Objective To investigate the palmitoyltransferase (PATs) activity during different developmental stages of Plasmodium falciparum and to explore the impact of PATs activity on intra-erythrocytic replication and gametocytogenesis, so as to provide insights into development of novel antimalarial targets. Methods The PATs activity was measured using the click chemistry method during different developmental stages of P. falciparum, including rings, trophozoites, schizonts, and gametocytes. P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes were divided into three groups, including a control group, a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group, and a 2-bromopalmitate (2-BP) group. Erythrocytes in the control group were incubated in normal culture media, and cells in DMSO and 2-BP groups were exposed to DMSO or 2-BP at a final concentration of 10 μmol/L to examine the inhibitory effect of 2BP on the PATs activity. The growth curve analysis and gametocyte production assay were employed to investigate changes in asexual proliferation and gametocyte production of P. falciparum following inhibition of the PATs activity with 2-BP, and transcriptomics sequencing was performed to examine the impact of inhibition of the PATs activity with 2-BP on transcriptional levels of P. falciparum and possible mechanisms. Results The green fluorescence intensity of PATs varied across developmental stages of P. falciparum (F = 38.120, P < 0.001), with a higher fluorescence intensity seen in trophozoites (35.680 ± 8.439), merozoites (33.380 ± 9.030) and gametocytes (21.540 ± 8.654), and a lower intensity in ring bodies (10.720 ± 3.183) (all P values < 0.05). The green fluorescence intensities were 8.738 ± 1.576, 8.633 ± 1.827 and 4.911 ± 0.318 in the control group, DMSO group, and 2-BP group 4 days post-culture (schizont stage), respectively (F = 91.490, P < 0.001), and the PATs activity was significantly inhibited post-treatment with 2-BP (P < 0.05). The areas under the time curve for the parasitemias were 25.700 ± 0.696, 28.630 ± 3.062 and 8.370 ± 1.751 in the control group, DMSO group, and 2-BP group following inhibition of the PATs activity during the asexual stage of P. falciparum (F = 83.440, P < 0.001), and the parasitemia was lower in the 2-BP group than in the control group and the DMSO group (both P values < 0.001). In addition, the asexual stage development was delayed in the 2BP group, with abnormal morphology seen. The numbers of merozoites were 18.050 ± 4.362, 18.200 ± 3.517 and 14.020 ± 4.320 in each schizont in the control group, DMSO group and 2-BP group, respectively (H = 39.100, P < 0.001), and the merozoite number was significantly lower in the 2-BP group than in the control group and the DMSO group (both P_adjusted values < 0.001). The areas under the time curve for P. falciparum gametocyte production were 18.900 ± 0.384, 18.240 ± 0.177 and 7.507 ± 0.201 in the control group, the DMSO group, and the 2-BP group following inhibition of the PATs activity, respectively (F = 1 677.000, P < 0.001), and the proportion of gametocyte production was statistically lower in the 2-BP group than in the control group and DMSO group (both P values < 0.001). The formation and maturation of gametophytes were blocked in the 2-BP group, and most of them were arrested in the middle and late stages. Following 2-BP treatment, significantly down-regulated genes during the asexual stage of P. falciparum were significantly enriched in cell cycle regulation, mitosis, DNA damage/response and structural organization, and significantly down-regulated genes during the gametocyte stage were significantly enriched in biological processes of cell cycle (mitosis and G1/S transition), RNA regulation and metabolism (such as carbon catabolite repression 4-negative on TATA-less) and cell development and differentiation. Conclusion The palmitoylation modification plays an important role in the asexual reproduction and gametocyte generation and development of P. falciparum.

The widespread prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms in clinical settings poses significant challen-ges to the prevention and control of hospital-associatal infections.Novel gene sequencing techniques,such as whole-genome sequencing(WGS)and metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS),have emerged as revo-lutionary tools for precisely tracing to the source of hospital-associatal infection outbreak and the prevention and control through high-resolution genomic analysis.The technical principles and advantages of WGS and mNGS were systematically reviewed in the article.The pivotal roles of the techniques in confirmation of outbreak,identification of infection source,transmission chain rebuilding,study on transmission dynamics and evaluation of effect on in-fection prevention and control were elaborated through analysis of typical cases in China and abroad so as to pro-vide theoretical bases and technical support for precise identification of prevention and control of nosocomial infec-tion.

The widespread prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms in clinical settings poses significant challen-ges to the prevention and control of hospital-associatal infections.Novel gene sequencing techniques,such as whole-genome sequencing(WGS)and metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS),have emerged as revo-lutionary tools for precisely tracing to the source of hospital-associatal infection outbreak and the prevention and control through high-resolution genomic analysis.The technical principles and advantages of WGS and mNGS were systematically reviewed in the article.The pivotal roles of the techniques in confirmation of outbreak,identification of infection source,transmission chain rebuilding,study on transmission dynamics and evaluation of effect on in-fection prevention and control were elaborated through analysis of typical cases in China and abroad so as to pro-vide theoretical bases and technical support for precise identification of prevention and control of nosocomial infec-tion.

