The spatial-temporal distribution of hepatitis B virus infection in China,2006-2018.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is highly prevalent in China. To better understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in China and develop effective disease control strategies, we employed temporal and spatial statistical methods. METHODS: We obtained HBV incidence data from the Public Health Science Data Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2006 to 2018. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and SaTScan scanning technology, we conducted spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scan analysis to create a map and visualize the distribution of hepatitis B incidence. RESULTS: While hepatitis B incidence rebounded in 2011 and 2017, the overall incidence in China decreased.In the trend analysis by item, the incidence varies from high to low. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed a clustered distribution, and the Moran index analysis of spatial autocorrelation within local regions identified five provinces as H-H clusters (hot spots), while one province was an L-L cluster (cold spot). Spatial scan analysis identified 11 significant spatial clusters. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant clustering in the spatial distribution of hepatitis B incidence and positive spatial correlation of hepatitis B incidence in China. We also identified high-risk times and regional clusters of hepatitis B incidence.

Astragalus polysaccharides protect renal function and affect the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to observe the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on diabetes and on regulation of the TGF-ß/Smad signaling pathway. METHODS: A type 2 diabetic rat model was established with a high-fat diet in combination with low-dose streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). Astragalus polysaccharides were applied as treatment intervention and changes in blood glucose and kidney morphology and function were assessed. RESULTS: Eight weeks after model establishment, kidney weight as a proportion of total weight (KW/TW) in the high-, medium-, and low-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was significantly lower than that in the model group, and the KW/TW value gradually decreased with increasing dose of polysaccharides in each treatment group. Fasting blood glucose in the low- and medium-dose Astragalus polysaccharide groups was numerically lower than that in the model group and fasting blood glucose in rats in the high-dose group was significantly lower than that in the model group. Levels of 24-hour urinary microalbumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, collagens I, III, and IV, α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor-ß1, and Smad3 in Astragalus polysaccharide groups (all doses) were significantly lower than those in the model group. CONCLUSIONS: Astragalus polysaccharide significantly improved blood glucose and protected kidney function in a rat diabetes model.

Evaluation of Mogroside V as a Promising Carrier in Drug Delivery: Improving the Bioavailability and Liver Distribution of Silybin.

The objective of this work was to investigate the capacity of mogroside V (MOG-V), a food additive, as a novel carrier to improve the bioavailability and liver distribution of silybin (SLY). Solid dispersion particles (SDPs) of SLY/MOG-V were prepared utilizing the solvent evaporation method. The physicochemical characterizations of SDPs were evaluated by using dynamic light scattering (DLS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) measurements. DLS results demonstrated the formation of nanoparticles (206 nm) of SDPs in water. DSC and PXRD analysis revealed that SLY was in amorphous form or molecularly dispersed in SDPs. SDPs also exhibited a major increase in both dissolution rate and saturation solubility, as evidenced by a 1931-fold improvement (2201 µg/mL) in solubility compared with pure SLY (1.14 µg/mL). The pharmacokinetic study in rats showed that oral absorption of SLY/MOG-V SDPs was dramatically increased. The mean value of AUC until 12 h for SLY/MOG-V SDPs (27,481 ng·min/mL) was 24.5-fold higher than that of pure SLY (1122 ng·min/mL). In vivo tissue distribution experiment in mice confirmed that the major distribution tissue was changed from lungs to liver after SLY was loaded into MOG-V. In addition, even orally administrated to mice at a high dose (4.2 g/kg), MOG-V exhibited no undesirable effect on the plasma glucose concentrations. Thus, MOG-V may have the applicability to serve as an ideal excipient for solubilization or as a novel liver targeting carrier for the delivery of SLY.

Re-emerging of rabies in Shaanxi province, China, from 2009 to 2015.

To explore the epidemiological, phylogeographic, and migration characteristics of human rabies in Shaanxi province, China from 2009 to 2015. The collected data were described and the sequenced glycoprotein (G) and nucleoprotein (N) genes were implemented to estimate the evolutionary rates and phylogeographic patterns using BEAST v.1.8.2. A total of 269 rabies cases were reported and 70.26% of the cases were male and 61.71% were between the ages of 19-59. The majority of the cases were farmers (83.27%). The estimated evolutionary rate of the N genes was 2.4 × 10-4 substitutions/site/year and the G genes was 3.4 × 10-4 . The time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) was estimated around 1990. We detected viral migration paths from Sichuan, Guizhou, and Hunan to Hanzhong prefecture of Shaanxi and then spreaded to Xi'an and other prefectures. The main population affected by rabies virus was male adult farmers. The evolution rate of rabies viruses in Shaanxi was similar with the prior results reported by others and the ancestor virus should be circulating in neighboring province Sichuan around 1990 and then transmitted to Shaanxi. Promptly standard wound treatment and timely post-exposure prophylaxis should be compulsory for the dog-bitten victims.