Objective:To explore the structural relationship between WMSDs in the upper limbs and various risk factors in the occupational population in China, based on a large sample epidemiological survey and structural equation analysis, and to establish a structural equation model, so as to lay a foundation for the prevention and control of such diseases.Methods:The Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Electronic Questionnaire was used to conduct a nationwide survey on the prevalence of WMSDs in the upper extremity. Six factors related to WMSDs in the upper extremity were extracted by the classification standard of adverse ergonomic factors and their source and confirmatory factor analysis, including work organization, work type, upper extremity work posture, individual factors, upper extremity fatigue and upper extremity WMSDs. The structural equation analysis was carried out and the structural equation model was established.Results:The incidence of WMSDs and fatigue in the upper limbs was 24.44% and 43.76%, respectively. The adjusted structural equation model fitting indicators were generally up to the standard (GFI=1.000, AGFI=1.000, RMSEA=0.043, NFI=0.808, TLI=0.784) . The four exogenous latent variables of work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and individual factors were correlated. There was a strong positive correlation between job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.865) , a moderate positive correlation between work organization and job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.570, 0.490) , and a weak negative correlation between individual factors and the other three exogenous latent variables. Upper limb work posture and individual factors had direct effects on upper limb WMSDs, and the effect coefficients were 0.10 and 0.06, respectively. Upper limb fatigue played a mediating role between work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and upper limb WMSDs. The effect coefficient was 0.46, and the composition ratios of indirect effects were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 38.3%, respectively. The direct path effect of upper limb work posture, individual factors and upper limb WMSDs was weaker than the mediating path through upper limb fatigue. Conclusion:When carrying out the prevention and control of upper limbWMSDs, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the pathogenesis path of upper limb muscle fatigue and upper limb WMSDs caused by work organization, work type, and upper limb work posture, so as to provide theoretical reference for improving the prevention and control level of such diseases.

Objective This study investigated feasible cases and their significance in promoting the"generalized"development of inspection through digital-intelligent equipment.Methods A qualitative research approach was used,involving interviews conducted between February 2025 and March 2025 with experts in traditional Chinese medicine diagnostics,clinical research methodology,medical engineering integration,and related disciplines,using both online and offline methods.In accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research,feasible cases involving the specific application of digital equipment in various parts of observation were collected through item enrichment.The significance of extending observation capabilities via these cases was analyzed,along with the overall implications of integrating digital technologies with traditional inspection method.Results Interviews were completed with 11 experts from domestic universities and research institutes in the fields of traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis,medical engineering integration,and related disciplines.A total of 78 feasible cases of digital-intelligent inspection were identified,along with 69 insights regarding the significance of enhancing the inspection capabilities.These insights were synthesized into two dimensions and 23 holistic meanings.The first dimension is to expand the scope of inspection,including obtaining internal environmental characteristics,observing external environmental characteristics,expanding thermodynamic characteristic data,and crossing time and space.The second dimension is to improve the quality of observation and diagnosis information collection and analysis,including 19 specific meanings,such as standardized collection environment,objective quantification,and refined observation.Conclusion Digital-intelligent equipment plays a significant role in expanding the scope of inspection content and achieving high-quality acquisition and analysis of extensive inspection information.These advancements extend and enrich the capabilities of traditional inspection method in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective This study investigated feasible cases and their significance in promoting the"generalized"development of inspection through digital-intelligent equipment.Methods A qualitative research approach was used,involving interviews conducted between February 2025 and March 2025 with experts in traditional Chinese medicine diagnostics,clinical research methodology,medical engineering integration,and related disciplines,using both online and offline methods.In accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research,feasible cases involving the specific application of digital equipment in various parts of observation were collected through item enrichment.The significance of extending observation capabilities via these cases was analyzed,along with the overall implications of integrating digital technologies with traditional inspection method.Results Interviews were completed with 11 experts from domestic universities and research institutes in the fields of traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis,medical engineering integration,and related disciplines.A total of 78 feasible cases of digital-intelligent inspection were identified,along with 69 insights regarding the significance of enhancing the inspection capabilities.These insights were synthesized into two dimensions and 23 holistic meanings.The first dimension is to expand the scope of inspection,including obtaining internal environmental characteristics,observing external environmental characteristics,expanding thermodynamic characteristic data,and crossing time and space.The second dimension is to improve the quality of observation and diagnosis