Objective To analyze the genetic characteristics and variations of influenza A (H3N2) viruses in Ma'anshan from 2022 to 2024, and to provide a scientific basis for local influenza prevention and control. Methods From April 2022 to March 2024, influenza-like illness (ILI) specimens were collected from three national influenza surveillance sentinel hospitals in Ma’anshan. Samples positive for influenza by real-time PCR were subjected to virus culture and identification. A total of 40 representative A/H3N2 strains with hemagglutination titers ≥8 were selected for whole-genome sequencing. Genetic evolution, homology, amino acid variations, and glycosylation sites were analyzed. Results All H3N2 representative strains from the 2022–2023 influenza season belonged to clade 3C.2a1b.2a.1a.1, while those from the 2023–2024 season fell into clade 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarities of HA and NA between the 40 representative strains and the vaccine strain A/Darwin/6/2021 were all above 97.35%. Compared with the vaccine strain, amino acid mutations were identified in antigenic sites A, B, C, and E, as well as in receptor-binding sites of the HA protein. An I222V substitution was detected in the NA protein. The HA protein contained four additional glycosylation sites compared to the vaccine strain, while the glycosylation pattern of the NA protein remained consistent. Conclusion No antigenic drift was observed in the influenza A/H3N2 viruses in Ma'anshan City from 2022 to 2024, but genetic changes such as branching variations, key amino acid substitutions, and an increase in HA glycosylation sites were observed. These findings underscore the importance of sustained molecular surveillance of local influenza viruses.

Phages, as obligate bacterial and archaeal parasites, constitute a virus group of paramount ecological significance due to their exceptional abundance and genetic diversity. These biological entities serve as critical regulators in Earth's ecosystems, driving biogeochemical cycles, energy fluxes, and ecosystem services across terrestrial and marine environments. Within soil microbiomes, phages function as microbial "dark matter," maintaining the soil-plant system balance through precise modulation of the microbial community structure and functional dynamics. Despite the growing research interests in soil phages in recent years, the proportion of such studies in environmental virology remains disproportionately low, which is primarily attributed to researchers' limited familiarity with the research methodologies for phage microecology, incomplete technical frameworks, and inherent challenges posed by soil environmental complexity. To address these challenges, this review synthesizes cutting-edge methodologies for soil phage investigation from four aspects: (1) tangential flow filtration (TFF)-based phage enrichment strategies; (2) integrated quantification approaches combining double-layer agar plating, epifluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry; (3) multi-omics analytical pipelines leveraging metagenomics and viromics datasets; and (4) computational frameworks merging machine learning algorithms with eco-evolutionary theory for deciphering phage-host interaction networks. Through comparative analysis of methodological principles, technical merits, and application scopes, we establish a comprehensive workflow for soil phage research. Future research in this field should prioritize: (1) construction of soil phage resource libraries, (2) exploration of RNA phages based on transcriptomes, (3) functional characterization of unknown genes, and (4) deep integration and interaction validation of multi-omics data. This systematic methodological synthesis provides critical technical references for addressing fundamental challenges in characterizing soil phages regarding the community structure, functional potential, and interaction mechanisms with hosts.
Bacteriophages/physiology* ; Soil Microbiology ; Ecosystem ; Microbiota ; Metagenomics/methods*

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of influenza B virus Victoria lineage in Ma′anshan from 2019 to 2022.Methods:Throat swabs were collect from cases with influenza-like illness in three sentinel hospitals and from influenza outbreak events in Ma′anshan city from 2019 to 2022. Real-time fluorescence-based PCR was performed to detect the nucleic acids of influenza viruses in the swab samples. Statistical analysis was conducted using the influenza year as the detection cycle. MDCK cells and chicken embryos were used for virus isolation, and 31 strains of B/Victoria lineage were selected for whole-genome sequencing and genetic analysis.Results:A total of 11 258 throat swabs were collected from ILI cases, and 8.90% (1 002/11 258) of them tested positive for B/Victoria. Except for the period from the winter of 2020 to the spring of 2021, during which no epidemic outbreak of influenza was observed, there were peaks in the prevalence of B/Victoria influenza in winter and spring of the other years, with the positive rates ranging from 12.65% (54/427) to 46.68% (176/377) during peak seasons. Compared with the recommended vaccine strains, the homology of the HA gene nucleotides of the viral strains isolated from 2019 to 2022 ranged from 98.40% to 99.26%, and the homology of amino acids ranged from 96.21% to 98.80%. All isolated strains carried mutations in the 190-helix of the hemagglutinin protein; the strains isolated from 2019 to 2020 had two amino acid insertions at position 160-loop; and the strains isolated from 2021 and 2022 had mutations at positions 120-loop and 150-loop. No drug-resistant mutations were detected in the neuraminidase gene.Conclusions:The B/Victoria strains isolated in Ma′anshan city from 2019 to 2022 have key site variations as compared with the recommended vaccine strains, suggesting a decrease in vaccine immune efficacy. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of viral mutations to provide reference for updating vaccine strains and formulating epidemic prevention and control measures.

