Collagen membrane has attracted much attention from researchers due to its excellent properties such as wide source, degradable absorption, and low immunogenicity. However, they are limited by poor mechanical stability and rapid degradation. To enhance their physicochemical properties and biological functions, researchers have developed various strategies, including cross-linking, incorporation of growth factors or drugs, combination with other biomaterials, optimization of composition and structure, and substitution with marine-derived collagen. These advances aim to expand the clinical applications of collagen membranes in oral medicine. With the urgent demand for high-performance biomaterials in oral medicine, summarizing recent progress on collagen membranes provides valuable insights into their mechanisms, clinical efficacy, and limitations, offering reference for optimized design and broader clinical use. Furthermore, further trends may include integrating advanced manufacturing technologies to develop personalized collagen membranes, which could significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in oral diseases.
Collagen/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Membranes, Artificial ; Oral Medicine/methods* ; Tissue Engineering/methods*

Objective:To analyze the liver histological characteristics and clinically related factors in inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (IHC), and also explore whether antiviral treatment is necessary for IHC, as defined in the 2022 version of the hepatitis B prevention and treatment guidelines.Methods:A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted. Two hundred and thirty-one IHC cases who underwent liver biopsy histopathological examination in nine medical institutions, including Beijing Youan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, from January 2018 to December 2023 were included. General informative data, clinical serological markers, and transient elastography (TE) examination results were collected. Patients were divided into a positive (148 cases) and a negative group (83 cases) according to the results of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection. The differences in liver pathological inflammatory activity (G) and liver fibrosis stage (S) were analyzed between the two groups to explore the correlation between liver tissue conditions and clinically related factors. Comparsions of normally distributed continwous data, skeukd continuous data, and categorical data between groups are performed using t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and χ2 tests, respectively. Results:The age of 231 IHC cases was 43 (38, 51) years old, with 95.2% (220/231) aged ≥30 years, and males accounted for 64.9% (150/231). HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were 131.9 (20.8, 400.9) IU/mL and 94.0 (0, 448.5) IU/mL, respectively, of which 35.9% (83/231) were HBV DNA negative (<20 IU/mL). The remarkable proportions of G≥2, S≥2, and liver injury (G≥2 and/or S≥2) in liver tissue were 16.5% (38/231), 29% (67/231), and 35.9% (83/231), respectively. The S≥2 proportion was significantly higher in the HBV DNA-negative group than the positive group (42.2% vs. 21.6%, P<0.001), and it mainly occurred in the population cohort over 30 years old (44.9% vs. 31.0%, P=0.04). The liver stiffness measurement (LSM), aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and platelet (PLT) were significantly higher in the S≥2 group than the S<2 group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Clinicians can comprehensively evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis in IHC based on clinical factors such as age, PLT, APRI, and LSM, even if the liver histological results are lacking. The China 2022 version guidelines define that nearly half of IHC has histological indications for antiviral therapy, and liver biopsy and prompt treatment can be recommended.

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a critical ophthalmic condition characterized by substantial vis-ual impairment.Retinal neuroinflammation is one of the fundamental pathophysiological features of AMD.The NOD-like re-ceptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome plays a crucial role in regulating neuroinflammation.It has been demonstrated that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is closely correlated with mitochondrial dysfunction,the increased production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),and the anomalous expulsion of mitochondrial DNA in the progression of AMD.There-fore,inhibitors targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome may become a new approach with great potential for AMD treatment.This article rigorously examines the role of mitochondrial impairment and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the pathogene-sis of AMD,highlighting current research advancements and prospective trajectories in this evolving field.

Age-related macular degeneration(AMD)is a critical ophthalmic condition characterized by substantial vis-ual impairment.Retinal neuroinflammation is one of the fundamental pathophysiological features of AMD.The NOD-like re-ceptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome plays a crucial role in regulating neuroinflammation.It has been demonstrated that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is closely correlated with mitochondrial dysfunction,the increased production of reactive oxygen species(ROS),and the anomalous expulsion of mitochondrial DNA in the progression of AMD.There-fore,inhibitors targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome may become a new approach with great potential for AMD treatment.This article rigorously examines the role of mitochondrial impairment and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the pathogene-sis of AMD,highlighting current research advancements and prospective trajectories in this evolving field.

Objective:To analyze the liver histological characteristics and clinically related factors in inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers (IHC), and also explore whether antiviral treatment is necessary for IHC, as defined in the 2022 version of the hepatitis B prevention and treatment guidelines.Methods:A multicenter, retrospective cohort study was conducted. Two hundred and thirty-one IHC cases who underwent liver biopsy histopathological examination in nine medical institutions, including Beijing Youan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, from January 2018 to December 2023 were included. General informative data, clinical serological markers, and transient elastography (TE) examination results were collected. Patients were divided into a positive (148 cases) and a negative group (83 cases) according to the results of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection. The differences in liver pathological inflammatory activity (G) and liver fibrosis stage (S) were analyzed between the two groups to explore the correlation between liver tissue conditions and clinically related factors. Comparsions of normally distributed continwous data, skeukd continuous data, and categorical data between groups are performed using t tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and χ2 tests, respectively. Results:The age of 231 IHC cases was 43 (38, 51) years old, with 95.2% (220/231) aged ≥30 years, and males accounted for 64.9% (150/231). HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were 131.9 (20.8, 400.9) IU/mL and 94.0 (0, 448.5) IU/mL, respectively, of which 35.9% (83/231) were HBV DNA negative (<20 IU/mL). The remarkable proportions of G≥2, S≥2, and liver injury (G≥2 and/or S≥2) in liver tissue were 16.5% (38/231), 29% (67/231), and 35.9% (83/231), respectively. The S≥2 proportion was significantly higher in the HBV DNA-negative group than the positive group (42.2% vs. 21.6%, P<0.001), and it mainly occurred in the population cohort over 30 years old (44.9% vs. 31.0%, P=0.04). The liver stiffness measurement (LSM), aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI), and platelet (PLT) were significantly higher in the S≥2 group than the S<2 group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Clinicians can comprehensively evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis in IHC based on clinical factors such as age, PLT, APRI, and LSM, even if the liver histological results are lacking. The China 2022 version guidelines define that nearly half of IHC has histological indications for antiviral therapy, and liver biopsy and prompt treatment can be recommended.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma(ATC)is the most aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis.The pathogenesis of ATC is complex,and there is no effective treatment at present.In recent years,with the deep understanding of the genetic(such as BRAF V600E,TP53,TERT,PIK3CA mutations,etc.)and epigenetic(such as histone methylation,histone deacetylation,microRNA regulatory pathways,etc.)changes driving ATC,molecular targeted therapy has brought new hope to ATC patients.This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of ATC and the latest achievements in targeted therapy and other therapies.

