Background Frailty serves as a significant precursor to falls, disability, and mortality. Epidemiological evidence examining the impact of working hours on frailty remains scarce. Objective To explore the prevalence of frailty and the relationship between frailty and working hours among full-time middle-aged and older workers in China. Methods Data were derived from the 2020 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The study included full-time workers aged 45 years and above with a weekly working duration exceeding 35 h. Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Index (FI). First, the dose-response relationship between working hours and FI was explored using a generalized additive model (GAM). Second, univariate analyses were performed using t-tests, χ² tests, and the Jonckheere–Terpstra trend test. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) were introduced for modeling. Based on ordinal logistic regression models, covariates were adjusted sequentially to examine whether differences in frailty prevalence existed across different weekly working hour categories. Finally, subgroup analyses were performed. Results Among the 5504 included participants, the mean age was (56.41±7.30) years, with 2304 being female (41.86%). A total of 807 participants (14.66%) were identified as frail, and 2 686 participants (48.80%) were pre-frail. After standardization for gender and age according to the seventh national census data, the standardized prevalence of frailty and prefrailty were 18.89% and 47.25%, respectively. Significant higher proportions of frail individuals were found among those in non-managerial (73.73%), agricultural (64.06%), and non-employed (65.68%) occupations. Long working hours were prevalent: 2596 (47.17%) workers worked 41–60 h per week, 1649 (29.96%) worked >60 h per week, and only 1259 (22.87%) worked 35–40 h per week. GAM analysis showed a non-linear relationship between weekly working hours and FI. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed a statistically significant association between weekly working hours and frailty status (P=0.022). Logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals working more than 60 h per week had a 23% higher odds of frailty compared to those working 41–60 h (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.38, P<0.01), while those working 35–40 h per week showed a 15% higher odds of frailty (OR=1.15, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.31, P=0.034). The subgroup analysis revealed that the positive association between working more than 60 h per week and frailty remained generally consistent across sex, age, urban/rural residence, occupational attributes, industry, or employment type, although the association did not reach statistical significance among non-rural residents and individuals aged 60 years and older. Conclusion The prevalence of frailty among full-time middle-aged and older labor force in China is relatively high, and the odds of frailty increases significantly among those who work more than 60 h per week. It is recommended to implement frailty prevention and management strategies targeting long-working-hour workers and to prioritize the impact of working duration on frailty.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of the Bawei Chenxiang Wan （BCW） against myocardial ischemic injury. MethodsMyocardial ischemia in vivo was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and ex vivo ischemia was established by coronary artery ligation in isolated rat hearts. The effects of BCW， alcohol extracts and its polar extracts were evaluated on ST segment on electrocardiogram （ECG）， myocardial damage， hemodynamic parameters， and infarct size. The phosphorylation level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， and the content of Cu²⁺ in myocardial tissue were detected. The regulatory relationship of the signaling pathway was verified using an oxygen-glucose deprivation （OGD） myocardial cell injury model， combined with PI3K agonists and inhibitors. ResultsBCW ameliorated ST-segment elevation on electrocardiograms（P＜0.01）， reduced serum levels of myocardial injury markers， improved hemodynamic parameters， upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01）， and decreased Cu²⁺ accumulation in rats with myocardial ischemia（P＜0.01）. Moreover， BCW reduced the myocardial infarct size. In the isolated rat heart model of ischemia， both the ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of BCW exerted protective effects and reduced Cu²⁺ content， among which the n-butanol fraction exhibited the most potent activity（P＜0.01）. Specifically， the n-butanol fraction upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01） and downregulated the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， including ferredoxin reductase 1（FDX1）（P＜0.05）， lipoic acid synthetase（LIAS）， and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase（DLAT） oligomerization（P＜0.05）. In the OGD-induced cardiomyocyte injury model， treatment with a PI3K agonist inhibited DLAT oligomerization（P＜0.05）， whereas co-administration of a PI3K inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol fraction on DLAT oligomer formation（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe n-butanol fraction of BCW exerts a significant protective effect against myocardial ischemic injury， and its mechanism may involve activation of the PI3K and inhibition of cuproptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of the Bawei Chenxiang Wan （BCW） against myocardial ischemic injury. MethodsMyocardial ischemia in vivo was induced in rats by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and ex vivo ischemia was established by coronary artery ligation in isolated rat hearts. The effects of BCW， alcohol extracts and its polar extracts were evaluated on ST segment on electrocardiogram （ECG）， myocardial damage， hemodynamic parameters， and infarct size. The phosphorylation level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， and the content of Cu²⁺ in myocardial tissue were detected. The regulatory relationship of the signaling pathway was verified using an oxygen-glucose deprivation （OGD） myocardial cell injury model， combined with PI3K agonists and inhibitors. ResultsBCW ameliorated ST-segment elevation on electrocardiograms（P＜0.01）， reduced serum levels of myocardial injury markers， improved hemodynamic parameters， upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01）， and decreased Cu²⁺ accumulation in rats with myocardial ischemia（P＜0.01）. Moreover， BCW reduced the myocardial infarct size. In the isolated rat heart model of ischemia， both the ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of BCW exerted protective effects and reduced Cu²⁺ content， among which the n-butanol fraction exhibited the most potent activity（P＜0.01）. Specifically， the n-butanol fraction upregulated PI3K phosphorylation（P＜0.01） and downregulated the expression of cuproptosis-related proteins， including ferredoxin reductase 1（FDX1）（P＜0.05）， lipoic acid synthetase（LIAS）， and dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase（DLAT） oligomerization（P＜0.05）. In the OGD-induced cardiomyocyte injury model， treatment with a PI3K agonist inhibited DLAT oligomerization（P＜0.05）， whereas co-administration of a PI3K inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol fraction on DLAT oligomer formation（P＜0.05）. ConclusionThe n-butanol fraction of BCW exerts a significant protective effect against myocardial ischemic injury， and its mechanism may involve activation of the PI3K and inhibition of cuproptosis.

