Medical ultrasound technology is widely used for diagnosis and therapy in clinical practice.Ultrasound probes,which are directly contact with patients,pose a potential risk of pathogen transmission.This expert consen-sus was developed by a multidisciplinary team based on international guidelines,standards in China,and the results of a national survey,aiming to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infection through standardizing reprocessing of medical ultrasound probes,and formulating consensus recommendations with the Delphi method.The consensus clarifies the reprocessing principles for three types of ultrasound probes of different infection risks:external-use ul-trasound probes,interventional percutaneous ultrasound probes,and internal-use ultrasound probes,puts forward systematic suggestions on the reprocessing standards and disinfection levels of ultrasound probe isolation covers and coupling agents,the reprocessing procedures and methods of ultrasound probes,as well as architectural layout and management of reprocessing,so as to provide a scientific prevention and control framework for ensuring ultrasound diagnosis and therapy safety.

Objective:To investigate the carriage of the thalassemia gene in sperm donors in Chongqing,China by analyzing the thalas-semia screening and gene mutation types of sperm donors in Chongqing Human Sperm Bank(CHSB),and to provide a reference for thalassemia screening in sperm donors in Chongqing.Methods:Blood samples were collected from 488 sperm donors in CHSB(donors with all tests qualified during the quarantine)from December 2021 to August 2024.A complete blood count analysis was performed to measure the mean corpuscular volume(MCV)and mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH).Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)/agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect deletional α-thalassemia mutations.PCR and DNA reverse dot blot hybridization were used to detect 3 common non-deletional α-thalassemia mutations and 17 common β-thalassemia mutations.The test results were then analyzed.Results:Among the 488 sperm donors aged 25.64±4.95 years,15(3.07％,all Han nationality)tested positive for thalassemia.This carriage rate was lower than that of the thalassemia population in Chongqing(9.24％).Among the 15 thalassemia carriers,13 had deletional α-gene mutations(-α3.7 genotype in 11 cases[73.33％],-α4.2 genotype in 1 case[6.67％],and-SEA genotype in 1 case[6.67％]),and 2 had non-deletional α-gene mutations(both with the WSM heterozygous mutation).There was only 1 case of abnor-mal MCV and MCH2 indicators among thalassemia carriers(screening positive rate was 6.67％).Conclusion:Thalassemia screening in sperm donors in CHSB reveals a low thalassemia carriage rate,reflecting geographic(predominantly Sichuan and Chongqing ori-gins)and demographic(healthy men of childbearing potential)characteristics.Given the significant impact of thalassemia on the off-spring conceived through sperm donation,it is recommended to conduct thalassemia gene screening among sperm donors in human sperm banks.

Objective:To analyze the molecular characteristics of prevalent Bordetella pertussis (Bp) isolates in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province in 2024. Methods:From March to August 2024, oropharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected pertussis cases at Liaocheng People′s Hospital in Shandong Province for Bp isolation. A total of 99 Bp isolates were obtained. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on all isolates, followed by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), vaccine antigen-related gene typing (including ptxP, ptxA, ptxB, ptxC, ptxD, ptxE, fhaB, fim2, fim3, and prn), 23S rRNA gene typing, and phylogenetic analysis. To capture the differences between Bp isolates and vaccine strains in Liaocheng City, the international vaccine strain Tohama I and the Chinese vaccine strain CS were included in the analysis. Antimicrobial resistance testing against 11 agents was performed on 52 isolates. Results:The throat swabs of 99 Bp isolates were collected from patients aged 44 days to 42 years, and the median age of the patients was 7 (5, 8) years. All isolates ptxP were ptxP3 type. 74 isolates (74.75%) carried the prn150, while 21 isolates (21.21%) were prn-deficient. The predominant antigenic profile was ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150, found in 72 isolates (72.73%). All 99 isolates carried the A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the MICs of macrolides and clindamycin for all 52 Bp isolates were all >256 mg/L. However, the isolates showed low MIC for seven other antimicrobials tested, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin. MLST typing revealed that 94 isolates (94.95%) were identified as ST-2, while 5 isolates (5.05%) belonged to a novel sequence type (ST-118). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all 99 Bp isolates were highly homologous but clustered in evolutionary branches distinct from vaccine strains. Conclusion:In 2024, Bordetella pertussis isolates in Liaocheng City exhibit distinct clonal epidemic characteristics, with the predominant antigenic genotype being ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150. All isolates are resistant to macrolide antibiotics.

