In the context of facing the dual challenges of aging population and declining birth rates, the absolute number of working-age population in China is decreasing, while the proportion of middle-aged and elderly workers is significantly increasing. However, China possesses a vast labor force, and the advantages of talent dividend are gradually emerging, both of which can offset the negative impact of the shrinking demographic dividend on social productivity. Labor is the most active factor among various production factors and is an important component for developing new quality productive forces. With the development of new quality productive forces, occupational health and occupational medicine are presented with new development opportunities. In the process of aging of the labor force, occupational health and occupational medicine can investigate how to utilize next-generation information technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other growth engines to safeguard the occupational health of workers, extend their working lives, actively unleash their creativity and initiative, and compensate for the labor shortage caused by an aging population and the potential decrease in labor productivity. This transformation in occupational health and occupational medicine is not only crucial for the health and career development of workers in an aging society, but will also have a positive impact on the creation of an age-friendly society and the sustainable development of productivity.

Although there are continuous progresses in economy and society, the accelerated aging process has brought widespread impacts on various aspects of society and economy in China, especially on the supply of the working-age population. Effectively addressing labor force aging has become an urgent challenge for China's economic and social development. North American countries, particularly the United States and Canada, are also facing severe aging population issues, and have entered an aging society earlier than China. These countries have alleviated labor supply shortages through proactive immigration policies, while implementing flexible retirement, reemployment of elderly individuals, and vocational training policies to effectively encourage elderly workers to remain in their jobs. Additionally, the occupational health programs of large enterprises in North America have yielded positive returns on their health investments. Building upon an overview of the current situation and corresponding measures in response to the aging working-age population in North America, this paper presented constructive recommendations to address the aging population issue in China.

Objective:For tympanosclerosis patients with ossicular chain fixation, we use ossicular chain bypass technique and evaluate its long-term effects. Methods:From June 2017 to June 2019, 147 patients with tympanosclerosis who underwent middle ear surgery with otoscopy in Yinchuan First People's Hospital were reviewed. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the implemented operation plan, 51 cases in the ossicular chain mobilization group（OCM）, 56 cases in the ossicular chain bypass reconstruction group（OCB）, and 40 cases in the malleus-incus complex resection reconstruction group（MICR）. Through a three-year follow-up, the medium and long-term effects of different operation plans were compared and analyzed. Results:There was no significant difference among the three groups in the incidence of tympanic membrane perforation, delayed facial nerve palsy, and the dispatch and displacement of PORP. The incidence of tympanic membrane retraction pocket or cholesteatoma after operation in OCB group（0） was significantly lower than that in OCM group（11.76%） and MICR group（7.5%）（P<0.05）. At 12 months after operation, ΔABG of OCB group and MICR group were better than that in the OCM group（P<0.05）. At 36 months after operation, ΔABG of OCB group was better than that in the OCM group（P<0.05）, and there was no significant difference between OCB group and MICR group. The audiological performance of patients with epitympanic sclerosis（ETS） at 12, 24 and 36 months after operation was better than that of patients with posterior tympanosclerosis（PTS） and total tympanosclerosis（TTS）（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Compared with patients undergoing ossicular chain mobilization and malleus-incus complex resection for ossicular chain reconstruction, patients with tympanosclerosis undergoing bypass technique have better and stable hearing prognosis in medium and long term. This technique can effectively prevent the formation of retracted pocket and cholesteatoma in patients with tympanosclerosis after operation.
Humans ; Tympanosclerosis ; Ear Ossicles/surgery* ; Ear, Middle ; Malleus/surgery* ; Cholesteatoma ; Retrospective Studies ; Ossicular Prosthesis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of ARID5B gene and resistance to methotrexate (MTX) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: A total of 144 children with ALL who were treated in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University from January 2015 to November 2021 were enrolled and divided into MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group, with 72 cases in each group. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technology was used to measure the SNP of ARID5B gene in all children and analyze its correlation with MTX resistant. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the genotype and gene frequency of rs7923074, rs10821936, rs6479778, and rs2893881 between MTX resistant group and non-MTX resistant group (P>0.05). The frequency of C/C genotype in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T/T genotype was opposite (P<0.05). The frequency of C allele in the MTX resistant group was significantly higher than that in the non-MTX resistant group, while the frequency of T allele was opposite (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ARID5B gene rs4948488 TT genotype and T allele frequency were risk factors for MTX resistant in ALL children (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The SNP of ARID5B gene is associated with MTX resistant in ALL children.
Child ; Humans ; DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Methotrexate ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the toxic effect of long-term low-dose exposure to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on kidney and its underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: Forty male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into 4 groups for exposure to 0, 1, 60, and 120 μg/L MC-LR (mixed in drinking water) for 12 months, and the body and kidney weight changes and renal pathologies of the mice were observed. The renal function indexes, the mRNA expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10, and relative expression levels of PI3K/AKT pathway proteins in the kidney of the mice were detected. These parameters were also detected in HEK293 cells treated with MC- LR, LY294002, or both. RESULTS: The overall trend of body weight changes was consistent among the 4 groups of mice, and their kidney mass and kidney index underwent no significant changes. In mice exposed to 60 and 120 μg/L MC-LR, obvious renal structural damage and significant elevation of the BUN and SCr levels were observed (P < 0.05) with up-regulated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA and increased protein expressions of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT in the renal tissues (P < 0.05). IL-10 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in all the exposure groups (P < 0.05). The levels of BUN and Cr increased significantly in MC-LR-treated HEK293 cells and decreased in cells treated with both MC-LR and LY294002 (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α increased and the level of IL-10 mRNA decreased obviously in MC-LR-treated cells, and the opposite changes were observed in the cells with the combined treatment (P < 0.05). The proteins levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT were significantly up-regulated in MC-LR group and down-regulated in the combined treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION MC- LR can activate inflammatory response and induce renal structural and functional damages in mice by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Mice ; HEK293 Cells ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6/pharmacology* ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology*