Objective To explore the relationship between systemic immune-inflammation index(SII),red blood cell distribution width(RDW),25-hydroxy-vitamin-D[25(OH)D]levels and frailty index in elderly pa-tients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 197 elderly patients with T2DM admitted to the hospital from March 2023 to March 2024 were collected as the research subjects.The patients were divided into the frailty group(106 cases)and the non-frailty group(91 cases)according to the scores of the clinical frailty scale.The clinical data and the levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D of the two groups were compared.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations between the levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D and the frailty index of elderly patients with T2DM.Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of frailty in elderly patients with T2DM.Results Compared with the non-frailty group,the proportion of women,the history of falls within 1 year,and the age of the frailty group increased,while the body mass in-dex and the proportion of men decreased,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The SII and RDW levels in the non-frailty group were lower than those in the frailty group,and the 25(OH)D level was higher than that in the frailty group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that SII and RDW levels were positively correlated with frailty index,and 25(OH)D level was negatively correlated with frailty index in elderly T2DM patients(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that female,age ≥ 74.25 years old,SII≥ 938.36,RDW≥ 15.19％,and 25(OH)D≥48.42 nmol/L were independent risk factors for frailty in elderly T2DM patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of SII,RDW and 25(OH)D in elderly patients with T2DM are related to the frailty index.

Objective To explore the construction of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene-knockout (GTKO) Diannan miniature pigs and the kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques, and to assess the effectiveness of GTKO pigs. Methods The GTKO Diannan miniature pigs were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and somatic cell cloning technology. The phenotype of GTKO pigs was verified through polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect antigen-antibody (IgM) binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Kidney xenotransplantation was performed from GTKO pigs to rhesus macaques. The humoral immunity, cellular immunity, coagulation and physiological indicators of the recipient monkeys were monitored. The function and pathological changes of the transplanted kidneys were analyzed using ultrasonography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining. Results Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exon 4 of the GGTA1 gene in Diannan miniature pigs was designed. The pGL3-GGTA1-sgRNA1-GFP vector was transfected into fetal fibroblasts of Diannan miniature pigs. After puromycin selection, two cell clones, C59# and C89#, were identified as GGTA1 gene-knockout clones. These clones were expanded to form cell lines, which were used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The reconstructed embryos were transferred into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, resulting in 13 fetal pigs. Among them, fetuses F04 and F11 exhibited biallelic mutations in the GGTA1 gene, and F04 had a normal karyotype. Using this GTKO fetal pig for recloning and transferring the reconstructed embryos into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, seven surviving piglets were obtained, all of which did not express α-Gal epitope. The binding of IgM from the serum of rhesus monkey 20# to GTKO pig PBMC was reduced, and the survival rate of GTKO pig PBMC in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was higher than that of wild-type pig. GTKO pig kidneys were harvested and perfused until completely white. After the left kidney of the recipient monkey was removed, the pig kidney was heterotopically transplanted. Following vascular anastomosis and blood flow restoration, the pig kidney rapidly turned pink without hyperacute rejection (HAR). Urine appeared in the ureter 6 minutes later, indicating successful kidney transplantation. The right kidney of the recipient was then removed. Seven days after transplantation, the transplanted kidney had good blood flow, the recipient monkey's serum creatinine level was stable, and serum potassium and cystatin C levels were effectively controlled, although they increased 10 days after transplantation. Seven days after transplantation, the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the recipient monkey increased, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels decreased. The activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and prothrombin time remained relatively stable but later showed an upward trend. The recipient monkey survived for 10 days. At autopsy, the transplanted kidney was found to be congested, swollen and necrotic, with a small amount of IgG deposition in the renal tissue, and a large amount of IgM, complement C3c and C4d deposition, as well as CD68⁺ macrophage infiltration. Conclusions The kidneys of GTKO Diannan miniature pigs may maintain normal renal function for a certain period in rhesus macaques and effectively overcome HAR, confirming the effectiveness of GTKO pigs for xenotransplantation.