Objective:To elucidate the etiological and epidemiological characteristics and epidemiological patterns of viral acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Shanghai during 2023, with the aim of providing robust laboratory evidence for effective prevention and control strategies against related respiratory diseases and facilitating risk assessment.Methods:Respiratory pathogens were detected in the clinical surveillance specimens submitted by sentinel hospitals through multiplex PCR, as part of the multi-pathogen surveillance of acute respiratory infections in Shanghai during 2023. The obtained detection result were statistically analyzed in conjunction with sample information.Results:The positive detection rate of viral pathogens in 2023 was 21.17% (984/4 648), with rates of 33.53% (504/1 503) observed in ILI cases and 15.62% (480/3 145) in SARI cases. Influenza A virus (FluA) was the predominant virus detected, accounting for 13.7% (637/4 648). Other viruses identified in the surveillance samples included influenza B virus (Flu B), human rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/HEV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), adenovirus (ADV) and human bocavirus (HBoV). Regarding temporal distribution, HRV/HEV and RSV exhibited the highest detection rates during the second quarter at 2.27% each (28/1 236). PIV had its peak during the third quarter at a rate of 2.49% (35/1 405), and HMPV showed prevalence mainly during the third and fourth quarters, with detection rates of 2.63% (37/1 405) and 2.35% (32/1 360), respectively.Conclusions:In acute respiratory infection surveillance cases in Shanghai in 2023, Flu A emerged as the predominant respiratory pathogen. The detection rate of HMPV ranked second only to Flu A, while other respiratory viruses such as HRV/HEV, RSV, and PIV were detected during different seasons and co-circulated. The prevalence of various respiratory viruses varied among different infected populations and over times.

Objective To investigate the seasonal Aedes population fluctuation and the resistance of Aedes populations to common insecticides in Jiangsu Province in 2020, so as to provide insights into vector-borne infectious diseases control.. Methods One village was randomly sampled from each of Xinbei District of Changzhou City and Zhangjiagang County of Suzhou City in southern Jiangsu Province, Hai’an County of Nantong City and Yandu District of Yancheng City in Central Jiangsu Province, and Suining County of Xuzhou City and Sihong County of Suqian City in northern Jiangsu Province during the period between May and October, 2020. A small ponding container was sampled, and larval Aedes mosquitoes were collected using straws once each in early and late stages of each month. All larvae were bred in laboratory to adults for population identification. In addition, larval breeding were observed in all small ponding containers in and out of 30 households that were randomly sampled from six surveillance sites, and the larval mosquito density was estimated using Breteau index. Larval A. albopictus mosquitoes were sampled around Cuiyuan New Village in Jintan District of Changzhou City, and bred in laboratory to the first offspring generation, and the susceptibility of adult female mosquitoes to deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, malathion, and propoxur was tested using the filter-paper bioassay recommended by WHO. Results A total of 1 165 larval Aedes mosquitoes were captured from small ponding containers in six surveillance sites of Jiangsu Province in 2020, and all were identified as A. albopictus following eclosion. The largest number of Aedes larvae captured was found in July. A total of 1 152 households were investigated in six surveillance sites, and the mean Breteau indexes were 9.58, 13.20, 13.71, 13.20, 12.18 and 5.58 from May to October, respectively, while a high Aedes transmission risk was seen in Xinbei District of Changzhou City, with a higher Breteau index than in Suining (H = 23.667, P_adjusted = 0.001) and Sihong (H = 22.500, P_adjusted = 0.003) counties. The field-captured A. albopictus from Cuiyuan New Village in Jintan District of Changzhou City remained sensitive to malathion, but was resistant to propoxur, and developed high-level resistance to deltamethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin. Conclusions A. albopictus was present in southern, central and northern Jiangsu Province in 2020, and the larval density peaked in July. A. albopictus captured from Cuiyuan New Village in Jintan District of Changzhou City has developed high-level resistance to pyrethroid pesticides.

