1.Surveillance for pneumonia of unknown etiology: current status, challenges, and implementation ways
Boer QI ; Qing WANG ; Ju WANG ; Tingting LI ; Yanlin CAO ; Rui SHEN ; Li QI ; Jiang LONG ; Weizhong YANG ; Luzhao FENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):914-920
The prevention and control of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are crucial for national biosecurity, and surveillance and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology are main ways for the early detection of these diseases and mitigation of their severity. This paper summaries the surveillance methods for pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases globally, indicating that such surveillance is mainly conducted based on hospital. Western countries primarily combine active and passive surveillance while utilizing artificial intelligence technology to rapidly identify cases. China mainly use passive surveillance based on the surveillance system for pneumonia of unknown etiology, with the function of early warning in the identification of emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza. However, with the improvement in the surveillance system operation, the overlap with other surveillance disease systems, such as influenza, has occurred, and the improvements in case definition and operational protocol are needed. It is recommended to improve the specificity of the case definition, strenthen training in hospital staff, inclduing clinical workers and office workers, and formulate incentive mechanisms. It is necessary to emphasize the responsibility of clinicians as the main force for the detection and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging infectious diseases, improve the appilication of artifical intelligent technique and conduct multi-source surveillance, such as third-party testing.
2.Abnormalities of mirror homotopic connectivity and gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: an magnetic resonance imaging study
Yifan LI ; Huayu SHEN ; Pengxin HU ; Junyi GAO ; Jianguo XIA ; Jinhua CHEN ; Ji ZHANG ; Weizhong TIAN
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(6):503-509
Objective:To investigate the characteristics of resting-state mirror homotopic connectivity and the gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).Methods:From June 2020 to March 2023, a total of 35 NPSLE patients (NPSLE group) and 30 non-NPSLE patients (non-NPSLE group) were selected from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, another 31 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy controls(HC group). All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) assessments. The patients in NPSLE and non-NPSLE groups were additionally assessed using the fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).The DPABI V7.0 toolkit based on the MATLAB platform was used to preprocess the rs-fMRI data and calculate the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC) indexes, and the differences in VMHC between groups were evaluated by covariance analysis in SPM12.0 software, and the VMHC values of brain regions with significant differences were extracted for further comparison between the two groups.Partial correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between VMHC values and clinical parameters in NPSLE patients.The brain regions with significant differences between NPSLE patients and non-NPSLE patients were used as region of interest (ROI), and gray matter volumes within these ROIs were then calculated by VBM8 toolbox.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the VMHC values of bilateral precentral gyrus, bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, bilateral medial and paracingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus among the 3 groups( F=11.246-14.102, all P<0.05). The NPSLE group exhibited significantly lower VMHC values in these regions compared to both the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in these regions between the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P>0.05).(2) The gray matter volumes of bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus(right: (0.57±0.11)mm 3, (0.65±0.08)mm 3, t=-3.409, P=0.001; left: (0.53±0.10)mm 3, (0.60±0.07)mm 3, t=-3.082, P=0.003), bilateral precentral gyrus(right: (0.32±0.06)mm 3, (0.35±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.044, P=0.045; left: (0.39±0.06)mm 3, (0.42±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.505, P=0.015), right medial and paracingulate gyrus((0.66±0.08)mm 3, (0.70±0.07)mm 3, t=-2.491, P=0.015) and left superior temporal gyrus((0.57±0.09)mm 3, (0.61±0.06)mm 3, t=- 2.344, P=0.022) in the NPSLE group were smaller than those of non-NPSLE group.(3)Correlation analysis showed that the VMHC value of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IgA level in NPSLE patients ( r=0.353, P=0.047). Conclusion:Patients with NPSLE generally have decreased mirror homotopy functional connectivity in the cerebral hemispheres, accompanied by a decrease in gray matter volume in some brain regions, which can provide a certain neuroimaging basis for the pathogenesis of brain injury.
