ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of herbal cake-separated moxibustion using the classical formula Xiaoyaosan in alleviating neuroimmune inflammatory responses in chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） rats， based on the regulation of the toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups： Normal group， model group， sham herbal cake moxibustion group， Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion group， with 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group， all other groups underwent a 21-day modeling process， followed by behavioral testing. The herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham herbal cake moxibustion groups received interventions at the Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14） acupoints. The Chinese medicine intragastric administration group was treated with a Xiaoyaosan suspension via gavage. Behavioral tests were conducted after 10 days of continuous intervention. Serum levels of interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， and NF-κB， were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Morphological changes in the hippocampus were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB in the hippocampus. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the relative expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， NF-κB， and p65 proteins in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a significant decrease in upright times during the open field test （P<0.01）， as well as significant reductions in total movement distance， resting time， and center region duration （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time increased （P<0.01）， and struggle times decreased （P<0.01）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α， as well as hippocampal NF-κB levels and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly elevated （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the total movement distance and upright times in the open field test were significantly increased in all treatment groups （P<0.01）， while resting time and center region duration were notably prolonged （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Immobility time in the tail suspension test was significantly shortened （P<0.01）， and struggle times significantly increased （P<0.05）. Serum and hippocampal levels of IL-1β， IL-6， TNF-α， hippocampal NF-κB levels， and TLR4 and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham herbal cake moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group showed a significant extension in center region duration during the open field test （P<0.05） and a significant increase in upright times （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum TNF-α levels in the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group were significantly reduced （P<0.01）， while serum IL-6 levels， as well as hippocampal levels of IL-1β， TNF-α， NF-κB， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression， were significantly decreased in both the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group and the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the Chinese medicine intragastric administration group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group exhibited significantly increased upright times in the open field test （P<0.01）. In the tail suspension test， immobility time was reduced （P<0.01）， and struggle times increased （P<0.01）. Serum IL-1β， hippocampal TNF-α levels， and TLR4， MyD88， and NF-κB mRNA expression were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion effectively improves fatigue and memory function in CFS rats， regulates neuroimmune inflammatory responses， and its mechanism may be related to the modulation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of moxibustion with the classical prescription Xiaoyaosan as the herbal cake in improving cognitive function in the rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） by regulating autophagy via phosphatidylinosiol 3-kinase （PI3K）/autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homologue 1 （Beclin1） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly grouped as follows： control， model， sham cake-separated moxibustion， intragastric administration with Chinese herbs， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion， each with 10 rats. The other groups except the control group were subjected to modeling by exhaustive swimming and chronic restraint stress for 21 days， and the behavioral test was performed after modeling. Herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion were carried out at Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14）. The rats in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were treated with Xiaoyaosan suspension by gavage. After continuous intervention for 10 days， rat behaviors were observed and the levels of interleukin （IL）-4， IL-10， blood urine nitrogen （BUN）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in the serum and hippocampal tissue of rats in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of the hippocampal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampal tissue were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced crossings， shortened residence time in the target quadrant， and prolonged average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.01） in the Morris water maze test. In the new object recognition test， the model group showed decreased recognition index of exploration time and recognition index of exploration times （P<0.01）， lowered levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and elevated levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant， and shortened average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the treatment elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and lowered the levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05）， elevated level of IL-4， lowered level of MDA， and up-regulated relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum levels of MDA and BUN in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were significantly decreased. The average escape latency of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group was significantly shortened on days 2 and 3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， this group showed elevated serum level of IL-4， lowered serum level of MDA， and declined BUN level in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group presented risen serum level of IL-4 and up-regulated mRNA level of Beclin1 （P<0.05） and relative protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion can effectively alleviate fatigue and improve the memory， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and decrease autophagy of hippocampal neurons in CFS rats by regulating the PI3K/Beclin1 signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of moxibustion with the classical prescription Xiaoyaosan as the herbal cake in improving cognitive function in the rat model of chronic fatigue syndrome （CFS） by regulating autophagy via phosphatidylinosiol 3-kinase （PI3K）/autophagy key molecule yeast Atg6 homologue 1 （Beclin1） signaling pathway. MethodsFifty SPF-grade SD rats aged 6-8 weeks were randomly grouped as follows： control， model， sham cake-separated moxibustion， intragastric administration with Chinese herbs， and herbal cake-separated moxibustion， each with 10 rats. The other groups except the control group were subjected to modeling by exhaustive swimming and chronic restraint stress for 21 days， and the behavioral test was performed after modeling. Herbal cake-separated moxibustion and sham cake-separated moxibustion were carried out at Shenque （CV8）， Guanyuan （CV4）， Zusanli （ST36）， and Qimen （LR14）. The rats in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were treated with Xiaoyaosan suspension by gavage. After continuous intervention for 10 days， rat behaviors were observed and the levels of interleukin （IL）-4， IL-10， blood urine nitrogen （BUN）， and malondiadehyde （MDA） in the serum and hippocampal tissue of rats in each group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of the hippocampal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampal tissue were determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot， respectively. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed reduced crossings， shortened residence time in the target quadrant， and prolonged average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.01） in the Morris water maze test. In the new object recognition test， the model group showed decreased recognition index of exploration time and recognition index of exploration times （P<0.01）， lowered levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and elevated levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.01）， and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.01）. After treatment， compared with the model group， each treatment group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant， and shortened average escape latency on days 1， 2， 3， and 4 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， the treatment elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and lowered the levels of BUN and MDA in the serum and hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the sham cake-separated moxibustion group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group and the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group showed increased crossings， prolonged residence time in the target quadrant （P<0.05）， elevated level of IL-4， lowered level of MDA， and up-regulated relative mRNA and protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The serum levels of MDA and BUN in the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group were significantly decreased. The average escape latency of the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group was significantly shortened on days 2 and 3 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， this group showed elevated serum level of IL-4， lowered serum level of MDA， and declined BUN level in the hippocampus （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the intragastric administration with Chinese herbs group， the herbal cake-separated moxibustion group presented risen serum level of IL-4 and up-regulated mRNA level of Beclin1 （P<0.05） and relative protein levels of PI3K and Beclin1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHerbal cake-separated moxibustion can effectively alleviate fatigue and improve the memory， reduce inflammatory response and oxidative stress， and decrease autophagy of hippocampal neurons in CFS rats by regulating the PI3K/Beclin1 signaling pathway.

This study was designed to investigate the effects of wheat grain moxibustion on the immune function of mice immunosuppressed by cyclophosphamide,and to delve into the potential mechanisms by analyzing factors related to NF-κB signaling pathway.Sixty SPF-grade ICR mice were randomly allocated into four groups:blank group,model group,traditional Chinese medicine group and wheat grain moxibustion group,with 15 mice in each group.Immunosuppression was induced in mice of the model,traditional Chinese medicine and wheat grain moxibustion groups by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at 80 mg/kg daily for three days,while mice of the blank group received an equivalent volume of saline.The traditional Chinese medicine group was treated with oral administration of Zhēn Qí Fú Zhèng granules,and the wheat grain moxibustion group was treated with wheat grain moxibustion at"Da Zhui,"bilateral"Zu San Li,"and bilateral"San Yin Jiao"once a day for seven consecutive days.After corresponding treatment,spleens were harvested from the mice of different groups for pathological examination,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was utilized to measure the serum levels of IL-2,IL-4,TNF-α and IFN-γ.Additionally,Western blot analysis was conducted to assess the protein expression levels of IκBα and P-IκBα in spleen tissue.Compared with the blank group,mice in the model group exhibited poorer general conditions,significantly reduced white blood cell(WBC)count(P＜0.01),extensive damage in spleen tissue,significant decreases in serum IL-4 and IL-2 concentrations,increases in TNF-α and IFN-γ levels(P＜0.01),lower level of P-IκBα protein in spleen tissue(P＜0.01),and higher level of IκBα protein(P＜0.01).These changes mentioned above were reversed in mice of both the wheat grain moxibustion group and the traditional Chinese medicine group(P＜0.01).Compared to the traditional Chinese medicine group,on the last day of treatment,the wheat grain moxibustion group showed slightly higher WBC counts(P＜0.05),better tissue repair,and lower levels of IFN-γ(P＜0.01).In conclusion,wheat grain moxibustion can affect the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway by regulating the relative expression of IκBα and P-IκBα,and then regulate the immune response of the body,thus play a role in alleviating the immunosuppression caused by cyclophosphamide.

