Conectar
by Meirong Shan, Qian Guo, Ruofei Li, Ni Li, Yanhua Fu, Huanyu Qi, Ge Zhang, Qian Wang, Xingli Xu, Jinchuan Lai
Hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases worldwide, affecting over one billion people. Although aliskiren offers a valuable option for inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system, its safety profile in the real world remains insufficiently explored, especially for rare or under-recognized adverse events (AEs), which have not been fully clarified. Therefore, leveraging large-scale post-marketing surveillance data is crucial for identifying rare AEs and guiding safer clinical practice. This study aims to elucidate pharmacovigilance signals associated with aliskiren (an antihypertensive drug) by systematically analyzing the characteristics of adverse events (AEs) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and WHO-VigiAccess database, which provides a reliable scientific basis for clinical practice and regulatory decision-making. We conducted a retrospective quantitative analysis of aliskiren-related AE reports from the aforementioned two databases, employing the Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker (MGPS) algorithms for signal detection. The results indicate that there were 5,596 and 5,549 aliskiren-related reports in the FAERS and WHO-VigiAccess databases, respectively. The median duration of these AEs during the observation period was 62 days, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 7–282 days. In both databases, signals for aliskiren were distributed across 28 System Organ Classes (SOCs), among which investigations, cardiac disorders, renal and urinary disorders, vascular disorders, and metabolism and nutrition disorders exhibited significant signals based on specific criteria applied across the four algorithms. A total of 607 preferred terms (PTs) with significant disproportionality signals were detected using the four algorithms, including potential AEs not previously well-documented, such as palpitations, myalgia, proteinuria, muscular weakness, pulmonary edema, and pollakiuria. This study not only confirms the known adverse reactions of aliskiren but also uncovers new potential risks, highlighting the importance of strengthening drug safety monitoring to enhance therapeutic efficacy and reduce the risk of adverse reactions. It provides valuable safety insights for physicians considering the use of aliskiren in the management of primary hypertension.by Xiuqun Yuan, Yuting Chen, Huihui Lu, Pei Zheng, Yanyan Zhang, Min Chen, Xia Sheng
ObjectivesPost-prostatectomy patients experience urinary incontinence, fluctuating quality of life, and psychosocial distress during early survivorship. Evidence-based nursing models addressing long-term supportive needs remain limited. This study developed and evaluated an enhanced survivorship-oriented care model designed to improve postoperative functional recovery and quality-of-life outcomes.
MethodsA retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary urologic center. The improved survivorship model was developed based on our previous PROSTATE care model, integrating nurse-led continuous follow-up, psychosocial support, and structured rehabilitation. A total of 1062 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between June 2024 and May 2025 received the enhanced survivorship care, compared with 673 patients treated between June 2023 and December 2023 under the previous PROSTATE care model. Outcomes included urinary continence, quality of life, postoperative complications, and length of stay. Between-group comparisons were performed using independent-samples tests, and repeated-measures ANOVA was applied to assess longitudinal changes.
ResultsBoth groups demonstrated significant improvements in urinary recovery and quality of life over time (time × group interaction, P Conclusion
The enhanced survivorship care model demonstrated clinically meaningful improvements in quality of life and continence recovery, while maintaining patient safety. These findings support its clinical value and potential for wider implementation as a structured survivorship strategy following radical prostatectomy.
To evaluate the impact of a 5-min delay in needle removal after haemodialysis on complications and patient satisfaction in newly created arteriovenous fistulas.
Retrospective cohort study.
This study analysed 109 patients with new arteriovenous fistulas undergoing initial cannulation 8–12 weeks post-surgery. Participants were divided into two cohorts: a conventional group (n = 42) receiving immediate needle removal after pump cessation, and a delayed group (n = 67) retaining needles for 5 min post-pump cessation before removal. Outcomes included haemostasis time, hematoma incidence, 3-month reintervention rates, and patient satisfaction measured by a 5-point scale.
Delaying needle removal by 5 min reduced mean haemostasis time by 32% compared to immediate removal (16.4 min vs. 24.1 min). Hematoma incidence decreased substantially by 76% in the delayed group (3.3% vs. 13.1%). At 3-month follow-up, reintervention rates were 66% lower with delayed removal (9.0% vs. 26.2%). Patients also reported 50% less procedure-related pain and significantly higher satisfaction scores (median 4.5 vs. 2).
A brief 5-min delay in needle removal significantly reduces complications and enhances patient-centered outcomes during early arteriovenous fistula use.