3.Surveillance for pneumonia of unknown etiology: current status, challenges, and implementation ways
Boer QI ; Qing WANG ; Ju WANG ; Tingting LI ; Yanlin CAO ; Rui SHEN ; Li QI ; Jiang LONG ; Weizhong YANG ; Luzhao FENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):914-920
The prevention and control of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases are crucial for national biosecurity, and surveillance and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology are main ways for the early detection of these diseases and mitigation of their severity. This paper summaries the surveillance methods for pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging and reemerging infectious diseases globally, indicating that such surveillance is mainly conducted based on hospital. Western countries primarily combine active and passive surveillance while utilizing artificial intelligence technology to rapidly identify cases. China mainly use passive surveillance based on the surveillance system for pneumonia of unknown etiology, with the function of early warning in the identification of emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza. However, with the improvement in the surveillance system operation, the overlap with other surveillance disease systems, such as influenza, has occurred, and the improvements in case definition and operational protocol are needed. It is recommended to improve the specificity of the case definition, strenthen training in hospital staff, inclduing clinical workers and office workers, and formulate incentive mechanisms. It is necessary to emphasize the responsibility of clinicians as the main force for the detection and reporting of pneumonia of unknown etiology and emerging infectious diseases, improve the appilication of artifical intelligent technique and conduct multi-source surveillance, such as third-party testing.
4.Abnormalities of mirror homotopic connectivity and gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: an magnetic resonance imaging study
Yifan LI ; Huayu SHEN ; Pengxin HU ; Junyi GAO ; Jianguo XIA ; Jinhua CHEN ; Ji ZHANG ; Weizhong TIAN
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(6):503-509
Objective:To investigate the characteristics of resting-state mirror homotopic connectivity and the gray matter volume of brain in patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE).Methods:From June 2020 to March 2023, a total of 35 NPSLE patients (NPSLE group) and 30 non-NPSLE patients (non-NPSLE group) were selected from Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, another 31 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy controls(HC group). All participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) assessments. The patients in NPSLE and non-NPSLE groups were additionally assessed using the fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC) and the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS).The DPABI V7.0 toolkit based on the MATLAB platform was used to preprocess the rs-fMRI data and calculate the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity(VMHC) indexes, and the differences in VMHC between groups were evaluated by covariance analysis in SPM12.0 software, and the VMHC values of brain regions with significant differences were extracted for further comparison between the two groups.Partial correlation analysis was performed to investigate the association between VMHC values and clinical parameters in NPSLE patients.The brain regions with significant differences between NPSLE patients and non-NPSLE patients were used as region of interest (ROI), and gray matter volumes within these ROIs were then calculated by VBM8 toolbox.Results:(1)There were statistically significant differences in the VMHC values of bilateral precentral gyrus, bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, bilateral medial and paracingulate gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, bilateral postcentral gyrus, and bilateral superior temporal gyrus among the 3 groups( F=11.246-14.102, all P<0.05). The NPSLE group exhibited significantly lower VMHC values in these regions compared to both the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in these regions between the non-NPSLE group and HC group (all P>0.05).(2) The gray matter volumes of bilateral dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus(right: (0.57±0.11)mm 3, (0.65±0.08)mm 3, t=-3.409, P=0.001; left: (0.53±0.10)mm 3, (0.60±0.07)mm 3, t=-3.082, P=0.003), bilateral precentral gyrus(right: (0.32±0.06)mm 3, (0.35±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.044, P=0.045; left: (0.39±0.06)mm 3, (0.42±0.04)mm 3, t=-2.505, P=0.015), right medial and paracingulate gyrus((0.66±0.08)mm 3, (0.70±0.07)mm 3, t=-2.491, P=0.015) and left superior temporal gyrus((0.57±0.09)mm 3, (0.61±0.06)mm 3, t=- 2.344, P=0.022) in the NPSLE group were smaller than those of non-NPSLE group.(3)Correlation analysis showed that the VMHC value of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IgA level in NPSLE patients ( r=0.353, P=0.047). Conclusion:Patients with NPSLE generally have decreased mirror homotopy functional connectivity in the cerebral hemispheres, accompanied by a decrease in gray matter volume in some brain regions, which can provide a certain neuroimaging basis for the pathogenesis of brain injury.
