[Analysis of potential pathogenic factors of trigeminal neuralgia in rats].

PURPOSES: Transcriptomics-based analysis of key transcriptional molecules in the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuropathic pain was conducted to screen key molecules in the pathogenesis of trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Rat trigeminal nerve pathological pain model, namely chronic constriction injury of distal infraorbital nerve (IoN-CCI), was constructed and animal behaviors postsurgery were observed and analyzed. Trigeminal ganglia were collected for RNA-seq transcriptomics analysis. StringTie was used to annotate and quantify genome expression. DESeq2 was applied to compare between groups with P value less than 0.05 and fold change greater than 2 times and less than 0.5 times to screen differential genes, and display them with volcano graphs and cluster graphs. ClusterProfiler software was used to perform GO function enrichment analysis of differential genes. RESULTS: On the fifth postoperative day (POD5), the rat's face-grooming behavior increased to a peak; on the seventh postoperative day (POD7), the von-frey value dropped to the lowest value, indicating that the mechanical pain threshold of rats was significantly decreased. RNA-seq analysis of IoN-CCI rat ganglia found that the significantly up-regulated signaling pathways included B cell receptor signaling pathway, cell adhesion, complement and coagulation cascade pathways; significantly down-regulated pathways were related to systemic lupus erythematosus. Multiple genes among Cacna1s, Cox8b, My1, Ckm, Mylpf, Myoz1, Tnnc2 were involved in mediating the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia. CONCLUSIONS: B cell receptor signaling pathway, cell adhesion, complement and coagulation cascade pathways, neuroimmune pathways are closely related to the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia. The interaction of multiple genes among Cacna1s, Cox8b, My11, Ckm, Mylpf, Myoz1, Tnnc2 leads to the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia.

Excess selenium intake is associated with microalbuminuria in female but not in male among adults with obesity: Results from NHANES 2009-2018.

Introduction: Selenium is a critical trace element with antioxidant activities that has been related to the preservation of kidney function. Few studies, however, have looked at the effects of excess selenium on kidneys. The purpose of the present study was performed to investigate the relationship between dietary selenium intake and the prevalence of microalbuminuria in American adults with obesity. Methods: A total of 8,547 participants with obesity in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with the age of 19 years or older were included in the present study. Multivariable regression and subgroup analyses were performed to examine the association between dietary selenium and microalbuminuria in the two genders, separately. A selenium intake above the median was defined as high selenium intake. Results: Dietary selenium intake was significantly higher in men compared to women (139.49 µg/day vs. 101.06 µg/day; P < 0.0001). Among female participants, the prevalence of microalbuminuria was significantly higher in participants with a high selenium intake compared with those without a high selenium intake (13.82 vs. 9.96%; P = 0.008), whereas this difference did not exist in male participants (10.79 vs. 11.97%; P = 0.40). Dietary selenium is not significantly correlated with microalbuminuria (P = 0.68) in the male population, whereas each 1 µg/day of increase in selenium consumption was independently associated with a 6h higher risk of microalbuminuria (OR = 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001-1.011, P = 0.01) in females. Conclusion: According to our research, excessive selenium consumption is positively correlated with microalbuminuria in females with obesity, but not in males with obesity.

Personalized tooth-supported digital guide plate used in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia with balloon compression.

