ObjectiveTo investigate the optimal ratio of goat horn replacing antelope horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills and the blood pressure-lowering mechanism of this medicine. MethodsThe blood pressure-lowering efficacy of Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with varying proportions of goat horn replacing antelope horn was evaluated on spontaneous hypertensive rats （SHR）. In this experiment， 50 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model （n=8）， captopril （0.01 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.342 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， high-dose antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， low-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.378 g·kg^-1） （n=6）， and high-dose goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1） （n=6）. Additionally， 8 WKY rats were used as the normal group. Drugs were administered by gavage for 4 weeks while an equal volume of distilled water was administered for the normal and model groups. Blood pressure was measured before administration， 3 h post administration， and biweekly thereafter. In the experiment for Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills with goat horn replacing antelope horn in different proportions， 48 SHR rats were randomly grouped as follows： model， blank Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.684 g·kg^-1）， antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.756 g·kg^-1）， 2× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.824 g·kg^-1）， 4× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （0.969 g·kg^-1）， and 6× goat horn Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills （1.112 g·kg^-1）. The normal group included 8 WKY rats， and the normal group and model group received an equal volume of distilled water. The treatment lasted for 2 weeks， and blood pressure was recorded at various time points （pre-administration， 3 h post administration， and on days 4， 7， 10， and 14 of administration）. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme （ACE）， angiotensin Ⅱ（Ang Ⅱ）， renin， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Histopathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein levels of ACE2， angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT1R）， and angiotensinogen （AGT） in the kidney tissue were determined by Western blot， while the expression of nuclear factor （NF）-κB p65 and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） in the thoracic aorta tissue was assessed by immunohistochemistry. ResultsCompared with the model group， all treatment groups showed lowered blood pressure （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the 6× goat horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group showed consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills group. Compared with the normal group， the model group showed elevated serum levels of ACE， Ang Ⅱ， renin， and IL-6， while the elevations were declined in the Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Pathological changes in the heart， kidney， and thoracic aorta were alleviated in all the treatment groups， with the 6× goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups exhibited the best effect. Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that all the treatment groups exhibited down-regulated protein levels of AT1R， AGT， NF-κB p65， and TLR4 and up-regulated protein levels of ACE2 （P<0.05， P<0.01） compared with model group， with the 6×goat horn- and antelope horn-containing Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills groups showcasing the best effect. ConclusionReplacing antelope horn with 6×goat horn in Fufang Lingjiao Jiangya pills can achieve consistent blood pressure-lowering effect with the original prescription. The prescription may exert the effect by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system （RAAS） and TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE To understand the development status and existing problems of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China， aiming to provide suggestions for the competent departments to formulate management policies for TCM pharmacists and promote the healthy development of TCM. METHODS The data on the number and professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China from 2019 to 2023 were collected. Descriptive analysis was employed to analyze the number， distribution and professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals across the country， and to measure the quantity shortfalls of the number of TCM pharmacists in these hospitals. RESULTS From 2019 to 2023， the number of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals in China grew slowly， with an average annual growth rate of 2.56%. However， the proportion of TCM pharmacists to the total number of pharmacists in public TCM hospitals gradually decreased， with an average annual growth rate of －0.65%. In terms of hospital grades， the number of TCM pharmacists in tertiary public TCM hospitals showed positive growth， while those in secondary and primary public TCM hospitals showed negative growth. In terms of hospital types， the average annual growth rate of TCM pharmacists in TCM hospitals was 2.22%， in integrated Chinese and Western medicine hospitals it was 7.97%， and in ethnic minority medicine hospitals it was 2.74%. The development of TCM pharmacists in different provinces was uneven. The annual growth rate of TCM pharmacists in Guizhou exceeded 10%， while the growth rate in Hunan and Heilongjiang was negative. In 2023， the number of TCM pharmacists per thousand population in public TCM hospitals was 0.03， indicating a relatively low staffing level. The professional titles of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals were mainly primary and E-mail：601907549@qq.com intermediate， with a total of 67.33%. According to the calculation that the proportion of TCM pharmacists to pharmacists was not less than 60%， public TCM hospitals and hospitals of integrated TCM and Western medicine should be reconfigured with TCM pharmacists 6 212 and 1 288 people， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The number of TCM pharmacists in public TCM hospitals is growing slowly， with insufficient staffing levels， relatively low professional titles， and uneven distribution and development across provinces. It is suggested that relevant competent departments strengthen policy guidance， increase the attention given by the state level to TCM pharmacists， strengthen the construction of the talent team for TCM pharmacists， improve the quality and optimize the allocation of TCM pharmacist talents in order to promote the high-quality development of TCM services.

