[Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) MRI analysis of gray matter in patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss].

Objective: To investigate the changes of brain gray matter volume in patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss by voxel based morphometry (VBM) . Methods: 16 age-and education-matched healthy controls and 42 patients with occupational noise induced hearing loss, including 27 in mild group and 15 in severe group, received MRI 3D-FSPGR sequence T1WI sagittal scan, and then underwent VBM of brain gray matter volume data analysis. Results: The brain gray matter volume of the left occipitotemporal lateral gyrus, the anterior cingulate gyrus, the bilateral angular gyrus, the precuneus and the near midline area of cerebellum differed between experimental group and control group (P<0.01) . Conclusion: The volume of gray matter in specific brain areas of patients with occupational noise-induced hearing loss was changed, and the effect of noise on brain structure was revealed from the perspective of imaging.

[Association between unhealthy lifestyles and hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia in old adults in China].

Objective: To analyze the individual and cumulative effects of unhealthy lifestyle on the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia in old adults in China, and find out the critical lifestyle in the network. Methods: Based on the baseline data of Yunnan Behavior and Disease Surveillance Cohort in 2021, a total of 16 763 older adults aged ≥60 years were included in our study. The unhealthy lifestyle factors including smoking, drinking, unhealthy eating habit, lower physical activity level, abnormal BMI and abnormal waist circumference. We calculated the unhealthy lifestyle score by using the cumulative exposures of each participant. Multiple logistic regression and mixed graphical models were used to describe the association between unhealthy lifestyle and the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Results: The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were 57.0%, 11.5% and 37.0%, respectively. Most of the unhealthy lifestyles included in the study were risk factors for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia, and the risks of disease increased with the increase of the unhealthy lifestyle score. The participants with the highest score (score: 6) had significantly higher prevalence of hypertension (OR=3.99, 95%CI: 1.81-8.80), diabetes (OR=4.64, 95%CI: 1.64-13.15) and dyslipidemia (OR=4.26, 95%CI: 2.08-8.73) compared with those with lowest score (score: 0). In the network constructed by mixed graphical model, abnormal waist circumference (bridge strength=0.81) and hypertension (bridge strength=0.55) were vital bridge nodes connecting unhealthy lifestyle and hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Conclusions: The unhealthy lifestyle score was associated with risks for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Abnormal waist circumference was the key factor for chronic diseases in old adults.

[Progress in complex network theory-based studies on the associations between health-related behaviors and chronic non-communicable diseases].

In recent years, the research focus on health-related behavior and chronic non-communicable diseases has shifted from the analysis on independent effects of multiple causes on a single outcome to the evaluation the complex relationships between multiple causes and multiple effects. Complex network theory, an important branch of system science, considers the relationships among factors in a network and can reveal how health-related behaviors interact with chronic diseases through a series of complex network models and indicators. This paper summarizes the definition and development of complex network theory and its commonly used models, indicators, and case studies in the field of health-related behavior and chronic disease to promote the application of complex network theory in the field of health and provide reference and tools for future research of the relationship between health-related behavior and chronic disease.

[Association between unhealthy lifestyles and diabetic dyslipidemia in occupational population and network analysis].

Objective: To understand the influence of unhealthy lifestyle on diabetic dyslipidemia and the key influencing factors in occupational population and provided scientific evidence for the prevention of diabetic dyslipidemia. Methods: Based on baseline data and follow-up data of Southwest Occupational Population Cohort from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd. during 2021. Diabetic dyslipidemia was defined as diabetes plus one or more forms of dyslipidemia, and unhealthy lifestyle factors included smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy dietary patterns, low physical activity, and abnormal BMI. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle scores and diabetic dyslipidemia, network analysis was used to find and explore the key lifestyles influencing glycolipid metabolism. Results: A total of 25 631 subjects were included. People with unhealthy lifestyle score 2 and 3 were 1.93 (95%CI: 1.31-2.86) times and 2.37 (95%CI: 1.60-3.50) times more likely to have diabetes with ≥1 forms of dyslipidemia than those with scores of 0; People with unhealthy lifestyle score 1, 2 and 3 were 1.98 (95%CI: 1.08-3.61) times, 2.87 (95%CI: 1.60-5.14) times and 3.95 (95%CI: 2.22-7.06) times more likely to have diabetes with ≥2 forms of dyslipidemia than those with score 0. Network analysis found that abnormal BMI and HDL-C were the "bridge nodes" that link unhealthy lifestyles with diabetic dyslipidemia. Conclusion: The higher the score of unhealthy lifestyle, the higher the risk for diabetic dyslipidemia, abnormal BMI and HDL-C are key factors influencing the association between unhealthy lifestyle and diabetic dyslipidemia.

