Background Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the role of amino acids in PAH-induced MS remains unclear. Objective To explore the impact of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS among coking workers, and to determine potential modifying effect of amino acid on this relationship. Methods Unmatched nested case-control design was adopted and the baseline surveys of coking workers were conducted in two plants in Taiyuan in 2017 and 2019, followed by a 4-year follow-up. The cohort comprised 667 coking workers. A total of 362 participants were included in the study, with 84 newly diagnosed cases of MS identified as the case group and 278 as the control group. Urinary levels of 11 PAH metabolites and plasma levels of 17 amino acids were measured by ultrasensitive performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between individual PAH metabolites and MS. Stratified by the median concentration of amino acids, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was employed to assess the mixed effects of PAHs on MS. Due to the skewed data distribution, all PAH metabolites and amino acids in the analysis were converted by natural logarithm ln (expressed as lnv). Results The median age of the 362 participants was 37 years, and 83.2% were male. Compared to the control group, the case group exhibited higher concentrations of urinary 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPhe), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OHPhe), and hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPhe) (P=0.005, P=0.049, and P=0.004, respectively), as well as elevated levels of plasma branched chain amino acid (BCAA) and aromatic amino acid (AAA) (P<0.05). After being adjusted for confounding factors, for every unit increase in lnv_2-OHPhe in urine, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.57 (1.11, 2.26), and for every unit increase in lnv_OHPhe, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.82 (1.16, 2.90). Tyrosine, leucine, and AAA all presented a significant nonlinear correlation with MS. At low levels, tyrosine, leucine, and AAA did not significantly increase the risk of MS, but at high levels, they increased the risk of MS. In the low amino acid concentration group, as well as in the low BCAA and low AAA concentration groups, it was found that compared to the PAH metabolite levels at the 50th percentile (P₅₀), the log-odds of MS when the PAH metabolite levels was at the 75th percentile (P₇₅) were 0.158 (95%CI: 0.150, 0.166), 0.218 (95%CI: 0.209, 0.227), and 0.262 (95% CI: 0.241, 0.282), respectively, However, no correlation between PAHs and MS was found in the high amino acid concentration group. Conclusion Amino acids modify the effect of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS. In individuals with low plasma amino acid levels, the risk of developing MS increases with higher concentrations of mixed PAH exposure. This effect is partly due to the low concentrations of BCAA and AAA.

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

To effectively exploit the tumor microenvironment (TME), TME-responsive nanocarriers based on cascade reactions have received much attention. In this study, we designed a novel nanoparticle PB@SiO₂@MnO₂@P-Arg (PMP) to construct a cascade reaction nanoplatform. While using biosafety Prussian blue (PB) for photothermal therapy (PTT), this nanoplatform uses silica (SiO₂) as an intermediate layer to assemble Prussian blue and manganese dioxide (MnO₂) into a core-shell structure, which effectively enhances the response of the nanoplatform to TME and promotes the effect of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) resulting from glutathione (GSH) depletion and Fenton-like reaction. The released Mn²⁺ can also be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Through the cascade reaction, poly-l-arginine (P-Arg) coated on the surface of the nanoparticles can react with hydroxyl radical (•OH) obtained from the Fenton-like reaction to release nitric oxide (NO), which further reacts with O₂•^- to produce the more toxic peroxynitrite anion (ONOO^-). The photothermal effect of PB further enhances the effect of the cascade reaction while reducing the amount of heat required for treatment. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the antitumor effects of cascade reaction-based nanoplatforms in combined photothermal/chemodynamic/gas cancer therapies, providing new strategies for the design and fabrication of multifunctional nanoplatforms that integrate diagnostic and therapeutic functions, as well as the application of cascade reactions in multimodal synergistic therapy.

