Background Gestational weight gain is closely related to maternal and infant health outcomes. Pregnant women are simultaneously exposed to four metals—lithium (Li), vanadium (V), uranium (U), and bismuth (Bi)—through inhalation of fine particulate matter and consumption of contaminated food and water. Existing studies suggest that exposure to these metals may be associated with gestational weight gain. However, no study has yet explored the complex relationships between exposure to mixtures of these four metals and weight gain at different stages of pregnancy. Objective To investigate the associations between mixed exposure to Li, V, U, and Bi in early pregnancy and the average weekly gestational weight gain during both early pregnancy and mid-to-late pregnancy. Methods This prospective study recruited eligible women in early pregnancy from an obstetrics clinic of a tertiary hospital in Jinan, China, between September 2021 and July 2023. Pre-pregnancy weight, current weight (at 11⁺⁰ to 13⁺⁶ weeks of gestation), and spot urine samples (≥5.0 mL) were collected at enrollment. Urinary concentrations of Li, V, Bi, and U were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Participants were followed up in late pregnancy (≥28 weeks of gestation) to collect information on physical activity via questionnaire; weight measurements at the last antenatal visit (35⁺⁰ to 37⁺⁶ weeks of gestation) were obtained from the hospital information system. After adjusting for covariates, multiple linear regression and generalized additive models were used to assess the associations of individual metals with weekly weight gain in early pregnancy and in mid-to-late pregnancy. Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile-based g-computation (Qgcomp) were applied to evaluate the joint effects of the metal mixture exposure on weekly weight gain at the two gestational stages. Results A total of 313 pregnant women were included. The geometric means of urinary Li, V, U, and Bi concentrations were 37.07, 0.20, 0.06, and 0.04 μg·L⁻¹, respectively; after creatinine adjustment, the corresponding values were 46.82, 0.25, 0.07, and 0.05 μg·g⁻¹ (Cr). The mean weekly gestational weight gain was (0.19±0.25) kg in early pregnancy and (0.53 ± 0.18) kg in mid-to-late pregnancy. Both multiple linear regression and generalized additive models showed that urinary V concentration was positively associated with average weekly gestational weight gain in early pregnancy, while no significant associations were found for other metals or for gestational weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy. In the BKMR model with early-pregnancy weight gain as the outcome, V had the strongest association [posterior inclusion probability (PIP)=0.773]. When other metals were fixed at their medians, V showed a positive non-linear association with the outcome. A significant single-metal effect of V and its interaction with Li were observed. Compared with the 50th percentile of the metal mixture, the average weekly weight gain in early pregnancy increased by 0.016 (95%CI: 0.003, 0.029) and 0.018 (95%CI: 0.001, 0.036) at the 60th and 65th percentiles, respectively; conversely, at the 25th percentile, it decreased by 0.026 (95%CI: 0.002, 0.050). Overall, the joint effect of the metal mixture on early- pregnancy weight gain showed an upward trend. In the BKMR model for mid-to-late pregnancy gestational weight gain, all PIPs were<0.5, and no significant single-metal effects, interactions, or joint effects were identified. Qgcomp results confirmed a positive association between the metal mixture and early-pregnancy weight gain (b=0.031, 95%CI: 0.010, 0.051; P<0.01), with V contributing the highest positive weight (0.71). No significant association was found for weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy (b=0.007, P=0.339). Conclusion Higher levels of co-exposure to the Li, V, Bi, and U metal mixture during early pregnancy may be associated with increased average weekly weight gain in early pregnancy. Among these metals, V exhibits a predominant role and appears to interact with Li. No association is observed between early-pregnancy metal mixture exposure and average weekly gestational weight gain in mid-to-late pregnancy. These findings suggest that monitoring and managing metal exposure during early pregnancy may be crucial for the rational regulation of gestational weight gain.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation under different mechanical parameters in the treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation,and to explore the muscle-relaxing effects of the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation and the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipula-tion in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation under the optimal mechanical parameters.Methods Using a three-factor,three-level orthogonal test method,27 LDH patients included in this study were randomly divided into 9 parameter groups,with 3 patients in each group,and were treated with different parameters of the stereotactic angled wrench method.3 factors were set up for the pressing force,the number of times,and the treatment interval,and each factor consisted of 3 levels,i.e.,pressing force:300～400 N,400～500 N,and 500～600 N;the number of times pressed 3 levels were set up:6 times,9 times,12 times;3 levels of treatment interval:1 day interval,2 days interval,3 days interval.After screening the optimal mechanical parameters through VAS,ODI and FDD evaluation indexes,94 patients were included and randomly divided into two groups;the treatment group was stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation under the configuration of optimal mechanical parameters,and