OBJECTIVES: To explore the relationship between the Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAAS) score and the bispectral index (BIS) during propofol titration for general anesthesia induction and analyze the impact of BIS monitoring delay on anesthetic depth assessment. METHODS: This study was conducted among 90 patients (ASA class I-II) undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. For anesthesia induction, the patients received propofol titration at the rate of 0.5 mg·kg^-1·min^-1 till OAAS scores of 4, 3, 2, and 1 were reached. After achieving an OAAS score of 1, remifentanil (2 μg·kg⁻¹) and rocuronium (0.6 mg·kg⁻¹) were administered, and tracheal intubation was performed 2 min later. BIS values, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and propofol dosage at each OAAS score were recorded, and the correlation between OAAS scores and BIS values was analyzed. The diagnostic performance of BIS values for determining when the OAAS score reaches 1 was analyzed using ROC curve. RESULTS: All the patients successfully completed tracheal intubation. BIS values of the patients at each of the OAAS scores differed significantly (P<0.01), and the mean BIS value decreased by 4.08, 8.32, 5.43 and 5.24 as the OAAS score decreased from 5 to 4, from 4 to 3, from 3 to 2, and from 2 to 1, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the OAAS score and BIS values (ρ=0.775, P<0.001). The median BIS value for an OAAS score of 1 was 76, at which point 83.33% of the patients had BIS values exceeding 60. ROC curve analysis showed that for determining an OAAS score of 1, BIS value, at the optimal cutoff value of 84, had a sensitivity of 88.9%, a specificity of 73.3%, and an area under the curve of 0.842 (0.803-0.881). CONCLUSIONS OAAS score during induction of general anesthesia is strongly correlated with BIS value and is a highly sensitive and timely indicator to compensate for the delay in BIS monitoring.
Humans ; Propofol/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Anesthesia, General/methods* ; Adult ; Consciousness Monitors ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Monitoring, Intraoperative/methods* ; Electroencephalography

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of intubation with electromyographic (EMG) endotracheal tubes versus conventional wire-reinforced (CWR) tubes on the incidence of postoperative sore throat (POST) in patients undergoing thyroidectomy under general anesthesia and identify the risk factors for POST. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data from a cohort of 245 patients undergoing elective thyroid surgery under general anesthesia at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between October, 2024 and March, 2025. Patients received intubation with either EMG endotracheal tubes (n=100) or CWR tubes (n=145) during the operation, and the incidences of POST and other postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to adjust for the baseline differences, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for POST. RESULTS: Comparisons of the baseline data revealed significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). After PSM, 90 patients in EMG group and 75 in CWR group were included in the final analysis with matching baseline characteristics (P>0.05). Post-matching analysis showed that the EMG group had a shorter operative time (P=0.002) but a higher incidence of POST (P=0.001). Multivariate logistic regression identified the use of EMG tubes (OR=17.50, 95% CI: 2.25-136.03, P<0.01) as an independent risk factor for POST. CONCLUSIONS Intubation with EMG endotracheal tubes can shorten the operative time and allow recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring during thyroidectomy under general anesthesia, but their structural design may increase the risk of POST. Clinical decisions should be made to balance nerve protection and postoperative patient comfort by selecting appropriate tube types and optimizing intubation strategies to enhance perioperative outcomes.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Intubation, Intratracheal/instrumentation* ; Thyroidectomy/adverse effects* ; Anesthesia, General ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Pharyngitis/epidemiology* ; Electromyography ; Risk Factors ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Incidence

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Pulpotomy, which belongs to vital pulp therapy, has become a strategy for managing pulpitis in recent decades. This minimally invasive treatment reflects the recognition of preserving healthy dental pulp and optimizing long-term patient-centered outcomes. Pulpotomy is categorized into partial pulpotomy (PP), the removal of a partial segment of the coronal pulp tissue, and full pulpotomy (FP), the removal of whole coronal pulp, which is followed by applying the biomaterials onto the remaining pulp tissue and ultimately restoring the tooth. Procedural decisions for the amount of pulp tissue removal or retention depend on the diagnostic of pulp vitality, the overall treatment plan, the patient's general health status, and pulp inflammation reassessment during operation. This statement represents the consensus of an expert committee convened by the Society of Cariology and Endodontics, Chinese Stomatological Association. It addresses the current evidence to support the application of pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment (RCT) on mature permanent teeth with pulpitis from a biological basis, the development of capping biomaterial, and the diagnostic considerations to evidence-based medicine. This expert statement intends to provide a clinical protocol of pulpotomy, which facilitates practitioners in choosing the optimal procedure and increasing their confidence in this rapidly evolving field.
