SEA Alleviates Hepatic Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury by Promoting M2 Macrophage Polarisation.

Hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a frequent and nearly inevitable pathophysiological process without widely accepted effective therapy. Soluble egg antigen (SEA) of Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) is the main mediators capable of regulating immunological activities and has received increased attention in immune-mediated diseases. But its role in hepatic I/R injury has not been well defined. This study aimed to elucidate whether SEA protects liver against hepatic I/R injury and explore underlying mechanism. After intraperitoneal injecting SEA three times a week for 4 weeks, mice underwent 70% hepatic I/R injury. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), haematoxylin-eosin (HE) and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) staining were used to evaluate liver injury. The severity related to the inflammatory response was also investigated. Furthermore, immunofluorescence was used to detect macrophage polarisation. Compared with the hepatic I/R injury group, SEA pretreatment significantly alleviated hepatic I/R injury induced liver damage, apoptosis and inflammatory. Interestingly, SEA enhanced the polarisation of macrophages towards M2 macrophages in vivo. We are the first to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of S. japonicum SEA in a hepatic I/R injury model in mice. We provided the first direct evidence that SEA attenuated hepatic I/R injury by promoting M2 macrophage polarisation.

Proliferation of MDSCs may indicate a lower CD4+ T cell immune response in schistosomiasis japonica.

BACKGROUND: Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) is the main species of Schistosoma prevalent in China. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are important immunoregulatory cells and generally expand in parasite infection, but there is little research relating to MDSCs in Schistosoma infection. METHODS: Fifty-six S. japonicum-infected patients were included in this study. MDSCs and percentages and absolute cell numbers of lymphocyte subsets, including CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and natural killer (NK) cells were detected using flow cytometry. The degree of liver fibrosis was determined using color Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: Patients infected with S. japonicum had a much higher percentage of MDSCs among peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) than the healthy control. Regarding subpopulations of MDSCs, the percentage of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSCs) was clearly increased. Correlation analysis showed that the absolute cell counts of T-cell subsets correlated negatively with the percentages of MDSCs and G-MDSCs among PBMCs. The percentage of G-MDSCs in PBMCs was also significantly higher in patients with liver fibrosis diagnosed by color doppler ultrasound (grade > 0), and the percentage of G-MDSCs in PBMCs and liver fibrosis grading based on ultrasound showed a positive correlation. CONCLUSION: S. japonicum infection contributes to an increase in MDSCs, especially G-MDSCs, whose proliferation may inhibit the number of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood. Meanwhile, there is a close relationship between proliferation of G-MDSCs and liver fibrosis in S. japonicum-infected patients.

Title: La prolifération des MDSC peut indiquer une réponse immunitaire des lymphocytes T CD4+ plus faible dans la schistosomiase japonica. Abstract: Contexte : Schistosoma japonicum est la principale espèce de Schistosoma répandue en Chine. Les cellules myéloïdes suppressives (MDSC) sont des cellules immunorégulatrices importantes et se développent généralement lors d'une infection parasitaire, mais il existe peu de recherches sur les MDSC dans l'infection à Schistosoma. Méthodes : Cinquante-six patients infectés par S. japonicum ont été inclus dans cette étude. Les MDSC, les pourcentages et les nombres absolus des sous-ensembles de lymphocytes, notamment les lymphocytes T CD3+, les lymphocytes T CD4+, les lymphocytes T CD8+, les lymphocytes B et les cellules tueuses naturelles (NK) ont été détectés par cytométrie en flux. Le degré de fibrose hépatique a été déterminé par échographie Doppler couleur. Résultats : Les patients infectés par S. japonicum présentaient un pourcentage beaucoup plus élevé de MDSC parmi les cellules mononucléées du sang périphérique (CMSP) que les patients sains. En ce qui concerne les sous-populations de MDSC, le pourcentage de cellules suppressives granulocytaires dérivées de myéloïdes (G-MDSC) était augmenté de manière évidente. L'analyse de corrélation a montré que le nombre absolu des cellules des sous-ensembles de lymphocytes T était en corrélation négative avec les pourcentages de MDSC et de G-MDSC parmi les CMSP. Le pourcentage de G-MDSC dans les CMSP était également significativement plus élevé chez les patients présentant une fibrose hépatique diagnostiquée par échographie Doppler couleur (grade > 0), et le pourcentage de G-MDSC dans les CMSP et le classement de la fibrose hépatique basé sur l'échographie ont montré une corrélation positive. Conclusion : L'infection à S. japonicum contribue à une augmentation des MDSC, notamment des G-MDSC, dont la prolifération pourrait inhiber le nombre de lymphocytes T CD4+ dans le sang périphérique. Parallèlement, il existe une relation étroite entre la prolifération des G-MDSC et la fibrose hépatique chez les patients infectés par S. japonicum.

Global, regional, and national time trends in incidence for depressive disorders, from 1990 to 2019: an age-period-cohort analysis for the GBD 2019.

BACKGROUND: Even with advances in primary health care, depressive disorders remain a major global public health problem. We conducted an in-depth analysis of global, regional and national trends in depressive disorders incidence over the past 30 years. METHODS: Data on the incidence of depressive disorders were obtained by sex (female, male, and both), location (204 countries), age (5-84 years), year (1990-2019) from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019. Further, age-period-cohort modeling was used to estimate the net drift, local drift, age, period and cohort effects between 1990 and 2019. RESULTS: In 2019, although the incidence of depressive disorders has increased by 59.3% to 290 million (95% UI: 256, 328), the age-standardized incidence rate has decreased by 2.35% to 3588.25 per 100,000 people (3152.71, 4060.42) compared to 1990. There was an emerging transition of incidences from the young and middle-aged population to the old population. From 1990 to 2019, the net drift of incidence rate ranged from -0.54% (-0.61%, -0.47%) in low-middle Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions to 0.52% (0.25%, 0.79%) in high SDI regions. Globally, the incidence rate of depressive disorders increases with age, period effects showing a decreasing risk and cohort effects beginning to decline after the 1960s. CONCLUSIONS: Our current findings reflect substantial health disparities and potential priority-setting of depressive disorders incidence in the three dimensions of age, period and cohort across SDI regions, countries. The scope of healthcare to improve the progression of depressive disorders events can be expanded to include males, females of all ages.

