1.Baihe Wuyaotang Ameliorates NAFLD by Enhancing mTOR-mediated Liver Autophagy
Rui WANG ; Tiantian BAN ; Lihui XUE ; Xinyi FENG ; Jiyuan GUO ; Jiaqi LI ; Shenghe JIANG ; Xiaolei HAN ; Baofeng HU ; Wenli ZHANG ; Naijun WU ; Shuang LI ; Yajuan QI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):66-77
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Baihe Wuyaotang (BWT) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and elucidate its underlying mechanism. MethodC57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to six groups: normal control, model, positive drug (pioglitazone hydrochloride 1.95×10-3 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose BWT (1.3,2.5 and 5.1 g·kg-1). Following a 12-week high-fat diet (HFD) inducement, the mice underwent six weeks of therapeutic intervention with twice-daily drug administration. Body weight was monitored weekly throughout the treatment period. At the fifth week, glucose tolerance (GTT) and insulin tolerance (ITT) tests were conducted. Subsequently, the mice were euthanized for the collection of liver tissue and serum, and the subcutaneous adipose tissue (iWAT) and epididymal adipose tissue (eWAT) were weighed. Serum levels of total triglycerides (TG) and liver function indicators,such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), were determined. Histological examinations, including oil red O staining, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, and transmission electron microscopy, were performed to evaluate hepatic lipid deposition, pathological morphology, and ultrastructural changes, respectively. Meanwhile, Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were employed to analyze alterations, at both gene and protein levels, the insulin signaling pathway molecules, including insulin receptor substrate 1/2/protein kinase B/forkhead box gene O1 (IRS1/2/Akt/FoxO1), glycogen synthesis enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase (Pepck) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), lipid metabolism-related genes stearoyl-coA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), fibrosis-associated molecules α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), type Ⅰ collagen (CollagenⅠ), and the fibrosis canonical signaling pathway transforming growth factor-β1/drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein2/3(TGF-β1/p-Smad/Smad2/3), inflammatory factors such as interleukin(IL)-6, IL-8, IL-11, and IL-1β, autophagy markers LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ and p62/SQSTM1, and the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). ResultCompared with the model group, BWT reduced the body weight and liver weight of NAFLD mice(P<0.05, P<0.01), inhibited liver lipid accumulation, and reduced the weight of white fat: it reduced the weight of eWAT and iWAT(P<0.05, P<0.01) as well as the serum TG content(P<0.05, P<0.01). BWT improved the liver function as reflected by the reduced ALT and AST content(P<0.05, P<0.01). It improved liver insulin resistance by upregulating IRS2, p-Akt/Akt, p-FoxO1/FoxO1 expressions(P<0.05). Besides, it improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders: it reduced fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose(P<0.05, P<0.01), improved GTT and ITT(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduced the expression of Pepck, G6Pase, and SCD-1(P<0.01), and increased the expression of CPT-1(P<0.01). The expressions of α-SMA, Collagen1, and TGF-β1 proteins were down-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression of p-Smad/Smad2/3 was downregulated(P<0.05), suggesting BWT reduced liver fibrosis. BWT inhibited inflammation-related factors as it reduced the gene expression of IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 and IL-1β(P<0.01) and it enhanced autophagy by upregulating LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression(P<0.05)while downregulating the expression of p62/SQSTM1 and mTOR(P<0.05). ConclusionBWT ameliorates NAFLD by multifaceted improvements, including improving IR and glucose and lipid metabolism, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, and enhancing autophagy. In particular, BWT may enhance liver autophagy by inhibiting the mTOR-mediated signaling pathway.
2.Survey on occupational injury among workers in a steel enterprise
LUO Xiaolei ; ZHANG Jiawen ; JIANG Jingwen ; HAN Xuemei
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(1):39-43
Objective :
To investigate the prevalence of occupational injury and identify its influencing factors among workers in a steel enterprise in Gansu Province, so as to provide insights into prevention of occupational injury among steel workers.
Methods:
Workers were sampled from a steel enterprise in Gansu Province using a cluster sampling method from January to March 2022, and participants' demographics, occupational history and occupational injury were collected using questionnaire surveys. The type of job and site and type of injury were analyzed among workers with occupational injuries, and factors affecting workers' occupational injuries were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.
Results:
A total of 12 089 questionnaires were allocated and 10 725 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 88.71%. The respondents included 9 412 males (87.77%) and 1 312 females (12.23%), and had a median age of 36.00 (interquartile range, 15.00) years. Junior college and above was the predominant educational level (6 056 workers, 56.47%), and the respondents had a median length of service of 10 (interquartile range, 11) years. The prevalence of occupational injury was 5.25% among respondents. Overhaul worker was the main type of job (11.90%), and object strike was the predominant type of occupational injury (18.25%), while the lower limb was the predominant site of injury (27.82%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified men (OR=2.464, 95%CI: 1.580-3.843), age (30 to 39 years, OR=2.561, 95%CI: 1.643-3.993; 40 to 49 years, OR=5.197, 95%CI: 2.679-10.079; 50 years and older, OR=10.620, 95%CI: 6.788-16.615), exposure to high temperature (OR=1.400, 95%CI: 1.165-1.683), operating equipment failure (OR=1.291, 95%CI: 1.048-1.591), absence of personal safety protection equipment (OR=1.555, 95%CI: 1.064-2.273) and safety behavior scores (OR=0.967, 95%CI: 0.937-0.996) as factors affecting occupational injuries among workers in a steel enterprise.
Conclusions
Men and overhaul workers are at a high risk of occupational injuries in this steel enterprise. Objectstrike is the predominant type of injury and lower limb is the main site of injury. The risk of occupational injuries is affected by gender, age, working environments, equipment status and safety behaviors.
3.Characteristics and trends of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease deaths among residents in Chongming District, Shanghai from 2002 to 2022
Xiaolei SUN ; Han WU ; Aiyu SHI ; Hui DENG ; Yan XU ; Qundi YANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(12):1113-1117
ObjectiveTo investigate the status, characteristics of population distribution and trends of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths among the registered residents in Chongming District, Shanghai from 2002 to 2022, and to provide a scientific basis for precise prevention and control of COPD. MethodsCOPD death data were obtained from the Shanghai Chongming District Death Surveillance System, and indicators such as crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, mortality rate by age group, and probability of premature death were calculated for the registered residents with COPD. Joinpoint 5.0.2 software was adopted to analyze the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), followed by an analysis of trend changes. ResultsFrom 2002 to 2022, the average annual crude mortality rate and average annual standardized mortality rate of COPD among the residents of Chongming District were 73.49/100 000 and 34.00/100 000, respectively, and both were higher in males than those in females. The crude mortality rate of COPD among the residents aged ≤69 years in Chongming District was 6.78/100 000, followed by 218.28/100 000 in the age group of ≥70 years and 1 042.77/100 000 in the age group of ≥80 years, respectively. The standardized mortality rates for the whole population (AAPC=-9.75%), males (AAPC=-9.06%) , and females (AAPC=-12.25%) all showed a downward trend (all P<0.001). In addition, there was a decreasing trend in the crude mortality rates for the residents aged ≤69 years (AAPC=-7.51%), aged ≥70 years (AAPC=-9.89%), and aged ≥80 years (AAPC=-8.85%) (all P<0.001). Furthermore, the probability of premature death of COPD decreased from 1.45% in 2002 to 0.08% in 2022. ConclusionThe mortality rate and probability of early premature death of COPD among the registered residents in Chongming District, Shanghai from 2002 to 2022 show a downward trend, and the mortality rate of declining in males is slower than that in females. The elderly with advanced age account for the highest number of deaths. Therefore, targeted intervention measures should be taken for key groups to reduce the mortality rate of COPD.
