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.

The application of artificial intelligence （AI） in the medical field has significantly improved medical efficiency， yet it has also posed numerous ethical challenges. From the perspective of traditional Confucianism， this paper explored ethical challenges faced in the application of medical AI and the responses of Confucianism， elaborating on the importance of Confucianism in achieving value alignment. This paper analyzed the ethical dilemmas faced by medical AI in practical applications from four aspects， including the doctor-patient trust crisis， patient safety issues， fairness and conflict of interest， and challenges of responsibility attribution. It also explored the application of Confucianism in the ethical governance of medical AI， focusing on the analysis of how “benevolence，”“righteousness，” and role ethics deal with issues such as doctor-patient trust， patient safety， fairness， market profit-seeking， and responsibility allocation. By emphasizing the guiding role of ethical principles in technological development through the principle of “governing technology with ethics，” the achievement of the value alignment goal in medical AI can be promoted. Confucianism provides an important ethical foundation for the value alignment of medical AI. Its core concepts run through the deep integration of technology and ethics， offering unique cultural wisdom and practical solutions for AI governance on a global scale.

Objective To investigate the value of peripheral blood soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R),CD4+lymphocyte percentage/CD8+lymphocyte percentage ratio(hereinafter referred to as CD4+/CD8+)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods A total of 102 elderly patients with newly treated active tu-berculosis admitted to the hospital from December 2019 to December 2022 were enrolled in the study as the observation group,and 102 healthy people aged 60 and older who underwent physical examination in the hos-pital during the same period were enrolled as the control group.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood were compared between the two groups,and the correlations between sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+were analyzed.The observation group was treated with 2HRZE/4HR anti-tuberculosis treatment regimen.The levels of sIL-2R,TNF-α and CD4+/CD8+in peripheral blood of patients with different efficacy before treatment,1 month and 6 months after treatment in the observation group were compared.The correla-tion between sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,TNF-α levels and therapeutic effect was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of indicators in evaluating the efficacy of chemo-therapy in elderly patients.Results The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,while CD4+/CD8+was lower than that in the control group,and the differ-ences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).In the observation group,sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+(P＜0.05),sIL-2R was positively correlated with TNF-α(P＜0.05).After 1 month and 6 months of treatment,the levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α in patients with apparent efficacy were low-er than those in patients with efficacy,and the latter were lower than those in patients with no effect,while the CD4+/CD8+in patients with apparent efficacy was higher than that in patients with efficacy,and the latter was higher than that in patients with no efficacy,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The levels of sIL-2R and TNF-α were negatively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05),and CD4+/CD8+was positively correlated with the efficacy(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+,and TNF-α used in combination to assess efficacy was significantly greater than the AUCs of the single indicators used in the assessment at each time point of treatment(P＜0.05),and the AUC of the combination of the indicators was greater after 6 months of treatment than after 1 month of treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion The levels of sIL-2R,CD4+/CD8+and TNF-α are closely related to the ef-ficacy of chemotherapy in elderly patients with newly treated active pulmonary tuberculosis,and the combina-tion of the above indicators has certain reference value in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients.

