Objective To study the seasonal distribution characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM_2.5 in Lianyungang City, and analyze the sources of PAHs pollution, and to evaluate the health risks of PAHs in different seasons. Methods PM2.5 samples were collected regularly from January 2019 to December 2023, and 16 types of PAHs were determined by HPLC. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the concentrations of PM2.5 and PAHs in different years and seasons. The source of PAHs was analyzed by characteristic ratio and principal component analysis (PCA). Health risks were assessed using the BaP equivalent method and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model. Results The annual exceedance rates of PM_2.5 and BaP in Lianyungang showed a decreasing trend from 2019 to 2023. PM_2.5, total PAHs and PAHs monomers (except Ace, Flu and Acy) all showed significant seasonal differences, with the highest concentration in winter (P<0.001). The average proportion of 4-ring PAHs was the highest and the average proportion of 2-ring PAHs was the lowest. The proportion of 5-6 ring PAHs was relatively high in winter and spring. PM2.5and PAHs were negatively correlated with temperature, relative humidity and precipitation, and were positively correlated with atmospheric pressure. PM_2.5 was negatively correlated with wind speed, while some PAHs monomers were positively correlated with wind speed. The characteristic ratio and PCA results showed that the main sources of PAHs in Lianyungang City were mixed sources of road dust and vehicle emissions, oil pollution sources and biomass combustion sources. The results of ILCR showed that the highest risk was found in adults, with males slightly higher than females. In Lianyungang, the maximum value of ILCR in winter was more than 10-6 in people over 9 years old. Conclusion The main sources of PAHs in PM_2.5 in Lianyungang City are mixed sources of road dust and vehicle emissions, oil pollution sources, and biomass combustion sources. Under the current exposure level of PAHs in PM_2.5, residents have a certain potential carcinogenic risk.

ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective effects of Tiaoseng decoction on a perimenopausal depression （PMD） rat model and to examine its regulatory influence on the estrogen receptor β （ERβ）/monoamine oxidase A （MAOA）/c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK） signaling pathway， thereby elucidating its potential mechanisms of action. MethodsForty-eight female Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were divided into a sham group， a model group， a 17β-estradiol （E₂） group （2.5 × 10^-5 g·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups （9.69， 19.37， 38.74 g·kg^-1） by using a random number table method， with eight rats in each group. The PMD model was replicated using ovariectomy （OVX） combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS） and was treated continuously with 17β-E₂ and different doses of Tiaoseng decoction for 28 d， once a day. Depressive-like behaviors were assessed using the sucrose preference test， open-field test， and forced swim test. Histopathological changes in the prefrontal cortex were examined using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Nissl staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to measure serum levels of E₂， luteinizing hormone （LH）， and follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， as well as reactive oxygen species （ROS）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， and superoxide dismutase （SOD） levels in the prefrontal cortex. Mitochondrial ultrastructure of prefrontal cortex neurons was observed via transmission electron microscopy. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling （TUNEL） was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex. Immunohistochemistry （IHC） was applied to analyze the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， postsynaptic density protein95 （PSD95）， and synaptophysin （SYP） in the prefrontal cortex. Immunofluorescence （IF） was conducted to evaluate the average fluorescence intensity of ERβ and MAOA in the prefrontal cortex. Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were used to determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of key molecules in the ERβ/MAOA/JNK signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the model group had significantly reduced sugar-water preference index， total distance traveled， average speed， and activity time in the central region in the open field experiment， E₂ content， and SOD content （P<0.01） and significantly reduced BDNF， PSD95， SYP， and ERβ expression and B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）/Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax） ratio （P<0.01）. Additionally， the model group exhibited severe histopathological damage， disrupted mitochondrial structure， cristae disappearance or fracture， swelling， and deformation in the prefrontal lobe. The immobilization time of forced swimming， TUNEL positivity， LH， FSH， MDA， ROS， MAOA， Caspase-3， p-JNK/JNK， and p-c-Jun/c-Jun were significantly increased in the model group compared with the sham group （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low-， medium-， and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups and the 17β-E₂ group had increased sugar-water preference index， total distance traveled， average speed， and activity time in the central region in the open-field test， E₂ content， and SOD content （P<0.05， P<0.01） and elevated BDNF， PSD95， SYP， and ERβ expression and Bcl-2/Bax ratio （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In addition， histopathological damage to the prefrontal lobe was improved to different degrees， and mitochondrial structure was gradually repaired. The immobilization time of forced swimming， TUNEL positivity， LH， FSH， MDA， ROS， MAOA， Caspase-3， p-JNK/JNK and p-c-Jun/c-Jun were significantly reduced in the low-， medium-， and high-dose Tiaoseng decoction groups and the 17β-E₂ group compared with the model group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionTiaoseng decoction has significant neuroprotective effects on PMD model rats， which can alleviate perimenopausal depressive disorder by inhibiting oxidative stress， attenuating neuronal apoptosis， and restore synaptic plasticity via ERβ/MAOA/JNK signaling pathway regulation.