the control group was the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation,and the changes of patients'VAS and ODI scores as well as the thickness of multifidus muscle and cross-sectional area before and after treatment were observed in the treatment of the two groups of patients.Through the comparison of lumbar multifidus muscle between healthy volunteers and patients with lumbar keyboard herniation,the characteristics of lumbar disc herniation multifidus muscle were clarified.The correlation between each observation index and parameter was analyzed by the statistical analysis software SPSS 26.0 to derive the optimal parameters for manipulative treatment.Results Orthogonal test analysis yielded that the order of influence on the efficacy was pressing force>treatment interval>pressing times,and the pressure interval with the best efficacy was:500～600 N,the number of times was 12 times,and the Treatment internal of 2 days.The degree of degeneration of lumbar multifidus muscle in patients with lumbar disc herniation was more obvious compared with that of healthy volunteers,and the difference was stati stically signifi-cant(P<0.05).Observed in both groups of patients with lumbar disc herniation after 6 weeks of treatment time,the VAS and ODI scores of both groups decreased significantly after treatment compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),with greater improvement in the treatment group.The results of the multifidus muscle showed that after treatment,the treatment group could significantly increase the resting thickness,contraction thickness,contraction rate and cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle had significant changes(P<0.05),in which the contraction thickness,contraction rate before and after the treatment changes were more significant than the control group.Conclusions The stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation is effective in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation,in which the manipulation parameter pressure of 500～600 N,the number of presses 12 times,and the treatment interval of 2 days once for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation has better analgesia and improves the dysfunction effect.Compared with the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation,the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation is better in improving the pain symptoms and dysfunction of patients with lumbar disc hernia-tion,as well as the resting thickness of the multifidus muscle,the contraction thickness,the contraction rate of change,and the cross-sectional area.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the use of vascular access among the maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)pa-tients and observe the impact on complications so as to provide bases for standardized clinical management and ma-intenance of vascular access.METHODS The MHD patients who were treated in hemodialysis center of The Affili-ated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from Jan.2015 to Jan.2024 were recruited as the research sub-jects.The types of vascular access and incidence rates of complications caused by the vascular access were retro-spectively analyzed.RESULTS A total of 2 040 MHD patients who were treated with the vascular access were en-rolled in the study,1 795(87.99％)of whom were autogenous arteriovenous fistula(AVF),80(3.92％)were tunnel-cuffed catheter(TCC),and 28(1.37％)were arteriovenous graft(AVG),126(6.18％)were non-cuffed catheter(NCC),and 11(0.54％)were arteriovenous direct puncture.The incidence of complications of the TCC group was 32.50％,higher than 16.88％of the AVF group and 19.84％of the NCC group,and there was signifi-cant difference(x2=12.915,4.209;P＜0.001,0.040);there was no significant difference in the incidence of com-plications between the AVF group(16.88％)and the NCC group(19.84％)(x2=0.730,P=0.393).CONCLUSIONS AVF is the major vascular access for the MHD patients,and the incidence of complications is rel-atively high among the patients treated with TCC.It is necessary for the hospital to attach great importance to the occurrence of catheter-related complications.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the use of vascular access among the maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)pa-tients and observe the impact on complications so as to provide bases for standardized clinical management and ma-intenance of vascular access.METHODS The MHD patients who were treated in hemodialysis center of The Affili-ated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from Jan.2015 to Jan.2024 were recruited as the research sub-jects.The types of vascular access and incidence rates of complications caused by the vascular access were retro-spectively analyzed.RESULTS A total of 2 040 MHD patients who were treated with the vascular access were en-rolled in the study,1 795(87.99％)of whom were autogenous arteriovenous fistula(AVF),80(3.92％)were tunnel-cuffed catheter(TCC),and 28(1.37％)were arteriovenous graft(AVG),126(6.18％)were non-cuffed catheter(NCC),and 11(0.54％)were arteriovenous direct puncture.The incidence of complications of the TCC group was 32.50％,higher than 16.88％of the AVF group and 19.84％of the NCC group,and there was signifi-cant difference(x2=12.915,4.209;P＜0.001,0.040);there was no significant difference in the incidence of com-plications between the AVF group(16.88％)and the NCC group(19.84％)(x2=0.730,P=0.393).CONCLUSIONS AVF is the major vascular access for the MHD patients,and the incidence of complications is rel-atively high among the patients treated with TCC.It is necessary for the hospital to attach great importance to the occurrence of catheter-related complications.

