BACKGROUND: It is inaccurate to reflect the level of dust exposure through working years. Furthermore, identifying a predictive indicator for lung function decline is significant for coal miners. The study aimed to explored whether club cell secretory protein (CC16) levels can reflect early lung function changes. METHODS: The cumulative respiratory dust exposure (CDE) levels of 1,461 coal miners were retrospectively assessed by constructed a job-exposure matrix to replace working years. Important factors affecting lung function and CC16 were selected by establishing random forest models. Subsequently, the potential of CC16 to reflect lung injury was explored from multiple perspectives. First, restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to compare the trends of changes in lung function indicators and plasma CC16 levels after dust exposure. Then mediating analysis was performed to investigate the role of CC16 in the association between dust exposure and lung function decline. Finally, the association between baseline CC16 levels and follow-up lung function was explored. RESULTS: The median CDE were 35.13 mg/m³-years. RCS models revealed a rapid decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), and their percentages of predicted values when CDE exceeded 25 mg/m³-years. The dust exposure level (<5 mg/m³-years) causing significant changes in CC16 was much lower than the level (25 mg/m³-years) that caused changes in lung function indicators. CC16 mediated 11.1% to 26.0% of dust-related lung function decline. Additionally, workers with low baseline CC16 levels experienced greater reductions in lung function in the future. CONCLUSIONS CC16 levels are more sensitive than lung indicators in reflecting early lung function injury and plays mediating role in lung function decline induced by dust exposure. Low baseline CC16 levels predict poor future lung function.
Uteroglobin/blood* ; Humans ; Dust/analysis* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Coal Mining ; Biomarkers/blood* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Female

Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.

Chronic liver injury caused by any etiology will lead to liver fibrosis, and it was believed in the past that liver fibrosis is a static and irreversible pathophysiological process. In recent years, with the rapid development of molecular biology and the in-depth research on the microscopic aspect of the liver, more and more evidence has shown that liver fibrosis is a dynamic and reversible process. This article reviews the reports of different methods for evaluating the reversal of liver fibrosis caused by various etiologies, summarizes the pathogenesis and reversal mechanism of liver fibrosis, reviews the therapeutic drugs for reversal, and summarizes the current evaluation methods for liver fibrosis, and finally, it is believed that timely clearance or control of potential etiology may help to achieve the reversal of liver fibrosis to a certain degree.

Objective:To explore the association of different obesity measurement indexes on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in Chinese adult women.Methods:The data were obtained from baseline and follow-up surveys of the urban Breast Cancer Screening Program in Shuangliu District, Chengdu. A total of 441 adult women were included in the study. A questionnaire survey, physical examination, and laboratory testing were conducted on the subjects. Multivariate logistic regression model, two-level mixed effects logistic regression model, and restricted cubic spline method were used to investigate the linear and nonlinear correlation between different obesity measurement indexes and serum CRP in adult women.Results:For every 1 unit increase in BMI, waist circumference (WC), and adiposity, the risk of elevated serum CRP or exacerbation of chronic low-grade inflammation in adult women increased by 16.5%, 5.0%, and 11.1% ( P<0.05), respectively. Both BMI and adiposity were nonlinear correlated with serum CRP. Using BMI=24.0 kg/m 2 as the reference point, serum CRP level increased with the increase of BMI when BMI >24.0 kg/m 2. Using adiposity=30% as the reference point, serum CRP level increased with the increase of adiposity when adiposity >30%. Conclusions:Overall, obesity reflected by BMI had the strongest association with serum CRP in adult women, followed by body fat content reflected by adiposity, and central obesity reflected by WC had the weakest association with CRP. Adult women with BMI >24.0 kg/m 2 or adiposity >30% are at high risk for obesity-related inflammatory manifestations.

