Background The high work intensity and possible subsequently increased susceptibility to occupational hazards of calcium carbide plants may lead to hypertension in workers, but there are few studies on the relationship between occupational hazard exposure and hypertension in workers involving the production process of calcium carbide. Objective To explore the influence of occupational hazards on the incidence of hypertension in calcium carbide plants. Methods Using historical cohort design, the employees of a calcium carbide factory in the western part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were selected as research subjects. According to the pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study population comprised an exposure group of 377 employees (including furnace workers, inspection workers, and maintenance workers) exposed to dust, noise & carbon monoxide, and a control group of 388 employees (including central control workers, electricians, and administrative personnel) without above-mentioned exposure. The total sample size was 765 participants. The follow-up period was from April 2011 to October 2022, and the study endpoint was defined as the conclusion of the follow-up period or diagnosed hypertension in annual occupational health examination. Information on general demographic characteristics, living habits, and work status was collected from all study subjects. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the association between occupational hazard exposure and the risk of hypertension among the calcium carbide plant employees. Results The average age, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, proportion of males, smoking rate, and alcohol consumption rate in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared to baseline, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels increased in the exposure group and the control group at the end of the follow-up (P<0.05). At the end of the follow-up, the average differences between systolic/ diastolic blood pressure and baseline values in the exposure group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). During the follow-up period, a total of 223 cases of hypertension occurred, with a total follow-up of 2785 person-years, resulting in an incidence density of 8007.18 per 100000 person-years, an average age of onset of (35.90±8.22) years, and an average working age of onset of (2.69±1.97) years. The incidence density in the exposure group was 128.71% higher than that in the control group, and the risk of hypertension in the exposure group was 2.115 times that of the control group. The risk of hypertension was 2.199 times higher for men than for women, 1.344 times higher for those aged 30 and above than for those under 30, 1.546 times higher for smokers than for non-smokers, and 1.750 times higher for drinking workers than for non-drinking ones. The results of Cox proportional hazards regression modeling indicated that the hazard ratio (95%CI) of hypertension among the employees exposed to dust, noise, and carbon monoxide was 2.254 (1.703, 2.982), 1.594 (1.107, 2.295), and 1.567 (1.079, 2.274), respectively, when different covariates (gender, age, smoking, and alcohol consumption) were included. The results of Log-rank test showed that there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of disease-free survival between the exposure group and the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational exposures to dust, noise, and carbon monoxide may increase the risk of hypertension among calcium carbide plant workers.

BackgroundThe development of executive function in adolescents is influenced by many environmental factors. Previous studies have found that perceived stress is closely related to executive function， whereas its role in the mediation of executive function remains poorly studied. ObjectiveTo explore the role of negative affect and self-hate in mediating the relationship between perceived stress and executive function in adolescents， so as to assist the improvement of executive function in adolescents. MethodsQuestionnaires were administered to 7 734 adolescents from five junior and five senior high schools in Rizhao city， Shandong province from 1 to 30 May 2022. Data were collected using a self-made questionnaire， and adolescents were assessed using Perceived Stress Scale （PSS）， Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Self Report Version （BRIEF-SR）， Patient Health Questionnaire （PHQ-4） and Self-Hate Scale （SHS）. Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between variables. A Bootstrap method was chosen to examine the mediation effect of self-hate and negative affect on the relationship between perceived stress and executive function in adolescents. ResultsA total of 7 012 （90.66%） valid questionnaires were retrieved. BRIEF-SR score was positively correlated with PSS， PHQ-4 and SHS scores （r=0.564， 0.653， 0.597， P<0.01）. PSS score was positively correlated with PHQ-4 and SHS scores （r=0.615， 0.531， P<0.01）. PHQ-4 score was positively correlated with SHS score （r=0.566， P<0.01）. The value of mediation effect of perceived stress on executive function was 0.574 （95% CI： 0.555~0.594）. Self-hate （indirect effect value of 0.160， 95% CI： 0.145~0.175） and negative affect （indirect effect value of 0.143， 95% CI： 0.129~0.158）， separately from each other， mediated the relationship between perceived stress and executive function， and a chained mediation effect of self-hate and negative affect was also documented （indirect effect value of 0.065， 95% CI： 0.058~0.073）， accounting for 27.87%， 24.91% and 11.32% of the total effect， respectively. ConclusionThe perceived stress of adolescents may be a influencing factor of the executive function. Additionally， perceived stress can either directly affect executive function or indirectly through the separate or chained mediation via negative affect and self-hate.

