Objective: To explore the changes in ribosomal DNA copy number in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis and its influencing factors, so as to provide insights into prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis. Methods: Eighty-eight patients with pneumoconiosis who visited a designated hospital and 71 community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure were selected as the pneumoconiosis group and control group, and age, smoking history, drinking history and cumulative years of exposure to dust were collected through questionnaire surveys. The copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA was detected using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and the differences between the two groups were compared. Factors affecting the copy number of 45S rDNA and 5S rDNA were identified by a multiple linear regression model. Results: The pneumoconiosis group had a median age of 56.00 (interquartile range, 15.25) and a mean cumulative dust exposure duration of (12.40±8.08) years, with 56.82% smoking and 62.50% drinking. The control group had a median age of 64.00 (interquartile range, 37.00) years, with 32.39% smoking and 26.76% drinking. The median copy number of 45S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 1.29 (interquartile range, 0.59), which was lower than 2.10 (interquartile range, 1.88) in the control group; the median copy number of 5S rDNA in the pneumoconiosis group was 5.33 (interquartile range, 0.85), which was higher than 4.66 (1.34) in the control group (both P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis identified age (β=-0.034) and pneumoconiosis (β=-1.595) as factors affecting 45S rDNA copy number, age (β=-0.013) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number, and age (β=0.018) as a factor affecting 5S rDNA copy number in the pneumoconiosis group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Compared with community residents with no history of pneumoconiosis or dust exposure, the copy number of 45S rDNA in peripheral blood among patients with pneumoconiosis is reduced and the copy number of 5S rDNA is increased.

Objective:To understand the epidemiology of rubella and the genetic characteristics of the virus circulating during the period 2021-2022, providing basic scientific data for rubella prevention and control in China.Methods:National rubella incidence data for the period 2021-2022 were obtained from the Infectious Disease Surveillance System module and the Surveillance Report Management module of the China′s Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Positive rubella virus(RuV)isolates were obtained from the National Measles/Rubella Laboratory Network. Two nucleotide (nt) fragments [F1-480 (8 633-9 112 nt) and F2-633 (8 945-9 577 nt)] located in the E1 gene were amplified and determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the target gene (E1-739) was obtained after collating and splicing. The sequences obtained in this study were used to construct a phylogenetic tree with the reported reference strains for genotype and lineage identification. Additionally, the phylogenetic analysis was performed to assess their genetic relatedness of RuV strains prevalent in China during 2018-2020 from GenBank database.Results:In 2021-2022, the rubella incidence in China was 0.06/100, 000 (2021: 840 cases; 2022: 784 cases), with cases primarily concentrated in the western and southern provinces. Age distribution analysis showed that rubella cases in 2021-2022 was mainly in children under 5 years of age (2021: 34.17%, 287/840; 2022: 42.09%, 330/784), with the highest proportion in children aged 0-2 years. Further analysis of the immunization history of cases revealed that in the 8-23 months age group, a significant proportion of cases had received only one dose of rubella containing vaccine (RCV); cases in the 2-14 years age group were mainly among children who had received two or more doses of RCV; however, cases over 15 years of age were primarily found in individuals who had not received RCV or had unknown immunization history. National virological surveillance data showed that totally 22 RuV virus isolates were obtained, from 6 provinces in China during 2021-2022, which belonged to lineage 1E-L2 (11 strains) and 2B-L2c (11 strains). And these viruses displayed high genetic homology with RuV prevalent from 2018 to 2020.Conclusions:The incidence of rubella in China was maintained at a low level during 2021-2022, and the prevalent RuV strains were lineage 1E-L2 and 2B-L2c.

Objective: To investigate the effect of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number variation caused by hexavalent chromium exposure on DNA damage response in different cell lines, so as to provide insights into the involvement of hexavalent chromium-induced rDNA copy number variation in DNA damage responses. : Methods Human lung epithelial BEAS-2B cells and human embryonic lung MRC-5 cells were treated with 2 μmol/L potassium dichromate for 24 hours, and then cells were transferred to fresh media for further incubation, while cells treated with the same volume of phosphate buffer solution served as controls. Cells treated with potassium dichromate for 24 hours, and 3 and 7 days post-detoxification, were harvested, and rDNA copy number was quantified in cells using a quantitative fluorescent real-time PCR assay. Cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA damage were detected using a Muse cell analyzer, and the DNA damage was evaluated with the proportion of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) gene activation, proportion of double-strand DNA breaks and the percentage of the H2A.X variant histone phosphorylatio. : Results The 45S and 5S rDNA copy numbers of were significantly higher in MRC-5 cells than in BEAS-2B cells [(1.54±0.26) vs. (1.02±0.18), P<0.05; (6.97±1.07) vs. (3.00±0.15), P<0.05]. The 45S rDNA copy number was lower in MRC-5 cells 3 days post-detoxification (0.80±0.04) than in controls (P<0.05), and was higher in BEAS-2B cells 3 days post-detoxification (1.43±0.07) than in controls (P<0.05) . G0/G1 phase arrest was found in MRC-5 cells 24 hours post-treatment, and the apoptotic rates were significantly higher in MRC-5 cells 3 and 7 days post-detoxification than in controls [(11.53±1.53)%, (18.33±0.70)% vs. (3.53±0.93)%, P<0.05]. The overall apoptotic rates 24 hours post-treatment and 3 days post-detoxification [(2.80±0.17)%, (3.33±0.57)% vs. (1.53±0.61)%, P<0.05], proportion of ATM gene activation 3 days post-detoxification [(3.37±0.67%) vs. (1.18±0.22)%, P<0.05], proportion of double-strand DNA breaks 3 days post-detoxification [(4.45±0.85)% vs. (0.97±0.21)%, P<0.05] and percentage of the H2A.X variant histone phosphorylation 3 days post-detoxification [(1.68±0.56)% vs. (0.29±0.06)%, P<0.05] in BEAS-2B cells were higher than in controls. Conclusions Hexavalent chromium-induced rDNA copy number variation affects DNA damage response in different cell lines. A stronger DNA damage response is found in BEAS-2B cells with a low rDNA copy number, and a relative stable response is observed in MRC-5 cells with a high rDNA copy number.

Objective: o explore the antibacterial effect of combined use of photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in root canals. Methods: A total of 36 isolated teeth with single root canal were collected to establish an experimental root canal model of Enterococcus faecalis infection. Samples were randomly divided into six groups and 0.9% NaCl, 2% NaClO, 0.1% AgNPs solutions were used with conventional needle irrigation (CNI) or PIPS for root canals. Colony count method was used to measure the number of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in root canals before and after treatment, and the percentage of colony count reduction was calculated. Results: The inhibitory effect of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in all experimental groups was stronger than that in the control group (P<0.05). The decrease amplitude of 0.9% NaCl, 2% NaClO, 0.1% AgNPs assisted with PIPS was greater than that of 0.9% NaCl, 2% NaClO, 0.1% AgNPs assisted with CNI (P<0.05). The decrease in the 0.1% AgNPs assisted with PIPS group was significantly greater than that in the 2% NaClO assisted with PIPS group (P<0.05). Conclusion PIPS-assisted AgNPs solution washing can significantly improve the effect of clearing Enterococcus faecalis biofilm in root canals.

People are exposed to a variety of different harmful factors through their daily life, diet, and occupational environment, and exposure to these dangerous factors results in varying degrees of damage to the organism. The damage to mitochondria from exposure to chemical harmful factors in environment is of increasing concern. The integrity of the mitochondrial genome is critical for mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis, and mitochondria are susceptible to damage and mitochondrial dysfunction when stimulated by various harmful chemical environmental factors. It has been shown that exposure to a variety of chemical pollutants can produce varying degrees of damage to mitochondria, and these pollutants may cause mitochondrial structural and functional disorders by inducing oxidative stress, including impaired electron respiratory chain transmission, alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial DNA mutations/deletions, and mitochondrial DNA copy number variation. Mitochondrial damage can further lead to abnormal cell function, apoptosis, and death, which induce related diseases. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the role of chemical factor exposure in the environment, such as heavy metals, on mitochondrial damage.

