Background: E-waste workers in Hong Kong are handling an unprecedented amount of e-waste, which contains various neurotoxic chemicals. However, no study has been conducted to evaluate the neurological health status of e-waste workers in Hong Kong. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of neurobehavioral alterations and to identify the vulnerable groups among Hong Kong e-waste workers. Methods: We recruited 109 Hong Kong e-waste workers from June 2021 to September 2022. Participants completed standard questionnaires and wore a GENEActiv accelerometer for seven days. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Questionnaire 16/18 (Q16/18) were used to assess subjective neurobehavioral alterations. The GENEActiv data generated objective sleep and circadian rhythm variables. Workers were grouped based on job designation and entity type according to the presumed hazardous level. Unconditional logistic regression models measured the associations of occupational characteristics with neurobehavioral alterations after adjusting for confounders. Results: While dismantlers/repairers and the workers in entities not funded by the government were more likely to suffer from neurotoxic symptoms in Q18 (adjusted odds ratio: 3.18 [1.18–9.39] and 2.77 [1.10–7.46], respectively), the workers from self-sustained recycling facilities also have poor performances in circadian rhythm. Results also showed that the dismantlers/repairers working in entities not funded by the government had the highest risk of neurotoxic symptoms compared to the lowest-risk group (i.e., workers in government-funded companies with other job designations). Conclusion This timely and valuable study emphasizes the importance of improving the working conditions for high-risk e-waste workers, especially the dismantlers or repairers working in facilities not funded by the government.

Humans ; Female ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Breast Neoplasms ; Gene Expression ; Adenocarcinoma

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of plurihormonal PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors. Methods: Forty-eight plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors were collected between January 2018 and April 2022 from the pathological database of Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University. The related clinical and imaging data were retrieved. H&E, immunohistochemical and special stains were performed. Results: Out of the 48 plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors included, 13 cases were mature PIT1-lineage tumors and 35 cases were immature PIT1-lineage tumors. There were some obvious clinicopathological differences between the two groups. Clinically, the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor mostly had endocrine symptoms due to increased hormone production, while a small number of immature PIT1-lineage tumors had endocrine symptoms accompanied by low-level increased serum pituitary hormone; patients with the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were younger than the mature PIT1-lineage tumors; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors were larger in size and more likely invasive in imaging. Histopathologically, the mature PIT1-lineage tumors were composed of large eosinophilic cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors consisted of chromophobe cells with a relatively higher expression of prolactin; the mature PIT1-lineage tumors had consistently diffuse cytoplasmic positive staining for keratin, while the immature PIT1-lineage tumors had various expression for keratin; the immature PIT1-lineage tumors showed more mitotic figures and higher Ki-67 proliferation index; in addition, 25.0% (12/48) of PIT1-positive plurihormonal tumors showed abnormal positive staining for gonadotropin hormones. There was no significant difference in the progression-free survival between the two groups (P=0.648) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Conclusions: Plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumor belongs to a rare type of PIT1-lineage pituitary neuroendocrine tumors, most of which are of immature lineage. Clinically increased symptoms owing to pituitary hormone secretion, histopathologically increased number of eosinophilic tumor cells with high proportion of growth hormone expression, diffusely cytoplasmic keratin staining and low proliferative activity can help differentiate the mature plurihormonal PIT1-lineage tumors from the immature PIT1-lineage tumors. The immature PIT1-lineage tumors have more complicated clinicopathological characteristics.
Humans ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pituitary Neoplasms/pathology* ; Pituitary Hormones ; Growth Hormone/metabolism* ; Keratins

The histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2)-mediated trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) regulates neural stem cell proliferation and fate specificity through silencing different gene sets in the central nervous system. Here, we explored the function of EZH2 in early post-mitotic neurons by generating a neuron-specific Ezh2 conditional knockout mouse line. The results showed that a lack of neuronal EZH2 led to delayed neuronal migration, more complex dendritic arborization, and increased dendritic spine density. Transcriptome analysis revealed that neuronal EZH2-regulated genes are related to neuronal morphogenesis. In particular, the gene encoding p21-activated kinase 3 (Pak3) was identified as a target gene suppressed by EZH2 and H3K27me3, and expression of the dominant negative Pak3 reversed Ezh2 knockout-induced higher dendritic spine density. Finally, the lack of neuronal EZH2 resulted in impaired memory behaviors in adult mice. Our results demonstrated that neuronal EZH2 acts to control multiple steps of neuronal morphogenesis during development, and has long-lasting effects on cognitive function in adult mice.
Animals ; Mice ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/metabolism* ; Histone Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; Histones/genetics* ; Morphogenesis ; Neuronal Plasticity ; Neurons/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prevention among real-world surgical inpatients who received panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) combined with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted among surgical patients between January 2016 and November 2018 in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. Participants received LMWH alone or PNS combined with LMWH for preventing DVT. The primary outcome was incidence of lower extremity DVT, which was screened once a week. Participants in the LMWH group were given LMWH (enoxaparin) via hypodermic injection, 4000-8000 AxalU once daily. Participants in the exposure group received PNS (Xuesaitong oral tablets, 100 mg, 3 times daily) combined with LMWH given the same as LMWH group. RESULTS: Of the 325 patients screened for the study, 281 participants were included in the final analysis. The cohort was divided into PNS + LMWH group and LMWH group with 134 and 147 participants, respectively. There was a significant difference of DVT incidence between two groups (P=0.01), with 21 (15.7%) incident DVT in the PNS + LMWH group, and 41 (27.9%) incident DVT in the LMWH group. Compared with participants without DVT, the participants diagnosed with DVT were older and had higher D-dimer level. The multivariate logistic regression model showed a significant lower risk of incident DVT among participants in the PNS + LMWH group compared with the LMWH group (odds ratio 0.46, 95% confidence interval, 0.25-0.86). There were no significant differences in thromboelaslography values (including R, K, Angle, and MA) and differences in severe bleeding between two groups. No symptomatic pulmonary embolism occurred during the study. CONCLUSION Combined application of PNS and LMWH can effectively reduce the incidence of DVT among surgical inpatients compared with LMWH monotherapy, without increased risk of bleeding.
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Panax notoginseng ; Prospective Studies ; Saponins/therapeutic use* ; Venous Thrombosis/prevention & control*

OBJECTIVE：To evaluate th e effectiveness ，safety and economy of albu min-bound paclitaxel （nab-PTX）in the treatment of breast cancer by using rapid health technology assessment （HTA），and to provide evidence-based reference for drug selection. METHODS ：Retrieved from PubMed ，the Cochrane Library ，CNKI，Wangfang database and other databases ，systematic evaluation/Meta-analysis，HTA and pharmacoeconomic studies about nab-PTX in the treatment of breast cancer were included ；the conclusions were classified and analyzed by using descriptive analysis. RESULTS ：A total of 5 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis ， 8 pharmacoeconomic studies were included in this study. Compared with conventional taxanes ，nab-PTX increased pathological complete response （pCR）rate [OR ＝1.39，95％CI（1.16，1.67），P＜0.001] and event-free survival （EFS）[HR＝0.69，95％CI（0.57， 0.85），P＜0.001] in neoadjuvant chemotherapy （NAC）-treated breast cancer patients. However ，there were no significant differences in overall survival （OS），progression-free survival （PFS），objective response rate （ORR）and disease control rate （DCR）in metastatic breast cancer （MBC）patients between 2 groups. In the terms of safety ，nab-PTX increased the incidence of grade 3-4 sensory neuropathy [OR ＝1.89，95％CI（1.36，2.61），P＜0.001] in MBC patients ，and increased the incidence of neutropenia [OR ＝ 1.52，95％CI（1.23，1.88，P＜0.001]，sensory neuropathy [OR ＝ 2.17，95％CI（1.38，3.40），P＜0.001]，rash [OR ＝1.46，95％CI mei1213@163.com （1.18，1.80），P＜0.001] and fatigue [OR ＝1.28，95％CI（1.04， 1.56）， P＝0.02] in NAC -treated breast cancer patients.Pharmacoeconomic studies showed that nab-PTX could improve the quality adjusted lif e years of MBC patients compared with traditional taxanes ，and it was a economical option. CONCLUSIONS：Nab-PTX enhances pCR in NAC-treated breast cancer patients ，but has no significant advantage in the effectiveness of MBC patients ，and increases the occurrence of ADR. Nab-PTX may have a cost-utility advantage over conventional taxanes for MBC.

