Objective: To analyze the current status and influencing factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the elderly in Nanchuan District, Chongqing Municipality, so as to provide a reference for developing targeted prevention and control measures and reducing the risk of tuberculosis incidence. Methods: From June to December 2024, a multi-stage random cluster sampling method combined with probability proportional to population size sampling was used to select residents aged ≥65 years from four townships (streets) in Nanchuan District as study participants. Demographic information, disease history, and history of close contact with tuberculosis were collected through a questionnaire survey. Tuberculin skin test (TST) was used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. LTBI was defined as a mean induration diameter of ≥10 mm on the TST, with active pulmonary tuberculosis excluded. Factors affecting LTBI among the elderly were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 3 699 participants were surveyed, including 1 707 males (46.15%) and 1 992 females (53.85%). The median age was 71.00 (interquartile range, 8.00) years. There were 285 participants (7.70%) with pulmonary disease, 18 (0.49%) with immune system disease, 47 (1.27%) with a history of tuberculosis, and 17 (0.46%) with a history of close contact with tuberculosis. LTBI was detected in 628 participants, with a detection rate of 16.98%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that elderly participants with senior high school education or above (OR=2.292, 95%CI: 1.508-3.484), those with immune system disease (OR=3.226, 95%CI: 1.240-8.393), and those with a history of tuberculosis (OR=4.797, 95%CI: 2.436-9.447) were significantly associated with a higher risk of LTBI. Conclusions The detection rate of LTBI among the elderly in Nanchuan District was relatively low. Educational level, immune system disease, and history of tuberculosis were influencing factors for LTBI risk in this population. It is necessary to strengthen health education, screening, and preventive interventions.

Objective: To understand the incidence risk and risk factors of tuberculosis (TB) among middle school students in Chongqing, so as to provide a basis for formulating TB prevention and control strategies. Methods: From September to December 2022, 32 181 middle school students were selected as the study cohort from 15 administrative districts in Chongqing by using the stratified cluster random sampling method. All cohort members were screened with the tuberculin skin test (TST), and relevant information was collected from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. On the basis of active screening, the follow up data of the participants were compared with the National Tuberculosis Management Information System to obtain the incidence status of the study subjects. The Log rank test was used to compare the TB incidence rates among students with different characteristics, and a Cox proportional hazards model was established to analyze the incidence risk and risk factors of TB. Results: The TST screening rate of the cohort members was 93.0%. During the 2 year follow up period, a total of 36 TB cases occurred, with a cumulative incidence rate of 111.87/100 000 and an incidence density of 55.95/100 000. Among them, the cumulative incidence rate of students from public schools (170.44/ 100 000 ) was higher than that of students from private schools (41.16/100 000), the cumulative incidence rate of students in schools located in high epidemic areas (153.95/100 000) was higher than that in medium epidemic areas (69.00/100 000), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=11.49, 4.73, both P <0.05). The Log-rank test for different TST results showed that the difference in TB comulative incidence rate between students with strongly positive TST results (216.55/ 100 000 ) and those with negative TST results (81.40/100 000) was statistically significant ( χ 2=5.85, P <0.05). Univariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the risk of TB was lower in students from private schools ( HR=0.25, 95% CI = 0.10-0.59) and students in medium epidemic areas ( HR=0.46, 95%CI =0.23-0.94); whereas the risk of TB was increased in students with strongly positive TST results ( HR=1.39, 95%CI =1.05-1.84) (all P <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of TB in students from private schools was lower than that of students from public schools ( HR=0.23, 95%CI=0.08-0.62, P <0.05). Conclusions The annual average incidence rate of TB among middle school students in Chongqing is at a relatively high level. It is necessary to strengthen the management and intervention for student groups, including those in public schools, those in schools located in high epidemic areas, and those with strongly positive TST results, so as to reduce the incidence rate of TB.

Objective To investigate the knowledge of tuberculin skin test(TST)among healthcare workers and provide evidence for improving the standardization of TST screening in primary healthcare staff.Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among 248 licensed physicians or nurses who were qualified as licensed physicians or nurses and responsible for TST work from 27 districts/counties of Chongqing in 2023.The awareness of TST-related knowledge and its influencing factors were statistically analyzed.Results The average TST knowledge score of 248 healthcare workers was(78.3±10.6)points.The overall awareness rate was 78.9%(8 213/10 416),with specific rates as follows:65.4%(1 135/1 736)for tubercu-losis knowledge,87.3%(3 248/3 720)for TST general knowledge,53.4%(795/1 488)for TST principles,88.0%(1 964/2 232)for TST procedures,and 86.4%(1 071/1 240)for TST result interpretation.Nurses showed higher awareness rates than physicians and other staff(P＞0.05).Healthcare workers from medium-epidemic areas demonstrated significantly higher awareness rates than those from high-and low-epidemic are-as(P＜0.001).No statistically significant differences were observed in gender,age,occupation type,institu-tion type,or regional epidemic level between the qualified group and non-qualified group about TST-related knowl-edge(P＞0.05).Conclusion Healthcare workers exhibit incomplete mastery of TST-related knowledge.Strengthening TST-related knowledge training for standardizing TST implementation.

