Environmental damage affects many aspects of healthcare, from extreme weather events to evolving population disease. Singapore's healthcare sector has the world's second highest healthcare emissions per capita, hampering the nation's pledge to reduce emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In this review, we provide an overview of the impact environmental damage has on healthcare, including facilities, supply chain and human health, and examine measures to address healthcare's impact on the environment. Utilising the 'R's of sustainability - rethinking, reducing/refusing, reusing/repurposing/reprocessing, repairing, recycling and research - we have summarised the opportunities and challenges across medical disciplines. Awareness and advocacy to adopt strategies at institutional and individual levels is needed to revolutionise our environmental footprint and improve healthcare sustainability. By leveraging evidence from ongoing trials and integrating sustainable practices, our healthcare system can remain resilient against environment-driven challenges and evolving healthcare demands while minimising further impacts of environmental destruction.
Humans ; Climate Change ; Delivery of Health Care ; Singapore ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Sustainable Development ; Environment

OBJECTIVE: By analyzing the hormone secretion of the adenohypophysis, thyroid glands, gonads, and adrenal cortex in patients with hematological diseases before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), this study aims to preliminarily explore the effect of HSCT on patients' hormone secretion and glandular damage. METHODS: The baseline data of 209 hematological disease patients who underwent HSCT in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2023, as well as the data on the levels of hormones secreted by the adenohypophysis, thyroid glands, gonads and adrenal cortex before and after HSCT were collected, and the changes in hormone levels before and after transplantation were analyzed. RESULTS: After allogeneic HSCT, the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and estradiol (E2) decreased, while the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) increased. The T3 level of patients with decreased TSH after transplantation was lower than that of those with increased TSH after transplantation. In female patients, the levels of prolactin (PRL), progesterone (Prog), and testosterone (Testo) decreased after HSCT. Testo and PRL decreased when there was a donor-recipient sex mismatch, and the levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol (COR) decreased when the HLA matching was haploidentical. The levels of T3, FT3, and PRL decreased after autologous HSCT. In allogeneic HSCT patients, the levels of TSH, T4, T3, FT3, and ACTH in the group with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were significantly lower than those in the group without GVHD. Logistic regression analysis showed the changes in hormone levels after transplantation were not correlated with factors such as the patient's sex, age, or whether the blood types of the donor and the recipient are the same. CONCLUSION HSCT can affect the endocrine function of patients with hematological diseases, mainly affecting target glandular organs such as the thyroid, gonads, and adrenal glands, while the secretory function of the adenohypophysis is less affected.
Humans ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Male ; Hematologic Diseases/blood* ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone/blood* ; Triiodothyronine/blood* ; Luteinizing Hormone/blood* ; Thyroid Gland/metabolism* ; Estradiol/blood* ; Thyrotropin/blood* ; Gonads/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/blood* ; Hormones/metabolism* ; Adrenal Cortex/metabolism* ; Prolactin