5.Application of double mediastinal drainage tubes in elderly patients with intrathoracic anastomotic leak after thoracoscopic Ivor-Lewis surgery
Chuanfei ZHAN ; Shilin CHEN ; Xiaokang SHEN ; Dongjie FENG ; Xiaojun WANG ; Weizhong SHEN ; Feng JIANG ; Qin ZHANG ; Lin XU
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2024;43(1):56-59
Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of intraoperative prepositioning of dual mediastinal drains in elderly patients developing anastomotic leakage(AL)after a total endoscopic Ivor-Lewis procedure.Methods:This retrospective case-control study analyzed the clinical data of 500 elderly patients who underwent total endoscopic Ivor-Lewis surgery for esophageal or cardia cancer from January 2020 to December 2022.In the control group, one mediastinal drainage tube was placed intraoperatively, while in the study group, two mediastinal drainage tubes were placed.Both groups had a chest tube placed conventionally.The study compared the incidence of anastomotic leak(AL)at 1 month postoperatively, inflammatory indexes in patients with AL, grading of AL, rate of nasal fistula placement, incision infection, anastomotic stenosis, and incidence of hoarseness.Additionally, it compared ICU occupancy, ventilator use, and ICU length of stay between the two groups.Results:The analysis included clinical data from 455 elderly patients.Among the patients who developed AL, the study group had significantly lower peak body temperature[(39.58±1.03)℃ vs.(38.05±0.56)℃, t=4.298, P<0.05], white blood cell count[(18.63±3.35)×10 9/L vs.(14.28±2.78)×10 9/L, t=3.450, P<0.05], and C-reactive protein(CRP)levels[(154.66±41.64)mg/L vs.(122.19±31.29)mg/L, t=2.131, P<0.05]. The study group also had a significantly lower grading of AL and rate of nasal fistula placement(82.4% vs.30.0%, P<0.05). In terms of ICU indicators, the study group had a significantly lower ICU admission rate(64.7% vs.10.0%, P<0.05), shorter period of ventilator use[(6.47±8.15)days vs.(0.90±2.23)days, t=2.62, P<0.05], and shorter ICU stay[(11.70±8.89)days vs.(4.70±6.27)days, t=2.184, P<0.05]. Conclusions:Double mediastinal drainage tubes, have been found to significantly alleviate inflammation, decrease the rate of nasal fistula placement and ICU admission, and shorten the length of ICU stay in elderly patients.Therefore, they are considered safe and deserving of clinical promotion.
6.Epidemiological study design of asymptomatic infection of the 2019 novel coronavirus
Na HE ; Yihan LU ; Liming LI ; Hongbing SHEN ; Weizhong YANG ; Zijian FENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(10):1577-1581
COVID-19 is caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). COVID-19 clinical cases are considered as the principal source of infection, however, asymptomatic cases may also play a role in the transmission. Significant gap exists in terms of the proportion or prevalence and transmissibility of asymptomatic cases. This study design plans to use data from areas with different epidemiological profiles to investigate the COVID-19 epidemic in China. In each selected region, both general community residents and key populations at high risk of COVID-19 infection, including recovered COVID-19 cases, close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, medical professionals, investigators at CDCs, and visitors to fever clinics, will be recruited and examined for viral RNA of 2019-nCoV and serum antibodies. Prevalence and characterization of asymptomatic cases will be determined, stratified by varied demographics and exposure risk. During the follow-up, the change in the serum antibodies will be studied prospectively in the symptomatic and asymptomatic cases to address the scientific and public health concerns of infectivity and transmissibility of 2019-nCoV.
7. Expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase clone 1A4 in pediatric medulloblastoma and its significance
Manli ZHAO ; Yun ZHAO ; Zhipeng SHEN ; Weizhong GU ; Lei LIU ; Yan SHU ; Kenneth Tou En CHANG ; Hongfeng TANG
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2020;49(1):52-56
Objective:
To investigate the immunohistochemical staining of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK; clone 1A4) in pediatric medulloblastoma (MB).
