Background The prevalence of chronic diseases among the Chinese occupational population is rising steadily, with hypertension and diabetes becoming important health concerns. Occupational health examinations (OHE) provide stable population coverage, standardized protocols, and fixed follow-up intervals, offering a robust data foundation for risk assessment. However, most existing hypertension prediction studies rely on cross-sectional data and mainly focus on clinic onset, failing to capture the dynamic progression and cumulation of individual risk. Objective To construct a machine learning-based risk prediction model for blood pressure abnormality in occupational populations, providing a reference for health risk stratification and targeted health interventions. Methods Longitudinal data from 2020 to 2023 were extracted from the occupational health examination database of an institution in Shanghai. After excluding individuals with hypertension in any of the first three years, 3710 workers who participated 4 consecutive years of OHE were included. Six categories of blood pressure-related indicators from 2020 to 2022 were selected, including basic information, lifestyles, occupational exposures, cardiovascular indicators, routine blood tests, and biochemical markers, comprising 30 variables in total. For feature engineering, continuous variables were processed to reflect three-year dynamic characteristics: level (mean), variability (variance), and temporal trend (slope). Categorical variables were incorporated using 2022 values. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression was applied to identify variables for inclusion in the machine learning models. Five models (decision tree, logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, and XGBoost) were employed to predict blood pressure abnormality risk in 2023. And then sensitive analysis was conducted. The optimal model was selected based on the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic. Feature importance and SHAP analyses were applied to interpret the final model. Results Feature engineering transformed 17 continuous variables into 51 secondary variables, combined with 13 baseline variables, resulted in 24 variables screened out by LASSO regression. The logistic regression model achieved the best performance. Feature importance analysis indicated that the dynamic trajectory of blood pressure played a central role in the model, complemented by other biochemical and lifestyle indicators. SHAP analysis further showed that the model’s ability to not only identify risks of high-normal blood pressure and hypertension but also quantify the specific contribution of individual examination indicators to predicted risk, supporting risk-stratified population management in occupational health management. Conclusion Based on an existing occupational health examination database and routinely collected data, this study has developed a risk prediction model for blood pressure abnormalities in occupational populations. By incorporating dynamic change characteristics from longitudinal examinations, the study demonstrates the feasibility of using routine health data for early risk identification and stratified management. However, its applicability is limited by the availability of repeated examination data and the focus on specific occupational groups, requiring further validation across broader populations and diverse clinic scenarios.

As a primary approach to safeguarding workers' occupational health in China, the work-related injury insurance still has insufficient preventive measures for occupational groups. By reviewing the preventive measures embedded in Germany’s statutory accident insurance (Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung) and Japan’s workers’ accident compensation insurance, this study summarized their best practices and then proposed the following policy directions based on China’s specific context: strengthening the prevention-oriented institutional framework, increasing financial investment in occupational injury prevention, improving the incentive mechanisms of floating premium rate, and promoting data integration and intelligent applications in occupational health management. These measures are expected to shift China’s work-related injury insurance system from a compensation-oriented model to one that emphasizes comprehensive prevention and health promotion, thereby providing useful insights for better safeguarding the health of Chinese workers.