[Association between unhealthy lifestyles and hyperuricemia in occupational population and modification effect of hypertension and dyslipidemia].

Objective: To understand the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle and hyperuricemia, as well as the modification effects of hypertension and dyslipidemia in occupational population and provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of hyperuricemia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted, based on baseline data from the Southwest Occupational Population Cohort from China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd., which included the population in 28 prefectures from Sichuan Province and Guizhou Province, and 33 districts (counties) from Chongqing Municipality between October and December 2021. This study collected the information about the demographics characteristics, lifestyles, and prevalence of chronic non-communicable diseases of the study subjects through questionnaire, physical measurement and laboratory biochemical test. The unhealthy lifestyle score was scored based on smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary patterns, physical activity, and low weight or overweight, with higher scores being associated with more unhealthy lifestyles. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle score, smoking, alcohol consumption, other factors and hyperuricemia, and the stratified analysis was used to explore the modification effect of hypertension and other diseases on the relationship between unhealthy lifestyle and hyperuricemia. Results: A total of 11 748 participants were included in this study, the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 34.4%. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that current/previous smoking, current/previous alcohol consumption and BMI abnormality were risk factors for hyperuricemia, and the unhealthy lifestyle score showed a "cumulative" effect on the risk for hyperuricemia, with higher score increasing the risk of hyperuricemia, and the OR increased from 1.64 (95%CI: 1.34-2.00) to 2.89 (95%CI: 2.39-3.50). Stratified analysis showed that unhealthy lifestyles had a greater impact on the risk for hyperuricemia in people with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Conclusions: The coexistence of multiple unhealthy lifestyles might increase the risk of hyperuricemia, and this effect was stronger in participants with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Timely correction of unhealthy lifestyles, and control of hypertension and dyslipidemia might reduce the risk for hyperuricemia.

Rosiglitazone protects diabetic rats from liver destruction.

AIMS: To investigate whether rosiglitazone (ROS) protects diabetic rats from destructive changes in the liver. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (NC) group (no.=8), streptozocin (STZ)-treated diabetic (DM) group (no.=8), and STZ+ROStreated diabetic (RSG) group (no.=8). After 8 weeks, the liver structure was observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL, and apoptosis index was calculated. The Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA expression of apoptosis-promoting gene and cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) mRNA in the liver were detected by RTPCR. COX-2 protein in the liver was tested via immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: Compared to NC group, DM group showed a visible fatty degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver under microscopy. Obvious hepatocyte swelling with atrophic mitochondria was observed, and the central zone of cholangiole was severely outstretched. Meanwhile, in RSG group, the hepatocyte steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration decreased, and the hepatic ultra-structure was markedly improved. Hepatocyte apoptosis (p<0.05) and the expression levels for hepatic COX-2 mRNA (p<0.05), FasL mRNA (p<0.01), and COX-2 protein (p<0.05) were higher in DM group compared to the NC group, while the expression level of hepatic COX-2 mRNA (p<0.05), FasL mRNA (p<0.01), COX-2 protein (p<0.05), and hepatocyte apoptosis (p<0.05) in RSG group were decreased compared to DM group. CONCLUSION: Diabetes causes severe liver injury and ROS can protect diabetic rats from liver destruction, which may be related to inhibition of the expression of COX-2 and the hepatocyte apoptosis induced by FasL gene over expression.

