BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Immunotherapy has been widely used in cancer treatment in recent years and functions by stimulating the immune system to kill tumor cells. Radiation therapy (RT) uses radiation to induce DNA damage and kill tumor cells. However, this activates the body's immune system, promoting the release of tumor-related antigens from inactive dendritic cells, which stimulates the recurrence and metastasis of tumors in immune system tissues. The combination of RT and immunotherapy has been increasingly evaluated in recent years, with studies confirming the synergistic effect of the two antitumor therapies. Particularly, the combination of RT by dose adjustment with different immunotherapies has positive implications on antitumor immunity as well as disease prognosis compared with respective monotherapies. This review summarizes the current research status, progress, and prospects of RT combined with immunotherapy in cancer treatment. It additionally discusses the prevalent concerns regarding the dose, time window, and toxicity of this combination therapy.
Humans ; Neoplasms/radiotherapy* ; Immunotherapy/methods* ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Radiotherapy/methods*

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Objective To establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted platform for detection of parasite eggs, and to evaluate its detection efficiency and accuracy, so as to provide technical supports for elimination of parasitic diseases. Methods A total of 1 003 slides of Enterobius vermicularis, horkworm, Trichuris trichiura, Clonorchis sinensis, Taenia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma japonicum, Paragonimus westermani and Fasciolopsis buski eggs were collected, and converted into digital images with an automatated scanning microscope to create a dataset. Based on the Object Detection platform on the Baidu Easy DL model, an AI-assisted platform for detection of parasite eggs was created through procedures of uploading, labeling, training, evaluation and optimization. Then, 70% of the datasets were randomly selected for model training, and the precision, recall and average accuracy were calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of platform for recognition of parasite eggs. In addition, the platform was deployed on the computer and smart phone terminals for use. Results An AI-assisted platform for detection of parasite eggs was successfully created. If the platform was deployed using the public cloud application programming interface (API), the average accuracy, precision and recall of the platform were 93.42%, 92.55% and 89.32% for recognition of parasite eggs. If the platform was deployed using the offline software development kit (SDK), the average accuracy, precision and recall of the platform were 92.97%, 94.78% and 87.63% for recognition of parasite eggs. In addition, the precision of the platform was 97.00% and 96.23% for identification of Taenia and C. sinensis eggs, respectively. Conclusions The AI-assisted platform for detection of parasite eggs has been successfully created, which is high in the accuracy for recognition of parasite eggs and convenient in use. This platform may provide a powerful technical support for parasitic disease diagnosis.

Objective To explore the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on neuronal cell apoptosis after cerebral ischemia based on mediating Cav1 in regulating Wnt pathway.Methods Male wild-type(WT)and Cav1-/-(KO)C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operation group,model group and Buyang Huanwu Decoction group(18.5 g/kg).Cerebral ischemia model was prepared using middle cerebral artery occlusion method,and drug intervention was given for 14 days.Neurobehavioral score was performed,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of ischemic cortical area of brain tissue,TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in ischemic cortical area,immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis related proteins and Wnt1,glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)and β-catenin protein in ischemic cortical area.Results Compared with the same genotype sham-operation group,the neurobehavioral score of the model group mice significantly increased,neuronal cells in the ischemic cortical area showed vacuolar changes,with nuclear condensation and widened intercellular spaces,the apoptosis rate of nerve cells significantly increased,with increased expressions of Bax,GSK3β and decreased expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin(P<0.01).Compared with the same genotype model group,the neurobehavioral score of mice in Buyang Huanwu Decoction group were significantly decreased,the pathological damage of the ischemic cortical area improved,the apoptosis rate of nerve cells decreased,the expressions of Bax and GSK3β decreased,and the expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin increased(P<0.01).Compared with the WT model group,the KO model group showed an increase in neurobehavioral score,aggravated damage in ischemic cortical area,significantly increased neuronal apoptosis rate,and increased expression of GSK3β(P<0.05).Compared with the WT Buyang Huanwu Decoction group,the KO Buyang Huanwu Decoction group showed an increase in neurobehavioral score,aggravated damage in ischemic cortical area,significantly increased neuronal apoptosis rate,increased expressions of Bax and GSK3β,and decreased expressions of Bcl-2,Wnt1 and β-catenin(P<0.01).Conclusion Buyang Huanwu Decoction can inhibit neuronal cell apoptosis after cerebral ischemia,and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins by mediating Cav1 to regulate the Wnt signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect of down-regulating adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1(AD AR1)on the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells.Methods Lentiviral transfection was used to establish an ADAR1 knockdown cell line based on A549 cells.Then the cells were divided into negative control(shNC)and ADAR1 knockdown(shADAR1)groups,which were followed by a single-dose irradiation of 0 Gy and 6 Gy X-rays.Western blotting and RT-PCR were utilized to detect the expression of AD AR1 at protein and mRNA levels,respectively.CCK-8 assay,wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay were applied to measure cell proliferation and migration abilities.Meanwhile,clone formation assay was performed to detect the effect of down-regulating ADAR1 on the radiosensitivity of A549 cells.Flow cytometry and Western blotting were conducted to detect the expression levels of apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2.Immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were used to detect the expression level of γ-H2AX.Comet assay was performed to detect the level of cellular DNA damage.Twelve female nude mice(4～6 weeks old,weighing 16～18 g)were divided into shNC group,shADAR1 group,shNC+ionizing radiation(IR)group and shADAR1+IR group,with 3 mice in each group.The growth of tumor of different groups was observed with subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay.Results Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that the protein and mRNA expression of ADAR1 were significantly reduced in A549 shADAR1 cells(P＜0.05).CCK-8 assay,wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay indicated that down-regulation of ADAR 1 inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of A549 cells,and this inhibition trend became more obvious(P＜0.01)after IR.Cell clone formation assay showed that the clone formation rate of both groups was decreased,with the increase of radiation dose.But the number of formed clones was lower in the shADAR1 group than the shNC group.Flow cytometry and Western blotting displayed that down-regulation of AD AR1 increased the apoptotic rate and Bax expression in A549 cells(P＜0.01)and decreased Bcl-2 expression(P＜0.05),and the apoptotic rate and Bax protein level were further increased in A549 shADAR1 cells after IR(P＜0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was further decreased(P＜0.01).The number of γ-H2AX foci and protein level in A549 shADAR1 cells were significantly increased after IR(P＜0.05),and the results of comet assay showed that the DNA damage was more obvious in A549 shADAR1 cells after IR(P＜0.01).Subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice showed that the growth of subcutaneous tumour of A549 shADAR1 cells was significantly inhibited after IR(P＜0.01).Conclusion Down-regulation of ADAR1 significantly inhibits the proliferation and migration of A549 cells after IR and promotes apoptosis and DNA damage,and thereby increases the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Objective:To analyze the value of 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI)-04 PET/CT in the detection of myocardial injury in patients treated with anti-tumor therapy. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 164 patients who underwent 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT to evaluate the efficacy of anti-tumor therapy in Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University between August 2021 and March 2024. The patients were divided into 68Ga-FAPI-04-positive group ( n=63, 36 males, 27 females, age (66.7±9.6) years) and 68Ga-FAPI-04-negative group ( n=101, 42 males, 59 females, age (55.2±14.1) years) based on the uptake of left ventricular myocardium (LVM). Moreover, FAPI-04 uptake was analyzed based on different types and locations, and the corresponding SUV max differences were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test. The differences of SUV max between 68Ga-FAPI-04-positive group and 68Ga-FAPI-04-negative group were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U test. The clinical factors such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), previous history of coronary heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, cancer types and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment were collected, and their predictive values for LVM 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake were investigated by the binary logistic regression analysis. Results:Fifty patients of the 68Ga-FAPI-04-positive group (79.4%, 50/63) showed focal uptake of LVM, 7 patients (11.1%, 7/63) showed multifocal myocardial uptake, and 6 patients (9.5%, 6/63) showed diffuse myocardial uptake. A total of 127 uptake lesions were found, and most of them were located in the septum (37.8%, 48/127). The SUV max of LVM in 68Ga-FAPI-04-positive group and 68Ga-FAPI-04-negative group were 4.00(3.10, 5.40) and 1.31(1.20, 1.40) respectively ( z=-10.82, P<0.001). Differences of the SUV max among focal uptake group, multifocal myocardial uptake group, and diffuse myocardial uptake group were not significantly different (4.00(3.00, 5.10) vs 7.60(3.60, 9.30) vs 3.95(3.05, 5.05); H=3.81, P=0.149). There is no statistically significant difference either in FAPI uptake among different sites of LVM ( H=1.51, P=0.825). Age, previous history of coronary heart disease, BMI, LVEF and ICIs treatment were independent predictive factors for positive 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake in the LVM (odds ratio ( OR) values: 0.87-10.43, all P<0.05). Conclusion:68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT is a potential new imaging method for the visualization of myocardial injury in patients with anti-tumor therapy.

