Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious intracranial hemorrhage characterized by acute bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The effects of shikonin, a natural compound from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in SAH was evaluated in this study. A rat model of SAH was established by endovascular perforation to mimic the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Rats were then administered 25 mg/kg of shikonin or dimethylsulfoxide after surgery. Brain edema, SAH grade, and neurobehavioral scores were measured after 24 h of SAH to evaluate neurological impairment. Concentrations of the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain cortex were determined using the corresponding commercially available assay kits. Evans blue staining was used to determine BBB permeability. Western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. After modeling, the brain water content increased significantly whereas the neurobehavioral scores of rats with SAH decreased prominently. MDA levels increased and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD decreased after SAH. These changes were reversed after shikonin administration. Shikonin treatment also inhibited Evans blue extravasation after SAH. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of tight junction proteins after SAH modeling was rescued after shikonin treatment. In conclusion, shikonin exerts a neuroprotective effect after SAH by mitigating BBB injury and inhibiting oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective:To evaluate the perceived level of home exercise behavior in elderly patients with ovarian cancer and analyze its influencing factors, so as to promote home exercise behavior of patients and improve the quality of life.Methods:A total of 227 elderly patients with ovarian cancer from January 1, 2021 to October 1, 2023 in the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University were selected by convenience sampling method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by General Information Questionnaire, Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). The influencing factors on the perceived level of home exercise behavior in elderly patients with ovarian cancer were analyzed.Results:There were 227 elderly female patients with ovarian cancer, including 151 patients aged<70 years old and 76 patients aged ≥70 years old. The scores of EBBS, SSRS, GSES, BFI were (123.37±11.02), (37.68±7.44), (29.35±6.54), (5.82±2.01) points. The perception of exercise behavior was positively correlated with general self-efficacy and social support ( r=0.752, 0.901, both P<0.01), was negatively correlated with cancer-related fatigue ( r=-0.198, P<0.01). The results showed that general self-efficacy, social support, age≥70 years old, no spouse, not being informed of the benefits of exercise,fatigue due to moderate and severe cancer, duration of disease ≥12 months were the influencing factors ( t values were -4.56 - 4.46, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Elderly patients with ovarian cancer need to improve their perception level of home exercise behavior. In the formulation of home exercise behavior for elderly patients with ovarian cancer, education and cognition on the perceived benefits of home exercise behavior should be strengthened, and patients′ physical and mental status should be evaluated before exercise to actively reduce cancer-related fatigue. At the same time, the combination of family support can improve the perceived level of exercise behavior of elderly patients with ovarian cancer at home, so as to promote home exercise behavior of patients.

Objective To investigate whether successful percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)could improve symptoms and quality of life(QOL)in left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease patients with diabetes.Methods Patients with left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease who underwent PCI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from April 2018 to May 2021 were consecutively enrolled and subdivided into 2 groups:diabetes and no diabetes.Detailed baseline characteristics,symptoms,including dyspnea and angina,assessed with the Rose dyspnea scale(RDS),Seattle angina questionnaire(SAQ),the European quality of life-5 dimensions(EQ-5D)and 12-item short-form health survey(SF-12)questionnaire respectively,procedural details,and 1 month and 1 year follow-up data were collected.Results Among 440 left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease patients,disease was present in 176(40.00％),who had more hypertension,peripheral artery disease,and LCX lesion(all P＜0.05).The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)and all-cause mortality were similar between the two groups(both P＞0.05)at 1 month follow-up,while all-cause mortality in diabetes patients was significantly higher than those without diabetes at 1 year follow-up(P=0.013).Low left ventricular ejection fraction was an independent risk factor for MACE and all-cause mortality at 1 month and 1 year follow-up after successful revascularization(all P＜0.05).Most importantly,symptoms,including dyspnea and angina,and QOL were markedly improved regardless of diabetes both at 1 month and 1 year follow-up(all P＜0.05).Diabetes patients showed improved dyspnea and QOL at similar degree to the non-diabetes patients(all P＞0.05)and a more significantly relieved angina(P=0.013).Additionally,the number of chronic total occlusion(CTO)per patient was identified as an independent risk factor of dyspnea(OR 0.723,95％CI 0.525～0.997,P=0.048)and angina relief(OR 0.686,95％CI 0.473～0.995,P=0.047),and the contrast volume(OR 0.995,95％CI 0.992～0.999,P=0.008)as an independent risk factor of QOL improvement in diabetic patients.Conclusions Successful PCI is beneficial for relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with diabetes who have left main disease and/or 3-vessel disease.

Objective To examine the serological and molecular prevalence as well as genotype characteristics of human Parvovirus B19 blood donors in Lanzhou,and to provide evidence for developing a screening strategy to reduce the risk of blood transfusion transmission.Methods A total of 5 722 blood samples collected from Lanzhou blood donors from April 2023 to October 2023 were tested for B19 DNA using real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR).Additionally,383 samples were screened for anti-B19 IgG and anti-B19 IgM using synchronous enzyme-linked immunoassay(ELISA).Viral load and VP1 sequencing were conducted on the B19 DNA-positive samples and the Neighbor-Joining(N-J)method was used to construct an evolutionary tree for the sequenced samples.Results The prevalence of human Parvovirus B19 DNA,IgG antibody and IgM antibody was 0.47%(27/5 722),25.59%(98/383)and 0.26%(1/383),respectively,and the samples positive for B19 DNA,IgG antibody and IgM antibody were 0.26%(1/383).The co-positivity rate for B19 DNA and IgG antibody was 6.27%(24/383),while the positivity rates for B19 DNA or IgG antibody alone were 0.52%(2/383)and 19.06%(73/383),respectively.Viral loads ranged from 4.24 IU/ml to 5.67×102 IU/ml,all below 104 IU/ml.There was no statistical significance in the positive rate of B19 DNA in gender(χ2=0.86,P=0.35),but there was statistical significance in the positive rate of B19 DNA among all age groups(χ2=8.00,P=0.02).The highest positive rate of B19 DNA was 0.65%in the 18～30 age group.There was statistical significance in the positive rate of B19 IgG antibody in gender(χ2=5.03,P=0.02),but there was no statistical significance in the positive rate of B19 IgG antibody among all age groups(χ2=0.51,P=0.77).The highest positive rate of B19 IgG antibody was 29.09%in the age group of 41 to 60.There was no significant difference in the positive rate of B19 IgM antibody in gender(χ2=2.84,P=0.09).The highest positive rate of B19 IgM was 3.85%in the age group of 18～30 years old.Based on the VP1 sequence,the phylogenetic tree revealed that B19 strains in Lanzhou formed a distinct cladistic lineage within genotype 1,predominantly represented by genotype 1b.Conclusion The prevalence of B19 DNA and IgM antibodies among blood donors in the Lanzhou area is low,and so is the viral load.Therefore the risk of transmitting B19 through blood transfusion is relatively small.Since the prevalence of B19 IgG antibody is high,it is suggested to closely monitor the transmission situation in the area,regularly monitor the prevalence of B19 among blood donors,and track the situation of B19 DNA-positive blood donors to recipients to ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion.

Objective To explore the covariant network features of iron deposition in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment(PD-MCI)based on quantitative susceptibility mapping(QSM).Methods Seventy-one patients with Parkinson's disease(PD)were divided into PD-MCI group(n=37)and PD with normal cognition(PD-NC)group(n=34).The differences of edge-connection and topological property parameters of the iron deposition covariant network between the two groups were compared,respectively.Results The iron deposition covariant network edge-connection analysis showed that there were significant difference in r values of the right globus pallidus-right cerebellar dentate nucleus,right globus pallidus-left putamen,and left hippo-campus-left substantia nigra between the two groups(P＜0.05).The global topological property analysis showed that when the sparsity was 0.47 and 0.48,respectively,the Cp in PD-MCI group was significantly higher than that in PD-NC group(P＜0.05).The node topological property analysis showed that there were significant differences in the node network property parameters of the left substantia nigra,left entorhinal cortex,left precentral gyrus,left putamen,left dentate nucleus,and right orbital frontal cortex between the two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion The changes of covariant network topological properties based on QSM may be the neuropathological mechanism in PD-MCI at the level of large-scale iron metabolism network.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the characteristics of imported malaria cases in West China Hospital of Sichuan University in recent years and to provide reference for the prevention and control of imported infectious diseases.METHOD A retrospective analysis of 62 cases of imported malaria from abroad reported in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2012 to 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.RESULTS From 2012 to 2023,62 cases of imported malaria were reported,including 49 cases(79.03％)of falciparum malaria,10 cases(16.13％)of vivax malaria,and 3 cases(4.84％)of ovale malaria.Among the imported malaria cases,9 cases were severe malaria,with 8(16.33％,8/49)severe cases caused by falciparum malaria,of which 6 cases(75.00％,6/8)were cere-bral malaria.The cases were mainly Chinese citizens and young-to-middle-aged adults,with the highest concentra-tion in the 40-49 age group(37.10％,23/62).There were more males than females,with a male-to-female sex ratio of 11.4∶1;the predominant occupation was worker(38.71％,24/62).The primary region of importation was Africa(90.32％,56/62).There was importation throughout the year,with no distinct seasonal distribution pattern.Two of the admitted cases died(severe cases of falciparum malaria,which developed into cerebral malari-a),while the rest were improved and discharged from the hospital after standardized treatment.CONCLUSIONS Cases of imported malaria from abroad are characterized by Chinese nationality,males,young adults and workers.The type of malaria is mainly falciparum malaria,and the prognosis for most cases is relatively good.It is necessary to strengthen the construction of joint prevention and control systems and other long-term mechanisms,and to continuously and scientifically implement various strategies and measures to prevent the re-emergence of malaria through imported ca-ses,in order to avoid the occurrence of secondary cases resulting from imported infections.