ObjectiveTo construct a group-based trajectory model (GBTM) for early medication adherence check-in, and to analyze the relationship between different trajectories and treatment outcomes in tuberculosis patients using data that were generated from smart tools for monitoring their medication adherence and check-in. MethodsFrom October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023, a total of 163 pulmonary tuberculosis patients diagnosed in Fengxian District were selected as the study subjects. The GBTM was utilized to analyze the weekly active check-in trajectories of the subjects during the first 4 weeks and establish different trajectory groups. The χ² tests were employed to compare the differences between groups and logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between different trajectory groups and treatment outcomes. ResultsA total of four groups were generated by GBTM analyses, of which a low level of punch card was maintained in group A, 6% of the drug users increased rapidly from a low level in group B, 17% of drug users increased gradually from a low level in group C, and 18% of drug users maintained a high level of punch card in group D. The trajectory group was divided into two groups according to homogeneity, namely the low level medication punch card group (group A) and the high level medication punch card group (group B, group C, and group D). The results of multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that low-level medication check-in (OR=3.250, 95%CI: 1.089‒9.696), increasing age (OR=1.030, 95%CI: 1.004‒1.056), and not undergoing sputum examination at the end of the fifth month (OR=2.746, 95%CI: 1.090‒7.009) were significantly associated with poor treatment outcomes. ConclusionThe medication check-in trajectory of pulmonary tuberculosis patients within the first 4 weeks is correlated with adverse outcomes, or namely consistent low-level medication adherence check-ins are associated with poor treatment outcomes, while high-level medication adherence check-ins are associated with a lower incidence of adverse outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Due to the young age of children,the occipital condyle and foramen magnum are not fully developed,and they are prone to various diseases and injuries in the occipitocervical junction,which requires surgical treatment in severe cases.However,anatomical parameters for the development of the occipital condyle and foramen magnum in children are lacking. OBJECTIVE:To measure the morphological structure of the occipital condyle and foramen magnum by three-dimensional reconstruction technique,and to provide important anatomical parameters for occipitocervical junction lesions,related surgical procedures and forensic identification. METHODS:Imaging data of 389 cases of primitive children and adolescents involved in skull base undergoing spiral CT scanning(247 males and 142 females)aged 1-18 years were collected and divided into 1-3-year-old group,4-6-year-old group,7-9-year-old group,10-12-year-old group,13-15-year-old group,and 16-18-year-old group according to their age.Mimics 16.0 software was used to reconstruct the skull base and measure the length and width of the foramen magnum.A formula was used to calculate the area and index of the foramen magnum.We measured the length,width and height of the occipital condyle,the angle between the long axis and the sagittal axis of the occipital condyle(O-S angle),the included angle between the midpoint of the front and back edges of the foramen magnum and the connection between the back edge of occipital condyle and the intersection point of the foramen magnum(F-O angle),and the included angle between the midpoint of the front and back edges of the foramen magnum and the midpoint of the back wall of the sublingual neural tube(F-H angle).Gender,side and age differences were analyzed among the indicators. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In foramen magnum measurement,there was no significant difference between sexes in the index of the foramen magnum(P>0.05),but there were significant differences in length,width and area of the foramen magnum(P<0.05).(2)The O-S angle,F-O angle and F-H angle of the occipitral condyle were not significantly different between genders(P>0.05),but length,width and height of the occipital condyle were significantly different between genders(P<0.05).(3)There were no significant differences in the length of the occipital condyle among different groups(P>0.05),but there were significant differences in the width and height of the occipital condyle,O-S angle,F-O angle and F-H angle among different groups(P<0.05).(4)Length,width and area of the foramen magnum,length,width and height of the occipital condyle showed a wavy increasing trend with the increase of age,while O-S,F-O and F-H angles showed a wavy decreasing trend with the increase of age,while the index of the foramen magnum showed no significant change.(5)In conclusion,there are gender and lateral differences in the morphological indexes of the foramen magnum and the occipital condyle in children.These differences can provide an important reference for clinical surgical approach selection and forensic examination.

