Objective To understand the HIV/AIDS burden and the disease burden attributed to various risk factors in four countries with different socio-demographic index (SDI) (China, United States, Russia, and Afghanistan) from 1990 to 2019, and to predict the HIV/AIDS attributable disease burden from 2020 to 2029. Methods The 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study data was used to describe and compare the incidence, prevalence, death, and DALYs of HIV/AIDS in the four countries. The standardized DALYs attributed to various risk factors in different age groups of HIV/AIDS in the four countries in 1990 and 2019 were compared. R4.3.0 was used to construct an autoregressive moving average mixed model to predict the attributable disease burden in each country over the next decade. Results Compared with 1990, in 2019, the standardized incidence rate, standardized prevalence rate, standardized mortality rate, and standardized DALYs rate in China and the other two countries, except the United States, showed an increase. People aged 10 to 49 years old were a key group for disease burden, and the main risk factors for disease burden varied among different countries and age groups. The autoregressive moving average mixed model predicted that the main risk factor for Russia in the next decade would be injecting drugs, while unsafe sexual behavior would occur in the other three countries. Conclusion There are differences in disease burden and risk factors among different genders and age groups globally and in the four different SDI countries. Therefore, differences should be fully considered to determine the focus of HIV/AIDS prevention and control and rationally allocate health resources.

Objective:To construct a recombinant bioluminescent bacteriophage (HT7) targeting Escherichia coli, and evaluate its ability to identify Escherichia coli. Methods:Initially, pCRISPR-sg (1-10) and PFN-1000 plasmid strains were constructed by genetic engineering, and the most efficient small guild RNA (sgRNA) were screened by bilayer plate. By the gene editing technique, which comprised homologous recombination and clustered regularly interspaced short palin dromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas system, the Nanoluc luciferase gene was integrated into the downstream non-coding region of 10A gene of T7 phage, to constructe the bioluminescent phage HT7 successfully. The difference of biological characteristics between HT7 phage and T7 phage was evaluated by plaque assay and liquid amplification assay. In addition, 51 strains of Escherichia coli, 20 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, 14 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 6 strains of Enterococcus faecium, 5 strains of Enterococcus faecalis, 3 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and 1 strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected and isolated to evaluate the limit of detection and specificity of HT7 phage. Results:Among the 10 CRISPR-targeted cleavage systems constructed, sgRNA8 exhibited the highest cleavage efficiency, with a cleavage rate of 0.18. After three rounds of recombination screening using the pCas9/pCRISPR/PFN-1000 triple-plasmid system, PCR validation yielded recombinant phage bands at 2 798 bp, indicating the successful construction of the HT7 phage. The recombinant phage showed significant differences in biological characteristics in terms of lysis efficiency ( P<0.001), one-step growth curve ( P=0.001), and infection multiplicity ( P=0.031). Both lysis burst time and log growth node were extended by 10 min, with the optimal infection multiplicity being 0.1. Clinical sample testing identified lysis of 6 strains of Escherichia coli within 4.5 h, while other strains remained unaffected, with detection of pathogenic bacteria below 10 CFU/ml. Conclusions:The developed pCas9/pCRISPR/PFN-1000 triple-plasmid editing system efficiently edits the bacteriophage genome. The constructed HT7 fluorescent bacteriophage enables the detection of Escherichia coli below 10 CFU/ml within 4.5 hours, demonstrating low detection limits and high detection specificity.

