Objective To investigate the eye lens and hand dose levels of interventional radiology workers in Baoji City, China, and to provide data reference for radiation protection. Methods In two general hospitals, the eye lens and finger doses of 121 interventional radiology workers were monitored between 2021 and 2023. The average annual dose levels and dose distribution were analyzed based on years, job positions, surgical sites, and duties during surgery. Results The average annual dose to the eye lens was 3.36 mSv, with the highest dose of 16.36 mSv. The average annual dose to the fingers was 3.38 mSv, with the highest dose of 17.72 mSv. The average annual dose to the eye lens and fingers decreased from 2021 to 2023. The average annual dose to the eye lens of the interventional surgeons was higher than those of the technicians and nurses, while the average annual dose to the fingers of the interventional surgeons was higher than that of the technicians. The average annual doses to the eye lens and fingers of the first operator were similar to those of the second operator, but both were higher than other personnel involved in the interventional surgery, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There were linear regression relationships between the annual doses to the eye lens and fingers and the effective whole-body dose of the interventional radiology workers. A paired test was conducted on the annual dose to the eye lens and fingers of the interventional workers for different surgical sites. The cardiovascular and peripheral vascular interventional workers had higher average annual doses to the eye lens than to the fingers, the cerebrovascular interventional workers had a higher average annual dose to the fingers than to the eye lens, and the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion The annual doses to the eye lens and fingers of the interventional radiology workers in Baoji City were lower than the national limits. However, some workers showed eye lens annual doses close to the new international standard limit (20 mSv). Special attention should be given to interventional physicians, especially the first and second surgeons.

Objective To investigate the geographical distribution and seasonal fluctuations of visceral leishmaniasis vectors sandflies in Henan Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of visceral leishmaniasis vectors. Methods A total of 23 counties (districts) were sampled from 18 cities of Henan Province from May to September, 2023 as sandfly surveillance sites, and sandflies were captured using human capture and light trapping methods. Following morphological identification, the changes in the sandfly density were calculated at different months and in different breeding habitats. Results A total of 406 light traps were set at sandfly surveillance sites in Henan Province from May to September, 2023, and a total of 3 137 female sandlies were captured, with an average density of 7.73 sandlies/(light·night). A total of 1 494 Phlebotomus chinensis sandflies were captured, including 1 222 female sandflies, with an average density of 3.01 sandflies/(light·night), and the highest density of P. chinensis was found in Gongyi City [17.00 sandflies/(light·night)]. A total of 5 544 sandflies were captured using the human capture method, including 230 P. chinensis, and the density of P. chinensis appeared a unimodal distribution, with a peak in early July [5.81 sandflies/(light·night)]. Among different breeding habitats, the highest P. chinensis density was detected in pigpens [4.50 sandflies/(light·night)]. Conclusions P. chinensis was predominantly distributed in hilly areas of northern and central-western Henan Province in 2023, and the sandfly density appeared a unimodal distribution. Intensified monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis vectors is recommended.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis cases in Henan Province, so as to provide insights into formulation of the visceral leishmaniasis control srtrategy. Methods All epidemiological data of reported visceral leishmaniasis cases in Henan Province from 2021 to 2023 were retrieved from the National Notifiable Disease Report Information Management System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the epidemiological features and diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis cases were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 93 visceral leishmaniasis cases were reported in Henan Province from 2021 to 2023, with a male to female ratio of 2.58∶1, and including 2 imported cases from other provinces and 91 local cases. The number of visceral leishmaniasis cases peaked during the period between March and May, and between July and October. The reported visceral leishmaniasis cases had ages of 7 months to 74 years, with the largest number of cases found at ages of 0 to 9 years (26 cases, 27.96%), followed by at ages of 60 to 70 years (24 cases, 25.81%). Farmer (47 cases, 50.54%) and diaspora children (19 cases, 20.43%) were predominant occupations, and 91 local visceral leishmaniasis cases were found in 6 cities of Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Anyang, Hebi, Sanmenxia and Xuchang. The median duration from onset of visceral leishmaniasis to diagnosis was 20 days, and there were 25.81% (24/93) cases with 10 days and less duration from onset to diagnosis, 38.71% (36/93) cases receiving diagnosis at 11 to 30 days following onset, and 35.48% (33/93) cases receiving diagnosis for more than 30 days following onset. All cases were predominantly diagnosed in province- (60.00%) and city-level (28.89%) medical institutions. Conclusions The number of visceral leishmaniasis is on the rise in Henan Province, with a gradually expanding coverage. Intensified monitoring of visceral leishmaniasis cases, dogs, and vectors, dog management, sandflies control and improved individual protection are recommended to prevent the spread of visceral leishmaniasis.

