Objective:To compare the differences in postoperative healing rates, hearing improvement, and complication rates between endoscopic butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty and underlay cartilage tympanoplasty in Small-to-Medium-Sized Tympanic Membrane Perforations, and to provide clinical basis for indication of the butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty. Methods:This study enrolled patients with chronic suppurative otitis media or traumatic tympanic membrane perforations who were treated at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, between January 2022 and May 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised a dry ear period exceeding 3 months, absence of middle ear or mastoid pathology confirmed by temporal bone CT, and an air-bone gap of less than 40 dB. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon using tympanoplasty techniques. Based on the surgical approach and perforation size, patients were categorized into four groups: Group A（butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty, perforation ≤3 mm）: 23 cases. Group B（butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty, perforation 3-5 mm）: 17 cases. Group C（full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty, perforation ≤3 mm）: 12 cases. Group D（full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty, perforation 3-5 mm）: 22 cases. Data collected included perforation duration, preoperative Eustachian Tube Score（ETS）, pure-tone audiometry, otoscopic findings, and postoperative follow-up data on pure-tone thresholds, otoscopic outcomes, and complications such as graft infection and otorrhea. Results: The mean postoperative follow-up period was 4 months （range: 3-12 months）. A total of 74 patients were enrolled, including 40 undergoing butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty and 34 receiving full-thickness cartilage inlay tympanoplasty. In the <3 mm perforation subgroup, the patients receiving butterfly technique （23 cases） exhibited a postoperative air-bone gap （ABG） improvement of （2.33±8.21） dB, and those receiving the inlay technique （12 cases） showed an ABG improvement of （2.49±7.9） dB, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups （P>0.05）. In the 3-5 mm perforation subgroup, the patients receiving butterfly technique （17 cases） demonstrated an ABG improvement of （8.16±5.69） dB, and those receiving the inlay technique （22 cases） achieved an ABG improvement of （8.08±10.42） dB, which were not significantly different （P>0.05）. Tympanic membrane healing rates across the four subgroups were 95.65%, 94.12%, 100%, and 95.45%, respectively, with no statistically significant differences （P>0.05）. Conclusion:In patients with tympanic membrane perforations ≤3 mm and 3-5 mm, butterfly cartilage tympanoplasty achieves comparable audiological outcomes to full-thickness cartilage underlay tympanoplasty. Compared with the underlay technique, the butterfly method is less invasive, preserves the normal anatomical structure of the tympanic membrane, requires a shorter dry ear period, and yields higher patient satisfaction. Therefore, it can be safely recommended for perforations ≤5 mm that do not require tympanotomy exploration.
Humans ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation/surgery* ; Tympanoplasty/methods* ; Treatment Outcome ; Endoscopy ; Cartilage/transplantation* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Myringoplasty/methods* ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/surgery* ; Aged

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） is a common digestive system disease with high prevalence and recurrence rates for years， high treatment costs， and serious impacts on patients' quality of life and economic burden. Therefore， it is important to explore new and safe treatment methods. The pathogenesis of IBS-D is complex， in which the gut-brain axis is a key factor. The gut-brain axis， a bidirectional signaling pathway connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system， regulates gastrointestinal motility， secretion， and immune responses， playing a key role in the occurrence and development of IBS-D. Up to now， antidiarrheal agents， probiotics， and neurotransmitter modulators are the main methods for the clinical treatment of IBS-D. Although they can partially curb the progression of this disease， the therapeutic effects remain to be improved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has significant advantages in the treatment of IBS-D since it can regulate the gut-brain axis via multiple pathways and targets to improve the gastrointestinal motility and strengthen immune defenses. However， there is a lack of systematic reviews on the regulation of the gut-brain axis by TCM in the treatment of IBS-D. Based on the review of IBS-D-related articles published in recent years， this paper systematically summarized the relationship between the gut-brain axis and IBS-D and the role of TCM in the treatment， providing new ideas for the treatment of IBS-D.

