BACKGROUND: It is inaccurate to reflect the level of dust exposure through working years. Furthermore, identifying a predictive indicator for lung function decline is significant for coal miners. The study aimed to explored whether club cell secretory protein (CC16) levels can reflect early lung function changes. METHODS: The cumulative respiratory dust exposure (CDE) levels of 1,461 coal miners were retrospectively assessed by constructed a job-exposure matrix to replace working years. Important factors affecting lung function and CC16 were selected by establishing random forest models. Subsequently, the potential of CC16 to reflect lung injury was explored from multiple perspectives. First, restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to compare the trends of changes in lung function indicators and plasma CC16 levels after dust exposure. Then mediating analysis was performed to investigate the role of CC16 in the association between dust exposure and lung function decline. Finally, the association between baseline CC16 levels and follow-up lung function was explored. RESULTS: The median CDE were 35.13 mg/m³-years. RCS models revealed a rapid decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), and their percentages of predicted values when CDE exceeded 25 mg/m³-years. The dust exposure level (<5 mg/m³-years) causing significant changes in CC16 was much lower than the level (25 mg/m³-years) that caused changes in lung function indicators. CC16 mediated 11.1% to 26.0% of dust-related lung function decline. Additionally, workers with low baseline CC16 levels experienced greater reductions in lung function in the future. CONCLUSIONS CC16 levels are more sensitive than lung indicators in reflecting early lung function injury and plays mediating role in lung function decline induced by dust exposure. Low baseline CC16 levels predict poor future lung function.
Uteroglobin/blood* ; Humans ; Dust/analysis* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Coal Mining ; Biomarkers/blood* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Female

In current clinical practice, various dermal templates and skin substitutes are used to enhance wound healing. However, the role of wound commensal microbiome in regulating scaffold performance and the healing process remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the influence of both natural and synthetic scaffolds on the wound commensal microbiome and wound repair in three distinct models including diabetic wounds, burn injuries, and germ-free (GF) wounds. Remarkably, synthetic electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds were observed to positively promote microbiome diversity, leading to enhanced diabetic wound healing compared to the natural scaffolds Integra® (INT) and MatriDerm® (MAD). In contrast, both natural and synthetic scaffolds exhibited comparable effects on the diversity of the microbiome and the healing of burn injuries. In GF wounds with no detectable microorganisms, a reversed healing rate was noted showing natural scaffold (MAD) accelerated wound repair compared to the open or the synthetic scaffold (PCL) treatment. Furthermore, the response of the wound commensal microbiome to PCL scaffolds appears pivotal in promoting anti-inflammatory factors during diabetic wound healing. Our results emphasize that the wound commensal microbiome, mediated by different scaffolds plays an important role in the wound healing process.

The recognition of the innate immune system is the first line of defense for host protec-tion against invading microbes.Toll-like receptors(TLRs)are well-characterized pattern recogni-tion receptors that are critical for recognizing pathogen-associated molecular pattern(PAMP)and regulating the activation of antigen-presenting cells and key cytokines.Recognition of protozoon parasite genomic DNA by TLR9 activates transcription factors such as NF-κB,IRF3/7,and MAPK,which then induce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type Ⅰ interferons.During parasite infection,MyD88 serves as a critical adapter protein for TLR9 to recognize PAMPs.Here,we review the TLR9-MyD88 pathways and their importance in the inflammatory re-sponse in some common protozoan parasite infections.We also discuss the impact of the subcellular localization of TLR9 in parasitic infectious diseases.By emphasizing current developments in these fields,the review aims to lay the foundation for future research on both the complexity of host-par-asite interactions and the prevention of protozoan parasitic diseases.

