Occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning incidents have been effectively curtailed in traditional printing and footwear industries, but its hazards are emerging in new industries. In recent years, two cluster incidents involving eight patients with occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning had occurred in Longgang District, Shenzhen City. Unlike the cleaning processes of electronic components in the electronics industry, these two incidents occurred during cleaning operations of non-electronic products. The rapid on-site detection tubes indicated the presence of n-hexane in the organic solvents used at the work site, and subsequent analysis of volatile components of the organic solvents further confirmed the involvement of n-hexane. Although the n-hexane exposure concentration of short term in the workplace air samples were below its occupational exposure limit, all eight cases were diagnosed as occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning, based on occupational exposure history, clinical manifestations, field investigations, and laboratory test results. These two poisoning incidents highlight that in air-conditioned or enclosed workshops with substandard occupational disease prevention facilities, the use of n-hexane containing organic solvents may result in occupational chronic n-hexane poisoning, even when the air monitoring results do not exceed the occupational exposure limits.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of hand dysfunction and its associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:A cross-sectional study. Patients with RA were recruited from January 2019 to April 2024 at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including age, gender, active smoking, disease duration, time of morning stiffness, rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, disease activity, radiographic indicators, and hand function assessment. Hand function was assessed by grip strength measures and self-reported items related to hand function in the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Factors related to hand function were analyzed by logistic regression analyses.Results:A total of 1 079 RA patients were recruited [mean age: (53.0±12.6) years]. Overall, 72.6% (783/1 079) patients experienced a decrease in grip strength, 57.2% (617/1 079) patients experienced a decreased grip strength in both hands, with the average grip strength of the left and right hands decreasing by 16.3% and 14.1%, respectively, compared to normal values; 39.9% (430/1 079) patients had self-reported hand dysfunction. There were 185 (17.1%) older RA patients (age ≥65 years). The proportion of older RA patients with decreased grip strength [89.7% (166/185) vs. 69.0% (617/894)] and degree of decrease in grip strength compared to normal values (left hand:-35.3%±30.6% vs. -12.3%±38.6%; right hand:-32.6%±32.3% vs. -10.3%±42.1%) were significantly higher than that in young patients, and the proportion of older patients with self-reported hand dysfunction was also significantly higher [53.0% (98/185) vs. 37.1% (332/894), all P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pain visual analogue scale ( OR=1.375, 95% CI 1.020-1.854) was independently associated with grip strength decrease in older RA patients, while the 28-joint tender joint count ( OR=1.151, 95% CI 1.063-1.246) and provider global assessment of disease activity ( OR=1.381, 95% CI 1.171-1.628) were associated with self-reported hand dysfunction. Conclusions:Hand dysfunction is common in RA patients, especially among older RA patients, which is related to pain, joint tenderness and provider global assessment of disease activity. This result implies the importance of pain management in RA patients.

