Objective To quantitatively assess the association of short-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with residents mortality. Methods A time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 among 10606 non-accidental residents by using the Guangzhou Cause of Death Surveillance System in Conghua District, Guangzhou. Exposure levels of PAHs in PM_2.5 and meteorological data during the study period were obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Conghua District and the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS-V2.0), respectively. Conditional Poisson regression model was used to estimate the exposure-response association between PAHs and the mortality risk. Results Fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality. For every one interquartile range increase in exposure levels, the non-accidental mortality risks increased by 8.33% (95% CI: 1.80%, 15.27%), 4.67% (95% CI: 1.86%, 7.57%), 6.07% (95% CI: 2.08%, 10.21%), 4.62% (95% CI: 1.85%, 7.47%), and 4.70% (95% CI: 0.53%, 9.03%), respectively. The estimated non accidental deaths attributable to exposure to fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluorine, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene were 5.91%, 6.08%, 6.51%, 6.46%, and 4.21%, respectively. Conclusions Short-term exposure to PAHs in PM_2.5, including fluoranthene, chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indine[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, was significantly associated with an increased risk of mortality among residents.

Objective To evaluate the application value of percutaneous angle positioning system based on augmented reality in improving the accuracy of liver puncture.Methods A canine liver with an embedded marking ring was used as the target for puncture.A skilled physician with over 5 years of experience in liver puncture and a novice physician with limited experience in liver puncture separately performed liver puncture using either the augmented reality-based percutaneous angle localization system(navigation)or CT-guided technique alone(non-navigation).The corresponding puncturing data of non-navigation skilled group(Group A),non-navigation non-skilled group(Group B),navigation skilled group(Group C),and navigation non-skilled group(Group D)were obtained.The differences in the evaluation indicators,including the number of CT scans,number of needle adjustment,time spent for operation,and distance of error,between Group A and Group B,between Group C and Group D,between Group A and Group C,and between Group B and Group D,were analyzed.Results Statistically significant differences in the number of CT scans,number of needle adjustment,time spent for operation,and distance of error existed between Group A and Group B,between Group A and Group C,and between Group B and Group D(all P＜0.0 5),while the differences in the number of CT scans,number of needle adjustment,time spent for operation,and distance of error between Group C and Group D were not statistically significant(all P＞0.05)Conclusion In performing liver puncture,the use of percutaneous angle localization system can reduce the number of CT scans,number of needle adjustment,time spent for operation and distance of error,and improve the puncture accuracy as well,which provides a basis for the clinical utilization of this system and the employment of this system-guided puncture technology in primary hospitals.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:507-511)