BACKGROUND:Vital pulp therapy is one of the main treatments for common oral diseases such as deep caries.The antibacterial properties of pulp-capping materials are crucial to the efficacy of the treatment.Currently,commonly used pulp-capping material has weak antibacterial properties and may induce a certain degree of inflammatory response in the pulp tissue,leading to treatment failure.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the antibacterial effects of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin@Gap19(AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19)hydrogel material.METHODS:Nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide was prepared.Human dental pulp stem cells were cultured in complete medium containing different mass concentrations of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay.The inhibition zone assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of different mass concentrations of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide on Staphylococcus aureus.The nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide mass concentration with the most obvious cell proliferation and antibacterial effects was screened by the results of CCK-8 and inhibition zone assays,and loaded into hydrogels.Human dental pulp stem cells were cultured in complete medium containing different concentrations of Gap19(a specific inhibitor of connexin 43 hemichannels),and cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay.The Gap19 concentration with the most obvious cell proliferation effect was screened and loaded into hydrogels.AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel was prepared,and the physicochemical properties of the hydrogel material were characterized.The suspension of Staphylococcus aureus(or Escherichia coli,Streptococcus mutans,Lactobacillus)was co-cultured with mineral trioxide aggregates,polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin hydrogel,nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin hydrogel and AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel.The bacterial suspension cultured alone was used as the blank control group to detect the antibacterial rate of each group of hydrogels.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The optimal mass concentration of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide was determined to be 12.5 μg/mL by CCK-8 assay and inhibition zone test results,and the optimal concentration of Gap19 was determined to be 20 μmol/L by CCK-8 assay.(2)Scanning electron microscopy showed that AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel was wrinkled and porous,and nanosilver was loaded on the surface and inside of the hydrogel.Energy spectrum analysis results showed that nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide and Gap19 were successfully loaded on the hydrogel.(3)The four hydrogels had obvious inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Streptococcus mutans,and Lactobacillus,and the antibacterial effects of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacryloyl gelatin hydrogel and AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel were the most significant,indicating that AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel,as a new type of pulp capping material,has an obvious antibacterial effect.

To characterize the genomes of different emm-type group A Streptococcus (GAS), their virulence genes and drug resistance profiles in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024. After PCR, a total of 42 strains with different years and emm types were selected for whole genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the core genomes were used to generate a phylogenetic tree, after which the virulence genes and resistance genes were identified and analyzed, followed by the drug susceptibility test. In this study, the GAS strains were dominated by emm1 (50.0%) and emm12 (40.4%), and the MLST phenotypes were categorized into six types: ST36 (40.4%), ST1274 (26.1%), ST28 (23.8%), ST921 (4.7%), ST46 (2.3%), and ST403 (2.3%). There was a high consistency between their emm-types and ST types. A total of 68 virulence genes were detected in the genomes of 42 GAS strains, involving functional genes encoding exotoxin, bacterial adhesion, extracellular enzymes, etc. The virulence genes they carried were significantly different between emm1-type and emm12-type strains, such as speA. At the same time, the carrying rates of some virulence genes in the same emm-type strains changed with time, such as hyl. The resistance genes were basically the same among different emm-type strains except for the vanSE gene detected in all emm12 strains. The results of drug sensitivity showed that the GAS strains isolated in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were sensitive to penicillin, cefazolin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, and levofloxacin, while the resistance rates to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and clindamycin ranged from 88.5% to 100.0%, and there was a certain degree of consistency between the resistance phenotypes and the detected resistance genes. Overall, the main emm types and evolutionary features of GAS in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were consistent with the dominant types in China, and the carrying rate of virulence genes and drug resistance genes differed significantly among different emm-type strains, and there were continuous evolution and variation in the prevalence of virulence genes in GAS.

