Background In 2021, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) emerged as the forth leading cause of death in the world. However, the impact of air pollutants on COPD is still inconsistent across current studies. Objective To analyze the relationship between ambient sulfur dioxide (SO₂) exposure and hospital admissions for COPD in Lanzhou, and to examine the modified effects of SO₂ across different genders, age groups, and seasons. Methods A total of 20718 hospital admission records for COPD were collected from Lanzhou between 2016 and 2020, alongside synchronized data on SO₂ concentration and meteorological variables. A generalized additive model integrated with a distributed lag nonlinear model was used to assess the relationship and the lag effects between SO₂ exposure and COPD admissions. Potential confounders, including meteorological factors, day-of-the-week effect, and holidays, were controlled for, with a maximum lag period set at 7 d. Two-pollutant models and sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure robustness. Results are expressed as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results During the study period, the average daily number of COPD admissions was 11.34±7.03. The average mass concentration of SO₂ was (23.72±12.35) μg·m⁻³. SO₂ exposure was positively correlated with COPD admissions; specifically, each 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration was associated with an RR of 1.440 (95%CI: 1.317, 1.573). Stratified analyses found that at a cumulative lag of 7 d, the RRs were higher among females, individuals aged ≥65 years, and during the cold season. Conversely, no significant increase in COPD admission risk related to SO₂ was observed during the warm season. For every 10 μg·m⁻³ increase in SO₂ concentration, the RR was 1.483 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.678) for females, 1.441 (95%CI: 1.311, 1.583) for those aged > 65 years， and 1.595 (95%CI: 1.313, 1.937) during the cold season. Conclusion Short-term exposure to ambient SO₂ exposure in Lanzhou is associated with an increased risk of COPD admission. The association is more pronounced among females, the elderly (aged> 65 years) and during the cold season.

To study the microbiological contamination of endoscopic forceps channel at the time of reception and after disinfection, and gain a preliminary understanding of their real disinfection quality, then analyse the problems and make recommendations. A total of 115 endoscopes received at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from June 2022 to December 2023 were chosen. Microbiological sampling and strain identification of the endoscopic forceps channel were carried out at the time of reception of the endoscopes and after cleaning and disinfection, respectively, then the qualified disinfection rate and microbial detection rate were compared. The overall qualified disinfection rate after cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes received (91.3%, 105/115) was higher than that at reception (57.4%, 66/115, χ 2=37.026, P<0.001). The overall microbiological detection after cleaning and disinfection of endoscopes received (13.0%, 15/115) was lower than that at reception (48.7%, 56/115, χ 2=41.000, P<0.001), the detection rate of high pathogenic organisms after cleaning and disinfection (7.0%, 8/115) was lower than that at reception (29.6%, 34/115, χ 2=24.039, P<0.001), low pathogenic organisms after cleaning and disinfection (6.1%, 7/115) was lower than that at reception (19.1%, 22/115, χ 2=13.067, P<0.001). At the time of reception, the qualified disinfection rate was low and the microbiological detection rate was high, and there may become a greater risk of cross-infection; after cleaning and disinfection, the qualified disinfection rate was increased and the microbiological detection rate was decreased, which may greatly reduce the risk of patient infection. Therefore, it is recommended that attention should be paid to the disinfection quality monitoring of endoscopes received before putting into clinical use.

Objective:To study the correlation between hair fluorine level and hypertension of permanent residents in high altitude areas of Tibet Autonomous Region (Tibet).Methods:A random cluster sampling method was used to select 5 villages in the high altitude areas of Tibet from June to August 2021 and June to August 2022, respectively, and questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical indicator testing were conducted on permanent Tibetan residents in the above mentioned villages. At the same time, hair samples were collected, the hair fluorine level was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the correlation between various indicators and hair fluorine level and hypertension was analyzed.Results:A total of 227 individuals were included, with hair fluorine level of (15.06 ± 0.16) mg/kg. Correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between the study subjects' systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, pulse, neck circumference, chest circumference, uric acid level and hair fluorine level ( P > 0.05). Abdominal circumference, hip circumference, and hemoglobin level were positively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = 0.23, 0.14, 0.29, P < 0.05), while blood glucose level and finger pulse oxygen were negatively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = - 0.23, - 0.24, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.06), chest circumference ( OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.20), and hair fluorine level ( OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.46) had an impact on hypertension ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between hair fluoride level and hypertension in the population of high altitude areas in Tibet.

Objective To compare the effects of perfusion tube and pressure air gun on endoscopic channels drying by using the stripped endoscope model,so as to explore the application value of perfusion tube in endoscopic channels drying.Methods After the standard manual cleaning and disinfection process,the stripped endoscope model was randomly divided into group A and group B.Each group was subjected to 30 tests.Group A was injected with a perfusion tube,and group B was injected with a pressure air gun.The liquid residues in the endoscope tubes were observed visually and with a magnifying lens,and the time of thorough drying of the endoscope channels and the physical fatigue of the operators were compared between the two groups.Results The average drying time of the group A was(366.47±75.74)s,the average drying time of the group B was(338.40±65.81)s,there was no significant difference between the two groups(t=-1.53,P=0.131).The fatigue degree of the group A was lower than group B(t=16.79,P＜0.01).Conclusion There is no statistical difference in the air delivery time between the perfusion tube and the pressure air gun drying endoscopic tube,and the operator's physical fatigue is light when the perfusion tube is used,so it is recommended to use the perfusion tube drying endoscopic tube in clinic.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of 18F-AlF-1, 4, 7-triazacyclononane-1, 4, 7-triacetic acid (NOTA)-octreotide (OC) PET/CT and MRI in detecting liver metastases (LM) of neuroendocrine neoplasm (NENLM). Methods:18F-AlF-NOTA-OC PET/CT and MRI findings (dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and diffusion weighted imaging) of 44 patients (26 males, 18 females, age (53.8±13.4) years) with neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) confirmed by pathological or clinical follow-up in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from July 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the size of LM, patients were divided into 3 groups with long diameter ≤1 cm, 1 cm< long diameter ≤2 cm and long diameter >2 cm. According to the 2019 WHO pathological grade, patients were divided into G1, G2, G3 and neuroendocrine carcinoma groups. McNemar χ2 test was used to compare the difference in detecting LM and lesions between the two methods. Results:The detection rate of 18F-AlF-NOTA-OC PET/CT and MRI in patients with NENLM was 95.45%(42/44). Among 44 patients, 227 lesions were detected by PET/CT and 303 were detected by MRI. Based on lesion analysis ( n=307), the detection rate of 18F-AlF-NOTA-OC PET/CT for NENLM was lower than that of MRI (73.94%(227/307) vs 98.70%(303/307); χ2=66.96, P<0.001). For NENLM with long diameter ≤1 cm, 1 cm < long diameter ≤2 cm, long diameter >2 cm, the detection rates of MRI were higher than those of 18F-AlF-NOTA-OC PET/CT (98.72%(77/78), 93.55%(116/124), 97.35%(110/113) vs 47.44%(37/78), 73.39%(91/124), 87.61%(99/113); χ2 values: 5.88-36.21, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with 18F-AlF-NOTA-OC PET/CT, MRI has a higher detection rate for NENLM with different long diameters of NEN, especially for lesions with long diameter≤1 cm.

Objective To investigate the decolorization performance and key influencing factors of a novel low temperature plasma(LTP)on crystal violet(CV)simulated wastewater.Methods In this experiment,CV was used as the target pollutant and treated with LTP generated by argon atmospheric pressure plasma jet;the absorbance(A590)and chemical oxygen demand(COD)of CV solution were systematically evaluated before and after LTP treatment by adjusting the treatment volume,initial pH value,NaCl concentration,addition of Fe 2+and other parameters.The dynamic changes of active particles in the liquid were monitored.Results Compared with those of the control group,the A590 and COD values of LTP treatment groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).At the treatment time of 180 s,the decolorization rate and COD removal rate of CV solution reached 62.34％and 50.22％,respectively.Under the same treatment time(＞90 s),the A590 values in the 0.1 mol/L NaCl group,pH=9 or 11 group,and Fe2+group were lower than those in LTP-only treatment group,but the A590 values in the n-butanol group were higher(P＜0.05).The A590 values in 2 mL or 3 mL group were higher than those in 1 mL group(P＜0.05).Compared with CV solution treated with LTP,the H2O2 content in the activated water was higher while the NO3content was significantly lower than those in CV solutions(P＜0.05).Conclusion LTP has an efficient decolorization ability for CV solution.The decolorization of CV solution could be promoted by NaCl addition,Fe2+inclusion or high pH values,but was inhibited by the increase in treatment volume or the addition of n-butanol.The?OH and H2O2 generated by LTP played a key role in the decolorization process.

Objective To compare the induction effects of direct treatment with low-temperature plasma(LTP)and treatment with plasma-activated medium(PAM)on immunogenic cell death(ICD)of melanoma cells.Methods After direct treatment of melanoma cell line B16F10 with LTP and treatment of it with PAM for 24 hours,cell viability was detected by MTT assay.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and the expression of calreticulin(CRT)on the cell surface.The adenosine triphosphate(ATP)content in the culture medium was detected by an ATP detection kit.The content of high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)in the cell culture medium was detected by ELISA.B16F10 cells treated with LTP were co-cultured with immature dendritic cells(DC)DC2.4 cell line,and flow cytometry was used to detect DC surface molecules CD80 and CD86.Results Compared with the control group,both direct treatment and indirect treatment could lead to a decrease in the viability of B16F10 cells,an increase in the apoptosis rate,an increase in intracellular ROS,an increase in CRT expression,and an increase in the secretion of ATP and HMGB1(P＜0.05).At the same treatment time,the expression of CRT and the release of ATP in B16F10 cells directly treated with LTP were higher than those indirectly treated with PAM(P＜0.05).Compared with the DC2.4 group,the expression proportion of the DC cell maturation marker molecule CD80 was significantly increased in LTP-120s group,LTP-180s group,PAM-120s group,and PAM-180s group.The expression proportion of the DC cell maturation marker molecule CD86 was significantly increased in LTP-120s group,LTP-180s group,and PAM-180s group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion Both direct treatment with LTP and indirect treatment with PAM can induce ICD in melanoma cells.The direct treatment with LTP has a better induction effect.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between individual arsenic exposure and hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet Autonomous Region (referred to as Tibet).Methods:From June to August 2023, Tibetan residents aged 18 to 78 years who had resided in Bomi County and Chayu County of Nyingchi City, Tibet for at least 10 years were selected as the study subjects by cluster sampling. Questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical index testing were conducted on the study subjects. Meanwhile, hair samples were collected to determine the arsenic content. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hypertension.Results:A total of 447 Tibetan residents were included, with a hair arsenic content of (1.24 ± 0.02) mg/kg, including 155 hypertensive patients (34.68%). There were statistically significant differences in age, blood oxygen saturation, neck circumference, waist hip ratio, hemoglobin, hair arsenic, blood glucose, uric acid, and smoking status between the hypertension and normal blood pressure groups ( P < 0.05). The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.07), uric acid ( OR = 1.00, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.01), hair arsenic ( OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.84), and smoking ( OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05 - 4.69) were risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion:The hair arsenic content is a risk factor for hypertension of Tibetan residents in Nyingchi City, Tibet.

Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence trend and age-specific characteristics of esophage-al cancer in cancer registration areas of Gansu Province from 2010 to 2021,and predict the incidence of esophageal cancer from 2022 to 2030.Methods Based on the incidence data of esophageal cancer in 15 cancer registries in Gansu Province from 2010 to 2021,the incidence was calculated by age,sex,urban and rural areas.The age-standardized incidence by Chinese standard population(ASIRC)was standardized using the 2000 Chinese standard population.Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the change trend of esophageal cancer incidence,and the average annual percentage change(AAPC)was calculated to quantify the overall rate of change.A birth cohort model was constructed to analyze incidence trend of different birth groups from 1930 to 2021,and the Bayesian age-period-cohort(BAPC)model was used to predict incidence.Results From 2010 to 2021,the ASIRC of esophageal cancer in Gansu Province showed a significant downward trend(AAPC=-14.47％,95％CI:-18.72％--9.99％,P＜0.001).The ASIRC in men decreased at an annual rate of 13.02％(AAPC=-13.02％,95％CI:-17.28％--8.54％,P＜0.001),the incidence of esophage-al cancer in women at a rate of 15.80％per year(AAPC=-15.80％,95％CI:-20.69％--10.61％,P＜0.001).The ASIRC of e-sophageal cancer in urban areas decreased at an annual rate of 15.32％(AAPC=-15.32％,95％CI:-21.04％--9.18％,P＜0.001);ASIRC of esophageal cancer in rural areas decreased at a rate of 5.33％per year(AAPC=-5.33％,95％CI:-8.94％--1.58％,P＜0.001).From 2010 to 2021,the incidence of esophageal cancer in all age groups showed a significant downward trend(AAPC:-19.59％to-9.18％).The birth cohort analysis revealed that the incidence of esophageal cancer in people over 40 years old in the province,men,women,urban and rural areas showed a downward trend with increase of birth years.BAPC model predicted that that the ASIRC of esophageal cancer for the total province population,men and women would decrease from 6.47/100,000,10.02/100,000,and 2.95/100,000 in 2021 to 1.31/100,000,1.72/100,000,and 0.91/100,000 in 2030,respectively.Conclu-sions The incidence of esophageal cancer in Gansu Province showed a downward trend from 2010 to 2021,but men and rural areas were still the focus of high incidence.The prediction indicates that the incidence of esophageal cancer in Gansu Province will further decline by 2030,suggesting that the prevention and control measures have achieved results;however,it is still necessary to strengthen the intervention and long-term monitoring of high-risk groups.

Objective To compare the effects of perfusion tube and pressure air gun on endoscopic channels drying by using the stripped endoscope model,so as to explore the application value of perfusion tube in endoscopic channels drying.Methods After the standard manual cleaning and disinfection process,the stripped endoscope model was randomly divided into group A and group B.Each group was subjected to 30 tests.Group A was injected with a perfusion tube,and group B was injected with a pressure air gun.The liquid residues in the endoscope tubes were observed visually and with a magnifying lens,and the time of thorough drying of the endoscope channels and the physical fatigue of the operators were compared between the two groups.Results The average drying time of the group A was(366.47±75.74)s,the average drying time of the group B was(338.40±65.81)s,there was no significant difference between the two groups(t=-1.53,P=0.131).The fatigue degree of the group A was lower than group B(t=16.79,P＜0.01).Conclusion There is no statistical difference in the air delivery time between the perfusion tube and the pressure air gun drying endoscopic tube,and the operator's physical fatigue is light when the perfusion tube is used,so it is recommended to use the perfusion tube drying endoscopic tube in clinic.