This protocol establishes an evidence-based standard for post-dialysis needle management, directly reducing compression-induced pain and reintervention needs while requiring no additional nursing resources. Implementation can immediately improve vascular access safety in haemodialysis units.
The study addresses high complication rates (26.2%) from immediate needle removal in immature fistulas. Key findings demonstrate 76% fewer hematomas and 66% lower reinterventions with 5-min delayed removal. This evidence may transform global haemodialysis nursing protocols, benefiting a substantial population of patients receiving new fistulas annually.
This study follows the STROBE checklist.
Patients and the public were not involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of this retrospective medical record analysis.
To investigate the association between quantitative retinal vascular parameters and coronary artery disease (CAD) and to evaluate the efficacy of a retinal phenotype-based diagnostic model as a non-invasive tool for early CAD screening.
A retrospective cross-sectional study.
A single-centre study conducted at the Cardiovascular Center of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, China, between January and October 2024.
417 patients with suspected angina undergoing their first coronary angiography (CAG) were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years and high-quality fundus photography within 24 hours pre-CAG. Major exclusions were prior coronary interventions, severe systemic/valvular heart diseases and ocular conditions impairing retinal vascular visualisation.
The primary outcome was the association between quantitative retinal vascular parameters and the presence of CAD (defined as ≥50% stenosis). Secondary outcomes included the diagnostic performance area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of three predictive models: one based on quantitative retinal vascular parameters alone, one based on traditional risk factors and a combined model integrating both retinal and clinical variables.
This study enrolled 417 patients undergoing initial CAG. Compared with non-CAD controls (n=190), patients with CAD (n=227) had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes, along with elevated levels of fasting blood glucose, lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), triglyceride (TG) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (all p
Our findings, derived from an artificial intelligence-based fully automated quantitative retinal vascular parameters measurement method, revealed that multiple quantitative fundus parameters—including FD, VD and other morphological parameters were significantly associated with CAD risk. The CAD diagnostic model we developed demonstrates strong performance and high interpretability, making it suitable for early CAD screening and diagnosis.
Multimorbidity among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection has emerged as a priority for healthcare and public health systems worldwide.
This study aimed to characterise time-trends in multimorbidities among patients with CHB infection. We identified multimorbidity clusters and combinations and quantified their associations with healthcare services utilisation.
A retrospective observational study, using electronic medical record data.
A large tertiary general hospital in China.
The study included 23 137 patients with CHB infection admitted between 2011 and 2023.
Latent class analysis and association rule mining (ARM) were performed to identify multimorbidity clusters and combinations, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression quantified associations between the identified multimorbidity patterns and length of stay (LOS), daily expense and 1-year readmission for liver-related conditions (OYRL).
The mean number of multimorbidities among hospitalised patients with CHB infection was 2.82±1.89. From 2011 to 2023, mean age increased from 44.2±13.7 to 48.4±13.1 (p
Multimorbidity imposes a substantial burden on CHB-infected patients. Our findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of CHB infection, as well as tailored integral strategies for multimorbidity management in individuals with CHB infection.
Pressure injury (PI) is common in the ICU and not well captured by single-risk tools such as the Braden scale. We aimed to develop and internally validate a machine-learning model to predict new-onset PI using routinely collected ICU data. This retrospective single-centre cohort included adult ICU patients with length of stay ≥ 48 h (2018–2023). The primary outcome was new-onset PI during ICU stay. Candidate predictors were pre-specified: minimum albumin, maximum lactate, SOFA, APACHE II, first recorded Braden score, age, BMI, a nutrition score and treatment indicators. Missing values were imputed (median/mode). A gradient boosting model (GBM) was evaluated with stratified 3-fold cross-validation; a random forest (RF) served as a benchmark (stratified 70/30 train–test split). Discrimination (AUC) was primary; calibration, Brier score, decision-curve analysis (DCA) and feature importance were secondary. Logistic regression quantified independent associations. Among included ICU stays, 14.6% developed PI. On multivariable analysis, higher lactate, lower albumin, lower Braden scores, older age, CRRT, prone positioning, enteral nutrition and analgesic exposure were associated with increased PI risk, whereas sedatives showed an inverse association. The GBM achieved AUC≈0.69 with acceptable calibration and net clinical benefit across thresholds commonly used in preventive workflows (≈0.10–0.50). Single markers or simple combinations displayed only modest discrimination. A GBM built from routine ICU data provided moderate, well-calibrated discrimination for predicting new-onset PI and demonstrated decision-relevant net benefit. The model can complement Braden-based screening by refining risk stratification and prioritising intensified prevention for patients most likely to benefit. External validation and prospective evaluation are warranted.
by Xiuxin Liu, Yuhui Han, Ruixue Kuang, Wenjiong Sheng, Yan Zhang, Xinyu Jia, Xiaoxiao Gao, Yanchao Ma
DNA damage-induced by radiotherapy is a critical factor in promoting the death of colorectal cancer cells (CRC). Although high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) reportedly plays a vital role in tumor radioresistance by modulating DNA damage repair, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, HMGB1 knockdown markedly enhanced cell apoptosis after radiation. HMGB1 downregulation significantly inhibited DNA damage repair and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated redox homeostasis after irradiation in CRC cells. Mechanistically, HMGB1 interacts with KU70 via its region spanning residues 95–163. This interaction subsequently activates the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway to facilitate DNA damage repair, ultimately leading to reduced radiation-induced cell apoptosis. KU70 silencing showed the same effect as HMGB1 depletion mediated cell apoptosis and DNA damage response both in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, HMGB1 and KU70 were overexpressed in CRC tissues. Analysis of the GEPIA database indicated that elevated levels of both genes showed a trend toward association with poor patient prognosis, although this did not reach statistical significance. The current study revealed that HMGB1 may promote DNA damage repair through KU70 and its mediated NHEJ pathway to affect apoptosis in CRC cells after irradiation. Thus, targeting the HMGB1/KU70/NHEJ axis may be a potential therapeutic target to promote the response of CRC to radiotherapy and in-depth study of the specific mechanism of this axis in CRC radioresistance will help to the develop more effective treatment strategies.by Yu Chen, Xinjie Zhao, Ying Yue, Zhenyi Li, Si Chen
ObjectivesTo investigate factors associated with susceptibility to wild mushroom consumption using machine learning approaches and identify key predictors for targeted intervention development.
MethodsA cross-sectional survey of 216 Chinese university students employed three machine learning algorithms (Logistic Regression, Random Forest, Extremely Randomized Trees [ExtraTrees]) to predict consumption susceptibility based on demographics, media usage, and cognitive factors. Susceptibility was assessed through scenario-based questions following established frameworks from tobacco research. Model performance was evaluated using AUC with 95% confidence intervals calculated via bootstrap resampling (1,000 iterations). Sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative susceptibility thresholds.
Results65.3% were classified as susceptible to consumption. Logistic Regression achieved highest performance (AUC = 0.776, 95% CI: 0.679–0.862). Risk perception emerged as the strongest predictor (importance = 0.133 ± 0.044), followed by mushroom picking experience (0.101 ± 0.017) and content impression (0.089 ± 0.018). Among the 63 participants (29.2%) who reported using AI models, 75.93% indicated trust levels of ‘fairly trust’ or above.
ConclusionsIn this exploratory study of Chinese university students from a single institution, cognitive factors, particularly risk perception and identification ability, showed the strongest associations with consumption susceptibility. These preliminary findings suggest that targeted interventions enhancing risk awareness may be relevant for this population, though replication across diverse samples is needed before broader conclusions can be drawn.
by Hang Sun, Haozhi Xu, Junying Li, Xiaoman Xie, Junmei Zhang, Hongjie Dong, Huanhuan Xie, Qi Wang, Guihua Zhao, Kun Yin, Jingyu Yang, Jianwei Zhou, Ruili Wu, Chao Xu
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and lethal cancers globally. methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation plays a crucial role in tumor initiation and progression by regulating RNA function. STM2457, a highly efficient METTL3 inhibitor, can inhibit METTL3 activity and may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy in cancers. However, the role of STM2457 for GC cells is still unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression profile data of GC in TCGA and GEO databases, and further explored the expression involvement of METTL3 in GC cell line, investigated the therapeutic effect of STM2457 targeted inhibition of METTL3 in GC both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results indicated that STM2457 could suppress GC cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting METTL3, and also promoted cell apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle in S phase. In addition, STM2457 could inhibit tumor growth in subcutaneous xenotransplantation mouse model. Our findings suggested that STM2457 had great potential for the treatment of GC and could serve as a foundation for future clinical applications.by Siyu Xie, Qiang Gu, Guiyin Zhuang, Xiaojing Guo, Bo Sun
ObjectivesTo explore the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of heparin in the management of meconium-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in near-term newborn rabbits subjected to mechanical ventilation (MV) and ancillary respiratory medications.
