selected proteins were further confirmed by Western blotting analysis in the CSF of PD patients (n = 8), Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (n = 6) and normal control subjects (n = 7). RESULTS: Eight proteins were identified after MS and protein database interrogation. In the CSF of PD patients, the expression levels of one isoform of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), tetranectin, myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1), and two unknown proteins were down-regulated, whereas the expression levels of another apoA-I isoform, proapolipoprotein, and lipoprotein were up-regulated. Western blotting indicates that the expression of tetranectin was reduced in the CSF from PD patients and elevated in AD, while the expression of apoA-I was changed only in the CSF from PD patients. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary results suggest that tetranectin and apoA-I may serve as potential biomarkers for PD, though further validation is needed.

Quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity from dimerization of atomically ordered AuTe2Se4/3 cubes.

The emergent phenomena such as superconductivity and topological phase transitions can be observed in strict two-dimensional (2D) crystalline matters. Artificial interfaces and one atomic thickness layers are typical 2D materials of this kind. Although having 2D characters, most bulky layered compounds, however, do not possess these striking properties. Here, we report quasi-2D superconductivity in bulky AuTe2Se4/3, where the reduction in dimensionality is achieved through inducing the elongated covalent Te-Te bonds. The atomic-resolution images reveal that the Au, Te, and Se are atomically ordered in a cube, among which are Te-Te bonds of 3.18 and 3.28 Å. The superconductivity at 2.85 K is discovered, which is unraveled to be the quasi-2D nature owing to the Berezinsky-Kosterlitz-Thouless topological transition. The nesting of nearly parallel Fermi sheets could give rise to strong electron-phonon coupling. It is proposed that further depleting the thickness could result in more topologically-related phenomena.Emergent phenomena often appear in crystals in the two-dimensional limit but are rare in bulky compounds. Here, Guo et al. report a quasi-two-dimensional superconductivity in a bulk material AuTe2Se4/3 at 2.85 K, potentially owing to a topological transition.

China-Africa and China-Asia Collaboration on Schistosomiasis Control: A SWOT Analysis.

Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by a trematode, parasitic worm, is a worldwide public health problem. In spite of great progress with regard to morbidity control, even elimination of this infection in recent decades, there are still challenges to overcome in sub-Saharan Africa and endemic areas in Southeast Asia. Regarded as one of the most successful countries with respect to schistosomiasis control, The People's Republic of China has accumulated considerable experience and learnt important lessons in various local settings that could benefit schistosomiasis control in other endemic countries. Based on an analysis of conceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of potential collaborative activities with regard to schistosomiasis in Africa and Asia, this article addresses the importance of collaborative efforts and explores the priorities that would be expected to facilitate the transfer of Chinese experience to low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

Copper bioavailability, blood parameters, and nutrient balance in mink.

A 3 × 3 + 1 factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of different sources of copper on plasma metabolites, nutrient digestibility, relative copper bioavailability, and retention of some minerals in male mink. Animals in the control group were fed a basal diet, which mainly consisted of corn, fish meal, meat and bone meal, and soybean oil, with no copper supplementation. Mink in the other 9 treatments were fed the basal diet supplemented with Cu from reagent-grade copper sulfate (CuSO4), tribasic copper chloride (TBCC), or copper methionine (CuMet). Copper concentrations of the experimental diets were 50, 100, and 150 mg Cu/kg DM. Blood samples were collected via the toe clip at the end of study (d 42) to determine blood hematology and blood metabolites. A metabolism trial of 4 d was conducted during the last week of experimental feeding. There was a linear (P < 0.01) effect of dose of Cu on plasma Cu concentrations, ceruloplasmin concentration, and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity. A linear response to Cu dose was noted for fat (P < 0.05) digestibility. Supplemental dose of Cu linearly increased (P < 0.05) liver Cu and decreased (P < 0.05) liver Zn level but did not alter liver Fe. The concentration of liver Cu of the mink fed with TBCC and CuMet diets was greater (P < 0.05) than that fed CuSO4. Compared with CuSO4 (100%), relative bioavailability values of TBCC were 104 and 104%, based on serum ceruloplasmin and liver copper, respectively, and relative bioavailability values of CuMet were 130 and 111%. CuMet and TBCC are more bioavailable than CuSO4. In conclusion, the relative bioavailability of CuMet obtained in this study was greater than that of CuSO4 and TBCC. Dose of Cu had an important effect on the regulating ceruloplasmin concentration, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity, and the digestion of dietary fat in mink.

