Objective This study investigated the expression profiles and clinical significance of oxidative stress-related genes (ORGs) and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods The GSE73754 dataset was downloaded from GEO, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subsequently intersected with FRGs curated from the Driver, Suppressor, Marker, and Unclassified databases and ORGs retrieved from the MSigDB database. Functional enrichment (GO/KEGG) was performed, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed, and hub genes were identified using cytoHubba; the overlap of hub sets yielded seven key genes (G6PD, CYBB, TXNRD1, AKR1C3, MAP3K5, PARK7, and NFE2L2). Immune infiltration was estimated by ssGSEA, and key genes were validated by RT–qPCR in PBMCs from 113 AS patients (53 active, 60 stable), 48 rheumatoid arthritis patients, 24 osteoarthritis patients, and 50 healthy controls.Results We identified 44 differentially expressed FRGs and 40 differentially expressed ORGs enriched mainly in oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and ferroptosis-related pathways; a four-gene nomogram was developed to predict AS risk. RT–qPCR confirmed the upregulation of G6PD and CYBB expression and the downregulation of the expression of TXNRD1, AKR1C3, MAP3K5, PARK7, and NFE2L2 in AS. Notably, G6PD levels were significantly higher in HLA-B27-positive patients. RT-qPCR analysis showed that G6PD had good diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.826), while CYBB expression was positively correlated with multiple inflammatory markers.Conclusion Differentially expressed FRG and ORG play important roles in the pathogenesis of AS, with G6PD and CYBB potentially serving as potential AS-associated biomarkers.
Objectives This study focuses on the distinct epidemiological features of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) genotypes in Asian populations: HPV52/56/58 show uniquely high prevalence and strong correlation with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, but their detection rates drop sharply in invasive cervical cancer, a pattern clearly different from the persistent dominance of HPV16/18 throughout malignant progression.Methods To further elucidate the potential host-microbe interactions underlying these epidemiological observations, we integrated a 16S rRNA-sequenced cross-sectional discovery cohort and an independent longitudinal validation cohort from a Chinese population, with strict experimental quality control throughout the workflow.Result The preliminary analytical results demonstrate that a Lactobacillus-dominant cervicovaginal microbiome (CVM) is significantly and positively associated with HPV viral clearance, while enriched abundance of Gardnerella, Saccharofermentans and Atopobium exhibits a robust correlation with persistent HPV52/56/58 infection. Three undercharacterized microbial taxa-Chryseobacterium, Sphingobacterium and Enhydrobacter are closely linked to sustained HPV16/18 prevalence across advanced disease stages, and show negative correlation with the above obligate anaerobes, which aligns with the sharp decline of HPV52/56/58 in tumor tissues. A hormone-linked Chryseobacterium enrichment were also identified, a taxon with previously reported progesterone-degrading functional properties.Conclusion While further longitudinal studies are required to establish causal relationships, our results indicate that CVM dysbiosis may modulate the natural history of these high-burden HPV genotypes, and provide a foundational rationale for subsequent development of genotype-specific, microbiota-targeted cervical disease intervention strategies.
Background Female reproductive health is increasingly threatened by environmental degradation, particularly climate change and air pollution. This narrative review synthesizes epidemiological, pathophysiological, and mechanistic evidence on how these exposures affect female reproductive health.Discussion Epidemiological studies associate these exposures with diminished ovarian reserve, reduced implantation and live birth rates, increased pregnancy loss, and elevated risks of preterm birth and hypertensive disorders. Pathological evidence supports impaired follicular development, defective placental vascular remodeling, and reduced endometrial receptivity. Mechanistic studies implicate oxidative stress and inflammatory activation as initiating events, with epigenetic reprogramming and dysregulated apoptosis and autophagy as downstream mediators of persistent damage. However, current evidence is limited by heterogeneous exposure assessment methods, discrepancies between animal models and human pathology, insufficient characterization of susceptible windows, and predominant focus on female factors while neglecting male contributions. Despite these limitations, the convergence of epidemiological, pathological, and molecular evidence across diverse populations and experimental systems strengthens the biological plausibility of causal links.Conclusion(s) High temperature and air pollution adversely affect female reproductive health through interconnected epidemiological, pathological, and molecular pathways. Epidemiological evidence consistently links these exposures to clinical reproductive impairments, supported by pathological findings of disrupted follicular development, placental vascular remodeling, and endometrial receptivity. Mechanistic studies implicate oxidative stress, epigenetic dysregulation, and disrupted apoptosis and autophagy as potential mediators of these effects. Future research should prioritize standardized exposure assessment, long-term prospective cohorts to identify vulnerable populations and critical windows, and translational validation of preclinical findings to inform public health policies and clinical strategies.
Background Effective communication and teamwork are fundamental determinants of patient safety, quality of care and healthcare professionals’ well-being. However, perceptions of these domains often vary across professional roles and organizational settings.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ) Short Form 2006 to assess attitudes towards interprofessional communication, teamwork, leadership, workload and safety culture among healthcare professionals working in a multisite public healthcare authority in Italy. The anonymous questionnaire comprised 36 core items, including five with parallel assessments of unit and medical management, yielding 41 individual statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale. It was completed by 221 participants across different professional categories.Results Respondents reported the highest scores for work perception (mean 3.75 ± 1.11) and communication and collaboration (3.55 ± 0.97), whereas leadership and organizational support showed an intermediate score (3.17 ± 1.06) and workload and stress received the lowest rating (2.14 ± 0.96). Physicians reported significantly higher scores than nurses for communication (p < 0.001) and error management (p < 0.01). Error-related perceptions were significantly associated with perceived communication quality, with the regression model explaining 55.2% of its variance (R2 = 0.552; F = 269.85; p < 0.001).Conclusion This exploratory study identified differences in perceived communication and error management across professional groups, alongside concerns about workload and fatigue. If replicated in independent studies, these findings could inform the design and prospective evaluation of organizational and educational interventions.
Background Extremely low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is uncommon and may result from secondary conditions or rare genetic disorders. Data on persistently low HDL-C in Southeast Asians remain limited. We aim to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, underlying etiologies, and clinical outcomes of patients with persistent low HDL-C.Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated adults with persistently low HDL-C (<30 mg/dL) identified via laboratory and electronic medical records between January 2020 and December 2024. Patients were stratified into two phenotypes based on baseline HDL-C severity: markedly low (20–29 mg/dL) or extremely low (<20 mg/dL).Results Among 217,481 individuals undergoing lipid testing (1,053,662 HDL-C measurements), 164 patients had persistently low HDL-C (mean age, 56.9 years; 68.9% male). The prevalence of persistently low and extremely low HDL-C was 0.08% and 0.008%, respectively. Concomitant hypertriglyceridemia affected ∼75% of patients. Most cases were associated with secondary conditions. Extremely low HDL-C was more frequently associated with liver disease (41.2%) and active malignancy (29.4%), whereas metabolic syndrome predominated among patients with markedly low HDL-C (42.2%). During a median follow-up of 2.57 years, all-cause mortality was higher in the extremely low HDL-C group (29.4% vs. 11.6%; hazard ratio, 4.33; 95% CI, 1.58–11.91; p = 0.004), while atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease rates were similar between groups (35.3% vs. 32.0%).Conclusions Persistently low HDL-C is an exceedingly rare phenotype driven primarily by secondary systemic conditions. An extremely low HDL-C level appears to be a marker of severe underlying systemic illness and was associated with higher short-term mortality.