Methods:
Molecular subtyping was performed based on the NanoString and sequencing techniques for 44 pediatric MB cases at Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from 2014 to 2017. ALK expression was detected with EnVision immunhistochemistry using ALK clone 1A4 on whole section. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the correlation of protein expression with molecular subgroups.
Results:
The age ranged from 0.5 to 13.0 years with an average age of 5.8 years. There were 28 males and 16 females, and 31 classic, 5 desmoplastic nodular, 3 extensive nodular and 5 large cell/anaplastic MBs. Except three cases was unable classified, 41 MBs were classified into the four molecular groups: 5 in WNT group, 12 in SHH group, 9 in Group 3 and 15 in Group 4. Thirteen of 44 MB cases were positive staining for ALK, and the positive rate was 29.5%. Six cases were strong reaction, and 7 cases were weak. The expression of ALK at the protein level was associated with the WNT group (
8.Intrauterine infection affects early growth and neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats.
Ying SHEN ; Yi SUN ; Weizhong GU ; Huimin YU ; Tianming YUAN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2019;48(1):58-64
To explore the effects of intrauterine infection on early growth and neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats. (E. coli) was inoculated into uterine cervix of pregnant rats with gestation of 15 d to establish the intrauterine infection model, and the effect on the delivery of pregnant rats was observed. The neonatal rat brain tissue was stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin and the cerebral white matter damage was assessed. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and neurofilament (NF) in pup brains. Birth weight and early growth development indices were monitored,and neurobehavioral tests were performed to access the change of neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats. The white blood cell count increased significantly in the uterus and placenta of the pregnant rats after intrauterine E. coli infection and no significant impact was observed on the delivery of pregnant rats. Weak staining and focal rarefaction of cerebral white matter from rats at P7 in intrauterine infection group were observed. The expression of GFAP markedly increased (<0.05) in infection group, while the level of CNPase and NF in pup brains at P7 significantly decreased (<0.05 or <0.01). Compared with control group, the neonatal rats in infection group had lower birth weight and slower weight gain during the suckling period (<0.05 or <0.01), and the completion times of ear opening, eye opening, surface righting, negative geotaxis, acoustic startle and swimming test in infection group were significantly delayed (<0.05 or <0.01). Intrauterine infection in pregnant rats can induce cerebral white matter damage and retardation of early growth and neurobehavioral development in neonatal rats.
Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Behavior, Animal
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Body Weight
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Disease Models, Animal
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Escherichia coli
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Escherichia coli Infections
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complications
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physiopathology
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Female
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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genetics
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Growth Disorders
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etiology
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Leukoencephalopathies
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etiology
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Pregnancy
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Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
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physiopathology
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
9.Influence of tiotropium bromide on lung function index, quality of life and re-hospitalization risk of patients with bronchial dilation and pulmonary infection
Weizhong NI ; Tengjia SHEN ; Yongjian ZHANG ; Qun HUANG ; Xiaoxia TANG
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2017;24(20):3171-3175