The effects of rosiglitazione on renal artery endothelium in diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Macrovascular disease is a common complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Study of renal artery endothelium may serve as a surrogate for cardiovascular and renal vascular disease. OBJECT: This study is to elucidate (1) how about the changes of renal endothelial ultrastructures it is in different time of diabetes animals (2) Whether PPARgamma ligand (such as rosiglitazone: ROS) could improve endothelium destruction in diabetes. METHODS: Streptozoticin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were stratified by age groups from 6 to 10 weeks of age and were paired with age-matched control non-diabetic rats. Further, another group of diabetic rats were treated with ROS and matched with non-treated diabetic rats. RESULT: The renal artery endothelium of diabetic rats was partially coarse, distended, cracked and destroyed. The Vascular Endothelial Structure Score (VESS) was 34.5 in diabetic rats compared with non-diabetic control male rats (P=0.001). The older rats demonstrated more endothelial wall damage, more pronounced in male rats. Compared with non-treated control diabetic rats, ROS prevented diabetic endothelial damage (VESS=4.6, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Renal artery endothelium damage in STZ induced diabetic rats was significantly attenuated by rosiglitazone.

Shanghai, China, has the lowest confirmed incidence of childhood diabetes in the world.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in 0- to 14-year-old children in Shanghai, China, from 1980 to 1991. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected from hospitals with pediatric departments. The secondary source of validation was primary and middle schools. RESULTS: The average crude annual incidence rate was 0.61/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.77). The ascertainment-corrected incidence rates were 0.72/100,000 (0.57-0.91). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of childhood diabetes in Shanghai, China, was one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the world.

Pulmonary function among cotton textile workers. A study of variability in symptom reporting, across-shift drop in FEV1, and longitudinal change.

Longitudinal variability in respiratory responses, including symptom reporting and across-shift change in ventilatory function, were examined in relation to long-term loss of ventilatory function in a group of 447 cotton textile workers in Shanghai, China. The study used a standardized respiratory questionnaire and standardized spirometric testing before and after a work shift on the first day of the workweek. Prediction equations for FEV1 were generated from a group of silk textile workers from the same city. Environmental samples included both vertical elutriated cotton dust and endotoxin levels. There was considerable variability in symptom reporting between the baseline and 5-year follow-up survey for all symptoms. However, subjects who consistently reported symptoms had a significantly accelerated 5-year loss in FEV1 compared with those who never reported symptoms. Subjects with symptoms of chest tightness or dyspnea at one survey lost FEV1 at a rate intermediate between the never or both groups. Moreover, subjects with an across-shift change in FEV1 of more than 5 percent at both surveys had the greatest loss in FEV1 over 5 years (-267 ml) when compared with one-time responders (-224 ml), and nonresponders (-180 ml), though the differences were not significant. Workers with chest tightness and chronic bronchitis in both surveys were overrepresented in the high dust and endotoxin areas. Our results indicate that even with substantial survey-to-survey variability in responses, there is important information contained in both questionnaires and across-shift spirometry. Among cotton workers, consistent responders to either symptom questionnaire or across-shift FEV1 decrements of > or = 5 percent appear to be at increased risk for lung function impairment.

Respiratory disease in cotton textile workers in the People's Republic of China. I. Respiratory symptoms.

The prevalence of byssinosis and nonspecific respiratory symptoms was studied in 887 textile workers with at least two years of employment in two cotton mills and one silk mill in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. A standardized respiratory questionnaire was used, and environmental sampling was performed with vertical elutriators and colorimeter grading. Eight percent of the cotton textile workers complained of byssinosis. The reports of byssinosis were mostly mild (grade 1/2), more prevalent among women, and unrelated to duration of employment or elutriator dust levels. Nonspecific respiratory symptoms were significantly more prevalent among cotton textile workers than silk workers. After adjustment for age, gender, and smoking in logistic regression models, the odds ratios for the effect of working in cotton textile mills on chronic bronchitis, chronic cough, and frequent chest illness were 3.3, 2.9 and 4.7, respectively. Although none of the symptoms were related to current dust levels, the range of exposures was narrow, and information was only available on current levels of cotton dust. This study represents the first respiratory survey of the textile industry in China using diagnostic criteria similar to that used in the United States and England; it defines a cohort for prospective investigation.

Respiratory disease in cotton textile workers in the People's Republic of China. II. Pulmonary function results.

Pulmonary function tests were performed pre and post workshift on 887 textile workers with at least two years of employment in two cotton mills and one silk mill in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Environmental sampling was performed with vertical elutriators, and pulmonary function was performed with standardized techniques. Cotton textile workers were found to have greater across-shift decrements in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) than silk workers. Increasing duration of exposure resulted in increasing acute decrements in FEV1.0, although significant acute decrements were found in workers with less than five years of exposure. The acute changes in FEV 1.0 were noted in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cotton workers, though the difference between the across-shift change in FEV1.0 (delta FEV1.0%) of the byssinotics and nonbyssinotics increased as work duration increased. There was no difference in preshift FEV1.0 between the cotton and silk workers, but several selection factors likely influenced the observations.

The incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in urban districts of Shanghai (1989-1993).

A retrospective study on the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) among children aged 0-14 years was carried out from 1989-1993 in urban Shanghai, China. The average annual population at risk (0-14 yr) consisted of 1,401,664 children. All the cases were collected from the hospitals (primary source) and from primary and middle schools and kindergartens (second source) with independent validation of case ascertainment. There were 53 IDDM cases from the primary source, 23 from the secondary source, with a total of 58. The ascertainment corrected total number of IDDM cases was 67 by the capture-recapture method. The average crude annual incidence rate was 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-1.04] and ascertainment corrected incidence rate 0.96 (95% CI 0.80-1.12) per 100,000. Peak incidence fell in 1992 and in the 9 year-old group. The incidence of childhood IDDM in the urban districts of Shanghai was reconfirmed to be the lowest in the world but by comparing the results of former investigations a trend was found of increasing incidence of IDDM.

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among Chinese rice-granary workers.

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of 474 rice-granary workers and 235 non-granary worker controls in a rural area near Shanghai, the People's Republic of China. Responses to a respiratory-symptom questionnaire and pre- and post-shift spirometry were obtained for all subjects. Area sampling was performed for total and vertically elutriated (

Inflammatory potential of grain dust.

A comparative analysis of toxicity and inflammatory potential of spring wheat, oat, corn, and flax seed was performed. The extracts were examined by quantification of gram-negative bacterial endotoxin and protein contents, chemotaxis for purified human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and several alveolar macrophage functions including phagocytosis, release of lactate dehydrogenase, macromolecular synthesis (protein and RNA), and interleukin-1 production. The results suggested that the extracts of all four grain dusts inhibited protein synthesis and decreased phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages at 7.5-25 mg/ml. Protein synthesis was inhibited to 40.2% of control and phagocytosis to 47.9% of control. Interleukin-1 production was stimulated, as indicated by a stimulation index range from 3.8-fold to 14.3-fold over controls. The activity of these grain dust extracts did not correlate with the endotoxin content of the samples. The data demonstrate that the extracts of all four dusts produced ill effects in rat alveolar macrophages in vitro and suggested a potential hazard to agricultural workers exposed to grain dust.

Airborne endotoxin concentrations in various work areas within two cotton textile mills in the People's Republic of China.

As part of a multidisciplinary longitudinal approach to assess the roles of airborne cotton dust and endotoxins in affecting the respiratory health of cotton textile workers, this study was designed to quantify the endotoxin contamination of airborne vertically elutriated and total dusts. Yarn preparation areas (opening through fine spinning) were studied at two cotton textile mills which had been studied 5 years previously in Shanghai. People's Republic of China, Filter, with vertically elutriated (VE) or total dusts were mailed to the United States and endotoxin analyses were performed for each filter in duplicate with the quantitative chromogenic modification of the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Dusts from all areas of the textile mills contained endotoxins. Endotoxin burdens in VE dusts from the carding area were similar in both milk while the endotoxin contamination of total dust from carding in Mill 1 was over threefold greater than that of total dust from carding in Mill 2. All other areas differed between milk in both VE and total dust endotoxin burdens. Mean endotoxin levels in VE dusts from all areas of both mills were well above the reported threshold of 90 EU/m3 for acute pulmonary function effects in humans. Comparison of selected areas of both mills from the present study with the same work areas from the previous study showed that, in general, the airborne endotoxin burden was higher than levels found 5 years ago in these two mills. The data suggest that even with reduced or unchanged gravimetric dust levels in these two cotton textile mills, airborne endotoxin levels were higher and provided an increased potential for adverse respiratory response in exposed workers.

