Objective To investigate the effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on the thyroid status and hormone levels of radiation workers. Methods Radiation workers who underwent occupational health examinations at a hospital in Guangzhou from 2015 to 2022 were selected as the subjects of this study. The levels of FT3, FT4 and TSH were analyzed, and the thyroid abnormality status of radiation workers in different groups were compared. Results A total of 1152 participants were included in this study, consisting of 885 (76.82%) males and 267 (23.18%) females, with an average age of (35.26 ± 10.16) years. The prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was 9.38%, which was significantly higher in females (13.86%) than in males (8.02%) (P < 0.05). The TSH level of females [(2.15 ± 1.29) mIU/L] was higher than that of males [(1.85 ± 1.20) mIU/L], while the levels of FT3 [(5.10 ± 0.64) pmol/L] and FT4 [(15.84 ± 2.32) pmol/L] in females were lower than those in males [(5.23 ± 0.63) pmol/L and (16.61 ± 2.75) pmol/L, P < 0.05]. The FT3 of industrial workers [(5.25 ± 0.63) pmol/L] was higher than that of medical workers [(5.10 ± 0.63) pmol/L], while the TSH of industrial workers [(1.80 ± 1.12) mIU/L] was lower than that of medical workers [(2.15 ± 1.37) mIU/L]. FT4 levels decreased with increasing age and duration of occupational exposure. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sex was a significant independent predictor of thyroid abnormalities among radiation workers. Female workers were more likely to experience thyroid abnormalities (β = −0.62, P < 0.05). Conclusion Low-dose ionizing radiation may have a certain impact on the thyroid status of radiation workers, especially for female workers, which requires further attention and research.

BACKGROUND:Quercetin has anti-inflammatory,anti-cancer,anti-oxidation,anti-aging,anti-depression and other pharmacological effects,and has high medicinal value.Quercetin can promote wound healing in normal rats,but few drugs with quercetin as the main component have been developed,which limits its wide application in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the application effect of quercetin-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel on diabetic wound in rats by loading quercetin with hydrogel material. METHODS:(1)Carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels and quercetin-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels were prepared respectively,and the micromorphology and in vitro drug release properties of the hydrogels were characterized.(2)Cell experiment:Mouse L929 fibroblasts were cultured in four groups.The blank control group was cultured conventionally.Carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel,quercetin solution and quercetin-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel were added to pure hydrogel group,drug group,and drug-loaded hydrogel group,respectively,to detect cell proliferation and migration ability.(3)Animal experiments:Diabetic models were established in 80 SD rats.After successful modeling,full-layer skin defect wounds with a diameter of 2 cm were made on the back of rats,and these models were randomly divided into four groups.Normal saline,carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel,quercetin solution,and quercetin-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel were injected into the wounds of blank control group,pure hydrogel group,drug group,and drug-loaded hydrogel group,respectively.Each group contained 20 animals,which were bound with sterile gauze.Wound healing,pathological morphology,expression of inflammatory factors,and angiogenesis were observed after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Under scanning electron microscope,the microstructures of the two hydrogels were similar,both showed loose porous network structure,and quercetin-carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels had good drug release performance in vitro.(2)Compared with blank control group,the cell proliferation and mobility of the other three groups were increased(P<0.05).The cell proliferation and mobility of drug-loaded hydrogel group were higher than those of pure hydrogel group and drug group(P<0.05).(3)The wound healing rate of the drug-loaded hydrogel group was higher than that of the other three groups at 5 and 11 days after operation.The wound healing rate of rats in the hydrogel group,pure hydrogel group,and drug group reached 100%18 days after operation,which was higher than that in the blank control group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that intact skin and skin appendages were visible on the wounds of rats in the drug-loaded hydrogel group 18 days after surgery,while intact skin and skin appendages were visible on the wounds of rats in the blank control group,pure hydrogel group,and drug group 25 days after surgery.The levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-6 in the drug-loaded hydrogel group were lower than those in the blank control group at 5,11,and 18 days after surgery(P<0.05),and the levels of transforming growth factor β1 at 11 and 18 days after surgery were lower than those in the blank control group(P<0.05).The mRNA expressions of CD31 and vascular endothelial growth factor α in the drug-loaded hydrogel group were higher than those in the other three groups at 11 and 18 days after operation(P<0.05).(4)These findings indicate that quercetin in quercetin carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogel can regulate inflammatory response,accelerate angiogenesis,promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts,and enhance the healing of diabetic wounds in rats.