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IntroductionPathogen spectrum of Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has substantially changed in the past decade in China. Growing evidence has indicated that anti-COVID-19 nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) can support control of various infectious diseases, including intestinal diseases.MethodsIn this study, HFMD cases were enrolled from sentinel hospitals of Nanchang, Jiangxi province, and enteroviruses were genotyped using specific real time RT-PCR. We systematically characterized the epidemiology of HFMD based on the continuous molecular surveillance and estimated the impact of COVID-19 intervention on HFMD incidence using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models.ResultsA total of 10247 HFMD cases were included during 2010-2022, of which 6121 enterovirus (EV)-positive cases (59.7%) were identified by real-time RT-PCR. Over 80% cases were associated with EV-A71 and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) during 2010-2012, while the type distribution significantly changed as CVA6 emerged to be dominant, accounting for 22.6%-59.6% during 2013-2022. It was observed that the prevalence patterns of EV-A71 and CVA16 were similar and both of them peaked in the second quarter and then leveled off. However, CVA6 was generally prevalent around the fourth quarter, demonstrating a staggered prevalence during 2010-2019. During the COVID-19 epidemic, the seasonal HFMD epidemic peak was restrained, and the ARIMA analysis indicated that the COVID-19 intervention had mitigated EV transmission during the first COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020. In addition, bivariate Spearman’s cross-correlation coefficients were estimated for the major types CVA6, CVA16 and EV-A71. Our analyses indicated the possible existence of correlations among CVA6, CVA16 and EV-A71 prevalence in the epidemiological level.DiscussionTaken together, the type distribution of HFMD has substantially changed over the last decade and CVA6 and CVA16 are currently the most predominant types co-circulating in Nanchang. The anti-COVID-19 NPIs significantly reduced the incidence of EV infections.

Background: Probiotics may be an ideal choice for these patients, given it can improve the defecation and quality of life of individuals with chronic diarrhoea. However, evidence-based medical research is still limited to support its use as a diarrhoea agent. Method: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is designed to pinpoint the efficiency and possible action modes of probiotics for chronic diarrhoea. 200 eligible volunteers with chronic diarrhoea are randomly assigned to a probiotic group (orally taking Lactobacillus plantarum p9 probiotics powder) or a placebo group. Except an independent project administrator who will be responsible for unblinding, the other researchers are blinded. Primary outcome is diarrhoea severity score, and secondary outcomes include weekly mean frequency of defecation, weekly mean stool appearance score, weekly mean stool urgency score, emotional state score, gut microbiome, and faecal metabolome. Each outcome measure will be assessed at the timepoints of pre-administration (day 0), administration (day 14 and/or 28), and post-administration (day 42) to identity inter- and intra-groups differences. Adverse events will be recorded to evaluate the safety of L. plantarum p9. Discussion: The study protocol will provide high-quality evidence for the use of probiotics as a diarrhoea agent when it is strictly conducted out, providing evidence regarding whether and to what extent L. plantarum p9 can improve the defecation and well-being of individuals with chronic diarrhoea. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (NO. ChiCTR2000038410). Registered on November 22, 2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=56542.

Abstract Background For patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms, the preferred treatment is proton pump inhibitor (PPI) administration for approximately 8 weeks. However, long-term use of PPIs can cause gut microbiome (GM) disturbances. This study is designed to evaluate the effect of probiotics combined with a PPI on the GM and gastrointestinal symptoms of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Method This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. A total of 120 eligible patients with GERD will be randomized into the experimental group or the control group. The treatment includes two phases: the initial treatment period lasts 8 weeks (weeks 1–8), and the maintenance treatment period lasts 4 weeks (weeks 9–12). During the initial treatment period, the experimental group will take rabeprazole and LiHuo probiotics, and the control group will take rabeprazole and a probiotic placebo; during the maintenance treatment period, the experimental group will take LiHuo probiotics, and the control group will take a probiotic placebo. The primary measure is the change in the GM. The secondary measures are the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) score, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) score, faecal metabolome (FM), body mass index, Los Angeles grade of oesophagitis, adverse event (AE) rate and treatment compliance. Each outcome indicator will be assessed at day 0 (before administration), day 28 and/or 56 (during administration), and day 84 (end of administration) to reveal intragroup differences. AEs will be monitored to assess the safety of LiHuo probiotics. Discussion This will be the first trial to use the intestinal flora metagene method to analyse the effects of probiotics on patients with GERD receiving long-term PPI treatment. The goal is to provide evidence for the use of probiotics to reduce intestinal flora disorders and other symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort in patients with GERD who have used PPIs for a long period. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) (NO. ChiCTR2000038409). Registered on November 22, 2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=56358 .

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can repress viral replication by targeting viral messenger RNA (mRNA), which makes them potential antiviral agents. The antiviral effects of miRNAs on infectious viruses have been explored extensively; however, recent studies mainly considered the action modes of miRNAs, neglecting another key factor, the molecular biology of viruses, which may be particularly important in the study of miRNA actions against a given virus. In this paper, the action modes of miRNAs and the molecular biology of viruses are jointly considered for the first time and based on the reported roles of miRNAs on viruses and human coronaviruses (HCoVs) molecular biology, the general and specific interaction modes of miRNAs-HCoVs are systematically reviewed. It was found that HCoVs transcriptome is a nested set of subgenomic mRNAs, sharing the same 5′ leader, 3′ untranslated region (UTR) and open reading frame (ORF). For a given HCoV, one certain miRNA with a target site in the 5′ leader or 3’ UTR has the potential to target all viral mRNAs, indicating tremendous antiviral effects against HCoVs. However, for the shared ORFs, some parts are untranslatable attributed to the translation pattern of HCoVs mRNA, and it is unknown whether the base pairing between the untranslated ORFs and miRNAs plays a regulatory effect on the local mRNAs where the untranslated ORFs are located; therefore, the regulatory effects of miRNAs with targets within the shared ORFs are complicated and need to be confirmed. Collectively, miRNAs may bepromising antiviral agents against HCoVs due to their intrinsically nested set of mRNAs, and some gaps are waiting to be filled. In this review, insight is provided into the exploration of miRNAs that can interrupt HCoVs infection.

Abstract Background Insecticide resistance monitoring in malaria mosquitoes is essential for guiding the rational use of insecticides in vector control programs. Resistance bioassay is the first step for insecticide monitoring and it lays an important foundation for molecular examination of resistance mechanisms. In the literature, various mosquito sample collection and preparation methods have been used, but how mosquito sample collection and preparation methods affect insecticide susceptibility bioassay results is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to determine whether mosquito sample collection and preparation methods affected bioassay results, which may cause incorrect classification of mosquito resistance status. Methods The study was conducted in Anopheles sinensis mosquitoes in two study sites in central China. Three mosquito sample collection and preparation methods were compared for insecticide susceptibility, kdr frequencies and metabolic enzyme activities: 1) adult mosquitoes collected from the field; 2) F1 adults from field collected, blood-fed mosquitoes; and 3) adult mosquitoes reared from field collected larvae. Results Mosquito sample collection and preparation methods significantly affected mortality rates in the standard WHO tube resistance bioassay. Mortality rate of field-collected female adults was 10-15% higher than in mosquitoes reared from field-collected larvae and F1 adults from field collected blood-fed females. This pattern was consistent in mosquitoes from the two study sites. High kdr mutation frequency (85-95%) with L1014F allele as the predominant mutation was found in our study populations. Field-collected female adults consistently exhibited the highest monooxygenase and GST activities. The higher mortality rate observed in the field-collected female mosquitoes may have been caused by a mixture of mosquitoes of different ages, as older mosquitoes were more susceptible to deltamethrin than younger mosquitoes. Conclusions Female adults reared from field-collected larvae in resistance bioassays are recommended to minimize the effect of confounding factors such as mosquito age and blood feeding status so that more reliable and reproducible mortality may be obtained.

In the past decade, developing countries have been experiencing rapid land use and land cover changes, including deforestation and cultivation of previously forested land. However, little is known about the impact of deforestation and land-use changes on the life history of malaria vectors and their effects on malaria transmission. This study examined the effects of deforestation and crop cultivation on the adult survivorship of major malaria mosquitoes, Anopheles sinensis and An. minimus in the China-Myanmar border region. We examined three conditions: indoor, forested, and banana plantation. Mean survival time of An. sinensis in banana plantation environment was significantly longer than those in forested environment, and mosquitoes exhibited the longest longevity in the indoor environment. This pattern held for both males and females, and also for An. minimus. To further test the effect of temperature on mosquito survival, we used two study sites with different elevation and ambient temperatures. Significantly higher survivorship of both species was found in sites with lower elevation and higher ambient temperature. Increased vector survival in the deforested area could have an important impact on malaria transmission in Southeast Asia. Understanding how deforestation impacts vector survivorship can help combat malaria transmission.

Anopheles sinensis is the most important vector of malaria in Southeast Asia, including China. Currently, the most effective measure to prevent malaria transmission relies on vector control through the use of insecticides, primarily pyrethroids. Extensive use of insecticides poses strong selection pressure on mosquito populations for resistance. Resistance to insecticides can arise due to mutations in the insecticide target site (target site resistance), which in the case of pyrethroids is the para-type sodium channel gene, and/or the catabolism of the insecticide by detoxification enzymes before it reaches its target (metabolic detoxification resistance). In this study, we examined deltamethrin resistance in An. sinensis from China and investigated the relative importance of target site versus metabolic detoxification mechanisms in resistance. A high frequency (>85%) of nonsynonymous mutations in the para gene was found in populations from central China, but not in populations from southern China. Metabolic detoxification as measured by the activity of monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) was detected in populations from both central and southern China. Monooxygenase activity levels were significantly higher in the resistant than the susceptible mosquitoes, independently of their geographic origin. Stepwise multiple regression analyses in mosquito populations from central China found that both knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations and monooxygenase activity were significantly associated with deltamethrin resistance, with monooxygenase activity playing a stronger role. These results demonstrate the importance of metabolic detoxification in pyrethroid resistance in An. sinensis, and suggest that different mechanisms of resistance could evolve in geographically different populations.

This research indicated that one cave fish species of Oreonectes jiarongensis can recover the transparent to black under the light condition, this species belongs to the Oreonectes, Nemacheilinae, and distributes in Libo County, Guizhou Province, China. The changing process time was 14 days. This is the first time that suggests the cave vertebrates which lived in the dark environment not longer time could change the body color in the light environment, and has a new adaptive strategy for the darkness condition. The result may indicate that this species entrance the underground river not so long time, and the genes not mutation, which control the melanin express, it still has the physiological regulation mechanism under the light condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good thermal comfort of vehicle can make the passenger comfortable and the driver attention concentration, so as to enhance the competitiveness of the products. The purpose of this article is to study the comfort performance of a car’s indoor environment. First, the integral method is used to calculate the coupled heat transfer of gas and solid, and the effects of solar radiation and wall heat radiation on the field of velocity and temperature are considered. The three-dimensional flow field and thermal environment of vehicle are simulated, and the distribution of airflow, velocity field, temperature field, and predicted mean vote and predicted percentage of dissatisfied are obtained. The results are compared with the experimental data, and the difference is less than 5%. Second, the occupant’s thermal comfort is analyzed, and the average air age is used to evaluate the air freshness. The results show that the front passengers feel medium heat, the rear passengers feel mild heat, and the air is fresh in the cabin under setting environmental conditions. Finally, the air-conditioning system is improved according to the existing problems, and the new simulation results show that the thermal comfort of the cabin has been further improved.