Objective To investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of common pathogens isolated from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)in CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods The bacterial strains isolated from CSF were identified in accordance with clinical microbiology practice standards.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using Kirby-Bauer method and automated systems per the unified CHINET protocol.Results A total of 14 014 bacterial strains were isolated from CSF samples from 2015 to 2021,including the strains isolated from inpatients(95.3％)and from outpatient and emergency care patients(4.7％).Overall,19.6％of the isolates were from children and 80.4％were from adults.Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 68.0％and 32.0％,respectively.Coagulase negative Staphylococcus accounted for 73.0％of the total Gram-positive bacterial isolates.The prevalence of MRSA was 38.2％in children and 45.6％in adults.The prevalence of MRCNS was 67.6％in adults and 69.5％in children.A small number of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium(2.2％)and linezolid-resistant Enterococcus faecalis(3.1％)were isolated from adult patients.The resistance rates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to ceftriaxone were 52.2％and 76.4％in children,70.5％and 63.5％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli and K.pneumoniae(CRKP)was 1.3％and 47.7％in children,6.4％and 47.9％in adults.The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(CRPA)was 74.0％and 37.1％in children,81.7％and 39.9％in adults.Conclusions The data derived from antimicrobial resistance surveillance are crucial for clinicians to make evidence-based decisions regarding antibiotic therapy.Attention should be paid to the Gram-negative bacteria,especially CRKP and CRAB in central nervous system(CNS)infections.Ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for optimizing antibiotic use in CNS infections.

Objective To investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates from elderly patients(≥65 years)in major medical institutions across China.Methods Bacterial strains were isolated from elderly patients in 52 hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program during the period from 2015 to 2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by disk diffusion method and automated systems according to the same CHINET protocol.The data were interpreted in accordance with the breakpoints recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2021.Results A total of 514 715 nonduplicate clinical isolates were collected from elderly patients in 52 hospitals from January 1,2015 to December 31,2021.The number of isolates accounted for 34.3％of the total number of clinical isolates from all patients.Overall,21.8％of the 514 715 strains were gram-positive bacteria,and 78.2％were gram-negative bacteria.Majority(90.9％)of the strains were isolated from inpatients.About 42.9％of the strains were isolated from respiratory specimens,and 22.9％were isolated from urine.More than half(60.7％)of the strains were isolated from male patients,and 39.3％isolated from females.About 51.1％of the strains were isolated from patients aged 65-＜75 years.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains(MRSA)was 38.8％in 32 190 strains of Staphylococcus aureus.No vancomycin-or linezolid-resistant strains were found.The resistance rate of E.faecalis to most antibiotics was significantly lower than that of Enterococcus faecium,but a few vancomycin-resistant strains(0.2％,1.5％)and linezolid-resistant strains(3.4％,0.3％)were found in E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible S.pneumoniae(PSSP),penicillin-intermediate S.pneumoniae(PISP),and penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae(PRSP)was 94.3％,4.0％,and 1.7％in nonmeningitis S.pneumoniae isolates.The resistance rates of Klebsiella spp.(Klebsiella pneumoniae 93.2％)to imipenem and meropenem were 20.9％and 22.3％,respectively.Other Enterobacterales species were highly sensitive to carbapenem antibiotics.Only 1.7％-7.8％of other Enterobacterales strains were resistant to carbapenems.The resistance rates of Acinetobacter spp.(Acinetobacter baumannii 90.6％)to imipenem and meropenem were 68.4％and 70.6％respectively,while 28.5％and 24.3％of P.aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem and meropenem,respectively.Conclusions The number of clinical isolates from elderly patients is increasing year by year,especially in the 65-＜75 age group.Respiratory tract isolates were more prevalent in male elderly patients,and urinary tract isolates were more prevalent in female elderly patients.Klebsiella isolates were increasingly resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents,especially carbapenems.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance is helpful for accurate empirical antimicrobial therapy in elderly patients.