ObjectiveTo investigate a suspected outbreak of healthcare-associated infection with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in a geriatric emergency ward, and to provide references for the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant bacteria in a hospital in Shanghai. MethodsOn-site epidemiological investigation, combined with environmental hygiene monitoring and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) molecular typing method, were adopted to investigate a suspected outbreak of CRKP infection in the geriatric emergency ward of a hospital from October to November 2022, aiming at finding out factors caused the outbreak before taking corresponding control measures. ResultsA total of 3 cases of healthcare-associated CRKP infection were identified, of which 2 cases were homologous to a previous case of community-associated CRKP infection. What’s more, the 2 cases lived in the same ward with the latter and with adjacent beds, but the third case was non-homologous to the community-associated infection case. A total of 46 samples were collected from the environmental surfaces and the hands of healthcare workers, of which 7 samples tested positive for CRKP and were identical to the strains from the 2 healthcare-associated infection cases and the 1 community-associated infection case, originating from the bedrails, bedside tables, surface of non-invasive ventilator, bed curtains and panels of monitoring equipment, with a detection rate of 15.22%. But none of the 11 samples from the hands of healthcare workers tested positive for CRKP. The outbreak was effectively controlled after taking specific prevention and control measures such as strengthening personnel management, intensifying environmental cleaning and disinfection and strictly enforcing hand hygiene among healthcare workers. Subsequently, no similar new cases were reported during the 14-day follow-up period. ConclusionIncomplete environmental cleaning and disinfection, as well as inadequate enforcement of hand hygiene among heatheare workers may have contributed to the suspected outbreak of CRKP in the geriatric emergency ward. Early warning and timely investigation of suspected outbreaks of multidrug-resistant bacteria are crucial for preventing and controlling such outbreaks in hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

In current clinical practice, various dermal templates and skin substitutes are used to enhance wound healing. However, the role of wound commensal microbiome in regulating scaffold performance and the healing process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of both natural and synthetic scaffolds on the wound commensal microbiome and wound repair in three distinct models including diabetic wounds, burn injuries, and germ-free (GF) wounds. Remarkably, synthetic electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were observed to positively promote microbiome diversity, leading to enhanced diabetic wound healing compared to the natural scaffolds Integra® (INT) and MatriDerm® (MAD). In contrast, both natural and synthetic scaffolds exhibited comparable effects on the diversity of the microbiome and the healing of burn injuries. In GF wounds with no detectable microorganisms, a reversed healing rate was noted showing natural scaffold (MAD) accelerated wound repair compared to the open or the synthetic scaffold (PCL) treatment. Furthermore, the response of the wound commensal microbiome to PCL scaffolds appears pivotal in promoting anti-inflammatory factors during diabetic wound healing. Our results emphasize that the wound commensal microbiome, mediated by different scaffolds plays an important role in the wound healing process.

β-elemene has been observed to exert inhibitory effects on a multitude of tumors,primarily through multiple pathways such as the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis.The present study is designed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of β-elemene in the thera-peutic intervention of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Both in vitro and in vivo experimental models corroborate the inhibitory potency of β-elemene on NSCLCs.Our findings indicate that β-elemene fa-cilitates the maturation of miR-127-3p by inhibiting CBX8.Functioning as an upstream regulator of MAPK4,miR-127-3p deactivates the Akt/mTOR/p70S6K pathway by targeting MAPK4,thereby inducing autophagy in NSCLCs.Additionally,β-elemene augments the packaging of miR-127-3p into exosomes via SYNCRIP.Exosomal miR-127-3p further stimulates M1 polarization of macrophages by suppressing ZC3H4.Taken together,the detailed understanding of the mechanisms through which β-elemene in-duces autophagy in NSCLCs and facilitates M1 polarization of macrophages provides compelling scientific evidence supporting its potential utility in NSCLC treatment.

Formative assessment emphasizes timely feedback to guide and improve the learning process, benefiting both students and teachers through the evaluation–feedback–improvement–reevaluation mechanism. The Pediatric College of Chongqing Medical University has widely applied formative assessment to standardized residency training, and at the same time, has actively researched this method in undergraduate education to employ various formative assessment tools to establish a formative assessment-based pediatric education model that has specialized characteristics and can be popularized. We have demonstrated that the formative assessment-based education model can improve the teaching quality of pediatric medical education, and better meet the requirements of higher education and the new situation of medical education in the age of new medicine.

