Background In recent years, the increasingly widespread application of nuclear and medical radiation technologies has resulted in a large number of occupational populations exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR). At present, there is no consistent conclusion on the effects of long-term exposure to LDIR on the metabolic health of the occupational population. Objective To explore the association between long-term exposure to LDIR and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among medical radiologists. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to enroll 6431 medical radiologists who ordered occupational health checkups from January 2022 to December 2023, and basic information such as demographic characteristics, occupational characteristics, lifestyles, and dietary habits was collected through questionnaires. Physical examinations were conducted using a standardized protocol. Individual dose equivalents of occupational external exposure were monitored by dosimeters worn by medical radiologists. Logistic regression model was used for identifying influencing factors of MetS and sensitivity analysis, and restricted cubic spline model was used to explore the dose-response relationship between cumulative effective dose and MetS. Two-stage linear regression was used to evaluate threshold effect of association between cumulative effective dose and MetS. Results The positive rate of MetS was 13.6% (877/6431) among the enrolled 6431 study participants. The logistic regression showed that gender, age, monthly income, body mass index (BMI), cumulative effective dose, and smoking were influencing factors for MetS. The risk of MetS was higher in males (OR=1.511, 95%CI: 1.209, 1.888); using the < 30 years old group as reference, the risk of MetS was higher in the 30-39 years old (OR=1.509, 95%CI: 1.095, 2.079), 40-49 years old (OR=2.214, 95%CI: 1.551, 3.161), and ≥50 years old (OR=3.480, 95%CI: 2.338, 5.181) groups; using the <10000 yuan group as reference, the risk of MetS was lower in the group with a monthly income of 10000-14999 yuan (OR=0.715, 95%CI: 0.582, 0.878); the risk of MetS was higher in the BMI ≥ 24 kg·m⁻² group (OR=7.548, 95%CI: 6.223, 9.156); using the < 0.76 mSv group as reference, the risk of MetS was higher in the cumulative effective dose of 0.76-2.73 mSv group (OR=1.270, 95%CI: 1.017, 1.586); the risk of MetS was higher in the smoking group (OR=1.734, 95%CI: 1.428, 2.107). The results of restricted cubic spline showed that the cumulative effective dose was nonlinearly correlated with MetS (P _{non-linearity}=0.028), with an inflection point of 1.25 mSv. The risk of developing MetS increased by 34.1% for each unit increase in cumulative effective dose up to 1.25 mSv, whereas above 1.25 mSv, the statistical association was not significant. The sensitivity analysis results showed that after excluding the self-reported hypertensive and diabetic patients, the cumulative effective dose 0.76-2.73 mSv group still had an increased risk of developing MetS compared with the < 0.76 mSv group (P < 0.05), and the results were robust. Conclusion Among medical radiologists, male, age, BMI, and smoking are positively correlated with MetS, and monthly income is negatively correlated with MetS; cumulative effective dose is non-linearly correlated with MetS among medical radiologists.

Objective:To investigate the changes in liver injury and oxidative-antioxidant level in mice exposed to X-rays at varying doses.Methods:Fifty-four 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, namely the control, 2 Gy irradiation, and 4 Gy irradiation groups. Then, each of the groups was further divided by days post-irradiation (i.e., 1, 3, and 7 d), and so nine sub-groups ( n = 6). After irradiation was performed as planned, all the mice were dissected and weighed, and their liver indexes were calculated to determine any histopathological changes in the liver. The peripheral blood cell count and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected. Furthermore, spectrophotometry was also used to determine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and the reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver tissues. Results:Compared to the control group, mice undergoing irradiation exhibited a significant reduction in body weight ( F = 84.03, 27.11, 25.50, P < 0.001), but significantly increased liver indexes ( F = 28.40, 17.75, P <0.001) at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation. Pathological observations of these mice revealed liver injury, which proved related to dose and time course. The counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in peripheral blood decreased significantly ( F = 8.42-22.91, P < 0.05), trending downward with an increase in the radiation dose. For mice in the 4 Gy irradiation group, their AST and ALT levels increased significantly at 1 d post-irradiation ( H = 7.24, 7.82, P < 0.05), and their ALP levels rose notably at 1 and 3 d post-irradiation ( F = 11.86, 9.75, P < 0.05). Furthermore, their MDA and SOD levels initially rose and then dropped but their GSH levels exhibited an opposite trend at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation. There was a positive correlation between their MDA levels in the liver and the degree of damage to histopathological lesions at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation ( r = 0.30, P < 0.001). Conclusions:A model for radiation-induced liver injury of mice was preliminarily established in this study. It can be concluded that X-rays at varying doses affect the severity of liver injury, pathological grade, peripheral blood cell count, liver function index, and liver oxidative and antioxidant levels of mice, presenting a certain relationship between dose and time course effects.

