Objective To analyze the effect of residual cholesterol (RC) on hearing loss in noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 3 412 workers engaged in noise operation work in an underground railway enterprise were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. Their occupational health examination data were collected to analyze the relationship between RC and hearing loss. Results The noise intensity of workplace in the underground rail enterprise was 80.0-85.0 (81.4±3.2) dB(A). The detection rate of hearing loss was 20.2% (691/3 412). The rates of abnormal total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were 35.6%, 25.7%, 9.5% and 42.4%, respectively. The median and the 25th and 75th percentiles [M(P₂₅,P₇₅)] of RC level were 0.24 (0.15, 0.37) mmol/L. The levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and RC of workers in hearing loss group were higher than those in normal hearing group [M(P₂₅,P₇₅): 4.91(4.37, 5.58) vs 4.84(4.30, 5.46) mmol/L, 1.29(0.91, 1.93) vs 1.16(0.82, 1.67) mmol/L, 0.26(0.16, 0.41) vs 0.24(0.14, 0.37) mmol/L, all P<0.05]. The detection rate of hearing loss in abnormal triglyceride group was higher than that in normal triglyceride group (24.8% vs 18.7%, P<0.01), and the detection rate of hearing loss in abnormal HDL-C group was higher than that in normal HDL-C group (25.0% vs 19.8%, P<0.05). The higher the serum RC level, the higher the detection rate of hearing loss (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression result showed that individual with older age, longer work time and higher serum RC level had higher risk of hearing abnormality (all P<0.05), and the risk of hearing abnormality was higher in patients with abnormal fasting blood glucose than patients with normal faseing blood glucose (P<0.05) after controlling for confounding factors such as gender, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and elevated blood pressure. However, abnormal triacylglycerol and HDL-C levels were not significantly related to the risk of hearing abnormality (both P>0.05). Conclusion Serum RC levels are an independent risk factor for hearing loss among noise-exposed workers exposed to noise level of 80.0-85.0 dB(A) in the workplace.

Purpose: It was aimed to clarify the casual connection between prostate cancer (PCa) and arthritis by utilizing two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. Materials and Methods: This study utilized NHANES data. Through association analysis and risk stratification analysis, the association between arthritis and PCa were examined. MR analysis was performed to elucidate the causal relationship between arthritis and PCa. Sensitivity analysis and Steiger directionality test confirmed the reliability of the MR analysis results. Results: A total of 23,608 (PCa:controls=413:23,195) participants after a sample exclusion and variable definition process were screened in NHANES database. Adjustments across three diverse models consistently revealed a notable influence of arthritis on PCa progression. Arthritis was identified as a risk factor for PCa (odds ratio [OR] 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36–2.62, p<0.001). Subsequent analysis indicated that in the arthritis-adjusted model with multiple covariates, the area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.94. The inverse variance weighting method of MR analysis showed a causal relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and PCa (OR 1.090, 95% CI 1.053–1.128, p<0.001) as well as osteoar-thritis and PCa (OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001–1.004, p=0.002). This suggested that RA and osteoarthritis were risk factors for PCa. The heterogeneity (p>0.05), horizontal pleiotropy (p>0.05), leave-one-out and Steiger test confirmed reliability of MR results. Conclusions NHANES database and MR analyses identified arthritis as a risk factor for PCa, offering fresh avenues for preventive and therapeutic approaches.

Objective Based on the “excellent” performance achieved by our institution in the 2024 national intercomparison of monitoring individual dose from external exposure, this paper systematically summarizes key technical elements and optimization experiences in instrument calibration, operational protocols, and data analysis, aiming to provide methodological references and practical support for continuously enhancing the accuracy and reliability of individual dose monitoring. Methods As a participant in the intercomparison activity, our laboratory strictly followed the technical protocol formulated by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Results In the 2024 national intercomparison of monitoring individual dose from external exposure, the measurement results met the criteria of single-group performance \begin{document}$ \left|{P}_{i}\right| $\end{document} ≤ 0.10 and comprehensive performance B² + S² ≤ 0.10², and were rated as excellent. Conclusion The accuracy and reliability of monitoring individual dose from external exposure depend on the precision of instrument calibration, standardization of operations, and strictness of quality control. The effectiveness of the above quality control methods has been confirmed by the practice of our laboratory. These methods can be used to ensure the accuracy of measurement results.

