Objective:To investigate the current situation and changing trends of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis (coal-burning-borne fluorosis) areas in Henan Province, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.Methods:From 2019 to 2021, monitoring was carried out in all villages affected by coal-burning-borne fluorosis in Henan Province. A simple random sampling method was used to select 30 households in each affected village each year to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of related healthy living behaviors. According to the criteria of "Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis" (WS/T 208-2011), all children aged 8 to 12 in the affected villages were examined for dental fluorosis. The evaluation for control and elimination of the disease areas was carried out in accordance with the "Evaluation Approach for Control and Elimination of Priority Endemic Diseases (2019 Edition)".Results:From 2019 to 2021, a total of 7 472 households were monitored, the rate of qualified improved stoves were all ≥99.80%, the correct use rate of qualified improved stoves and correct drying of corn and pepper were reached 100%. From 2019 to 2021, the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children was 5.38% (237/4 405), 5.18% (232/4 477), and 3.68% (145/3 937), respectively, showing a declining trend (χ 2trend = 12.73, P < 0.001). The prevalence of dental fluorosis among children in affected villages was less than 15%. From 2019 to 2021, all affected villages in coal-burning-borne fluorosis in Henan Province had met the elimination criteria. Conclusion:Coal-burning-borne fluorosis areas in Henan Province have been continuously eliminated, with significant prevention and control effects, and the disease has been effectively controlled.

Objective:To develop a method of employing flow cytometry to directly detect the γ-H2AX expression levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice through fixation and lysis and to evaluate the feasibility of applying this method to research on the radiation-related biological effects and the efficacy evaluation of radioprotective drugs.Methods:A total of 41 male C57BL/6J mice were used. First, 21 mice were randomly divided into 7 groups according to different radiation doses (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy) with 3 mice in each group. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of mice at 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after irradiation and immediately fixed with formaldehyde. Red blood cells (RBC) were lysed with Triton X-100, and γ-H2AX was labeled with specific antibodies. DRAQ5 dye was used to further exclude debris and anucleate cells. The mean fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in lymphocyte populations was directly analyzed by flow cytometry through forward and side scatter, and dose-effect curves after irradiation were established. Then, the other 20 mice were divided into radiation alone groups and radiation combined with WR-2721 administration groups at 4 and 6 Gy, respectively, with 5 mice in each group. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of mice at 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after irradiation to detect the average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in lymphocytes, which was used to evaluate the degree of DNA damage in mice and the therapeutic effect of WR-2721.Results:The expression of γ-H2AX in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice significantly increased with the increase of radiation doses, and reached a peak at 1-2 h and then decreased. The dose-effect relationship was significant ( R2 = 0.9914). At 24 h after 4 and 6 Gy irradiation, compared with the radiation alone groups, the average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in the radiation combined with WR-2721 administration groups was lower (144.8 ± 8.0 and 109.5 ± 9.7, vs. 178.0 ± 18.5 and 136.6 ± 5.4), with statistically significant difference ( t = 3.78, 5.48, P < 0.05). The average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX at 24 h after irradiation was consistent with the lowest values of the three blood cell lines at 7 or 14 d after irradiation. Conclusions:The application of flow cytometry with a fixation/dissolution protocol to directly detect the mean fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice has significant application value in radiation biology effect research, radiation protection drug screening, and efficacy evaluation.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of diaphragm exercises in mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 166 mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2021 to August 2023 for the study. Seventy-nine patients admitted from May 2021 to June 2022 were set up as control group and 87 patients admitted from July 2022 to August 2023 were set up as experimental group. Patients in control group received routine nursing, and experimental group carried out diaphragm exercise on the basis of control group. Post-intervention recovery, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.Results:In experimental group, the patients' mechanical ventilation time was shorter than that in control group, the withdrawal success rate was higher than that in control group, and the ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and total complication incidences were lower than those in control group, and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Diaphragm exercise reduces the risk of VAP and promotes recovery in mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective:To develop a method of employing flow cytometry to directly detect the γ-H2AX expression levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice through fixation and lysis and to evaluate the feasibility of applying this method to research on the radiation-related biological effects and the efficacy evaluation of radioprotective drugs.Methods:A total of 41 male C57BL/6J mice were used. First, 21 mice were randomly divided into 7 groups according to different radiation doses (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 Gy) with 3 mice in each group. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of mice at 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after irradiation and immediately fixed with formaldehyde. Red blood cells (RBC) were lysed with Triton X-100, and γ-H2AX was labeled with specific antibodies. DRAQ5 dye was used to further exclude debris and anucleate cells. The mean fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in lymphocyte populations was directly analyzed by flow cytometry through forward and side scatter, and dose-effect curves after irradiation were established. Then, the other 20 mice were divided into radiation alone groups and radiation combined with WR-2721 administration groups at 4 and 6 Gy, respectively, with 5 mice in each group. Blood samples were collected from the tail vein of mice at 1, 4, 8, and 24 h after irradiation to detect the average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in lymphocytes, which was used to evaluate the degree of DNA damage in mice and the therapeutic effect of WR-2721.Results:The expression of γ-H2AX in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice significantly increased with the increase of radiation doses, and reached a peak at 1-2 h and then decreased. The dose-effect relationship was significant ( R2 = 0.9914). At 24 h after 4 and 6 Gy irradiation, compared with the radiation alone groups, the average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in the radiation combined with WR-2721 administration groups was lower (144.8 ± 8.0 and 109.5 ± 9.7, vs. 178.0 ± 18.5 and 136.6 ± 5.4), with statistically significant difference ( t = 3.78, 5.48, P < 0.05). The average fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX at 24 h after irradiation was consistent with the lowest values of the three blood cell lines at 7 or 14 d after irradiation. Conclusions:The application of flow cytometry with a fixation/dissolution protocol to directly detect the mean fluorescence intensity of γ-H2AX in peripheral blood lymphocytes of mice has significant application value in radiation biology effect research, radiation protection drug screening, and efficacy evaluation.

