Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory scalp disorder associated with Malassezia dysbiosis and increased sebum production. AMPamide has been suggested to have anti-inflammatory and sebum-regulating effects, but its clinical efficacy and microbiome-modulating effects in SD remain unclear. Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and scalp microbiome changes following 4 weeks of use of an AMPamide-containing shampoo in patients with SD. Methods: In this observational study, 30 patients with SD applied an AMPamide-containing shampoo for 4 consecutive weeks. Clinical outcomes, including sebum levels and overall severity scores, were assessed. Scalp bacterial and fungal communities were analyzed to evaluate α- and β-diversity and changes in Malassezia composition. Results: Treatment resulted in significant reductions in sebum levels and clinical severity scores, particularly in erythema, dandruff, and pruritus. Bacterial community composition remained largely stable, while fungal α-diversity increased, and β-diversity analysis revealed a decrease in the ratio of Malassezia restricta to Malassezia globosa. Conclusion AMPamide-containing shampoo was associated with improved clinical symptoms and a shift toward a more balanced fungal community composition in patients with SD, supporting its potential as a non-steroidal therapeutic option for SD.

Severe odontogenic deep neck infections (DNIs) can rapidly extend along cervical fascial planes and progress to descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) with high mortality, requiring early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management, especially in elderly patients with comorbidities. We report two elderly patients with rapidly progressive odontogenic infections: one with DNM fulfilling Estrera’s criteria (Endo type IIA) and another with extensive DNI without mediastinal spread. Clinical features, serial contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) findings, laboratory risk indicator for necrotizing fasciitis (LRINEC) score trends, microbiological results, surgical approaches were analyzed. Both patients presented withhigh LRINEC scores (≥8) and polymicrobial infections, involving multidrug-resistant organisms. Case 1 required five staged cervicothoracic debride-ments, negative pressure wound therapy, and delayed skin grafting. Case 2 underwent three surgeries with gland excision, hemorrhage control. Airway patency was maintained without tracheostomy through coordinated airway monitoring. Targeted antimicrobial adjustments and systemic optimization facilitated infection control. Both patients recovered fully without recurrence. These cases emphasize the importance of early CECT evaluation, cautious interpretation of LRINEC scores in patients with metabolic comorbidities, individualized surgical debridement tailored to anatomical spread, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Personalized reconstructive strategies based on defect size and tissue viability are essential for functional restoration and successful outcomes.

Background: This study aims to compare the effects of short- and intermediate-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) on hemoglobin (Hb) variability in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 119 patients who were classified into two groups based on ESA type: short-acting ESA (epoetin alfa/beta [EPO], n=48) and intermediate-acting ESA (darbepoetin alfa [DPO], n=71). Hb levels were measured 11 times at 4-week intervals from ESA therapy initiation to 40 weeks of follow-up. This study used established metrics from previous research, including standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and residual SD, to quantify Hb variability. Results: Over the 40-week study period with 4-week measurement intervals, mean Hb levels were comparable between the two ESA groups. In the EPO and DPO groups, SD was 0.67±0.19 g/dL and 0.69±0.22 g/dL, respectively (p=0.516), CV was 0.06±0.02 and 0.07±0.02, respectively (p=0.480), and residual SD was 0.73±0.21 g/dL and 0.76±0.26 g/dL, respectively (p=0.463). No significant differences in Hb variability were observed between the groups over 40 weeks using SD, CV, and residual SD. Conclusion This retrospective cohort study showed comparable mean Hb levels and Hb variability indices between groups. With respect to Hb variability, the findings reveal no clear basis for prioritizing either short-acting or intermediate-acting ESA.

