Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for cognitive function among aluminum workers, so as to provide the basis for intervention and prevention of cognitive function among aluminum-exposed populations. Methods: From July to August 2019, male aluminum workers in the electrolytic aluminum workshop of an aluminum factory in Shanxi Province were selected using the cluster sampling method. Demographic information, prevalence of chronic diseases, lifestyle behaviors, night shifts, and sleep quality were collected through questionnaire surveys. Blood aluminum levels were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Cognitive function was investigated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Factors affecting cognitive function among aluminum workers were analyzed by a quantile regression model. Results: A total of 142 aluminum workers were surveyed, including 57 workers aged 20 to <40 years (40.14%) and 85 workers aged 40 to 60 years (59.86%). The median blood aluminum level was 38.23 (interquartile range, 21.82) μg/L. The median cognitive function score was 24.00 (interquartile range, 3.00) points. Quantile regression analysis revealed that older age (βQ5=-0.186, 95%CI: -0.269 to -0.102), lower educational level (βQ5=1.933, 95%CI: 1.029 to 2.838; βQ10=1.743, 95%CI: 0.480 to 3.006; βQ50=1.038, 95%CI: 0.141 to 1.935; βQ75=1.006, 95%CI: 0.437 to 1.575; βQ90=1.111, 95%CI: 0.291 to 1.930), smoking (βQ5=-2.056, 95%CI: -3.264 to -0.849), alcohol consumption (βQ5=-1.821, 95%CI: -3.247 to -0.396) and higher blood aluminum level (βQ5=-0.075, 95%CI: -0.110 to -0.040; βQ10=-0.078, 95%CI: -0.127 to -0.029; βQ50=-0.075, 95%CI: -0.110 to -0.040; βQ75=-0.057, 95%CI: -0.079 to -0.035; βQ90=-0.067, 95%CI: -0.099 to -0.035) were associated with cognitive function decline among aluminum workers. Conclusions Educational level and blood aluminum level are the main factors affecting the cognitive function among aluminum workers. Among those with lower cognitive function scores, age, smoking and alcohol consumption are also associated with cognitive function.

Objective: To investigate the changes in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and let-7e in rats induced by coal mine dust, so as to provide the basis for the mechanism of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP). Methods: Sixty-four clean and healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, coal dust group, mixed dust group (mixed coal and silica dust) and quartz group. The rats in the control group were exposed to 1 mL physiological saline by non-exposure tracheal perfusion, and the rats in the dust-exposed groups were exposed to 1 mL dust suspension. Rats were sacrificed by anesthesia after 1 month and 6 months, lung tissue was observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining, the pathological change in the lungs was scored using the Szapiel scoring system, the levels of IL-6 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of let-7e was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: A month after exposure, a small amount of coal spots and inflammatory exudation were observed in the lung tissue of the coal dust group and the mixed dust group. The quartz group showed tissue structure destruction and mild fibrosis and thickening of alveolar septum. Six months after exposure, there were more coal spots and slightly thickened alveolar septum in the coal dust group, and hyperplasia of pulmonary interstitial fibers, destruction of alveolar structure and silica nodules were observed in the mixed dust group. In the quartz group, the alveolar structure was obviously destroyed, the interstitial fiber proliferation was significant and silica nodules were seen. Two-factor analysis of variance showed that the interaction between duration of exposure and dust type significantly influenced the pathological score of lung tissue, IL-6 levels, and let-7e expression levels (P<0.05). Under the same dust type, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower at 6 months after exposure than at 1 month (all P<0.05). Under the same duration of exposure, the pathological score of lung tissue and IL-6 levels were higher in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group, while the relative expression of let-7e was lower in the dust-exposed groups than in the control group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Coal dust can cause an increase in levels of IL-6 and a decrease in let-7e expression in rats. The type of dust and duration of exposure can interactively affect IL-6 and let-7e.