MethodsNewborn rabbits at 30-day gestation (term 31 days) were anesthetized, intratracheally intubated and received human meconium-saline suspension, followed by parallel MV with individually adjusted tidal volume in a multi-plethysmograph-ventilator system. When ALI was induced after initial 3-h MV, therapeutic effects of single or combined subcutaneous heparin (100 U/kg), surfactant (200 mg/kg), and inhaled nitric oxide (iNO, 10 ppm), were compared for lung protective ventilation and survival as outcome, analyzed with linear regression models.
ResultsSignificantly reduced respiratory compliance by meconium was reinstalled during ensuing 7-h MV, with improved survival, among the treatment groups. The impact was verified by lung injury severity, surfactant phospholipid pools, and multiple mRNA expressions of surfactant proteins, lung fluid clearance-related factors, inflammatory mediators, growth factors, endothelial cell injury and coagulation-related factors as subphenotyping biomarkers. The overall benefits of heparin alone, or exerted with the dual and triple regimens, were discernible by both generalized linear model and Cox proportional hazard ratio regression for survival and other major variables as outcome. Its adverse effects were intangible.
ConclusionThe comparable efficacy of heparin, alongside the PS and NO, was corroborated in attenuating meconium-mediated, ventilator-induced ALI, which should warrant clinical investigation to validate.
The prolonged survival of lung cancer patients is accompanied by an increasing incidence of leptomeningeal metastases (LM). Patients with LM have a poor prognosis, significantly impacting their quality of life and overall survival. Recent studies have shown that while intrathecal pemetrexed (IP) can improve symptoms and confer a survival benefit in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with LM, drug resistance remains a significant challenge. As for systemic therapy, intravenous bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy has demonstrated clinical benefits in NSCLC patients. However, clinical data on intrathecal bevacizumab remain scarce. Therefore, this study aims to preliminarily explore the efficacy and safety of intrathecal pemetrexed and bevacizumab in the treatment of NSCLC patients with LM.
This is a single-centre, single-arm, prospective, investigator-initiated phase Ia clinical trial sponsored by Shanghai Chest Hospital, involving patients with advanced NSCLC and LM. Participants will be enrolled and allocated into two predefined cohorts. Cohort A: six participants will receive IP monotherapy for safety exploration. Cohort B: participants will receive intrathecal pemetrexed and bevacizumab. Pemetrexed will be administered at a fixed dose, while the dosage exploration for bevacizumab will employ a combination of a 3+3 design and an accelerated titration design (ATD). The primary endpoint is the safety and the secondary endpoint is the overall survival (OS).
This study protocol (Version 1.1, dated 8 October 2024) was approved by the Ethics Commission of Shanghai Chest Hospital (IS24103) on 23 October 2024. Trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
NCT06663306, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Nanocrystalline silver dressings are increasingly used as alternatives to silver sulfadiazine dressings in burn management, but comparative evidence remains inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of nanocrystalline silver dressings versus silver sulfadiazine dressings in burn patients.
Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251060978).
PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched from inception through April 2025.
Randomized controlled trials comparing nanocrystalline silver dressings with silver sulfadiazine dressings in burn patients were included. Primary outcomes were wound healing time and adverse events. Secondary outcomes included complete re-epithelialization rates and dressing change frequency. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Evidence certainty was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4.
Eight randomized controlled trials (724 patients) were included. Nanocrystalline silver dressings significantly reduced wound healing time (mean difference [MD] = −3.29 days, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −3.82 to −2.76; p < 0.00001; I 2 = 0%) and dressing change frequency (MD = −8.76, 95% CI: −12.68 to −4.85; p < 0.00001; I 2 = 94%). No significant differences were found in re-epithelialization rates (odds ratio = 1.08, p = 0.80) or adverse events (risk difference = −0.00, p = 0.99). Evidence certainty was low to very low across all outcomes.
Nanocrystalline silver dressings may offer advantages over silver sulfadiazine dressings in reducing wound healing time and dressing change frequency in burn patients, but the overall certainty of evidence is low to very low. Future well-powered, multicenter trials with standardized outcomes and extended follow-up are needed.
These findings support the consideration of nanocrystalline silver dressings for burn wound management, particularly for reducing wound healing time and nursing workload associated with dressing changes. However, dressing selection should be guided by burn depth, infection risk, patient-specific factors, and resource availability.
We have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines, particularly the PRISMA checklist.
No patient or public contribution.
PROSPERO CRD420251060978.