Objective To construct an integrated pharmaceutical care model for chronic respiratory system disease patients,and to provide policy recommendations.Methods A field survey,a semi-structured interview,and a questionnaire survey were comprehensively used to investigate the effect of the reform and the status quo of pharmaceutical care for chronic respiratory diseases after the medicine consistency reform in the medical alliance of Chongqing.Subsequently,the rainbow model was used to assess the challenges in the macro,meso,micro,and supporting element's dimensions,and the integrated pharmaceutical care model was established as a consequence.Results The primary issues involved in the medical alliance were as followed:insufficient joint reformation for public health services,medical insurance,and medical production and circulation(JRPMM);deficient supporting policies;a dearth of information support;an inadequately list of medications;insufficient collaboration among chronic disease specialties;and unstandardized pharmaceutical care.Consequently,the following recommendations were:in the macro dimension,to strengthen the JRPMM to enhance the service capacity of primary hospitals and to develop suitable human resource coordination mechanisms.In the meso dimension,to intensify the reform of pharmaceutical care in the medical alliance and enhance specialty collaboration horizontally.In the micro dimension,to establish a pharmaceutical management committee in the medical alliance,to formulate pharmaceutical technical specifications for the hierarchical medical system,and to combine"talent and technology"training innovatively.In the supporting elements dimension,to bolster information support in the area and to develop suitable incentives and assessment institutions.Conclusion This paper reported an integrated pharmaceutical care model for chronic respiratory diseases,which could serve as a reference for standardizing the hierarchical medical system for chronic diseases.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) in Jiangsu province during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in China from December 7, 2022 to January 27, 2023, and to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death.Methods:It was a multi-center cross-sectional investigation. Structured questionnaire was used to collect patient information by medical staff of each hemodialysis center (room) as investigators. Part of the demography data and laboratory examination data came from the Jiangsu Province Hemodialysis Data Information System. MHD patients from hemodialysis centers (rooms) at all levels of medical institutions and independent hemodialysis institutions in Jiangsu province during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infection were included, and the clinical characteristics and all-cause mortality of confirmed and suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were analyzed.Results:Questionnaire surveys and data analysis on 57 278 patients in 407 hemodialysis centers (rooms) were completed, accounting for 90.41% of the total number of MHD patients (63 357 cases) in Jiangsu province during the same period. There were 24 038 cases (41.97%) of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 14 805 cases (25.85%) of suspected infection, which were widely distributed in all dialysis centers in Jiangsu province. After clinical classification of 38 843 confirmed and suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection cases, 3 662 cases were severe and critical cases, accounting for 9.43% of the infected and suspected cases. Among the patients who had completed the questionnaires, there were 1 812 all-cause deaths, with an all-cause mortality rate of 3.16%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that elderly (taking ≤50 years as a reference, 51-59 years: OR=1.583, 95% CI 1.279-1.933, P=0.001; 60-69 years: OR=3.972, 95% CI 3.271-4.858, P<0.001; 70-79 years: OR=7.236, 95% CI 5.917-8.698, P<0.001; ≥80 years: OR=11.738, 95% CI 9.459-14.663, P<0.001), male ( OR=1.371, 95% CI 1.229-1.529, P<0.001), and co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) (positive serum HBV surface antigen, OR=0.629, 95% CI 0.484-0.817, P<0.001) were independent influencing factors for all cause mortality. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for male, age and current HBV infection prediction of all-cause death was 0.529 ( P<0.001), 0.724 ( P<0.001) and 0.514 ( P=0.042), respectively, and the cut-off value for age prediction of all-cause death was 65.5 years old. Compared with patients without HBV infection, MHD patients with HBV infection significantly reduced the proportion of severe and critically ill patients, all-cause hospitalizations and all cause deaths when infected with SARS-CoV-2 (4.99% vs. 6.41%, χ2=6.136, P=0.013; 8.90% vs. 11.44%, χ2=11.662, P<0.001; 2.01% vs. 3.37%, χ2=10.713, P=0.001, respectively). Conclusion:The MHD patients in Jiangsu province are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Elderly age and male gender are independent risk factors for death in MHD patients during the epidemic, while the HBV infection may be a protective factor for death of MHD patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Objective:To study the differences of intestinal flora between neonatal rats with intrauterine hypoxia and healthy neonatal rats using high-throughput sequencing technology to determine the effects of intrauterine hypoxia on neonatal intestinal flora.Methods:Intrauterine hypoxia model were established in neonatal rats. On d1 and d7 after birth, intestinal samples were collected from intrauterine hypoxic group and normal control group and assigned into INH1 group (intrauterine hypoxia d1), INH7 group (intrauterine hypoxia d7), NOR1 group (normal control d1) and NOR7 group (normal control d7). 16S rRNA sequencing were conducted using these samples and the differences in the diversity, richness and composition of the flora among the groups were compared.Results:(1) The Alpha diversity of the intestinal flora in the INH1 group was higher than the NOR1 group. Specifically, both sobs and chao indices, representing the richness of the flora, in INH1 group were significantly higher than the NOR1 group (sobs index: 114.5±35.6 vs. 50.5±21.3, chao index: 135.6±38.5 vs. 73.9±28.8)( P<0.05). Compared with the NOR7 group, the mean values of sobs, ace, chao, simpson and shannon indices in the INH7 group showed no significant differences ( P>0.05). (2) At the phylum and genus level, the dominant bacterial groups in the intrauterine hypoxia group on d1 were firmicutes and streptococcus and proteus and escherichia for the normal control group. The difference of intestinal flora between intrauterine hypoxia group and the normal control group on d7 was smaller than the difference between the two groups on d1. Compared with INH1 group, the INH7 group had increased escherichia composition and decreased streptococcus composition. Conclusions:Intrauterine hypoxia changes the initial colonization and later affects the abundance and structural composition of the intestinal flora in newborn rats.

