Objective Emergency response to public health emergencies constitutes a vital component of the modernization of national governance systems and capacities, directly impacting national security, social stability, and public health. This study aims to analyze the key issues and research hotspots in the field of emergency response to public health emergencies, providing theoretical foundations and practical guidance for formulating scientific and effective emergency strategies and policies. Ultimately, it seeks to enhance the nation’s capability to respond to public health emergencies and safeguard public health. Methods Using core journals indexed in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database as the data source, 1094 journal articles in the field of emergency response to public health emergencies in China from 2003 to September 2024 were selected as the research sample. Citespace visualization software was employed to organize and analyze the research process in the field of emergency response to public health emergencies. Results The current research in this field predominantly involves small-scale cooperation, and the research process can be divided into four stages. The research in the emerging stage mainly focuses on the themes of emergency mechanism and emergency management, the development stage mainly centers on the themes of emergency capacity improvement and system exploration, the outbreak stage emphasizes the themes of COVID-19 and epidemic prevention and control, and the sustainable development stage highlights collaborative governance and informatization. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of research in this field. Currently, the field shows a continuous growth, with an increasing volume of publications. The focus of current research has shifted towards collaborative governance and the study of assessment tools, aiming to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness in responding to public health emergencies. Moreover, the field is advancing toward more systematic and comprehensive research. However, there is still a need to strengthen scientific communication and collaboration.

Objective To investigate the current level of public awareness regarding nuclear emergency evacuation around a nuclear power plant, analyze the influencing factors, and propose suggestions and countermeasures based on the results. Methods In July 2024, according to the survey protocol and questionnaire developed by the National Institute for Radiological Protection, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a field-based centralized online questionnaire was administered. A total of 854 residents living near the nuclear power plant were included as survey participants. An analysis of variance was used to compare the impact of different factors on the public knowledge of nuclear radiation and awareness of nuclear emergency evacuation, while the chi-square test was employed to compare differences between groups. Results A total of 854 questionnaires were collected in this study. The survey revealed that the levels of public knowledge about nuclear radiation and awareness of nuclear emergency evacuation around the power plant were relatively low, with average objective awareness rates of 51% and 47%, respectively. In terms of age, the 30-45 years old group had the highest average score, while the group aged 60 and above had the lowest. Regarding education level, the group with primary school education or below had the lowest average score, whereas those with junior college or undergraduate education scored the highest. The internet (73.7%) was the primary source of emergency information for the public, followed by television (61.7%). The majority of the public (85.0%) expressed trust in the government during evacuation and were willing to follow governmental evacuation arrangements. The main reason for this willingness was the belief that the government could provide sufficient emergency supplies. Conclusion The surveyed population exhibited low levels of knowledge regarding nuclear radiation and awareness of nuclear emergency evacuation, with generally low awareness rates. Awareness levels were influenced by factors such as sex, age, educational background, and distance from the nuclear power plant. To enhance public awareness, it is necessary to strengthen science communication related to nuclear radiation and public protective actions in nuclear emergencies. Targeted dissemination strategies with high communication effectiveness, accessibility, and public acceptance should be adopted to gradually enhance public awareness of nuclear radiation and nuclear emergency protective actions.

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China emphasized the expansion of international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation. Against this backdrop, the radiological health research institutions bear important responsibilities in the field of international radiological health. As a key institution in the industry, the National Institute for Radiological Protection (NIRP), Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention shoulders the important mission of promoting international exchanges in radiation health in China. A case study was conducted on the NIRP using data of official overseas visits from 2010 to 2024. The SWOT analysis was used to comprehensively and systematically examine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of NIRP in international cooperation and exchanges. To effectively enhance the depth and scope of international exchanges, this article proposes a series of innovative optimization strategies such as establishing dedicated personnel positions to ensure efficient handling of affairs, implementing stringent approval procedures to guarantee the rationality and compliance of overseas visits, strengthening pre-departure training to improve the professionalism of outbound personnel, conducting follow-up evaluations to continuously refine management practices, and centralizing the management of official passports to ensure their secure use. This article aims to provide practical optimization strategies for the management of official overseas visits for NIRP and other similar institutions, promote international exchanges and cooperation in the field of radiation health, and help China play a more important role in the global radiation health field.