Humans ; Calcium Compounds/therapeutic use* ; Consensus ; Dental Pulp ; Dentition, Permanent ; Oxides/therapeutic use* ; Pulpitis/therapy* ; Pulpotomy/standards*

Intentional tooth replantation (ITR) is an advanced treatment modality and the procedure of last resort for preserving teeth with inaccessible endodontic or resorptive lesions. ITR is defined as the deliberate extraction of a tooth; evaluation of the root surface, endodontic manipulation, and repair; and placement of the tooth back into its original socket. Case reports, case series, cohort studies, and randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of ITR in the retention of natural teeth that are untreatable or difficult to manage with root canal treatment or endodontic microsurgery. However, variations in clinical protocols for ITR exist due to the empirical nature of the original protocols and rapid advancements in the field of oral biology and dental materials. This heterogeneity in protocols may cause confusion among dental practitioners; therefore, guidelines and considerations for ITR should be explicated. This expert consensus discusses the biological foundation of ITR, the available clinical protocols and current status of ITR in treating teeth with refractory apical periodontitis or anatomical aberration, and the main complications of this treatment, aiming to refine the clinical management of ITR in accordance with the progress of basic research and clinical studies; the findings suggest that ITR may become a more consistent evidence-based option in dental treatment.
Humans ; Tooth Replantation/methods* ; Consensus ; Periapical Periodontitis/surgery*

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective To explore the protection effect and mechanism of preoperative ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block(SGB)on lung in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation(OLV)during thoracoscopic surgery.Methods Eighty-four patients who underwent OLV during thoracoscopic lobectomy at the Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2021 to April 2022 were selected as research subjects,and the patients were divided into the observation group and control group by using a random number table,with 42 patients in each group.Patients in the observation group received ultrasound-guided SGB before anesthesia induction,while patients in the control group did not undergo puncture procedures.Patients in both groups received the same anesthesia induction and maintenance protocols.Hemodynamic,respiratory and arterial blood gas parameters were recorded at various time points:upon entering the operating room(T0),before OLV(T1),30 minutes after OLV initiation(T2),60 minutes after OLV initiation(T3),completion of surgery(T4),and 30 minutes after extubation(T5).Oxygenation index(OI),intrapulmonary shunt rate(Qs/Qt)and pH values of patients in the two groups were compared at these time points.Venous blood were collected from patients in both groups at T0,T3 and T5,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of surfactant protein-A(SP-A),superoxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-10(IL-10).Postoperative SGB-related complications and pulmonary complications within 72 hours were recorded.Results The mean arterial pressure(MAP)and heart rate(HR)in both groups were significantly lower at T,,T2,and T3 compared to T0(P＜0.05);the MAP and HR at T4 and T5 had no statis-tically significant difference compared to those at T0(P＞0.05);there was no significant difference in MAP and HR at other time points(P＞0.05).MAP in the observation group at T1,T2 and T3 was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05),and HR in the observation group at T2 and T3 was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05);there were no significant differences in MAP and HR between the two groups at other time points(P＞0.05).There were no significant differences in pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2)between the two groups at T0-T5(P＞0.05).At T2 and T3,peak airway pressure(Ppeak)and respiratory rate(RR)were significantly higher than those at T,and T4,and tidal volume(TV)was significantly lower than that at T,and T4 in both groups(P＜0.05).Ppeak and TV in the observation group at T2 and T3 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05);there were no significant differences in Ppeak and TV between the two groups at T1 and T4(P＞0.05).RR and partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide(PetCO2)at T1-T4 showed no significant differences between the two groups(P＞0.05).The pH values at T0-T5 showed no significant differences between the two groups(all P＞0.05).The OI at T,had no significant difference