Objective To investigate the expression of circulating microRNA (miRNA) of rats with hypobaric hypoxia‐induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH) .Methods Commercial rat miRNA microarray was employed to detect and analyze the circulating miRNA profile in the serum samples of Sprague‐Dawley rats with hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HPH and controls .Furthermore ,differentially expressed candidate circulating miRNAs between HPH and control groups were validated by Real‐time quantitative PCR based on the case‐control study ,and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC ) analysis was used to test the performance of four differentially expressed circulating miRNAs in discriminating HPH and control groups .Results Compared with those in the control group ,13 upregulated miRNAs and 10 downregulated miRNAs were identified in hypobaric hypoxia‐induced HPH rats by using miRNA microarray . And differentially expressed miR‐451 , miR‐505 , let‐7d and miR‐214 were validated by using RT‐PCR .ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of miR‐451 ,miR‐505 and let‐7d was 0 .979 ,0 .938 and 0 .993 in discriminating HPH and control groups ,respectively .Conclusion The aberrant expression of circulating miR‐451 ,miR‐505 and let‐7d in serum may be correlated with the pathogenesis of HPH .

Objective To characterize the mutation of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene in patients with phenylketonuria(PKU) in Ningxia area,China.Methods Seventy-three children diagnosed with PKU at the Child and Maternal Healthcare Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region between January 2010 and June 2013,and 100 non-PKU children randomly chosen from children with normal results in PKU screening were enrolled in the study.Venous blood was collected and the PAH gene sequence was determined by direct DNA sequencing after amplification with the polymerase chain reaction technique.The new gene mutations were defined based on the national and international literature search and databases.The source of the newly discovered mutations was also measured by examining and sequencing the blood samples of their parents.The Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results Among 146 alleles of the 73 PKU children,the detection rate of mutation of PAH gene was 79.5％ (116/146),including 37 types of mutations occurring in 11 exons other than exon 2 and exon 13.The 37 different mutations included 22 missense mutations (59.5％,22/37),six nonsense mutations(16.2％,6/37),six splice site mutations(16.2％,6/37) and three deletion mutations(8.1％,3/37).p.R243Q(17.1％,25/146),EX6-96A ＞ G (6.8％,10/146),p.R241C(6.2％,9/146),p.R413P (5.5％,8/146),p.Rl11X(4.8％,7/146) and IVS4-1G ＞ A(4.8％,7/146) were found to have a higher mutation frequency.Meanwhile,p.R243Q was the most common mutation among Han and Hui ethnic groups with a frequency of 18.8％(12/64) and 15.9％ (13/82),respectively.In contrast,p.R241C showed a significant higher frequency in the Hui group [9.8％(8/82) vs 1.6％(1/64),x2=4.17,P=0.04].Four new mutations of PAH genes,including p.Q304K,p.H107R,p.F392I and p.N223I,were discovered after literature search and comparative studies.Conclusions PAH gene mutations in children with PKU in Ningxia area are unique and are characterized by the diversity and complexity of mutation occurrence in this ethnic region.