Background: Balloon compression (BC) is a simple and effective operation to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The most difficult procedure in BC is related to fast and accurate foramen ovale (FO) insertion. In this study, we introduced a new method incorporating a personalized tooth-supported digital guide plate to reduce patient trauma, improve the accuracy and the success rate of insertion, and reduce surgeons' radiation exposure. Methods: In total, 15 TN patients aged 55-70 years were recruited between January 2019 and November 2020 and retrospectively analyzed. Before the operation, based on Mimics 3D reconstruction and the modeling of patients' maxillary teeth, personalized tooth-supported digital guide plates were designed and 3D printed. All operational procedures were simulated. Then, all patients underwent BC with a personalized tooth-supported digital guide plate. Results: In the study, guide plate insertion was completed within 60 seconds for all patients. Puncturing time was limited to 5 seconds. Successful insertion into the FO was achieved in 1 attempt for all 15 participants. No patients required more than 3 postinsertion adjustments to obtain a pear-shaped balloon. There were no postoperative complications, such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage, intracranial infection, or visual acuity change. The trigger points, attack frequency per day, attack duration, and Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity scores of all 15 participants were significantly improved postoperation. The visual analog scale (VAS) score significantly decreased postoperation compared with that obtained preoperation (all P<0.001) and gradually decreased with the extension of follow-up time. Conclusions: By applying a personalized tooth-supported digital guide plate, we can significantly avoid the use of an incision outside the mouth, decrease the difficulty of FO insertion, and reduce patient trauma. The operation is more suitable for novice surgeons and protects surgeons from the harm of radiation. This new technology may improve the success rate and accuracy of FO insertion, although a multicenter, large sample, randomized controlled trial is needed.

[Effects of Burkholderia sp. Y4 on Cadmium Damage and Uptake in Rice Seedlings].

In order to investigate the effects of Burkholderia sp. Y4 on rice seedlings under cadmium (Cd) stress, seed germination and vermiculite culture experiments were conducted using low Cd-accumulation xiangzaoxian 24 (X24) and high Cd-accumulation Tyou 705 (T705) varieties. The effects of Burkholderia sp. Y4 on rice growth, oxidative damage caused by Cd, and Cd accumulation were studied. Additionally, the Cd2+ flux rates in the elongation zone of rice roots under Burkholderia sp. Y4 application were detected using non-invasive micro-test technology. Burkholderia sp. Y4 alleviated the inhibition effect of Cd on rice seed germination by 13.8%. After inoculation with Burkholderia sp. Y4 for 7 d, the length of rice roots and buds increased by 83.3% and 12.2%, and their dry weight increased by 56.8% and 12.5%, respectively; those in the 10 d Y4 inoculation group increased by 28.6% and 20.0% in length and by 113.2% and 46.0% in dry weight, respectively. Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation also alleviated rice oxidative stress damage caused by Cd. The application of strain Y4 significantly reduced the content of the oxidative damage product malondialdehyde (MDA) in the shoots and roots of rice seedlings by 21.5% and 16.9%, respectively. Under Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation, the significant changes in antioxidant enzyme SOD and CAT activities caused by Cd stress disappeared in rice roots; those in shoots also decreased from 176.9% and 74.8% to 53.3% and 21.5%, respectively. Conversely, Burkholderia sp. Y4 inhibited Cd uptake by rice seedlings with different genotypes, including the low Cd-accumulation variety X24 and high Cd-accumulation variety T705. The root application of strain Y4 significantly reduced Cd accumulation in the shoots and roots of rice seedlings by 79.2% and 62.7% in T705 and by 57.3% and 24.1% in X24, respectively. The Cd2+ flux rate of high Cd-accumulation variety T705 was significantly higher than that of low Cd-accumulation variety X24. Under Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation, the yellow membrane was formed on the root surface of rice seedlings, and the Cd2+ flux rate in the elongation zone of T705 and X24 roots decreased by 36.0% and 35.0% in 3-day-old seedlings, as well as by 44.6% and 24.9% in 10-day-old seedlings, respectively. In conclusion, Burkholderia sp. Y4 inoculation inhibited the toxic effects of Cd on rice seedling growth through alleviating oxidative stress and damage caused by Cd. Furthermore, the root application of Burkholderia sp. Y4 effectively decreased the Cd2+ flux rate in the elongation zone of roots to inhibit the Cd uptake and accumulation in roots and shoots of rice seedlings. This study provides theoretical basis and data support for the application of Burkholderia sp. Y4 as a Cd-reducing and growth-promoting agent for rice in contaminated farmland.