This study aimed to develop a predictive model for the early identification of patients at risk of sepsis, using routinely available clinical information and laboratory test results collected during the initial phase of patient care. Methods: This retrospective analysis included electronic medical records of 22,400 adult patients who presented with suspected infection to a tertiary care university hospital in Korea between January 2013 and May 2024. Patients were classified according to Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (score ≥ 2) or Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (score ≥ 2), in combination with sepsis-related International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes. Four different machine learning models were trained and validated using five-fold cross-validation. In addition, Shapley additive explanations analysis was performed to interpret the contribution and clinical relevance of key predictive variables. Results: Among the evaluated models, CatBoost demonstrated the strongest predictive performance. Notably, platelet distribution width, alveolar–arterial oxygen difference, procalcitonin, and the arterial/alveolar oxygen ratio consistently emerged as major predictors. Importantly, several variables that did not reach statistical significance in univariate analysis nevertheless contributed substantially to overall model performance, highlighting the importance of complex, multidimensional interactions among clinical factors. Conclusion: These findings indicate that a model based on simple, routinely collected clinical data can achieve high predictive accuracy and strong generalizability. Such a tool may support early clinical decision-making by multidisciplinary teams, including nurses, across diverse real-world care settings. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate its clinical utility and to assess its potential effects on patient outcomes.

Objective: Reliable staging of dementia is critical for both clinical practice and research. Although the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) is widely used to assess dementia severity, it is subject to subjectivity and inter-rater variability. Resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) may provide objective neurophysiological information associated with clinical severity. Methods: Resting-state EEG data from 600 adults aged ≥60 years in Korea were analyzed. Relative power spectral density was extracted from 19 electrodes across six frequency bands. Ordinal logistic regression and linear regression analyses exam-ined associations between resting-state EEG spectral features and CDR Global and CDR Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) scores. All models adjusted for age, sex, education, and depressive symptoms, with false-discovery-rate correction. Results: Ordinal logistic regression demonstrated that higher resting-state theta-band EEG power was significantly associatedwith greater CDR Global severity, particularly in frontal, temporal, central, and parietal regions. Consistently, linear regressionanalyses revealed that higher CDR-SB scores were associated with increased theta in widespread cortical areas. No significantassociations were observed in other frequency bands. Conclusion EEG spectral slowing—marked by elevated theta power—was consistently related to CDR-defined dementia se-verity. Resting-state EEG can potentially serve as an objective neurophysiological correlate that informs clinician-rated staging and enhances the reliability of dementia severity assessment.

PURPOSE: . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrelationships among the determinants of Hanau’s Quint — condylar guidance, occlusal plane, compensating curve, incisal guidance, and cusp height — according to the laws of articulation, using a novel digital method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: . Fully edentulous casts with 9 sets of occlusion rims (7, 8, and 9 inches curvature; standard, +5°, and -5° inclination) were mounted on a semiadjustable articulator to simulate analog experimental conditions (AECs).The same settings were reproduced in a 2-dimensional virtual articulator in a lateral view (Adobe Photoshop), with the addition of cusp height as a variable, to generate digital experimental conditions (DECs). Whenever an increase in one determinant produced occlusal disharmony, other factors were modified until bilateral balanced occlusion (BBO) was reestablished. The results were compared with Hanau’s predicted interactions. RESULTS: . Both analog and digital methods demonstrated consistent interrelationships among the occlusal plane, compensating curve, condylar guidance, and incisal guidance, as described in Hanau’s Quint. Cusp height, tested digitally, showed a predictable compensatory role. CONCLUSION . The interrelationships among the determinants of Hanau’s Quint in achieving BBO were validated digitally using a simple and reproducible digital methodology confirmed by an analog articulator. This study may help clinicians better understand BBO and Hanau’s principles in complete denture treatment planning.