To shed new light on the management practice and needs for support, mentoring and continuous education of nurse managers (head nurses and assistant head nurses) during and since the COVID-19 pandemic to identify the innovative strategies they put in place to mobilise teams and foster a healthy work environment.
A multi-centre exploratory descriptive study with a qualitative descriptive exploratory design was used.
10 focus groups held between December 2021 and July 2022, five from a Canadian healthcare centre and five from a Swiss healthcare centre, were conducted with 35 nurse managers. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Six central themes emerged: (1) A difficult context to navigate: Continuous adaptation necessary to navigate through difficulties and a rapidly changing context, (2) Maintaining a visible presence and engaging in active listening with team members to promote commitment, motivation and mobilisation, (3) Frequent short meetings, instant and transparent communication, (4) Role legitimacy and recognition, along with continuous professional development, (5) Integration and cohesion among team members, and the quality of care and (6) Shared leadership: A key strategy to prioritise.
The present study offers unique insights into the innovative strategies nurse managers have put in place to ensure the optimal functioning of their care team, to foster a positive work climate, and to ensure the commitment, motivation and mobilisation of their teams. A shared leadership approach appears to be a key lever of action to optimally tackle the present and future needs and challenges of nurse managers.
This study highlights key managerial strategies that can be beneficial in all contexts or during future crises, ultimately helping healthcare organisations and nurse managers have a better understanding of their role and influence.
Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ).
No patient or public contribution.
Open elbow arthrolysis effectively treats post-traumatic elbow stiffness, but severe postoperative pain during early rehabilitation impedes recovery. Continuous brachial plexus blocks, though effective, face limitations such as catheter displacement and infection risks. Liposomal bupivacaine, an ultra-long-acting local anaesthetic, offers prolonged analgesia and may circumvent these challenges. This study aims to compare the analgesic efficacy of a single-dose liposomal bupivacaine supraclavicular block versus continuous ropivacaine infusion in patients undergoing open elbow arthrolysis.
This single-centre, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial will enrol 72 adults (ASA I–III，the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification for preoperative risk) scheduled for open elbow release surgery. Participants will be randomised (1:1) to receive either a single supraclavicular block with 10 mL liposomal bupivacaine plus 10 mL 0.5% ropivacaine followed by saline infusion (liposomal bupivacaine group) or continuous catheter infusion with 20 mL 0.5% ropivacaine followed by 0.2% ropivacaine infusion (control group). The primary outcome is the weighted area under the curve (AUC) of Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores during functional exercises within 72 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes include resting NRS scores, sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), rehabilitation metrics (range of motion, grip strength), recovery quality (Quality of Recovery -15) and long-term functional outcomes (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores, Quick-DASH scores) at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Non-inferiority will be established if the upper 95% confidence limit of the AUC difference is ≤1.3. Statistical analyses will employ intention-to-treat principles with SPSS V.24.0.
Ethical approval was granted by Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Ethics Committee (K2025-213-00). The trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2500103911). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journals, contributing evidence on liposomal bupivacaine’s role in perioperative analgesia and rehabilitation for elbow surgery.
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR ID provided on acceptance).
Robust assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is essential for evaluating the disease burden in patients with haematologic malignancies. This study examined the performance of the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D) instrument in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), acute leukaemia (AL) and lymphoma using time trade-off (TTO)-elicited utility scores as the reference, and explored factors contributing to discrepancies between EQ-5D and TTO utilities.
We performed a cross-sectional observational study using EQ-5D and TTO to assess HRQoL.
A leading tertiary care hospital in China.
158 patients consecutively admitted to hospital for MM (n=50), AL (n=63) and lymphoma (n=45) between January and August 2024.
The primary outcome was the EQ-5D performance in terms of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), criterion validity (Spearman’s correlation with TTO), and structural validity (exploratory factor analysis). The secondary outcome was the patient characteristics associated with discrepancies between EQ-5D and TTO utilities.
TTO utility scores were highest in AL (0.798), followed by lymphoma (0.755) and MM (0.693). EQ-5D utility values were consistently higher than TTO across all groups. Among the three groups, EQ-5D demonstrated the best psychometric performance in patients with MM, with excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.899), strongest correlation with TTO (r=0.538, p
EQ-5D performed well in patients with MM, supporting its use in this population. In patients with AL, adjustments for clinical characteristics such as chronic kidney failure may improve the accuracy of EQ-5D utility values. The poor psychometric performance of EQ-5D in patients with lymphoma raises concerns about its appropriateness as a standalone instrument for HRQoL.
