OBJECTIVE: To investigate possible associations between physical function assessment scales, such as Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS), with all-cause mortality in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients. METHODS: A total of 108 ADHF patients were analyzed from October 2020 to October 2022, and followed up to May 2023. The association between baseline clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality was analyzed by univariate Cox regression analysis, while for SPPB and BBS, univariate Cox regression analysis was followed by receiver operating characteristic curves, in which the area under the curve represented their predictive accuracy for all-cause mortality. Incremental predictive values for both physical function assessments were measured by calculating net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement scores. Optimal cut-off value for BBS was then identified using restricted cubic spline plots, and survival differences below and above that cut-off were compared using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test. The clinical utility of BBS was measured using decision curve analysis. RESULTS: For baseline characteristics, age, female, blood urea nitrogen, as well as statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, or angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors, were predictive for all-cause mortality for ADHF patients. With respect to SPPB and BBS, higher scores were associated with lower all-cause mortality rates for both assessments; similar area under the curves were measured for both (0.774 for SPPB and 0.776 for BBS). Furthermore, BBS ≤ 36.5 was associated with significantly higher mortality, which was still applicable even adjusting for confounding factors; BBS was also found to have great clinical utility under decision curve analysis. CONCLUSIONS BBS or SPPB could be used as tools to assess physical function in ageing ADHF patients, as well as prognosticate on all-cause mortality. Moreover, prioritizing the improvement of balance capabilities of ADHF patients in cardiac rehabilitation regimens could aid in lowering mortality risk.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing varicella prevention and control strategies. Methods Data on varicella cases were collected through the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiology, temporal trend analysis, seasonal analysis, spatiotemporal clustering analysis, and spatial autocorrelation analysis were conducted using QGIS, JoinPoint, SaTScan and GeoDa software. Results The average annual reported incidence rate of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023 was 34.55/100,000, showing a trend of initial increase followed by a decrease. The peak incidence occurred from October to January of the following year (RR=1.97, LLR=1743.95, P=0.001). Students aged 0 to 19 was the primary affected group. Spatiotemporal scan analysis revealed four types of spatiotemporal clusters, with the cluster in Jin'an District from October 2017 to December 2023 being particularly prominent (RR=2.87，LLR=1734.15，P<0.001). Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated significant clustering of varicella cases in the main urban area (Moran's I=0.216，Z=4.786，P=0.003). Conclusion The incidence of varicella in Lu'an City exhibits distinct seasonal and spatial clustering, and schools and kindergartens in the main urban area are the key to varicella prevention and control. It is necessary to enhance the monitoring of disease outbreaks during peak periods and in key areas, and to increase the two-dose vaccination rate for varicella in areas with case aggregation and among key populations.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the associations between eight serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and regional fat depots, we analyzed the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2018 cycles. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were developed to explore the associations between serum PFAS concentrations and six fat compositions along with a fat distribution score created by summing the concentrations of the six fat compositions. The associations between structurally grouped PFASs and fat distribution were assessed, and a prediction model was developed to estimate the ability of PFAS exposure to predict obesity risk. RESULTS: Among females aged 39-59 years, trunk fat mass was positively associated with perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Higher concentrations of PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorodecanoate (PFDeA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), and n-perfluorooctanoate (n-PFOA) were linked to greater visceral adipose tissue in this group. In men, exposure to total perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) and long-chain PFSAs was associated with reductions in abdominal fat, while higher abdominal fat in women aged 39-59 years was associated with short-chain PFSAs. The prediction model demonstrated high accuracy, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9925 for predicting obesity risk. CONCLUSION PFAS exposure is associated with regional fat distribution, with varying effects based on age, sex, and PFAS structure. The findings highlight the potential role of PFAS exposure in influencing fat depots and obesity risk, with significant implications for public health. The prediction model provides a highly accurate tool for assessing obesity risk related to PFAS exposure.
