Objective To quantitatively assess the exposure-response association between exposure to heatwave and sudden death, estimate the attributable excess deaths, and identify potential vulnerable subgroups. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among residents who died from sudden death in Jiangsu Province, China between 2015 and 2021. Heatwave events in Jiangsu Province, defined using varying relative temperature thresholds and durations, were identified using temperature data from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS V2.0). Individual heatwave exposure was assessed based on each subject's residential address. The exposure-response association between heatwave and sudden death was evaluated using conditional logistic regression model combined with a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model(DLNM). Heatwave-attributable excess deaths were estimated. Stratified analyses by sex and age were performed to assess potential effect modifications. Results Under all definitions, exposure to heatwave was significantly associated with an increased risk of sudden death, and the risk increased with the intensity of heatwave. Using the P95_3d definition (temperature exceeding the 95th percentile for ≥3 consecutive days), heatwave was significantlyassociated with a 56% increased risk of sudden death (95% CI: 31%, 86%). The population-attributable fraction of sudden death due to heatwave exposure was 1.45% (95% CI: 0.97%, 1.90%). Stratified analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in the association between heatwave exposure and sudden death across age or sex subgroups. Conclusion Heatwave exposure was associated with an increased risk of sudden death. Reducing heatwave exposure during summer may help lower the occurrence of sudden death.

Objective To evaluate the effect of LifePort combined with polymyxin B in preventing donor-derived infections caused by preservation solution contamination. Methods Clinical data of 110 kidney transplant recipients were retrospectively analyzed. According to the decontamination status of preservation solution, the recipients were divided into the decontamination group (n=62) and the non-decontamination group (n=48). The general data of the two groups were compared, and the preventive effect of polymyxin B on possible donor-derived infections (p-DDI) was analyzed, especially infections associated with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR GNB). Results There were no statistically significant differences in baseline data (gender, age, preservation solution contamination status, etc.) between the decontamination group and the non-decontamination group (all P > 0.05). The overall contamination rate of preservation solution was 80.0%, and 68 contaminated samples were with single microorganism and 20 with multiple microorganisms. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, Enterococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common microorganisms in the positive samples. Fifteen cases of preservation solution were contaminated by MDR GNB, including 10 cases in the non-decontamination group and 5 cases in the decontamination group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.053). Postoperative infection-related events occurred in 69 recipients, including 39 cases in the non-decontamination group and 30 cases in the decontamination group, with the incidence rate in the non-decontamination group significantly higher than that in the decontamination group (P < 0.001). Only 10 cases of infections were identified as p-DDI, all of which were positive for preservation solution culture, including 8 cases in the non-decontamination group and 2 cases in the decontamination group (P < 0.05). There were 5 cases of p-DDI related to MDR GNB in the non-decontamination group, while no such cases occurred in the decontamination group (P < 0.05). No adverse reactions related to polymyxin B were observed, and no recipient death or renal allograft dysfunction occurred in either group. Conclusions Adding polymyxin B to the preservation fluid during hypothermic machine perfusion with LifePort before renal transplantation may reduce p-DDI and its potential adverse consequences.

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Background Exposure to air pollutants increases the risk of diseases in multiple systems, including respiratory and cardiovascular systems, yet its association with neurological diseases remains unclear. Objective To quantitatively evaluate the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and outpatient and emergency visits for neurological diseases, identify potential susceptible populations, and quantify associated disease burden. Methods Daily 24-hour average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO), daily maximum 8-hour average concentration of ozone (O₃), daily meteorological data (24-hour average temperature, 24-hour average relative humidity), and data on daily outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases from two hospitals in Conghua District, Guangzhou, China, were collected from 2015 to 2022. A time-stratified case-crossover design was adopted, and a conditional Poisson regression model was constructed to analyze the association between air pollution exposure and neurological disease visits. Two-pollutant models and sensitivity analysis were used to validate model stability. Stratified analyses by season (cold season: from November to March; warm season: from April to October), sex (male, female), and age (≤45 years, 46–60 years, ≥61 years) were performed to identify vulnerable group. Additionally, the number and proportion of neurological disease visits attributable to short-term air pollutant exposure were calculated. Results A total of 72 673 outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases were included during the study period. Most of the patients were middle-aged and elderly individuals (69.89% were over 45 years old) and females (60.25%). The results of single-pollutant models showed that for each interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure to PM_2.5, PM₁₀, SO₂, NO₂, CO, and O₃, the risk of outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases increased by 7.54% (95%CI: 4.69%, 10.46%), 6.66% (95%CI: 3.92%, 9.46%), 16.72% (95%CI: 10.58%, 23.19%), 8.12% (95%CI: 4.82%, 11.53%), 5.60% (95%CI: 2.34%, 8.97%), and 6.11% (95%CI: 2.91%, 9.40%), respectively. The results of the two-pollutant model showed that the association between PM_2.5 and SO₂ exposure and outpatient and emergency department visits for neurological diseases were relatively stable. The stratified analyses showed that the effect of SO₂ was stronger in the cold season. It was estimated that 8.32% (95%CI: 5.55%, 10.96%) and 6.65% (95%CI: 4.27%, 8.96%) of the outpatient and emergency department visits were attributable to short-term exposure to SO₂ and PM_2.5, respectively. Conclusion Exposure to PM_2.5 and SO₂ is associated with increased risks of outpatient and emergency visits for neurological diseases. SO₂ shows stronger effects during the cold season, and exposure to air pollution contributes to up to 8.32% of neurological disease visits.

Objective:To explore the application effect of the attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory in adolescents with epilepsy, aiming to reduce negative emotions and improve self-management levels in children.Methods:This study was a quasi-experimental research. A convenience sampling method was used to select 78 adolescents with epilepsy who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Children′s Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (Hunan Children′s Hospital) from March 1 to August 31, 2023. The participants were assigned into two groups, the control group ( n=39) and the intervention group ( n=39), using a random number table. The control group received standard anti-epileptic treatment and routine nursing care, while the intervention group received the same treatment and care with the addition of a caring team providing attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory. Assessments were made at three time points: before the intervention, 4 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21), Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (ESMS), and Pediaric Quality of Life Inventory Measurement Methods (PedsQL TM4.0) were used to assess the participants′ scores. Results:In the control group, 23 were male and 16 were female, with aged of (13.49 ± 1.43) years. In the intervention group, 24 were male and 15 were female, with aged of (13.51 ± 1.45) years. After 4 weeks of intervention, the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (9.32 ± 2.04), (6.79 ± 2.44), and (13.63 ± 2.67), respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (10.43 ± 2.27), (8.43 ± 2.75) and (16.05 ± 3.32); the scores of ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (66.66 ± 10.87) and (73.63 ± 9.85), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (60.70 ± 10.24) and (67.27 ± 12.33), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -2.47 to 3.49, all P<0.05). After 12 weeks of intervention, the scores on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (5.47 ± 1.66), (3.37 ± 1.68) and (8.42 ± 2.24) for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (8.03 ± 1.98), (6.06 ± 2.64) and (11.28 ± 3.21) ;the scores for ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (74.66 ± 9.15) and (85.24 ± 7.00), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (65.36 ± 10.86) and (75.67 ± 11.39), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -4.33 to 6.03, all P<0.05). Additionally, there were statistically significant differences in the DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores, ESMS, and PedsQL TM4.0 scores across the different time points ( F values ranged from 4.65 to 1 134.03, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory can effectively reduce negative emotions in adolescents with epilepsy, improve their self-management skills, and further enhance their quality of life.

Objective To quantitatively assess the association of short-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with residents mortality. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among 10606 non-accidental residents by using the Guangzhou Cause of Death Surveillance System in Conghua District, Guangzhou. Exposure levels of PAHs in PM_2.5 and meteorological data during the study period were obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Conghua District and the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS-V2.0), respectively. Conditional Poisson regression model was used to estimate the exposure-response association between PAHs and the mortality risk. Results Fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. For every one interquartile range increase in exposure levels, the non-accidental mortality risks increased by 8.33% (95% CI: 1.80%, 15.27%), 4.67% (95% CI: 1.86%, 7.57%), 6.07% (95% CI: 2.08%, 10.21%), 4.62% (95% CI: 1.85%, 7.47%), and 4.70% (95% CI: 0.53%, 9.03%), respectively. The estimated non accidental deaths attributable to exposure to fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluorine, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were 5.91%, 6.08%, 6.51%, 6.46%, and 4.21%, respectively. Conclusions Short-term exposure to PAHs in PM_2.5, including fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality among residents.

Objective:To explore the application effect of the attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory in adolescents with epilepsy, aiming to reduce negative emotions and improve self-management levels in children.Methods:This study was a quasi-experimental research. A convenience sampling method was used to select 78 adolescents with epilepsy who were admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Children′s Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (Hunan Children′s Hospital) from March 1 to August 31, 2023. The participants were assigned into two groups, the control group ( n=39) and the intervention group ( n=39), using a random number table. The control group received standard anti-epileptic treatment and routine nursing care, while the intervention group received the same treatment and care with the addition of a caring team providing attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory. Assessments were made at three time points: before the intervention, 4 weeks after the intervention, and 12 weeks after the intervention. The Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS-21), Epilepsy Self-Management Scale (ESMS), and Pediaric Quality of Life Inventory Measurement Methods (PedsQL TM4.0) were used to assess the participants′ scores. Results:In the control group, 23 were male and 16 were female, with aged of (13.49 ± 1.43) years. In the intervention group, 24 were male and 15 were female, with aged of (13.51 ± 1.45) years. After 4 weeks of intervention, the scores of depression, anxiety, and stress on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (9.32 ± 2.04), (6.79 ± 2.44), and (13.63 ± 2.67), respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (10.43 ± 2.27), (8.43 ± 2.75) and (16.05 ± 3.32); the scores of ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (66.66 ± 10.87) and (73.63 ± 9.85), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (60.70 ± 10.24) and (67.27 ± 12.33), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -2.47 to 3.49, all P<0.05). After 12 weeks of intervention, the scores on the DASS-21 for the intervention group were (5.47 ± 1.66), (3.37 ± 1.68) and (8.42 ± 2.24) for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group: (8.03 ± 1.98), (6.06 ± 2.64) and (11.28 ± 3.21) ;the scores for ESMS and PedsQL TM4.0 in the intervention group were (74.66 ± 9.15) and (85.24 ± 7.00), respectively, which were higher than those of the control group: (65.36 ± 10.86) and (75.67 ± 11.39), the differences were statistically significant ( t values were -4.33 to 6.03, all P<0.05). Additionally, there were statistically significant differences in the DASS-21 depression, anxiety, and stress scores, ESMS, and PedsQL TM4.0 scores across the different time points ( F values ranged from 4.65 to 1 134.03, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Attention and interpretation therapy based on Swanson′s caring theory can effectively reduce negative emotions in adolescents with epilepsy, improve their self-management skills, and further enhance their quality of life.

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide.The treatment paradigm of HCC is shifting from traditional"single-modality resection"toward an integrated model featuring"multi-strategy synergy".In recent years,neoadjuvant therapies,particularly those combining interventional approaches with immunotherapy before surgery had attracted much attention.The current evidences and emerging trends of interventional and immune-driven strategies in neoadjuvant therapy for liver cancer were reviewed in this article.

To formulate an expert consensus on the principles of preoperative hair removal and provide scientific guidance for standardized removal of hair before surgical procedures so as to reduce the incidence of surgical site infections.METHODS Led by the Hospital Management Institute of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China,this consensus was reached with the joint efforts from the expects of relevant fields such as surgeries,interventional therapies,nursing,and infection prevention and control.The consensus facilitates the classification and evaluation of literatures by following the evidence grade formulated by Oxford Evidence-based Medicine Center and focuses on the association of preoperative hair removal with surgical site infection,it reaches the evidence grade of expert consensus and recommendation intensity by integrating with discussions on meetings and clinical experience of the expects from relevant fields.RESULTS A total of 6 items of consensus were reached by summarizing the latest evidence on the aspects including the indications for preoperative hair removal,tools,range,timing and places.CONCLUSION The consensus,to some extent,make supplements to and complete the exiting regulations and standards.It provides guidance for the medical institutions to carry out the preoperative hair removal.

Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide.The treatment paradigm of HCC is shifting from traditional"single-modality resection"toward an integrated model featuring"multi-strategy synergy".In recent years,neoadjuvant therapies,particularly those combining interventional approaches with immunotherapy before surgery had attracted much attention.The current evidences and emerging trends of interventional and immune-driven strategies in neoadjuvant therapy for liver cancer were reviewed in this article.