Objective To analyze the situation of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) ownership in malaria-endemic African countries from 2010 to 2023, so as to provide insights into China’s deeper participation in malaria control in Africa. Methods The study period from 2010 to 2023 was divided into three phases: the baseline phase (from 2010 to 2015), the middle phase (from 2016 to 2019), and the final phase (from 2020 to 2023), a total of 11 African countries with at least one Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in each phase were included. Data pertaining to ITNs in 33 surveys of the above 11 African counties from 2010 to 2023 were captured from the DHS database, and the proportions of sources of ITNs and ITN ownership in each phase (number of ITNs ownership per person, overall ownership rate, and ownership rate per two residents) were calculated. The differences in numbers of ITNs per person between urban and rural areas and specified by socioeconomic status were analyzed. Results The proportions of ITNs from distribution campaigns were 60.24% to 94.01% and 50.46% to 85.04% in 11 African countries in the middle and final phases, respectively. The median numbers (interquartile range) of INTs ownership per person were 0.22 (0.50), 0.33 (0.50) and 0.33 (0.50) in the baseline, middle, and final phases, and the overall ownership rates [95% confidence interval (CI)] were 59.77% (59.50%, 60.05%), 70.32% (70.06%, 70.57%), and 69.21% (68.95%, 69.47%), while the ownership rates per two residents were 26.91% (26.66%, 27.16%), 38.07% (37.80%, 38.34%), and 36.56% (36.29%, 36.84%), respectively. The number of ITNs per person showed a significant increase followed by a significant decrease in 7 countries during all three phases (H = 102.518 to 2 327.440, all P < 0.05; Z = -48.886 to -4.653, all P < 0.016 7 after Bonferroni correction). In 33 surveys, there were 31 (Z = -26.719 to -2.472, P < 0.05) and 28 surveys (Z = -27.316 to -4.068, P < 0.001) with significant differences in numbers of ITNs ownership per person between households in urban and rural areas and with different socioeconomic status, including 20 surveys with a significantly higher number of ITNs ownership per person in households in rural areas than in urban areas, and 17 surveys with a significantly higher number of ITNs ownership per person among the poorest households than among the richest households. Conclusions There are substantial disparities in ITNs ownership in 11 African countries. Intensified co-operation on malaria prevention and control measures, such as ITNs, is recommended between China and African countries to build a global community of health for all.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of 3D printing technology combined with computer navigation-assisted screw implantation in the treatment of atlantoaxial instability (AAI) complicated by vertebral artery anomalies.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 23 patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies who were admitted to Honghui Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University between January 2019 and January 2023, including 10 males and 13 females, aged 19-70 years [(51.0±13.3)years]. Vertebral artery anomalies were categorized into unilateral high-riding vertebral artery with unilateral dominance ( n=14), bilateral high-riding vertebral arteries with unilateral dominance ( n=6), and ponticulus posticus ( n=3). All the patients underwent preoperative planning using a 3D-printed model of the atlantoaxial complex with the vertebral artery, followed by posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation with computer-assisted navigation. Operative duration and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was assessed at 3 days postoperatively using the Gertzbein-Robbins classification. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were evaluated preoperatively, at 3 days, 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Bony fusion was assessed using cervical CT with 3D reconstruction at the last follow-up. Complications were also observed. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-19 months [(15.1±1.9)months]. The operative duration was 125-167 minutes [(140.6±10.9)minutes] and intraoperative blood loss was 200-600 ml [(295.7±77.8)ml]. At 3 days postoperatively, all the 66 pedicle screws were safely placed, with 60 screws (91%) rated as Gertzbein-Robbins Grade 0 and 6 screws (9%) as Grade 1. At 3 days and 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (4.0±1.0)points, (2.0±0.6)points, and (1.3±0.5)points, and the JOA scores were (14.2±1.2)points, (16.0±0.8)points, and (16.6±0.5)points, both of which were not only significantly improved compared with preoperative (5.6±1.3)points and (12.8±1.5)points, but also further improved over time ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, 22 patients (96%) achieved satisfactory atlantoaxial bony fusion. No vertebral artery injury, spinal cord or nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or screw loosening were observed in any patients. Conclusion:For patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies, 3D printing combined with computer navigation-assisted navigation for atlantoaxial pedicle screw implantation offers multiple advantages, including minimal surgical trauma, high screw placement accuracy, pain relief, neurological function improvement, high fusion rate, and lowered incidence of complications.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of 3D printing technology combined with computer navigation-assisted screw implantation in the treatment of atlantoaxial instability (AAI) complicated by vertebral artery anomalies.