Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C(CHC)patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3(HCV GT3)infection and the risk factors for disease progression.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 1 002 CHC patients from 11 clinical centers in Northwest China from December 2017 to November 2023,and according to their genotype,they were divided into GT1,GT2,GT3,and GT6 groups.Clinical features were compared between the patients with different genotypes.The one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Scheffe test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test or Fisher test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors for the progression of CHC to liver cirrhosis.Results In terms of the genotype,there were 427 patients with GT1 infection,242 with GT2 infection,299 with GT3 infection(210 patients with GT3a infection,87 with GT3b infection,and 2 with unclassified genotype),and 34 with GT6 infection.The patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.2±0.6 years,P<0.05)or GT2 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.7±0.8 years,P<0.05),and for the patients with liver cirrhosis,the patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 59.4±0.9 years,P<0.001)or GT2 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 58.1±1.1 years,P<0.001).Among the patients with GT3 infection,male patients accounted for 77.9%and the patients with liver cirrhosis accounted for 46.2%,which were significantly higher than those among the patients with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection(all P<0.001).At baseline,the patients with GT3 infection had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)than those with GT1 or GT2 infection,significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4(FIB4)than those with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly lower platelet count(PLT)than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly higher level of alpha-fetoprotein than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,and a significantly lower level of albumin(Alb)than those with GT6 infection(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the patients with GT3a infection and those with GT3b infection in age,sex,the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis,comorbidities,HCV RNA quantification,PLT,ALT,AST,alkaline phosphatase,Alb,APRI,and FIB-4(all P>0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLT≤150×109/L(odds ratio[OR]=10.72,95%confidence interval[CI]:5.76-35.86,P<0.001)and Alb≤35 g/L(OR=3.74,95%CI:1.22-11.45,P=0.021)were risk factors for liver cirrhosis.Conclusion Most CHC patients with GT3 infection are male in Northwest China,and compared with the patients with other genotypes,such patients tend to have a younger age of onset and higher degrees of liver inflammation activity and fibrosis.Low PLT and a low level of Alb are risk factors for progression to liver cirrhosis in CHC patients with GT3 infection.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C(CHC)patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 3(HCV GT3)infection and the risk factors for disease progression.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among 1 002 CHC patients from 11 clinical centers in Northwest China from December 2017 to November 2023,and according to their genotype,they were divided into GT1,GT2,GT3,and GT6 groups.Clinical features were compared between the patients with different genotypes.The one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups,and the Scheffe test was used for further comparison between two groups.The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between groups;the chi-square test or Fisher test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors for the progression of CHC to liver cirrhosis.Results In terms of the genotype,there were 427 patients with GT1 infection,242 with GT2 infection,299 with GT3 infection(210 patients with GT3a infection,87 with GT3b infection,and 2 with unclassified genotype),and 34 with GT6 infection.The patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.2±0.6 years,P<0.05)or GT2 infection(51.3±0.5 years vs 53.7±0.8 years,P<0.05),and for the patients with liver cirrhosis,the patients with GT3 infection had a significantly younger age than those with GT1 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 59.4±0.9 years,P<0.001)or GT2 infection(52.1±0.5 years vs 58.1±1.1 years,P<0.001).Among the patients with GT3 infection,male patients accounted for 77.9%and the patients with liver cirrhosis accounted for 46.2%,which were significantly higher than those among the patients with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection(all P<0.001).At baseline,the patients with GT3 infection had significantly higher levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)than those with GT1 or GT2 infection,significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4(FIB4)than those with GT1,GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly lower platelet count(PLT)than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,a significantly higher level of alpha-fetoprotein than those with GT2 or GT6 infection,and a significantly lower level of albumin(Alb)than those with GT6 infection(all P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the patients with GT3a infection and those with GT3b infection in age,sex,the proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis,comorbidities,HCV RNA quantification,PLT,ALT,AST,alkaline phosphatase,Alb,APRI,and FIB-4(all P>0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PLT≤150×109/L(odds ratio[OR]=10.72,95%confidence interval[CI]:5.76-35.86,P<0.001)and Alb≤35 g/L(OR=3.74,95%CI:1.22-11.45,P=0.021)were risk factors for liver cirrhosis.Conclusion Most CHC patients with GT3 infection are male in Northwest China,and compared with the patients with other genotypes,such patients tend to have a younger age of onset and higher degrees of liver inflammation activity and fibrosis.Low PLT and a low level of Alb are risk factors for progression to liver cirrhosis in CHC patients with GT3 infection.

