Objective:To assess the association between short-term ambient air pollution exposure and arterial stiffness and whether obesity modifies these associations.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted based on Fangshan family cohort in Beijing. The 24 hours average air pollutant levels on the day cohort participants took baseline survey were calculated as short-term air pollution. A generalized additive model (GAM) with Gaussian links was used to estimate changes in typical carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (BAPWV), pulse pressure (PP) and ankle-branchial index (ABI) after short-term exposure to each air pollution (PM 2.5, PM 10, SO 2, NO 2, CO). The cross-product terms of each air pollution, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-hip ratio were included in the GAM model to test the interaction. Further, they conducted a stratified analysis to test their effects on the relationship between short-term exposure to each air pollution and the arterial stiffness indicators. Results:A total of 4 211 individuals were included in the analysis. Individuals' age was (58.9±8.7) years, of which 2 268 (53.9%) were female. Several covariates, including sociodemographic factors, lifestyle behaviors, and history of drugs, were included in the analysis. The results of the GAM analysis showed that an increase in PM 2.5 ( β=2.912×10 -4, 95% CI: 1.424×10 -4-4.400×10 -4, P<0.001), CO ( β=0.027, 95% CI: 0.011-0.043, P<0.001), SO 2 ( β=2.070×10 -3, 95% CI: 7.060×10 -4-3.430×10 -3, P=0.003), and NO 2 ( β=3.650×10 -4, 95% CI: 2.340×10 -5-7.060×10 -4, P=0.036) were associated with an increase in CIMT, while an increase in PM 10 ( β=0.018, 95% CI: 0.002-0.033, P=0.028) was associated with an increase in PP in the study population. Besides, the waist-to-hip ratio had an effect-modification on the correlation of short-term exposure of PM 2.5 (interaction P=0.015), NO 2 (interaction P=0.008), and CO (interaction P=0.044) with CIMT, and the correlation between short-term exposure of PM 2.5 (interaction P=0.002), NO 2 (interaction P=0.010), CO (interaction P=0.029), PM 10 (interaction P<0.001) with PP. The significant association between CIMT, PP, and air pollution concentrations was more visible in people with lower waist-to-hip ratios. Conclusions:Short-term ambient air pollution exposure was associated with arterial stiffness indicators, and there was an effect modification of waist-to-hip ratio on these associations, and lower waist-to-hip ratios may enhance the association between air pollution exposure and indicators.

Background In recent years, radiation diagnosis and treatment technology has been increasingly applied and popularized in the medical field, and the status of radiation health protection has attracted widespread attention. Objective To understand the knowledge, attitude, and behavior of radiological health protection in radiation workers in Jiading District of Shanghai. Methods Convenience sampling method was used to select 441 radiation workers from 33 medical institutions in Jiading District, Shanghai to conduct a questionnaire survey from May to August 2023. Basic information and radiation protection associated knowledge, attitude, and behavior were collected from the study participants, and the scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were calculated. Factors affecting the behavior were evaluated by multiple linear regression. Results A total of 441 subjects were included in this study, with an age range of 22-71 years, 53.06% male and 46.94% female. In terms of knowledge, the correct response rate of the study subjects to the seven questions on the basics of radiation protection ranged from 44.22%-96.60%, with the lowest rate of 44.22% for the question on "radiation stochastic effect diseases". The subjects acquired knowledge about radiation hygiene mainly through vocational training (98.41%), and wanted to acquire knowledge mainly about the basics of nuclear and radiation (76.42%). In terms of attitude, the recognition level (strongly agree/agree) of the study subjects on the six attitude questions ranged from 73.47% to 96.37%, in which only 56.92% of the radiological staff at tertiary hospitals believed that the radiation dose they were exposed to at work would be hazardous to their health, and 73.85% believed that it was necessary to participate in training on knowledge of radiological protection, both lower than those in other levels of hospitals. In terms of behavior, the implementation rate (always/often) of the five behavioral questions by the study participants ranged from 75.28% to 91.84%, and there was a statistically significant difference in the total behavioral scores of the study participants by levels of hospitals (P=0.015). The results of multiple linear regression showed that gender, age, and radiation work permit associated with the behavioral scores of the study subjects. Conclusion In Jiading District, Shanghai, the coginitive rate of radiation workers' basic knowledge of theoretical protection still needs to be improved, and occupational training should be carried out in a targeted manner; the attitude of radiation workers varies by levels of hospitals, and the publicity and education of workers at tertiary hospitals in particular should be strengthened; and the supervision and management of male, senior, and non-certified radiation workers in hospitals of different levels should be enhanced.