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on podocyte injury of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and reveal its potential mechanism. METHODS: In in vitro experiment, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, normal, high glucose (HG), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1) α activator (HG+thapsigargin 1 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups. Additionally, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, including normal, HG, AS-IV (HG+AS-IV 20 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups, respectively. After 24 h treatment, the morphology of podocytes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was observed by electron microscopy. The expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and IRE-1α were detected by cellular immunofluorescence. In in vivo experiment, DN rat model was established via a consecutive 3-day intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injections. A total of 40 rats were assigned into the normal, DN, AS-IV [AS-IV 40 mg/(kg·d)], and IRE-1α inhibitor [STF-083010, 10 mg/(kg·d)] groups (n=10), respectively. The general condition, 24-h urine volume, random blood glucose, urinary protein excretion rate (UAER), urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels of rats were measured after 8 weeks of intervention. Pathological changes in the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, nuclear factor kappa Bp65 (NF-κBp65), interleukin (IL)-1β, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, gasdermin D-N (GSDMD-N), and nephrin at the mRNA and protein levels in vivo and in vitro, respectively. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic vacuolation and ER swelling were observed in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups. Podocyte morphology and ER expansion were improved in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups compared with HG group. Cellular immunofluorescence showed that compared with the normal group, the fluorescence intensity of GRP78 and IRE-1α in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups were significantly increased whereas decreased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N in the HG group was increased (P<0.05). Compared with HG group, the expression of above indices was decreased in the AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups, and the expression in the IRE-1α activator group was increased (P<0.05). The expression of nephrin was decreased in the HG group, and increased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). The in vivo experiment results revealed that compared to the normal group, the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, BUN, blood creatinine and urinary protein in the DN group were higher (P<0.05). Compared with DN group, the above indices in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were decreased (P<0.05). HE staining revealed glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial widening and mesangial cell proliferation in the renal tissue of the DN group. Compared with the DN group, the above pathological changes in renal tissue of AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were alleviated. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were consistent with immunofluorescence analysis. CONCLUSION AS-IV could reduce ERS and inflammation, improve podocyte pyroptosis, thus exerting a podocyte-protective effect in DN, through regulating IRE-1α/NF-κ B/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
Podocytes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; Saponins/therapeutic use* ; Triterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Endoribonucleases/metabolism* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Rats ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/complications* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Multienzyme Complexes

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or metal(loid)s individually has been associated with neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the impacts of PAH and metal(loid) co-exposure and potential interaction effects on NTD risk remain unclear. We conducted a case-control study in China among population with a high prevalence of NTDs to investigate the combined effects of PAH and metal(loid) exposures on the risk of NTD. METHODS: Cases included 80 women who gave birth to offspring with NTDs, whereas controls were 50 women who delivered infants with no congenital malformations. We analyzed the levels of placental PAHs using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, PAH-DNA adducts with ³²P-post-labeling method, and metal(loid)s with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Unconditional logistic regression was employed to estimate the associations between individual exposures and NTDs. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized regression models were used to select a subset of exposures, while additive interaction models were used to identify interaction effects. RESULTS: In the single-exposure models, we found that eight PAHs, PAH-DNA adducts, and 28 metal(loid)s were associated with NTDs. Pyrene, selenium, molybdenum, cadmium, uranium, and rubidium were selected through LASSO regression and were statistically associated with NTDs in the multiple-exposure models. Women with high levels of pyrene and molybdenum or pyrene and selenium exhibited significantly increased risk of having offspring with NTDs, indicating that these combinations may have synergistic effects on the risk of NTDs. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that individual PAHs and metal(loid)s, as well as their interactions, may be associated with the risk of NTDs, which warrants further investigation.
Humans ; Neural Tube Defects/chemically induced* ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/adverse effects* ; Female ; Case-Control Studies ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Pregnancy ; Environmental Pollutants ; Maternal Exposure/adverse effects* ; Metals/toxicity* ; Young Adult ; Risk Factors