Objective:To observe the changes of lung function and inflammatory factors in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis at different time points.Methods:In June 2021, 96 healthy male SD rats with SPF grade were divided into 1, 3, and 6-month control group and dust staining group (coal dust group, coal silica dust group, quartz group) according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, a one-time non-exposed tracheal perfusion method (1 ml/ piece) was used. The dust dyeing group was given 50 g/L coal dust, coal silica mixed dust and quartz dust suspension, respectively, and the control group was given 0.9% normal saline solution. At 1, 3 and 6 months after perfusion, lung function was detected by animal lung function apparatus, then all lung tissues and alveolar lavage fluid were killed, and lung histopathological morphological changes were observed by HE staining, and the contents of interleukin (IL-1β), IL-18, IL-4 and IL-10 in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by ELISA. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Two factors (inter-group treatment factor (4 levels) and observation time factor (3 levels) ) were used in the analysis of the effects of inter-group treatment and treatment time on related indicators.Results:HE staining results showed that coal spot appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, coal spot and coal silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, and silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of quartz group. Compared with the control group, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 0.2 second (FEV 0.2) of rats in the dust staining group had interaction between the treatment and treatment time ( P<0.05). With the increase of dust dyeing time, FVC and FEV 0.2 decreased significantly at 3-6 months of dust dyeing, and the maximum gas volume per minute (MVV) decreased significantly at 1-3 months of dust dyeing ( P<0.05). The lowest lung function index was in quartz group, followed by coal-silica group and coal-dust group. There were statistically significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-18 among all groups in treatment and treatment time (IL-18: F=70.79, 45.97, 5.90, P<0.001), and interaction existed. The highest content of inflammatory factors in alveolar lavage fluid of all dust groups was quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. There were significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of anti-inflammatory factors between groups and treatment time (IL-4: F=41.55, 33.01, 5.23, P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001; IL-10: F=7.46, 20.80, 2.91, P=0.002, <0.001, 0.024), and there was interaction. The highest content of anti-inflammatory factor was in quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. Conclusion:Lung function decreased and levels of inflammatory fators increased in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, with the quartz group being the most severely damaged. Lung function is mainly impaired in thrid-six months, and the content of inflammatory factors begins to change in first-thrid months. MVV are the earliest and most obvious in lung function. IL-18 is suitable for monitoring changes in the pro-inflammatory response of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and IL-10 is suitable for monitoring changes in anti-inflammatory response.

The advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell immunotherapies has led to breakthroughs in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, their success in treating solid tumors has been limited. CAR-natural killer (NK) cells have several advantages over CAR-T cells because NK cells can be made from pre-existing cell lines or allogeneic NK cells with a mismatched major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which means they are more likely to become an "off-the-shelf" product. Moreover, they can kill cancer cells via CAR-dependent/independent pathways and have limited toxicity. Macrophages are the most malleable immune cells in the body. These cells can efficiently infiltrate into tumors and are present in large numbers in tumor microenvironments (TMEs). Importantly, CAR-macrophages (CAR-Ms) have recently yielded exciting preclinical results in several solid tumors. Nevertheless, CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M all have their own advantages and limitations. In this review, we systematically discuss the current status, progress, and the major hurdles of CAR-T cells, CAR-NK cells, and CAR-M as they relate to five aspects: CAR structure, therapeutic mechanisms, the latest research progress, current challenges and solutions, and comparison according to the existing research in order to provide a reasonable option for treating solid tumors in the future.

