Intracranial tuberculomas diagnosed with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissues and treated with an optimized antituberculosis regimen: A case report.

Diagnosis of intracranial tuberculoma remains a challenge due to its rarity, non-specific clinical presentation, and radiological findings. Herein, we describe a case of intracranial tuberculomas in a male diabetic patient who presented headache and vomiting on admission. Neuroimaging findings indicated multiple ring contrast-enhanced lesions with extensive perilesional edema. However, a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination was normal. When a biopsy of brain lesions was performed, pathological characteristics of tuberculosis were absent and acid-fast staining was negative. A tuberculosis diagnosis was subsequently obtained from an Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue. The patient was treated with an optimized anti-tuberculosis regimen which included high-dose intravenous administration of rifampicin and isoniazid, and oral administration of linezolid. The patient recovered well and exhibited marked clinical improvement. This case report demonstrates that when CSF analysis does not indicate the presence of intracranial tuberculomas, analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain tissue specimens with the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay may be able to confirm a diagnosis. Furthermore, a high dose of rifampicin and isoniazid plus linezolid may improve patient outcome.

Data independent acquisition reveals in-depth serum proteome changes in uremic pruritus.

Introduction: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a prevalent symptom in patients suffering from uremia, yet its underlying etiology and mechanisms remain incompletely elucidated. Given the significant incidence of UP, identifying specific alterations in proteins present in the blood of UP patients could offer insights into the potential biological pathways associated with UP and facilitate the exploration of biomarkers. Methods: In this study, we employed LC-MS/MS-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode to analyze serum samples obtained from 54 UP patients categorized as DKD-UP, HN-UP, and GN-UP (n = 18 for each subgroup), along with 18 uremic patients without pruritus (Negative) and 18 CKD patients without pruritus (CKD). Through DIA mode analysis, a total of 7075 peptides and 959 proteins were quantified. Within these, we identified four upregulated and 13 downregulated Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs) in DKD-UP versus Negative, five upregulated and 22 downregulated DEPs in HN-UP versus Negative, and three upregulated and 23 downregulated DEPs in GN-UP versus Negative. Furthermore, we conducted an intersection analysis of the DEPs across these three comparison groups to derive a set of common DEPs (COMP). Subsequently, a total of 67 common DEPs were identified in the three UP groups when compared to the CKD group, with 40 DEPs showing upregulation and 27 DEPs displaying downregulation. Results: Following Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analyses, we observed that the DEPs distinguishing UP from CKD were primarily associated with mitochondrial function (MT-CYB, PRDX2, TOMM22), inflammation (CD59, CSF1), renal injury (WFDC2), and neural function (CAP1, VGF). Discussion: Our findings contribute to a potential molecular comprehension of UP pathogenesis, shedding light on the identification of these DEPs as plausible biomarkers for UP.

Hemp seeds attenuate loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Constipation is a common gastrointestinal disease that seriously affects human physical and mental health. Studies have reported that hemp seeds can improve constipation, however the specific mechanism is still unclear. This study investigates that hemp seed (HS) and its water-ethanol extract (HSE) attenuates loperamide-induced constipation in mice. The research results show that: the fecal water content and small intestinal transit rate of mice in the hemp seed group and hemp seed hydroalcoholic extract group were significantly increased compared with MC group, and the first red feces defecation time was significantly shortened; HS and HSE significantly influence serum levels of Gastrin (Gas), motilin (MTL), substance P (SP), and endothelin (ET), potentially mediating their effects on gastrointestinal motility. HS and HSE can improve colon inflammation in constipated mice with H&E staining. Compared with the model of constipation group, the content of short-chain fatty acids in the HS group and HSE group increased significantly. Gut microbiome studies have shown that the structure and abundance of intestinal flora are altered. HS and HSE changed the abundance of Odoribacter, Bacteroide, Lactobacillus and Prevotella. Together, these results suggest that HS have the potential to stimulate the proliferation of beneficial gut microbes and promote intestinal motility, thereby improving gut health and relieving symptoms of constipation.

WITHDRAWN: Effects of hydraulic retention time and cultivation on nutrients removal and biomass production in wastewater by membrane photobioreactor: Modeling and optimization by machine learning and response surface methodology.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the Editor-in-Chief.

