Multivariate classification based on large-scale brain networks during early abstinence predicted lapse among male detoxified alcohol-dependent patients.

Identifying biomarkers to predict lapse of alcohol-dependence (AD) is essential for treatment and prevention strategies, but remains remarkably challenging. With an aim to identify neuroimaging features for predicting AD lapse, 66 male AD patients during early-abstinence (baseline) after hospitalized detoxification underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and were then followed-up for 6 months. The relevance-vector-machine (RVM) analysis on baseline large-scale brain networks yielded an elegant model for differentiating relapsing patients (n = 38) from abstainers, with the area under the curve of 0.912 and the accuracy by leave-one-out cross-validation of 0.833. This model captured key information about neuro-connectome biomarkers for predicting AD lapse.

[Correlations between appearance traits and internal quality of Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots based on theory of "quality evaluation through morphological identification"].

It is generally believed that high-quality Bupleurum scorzonerifolium roots possess specific morphological characteristics, being red, robust, and long with strong odor. However, the scientific connotation of these characteristics has not been elucidated. According to the theory of "quality evaluation through morphological identification", we studied the correlations between appearance traits(the RGB value of root surface, root length, root diameter, dry weight, and ratio of phloem to xylem) and content of main chemical components(volatile oils, total saponins, total flavonoids, total polysaccharides, and seven saikosaponins) of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Epson Scanner and ImageJ were used to scan the root samples and measure the appearance traits. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry and HPLC were employed to determine the content of chemical components. The correlation, regression, and cluster analyses were performed to study the correlations between the appearance traits and the content of chemical components. The results showed that the content of volatile oils and saikosaponins were significantly correlated with RGB value, root length, and root diameter, indicating that within a certain range, the roots being redder, longer, and thicker had higher content of volatile oils and saikosaponins. According to the appearance traits and chemical component content, the 14 samples from different producing areas were classified into four grades, and the differences in morphological traits and chemical component content were consistent among different grades. The findings in this study demonstrate that appearance traits(RGB value, root length, and root diameter) can be used to evaluate the quality of B. scorzonerifolium roots. Meanwhile, this study lays a foundation for establishing an objective quality evaluation method for B. scorzonerifolium roots.

[Study on the Developmental Trajectory of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms among Children and Adolescents].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the heterogeneity of the developmental trajectory of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTS) among children and adolescents after Lushan earthquake and to explore the effect of gender and age on the trajectory. METHODS: A total of 1 623 participants completed three assessments at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after the earthquake. Latent growth mixture model (LGMM) was used for statistical analysis in the software Mplus 8.0. RESULTS: The PTS developmental trajectories among children and adolescents exposed to the earthquake had four categories: the normal stress group (31.1%, class 1), the persistent impairment group (4.5%, class 2), the psychological recovery group (46.8%, class 3) and the persistent mild symptom group (17.6%, class 4). The PTS development trajectories were significantly different in two gender groups, and the proportion of girls in the persistently injured group was higher than other three groups. The PTS development trajectories had no difference in two age groups. CONCLUSION: The developmental trajectories of PTS in children and adolescents after the earthquake have significant population heterogeneity, which is affected by gender.

[Effects of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Social Anxiety Disorders].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of group cognitive behavioral therapy (GCBT) on social anxiety disorders (SAD). METHODS: A total of 50 patients with SAD were recruited in this study. A survey containing the Liebowitz social anxiety scale (LSAS),the automatic thoughts questionnaire (ATQ),the fear of negative evaluation questionnaire (FNE),the social support rating scale (SSRS),the tridimensional personality questionnaire (TPQ),and the egna minnen barndoms uppfostran (EMBU) was administered before and (one week) after the GCBT,including in the 50 healthy controls. About 21 patients completed the eight-week GCBT (once a week,2 h a session). Follow-up surveys were conducted on 40 patients (22 patients treated with GCBT and 18 untreated) over a 1-5 year period. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the SAD patients and healthy controls in thinking mode,personality characteristics,social support,parental rearing styles,and social anxiety symptoms. Significant decrease in social anxiety symptom ( t=4.06, P=0.000) , negative automatic thoughts ( t=4.58, P=0.000) and fear for rejection ( t=3.85, P=0.000) were observed after the GCBT therapy. Such improvement was positively correlated with subjective social support (r=0.361, P=0.022) ,and negatively correlated with rejection of father (r=-0.431, P=0.005) . There was also statistical difference between the patients with and without the GCBT therapy ( P=0.033) . CONCLUSION: GCBT treatment can relieve SAD symptoms by changing the negative cognitive of SAD patients. Social support and rejection of father affects the prognosis of SAD.