Background Air pollutants PM_2.5 and its adsorbed metal elements are important factors affecting public health. Objective To explore the distribution characteristics and sources of metal elements in atmospheric PM_2.5 in Lanzhou from 2019 to 2020, and to assess the health risks of metal elements to different groups of residents through inhalation. Methods From January 2019 to December 2020 in two districts of Lanzhou City (Chengguan District and Xigu District), regular PM_2.5 and metal elements [antimony (Sb), aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and thallium (Tl)] were regularly monitored, and their concentrations were described by the median (M) and 25^th and 75^th percentiles (P₂₅, P₇₅) as not following a normal distribution (because the detection rates of the five elements Be, Cr, Hg, Ni, and Se were less than 70%, the five elements were not included in subsequent analysis), and then compared with the secondary concentration limits in the Ambient Air Quality Standards (GB 3095-2012). The differences between the medians of the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test, and the differences among the medians of multiple groups were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis H rank sum test; the enrichment factor (EF) method and principal component analysis were used to evaluate the pollution degree of the metals and their sources; the health risks of five non-carcinogenic metals (Sb, Al, Pb, Mn, and Tl) and two carcinogenic metals (As and Cd) in PM_2.5 were evaluated by hazard index (HI) and hazard quotient (HQ) using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (LCR) model and the non-carcinogenic risk assessment model, respectively. Results The PM_2.5 concentrations [M (P₂₅, P₇₅)] in Lanzhou City were 38.50 (26.00, 65.00) and 41.00 (29.00, 63.10) μg·m⁻³ in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (Z=−0.989, P > 0.05). The average levels of the metal elements from high to low were: Al > Pb > Mn > As > Cd > Sb > Tl, and the annual average concentration of each metal element in 2019 was higher than that in 2020 (P<0.05). The M ( P₂₅, P₇₅) of PM_2.5 concentrations in Chengguan and Xigu districts were 52.98 (17.00, 61.00) and 55.40 (17.00, 67.00) μg·m⁻³, respectively, with no statistically significant differences (P<0.05); the concentrations of Sb and Al in Chengguan District were lower than those in Xigu District (P<0.05), and the concentrations of other metal elements were not different between the two areas (P>0.05). There were seasonal differences in the concentrations of PM_2.5 and seven metal elements in Lanzhou City (except P_Al=0.007, the other P_s < 0.001). The results of the enrichment factor method showed that the EF values of the six metals (Sb, Al, As, Cd, Pb and Tl) were all greater than 1. Among them, except As, the EF values of other metal elements were all greater than 10, and the EF values of Al and Cd were both greater than 100. The results of principal component analysis showed that the variance contributions of the three principal components were 45.61%, 24.22%, and 14.42%, and the cumulative contribution reached 84.25%. The principal component 1 included Pb, As, Cd, and Sb, the principal component 2 included Al and Mn, and the principal component 3 contained Tl. The non-carcinogenic risks of the five metals were, in descending order, Al > Mn > Pb > Tl > Sb, among which the HQ values of the remaining four metals were less than 1 for adults and children, except the HQ value of Al for adults, which was greater than 1. The ILC values of carcinogenic metal As for adult males, adult females, and children were 2.68×10⁻⁵, 2.51×10⁻⁵, and 1.45×10⁻⁵, respectively; the ILC values of carcinogenic metal Cd for adult males, adult females, and children were 1.53×10⁻⁶, 1.43×10⁻⁶, and 8.26×10⁻⁷, respectively. Conclusion There is pollution of atmospheric PM_2.5 and its adsorbed metal elements in Lanzhou. As and Cd elements may pose potential carcinogenic risks to the residents.

Background Because of high working intensity, high responsibility, and unexpected situations, health care workers may suffer great work pressure, which may lead to health damage. Objective To explore the self-rated health status and its influencing factors such as demographic and occupational-related factors of medical staff in Lanzhou. Methods In-service medical staff were selected by using cluster random sampling method from 18 public hospitals in Lanzhou City and were investigated with a self-made questionnaire and the Self-rated Health Measurement Scale (SRHMS). SRHMS includes 48 items in 10 dimensions, which are divided into three sub-scales of physical health, mental health, and social health, and another independent dimension is overall health. The scores were converted into a percentage scale and expressed as the percentage of measured score to full score; a higher score indicated better health, and >70% was considered good health status. t test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, and Spearman correlation were used to analyze the scores of SRHMS and the demographic and occupational-related factors affecting the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales. Results A total of 2989 valid questionnaires were recovered. There were statistically significant differences in total score and the scores of physical, mental, and social health among medical staff of different age, educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of total score to full score in the medical staff was 71.41%, but the scores of physical, mental, and social health sub-scales and total scale of selected participants were all lower than the corresponding domestic norms (t=−3.323, −12.283, −7.157, −9.659, P < 0.05); the percentage of psychological symptoms and negative emotions in mental health scale to full score was the lowest, only 58.39%. Educational background, length of service, and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with physical health score (r=−0.061, −0.060, −0.165, P < 0.05); professional title was positively correlated with mental health score (r=0.045, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.051, −0.172, P < 0.05). Monthly income, professional title, and length of service were positively correlated with social health score (r=0.040, 0.049, 0.071, P < 0.05), while educational background and weekly working hours were negatively correlated with it (r=−0.038, −0.110, P < 0.05). Conclusion The self-rated health status of selected medical staff in Lanzhou is generally good, but lower than that of the norm, especially the mental health score is the lowest. The self-rated health score of total scale is correlated with education, length of service, professional title, and working time per week.

Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most widely distributed and harmful organic pollutants in the atmosphere. Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics and composition sources of PAHs in the atmosphere of two districts of Lanzhou from 2019 to 2020 and evaluate the health risks of PAHs via inhalation to different populations. Methods The PAHs concentrations in two urban areas (Chengguan District and Xigu District) of Lanzhou City from January 2019 to December 2020 were regularly monitored. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences in target pollutant concentrations between the two areas. Diagnostic ratio method and principal component analysis were adopted for source identification. Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model was applied to evaluate the health risks of PAHs. Results The M (P₂₅, P₇₅) PAHs concentrations in Chengguan District and Xigu District were 24.04 (14.59, 41.81) ng·m⁻³ and 25.97 (18.59, 42.56) ng·m⁻³, respectively, with no significant difference (Z=−0.970, P>0.05). As to seasonal distribution, most PAHs monomer concentrations in Chengguan District were higher than those in Xigu District in summer, and the concentrations of benzo[a]anthracene and benzo[g,h,i]perylene in Chengguan District were also higher than those in Xigu District in spring and autumn (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in PAHs monomer concentrations between the two urban areas in winter (P>0.05). Ring number of PAHs exhibited seasonal fluctuations. In winter and spring, the highest proportions in Chengguan District and Xigu District were both 4-ring PAHs (37.32%-41.73%, 35.20%-39.66%), and in summer and autumn, the highest proportions were both 2- and 3-ring PAHs (39.38%-49.54%, 47.17%-51.23%). The results of diagnostic ratio method revealed mixed atmospheric PAHs sources in the two urban areas, including fossil fuel, coal, and biomass combustion. The results of principal component analysis showed that the cumulative contribution rate of the four principal component factors reached 79.54%. Principal component 1 included phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene; principal component 2 included acenaphthene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene; principal component 3 was fluorene; principal component 4 was naphthalene. The results of health risk assessment showed that the ILCR values of adult males, adult females, and children in Chengguan District were 2.30×10⁻⁶, 2.16×10⁻⁶, and 1.73×10⁻⁶, respectively; and those in Xigu District were 1.58×10⁻⁶, 1.48×10⁻⁶, and 1.19×10⁻⁶, respectively; all were greater than 10⁻⁶. Conclusion PAHs pollution exists in the atmosphere of the two urban areas of Lanzhou City, mainly comes from mixed sources of fossil fuels, coal, and biomass burning, and may pose potential carcinogenic risks to the population.

Objective:To explore the application effect of "sandwich" teaching in the standardized residency training of blood purification center.Methods:A total of 72 residents who participated the standardized residency training of blood purification center of The Third Hospital of Mianyang from July 2019 to November 2019 and December 2019 to April 2020 were selected to be divided into control group and research group in average. The control group used traditional teaching and the research group took "sandwich" teaching, respectively. The two groups of subject assessment results and post competency before and after the teaching were compared. SPSS 23.0 software was used for t test and chi square test. Results:The research group's academic knowledge test scores and practical operation skills test scores were (91.64±5.38) points and (86.81±5.30) points respectively, and those in the control group were (84.25±5.26) points and (78.28±5.07) points respectively, and the scores in the study group were higher than those in the control group ( P<0.05). After teaching, the assessment scores of personal quality, professional knowledge, professional skills, professional ability and self-concept of the research group were (18.61±2.38) points, (18.28±2.29) points, (17.56±2.20) points, (18.81±2.41) points and (17.75±2.34) points respectively, and those in the control group were (16.42±2.19) points, (15.81±2.37) points, (15.06±2.41) points, (16.31±2.35) points and (15.31±2.28) points respectively. All above scores of the two groups after teaching were higher than those before teaching ( P<0.05), and those of the research group after teaching were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:"Sandwich" teaching can improve the examination results and post competency of the residents during the standardized residency training of the blood purification center.

