Background Kurtosis reflecting noise's temporal structure is an effective metric for evaluating noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), and its threshold is still unclear. Objective To explore the energy range of kurtosis and the threshold of NIHL induced by kurtosis in this energy rangeMethods Using cross-sectional design, 4631 noise-exposed workers in manufacturing industry were selected. The hearing loss and noise exposure data of each worker were collected. Logistic regression model was used to establish the dose-response relationship between noise exposure and hearing loss and estimate the range of energy effects. Restricted cubic spline model was utilized to analyze the dose-response relationship curves of kurtosis to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHI) and high-frequency noise-induced hearing loss (HFNIHL) under different 8 h equivalent sound levels (L_{EX,8 h}), as well as to estimate the kurtosis effect threshold. Results The logistic regression model analysis showed that the prevalence of NIHI and HFNIHL increased significantly with increase of L_{EX,8 h} for steady noise; when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 80-100 dB(A), the risk of hearing loss increased with an increase in kurtosis (P<0.05). The restricted cubic spline model showed that when L_{EX,8 h} of non-steady noise was 0-80 dB(A) or >100 dB(A), there was no significant relationship between kurtosis and NIHI or HFNIHL. When L_{EX,8 h} was 80-100 dB(A), there was a significant nonlinear dose-response relationship between kurtosis and NIHL or HFNIHL (P <0.001), and kurtosis > 28.08 exerted effect in elevating NIHI or HFNIHL. Conclusion The effect threshold of kurtosis on NIHL is 28.08 when non-steady noise levels are in the range of 80-100 dB(A). The effect threshold of kurtosis needs further verification.

Lenvatinib, a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer, facing limitations due to drug resistance. Here, we applied a multidimensional, high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells (PDCs), organoids (PDOs), and xenografts (PDXs) to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings. Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment, expediting drug repurposing screens. Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin, YM155, apitolisib, NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models. Notably, romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway. A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models. Collectively, our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer, providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.

Objective: To learn the status and influencing factors of development among infants at ages of 0 to 36 months in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou City, so as to provide the reference for promoting healthy development of infants. Methods: Infants at ages of 0-36 months who underwent physical examination in Child Health Clinic of Xiaoshan District Community Health Service Center were selected in 2022. General data of infants and their mothers were collected through questionnaires, and the development status of infants was screened by Age and Stages Questionnaire (third edition). Factors affecting the development status were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 2 519 infants were investigated, including 1 339 males (53.16%) and 1 180 females (46.84%). There were 608 infants with abnormal development of at least one functional area of communication (CM), gross motor (GM), fine motor (FM), problems solving (CG) and personal-social (PS). The abnormal rate was 24.14%, and the abnormal rates of the above functional areas were 9.77%, 6.59%, 7.98%, 6.39% and 9.33%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that gender (male, OR=1.563, 95%CI: 1.191-2.052), mother's childbearing age (≥35 years, OR=1.411, 95%CI: 1.001-1.988), mother's educational level (lower than junior college, OR=1.460, 95%CI: 1.116-1.912) were factors affecting abnormal development of CM; preterm birth (OR=2.323, 95%CI: 1.315-4.103) was factors affecting abnormal development of GM; gender (male, OR=1.654, 95%CI: 1.225-2.232) was factors affecting abnormal development of FM; gender (male, OR=1.511, 95%CI: 1.086-2.102) and mode of delivery (cesarean section, OR=1.460, 95%CI: 1.060-2.010) were factors affecting abnormal development of CG; gender (male, OR=1.340, 95%CI: 1.019-1.763) and birth weight (low birth weight, OR=1.985, 95%CI: 1.149-3.432) were factors affecting abnormal development of PS. Conclusions The rate of abnormal development among infants at ages of 0 to 36 months in Xiaoshan District is 24.14%. Gender, preterm birth, mode of delivery, birth weight, mother's childbearing age and mother's educational level could affect the development status of infants.

Fibroblasts are stromal cells widely distributed in tissues and organs throughout the body.Fibroblasts are involved in the synthesis and remodelling of the extracellular matrix.Fibroblasts participate in physiopathological processes such as tissue damage repair,inflammatory responses and immune regulation.Large numbers of activated fibroblasts have been found in fibrosis,autoimmune diseases and tumor lesions.Activated fibroblasts participate in tissue fibrosis and influence the tumor microenvi-ronment mainly by secreting collagen and fibronectin.They also secrete a variety of inflammatory and growth factors that play an immunomodulatory role in autoimmunity and tumors.In recent years,it has been found that modulating fibroblast activation can effectively delay the development of these diseases,and that targeting fibroblast activation biomarkers can assess the development and treatment of these diseases.Therefore,the use of fibroblast-targeted drugs and therapeutic tools is expected to achieve new breakthroughs in the clinical management of fibrosis,autoimmune diseases and tumors.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of the use of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for portal hypertension, which should aid the development of TIPS in China.Methods:The China Portal Hypertension Alliance (CHESS) initiated this study that comprehensively investigated the basic situation of TIPS for portal hypertension in China through network research. The survey included the following: the number of surgical cases, main indications, the development of Early-TIPS, TIPS for portal vein cavernous transformation, collateral circulation embolization, intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurement, commonly used stent types, conventional anticoagulation and time, postoperative follow-up, obstacles, and the application of domestic instruments.Results:According to the survey, a total of 13 527 TIPS operations were carried out in 545 hospitals participating in the survey in 2021, and 94.1% of the hospital had the habit of routine follow-up after TIPS. Most hospitals believed that the main indications of TIPS were the control of acute bleeding (42.6%) and the prevention of rebleeding (40.7%). 48.1% of the teams carried out early or priority TIPS, 53.0% of the teams carried out TIPS for the cavernous transformation of the portal vein, and 81.0% chose routine embolization of collateral circulation during operation. Most of them used coils and biological glue as embolic materials, and 78.5% of the team routinely performed intraoperative portal pressure gradient measurements. In selecting TIPS stents, 57.1% of the hospitals woulel choose Viator-specific stents, 57.2% woulel choose conventional anticoagulation after TIPS, and the duration of anticoagulation was between 3-6 months (55.4%). The limitation of TIPS surgery was mainly due to cost (72.3%) and insufficient understanding of doctors in related departments (77.4%). Most teams accepted the domestic instruments used in TIPS (92.7%).Conclusions:This survey shows that TIPS treatment is an essential part of treating portal hypertension in China. The total number of TIPS cases is far from that of patients with portal hypertension. In the future, it is still necessary to popularize TIPS technology and further standardize surgical indications, routine operations, and instrument application.

Objective To investigate the involvement of calmodulin(CaM)in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease(AD)and the mechanism by which CaM binds to amyloid-β(Aβ).Methods The hub genes expressed in AD and predicted to be the target proteins for AD prevention and treatment were obtained using bioinformatics methods.The GST-Aβ1-42 recombinant plasmid was constructed through genetic recombination and was then sequenced.The recombinant plasmids were identified using agarose gel electrophoresis,while the extracted and purified GST-Aβ1-42 fusion protein was confirmed using SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis.GST pull-down assay was used to detect the interaction between GST-Aβ1-42 protein and CaM,expressed in the plasmid.Results The top 20 hub genes in degree ranking were obtained.The DNA sequencing results of the plasmid proved that the recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed.The agarose gel electrophoresis results indicated that the fragment digested by the enzyme was similar to the molecular weight of the Aβ1-42 gene seg-ments,further proving the successful construction of the recombinant plasmid.Binding of GST-Aβ1-42 protein to CaM in a concentration dependent manner was revealed through the GST pull down experiment.Conclusion The GST-Aβ1-42 recombinant plasmid is success-fully constructed and is shown to bind to CaM.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect and explore the underlying mechanisms of Longxue Tongluo Capsule (LTC) on ischemic stroke rats. METHODS: Twenty-six rats were randomly divided into four groups, including sham group, sham + LTC group, MCAO group, and MCAO + LTC group. Ischemic stroke rats were simulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and LTC treatment group were orally administrated with 300 mg/kg of LTC once daily for seven consecutive days. LTC therapy was validated in terms of neurobehavioral abnormality evaluation, cerebral infarct area, and histological assessments. The plasma metabolome comparisons amongst different groups were conducted by UHPLC-Q Exactive MS in combination with subsequent multivariate statistical analysis, aiming to finding the molecules in respond to the surgery or LTC treatment. RESULTS: Intragastric administration of LTC significantly decreased not only the neurobehavioral abnormality scores but also the cerebral infarct area of MCAO rats. The interstitial edema, atrophy, and pyknosis of glial and neuronal cells occurred in the infarcted area, core area, and marginal area of cerebral cortex were improved after LTC treatment. A total of 13 potential biomarkers were observed, and Youden index of 11 biomarkers such as LysoPC, SM, and PE were more than 0.7, which were involved in neuroprotective process. The correlation and pathway analysis showed that LTC was beneficial to ischemic stroke rats via regulating glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, together with nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism. Heatmap and ternary analysis indicated the synergistic effect of carbohydrates and lipids may be induced by flavonoid intake from LTC. CONCLUSION The present study could provide evidence that metabolomics, as systematic approach, revealed its capacity to evaluate the holistic efficacy of TCM, and investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the clinical treatment of LTC on ischemic stroke.