Corticotomy is a clinical procedure to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement characterized by the regional acceleratory phenomenon (RAP). Despite its therapeutic effects, the surgical risk and unclear mechanism hamper the clinical application. Numerous evidences support macrophages as the key immune cells during bone remodeling. Our study discovered that the monocyte-derived macrophages primarily exhibited a pro-inflammatory phenotype that dominated bone remodeling in corticotomy by CX3CR1^CreERT2; R26^GFP lineage tracing system. Fluorescence staining, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot determined the significantly enhanced expression of binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP) and emphasized the activation of sensor activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) in macrophages. Then, we verified that macrophage specific ATF6 deletion (ATF6^f/f; CX3CR1^CreERT2 mice) decreased the proportion of pro-inflammatory macrophages and therefore blocked the acceleration effect of corticotomy. In contrast, macrophage ATF6 overexpression exaggerated the acceleration of orthodontic tooth movement. In vitro experiments also proved that higher proportion of pro-inflammatory macrophages was positively correlated with higher expression of ATF6. At the mechanism level, RNA-seq and CUT&Tag analysis demonstrated that ATF6 modulated the macrophage-orchestrated inflammation through interacting with Tnfα promotor and augmenting its transcription. Additionally, molecular docking simulation and dual-luciferase reporter system indicated the possible binding sites outside of the traditional endoplasmic reticulum-stress response element (ERSE). Taken together, ATF6 may aggravate orthodontic bone remodeling by promoting Tnfα transcription in macrophages, suggesting that ATF6 may represent a promising therapeutic target for non-invasive accelerated orthodontics.
Animals ; Mice ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics* ; Tooth Movement Techniques/methods* ; Activating Transcription Factor 6/metabolism* ; Bone Remodeling ; Flow Cytometry ; Blotting, Western

PPerimenopausal depression （PMD） is a mental disorder that occurs in women before and after menopause. It has become a major public health problem posing a threat to the health of perimenopausal women due to its high incidence， low prevalence， low diagnostic rate， and recurrent episodes. The pathogenesis of PMD is complex and mainly involves the aging of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian （HPO） axis， which leads to abnormal fluctuations in reproductive hormones， inflammation and cascade reactions， and oxidative stress. Currently， there are no specific pharmacological interventions for PMD. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， as a treasure of motherland medicine， integrates thousands of years of TCM experience and wisdom and has the advantages of holistic regulation， low toxicity， and mild adverse reactions in the prevention and treatment of PMD. In recent years， more and more studies have been conducted on the active ingredients， extracts， and compound formulas of TCM for treating PMD via multi-components and multi-directions， achieving fruitful results. A large number of studies have shown that TCM treats PMD by reducing inflammation， inhibiting oxidation， and modulating monoamine neurotransmitter levels， which mainly involve NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-associated protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome， nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/hemeoxygenase-1 （HO-1）， brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）/tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） and other signaling pathways. This article reviews the clinical and basic studies about TCM treatment of PMD to analyzes the pathogenesis of PMD and the therapeutic targets of TCM， aiming to provide basic theoretical support and new approaches for the TCM treatment of PMD.

Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is the sixth most common cancer in the world. In recent years， the clinical early diagnosis and treatment protocols of HCC have been improved， whereas the prognosis of patients is still not satisfactory， which is due to the fact that the mechanism of HCC development has not been fully elucidated. Therefore， it is of great significance to explore the molecular mechanisms and key regulatory links of hepatocellular carcinoma development to further improve the diagnosis and treatment of HCC in China. Epigenetics has become a research hotspot because of its reversibility and easy regulation. According to relevant studies， HCC involves the accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic changes during the initiation， promotion， and progression stages. HCC is categorized as infantile malnutrition with accumulation， hypochondriac pain， tympan ites， and abdominal mass in traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）. In the treatment of HCC， TCM with low toxicity， multi-targets， and multi-mechanisms can inhibit tumor growth， alleviate the clinical symptoms， and enhance the quality of life of the patients. Chinese medicines and their active ingredients exert anti-HCC effects through epigenetic regulation of DNA methylation， histone modification， and non-coding RNA. Abnormal gene expression due to epigenetic regulation disorders is involved in all stages of HCC development. There are few studies on epigenetic regulation in TCM treatment of HCC， and there is still much room for development in basic and clinical trials. This paper reviews the mechanism of epigenetic regulation in HCC and summarizes the experimental results of TCM research on the related mechanism， with a view to providing a theoretical basis for future research on the mechanism of HCC development and clinical diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with TCM.

Objective To understand the factors that affect the pulmonary rehabilitation behavior of elderly patients with lung cancer during the post-operative transitional period,and provide reference bases for formulating the pulmonary rehabilitation plan of elderly patients with lung cancer during the transitional period and improving the compliance of pulmonary rehabilitation.Methods Based on the capability,opportunity,and motivation-behavior model(COM-B model),12 elderly lung cancer patients who underwent surgery at a tertiary A tumor hospital in Tianjin from March to July 2022 were selected for semi-structured interviews using descriptive research methods and purposive sampling method.The data were analyzed using directed content analysis.Results The ability factors(physical strength and postoperative discomfort symptoms of the elderly limit lung rehabilitation exercise,lack of pulmonary rehabilitation knowledge and awareness of the importance of exercise in lung rehabilitation knowledge),opportunity factors(lack of grassroots medical and health services,limiting lung rehabilitation exercise;family and friends are important resources for promoting lung rehabilitation exercise;medical support is a guarantee for promoting lung rehabilitation exercise),motivational factors(high self-efficacy in exercise is the foundation for lung rehabilitation exercise,perception of lung rehabilitation effects increases motivation for lung rehabilitation exercise)and 7 sub themes were extracted.Conclusion There are certain obstacles and promoting factors in the transitional lung rehabilitation process for elderly lung cancer patients after surgery.It is necessary to improve their postoperative discomfort symptoms,increase their knowledge of lung rehabilitation,enhance their awareness of lung rehabilitation,face the social support role of family,friends,and medical staff,improve the infrastructure and lung rehabilitation system,increase community lung rehabilitation support,provide multi-channel high-quality lung rehabilitation resources,and promote the development of smart medical services,constructing a transitional lung rehabilitation strategy for elderly patients with lung cancer.