Objective To investigate the correlation between daytime sleepiness and anxiety,depression in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Methods A total of 117 patients with sleep -snoring from September 2015 to September 2017 who admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine of Shengjing Hospital Affiliated to China Medical University were collected for general information.ESS,SDS,SAS questionnaire and polysomnography were detected.The differences between simple snoring and OSAHS group were compared,and the correlation between Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS),Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) score was analyzed.Results The scores of ESS,SDS and SAS in the OSAHS group were (16.24 ± 3.82) points,(46.27 ± 9.01) points,(48.21 ± 9.44) points,respectively,which were higher than those in the simple snoring group [(6.0 ± 2.58) points,(35.50 ± 18.40) points,(36.55 ± 17.97) points] (t =-14.425,-2.521,-2.780,all P ＜ 0.05).There was a correlation between SDS or SAS score and ESS score in OSAHS group(r=0.419,0.313,all P ＜0.05).Conclusion The sleepiness and anxiety,depression in OSAHS patients is more severe than simple snoring;ESS score in OSAHS patients can reflect the severity of the disease,the degree of sleepiness in patients with OSAHS is related to depression and anxiety.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of amygdala neural circuitry in comorbidity of late-life depression (LLD) and cognitive impairment. Methods Twenty-four LLD,eighteen amnestic mild cognitive impairments (aMCI),thirteen aMCI with depression (dMCI) and thirty cognitive normal (CN) subjects completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Main effects of depression and MCI and their interactions on the intrinsic amygdala functional connectivity network ( AFCN) connectivity were examined. Behavioral significance of AFCN that voxel-wised amygdala connectivity correlating with de-pression severity and memory scores were also tested after controlling the effects of covariates,including age, gender,education, gray matter atrophy, and group. Results The immediate memory and delayed memory function in the aMCI group (-0. 75 ± 0. 77 and -1. 13 ± 0. 56) and the dMCI group (-1. 07 ± 0. 79 and-1. 00±0. 52) were significantly lower than those of the CN group (0. 46±0. 73 and 0. 60±0. 61),and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). Depression and anxiety in the LLD group (1. 00±0. 53 and 0. 93±0. 98) and the dMCI group (0. 86±0. 80 and 0. 78±0. 82) were significantly higher than those of the CN group (-0. 92±0. 25 and -0. 74±0. 22),and the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 01). Brain network analysis showed that separated neural circuits were implicated in the depression and cognitive im-pairment. Importantly,interactive effects of depression and MCI on the AFCN were also identified,especially in the bilateral somatomotor area,inferior parietal cortex/precuneus,posterior cingulate cortex,right medial prefrontal cortex/dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Behavioral significance of AFCN also re-vealed the distinctive neural circuits involved in the depression severity and memory deficits,respectively. Conjunction analysis further identified the overlapped neural circuits associated with depression and memory deficits were primarily in the left DLPFC,insula,hippocampus,right inferior prefrontal cortex and dorsomedi-al prefrontal cortex. Conclusions Depression and cognitive impairment synergistically facilitate functional decoupling of AFCN and thus compromise the integrity of amygdala networks. Distinct depression-related or MCI-related neural constructs represent the characteristics of clinical phenotype of depression or MCI alone, while overlapped circuits probably reveal the neural basis of comorbidity of LLD and MCI.

