The Tibet Autonomous Region (hereinafter referred to as Tibet) is located on the border of the country, with a harsh natural environment and an average elevation of over 4 000 meters. Currently, the total permanent population of the region is about 3.65 million, distributed over 1.2 million square kilometers of land. The land is vast and sparsely populated, making it extremely difficult to allocate medical resources. The above objective reasons make it difficult for patients in Tibet to seek medical treatment in a timely manner, and there are multiple complications when seeking medical treatment. In terms of inguinal hernia disease, the proportion of patients with inguinal incarcerated hernia is relatively high. Due to poor medical conditions, patients have poor awareness of seeking medical treatment, and lack of understanding of the disease, leading to serious complications and even death caused by inguinal incarcerated hernia. With the releasing of clinical guidelines, advances in equipment and materials, and updates in treatment concepts and anatomical understanding, laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair has been vigorously promoted. The promotion of new medical technologies in Tibet is relatively lagging behind. In recent years, with the strong support of the China Hernia Society and the Chinese Hernia Collegen of Surgeons, minimally invasive treatment related to hernia disease has been promoted in Lhasa since 2016, especially for inguinal hernia. At present, minimally invasive technology for treating inguinal hernia has been widely promoted to tertiary hospitals in Tibet. Through publicity, patients can seek medical attention in a timely manner, significantly reducing the incidence of inguinal incarcerated hernia. Based on litera-tures and clinical practice, the authors explore the promotion, application, and historical significance of minimally invasive surgery for hernia in Tibet.

Objective:To understand the positive rate of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) specific IgG antibody induced by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) inactivated vaccine in healthy population in Xizang Autonomous Region, and evaluate the immune effect of the vaccine.Methods:Serum samples were collected from COIVD-19 vaccine immunized health population without history of 2019-nCoV infection from six prefecture-level cities in Xizang Autonomous Region. The IgG antibody against 2019-nCoV were tested by chemiluminescence method. Then, the positive rate of IgG antibody was analyzed for different immunization histories and age groups.Results:A total of 22 255 participants were enrolled in this survey. After full-access (two doses of vaccine) and booster immunization, the overall positive rate of specific IgG antibody against 2019-nCoV was 96.38%. The positive rate of IgG antibody in the booster immunized population was 97.12%, which was much higher than the 88.38% in the full-access immunization population, the difference is statistically significant ( χ2=381.11, P<0.001). There was a significant differences in the positive rates of specific IgG antibodies in different age groups ( χ2=138.28, P<0.001). Especially in the younger age groups, including less than 10 years old and the 11-20 years age group, the positive rate of specific IgG antibody were 93.44% and 89.03% respectively, which were lower than those in other age groups. Except for Naqu city and the age group ≤ 10 years old, the differences in antibody positivity rates were statistically significant between different age groups in the same region and between the different regions in the same age group for the two populations with different immunization histories ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The COVID-19 inactivated vaccine showed a good immune effect in the healthy population in Xizang Autonomous Region, and the booster immunization helps to increase the positive rate of specific IgG antibody in healthy population.

