Objective: To analyze serological and molecular characteristics of asymptomatic HBV infection in HBV surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) blood donors from Dalian. Methods: The prevalence of HBsAg was analyzed among blood donors in Dalian between 2013 and 2022. Randomly selected HBsAg+ blood samples were subjected to HBV serological testing, HBV viral DNA quantification, and HBV genotyping. Results: Over this ten-year period, the prevalence of HBsAg decreased from 1.25% to 0.50% among blood donors in Dalian. Donors who tested positive for HBsAg prior to donation using a rapid test (RT) accounted for 92.5% of all HBsAg+ donors identified. A total of 240 confirmed HBsAg+ blood donors were randomly selected, including 125 donors with positive results and 115 with negative results in the pre-donation rapid test. HBsAg+ donors were mainly males (71.2%), with a median age of 42, and 97.5% of them being first-time donors. Based on HBV serological profiles, three stages of infection were identified: early infection (2.9%), suspected acute hepatitis (0.8%), and chronic infection (96.3%). The dominant HBV genotypes were C (68.9%) and B (28.4%). Among chronic HBV infection individuals, donors infected with HBV genotype B were older than those infected with genotype C (median age: 45y vs 38.5y, P<0.05). Additionally, they showed significantly lower HBsAg levels with a narrower distribution range than those infected with genotype C [median: 23.2 IU/mL (range: <0.05-7 910 IU/mL) vs 968 IU/mL (range: <0.05-3.4×10 ), P<0.05]. However, no significant difference was observed in the HBV DNA loads between these two genotypes (P>0.05). Conclusion: Between 2013 and 2022, the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Dalian showed a year-over-year decline. Chronic infection was predominant among HBsAg+ first-time blood donors. The characteristics of chronic infection in blood donors differed significantly depending on the viral genotype, manifesting as differences in age of infected individuals and HBsAg level distribution.

Background: s/Aims: While patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) are a target population for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), formal guidelines for neoadjuvant therapy are lacking. We assessed the perioperative and oncological outcomes in patients with BRPC undergoing NAC with FOLFIRINOX for patients undergoing upfront surgery (US). Methods: The AHPBA criteria for borderline resectability and/or a CA19-9 level > 100 µ/mL defined borderline resectable tumors retrieved from a prospectively populated institutional registry from 2007 to 2020. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) at 1 and 3 years. A Cox Proportional Hazard model based on intention to treat was used. A receiver–operator characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed to assess the discriminatory capability of the use of CA19-9 > 100 µ/mL to predict resectability and mortality. Results: Forty BRPC patients underwent NAC, while 46 underwent US. The median OS with NAC was 19.8 months (interquartile range [IQR], 10.3−44.24) vs. 10.6 months (IQR, 6.37−17.6) with US. At 1 year, 70% of the NAC group and 41.3% of the US group survived (p = 0.008). At 3 years, 42.5 % of the NAC group and 10.9% of the US group survived (p = 0.001). NAC significantly reduced the hazard of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.07−0.54; p = 0.001). CA19-9 > 100 µ/mL showed poor discrimination in predicting mortality, but was a moderate predictor of resectability. Conclusions We found a survival benefit of NAC with FOLFIRINOX for BRPC. Greater pre-treatment of CA19-9 and multivessel involvement on initial imaging were associated with progression of the disease following NAC.

Background: and Purpose The optimal management of patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) compared to medical management (MM) for acute BAO through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of patients with acute BAO. We analyzed the pooled effect of EVT compared to MM on the primary outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] of 0–3 at 3 months), secondary outcome (mRS 0–2 at 3 months), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and 3-month mortality rates. For each study, effect sizes were computed as odds ratios (ORs) with random effects and Mantel-Haenszel weighting. Results: Four RCTs met inclusion criteria including 988 patients. There were higher odds of mRS of 0-3 at 90 days in the EVT versus MM group (45.1% vs. 29.1%, OR 1.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–3.80; P=0.04). Patients receiving EVT had a higher sICH compared to MM (5.4% vs. 0.8%, OR 7.89, 95% CI 4.10–15.19; P<0.01). Mortality was lower in the EVT group (35.5% vs. 45.1%, OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.42–0.99; P=0.05). In an analysis of two trials with BAO patients and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) <10, there was no difference in 90-day outcomes between EVT versus MM. Conclusion In this systematic review and meta-analysis, EVT was associated with favorable outcome and decreased mortality in patients with BAO up to 24 hours from stroke symptoms compared to MM. The treatment effect in BAO patients with NIHSS <10 was less certain. Further studies are of interest to evaluate the efficacy of EVT in basilar occlusion patients with milder symptoms.