People are exposed to a variety of different harmful factors through their daily life, diet, and occupational environment, and exposure to these dangerous factors results in varying degrees of damage to the organism. The damage to mitochondria from exposure to chemical harmful factors in environment is of increasing concern. The integrity of the mitochondrial genome is critical for mitochondrial function and cellular homeostasis, and mitochondria are susceptible to damage and mitochondrial dysfunction when stimulated by various harmful chemical environmental factors. It has been shown that exposure to a variety of chemical pollutants can produce varying degrees of damage to mitochondria, and these pollutants may cause mitochondrial structural and functional disorders by inducing oxidative stress, including impaired electron respiratory chain transmission, alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial DNA mutations/deletions, and mitochondrial DNA copy number variation. Mitochondrial damage can further lead to abnormal cell function, apoptosis, and death, which induce related diseases. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the role of chemical factor exposure in the environment, such as heavy metals, on mitochondrial damage.

Objective: To investigate the effect of chrysotile exposure on ribosomal DNA (rDNA) copy number and DNA damage response, so as to provide insights into the mechanism of asbestos-induced carcinogenesis. Methods: Human pleural mesothelial MeT-5A cells were treated with chrysotile suspensions at doses of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 μg/cm2 (low-, medium-, high-dose group), while PBS served as controls. MeT-5A cells were harvested 6, 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment, and the rDNA copy numbers and the BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression were determined using a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay. The apoptosis of MeT-5A cells and DNA damage were detected using Muse cell analyzer. The rDNA copy numbers, DNA damage responses and BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression were compared in MeT-5A cells treated with different doses of chrysotile suspensions. Results: There were significant differences in 45S rDNA copy numbers among low-, medium-, high-dose groups and the control groups 6, 48 and 72 h post-treatment with chrysotile suspensions, and significantly lower 45S rDNA copy numbers were measured in low-, medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group 6 h post-treatment, while significantly higher 45S rDNA copy numbers were found in the high-dose group than in low- and medium-dose groups 48 and 72 h post-treatment (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in 5S rDNA copy numbers among low-, medium-, high-dose groups and the control groups 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment with chrysotile suspensions, and significantly lower 5S rDNA copy numbers were measured in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group 24 and 48 h post-treatment, while significantly lower 5S rDNA copy numbers were found in medium- and high-dose groups than in the low-dose group 24, 72 h post-treatment (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in the overall apoptotic rate of MeT-5A cells among groups at different time points, and the overall apoptotic rate of MeT-5A cells were significantly higher in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05), with late-stage apoptosis predominantly detected. There were significant differences in the rates of ATM activation and DNA double-strand break in MeT-5A cells among groups 72 h post-treatment, and higher rates of ATM activation and DNA double-strand break were measured in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). In addition, there were significant differences in the relative mRNA expression of BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 genes among groups 24 and 48 h post-treatment, and significantly lower BIRC5, HRAS, GINS4 and RRM2 mRNA expression was quantified in medium- and high-dose groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Exposure to chrysotile may induce rDNA copy number variations and altered expression of nucleolar proteins in human pleural mesothelial cells, which may be involved in the regulation of DNA damage responses.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy.Methods:The clinical data of 558 radical prostatectomy patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2010 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was 67.9 (40-87) years old, and the average body mass index was 24.56 (15.12-35.94) kg/m 2. The average PSA was 41.07 ng/ml, including 48 cases<10 ng/ml, 98 cases 10-20 ng/ml, and 412 cases>20 ng/ml. There were 123, 214, 118, 89, and 14 cases with biopsy Gleason 6-10 score, respectively. The clinical stage : 90 cases in ≤T 2b, 273 cases in T 2c, and 195 cases in ≥T 3 . 