ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of long COVID and to investigate its main influencing factors by examining individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 between March and June 2022 in two communities in Shanghai, to lay the foundation for further research on the mechanism and clinical treatment of long COVID, and to provide the basis for the development of inexpensive, convenient, and feasible prevention and intervention strategies. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 6 410 individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey. The incidence and common symptoms of long COVID were analyzed, along with their associations with demographic characteristics, medical history, and behavioral factors. A logistic regression model was used to identify the major factors associated with the development of long COVID symptoms. ResultsThe overall incidence rate of long COVID among the study population was 13.9%. The most commonly reported symptoms included fatigue (65.1%), attention disorders (23.1%), and cough (16.9%). The analysis showed that having underlying chronic diseases (OR=2.580, 95%CI: 2.165‒3.074), a history of allergies (OR=1.418, 95%CI: 1.003‒1.971), current smoking (OR=1.461, 95%CI: 1.013‒2.079), ever smoking (OR=2.462, 95%CI: 1.687‒3.551), a greater number of symptoms during the acute phase [1 symptom (OR=1.778, 95%CI: 1.459‒2.162), 2 symptoms (OR=2.749, 95%CI: 2.209‒3.409), ≥3 symptoms (OR=7.792, 95%CI: 6.333‒9.593)] and aggravated symptoms during the acute phase (OR=1.082, 95%CI: 1.070‒1.094) were factors associated with a higher risk of developing long COVID symptoms. Additionally, individuals who had consumed alcohol in the past year (OR=1.914, 95%CI: 1.344‒2.684) were more prone to objective long COVID symptoms. Among individuals under 50 years of age, females (OR=1.427, 95%CI: 1.052‒1.943) were more likely to develop objective long COVID symptoms. ConclusionThis study has identified the diversity of long COVID symptoms, which involve multiple organs and systems, including fatigue, attention disorders, cough, and joint pain. It has also revealed associations between long COVID and various demographic factors (e.g., age, gender), personal medical history (e.g., underlying chronic diseases, history of allergies), acute-phase characteristics (e.g., number and severity of symptoms), and behavioral factors (e.g., smoking, alcohol consumption). These findings highlight the need for further research and ongoing surveillance of long COVID and may inform the development of more targeted health management strategies for specific populations.

Several types of arthritis share the common feature that the generation of inflammatory mediators leads to joint cartilage degradation. However, the shared mechanism is largely unknown. H2BK120ub1 was reportedly involved in various inflammatory diseases but its role in the shared mechanism in inflammatory joint conditions remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that levels of cartilage degradation, H2BK120ub1, and its regulator WW domain-containing adapter protein with coiled-coil (WAC) were increased in cartilage in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients as well as in experimental RA and OA mice. By regulating H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3, WAC regulated the secretion of inflammatory and cartilage-degrading factors. WAC influenced the level of H3K27me3 by regulating nuclear entry of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, and acted as a key factor of the crosstalk between H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3. The cartilage-specific knockout of WAC demonstrated the ability to alleviate cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) mice. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, doxercalciferol was found to inhibit WAC and the development of cartilage degradation in the CIA and CIOA models. Our study demonstrated that WAC is a key factor of cartilage degradation in arthritis, and targeting WAC by doxercalciferol could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating cartilage destruction in several types of arthritis.

Tumor cell-intrinsic programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signals mediate tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, but their effects in ameloblastoma (AM) have not been reported. In this comprehensive study, we observed marked upregulation of PD-L1 in AM tissues and revealed the robust correlation between elevated PD-L1 expression and increased tumor growth and recurrence rates. Notably, we found that PD-L1 overexpression markedly increased self-renewal capacity and promoted tumorigenic processes and invasion in hTERT⁺-AM cells, whereas genetic ablation of PD-L1 exerted opposing inhibitory effects. By performing high-resolution single-cell profiling and thorough immunohistochemical analyses in AM patients, we delineated the intricate cellular landscape and elucidated the mechanisms underlying the aggressive phenotype and unfavorable prognosis of these tumors. Our findings revealed that hTERT⁺-AM cells with upregulated PD-L1 expression exhibit increased proliferative potential and stem-like attributes and undergo partial epithelial‒mesenchymal transition. This phenotypic shift is induced by the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis; thus, this study revealed a crucial regulatory mechanism that fuels tumor growth and recurrence. Importantly, targeted inhibition of the PD-L1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis significantly suppressed the growth of AM patient-derived tumor organoids, highlighting the potential of PD-L1 blockade as a promising therapeutic approach for AM.
Ameloblastoma/metabolism* ; Humans ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Cell Proliferation ; Up-Regulation ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Telomerase/metabolism* ; Jaw Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Male