Objective:To investigate the indoor radon concentrations and to analyze their seasonal variations in urban and rural residential dwellings in Ningxia province.Methods:From March 2022 to March 2023, based on the administrative region division and population distribution in Ningxia, a total of 143 typical residential dwellings, including 82 urban houses and 61 rural houses, were selected to measure indoor radon concentration by CR-39 solid nuclear track detectors for 1 year in Ningxia, with detectors changed every 3 months.Results:The annual average indoor radon concentration in Ningxia was 88 Bq/m 3, range 39-226 Bq/m 3. The annual average indoor radon concentration was below 100 Bq/m 3 for 69.9% of the measured dwellings, and below 300 Bq/m 3 for all of surveyed dwellings. Indoor radon concentrations in rural areas were much higher than those in urban areas ( Z=5.85, P<0.05). Indoor radon concentration varied significantly with the seasons, higher in autumn and winter, but lower in spring and summer, in total ( χ2=63.97, P<0.05), urban ( χ2=24.74, P<0.05), and rural ( χ2=43.15, P<0.05). Conclusion:The annual average indoor radon concentrations in all the measured dwellings are below the reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 recommended by Indoor Air Quality Standard (GB/T 18883-2022) in China.

Objective To investigate the effect of wearing dual-focus soft contact lenses(DFSCL)on the visual performance of school-age children.Methods In this randomized controlled clinical trial,64 children aged 8 to 12 years with spherical equivalent refraction between-0.75 D and-4.00 D were recruited in our hospital in October 2022.Using the envelope method,the subjects were evenly and randomly assigned to the control group wearing single vision spectacles(SVS)or the intervention group wearing MiSight dual-focus soft contact lenses(DFSCL)from CooperVision.Follow-up examinations were conducted once every 3 months.The corrected visual acuity,contrast sensitivity function(CSF),and the scores for National Eye Institute Refractive Error Quality of Life Instrument-42(NEI-RQL-42)were compared between the control and intervention groups.Results By December 2023,a total of 58 subjects completed follow-up(30 in the SVS group and 28 in the DFSCL group).No significant difference in corrected visual acuity was observed between subjects wearing DFSCL and those wearing SVS.The CSF of the DFSCL group was comparable to that of the SVS group across the spatial frequencies of 3,6,12,and 18 cpd(P＞0.05).According to the results of the NEI-RQL-42 survey at the 6-month follow-up,the score for ocular discomfort symptoms was 89±14 in the SVS group and 79±16 in the DFSCL group(P=0.008),reflecting that the DFSCL group had a 12.66％higher level of discomfort.For appearance,the score was 70±32 in the SVS group and 92±22 in the DFSCL group(P=0.002),showing a 31.43％improvement in the DFSCL group.Conclusion In addition to providing the normal visual acuity and CSF,wearing MiSight DFSCL also leads to better satisfaction with the appearance.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli（ETEC）infection can induce watery diarrhea，leading to dehydration，electrolyte disturbance，and even death in severe cases. Recombinant B subunit/inactivated whole-cell cholera（rBS/WC）vaccine is effective in preventing ETEC infectious diarrhea. On the basis of the latest evidence on etiology and epidemiology of ETEC，as well as the effectiveness，safety，and health economics of rBS/WC vaccine，National Clinical Research Center for Child Health（The Children’s Hospital，Zhejiang University School of Medicine）and Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention invited experts to develop expert consensus on rBS/WC vaccine in prevention of ETEC infectious diarrhea. It aims to provide the clinicians and vaccination professionals with guidelines on using rBS/WC vaccine to reduce the incidence of ETEC infectious diarrhea.