compared to that at T0 in both groups(P＞0.05);OI at T2-T5 in both groups was significantly lower than that at T0(P＜0.05);OI in the observation group at T2-T5 was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Qs/Qt at T2-T5 was significantly higher than that at T0 and T1 in both groups(all P＜0.05);Qs/Qt in the observation group at T2-T5 was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).At T3 and T5,serum SP-A and IL-6 levels in both groups were significantly higher than those at T0(P＜0.05);serum SP-A and IL-6 levels in the observation group at T3 and T5 were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05).At T3 and T5,serum IL-10 level in the control group were significantly lower than that at T0,while serum IL-10 level in the observation group were significantly higher than that at T0(P＜0.05).Serum IL-10 level in the observation group at T3 and T5 were higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).At T3 and T5,serum MDA level in the control group was significantly higher than that at T0(P＜0.05);serum MDA level in the observation group showed no significant difference compared to that at T0(P＞0.05);serum MDA level in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).At T3 and T5,serum SOD level in the control group was significantly lower than that at T0,while serum SOD level in the observation group was significantly higher than that at T0(P＜0.05);serum SOD level in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P＜0.05).Four patients in the observation group experienced symptoms of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve block,and one patient experienced brachial plexus nerve block,but all improved within 24 hours after surgery.No other adverse reactions were observed during follow-up.Within 72 hours postoperatively,one patient in the control group experienced hypoxemia.Conclusion Preoperative ultrasound-guided SGB has lung-protective effects on patients undergoing OLV in thoracoscopic surgery,which significantly improves OI,reduces intrapulmonary shunts,and inhibits inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Objective:Molecular mechanisms underlying compound heterozygous mutations in a patient with inherited antithrombin (AT) deficiency.Methods:The proband was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University in November 2018 with a one-day history of sudden syncope and limb twitching. Peripheral venous blood was collected from the proband and members of his lineages, totaling nine persons across three generations, and a family lineage survey was conducted. AT activity (AT:A) was measured using a chromogenic substrate assay, while AT antigen (AT:Ag) was detected through an immunoturbidimetric assay. Mutation sites were identified by means of Sanger sequencing of the SERPINC1 gene, and silico tools were applied to predict the mutational conservation and hydrophobicity changes. Recombinant plasmid expression vectors were constructed and transfected into HEK293T cells for in vitro overexpression studies. The recombinant AT protein was characterized using Western Blotting, ELISA, and cellular immunofluorescence assays.Results:The proband was a 21-year-old man with type Ⅰ AT deficiency. His AT:A was 33%, along with a corresponding reduction in AT:Ag. The genetic analysis revealed there was a heterozygous insertion mutation at c.318_319insT (p.Asn107*) and a heterozygous missense mutation at c.922G>T (p.Gly308Cys) in exons 2 and 5, respectively. These mutation sites were entirely conserved among the homologous species. Additionally, hydrophobicity studies showed that the p.Gly308Cys mutation will decrease the hydrophilicity of amino acid residues 307-313. The in vitro expression studies indicated a reduction of approximately 46.98%±2.94% and 41.35%±1.48% in the amount of recombinant protein AT-G308C in transfected cell lysates and culture supernatants, respectively. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor (MG132) restored the cytoplasmic levels of AT-G308C protein to a level similar to that of wild-type protein. However, neither cell lysate nor culture supernatant demonstrated the presence of the recombinant protein AT-N107*. Conclusions:The heterozygous insertion mutation of p.Asn107* and the heterozygous missense mutation of p.Gly308Cys have been associated with reduced AT levels in proband. The p.Asn107* heterozygous insertion mutation may initiate the degradation of mRNA via nonsense mutation-mediated mechanisms, which would remove the defective transcripts, as well as the p.The Gly308Cys heterozygous missense mutation may cause the AT protein to undergo proteasome-dependent degradation by modifying the hydrophobicity of nearby residues in the cytoplasm.

