ObjectiveTo clarify the graded quantitative diagnostic characteristics of lung qi deficiency syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） based on latent class analysis combined with a hidden structure model. MethodsClinical data， including the four diagnostic methods of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， were collected from 745 COPD patients with lung qi deficiency syndrome. Latent class modeling was performed using R 4.1.2 software， and each patient was classified into one of three severity categories （mild， moderate， or severe） based on probabilistic parameterization， parameter estimation， and model fitting. A database was established for different severity levels of lung qi deficiency syndrome. Based on this， Lantern 5.0 software was used to construct hidden structure models for mild， moderate， and severe lung qi deficiency syndrome， and syndrome differentiation rules were developed through comprehensive clustering. ResultsA latent class model was constructed using 28 symptoms and signs with a frequency greater than 10%. Considering TCM theory and model simplicity， the optimal model was determined when the number of latent classes was three， categorizing lung qi deficiency syndrome into mild （298 cases）， moderate （164 cases）， and severe （283 cases）. Hidden structure models were separately developed for each severity level， and syndrome differentiation rules were established. A comparison of common symptoms in the syndrome differentiation rules for mild and moderate lung qi deficiency syndrome showed no statistically significant differences in diagnostic values and weights （P＞0.05）， leading to their combined analysis and the development of a unified syndrome differentiation rule. Value and weight of quantitative diagnosis of mild-to-moderate lung qi deficiency syndrome were as followed： shortness of breath （diagnostic value 9.3， diagnostic weight 86.92%）， dyspnea on exertion （8.2， 76.64%）， low voice and reluctance to speak （6.7， 62.62%）， poor appetite （4.0， 37.38%）， loose stools （4.0， 37.38%）， weak cough sound （2.9， 27.10%）， wheezing （2.3， 21.50%）， fatigue （1.8， 16.82%）， spontaneous sweating （1.7， 15.89%）， susceptibility to colds （1.6， 14.95%）， swollen tongue （1.4， 13.08%）， teeth marks on the tongue edge （1.2， 11.21%）， deep pulse （1.6， 14.95%）， with a diagnostic threshold of 10.3. Value and weight of quantitative diagnosis of severe lung qi deficiency syndrome were as followed： weak cough sound （15.1， 61.13%）， soreness and weakness of the waist and knees （12.6， 51.01%）， shortness of breath （11.1， 44.94%）， low voice and reluctance to speak （8.3， 33.60%）， frequent nocturia （6.1， 24.70%）， spontaneous sweating （3.7， 14.98%）， susceptibility to colds （3.5， 14.17%）， teeth marks on the tongue edge （7.8， 31.58%）， pale tongue body （1.9， 7.69%）， white tongue coating （5.5， 22.27%）， thin pulse （1.5， 6.07%）， with a diagnostic threshold of 23.7. ConclusionThe combination of latent class analysis and a hideen structure model effectively clarified the graded quantitative diagnostic characteristics of lung qi deficiency syndrome， providing a reference for the quantitative diagnosis of other fundamental syndromes in TCM.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） co-cultured with bone marrow-derived M2 macrophages （M2-BMDMs）， named as BMSC^M2， on a rat model of liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）/2-acetaminofluorene （2-AAF）. MethodsRat BMDMs were isolated and polarized into M2 phenotype， and rat BMSCs were isolated and co-cultured with M2-BMDMs at the third generation to obtain BMSC^M2. The rats were given subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ for 6 weeks to establish a model of liver cirrhosis， and then they were randomly divided into model group （M group）， BMSC group， and BMSC^M2 group， with 6 rats in each group. A normal group （N group） with 6 rats was also established. Since week 7， the model rats were given 2-AAF by gavage in addition to the subcutaneous injection of CCl₄. Samples were collected at the end of week 10 to observe liver function， liver histopathology， and hydroxyproline （Hyp） content in liver tissue， as well as changes in the markers for hepatic stellate cells， hepatic progenitor cells， cholangiocytes， and hepatocytes. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in ALT and AST （P<0.01）， and the BMSC^M2 group had significantly better activities than the BMSC group （P<0.05）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in Hyp content and the mRNA and protein expression levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） in the liver （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in Hyp content and the expression of α-SMA （P<0.05）， and the BMSC^M2 group had a significantly lower level of α-SMA than the BMSC group （P<0.01）. Compared with the N group， the M group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of the hepatic progenitor cell markers EpCam and Sox9 and the cholangiocyte markers CK7 and CK19 （P<0.01） and significant reductions in the expression levels of the hepatocyte markers HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.01）； compared