Background The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a vast area with a wide array of ecological environments, resulting in considerable regional variations in air pollution characteristics. Current research is limited by a scarcity of systematic, region-wide studies and risk assessments. Objective To assess the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to nine heavy metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) for the population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods From the 10th to the 16th of each month throughout 2023, atmospheric PM_2.5 samples were collected at designated monitoring sites in 12 leagues (cities) across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to analyze the characteristics and trends in concentration. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed to evaluate both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with the heavy metal elements beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), hydrargyrum (Hg), plumbum (Pb), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) and the metalloid elements stibium (Sb) and arsenic (As). Results In 2023, a total of 1206 valid PM_2.5 samples were analyzed from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The annual average PM_2.5 concentrations in Inner Mongolia, as well as in the cities of Ordos, Wuhai, and the Alxa League, all exceeded the national limit of 35 μg·m⁻³. The PM_2.5 concentrations across the leagues (cities) exhibited a clear seasonal variation, peaking in winter, followed by spring, and reaching a minimum in summer and autumn. The median PM_2.5 concentration in Ordos throughout the year was higher than that in the other leagues (cities) of the region. Concerning health risks, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with the 9 elements detected in each league (city) were all below 1, indicating acceptable levels. However, the non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn, Cr, and As were relatively high; specifically, Ordos City displayed the highest non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn (7.74×10⁻¹) and Cr (2.97×10⁻²), while Chifeng City recorded the highest value for As (2.34×10⁻³). The carcinogenic risk values for As, Cd, Cr, and Ni fell within the range of 1×10⁻⁹ to 1×10⁻⁵, representing an acceptable level. The health risks varied with age, and the elderly residents faced the highest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Conclusion While the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metals and metalloids within atmospheric PM_2.5 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are generally within acceptable limits, the potential risks that Mn, As, and Cr pose to the health of elderly people warrants particular attention, and Ordos and Chifeng cities exhibit notably higher health risks among other areas. It is recommended that regular, long-term monitoring be conducted, taking into account the specific conditions at monitoring sites across each league (city), and that targeted air quality management strategies be implemented to protect public health.

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancy in the urinary system over the world. Urine cytology and cystoscopy are important tools for bladder cancer diagnosis and recurrence monitoring. However, due to the limited sensitivity and invasive procedure, there is an urgent need to develop new non-invasive and highly sensitive liquid biopsy approaches. Urine biopsy is a research focus in the field and has great potential. This review focused on protein-based urine markers (including NMP22, BTA and UroVysion etc.) and DNA or RNA-based urine markers (including cfDNA, AssureMDx and Xpert BC Monitor etc.), which were used for bladder cancer diagnosis and recurrence monitoring, and summarized the sensitivity and specificity of each biomarker as well as their characteristics in the diagnosis and recurrence surveillance of bladder cancer. This study provides theoretical and empirical support for further optimization and application of these biomarkers in clinical practice.