Objective:To observe the changes of lung function and inflammatory factors in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis at different time points.Methods:In June 2021, 96 healthy male SD rats with SPF grade were divided into 1, 3, and 6-month control group and dust staining group (coal dust group, coal silica dust group, quartz group) according to random number table method, with 8 rats in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, a one-time non-exposed tracheal perfusion method (1 ml/ piece) was used. The dust dyeing group was given 50 g/L coal dust, coal silica mixed dust and quartz dust suspension, respectively, and the control group was given 0.9% normal saline solution. At 1, 3 and 6 months after perfusion, lung function was detected by animal lung function apparatus, then all lung tissues and alveolar lavage fluid were killed, and lung histopathological morphological changes were observed by HE staining, and the contents of interleukin (IL-1β), IL-18, IL-4 and IL-10 in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by ELISA. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Two factors (inter-group treatment factor (4 levels) and observation time factor (3 levels) ) were used in the analysis of the effects of inter-group treatment and treatment time on related indicators.Results:HE staining results showed that coal spot appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, coal spot and coal silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of coal dust group, and silicon nodule appeared in the lung tissue of quartz group. Compared with the control group, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume at 0.2 second (FEV 0.2) of rats in the dust staining group had interaction between the treatment and treatment time ( P<0.05). With the increase of dust dyeing time, FVC and FEV 0.2 decreased significantly at 3-6 months of dust dyeing, and the maximum gas volume per minute (MVV) decreased significantly at 1-3 months of dust dyeing ( P<0.05). The lowest lung function index was in quartz group, followed by coal-silica group and coal-dust group. There were statistically significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-18 among all groups in treatment and treatment time (IL-18: F=70.79, 45.97, 5.90, P<0.001), and interaction existed. The highest content of inflammatory factors in alveolar lavage fluid of all dust groups was quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. There were significant differences in the main effect and interaction effect of anti-inflammatory factors between groups and treatment time (IL-4: F=41.55, 33.01, 5.23, P<0.001, <0.001, <0.001; IL-10: F=7.46, 20.80, 2.91, P=0.002, <0.001, 0.024), and there was interaction. The highest content of anti-inflammatory factor was in quartz group, followed by coal silica group and coal dust group. Conclusion:Lung function decreased and levels of inflammatory fators increased in rat models of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, with the quartz group being the most severely damaged. Lung function is mainly impaired in thrid-six months, and the content of inflammatory factors begins to change in first-thrid months. MVV are the earliest and most obvious in lung function. IL-18 is suitable for monitoring changes in the pro-inflammatory response of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and IL-10 is suitable for monitoring changes in anti-inflammatory response.

Background Aluminum and fluoride are neurotoxic, and aluminum exposure alone is closely related to the overall cognitive function of operational workers. It is unclear about the effect of aluminum and fluoride interactions on cognitive function. Objective To evaluate a potential interaction effect of blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on the overall cognitive function of workers working in an aluminum plant. Methods Using cluster sampling, 230 workers in the electrolysis workshop of an aluminum group company in Shanxi Province were selected, and plasma aluminum concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and urinary fluoride by ion-selective electrode. The study participants were divided into a low blood aluminum group and a high blood aluminum group according to the median (M) of blood aluminum concentration, and a low urinary fluoride group and a high urinary fluoride group by a predetermined cutoff point (2.160 mg·L⁻¹). The Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Beijing (MoCA-BJ) was used to assess overall cognitive function of the workers. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between blood aluminum, urinary fluoride, and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), including multiplicative interaction analysis and correlation analysis; R language was used to fit an additive interaction model of blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on MCI and to calculate synergy index (S), relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), and attributable proportion due to interaction (API). Results Among the 230 operational workers, the median blood aluminum concentration (P₂₅, P₇₅) was 40.11 (25.16, 58.89) µg·L⁻¹, and there were 104 cases of abnormal urinary fluoride, with an abnormality rate of 45.2%. There was a multiplicative interaction (OR=7.783, 95%CI: 1.377, 43.991) and no additive interaction (RERI=0.030, 95%CI: −0.498, 0.559; API=0.018, 95%CI: −0.279, 0.316; S=1.049, 95%CI: 0.519, 2.118) for the effect between blood aluminum and urinary fluoride on overall cognitive function of the workers. The logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of MCI was 12.105 (95%CI: 2.802, 52.287) times higher in workers with both high blood aluminum and high urinary fluoride than in those with low blood aluminum and low urinary fluoride, after adjusting for selected influencing factors. Conclusion Occupational exposure related high blood aluminum and high urinary fluoride are risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, and the coexistence of both indicators increases the risk of MCI in workers with occupational aluminum exposure, with a multiplicative interaction.