Objective:To investigate the current situation and changing trends of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis (coal-burning-borne fluorosis) areas in Henan Province, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.Methods:From 2019 to 2021, monitoring was carried out in all villages affected by coal-burning-borne fluorosis in Henan Province. A simple random sampling method was used to select 30 households in each affected village each year to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of related healthy living behaviors. According to the criteria of "Diagnosis of Dental Fluorosis" (WS/T 208-2011), all children aged 8 to 12 in the affected villages were examined for dental fluorosis. The evaluation for control and elimination of the disease areas was carried out in accordance with the "Evaluation Approach for Control and Elimination of Priority Endemic Diseases (2019 Edition)".Results:From 2019 to 2021, a total of 7 472 households were monitored, the rate of qualified improved stoves were all ≥99.80%, the correct use rate of qualified improved stoves and correct drying of corn and pepper were reached 100%. From 2019 to 2021, the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children was 5.38% (237/4 405), 5.18% (232/4 477), and 3.68% (145/3 937), respectively, showing a declining trend (χ 2trend = 12.73, P < 0.001). The prevalence of dental fluorosis among children in affected villages was less than 15%. From 2019 to 2021, all affected villages in coal-burning-borne fluorosis in Henan Province had met the elimination criteria. Conclusion:Coal-burning-borne fluorosis areas in Henan Province have been continuously eliminated, with significant prevention and control effects, and the disease has been effectively controlled.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of diaphragm exercises in mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia.Methods:Convenience sampling was used to select 166 mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2021 to August 2023 for the study. Seventy-nine patients admitted from May 2021 to June 2022 were set up as control group and 87 patients admitted from July 2022 to August 2023 were set up as experimental group. Patients in control group received routine nursing, and experimental group carried out diaphragm exercise on the basis of control group. Post-intervention recovery, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups.Results:In experimental group, the patients' mechanical ventilation time was shorter than that in control group, the withdrawal success rate was higher than that in control group, and the ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and total complication incidences were lower than those in control group, and the differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Diaphragm exercise reduces the risk of VAP and promotes recovery in mechanical ventilation patients with severe pneumonia.

Exposure to ionizing radiation intervenes in genomic stability and gene expression,resulting in the disruption of normal metabolic processes in cells and organs by causing complex biolog-ical responses.Altered genomic variations,gene expression and metabolite concentrations in blood or tissue samples reflect systemic radiation damage.With the application of new techniques and exten-sive study on the mechanisms for ionizing radiation damage,related indicators such as chromosomal variation,gene expression,lipid and metabolism are being recognized and promise to be the markers for early diagnosis and prognosis of radiation exposure.Therefore,this article reviews recent progress in and potential applications of biomarkers related to ionizing radiation injury.