An integrated environmental improvement of marshlands: impact on control and elimination of schistosomiasis in marshland regions along the Yangtze River, China.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis is a global snail-transmitted infectious disease of poverty. Transmission control had been achieved in China in 2015 after the control efforts for over 60 years. Currently, the remaining core regions endemic for Schistosoma japonicum are mainly located in the marshland and lake regions along the Yangtze River basin. METHODS: During the period from 2001 through 2015, an integrated environmental improvement of the marshlands was carried out through the implementation of industrial, agricultural and resources development projects in Yizheng County along the Yangtze River. S. japonicum infection in humans, livestock and snails was estimated by serology, stool examination, hatching technique and microscopy during the 15-year study period to evaluate the effect of the integrated environmental improvement on control and elimination of schistosomiasis. RESULTS: A 0.05% overall rate of S. japonicum infection was observed in snails during the 15-year study period, and no infected snails were detected since 2012. The overall prevalence of S. japonicum infection was 0.09% in humans during the study period, and no human infection was found since 2012. In addition, only 13 bovines were identified with S. japonicum infection in 2003 during the 15-year study period, and since 2004, no infection was found in livestock. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study demonstrate that the implementation of industrial, agricultural and water resources development projects, not only alters snail habitats in marshland regions, and promotes local economic development, which appears a win-to-win strategy to block the transmission of S. japonicum and accelerate socio-economic development along the Yangtze River.

[Regional Homogeneity Changes in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorders after Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.]

OBJECTIVES: To examine the altered spontaneous brain activity in patients with social anxiety disorders (SAD) before and after cognitive behavior therapy (CBT),and determine the neuromechanism of formation,treatment and recovery of SAD. METHODS: Fifteen SAD patients were treated with an eight-week group CBT.The patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) at resting state before and after the treatments.Eighteen healthy controls (HC) were recruited and underwent a baseline fMRI scan.The regional homogeneity (ReHo) of the patients was compared with the healthy controls.Before the baseline scanning,all participants were assessed with the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale(LSAS),the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). RESULTS: All participants were right-handed.10 males and 4 females were in the patient group,with mean age of (27.07±8.11) years.13 males and 5 females were in the HC group,with mean age of (26.28±2.42) years.There was no difference for gender and age while significant differences were found in LSAS,HAMA,HAMD between patients and controls (P<0.01).After 8 weeks of group CBT,clinical assessments significantly decreased (P<0.05) in patients group.Compared with HC,the pre-treatment SAD patients showed significantly increased ReHo in right cerebellum lobe at baseline [(P<0.05,with Gaussian random field (GRF) correction]; but the difference became insignificant after the group CBT.The post-treatment patients showed increased ReHo in left putamen and right caudate compared with their pre-treatment conditions (P<0.05,with GRF correction).Pre-post ReHo change in right cerebellum posterior in patients was positively correlated with pre-post change of LSAS-fear scores (r=0.62,P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS: The activity of cerebellum might be one of the potential biomakers to modulate the treatment effect of CBT in SAD,which provides a basis for further investigation into the pathophysiology of SAD.

