Objective:To establish the reference interval of 12 types of cytokines(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17,IFN-γ,IFN-α,TNF-α)in adult plasma based on multiple microsphere flow immunofluorescence(MBFFI).Methods:A total of 140 healthy adult patients who were examined at Xuzhou Central Hospital between January 2022 and December 2023 were included in the study.Plasma cytokine levels were detected and reference intervals were established by the flow cytometer and the assay kits produced by Qingdao Raisecare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd and Jiangsu BioPredia Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.Results:All of the cytokines exhibited a non-normal distribution,and there was a discrepancy in the 95％reference interval between the two re-agents.The reference intervals for the 12 cytokine kits produced by Qingdao Raisecare Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.were as follows:IFN-α:<4.91 pg/ml,IL-12 p70:<1.95 pg/ml,IL-5:<12.72 pg/ml,IL-8:<60.68 pg/ml,IL-1β:<27.67 pg/ml,IL-2:<5.01 pg/ml,IL-4:<1.22 pg/ml,IL-6:<6.11 pg/ml,TNF-α:<2.92 pg/ml,IL-17:<10.27 pg/ml,IL-10:<6.88 pg/ml,IFN-γ:<17.68 pg/ml.The reference intervals of the 12 cytokines produced by Jiangsu BioPredia Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.were as follows:IFN-α:<4.05 pg/ml,IL-12 p70:<7.33 pg/ml,IL-5:<7.80 pg/ml,IL-8:<13.24 pg/ml,IL-1β:<19.24 pg/ml,IL-2:<2.42 pg/ml,IL-4:<0.99 pg/ml,IL-6:<2.10 pg/ml,TNF-α:<0.87 pg/ml,IL-17:<1.42 pg/ml,IL-10:<1.10 pg/ml,IFN-γ:<1.34 pg/ml.Conclusion:In this study,the ref-erence range of two reagents for the detection of 12 kinds of cytokines in plasma of healthy adults is established by MBFFI,which pro-vides a valuable reference for the diagnosis and treatment of clinical-related diseases.

Given the escalating number of cancer patients and the consequent rise in demand for radiation therapy in China, there is an urgent need to establish and improve a talent cultivation system for radiation dosimetrists. The United States, with an early-established cultivation system for radiation dosimetrists, boasts relatively mature and comprehensive systems of academic education and qualification certification. This study summarized and analyzed the educational and certification patterns for radiation dosimetrists in the United States based on public data from relevant institutions, related literature, and interviews with American radiation dosimetrists. Meanwhile, this study delved into and assessed the shortcomings in China′s radiation dosimetry education, examination, certification, and career advancement pathways. Furthermore, this study offered suggestions and recommendations for constructing a novel pattern tailored to the cultivation of radiation dosimetrists in China, in order to facilitate the high-quality development of the medical dosimetry discipline.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To investigate the current status and challenges of pediatric life support training in China and provide references for improving training quality.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from pediatric life support training centers across the country，covering basic institutional information，training capacity and training faculty，training program funding，as well as existing challenges and issues.The domestic registry of training centers in 2023 was obtained through the American Heart Association's online platform.After contacting and verifying each center，an online questionnaire was distributed，and the aggregated data were statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 42 institutions participated in the survey，including 19 children's hospitals，14 general hospitals，6 maternal and child health hospitals，2 women and children’s hospitals，and 1 training institution.The distribution of training centers showed a concentration in coastal areas，with the top three provinces/municipalities being Guangdong（7/42，16.7%），Zhejiang（6/42，14.3%），and Shanghai（4/42，9.5%）.As of December 31 2023，the 42 institutions had an annual basic life support（BLS）training volume of 8 587 individuals，the median was 120 (100,200)，and an annual pediatric advanced life support（PALS）training volume of 2 448 individuals，the median was 30 (20,50).Among the 42 institutions，there were 598 BLS instructors and 306 PALS instructors.Among the surveyed institutions，24（24/42，57.1%）reported BLS instructor teams comprising fewer than 10 members，and 33（33/42，78.6%）reported PALS instructor teams comprising fewer than 10.Only 7 centers(7/42,16.7%）reported having dedicated funding support.The top three challenges were：training sessions occupying instructors’personal time（27/42，64.3%），low instructor compensation（16/42，38.1%），and issues with the data submission system（16/42，38.1%）.Conclusion:Pediatric life support training centers in China are primarily children’s hospitals，with a geographical concentration in coastal areas，which is also reflected in the distribution of training scale and instructor resources.Most centers have relatively small training scales and limited instructor capacity，with many instructors conducting training during their personal time.These issues may hinder the implementation and effectiveness of training programs.