Copper is an essential trace element in the human body, extensively involved in key physiological and biochemical processes such as antioxidant defense, energy metabolism, neural signaling, and immune regulation. In recent years, increasing research has focused on the potential role of copper dyshomeostasis in the development of chronic diseases. Studies indicate that abnormal copper levels, particularly elevated free copper, may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and cancer by inducing oxidative stress, impairing mitochondrial function, and disrupting immune regulation. Concurrently, copper homeostasis abnormalities have been demonstrated to be closely associated with increased all-cause mortality and accelerated aging. This systematic review comprehensively examined physiological functions, metabolic pathways, and environmental exposure characteristics of copper. It emphasized the epidemiological and mechanistic links between copper metabolism disorders and multiple chronic diseases, while exploring the potential applications of copper ion transporters and chelating agents in disease intervention. This work provides scientific evidence for the prevention, control, and precision treatment of copper-related chronic diseases.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.

Plasminogen activator is a kind of enzyme that plays a key role in the process of physiological hemostasis and thrombolysis. Its main function is to convert plasminogen into active plasmin, thereby initiating the dissolution of fibrin and maintaining blood mobility. This article discusses the safety of plasminogen activator in the intraocular application, elaborates on the types, structure, physiological function and mechanism of action of plasminogen activator in the eye. The analysis addresses the ocular tissue damage and systemic adverse reactions that may be caused by the application of plasminogen activator in the eye, and the risks and countermeasures combined with relevant research examples, aiming to provide reference for the safe application of plasminogen activator in clinical practice.

Objective To explore the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on preoperative heart rate variability in patients with heart valves. Methods Patients scheduled to undergo on-pump cardiac valve surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, between January and July 2022 were initially enrolled. Eligible patients were randomly assigned at a 1 : 1 ratio to either the RIPC group or the control group. Relevant indicators of heart rate variability [standard deviation of NN interval (SDNN), standard deviation of mean value of NN interval in every five minutes (SDANN), mean square root of difference between consecutive NN intervals (RMSSD), percentage of adjacent RR interval>50 ms (PNN50), low frequency (LF) component, high frequency (HF) component and LF/HF] at 8 hours in the morning on the surgical day between two groups were compared. Results A total of 118 patients were initially assessed. After screening, 58 patients were excluded, and 60 patients provided written informed consent and were enrolled in the trial, with 30 allocated to the RIPC group and 30 to the control group. Seven patients in the control group and 5 patients in the RIPC group were subsequently excluded due to missing heart rate variability data resulting from cancelled operations. Finally, 23 patients in the control group and 25 patients in the RIPC group were included in the analysis. There was no statistical difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups, and there was no significant difference in heart rate variability 24 hours before intervention (P>0.05). After the intervention measures were taken, the comparison of the results of heart rate variability at 8 hours on the day of operation showed that SDNN and SDANN of patients in the RIPC group were higher than those in the control group, with statistical differences (P<0.05). Conclusion RIPC can stabilize the preoperative heart rate variability of patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery.

Venous malformation is a common congenital, non-tumor vascular malformation, accounting for about 60% of all vascular malformations, of which 40% occur in the head and neck. Due to the complex anatomical structure of the oral and maxillofacial region and the diverse classification of venous malformations, their clinical treatment poses certain difficulties and challenges. This article systematically elaborates on the etiology, clinical manifestations, imaging features, and clinical treatment strategies of venous malformations in the oral and maxillofacial region. Molecular genetic studies have shown that the occurrence and development of venous malformations are closely related to abnormal activation of the ANGPT/TIE2/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway; its clinical manifestations are gradually growing blue purple masses and its histological features are tortuous venous ducts; and clinical imaging examinations have high specificity, among which digital subtraction angiography classification has important clinical guidance value for the treatment of venous malformation sclerosis. According to different classifications, strategies, such as sclerosis treatment, surgical treatment, and laser treatment, can be applied separately or in combination. This article also explores the advantages and disadvantages of targeted therapy in the treatment of venous malformations, with a focus on improving clinical outcomes while reducing complications. At the same time, through the analysis of typical clinical cases, it summarizes the key points of diagnosis and treatment and treatment plans, in order to provide a reference for improving the clinical efficacy of venous malformation treatment and reducing treatment complications.

