OBJECTIVE: Humans are exposed to complex mixtures of environmental chemicals and other factors that can affect their health. Analysis of these mixture exposures presents several key challenges for environmental epidemiology and risk assessment, including high dimensionality, correlated exposure, and subtle individual effects. METHODS: We proposed a novel statistical approach, the generalized functional linear model (GFLM), to analyze the health effects of exposure mixtures. GFLM treats the effect of mixture exposures as a smooth function by reordering exposures based on specific mechanisms and capturing internal correlations to provide a meaningful estimation and interpretation. The robustness and efficiency was evaluated under various scenarios through extensive simulation studies. RESULTS: We applied the GFLM to two datasets from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In the first application, we examined the effects of 37 nutrients on BMI (2011-2016 cycles). The GFLM identified a significant mixture effect, with fiber and fat emerging as the nutrients with the greatest negative and positive effects on BMI, respectively. For the second application, we investigated the association between four pre- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and gout risk (2007-2018 cycles). Unlike traditional methods, the GFLM indicated no significant association, demonstrating its robustness to multicollinearity. CONCLUSION GFLM framework is a powerful tool for mixture exposure analysis, offering improved handling of correlated exposures and interpretable results. It demonstrates robust performance across various scenarios and real-world applications, advancing our understanding of complex environmental exposures and their health impacts on environmental epidemiology and toxicology.
Humans ; Environmental Exposure/analysis* ; Linear Models ; Nutrition Surveys ; Environmental Pollutants ; Body Mass Index

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly desmoplastic tumor with poor prognosis even after curative resection. We investigated the associations between the composition of the ICC stroma and immune cell infiltration and aimed to develop a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC. Patients and methods: We recruited 359 ICC patients and performed immunohistochemistry to detect α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), CD3, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, CD68, and CD66b. Aniline was used to stain collagen deposition. Survival analyses were performed to detect prognostic values of these markers. Recursive partitioning for a discrete-time survival tree was applied to define a stromal-immune signature with distinct prognostic value. We delineated an integrated stromal-immune signature based on immune cell subpopulations and stromal composition to distinguish subgroups with different recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) time. Results: We defined four major patterns of ICC stroma composition according to the distributions of α-SMA and collagen: dormant (α-SMAlow/collagenhigh), fibrogenic (α-SMAhigh/collagenhigh), inert (α-SMAlow/collagenlow), and fibrolytic (α-SMAhigh/collagenlow). The stroma types were characterized by distinct patterns of infiltration by immune cells. We divided patients into six classes. Class I, characterized by high CD8 expression and dormant stroma, displayed the longest RFS and OS, whereas Class VI, characterized by low CD8 expression and high CD66b expression, displayed the shortest RFS and OS. The integrated stromal-immune signature was consolidated in a validation cohort. Conclusion We developed and validated a stromal-immune signature to predict prognosis in surgically treated ICC. These findings provide new insights into the stromal-immune response to ICC.

The acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults have a higher rate of neurological injury and early death compared with atlas or axial fractures alone. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment choices of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults are controversial because of the lack of standards for implementation. Non-operative treatments have a high incidence of bone nonunion and complications, while surgeries may easily lead to the injury of the vertebral artery, spinal cord and nerve root. At present, there are no evidence-based Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults. To provide orthopedic surgeons with the most up-to-date and effective information in treating acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field of spinal trauma to develop the Evidence-based guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults ( version 2023) by referring to the "Management of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults" published by American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) in 2013 and the relevant Chinese and English literatures. Ten recommendations were made concerning the radiological diagnosis, stability judgment, treatment rules, treatment options and complications based on medical evidence, aiming to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of acute combination fractures of the atlas and axis in adults.

The Myh3 (myosin heavy chain 3) gene is a marker gene of muscle cell differentiation and regulates the utilization of energy in muscle cells, but whether it affects the glycolysis process of muscle cells in different states is rarely reported. In this paper, the expression patterns of Myh3 and glycolysis-related genes Pkm (M-type pyruvate kinse), Prkag3 (protein kinase adenosine monophosphate-activated γ3-subunit), and Gsk3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3β) were studied by the qRT-PCR (quantitative-Real-Time-PCR) method using C2C12 cells at different stages of myoblast and adipogenic differentiation as models. It was found that in the process of myoblast differentiation of C2C12 cells, the relative expression trends of Myh3 and glycolysis genes Prkag3 and Pkm were basically the same, and the relative expression levels first increased, reached the peak on the second day of differentiation, and then decreased; glycogen synthase the expression trend of the inhibitory gene Gsk3β was relatively stable. In the process of adipogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells, the relative expression trend of Myh3 and glycolysis genes Prkag3 and Pkm remained basically the same, and the relative expression gradually increased, reaching the highest value on the 8th day of differentiation; glycogen synthase inhibitory gene Gsk3β expression remained stable. In the myogenic differentiation state of C2C12 cells, qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the effects of interfering Myh3 on the mRNA and protein expressions of glycolysis-related genes Pkm, Prkag3, and Gsk3β. The results showed that after interfering with Myh3, the mRNA expressions of glycolysis genes Pkm and Prkag3 were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the mRNA expression of glycogen synthase inhibitory gene Gsk3β had no significant change (P > 0.05). The protein levels of Myh3 and Pkm were significantly lower than those in the blank group and NC group. Under the adipogenic differentiation state of C2C12 cells, after interfering with Myh3, the mRNA levels of glycogen synthase inhibitor Gsk3β and glycolysis gene Prkag3 were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the mRNA level of glycolysis gene Pkm was decreased; the protein levels of Myh3 and Pkm in the Myh3 interference group were also lower than those in the blank group and NC group. Based on the above studies, there are significant differences in the levels of glycolysis in C2C12 cells in the myogenic and adipogenic states, and the expression patterns of Myh3 and glycolysis genes are similar. Further results showed that Myh3 suppression could inhibit the glycolysis of C2C12 cells in the myogenic state without affecting the glycogen synthesis. Unlike in the myogenic state, interfering expression of Myh3 in the adipogenic state of C2C12 cells inhibited both glycogen synthesis and glycolysis.

