Background Hypertension is one of the chronic diseases with the highest prevalence in China, and a history of hypertension may potentially exacerbate hearing loss. Investigating the association between long-term blood pressure trends and hearing thresholds could contribute to hearing protection efforts for occupationally noise-exposed populations. Objective By investigating hearing thresholds and blood pressure levels among occupationally noise-exposed workers in an urban rail transit enterprise, and conducting a comprehensive analysis of the association between long-term blood pressure changes and hearing thresholds, to provide data references for health management strategies targeting occupationally noise-exposed workers. Methods Workers exposed to occupational noise at a rail transit enterprise were enrolled as study subjects and underwent pure-tone audiometry. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify blood pressure trajectories. Categorical data were compared using chi-square tests, while normally distributed continuous variables were analyzed via t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were subsequently applied toexamine associations between these trajectory groups and high-frequency hearing thresholds. Results Among 2 002 occupationally noise-exposed workers, the median (P₂₅, P₇₅) age was 32 (28, 35) years, with a median (P₂₅, P₇₅) working tenure of 7 (3, 10) years. In 2019, the positive hypertension rate was 9.04%, with a mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) of (122.97±11.60) mmHg and a mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of (76.37±9.02) mmHg. The hearing loss prevalence was 10.1%, showing bilateral high-frequency average hearing thresholds of (17.18±8.71) dB and speech-frequency average thresholds of (13.79±3.46) dB. Three distinct trajectory groups were identified for both SBP and DBP. Compared with other trajectory groups, the high-stable DBP group exhibited significantly higher hearing loss prevalence (χ²=6.34, P=0.042) and elevated high-frequency hearing thresholds (all Ps<0.05). Specifically, within the 30-39 age subgroup, the moderate-stable DBP group demonstrated 1.96 dB lower high-frequency thresholds than the high-stable group [β(95%CI): −1.96 (−3.61, −0.32), P=0.020]. Conclusion Among occupationally noise-exposed workers in a municipal rail transit enterprise, DBP trajectories demonstrated a positive association with high-frequency hearing thresholds. Notably, in young and middle-aged occupationally noise-exposed populations, DBP may exert a more critical influence than SBP on the progression of hearing loss.

The existing epilepsy seizure detection algorithms have problems such as overfitting and poor generalization ability due to high reliance on manual labeling of electroencephalogram's data and data imbalance between seizure and interictal periods. An unsupervised learning detection method for epileptic seizure that jointed graph attention network (GAT) and Transformer framework (GAT-T) was proposed. In this method, channel correlations were adaptively learned by GAT encoder. Temporal information was captured by one-dimensional convolution decoder. Combining outputs of the two mentioned above, predicted values for electroencephalogram were generated. The collective anomaly score was calculated and the detection threshold was determined. The results demonstrated that GAT-T achieved the average performance exceeding 90% (or 99%) with a 0.25 s (or 2 s) time segment length, which could effectively detect epileptic seizures. Moreover, the channel association probability matrix was expected to assist clinicians in the initial screening of the epileptogenic zone, and ablation experiments also reflected the significance of each module in GAT-T. This study may assist clinicians in making more accurate diagnostic and therapeutic decisions for epilepsy patients.
Humans ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Epilepsy/physiopathology* ; Algorithms ; Seizures/physiopathology* ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical significance of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in response evaluation and relapse monitoring for patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). METHODS: The clinical characteristics, efficacy and survival of 38 PMBCL patients in our hospital from January 2010 to April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The ctDNA monitoring was conducted by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). RESULTS: Among the 38 patients, 26 cases were female, and 32 cases were diagnosed with Ann Arbor stage I-II. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate and progression-free survival (PFS) rate were 74.7% and 61.7%, respectively. Males and those with high aaIPI scores (3 points) had a relatively poor prognosis. The NGS results of 23 patients showed that STAT6 (65.2%), SOCS1 (56.5%), and TNFAIP3 (56.5%) were the most common mutated genes. Patients with stable disease (SD)/progressive disease (PD) exhibited enrichment in cell cycle, FoxO, and TNF signaling pathways. A total of 29 patients underwent end-of-treatment PET/CT (EOT PET/CT), and 16 of them received ctDNA monitoring with 12 negative. Among 6 patients with EOT PET/CT positive (Deauville 4), 4 underwent ctDNA monitoring, and 3 of them were negative, being still in continuous remission without any subsequent anti-tumor therapy. CONCLUSION CtDNA may be combined with PET/CT to assess efficacy, monitor relapse, and guide treatment of PMBCL.
Humans ; Circulating Tumor DNA/blood* ; Female ; Mediastinal Neoplasms ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Prognosis ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Mutation

