BACKGROUND: Premature menopause, defined as natural menopause before age 40, is associated with diminished ovarian reserve. Despite growing concerns regarding environmental pollutants, no large-scale population-based studies have systematically examined the association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (UPAHMs) and premature menopause. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 2001-2020 NHANES data, including urinary levels of six PAH metabolites: 1-naphthol (1-NAP), 2-naphthol (2-NAP), 3-fluorene (3-FLU), 2-fluorene (2-FLU), 1-phenanthrene (1-PHE), and 1-pyrene (1-PYR). Premature menopause was self-reported as natural menopause occurring before age 40. Multivariable logistic regression assessed UPAHMs' association with premature menopause, with restricted cubic splines (RCS) evaluating nonlinear trends. Subgroup analyses examined demographic interactions. RESULTS: Among 2,565 participants, 662 reported premature menopause. Multivariable logistic regression showed significant associations between elevated urinary levels of 1-NAP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02, P = 0.02), 2-NAP (OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02, P = 0.02), and 3-FLU (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, P = 0.01) and increased risk of premature menopause. RCS analysis revealed significant nonlinear relationships for 2-NAP, 3-FLU, 2-FLU, 1-PHE, and 1-PYR with premature menopause risk. White participants showed greater susceptibility to UPAHMs. CONCLUSION Elevated UPAHMs, particularly 1-NAP, 2-NAP, and 3-FLU, were linked to higher premature menopause risk, with nonlinear trends observed. White individuals demonstrated greater vulnerability, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to reduce PAH exposure.
Humans ; Female ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; United States/epidemiology* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/urine* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Environmental Pollutants/urine* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Menopause, Premature/urine* ; Young Adult ; Environmental Exposure

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of modified Baduanjin exercise, as an rehabilitation exercise, on cardiopulmonary function, motor function and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. MethodsFrom January to September, 2023, 42 stroke patients in the Nanjing Qixia District Hospital were randomly divided into control group (n = 21) and experimental group (n = 21). The control group received routine rehabilitation, and the experimental group received modified Baduanjin exercise in addition, for four weeks. They were assessed with peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), peak oxygen pulse (VO_2peak/HR), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), peak expiratory flow (PEF), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper extremities (FMA-UE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and modified Barthel Index (MBI) before and after intervention. ResultsVO_2peak, AT, and the scores of FMA-UE, BBS and MBI improved in the control group after intervention (|t| > 2.256, |Z| > 2.936, P < 0.05); while VO_2peak, AT, VO_2peak/HR, FVC, FEV₁, PEF, and the scores of FMA-UE, BBS and MBI improved in the experimental group (|t| > 4.390, |Z| > 3.451, P < 0.001); and all the indexes were better in the experimental group than in the control group (|t| > 4.136，|Z| > 2.751，P < 0.01), except the scores of BBS and MBI. ConclusionModified Baduanjin exercise can improve the cardiopulmonary function and upper limb motor function for stroke patients.

Abstract Enhancing the health literacy of the entire population is a prerequisite for improving the health of the entire population, and since the health attitudes and behaviors formed during childhood and adolescence have a profound impact on the health patterns of adulthood, the enhancement of health literacy of children and adolescents is of particular importance. As the main place for children and adolescents to receive education, schools should better fulfil the function of education and promotion of health literacy. China has been carrying out the pilot and promotion of health promoting schools (HPS) since 1995, and is currently in the stage of comprehensive improvement of HPS construction. This paper introduces the background and characteristics of Health-Literate Schools (HeLit-Schools) in foreign countries and compares them with HPS in China, drawing on the advantages of HeLit-Schools to provide a new idea and a new way of thinking for the construction of HPS in China and for the practice of the "Healthy China Initiative".

Objective To analyze the etiology and clinical characteristics of multiple clustered polyps in the ileocecal region.Methods Nine patients with multiple clustered polyps only in the ileocecal region found from 2017 to 2022 were retrospectively collected,and their etiology and clinical characteristics were analyzed.Results There were 9 patients with multiple clustered polyps in the ileocecal region in this group.There were 7 males and 2 females.The age of onset was 28～73 years old,52(40.0,62.5)years old.There were 8 cases of abdominal discomfort or abdominal pain,4 cases of chronic diarrhea,2 cases of mucous stool and 1 case of dry stool.The number of polyps ranged from 4～17,and the diameter of polyps ranged from 0.2～1.0 cm.Pathological examination showed chronic inflammation of ileocecal mucosa with polyp formation in 8 cases,and canalicular adenoma with mild dysplasia in 1 case.7 cases ate more red meat food or processed products.6 cases had repeat colonoscopy,and 3 cases had recurrence.Conclusion Multiple clustered polyps appearing only in the ileocecal region are a special type of polyps closely related to inflammation,and endoscopic surgery is recommended followed by attention to control inflammation.

