Background/Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population. Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal. Following 3 years of randomized intervention with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo, participants were rolled over to open-label TDF for 3 years. Liver biopsies were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate histopathological changes. Virological, biochemical, and serological outcomes were also assessed (NCT02463019). Results: Of 146 enrolled patients (median age 47 years, 80.8% male), 123 completed the study with paired biopsies. Overall, the Ishak fibrosis score decreased in 74 (60.2%), remained unchanged in 32 (26.0%), and increased in 17 (13.8%) patients (p<0.0001). The Knodell necroinflammation score decreased in 58 (47.2%), remained unchanged in 29 (23.6%), and increased in 36 (29.3%) patients (p=0.0038). The proportion of patients with an Ishak score ≥ 3 significantly decreased from 26.8% (n=33) to 9.8% (n=12) (p=0.0002). Histological improvements were more pronounced in patients switching from placebo. Virological and biochemical outcomes also improved in placebo switchers and remained stable in patients who continued TDF. However, serum HBsAg levels did not change and no patient cleared HBsAg. Conclusions In CHB patients with minimally raised ALT, favorable histopathological, biochemical, and virological outcomes were observed following 3-year TDF treatment, for both treatment-naïve patients and those already on therapy.

Background/Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population. Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal. Following 3 years of randomized intervention with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo, participants were rolled over to open-label TDF for 3 years. Liver biopsies were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate histopathological changes. Virological, biochemical, and serological outcomes were also assessed (NCT02463019). Results: Of 146 enrolled patients (median age 47 years, 80.8% male), 123 completed the study with paired biopsies. Overall, the Ishak fibrosis score decreased in 74 (60.2%), remained unchanged in 32 (26.0%), and increased in 17 (13.8%) patients (p<0.0001). The Knodell necroinflammation score decreased in 58 (47.2%), remained unchanged in 29 (23.6%), and increased in 36 (29.3%) patients (p=0.0038). The proportion of patients with an Ishak score ≥ 3 significantly decreased from 26.8% (n=33) to 9.8% (n=12) (p=0.0002). Histological improvements were more pronounced in patients switching from placebo. Virological and biochemical outcomes also improved in placebo switchers and remained stable in patients who continued TDF. However, serum HBsAg levels did not change and no patient cleared HBsAg. Conclusions In CHB patients with minimally raised ALT, favorable histopathological, biochemical, and virological outcomes were observed following 3-year TDF treatment, for both treatment-naïve patients and those already on therapy.

Background/Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population. Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal. Following 3 years of randomized intervention with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo, participants were rolled over to open-label TDF for 3 years. Liver biopsies were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate histopathological changes. Virological, biochemical, and serological outcomes were also assessed (NCT02463019). Results: Of 146 enrolled patients (median age 47 years, 80.8% male), 123 completed the study with paired biopsies. Overall, the Ishak fibrosis score decreased in 74 (60.2%), remained unchanged in 32 (26.0%), and increased in 17 (13.8%) patients (p<0.0001). The Knodell necroinflammation score decreased in 58 (47.2%), remained unchanged in 29 (23.6%), and increased in 36 (29.3%) patients (p=0.0038). The proportion of patients with an Ishak score ≥ 3 significantly decreased from 26.8% (n=33) to 9.8% (n=12) (p=0.0002). Histological improvements were more pronounced in patients switching from placebo. Virological and biochemical outcomes also improved in placebo switchers and remained stable in patients who continued TDF. However, serum HBsAg levels did not change and no patient cleared HBsAg. Conclusions In CHB patients with minimally raised ALT, favorable histopathological, biochemical, and virological outcomes were observed following 3-year TDF treatment, for both treatment-naïve patients and those already on therapy.

