Schistosoma japonicum-infected sentinel mice: Surveillance and spatial point pattern analysis in Hubei province, China, 2010-2018.

OBJECTIVES: Progress in national schistosomiasis control in China has successfully reduced disease transmission in many districts. However, a low transmission rate hinders conventional snail surveys in identifying areas at risk. In this study, Schistosoma japonicum-infected sentinel mice surveillance was conducted to identify high-risk areas of schistosomiasis transmission in Hubei province, China. METHODS: The risk of schistosomiasis transmission was assessed using sentinel mice monitoring in Hubei province from 2010 to 2018. Field detections were undertaken in June and September, and the sentinel mice were kept for approximately 35 days in a laboratory. They were then dissected to determine whether schistosome infection was present. Ripley's K-function and kernel density estimation were applied to analyze the spatial distribution and positive point pattern of schistosomiasis transmission. RESULTS: In total, 190 sentinel mice surveillance sites were selected to detect areas of schistosomiasis infection from 2010 to 2018, with 29 (15.26%) sites showing infected mice. Of 4723 dissected mice, 256 adult worms were detected in 112 infected mice. The infection rate was 2.37%, with an average of 2.28 worms detected per infected mouse. Significantly more infected mice were detected in the June samples than in the September samples (χ2=12.11, p<0.01). Ripley's L(d) index analysis showed that, when the distance was ≤34.52km, the sentinel mice infection pattern showed aggregation, with the strongest aggregation occurring at 7.86km. Three hotspots were detected using kernel density estimation: at the junction of Jingzhou District, Gong'an County, and Shashi District in Jingzhou City; in Wuhan City at the border of the Huangpi and Dongxihu Districts, and in the Hannan and Caidian Districts. CONCLUSION: The results showed that sentinel mice surveillance is useful in identifying high-risk areas, and could provide valuable information for schistosomiasis prevention and control, especially concerning areas along the Yangtze River, such as the Fu-Lun, Dongjing-Tongshun, and Juzhang River basins.

Synthesis of polypyrrole nanowires with positive effect on MC3T3-E1 cell functions through electrical stimulation.

Conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) possesses good biocompatibility and conductivity and has been used as functional coatings in bone tissue regeneration. In this study, a cholic acid doped PPy nanowires (PPy NWs) coating was electrochemically polymerized on the surface of titanium (Ti). The porous intertwined PPy NWs coating exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and electrochemical activity, better hydrophilicity and higher surface energy. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that the PPy NWs coating together with a 10µA substrate-mediate electrical stimulation (ES) was capable to positive regulate the functions of MC3T3-E1 such as cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. Further long-term functions of cell tests including alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone-carboxyglutamic acid-containing protein (BGP) and calcium deposition were all thoroughly increased. These confirmed that the combination of PPy NWs and ES could accelerate MC3T3-E1 cells mature and osteogenesis. Hence, the PPy NWs coating was an electro bioactive coating and may have potential applications in the treatment of bone damage repairing and regeneration with ES.

Measurement uncertainty assessment of magnesium trisilicate column for determination of Sudan colorants in food by HPLC using C8 column.

This study aimed to conduct measurement uncertainty assessment of a new method for determination of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) in food by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Samples were extracted with organic solvents (hexane, 20% acetone) and first purified by magnesium trisilicate (2MgO·3SiO2). The Sudan colorants (Sudan I-IV) were also initially separated on C8 by gradient elution using acetonitrile and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid aqueous solution as the mobile phases and detected with diode-array detector (DAD). The uncertainty of mathematical model of Sudan I, II, III and IV is based on EURACHEM guidelines. The sources and components of uncertainty were calculated. The experiment gave a good linear relationship over the concentration from 0.4 to 4.0 µg/mL and spiked recoveries were from 74.0% to 97.5%. The limits of determination (LOD) were 48, 61, 36, 58 µg/kg for the four analytes, respectively. The total uncertainty of Sudan colorants (Sudan I, II, III and IV) was 810±30.8, 790±28.4, 750±27.0, 730±50.0 µg/kg, respectively. The recovery uncertainty was the most significant factor contributing to the total uncertainty. The developed method is simple, rapid, and highly sensitive. It can be used for the determination of trace Sudan dyes in food samples. The sources of uncertainty have been identified and uncertainty components have been simplified and considered.