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of different anticoagulation strategies during continuous blood purification (CBP) treatment,providing a reference for anticoagulation strategies in critically ill children undergoing CBP.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted,including children admitted to the PICU of Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 2019 to December 2024.According to the anticoagulation methods used during CBP treatment,patients were divided into the sodium citrate group and the heparin group.CBP was performed using continuous venovenous hemofiltration or continuous venovenous hemodialysis filtration mode,with a blood flow rate of 3-5 mL/(kg·min),replacement fluid rate of 30-50 mL/(kg·h),and dialysis fluid rate of 20-30 mL/(kg·h).The filter lifespan,28-day all-cause mortality,total length of hospital stay,PICU stay duration,adverse events,and associated costs were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 221 children were included (105 in the sodium citrate group and 116 in the heparin group),with a cumulative use of 666 filters (284 in the sodium citrate group and 382 in the heparin group).(1) There were no statistically significant differences in general data,including age,sex ratio,underlying diseases,the ratio and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation,vasopressor scores at baseline,and indications for CBP between the two groups (all P>0.05).(2) The filter lifespan was 20(14,32) hours for the sodium citrate group and 21(13,35) hours for the heparin group,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); the proportion of accidental downstroke was 2.8% and 6.5%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.029); among the 221 children,86 died,with 38 deaths (35.2%) in the sodium citrate group and 49 deaths (38.9%) in the heparin group,showing no statistically significant difference.(3) The sodium citrate group had a higher incidence of metabolic alkalosis,hypocalcemia,and sodium citrate accumulation (44.4% vs. 1.6%,32.7% vs 9.4%,7.7% vs 0,all P<0.01); the heparin group had a greater proportion of bleeding (6.0% vs. 2.9%) and was more likely to develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (10.2% vs. 0, P<0.01).(4) The total hospitalization costs for the sodium citrate group were significantly higher than for the heparin group (200 327 yuan vs. 152 077 yuan, P=0.05); costs related to the use of anticoagulants and monitoring indicators during CBP treatment were also higher in the sodium citrate group (2 479 yuan vs. 682 yuan, P<0.01). Conclusions:Sodium citrate is a safe and effective anticoagulation method for critically ill children undergoing CBP,which can reduce the risk of filter clotting compared to systemic heparin anticoagulation.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of secondary transport on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for critically ill children.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Data from 222 pediatric patients who underwent ECMO transport from May 2019 to May 2024 at 5 ECMO centers and Chinese Database of Pediatric Extracorporeal Life Support Organization were collected. The cases were divided into primary and secondary transport groups by nature of transport. The clinical data, including demographics, ECMO indications, transport distance, pre-transport lab results, prognosis and complications were analyzed. Two independent samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and χ2 test or Fisher′s exact probability method were used to compare the differences between 2 groups and evaluate the safety and efficacy of secondary transport. Results:Among the 222 children transported with ECMO, there were 135 males and 87 females, with an age of 3.0 (0.2, 7.0) years. There were 202 cases in the primary transport group and 20 cases in the secondary transport group. All secondary transport patients had failed attempts at weaning ECMO before transfer. The patients in the secondary transport group were older, had higher rates of surgical cannulation, circulatory support, and pre-ECMO lactate levels compared to the primary transport group (7.0 (2.8, 10.0) vs. 3.0 (0.2, 6.0) years old, 55.0% (11/20) vs. 3.6% (7/202), 80.0% (16/20) vs. 41.6% (84/202), (10±4) vs. (7±6) mmol/L, Z=3.41, χ 2=66.31, 10.99, t=2.24, all P<0.05). In the secondary transport group, the vasoactive-inotropic scores of patients on circulatory support and the oxygenation index for patients requiring respiratory support were higher than those in the primary transport group (83±33 vs. 82±68, 51.0±1.8 vs. 37.4±10.2, t=2.36, 2.63, respectively; both P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in sex, transport distance, pre-ECMO creatinine, arterial blood gas BE values, and ECMO duration (all P>0.05). No life-threatening complications occurred during the transport in either group. Two patients in the secondary transport group underwent heart transplantation, and 1 patient underwent radiofrequency ablation. The overall survival rate between the 2 groups showed no statistically significant difference (45.0% (9/20) vs. 55.4% (112/202), χ2=1.15, P>0.05). Conclusions:Secondary ECMO transport for critically ill children don't increase mortality or life-threatening complications during transport. ECMO patients who cannot receive effective treatment locally can benefit from secondary transport to an advanced ECMO center provides further treatment opportunities.