Objective:To explore the effects of short-term particulate matter(PM)exposure and the melatonin receptor 1B(MTNR1B)gene on triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index utilizing data from Fang-shan Family-based Ischemic Stroke Study in China(FISSIC).Methods:Probands and their relatives from 9 rural areas in Fangshan District,Beijing,were included in the study.PM data were obtained from fixed monitoring stations of the National Air Pollution Monitoring System.TyG index was calculated by fasting triglyceride and glucose concentrations.The associations of short-term PM exposure and rs10830963 polymorphism of the MTNR1B gene with the TyG index were assessed using mixed linear models,in which covariates such as age,sex,and lifestyles were adjusted for.Gene-environment inter-action analysis was furtherly performed using the maximum likelihood methods to explore the potential effect modifier role of rs10830963 polymorphism in the association of PM with TyG index.Results:A total of 4 395 participants from 2 084 families were included in the study,and the mean age of the study participants was(58.98±8.68)years,with 53.90％females.The results of association analyses showed that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration,TyG index increased by 0.017(95％CI:0.007-0.027),while for per 10 μg/m3 increment in PM1o,TyG index increased by 0.010(95％CI:0.003-0.017).And the associations all had lagged effects.In addition,there was a positive association between the rs10830963 polymorphism and the TyG index.For per increase in risk allele G,TyG index was elevated by 0.040(95％CI:0.004-0.076).The TyG index was 0.079(95％CI:0.005-0.152)higher in carriers of the GG genotype compared with carriers of the CC genotype.The inter-action of rs10830963 polymorphism with PM exposure had not been found to be statistically significant in the present study.Conclusion:Short-term exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 were associated with higher TyG index.The G allele of rs10830963 polymorphism in the MTNR1B gene was associated with the elevated TyG index.

Objective:To explore the association between polymorphisms of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)signaling pathway and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)among Asian populations,while considering gene-gene interaction and gene-environment interaction.Methods:A total of 1 038 Asian NSCL/P case-parent trios were ascertained from an international consortium,which conducted a genome-wide association study using a case-parent trio design to investigate the genes affec-ting risk to NSCL/P.After stringent quality control measures,343 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)spanning across 10 pivotal genes in the TGF-β signaling pathway were selected from the original genome-wide association study(GWAS)dataset for further analysis.The transmission disequilibrium test(TDT)was used to test for SNP effects.The conditional Logistic regression models were used to test for gene-gene interaction and gene-environment interaction.Environmental factors collected for the study in-cluded smoking during pregnancy,passive smoking during pregnancy,alcohol intake during pregnancy,and vitamin use during pregnancy.Due to the low rates of exposure to smoking during pregnancy and al-cohol consumption during pregnancy(＜3％),only the interaction between maternal smoking during pregnancy and multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy was analyzed.The threshold for statistical significance was rigorously set at P=1.46 × 10-4,applying Bonferroni correction to account for multiple testing.Results:A total of 23 SNPs in 4 genes yielded nominal association with NSCL/P(P＜0.05),but none of these associations was statistically significant after Bonferroni's multiple test correction.How-ever,there were 6 pairs of SNPs rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs1864615(TGFBR2),rs2796813(TGFB2)and rs2132298(TGFBR2),rs4147358(SMAD3)and rs1346907(TGFBR2),rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs1019855(TGFBR2),rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs12490466(TGFBR2),rs2009112(TGFB2)and rs4075748(TGFBR2)showed statistically significant SNP-SNP interaction(P＜1.46 × 10-4).In contrast,the analysis of gene-environment interactions did not yield any significant results after being cor-rected by multiple testing.Conclusion:The comprehensive evaluation of SNP associations and interac-tions within the TGF-β signaling pathway did not yield any direct associations with NSCL/P risk in Asian populations.However,the significant gene-gene interactions identified suggest that the genetic architec-ture influencing NSCL/P risk may involve interactions between genes within the TGF-β signaling path-way.These findings underscore the necessity for further investigations to unravel these results and further explore the underlying biological mechanisms.