with the M group， the BMSC and BMSC^M2 groups had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam， Sox9， CK7， and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of HNF-4α and Alb （P<0.05）， and compared with the BMSC group， the BMSC^M2 group had significant reductions in the mRNA expression levels of EpCam and CK19 （P<0.05） and significant increase in the expression level of HNF-4α （P<0.05）. ConclusionM2-BMDMs can enhance the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on CCl₄/2-AAF-induced liver cirrhosis in rats， which provides new ideas for further improving the therapeutic effect of BMSCs on liver cirrhosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of left ventricular shape index (SI) and eccentricity index (EI) in evaluating left ventricular remodeling.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 324 patients (264 males, 60 females, age (62.5±11.8) years) diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI) and 113 healthy controls (HC; 47 males, 66 females, age (57.8±10.7) years) who received gated myocardial perfusion imaging (GMPI) in First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2016 to September 2020. SI (end-diastolic SI (EDSI), end-systolic SI (ESSI)), EI and left ventricular function parameters (end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), summed motion score (SMS), summed thickening score (STS), peak ejection rate (PER) and peak filling rate (PFR)) were obtained by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. Propensity score (PS) inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the intergroup covariates. The differences and correlations of EDSI, ESSI, EI and left ventricular function parameters between patients in MI group and HC group were analyzed. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the values of EDV, EDSI, ESSI and EI alone and in combination in the assessment of left ventricular systolic function impairment. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test, Pearson correlation and Spearman rank correlation analyses, and Delong test. Results:After IPTW, EDSI and ESSI in MI group ( n=319) were higher than those in HC group ( n=133; EDSI: 0.66±0.09 vs 0.60±0.06; ESSI: 0.59±0.11 vs 0.47±0.07; t values: 8.05, 14.67, both P<0.001), and EI was lower than that in HC group (0.81±0.06 vs 0.85±0.03; t=-8.93, P<0.001). In both groups, there were significant correlations between EDSI and ESSI ( r values: 0.928, 0.873), between EDSI, ESSI and EI ( r values: from -0.831 to -0.641), between EDSI, ESSI and LVEF ( r values: from -0.627 to -0.201), between ESSI and EDV, ESV and SMS ( rs values: 0.336-0.584), between ESSI and -PER, PFR ( rs values: from -0.406 to -0.402, r values: from -0.352 to -0.325) (all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that EDV (AUC: 0.895) and ESSI (AUC: 0.839) had the highest efficacy in evaluating left ventricular systolic function impairment in MI group and HC group, respectively. EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) had higher efficacy in the assessment of impaired left ventricular systolic function in MI group (AUC: 0.956), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-ESSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.64 to -2.18, P values: 0.008-0.029); EDV-EDSI-ESSI-(1-EI) also had high efficacy in HC group (AUC: 0.911), which was higher than that of EDV or EDV-EDSI or EDV-(1-EI) ( z values: from -2.60 to -2.43, P values: 0.009-0.015). Conclusions:In MI patients, the increase of SI and the decrease of EI indicate the increase of left ventricular sphericity and the aggravation of left ventricular remodeling. SI and EI have certain clinical application values in evaluating left ventricular morphology, predicting left ventricular remodeling and left ventricular systolic function impairment.

Abstract: Cancer immunotherapy, which is an attractive strategy harnessing the host's own immune system to remove tumor cells, has been widely used in clinical practice, yet with low response rate and immune-related adverse events. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, the targets of immunotherapy exhibit high spatial heterogeneity and are distributed in different cell types or secondary organelles, resulting in off-target and on-target toxicity, which greatly reduces the efficacy and safety of treatment. Due to the altered metabolic level, tumor tissues often display a lower pH than normal tissues. In addition, the endocytosis pathway is accompanied by continuous pumping of protons. Therefore, the variation of environmental pH values could serve as an ideal stimulus for precise drug delivery and release. In recent years, pH-responsive materials (e.g., polymers, biomacromolecules, lipid nanoparticles, biofilm, inorganic nanoparticles, and metal-organic frameworks) have been widely investigated in the field of cancer immunotherapy. This paper summarizes recent strategies of pH-responsive drug delivery systems based on different types of carriers, aiming to provide some reference for the design of next generation of tumor-targeting formulations in cancer immunotherapy.

Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of S100 calcium binding protein P(Sl00P)and thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP)in patients with breast cancer and their relationship with prognosis.Methods GEPIA database and bc-GenExMiner v4.3 were used to analyze the expression levels of S100P and TSLP in breast cancer tissues,and Kaplan-Meier Plotter was used to analyze effects of S100P and TSLP on patient prognosis.The protein interaction network analysis of S100P and TSLP were carried out by using STRING database.The co-expressed genes of S100P and TSLP were analyzed using Linked Omics database,and the role of S100P and TSLP co-expressed genes in related biological processes and signaling pathways were evaluated by gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis.The correlation between S100P and TSLP and breast cancer immunoinfiltration was analyzed by TIMER.Results The expression of S100P in breast cancer patients was significantly higher than that in normal population,and the expression of TSLP was significantly lower than that in normal population(P＜0.05).The overall survival,disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival of patients with high S100P expression were significantly shorter than those of patients with low S100P expression(P＜0.05).The distant metastasis-free survival of patients with high expression of TSLP was significantly longer than that of patients with low expression of TSLP(P＜0.05).The results of protein interaction showed that S100P had a strong interaction with interleukin-11,and TSLP had a strong interaction with interleukin family proteins.The co-expressed genes of S100P and TSLP were mainly responsible for biological functions such as DNA replication and immune function.TSLP was correlated with breast cancer immune cell infiltration.Conclusion S100P and TSLP can be used as biomarkers to predict the prognosis of breast cancer,and they can also help to evaluate the tumor immunoinfiltration in breast cancer patients,and TSLP could provide theoretical basis for predicting the prognosis and tumor immunotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Objective To investigate the basic situation and occupational health conditions of nuclear medicine radiation workers in Jiangsu Province based on the research protocol developed by the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for the nationwide study on the health effects of nuclear medicine radiation in China, understand the impact of occupational radiation on the physical health of nuclear medicine radiation workers, and provide a basis for improving the occupational protection of nuclear medicine radiation workers and reducing the risk of occupational radiation-related health issues. Methods A census approach was used to collect general data and occupational health information of nuclear medicine radiation workers in Jiangsu Province. The analysis focused on the abnormalities in physical examination indicators among radiation workers of different genders, ages, and working years to evaluate the health effects of occupational radiation exposure. Results The occupational health examination data of 472 nuclear medicine radiation workers were collected from 76 medical institutions in Jiangsu Province. The results showed that the detection rate of abnormal hypothyroidism in female workers (8.90%) was higher than that in male workers (2.54%) (P=0.028). With increasing working years, the detection rates of cataract and continuous decrease in white blood cell count increased (P＜0.001). The multivariate logistic regression identified working years as a risk factor for cataract and continuous decrease in white blood cell count (OR=1.59, 95%CI=1.40-3.35, P=0.0003; OR=4.15, 95%CI=3.11-29.91, P=0.0001). In addition, working years was also a risk factor for hypertension, fatty liver, and tumor (OR=2.28, 95%CI=1.51-3.47, P=8.76 × 10⁻⁵; OR=1.69, 95%CI=1.10-2.58, P=0.0145; OR=2.04, 95%CI=1.00-4.16, P=0.0469). Conclusion The study found that working in nuclear medicine could increase the risk of various radiation-related diseases, and the risk is influenced by factors such as working years.

Objective To investigate the basic situation and occupational health conditions of nuclear medicine radiation workers in Jiangsu Province based on the research protocol developed by the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for the nationwide study on the health effects of nuclear medicine radiation in China, understand the impact of occupational radiation on the physical health of nuclear medicine radiation workers, and provide a basis for improving the occupational protection of nuclear medicine radiation workers and reducing the risk of occupational radiation-related health issues. Methods A census approach was used to collect general data and occupational health information of nuclear medicine radiation workers in Jiangsu Province. The analysis focused on the abnormalities in physical examination indicators among radiation workers of different genders, ages, and working years to evaluate the health effects of occupational radiation exposure. Results The occupational health examination data of 472 nuclear medicine radiation workers were collected from 76 medical institutions in Jiangsu Province. The results showed that the detection rate of abnormal hypothyroidism in female workers (8.90%) was higher than that in male workers (2.54%) (P=0.028). With increasing working years, the detection rates of cataract and continuous decrease in white blood cell count increased (P＜0.001). The multivariate logistic regression identified working years as a risk factor for cataract and continuous decrease in white blood cell count (OR=1.59, 95%CI=1.40-3.35, P=0.0003; OR=4.15, 95%CI=3.11-29.91, P=0.0001). In addition, working years was also a risk factor for hypertension, fatty liver, and tumor (OR=2.28, 95%CI=1.51-3.47, P=8.76 × 10⁻⁵; OR=1.69, 95%CI=1.10-2.58, P=0.0145; OR=2.04, 95%CI=1.00-4.16, P=0.0469). Conclusion The study found that working in nuclear medicine could increase the risk of various radiation-related diseases, and the risk is influenced by factors such as working years.

