Background A diverse cohort of patients and susceptible individuals congregate in healthcare facilities, where exposure to pathogenic microorganisms associated with respiratory infectious diseases constitutes a significant risk factor for cross-infection. Central air-conditioning ventilation systems improve some indoor environment indicators while exacerbating the risk of transmission of respiratory infectious diseases. Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of microbial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems of hospitals, providing a scientific basis for the selection of microbial indicators in hygiene standards for hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems and for hospital risk early warning systems. Methods In October 2023, two central air-conditioning ventilation systems were selected from a Grade 3A hospital in Shanghai: one was an all-air air-conditioning system serving the waiting area on the ground floor, and the other was a fan coil plus fresh air system serving the outpatient area on the third floor. Samples from four different components of the ventilation systems—air outlets, filters, surface coolers, and condensate trays—were collected for high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to analyze bacterial communities. Alpha-diversity and beta-diversity analyses were performed to investigate the microbial community composition and diversity characteristics of the hospital central air-conditioning ventilation systems. Functional analysis was conducted to determine the relative abundance of bacterial functions in these systems.Results A total of 528 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified, encompassing 20 bacterial phyla, 37 classes, 79 orders, 123 families, and 240 genera. The analysis revealed that the bacterial community was predominantly composed of Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadates, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. The diversity analysis indicated that bacterial community richness and diversity were highest in the condensate trays, while no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the bacterial community composition among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers. The functional analysis showed that the bacterial communities in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems primarily exhibited chemoheterotrophic, oxidative energy-dependent heterotrophic, and ureolytic functional characteristics. Conclusion The dominance of Proteobacteria suggests that this phylum exhibits strong adaptability in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems, possibly related to its ability to survive and reproduce under varying environmental conditions. The diversity analysis indicates that the condensate tray is a critical area for bacterial proliferation in the central air-conditioning ventilation systems. The similarity in environmental conditions among the air outlets, filters, and surface coolers result in similar bacterial community structures. The functional analysis reveals that the bacterial communities possess robust energy conversion and metabolic capabilities, potentially contributing to processes such as organic matter decomposition and nitrogen cycling within the central air-conditioning ventilation systems.

This review provides an overview of prenatal interventional treatments for fetal congenital heart disease (CHD), with a particular focus on the latest advancements in fetal aortic valvuloplasty (FAV) and fetal pulmonary valvuloplasty (FPV). FAV aims to improve left heart hemodynamics, prevent hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), and promote biventricular circulation. FPV seeks to improve the natural history of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum (CPS/IVS), alleviate right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and promote biventricular circulation. This article discusses patient selection, technical details, risk assessment, and clinical outcomes for these procedures, highlighting the challenges in current research, including the lack of standardized patient selection criteria and long-term prognostic studies. Additionally, it emphasizes the opportunities and challenges of fetal cardiac intervention (FCI) development in China and proposes recommendations for future improvements and research directions.

Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.

The real-time Delphi method represents a refinement of the classical Delphi technique, designed to overcome limitations such as prolonged study duration and delayed feedback during consensus development. This article, building upon the classical Delphi foundation, systematically elaborates on the application process, advantages, and limitations of the real-time Delphi method. It further presents currently available websites or software capable of facilitating real-time Delphi exercises and offers considerations and recommendations for its application in guideline development, aiming to serve as a reference for relevant researchers.