Objective To observe the effects of different ligation sites and fasting method on a C57BL/6J mouse model of partial bile duct ligation(pBDL)-induced cholestasis,to establish a pBDL modeling method with a high modeling rate,typical symptoms,and good stability.Methods C57BL/6J mice were subjected to selective ligation of the left hepatic bile duct(L-pBDL)and left-to-median bile duct junction ligation(ML-pBDL)for modeling,and the effects of different pBDL ligation method on serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total bilirubin,total bile acid,and liver histopathology were observed.The effects of different fasting method on symptoms and liver injury in the ML-pBDL model were also observed after fasting for 12 and 16 h before surgery,and for 4 h after surgery.Results(1)The incidence of jaundice in the ML-pBDL group was 52.94%and the survival rate within 3 weeks after surgery was 64.71%,while the incidence of jaundice in the L-pBDL group was 11.76%and the survival rate within 3 weeks after surgery was 82.35%.Compared with those in the sham surgery group,serum liver function indicators were significantly increased in the L-pBDL and ML-pBDL groups(P＜0.01),and ALP activity was significantly higher in the ML-pBDL group than in the L-pBDL group(P＜0.05).Compared with mice in the L-pBDL group,mice in the ML-pBDL group had more severe liver fibrosis at 3 weeks post-surgery(P＜0.01).(2)In addition,the incidence of jaundice in the 16 h fasting group was 93.33%and the survival rate within 3 weeks after surgery was 73.77%,while the incidence of jaundice in the 12 h fasting group was 42.86%and the survival rate within 3 weeks after surgery was 71.42%.Compared with those in the normal group,ALP activity,alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase ratio,total bile acid level,and proportion of collagen fiber area were all significantly increased in the 16 h and 12 h fasting groups(P＜0.05).Although the observed indicators were higher in the 16 h fasting group compared with those in the 12 h fasting group,the difference was not significant(P＞0.05).Mice in the 12 h and 16 h fasting groups both showed significant bile duct hyperplasia and liver fibrosis(P＜0.01),with more severe liver fibrosis in the 16 h fasting group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Both L-pBDL and ML-pBDL ligation method can be used to establish a mouse model of cholestasis;however,symptoms in the L-pBDL model only exhibit transient damage characteristics,while the liver lesions in the ML-pBDL model are typical and stable.Prolonging the preoperative fasting time can improve the modeling rate and stability of the ML-pBDL model and produce more-typical pathological symptoms.

Objective:To describe the current situation of mental health service utilization of community pa-tients with five mental disorders in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and provide reference for health education and formulating relevant policies.Methods:The multistage stratified sampling method with unequal probability was used to select a total of 12 315 community residents aged 18 and over in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.Using Composite International Diagnostic Interview,mood disorders,anxiety disorders,substance use disorders,intermit-tent explosive disorders,and eating disorders,and health service utilization were investigated.Descriptive statistics was completed by single factor analysis method.Results:The lifetime rates of consultation and treatment of any mental disorder were 18.7％and 10.2％,respectively.The highest proportion of patients received treatment by non-medical professionals was 31.4％,followed by psychiatrists in psychiatric hospital or psychologists in general hospitals.Among the patients,1.1％of them received medication,and 2.5％received psychotherapy.Conclusion:The utilization rate of mental health services in community patients with five mental disorders is relatively low.It is necessary to conduct health education for medical help seeking properly.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of laparoscopic radical surgery, compared to open surgery, for incidental gallbladder cancer following cholecystectomy.Methods:Clinical data of 106 patients with incidental gallbladder cancer treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine from April 2010 to February 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 66 males and 40 females, aged (64.7±7.9) years old. According to surgical approach, patients were divided into the laparoscopic group ( n=45) and open group ( n=61). Perioperative data, including intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications, were compared between the groups. Follow-ups were conducted via outpatient visits or telephone reviews. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival rates were compared using the log-rank test. Results:All 45 patients in the laparoscopic group successfully underwent the surgery without conversion to open surgery. Compared to the open group, the laparoscopic group had a reduced intraoperative blood loss [(100±25) ml vs. (200±46) ml] and a shortened postoperative hospital stay [3(2, 5) d vs. 5(4, 7) d] (both P<0.05). The postoperative complication rates were 6.7% (3/45) in the laparoscopic group and 13.1% (8/61) in the open group ( χ2=4.16, P=0.041). The cumulative survival rate after radical surgery for incidental gallbladder cancer was better in the laparoscopic group ( χ2=4.58, P=0.032). Conclusion:Compared to open surgery, laparoscopic radical surgery for incidental gallbladder cancer showed benefits in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, complication rates, and cumulative survival.