Objectives:To investigate the relationship between locations of ventricular septal perforation and 30-day prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation.Methods:Clinical data of 150 acute myocardial infarction patients with ventricular septal perforation admitted to Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2009 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the difference in 30-day survival rate among patients with different sites of ventricular septal perforation.The impact of locations of ventricular septal perforation on 30-day prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients was evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis(forward stepwise).Results:In acute myocardial infarction patients,the occurrence of anterior ventricular septal perforation was higher than that of posterior ventricular septal perforation(79.5%vs.20.5%,P<0.001).In the anterior ventricular septal perforation patients,females were more common(50.0%vs.22.6%,P=0.006),the blood glucose level was higher([10.51±5.99]mmol/L vs.[8.02±2.81]mmol/L,P=0.026),the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was smaller([50.7±6.1]mm vs.[55.1±5.0]mm,P<0.001),the ventricular septal aperture was also smaller([9.8±4.6]mm vs.[12.6±5.4]mm,P=0.004),30-day mortality was higher(55.8%vs.35.5%,P=0.043)compared with posterior ventricular septal perforation patients.Multivariate Cox regression analysis(forward stepwise)showed that no transthoracic surgery or transcatheter closure(HR=26.344,95%CI:8.261-84.009,P<0.001)and anterior ventricular septal perforation(HR=2.432,95%CI:1.281-4.619,P=0.007)were associated with increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation.Conclusions:In patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation,the incidence of anterior ventricular septal perforation is higher than posterior ventricular septal perforation and the 30-day all-cause mortality of anterior ventricular septal perforation patients is also higher.No transthoracic surgery or transcatheter closure and anterior ventricular septal perforation are the independent influential factors of 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and ventricular septal perforation.

Medical ultrasound technology is widely used for diagnosis and therapy in clinical practice.Ultrasound probes,which are directly contact with patients,pose a potential risk of pathogen transmission.This expert consen-sus was developed by a multidisciplinary team based on international guidelines,standards in China,and the results of a national survey,aiming to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infection through standardizing reprocessing of medical ultrasound probes,and formulating consensus recommendations with the Delphi method.The consensus clarifies the reprocessing principles for three types of ultrasound probes of different infection risks:external-use ul-trasound probes,interventional percutaneous ultrasound probes,and internal-use ultrasound probes,puts forward systematic suggestions on the reprocessing standards and disinfection levels of ultrasound probe isolation covers and coupling agents,the reprocessing procedures and methods of ultrasound probes,as well as architectural layout and management of reprocessing,so as to provide a scientific prevention and control framework for ensuring ultrasound diagnosis and therapy safety.

Objectives:To investigate the relationship between locations of ventricular septal perforation and 30-day prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation.Methods:Clinical data of 150 acute myocardial infarction patients with ventricular septal perforation admitted to Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2009 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the difference in 30-day survival rate among patients with different sites of ventricular septal perforation.The impact of locations of ventricular septal perforation on 30-day prognosis of acute myocardial infarction patients was evaluated by multivariate Cox regression analysis(forward stepwise).Results:In acute myocardial infarction patients,the occurrence of anterior ventricular septal perforation was higher than that of posterior ventricular septal perforation(79.5%vs.20.5%,P<0.001).In the anterior ventricular septal perforation patients,females were more common(50.0%vs.22.6%,P=0.006),the blood glucose level was higher([10.51±5.99]mmol/L vs.[8.02±2.81]mmol/L,P=0.026),the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was smaller([50.7±6.1]mm vs.[55.1±5.0]mm,P<0.001),the ventricular septal aperture was also smaller([9.8±4.6]mm vs.[12.6±5.4]mm,P=0.004),30-day mortality was higher(55.8%vs.35.5%,P=0.043)compared with posterior ventricular septal perforation patients.Multivariate Cox regression analysis(forward stepwise)showed that no transthoracic surgery or transcatheter closure(HR=26.344,95%CI:8.261-84.009,P<0.001)and anterior ventricular septal perforation(HR=2.432,95%CI:1.281-4.619,P=0.007)were associated with increased risk of 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation.Conclusions:In patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular septal perforation,the incidence of anterior ventricular septal perforation is higher than posterior ventricular septal perforation and the 30-day all-cause mortality of anterior ventricular septal perforation patients is also higher.No transthoracic surgery or transcatheter closure and anterior ventricular septal perforation are the independent influential factors of 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction and ventricular septal perforation.

