Objective:To study the relationship between adult fluoride exposure and grip strength in rural areas of China with fluorosis, as well as the roles of basal metabolic rate (BMR) and body fat percentage (BFP) in the association between fluoride exposure and grip strength.Methods:From April to May 2017, a cluster sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biological sample collection on residents aged 18 - 60 in Tongxu County, Kaifeng City, Henan Province (epidemic areas of drinking-water-borne fluorosis). A total of 1 168 subjects were included in the study, including 427 males and 741 females. The fluoride ion selective electrode method and the picric acid method were used to determine the concentrations of urine fluoride and urine creatinine, and the adjusted urine fluoride concentration (CUF) was calculated. BMR and BFP were measured by a bioelectrical impendence method, and the grip strength was measured by a Jamar grip dynamometer. The relationship between CUF, BMR, BFP and grip strength were analyzed using a generalized linear model regression. The mediation effect model was used to assess the mediating effect of BMR and BFP on the association between CUF and grip strength.Results:Female grip strength decreased by 0.28 kg ( P = 0.043) for every 1.00 mg/L increment in CUF. No similar association was found between the two in males ( P = 0.744). Regardless of gender stratification, BMR was positively correlated with grip strength ( P < 0.001). For every 1.00% increase in BFP, female grip strength decreased by 0.18 kg ( P = 0.043). The mediation effect model analysis results showed that the mediation effect ratios of BMR and BFP in the association between CUF and grip strength in female were 65.1% ( P < 0.001) and 8.4% ( P = 0.111), respectively. Conclusion:Fluoride exposure is associated with changes in female grip strength, and BMR changes play a partial mediating role in the association between fluoride exposure and female grip strength.

Objective To investigate the value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)texture analysis based on T2 weighted image(T2WI),diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),and dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI(DCE-MRI)in predicting the axillary lymph node status of small-sized invasive ductal carcinoma(IDC)of the breast.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the medical records of 139 patients with newly diagnosed IDC,who were treated at Taizhou Central Hospital from January 2018 to June 2023.Based on the postoperative pathological results,the patients were divided into two groups:85 cases without axillary lymph node metastasis and 54 cases with axillary lymph node metastasis.All patients underwent preoperative MRI examination,including sequences such as T2WI,DWI,and DCE-MRI.After delineating the region of interest(ROI)on the slice with the largest tumor diameter in each sequence,texture analysis was performed using Firevoxel software,which yielded five major parameters,including mean,standard deviation,skewness,kurtosis,and entropy.Univariate analysis was employed to evaluate the effectiveness of each parameter in distinguishing the axillary lymph node status.Variables that showed significant results in the univariate analysis were then included in binary Logistic regression analysis to explore the relationship between these parameters and lymph node metastasis status.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated.Results Significant differences were observed between the two groups in the entropy and mean values of the ROI delineated on the DCE-MRI sequence,as well as the skewness of the T2WI(P<0.001).Among these texture parameters,the entropy of the DCE-MRI sequence showed the highest AUC value of 0.719 in the univariate analysis.Multivariate analysis of the selected parameters yielded an optimal diagnostic model,with an AUC of 0.769 in differentiating lymph node metastasis from non-metastasis.Conclusion Texture analysis of small-sized breast cancer based on multiparametric MRI can effectively predict the preoperative axillary lymph node status of breast cancer.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in concurrently infected patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods:220 cases with ACLF diagnosed and treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2011 to December 2016 were selected. Patients were divided into an infection and non-infection group according to whether they had co-infections during the course of the disease. Clinical data differences were compared between the two groups of patients. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to screen out influencing factors related to co-infection. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of PNI for ACLF co-infection. The measurement data between groups were compared using the independent sample t-test and the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test. The enumeration data were analyzed using the Fisher exact probability test or the Pearson χ2 test. The Pearson method was performed for correlation analysis. The independent risk factors for liver failure associated with co-infection were analyzed by multivariate logistic analysis. Results:There were statistically significant differences in ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, PNI score, and albumin between the infection and the non-infection group ( P ?

Objective To construct and validate a Nomogram prediction model for overall survival (OS) in middle-aged and elderly patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ gastric cancer. Methods The clinical, pathological, and follow-up data of middle-aged and elderly patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ gastric cancer in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, and Yangzhou City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 1, 2012 to December 1, 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, the independent risk factors for OS in middle-aged and elderly patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ gastric cancer were identified, and a Nomogram prediction model was further constructed and validated. The diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve, and the clinical effect of the model was assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA). Results A total of 382 patients were included. A total of 282 cases were as training sets and 100 cases were as validation sets. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses indicated that family history of gastric cancer, vascular invasion, nerve invasion, T stage, and N stage were independent risk factors for OS in middle-aged and elderly patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ gastric cancer (P < 0.05). A prognostic Nomogram was constructed based on these variables, and the concordance index of the model in the training and validation sets was 0.667 (95% CI, 0.601 to 0.726) and 0.708 (95%CI, 0.622 to 0.766) respectively. The ROC curve indicated that the model had good predictive accuracy. The calibration curve showed that the predicted value of the model was in good agreement with the actual value. DCA demonstrated that the model had good clinical application and potential values. Conclusion The Nomogram model for 1-, 3- and 5-year OS in middle-aged and elderly patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ gastric cancer constructed based on real-world big data in this study has an ideal predictive effect, which can help clinicians effectively assess patients' prognosis.

