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To evaluate the age-standardized incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), death (ASDR), and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among the working-age population from 1990 to 2021. The data is sourced from the Global Burden of Disease 2021. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was utilized to assess temporal trends. Decomposition analysis was conducted to identify the driving factors underlying burden changes. The Slope Index of Inequality and the Concentration Index were employed to evaluate cross-country inequalities. In 2021, there were 11.88 million cases of RA in the working-age population globally and an ASPR of 222.68 per 100,000 population. The ASIR was 14.09 per 100,000 population (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 8.97 - 20.19), while the ASDR was 0.13 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 0.11-0.15), with an EAPC of -1.59 (95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.73 to -1.45), indicating a sustained decline in RA ASDR. The age-standardized DALYs rate was 34.54 per 100,000 population (95% UI: 23.90 - 48.67), with an EAPC of 0.15 (95% CI: 0.10 to 0.20). Regionally, high Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions exhibited the highest ASPR, ASIR, and age-standardized DALYs rates, suggesting a greater overall burden of RA. Interestingly, middle SDI regions showed the highest ASDR, potentially indicating differences in disease management and access to care that impact mortality despite a lower overall burden compared to high SDI regions. Decomposition analysis identified population growth as the primary driver of the increasing RA burden. Cross-national inequality analysis revealed that RA burden remains concentrated in high SDI countries, though overall health inequality has declined. The substantial global burden and regional disparities of RA in the working-age population necessitate targeted interventions. High SDI regions require strategies focusing on early diagnosis and optimal management to reduce the high burden. Elevated mortality in middle SDI regions demands improved access to effective treatment. These findings underscore the need for SDI-tailored public health approaches to address the specific challenges in each context.

A new hypotrich ciliate, Anteholosticha nanjiensis sp. nov ., was isolated from a sandy beach in Wenzhou, China. Its morphology was investigated using detailed live observation and protargol staining, and its phylogenetic position was assessed through small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequence analyses. The new species is characterized as follows: size in vivo 90–115 × 40–50 µm; body shape elliptical and dorsoventrally flattened; 2–4 globular macronuclear nodules; 8–14 midventral cirral pairs; colourless cortical granules (about 0.5 µm in diameter) arranged in short longitudinal rows. Phylogenetic analyses robustly placed A. nanjiensis sp. nov . within a clade containing A. pseudomonilata Li et al., 2011a and A. marimonilata Xu et al., 2011. However, it differs from these congeners by having 13 and 14 nucleotides in its SSU rDNA sequence, respectively, supporting its status as a distinct species. Morphologically, A. nanjiensis sp. nov . can be distinguished from related species by its body size, number of macronuclear nodules, transverse cirri count, and cortical granulation distribution. This study provides comprehensive morphological and molecular data establishing foundational references for resolving the apparent polyphyly of Anteholosticha . While full resolution may require integration of additional evidence (e.g. morphogenetic data or TEM ultrastructure), our dataset delivers essential comparative frameworks for future taxonomic revisions.

Previous studies have documented hypertension remission following bariatric surgeries and other gastrointestinal surgeries, but the impact of esophagectomy on hypertension remains unclear. This study assesses whether esophagectomy induces hypertension remission in esophageal cancer patients and identifies influencing factors. This retrospective study included 66 esophageal cancer patients with hypertension who underwent esophagectomy (2017–2020). Patients were classified into remission and non-remission groups based on postoperative hypertension status. Preoperative and six-month postoperative data (age, weight, BMI, hypertension duration, metabolic indicators) were analyzed. Independent predictors of remission were identified via binary logistic regression. At six months post-esophagectomy, 34.8% achieved complete remission, 30.4% showed improvement, and 34.8% had no remission. Significant reductions in weight, BMI, systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), and LDL (p = 0.04), along with increased HDL levels (p < 0.001), were observed. Patients in the remission group were younger (p = 0.028), had shorter hypertension duration (p = 0.013), and lower HDL levels (p = 0.031). Age, %TWL, and hypertension duration were independent predictors of remission. Esophagectomy in esophageal cancer patients facilitates weight loss, improves lipid profiles, and promotes hypertension remission, primarily through postoperative weight loss, particularly in younger patients with shorter hypertension duration.

