Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in neck, shoulders and lower back among power grid workers. Methods A total of 371 workers from a power grid enterprise in Guangdong Province were selected as the research subjects using the convenience sampling method. A cross-sectional survey of WMSDs in the neck, shoulders and waist of the workers was conducted using the modified Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. Results The overall prevalence of WMSDs among the power grid workers was 62.8%, with prevalence of 37.2%, 33.7% and 32.1% for WMSDs in neck, shoulders and lower back, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that power grid workers who did not maintain a good sitting posture or were unable to maintain good sitting posture over prolonged periods had a higher risk of neck WMSDs than those who maintained a good sitting posture (both P<0.01). A higher frequency of head-down posture during work was associated with an increased risk of neck WMSDs (both P<0.05). Female workers had a higher risk of shoulder WMSDs than male workers (P<0.05). A higher frequency of early awakening with inability to fall back asleep, as well as a higher frequency of head-down posture during work, were both associated with an increased risk of shoulder WMSDs (all P<0.05). Workers with a sedentary habit had a higher risk of shoulder WMSDs than those without (P<0.01). Workers with insufficient rest time had a higher risk of shoulder WMSDs than those with sufficient rest time (P<0.01). Both maintenance workers and managers had a higher risk of lower back WMSDs than workers in other occupational categories (all P<0.05). Workers who experienced nocturnal awakening with difficulty falling back asleep at frequency of several times per year, ≥1 time /month, ≥1 time /week, had higher risk of lower back WMSDs than those who never experienced such problem (all P<0.05). Workers with a sedentary habit and those uncertain about having a sedentary habit both had a higher risk of lower back WMSDs than those without (both P<0.05). Greater forward neck flexion during work was associated with an increased risk of lower back WMSDs (both P<0.05). Workers who occasionally tilted their necks to the side while working had a higher risk of lower back WMSDs than those who did not (P<0.05). Conclusion WMSDs are highly prevalent among power grid workers, particularly affecting the neck, shoulder, and waist. Influencing factors include individual characteristics, behavioral habits, work organization, work posture, and workload. Maintaining proper posture and adequate rest may reduce the risk of WMSDs.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

Objective To explore the application value of distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and speech in noise(SIN) testing in occupational health surveillance of noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 220 noise-exposed workers was selected as the study subjects using the convenient sampling method. The study subjects participated questionnaire survey, personal noise exposure assessment, acoustic immittance testing, pure tone audiometry (PTA), DPOAE and SIN testing. According to PTA results, workers were enrolled into a high-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) group and a non-HFHL group. Results The detection rate of HFHL among the study subjects was 41.4%, and the detection rate of speech-frequency hearing loss was 15.9%. Workers′ bilateral DPOAE response amplitudes and signal-to-noise ratios at frequencies of 2.0-8.0 kHz in the HFHL group were lower than those in the non-HFHL group (all P<0.05). The DPOAE amplitudes at frequencies of 1.0-8.0 kHz in both ears of the study subjects were negatively correlated with the PTA threshold (all P<0.01), and were negatively correlated with age (all P<0.01). The signal-to-noise ratio loss score was higher among worker in the HFHL group than in the non-HFHL group (P<0.01) and was positively correlated with PTA thresholds (P<0.05). Conclusion DPOAE and SIN testing can detect early cochlear outer hair cell impairment and reduction of noise-related speech recognition ability in noise-exposed workers and may serve as an effective supplementary tool to routine PTA in occupational hearing surveillance.

Anxiety disorder is a major symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with a comorbidity rate of ~40%. However, the neural mechanisms of the emergence of anxiety in ASD remain unclear. In our study, we found that hyperactivity of basolateral amygdala (BLA) pyramidal neurons (PNs) in Shank3 InsG3680 knock-in (InsG3680^+/+) mice is involved in the development of anxiety. Electrophysiological results also showed increased excitatory input and decreased inhibitory input in BLA PNs. Chemogenetic inhibition of the excitability of PNs in the BLA rescued the anxiety phenotype of InsG3680^+/+ mice. Further study found that the diminished control of the BLA by medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and optogenetic activation of the mPFC-BLA pathway also had a rescue effect, which increased the feedforward inhibition of the BLA. Taken together, our results suggest that hyperactivity of the BLA and alteration of the mPFC-BLA circuitry are involved in anxiety in InsG3680^+/+ mice.
Animals ; Prefrontal Cortex/metabolism* ; Basolateral Nuclear Complex/metabolism* ; Mice ; Anxiety/metabolism* ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Gene Knock-In Techniques ; Pyramidal Cells/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Pathways/physiopathology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microfilament Proteins