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Background Air pollution remains a critical public health issue, with persistent exposure to air pollutants continuing to pose significant health risks. Currently, research investigating the association between air pollution and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen remains inadequate. Objective To quantitatively assess the association between air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in residents. Methods Based on the mortality surveillance system of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of 10089 permanent residents who died from myocardial infarction in Shenzhen between 2013 and 2022. Using residential address information, we obtained individual-level exposure data for air pollutants from the China High Air Pollutants dataset and meteorological factors from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System. A time-stratified case-crossover study design was employed to construct a conditional logistic regression model to assess the association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality. The exposure-response relationship was visualized, and a comprehensive health risk assessment was performed. Results This study included a total of 10 089 cases of myocardial infarction deaths in Shenzhen. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM₁₀), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) in Shenzhen from 2013 to 2022 were 24.59 (20.19) μg·m⁻³, 42.85 (28.42) μg·m⁻³, 8.53 (3.39) μg·m⁻³, 29.47 (13.56) μg·m⁻³, 0.77 (0.27) mg·m⁻³, and 86.53 (51.39) μg·m⁻³, respectively. The moving average concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ over the current day and the previous 2 days (lag02) showed the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.004 (1.001, 1.007) and 1.004 (1.002, 1.006), respectively. At lag05, SO₂ demonstrated the strongest association with the risk of myocardial infarction mortality, with an OR (95%CI) of 1.042 (1.019, 1.065). The exposure-response relationships of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and SO₂ with myocardial infarction mortality were approximately linear, whereas NO₂ exhibited a nonlinear relationship. At lag05, the highest risk of myocardial infarction mortality associated with NO₂ exposure was observed when the NO₂ concentration was ≤21.92 μg·m⁻³, with an OR (95% CI) of 1.024 (1.003, 1.046). The health risk assessment indicated that, using the WHO Air Quality Guidelines as the reference, the local PM_2.5 and NO₂ exposure led to an excess mortality of 398 and 298 cases, respectively. The sensitivity analysis revealed that after adjusting for O₃ and restricting the study period to 2013—2019, the effect estimates for PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂ on myocardial infarction mortality slightly increased. Conclusion Short-term exposure to air pollutants, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂, and SO₂, could increase the risk of myocardial infarction mortality. This study provides important scientific evidence for environmental health risk assessment and environmental management in Shenzhen.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by high programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and abundant infiltration of non-malignant lymphocytes, which renders patients potentially suitable candidates for immune checkpoint blockade therapies. Palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC) inhibit the growth of NPC cells and enhance cellular apoptosis and differentiation. Currently, the relationship between PLUNC (as a tumor-suppressor) and PD-L1 in NPC is unclear. Methods: We collected clinical samples of NPC to verify the relationship between PLUNC and PD-L1. PLUNC plasmid was transfected into NPC cells, and the variation of PD-L1 was verified by western blot and immunofluorescence. In NPC cells, we verified the relationship of PD-L1, activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), and β-catenin by western blot and immunofluorescence. Later, we further verified that PLUNC regulates PD-L1 through β-catenin. Finally, the effect of PLUNC on β-catenin was verified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Results: We found that PLUNC expression was lower in NPC tissues than in paracancer tissues. PD-L1 expression was opposite to that of PLUNC. Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that β-catenin could upregulate ATF3 and PD-L1, while PLUNC could downregulate ATF3/PD-L1 by inhibiting the expression of β-catenin. PLUNC inhibits the entry of β-catenin into the nucleus. Co-IP experiments demonstrated that PLUNC inhibited the interaction of DEAD-box helicase 17 (DDX17) and β-catenin. Conclusions PLUNC downregulates the expression of PD-L1 by inhibiting the interaction of DDX17/β-catenin in NPC.

Tumor cells use glycolysis to provide material and energy under hypoxic conditions to meet the energy requirements for rapid growth and proliferation， namely the Warburg effect. Even under aerobic conditions， tumor cells mainly rely on glycolysis to provide energy. Therefore， glucose transporter protein 1（GLUT1）， which is involved in the process of glucose metabolism， plays an important role in tumorigenesis， development and drug resistance， and is considered to be one of the important targets in the treatment of malignant tumors. In recent years， research on tumor glucose metabolism has gradually become a hot spot. It has been shown that various factors are involved in the regulation of tumor energy metabolism， among which the role of GLUT1 is the most critical. In this paper， the authors reviewed the latest research progress of GLUT1-targeted traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） active ingredient nano-delivery system in tumor therapy， aiming to reveal the feasibility and effectiveness of this system in the delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs. The GLUT1-targeted TCM active ingredient nano-delivery system can overcome the bottleneck of the traditional targeting strategy as well as the high-permeability long retention（EPR） effect. In summary， the authors believe that the GLUT1-targeted TCM active ingredient nano-delivery system provides a new strategy for targeted treatment of tumors and has a broad application prospect in tumor prevention and treatment.