BACKGROUND:Titanium surface micro-nano structure modification is a hot research field in titanium implant surface treatment.The diabetic hyperglycemia environment will affect the stable bonding between titanium implant and bone tissue,so it is necessary to explore the surface micro-nano structure modification to improve the osteogenic activity of titanium implant in high glucose environment.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles(AuNPs@MSNs)coating on osteogenic activity of osteoblasts under high glucose in vitro.METHODS:Gold nanoparticle suspension and mesoporous silica were prepared respectively,and the two were mixed in deionized water in a certain proportion to prepare gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica suspension.Titanium sheets were taken and divided into three groups for treatment:the smooth group was treated with water sandpaper;the nanotube group was treated with water sandpaper and then anodized to prepare titanium dioxide nanotube coating,and the experimental group prepared titanium dioxide nanotube coating and then immersed in gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica suspension to prepare gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating.The microscopic morphology and hydrophilicity of the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets were characterized.Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets.Cell proliferation was detected by cell live/dead fluorescence staining and CCK-8 assay.Cell adhesion was detected by DAPI/phalloidin staining.Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets,and high-glucose osteogenic induction medium was added for culture.Osteogenic differentiation was detected by alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the titanium sheet in the smooth group was uniform and flat.The titanium dioxide nanotube arrays in the nanotube group were closely arranged on the surface,and the titanium sheet in the experimental group was loaded with gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica on the surface and inside of the titanium dioxide nanotubes.The hydrophilicity of the titanium sheets in the nanotube group and the experimental group was better than that in the smooth group.(2)The results of cell live/dead fluorescence staining exhibited that the cell viability on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets was higher than 90%.The results of CCK-8 assay show that the cell proliferation rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the smooth group and the nanotube group.The results of DAPI/phalloidin staining showed that the titanium dioxide nanotube coating and the gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating were more conducive to cell adhesion.(3)The results of alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining showed that the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization of the cells on the titanium sheet surface in the experimental group were higher than those in the smooth group and the nanotube group.(4)The results show that the gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating can enhance the biological activity of the titanium surface and promote osteogenic differentiation in a high glucose environment.

Liver cirrhosis as the terminal stage of chronic liver disease has seen many new insights and advances in its treatment strategies and perspectives in recent years. However, there are still many controversies about cirrhotic portal hypertension management, prevention, therapy, and complications. This article summarizes the main key controversial points in the current treatment of liver cirrhosis from an evidence-based medicine perspective, including the use of non-selective β-blockers during decompensated stages, exploration of precise strategies for albumin, re-evaluation of the risks of statins, weighing the pros and cons of proton pump inhibitors, new understandings of anticoagulation therapy, breakthroughs in targeting gut microbiota, and nutritional support management. In addition, it combines the latest research data and guideline recommendations to explore future development directions so as to provide clinical practice reference.

To characterize the genomes of different emm-type group A Streptococcus (GAS), their virulence genes and drug resistance profiles in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024. After PCR, a total of 42 strains with different years and emm types were selected for whole genome sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and the core genomes were used to generate a phylogenetic tree, after which the virulence genes and resistance genes were identified and analyzed, followed by the drug susceptibility test. In this study, the GAS strains were dominated by emm1 (50.0%) and emm12 (40.4%), and the MLST phenotypes were categorized into six types: ST36 (40.4%), ST1274 (26.1%), ST28 (23.8%), ST921 (4.7%), ST46 (2.3%), and ST403 (2.3%). There was a high consistency between their emm-types and ST types. A total of 68 virulence genes were detected in the genomes of 42 GAS strains, involving functional genes encoding exotoxin, bacterial adhesion, extracellular enzymes, etc. The virulence genes they carried were significantly different between emm1-type and emm12-type strains, such as speA. At the same time, the carrying rates of some virulence genes in the same emm-type strains changed with time, such as hyl. The resistance genes were basically the same among different emm-type strains except for the vanSE gene detected in all emm12 strains. The results of drug sensitivity showed that the GAS strains isolated in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were sensitive to penicillin, cefazolin, chloramphenicol, vancomycin, and levofloxacin, while the resistance rates to erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, and clindamycin ranged from 88.5% to 100.0%, and there was a certain degree of consistency between the resistance phenotypes and the detected resistance genes. Overall, the main emm types and evolutionary features of GAS in Tianjin City from 2011 to 2024 were consistent with the dominant types in China, and the carrying rate of virulence genes and drug resistance genes differed significantly among different emm-type strains, and there were continuous evolution and variation in the prevalence of virulence genes in GAS.