Objective:To explore the effects of curcumin on the biological characteristics and expressions of NF-κB pathway-related proteins in glucocorticoid-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line Jurkat.Methods:The drug-resistant ALL cell line Jurkat was selected, and 1 μmol/L dexamethasone was used as the optimal concentration for drug resistance of Jurkat cells, and the cells were passaged and cultured. The cells were divided into 10, 25 and 50 μmol/L curcumin groups, as well as 50 μmol/L pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) group, and control group (equal volume of culture medium without drug was added). The cells in each group were cultured for 72 h, and the cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope. The CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation ability of Jurkat cells, flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis ability and cell cycle of Jurkat cells, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the relative expressions of NF-κB p65, NF-κB p50, IκBα, and A20 mRNA, and Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of NF-κB p65, NF-κB p50, IκBα, caspase-8, caspase-3, bcl-2, and A20 proteins.Results:Jurkat cells were treated with 10, 25, 50 μmol/L curcumin and 50 μmol/L PDTC for 72 h. In the control group, the cell membranes were basically intact, the size was uniform, the cell was round and transparent, and the cell nucleus had uniform fluorescence; a large number of deformed cells and cell fragments were observed in curcumin groups with different concentrations and 50 μmol/L PDTC group, with concentrated and fragmented nuclei and obvious apoptosis. After treating Jurkat cells with different concentrations of curcumin and 50 μmol/L PDTC for 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively, the cell proliferation inhibition rates in curcumin groups with different concentrations and PDTC group were higher than those in the control group (all P < 0.01). The apoptosis rates at 72 h in the control group, 10 μmol/L curcumin group, 25 μmol/L curcumin group, 50 μmol/L curcumin group, and 50 μmol/L PDTC group were (4.9±0.1)%, (99.2±0.1)%, (99.9±0)%, (100.0±0)%, and (100.0±0)%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 2 876 604.40, P < 0.001); compared with the control group, the apoptosis rates in curcumin groups with different concentrations and 50 μmol/L PDTC group were higher, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the proportions of S-phase and G 2-phase cells were lower and the proportion of G 1-phase cells was higher in curcumin groups with different concentrations and 50 μmol/L PDTC group at 72 h, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p50 in curcumin groups with different concentrations and 50 μmol/L PDTC group were lower (all P < 0.01), while the protein expressions of IκBα, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were higher (all P < 0.01), the protein expression of bcl-2 was lower ( P < 0.01), and the protein and mRNA expressions of A20 were higher (both P < 0.01). Conclusions:Curcumin can effectively reverse glucocorticoid resistance and promote apoptosis in Jurkat cells, which may be related to the influence of curcumin on NF-κB pathway-related proteins.

Objective To report single-center experience on CBA combined with LAAC in treat-ment of AF.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 27 AF patients undergoing one-stop surgery of CBA combined with LAAC in Department of Cardiovascular Diseases of the People's Hospital of Liaoning Provincie from August 2020 to November 2022.The efficacy and safety of the surgery were analyzed.Results There were 22 patients(81.5％)with LAmbre and 5 patients with Watchman(18.5％,including one case of 24 mm Watchman FLX).All the patients achieved complete pulmonary vein isolation,and conversion to sinus rhythm during operation.During a mean follow-up of 30.0±9.2 months,24 patients(88.9％)maintained sinus rhythm at 12-month follow-up,and 22 patients(81.5％)maintained sinus rhythm at 24-month follow-up.TEE at 3 months after operation displayed that all the devices were in good positions and no PDL or DRT was observed.In the 11 patients undergoing cardiac enhanced CT in 12-36 months after surgery,PDL was detected in one patient(9.1％),and uncomplete endothelialisation of the device was observed in another one(9.1％)using the Watchman device.TEE at 26 months revealed one patient(3.7％)of DRT.Conclusion One-stop surgery of CBA combined with LAAC is a feasible treatment option for patients with NVAF and at high risk of stroke.

Objective To develop a Psychological Birth Trauma Assessment Scale and to test its reliability and validity.Methods Through literature review,semi-structured interview,expert conference,Delphi expert enquiry and preliminary investigation,a pre-test scale was formed.From March to May 2023,postpartum women from 38 hospitals of different levels in 15 provinces(Jiangsu,Anhui,Zhejiang,Fujian,Tibet,and Shanghai,etc.)were conveniently selected for investigation.The sample size of the first-round survey was 547,which was used for reliability and validity test.The sample size of the second-round survey was 550,which was used for confirmatory factor analysis.Results The psychological birth trauma assessment scale consisted of 2 parts,with a total of 29 items in 6 dimensions.The intrapartum feeling part included 4 dimensions,with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 63.992％,and the postpartum effect part included 2 dimensions,with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 68.208％.The content validity index of the scale was 0.947,and the content validity index of each item was 0.809～1.000.The total score of the scale and the scores of each dimension were significantly negatively correlated with the total score of the calibration scale(r=-0.784～-0.533,P＜0.001).The total Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.941,and the split-half reliability coefficient was 0.883.Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the main evaluation indicators were all within the acceptable range.Conclusion The Psychological Birth Trauma Assessment Scale has good reliability and validity,and it can be used as an assessment tool for the degree of maternal psychological birth trauma.

