Objective:To explore the correlation between ferroptosis-related proteins SLC7A11, GPX4, ACSL4 and the radiosensitivity and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. And to investigate the potential of these proteins as molecular markers for predicting the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 52 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma （nasopharyngeal carcinoma group） and 20 cases of chronic nasopharyngiti s（control group）. The relevant clinical data were reviewed, and paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected for study. The expressions of SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4 in pathological specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expression differences of ferroptosis-related proteins between the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group and the control group were analyzed. The nasopharyngeal carcinoma group was further divided based on the protein expression levels into high and low expression subgroups for SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4. Subsequently, a differential analysis of clinical data and survival analysis was conducted for each of these subgroups. Finally, logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors influencing radiotherapy resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Results:①The differential analysis revealed that, compared to the control group, the nasopharyngeal carcinoma group exhibited significantly higher expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and lower expression of ACSL4 （P<0.05）. ②Notably, the proportion of patients displaying radioresistance was higher in the SLC7A11 and GPX4 high expression groups compared to their respective low expression groups （P<0.05）. However, the proportion of radioresistance in the ACSL4 high expression group was lower than that in the ACSL4 low expression group （P<0.05）. Survival analysis indicated that the 5-year overall survival rate was lower in the SLC7A11 and GPX4 high expression groups compared to their respective low expression groups（P<0.05）. However, the 5-year overall survival rate of the ACSL4 high expression group was higher than that of the ACSL4 low expression group（P<0.05）. ③logistic regression analysis showed that SLC7A11 and GPX4 was an independent risk factor for radioresistance in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues over-express SLC7A11, GPX4, and under-express ACSL4. Over-expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 are independent risk factors for radioresistance in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The inhibition of ferroptosis may be related to the occurrence, progression and radioresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Detection of the expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, and ACSL4 has guiding significance for the evaluation of radiosensitivity and prognosis of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/radiotherapy* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology* ; Coenzyme A Ligases/metabolism* ; Radiation Tolerance ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase ; Amino Acid Transport System y+/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Long-Chain-Fatty-Acid-CoA Ligase ; Retrospective Studies ; Ferroptosis ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged

Background Air pollution is a major public health concern. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a very important air quality risk communication tool. However, AQHI is usually constructed by single-pollutant model, which has obvious disadvantages. Objective To construct an AQHI based on the joint effects of multiple air pollutants (J-AQHI), and to provide a scientific tool for health risk warning and risk communication of air pollution. Methods Data on non-accidental deaths in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Jilin provinces from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were obtained from the corresponding provincial disease surveillance points systems (DSPS), including date of death, age, gender, and cause of death. Daily meteorological (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and maximum 8 h O₃ concentrations) at the same period were respectively derived from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System and National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform. Lasso regression was first applied to select air pollutants, then a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied. Each case was matched to 3 or 4 control days which were selected on the same days of the week in the same calendar month. Then a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the exposure-response relationship between selected air pollutants and mortality, which was used to construct the AQHI. Finally, AQHI was classified into four levels according to the air pollutant guidance limit values from World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021), and the excess risks (ERs) were calculated to compare the AQHI based on single-pollutant model and the J-AQHI based on multi-pollutant model. Results PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ were selected by Lasso regression to establish DLNM model. The ERs for an interquartile range (IQR) increase and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ were 0.71% (0.34%–1.09%), 2.46% (1.78%–3.15%), 1.25% (0.9%–1.6%), and 0.27% (−0.11%–0.65%) respectively. The distribution of J-AQHI was right-skewed, and it was divided into four levels, with ranges of 0-1 for low risk, 2-3 for moderate risk, 4-5 for high health risk, and ≥6 for severe risk, and the corresponding proportions were 11.25%, 64.61%, 19.33%, and 4.81%, respectively. The ER (95%CI) of mortality risk increased by 3.61% (2.93–4.29) for each IQR increase of the multi-pollutant based J-AQHI , while it was 3.39% (2.68–4.11) for the single-pollutant based AQHI . Conclusion The J-AQHI generated by multi-pollutant model demonstrates the actual exposure health risk of air pollution in the population and provides new ideas for further improvement of AQHI calculation methods.