Objective To explore the impact of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)algorithms on image quality of chest CT,detection rate of lung nodule and reproducibility of lung nodule radiomics feature data compared with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction V(ASIR-V)algorithms.Methods Seventy-five patients with 211 lung nodules who underwent both ultra-low-dose CT(ULD-CT)and standard-dose CT(SDCT)were prospectively enrolled.ULD-CT images were reconstructed using different algorithms,namely high-level DLIR(DLIR-H),medium-level DLIR(DLIR-M)and 50％ASIR-V(50％ASIR-V),while SDCT images were reconstructed by 50％ASIR-V.Image noise was represented by the standard deviation(SD)of lung parenchyma CT values within identical ROI in both ULD-CT and SDCT images,and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)were calculated.The detection rate of lung nodule were obtained and compared among different images.Radiomics features of lung nodules in chest 50％ASIR-V SDCT and each ULD-CT were extracted based on automatic segmentation methods,and intra-class correlation coefficients(ICC)of each ULD-CT and 50％ASIR-V SDCT were calculated respectively,and then compared among different ULD-CT algorithms.Results Compared with SDCT images reconstructed with 50％ASIR-V algorithm,all ULD-CT images reconstructed by different algorithms showed higher SD and lower SNR(all P＜0.05).ULD-CT images reconstructed by DLIR-H,DLIR-M and 50％ASIR-V exhibited progressively increasing SD and decreasing SNR(all adjusted P＜0.05).Taken 50％ASIR-V SDCT images as standards,ULD-CT by DLIR-H,DLIR-M and 50％ASIR-V each detected 207 lung nodules(207/211,98.10％),respectively.In chest ULD-CT images,the reproducibility with 50％ASIR-V SDCT for texture feature data of lung nodules on ULD-CT reconstructed by 50％ASIR-V algorithm was lower than that by DLIR-H and DLIR-M(both adjusted P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between the latter two with 50％ASIR-V SDCT(adjusted P＞0.05).The first order and shape feature data of lung nodules on ULD-CT reconstructed by all 3 algorithms showed good reproducibility with 50％ASIR-V SDCT(median ICC＞0.75),and no significant difference was detected among them(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with 50％ASIR-V ULD-CT,both DLIR-H and DLIR-M ULD-CT could significantly reduce image noise and improve image quality,as well as maintain reproducibility of radiomics features in lung nodules in a certain degree,especially DLIR-H.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of hand dysfunction and its associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:A cross-sectional study. Patients with RA were recruited from January 2019 to April 2024 at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. Demographic and clinical data were collected, including age, gender, active smoking, disease duration, time of morning stiffness, rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, disease activity, radiographic indicators, and hand function assessment. Hand function was assessed by grip strength measures and self-reported items related to hand function in the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Factors related to hand function were analyzed by logistic regression analyses.Results:A total of 1 079 RA patients were recruited [mean age: (53.0±12.6) years]. Overall, 72.6% (783/1 079) patients experienced a decrease in grip strength, 57.2% (617/1 079) patients experienced a decreased grip strength in both hands, with the average grip strength of the left and right hands decreasing by 16.3% and 14.1%, respectively, compared to normal values; 39.9% (430/1 079) patients had self-reported hand dysfunction. There were 185 (17.1%) older RA patients (age ≥65 years). The proportion of older RA patients with decreased grip strength [89.7% (166/185) vs. 69.0% (617/894)] and degree of decrease in grip strength compared to normal values (left hand:-35.3%±30.6% vs. -12.3%±38.6%; right hand:-32.6%±32.3% vs. -10.3%±42.1%) were significantly higher than that in young patients, and the proportion of older patients with self-reported hand dysfunction was also significantly higher [53.0% (98/185) vs. 37.1% (332/894), all P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pain visual analogue scale ( OR=1.375, 95% CI 1.020-1.854) was independently associated with grip strength decrease in older RA patients, while the 28-joint tender joint count ( OR=1.151, 95% CI 1.063-1.246) and provider global assessment of disease activity ( OR=1.381, 95% CI 1.171-1.628) were associated with self-reported hand dysfunction. Conclusions:Hand dysfunction is common in RA patients, especially among older RA patients, which is related to pain, joint tenderness and provider global assessment of disease activity. This result implies the importance of pain management in RA patients.

Objective To explore the impact of deep learning image reconstruction(DLIR)algorithms on image quality of chest CT,detection rate of lung nodule and reproducibility of lung nodule radiomics feature data compared with adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction V(ASIR-V)algorithms.Methods Seventy-five patients with 211 lung nodules who underwent both ultra-low-dose CT(ULD-CT)and standard-dose CT(SDCT)were prospectively enrolled.ULD-CT images were reconstructed using different algorithms,namely high-level DLIR(DLIR-H),medium-level DLIR(DLIR-M)and 50％ASIR-V(50％ASIR-V),while SDCT images were reconstructed by 50％ASIR-V.Image noise was represented by the standard deviation(SD)of lung parenchyma CT values within identical ROI in both ULD-CT and SDCT images,and signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)were calculated.The detection rate of lung nodule were obtained and compared among different images.Radiomics features of lung nodules in chest 50％ASIR-V SDCT and each ULD-CT were extracted based on automatic segmentation methods,and intra-class correlation coefficients(ICC)of each ULD-CT and 50％ASIR-V SDCT were calculated respectively,and then compared among different ULD-CT algorithms.Results Compared with SDCT images reconstructed with 50％ASIR-V algorithm,all ULD-CT images reconstructed by different algorithms showed higher SD and lower SNR(all P＜0.05).ULD-CT images reconstructed by DLIR-H,DLIR-M and 50％ASIR-V exhibited progressively increasing SD and decreasing SNR(all adjusted P＜0.05).Taken 50％ASIR-V SDCT images as standards,ULD-CT by DLIR-H,DLIR-M and 50％ASIR-V each detected 207 lung nodules(207/211,98.10％),respectively.In chest ULD-CT images,the reproducibility with 50％ASIR-V SDCT for texture feature data of lung nodules on ULD-CT reconstructed by 50％ASIR-V algorithm was lower than that by DLIR-H and DLIR-M(both adjusted P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between the latter two with 50％ASIR-V SDCT(adjusted P＞0.05).The first order and shape feature data of lung nodules on ULD-CT reconstructed by all 3 algorithms showed good reproducibility with 50％ASIR-V SDCT(median ICC＞0.75),and no significant difference was detected among them(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with 50％ASIR-V ULD-CT,both DLIR-H and DLIR-M ULD-CT could significantly reduce image noise and improve image quality,as well as maintain reproducibility of radiomics features in lung nodules in a certain degree,especially DLIR-H.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.07.023.].

Objective:To assess the efficacy of neoadjuvant treatment with PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1) inhibitors combined with paclitaxel (albumin-conjugated) and cisplatin (TP regimen) for locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and laryngeal organ function preservation.Methods:Data of 53 patients, including 51 males and 2 females, aged 38-70 years old, who were diagnosed with locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma confirmed by histology and enhanced CT at the Cancer Prevention and Control Center of Sun Yat-sen University during the initial treatment from January 1, 2019 to January 15, 2023, were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors combined with albumin-bound paclitaxel (260 mg/m 2) and cisplatin (60 mg/m 2) for 3 to 4 cycles. The main outcome measures were larynx dysfunction-free survival (LDFS), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox multifactorial analysis was further performed if Cox univariate analysis was statistically significant. Results:The overall efficiency was 90.6% (48/53). The 1-year and 2-year LDFS rates were 83.8% (95% CI: 74.0% to 94.8%) and 50.3% (95% CI: 22.1% to 91.6%), the 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 95.2% (95% CI: 88.9% to 100.0%) and 58.2% (95% CI: 25.6% to 81.8%), and the 1-year and 2-year PFS rates were 83.9% (95% CI: 74.2% to 94.9%) and 53.5% (95% CI: 32.1% to 89.1%). Adverse events associated with the neoadjuvant therapy were mainly myelosuppression (45.3%), gastrointestinal reactions (37.7%) and hypothyroidism (20.8%). Conclusion:The neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma using PD-1 inhibitors combined with paclitaxel and cisplatin can provide with a higher survival rate with a improved laryngeal organ function preservation rate.

Objective To explore the feasibility of harmonic waves analysis for observing morphological brain network changes in patients with depressive disorder(DD).Methods Whole brain 3D high resolution T1WI of 55 DD patients(DD group)and 46 normal controls(NC group)were acquired.Six kinds of morphological features brain network were constructed with FreeSurfer tool,including the number of brain region vertices,surface area,gray matter volume,average cortical thickness,Gaussian curvature and fold index.Laplace operator was applied to obtain common harmonic wave.The harmonic power of different morphological features and the gray matter volume in different brain regions were compared between groups.Results No significant difference of total harmonic energy was found between groups.The specific harmonic wave energies were significantly different between groups,including the number of brain region vertices corresponding to the 2nd,6th,15th,44th and 57th harmonic waves,surface area corresponding to the 2nd,6th,16th and 57th harmonic waves,gray matter volume corresponding to the 2nd,12th,13th,15th and 57th harmonic waves,average cortical thickness corresponding to the 2nd,19th,35th,36th and 44th harmonic waves,Gaussian curvature corresponding to the 34th,40th,54th and 57th harmonic waves,as well as fold index corresponding to the 5th,16th,21st and 57th harmonic waves.Gray matter volumes of transverse temporal gyrus in left hemisphere in DD group were significantly larger than that in NC group(t=2.900,P=0.004).Conclusion Harmonic waves analysis was feasible for observing morphological brain network changes in DD patients.

Animals ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Macaca mulatta ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; Antibodies, Viral ; Vaccines

Ureteral stricture in renal allografts is one of the common postoperative complications in kidney transplant recipients. Due to short ureter in renal allografts, endovascular treatment should be adopted before reconstruction surgery to avoid irreversible injury. Alleviating renal allograft injury, easing obstruction or establishing drainage channel are the key measures to treat ureteral stricture. In endovascular treatment, balloon dilatation and internal incision yield high recurrence rate, and long-term indwelling of self-expanding metallic ureteral stents may be a better option. Compared with traditional stents, metallic stents may maintain urinary tract patency for a long time and mitigate the irritation of lower urinary tract symptoms,with different indications and efficacy. Although all metallic stents may be displaced and occluded, it still plays a positive role in the treatment of ureteral stricture in renal allografts. In this article, the application of self-expanding metallic ureteral stent in ureteral stricture of renal allografts was mainly illustrated, aiming to provide reference for optimizing the treatment of ureteral stricture in renal allografts.