Objective:To establish an evaluation model for occupational hazard prevention and control levels in coal mines, to explore the combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, to evaluate the overall situation of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines.Methods:In November 2021, Collect information of occupational hazards and their prevention and control status in 30 coal mines. AHP model was first constructed for the elements of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines. Then, the AHP and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was applied to comprehensively evaluate and grade the occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines, using the principles of maximum membership and weighted average.Results:The hierarchical fuzzy comprehensive evaluation results for typical coal mine were basically consistent with its occupational hazard prevention and control situation. The dust prevention and control situation was good, the noise prevention and control situation is average, the occupational health monitoring situation was good, the occupational health management situation was average, and the overall level of occupational hazard prevention and control was good.Conclusion:The hierarchical fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for occupational hazard prevention and control levels, combined with the principles of maximum membership and weighted average, can objectively evaluate and reflect the overall situation of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines.

Objective:To establish an evaluation model for occupational hazard prevention and control levels in coal mines, to explore the combination of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, to evaluate the overall situation of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines.Methods:In November 2021, Collect information of occupational hazards and their prevention and control status in 30 coal mines. AHP model was first constructed for the elements of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines. Then, the AHP and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was applied to comprehensively evaluate and grade the occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines, using the principles of maximum membership and weighted average.Results:The hierarchical fuzzy comprehensive evaluation results for typical coal mine were basically consistent with its occupational hazard prevention and control situation. The dust prevention and control situation was good, the noise prevention and control situation is average, the occupational health monitoring situation was good, the occupational health management situation was average, and the overall level of occupational hazard prevention and control was good.Conclusion:The hierarchical fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model for occupational hazard prevention and control levels, combined with the principles of maximum membership and weighted average, can objectively evaluate and reflect the overall situation of occupational hazard prevention and control in coal mines.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound elastography combined with serum microRNA-26b-5p(miR-26b-5p)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)detection for early hysteromyoma.Methods:A total of 228 patients with suspected early hysteromyoma who were diagnosed in the 90th Hospital of the Joint Service Support Center from October 2020 to September 2022 were selected as the observation objects.Based on the results of pathological section examination as the"gold standard",all subjects were divided into a positive group(124 cases)and a negative group(104 cases),and ultrasound elasticity imaging examination was performed in both groups.The expression level of miR-26b-5p in serum was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Rt-PCR),and the level of serum COX-2 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the diagnostic values of serum miR-26b-5p and COX-2 for hysteromyoma.The four tables were applied to analyze the diagnostic values of ultrasound elastography and the combination of ultrasound elastography,serum miR-26b-5p and COX-2 for hysteromyoma.Results:The results of pathological examination indicated that 124 cases of 228 patients were positive result of hysteromyoma and 104 cases were negative result.The results of ultrasound elastography showed that 117 cases were positive,and 111 cases were negative,and the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of ultrasound elastography detection were respectively 74.19%,75.96%and 75.00%.Serum miR-26b-5p level of positive group was significantly lower than that of negative group,while the COX-2 level of positive group was significantly higher than that of negative group,and the differences of them between the two groups were statistically significant(t=4.519,5.601,P<0.05),respectively.The area under curve(AUC)value of ROC curve,sensitivity,specificity and the best cut-off value of serum miR-26b-5p were respectively 0.749,95.97%,46.15%and 1.10 in diagnosing hysteromyoma.The above indicators of serum COX-2 were respectively 0.835,66.13%,84.62%and 40.58 mg/L in diagnosing hysteromyoma.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of ultrasound elastography combined with serum miR-26b-5p and COX-2 were respectively 93.55%,86.54%and 90.35%,the differences were statistically significant(x2=23.158,17.169,P<0.05),respectively.Conclusion:Ultrasound elastography combined with serum miR-26b-5p and COX-2 has higher effectiveness in diagnosing the early hysteromyoma.