Objective: To investigate a SARS-CoV-2 epidemic reported in Rongcheng City, Weihai, Shandong Province. Methods: The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid positive patients and their close contacts were investigated, and the whole genome sequencing and genetic evolution analysis of 9 variant viruses were carried out. An infection source investigation and analysis were carried out from two sources of home and abroad, and three aspects of human, material and environment. Results: A total of 15 asymptomatic infections were reported in this epidemic, including 13 cases as employees of workshop of aquatic products processing company, with an infection rate of 21.67% (13/60). Two cases were infected people's neighbors in the same village (conjugal relation). The first six positive persons were processing workers engaged in the first process of removing squid viscera in the workshop of the company. The nucleic acid Ct value of the first time were concentrated between 15 and 29, suggesting that the virus load was high, which was suspected to be caused by one-time homologous exposure. The whole genome sequence of 9 SARS-CoV-2 strains was highly homologous, belonging to VOC/Gamma (Lineage P.1.15). No highly homologous sequences were found from previous native and imported cases in China. It was highly homologous with the six virus sequences sampled from May 5 to 26, 2021 uploaded by Chile. The infection source investigation showed that the company had used the squid raw materials captured in the ocean near Chile and Argentina from May to June 2021 over the last 14 days. Many samples of raw materials, products and their outer packages in the inventory were tested positive for nucleic acid. Conclusion: This epidemic is the first local epidemic caused by the VOC/Gamma of SARS-CoV-2 in China. It is speculated that the VOC/Gamma, which was prevalent in South America from May to June 2021, could be imported into China through frozen squid.
Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; COVID-19 ; Epidemics ; China/epidemiology*

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of bone cement leakage after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).Methods:A multi-center, large-sample, case-control study was carried out to analyze the clinical data of 2 273 OVCF patients (2 689 vertebrae) undergone PVP at four hospitals between May 2018 and October 2021, including 994 males and 1 279 females, with the age of 52-91 years [(69.1±3.1)years]. Of all, 581 patients (604 vertebrae) were allocated to leakage group and 1 692 patients (2 085 vertebrae) to no leakage group according to the occurrence of bone cement leakage. The gender, age, fracture sites, vertebral compression degree, endplate integrity of fractured vertebrae, surgical segments, surgical approaches and bone cement injection volume were recorded. Univariate analysis was used to investigate the correlation between those indicators with bone cement leakage. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for bone cement leakage.Results:Univariate analysis showed that gender, age, fracture sites, vertebral compression degree, bone cement injection volume were related to bone cement leakage after PVP ( P<0.05 or 0.01), but no correlation was found in the endplate integrity of fractured vertebrae, surgical segments and surgical approaches (all P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that fracture sites ( OR=1.68, 95% CI 1.11-2.55, P<0.05), vertebral compression degree more than 40% ( OR=1.98, 95% CI 1.29-3.02, P<0.01), bone cement injection volume greater than or equal to 5.5 ml ( OR=1.55, 95% CI 1.07-2.26, P<0.05) were significantly associated with bone cement leakage after PVP. Conclusion:Thoracic vertebral fracture, vertebral compression degree more than 40% and bone cement injection volume greater than or equal to 5.5 ml are independent risk factors for bone cement leakage after PVP in OVCF.