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering holds promise for vascular repair and regeneration by mimicking the extracellular matrix of blood vessels. However, achieving a functional and thick vascular wall with aligned fiber architecture by electrospinning remains a significant challenge. METHODS: A novel electrospinning setup was developed that utilizes an auxiliary electrode and a spring. The impact of process parameters on fiber size and morphology was investigated. The structure and functions of the scaffolds were evaluated through material characterization and assessments of cellular biocompatibility. RESULTS: The new setup enabled controlled deposition of fibers in different designed orientations. The fabricated small-diameter vascular scaffolds consisted of an inner layer of longitudinally oriented fibers and an outer layer of circumferentially oriented fibers (L + C vascular scaffold). Key parameters, including rotational speed, the utilization of the auxiliary electrode, and top-to-collector distance (TCD) significantly influenced fiber orientation. Additionally, voltage, TCD, feed rate, needle size, auxiliary electrode and collector-auxiliary electrode distance affected fiber diameter and distribution. Mechanical advantages and improved surface wettability of L + C vascular scaffold were confirmed through tensile testing and water contact angle. Cellular experiments indicated that L + C vascular scaffold facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation, with human umbilical vein endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells attaching and elongating along the fiber direction of the inner and outer layer, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of fabricating fiber-aligned, thick-walled vascular scaffolds using a modified electrospinning setup. The findings provided insights into how the auxiliary electrode, specific collector influenced fiber deposition, potentially advancing biomimetic vascular scaffold engineering.

By integrating existing research,this paper systematically analyzes the impact of exercise training in low-temperature environments on immune regulation and infection defense,in order to explore its potential benefits and risks.Strictly following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses:2020(PRISMA 2020)guidelines,multiple databases were systematically reviewed,to include original studies on the impact of exercise training in low-temperature environments on immune regulation and infection defense,and to evaluate the quality of the studies.The 25 included literature indicated that moderate-intensity exercise training in low-temperature environments could cause an increase in white blood cell count,neutrophils and natural killer cells,changes in both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors,and predominant upregulation of most mucosal immunity level,as well as accelerated infection recovery in several studies.High-intensity exercise training in low-temperature environments has shown an immunosuppressive trend in individual studies,and physiological indicators such as body temperature,heart rate and metabolism have also been affected to varying degrees.This suggests that moderate-intensity exercise training in a low-temperature environment is conducive to enhancing immunity and preventing infection,which is of great significance for health management and occupational protection in cold climates.Reasonable control of exercise intensity and duration in a low-temperature environment is crucial for preventing immunosuppression.

By integrating existing research,this paper systematically analyzes the impact of exercise training in low-temperature environments on immune regulation and infection defense,in order to explore its potential benefits and risks.Strictly following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses:2020(PRISMA 2020)guidelines,multiple databases were systematically reviewed,to include original studies on the impact of exercise training in low-temperature environments on immune regulation and infection defense,and to evaluate the quality of the studies.The 25 included literature indicated that moderate-intensity exercise training in low-temperature environments could cause an increase in white blood cell count,neutrophils and natural killer cells,changes in both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors,and predominant upregulation of most mucosal immunity level,as well as accelerated infection recovery in several studies.High-intensity exercise training in low-temperature environments has shown an immunosuppressive trend in individual studies,and physiological indicators such as body temperature,heart rate and metabolism have also been affected to varying degrees.This suggests that moderate-intensity exercise training in a low-temperature environment is conducive to enhancing immunity and preventing infection,which is of great significance for health management and occupational protection in cold climates.Reasonable control of exercise intensity and duration in a low-temperature environment is crucial for preventing immunosuppression.