ObjectiveTo investigate the role of DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked （DDX3X） in immune-mediated liver injury （ILI）， and to clarify its mechanism by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）-dependent apoptotic pathway and its association with the clinical progression of hepatitis B. MethodsMice were given injection of concanavalin A （ConA） via the caudal vein to establish a model of ILI， PBS （control group） and different concentrations of ConA were injected into the tail vein of hepatocyte-specific DDX3X-knockout mice （DDX3X^ΔHep and DDX3X-flox mice （DDX3X^fl/fl）， respectively.. The log-rank survival analysis， measurement of the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， and HE staining of liver tissue were performed to assess liver injury， and qRT-PCR and Western Blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）， CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein （CHOP）， and DDX3X in liver tissue. Intraperitoneal injection of 4-phenylbutyric acid （4-PBA， 100 mg/kg） was performed to inhibit ERS. Serum samples （n=30） and liver tissue samples （n=6） were collected from healthy controls， chronic hepatitis B （CHB） patients， and hepatitis B virus-associated liver failure （HBV-LF） patients； ELISA was used to measure the serum level of DDX3X， and qRT-PCR/Western Blot was used to analyze the expression of targets in liver tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group of mice， the expression of DDX3X in the liver of mice induced by ConA was significantly increased after liver injury （P<0.05）， and hepatocyte-specific DDX3X knockout increased the 72-hour survival rate of mice by 55% （compared with 20% in the DDX3X^fl/fl group）， with significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT and AST （P<0.000 1） and the expression levels of the ERS markers GRP78 and CHOP （P<0.05）. After ERS was inhibited by 4-PBA， there was alleviation of liver injury （with reductions in ALT and AST， P <0.001） and a reduction in DDX3X expression （P<0.01）. The analysis of clinical samples showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of liver DDX3X in CHB patients and HBV-LF patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls （all P<0.01）， and there was a significant increase in the serum level of DDX3X in HBV-LF patients （P<0.000 1）. ConclusionDDX3X exacerbates ILI by regulating the ERS-dependent apoptotic pathway （GRP78/CHOP）， and its expression is associated with the progression of hepatitis B. Therefore， it can be used as a potential therapeutic target.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Zuogui Wan （ZGW） in improving ovarian inflammatory microenvironment and stemness of ovarian germline stem cells （OSCs） for treating ovarian aging via the cyclic guanosine monophosphate/adenosine monophosphate synthase （cGAS）/stimulator of interferon genes （STING） signaling pathway. MethodsForty C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a low-dose ZGW group （2.7 g·kg^-1）， a high-dose ZGW group （5.4 g·kg^-1）， and an estradiol valerate group （0.15 mg·kg^-1）， with 8 mice in each group. Except the blank group， all other groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at 120 mg·kg^-1 to establish an ovarian aging mouse model. After successful modeling， each group was continuously administered for 4 weeks， once daily. The physiological status of the mice was observed， and the ovarian index was calculated. The estrus cycle of the mice was monitored. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe pathological changes in ovarian tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum sex hormone levels. Serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and mouse interleukin-6 （IL-6） levels were detected using kits. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ovarian cGAS， STING， p-STING， TANK-binding kinase 1 （TBK1）， p-TBK1， interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 （Fragilis）， and Vasa homolog protein （MVH）. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence double labeling was performed to locate OSCs in ovarian tissues， and fluorescence intensities of OSCs markers MVH and octamer binding transcription factor 4 （Oct4） were calculated. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed reduced body weight， ovarian wet weight， and ovarian index （P<0.01） and a disordered estrus cycle （P<0.01）. In addition， the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β were increased （P<0.01）， while anti-Müllerian hormone （AMH） and estradiol （E₂） levels were decreased （P<0.01）. The protein expression of cGAS， p-STING/STING， and p-TBK1/TBK1 in ovarian tissue was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while that of OSCs stemness factors MVH and Fragilis was reduced （P<0.01）. Immunofluorescence indicated a reduction in MVH and Oct4 expression in OSCs （P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β in ovarian tissue was increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the treatment groups exhibited improved body weight， ovarian wet weight， and ovarian index （P<0.05） and a reduced rate of estrus cycle disorder （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum FSH， TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-1β were decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while AMH and E₂ levels were increased （P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of cGAS， p-STING/STING， and p-TBK1/TBK1 in ovarian tissue were decreased （P<0.05）， while the protein expression of MVH and Fragilis was increased （P<0.05）， and the fluorescence intensities of MVH and Oct4 were increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in ovarian tissue was decreased （P<0.05）. ConclusionZGW alleviate ovarian inflammatory response， regulate ovarian microenvironment homeostasis， and maintain stemness of OSCs in ovarian aging mice probably by modulating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway， thereby improving ovarian function and delaying ovarian aging.