(Ni1/3Nb2/3)4+-Improved High-K Ba3Ti4Nb4O21 Microwave Dielectric Ceramics for Miniaturized All-Ceramic Radomes with 5G Beam-Splitting Function.

With the rapid development of 5G communication technology, microwave dielectric ceramics with high dielectric constants are very conducive to the miniaturization of passive devices. Here, Ba3Ti4-x(Ni1/3Nb2/3)xNb4O21 (BTN ∼ NN, 0.03 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) ceramics with hexagonal phases are synthesized via the solid-phase route. The composite (Ni1/3Nb2/3)4+ ion substitution strategy can substantially improve the microwave dielectric properties of the Ba3Ti4Nb4O21 (BTN) ceramic. The εr and Q × f values depend on the ionicity (Nb-O bonds) and lattice energies (Nb(1)-O3 and Nb(1)-O2(1) bonds). The microwave dielectric properties of the BTN ∼ NN (x = 0.09) ceramic sintered at 1250 °C are εr = 60.3, Q × f = 22073 GHz, and τf = 78.1 ppm/°C. A miniaturized all-ceramic radome (@400 mm × 400 mm × 8 mm) for 5G beam-splitting function is designed and demonstrated using this ceramic. Compared to other radomes designed for other work utilizing low εr, the size of this radome has been reduced by 3/7. The reflection coefficients of the beam splitting function are all 0.73, and the phase shifts are all 360°. This work contributes to the development of miniaturized passive devices from a materials point of view.

Mono-2-ethylhexylphthalate (MEHP) is a potent agonist of human TRPA1 channel.

Phthalates are extensively used as plasticizers in diverse consumer care products but have been reported to cause adverse health effects in humans. A commonly used phthalate, di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) causes developmental and reproductive toxicities in humans, but the associated molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Mono-2-ethylhexylphthalate (MEHP), a hydrolytic product of DEHP generated by cellular esterases, is proposed to be the active toxicant. We conducted a screen for sensory irritants among compounds used in consumer care using an assay for human Transient Receptor Potential A1 (hTRPA1). We have identified MEHP as a potent agonist of hTRPA1. MEHP-induced hTRPA1 activation was blocked by the TRPA1 inhibitor A-967079. Patch clamp assays revealed that MEHP induced inward currents in cells expressing hTRPA1. In addition, the N855S mutation in hTRPA1 associated with familial episodic pain syndrome decreased MEHP-induced hTRPA1 activation. In summary, we report that MEHP is a potent agonist of hTRPA1 which generates new possible mechanisms for toxic effects of phthalates in humans.

Identification and Analysis of SND1 as an Oncogene and Prognostic Biomarker for Lung Adenocarcinoma / 中国肺癌杂志

BACKGROUND@#Transcription factor (TF) can bind specific sequences that either promotes or represses the transcription of target genes, and exerts important effects on tumorigenesis, migration, invasion. Staphylococcal nuclease-containing structural domain 1 (SND1), which is a transcriptional co-activator, is considered as a promising target for tumor therapy. However, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the role of SND1 in LUAD.@*METHODS@#Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database was obtained to explore the association between SND1 and the prognosis, as well as the immune cell infiltration, and subcellular localization in LUAD tissues. Furthermore, the functional role of SND1 in LUAD was verified in vitro. EdU assay, CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, scratch assay, Transwell assay and Western blot were performed.@*RESULTS@#SND1 was found to be upregulated and high expression of SND1 is correlated with poor prognosis of LUAD patients. In addition, SND1 was predominantly present in the cytoplasm of LUAD cells. Enrichment analysis showed that SND1 was closely associated with the cell cycle, as well as DNA replication, and chromosome segregation. Immune infiltration analysis showed that SND1 was closely associated with various immune cell populations, including T cells, B cells, cytotoxic cells and dendritic cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that silencing of SND1 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration of LUAD cells. Besides, cell cycle was blocked at G1 phase by down-regulating SND1.@*CONCLUSIONS@#SND1 might be an important prognostic biomarker of LUAD and may promote LUAD cells proliferation and migration.

Digital technology and its application in supply chain management: new evidence from China's economy.

The purpose of this article is to investigate the influence that practices using information technology (IT) have on the development of a competitive advantage across the supply chain. An organization has a competitive advantage when it has qualities that give the required foundations for it to separate itself from other organizations that are also in its industry. Pressure is applied to the corporate environment as a result of competition and ongoing changes, such as the introduction of new products and technical advancements, the decline of product lifestyles, and the proliferation of products. In order to maintain a competitive edge and achieve financial success in business, organizations are necessary for responding to changes in the market. Through the use of supply chain markets, companies are able to react quickly to unforeseen shifts in the market, and these shifts may be turned into lucrative business possibilities. One of the most significant things that firms can do to assist themselves is make use of information technology to improve their supply chain management agility. From March 2021 through January 2022, the area of China will have a total sample size of 247 persons fill out a questionnaire as part of the data collection process. In each and every questionnaire, the measurements were taken using a Likert scale with five points. The partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach is used to the causal model in order to assess the model's reliability and validity. This technique is used to evaluate the causal model. The findings indicate that information technology has a favorable impact on the adaptability of supply chain management systems. In addition, the findings that were collected have shown that there are four factors that influence the SCM systems. These factors are the IT skills and knowledge, the integration of IT-based systems, the IT infrastructure, and the design of global position system and geographic information systems. In addition, this research offers practitioners recommendations for implementing digital technology for supply chain management and building suitable business strategies at various stages of digitalization.

Consideration on hot issues of gastric cancer surgery / 中华消化外科杂志

In China, gastric cancer is the top three malignant tumors with high incidence and mortality, which seriously endangers the lives and health of people. The comprehensive treat-ment based on surgery is still the main treatment for gastric cancer. Through the unremitting efforts and hard works of gastric cancer experts, the treatment effect of gastric cancer in China has made great progress. However, gastric cancer surgery still faces some outstanding problems. How to further improve preoperative accurate diagnosis? How to further rationalize the treatment of early gastric cancer? Where is the future development of minimally invasive techniques for gastric cancer surgery? How to break through the bottleneck of conversion therapy? These are the challenges for gastric cancer surgery. Based on relevant literature and combined with own clinical practice, the author explores the hot issues of gastric cancer surgery.

A modified fixation technique for the treatment of buried penis in children / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

For many years, surgical treatment of buried penis in children has been researched by several scholars, and numerous methods exist. This study aimed to explore the clinical effect of a modified fixation technique in treating buried penis in children. Clinical data of 94 patients with buried penis who were treated using the modified penile fixation technique from March 2017 to February 2019 in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital (Fuzhou, China) were retrospectively collected, compared, and analyzed. Clinical data of 107 patients with buried penis who were treated using traditional penile fixation technique from February 2014 to February 2017 were chosen for comparison. The results showed that at 6 months and 12 months after surgery, the penile lengths in the modified penile fixation group were longer than those in the traditional penile fixation group (both P < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative skin contracture and penile retraction in the modified penile fixation group was less than that in the traditional penile fixation group (P = 0.034 and P = 0.012, respectively). When the two groups were compared in terms of parents' satisfaction scores, the scores for penile size, penile morphology, and voiding status in the modified penile fixation group were higher than those in the traditional penile fixation group at 2-week, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups after surgery (all P < 0.05). We concluded that the modified penile fixation technique could effectively reduce the incidence of skin contracture and penile retraction and improve the penile length and satisfaction of patients' parents.

New model of PIRADS and adjusted prostatespecific antigen density of peripheral zone improves the detection rate of initial prostate biopsy: a diagnostic study / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