Objective To investigate the potential value of exosomes derived from rat ectoderm mesenchymal stem cells(EMSCs-exo)for repairing secondary spinal cord injury.Methods EMSCs-exo were obtained using ultracentrifugation from EMSCs isolated from rat nasal mucosa,identified by transmission electron microscope,nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA),and Western blotting,and quantified using the BCA method.Neonatal rat microglia purified by differential attachment were induced with 100 μg/L lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and treated with 37.5 or 75 mg/L EMSCs-exo.PC12 cells were exposed to 400 μmol/L H2O2 and treated with EMSCs-exo at 37.5 or 75 mg/L.The protein and mRNA expressions of Arg1 and iNOS in the treated cells were determined with Western blotting and qRT-PCR,and the concentrations of IL-6,IL-10,and IGF-1 in the supernatants were measured with ELISA.The viability and apoptosis of PC12 cells were detected using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry.Results The isolated rat EMSCs showed high expressions of nestin,CD44,CD105,and vimentin.The obtained EMSCs-exo had a typical cup-shaped structure under transmission electron microscope with an average particle size of 142 nm and positivity for CD63,CD81,and TSG101 but not vimentin.In LPS-treated microglia,EMSCs-exo treatment at 75 mg/L significantly increased Arg1 protein level and lowered iNOS protein expression(P<0.05).EMSCs-exo treatment at 75 mg/L,as compared with the lower concentration at 37.5 mg/L,more strongly increased Arg1 mRNA expression and IGF-1 and IL-10 production and decreased iNOS mRNA expression and IL-6 production in LPS-induced microglia,and more effectively promoted cell survival and decreased apoptosis rate of H2O2-induced PC12 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion EMSCs-exo at 75 mg/L can effectively reduce the proportion of M1 microglia and alleviate neuronal apoptosis under oxidative stress to promote neuronal survival,suggesting its potential in controlling secondary spinal cord injury.