Objective:To understand spatial aggregation of lung cancer mortality and its changing trends over the past fifty years in different counties and districts of Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021.Methods:The mortality data of lung cancer were obtained from the death registration system of Shandong province and three retrospective surveys of death cause. The mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate were used to describe the changing trend of lung cancer in different years, and the contribution value of population factors and non-population factors in lung cancer mortality change was calculated by the mortality differential decomposition method. GeoDa 1.20 and ArcGIS 10.8 software were used for spatial autocorrelation analysis and visualization map display.Results:The crude mortality rate of lung cancer in Shandong Province showed a significant upward trend from 1970 to 2021, rising from 7.22 per 100 000 in 1970-1974 to 62.73 per 100 000 in 2020-2021, with an increase of 7.69 times. Meanwhile, the standardized mortality rate of lung cancer exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The differential analysis of lung cancer mortality in different years revealed that changes in crude mortality rates were the result of the combined effects of demographic and non-demographic factors. The proportion of population factors (aging population) leading to an increase in lung cancer mortality rate rose from 2.12% in 1990-1992 to 40.20% in 2020-2021. From a spatial distribution perspective, there were significant regional differences in lung cancer mortality rates among counties (cities, districts) in Shandong Province across different eras. Compared to the period of 1970-1974, the lung cancer mortality rates in all counties and districts in 2020-2021 showed a considerable increase, and there were noticeable changes in the areas of high-high and low-low clustering of lung cancer mortality rates across different eras.Conclusion:There have been significant temporal and spatial changes in the mortality rate of lung cancer in Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021. The crude mortality rate has shown an upward trend, while the standardized mortality rate increases first and then decreases. The concentration of lung cancer mortality rates in counties and districts has also undergone significant changes.

Objective:To describe the distribution characteristics and trends of mortality and spatial aggregation of esophageal cancer in Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021.Methods:The mortality data of esophageal cancer were obtained from the death registration system of Shandong Province and three national all-cause mortality retrospective surveys. The crude mortality rate (CMR) and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR, the Segi′s world standard population) were used to describe the mortality of esophageal cancer. Mortality differential decomposition was applied to quantify the contributions of demographic and non-demographic factors. The death levels of esophageal cancer in different counties (cities and districts) in Shandong Province from 1970 to 1974 and 2020 to 2021 were visualized by the ArcGIS 10.8 software, and global and local autocorrelation analyses were conducted by using the GeoDa 1.12 software.Results:The CMR of esophageal cancer in Shandong Province increased first and then decreased from 1970 to 2021. The CMR of esophageal cancer decreased from 17.59/100 000 in the period of 1970—1974 to 14.32/100 000 in the period of 2020—2021. The ASMR of esophageal cancer decreased from 20.04/100 000 in the period of 1970—1974 to 6.53/100 000 in the period of 2020—2021. Compared with the period of 1970—1974, both demographic and non-demographic factors contributed to the increase in esophageal cancer mortality rate from 1990 to 1992. However, demographic factors continued to contribute to the increase in esophageal cancer mortality rate from 2004 to 2005, 2011 to 2013, and 2020 to 2021, while non-demographic factors contributed to the continuous decrease in esophageal cancer mortality rate. The global autocorrelation analysis results showed that the Moran′s I index of ASMR of esophageal cancer in each county (city, district) of Shandong Province from 1970 to 1974 and from 2020 to 2021 were 0.67 and 0.57, respectively. Local autocorrelation analysis showed that there were 19 and 13 areas of high-high clustering of esophageal cancer in the periods of 1970—1974 and 2020—2021, respectively, with 12 overlapping counties (cities, districts). Conclusion:From 1970 to 2021, the CMR of esophageal cancer increases first and then decreases, while the ASMR of esophageal cancer gradually decreases in Shandong Province. The distribution of esophageal cancer mortality has significant spatial aggregation and changes over time.