Cancer stands as one of the predominant causes of mortality globally, necessitating ongoing efforts to develop innovative therapeutics. Historically, natural products have been foundational in the quest for anticancer agents. Bulbocodin D (BD) and Bulbocodin C (BC), two bibenzyls derived from Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, have demonstrated notable in vitro anticancer activity. In human lung cancer A549 cells, the IC_50s for BD and BC were 11.63 and 11.71 μmol·L^-1, respectively. BD triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by an upsurge in Annexin V-positive cells and elevated protein expression of cleaved-PARP in cancer cells. Furthermore, BD and BC markedly inhibited the migratory and invasive potentials of A549 cells. The altered genes identified through RNA-sequencing analysis were integrated into the CMap dataset, suggesting BD's role as a potential signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor. SwissDock and MOE analyses further revealed that both BD and BC exhibited a commendable binding affinity with STAT3. Additionally, a surface plasmon resonance assay confirmed the direct binding affinity between these compounds and STAT3. Notably, treatment with either BD or BC led to a significant reduction in p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) protein levels, regardless of interleukin-6 stimulation in A549 cells. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was activated after BD or BC treatment. An enhancement in cancer cell mortality was observed upon combined treatment of BD and U0126, the MEK1/2 inhibitor. In conclusion, BD and BC emerge as promising novel STAT3 inhibitors with potential implications in cancer therapy.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and surgical treatment outcomes of children with cervical bronchogenic cysts. Methods:A retrospective study of 6 pediatric patients with bronchogenic cysts in the neck region treated in our hospital during 2014 to 2020 was performed. All children underwent complete resection of cervical mass under general anesthesia. Results:There were 6 children, aged from 1 to 5 years, with a median of 2.25 years. There were 3 males and 3 females. The lesions were located on the left neck in 3 cases, the midline neck in 2 cases and the right neck in 1 case. The clinical manifestations were painless mass in 5 cases and recurrent neck infection in 1 case. The size of the mass ranged from 2.1 to 7.5 cm. There was no characteristic clinical or imaging features of bronchogenic cysts. Misdiagnosed as lymphangioma in 3 cases, thyroglossal cyst in 2 cases and piriform fistula in 1 case. The follow-up ranged from 1.50 to 7.75 years, with a median of 4.13 years. All 6 children had no recurrence or complications. Conclusion:Although rare, bronchogenic cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cervical cystic masses in children. Surgery is the most effective way to treat cervical bronchogenic cyst, and histopathological examination is the gold standard for diagnosis.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Bronchogenic Cyst/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neck/surgery* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Treatment Outcome

The total number of cancer patients who are eligible for and will benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in China has not been quantified. This cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the number of Chinese cancer patients with eligibility and response to ICIs based on the 2015 Chinese cancer statistics and the immune checkpoint inhibitor clinical practice guideline of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology. A total of 11 ICIs were recommended for 17 cancer types. The estimated number of eligible patients annually was 1 290 156 (55.18%), which included 888 738 males (60.05%) and 400 468 females (46.67%). The estimated number of responders annually was 448 972 (19.20%), which included 309 023 males (20.88%) and 139 764 females (16.29%). Gastric cancer (n=291 000, 12.45%), non-small-cell lung cancer (n=289 629, 12.39%), and hepatocellular carcinoma (n=277 100, 11.85%) were the top three cancer types with the highest number of eligible patients. Non-small-cell lung cancer (n=180 022, 7.70%), hepatocellular carcinoma (n=75 648, 3.24%), and small-cell lung cancer (n=64 362, 2.75%) were the top three cancer types with the highest number of responders. In conclusion, ICIs provide considerable benefit in Chinese cancer patients under optimal estimation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/therapeutic use* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Liver Neoplasms