Objective:To analyze the changes of fasting plasma glucose(FPG)level before and after menopause.Methods:Kailuan health checkup cohort was used to extract data of women aged≥18 years who participated in the first physical examination of Kailuan physical examination cohort and had menopausal age at the end of the seventh physical examination. A total of 3 749 women with 22 057 physical examination records were included in the analysis. Natural logarithmic transformation was applied to FPG, and a segmented linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the changes in ln-transformed FPG before and after menopause. Additionally, an interaction analysis was performed to assess the multiplicative effect of baseline age and baseline body mass index(BMI)on ln-transformed FPG concerning pre- and post-menopausal periods.Results:The average age of the first physical examination for women in this study was (45.63±4.52)years, the median menopausal age was 51(50~53)years, and the median number of physical examinations was 6(5~7)times. The results of the piecewise linear mixed effect model showed that lnFPG increased from 1 year before menopause, with an average annual increase of 0.021 mmol/L, and continued to increase from menopause to 5 years after menopause, with an average annual increase of 0.007 mmol/L. LnFPG tended to be stable after 5 years of menopause. Baseline age could affect the changes of lnFPG before and after menopause, and there was a negative multiplicative interaction between baseline age ≥45 years and the time period from 6 years to 1 year before menopause( P=0.032). Women with baseline age ≥45 years had a higher average annual increase in lnFPG from 1 year before menopause to 5 years after menopause than women with baseline age <45 years( P<0.05). On lnFPG, there was a positive multiplicative interaction between baseline BMI and time segments around menopause. Compared to women with BMI <24.0 kg/m 2, obese women displayed more annual increase in lnFPG from 6 years to 1 year before menopause as well as from menopause to 5 years after menopause( P<0.05). Conclusions:Menopause has an adverse impact on FPG, with the most significant changes occurring within the period of one year before menopause and up to five years after menopause. Age and BMI significantly influence the changes in FPG before and after menopause.

Objective:To investigate the iodine content in drinking water of residents in Henan Province, and clarify the distribution characteristics of water iodine in Henan Province.Methods:In 2017, in all counties (cities and districts, hereinafter referred to as counties) of Henan Province, taking township (town, subdistrict office, hereinafter referred to as township) as the unit to carry out an investigation of iodine content in drinking water; and in the township with water iodine content of 10 μg/L or more, taking administrative village (neighborhood committee, hereinafter referred to as the administrative village) as the unit to carry out the drinking water iodine content investigation. Supplementary investigation was conducted from 2018 to 2020 in administrative villages where water iodine levels had never been tested or had not been tested after replacing water sources. At least 25 ml water samples were collected at each sampling site, and the water iodine content was determined by cerous sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry.Results:From 2017 to 2020, the median water iodine in Henan Province was 8.20 μg/L. A total of 50 124 administrative villages in 2 465 townships, 160 counties and 18 provincial-level cities were investigated for iodine content in drinking water, of which 65.5% (32 807/50 124) of the administrative villages had a median water iodine < 40 μg/L, belonging to iodine deficiency area; 16.9% (8 473/50 124) of the administrative villages had a median water iodine of 40-100 μg/L, suitable for iodine; and 17.6% (8 844/50 124) of the administrative villages had a median water iodine > 100 μg/L, belonging to water source high iodine area.Conclusions:Henan Province as a whole is at the state of iodine deficiency in the external environment. Most administrative villages are iodine deficiency areas. There are certain proportion of water source areas with high iodine and areas with suitable iodine.

Objective:To explore the association between abnormal thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and elevated blood pressure among females of child-bearing potential.Methods:A total of 294 674 females of child-bearing age who participated in pre-pregnancy health examination in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2019 were selected. Demographic characteristics, blood pressure, TSH, fasting blood glucose and other indexes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between abnormal TSH levels and elevated blood pressure (including prehypertension and hypertension).Results:This study showed that females of child-bearing potential with prehypertension and hypertension accounted for 21.77% and 2.41%, respectively. Compared with females of child-bearing potential with normal TSH, the risk of prehypertension and hypertension increased by 34.0% ( OR=1.340, 95% CI 1.248-1.438) and 59.6% ( OR=1.596, 95% CI 1.301-1.938) among those with decreased TSH, respectively, whereas the risk of prehypertension and hypertension increased by 13.6% ( OR=1.136, 95% CI 1.076-1.198) and 38.0% ( OR=1.380, 95% CI 1.198-1.581) among those with elevated TSH, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that abnormal TSH levels in most subgroups, such as age, ethnicity, educational level, occupation, spouse smoking, alcohol drinking, body mass index, and fasting blood glucose, were associated with the risk of elevated blood pressure. Heterogeneity test showed that the association between decreased TSH and elevated blood pressure was higher in females with high school and below or alcohol drinking, and the association between elevated TSH and elevated blood pressure was higher in females with college/bachelor′s degree and above or non-smoking spouse. Conclusion:There is a significant association between abnormal TSH levels and the risk of prehypertension and hypertension in females of child-bearing potential, and the association should be explored with stratified educational level, alcohol drinking, and spouse smoking status.