Driving more WHO-recommended vaccines in the National Immunization Program: Issues and challenges in China.

WHO-recommended vaccines substantially prevent and control vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), but their inclusion differs among countries and regions. We reviewed the application for WHO-recommended vaccines in China and described the concerns and obstacles in driving the inclusion of more vaccines into China's NIP, including immunization strategies, financial barriers, vaccination services, and behavioral and social supply-side and demand-side factors. China has made significant efforts, however, they may not be sufficient until the inclusion of more WHO-recommended vaccines in the National Immunization Program (NIP), ensuring that the vaccination encompasses the whole life course of individuals, establishment of more trustworthy vaccination finance and procurement, increasing vaccine development, optimizing vaccine demand forecasts, improving the accessibility and equity of vaccination services, capturing the key points of behavioral and social drivers of vaccination on the demand side, and establishing holistic prevention and control from a public health perspective.

The association of mindfulness and psychological well-being among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: In the global pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have commonly occurred among COVID-19 patients, whose experiences of infection and subsequent treatment might develop negative consequences on their mental well-being even after recovery. Despite the general recognition of efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing psychological distress among various populations, there were insufficient studies on the relationship between mindfulness and mental health among individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: The current study aims to identify the prevalence of common mental health challenges among recovered COVID-19 patients in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China and to explore the potential mechanism through which mindfulness alleviate depression and PTSD. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on mental health was conducted among a convenience sample of adults recovered from COVID-19 in Jianghan District, Wuhan, China. The study participants completed questionnaires under the assistance of trained investigators. The questionnaire included Chinese version of Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire-Short Form (FFMQ-SF), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), Resilience Style Questionnaire (RSQ), Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to measure mindfulness, anxiety, resilience, PTSD, and depression respectively. Structural equation modeling was used to explore the relationship between mindfulness and mental health outcomes of this population. RESULTS: 1541 respondents (654 [42.4 %] men and 887 [57.6 %] women) completed the questionnaire between June 10 and July 25, 2021, of whom 36.2 % and 27.1 % had mild and severe levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms respectively, and 15.2 % was indicated with PTSD. The average score of mindfulness of the study participants was (3.100 ± 0.387), and that of resilience was (3.560 ± 0.877). The structural equation model fit the data well, demonstrating that mindfulness was negatively associated with depressive symptoms directly (ß = -0.031, P = 0.021) or indirectly through the mediation effect of resilience (ß = -0.019, P = 0.009) and anxiety symptoms (ß = -0.208, P < 0.001), and was negatively associated with PTSD through the mediation effect of anxiety symptoms (ß = -0.142, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 commonly experienced psychological distress. Mindfulness is associated with alleviation of depressive and PTSD symptoms directly or indirectly. Interventions based on mindfulness are suggested to improve the mental well-being of this population.

Acaricidal activity of the essential oil from Senecio cannabifolius and its constituents eucalyptol and camphor on engorged females and larvae of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae).

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the acaricidal activity of Senecio cannabifolius essential oil, and two of its constituents, eucalyptol and camphor. Efficacy against females and larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus was assessed by the adult immersion test (AIT) and the larval immersion test (LIT). The oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS) and in total 68 components were identified representing 99.2% of the essential oil. AIT revealed that the oil, eucalyptol, and camphor at the highest concentration presented efficacy of 68.9, 57.1, and 71.9%, respectively. LIT revealed that the essential oil and camphor achieved 100% mortality at concentration of 1.6% wt/vol, whereas eucalyptol showed moderate inhibitory activity. Biochemical assays indicated that the essential oil and camphor can reduce significantly overall detoxification enzyme activities in engorged females and larvae at high concentration (≥ 0.4% wt/vol), whereas the inhibitory effect of eucalyptol is weaker than that of the oil and camphor. Taken together our results indicated that the S. cannabifolius essential oil and its isolated constituent had potential for the development of a new and safe acaricide for the control of R. microplus ticks.

