Objective:To analyze the current development status and spatial distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in China, predict the changing trends of the number of TCM hospitals, the number of beds, and the number of physicians, and provide references for the development of TCM hospitals and the formulation of related policies.Methods:From the official websites of the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the total population and number of TCM hospitals of 31 provinces (excluding China′s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) in China from 2013 to 2022 were included, as well as the number of beds and practicing (assistant) physicians in TCM hospitals from 2013 to 2021. The grey prediction model was applied to predict the changing trends of the number of TCM hospitals, beds and physicians. Using the global Moran′s I index in spatial autocorrelation analysis, the distribution of TCM hospitals per 10 000 people in China was analyzed by spatial correlation analysis, and local G coefficient was analyzed by local hot spots.Results:From 2013 to 2027, the number of TCM hospitals, beds and practicing (assistant) TCM physicians in China all showed an increasing trend year by year. The number of TCM hospitals per 10 000 people in China showed a spatial correlation between 2013 and 2022 ( P<0.05). The hot spots of TCM hospitals were mainly concentrated in North China and Northeast China, while the cold spots were mainly concentrated in southeast coastal areas and Northwest China. Conclusions:The number of TCM hospitals in China is increasing year by year, but it is necessary to control the reasonable increase and avoid blind expansion. It is necessary to formulate regional policies of TCM hospitals according to local conditions and pay attention to the individuation of policies. Focus on hot and cold areas to promote balanced development of TCM hospitals.

Objective:To understand the development status of maternal and child health care institutions in China from 2012 to 2022, identify the challenges they face, and provide references for further promoting the high-quality development of these institutions.Methods:Data from the China Health Statistics Yearbook (2013—2015), China Health and Family Planning Statistics Yearbook (2016—2017), and China Health and Wellness Statistics Yearbook (2018—2023) were used. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to resource allocation and utilization efficiency, service provision, income and expenditure structure, and operational status of maternal and child health care institutions in China from 2012 to 2022, using methods such as fixed-base growth rate, year-on-year growth rate, and average annual growth rate. Results:From 2012 to 2022, the number of maternal and child health care institutions in China decreased from 3 044 to 3 031. In terms of resource allocation, the average annual growth rates of bed numbers and business-use floor area were 5.404% and 10.923%, respectively, while the average annual growth rate of health professionals was 7.183%. Regarding service provision, the average annual growth rates of outpatient visits and inpatient admissions were 3.954% and 1.572%, respectively. In terms of service efficiency, the bed occupancy rate decreased from 76.9% to 53.9%, and the average number of patients seen per physician per day decreased from 8.85 to 7.30. In terms of income and expenditure and operations, the income-expenditure surplus rate decreased from 9.16% to 5.41%, and the debt-to-asset ratio increased from 27.88% to 33.60%. During the same period, the average annual growth rates of bed numbers and business-use floor area in grassroots maternal and child health care institutions were 4.545% and 10.091%, respectively, lower than the national average. The number of outpatient visits increased from 89.03 million to 126.93 million, with an average annual growth rate of 3.610%, while the number of inpatient admissions decreased from 4.19 million to 3.91 million, with an average annual decline of 0.689%. The income-expenditure surplus rate of grassroots institutions decreased from 7.76% to 4.05%, 1.36 percentage points lower than the national level, and the debt-to-asset ratio increased from 27.53% to 36.37%, higher than the overall level.Conclusions:From 2012 to 2022, maternal and child health care institutions in China achieved certain developments in resource allocation and service scale. However, several challenges remain, including unbalanced resource allocation, decreased utilization efficiency, slowed growth in medical service volume, imbalanced income and expenditure structure, increased asset operation risks, and restricted development of grassroots institutions. It is recommended that relevant management departments and maternal and child health care institutions optimize resource allocation, plan for service transformation and upgrading, expand income sources, strengthen internal financial control, and reinforce the construction of high-quality and efficient maternal and child health care systems to promote the high-quality development of maternal and child health care institutions in China.

