Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Background Air pollution remains a critical public health issue, with persistent exposure to air pollutants continuing to pose significant health risks. Currently, research investigating the association between air pollution and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen remains inadequate. Objective To quantitatively assess the association between air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in residents. Methods Based on the mortality surveillance system of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of 10089 permanent residents who died from myocardial infarction in Shenzhen between 2013 and 2022. Using residential address information, we obtained individual-level exposure data for air pollutants from the China High Air Pollutants dataset and meteorological factors from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System. A time-stratified case-crossover study design was employed to construct a conditional logistic regression model to assess the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality. The exposure-response relationship was visualized, and a comprehensive health risk assessment was performed. Results This study included a total of 10 089 cases of myocardial infarction deaths in Shenzhen. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2022 were 24.59 (20.19) μg·m⁻³, 42.85 (28.42) μg·m⁻³, 8.53 (3.39) μg·m⁻³, 29.47 (13.56) μg·m⁻³, 0.77 (0.27) mg·m⁻³, and 86.53 (51.39) μg·m⁻³, respectively. The moving average concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ over the current day and the previous 2 days (lag02) showed the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.004 (1.001, 1.007) and 1.004 (1.002, 1.006), respectively. At lag05, SO₂ demonstrated the strongest association with the risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an OR (95%CI) of 1.042 (1.019, 1.065). The exposure-response relationships of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂ with myocardial infarction mortality were approximately linear, whereas NO₂ exhibited a nonlinear relationship. At lag05, the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality associated with NO₂ exposure was observed when the NO₂ concentration was ≤21.92 μg·m⁻³, with an OR (95% CI) of 1.024 (1.003, 1.046). The health risk assessment indicated that, using the WHO Air Quality Guidelines as the reference, the local PM_2.5 and NO₂ exposure led to an excess mortality of 398 and 298 cases, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that after adjusting for O₃ and restricting the study period to 2013—2019, the effect estimates for PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ on myocardial infarction mortality slightly increased. Conclusion Short-term exposure to air pollutants, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂, could increase the risk of myocardial infarction mortality. This study provides important scientific evidence for environmental health risk assessment and environmental management in Shenzhen.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Tumor cells use glycolysis to provide material and energy under hypoxic conditions to meet the energy requirements for rapid growth and proliferation， namely the Warburg effect. Even under aerobic conditions， tumor cells mainly rely on glycolysis to provide energy. Therefore， glucose transporter protein 1（GLUT1）， which is involved in the process of glucose metabolism， plays an important role in tumorigenesis， development and drug resistance， and is considered to be one of the important targets in the treatment of malignant tumors. In recent years， research on tumor glucose metabolism has gradually become a hot spot. It has been shown that various factors are involved in the regulation of tumor energy metabolism， among which the role of GLUT1 is the most critical. In this paper， the authors reviewed the latest research progress of GLUT1-targeted traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） active ingredient nano-delivery system in tumor therapy， aiming to reveal the feasibility and effectiveness of this system in the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. The GLUT1-targeted TCM active ingredient nano-delivery system can overcome the bottleneck of the traditional targeting strategy as well as the high-permeability long retention（EPR） effect. In summary， the authors believe that the GLUT1-targeted TCM active ingredient nano-delivery system provides a new strategy for targeted treatment of tumors and has a broad application prospect in tumor prevention and treatment.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for social alienation among the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide insights into formulating targeted intervention measures. Methods: T2DM patients aged 60 years and older were selected from Hangzhou First People's Hospital from January to October 2023. Their demographics, diabetes complications were collected using questionnaire surveys, social support level was evaluated using the Social Support Scale, and the stigma was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, and the social alienation was assessed using General Alienation Scale. Factors affecting the social alienation were identified among the elderly patients with T2DM using a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 316 elderly patients with T2DM were investigated, including 171 males (54.11%) and 145 females (45.89%), and had a mean age of (69.75±8.12) years. The level of social support was mainly medium, with 162 cases accounted for 51.27%. The average stigma scores were (61.87±12.50) points, and average social alienation scores were (42.09±6.33) points. Multiple linear regression analysis identified educational level (high school/junior college, β'=-0.159; college and above, β'=-0.301), marital status (married persons, β'=-0.236), monthly household income (3 000 Yuan and more, β'=-0.175), diabetes complications (β'=0.192), social support level (medium, β'=-0.210; high, β'=-0.352) and stigma score (β'=0.283) as factors affecting the social alienation among the elderly patients with T2DM. Conclusion The social alienation among the elderly patients with T2DM are associated with educational level, marital status, family income, diabetes complications, social support level and stigma.