Objective To determine the expression of human protection of telomeres 1 (hPOT1) and its relationship with Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in gastric carcinoma.Methods The expressions of hPOT1 protein and hPOT mRNA were detected in 53 gastric carcinoma specimens (observed group) and 20 normal gastric mucosa tissues (control group) by SP immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization (ISH), respectively.HP infection was examined by Warthin-Starry method in observed group.Results The positive expression rate of hPOT1 protein was 84.91％ (45/53) in observed group, higher than that in control group [30.00 ％ (6/20)] (P ＜ 0.01).The positive expression rate of hPOT1 mRNA was 58.49 ％ (31/53) in observed group, higher than that in control group [10.00 ％ (2/20)] (P ＜ 0.05).The positive co-expression rate of hPOT1 protein and mRNA was 56.60 ％ (30/53), both had positive relationship in gastric carcinoma (r =0.394, P ＜ 0.05).The rate of HP infection in 53 cases of gastric carcinoma was 52.83 ％ (28/53).The positive expression rates of hPOTI protein and mRNA in observed group with HP infection were significantly higher than those in observed group without HP infection[protein: 96.43 ％ (27/28) vs 72.00 ％ (18/25), P ＜0.05;mRNA: 85.75 ％ (24/28) vs 28.00 ％ (7/25), P ＜ 0.01].Conclusions hPOT1 may be associated with occurrence of gastric carcinoma.Combined detection of hPOT1 protein and mRNA can be used for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.HP infection may be associated with abnormal expression of hPOT1 in occurrence of gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo describe the impact of the global economic crisis on the nutritional status of children in China during and after the crisis.

METHODSData from 1990 to 2010 were sourced from the National Food and Nutrition Surveillance System. Approximately 16 000 children under 5 years old were selected using a stratified random cluster method from 40 surveillance sites. Anthropometric and hemoglobin measurements for children under 5 were conducted. Nutritional status was determined according to WHO child growth standards.

RESULTSPrevalence of underweight and stunting in children under 5 had a downward trend. Underweight prevalence was close to normal (less than 5%), with prevalence of stunting 12.6% in 2009 and 12.1% in 2010 in rural areas. Prevalence of stunting in infants under 6 months and 6-12 months old in poorer rural areas increased from 5.7%-9.1% and 6.7%-12.5%, respectively, in 2008-2009. This trend also continued post-crisis in 2010. Prevalence of stunting in children left behind by mothers was 20%-30% higher than in children the same age in general and poorer rural areas. Prevalence of anemia in children did not change in rural areas, but prevalence of anemia in all age groups increased in poorer rural areas, especially in children under 24 months old. Level reached 30%-40% in 2009, and fluctuated in 2010.

CONCLUSIONThe nutritional status of children under 5 was comparatively stable during and after the global economic crisis, attributable to the Chinese government's policy response. The nutritional status in poorer rural areas fluctuated in response to the economic crisis and, thus, relevant action and intervention must be taken immediately to help the most vulnerable population in poorer rural areas. A proper national nutritional strategy for children under 2 years old, including nutrition supplementation for pregnant women and in-home fortification for complementary feeding, should be initiated.

Aging ; Anemia ; economics ; epidemiology ; Child Development ; physiology ; Child Nutrition Disorders ; economics ; epidemiology ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Economic Recession ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant Nutrition Disorders ; economics ; epidemiology ; Male ; Nutritional Status ; physiology ; Population Surveillance ; Poverty ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Thinness ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of downregulation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) core gene (HBcAg) expression by RNA interference and magnetic nanoparticles on both HBV DNA replication and expression in vitro. Methods HepG2 2.2.15 cells were transfected with U6 promoter plasmids coding for small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HBV core gene using magnetic nanoparticles. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to assess the mRNA and protein expression HBV core antigen. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the suppression efficiency of HBV-DNA replication and expression; and radioimmunoassay was used for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), core antigen (HBcAg), and e antigen (HBeAg) detection. Results We successfully constructed nanoparticles with siRNA plasmid targeting HBV core antigen; HBcAg mRNA and HBV core antigen protein levels were significantly reduced in the transfected cells. HBV-DNA downregulation was estimated at 4-5 logs and the HBsAg and HBeAg levels were also reduced compared with the controls. Conclusion Downregulation of HBV core gene using RNAi technology and magnetic nanoparticles can potentially be used as a therapeutic strategy for Hepatitis B.