Objective To sort out the current situation and research hotspots of the application of information technology in drug safety in China，reveal the latest research frontier, and provide a basis for the follow-up research. Methods The literature about the application of information technology in the field of drug safety were searched from 2012 to 2022 in three major databases of CNKI, WanFang and VIP databases, and visual analysis was conducted with the help of Citespace software. Results A total of 848 valid papers were included, and the number of annual publications showed a phased growth trend, and the cooperation between authors and publishers was not close enough. The application of information technology in drug safety was mainly reflected in pharmaceutical service, intravenous drug dispensing center and antibacterial drugs. The main technical means of information construction in the field of drug safety were prescription pre-audit system, knowledge base and automation. The research frontiers were mainly intelligence, knowledge base, prescription audit, and proprietary Chinese medicines. Conclusion The application of information technology in drug safety in China is in a period of vigorous development, and cooperation among different regions, institutions, and authors should be strengthened to promote information sharing. In the future, the related research of information technology in the field of Chinese patent medicine should be focused, and the research content of information technology application in drug safety could be further improved.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA)is a rare disease which mainly affects infants, children and adolescents. As an autosomal recessive disorder, CIPA is also known as familial autonomic dysfunction type 2. The diagnosis of CIPA mainly relies on clinical observation and genetic testing. Currently there is a lack of effective treatment, and it is mainly treated by cooling, anti-inflammatory and strengthened guardianization. This article has reviewed the literature and summarized the research on CIPA and progress made in its diagnosis and treatment, with an aim to improve the understanding of this disorder.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy,safety and the postoperative functional improvement of the surgical treatment for postpartum diastasis recti(PDR).Methods A retrospective study was conducted on the patients with PDR who underwent surgical treatment in Department of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery,Shanghai East Hospital,Tongji University from November 2018 to October 2023.The patients'demography,operation data,postoperative complications,recurrence and functional evaluation before and after surgery were analyzed.Results A total of 39 cases were included.Open surgery was performed in 21 cases,laparoscopic surgery in 17 cases,and hybrid surgery in 1 case.On the basis of linear alba reconstruction(LAR),26 cases were additionally repaired with Sublay mesh,9 with Onlay,and 1 with intraperitoneal onlay mesh(IPOM);the other 3 cases were only performed with LAR.The follow-up ranged 6-45 months,and the completion rate was 92.3%.During the follow-up,no recurrence was observed,and the overall complication rate was 20.5%,including 1 case with delayed wound healing,2 cases with seroma,and 5 cases with skin disorders in paraumbilical and subumbilical area.There were significant changes of European Registry for abdominal wall hernias quality of life(EuraHS QoL)score and Oswestry disability index(ODI)after operation,indicating significant improvement in QoL and lower back pain.The inter-recti distance(IRD)of the patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery was less than that of the patients undergoing open surgery(median 4.0 cm vs.4.5 cm),and the duration of hospital stay of the patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery was shorter than that of open surgery(median 7 days vs.9 days).Conclusions In general,the surgical treatment of PDR is safe and effective,and it can not only correct the separation,but also improve QoL and lower back pain of the patients.Tailored surgical procedures should be selected for patients with different conditions.

Objective To understand the prevalence and risk factors of hyperuricemia in electronics factory workers in Wuhan, and to provide evidence for the health protection of electronics factory workers. Methods A total of 1 415 employees in an electronics factory in Wuhan were selected as the research subjects, and the physical examination and determination of various biochemical indicators, as well as questionnaire survey were carried out. Results The detection rate of hyperuricemia among workers in the electronics factory in Wuhan was 32.43%, with 36.33% for men and 14.11% for women, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ²＝46.077，P＜0.001). The detection rate of hyperuricemia was the highest (33.77%) among those with university or college education, followed by graduate students and above (31.50%). Compared with subjects with good lifestyle habits, people with drinking habits had higher hyperuricemia detection rate (49.38%), and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.001). The detection rates of hyperuricemia in those with central obesity and elevated alanine aminotransferase were 48.23% and 61.29%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the subjects without the above diseases (26.91% and 27.21%, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (P <0.001). Obese people had the highest detection rate of hyperuricemia (66.95%), followed by overweight people (43.75%), and the difference was statistically significant (P <0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that alcohol drinking (OR=1.836, 95% CI=1.139-2.961, P =0.013) and body mass index ≥ 24 kg/m² (OR=2.175, 95% CI=1.686 -2.806, P <0.001) were risk factors for hyperuricemia in electronic factory workers. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly correlated with hyperuricemia (OR=2.964, 95%CI=2.146-4.095 , P <0.001). Female gender was a protective factor for hyperuricemia in workers in the electronics factory (OR=0.441, 95%CI=0.297-0.653 , P <0.001). Conclusion The detection rate of hyperuricemia among workers in an electronics factory in Wuhan is high, and the detection rate of hyperuricemia in men is higher than that in women. Alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity will increase the risk of hyperuricemia. Elevated ALT is associated with hyperuricemia. Maintaining an ideal body mass index and establishing a good lifestyle play an important role in preventing hyperuricemia.