Objective:To investigate the current status of vocational training for pediatric clinical research coordinators (CRC), and discuss the construction of base-based pediatric CRC training, and to promote the ability of pediatric CRCs.Methods:From July 25 to October 16, 2023, an anonymous self-designed questionnaire survey was conducted through the Wenjuanxing platform to investigate the current situation of pediatric CRC vocational training and base training needs. The data were collated using Excel. Categorical data were described as numbers and percentages.Results:A total of 328 usable questionnaires were returned. Only 7.62% (25 people) believed that existing CRC training was sufficient and could meet actual work needs; 4.88% (16 people) responded that there was no training; 46.34% (152 people) believed that the training was insufficient to support actual work needs; 87.50% (287 people) believed that continuous CRC training was needed; 46.95% (154 people) preferred experienced CRCs for teaching, who should have at least 3 years of CRC work experience; and 46.95% (154 people) preferred a duration of 3 months for CRC training. The preferred training methods were: practice under the direction of experienced CRCs (90.85%, 298 people), step-by-step teaching of practical skills (88.41%, 290 people), case analysis and discussion (87.20%, 286 people), process simulation (83.23%, 273 people), and lecture-based teaching (76.52%, 251 people). The preferred post-training assessment methods were: case analysis (76.52%, 251 people), operation simulation (74.09%, 243 people), process simulation (73.17%, 240 people), written examination (66.16%, 217 people), and interview (63.72%, 209 people).Conclusions:The current pediatric CRC training is not enough to meet actual work needs. It is urgent to develop and promote a CRC training system that can meet work needs, laying the foundation for the construction of pediatric clinical research ecology in China.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of rabies-exposed population in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2014 to 2023, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of rabies. Methods: Data of rabies-exposed population in Wenzhou City from 2014 to 2023 were collected through Wenzhou Rabies-Exposed Population Summary Sheet reported by dog injury clinics. The species of animals causing injuries, exposure time, exposure grade, exposure site, and post-exposure treatment were descriptively analyzed. Results: Totally 709 900 patients were admitted to dog injury clinics in Wenzhou City from 2014 to 2023, and the exposure rate showed an increasing trend (Z=7.238, P<0.001), with an average annual exposure rate of 750.75/105. The number of cases with exposure to rabies peaked in July (79 230 cases, 11.16%) and August (78 570 cases, 11.07%). Dogs were predominant animals causing injuries (448 900 cases, 63.23%), and the exposure rate showed a downward trend (Z=-5.921, P<0.001); cats were the second (175 142 cases, 24.67%), and the exposure rate showed an upward trend (Z=23.314, P<0.001). The upper (379 695 cases, 53.49%) and lower limbs (287 521 cases, 40.50%) were the main exposure sites. There were 21 034 cases (2.96%) exposed to head and face, and the exposure rate of head and face showed an upward trend (Z=3.549, P<0.001). Grade II exposure was the most common (403 881 cases, 56.89%), and the exposure rate showed an upward trend (Z=8.769, P<0.001). The proportion of using human rabies immune globulin was 23.13% in Grade III exposed population, showing a downward trend (Z=-12.848, P<0.001). Conclusions The exposure rate of rabies in Wenzhou City showed an upward trend from 2014 to 2023, with July and August as the peak months of exposure. Injuries mainly caused by dogs, while the exposure rate of cat bites showed an upward trend. The proportion of using human rabies immune globulin needs to be improved.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF)and lipoxygenase-4(LXA4)in patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis and the severity of the disease,and their evaluation value for the prognosis.Methods A total of 138 patients diagnosed with and treated for acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis between January 2019 and January 2021 in the hospital were selected as acute exacerbation group.Based on the bronchiectasis severity index(BSI score),patients were di-vided into mild group(40 cases),moderate group(46 cases),and severe group(52 cases).Additionally,pa-tients were categorized into a good prognosis group(85 cases)and a poor prognosis group(53 cases)based on their clinical outcomes.70 stable bronchiectasis patients treated concurrently were selected as the stable stage group.Furthermore,70 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period was included as the control group.Serum HGF and LXA4 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Logistic regression model was used to explore the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis.The predictive effect of serum HGF and LXA4 levels on the prognosis of pa-tients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the stable stage group and the control group,the acute exacerbation group had higher serum HGF levels and lower LXA4 levels(all P＜0.05).The more severe the condition was in the a-cute exacerbation group,the higher the serum HGF level and the lower the LXA4 level.Compared with the good prognosis group,the poor prognosis group had lower levels of hemoglobin,albumin,and serum LXA4,while the number of acute exacerbations,proportion of severe BSI scores,and serum HGF levels were higher(all P＜0.05).In the acute exacerbation group,the more severe the disease,the higher the serum HGF level and the lower the LxA4 level.The number of acute exacerbations(OR=1.185,P＜0.001),BSI score(OR=1.280,P＜0.001),and serum HGF(OR=1.189,P＜0.001)were risk factors for poor prognosis in patients,while serum LXA4(OR=0.827,P＜0.001)was a protective factor.The area under the curve of the combined detection of serum HGF and LXA4 for evaluating poor prognosis in patients was 0.912(95％CI:0.862-0.955),which was larger than that of the single detection(Z=4.254,3.819,all P＜0.001).Conclusion The serum HGF level increases and LXA4 level decreases in patients with acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis,which are related to the severity of the disease.Combined detection has high predictive value for poor progno-sis in patients.