Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners

Objective To study the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution and pathogenic factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods One hundred patients of AS and their family members who had medical consultation in the Fifth Hospital of Xi'an(i.e.,Shaanxi Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine)in August 2019 and September 2020 were selected as the study subjects.The guidelines of Classification and Determination of Traditional Chinese Medicine Constitution issued by the China Association of Chinese Medicine were adopted to determine the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution types of the study subjects.The sociodemographic information,living habits,clinical symptoms,and TCM constitution types of the AS patients and their family members were collected by means of questionnaires and clinical investigations,and then the pathogenic factors of the patients with AS were investigated.The binomial Logistic regression model was used to analyze the correlation between TCM constitution types and pathogenic factors in patients with AS.Results(1)Among the 100 AS patients,the majority of them had the biased constitutions,and the biased constitutions with the occurrence frequency in descending order were yang deficiency constitution,qi deficiency constitution,and damp-heat constitution,which accounted for 33.00%,14.00%,and 18.00%,respectively.(2)The prevalence rates of AS in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 56.25%,40.00%and 25.00%,respectively.For the positive rates of human leukocyte antigen B27(HLA-B27)in AS patients and their family members,HLA-B27 in AS patients was all positive,while the positive rates of HLA-B27 in the first-,second-,and third-degree relatives of AS patients were 44.31%,30.67%and 15.63%,respectively.(3)The results of regression analysis showed that the disease duration of AS patients was significantly correlated with qi deficiency constitution,the grading of sacroiliac arthritis was correlated with qi stagnation constitution,and age was correlated with blood stasis constitution(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The results indicated that disease duration and age were the important factors affecting the constitution types of AS patients,and disease duration was closely related to qi deficiency while age was closely related to blood stasis.Conclusion AS is a highly hereditary autoimmune disease,and its onset is associated with HLA-B27.Yang deficiency is the basic constitution type of AS,and damp-heat constitution is the main constitution type in the progression of AS(especially in the active stage of the disease).The prolongation of the disease will exacerbate the illness condition of AS and then the manifestations of qi deficiency will be more obvious.

This study was aimed at understanding the trends in,and scope of,severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS)in Nanjing,analyzing the spatial distribution pattern,detecting high incidence cluster areas and key popula-tions,and scientifically guiding prevention and control strategies and measures.We obtained data on SFTS cases from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing from the China Disease Control and Prevention Information System,and described the time,popu-lation,and spatial distribution characteristics.We used joinpoint regression to calculate the annual percentage change(APC)in incidence,then used FleXScan spatial clustering scan analysis to explore spatial clustering areas at the street level.A total of 507 SFTS cases were reported from 2010 to 2023 in Nanjing.The APC was 31.8％(95％CI:22.5％-41.9％,P＜0.001),and the reported incidence in 2023 was 1.42/100 000(134 cases).The seasonal indices from May to August were 2.7,2.1,3.0,and 1.3,respectively,accounting for 76.1％of the total cases.The median age was 66(IQR:55,73)years,which gradually increased from 59 years in 2010-2011 to 68 in 2022-2023(P＜0.001);94.1％of cases were in individuals 45 years or older.Farmers,homemakers/unemployed individuals,and retirees accounted for 90.1％.The epidemic area increased from 11 streets in four districts in 2010-2011 to 58 streets in 11 dis-tricts in 2022-2023.Except for 2012-2013,global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed positive Moran's I values(0.224-0.526,P＜0.001),and FlexScan scan indicated that several streets in Lishui District and Jiangning District were the most likely clusters.Four streets in Pukou District were the secondary clusters from 2018 to 2023,and three streets in Luhe District in 2022-2023 were the secondary clusters(all P＜0.05).The reported incidence of SFTS in Nanjing showed a rapid upward trend,with spread of epidemic areas.The spatial distribution pattern was clustered.Strengthened training in diagnosis and treatment technology and detection ability of medical institutions,surveillance in high-incidence areas,tracing of case flow,and health education of tick and disease prevention knowledge are recommended.

Purpose::Internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) has been used as a damage control procedure to treat hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture for many years. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the effectiveness and safety of this hemostatic method. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature review to assess the efficacy and safety of IIAL for pelvic fracture hemostasis.Methods::Three major databases, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, were searched to screen eligible original studies published in English journals. Two reviewers independently read the titles, abstracts, and full texts of all literature. Articles were included if they reported the use and effects of IIAL.Results::A total of 171 articles were initially identified, with 22 fully meeting the inclusion criteria. Among the analyzed cases, up to 66.7% of patients had associated abdominal and pelvic organ injuries, with the urethra being the most frequently injured organ, followed by the bowel. The outcomes of IIAL for achieving hemostasis in pelvic fractures were found to be satisfactory, with an effective rate of 80%. Hemorrhagic shock was the leading cause of death, followed by craniocerebral injury. Notably, no reports of ischemic complications involving the pelvic organs due to IIAL were found.Conclusion::IIAL has a good effect in treating hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture without the risk of pelvic organ ischemia. This procedure should be considered a priority for hemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture patients with abdominal organ injuries.

Background/Aims: Cholestatic liver diseases including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) are associated with active hepatic fibrogenesis, which ultimately progresses to cirrhosis. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the main fibrogenic effectors in response to cholangiocyte damage. JCAD regulates cell proliferation and malignant transformation in nonalcoholic steatoheaptitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC). However, its participation in cholestatic fibrosis has not been explored yet. Methods: Serial sections of liver tissue of PBC patients were stained with immunofluorescence. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in wild-type (WT), global JCAD knockout mice (JCAD-KO) and HSC-specific JCAD knockout mice (HSC-JCAD-KO), and evaluated by histopathology and biochemical tests. In situ-activated HSCs isolated from BDL mice were used to determine effects of JCAD on HSC activation. Results: In consistence with staining of liver sections from PBC patients, immunofluorescent staining revealed that JCAD expression was identified in smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA)-positive fibroblast-like cells and was significantly up-regulated in WT mice with BDL. JCAD deficiency remarkably ameliorated BDL-induced hepatic injury and fibrosis, as documented by liver hydroxyproline content, when compared to WT mice with BDL. Histopathologically, collagen deposition was dramatically reduced in both JCAD-KO and HSC-JCAD-KO mice compared to WT mice, as visualized by Trichrome staining and semi-quantitative scores. Moreover, JCAD deprivation significantly attenuated in situ HSC activation and reduced expression of fibrotic genes after BDL. Conclusions JCAD deficiency effectively suppressed hepatic fibrosis induced by BDL in mice, and the underlying mechanisms are largely through suppressed Hippo-YAP signaling activity in HSCs.

This study aimed to investigate the development status of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention in psoriasis in recent ten years, analyze the research hotspots, and summarize the development trends to provide reference materials for scholars in this field. Taking the available literature related to the field of TCM intervention in psoriasis as the research object, the trends, contents, and source publications were statistically analyzed based on bibliometrics. The research cooperation and co-occurrence of keywords in this field were studied by the knowledge map analysis method based on CiteSpace. The total number of Chinese papers was 2 993 and English papers 285. In terms of publication trend, the annual publication of English papers was low but showed an obvious upward trend, while the increase in Chinese papers fluctuated and tended to be flat. In terms of the content of Chinese papers published, TCM ranked first according to the discipline(2 415). In English papers, the number of publications in pharmacology and pharmaceutical science was the highest(87). Literature source analysis showed that the Chinese and English journals with the most publications were China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy and Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, respectively. Beijing University of Chinese Medicine published the most dissertations in China(99). The authors with the most publications in Chinese and English were LI Bin(Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine) and LU Chuan-jian(Guangdong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine). As revealed by the CiteSpace analysis of the research cooperation network, there were four mature and stable core teams in this field, but the cooperation intensity between different teams was weak. According to the keywords co-occurrence knowledge graph constructed by CiteSpace, the current hot keywords in this field are as follows: psoriasis, blood-heat syndrome, blood-stasis syndrome, fire needle, blood-dryness type, imiquimod, TCM bath, etiology and pathogenesis, cytokines, cupping therapy, etc. In summary, Chinese scholars have conducted active exploration and research in the field of TCM intervention in psoriasis in recent ten years. The overall development trend is good, and the breadth and depth of the research are constantly extending. It is suggested that relevant research should be free from discipline restrictions and strive for interdisciplinary integration.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Psoriasis/drug therapy*

Objective: To investigate the association of the levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with frailty and its components among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China. Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Health Ageing and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS, 2017-2018) were used and the elderly over 65 years old were included in this study. Through questionnaire interview and physical examination, the information including demographic characteristics, behavior, diet, daily activity, cognitive function, and health status was collected. The association between hs-CRP and frailty and its components in the participants was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model and restrictive cubic spline. Results: A total of 2 453 participants were finally included, the age was (84.8±19.8) years old. The median hs-CRP level was 1.13 mg/L and the prevalence of frailty was 24.4%. Compared with the low-level group (hs-CRP<1.0 mg/L), the OR (95%CI) value of the high-level group (hs-CRP>3.0 mg/L) was 1.79 (1.35-2.36) mg/L. As for the components, the hs-CRP level was also positively associated with ADL disability, IADL disability, functional limitation and multimorbidity. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the low-level group, the OR (95%CI) values of the high-level group for the four components were 1.68 (1.25-2.27), 1.88 (1.42-2.50), 1.68 (1.31-2.14) and 1.39 (1.12-1.72), respectively. Conclusion: There is a positive association between the levels of hs-CRP and the risk of frailty among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China. The higher hs-CRP level may increase the risk of frailty by elevating the risk of four physical functional disabilities, namely ADL disability, IADL disability, functional limitation and multimorbidity.
Humans ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein/analysis* ; Frailty/epidemiology* ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; China/epidemiology*

