Objective: To analyze the unregistered treatment situation and its influencing factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2023, so as to provide a basis for promoting the management of tuberculosis patients and optimizing disease prevention and control strategies. Methods: Data of pulmonary tuberculosis patients including demographic information, etiological results, and mortality status were collected through the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System Infectious Disease Reporting and Surveillance System and the Tuberculosis Management Information System. Pulmonary tuberculosis patients not matched in the Tuberculosis Management Information System were defined as unregistered treatment patients, and the unregistered treatment rate was analyzed. Factors affecting unregistered treatment among pulmonary tuberculosis patients were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 10 779 pulmonary tuberculosis patients were reported in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, including 7 700 males (71.44%) and 3 079 females (28.56%). There were 5 484 cases aged <65 years, accounting for 50.88%. Among them, 630 cases were unregistered treatment, with an unregistered treatment rate of 5.84% (95%CI: 5.42%-6.38%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged ≥65 years (OR=1.829, 95%CI: 1.512-2.212) had a higher risk of being unregistered treatment than those aged <65 years; patients with non-local household registration (OR=5.710, 95%CI: 4.724-6.901) had a higher risk than local patients; and patients engaged in housework/unemployed (OR=2.001, 95%CI: 1.421-2.818) or other occupations (OR=2.396, 95%CI: 1.789-3.137) had a higher risk than farmers. The mortality of unregistered treatment pulmonary tuberculosis patients was higher than the registered treatment patients (26.67% vs. 5.02%),with a significantly elevated mortality risk (OR=7.147, 95%CI: 5.738-8.902). Conclusions The unregistered treatment rate among pulmonary tuberculosis patients was well controlled in Quzhou City from 2017 to 2023, but the elderly, patients with non-local household registration, and those engaged in housework/unemployed had a higher risk of unregistered treatment. It is recommended to improve medical and social security policies, strengthen health education on tuberculosis prevention, enhance treatment adherence, and reduce mortality risk.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the preparation of nano-silver acupuncture needles and evaluate the appearance, structure and properties. METHODS: Stainless steel acupuncture needles were pretreated by polishing with sandpaper and cleaning with ultrapure water and absolute ethanol. As the working electrodes, the needles were placed in an electrolyte solution contained silver nitrate (AgNO₃), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); and the silver nanoparticles were deposited at a constant voltage of -0.2 V for 1 200 s. The heat-treatment was conducted at 600 ℃ for 15 min in an argon atmosphere to strengthen the adhesion between the nanoparticles and the substrate. The surface appearance and structure of nano-silver acupuncture needles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and biocompatibility of the needles were evaluated. The cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of the sample were assessed using the CCK-8 assay. According to the national standard, Acupuncture Needles (GB 2024-2016), the other physicochemical performances of nano-silver acupuncture needles were tested. RESULTS: ①By controlling the AgNO₃ concentration and the molar ratio of AgNO₃ to PVP, it was found that at an AgNO₃ concentration of 2 mmol/L and a molar ratio of 5∶1, silver nanoparticles with the diameter of 50-100 nm, regular appearance, and uniform distribution were obtained. At a lower concentration, the size of silver nanoparticles was smaller and unevenly distributed particles, whereas a higher concentration tended to produce a dendritic structure. ②By sandpaper polishing, acid etching pretreatment, and heat-treatment at 600 ℃ under argon for 15 min, the adhesion of silver nanoparticles on the surface of the needle body was strengthened, and the simulated pig skin puncture test showed the intact coating without shedding. ③SEM found that the silver nanoparticles were uniformly deposited, forming a nanofilm approximately 1.5 μm thick; XRD analysis showed the diffraction peaks corresponding to cubic crystal silver (111), (200), (220) and (311); and XPS detected characteristic peaks of Ag 3d3/2 and Ag 3d5/2, confirming the successful deposition and good crystallinity of the silver nanoparticles. ④Resistivity measurements indicated that the nano-silver acupuncture needles exhibited a resistivity of approximately 0.15 Ω·cm, about three times lower than that of unmodified stainless steel needles. The infrared thermography demonstrated that their thermal conductivity was superior to that of traditional acupuncture needles. In vitro CCK-8 cytotoxicity assay showed that the nano-silver acupuncture needles had no adverse effects on human skin fibroblasts and possessed good biocompatibility. ⑤ The key parameters such as needle tip performance, hardness, and the adhesion between the needle body and handle were in compliance with the requirements in Acupuncture Needles (GB 2024-2016), ensuring a quality guarantee provided for clinical applications. CONCLUSION The preparation of nano-silver acupuncture needles effectively overcomes the insufficient toughness of traditional silver needles and improves the electrical and thermal conductivity of stainless acupuncture needles.