ObjectiveTo understand the characteristics of PM_2.5 pollution in the air of Pearl River Delta city in Guangdong Province under the COVID-19 epidemic and the health risks of inhaling elements in PM_2.5. MethodsIn 2022， 10 PM_2.5 monitoring points were set up in 10 districts in Guangzhou， Shenzhen， Foshan and Zhuhai， and air samples were collected for 7 consecutive days every month to analyze the concentration of PM_2.5 and the 12 elements in PM_2.5. The classic "four-step" method was used to evaluate the carcinogenic risk and chronic non-carcinogenic risk of the elements in air PM_2.5 on health. The age-sensitive characteristics of metal elements were combined in the carcinogenic risk assessment， and age-sensitive factors were introduced to analyze the impact of air pollution on population health. ResultsA total of818 samples were collected. and the average annual PM_2.5 concentration in the four cities of the Pearl River Delta was 30.17 （1.00-166.00， s=21.06） μg·m^-3， which was lower than the concentration limit of the secondary standard of the Ambient Air Quality Standard （GB 3095-2012）. The difference of PM_2.5 concentration in the four cities was statistically significant. The PM_2.5 concentrations in Zhuhai and Shenzhen， which were located near the sea， were lower than those in Guangzhou and Foshan. The monthly mean concentration of PM_2.5 in the four cities was the lowest at 13.70 （4.00-34.00， s=5.93） μg·m^-3 in July and the highest at 57.73 （14.00-146.00， s=27.96） μg·m^-3 in January， showing a low concentration from May to October and a high concentration from November to April of the following year. The average daily PM_2.5 concentration exceeded the secondary standard for 29 days， mainly distributed in January and November. The average annual mass concentration of elements in PM_2.5 in the four cities was Al>Mn>Pb>As>Ni>Cr>Se>Sb>Cd>Tl>Be>Hg. AS and Mn have chronic non-carcinogenic risk in population， while Cr， AS， Cd， Be and Ni have carcinogenic risk in population. ConclusionThe PM_2.5 pollution levels of the four cities in the Pearl River Delta are low and variable. Coastal cities are lower than non-coastal cities， which shows the characteristics of first decreasing and then increasing throughout the year. The order of mass concentration of metal elements of PM_2.5 in four cities is basically the same except Be and Ni. As and Mn in PM_2.5 show a certain degree of chronic non-carcinogenic risk， and As， Cr， Cd， Ni and Be have a certain degree of carcinogenic risk. The four cities need to take effective intervention measures to continue to strengthen the pollution control and health protection of Cr， As， Cd and Mn in the air， and control the health burden caused by air pollution.

Objective To observe the expression changes of micro RNA-23a(miR-23a)and apoptotic protease-activating factor-1(APAF-1)in endometrial carcinoma tissues and analyze its clinical significance.Methods 123 specimens of endometrial carcinoma in our hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 were selected as endometrial carcinoma group,and the para cancerous tissue was selected as the normal group.Expression of miR-23a and APAF-1 were examined in endometrial tissues;the relationship between miR-23a and APAF-1 and the clinicopathology of patients and the correlation between the two were analyzed;Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival of patients with endometrial cancer.Results Compared with the normal group,the expression level of miR-23a in endometrial carcinoma group was significantly increased,the expressions of APAF-1 mRNA and protein decreased significantly(P<0.05);miR-23a and APAF-1 were significantly correlated with clinical stage,histological differentiation and myometrial invasion(P<0.05);Pearson analysis showed that miR-23a was nega-tively correlated with APAF-1(P<0.05);Kaplan-Meier curves showed that PFS and OS were significantly higher in the miR-23a low-expression group as well as the APAF-1-positive expression group than in the miR-23a high-expression group and the APAF-1-negative expression group(P<0.05).Conclusion The expression level of miR-23a is increased and APAF-1 expression is decreased in endometrial carcinoma,both of which correlate with endometrial cancer progression and patient prognosis,are expected to be biomarkers for clinical assessment of disease progression and prognosis in early-stage patients.

Objective To investigate the correlation between abdominal obesity and autoimmune thyroid disease in the view point of helper T cells and cytokines.Methods Clinical and laboratory data were collected from 108 pa-tients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT)plus abdominal obesity and 122 patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis without abdominal obesity who visited the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and also from the control population.Abdominal circumference was measured,and patients in the HT patients were grouped according to whether they were abdominally obese or not.The thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)and thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb)were detected,and the ratio of helper T cells and related cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The abdominal circumference of the TgAb-positive group was higher than that of the TgAb-negative group(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis suggested that abdominal circumference was significantly and positively correlated with TgAb and IL-4 but negatively correlated with Th1.After correcting for gender and age,and abdominal obesity and IL-4 were risk factors for TgAb antibody positivity OR=3.080(95％CI:1.022-9.284)and OR=1.296(95％CI:1.022-9.284),both with P＜0.05.Conclusions Abdominal obesity may be an influential factor in TgAb antibody positivity,with larger abdominal circumference having higher TgAb antibody titers,lower Th1 levels,and higher IL-4 levels.Visceral adiposity may exacerbate autoimmune dam-age of thyroid tissue by disruption of helper T cell pathway.