[Isolation and Identification of the Plant Endophyte R-13 and Its Effect on Cadmium Accumulation in Solanum nigrum L.]

The combination of endophytes and hyperaccumulator plants can significantly improve the efficiency of heavy metal phytoremediation in contaminated soil. A plant endophyte named Herbaspirillum R-13 was isolated from rice roots in a cadmium (Cd) contaminated paddy field. This strain exhibited a strong tolerance to Cd2+ and could grow on a solid medium with a Cd2+ concentration of 300 mg·kg-1. The R-13 strain was able to produce siderophores and Indole acetic acid (IAA), through color reactions. In addition, Pikovskaya's and Ashby's solid medium tests showed that the R-13 strain had a lower capacity for dissolving phosphorus but a higher capacity for fixing nitrogen. In the pot experiment, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to track the colonization of the R-13 strain in Solanum nigrum L. roots. Three days after inoculation, the relative abundance of Herbaspirillum in the root of Solanum nigrum L. had increased by 201.88% compared to the blank control (CK) and after two inoculations, the relative abundance of Herbaspirillum in the root of Solanum nigrum L. had increased by 1182.44% compared to CK. The relative abundance of Herbaspirillum in the root of Solanum nigrum L. began to decrease significantly from 5 days after inoculation. Inoculation with 20 mL·pot-1 of R-13 fermentation broth resulted in no significant effects on the Cd content of roots, stems, leaves, or fruits of S. nigrum L. With 40 mL·pot-1 of fermentation broth, the Cd content of vegetative organs and fruits was significantly increased. When it reached 200 mL·pot-1, the Cd content of vegetative organs was the highest, with Cd concentrations in the roots, stems, leaves, and fruits increasing by 84.42%, 43.67%, 64.06%, and 20.29%, respectively. In conclusion, root inoculation with endophytic Herbaspirillum R-13 can significantly increase the relative content of Herbaspirillum in the root system and enhance Cd absorption of S. nigrum L. Therefore, this strain has excellent prospects for application in the phytoremediation of soil contaminated with Cd.

[Foliar Application of L-Cysteine: Effects on the Concentration of Cd and Mineral Elements in Rice].

To evaluate the feasibility of applying L-cysteine (L-Cys) as a foliar conditioner for Cd reduction in rice, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the concentration of Cd and mineral elements in rice after the foliar application of L-Cys. The variation in Cd distribution and morphology in key rice organs was examined to study the Cd reduction mechanisms of spraying L-Cys on rice. The results showed that foliar application of L-Cys at the rice-flowering stage significantly decreased Cd concentration in grains, in a concentration dependent manner, without inhibiting the accumulation of mineral elements Ca, Mg, K, Mn, and Zn. With a 10 mmol ·L-1 L-Cys application, Cd concentration in rice grains decreased by 59.2%, to below 0.2 mg ·kg-1, which is the maximum safety limit in China. Foliar application of L-Cys also inhibited Cd accumulation in rice vegetative organs, including rachises, first nodes, neck-panicles, flag leaves, second internodes, second nodes, second leaves, stalks, and roots (58.3%, 56.0%, 62.7%, 67.0%, 59.3%, 61.5%, 60.2%, 54.9%, and 50.3%, respectively). After transfer factor calculation, first nodes were found to be the key organ for Cd blocking in rice. The application of L-Cys increased Cd transfer from flag leaves and second internodes to first nodes (105.4% and 45.8%, respectively), but decreased Cd transfer from first nodes up to neck-panicles (27.5%). In rice first nodes, the concentrations of Cd in the inorganic, water soluble, and residue states were all lower following L-Cys application, and the proportion of residual Cd increased to 94.4%. Therefore, foliar application of L-Cys significantly inhibited Cd transport and accumulation in rice grains, by decreasing the Cd concentrations of various vegetative organs and improving Cd interception in the first nodes. This is a promising way to produce rice with lower Cd concentrations and normal mineral element concentrations in Cd-contaminated paddy fields.