Background Surgery is widely regarded as a pivotal therapeutic approach for treating oesophageal cancer, and clinical observations have revealed that many oesophageal cancer patients also present with concomitant hyperlipidaemia. It is surprising that few studies have been performed to determine how blood lipid levels are affected by oesophageal cancer resection. This research was designed to assess the influence of oesophageal cancer resection on lipid profiles among individuals diagnosed with both oesophageal cancer and hyperlipidaemia. Methods A retrospective analysis was carried out on 110 patients with hyperlipidaemia and oesophageal cancer who had undergone oesophagectomy at the 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Preoperative and postoperative serological data were collected at seven-, thirty-, sixty-day-, and one-year-long intervals. Changes in lipid levels were compared, the remission of various types of hyperlipidaemia was statistically assessed, and Pearson correlation was used to analyse the association between lipid changes and preoperative body weight. The research sought to assess the reduction in body weight and the proportion of body weight lost one year following surgery. Results Noteworthy decreases were observed in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, with TC decreasing from 6.20 mmol/L to 5.20 mmol/L, TG decreasing from 1.40 mmol/L to 1.20 mmol/L, and LDL decreasing from 4.50 mmol/L to 3.30 mmol/L. Conversely, there was a notable increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which increased from 1.20 mmol/L to 1.40 mmol/L ( P  < 0.05) compared to the preoperative levels. Notably, the remission rates for mixed hyperlipidaemia (60.9%) and high cholesterol (60.0%) were considerably greater than those for high triglycerides (16.2%). Alterations in TC at one year postoperatively correlated with preoperative weight and weight loss ( r  = 0.315, -0.216); changes in TG correlated with preoperative weight, percentage of total weight loss (TWL%), and weight reduction ( r  = -0.295, -0.246, 0.320); and changes in LDL correlated with preoperative weight, TWL%, and weight loss ( r  = 0.251, 0.186, and -0.207). Changes in non-high-density lipoprotein(non-HDL) were linked to preoperative weight ( r  = 0.300), and changes in TG/HDL were correlated with preoperative weight and TWL% ( r  = -0.424, -0.251). Conclusions Oesophagectomy significantly improved lipid profiles in oesophageal cancer patients, potentially leading to a reduction in overall cardiovascular risk.

Background Heterotrichous ciliates are common members of microeukaryote communities which play important roles in both the transfer of material and the flow of energy in aquatic food webs. This group has been known for over two centuries due to their large body size and cosmopolitan distribution. Nevertheless, species identification and phylogenetic relationships of heterotrichs remain challenging due to the lack of accurate morphological information and insufficient molecular data. Results The morphology and phylogeny of two heterotrichous ciliates, namely Gruberia foissneri spec. nov. and Linostomella vorticella (Ehrenberg, 1833) Aescht in Foissner et al., 1999, were studied using rigorous methods (living morphology, stained preparations, and small subunit rDNA sequence data). Gruberia foissneri spec. nov. is morphologically very similar to G. uninucleata Kahl, 1932, however, it can be distinguished from the latter by having more ciliary rows (about 32 vs. about 20) and macronuclear shape (sausage-shaped vs. ellipsoid). Based on a combination of previous and present studies, an improved diagnosis of L. vorticella is supplied and several taxonomic anomalies are clarified. In addition, phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data support the generic assignment of these two species. Conclusions Modern ciliate taxonomy should be performed by means of detailed living observation, stained preparations and molecular information. For those species that have been reported in previous studies, it is necessary to provide as much useful information as possible using state-of-the-art methods in order to resolve taxonomic anomalies.

Microplastics (MPs) are normally defined as small plastic wastes with a size of 1 μm to 5 mm in diameter. This tiny plastic debris is abundant in aquatic systems and poses a great threat to aquatic biota. To date, toxicological assessment of MPs is predominantly dependent on metazoan animals, although their applications are sometimes limited due to the high cost, narrow ecological niche, or ethical considerations. In this regard, unicellular eukaryotes (i.e., protozoa) that are ubiquitously present in nature represent a promising alternative for evaluating the toxicity of MPs. In this study, we selected Paramecium bursaria (P. bursaria) as a representative of protozoa and further investigated behavioral and molecular changes in MPs-exposed P. bursaria. Our results showed that following MPs uptake, P. bursaria exhibited various changes, including anomalies in swimming patterns, reduction in moving speed, impairment of avoidance behavior, elevation of oxidative stress, and potential disturbance of endosymbiosis. These elicited changes in P. bursaria in response to MPs exposure were pronounced and measurable. Overall, this study demonstrated that P. bursaria could serve as a promising alternative for the toxicological assessment of MPs and may be further applied to evaluate the toxicity of other environmental contaminants.

Species of the ciliate genera Myxophyllum and Conchophthirus are found as endocommensals of terrestrial and freshwater mollusks, respectively. So far, there have been few studies of these genera and morphological data for most members are often incomplete. In the present work, two new species, Myxophyllum weishanense sp. nov. and Conchophthirus paracurtus sp. nov., and a known species, Conchophthirus lamellidens , were isolated from hosts in Lake Weishan Wetland, China. Taxonomic studies indicate that M. weishanense sp. nov. can be recognized mainly by the combination of about 60 somatic kineties on both ventral and dorsal sides and the presence of caudal cilia. Conchophthirus paracurtus sp. nov. differs from congeners in its body shape and size, having a glabrous area on the posterior right side, and having fewer somatic kineties. In addition, differences in their ITS2 (Internally Transcribed Spacer 2) secondary structures support the discrimination of the two new species from their highly similar congeners. An improved diagnosis for the poorly known species, C. lamellidens is also provided. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that members of the genus Myxophyllum belong to a fully supported clade that is sister to a large, poorly supported clade consisting of Hemispeiridae, Ancistridae, and several lineages of the nonmonophyletic Cyclidiidae. The Myxophyllum clade also includes Protophyra ovicola JQ956552, a possible misidentification. Sequences of the two new Conchophthirus species cluster with other congeners in a fully supported clade that is unrelated to either the ‘typical’ thigmotrichs or to pleuronematids, thus conflicting with the traditional classification, and may represent an orphan scuticociliate lineage.