Objective:To investigate the expression of HBB in anaplastic thyroid cancer(ATC)cells and its regulatory effect on proliferation,invasion,migration and apoptosis of ATC cells and its potential mechanism.Methods:The expression of HBB in thyroid cancer and paracancerous tissues was analyzed through TIMER database.The correlation between the expression of HBB and the overall survival time of thyroid cancer patients was analyzed through KM-plotter database.The expression of HBB mRNA in ATC cells was detected by RT-qPCR.The HBB knockout or overexpression plasmid was transfected into ATC cells.The expression of HBB protein was detected by Western blot.The proliferation activity was detected by CCK-8 assay.The migration and invasion ability was detected by Transwell assay.The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The expression of β-catenin was detected by Western blot.Results:The expression of HBB was low in thyroid cancer,and the overall survival time of patients with high expression of HBB was high.The expression of HBB protein was down-regulated in ATC cells.Knockout of HBB increased the ability of proliferation,migration and invasion of ATC cells and the expression of β-catenin protein,and inhibited apoptosis.However,overexpression of HBB decreased the ability of proliferation,migration and invasion of ATC cells and the expression of β-catenin protein,and promoted apoptosis.Conclusions:High HBB expression is associated with higher overall survival in patients with thyroid cancer.It may inhibit the proliferation,migration and invasion of ATC cells and promote apoptosis through Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Objective To analyze the relationship of miRNA-146a gene polymorphisms and ischemic post-stroke depression(PSD).Methods The SNP rs2910164 in the miRNA-146a gene in 200 ischemic PSD patients(case group)and 200 ischemic non-PSD patients(control group)was analyzed using the SNaPshot technique.The relative expression levels of miRNA-146a in the peripheral blood of two groups were determined.Results The case group showed significantly different allele and genotype frequencies of the SNP rs2910164 as compared with the control group(G vs.C:P=0.003;GG+CG vs.CC:P=0.012).Meanwhile,the case group presented a significantly lower level of miRNA-146a relative expression(P<0.05).Within the control group,additionally,the subgroup of GG+CG genotypes demonstrated a significantly lower level of miRNA-146a relative expression compared with the subgroup of CC genotypes(P<0.05).Conclusion SNP rs2910164 in the miRNA-146a is associated with the susceptibility to ischemic PSD,and G allele may play a role in the ischemic PSD.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of neck Gongfa exercise in intervening people at high risk for cervical spondylosis. Methods:A total of 212 participants from 8 companies at high risk for cervical spondylosis were divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 105 participants in the control group receiving health education and 107 participants in the trial group receiving an additional neck Gongfa exercise.After successive 3-month interventions,the two groups were compared in terms of cervical soft tissue tension and neck disability index(NDI)score.The incidence of cervical spondylosis was observed 3 months later. Results:During the process,10 cases dropped out in the trial group,and the control group had 9 dropout cases.After the intervention,the cervical soft tissue tension value and NDI score improved in both groups(P<0.05)and showed significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05).At the 3-month follow-up,the trial group had a lower incidence rate of cervical spondylosis than the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:For people at high risk for cervical spondylosis,neck Gongfa exercise can effectively improve cervical soft tissue tension and motor dysfunction and lower the incidence of cervical spondylosis in the short run.

Objective To observe the value of dual-source CT(DECT)virtual monoenergetic imaging(VMI)for differentiating prostate cancer(PC)and benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).Methods Thirty-three patients with PC(PC group)and 44 patients with BPH(BPH group)were retrospectively enrolled,and 40-100 keV(with 10 keV interval)VMI were reconstructed based on arterial phase DECT images,respectively.Clinical data,focal CT value and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of VMI with different energy levels and conventional linear fusion images of arterial phase were compared between groups.Binary logistic regression models were constructed based on clinical data being significantly different between groups,focal CT value of VMI with energy level with the highest CNR,also focal CT value of conventional linear fusion images of arterial phase,respectively.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the efficacy of each model for differentiating PC and BPH.Results Free prostate-specific antigen(f-PSA),total prostate-specific antigen(t-PSA),focal CT value of 40-100 keV VMI and conventional linear fusion images of arterial phase in PC group were all higher,while short diameter in PC group was smaller than those in BPH group(all P＜0.05).Logistic regression models were constructed based on f-PSA,t-PSA,short diameter,CT value at 40 keV VMI and CT value at conventional linear fusion images of arterial phase,respectively,with AUC for differentiating PC and BPH of 0.879,0.902,0.701,0.911 and 0.857,respectively.Conclusion DECT VMI could be used as a supplementary examination for prostate diseases,and 40 keV VMI had the best efficacy for differentiating PC and BPH.