Objective: To examine mental health problems among adolescents in Taiyuan City and its relationship to chronotype, so as to give a scientific basis for supporting mental health of middle school students. Methods: From October to November 2021, a total of 2 621 pupils were enrolled from three junior high schools and two senior high schools in Taiyuan by using a multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method to investigate demographic characteristics, mental health status, and chronotype. Chi squared test, Spearman correlation analysis and Logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between sleep patterns and mental health problems in middle school students. Results: The proportion of morning, intermediate and evening types of middle school students sleep were 17.9%, 65.6%, and 16.4%, respectively. The overall detection rate of mental health problems was 13.8 %, which was statistically significant among middle school students in different grades, self perceived family economic status, the number of friends and sleep patterns ( χ 2=42.69, 29.15, 46.02, 93.99, P <0.05). After adjusting for grade, self perceived family economic status and the number of friends, Logistic regression analysis revealed that mental health problems were positively associated with evening type ( OR =2.84) and negatively associated with morning type ( OR =0.61)( P ＜0.05). Conclusion Chronotype is associated with mental health problems among middle school students, with a higher risk for evening type and a lower risk for morning type. Mental health of middle school students can be enhanced by changing their chronotype.

With the recent ongoing autumn/winter 2022 COVID-19 wave and the adjustment of public health control measures, there have been widespread SARS-CoV-2 infections in Chinese mainland. Here we have analyzed 369 viral genomes from recently diagnosed COVID-19 patients in Shanghai, identifying a large number of sublineages of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron family. Phylogenetic analysis, coupled with contact history tracing, revealed simultaneous community transmission of two Omicron sublineages dominating the infections in some areas of China (BA.5.2 mainly in Guangzhou and Shanghai, and BF.7 mainly in Beijing) and two highly infectious sublineages recently imported from abroad (XBB and BQ.1). Publicly available data from August 31 to November 29, 2022 indicated an overall severe/critical case rate of 0.035% nationwide, while analysis of 5706 symptomatic patients treated at the Shanghai Public Health Center between September 1 and December 26, 2022 showed that 20 cases (0.35%) without comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions and 153 cases (2.68%) with COVID-19-exacerbated comorbidities progressed into severe/critical conditions. These observations shall alert healthcare providers to place more resources for the treatment of severe/critical cases. Furthermore, mathematical modeling predicts this autumn/winter wave might pass through major cities in China by the end of the year, whereas some middle and western provinces and rural areas would be hit by the upcoming infection wave in mid-to-late January 2023, and the duration and magnitude of upcoming outbreak could be dramatically enhanced by the extensive travels during the Spring Festival (January 21, 2023). Altogether, these preliminary data highlight the needs to allocate resources to early diagnosis and effective treatment of severe cases and the protection of vulnerable population, especially in the rural areas, to ensure the country's smooth exit from the ongoing pandemic and accelerate socio-economic recovery.

Objective To establish a quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)method for the analysis of human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and to study the tissue distribution of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(HUCMSCs)in immunodeficient NOG mice after a single intravenous injection.Methods We established a quantitative PCR method for the analysis of human SRY DNA in mouse tissues,and validated the standard curve,linear range,accuracy,precision,and stability.Thirty-six NOG mice(18 male,18 female)were administered 3.5×107 HUCMSCs/kg by single intravenous injection.Six mice were then anesthetized and dissected after blood collection(EDTA anticoagulation)at 6,12,24,and 72 h,and at 1 and 2 weeks,respectively.DNA was extracted from lung,kidney,heart,liver,brain,spinal cord,stomach,small intestine,fat,skin,spleen,testis,uterus,and ovary tissues,and the distribution of HUCMSCs in each tissue was determined by the validated quantitative PCR method for detecting the human-derived SRY gene in mouse tissues.In addition,18 NOG mice(9 male,9 female)were divided into control(n = 6)and treatment groups(n = 12)injected intravenously with 0.9%sodium chloride and 3.5×107 cells/kg,respectively.Acute toxic reactions were observed during the administration period,and four animals were dissected at 72 h and at 2 and 4 weeks after administration to observe the gross organs.Mitochondrial protein expression was detected in paraffin sections of lung tissues by immunohistochemistry to analyze the colonization of HUCMSCs in lung tissues.Results The established RT-qPCR method for human-derived SRY DNA in mouse tissues met the validation criteria for each index.After a single intravenous injection in NOG mice,HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in the lungs and blood within 1 week after administration,with higher concentrations in lung tissues than in blood.The concentrations of HUCMSCs in lung tissue and blood remained relatively stable within 6～24 h and 6～72 h,respectively,and then decreased over time.The distribution of HUCMSCs in other tissues was not measured at all sampling points.The colonization result showed that HUCMSCs were detected in lungs 72 h after intravenous injection,but not at 2 and 4 weeks.No obvious acute toxicity was observed in NOG mice after single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs.Conclusions The above method for analyzing the distribution of HUCMSCs in mouse tissue is reliable and feasible.HUCMSCs were mainly distributed in lung and blood in NOG mice within 1 week after a single intravenous injection,and mainly colonized lung tissue at 72 h.A single intravenous administration of HUCMSCs has a good safety profile.

COVID-19 currently is a major pandemic disease in the world. It is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a member of the β-coronavirus genus that has 79% homology with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus and can lead to acute respiratory infection. While COVID-19 patients typically present with respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, some patients also report symptoms of digestive system. Studies have identified the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool specimens of infected patients, and the viral receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is found to be expressed in gastrointestinal epithelial cells, hepatic cells and pancreatic cells, suggesting that fecal-mouth route is a potential route for transmission of SARS-CoV-2. This article reviewed the digestive manifestations and pathogenesis of patients with COVID-19.