Time trends in the mortality of testicular cancer across the BRICS: an age-period-cohort analysis for the GBD 2019.

Testicular cancer (TCa) is a rare but impactful malignancy that primarily affects young men. Understanding the mortality rate of TCa is crucial for improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the risk of death among patients. We obtained TCa mortality data by place (5 countries), age (20-79 years), and year (1990-2019) from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the net drift, local drift, age effects, period and cohort effects. In 2019, the global mortality of TCa increased to 10842 (95% UI 9961, 11902), with an increase of 50.08% compared to 1990.The all-age mortality rate for TCa in 2019 increased from 0.17/100,000 (95% UI 0.13, 0.20) in China to 0.48/100,000 (95% UI 0.38, 0.59) in Russian Federation, whereas the age-standardized mortality rate in 2019 was highest in the South Africa 0.47/100,000 (95% UI 0.42, 0.53) and lowest in the China 0.16/100,000 (95% UI 0.13, 0.19). China's aging population shifts mortality patterns towards the elderly, while in Russian Federation, young individuals are primarily affected by the distribution of deaths. To address divergent TCa mortality advancements in BRICS countries, we propose a contextually adaptive and resource-conscious approach to prioritize TCa prevention. Tailoring strategies to contextual diversity, including policy frameworks, human resources, and financial capacities, will enhance targeted interventions and effectiveness in reducing TCa mortality.

Using blood routine indicators to establish a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis in patients with Schistosoma japonicum.

This study intends to use the basic information and blood routine of schistosomiasis patients to establish a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis. We collected medical records of Schistosoma japonicum patients admitted to a hospital in China from June 2019 to June 2022. The method was to screen out the key variables and six different machine learning algorithms were used to establish prediction models. Finally, the optimal model was compared based on AUC, specificity, sensitivity and other indicators for further modeling. The interpretation of the model was shown by using the SHAP package. A total of 1049 patients' medical records were collected, and 10 key variables were screened for modeling using lasso method, including red cell distribution width-standard deviation (RDW-SD), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hematocrit (HCT), Red blood cells, Eosinophils, Monocytes, Lymphocytes, Neutrophils, Age. Among the 6 different machine learning algorithms, LightGBM performed the best, and its AUCs in the training set and validation set were 1 and 0.818, respectively. This study established a machine learning model for predicting liver fibrosis in patients with Schistosoma japonicum. The model could help improve the early diagnosis and provide early intervention for schistosomiasis patients with liver fibrosis.

IgG persistence showed weak clinical aspects in chronic schistosomiasis patients.

Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic disease, which affects the quality of daily life of patients and imposes a huge burden on society. Hepatic fibrosis in response to continuous insult of eggs to the liver is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis are largely undefined. The purpose of our study is to detect the indicator to hepatic fibrosis in schistosomiasis. A total of 488 patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica were enrolled in our study. The patients were divided into two groups according to liver ultrasound examination, which could indicate liver fibrosis of schistosomiasis with unique reticular changes. Logistic regression analysis showed that globulin, albumin/globulin, GGT levels and anti-Schistosoma IgG were independently associated with liver fibrosis in patients with schistosomiasis and IgG was the largest association of liver fibrosis (OR 2.039, 95% CI 1.293-3.213). We further compared IgG+ patients with IgG- patients. IgG+ patients (ALT 25 U/L, GGT 31 U/L) slightly higher than IgG- patients (ALT 22 U/L, GGT 26 U/L) in ALT and GGT. However, the fibrosis of liver in IgG+ patients (Grade II(19.7%), Grade III(7.3%)) were more severe than that in IgG- patients(Grade II(12.5%), Grade III(2.9%)) according to the grade of liver ultrasonography. Our results showed anti-Schistosoma IgG was independently associated with liver fibrosis in patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica and patients with persistent anti-Schistosoma IgG might have more liver fibrosis than negative patients despite no obvious clinical signs or symptoms.

Flip-avoiding interpolating surface registration for skull reconstruction.

Skull reconstruction is an important and challenging task in craniofacial surgery planning, forensic investigation and anthropological studies. Existing methods typically reconstruct approximating surfaces that regard corresponding points on the target skull as soft constraints, thus incurring non-zero error even for non-defective parts and high overall reconstruction error. This paper proposes a novel geometric reconstruction method that non-rigidly registers an interpolating reference surface that regards corresponding target points as hard constraints, thus achieving low reconstruction error. To overcome the shortcoming of interpolating a surface, a flip-avoiding method is used to detect and exclude conflicting hard constraints that would otherwise cause surface patches to flip and self-intersect. Comprehensive test results show that our method is more accurate and robust than existing skull reconstruction methods. By incorporating symmetry constraints, it can produce more symmetric and normal results than other methods in reconstructing defective skulls with a large number of defects. It is robust against severe outliers such as radiation artifacts in computed tomography due to dental implants. In addition, test results also show that our method outperforms thin-plate spline for model resampling, which enables the active shape model to yield more accurate reconstruction results. As the reconstruction accuracy of defective parts varies with the use of different reference models, we also study the implication of reference model selection for skull reconstruction.