Objective To develop an automated system for the determination of gross α and gross β activity concentrations in water, and to support the rapid and automated monitoring of environmental water bodies. Methods Based on the thick source method, microwave evaporation-ashing was used to replace conventional electric hotplate heating. A grinder and a sample-spreading device were designed and operated via a robotic arm, achieving fully automated pretreatment, sample preparation, and measurement. Results Spike recovery tests demonstrated that the recovery rates were 95.7%-102.5% for gross α and 97.2%-108.1% for gross β. The relative standard deviations were 4.1%-7.8% for gross α and 5.9%-7.7% for gross β. Compared with manual laboratory methods, the average relative errors were 2.17%-6.25% for gross α and 4.17%-6.90% for gross β. The sample preparation time was reduced from an average of 72 hours to less than 5 hours, representing an efficiency improvement of over 90%. Conclusion The developed system enables rapid, accurate, and fully automated monitoring of gross α/β radioactivity, making it suitable for online monitoring of environmental water bodies. It can provide timely data on the radiological indicators of water bodies for environmental protection and water resource management authorities.

Background::Hepatitis B poses a heavy burden for children in China, however, the national studies on the distributional characteristics and health care costs of children with severe hepatitis B is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the disease characteristics, health economic effects, and medical cost for children with severe hepatitis B in China.Methods::Based on patient information in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System, cases with severe hepatitis B were divided into four groups according to age, and the etiology and symptoms of each group were quantified. The cost of hospitalization was calculated for cases with different disease processes, and severity of disease. The spatial aggregation of cases and the relationship with health economic factors were analyzed by Moran’s I analysis. Results::The total number of children discharged with hepatitis B from January 2016 to April 2022 was 1603, with an average age of 10.5 years. Liver failure cases accounted for 43.48% (697/1603) of total cases and cirrhosis cases accounted for 11.23% (180/1603). According to the grouping of disease progression, there were 1292 cases without associated complications, and the median hospitalization cost was $818.12. According to the spatial analysis, the aggregation of cases was statistically significant at the prefectural and provincial levels in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (all P <0.05). The number of severe cases was negatively correlated with gross domestic product (Moran’s I <0) and percentage of urban population (Moran’s I <0), and positively correlated with the number of pediatric beds per million population (Moran’s I >0). Conclusion::The number of severe hepatitis B cases is low in areas with high gross domestic product levels and high urban population ratios, and health care costs have been declining over the years.

Background::Hepatitis B poses a heavy burden for children in China, however, the national studies on the distributional characteristics and health care costs of children with severe hepatitis B is still lacking. This study aimed to analyze the disease characteristics, health economic effects, and medical cost for children with severe hepatitis B in China.Methods::Based on patient information in the Hospital Quality Monitoring System, cases with severe hepatitis B were divided into four groups according to age, and the etiology and symptoms of each group were quantified. The cost of hospitalization was calculated for cases with different disease processes, and severity of disease. The spatial aggregation of cases and the relationship with health economic factors were analyzed by Moran’s I analysis. Results::The total number of children discharged with hepatitis B from January 2016 to April 2022 was 1603, with an average age of 10.5 years. Liver failure cases accounted for 43.48% (697/1603) of total cases and cirrhosis cases accounted for 11.23% (180/1603). According to the grouping of disease progression, there were 1292 cases without associated complications, and the median hospitalization cost was $818.12. According to the spatial analysis, the aggregation of cases was statistically significant at the prefectural and provincial levels in 2019, 2020, and 2021 (all P <0.05). The number of severe cases was negatively correlated with gross domestic product (Moran’s I <0) and percentage of urban population (Moran’s I <0), and positively correlated with the number of pediatric beds per million population (Moran’s I >0). Conclusion::The number of severe hepatitis B cases is low in areas with high gross domestic product levels and high urban population ratios, and health care costs have been declining over the years.

Objective To establishment a process of monitoring waste resin clearance in nuclear power plants, and to meet clearance requirements and simplify the monitoring work. Methods In accordance with the requirements specified in current laws, regulations, and standards in China, as well as the practice of slightly polluted waste resins generated during the operation of nuclear power plants, in-depth discussion was conducted on sampling methods, sample uniformity and representativeness tests, radiation monitoring contents and methods, and simplified monitoring processes, in order to accurately monitor the radionuclide activity of waste resins to be cleared. Results A process was established to monitor waste resin clearance in nuclear power plants. A total of 55 barrels of waste resins were cleared and the radiation levels met the requirements. Conclusion An effective clearance process can facilitate the sampling of representative resins, improve the accuracy of monitoring data, differentiate radioactive waste from cleared waste, and simplify the monitoring process. Our results provide a basis and reference for future waste resin clearance.