Objective:To study the effect of tertiary lymphoid structures(TLS)on the pathological response and prognosis of patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)receiving neoadjuvant therapy.Methods:We retrospectively collected the data of 132 patients with NSCLC who underwent neoadjuvant therapy and surgery at Tianjin Chest Hospital between January 2019 and December 2023,including 40 in the neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NC)group and 92 in the NC plus immunotherapy(NCI)group.The percentage of residual viable tumor(RVT)and tumor infiltrating lymphocyte(TIL)counts were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining,while TLS number and matur-ity were assessed by H&E and immunohistochemical staining.The differences in TLS number and maturity and effects on patient pathologic-al response and prognosis were compared between groups.Results:TIL count,total TLS number,pathological complete response and major pathological response rates were significantly higher in the NCI versus NC group(P<0.001).Moreover,a multivariate Logistic analysis sho-wed that TLS number and maturity and TIL count affected pathological response in the NCI group(P<0.05).A multiple linear regression ana-lysis indicated that a low TIL count was a risk factor for a high RVT in the NC group,while a low number of mature TLS,low TIL count,and N stage were independent risk factors for a high RVT in the NCI group(all P<0.05).In the NCI group,a multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a low number of mature TLS(P=0.001)and low TIL count(P=0.009)were independent predictors of disease-free survival(DFS),while a survival analysis showed that patients in the NCI group with high(vs.low)numbers of mature TLS and a high(vs.low)TIL count had significantly longer DFS(all P<0.001).Conclusions:A low number of mature TLS and low TIL count were associated with an adverse patholo-gical response and short DFS in patients with NSCLC.Thus,TLS maturity and TIL count can predict the pathological response and prognosis of patients with NSCLC treated with NCI.

Objective To study the effects of ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block(QLB)on intraoperative hemodynamics and opioid dosage in emergency patients with ectopic pregnancy.Methods A total of 70 patients with ectopic pregnancy undergoing laparoscopic surgery in Langfang People's Hospital from January 2021 to February 2024 were selected as subjects.According to the different anesthesia methods,the patients were divided into the control group and the study group,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was given general anesthesia,while the study group additionally added ultrasound-guided QLB.The intraoperative sedation effect,hemodynamics,postoperative pain,incidence of adverse reactions and opioid use at different times(admission,entry,intubation,skin incision,extubation,and discharge)were observed in the two groups.Results There were no statistically significant differences in the onset time of sedation,the rate of salvage sedation,the incidence of intraoperative body movements,the modified observer's assessment of alert/sedation(MOAA/S)at each time,and the hemodynamics at the time of admission,entry and intubation between the two groups.The mean arterial pressure(MAP),systolic blood pressure(SBP)and heart rate(HR)in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group during skin incision,extubation and discharge[skin incision:MAP(mmHg,1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa)was 85.24±4.59 vs.96.95±4.68,SBP(mmHg)was 92.24±4.85 vs.99.49±5.13,HR(times/min)was 85.33±2.96 vs.94.51±2.92;extubation:MAP(mmHg)was 94.84±5.02 vs.102.05±5.13,SBP(mmHg)was 96.48±4.72 vs.105.03±5.07,HR(times/min)was 95.51±4.95 vs.102.49±5.87;discharge:MAP(mmHg)was 86.14±4.99 vs.93.71±5.25,SBP(mmHg)was 96.48±4.69 vs.104.37±5.02,HR(times/min)was 84.05±4.57 vs.90.51±4.86,all P<0.05]and pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2)was higher than those in the control group(skin incision:0.988 5±0.012 2 vs.0.965 4±0.012 3,extubation:0.974 7±0.012 4 vs.0.963 2±0.012 1,discharge:0.981 1±0.012 4 vs.0.970 3±0.012 3,all P<0.05).The resting numeric rating scale(NRS)scores and active NRS scores in the study group were lower than those in the control group at 3,6,12,and 24 hours after surgery,the random time was prolonged,the resting NRS and active NRS in the two groups gradually increased,reaching a peak at 24 hours after surgery,and the resting NRS and active NRS in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group(resting NRS:3.86±0.82 vs.4.53±1.04,active NRS:4.26±1.05 vs.4.85±1.13,all P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in the study group was lower than that in the control group[11.43%(4/35)vs.34.29%(12/35),P<0.05].The dosage of Sufentanil in 24 hours and 48 hours,the number of analgesic pump in 48 hours and the number of relief analgesia cases in the study group were lower than those in the control group[the dosage of Sufentanil in 24 hours(μg):23.28±4.02 vs.36.14±4.57,the dosage of Sufentanil in 48 hours(μg):41.61±4.82 vs.59.33±6.25,the number of analgesic pump in 48 hours(times):2.94±1.22 vs.6.15±1.71,the proportion of relief analgesia:8.57%(3/35)vs.28.57%(10/35),all P<0.05].Conclusion Ultrasound-guided QLB can reduce hemodynamic fluctuations,relieve postoperative pain,reduce adverse reactions and opioid use in emergency patients with ectopic pregnancy,demonstrating a positive impact.