Humans ; Fluorocarbons/blood* ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Environmental Pollutants/blood* ; Abdominal Fat ; Nutrition Surveys ; Alkanesulfonic Acids/blood* ; Obesity ; Environmental Exposure

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the patterns of fasting blood glucose (FBG) trajectories and analyze the relationship between various occupational hazard factors and FBG trajectories in male steelworkers. METHODS: The study cohort included 3,728 workers who met the selection criteria for the Tanggang Occupational Cohort (TGOC) between 2017 and 2022. A group-based trajectory model was used to identify the FBG trajectories. Environmental risk scores (ERS) were constructed using regression coefficients from the occupational hazard model as weights. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of occupational hazard factors using the ERS on FBG trajectories. RESULTS: FBG trajectories were categorized into three groups. An association was observed between high temperature, noise exposure, and FBG trajectory ( P < 0.05). Using the first quartile group of ERS1 as a reference, the fourth quartile group of ERS1 had an increased risk of medium and high FBG by 1.90 and 2.21 times, respectively (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.17-3.10; OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.09-4.45). CONCLUSION An association was observed between occupational hazards based on ERS and FBG trajectories. The risk of FBG trajectory levels increase with an increase in ERS.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; China ; Prospective Studies ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Risk Factors ; Middle Aged ; Steel ; Fasting/blood* ; Metal Workers ; East Asian People

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission network among HIV/AIDS patients in Zhoushan City, Zhejing Province. Methods: The newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Zhoushan City from 2020 to 2022 were selected. Basic information was collected and whole blood samples were obtained at the initial follow-up. The pol gene sequences of HIV-1 were amplified by RT-PCR and nested-PCR. HIV-1 subtypes were identified by Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic trees. The HIV-1 molecular transmission network was built and analyzed using Cytoscape 3.6.1 software. Results: A total of 222 HIV/AIDS cases were reported in Zhoushan City from 2020 to 2022, 200 whole blood samples were collected, and 152 sequences were obtained successfully, including 122 males (80.26%), 75 cases aged 50 years and above (49.34%), 109 cases with a junior high school education or below (71.71%), and 63 cases with commercial heterosexual contact (41.45%). The main subtypes were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE, accounting for 45.39% and 21.05%, respectively. When the threshold of genetic distance was set to 1%, 20 molecular clusters were formed in 69 cases, with a clustering rate of 45.39%. Using the molecular network constituted by reported HIV/AIDS cases in 2020 as the baseline network, there were 2 active molecular clusters with ≥5 new cases in 2022, each with 9 cases, characterized mainly by individuals aged 50 or above, with a junior high school education or below, and transmission through commercial heterosexual sex. Conclusions The predominant HIV-1 subtypes among HIV/AIDS cases in Zhoushan City are CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. Transmission through commercial heterosexual contact among middle-aged and elderly people is a main mode of HIV transmission.

Three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials exhibit potential application prospects as excellent drug supports in drug delivery systems due to their high specific surface area, tunable pore structure, and excellent biocompatibility. In this study, three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials were prepared using Acanthopanax senticosus herbal residues as raw material and KOH as activating agent through a one-step pyrolysis method. The prepared carbon-based material was systematically characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show that the three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials prepared with KOH as the activator via pyrolysis possess abundant functional groups, high porosity, and high specific surface area, with a specific surface area of 1 471.6 m²·g^-1. The three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials prepared at 800 ℃ exhibits a high drug loading capacity (78.0%) and drug release rate (86.8%) for 5-fluorouracil. Three-dimensional orderly porous carbon materials show significant application advantages in drug construction, and their high specific surface area and adjustable pore size structure significantly improve the drug load rate and drug release rate, providing a solid foundation for the development of efficient and accurate drug delivery system.