This study explored a new model of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) and adjusted prostate-specific antigen density of peripheral zone (aPSADPZ) for predicting the occurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). The demographic and clinical characteristics of 853 patients were recorded. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (PSAD), PSAD of peripheral zone (PSADPZ), aPSADPZ, and peripheral zone volume ratio (PZ-ratio) were calculated and subjected to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The calibration and discrimination abilities of new nomograms were verified with the calibration curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The clinical benefits of these models were evaluated by decision curve analysis and clinical impact curves. The AUCs of PSA, PSAD, PSADPZ, aPSADPZ, and PZ-ratio were 0.669, 0.762, 0.659, 0.812, and 0.748 for PCa diagnosis, while 0.713, 0.788, 0.694, 0.828, and 0.735 for csPCa diagnosis, respectively. All nomograms displayed higher net benefit and better overall calibration than the scenarios for predicting the occurrence of PCa or csPCa. The new model significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy of PCa (0.945 vs 0.830, P < 0.01) and csPCa (0.937 vs 0.845, P < 0.01) compared with the base model. In addition, the number of patients with PCa and csPCa predicted by the new model was in good agreement with the actual number of patients with PCa and csPCa in high-risk threshold. This study demonstrates that aPSADPZ has a higher predictive accuracy for PCa diagnosis than the conventional indicators. Combining aPSADPZ with PIRADS can improve PCa diagnosis and avoid unnecessary biopsies.

Clinical features and microsurgical reconstruction of congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens with obstructive azoospermia: a tertiary care center experience / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Patients with congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens (CUAVD) manifest diverse symptoms from normospermia to azoospermia. Treatment for CUAVD patients with obstructive azoospermia (OA) is complicated, and there is a lack of relevant reports. In this study, we describe the clinical features and evaluate the treatments and outcomes of CUAVD patients with OA. From December 2015 to December 2020, 33 patients were diagnosed as CUAVD with OA in Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai, China). Patient information, ultrasound findings, semen analysis, hormone profiles, and treatment information were collected, and the clinical outcomes were evaluated. Of 33 patients, 29 patients were retrospectively analyzed. Vasoepididymostomy (VE) or cross VE was performed in 12 patients, the patency rate was 41.7% (5/12), and natural pregnancy was achieved in one of the patients. The other 17 patients underwent testicular sperm extraction as the distal vas deferens (contralateral side) was obstructed. These findings showed that VE or cross VE remains an alternative treatment for CUAVD patients with OA, even with a relatively low rate of patency and natural pregnancy.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Exosome Component 4 in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the expression of Exosome Component 4（EXOSC4） in the tissues of newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its clinical significance.@*METHODS@#The expression of EXOSC4 protein in the tissues of 181 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Clinical data were collected. The correlation between EXOSC4 protein expression in the tissues of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients and clinical features were analyzed and its prognostic significance.@*RESULTS@#The positive rate of EXOSC4 protein expression was 68.51% in the tissues of 181 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients. These patients were divided into two groups, with 44 cases in high expression group and 137 cases in low expression group. There were no significant differences in age, gender, B symptoms, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, Ann Arbor stage, extranodal disease, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, National Comprehensive Cancer Network IPI (NCCN-IPI) score, and cell origin between the two groups (P>0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that high EXOSC4 protein expression in tissues was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS and PFS in newly diagnosed DLBCL patients (all P<0.05). K-M survival analysis showed that newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with high EXOSC4 protein expression had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) than those patients with low EXOSC4 protein expression (all P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#High EXOSC4 protein expression in tissues of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients is an independent poor prognostic factor for survival.

Analysis of Nosocomial Infection in a Cancer Hospital from 2019 to 2021 / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo understand the situation of nosocomial infection in cancer hospitals and its changing trend， so as to provide a basis for adjusting the focus of nosocomial infection prevention and control in cancer hospitals. MethodsData of nosocomial infection quality control indices of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from 2019 to 2021 were obtained through the nosocomial infection monitoring system， and the changes of these indices across the three years were analyzed by Chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test. ResultsFrom 2019 to 2021， the incidence rates of nosocomial infection in this hospital were 0.80%， 0.78% and 0.57%， which decreased significantly year by year （P<0.001）. Among them， surgical site and respiratory system infection were more common， accounting for 35.75% and 31.08%， respectively. Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were the main pathogens. The incidence rate of multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospital increased year by year， from 0.08‰ to 0.14‰ （P<0.001）， among which methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus， carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter and bacteria producing ultra-broad spectrum β-lactamase （ESBLs） bacteria increased significantly. The incidence rates of three-tube associated infections were no different across 3 years （P>0.05）， which were still at high levels. ConclusionFrom 2019 to 2021， the prevention and control of nonsocomial infection in the cancer hospital has been improved overall. Meanwhile， the infections of respiratory system and surgical sites， ESBLs related multidrug-resistant bacteria and three-tube are weak links in cancer specialized hospitals， which need to be emphasized and improved.

