The efficacy of root canal therapy, as a core intervention for endodontic and periapical diseases, is highly dependent on the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs. Although traditional drugs such as calcium hydroxide, chlorhexidine, and antibiotic pastes commonly used in the clinic play a role in preventing and controlling infections, they have obvious limitations. These drugs influence the mechanical properties of dentin, insufficiently solubilize necrotic tissues, and are susceptible to bacterial resistance, which makes achieving the desired effectiveness and safety difficult. Traditional macromolecular root canal drugs also face the challenge of the complexity of the root canal system. With the rapid development of material science in recent years, new antimicrobial agents have emerged. Metallic nanomaterials such as silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles are widely used in the medical field due to their unique physicochemical properties and superior antimicrobial properties. Chitosan nanoparticles have superior biosafety, calcium hydroxide nanoparticles compensate for the limitations of traditional calcium hydroxide formulations, and quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine nanoparticles can confer antimicrobial properties to existing oral materials. Novel antimicrobial nanoparticles using nano-delivery systems, such as mesoporous calcium silicate and mesoporous silica, carry antimicrobial molecules with significant advantages in terms of anti-biofilm, biosafety, and promotion of tissue repair. Further, these agents reduce drug resistance, which improves prospects for application compared to traditional root canal disinfection drugs. The breakthrough of nanotechnology provides a novel direction for the innovation of root canal treatment drugs. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress of nano-antimicrobial materials in root canal therapy.

Objective To investigate the expression of IL-18,IL-18BP,and IL-18R in the peripheral blood B lymphocytes and mono-cytes of patients with atopic dermatitis(AD).Methods Peripheral venous blood was collected from 28 patients with AD and 21 healthy controls,and stimulated with Artemisia sieversiana wild allergen extract,house dust mite allergen extract,or Platanus pollen allergen extract.The expression of IL-18+,IL-18BP+,and IL-18R+in B lymphocytes and monocytes was measured using flow cytometry.Results Compared with the healthy control group,the proportions of IL-18+,IL-18BP+,and IL-18R+cells in the B lymphocyte group of patients with AD at rest increased 2.01-,10.35-,and 20.85-fold,respectively.The proportions of IL-18+and IL-18BP+cells in monocytes increased 5.51-and 41.88-fold,respectively,whereas the proportion of IL-18R+cells did not differ significantly between the groups.Conclusion IL-18,IL-18BP,and IL-18R in B lymphocytes and monocytes may play an important role in AD.IL-18,IL-18BP,and IL-18R may be potential targets for the treatment of AD.

Aim To explore the effect and mechanism of the artesunate(ART)on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The cell lines MHCC-97H and HCC-LM3 were used to be detected.MTT and clone formation were used to determine the cell proliferation;Wound healing was used to detect the cell migration;Transwell was used to test the cell invasion.Flow-cy-tometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and cell cy-cle.RNA-seq and qRT-PCR was used to detect the genes expression.Results The proliferation,migra-tion and invasion of treated cells were obviously inhibi-ted(P＜0.01).Moreover,the apoptosis rate in-creased significantly,so did the proportion of G2/M cells.Transcriptomic analysis identified GADD45A as a potential target of ART through RNA-sequencing da-ta,and suggested that ART might induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through regulating the expression of GADD45A.In addition,the results of mechanism studies and signaling analysis suggested that GADD45A had interaction with its upstream gene NACC1(nucle-us accumbens associated 1).Moreover,after ART treatment,the expressions of GADD45A and NACC1 were changed significantly.Conclusion ART may be a potential drug to resist HCC by affecting the expres-sion of GADD45A and its upstream gene NACC1,which provides a new drug,a new direction and a new method for the clinical treatment of HCC.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of gastrointestinal space-occupying lesions.Methods Data of 116 patients with gastric,small intestinal or colorectal space-occupying lesions(totally 116 lesions)who underwent CT-guided percutaneous biopsy were retrospectively analyzed.The success rate of sampling was recorded.According to surgical pathology or follow-up results,the effectiveness of percutaneous biopsy,including the diagnostic sensitivity,specificity,accuracy and false negative rate were calculated.The impact of cavity wall thickness of the lesion(＜1 cm and≥1 cm),needle insertion depth(＜5 cm and≥5 cm)and puncture needle through gastrointestinal tract or not were observed and the related complications were recorded.Results All lesions were successfully sampled.The diagnostic sensitivity of percutaneous biopsy was 88.07%(96/109),with specificity of 100%(7/7),accuracy of 88.79%(103/116)and false negative rate of 11.93%(13/109).For lesions with cavity wall thickness≥1 cm and puncture needle insertion depth＜5 cm,the sensitivity and accuracy of puncture biopsy were higher(all P＜0.05),while the sensitivity and accuracy of puncture needle through gastrointestinal tract or not were not different(both P＞0.05).Slight bleeding around the lesions occurred in 12 cases(12/116,10.34%),but no other complications happened.Conclusion CT-guided percutaneous biopsy of gastrointestinal space-occupying lesions was effective and safe.