Objective:To investigate the value of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), pediatric sequential organ failure assessment (pSOFA) and pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) in predicting mortality of pediatric sepsis in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) from Southwest China.Methods:This was a prospective multicenter observational study. A total of 447 children with sepsis admitted to 12 PICU in Southwest China from April 2022 to March 2023 were enrolled. Based on the prognosis, the patients were divided into survival group and non-survival group. The physiological parameters of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS were recorded and scored within 24 h after PICU admission. The general clinical data and some laboratory results were recorded. The area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to compare the predictive value of SIRS, pSOFA and PCIS in mortality of pediatric sepsis.Results:Amongst 447 children with sepsis, 260 patients were male and 187 patients were female, aged 2.5 (0.8, 7.0) years, 405 patients were in the survival group and 42 patients were in the non-survival group. 418 patients (93.5%) met the criteria of SIRS, and 440 patients (98.4%) met the criteria of pSOFA≥2. There was no significant difference in the number of items meeting the SIRS criteria between the survival group and the non-survival group (3(2, 4) vs. 3(3, 4) points, Z=1.30, P=0.192). The pSOFA score of the non-survival group was significantly higher than that of the survival group (9(6, 12) vs. 4(3, 7) points, Z=6.56, P<0.001), and the PCIS score was significantly lower than that of the survival group (72(68, 81) vs. 82(76, 88) points, Z=5.90, P<0.001). The predictive value of pSOFA (AUC=0.82) and PCIS (AUC=0.78) for sepsis mortality was significantly higher than that of SIRS (AUC=0.56) ( Z=6.59, 4.23, both P<0.001). There was no significant difference between pSOFA and PCIS ( Z=1.35, P=0.176). Platelet count, procalcitonin, lactic acid, albumin, creatinine, total bilirubin, activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time and international normalized ratio were all able to predict mortality of sepsis to a certain degree (AUC=0.64, 0.68, 0.80, 0.64, 0.68, 0.60, 0.77, 0.75, 0.76, all P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with SIRS, both pSOFA and PCIS had better predictive value in the mortality of pediatric sepsis in PICU.

Background The thyroid gland is one of the organs sensitive to ionizing radiation, and there are few studies on the effects of long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation on the thyroid gland of radiation workers. Objective To investigate thyroid abnormalities in workers in medical radiology departments in Guangdong Province and to identify potential influencing factors of thyroid abnormalities. Methods A total of 1657 radiation workers from 48 hospitals in Guangdong Province were selected as survey subjects using convenience sampling, and their personal dose monitoring results and health examination information were retrospectively analyzed to determine the factors affecting thyroid abnormalities. Results The M (P₂₅, P₇₅) of thyroid absorbed dose (D_T) was 1.55 (0.65, 3.96) mGy in the 1657 investigated workers. The attribute-specific medians of D_T were 1.29, 1.38, 1.99, and 3.51 mGy for departments of diagnostic radiology, interventional radiology, radiotherapy, and nuclear medicine, respectively; and 1.10, 1.55, and 1.80 mGy for job titles of nurse, technician, and physician, respectively. Differences in D_T by gender, age, years of radiological work, age of radiation exposure onset, occupational category, and job title were statistically significant (Z=−6.35, H=708.52, 918.20, 31.19, 95.64, 39.28, P<0.05). The positive rate of thyroid abnormalities in investigated workers was 46.53% (771/1657). Among them, the positive rate of abnormal thyroid function was 22.87% (379/1657), that of abnormal thyroid morphology was 33.98% (563/1657), and that of thyroid nodule was 26.55% (440/1657). The differences in thyroid abnormality rates by gender, age, years of radiation work, age of radiation exposure onset, D_T, and job title of radiation workers were statistically significant (χ²=51.89, 49.64, 20.54, 18.29, 12.07, 16.16, P<0.05). The differences in abnormal thyroid function positive rate by gender, age of radiation exposure onset, and job title were statistically significant (χ²=26.21, 6.21, 8.32, P<0.05). The differences in the positive rates of abnormal thyroid morphology and nodules were statistically significant by gender, age, years of radiological work, age of radiation exposure onset, D_T, and job title (abnormal thyroid morphology, χ²=40.24, 64.17, 37.63, 15.17, 19.28, 15.05; nodules, χ²=31.41, 77.98, 42.11, 19.16, 21.70, 13.52, P<0.05). The positive rates of thyroid abnormality, thyroid morphology abnormality, and nodules all showed a linear increasing trend with increasing age, years of radiation work, and age of radiation exposure onset (P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that the factors influencing thyroid abnormalities were female (OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.72-2.74), increased years of radiological work (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.03-1.06), onset of radiation exposure in age groups of 30-34 and ≥35 years (OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.12-2.37; OR=2.58, 95%CI: 1.74-3.29), and working in department of diagnostic radiology (OR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.07-1.84). Conclusion Long-term exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation has an effect on thyroid abnormalities in medical radiation workers. Among them, being female, physicians, and working in department of diagnostic radiology are at a higher risk of abnormal thyroid function; being female, increased years of radiation work, and radiation exposure onset at age ≥30 years are associated with a higher risk of reporting abnormal thyroid morphology.