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by alternating periods of inflammation and remission. Although UC incidence is lower in Taiwan than in Western countries, its impact remains considerable, demanding updated guidelines for addressing local healthcare challenges and patient needs. The revised guidelines employ international standards and recent research, emphasizing practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system. Since the inception of the guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has acknowledged the need for ongoing revisions to incorporate emerging therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. This updated guideline aims to align UC management with local contexts, ensuring comprehensive and context-specific recommendations, thereby raising the standard of care for UC patients in Taiwan. By adapting and optimizing international protocols for local relevance, these efforts seek to enhance health outcomes for patients with UC.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, fluctuating inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Although the incidence of CD in Taiwan is lower than that in Western countries, the severity of CD presentation appears to be similar between Asia and the West. This observation indicates the urgency for devising revised guidelines tailored to the unique reimbursement system, and patient requirements in Taiwan. The core objectives of these updated guidelines include the updated treatment choices and the integration of the treat-to-target strategy into CD management, promoting the achievement of deep remission to mitigate complications and enhance the overall quality of life. Given the diversity in disease prevalence, severity, insurance policies, and access to medical treatments in Taiwan, a customized approach is imperative for formulating these guidelines. Such tailored strategies ensure that international standards are not only adapted but also optimized to local contexts. Since the inception of its initial guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TSIBD) has acknowledged the importance of continuous revisions for incorporating new therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. The latest update leverages international standards and recent research findings focused on practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of hospitalization cost of acute myeloid leukemia, to group the cases based on decision tree model and to provide reference for improving the DRG management in this regard.Methods:Homepage data were retrieved from the medical records with acute myeloid leukemia as the main diagnosis (the top four ICD codes were C92.0, C92.4, C92.5, and C93.0). These patients were discharged from the clinical hematology department of the Fujian Institute of Hematology from January 2020 to December 2021. Then the influencing factors of hospitalization expenses were identified using Wilcoxon rank sum test or Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, with such factors used as classification nodes. The decision tree model of &chi;2 automatic interactive testing method was used to group the cases so included. At the same time, the included cases were grouped according to the trial run C-DRG version in Fujian province, for comparison of the differences between the two grouping methods. Results:The length of stay, the type of treatment, whether associated complications and age of patients were found as the influencing factors for the hospitalization costs of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, and such factors were included in the decision tree model to form 9 case mixes. The variance reduction of this model was 75.77%, featuring a high inter-group heterogeneity, and the coefficient of variation was 0.33-0.61, featuring a low in-group difference. The patients were divided into two groups according to the C-DRG version in Fujian province. The variance reduction of this method was 27.57%, featuring a low inter-group heterogeneity, and the coefficients of variation were 0.59 and 1.25, featuring high in-group difference.Conclusions:The cases of acute myeloid leukemia were grouped based on length of stay, type of treatment, whether accompanied by complications, and age proved reasonable enough to serve as reference for DRG management and cost control of this disease.

Globally, metabolic-asssociated fatty liver disease has become a significant health burden due to its complex pathogenesis, and there are no specific and effective therapeutic drugs to date. The onset and progression of metabolic-asssociated fatty liver disease is closely associated with improper dietary habits. The cornerstone to treat metabolic-asssociated fatty liver disease is weight loss through a well-balanced diet. This article summarizes and discusses the research progress at home and abroad in relationship to metabolic-asssociated fatty liver disease and dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet, an energy-restricted balanced diet, a low fat diet, a low carbohydrate diet, a western diet, an animal food diet, a traditional diet, and others. In addition, it categorizes the effects of various dietary patterns on the prevention, treatment, or induction of several issues that need further metabolic-asssociated fatty liver disease research for subsequent reference.
Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/etiology* ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Weight Loss ; Diet, Mediterranean ; Liver

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome