Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing varicella prevention and control strategies. Methods Data on varicella cases were collected through the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiology, temporal trend analysis, seasonal analysis, spatiotemporal clustering analysis, and spatial autocorrelation analysis were conducted using QGIS, JoinPoint, SaTScan and GeoDa software. Results The average annual reported incidence rate of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023 was 34.55/100,000, showing a trend of initial increase followed by a decrease. The peak incidence occurred from October to January of the following year (RR=1.97, LLR=1743.95, P=0.001). Students aged 0 to 19 was the primary affected group. Spatiotemporal scan analysis revealed four types of spatiotemporal clusters, with the cluster in Jin'an District from October 2017 to December 2023 being particularly prominent (RR=2.87，LLR=1734.15，P<0.001). Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated significant clustering of varicella cases in the main urban area (Moran's I=0.216，Z=4.786，P=0.003). Conclusion The incidence of varicella in Lu'an City exhibits distinct seasonal and spatial clustering, and schools and kindergartens in the main urban area are the key to varicella prevention and control. It is necessary to enhance the monitoring of disease outbreaks during peak periods and in key areas, and to increase the two-dose vaccination rate for varicella in areas with case aggregation and among key populations.

The gradient field, one of the core magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, is generated by gradient coils and plays a critical role in spatial encoding and the generation of echo signals. The uniformity or linearity of the gradient field directly impacts the quality and distortion level of MRI images. However, traditional point measurement methods lack accuracy in assessing the linearity of gradient fields, making it difficult to provide effective parameters for image distortion correction. This paper introduced a spherical measurement-based method that involved measuring the magnetic field distribution on a sphere, followed by detailed magnetic field calculations and linearity analysis. This study, applied to assess the nonlinearity of asymmetric head gradient coils, demonstrated more comprehensive and precise results compared to point measurement methods. This advancement not only strengthens the scientific basis for the design of gradient coils but also provides more reliable parameters and methods for the accurate correction of MRI image distortions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Nonlinear Dynamics ; Magnetic Fields ; Algorithms ; Phantoms, Imaging

Objective: To investigate the role of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ delta (CaMKⅡδ) in platelet activation mediated by thrombin and thrombin receptor activator peptide (TRAP). Methods: The CaMKⅡδ-specific inhibitor Hesperadin was used to assess its inhibitory effects on platelet activation using multiple detection methods. These included: analyzing the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of Hesperadin on thrombin- and TRAP-induced platelet aggregation using a platelet aggregometer; measuring CD62P expression levels and calcium mobilization via flow cytometry; and determining dense granule release activity using a microplate reader. Results: Hesperadin at concentrations of 40 μM and 80 μM significantly inhibited thrombin- and TRAP-induced platelet aggregation (P<0.05). Within the concentration range of 20–80 μM, it significantly inhibited α-granule release and TRAP-induced calcium ion mobilization (P<0.05); at 80 μM, it markedly suppressed thrombin-induced platelet calcium ion mobilization and significantly inhibited dense granule release (P<0.05). Conclusion: The experimental results indicate that CaMKⅡδ in platelets is activated and plays a regulatory role in the process of platelet activation induced by thrombin and TRAP.

Objective: To evaluate the incremental vaccine effectiveness (VE) of two dose of the mumps containing vaccine (MuCV) in chidren, so as to provide a basis for optimizing mumps immunization strategies. Methods: A 1∶2 frequency matched case-control study was conducted by using reported mumps cases in childcare centers or schools from Lu an, Hefei, Ma anshan and Huainan cities of Anhui Province from September 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, as a case group(383 cases). And healthy children in the same classroom were selected as a control group(766 cases). The MuCV immunization histories of participants were collected to estimate the incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV against mumps. Group comparisons were performed using the Chi square test or t-test. For matched case-control pairs, the Cox regression model was employed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for two dose MuCV vaccination and to estimate the incremental vaccine effectiveness (VE). Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the case and control groups regarding gender, age, dosage of MuCV vaccination and the time interval since the last dose vaccination( χ 2/t=0.05, 0.20, 0.94, -0.02, P >0.05). The proportions of the case and control groups vaccinated with two doses of MuCV were 26.63% and 29.37%, respectively, and the overall incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV was 40.73% (95% CI=3.03%-63.77%, P <0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that the incremental VE for children with a period of ≥1 year between the two doses of MuCV was 54.13% (95% CI=1.90%-78.56%, P <0.05), while for children with a period of <1 year, it was 30.63% (95% CI=-28.59%-62.58%, P >0.05). The incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV was 30.36% (95% CI=-25.95%-61.50%, P >0.05) in kindergarten children and 66.73% (95% CI=14.92%-86.99%, P <0.05) in elementary and secondary school students. The incremental VE was 28.78% (95% CI=-27.46%-60.21%, P >0.05) within five years of the last dose of MuCV vaccination and 66.07% (95% CI=-41.56%-91.87%, P >0.05) for vaccinations administered beyond five years. Conclusions The second dose of MuCV may offer additional protection for children; however, extending the interval between two dose of MuCV (<1 year) has shown limited incremental protective effects. Therefore, it is crucial to consider optimizing current immunization strategies for mumps.