This prospective community-based cohort study (Acute Respiratory Infection Epidemiological Characteristics Assessment Study (ARI-ECAS)) aims to systematically monitor acute respiratory infection (ARI) incidence, characterise multiple pathogen coinfection patterns and explore microbial landscape dynamics in Shanghai’s general population. By integrating syndromic surveillance, molecular diagnostics and metagenomic sequencing, the study seeks to enhance understanding of ARI epidemiology, seasonal variation and host–pathogen interactions to inform predictive modelling and optimise public health interventions in high-density urban environments.
The study enrolled 15 199 permanent residents from all 16 districts of Shanghai, with baseline oropharyngeal swab samples across five representative districts (Xuhui, Jing’an, Jiading, Songjiang and Fengxian). Inclusion criteria required residency ≥6 months and consent for weekly follow-ups. Exclusion criteria addressed mobility limitations (planned relocation >6 months) and recent ARI history. Participants provided demographic, behavioural and clinical data via the Shanghai Health Cloud platform, with baseline and symptomatic-phase biological samples collected for analysis.
During the initial 8-month surveillance period (May 2024–January 2025), the ARI-ECAS cohort demonstrated critical insights into the epidemiology of acute respiratory infections in Shanghai’s urban communities. Among 15 199 participants, 10.96% reported symptomatic episodes, of whom 21.43% experienced recurrent infections. Pathogen detection using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) identified microbial aetiologies in 53.52% of symptomatic cases, revealing a high prevalence of coinfections: 27.96% involved dual pathogens, while 33.01% showed polymicrobial interactions (≥3 pathogens). Notably, 85.09% of symptomatic episodes were self-managed, underscoring a low healthcare-seeking rate (14.91%) consistent with patterns observed in urban China during postpandemic transitions.
The current phase of data collection will conclude in June 2025; however, syndromic surveillance and tNGS protocols will be sustained to capture multiyear seasonal transmission patterns. To enhance comparative rigour, future protocols will aim to collect samples from participants during asymptomatic periods in the subsequent year to serve as seasonal baseline controls. Building on this foundation, the study will integrate contact behaviour and mobility surveys to quantify parameters critical for understanding pathogen transmission dynamics (eg, household contacts and public transportation usage). Furthermore, pathogen detection and metagenomic data will be combined with transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling in selected cases to model multipathogen interaction networks and delineate host immune response pathways, thereby advancing mechanistic insights into polymicrobial cocirculation.
Hypertension remains a major public health challenge in rural China, where blood pressure control rates remain low, primarily due to inadequate self-management behaviours among patients. While physician-patient interaction plays a critical role in shaping self-management behaviours, few interventions leveraging this mechanism—particularly those tailored to individual behavioural trajectories—have been implemented in rural primary care. This study aims to design and evaluate the effectiveness of an adaptive, interaction intervention to improve self-management behaviours among patients with hypertension in rural China.
A Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomised Trial (SMART) will be used to develop and evaluate an adaptive intervention based on physician-patient interaction. Two initial strategies will be tested: (1) a standard strategy involving monthly interactive follow-ups and (2) an enhanced strategy incorporating behavioural incentives into the standard protocol. In the first stage, 320 patients were recruited from 16 villages and were randomised to either strategy. After 6 months, patients with adequate improvement will continue their original strategy, while those with suboptimal progress will be re-randomised to either an enhanced intervention with a reminder or a further version with both the reminder and physician feedback. All interventions will be delivered via a Smart Medical Assistant Telephone Robot (SMAT-R) integrated within routine primary care services. The primary outcome is patient self-management behaviour, assessed using the Hypertension Patient’s Self-Management Behaviour Rating Scale; secondary outcomes—including blood pressure, quality of life and acceptability of the intervention—will be collected by trained personnel using standardised procedures and the SMAT-R digital system. Data will be collected at baseline, 6 months and 12 months post-implementation. Marginal structural models will be used to assess the dynamic effects of intervention.
This study aims to inform the development and evaluation of an adaptive, scalable and technology-assisted intervention to improve self-management behaviours among patients with hypertension in rural primary care settings. Using a SMART design, the trial will generate evidence on optimal sequencing and tailoring of strategies based on behavioural responses. The findings are expected to guide sustainable improvements in chronic disease management within primary care systems in low-resource contexts.
This trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of West China Forth Hospital and West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University (Gwll2024130). The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All the participants provided written consent before participation. Trial results will be shared through peer-reviewed publications, ClinicalTrials.gov, and with healthcare providers and local health authorities, without publication restrictions.
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