Background The prevalence of low back pain among workers using vibrating tools in the automobile manufacturing industry is high; however, research on associated risk factors remains limited. Objective To investigate the association between use of vibrating tools and low back pain among automobile manufacturing workers, and to estimate related population attributable risk percentage (PAR%). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire among workers with over one year of service in an automobile manufacturing enterprise. Workers were categorized into an exposed group (vibrating tool users) and a control group (non-users) based on their use of vibrating tools during work. The variables showing statistically significant differences between the two groups were selected as covariates for matching by 1∶2 nearest-neighbor propensity score. Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of low back pain between the matched exposed and control groups. Log-binomial regression model was employed to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR), and the PAR% of low back pain attributable to vibrating tool use was subsequently determined. Results A total of 6973 valid questionnaires were collected, comprising 5676 males and 1297 females, with an overall low back pain prevalence of 40.3% (2809/6973). The exposed group included 1255 workers (1134 males, 121 females), with a mean age of (44.2 ± 8.7) years and a mean tenure in the current position of (23.5 ± 9.9) years; the matching control group consisted of 2510 workers (2279 males, 231 females), with a mean age of (44.7 ± 8.6) years and a mean tenure in the current position of (24.0 ± 10.0) years. The prevalence of low back pain was 76.7% (963/1255) in the exposed group, significantly higher than the 29.9% (750/2510) in the control group (P<0.001). The log-binomial regression analysis showed a PR of 2.57 (95%CI: 2.28, 2.90) for the exposed group, with a PAR% of 22.03%. Conclusion The use of vibrating tools among automobile manufacturing workers is positively associated with reporting low back pain. Implementing effective measures to mitigate vibration hazards is crucial for reducing the burden of low back pain in this population.

Pristimerin, which is one of the compounds present in Celastraceae and Hippocrateaceae, has antitumor effects. However, its mechanism of action in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of pristimerin on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The inhibitory effect of pristimerin on cell growth was assessed using trypan blue exclusion and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Gene and protein expressions were analyzed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to identify significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Cell transfection and RNA interference assays were utilized to examine the role of key proteins in pristimerin?s effect. Xenograft models were established to evaluate the antitumor efficiency of pristimerin in vivo. Pristimerin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. Upregulation of Noxa was crucial for pristimerin-induced apoptosis. Pristimerin activated the Forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) signaling pathway and triggered FoxO3a recruitment to the Noxa promoter, leading to Noxa transcription. Blocking FoxO3a reversed pristimerin-induced Noxa upregulation and cell apoptosis. Pristimerin treatment suppressed xenograft tumors in nude mice, but these effects were largely negated in Noxa-KO tumors. Furthermore, the chemosensitization effects of pristimerin in vitro and in vivo were mediated by Noxa. This study demonstrates that pristimerin exerts an antitumor effect on ESCC by inducing AKT/FoxO3a-mediated Noxa upregulation. These findings suggest that pristimerin may serve as a potent anticancer agent for ESCC treatment.
Forkhead Box Protein O3/genetics* ; Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma/physiopathology* ; Esophageal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Pentacyclic Triterpenes ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2/genetics* ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Male ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE To estimate the quality markers of antioxidant activity for standard decoction of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus.METHODS 15 batches of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus standard decoctions were subjected to quality evaluation by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)based on single-marker(QAMS)method,before being summarized by chemometrics analysis.The antioxidant abilities of 15 batches of samples were determined by DPPH and ABTS methods,while gray correlation analy-sis(GRA)and the partial least squares regression(PLSR)methods were subsequently applied to investigating the relationship between the contents of 8 components and the antioxidant activity.Ultimately,molecule docking was utilized to explore the binding properties between candidate quality markers and the core targets of anti-oxidation,with the experimental verification being executed on the indi-vidual compound by in vitro anti-oxidation.RESULTS There was no remarkable difference between the results of QAMS and external standard method(ESM),with P valued greater than 0.05.And it was speculated that protocatechuic acid,gomisin A,schizantherin B and schisandrin B were the constituents of quality difference.Moreover,the 4 quality variation components were reckoned to be the al-ternative markers on antioxidant according to the results of GRA and PLSR.The molecule docking result also showed that 4 candidate quality markers presented good binding affinity with the antioxidant core targets.The antioxidant capacity was presumably originated from the collaborated effects by multi-components in the standard decoction of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus.In the interim,protocate-chuic acid exhibited noteworthy antioxidant efficacy with dosage-depended manner in the results of single-compound verification,which was best conformed to the characteristics of quality markers and supposed to be the antioxidant quality marker for Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus standard decoction.CONCLUSION This research predicts the potential antioxidant substances on the basis of content deter-mination by UPLC and in vitro antioxidant assay,but also provides rational foundation for quality assessment on other preparations of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus.

Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang derived from ZHANG Zhongjing's Treatise on Cold Damage is included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classic formulas （the second batch） issued by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. By reviewing the ancient literature related to Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang， this study analyzed the origin， medicinal composition， original plants and processing， dosage， decocting method， compatibility， effects， and indications of this formula. A total of 186 records of Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang were obtained， involving 108 ancient books of traditional Chinese medicine. There are 6 synonyms of Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang. This formula consists of Cinnamomi Ramulus， Paeoniae Radix Alba， Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Ephedrae Herba， Jujubae Fructus， and Armeniacae Semen Amarum， the original plants and processing of which are clear. With consideration to the dosage in modern clinical practice， it is recommended that the formula should be composed of 7.67 g Cinnamomi Ramulus， 4.60 g Paeoniae Radix Alba， 4.60 g Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens， 4.60 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， 4.60 g Ephedrae Herba， 4.00 g Jujubae Fructus， and 2.60 g Armeniacae Semen Amarum. The decoction should be prepared by boiling Ephedrae Herba with 1 000 mL water for 15 min before the addition of other medicines， and the mixture was decocted to reach a volume of 360 mL， and 120 mL of the decoction should be taken warm once. Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang is a combination of Guizhi Tang and Mahuang Tang， with the effects of dispersing wind cold and harmonizing nutrient-defense. The main diseases treated by this formula in the past dynasties have expanded compared with those in Treatise on Cold Damage. The traditional indications of this formula involve the diseases of greater Yang， reverting Yin， Yang brightness， and lesser Yin. In addition to common cold due to wind-cold， this formula can be used to treat headache， bitter mouth， dry throat， full abdomen， panting， heat invading blood chamber in women， skin itching， exanthema variolosum， syncope， and hardly perceivable pulse. In modern clinical practice， Guizhi Mahuang Geban Tang is used for treating pulmonary diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection， skin diseases （e.g.， urticaria， eczema， psoriasis， and neurodermatitis）， kidney failure， and diabetes complicated with pruritus.

Objective To analyze the prevalence, annual trends, and co-morbidity trends of common chronic diseases among workers in a large automotive industry from 2019 to 2021, and to provide a scientific basis for the health management of workers in the automotive industry. Methods The health examination data of workers in a large automotive industry from 2019-2021 were analyzed. Trends in the prevalence of chronic diseases and co-morbidities were analyzed using Join Point software and trend χ² test. Results The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia, and fatty liver in the 2019 – 2021 health checkups of workers in this enterprise increased at an average rate of 9.27%, 11.35%, and 3.99% per year, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia, and fatty liver in male workers showed an increasing trend at an average rate of 7.05%, 9.25%, and 2.91% per year, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in female workers showed an increasing trend at an average rate of 20.76% per year. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome, hyperuricemia and fatty liver was on the rise in the age groups ≤ 29 years old and 40 – 49 years old. The proportion of metabolic syndrome and its co-morbidity with one or two common chronic diseases showed an increasing trend. Conclusion The prevalence and co-morbidity of common chronic diseases in this enterprise are generally on the rise. The enterprise should focus on health education and preventive care for chronic diseases among workers aged ≤ 29 and 40 – 49 years old and male workers and control the annual increasing trend of metabolic syndrome among female workers and workers in the age group ≤ 29 years.

Objective To investigate the influence of individual factors and labor organization factors on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in automobile manufacturing workers, and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of WMSDs in automobile manufacturing workers. Methods In April 2020, 5564 workers in an automobile factory were selected by cluster sampling method. The prevalence of WMSDs was investigated by using the Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire, and the influence of individual factors and labor organization factors on WMSDs was investigated by using generalized estimation equation. Results The prevalence rate of WMSDs was 79.00% (4396/5564), and the prevalence rate of multisite WMSDs was 67.95% (3781/5564). The analysis of generalized estimation equation showed that doing the same job every day (OR= 1.478, P < 0.05), age ≥40 years (OR=1.416, P< 0.05), personnel shortage (OR= 1.356, P < 0.05), and work length of 6～10 years and 11～15 years (OR= 1.349, P< 0.05) were the main risk factors for WMSDs in automobile manufacturing workers. Shift work and working time > 40 hours per week increased the risk of WMSDs (P< 0.05). Male and adequate rest time were protective factors for WMSDs. The job correlation matrix showed that WMSDs in most parts had a positive correlation. Conclusions The prevalence of multisite WMSDs of workers in automobile manufacturing industry is high, and unreasonable labor organization is the main risk factor of WMSDs. Appropriate work breaks can effectively reduce the risk of WMSDs, and effective intervention measures should be carried out to prevent the occurrence of WMSDs in workers in automobile manufacturing industry. The generalized estimation equation can better analyze the influencing factors of WMSDs.

With the increasing number of cancer patients in China, the lack of hospice communication between medical staff and cancer patients can easily cause doctor-patient conflicts. Facing the special group of cancer patients, by introducing the concept of hospice communication and comparing the current situation of hospice communication of cancer patients at home and abroad, this paper found the shortcomings of hospice communication between medical staff and cancer patients in China. This paper aimed to analyze the influencing factors of cancer patients’ hospice communication from three aspects of medical staff, cancer patients and social and cultural background, summarized the assessment tools and matters needing attention related to hospice communication, so as to provide reference for domestic medical staff to develop relevant tools for hospice communication with cancer patients, and help medical staff to implement more effective hospice communication with cancer patients in the context of tranquil care. It is also conducive to help patients open the topic of death from the perspective of doctors and build an open hospice communication environment that is more in line with national conditions of China.

Humans ; East Asian People ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vitiligo/epidemiology*

Background The influencing factors of noise hazards in the automotive manufacturing industry are complex, diverse, and mutually correlated, resulting in significant health impacts on workers. Objective To explore the application of generalized estimating equations (GEE) to analyze the factors affecting high-frequency hearing loss among noise-exposed workers in an automotive manufacturing company, guiding enterprises to scientifically carry out employee hearing protection programs. Methods The data of occupational health field evaluation and occupational health surveillance of an automobile manufacturing company for five consecutive years from 2018 to 2022 were collected, and 806 noise-exposed workers with pure tone hearing test results for all five consecutive years were selected as study participants. The retrieved indicators were gender, physical examination year, noise intensity, blood pressure, white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, platelet counts, concentrations of hemoglobin, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, smoking, drinking, etc. Gender, noise intensity, blood pressure, white blood cell counts, red blood cell counts, concentrations of hemoglobin, platelet counts, glutamate aminotransferase, glutamate aminotransferase, smoking, and drinking were set as independent variables, and occurrence of high-frequency hearing loss was set as a dependent variable, and GEE were constructed by using the statistical software of SPSS 20.0 to analyze the influencing factors of high-frequency hearing loss. Results Of the 806 workers, 698 were male (86.6%) and 108 were female (13.4%). The detection rates of high-frequency hearing loss in each year from 2018 to 2022 were 66.4% (535/806), 69.8% (563/806), 70.0% (564/806), 68.9% (555/806), and 68.2% (550/806), respectively. The detection rate of high-frequency hearing loss in the company was varied significantly by gender, lowered white blood cell counts, lowered red blood cell counts, lowered platelet counts, smoking, and drinking (P<0.05). The results of GEE analysis showed that after adjusting for selected confounding factors and excluding interaction effects, the risk of high-frequency hearing loss was higher in men than in women (P=0.001; OR=1.907, 95%CI: 1.286, 2.829); it was higher in workplace with disqualified noise intensity than in those without (P=0.043; OR=1.289, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.648); it was also higher in smokers than in non-smokers (P=0.004; OR=1.507, 95%CI: 1.137, 1.999). Conclusion Gender, noise intensity, and smoking are the main influencing factors of high-frequency hearing loss in noise-exposed workers in this automobile manufacturing company. Controlling smoking and reducing noise exposure intensity may reduce the occurrence of high-frequency hearing loss in workers.