Objectives:To analyze the correction of postoperative coronal imbalance in adult degenerative scoliosis patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery,and to explore the impact of leveling of the most tilted vertebra(L4 or L5)in the lumbosacral curve on the correction of coronal imbalance.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 61 patients(17 male and 44 female;aged 51 to 78 years,mean 63.57±8.41 years;body mass index 15.79-35.55kg/m2,mean 25.83±3.69kg/m2)who underwent degenerative scoliosis correction surgery between January 2019 and March 2023 in Tianjin Union Medical Center.The patients were catego-rized based on the Obeid classification and the length of fusion segments into concave long segment group(17 cases),concave short segment group(15 cases),convex long segment group(15 cases),and convex short seg-ment group(14 cases).Coronal radiographic parameters[Cobb angle,coronal balance distance(CBD),coronal tilt angle]and sagittal radiographic parameters(sagittal vertical axis,thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis,pelvic inci-dence,pelvic tilt,sacral slope)were measured on full spine anteroposterior and lateral X-rays preoperatively and on 3d postoperatively.The postoperative coronal and sagittal imbalance corrections were compared be-tween groups.Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle in the lumbosacral curve(L4 or L5)and postoperative CBD.The opera-tive time,blood loss,and visual analogue scale(VAS)pre-and postoperatively were compared between the four groups.Results:The postoperative coronal Cobb angle,CBD,and maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 of the concave long segment group,convex long segment group,and convex short segment group were statisti-cally different from those before operation(P＜0.05).In the concave short segment group,the postoperative coronal Cobb angle and maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 were significantly different from those before operation(P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between pre-and postoperative CBD(P=0.085).Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation(r=-0.570,P＜0.01)between postoperative CBD and coronal tilt correction ratio in the convex group,with the linear regression equation being postoper-ative CBD=32.81-28.38 x coronal tilt correction ratio.When the correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 exceeding 45％in convex coronal malalignment patients,it's predicted that the CBD could be corrected to within 20mm.No significant correlation was found between postoperative CBD and the coronal tilt correction ratio in the concave group(r=0.098,P=0.59).Patients in both the convex and concave short segment groups had shorter operative time and less blood loss than long segment groups.Postoperative VAS scores improved significantly in all groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions:In adult degenerative scoliosis patients with convex coronal malalignment,both short and long segment fusions are capable of correcting coronal imbalance.Concave coronal malalignment patients require long segment fusion for the correction of coronal imbalance.To achieve optimal coronal balance in convex coronal malalignment patients,a correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 shall exceed 45％.

There is no effective treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer that developed from primary prostate cancer. With the deepening research of human gastrointestinal microbiota, it indicated that all kinds of tumors including castration-resistant prostate cancer might be associated with the characteristic changes of gastrointestinal flora, and it might affect the progress of the tumor through multiple ways. The gastrointestinal microbiota of patients could promote the conversion of androgen precursors to active androgens; could participate in the regulation of thymus function and change the immune activity of the body; could provide raw materials such as glutamate and phosphatidylcholine for tumor growth and metabolism. It may also cause local or systemic inflammation in the digestive tract, and then may lead to the occurrence and development of prostate cancer and the formation of castration resistance. This article reviewed the relationship between gut microbiota and the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer from several molecular mechanisms, in order to provide clues for further research in the future.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) represents a variety of sensorineural deafness conditions characterized by abnormal inner hair cells and/or auditory nerve function, but with the preservation of outer hair cell function. ANSD represents up to 15% of individuals with hearing impairments. Through mutation screening, bioinformatic analysis and expression studies, we have previously identified several apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mitochondria-associated 1 (AIFM1) variants in ANSD families and in some other sporadic cases. Here, to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying each AIFM1 variant, we generated AIF-null cells using the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and constructed AIF-wild type (WT) and AIF-mutant (mut) (p.‍T260A, p.‍R422W, and p.‍R451Q) stable transfection cell lines. We then analyzed AIF structure, coenzyme-binding affinity, apoptosis, and other aspects. Results revealed that these variants resulted in impaired dimerization, compromising AIF function. The reduction reaction of AIF variants had proceeded slower than that of AIF-WT. The average levels of AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells were only 34.5%‍‒‍49.7% of that of AIF-WT cells, resulting in caspase-independent apoptosis. The average percentage of apoptotic cells in the variants was 12.3%‍‒‍17.9%, which was significantly higher than that (6.9%‍‒‍7.4%) in controls. However, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) treatment promoted the reduction of apoptosis by rescuing AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells. Our findings show that the impairment of AIF dimerization by AIFM1 variants causes apoptosis contributing to ANSD, and introduce NADH as a potential drug for ANSD treatment. Our results help elucidate the mechanisms of ANSD and may lead to the provision of novel therapies.
Humans ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor/metabolism* ; NAD/metabolism* ; Dimerization ; Apoptosis

The clinical data of 10 patients with prostate abscess admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Summarize its diagnosis and treatment characteristics and its clinical efficacy. Prostatic abscess can generally be effectively controlled by timely, adequate and effective antibiotic treatment and active control of comorbidities. Prostate abscess deroofing might be an effective treatment for patients with the failure of conservative antibiotic treatment.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) represents a variety of sensorineural deafness conditions characterized by abnormal inner hair cells and/or auditory nerve function, but with the preservation of outer hair cell function. ANSD represents up to 15％ of individuals with hearing impairments. Through mutation screening, bioinformatic analysis and expression studies, we have previously identified several apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mitochondria-associated 1 (AIFM1) variants in ANSD families and in some other sporadic cases. Here, to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying each AIFM1 variant, we generated AIF-null cells using the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and constructed AIF-wild type (WT) and AIF-mutant (mut) (p.T260A, p.R422W, and p.R451Q) stable transfection cell lines. We then analyzed AIF structure, coenzyme-binding affinity, apoptosis, and other aspects. Results revealed that these variants resulted in impaired dimerization, compromising AIF function. The reduction reaction of AIF variants had proceeded slower than that of AIF-WT. The average levels of AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells were only 34.5％?49.7％ of that of AIF-WT cells, resulting in caspase-independent apoptosis. The average percentage of apoptotic cells in the variants was 12.3％?17.9％, which was significantly higher than that (6.9％?7.4％) in controls. However, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) treatment promoted the reduction of apoptosis by rescuing AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells. Our findings show that the impairment of AIF dimerization by AIFM1 variants causes apoptosis contributing to ANSD, and introduce NADH as a potential drug for ANSD treatment. Our results help elucidate the mechanisms of ANSD and may lead to the provision of novel therapies.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and its associated risk factors of lower urinary tract symptoms in young Chinese obese males. Methods: A total of 126 young males aged 20-40 years admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University were enrolled into two different groups in this study, including 74 obese patients visited metabolic weight loss clinic were included in the experimental group, and 52 conditionally healthy persons were included in the control group. Blood pressure (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure), insulin resistance (fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide), blood lipid metabolism (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and sex hormones (estrogen) of the two groups of subjects. Hormones, serum testosterone), C-reactive protein (CRP), International prostate symptom score (IPSS) and quality of life score (QOL). were compared between the two groups of subjects. Comparisons of measurement data between groups were statistically analyze by t test, expressed by mean ± standard deviation (Mean±SD); the correlation between body mass index and LUTS was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation, and the risk factors of LUTS and clinical variables were analyzed by univariate logistic regression. The significant variables were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: There were significant statistical differences between experimental group and control group in terms of systolic blood pressure [(144.30±15.78) mmHg vs (125.9±66.11) mmHg, P<0.001], diastolic blood pressure [(89.46±12.76) mmHg vs (81.35±4.58) mmHg, P=0.001], and fasting blood glucose [(6.73±3.15) mmol/L vs (5.26±1.47) mmol/L, P=0.016], insulin [(26.60±19.09) mg/dL vs (13.43±7.68) mg/dL, P<0.001], C-peptide [(4.20±1.73) ng/mL vs (1.59±0.52) ng/mL, P=0.001], triglycerides [(2.42±1.88) mg/dL vs (1.45±0.79) mg/dL, P=0.007), estrogen [(52.32±21.77) ng/L vs (42.11±12.19) ng/L, P=0.023] and CRP [(6.49±4.96) mg/L vs (1.62±1.53) mg/L, P=0.037], but no statistical difference regarding high-density lipoprotein [(1.10±0.55) mg/dL vs (1.06±0.26) mg/dL, P=0.669] and serum testosterone [(275.00±100.68) ng/dL vs (280.28±85.52) ng/dL, P=0.823]. In addition, the experimental group had higher IPSS[(3.81±1.88) scores vs (0.69±0.30) scores, P<0.001] and QOL scores [(2.76±0.68) scores vs (0.12±0.08) scores, P<0.001] than the control group, and higher risk of LUTS [86.49% vs 42.31%, P<0.001], especially moderate LUTS ( 21.62% vs 0, P=0.011). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that obesity (body mass index≥30 kg/m²) was significantly associated with moderate LUTS risk (r=0.407, P<0.001); Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure, insulin, and C-peptide were important risk factors of moderate LUTS in young obese patients (P=0.009, 0.029, 0.002). Systolic blood pressure and fasting C-peptide were independent risk factors by multivariate logistic regression analysis (P=0.011, 0.003). Conclusions The middle severity of LUTS was prevalent in young obese males, and systolic blood pressure and C-peptide were its significant independent risk factors.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of stress urinary incontinence after transurethral enucleation of prostate.Methods:A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 326 patients who underwent transurethral enucleation of prostate at the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University due to benign prostatic hyperplasia from March 2016 to December 2019. Patients were divided into stress urinary incontinence group ( n=78) and non-stress urinary incontinence group ( n=248) according to whether there was stress urinary incontinence one week after the catheter was removed. Age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, prostate volume, the time of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), total prostate specific antigen, preoperative indwelling catheter status, operation type, operation time, percentage of hemoglobin reduction and catherization time were compared between the two groups. Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( Mean± SD), and t-test was used for comparison between groups; Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method was used for comparison of count data between groups. Single factor and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to screen independent predictors. Results:Age [(73.9±7.3) years vs (69.5±7.8) years, P<0.001], body mass index [(25.6±3.0) kg/m 2vs (24.6±2.9) kg/m 2, P=0.004], the time of LUTS [(5.42±5.65) years vs (5.05±5.19) years, P=0.008], and hypertension (57.7% vs 43.6%, P=0.037), prostate volume [(77.1±33.2) mL vs (62.5±30.2) mL, P<0.001], operation time [(115.0±45.7) min vs (99.8±41.4) min, P=0.006] in stress urinary incontinence group were significantly higher than those in the non-stress urinary incontinence group, the differences were statistically significant. Age ( OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07, P<0.001), body mass index ( OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.14, P=0.003), LUTS ( OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.14-1.29, P=0.015)and prostate volume ( OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.10-1.11, P=0.011) were independent risk factors for stress urinary incontinence after transurethral enucleation of prostate by multivariate Logistic regression analysis. Conclusion:Age≥70years, body mass index≥25 kg/m 2, LUTS during≥5 years and prostate volume≥75 mL are independent risk factors for stress urinary incontinence after transurethral enucleation of prostate.

[Objective]To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2C19 gene in the elderly Chinese Han populations of Guangzhou,and compare the frequencies of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in different populations,in order to provide accurate data for the appropriate prescription.[Methods]To detect the genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2C19 gene by the DNA microarray,and compare the frequencies of CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms in Chinese Han populations from different areas and the different races.[Results]There were 2312 case samples in our study. The allele frequencies of CYP2C19*1,CYP2C19*2 and CYP2C19*3 were 64.27%,30.75%,and 4.98%,respectively. As the genotype,EM(*1/*1)was 41.44%(n=958),IM(*1/*2,*1/*3)was 45.67%(n=1056),and PM(*2/*2,*2/*3 and*3/*3)was 12.89%(n=298). The ratios of EM and IM in Chinese Han populations from different areas and all the subtypes of the CYP2C19 genotype in different minority were statistically significant. As the races,there were difference in all the subtypes of the CYP2C19 genotype when Asian populations were compared with white races(P<1304.64)and black races(P<0.01),which was also statistically significant.[Conclusions]The distributions of the CYP2C19 gene polymorphisms were significantly different in Chinese han populations and in different races,and the main subtypes of the CYP2C19 genotype in the elderly of Chinese han populations were IM and EM,which is beneficial for prescribing appropriate in the elderly populations.