Didangtang is a classic formula for treating blood stasis and heat， as recorded in the Treatise on Febrile Diseases， and it has been highly praised by medical practitioners throughout history. It has been recorded in many traditional Chinese medical texts and used to this day. This article comprehensively examined the records of Didangtang in different ancient versions of Treatise on Febrile Diseases by excavating and sorting out related ancient medical books and modern literature. It also investigated the dosage unit measurement， preparation method， and content of the formula in medical books throughout history. The article provided a detailed summary and exploration of the origins and processing methods of rhubarb， peach kernels， leeches， and flies in the formula. At the same time， it reviewed the clinical practice of Didangtang by medical practitioners throughout history in relevant medical books， mainly including the adjustment of dosage forms， the increase or decrease in medicinal taste and dosage， the expansion of clinical application， and the creation and elucidation of similar formulas. Although there may be differences in the above information among medical practitioners throughout history， the basic idea of attacking blood stasis and heat is consistent. In addition， based on clinical practice， the author adhered to the principle of treating stasis and heat disease as the first reference when using Didangtang. It was suggested that blood should be circulated instead of stopping in the treatment of stasis and heat accumulation syndrome. At the same time， it was believed that the use of the method of attacking stasis and heat to regulate brain diseases and mental illnesses derives from the fact that removing stasis and generating new energy can nourish the heart and mind， providing ideas for the treatment of such diseases with Didangtang. On this basis， modern clinical and animal experiments have shown that Didangtang has certain effects in improving microcirculation disorders， regulating blood rheology and hemodynamics， enhancing insulin resistance， and inhibiting inflammatory reactions. This may be an important mechanism for the formula to ''conquer blood stasis and heat''. This article explored the textual research and clinical mechanism of Didangtang， presenting facts and evidence， so as to provide a reference for the clinical application of Didangtang and the research on other prescriptions.

Objective To investigate the effect of pneumoperitoneum pressure during robotic-assisted kidney transplantation (RAKT) on the function of the transplant kidney. Methods The data of 243 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed and divided into open kidney transplantation (OKT) group (n=105) and RAKT group (n=138). The RAKT group was further divided into 13 mmHg group (n=67) and 7 mmHg group (n=71) based on pneumoperitoneum pressure. The donor information, recipient's preoperative general data, intraoperative data, and postoperative recovery of the three groups were compared. In the RAKT group, the renal artery, segmental artery, interlobar artery, and venous flow velocity of the transplant kidney were measured using laparoscopic ultrasound. Results There was a statistically significant difference in donor types among the groups (P<0.05), while other donor information and recipient's preoperative general data showed no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in serum creatinine and complications at 30 days and 1 year postoperatively among the groups (all P>0.05). The OKT group and 7 mmHg group had more intraoperative urine output than the 13 mmHg group. Both RAKT groups had less intraoperative blood loss and shorter hospital stays than the OKT group, and longer operation times than the OKT group (all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and hospital stay between the two RAKT groups (all P>0.05). The vascular flow velocity of the transplant kidney decreased at 13 mmHg compared to 7 mmHg pneumoperitoneum pressure, but the differences were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions Controllable pneumoperitoneum pressure has a limited impact on the vascular flow velocity of the transplanted kidney. RAKT is a safe and effective surgical method under appropriate pneumoperitoneum pressure, and choosing a lower pneumoperitoneum pressure is more conducive to the early recovery of renal function postoperatively.

