Objective : To evaluate the coverage and spatial clustering of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine(PCV13) among the 2017—2023 birth cohorts in Anhui Province. Methods : Obtained vaccination data of PCV13 for children born in 2017—2023 from the Anhui Immunization Information Management System.We estimated coverage levels and described characteristics of coverage.The spatial autocorrelation analysis of coverage was conducted. Results : Cumulative coverage,cumulative primary immunization coverage and cumulative full-series coverage of PCV13 were 17.19%,12.12% and 9.09% among the 2017—2023 birth cohort in Anhui Province.The coverage of PCV13 increased from 1.14% in the 2017 birth cohort to 41.59% in the 2022 birth cohort.The first dose of PCV13 at ages under 3,3—6,7—11,12—23 and not less than 24 months were 45.35%,29.84%,5.52%,10.75% and 8.53%,respectively.There were significant differences in the ages of the first dose between children of different years of born and kinds of PCV13(P<0.001).Significant differences were also observed in the cumulative coverage,cumulative primary immunization coverage,cumulative full-series coverage of PCV13 and ages of the first dose among children from various residence regions(P<0.001).From 2018 to 2023 birth cohort,the coverage of PCV13 in Anhui Province showed obvious positive spatial autocorrelation.Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the "high-high" agglomeration areas were concentrated in the central area of Anhui. Conclusion The coverage of PCV13 was low in Anhui Province with significant regional differences.

Inverse Compton scattering X-rays are commonly generated by the collision of the incident relativistic high-energy electrons with the low-energy photons of laser pulses. Compared with the X-rays from bremsstrahlung radiation, which are often used in clinical settings, inverse Compton X-rays have unique advantages in radiological diagnosis and treatment due to their distinctive physical properties. In these years, the demand of precision radiotherapy technology has been increasingly emphasized. Inverse Compton X-rays may provide such a promising path for the development of precision radiotherapy. However, only a few facilities worldwide can achieve the generation of inverse Compton X-rays, and relevant studies in the field of radiation therapy are also in the exploratory stage. In this article, recent research progress at home and abroad were reviewed to introduce the ways of inverse Compton X-rays generation as well as their characteristics and advantages in radiation physics, aiming to provide reference for evaluating their application values and prospects in radiation therapy.

Objective:To compare the uncertainty of dose calibration systems between EBT4 and EBT3 films, and to evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of EBT4 films in radiotherapy dose measurements.Methods:EBT4 and EBT3 films were irradiated with clinical 6 MV photon beams at doses ranging from 0 to 1,600 MU. Films were scanned after resting for 0 and 24 h to establish dose calibration functions based on net optical density. The dose uncertainties introduced by function fitting, dose resolution, film non-uniformity, scan repeatability, and scanner non-uniformity during calibration of the two films were obtained through experimental tests and mathematical calculations. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare differences in fitting uncertainty and dose resolution between the two films, while homogeneity of variance tests were used to compare differences in film non-uniformity and scan repeatability. The combined total uncertainty was then calculated and compared. Finally, the total combined uncertainty was calculated by integrating all individual sources of uncertainty and compared between the two films. Results:Within the absorbed dose range of 1-12 Gy, EBT4 films exhibited significantly lower dose uncertainties from function fitting and dose resolution than EBT3 films at the same standing time ( P<0.01). No significant differences were observed between the two films in terms of non-uniformity and scan repeatability ( P>0.05). The total dose uncertainties of EBT4 and EBT3 films at 0 h standing were 5.65% and 7.87%, respectively, while the total uncertainties at 24 h standing were 4.73% and 6.33%, respectively. Overall, the dose calibration system of EBT4 films demonstrated consistently lower total uncertainty. Conclusion:Under identical conditions, EBT4 films demonstrate superior and more stable dose uncertainty compared with EBT3 films, thereby meeting the clinical requirements for radiation dose measurements with higher precision.

