Objective To explore the value of diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),amide proton transfer-weighted imaging(APTWI)and glucose chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging(glucoCEST)for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Methods Sixty cases of rectal cancer confirmed by pathology were retrospectively enrolled and divided into metastasis group(n=36)and non-metastasis group(n=24)based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis.The apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)value,as well as the values of magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3.50 ppm and 1.20 ppm(MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20ppm)of the lesions were respectively obtained based on DWI,APTWI and glucoCEST and then compared between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each parameter alone and their combination for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Results In metastasis group,ADC value of the lesions was lower,while MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm values were both higher than those in non-metastasis group(all P＜0.05).AUC of the combination of the above parameters for predicting lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer based on ADC,MTRasym3.50ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm values was 0.970,significantly higher than that of each single parameter(0.858,0.804 and 0.755,respectively;Z=2.442-3.231,all P＜0.05).Conclusion DWI,APTWI and glucoCEST could all be used to predicte lymph node metastasis of rectal cancer.Combination of ADC,MTRasym3.50 ppm and MTRasym1.20 ppm had the highest predictive efficacy.

Objective:New HIV infections serve as a crucial indicator for assessing the dynamic changes in the HIV epidemic. This study aims to estimate the number of new HIV infections in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province (Dehong), using a back-calculation method that integrates diagnosis delay approaches and Bayesian theory. Additionally, it compares the differences between these two estimation methods.Methods:Data were obtained from the Chinese Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on CD4 + T lymphocytes (CD4) counts depletion model, the first CD4 count prior to antiretroviral therapy of HIV-infected individuals diagnosed in Dehong from 2010 to 2023 was utilized to retroactively determine the infection date of HIV-infected individuals and ascertain the annual number of new HIV infections who had been diagnosed. Subsequently, the diagnosis delay distribution method and Bayesian theory were leveraged to assess the diagnosis probability of newly infected individuals, thereby projecting the number of new HIV infections in the region over the specified period. Results:During 2010-2023, a total of 5 693 individuals aged 15 and above, excluding mother-to-child transmission, were diagnosed with HIV in Dehong. After excluding 364 cases due to missing CD4 count results or abnormal first CD4 counts (≥2 000 cells/μl), 5 329 HIV-infected individuals were included in the final analysis. Through CD4 counts back-calculation from 2010 to 2023, the annual number of new infections diagnosed was 479, 427, 337, 305, 256, 219, 194, 193, 131, 166, 120, 71, 42 and 47. When using the diagnosis delay distribution method and life table analysis, the cumulative diagnosis probability rose from 0.301 within one year to 0.913 within 14 years, leading to a reduction in the number of estimated new infections from 577 in 2010 to 168 in 2023, with a total estimate of 4 412 (95% CI:4 350-4 480). Alternatively, based on Bayesian theory, the diagnosis probability increased from 0.413 within one year to 0.946 within 14 years, leading to a reduction in the number of estimated new infections from 557 in 2010 to 122 in 2023, with a total of 3 814 (95% CI: 3 787-3 837). Conclusions:Both methods yielded consistent results in estimating new HIV infections in Dehong from 2010 to 2023. Given the region's ongoing expansion of HIV testing, the estimates derived from Bayesian theory may more accurately reflect the actual situation. These findings provide a reference basis for formulating and optimizing HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies in Dehong, facilitating progress toward the goal of eliminating AIDS by 2030 in the region.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of clinically isolated Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis in hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021,and provide evidence for rational use of antimicrobial agents.Methods Data of H.influenzae and M.catarrhalis strains isolated from 2015 to 2021 in CHINET program were collected for analysis,and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method or automated systems according to the uniform protocol of CHINET.The results were interpreted according to the CLSI breakpoints in 2022.Beta-lactamases was detected by using nitrocefin disk.Results From 2015 to 2021,a total of 43 642 strains of Haemophilus species were isolated,accounting for 2.91％of the total clinical isolates and 4.07％of Gram-negative bacteria in CHINET program.Among the 40 437 strains of H.influenzae,66.89％were isolated from children and 33.11％were isolated from adults.More than 90％of the H.influenzae strains were isolated from respiratory tract specimens.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 53.79％in H.influenzae strains.The H.influenzae strains isolated from children showed higher resistance rate than the strains isolated from adults.Overall,779 strains of H.influenzae did not produce β-lactamase but were resistant to ampicillin(BLNAR).Beta-lactamase-producing strains showed significantly higher resistance rates to these antimicrobial agents than the β-lactamase-nonproducing strains.Of the 16 191 M.catarrhalis strains,80.06％were isolated from children and 19.94％isolated from adults.M.catarrhalis strains were mostly susceptible to both amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefuroxime,evidenced by resistance rate lower than 2.0％.Conclusions The emergence of antibiotic-resistant H.influenzae due to β-lactamase production poses a challenge for clinical anti-infective treatment.Therefore,it is very important to implement antibiotic resistance surveillance for H.influenzae and guide rational antibiotic use.All local clinical microbiology laboratories should actively improve antibiotic susceptibility testing and strengthen antibiotic resistance surveillance for H.influenzae.