558 cases underwent radical prostatectomy, including 528 robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, 25 laparoscopic surgery, and 5 open-surgery. The risk factors for postoperative biochemical recurrence were analyzed by Cox regression. Results:A total of 63 patients had postoperative pathological stage pT 2a, 32 patients had pT 2b, 241 patients had pT 2c, and 222 patients had ≥pT 3. A total of 210 cases developed biochemical recurrence after surgery, and the mean time to biochemical recurrence was 33.3 (3-127) months after the radical prostatectomy. The biochemical recurrence rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 9.7% (54/558), 21.5% (120/558), and 31.7% (177/558), respectively. Among pT 2a and pT 2b patients, 7 (11.1%) and 4 (12.5%) cases developed biochemical recurrence, respectively. Among pT 2c stage patients, 145 (60.17%) cases had positive cut margins, treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) after surgery. 68 (28.21%) cases of pT 2c stage patients had biochemical recurrence at mean 36.1 (3-106)months after the radical prostatectomy. Among ≥pT 3 patients, 147 patients with positive margins, perineural invasion, seminal vesicle invasion and positive pelvic lymph nodes were treated with postoperative androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) + radiotherapy. 98 of 147 patients (66.67%) had biochemical recurrence, and the average time to biochemical recurrence was 30.6 (24-98) months.75 patients of ≥pT 3 without positive margins, perineural invasion, seminal vesicle invasion or positive pelvic lymph nodes, were treated with postoperative ADT. 33 of them (44%) had biochemical recurrence, and the average time to biochemical recurrence was 32.5 (21-106) months. 5-and 10-year survival rates of 210 patients with biochemical recurrence were 89.05% (187/210) and 78.09% (164/210) respectively, 5- and 10-year tumor-specific survival rates were 92.57% and 87.69%, respectively. 46 of 210 cases died, of which 31 (67.39%) died from prostate cancer, and 15 cases (32.61%) died from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that patient's age ≥70 years, initial PSA > 20ng/ml, ≥pT 3 and Gleason score ≥7 were independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence. Conclusions:After radical prostatectomy, patients were treated according to their pathological stage and surgical margins. Patients with positive margins have a higher risk of biochemical recurrence. The independent risk factors for biochemical recurrence included age ≥70 years, initial PSA > 20ng/ml, ≥pT 3 and Gleason score ≥7.

Objective To investigate the curative effect of ultra early enteral nutrition (EN) supplemented with probiotics in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).Methods Seventy-five SAP cases admitted in Second People's Hospital of Nantong from December 2014 to June 2018 were enrolled and assigned into 24 h group (who received EN & probiotics at 24 h,n =25),72 h group (who received EN & probiotics at 72 h,n =25) and the control group (who received EN & probiotics on day 7,n =25).After admission,the levels of PCT,hs-CRP and endotoxin on day 1,4 and 8 were detected.APACHE Ⅱ score on day 3 after admission,complication rate,infection rate,hospitalization duration and mortality were recorded.Results On day 1 after admission,serum PCT,hs-CRP and endotoxin concentrations among three groups were of no significant differences.On day 4 after admission,the serum concentrations of PCT and edotoxin in 24 h group were significantly lower than those in 72 h group and the control group [(3.12 ± 1.45) μg/L vs (5.26±1.52),(6.07 ± l.59) μg/L;(0.24 ± 0.02) EU/ml vs (0.35 ±0.03),(0.46±0.04) EU/ml].The serum hs-CRP in 24 h group was significantly lower than that of the control group [(20.71 ±4.89) μg/L vs (28.37 ± 4.64) μg/L],and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ O.05).The serum concentrations of hs-CRP in 24 h group and 72 h group was of no significant difference.On day 7 after admission,the serum concentrations of PCT,hs-CRP and endotoxin in 24 h group were significantly lower than those in 72 h group and the control group (P ＜0.05);the serum concentrations of PCT,hs-CRP and endotoxin in 72 h group were significantly lower than those of the control group,and all the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The score of APACHE Ⅱ (day 3 after admission) [(15.1 ± 1.8)],complication rate (52％),infection rate (8％),length of stay [(19.7 ± 5.3) d] in 24 h group were all significantly lower than those of 72h group [(17.0 ± 2.0),72％,32％,(25.4 ± 6.8) d] and control group [(18.3 ±2.6),84％,44％,(38.7 ± 12.6) d],and all the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜0.05).Conclusions Ultra EN supplemented with probiotics in treating the patients with SAP could significantly reduce the level of serum PCT,hs-CRP and endotoxin,decrease complication rate and mortality,and shorten the time of hospitalization.