4.Research progress of botulinum toxin type A injection in the treatment of parotid hypertrophy
Zong CHEN ; Han ZENG ; Xiaolei JIN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(8):817-821
Parotid hypertrophy is a non-neoplastic, non-inflammatory and chronic salivary gland enlargement, which leads to facial "swelling", especially in the lower and lateral parts of the face, weakens the aesthetic feeling, and adversely affects the mental health of patients to a certain extent. However, there is no standard clinical treatment. In recent years, studies have explored and confirmed that botulinum toxin type A injection showed a good clinical effect in the treatment of parotid hypertrophy. With the aim of providing reference for the clinical treatment, the authors summarize the potential mechanism, Methods and complications of botulinum toxin type A treating parotid hypertrophy.
5.Research progress of botulinum toxin type A injection in the treatment of parotid hypertrophy
Zong CHEN ; Han ZENG ; Xiaolei JIN
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2024;40(8):817-821
Parotid hypertrophy is a non-neoplastic, non-inflammatory and chronic salivary gland enlargement, which leads to facial "swelling", especially in the lower and lateral parts of the face, weakens the aesthetic feeling, and adversely affects the mental health of patients to a certain extent. However, there is no standard clinical treatment. In recent years, studies have explored and confirmed that botulinum toxin type A injection showed a good clinical effect in the treatment of parotid hypertrophy. With the aim of providing reference for the clinical treatment, the authors summarize the potential mechanism, Methods and complications of botulinum toxin type A treating parotid hypertrophy.
6.Influences of Pinocembrin on inflammatory injury in rats with acute myocardial infarction by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway
Shuxia YAO ; Xuan SHI ; Song HAN ; Xiaolei YANG ; Lei WANG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(12):2525-2530
Objective:To investigate the influences of Pinocembrin on inflammatory injury in rats with acute myocardial in-farction(AMI)by regulating TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.Methods:The AMI model was established by coronary liga-tion,and the rats were grouped into Sham group,AMI group,Pinocembrin group(5 mg/kg tail vein injection),TLR4 inhibitor group(TAK-242 group,2.0 mg/kg tail vein injection),the levels of cardiac function indexes(LVEF,LVEDD,LVESD,FS)and serum LDH,cTnⅠ,IL-6,IL-β and TNF-α were detected in rats,TTC staining,HE staining and Masson staining were applied to observe myocardial infarction and myocardial histopathological changes in rats,cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method,im-munohistochemistry and Western blot were applied to detect TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins in rat myocardial tissue.Results:Compared with Sham group,the myocardial infarction area increased,the number of myocardial cells decreased,some myo-cardial fibers were broken,inflammatory cells infiltrated,collagen fibers increased,and the apoptosis rate was obviously increased in AMI group(P<0.05),LVEDD,LVESD,serum LDH,cTnⅠ,IL-6,IL-β,TNF-α levels,myocardial tissue TLR4,MyD88,p-NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1 expression levels were obviously increased(P<0.05),while LVEF and FS were obviously decreased(P<0.05);compared with AMI group,the myocardial infarction area of the Pinocembrin group and the TAK-242 group were reduced,the cell damage and inflammatory infiltration were reduced,the necrotic cells were obviously reduced,and the apoptosis rate was obvious-ly reduced(P<0.05),LVEDD,LVESD,serum LDH,cTnⅠ,IL-6,IL-β,TNF-α levels,myocardial tissue TLR4,MyD88,p-NF-κB p65,NLRP3,Caspase-1 expression levels were decreased(P<0.05),LVEF and FS were obviously increased(P<0.05);there was no obvious difference in each index between Pinocembrin group and TAK-242 group(P>0.05).Conclusion:Pinocembrin may at-tenuate myocardial inflammatory injury caused by AMI by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
7.Characteristics of Cerebral Blood Flow in Sleep Deprivation Based on Arterial Spin Labeling
Xiaolei WANG ; Leilei LI ; Bo HAN ; Zeheng SUN ; Keke XIN ; Gang LIN ; Rong ZHANG ; Yuanqiang ZHU ; Yani BAI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2024;32(7):653-658