Objective:To investigate the value of soluble interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor (sIL-6R) level in predicting ultrafiltration insufficiency in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods:It was a prospective cohort study. The patients who received continuous ambulatory PD and regular follow-up between November 2016 and July 2018 in the PD Center of Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University were enrolled. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine dialysate sIL-6R and its appearance rate (AR) was calculated. Patients were divided into high sIL-6R AR group and low sIL-6R AR group according to median value of sIL-6R AR and prospectively followed up until death, PD cessation, or the end of the study (December 31, 2022). Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the related factors of sIL-6R AR. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used to compare the survival rate difference of ultrafiltration insufficiency between high sIL-6R AR group and low sIL-6R AR group. Multivariate Cox regression and multivariate competing risk models were used to assess the risk factors associated with occurrence of ultrafiltration insufficiency.Results:A total of 198 PD patients were enrolled, including 115 (58.1%) males, with age of (54.9±13.7) years old and PD duration of 22.5 (6.6, 65.0) months. The sIL-6R AR of the cohort was 2 094.7 (1 672.4, 2 920.9) pg/min. Compared with low sIL-6R AR（<2 094.7 pg/min）group, high sIL-6R AR（>2 094.7 pg/min）group had older age ( t=-3.269, P=0.001), higher body mass index ( t=-3.248, P=0.001), proportion of combined diabetes mellitus ( χ2=8.890, P=0.003), 24 h glucose exposure ( Z=-2.257, P=0.024), 24 h ultrafiltration capacity ( Z=-2.515, P=0.012), 4 h dialysate creatinine to serum creatinine ratio ( t=-2.609, P=0.010), mass transfer area coefficient of creatinine ( Z=-2.308, P=0.021), IL-6 AR ( Z=-3.533, P<0.001) and solute glycoprotein 130 AR ( Z=-8.670, P<0.001), and lower serum albumin ( t=2.595, P=0.010) and residual renal function ( t=2.133, P=0.033). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that body mass index ( β=0.194, P=0.005), serum albumin ( β=-0.215, P=0.002) and dialysate lg[IL-6 AR] ( β=0.197, P=0.011) were independently correlated with sIL-6R AR. By the end of the study, 57 (28.8%) patients developed ultrafiltration insufficiency. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that high sIL-6R AR group had a significantly inferior ultrafiltration insufficiency-free survival rate than that in low sIL-6R AR group (log-rank χ 2=5.375, P=0.020). Multivariate Cox regression analysis and multivariate competing risk models showed that high dialysate sIL-6R AR (>2 094.7 pg/min) was an independent influencing factor of ultrafiltration insufficiency ( HR=2.286 , 95% CI 1.254-4.165 , P=0.007 ; SHR=2.074, 95% CI 1.124-3.828, P=0.020) in PD patients. Conclusions:Dialysate sIL-6R level was associated with body mass index, serum albumin and dialysate IL-6 level. Dialysate sIL-6R may be a predictive factor of ultrafiltration insufficiency in PD patients.