[Study on immune status of patients with schistosomiasis japonica in Poyang Lake region III Humoral and cellular immune characteristics between Schistosoma japonicum high and low antibody responders].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immune mechanism of negative results of immune tests of schistosomiasis japonica patients. METHODS: Totally 142 schistosomiasis patients (positive stool examinations) of Poyang Lake region were tested by ELISA method, and the ROC curve was applied to determine the high and low response of the patients. The levels of cellular immunity and cytokines of high and low responders were compared. RESULTS: Totally eight schistosomiasis patients were found as low responders. Besides SWAP-IgA (t = -1.588, P > 0.1), the levels of isotype antibodies were significantly lower in the low responders compared with those in the high responders (t = -14.517 to -2.866, all P < 0.05). In the low responders, the propor- tion of CD3⁺T was increased; and the proportions of CD4⁺T, CD8⁺T, CD4⁺CD25⁺Treg, and the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ were all de- creased, but all of them were not significant (t = -1.72 to 0.974, all P > 0.05) compared with those in the high responders. The differences of IFN-γ and IL-10 between the high and low responders were both not significant (t = -2.426 to 0.216, all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant difference between the high and low responders only in the levels of isotype antibodies. One of the reasons of low response in the immune tests is the much lower antibody level after the antigen-antibody compound is completely formulated.

[Development and application of communication materials for participatory health education of schistosomiasis in fishermen and boatmen of Poyang Lake region].

OBJECTIVE: To design and develop new types of health education materials which are suitable for fishermen and boatmen in endemic areas of marshland and lake regions, and to observe their application effects. METHODS: A total of 292 adult fishmen and boatmen who lived in Houshan Village, Yugan County, the schistosomiasis endemic area of Poyang Lake Region, were selected randomly and investigated by questionnaires to understand the status of their knowledge, attitudes, practices on schistosomiasis control as well as the channels for getting information on schistosomiasis control and the materials that they were willing to accept. Then the information and materials suitable for the target population were developed together by the researchers and the volunteers of the villagers through focus group discussions, personal interviews and the Delphi method. RESULTS: A series of participatory health education materials of schistosomiasis control targeted to the fishmen and boatmen were developed, including 2 live posters, 2 picture puzzles, 2 short opusculums and one song about schistosomiasis control. The field application showed that 98.97%, 84.38%, 78.35% and 80.93% of the participants considered those materials had scientificity, intelligibility, interestingness and practicability, respectively. CONCLUSION: The participatory health education materials of schistosomiasis control is suitable for fishmen and boatmen, which can be used for reference by other endemic areas in marshland and lake regions.

[Studies on changes of vegetation and Oncomelania hupensis snails in Poyang Lake after impoundment of Three Gorges Project].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact and change regularity of Oncomelania hupensis snails and vegetation in the marshlands of Poyang Lake caused by the impoundment of the Three Gorges Project. METHODS: By using the methods of stratified systematic sampling and pinpoint navigation, the succession of vegetation was observed and the distribution of O. hupensis snails was investigated in a period of 8 years on 4 typical marshlands in Poyang Lake. The regularity of changes in vegetation and 0. hupensis snails was analyzed on the marshlands at high, medium and low elevations, respectively. RESULTS: After the impoundment of Three Gorges Project, the average flooding days of these 4 marshlands in 2004 and in 2008 were reduced of 74.8 and 65.8 days compared with those in 2002, the year just before the impoundment of the project, respectively. The change of spatial distribution pattern and the succession of dominant species of vegetation on the marshlands of Poyang Lake have taken place since 2005, and several vegetations showed a trend of moving toward the center of the lake. The hygrophilous vegetation has degenerated and gradually been replaced by mesophily meadow in the marshland area above 14 m elevation. Carex, Phalaris arundinacea and Polygonum appeared in large area and expanded slowly towards the center of the lake on the marshland below 14 m elevation. O. hupensis snails were mostly found under the Carex association. The tendency of decreasing in density of snails and of migration of snail habitats towards low terrain was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The impoundment of Three Gorges Project has had a significant impact on hydrological regimes, and a new succession of vegetation has taken place in the marshlands of Poyang Lake. O. hupensis snails and the mesophily vegetation show a trend of migrating slowly to the areas of low elevation in the marshlands.

Serodiagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum infection: genome-wide identification of a protein marker, and assessment of its diagnostic validity in a field study in China.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis remains a highly prevalent and serious parasitic disease. A major factor preventing its effective management is the scarcity of effective diagnostic tools. We did a genome-wide identification of diagnostic protein markers for schistosome infection and assessed their diagnostic validity in a field study. METHODS: We predicted putative secreted proteins of Schistosoma japonicum (SjSPs) and expressed them as glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusion proteins. The fusion proteins were arrayed on glutathione (GSH)-immobilised microplates and screened with serum samples from patients with schistosomiasis diagnosed by the Kato-Katz method. We further assessed an identified protein marker for sensitivity and specificity, first in infected serum samples collected from Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces, China, and then through a field study, done in two villages located in a high schistosomiasis-endemic area of the southeast of China. FINDINGS: Of 204 recombinant proteins, 35 yielded seropositive reactions, eight showed strong immunoreactivity, and only one (SjSP-13) reacted to the entire panel of 14 archived samples. The reactivity of SjSP-13 to 476 serum samples showed 90·4% (95% CI 86·5-93·5) sensitivity and 98·9% (95% CI 95·9-99·9) specificity. Of 1371 residents enrolled in a field study from Dec 6, 2010, to June 23, 2011, only 74 individuals were identified as being egg-positive, whereas 465 were diagnosed as positive by the SjSP-13-based ELISA kit (rSP13-ELISA). Of the 394 individuals found egg-negative but rSP13-ELISA-positive, 363 (92·4%) were confirmed to be positive for schistosome infection by PCR detection of S japonicum SjR2 retrotransposon. INTERPRETATION: The application of this sensitive, specific, and affordable rSP13-ELISA method should help reduce schistosomiasis transmission through targeted treatment of individuals, particularly with low intensity infections, and therefore support schistosomiasis control and elimination strategies. FUNDING: National 973 project in China.

Immune responses result in misdiagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum by immunodiagnosis kits in egg-positive patients living in a low schistosomiasis transmission area of China.

BACKGROUND: In recent field surveys, we failed to detect the presence of specific antibody against Schistosoma japonicum in some egg-positive patients by commonly used immunodiagnostic kits. To find out whether low levels of specific antibody truly exist among egg-positive individuals and elucidate the underlying immune mechanisms, we carried out a cross-sectional epidemiologic study in a S. japonicum low transmission endemic area of Poyang Lake region, China and compared the humoral and cellular immune characteristics between S. japonicum high and low antibody responders. METHODS: Kato-Katz thick smear assay was used to determine the schistosomiasis status of 3,384 participants residing in two Poyang Lake region villages, Jiangxi, China. Among the 142 stool egg-positive participants, we identified low and high S. japonicum antibody responders with soluble egg antigen (SEA) and adult worm antigen (AWA) specific IgG levels by adopting ROC curve analysis. To compare the humoral and cellular immune responses between high and low S. japonicum antibody responders, serum specific antibody levels as well as the percentage of T lymphocyte subpopulation in PMBC, and cell stimulated cytokines (IFN- gamma and interlukin-10) were detected. RESULTS: Eight S. japonicum egg-positive participants were defined as low antibody responders. Although the percentage of CD3⁺T cells in low responders was slightly higher and the percentage of CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ CD25⁺ Treg cells were lower than those in high responders, the differences between the two groups were not significant (P > 0.05). AWA -stimulated interlukin-10 level was significantly higher in high responders, while other cytokines did not show differences between two groups. For antibody profiles, except AWA specific IgA, significant differences of each antibody isotype between low and high responders were detected (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed that there are S. japonicum antibody low responders among schistosome egg-positive residents in S. japonicum low-transmission areas in China. Thus, mis-diagnosis using immune-diagnosis kits do exist. Significant differences of responding antibody levels between low and high responders were detected, while no major cellular response changes were observed.

