Background Thyroid hormones are crucial for development and proper functioning of human physiological systems. Current research on the thyroid mainly focuses on the impacts of lifestyle factors on thyroid dysfunction, while less attention is paid to the factors affecting thyroid hormone levels, especially occupational hazards, which warrants further investigation. Objective To investigate the associations between occupational hazard exposure and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone levels in male coal mine workers. Methods A cross-sectional study design was adopted. A total of 12564 workers who participated in the occupational health check-ups at the Xishan Coal Electricity (Group) Corporation Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Institute in 2023 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as research subjects. A self-designed electronic questionnaire was used to collect basic information, occupational history, and lifestyle habits of all study subjects. Height, weight, thyroid function test results, and occupational hazard exposure of the study subjects were obtained through occupational health examinations and routine workplace occupational hazard detection records. Generalized linear regression was used to analyze the associations between occupational hazard exposure and the levels of TSH and thyroid hormones. Results The median (P₂₅, P₇₅) levels of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), and TSH in the included 12564 male coal mine workers were 1.16 (1.03, 1.29) ng·mL⁻¹, 7.70 (6.70, 8.90) μg·dL⁻¹, 3.63 (3.40, 3.84) pg·mL⁻¹, 1.19 (1.08, 1.30) ng·dL⁻¹, and 1.93 (1.36, 2.78) μIU·mL⁻¹, respectively. The overall abnormality rate of thyroid hormones was 2.83%, with the highest rate for subclinical hypothyroidism (1.83%), followed by hyperthyroidism (0.37%), hypothyroidism (0.32%), and subclinical hyperthyroidism (0.31%). After adjustment for confounding factors, the generalized linear regression model showed that long working hours were associated with higher levels of T3 and FT3, with β (95%CI) values of 0.011 (0.003, 0.019) and 0.038 (0.019, 0.057) respectively. Night shift work was linked to increased TSH levels and decreased FT4 levels, with β (95%CI) values of 0.171 (0.016, 0.326) and −0.012 (−0.019, −0.006) respectively. Coal dust exposure was associated with decreased levels of T3 and T4, with β (95%CI) values of −0.022 (−0.037, −0.008) and −0.320 (−0.434, −0.207) respectively. Noise exposure was related to decreased levels of T4 and FT4, with β (95%CI) values of −0.102 (−0.166, −0.038) and −0.020 (−0.027, −0.013) respectively. Conclusion The TSH and thyroid hormone levels of coal miners are mostly within the normal reference ranges, with a low abnormality rate. Long work hours, night shift work, coal dust, and noise are associated with the levels of TSH and thyroid hormone levels in the male miners. Coal companies should reasonably arrange working hours, optimize the night shift scheduling system, and enhance protection against coal dust and noise to promote occupational health and safeguard the physical health of miners.

In situ and real-time monitoring of responsive drug release is critical for the assessment of pharmacodynamics in chemotherapy. In this study, a novel pH-responsive nanosystem is proposed for real-time monitoring of drug release and chemo-phototherapy by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Fe₃O₄@Au@Ag nanoparticles (NPs) deposited graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites with a high SERS activity and stability are synthesized and labeled with a Raman reporter 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) to form SERS probes (GO-Fe₃O₄@Au@Ag-MPBA). Furthermore, doxorubicin (DOX) is attached to SERS probes through a pH-responsive linker boronic ester (GO-Fe₃O₄@Au@Ag-MPBA-DOX), accompanying the 4-MPBA signal change in SERS. After the entry into tumor, the breakage of boronic ester in the acidic environment gives rise to the release of DOX and the recovery of 4-MPBA SERS signal. Thus, the DOX dynamic release can be monitored by the real-time changes of 4-MPBA SERS spectra. Additionally, the strong T₂ magnetic resonance (MR) signal and NIR photothermal transduction efficiency of the nanocomposites make it available for MR imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT). Altogether, this GO-Fe₃O₄@Au@Ag-MPBA-DOX can simultaneously fulfill the synergistic combination of cancer cell targeting, pH-sensitive drug release, SERS-traceable detection and MR imaging, endowing it great potential for SERS/MR imaging-guided efficient chemo-phototherapy on cancer treatment.

Objective:To further elucidate the pathogenesis of hemifacial spasm by analyzing blinking reflex characteristics.Methods:A total of 63 patients with hemifacial spasm (hemifacial spasm group) who underwent neuroelectrophysiological evaluation in Department of Neurological Electrophysiology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were included as study subjects. Additionally, 58 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (trigeminal neuralgia group), 8 patients with post-facial paralysis associated exercise (post-facial paralysis associated exercise group), and 20 healthy volunteers (normal group) were selected as controls. Differences in facial nerve motor conduction velocity, complex muscle action potential latency, and blinking reflex characteristics including R1 latency, R1 amplitude, R2 initiation latency, R2 amplitude, R2 terminal latency, R2' initiation latency recorded on the affected side, R2' amplitude recorded on the affected side, and R2' terminal latency recorded on the affected side were collected and compared. Severity of hemifacial spasm was graded from grade 1 to grade 4 according to Samsung Medical Center scoring system; based on microvascular decompression findings regarding responsible blood vessels contacted with the facial nerve, patients were divided into one responsible blood vessel group and two or more responsible blood vessels group; trends or differences in incidences of increased/prolonged blink reflex indexes among all groups were analyzed.Results:No significant difference in facial nerve motor conduction velocity or complex muscle action potential latency was noted among the 4 groups ( P>0.05); the hemifacial spasm group had significantly higher R1 amplitude than the trigeminal neuralgia group and post-facial paralysis associated exercise group; additionally, the hemifacial spasm group had significantly higher R2 amplitude, R2' amplitude recorded on the affected side, R2 terminal latency, and R2' terminal latency recorded on the affected side compared with the other 3 groups ( P<0.05). Among patients with varying degrees of hemifacial spasm, increased incidences of increased R1 amplitude and prolonged R2 terminal latency were noted with increased spasm degrees, enjoying significant differences ( P<0.05). No significant differences in incidences of increased R1 amplitude, increased R2 amplitude, prolonged R2 terminal latency, increased R2' amplitude recorded on the affected side or prolonged R2' terminal latency recorded on the affected side were noted between one responsible blood vessel group and two or more responsible blood vessels group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Increased R1 amplitude and prolonged R2 latency in patients with hemifacial spasm further substantiate the pathogenesis of hyperexcitability within facial nerve nucleus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.08.024.].

Objective:Neonatal mice hypoxia model was established to observe the responses of the main neural cell types in cognition-related brain areas.Methods:Pups at postnatal day 2(P2)were subjected to 10％oxygen for suc-ceeding 5 days,and harvested at different development stage for histologic study.Immunofluorescence histochemistry was used to compare the changes of oligodendrocyte density,mature oligodendrocyte ratio and myelin protein level in corpus callosum(CC)and motor cortex(M1)after hypoxia,as well as the expression changes of excitatory and inhibi-tory neurons in anterior cingulate cortex(ACC),hippocampus(Hippo)and sensory cortex(S1).Furthermore,the density changes of different types of inhibitory intermediate neurons,microglia and astrocytes in ACC were compared.At the same time,the effect of hypoxia on the expression of synaptic proteins was also detected.Results:Quantitative immunofluorescence results showed lower myelin protein levels and mature oligodendrocyte ratio in CC and M1 of hypoxic mice compared with control mice.There was no significant difference in the number of excitatory neurons in ACC,but the number of gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA)neurons in ACC,Hippo,and S1 were significantly reduced,especially parvalbumin neuron,ssomatostatin neurons,and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide neurons in ACC.The number of excitatory synapses labeled by vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGluT1)and inhibitory synapses labeled by gephyrin were significantly decreased in ACC of hypoxic mice.Although there was no significant difference in astrocyte and microglia numbers,microglia were activated after hypoxic injury.Conclusion:Chronic hypoxia will lead to changes in the development of oligodendrocytes and interneurons,impair synapse formation.These results provide an important experimental basis for exploring the neural mechanism of diseases related to abnormal brain intelligence devel-opment.

OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress of the feasibility of a new treatment method for atrophic rhinitis (ATR) based on tissue engineering technology (seed cells, scaffold materials, and growth factors), and provide new ideas for the treatment of ATR. METHODS: The literature related to ATR was extensively reviewed. Focusing on the three aspects of seed cells, scaffold materials, and growth factors, the recent research progress of ATR treatment was reviewed, and the future directions of tissue engineering technology to treat ATR were proposed. RESULTS: The pathogenesis and etiology of ATR are still unclear, and the effectiveness of the current treatments are still unsatisfactory. The construction of a cell-scaffold complex with sustained and controlled release of exogenous cytokines is expected to reverse the pathological changes of ATR, promoting the regeneration of normal nasal mucosa and reconstructing the atrophic turbinate. In recent years, the research progress of exosomes, three-dimensional printing, and organoids will promote the development of tissue engineering technology for ATR. CONCLUSION Tissue engineering technology can provide a new treatment method for ATR.
Humans ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Rhinitis, Atrophic ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Cytokines

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of the frozen and fresh preparations of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells （hUC-MSC） on a rat model of liver cirrhosis after transplantation via the portal vein or the caudal vein. MethodsA total of 70 specific pathogen-free healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group （13 rats fed with ordinary tap water and rat food） and liver cirrhosis model group （57 rats given subcutaneous multi-point injection of mixed carbon tetrachloride/olive oil solution）. At week 8， the growth of rats was observed for both groups， and 3 rats were selected from each group for histopathological examination to confirm the formation of liver cirrhosis. A total of 50 rats were selected from the liver cirrhosis model and were divided into model group， portal vein group+fresh cell preparation group， portal vein+frozen cell preparation group， caudal vein+fresh cell preparation group， and caudal vein+frozen cell preparation group using a random number table， with 10 rats in each group. Fresh or frozen hUC-MSC were transplanted via the portal vein or the caudal vein， and after 4 weeks of administration， the different groups were compared in terms of the changes in liver function parameters and liver fibrosis degree. Continuous data were expressed as mean±standard deviation， and the independent-samples t test was used for comparison between two groups； a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsAt week 8 of modeling， the model group showed the formation of pseudolobules of different sizes in the liver and met the diagnostic criteria for liver cirrhosis， with significant increases in the levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， total bilirubin （TBil）， and alkaline phosphatase （ALP） compared with the normal group （all P<0.001）， suggesting that the rat model of liver cirrhosis was established successfully. There were significant differences in the levels of ALT， AST， TBil， and ALP between the five groups （F=232.00， 177.10， 112.30， 121.70， all P<0.001）. Further comparison between two groups showed that the model group had significantly higher levels of ALT， AST， TBil， and ALP than the normal group （all P<0.01）， and the portal vein group+fresh cell preparation group， the portal vein+frozen cell preparation group， the caudal vein+fresh cell preparation group， and the caudal vein+frozen cell preparation group had significantly lower levels of ALT， AST， TBil， and ALP than the model group （all P<0.01）. ConclusionThere are significant improvements in liver function and liver fibrosis degree in a rat model of liver cirrhosis at week 4 after the transplantation of hUC-MSC， and frozen or fresh cell preparation and different transplantation approaches have no significant influence on treatment outcome.

The adjacent anatomy of the pelvis is complicated, with digestive, urinary, reproductive and other organs as well as important blood vessels and nerves. Therefore, accurate resection of pelvic tumors and precise reconstruction of defects after resection are extremely difficult. The development of medical 3D printing technology provides new ideas for precise resection and personalized reconstruction of pelvic tumors. The “triune” application of 3D printing personalized lesion model, osteotomy guide plate and reconstruction prosthesis in pelvic tumor limb salvage reconstruction treatment has achieved good clinical results. However, the current lack of normative guidance standards such as preparation and application of 3D printing personalized lesion model, osteotomy guide plate and reconstruction prosthesis restricts its promotion and application. The formulation of this consensus provides normative guidance for 3D printing personalized pelvic tumor limb salvage reconstruction treatment.

Bone homeostasis is a relative balance between bone formation and resorption. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is closely related to bone homeostasis, takes part in multiple intracellular and extracellular signal pathways. STAT3 participates in the process of osteoblast differentiation regulated by several factors. It can also maintain bone homeostasis by regulating the recruitment, differentiation and activation of osteoclasts. In addition, STAT3 is involved in the interaction between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Patients with STAT3 mutations can have several inherited bone metabolism diseases. Furthermore, STAT3 plays a critical role in load-driven bone remodeling. Mechanical stimulation promotes osteoblast differentiation and bone formation through activating or enhancing STAT3 expression during bone remodeling process. This review summarizes the participation of STAT3 in maintaining bone homeostasis together with its possible mechanisms and discusses the connection between STAT3 and mechanical stimulation in bone remodeling, so as to provide a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of bone diseases.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and the overall burden of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Patients with type 2 diabetes and CSVD admitted to the Departments of Neurology and Departments of Cerebrovascular Diseases of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from June 2018 to July 2021 were enrolled retrospectively. An electromyography evoked potential meter was used to detect peripheral nerves and record the nerve conduction velocity, including median nerve, ulnar nerve, posterior tibial nerve, common peroneal nerve, and sural nerve. MRI examination and CSVD overall burden score were performed on all patients. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between DPN and nerve conduction velocity and the overall burden of CSVD. Results:A total of 142 patients were enrolled. Their age was 67.22±8.42 years; 65 were males (45.8%). The overall burden of CSVD: 69 patients were in 0-point group (48.6%), 32 were in 1-point group (22.5%), 19 were in 2-point group (13.4%), 12 were in 3-point group (8.5%), and 10 were in 4-point group (7%). Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in age, hypertension, DPN, median nerve motor conduction velocity (MCV), ulnar nerve MCV, common peroneal nerve MCV, median nerve sensory conduction velocity (SCV), ulnar nerve SCV, posterior tibial nerve SCV, common peroneal nerve SCV and sural nerve SCV among the different CSVD overall burden score groups (all P<0.05). Ordinal multi-classification logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [ OR] 1.051, 95% confidence interval [ CI]1.000-1.104; P=0.048), DPN ( OR 2.446, 95% CI 1.050-5.697; P=0.038), hypertension ( OR 3.578, 95% CI 1.627-7.867; P=0.002) were independently positively correlated with the overall burden of CSVD; common peroneal nerve SCV ( OR 0.972, 95% CI 0.946-0.998; P=0.035) and sural nerve SCV ( OR 0.940, 95% CI 0.917-0.964; P<0.001) were independently negatively correlated with the overall burden of CSVD. Conclusion:DPN is positively correlated with the overall burden of CSVD. Common peroneal nerve and sural nerve SCV are negatively correlated with the overall burden of CSVD.