Background Hebei Province is located in the North China Plain. In view of the influence of geological background and the acute and chronic hazards caused by excessive drinking water toxicological indicators, coupled with the large coverage of water supply in urban areas and the existence of self-built water supply facilities, it is necessary to understand the drinking water sanitation status in urban areas and conduct health risk assessment. Objective To investigate main indicators affecting the compliance rate of drinking water quality in urban areas of Hebei and evaluate the chronic non-carcinogenic risks of 11 chemicals. Methods The collection, preservation, and testing of 14299 samples of finished water, tap water, and secondary water supply in urban areas of Hebei Province from 2017 to 2021 were conducted following the Standard examination methods for drinking water (GB/T 5750—2006). A total of 11 chemicals were evaluated according to the Hygienic standards for drinking water (GB 5749—2006). The chronic non-carcinogenic risks of the 11 chemicals in drinking water by oral exposure were assessed using the four-step health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical substances (WS/T 777—2021). Results From 2017 to 2021, the compliance rates of arsenic, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, cyanide, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride in drinking water in urban areas of Hebei Province were all 100.00%, and fluoride and nitrate (N) were the main indicators affecting water quality compliance, with compliance rates of 97.68% and 99.53% respectively. The compliance rate of fluoride increased year by year (χ²=178.06, P<0.05), and the concentration showed a downward trend (χ²=563.49, P<0.05). The compliance rate of fluoride in water samples during the wet season was higher than that during the dry season (χ²=5.06, P<0.05). The median concentrations of fluoride and nitrate in drinking water in urban areas of Hebei Province from 2017 to 2021 were 0.36 mg·L⁻¹ and 3.32 mg·L⁻¹, with hazard quotients of 0.15 and 0.05, respectively, both less than 1, suggesting no chronic non-carcinogenic risks, and no significant gender difference was found. The hazard quotient of maximum fluoride concentration was 1.65, which was greater than 1, suggesting chronic non-carcinogenic risks. The chronic non-carcinogenic risks associated with the maximum concentrations of the remaining 10 chemical indicators were all within an acceptable range. Conclusions Nine toxicological indicators in drinking water in urban areas of Hebei Province from 2017 to 2021, except for fluoride and nitrate, are within the national standards. Fluoride and nitrate are the main toxicological indicators that affect the overall compliance rate of water quality, and the chronic non-carcinogenic risks associated with maximum concertration of nitrate and 95% concentration of fluoride are at an acceptable level.

Objective:To understand the level of self-advocacy in young female breast cancer patients and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide reference for clinical intervention.Methods:A total of 250 young female breast cancer patients from Puyang People′s Hospital and Puyang Oilfield General Hospital from May 2021 to June 2022 were selected as research objects by convenience sampling method. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using the general information questionnaire, Female Self-Advocacy in Cancer Survivorship, Cancer Distress Scales for Adolescent and Young Adults and Family Resilience Assessment Scale. Multiple stepwise linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of self-advocacy in young women with breast cancer.Results:A total of 235 young female breast cancer patients completed the survey. The total score for self-advocacy was (77.04 ± 12.76) points, the total score of psychological distress was (108.25 ± 18.36) points, and the total score of family resilience was (112.93 ± 25.20) points. Self-advocacy was negatively correlated with psychological distress ( r=-0.548, P<0.001), and positively correlated with family resilience ( r=0.596, P<0.001). Education level, personality type, family monthly income, perceived economic pressure, work status, fertility, intimate relationship, diagnosis time, psychological distress and family resilience were the influencing factors of self-advocacy of young female breast cancer patients ( R2=0.595, F=35.31, P<0.01). Conclusions:The level of self-advocacy of young female breast cancer patients should be further improved. Medical staff should take targeted measures according to influencing factors to improve their self-advocacy level.

Objective:To investigate the effects and significance of α-synuclein(α-syn)on the expression level of β-arrestin 2 in Parkinson's disease(PD)in a mouse model.Methods:Twenty-eight C57BL/6J mice with similar motor skills were randomly divided into a model group and a control group, with 14 mice in each group.A PD model was established by injecting preformed fibrils of α-syn into the striatum of the brain, and behavioral changes were monitored after 4 weeks.The expression levels of α-syn, the dopamine receptor(DR), tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), inflammatory factors, β-arrestin 2 and the nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway-related proteins were determined by Western blotting.The interaction between α-syn and β-arrestin 2 was detected by fluorescence resonance energy transfer(FRET), and the regulation of α-syn on β-arrestin 2 transcriptional activation was detected by the dual luciferase report assay.Results:After 4 weeks of modeling, compared with the control group, the average movement speed of mice in the model group was significantly reduced( t=9.415, P<0.001), the movement track was sparse and concentrated around the open field, and the time needed to climb the pole was significantly prolonged( t=16.412, P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the relative expression of α-synin in astrocytes in the model group increased significantly, the relative expressions of D1DR and TH decreased significantly[(1.14±0.18) vs.(0.53±0.16), (0.67±0.13) vs.(1.15±0.11), (0.46±0.05) vs.(0.81±0.06)]( t=9.810, 10.917 and 17.356, all P<0.001), the relative expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins increased significantly( t=3.583, 4.284, 5.396, 11.747, 16.375 and 18.294, all P<0.001), and the relative expression of β-arrestin 2 protein[(0.42±0.11) vs.(1.33±0.14)]in astrocytes decreased significantly( t=19.795, P<0.001). The FRET results suggested a possible direct interaction between α-syn and β-arrestin 2.The results of the dual luciferase report assay showed that the transcription activity of β-arrestin 2 was significantly increased after α-syn gene knockout. Conclusions:The α-syn may induce inflammation in astrocytes by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway and participate in the pathogenesis of PD by reducing dopamine biosynthesis and inhibiting its physiological function through negative regulation of β-arrestin 2.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree affected with autosomal dominant late-onset non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL). METHODS: Clinical data of the pedigree were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the proband and other family members. Trio whole exome sequencing was carried out for 19 396 genes to identify potential pathogenic variants. Sanger sequencing was carried out to verify the candidate variant in the pedigree. RESULTS: The proband and his father were found to carry a c.1183+1delG p.? variant of the DFNA5 gene. The variant was confirmed to be co-segregating with the disease phenotype in the pedigree. CONCLUSION The c.1183+1delG p.? variant of the DFNA5 gene probably underlay the late onset NSHL in this pedigree. Above finding has enabled accurate genetic counseling for this pedigree.
Age of Onset ; China ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Estrogen/genetics*

Objective:To observe the expression level of β-arrestin 1/2 in mice with Parkinson's disease(PD)and its relationship with pathogenesis of PD.Methods:PD model was prepared by using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride(MPTP). The mice were killed at 3 days after the last administration and the brain tissue was taken for observing brain histopathological changes.The colocalization of β-arrestin1/2 with microglia was detected by using immunofluorescence double-labeling of β-arrestin1/2 and microglia.Tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)and Iba-1 were used to label cells, and then the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the activation of microglia were observed by immunohistochemistry.Results:As compared with the blank control group, the relative expression level of β-arrestin1 protein in brain tissue of PD mice was increased significantly, while the relative expression level of β-arrestin2 protein was decreased significantly( t=11.535, 9.948, both P=0.000), and β-arrestin1/2 shared cell localization with microglia.After MPTP induced PD, the number of Th + neurons in SNc area of midbrain was decreased significantly in β-arrestin1 + /+ group and β-arrestin1 -/- group( t=4.098, 3.571, P=0.000, 0.001), while the number of Iba-1 + cells in SNc area of midbrain was increased significantly( t=10.097、6.448, both P=0.000). After MPTP induced PD, the number of Th + neurons in SNc area of midbrain was decreased significantly in β-arrestin2 + /+ group and β-arrestin2 -/- group( t=3.512, 5.237, P=0.001, 0.000), while the number of Iba-1 + cells in SNc area of midbrain was increased significantly( t=5.816、8.402, P=0.000). Compared with β-arrestin1 + /+ group, the expressions of TRAF6, NF-κB and COX-2 in mouse microglia were significantly increased in β-arrestin1 -/- group( t=5.324, 5.837, 9.350, all P=0.0000). Compared with β-arrestin2 + /+ group, the expressions of TRAF6, NF-κB and COX-2 in mouse microglia were significantly down-regulated in β-arrestin2 -/- group( t=5.094, 6.318, 9.466, all P=0.000). Conclusions:The expression of β-arrestin1 is up-regulated and β-arrestin2 is down-regulated in brain tissue of PD mice.β-arrestin1/2 may affect the proliferation and activation of microglia and the loss of dopaminergic neurons through TRAF6/NF-κB/COX-2 pathway, and participate in the pathological process of PD.

Objective    To analyze the protective mechanism of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Methods    A total of 42 SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: a non-blocking group (n=6), a saline group (n=12), a NMDA receptor blocker K-1024 (25 mg/kg) group (n=12) and a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker nimodipine (0.5 mg/kg) group (n=12). The medications were injected intraperitoneally 30 min before ischemia. The neural function was evaluated. The neuronal histologic change of spinal cord lumbar region, the release of neurotransmitter amino acids and expression of spinal cord neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were compared. Results    At 8 h after reperfusion, the behavioral score of the K-1024 group was 2.00±0.00 points, which was statistically different from those of the saline group (5.83±0.41 points) and the nimodipine group (5.00±1.00 points, P<0.05). Compared with the saline group and nimodipine group, K-1024 group had more normal motor neurons (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in glutamic acid concentration in each group at 10 min after ischemia (P=0.731). The nNOS protein expression in the K-1024 group was significantly down-regulated compared with the saline group (P<0.01). After 8 h of reperfusion, the expression of nNOS protein in the K-1024 group was significantly up-regulated compared with the saline group (P<0.05). Conclusion    K-1024 plays a protective role in spinal cord ischemia by inhibiting NMDA receptor and down-regulating nNOS protein expression; during the reperfusion, K-1024 has a satisfactory protective effect on spinal cord function, structure and biological activity of nerve cells.