[Urinary nicotine and intervention test for absorption of nicotine in female workers in tobacco industry].

The concentration of urinary nicotine of non-smoking female workers, 56 from shredding workshop, 65 from packing workshop and 54 from beverage factory (as controls), was determined, and intervention test for the absorption of nicotine was carried out in female workers from shredding workshop. The mean geometric concentration of urinary nicotine of shredding workers and packing workers at the end of shift was 44.8 +/- 5.1 ng/ml and 9.9 +/- 5.4 ng/ml, and was significantly higher than that of the controls (1.0 +/- 1.0 ng/ml) (P < 0.01). The concentration of urinary nicotine of shredding workers was significantly higher at the end of shift than pre-exposure period (11.46 +/- 6.73 ng/ml). The intervention test for the absorption of nicotine showed that there were good protection effects for the absorption of nicotine when glove and mask were used simultaneously and ventilator was used in summer.

Respiratory disease in cotton textile workers: epidemiologic assessment of small airway function.

We performed a cross-sectional study of 705 textile workers in two cotton mills and one silk mill in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, to assess small airway function among cotton textile workers and to compare the FEV1 to the FEF25-75 in detecting airflow obstruction in these workers. All workers had at least 2 years of work experience. Environmental sampling was performed with vertical elutriators and revealed that in the cotton mills mean elutriated dust levels were 1.07 +/- 0.23 mg/m3 in mill 1 and 1.01 mg/m3 +/- 0.24 mg/m3 in mill 2. Mean endotoxin levels were 332 +/- 83 ng/m3 in mill 1 and 101 +/- 46 ng/m3 in mill 2. No differences were found in preshift FEV1 or FEF25-75 between cotton and silk workers. Cotton workers had significantly greater declines than silk workers in FEV1 across a workshift, but not in FEF25-75. These acute changes in FEV1 were noted in both byssinotic and nonbyssinotic workers. Although cotton dust may affect both large and small airways, spirometric measures of small airway function (e.g., FEF25-75) add little to the FEV1 and FVC in detecting airflow limitation in cotton dust-exposed workers.

Cotton dust and gram-negative bacterial endotoxin correlations in two cotton textile mills.

Exposure to cotton dust is known to cause both acute and chronic respiratory illness. A specific pattern of symptoms called byssinosis is well described to occur among workers in the cotton processing (e.g., yarn preparation) industry. Recent studies have implicated Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin as one of the agents responsible for acute, and possibly chronic, respiratory illness. Laboratory experiments using a model cardroom have found poor correlations between airborne dust and associated endotoxin. This study reports the results of vertical elutriated dust and endotoxin levels in 11 work areas of 2 cotton textile mills in 1986 in Shanghai, China. The overall correlation between dust and endotoxin was strong, rs = 0.66 and 0.79 (p < 0.0001) for mills 1 and 2, respectively. The dust-endotoxin correlation was relatively poor in early yarn preparation in the workshops and improved in the later preparation areas. Our findings suggest that in these mill settings, dust and endotoxin levels may be well correlated in most work areas. Therefore, dust may be a useful index for monitoring populations employed in the cotton textile industry throughout the world. Additional field studies need to be performed which consider the various determinants of dust and endotoxin levels.

Endotoxins in baled cottons and airborne dusts in textile mills in the People's Republic of China.

Bulk cotton samples and airborne vertical elutriated cotton dusts were obtained from textile mills in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Analysis of endotoxin contents revealed that baled cottons which were grown in different countries varied in endotoxin contamination. The two textile mills, which operated at similar overall airborne dust levels, differed markedly in the levels of airborne endotoxins. The data suggest that the biological activity or "toxicity" of airborne cotton dusts may not be correlated directly with gravimetric dust levels.