In recent years, with the development of corneal cross-linking technology, corneal cross-linking therapy combined with adopting riboflavin and ultraviolet has been widely used in several corneal disorders, not only for keratoconus, but also for other corneal diseases, including infectious keratitis,chemical corneal injury, bullous keratopathy, and refractive surgery. Corneal cross-linking is a non-invasive procedure with the virtue of minor damage, rapid rehabilitation, convenient operation, and high safety. This review aims to investigate the mechanism of corneal cross-linking therapy, emphasizing the new progress of its efficacy and safety in the application of treating non-expanding corneal diseases, including infectious keratitis, chemical burns, bullous keratopathy and marginal degeneration. Corneal cross-linking therapy may be potentially helpful in the treatment of non-expanding corneal diseases.

Background The prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) among Chinese residents has been increasing annually, with occupational populations facing a higher risk of HUA due to shift work or obesity. Objective To investigate the impact of shift work and obesity on HUA among coal miners, and to provide scientific data for the prevention of HUA in this occupational group. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 25619 workers from a coal mining group in 2023 as the study population, using a questionnaire survey and occupational health check-ups. Workers who were retired or on medical leave, as well as those who provided incomplete responses to the questionnaire or did not complete anthropometric measurements or blood tests, were excluded. A total of 23173 participants were included in the study. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between HUA and selected factors such as shift work status, years of shift work, daily shift work hours, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), as well as the interaction between obesity and shift work on HUA. Restricted cubic spline functions were used to analyze the dose-response relationship between years of shift work, daily shift work hours, and HUA. Results The average age of the included workers was (42.38 ± 9.82) years. A total of 6735 workers reported positive HUA, with a positive rate of 29.1%, and the prevalence was higher in men compared to women (31.8% vs. 13.9%). After adjusting for confounding factors, the restricted cubic spline model revealed a nonlinear dose-response relationship between years of shift work, daily shift work duration, and HUA: ① When the years of shift work exceeded 3.25 years, the risk of HUA in workers gradually increased with longer work duration. At 20 years of shift work, the risk increase showed a "saturation effect," meaning that the risk of HUA no longer increased with additional years of shift work. ② When daily shift work duration was below 10 h, the risk of HUA increased with the length of shift work, but after exceeding 10 h, the risk stabilized. After adjusting for confounding factors, the logistic regression model showed that, compared to non-shift workers, shift workers, those with 10-20 years and over 20 years of shift work experience, as well as those working less than 8 h and more than 8 h per day, had a higher risk of HUA, with odds ratios (OR) of 1.14 (95%CI: 1.06, 1.22), 2.42 (95%CI: 2.20, 2.67), 2.23 (95%CI: 2.00, 2.48), 1.41 (95%CI: 1.29, 1.54), and 1.90 (95%CI: 1.75, 2.06), respectively. Additionally, compared to individuals with normal obesity indices, those with overweight and obesity based on BMI, high and very high VAI and excessive WHtR had a higher risk of HUA, with ORs of 2.01 (95%CI: 1.85, 2.17), 3.51 (95%CI: 3.20, 3.84), 1.42 (95%CI: 1.32, 1.54), 2.10 (95%CI: 1.91, 2.30), and 1.82 (95%CI: 1.69, 1.97), respectively. The interaction analysis showed no interaction between shift work and obesity index (both P_s < 0.001). Conclusion Shift work, longer shift work years, and longer daily shift work hours increase the risk of HUA among coal miners. Additionally, the role of obesity in the development of HUA cannot be ignored.

Background Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a serious occupational disease in China. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can serve as the "breath fingerprint" of internal pathological processes, which provides a theoretical basis for exhaled VOCs to be used as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Objective To screen out the characteristic VOCs and important characteristic VOCs of exhaled air in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and to explore the potential of these VOCs as biomarkers for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease. Methods In this study, 27 VOCs in the exhaled breath of 22 patients with stage I coal workers' pneumoconiosis, 77 workers exposed to dust, and 92 healthy controls were quantitatively detected by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Substances with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and variable importance projection (VIP) >1 in supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model were selected as the characteristic VOCs for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Age was included in the LASSO regression model as a covariate to screen out important characteristic VOCs, and the diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Spearman correlation was further used to explore the correlation between important characteristic VOCs and clinical lung function indicators. Results Through univariate analysis and OPLS-DA modeling, 8 VOCs were selected, including 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, methylcyclopentane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, in exhaled breath of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The concentrations of 4 VOCs, including 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, showed a decreasing trend with the increase of dust exposure years. By LASSO regression, the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust exposure group were n-hexane, methylcyclohexane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the healthy group were 2-methyl-pentane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone were 0.969, 0.909, and 0.956, respectively, and the AUC of combined diagnosis was 0.988 and its Youden index was 0.961, suggesting that these results can serve as a valuable reference for further research on early diagnosis. The Correlation analysis found that there was a positive correlation between n-hexane and lung function indicators in the important characteristic VOCs, indicating that it could indirectly reflect the obstruction of lung function ventilation, further proving that important characteristic VOCs have the potential to monitor lung function decline. Conclusion Three important characteristic VOCs selected in this study have the potential to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and are worthy of further study and verification.