Purpose To investigate the difference of cerebral blood flow between sleep deprivation and rest wakefulness.Materials and Methods Fifty subjects were recruited from universities in Xi'an from October 2020 to December 2021.The psychomotor vigilance test(PVT)task was used to measure sustained attention.Arterial spin labeling technique was used to analyze and compare the relative cerebral blood flow(rCBF)between sleep deprivation and rest wakefulness.The correlation between altered rCBF of specific brain regions and PVT task performance after sleep deprivation was analyzed.Results Compared with rest wakefulness,rCBF in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal lobe,bilateral parietal lobule,left orbital middle frontal gyrus,bilateral middle temporal gyrus,right posterior central gyrus,and bilateral angular gyrus was significantly decreased after sleep deprivation.The rCBF of bilateral thalamus,left precuneus,right medial prefrontal lobe,left posterior cingulate gyrus,and left inferior temporal gyrus was significantly increased(FDR corrected,P<0.05,cluster size≥20 voxels).The changes of rCBF in left dorsolateral prefrontal lobe and right parietal lobule were significantly negatively correlated with the PVT task performance(r=-0.56,P<0.001;r=-0.64,P<0.001),and the change of rCBF of left precuneus was significantly positively correlated with the PVT task performance(r=0.72,P<0.001).Conclusion The abnormal changes of CBF in default mode network,frontoparietal network-related brain regions and thalamic may be the important neural mechanism of sustained attentional decline after sleep deprivation.
8.Prediction of different expression status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 in breast cancer based on multi-parameter MRI habitat imaging
Zhiheng LI ; Xiaoyan CHEN ; Xiaolei ZHANG ; Han ZHOU ; Yao FU ; Renhua WU ; Yan LIN
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(9):909-915
Objective:To investigate the value of multi-parameter MRI habitat imaging in differentiating human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer.Methods:This study was cross-sectional. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 86 cases of primary invasive breast cancer confirmed by pathology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University from August 2018 to July 2023. All patients were female, aged 33 to 74 (51±10) years. All patients underwent breast MRI examinations, including T 1WI, T 2WI, diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI. The fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm was applied to cluster analysis of the volume ratio of the extracellular extravascular space (V e), the rate constant (K ep), the volume transfer constant (K trans), and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for all lesions. Different habitat subregions were segmented based on breast cancer. Blood perfusion of the lesion was quantified through mean values of K trans and K ep, and cell proliferation was evaluated by the mean values of ADC and V e in each subregion. Additionally, the percentage of each subregion′s volume in relation to the total lesion volume was calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in the volume percentages of various habitat subregions between different HER2 expression status. The diagnostic performance of statistically significant parameters in determining HER2 status was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Results:Among the 86 patients with invasive breast cancer, 27 were HER2 positive and 59 were HER2 negative. Among the HER2 negative patients, 37 had low and 22 had zero HER2 expression. The volume percentages of habitat subregions 1, 2, and 3 showed statistically significant differences between HER2 positive and HER2 negative patients ( Z=2.90, P=0.004; Z=-2.04, P=0.042; Z=-2.19, P=0.029), with AUC values of 0.696, 0.638, and 0.648, respectively, for predicting HER2 positive expression. The volume percentage of habitat subregion 2 showed a statistically significant difference between low and zero HER2 expression patients ( Z=2.85, P=0.004), with an AUC value of 0.724 for predicting low versus zero HER2 expression. Conclusions:The volume percentage of habitat subregion 1 effectively distinguishes HER2 status, and the volume percentage of habitat subregion 2 effectively distinguishes between low and zero HER2 expression patients. It has significant clinical implications for identifying potential candidates for HER2-targeted therapy.