To dynamically investigate the distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteremia pathogens isolated from different regions in China in 2011, 2013 and 2016. Non-repetitive isolates from nosocomial bloodstream infections were retrospectively collected and detected for antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) by agar dilution or microbroth dilution methods. Whonet 5.6 was used to analyze the AST data. Among 2 248 isolates, 1 657 (73.7%) were Gram-negative bacilli and 591 (26.3%) were Gram-positive cocci. The top five bacteremia pathogens were as follows, Escherichia coli (32.6%, 733/2 248), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.5%, 327/2 248), Staphylococcus aureus (10.0%, 225/2 248), Acinetobacter baumannii (8.7%, 196/2 248) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6.2%, 140/2 248). Colistin (96.5%, 1 525/1 581, excluding innate resistant organisms), tigecycline (95.6%, 1 375/1 438, excluding innate resistant organisms), ceftazidine/clavulanate acid (89.2%, 1 112 /1 246), amikacin (86.4%, 1 382/1 599) and meropenem (85.7%, 1 376/1 605) showed relatively high susceptibility against Gram-negative bacilli. While tigecycline, teicoplanin and daptomycin (the susceptibility rates were 100.0%), vancomycin and linezolid (the susceptibility rates were 99.7%) demonstrated high susceptibility against Gram-positive cocci. The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing Enterobacteriaceae were 50.6% (206/407), 49.8% (136/273) and 38.9% (167/429) in 2011, 2013 and 2016 respectively; carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae were 2.2% (9/408), 4.0% (16/402) and 3.9% (17/439) in 2011, 2013 and 2016 respectively; The prevalence of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRA) was 76.4% (55/72) in 2011, 82.7% (43/52) in 2013 and 87.5% (63/72) in 2016, respectively. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRP) was 9.8% (5/51) in 2011, 20.0% (7/35) in 2013 and 13.0% (7/54) in 2016, respectively. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 51.9% (41/79) in 2011, 29.7% (19/64) in 2013 and 31.7% (26/82) in 2016, respectively. The prevalence of high level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis were 43.2% (48/111) and 40.9% (27/66), respectively. The predominant organism of carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae was K. pneumoniae with its proportion of 57.1% (24/42). Among 30 tigecycline-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, K. pneumoniae was the most popular organism with 76.7% (23/30). Among 39 colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, Enterobacter cloacae and K. pneumoniae were constituted with the percent of 43.6 (17/39), 35.9 (14/39) and 15.4 (6/39), respectively. The Gram-negative bacilli (E. coli and K. pneumoniae were the major organisms) were the major pathogens of nosocomial bacteremia, to which tigecycline, colistin and carbapenems kept with highly in vitro susceptibility. Whereas, among the Gram-positive cocci, S. aureus was the top 1 isolated organism, followed by E. faecium, to which tigecycline, daptomycin, linezolid, vancomycin and teicoplanin kept with highly in vitro susceptibility. Isolation of colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, tigecycline-non-susceptible Enterobacteriaceae, linezolid- or vancomycin-non-susceptible Gram-positive cocci suggests more attention should be paid to these resistant organisms and dynamic surveillance was essential.

