Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are a major occupational health concern, particularly among workers exposed to adverse ergonomic conditions. Manganese production involves heavy physical demands, yet research on WMSDs among manganese workers remains limited. Objective To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of WMSDs among manganese workers in a manganese enterprise in Guangxi. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June 2024 on workers at a manganese factory in Guangxi. The Chinese Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics, distribution of musculoskeletal symptoms, and work-related exposures. χ² test was applied to compare differences in positive WMSDs rates across groups, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors. Results A total of 1476 workers were enrolled in the study after pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of WMSDs was 34.15%. The most commonly affected body regions were the lower back (17.28%), neck (16.67%), and shoulders (13.82%). The results of logistic regression analysis indicated that female, older age, and education level of college or above were associated with a higher risk of WMSDs (P<0.05). Awkward working postures were significantly associated with WMSDs in corresponding body regions; in particular, awkward postures of the neck, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs were related to an increased risk of WMSDs in multiple body sites (P<0.05). In addition, poor lighting conditions, high workplace temperature, frequent or sustained arm support during work, and high job demands were associated with an increased risk of overall or site-specific WMSDs (P<0.05). Conclusion The high prevalence of WMSDs among manganese workers is closely associated with demographic characteristics, working postures, and work environment and organizational factors. Targeted ergonomic interventions focusing on high-risk body regions and key ergonomic exposures are warranted to reduce the risk of WMSDs among manganese workers.

Objective To assess the impact of freeze-drying and dry heat virus inactivation processes on the activity ofα2-macroglobulin(A2M)derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ.Methods A2M derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ was prepared and subjected to programmed freeze-drying with dry heat virus inactivation.The lyophilized products were evaluated for their appearance,water content,and validation of the viral inactivation process.The bioactivity of the products before and after lyophilization as well as before and after dry heat inactivation was determined via trypsin inhibition,and the comparisons were studied.Results The appearance of the lyophilized product was fluffy,and the water content was(5.83±0.45)％.The specific activities of the samples before and after lyophilization were(10.199±0.137)and(10.033±0.201)μg/mg,respectively,with no statistically significantdifference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The viral inactivation of the samples was carried out by using dry heat inactivation conditions at 100 ℃ for 30 min.After inactivation,the reduction was ≥5.125 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in Pseudorabies virus(PRV)titers,≥4.500 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in Sindbis virus(SinV)titers,≥6.375 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in encephalomyocarditis virus(EMCV)titers,and≥4.500 LgTCID50/0.1 mL in porcine parvovirus(PPV)titers.The specific activities of the samples before and after dry heat were(9.921±0.292)and(10.091±0.278)μ g/mg,respectively,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion A2M derived from human plasma Cohn fraction Ⅳ,when subjected to freeze-drying followed by dry heat inactivation at 100 ℃ for 30 minutes,can effectively inactivate viruses without altering the biological activity of the product.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a three-dimensional finite element model of a digital wire loop space maintainer for the mandible and primary tooth loss, in order to investigate the stress, deformation, and shear force experienced by patients with the loss of the second primary molar when wearing the wire loop space maintainer. METHODS: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed on the patients to create a digital model of the mandible with the absence of the second primary molar using Mimics 21.0 software. A digital model integrating the crown's retention and the wire loop structure of the full crown and ring wire loop space maintainer was constructed using pediatric space maintainer design software, utilizing three different materials: cobalt-chromium alloy, polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and titanium alloy. In ANSYS Work Beach 2023 R2 software, vertical loads of 70 N, tilted 45° along the long axis of the tooth loads of 70 N, and a 10 N load on the surface of the wire loop were applied to the occlusal surfaces of models 46 and 84, simulating centric and lateral occlusions during chewing with the wire loop space maintainer in place. The stress states of the wire loop space maintainer and supporting teeth were analyzed. RESULTS: Under various loading conditions, the maximum principal stress of the ring wire loop space maintainer was significantly lower than that of the full crown. Stress contour maps indicated that the peak of the maximum principal stress occurred at the junction of the wire loop and crown structure, indicating that this area was more susceptible to fracture. The ring wire loop space maintainer made from PEEK material exhibited the lowest maximum shear stress on the internal organizational surfaces, with equivalent stresses of 23.18 MPa and 36.35 MPa for models 46 and 84, respectively. Stress contour maps demonstrated that the maximum stress on tooth 46 was located at its mesial, while the maximum stress on tooth 84 was situated near the root area on its distal, in contact with the wire loop space maintainer. CONCLUSION In cases of second primary molar loss, wearing the digital ring wire loop space maintainer can effectively distribute stress, and the ring wire loop space maintainer made from PEEK material reduces the stress experienced by supporting teeth to some extent, demonstrating its superiority in clinical application.
Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Tooth, Deciduous ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Space Maintenance, Orthodontic/methods* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Orthodontic Wires ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Mandible ; Stress, Mechanical

Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

The size of nanodrugs plays a crucial role in shaping their chemical and physical characteristics, consequently influencing their therapeutic and diagnostic interactions within biological systems. The optimal size of nanomedicines, whether small or large, offers distinct advantages in disease treatment, creating a dilemma in the selection process. Addressing this challenge, size-transformable nanodrugs have surfaced as a promising solution, as they can be tailored to entail the benefits associated with both small and large nanoparticles. In this review, various strategies are summarized for constructing size-transformable nanosystems with a focus on nanotherapeutic applications in the field of biomedicine. Particularly we highlight recent research developments in cancer therapy. This review aims to inspire researchers to further develop various toolboxes for fabricating size-transformable nanomedicines for improved intervention against diverse human diseases.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.08.006.].

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

By elaborating on the theoretical framework of the pulse acupuncture based on systematic syndrome differentiation， this paper briefly analyzes the correspondence between pulse and acupuncture， and further explores its core principle of "establishing acupuncture based on pulse， and applying acupuncture when the pulse is balanced". This therapeutic system employs a three-step acupoint selection method， relying on the systematic integration and analysis of pulse elements at different levels to determine the nature of disease， syndrome type， and location. Treatment principles are guided by the concepts of form and spirit transformation， aiming to treat both simultaneously. Pulse diagnosis also serves as a standard for evaluating therapeutic efficacy and predicting prognosis， providing a theoretical basis for clinical acupuncture. Using stroke as a case example， this paper illustrates the practical clinical application of this approach， offering valuable insight for acupuncture.

Objective:To investigate the effects of long non coding RNA KCNQ1OT1(LncRNA KCNQ1OT1)on the migration and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)cells by regulating the microRNA-875-5p(miR-875-5p)/ETS like transcription factor 4(ELK4)axis.Methods:QRT-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA levels of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1,miR-875-5p,and ELK4 in OSCC cell lines(HSC-3,PE/CA-PJ15,HN13)and tissues.The dual luciferase assay was applied to detect the targeting relationship between LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and miR-875-5p,and target relationship between miR-875-5p and ELK4.HSC-3 cells were used in control group,sh-NC group,sh-KCNQ1OT1 group,sh-KCNQ1OT1+anti-NC group,sh-KCNQ1OT1+anti-miR-875-5p group,miR-NC group,miR-875-5p mimic group,miR-875-5p mimic+pcDNA-NC group,and miR-875-5p mimic+ELK4 group.The migration and invasion abilities of HSC-3 cells were detected.Immunoblotting was applied to detect the protein expression of ELK4,MMP-2,MMP-9 and epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)(E-Cadherin,N-Cadherin,Vimentin).The nude mouse transplant tumor was applied to verify the effect of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 on OSCC transplant tumors.Results:LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and ELK4 mRNA expression increased in OSCC tissues and cancer cell lines,while miR-875-5p expression decreased(P＜0.05).Database predictions show that miR-875-5p specifically bound to LncRNAs KCNQ1OT1 and ELK4,respectively.Compared with the sh-NC group,the numbers of cell migration and cell invasion,the expression of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1,ELK4,MMP-2,MMP-9,N-Cadherin,and Vimentin in the sh-KC-NQ1OT1 group were lower,while the expression of miR-875-5p and E-Cadherin was higher(P＜0.05).Compared with the sh-KC-NQ1OT1+anti-NC group,the expression of miR-875-5p and E-Cadherin in the sh-KCNQ1OT1+anti-miR-875-5p group was lower,while the numbers of cell migration and cell invasion,the expression of ELK4,MMP-2,MMP-9,N-Cadherin,and Vimentin were higher(P＜0.05).Compared with the miR-NC group,the expression of miR-875-5p and E-Cadherin in the miR-875-5p mimic group was higher,while the numbers of cell migration and cell invasion,the expression of ELK4,MMP-2,MMP-9,N-Cadherin,and Vim-entin were lower(P＜0.05).Compared with the miR-875-5p mimic+pcDNA-NC group,the numbers of cell migration and cell inva-sion,the expression of ELK4,MMP-2,MMP-9,N-Cadherin,and Vimentin in the miR-875-5p mimic+ELK4 group were higher,while the expression of E-Cadherin was lower(P＜0.05).The transplant tumor volume and weight of the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group were smaller than those of the sh-NC group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1,ELK4 were lower than those of the sh-NC group,and the expression level of miR-875-5p was higher than that of the sh-NC group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Inhibition of LncRNA KCNQ1OT1 can target the miR-875-5p/ELK4 axis to inhibit migration,invasion,and EMT of OSCC cells.

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.