9.Influencing factors of sleep disorders of employees of a steel enterprise
Mingfeng DING ; Gaiyun LI ; Meng LUO ; Lili JIANG ; Xiaolei LUO ; Jiawen ZHANG ; Jingwen JIANG ; Yilun LI ; Yanfei SHEN ; Xuemei HAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2023;40(5):559-564
Background Steel workers are exposed to occupational hazardous factors such as dust, noise, and heat, and often work in shifts, making them prone to sleep disorders. Objective To explore potential influencing factors of sleep disorders among workers in a steel enterprise in Gansu Province, and provide a basis for reducing the risk of sleep disorders among them. Methods From January to March 2022, a self-made questionnaire combined with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used to investigate the employees of a steel enterprise in Gansu Province. According to their PSQI scores, they were divided into a normal sleep group and a sleep disorder group. The general demographic variables of the two groups were balanced by 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM). Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the contributing factors of sleep disorders. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to analyze potential dose-response relationship between weekly working hours and sleep disorders. Results The prevalence of sleep disorders in the steel workers was 48.06% (6029/12544). After PSM, 5847 pairs were successfully matched, and the distributions of matched variables were well balanced between the two groups. The results of multiple logistic regression showed that hypertension (OR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.24, 1.56), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.66), three-shift system (OR=1.26, 95%CI: 1.12, 1.41), dust exposure (OR=1.14, 95%CI: 1.01, 1.29), noise exposure (OR=1.23, 95%CI: 1.09, 1.39), heat exposure (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.29), and work injury (OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.02, 1.46) increased the risk of sleep disorders. Compared with workers with < 10 years of service, those with 10-20 years (OR=1.31, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.44), 20-30 years (OR=1.34, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.52), and ≥30 years of service (OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.19, 1.53) had a higher risk of sleep disorders. Compared with non-exercise workers, the risk of developing sleep disorders was lower in workers with occasional exercise (OR=0.61, 95%CI: 0.56, 0.66) and regular exercise (OR=0.55, 95%CI: 0.49, 0.62). The RCS model showed that the weekly working hours and sleep disorders in the steel workers showed a nonlinear dose-response relationship (P<0.05 for overall trend, P<0.05 for nonlinear test). The relationship between weekly working hours and sleep disorders showed a "U" shaped distribution, with a significant increase in the risk of sleep disorders when the weekly working hours exceeded 49 h. Conclusion The non-occupational influencing factors of sleep disorders of employees in the steel enterprise include hypertension, diabetes, physical exercise, and occupational influencing factors include length of service, weekly working hours, shifts, dust exposure, noise exposure, heat exposure, and work injuries. It is recommended to consider both occupational and non-occupational factors to formulate appropriate sleep disorder prevention and control measures for steel employees to reduce the risk of sleep disorders.
10.The correlation between occupational burnout and sleep quality among steelworkers
Xiaolei LUO ; Xiuyun CUI ; Mingfeng DING ; Jiawen ZHANG ; Jingwen JIANG ; Gaiyun LI ; Yilun LI ; Jingyi LI ; Ziyuan MA ; Yichen MA ; Xuemei HAN
China Occupational Medicine 2023;50(5):566-570
{L-End}Objective To analyze the correlation between occupational burnout and sleep quality among steelworkers. {L-End}Methods A total of 11 491 steelworkers from a large steel enterprise in Gansu Province were selected as the research subjects using convenient sampling method. The Burnout Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale were used to investigate their occupational burnout and sleep quality. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to analyze the effects of occupational burnout on the sleep quality. {L-End}Results The detection rate of occupational burnout and sleep disorder were 50.4% and 39.0%, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the level of occupational burnout and the total score of sleep quality (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.454, P<0.05). The results of hierarchical regression analysis, adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, age, marital status, education level, alcohol consumption, exercise, weekly working hours, seniority, work shift, noise exposure, dust exposure, and high-temperature work, showed that the score of occupational burnout was positively related to the score of sleep quality(P<0.01), explaining 16.0% of the variance in the score of sleep quality among these steelworkers. {L-End}Conclusion The detection rate of occupational burnout and sleep disorders are relatively high among the steelworkers in this enterprise. Higher levels of occupational burnout are associated with poorer sleep quality. Alleviating occupational burnout among steelworkers may contribute to improving their sleep quality.


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