information collection and analysis,including 19 specific meanings,such as standardized collection environment,objective quantification,and refined observation.Conclusion Digital-intelligent equipment plays a significant role in expanding the scope of inspection content and achieving high-quality acquisition and analysis of extensive inspection information.These advancements extend and enrich the capabilities of traditional inspection method in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective:To explore the structural relationship between WMSDs in the upper limbs and various risk factors in the occupational population in China, based on a large sample epidemiological survey and structural equation analysis, and to establish a structural equation model, so as to lay a foundation for the prevention and control of such diseases.Methods:The Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Electronic Questionnaire was used to conduct a nationwide survey on the prevalence of WMSDs in the upper extremity. Six factors related to WMSDs in the upper extremity were extracted by the classification standard of adverse ergonomic factors and their source and confirmatory factor analysis, including work organization, work type, upper extremity work posture, individual factors, upper extremity fatigue and upper extremity WMSDs. The structural equation analysis was carried out and the structural equation model was established.Results:The incidence of WMSDs and fatigue in the upper limbs was 24.44% and 43.76%, respectively. The adjusted structural equation model fitting indicators were generally up to the standard (GFI=1.000, AGFI=1.000, RMSEA=0.043, NFI=0.808, TLI=0.784) . The four exogenous latent variables of work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and individual factors were correlated. There was a strong positive correlation between job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.865) , a moderate positive correlation between work organization and job type and upper limb work posture ( r=0.570, 0.490) , and a weak negative correlation between individual factors and the other three exogenous latent variables. Upper limb work posture and individual factors had direct effects on upper limb WMSDs, and the effect coefficients were 0.10 and 0.06, respectively. Upper limb fatigue played a mediating role between work organization, work type, upper limb work posture and upper limb WMSDs. The effect coefficient was 0.46, and the composition ratios of indirect effects were 100.0%, 100.0%, and 38.3%, respectively. The direct path effect of upper limb work posture, individual factors and upper limb WMSDs was weaker than the mediating path through upper limb fatigue. Conclusion:When carrying out the prevention and control of upper limbWMSDs, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the pathogenesis path of upper limb muscle fatigue and upper limb WMSDs caused by work organization, work type, and upper limb work posture, so as to provide theoretical reference for improving the prevention and control level of such diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunological mechanisms underlying spermatogenetic malfunction in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) based on bioinformatics and machine learning, and to screen out the key genes associated with spermatogenesis failure. METHODS: NOA-related datasets were obtained from the GEO database, and the differentially expressed genes identified by differential analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A model of spermatogenesis scoring was established for analysis of the immunological microenvironment and cell interaction networks related to spermatogenesis failure. The key genes were screened out by machine learning, followed by analysis of their correlation with T cells and macrophages. An NOA mouse model was constructed for validation of transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS: Seventy-five differentially expressed genes were identified for the establishment of the spermatogenesis scoring model. The low spermatogenesis score group showed a higher infiltration of the immune cells, with an increased proportion of T cells and macrophages and a correlation of cell interaction signals with immunity. SOX30, KCTD19, ASRGL1 and DRC7 were identified by machine learning as the key genes related to spermatogenesis, with down-regulated expressions in the NOA group, and their expression levels negatively correlated with the infiltration of T cells and macrophages. The accuracy of the spermatogenesis scoring and machine learning models, as well as the trend of the expression levels of the key genes, was successfully validated with the transcriptome sequencing data on the NOA mouse testis. CONCLUSION The development of NOA is closely associated with enhanced immunological microenvironment in the testis. T cells and macrophages may play important roles in spermatogenesis failure. SOX30, KCTD19, ASRGL1 and DRC7 are potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of NOA.
Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Machine Learning ; Animals ; Computational Biology ; Mice ; Humans ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Macrophages/immunology* ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Transcriptome

Mitral annular calcification(MAC)is an age-related,chronic,degenerative change in localized fibrous support structures,and current research suggests that it is a process similar to the active onset of atherosclerosis and aortic valve calcification,both of which are accompanied by the deposition of lipoprotein(α)[Lp(α)]and the formation of chronic inflammatory foci.Among them,Lp(α)is the hot spot of research.In recent years,the relationship between Lp(α)and aortic valve calcification has received extensive attention.A large number of studies have demonstrated that elevated Lp(α)and its associated oxidized phospholipids(OxPL)can promote aortic valve calcification and stenosis through multiple calcium-regulated pathways,but the pathophysiological process of MAC is much more complex and unclear,and there has been a preliminary exploration of the relationship between Lp(α)and MAC.To make the current relationship between the two clearer,and thus provide new possibilities for preventing or delaying MAC,the paper will review the three aspects of MAC,Lp(α),and the research progress between the two.

