Objective: To analyze the impact of maternal metal exposure during early pregnancy on the physical development of offspring at 1 and 3 years of age, so as to provide scientific evidence for reducing the adverse effects of heavy metals on their health. Methods: From 2024 to 2018, a total of 1 588 mother child pairs from the Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC) were included in this study. Multiple linear regression models, generalized estimating equations (GEE), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models were used to assess the associations between 24 urinary metal mass concentrations (adjusted for specific gravity, SG) during early pregnancy and offspring growth outcomes, including length/height for age Z score(HAZ), weight for age Z score(WAZ), weight for length/height Z score(WHZ), and head circumference for age Z score(HCAZ) at 1 and 3 years of age. Results: After adjusting for confounders, GEE analysis revealed that each natural log unit increase in maternal urinary concentrations of vanadium, tin, cerium, lead, and uranium during early pregnancy was associated with an average reduction in HCAZ by 14.29%, 4.82%, 2.62 %, 5.04 %, and 8.33%, respectively, at 1 and 3 years of age (FDR- P <0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that increased urinary vanadium concentration was associated with reduced HAZ at 1 year of age, while increased urinary concentrations of vanadium, chromium, tin, antimony, and uranium were associated with reduced HCAZ at 1 year of age (FDR- P <0.05). In the WQS regression model, each unit increase in the WQS index was associated with a 22.64% reduction in HCAZ at 1 year of age, with tin (22.2%) contributing the highest weight, followed by uranium (16.2%), lead (11.5%), vanadium (10.0%), arsenic (6.5%), and chromium (5.0%). Conclusions Prenatal exposure to specific metals and their mixtures may significantly impact the physical development of offspring at 1 and 3 years of age, particularly head circumference. These findings highlight the need to enhance monitoring of maternal metal exposure during early pregnancy to reduce the potential health risks posed by environmental metal pollution to infants and young children.

Background The positive rate of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among coal mine workers remains high, which seriously affects the quality of life of the workers. Objective To estimate the prevalence of WMSDs among coal miners in Shanxi Province and analyze their influencing factors. Methods From May to December 2023, 2315 coal miners from a coal mine enterprise inShanxi Province were selected by convenience sampling, and the self-administered Basic Situation Survey Scale, Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale were used to evaluate general demographic characteristics, work organization characteristics, living habits, sleep quality, occupational stress, and occurrence of WMSDs symptoms and the corresponding absences (sickness absence) in past 1 year. The positive rate and absenteeism rate of WMSDs were caculated, and Pearson's chi-square test was used for identify influencing factors of WMSDs, and finally a binary logistic regression method was used to further studying the factors. Results A total of 2577 questionnaires were distributed in this survey, and 2315 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 89.9%. The positive rate of WMSDs symptoms was 48.7% (1127/2315), the absenteeism rate due to WMSDs was 22.6% (523/2315), and the waist (17.5%), neck (11.7%), and knee (9.0%) were the most common areas presenting WMSDs symptoms. The results of logistic regression showed that compared with ≤10 years of service, the risk of WMSDs was higher for those with > 20 years of service (OR=2.167, 95%CI: 1.419, 3.311). Compared with the daily working time of ≤8 h, the risk of WMSDs was higher for those >8 h daily working time (OR=1.463, 95%CI: 1.211, 1.767). A higher risk of WMSDs was reported in workers with moderate labor intensity (OR=1.247, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.542) or heavy labor intensity (OR=1.570, 95%CI: 1.215, 2.027) than those with light labor intensity. The higher the education level (OR _{high school and technical secondary school}=1.866, 95%CI: 1.435, 2.425; OR _{junior college/bachelor degree or above}=1.953, 95%CI: 1.445, 2.639), the higher the risk of WMSDs. The risk of WMSDs was higher in workers reporting smoking (OR=1.225, 95%CI: 1.021, 1.470) or alcohol consumption (OR=1.345, 95%CI: 1.122, 1.612). The risk of WMSDs in coal miners with high occupational stress (OR=1.229, 95%CI:1.030, 1.466) or those with sleep disorders (OR=3.616, 95%CI:2.824, 4.629) was higher than that in workers with low occupational stress or no sleep disorders respectively. Conclusion The positive rate of WMSDs among coal mine personnel in Shanxi Province is high, and education level, length of service, daily working hours, smoking, alcohol consumption, labor intensity, sleep disorders, and occupational stress are influencing factors for WMSDs.