Caloric restriction (CR) is a well-established dietary intervention known to extend healthy lifespan and exert positive effects on aging-related diseases, including cardiovascular conditions. Sirtuins, a family of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD +)-dependent histone deacetylases, have emerged as key regulators of cellular metabolism, stress responses, and the aging process, serving as energy status sensors in response to CR. However, the mechanism through which CR regulates Sirtuin function to ameliorate cardiovascular disease remains unclear. This review not only provided an overview of recent research investigating the interplay between Sirtuins and CR, specifically focusing on their potential implications for cardiovascular health, but also provided a comprehensive summary of the benefits of CR for the cardiovascular system mediated directly via Sirtuins. CR has also been shown to have considerable impact on specific metabolic organs, leading to the production of small molecules that enter systemic circulation and subsequently regulate Sirtuin activity within the cardiovascular system. The direct and indirect effects of CR offer a potential mechanism for Sirtuin modulation and subsequent cardiovascular protection. Understanding the interplay between CR and Sirtuins will provide new insights for the development of interventions to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the treatment of moderate to severe the adults with plaque psoriasis.Methods:The clinical data from 183 adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis treated with secukinumab were collected.The patients received subcutaneous injections of secukinumab once a week at weeks 0,1,2,3,and 4,followed by an injection every 4 weeks,with each dose of 300 mg.The follow-up period was 52 weeks.The psoriasis area and severity index(PASI),body surface area(BSA),investigator global assessment(IGA),and dermatology life quality index(DLQI)scores of the patients with psoriasis were caculated.The clinical efficacy and safety of secukinumab in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were evaluated,and the influencing factors were analyzed.Results:Compared with week 0,the PASI、BSA、IGA and DLQI scores of the patients were significantly decreased at weeks 4,12,24,and 52 of secukinumab treatment(P<0.05).After treated with secukinumab,the percentages of the patients achieving PASI 75,PASI 90,and PASI 100 at week 4 were 95.6%,84.2%,and 47.5%,respectively;at week 12,they were 97.3%,95.6%,and 78.7%,respectively;at week 24,they were 97.8%,96.7%,and 84.2%,respectively;and at week 52,they were 98.4%,97.8%,and 83.6%,respectively.The percentages of the patients with BSA≤1%at weeks 4,12,24,and 52 were 80.9%,94.5%,95.6%,and 94.0%,respectively.The percentages of the patients with IGA score of 0/1 at week 4,12,24,and 52 were 86.3%,97.3%,96.7%,and 95.6%,respectively.The percentages of the patients with DLQI score of 0/1 at weeks 4,12,24,and 52 were 76.6%,89.1%,92.9%,and 91.8%,respectively.At week 4 of secukinumab treatment,there were significant differences in age,body mass index(BMI),disease duration,baseline PASI score,and history of previous biologic treatment between the patients in two groups(P<0.05).At week 24 of secukinumab treatment,there were significant differences in age and BMI between the patients in two groups(P<0.05).At week 4,BMI≥25 kg·m-2,disease duration≥10 years,baseline PASI score≥10,and a history of previous biologic treatment were risk factors affecting the recovery of the patient(P<0.05).At week 24,age≥40 years was a risk factor affecting the recovery of the patient(P<0.05).During the treatment period,44 out of 183 psoriasis patients reported 49 adverse reactions,and the adverse reaction rate was 24.0%.No serious adverse events or fatal adverse reactions occurred.The adverse reactions included upper respiratory tract infections in 23 cases,eczema-like skin lesions in 10 cases,skin fungal infections in 6 cases,urticaria in 3 cases,mild liver function abnormalities in 2 cases,folliculitis in 2 cases,conjunctivitis in 2 cases,and otitis media in 1 case.Conclusion:Secukinumab treatment for the adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis is rapid-acting and has lasting efficacy.The BMI,disease duration,baseline PASI score,history of previous biologic treatment,and age are the factors influencing the clinical efficacy of secukinumab.The overall safety is good,and secukinumab may be used as a first-line treatment option for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.