Objective:To observe the changes of serum C-terminal peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (CTX-1) and N-terminal lengthening peptide of type Ⅰ collagen (P1NP) in adult patients with skeletal fluorosis in the tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis area in Qinghai Province, and to find sensitive indicators for diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis.Methods:From April to August 2019, a case-control study was carried out in tea-drinking-borne endemic fluorosis area in Zhiduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and Gangcha County, Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province. According to the Diagnostic Standard for Endemic Skeletal Fluorosis (WS/T 192-2008), the clinical diagnosis and X-ray examination of skeletal fluorosis were carried out for permanent residents ≥25 years old and living for more than 10 years in the area, combined with face-to-face inquiry and investigation of past disease history, lifestyle and clinical manifestations. The patients with skeletal fluorosis and healthy people were selected as skeletal fluorosis group and control group, respectively. Randomized urine samples and fasting venous blood from the two groups were collected. The content of fluoride in urine was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the contents of CTX-1 and P1NP in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:A total of 127 people in the disease area were investigated, including 63 cases in skeletal fluorosis group and 64 cases in control group. There was no statistically significant difference in age and sex ratio between the two groups ( t = 0.42, χ 2 = 0.07, P > 0.05). The X-ray examination results showed that the patients with skeletal fluorosis were mainly mild, accounting for 71.43% (45/63); X-ray changes were mainly ossification of interosseous membrane and tendon. The urinary fluoride in control group and skeletal fluorosis group was 1.62 (1.12, 1.95) and 3.22 (2.38, 4.89) mg/L, respectively, with statistically significant difference between the two groups ( Z = 7.07, P < 0.001). The difference of serum CTX-1 and P1NP contents between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z = 2.00, 4.89, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The levels of serum CTX-1 and P1NP in patients with skeletal fluorosis are higher than those in healthy people. Serum CTX-1 and P1NP may be used as sensitive indicators for diagnosis of skeletal fluorosis.

Long-term clinical practice shows that Mongolian medicine not only has a unique effect on frequently-occurring and common diseases, but also has particularly remarkable effects on difficult diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. Molecular imaging technology, which based on imaging technology, displays special molecules on the tissue, cell, and subcellular level. By reflecting the changes on molecular level in vivo, lesions can be located, quantitatively and qualitatively imaged and analyzed. Non-invasive imaging in vivo is the most significant feature of molecular imaging technology. In the research of Mongolian medicine treatment, molecular imaging technology can present the characteristics of the lesions before and after treatment in vivo and in real time, dynamically evaluate the effect of drug treatment, and provide new ideas for exploring the efficacy of Mongolian medicine and developing new drugs.

Financial toxicity has a significant impact on the material, psychological, health, and behavior of colorectal cancer patients, leading to poor prognosis and even death. This article reviews the generation, current status, evaluation tools, influencing factors, and response strategies of financial toxicity in colorectal cancer patients, in order to provide reference for domestic research on financial toxicity.