Objective:To explore the optimal ratio of dihydrotestosterone and hydroxyflutamide (hereinafter referred to as DH), construct a dual release system of androgen and its antagonist, and analyze the application effect of this system in the repair of full-thickness burn wounds in mice.Methods:This study was an experimental study. The HaCaT cells were divided into blank group (without drug culture), low baseline group, medium baseline group, and high baseline group according to the random number table (the same grouping method below), and the last three groups of cells were cultured by adding three different ratios of DH. Under a medium ratio, the mass of dihydrotestosterone in the three baseline groups from low to high was 1.4, 2.8, and 4.0 μg, respectively, and the mass of hydroxyflutamide was 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 μg, respectively. On this basis, under a small ratio, the mass of dihydrotestosterone was reduced by half and the mass of hydroxyflutamide was increased by half; under a large ratio, the mass of dihydrotestosterone was increased by half and the mass of hydroxyflutamide was reduced by half. After culture of 2 days, the cell proliferation level was detected by cell counting kit 8 ( n=4). Sixteen 6-8-week-old male BALB/c mice were used to establish a full-thickness burn wound on the back and divided into blank group, small ratio group, medium ratio group, and large ratio group, with 4 mice in each group. On post injury day (PID) 7, normal saline containing different ratios of DH was locally dropped to the wounds of mice in the last three groups of mice (the total mass of DH in the three ratio groups from small to large was 127.5, 165.0, and 202.5 μg, respectively, and the mass ratios of dihydrotestosterone to hydroxyflutamide (hereinafter referred to as drug mass ratio) were 8∶9, 8∶3, and 8∶1, respectively), afterwards, the administration was repeated every 48 hours until PID 27; normal saline was dropped to the wound of mice in blank group at the aforementioned time points. The wound healing status on PID 0 (immediately), 7, 14, 21, and 28 was observed, and the wound healing rates on PID 7, 14, 21, and 28 were calculated ( n=4). On PID 28, the wound tissue was taken, which was stained with hematoxylin and eosin for observing re-epithelialization and with Masson for observing collagen fibers, and the proportion of collagen fibers was analyzed ( n=3). Twenty 6-8-week-old male BALB/c mice were used to establish a full-thickness burn wound on the back and divided into ordinary scaffold group, small proportion scaffold group, medium proportion scaffold group, and large proportion scaffold group (with 5 mice in each group). On PID 7, the wound was continuously dressed with a polycaprolactone scaffold without drug and a polycaprolactone scaffold containing DH with a drug mass ratio of 1∶3, 1∶1, or 3∶1 (i.e. the dual release system of androgen and its antagonist, with total mass of DH being about 1.7 mg) prepared by using electrospinning technology until the end of the experiment. Histopathological analyses of tissue ( n=3) at the same time points as those in the previous animal experiment were performed. On PID 7 and 14, the wound exudates were collected and the relative abundance of bacterial communities was analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA high-throughput sequencing ( n=3). Results:After culture of 2 days, under a small ratio, the proliferation levels of HaCaT cells in low baseline group and high baseline group were significantly higher than the level in blank group ( P<0.05). As the time after injury prolonged, the wounds of all four groups of mice continued to shrink. On PID 14, the wound healing rate of mice in large ratio group was 72.5% (61.7%, 75.1%), which was close to 53.3% (49.5%, 64.4%) in blank group ( P>0.05); the wound healing rates of mice in small and medium ratio groups were 74.2% (71.0%, 84.2%) and 70.4% (65.1%, 74.4%), respectively, which were significantly higher than the rate in blank group (with both Z values being -2.31, P<0.05). On PID 21, the wound healing rate of mice in small ratio group was significantly higher than that in blank group ( Z=-2.31, P<0.05). On PID 28, the wounds of mice in the three ratio groups were completely re-epithelialized and the epidermis was thicker than that in blank group; compared with that in blank group, the collagen fiber content in the wound tissue of mice in the three ratio groups was higher and arranged more orderly, and the proportions of collagen fibers in the wound tissue of mice in small and large ratio groups were significantly increased ( P<0.05). On PID 28, the wounds of mice in ordinary scaffold group were partially epithelialized, while the wounds of mice in the three proportion scaffold groups were almost completely epithelialized. Among them, the wounds of mice in small proportion scaffold group had the thickest epidermis. The proportion of collagen fibers in the wound tissue of mice in small proportion scaffold group was significantly increased compared with that in ordinary scaffold group ( P<0.05). On PID 7, the bacterial communities with high relative abundance in the wound exudation of mice in the four groups included bacteria of Corynebacterium, Staphylococcus, and Rhodococcus. On PID 14, the bacterial communities with high relative abundance in the wound exudation of mice in the four groups included bacteria of Stenotrophomonas, Rhodococcus, and Staphylococcus, and the number of bacterial species in the wound exudation of mice in the three proportion scaffold groups was more than that in ordinary scaffold group. Conclusions:When the drug mass ratio is relatively small, DH has the effect of promoting the proliferation of HaCaT cells. The ratio of 8∶9 is the optimal mass ratio of dihydrotestosterone to hydroxyflutamide, and DH with this mass ratio can promote re-epithelialization and collagen deposition of full-thickness burn wounds in mice, and promote wound healing. The constructed dual release system of androgen and its antagonist with DH in a 1∶3 drug mass ratio contributes to the re-epithelialization and collagen deposition of the full-thickness burn wounds in mice, and can improve the diversity of wound microbiota.