Objective:To describe the characteristics, etiology and patterns of outpatients and inpatients patients with moderate or severe valvular heart disease (VHD).Methods:This is a cross-sectional study. Outpatients and inpatients with moderate or severe VHD who underwent transthoracic echocardiography for first examination from 1 st January 2001 to 1 st January 2020 in Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University were enrolled. Data were collected from medical records and big data platform of Southwest Hospital. Characteristics of age and gender, etiology and types of VHD were descriptively analysed. Results:A total of 68 354 patients with moderate or severe VHD were enrolled. The age was 63 (50, 72) years. And 35 706 (52.24%) patients were female. (1) Age characteristics: There was similar age trend between male and female patients with moderate or severe VHD. The number of patients increased firstly and then decreased and reached its peak in the age group of 65-69 years old. The peak age of mitral stenosis patients was 45-49 years, which was earlier than that of whole patients with moderate or severe VHD. The median age of patients with bicuspid aortic valve was 42 years. (2) Gender characteristics: The proportion of tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, mitral stenosis and valve surgery in female patients with moderate or severe VHD were higher than those in male patients. The proportion of aortic regurgitation, aortic stenosis and bicuspid aortic valve in male patients with moderate or severe VHD were significantly higher than those in female patients (all P<0.05). (3) Etiology: The proportion of rheumatic VHD was 13.07% (8 934/68 354), which was higher than that of degenerative VHD (0.67% (458/68 354)). (4) Types of VHD: Tricuspid regurgitation made contribution to the largest proportion with 60.72% (41 503/68 354), followed by mitral regurgitation, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, pulmonary regurgitation and aortic stenosis. Conclusions:There are certain regional characteristics in the prevalence of moderate or severe VHD in southwest China, suggesting different attention should be paid on the whole process of refined management of moderate or severe VHD.

BACKGROUND:Atlantoaxial dislocation,because of its high difficulty and high risk of surgery,has been regarded as the"surgical restricted area"by the international orthopedic community.However,with the rapid development of intelligent digitization in orthopedics,robot-assisted navigation screw placement technology has been widely used in clinical practice,which significantly reduces the difficulty and risk of surgery and improves the safety of surgery.However,there are few reports on the application of this technique in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation. OBJECTIVE:To explore the application value of robot-assisted pedicle screw internal fixation in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation. METHODS:The medical records of five patients with atlantoaxial dislocation treated with C1-C2 pedicle screw fixation under robot-assisted navigation in Zhuhai Hospital of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from October 2021 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Operation time,length of neck incision,blood loss,postoperative drainage volume,and length of hospital stay were recorded.Attention should be paid to cerebrospinal fluid leakage,vertebral artery injury,nerve injury,operative area infection and other complications.The visual analog scale score of neck pain,the spinal cord injury grade of the American Spinal Injury Association,the cervical spine score of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association,and the imaging indicators were collected before surgery and at the last follow-up.Screw placement accuracy was assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Five patients were successfully completed surgery,without vascular,nerve injury or other complications,and were followed up for 12-20 months.(2)A total of 20 cervical pedicle screws were placed in 5 patients,including 9 type A screws,10 type B screws,and 1 type C screw.The accuracy of screw placement was 95%.(3)At the last follow-up,the visual analog scale score was(0.80±0.71)points,which was significantly lower than that before operation(4.00±2.83)points;the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was(14.80±0.84)points,which was significantly higher than that before operation(8.00±0.71)points.Anterior atlantodental interval decreased from(7.86±3.25)mm to(2.82±0.93)mm;space available of the spinal cord increased from(6.74±1.99)mm to(12.10±3.51)mm;cervicomedullary angle increased from(133.32±13.55)° to(153.44±9.53)°;clivus-canal angle increased from(128.02±9.92)° to(143.25±12.99)°.The results of the last follow-up indexes were improved compared with those before operation,and the differences were significant(all P<0.05).(4)Postoperative imaging follow-up showed that all patients had bone fusion in the bone graft area,and no internal fixation loosening,fracture or pull-out occurred.(5)This method can avoid relying on the doctor's experience and hand feeling,ensure the accuracy of upper cervical screw placement,reduce the risk of surgery,and obtain satisfactory results in mid-term follow-up.

