OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the first-line treatment using the combination therapy of sugemalimab and chemotherapy （hereinafter referred to as the “combination therapy”） for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） with high programmed death-ligand 1 （PD-L1） expression from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. METHODS A partitioned survival model was constructed based on data from the GEMSTONE-304 study. The model cycle was set at 3 weeks， with a study duration of 10 years and a discount rate of 5%. The primary output parameters of the model included total costs， quality-adjusted life year （QALY）， incremental costs， and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio （ICER）. Cost- utility analysis was employed to assess the economic feasibility of the combination therapy compared to chemotherapy alone. The robustness of the base case analysis results was evaluated through univariate sensitivity analysis， probabilistic sensitivity analysis， and scenario analysis. RESULTS The ICER of the combination therapy compared to chemotherapy alone was 288 430.35 yuan/QALY， significantly exceeding the willingness-to-pay （WTP） threshold of 173 354.52 yuan/QALY which was set at 1.94 times the per capita gross domestic product （GDP） in 2023. The price of sugemalimab was the primary factor influencing the ICER. When the WTP threshold was set at 1.94 times the per capita GDP （173 354.52 yuan/QALY）， the probability of the combination therapy being cost-effective compared to chemotherapy alone was 0. The combination therapy only became cost-effective compared to chemotherapy alone when the price of the drug dropped to 6 107.41 yuan per box （600 mg）. CONCLUSIONS From the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system， the combination therapy for first-line treatment of advanced ESCC with high PD-L1 expression is not cost-effective； the combination therapy is cost-effective when the price of sugemalimab decreas by 50.65%.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the types and control measures of major microorganisms in pharmaceutical water systems, so as to provide guidance for effective control of pharmaceutical water systems. METHODS The main microbial species, abundance and harmfulness of drinking water, purified water and water for injection were reviewed, and the control measures on microorganisms in pharmaceutical water were discussed. RESULTS There were differences in the main microbial types in pharmaceutical water. Burkholderia cepacia complex and Ralstonia pickettii were conditioned pathogens in pharmaceutical water, thus causing certain biological safety hazards. CONCLUSION Pharmaceutical companies can strengthen the control of microorganisms in the water system by establishing microbial databases and common microbial strain banks at all levels. Trend analysis should to be conducted based on alert limits and action limits, so as to strengthen the control of microorganisms in the water system.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Objective:To study the correlation between serum uric acid (SUA) and vascular calcification in middle-aged and elderly men.Methods:Using the Yiduyun electronic medical record retrieval system, a cross-sectional study was conducted on the clinical data of 2 786 male patients aged ≥40 years who underwent lung CT examinations in Dalian Central Hospital, Dalian University of Technology from January 2010 to October 2022. According to the degree of pulmonary CT vascular calcification, they were divided into vascular calcification group (1 296 cases)and non vascular calcification group (1 490 cases). The clinical data were collected and the correlation between SUA and vascular calcification were analyzed.Results:The levels os SUA in the vascular calcification group was higher than that in the non vascular calcification group: 311.50(270.25, 359.00) μmol/L vs. 284.00(251.00, 318.00) μmol/L, there was statistical difference ( F = 14.16, P<0.01). The constituent ratio of hyperuricemia in vascular calcification group was higher than that in non vascular calcification group : 25.62%(332/1 296) vs. 11.68%(174/1 490), there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 20.15, P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis found a positive correlation between SUA level and vascular calcification in middle-aged and elderly men ( r = 0.489, P<0.01). Binary Logistic regression analysis results showed that SUA, body mass index (BMI), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), fasting plasma glucose(FPG) were positively correlated with vascular calcification ( P<0.01); after adjusting the influence of BMI, DBP and FPG on male vascular calcification, SUA was still a risk factor for vascular calcification. Conclusions:In the middle-aged and elderly male population, with the increase of blood uric acid, vascular calcification increase, and the elevated blood uric acid level is an independent risk factor for vascular calcification.

Objective To explore the influence of family history of diabetes and central obesity on prediabetes(Pre-DM)and their interaction.Methods Based on the REACTION studyduring August December 2011 in Dalian,2587 individuals aged≥40 with normal blood glucose(BG)were divided into newly diagnosed Pre-DM(n=522)and BG normal group(NC,n=2065)during follow-up.The influence of family history of DM and central obesity on prediabetes and their interaction were analyzed.Results The age,SBP,DBP,BMI,WC,HDL-C,LDL-C,TG,ALT,GGT,FPG,2 hPG,HbA1c,FIns,HOMA-IR,SUA and the incidence of hypertension,fatty liver disease,dyslipidemia,overweight/obesity and central obesity in Pre-DM group were all higher than those in NC group(P＜0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of diabetes and central obesity were risk factors for Pre-DM.After adjustment,no significant multiplicative interaction was shown between diabetes family history and central obesity on the risk of Pre-DM(P=0.764).Quantitative analysis of interaction showed that RERI=0.110,S=1.112 and AP=0.053,suggesting that DM family history and central obesity have no significant additive interaction on the risk of Pre-DM.Conclusion The family history of DM and central obesity are both associated with the occurrence of Pre-DM,but there is no significant interaction.