Background The active metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxybenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), can form adducts with DNA, but the spectrum of BPDE-DNA adducts is unclear. Objective To identify the distribution of BPDE adduct sites and associated genes at the whole-genome level by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-Seq), and serve as a basis for further exploring the toxicological mechanisms of BaP. Methods Human bronchial epithelial-like cells (16HBE) were cultured to the fourth generation inthe logarithmic growth phase. Cells were harvested and added to chromatin immunoprecipitation lysis buffer. The lysate was divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received a final concentration of 20 μmol·L⁻¹ BPDE solution, while the control group received an equivalent volume of dimethyl sulfoxide solution. The cells were then incubated at 37 °C for 24 h. Chromatin fragments of 100-500 bp were obtained through sonication. BPDE-specific antibody (anti-BPDE 8E11) was used to enrich DNA fragments with BPDE adducts. High-throughput sequencing was conducted to detect BPDE adduct sites. The top 1000 peak sequences were subjected to motif analysis using MEME and DREME software. BPDE adduct target genes at the whole-genome level were annotated, and Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of BPDE adduct target genes were conducted using bioinformatics techniques. Results The high-throughput sequencing detected a total of 842 BPDE binding sites, distributed across various chromosomes. BPDE covalently bound to both coding and non-coding regions of genes, with 73.9% binding sites located in intergenic regions, 19.6% in intronic regions, and smaller proportions in upstream 2 kilobase, exonic, downstream 2 kilobase, and 5' untranslated regions. Regarding the top 1000 peak sequences, four reliable motifs were identified, revealing that sites rich in adenine (A) and guanine (G) were prone to binding. Through the enrichment analysis of binding sites, a total of 199 BPDE-adduct target genes were identified, with the majority located on chromosomes 1, 5, 7, 12, 17, and X. The GO analysis indicated that these target genes were mainly enriched in nucleic acid and protein binding, participating in the regulation of catalytic activity, transport activity, translation elongation factor activity, and playing important roles in cell division, differentiation, motility, substance transport, and information transfer. The KEGG analysis revealed that these target genes were primarily enriched in pathways related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and immune-inflammatory responses. Conclusion Using ChIP-Seq, 199 BPDE adduct target genes at genome-wide level are identified, impacting biological functions such as cell division, differentiation, motility, substance transport, and information transfer. These genes are closely associated with cardiovascular diseases, tumors, and immune-inflammatory responses.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of four simplified screening methods of elevated blood pressure commonly used among children and adolescents according to Chinese guidelines for prevention and treatment of hypertension (revised in 2018), so as to provide a reference for the early detection of the elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents. Methods: Stratified cluster random sampling method was used to monitor the physical fitness of 5 211 children and adolescents in a city of Shanxi Province from October to November 2021. Chinese guidelines for prevention and treatment of hypertension was considered as gold standard, and sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC) and Kappa value were calculated to evaluate the screening effectiveness of formula method, height specific method, age group specific method, sex and age specific method for screening elevated blood pressure. Results: The detection rates of elevated blood pressure among children and adolescents screened by gold standard, formula method, height specific method,age group specific method, sex and age specific method were 21.9%, 24.0%, 21.1%, 24.5% and 20.2%, respectively. There was no significant difference between prevalence of elevated blood pressure screened by formula method, sex and age specific method and gold standard( χ 2=1.21, 1.41, P >0.05), whereas height specific method and age group specific method had significant differences with gold standard ( χ 2=20.39, 67.09, P <0.05). AUC was the largest for height specific method [0.94(95% CI =0.93-0.95)], and the smallest for age group specific method [0.87(95% CI = 0.86 -0.88)]. The Kappa values of height specific method (0.89) and sex and age specific method (0.89) were both greater than 0.85 , which were more consistent with the screening effectiveness of gold standard. When comparing by sex, age and body mass index (BMI), the screening effectivenesses were consistent with the overall in boys, 6-11 years and normal body weight groups, while the screening effectivenesses were different in girls, 12-17 years, overweight and obese groups. The AUC (0.87), Kappa value (0.71) and sensitivity (82.33%) of age group specific method were the lowest and the screening effectiveness was the worst. Conclusion Height specific method is more effective and can be used for early identification and self detection of blood pressure abnormalities among children and adolescents.