BACKGROUND:Vital pulp therapy is one of the main treatments for common oral diseases such as deep caries.The antibacterial properties of pulp-capping materials are crucial to the efficacy of the treatment.Currently,commonly used pulp-capping material has weak antibacterial properties and may induce a certain degree of inflammatory response in the pulp tissue,leading to treatment failure.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the antibacterial effects of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin@Gap19(AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19)hydrogel material.METHODS:Nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide was prepared.Human dental pulp stem cells were cultured in complete medium containing different mass concentrations of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay.The inhibition zone assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of different mass concentrations of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide on Staphylococcus aureus.The nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide mass concentration with the most obvious cell proliferation and antibacterial effects was screened by the results of CCK-8 and inhibition zone assays,and loaded into hydrogels.Human dental pulp stem cells were cultured in complete medium containing different concentrations of Gap19(a specific inhibitor of connexin 43 hemichannels),and cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay.The Gap19 concentration with the most obvious cell proliferation effect was screened and loaded into hydrogels.AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel was prepared,and the physicochemical properties of the hydrogel material were characterized.The suspension of Staphylococcus aureus(or Escherichia coli,Streptococcus mutans,Lactobacillus)was co-cultured with mineral trioxide aggregates,polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin hydrogel,nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacrylated gelatin hydrogel and AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel.The bacterial suspension cultured alone was used as the blank control group to detect the antibacterial rate of each group of hydrogels.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The optimal mass concentration of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide was determined to be 12.5 μg/mL by CCK-8 assay and inhibition zone test results,and the optimal concentration of Gap19 was determined to be 20 μmol/L by CCK-8 assay.(2)Scanning electron microscopy showed that AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel was wrinkled and porous,and nanosilver was loaded on the surface and inside of the hydrogel.Energy spectrum analysis results showed that nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide and Gap19 were successfully loaded on the hydrogel.(3)The four hydrogels had obvious inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Streptococcus mutans,and Lactobacillus,and the antibacterial effects of nanosilver-reduced graphene oxide/polydopamine/methacryloyl gelatin hydrogel and AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel were the most significant,indicating that AgNPs-rGO/PDA/GelMA@Gap19 hydrogel,as a new type of pulp capping material,has an obvious antibacterial effect.

BACKGROUND:Titanium surface micro-nano structure modification is a hot research field in titanium implant surface treatment.The diabetic hyperglycemia environment will affect the stable bonding between titanium implant and bone tissue,so it is necessary to explore the surface micro-nano structure modification to improve the osteogenic activity of titanium implant in high glucose environment.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles(AuNPs@MSNs)coating on osteogenic activity of osteoblasts under high glucose in vitro.METHODS:Gold nanoparticle suspension and mesoporous silica were prepared respectively,and the two were mixed in deionized water in a certain proportion to prepare gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica suspension.Titanium sheets were taken and divided into three groups for treatment:the smooth group was treated with water sandpaper;the nanotube group was treated with water sandpaper and then anodized to prepare titanium dioxide nanotube coating,and the experimental group prepared titanium dioxide nanotube coating and then immersed in gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica suspension to prepare gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating.The microscopic morphology and hydrophilicity of the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets were characterized.Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets.Cell proliferation was detected by cell live/dead fluorescence staining and CCK-8 assay.Cell adhesion was detected by DAPI/phalloidin staining.Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were inoculated on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets,and high-glucose osteogenic induction medium was added for culture.Osteogenic differentiation was detected by alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the titanium sheet in the smooth group was uniform and flat.The titanium dioxide nanotube arrays in the nanotube group were closely arranged on the surface,and the titanium sheet in the experimental group was loaded with gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica on the surface and inside of the titanium dioxide nanotubes.The hydrophilicity of the titanium sheets in the nanotube group and the experimental group was better than that in the smooth group.(2)The results of cell live/dead fluorescence staining exhibited that the cell viability on the surface of the three groups of titanium sheets was higher than 90%.The results of CCK-8 assay show that the cell proliferation rate in the experimental group was higher than that in the smooth group and the nanotube group.The results of DAPI/phalloidin staining showed that the titanium dioxide nanotube coating and the gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating were more conducive to cell adhesion.(3)The results of alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin Red S staining showed that the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular matrix mineralization of the cells on the titanium sheet surface in the experimental group were higher than those in the smooth group and the nanotube group.(4)The results show that the gold nanoparticle@mesoporous silica nanoparticles coating can enhance the biological activity of the titanium surface and promote osteogenic differentiation in a high glucose environment.

Liver cirrhosis as the terminal stage of chronic liver disease has seen many new insights and advances in its treatment strategies and perspectives in recent years. However, there are still many controversies about cirrhotic portal hypertension management, prevention, therapy, and complications. This article summarizes the main key controversial points in the current treatment of liver cirrhosis from an evidence-based medicine perspective, including the use of non-selective β-blockers during decompensated stages, exploration of precise strategies for albumin, re-evaluation of the risks of statins, weighing the pros and cons of proton pump inhibitors, new understandings of anticoagulation therapy, breakthroughs in targeting gut microbiota, and nutritional support management. In addition, it combines the latest research data and guideline recommendations to explore future development directions so as to provide clinical practice reference.