BACKGROUND: Recent studies have provided compelling evidence that exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) can adversely affect human health. We aim to explore the potential impact of BFRs on adiposity and central obesity. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) cycles conducted between 2009 and 2014 was used to study the connections between variables. After filtering, we analyzed a sample of 4,110 adults aged 20 years and above. Our goal was to examine the potential association between BFRs and consequences and investigate the part played by oxidative stress and inflammatory markers as intermediaries. To achieve this, we used advanced statistical methods such as weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g-computation (QGC), and the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: The findings showed that among the examined chemicals, exposure to PBDE85 (weight: 41%), PBDE100 (24%), and PBB153 (23%) may be the dominant contributors to general obesity risk. Upon controlling for all variables that could impact the results, it was found that the QGC outcomes indicated a positive correlation between exposure to mixtures of brominated flame retardants and the occurrence of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.187, 95% CI: 1.056-1.334, p = 0.004). Significant contributions were made by PBDE85 (52%), PBB153 (27%), and PBDE100 (21%). Mediation analysis shows that lymphatic cells (LC) and albumin (ALB) partially mediate the link between brominated flame retardants and obesity. The results of BKMR are generally consistent with those of WQS and QGC. CONCLUSION At a population level, our research has revealed a noteworthy correlation between BFRs and obesity. However, further investigation is required through prospective cohort studies and in-depth mechanistic exploratory studies.
Humans ; Flame Retardants/adverse effects* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Obesity/chemically induced* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Mediation Analysis ; Young Adult ; United States/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/adverse effects*

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yiqi Shengqing Formula on neuronal damage in ischemic stroke(IS)rats by regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)-extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding protein(CREB)signal pathway.Methods:IS rat model was prepared by modified thread suppository method,and randomly divided into model group,low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(3 g/kg)group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)+empty load group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)+BDNF knockdown group,with 10 rats in each group,another 10 healthy rats were set as sham operation group.After intervention with Yiqi Shengqing Formula and plasmid,neural function of rats in each group was scored with Longa scoring method;Morris water maze test was used to detect cognitive impairment of rats in each group;Nissl staining was used to detect the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus of rats in each group;synaptic morphology of ischemic peripheral brain tissue was detected by silver staining;levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum of rats in each group were measured by ELISA;expressions of BDNF-ERK-CREB signal pathway related proteins in rat brain were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with sham operation group,synaptic morphology of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in model group was severely damaged,retention time in target quad-rant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were decreased significantly(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with model group,synaptic morphological damage of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in rats in low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group and high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group was alleviated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were increased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group,damage of synaptic morphology in ischemic peripheral brain tissue of rats in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group was further alleviated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were further increased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were further reduced(P<0.05).Compared with high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group,synaptic morphological damage of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula+BDNF knockdown group was aggravated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing the platform,number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were decreased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were increased(P<0.05);there was no significant changes in each index of rats in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula+empty load group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Yiqi Shengqing Formula can inhibit the neuroinflammation of IS rats by activating BDNF-ERK-CREB signal,thereby reducing the damage of its neurons and improving its neural function.

Objective:To investigate the effect of Yiqi Shengqing Formula on neuronal damage in ischemic stroke(IS)rats by regulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)-extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding protein(CREB)signal pathway.Methods:IS rat model was prepared by modified thread suppository method,and randomly divided into model group,low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(3 g/kg)group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)+empty load group,high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula(6 g/kg)+BDNF knockdown group,with 10 rats in each group,another 10 healthy rats were set as sham operation group.After intervention with Yiqi Shengqing Formula and plasmid,neural function of rats in each group was scored with Longa scoring method;Morris water maze test was used to detect cognitive impairment of rats in each group;Nissl staining was used to detect the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus of rats in each group;synaptic morphology of ischemic peripheral brain tissue was detected by silver staining;levels of TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum of rats in each group were measured by ELISA;expressions of BDNF-ERK-CREB signal pathway related proteins in rat brain were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with sham operation group,synaptic morphology of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in model group was severely damaged,retention time in target quad-rant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were decreased significantly(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with model group,synaptic morphological damage of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in rats in low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group and high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group was alleviated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were increased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were decreased(P<0.05).Compared with low dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group,damage of synaptic morphology in ischemic peripheral brain tissue of rats in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group was further alleviated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing platform,the number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were further increased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were further reduced(P<0.05).Compared with high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula group,synaptic morphological damage of ischemic peripheral brain tissue in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula+BDNF knockdown group was aggravated,retention time in target quadrant,times of crossing the platform,number of neurons in ischemic peripheral brain tissue and hippocampus,expressions of BDNF protein and p-ERK/ERK,p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were decreased(P<0.05),while neurological function score and levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-8 in brain tissue and serum were increased(P<0.05);there was no significant changes in each index of rats in high dose Yiqi Shengqing Formula+empty load group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Yiqi Shengqing Formula can inhibit the neuroinflammation of IS rats by activating BDNF-ERK-CREB signal,thereby reducing the damage of its neurons and improving its neural function.

