Wastewater-based epidemiology has emerged as a transformative surveillance tool for estimating substance consumption and monitoring disease prevalence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables the population-level monitoring of illicit drug use, pathogen prevalence, and environmental pollutant exposure. In this perspective, we summarize the key challenges specific to the Chinese context: (1) Sampling inconsistencies, necessitating standardized 24-hour composite protocols with high-frequency autosamplers (≤ 15 min/event) to improve the representativeness of samples; (2) Biomarker validation, requiring rigorous assessment of excretion profiles and in-sewer stability; (3) Analytical method disparities, demanding inter-laboratory proficiency testing and the development of automated pretreatment instruments; (4) Catchment population dynamics, reducing estimation uncertainties through mobile phone data, flow-based models, or hydrochemical parameters; and (5) Ethical and data management concerns, including privacy risks for small communities, mitigated through data de-identification and tiered reporting platforms. To address these challenges, we propose an integrated framework that features adaptive sampling networks, multi-scale wastewater sample banks, biomarker databases with multidimensional metadata, and intelligent data dashboards. In summary, wastewater-based epidemiology offers unparalleled scalability for equitable health surveillance and can improve the health of the entire population by providing timely and objective information to guide the development of targeted policies.
China/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Wastewater/analysis* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Public Health ; Wastewater-Based Epidemiological Monitoring ; SARS-CoV-2

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms distinguishing metabolically healthy from unhealthy phenotypes within the same BMI categories remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the associations between regional fat distribution and metabolically unhealthy phenotypes in Chinese adults across different BMI categories. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involving 11833 Chinese adults aged 20 years and older. Covariance analysis, adjusted for age, compared the percentage of regional fat (trunk, leg, or arm fat divided by whole-body fat) between metabolically healthy and unhealthy participants. Trends in regional fat percentage with the number of metabolic abnormalities were assessed by the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by logistic regression models. All analyses were performed separately by sex. RESULTS: In non-obese individuals, metabolically unhealthy participants exhibited higher percent trunk fat and lower percent leg fat compared to healthy participants. Additionally, percent trunk fat increased and percent leg fat decreased with the number of metabolic abnormalities. After adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors, as well as BMI, higher percent trunk fat was associated with increased odds of being metabolically unhealthy [highest vs. lowest quartile: ORs (95%CI) of 1.64 (1.35, 2.00) for men and 2.00 (1.63, 2.46) for women]. Conversely, compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs (95%CI) of metabolically unhealthy phenotype in the highest quartile for percent arm and leg fat were 0.64 (0.53, 0.78) and 0.60 (0.49, 0.74) for men, and 0.72 (0.56, 0.93) and 0.46 (0.36, 0.59) for women, respectively. Significant interactions between BMI and percentage of trunk and leg fat were observed in both sexes, with stronger associations found in individuals with normal weight and overweight. CONCLUSIONS Trunk fat is associated with a higher risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotype, while leg and arm fat are protective factors. Regional fat distribution assessments are crucial for identifying metabolically unhealthy phenotypes, particularly in non-obese individuals.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Adipose Tissue ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Surveys ; Phenotype