Ecological Model to Predict Potential Habitats of Oncomelania hupensis, the Intermediate Host of Schistosoma japonicum in the Mountainous Regions, China.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis japonica is a parasitic disease that remains endemic in seven provinces in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China). One of the most important measures in the process of schistosomiasis elimination in P.R. China is control of Oncomelania hupensis, the unique intermediate host snail of Schistosoma japonicum. Compared with plains/swamp and lake regions, the hilly/mountainous regions of schistosomiasis endemic areas are more complicated, which makes the snail survey difficult to conduct precisely and efficiently. There is a pressing call to identify the snail habitats of mountainous regions in an efficient and cost-effective manner. METHODS: Twelve out of 56 administrative villages distributed with O. hupensis in Eryuan, Yunnan Province, were randomly selected to set up the ecological model. Thirty out of the rest of 78 villages (villages selected for building model were excluded from the villages for validation) in Eryuan and 30 out of 89 villages in Midu, Yunnan Province were selected via a chessboard method for model validation, respectively. Nine-year-average Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) as well as Digital Elevation Model (DEM) covering Eryuan and Midu were extracted from MODIS and ASTER satellite images, respectively. Slope, elevation and the distance from every village to its nearest stream were derived from DEM. Suitable survival environment conditions for snails were defined by comparing historical snail presence data and remote sensing derived images. According to the suitable conditions for snails, environment factors, i.e. NDVI, LST, elevation, slope and the distance from every village to its nearest stream, were integrated into an ecological niche model to predict O. hupensis potential habitats in Eryuan and Midu. The evaluation of the model was assessed by comparing the model prediction and field investigation. Then, the consistency rate of model validation was calculated in Eryuan and Midu Counties, respectively. RESULTS: The final ecological niche model for potential O. hupensis habitats prediction comprised the following environmental factors, namely: NDVI (≥ 0.446), LST (≥ 22.70°C), elevation (≤ 2,300 m), slope (≤ 11°) and the distance to nearest stream (≤ 1,000 m). The potential O. hupensis habitats in Eryuan distributed in the Lancang River basin and O. hupensis in Midu shows a trend of clustering in the north and spotty distribution in the south. The consistency rates of the ecological niche model in Eryuan and Midu were 76.67% and 83.33%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The ecological niche model integrated with NDVI, LST, elevation, slope and distance from every village to its nearest stream adequately predicted the snail habitats in the mountainous regions.

Knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practice relating to schistosomiasis in two subtypes of a mountainous region of the People's Republic of China.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis japonica is still endemic in the People's Republic of China (P.R. China) in five provinces of lake and marshland regions and in two provinces of mountainous regions. Studies elucidated that individual and community perception, attitudes towards schistosomiasis, and hygiene behaviors were crucial factors for preventing schistosomiasis. This study sought to assess the knowledge of, attitudes towards, and practices (KAP) relating to schistosomiasis in two subtypes of a mountainous region in Eryuan County, Yunnan Province, P.R. China. The study's aim is to make suggestions for establishing more specific and effective control measures for disease transmission and interruption in two subtypes of a mountainous region with low-level infection rates. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 3,000 inhabitants was carried out in the Yongle (plateau basin) and Xinzhuang (plateau canyon) communities of Eryuan County, Yunnan Province in November and December 2011. Stratified cluster random sampling was undertaken using a uniform set of quantitative questionnaires administered by trained assistants. This was further supported with qualitative data from in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with ten farmers and ten students. All participants were examined for schistosomiasis using both a serological test (indirect hemagglutination assay [IHA]) and a stool examination (Kato-Katz). RESULTS: The total schistosomiasis knowledge rate in Yongle (83.4%) was significantly lower than that in Xinzhuang (95.5%). In both communities, among the respondents aged 15 years or below, more than one third didn't know the name, endemic areas, and animal reservoirs of schistosomiasis. The majority of respondents in Eryuan acquired their schistosomiasis knowledge from doctors, followed by handouts and hearing from others. The infection rate was once the highest in Yongle, but is now the highest in Xinzhuang, where there are more risk factors for schistosomiasis, such as frequently grazing cattle, digging vegetables or cutting grass in the field, as well as raising cattle by free grazing. CONCLUSION: In short, Eryuan County's overall knowledge rate of schistosomiasis was found to be high. Due to various dominating risk factors, different control strategies should be designed keeping in mind the two different subtypes of endemic areas for schistosomiasis in mountainous regions, namely plateau basins and plateau canyons.

China's sustained drive to eliminate neglected tropical diseases.

Non-communicable diseases dominate the public health arena in China, yet neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are still widespread and create a substantial burden. We review the geographical distribution, prevalence, and epidemic characteristics of NTDs identified in China caused by helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and viruses. Lymphatic filariasis was eliminated in 2007, but schistosomiasis still affects up to 5% of local village residents in some endemic counties with around 300 000 people infected. China harbours more than 90% of the world's burden of alveolar echinococcosis and food-borne zoonoses are emerging. In 2010, the overall prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm was 11·4%, with 6·8% of these infections caused by A lumbricoides. Corresponding figures for food-borne trematodiasis, echinococcosis, and cysticercosis are more than 5%. Dengue, leishmaniasis, leprosy, rabies, and trachoma exist in many areas and should not be overlooked. Transmission of vector-borne diseases can be interrupted; nevertheless, epidemics occur in remote areas, creating a challenge for surveillance and control. Rigorous surveillance, followed by immediate and integrated response packages tailored to specific social and ecological systems, is essential for progress towards the elimination of NTDs in China.