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum levels of neurofilament light chain protein(NFL)and chemerin with cerebral ischemia after interventional therapy in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.Methods A total of 258 patients with unruptured in-tracranial aneurysms undergoing stent-assisted coil embolization in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2024 were enrolled.They were divided into a cerebral ischemia group(52 cases)and a non-cerebral ischemia group(206 cases).The serum NFL and chemerin levels were detected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the risk factors for cerebral is-chemia in the patients after interventional surgery.Results The cerebral ischemia group had sig-nificantly higher ratio of implantation of 3 stents,larger diameter of aneurysms,increased levels of NFL and chemerin before operation,10 min from the start of operation and 24 h after operation,and longer operation time than the non-cerebral ischemia group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Larger aneu-rysm diameter,longer operation time,and higher NFL and chemerin levels were the risk factors for cerebral ischemia in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm after interventional sur-gery(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The AUC value of aneurysm diameter,operation time,NFL and chemerin,and combination of these indicators in predicting cerebral ischemia in patients with un-ruptured intracranial aneurysm after interventional surgery was 0.772,0.794,0.826,0.837,and 0.920,respectively,with that of the combination higher than that of each indicator alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion For the elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms,the increases of serum NFL and chemerin levels are associated with cerebral ischemia after stent-assisted coil embolization,which can predict the risk of cerebral ischemia after interventional therapy.

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum levels of neurofilament light chain protein(NFL)and chemerin with cerebral ischemia after interventional therapy in elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.Methods A total of 258 patients with unruptured in-tracranial aneurysms undergoing stent-assisted coil embolization in our hospital from January 2020 to January 2024 were enrolled.They were divided into a cerebral ischemia group(52 cases)and a non-cerebral ischemia group(206 cases).The serum NFL and chemerin levels were detected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the risk factors for cerebral is-chemia in the patients after interventional surgery.Results The cerebral ischemia group had sig-nificantly higher ratio of implantation of 3 stents,larger diameter of aneurysms,increased levels of NFL and chemerin before operation,10 min from the start of operation and 24 h after operation,and longer operation time than the non-cerebral ischemia group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Larger aneu-rysm diameter,longer operation time,and higher NFL and chemerin levels were the risk factors for cerebral ischemia in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm after interventional sur-gery(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The AUC value of aneurysm diameter,operation time,NFL and chemerin,and combination of these indicators in predicting cerebral ischemia in patients with un-ruptured intracranial aneurysm after interventional surgery was 0.772,0.794,0.826,0.837,and 0.920,respectively,with that of the combination higher than that of each indicator alone(P＜0.05).Conclusion For the elderly patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms,the increases of serum NFL and chemerin levels are associated with cerebral ischemia after stent-assisted coil embolization,which can predict the risk of cerebral ischemia after interventional therapy.

Objective To evaluate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of sodium iodate on the physiological indexes and retinal histopathological characteristics of SD rats comprehensively. Methods A total of 64 rats were randomly divided into negative control group and model group, half male and half female. The model group was intraperitoneally injected with 6 mg/mL sodium iodate once at the dose of 10 mL/kg and the negative control group was injected with 10 mL/kg 0.9% NaCl once. The body weight of all surviving rats was detected on the day of injection (0 day) and the 2nd, 6th, 9th, 13th, 16th, 20th, 23rd, 27th, 29th, 36th, 43rd, 50th and 57th days after injection. On the 3rd, 7th, 21st, 28th, 41st and 62nd days after injection, the rats were randomly selected (12 rats in each group on the 28th day, and 4 rats in each group at other time points, those in each group were half male and half female) for serum biochemical indexes detection. The organs were dissected and weighed, and then the main organs and tissues were stained with HE, and the eyes were stained with HE and TUNEL. Blood routine indexes were detected on the 28th and 62nd day after injection. Results After injection of sodium iodate, 88% of the rats in the model group had transient loose stools. During the observation period, the body weight of the rats increased slightly and was more obvious in male rats. On the 28th day after injection, compared with the negative control group, the red blood cell volume (RDW) of female rats and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), reticulocyte count (Retic#) and reticulocyte percentage (Retic%) of male rats in the model group increased significantly (all P＜0.05). The white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB) and hematocrit (HCT) of male and female rats showed decreasing trends, but there were no significant differences between the two groups (all P >0.05). The thymus weight and coefficient of male rats in the model group were smaller than those in the negative control group except for the 7th day after injection, but there were no significant differences between the two groups (all P ＞0.05). Histopathological examination showed that the retina of the model group gradually developed from wavy changes to abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)-like changes, with disordered arrangement of each layer, focal thinning of the outer nuclear layer, and apoptosis of the outer nuclear layer of the retina. The incidence of lesions, lesion score and the number of apoptotic cells in the model group were significantly higher than or more than those in the negative control group at the same time, and the difference between the groups on the 28th day was statistically significant (all P＜0.01). Conclusion In addition to retinal degeneration in rats, intraperitoneal injection of sodium iodate also had a certain degree of influence on serum biochemical and blood routine indexes, and also showed a slight slow growth of body weight and transient changes in fecal traits. Therefore, when using this model to evaluate drug safety, the effects of modeling reagents on animals should be paid to attention.

