BACKGROUND:Maxillofacial bone three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has been widely used in clinical diagnosis and treatment,but the data source before performing maxillofacial bone 3D printing mainly comes from the CT scanning data.The lens,thyroid and other parts of the human body are extremely sensitive to X-rays;therefore,it is particularly important to effectively reduce the dose of CT radiation when acquiring the data source.OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility of low-dose CT technology in optimizing radiation dose for maxillofacial bone 3D printing.METHODS:The medical records of 65 patients who underwent maxillofacial bone 3D printing in the Department of Stomatology at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from March 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected and categorized into a conventional CT-dose 3D printing group(conventional CT-dose,120 kVp,automated tube current modulation,n=32)and a low-CT-dose 3D printing group(low-CT-dose group,80 kVp,automated tube current modulation,n=33).The effective dose of radiation was calculated and compared between the two groups.A Likert scale was used to evaluate the quality of 3D printing in the two groups,and the measurement bias and consistency between evaluators were measured using the Bland-Altman method.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the general demographic characteristics(age,height,weight,body mass,sex,and body mass index)between the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)The effective dose value of the low CT-dose 3D printing group was(0.3±0.1)mSv,which was about 62.5％lower than that in the conventional CT-dose 3D printing group[(0.8±0.1)mSv].(3)There was no significant difference in the subjective scoring of 3D printing quality between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The subjective consistency among evaluators was good,with Kappa values of 0.85,0.80,and 0.76.The scatter points in the Bland-Altman for both protocols were uniformly distributed within the standard deviation line,indicating good consistency between the two groups.To conclude,low-dose CT technology can be effectively applied in maxillofacial bone 3D printing,reducing radiation dose without affecting the quality of 3D printing.

BACKGROUND:Maxillofacial bone three-dimensional(3D)printing technology has been widely used in clinical diagnosis and treatment,but the data source before performing maxillofacial bone 3D printing mainly comes from the CT scanning data.The lens,thyroid and other parts of the human body are extremely sensitive to X-rays;therefore,it is particularly important to effectively reduce the dose of CT radiation when acquiring the data source.OBJECTIVE:To explore the feasibility of low-dose CT technology in optimizing radiation dose for maxillofacial bone 3D printing.METHODS:The medical records of 65 patients who underwent maxillofacial bone 3D printing in the Department of Stomatology at the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from March 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected and categorized into a conventional CT-dose 3D printing group(conventional CT-dose,120 kVp,automated tube current modulation,n=32)and a low-CT-dose 3D printing group(low-CT-dose group,80 kVp,automated tube current modulation,n=33).The effective dose of radiation was calculated and compared between the two groups.A Likert scale was used to evaluate the quality of 3D printing in the two groups,and the measurement bias and consistency between evaluators were measured using the Bland-Altman method.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the general demographic characteristics(age,height,weight,body mass,sex,and body mass index)between the two groups(all P＞0.05).(2)The effective dose value of the low CT-dose 3D printing group was(0.3±0.1)mSv,which was about 62.5％lower than that in the conventional CT-dose 3D printing group[(0.8±0.1)mSv].(3)There was no significant difference in the subjective scoring of 3D printing quality between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The subjective consistency among evaluators was good,with Kappa values of 0.85,0.80,and 0.76.The scatter points in the Bland-Altman for both protocols were uniformly distributed within the standard deviation line,indicating good consistency between the two groups.To conclude,low-dose CT technology can be effectively applied in maxillofacial bone 3D printing,reducing radiation dose without affecting the quality of 3D printing.

Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, is markedly influenced by both immune and inflammatory reactions throughout its progression. Dendritic cells, as pivotal antigen-presenting entities, play a crucial role in the initiation of immune responses and the preservation of immunological homeostasis. Accumulating data indicates that dendritic cells are present in healthy arteries and accumulate significantly in atherosclerotic plaques. Novel immunotherapeutic approaches and vaccination protocols have yielded substantial clinical advancements in managing chronic inflammatory diseases, with dendritic cell-centric modalities emerging for atherosclerotic management. In this review, we delineate the essential functions and underlying mechanisms of dendritic cells and their subsets in the modulation of atherosclerotic inflammation and immune responses. We underscore the immense promise of dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic strategies, including vaccines and innovative combinations with nanotechnological drug delivery platforms for atherosclerosis treatment. We also discuss the challenges associated with dendritic cell immunotherapy and provide perspectives on the future direction of this field.