Background In recent years, the detection rate of thyroid nodules in China's occupational population has shown an upward trend. The prevalence of this disease needs to be taken seriously and targeted measures should be taken to address its influencing factors. Objective To analyze the detection and influencing factors of thyroid nodules among adult male workers in coal mining enterprises in Shanxi Province, and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of thyroid nodules. Methods A total of 5195 adult male workers from coal mining enterprises who ordered physical examination provided by the Xishan Coal Electricity (Group) Corporation Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Institute in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province from May 2023 to December 2023 were selected as research subjects. A questionnaire survey, physical examination, ultrasound examination, and biological sample collection and testing were conducted. Thyroid nodules were diagnosed based on ultrasound results, classified and evaluated according to the Chinese-Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (C-TIRADS), and the crude detection rate and standardized detection rate of thyroid nodules in adult male coal mine workers in Shanxi Province wereestimated. Occupational history and occupational exposure information were retrieved from their annual occupational health examination reports provided by the employer. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze the influencing factors of thyroid nodule. Results A total of 1688 cases of thyroid nodules were detected, with a crude detection rate of 32.49% and an age-standardized detection rate of 31.17%. The cases (constitution ratio) of thyroid nodules by category in the detected cases was as follows: 358 cases (21.21%) were classified as category 2, 1261 cases (74.70%) as category 3, 67 cases (3.97%) as category 4a, and 2 cases (0.12%) as category 4b. The results of logistic regression showed that the duration of exposure to occupational hazards for 11-20 years, 21-30 years, ≥31 years, average monthly working>26 days, and shift work were positively correlated with the detection of thyroid nodules (P<0.05), and the associated ORs (95%CIs) were 1.29 (1.01, 1.65), 1.55 (1.20, 1.99), 1.68 (1.26, 2.55), 1.19 (1.00, 1.40), and 1.15 (1.02, 1.29), respectively. Conclusion The duration of exposure to occupational hazards, average monthly working days, and shift work are influencing factors of thyroid nodules. Intervention measures should be developed based on these influencing factors to prevent the occurrence of thyroid nodules.

The advancements in colorectal minimally invasive surgical techniques represent not merely technological innovation but also a significant leap in surgical philosophy.Over the past half-century,we have witnessed the historic transition from traditional open surgery to minimally invasive procedures,a change propelled by continuous innovations in surgical platforms and techniques.The innovations of platforms encompass developments in imaging platforms,energy platforms,instrumentation platforms.Furthermore,innovations in surgical techniques primarily focus on exploring variables within five key elements of surgical techniques:the approach,extent of bowel resection,lymph node dissection,reconstruction of the digestive tract,and specimen extraction.The progress in colorectal minimally invasive surgery has significantly reduced surgical trauma,and enhanced patients' postoperative quality of life and the overall safety of surgeries.This progress is underpinned by stringent quality control throughout the surgical process,ensuring standardized and homogeneous execution of procedures.Moving forward,the ongoing drive to innovate surgical techniques and philosophies will continue to improve the efficacy and safety of colorectal minimally invasive surgeries.This journey not only necessitates the relentless advancement of medical technologies,but also requires surgeons to continuously deepen and actively pursue surgical philosophies.

OBJECTIVE: The compound 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a persistent organic pollutant, is harmful to the nervous system, but its effects on the brain are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TCDD on astrocytes proliferation and underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS: The cell proliferation was measured by EdU-based proliferation assay and PI staining by flow cytometry. Protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence, cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions separation were used to assess the distribution of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). RESULTS: C6 cells treated with 10 and 50 nmol/L TCDD for 24 h showed significant promotion of the proliferation of. The exposure to TCDD resulted in the upregulation in the expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), phosphorylated STAT3, and cyclin D1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition of Akt expression with LY294002 or STAT3 expression with AG490 abolished the TCDD-induced cyclin D1 upregulation and cell proliferation. Furthermore, LY294002 suppressed the activation of STAT3. Finally, TCDD promoted the translocation of STAT3 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and LY294002 treatment blocked this effect. CONCLUSION TCDD exposure promotes the proliferation of astrocyte cells via the Akt/STAT3/cyclin D1 pathway, leading to astrogliosis.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Astrocytes ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Neurotoxins ; toxicity ; Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism

Objective: To investigate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic remedial surgery in patients who didn′t reach the cure criterion of early colorectal cancer after endoscopic resection. Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 12 patients who didn′t reach the cure criterion of early colorectal cancer and then underwent endoscopic resection was collected. The clinicalpathological features and remedial indications were analyzed to evaluate the effects of laparoscopic remedial surgery. Results: The average number of lymph nodes in the lymph node dissection was 15 during remedial surgery, and 3 of them had lymph node metastasis. Among the 3 patients with residual cancer, two cases were poorly differentiated, 1 case was moderately differentiated, 1 case was positive for basal margin, and 1 case had vascular invasion. No lymph node metastasis occurred in the 9 patients who had no residual cancer. Among these, 8 cases were moderately differentiated, 1 case was poorly differentiated and 2 cases had positive basal margin. The average follow-up duration was 40 months and all 12 patients were in a state of survival at the last follow-up. During the follow-up of the 3 patients with residual cancer, 1 patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with unknown prognosis; 1 patient received postoperative adjuvant radiochemotherapy, and lung metastasis occurred; 1 patient did not receive any treatment after surgery and survived for 33 months. Conclusions Laparoscopic remedial surgery is a safe and feasible remedy for patients who didn′t reach the cure criterion of early colorectal cancer after endoscopic resection. However, the choice of remedial strategy for colorectal carcinoma needs further investigation for patients with no vascular invasion, high degree of differentiation, and negative basal margin.