Objective To investigate the effect of chemokine CXC ligand 9(CXCL9)on cognitive function impairment in patients with breast cancer brain metastases undergoing whole-brain radiotherapy(WBRT)using bioinformatics methods.Methods The mRNA of breast cancer brain metastases datasets GSE43837 and GSE12276 and Alzheimer's disease(AD)dataset GSE161199 were screened and downloaded from GEO database.Limma method and Venn diagrams were used to identify common differentially expressed genes(DEGs),and protein-protein interaction and functional prediction through GeneMANIA website assays were performed.A total of 42 patients with breast cancer brain metastases who first visited the Department of Radiotherapy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected.Patients were divided into normal cognitive function group and cognitive function impairment group based on cognitive status.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to detect serum CXCL9 levels one week before and three months after radiotherapy.The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)was used to assess patients'cognitive function.Results The DEGs from datasets GSE43837 and GSE12276 included PKP1,POLDIP2,SPAG5,ALDOC,PTPRZ1,PKIA,TLCD1,CPE,PMP22 and CXCL9.The DEGs from GSE161199 included RPS16,CD79A,LYPD3,RPL28,HBG2,RPL23AP7,TRNR,CXCL9.Venn diagram showed that CXCL9 was a common DEG between breast cancer brain metastasis and AD.Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CXCL9 was involved in cellular responses to chemokines,negative regulation of immune system processes,negative regulation of vascular morphogenesis,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,nucleotide oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway,and JAK-STAT signaling pathway.Before radiotherapy,patients with cognitive function impairment and normal cognitive function accounted for 61.9%and 38.1%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in MMSE scores[(24.53±2.19)vs.(28.89±1.36),P＜0.01].Compared with normal cognitive function group,patients with cognitive function impairment had a significantly increased number of brain metastases and significantly lower Karnofsky performance status(KPS)scores and serum CXCL9 levels(P＜0.05).Three months after radiotherapy,patients with cognitive function impairment and normal cognitive function accounted for 47.6%and 52.4%,respectively,with a statistically significant difference in MMSE scores[(25.16±1.98)vs.(28.18±1.08),P＜0.01].Compared with normal cognitive function group,patients with cognitive function impairment had significantly lower CXCL9 levels(P=0.003).In patients with normal cognitive function,CXCL9 levels were remarkably lower after radiotherapy compared to those before radiotherapy(P=0.009).Conclusions Patients with cognitive function impairment had significantly lower CXCL9 levels than those with normal cognitive function,and whole-brain radiotherapy may be related to a certain degree of reduction in CXCL9 levels.

Objective:To analyze the distribution characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among the occupational population in China's key industries during the period from 2018 to 2023, and to provide data support for the formulation of targeted prevention strategies.Methods:Between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey and a retrospective investigation were conducted in seven geographical regions of North China, East China, Central China, South China, Southwest China, Northwest China, and Northeast China, using a combination of epidemiological cross-sectional and retrospective surveys. The industries were stratified according to the degree of closeness to WMSDs, the size of the occupational population, and the importance of the national economy, and then cluster sampling was conducted according to the size of the enterprises (large, medium, and small) within each stratum. Representative enterprises were selected, and workers who had been employed for more than one year and met the inclusion criteria were selected as the study subjects. The survey subjects completed the Chinese version of the Musculoskeletal Disorders Survey Questionnaire online by scanning a QR code. A total of 88, 609 valid questionnaires were collected. Continuous data were described by means and standard deviations, and the standardized incidence rates of WMSDs were evaluated using chi-square tests to compare the standardized incidence rates of different body parts.Results:The standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs among the frontline working population in China was 36.7%, with the top three being the neck (21.37%), shoulders (18.23%), and lower back (14.92%). There was a statistically significant difference in the standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs between different body parts (χ 2=47577.82, P<0.05). The lowest standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs was found in the southeast coastal region of China (32.54%), while the highest was in the northwest (49.70%) and northeast regions (46.16%). The standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs decreased from 42.88% in 2018 to 29.94% in 2023. The micro-enterprise observation group had a higher concentration of WMSDs in the neck (20.66%), lower back (17.95%), and shoulders (17.79%), while the large enterprise observation group had a higher concentration in the neck (20.54%), shoulders (17.52%), and lower back (14.65%). Among the industries surveyed, the highest standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs was found in the healthcare industry (53.18%), followed by the toy manufacturing industry (50.54%), the automotive manufacturing industry (43.39%), general aviation services (42.71%), and the ship and related equipment manufacturing industry (40.56%). The standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs among women was significantly higher than that of men ( OR value=1.44, P<0.05). In addition, the standardized prevalence rate of WMSDs with multiple affected body parts (four or more body parts affected simultaneously) was higher, and the risk of WMSDs increased with subjective fatigue, showing a significant "S-shaped" trend (the OR value was 2.19, 3.16, 4.71, 5.49, and 3.97 when the RPE was 13, 15, 17, 19, and 20, respectively. χ 2trend=17.23, P<0.001) . Conclusion:The distribution characteristics of WMSDs in key industries in China show obvious differences in different parts, regions, time, enterprise scale, industry and population attributes. Agriculture, pharmaceutical manufacturing, packaging and decoration and other printing industries have a high proportion of WMSDs in multiple parts at the same time and in a single site. It is necessary to study and implement precise preventive measures according to specific regions, industries and enterprise scales, as well as the characteristics of multi-site WMSDs, so as to effectively protect the health and well-being of the working population.

