Objective:To investigate the current status of vascular access team building and analysis its related factors in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a convenience sampling method, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the clinical practice of vascular access teams in 527 hemodialysis centers in China from March to April 2022. The related factors of the formation of vascular access teams and the setting up of vascular access coordinators (VAC) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression method.Results:A total of 506 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a recovery rate of 96.02%. There were 247 (48.81%) and 193 (38.14%) hemodialysis centers respectively across China that had built vascular access teams and set up VAC. Hemodialysis centers with more than 10 years of practice had higher rate of implementation than those in hemodialysis centers with practice years less or equal than 10 years in developing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( χ 2=8.288, P=0.004), holding continuous quality improvement meetings on vascular access ( χ 2=8.210, P=0.004), establishing vascular access teams ( χ 2=33.805, P<0.001) and setting up vascular access coordinators ( χ 2=16.038, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of dialysis machines ( OR=2.221, 95% CI 1.118-4.415, P=0.023), the number of patients on dialysis( OR=2.946, 95% CI 1.375-6.310, P=0.005), and the establishment of VAC positions ( OR=9.463, 95% CI 5.307-16.874, P<0.001), and the standardized vascular access management process ( OR=3.383, 95% CI 2.012-5.687, P<0.001) were the related factors of vascular access team building. The related factors of setting up a VAC position in hemodialysis center were opening vascular access clinic ( OR=2.704,95% CI 1.382-5.290, P=0.004), the formation of a vascular access team ( OR=9.464, 95% CI 5.312-16.860, P<0.001), and constructing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( OR=3.663, 95% CI 2.243-5.982, P<0.001). Conclusion:The implementation rates of vascular access team and VAC position in hemodialysis centers were 48.81% and 38.14%, respectively. The number of dialysis machines, the number of patients on dialysis, the standardized procedures for vascular access management, the vascular access clinic, the vascular access team, and the VAC position were the relevant factors of the team building for vascular access.

Objective To explore the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transesophageal endoscopic surgery for mediastinal tumors. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients who underwent transesophageal endoscopic resection for benign mediastinal tumors at the Endoscopy Center of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2024. Epidemiological characteristics, surgical parameters, adverse events, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results Among the 17 patients, there were 9 males and 8 females, with an average age of (42.4±14.5) years and an average tumor size of (2.6±1.6) cm. Pathological types included esophageal duplication cysts (6 cases, 35.3%), bronchogenic cysts (5 cases, 29.4%), gastroenteric cysts (3 cases, 17.6%), schwannomas (2 cases, 11.8%), and lymphangioma (1 case, 5.9%). Fourteen patients (82.4%) underwent submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection (STER), 3 patients (17.6%) underwent natural orifice transluminal endoscopic mediastinal surgery. All surgeries were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. En bloc resection was achieved in 11 patients (64.7%), with an average operative time of (60.9±32.6) min. No intraoperative bleeding or mucosal injury occurred, and 4 patients (23.5%) experienced minor complications (pneumothorax, fever, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), all of which resolved with conservative treatment. The average postoperative hospital stay was (3.2±1.5) days, and no recurrence was observed during the follow-up period. Conclusions Transesophageal endoscopic resection of benign mediastinal tumors is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive treatment method. Further validation of its efficacy and safety through large-scale prospective studies is warranted.