Objective To investigate the effect of visceral fat area (VFA) on perioperative related indi-cators and short-term prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Methods Clinical data of 102 pa-tients who underwent laparoscopic radical surgery for CRC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College from September 2020 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent preopera-tive abdominal CT examination,and the transverse CT images at the level of the third lumbar vertebra (L3) were selected.VFA was measured using Slice-O-Matic software,and patients were divided into the high VFA group (VFA≥100 cm2) and the low VFA group (VFA<100 cm2) based on the measurement results.Clinical data,patho-logical data,surgical data,postoperative complications,and perioperative coagulation and inflammation indicators were collected.Results Compared with the low VFA group,the high VFA group had higher BMI,longer hospital stay,greater intraoperative blood loss,and fewer lymph node dissections (P<0.05).The WBC and PCT lev-els before and after surgery in the high VFA group were higher than those in the low VFA group (P<0.05). Compared with preoperative levels,WBC,C-reactive protein (CRP),PCT,plasma prothrombin time (PT), plasma fibrinogen (FIB),and international standardized ratio (INR) increased and PLT decreased in both groups after surgery,the differences were statistically significance (P<0.05);Compared with preoperative conditions,the activated partial prothrombin time (APTT) in the high VFA group and the thrombin time (TT) decreased in the low VFA group decreased after surgery,the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The total incidence of postoperative complications (21.2％) and the incidence of incision compli-cations (15.4％) in the high VFA group were higher than that in the low VFA group (4.0％,2.0％),the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Colorectal cancer patients with high VFA during the perioperative period exhibit higher levels of inflammation indicators and poorer prognosis.

Objective: To understand characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) who applied for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" column of a WeChat official account named "Dark Blue Public Health Center" in Tianjin City, so as to provide insights into exploring online modes of HIV antibody self-testing for MSM. Methods: Data of MSM who were 18 years old or above, currently lived in Tianjin City, had sex with men in the past six months and applied for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" column from May 2018 to December 2022 were collected. Demographic characteristics, results return and positive findings were descriptively analyzed. Results: Data of 2 064 MSM were collected, including 1 052 MSM aged 20 to 29 years (50.97%), 1 522 unmarried MSM (73.74%), 545 workers (26.41%), 1 385 MSM with college education or above (67.10%), and 315 MSM without testing for HIV antibody in the past (15.26%). A total of 6 470 self-testing reagents were applied, and 5 942 testing results were returned, with a return rate of 91.84%. There were 33.28% (687/2 064) of the applicants applying for 66.32% (4 291/6 470) reagents multiple times. There were 73 MSM with positive results, accounting for 1.23%. Conclusions The MSM applying for HIV antibody self-testing reagents through "AIDS self-testing" are mainly young and highly educated, including some who have never tested for HIV. However, attention should be paid to duplicate applications and the return rate should be increased.

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.

Zhigancao Tang （also known as Fumaitang） is a classic formula for treating "intermittent pulse and palpitations" and is widely used in clinical practice. Sanjia Fumaitang， included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Formulas （First Batch） published by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China in 2018， is derived from this formula. This paper employed bibliometric methods to comprehensively investigate and summarize the historical evolution， drug composition， herb origins and preparation， prescription meanings， and ancient and modern applications of Zhigancao Tang， analyzed the composition and usage of Zhigancao Tang， and discussed the reasons and applications of the "Fumaitang" variants created by Wu Jutong. A total of 47 valid pieces of data from 38 ancient texts were included. Results showe that Zhigancao Tang originates from the Treatise on Cold Damage （Shang Han Lun）， and the name "Fumaitang" is also recorded in the formula's description. Converted to modern measurements from the Han dynasty system， the recommended preparation for Zhigancao Tang includes 55.2 g of fried Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 41.4 g of Cinnamomi Ramulus， 27.6 g of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma， 220 g of fresh Rehmannia glutinosa， 27.6 g of Asini Corii Colla， 53 g of Ophiopogonis Radix， 45 g of Cannabis Fructus， and 90 g of Jujubae Fructus. All herbs should be decocted with 1 400 mL of yellow rice wine and 1 600 mL of water until 600 mL. Once the Asini Corii Colla is fully dissolved， the decoction should be taken warm at a dosage of 200 mL， three times a day. Zhigancao Tang is effective for replenishing Qi， warming Yang， nourishing Yin， and nourishing blood and is primarily used to treat “intermittent pulse and palpitations” caused by deficiencies in heart Yin and Yang， as well as malnutrition of the heart meridian and conditions like lung atrophy. Modern applications mainly focus on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases， including arrhythmias， coronary heart disease， and premature ventricular contractions. The findings from this research provide a reference for the further development of Zhigancao Tang.