ObjectiveTo determine the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Shaanxi Province. MethodsEpidemiological analysis was conducted on the confirmed cases of COVID-19 （n=245） from January 23rd， 2020 through February 21st， 2020 based on the official data announced by Shaanxi Province. The effects of local population migration， prevention and control measures on the epidemic were explored. ResultsAs of February 21st， 2020， a total of 245 COVID-19 cases had been notified in Shaanxi Province， with a cumulative incidence rate of 0.63 per 100 000， of which imported cases accounted for 47.34%. The high incidence was observed between January 31st and February 5th. Xi’an had the largest number of COVID-19 cases， followed by Ankang， Hanzhong and Xianyang， totally accounting for 81.20% of the cases in the province. In terms of social factors， daily morbidity was positively correlated with Baidu migration scale index 14 days before. On January 25th， the provincial health emergency response was launched， and on January 31st， it was further upgraded for quarantine. On February 20th， the provincial prevention and control system was implemented by classified areas. There were no emerging local cases after February 21st and no confirmed cases for 28th consecutive days as of March 19th. Local cases and close contacts were cleared to zero on March 27th. ConclusionThe COVID-19 epidemic in Shaanxi Province is mainly concentrated in Guanzhong area and southern Shaanxi， with a widespread pattern in all cities. The prevention and control measures have effectively contained the epidemic， with a declining incidence. However， quarantine of suspected cases and close contacts remains crucial for routine prevention and control strategy.

Objective: To explore the application value of virtual touch tissue imaging quantification(VTIQ) technology in initial polymyositis(PM). Methods: Sixteen PM patients collected from February 2016 to March 2019 in Wenzhou People′s Hospital were selected as PM group, and 33 healthy subjects as healthy control group. After gray and color Doppler ultrasound, the shear wave velocity(SWV) values of target muscle and control muscle in the same side of affected limb were measured by VTIQ technique. Maximum velocity(Vmax) and minimum velocity(Vmin) were measured, average velocity(Vmean) and standard deviation(SD) were calculated, and compared between the two groups. SWV difference and ratio between target muscle and control muscle were calculated, and creatine kinase(CK) was detected in the same day. Results: Part of PM patients had abnormal ultrasonographic manifestations of full muscle shape (31.25%), increased or decreased echo of muscle bundles (56.25%), blurred muscle texture (25.00%) and increased blood flow signals (37.50%). There were significant differences in Vmin, SD, and Vmax difference, Vmin difference, Vmean difference, and Vmax ratio, Vmin ratio, and Vmean ratio between PM group and healthy control group (all P<0.01). The ROC curve analysis showed that the diagnostic efficiency of Vmin was lower than those of Vmin difference and Vmean difference, Vmin ratio and Vmean ratio with very close diagnostic efficiencies of the latter four parameters. The correlation analysis showed that Vmin difference and Vmean difference were moderately correlated with CK value(r=0.512, 0.601; all P<0.05). Conclusions Reduced VTIQ values or relative reduction of VTIQ values compared with other non-involved muscles are the manifestations of initial PM, VTIQ have certain diagnostic efficacy for initial PM.

Objective To compare and analyze the application of ultrasound and magnetic resonance ( M R) examination in evaluating the progress of hemophilia arthropathy( HA ) . Methods Forty‐three cases of HA patients treated in our hospital were collected and divided into observation group and control group according to with or without synovial hyperplasia by ultrasonography at the beginning of the observation period . At the beginning and end of the observation period , ultrasound and M R examinations were performed respectively . T wo imaging findings of the target joint were recorded and scored by ultrasound and M R . T wo types of imaging findings were compared and statistically analyzed . Results T here were positive linear correlations between the ultrasonic score and M R score at the beginning and the end of the observation period ( r ＝ 0 .945 ,0 .943 ; all P ＜ 0 .01 ) . However , there were significant differences in hemosiderin deposition and subarticular bone erosion ( all P ＜0 .05) . A t the end of the observation period , the level of synovial thickening ,the degree of cartilage erosion ,the degree of bone erosion ,the score of ultrasonic joint and M R score were significantly higher than those in the observation period , and the difference were statistically significant compared with the control group ( all P ＜0 .05) . T herefore ,synovial membrane hyperplasia can be considered as the key clinical manifestation leading to rapid progress of hemophilia target joint . Ultrasound measurement of synovial thickness ,ultrasonic score and M R score can be used as a method to predict the progress of the target joint disease . T he areas under the ROC curve were 0 .829 ,0 .897 , 0 .894 , and the cut‐off values were 2 .25 mm , 3 .5 score and 3 .5 score , respectively . Conclusions Ultrasound and MR imaging have a good correlation in evaluating HA .Significant synovial thickening of target joint indicates that HA will continue to progress .