Objective： Varicocele (VC) induces male infertility by mediating changes in the testicular microenvironment, in which testicular hypoxia and high-pressure are important pathological conditions. This study aims to compare the mouse spermatogenesis (GC-2spd) cells and Sertoli (TM4) cells of mouse testis after hypoxic modeling and hypoxic and high-pressure combined modeling, and to explore the feasibility of establishing a hypoxic and high-pressure combined cell model. Methods： On the basis of cell hypoxia induced by CoCl2, the complex model of testicular cell hypoxia and high pressure was constructed by changing the osmotic pressure of GC-2 and TM4 cell medium with a high concentration of NaCl solution. After selecting the intervention concentration of CoCl2 by MTT test and detecting the expression level of HIF-1α for the determination of the optimal osmotic pressure conditions of the cell model, the cells were divided into normal group, hypoxia model group and composite model group. And the levels of OS, programmed cell death, inflammatory factors, and the expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins were compared between the normal group and the groups with different modeling methods. Results： The optimal intervention concentration of CoCl2 in GC-2 and TM4 cells was 150 and 250μmol/L, respectively, and the expression of HIF-1α was the highest in both cells under osmotic pressure of 500 mOsmol/kg (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the SOD levels of GC-2 and TM4 cells decreased (all P<0.05), CAT level decreased (all P<0.05), and MDA level increased (all P<0.01), and the OS level of GC-2 and TM4 cells was more obvious than that of the hypoxia model group (all P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, apoptosis occurred in GC-2 and TM4 cells after composite modeling (all P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and COX-2 in GC-2 and TM4 cells significantly increased (P<0.01) and higher than those in hypoxia model group (P<0.05) and induced pyroptosis (P<0.01). The expression level of GSDMD increased (P<0.05). Conclusion： The cell model with hypoxia and high pressure combined modeling can not only induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of cells better than that with hypoxia alone, but also further cause inflammatory response damage and pyroptosis, which simulates the changes of testis microenvironment mediated by hypoxia and high pressure combined conditions in VC. This cell model can be used for studying the pathogenesis of VC-associated male infertility, evaluating drug efficacy, and exploring pharmacological mechanisms.
Male ; Animals ; Varicocele/pathology* ; Mice ; Testis/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cobalt ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Osmotic Pressure ; Spermatogenesis ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Infertility, Male ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups. RESULTS: After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.
Humans ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Emulsions ; Male ; Plant Oils/administration & dosage* ; Brucea/chemistry* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Drug Combinations ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Injections ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Aged ; Network Pharmacology

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

Objective : To investigate the effects of cinnamaldehyde(CA) on the growth, metastasis and apoptosis of human endometriosis(EMs) cells and to explore whether the mechanism is related to ribosomal protein S7(RPS7) expression. Methods : Endometriosis cells were divided into control group, CA group, sh-NC group, CA+sh-RPS7 group. Effects of CA on cell growth in human endometriotic cells were determined using Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) and colony formation assay. Effects of CA on cell metastasis were performed by motility assay and Transwell assay. Effects of CA on cell apoptosis were evaluated by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the levels of PCNA, E-cadherin, Vimentin, Bax and Bcl-2 were evaluated using Western blot in human endometriotic cells with treatment CA. The expression of RPS7 was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. The RPS7 overexpression of human endometriotic cells was established by cell transfection. CA-mediated effects on cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry in human endometriotic cells with RPS7 overexpression. Results : CA repressed cell growth as well as down-regulated PCNA. The half inhibitory concentration(IC50) value was 53.60 μmol/L after 24 h treatment, and colony formation rate was 25.32%. Additionally, CA inhibited metastasis which was associated with downregulated Vimentin and upregulated E-cadherin. The relative migration rates were 35% and 29% as well as invasion rate was 40%. Further, CA induced apoptosis by cell cycle G2/M phase arrest and cell apoptosis rate was 25.1%, which related to the up-regulation of of Bax and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. CA inhibited the expression of RPS7 and overexpression of RPS7 promoted cell proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in CA-mediated cells. Conclusion CA inhibits cell growth, metastasis, and induces cell apoptosis by downregulating the expression of RPS7.