【Objective】 To investigate the serological and molecular characteristics of HBsAg+ /HBV DNA non-reactive (NR) infections. 【Methods】 Samples tested as HBsAg+ and HBV DNA NR were confirmed by individual NAT repeat testing, viral particle concentration by PEG precipitation combined with in-house nested PCR and real-time quantitative PCR, anti-HBc testing, and HBsAg quantification. HBV sequences were compared with those from donors with chronic and occult infection as controls. 【Results】 A total of 792 195 samples were screened between January 2011 and December 2020, of which 53 (1: 14 947) were confirmed HBsAg+ /HBV DNA NR. HBV DNA was detected further in five (9.4%) samples; three S sequences and four Pre Core/Core sequences were obtained. Unique amino acid substitutions (P130T, P135Q/S, R151Q, G153S and S155F) were found in the Core protein that may affect virus packaging and replication. 【Conclusion】 Extremely low HBV DNA level was detected in plasmas of HBsAg+ /HBV DNA NR donors. Barely detectable HBV DNA might be associated with unusual mutations in the Pre Core/Core protein affecting viral replication. More sensitive HBV DNA and/or HBsAg assays may be considered to further reduce the potential HBV transfusion-transmission residual risk.

【Objective】 To investigate HIV-1 subtype distribution and trend among Dalian blood donors between 2011 and 2020, in order to provide information to improve blood safety and HIV prevention. 【Methods】 HIV RNA was purified from plasma samples of Dalian blood donors with confirmed HIV infection, which were collected between 2011 and 2020. The HIV pol gene was amplified and sequenced. HIV-1 subtypes were determined by phylogenetic analysis. 【Results】 HIV RNA was successfully genotyped in 174 samples from HIV-infected donors. The main subtypes among Dalian blood donors were CRF01_AE(69.5%), CRF07_BC(17.2%), B(5.2%), CRF02_AG(2.9%), C(1.1%), CRF55_01B(1.1%), CRF08_BC(0.6%), CRF59_01B(0.6%) and CRF79_0107(0.6%). There were still 2 cases (1.1%) unclassified. Significant difference was observed when comparing with the published national data. The prevalence of CRF01_AE strains decreased over the years, while CRF07_BC increased significantly. CRF02_AG carriers differed from donors infected with other HIV subtypes by being mostly females (40.0% vs. 2.4%), aged (median: 35y vs. 26y) and lower educational background(junior school degree or below). And 96.7% of local CRF01_AE cases were related to HIV strains, which were reported to circulate in Northeast China and in the MSM population. 【Conclusion】 HIV-1 among Dalian blood donors had unique molecular epidemiology and the trends of 07_BC increasing and 01_AE decreasing lagged behind the overall national data. Donor education on blood safety and consultation services to high risk group before donation still need improvement.

Objective:To investigate the short term clinical efficacy of intra-gastric balloon (IGB) on obesity patients with different body mass index (BMI).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 62 obesity patients with different BMI who were admitted to three medical centers, including 56 cases in the Hurstville Private Hospital, 4 cases in the St George Private Hospital of University of New South Wales and 2 cases in the East Sydney Private Hospital, from January 2017 to December 2021 were collected. There were 15 males and 47 females, aged 45.1(range, 18.0 to 67.0)years, with the BMI of 35.1(range, 27.8 to 48.4)kg/m 2. Of the 62 patients, there were 33 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 29 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2. Observation indicators: (1) first operation and postoperative complications; (2) follow-up after first IGB; (3) recurrent IGB and postoperative complications; (4) follow up after recurrent IGB. Follow-up was conducted using outpatient examinations to detect postoperative complications and weight loss effects. Patients were followed up at postoperative 1, 3, 6 month. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1) First opera-tion and postoperative complications. All 62 obesity patients underwent the first IGB successfully. Of the 62 patients, 45 cases had postoperative complications, including 38 cases with gastroesophageal reflux, 12 cases with dysphagia or burping, 9 cases with epigastric pain and 4 cases with nausea. One patient may have multiple complications. Cases with above complications in the 33 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 29 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2 were 21, 8, 7, 2 and 17, 4, 2, 2, respectively. (2) Follow-up after first IGB. Of the 62 obesity patients, there were 52, 46 and 38 cases completing followed up at postoperative 1, 3 and 6 month, respectively, including 30, 25,20 cases in patients with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 22, 21, 18 cases in patients with BMI≥35 kg/m 2. Of the 62 obesity patients, there were 15 cases requiring early balloon extraction due to intractable symptoms, inclu-ding 7 cases with ongoing dysphagia or burping, 6 cases with complaining of ineffective weight loss, 1 case with acute right-sided abdominal pain and 1 case with a serendipitous discovery of pregnant. The cumulative weight loss of the 30 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 22 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2 at postoperative 1 month was (4.8±3.0)kg and (6.6±2.8)kg, respectively. The above indicator was (6.7±4.4)kg and (10.6±4.8)kg at postoperative 3 month for the 25 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 21 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2, and (8.5±4.8)kg and (9.8±3.9)kg at postoperative 6 month for the 20 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 18 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2. The percentage of excess weight loss was 53%±26% and 29%±15% at postoperative 6 month and the percentage of total weight loss was 14%±5% and 10%±5% at postoperative 6 month for the 20 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 18 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2, respectively. (3) Recurrent IGB and postoperative complications. Of the 38 cases completing the postoperative 6 month followed up after the first IGB, 9 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 7 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2 choosing a second IGB immediately after the removal of the first balloon. Cases with postoperative compli-cations, including gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia or burping, epigastric pain, nausea were 4, 3, 0, 0 in patients with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 4, 0, 2, 1 in patients with BMI≥35 kg/m 2. (4) Follow up after recurrent IGB. All the 16 patients who chosen a second IGB completed the postoperative 6 month followed up, with the cumulative weight loss of (8.8±8.5)kg and (18.9±9.7)kg and the percentage of excess weight loss of 44%±38% and 41%±15% in the 9 cases with 27 kg/m 2≤BMI<35 kg/m 2 and 7 cases with BMI≥35 kg/m 2, respectively. Conclusions:IGB can achieve a good short-term weight loss effects in obesity patients with BMI≥27 kg/m 2. Gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia or burping, epigastric pain and nausea are common postoperative complications.