OBJECTIVE：To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kuanxiong aerosol in the treatment of coronary heart disease angina ，and to provide evidence-based reference for climical drug use . METHODS ：Retrieved from Cochrane Library，PubMed，Embase，CKNI，Wanfang data ，VIP，and CBM ，randomized controlled trials （RCTs）about Kuanxiong aerosol （trial group ）versus nitroglycerin （control group ）in the treatment of coronary heart disease angina were collected during the inception to Mar. 20th，2020. After literature screening and data extraction ，quality assessment was performed using the bias risk assessment tool recommended by the Cochrane System Evaluator Manual 5.1.0. Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.3 statistical software. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for the stability of the result ，and trial sequential analysis （TSA）was performed by using TSA 0.9 software. RESULTS ：A total of 11 RCTs were included ，with a total of 1 847 cases. Meta-analysis showed that improvement rate of angina pectoris （within 3 min）[RR＝1.11，95％CI（1.02，1.22），P＝0.02] and total response rate of angina pectoris （within 5 min）[RR＝1.04，95％ CI（1.01，1.07），P＝0.01] in trial group were significantly higher than control group；the incidence of ADR [RR＝0.44，95％CI（0.35，0.57），P＜0.000 01] in trial group was significantly lower than control group. There was no statistical significance in total response rate of ECG [RR＝1.02，95％CI（0.97，1.09），P＝0.42] or the level of NO after treatment [SMD ＝－0.08，95％CI（－0.61，0.45），P＝0.76] between 2 groups. The results of sensitiv ity analysis and TSA showed that the efficacy evidence of Kuanxiong aerosol in the treatment of coronary heart disease pectoris was not accurate ，but the evidence of safety was accurate. CONCLUSIONS ：Kuanxiong aerosol can improve the efficacy in patients with coronary heart disease angina ，and the safety is better ，but the conclusions of efficacy needs to be further confirmed by enlarging sample size.

COPD refers to a group of chronic respiratory diseases which seriously influence the people's health and life quality. The national COPD surveillance in China has been implemented since 2014 with the goal of monitoring the prevalence and trend of COPD and related risk factors in China. The paper summarizes the item and method of national COPD surveillance in China.
Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/psychology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Population Surveillance/methods* ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology* ; Quality of Life ; Risk Factors

Objective: Smoking is the most important risk factor for COPD. Understanding the smoking rate, current smoking rate, average age to start smoking and average daily consumption of cigarettes among people aged ≥40 years in China can provide scientific evidence for the effective control and prevention of COPD. Methods: Data were from COPD surveillance in China (2014 to 2015) which covered 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. A total of 75 107 adults aged ≥40 years selected through multi-stage stratified cluster sampling from 125 surveillance sites (county/district) were surveyed by electronic questionnaire during face to face interviews. The smoking rate and other smoking index were estimated by using weighting complex sampling design. Results: The smoking rate and current smoking rate were 40.0% (95%CI: 38.5%-42.0%) and 31.0% (95%CI: 29.7%-32.0%), respectively, among the Chinese aged ≥40 years in 2014. The smoking rate and current smoking rate in males (74.1% and 57.6%) were much higher than those in females (5.4% and 4.0%). And the two rates were significantly higher in rural area (41.2% and 32.4%) than in urban area (38.8% and 29.5%). The mean age of smokers to start smoking was 20.1 (95%CI: 19.7-20.5) years. The younger the smokers were, the earlier their average age to start smoking was (The ages to start smoking for smokers aged 40-, 50-, 60-, ≥70 years were 18.3, 19.2, 20.9 and 23.1 years, respectively). Average daily cigarette consumption of current daily smokers was 18.9 (95%CI: 18.1-19.7) cigarettes, and the daily cigarette consumption was higher in males (19.3 cigarettes) than in females (12.5 cigarettes). Conclusion: The smoking rate in males aged ≥40 years is high in China. Compared with urban area, the smoking rate in rural area is higher, posing a big challenge for COPD control and prevention.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/psychology* ; Smoking Cessation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult