ObjectivesTo investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 infection among men who had sex with men (MSM) in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, and to provide a scientific reference for acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention and control efforts. MethodsThe research subjects were all newly reported MSM population in Taizhou City from 2020 to 2023. Blood samples without antiviral therapy were collected. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified and sequenced, and the sequences were submitted to the Stanford University drug resistance database to identify the mutation sites and drug resistance. MEGA 11.0 software was used to analyze the nucleic acid sequences, construct phylogenetic tree, and calculate genetic distance of gene sequences. The molecular transmission network diagram of HIV-1 was constructed using Cytoscape_v3.10.1, and the influencing factors of network entry were analyzed by logistic regression. ResultsA total of 363 newly reported HIV-infected MSM patients were included, with a median age [M (P₂₅, P₇₅)] of 34 (26,47) years old. The majority had an educational level of junior high school or below (55.65%). A total of eight subtypes were found, mainly CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The primary drug resistance rate was 10.47% (38/363). The optimal molecular network gene distance was 0.019, with a network access rate of 42.70% (155/363), and a total of 47 molecular clusters were formed. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that compared with the CRF01_AE subtype, the clustering risk of CRF07_BC subtype was higher (OR=1.916, 95%CI: 1.191‒3.109), cases with drug resistance had a higher risk of cluster formation than those without drug resistance (OR=2.011, 95%CI: 1.006‒4.080), and recent infected patients had a lower risk of entering the largest molecular cluster than long-term infected patients (OR=0.376, 95%CI: 0.137‒0.928). ConclusionThe newly diagnosed infections among the MSM population are active in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, with a high level of primary drug resistance. Individuals carrying drug-resistant strains are more likely to cluster. Drug resistance monitoring should be strengthened to prevent further spread of drug-resistant strains in the network.

ObjectivesTo determine the syphilis infection and risk factors among the male outpatients in sexually transmitted disease （STD） clinics in Taizhou， and to provide a scientific evidence for the development of comprehensive prevention and intervention strategies for syphilis. MethodsA questionnaire survey and serological testing were conducted among the male STD outpatients in the hospitals designated for STD treatment in Jiaojiang， Linhai， Luqiao and Sanmen in Taizhou. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors associated with syphilis infection. ResultsA total of 16 400 male STD outpatients were investigated， with a syphilis infection rate of 2.10%. Multivariate analysis showed that aged over 60， non-local household registration， engaging in sexual activity with commercial sex workers in the past three months， having two or more sexual partners in the past three months， engaging in anal sex with heterosexual partners， co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus （HIV）， and co-infection with hepatitis C virus （HCV） were significantly associated with a higher syphilis infection rate （all P<0.05）. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS， a history of chlamydia infection in the past year， and a history of genital wart infection were significantly associated with a lower syphilis infection rate （all P<0.05）. ConclusionSyphilis infection among the male STD outpatients in Taizhou remained lower， compared with the national average level. Targeted comprehensive prevention and control strategies should be implemented based on relevant risk factors. Screening and prevention interventions should be prioritized for the individuals with non-local household registration， at-risk sexual behavior， and co-infection with HCV and HIV. Strengthening the collaborative efforts is also recommended for joint prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and syphilis.