Objective: To investigate epidemiological characteristics of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang Province in 2023, so as to provide the evidence for strengthening prevention and control of infectious diseases. Methods: Data pertaining to notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2023 were retrieved from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The incidence and mortality were analyzed according to the classification of notifiable infectious diseases and transmission routes, and epidemiological characteristics of infectious diseases were descriptively analyzed. Results: Thirty types of notifiable infectious diseases with 2 955 699 cases and 427 deaths were reported in Zhejiang Province in 2023, with a reported incidence rate of 4 493.93/105 and a reported mortality rate of 0.649 2/105. A total of 679 notifiable infectious disease emergencies were reported, with 26 514 cases and 1 case death (rabies). The emergencies mainly occurred in schools and preschool institutions, with 621 cases accounting for 91.46%. There were 1 case of cholera reported in class A notifiable infectious diseases and no death, 22 types of class B notifiable infectious diseases, with a reported incidence rate of 552.46/105 and a reported mortality rate of 0.644 7/105, and 8 types of class C notifiable infectious diseases, with a reported incidence rate of 3 941.48/105 and a reported mortality rate of 0.004 6/105. The incidence rates of respiratory, intestinal, blood-borne and sexually transmitted, natural and insect-borne infectious diseases were 4 028.67/105, 381.59/105, 81.15/105 and 1.35/105, respectively, according to transmission routes. Influenza (3 561.78/105) and COVID-19 (423.77/105) reported the highest incidence, and AIDS (0.477 4/105) and tuberculosis (0.130 8/105) reported the highest mortality. Conclusion The incidence rates of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases were high in Zhejiang Province in 2023, and schools and preschool institutions were the main places of diseases occurred.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of public health emergencies in Zhejiang Province in 2023, so as to provide the reference for public health risk management. Methods: Data of public health emergencies and related information in Zhejiang Province from January 1 to December 31, 2023 was collected through Emergency Public Reporting System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Attack rates, disease types, distribution of time and places, and responses were descriptively analyzed. Results: A total of 718 public health emergencies were reported in 2023 in Zhejiang Province, and all were infectious disease events. There were 27 128 reported cases and 3 deaths, with an attack rate of 3.22%. The top five infectious diseases with the highest number of reported events were influenza, norovirus infection, monkeypox, varicella and hand, foot and mouth disease, accounting for 95.54% of total reported events. There were 355 public health emergencies with less than 30 cases each, accounting for 49.44%. The reported emergencies peaked from February to March (186 events, 25.91%) and from November to December (327 events, 45.54%), and mainly occurred in schools and preschool institutions (651 events, 90.67%). The median responding time, reporting time and duration of emergencies were 6.50 (interquartile range, 10.84) h, 0.53 (interquartile range, 0.63) h and 7.24 (interquartile range, 11.71) d, respectively. Conclusion Public health emergencies in Zhejiang Province in 2023 were mainly caused by influenza and norovirus infection, with February, March, November and December being the peak reporting periods, and schools and preschool institutions being the main places where these events occurred.

ObjectiveTo obtain the status of latent tuberculosis infection （LTBI） among tuberculosis （TB）-related health-care workers （HCWs） in Shanghai， and to explore the risk factors related to TB infection. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting medical workers from multiple designated TB hospitals， centers for disease control and prevention， and community health service centers in Shanghai. Each subject was required to complete a questionnaire and to provide a blood sample for TB infection test. Univariate and multivariate analysis ware made in order to find risk factors relating to TB infection. ResultsA total of 165 medical workers were recruited， and the proportion of TB infection was 16.36% （95%CI： 11.49%‒22.76%）. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that clinical doctors and nurses （adjusted OR=9.756， 95%CI： 1.790‒53.188）， laboratory staffs （adjusted OR=78.975， 95%CI： 8.749‒712.918）， and nursing and cleaning workers （adjusted OR=89.920， 95%CI： 3.111‒2 598.930） had higher risk of TB infection. ConclusionThe overall LTBI prevalence among TB-related HCWs is low. However， working as doctors， nurses， laboratory staffs， nursing workers and cleaning workers are risk factors of TB infection. TB-related HCWs who work at hospitals are at risk of TB infection comparing to medical staffs who work outside hospitals.

