Objective:To investigate the relationship between individual arsenic exposure and hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet Autonomous Region (referred to as Tibet).Methods:From June to August 2023, Tibetan residents aged 18 to 78 years who had resided in Bomi County and Chayu County of Nyingchi City, Tibet for at least 10 years were selected as the study subjects by cluster sampling. Questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical index testing were conducted on the study subjects. Meanwhile, hair samples were collected to determine the arsenic content. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension.Results:A total of 447 Tibetan residents were included, with a hair arsenic content of (1.24 ± 0.02) mg/kg, including 155 hypertensive patients (34.68%). There were statistically significant differences in age, blood oxygen saturation, neck circumference, waist hip ratio, hemoglobin, hair arsenic, blood glucose, uric acid, and smoking status between the hypertension and normal blood pressure groups ( P < 0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.07), uric acid ( OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.01), hair arsenic ( OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.84), and smoking ( OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 - 4.69) were risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion:The hair arsenic content is a risk factor for hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet.

Objective:To report the nationwide surveillance results of pathogenic profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive bloodstream infections in China in 2023.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-posttive bacteria from blood cultures were collected in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）during January to December 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. Statistical analyses were conducted using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software.Results:A total of 4 385 Gram-positive bacterial isolates were obtained from 60 participating center. The top five pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 544，35.2%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=1 441，32.9%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=574，13.1%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=385，8.8%），and α-hemolytic Streptococci（ n=187，4.3%）. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）was 26.2%（405/1 544）and 69.8%（1 006/1 441），respectively. Notably，all Staphylococci remained susceptible to glycopeptide or daptomycin. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated excellent susceptibility（>97.0%）to cephalobiol，rifampicin，trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline，tigecycline，and eravacycline. No Enterococcus exhibiting resistance to linezolid were detected. Glycopeptide resistance was uncommon but more frequent in Enterococcus faecium（resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin：both 1.7%）compared to Enterococcus faecalis（both 0.3%）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS exhibited significant regional variations across the country（ χ2=17.674 and 148.650，respectively，both P<0.001）. No vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were detected in central China. Institutional comparison demonstrated higher prevalence of MRSA（ χ2=14.111， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.828， P=0.028）in provincial hospitals than that in municipal hospitals. Socioeconomic analysis identified elevated detection rates of both MRSA（ χ2=18.986， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.477， P=0.034）in less developed regions（per capita GDP

Objective:To report the results of bacterial resistant investigation collaborative system（BRICS）on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2023，and provide reference for clinical tretment of bloodstream infections and prevention and control of bacterial resistance.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of BRICS were collected during January 2023 to December 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，11 492 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 60 hospitals，of which 10 098（87.9%）were Enterobacterales and 1 394（12.1%）were non-fermentative bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（50.0%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（26.1%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（5.1%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（5.0%）and Enterobacter cloacae complex（4.1%）. The ESBL-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirablilis were 46.8%（2 685/5 741），18.3%（549/2 999）and 44.0%（77/175），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（76/5 741）and 15.0%（450/2 999）；32.9%（25/76）and 78.0%（351/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. 94.7%（72/76）and 90.2%（406/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to aztreonam/avibactam combination. Furthermore，57.9%（44/76）and 79.1%（356/450）were sensitive to imipenem/relebactam combination. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 64.6%（370/573），while more than 80.0% of CRAB complex was sensitive to tigecycline，eravacycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 17.0%（99/581）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of important Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions in China，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA and CRAB complex（ χ2=10.6，28.6，10.8 and 19.3， P<0.05）. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli， CREC，CRAB complex and CRKP were higher in provincial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=12.5，9.8，12.7 and 57.8，all P<0.01）. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing bloodstream infections in China，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of Klebsiella pneumoniae increases continuously with time. CRKP infection shows a slow upward trend，CREC infecton maintains a low prevalence level，and CRAB complex infection continues to exhibit a high prevalence rate. The composition and resistance patterns of pathogens causing bloodstream infections vary to some extent across different regions and levels of hospitals in China.

Objective To explore the distribution of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)and direct economic burden in neurosurgical patients based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),providing data support for in-fection prevention and control.Methods Clinical data of neurosurgical patients in a hospital from January to Decem-ber 2023 were retrospectively investigated,the average length of hospital stay and average hospitalization expense of HAI and non-HAI groups of the subgroups of DRG were analyzed.Results A total of 102 cases of HAI occurred among 2 180 neurosurgical patients,with HAI incidence being 4.68％.The main infection sites were lower respira-tory tract and organ space,accounting for 53.92％and 25.49％respectively.HAI patients distributed in 16 DRG subgroups,out of which AH 19 subgroup(invasive ventilator support≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxy-genation[ECMO]or total artificial heart transplantation)had the highest incidence(58.82％),followed by BC19 subgroup(intracranial vascular surgery accompanied with hemorrhage diagnosis)(17.65％)and BB2A subgroup(craniotomy other than trauma,with severe or general complications and comorbidities)(12.81％).There was no statistically significant difference in resource consumption between HAI group and control group of AH19 group(all P＞0.05).HAI in BB2A group increased the average length of hospital stay and average hospitalization expense by 5.00 days and 34 600 Yuan,respectively.HAI in BC19 group increased the average length of hospital stay and ave-rage hospitalization expense by 8.50 days and 42 800 Yuan,respectively.Lower respiratory tract infection had a significant impact on resource consumption,while organ space infection only increased length of hospital stay of pa-tients.Conclusion Analysis of incidence of HAI and resource consumption of major infection sites based on DRG can clarify the focus of infection prevention and control,formulate targeted intervention measures,control medical expense and improve the quality of medical services.