Objective:To analyze the duration of the second stage of labor without epidural anesthesia and its association with pregnancy outcome.Methods:This retrospective study involved 12 789 women who delivered without epidural anesthesia in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017. These subjects were divided into primipara group (9 517 cases) and multipara group (3 272 cases). Demographic characteristics, maternal and neonatal outcomes and the duration of the second stage of labor were compared between the two groups using two independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test (Fisher's exact test). Differences in the maternal and neonatal outcomes were also analyzed among different subgroups in primiparae [length of second stage: <1 h group ( n=6 265), ≥1-2 h group ( n=2 305), ≥2-3 h group ( n=831) and ≥3 h group ( n=116)] and multiparae [length of second stage <1 h group ( n=3 144), ≥1-2 h group ( n=102) and ≥2 h group ( n=26)]. The association between second stage length and pregnancy outcomes was analyzed with Cramer's V. After adjusted for maternal age, gestational weeks at delivery, body mass index before pregnancy, complications during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight, the relationship between the duration of the second stage and adverse outcomes was analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis. Results:The 95 th percentile of the second-stage labor duration was 143 min for primiparae and 52 min for multiparae. The rates of vaginal delivery, forceps delivery, cesarean section in the second stage, episiotomy, third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration, postpartum hemorrhage, grade Ⅱ postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion, umbilical arterial blood gas pH<7.15 and transferring to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were all correlated with the duration of second stage in primiparae (Cramer's V values: 0.22, 0.23, 0.03, 0.22, 0.05, 0.10, 0.03, 0.03, 0.03 and 0.07, respectively, all P<0.05), and so did those of vaginal delivery, forceps delivery, episiotomy, postpartum hemorrhage, grade Ⅱ postpartum hemorrhage, transfusion and transferring to NICU in multiparae (Cramer's V values: 0.18, 0.19, 0.28, 0.14, 0.09, 0.13 and 0.06, respectively, all P<0.05). Logistic analysis showed that in primiparae, the duration of second stage >1 h was an independent risk factor for episiotomy, third- or fourth-degree perineum laceration, forceps delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, admission to NICU and umbilical arterial blood gas pH<7.15 [adjusted OR (95% CI): 2.080 (1.907-2.268), 1.773 (1.080-2.911), 1.625 (1.420-1.859), 1.365 (1.231- 1.514), 1.305 (1.165-1.462) and 1.246 (1.081-1.436), respectively], while second stage length >2 h was the independent risk factor for episiotomy, forceps delivery, third- or fourth-degree perineum laceration, postpartum hemorrhage, grade Ⅱ postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion, admission to NICU and umbilical arterial blood gas pH<7.15 [adjusted OR (95% CI): 4.844 (4.132-5.678), 4.223 (3.571-4.993), 3.289 (1.806-5.989), 1.952 (1.675-2.274), 1.781 (1.057-3.001), 1.654 (1.025-2.668), 1.682 (1.421-1.991) and 1.298 (1.039-1.620), respectively]. In multiparae, the length of second stage >1 h was an independent risk factor for episiotomy, blood transfusion, forceps delivery, postpartum hemorrhage and admission to NICU [adjusted OR (95% CI): 8.796 (5.717-13.534), 7.469 (2.874-19.411), 6.135 (3.217-11.699), 2.697 (1.624-4.477) and 1.814 (1.063-3.097), respectively], while the duration of second stage >2 h was the independent risk factor for episiotomy, third- or fourth-degree perineum laceration, blood transfusion, grade Ⅱ postpartum hemorrhage, forceps delivery and postpartum hemorrhage [adjusted OR (95% CI): 38.868 (14.948-101.063), 28.046 (2.780-282.490), 20.076 (5.384-74.866), 16.327 (3.406-78.274), 14.337 (5.351-38.411) and 9.036 (3.880-21.011), respectively]. Conclusions:The duration of the second stage of labor without epidural anesthesia is between that reported by Friedman and by Zhang. A prolonged second stage of labor may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.