To observe the efficacy and safety of apatinib in the treatment of advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and to analyze the possible related factors affecting the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients. Methods: Twenty-one patients with ad-vanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma admitted to the Department of Orthopaedics, Yunnan Cancer Hospital from June 2017 to Sep-tember 2018, were treated with apatinib tablets. The main efficacy index was progression free survival (PFS), and the secondary effica-cy index was overall survival (OS). Clinical efficacy was evaluated according to response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) 1.1, and overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety were olserved according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) 4.0 standard. Results: All of the 21 patients were followed up. At the last follow-up time point, March 31st, 2019, there were no CR, 2 patients (9.5%) with PR, 7 patients with SD (33.3%), and 12 patients with PD (57.1%). The ORR was 9.5%, the DCR was 42.8%, the medi-an PFS was 8 months, and the median OS was 14 months. The patient's gender, age, ECOG score, tissue source, surgery, or chemother-apy had no statistically significant effect on PFS (P>0.05). Only the history of radiotherapy before taking apatinib was a factor for pa-tients with PFS. The effect was statistically significant (P<0.05), and patients with a history of radiotherapy had a lower PFS than pa-tients without a history of radiotherapy. The adverse reactions of gradeⅢand above had hand-foot syndrome (14.3%), pneumotho-rax (14.3%) and anemia (4.8%). Conclusions: Apatinib has a certain effect for advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma. The adverse re-actions are generally predictable, controllable and reversible. Apatinib can be a choice for patients with advanced bone and soft tissue sarcoma with good treatment adherence and no other treatment options.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of multidimen-sional existential meaning scale (MEMS-C) in college students. Methods The MEMS was translated into Chinese. A total of 453 college students was tested by convenience sampling method via online survery. Eighteen college students were surveyed by MEMS-C before and after a two-week interval in order to analyze the retest reliability of the scale. Results The fitting indexes of the confirmatory factor analysis were χ2=450. 510,df=74,P<0. 01,χ2/df=6. 088,GFI=0. 859,CFI=0. 930,RMSEA=0. 106,RMR=0. 074,SRMR=0. 0494. The correlation validity coefficient of the scale was 0. 617 (P<0. 01). Internal consistency relia-bility coefficient of the total scale,comprehension,purpose,and mattering factors were 0. 935,0. 893,0. 936, 0. 733. The retest reliability was 0. 908 (P<0. 01). Conclusion The MEMS-C has good reliability and va-lidity. It is suitable to measure the sense of life of college students.

Objective To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of fire needling therapy for vitiligo. Method A self-control study was carried out. Fifty-six vitiligo patients with 124 skin lesions were allocated by long-axis random to two groups. The treatment group received fire needling therapy weekly for 12 times or until cure and the control group, no treatment as a blank control. The clinical efficacy and safety were assessed after the completion of treatment. Result The total efficacy rate of local fire needling therapy for vitiligo skin lesions was 79.8% and there was a statistically significant difference as compared with the control group (P<0.05). The therapeutic effect was better in patients with faciocervical skin lesions or short course of disease. The therapeutic effect increased with an increase in the course of treatment at the early stage of treatment but did not significantly increase after 8 weeks of treatment. Main adverse reactions were mild pain and skin infection. Conclusion Local fire needling has a definite therapeutic effect on vitiligo with high safety.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been widely used in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but there are still some complications, such as bone cement leakage and re-fractures, and a lack of follow-up treatment.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of PKP with low-dose bone cement in combination with zoledronic acid on bone mineral density (BMD), vertebral height and low back pain after osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.METHODS: Eighty patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were equally randomized into test group (treated with PKP with low-dose bone cement in combination with zoledronic acid) and control group (treated with PKP with conventional bone cement). Visual analog scale score, vertebral height, and Cobb angle were detected before, at 3 days after treatment and at the final follow-up visit. BMD and re-fracture incidence were reviewed 1 year after treatment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Visual analog scale scores, vertebral height, and Cobb angle were significantly improved in both groups at 3 days after treatment and at the final follow-up visit (P < 0.05); however, there was no statistical difference between the test and control groups. One year after treatment, the BMD value was significantly increased in the test group (P < 0.05), but showed no change in the control group as compared with the pretreatment.Postoperatively adjacent vertebral fractures were found in one case of the test group, and five cases in five cases of the control group. These findings indicate that PKP with low-dose bone cement in combination of zoledronic acid can effectively relieve pain symptoms, restore the height of the vertebral body, significantly increase BMD value and reduce the incidence of adjacent vertebral fractures in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.