Interpretation of guidance on non-clinical safety evaluation for nanomedicines / 药学学报

With the rapid development of nanotechnology, the research and development of nanomedicines have become one of the development directions of drug innovation. Nanomedicines have special physical and chemical properties, such as nanoscale effects and nanostructure effects, so they have special biological properties, which may change the pharmacokinetic profiles such as absorption and tissue distribution of drug molecules, and thus affect their safety and effectiveness. There are many special concerns on the non-clinical safety evaluation of nanomedicines at the basis of ordinary drug because of the particularity of nanomedicines. On August 25, 2021, China issued Guidance on Non-clinical Safety Evaluation for Nanomedicines(interim). This article interprets comprehensively the guidance, focuses on the key points of non-clinical safety evaluation for nanomedicines, and expounds combined with some cases, aiming to provide reference for drug researchers.

Evaluation of thermal environment and human thermal comfort in 8 types of public places from 2019 to 2021 / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective: To evaluate the thermal environment of different types of public places and the thermal comfort of employees, so as to provide scientific basis for the establishment of microclimate standards and health supervision requirements. Methods: From June 2019 to December 2021, 50 public places (178 times) of 8 categories in Wuxi were selected, including hotels, swimming pools (gymnasiums), bathing places, shopping malls (supermarkets), barber shops, beauty shops, waiting rooms (bus station) and gyms. In summer and winter, microclimate indicators such as temperature and wind speed were measured in all kinds of places, combined with the work attire and physical activity of employees in the places. Fanger thermal comfort equation and center for the built environment (CBE) thermal comfort calculation tool were used to evaluate the predicted mean vote (PMV), predicted percent dissatisfied (PPD) and standard effective temperature (SET) according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 55-2020. The modification effects of seasonal and temperature control conditions on thermal comfort were analyzed. The consistency of GB 37488-2019 "Hygienic Indicators and Limits in Public Places" and ASHRAE 55-2020 evaluation results on thermal environment was compared. Results: The thermal sensation of hotel, barber shop staff and the gym front-desk staff were moderate, while the thermal sensation of swimming place lifeguard, bathing place cleaning staff and gym trainer were slightly warm in summer and winter. Waiting room (bus station) cleaning and working staff, shopping mall staff felt slightly warm in summer and moderate in winter. Service staff in bathing places felt slightly warm in winter, while staff in beauty salons felt slightly cool in winter. The thermal comfort compliance of hotel cleaning staff and shopping mall staff in summer was lower than that in winter (χ(2)=7.01, 7.22, P=0.008, 0.007). The thermal comfort compliance of shopping mall staff in the condition of air conditioning off was higher than that in the condition of air conditioning on (χ(2)=7.01, P=0.008). The SET values of front-desk staff in hotels with different health supervision levels were significantly different (F=3.30, P=0.024). The PPD value and SET value of the front-desk staff, and the PPD value of cleaning staff of hotels above three stars were lower than those of hotels below three stars (P<0.05). The thermal comfort compliance of front-desk staff and cleaning staff in hotels above three stars was higher than that in hotels below three stars (χ(2)=8.33, 8.09, P=0.016, 0.018). The consistency of the two criteria was highest among waiting room (bus station) staff (100.0%, 1/1) and lowest among gym front-desk staff (0%, 0/2) and waiting room (bus station) cleaning staff (0%, 0/1) . Conclusion: There are different degrees of thermal discomfort in different seasons, under the condition of air conditioning and health supervision, and the microclimate indicators can not fully reflect the thermal comfort of human body. The health supervision of microclimate should be strengthened, the applicability of health standard limit value should be evaluated in many aspects, and the thermal comfort of occupational group should be improved.