Objective: To explore the independent predictors for recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), and establish a nomogram to predict individual 2-year RFS. Methods: The data of patients diagnosed in Xijing Hospital of the Air Force Medical University from June 2009 to May 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 71 patients with primary T_1-4N₀M₀ unilateral tumor were included in this study. The median age was 54 (range from 25 to 83) years. There were 51 males and 20 females. There were 27 cases of typeⅠ, 44 cases of type Ⅱ, 36 cases of left tumor and 35 cases of right tumor. Patients with clinical Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ stage were 47 cases, 12 cases, 9 cases and 3 cases, respectively. Tumor necrosis occurred in 15 cases (21.1%). The average preoperative alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was 89.0(43.0-217.0) U/L, the average preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) was (132.5±19.9) g/L, with 20 cases (28.2%) of Hb<120 g/L before surgery; the average of preoperative Hb was (132.5±19.9) g/L, among which 20 cases (28.2%) had Hb<120 g/L before surgery; the average of preoperative neutrophils/lymphocytes (NLR) was 2.40 (1.03-6.77); radical nephrectomy was performed in 43 patients and nephrectomy was performed in 28 patients. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year RFS were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and the differences among different subgroups were assessed using Log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to identify the independent predictors for RFS, and the nomogram was developed using R software according to the results of multivariate Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, the predictive ability of the nomogram was internally validated using the Bootstrap method by calculating the C-index and drawing the calibration plot. Results: After a median follow-up of 41 ( range from 25 to 83) months, 16 (22.5%) recurrence occurred, including 4 local recurrence and 12 distant recurrence, and 11 (68.8%) patients relapsed within 2 years after surgery. The 1, 2, and 3-year RFS were 88.6%, 80.4%, and 78.7%, respectively. Clinical stage Ⅱ (HR=3.655, 95%CI 1.036-12.890, P=0.044) and stage ≥Ⅲ(HR=3.654, 95%CI 1.008-13.248, P=0.049), preoperative ALP≥90U/L(HR=3.274, 95%CI 1.044-10.267, P=0.042), preoperative Hb<120 g/L (HR=4.771, 95%CI 1.553-14.660, P=0.006), and preoperative NLR≥2.40(HR=4.701, 95%CI 1.238-17.849, P=0.023) were identified as independent risk factors for RFS. On internal validation, the nomogram which integrates the four predictors of clinical stage, preoperative ALP, preoperative HB and preoperative NLR, has a good predictive performance (C-index =0.829, 95%CI 0.819-0.839). Conclusions In the present study based on single center data, clinical stage Ⅱ and ≥Ⅲ, preoperative ALP≥90 U/L, preoperative Hb<120 g/L and preoperative NLR ≥2.40 were independent predictors for postoperative RFS in patients with PRCC, and a new preoperative nomogram for predicting individual postoperative 2-year RFS was established, which would be helpful for urologists to develop more systematic treatment plans.