Objective To quantitatively assess the association of short-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with residents mortality. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among 10606 non-accidental residents by using the Guangzhou Cause of Death Surveillance System in Conghua District, Guangzhou. Exposure levels of PAHs in PM_2.5 and meteorological data during the study period were obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Conghua District and the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS-V2.0), respectively. Conditional Poisson regression model was used to estimate the exposure-response association between PAHs and the mortality risk. Results Fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. For every one interquartile range increase in exposure levels, the non-accidental mortality risks increased by 8.33% (95% CI: 1.80%, 15.27%), 4.67% (95% CI: 1.86%, 7.57%), 6.07% (95% CI: 2.08%, 10.21%), 4.62% (95% CI: 1.85%, 7.47%), and 4.70% (95% CI: 0.53%, 9.03%), respectively. The estimated non accidental deaths attributable to exposure to fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluorine, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were 5.91%, 6.08%, 6.51%, 6.46%, and 4.21%, respectively. Conclusions Short-term exposure to PAHs in PM_2.5, including fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality among residents.

One of the key components of adsorbents for blood purification is the microsphere adsorbent. Microsphere adsorbents should meet the following requirements: stable physical and chemical structures, easy for functional modification to endow the adsorbents with specific adsorption functions or characteristics, with good biocompatibility and with low non-specific adsorption, as well as with enough mechanical strength. Microsphere adsorbents prepared from polysaccharide bio-based materials fulfill the above requirements and have been widely used in the field of blood adsorption. In this article, adsorbents prepared from polysaccharide bio-based materials such as cellulose, agarose, alginate, as well as adsorbents prepared from the aforementioned materials and carbon materials and the application of the said bio-based adsorbents in blood adsorption is reviewed. The future development is also discussed, aiming to provide guidance and reference for the preparation, functional modification and application research of bio-based adsorbents for blood adsorption.
Microspheres ; Adsorption ; Humans

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Background Exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of diseases in multiple systems, including respiratory and cardiovascular systems, yet its association with neurological diseases remains unclear. Objective To quantitatively evaluate the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and outpatient and emergency visits for neurological diseases, identify potential susceptible populations, and quantify associated disease burden. Methods Daily 24-hour average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO), daily maximum 8-hour average concentration of ozone (O₃), daily meteorological data (24-hour average temperature, 24-hour average relative humidity), and data on daily outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases from two hospitals in Conghua District, Guangzhou, China, were collected from 2015 to 2022. A time-stratified case-crossover design was adopted, and a conditional Poisson regression model was constructed to analyze the association between air pollution exposure and neurological disease visits. Two-pollutant models and sensitivity analysis were used to validate model stability. Stratified analyses by season (cold season: from November to March; warm season: from April to October), sex (male, female), and age (≤45 years, 46–60 years, ≥61 years) were performed to identify vulnerable group. Additionally, the number and proportion of neurological disease visits attributable to short-term air pollutant exposure were calculated. Results A total of 72 673 outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases were included during the study period. Most of the patients were middle-aged and elderly individuals (69.89% were over 45 years old) and females (60.25%). The results of single-pollutant models showed that for each interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃, the risk of outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases increased by 7.54% (95%CI: 4.69%, 10.46%), 6.66% (95%CI: 3.92%, 9.46%), 16.72% (95%CI: 10.58%, 23.19%), 8.12% (95%CI: 4.82%, 11.53%), 5.60% (95%CI: 2.34%, 8.97%), and 6.11% (95%CI: 2.91%, 9.40%), respectively. The results of the two-pollutant model showed that the association between PM_2.5 and SO₂ exposure and outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases were relatively stable. The stratified analyses showed that the effect of SO₂ was stronger in the cold season. It was estimated that 8.32% (95%CI: 5.55%, 10.96%) and 6.65% (95%CI: 4.27%, 8.96%) of the outpatient and emergency department visits were attributable to short-term exposure to SO₂ and PM_2.5, respectively. Conclusion Exposure to PM_2.5 and SO₂ is associated with increased risks of outpatient and emergency visits for neurological diseases. SO₂ shows stronger effects during the cold season, and exposure to air pollution contributes to up to 8.32% of neurological disease visits.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the association of short-term exposure to ambient submicron particulate matter (PM₁) with hospital admissions for angina in older adults. Methods A case-crossover study was conducted among 46 687 older adults hospitalized for angina from 2016 to 2019 in Guangzhou medical institutions. Grid data on ambient PM₁ concentrations in Guangzhou were obtained from the ChinaHighAirPollutants (CHAP) dataset. Exposure to PM₁ was assessed according to each subject's residential addresses. Conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the the exposure-response association between PM₁ and hospital admissions for angina. Results From 2016 to 2019, the average exposure level of PM₁ on the same day of hospital admissions (lag 0) for angina was 21.0 ± 11.5 μg/m³. The results of main model analysis showed that lag 0 day exposure to ambient PM₁ was significantly associated with a higher odds of hospital admissions for angina in older adults. Each 10 μg/m³ increase of PM₁ exposure level was significantly associated with a 1.31% (95% CI: 0.05%, 2.59%) increased odds of angina admissions. Results from a two-pollutant model adjusting for O₃ showed that the association between short-term exposure to PM₁ and odds of hospitalization for angina remained stable. According to the results of the above model, it was estimated that the excess hospitalization attributable to ambient PM₁ exposure accounted for 2.46% (95% CI: 0.09%, 4.76%) of the total admissions in Guangzhou during 2016-2019, corresponding to 1539 (95% CI: 54, 2976) admissions. No significant effect modification on the associations was observed by sex, age, or season. Conclusion Short-term exposure to ambient PM₁ was significantly associated with an increased odds of hospital admissions for angina in older adults.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the dynamic disinfection effect of the upper-room 222 nm ultraviolet radiation on the air in different areas of the emergency department, and to provide references for a new solution of air disinfection that man-machine coexisted in the medical and healthcare institutions. MethodsThe upper-room 222 nm ultraviolet radiation air sterilizers were installed at a height of 2.3‒2.6 m from the ground in the observation room, computed tomography (CT) scanning room, rescue room and consulting room of the emergency department in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University . The test area was divided into a 222 nm ultraviolet group and a control group according to whether the 222 nm ultraviolet germicidal air disinfection was conducted or not. The experimental group started air disinfection at8:00 a.m., and the air sampling was conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 16:00 p.m., with a 10 min sampling interval of every 1 hour. While the control group only collected air sample with the same air sampling method used in the experimental group, without air disinfection. The air microbial sampler with six-level sieve impingement was used for the air sampling, and the differences in the total number of airborne bacterial colonies were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 128 air samples were collected in the trial, of which 64 were from the experimental group and 64 from the control group. The total number of airborne bacterial colonies in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (all P<0.001), and was maintained at a lower level throughout the entire period. The killing rate of 222 nm ultraviolet radiation to airborne microorganisms was approximately 55.76% to 76.33% in different sampling areas. The qualified rates of the total number of dynamic airborne bacterial colonies in the observation room, rescue room and consulting room were improved from 12.50%, 37.50% and 25.00% to 81.25%, 100.00% and 100.00%, respectively (all P<0.001). Over 62.50% of the time, the air quality in the consulting room and CT room in the 222 nm ultraviolet group met the environment standards for airborne bacterial colony criteria of class Ⅰ or class Ⅱ. ConclusionThe upper-room222 nm ultraviolet radiation germicidal disinfection can effectively reduce the total number of airborne bacterial colonies and improve the environment for emergency department, and the continuous using of it is helpful for keeping the air safe and clean.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA)in treating dysfunctional central vein caused by tunnel-cuffed catheter(TCC)under digital subtraction angiography(DS A)guidance.Methods A total of 13 patients with indwelling TCC-related central vein complications,who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University of China between July 2018 and July 2022,were enrolled in this study.The average indwelling duration of TCC was 35.2 months(range of 6-70 months).The dysfunctional TCC was removed with the help of a stiff guide wire,and angiography showed that the central vein was narrowed or occluded.PT A was performed to reopen the central vein,and a new TCC was placed in situ or in another site.Results Of the 13 patients,original TCC was successfully removed in 12,and failure of removal was seen in one.The site of central venous stenosis included the right jugular vein,innominate vein,superior vena cava,and right iliac vein,and successful placement of a new TCC was accomplished in all patients after PTA,and no stent implantation was employed.The average follow-up period was 23.1 months(range of 6-48 months),and the TCC functioned well.Conclusion Under DSA guidance,the recanalization of TCC-related central venous stenosis or occlusion by PT A and the implantation of a new TCC catheter can successfully establish a new dialysis access for patients with poorly functioning TCC,in this way the lifespan of the pathway can be extended.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence that long-term exposure to ambient air pollution increases mortality among older adults, particularly those residing in low-level air pollution locations, remains scarce. This study investigated the potential links between long-term low-level air pollution exposure and mortality among Chinese older adults. METHODS: A population-based study with 317,464 individuals aged ≥ 65 years was conducted in Shenzhen, China during 2018 and 2020. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between long-term exposure to air pollution and all-cause mortality, as the primary outcome, as well as non-accidental, cancer and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Significant associations of PM ₁, PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, SO ₂, CO, and O ₃ exposures with a higher risk of all-cause mortality were found. Adjusted odds ratio ( OR) for each 1 µg/m ³ increment was 1.49 [95% confidence interval ( CI): 1.46, 1.53] for PM ₁, 1.30 (1.27, 1.32) for PM _2.5, 1.05 (1.04, 1.06) for PM ₁₀, 5.84 (5.39, 6.32) for SO ₂, 1.04 (1.04, 1.05) for CO, and 1.02 (1.00, 1.03) for O ₃, respectively. Long-term PM ₁, PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, SO ₂, and CO exposures also elevated the risks of non-accidental, cancer and cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSION Long-term low-level air pollution exposure was associated with an increased mortality risk among Chinese older adults.
Humans ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Particulate Matter/adverse effects* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality* ; Mortality ; Neoplasms/mortality* ; East Asian People

Objective:To investigate the structural and functional changes of the common carotid artery in patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE).Methods:Fifty-six patients with severe preeclampsia (SPE group) admitted in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2019 to December 2021, and 31 normal pregnant women admitted in the same period (control group) were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent conventional ultrasonography and color Doppler sonography examinations. The QLAB software was used to measure intima-media thickness (IMT) and hemodynamics indexs, including systolic peak velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), vascular resistance index (RI) and vascular pulsation index (PI); the elastic parameters, including stiffness index β, the stress and strain modulus of elasticity Ep and compliance (AC). The clinical data and ultrasound parameters were compared between SPE group and control group. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between elastic parameters and SPE.Results:Compared with the control group, the PSV, EDV were decreased, and RI was increased in the prenatal SPE group (all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the Ep and stiffness index β increased in the SPE group, while AC decreased (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PSV ( OR=0.915, 95%CI: 0.859-0.974, P=0.005) was negatively correlated with SPE; IMT( OR=4.012, 95%CI:1.150-10.660, P=0.005), RI ( OR=9.279, 95%CI:1.781-46.743, P=0.013), Ep ( OR=1.086, 95%CI:1.031-1.142, P=0.002) were positively corrected with SPE. Conclusion:The structure and function of the common carotid artery have changed in patients with SPE.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of "healthy eating plate" based dietary management on diabetic inpatients. Methods: The patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) admitted to Daishan First People's Hospital from November 2019 to November 2020 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group was given "healthy eating plate" based dietary management, while the control group was given routine dietary management. Demographic data and physical examination results were collected. Fasting blood glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were detected at admission, discharge and 3 months after discharge, and compared between the two groups by covariance and generalized estimating equation. Results: here were 52 patients aged (55.83±9.67) years in the intervention group, with 29 (55.77%) males and 23 (44.23%) females. There were 53 patients aged (57.54±11.09) years in the control group, with 32 (60.38%) males and 21 (39.62%) females. There were no significant differences in FPG, HbA1c, TG and TC levels between two groups at discharge (P>0.05). The level of HbA1c in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 3 months after discharge (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in FPG, TG and TC levels (P>0.05). Conclusion The "healthy eating plate" based dietary management can better control the blood glucose of diabetic patients, and can help maintain the dietary treatment. It is worthy of promotion in diabetic patients.