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 23 patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies who were admitted to Honghui Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University between January 2019 and January 2023, including 10 males and 13 females, aged 19-70 years [(51.0±13.3)years]. Vertebral artery anomalies were categorized into unilateral high-riding vertebral artery with unilateral dominance ( n=14), bilateral high-riding vertebral arteries with unilateral dominance ( n=6), and ponticulus posticus ( n=3). All the patients underwent preoperative planning using a 3D-printed model of the atlantoaxial complex with the vertebral artery, followed by posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw fixation with computer-assisted navigation. Operative duration and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The accuracy of pedicle screw placement was assessed at 3 days postoperatively using the Gertzbein-Robbins classification. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were evaluated preoperatively, at 3 days, 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. Bony fusion was assessed using cervical CT with 3D reconstruction at the last follow-up. Complications were also observed. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-19 months [(15.1±1.9)months]. The operative duration was 125-167 minutes [(140.6±10.9)minutes] and intraoperative blood loss was 200-600 ml [(295.7±77.8)ml]. At 3 days postoperatively, all the 66 pedicle screws were safely placed, with 60 screws (91%) rated as Gertzbein-Robbins Grade 0 and 6 screws (9%) as Grade 1. At 3 days and 3 months postoperatively, and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (4.0±1.0)points, (2.0±0.6)points, and (1.3±0.5)points, and the JOA scores were (14.2±1.2)points, (16.0±0.8)points, and (16.6±0.5)points, both of which were not only significantly improved compared with preoperative (5.6±1.3)points and (12.8±1.5)points, but also further improved over time ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, 22 patients (96%) achieved satisfactory atlantoaxial bony fusion. No vertebral artery injury, spinal cord or nerve injury, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, or screw loosening were observed in any patients. Conclusion:For patients with AAI complicated by vertebral artery anomalies, 3D printing combined with computer navigation-assisted navigation for atlantoaxial pedicle screw implantation offers multiple advantages, including minimal surgical trauma, high screw placement accuracy, pain relief, neurological function improvement, high fusion rate, and lowered incidence of complications.

Objective:To provide references for effective intervention of hyperuricemia (HUA) by investigating the prevalence of HUA in military pilots and analyzing its relevant influencing factors.Methods:The physical examination data of 2 700 military pilots who received physical examinations from January 2021 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The above pilots were divided into HUA group and non-HUA group according to whether they had HUA. The differences in age, height, weight, body mass index, flying hours, blood pressure, blood uric acid, fasting blood glucose, total bilirubin, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, as well as the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver were compared between 2 groups. The pilots were grouped by age (≤29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years,≥50 years) and by the aircraft types (fighter, bombers, transporter, helicopter). The criteria for determining HUA, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver were based on the relevant guidelines. The influencing factors for the prevalence of HUA were analyzed through binary Logistic regression. Single factor binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the prevalence of HUA in pilots, and P<0.05 index was included in multi-factor binary Logistic regression to further analyze the influencing factors of the occurrence of HUA. Results:There were 821 cases (30.41%) in HUA group and 1 879 cases (69.59%) in non-HUA group. The weight ( t=7.75, P<0.001), body mass index ( t=8.23, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure ( t=3.20, P=0.001), diastolic blood pressure ( t=3.06, P=0.002), serum uric acid ( t=62.83, P<0.001), blood urea nitrogen ( t=3.41, P=0.001), serum creatinine ( t=8.88, P<0.001), alanine aminotransferase ( t=5.56, P<0.001), total cholesterol ( t=3.27, P=0.001), triglyceride ( Z=9.54, P<0.001), as well as the prevalence of hypertension ( χ2=7.48, P=0.006), hyperlipidemia ( χ2=42.74, P<0.001), and fatty liver ( χ2=22.51, P<0.001) in HUA group were higher than those in non-HUA group, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that in the non-HUA group, and the difference was significant ( t=5.91, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of HUA among pilots of different age groups and aircraft types (both P>0.05). Overweight ( OR=1.392, 95% CI: 1.159-1.672), obesity ( OR=1.891, 95% CI: 1.197-2.987), and elevated level of triglyceride ( OR=1.246, 95% CI:1.128-1.377), blood urea nitrogen ( OR=1.079, 95% CI:1.000-1.163), and serum creatinine ( OR=1.036, 95% CI:1.028-1.044) were risk factors for HUA, and elevated high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( OR=0.567, 95% CI: 0.389-0.825) was a protective factor. Conclusions:The prevalence of HUA in military pilots is higher than that in the general population. Overweight, obesity, and elevated level of triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine are closely related to the prevalence of HUA, and comprehensive intervention measures should be taken for key targets.