Objective To investigate the post-intervention experiences in elderly stroke patients who received the group-based acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT)and to provide a reference to improve the group-based ACT intervention strategies for the patients.Methods With the descriptive phenomenological research,the semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 elderly stroke patients who had received the group-based ACT intervention for 6 months in a Tier-IIIA hospital in Hunan Province between May and July 2023.The data acquired from the interviews were analysed using the Colaizzi method.Results The experiences in elderly stroke patients with the group-based ACT intervention were categorised into three main themes and ten sub-themes:(1)The impact of intervention on the psychology and spirit(change cognition and accept oneself;enhance awareness and reflect on oneself;clarify values and adapt to oneself;disengage from suffering and achieve dissociation;understand suffering and discover a sense of meaning in life);(2)Behavioural changes brought by the intervention(change approaches to improve health;engage in rehabilitation exercises and build confidence;enhance social interactions and integrate into life);(3)Suggestions for the intervention program(tailor to the physiological characteristics of the elderly;adapt to the psychological characteristics of the elderly).Conclusion The group-based ACT intervention has a beneficial effect on the psychological,spiritual and behavioural changes in the elderly stroke patients.The intervention programs should be improved according to the physical and mental characteristics therefore to improve the mental health of elderly stroke patients.

Objective To investigate the post-intervention experiences in elderly stroke patients who received the group-based acceptance and commitment therapy(ACT)and to provide a reference to improve the group-based ACT intervention strategies for the patients.Methods With the descriptive phenomenological research,the semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 elderly stroke patients who had received the group-based ACT intervention for 6 months in a Tier-IIIA hospital in Hunan Province between May and July 2023.The data acquired from the interviews were analysed using the Colaizzi method.Results The experiences in elderly stroke patients with the group-based ACT intervention were categorised into three main themes and ten sub-themes:(1)The impact of intervention on the psychology and spirit(change cognition and accept oneself;enhance awareness and reflect on oneself;clarify values and adapt to oneself;disengage from suffering and achieve dissociation;understand suffering and discover a sense of meaning in life);(2)Behavioural changes brought by the intervention(change approaches to improve health;engage in rehabilitation exercises and build confidence;enhance social interactions and integrate into life);(3)Suggestions for the intervention program(tailor to the physiological characteristics of the elderly;adapt to the psychological characteristics of the elderly).Conclusion The group-based ACT intervention has a beneficial effect on the psychological,spiritual and behavioural changes in the elderly stroke patients.The intervention programs should be improved according to the physical and mental characteristics therefore to improve the mental health of elderly stroke patients.

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of influenza B virus Victoria lineage in Ma′anshan from 2019 to 2022.Methods:Throat swabs were collect from cases with influenza-like illness in three sentinel hospitals and from influenza outbreak events in Ma′anshan city from 2019 to 2022. Real-time fluorescence-based PCR was performed to detect the nucleic acids of influenza viruses in the swab samples. Statistical analysis was conducted using the influenza year as the detection cycle. MDCK cells and chicken embryos were used for virus isolation, and 31 strains of B/Victoria lineage were selected for whole-genome sequencing and genetic analysis.Results:A total of 11 258 throat swabs were collected from ILI cases, and 8.90% (1 002/11 258) of them tested positive for B/Victoria. Except for the period from the winter of 2020 to the spring of 2021, during which no epidemic outbreak of influenza was observed, there were peaks in the prevalence of B/Victoria influenza in winter and spring of the other years, with the positive rates ranging from 12.65% (54/427) to 46.68% (176/377) during peak seasons. Compared with the recommended vaccine strains, the homology of the HA gene nucleotides of the viral strains isolated from 2019 to 2022 ranged from 98.40% to 99.26%, and the homology of amino acids ranged from 96.21% to 98.80%. All isolated strains carried mutations in the 190-helix of the hemagglutinin protein; the strains isolated from 2019 to 2020 had two amino acid insertions at position 160-loop; and the strains isolated from 2021 and 2022 had mutations at positions 120-loop and 150-loop. No drug-resistant mutations were detected in the neuraminidase gene.Conclusions:The B/Victoria strains isolated in Ma′anshan city from 2019 to 2022 have key site variations as compared with the recommended vaccine strains, suggesting a decrease in vaccine immune efficacy. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the surveillance of viral mutations to provide reference for updating vaccine strains and formulating epidemic prevention and control measures.