To investigate the impact and underlying mechanism of NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 2 (NSUN2) on gastric cancer progression, TCGA database was used and revealed a significant upregulation of NSUN2 expression in gastric cancer tissues. Western blot analysis revealed that NSUN2 was upregulated in gastric cancer cells compared with gastric mucosal epithelial cells. Colony formation assays demonstrated an enhanced colony-forming capacity in NSUN2-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, Transwell assays showed a marked increase in cell migration and invasion upon high NSUN2 expression. Moreover, TCGA database analysis suggested ARMC9 as a potential downstream target of NSUN2. Subsequently, MeRIP-qPCR analysis revealed that NSUN2 overexpression could increase m5C modification of ARMC9 mRNA, and reduce its degradation rate, thus enhancing protein expression. Additionally, ARMC9 overexpression augmented cellular colony formation and migratory and invasive capabilities. These findings indicate that NSUN2 promotes gastric cancer progression by elevating m5C modification of ARMC9 mRNA, increasing its stability and enhancing its expression, therefore, NSUN2 and ARMC9 may serve as potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between homocysteine (Hcy), ferritin and gestational anemia in advanced age pregnant women, and the effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes.Methods:The clinical data of 344 advanced age pregnant women in Handan City Maternal and Child Health Hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The adverse pregnancy outcomes were followed up and recorded. The pregnant women were divided into anemia group (114 cases) and control group (230 cases) according to the diagnostic criteria for anemia. The levels of Hcy and ferritin, etc. were compared between two groups, different degrees of anemia and different pregnancy outcomes. Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between Hcy, ferritin and hemoglobin. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia.Results:The Hcy in anemia group was significantly higher than that in control group: (31.39 ± 3.34) mol/L vs. (9.28 ± 1.44) mol/L, the ferritin was significantly lower than that in control group: (69.81 ± 5.08) μg/L vs. (96.43 ± 7.52) μg/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). Among 114 advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia, 64 cases were mild anemia (mild anemia group), 35 cases were moderate anemia (moderate anemia group), and 15 cases were severe anemia (severe anemia group). The levels of Hcy in the control group, mild anemia group, moderate anemia group and severe anemia group were gradually increased: (9.28 ± 1.44), (24.79 ± 3.25), (37.63 ± 5.51) and (45.01 ± 7.23) mol/L, the levels of ferritin were gradually decreased: (96.43 ± 7.52), (81.19 ± 5.14), (64.82 ± 4.47) and (32.96 ± 2.01) μg/L, and the difference between pairwise comparisons were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis result showed that Hcy was negatively correlated with hemoglobin ( r = - 0.596, P<0.01), and ferritin was positively correlated with hemoglobin ( r = 0.685, P<0.01). Among 114 advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia, 35 cases had adverse pregnancy outcomes, and 79 cases had normal pregnancy outcomes. The age, gestational reproductive tract infection rate and Hcy in advanced age pregnant women with adverse pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher than those in advanced age pregnant women with normal pregnancy outcomes: (41.17 ± 3.74) years old vs. (38.25 ± 4.28) years old, 28.57% (10/35) vs. 10.13% (8/79) and (49.56 ± 4.12) mol/L vs. (23.34 ± 2.63) mol/L, the ferritin was significantly lower than that in advanced age pregnant women with normal pregnancy outcomes: (38.36 ± 3.08) μg/L vs. (83.74 ± 6.25) μg/L, and the degree of gestational anemia was more serious than that in advanced age pregnant women with normal pregnancy outcomes, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that age, gestational reproductive tract infection, Hcy, ferritin and the degree of gestational anemia were the independent risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia ( OR = 1.570, 1.758, 1.865, 1.556 and 1.652; 95% CI 1.154 to 2.136, 1.181 to 2.617, 1.223 to 2.842, 1.100 to 2.201 and 1.175 to 2.323; P<0.01). Conclusions:The level of Hcy in advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia is relatively higher, and the level of ferritin is relatively lower. The ferritin and Hcy levels are risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in advanced age pregnant women with gestational anemia, and may be involved in the occurrence and development of gestational anemia in advanced age pregnant women.

Further evidence is needed to explore the impact of high-altitude environments on the neurologic function of neonates.Non-invasive techniques such as cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography can provide data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity.This study will conduct multiple cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy and amplitude-integrated electroencephalography monitoring sessions at various time points within the first 3 days postpartum for healthy full-term neonates at different altitudes.The obtained data on cerebral oxygenation and brain electrical activity will be compared between different altitudes,and corresponding reference ranges will be established.The study involves 6 participating centers in the Chinese High Altitude Neonatal Medicine Alliance,with altitude gradients divided into 4 categories:800 m,1 900 m,2 400 m,and 3 500 m,with an anticipated sample size of 170 neonates per altitude gradient.This multicenter prospective cohort study aims to provide evidence supporting the impact of high-altitude environments on early brain function and metabolism in neonates.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(4):403-409]