Objective To investigate the influence of tiotropium bromide on lung function index,quality of life and re-hospitalization risk of patients with bronchial dilation and pulmonary infection.Methods 100 patients with bronchiectasis and lung infection were chosen,and they were randomly divided into control group (50 patients) with BAL used alone and observation group(50 patients) with tiotropium bromide on the basis of control group.The short-term clinical effects,the levels of FVC,FEV1 and FEV1 %,BODE index scores and QLI scores before and after treatment,and re-hospitalization rate of the two groups were compared.Results The short-term effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(94.00% vs.76.00%,x2 =7.81,P < 0.05).The levels of FVC,FEV1 and FEV1% after treatment of both two groups were significantly higherthan before treatment[(2.78 ±0.57)L vs.(2.15 ± 0.33) L,(3.60 ± 0.71) L vs.(2.20 ± 0.36) L;(2.15 ± 0.42)L vs.(1.23 ±0.32)L,(2.77±0.59)L vs.(1.17 ±0.29)L;(65.25 ±11.45)% vs.(51.79 ±9.23)%,(77.46 ±15.80) % vs.(52.02 ± 9.36) %,t =2.34,2.97;2.52,3.07;2.47,3.12,all P < 0.05].After treatment,the levels of FVC,FEV1 and FEV1 % of the observation group were significantly higher than control group [(3.60 ± 0.71) L vs.(2.78 ±0.57)L;(2.77 ±0.59)L vs.(2.15 ±0.42)L;(77.46±15.80)% vs.(65.25 ± 11.45)%,t =2.26,2.44,2.30,all P <0.05].The QLI score and BODE index scores after treatment of both two groups were significantly better than before treatment[(3.37 ± 0.54) points vs.(3.95 ± 0.65) points,(2.11 ± 0.40) points vs.(3.87 ±0.61)points,(7.28 ±1.18)points vs.(5.04 ± 0.95) points,(8.69 ± 1.54) points vs.(5.13 ±0.98) points,t =2.29,2.81;2.50,2.96,all P < 0.05].After treatment,the QLI score and BODE index scores of the observation group were significantly better than the control group[(2.11 ±0.40) points vs.(3.37 ±0.54) points,(8.69 ± 1.54) points vs.(7.28 ± 1.18)points,t =2.21,2.44,all P < 0.05].The re-hospitalization rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (16.00% vs.2.00%;28.00% vs.6.00%;x2 =8.02,9.74,all P < 0.05).Conclusion Selective cholinergic receptor blocker combined with BAL in the treatment of patients with bronchial dilation and pulmonary infection can efficiently relieve the respiratory symptoms,improve lung function,improve the quality of life and is helpful to avoid re-hospitalization occurrence.
10.Safety and effectiveness of autologous blood transfusion after total hip arthroplasty
Jitong ZHAO ; Zhong JIANG ; Junfeng CHEN ; Xiaodong CAO ; Yuan LUO ; Weizhong SHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2016;20(4):465-469
BACKGROUND: Autologous blood transfusion device has been widely used in the clinic, reduces al ogeneic blood transfusion, and avoids the occurrence of blood transfusion complications, and effectively improves the patient’s blood safety, but the application of autologous blood transfusion after total hip arthroplasty has been seldom reported. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the safety and effectiveness of autologous blood transfusion after total hip arthroplasty. METHODS: 200 patients were treated by primary unilateral total hip arthroplasty from March 2013 to March 2015. They were randomly divided into two groups. 127 patients in the autologous blood transfusion group received autologous blood transfusion by a drainage tube. 73 patients in the negative pressure drainage bal group received a negative pressure drainage tube. The standard for al ogeneic blood transfusion after replacement was hemoglobin < 80 g/L. The changes in hemoglobin were compared before and 1 and 7 days after replacement between the two groups. Total drainage volume and al ogeneic blood transfusion were compared within 6 hours after replacement between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were no statistical differences in hemoglobin levels at 7 days before and after replacement, in drainage volume within 6 hours and the total drainage volume between the two groups (P >0.05). Hemoglobin levels were significantly higher in the autologous blood transfusion group than in the negative pressure drainage bal group at 1 day after replacement (P < 0.05). In the autologous blood transfusion group, autologous blood transfusion volume was averagely 324.2 mL. Al ogeneic blood transfusion volume was averagely 146.7 mL in 31 patients. No reaction was found after autologous blood transfusion. In the negative pressure drainage bal group, 49 patients received al ogeneic blood transfusion (averagely 261 mL). The volume and proportion of al ogeneic blood transfusion were significantly lower in the autologous blood transfusion group than in the negative pressure drainage bal group (P < 0.05). Among patients receiving al ogeneic blood transfusion, seven patients affected pyrogenetic reaction during blood transfusion. These findings suggested that autologous blood transfusion is simple and effective, can effectively reduce the volume and reaction of al ogeneic blood transfusion after total hip arthroplasty and avoid blood-borne diseases, with good prospects.

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