Objective:To identify the risk factors and their predictive value for complications in neonates with early-onset group B streptococcus (GBS) sepsis. Methods:This case-control study retrospectively analyzed 96 neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis (age of onset<7 days) admitted to Children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2022. Patients were categorized into complication ( n=36) and non-complication ( n=60) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined optimal cutoff values of Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score 2 (PELOD-2) for predicting complications in the neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Chi-square tests and Fishe exact tests were used for group comparison of general information, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examinations, and treatment during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors, and ROC curves evaluated their predictive performance for complications in the neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. Results:ROC analysis identified pSOFA>4.5 scores and PELOD-2>5.5 scores as optimal thresholds for complication prediction in neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. (1) The complication group exhibited higher rates of preterm birth [30.6% (11/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=11.80], maternal clinical chorioamnionitis [25.0% (9/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=6.50], prolonged rupture of membranes≥18 h [22.2% (8/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=4.99], invasive mechanical ventilation [36.1% (13/36) vs. 13.3% (8/60), χ2=6.83], fever [22.2% (8/36) vs. 3.3% (2/60), χ2=6.70], lethargy [77.8% (28/36) vs. 51.7% (31/60), χ2=6.48], mottled skin as the initial clinical manifestation [38.9% (14/36) vs. 20.0% (12/60), χ2=4.07], leukopenia [44.4% (16/36) vs. 18.3% (11/60), χ2=7.59], hypoalbuminemia [27.8% (10/36) vs. 3.3% (2/60), χ2=10.16], pSOFA>4.5 [83.3% (30/36) vs. 35.0% (21/60), χ2=21.11], PELOD-2>5.5 [50.0% (18/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=26.66], and dual-positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures [25.0% (9/36) vs. 0.0% (0/60), Fisher exact test] compared to the non-complication group (all P<0.05). Serum creatinine [(88.4±17.7) vs. (61.9±17.7) μmol/L, t=－6.02], urea nitrogen [(3.7±0.4) vs. (3.4±0.6) mmol/L, t=－3.18], and lactate [(7.5±3.4) vs. (5.8±2.2) mmol/L, t=－2.80] were elevated, while fibrinogen [(2.2±1.1) vs. (2.7±1.0) g/L, t=2.03], pH (7.3±0.2 vs. 7.4±0.1, t=2.04), and albumin [(28.2±3.9) vs. (31.9±4.2) g/L, t=4.32] were reduced in the complication group (all P<0.05). (2) Multivariate analysis identified preterm birth ( OR=6.642, 95% CI: 1.210-36.473), along with hypoalbuminemia ( OR=8.202, 95% CI: 1.184-56.811), pSOFA>4.5 scores ( OR=5.284, 95% CI: 1.573-17.749), and PELOD-2>5.5 scores ( OR=8.464, 95% CI: 1.922-37.279) assessed on admission day 1 as independent risk factors (all P<0.05). The area under the curve for predicting complications in early-onset GBS sepsis neonates was 0.628 (95% CI: 0.523-0.724) for preterm birth, and 0.622 (95% CI: 0.517-0.719), 0.742 (95% CI: 0.642-0.826), and 0.725 (95% CI: 0.624-0.811) for hypoalbuminemia, pSOFA>4.5 scores, and PELOD-2>5.5 scores assessed on admission day 1, respectively. The combined predictive model integrating all four risk factors achieved the highest area under the curve of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.784-0.929). Conclusion:Preterm birth as well as hypoalbuminemia, pSOFA>4.5 scores, and PELOD-2>5.5 scores at admission are critical risk factors for complications in early-onset GBS sepsis, warranting heightened clinical vigilance.

The Cancer Incidence in Five Continents(CI5)database are jointly maintained by the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)and the International Association of Cancer Registries(IACR),both affiliated to the World Health Organization.This paper provides a histori-cal overview of cancer registration efforts in China,systematically summarizes the journey and en-deavors of Chinese cancer registries as they were incorporated into IARC and CI5.Furthermore,it offers a perspective on the strategies for advancing the high-quality development of cancer registra-tion activities within the nation.

The Cancer Incidence in Five Continents(CI5)database are jointly maintained by the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC)and the International Association of Cancer Registries(IACR),both affiliated to the World Health Organization.This paper provides a histori-cal overview of cancer registration efforts in China,systematically summarizes the journey and en-deavors of Chinese cancer registries as they were incorporated into IARC and CI5.Furthermore,it offers a perspective on the strategies for advancing the high-quality development of cancer registra-tion activities within the nation.

Objective:To analyze the current development status and spatial distribution characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals in China, predict the changing trends of the number of TCM hospitals, the number of beds, and the number of physicians, and provide references for the development of TCM hospitals and the formulation of related policies.Methods:From the official websites of the National Bureau of Statistics and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the total population and number of TCM hospitals of 31 provinces (excluding China′s Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) in China from 2013 to 2022 were included, as well as the number of beds and practicing (assistant) physicians in TCM hospitals from 2013 to 2021. The grey prediction model was applied to predict the changing trends of the number of TCM hospitals, beds and physicians. Using the global Moran′s I index in spatial autocorrelation analysis, the distribution of TCM hospitals per 10 000 people in China was analyzed by spatial correlation analysis, and local G coefficient was analyzed by local hot spots.Results:From 2013 to 2027, the number of TCM hospitals, beds and practicing (assistant) TCM physicians in China all showed an increasing trend year by year. The number of TCM hospitals per 10 000 people in China showed a spatial correlation between 2013 and 2022 ( P<0.05). The hot spots of TCM hospitals were mainly concentrated in North China and Northeast China, while the cold spots were mainly concentrated in southeast coastal areas and Northwest China. Conclusions:The number of TCM hospitals in China is increasing year by year, but it is necessary to control the reasonable increase and avoid blind expansion. It is necessary to formulate regional policies of TCM hospitals according to local conditions and pay attention to the individuation of policies. Focus on hot and cold areas to promote balanced development of TCM hospitals.

Objective:To understand the development status of maternal and child health care institutions in China from 2012 to 2022, identify the challenges they face, and provide references for further promoting the high-quality development of these institutions.Methods:Data from the China Health Statistics Yearbook (2013—2015), China Health and Family Planning Statistics Yearbook (2016—2017), and China Health and Wellness Statistics Yearbook (2018—2023) were used. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to resource allocation and utilization efficiency, service provision, income and expenditure structure, and operational status of maternal and child health care institutions in China from 2012 to 2022, using methods such as fixed-base growth rate, year-on-year growth rate, and average annual growth rate. Results:From 2012 to 2022, the number of maternal and child health care institutions in China decreased from 3 044 to 3 031. In terms of resource allocation, the average annual growth rates of bed numbers and business-use floor area were 5.404% and 10.923%, respectively, while the average annual growth rate of health professionals was 7.183%. Regarding service provision, the average annual growth rates of outpatient visits and inpatient admissions were 3.954% and 1.572%, respectively. In terms of service efficiency, the bed occupancy rate decreased from 76.9% to 53.9%, and the average number of patients seen per physician per day decreased from 8.85 to 7.30. In terms of income and expenditure and operations, the income-expenditure surplus rate decreased from 9.16% to 5.41%, and the debt-to-asset ratio increased from 27.88% to 33.60%. During the same period, the average annual growth rates of bed numbers and business-use floor area in grassroots maternal and child health care institutions were 4.545% and 10.091%, respectively, lower than the national average. The number of outpatient visits increased from 89.03 million to 126.93 million, with an average annual growth rate of 3.610%, while the number of inpatient admissions decreased from 4.19 million to 3.91 million, with an average annual decline of 0.689%. The income-expenditure surplus rate of grassroots institutions decreased from 7.76% to 4.05%, 1.36 percentage points lower than the national level, and the debt-to-asset ratio increased from 27.53% to 36.37%, higher than the overall level.Conclusions:From 2012 to 2022, maternal and child health care institutions in China achieved certain developments in resource allocation and service scale. However, several challenges remain, including unbalanced resource allocation, decreased utilization efficiency, slowed growth in medical service volume, imbalanced income and expenditure structure, increased asset operation risks, and restricted development of grassroots institutions. It is recommended that relevant management departments and maternal and child health care institutions optimize resource allocation, plan for service transformation and upgrading, expand income sources, strengthen internal financial control, and reinforce the construction of high-quality and efficient maternal and child health care systems to promote the high-quality development of maternal and child health care institutions in China.