Fetal STR typing of aborted tissue has long been a major problem in forensic DNA.Especially for the first trimester abortion tissue,it is difficult to isolate the embryonic components by histomorphological means,resulting in the inability to accurately obtain the STR typing of the fetus.The mixed STR typing results of mother and fetus can provide a key basis for the identification of suspects in cases of rape-induced pregnancy.In this study,next generation sequencing was used to successfully detect mixed STR typing of mother and suspected fetus or single STR typing of suspected fetus in 4 rape-induced early pregnancy abortion tissues.Combined with Y-STR and flank sequence information,it provides a more comprehensive and reliable genetic basis for the identification of suspects.

Objective To observe the value of ultrasound radiomics for distinguishing early and middle-late stage endometrial cancer(EC).Methods A total of 294 women with EC were retrospectively enrolled,including 196 in early stage and 98 in middle-late stage.The patients were randomly divided into training set(n=206)and validation set(n=88)at the ratio of 7∶3.Clinical data were compared between different stages,and a clinical model was constructed.Radiomics features were extracted and screened based on ultrasound data,and radiomics models were constructed with logistic regression(LR),random forest(RF),support vector machine(SVM),Gaussian naive Bayes(GNB)and extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost),respectively.Finally,a clinical-radiomics model was constructed.The value of each model for distinguishing early and middle-late stages EC was observed.Results Significant differences of age of consultation,menstrual disorders,abdominal pain and proportion of menopause were found between patients with early and middle-late stage EC(all P＜0.05).Among these 5 radiomics models,RF model had the highest area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing early and middle-late stage EC.Pairwise comparison of clinical model,RF radiomics model and clinical-RF radiomics model showed that significant differences of AUC were found between each 2 models(all P＜0.05),and clinical-RF radiomics model had the highest AUC.Conclusion Ultrasound radiomics based on RF were helpful for distinguishing early and middle-late stage EC,and better diagnostic efficacy could be obtained through combining with clinical data.

Objective:To investigate the effect of rare ginsenosides (RGS) on reproductive injury induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in female rats.Methods:Twenty-four female rats were divided into four groups [normal control (NC), RGS, CP, and CP+RGS group] with 6 rats in each group. CP group (the model group) and CP+RGS group (the treatment group) were intraperitoneally injected with CP 30 mg/kg for 5 days for modeling, and CP+RGS group was given RGS intragastric intervention. General growth status of rats in each group was observed, the organ index was calculated, and the pathological changes of ovary, uterus, liver and kidney were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Serum levels of estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), pro-inflammatory factors interleukin (IL) 6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α were detected. The urine samples were collected after RGS treatment for metabonomics analysis. Metabolomic profiling based on ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) was used to analyze and determine the urine metabolites of rats in each group.Results:Compared with NC group, the ovary index of CP group [(0.054±0.015) %] was significantly decreased ( P<0.05), the uterus index [(0.293±0.036) %] and estradiol level [(62.9±6.4) pmol/L] were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), serum levels of FSH, LH, IL-6 and IL-1β [(20.4±1.0) U/L, (29.0±3.0) U/L, (185.4±28.6) ng/L, (72.9±2.0) ng/L, respectively] were significantly increased (all P<0.01). Compared with CP group, the ovary index in CP+RGS group [(0.075±0.010) %] was significantly increased ( P<0.05), serum estradiol level [(122.1±16.2) pmol/L] was significantly increased ( P<0.01), serum FSH, IL-1β and IL-6 levels [(16.7±1.0) U/L, (111.8±17.4) ng/L, (60.1±2.2) ng/L, respectively] were significantly decreased (all P<0.01). Metabonomics analysis results showed that, a total of 352 metabolites were detected in urine, of which 12 were found to be potential markers associated with reproductive injury according to the screening standard. After treatment with RGS, differential metabolites were improved in the direction of NC group. Pathway enrichment suggests that the therapeutic effect of RGS was related to multiple metabolic pathways, including purine metabolism and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. Conclusion:RGS might reduce inflammation and thus ameliorate the damage caused by CP to the reproductive system of female rats by affecting purine metabolism and other pathways.