Purpose: Medical schools have faced various challenges in preparing their clinical students for the frontlines of a pandemic. This study investigated medical students’ satisfaction with their institutions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with the intention of guiding educators in future public health crises. Methods: In this cross-sectional study surveying students in clinical rotations, the primary outcome was overall satisfaction regarding medical schools’ responses to the pandemic, and the four secondary outcomes were school communication, exposure to COVID-19, availability of personal protective equipment, and access to COVID-19 testing. Results: The survey was distributed to ten medical schools, of which 430 students responded for a response rate of 13.0%. While most students were satisfied (61.9%, n=266) with their schools’ response, more than one in five (21.9%, n=94) were dissatisfied. Among the four secondary outcomes, communication with students was most predictive of overall satisfaction. Conclusion In future crises, schools can best improve student satisfaction by prioritizing timely communication.

Since December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) infections have raged globally for more than 2 years.China has always adopted scientific and effective prevention and control measures to achieved some success.However, with the continuous variation of SARS-CoV-2 cases and imported cases from abroad, the prevention and control work has become more difficult and complex.With the variation of the mutant strain, the number of cases in children changed, and some new special symptoms and complications were found, which proposed a new topic for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in China.Based on the third edition, the present consensus according to the characteristics of the new strain, expounded the etiology, pathology, pathogenesis, and according to the clinical characteristics and experience of children′s cases, and puts forward recommendations on the diagnostic criteria, laboratory examination, treatment, prevention and control of children′s cases for providing reference for further guidance of effective prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in China.

Recent studies have characterized the genomic structures of many eukaryotic cells,often focusing on their relation to gene expression.However,these studies have largely investigated cells grown in 2D cultures,although the transcriptomes of 3D-cultured cells are generally closer to their in vivo phenotypes.To examine the effects of spatial constraints on chromosome conformation,we investigated the genomic architecture of mouse hepatocytes grown in 2D and 3D cultures using in situ Hi-C.Our results reveal significant differences in higher-order genomic interactions,notably in compartment identity and strength as well as in topologically associating domain(TAD)-TAD interactions,but only minor differences are found at the TAD level.Our RNA-seq analysis reveals up-regulated expression of genes involved in physiological hepatocyte functions in the 3D-cultured cells.These genes are associated with a subset of structural changes,suggesting that differences in genomic structure are critically important for transcriptional regulation.However,there are also many structural differences that are not directly associated with changes in gene expression,whose cause remains to be determined.Overall,our results indicate that growth in 3D significantly alters higher-order genomic interactions,which may be consequential for a subset of genes that are impor-tant for the physiological functioning of the cell.

In-stent stenosis is a feared complication of flow diversion treatment for cerebral aneurysms. We present 2 cases of patients treated with pipeline flow diversion for unruptured cerebral aneurysms. Initial perioperative dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) consisted of standard aspirin plus clopidogrel. At 6-month follow-up cerebral angiography, the patients were noted to have developed significant in-stent stenosis (63% and 53%). The patients were treated with cilostazol and clopidogrel for at least 6 months. Subsequent angiography at 1-year post-treatment showed significant improvement of the in-stent stenosis from 63% to 34% and 53% to 21%. The role of cilostazol as treatment of intracranial in-stent stenosis has not been previously described. Cilostazol’s vasodilatory effect and suppression of vascular smooth muscle proliferation provides ideal benefits in this setting. Cilostazol plus clopidogrel may be a safe and effective alternative to standard DAPT for treatment of in-stent stenosis following flow diversion and warrants further consideration and investigation.