Objective:To disclose the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in Ningbo city from 2013 to 2021.Methods:Epidemic data and laboratory-confirmed results of SFTS patients in Ningbo city were analyzed in the past 10 years. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by using genomic sequences of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) strains isolated from the patients.Results:During 2013-2021, a total of 65 confirmed SFTS cases were reported with the mortality of 12.31%, including 8 dead cases. The average age was 53.65 years with higher incidence in 60-70 years old cases. Cases were reported in 6 districts (counties) from Ningbo city, of which Ninghai county (33 cases, 50.77%) and Xiangshan county (20 cases, 30.77%) reported the highest number of cases. The cases mainly occurred from April to August, accounting for 81.54% (53/65); 76.92% (50/65) of the patients were farmers; 92.31% (60/65) of patients lived in mountainous or hilly terrain. Of the 65 SFTS cases, 8 patients had a clear history of tick bites, and 20 patients had contact with domestic animals (pets) or rats in their residence. The evolution analysis on gene sequencing results showed that SFTSV epidemic strains in Ningbo city included genotype J2 and C4.Conclusion:Most of the SFTS patients were elderly people. The top two high-risk areas were Ninghai county and Xiangshan county. July was the peak month of the disease. Genotype J2 and C4 were epidemic strains in Ningbo city.

Objective : To investigate the efficacy of standardized allergen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) in children with asthma sensitized to single dust mite allergens versus multiple allergens and to assess the safety of SCIT. Methods : 62 children with confirmed allergic asthma who received standardized allergen SCIT were retro⁃ spectively analyzed and divided into the monosensitized group (dust mite results≥ + + + ) and the polysensitized group (dust mite results ≥ + + + combined with other positive allergens) according to the results of skin pricktest , we observed the changes of pulmonary function , medication score and visual analog scale (VAS) scores , children asthma control test (C - ACT) scores , asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) scores before and after treatment in both groupsand compared the efficacy of the two groups. The incidence of local and systemic adverse effects was recorded during treatment in all children to assess the safety of SCIT. Results : Standardized allergen SCIT treatmentimproved lung function parameters , medication scores and VAS scores , C ⁃ACT scores , ACQ scores in both the monosensitized and polysensitized groups , with statistically significant differences before and after treatment (P < 0. 05) . In comparison between the two groups , lung function parameters [forced expiratory flow at 50% vital capacity(FEF50% ) , maximum midexpiratory flow(MMEF)] , medication scores , C ⁃ACT scores and ACQ scores improved significantly in the monosensitized group compared with the polysensitized group after treatment ( P <0. 001) . 62 patients received a total of 2 606 injections during the treatment of SCIT , 6 children had a total of 10 local adverse reactions and 3 children had 3 mild to moderate systemic adverse reactions , with an incidence of 0. 38% for local adverse reactions and 0. 12% for systemic adverse reactions. Conclusion The children with asthma in both the monosensitized group and polysensitized group achieved significant and safe clinical outcomes under standardized allergen SCIT. The children in the monosensitized group had more obvious clinical effects than the polysensitized group under standardized allergen SCIT.

