Objective:To investigate the iodine nutrition status of pregnant women in Zhejiang Province, explore the impact of salt industry system reform on iodine nutrition level of pregnant women, and provide scientific basis for prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:From 2016 to 2021, a multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 100 pregnant women from 90 counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province each year as survey subjects. Salt samples were collected from pregnant women's families, and one random urine sample was taken for salt iodine and urinary iodine level testing, respectively.Results:A total of 56 581 samples of household edible salt were collected from pregnant women, with a median salt iodine level of 23.20 mg/kg. Among them, 7 961 were non iodized salt, 45 803 were qualified iodized salt, and 2 817 were unqualified iodized salt. The iodized salt coverage rate was 85.93% (48 620/56 581), and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 80.95% (45 803/56 581). The proportion of non iodized salt increased from 10.05% (897/8 928) in 2016 to 15.09% (1 461/9 679) in 2021 (χ 2trend = 95.16, P < 0.001). A total of 56 581 urine samples were collected from pregnant women, with a median urinary iodine level of 130.50 μg/L. Among them, the proportions of urinary iodine levels < 150, 150 - 249, 250 - 499, and ≥500 μg/L were 58.32% (32 996/56 581), 27.24% (15 410/56 581), 12.24% (6 926/56 581), and 2.21% (1 249/56 581), respectively. The median urinary iodine level of pregnant women in inland areas was significantly higher than that in coastal areas ( Z = 19.15, P < 0.001). Furthermore, urinary iodine levels exhibited a non-linear decline as age increased (χ 2regression = 12.65, P < 0.001; χ 2partial = 22.65, P < 0.001) and as pregnancy progressed (χ 2regression = 37.28, P < 0.001; χ 2partial = 18.89, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The overall iodine nutrition status of pregnant women in Zhejiang Province is in a state of iodine deficiency (< 150 μg/L), and there is a greater risk in coastal areas compared to inland areas. However, in the context of the reform of the salt industry system, it is still necessary to strengthen the quality supervision of iodized salt, provide scientific iodine supplementation education, promote specialized iodized salt for pregnant women, and strengthen interventions for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.

Objective:To investigate the iodine nutrition status of pregnant women in Zhejiang Province, explore the impact of salt industry system reform on iodine nutrition level of pregnant women, and provide scientific basis for prevention and treatment of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods:From 2016 to 2021, a multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select 100 pregnant women from 90 counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province each year as survey subjects. Salt samples were collected from pregnant women's families, and one random urine sample was taken for salt iodine and urinary iodine level testing, respectively.Results:A total of 56 581 samples of household edible salt were collected from pregnant women, with a median salt iodine level of 23.20 mg/kg. Among them, 7 961 were non iodized salt, 45 803 were qualified iodized salt, and 2 817 were unqualified iodized salt. The iodized salt coverage rate was 85.93% (48 620/56 581), and the qualified iodized salt consumption rate was 80.95% (45 803/56 581). The proportion of non iodized salt increased from 10.05% (897/8 928) in 2016 to 15.09% (1 461/9 679) in 2021 (χ 2trend = 95.16, P < 0.001). A total of 56 581 urine samples were collected from pregnant women, with a median urinary iodine level of 130.50 μg/L. Among them, the proportions of urinary iodine levels < 150, 150 - 249, 250 - 499, and ≥500 μg/L were 58.32% (32 996/56 581), 27.24% (15 410/56 581), 12.24% (6 926/56 581), and 2.21% (1 249/56 581), respectively. The median urinary iodine level of pregnant women in inland areas was significantly higher than that in coastal areas ( Z = 19.15, P < 0.001). Furthermore, urinary iodine levels exhibited a non-linear decline as age increased (χ 2regression = 12.65, P < 0.001; χ 2partial = 22.65, P < 0.001) and as pregnancy progressed (χ 2regression = 37.28, P < 0.001; χ 2partial = 18.89, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The overall iodine nutrition status of pregnant women in Zhejiang Province is in a state of iodine deficiency (< 150 μg/L), and there is a greater risk in coastal areas compared to inland areas. However, in the context of the reform of the salt industry system, it is still necessary to strengthen the quality supervision of iodized salt, provide scientific iodine supplementation education, promote specialized iodized salt for pregnant women, and strengthen interventions for prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders.