In recent decades,the incidence of human papillomavirus(HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(OPSCC)has shown a marked increase.Significant changes have also occurred in the OPSCC diagnosis and treatment paradigm.Deter-mining HPV status prior to treatment is now essential,and radiotherapy/chemotherapy,immunotherapy,and minimally invasive surgical techniques have progressively emerged as key modalities for managing OPSCC.However,alongside these paradigm shifts,a comprehen-sive technical consensus guiding the entire diagnostic and therapeutic process for OPSCC patients is currently lacking.Given China's large population base and the rising incidence of OPSCC,an expert panel convened to develop a clinical technical consensus on OPSCC diagno-sis and management tailored to China's specific context.This consensus aims to further enhance and standardize understanding of OPSCC management techniques among relevant healthcare professionals.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum CXC chemokine ligand 1(CXCL1)and positive regulatory zone zinc finger protein 5(PRDM5)levels and lymph node metastasis of progressive gastric cancer and to analyze their predictive value for patients'prognosis.Methods 203 patients with progressive gastric cancer diagnosed in our hospital from June 2020 to March 2023 were selected and divided into the lymph node metastasis group(n=90)and the no-lymph node metastasis group(n=113)based on the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis,and the differences in the general information of the two groups were analyzed and compared,and the diagnostic value of CXCL1 and PRDM5 in lymph node metastasis of progressive gastric cancer was analyzed by plotting the ROC curve.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of lymph node metastasis in patients with progressive gastric cancer.Follow up for 2 years,draw Kapan Meier curves to compare the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer lymph node metastasis at different levels of CXCL1 and PRDM5.Results The CXCL1 level in the lymph node metastasis group was higher than that in the no-lymph node metastasis group,and its PRDM5 level was lower than that in the no-lymph node metastasis group(P<0.05).The AUCs for diagnosing lymph node metastasis of progressed gastric cancer were 0.755 and 0.844 for CXCL1 and PRDM5,respectively,and the AUC for the combination of the two was 0.898(95%CI 0.848～0.936).The sensitivity and specificity were 88.89%and 77.88%,respectively(P<0.05).Tumor size,differentation degree,serum CEA,serum CA19-9,CXCL1,and PRDM5 levels were all risk factors for lymph node metastasis in patients with progressive gastric cancer(P<0.05).The survival time of patients with CXCL1>96.13 pg/mL is(15.13±0.85)months,while the survival time of patients with CXCL1≤96.13 pg/mL is(19.06±0.66)months.The survival time of patients with CXCL1≤96.13 pg/mL is longer than that of patients with CXCL1>96.13 pg/mL(P<0.05).The survival time of patients with PRDM>100.85 pg/mL is(18.62±0.69)months,while the survival time of patients with PRDM≤100.85 pg/mL is(14.60±0.78)months.The survival time of patients with PRDM>100.85 pg/mL is longer than that of patients with PRDM≤100.85 pg/mL(P<0.05).Conclusion The abnormal expression of CXCL1 and PRDM5 is related to lymph node metastasis in patients with progressive gastric cancer,and the combined detection of the two is of high value in the assessment of lymph node metastasis and prognosis in patients with progressive gastric cancer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum （LDP） on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） and the expression of cancer stem cell （CSC） properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）. MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups， which were given 0.39， 1.94， 3.89 g·kg^-1·d^-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days， respectively， to prepare low-， medium-， and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry （FC）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay， Transwell invasion assay， and plate colony-forming assay， respectively. Western blot （WB） was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 （CXCL2）， E-cadherin， and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells， but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs， as well as the expression of TGF-β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased （P<0.05）. After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP， followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells， the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced （P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） in 4T1 cells. However， the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β， NF-κB， and CXCL2， reverse EMT， and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum （LDP） on epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） and the expression of cancer stem cell （CSC） properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells （MDSCs）. MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups， which were given 0.39， 1.94， 3.89 g·kg^-1·d^-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days， respectively， to prepare low-， medium-， and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry （FC）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay， Transwell invasion assay， and plate colony-forming assay， respectively. Western blot （WB） was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β （TGF-β）， nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 （CXCL2）， E-cadherin， and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. ResultsCompared with the normal group， LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells， but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs， as well as the expression of TGF-β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） were elevated （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased （P<0.05）. After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP， followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells， the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced （P<0.01）. The expressions of NF-κB， CXCL2， and N-cadherin were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the expression of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） in 4T1 cells. However， the proportion of CSC （CD44⁺CD24^-） was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β， NF-κB， and CXCL2， reverse EMT， and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration， invasion， and proliferation of 4T1 cells.