Objective Data mining technology was used to mine the medication rules of the prescriptions used in the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis by Chinese medical master XUAN Guo-Wei.Methods The medical records of effective cases of pediatric atopic dermatitis treated by Professor XUAN Guo-Wei at outpatient clinic were collected,and then the medical data were statistically analyzed using frequency statistics,association rule analysis and cluster analysis.Results A total of 242 prescriptions were included,involving 101 Chinese medicinals.There were 23 commonly-used herbs,and the 16 high-frequency herbs(frequency＞100 times)were Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Saposhnikoviae Radix,Glehniae Radix,Perillae Folium,Ophiopogonis Radix,Cynanchi Paniculati Radix et Rhizoma,Microctis Folium,Dictamni Cortex,Scrophulariae Radix,Coicis Semen,Cicadae Periostracum,Lilii Bulbus,Rehmanniae Radix,Kochiae Fructus,Sclerotium Poriae Pararadicis,and Euryales Semen.The analysis of the medicinal properties showed that most of the herbs were sweet and cold,and mainly had the meridian tropism of the spleen,stomach and liver meridians.The association rule analysis yielded 24 commonly-used drug combinations and 20 association rules.Cluster analysis yielded 2 core drug combinations.Conclusion For the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis,Professor XUAN Guo-Wei focuses on the clearing,supplementing and harmonizing therapies,and the medication principle of"supporting the healthy-qi to eliminate the pathogen,and balancing the yin and yang"is applied throughout the treatment.

Objective To deeply explore the principles of drug combinations in the treatment of vitiligo by traditional Chinese medicine master XUAN Guo-Wei by data mining technology,and to analyze the potential mechanism of action of the core drug pairs by network pharmacology.Methods The original case records of Professor XUAN Guo-Wei in treating vitiligo were compiled,and then TCM inheritance Computing Platform was used to analyze the frequency of drugs in the prescriptions,the association rules between drugs,and the core combinations of drugs by the association rule method,and the core drug pairs of Professor XUAN Guo-Wei's treatment of vitiligo were obtained based on the results of the data mining,additionally,the mechanism of the core pairs of drugs was analyzed by using the method of network pharmacology.Results A total of 243 prescriptions were collected,among which the high-frequency drugs were Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Tribuli Fructus,Ecliptae Herba,Cuscutae Semen,Scrophulariae Radix,Angelicae Dahuricae Radix,etc.,and the core pair was Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba.The main components of Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba for the treatment of vitiligo were quercetin,kaempferol,etc.,there were 47 targets for the intersection of the active ingredients with the disease,among which TP53,TNF,IL-1β,CASP3,VEGFA,PTGS2,IL10,IL2,IFNG,and IL4 may be the core targets for the treatment of vitiligo by Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba.The main pathways of Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba drug pairs against the disease were PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,JAK-STAT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway.Conclusion The core drug pair of Professor XUAN Guo-Wei in the treatment of vitiligo is Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba,which involves targets such as TP53,TNF,IL-1β,CASP3,VEGFA,PTGS2,IL10,IL2,IFNG,IL4,etc.,Tribuli Fructus-Ecliptae Herba drug pair maybe exert an effect in the treatment of vitiligo through PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,NF-κB signaling pathway,JAK-STAT signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the attributable risk(AR)of Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)infection in criti-cally ill patients.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients in inten-sive care unit(ICU).Patients with AB isolated from sterile body fluid and confirmed with AB infection in each cen-ter were selected as the infected group.According to the matching criteria that patients should be from the same pe-riod,in the same ICU,as well as with similar APACHE Ⅱ score(±5 points)and primary diagnosis,patients who did not infect with AB were selected as the non-infected group in a 1:2 ratio.The AR was calculated.Results The in-hospital mortality of patients with AB infection in sterile body fluid was 33.3％,and that of non-infected group was 23.1％,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.069).The AR was 10.2％(95％CI:-2.3％-22.8％).There is no statistically significant difference in mortality between non-infected pa-tients and infected patients from whose blood,cerebrospinal fluid and other specimen sources AB were isolated(P＞0.05).After infected with AB,critically ill patients with the major diagnosis of pulmonary infection had the high-est AR.There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients in the infected and non-infec-ted groups(P＞0.05),or between other diagnostic classifications.Conclusion The prognosis of AB infection in critically ill patients is highly overestimated,but active healthcare-associated infection control for AB in the ICU should still be carried out.