Background Large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and increased risks of offspring obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Beyond traditional risk factors, exposure to environmental factors, especially fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), before and during pregnancy may contribute to excessive fetal growth; however, the roles of specific chemical constituents and critical exposure windows remain unclear. Objective To examine the associations between maternal exposures to PM_2.5 and its chemical constituents before and during pregnancy and the risk of delivering LGA infants. Methods Singleton pregnancies from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project between 2010 and 2014 were included. Individual exposures to PM_2.5 and its constituents were estimated for preconception and pregnancy windows using geocoded residential addresses. The associations of single and mixed exposures with LGA risk were analyzed using generalized linear models (GLMs) and qg-computation. Results Exposures to PM_2.5 and its major chemical constituents were significantly associated with an increased LGA risk, with differences in effect magnitude across components. Secondary inorganic aerosols showed the strongest associations. For full-pregnancy exposure, nitrate (OR=1.330, 95%CI: 1.313, 1.347), ammonium (OR=1.279, 95%CI: 1.263, 1.295), and sulfate (OR=1.242, 95%CI: 1.227, 1.257) had larger effects on LGA risk than black carbon and organic matter. Analysis by exposure window indicated that the month preceding conception and the third trimester of pregnancy were critical exposure windows for susceptibility, while the strongest effect was observed for full-pregnancy exposure, suggesting a cumulative effect over time. Mixed exposure analysis further showed that nitrate and sulfate consistently accounted for the main positive contributions across different time windows. Conclusion Maternal exposures to PM_2.5 and its chemical components before and during pregnancy are associated with an elevated LGA risk. Nitrate and sulfate show consistent and strong associations across pregnancy stages, underscoring the importance of component composition and exposure timing in fetal overgrowth.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between blood lipid levels and arterial stiffness in middle-aged and elderly Han Chinese individuals with angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)gene I/D polymorphism in Beijing.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.The Han Chinese residents, aged 45 years and above, from Haidian District of Beijing, were recruited for the survey from May to August 2022.Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 356 subjects were included, of which 100(28.09%)were male and 256(71.91%)were female.According to the population division criteria proposed by the World Health Organization, the subjects were divided into 253 cases in the middle-aged group[45-59 years old, median age 52.5(49.0, 56.0)years]and 103 cases in the elderly group[60-89 years old, median age 63.0(61.0, 65.0)years].Subjects were tested for ACE genotyping, lipids and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV).Lipid indices included triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C).Results:In the middle-aged group, there were no significant differences in plasma levels of TC, TG and HDL-C between individuals with the DD genotype and those with the ID/Ⅱ genotype(all P>0.05).Similarly, in the elderly group, no significant differences were observed in plasma TC, TG, and HDL-C levels between individuals with the DD genotype and those with the ID/Ⅱ genotype(all P>0.05).In the middle-aged group, plasma LDL-C levels were significantly higher in the DD phenotype than in the ID/Ⅱ phenotype( Z=-2.483, P=0.013), while there was no significant difference in plasma LDL-C levels between the two phenotypes in the elderly group( Z=-0.935, P=0.350).There were no significant differences in baPWV between the DD and ID/Ⅱ phenotypes in both the middle-aged and elderly groups( Z=-0.104, -1.490, P=0.917, 0.136).In the elderly group, plasma TG levels were positively correlated with baPWV in the DD phenotype( r=0.590, P=0.016).In the middle-aged group, plasma TG levels were positively correlated with baPWV in the ID/Ⅱ phenotype( r=0.158, P=0.019), while plasma HDL-C levels were negatively correlated with baPWV( r=-0.174, P=0.009). Conclusions:Among middle-aged and elderly individuals with different ACE gene I/D polymorphisms, there are differences in blood lipid indicators sensitive to arterial stiffness.For middle-aged individuals with the ID/Ⅱ phenotype, arterial stiffness is more sensitive to high TG and low HDL-C levels, whereas for elderly individuals with the DD phenotype, arterial stiffness is more sensitive to high TG levels.These findings offer an experimental foundation for tailored blood lipid management strategies across diverse populations, aiming to maintain cardiovascular health and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases.

Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) represents a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine, demonstrating effects on blood circulation activation and stasis removal, and has been widely utilized in asthma treatment. This study isolated a novel phenolic acid (S1) from S. miltiorrhiza and investigated its anti-asthmatic activity and underlying mechanisms for the first time. An allergic asthma (AA) model was established using ovalbumin (OVA). The mechanism of S1's effects on AA was investigated using multi-factor joint analysis, flow cytometry, and co-culture systems to facilitate clinical asthma treatment. S1 (10 or 20 mg·kg^-1) was administered daily to mice with OVA-induced AA (OVA-AA) during days 21-25. The study examined airway responsiveness, lung damage, inflammation, and levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), PGD2, interleukins (IL-4, 5, 10, 13, 17A), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), GM-CSF, CXCL1, CCL11, and mMCP-1. Additionally, mast cell (MC) activation and degranulation were explored, along with T helper type 17 (Th17)/Treg immune cells and TLR4 pathway biomarkers. The antagonistic activity of that specific antagonist of TLR4 (TAK-242) (1 µmol·L^-1), a specific TLR4 blocker, against S1 (10 µmol·L^-1) was examined in co-cultured 16HBE cells and bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) or splenic lymphocytes (SLs) induced with LPS (1 µg·mL^-1) to elucidate the TLR4 pathway's mediating role. S1 demonstrated reduced airway responsiveness, lung damage, and inflammation, with downregulation of IgE, PGD2, interleukins, TNF-α, GM-CSF, CXCL1, CCL11, and mMCP-1. It also impeded MC activation and degranulation, upregulated IL-10, and influenced Th17/Treg immune cell transformation following OVA challenge. Furthermore, S1 inhibited the TLR4 pathway in OVA-AA mice, and TLR4 antagonism enhanced S1's positive effects. Analysis using an OVA-AA mouse model demonstrated that S1 alleviates AA clinical symptoms, restores lung function, and inhibits airway response. S1's therapeutic effects occur through regulation of Th17/Treg immune cells and inflammation, attributable at least partially to the TLR4 pathway. This study provides molecular justification for S1 in AA treatment.

Objective:To investigate the mechanisms of baicalin in treating septic acute liver injury through a combination of network pharmacology and animal experiments.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks old) were divided into five groups ( n=6): control group (normal saline), model group [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection], low-dose baicalin group (10 mg/kg), high-dose baicalin group (20 mg/kg), and baicalin-only group (20 mg/kg, without LPS). Baicalin was administered orally for 14 consecutive days prior to modeling. Mice were sacrificed 24 h after LPS injection. Alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase liver tissue histopathology were measured; neutrophil infiltration was visualized using immunofluorescence; mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were detected by RT-qPCR; and the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and phosphorylated nuclear factor (NF)-κB proteins were analyzed by Western blotting. Results:In the LPS model group, the ALT, AST, and histopathological injury score were (148.60±22.02) U/L, (81.58±11.59) U/L, and 8.50(7.75, 9.25), respectively. These indicators were significantly reduced in the high-dose baicalin group with (77.90±16.79) U/L, (49.92±14.89) U/L, and 1.00(1.00, 2.25) (all P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, neutrophil infiltration in the liver of high-dose baicalin group was also significantly reduced [1.18%(0.98%, 1.22%) vs. 6.13%(5.41%, 8.69%), P<0.05]. RT-qPCR results showed that the relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β [(1.03±0.06) vs. (2.60±0.34)], IL-17 [(1.21±0.12) vs. (2.94 ± 0.39)], IL-6 [(1.37±0.26) vs. (2.73±0.18)], and TNF-α [(1.18±0.10) vs. (3.30±0.92)] were significantly decreased in the high-dose baicalin group compared with the LPS group (all P<0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that the relative protein expression levels of TLR4 [(1.25±0.13) vs. (1.73±0.06)] and phosphorylated NF-κB [(1.25±0.25) vs. (1.79±0.12)] were also significantly lower in the high-dose baicalin group (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Baicalin reduces liver injury in septic mice by downregula-ting the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-17, potentially through the inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To establish and evaluated a logistic regression model for predicting the acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) based on liver-injury related indexes.Methods:Clinical data of 210 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis (AP) at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from October 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 113 males and 97 females, with a median age of 52 years (range, 43 to 58). Among these, 88 were diagnosed with ABP and 122 with acute non-biliary pancreatitis (ANBP). Additionally, a test cohort was created using data from 101 AP patients diagnosed between January and December 2023, including 60 males and 41 females, with a median age of 53 years (range, 43 to 63). Based on the original dataset, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors influencing ABP. A prediction probability formula (Pre) was then established based on the multivariate results. The effectiveness of each indicator in predicting ABP was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The ROC curve analysis determined the optimal cutoff value of Pre, which was subsequently used to diagnose ABP and ANBP in the test cohort.Results:Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed the factors influencing ABP include direct bilirubin (DBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), cholinesterase (CHE), and fibrinogen (FIB). Based on the multivariate analysis results, the prediction probability formula (Pre) for ABP was established as follows: P=1/{1+ exp[-(4.807+ 0.134×DBIL-1.859×AST/ALT-0.0003×CHE-0.387×FIB)]}. ROC curve analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for Pre in predicting ABP was 0.858, with an optimal cutoff value of 0.56, at which the sensitivity was 69.3% and the specificity was 91.0%. Using the cutoff value of 0.56 for Pre, ABP was diagnosed when Pre≥0.56 and ANBP was diagnosed when Pre<0.56. This criterion was applied to diagnose patients in the test cohort, where the sensitivity and specificity of Pre for diagnosing ABP were 86.1% and 92.3%, respectively.Conclusion:The logistic regression model based on liver injury-related indicators is a valuable tool for clinically assessing the incidence of ABP.

Objective:To explore the design and implementation effectiveness of the course of Basic Geriatric Care Skills for undergraduate nursing students.Methods:The 496 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in 2019 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were selected as the observation group, while 668 undergraduate nursing students enrolled in 2018 served as the control group. The control group received traditional teaching method, whereas the observation group was additionally provided with the course of Basic Geriatric Care Skills. The course was designed following the five steps of the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implement, evaluation) model. The design was evaluated using the Delphi expert consultation method. Evaluation of teaching effectiveness included care skill assessment and performance evaluation. The overall evaluation of the course by students was collected through a questionnaire on the Superstar platform. SPSS 25.0 was used for χ2 test and independent samples t test. Results:The course consisted of 8 credit hours and was delivered through both online and offline approaches. The course included 4 modules with 20 care skills. The Cronbach's α values for the two rounds of expert consultation were 0.972 and 0.873, and the Kendall's W values were 0.124 ( χ2=61.38, P<0.05) and 0.260 ( χ2=128.83, P<0.001), respectively. The mean score of care skill assessment was 95.65±2.99 in the observation group and 94.16±3.52 in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). In performance evaluation, the highest-scoring dimension was teamwork (19.18±0.88), while the lowest was practical application (18.51±0.94). Questionnaire results indicated that 97.31% (289) of students found the course helpful in learning geriatric care, and 85.86% (255) of students deemed the course necessary. Conclusions:The course of Basic Geriatric Care Skills was well designed to meet the needs of students and to help improve their geriatric care skills.

Iodine is an indispensable trace element in the human body and its intake level is closely related to thyroid function. Iodine deficiency or iodine excess will lead to iodine-related diseases. The implementation of the universal salt iodization policy of China has achieved remarkable results, yet it is still facing the problems of iodine deficiency and iodine excess at present. Since iodine in the human body is mainly metabolized by the kidneys and excreted in urine, urinary iodine test has become an effective way to reflect the recent iodine nutrition status of the body. This article will discuss the current iodine nutrition status of the population in China, the hazards of iodine deficiency and iodine excess, as well as the clinical application of urinary iodine test.

With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment level, most breast cancer patients survive in a chronic state for a long time, and the issue of concomitant diseases of breast cancer (CDBC) has become increasingly prominent. All-round and full-cycle management of these comorbidities can help improve patients’ quality of life and prognosis. General practice, with its long-term, comprehensive and responsible health care that is person-centered, family-based, community-wide and oriented to the maintenance and promotion of overall health, presents new opportunities for the health management of CDBC. This article will explore the application of consultation-liaison general practice through the integrated general and specialist care in the comprehensive management of CDBC, aiming to raise people’s awareness of it and promote the development of consultation-liaison general practice and the management model of the "Internet plus general practitioner team" , which will surely contribute to the all-round management of concomitant diseases in breast cancer patients.

Parathyromegaly refers to chronic enlargement of the parathyroid glands caused by multiple etiological factors. Pathological conditions, such as hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid hyperfunction, parathyroid adenoma, parathyroid cysts, and parathyroid carcinoma may all lead to parathyromegaly. Notably, calcium intake insufficiency and/or vitamin D insufficiency (CVI), which is the predominant etiology of parathyromegaly, now has been recognized as a global public health challenge. Chronic CVI induces negative calcium balance and relative low serum calcium level, stimulating compensatory parathyroid hyperplasia and enlargement. This progression triggers parathyroid hyperfunction and secondary hyperparathyroidism, resulting in bone mass loss, height reduction, kyphosis, osteoporosis, pathological fractures, metastatic vascular calcification and systemic abnormal calcium migration and calcinosis (such as urolithiasis). During the early stages of parathyromegaly, the condition remains preventable and treatable; However, delayed intervention may lead to irreversible tertiary hyperparathyroidism. CVI-associated parathyromegaly exhibits high prevalence and heterogeneous clinical manifestations, representing a critically underrecognized clinical entity. This article will systematically discuss the etiology, pathological characteristics, clinical consequences, and prevention and control strategies for CVI-related parathyromegaly.

Patients with initially diagnosed breast cancer and uncontrolled hyperthyroidism are at high risk of perioperative thyroid crisis. This article reports two cases of early-stage breast cancer initially diagnosed concurrently with uncontrolled primary hyperthyroidism. In Case 1, the patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to control breast cancer progression while concurrently taking antithyroid drugs to manage hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was controlled during chemotherapy, and the patient successfully underwent surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Case 2 involved recurrent primary hyperthyroidism with leukopenia after antithyroid drug therapy. Since leukopenia is a relative contraindication for antithyroid drugs, the patient underwent radioactive iodine therapy (iodine-131) and endocrine therapy for one month before proceeding with breast cancer surgery. Through a literature review, this article analyzes preoperative management strategies for uncontrolled hyperthyroidism in initially diagnosed breast cancer patients, emphasizing the importance of normalizing thyroid function to prevent thyroid crisis and reduce perioperative risks.