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide （DOP）on CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis（HF）and its mechanism. MethodsA total of 56 male SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups： normal group（NG），model group（MG），colchicine group（CG， 0.1 mg/kg）， Fuzheng Huayu group（FG， 0.45 g/kg），low-dose DOP group（LDG， 0.05 g/kg），middle-dose DOP group（MDG， 0.1 g/kg）and high-dose DOP group（HDG，0.2 g/kg），with 8 rats in each group. HF rat model was established by subcutaneous injection with 40% CCl₄ olive oil mixture， every 3-day for 10 weeks. At the end of the sixth week， the drug groups were treated with colchicine， Fuzheng Huayu and DOP solution by gavage respectively， once a day for 4 weeks. NG and MG groups were similarly handled with an equal amount of 0.9 % normal saline. Liver histopathology was detected using hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson and Sirius red staining； blood biochemistry was tested for liver function and four indicators of HF； RT-qPCR and Western Blot were used to measure the expression of α-SMA， Col-I， E-cadherin， and ZEB1 genes and proteins in the liver tissues of rats， respectively. ResultsHE， Masson， and Sirius red staining showed that the liver tissue of MG rats had typical pathologic features of HF， and the degree of HF was alleviated in LDG， MDG， and HDG rats， respectively. Liver function test results showed that the serum AST， TBIL， and AKP levels were significantly lower in LDG， MDG， and HDG， compared with those of the MG （P < 0.05 or < 0.01）. Meanwhile， ALT levels in serum deceased remarkably except in LDG （P < 0.05 or < 0.01）. The four results of HF showed that the serum HA， LN， PC-Ⅲ， and COL-Ⅳ levels in LDG， MDG， and HDG rats were significantly decreased compared with those of the MG （P < 0.05 or < 0.01）. The relative expressions of α-SMA， COL-I， and ZEB1 genes and proteins were significantly decreased in the liver tissues of LDG， MDG， and HDG （P < 0.05 or < 0.01）， and the relative expression of E-cadherin gene and protein increased （P < 0.05 or < 0.01）. In addition， the expressions of HA， α-SMA， COL-I， ZEB1 and E-cadherin were dependent on the dose of DOP. ConclusionDOP alleviated the degree of CCl₄ induced HF in rats by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in liver tissue.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

Objective:To explore the disease spectrum and corresponding clinical indicators of infantile cholestasis so as to provide a basis for the diagnosis of this type of disease at an early stage.Methods:The clinical data was collected from 203 hospitalized children diagnosed with infantile cholestasis at the Department of Gastroenterology of Maternal and Child Health Care, Guiyang City, from January 2018 to March 2023, including 130 males and 73 females. Patients general condition, personal history, and blood biochemical test indicators, including liver and coagulation function, blood ammonia, blood lipid profile, blood sugar, TORCH, thyroid function, and others, were retrospectively analyzed after admission. Cholangiography and high-throughput gene sequencing were performed in certain patients. The etiology of the enrolled cases were analyzed. Children's clinical data were compared with distinct inherited metabolic liver diseases (Group A) and biliary atresia (Group B). The statistical analysis was conducted using the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, or χ2 test, according to different data. Results:In 33 cases, infectious factors—primarily CMV infection—were the etiology of cholestasis. Forty cases had aberrant bile duct development, primarily biliary atresia, choledochal cysts, and intrahepatic bile duct dysplasia. In 26 cases, genetic metabolic factors mainly included citrin protein deficiency, sodium-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide deficiency, and Alagille syndrome. 11 cases had drug/poisoning factors (parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis). 19 cases had idiopathic infantile cholestasis. Three cases had other factors; however, all of them had Kawasaki disease. 71 cases had an unclear diagnosis. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of gender and age between groups A and B ( P>0.05). The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bile acid levels were significantly higher in Group A than Group B, with a P<0.05, while the gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), direct bilirubin (DBil), and albumin levels were lower than those in Group B, with a P<0.05. The cytomegalovirus infection rate was higher in Group B (62.50%) than Group A (34.62%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( χ2=3.89, P<0.05). The alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, GGT, DBil, and albumin were significantly lower in patients with citrin protein deficiency than those in patients with biliary atresia, while ALP, bile acid, and blood ammonia were higher than those in patients with biliary atresia. Patients with sodium-taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide deficiency had higher bile acid than patients with biliary atresia, while the DBil was lower than that in patients with biliary atresia, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Infantile cholestasis etiology is diverse. ALP, bile acids, GGT, DBil, and albumin levels can serve as simple indicators for early-stage differentiation between inherited metabolic liver disease and biliary atresia. The cholestasis etiology should be determined as early as possible following biliary atresia exclusion by actively completing genetic metabolic gene detection.