The real-time training and mutual network system of stomatology is particularly suited for evaluating the clinical practice training process.This mutual system introduced the closed loop type mutual mode,which ensured the reliability of the evaluation in the practice teaching process by the mutual feedback between students and students,students and teachers.The system solved the deficiency of the previous open loop mutual systemand made the evaluation results more objective.The system realized the process control in practice teaching,and made progress in many ways such as improving the evaluation system of students' abilities,and promoting independent learning and feedback of the teaching.Through this system platform,the students make homework as a link to discover knowledge and further solve the problem.This system guides students to develop the abilities of independent learning and mutual learning,which combines students' mutual evaluation and teachers' evaluation,and shows teaching points comprehensively.The realtime training and mutual network system can explore an effective mean in the transformation education of stomatology,and further meet the new requirements of the social development.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of preoperative sequential transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by selective portal venous embolization (PVE) in patients with marginally resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).The aim was to find out whether this combined procedure helped to increase the rate of extended radical liver resection.Methods From March 2009 to November 2016,29 patients with HCC which were marginally resectable underwent preoperative TACE combined with PVE were included into this study.All these patients were subsequently assessed to undergo radical hepatectomy.The complications,laboratory results,volume changes of each liver lobe and patient survival were analyzed.Results TACE combined with PVE was successful in all the 29 patients.There were no major complications.After the procedure,the volumes of the tumor and the part of the liver to be resected decreased to certain degree.The remnant liver volume (RLV) increased remarkably.The RLV were (395.4 ±58.7) cm3 and (599.2 ±75.2) cm3 before and after the procedure,respectively.The difference was significant (P ＜ 0.05).19 patients underwent radical hemihepatectomy or trisectionectomy,with a resection rate of 65.5％ (19/29).There were sufficient surgical margins in all the resected tumors.After operation,the 1-,3-,and 5-year survival rates were 58.8％,35.5％ and 17.6％,respectively.Conclusion For HCC patients who had marginally resectable HCC,preoperative TACE combined with PVE efficiently controlled the growth of the tumors,decreased the volume of the liver lobe with tumor,increased the RLV,and made it possible for a planned two-stage radical hepatectomy with sufficient surgical margin and better survival in a significant proportion of patients.

Background and purpose:As one of the most fatal malignant tumors in China, the morbidity and mortality of lung cancer remain high. Early diagnosis and normative treatment is the key to improve the prognosis of lung cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the practice of early lung cancer screening with low-dose spiral computed tomography (CT) based on the current situation in community health service, with integration of superior resources of med-ical institutions at all levels in Shanghai.Methods:From Aug. 2013 to Aug. 2014, we screened high-risk population in selected communities of Minhang District, Shanghai, for early diagnosis of lung cancer with low-dose spiral CT combined with multidisciplinary comprehensive treatment models including minimally invasive surgery, exploring the medical service network covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up.Results:Screening population is 11 332 (male 7 144, female 4 188); Twenty-nine cases with pathological diagnosis of malignant tumor, including 27 cases of pri-mary lung cancer, 1 case of lung metastasis, 1 case of breast cancer. The morbidity of primary lung cancer is 238.26×10-5. There were 22 cases of Stage 0-Ⅰ lung cancer accounting for 81.48% of all diagnosed primary lung cancer.Conclusion:Based on community health service, screening with low-dose spiral CT could improve the early diagnosis rate of lung can-cer with feasibility and validity, which could be applicable in qualified eligible medical center and community in China.

OBJECTIVETo analyze horizontal transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans among caries-active preschool children for early interventions of dental caries.

METHODSPlaque samples obtained from 20 caries-active preschool children between 4 and 5 years of age were cultured under anaerobic conditions for isolating S. mutans, which were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses and PCR using primers homologous to the surface protein glucosyltransferase B (gtfB). The genotypes of the isolated S. mutans strains were determined by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR).

RESULTSOf the 200 S. mutans isolates obtained, 19 were excluded by biochemical analysis, and the remaining 181 isolates were identified as S. mutans by PCR with primers of gtfB, showing 37 different genotypes as identified by AP-PCR. Six children were found to carry S. mutans of a single genotype, 11 carried 2 genotypes, 2 had 3 genotypes, and 1 had 4 genotypes; 2 children from different classes were found to carry S. mutans of the same single genotype.

CONCLUSIONWe identified 37 genotypes of S. mutans in these caries-active preschool children, among whom horizontal transmissions of the strains were not found.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Dental Plaque ; Genotype ; Glucosyltransferases ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptococcal Infections ; transmission ; Streptococcus mutans ; classification

Objective To analyze horizontal transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans among caries-active preschool children for early interventions of dental caries. Methods Plaque samples obtained from 20 caries-active preschool children between 4 and 5 years of age were cultured under anaerobic conditions for isolating S. mutans, which were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses and PCR using primers homologous to the surface protein glucosyltransferase B (gtfB). The genotypes of the isolated S. mutans strains were determined by arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR). Results Of the 200 S. mutans isolates obtained, 19 were excluded by biochemical analysis, and the remaining 181 isolates were identified as S. mutans by PCR with primers of gtfB, showing 37 different genotypes as identified by AP-PCR. Six children were found to carry S. mutans of a single genotype, 11 carried 2 genotypes, 2 had 3 genotypes, and 1 had 4 genotypes;2 children from different classes were found to carry S. mutans of the same single genotype. Conclusion We identified 37 genotypes of S. mutans in these caries-active preschool children, among whom horizontal transmissions of the strains were not found.