Purpose To explore the value of gray-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound of carotid plaques combined with clinical factors in predicting the recurrence risk of ischemic stroke(IS)in patients with mild to moderate carotid stenosis.Materials and Methods A total of 101 patients with mild to moderate carotid artery stenosis who were initially diagnosed with IS in the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital were prospectively collected from May 2022 to August 2023.After one year of follow-up,patients were divided into recurrent group(n=33)and non-recurrent group(n=68)according to whether new IS occurred.The characteristics of plaque ultrasound and the clinical information of patients were compared between the two groups.A multivariate Logistic prediction model was established and its efficacy was evaluated.Results The results of multivariate analysis showed that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(OR=2.116,P=0.046),C-reactive protein(OR=3.707,P=0.008),plaque internal echo(OR=7.410,P=0.029)and intraplaque neovascularization grading 3(OR=17.155,P=0.030)were independent risk factors for the recurrence of IS.The area under the curve of the model established using the above indicators was 0.825,the sensitivity and specificity were 87.50%and 65.15%,respectively.Conclusion The ultrasound features of carotid plaque are closely related to recurrent IS,which can provide an important basis for the clinical treatment of patients with mild-moderate carotid artery stenosis complicated with IS.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between individual arsenic exposure and hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet Autonomous Region (referred to as Tibet).Methods:From June to August 2023, Tibetan residents aged 18 to 78 years who had resided in Bomi County and Chayu County of Nyingchi City, Tibet for at least 10 years were selected as the study subjects by cluster sampling. Questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical index testing were conducted on the study subjects. Meanwhile, hair samples were collected to determine the arsenic content. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension.Results:A total of 447 Tibetan residents were included, with a hair arsenic content of (1.24 ± 0.02) mg/kg, including 155 hypertensive patients (34.68%). There were statistically significant differences in age, blood oxygen saturation, neck circumference, waist hip ratio, hemoglobin, hair arsenic, blood glucose, uric acid, and smoking status between the hypertension and normal blood pressure groups ( P < 0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.07), uric acid ( OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.01), hair arsenic ( OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.84), and smoking ( OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 - 4.69) were risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion:The hair arsenic content is a risk factor for hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet.

Objective To explore the distribution of healthcare-associated infection(HAI)and direct economic burden in neurosurgical patients based on disease diagnosis-related grouping(DRG),providing data support for in-fection prevention and control.Methods Clinical data of neurosurgical patients in a hospital from January to Decem-ber 2023 were retrospectively investigated,the average length of hospital stay and average hospitalization expense of HAI and non-HAI groups of the subgroups of DRG were analyzed.Results A total of 102 cases of HAI occurred among 2 180 neurosurgical patients,with HAI incidence being 4.68％.The main infection sites were lower respira-tory tract and organ space,accounting for 53.92％and 25.49％respectively.HAI patients distributed in 16 DRG subgroups,out of which AH 19 subgroup(invasive ventilator support≥96 hours or extracorporeal membrane oxy-genation[ECMO]or total artificial heart transplantation)had the highest incidence(58.82％),followed by BC19 subgroup(intracranial vascular surgery accompanied with hemorrhage diagnosis)(17.65％)and BB2A subgroup(craniotomy other than trauma,with severe or general complications and comorbidities)(12.81％).There was no statistically significant difference in resource consumption between HAI group and control group of AH19 group(all P＞0.05).HAI in BB2A group increased the average length of hospital stay and average hospitalization expense by 5.00 days and 34 600 Yuan,respectively.HAI in BC19 group increased the average length of hospital stay and ave-rage hospitalization expense by 8.50 days and 42 800 Yuan,respectively.Lower respiratory tract infection had a significant impact on resource consumption,while organ space infection only increased length of hospital stay of pa-tients.Conclusion Analysis of incidence of HAI and resource consumption of major infection sites based on DRG can clarify the focus of infection prevention and control,formulate targeted intervention measures,control medical expense and improve the quality of medical services.