Ciliates of the genus Pleuronema are a speciose and ubiquitous group. Recent studies suggest that there may be a sizable amount of undiscovered species diversity. In the present study, two new Pleuronema species have been isolated from the subtropical coastal waters of China and characterized using morphological and taxonomical methods: Pleuronema pulchra n. sp. is characterized by a body size of 75–90 × 25–40 µm in vivo , 32–48 somatic kineties, four to seven preoral kineties, somatic kinety 1 composed of about 80 kinetids, and membranelle 2a with a single-rowed mid-portion and hook-like posterior portion. Pleuronema warreni n. sp. is defined by a body size of 55–80 × 25–45 µm in vivo , 35–42 somatic kineties, three to six preoral kineties, somatic kinety 1 with approximately 75 kinetids, and a mid-portion of membranelle 2a that is single-rowed and extremely long (occupying > 75% length of M2a). The phylogenetic analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of Pleuronema members, including those of the two novel species, shows that the genus Pleuronema is a polyphyletic group. Both new species form a cluster with Pleuronema binucleatum KT033424, P. elegans KF840518, and “ P. coronatum ” JX310014 (identification to be verified). Additionally, we provide an illustrated key for 20 “ coronatum -type” Pleuronema species, including the two new ones.

Species of the ciliate class Heterotrichea Stein, 1859 are a cosmopolitan group of unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms, many of which have been widely used as models in various fields of research such as regenerative biology, functional ecology, environmental toxicology, and symbiotic behavior. However, species identification in the heterotrich family Condylostomatidae, especially the most species-rich and type genus Condylostoma Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1824, remains challenging due to incomplete original descriptions, few reliable distinguishing characters, and overlapping features between different species. This study presents an updated revision of Condylostoma and its related genus Condylostomides da Silva Neto, 1994 based on descriptions of five species, including nine populations collected from China, using both morphological and molecular methods. The main findings are as follows: (1) 43 nominal species and about 130 populations are reviewed, resulting in the recognition of 30 valid species of Condylostoma and eight valid species of Condylostomides ; (2) keys, synonyms, biogeographic distributions and amended/improved diagnoses of all valid species are provided; (3) based on the available data, four new Condylostoma species ( C. marinum sp. nov., C. petzi sp. nov., C. villeneuvei sp. nov., and C. microstomum sp. nov.), one new combination ( Condylostomides minimus (Dragesco, 1954) comb. nov. & nom. corr.), and two corrected names ( Condylostoma ancestrale Villeneuve-Brachon, 1940 nom. corr. and Condylostomides nigrus (Dragesco, 1960) nom. corr.) are suggested; (4) cryptic species are detected and proposed for the first time to form the Condylostoma curvum species complex; (5) three highly confusing Condylostoma species, C. kris , C. spatiosum , and C. minutum , are redefined for the first time based on modern taxonomic methods; (6) a ‘flagship’ species, Condylostomides coeruleus , is recorded for the first time from the continent of Asia, substantially expanding its biogeography; (7) ciliature adjacent to the distal end of the paroral membrane within the family Condylostomatidae is uniformly defined as frontal membranelles and is classified into three patterns according to the arrangement of kinetosomes, which serve as important key features.

The genus Pleuronema Dujardin, 1841, with nearly 40 morphospecies, is one of the largest genera in the well-known subclass Scuticociliatia. In the present study, two Pleuronema species were collected from subtropical coastal waters of the East China Sea. The morphology and molecular phylogeny were investigated using modern standard methods. Pleuronema ningboensis n. sp. is mainly characterized by an elliptical body in outline with the right ventrolateral side straight, 16–22 somatic kineties, 3–5 preoral kineties, and the posterior end of the membranelle 2a hook-like. An improved diagnosis of Pleuronema orientale Pan et al., 2015 was provided: body size in vivo usually 90–135 × 45–85 μm, right ventrolateral side convex, 36–51 somatic kineties, 1–5 preoral kineties, one to three spherical macronuclei, membranelle 2a arranged in a zig-zag pattern in middle portion, posterior region hook-like, both membranelle 1 and membranelle 3 composed of three rows of basal bodies. The small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) of two species is sequenced, and their molecular phylogeny is analyzed. The new species Pleuronema ningboensis n. sp. clusters with P. grolierei KF840519, P. setigerum JX310015, P. paucisaetosum KF206430, and P. cf. setigerum KF848875, basically in accord with the morphological characteristics.