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and reimplantation versus allograft reconstruction in patients underwent resection of primary malignant bone tumors of the long bones of the extremities.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 144 patients who underwent resection of primary malignant bone tumors of the long bones of the extremities followed by either liquid nitrogen cryopreservation and reimplantation or massive allografts reconstruction at the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 2012 to July 2023. The study included 82 males and 62 females, with an average age of 23.8±12.3 years (range, 6-64 years). Patients were divided into two groups based on the reconstruction method: the cryopreservation and reimplantation group (72 cases) and the allograft group (72 cases). The following outcomes were recorded during follow-up: local tumor recurrence, bone union, union time, graft survival, and reasons for graft removal. Graft-related complications were recorded using the modified Henderson classification system of the International Limb Salvage Association. Limb function was assessed at the last follow-up using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score (MSTS-93).Results:All patients completed surgery and were followed up for a mean of 60.2±32.1 months (range, 12-149 months). At the last follow-up, 24 patients were dead from the tumor, 16 patients survived with the tumor (2 cases of local recurrence and 14 cases of distant metastasis), and 104 patients survived without the tumor. The bone union rate and union time in cryopreservation and reimplantation group were 90% (65/72) and 9.6±4.8 months, respectively, which was significantly superior to those in allograft group [68% (49/72) and 15.9±6.7 months, P<0.05]. The 5-year overall graft survival rate was 86.8% [95% CI (80.1%, 95.7%)] in cryopreservation and reimplantation group, higher than 73.2% [95% CI(68.4%, 84.5%)] in allograft group significantly (χ 2=7.122, P=0.017). The rates of graft removal due to non-union and infection in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group were 0% (0/72) and 1.4% (1/72), respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the allograft group [5.6% (4/72) and 9.7% (7/72), P<0.05]. Overall, 48.6% (70/144) of patients experienced at least one graft-related complication, with a complication rate of 33.3% in cryopreservation and reimplantation group, lower than the 61.1% in allograft group significantly (χ 2=11.146, P<0.001). The complications with the highest incidence rate were nonunion (20.8%, 30/144), followed by structural failure (17.4%, 25/144), tumor progression (10.4%, 15/144), infection (10.4%, 15/144), and soft tissue failure (5.6%, 8/144). The incidence rates of the atrophic non-union and the structural failure of grafts were 9.7% (7/72) and 1.4% (1/72) respectively in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group, which were significantly lower compared to the allograft group [29.2% (21/72) and 13.9% (10/72), P<0.05]. At the last follow-up, the MSTS-93 score was 89.7%±8.3% in the cryopreservation and reimplantation group, and 87.6%±7.5% in the allograft group, with no statistically significant difference ( t=0.326, P=0.542). Conclusion:Compared with allograft reconstruction, autologous inactivated bone grafting demonstrated superior bone union efficiency and fewer complications, it may be considered for reconstruction in cases whose tumor bone is not severely osteolytic or pathologically fractured.

Traditional open thyroid surgery often leaves a scar on the neck,which can affect cosmetic outcomes.Therefore,various endoscopic thyroidectomy approaches via extra-cervical approaches have been developed.However,due to the unique anatomical characteristics of the neck and limitations of endoscopic instruments,conventional endoscopic techniques have certain drawbacks.Robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery can help overcome these limitations.At present,robotic surgical systems remain expensive and the associated surgical costs are high,limiting their widespread adoption.Most surgeons are still relatively unfamiliar with the technique.Nevertheless,with ongoing technological advancements and cost reductions,robot-assisted surgery holds great promise for broader application.Based on years of large-scale experience in endoscopic thyroid surgery at our center,and drawing upon both domestic and international experiences with robotic thyroidectomy,this paper summarizes and proposes a seven-step protocol for robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the bilateral axillo-breast approach,aiming to provide a practical reference for the clinical adoption of this technique.