Objective To explore the impact of insomnia status in university students on cognitive flexi-bility.Methods The cluster sampling method was adopted.A total of 802 undergraduates in a university of Chongqing conducted the questionnaire survey by cognitive flexibility inventory(CFI)and Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI).A total of 770 effective questionnaires were recovered.Sixty-six university student vol-unteers were recruited as the study subjects.The subjects with the PSQI≥8 points and being in insomnia state after interview served as the insomnia group(n=28)and the subjects with the PSQI＜8 points and not being in insomnia state after interview served as the control group(n=38).The study subjects all participated in behavioral study(adopting the number-letter transition task assesses the cognitive flexibility of the subjects).The differences in the reaction time,accuracy rate and switching cost were compared between the two groups.Results The total scores of CFI and PSQI in the university students group were(70.43±12.85)points and(6.37±3.29)points,respectively.The detection rate of insomnia was 33.77％(260/770).The CFI score in in-somnia individual was significantly lower than that in the sleep normal individual,and the difference was sta-tistically significant[(68.15±11.65)points vs.(71.59±13.28)points,P＜0.05].The Spearman partial correlation analysis indicated that the cognitive flexibility was negatively correlated with the PSQI total score(r=-0.22),subjective sleep quality(r=-0.22),sleep latency(r=-0.12),sleep disorders(r=-0.16),hypnotic drug use(r=-0.14)and daytime dysfunction(r=-0.16).The average reaction time,reaction time for repeat trials,reaction time for switch trials and switching cost in the insomnia group were longer than those in the control group,the CFI score and switch trial accuracy rate were lower than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The cognitive flexibility of the university students with insomnia is lower than that of the university students with normal sleep.The insom-nia status should be intervened.

Objective To investigate the oral health status of the first-grade primary school students in Shanghai and analyze its influencing factors.Methods In 2021,Huangpu,Xuhui,Jiading,and Jing'an districts were selected in Shanghai by random sampling method.The first-grade students of 8 primary schools in these 4 districts were enrolled by random cluster sampling.Oral clinical examinations and questionnaires were conducted according to the criteria of the Fourth National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey.EpiData 3.1 software was used to create the database.SPSS 26.0 software was applied for statistical analysis.Chi-square test was used to compare the caries prevalence between groups,and two independent samples non-parametric test was used to compare the decayed,missing and filled teeth(DMFT)between groups.Multifactorial logistic regression model was used to analyzse the influencing factors of caries.Results A total of 824 informed consent forms and questionnaires were collected,of which 764 were completed,with an effective rate of 92.7％.The total caries prevalence of the participating students was 65.6％(501/764),and the mean DMFT was 3.24±3.47.A total of 2 473 carious teeth were found in the participating students,and 671 teeth were filled,with a filling rate of 27.1％.There were 7.91±2.76 permanent teeth erupted per student,and 56.3％(430/764)of the students had all 4 first permanent molars erupted.Multivariate logistic regression showed that eating sweets＞3 times a day(P=0.030),eating regularly before bedtime(P=0.001),and parents'cognition of kids'poor oral health status(P=0.025)were the influencing factors for the detection of caries in children.Conclusion The first-grade primary school students in Shanghai have high prevalence of caries.Eating sweets＞3 times a day,eating regularly before bedtime,and parents'cognition of kids'poor oral health status(P＜0.05)are the influencing factors for the detection of caries in children.

Osteoporosis （OP） is a systemic metabolic bone disease characterized by bone microstructure degeneration and bone mass loss， which has a high prevalence and disability rate. Effective prevention and treatment of OP is a major difficulty in the medical community. The nature of OP is that multiple pathological factors lead to the imbalance of human bone homeostasis maintained by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic cell death pathway， and its fundamental cause is cell damage caused by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in and affects the occurrence and development of OP， which leads to OP by mediating the imbalance of bone homeostasis. Ferroptosis is an adjustable form of programmed cell death. The intervention of ferroptosis can regulate the damage degree and death process of osteoblasts and osteoclasts， which is beneficial to maintain bone homeostasis， slow down the development process of OP， improve the clinical symptoms of patients， reduce the risk of disability， and improve their quality of life. However， there are few studies on ferroptosis in OP. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is a medical treasure with unique characteristics and great application value in China. It has been widely used in China and has a long history. It has the multi-target and multi-pathway advantages in the treatment of OP， with high safety， few toxic and side effects， and low treatment cost， and has a significant effect in clinical application. The intervention of TCM in ferroptosis to regulate bone homeostasis may be a new direction for the prevention and treatment of OP in the future. This article summarized the regulatory mechanisms related to ferroptosis， discussed the role of ferroptosis in bone homeostasis， and reviewed the current status and progress of active ingredients in TCM compounds and monomers in the regulation of OP through ferroptosis， so as to provide a theoretical basis for the participation of TCM in the prevention and treatment of OP in the future.

Objective:To investigate the chain mediation effect of psychological flexibility and dyadic coping between perceived social support and family function in parents of pediatric liver transplant recipients.Methods:Totally 320 parents of pediatric liver transplant recipients who were treated at the Department of Pediatric Organ Transplantation, Tianjin First Central Hospital from April to October 2023 were selected by convenience sampling. The participants were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-Ⅱ (AAQ-Ⅱ), the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI), and the Family APGAR Index (APGAR). Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between perceived social support, psychological flexibility, dyadic coping, and family function in these parents. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using Amos 26.0 to analyze the chain mediation effect of psychological flexibility and dyadic coping between perceived social support and family function, with the Bootstrap method used for model testing.Results:A total of 320 questionnaires were distributed, with 312 valid responses, yielding a response rate of 97.50% (312/320). The scores for the 312 parents were as follows: PSSS (59.29±15.64), AAQ-Ⅱ (20.35±9.07), DCI (124.64±32.65), and APGAR (6.98±2.74). Family function was positively correlated with perceived social support and dyadic coping ( P<0.01), and perceived social support was positively correlated with dyadic coping ( P<0.01). Psychological flexibility was negatively correlated with family function, perceived social support, and dyadic coping ( P<0.01). SEM results showed that psychological flexibility and dyadic coping had a significant chain mediation effect between perceived social support and family function, with a mediation effect value of 0.059. The chain mediation effect of psychological flexibility and dyadic coping accounted for 13.81% of the total effect (0.059/0.427) . Conclusions:Perceived social support directly affects family function in parents of pediatric liver transplant recipients and also indirectly influences family function through the chain mediation effect of psychological flexibility and dyadic coping.

Objective:To establish a scoring system for preoperative prediction of the malignant potential of gastric stromal tumors based on gastroscopic and endoscopic ultrasound features, along with validation.Methods:A total of 286 patients who were treated in Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2023 and diagnosed as having gastric stromal tumors by postoperative pathology were enrolled in the modeling group. According to National Institutes of Health classification system, 227 very-low/low-risk patients were classified into the low malignant potential (LMP) group, and the 59 intermediate/high-risk patients into the high malignant potential (HMP) group. LASSO regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors, and a nomogram prediction model was developed. Internal validation using the Bootstrap method was performed on the modeling group, and external validation was performed on data from 85 patients who were treated and diagnosed as having gastric stromal tumors by postoperative pathology in Taizhou People's Hospital from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses were employed in both the modeling and external validation groups.Results:Tumor size (coef=0.755), tumor shape (coef=0.015), tumor location (coef=0.008), growth pattern (coef=-0.026), cystic change (coef=0.685), and surface unceration change (coef=-0.545) were the independent predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors. The nomogram-based prediction model constructed using these factors achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.959 (95% CI: 0.898-0.903) in the modeling group and 0.959 (95% CI: 0.857-1.000) in the external validation group. The model demonstrated good accuracy (0.917) and a Kappa value of 0.737 in internal validation. Calibration curve and decision curve analyses indicated strong calibration and high net benefit in both the modeling and the external validation groups. Conclusion:Tumor size, tumor shape, tumor location, growth pattern, cystic change, and surface ulceration change are independent predictive factors for HMP gastric stromal tumors. The nomogram model developed based on these factors offers effective and convenient visualization for clinicians to predict the malignant potential of gastric stromal tumors preoperatively.