Objective:To explore the level and influencing factors of treatment costs for patients with pneumoconiosis, and to provide a basis for reducing the economic burden of patients with pneumoconiosis and optimizing the rational allocation of medical resources.Methods:In August 2020, the multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to obtain the treatment cost information of pneumoconiosis patients from January to December 2018 in 1123 sample medical institutions. The average cost per time of 2178 outpatients and 7425 inpatients was described, and the differences in the distribution of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis were compared by one-way analysis of variance, and a multiple linear regression model was constructed to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis.Results:The average cost of outpatients with pneumoconiosis was 465.88 yuan, and the average cost of inpatients was 12280.63 yuan. There were statistically significant differences in hospitalization expenses among different age, institution level, institution type, length of hospital stay and type of insured ( F=10.49, 402.92, 416.35, 2390.48, 1298.14, P<0.001) . Age, length of hospital stay, reimbursement ratio, and institution level were influencing factors of the total hospitalization expenses of patients with pneumoconiosis ( t=5.27, 62.20, 22.35, 21.20, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Patients with pneumoconiosis have a heavy burden of treatment costs. Age, length of hospital stay, institution level and reimbursement ratio are the main influencing factors of hospitalization costs. It is recommended to strengthen the prevention and treatment of key populations, standardize the use of medical insurance, and promote the rational allocation of medical resource to reduce the cost burden of pneumoconiosis patients.

Objective:To explore the level and influencing factors of treatment costs for patients with pneumoconiosis, and to provide a basis for reducing the economic burden of patients with pneumoconiosis and optimizing the rational allocation of medical resources.Methods:In August 2020, the multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to obtain the treatment cost information of pneumoconiosis patients from January to December 2018 in 1123 sample medical institutions. The average cost per time of 2178 outpatients and 7425 inpatients was described, and the differences in the distribution of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis were compared by one-way analysis of variance, and a multiple linear regression model was constructed to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization costs for patients with pneumoconiosis.Results:The average cost of outpatients with pneumoconiosis was 465.88 yuan, and the average cost of inpatients was 12280.63 yuan. There were statistically significant differences in hospitalization expenses among different age, institution level, institution type, length of hospital stay and type of insured ( F=10.49, 402.92, 416.35, 2390.48, 1298.14, P<0.001) . Age, length of hospital stay, reimbursement ratio, and institution level were influencing factors of the total hospitalization expenses of patients with pneumoconiosis ( t=5.27, 62.20, 22.35, 21.20, P<0.001) . Conclusion:Patients with pneumoconiosis have a heavy burden of treatment costs. Age, length of hospital stay, institution level and reimbursement ratio are the main influencing factors of hospitalization costs. It is recommended to strengthen the prevention and treatment of key populations, standardize the use of medical insurance, and promote the rational allocation of medical resource to reduce the cost burden of pneumoconiosis patients.

Objective:To investigate the influence of Covid-19 epidemic on the number of acute ischemic stroke patients with intravenous thrombolytic therapy in Dalian in 2020, the way to hospital, onset to door time (ODT), door to needle time(DNT), onset to needle time(ONT), and the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) before and after intravenous thrombolytic therapy.Methods:This was a retrospective descriptive study on 13 map-participating hospitals in Dalian from August 2020 to December 2020. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients with intravenous thrombolytic therapy, ODT, DNT, ONT, modes of transport to hospital, the NIHSS score before and after intravenous thrombolytic therapy, etc were analyzed. Data were collected from August 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, and compared with the baseline data from the same period in 2019.Results:SPSS 22.0 statistical software and Data Analysis ToolPak were used for statistical analysis of the obtained data, and T tests statistic was used for data analysis. In 2020,the number of acute ischemic stroke patients with intravenous thrombolytic therapy increased (681 cases vs 416 cases), and DNT increased [50 minutes vs 45 minutes P = 0.01]. In 2020, 83.55% of patients indicated self-visit as their main mode of transport to the hospital. In 2020, among the self-visit patients with NIHSS score<15 scores,the number of the patients with the NHISS score unchanged or decreased after intravenous thrombolytic therapy was more (562 scores vs. 535 scores, P<0.001), and the patients with NIHSS score ≥15 scores were more willing to call ambulances to hospital. Conclusions:During the Covid-19 epidemic period of 2020, the number of acute ischemic stroke patients receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy increased, DNT increase; the patients withNIHSS score<15 scores are more willing to choose to visit the hospital using their own transportation and benefit from intravenous thrombolytic therapy. The patients with NIHSS ≥15 scores prefer to call ambulances to hospital.

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common complications after liver transplantation. The survival rate of recipients after liver transplantation with diabetes mellitus and the long-term survival rate of grafts are significantly lower than those of their counterparts without diabetes mellitus. In recent years, diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation has attracted widespread attention along with the rapid development of liver transplantation in China. Although post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been extensively investigated in the past two decades, multiple problems remain to be further resolved. The study was designed to review the latest research progress upon diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation, covering the definition and diagnostic criteria of PTDM, risk factors, prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation, aiming to deepen the understanding of diabetes mellitus following liver transplantation, deliver effective prevention and management, improve the long-term survival rate and enhance the quality of life of the recipients.