ObjectiveTo understand the use of antibiotics in inpatients and the incidence and trend of hospital infections， to explore the implementation effect of comprehensive management measures， and to provide reference for hospitals to use antibiotics reasonably. MethodsBased on the hospital infection monitoring and management system， a retrospective analysis and comparison were conducted on the use of antibiotics， submission of microbial test samples， and incidence of hospital infections among inpatients in a tertiary hospital from 2012 to 2021. ResultsFrom 2012 to 2021， the use of antibiotics showed a downward trend， from 50.82% in 2012 to 41.29% in 2021. At the same time， the use rate of restricted and special antibiotics had also decreased， and the use rate of restricted and special antibiotics in patients without hospital infection was significantly lower than that in patients with hospital infection， and the microbial testing rate was also on the rise. The annual incidence rate of hospital infection was 0.69%‒1.92%， and the annual case-time prevalence rate was 0.79%‒2.17%. The annual average rate of the above two in 10 years was 1.18% and 1.34%， respectively. The results of the exponential smoothing model also showed that the utilization rate of antibiotics was decreasing and the incidence of nosocomial infection was stable. ConclusionLarge general hospitals took comprehensive management measures to strengthen the management of rational use of antibiotics， which led to a decline in the use rate of antibacterial drugs for inpatients and an increase in the rate of microbial examination. At the same time， the overall incidence of hospital infection was relatively stable， suggesting that the comprehensive management measures of antibacterial drugs in hospitals had achieved certain results. The current measures need to be optimized in the future to continuously improve the management level of rational use of antibacterial drugs.

Objective:To analyze the clinical value of ultrasound monitoring of endometrial thickness in assessing pregnancy rate improvement after estrogen administration following a missed abortion.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 86 patients who underwent surgical abortion at Cixi Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2022 to June 2023. Based on the treatment received, the patients were divided into two groups: a control group and an observation group, with 43 patients in each group. The control group received only routine postoperative care without any medication, while the observation group received estrogen treatment after surgery. The clinical efficacy, endometrial thickness, intrauterine adhesion and re-pregnancy rate were compared between the two groups.Results:In the observation group, there was significant difference in endometrial thickness in terms of intergroup, group-by-time interaction, and time effect ( Fintergroup =129.49, Finteraction =14.25, Ftime =146.64, all P < 0.001). Intrauterine adhesions were less severe in the observation group compared with the control group ( χ2 = 4.34, P < 0.05). The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group [88.37% (38/43) vs. 69.76% (30/43), Z = 2.35, P = 0.019]. Additionally, the rate of re-pregnancy was significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group [46.54% (20/43) vs. 13.95% (6/43), χ2 = 10.81, P < 0.05]. Conclusion:Patients who have retained abortion can benefit from ultrasound examination to assess endometrial thickness after estrogen administration. This approach significantly enhances endometrial thickness, promotes menstrual recovery, and reduces intrauterine adhesions. It also improves the rate of re-pregnancy and is highly valuable in clinical settings.

Hemichorea associated with non-ketotic hyperglycemia(HC-NH)is a rare complication of diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by sudden and spontaneous non-repeating movements. Clinically, it presents as irregular dance-like movements in the distal parts of one limb, with unilateral involvement being more common and bilateral involvement being rare. Early diagnosis and treatment could improve the prognosis. We report a patient with hyperglycemia who developed bilateral involvement. It highlights the need to consider this condition in diabetic patients who present with secondary involuntary limb movements. Early treatment may lead to reversal of the symptoms.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of remimazolam(Re)combined with thoracic sympathetic nerve block(TSNB)on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion(MI/R)rats.Methods Rats were randomly separated into control group,MI/R group,Re group,TSNB group,and Re+TSNB group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the control group,the remaining rats were subjected to left anterior descending coronary artery(LAD)ligation to construct an MI/R model.In the Re group,20 mg/kg Re was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before ischemia.In TSNB group,0.2％ropivacaine 50 μL was injected into the thoracic epidural catheter 30 min before ischemia.In the Re+TSNB group,20 mg/kg Re was intraperitoneally injected and 0.2％ropivacaine 50 μL was injected into the thoracic epidural catheter 30 min before ischemia.The control group and MI/R group were injected with normal saline only.Rats in each group were evaluated for cardiac function and infarct size.HE staining and TUNEL staining were applied to observe pathological changes in myocardial tissue and myocardial cell apoptosis.Serum myocardial injury markers creatine kinase(CK)and aspartate transaminase(AST),cardiac troponin(cTnⅠ),myocardial inflammatory factors interleukin-8(IL-8),tumor nec-rosis factor-α(TNF-α),and oxidative stress factors malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)were detec-ted.Western blot was applied to detect the expression of IL-8,TNF-α,B lymphoblastoma-2-associated X protein(Bax),and B-lymphoblastoma-2(Bcl-2)in myocardial tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the myocardial cells of rats showed edema and myocardial fiber disorder in the MI/R group,the left ventricular developmental pressure(LVDP),maximal left ventricular pressure rising rate(+dp/dtmax),maximal left ventricular pressure decreasing rate(-dp/dtmax),SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnⅠ,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the MI/R group,the morphology of myocardial fibers and myocardial cells was significantly improved in the Re group,TSNB group and Re+TSNB group,the LVDP,±dp/dtmax,SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly increased,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnI,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Re group and TSNB group,the LVDP,±dp/dtmax,SOD activity,and level of Bcl-2 were significantly increased in the Re+TSNB group,the myocardial infarction area,cell apoptosis rate,levels of cTnⅠ,CK,AST,IL-8,TNF-α,MDA,and Bax were significantly decreased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of Re and TSNB may protect against MI/R injury by reducing myocardial infarction and myocardial cell apoptosis,and inhibiting inflammatory response and oxidative stress.