[Prevalence situation of emerging parasitic zoonoses in China].

The prevalence characteristics of emerging parasitic zoonoses in China are introduced in this paper, and the impact factors of them are analyzed. The lack of systematic research and control of certain diseases is indicated, and the public health department should pay more attention to them.

Optimizing molluscicide treatment strategies in different control stages of schistosomiasis in the People's Republic of China.

BACKGROUND: The application of chemical molluscicides is still one of the most effective measures for schistosomiasis control in P. R. China. By applying diverse molluscicide treatment scenarios on different snail densities in the field, we attempted to understand the cost-effectiveness of molluscicide application so as to prescribe an optimal management approach to control intermediate host snail Oncomelania hupensis under acceptable thresholds based on the goal of the National Schistosomiasis Control Programme. METHODS: The molluscicidal field trial was carried out in the marshland of an island along the Yangtze River, Jiangsu province, P.R. China in October 2010. Three plots in the island representing low-density, medium-density and high-density groups were identified after the baseline survey on snail density. Each snail density plot was divided into four experimental units in which molluscicide (50% niclosamide ethanolamine salt wettable powder) was applied once, twice, trice and four times, respectively. The logistic regression model to correlate snail mortality rate with the covariates of number of molluscicidal treatment and snail density, and a linear regression model to investigate the relationship between cost-effectiveness and number of molluscicidal treatment as well as snail density were established. RESULTS: The study revealed that increase in the number of molluscicide treatments led to increased snail mortality across all three population density groups. The most cost-effective regimen was seen in the high snail density group with a single molluscicide treatment. For both high and low density groups, the more times molluscicide were applied, the less cost-effectiveness was. However, for the median density group, the level of cost-effectiveness for two applications was slightly higher than that in one time. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that different stages of the national schistosomiasis control/elimination programme, namely morbidity control, transmission control and transmission interruption, should utilize different molluscicide treatment strategies to maximize cost-effectiveness.

[Surveillance of schistosomiasis in Jiangsu Province, China, 2005-2010].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the endemic situation of national surveillance sites in Jiangsu Province from 2005 to 2010, so as to provide the evidence for the prevention and control of schistosomiasis. METHODS: According to the national surveillance protocol, a longitudinal surveillance on endemic situation of schistosomiasis was carried out in 8 national surveillance sites from 2005 to 2010. RESULTS: In general, the positive rates of blood tests and infection rates of Schistosoma japonicum decreased from 9.04% and 0.22% in 2005 to 4.34% and 0.02% in 2010, and the rates of decline were 51.99% and 90.91%, respectively. The endemic situation of farmers, fishermen and business men were relatively serious, and the infection degree of the low-aged group of students was relatively serious. No local acute schistosomiasis case was detected. A total of 7 466.46 hm2 of environmental sites were investigated, and the areas with living Oncomelania hupensis snails and infected snails were 2 213.98 and 247.91 hm2, respectively, the densities of living snails and infected snails decreased gradually, and no infected snail was found in 2010. However, the total areas with living snails and infected snails still keep a relative high level, and the density of infected snails rebounded in special sites. CONCLUSION: The endemic situation of the national surveillance sites is under control, and the infection rate of human keeps at a low level in Jiangsu Province. The surveillance and control of snails and infection source should still be strengthened.

[Study on resting-state default mode network in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder after the earthquake].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by studying default mode network during the resting state in patients with PTSD after homologous traumatic experience. METHODS: Seventeen PTSD patients and 20 matched normal controls received the examnation of resting-state fMRI scanning. Left and right posterior cingulate cortex was regarded as seed region respectively, and the functional connectivity about whole brain was assessed by using resting-state functional connectivity analysis. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the patients with PTSD showed that the brain area with decreased functional connectivity included left superior frontal gyrus and right fusiform gyrus, while the brain area with increased functional connectivity included right precuneus, right superior temporal gyrus and right middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION: The brain default mode network of PTSD patients is abnormal in resting state. These abnormalities might be the neuropathological mechanisms of PTSD.