Objective To investigate the effect of Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.)lljinskaja polysaccharides on insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats by regulating glucose transporter 4(GLUT4)translocation in islet and liver.Methods High-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin(35 mg·kg-1)to induce type 2 diabetes model,all the rats were randomly divided into model control group,Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides groups(5,10 g·kg-1)and metformin group(0.25 g·kg-1),and treated for eight weeks(n=9 in each group).Fasting glucose and lipid were determined.Histopathology of rat islet and liver were observed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.Protein expressions of phosphorylated phosphoinositide-3-kinase(p-PI3K),phosphorylated serine-threonine kinase 1(p-Akt1),and GLUT4 in islet were measured by immunohistochemistry staining.GLUT4 translocation in the islet and liver was detected by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the model control group,the Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides group and metformin group had declined fasting glucose levels and increased high-density lipoprotein(P＜0.05).The structure of the islets and liver was relatively complete.The content of p-PI3K,p-Akt1 and GLUT4 in the islet increased(P＜0.05).GLUT4 translocation in the liver and islet enhanced(P＜0.05).Conclusions Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides alleviate glucose and lipid metabolism disorders.The mechanism may lay in it activating protein expressions of p-PI3K,p-Akt1,and GLUT4 in islet cells.GLUT4 translocation to the islet and liver cell membrane are increased to regulate peripheral islet resistance.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and the prognosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in children with massive proteinuria.Methods:It was a retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of IgAN children with massive proteinuria admitted to the Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2008 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group according to whether urine protein turned negative after 6 months of initial treatment. The follow-up endpoint event was defined as a reduction in proteinuria of less than 50% or end-stage renal disease (ESRD) achievement. MedCalc software was used to perform Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Log-rank test was used to compare the difference of renal survival between the two groups.Results:A total of 127 patients were diagnosed as primary IgAN by renal biopsy, of whom 57 patients with IgAN showed massive proteinuria. These 57 IgAN patients with macroproteinuria accounted for 44.9% of the total IgAN patients and were enrolled in the study. Among the 57 cases, 33 cases (57.9%) were Lee's grade Ⅲ, 11 cases (19.3%) were below Lee's grade Ⅲ, and 13 cases (22.8%) were above Lee's grade Ⅲ. The follow-up time was 4.0 (3.0,5.8) years. In the initial treatment, among 57 patients, 46 (80.7%) were effective (effective group) and 11 (19.3%) were ineffective (ineffective group). Compared with the effective group, the ineffective group had a higher proportion of concurrent AKI at the onset of disease and longer recovery time of renal function, with significant difference (7/11 vs. 13/46, χ2=4.878, P=0.027). Compared with the effective group, the proportion of Lee grade Ⅲ or above was higher in the ineffective group, and the difference was statistically significant (5/11 vs. 8/46, χ2=3.971, P=0.046). There were significant differences in endocapillary hypercellularity (E1), segmental glomerulosclerosis or adhesion (S1) and cellular/fibrocellular crescents (C2) of Oxford classification between IgAN children with Lee grade Ⅲ or below and those over Lee grade Ⅲ (11/13 vs. 20/44, χ2=6.204, P=0.013; 12/13 vs. 17/44, χ2=11.566, P=0.001; 9/13 vs. 7/44, χ2=14.131, P=0.001). Among 57 patients, endpoint events occurred in 2 patients who both were urinary protein unmitigated, and none of the children progressed to ESRD. There was no significant difference in cumulative renal survival between the two groups by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test ( χ2=0.537, P=0.460) after addition of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) to the initial treatment ineffective group. Conclusions:Macroproteinuria is the prominent manifestation of IgAN in children. The pathological type is mainly Lee grade Ⅲ. Children with macroproteinuria have a good prognosis in the short and medium term after active treatment. For IgAN with macroproteinuria that does not respond well to initial treatment, AKI is more common at onset, and renal function recovery time is longer. The application of CNIs may have a certain effect on improving the renal outcome of IgAN with massive proteinuria.

Objective:To explore the impact of different six-character qigong training modes on respiratory muscle function early after a stroke.Methods:Sixty-six stroke survivors in the early stage of recovery were randomly divided into a control group, a modified training group, and an ancient training group, each of 22. In addition to routine rehabilitation training, the control group received conventional respiratory training. The modified training and ancient training groups were trained in modified six-character qigong or ancient six-character qigong, respectively, for two weeks. Before the treatment, after the two weeks and one month later, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), forced expiratory volume in one second, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, maximum mid-expiratory flow, and peak inspiratory flow were measured. Diaphragm mobility during quiet inspiration and maximum inspiration were also quantified.Results:After 2 weeks of treatment and at 1 and 3 months after the end of the treatment, all three groups showed significant improvement in MIP, MEP and the pulmonary ventilation indicators, but the average improvement in the modified training group was significantly greater than in the other two groups. Their average diaphragm mobility was also significantly greater.Conclusion:Modified six-character qigong respiratory training is more effective than its ancient counterpart in improving respiratory muscle function, pulmonary ventilation, and diaphragm mobility early after a stroke, with effects which persist for at least one month.