Silver/chemistry* ; Needles ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Humans ; Electric Conductivity ; Animals

Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors affecting women worldwide, with its incidence rate continuously increasing. As a result, treatment strategies for this disease have received considerable attention. Research has highlighted the crucial role of the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in the initiation and progression of BC, particularly in promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, molecular targets within this pathway represent promising opportunities for the development of novel BC therapies. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic mechanisms by which natural compounds modulate the Hh signaling pathway in BC. By conducting a comprehensive review of various natural compounds, including polyphenols, terpenes, and alkaloids, we reveal both common and unique regulatory mechanisms that influence this pathway. This investigation represents the first comprehensive analysis of five distinct mechanisms through which natural compounds modulate key molecules within the Hh pathway and their impact on the aggressive behaviors of BC. Furthermore, by exploring the structure-activity relationships between these compounds and their molecular targets, we shed light on the specific structural features that enable natural compounds to interact with various components of the Hh pathway. These novel insights contribute to advancing the development and clinical application of natural compound-based therapeutics. Our thorough review not only lays the groundwork for exploring innovative BC treatments but also opens new avenues for leveraging natural compounds in cancer therapy.

Objective To measure the air-absorbed dose rate of gamma radiation in public areas for the situation of the local radiation environment. Methods Using a large-volume γ spectrometer system with a NaI(Tl) detector mounted on a UAV, we conducted large-scale airborne radiation monitoring in public areas in southwestern China, to measure the air-absorbed dose rate at a height of 1 m from the earth’s surface. Results The airborne radiation monitoring data were used to analyze the local radiation environment. The mean air-absorbed dose rate at a height of 1 m was 43.6 ± 12.9 nGy/h. Seven abnormal radiation points were detected, and two of them were located where construction was ongoing. At one of the abnormal radiation points, FH40G meter measurements showed that the air-absorbed dose rate at a height of 1 m was up to 22.0 μGy/h. Field soil samples were collected for HPGe γ spectrometer analysis: the ²³²Th radionuclide activity concentration was 96.0 kBq/kg, and the ²²⁶Ra radionuclide activity concentration was 9.9 kBq/kg. Conclusion Using the UAV-mounted large-volume γ spectrometer system with NaI(Tl) detectors for large-scale airborne monitoring is a fast and effective method for dragnet monitoring of the level of radiation in public areas.

Objective To isolate a Acinetobacter baumannii(Ab)phage from underground sewage,study its prop-erties,and to provide a theoretical basis for phage treatment of Ab infection.Methods Double-layer agar tech-nique was used to isolate phages by using Ab GY-6 as the host strain.Biological characterization and therapeutic effect of the phage was tested.Genetic information of the phage was analyzed.Results Ab phage Abgy202162 was isolated.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)analysis showed that the morphology of Abgy202162 exhibited an icosahedral structure.Biological characteristic analysis showed that the optimal multiplicity of infection was 1,the latent period was 5 min,and the burst size was approximately 520 PFU per cell.In addition,Abgy202162 re-mained stable at different concentrations of chloroform,pH,and temperatures.Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacryl-amide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE)analysis showed that it contained 10 proteins with molecular weights ran-ging from 15 to 100 ku.The double-stranded(ds)DNA genome of Abgy202162 consisted of 40 889 bp and its G+C content was 38.85％.It contained 47 open reading frames(ORFs),of which 26 had specific functions,but no virulence related genes or antibiotic resistance genes were found.Phylogenetic analysis showed that Abgy202162 was a new phage in the Autographiviridae family,Beijerinkvirinae subfamily,and Friunavirus genus.Abgy202162 showed the ability to prevent Ab infection in the Galleria mellonella in vivo model.Conclusion The phage Ab-gy202162 has strong environmental tolerance and high safety,indicating its potential as an antibiotic alternative used in the treatment of infections caused by Ab.