Objective:To explore any effect of combining intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) of the cerebellum with physiotherapy on the balance function and gait of stroke survivors.Methods:Thirty-two hemiplegic stroke survivors were divided at random into a treatment group and a control group, each of 16. Both groups received conventional physical therapy. Before their physiotherapy sessions the treatment group received iTBS treatment of the cerebellar hemisphere contralateral to the affected cerebral hemisphere, while the control group was given pseudo-stimulation on the same site. The iTBS was given once a day for 200s each time, 6 times a week for 3 weeks consecutively. Before and after the treatment, as well as 3 weeks later, both groups′ balance was evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Their ability to shift their center of gravity, total length of their shaking trajectory, and maximum shaking diameter were also quantified. Walking ability was assessed using 10m walk test (10MWT) times and the Tinetti Gait Assessment Scale (POMA-G). Lower limb motor function was quantified using the relevant Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA-LE) and the subjects′ ability in the activities of daily living was measured with the Barthel index (BI).Results:After the 3 weeks of treatment and at the follow-up the average BBS score of the treatment group had improved significantly more than the control group′s average, as had its total track length and maximum shake diameter. The average POMA-G, FMA-LE and BI scores of the treatment group were also significantly better.Conclusions:Combining iTBS with physiotherapy can improve the balance and gait of stroke survivors more effectively than physiotherapy alone.

Background: Cervical cancer is still present a major public health problem, especially in developing countries. In International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 2018, allowing assessment of retroperitoneal lymph nodes by imaging and/or pathological findings and, if deemed metastatic, the case is designated as stage IIIC (with r and p notations). Patients with lymph node metastases have lower overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and survival after recurrence, especially those who have unresectable macroscopical positive lymph nodes. Retrospective analysis suggests that there may be a benefit to debulking macroscopic nodes that would be otherwise difficult to sterilize with standard doses of radiation therapy. However, there are no prospective study reporting that resecting macroscopic nodes before concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) would improve PFS or OS of cervical cancer and no guidelines for surgical resection of bulky lymph nodes. The CQGOG0103 study is a prospective, multicenter and randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating lymph node dissection on stage IIICr of cervical cancer. Methods Eligible patients are histologically confirmed cervical squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, adeno-squamous cell carcinoma. Stage IIICr (confirmed by computed tomography [CT]/magnetic resonance imaging/positron emission tomography/CT) and the short diameter of image-positive lymph node ≥15 mm. 452 patients will be equally randomized to receive either CCRT (pelvic external-beam radiotherapy [EBRT]/extended-field EBRT + cisplatin [40 mg/m2] or carboplatin [the area under curve=2] every week for 5 cycles + brachytherapy) or open/minimally invasive pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection followed by CCRT. Randomization is stratified by status of para-aortic lymph node. The primary endpoint is PFS. Secondary endpoints are OS and surgical complications. A total of 452 patients will be enrolled from multiple hospitals in China within 4 years and followed up for 5 years.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence and development of lung cancer are closely linked to epigenetic modification. Abnormal DNA methylation in the CpG island region of genes has been found in many cancers. Protein kinase C delta binding protein (PRKCDBP) is a potential tumor suppressor and its epigenetic changes are found in many human malignancies. This study investigated the possibility of PRKCDBP methylation as a potential biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: We measured the methylation levels of PRKCDBP in the three groups of NSCLC tissues. Promoter activity was measured by the dual luciferase assay, with 5'-aza-deoxycytidine to examine the effect of demethylation on the expression level of PRKCDBP. RESULTS: The methylation levels of PRKCDBP in tumor tissues and 3 cm para-tumor were higher than those of distant (>10 cm) non-tumor tissues. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis between tumor tissues and distant non-tumor tissues showed that the area under the line (AUC) was 0.717. Dual luciferase experiment confirmed that the promoter region was able to promote gene expression. Meanwhile, in vitro methylation of the fragment (PRKCDBP_Me) could significantly reduce the promoter activity of the fragment. Demethylation of 5'-aza-deoxycytidine in lung cancer cell lines A549 and H1299 showed a significant up-regulation of PRKCDBP mRNA levels. CONCLUSIONS PRKCDBP methylation is a potential and promising candidate biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer.
Biomarkers/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Pancreatitis is one of the common diseases of digestive system in children, especially acute recurrent pancreatitis(ARP)and chronic pancreatitis(CP)which can seriously affect the life quality of children and increase the burden of the family.With the application of gene detection technology in recent years, the awareness of etiology and risk factors on ARP and CP is inhenced.And also the application of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)offers hope for patients′ treatment.Therefore, this article will review the risk factors, clinical manifestation, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and treatment of ARP and CP to make patients obtain better assessment and reasonable treatment.