Purpose To explore the value of gray-scale ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound of carotid plaques combined with clinical factors in predicting the recurrence risk of ischemic stroke(IS)in patients with mild to moderate carotid stenosis.Materials and Methods A total of 101 patients with mild to moderate carotid artery stenosis who were initially diagnosed with IS in the First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital were prospectively collected from May 2022 to August 2023.After one year of follow-up,patients were divided into recurrent group(n=33)and non-recurrent group(n=68)according to whether new IS occurred.The characteristics of plaque ultrasound and the clinical information of patients were compared between the two groups.A multivariate Logistic prediction model was established and its efficacy was evaluated.Results The results of multivariate analysis showed that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(OR=2.116,P=0.046),C-reactive protein(OR=3.707,P=0.008),plaque internal echo(OR=7.410,P=0.029)and intraplaque neovascularization grading 3(OR=17.155,P=0.030)were independent risk factors for the recurrence of IS.The area under the curve of the model established using the above indicators was 0.825,the sensitivity and specificity were 87.50%and 65.15%,respectively.Conclusion The ultrasound features of carotid plaque are closely related to recurrent IS,which can provide an important basis for the clinical treatment of patients with mild-moderate carotid artery stenosis complicated with IS.

Objective:To report the nationwide surveillance results of pathogenic profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Gram-positive bloodstream infections in China in 2023.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-posttive bacteria from blood cultures were collected in member hospitals of National Bloodstream Infection Bacterial Resistant Investigation Collaborative System（BRICS）during January to December 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the dilution method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. Statistical analyses were conducted using WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 software.Results:A total of 4 385 Gram-positive bacterial isolates were obtained from 60 participating center. The top five pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus（ n=1 544，35.2%），coagulase-negative Staphylococci（ n=1 441，32.9%）， Enterococcus faecium（ n=574，13.1%）， Enterococcus faecalis（ n=385，8.8%），and α-hemolytic Streptococci（ n=187，4.3%）. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA）and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci（MRCNS）was 26.2%（405/1 544）and 69.8%（1 006/1 441），respectively. Notably，all Staphylococci remained susceptible to glycopeptide or daptomycin. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated excellent susceptibility（>97.0%）to cephalobiol，rifampicin，trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole，linezolid，minocycline，tigecycline，and eravacycline. No Enterococcus exhibiting resistance to linezolid were detected. Glycopeptide resistance was uncommon but more frequent in Enterococcus faecium（resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin：both 1.7%）compared to Enterococcus faecalis（both 0.3%）. The detection rates of MRSA and MRCNS exhibited significant regional variations across the country（ χ2=17.674 and 148.650，respectively，both P<0.001）. No vancomycin-resistant Enterococci were detected in central China. Institutional comparison demonstrated higher prevalence of MRSA（ χ2=14.111， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.828， P=0.028）in provincial hospitals than that in municipal hospitals. Socioeconomic analysis identified elevated detection rates of both MRSA（ χ2=18.986， P<0.001）and MRCNS（ χ2=4.477， P=0.034）in less developed regions（per capita GDP

Objective:To report the results of bacterial resistant investigation collaborative system（BRICS）on the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of clinical Gram-negative bacteria isolates from bloodstream infections in China in 2023，and provide reference for clinical tretment of bloodstream infections and prevention and control of bacterial resistance.Methods:The clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria from blood cultures in member hospitals of BRICS were collected during January 2023 to December 2023. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted by agar dilution or broth dilution methods recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute（CLSI）. WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 25.0 were used to analyze the data.Results:During the study period，11 492 strains of Gram-negative bacteria were collected from 60 hospitals，of which 10 098（87.9%）were Enterobacterales and 1 394（12.1%）were non-fermentative bacteria. The top 5 bacterial species were Escherichia coli（50.0%）， Klebsiella pneumoniae（26.1%）， Pseudomonas aeruginosa（5.1%）， Acinetobacter baumannii complex（5.0%）and Enterobacter cloacae complex（4.1%）. The ESBL-producing rates in Escherichia coli， Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirablilis were 46.8%（2 685/5 741），18.3%（549/2 999）and 44.0%（77/175），respectively. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli（CREC）and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae（CRKP）were 1.3%（76/5 741）and 15.0%（450/2 999）；32.9%（25/76）and 78.0%（351/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to ceftazidime/avibactam combination，respectively. 94.7%（72/76）and 90.2%（406/450）of CREC and CRKP were sensitive to aztreonam/avibactam combination. Furthermore，57.9%（44/76）and 79.1%（356/450）were sensitive to imipenem/relebactam combination. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii（CRAB）complex was 64.6%（370/573），while more than 80.0% of CRAB complex was sensitive to tigecycline，eravacycline and polymyxin B. The prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa（CRPA）was 17.0%（99/581）. There were differences in the composition ratio of Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections and the prevalence of important Gram-negative bacteria resistance among different regions in China，with statistically significant differences in the prevalence of CREC，CRKP，CRPA and CRAB complex（ χ2=10.6，28.6，10.8 and 19.3， P<0.05）. The prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli， CREC，CRAB complex and CRKP were higher in provincial hospitals than those in municipal hospitals（ χ2=12.5，9.8，12.7 and 57.8，all P<0.01）. Conclusions:Gram-negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing bloodstream infections in China，and Escherichia coli is ranked in the top，while the trend of Klebsiella pneumoniae increases continuously with time. CRKP infection shows a slow upward trend，CREC infecton maintains a low prevalence level，and CRAB complex infection continues to exhibit a high prevalence rate. The composition and resistance patterns of pathogens causing bloodstream infections vary to some extent across different regions and levels of hospitals in China.