ObjectiveTo explore the role of flurochloridone (FLC) on osteogenic differentiation and the potential mechanism of inhibiting bone formation, and to provide new insights into bone health risks associated with FLC pesticide exposure. MethodsNeonatal rat skull differentiation primary osteoblast model was used to investigate the effects of 1, 10 and 100 μmol·L^-1 FLC exposure on cell viability, osteogenic differentiation alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and bone mineralization nodule formation, respectively. The potential mechanism underlying the inhibition of FLC on osteoblast differentiation was analyzed using osteogenic differentiation gene chip technique, and the expression of key genes and proteins in the pathway was validated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and protein immunoblotting (Western blot) methods. ResultsExposure to FLC at a concentration of 100 μmol·L⁻¹ reduced cell proliferation, ALP activity, and the formation of mineralized nodules in primary osteoblasts. Gene chip analyses revealed that exposure to 10 μmol·L⁻¹ FLC induced 15 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Among these, MMP9 and Tnf were up-regulated, while Nkx3⁃2, Tuft1, Bmp2, Col12a1, Pparg, Enam, Igf1, Bmp5, Bmp3, Calcr, Egf, Igfbp3, and Col14a1 were down-regulated. Results of protein-protein interaction analyses and gene ontology enrichment analyses indicated that FLC inhibited the BMP/SMAD pathway involved in osteogenic differentiation. FLC suppressed the protein expression of BMP2 and Osterix, as well as the expression of key genes critical for osteogenic differentiation and ossification, such as BMP2, Runx2, SMAD1, and SMAD5 in the BMP/SMAD pathway. ConclusionFLC affects osteogenic differentiation and bone formation potential by regulating the BMP/SMAD axis and the expression of osteogenic genes, suggesting its potential risk in bone metabolism.

ObjectiveTo investigate the chemical hazards in the production line of lithium batteries, so as to provide a scientific basis for the management of occupational-health risk and to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the lithium battery industry. MethodsAn on-site survey on the process flow of the production of lithium battery was conducted in an enterprise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the occupational environment were collected by Summa canisters, carbonates and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) were collected using activated carbon tubes, and airborne metals were collected using filter membranes. VOCs, carbonates and NMP were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and airborne metal elements in the dust samples were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ResultsNon-targeted environmental monitoring results indicated that NMP was detected in the negative /positive electrode coating, assembly and drying filling workstations, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was detected in the assembly, drying and electrolyte injection workstations, and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) was detected solely in the electrolyte injection workstation. Semi-quantitative analyses of VOCs identified 136 pollutants, including acrylonitrile and halohydrocarbons. Quantitative targeted environmental monitoring results revealed the highest geometric mean (GM) concentration of EMC (31.450 mg·m^-3) was found in the assembly and drying workstations, diethyl carbonate (DEC) was detected in all workstations. While vinylene carbonate (VC) and ethylene carbonate (EC) were detected only in electrolyte injection, assembly and drying workstations. NMP was detected in all positive electrode coating samples, with a GM concentration of 5.68 mg·m^-3 (concentration range: 4.0‒ 7.4 mg·m^-³). Lithium was exclusively detected in dust samples from the liquid injection workstation (GM: 0.014 μg·m^-³). ConclusionNMP, EMC, DEC, and other chemicals are identified at the key workstations such as the positive electrode coating, electrolyte injection, assembly and drying in the lithium production line. Furthermore, semi-quantitative VOCs analyses identified 136 pollutants, demonstrating a characteristic of multicomponent chemical exposure.

Objective:To observe any effect of combining interactive scalp acupuncture with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in treating the upper extremity motor function of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.Methods:Fifty-seven children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a control group of 28 and an observation group of 29. The control group was given conventional rehabilitation and routine CIMT, while the observation group was additionally provided with interactive scalp acupuncture. In the observation group the CIMT lasted for 30 minutes while the needles were retained. Then, after the needles were removed, the family administered simple rehabilitation training for 2.5 hours guided by a rehabilitation therapist. The treatments were administered 5 days per week for 3 weeks as a session, and the whole treatment consisted of 3 sessions. Before, as well as 1 month and 3 months after the treatment, upper extremity motor function in both groups was evaluated using the Melbourne assessment scale 2 (MA2) and the fine motor Peabody developmental motor scales. Muscle tone in the children′s elbow flexors was assessed using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS).Results:After both 1 and 3 months of treatment, the average MA2 scores of both groups were significantly better than those before treatment, with those of the observation group significantly superior to the control group′s averages. After both 1 and 3 months, both groups′ visual-motor integration scores, grasping ability scores and total scores had improved significantly, with