OBJECTIVE To observe the short-term efficacy and safety of venetoclax combined with homoharringtonine and cytarabine in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia （AML）. METHODS The data of 40 newly diagnosed AML patients admitted to our hospital from October 2022 to November 2023 were retrospectively collected and divided into observation group and control group according to treatment plan， with 20 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were given Daunorubicin hydrochloride for injection+Cytarabine for injection， and the patients in the observation group were given Venetoclax tablets+ Homoharringtonine injection+Cytarabine for injection. The patients in both groups were given relevant medicine， with 28 days as one cycle. The short-term efficacy， negative rate of minimal residual disease （MRD）， duration of granulocyte deficiency， duration of platelet （PLT） ＜20×109 L－1， transfusion volume of suspended red blood cells and platelet， and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions were evaluated in both groups after 1 cycle of induction chemotherapy. RESULTS The complete remission or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery （CR/CRi） rate in the observation group was significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）， and the negative rate of MRD in the observation group was also significantly higher than control group （P＜0.05）. However， in low-， medium- and high-risk patients， there was no statistical significance in CR/CRi rates between the two groups （P＞0.05）. There were no significant differences in the duration of agranulocytosis， the duration of PLT ＜20×109 L－1， the amount of suspended red blood cell transfusion， the amount of platelet transfusion， the incidence of hematologic toxicity and the incidence of non-hematologic toxicity between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Venetoclax combined with homoharringtonine and cytarabine show good short-term efficacy and safety in the treatment of AML.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of MDA5 antibody positive dermatomyositis (MDA5-DM) and to provide evidence for early diagnosis and treatment.Methods:From March 2019 to June 2021, 272 patients with anti-MDA5-DM from the Nanjing Medical University myositis-associated interstitial lung disease cohort were enrolled, with 76 patients with anti-synthetase syndrome (ASS) as the control group. The clinical characteristics and the occurrence of interstitial lung disease were analyzed. T-test was used for normally distributed and variance-homogeneous independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test for non-normally distributed data, and chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test for dichotomous variables. Results:Among the 272 anti-MDA5-DM patients, 88.6% (241/272) developed interstitial lung disease (ILD), and 33.8% (92/272) developed rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD). The six-month all-cause mortality rate of anti-MDA5-DM patients was 16.9% (46/272), and it was as high as 47.8% (44/92) for those with RP-ILD. Compared with ASS patients, anti-MDA5-DM patients had a significantly higher proportion of males, arthritis, Gottron's sign, heliotrope rash, V-sign, periungual erythema, and skin ulcers ( P<0.05). The levels of ALT, AST, and ferritin were significantly increased ( P<0.05). Compared with non-RP-ILD patients, RP-ILD patients had a significantly higher proportion of males [35.9%(33/92) vs. 23.3%(42/180), χ2=4.79, P=0.029], higher levels of LDH [387 (276, 547) U/L vs. 310 (245, 400) U/L, Z=-3.67, P<0.001], ESR [45.5 (29.25, 63.25) mm/1 h vs. 31.2 (20, 51) mm/1 h, Z=-3.71, P<0.001], CRP [10.9 (4.1, 25.2) mg/L vs. 4.54 (2.58, 9.08) mg/L, Z=-4.97, P<0.001], ferritin [1 340 (650, 2 000) ng/ml vs. 556 (203, 1 186) ng/ml, Z=-4.40, P<0.001], and a higher proportion of anti-Ro52 antibody and anti-MDA5 antibody co-positivity [87.0%(80/92) vs. 52.2%(94/180), χ2=31.87, P<0.001]. Conclusion:Anti-MDA5-DM patients are prone to develop RP-ILD and have poor prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of male with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) autoantibody.Methods:The clinical data of 246 patients with DM and anti-MDA5 autoantibodies hospitalized by Jiangsu Myositis Cooperation Group from 2017 to 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was performed to compared between counting data groups; Quantitative data were expressed by M ( Q1, Q3), and rank sum test was used for comparison between groups; Single factor survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method and Log rank test; Cox regression analysis were used for multivariate survival analysis. Results:①The male group had a higher proportion of rash at the sun exposure area [67.1%(47/70) vs 52.8%(93/176), χ2=4.18, P=0.041] and V-sign [50.0%(35/70) vs 30.7%(54/176), χ2=8.09, P=0.004] than the female group. The male group had higher levels of creatine kinase [112(18, 981)U/L vs 57 (13.6, 1 433)U/L, Z=-3.50, P<0.001] and ferritin [1 500 (166, 32 716)ng/ml vs 569 (18, 14 839)ng/ml, Z=-5.85, P<0.001] than the female group. The proportion of ILD [40.0%(28/70) vs 59.7%(105/176), χ2=7.82, P=0.020] patients and the red blood cell sedimentation rate[31.0(4.0, 101.5)mm/1 h vs 43.4(5.0, 126.5)mm/1 h, Z=-2.22, P=0.026] in the male group was lower than that of the female group, but the proportion of rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (PR-ILD) [47.1%(33/70) vs 31.3%(55/176), χ2=5.51, P=0.019] was higher than that of the female group. ②In male patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibodies,the death group had a shorter course of disease[1.0(1.0, 3.0) month vs 2.5(0.5,84) month, Z=-3.07, P=0.002], the incidence of arthritis [16.7%(4/24) vs 42.2%(19/45), χ2=4.60, P=0.032] were low than those in survival group,while aspartate aminotransferase (AST)[64(22.1, 565)U/L vs 51(14,601)U/L, Z=-2.42, P=0.016], lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) [485(24,1 464)U/L vs 352(170, 1 213)U/L, Z=-3.38, P=0.001], C-reactive protein (CRP) [11.6(2.9, 61.7) mg/L vs 4.95(0.6, 86.4) mg/L, Z=-1.96, P=0.050], and ferritin levels [2 000(681, 7 676) vs 1 125 (166, 32 716)ng/ml, Z=-3.18, P=0.001] were higher than those in the survival group, and RP-ILD [95.8%(23/24) vs 22.2%(10/45), χ2=33.99, P<0.001] occurred at a significantly higher rate. ③Cox regression analysis indicated that the course of disease LDH level, and RP-ILD were related factors for the prognosis of male anti-MDA5 antibodies [ HR (95% CI)=0.203(0.077, 0.534), P=0.001; HR (95% CI)=1.002(1.001, 1.004), P=0.003; HR (95% CI)=95.674 (10.872, 841.904), P<0.001]. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients are different from those of female. The incidence of ILD is low, but the proportion of PR-ILD is high. The course of disease, serum LDH level, and RP-ILD are prognostic factors of male anti-MDA5 antibody-positive patients.

Objective To develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-borne radiation monitoring system with high detection efficiency and nuclide identification ability for airborne monitoring in nuclear emergency. Methods The UAV-borne CeBr₃ radiation monitoring system was composed of four cerium bromide (CeBr₃) crystal detectors coupled with silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) and other components including integrated modules, intelligent electronic devices, and new composite materials. Results According to various performance tests on the system, the crystal energy resolution was better than 5% (@0.662 MeV), the peak drift of the energy spectrum was within ±1 channel, the linear fit of energy was 0.99997, the change in the count rate of each energy window during 12 h long-term measurement was less than 5%, and the detection efficiency was higher compared with that of NaI (Tl) detectors of the same volume. Conclusion Through ground point source testing and theoretical calculation, the system has reliable ability to identify radionuclides, which can be used in nuclide identification and the preparedness and response for nuclear and radiation emergencies.