Despite breakthroughs in immunotherapy for solid tumors, significant variations in treatment efficacy persist. Up to 80% of cancer patients suffer from malnutrition, which leads to: lymphoid atrophy and reduced T-cell reserves; deficiency of substrates required for T-cell activation and expansion; concurrent inflammation hindering T-cell infiltration into tumors; and cachexia accelerating PD-1 antibody clearance. Clinical studies confirm that severe malnutrition significantly impairs immune responses and increases the risk of treatment toxicity. Therefore, implementing standardized nutritional therapy is crucial for optimizing the reserve, activation, expansion, and infiltration capacity of immune cells, thereby providing a sound immune system foundation for immunotherapy. Immunonutrition therapy, by enhancing immunonutrients such as arginine, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and nucleotides, reduces the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators and promotes T-cell activation and proliferation. This enhances anti-tumor immune responses, prolongs survival, and advances cancer treatment towards multimodal combination and precision approaches.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.11909/j.issn.1671-5411.2017.08.005.].

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by overwhelmed lipid oxidation, and it has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Enhanced ferroptosis could overcome the limitations of conventional therapeutic modalities, particularly in difficult-to-treat tumors. In this study, we developed a dual-modality therapy in nanomedicine by combining paclitaxel (PTX) chemotherapy and pyropheophorbide-a (Ppa) phototherapy. Heparin (HP) was grafted with poly(N-(2'-hydroxy) propyl methacrylamide) (pHPMA) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization to form HP-pHPMA (HH), which was utilized to deliver Ppa and PTX, yielding HP-pHPMA-Ppa (HH-Ppa) and HP-pHPMA-PTX (HH-PTX), respectively. The prodrug-based combinational nanomedicine (HH-PP) was formed by co-assembly of HH-PTX and HH-Ppa. It was found that HH-PP treatment significantly disrupted lipid metabolism in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, induced extensive lipid oxidation, and promoted ferroptosis. In vivo, HH-PP intervention achieved a tumor growth inhibition rate of 86.63% and activated adaptive immunity with an elevated CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cell infiltration level. This combinational nanomedicine offers a promising platform for co-delivery of multiple therapeutic agents. It exerts a promising anti-tumor effect via enhanced ferroptosis and ferroptosis-induced immune activation by disrupting lipid metabolism in TNBC cancer cells.

Colorectal tumorigenesis generally progresses from adenoma to adenocarcinoma, accompanied by dynamic changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). A randomized controlled trial has confirmed the efficacy and safety of Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction (SBJDD) in preventing colorectal tumorigenesis. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the dynamic evolution of the TME and validated cell infiltration with multiplex immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Bulk RNA sequencing was utilized to assess the underlying mechanisms. Our results constructed the mutually verifiable single-cell transcriptomic atlases in Apc ^Min/+ mice and clinical patients. There was a marked accumulation of CCL22⁺ dendritic cells (DCs) and an enhanced immunosuppressive action, which SBJDD and berberine reversed. Combined treatment with cholesterol and lipopolysaccharide induced characteristic gene expression of CCL22⁺ DCs, which may represent "exhausted DCs". Intraperitoneal injection of these DCs after SBJDD treatment eliminated its therapeutic effects. TMEM131 derived CCL22⁺ DCs generation by TNF signaling pathway and may be a potential target of berberine in retarding colorectal tumorigenesis. These findings emphasize the role of exhausted DCs and the regulatory mechanisms of SBJDD and berberine in colorectal cancer (CRC), suggesting that the multi-component properties of SBJDD may help restore TME homeostasis and offer novel cancer therapy.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Intentional tooth replantation (ITR) is an advanced treatment modality and the procedure of last resort for preserving teeth with inaccessible endodontic or resorptive lesions. ITR is defined as the deliberate extraction of a tooth; evaluation of the root surface, endodontic manipulation, and repair; and placement of the tooth back into its original socket. Case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ITR in the retention of natural teeth that are untreatable or difficult to manage with root canal treatment or endodontic microsurgery. However, variations in clinical protocols for ITR exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the field of oral biology and dental materials. This heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners; therefore, guidelines and considerations for ITR should be explicated. This expert consensus discusses the biological foundation of ITR, the available clinical protocols and current status of ITR in treating teeth with refractory apical periodontitis or anatomical aberration, and the main complications of this treatment, aiming to refine the clinical management of ITR in accordance with the progress of basic research and clinical studies; the findings suggest that ITR may become a more consistent evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Consensus ; Periapical Periodontitis/surgery*