Background At present, the practice of pulmonary rehabilitation for pneumoconiosis in China is in a primary stage. The basis for formulating an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation plan is still insufficient, which is one of the factors limiting the development of community-level rehabilitation work. Objective To formulate an exercise prescription based on maximum heart rate measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), conduct an individualized comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program with the exercise prescription for patients with stable pneumoconiosis, and evaluate its role in improving exercise endurance and quality of life, thus provide a basis for the application and promotion of pulmonary rehabilitation. Methods A total of 68 patients were recruited from the Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital of Jinneng Holding Coal Industry Group Co., Ltd. from April to August 2022 , and were divided into an intervention group and a control group by random number table method, with 34 cases in each group. All the pneumoconiosis patients participated in a baseline test. The control group was given routine drug treatment, while the intervention group received multidisciplinary comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation treatment on the basis of routine drug treatment, including health education, breathing training, exercise training, nutrition guidance, psychological intervention, and sleep management, whose exercise intensity was determined according to the maximum heart rate provided by CPET. The rehabilitation training lasted for 24 weeks. Patients were evaluated at registration and the end of study respectively. CPET was used to measure peak oxygen uptake per kilogram (pVO₂/kg), anaerobic threshold (AT), carbon dioxide equivalent of ventilation (EqCO₂), maximum metabolic equivalent (METs), and maximum work (W_max). The modified British Medical Research Council Dyspnea Questionnaire (mMRC), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (CAT), and Short Form of Health Survey (SF-36) were used to evaluate the potential effect of the comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program. Results Among the included 68 patients, 63 patients were having complete data, then 31 cases were assigned in the control group and 32 cases in the interventional group. Before the intervention, there was no significant difference in pVO₂/kg, AT, EqCO₂, METs, or W_max between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the indicators like pVO₂/kg [(19.81±2.38) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], AT [(14.48±2.33) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹], METs (5.64±0.69), and W_max [(85.25±14) W] of patients in the intervention group were all higher than those [(13.90±2.37) mL·(min·kg)⁻¹, (11.70±1.94) mL·(min kg)⁻¹, (3.97±0.70), and (61.77±14.72) W, respectively] in the control group (P<0.001); there was no significant difference in EqCO₂ between the two groups (P=0.083). Before the trial, there was no significant difference in mMRC, SAS, SDS, PSQI, or CAT scores between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the trail, the mMRC score (1.16±0.57), SAS score (27.93±2.12), SDS score (26.48±1.44), PSQI score (1.08±0.88), and CAT score (4.34±3.28) of patients in the intervention group were lower than those [(2.03±0.83), (35.87±6.91), (34.23±6.65), (5.37±3.03), and (13.87±7.53), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001). The SF-36 scores of bodily pain (94.13±10.72), general health (87.50±5.68), vitality (95.31±5.53), mental health (99.88±0.71), and health changes (74.22±4.42) in the intervention group were higher than those [(71.87±32.72), (65.81±15.55), (74.52±16.45), (86.97±16.56), and (29.84±13.50), respectively] in the control group (P<0.001), and no significant difference was found in social functioning and role emotional scores (P>0.05). Conclusion Comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation can increase the oxygen intake and exercise endurance of pneumoconiosis patients, ameliorate dyspnea symptoms, elevate psychological state and sleep quality, and improve the quality of life.