OBJECTIVE: To explore application value and efficacy of personalized osteotomy in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) for severe varus knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: From June 2018 to January 2020, 36 patients (49 knees) with severe varus knee osteoarthritis were treated, including 15 males (21 knees) and 21 females (28 knees), aged from 59 to 82 years old with an average of (67.6 ± 6.5) years old;the course of disease ranged from 9.5 to 20.5 years with an average of (15.0 ± 5.0) years;11 patients (15 knees) with Kellgren-Lawrence grade Ⅲ and 25 patients (34 knees) with grade Ⅳ according to Kellgren-Lawrence grading. According to AORI clsssification of tibial bone defects, 8 patients (15 knees) were typeⅠTa and 16 patients (18 knees) were typeⅡ T2a. All patients' femor-tibial angle (FTA) was above 15°, and received primary TKA with personalized osteotomy. Thirty-three patients (45 knees) were treated with posterior-stabilized (PS) prostheses, 13 patients (15 knees) with PS prostheses combined with a metal pad and extension rod on the tibial side, and 3 patients (4 knees) with legacy constrained condylar knee (LCCK) prostheses. FTA, posterior condylar angle (PCA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) and lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA) before and after operation at 1 month were measured and compared by using picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). Recovery of lower limbs before and after operation at 12 months was evaluated by American Knee Society Score(KSS), and complications were observed and recorded. RESULTS: All 36 patients (49 knees) were followed up from 15 to 40 months with an average of (23.46±7.65) months. FTA, MPTA were corrected from preoperative (18.65±4.28)° and (83.75±3.65)° to postoperative (2.35±1.46)° and (88.85±2.25)° at 1 month, respectively (P<0.001). PCA was decreased from (2.42±2.16)° before operation to (1.65±1.35)° at 1 month after operation, LDFA improved from (89.56 ± 3.55)° before operation to (91.63±3.38)° at 1 month after operation (P<0.05). KSS increased from (67.58±24.16) before opertion to(171.31±15.24) at 12 months after operation, 14 patients (19 knees) got excellent result, 19 (26 knees) good, and 3 (4 knees) fair. CONCLUSION Personalized osteotomy is helpful for recovery of axial alignment of lower limbs and correct placement of prosthesis, could effectively relieve pain of knee joint, recover knee joint function.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Osteotomy ; Tibia/surgery*

Objective To establish a radioactive waste sorting process. Methods According to the current laws, regulations, standards, waste minimization requirements, and domestic good practices, the non-radioactive waste and radioactive waste were distinguished, and the radioactive waste was further sorted according to the different subsequent disposal methods of radioactive waste. The precautions for each step of the sorting process were described in detail. Results This process has been used in sorting decommissioned radioactive waste in an urban waste repository and achieved good results. Approximately 83 tons of radioactive waste and 1173 waste radioactive sources were sorted. Conclusion Good radioactive waste sorting technology can not only distinguish between radioactive and non-radioactive waste, but also facilitate the subsequent disposal of radioactive waste, which minimizes radioactive waste and protects staff and the environment.

Objective To develop a reasonable plan of monitoring personal internal exposure dose. Methods This paper introduced the methods of monitoring the individual dose and direct measurement of three representative radionuclides. Results The maximum monitoring periods were determined according to the radionuclide retention characteristics and the reporting standards and requirements, which were m(1)/m(T/2) ≤ 3 and m(T/2)/m(T) ≤ 3. The lower detection limit of the instrument was derived from the monitoring periods and the annual radionuclide intake limit, which should be lower than the derived method detection limit of the corresponding radionuclide. Then the measuring duration of the instrument that meets the corresponding conditions was derived from the derived method detection limit of the instrument and the maximum monitoring period. Conclusion Our results provide a reference for the formulation of a plan of monitoring personal internal exposure dose.

OBJECTIVETo observe the serological features of hepatitis G virus (HGV or GBV) in selected population of Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang Provinces (region).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine IgG antibody against GBV (anti-GBV IgG) in serum specimens of 1469 individuals from the 3 provinces (region).

RESULTSThe positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in ethnic minorities (4.11% in Tibetan, 5.36% in Mongolian, 4.55% in Uigur, 4.00% in Hui population) was slightly higher than that in Han population (1.36%-1.73%), but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in drug abusers (11.30%, 34/301) was remarkably higher than that of the normal population (2.44%,18/736) (P<0.01). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in blood donors was 1.02%-7.68%.

CONCLUSIONSThe positivity rates of serum GBV-IgG antibody among ethnic groups in the 3 provinces (region) had no significant differences; blood-borne transmission seemed to be an important transmission route of GBV, therefore supervision of blood donors and drug abusers should be intensified.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flaviviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; GB virus C ; immunology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Substance-Related Disorders ; virology