Psychological interventions mitigated occupational stress in high-risk workers in Shenzhen, China.

Introduction: Occupational stress has emerged as a significant factor impacting the physical and mental wellbeing of workers in China. This study investigated occupational stress among the potential high-risk workers in Shenzhen, China, and evaluated the psychological interventions subsequently implemented.

Methods: A stratified cluster sampling method was employed, randomly selecting one quarter of clusters (clustered by work unit) from each of the four strata (stratified by occupational category) including firefighters, bus drivers, video display terminal (VDT) operators, and port workers, respectively, as the study cohort.

Exploring biomarkers for noise-induced hearing loss through mitochondrial DNA methylation analysis.

Objective: Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), resulting from occupational noise exposure, is a significant health concern with considerable economic and social implications. It is the most commonly reported occupational disease in developing countries. Noise causes cochlear cell damage by inducing mitochondrial oxidative stress elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately leading to cell apoptosis.

AK4 promotes nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis and chemoresistance by activating NLRP3 inflammatory complex.

Metastasis is the main cause of treatment failure in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Our previous study developed a transcriptomics-based gene signature (AK4, CPAMD8, DDAH1, and CRTR1) to predict metastasis in NPC and identify candidates that could benefit from induction chemotherapy (IC). Of these, adenylate kinase 4 (AK4) is a potent oncogene involved in the malignant progression of a variety of tumors.

Construction of a risk prediction model for occupational noise-induced hearing loss using routine blood and biochemical indicators in Shenzhen, China: a predictive modelling study.

Objectives: Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) represents a prevalent occupational health condition, traditionally necessitating multiple pure-tone audiometry assessments. We have developed and validated a machine learning model leveraging routine haematological and biochemical parameters, thereby offering novel insights into the risk prediction of ONIHL.

Design, Setting And Participants: This study analysed data from 3297 noise-exposed workers in Shenzhen, including 160 ONIHL cases, with the data set divided into D1 (2868 samples, 107 ONIHL cases) and D2 (429 samples, 53 ONIHL cases).

Sleep quality and nighttime sleep duration mediated the association between occupational stress and work-related musculoskeletal disorders among bus drivers.

Background: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) significantly affect bus drivers' health and warrant adequate attention. Previous studies had reported associations between occupational stress exposure and WMSDs, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of occupational stress with WMSDs and the mediated effect of sleep quality and nighttime sleep duration.

Association of lymphocyte count and serum albumin concentration with telomere length in Chinese sanitation workers.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between inflammation-related indicators (IRIs) and telomere length (TL) in Chinese sanitation workers.

Methods: This study adopted a case-control design, conducted from January to December 2022 in Shenzhen, a city in eastern China. A total of 80 sanitation workers, as well as 80 matched controls, were randomly recruited from the Luohu district of Shenzhen city in China.

Alterations in leukocyte telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number in benzene poisoning patients.

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the impact of benzene poisoning on the relative content of the mitochondrial MT-ND1 gene and telomere length in individuals with occupational chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) compared to a control group. The study will analyze and gather data on the mitochondrial gene content and telomere length in cases of benzene poisoning, and investigate the relationship with blood routine parameters in order to contribute scientific experimental data for the prevention and treatment of CBP.

Method: The case group comprised 30 individuals diagnosed with occupational chronic benzene poisoning, whereas the control group consisted of 60 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations at our hospital concurrently.

Radiomic signatures reveal multiscale intratumor heterogeneity associated with tissue tolerance and survival in re-irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multicenter study.

Background: Post-radiation nasopharyngeal necrosis (PRNN) is a severe adverse event following re-radiotherapy for patients with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LRNPC) and associated with decreased survival. Biological heterogeneity in recurrent tumors contributes to the different risks of PRNN. Radiomics can be used to mine high-throughput non-invasive image features to predict clinical outcomes and capture underlying biological functions.

Camrelizumab combined with apatinib in patients with first-line platinum-resistant or PD-1 inhibitor resistant recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a single-arm, phase 2 trial.

Immunotherapy combined with antiangiogenic targeted therapy has improved the treatment of certain solid tumors, but effective regimens remain elusive for refractory recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM-NPC). We conducted a phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and activity of camrelizumab plus apatinib in platinum-resistant (cohort 1, NCT04547088) and PD-1 inhibitor resistant NPC (cohort 2, NCT04548271). Here we report on the primary outcome of objective response rate (ORR) and secondary endpoints of safety, duration of response, disease control rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

Association of length of service and job category with occupational health literacy of port employees in Shenzhen, China.

Background: Health literacy (HL) is associated with health outcomes, but little is known about the occupational HL (OHL) for port employees and its link to the length of service and job category.

Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 3492 port employees from the Occupational Health Survey for Port Employees project, and a special questionnaire was utilized to measure the OHL status. Binary and ordinal logistic regressions were used to estimate the association.

Head and neck MRI-based T stage and [F]FDG PET/CT-based N/M stage improved prognostic stratification in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Objectives: To evaluate whether MRI-based T stage (T), [F]FDG PET/CT-based N (N), and M stage (M) are superior in NPC patients' prognostic stratification based on long-term survival evidences, and whether TNM staging method involving T + N + M could improve NPC patients' prognostic stratification.