The first working meeting of the 8th Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Nephrology was held in Guangzhou, China on November 30, 2023. At the meeting, the list of the 8th Editorial Committee was announced, the work of the journal in the past 5 years was summarized, and the future work of the Editorial Committee was planned and discussed. Jiang Yongmao, former deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Medical Association, Jin Dong, deputy general manager of the Chinese Medical Journals Publishing House Co., Ltd, Lu Quan, editor of the Journal Management Department of Chinese Medical Association, Yu Xueqing, editor-in-chief of the 8th Editorial Committee, Cai Guangyan, Chen Jianghua, Zhao Minghui and Mao Haiping, deputy editor-in-chief of the 8th Editorial Committee, and 69 members of the 8th Editorial Committee, attended the meeting. The meeting came to a successful conclusion, and provided guidance for how to break through the difficulties, publish high-quality content and achieve high-quality development under the new situation.

Hyperkalemia is one of the common ion metabolism disorders in clinical practice. Hyperkalemia is defined as serum potassium higher than 5.0 mmol/L according to the guidelines at home and abroad. Acute severe hyperkalemia can cause serious consequences, such as flaccid paralysis, fatal arrhythmia, and even cardiac arrest. The use of renin-angiotensin- aldosterone system inhibitors, β-blockers and diuretics, low-sodium and high-potassium diets, and the presence of related comorbidities increase the occurrence of hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia risk exist in all clinical departments, but there is a lack of a standardization in the management of multi- department cooperation in hospital. Therefore, a number of domestic nephrology and cardiology department experts have discussed a management model for multi-department cooperation in hyperkalemia, formulating the management standard on hospital evaluation, early warning, diagnosis and treatment, and process. This can promote each department to more effectively participate in nosocomial hyperkalemia diagnosis and treatment, as well as the long-term management of chronic hyperkalemia, improving the quality of hyperkalemia management in hospital.

Objective:To analyze the iodine nutrition status of children aged 8 to 10 years in Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2021.Methods:A multi-stage stratified sampling method was used to select non-residential children aged 8 to 10 years from 90 counties in Zhejiang Province. A total of 114 103 children were included in the study from 2016 to 2021. Direct titration method and arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry were used to detect salt iodine content and urinary iodine level, respectively, to evaluate the iodine nutritional status of children. Ultrasound was used to detect thyroid volume and analyze the current prevalence of goiter in school-age children.Results:The age of 114 103 children was (9.04 ± 0.81) years old, with 50.0% of (57 083) boys. The median of iodine content M ( Q1, Q3) in children's household salt was 23.00 (19.80, 25.20) mg/kg, including 17 242 non-iodized salt, 6 173 unqualified iodized salt, and 90 688 qualified iodized salt. The coverage rate of iodized salt was 84.89%, and the coverage rate of qualified iodized salt was 79.48%. The proportion of non-iodized salt increased from 11.85% in 2016 to 16.04% in 2021 ( χ 2trend=111.427, P<0.001). The median of urinary iodine concentration M ( Q1, Q3) in children was 182.50 (121.00, 261.00) μg/L, among which the proportions of iodine deficiency, iodine suitability, iodine over suitability, and iodine excess were 17.25% (19 686 cases), 39.21% (44 745 cases), 26.85% (30 638 cases), and 16.68% (19 034 cases), respectively. The median of urinary iodine concentration in children in inland areas [ M ( Q1, Q3): 190.90 (128.80, 269.00) μg/L] was significantly higher than that in children in coastal areas [ M ( Q1, Q3): 173.00 (113.00, 250.30) μg/L] ( P<0.001). From 2016 to 2021, a total of 39 134 ultrasound examinations were conducted, and 1 229 cases of thyroid enlargement were detected. The goiter rate was 3.14% (95% CI: 2.97%-3.32%). The incidence of goiter in children in coastal areas [3.45% (95% CI: 3.19%-3.72%), 641/18 604] was higher than that in children in inland areas [2.86% (95% CI: 2.64%-3.10%), 588/20 530] ( P=0.001). Conclusion:From 2016 to 2021, the iodine nutrition level of children aged 8-10 years in Zhejiang Province is generally suitable, and the rate of goiter in children meets the limit of iodine deficiency disease elimination standards.