Excessive sodium/salt intake is the leading dietary risk factor for the loss of healthy life in the Chinese population. The "Healthy China 2030" Action Plan set the goal of reducing salt intake by 20% by 2030. However, salt intake in China is still at a very high level in the world, with adults reaching 11 g/d, more than twice the recommended limit of 5 g/d. The current policies and action plans of China have targeted catering workers, children, adolescents, and home chefs in salt, oil, and sugar reduction actions. However, there are still obvious deficiencies in the coordinated promotion and implementation. This study, therefore, proposed a set of comprehensive strategies (named CHRPS that is composed of communication and education, salt reduction in home cooking, salt reduction in restaurants, reducing salt content in pre-packaged food, and surveillance and evaluation) and key implementation points for further deepening the salt reduction action in China. These strategies were developed based on the main sources of dietary sodium for Chinese residents, the status of "knowledge, attitude and practice" in salt reduction, evidence of effective intervention measures, existing policies and requirements, and the salt reduction strategies of the World Health Organization and experience from some other countries. As a scientific reference, the CHRPS strategies will help the government and relevant organizations quickly implement salt reduction work and facilitate the earlier realization of China's salt reduction goal.
Adult ; Child ; Adolescent ; Humans ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; Sodium, Dietary ; Diet ; Food ; China

Objective: To identify the main metals involved in cognitive impairment in the Chinese oldest old, and explore the association between these metal exposures and cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1 568 participants aged 80 years and older from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (2017 to 2018). Fasting venous blood was collected to measure the levels of nine metals (selenium, lead, cadmium, arsenic, antimony, chromium, manganese, mercury, and nickel). The cognitive function of these participants was evaluated by using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (CMMSE). The random forest (RF) was applied to independently identify the main metals that affected cognitive impairment. The multivariate logistic regression model and restricted cubic splines (RCS) model were used to further verify the association of the main metals with cognitive impairment. Results: The age of 1 568 study subjects was (91.8±7.6) years old, including 912 females (58.2%) and 465 individuals (29.7%) with cognitive function impairment. Based on the RF model (the out-of-bag error rate was 22.9%), the importance ranking of variables was conducted and the feature screening of five times ten-fold cross-validation was carried out. It was found that selenium was the metal that affected cognitive function impairment, and the other eight metals were not included in the model. After adjusting for covariates, the multivariate logistic regression model showed that with every increase of 10 μg/L of blood selenium levels, the risk of cognitive impairment decreased (OR=0.921, 95%CI: 0.889-0.954). Compared with the lowest quartile(Q₁) of blood selenium, the ORs (95%CI) of Q₃ and Q₄ blood selenium were 0.452 (0.304-0.669) and 0.419 (0.281-0.622) respectively. The RCS showed a linear dose-response relationship between blood selenium and cognitive impairment (P_nonlinear>0.05). Conclusion: Blood selenium is negatively associated with cognitive impairment in the Chinese oldest old.
Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Selenium ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Metals/analysis* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology*

The extracellular domain (p75ECD) of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) antagonizes Aβ neurotoxicity and promotes Aβ clearance in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The impaired shedding of p75ECD is a key pathological process in AD, but its regulatory mechanism is largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate the presence and alterations of naturally-occurring autoantibodies against p75ECD (p75ECD-NAbs) in AD patients and their effects on AD pathology. We found that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) level of p75ECD-NAbs was increased in AD, and negatively associated with the CSF levels of p75ECD. Transgenic AD mice actively immunized with p75ECD showed a lower level of p75ECD and more severe AD pathology in the brain, as well as worse cognitive functions than the control groups, which were immunized with Re-p75ECD (the reverse sequence of p75ECD) and phosphate-buffered saline, respectively. These findings demonstrate the impact of p75ECD-NAbs on p75NTR/p75ECD imbalance, providing a novel insight into the role of autoimmunity and p75NTR in AD.
Mice ; Animals ; Alzheimer Disease/pathology* ; Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; Autoantibodies ; Mice, Transgenic