Given the escalating number of cancer patients and the consequent rise in demand for radiation therapy in China, there is an urgent need to establish and improve a talent cultivation system for radiation dosimetrists. The United States, with an early-established cultivation system for radiation dosimetrists, boasts relatively mature and comprehensive systems of academic education and qualification certification. This study summarized and analyzed the educational and certification patterns for radiation dosimetrists in the United States based on public data from relevant institutions, related literature, and interviews with American radiation dosimetrists. Meanwhile, this study delved into and assessed the shortcomings in China′s radiation dosimetry education, examination, certification, and career advancement pathways. Furthermore, this study offered suggestions and recommendations for constructing a novel pattern tailored to the cultivation of radiation dosimetrists in China, in order to facilitate the high-quality development of the medical dosimetry discipline.

Objective:To investigate the current status and challenges of pediatric life support training in China and provide references for improving training quality.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from pediatric life support training centers across the country，covering basic institutional information，training capacity and training faculty，training program funding，as well as existing challenges and issues.The domestic registry of training centers in 2023 was obtained through the American Heart Association's online platform.After contacting and verifying each center，an online questionnaire was distributed，and the aggregated data were statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 42 institutions participated in the survey，including 19 children's hospitals，14 general hospitals，6 maternal and child health hospitals，2 women and children’s hospitals，and 1 training institution.The distribution of training centers showed a concentration in coastal areas，with the top three provinces/municipalities being Guangdong（7/42，16.7%），Zhejiang（6/42，14.3%），and Shanghai（4/42，9.5%）.As of December 31 2023，the 42 institutions had an annual basic life support（BLS）training volume of 8 587 individuals，the median was 120 (100,200)，and an annual pediatric advanced life support（PALS）training volume of 2 448 individuals，the median was 30 (20,50).Among the 42 institutions，there were 598 BLS instructors and 306 PALS instructors.Among the surveyed institutions，24（24/42，57.1%）reported BLS instructor teams comprising fewer than 10 members，and 33（33/42，78.6%）reported PALS instructor teams comprising fewer than 10.Only 7 centers(7/42,16.7%）reported having dedicated funding support.The top three challenges were：training sessions occupying instructors’personal time（27/42，64.3%），low instructor compensation（16/42，38.1%），and issues with the data submission system（16/42，38.1%）.Conclusion:Pediatric life support training centers in China are primarily children’s hospitals，with a geographical concentration in coastal areas，which is also reflected in the distribution of training scale and instructor resources.Most centers have relatively small training scales and limited instructor capacity，with many instructors conducting training during their personal time.These issues may hinder the implementation and effectiveness of training programs.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of different anticoagulation strategies during continuous blood purification (CBP) treatment,providing a reference for anticoagulation strategies in critically ill children undergoing CBP.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted,including children admitted to the PICU of Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 2019 to December 2024.According to the anticoagulation methods used during CBP treatment,patients were divided into the sodium citrate group and the heparin group.CBP was performed using continuous venovenous hemofiltration or continuous venovenous hemodialysis filtration mode,with a blood flow rate of 3-5 mL/(kg·min),replacement fluid rate of 30-50 mL/(kg·h),and dialysis fluid rate of 20-30 mL/(kg·h).The filter lifespan,28-day all-cause mortality,total length of hospital stay,PICU stay duration,adverse events,and associated costs were compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 221 children were included (105 in the sodium citrate group and 116 in the heparin group),with a cumulative use of 666 filters (284 in the sodium citrate group and 382 in the heparin group).(1) There were no statistically significant differences in general data,including age,sex ratio,underlying diseases,the ratio and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation,vasopressor scores at baseline,and indications for CBP between the two groups (all P>0.05).(2) The filter lifespan was 20(14,32) hours for the sodium citrate group and 21(13,35) hours for the heparin group,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05); the proportion of accidental downstroke was 2.8% and 6.5%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.029); among the 221 children,86 died,with 38 deaths (35.2%) in the sodium citrate group and 49 deaths (38.9%) in the heparin group,showing no statistically significant difference.(3) The sodium citrate group had a higher incidence of metabolic alkalosis,hypocalcemia,and sodium citrate accumulation (44.4% vs. 1.6%,32.7% vs 9.4%,7.7% vs 0,all P<0.01); the heparin group had a greater proportion of bleeding (6.0% vs. 2.9%) and was more likely to develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (10.2% vs. 0, P<0.01).(4) The total hospitalization costs for the sodium citrate group were significantly higher than for the heparin group (200 327 yuan vs. 152 077 yuan, P=0.05); costs related to the use of anticoagulants and monitoring indicators during CBP treatment were also higher in the sodium citrate group (2 479 yuan vs. 682 yuan, P<0.01). Conclusions:Sodium citrate is a safe and effective anticoagulation method for critically ill children undergoing CBP,which can reduce the risk of filter clotting compared to systemic heparin anticoagulation.