Background Previous studies show that aluminum exposure could increase the expression of miRNA-134-3p, which is involved in the mechanism of aluminum induced learning and memory impairment. However, it has not been investigated whether the expression level of miRNA-134-3p in the peripheral blood of occupational aluminum exposed workers is related to the blood aluminum concentration yet. Objective To evaluate a potential correlation between aluminum concentration in peripheral blood and miR-134-3p expression in occupational aluminum exposed workers. Methods A total of 184 male aluminum workers in the electrolytic aluminum workshop, aluminum oxide workshop, and thermal power workshop of an aluminum plant in Shanxi were selected by cluster sampling. They were divided into four groups (Q₁-Q₄) according to the quartiles of blood aluminum concentration, with 46 workers in each group. The basic information of workers was collected by questionnaire survey, and the cognitive function of workers was evaluated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The plasma of workers was collected, and the relative expression level of miR-134-3p in plasma was detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The plasma aluminum concentration was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The associations among workers' peripheral blood aluminum concentration, plasma miR-134-3p expression level, and total MoCA score were evaluated by generalized linear models. Results The workers' medians (P₂₅, P₇₅) of blood aluminum concentration, plasma relative expression level of miR-134-3p, and MoCA score were 39.31 (25.30, 57.41) μg·L^-1, 2.93 (2.29, 3.74), and 22.0 (20.0, 26.0), respectively. The results of the generalized linear model showed that after adjusting for age, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption, compared with the Q₁ group, blood aluminum in the Q₂, Q₃, or Q₄ group had an impact on related plasma miR-134-3p expression level and total MoCA score (P<0.05). With increasing blood aluminum concentration, the expression level of miR-134-3p in workers' plasma gradually increased, showing a positive correlation (b>0, P_trend<0.001), while the total score of MoCA gradually decreased, showing a negative correlation (b<0, P_trend<0.001). As the expression level of miR-134-3p in plasma increased, the total score of MoCA gradually decreased, showing a negative correlation (b<0, P_trend<0.001). There was a linear relationship between peripheral blood aluminum concentration and plasma relative expression level of miR-134-3p of the workers in the middle school and below group and the high school group (P_trend<0.05), b (95%CI)=1.796 (1.248, 2.344) and 1.192 (0.874, 1.510), and no correlation was found in the workers in the college and above group (P_trend>0.05). Conclusion Occupational aluminum exposure can lead to an increase in the expression level of miR-134-3p in plasma of workers, which may be related to a decrease in cognitive function of workers.

Background Occupational aluminum exposure may associate with cognitive impairment in workers. At present, brain functional imaging data are not available for evaluating cognitive dysfunction in workers with occupational exposure to aluminum. The role of brain functional connectivity in cognitive decline associated with occupational aluminum exposure is not clear yet. Objective To explore potential mediating effect of brain functional connectivity value on cognitive decline induced by occupational aluminum exposure, to assess the relationship between cognitive impairment and brain functional connectivity, and to identify appropriate imaging evidence of early cognitive changes induced by occupational aluminum exposure. Methods This study used a subset data from a previous cross-sectional survey. Based on the data of aluminum-exposed workers, over 40 years old, aluminum-exposed working years >1 year, Montreal International Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (Beijing version) score <26 points, 20 workers were selected as the case group, and 40 healthy workers with the same basic conditions (age, smoking, drinking, etc.) in non-aluminum production were selected as the control group with a 1∶2 matching ratio. The basic information of the subjects was collected, plasma aluminum level and cognitive function level were evaluated, and different brain functional connectivity values of default mode network (DMN) were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. The mediating effect analysis was conducted to examine the role of brain functional connectivity in the relationship between aluminum exposure and cognitive function. Results The plasma aluminum concentration of the case group was 1.76 times higher than that of the control group [(33.04±12.02) µg·L⁻¹ vs (18.74±8.95) µg·L⁻¹, P<0.05]; the MoCA score was 9.5 points lower [(18.35±2.64) vs (27.85±0.92), P<0.05]. The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 in the case group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of the left precuneus, left middle cingulate cortex, left superior medial gyrus, left precentral gyrus, and left cerebellum also decreased in the case group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Plasma aluminum concentration was negatively correlated with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores (b=−0.004, 95%CI: −0.008–−0.001; b=−0.15, 95%CI: −0.233–−0.067; P<0.05). The mean functional connection values of DMN1 and DMN2 were positively correlated with MoCA scores (b=10.945, 95%CI: 5.574–16.316; b=10.107, 95%CI: 2.457–17.758; P<0.05). With the increase of plasma aluminum concentration, MoCA score decreased, but when the plasma aluminum concentration exceeded 19.50 µg·L⁻¹, MoCA score decreased slowly. With the increase of the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1, MoCA score increased, but when the mean functional connectivity value of DMN1 exceeded 1.05 and continued to increase, the increase of MoCA score slowed down. The results of mediating effect analysis showed that the functional connectivity value of DMN1 partially mediated the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA score, and the mediating effect was 25.80%. Conclusion Cognitive impairment in occupational aluminum-exposed workers is closely related to brain resting-state functional connectivity. There is a dose-response relationship of plasma aluminum concentration with DMN1 functional connectivity value and MoCA scores, and DMN1 functional connectivity value partially mediates the relationship between plasma aluminum concentration and MoCA scores. The brain functional connectivity value can be used as meaningful imaging data to study the cognitive decline induced by chronic aluminum exposure.