Objective:To observe and evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the treatment of eyes with macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in Lhasa, Tibet.Methods:A retrospective case series. From September 2018 to January 2022, a total of 41 patients (41 eyes) with BRVO-ME, who were diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, were included in this study. There were 21 eyes in 21 males and 20 eyes in 20 females. The median age was 53 (31,75) years. There were 24 patients with hypertension (58.8%, 24/41). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular pressure, fundus color photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in all eyes. The BCVA was performed using the international standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA for record. The foveal macular thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT. All eyes were treated with intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF drugs, once a month, among which 23 eyes (56.1%, 23/41) received intravitreous injection of ranibizumab (IVR), and 18 eyes (43.9%, 18/41) received intravitreous injection of conbercept (IVC), and were grouped accordingly. There was no significant difference in age ( Z=-0.447), gender composition ( Z=-0.485), logMAR BCVA ( t=-1.591), intraocular pressure ( t=-0.167) and CMT ( t=-1.290) between two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, the same devices and methods were used at baseline to perform relevant examinations, and the changes of BCVA, intraocular pressure, CMT and new cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were compared between baseline and the last follow-up. logMAR BCVA, intraocular pressure and CMT were compared between baseline and last follow-up using Student t test. The comparison of injection times and follow-up time between IVR group and IVC group was conducted by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:At baseline, logMAR BCVA, intraocular pressure, and CMT were 0.852±0.431, (12.5±2.5) mm Hg (1 mm Hg= 0.133 kPa), and (578.1±191.1) μm, respectively. At the last follow-up, the number of anti-VEGF drug treatments was (2.7±1.2) times; logMAR BCVA and CMT were 0.488±0.366 and (207.4±108.7) μm, respectively, with CMT > 250 μm in 14 eyes (34.1%, 14/41). Compared with baseline, BCVA ( t=4.129) and CMT ( t=-0.713) were significantly improved, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The injection times of IVR group and IVC group were (2.6±0.9) and (3.0±1.5) times, respectively. There were no significant differences in the number of injection times ( t=-1.275), logMAR BCVA ( t=-0.492), intraocular pressure ( t=0.351) and CMT ( t=-1.783) between the two groups ( P>0.05). No new hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events occurred in all patients during follow-up. At the last follow-up, there were no eye complications related to treatment modalities and drugs. Conclusion:Short-term anti-VEGF treatment can improve the visual acuity of BRVO secondary ME patients and alleviate ME in Lhasa, Tibet. The safety and efficacy of ranibizumab and conbercept were similar.

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Motuo County from 2012 to 2021 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of PTB. A total of 223 cases of PTB were reported from 2012 to 2021 in Motuo County, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 171.39/100 000. Joinpoint regression model analysis showed that the average decline rate was 9.2% (P<0.001) from 2012 to 2021. Among the various types of PTB patients reported from 2012 to 2021, there were 69 cases of etiologic-positive cases which increased from 28.57% to 52.63%. Results from the circular distribution methods showed that there was no obvious peak time of PTB in Motuo County. There was no statistical difference in the average annual incidence of PTB between different genders (χ²=0.108, P=0.743). Among all age groups, the 20-29 years group had the highest proportion (26.91%, 60/223). The Monpa ethnic group (153 cases, 68.61%) had the largest number of cases, followed by the Lhoba people (44 cases, 19.73%) and the Tibetan (22 cases, 9.87%). Farmers (168 cases, 75.34%) had the highest occupational composition ratio, followed by students (40 cases, 17.94%). The main detection methods of PTB were clinical consultation and transferring consultation. Overall, the incidence rate of PTB decreased from 2012 to 2021. The majority of PTB patients were young adults with high transmission risk. It is necessary to pay more attention to the key populations and strengthen the comprehensive prevention and control for reducing the risk of PTB.
Young Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Tibet/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/prevention & control* ; Incidence ; Students ; Ethnicity ; China/epidemiology*

To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Motuo County from 2012 to 2021 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of PTB. A total of 223 cases of PTB were reported from 2012 to 2021 in Motuo County, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 171.39/100 000. Joinpoint regression model analysis showed that the average decline rate was 9.2% (P<0.001) from 2012 to 2021. Among the various types of PTB patients reported from 2012 to 2021, there were 69 cases of etiologic-positive cases which increased from 28.57% to 52.63%. Results from the circular distribution methods showed that there was no obvious peak time of PTB in Motuo County. There was no statistical difference in the average annual incidence of PTB between different genders (χ²=0.108, P=0.743). Among all age groups, the 20-29 years group had the highest proportion (26.91%, 60/223). The Monpa ethnic group (153 cases, 68.61%) had the largest number of cases, followed by the Lhoba people (44 cases, 19.73%) and the Tibetan (22 cases, 9.87%). Farmers (168 cases, 75.34%) had the highest occupational composition ratio, followed by students (40 cases, 17.94%). The main detection methods of PTB were clinical consultation and transferring consultation. Overall, the incidence rate of PTB decreased from 2012 to 2021. The majority of PTB patients were young adults with high transmission risk. It is necessary to pay more attention to the key populations and strengthen the comprehensive prevention and control for reducing the risk of PTB.
Young Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Tibet/epidemiology* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/prevention & control* ; Incidence ; Students ; Ethnicity ; China/epidemiology*