those of the observation group significantly better than in the control group, on average. The MAS scores of both groups were also significantly better than before the treatment, but with no significant differences between the two groups at either time point.Conclusions:Interactive scalp acupuncture combined with constraint-induced movement therapy can significantly improve the upper extremity motor functioning and fine motor ability of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVES: Wild-caught Microtus fortis (M. fortis) at the age of 9-15 months can develop epithelial ovarian cancers similar to human epithelial ovarian cancers under natural conditions during experimental animal breeding, but its pathological types and biological characteristics remain unclear. This study aims to analyze the biological characteristics of spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis, intending to develop M. fortis as an animal model for human epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: The female M. fortis (9-15 months old) with spontaneous ovarian cancer were selected as the experimental group, and healthy M. fortis from the same litter were selected as the control group. The ovarian pathological changes of the two groups were observed by dissection. Blood routine and biochemical indicators were measured by biochemical analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the ovarian cancer tissue of M. fortis. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the protein expression of common ovarian cancer markers, and real-time RT-PCR was used to analyze the transcription levels of ovarian cancer-related genes. RESULTS: Spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis mainly affects both ovaries, with tumors appearing solid or cystic. HE staining and histopathological analysis confirmed that the ovarian tumors originated from ovarian surface epithelium. Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significantly decreased hemoglobin (P<0.01), hematocrit (P<0.05), albumin (P<0.05), and blood glucose levels (P<0.01), while lymphocyte percentage (P<0.05), monocyte percentage (P<0.05), cholesterol (P<0.01), and progesterone (P<0.01) levels were significantly increased. Expression of ovarian cancer-related genes, including ID3, CDC42, RHOA, RB1CC1, NF1, PIN1, MIB1, PDS5A, MCM7, and MLH1, was significantly downregulated (all P<0.05), while PAX8 gene expression was significantly upregulated (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) protein was mainly distributed throughout the cell, with significantly higher expression in ovarian cancer M. fortis. Tumor protein 53 (TP53) was expressed in both healthy and ovarian cancer M. fortis and was distributed throughout the cell. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 beta (HNF1B) and progesterone receptor (PR) protein were highly expressed in the ovarian tissue of healthy M. fortis but were significantly reduced in the ovarian cancer M. fortis, though both were located in the cytoplasm. CONCLUSIONS Spontaneous ovarian cancer in M. fortis is serous ovarian cancer. Compared to healthy M. fortis, significant differences were observed in ovarian tissue morphology, biochemical indicators, ovarian cancer-related gene expression, and protein expression, which show similarity to the biological characteristics of human serous ovarian cancer. This suggests that M. fortis could be an ideal animal model for studying human serous ovarian cancer.
Female ; Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/metabolism* ; Ovary/pathology*

OBJECTIVES: Recent evidence suggests that the gut may be a primary site of metformin action. However, studies on the effects of metformin on gut microbiota remain limited, and its impact on gut microbial metabolites such as short-/medium-chain fatty acids is unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of metformin on gut microbiota, short-/medium-chain fatty acids, and associated metabolic benefits in high-fat diet rats. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) Normal diet group (ND group), fed standard chow; 2) high-fat diet group (HFD group), fed a high-fat diet; 3) high-fat diet + metformin treatment group (HFD+Met group), fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks, followed by daily intragastric administration of metformin solution (150 mg/kg body weight) starting in week 9. At the end of the experiment, all rats were sacrificed, and serum, liver, and colonic contents were collected for assessment of glucose and lipid metabolism, liver pathology, gut microbiota composition, and the concentrations of short-/medium-chain fatty acids. RESULTS: Metformin significantly improved HFD-induced glucose and lipid metabolic disorders and liver injury. Compared with the HFD group, the HFD+Met group showed reduced abundance of Blautia, Romboutsia, Bilophila, and Bacteroides, while Lactobacillus abundance significantly increased (all P<0.05). Colonic contents of butyric acid, 2-methyl butyric acid, valeric acid, octanoic acid, and lauric acid were significantly elevated (all P<0.05), whereas acetic acid, isoheptanoic acid, and nonanoic acid levels were significantly decreased (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that Lactobacillus abundance was negatively correlated with body weight gain and insulin resistance, while butyrate and valerate levels were negatively correlated with insulin resistance and liver injury (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Metformin significantly increases the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and promotes the production of short-/medium-chain fatty acids including butyric, valeric, and lauric acid in the colonic contents of HFD rats, suggesting that metformin may regulate host metabolism through modulation of the gut microbiota.