Objective: To explore the effectiveness and cost of breast cancer screening strategy that is suitable for the current econom-ic conditions in China. Methods: We collected clinical and cost information of breast cancer screening for Chinese women based on previous screening programs conducted from February 2008 to December 2011 and collected the same information about breast can-cer cases diagnosed in hospitals at the same time. Markov models were developed to analyze the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) for 132 breast cancer screening strategies compared to no screening for Chinese women. Results: In 2010, as compared to no screening, the most cost-effective breast cancer screening strategy was biennial screening with clinical breast examination (CBE) and breast ultrasound, in parallel, for women aged between 40 to 64. This screening strategy could save 1,394 quality-adjusted life years (QALY) per 100,000 women, and the cost of saving breast-cancer related QALY would be 91,944 RMB. Sensitivity analysis indicated that in 2016, the most cost-effective breast cancer screening strategy was biennial screening with CBE and mammography (MAM), in parallel, for women aged 40 to 64, with ICER of 159,637 RMB per QALY. Conclusions: Population-based breast cancer screening would be acceptable in the current conditions in China. As the Chinese economy and level of medical care improve, breast cancer screening would be more cost-effective.

Objective: To investigate the effect of mechanical ventilation in prone position combined with lung recruitment on severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: From February 2015 to February 2017, 82 patients with ARDS admitted to ICU of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were divided into two groups according to random number table, with 41 cases in each group.The study group was treated with mechanical ventilation in prone position combined with lung recruitment therapy, and the control group was treated with mechanical ventilation in supine position combined with lung recruitment therapy.The differences of heart rate (HR), central venous pressure (CVP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂), oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂), plateau pressure (Pplat), and static pulmonary compliance (Cst) were compared between the two groups before treatment (T0), and 1h (T1), 2h (T2), 6h (T3) after treatment. Results: The PaO₂ and PaO₂/FiO₂ levels of the two groups increased significantly after lung recruitment.In the study group at different time after treatment, PaO₂[(69.17±7.51)mmHg, (74.64±6.78)mmHg, (82.52±10.37)mmHg], PaO₂/FiO₂ [(116.91±15.57)mmHg, (123.06±16.34)mmHg, (135.23±18.41)mmHg]were higher than those in the control group[PaO₂: (64.23±7.72)mmHg, (68.51±8.05)mmHg, (73.43±9.12)mmHg; PaO₂/FiO₂: (106.50±12.97)mmHg, (115.42±13.19)mmHg, (123.42±14.95)mmHg], the differences were statistically significant (t=3.225, 3.254, 4.245, 3.954, 3.886, 4.135, all P<0.05). HR and CVP increased at T2-T3, T3 decreased, MAP decreased at T2-T3, and T3 increased in both two groups.HR at T1-T3 in the study group were (123.17±13.41)times/min, (114.64±10.08)times/min, (102.52±6.57)times/min, which were lower than those in the control group[(129.23±12.75)times/min, (117.51±10.35)times/min, (108.43±9.77)times/min], the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (t=3.884, 4.215, 4.667, all P<0.05). Conclusion Prone position mechanical ventilation combined with lung recruitment can effectively improve the oxygenation status of severe ARDS, and has less effect on hemodynamics, and the effect is better than supine position mechanical ventilation combined with lung recruitment.

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) used in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery.Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 99 cases treated with ERAS programed laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery (ERAS group) and 103 cases treated with traditional perioperative care and laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery (controlled group) from Mar 2017 to Sep 2017 in our center.Results There was no significant difference in age,gender,BMI,ASA classification,tumor location,operation time,pathological stage and the incidence of postoperative complications between ERAS group and controlled group (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared to control group,ERAS had less blood loss,shorter time to pass first flatus,stool and start diet and shorter hospitalization day,with all the difference statistically significant [(60 ± 63)ml vs.(112 ± 245)ml,(3.0±0.8)dvs.(4.3 ±1.2)d,(3.5 ±1.0)dvs.(4.6±1.3)d,(4.1 ±1.2)dvs.(5.4± 2.0)d,(5.8±2.1)dvs.(7.8±2.5)d,t=-2.021、-9.216、-6.887、-5.252、-6.163,allP＜ 0.05].No patients in both groups suffered from readmission or death within 30 days after surgery.Conclusion Patients treated with ERAS programed laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery is safe and effective,with rapid recovery and reduced hospital stay.