Objective:To investigate the difference of curative effect between zero-profile bridge-shaped locking cage (ROI-C) and anterior cage combined with titanium plate fixation in the treatment of two-level and three-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Methods:A total of 85 patients (43 males and 42 females), aged 52.3±8.0 years (range from 28 to 66 years) with bi- and three-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy who received surgical treatment from June 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 63 cases of two levels and 22 cases of three levels. 45 cases were treated with zero-profile bridge-shaped locking cage ROI-C (ROI-C group), and 40 cases with anterior cage combined with titanium plate fixation (titanium plate group). The main observation indicators include operation time, intraoperative blood loss, cervical Cobb angle, fusion segment Cobb angle, average intervertebral height, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) Score and neck disability index (NDI).Results:All of 85 patients were followed up for 16.9±2.0 months (range 12 to 22 months). The operation time of two-level ROI-C group was 110.37±8.25 min, which was shorter than 139.5±10.54 min of titanium plate group; the intraoperative blood loss was 15.74±8.10 ml, which was less than 23.71±9.70 ml of titanium plate group; the operation time of three-level ROI-C group was 130.00±5.70 min, which was shorter than 162.83±5.59 min of titanium plate group, while the difference in the intraoperative blood loss between the two groups had no statistical significance. One year after operation, Cobb angle of cervical vertebra in double and three-level ROI-C groups were 15.31°±1.55° and 15.20°±0.42°, respectively, which were largerthan 11.23°±2.03° and 9.20°±1.14° before operation; in titanium plate group, they were 15.89°±1.13° and 16.08°±1.88°, which were higher than 11.25°±2.01° and 9.00°±1.60° before operation, and the differences had statistical significance. The differences between the two groups before operation and 1 year after operation had no statistical significance. One year after operation, the VAS scores of double and three-level ROI-C groups were 1.83±0.66 points and 2.60±0.52 points, respectively, which were less than the preoperative 7.49±0.51 points and 7.60±0.52 points; the titanium plate group was 1.79±0.50 points and 2.41±0.51 points, which were less than the preoperative 7.61±0.63 points and 7.42±0.52 points, and the differences had statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the two groups before operation and 1 year after operation. One year after operation, the JOA scores of double and three-level ROI-C groups were 15.00±0.84 points and 14.70±0.95 points, respectively, which were higher than the preoperative 7.20±0.87 points and 6.60±1.27 points; the scores of titanium plate group were 15.29±0.85 points and 14.83±0.58 points, which were higher than the preoperative 6.89±1.03 points and 6.92±0.67 points, and the differences had statistical significance. The differences between the two groups had no statistical significance. The postoperative JOA improvement rate was excellent. Postoperative dysphagia occurred in 1 case (2.22%, 1/45) in ROI-C group and 8 cases (20.00%, 8/40) in titanium plate group, and the difference in the incidence rate between two groups had statistical significance ( χ2=5.32, P=0.02). Conclusion:Both ROI-C and anterior cage combined with titanium plate fixation in the treatment of double and three-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy can achieve good short-term clinical efficacy, with shorter operation time and lower incidence rate of postoperative dysphagia using ROI-C.

Objective:To analyze the distribution of clinically isolated fungal strains and their resistance to common antifungal drugs in Shandong province.Methods:Through the Shandong Children’s Bacterial & Fungal Drug Resistance Surveillance and Research Collaborative Network, a total of 1 030 fungi were collected in 46 hospitals of Shandong province from January 1 to December 31, 2018. The source and type of strains were analyzed, and antifungal drug sensitivity tests were performed by using the micro-dilution method. Whonet 5.6 and SPSS 22.0 were applied to analyze the data.Results:The overall main strains were Candida albicans (38.74%, 399/1 030), Candida tropicalis (16.99%, 175/1 030) and Candida parapsilosis (16.41%, 169/1 030); the main fungi strains in child patients were C. albicans (52.50%, 63/120), C. parapsilosis (12.50%, 15/120) and C. tropicalis (9.17%, 11/120); the main fungi strains in adult patients were C. albicans (36.37%, 331/910), C. tropicalis (17.03%, 155/910) and C. parapsilosis (15.27%, 139/910). The isolation rate of main Candida strains from January to March and August to December was much higher than that of other months. The drug resistance rates of C. albicans to fluconazole and voriconazole were 7.14% and 7.43%, respectively, and the drug resistance rates to itraconazole were 50.44%. The resistance rates of C. tropicalis to fluconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole were 29.05%, 23.29% and 48.65%, respectively. The sensitivity rates of C. parapsilosi to fluconazole, voriconazole and itraconazole were 93.06%, 93.75% and 94.44%, respectively. Candida glabrata showed a dose-dependent sensitivity rate of 2.33% to fluconazole. Analysis of 244 blood fungi strains showed that non-candida albicans bacteremia accounted for 70.08%. In the pathogen spectrum covering 92.22%, fluconazole was sensitive to 64.65% of the pathogens, voriconazole was 68.88%, and amphotericin B was 88.75%. After quantification, the effective rates of fluconazole, voriconazole and amphotericin B in the clinical treatment of fungal bacteremia were 70.10%, 74.69% and 96.23%, respectively. Among them, the sensitivity rate of voriconazole to C. tropicalis was lower than that of fluconazole. Conclusions:Candida is the main clinical fungus isolates in hospitals of Shandong province. The resistance rate of C. tropicalis to azole antifungal drugs is on the rise, and the sensitivity of other Candida species to clinically used antifungal drugs is basically stable.