Methods: From April 2007 to December 2013, 1013 consecutive untreated NPC patients with complete imaging data were enrolled. All patients' initial stages were repeated based on (1) the NCCN guideline recommended "T + N + M" ("MMP") staging method; (2) the traditional "T + N + M" ("MMC") staging method; (3) the single-step "T + N + M" ("PPP") staging method; or (4) the "T + N + M" ("MPP") staging method recommended in present research.

Ethylbenzene induces hearing loss by triggering mitochondrial impairments and excess apoptosis in cochlear progenitor cells via suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Ethylbenzene (EB) is widely distributed at low levels in the environment from vehicle emissions, industrial discharge, cigarette smoke, and in some food and consumer products. Evidence shows that EB exposure is associated with hearing loss, yet the mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which plays a key role during cochlear development, in EB-induced hearing loss.

Impact of chronic benzene poisoning on aberrant mitochondrial DNA methylation: A prospective observational study.

Benzene is used as an industrial solvent, which may result in chronic benzene poisoning (CBP). Several studies suggested that CBP was associated with mitochondrial epigenetic regulation. This study aimed to explore the potential relation between CBP and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) methylation.

Association of p-phenylenediamine exposure with alterations of pulmonary function, pruritus and health-related quality of life in hair dye factory workers: a cross-sectional study.

P-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a common component of hair dye, which can cause skin contact allergy and asthma with impaired pulmonary function. However, the adverse effects of occupational exposure to different dose PPD was rarely mentioned. We recruited 124 workers from a hair dye factory to explore the association of occupational PPD exposure on pulmonary function, pruritus and health related quality of life (HRQL).

Whole-exome sequencing identified recurrent and novel variants in benzene-induced leukemia.

Background: Genome-wide sequencing may extensively identify potential pathogenic variants, which helps to understand mechanisms of tumorigenesis, but such study has not been reported in benzene-induced leukemia (BIL).

Methods: We recruited 10 BIL patients and conducted the whole-exome sequencing on their peripheral blood samples. The obtained sequencing data were screened for potential pathogenic and novel variants, then the variants-located genes were clustered to identify cancer-related pathways.

Serum levels of miR-21-5p and miR-339-5p associate with occupational trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome.

Background: Trichloroethylene (TCE) hypersensitivity syndrome (THS) is a dose-independent and potentially life-threatening disease. In this study, we sought to identify THS-related miRNAs and evaluate its potential clinical value.

Methods: Serum samples of five patients and five matched TCE contacts were used for screening differential miRNAs.

Dynamic analysis of peripheral blood TCR β-chain CDR3 repertoire in occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene.

Previously, we had cross-sectionally explored the characteristics of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires from occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene (OMDT) patients, now we further analyzed the dynamic features of OMDT TCR repertoires. Peripheral blood TCR β-chain complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) genes were detected with the high throughput sequencing in 24 OMDT cases in their acute, chronic and recovery stages, respectively, and in 24 trichloroethylene-exposed healthy controls. The TCR repertoire diversity, TRBV/TRBD/TRBJ gene usage and combination, frequencies of CDR3 nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences in the cases in different stages and in the controls were analyzed.

Development and validation of a normal tissue complication probability model for acquired nasal cavity stenosis and atresia after radical radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: Curative radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can lead to acquired nasal cavity stenosis and atresia (ANCSA). As the first study to investigate risk factors of ANCSA in a large cohort of NPC patients, this article aims to develop and validate a multivariate normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) model to predict the development of ANCSA and to establish a nomogram for clinical use.

Methods And Materials: The retrospective cohort was comprised of 548 NPC patients treated with radical radiotherapy.

Genomic analysis of mutations in platelet mitochondria in a case of benzene-induced leukaemia: A case report.

Introduction: As a hematopoietic carcinogen, benzene induces human leukemia through its active metabolites such as benzoquinone, which may cause oxidative damage to cancer-related nuclear genes by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrion is the main regulatory organelle of ROS, genetic abnormality of mitochondrion can impede its regulation of ROS, leading to more severe oxidative damage. Mutations have been related to certain types of cancer in several mitochondrial genes, but they have never been completely analyzed genome-wide in leukemia.

Nomogram for the prediction of primary distant metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma to guide individualized application of FDG PET/CT.

Purpose: This study aimed to establish an effective nomogram to predict primary distant metastasis (DM) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to guide the application of PET/CT.

Methods: In total, 3591 patients with pathologically confirmed NPC were consecutively enrolled. The nomogram was constructed based on 1922 patients treated between 2007 and 2014.

Low value of whole-body dual-modality [18f]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in primary staging of stage I-II nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a nest case-control study.

Objectives: The value of using PET/CT for staging of stage I-II NPC remains unclear. Hence, we aimed to investigate the survival benefit of PET/CT for staging of early-stage NPC before radical therapy.

Methods: A total of 1003 patients with pathologically confirmed NPC of stages I-II were consecutively enrolled.