BACKGROUND: The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) has been shown to be positively correlated with cardiovascular disease in previous studies. However, it is unclear whether elderly people with long-term high AIP levels are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between AIP trajectory and CHD incidence in elderly people. METHODS: 19,194 participants aged ≥ 60 years who had three AIP measurements between 2018 and 2020 were included in this study. AIP was defined as log₁₀ (triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). The group-based trajectory model was used to identify different trajectory patterns of AIP from 2018 to 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI of CHD events between different trajectory groups from 2020 to 2023. RESULTS: Three different trajectory patterns were identified through group-based trajectory model: the low-level group (n = 7410, mean AIP: -0.25 to -0.17), the medium-level group (n = 9981, mean AIP: 0.02-0.08), and the high-level group (n = 1803, mean AIP: 0.38-0.42). During a mean follow-up of 2.65 years, a total of 1391 participants developed CHD. After adjusting for potential confounders, compared with the participants in the low-level group, the HR with 95% CI of the medium-level group and the high-level group were estimated to be 1.24 (1.10-1.40) and 1.43 (1.19-1.73), respectively. These findings remained consistent in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS There was a significant correlation between persistent high AIP level and increased CHD risk in the elderly. This suggests that monitoring the long-term changes in AIP is helpful to identify individuals at high CHD risk in elderly people.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and laminectomy for stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the 23 patients who had been treated at Department of Spinal Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2016 to August 2022 for single level stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms by short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using PMMA and laminectomy. There were 9 males and 14 females, with an age of (69.7±3.8) years. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) for low back pain, kyphotic Cobb angle of the fixed segment, and loss of the anterior vertebral body height were compared between preoperation, 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation, and the last follow-up. The improvements in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment grading at the last follow-up compared to the preoperative levels, bone graft fusion rates at the last follow-up and complications were recorded.Results:All patients were followed up for (57.4±17.7) months after operation. The VAS pain scores [(2.2±0.3) points, (1.8±0.6) points and (1.6±0.5) points], ODIs (23.9%±4.5%, 21.6%±4.5% and 19.1%±3.8%), kyphotic Cobb angles of the fixed segments (12.2°±2.7°, 12.5°±2.6° and 12.8°±2.8°) and losses of the anterior vertebral body height (20.0%±3.4%, 20.2%±3.5% and 20.3%±3.5%) at 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation, and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared to the pre-operative values [(7.8±0.5) points, 79.7%±5.1%, 40.2°±6.2°, and 60.4%±14.2%, respectively] ( P<0.05). However, there were no significantly differences in the above values between 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation and the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Of the 2 patients with grade C, the ASIA grading at the last follow-up improved to grade D in one and to grade E in the other; of the 12 patients with grade D, the ASIA grading at the last follow-up improved to grade E in 11. The complications included 2 asymptomatic cases of bone cement leakage from the upper endplate of the affected vertebra, 1 asymptomatic case of bone cement leakage from the lower endplate of the affected vertebra, 1 asymptomatic case of bone cement leakage from the spinal canal, and 1 case of distant vertebral compression fracture. The last follow-up showed good bone graft fusion in all patients. Conclusion:In the treatment of stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms, short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using PMMA is a relatively minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment, because it can alleviate back pain, improve neurological function and daily function, correct thoracolumbar kyphosis, restore vertebral height and reconstruct spinal stability without significant complications.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and laminectomy for stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the 23 patients who had been treated at Department of Spinal Surgery, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2016 to August 2022 for single level stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms by short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using PMMA and laminectomy. There were 9 males and 14 females, with an age of (69.7±3.8) years. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for low back pain, Oswestry disability index (ODI) for low back pain, kyphotic Cobb angle of the fixed segment, and loss of the anterior vertebral body height were compared between preoperation, 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation, and the last follow-up. The improvements in American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment grading at the last follow-up compared to the preoperative levels, bone graft fusion rates at the last follow-up and complications were recorded.Results:All patients were followed up for (57.4±17.7) months after operation. The VAS pain scores [(2.2±0.3) points, (1.8±0.6) points and (1.6±0.5) points], ODIs (23.9%±4.5%, 21.6%±4.5% and 19.1%±3.8%), kyphotic Cobb angles of the fixed segments (12.2°±2.7°, 12.5°±2.6° and 12.8°±2.8°) and losses of the anterior vertebral body height (20.0%±3.4%, 20.2%±3.5% and 20.3%±3.5%) at 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation, and the last follow-up were significantly improved compared to the pre-operative values [(7.8±0.5) points, 79.7%±5.1%, 40.2°±6.2°, and 60.4%±14.2%, respectively] ( P<0.05). However, there were no significantly differences in the above values between 2 weeks after operation, 2 years after operation and the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Of the 2 patients with grade C, the ASIA grading at the last follow-up improved to grade D in one and to grade E in the other; of the 12 patients with grade D, the ASIA grading at the last follow-up improved to grade E in 11. The complications included 2 asymptomatic cases of bone cement leakage from the upper endplate of the affected vertebra, 1 asymptomatic case of bone cement leakage from the lower endplate of the affected vertebra, 1 asymptomatic case of bone cement leakage from the spinal canal, and 1 case of distant vertebral compression fracture. The last follow-up showed good bone graft fusion in all patients. Conclusion:In the treatment of stage Ⅲ Kümmell's disease with neurological symptoms, short-segment pedicle screw fixation after vertebroplasty augmentation using PMMA is a relatively minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment, because it can alleviate back pain, improve neurological function and daily function, correct thoracolumbar kyphosis, restore vertebral height and reconstruct spinal stability without significant complications.

Objective:To study the clinical safety and validity of retrograde new endoscopic field of vision in miniature pigs.Methods:6 live miniature pigs were selected as study subjects,En-doscopic Retrograde New View(ERNV)was selected.The performance,image quality and intraoper-ative and postoperative complications were evaluated.To evaluate whether all the experimental ani-mals could complete the relevant endoscopy.Verify ERNV's operating performance,including whether the duodenoscope can enter the biliary tract smoothly,and made sure whether the injection,suction,and instrument channels were unobstructed.Choledochoscope image clarity,color resolu-tion,image deformation and distortion,accurate evaluation of lumen conditions and clear observation of mucosal surface conditions were analyzed.Whether there were operant injuries such as bleeding and perforation,as well as adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest.The sur-vival status and adverse reactions of all pigs were observed.Results:The choledochoscope was successfully inserted into the bile duct of 6 miniature pigs.The product had good operation perfor-mance and could enter the bile duct through the duodenoscope smoothly.The injection,suction and instrument channels were relatively smooth.In addition,the endoscopic images are clear,with better color resolution,and without image deformation and distortion,which can realize accurate evaluation of the conditions in the lumen and observe the mucosal surface conditions more clearly.No bile duct stenosis or dilatation occurred in all miniature pigs,and the bile duct mucosa was smooth,without hyperemia and edema,and no abnormal thickening or bending of mucous vessels.During the exami-nation,there were no operational injuries such as bleeding and perforation,and no adverse events such as respiratory depression and cardiac arrest occurred.The vital signs of all miniature pigs tended to be stable after operation,and the survival state was good,and there were no complications such as cholangitis,bleeding and perforation.Conclusion:ERNV has good clinical safety and efficacy,ex-cellent operation performance and excellent image quality,and is worthy of clinical application.