Objective To evaluate the short-term results of sleeve wrapping technique using remnant aortic wall in modified Bentall procedure. Methods The patients undergoing modified Bentall procedure with the remnant aortic wall as a sleeve to cover the sewing area of composite valved graft and the aortic annulus for proximal hemostasis between March 2021 and March 2022 in Shenzhen Fuwai Hospital were enrolled. Short-term results were assessed by cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic clamping time, mechanical ventilation time, ICU stay, postoperative hospital stay, effusion drainage on the first postoperative day, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and follow-up results. Results A total of 14 patients were collected, including 12 males and 2 females, with a mean age of 55.33±10.57 years. There was no postoperative or follow-up death. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 147.90±21.29 min, aortic clamping time was 115.70±15.23 min, mechanical ventilation time was 19.42±8.98 h, ICU stay was 99.08±49.42 h, and postoperative hospital stay was 16.33±2.74 d. Thoracic drainage volume was 333.33±91.98 mL on the first postoperative day. Only 2 patients required blood transfusion (4.5 U and 2 U, respectively). During the follow-up of 6.17±3.69 months, there was no death, no aortic or valve-related complications. There was statistical difference in the LVEDD between preoperation and before discharge after surgery (P＜0.001), and between half a year after surgery and before discharge after surgery (P＜0.001). There was a little decrease of LVEF before discharge after surgery compared with preoperative LVEF, but there was no statistical difference (P=0.219). There was no statistical difference in the LVEF half a year after operation compared with that before operation (P=1.000). Conclusion Sleeve wrapping technique using remnant aortic wall in modified Bentall procedure has good short-term results. This modification may be a simple, effective way in controlling proximal bleeding.

Neck dissection and reconstruction are two important aspects of oral cancer treatment.There are various surgical methods for neck dissection and reconstruction,but all of them are performed by open surgery.This article reports a full endoscopic neck dis-section through the retroauricular hairline approach,the radical resection of the intraoral tumor and the repair of the defect by superfi-cial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap with in situ vascular anastomosis intraorally.The incision is located in the hairline,hidden and invisible,and there is no exposed surgical scar on the neck after surgery.This paper introduces the technique of scarless neck dissection combined with free skin flap repair for the treatment of oral cancer and discusses its advantages and disadvantages.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of lung recruitment maneuvers combined with individualized positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP) on the degree of postoperative atelectasis in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.Methods:One hundred and forty-three elderly patients, aged ≥65 yr, with body mass index of 18.5-30.0 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective laparoscopic surgery, were assigned to either individualized PEEP combined with recruitment maneuvers (group Ⅱ) or fixed PEEP (group Ⅰ) using a random number table method. PEEP was maintained at 6 cmH 2O starting from the beginning of procedure until the end of the procedure in group I. Individualized PEEP titration was performed after induction of anesthesia in group Ⅱ. The primary outcome measure was the 12-zone lung ultrasound score at 15 min after tracheal extubation. Other outcome measures were the occurrence of postoperative pulmonary complications within 7 days after surgery, Quality of Recovery-15 scale score on 3rd day after surgery, rate of unplanned admission to intensive care units, length of hospital stay, incidence of intraoperative hypoxemia, usage rate of intraoperative vasoactive drugs, and incidence of postoperative hypotension. Results:Compared with group Ⅰ, the lung ultrasound score, driving pressure and postoperative pulmonary complications were significantly decreased, the dynamic lung compliance was increased ( P<0.05 or 0.01), and no significant changes were found in the other parameters in group Ⅱ ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Individualized PEEP combined with recruitment maneuvers can reduce the degree of postoperative atelectasis in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Beidougen Formula Granules.METHODS Fifteen batches of standard decoctions and three batches of formula granules were prepared,after which paste rate and contents,transfer rates of magnoflorine,daurisoline,dauricine were determined.HPLC specific chromatograms were established,and cluster analysis was adopted in chemical pattern recognition.RESULTS For three batches of formula granules,the paste rates were 15.1%-16.6%,the contents of magnoflorine,daurisoline,dauricine were 18.93-19.39,9.42-9.60,6.79-6.85 mg/g with the transfer rates of 34.42%-35.25%,43.81%-44.65%,27.27%-27.51%from decoction pieces to formula granules,respectively,and there were seven characteristic peaks in the specific chromatograms with the similarities of more than 0.95,which demonstrated good consistence with those of standard decoctions and accorded with related limit requirements.Fifteen batches of standard decoctions were clustered into two types,and the medicinal materials produced from Jilin,Hebei,Shangdong could be used for the preparation of formula granules.CONCLUSION This reasonable and reliable method can provide references for the quality control and clinical application of Beidougen Formula Granules.