Objective:To investigate the exposure level of ionizing radiation in medical radiation workers in Guangdong province, as well as their abnormality in the lens of the eye, and to analyze associated influence factors.Methods:In this study, 1 501 radiation workers from 60 hospitals were selected by using convenient sampling method for retrospecotive analysis of absorbed doses ( DL) to the lens of the eye, health examination information and the relevant influence factors. Results:The median value M and the 25 th and 75 th percentile values ( P25, P75)of the distribution of absorbed doses were 4.86, 2.99 and 7.90 mGy, respectively. The median values for male and female were 5.14 and 3.94 mGy, respectively. The median values for the Levels I, Ⅱ and Ⅲ medical institutions were 2.95, 3.51 and 5.06 mGy, respectively. The median values were radiotherapy 4.05 mGy, radiodiagnosis 4.84 mGy, interventional radiology 5.39 mGy and nuclear medicine 6.71 mGy, as well as nurses 3.48 mGy, physicians 5.03 mGy and technologists 5.03 mGy, respectively. There were statistically significant differences in dose distribution for different gender, age, length of radiation service, age at the beginning of radiation exposure, level of medical institution, occupational category and post ( Z=-6.72, H=389.64, 511.17, 70.29, 53.29, 49.06, 39.89, P<0.05). The detectable rate for increased cortical density of lens was 22.45% (337/1 501) and for lens turbidity was 8.19% (123/1 501). The detectable rate of increased cortical density showed a linear increasing trend with the increase in age, age of radiation service, age at the beginning of exposure to radiation, level of medical institution and dose ( χ2=366.36, 313.77, 15.18, 21.61, 92.13, P<0.05). The detectable rate of lens opacity increased linearly with the increase in age, length of radiation service, level of medical institution and dose( χ2=69.64, 67.65, 67.65, 37.37, P<0.05), and decreased linearly with the increase in age at the beginning of radiation exposure ( χ2=4.25, P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was the influencing factor of increased cortical density ( χ2=165.98, P<0.05), and the risk of cortical densification increased with age ( OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.27-1.39). Age, length of radiation service and occupation were the influencing factors of lens opacity ( χ2=25.78, 4.99, 6.88, P<0.05). The risk of lens opacity increased with age ( OR=1.17, 95% CI: 1.10-1.24). The risk of lens opacity increased with age of radiation service ( OR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.12). The risk of ocular opacity was higher in interventional radiology than that in diagnostic radiology, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine ( OR=2.59, 95% CI: 1.27-5.25). Conclusions:Long-term exposure to low dose ionizing radiation has a certain correlation with the abnormal lens detectable rate of medical radiation workers. Age, length of radiation service and occupation are the influencing factors of lens opacity.

OBJECTIVE: Two brothes with Seckel's syndrome 1(SCKL1) were reported and a literature review was carried to provide clinical and genetic information of this rare disease. METHODS: Clinical data of the two children were collected, and the peripheral blood was extracted for whole exome sequencing. Literature of the disease were reviewed. RESULTS: The two patients were 11 years and 9.5 years old when examined for short stature. They presented with intrauterine growth retardation, intellectual disability, microcephaly, birdhead-like face and coffee au lait spots. The bone age was more than 2 years behind the chronical age and the growth hormone levels were normal. Whole exome sequencing revealed novel compound heterozygous variants c.1A>G (p.M1?) and c.4853-18A>G of ART gene in both children. CONCLUSION Children with prenatal onset short stature, developmental delay, microcephaly and special facial featuresshould be considered for the possibility of Seckel's syndrome, whole exome sequencing could help to confirm the clinical diagnosis.
Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics* ; Child ; Dwarfism/genetics* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Male ; Microcephaly/genetics* ; Siblings ; Whole Exome Sequencing