Objective:To investigate the level of serum lipoprotein a [Lp (a)] in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its clinical significance.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was performed. The clinical data of 87 patients with DLBCL who were treated at Changshu No.2 People's Hospital from January 2017 to June 2022 (the newly treated DLBCL group) were retrospectively analyzed, and 78 healthy physical examination subjects were selected as the control group. The level of Lp(a) in the two groups and the level of Lp(a) in DLBCL patients achieving different therapeutic effects after treatment were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the efficacy of serum Lp(a) in predicting the therapeutic effect of DLBCL patients, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the optimal critical value. Based on the optimal critical value, patients with DLBCL were divided into low Lp(a) group and high Lp(a) group, and the clinicopathological characteristics of DLBCL patients with different Lp(a) levels were compared. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of DLBCL patients. Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare the relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) of DLBCL patients with different Lp(a) levels.Results:The level of Lp (a) in the newly treated DLBCL group was higher than that in the control group[ (0.24±0.09) g/L vs. (0.09±0.06) g/L], and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.61, P = 0.019). Among 87 patients, 54 achieved complete remission (CR), 23 achieved partial remission (PR), and 10 achieved progression of the disease (PD). The Lp (a) levels of patients achieving CR, PR, and PD were (0.09±0.09) g/L, (0.12±0.08) g/L, and (0.25±0.15) g/L, respectively. The Lp (a) levels in patients achieving CR and PR were lower than those in the newly treated DLBCL patients [(0.24±0.09) g/L], and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the Lp (a) levels between patients achieving PD and the newly treated DLBCL patients ( P > 0.05). The ROC curve results showed that the optimal critical value of serum Lp (a) in predicting the efficacy of DLBCL patients was 0.25 g/L, AUC was 0.776 (95% CI: 0.676-0.876, P < 0.05), and its sensitivity and specificity was 66.67%, 82.76%, respectively. According to the optimal critical value of Lp (a) (0.25 g/L), patients were divided into the low Lp (a) group (≤ 0.25 g/L) (57 cases) and the high Lp (a) group (>0.25 g/L) (30 cases). The proportion of patients with lactate dehydrogenase level >227 U/L, Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, and extranodal organ involvement >1 in the high Lp (a) group was higher than that in the low Lp (a) group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Cox multivariate analysis results showed that Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, international prognostic index (IPI) score 3-5, and Lp (a)>0.25 g/L were independent risk factors for OS in DLBCL patients (all P < 0.05); Ann Arbor stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ and IPI score 3-5 were independent risk factors for RFS in DLBCL patients (all P < 0.05). The median OS in the low Lp (a) group was not reached; the median OS of the high Lp (a) group was 21 months, and there was a statistically significant difference in OS between the two groups ( P = 0.001). The median RFS time was not reached in the low Lp (a) group and the high Lp (a) group; and there was no statistically significant difference in RFS between the two groups ( P = 0.102) . Conclusions:Lp(a) level of DLBCL patients is increased, and Lp(a) could be a factor influencing the prognosis of DLBCL.

Resident training is a necessary path to cultivate excellent clinical doctors. Based on the Consensus on Core Competency Framework for Residency Education Among China Consortium of Elite Teaching Hospitals for Residency Education, Department of Neurology from Peking Union Medical College Hospital has established a training program for neurology residents with a graded evaluation system and a progressive clinical responsibility concept guided by core competency. Overcoming the teaching difficulties of neurology and considering the clinical characteristics of neurology, we have established a series of replicable and promotable neurology residency training curriculum through inheritance and innovation, which provides reference for the continuous improvement of China's neurology residency training program.

Objective To understand the respiratory protection competency of staff in hospitals.Methods Staff from six hospitals of different levels and characteristics in Beijing were selected,including doctors,nurses,medical technicians,and servicers,to conduct knowledge assessment on respiratory protection competency.According to exposure risks of respiratory infectious diseases,based on actual cases and daily work scenarios,content of respira-tory protection competency assessment was designed from three aspects:identification of respiratory infectious di-seases,transmission routes and corresponding protection requirements,as well as correct selection and use of masks.The assessment included 6,6,and 8 knowledge points respectively,with 20 knowledge points in total,all of which were choice questions.For multiple-choice questions,full marks,partial marks,and no mark were given respective-ly if all options were correct,partial options were correct and without incorrect options,and partial options were correct but with incorrect options.Difficulty and discrimination analyses on question of each knowledge point was conducted based on classical test theory.Results The respiratory protection competency knowledge assessment for 326 staff members at different risk levels in 6 hospitals showed that concerning the 20 knowledge points,more than 60％participants got full marks for 6 points,while the proportion of full marks for other questions was relatively low.Less than 10％participants got full marks for the following 5 knowledge points:types of airborne diseases,types of droplet-borne diseases,conventional measures for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infec-tion with respiratory infectious diseases,indications for wearing respirators,and indications for wearing medical protective masks.Among the 20 knowledge questions,5,1,and 14 questions were relatively easy,medium,and difficult,respectively;6,1,4,and 9 questions were with discrimination levels of ≥0.4,0.30-0.39,0.20-0.29,and ≤0.19,respectively.Conclusion There is still much room for hospital staff to improve their respiratory protection competency,especially in the recognition of diseases with different transmission routes and the indications for wearing different types of masks.

This paper outlines the common aspects of constructing integrated urban medical groups,focusing on governance,organizational restructuring,operational modes,and mechanism synergy.It then delves into the challenges in China's group construction,highlighting issues with power-responsibility alignment,capacity evolution,incentive alignment,and performance evaluation.Finally,the paper suggests strategies to enhance China's compact urban medical groups,focusing on governance reform,capacity building,benefit integration,and performance evaluation.