Objective:To identify the risk factors and their predictive value for complications in neonates with early-onset group B streptococcus (GBS) sepsis. Methods:This case-control study retrospectively analyzed 96 neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis (age of onset<7 days) admitted to Children's Hospital of Soochow University between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2022. Patients were categorized into complication ( n=36) and non-complication ( n=60) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined optimal cutoff values of Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score 2 (PELOD-2) for predicting complications in the neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. Independent t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Chi-square tests and Fishe exact tests were used for group comparison of general information, clinical manifestations, auxiliary examinations, and treatment during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression identified independent risk factors, and ROC curves evaluated their predictive performance for complications in the neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. Results:ROC analysis identified pSOFA>4.5 scores and PELOD-2>5.5 scores as optimal thresholds for complication prediction in neonates with early-onset GBS sepsis. (1) The complication group exhibited higher rates of preterm birth [30.6% (11/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=11.80], maternal clinical chorioamnionitis [25.0% (9/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=6.50], prolonged rupture of membranes≥18 h [22.2% (8/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=4.99], invasive mechanical ventilation [36.1% (13/36) vs. 13.3% (8/60), χ2=6.83], fever [22.2% (8/36) vs. 3.3% (2/60), χ2=6.70], lethargy [77.8% (28/36) vs. 51.7% (31/60), χ2=6.48], mottled skin as the initial clinical manifestation [38.9% (14/36) vs. 20.0% (12/60), χ2=4.07], leukopenia [44.4% (16/36) vs. 18.3% (11/60), χ2=7.59], hypoalbuminemia [27.8% (10/36) vs. 3.3% (2/60), χ2=10.16], pSOFA>4.5 [83.3% (30/36) vs. 35.0% (21/60), χ2=21.11], PELOD-2>5.5 [50.0% (18/36) vs. 5.0% (3/60), χ2=26.66], and dual-positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures [25.0% (9/36) vs. 0.0% (0/60), Fisher exact test] compared to the non-complication group (all P<0.05). Serum creatinine [(88.4±17.7) vs. (61.9±17.7) μmol/L, t=－6.02], urea nitrogen [(3.7±0.4) vs. (3.4±0.6) mmol/L, t=－3.18], and lactate [(7.5±3.4) vs. (5.8±2.2) mmol/L, t=－2.80] were elevated, while fibrinogen [(2.2±1.1) vs. (2.7±1.0) g/L, t=2.03], pH (7.3±0.2 vs. 7.4±0.1, t=2.04), and albumin [(28.2±3.9) vs. (31.9±4.2) g/L, t=4.32] were reduced in the complication group (all P<0.05). (2) Multivariate analysis identified preterm birth ( OR=6.642, 95% CI: 1.210-36.473), along with hypoalbuminemia ( OR=8.202, 95% CI: 1.184-56.811), pSOFA>4.5 scores ( OR=5.284, 95% CI: 1.573-17.749), and PELOD-2>5.5 scores ( OR=8.464, 95% CI: 1.922-37.279) assessed on admission day 1 as independent risk factors (all P<0.05). The area under the curve for predicting complications in early-onset GBS sepsis neonates was 0.628 (95% CI: 0.523-0.724) for preterm birth, and 0.622 (95% CI: 0.517-0.719), 0.742 (95% CI: 0.642-0.826), and 0.725 (95% CI: 0.624-0.811) for hypoalbuminemia, pSOFA>4.5 scores, and PELOD-2>5.5 scores assessed on admission day 1, respectively. The combined predictive model integrating all four risk factors achieved the highest area under the curve of 0.868 (95% CI: 0.784-0.929). Conclusion:Preterm birth as well as hypoalbuminemia, pSOFA>4.5 scores, and PELOD-2>5.5 scores at admission are critical risk factors for complications in early-onset GBS sepsis, warranting heightened clinical vigilance.