Animals ; Metformin/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Rats ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Male ; Fatty Acids, Volatile/metabolism* ; Fatty Acids/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of high expression of transmembrane and coiled helix structural domain 1 (TMCO1) on prognosis of gastric cancer and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: TMCO1 expression in gastric cancer and its effect on gastric cancer progression and prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and clinical data of patients undergoing radical surgery in our hospital, and its possible biological functions were explored using KEGG and GO analyses. In gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated TMCO1 overexpression and TMCO1 silencing on cell apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and migration were examined. RESULTS: TMCO1 expression was significantly elevated in gastric cancer tissues (P<0.05), and its high expression was positively correlated with cancer progression (P<0.001) and a lowered postoperative 5-year survival rate of the patients (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analyses suggested that TMCO1 may affect gastric cancer cell apoptosis via Wnt signaling. In HGC-27 cells, TMCO1 overexpression significantly promoted tumor cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas TMCO1 silencing produced the opposite effects. Western blotting showed that β-catenin levels were significantly upregulated in TMCO1-overexpressing cells and downregulated in cells with TMCO1 silencing. CONCLUSIONS TMCO1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, and its high expression promotes gastric cancer progression and affects long-term prognosis of the patients possibly by activating the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),as a global health challenge,brings heavy economic and psychological burdens to patients and their families.Accurately identifying the risk factors for COPD and excluding false associations are crucial for understanding its pathogenesis and formulating prevention strategies.Mendelian randomization(MR),as a supplementary method,has shown great potential in reducing the interference of confounding factors,lowering the cost of experimental research,and avoiding experimental ethical issues.This article focuses on MR and its main derivative methods,discusses their basic principles and applicable conditions,and analyzes their application effects and limitations in COPD research in combination with specific cases,enabling MR to be more widely applied in the study of influencing factors of COPD.

Objective To evaluate the application of ELISA randomized quality control,and continuously improve the laboratory testing capacity and quality assurance,in order to gradually improve the application of randomized quality control to the daily testing of ELISA.Methods Collected the quality control data of KEHUA HBsAg,compared the difference between randomized quality control data and immobilized quality control data.Group comparison of randomization quality control between rows and columns.The randomized quality control data were analyzed retrospectively and the quality control chart was established by using the randomized quality control data.Analyzed and compared the lost-control situation of randomized quality control and immobilized quality control.Results Randomized quality control S/CO value(2.831±0.343)and immobilized quality control S/CO value(2.651±0.260)in the same microplate,the difference between two was statistically significant(t=5.970,P＜0.05).The differences between randomized quality control and immobilized quality control in columns 2 to 8 were statistically significant(t=2.285～5.536,all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between randomized quality control and immobilized quality control in column 9 to 12(t=0.031～1.605,all P>0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in randomization quality control among all lines(F=0.858,P＞0.05).The randomized quality control data was used to establish a quality control chart.Within the time range of the collected data,the randomized quality control was out of control for 6 times,all were greater than+3s,and the loss of control rate was 4.72%(6/127).Fixed position quality control lost control 9 times during the same period,all of which were greater than+3s,with a loss of control rate of 0.61%(9/1 481).Conclusion The randomized quality control has a greater possibility to reflect the factors affecting all the samples on the microporous plate.Random quality control can be used to find possible systematic errors in testing.Randomized quality control can gradually be fully applied to daily indoor quality control,but the loss of control rate and coefficient of variation may increase.