Objective To observe the effect of quadratus lumborum block(QLB)anesthesia on intraoperative blood gas indexes and postoperative recovery in female uremic patients with peritoneal dialysis catheterization.Methods A total of 70 female uremic patients with peritoneal dialysis catheterization admitted to Langfang People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the research objects.According to the random number table method,they were divided into the control group and the study group,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional local infiltration anesthesia,whereas the study group was given QLB anesthesia.The changes of mean arterial pressure(MAP),heart rate(HR),blood gas indexes[pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2),arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2)]and numeric rating scale(NRS)score,at different points pain factors[5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),substance P(SP),norepinephrine(NE)]before operation and 24 hours after operation,postoperative recovery(time to get out of bed for the first time,exhaust time,length of hospital stay)and adverse reactions were observed in the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in MAP,HR,blood gas index and NRS score between the two groups at the admission.The MAP,HR,PaCO2 in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group during skin incision,rectus abdominis separation,catheterization,suture,and leaving the room,and SpO2 was significantly higher than that in the control group,and NRS score in the study group were significantly lower than those in the control group during skin incision,rectus abdominis separation,catheterization,suture(all P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the levels of 5-HT,SP and NE between the two groups before operation,but the levels of 5-HT,SP and NE at 24 hours after operation were significantly higher than those before operation,but the levels of 5-HT,SP and NE in the study group were lower than those in the control group.The first ambulation time,exhaust time and hospitalization time in the study group were significantly shorter than those in the control group(all P<0.05).The incidence of nausea and vomiting,constipation,pruritus,dizziness and other adverse reactions in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion QLB can reduce the fluctuation of intraoperative blood gas indexes in female uremic patients with peritoneal dialysis catheter,relieve postoperative pain,reduce the level of pain factors and reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions,and has a good effect on promoting postoperative recovery of patients.

Objective:To investigate the indoor radon concentrations and to analyze their seasonal variations in urban and rural residential dwellings in Ningxia province.Methods:From March 2022 to March 2023, based on the administrative region division and population distribution in Ningxia, a total of 143 typical residential dwellings, including 82 urban houses and 61 rural houses, were selected to measure indoor radon concentration by CR-39 solid nuclear track detectors for 1 year in Ningxia, with detectors changed every 3 months.Results:The annual average indoor radon concentration in Ningxia was 88 Bq/m 3, range 39-226 Bq/m 3. The annual average indoor radon concentration was below 100 Bq/m 3 for 69.9% of the measured dwellings, and below 300 Bq/m 3 for all of surveyed dwellings. Indoor radon concentrations in rural areas were much higher than those in urban areas ( Z=5.85, P<0.05). Indoor radon concentration varied significantly with the seasons, higher in autumn and winter, but lower in spring and summer, in total ( χ2=63.97, P<0.05), urban ( χ2=24.74, P<0.05), and rural ( χ2=43.15, P<0.05). Conclusion:The annual average indoor radon concentrations in all the measured dwellings are below the reference level of 300 Bq/m 3 recommended by Indoor Air Quality Standard (GB/T 18883-2022) in China.