Objective To understand the type and frequency of the gene mutation in exon 6 of phenylalanine hydroxylase(PAH) in the children of Ningxia,in order to provide foundation for phenylketonuria(PKU) gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis.Methods The exon 6 and flanking introns of 73 cases of classic PKU patients in Ningxia[all confirmed at Ningxia Neonatal Screening Center from Jan.2010 to Jun.2013,and distributed in Ningxia 22 County (city,district),aged from 15 days to 13 years,including 38 male cases,35 female cases,and Hui 39 cases,Han 34 cases] as well as 100 healthy newborn babies(Hui 50 cases;Han 50 cases) were sequentially analyzed by using the approach of PCR direct sequencing.Results There were 6 kinds of mutations detected,including EX6-96A ＞ G(6.85％),Q232X(2.74％),D222G(1.37％),V2301 (1.37％),R176X (0.68％) and N223I (0.68％).Mutation detection rate of exon 6 was 13.70％,and there were 3 mutation types:50.0％ missense mutation (3 types) ;33.3 ％ nonsense mutation (2 types) ;16.7％ cleavage site mutation(1 type).After reviewing the previous studies,the researchers had found out that EX6-96A ＞ G,Q232X and R176X were ever reported in China,and V2301 and D222G had been reported in our country for the first time but N223I was a new kind of PAH gene mutations were not been reported in the world.Conclusions It has defined the gene type and frequency of PAH gene mutations in exon 6 in the children of Ningxia and it will enrich the research of PKU in this area,and provide the basis for the development of gene diagnosis of PKU.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feature of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene mutations and provide guidance for genetic and prenatal diagnosis of patients with phenylketonuria from Shaanxi.

METHODSFor 55 patients whose blood Phe concentration was over 2.0 mg/dL, potential mutations in 13 exons and flanking sequences of the PAH gene were detected by PCR and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSA total of 98 mutations were detected in 110 PAH alleles, with the detection rate being 89.10%. Nine mutations have been identified in exon 7, which accounted for 33.67% of all. Exon 12 (14.29%) and exon 3 (12.24%) have followed. Thirty eight mutations, locating in exon2-exon12 and the flanking sequence, were detected in the 55 PKU patients. p.R243Q (24.49%) was the commonest mutation, whilstp.A47E, p.I65S and p.A259T were first discovered in China. After querying international databases including PAHdb and HGMD, the p.C334X was verified as the novel PAH gene mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation spectrum of the PAH gene in Shaanxi has been identified. And a novel mutation has been identified. This may facilitate the diagnosis of PKU in the future.

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; blood ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the type and frequency of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH) mutations in ethnic Hui patients from Ningxia with phenylketonuria (PKU).

METHODSFor 35 PKU children patients and 50 healthy individuals, all exons and promoters of the PAH gene were analyzed with PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSTwenty mutations, including 8 missense mutations (40%), 5 nonsense mutations (25%), 4 splice site mutations (20%) and 3 deletion mutants (15%) were discovered. The overall detection rate was 68.57% (48/70). Common mutations have included R243Q (12.86%), R241C (11.43%), EX6-96A to G (5.71%), Y356X (5.71%), R413P(4.29%) and Q232X(4.29%), whilst rarer ones have included S16fsX10 (2.86%), R111X (2.86%) and L430P (2.86%). Among these, S16fsX10, L430P, D222G and IVS11+ 1G to A have not been reported previously. Y414X and S303fsX38 have not been reported in Hui ethnic group. No mutation was detected in the 50 normal controls.

CONCLUSIONThe types and distribution of PAH gene mutations in ethnic Hui from Ningxia have been different from other areas of China. The mutations also showed a rich diversity.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenylalanine Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Phenylketonurias ; enzymology ; genetics