Objective To explore the change of serum chloride ion(Cl-)level and its relationship with prognosis in patients with acute heart failure(AHF).Methods A total of 289 patients with AHF admitted to the hospital from September 2020 to March 2023 were included in the study.Clinical and laboratory data of patients were collected,serum Cl-levels were detected at admission and discharge,and the difference of Cl-levels was calculated(△Cl-).Patients with AHF were divided into poor prognosis group and good prognosis group according to the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up.Clinical and laboratory data of the two groups were compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between se-rum △Cl-level and poor prognosis of AHF by using restricted cubic spline(RCS)curve drawn by the func-tions in the rms package.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to analyze the value of△Cl-levels in predicting the risk of adverse cardiovascular events within 1 year of discharge from hospital in patients with AHF.Results The age and the proportion of patients with atrial fibrillation in the poor progno-sis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)and Cl-at discharge in the poor prognosis group were lower than those in the good prognosis group,and the levels of brain natriuretic peptide(BNP)and △Cl-in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group,with statistical sig-nificance(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that LVEF was an independent protective factor for poor prognosis of AHF,and age,BNP and △Cl-levels were independent risk factors for poor prognosis of AHF(P＜0.05).RCS curve analysis showed a significant linear association between △Cl-levels and the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AHF within 1 year of discharge.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of △Cl-level in predicting the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in AHF pa-tients within 1 year after discharge was 0.857,the sensitivity was 88.37％,and the specificity was 69.46％.Conclusion The change of serum Cl-level of patients with AHF is related to the prognosis of patients with AHF,and monitoring the serum Cl-level of patients with AHF can guide the early clinical intervention.

Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is clinically characterized by insulin resistance,ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenemia,often accompanied by obesity,type 2 diabetes,and dyslipidemia.This article reviews the recent studies on the intervention of PCOS with herbal medicines,including traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)compound formulas and single active compounds.The results demonstrate that both TCM compound formulas and single active compounds are effective on improving PCOS symptoms,with the advantages of multi-target actions and personalized treatment.TCM compound formulas for PCOS can be categorized into kidney-tonifying formulas(e.g.,Antai Fanglou Decoction,Gui Zhu Yikun Formula,Liuwei Dihuang Pills,Bushen Huayu Formula),phlegm-resolving formulas(e.g.,Cang Fu Daotan Decoction,Erchen Decoction),liver-soothing formulas(e.g.,Xiaoyao San,Shaoyao Gancao Decoction),and blood-activating formulas(e.g.,Jiawei Shaoyao Gancao Decoction,Gexia Zhuyu Decoction,Huayu Xiaozheng Decoction).These compound formulas separately exhibit actions of tonifying kidney essence,soothing liver and relieving depression,and activating blood circulation to resolve stasis,which are aligned with the TCM etiology and pathogenesis of PCOS.Single active compounds from herbal medicine primarily include flavonoids,alkaloids,terpenoids and polyphenols.Extractives from herbal medicines exert therapeutic effects by inhibiting ovarian inflammatory responses and relieveing hyperandrogenemia insulin resistance.Key signaling pathways for the intervention of PCOS with TCM include PI3K/AKT/mTOR,SIRT1/AMPK,TLR4/NF-κB,IRS1/PI3K/GLUT4,RIP1/RIP3/MLKL,HMGB1/RAGE,and Hippo-YAP.The review of recent advances in TCM formulas and single active compounds for the treatment of PCOS along with their underlying mechanisms will provide valuable insights for clinical management and new drug development for PCOS.

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.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of lung transplantation and post-transplantation changes in patients with pneumoconiosis.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical and pathological data of 28 patients with pulmonary silicosis who underwent lung transplantation and were managed at the Department of Internal Medicine, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China from January 2015 to December 2024. Among them, 8 patients underwent lung biopsy 6-20 months after transplantation to evaluate the histopathological changes of the recipient and the donor lungs post-transplantation. The expression of relevant indicators was examined using immunohistochemical EnVision staining, while presence of microorganisms was assessed using histochemical special staining. The patients were all followed up.Results:Among the 28 patients with pneumoconiosis who underwent lung transplantation, 26 were male and 2 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 13∶1. Their ages ranged from 23 to 68 years, median 50.0 (46.0, 53.5) years. They were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis at local occupational disease prevention and control centers for 3 to 15 years (mean, 9.65 years), including 13 left single lung transplants and 15 right single lung transplants. Gross examination showed fleshy nodules with irregular cystic cavities at the periphery. The cut surfaces exhibited gray-brown color and firm texture. Microscopically, most alveolar structures of the lung were obliterated, with nodular or diffuse proliferation of collagen fibers accompanied by hyaline degeneration. Focal massive carbon dust deposition and massive silicotic fibrosis were observed, surrounded by lung parenchyma with emphysematous changes and localized bullae formation. Seven patients underwent re-biopsy after transplantation that showed extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells. In 4 cases, microscopy revealed complete coagulative necrosis, with negative acid-fast staining and TB-DNA results. Of the 4 cases, 3 cases exhibited Aspergillus infection confirmed by Grocott′s methenamine silver and PAS stains, while 2 cases showed chronic bronchitis with squamous metaplasia. Follow-up revealed that 8 patients died of acute respiratory failure due to severe infection, while the remaining 20 demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in lung function.Conclusions:For patients with advanced pulmonary dust deposition disease who undergo lung transplantation, it is necessary to conduct standardized sampling and pathological assessment of the recipient lungs. In the early post-transplant period, the complications of re-biopsy tissues are mainly fungal infections. The combination of morphological manifestations and immunohistochemical detection is helpful to distinguish infection from rejection reactions. At the same time, it is essential to integrate clinical information and laboratory results to provide post-transplantation pathological assessment for individualized treatment.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of common pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)in CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods The bacterial strains isolated from CSF were identified in accordance with clinical microbiology practice standards.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and automated systems per the unified CHINET protocol.Results A total of 14 014 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF samples from 2015 to 2021,including the strains isolated from inpatients(95.3％)and from outpatient and emergency care patients(4.7％).Overall,19.6％of the isolates were from children and 80.4％were from adults.Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 68.0％and 32.0％,respectively.Coagulase negative Staphylococcus accounted for 73.0％of the total Gram-positive bacterial isolates.The prevalence of MRSA was 38.2％in children and 45.6％in adults.The prevalence of MRCNS was 67.6％in adults and 69.5％in children.A small number of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium(2.2％)and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis(3.1％)were isolated from adult patients.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone were 52.2％and 76.4％in children,70.5％and 63.5％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli and K.pneumoniae(CRKP)was 1.3％and 47.7％in children,6.4％and 47.9％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA)was 74.0％and 37.1％in children,81.7％and 39.9％in adults.Conclusions The data derived from antimicrobial resistance surveillance are crucial for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding antibiotic therapy.Attention should be paid to the Gram-negative bacteria,especially CRKP and CRAB in central nervous system(CNS)infections.Ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for optimizing antibiotic use in CNS infections.

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates from elderly patients(≥65 years)in major medical institutions across China.Methods Bacterial strains were isolated from elderly patients in 52 hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program during the period from 2015 to 2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by disk diffusion method and automated systems according to the same CHINET protocol.The data were interpreted in accordance with the breakpoints recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2021.Results A total of 514 715 nonduplicate clinical isolates were collected from elderly patients in 52 hospitals from January 1,2015 to December 31,2021.The number of isolates accounted for 34.3％of the total number of clinical isolates from all patients.Overall,21.8％of the 514 715 strains were gram-positive bacteria,and 78.2％were gram-negative bacteria.Majority(90.9％)of the strains were isolated from inpatients.About 42.9％of the strains were isolated from respiratory specimens,and 22.9％were isolated from urine.More than half(60.7％)of the strains were isolated from male patients,and 39.3％isolated from females.About 51.1％of the strains were isolated from patients aged 65-＜75 years.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains(MRSA)was 38.8％in 32 190 strains of Staphylococcus aureus.No vancomycin-or linezolid-resistant strains were found.The resistance rate of E.faecalis to most antibiotics was significantly lower than that of Enterococcus faecium,but a few vancomycin-resistant strains(0.2％,1.5％)and linezolid-resistant strains(3.4％,0.3％)were found in E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible S.pneumoniae(PSSP),penicillin-intermediate S.pneumoniae(PISP),and penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae(PRSP)was 94.3％,4.0％,and 1.7％in nonmeningitis S.pneumoniae isolates.The resistance rates of Klebsiella spp.(Klebsiella pneumoniae 93.2％)to imipenem and meropenem were 20.9％and 22.3％,respectively.Other Enterobacterales species were highly sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics.Only 1.7％-7.8％of other Enterobacterales strains were resistant to carbapenems.The resistance rates of Acinetobacter spp.(Acinetobacter baumannii 90.6％)to imipenem and meropenem were 68.4％and 70.6％respectively,while 28.5％and 24.3％of P.aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem,respectively.Conclusions The number of clinical isolates from elderly patients is increasing year by year,especially in the 65-＜75 age group.Respiratory tract isolates were more prevalent in male elderly patients,and urinary tract isolates were more prevalent in female elderly patients.Klebsiella isolates were increasingly resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents,especially carbapenems.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for accurate empirical antimicrobial therapy in elderly patients.