ObjectiveTo analyze the failure of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and drug resistance characteristics among the newly reported HIV-infected patients in Taizhou City from 2020 to 2022. MethodsBlood samples, sociodemographic characteristics and ART information of the newly reported HIV-infected patients who received ART for ≥6 months in Taizhou City from 2020 to 2022 were collected for the detection of recent infections and HIV-1 genotypic drug resistance. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of treatment failure. The gene sequences of cases with failed ART were submitted to the HIV drug resistance database of Stanford University to determine the drug resistance mutation sites and drug resistance characteristics. ResultsAmong the 1 023 newly reported HIV-infected patients receiving ART, the median age （P₂₅，P₇₅） was 47 (33, 58) years, 81.4% were male, 66.4% (679/1 023) were infected through heterosexual transmission, 74.7% had a WHO clinical stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ, 62.2% had a baseline CD4 count of >200 cell·μL^-1, 94.4% (966/1 023) received an immediate ART, and 78.7% were long-term infected. Among the 66 patients with treatment failure (6.5%), the likelihood of treatment failure was lower in those with homosexual transmission (OR=0.39, 95%CI: 0.17‒0.84) and without history of sexually transmitted disease (STD) (OR=0.45, 95%CI: 0.24‒0.92), but higher in those with a baseline CD4 count of ≤200 cell·μL^-1, delayed ART (OR=3.19, 95%CI: 1.24‒7.52), and primary drug resistance (OR=4.69, 95%CI: 1.68‒11.89). Among the 36 HIV-infected patients with virological failure, 27 sequences were successfully amplified, with a successful amplification rate of 75.0% (27/36). The total drug resistance rate was 55.6% (15/27), of which the drug resistance rates of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs) were 37.0% (10/27), 51.9% (14/27) and 3.7% (1/27), respectively. Among the NNRTIs, the degree of resistance to efavirenz and nevirapine was consistent, with a majority (51.9%) of highly drug-resistant. K103N and M184V were the most common mutation sites, but PIs mutations occured less frequently. A total of 8 genotypes of HIV-1 were detected, in which subtype CRF01_AE accounted for 37.0% (10/27), followed by CRF07_BC [14.8% (4/27)], CRF08_BC [14.8% (4/27)] and subtype C [14.8% (4/27)]. ConclusionDuring the period from 2020 to 2022, the newly reported HIV-infected individuals in Taizhou City were predominated by long-term infections. Immediate initiation of ART can reduce the risk of treatment failure in HIV-infected individuals. Virological treatment failures are primarily associated with resistance to NRTIs and NNRTIs. It is recommended to strengthen active detection and promptly initiate ART to minimize the occurrence of ART failure. Simultaneously, there is a need to intensify drug resistance detection targeted for those with treatment failure, so as to provide a scientific guidance for drug replacement.

The healing process of skin wounds caused by severe mechanical trauma and chronic diseases(e.g.,diabetic foot ulcers)is often accompanied by tissue injury,microbial infection,intense inflammatory reactions,hypertrophic scars,and other complications.Microneedles have been widely used to facilitate wound healing in recent years.According to their different modes of action,microneedle formulation can be categorized into five types:solid microneedles,hollow microneedles,coated microneedles,soluble microneedles,and hydrogel microneedles.This paper reviews the preparation methods and characteristics of microneedles,and summarizes their roles in hemostasis,bacteriostasis,anti-inflammation,enhancement of collagen deposition,and angiogenesis,in the hope of providing some reference for future research and development.

Objective:To understand the prevalence of major chronic diseases of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and malignant tumor in people living with HIV in Taizhou.Methods:The data were collected from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and Taizhou Chronic Disease Information Management System. A total of 5 126 people living HIV under follow-up in Taizhou from 1998 to 2022 were included in the analysis. Software SAS 9.4 was used for χ 2 test, trend analysis and logistic regression analysis. Results:In the 5 126 people living with HIV, the reported prevalence rates of diabetes,cardiovascular disease and malignant tumor were 10.28% (527/5 126),3.98% (204/5 126) and 6.01% (308/5 126), respectively. 37.00% (195/527) and 48.58% (256/527), 40.20% (82/204) and 48.53% (99/204), 37.66% (116/308) and 48.38% (149/308) were diagnosed as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and malignant tumor before and after confirmation of HIV infection. From 2013 to 2022, the proportion of HIV infected people diagnosed with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and malignant tumor after confirmation increased (trend χ2=79.98, P<0.001; trend χ2=17.44, P<0.001; trend χ2=32.06, P<0.001). Based on the analysis on the factors for complicated chronic diseases in people living with HIV, it was found that women under 60 years old (a OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.50-0.86) and those with access to antiviral treatment for >5 years before 2016 (a OR=0.54,95% CI:0.37-0.78) were less likely to develop complicated chronic diseases, and those under 60 years old with initial CD4 +T lymphocytes counts <200 cells/μl (a OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.70), those aged 40-49 and 50-59 years (a OR=2.88, 95% CI:2.20-3.79; a OR=5.43, 95% CI: 4.10-7.21) as well as those without a record of treatment medication use after 2016 (a OR=1.95,95% CI:1.20-3.16) were more likely to develop complicated chronic diseases. The probability of developing complicated chronic diseases might increase with age in people living with HIV. Conclusions:From 1998 to 2022, there was a certain proportion of complicated chronic diseases among HIV infected individuals in Taizhou, and the proportion of diagnosed cases increased after HIV infection was confirmed. It is necessary to conduct early chronic disease screening, behavior intervention and standardized management in people living with HIV.

A high-altitude environment is characterized by low oxygen levels,low pressure,and low temperatures.Exposure to the plateau environment often causes damage to the body,leading to the occurrence of acute mountain sickness/chronic mountain sickness(AMS/CMS).Research indicates that acute or chronic exposure to the special environment can result in overall organ dysfunctions,such as those in the heart and gastrointestinal tract.The damage to the body caused by exposure to the plateau environment is closely related to acute and chronic hypoxia.Physiological maladjustment or disease is usually accompanied by changes in the structure of the gut microbiota.There have been reports on the correlations between the gut microbiota and bodily harm caused by high-altitude exposure.However,the specific types of bacteria involved and the mechanisms of action are still under investigation.This article reviews the intestinal tissue damage caused by low oxygen levels,immune activation,changes in microbial community structure,and differential metabolic products.The association and underlying mechanisms between bodily harm due to high-altitude exposure and the intestinal microbiota are also explored in hopes of stimulating new lines of thought related to the prevention and treatment of bodily harm caused by exposure to the plateau environment.

Objective To establish a method for bacterial endotoxin test of flumazenil bulk drug.Methods According to the bacterial endotoxin test(BET)method in general rule 1143 in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 Edition,VolumeⅣ),flumazenil was dissolved with dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)and diluted with BET water.The gel-clot method and kinetic turbidimetric assay were used to carry out the interference test and endotoxin recovery test.Results Flumazenil was dissolved with DMSO to 10 mg·mL-1,and then diluted 100 times or more by BET water,which has no interference effects on the bacterial endotoxin test.Conclusion The BET method established in this study can be used to control the quality of flumazenil by performing bacterial endotoxin tests.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods: This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P<0.05). For each 1 m/s increase in left, right, and bilateral mean PWV-ES, the risk of subAS increased by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.46), 26% (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.52), and 38% (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.72), respectively. According to ROC analyses, predictive potential was found for left PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.910 m/s, P=0.002), right PWV-ES (cutoff value=6.615 m/s, P=0.003), and bilateral mean PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.415 m/s, P<0.001), but not for PWV-BS (all P>0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods: This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P<0.05). For each 1 m/s increase in left, right, and bilateral mean PWV-ES, the risk of subAS increased by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.46), 26% (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.52), and 38% (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.72), respectively. According to ROC analyses, predictive potential was found for left PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.910 m/s, P=0.002), right PWV-ES (cutoff value=6.615 m/s, P=0.003), and bilateral mean PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.415 m/s, P<0.001), but not for PWV-BS (all P>0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate changes in ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) in individuals with arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis (subAS), and to provide cutoff values. Methods: This retrospective study recruited 231 participants, including 67 patients with subAS. The pulse wave velocity was measured at the beginning and end of systole (PWV-BS and PWVES, respectively) using ultrafast ultrasonography to assess arterial stiffness. The right and left common carotid arteries were measured separately, and laboratory metabolic parameters were also collected. Participants were balanced between groups using propensity score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio, adjusting for age, sex, and waist-to-hip ratio as potential confounders. Cutoff values of ufPWV for monitoring subAS were determined via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: PWV-ES, unlike PWV-BS, was higher in the subAS subgroup than in the subAS-free group after PSM (all P<0.05). For each 1 m/s increase in left, right, and bilateral mean PWV-ES, the risk of subAS increased by 23% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.46), 26% (95% CI, 1.07 to 1.52), and 38% (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.72), respectively. According to ROC analyses, predictive potential was found for left PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.910 m/s, P=0.002), right PWV-ES (cutoff value=6.615 m/s, P=0.003), and bilateral mean PWV-ES (cutoff value=7.415 m/s, P<0.001), but not for PWV-BS (all P>0.05). Conclusion PWV-ES measured using ultrafast ultrasonography was significantly higher in individuals with subAS than in those without. Specific PWV-ES cutoff values showed potential for predicting an increased risk of subAS.