Effects of electroacupuncture on the levels of retinal gamma-aminobutyric acid and its receptors in a guinea pig model of lens-induced myopia.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the retina and affects myopic development. Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely utilized to treat myopia in clinical settings. However, there are few reports on whether EA affects the level of retinal GABA during myopic development. To study this issue, in the present study, we explored the changes of retinal GABA content and the expression of its receptor subtypes, and the effects of EA stimulation on them in a guinea pig model with lens-induced myopia (LIM). Our results showed that the content of GABA and the expression of GABAA and GABAC receptors of retina were up-regulated during the development of myopia, and this up-regulation was inhibited by applying EA to Hegu (LI4) and Taiyang (EX-HN5) acupoints. Moreover, these effects of EA show a positional specificity. While applying EA at a sham acupoint, no apparent change of myopic retinal GABA and its receptor subtypes was observed. Taken together, our findings suggest that LIM is effective to up-regulate the level of retinal GABA, GABAA and GABAC receptors in guinea pigs and the effect may be inhibited by EA stimulation at LI4 and EX-HN5 acupoints.

A baseline study on the importance of bovines for human Schistosoma japonicum infection around Poyang Lake, China.

We hypothesize that bovine infections are responsible for the persistence of human schistosomiasis transmission in the Yangtze marshlands of China. To test this hypothesis, we are carrying out a comparative intervention among four administrative villages in the Poyang Lake region, Jiangxi Province, two of which are experimental and two are control. The primary design involves treating, at the onset of the study, all the inhabitants in all four villages with praziquantel and all the bovines in two villages (the experimental or intervention villages). Following treatment, rates of reinfection in people of all villages, and in bovines in the experimental villages, will be assessed as will the ongoing prevalence of infection in bovines in the control villages. Before treatment, the prevalence and intensity of infection among humans and bovines was ascertained in the four villages. Our study design and baseline information are presented here, along with a description of the ecology of the study villages.

Location and migration of cations in Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite.

Locations of Cu2+ ion in Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), supplemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). In the EPR spectra of Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite, three signals, corresponding to Cu2+ ion, have been simultaneously recorded. Some Cu2+ ions seemed to replace the original interlayer metal cations and some entered into the hexagonal cavities. A small fraction of Cu2+ ions penetrated into the octahedral vacancies. There were two ways for the adsorption of Cu2+ ion by montmorillonite--exchangeable and specific. On heating, the hydrated Cu2+ ion in the interlayer loses the coordinating water and then enters into the hexagonal cavities. When the heating temperature further increased, dehydroxylation occurs, which facilitates Cu2+ ion in the hexagonal cavities to penetrate into the octahedral vacancies.

Adsorption of phenol on inorganic-organic pillared montmorillonite in polluted water.

Both inorganic- and organic-pillared montmorillonites (PMts) were used to adsorb phenol to study suitable conditions for adsorption and adsorption isotherms. The adsorbing capacity of modified clays depends not only surface area, but mainly on micropore structure and surface components. After incandescing at 500 degrees C, the pillar structure and the basal interlayer spacing (1.83 nm) remained stable. Using modified PMt with surfactant can improve adsorbing capacity greatly. The PMt can be recycled, and it is a potential substance for adsorption of environmental pollutants.

Right ventricular and septal anomalies complicated by subacute bacterial endocarditis.

We report the case of a 31-year-old woman with no history of heart disease. She came to the hospital with fever, dyspnea, palpitation, and edema of the lower extremities. She was found to have aortic, mitral, and pulmonary valve insufficiency, and the initial diagnosis was subacute bacterial endocarditis. At surgery, we replaced the aortic and mitral valves with mechanical prostheses and the pulmonary valve with a bioprosthesis. The prostheses were soaked intraoperatively with fluconazole and the heart chambers were irrigated with povidone-iodine to prevent infection by bacteria and fungi. We also found 2 previously unsuspected anomalies: 1 was a muscular bundle that divided the right ventricle into 2 chambers, and the other was a ventricular septal defect, 1.0 cm in diameter. We resected the muscular bundle and patched the septal defect. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was in New York Heart Association functional class I at the 15-month follow-up visit. We speculate that this patient's congenital anomalies made the heart more susceptible to damage from the endocarditis. Therefore, any patient who has infective endocarditis should also be examined closely for congenital defects.

Relationship of the livestock trade to schistosomiasis transmission in mountainous area.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the livestock trade and schistosomiasis transmission and to provide an evidence for making a strategy of schistosomiasis control in mountainous areas. METHODS: A retrospective survey and analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in both humans and livestock (cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs), and the number and migration of livestock in Weishan County, Yunnan Province in 1980-1991. RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between the infection rate of residents and the numbers of livestock migration (R = 0.9151, P < 0.01). During 1980 to 1991 the infection rate was increased gradually along with the development of livestock husbandry, especially, from the economic reforms since 1984. In 1984 there was positive correlation in the infection rate both human and livestock (R = 0.8458, P < 0.05). The results show that the infection rates of livestock on sale including cattle, horses, mules, donkeys and pigs are 9.54%, 29.39%, 16.38%, 14.47%, 25.73% and 11.11%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The infection rate of human and livestock arises by parallel. The high frequency of livestock trade resulted in serious spreading of the infection source of schistosomiasis. The migration of the infected livestock might be an important factor in transmitting schistosomiasis.