Dryness-alleviating effect of processed Aurantii Fructus from Lingnan based on correlation of fecal metabolomics and dryness / 中国中药杂志

With the approach of untargeted metabolomics and correlation analysis, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of Aurantii Fructus from Lingnan region in alleviating dryness by analyzing the different effects of raw Aurantii Fructus(RAF) and processed Aurantii Fructus(PAF) on fecal endogenous metabolism in normal rats. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group(C), an RAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)), and a PAF group(10 g·kg~(-1)). After seven days of administration, the effects of RAF and PAF on dryness-related indexes were compared, including water intake, fecal water content, salivary secretion, the expression of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland, as well as the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon. The fecal samples in each group were determined by LC-MS. Multivariate statistical analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for screening the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in alleviating dryness of RAF. The results indicated that both RAF and PAF showed certain dryness, and the dryness of RAF was more significant. Moreover, PAF could alleviate dryness of RAF to a certain extent by reducing the water intake, fecal water content, and the expression of AQP3, VIP, and 5-HT in the colon and increasing the salivary secretion and the levels of AQP5, VIP, and 5-HT in the submandibular gland. According to the analysis of fecal metabolomics, 99 and 58 metabolites related to dryness were found in RAF and PAF respectively, where 16 of them played an important role in alleviating dryness of RAF. Pathway analysis revealed that the mechanism of PAF in alleviating dryness of RAF was presumably related to the regulation of riboflavin metabolism, purine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, alanine metabolism, aspartate metabolism, glutamate metabolism, and retinol metabolism pathways. This study suggested that PAF might alleviate dryness of RAF by affecting the metabolic levels of the body, which provides a new basis for further clarifying the processing mechanism of PAF.

Progress in research of strategies of expanding HIV testing in men who have sex with men / 中华流行病学杂志

In recent years, HIV infection prevalence in MSM has been in increase in China. HIV testing is the only way to identify HIV-infection, effectively curb the spread of HIV and reduce AIDS-related death risks. At present, the situation of HIV testing in MSM is not satisfactory, and expanding HIV testing is the one of the key measures for AIDS prevention and control in this population. This paper summarizes the role and strategies of expanding HIV testing in MSM in order to provide a reference for the improvement of HIV testing in this population.

A cohort study of incidence of club drug abuse in men who have sex with men in Qingdao / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand and analyze the incidence of club drug abuse and influencing factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Qingdao, and provide reference for the AIDS prevention and intervention in this population. Methods: From March 2017 to July 31, 2022, MSM who did not abuse club drug were recruited by snowball sampling of MSM social organizations in Qingdao, a prospective cohort was established, and a follow-up survey was conducted every 6 months. The survey collected the information about the MSM's demographic characteristics, sexual characteristics, club drug abuse and others. The incidence of club drug abuse was the outcome dependent variable and the interval between the recruitment into the cohort and the incidence of club drug abuse was the time dependent variable. Cox regression analysis was conducted to identify the influencing factors for club drug abuse. Results: A total of 509 MSM were recruited at baseline survey, and 369 eligible MSM were enrolled in this cohort. A total of 62 MSM began to abuse club drug during the study period, and the cumulative follow-up time was 911.54 person-years, the incidence of club drug abuse was 6.80/100 person-years. All the club drug abusers shared drugs with others in the first club drug abuse, and 16.13% (10/62) had mix-use of club drugs. The multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analysis showed that being students (aHR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.15-4.10), receiving no HIV testing or receiving 1 HIV testing during past 6 months (aHR=4.57, 95%CI:1.80-11.60; aHR=5.15, 95%CI: 2.83-9.36), having sex only with regular sexual partners during past 6 months (aHR=4.75,95%CI:2.32-9.75), having more than 4 homosexual partners (aHR=1.70, 95%CI:1.01-2.87) and abuse of club drug of sexual partners during past 6 months (aHR=12.78, 95%CI:3.06-53.35) were significantly associated with club drug abuse in the MSM. Conclusions: The incidence of club drug abuse was at a high level in the MSM cohort in Qingdao, indicating a high risk for HIV infection. Being student, receiving less HIV testing, having sex only with regular sexual partners, having more homosexual partners and abuse of club drug of sexual partners during past 6 months were risk factors for the incidence of club drug abuse in the MSM. Targeted surveillance and intervention measures should be strengthened to reduce the risk of club drug abuse in MSM.