Traditional open thyroid surgery often leaves a scar on the neck,which can affect cosmetic outcomes.Therefore,various endoscopic thyroidectomy approaches via extra-cervical approaches have been developed.However,due to the unique anatomical characteristics of the neck and limitations of endoscopic instruments,conventional endoscopic techniques have certain drawbacks.Robot-assisted endoscopic thyroid surgery can help overcome these limitations.At present,robotic surgical systems remain expensive and the associated surgical costs are high,limiting their widespread adoption.Most surgeons are still relatively unfamiliar with the technique.Nevertheless,with ongoing technological advancements and cost reductions,robot-assisted surgery holds great promise for broader application.Based on years of large-scale experience in endoscopic thyroid surgery at our center,and drawing upon both domestic and international experiences with robotic thyroidectomy,this paper summarizes and proposes a seven-step protocol for robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomy via the bilateral axillo-breast approach,aiming to provide a practical reference for the clinical adoption of this technique.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation under different mechanical parameters in the treatment of patients with lumbar disc herniation,and to explore the muscle-relaxing effects of the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation and the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipula-tion in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation under the optimal mechanical parameters.Methods Using a three-factor,three-level orthogonal test method,27 LDH patients included in this study were randomly divided into 9 parameter groups,with 3 patients in each group,and were treated with different parameters of the stereotactic angled wrench method.3 factors were set up for the pressing force,the number of times,and the treatment interval,and each factor consisted of 3 levels,i.e.,pressing force:300～400 N,400～500 N,and 500～600 N;the number of times pressed 3 levels were set up:6 times,9 times,12 times;3 levels of treatment interval:1 day interval,2 days interval,3 days interval.After screening the optimal mechanical parameters through VAS,ODI and FDD evaluation indexes,94 patients were included and randomly divided into two groups;the treatment group was stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation under the configuration of optimal mechanical parameters,and the control group was the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation,and the changes of patients'VAS and ODI scores as well as the thickness of multifidus muscle and cross-sectional area before and after treatment were observed in the treatment of the two groups of patients.Through the comparison of lumbar multifidus muscle between healthy volunteers and patients with lumbar keyboard herniation,the characteristics of lumbar disc herniation multifidus muscle were clarified.The correlation between each observation index and parameter was analyzed by the statistical analysis software SPSS 26.0 to derive the optimal parameters for manipulative treatment.Results Orthogonal test analysis yielded that the order of influence on the efficacy was pressing force>treatment interval>pressing times,and the pressure interval with the best efficacy was:500～600 N,the number of times was 12 times,and the Treatment internal of 2 days.The degree of degeneration of lumbar multifidus muscle in patients with lumbar disc herniation was more obvious compared with that of healthy volunteers,and the difference was stati stically signifi-cant(P<0.05).Observed in both groups of patients with lumbar disc herniation after 6 weeks of treatment time,the VAS and ODI scores of both groups decreased significantly after treatment compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),with greater improvement in the treatment group.The results of the multifidus muscle showed that after treatment,the treatment group could significantly increase the resting thickness,contraction thickness,contraction rate and cross-sectional area of the multifidus muscle had significant changes(P<0.05),in which the contraction thickness,contraction rate before and after the treatment changes were more significant than the control group.Conclusions The stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation is effective in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation,in which the manipulation parameter pressure of 500～600 N,the number of presses 12 times,and the treatment interval of 2 days once for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation has better analgesia and improves the dysfunction effect.Compared with the traditional lumbar oblique-pulling manipulation,the stereotaxic oblique-pulling manipulation is better in improving the pain symptoms and dysfunction of patients with lumbar disc hernia-tion,as well as the resting thickness of the multifidus muscle,the contraction thickness,the contraction rate of change,and the cross-sectional area.