UHPLC coupled with mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis of Kang-Ai injection based on the chemical characterization, simultaneous quantification, and relative quantification of 47 herbal alkaloids and saponins.

Kang-Ai injection, which is composed of Astragali Radix, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, and kushenin, is extensively used in China as an adjuvant therapy for many types of cancer and chronic hepatitis B. In the present study, 47 herbal compounds (11 alkaloids, 8 astragalosides, and 28 ginsenosides), were detected in Kang-Ai injection by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, of which 31 were identified using authentic standards. Additionally, a practical ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method was employed for simultaneous quantitative detection (31 available compounds), and relative quantitative detection (16 unavailable compounds) within 10 min. The limit of detection and limit of quantification was 0.11-2.22 and 0.53-11.08 ng/mL, respectively. Altogether, content levels of each compound ranged from 0.03 to 9835.57 µg/mL. Furthermore, chemometric analysis indicated oxymatrine, astragaloside IV, ginsenosides Rg1 and Re, and matrine had the greatest effect on concentration fluctuation. Therefore, we suggested these five compounds should be monitored during the manufacturing process. This method can be applied to provide crucial chemical profiles and quality assessments for Kang-Ai injection, guaranteeing the safety, effectiveness, and controllability of the drug in clinics.

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity against Aedes mosquitoes of essential oils from Arisaema fargesii.

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is caused by the spread of dengue virus by Aedes mosquito vectors. Currently, the most effective way to control dengue is by preventing mosquitoes from spreading the disease. Arisaema fargesii is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used to repel mosquitoes. In our laboratory, anti-mosquito chemical components were extracted from A. fargesii, and the effects of these substances on mosquito larvae were examined. RESULTS: In total, 48 compounds corresponding to 98.79% of the total oil were identified and the major compounds identified were linalool (12.38%), carvacrol (8.27%), eugenol (5.21%), and ß-selinene (5.36%). Essential oil had larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus with LC50 values of 40.49 mg/L, 47.01 mg/L, respectively. The LC50 values of carvacrol, eugenol, linalool and ß-selinene were 32.78, 56.34, 70.56, 136.03 mg/L against Ae. aegypti larvae, and 39.08, 52.07, 82.34, 151.74 mg/L, respectively, against Ae. albopictus larvae. Biochemical assays of Aedes larvae showed that the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monooxygenases (MO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), p-Nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) esterase, α-esterase and ß-esterase were significantly affected by carvacrol. Essential oil induced the detoxification mechanism for the action of GST and MO. CONCLUSION: The result indicates that essential oil of A. fargesii and its isolated constituent have good inhibitory effects on the defense enzymes of Aedes mosquito larvae. A. fargesii essential oil can be used to control Aedes mosquito larvae to prevent the spread of dengue fever. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Source apportionment of selenium and influence factors on its bioavailability in intensively managed greenhouse soil: A case study in the east bank of the Dianchi Lake, China.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals. In China, intensive agricultural inputs in greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) have resulted in great changes in Se concentration and bioavailability in soil, which have great influences on Se flux to living organisms through food chains. It is crucial to understand the factors on Se concentration and bioavailability in greenhouse soil. Thus, we chose the east bank of the Dianchi Lake, a typical GVP area covering 177 km2 in Southwest China, as the study area to quantify source contributions to soil Se and estimate relative importance of influence factors on its bioavailability in GVP with a receptor model (absolute principal component scores-multiple linear regression, APCS-MLR) after principal component analysis (PCA). According to the enrichment factor (EF), total Se in greenhouse soil was accumulated at a minor level (1 < EF < 3) by long-term and intensive fertilization. Source contributions to total Se decreased in the sequence of parent materials > fertilization > atmospheric deposition. It suggested that fertilization, especially manure, might be an important way to increase total Se in greenhouse soils in Se-deficient areas. The bioavailability of Se was affected by several factors, among of which total Se was the foremost one. In comparison with organic matter and clay, Fe/Al oxides exerted more controls on Se bioavailability, which was dependent on pH. Increasing Olsen P was helpful in improving soil Se bioavailability in greenhouse. More attention should be paid to soil physicochemical characteristics when Se-containing fertilizers are applied to increase Se levels in greenhouse vegetables.