Objective To analyze the core curricula framework of speech-language-hearing rehabilitation technology in vocational colleges,and formulate the course objectives,content and teaching methods.By constructing competency-orient-ed curricula,it is aimed to develop comprehensive competencies among students,and ensure they can meet di-verse service needs. Methods WHO rehabilitation competency framework(RCF)5+2 structure was adopted to systematically analyze the ob-jectives,content,instruction and evaluation approaches of eight core curricula in speech-language-hearing reha-bilitation technology at vocational colleges.By incorporating international standards from International Associa-tion of Logopedics and Phoniatrics and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,the core curricula framework was designed to meet the educational needs in China.A contextualized teaching method that empha-sizes the integration of theory and practice was employed to ensure the comprehensive development of students'knowledge,skills,and professional competencies. Results A curricula framework that integrating theory with practice was established using RCF,covering various aspects from assessment to rehabilitation interventions.The content of eight core curricula and the corresponding rehabil-itation competencies were systematically analyzed using RCF,thereby systematic course objectives,content and teaching methods were constructed.This curricula framework encompassed core knowledge,skills and competen-cies in rehabilitation sciences,in order to ensure that students were equipped to handle complex service situations. Conclusion It is valuable to develop the competency-based core curricula for speech-language-hearing rehabilitation technology using RCF,for advancing competency-oriented vocational education.These curricula not only align with the current demand for highly skilled professionals in the rehabilitation industry,but also lay a foundation for students'continuous professional development.By emphasizing practical skills and interdisciplinary collabo-ration,the courses enable students to effectively function in dynamic rehabilitation environments,meeting di-verse rehabilitation needs.

[Objective]To analyze the value of grey-scale reversed T1-weighted(rT1)MRI in the detection of structur-al lesions of the sacroiliac joint(SIJ)in patients with axial spondyloarthritis(ax-SpA).[Methods]Fifty-two ax-SpA pa-tients who underwent both MRI and CT in our hospital within a week from February 2020 to December 2022 were retrospec-tively included.Both sacral and iliac side of each SIJ on oblique coronal images were divided into anterior,middle and pos-terior portion.Two radiologists reviewed independently three groups of MRI including T1-weighted imaging(T1WI),rT1 and T1WI+rT1 images to evaluate the structural lesions like erosions,sclerosis and joint space changes in each of the 6 re-gions of the SIJ.One of the radiologist did the evaluation again one month later.CT images were scored for lesions by a third radiologist and served as the reference standard.Intra-class correlation coefficients(ICC)were calculated to test the inter-and intra-reader agreement for the assessment of SIJ lesions.A Friedman test was performed to compare the lesion results of MRI and CT image findings.We examined the diagnostic performance[accuracy,sensitivity(SE)and specifici-ty]of different groups of MRI in the detection of lesions by using diagnostic test.A McNemar test was used to compare the differences of three groups of MRI findings.[Results]CT showed erosions in 71 joints,sclerosis in 65 and joint space changes in 53.Good inter-and intra-reader agreements were found in three groups of MRI images for the assessment of le-sions,with the best agreement in T1WI+rT1.There were no difference between T1WI+rT1 and CT for the assessment of all lesions,nor between rT1 and CT for the assessment of erosions and joint space changes(P>0.05).T1WI+rT1 yielded better accuracy and SE than T1WI in detection of all lesions(Accuracy erosions:90.3%vs 76.9%;SE erosions:91.6%vs 76.1%;Accu-racy sclerosis:89.4%vs 80.8%;SE sclerosis:84.6%vs 73.9%;Accuracy joint space changes:86.5%vs 73.1%;SE joint space changes:84.9%vs 60.4%;P<0.05).rT1 yielded better accuracy and SE than T1WI in detection of erosions and joint space changes(Accuracy erosions:87.5%vs 76.9%;SE erosions:88.7%vs 76.1%;Accuracy joint space changes:85.6%vs 73.1%;SE joint space changes:83.0%vs 60.4%;P<0.05).[Conclusions]In the detection of SIJ structural lesions in ax-SpA,rT1 improves the diagnostic perfor-mance and T1WI+rT1 is more superior to others.