Male ; Humans ; Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Varicocele/diagnosis* ; Biomarkers

Image-guided targeted biopsy is currently the mainstream method of prostate cancer puncture biopsy, while risk stratification based on imaging and biochemical markers may become the new standard. This paper comprehensively reviews the latest advancements in various imaging techniques and strategies of targeted prostate biopsy. Ultrasound-assisted prostate biopsy mainly includes transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), transrectal-contrast enhanced ultrasound (TR-CEUS), and transrectal real-time elastography (TRTE), which can significantly increase the diagnosis rate of prostate cancer when combined with biopsy. Three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound (3D-TRUS) technology may be used in patients with a negative previous biopsy. At present, micro-ultrasound (Micro-US), the latest ultrasound method, is not inferior to mp-MRI in targeted biopsy of the prostate. Targeted biopsy by mp-MRI has improved the detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), and the common NMR targeted technologies are magnetic resonance imaging-visual-targeted biopsy (MRI-visual-TB), magnetic resonance imaging-fusion-targeted biopsy (MRI-fusion-TB), and in-bore magnetic resonance imaging-target biopsy (MRI-TB). The fusion of MRI and Micro-US imaging for targeted biopsy has also become a new targeted biopsy method, and MR robot-assisted biopsy is gradually being applied. PET/CT improves localization of tumors and may be valuable for initial staging, re-staging after biochemical recurrence, even in patients with MRI-negative prostate cancer. PET/CT targeted biopsy using tracer has been shown to yield good diagnostic efficacy. PET/MRI technology has the potential to be the imaging test for needle-free biopsies in the future. The development of technology has led to the adaptation and optimization of biopsy strategies in clinical practice.

【Objective】 To investigate the status quo of disease perception and partner support of erectile dysfunction (ED) patients, and to analyze their correlation. 【Methods】 With convenient sampling method, 220 ED patients in a first-class hospital in Taiyuan were surveyed with the short version of disease perception questionnaire (BIPQ) and partner support coping questionnaire (DCI). 【Results】 The BIPQ score was (41.90±7.33), and the DCI score was (116.79±20.37). Pearson correlation analysis showed that except life influence, treatment control and emotional influence, the mutual support dimension of partner support of ED patients was correlated with all dimensions of disease perception (r=-0.173, 0.151, -0.182, 0.163, 0.188,P<0.05).Except cognitive comprehension, the negative support dimension of partner support of ED patients was correlated with the dimensions and total score of disease perception (r=0.399, 0.185, -0.167, -0.306, 0.269, 0.445, 0.320, 0.357,P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 ED patients have negative disease perception, and their partners have better coping strategies. Medical staff may pay more attention to partner support so as to reduce patients’ negative perception of disease and promote recovery.

ObjectiveTemporal heterogeneity in lung cancer presents as fluctuations in the biological characteristics, genomic mutations, proliferation rates, and chemotherapeutic responses of tumor cells over time, posing a significant barrier to effective treatment. The complexity of this temporal variance, coupled with the spatial diversity of lung cancer, presents formidable challenges for research. This article will pave the way for new avenues in lung cancer research, aiding in a deeper understanding of the temporal heterogeneity of lung cancer, thereby enhancing the cure rate for lung cancer. MethodsRaman spectroscopy emerges as a powerful tool for real-time surveillance of biomolecular composition changes in lung cancer at the cellular scale, thus shedding light on the disease’s temporal heterogeneity. In our investigation, we harnessed Raman spectroscopic microscopy alongside multivariate statistical analysis to scrutinize the biomolecular alterations in human lung epithelial cells across various timeframes after benzo(a)pyrene exposure. ResultsOur findings indicated a temporal reduction in nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and carotenoids, coinciding with a rise in glucose concentration. These patterns suggest that benzo(a)pyrene induces structural damage to the genetic material, accelerates lipid peroxidation, disrupts protein metabolism, curtails carotenoid production, and alters glucose metabolic pathways. Employing Raman spectroscopy enabled us to monitor the biomolecular dynamics within lung cancer cells in a real-time, non-invasive, and non-destructive manner, facilitating the elucidation of pivotal molecular features. ConclusionThis research enhances the comprehension of lung cancer progression and supports the development of personalized therapeutic approaches, which may improve the clinical outcomes for patients.