With the aging of the population,the disease burden of heart valve disease in China has significantly increased.In recent years,the interventional treatment for heart valve disease has flourished,among which transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)has become the first-line treatment for elderly patients with aortic valve stenosis.China started relatively late in the field of interventional treatment for heart valve disease.The construction of heart valve centers helps to standardize the diagnosis and interventional treatment of heart valve disease in China and improve the management of prognosis for patients.Up to December 2024,a total of 453 centers have participated in the construction of heart valve centers,including 100 construction centers and 40 certification centers.The National Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics Registry(NTCVR)database has reported a total of 28 594 cases,with approximately 50％of Chinese TAVR cases recorded in NTCVR database.The construction of the heart valve centers has shown initial results,significantly optimizing the process of diagnosis and treatment of heart valve disease and improving the prognosis.At present,there are still many shortcomings in the construction of heart valve centers.For example,the follow-up rate of patients after discharge is low,and long-term management after discharge needs to be further improved.There is still a gap in some indicators between construction centers and certification centers,and the promotion of high-quality management of interventional treatment of heart valve disease in China is still a long way to go.

Oral cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the head and neck,with approximately 90%of oral cancer being squamous cell carcinoma.Oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)has a high degree of malignancy and a poor prognosis,posing a serious threat human health.The occurrence and development of OSCC are relatively complex,influenced and regulated by multiple factors and levels,and the molecular mechanisms is currently not fully understood.Long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)can exert various biological functions by regulating gene expression and function at the transcriptional,translational,and post-translational lev-els.The occurrence and development of OSCC involve the abnormal expression of lncRNA.Therefore,this article reviews the relevant research on the function and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA in OSCC,in order to provide a reference for future studies.

Objective To explore the relationship between the inhibitory effect of quercetin on AC16 cardiomyocyte proliferation and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,the relationship between quercetin(quercetin,QCT)and the proliferation of AC16 cardiomyocytes through in vitro was investigated.Methods AC16 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of QCT.The effects of QCT on AC16 cell proliferation were detected by inverted microscope photography,trypan blue counting,and CCK-8 assay.Western blot was used to detect the effects of QCT on the expression of phosphorylated β-catenin(p-β-catenin),c-Myc,β-catenin,low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5(LRP5),and LRP6.The effect of quercetin on cell proliferation was detected after overexpressing β-catenin ΔN,LRP5,and LRP6 genes,and after silencing LRP5 and LRP6 genes by trypan blue counting.Results Compared with the control group,QCT could decrease the number of AC16 cells and inhibit the proliferation rate,which was concentration-dependent.At the protein expression level,10 and 20 μmol/L QCT led to an significant upregulated modification of p-β-catenin protein(P<0.05)and significant downregulation of c-Myc,β-catenin,LRP5,and LRP6 protein expression(P<0.05)in AC16 cells.Therefore,10 μmol/L QCT was chosen as the intervention concentration.Overexpression of β-catenin ΔN,LRP5,and LRP6 genes in AC16 cells significantly rescued the cell proliferation inhibition caused by 10 μmol/L QCT compared to the drug-only group(P<0.05).Conversely,silencing LRP5 and LRP6 genes led to inhibition of AC16 cell proliferation,and the combination with 10 μmol/L QCT did not exacerbate the inhibition(P>0.05).Conclusion The quercetin could inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway via significant downregulation of LRP5/6,thereby attenuate cell proliferation of AC16 cardiomyocytes.

Objective To explore the relationship between peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)copy number and urinary microalbumin(MAlb)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 87 patients with T2DM from the Endocrinology Department of East Hospital of Tongji University were selected based on inclusion criteria.According to urinary MAlb levels,patients were divided into T2DM group(MAlb＜30 mg/L)and MAlb group(MAlb＞30 mg/L).General patient information was collected,and clinical indicators such as blood glucose,lipid profile,glycated hemoglobin and insulin were measured.Peripheral blood mtDNA was extracted and the copy number was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for albuminuria.Results Compared with T2DM group,DM duration,serum creatinine,serum uric acid and copy number of mtDNA in MAlb group increased(P＜0.05),while high density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased(P＜0.05).Logistic analysis showed that the copy number of mtDNA was the influencing factor of MAlb in T2DM patients.Conclusions The peripheral blood mtDNA copy number in T2DM patients is positively correlated with urinary microalbumin,thus providing a potential target for early detection of DKD.