In 2016, a national one million general population cohort project was set up in China for the first time in "Precision Medicine Research" Key Project, National Key Research and Development Program of China, which consists of general population cohorts in seven areas in China. As one of the seven major areas in China, northeastern China has unique climate and specific dietary patterns, and population aging is serious in this area. And the burden of chronic and non-communicable diseases ranks tops in China. Therefore, it is of great significance to establish a large general population cohort in northeastern China to explore the area specific exposure factors related to pathogenesis and prognosis of chronic and non-communicable diseases, develop new prevention strategies to reduce the burden of the diseases and improve the population health in northeastern China. In July 2018, the general population cohort study in northeastern China was launched, the study includes questionnaire survey, health examination and blood, urine and stool sample collection and detection in recruited participants. By now, the cohort has covered all age groups, and the baseline data of 115 414 persons have been collected. This paper summarizes the design and practice of the general population cohort study in northeastern China to provide reference for related research in China.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in Jiangsu province during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in China from December 7, 2022 to January 27, 2023, and to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death.Methods:It was a multi-center cross-sectional investigation. Structured questionnaire was used to collect patient information by medical staff of each hemodialysis center (room) as investigators. Part of the demography data and laboratory examination data came from the Jiangsu Province Hemodialysis Data Information System. MHD patients from hemodialysis centers (rooms) at all levels of medical institutions and independent hemodialysis institutions in Jiangsu province during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, and the clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality of confirmed and suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed.Results:Questionnaire surveys and data analysis on 57 278 patients in 407 hemodialysis centers (rooms) were completed, accounting for 90.41% of the total number of MHD patients (63 357 cases) in Jiangsu province during the same period. There were 24 038 cases (41.97%) of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 14 805 cases (25.85%) of suspected infection, which were widely distributed in all dialysis centers in Jiangsu province. After clinical classification of 38 843 confirmed and suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, 3 662 cases were severe and critical cases, accounting for 9.43% of the infected and suspected cases. Among the patients who had completed the questionnaires, there were 1 812 all-cause deaths, with an all-cause mortality rate of 3.16%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elderly (taking ≤50 years as a reference, 51-59 years: OR=1.583, 95% CI 1.279-1.933, P=0.001; 60-69 years: OR=3.972, 95% CI 3.271-4.858, P<0.001; 70-79 years: OR=7.236, 95% CI 5.917-8.698, P<0.001; ≥80 years: OR=11.738, 95% CI 9.459-14.663, P<0.001), male ( OR=1.371, 95% CI 1.229-1.529, P<0.001), and co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (positive serum HBV surface antigen, OR=0.629, 95% CI 0.484-0.817, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for all cause mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for male, age and current HBV infection prediction of all-cause death was 0.529 ( P<0.001), 0.724 ( P<0.001) and 0.514 ( P=0.042), respectively, and the cut-off value for age prediction of all-cause death was 65.5 years old. Compared with patients without HBV infection, MHD patients with HBV infection significantly reduced the proportion of severe and critically ill patients, all-cause hospitalizations and all cause deaths when infected with SARS-CoV-2 (4.99% vs. 6.41%, χ2=6.136, P=0.013; 8.90% vs. 11.44%, χ2=11.662, P<0.001; 2.01% vs. 3.37%, χ2=10.713, P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion:The MHD patients in Jiangsu province are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Elderly age and male gender are independent risk factors for death in MHD patients during the epidemic, while the HBV infection may be a protective factor for death of MHD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Objective:To investigate the infection status of Yersinia in the main host animals of plague in Xiahe and Luqu counties, the Himalayan marmot plague foci of Gansu Province, and to provide a basis for exploring the epidemic status of plague in these foci. Methods:Samples of the ileocecal region and contents, pharyngeal swabs (or tongue roots), and blood of the main host animals of plague in Xiahe County and Luqu County where the plague were active in the 1950s and 1960s were collected from 2014 to 2018. The Yersinia isolation, virulence determination and F1 antibody detection were performed, respectively. Results:Totally 24 strains of Yersinia were detected in 958 samples of ileocecal region and contents with a bacterial detection rate of 2.51%, which were 13 strains of Yersinia enterocolitia (Y.e), 1 strain of Yersinia kristensenii (Y.k), 2 strains of Yersinia frederiksenii/ intermedia (Y.f/i), 6 strains of Yersinia intermedia (Y.i), 1 strain of Yersinia aldouae (Y.a) and 1 strain of Yersinia massiliensis (Y.m). Totally 19 strains of Yersinia were detected in 958 samples of pharyngeal swabs (or tongue roots), and the detection rate was 1.98%, which were 8 strains of Y.e, 1 strain of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis (Y.p), 4 strains of Y.k, 1 strain of Y.f/i, 4 strains of Y.i, and 1 strain of Yersinia ruckeri (Y.r). The virulence types of 21 strains of Y.e were ail -ystA -ystB +yadA -virF -rfbc -, ail -ystA -ystB -yadA -virF -rfbc -, respectively, accounting for 9.52% (2/21) and 90.48% (19/21), none were pathogenic. The results of F1 antibody in 1 079 serum samples were all negative. Conclusions:Yersinia are widely found in the pharynx and intestines of the main host animals of plague in Xiahe and Luqu counties, and the Y.e detected are all non-pathogenic strains. The results of this investigation can provide clues for further study on the preservation of Yersinia pestis in host animals and their living environment.