Objective:To provide references for effective intervention of hyperuricemia (HUA) by investigating the prevalence of HUA in military pilots and analyzing its relevant influencing factors.Methods:The physical examination data of 2 700 military pilots who received physical examinations from January 2021 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The above pilots were divided into HUA group and non-HUA group according to whether they had HUA. The differences in age, height, weight, body mass index, flying hours, blood pressure, blood uric acid, fasting blood glucose, total bilirubin, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, as well as the prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver were compared between 2 groups. The pilots were grouped by age (≤29 years, 30-39 years, 40-49 years,≥50 years) and by the aircraft types (fighter, bombers, transporter, helicopter). The criteria for determining HUA, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and fatty liver were based on the relevant guidelines. The influencing factors for the prevalence of HUA were analyzed through binary Logistic regression. Single factor binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the prevalence of HUA in pilots, and P<0.05 index was included in multi-factor binary Logistic regression to further analyze the influencing factors of the occurrence of HUA. Results:There were 821 cases (30.41%) in HUA group and 1 879 cases (69.59%) in non-HUA group. The weight ( t=7.75, P<0.001), body mass index ( t=8.23, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure ( t=3.20, P=0.001), diastolic blood pressure ( t=3.06, P=0.002), serum uric acid ( t=62.83, P<0.001), blood urea nitrogen ( t=3.41, P=0.001), serum creatinine ( t=8.88, P<0.001), alanine aminotransferase ( t=5.56, P<0.001), total cholesterol ( t=3.27, P=0.001), triglyceride ( Z=9.54, P<0.001), as well as the prevalence of hypertension ( χ2=7.48, P=0.006), hyperlipidemia ( χ2=42.74, P<0.001), and fatty liver ( χ2=22.51, P<0.001) in HUA group were higher than those in non-HUA group, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower than that in the non-HUA group, and the difference was significant ( t=5.91, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of HUA among pilots of different age groups and aircraft types (both P>0.05). Overweight ( OR=1.392, 95% CI: 1.159-1.672), obesity ( OR=1.891, 95% CI: 1.197-2.987), and elevated level of triglyceride ( OR=1.246, 95% CI:1.128-1.377), blood urea nitrogen ( OR=1.079, 95% CI:1.000-1.163), and serum creatinine ( OR=1.036, 95% CI:1.028-1.044) were risk factors for HUA, and elevated high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( OR=0.567, 95% CI: 0.389-0.825) was a protective factor. Conclusions:The prevalence of HUA in military pilots is higher than that in the general population. Overweight, obesity, and elevated level of triglyceride, blood urea nitrogen, and serum creatinine are closely related to the prevalence of HUA, and comprehensive intervention measures should be taken for key targets.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. It is highly contagious and can cause death in severe cases. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 6:36 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST), 12 August 2022, there had been 585 950 285 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6 425 422 deaths (WHO, 2022).
Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Mental Health ; Cohort Studies ; Quality of Life ; China/epidemiology* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals ; Lung

With the deepening of research in oral microbiomics, an important relationship between changes in the oral microbiome and orthodontic treatment has been found. Orthodontic treatment will have an impact on the oral and systemic microbiome. The presence of oral appliances can change the quantity and quality of the oral microbiometo and increase the risk of oral and even systemic diseases in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Compared with fixed orthodontic treatment, clear aligners will not have a harmful impact on the structure of the oral microbiome, which is more conducive to maintain oral health during the orthodontic treatment process. In addition, different bracket types and materials can lead to different changes in the oral microbiome, and the occurrence and development of orthodontic-related diseases, such as white spot lesions, dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis, are also related to changes in the oral microbiome. At present, the role of the oral microbiome in the process of orthodontic treatment needs to be further studied. Whether a change in the oral microbiome caused by orthodontic treatment can be restored after orthodontic treatment is still uncertain and needs more research. This paper reviews the research progress on the application of microbiomics in orthodontics, including the impact of fixed appliances and clear aligners on the microbiome and the relationship between orthodontic-related diseases and the oral microbiome.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors associated with lymph node posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) , and analyze the clinical value of surgical dissection of LN-prRLN.Methods:Clinical data of 140 PTC patients admitted to the same treatment group from Jun. 2014 to Oct. 2015 (all patients underwent LN-prRLN area dissection, group A) were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze high-risk factors for LN- prRLN metastasis, and another 171 cases without LN-prRLN area dissection (group B) were collected as the control group. The total number of lymph nodes dissected in the central area on the right was compared to analyze the proportion of lymph nodes in the LN-prRLN area.Results:Of the 140 patients in group A, the right cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 64.3% (90/140) , the central zone lymph node metastasis rate was 63.6% (89/140) , and the LN-prRLN regional lymph node metastasis rate was 17.9% (25/140) . Univariate analysis showed that tumors>1 cm, multiple tumors, capsule invasion, clinical lymph node staging cN1,VI-1 and cervical lymph node metastasis were correlated with LN-prRLN metastasis ( P<0.05) . Multivariate analysis showed that capsule invasion ( OR=4.599, P=0.037) and cervical lymph node metastasis ( OR=3.505, P=0.036) were risk factors for LN-prRLN metastasis. By comparison with the control group, the total number of lymph node dissections in the right central area of group B was significantly less than that of group A ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:PTC patients have a high rate of lymph node metastasis in the right central area, and lymph nodes in the LN-prRLN area occupy a certain proportion. RN-prRLN should be routinely cleaned to ensure the completeness and thoroughness of the dissection, and to minimize the possibility of performing a second operation due to recurrence of residual lymph nodes after operation. More importance should be attached to LN-prRLN dissection when the tumor is more than 1 cm, the tumor is multiple, the capsule is invaded, in clinical lymph node stage cN1, VI-1 and with cervical lymph node metastasis.