Calycosin attenuates MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease by suppressing the activation of TLR/NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

Parkinson is the second common neurodegenerative disease. The characteristics of Parkinson's disease (PD) are the dopamin neurons loss caused by neuroinflammation responses. C alycosin, an isoflavone phytoestrogen isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, has multiple pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective effects. However, it is unknown whether calycosin can mitigate PD symptoms. This study aims to explore whether calycosin can alleviate PD symptoms and the underlying mechanisms. PD was induced in mice by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) injection, and calycosin was given intracerebroventricularly to these mice. A cell model of nerve inflammation was established by BV2 microglia cells injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The motor states were evaluated by stepping, whisker, and cylinder experiments. The states of dopaminergic neurons and microglia were detected by immunostainning of tyrosine hydroxylase and cluster of differentiation molecule 11b (CD11b). The expression levels of inflammatory factors were detected by qPCR. Toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were investigated by western blot. We found that calycosin treatment mitigated the behavioral dysfunctions and inflammatory responses in MPTP-induced PD mice. The TLR/NF-κB and MAPK pathways in MPTP-induced PD mice were inhibited by calycosin treatment, which was coincident with experiments in LPS-induced BV2 cells. Above all, calycosin mitigates PD symptoms through TLR/NF-κB and MAPK pathways in mice and cell lines.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activities of essential oil from Wedelia urticifolia growing wild in Hunan Province, China.

The essential oil obtained from Wedelia urticifolia growing in Hunan Province, China, was analyzed for the first time by capillary GC and GC-MS. A total of 67 constituents, representing 98.68% in essential oil were identified. The major constituents of the oil were: α-pinene (8.85%), limonene (6.38%), carvacrol (6.15%), caryophyllene (6.08%), spathulenol (5.49%), sabinene (5.36%), camphor (4.34%). Antimicrobial potential of oil against bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus), yeast strains (Hansenula anomala and Saccharomy cescerevisiae) and molds (Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum, Mucor racemosus, and Monascus anka) was determined by disc diffusion method and broth micro dilution method, respectively. The oil exhibited promising antimicrobial effect as a diameter of zones of inhibition (16.8-24.9 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration values of oil were ranged 62.5-1000 µg/mL.

Determination and evaluation of heavy metals in soils under two different greenhouse vegetable production systems in eastern China.

The evaluation of heavy metals (HMs) in greenhouse soils is crucial for both environmental monitoring and human health; thus, it is imperative to determine their concentrations, identify their sources and assess their potential risks. In this study, eight metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in 167 surface soils were investigated in two representative greenhouse vegetable systems of China: perennial solar greenhouse (SG) and seasonal plastic greenhouse (PG). The results indicated accumulations of Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn in the SG soils and Cd, Pb, Hg and Zn in the PG soils, with higher concentrations than the background values. In particular, Cd and Hg exhibited high levels of pollution under both GVP systems due to their positive Igeo values. Principle component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis suggested that Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn in the SG soils and Cd, Hg and Zn in the PG soils were mainly related to intensive farming practices; Pb in the PG soils was significantly affected by atmospheric deposition. The results showed that soil characteristics, in particular soil organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, exerted significant influence on Hg, Cu, Cd, and Zn under the SG system. However, the HMs in the PG soils were weakly affected by soil properties. Overall, this study provides comparative research on the accumulation, potential risks and sources of HMs in two typical greenhouse soils in China, and our findings suggest that, Cd and Hg in both greenhouse soils could potentially represent environmental problems.