[Development and application of information system for epidemiological investigation on parasitic diseases].

An information system for epidemiological investigation on parasitic diseases was developed. The foreground of this system was realized by using C# programming language, and the ACCESS database was used to implement the data management. The system was improved by continuous field application, and has been updated from version 1.0 to 3.0. The average treatment time, logic error rate, rate of sample loss, and post-processing error rate have now been reduced by 88.0%, 100%, 98.1%, and 100%, respectively (P<0.01). This system can reduce the human error and change the field investigation into effective and high-quality pattern.

[Effect of environmental factors on temporal and spatial distribution of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region].

OBJECTIVE: To explore and analyze the dynamic characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region. METHODS: A model of schistosomiasis transmission was constructed with the actual temperature, rainfall, data of snail investigation, data from schistosomiasis control and treatment, and factors such as daily rainfall, average monthly temperature-base temperature for schistosome growing and development in the 8 counties of Poyang Lake region, and the change of schistosomiasis spreading indexes was analyzed. The map of schistosomiasis spreading trend was drawn by using ArcGIS software, and the spread of schistosomiasis was forecasted. The spatial distribution of areas of snail breeding marshlands was analyzed by using Theil index. RESULTS: The transmission of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region not only had big difference on temporal scale, but also changed on spatial scale among the counties in Poyang Lake region. CONCLUSION: In Poyang Lake region, the ecosystem suiting snail breeding already shifts to north, which certainly will alter the epidemic situation of schistosomiasis.

[Study on immune status of patients with schistosomiasis japonica in Poyang Lake region I characterization of antigen-specific antibody isotype responses to Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the characterization and levels of antibody isotype responses to soluble egg antigen (SEA) and adult worm antigen (AWA) of Schistosoma japonicum in schistosomiasis patients in Poyang Lake region. METHODS: Antibody isotype IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgE, IgM and IgA responses to SEA and AWA in the sera of individuals from endemic and non-endemic areas were determined by indirect ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of antigen-specific antibody isotypes in the sera of patients with egg positive were significantly higher than those of people with egg negative and normal control population from non-endemic area (P < 0.001), and except for anti-SEA IgG2 and anti-AWA IgG4 and IgE antibodies, the levels of antibody isotypes in the sera of people with egg negative in endemic area were significantly higher than those of normal control population from non-endemic area (P < 0.05). In the population with egg positive, children had higher levels of anti-SEA IgM and IgG1 and anti-AWA IgM antibody, and lower AWA specific IgG than adults. There was no significant difference between the male and female except for the male had higher levels of IgG (F = 4.677, P = 0.032) and IgG1 (F = 5.55, P = 0.020)against AWA. Three months post-treatment, the levels of IgG1, IgG3, IgG4 antibody responses to SEA deceased significantly (P < 0.001, P = 0.029, P = 0.044), and almost all the antibody levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) twelve months post-treatment, except for SEA specific IgE and IgM and AWA specific IgG4 and IgM antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of antigen-specific antibody isotypes in the sera of patients with egg positive are significantly higher than those of people with egg negative and normal control population from non-endemic area. Almost all of antibody levels decrease significantly twelve months post-treatment. The levels of antibody isotypes in the sera of people with egg negative in endemic area are significantly higher than those of population from non-endemic area, giving a clue that the selection of negative control of schistosomiasis diagnostic kit should be noticed.