Objective:To investigate the effect of different pressure balloon dilation combined with prying reduction and bone graft fixation in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures and the risk factors of postoperative re-fracture.Methods:One hundred cases of thoracolumbar fracture patients admitted to Cangzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital in Hebei Province from March 2019 to June 2021 were selected. Prospective randomized controlled study method was used and random number table method was used to divide them into three groups: incomplete expansion group (33 cases), moderate expansion group (33 cases) and complete expansion group (34 cases). All the 3 groups were treated with balloon dilation combined with prying reduction and bone graft fixation. The pressure of balloon dilation in incomplete dilation group, moderate dilation group and complete dilation group was 100 psi, 150 psi and no more than 200 psi respectively, and the volume of balloon dilation was 0.5∶1, 1∶1 and 1.5∶1 respectively. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative drainage volume, vertebral anterior margin recovery rate and hospital stay, as well as local Cobb angle, visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) scores before and after operation were compared among the three groups. According to the follow-up of whether there is re-fracture after surgery, the clinical data of the re-fracture group and the non re-fracture group were compared, and the risk factors of the re-fracture after surgery were analyzed. The measurement data with normal distribution was expressed as: independent sample t-test was used for comparison between two groups, one-way ANOVA or repeated measurement ANOVA was used for comparison between three groups, and SNK-q test was used for comparison between two groups. Counting data were expressed in cases or cases (%), and compared between groups by χ 2 Inspection. Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of refracture after thoracolumbar fracture. Results:There was no significant difference in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume among the three groups ( P=0.096, 0.328 and 0.344, respectively). The recovery rate of vertebral anterior edge height in moderate expansion group was higher than that in incomplete expansion group and complete expansion group ((84.15±4.21)% vs (70.18±7.44)%, (75.94±6.56)%), and the hospitalization time was shorter than that in incomplete expansion group and complete expansion group ((10.38±2.35) d vs (15.18±3.44), (14.59±2.48) d) (all P<0.001). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in Cobb angle, VAS and ODI scores among the three groups (all P>0.05). After treatment, the Cobb angle, VAS and ODI scores of patients in the three groups were lower than those before treatment, and the moderate expansion group were lower than those in the incomplete expansion group and the complete expansion group ((14.08±2.15) ° vs (16.48±4.85) °, (15.06±3.45) °, (1.81±0.53)% vs (2.25±0.41), (2.31±0.42), (18.16±2.18)% vs (20.48±4.85), (20.01±4.45) points) (all P<0.001). 100 patients were followed up until the fracture was healed. They were divided into re-fracture group (15 cases) and non re-fracture group (85 cases) according to whether there was re-fracture after operation. The results of multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index and bone mineral density were protective factors for patients with thoracolumbar fracture after operation (odds ratio was 0.66 and 0.15 respectively, 95% confidence interval: 0.51~0.86, 0.05~0.42, P values were 0.006 and <0.001 respectively), The old wedge-shaped change of the vertebral body and the abnormal structure of the lumbar spine are the risk factors for postoperative re-fracture (odds ratio 4.22 and 6.36, 95% confidence interval 1.14-15.56 and 1.43-28.21, respectively, P values were 0.027 and 0.015). Conclusions:In the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture with prying reduction and bone grafting fixation, the effect of balloon expansion pressure of 150 psi is better. Body mass index (BMI) and bone mineral density (BMD) were protective factors for postoperative re-fracture of patients with thoracolumbar fracture. Old wedge-shaped change of vertebral body and abnormal lumbar structure are risk factors for postoperative re-fracture.

