ObjectiveTo compare the differences in fungal community composition between lesional and non-lesional scalp areas in patients suffering from severe alopecia areata （AA）， and compare these with healthy scalp areas in control subjects. Additionally， to preliminarily explore the changes in scalp fungal communities in severe AA patients and their potential underlying immunological mechanisms. MethodsA total of 20 severe AA patients and 18 healthy controls were enrolled. Skin swab samples were collected from lesional and non-lesional scalp areas of severe AA patients， as well as from the normal scalp of healthy controls. The fungal internal transcribed spacer （ITS） region was amplified and analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. ResultsThe lesional scalp areas of severe AA patients exhibited higher α-diversity and species richness in fungal communities. Notably， the relative abundance of Ascomycota， along with genera such as Mycosphaerella， Aspergillus， Penicillium， and Wallemia， significantly increased in the bald regions. In contrast， Acremonium and Schizophyllum were more predominant in the non-lesional areas of severe AA patients. ConclusionDistinct region-specific differences in scalp fungal microbiota in severe AA patients suggests that fungal dysbiosis may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata. These findings provide new insights into the disease characteristics of severe AA from the perspective of scalp microecology.

Objective: To define the mechanism by which swine TRIM25 restricts vesicular stomatitis virus replication. Methods: Porcine 3D4/21 cells with TRIM25 overexpression or knockdown were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus. Viral replication was quantified by immunoblotting, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and 50% tissue culture infectious dose assays. Type I interferon signaling was assessed by transcript quantification, interferon-beta and interferon-stimulated response element reporter assays, and co-immunoprecipitation.Viral RNA binding was tested by RNA immunoprecipitation. Results: TRIM25 overexpression reduced viral RNA and infectious titers, whereas TRIM25 knockdown increased replication (p < 0.01). TRIM25 increased interferon-beta and interferon-stimulated gene expression and enhanced interferon-beta and interferonstimulated response element promoter activity (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, TRIM25 promoted Lys63-linked ubiquitination of RIG-I and increased phosphorylation of TANK-binding kinase 1 and interferon regulatory factor 3. TRIM25 also bound vesicular stomatitis virus genomic RNA, and binding required the C-terminal region. Conclusions and Relevance: Porcine TRIM25 restricts vesicular stomatitis virus replication by amplifying type I interferon signaling and directly binding viral RNA.

Objective To explore the role of Erianin in atopic dermatitis(AD)and its regulatory mechanism involving the high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)/receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)-Ras homolog gene family member A(RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase 1(ROCK1)signaling pathway.Methods An AD model was induced in BALB/c mice using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene(DNCB).Skin thickness and spleen and lymph node weight were measured and pathological changes in the back skin and ears were detected using methylamine blue and hematoxylin and eosin staining.Inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.An in vitro model of AD was established in HaCaT cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α.Cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by flow cytometry and mitochondrial ROS(mtROS)were detected by immunofluorescence assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling.HMGB1,RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1 proteins were detected by Western blot.Results Erianin inhibited the increase in skin thickness,reduced the spleen and lymph node weights,improved the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the degranulation of mast cells,and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors(P＜0.05).Erianin also reduced the production of cellular ROS and mtROS induced by TNF-α in vitro(P＜0.01),and decreased the protein expression of HMGB1,RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1(P＜0.01).Treatment of HMGB1-stimulated HaCaT cells with a RAGE-specific blocker(TFA)had no effect on HMGB1 expression,while expression levels of RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1 were decreased(P＜0.01).Cells treated with the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632+r-HMGB1 group showed similar result to the TFA+r-HMGB1 group,except for RAGE.Conclusions Erianin relieves AD by regulating the HMGB1/RAGE-RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the role of Erianin in atopic dermatitis(AD)and its regulatory mechanism involving the high-mobility group box 1(HMGB1)/receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)-Ras homolog gene family member A(RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase 1(ROCK1)signaling pathway.Methods An AD model was induced in BALB/c mice using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene(DNCB).Skin thickness and spleen and lymph node weight were measured and pathological changes in the back skin and ears were detected using methylamine blue and hematoxylin and eosin staining.Inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.An in vitro model of AD was established in HaCaT cells stimulated by tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α.Cellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by flow cytometry and mitochondrial ROS(mtROS)were detected by immunofluorescence assay.Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling.HMGB1,RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1 proteins were detected by Western blot.Results Erianin inhibited the increase in skin thickness,reduced the spleen and lymph node weights,improved the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the degranulation of mast cells,and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors(P＜0.05).Erianin also reduced the production of cellular ROS and mtROS induced by TNF-α in vitro(P＜0.01),and decreased the protein expression of HMGB1,RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1(P＜0.01).Treatment of HMGB1-stimulated HaCaT cells with a RAGE-specific blocker(TFA)had no effect on HMGB1 expression,while expression levels of RAGE,RhoA,and ROCK1 were decreased(P＜0.01).Cells treated with the Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632+r-HMGB1 group showed similar result to the TFA+r-HMGB1 group,except for RAGE.Conclusions Erianin relieves AD by regulating the HMGB1/RAGE-RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the impact of different nutritional statuses on the prognosis of elderly patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), and to provide a basis for early intervention of the nutritional status of elderly IPF patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 237 elderly patients clinically diagnosed with IPF who were admitted to the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to May 2024.The GLIM criteria were applied to diagnose malnutrition and classify its severity.The patients were divided into two groups: those without nutritional risk(Group A)and those with nutritional risk(Group B). Group B was further subdivided into three subgroups: patients with only nutritional risk(Subgroup B1), those with moderate malnutrition(Subgroup B2), and those with severe malnutrition(Subgroup B3). The study observed the clinical characteristics of elderly IPF patients and the impact of nutritional factors on hospital admission frequency, activities of daily living(ADL), and all-cause mortality.Results:A total of 237 patients was included, with 129 patients(54.43%)in Group A and 108 patients(45.57%)in Group B. Among them, there were 34 patients(14.35%)in Subgroup B1, 57 patients(24.05%)in Subgroup B2, and 17 patients(7.17%)in Subgroup B3.The number of hospitalizations was significantly higher in both Group B and Subgroup B3 compared to Group A(both P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the number of hospitalizations between Subgroup B1 or Subgroup B2 and Group A. There was no significant difference in the reduction of ADL between Group B(including all its subgroups)and Group A. The risk of mortality significantly increased with the increase in the severity of malnutrition(all P<0.05). After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, polypharmacy, home oxygen therapy, self-care ability, days of hospital stay, number of hospitalizations, pulmonary function, and inflammatory factors, nutritional risk and the degree of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly IPF patients. Conclusions:A significant proportion of elderly IPF patients were found to have nutritional risk or malnutrition.The number of hospitalizations was significantly correlated with the nutritional status of these patients.After adjusting for multiple relevant factors, nutritional risk and the severity of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for mortality in elderly IPF patients.Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on nutritional assessment and early nutritional intervention in the management of elderly IPF patients, so as to prevent and reduce the occurrence of nutrition-related adverse events.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided thyroid injection of dexamethasone in the treatment of subacute thyroiditis (SAT).Methods:This is a randomized controlled study involving 32 patients with SAT who received treatment at Endocrinology Clinic of Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital between June 2022 and March 2023. The patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group ( n = 16 per group) using a random number table method. The observation group received ultrasound-guided injection of dexamethasone (5 mg per injection, once a week) into the thyroid lesion, while the control group was treated with oral prednisone acetate tablets (5 mg per dose, three times a day). Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. The clinical efficacy, time taken for body temperature to return to normal, time for pain resolution, time for goiter regression, time for thyroid function to normalize, as well as recurrence rates and adverse reactions, were compared between the two groups. Results:The response rate in the observation group was 100% (16/16), which was significantly higher than that in the control group [75% (12/16), χ2 = 4.57, P = 0.033]. The time taken for body temperature to return to normal, the time for goiter regression, and the time for goiter regression in the observation group were (3.5 ± 3.6) days, (7.4 ± 2.5) days, and (11.6 ± 7.4) days, respectively, which were significantly shorter than those in the control group [(6.1 ± 3.2) days, (9.9 ± 3.5) days, (16.9 ± 6.8) days, t = -2.16, -2.33, -2.11, all P < 0.05]. After 4 weeks of treatment, the observation group showed significantly lower body mass index, fasting blood glucose, and serum triglyceride levels compared to the control group ( t = -2.07, -2.46, -2.13, all P < 0.05). The recurrence rate in the observation group was 0%, which was significantly lower than that in the control group [25% (4/16), χ2 = 4.57, P = 0.033]. Conclusions:The efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided local thyroid injection of dexamethasone for the treatment of SAT are superior to those of the oral treatment regimen.

Cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic disorder primarily caused by Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) heterozygous mutation, serves as a representative model for investigating regulatory mechanisms of RUNX2 in bone remodeling and tooth eruption. As a master transcription factor governing mineralized tissue development, RUNX2 orchestrates bone remodeling and tooth eruption through diverse regulatory networks. It drives alveolar bone formation via transcriptional activation, integration of multiple signaling cascades, and epigenetic modifications, thereby generating the biomechanical force for tooth eruption. Concurrently, RUNX2 promotes osteoblastic secretion of osteoclastogenic factors and directly regulates osteoclast precursor differentiation, facilitating bone resorption at the coronal aspect of dental follicles to estavlish the eruption pathway. Furthermore, RUNX2 modulates eruption progression by participating in stress-induced biological signal transduction within dental follicle cells (DFCs), remodeling the DFCs microenvironment, and regulating DFCs senescence. RUNX2 also influences root development via the NOTUM-Wnt axis, providing auxiliary biomechanical conditions conducive to eruption. This review systematically delineates the pivotal role of RUNX2 in coordinating bone remodeling and tooth eruption. Future studies should leverage organoid models and multi-omics technologies to further elucidate the spatiotemporal regulatory networks of RUNX2, potentially advancing precision diagnostics and therapeutics for rare skeletal-dental developmental disorders.

Objective:To explore the impact of different nutritional statuses on the prognosis of elderly patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF), and to provide a basis for early intervention of the nutritional status of elderly IPF patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 237 elderly patients clinically diagnosed with IPF who were admitted to the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from January 2018 to May 2024.The GLIM criteria were applied to diagnose malnutrition and classify its severity.The patients were divided into two groups: those without nutritional risk(Group A)and those with nutritional risk(Group B). Group B was further subdivided into three subgroups: patients with only nutritional risk(Subgroup B1), those with moderate malnutrition(Subgroup B2), and those with severe malnutrition(Subgroup B3). The study observed the clinical characteristics of elderly IPF patients and the impact of nutritional factors on hospital admission frequency, activities of daily living(ADL), and all-cause mortality.Results:A total of 237 patients was included, with 129 patients(54.43%)in Group A and 108 patients(45.57%)in Group B. Among them, there were 34 patients(14.35%)in Subgroup B1, 57 patients(24.05%)in Subgroup B2, and 17 patients(7.17%)in Subgroup B3.The number of hospitalizations was significantly higher in both Group B and Subgroup B3 compared to Group A(both P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were found in the number of hospitalizations between Subgroup B1 or Subgroup B2 and Group A. There was no significant difference in the reduction of ADL between Group B(including all its subgroups)and Group A. The risk of mortality significantly increased with the increase in the severity of malnutrition(all P<0.05). After adjusting for factors such as gender, age, polypharmacy, home oxygen therapy, self-care ability, days of hospital stay, number of hospitalizations, pulmonary function, and inflammatory factors, nutritional risk and the degree of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in elderly IPF patients. Conclusions:A significant proportion of elderly IPF patients were found to have nutritional risk or malnutrition.The number of hospitalizations was significantly correlated with the nutritional status of these patients.After adjusting for multiple relevant factors, nutritional risk and the severity of malnutrition remained independent risk factors for mortality in elderly IPF patients.Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on nutritional assessment and early nutritional intervention in the management of elderly IPF patients, so as to prevent and reduce the occurrence of nutrition-related adverse events.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical distribution characteristics and drug resistance of Enterobacter cloa-cae in Gansu Province from 2019 to 2023,providing reference for the prevention and control of E.cloacae infec-tions in this region.METHODS Data on the distribution and drug resistance of E.cloacae from hospitals in mem-ber units of the Gansu Antimicrobial Surveillance Network between 2019 and 2023 were collected.In vitro drug susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion(K-B)method,minimum inhibitory con-centration method,and fully automated instrumentation,followed by analysis of the susceptibility results.RESULTS From 2019 to 2023,a total of 402 490 bacterial strains were isolated and cultured in Gansu Province,including 17 417 strains of E.cloacae,with a detection rate of 4.33％.The bacteria were primarily iso-lated from sputum specimens(62.81％),followed by urine(7.37％)and wound pus specimens(6.07％).The de-partmental distribution was dominated by internal medicine(44.96％)and surgery(28.50％).The highest detec-tion rate was observed in the adult group(15-65 years,45.79％).E.cloacae exhibited varying degrees of resist-ance to over 20 antibacterial drugs,but the overall drug resistance rate showed a declining trend(P＜0.05).The highest drug resistance rate was observed for cefazolin(96.40％-98.38％),while the lowest was for tigecycline(0.44％—2.92％).Carbapenem-resistant E.cloacae demonstrated an increasing trend in drug resistance rates,with imipenem resistance ranging from 2.79％to 3.71％(P=0.044)and meropenem resistance ranging from 1.29％to 3.41％(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS The isolation rate of E.cloacae in Gansu Province remains stable,with a declining trend in drug resistance to multiple antibacterial drugs.However,the increasing drug resistance to carbapenems warrants attention.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*