[Field application of antibody detection in a low transmission area of Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the field application of IHA and ELISA for schistosomiasis japonica detection at low transmission status. METHODS: 728 and 799 persons were examined by Kato-Katz's method, IHA and ELISA for schistosomiasis in an endemic village in the year of 2008 and 2010, respectively. The results of IHA and ELISA was evaluated in comparison to that of Kato-Katz (27 slides with 3 stool specimens) used as gold standard. RESULTS: The positive rate of Kato-Katz's method, IHA and ELISA were 10.3% (75/728), 40.0% (291/728) and 40.1% (292/728) in 2008, and 3.8% (30/799), 31.5% (252/799) and 40.1% (320/799) in 2010 respectively, in which significant difference was observed for the result between Kato-katz's method (chi2 = 26.92, P < 0.05) and IHA (chi2 = 11.82, P < 0.05). The consistency between the result of antibody detection and that of Kato-Katz's method was poor, lower than 0.2 (P < 0.01). If routine screening diagnosis mode was adopted, namely, population screened with IHA or ELISA first and confirmed with Kato-Katz's method, correlation analysis showed that the positive rate of Kato-Katz's method increased with the number of stool specimens and slides (rIHA2008 = 0.922, rELISA2008 = 0.908, rIHA2010 = 0.749, rELISA = 0.798; P < 0.05) . Those with egg positive but missed by IHA or ELISA mainly were cases with low infection intensity. When EPG < or = 40, the rate of detection ranged from 66.1% (39/59) to 87.0% (20/23) with IHA, and 62.7% (37/59) to 100% (23/23) with ELISA. When EPG > 40, however, all cases could be detected with ELISA, but some missed with IHA. CONCLUSION: In low transmission areas, the determination of target population for chemotherapy should be based on the examination of nine slides per stool specimen by Kato-Katz's method after serological screening.

[Study on immune status of patients with schistosomiasis japonica in Poyang Lake region II characterization of cellular immune in schistosomiasis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the characterization of cellular immune of schistosomiasis japonica patients in low endemic area of Poyang Lake region. METHODS: The schistosomiasis patients who were positive by stool detections were selected as study subjects, and the individuals who were negative by stool detections in three consecutive years were selected as negative controls. The CD4+T cell, CD8+T cell and CD4+CD25+Treg in venous blood of the study subjects were detected by using flow cytometry. In vitro, cytokine (IFN-gamma and IL-10) production of PBMC in response to soluble egg antigen (SEA) and soluble worm antigen preparation (SWA) were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of CD4+CD25+Treg in individuals who were positive by stool detections (5.99 +/- 1.60)% were higher than those of the negative (5.04 +/- 1.64)%, and the difference was significant (t = 3.261, P < 0.01). One year after the treatment, the levels of IFN-gamma were significantly higher (Stimulated by SEA before and after the treatment, the mean levels were 121.97 and 2 564.03 pg/ml, respectively; stimulated by SWA before and after treatment, the mean levels were 102.89 and 646.26 pg/ml, respectively) and IL-10 were significant lower in patients who were positive by stool detections (Stimulated by SEA before and after treatment, the mean level were 294.75 and 122.43 pg/ml, respectively; stimulated by SWAP before and after treatment, the mean cytokine levels were 110.10 and 31.85 pg/ml, respectively). CONCLUSION: The increase of induced CD4+CD25+Treg is one of causes that down-regulate cellular immune of human body after infection with Schistosoma japonicum.

[Research and demonstration of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technology. II. Longitudinal evaluation on control effect].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technique. METHODS: The comprehensive measures including forbidding grazing on marshlands, renovating latrines and supplying safe water, and health education were carried out in a demonstrative area, and the schistosomiasis endemic situation and other relative factors were investigated. RESULTS: After the control measures were carried out for 3 years, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in human decreased from 3.57% to 0.83%, and the infection rates of cattle decreased from 17.14% to 0. No infected Oncomelania snails were found on the marshlands in the demonstration area. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive measures aforementioned are effective in the control of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region.