Objective:To investigate the effects of early-life (intrauterine and breastfeeding period) exposure to angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT 1-AA) on lipid metabolism in offspring rats. Methods:Thirty-two AT 1-AA negative healthy nonpregnant specific pathogen free female Sprague Dawley rats weighing 150-170 g were randomly divided into two groups. Those in the immune group ( n=16) were subcutaneously injected with the mixture of an equal volume of Freund's adjuvant and the second extracellular loop of human-derived angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type 1 (AT1R-ECⅡ) repeatedly to establish the AT 1-AA-positive rat model by active immunization and those in the control group ( n=16) with normal saline solution. Before each immunization, blood samples were collected from the tail of rats to detect serum AT 1-AA levels of those rats in both groups, and the AT 1-AA-positive rat model was successfully established when the serum AT 1-AA was positive and its level reached a plateau. After eight weeks of immunization, the female rats in the two groups were mated with healthy AT 1-AA-negative male rats to conceive. Serum samples were collected from the maternal and offspring rats at the gestation of 18 days (G18), postnatal 21 days (P21), and from the normally fed offspring rats from the time of weaning to 12 weeks old (W12). Active immunization was not performed on the offspring throughout the experiment. The serum AT 1-AA levels of maternal and offspring rats were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and serum AT1-AA was positive when the ratio of AT1-AA level of the immune group over the control group ≥2.1. The blood lipid levels of maternal and offspring rats were measured by an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum AT 1-AA levels, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [instead of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and free fatty acid levels of the offspring and maternal rats were determined for correlation analysis. Two independent sample t-test, linear regression analysis, and analysis of variance were adopted for statistical analysis. Results:(1) The serum levels of AT 1-AA in maternal rats at G18 and P21 in the immune group were significantly higher than those in the control group (G18: 1.170±0.190 vs 0.114±0.016, t=14.64; P21: 0.988±0.283 vs 0.084±0.006, t=9.57; both P<0.001). (2) The serum levels of AT 1-AA in the offspring at G18 and P21 in the immune group were significantly higher than those in the control group (offspring at G18: 0.948±0.220 vs 0.105±0.010, t=10.10; male offspring at P21: 0.758±0.273 vs 0.080±0.002, t=7.46; female offspring at P21: 0.774±0.274 vs 0.084±0.005, t=7.55; all P<0.001), which showed a positive correlation with those in maternal rats at the same period (offspring at G18: R=0.78; male offspring at P21: R=0.82; female offspring at P21: R=0.82; all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the serum AT 1-AA level in offspring at W12 between the immune and control group ( P>0.05). (3) The serum levels of TC at G18 and P21, and HDL at P21 in maternal rats in the immune group were all higher than those in the control group [TC at G18: (2.36±0.32) vs (1.95±0.24) mmol/L, t=2.70; P21: (2.82±0.50) vs (2.18±0.26) mmol/L, t=3.41; HDL at P21: (1.94±0.33) vs (1.57±0.23) mmol/L, t=2.80; all P<0.05]. (4) Compared with the offspring in the control group, there was no significant change in lipid metabolism at G18 and W12 in the offspring in the immune group (both P>0.05). The serum levels of TC and HDL in male and female offspring at P21 in the immune group were higher than their counterparts in the control[TC in male offspring: (2.38±0.52) vs (1.83±0.30) mmol/L, t=2.73; HDL in male offspring: (1.44±0.32) vs (1.07±0.18) mmol/L, t=2.98; TC in female offspring: (2.50±0.72) vs (1.70±0.26) mmol/L, t=3.16; HDL in female offspring: (1.41±0.33) vs (1.00±0.14) mmol/L, t=3.41; all P<0.05]. (5) The serum levels of TC and HDL in male and female offspring at P21 in the immune group showed no correlation with those in maternal rats at P21 (all R<0.5, all P>0.05). The serum levels of HDL in male and female offspring at P21 in the immune group had a positive correlation with their own serum TC levels (male offspring: R=0.98; female offspring: R=0.97; both P<0.001) and also with their own serum AT 1-AA levels (male offspring: R=0.74, P=0.023; female offspring: R=0.91, P=0.001). The serum levels of TC in male and female offspring at P21 in the immune group had a positive correlation with their serum AT 1-AA levels (male offspring: R=0.72, P=0.030; female offspring: R=0.90, P=0.001). Conclusion:The early-life exposure to AT 1-AA may cause abnormal expression of TC and HDL in offspring rats.

Objective:To evaluate the value of endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDLF) dynamic changes in predicting myocardial injury and prognosis in patients with sepsis.Methods:A total of 160 sepsis patients admitted to the emergency department of Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from July 2017 to January 2019 were selected and divided into the myocardial injury(MI) group ( n=75) and the non-myocardial injury (NMI) group ( n=85) according to whether there was myocardial injury. The plasma EDLF concentration was tested on the 1 st, 3 rd and 7 th day after admission. The predictive factors of MI and 90-days outcome were evaluated by logistics regression analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the prognostic value of EDLF concentration on the 90 days after admission for sepsis. Results:Septic patients with MI had increased levels of myocardial enzymes, decreased left ventricular fractional shortening index (FS) and interventricular septum (IVS) amplitude and abnormal wall motion, when compared to NMI patients (all P<0.05). EDLF concentration on the 7 th day in the MI group was significantly lower than in the NMI group ( P=0.019). Logistic regression showed that EDLF 7 th was an independent protective factor for MI and 90-day mortality in sepsis respectively ( OR=0.964, 95% CI: 0.934-0.994, P=0.021; OR=0.931, 95% CI: 0.871-0.995, P=0.036). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis suggested that EDLF 7 th concentration <26.7 pmol/L was an independent predictor of 90-day mortality in patients with sepsis ( HR=4.601, 95% CI: 1.030-20.563, P=0.046). Conclusions:EDLF 7 th may serve as a protective factor for sepsis-induced MI and adverse outcome. The exogenous supplement of cardiotonic drugs at one week after MI may be a potential treatment to improve the survival rate of septic patients.