Objective:To investigate the current status of vascular access team building and analysis its related factors in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional survey. Using a convenience sampling method, a questionnaire was designed to investigate the clinical practice of vascular access teams in 527 hemodialysis centers in China from March to April 2022. The related factors of the formation of vascular access teams and the setting up of vascular access coordinators (VAC) were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression method.Results:A total of 506 valid questionnaires were recovered, with a recovery rate of 96.02%. There were 247 (48.81%) and 193 (38.14%) hemodialysis centers respectively across China that had built vascular access teams and set up VAC. Hemodialysis centers with more than 10 years of practice had higher rate of implementation than those in hemodialysis centers with practice years less or equal than 10 years in developing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( χ 2=8.288, P=0.004), holding continuous quality improvement meetings on vascular access ( χ 2=8.210, P=0.004), establishing vascular access teams ( χ 2=33.805, P<0.001) and setting up vascular access coordinators ( χ 2=16.038, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the number of dialysis machines ( OR=2.221, 95% CI 1.118-4.415, P=0.023), the number of patients on dialysis( OR=2.946, 95% CI 1.375-6.310, P=0.005), and the establishment of VAC positions ( OR=9.463, 95% CI 5.307-16.874, P<0.001), and the standardized vascular access management process ( OR=3.383, 95% CI 2.012-5.687, P<0.001) were the related factors of vascular access team building. The related factors of setting up a VAC position in hemodialysis center were opening vascular access clinic ( OR=2.704,95% CI 1.382-5.290, P=0.004), the formation of a vascular access team ( OR=9.464, 95% CI 5.312-16.860, P<0.001), and constructing standardized procedures for vascular access management ( OR=3.663, 95% CI 2.243-5.982, P<0.001). Conclusion:The implementation rates of vascular access team and VAC position in hemodialysis centers were 48.81% and 38.14%, respectively. The number of dialysis machines, the number of patients on dialysis, the standardized procedures for vascular access management, the vascular access clinic, the vascular access team, and the VAC position were the relevant factors of the team building for vascular access.

Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon gene (STING) pathway, as an important part of the innate immune system, is the main pathway for cytoplasmic DNA recognition and cGAS can be triggered by a variety of cytoplasmic dsDNA. This pathway has become an important bridge connecting autoimmunity, aseptic inflammatory response and cell aging. In recent years, cGAS-STING pathway has attracted increasing attention in autoimmune diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) induce typeⅠ interferon response and accelerate the production of anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) through the cGAS-STING pathway. In addition, the cGAS-STING pathway also participates in synovitis, bone destruction and RA progression by promoting the proliferation and activation of fibroblast-like synovitis cells and the polarization of M1 macrophages. Inhibition of the cGAS-STING pathway or its downstream signaling pathway can reduce synovial inflammation in RA, suggesting that cGAS-STING pathway may be a potential therapeutic target for RA.

Objective To investigate the practice and barriers to functional monitoring of autogenous arteriove-nous fistula(AVF)in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods Using convenience sampling,from March to April 2022,a questionnaire was designed based on the literature of AVF functional monitoring,and a total of 527 hemodialysis centers in China were investigated from 3 aspects,including monitoring process and system,monitoring method and cont ent,and monitoring team construction.Results 506 questionnaires were effectively recovered,with a recovery rate of 96.02％.The implementation rate of the 12 entries of AVF functional monitoring ranged from 12.65％～79.84％,with an overall score of(4.97±3.03).The scores had statistically significant differences in 6 admin-istrative regions of China in monitoring process and system,monitoring method and content,and monitoring team building,as well as the total scores(P＜0.001).Barriers were centered on management specification,human resource allocation,professional training,and healthcare costs.Conclusion Hospital administrators should construct and per-fect the relevant management system according to the scale and actual situation of different hemodialysis centers,strengthen the supervision of AVF functional monitoring as well as the personalised management of monitoring pro-tocols,and promote the development of a multidisciplinary cooperation model for vascular access.

Objective:To investigate the effect of hUCMSC-exos on the expression levels of HDAC in different isotypes of RA FLSs, and to elucidate the possible mechanism of hUCMSC-exos on the apoptosis of RA FLSs by regulating HDAC.Methods:hUCMSC and hUCMSC-Exos were isolated and identified. RT-qPCR was used to detect the changes in HDAC mRNA expression levels in FLSs after hUCMSC-Exos intervention, and the most affected HDAC types were identified. Western blot was used to detect the levels of FLS HDAC1 protein and the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and phospho-NF-κB p65 (Ser 536) in the blank control group, hUCMSC group, hUCMSC-Exos group, Trichostatin A (TSA) group and HDAC1 Inhibitor (Pyroxamide) group. To investigate the effects of hUCMSC-Exos on HDAC expression and NF-κB activity in FLSs. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of hUCMSC-Exos on the apoptosis of FLSs. ELISA was used to detect the effects of hUCMSC-Exos on the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-8 by FLSs. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to detect the apoptosis level and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion level of RA FLSs in the blank control group, NF-κB Inhibitor (pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) group, hUCMSC-Exos group and PDTC+hUCMSC-Exos co-intervention group. Whether inhibition of NF-κB affects the regulatory effect of hUCMSC-Exos on RA FLSs was further explored. All experimental data conforming to the normal distribution were compared by one-way ANOVA. LSD- t test was used for pin-group comparison, and independent sample t test was used for two-sample comparison. Results:Cultured primary hUCMSC were adherently grown spindle-shaped cells, and hUCMSC-Exos were saucer-shaped membranous vesicles, both of which met the identification criteria. hUCMSC-Exos reduced the expression level of HDCA1 mRNA [(0.932±0.091), t=2.19, P<0.001] and protein [(0.204±0.012), t=8.28, P<0.001] in RA FLSs, and the inhibitory effect was stronger than that of hUCMSC ( t=1.09, P=0.009) and HDAC1 ( t=11.29, P=0.013) Inhibitor. hUCMSC-Exos increased the apoptosis rate of RA FLSs [(48.68±0.84)%, t=12.33, P<0.001]. hUCMSC-Exos reduced the secretion levels of TNF-α [(29.6±1.0)pg/ml, t=10.78, P<0.001], IL-6 [(20.1±0.7)pg/ml, t=7.96, P<0.001], IL-1β [(9.28±0.23)pg/ml, t=6.14, P<0.001] and IL-8 [(108.0±3.8)pg/ml, t=1.21, P<0.001] in the supernatant of RA FLSs. hUCMSC-Exos reduced the expression level of p-NF-κB-p65/NF-κB-p65 in RA FLSs(0.351±0.024, t=17.67, P<0.001), and its inhibitory effect was stronger than that of hUCMSC (0.515±0.064, t=8.07, P=0.009) and HDAC1 inhibitor(0.411±0.033, t=2.44, P=0.04). After use of NF-κB inhibitors, hUCMSC-Exos weakened the promotion of apoptosis of RA FLSs [(29.0±0.5)%, t=10.63, P<0.001] and weakened the inhibitory effect of IL-8 secretion in the supernatant of RA FLSs [(125.5±3.2)pg/ml, t=2.63, P=0.002]. Conclusion:hUCMSC-Exos can mimic maternal cells to effectively inhibit the aberrant expression of HDAC1 in RA FLSs. hUCMSC-Exos may affect the apoptosis of RA FLSs and the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the HDAC1/NF-κB pathway.

Objective To investigate the practice and barriers to functional monitoring of autogenous arteriove-nous fistula(AVF)in hemodialysis centers in China.Methods Using convenience sampling,from March to April 2022,a questionnaire was designed based on the literature of AVF functional monitoring,and a total of 527 hemodialysis centers in China were investigated from 3 aspects,including monitoring process and system,monitoring method and cont ent,and monitoring team construction.Results 506 questionnaires were effectively recovered,with a recovery rate of 96.02％.The implementation rate of the 12 entries of AVF functional monitoring ranged from 12.65％～79.84％,with an overall score of(4.97±3.03).The scores had statistically significant differences in 6 admin-istrative regions of China in monitoring process and system,monitoring method and content,and monitoring team building,as well as the total scores(P＜0.001).Barriers were centered on management specification,human resource allocation,professional training,and healthcare costs.Conclusion Hospital administrators should construct and per-fect the relevant management system according to the scale and actual situation of different hemodialysis centers,strengthen the supervision of AVF functional monitoring as well as the personalised management of monitoring pro-tocols,and promote the development of a multidisciplinary cooperation model for vascular access.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of hospitalized children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI), and to analyzed the risk factors for severe infection.Methods:The epidemiological and clinical data of hospitalized children with ALRTI and positive RSV test from Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.The hospitalized children from October 2016 to November 2017 were selected by random singular sequence and divided into severe infection group and non-severe infection group. The clinical data of the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of severe RSV-associated ALRTI.Results:A total of 34 192 hospitalized children were diagnosed with ALRTI, and 8 113(23.73%) children were positive for respiratory tract viruses, including 4 028(11.78%) children with RSV infection, which was higher than other common respiratory tract viruses. Among the 4 028 RSV-positive children, 2 550(63.31%) were under six months of age, 3 623(89.95%) were under two years of age. The detection rates of RSV in spring, summer, autumn and winter were 6.47%(553/8 551), 2.46%(176/7 161), 12.85%(1 042/8 111) and 21.77%(2 257/10 369), respectively. In 347 hospitalized children with RSV-associated ALRTI, 54 cases were severe cases. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RSV-positive patients complicated with respiratory diseases ( Z=3.43), cardiovascular diseases ( Z=4.96), non-exclusive breast-feeding ( Z=-1.97) and premature birth ( Z=-1.98) were independent risk factors for severe RSV-associated ALRTI (all P<0.050). Conclusions:RSV is the most important and common viral pathogen in hospitalized children with ALRTI in Shanghai, and infants under six months of age are the most susceptible to RSV. RSV patients complicated with respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, non-exclusive breast-feeding and premature birth are more likely to develope severe RSV-associated ALRTI.

Objective:To analyze common respiratory pathogens epidemiology in hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in a single center in Shanghai, and to provide the basic data support for clinical diagnosis and treatment of children with LRTI in Shanghai.Methods:Children with LRTI in Children′s Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019, and respiratory samples were collected and tested by direct immunofluorescence assay and real time polymerase chain reaction. The epidemiological characteristics of different respiratory pathogens were analyzed. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 18 716 children were included, the total detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 36.96% (6 918/18 716), and the most frequent detected pathogen was Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) (15.31%(2 866/18 716)), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (10.40%(1 946/18 716)) and parainfluenza virus Ⅲ (PIV-Ⅲ) (4.65%(871/18 716)). The detection rate of pathogens in female was significantly higher than that in male (38.48%(2 936/7 630) vs 35.92%(3 982/11 086), χ2=12.72, P<0.001). RSV and influenza virus A (Flu-A) infections peaked in winter. The detection rates of influenza virus B (Flu-B) and human metapneumovirus (MPV) were higher in winter and spring. PIV-Ⅲ infection peaked in spring and summer. The peak of PIV-Ⅱ infection occurred in summer and autumn. The infections of adenovirus (ADV), MP, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and PIV-Ⅰ were prevalent throughout the year without significant seasonality. The detection rate of RSV declined with age, while the detection rate of MP increased with age. The co-infection rate was 1.65%(309/18 716), and the predominant co-infection type was MP and RSV (0.37%(70/18 716)). Conclusions:A variety of pathogens lead to children′s LRTI in Shanghai from 2015 to 2019, with the common infection of MP, RSV and PIV-Ⅲ. Different pathogens showed different epidemiological characteristics in age and season distributions.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by psoriasis skin lesions and inflammation of the spine and joint. It has complicated clinical manifestations and individual variations. Nearly half of the patients will have joints erosion in two years, which is crippling. The severity of the skin and joint disease frequently do not correlate with each other. Currently, the understanding of the disease is insufficient in China with the lack of standardized diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, researchers from the Chinese Rheumatology Association formulated this specification based on the diagnosis and management experience together with guidelines at home and abroad. The specification summarizes the present situation of domestic diagnosis and treatment, aiming to standardize the diagnosis process and treatment protocols of psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, it can reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, as well as improve the prognosis.