Objective To understand the changing composition and antibiotic resistance of bacterial species in the clinical isolates from outpatient and emergency department(hereinafter referred to as outpatients)and inpatient children over time in various hospitals,and to provide laboratory evidence for rational antibiotic use.Methods The data on clinically isolated pathogenic bacteria and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from outpatients and inpatient children in the CHINET program from 2015 to 2021 were collected and analyzed.Results A total of 278 471 isolates were isolated from pediatric patients in the CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.About 17.1％of the strains were isolated from outpatients,primarily group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus,Escherichia coli,and Staphylococcus aureus.Most of the strains(82.9％)were isolated from inpatients,mainly SS.aureus,E.coli,and H.influenzae.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)in outpatients(24.5％)was lower than that in inpatient children(31.5％).The MRSA isolates from outpatients showed lower resistance rates to the antibiotics tested than the strains isolated from inpatient children.The prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis or E.faecium and penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was low in either outpatients or inpatient children.S.pneumoniae,β-hemolytic Streptococcus and S.viridans showed high resistance rates to erythromycin.The prevalence of erythromycin-resistant group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus was higher in outpatients than that in inpatient children.The prevalence of β-lactamase-producing H.influenzae showed an overall upward trend in children,but lower in outpatients(45.1％)than in inpatient children(59.4％).The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKpn),carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPae)and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAba)was 14％,11.7％,47.8％in outpatients,but 24.2％,20.6％,and 52.8％in inpatient children,respectively.The prevalence of multidrug-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Proteus mirabilis,P.aeruginosa and A.baumannii strains was lower in outpatients than in inpatient children.The prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant E.coli,ESBLs-producing K.pneumoniae,ESBLs-producing P.mirabilis,carbapenem-resistant E.coli(CREco),CRKpn,and CRPae was lower in children in outpatients than in inpatient children,but the prevalence of CRAba in 2021 was higher than in inpatient children.Conclusions The distribution of clinical isolates from children is different between outpatients and inpatients.The prevalence of MRSA,ESBL,and CRO was higher in inpatient children than in outpatients.Antibiotics should be used rationally in clinical practice based on etiological diagnosis and antimicrobial susceptibility test results.Ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance and prevention and control of hospital infections are crucial to curbing bacterial resistance.

Objective:To investigate the pathogenetic characteristics of clinical isolates of Streptococcus suis in Henan Province from 2020 to 2023. Methods:Eight clinical isolates of S. suis in Henan Province from 2020 to 2023 were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serotype and virulence genes were detected by the serum agglutination test and PCR, and antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using the microbroth dilution method. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), minimum core genome (MCG), identification of antibiotic resistance genes, and core genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis were conducted using whole genome sequencing. Results:The results showed that eight S. suis strains isolated from humans were mainly serotype 2 (75.0%), while the rest were serotype 14 (25.0%). ST353 (62.5%) was the predominant genotype, followed by ST1 (25.0%) and ST7 (12.5%). All isolates belonged to the MCG1 group. The virulence genotypes of these isolates were primarily mrp(NA2)/ sly+/ ef+/ gapdh+(75.0%), while the remaining were mrp(EU)/ sly+/ ef+/ gapdh+(25.0%). These isolates carried tetracycline, macrolide, lincosamide and aminoglycoside resistance genes, and their resistance rates to tetracycline, erythromycin and clindamycin were 100.0%, 87.5% and 87.5%, respectively, and 62.5% strains were intermediate-resistant to penicillin. The cgSNP analysis indicated that these isolates were closer to the isolates from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Guangxi Provinces, with five ST353 strains and one ST7 strain belonging to Clade Ⅰ, and two ST1 strains belonging to Clade Ⅱ. Conclusion:The human isolates of S. suis in Henan Province are mainly ST353, harboring multiple virulence and antibiotic resistance genes.

Objectives:To explore the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue(EAT),left atrium and left atrial appendage(LAA)structures and LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.Methods:Clinical data from non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography angiography(CTA)and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)at the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University between November 2019 and October 2024,were retrospectively collected.Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with LAA thrombus by both CTA and TEE were enrolled as the LAA thrombus group(20 males,8 females,average age[65±9]years).Using an individual matching method,56 non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients without LAA thrombus,matched for gender and age(±3 years),were sequentially enrolled at a ratio of 1:2 as the no-thrombus group(40 males,16 females,average age[65±8]years).CTA was used to measure the epicardial adipose tissue volume(EATV),left atrial epicardial adipose tissue volume(LA-EATV),and structural parameters of the left atrium and LAA in both groups.The correlation between EAT,structural parameters of the left atrium/LAA and LAA thrombosis was evaluated.Results:In the LAA thrombus group,the proportions of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and atrial fibrillation rhythm were significantly higher than in the no-thrombus group(both P<0.001).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of age,gender composition,body mass index,duration of atrial fibrillation,and the proportions of patients with hypertension,diabetes,dyslipidemia,coronary heart disease,ischemic stroke,heart failure,vascular disease,and CHA2DS2-VASc scores(all P>0.05).Compared to the no-thrombus group,the EATV,LA-EATV,left atrial volume(LAV),LAA volume(LAAV),and LAA orifice area were significantly higher in the LAA thrombus group(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in the LAA depth(P=0.076).Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that LA-EATV(OR=1.092,95%CI:1.004-1.187,P=0.040)and LAV(OR=1.022,95%CI:1.003-1.041,P=0.025)were independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.The LA-EATV threshold for predicting LAA thrombosis was 27.16 cm3,with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)of 0.843(sensitivity 85.7%,specificity 76.8%);the LAV predictive threshold was 118.45 ml(AUC=0.853,sensitivity 82.1%,specificity 80.4%).Conclusions:LA-EATV and LAV measured by cardiac CTA are independent predictors of LAA thrombosis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.