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of strain ultrasonic elastography (SUE) supported by Image Pro Plus (IPP) software in distinguishing benign and malignant Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 4 nodules.Methods:The clinical and ultrasound imaging data of 192 female patients with BI-RADS category 4 nodules diagnosed by breast ultrasound in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from January 2020 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. One nodule was selected for each patient, and a total of 192 nodules were analyzed. The ultrasound images and SUE images of each nodule were acquired before surgery, followed by BI-RADS classification scoring and SUE scoring. The IPP software was applied to outline the region of interest of all nodules, and the software automatically counted the SUE area ratio (SUE-IPP-AR) of all nodules. Using pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, SUE-IPP scoring was performed based on the optimal cut-off value of SUE-IPP-AR for distinguishing benign and malignant nodules according to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The efficacy of BI-RADS classification, SUE score, SUE-IPP score, and SUE-IPP+BI-RADS combined score in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast nodules were analyzed by ROC curve. Kappa coefficient was used to assess inter-observer agreement for SUE and SUE-IPP-AR.Results:Of the 192 nodules, 58 were benign nodules and 134 were malignant nodules diagnosed by pathology. These nodules were classified by BI-RADS, with 46 nodules in BI-RADS category 4A, 57 nodules in BI-RADS category 4B and 89 nodules in BI-RADS category 4C. SUE images 1-6 level were 12, 14, 41, 51, 42, and 32 nodules, respectively. ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of SUE-IPP for determining benign and malignant BI-RADS category 4 breast nodules was 58% [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.729, sensitivity 73%, specificity 69%]. The AUC of SUE-IPP+BI-RADS combined score for determining benign and malignant nodules was the largest (0.871), which was higher than that of BI-RADS score (AUC = 0.829, Z = 2.51, P = 0.012), SUE-IPP score (AUC = 0.729, Z = 3.56, P < 0.001) and SUE score (AUC = 0.695, Z = 4.37, P < 0.001). The sensitivity of SUE-IPP+BI-RADS combined score ≥ 3 points for diagnosing malignant nodules was 86.6%, while the specificity was 82.8%. Therefore, SUE-IPP+ BI-RADS score had the best efficacy for determining benign and malignant nodules. There was good agreement between sonographer with more than 5 years of experience and those with less than 5 years of experience in applying SUE to diagnose breast malignant nodules (Kappa = 0.768, 95% CI 0.711-0.825), and very good diagnostic agreement in applying SUE-IPP (Kappa = 0.946, 95% CI 0.919-0.974). Conclusions:SUE-IPP can improve the diagnostic ability for BI-RADS category 4 breast malignant nodules and can be used as an adjunct to ultrasound diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The clinical importance of hypokalemia is likely underrecognized in Chinese dialysis patients, and whether its clinical effect was mediated by serum albumin is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the association between serum potassium and mortality in dialysis patients of a Chinese nationwide multicenter cohort, taking albumin as a consideration. METHODS: This was a prospective nation-wide multicenter cohort study. Restricted cubic splines were used to test the