Objective To study the effects and mechanism of norcantharidin(NCTD)on proliferation and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 human leukemic cells by regulating phosphoprotein phosphatase 5 catalytic(PPP5C).Methods PC3.1 and PPP5C-PC3.1 plasmids were electroporated into NB4 and K562 cells.Stable NB4 and K562 cell lines were selected with geneticin(G418).Protein and mRNA expression levels of PPP5C were measured by Western blot and RT-qPCR,respectively.Proliferation,migration,and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells were determined by a CCK-8 assay,transwell assay,and Live & Dead? animal cell viability/toxicity detection kit,respectively.NB4 and K562 cells were divided into 0 μg/mL NCTD group and various NCTD dose groups,and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium containing 0,8,16,or 32 μg/ml NCTD.The Live & Dead? animal cell viability/toxicity detection kit measured the numbers of dead and live cells,and cell morphology was observed under a microscope.Western blot was used to measure protein expression levels of caspase 3,Cleaved caspase 3,JNK,p-JNK,p38,p-p38,and α-Tubulin.Results Proliferation,migration,and apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells were enhanced by overexpression of PPP5C.Compared with 0 μg/mL NCTD group,NCTD promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.PPP5C overexpression antagonized the killing effect of NCTD on leukemic cells.Mechanistic investigations showed that PPP5C reduced the protein level of p-JNK by dephosphorylating and regulating the expression of apoptosis-related protein Cleaved caspase 3.Conclusions NCTD promotes apoptosis of NB4 and K562 cells and inhibits their proliferation by inhibiting PPP5C.

Insulin-like peptides(ILPs)play a crucial role in the biological processes of nematode metabolism,signal transduction,and developmental processes,representing potential therapeutic targets for nematode infections in animals.In order to explore the specific role of ILPs in nematode development and infection,genome-wide identification,sequence and evolution analysis of the ILPs coding genes were conducted on Haemonchus contortus(H.contortus);transcriptional levels of these ILPs coding genes among developmental stages were determined by a real-time quantitative PCR method;recombinant ILPs were produced in prokaryotic system for polyclonal antibody prep-aration and Western blot analysis;indirect immunofluorescence localization experiment was used to reveal the tissue distribution of ILPs at different developmental stages.It was showed that the number of ILPs coding genes in H.contortus were significantly reduced compared with that of Caenorhabditis elegans,namely three members of ILPs coding genes exhibiting antagonistic fea-tures;the highest transcriptional levels of ILPs coding genes was detected in the infective third stage larvae of H.contortus;ILPs were found dominant in the intestine and hypodermis of the in-fective larvae of this parasitic nematode.In this study,three genes encoding antagonistic ILPs were identified in H.contortus,they might play a role in regulating the development and infection processes.The finding lay a foundation for the study of nematode hypobiosis(larval diapause)in animals and the screening of potential intervention targets.

Objective:To evaluate the risk factors for the formation of parastomal Hernias(PSH)using meta-analysis,and to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of PSH.Methods:Case control or Cohort study of PSH risk factors were collected by searching PubMed,CNKI,Wanfang data and other databases.Extract relevant data and perform meta-analysis using RevMan 5.3.Results:The results included a total of 16 studies,with a total sample size of 2411 cases,including 670 in the PSH group and 1741 in the non PSH group.The results showed that advanced age,female gender,BMI≥25,hypertension,COPD/chronic cough,diabetes,and postoperative Hypoproteinemia could increase the risk of PSH(P＜0.05);Smoking,previous ab-dominal surgery history,preoperative radiotherapy/chemotherapy etc.,were not significantly asso-ciated with the occurrence of PSH(P＞0.05).Conclusion:The current evidence shows that ad-vanced age,female gender,BMI≥25,hypertension,COPD/chronic cough,diabetes,postoperative Hypoproteinemia are risk factors for PSH,and extraperitoneal stoma can reduce the occurrence of PSH.