[Diagnostic efficiency of Indirect Hemagglutination Assay Kit for antibody detection of schistosomiasis japonica].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical diagnostic efficiency of Indirect Hemagglutination Assay Kit (IHA kit) for antibody detection of schistosomiasis japonica. METHODS: Schistosomiasis examinations by parasitological method were conducted in the schistosomiasis endemic areas in Jiangxi, Anhui and Hubei provinces, respectively. A total of 371 serum samples of schistosomiasis patients and 761 serum samples of non-patients without history of schistosome infection and infested water contact were collected. All the sera were detected by using IHA Kit. The diagnostic efficiency indicators of the kit, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value, negative predicted value etc. were calculated. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the kit were 95.1% (95% confidence interval was between 92.9% and 97.3%) and 97.8% (95% confidence interval was between 96.8% and 98.8%), respectively; the positive and negative predicted values were 95.4% and 97.6%, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of IHA positive detecting by the kit among the groups with different EPG levels (< or = 40, 41-100, > 100). Also, no significant difference was observed in sensitivity and specificity among the different age groups. CONCLUSIONS: The IHA kit shows a relative high efficiency for diagnosis and can be used for mass screening of schistosomiasis in field sites.

[Evaluation on application of common diagnosis methods for schistosomiasis japonica in endemic areas of China. III. Analysis and evaluation of underestimation of prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection by routine Kato-Katz technique].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the rates of underestimation of Schistosoma japonicum infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears in field site. METHODS: With 27 Kato-Katz thick smears (3 stool samples with 9 thick smears each) for 3 consecutive years as a "gold standard", the rates of underestimation of schistosome infection by Kato-Katz technique with different stool samples and different smears were evaluated in a schistosomiasis endemic village. RESULTS: The examined rates of schistosome infection increased and the rates of underestimation decreased gradually with the increase of the number of Kato-Katz thick smears examined. The rates of underestimation of 3 smears were 40.98%-50.80% and the rates of underestimation of 6 smears were 25.48%-32.39%. The rates of schistosome infection based on the reading of 27 Kato-Katz thick smears were 10.96% in 2008, 8.54% in 2009 and 3.73% in 2010 respectively, but the rates of underestimation of various Kato-Katz thick smears were similar. There were no significant differences among the readings of 3, 6, and 9 smears of 1 stool sample, 3, 6 and 9 smears of 3 stool samples, 6 smears of 2 stool samples, 6 smears of 1 stool sample, and 6 smears of 3 stool samples. CONCLUSIONS: In a community with low-intensity of schistosome infection, the rate of underestimation is big by Kato-Katz technique with the reading of 3 smears of 1 stool sample. It suggested that it is better to increase smears rather than the number of stool samples examined.

[Comparative evaluation of five test kits for antibody detection in Schistosoma japonicum endemic areas of Poyang Lake region].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of five diagnostic test kits for the detection of antibodies to Schistosoma japonicum in endemic areas of Poyang Lake. METHODS: Residents over 5 years old in three schistosomiasis-endemic administrative villages in the lake region were simultaneously examined by modified Kato-Katz thick smears and nylon bag sedimentation/hatching method. At the same time, five sero-diagnostic test kits for detection of IgG antibody against soluble egg antigen of S. japonicum were carried out. RESULTS: The distribution of seropositive rates of S. japonicum IgG antibodies determined by sero-diagnostic tests showed similar trends with that of egg positive rates in different age groups, but the seropositive rate (33.1%-57.1%) was significantly higher than that of egg positive rate (5.0%-8.2%), both reached a peak in 40-49-year-old group. The antibody positive rates determined by each test increased with the infection intensity. The sensitivity of the evaluated test kits ranged from 81.2%-94.5%. 26.9% to 46.1% among those egg negatives were antibody positive by the kits. Furthermore, 5.5%-18.8% of the egg positives were antibody negative by the kits. CONCLUSION: The five sero-diagnostic kits can be used for epidemiological survey in schistosomiasis endemic areas at community level. Among them, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay shows higher sensitivity.