ObjectiveTo describe the characteristics of treatment outcomes of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis （MDR-TB） patients enrolled in second-line treatment in Shanghai from 2017 to 2018， and to analyze the influencing factors of treatment outcomes. MethodsTotally 182 MDR-TB patients were analyzed by using data collected from the China tuberculosis management information system， the hospital's electronic medical record information system， whole genome sequencing results and a questionnaire survey， and logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the success of treatment. ResultsIn 182 MDR-TB patients， the success rate of treatment was 65.4%， the loss to follow-up rate was 8.2%， the mortality rate was 4.9%， the unassessable rate was 13.7%， and the drug withdrawal rate was 7.7%. The factors affecting the success of treatment in MDR-TB patients included age （35‒ years old， OR=5.28， 95%CI： 1.58‒17.59， P=0.007； 55‒ years old， OR=16.30， 95%CI： 4.36‒60.92， P<0.001） and compliance to medication （OR=0.55， 95%CI： 0.42‒0.72， P<0.001）. ConclusionThe treatment success rate of MDR-TB patients in Shanghai from 2017 to 2018 is significantly higher than the average level in China. Older patients and patients with less compliant are at higher risk of adverse treatment outcomes.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological features of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang Province in 2021, so as to provide the evidence for formulating infectious disease control measures. Methods: The data pertaining to notifiable infectious diseases reported in Zhejiang Province in 2021 were retrieved from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence and mortality of notifiable infectious diseases in Zhejiang Province in 2021 were descriptively analyzed. Results: Totally 29 types of notifiable infectious diseases with 396 623 cases and 391 deaths were reported in Zhejiang Province in 2021, with a reported incidence of 614.28/105 and a reported mortality of 0.605 6/105, respectively. There were 93 204 cases with class B notifiable infectious diseases, with a reported incidence rate of 144.35/105 and 303 419 cases with class C notifiable infectious diseases, with a reported incidence rate of 469.92/105; while no cases with class A notifiable infectious diseases were reported. Syphilis (39.45/105), tuberculosis (37.12/105), viral hepatitis (31.90/105) and gonorrhea (26.34/105) were the four most common class B notifiable infectious diseases, and AIDS (0.477 0/105) and pulmonary tuberculosis (0.116 2/105) were the two most deadly class B notifiable infectious diseases, while hand, foot and mouth disease (192.00/105), other infectious diarrhea (184.24/105) and influenza (86.45/105) were the three most common class C notifiable infectious diseases. According to the transmission route, intestinal and respiratory infectious diseases were the two most common infectious diseases, with reported incidence rates of 384.10/105 and 133.73/105, respectively; and according to the reported region, the highest incidence of class B notifiable infectious diseases was reported in Zhoushan and Ningbo cities, and the highest incidence of class C notifiable infectious diseases was reported in Ningbo City. Totally 1 101 COVID-19 cases were reported in Zhejiang Province in 2021, including 712 confirmed cases and 389 asymptomatic cases, and no deaths occurred. Conclusions The reported incidence of notifiable infectious diseases declined in Zhejiang Province in 2021 as compared to that prior to COVID-19 epidemics, with remarkable reductions in the incidence of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases. The management of pulmonary tuberculosis, viral hepatitis and AIDS requires to be reinforced during the containment of COVID-19, to prevent the seasonable epidemic of influenza, hand, foot and mouth disease and other infectious diarrhea in Zhejiang Province.

Objective: To establish a prediction model of herpangina epidemic trend based on Baidu index and hand, foot and mouth disease, so as to provide insights into analyses of communicable disease epidemics with limited or missing surveillance data. Methods: The incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease in Zhejiang Province during the period from the first week of 2015 through the 39th week of 2021 was retrieved from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Baidu index of hand, foot and mouth disease and herpangina was collected via the Baidu search engine during the same period. The correlation between the Baidu index and time series of hand, foot and mouth disease was examined using wavelet analysis. In addition, a random forest training model was created based on the Baidu index and incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease, and the fitting effectiveness was evaluated using the mean percentage error, while the Baidu index of herpangina was included in the model to predict the epidemic trend of herpangina during the study period. Results: The Baidu index of herpangina and hand, foot and mouth disease, and the Baidu index and incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease all appeared two peaks at the 26th and 52th week. The phase difference was less than 0.1 week between the Baidu index and time series of hand, foot and mouth disease, and the mean percentage error of the training model was 13.07%, with high concordance between the predicted number and actual report number of cases with hand, foot and mouth disease. The numbers of herpangina cases were predicted to be 28 822, 27 341, 28 422, 51 782, 52 457 and 5 691 from 2015 to 2020, and there were totally 48 702 herpangina cases reported until the 39th week of 2021. Like hand, foot and mouth disease, the incidence of herpangina peaked between May and July. Conclusion The random forest training model based on the Baidu index and incidence of hand, foot and mouth disease is feasible to predict the epidemic trend of herpangina.