Severe acute pancreatitis-associated acute lung injury (SAP-ALI) is a serious disease associated with high mortality. Emodin has been applied to alleviate SAP-ALI; however, the mechanism remains unclear. We report that the therapeutic role of emodin in attenuating SAP-ALI is partly dependent on an exosomal mechanism. SAP rats had increased levels of plasma exosomes with altered protein contents compared to the sham rats. These infused plasma exosomes tended to accumulate in the lungs and promoted the hyper-activation of alveolar macrophages and inflammatory damage. Conversely, emodin treatment decreased the plasma/pancreatic exosome levels in the SAP rats. Emodin-primed exosomes showed less pro-inflammatory effects in alveolar macrophages and lung tissues than SAP exosomes. In detail, emodin-primed exosomes suppressed the NF-κB pathway to reduce the activation of alveolar macrophage and ameliorate lung inflammation by regulating PPARγ pathway, while these effects were amplified/abolished by PPARγ agonist/antagonist. Blockage of pancreatic acinar cell exosome biogenesis also exhibited suppression of alveolar macrophage activation and reduction of lung inflammation. This study suggests a vital role of exosomes in participating inflammation-associated organ-injury, and indicates emodin can attenuate SAP-ALI by reducing the pancreatic exosome-mediated alveolar macrophage activation.

Objective:To evaluate the application effect of the nurse-led catheter extraction assessment model for children in PICU.Methods:From January to May 2020, 100 children with short-term catheter in PICU of Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center were selected by convenient sampling method as the experimental group, the need for urethral catheter indwelling was assessed daily using an evidence-based assessment scale in PICU children, and the unnecessary indwelling catheters were removed timely, and 109 children with indwelling urethral catheters from August to December 2019 were collected as the control group, the catheter was removed by the nurse on medical advice, recorded and compared days of indwelling of catheters, the incidence of patients with catheter-associated urinary tract infection , resetting of catheters and the length of stay in ICU between the two groups.Results:The median and interquartile spacing of the days with indwelling catheter were 5.0 (6.0) days in the experimental group and 6.0 (6.0) days in the control group ( Z=-2.01, P<0.05) . In the experimental group, the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection was 1.000 percent (1/100), and in the control group, the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection was 1.835 percent (2/109); in the experimental group, 2 cases of urethral catheter were reset, and in the control group, 2 cases of urethral catheter were reset; the median and interquartile spacing of the length of stay in ICU was 6.5 (7.0) days in the experimental group and 7.0 (8.0) days in the control group. The differences of the above three indexes between the two groups were statistically significant ( χ2=0.26, 0.01, Z=-0.96, all P>0.05). Conclusions:The nurse-led catheter extraction assessment model for children can effectively shorten the catheter indwelling days for children in PICU, which has certain clinical practice significance for reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infection.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is a life-threatening acute abdominal disease with two peaks of death: the first in the early stage, characterized by systemic inflammatory response-associated organ failure; and the second in the late stage, characterized by infectious complications. Neutrophils are the main immune cells participating in the whole process of SAP. In addition to the traditional recognition of neutrophils as the origination of chemokine and cytokine cascades or phagocytosis and degranulation of pathogens, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) also play an important roles in inflammatory reactions. We reviewed the role of NETs in the occurrence and development of SAP and its fatal complications, including multiple organs injury, infected pancreatic necrosis, and thrombosis. This review provides novel insights into the involvement of NETs throughout the entire process of SAP, showing that targeting NETs might be a promising strategy in SAP treatment. However, precision therapeutic options targeting NETs in different situations require further investigation.

Objective:To construct the evaluation index system of pediatric specialized nurses' core competence, so as to provide a basis for accurate measurement of pediatric specialized nurses' core competence.Methods:A research group was established in August 2021. Based on the quality onion model and literature analysis, a qualitative interview was conducted in September 2021 with 10 provincial and above hospitals pediatric specialist nurses, 5 pediatric nursing managers, 5 pediatric chief physicians and 5 primary caregivers for children selected by objective sampling. From September 2021 to February 2022, questionnaires were sent to 16 experts via email or WeChat for three rounds of Delphi expert consultation. The evaluation indexes of pediatric specialized nurses' core competence were determined according to the authority coefficient, Kendall coordination coefficient, coefficient of variation and other factors.Results:Among three rounds of expert consultation, the effective recovery rates of the questionnaire were all 100.00% (16/16) , and the authority coefficients were 0.813, 0.888 and 0.895, respectively, and the Kendall coordination coefficients were 0.175 (χ 2=289.348, P<0.01) , 0.239 (χ 2=408.131, P<0.01) and 0.288 (χ 2=467.280, P<0.01) , respectively. The final evaluation index system of pediatric specialized nurses' core competence included 6 first level indicators, 18 second level indicators and 84 third level indicators. Conclusions:The evaluation index system of pediatric specialized nurses' core competence is scientific and reliable, which can be used as an effective tool to measure the core competence of pediatric specialized nurses.

Macrophages are typically identified as classically activated (M1) macrophages and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages, which respectively exhibit pro- and anti-inflammatory phenotypes, and the balance between these two subtypes plays a critical role in the regulation of tissue inflammation, injury, and repair processes. Recent studies indicate that tissue cells and macrophages interact