ObjectiveTo investigate the features of serum HBV RNA in different stages of the natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection without antiviral treatment， as well as its correlation with serum HBV DNA and HBsAg. MethodsA total of 306 treatment-naïve patients with chronic HBV infection who attended Department of Infections Diseases and Hepatoloty， the Second Hospital of Shandong University from January 2023 to June 2024 were divided into six groups based on the different stages of natural history， i.e.， HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection group with 29 patients， HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B （CHB） group with 107 patients， HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection group with 18 patients， HBeAg-negative CHB group with 60 patients， HBeAg-positive indeterminate-phase chronic HBV infection group with 7 patients， and HBeAg-negative indeterminate-phase chronic HBV infection group with 85 patients. Real-time isothermal RNA amplification was used to measure serum high-sensitivity HBV RNA. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups of continuous data， while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison between two groups. The Spearman method was used to investigate the correlation of HBV RNA with HBV DNA and HBsAg. ResultsThe HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection group showed the highest level of serum HBV RNA ［7.5 （7.4‍ ‍—‍ ‍7.9） log₁₀ copies/mL］， followed by the HBeAg-positive CHB group ［7.4 （6.4‍ ‍—‍ ‍7.9） log₁₀ copies/mL］， the HBeAg-negative CHB group ［4.5 （3.0‍ ‍—‍ ‍5.7） log₁₀ copies/mL］， and the HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection group ［1.0 （1.0‍ ‍—‍ ‍2.0） log₁₀ copies/mL］； the HBeAg-positive indeterminate-phase chronic HBV infection group had a serum HBV RNA level of 3.9 （3.7‍ ‍—‍ ‍5.7） log₁₀ copies/mL， and the HBeAg-negative indeterminate-phase chronic HBV infection group had a serum HBV RNA level of 2.0 （1.0‍ ‍—‍ ‍3.0） log₁₀ copies/mL； there was a significant difference in serum HBV RNA level between the six groups （H=830.770， P<0.001）. There was a significant difference in HBV RNA level between the HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection group and all the other groups except the HBeAg-positive CHB group （all P<0.001）. In the 306 patients with HBV infection， HBV RNA was strongly correlated with HBV DNA （r=0.92， P<0.001） and was moderately correlated with HBsAg （r=0.67， P<0.001）. The correlation between serum HBV RNA and HBsAg in HBeAg-positive patients （r=0.61， P<0.001） was stronger than that in HBeAg-negative patients （r=0.31， P<0.001）. For the patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection， the male patients with ALT>30 U/L and the female patients with ALT>19 U/L had a significantly lower serum HBV RNA level than the male patients with ALT≤30 U/L and the female patients with ALT≤19 U/L （P<0.001）， and there was no significant difference in serum HBV RNA level between the latter group of patients and the HBeAg-positive CHB group （P>0.05）. ConclusionIn patients with chronic HBV infection who do not receive antiviral therapy， there is a difference in serum HBV RNA level in different stages of natural history， and serum HBV RNA level has the strongest correlation with HBV DNA and a relatively weak correlation with HBsAg. In patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection， serum HBV RNA level in male patients with ALT>30 U/L and female patients with ALT>19 U/L are in the transition stage between HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection and HBeAg-positive CHB.

To analyze the disease burden of hypertension in the elderly population from 1990 to 2021 and to predict future trends in China and globally, thereby providing insights for public health decision-making regarding older adults with hypertension in China.

Objective To provide valuable insights for improving China’s special drug approval system by conducting an in-depth analysis of the practices of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration （FDA） in granting Emergency Use Authorizations （EUAs） for drugs. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the FDA’s EUA decision-making process for COVID-19 therapeutics between January 2020 and June 2023. Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA adopted a series of regulatory science approaches to facilitate rapid approval of COVID-19 therapeutic drugs. The FDA granted EUA for a total of 15 COVID-19 therapeutic drugs and 4 COVID-19 vaccines, including expanded indications for marketed drugs, EUA for investigational drugs, revocation of EUA, and marketing after EUA. The main mechods for the rapid approval of EUA drugs by the FDA included the use of existing clinical trial data, omission of animal efficacy testing, merging of phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials, and the use of clinical outcomes as surrogate endpoints, among other regulatory science methods. Conclusion The practices of the FDA in Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of drugs, particularly its incorporation of regulatory scientific methods into the EUA process and the establishment of proactive monitoring mechanisms for drugs granted EUA, are worthy of emulation by China. It is suggested that China consider the experience of the FDA in the EUA system for drugs to further optimize and improve its special approval system for drugs.