Objective:To investigate the short-term outcome of transoral robotic thyroidectomy.Methods:This is a retrospective case series study. The clinicopathologic characteristics and postoperative results of 107 patients who underwent transoral robotic thyroidectomies in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of the 960 th Hospital of People′s Liberation Army from May 2020 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 95 females, with an age of (31.8±9.4) years (range: 11 to 55 years), including 20 benign tumors and 87 thyroid papillary carcinoma. Postoperative follow-up was carried out through returning visit and telephone, mainly to observe the recovery of postoperative complications, cosmetic effects and recurrence results. Results:All transoral robotic thyroidectomy was successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The tumor size of thyroid papillary carcinoma patients was (5.6±2.7) mm (range: 2 to 15 mm). Furthermore, central cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 45 cases. The number of central cervical lymph nodes retrieved and metastasized ( M(IQR)) were 11 (8) (range: 3 to 26) and 1 (3) (range: 0 to 13), respectively. There was no recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism. The transient hypoparathyroidism after surgery was 8 cases. Other complications occurred as follows: postoperative infection ( n=1), left submandibular perforation ( n=1), skin scald ( n=1), and perioral numbness ( n=1), oral tear ( n=2). The postoperative stay was 6 (2) days (range: 3 to 11 days). No local lymph node recurrence or metastasis occurred after a follow-up of (22.6±10.0) months (range: 1.0 to 37.4 months). All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic results, the aesthetic effect score was 9.3 (0.2) (range: 8.4 to 9.6) one month after surgery. Conclusion:For highly screened patients with early thyroid cancer, experienced surgeons can perform a transoral robotic thyroidectomy that has excellent cosmetic results.

Purpose To construct a benign and malignant prediction model of thyroid nodules based on ultrasound image features and clinical features,and to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy.Materials and Methods The data of 121 patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules admitted to the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from September 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Taken surgical pathology as the gold standard,there were 70 benign nodules and 51 malignant nodules.Logistic regression was used to analyze the ultrasound image characteristics and clinical data of thyroid nodules,and the characteristic indexes with statistical differences were obtained and a comprehensive prediction model was established.Results There were significant differences in the maximum diameter,morphology,calcification,capsule continuity,blood flow grade,elastography score and contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics between benign and malignant thyroid nodules(χ2=11.709,17.707,6.901,12.785,16.984,57.095,98.854,all P<0.05).There were significant differences in age,free thyroxine/free thyroxine ratio,and free thyroxine between the two groups(χ2/t=5.944,2.519,-2.468,all P<0.05).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the clinical model,ultrasonic characteristic model and ultrasonic-clinical combined model were 55.7%,98.6%and 97.0%;72.5%,94.1%and 96.1%;and 61.9%,95.1%and 95.9%,respectively.The area under the curve of the three models were 0.619,0.991 and 0.994,respectively.The diagnostic efficiency of the ultrasonic characteristic model and the combined model was superior to the clinical model,and the difference was statistically significant(Z=-1.75,-2.25,P=0.039,0.012).The area under the curve of the combined model was greater than that of the multi-modal ultrasound model,however,the difference was not statistically significant(Z=-1.60,P=0.054).Conclusion Both the multimodal ultrasound model and the clinical model have certain diagnostic value in predicting benign and malignant thyroid nodules.The diagnostic efficiency of the multimodal ultrasound model is higher than that of the clinical model,and the combined prediction model of the two can improve the diagnostic value.