China emerges as a major country in nuclear energy development and the application of nuclear and radiologic technology. The diagnosis and treatment of acute radiation syndrom (ARS) caused by external irradiation represent a core function in the country′s medical rescue of nuclear and radiological emergencies. Clinically, ARS manifests hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and central nervous system syndromes, with specific clinical manifestations, signs, severity, and prognosis strongly correlated with radiation dose. China has established a number of national and provincial centers for treating radiation-induced damage. Nevertheless, most medical staff have limited experience in ARS treatment. This consensus presents a summary of recent experience in treating ARS of China. In combination with recommendations from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), this consensus proposes key evidence of critical clinical issues of ARS, covering all links in the rescue of external irradiation-induced ARS. Initially, clinical diagnosis, syndromes, and severe degrees should be determined based on clinical symptoms and dose estimates. It is necessary to normalize clinical treatment measures for hematopoietic recovery, gastrointestinal injury treatment, infection control, symptomatic treatment, and multi-organ function preservation. To this end, this consensus offers cautions. This consensus provides principles of treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, psychological intervention, and follow-up. Additionally, it highlights multidisciplinary collaboration. It is recommended that this consensus be applied in relevant treatment centers.

Objective:To explore the advantages of individualized 3D-printed vaginal cylinder template-guided interstitial brachytherapy (3D-p-VC-ISBT) in locally advanced cervical cancer, aiming to provide reference for clinical adaptive brachytherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 20 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer admitted to Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September, 2021 to August, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 54 years old (32-69 years). Among them, 3 patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and 17 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. According to the treatment method, all patients were divided into intracavitary brachytherapy group (ICBT-plan group, n=10) and 3D-p-VC-ISBT group (3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan group, n=10). A pretreatment plan was designed for each patient undergoing 3D-p-VC-ISBT. The pretreatment plans were formed as the pretreatment-plan group. Dose volume histogram was used to evaluate dose distribution of the targets and organs at risk (OAR). Comparison between two groups was analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and comparison among three treatment plans (ICBT, 3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan and 3D-p-VC-ISBT pretreatment-plan) was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results:The mean D 90rel (representing the dose received by 90% volume of the target area divided by the prescription dose) of high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) in 3D-p-VC-ISBT, pretreatment-plan and ICBT-plan groups were 100.47%, 104.66% and 85.91%, respectively. The conformity indexes were 0.66, 0.72 and 0.68, respectively. There was no significant difference in D 0.01 cm3, D 2 cm3 and D 5 cm3 of bladder, rectum and sigmoid colon among the three groups (all P>0.05). For the 3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan group, the D 2 cm3 values of the small intestine at 6 Gy and 7 Gy prescription doses were 169.51 cGy and 111.93 cGy respectively, which were superior to those of the ICBT-plan group (343.07 cGy at 6 Gy prescription, P<0.01). Conclusions:Individualized 3D-p-VC-ISBT is superior to ICBT in terms of dose distribution of HR-CTV, and it can adaptively adjust the insertion plan according to changes in tumor volume and position, making the operation safer and more efficient.

China emerges as a major country in nuclear energy development and the application of nuclear and radiologic technology. The diagnosis and treatment of acute radiation syndrom (ARS) caused by external irradiation represent a core function in the country′s medical rescue of nuclear and radiological emergencies. Clinically, ARS manifests hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and central nervous system syndromes, with specific clinical manifestations, signs, severity, and prognosis strongly correlated with radiation dose. China has established a number of national and provincial centers for treating radiation-induced damage. Nevertheless, most medical staff have limited experience in ARS treatment. This consensus presents a summary of recent experience in treating ARS of China. In combination with recommendations from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), this consensus proposes key evidence of critical clinical issues of ARS, covering all links in the rescue of external irradiation-induced ARS. Initially, clinical diagnosis, syndromes, and severe degrees should be determined based on clinical symptoms and dose estimates. It is necessary to normalize clinical treatment measures for hematopoietic recovery, gastrointestinal injury treatment, infection control, symptomatic treatment, and multi-organ function preservation. To this end, this consensus offers cautions. This consensus provides principles of treatment with traditional Chinese medicine, psychological intervention, and follow-up. Additionally, it highlights multidisciplinary collaboration. It is recommended that this consensus be applied in relevant treatment centers.