Objective To investigate the expression levels of plasma circular RNA PTP4A2(circPTP4A2)and circTLK2 in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS)and their predic-tive value for neurological functional outcomes.Methods A total of 122 elderly AIS patients admitted to our department from May 2021 to December 2022 were prospectively recruited,and according to their modified Rankin Scale(mRS)score at 3 months after stroke onset,they were divided into a good outcome group(mRS score≤2,81 cases)and a poor outcome group(mRS score:3-6,41 cases).Their baseline data,and plasma circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 levels were compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to iden-tify prognostic factors for poor outcomes in the elderly AIS patients.ROC curve analysis was ap-plied to evaluate the prognostic value of circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 for adverse outcomes in the patients.Pearson correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship of plasma levels of circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 with NIHSS score,as well as mRS score.Results The plasma expres-sion levels of circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 were significantly higher in the poor outcome group than the good outcome group[2.08(0.87,2.77)vs 0.93(0.63,1.20),1.71(0.92,2.80)vs 0.75(0.49,1.09),P＜0.01].Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that plasma circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 were independent predictive factors for poor functional outcomes in elderly AIS patients(P＜0.01,P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the AUC value of combined circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 in predicting poor outcome in elderly AIS patients was 0.787(95％CI:0.691-0.883).Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the expression levels of circPTP4A2 and cir-cTLK2 in elderly AIS patients were mildly positively correlated with baseline NIHSS scores(r=0.463,r=0.456;P＜0.01)and moderately positively correlated with mRS scores at 3 months after stroke onset(r=0.682,r=0.604;P＜0.01).Conclusion Plasma circPTP4A2 and circTLK2 may be potential biomarkers for predicting neurological functional outcomes in elderly AIS patients.

Objective To evaluate the interventional effects of virtual reality(VR)on cancer patients in pain,anxiety,cognitive function,upper limb function and quality of life.Methods Randomised controlled trials(RCTs)using VR technology on cancer patients were retrieved from databases of CNKI,Wanfang Database,SinoMed,VIP,PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,PsycINFO and Cochrane Library,from the inception of the databases to March 2023.Two reviewers independently examined and screened the literatures,followed by evaluation of the quality and extraction of relevant themes.Meta-analysis was conducted by using RevMan 5.3 to analyse the acquired data.Results A total of 9 RCTs involving 727 patients were included.The meta-analysis demonstrated that VR technology alleviated pain intensity in cancer patients[SMD=-1.31,95%CI(-1.96 to-0.66),P<0.001],relieved anxiety[SMD=-0.96,95%CI(-1.62 to-0.31),P=0.004],improved cognitive function[SMD=3.37,95%CI(1.74 to 5.00),P<0.001],and improved quality of life of cancer patients[SMD=0.67,95%CI(0.38 to 0.96),P<0.001].However,it posed unclear effect on upper limb function[SMD=-0.57,95%CI(-1.40 to 0.26),P=0.18].Conclusion VR technology shows potentials in alleviation of pain,reduction of anxiety and improvement of cognitive function and the quality of life in cancer patients,but it remains uncertain effect on upper limb function.However,due to heterogeneity in some of the results,more high-quality studies are required to validate the interventional effects of VR technology on cancer patients.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in China.Methods:Data of chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2022 from 77 centers, ≥18 years old, and receiving initial imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib-therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China with complete data were retrospectively interrogated. The choice of initial TKI, current TKI medications, treatment switch and reasons, treatment responses and outcomes as well as the variables associated with them were analyzed.Results:6 893 patients in CP ( n=6 453, 93.6%) or AP ( n=440, 6.4%) receiving initial imatinib ( n=4 906, 71.2%), nilotinib ( n=1 157, 16.8%), dasatinib ( n=298, 4.3%) or flumatinib ( n=532, 7.2%) -therapy. With the median follow-up of 43 ( IQR 22-75) months, 1 581 (22.9%) patients switched TKI due to resistance ( n=1 055, 15.3%), intolerance ( n=248, 3.6%), pursuit of better efficacy ( n=168, 2.4%), economic or other reasons ( n=110, 1.6%). The frequency of switching TKI in AP patients was significantly-higher than that in CP patients (44.1% vs 21.5%, P<0.001), and more AP patients switched TKI due to resistance than CP patients (75.3% vs 66.1%, P=0.011). Multi-variable analyses showed that male, lower HGB concentration and ELTS intermediate/high-risk cohort were associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular responses rate and poor outcomes in CP patients; higher WBC count and initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher response rates; Ph + ACA at diagnosis, poor PFS. However, Sokal intermediate/high-risk cohort was only significantly-associated with lower CCyR and MMR rates and the poor PFS. Lower HGB concentration and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with the lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates in AP patients; initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher treatment response rates; lower PLT count, higher blasts and Ph + ACA, poorer TFS; Ph + ACA, poorer OS. Conclusion:At present, the vast majority of newly-diagnosed CML-CP or AP patients could benefit from TKI treatment in the long term with the good treatment responses and survival outcomes.