linearity of serum potassium and relationships with all-cause (AC) and cardiovascular (CV) mortality and a subsequent two-line piecewise linear model was fitted to approach the nadir. A mediation analysis was performed to examine relations of albumin to potassium and mortalities. RESULTS: A total of 10,027 patients were included, of whom 6605 were peritoneal dialysis and 3422 were hemodialysis patients. In the overall population, the mean age was 51.7 ± 14.8 years, 55.3%(5546/10,027) were male, and the median dialysis vintage was 13.60 (4.70, 39.70) months. Baseline serum potassium was 4.30 ± 0.88 mmol/L. After a median follow-up period of 26.87 (14.77, 41.50) months, a U-shape was found between potassium and mortality, and a marked increase in risk at lower potassium but a moderate elevation in risk at higher potassium were observed. The nadir for AC mortality risk was estimated from piecewise linear models to be a potassium concentration of 4.0 mmol/L. Interestingly, the significance of the association between potassium and mortality was attenuated when albumin was introduced into the extended adjusted model. A subsequent significant mediation by albumin for potassium and AC and CV mortalities were found ( P < 0.001 for both), indicating that hypokalemia led to higher mortality mediated by low serum albumin, which was a surrogate of poor nutritional status and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Associations between potassium and mortalities were U-shaped in the overall population. The nadir for AC mortality risk was at a potassium of 4.0 mmol/L. Serum albumin mediated the association between potassium and AC and CV mortalities.
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; East Asian People ; Hypokalemia/etiology* ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/mortality* ; Potassium/blood* ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis ; Serum Albumin/analysis*

Objective:To evaluate the current situation of prevention and control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD), and to describe the iodine nutrition level of pregnant women in key population in Zhejiang Province.Methods:In 2021, a cross-sectional survey on iodine nutrition status of the population was conducted in all 90 counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province. Each county (city, district) was divided into five districts: east, west, south, north, and central. One township (street) was selected from each district, and 20 pregnant women were selected from each township (street) to collect edible salt samples and one random urine sample for salt and urinary iodine testing. The above indicators were stratified and analyzed according to urban, rural, coastal, inland, early pregnancy, mid pregnancy, and late pregnancy.Results:A total of 9 679 pregnant women's salt samples were tested, with a salt iodine content of (20.2 ± 9.2) mg/kg, an iodized salt coverage rate of 84.2% (8 153/9 679), and a qualified iodized salt consumption rate of 80.4% (7 785/9 679). Among them, the qualified iodized salt consumption rate of pregnant women in coastal areas was 69.4% (3 175/4 575), significantly lower than that in inland areas [90.3% (4 610/5 104)]; and the proportion of non iodized salt consumption in coastal areas [25.8% (1 181/4 575)] was significantly higher than inland areas [6.8% (345/5 104)]. A total of 9 679 pregnant women's urine samples were tested, with a median urinary iodine of 133.0 μg/L ( < 150 μg/L). In urban areas, the median urinary iodine (129.8 μg/L) was lower than that in rural areas (135.0 μg/L). Likewise, the median urinary iodine was 126.0 μg/L, lower than inland areas (140.3 μg/L). And as pregnancy progressed, the iodine nutrition level of pregnant women gradually decreased (the median urinary iodine: 137.0 μg/L in early pregnancy, 134.1 μg/L in mid pregnancy, and 129.4 μg/L in late pregnancy).Conclusion:In 2021, pregnant women in Zhejiang Province are in a state of iodine deficiency, and there is a greater risk in urban areas compared to rural areas and coastal areas compared to inland areas.