Objective To investigate the impact of overwork on vascular endothelial barrier function in mice.Methods Thirty KM mice were randomized equally into control,overwork for 2 weeks(W2)group and 4 weeks(W4)group.In the latter two groups,the mice were subjected to continuous standing in water for 8 h followed by restraint for 3 h to simulate overwork on a daily basis for 2 and 4 weeks.After modeling,4 mice from each group were intraperitoneally injected with Evans blue dye to assess vascular permeability.In the other 6 mice,serum IL-1β levels were measured using ELISA,and arterial tissues were collected for histological examination and detection of mRNA expressions of occludin,claudin-5,ZO-1,JAM-A and VE-cadherin;immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the protein expressions of claudin-5,ZO-1,VE-cadherin,and Syndecan-1.Results The mice in W2 and W4 groups exhibited slower weight gain,hair loss,reduced activity,and significantly increased serum IL-1β levels.Vascular permeability was significantly increased in W4 group.In W2 group,the endothelial cells were swollen and dissociated,and the intima was rough and irregular;arterial intimal rupture was observed in W4 group.The mRNA expressions of occludin,claudin-5,ZO-1 and JAM-A in the arterial tissues were significantly increased in W2 group but decreased in W4 group,while VE-cadherin mRNA expression were reduced in both groups(P<0.05).The protein expressions of claudin-5,ZO-1,VE-cadherin,and Syndecan-1 were all significantly reduced in W4 group.Conclusion Prolonged overwork can cause damage of the intercellular junction complexes in arterial endothelial cells and the endothelial glycocalyx to result in impaired barrier function and increased vascular permeability in mice.

Objective To investigate the impact of overwork on vascular endothelial barrier function in mice.Methods Thirty KM mice were randomized equally into control,overwork for 2 weeks(W2)group and 4 weeks(W4)group.In the latter two groups,the mice were subjected to continuous standing in water for 8 h followed by restraint for 3 h to simulate overwork on a daily basis for 2 and 4 weeks.After modeling,4 mice from each group were intraperitoneally injected with Evans blue dye to assess vascular permeability.In the other 6 mice,serum IL-1β levels were measured using ELISA,and arterial tissues were collected for histological examination and detection of mRNA expressions of occludin,claudin-5,ZO-1,JAM-A and VE-cadherin;immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the protein expressions of claudin-5,ZO-1,VE-cadherin,and Syndecan-1.Results The mice in W2 and W4 groups exhibited slower weight gain,hair loss,reduced activity,and significantly increased serum IL-1β levels.Vascular permeability was significantly increased in W4 group.In W2 group,the endothelial cells were swollen and dissociated,and the intima was rough and irregular;arterial intimal rupture was observed in W4 group.The mRNA expressions of occludin,claudin-5,ZO-1 and JAM-A in the arterial tissues were significantly increased in W2 group but decreased in W4 group,while VE-cadherin mRNA expression were reduced in both groups(P<0.05).The protein expressions of claudin-5,ZO-1,VE-cadherin,and Syndecan-1 were all significantly reduced in W4 group.Conclusion Prolonged overwork can cause damage of the intercellular junction complexes in arterial endothelial cells and the endothelial glycocalyx to result in impaired barrier function and increased vascular permeability in mice.

Objective:To explore the current situation of nursing human caring in hospital wards and analyze its influencing factors, so as to facilitate the development of nursing human caring practice.Methods:From July to November 2022, a total of 107 hospitals were surveyed through stratified convenience sampling method, and 4 072 ward nursing managers were recruited to finish the general information questionnaire and the ward nursing human caring status questionnaire. The general information included the region, class and type of the hospital, etc. The ward nursing human caring status questionnaire included 38 items in 5 dimensions of nursing human caring system and process, humanistic quality and training of nursing staff, humanistic environment and facilities, human caring procedures and measures, and human caring quality evaluation and improvement, with a full score of 190 points. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general data, independent samples t-test, ANOVA and correlation analysis were used to analyze the factors influencing the current status of nursing human caring in the ward, while multiple linear regression analysis was used to conduct a multivariate analysis. Results:The score of nursing human caring in hospital wards was 156.91±27.78. Whether the hospital had carried out nursing human caring pilot(demonstration) wards, whether the ward had previously been a hospital nursing human caring pilot(demonstration) nursing unit, the type of ward, and whether nursing managers had participated in human caring training were the influencing factors of the implication of nursing humanistic caring in wards( P<0.05). Conclusions:The practice of nursing human caring in hospital wards is at a good level, but needs to be further strengthened. Nursing managers should take systematically strategies to promote the development of nursing human caring practice.

This study evaluated the standardized ultrasound operation skill video courseware recording and online teaching of undergraduate clinical internship course in the direction of medical imaging ultrasound technology in West China Clinical Medical College of Sichuan University. Through the systematic teaching plan preparation of ultrasound skill operation teaching video, script writing, post production, recording and implementation of teaching, the results showed that 116 students (81.69%) thought knowledge points of skill operation video course were reasonably divided, 128 ones (90.14%) thought the explanation was clear, 118 ones (83.10%) thought the video duration was appropriate, 121 ones (85.21%) thought the degree of difficulty was moderate, 119 ones (83.09%) thought the ultrasonic image was consistent with the anatomical image, and 124 ones (87.32%) thought it was helpful to improve the level of clinical operation skills. Standardized ultrasound skill operation video online teaching has the advantages of no time and place restrictions and good repeatability, which can exercise students' self-study ability, improve their learning enthusiasm, help students master operation skills more comprehensively, and is of great significance to the implementation and promotion of ultrasound clinical skill training video online teaching.

Objective:To analyze the salary characteristics of medical institutions and the influencing factors of personnel expenditure as found in the salary system reform of public hospitals in Sichuan province, for reference in furthering such reform in public hospitals.Methods:The data of personnel expenditure, business operation and medical services came from 96 medical institutions in 21 cities(prefectures)of Sichuan province from 2017 to 2020 by means of institutional survey. The average salary level and salary structure of medical staff were used to describe the salary characteristics, and the total salary was presented by the level of personnel expenditure. The measurement data was represented by M(IQR), the counting data was described by frequency and constituent ratio, and the influencing factors of personnel expenditure were analyzed by generalized linear mixed model. Results:From 2017 to 2020, the personnel expenditure of medical institutions increased by 13.04% annually. In 2020, the per capita salary level of medical staff was 151 900 yuan, while the basic salary and performance salary accounted for 16.20% and 54.60% of personnel expenditure respectively. The analysis results of the generalized linear mixed model showed that the average cost of patients per visit( β=0.596), the level of drugs and sanitary materials consumed per 100 yuan medical income( β=0.286), the number of medical visits( β=0.328), and the years [(2018, 2019, 2020) β=0.025, 0.052, 0.066] were positively correlated to personnel expenditure, while the average length of stay( β=-0.693), the proportion of medical service income( β=-0.392), and the balance rate of income and expenditure( β=-0.062)were negatively correlated to personnel expenditure( P<0.05). The proportion of fiscal subsidy revenue, regional GDP and asset-liability ratio were not the influencing factors of personnel expenditure( P> 0.05). Conclusions:In the reform of the salary system of the province, its salary level of medical institutions has surpassed the current wage ceiling of these institutions. As the salary distribution was mainly made based on the workload, the " baton" role of the salary system reform has begun to pay off. However, the basic guarantee role of compensation has not yet been fully leveraged.Further reform is needed in upgrading refined management, and timely dynamic adjustment of personnel expenditure in combination with the hospital's financial performance and cost analysis, and reasonably optimizing the level of medical staff compensation.

Ovarian cancer is the most malignant gynecologic malignancy. In recent years, histone modifying enzymes (HMEs) have been widely studied as an important part of epigenetic modifi-cations in ovarian cancer. Histone modifying enzymes, including histone methyltransferases and demethylases, histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, play an important role in the prolif-eration and migration of ovarian cancer cells by modifying histone and non-histone proteins, and can regulate the development of chemoresistance. Inhibitors of various histone modifying enzymes play good anti-tumor effects in ovarian cancer by promoting cell growth arrest and apoptosis, inhibi¬ting tumor cell invasion, and increasing chemo¬therapy sensitivity, and are expected to be a new strategy for precision treatment of ovarian cancer. Therefore, this paper will review the mechanism of action and therapeutic potential of histone modifying enzymes involved in methylation and acetylation processes in ovarian cancer.