[Spatial regression analysis of relationship between schistosome infection rate of Oncomelania hupensis snails and climate factors].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the schistosome infection rate of O. hupensis snails and the climate factors in endemic areas of schistosomiasis, so as to provide the evidence for improving the snail control. METHODS: The snail and climate data of 18 counties in Hubei Province in 2009 were collected to obtain the infection rate of O. hupensis snails and to fit the spatial regression models. RESULTS: The multiple linear regression model showed that the residuals were autocorrelated (Moran's I = 0.182 8, P < 0.01) and the spatial regression was necessary. The spatial lag model (SLM) was selected according to the results obtained by Lagrange multiplier statistics. The spatial parameter ρ of SLM was significant (p= - 0.151 5, P < 0.05) and the infection rate of O. hupensis snails was positively correlated with the annual average temperature (P < 0.05). The correlations between the infection rate of O. hupensis and the annual average relative humidity, precipitation and sunshine duration were not significant respectively (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The spatial regression models could be well applied in the analysis of the relationship between the O. hupensis snails and climate factors. The annual average temperature is the primary climate factor influencing the infection of O. hupensis snails.

Therapeutic effect of folate-targeted and PEGylated phytosomes loaded with a mitomycin C-soybean phosphatidyhlcholine complex.

A mitomycin C (MMC)-soybean phosphatidyhlcholine complex loaded in phytosomes was previously reported for the purpose of developing a MMC drug delivery system (Mol. Pharmaceutics 2013, 10, 90-101), but this approach was limited by rapid elimination from the body and lack of target specificity. In this article, to overcome these limitations, MMC-soybean phosphatidyhlcholine complex-loaded phytosomes (MMC-loaded phytosomes) as drug carriers were surface-functionalized with folate-PEG (FA-PEG) to achieve reduced toxicity and a superior MMC-mediated therapeutic effect. For this purpose, FA was conjugated to DSPE-PEG-NH2, and the resultant DSPE-PEG-FA was introduced into the lipid moiety of the phytosomes via a postinsertion technique. The prepared FA-PEG-functionalized MMC-loaded phytosomes (FA-PEG-MMC-loaded phytosomes) have a particle size of 201.9 ± 2.4 nm, a PDI of 0.143 ± 0.010, a zeta potential of -27.50 ± 1.67 mV, a spherical shape, and sustained drug release. The remarkable features of FA-PEG-MMC-loaded phytosomes included increased cellular uptake in HeLa cells and higher accumulation in H22 tumor-bearing mice over that of the PEG-MMC-loaded phytosomes. Furthermore, FA-PEG-MMC-loaded phytosomes were associated with enhanced cytotoxic activity in vitro and an improved antitumor effect in vivo compared to that resulting from free MMC injection. These results suggest that FA-PEG-MMC-loaded phytosomes may be useful drug delivery systems for widening the therapeutic window of MMC in clinical trials.

[Discussion of indoor quality control method of MPAIA antibody test of Schistosoma japonicum].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the scientific and effective indoor quality control method to ensure the results of Magnetic Particle Antibody Immunoassay (MPAIA) antibody test of Schistosoma japonicum reliable. METHODS: The MPAIA antibody test indoor quality control work was performed with the combination of the crubbs method, Z-scores figure and Westgard multi-rules quality control method. RESULTS: The crubbs test entered the quality control condition state from the third times, after 20 times, the test switched to Z-scores conventional quality control, and the Westgard multi-rules quality control method could help analyze the type of errors. From the third to fortieth test, 186 samples were completed and the tests of 9 samples among 2 batches needed to be re-done because of the failure of quality control. The test results of other 177 samples were acceptable. CONCLUSION: The combination of the crubbs method, Z-scores figure and Westgard multi-rules quality control method can effectively accomplish the indoor quality control of MPAIA antibody test of Schistosoma japonicum.

[Preventive effect of plant cercaricide Fangyouling for schistosome infection].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the preventive effect of Fangyouling (a plant cercaricide) for schistosome infection in the field. METHODS: Villagers contacting schistosome infested water in 3 administrative villages in Hubei Province were randomly selected, and the villagers rubbing Fangyouling before they contacted with the infested water were divided into Group I (159 cases) and those not rubbing Fangyouling before they contacted with the infested water were divided into Group II (172 persons). All the villagers were investigated by questionnaire, and their infections of schistosome were tested by sera and fecal examinations. RESULTS: There were no differences of constituent ratios of gender, age, occupation, time and type of infested water contact between the two groups (all P values > 0.05). The positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 3.14% and 1.87%, respectively in Group I , and the positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 9.30% and 6.40%, respectively in Group II, and there were significant differences between both the results of sera and fecal examinations of Group I and Group II (both P values < 0.05). In Group I , there were 110 people who completely embrocated Fangyouling, and their positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 0.91% and 0, respectively. There are 42 people who incompletely embrocated Fangyouling, and their positive rates of sera and fecal examinations were 8.16% and 6.12%, respectively, and there were significant differences (both P values < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The preventive effect of schistosome infection of Fangyouling is significant. Incomplete embrocating may be one of the possible reasons for people still being infected with schistosome after rubbing the protective agent.