Frailty syndrome, caused by degenerative changes in the body and the body vulnerability due to a variety of chronic diseases, is associated with adverse outcomes, such as fall, disability and mortality. With the development of antiretroviral therapy, the average life span of HIV/AIDS patients is extended, the number of elderly living with HIV/AIDS has increased, resulting the increase of the incidence of frailty syndrome in this population. The incidence of frailty syndrome in the elderly is associated with HIV infection and adverse reaction of antiretroviral therapy. Early assessment and intervention of frailty syndrome in elderly HIV/AIDS patients can reduce adverse clinical events and improve the quality of life.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic surgery in treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis.Methods The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted.The clinical data of 40 patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis who underwent 3D laparoscopic surgery in the Qinghai Province People's Hospital from March 2016 to July 2017 were collected.All the 40 patients were treated using 100 mg hydrocortisone on preventing intraoperative anaphylaxis.The experienced surgeons with proficiency in the laparoscopic technology in the same team finished surgery.Patients underwent respectively 3D laparoscopic excision of internal capsule in hepatic echinococcosis + residual cavity treatment,external capsule resection in hepatic echinococcosis and partial hepatectomy based on their conditions.Observation indicators:(1) intraoperative situations:operation completion,surgical procedures,operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion;(2) postoperative recovery situations:time to initial anal exsufflation,time for initial fluid diet intake,time for out-of-bed activity,time of indwelling drainage-tube,wound healing,postoperative complications and duration of postoperative hospital stay;(3) follow-up:number of patients with follow-up,follow-up time,oral anti-echinococcosis medical therapy during follow-up,hepatic echinococcosis recurrence and abdominal cavity implantation metastasis.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the abdominal symptoms,oral anti-echinococcosis medicine,hepatic echinococcosis recurrence and metastasis up to September 2017.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)± s.Measurement data with skewed distribution were described as M (range).Results (1) Intraoperative situations:all the 40 patients underwent successful laparoscopic surgery,including 17 undergoing excision of internal capsule in hepatic echinococcosis + residual cavity treatment,15 undergoing external capsule resection in hepatic echinococcosis and 8 undergoing partial hepatectomy.Two patients were combined with abdominal and pelvic hydatids and underwent 3D laparoscopic excision.Operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss of 40 patients were respectively (100 ± 28) minutes and (86± 24) mL,without intraoperative blood transfusion.(2) Postoperative recovery situations:time to initial anal exsufflation and time for initial fluid diet intake in 40 patients were (2.4± 1.8)hours and (1.7±0.9)days.Forty patients had out-of-bed activity on the day of surgery.Of 40 patients,abdominal drainage-tubes of 39 were placed for 2-3 days;abdominal drainage-tube of 1 with postoperative residual cavity-induced bile leakage was indwelled for 2 months and then was removed.Wound healing and duration of postoperative hospital stay in 40 patients were Class-A healing and (10.5 ± 2.1) days.During hospitalization,39 patients didn't have bleeding,bile leakage,anaphylactic shock,intestinal adhesion and obstruction;1 patient with postoperative residual cavity-induced bile leakage had indwelling drainage-tube removal at 2 months postoperatively.(3) Follow-up:all patients were followed up for 2-15 months,with a median time of 9 months.During the follow-up,40 patients were not complicated with discomforts and received oral antiechinococcosis medical therapy,without hepatic echinococcosis recurrence and abdominal cavity implantation metastasis.Conclusion The 3D laparoscopic surgery is safe and feasible in the treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis,and has an obvious advantage in the treatment of irregular hepatic cystic echinococcosis,with good short-term outcomes.