Objective:To discuss the role of serum and glucocorticoid-induced protein kinase 3(SGK3)in the resumption of the first meiotic division in the oocytes of the mice,and to preliminarily clarify the regulatory mechanism of SGK3 in the early development of mammalian oocytes.Methods:The germinal vesicle(GV)stage mouse oocytes were obtained by superovulation techniques.The SGK3 mRNA,obtained from in vitro transcription of expression plasmids,was injected into the GV stage oocytes by microinjection techniques.The oocytes were divided into control group,Tris-EDTA buffer(TE)group,and SGK3 mRNA group.Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of SGK3 protein in the oocytes in various groups;the germinal vesicle breakdown(GVBD)rates of the oocytes in various groups were observed and calculated at 1,2,3,and 4 h after microinjection of SGK3 mRNA;the morphological appearance of the oocytes in various groups was observed by SGK3 antibody dilution inhibition experiment;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated SGK3(pSer48)(SGK3-pSer48)and phosphorylated cell division cycle protein 2(CDC2)(pTyr15)(CDC2-pTyr15)proteins in the oocytes cultured in vitro at different time points.Results:Compared with control group and TE group,the expression level of SGK3 protein in the oocytes in SGK3 mRNA group was increased(P＜0.01),and the GVBD rates at 1 and 2 h after microinjection were increased(P＜0.01).The SGK3 antibody dilution inhibition experiment results showed that as the increasing of concentration of SGK3 antibody,the GVBD rates of the oocytes in various groups were decreased in a concentration-dependent manner.After overexpressing SGK3,compared with control group,the time when CDC2-pTyr15 protein expression could not be detected in the oocytes in SGK3 mRNA group was advanced by at least 1 h.After treated with different concentrations of SGK3 antibody,compared with control group,as the increasing of concentration of SGK3 antibody and the extending of treatment time,the expression level of CDC2-pTyr15 protein in the oocytes was gradually decreased(P＜0.01),and the expression level of SGK3-pSer486 protein was gradually increased(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Over-expression of SGK3 can increase the GVBD rate of oocytes of the mice and accelerate the dephosphorylation of CDC2-pTyr15,while the dephosphorylation of CDC2-pTyr15 is later than the phosphorylation of SGK3-Ser486.SGK3 likely serves as an upstream regulator of CDC2 and participates in controlling the resumption of the first meiotic division in the oocytes of the mice.

Objective:To examine the effects of Zishenwan Prescription on bile acid metabolism in mice with diabetic encephalopathy; To explore its mechanism of improvement of diabetic encephalopathy.Methods:Male C57BL/6J mice were used to replicate the mouse model of type 2 diabetes mellitus by using high-fat chow and a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (120 mg/kg). The mice were screened for diabetic encephalopathy by using the Morris water maze test after 8 weeks of continuous stimulation with hyperglycemia, and were divided into model group and Zishenwan Prescription group according to random number table method, with 12 mice in each group. The mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group were treated with the crude extract of Zishenwan Prescription (9.36 g/kg) by gavage, and the normal group and the model group were treated with the same volume of distilled water once a day for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, Morris water maze test was used to investigate the cognitive function of diabetic encephalopathy mice; cresyl violet staining was used to detect the number of granule neurons in the hippocampus; serum and feces were collected to detect the content of bile acids by liquid-liquid coupling; hepatic bile acid synthase CYP7a1 and CYP27a1, farnesol X receptor (FXR), fibroblast growth factor 15 (FGF15), fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), and ileocecal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter protein (ABST) mRNA levels were detected by using fluorescence quantitative PCR assay.Results:Compared with the model group, mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group had shorter evasion latency time ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), decreased time to first reach the platform ( P<0.01), increased number of times to traverse the platform ( P<0.01), and reduced neuronal cell damage in hippocampal area; mice in the Zishenwan Prescription group showed decreased serum and fecal total bile acid content ( P<0.05 or P<0.01); the liver CYP7a1 and CYP27a1 mRNA expressions increased ( P<0.01), and FXR and FGF15 mRNA expressions decreased ( P<0.01); ileal ABST mRNA expression decreased ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Zishenwan Prescription may regulate bile acid metabolism, inhibit FRX-FGF15/FGFR4 signaling and ABST expression to promote new bile acid synthesis and conjugated bile acid reabsorption, and thus improve cognitive function in diabetic encephalopathy mice.