Objective To analyze the gait kinematics parameters of patients with unilateral leg amputation after wearing prosthesis using the computer assisted rehabilitation environment (CAREN) gait assessment system,and the reasons for the differences.Methods Nine patients with unilateral mid-leg amputation were selected as the prosthesis group,and 11 healthy subjects were selected as the standard group.The gait kinematics parameters of the two groups were collected,processed and analyzed by using the CAREN gait evaluation system.Results The gait phase index of the prosthetic limb group was (0.88±0.04).Significant differences were observed between the prosthetic and healthy limbs in terms of step length,stance phase percentage,maximum hip extension angle and maximum knee flexion angle,maximum dorsiflexion and plantar flexion angle of the ankle joint during the stance phase,as well as the dorsiflexion angle of ankle joint during heel strike to the ground (P＜0.05).Moreover,there were significant differences between the affected limbs of the prosthetic limb group and limbs of the standard group in terms of the walking speed,gait cycle,stride length,percentage of stance phase,hip flexion angle,knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion during heel strike,maximum hip extension and flexion angle,maximum dorsi-and plantar-flexion of ankle joint during stance phase (P＜0.05).Conclusion The relative symmetry of the gait of the unilateral leg amputee is (0.88±0.04),with their kinematics parameters of the prosthetic limb significantly weaker than those of the contralateral side and the healthy controls.

Objective To explore the feasibility of electromagnetic navigation for hepatic ducts exploration by choledochoscope based on a three-dimensional (3D) printing model.Methods The retrospective descriptive study was conducted.The clinical data of 1 patient with obstructive jaundice combined with secondary biliary tract dilation who was admitted to the Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital in April 2016 were collected.Digital imaging and standardized format data of enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan were collected,3D reconstruction of liver and bile duct were done under a 3D printing model,and then a hollow model of bile duct was achieved.Choledochoscope with internal electromagnetic probe was inserted into the printed hepatic ducts.Four points of anatomical markers in left and right hepatic ducts and common hepatic duct were chosen as fiducial markers for calibration and registration.Results After registration,the scope can be tracked in main hepatic segmental bile ducts.The locations of choledochoscope matched precisely the navigation results.Conclusion Electromagnetic navigation may bring accurate tracking effectiveness for choledochoscopic examination.

Objective To assess which of topical tacrolimus and topical highly potent steroids,is more effective and safer in the treatment of pediatric vitiligo.Methods The PubMed,Cochrane library,Scopus and CINAHL plus databases were retrieved.The search was confined to English language articles.The randomized controlled trial(RCT) articles were included in our study.The quality of the identified articles was examined by using the CASP Randomised Controlled Trials Checklist.Results As a result,there were only a few studies related to the comparison.However,there were only two RCTs regarding a comparison of topical tacrolimus 0.1％ and clobetasol propionate 0.05 ％ in childhood vitiligo.Conclusion When the body surface area (BSA) involved in the child is ＜20 ％,and the disease is not rapidly spreading,topical therapy is the first choice.Topical tacrolimus may be considered as an alternative therapy for childhood vitiligo,especially for acrofacial and segmental types,before considering other modalities,but still need to observe long-term side effects.

Objective To isolate and culture the rat limbal stem cells ( LSCs) in vitro,and investigate briefly their capacity for transdif-ferentiation into neural stem cells ( NSCs) with cytokine EGF,bFGF and RA.Methods LSCs derived from rats were cultured and identified by immunohistochemistry in vitro.LSCs were induced to differentiate into NSCs in the presence of EGF (20 ng/mL) ,bFGF (10 ng/mL) and with or without of RA(group 1 or group 2)(25 ng/mL) for seven days.Cultures without factors were used as control group.Then the neural marker Nestin of the coultured cells were measured by immunohistology staining.Furthermore,the positive cell rate was counted under micro-scope between the 2 groups and analyzed by statistical software.Results It showed that P63 was positive in LSCs.Nestin in both of the dif-ferentiation groups was positive at the rate of (77.01 ±6.32)%and (84.01 ±5.43)%respectively,of which the second group was higher than the first one (P<0.05).However,it was negative in the control group.A band of Nestin protein from cells was detected by western blot assay.Conclusion LSCs are successfully isolated and cultured in vitro.LSCs could be induced to differentiate into NSCs in the presence of EGF and bFGF.Moreover,the differentiation capability is enhanced in the condition of RA.