Objective:Screening factors that might influence rheumatoid arthritis (RA) complicating interstitial lung diseases (ILD) by constructing and validating a model for early diagnostic.Methods:The study subjects were composed of 712 RA patients in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University during December 2019 to October 2022. Fifty-two variables such as their demographic data, clinical symptoms, and laboratory indexes were collected. Patients were categorized into RA-only group and RA-ILD group with or without the occurrence of ILD disease. After data preprocessing, subjects were randomly assigned to the modeling and validation groups in a 7:3 ratio.Univariate analysis comparing baseline characteristics of the two groups of patients. Feature selection was performed using LASSO and SVM-RFE regression algorithms.Screening indicators were analyzed by logistic regression and the results were used to develop a nomograms model for the early diagnosis of RA complicating interstitial lung disease; and the modeling group was evaluated for its performance for internal assessment of the model and internal validation using data from the validation group.Results:A total of 712 subjects participated in the study, of which 498 in the modeling group and 214 in the validation group. Univariate analysis showed that the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05) in 18 characteristic indexes, including male, gender, age, smoking history, drinking history, number of swollen joints, number of painful joints, use of prednisone, WBC, ESR, CRP, IL-2, IL-10, IL-17, TNF-α, INF-γ, AFA family, APF, and serum albumin. The LASSO algorithm identified 13 risk variables for RA-ILD, the SVM-RFE algorithm identified 12 variables for RA-ILD, and the intersecting risk variables were male, age, history of alcohol consumption, number of painful joints, prednisone acetate, IL-2, AFA family, TNF-α, serum albumin, and IL-10. The results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis confirmed that the differences between males [ OR(95% CI)=3.61(2.11, 6.18)], gender, age [ OR(95% CI)=1.05(1.03, 1.08)], number of painful joints [ OR(95% CI)=1.03(1.01, 1.06)], IL-2 [ OR(95% CI)=0.91 (0.84, 0.99)], and TNF-α[ OR (95% CI)=1.06 (1.02, 1.10)] were statistically significant ( P<0.05) and were independently influences on ILD complicated by RA. The modeling and validation groups that were used to construct early diagnostic Nomograms had high calibration curve accuracies, and the model had a high diagnostic power, which was mainly demonstrated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis(DCA), the model modeling group had an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI=0.71, 0.81), with net benefit rates of 3%~82% and 93%~99%, whereas the model validation group had an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI=0.64, 0.79), with net benefit rates of 5%~11%, 14%~60% and 85%~89%. Conclusion:Male, gender, age, number of painful joints, IL-2, and TNF-α are independent factors for RA complicated with ILD, and the Nomogram model constructed has good performance in early diagnosis of the disease.

Objective To investigate the effects of probiotics combined with dietary intervention on pe-ripheral blood glucose and lipid metabolism indicators,placental tissue insulin signaling pathway proteins ex-pression and pregnant outcome in the patients with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).Methods A total of 83 patients with GDM in this hospital from December 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study sub-jects and divided into the probiotics group(probiotics combined with diet intervention,43 cases)and control group(simple diet intervention,40 cases)by the random number table method.The levels of peripheral blood glucose,lipid and insulin resistance related indicators before the intervention and in 8 weeks after the interven-tion were compared between the two groups.The histological changes of placenta were observed by HE stai-ning.The pathological indicators were compared between the two groups.The expression levels of insulin re-ceptor substrate-1(IRS-1),glucose transporter 4(GLUT4)and synaptosome-associated protein of 23 kDa(SNAP23)in placental tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.The pregnant adverse outcomes were compared between the two groups,and the clinical efficacy of probiotics was evaluated.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of fasting blood glucose(FBG),fasting insulin(FINS),serum triglyceride(TG)and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)in 8 weeks after intervention in the probiotics group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the level of serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)was significantly increased(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of poor villi maturation,thickening of dry villi arterioles and capillary filling in villi interstitial between the two groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression levels of IRS-1,GLUT4 and SNAP23 in placen-tal tissue of the probiotics group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The incidence rates of neonatal hy-poglycemia and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in the probiotics group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with simple dietary intervention,probiotics combined with dietary intervention has more advantages in improving glucose and lipid metabolism of GDM patients,moreo-ver reduces the adverse events occurrence in newborns.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors for social alienation among the elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide insights into formulating targeted intervention measures. Methods: T2DM patients aged 60 years and older were selected from Hangzhou First People's Hospital from January to October 2023. Their demographics, diabetes complications were collected using questionnaire surveys, social support level was evaluated using the Social Support Scale, and the stigma was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Type 2 Diabetes Stigma Assessment Scale, and the social alienation was assessed using General Alienation Scale. Factors affecting the social alienation were identified among the elderly patients with T2DM using a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 316 elderly patients with T2DM were investigated, including 171 males (54.11%) and 145 females (45.89%), and had a mean age of (69.75±8.12) years. The level of social support was mainly medium, with 162 cases accounted for 51.27%. The average stigma scores were (61.87±12.50) points, and average social alienation scores were (42.09±6.33) points. Multiple linear regression analysis identified educational level (high school/junior college, β'=-0.159; college and above, β'=-0.301), marital status (married persons, β'=-0.236), monthly household income (3 000 Yuan and more, β'=-0.175), diabetes complications (β'=0.192), social support level (medium, β'=-0.210; high, β'=-0.352) and stigma score (β'=0.283) as factors affecting the social alienation among the elderly patients with T2DM. Conclusion The social alienation among the elderly patients with T2DM are associated with educational level, marital status, family income, diabetes complications, social support level and stigma.