BACKGROUND: The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences. RESULTS: Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n  = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n  = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses. CONCLUSION This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; China ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Treatment Outcome

The regulatory processes in developmental biology research are significantly influenced by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the dynamics of lncRNA expression during human tooth development remain poorly understood. In this research, we examined the lncRNAs present in the dental epithelium (DE) and dental mesenchyme (DM) at the late bud, cap, and early bell stages of human fetal tooth development through bulk RNA sequencing. Developmental regulators co-expressed with neighboring lncRNAs were significantly enriched in odontogenesis. Specific lncRNAs expressed in the DE and DM, such as PANCR, MIR205HG, DLX6-AS1, and DNM3OS, were identified through a combination of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell analysis. Further subcluster analysis revealed lncRNAs specifically expressed in important regions of the tooth germ, such as the inner enamel epithelium and coronal dental papilla (CDP). Functionally, we demonstrated that CDP-specific DLX6-AS1 enhanced odontoblastic differentiation in human tooth germ mesenchymal cells and dental pulp stem cells. These findings suggest that lncRNAs could serve as valuable cell markers for tooth development and potential therapeutic targets for tooth regeneration.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Odontogenesis/genetics* ; Tooth Germ/embryology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Mesoderm/metabolism* ; Tooth/embryology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Dental Pulp/cytology*

AIM: To design and construct recombinant epitope nucleotides vaccine of glycoprotein B(gB)and glycoprotein D(gD)of herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1), and to investigate its immunoprotective effects and tissue expression in animal models.METHODS: The HSV-1 gB and gD epitope genes were selected and tandem assembled to construct the recombinant protein-coding gene X, which was transducted into the prokaryotic expression vector pET28(a). The recombinant protein was synthesized and utilized to generate monoclonal antibodies, which were subsequently used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits. The immunogenicity of the purified protein and the presence of polyclonal antibodies in the serum were tested through separating serum from cardiac blood, and the serum antibody titers were determined. The pcDNA3.1-X was successfully constructed as a eukaryotic expression vector and immunized the female BALB/c mice aged 4 to 6 wk via intramuscular injection. Serum antibodies and immune-related cytokines were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression of the X protein in the ocular, trigeminal ganglion, and brain tissues of the mice was assessed.RESULTS: The target polyclonal antibody was identified with a serum antibody titer of 1:3200 in the rabbit serum after immunized by recombinant protein X. Upon immunizing mice with the eukaryotic recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1-X, the concentration of HSV-1 serum IgM antibodies of the experimental group was 12.13±0.85 ng/L, which was significantly higher than that of the vector control group(0.49±0.44 ng/L; t=21.07, P<0.001). The concentrations of cytokines interleukin IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ in the experimental group were 11.63±0.60, 22.65±1.47, 85.75±14.12, and 114.90±6.39 ng/L, respectively, all of which were significantly higher than those in the vector control group and the blank control group(all P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed the presence of target protein X in the eyeball, trigeminal ganglion, and brain tissue.CONCLUSION: The HSV-1 gB and gD tandem epitope nucleotides vaccine pcDNA3.1-X was successfully constructed, which activates a remarkable immune response and is stably expressed in the eyeball, trigeminal ganglion, and brain tissue. This study provides a foundation for further research of an HSV-1 recombinant antigen epitope tandem vaccine.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common ophthalmologic procedures. Advances in technology and medical policies have made it more precise. Residual refractive errors and deviation of target diopters are a main cause of dissatisfaction among patients. Refractive enhancement after cataract surgery can correct or eliminate these errors, improving patients' visual quality of life. There are multiple options for correcting residual refractive errors. The best approach depends on factors like the cause of the error, degrees of residual refractive errors, type of intraocular lens, ocular comorbidities, and patient preference. This paper summarizes the incidence and types of residual refractive errors, advancements in refractive enhancement surgeries, and provides practical solutions for clinical practice.

Objective To explore median effective dose(ED50)of 0.375％ropivacaine based on the cross sectional area(CSA)of supraclavicular brachial plexus block(SCBPB)with L-shaped baffle intervention.Methods Patients scheduled for upper limb surgery from September 2023 to May 2024 at Ningbo NO.6 Hospital were enrolled.Patients were randomly divided into two groups:L-shaped baffle compression group(group L)and non-compression group(group C).CSA of supraclavicular brachial plexus was measured by ultrasound,and 0.375％ropivacaine was administered based on the CSA.The ED50 was determined by using the Dixon up-and-down sequential method,with an initial dose of 0.4 ml/mm2 and an incremental difference of 0.04ml/mm2.If the block was effective within 30 minutes,the next patient received a lower dose;If ineffective,a higher dose was administered.The process continued until seven cross-over points(ineffective to effective)were observed.ED50 and its 95％CI were calculated by using the Probit method.Adverse reactions,such as phrenic nerve paralysis,nerve injury,dyspnea were recorded.Results The ED50 of 0.375％ropivacaine for SCBPB in group C was 0.254 ml/mm2(95％CI:0.228-0.278),while in group L,it was 0.239 ml/mm2(95％CI:0.215-0.262),with no statistically significant difference between two groups(P＞0.05).The incidence of phrenic nerve paralysis in group L was significantly lower than that in group C(14.29％vs.41.67％,P＜0.05).No significant nerve injuries,dyspnea,or local anesthetic toxicity were observed in either group.Conclusion The ED50 of 0.375％ropivacaine for SCBPB with L-shaped baffle compression,based on the CSA of the brachial plexus,was 0.239 ml/mm2(95％CI:0.215-0.262).L-shaped baffle compression significantly reduced the incidence of phrenic nerve paralysis without notable side effects.