Objective:To analyze the changing trend of incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis globally, and provide scientific basis for the formulation of health policy.Methods:In June 2022, through the Global Health Data exchange (GHDx) query tool (http: //ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool) , the pneumoconiosis incidence and prevalence data was downloaded and organized. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and age-standardized rate (ASR) were used to estimate the trends of pneumoconiosis from 1990 to 2019. EAPC was estimated by linear regression model based on ASR.Results:The overall ASR of the incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis decreased from 1990 to 2019, and their EAPCs were-0.85% (95% CI: -1.11%--0.60%) and -0.78% (95% CI: -1.08%--0.49%) . Over the past 30 years, the incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis in all SDI areas showed decreasing trends, especially in high SDI areas, their EAPCs were -1.46% (95% CI: -1.76%--1.15%) and -1.99% (95% CI: -2.44%--1.53%) . 110 countries/areas showed increasing trends in age standardized incidence rate (ASIR) , with Iran and Georgia showing the most pronounced upward trend, their EAPCs were 5.32% (95% CI: 4.43%-6.22%) and 4.39% (95% CI: 3.81%-4.97%) . 125 countries/areas showed anincreasing trends in prevalence ASR, with Iran had the fastest rise in prevalence (EAPC=6.40%, 95% CI: 5.33%-7.49%) . Conclusion:Although decreasing trends in the burden of pneumoconiosis are observed globally from 1990 to 2019, but the burden of pneumoconiosis in low-and middle-income countries or regions are still heavy. We need more effective strategies to prevent and reduce the burden of pneumoconiosis.

Objective:To analyze the changing trend of incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis globally, and provide scientific basis for the formulation of health policy.Methods:In June 2022, through the Global Health Data exchange (GHDx) query tool (http: //ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool) , the pneumoconiosis incidence and prevalence data was downloaded and organized. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and age-standardized rate (ASR) were used to estimate the trends of pneumoconiosis from 1990 to 2019. EAPC was estimated by linear regression model based on ASR.Results:The overall ASR of the incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis decreased from 1990 to 2019, and their EAPCs were-0.85% (95% CI: -1.11%--0.60%) and -0.78% (95% CI: -1.08%--0.49%) . Over the past 30 years, the incidence and prevalence of pneumoconiosis in all SDI areas showed decreasing trends, especially in high SDI areas, their EAPCs were -1.46% (95% CI: -1.76%--1.15%) and -1.99% (95% CI: -2.44%--1.53%) . 110 countries/areas showed increasing trends in age standardized incidence rate (ASIR) , with Iran and Georgia showing the most pronounced upward trend, their EAPCs were 5.32% (95% CI: 4.43%-6.22%) and 4.39% (95% CI: 3.81%-4.97%) . 125 countries/areas showed anincreasing trends in prevalence ASR, with Iran had the fastest rise in prevalence (EAPC=6.40%, 95% CI: 5.33%-7.49%) . Conclusion:Although decreasing trends in the burden of pneumoconiosis are observed globally from 1990 to 2019, but the burden of pneumoconiosis in low-and middle-income countries or regions are still heavy. We need more effective strategies to prevent and reduce the burden of pneumoconiosis.

Objective:The purpose of this study is to test and assess the model of modeling data of TaiChi accelerator in the Raystation Treatment Planning System(RayStation system)according to the test method and item of TG119 report of American Association Physicians Medicine(AAPM).Methods:The intensity-modulated radiation therapy(IMRT)and volumetric-modulated arc therapy(VMAT)plans of the test cases of different clinical situations,which included the simulated multi target region,prostate target region,head and neck target region,easy type C-shape target region plan and difficult type C-shape target region plan,were designed according to the AAPM TG119 report in the treatment planning system.The deviations of the doses of point and area of the two kinds of plans were measured,and the measured results were compared and analyzed with the recommended standards of AAPM TG119 report.The IBA CC13 ionization chamber and the ArcCHECK matrix ionization chamber were used respectively to verify the point dose and area dose,and the assessment standard was γ passing rate under 3%3mm.The confidence interval was adopted to judge the consistency between the measured dose and the calculated dose.Results:The accuracies of plan dose target,point dose deviation and area dose distribution of tested cases could meet the requirement of the TGl19 report.The deviations of mean doses for the high-dose points of IMRT plan and VMAT plan of tested cases were respectively(0.39±1.02)%and(1.27±0.64)%,and the confidence intervals of them were respectively 2.39%and 2.52%.The average dose deviations of low doses of organ at risk(OAR)of IMRT plan and VMAT plan were respectively(0.53±1.73)%and(0.88±1.11)%,and the confidence intervals were respectively 3.92%and 3.06%.The average γ passing rate under 3%/3mm of IMRT plan and VMAT plan were respectively(99.52±0.366)%and(99.86±0.136)%,and the confidence intervals of them were respectively 1.196%and 0.406%.Conclusion:The TaiChi accelerator performance and the accuracy of Raystation system 6MV FFF model fitting can meet the standard of TG119 report,and the subsequent standards of the quality control of equipment and patients were established according to these tested results,which would provide reference for the improvement of the performance of subsequent accelerator.