Objective:To construct a questionnaire to measure parents′ behavioral and social drivers (BeSD) in administering rotavirus vaccine to their children, and to test the reliability and validity of the questionnaire.Methods:A questionnaire was constructed to investigate the BeSD of rotavirus vaccination among parents based on the WHO BeSD questionnaire. A survey was conducted among parents of children aged 0-3 years old in vaccination clinics from 15 community health service centers in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province, Yuhuan and Kaihua Counties of Zhejiang Province, Anqing City of Anhui Province, and Yangpu District of Shanghai City from April to May in 2024. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to analyze the reliability (internal consistency reliability, combination reliability and split half reliability) and validity (structural validity, convergence validity and discriminative validity) of the questionnaire.Results:A total of 850 questionnaires were collected, of which 614 were valid, with an effective response rate of 72.20%. The EFA resulted in the refinement of the rotavirus vaccine BeSD questionnaire from 37 to 35 items (including 24 core items), and suggested a five-factor structure including the perceptions of vaccine, confidence in vaccine, social process of vaccination, motivation for vaccination, and practical problems of vaccination. The cumulative variance contribution rate reached 56.27%. The CFA confirmed an ideal five-factor model fit (GFI=0.82,CFI=0.86,PNFI=0.67,RMSEA=0.07). The AVE of each dimension was greater than 0.50. The AVE square root of each dimension of the questionnaire was greater than its correlation coefficient. The Cronbach′s α coefficient of the total questionnaire was 0.79.Conclusion:The developed BeSD questionnaire of rotavirus vaccine has good reliability and validity, and can be used to measure parents′ behavioral and social factors in administering rotavirus vaccine to their children.

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of varicella-zoster virus（VZV）in Anhui province from 2022 to 2023.Methods:Vesicle fluid and throat swab samples were collected from suspected varicella patients in Anhui province during 2022—2023. Fresh vesicle fluid samples were selected for VZV isolation，and real-time PCR was used for VZV nucleic acid detection. For positive samples，the region containing five single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP）sites in the open reading frame 22（ORF22）fragment was amplified，and PCR products were sequenced to identify viral genotypes. Reference sequences of VZV genotypes were downloaded from GenBank，sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed using Sequencher and MEGA5.0 software. Additionally，four SNP sites in ORF38 and ORF62 fragments were detected to distinguish vaccine strains from wild strains.Results:Among 96 samples from suspected varicella cases，55 of 61 vesicle fluid samples and 21 of 35 throat swab samples were positive for VZV nucleic acid. The virus isolation rate for vesicle fluid samples was 14.75%. Genetic sequencing was successful for 51 strains，all of which were wild strains belonging to the clade 2 genetic branch. Compared with the reference strain of clade 2，the nucleotide and amino acid homologies of the ORF22 fragment were 99.46%~100% and 98.39%~100%，respectively. One strain（2023VZVCZ45）exhibited an A→G mutation at site 37916.Conclusion:The prevalent VZV strains detected in Anhui province during 2022—2023 were all wild strains of clade 2，with no vaccine-associated cases identified.

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.

Medical physicists play an important role in radiodiagnosis, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine practices. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests that medical physicists should be trained and achieve professional certifications. Many developed countries/regions have established comprehensive examination and certification programs for medical physicists. However, these systems are yet to be improved in China. This leads to a lack of control over the professional competence and practice standards in the workforce, posing a negative impact on the quality and safety of China’s clinical services in radiation medicine. The International Medical Physics Certification Board (IMPCB) is aimed at accrediting national/regional medical physics certification programs and providing certification of individual medical physicists in countries/regions lacking such certification programs. This study introduces the procedures and specific method for China’s medical physicists to achieve professional certifications via IMPCB, aiming to help improve their professionalism.

Currently, the immunization program has entered a new era of high-quality development. Implementing the standardized management of vaccination units is a necessary means to achieve the high-quality development of immunization programs. Although significant achievements have been made in vaccination work in China, there are still many urgent problems to be solved in vaccination work under the new situation, which poses new challenges to standardized management of vaccination units. This paper analyzes the problems faced by the standardized management of vaccination units based on a review of the work content at various stages of management, and discusses strategies and suggestions for the standardized management of vaccination units.

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.

Medical physicists play an important role in radiodiagnosis, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine practices. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suggests that medical physicists should be trained and achieve professional certifications. Many developed countries/regions have established comprehensive examination and certification programs for medical physicists. However, these systems are yet to be improved in China. This leads to a lack of control over the professional competence and practice standards in the workforce, posing a negative impact on the quality and safety of China’s clinical services in radiation medicine. The International Medical Physics Certification Board (IMPCB) is aimed at accrediting national/regional medical physics certification programs and providing certification of individual medical physicists in countries/regions lacking such certification programs. This study introduces the procedures and specific method for China’s medical physicists to achieve professional certifications via IMPCB, aiming to help improve their professionalism.