Background Aluminum activates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), causing microglial nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and inflammatory responses and producing neurotoxicity. Objective To explore the role of STAT3 regulated NLRP3 inflammasomes in the inflammatory response of mouse microglia cell line (BV2) cells induced by maltol aluminum [Al(mal)₃]. Methods BV2 cells were assigned to five groups: one control group, three Al(mal)₃ exposure groups (low, medium, and high doses at 40, 80, and 160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃ respectively), and one C188-9 (STAT3 antagonist) intervention group [10 μmol·L⁻¹ C188-9 +160 μmol·L⁻¹ Al(mal)₃]. Cell viability was detected by CCK8. The expression of M1/M2 type markers, i.e. CD68/CD206, STAT3, p-STAT3, NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) in BV2 cells were detected by Western blotting, and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 were determined by ELISA. Results The results of cell viability assay showed that cell viability gradually decreased with the increase of Al(mal)₃ dose. Compared with the control group, the cell viability of the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 18% (P<0.05); compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the cell viability of the C188-9 intervention group was significantly elevated by 14% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of CD68 in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were elevated by 19%, 20%, and 21%, respectively (P<0.05); the expression level of CD206 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group was decreased by 25% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression level of CD68 in the C188-9 intervention group was reduced by 9% (P<0.05), whereas the expression level of CD206 was elevated by 22% (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 129% and 127%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the p-STAT3 protein expression and the p-STAT3/STAT3 ratio in the C188-9 intervention group were decreased by 55% and 54%, respectively (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression level of NLRP3 protein increased by 75% in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group (P<0.05), the expression levels of cleaved-casepase-1 protein increased by 28% and 35% in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), and the expression levels of ASC increased by 22%, 25%, and 53% in the Al(mal)₃ low-, medium- and high-dose groups (P<0.05), respectively. Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved-casepase-1, and ASC proteins in the C188-9 intervention group decreased by 30%, 19%, and 32%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of IL-1β in the Al(mal)₃ medium- and high-dose groups increased by 18% and 21%, respectively (P<0.05), and the level of IL-18 in the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group increased by 10% (P<0.05). Compared with the Al(mal)₃ high-dose group, the IL-18 levels were reduced by 23% in the C188-9 intervention group (P<0.05). The content of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 did not differ significantly between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Aluminum can induce inflammatory responses in BV2 microglia and is predominantly pro-inflammatory, and the mechanism may involve STAT3 regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome secretion of inflammatory factors.

Radiotherapy is an effective anti-tumor therapy for different types of solid tumors. Over 50% of cancer patients are treated with radiotherapy at different stages in the course of the disease. According to traditional radiobiology, radiation therapy mainly kills tumor cells by causing proliferative death of tumor cells through DNA damage. However, clinical data showed that many patients still experienced tumor recurrence and metastasis after receiving radiation therapy. Current studies have found that the biological behavior of tumor cells, such as invasion and migration, were changed after radiation through epithelial-mesenchymal transition, circadian rhythm disruption, senescence, and increased stemness of cancer cells, thereby leading to tumor recurrence and metastasis. In this article, the changes and mechanisms of biological behavior in tumor cells after radiation were reviewed, providing evidence for the prevention and treatment of tumor recurrence and metastasis.