Tuberculosis （TB） and human immunodeficiency virus infection / acquired immune deficiency syndrome （HIV/AIDS） are both serious global public health threats. Early detection of infected persons and/or patients through TB/HIV bi-directional screening is crucial for prevention and control strategy in China and globally. In recent years， with the promotion and application of new TB and HIV detection technologies worldwide， TB/HIV bi-directional screening technologies and strategies have made remarkable changes. This expert consensus introduces the significance and challenges of TB/HIV bi-directional screening， summarizes important progress of research and applications， and makes recommendations on screening measures and procedures to further strengthen TB/HIV bi-directional screening in China.

【Objective】 To identify the risk factors for recurrence and malignant transformation (MT) in patients with low-grade glioma (LGG) after surgery. 【Methods】 The data of 163 patients who underwent LGG resection and subsequent follow-up from March 2009 to April 2019 were retrospectively collected. Patients who did not experience recurrence or MT after surgery were included in the control group (85 cases), those who experienced recurrence after surgery were included in the observation 1 group (44 cases), and those who experienced MT after surgery were included in the observation 2 group (34 cases). Based on the clinical data of the three groups of patients, their clinical characteristics were analyzed, and the risk factors and predictive value for recurrence and MT were explored using Logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. 【Results】 There were significant differences between the control group and the observation 1 group in preoperative seizure, preoperative Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score, and surgical approach (P<0.05). There were significant differences between the control group and the observation 2 group in gender, preoperative KPS score, tumor size, and surgical approach (P<0.05). There were significant differences between the control group and the observation 1 group in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), cancer-testis antigen OY-TES-1, OY-TES-1 mRNA protein, tumor suppressor protein p53, mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) (P<0.05). There were significant differences between the control group and the observation 2 group in PCNA, MMP-9, cancer-testis antigen OY-TES-1, OY-TES-1 mRNA protein, or VEGF (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that IDH mutation, MMP-9, and PCNA were independent risk factors for LGG recurrence (P<0.05), while VEGF, MMP-9, and PCNA were independent risk factors for LGG MT (P<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of PCNA, MMP-9 and IDH mutation for predicting LGG MT after surgery was 0.744, 0.790, and 0.799, respectively. The AUC of PCNA, MMP-9, and VEGF for predicting LGG recurrence after surgery was 0.729, 0.750, and 0.900, respectively. 【Conclusion】 This study found that IDH mutation, MMP-9 and PCNA were independent risk factors for LGG recurrence, while VEGF, MMP-9 and PCNA were independent risk factors for LGG MT by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data and protein expression of 163 patients with LGG after surgery. These proteins have high accuracy in predicting LGG recurrence and MT after surgery. Therefore, the proteins may play an important role in the biological behavior and treatment effect of LGG, and can be used as reference indicators for prognosis evaluation and individualized treatment of LGG patients after surgery.