Objective:To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of brucellosis in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used to collect medical records of 581 patients with brucellosis who visited the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional People's Hospital from January 2009 to December 2019. Demographic and epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms and signs, and laboratory test results of the patients were analyzed.Results:Among 581 patients with brucellosis, the male to female ratio was 2.8 ∶ 1.0 (428 ∶ 153). The age was (44.41 ± 16.25) years old, ranging from 1 - 83 years old, and mainly concentrated in 35 - 60 years old, accounting for 70.91% (412/581). The ethnic distribution was dominated by Uyghur, accounting for 50.60% (294/581). The occupational distribution was mainly farmers, accounting for 43.20% (251/581). A total of 186 patients had a clear history of contact with cattle and sheep, accounting for 32.01% (186/581). The clinical stage was dominated by patients in the acute stage, accounting for 55.25% (321/581). There were 48 cases of complications, accounting for 8.26%(48/581). The main clinical symptom of brucellosis patients was pain and fever, accounting for 73.67% (428/581) and 66.61% (387/581), respectively. Laboratory tests were dominated by increased blood sedimentation and C-reactive protein, accounting for 29.09% (169/581) and 23.06% (134/581), respectively. The positive rate of Brucella culture was low, accounting for 4.48% (26/581). Conclusions:The majority of brucellosis patients in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are young and middle-aged males, with the main occupation being farmers. The clinical symptoms are mostly pain and fever. The positive rate of Brucella culture in patients is relatively low. It is recommended to combine epidemiological and clinical features for diagnosis to reduce missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis, and detect and treat it early.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of neutrophil CD64(nCD64)index as a novel biomark-er in the differential diagnosis of acute and chronic brucellosis.Methods A total of 38 patients with acute bru-cellosis and 48 patients with chronic brucellosis diagnosed in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autono-mous Region from February 2021 to July 2023 were included.Peripheral blood of the patients was collected and nCD64 index was detected by flow cytometry,and the correlation between nCD64 index and disease severi-ty was analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the sensitivity and the specificity of nCD64 index in differentially diagnosing acute and chronic brucellosis.Meanwhile,Rose-Bengal Plate Test(RBPT)and Standard Tube Agglutination Test(SAT)were used as controls to evaluate the clini-cal diagnostic value of the three.Results The nCD64 index of acute brucellosis patients was higher than that of chronic brucellosis patients(U=216.00,P<0.001),and the index was positively correlated with the sever-ity of the disease(r=0.670,P<0.001).The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve of nCD64 index in the differential diagnosis of acute and chronic brucellosis was 0.882(95%CI:0.811-0.952,P<0.001),the cut-off value was 2.81,and sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy were 83.3%,81.6%,80.4%,81.9%and 82.6%,respectively.The efficacy of nCD64 index in differential diagnosis of nCD64 index was significantly better than those of the qualitative tests of RBPT and SAT.Conclusion nCD64 index has favourable sensitivity and specificity in the differential diag-nosis of acute and chronic brucellosis,and tends to reflect the severity of the disease.It has clinical value in the differential diagnosis of acute brucellosis and chronic brucellosis,and plays an important role in the early diag-nosis and treatment effect monitoring of brucellosis.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of changes in interleukin(IL)-33 and regulatory T(Treg)cells in brucellosis,to verify the regulatory effect of IL-33 on Treg cells,so as to clarify the immune mechanism of IL-33 on Treg cells in brucellosis.Methods The peripheral blood of 39 patients with brucellosis treated in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January to December 2021(the brucellosis group)and 42 healthy controls(the healthy control group)who underwent physical examination during the same period were collected.The serum IL-33 level was detected by AimPlex kit,and the proportion of Treg cells was detected by flow cytometry.Peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)was extracted and cultured in vitro to observe the proportion and mRNA expression levels of forkhead box protein P3(Foxp3)after stimulation and blocking of IL-33.Results Compared with the healthy control group,the level of IL-33 and the proportion of Treg cells in brucellosis group were significantly increased,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).In vitro tests showed that the Foxp3 proportion and mRNA expression level of PBMC in the two groups were significantly increased after IL-33 stimulation,and significantly decreased after IL-33 blocking,with statistical significance(P＜0.001).Conclusion IL-33 and Treg cells increased significantly in brucellosis patients,and IL-33 promoted the immune function of Treg cells.Blocking IL-33 is expected to be a potential target for immunotherapy of brucellosis.

Objective To investigate the potential value of exosomes derived from rat ectoderm mesenchymal stem cells(EMSCs-exo)for repairing secondary spinal cord injury.Methods EMSCs-exo were obtained using ultracentrifugation from EMSCs isolated from rat nasal mucosa,identified by transmission electron microscope,nanoparticle tracking analysis(NTA),and Western blotting,and quantified using the BCA method.Neonatal rat microglia purified by differential attachment were induced with 100 μg/L lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and treated with 37.5 or 75 mg/L EMSCs-exo.PC12 cells were exposed to 400 μmol/L H2O2 and treated with EMSCs-exo at 37.5 or 75 mg/L.The protein and mRNA expressions of Arg1 and iNOS in the treated cells were determined with Western blotting and qRT-PCR,and the concentrations of IL-6,IL-10,and IGF-1 in the supernatants were measured with ELISA.The viability and apoptosis of PC12 cells were detected using CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry.Results The isolated rat EMSCs showed high expressions of nestin,CD44,CD105,and vimentin.The obtained EMSCs-exo had a typical cup-shaped structure under transmission electron microscope with an average particle size of 142 nm and positivity for CD63,CD81,and TSG101 but not vimentin.In LPS-treated microglia,EMSCs-exo treatment at 75 mg/L significantly increased Arg1 protein level and lowered iNOS protein expression(P<0.05).EMSCs-exo treatment at 75 mg/L,as compared with the lower concentration at 37.5 mg/L,more strongly increased Arg1 mRNA expression and IGF-1 and IL-10 production and decreased iNOS mRNA expression and IL-6 production in LPS-induced microglia,and more effectively promoted cell survival and decreased apoptosis rate of H2O2-induced PC12 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion EMSCs-exo at 75 mg/L can effectively reduce the proportion of M1 microglia and alleviate neuronal apoptosis under oxidative stress to promote neuronal survival,suggesting its potential in controlling secondary spinal cord injury.