Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in China from 2014-2023:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)stands as the predominant infectious agent linked to the onset of gastritis,peptic ulcer diseases,and gastric cancer(GC).Identified as the exclusive bacterial factor associated with the onset of GC,it is classified as a group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization.The elimination of H.pylori plays a crucial role in the primary prevention of GC.While the prevalence has declined in recent decades,H.pylori infection is still highly prevalent in China,accounting for a significant part of the disease burden of GC.Therefore,updated prevalence information for H.pylori infection,especially regional and demographic variations in China,is an important basis for the design of targeted strategies that will be effective for the prevention of GC and application of policies for H.pylori control.AIM To methodically evaluate the occurrence of H.pylori infection throughout China and establish a reference point for subsequent investigations.METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following established guidelines,as detailed in our methodology section.RESULTS Our review synthesized data from 152 studies,covering a sample of 763827 individuals,314423 of whom were infected with H.pylori.We evaluated infection rates in China's Mainland and the combined prevalence of H.pylori was 42.8%(95%CI:40.7-44.9).Subgroup analysis indicated the highest prevalence in Northwest China at 51.3%(95%CI:45.6-56.9),and in Qinghai Province,the prevalence reached 60.2%(95%CI:46.5-73.9).The urea breath test,which recorded the highest infection rate,showed a prevalence of 43.7%(95%CI:41.4-46.0).No notable differences in infection rates were observed between genders.Notably,the prevalence among the elderly was significantly higher at 44.5%(95%CI:41.9-47.1),compared to children,who showed a prevalence of 27.5%(95%CI:19.58-34.7).CONCLUSION Between 2014 and 2023,the prevalence of H.pylori infection in China decreased to 42.8%,down from the previous decade.However,the infection rates vary considerably across different geographical areas,among various populations,and by detection methods employed.

Honoring a legend: Celebrating the life and legacy of Professor Heng Li

Professor Heng Li(李恒,March 9,1929-January 12,2023)was a legendary plant taxonomist and phytogeographer at the Kunming Institute of Botany,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Fig.1).She made important contributions to our understanding of China's flora,including the biodiversity and biogeography of Dulong Valley and the Gaoligong Mountains,as well as the vegetation of plateau lakes and wetlands in Southwest China.Professor Heng Li received her Bachelor's degree in Russian from Beijing Foreign Studies University in 1956 and immediately joined the Institute of Geography(now Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research),Chinese Academy of Sciences,as a Russian translator.In 1961,Prof.

Photoionization and Dissociative Photoionization Study of Cholesterol by I R Laser Desorption/Tunable Synchrotron VUV Photoionization Mass Spectrometry

Elementary cholesterol was analyzed with IR laser desorption/tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry. An exclusive molecular ion of cholesterol is observed by near threshold single-photon ionization with high efficiency. Fragments are yielded with the increase of photon energy. The structures of various fragments are determined with commercial electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Dominant fragmentation pathways are discussed in detail with the aid of ab initio calculations.

Theoretical Study of the AIEt3-Promoted Tandem Reductive Rearrangement of Epoxides

The AIEt3-promoted tandem reductive rearrangement reactions of epoxides was studied at B3LYP/6- 31C（d,p） level. For the model compound α-hydroxy epoxides, two possible reaction pathways Ⅰ and Ⅱ were calculated. The main difference is the order of ethylene release and six- to five-member ring rearrangement. The ring contraction rearrangement in pathway Ⅰ is the first step and this step is the rate controlling step with a free energy barrier of 116.62 kJ/mol. For pathway Ⅱ, the ethylene release occurs first, and is followed by a six-member ring opening reaction which is the rate controlling step, and the barrier is 251.38 kJ/mol. The reason for such high barrier is that the ethylene release results in the following reaction being more difficult. The results show that pathway Ⅰ （C-C rearrangement and then ethylene release） is more favorable, which is consistent with experimental results.

The misfit mitral valve

A 70-year-old female with history of rheumatic fever as a child with resultant surgical mitral valve replacement with bioprosthetic valve ten years prior presented to the hospital with worsening shortness of breath of two days duration.Associating symptoms included orthopnea,dry cough,and lower extremity edema.In the Emergency Room,the patient was afebrile and hemodynamically stable;however,she was tachypneic and hypoxic requiring non-rebreather.

Use of Sargassum fusiforme Extract and its Bioactive Molecules to inhibit HIV Infection: Bridging Two Paradigms between Eastern and Western Medicine

AIDS is a global pandemic that has seen the development of novel and effective treatments to improve the quality of life of those infected and reduction in the spread of the disease. While great advancements have been made in HIV/AIDS therapeutics, there is still no cure or viable vaccine in development. The high rate of HIV-1 mutation contributing to virus immune escape, combined with increase in sexual transmission and the significant clinical therapeutics side effects of the currently available treatments highlights the need for novel therapeutics with broad anti-viral activity against both CXCR4 （X4） and CCR5 （R5）-tropic viruses. In our search for novel modalities against HIV infection, we investigated several aqueous extracts from Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） collection and identified Sargassum fusiforme （S. fusiforme） as a potent inhibitor of HIV infection. Following the Western approach of drug discovery and development, we isolated several bioactive molecules from S. fusiforme and determined their mechanism of action. TCM and Western approaches to disease treatment and drug development have been shown to be complementary to each other. The former provides a rich medicinal history for natural compounds that can have clinical impact on a variety of illnesses, while the latter enables the application of chemical informatics with rational drug design approach coupled to mechanistic underpinnings of such therapeutics. This multistep paradigm is demonstrated in the example of S. fusiforme as a treatment to prevent HIV infection, as described in this review.

Moxibustion versus non-moxibustion for immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with HIV:A 48-week prospective cohort study

Objective:To assess the effects of moxibustion on immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome(IRIS)in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)by tracking T-cell subsets over a 48-week prospective cohort study.Methods:Patients with AIDS who had low viral loads and weakened immune systems were divided into a moxibustion group and a non-moxibustion group.The non-moxibustion group received standard western treatment,including 48 weeks of antiretroviral therapy(ART).The moxibustion group received ART combined with moxibusion therapy,administered three times weekly.Each treatment lasted 10 weeks,with four courses completed over 48 weeks,separated by 2-week breaks.At different time points,plasma levels of CD4^(+),CD8^(+),CD45RAt,CD45RO^(+),CD4^(+)CD28^(+),CD8^(+)CD38^(+),and CD4^(+)CD38^(+)were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 200 eligible patients were included and divided into two groups,with 100 in the non-moxibustion group and 100 in the moxibustion group.At Week 24,the CD4^(+)T cell count was(180.71±79.62)cells/μL in the non-moxibustion group and(218.22±82.02)cells/μL in the moxibustion group.By Week 36,the counts were(204.83±96.78)cells/μuL and(239.35±81.90)cells/μL,respectively.At Weeks 24 and 48,the CD8^(+)T cell and CD45RO^(+)counts were higher in the moxibustion group than in the non-moxibustion group(P<0.05).By Week 48,the CD45RA^(+)count was also higher in the moxibustion group(P<0.05).At Week 24,the CD4^(+)CD25^(+)count was lower in the moxibustion group than in the non-moxibustion group(P<0.05).