Objective: To investigate the status of iodine nutrition and prevalence of goiter among children at ages of 8 to 10 years in Zhejiang Province in 2021, so as to provide insights into the management of iodine deficiency in children. Methods : A total of 90 counties (districts) were sampled as field survey sites from 11 cities of Zhejiang Province using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method in 2021, and non-residential children at ages of 8 to 10 years in these sites were sampled as study subjects. Subjects' household edible salt samples and random urine samples were collected. The iodine content in salt and urinary iodine level were determined using the direct titration method and arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry for evaluation of iodine nutrition among children. In addition, the lateral lobe of the thyroid gland was measured using ultrasound, and the prevalence of goiter was estimated. Results: A total of 19 363 children were recruited, including 9 710 male children and 9 653 female children, with a male to female ratio of 1.01︰1, and there were 10 704 urban children (55.28%) and 8 659 rural children (44.72%), 9 149 children living in coastal areas (47.25%) and 10 214 children in inland regions (52.75%). The mean iodine content was (19.79±9.25) mg/kg in salt, and the coverage of qualified iodized salt (15 252) was 78.77%. The coverage of qualified iodized salt was significantly lower in urban children than in rural children (76.70% vs. 81.21%; χ2=68.301, P<0.001), and was lower in children living in coastal regions than in inland regions (68.05% vs. 88.27%; χ2=1 270.769, P<0.001). The median urinary iodine concentration was 195.1 μg/L, and the household iodine content in salt correlated positively with urinary iodine concentration in children (rs=0.383, P<0.001). There were 2 885 children with iodine deficiency (14.90%), 7 137 children with adequate iodine (36.86%), 5 414 children with excessive iodine intake (27.96%), and 3 927 children with iodine overdose (20.28%), and the distribution of iodine nutrition in children varied significantly in regions (χ2=283.277, P<0.001) and gender (χ2=126.349, P<0.001). The prevalence of goiter was 2.45% among 7 195 children receiving ultrasound examinations, and a higher prevalence rate of goiter was detected in urban children than in rural children (2.76% vs. 2.00%; χ2=3.962, P=0.047). Conclusions The overall urinary iodine nutrition was adequate among children at ages of 8 to 10 years in Zhejiang Province in 2021, and the prevalence of goiter in children fell within the threshold defined in the criteria of elimination of iodine deficiency. However, the supervision of the iodized salt quality remains to be improved and iodine deficiency control remains to be reinforced.

Objective:To explore the prevalence and risk factors of exit-site infection (ESI) in elderly peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:The status of exit-site was evaluated in elderly PD patients (≥60 years) who had catheter insertion in our center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2013, with follow-up for 1 year or withdrawing from peritoneal dialysis in this period. The patients were divided into ESI and non-ESI group. The data was collected including demographics, clinical features, and nursing care methods of the exit-site.Results:A total of 247 patients were recruited in this study, aged (68.6±6.2) years, among whom there were 132 male (53.4%) and 119 diabetes (48.2%). Median follow-up time was 12.0 months. Thirty-two patients had 34 episodes of ESI with a rate of 82.5 patient-months per episode (0.15 episodes per year). Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the main pathogen, accounting for 35.3% of the ESI. No bacterial growth was found in 8.8%. The exit-site nursing care status included that poor compliance of exit-site care 23.5%, poor catheter immobilization 62.3%, history of catheter-pulling injury 9.7%, mechanical stress on exit-site 5.3%, improper frequency of nursing care 29.6%, mupirocin usage 13.8%, patients taking exit-site care 26.7%, exit-site caregiver instability 16.6%. There were no differences in demographic (such as age, gender, primary disease, etc) and laboratory data (hemoglobin, serum albumin, blood potassium, etc) between the ESI and non-ESI groups. Poor compliance with exit-site care ( HR=2.352, 95% CI 1.008-5.488, P=0.048), poor catheter immobilization ( HR=3.074, 95% CI 1.046-9.035, P=0.041) and exit-site caregiver instability ( HR=2.423, 95% CI 1.004-5.845, P=0.049) were significantly correlated with increased risk of ESI. Conclusions:The prevalence of ESI in elderly PD patients was 0.15 episodes per year. Educating PD patients to improve the compliance with exit-site care, maintain catheter immobilization and do exit-site care by a stable and trained caregiver may reduce ESI events in elderly PD patients.