Objective: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) and the situation of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) among hypertension patients in rural areas of Shanghai Municipality, so as to provide a basis for enhancing blood pressure management in this population. Methods: From June to October 2021, hypertension patients under management in Luodian Town and Luojing Town of rural areas of Shanghai Municipality were selected as survey subjects using a multistage random sampling method. Demographic information, KAP related to hypertension, and HBPM status were collected through questionnaire surveys. Patients were categorized into short disease duration (≤5 years), medium disease duration (6-10 years), and long disease duration (≥11 years) groups. KAP and HBPM status across different disease duration groups were analyzed statistically. Results: A total of 2 894 hypertensive patients were surveyed, including 1 317 (45.51%) males and 1 577 (54.49%) females. The median age was 69.00 (interquartile range, 10.00) years. There were 610 cases with short disease duration, accounting for 21.08%; 629 cases with medium duration, accounting for 21.73%; and 1 655 cases with long duration, accounting for 57.19%. The awareness of "hypertension control measures" was relatively high (97.89%), while awareness of "hypertension complications" was relatively low (71.70%). The adherence rate of "not perceiving difficulty in remembering to take medication on time and in correct doses" was relatively low (78.89%), and the proportion of participants who "walked ≥10 minutes per session at least once in the past 7 days" was relatively high (80.48%). A total of 1 209 cases (41.78%) engaged in HBPM, including 233 cases with short disease duration (19.27%), 252 cases with medium disease duration (20.84%), and 724 cases with long disease duration (59.88%). Compared with long disease duration hypertension patients, those with short disease duration had a alower awareness of "principles of pharmacological treatment for hypertension", a lower adherence rate of "medication should not be stopped after blood pressure control", and a lower proportion of providing their blood pressure measurement results to doctors (all P<0.017). However, they had higher proportions of alcohol consumption and daily salt intake >6 g/d (both P<0.017). Conclusions Short disease duration hypertension patients exhibit poorer performance in hypertension-related KAP and HBPM compared to long disease duration patients in rural areas of Shanghai Municipality. It is recommended to implement tailored health education based on disease duration, promote HBPM, and enhance blood pressure control rate.

Objective:To construct three photosensitive fusion proteins between protein G C3 domain and Avitag for site-spe-cific biotinylation of goat IgG.Methods:DNA sequences of protein G C3 domain with amber codon mutation and C-terminal containing 1,2,3 Avitag were obtained by chemical synthesis,respectively,and sub-cloned into pTXB1 plasmid to construct three fusion pro-tein expression vectors.Three plasmids and pEVOL-pBpF plasmid were co-transformed into competent bacterium E.coli BL21,respec-tively.Target fusion proteins CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 were prepared using genetic codon extension technology,and were purified by His Trap Chelating HP column,then biotinylated by Avitag/BirA system.Photo-conjugation efficiency,crosslink site and antigen-binding activity of photo-conjugates were investigated by SDS-PAGE,control experiment,and competitive ELISA.Results:Three expression vectors were successfully constructed,and three designed photoactivatable fusion proteins CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 were successfully expressed with molecular weights consistent with their theoretical values.Heavy-chain conjugation efficiencies of biotinylated fusion protein with goat IgG were 85%with Fc-specific conjugation,and conjugates maintained its antigen-binding activity after photo-conjugation.Conclusion:CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 fusion proteins are successfully prepared,and mediates by those photosensitive fusion proteins,biotins molecules are conjugated to Fc fragment of goat IgG,results site-specific biotinylation of goat IgG.

Objective:To construct three photosensitive fusion proteins between protein G C3 domain and Avitag for site-spe-cific biotinylation of goat IgG.Methods:DNA sequences of protein G C3 domain with amber codon mutation and C-terminal containing 1,2,3 Avitag were obtained by chemical synthesis,respectively,and sub-cloned into pTXB1 plasmid to construct three fusion pro-tein expression vectors.Three plasmids and pEVOL-pBpF plasmid were co-transformed into competent bacterium E.coli BL21,respec-tively.Target fusion proteins CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 were prepared using genetic codon extension technology,and were purified by His Trap Chelating HP column,then biotinylated by Avitag/BirA system.Photo-conjugation efficiency,crosslink site and antigen-binding activity of photo-conjugates were investigated by SDS-PAGE,control experiment,and competitive ELISA.Results:Three expression vectors were successfully constructed,and three designed photoactivatable fusion proteins CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 were successfully expressed with molecular weights consistent with their theoretical values.Heavy-chain conjugation efficiencies of biotinylated fusion protein with goat IgG were 85%with Fc-specific conjugation,and conjugates maintained its antigen-binding activity after photo-conjugation.Conclusion:CBpa-Avitag,CBpa-(Avitag)2 and CBpa-(Avitag)3 fusion proteins are successfully prepared,and mediates by those photosensitive fusion proteins,biotins molecules are conjugated to Fc fragment of goat IgG,results site-specific biotinylation of goat IgG.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness and safety of in vitro fenestration and in situ fenestration for reconstruction of the left subclavian artery in patients with aortic arch diseases.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 80 patients with thoracic aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and aortic intramural hematoma involving the left subclavian artery at our center from Jan 2020 to Oct 2023.Results:Thirty-eight patients underwent in vitro fenestration to reconstruct the left subclavian artery, while 42 patients underwent in situ laser fenestration to reconstruct the left subclavian artery. The technical success rates were 97.4% and 97.6% respectively, without statistically significance ( P>0.05). Postoperative CTA examination showed that the primary rupture of the dissection was completely closed, 3 cases had type Ⅱ endoleak in vitro fenestration, and 2 cases had type Ⅱ endoleak in laser in situ fenestration. The blood flow inside the fenestration stent was fluent. During the perioperative period, one patient in the in vitro fenestration group experienced mild cerebral infarction (2.6%), one patient had mild paraplegia, and no related complications occurred in the other patients. Conclusion:For patients with aortic arch diseases, both in situ laser fenestration and in vitro fenestration are safe and effective.

Abstract: Objective　To collect extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from Xi'an City between 2019 and 2020, and analyze the drug resistance patterns of XDR-TB strains to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and the occurrence of new defined extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Xi'an, in order to provide evidence for guiding clinical drug use of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Methods A total of 3 088 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that underwent phenotypic drug susceptibility testing at Xi'an Chest Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020 were retrospectively selected to analyze the resistance of anti-tuberculosis drug. Among the stored MDR-TB strains, 114 strains of preserved multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis were randomly selected for bedaquiline and linezolid susceptibility testing. Combined with the results of previous second-line drug susceptibility testing, the incidence of newly defined extensive drug resistance was analyzed. Results Among the 3 088 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains analyzed, 411 strains (14.3%) showed resistance to isoniazid, 347 strains (11.2%) showed resistance to rifampicin, 142 strains (4.6%) showed resistance to ethambutol, 550 strains (17.8%) showed resistance to streptomycin, and 237 strains (7.6%) exhibited multidrug resistance. Of 237 MDR-TB strains, the resistance rates of ethambutol, moxifloxacin, rifampicin, sodium para-aminosalicylate, prothioconazole, capreomycin, amikacin, and clofazimine were 44.3%, 26.6%, 33.3%, 24.1%, 5.1%, 4.2%, 3.0%, and 2.5%, respectively. Among the randomly selected 114 MDR-TB strains, none showed resistance to bedaquiline, three showed resistance to linezolid, and one strain met the new definition for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. Conclusion In Xi'an City, high rates of resistance among MDR-TB strains are observed for ethambutol, quinolone and sodium para-aminosalicylate, and the drug susceptibility tests should be obtained as much as possible when using these drugs. The incidence of new definition extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis is low, and bedaquiline and linezolid remain effective drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis even without drug susceptibility testing results.

Increasing evidences suggest the important role of calcium homeostasis in hallmarks of cancer, but its function and regulatory network in metastasis remain unclear. A comprehensive investigation of key regulators in cancer metastasis is urgently needed. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and matched metastatic tissues and a series of gain/loss-of-function experiments identified potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 4 (KCTD4) as a driver of cancer metastasis. KCTD4 expression was found upregulated in metastatic ESCC. High KCTD4 expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with ESCC and contributes to cancer metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, KCTD4 binds to CLIC1 and disrupts its dimerization, thus increasing intracellular Ca²⁺ level to enhance NFATc1-dependent fibronectin transcription. KCTD4-induced fibronectin secretion activates fibroblasts in a paracrine manner, which in turn promotes cancer cell invasion via MMP24 signaling as positive feedback. Furthermore, a lead compound K279-0738 significantly suppresses cancer metastasis by targeting the KCTD4‒CLIC1 interaction, providing a potential therapeutic strategy. Taken together, our study not only uncovers KCTD4 as a regulator of calcium homeostasis, but also reveals KCTD4/CLIC1-Ca²⁺-NFATc1-fibronectin signaling as a novel mechanism of cancer metastasis. These findings validate KCTD4 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC.

Objective: To investigate the associations between the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) in vestigial like family member 4(VGLL4) gene and Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection. Methods: The blood samples of 450 normal physical examiners were collected , and the samples were divided into H. pylori negative group( n =220) and H. pylori positive group(n = 230) using enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) . SNP rs1803489 ,rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) Ⅳrestriction fragment length polymorphism ( RFLP) technology. Results: SNP rs1803489 , rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene were not associated with H. pylori infection in the Han population in Baotou , Inner Mongolia. Conclusion SNP rs1803489 , rs7617620 , and rs13078528 in VGLL4 gene may not play a major role in H. pylori infection in Baotou Han population.