Objective:To explore the occupational contact characteristics of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) among key occupational groups in China, assess the impact of occupational factors on the occurrence of WMSDs, and propose corresponding preventive strategies.Methods:Between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey method was employed to retrospectively investigate the occurrence of WMSDs and related occupational factors. Valid questionnaire data from 88609 on-the-job workers in 441 enterprises across 29 industries or job types in seven regions of China were collected, and the relationship between WMSDs and various occupational factors was discussed using multifactorial logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios ( OR) and their 95% confidence intervals ( CI) were calculated to assess the impact of different factors on the risk of WMSDs occurrence, with all statistical tests performed as two-tailed tests, using P<0.05 as the criterion for statistical significance. Results:Among the surveyed subjects, 59989 were male, accounting for 67.7% (59989/88609) ; 28620 women, accounting for 32.3% (28620/88609). The standardized incidence rate of work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in 9 parts of the body was statistically significant ( P<0.05) among different working age groups without considering specific parts. The average length of service for onset of WMSDs (regardless of location) is (4.52±2.67) years, and there is a statistically significant difference in the length of service for onset of WMSDs in different locations ( P<0.05). As the frequency of heavy object handling increases, the standardization rate and OR value of WMSDs in various parts show a significant increase trend. The incidence of WMSDs is significantly correlated with maintaining poor work posture for a long time, frequent repetitive operations, and heavy object handling ( OR=1.52, 1.45, 1.63, P<0.01) . Conclusion:This study reveals that the risk of WMSDs in China's occupational population shows a non-linear change with increasing length of service, especially with a significant increase in 10 to 25 years of service. Poor work posture, frequent repetitive operations, and heavy object handling are significantly correlated with WMSDs, providing a scientific basis for developing more accurate and effective prevention strategies for WMSDs.

Objective:To investigate the relationships and impacts between various occupational ergonomic hazards and hand and wrist fatigue, as well as work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) of the hand and wrist, and to propose targeted preventive and intervention measures for adverse occupational ergonomic factors causing WMSDs of the hand and wrist.Methods:From 2018 to December 2023, a nationwide epidemiologic survey study of wrist WMSDs was conducted using the Chinese version of the electronic questionnaire system for musculoskeletal disorders.A total of 88, 609 valid questionnaires were collected. The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients with congenital spinal deformities, as well as those with wrist WMSDs caused by external injuries, infectious diseases, and malignant tumors. A total of 73, 497 questionnaires were finally included in the study analysis, with an effective questionnaire return rate of 82.5%. Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze and summarize the factors affecting wrist WMSDs from the questionnaires, including individual factors, work organization, work type, wrist work posture, wrist fatigue, and wrist WMSDs as latent variables, and to hypothesize, fit, and validate the structural aspect model, as well as to conduct mediation effect analysis.Results:The incidence of WMSDs and fatigue in wrist was 12.19% and 16.30% respectively. The fitting indexes of the modified structural equation model were basically up to the standard (GFI was 0.981, AGFI was 0.973, RMSEA was 0.031, NFI was 0.863, IFI and CFI were 0.865). There is a correlation between individual factors, work organization, wrist working posture and work type. There was a low negative correlation between individual factors and other factors, and there was a positive correlation between work organization, work type and wrist WMSDs ( r=0.346, 0.295), and these two factors were positively correlated with wrist fatigue height ( r=0.862, 0.599), and were positively correlated with wrist working posture ( r=0.443, 0.620). There was moderate positive correlation between wrist working posture and wrist fatigue ( r=0.469). The three most influential factors on wrist WMSDs were work organization, individual factor and work type, and the path coefficients were 0.247, 0.210 and 0.136, respectively. The first two factors that have the greatest influence on wrist fatigue are work organization and work type, and the path coefficients are 0.758 and 0.188, respectively. Individual factors, work type, wrist working posture and work organization had direct effects on wrist WMSDs, and the effect values were 0.093, 0.253, 0.718 and 0.583, respectively. Wrist fatigue played a partial mediating role between individual factors, work type, wrist working posture and work organization and wrist WMSDs, with the indirect effect ratio of 25.6%, 45.8%, 3.2% and 65.5%. Conclusion:Wrist fatigue plays an important mediating role in the path of various factors affecting wrist WMSDs, especially in the path of work organization, work type, individual factors and wrist WMSDs. Poor wrist working posture is an important risk factor that directly affects the occurrence of wrist WMSDs.