Objective To investigate the effects of treatment with nicorandil after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention(PCI)in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome(ACS)on inflammation-related markers,and to assess its effects on vascular endothelial function.Methods Sixty-six ACS patients who underwent PCI in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from August 2022 to January 2023 were used as the study sample,and were divided into the control group and the experimental group according to the method of completely randomized design,with 33 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional therapy,and the experimental group was treated with nicorandil.Inflammatory indexes,homocysteine(Hcy)and adverse reactions in serum were compared between the two groups.Results After nicorandil treatment,the levels of postoperative inflammation-related factors in the control group were higher than that in the experimental group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The levels of Hcy after nicorandil treatment were lower than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);and the rate of adverse reactions in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group,and there was no statistical difference(P>0.05).Conclusion Nicorandil application in elderly ACS patients after PCI has a definite efficacy,can optimize the vascular-related inflammatory indexes,reduce homocysteine levels to improve coronary vascular endothelial function,and is suitable for further promotion.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with a complex etiology. Monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) infiltration are associated with RA severity. We have reported the deletion of G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) reprograms macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype by recovering G-protein-coupled receptor signaling. However, as more GRK2-interacting proteins were discovered, the GRK2 interactome mechanisms in RA have been understudied. Thus, in the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, we performed genetic GRK2 deletion using GRK2^f/fLyz2-Cre^+/- mice. Synovial inflammation and M1 polarization were improved in GRK2^f/fLyz2-Cre^+/- mice. Supporting experiments with RNA-seq and dual-luciferase reporter assays identified peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) as a new GRK2-interacting protein. We further confirmed that fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (Flt-1), which promoted macrophage migration to induce angiogenesis, was inhibited by GRK2-PPARγ signaling. Mechanistically, excess GRK2 membrane recruitment in CIA MDMs reduced the activation of PPARγ ligand-binding domain and enhanced Flt-1 transcription. Furthermore, the treatment of mice with GRK2 activity inhibitor resulted in significantly diminished CIA pathology, Flt-1⁺ macrophages induced-synovial inflammation, and angiogenesis. Altogether, we anticipate to facilitate the elucidation of previously unappreciated details of GRK2-specific intracellular signaling. Targeting GRK2 activity is a viable strategy to inhibit MDMs infiltration, affording a distinct way to control joint inflammation and angiogenesis of RA.

ObjectiveTo explore the risk of different levels of pre-pregnancy obesity on trimester-specific thyroid dysfunction. MethodsQuestionnaire information， blood samples， and urine samples from a 2017 pregnancy cohort study in Shanghai， China were collected. A total of 2 455 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Pre-pregnancy BMI was calculated based on the height and self-reported pre-pregnancy weight. Serum TSH， total thyroxine （TT4）， free thyroxine （FT4）， total triiodothyronine （TT3）， free triiodothyronine （FT3）， thyroid globulin antibody（TgAb）， and Thyroid peroxidase antibody （TPOAb） were measured using the electrochemiluminescence method. Urine iodine levels were measured using the acid digestion method. Levels of thyroid function indexes of pregnant women with different degrees of obesity during pre-pregnancy were compared， and trimester-specific thyroid dysfunction was evaluated according to the reference range of trimester-specific thyroid hormone established by this cohort. Multivariate logistic regressions analysis was used to assess the correlation between pre-pregnancy obesity and trimester-specific thyroid dysfunction. ResultsAs the degree of obesity increased， maternal levels of FT3 and TT3 gradually increased during pregnancy （P<0.001， P=0.001）， while FT4 levels gradually decreased （P=0.001）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with the normal weight group， pregnant women who were overweight or obesity before pregnancy had a significantly higher risk of hypothyroxinemia （OR=3.85， 95%CI： 2.08‒7.14， P<0.001） and high TT3 （OR=2.78， 95%CI： 1.45‒5.26， P=0.002） during pregnancy. ConclusionPre-pregnancy overweight or obesity can increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy.