Background Microparticles (MPs) are one of the main medium of inflammatory reaction with an important role in atherosclerotic progression. Studies on association of air pollution exposure and levels of peripheral blood MPs are limited among human. Objective To evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution on levels of peripheral blood MPs. Method A panel of 73 healthy adults was followed with 4 repeated follow-ups in Beijing, China, from November 2014 to January 2016. During each visit, we collected questionnaire information, fasting venous blood, urine, and exposures to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), black carbon, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. We used linear mixed-effect models to analyze associations of air pollution exposure with levels of total MPs (TMPs) and MPs derived from various cells. Stratified analysis was conducted by levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results The results showed significant associations between air pollution exposure and peripheral blood TMPs at 2 h-6 d prior to the follow-ups (P<0.05), while no statistical associations were found for MPs derived from different cell types. Significant increases in TMPs of 7.8% (95%CI: 0.7%, 15.3%) and 14.3% (95%CI: 2.8%, 27.2%) were observed with each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM_2.5 (IQR=64.9 μg·m⁻³) at prior 18 h and NO (IQR=40.5 μg·m⁻³) at prior 48 h. Among participants with low levels of CRP and MDA, significantly positive associations were observed between air pollution exposure and levels of TMPs (P<0.05). Conclusion Short-term exposure to air pollution is significantly associated with increased levels of circulating MPs in healthy adults, and in people with lower systemic inflammation, peripheral blood MPs levels are more easily affected after exposure to air pollutants.

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Macrophage polarization is involved in the entire process of the occurrence and development of knee osteoarthritis(KO A).By polarizing into distinct functional phenotypes,macrophages play key regulatory roles in the initiation of inflammation,matrix degradation,suppression of cartilage formation,and progression of the disease.The M1-type macrophages secrete numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines to exacerbate the inflammatory responses and promote the destruction of articular cartilage.Conversely,the M2-type macrophages help maintain the extracellular matrix homeostasis and facilitate cartilage formation by releasing anti-inflammatory factors while suppressing the secretion of inflammatory factors,thereby exerting anti-inflammatory effects and promoting tissue repair.Recent studies have shown that an imbalanced ratio of M1/M2 macrophages(M1/M2 ratio)is closely linked with both the pathogenesis and progression of KO A.Restoration of the dynamic balance between these two subtypes could be an essential strategy for treating and preventing KO A.This article reviewed the current literatures retrieved from PubMed and CNKI databases using the keywords"knee osteoarthritis"and"macrophages"over the past decade.The review introduced the process of macrophage polarization and the mechanisms of different macrophage phenotypes in KOA,and further discussed the recent advances in modulating the M1/M2 ratio for KOA management through chemical drugs,bioactive molecules,and traditional Chinese medicine and so on,aiming to provide the theoretical insights for future research and clinical interventions.

Objective To explore the clinical safety of plasma exchange(PE)combined with early continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)and its effects on coagulation and immune functions in patients with polytrauma and hypermyoglobinemia.Methods A non-randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 patients with severe polytrauma and myoglobinemia hospitalized in our department from January 2021 to December 2024.Based on different blood purification,the patients were divided a control group(CRRT)combined with conventional basic treatment,n=30)and an observation group(PE+CRRT and conventional basic treatment,n=30).Biochemical indicators(myoglobin,Mb),inflammation-related indicators,peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets,coagulation indicators,clinical-related indicators,and scores were observed and compared between the 2 groups before and after treatment.Results After 1,2 and 3 d of treatment,the levels of Mb,creatine kinase(CK),creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme(CK-MB),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),serum creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),K+,C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),IL-6 and D-dimer(D-D),and white blood cell(WBC)count were significantly decreased in both groups(P<0.05).Among them,the observation group obtained obviously lower levels of all above indicators than the control group at the 3 time points(P<0.05).Additionally,notably shorter average length of total hospital stay,shorter average length of trauma intensive care unit stay,and lower score of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)was observed in the observation group than the control group(P<0.05).There were no statistical differences in coagulation function indicators or T lymphocyte subsets between the 2 groups.No complications occurred.Conclusion For patients with polytrauma and hypermyoglobinemia,early application of PE+CRRT can effectively reduce serum myoglobin level,improve serum biochemical inicators,renal function and inflammatory status,and maintain homeostasis,but shows no effect on immune or coagulation functions.This approach is worthy of promoting in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the leading malignancy in China in terms of both incidence and mortality. With increased health awareness and the widespread use of low-dose computed tomography (CT), early diagnosis rates have been steadily improving. Surgical intervention remains the primary treatment option for early-stage lung cancer, and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a common approach due to its minimal invasiveness and rapid recovery. However, post-discharge recovery remains incomplete, underscoring the importance of postoperative care. Traditional follow-up methods, lack standardization, consume significant medical resources, and increase the burden of the patients. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven disease management platforms offer a novel solution to optimize postoperative follow-up. This study followed 463 lung cancer surgery patients using an AI-based platform, aiming to identify common postoperative issues, propose solutions, improve quality of life, reduce recurrence-related costs, and promote AI integration in healthcare. METHODS: Using the AI disease management platform, this study integrated educational videos, collaboration between healthcare teams and AI assistants, daily health logs, health assessment forms, and personalized interventions to monitor postoperative recovery. The postoperative rehabilitation status of the patients was assessed by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC). Two independent t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the causes of postoperative cough in lung cancer. RESULTS: Most issues occurred within 7 d post-discharge, significantly declined on 14 d post-discharge. Factors such as gender, smoking history, and surgical approaches were found to influence cough recovery. The incidence of cough on 7 d post-discharge in females was higher than that in males (P<0.01), while the incidence of cough on 14 d post-discharge in elderly patients was lower than that in young patients (P=0.03). The AI-based platform effectively addressed cough, pain, and sleep disturbances through phased interventions. CONCLUSIONS The AI-based platform significantly enhanced postoperative management efficiency and the self-care capabilities of the patients, particularly in phased cough management. Future integration with wearable devices could enable more precise and personalized postoperative care, further advancing the application of AI technology across multidisciplinary healthcare domains.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/rehabilitation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Patient Discharge ; Artificial Intelligence ; Adult ; Postoperative Care ; Postoperative Period ; Disease Management ; Quality of Life

Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics, spatial clustering, and correlation between dental fluorosis detection rates and meteorological factors in children aged 8 - 12 years old in 37 counties (cities, districts, hereinafter referred to as counties) affected by coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Guizhou Province, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.Methods:Monitoring data on dental fluorosis in children aged 8 - 12 years old from 2019 to 2022 were collected from the National Health Security Information System for Endemic Diseases. Meteorological data, including annual average temperature, annual average precipitation, annual sunshine hours, and annual average relative humidity, were obtained from the Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive epidemiology, analytical epidemiology, and spatial correlation analysis methods were used to analyze the data. Visual maps were created based on the clustering levels of annual dental fluorosis detection rates (high-high, low-low, high-low, low-high). Spatial autocorrelation and meteorological factors were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics, spatial clustering, and the impact of meteorological factors on dental fluorosis.Results:From 2019 to 2022, a total of 3 649 161 children aged 8 - 12 in the counties affected by coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis were monitored, and 115 793 children were diagnosed with dental fluorosis, with a detection rate of 3.17%. The detection rates were 4.73% (45 093/954 338) in 2019, 3.35% (31 424/938 445) in 2020, 2.86% (21 727/760 195) in 2021, and 1.76% (17 549/996 183) in 2022, respectively. The dental fluorosis indices were 0.09, 0.07, 0.06, and 0.03, respectively. The number of counties with detection rates > 6% was 7, 5, 5, and 0 in 2019 - 2022, respectively. Dafang County consistently had the highest detection rates, with rates of 10.06% (6 783/67 408), 10.07% (1 955/19 421), 13.54% (4 017/29 667), and 4.83% (3 284/76 206) in 2019 - 2022, respectively. The Moran's I indices for dental fluorosis detection rates were 0.45, 0.53, 0.53, and 0.53 in 2019 - 2022, with Z = 4.29, 5.07, 5.31, and 5.10, respectively ( P < 0.05), indicating global spatial autocorrelation (positive) and spatial clustering of dental fluorosis detection rates. The number of counties with "high-high" clustering of detection rates was 7, 7, 6, and 7 in 2019 - 2022, mainly concentrated in the northwestern region, including Qixingguan District, Nayong County, Dafang County, Zhijin County, and Jinsha County of Bijie City. "Low-high" clustering areas were distributed in Zhongshan District of Liupanshui City in 2019, 2020, and 2022. The detection rate of dental fluorosis was associated with local annual average temperature (°C) and annual precipitation (mm) ( r = - 0.393, - 0.337, P = 0.016, 0.041). Conclusions:From 2019 to 2022, the detection rate of dental fluorosis in children aged 8 - 12 in coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Guizhou Province has been decreasing year by year, and it shows spatial clustering. The high clustering area is in the northwest of Guizhou Province, which should be regarded as a key prevention and control area for coal-burning-borne fluorosis in the future. At the same time, areas with lower temperatures and precipitation should also strengthen prevention and control efforts.

Objective:To investigate the association between different types of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer in a population at high risk of lung cancer and to provide an epidemiologic basis for the comprehensive management of lung nodules.Methods:Using the free lung cancer screening program of low-dose CT (LDCT) in Wenling, Zhejiang Province, we collected baseline and imaging information of high-risk groups for lung cancer who underwent LDCT screening from April 2019 to October 2021 and patients with previous history of lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, and silicosis were excluded. A total of 28 539 study subjects were included in the analysis, and the follow-up ended on 31 December 2023. Based on the characteristics of the detected pulmonary nodules, the study subjects were classified with no nodules, with solid nodules, with pure ground glass nodules, and with part solid nodules groups. The association between different characteristics of lung nodules and the risk of lung cancer development was analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard regression model with a new diagnosis of lung cancer during the follow-up period as the outcome.Results:The overall detection rate of lung nodules with a mean diameter of ≥3 mm was 76.5%, of which 53.7%, 18.2%, and 4.6% were detected in the solid nodule, pure ground glass nodule, and partially solid nodule groups, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the different nodule groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, history of toxic exposure education level, smoking status, history of lung disease, and family history of lung cancer (all P<0.05). The median follow-up time of the study population was 3.4 years, and 485 new lung cancer cases were diagnosed during the follow-up period. After adjusting for covariates, the results of multifactorial Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the risk of lung cancer was higher in pure ground glass nodules and part solid nodules compared with solid nodules, with HR values (95% CI) of 1.89 (1.52-2.35) and 6.49 (5.18-8.14), respectively. The results of subgroup analysis showed that patients in the group of part solid nodules had the highest risk of lung cancer in all strata of the population, followed by patients with pure ground glass nodules. Patients in the solid nodule group who were older or had previous lung disease had a higher risk of lung cancer, and the risk of lung cancer in the part solid nodule group differed between genders. Conclusions:The proportion of lung nodules detected is high in the high-risk group of lung cancer, and among them, patients with pure ground glass and part solid nodules have a higher risk of developing lung cancer. Attention should be paid to the annual follow-up management for patients with solid nodules who are older or who have had lung diseases, as well as for female patients with part solid nodules.

Objective:To study the association between subtypes of hypertension and risk for all-cause mortality and cardio-cerebrovascular mortalities in the elderly in communities of Beijing.Methods:The data were collected from the Beijing Healthy Aging Cohort Study. The elderly in 5 urban areas (former Xicheng, former Xuanwu, Fangshan, Haidian and Tongzhou) and 4 rural areas (Yanqing, Miyun, Huairou and Daxing) in Beijing were selected as the study subjects by multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling. The baseline survey was conducted from July 2009 to September 2015. The follow-up was conducted until March 31, 2021, and a total of 6 326 participants were enrolled. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to analyze the association of SBP, DBP, normal blood pressure, high normal blood pressure, simple systolic hypertension, simple diastolic hypertension and systolic diastolic hypertension with all-cause mortality and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality.Results:By March 31, 2021, the median follow-up time was 6.30 years, the all-cause mortality density was 201.67/10 000 person-years, and the cardio-cerebrovascular mortality density was 90.20/10 000 person-years. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis showed that the risk for all-cause mortality increased by 5.6% ( HR=1.056, 95% CI: 1.020-1.092), and the risk for cardio-cerebrovasculvar mortality increased by 12.5% ( HR=1.125, 95% CI: 1.071-1.182) for every 10 mmHg increase in SBP. The risk for all-cause mortality increased by 8.6% ( HR=1.086, 95% CI: 1.023-1.152), and the risk for cardio-cerebrovascular mortality increased by 19.9% ( HR=1.199, 95% CI: 1.101-1.306) for every 10 mmHg increase in DBP. Compared with the normal blood pressure group, the risk for all-cause mortality increased by 64.8% ( HR=1.648, 95% CI: 1.049-2.591) and the risk for cardio- cerebrovascular mortality increased by 112.8% ( HR=2.128, 95% CI: 1.069-4.233) in the simple diastolic hypertension group. The risk for all-cause mortality increased by 34.4% ( HR=1.344, 95% CI: 1.023-1.467) and the risk for cardio-cerebrovascular mortality increased by 111.3% ( HR=2.113, 95% CI: 1.384-3.225) in the systolic-diastolic hypertension group. Conclusions:In the elderly in communities of Beijing, beside systolic-diastolic hypertension. It is necessary to pay close attention to the simple diastolic hypertension, which has lower prevalence, and give targeted prevention and treatment.