Background Grassroots medical and health personnel are an important component of China's public health system, and guaranteeing their physical and mental health will have a profound impact on the development of China's health service. Objective To identify potential influencing factors of occupational stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia as well as their interactions. Methods In August 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among all the staff (2675 medical and health personnel) at 7 secondary public hospitals and 8 health institutions in Xiong’an New Area of Hebei Province by cluster sampling. Occupational stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were evaluated by the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERI), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS). The bnlearn and gmodels packages of R4.2.1 software were used to construct Bayesian networks on work and personal factors-occupational stress- health effects. The Bayesian network model was visualized by Netica32.0. Results Among the 3018 questionnaires distributed, a total of 2675 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 88.63%. The positive rates of occupational stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia were 51.48%, 62.13%, 62.50%, and 56.37%, respectively in the grassroots medical and health personnel. The positive rate of occupational stress among the medical and health workers varied by age, educational level, and organization type (P<0.05); the positive rate of anxiety varied by age, marital status, and daily working hours (P<0.05); and the positive rates of depression and insomnia varied by gender, educational level, and overcommitment (P<0.05). The final Bayesian network contained 14 nodes and 18 directed edges, and its prediction accuracy was 85.4%. .Job title, daily working hours, overcommitment and exercise directly associated with occupational stress, and other work and personal factors associated with occupational stress indirectly. Occupational stress associated with insomnia directly or indirectly via anxiety. Anxiety and insomnia associated with reporting depression. Conclusion Grassroots medical and health personnel of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province report high levels of occupational stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Occupational stress directly or indirectly associates with anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Work and personal factors associate with occupational stress, and associate with anxiety, depression, and insomnia via occupational stress. Occupational stress may be an early warning factor of general work and personal factors affecting anxiety, depression, insomnia, and other mental health problems. Attention should be paid to the assessment and intervention of occupational stress in medical and health personnel to prevent mental health problems.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT), and to analyze the changes and trends of perioperative intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum calcium and serum phosphorus, and the predictive value of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) measurement for surgical completion. To provide practical theoretical basis and reference for postoperative treatment of SHPT.Methods:Data of 479 SHPT patients admitted to the First Hospital of Harbin from Dec. 2012 to Dec. 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the admission criteria, 457 patients were screened out and divided into PTX group and incomplete PTX group based on whether the level of postoperative parathyroid hormone was reduced to the normal standard. The levels of iPTH, serum calcium and phosphorus during the perioperative period in the two groups were statistically analyzed. SPSS 26.0 statistical software was used for data processing. P<0.05 indicated statistically significant difference. Results:In the analyzed group of 457 patients, the average age was (45.43±11.25) years and the average dialysis age was (90.3±35.8) months. Hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperkalemia and high alkaline phosphatase levels accounted for 41.79%, 94.31%, 20.35% and 75.50%, respectively. Bone loss and osteoporosis accounted for 35.45% and 62.36%, respectively. The incidence of restless leg syndrome was 7.67%. IoPTH and post-operative iPTH level in the PTX group were significantly lower than those in the incomplete PTX group ( P=0.001, P<0.001). IoPTH≤150 pg/mL can predict surgical success, and 58.33% of cases can predict surgical failure by ioPTH being 30% higher than preoperative iPTH. There were significant differences in serum calcium and phosphorus levels between the two groups at 3 hours and 2 days after operation. The incidence of hypocalcemia was 43.19% and 82.49% on the day of operation and within 3 days after operation, and the incidence of hungry bone syndrome was 62.12% in the PTX group. The incidence of postoperative hyperkalemia, arteriovenous fistula thrombosis, temporary hoarseness, bleeding and in-hospital mortality was 43.33%, 1.75%, 0.66%, 0.44% and 0.22%, respectively. Conclusions:Parathyroidectomy is an effective and safe treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism, and ioPTH plays an important role in predicting the success of surgery. Timely and effective calcium supplementation is an important measure to prevent the serious occurrence and morbidity of bone hunger syndrome.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with bupivacaine liposome on analgesia in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.Methods:This was a prospective study. Sixty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅱ or Ⅲ patients, regardless of gender, aged 65-83 yr, weighing 50-80 kg, scheduled for elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty under subarachnoid anesthesia from April 2023 to January 2024 in Zhengzhou Orthopaedic Hospital, were divided into 2 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: bupivacaine liposome group (LB group) and ropivacaine group (R group). Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block was performed at 30 min before subarachnoid anesthesia, bupivacaine liposome diluent 20 ml (133 mg) was injected in LB group, and 0.5% ropivacaine 20 ml was injected in R group. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia was performed after operation, and tramadol was used for rescue analgesia when the visual analogue scale (VAS) score ≥3. VAS scores at rest and during activity were recorded at 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. The time to the first pressing analgesia pump and rescue analgesia were recorded within 72 h after surgery. The quadriceps muscle strength was measured at 1 day before surgery and 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. The knee joint range of motion was assessed at 1 day before surgery and 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery. Patient′s satisfaction with analgesia was recorded at 72 h after surgery. The adverse reactions within 72 h after surgery were also recorded. Results:Compared with R group, VAS scores at rest and during activity were significantly decreased at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after surgery, the time to the first pressing analgesia pump was prolonged, the rate of rescue analgesia after surgery was decreased, the score for the patient′s satisfaction with analgesia was increased, the knee joint range of motion was increased ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the quadriceps muscle strength and incidence of adverse reactions in LB group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided adductor canal block with bupivacaine liposome provides better analgesia than ropivacaine in elderly patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.