Background The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) among Chinese residents has been increasing annually, with occupational populations facing a higher risk of HUA due to shift work or obesity. Objective To investigate the impact of shift work and obesity on HUA among coal miners, and to provide scientific data for the prevention of HUA in this occupational group. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 25619 workers from a coal mining group in 2023 as the study population, using a questionnaire survey and occupational health check-ups. Workers who were retired or on medical leave, as well as those who provided incomplete responses to the questionnaire or did not complete anthropometric measurements or blood tests, were excluded. A total of 23173 participants were included in the study. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between HUA and selected factors such as shift work status, years of shift work, daily shift work hours, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), as well as the interaction between obesity and shift work on HUA. Restricted cubic spline functions were used to analyze the dose-response relationship between years of shift work, daily shift work hours, and HUA. Results The average age of the included workers was (42.38 ± 9.82) years. A total of 6735 workers reported positive HUA, with a positive rate of 29.1%, and the prevalence was higher in men compared to women (31.8% vs. 13.9%). After adjusting for confounding factors, the restricted cubic spline model revealed a nonlinear dose-response relationship between years of shift work, daily shift work duration, and HUA: ① When the years of shift work exceeded 3.25 years, the risk of HUA in workers gradually increased with longer work duration. At 20 years of shift work, the risk increase showed a "saturation effect," meaning that the risk of HUA no longer increased with additional years of shift work. ② When daily shift work duration was below 10 h, the risk of HUA increased with the length of shift work, but after exceeding 10 h, the risk stabilized. After adjusting for confounding factors, the logistic regression model showed that, compared to non-shift workers, shift workers, those with 10-20 years and over 20 years of shift work experience, as well as those working less than 8 h and more than 8 h per day, had a higher risk of HUA, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.14 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.22), 2.42 (95%CI: 2.20, 2.67), 2.23 (95%CI: 2.00, 2.48), 1.41 (95%CI: 1.29, 1.54), and 1.90 (95%CI: 1.75, 2.06), respectively. Additionally, compared to individuals with normal obesity indices, those with overweight and obesity based on BMI, high and very high VAI and excessive WHtR had a higher risk of HUA, with ORs of 2.01 (95%CI: 1.85, 2.17), 3.51 (95%CI: 3.20, 3.84), 1.42 (95%CI: 1.32, 1.54), 2.10 (95%CI: 1.91, 2.30), and 1.82 (95%CI: 1.69, 1.97), respectively. The interaction analysis showed no interaction between shift work and obesity index (both P_s < 0.001). Conclusion Shift work, longer shift work years, and longer daily shift work hours increase the risk of HUA among coal miners. Additionally, the role of obesity in the development of HUA cannot be ignored.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.Methods:In this case-control study, 6 differentially expressed genes were screened through gene expression database analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7C (COX7C), ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex III subunit VII (UQCRQ), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7A2 (COX7A2), translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 7, ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S5, and ribosomal protein L31. Elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at Anhui No. 2 Provincial People′s Hospital from April 2022 to April 2024 were recruited. Based on the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the patients were divided into POCD group ( n=51) and non-POCD (NPOCD) group ( n=53). The expression of differentially expressed genes in the peripheral blood was detected using the fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The 6 differentially expressed genes were subjected to a difference test, and genes with P<0.05 were included in the binary logistic regression analysis to screen for risk factors for POCD. Results:The expression of COX7C, UQCRQ and COX7A2 was significantly down-regulated in POCD group compared with non-POCD group ( P<0.05). The results of logistic regression showed that the low-expression COX7C ( OR=1.926, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.604-5.264, P=0.022), UQCRQ ( OR=3.023, 95% CI 1.966-7.156, P=0.001), and COX7A2 ( OR=1.744, 95% CI 1.479-6.127, P=0.013) in peripheral blood were independent risk factors for the occurrence of POCD in elderly patients. Conclusions:Low-expression COX7C, UQCRQ and COX7A2 are risk factors for POCD in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.

Objective To systematically assess the spatiotemporal distribution,risk factors,and future trends of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)among individuals under 50 years of age globally from 1990 to 2021 based on Global Burden of Disease(GBD)data in order to provide support for the formulation of prevention and control strategies of the disease.Methods The GBD data from 1990 to 2021 were analyzed for the incidence,mortality,disability-adjusted life years(DALYs),and estimated annual percentage change(EAPC)of COPD in<50-year-old individuals across 204 countries and regions.The data were stratified by age,sex,region,country,and sociodemographic index(SDI).The COPD trends until 2035 were predicted.Results In 2021,the global incidence of early-onset COPD was estimated at 2.5 million cases(95%uncertainty interval:2.09～2.96 million),representing a 50.55%increase compared to 1990.Significant regional heterogeneity was observed,with low SDI regions experiencing a 134.08%increase,whereas high SDI regions exhibited a rise-then-fall trend.Risk factor analysis identified environmental and occupational exposures(air pollution,ambient ozone pollution,household air pollution from solid fuels,etc.)and smoking as the primary etiological factors.Notably,household solid fuel exposure accounted for 50.90%of COPD-related deaths in low SDI regions,compared to only 0.03%in high SDI regions.Projections indicated that by 2035,the global burden of early-onset COPD will increase to 2.59 million cases.Conclusion The global disease burden of COPD among people under 50 years increased significantly from 1990 to 2021,with pronounced disparities across regions and socioeconomic levels.COPD deaths in low-SDI regions are strongly associated with solid fuel exposure and particulate matter pollution,and these regions are expected to remain the main drivers of global COPD incidence growth through 2035.

Objective To explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment in non-dialysis patients with chronic kidney disease(CKD).Methods A total of 60 hospitalized non-dialysis patients with CKD in the Department of Nephrology of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from September 2022 to September 2023 were enrolled as research objects.According to the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR),they were divided into stage 1 to 2 of CKD group[eGFR ≥60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 23 cases,the stage 3 of CKD group[eGFR 30～＜60 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 20 cases,and stage 4 to 5 of CKD group[eGFR＜30 mL/(min·1.73 m2)]with 17 cases.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale(MoCA)was used to evaluate the cognitive function of the patients.Basic data and common clinical laboratory in-dicators on hospital admission were collected to analyze the differences in cognitive function levels under different renal function statuses and to explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment.Results The incidence rates of cognitive impairment in the stage 1 to 2 of CKD group,stage 3 of CKD group,and stage 4 to 5 of CKD group were 47.8％,85.0％,and 94.1％respectively,the median MoCA scored 26,24 and 20 respectively,with statistically significant between-group differ-ences(P＜0.05).Cognitive function was significantly negatively correlated with age(r=-0.634,P＜0.001),blood urea nitrogen(BUN)(r=-0.574,P＜0.001),serum creatinine(Cr)(r=-0.417,P＜0.001),cystatin C(Cys-C)(r=-0.327,P=0.011),serum β2-microglobulin(β2-MG)(r=-0.259,P=0.046),and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)(r=-0.474,P＜0.001),and was significantly positively correlated with hemoglobin(HB)(r=0.401,P=0.001)and eGFR(r=0.485,P＜0.001).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age(P=0.006)and NT-proBNP(P=0.041)were influencing factors of cognitive im-pairment in non-dialysis patients with CKD.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity of age for prediction were 0.860,0.864 and 0.812 respectively,the AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of NT-proBNP for pre-diction were 0.808,0.795 and 0.875 respectively,and the combined prediction of age and NT-proBNP had an AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.893,0.955,and 0.750,respectively.Conclusion As renal function deteriorates,the incidence rate and severity of cognitive impairment in non-dialysis patients with CKD tend to increase.Advanced age,renal function deterioration,high NT-proBNP level,and anemia are associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment in non-di-alysis patients with CKD,among which age and NT-proBNP are influencing factors for cognitive im-pairment.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of chronic progressive diseases characterized by inflammation,degenera-tion and apoptosis.Chronic neuroinflammation is gradually becoming a potential pathogenic and predisposing factor.As a widely expressed non-histone nucleoprotein,HMGB1 participates in inflammatory process of human body through receptors of advanced glycation end products and Toll-like receptors while maintaining chromosome homeostasis.As a key factor of neuroinflammation,HMGB1 is widely involved in development of neurodegenerative diseases and may become a biomarker and a potential therapeutic target of neurodegenerative diseases.This article reviews the role of HMGB1 in neurodegenerative diseases and tries to provide ground-work for basic research and clinical application for targeting HMGB1 in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective:To identify the risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.Methods:In this case-control study, 6 differentially expressed genes were screened through gene expression database analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis: cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7C (COX7C), ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase complex III subunit VII (UQCRQ), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 7A2 (COX7A2), translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 7, ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit S5, and ribosomal protein L31. Elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery at Anhui No. 2 Provincial People′s Hospital from April 2022 to April 2024 were recruited. Based on the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the patients were divided into POCD group ( n=51) and non-POCD (NPOCD) group ( n=53). The expression of differentially expressed genes in the peripheral blood was detected using the fluorescent quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The 6 differentially expressed genes were subjected to a difference test, and genes with P<0.05 were included in the binary logistic regression analysis to screen for risk factors for POCD. Results:The expression of COX7C, UQCRQ and COX7A2 was significantly down-regulated in POCD group compared with non-POCD group ( P<0.05). The results of logistic regression showed that the low-expression COX7C ( OR=1.926, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.604-5.264, P=0.022), UQCRQ ( OR=3.023, 95% CI 1.966-7.156, P=0.001), and COX7A2 ( OR=1.744, 95% CI 1.479-6.127, P=0.013) in peripheral blood were independent risk factors for the occurrence of POCD in elderly patients. Conclusions:Low-expression COX7C, UQCRQ and COX7A2 are risk factors for POCD in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of chronic progressive diseases characterized by inflammation,degenera-tion and apoptosis.Chronic neuroinflammation is gradually becoming a potential pathogenic and predisposing factor.As a widely expressed non-histone nucleoprotein,HMGB1 participates in inflammatory process of human body through receptors of advanced glycation end products and Toll-like receptors while maintaining chromosome homeostasis.As a key factor of neuroinflammation,HMGB1 is widely involved in development of neurodegenerative diseases and may become a biomarker and a potential therapeutic target of neurodegenerative diseases.This article reviews the role of HMGB1 in neurodegenerative diseases and tries to provide ground-work for basic research and clinical application for targeting HMGB1 in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.