Objective:To analyze the molecular characteristics of prevalent Bordetella pertussis (Bp) isolates in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province in 2024. Methods:From March to August 2024, oropharyngeal swabs were collected from suspected pertussis cases at Liaocheng People′s Hospital in Shandong Province for Bp isolation. A total of 99 Bp isolates were obtained. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on all isolates, followed by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), vaccine antigen-related gene typing (including ptxP, ptxA, ptxB, ptxC, ptxD, ptxE, fhaB, fim2, fim3, and prn), 23S rRNA gene typing, and phylogenetic analysis. To capture the differences between Bp isolates and vaccine strains in Liaocheng City, the international vaccine strain Tohama I and the Chinese vaccine strain CS were included in the analysis. Antimicrobial resistance testing against 11 agents was performed on 52 isolates. Results:The throat swabs of 99 Bp isolates were collected from patients aged 44 days to 42 years, and the median age of the patients was 7 (5, 8) years. All isolates ptxP were ptxP3 type. 74 isolates (74.75%) carried the prn150, while 21 isolates (21.21%) were prn-deficient. The predominant antigenic profile was ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150, found in 72 isolates (72.73%). All 99 isolates carried the A2047G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed that the MICs of macrolides and clindamycin for all 52 Bp isolates were all >256 mg/L. However, the isolates showed low MIC for seven other antimicrobials tested, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin. MLST typing revealed that 94 isolates (94.95%) were identified as ST-2, while 5 isolates (5.05%) belonged to a novel sequence type (ST-118). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that all 99 Bp isolates were highly homologous but clustered in evolutionary branches distinct from vaccine strains. Conclusion:In 2024, Bordetella pertussis isolates in Liaocheng City exhibit distinct clonal epidemic characteristics, with the predominant antigenic genotype being ptxP3/ ptxA1/ ptxB1/ ptxC4/ ptxD1/ ptxE4/ fhaB1/ fim2-1/ fim3-1/ prn150. All isolates are resistant to macrolide antibiotics.

Background::Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects approximately 10% of adults worldwide. CM310 is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-4 receptor alpha that blocks interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling. This trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CM310 in Chinese adults with moderate-to-severe AD.Methods::This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2b trial was conducted in 21 medical institutions in China from February to November 2021. Totally 120 eligible patients were enrolled and randomized (1:1:1) to receive subcutaneous injections of 300 mg CM310, 150 mg CM310, or placebo every 2 weeks for 16 weeks, followed by an 8-week follow-up period. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving ≥75% improvement in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75) score from baseline at week 16. Safety and pharmacodynamics were also studied.Results::At week 16, the proportion of EASI-75 responders from baseline was significantly higher in the CM310 groups (70% [28/40] for high-dose and 65% [26/40] for low-dose) than that in the placebo group (20%[8/40]). The differences in EASI-75 response rate were 50% (high vs. placebo, 95% CI 31%–69%) and 45% (low vs. placebo, 95% CI 26%–64%), with both P values <0.0001. CM310 at both doses also significantly improved the EASI score, Investigator’s Global Assessment score, daily peak pruritus Numerical Rating Scale, AD-affected body surface area, and Dermatology Life Quality Index compared with placebo. CM310 treatment reduced levels of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, total immunoglobulin E, lactate dehydrogenase, and blood eosinophils. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was similar among all three groups, with the most common TEAEs reported being upper respiratory tract infection, atopic dermatitis, hyperlipidemia, and hyperuricemia. No severe adverse events were deemed to be attributed to CM310. Conclusion::CM310 at 150 mg and 300 mg every 2 weeks demonstrated significant efficacy and was well-tolerated in adults with moderate-to-severe AD.Trial Registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04805411.