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors related to lung cancer in participants with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, to provide data support for identifying high-risk groups of lung cancer and to improve the effectiveness of LDCT lung cancer screening.Methods:A total of 5 366 asymptomatic subjects (2 762 males and 2 604 females) who underwent LDCT lung cancer screening were recruited at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2014 to 2017. The result of LDCT and the risk factors of participants were analyzed. The LDCT positive results were defined as solid or part-solid nodules≥5 mm and non-solid nodule≥8 mm. A total of 12 factors were included and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors associated with lung cancer in the study.Results:Of the 5 366 asymptomatic subjects, 389 were positive and 4 977 were negative for LDCT screening. Among them, 26 of 389 positive cases were confirmed as lung cancers pathologically, and the detection rate of stage I lung cancer was 92.3% (24/26). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, smoking, low level of education were the relevant risk factors for lung cancer and positive nodules. A stratified analysis of age showed that no risk factors were detected in the 40-49 years old group, while age, smoking, low level of education (primary school and below) were recognized as risk factors in the ≥50 years old group. No statistically significant risk factor was detected between the lung cancer group and the positive nodules group.Conclusions:Age, smoking, and low level of education (primary school and below) are related risk factors for lung cancer and positive nodules. People aged 50 years or older, smoking, and low level of education may be a high risk group for lung cancer. LDCT can effectively detect early lung cancer.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors related to lung cancer in participants with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening, to provide data support for identifying high-risk groups of lung cancer and to improve the effectiveness of LDCT lung cancer screening.Methods:A total of 5 366 asymptomatic subjects (2 762 males and 2 604 females) who underwent LDCT lung cancer screening were recruited at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from 2014 to 2017. The result of LDCT and the risk factors of participants were analyzed. The LDCT positive results were defined as solid or part-solid nodules≥5 mm and non-solid nodule≥8 mm. A total of 12 factors were included and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors associated with lung cancer in the study.Results:Of the 5 366 asymptomatic subjects, 389 were positive and 4 977 were negative for LDCT screening. Among them, 26 of 389 positive cases were confirmed as lung cancers pathologically, and the detection rate of stage I lung cancer was 92.3% (24/26). Multivariate logistic regression showed that age, smoking, low level of education were the relevant risk factors for lung cancer and positive nodules. A stratified analysis of age showed that no risk factors were detected in the 40-49 years old group, while age, smoking, low level of education (primary school and below) were recognized as risk factors in the ≥50 years old group. No statistically significant risk factor was detected between the lung cancer group and the positive nodules group.Conclusions:Age, smoking, and low level of education (primary school and below) are related risk factors for lung cancer and positive nodules. People aged 50 years or older, smoking, and low level of education may be a high risk group for lung cancer. LDCT can effectively detect early lung cancer.

Objective To observe the effect of ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane block combined with diclofenac sodium suppository in anus on postoperative analgesia and early recov-ery after laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods Sixty-six patients of laparoscopic hysterectomy,aged 40-60 years,were randomly divided into group T and group D,33 cases in each group.Group T used ultrasound-guided bilateral transversus abdominis plane (TAP)block after surgery.Group D used TAP block and diclofenac sodium suppositories in anus.All patients received PCIA.Postoperative 24 h sufentanil dosage out of analgesia pump and the effective press times were recorded.The incidence of dysphoria,nausea and vomit within postoperative 24 h,the time of first out-of-bed activity,the time of first anal exhaust and the time of removing urine tube were measured.The plasma concentra-tion of interleukin-6(IL-6),C reactive protein (CRP)and cortisol (Cor)were recorded at the follow-ing four time points:before anesthesia,just postoperative moment,8 and 12 h after surgery. Results Compared with group T,the sufentanil dosage [(18.6±3.2)μg vs (40.8±5.1)μg]and the effective press times [(9.3±2.2)times vs (20.4±3.5)times]were fewer in group D (P<0.05).The incidence of dysphoria,and nausea and vomit were less in group D compared with group T (P<0.05).The IL-6,CRP and Cor of group D at 12 h were lower than those of group T (P<0.05). But the times of first out-of-bed activity,anal exhaust and removing urine tube in two groups were not significantly different.Conclusion Transversus abdominis plane block combined with diclofenac sodium suppositories in anus can provide safe and effective postoperative analgesia for laparoscopic hysterectomy,and promote the early fast recovery.

Melioidosis is a endemic infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, and is considered one of the major causes of fatal pneumonia and sepsis.This paper reports diagnosis and treatment course of one case pulmonary melioidosis, and reviews the related literatures, so to improve clinical workers'' understanding towards melioidosis, avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: With age and blood pressure increasing, the damaged elastic membrane induced by degenerative vascular matrix results in calcium and collagen deposition, and finally expanded large arteries and aortas are easy to cause arteriosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rheological properties of the common carotid artery in the youth and elderly, thus providing a basis for the study on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis of the common carotid artery. METHODS: Common carotid arteries were respectively removed from the young and elderly cadavers. Ten samples from each group were randomly selected, and subjected to stress relaxation and creep tests. Meanwhile, one sample from each group was selected for histological observation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The stress at 7200 s in the young group was significantly decreased compared with the elderly group (P < 0.05). The strain at 7200 s in the young group was significantly increased compared with the elderly group (P < 0.05). Scanning electron microscope observed that in the elderly group, there were lipid plaques and foam cell accumulation; the internal elastic lamina and middle elastic plate presented with degeneration, rupture and disintegration; and there were abundant plaques and inflammatory cells in the intimal and media, which characterized as atherosclerosis. While no lipid plaques were found in the young group. These results indicate that the elastic fibers and collagen fibers in the common carotid artery arrange in disorder as age increases, and the rheological properties are also changed.