Background In 2021, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emerged as the forth leading cause of death in the world. However, the impact of air pollutants on COPD is still inconsistent across current studies. Objective To analyze the relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure and hospital admissions for COPD in Lanzhou, and to examine the modified effects of SO₂ across different genders, age groups, and seasons. Methods A total of 20718 hospital admission records for COPD were collected from Lanzhou between 2016 and 2020, alongside synchronized data on SO₂ concentration and meteorological variables. A generalized additive model integrated with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to assess the relationship and the lag effects between SO₂ exposure and COPD admissions. Potential confounders, including meteorological factors, day-of-the-week effect, and holidays, were controlled for, with a maximum lag period set at 7 d. Two-pollutant models and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure robustness. Results are expressed as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results During the study period, the average daily number of COPD admissions was 11.34±7.03. The average mass concentration of SO₂ was (23.72±12.35) μg·m⁻³. SO₂ exposure was positively correlated with COPD admissions; specifically, each 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration was associated with an RR of 1.440 (95%CI: 1.317, 1.573). Stratified analyses found that at a cumulative lag of 7 d, the RRs were higher among females, individuals aged ≥65 years, and during the cold season. Conversely, no significant increase in COPD admission risk related to SO₂ was observed during the warm season. For every 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration, the RR was 1.483 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.678) for females, 1.441 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.583) for those aged > 65 years， and 1.595 (95%CI: 1.313, 1.937) during the cold season. Conclusion Short-term exposure to ambient SO₂ exposure in Lanzhou is associated with an increased risk of COPD admission. The association is more pronounced among females, the elderly (aged> 65 years) and during the cold season.

Objective:To evaluate the role of cathepsin B (CTSB) in mechanical ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in rats and the relationship with NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome.Methods:Thirty-six SPF-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 220-300 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=12 each) by the random number table method: control group (group C), VILI group (group V) and VILI + CA074-me group (group Me). CA074-me 5 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group Me, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in group C and group V. Group C kept spontaneous breathing for 4 h, and the animals were mechanically ventilated (tidal volume 20 ml/kg, respiratory rate 80 breaths/min, fraction of inspired oxygen 21%, PEEP 0 cmH 2O). Blood samples from femoral artery were collected for arterial blood gas analysis before tracheal intubation and after spontaneous breathing or ventilation, and PaO 2 was recorded.Rats were sacrificed, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected and lung tissues were collected for determination of the wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio), serum interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 concentrations in BALF (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), expression of CTSB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain (ASC) and caspase-1 mRNA in lung tissues (quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction), and expression of CTSB, NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 in lung tissues (by Western blot) and for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (using HE staining). Lung injury was assessed and scored. Results:Compared with group C, PaO 2 was significantly decreased after the end of ventilation, the lung injury score, W/D ratio and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and BALF were increased, and the expression of CTSB, NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 protein and mRNA in lung tissues was up-regulated in group V and group Me ( P<0.01). Compared with group V, PaO 2 was significantly increased after the end of ventilation, the lung injury score, W/D ratio and concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and BALF were decreased, and the expression of CTSB, NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1 protein and mRNA in lung tissues was down-regulated in group Me ( P<0.01). Conclusions:CTSB is involved in VILI in the rats, and the mechanism may be related to activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes.

Objective:Concentration ratio and circular distribution were used to descrip the seasonal epidemic features of thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Anhui province.Methods:SFTS data were collected via National Notifiable Disease Report System from 2011-2017 in Anhui province. The temporal distribution of SFTS in Anhui province was reviewed, and then the M value was calculated to further present the seasonal morbidity features of it; circular distribution was conducted to obtain SFTS′s circulation and peak period of its morbidity.Results:From 2011-2017, the total case number of SFTS in Anhui province was 1 641, and 67, 67, 85, 239, 283, 507, 393 respectively for each year. The incidence showed an obvious ascending tendency (linear χ2=614.29, P<0.001), with a peak in 2017 (0.83/100 000). The mean angle value was 171.05° ( Z=439.66, P<0.001). Based on this, the peak incidence date was predicted to be June, 21st, with a peak period between 15th April and 27th August. Conclusions:There is an obvious seasonal peak features of SFTS in Anhui province, with a peak period between April and August, which suggests that enhanced prevention protocols should be carried out during the peak period.

Objective To investigate the effect of breviscapine on lung injury in children undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB).Methods Forty-five ASA Ⅱ or Ⅲ children aged 3-65 months weighing 5-21 kg undergoing open heart surgery with CPB were randomly assigned to 3 groups ( n =15 each):control group (group C),low dose breviscapine group (group B1 ) and high dose breviscapine group (group B2).Normal saline 15 ml(group C),breviscapine 0.5 mg/kg (group B1 )or 1.0 mg/kg(group B2 ) were injected iv over 30min after anesthesia induction.Blood samples were taken before operation ( T0 ),at 30 min and 1 h of aortic unclamping (T1,T2 ),at 3 h and 6 h after operation (T3,T4 ) for determination of plasma procalcitonin (PCT)and neutrophil elastase(NE) concentrations.PaO2 and PaCO2 were recorded at T0,T3,T4 for caculation of oxygenation index (OI) and alveolo-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference (PA-a O2 ).Results There were no significant differences in OI and PA-a O2 among the 3 groups( P ＞ 0.05).Plasma concentration of PCT was higher at T1～4in 3 groups,and plasma concentration of NE was higher at T1 in group C than that at T0 ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Plasma concentrations of PCT and NE were lower in groups B1 and B2 than in group C ( P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in plasma concentrations of PCT and NE between groups B1 and B2 ( P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Breviscapine(0.5,1 mg/kg) can inhibite systemic inflammatory response and attenuate lung injury in children undergoing open heart surgery with CPB.

Objective To investigate the relationship between thyroid hormones and Lp(a) the pituitary-thyroid axis in elder patients with congestive heart failure(CHF). Methods 50 normal controls and 158 elder patients with CHF who had not thyroid gland illness were involved in this study. Levels of FT 3, FT 4, TSH and Lp(a) in serum were measured. Patients were divided into two groups according to the course of chronic heart failure: patients with the course of CHF