Objective To propose an evaluation and screening indicator for the reliability of emergency ventilators.Methods Firstly,a regression model was used to clean the data and remove noise to ensure the accuracy of regression analysis.Then,four groups of highly correlated data combinations,including inspiratory tidal volume-minute expiratory volume,peak airway pressure-minute expiratory volume,peak airway pressure-inspiratory tidal volume and positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)-mean airway pressure,were determined with the methods of curve fitting and transfer function,and the difference between the theoretical output and the actual output of the data combinations was regarded as an indicator to judge whether the ventilator functioned well or not;finally,the indicator proposed was applied to single and multiple ventilators,and the feasibility of the indicator was determined by the proportion of the ventilators functioning well.Results The evaluation results with a single ventilator showed the four groups of data combinations had the actual output fitted well with the theoretical output,and all the differences between the theoretical output and the actual output were lower than the threshold;the results with multiple ventilators indicated there were 71.49％ventilators functioning well,which was very close to the actual result that 72％ventilators behaved well.Conclusion The evaluation and screening indicator for emergency ventilators has high feasibility,and theoretical support is provided for reliability assessment and selection of series of emergency treatment equipment.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(7):8-16]

Objective To observe the clinical effect of PENG's tendon-separating tuina therapy combined with lateral needling technique for meridian sinew in the treatment of acute scapulohumeral periarthritis(referred to as frozen shoulder),and to provide therapeutic ideas and evidence for the treatment of acute scapulohumeral periarthritis.Methods Sixty patients with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,with 30 cases in each group.The control group was treated with lateral needling technique for meridian sinew,and the treatment group was treated with PENG's tendon-seperating tuina therapy combined with lateral needling technique for meridian sinew.Both groups were treated for once a day,10 times as a course of treatment,and for a total of 2 courses of treatment.The changes of pain Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)score and Constant-Murley Scale(CMS)score of shoulder joint function in the two groups were observed before treatment and after one and two course(s)of treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated.Results(1)After two courses of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 90.00%(27/30),and that of the control group was 73.30%(22/30).The overall efficacy(tested by rank sum test)and total effective rate(tested by chi-square test)of the treatment group were significantly superior to those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After one and two course(s)of treatment,the VAS scores of pain in the two groups were significantly decreased than those before treatment(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01);after two courses of treatment,VAS scores in the two groups were significantly lower than those after one course of treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of VAS scores in the treatment group after one and two course(s)of treatment was significantly superior to that in the control group,and the difference were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(3)After one and two course(s)of treatment,the CMS scores of shoulder joint function in the two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment(P＜0.01);after two courses of treatment,the CMS scores in the two groups were higher than those after one course of treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of CMS scores in the treatment group after one and two course(s)of treatment was significantly superior to that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.01).Conclusion PENG's tendon-separating tuina therapy combined with lateral needling technique for meridian sinew has a definite clinical effect in the treatment of patients with acute scapulohumeral periarthritis,which can effectively relieve the pain and discomfort of shoulder joint and improve the movement function of shoulder joint.

Objective To explore the potential influencing factors of post-operative healthcare-associated infection(HAI)in colorectal cancer patients,as well as the mediating effect relationship between the influencing factors and the diagnosis-intervention packet(DIP)payment differentials.Methods Medical data of patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery in a tertiary first-class cancer hospital in Guangzhou were retrospectively analyzed.According to HAI status,patients were divided into infection group and non-infection group.Baseline demographic information and differences in DIP payment differentials between two groups of patients were compared by rank sum test or chi-square test.The influence of each potential factor on the occurrence of HAI was analyzed by logistic re-gression.Mediating analysis was preformed by bootstrap method,and mediating effect of HAI and total hospitaliza-tion days on DIP payment differentials was evaluated.Results A total of 350 patients were included in analysis,50 were in the infection group and 300 in the non-infection group.The incidence of HAI was 14.29％.Logistic regres-sion analysis result showed that risk of HAI in patients with central venous catheterization ≥10.00 days was 13.558 times higher than that＜10.00 days(P＜0.001);risk of HAI in patients with urinary catheterization ≥3.00 days was 2.388 times higher than that＜3.00 days(P=0.022).There were all statistically significant differences in DIP payment differentials among patients with different ages,prognostic nutritional index(PNI),HAI status,total length of hospitalization stay,duration of surgery,central venous catheterization days,and catheterization days(all P＜0.05).The mediating analysis results showed that the occurrence of HAI resulted a change in DIP payment di-fferentials by affecting the total number of hospitalization days.The mediating effect value of total hospitalization days was 0.038,accounting for 35.68％of the total effect.Conclusion Medical institutions should pay attention to HAI resulting from prolonged central venous and urinary catheterization in patients underwent surgery for colorectal cancer,reducing the total length of hospital stay,thus reducing the overruns associated with the increased DIP pay-ment differentials.