Objective:To explore the advantages of individualized 3D-printed vaginal cylinder template-guided interstitial brachytherapy (3D-p-VC-ISBT) in locally advanced cervical cancer, aiming to provide reference for clinical adaptive brachytherapy.Methods:Clinical data of 20 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer admitted to Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September, 2021 to August, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 54 years old (32-69 years). Among them, 3 patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and 17 cases of squamous cell carcinoma. According to the treatment method, all patients were divided into intracavitary brachytherapy group (ICBT-plan group, n=10) and 3D-p-VC-ISBT group (3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan group, n=10). A pretreatment plan was designed for each patient undergoing 3D-p-VC-ISBT. The pretreatment plans were formed as the pretreatment-plan group. Dose volume histogram was used to evaluate dose distribution of the targets and organs at risk (OAR). Comparison between two groups was analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and comparison among three treatment plans (ICBT, 3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan and 3D-p-VC-ISBT pretreatment-plan) was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test. Results:The mean D 90rel (representing the dose received by 90% volume of the target area divided by the prescription dose) of high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) in 3D-p-VC-ISBT, pretreatment-plan and ICBT-plan groups were 100.47%, 104.66% and 85.91%, respectively. The conformity indexes were 0.66, 0.72 and 0.68, respectively. There was no significant difference in D 0.01 cm3, D 2 cm3 and D 5 cm3 of bladder, rectum and sigmoid colon among the three groups (all P>0.05). For the 3D-p-VC-ISBT treatment-plan group, the D 2 cm3 values of the small intestine at 6 Gy and 7 Gy prescription doses were 169.51 cGy and 111.93 cGy respectively, which were superior to those of the ICBT-plan group (343.07 cGy at 6 Gy prescription, P<0.01). Conclusions:Individualized 3D-p-VC-ISBT is superior to ICBT in terms of dose distribution of HR-CTV, and it can adaptively adjust the insertion plan according to changes in tumor volume and position, making the operation safer and more efficient.

Objective To analyze and explore the health response capability construction in the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies. Methods By evaluating China’s participation in an international nuclear emergency exercise organized by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency, and considering the relevant guidelines published by international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the sections that need to be strengthened in the health response during the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies were analyzed. The related issues such as health monitoring and medical follow-up were explored. Results The tasks in the long-term recovery phase mainly include monitoring the affected population and information management, medical follow-up, and psychological assistance. In response to potential nuclear or radiological emergencies, 22 nuclear emergency medical rescue bases have been established in China, with a geographical distribution that includes key regions. Relevant institutions have basic capabilities of health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies. However, the exercise shows that strategy and capacity construction in long-term recovery phase are weak points in health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies. China should further strengthen strategies in major public protection actions and information management of affected populations in nuclear or radiological emergencies. Conclusion It is recommended to develop standard operating procedures for major public protection actions, long-term health monitoring and evaluation of affected populations, medical follow-up, and psychological assistance in the future. A unified health registration system for affected populations in nuclear or radiological emergencies should be established to further enhance China’s health response capabilities during the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies.

Objective To analyze and explore the health response capability construction in the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies. Methods By evaluating China’s participation in an international nuclear emergency exercise organized by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency, and considering the relevant guidelines published by international organizations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, the sections that need to be strengthened in the health response during the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies were analyzed. The related issues such as health monitoring and medical follow-up were explored. Results The tasks in the long-term recovery phase mainly include monitoring the affected population and information management, medical follow-up, and psychological assistance. In response to potential nuclear or radiological emergencies, 22 nuclear emergency medical rescue bases have been established in China, with a geographical distribution that includes key regions. Relevant institutions have basic capabilities of health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies. However, the exercise shows that strategy and capacity construction in long-term recovery phase are weak points in health response to nuclear or radiological emergencies. China should further strengthen strategies in major public protection actions and information management of affected populations in nuclear or radiological emergencies. Conclusion It is recommended to develop standard operating procedures for major public protection actions, long-term health monitoring and evaluation of affected populations, medical follow-up, and psychological assistance in the future. A unified health registration system for affected populations in nuclear or radiological emergencies should be established to further enhance China’s health response capabilities during the long-term recovery phase of nuclear or radiological emergencies.

After the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima nuclear accidents, numerous issues were exposed during the emergency evacuation process, such as insufficiently detailed emergency plans, lack of specific evacuation route schemes, inadequate preparation of emergency protective materials, and delays in emergency response decision-making. Additionally, these accidents revealed serious issues with the emergency evacuation of vulnerable populations. In particular, during the Fukushima nuclear accident, the lack of resource support led to deteriorating health and fatalities among hospital patients and elderly residents in nursing homes near the nuclear power plant during emergency evacuation. To learn from the experiences and lessons of public protection actions in emergency evacuations during major nuclear accidents, the government should enhance the guidance of nuclear emergency evacuation plans, increase the quality of emergency training and exercises, and improve their specificity and continuity, as well as establish an efficient nuclear emergency rescue response and decision-making mechanism. For vulnerable populations in nuclear emergency evacuations, the government should consider updating the nuclear emergency plans and disaster preparedness material reserves of medical facilities (such as designated treatment hospitals) and elderly facilities (such as nursing homes) within the emergency protection action areas of nuclear power plants in a timely manner. This will ensure that these institutions have the capacity to provide initial evacuation and necessary support for vulnerable populations in disaster situations.