Objective:To explore the efficacy of balloon dilation percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) combined with prying reduction bone grafting in the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures, and its impact on patients′neurological function.Methods:The clinical data of 184 patients with thoracolumbar fractures from March 2017 to May 2020 in Cangzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Hebei Province were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 86 patients were treated with balloon dilation PKP combined with prying reduction and bone grafting (combined group), and 98 patients were treated with open reduction decompression and internal fixation (internal fixation group). The intraoperative bleeding volume, surgical time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, efficacy and complications were recorded. One year after surgery, X-ray films were taken to measure the height of the anterior border and posterior border of vertebral body and the Cobb angle, and the pain visual analogue score (VAS), Barthel index and neurological Frankel grade were evaluated.Results:The intraoperative bleeding volume and surgical time in combined group were significantly higher than those in internal fixation group: (205.64 ± 45.63) ml vs. (180.37 ± 30.08) ml and (110.22 ± 28.91) min vs. (81.66 ± 20.77) min, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency between the two groups ( P>0.05). The total effective rate in combined group was significantly higher than that in internal fixation group: 91.86% (79/86) vs. 79.59% (78/98), the total incidence of complications was significantly lower than that in internal fixation group: 13.95% (12/86) vs. 38.78% (38/98), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05 or <0.01). The height of the anterior border and posterior border of vertebral body 1 year after surgery in combined group were significantly higher than those in internal fixation group: (95.78 ± 1.59) mm vs. (62.74 ± 1.80) mm and (98.53 ± 3.80) mm vs. (95.06 ± 3.28) mm, the Cobb angle was significantly smaller than that in internal fixation group: (6.53 ± 2.80)° vs. (18.06 ± 2.68)°, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01). The VAS and Barthel index 1 year after surgery in both groups improved significantly, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01), but there were no statistical differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The rate of neurological Frankel grade E 1 year after surgery in combined group was significantly higher than that in internal fixation group: 56.98% (49/86) vs. 23.47% (23/98), and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Compared with open reduction decompression and internal fixation, the balloon dilation PKP combined with prying reduction and bone grafting patients with thoracolumbar fractures is better for vertebral reduction and deformity repair, with higher safety, more significant pain relief, and better recovery of daily life and neurological function.

Objective:To develop the Care Needs Scale for Young and Middle-aged Terminally Ill Patients and test its reliability and validity, so as to provide an effective tool for evaluating the care needs of young and middle-aged terminally ill patients for medical and nursing staff.Methods:This study is a cross-sectional study. Guided by the theory of supportive care needs, an initial scale was formed through literature review, qualitative interviews, Delphi expert consultation, and pre-survey. From July to September 2022, convenience sampling was used to select 570 young and middle-aged terminally ill patients hospitalized in the Oncology Department and Hospice Care Ward of six Class Ⅲ hospitals in Tianjin as the research subject, and a questionnaire survey was conducted on the patients. The items in the scale were selected using item analysis method. The structural validity of the scale was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. The content validity of the scale was evaluated using the scale-level content validity index and the item-level content validity index. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using internal consistency coefficient and half reliability coefficient. A total of 570 questionnaires were distributed, and 565 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective response rate of 99.12% (565/570) .Results:A total of 18 experts completed two rounds of consultation, with an expert authority coefficient of 0.890, the Kendall's W values of 0.309 and 0.417, respectively ( P<0.05). The Care Needs Scale for Young and Middle-aged Terminally Ill Patients included 6 dimensions and a total of 39 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 6 common factors, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 71.515%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the overall model fitted well. The content validity index at the scale level was 0.942, and the content validity index at the item level was 0.833 to 1.000. The total Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.975, and the half reliability coefficient was 0.911. Conclusions:The reliability and validity of the Care Needs Scale for Young and Middle-aged Terminally Ill Patients are good, and it can be used as an evaluation tool for the care needs of young and middle-aged terminally ill patients.