Objective To understand the development of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)management organ-izations in China in the past 30 years.Methods Development of HAI management organizations in 12 provinces (municipalities,autonomous regions)in China was surveyed.Results A total of 166 hospitals were surveyed,96 (57.83%)were tertiary hospitals.Among 164 hospitals which had a history of development of HAI management department,46(28.05%)before 1995,63(38.14%)in 1995-2005,and 55(33.54%)in 2005-2015 set up HAI management departments.HAI management professionals per 1 000 beds in 165 hospitals decreased from 4.80 in 1995 to 4.09 in 2015,occupational categories in HAI management departments in 1995 -2015 were significantly different (χ2 =26.22,P <0.01).The constituent ratios of education background and profession of HAI manage-ment professionals in each province in 1995-2015 were significantly different(χ2 =242.91,47.10,respectively,all P <0.01).In 1995 and 2005,70.81%,53.30% of professionals were with college degree or below;in 2015,the percentage of professionals with bachelor’s degree,doctoral degree,and master’s degree were 53.79%,2.45%, and 22.86% respectively.Most professionals were nursing staff,but the percentage decreased from 58.38% in 1995 to 45.96% in 2015.Conclusion Although HAI management organizations have developed for 30 years and made some achievements,there still remain some problems,the proportion of professionals needs to be enhanced,and personnel structure should be optimized.

Objective To explore the direct economic loss caused by healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in general hospitals in China.Methods 68 hospitals were selected,a retrospective 1:1 matched survey was conducted to compare the direct medical cost in patients with and without HAI between January 1,2015 and December 31,2015. Results A total of 2 123 pairs of patients with and without HAI were included in the survey.The average cost of hospitalization in HAI and non-HAI groups were ￥25 845.30 and ￥12 006.14 respectively,￥13 839.16 on average was increased due to HAI.The average economic loss in provincial and ministerial levels of hospitals were￥21 409.83.The average economic loss in different regional hospitals were ￥9 725.42-￥18 909.59,and north China ranked the first.Economic loss caused by bloodstream infection and lower respiratory tract infection were more than other sites,which were ￥23 190.09 and ￥18 194.50 respectively.Conclusion HAI resulted in considerable direct economic loss.Prevention and control of HAI,especially bloodstream infection and lower respiratory tract infection should be paid more attention.

Objective To understand the current situation of occupational exposure and protection among health care workers (HCWs ), and provide evidence for formulating preventive measures of occupational exposure. Methods From April 6,2016 to May 6,2016,questionnaire surveys were conducted in 158 different levels of hos-pitals in 13 provinces in China,occupational exposure,protection management,and monitoring of occupational expo-sure in the first year,2010,and 2015 was surveyed by cluster random sampling method.Results Occupational ex-posure in 81.65% (129/158)of hospitals was responsible by healthcare-associated infection management depart-ments;98.73%(156/158)of hospitals set up the relevant rules and regulations;77.22%(122/158)of hospitals had missing report of occupational exposure.A total of 11 116 times of occupational exposure occurred (1 542 cases in the first year,2 474 in 2010,and 7 100 in 2015).Of various types of occupational exposure,sharp injury accounted for 96.76%;among HCWs sustained occupational exposure,nursing staff accounted for 53.90%;the major de-partment that HCWs who sustained occupational exposure were general wards,operating rooms,and intensive care units;the main medical appliances related to occupational exposure were syringes,scalp needles,and surgical suture needles;high-risk behavior causing occupational exposure were intravenous injection,putting needles into the sharp con-tainers,and surgical suturing;among occupational exposure sources,HBV accounted for 58.69%.Conclusion HCWs in China face a high risk of occupational exposure,occurrence of occupational exposure should be reduced through gov-ernment legislation,application of safety appliances,standardizing behavior of HCWs,proper using of personal pro-tective equipment,strengthening education and training of HCWs,and establishing a sound occupational exposure report,evaluation and follow-up system.

Objective To understand the development situation of healthcare-associated infection (HAI)manage-ment departments in the rational antimicrobial application and management in hospitals in China.Methods A total of 166 hospitals from 12 provinces,municipalities,autonomous regions,and military hospitals were selected for survey,the participation of HAI management departments in the rational clinical antimicrobial application and man-agement in different years was compared.Results Of 166 hospitals,68(40.96%)in 2005,119(71.69%)in 2010, and 160(96.39%)in 2015 participated in the establishment of management organizations for rational antimicrobial application (χ2 =121.143,P <0.001).The percentage of HAI management departments participating in antimicro-bial management increased from 10.24%(n=17)in 2005 to 22.29%(n=37)in 2010,and 31.33%(n=52)in 2015 (χ2 =22.172,P < 0.001 ).The percentages of HAI management departments participating in formulating cata-logues for antimicrobial varieties and classification,stipulating permission for antimicrobial use,joining antimicrobi-al management teams,monitoring bacterial resistance,managing antimicrobial prophylaxis in clean incision,super-vising clinical antimicrobial use,conducting clinical consultation,and evaluating prescription were 10.87% -30.72% in 2005,25.90%-65.06% in 2010,and 36.14%-95.18% in 2015 (all P <0.01).Intensity of antimicro-bial use (defined daily dose/100 bed-days,DDD/ 100 bed-days)decreased from 69.16 in 2005 to 41.40 in 2015, antimicrobial usage rate decreased from 46.98% in 2005 to 36.90% in 2015,among patients receiving therapeutic antimicrobial use,specimens sending for pathogenic detection increased from 20.58% in 2005 to 49.39% in 2015. Conclusion Departments of HAI management in China play important role in management of rational antimicrobial application.

Objective To summarize the effectiveness in monitoring activities for healthcare-associated infection (HAI)in China in the past 30 years,explore the changing trend in HAI monitoring,find a new model for the moni-toring of HAI in China.Methods A total of 194 comprehensive hospitals and military hospitals in 13 provinces (au-tonomous regions,municipalities)were selected,questionnaire survey was adopted to investigate the situation of HAI monitoring.Results Of 194 hospitals,184 (94.85%)had available data after being checked,incidence of HAI in secondary and tertiary hospitals were 0.78% and 1.58% respectively,difference was significant (P <0.01).Monitoring was divided into two stages,cumulative percentage of each monitoring activity before 2006 and during 2006-2016 were respectively as follows:environmental hygiene were 73.91% and 100.00%,disinfection ef-ficacy 69.57% and 97.28%,overall comprehensive monitoring 64.67% and 98.91%,surgical site infection(SSI) 13.04% and 94.57%,ICU HAI 4.89% and 87.50%,neonatal HAI 1.75% and 60.82%,multidrug-resistant or-ganisms(MDROs)5.43% and 95.65%,hand hygiene compliance 2.17% and 93.48%,antimicrobial agents 15.22% and 87.50%.The reporting rate of HAI outbreak in tertiary hospitals was higher than secondary hospitals (33.33% [n=37]vs 16.44%[n=12],P =0.01).Conclusion The monitoring of HAI in China starts late,but develops rapidly,defects still exist in HAI monitoring system,reporting rate of HAI cases is still high,reporting rate of HAI outbreak is low.

Objective To understand the status of awareness of hand hygiene(HH)knowledge and compliance among health care workers (HCWs)in China,and provide scientific basis for further improvement of HH practice. Methods A multi-centre retrospective survey on awareness of HH knowledge and compliance was conducted in 200 nationwide hospitals in 2015.Results The awareness rates of HH methods and HH indications among HCWs were 86.5% and 82.5% respectively;cleaning staff had the lowest awareness rate of HH indications(69.9%),followed by the other interns and advanced-study students (70.2%),as well as medical technicians (79.8%);attendants had the lowest awareness rate of HH methods(76.9%),followed by advanced-study students and interns(81.0%),and cleaning staff (82.4%);HH knowledge awareness rate among HCWs in secondary hospitals was lower than tertia-ry hospitals,and the district-level hospitals had the lowest awareness rate of HH.HH compliance rate and correct rate were 70.1% and 74.9% respectively;the interns and advanced-study students were at a low level of compliance and correct rates (61.4% and 60.9% respectively);the municipal hospitals had the lowest compliance and correct rates,non-teaching hospitals were lower than teaching hospitals.Conclusion HH in primary hospitals is weak,HH of interns,advanced-study students,as well as attendants and cleaning staffs are not enough,HH management should be strengthened,awareness and compliance of HH should be improved.