Objective To monitor the antifungal resistance of clinical isolates of Candida spp.in the East China region.Methods MALDI-TOF MS or molecular methods were used to re-identify the strains collected from January 2018 to December 2022.Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method.The susceptibility test results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of 2022 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)documents M27 M44s-Ed3 and M57s-Ed4.Results A total of 3 026 strains of Candida were collected,65.33％of which were isolated from sterile body sites,mainly from blood(38.86％)and pleural effusion/ascites(10.21％).The predominant species of Candida were Candida albicans(44.51％),followed by Candida parapsilosis complex(19.46％),Candida tropicalis(13.98％),Candida glabrata(10.34％),and other Candida species(0.79％).Candida albicans showed overall high susceptibility rates to the 10 antifungal drugs tested(the lowest rate being 93.62％).Only 2.97％of the strains showed dose-dependent susceptibility(SDD)to fluconazole.Candida parapsilosis complex had a SDD rate of 2.61％and a resistance rate of 9.42％to fluconazole,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida glabrata had a SDD rate of 92.01％and a resistance rate of 7.99％to fluconazole,resistance rates of 32.27％and 48.24％to posaconazole and voriconazole non-wild-type strains(NWT),respectively,and susceptibility rates above 90％to other drugs.Candida tropicalis had resistance rates of 29.55％and 26.24％to fluconazole and voriconazole,respectively,resistance rates of 76.60％and 21.99％to posaconazole and echinocandins non-wild-type strains(NWT),and a resistance rate of 2.36％to echinocandins.Conclusions The prevalence and species distribution of Candida spp.in the East China region are consistent with previous domestic and international reports.Candida glabrata exhibits certain degree of resistance to fluconazole,while Candida tropicalis demonstrates higher resistance to triazole drugs.Additionally,echinocandins resistance has emerged in Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida tropicalis,and Candida parapsilosis.

Purpose To explore the application value of contrast enhancement boost(CE-Boost)technique in image quality of tumors and their feeding arteries in preoperative evaluation of renal cancer patients.Materials and Methods A total of 36 renal cancer patients in People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from August 2022 to May 2023 with pathologically confirmed were retrospective collected.All patients underwent renal enhanced CT.The cortical phase images were post-processed using the CE-Boost technique to obtain CE-Boost images.The cortical phase images were set as group A and the CE-Boost images were set as group B.The CT value and image noise(SD)of abdominal aorta,renal artery,tumor and its adjacent renal cortex,and SD of the vertical spinal muscle on both sides of the spine of two groups were measured and recorded,and then the signal-to-noise ratio and contrast-to-noise ratio of tumor,abdominal aorta and renal artery were calculated.The image quality of the tumor,tumor feeding artery and renal artery was scored on 4 points by 2 doctors with double-blind method.Results The signal-to-noise ratio,contrast-to-noise ratio and CT value of group B were significantly higher than those of group A(t=-27.385--5.267,all P<0.05).The SD of tumor,abdominal aorta,right and left renal artery were not significantly different between group A and B(t=-1.849-0.993,all P>0.05).The subjective score of tumor in group A and B were no significant difference(Z=-1.490,P=0.136).However,the subjective score of tumor feeding arteries and renal arteries were significantly higher in group B than in group A(Z=-3.512,P=0.000;Z=-2.127,P=0.033).Conclusion The CT CE-Boost technique can improve the image quality of renal enhanced CT and provide visualization of tumor feeding arteries.