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Nlrp6 for regulating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)progression in light of lipid synthesis regulation.Methods Nlrp6 expression level in HCC tissues of different pathological grades was investigated using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,and its correlation with the patients'survival was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.HepG2 cells with adenovirus-mediated Nlrp6 overexpression or knockdown were treated with palmitic acid(PA),and the changes in lipid deposition and cell proliferation were evaluated using Oil Red O staining,CCK-8 assay,EdU staining,and colony formation assay.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in expression of lipid synthesis-related genes and the proteins in the AMPK-Srebp1c axis.In a mouse model of hepatic steatosis established in liver-specific Nlrp6 knockout mice by high-fat diet feeding for 24 weeks,liver fibrosis was examined with histological staining,and the changes in expressions of HCC markers and the AMPK-Srebp1c signaling pathway were detected.Results Nlrp6 expression was significantly reduced in HCC tissues with negative correlations with the pathological grades and the patients'survival(P<0.0001).In HepG2 cells,Nlrp6 overexpression significantly inhibited lipid deposition and cell proliferation,whereas Nlrp6 knockdown produced the opposite effects.Nlrp6 overexpression strongly suppressed the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes,promoted AMPK phosphorylation,and inhibited Srebp1c expression.The mice with liver-specific Nlrp6 knockout and high-fat feeding showed increased hepatic steatosis,collagen deposition,and AFP expression with reduced AMPK phosphorylation and increased Srebp1c expression.Conclusion Nlrp6 overexpression inhibits lipid synthesis in HCC cells by regulating the AMPK-Srebp1c axis,which might be a key pathway for suppressing HCC cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Nlrp6 for regulating hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)progression in light of lipid synthesis regulation.Methods Nlrp6 expression level in HCC tissues of different pathological grades was investigated using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,and its correlation with the patients'survival was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.HepG2 cells with adenovirus-mediated Nlrp6 overexpression or knockdown were treated with palmitic acid(PA),and the changes in lipid deposition and cell proliferation were evaluated using Oil Red O staining,CCK-8 assay,EdU staining,and colony formation assay.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in expression of lipid synthesis-related genes and the proteins in the AMPK-Srebp1c axis.In a mouse model of hepatic steatosis established in liver-specific Nlrp6 knockout mice by high-fat diet feeding for 24 weeks,liver fibrosis was examined with histological staining,and the changes in expressions of HCC markers and the AMPK-Srebp1c signaling pathway were detected.Results Nlrp6 expression was significantly reduced in HCC tissues with negative correlations with the pathological grades and the patients'survival(P<0.0001).In HepG2 cells,Nlrp6 overexpression significantly inhibited lipid deposition and cell proliferation,whereas Nlrp6 knockdown produced the opposite effects.Nlrp6 overexpression strongly suppressed the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes,promoted AMPK phosphorylation,and inhibited Srebp1c expression.The mice with liver-specific Nlrp6 knockout and high-fat feeding showed increased hepatic steatosis,collagen deposition,and AFP expression with reduced AMPK phosphorylation and increased Srebp1c expression.Conclusion Nlrp6 overexpression inhibits lipid synthesis in HCC cells by regulating the AMPK-Srebp1c axis,which might be a key pathway for suppressing HCC cell proliferation.