Background: Most patients including health care workers (HCWs) survived the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), however, knowledge about the sequelae of COVID-19 after discharge remains limited. Methods: A prospectively observational 3-month follow-up study evaluated symptoms, dynamic changes of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG and IgM, lung function, and high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of survivors of COVID-19 after discharge at Wuhan Union Hospital, China. Results: Seventy-six survivors (55 females) with a mean age of 41.3 ± 13.8 years were enrolled, and 65 (86%) were HCWs. A total of 69 (91%) patients had returned to their original work at 3-months after discharge. Most of the survivors had symptoms including fever, sputum production, fatigue, diarrhea, dyspnea, cough, chest tightness on exertion and palpitations in the three months after discharge. The serum troponin-I levels during the acute illness showed high correlation with the symptom of fatigue after hospital discharge (r = 0.782; P = 0.008) and lymphopenia was correlated with the symptoms of chest tightness and palpitations on exertion of patients after hospital discharge (r = −0.285, P = 0.027; r = −0.363, P = 0.004, respectively). The mean values of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, total lung capacity and diffusion capacity were all normal (> 80% predicted) and lung HRCTs returned to normal in most of the patients (82%), however, 42% of survivors had mild pulmonary function abnormalities at 3-months after discharge. SARS-CoV-2 IgG turned negative in 11% (6 of 57 patients), 8% (4 of 52 patients) and 13% (7 of 55 patients), and SARS-CoV-2 IgM turned negative in 72% (41 of 57 patients), 85% (44 of 52 patients) and 87% (48 of 55 patients) at 1-month, 2-months and 3-months after discharge, respectively. Conclusion Infection by SARS-CoV-2 caused some mild impairments of survivors within the first three months of their discharge and the duration of SARS-CoV-2 antibody was limited, which indicates the necessity of long-term follow-up of survivors of COVID-19.

Objective To investigate the relationship between subgroups of central lymph node metastasis (sCLNM) and lateral lymph node metastasis (LNM) of unilatal papillary thyroid carcinoma (uPTC) with cervical lymph node negative(cN0).Methods The clinical and pathological data of 161 patients with cN0-uPTC who underwent total thyroidectomy+central lymph node dissection+lateral lymph node dissection from Jan.2016 to Dec.2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The relationship between the lymph node metastasis of each subarea in the central area of the affected side and the lymph node metastasis of the affected side was investigated.Results Binary logistic regression analysis of cN0-uPTC subregions in the affected central region showed:pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis,pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis and paratracheal lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the affected lateral region(P=0.008,0.016,0.035,respectively).Prelaryngeal lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in the affected area Ⅱ (P=0.015).Pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis was an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in affected area Ⅲ (P=0.004).Pre-tracheal and para-tracheal lymph node metastasis were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the affected Ⅳ area (P=0.035,0.011,respectively).Conclusions The lymph node metastasis pathway of thyroid cancer had certain regularity.The pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis has the prediction value for the lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅱ.The pre-tracheal lymph node metastasis has the prediction value for the lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅲ.The pre-tracheal and paratracheal lymph node metastasis have the prediction value for lymph node metastasis of the affected area Ⅳ.Lymph node dissection in affected areas Ⅲ and Ⅳ needs to be considered in patients with pre-tracheal or paratracheal lymph node metastases.On this basis,lymph node dissection on the affected areas Ⅱ,Ⅲ,and Ⅳ might be considered if there is pre-laryngeal lymph node metastasis at the same time.