ObjectiveTo investigate the structural and functional characteristics of gut microbiota in common traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndromes of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea （IBS-D）. MethodsIBS-D patients who visited the Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， and healthy participants from the Physical Examination Centre of the same hospital were recruited from 1st January 2020 to 31st March 2021.The IBS-D patients were classified into syndrome of liver constraint and spleen deficiency， and syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness exuberance； together with the recruited healthy participants， there were liver-constraint group， dampness-exuberance group， and healthy group. General information， including age， gender and body mass index （BMI）， were collected， and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Severity Scale （IBS-SSS） as well as Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Scale （IBS-QOL） scores were additionally collected from IBS-D patients. Fresh fecal samples were also collected and tested by macro-genome sequencing technology for abundance statistical display， PCoA， Anosim， LEfSe bioinformatic analysis of the annotated gut microbiota structure and function. ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the general information of the participants in the three groups （P＞0.05）； the difference in the IBS-SSS and IBS-QOL scores between liver-constraint group and dampness-exuberance group were not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. The study included 28 cases each in liver-constraint group， dampness-exuberance group， and healthy group. The number of specific genes to patients in liver-constraint group was 269 135， with 216 156 in dampness-exuberance group and 249 759 in healthy group， accounting of total 1 784 036 in the three groups. There were differences in the relative abundance distribution of the top ten species of gut microbiota among the three groups， with smaller differences at the phylum， class and order levels， and larger differences at the family， genus and species levels. There were differences in the relative abundance of structure and function of the gut microbiota among the three groups. Species PCoA and Anosim analyses at the species level showed significant differences in the composition of the microbiota among the three groups. Further LEfSe analyses showed that patients in liver-constraint group were screened for 14 dominant strains， of which Clostridium sp. CAG 217， Lachnospira pectinoschiza， Anaerotruncus sp. CAG 528， Paeniclostridium sordellii， Eubecterium sp. CAG 76， Bacillus cereus were affected to a greater extent in abundance differences； dampness-exuberance group screened 24 species of dominant bacteria， of which Roseburia inulinivorans， Eubacterium sp. CAG 251， Roseburia hominis， Unclassified Eubacterium rectale， Roseburia intestinalis， and Megamonas funiformis were affected to a greater extent in abundance differences； no dominant functional genes were screened for patients in liver-constraint group， and dampness-exuberance group was screened for flagellum assembly （ko02040）， porphyrin metabolism （ ko00860）， salmonella infection （ko05132）， and benzoic acid degradation （ko00362）. The differentially dominant functional genes in liver-constraint group and dampness-exuberance group may mainly focus on metabolism （including biodegradation and metabolism of exogenous substances， energy metabolism， lipid metabolism， etc.）. ConclusionIBS-D with syndrome of liver constraint and spleen deficiency is characterized by the enrichment of 14 gut microbiota， such as Clostridium sp. CAG 217， while IBS-D with syndrome of spleen deficiency and dampness exuberance is characterized by the enrichment of 24 gut microbiota， such as Roseburia inulinivorans， and 4 functional enrichments， such as flagellum assembly. Clostridium sp. CAG 217 and Roseburia inulinivorans are expected to be biomarkers for IBS-D patients in the two syndromes， respectively.

Endodontic diseases are a kind of chronic infectious oral disease.Common endodontic treatment concepts are based on the removal of inflamed or necrotic pulp tissue and the replacement by gutta-percha.However,it is very essential for endodontic treatment to debride the root canal system and prevent the root canal system from bacterial reinfection after root canal therapy(RCT).Recent research,encompassing bacterial etiology and advanced imaging techniques,contributes to our understanding of the root canal system's anatomy intricacies and the technique sensitivity of RCT.Success in RCT hinges on factors like patients,infection severity,root canal anatomy,and treatment techniques.Therefore,improving disease management is a key issue to combat endodontic diseases and cure periapical lesions.The clinical difficulty assessment system of RCT is established based on patient conditions,tooth conditions,root canal configuration,and root canal needing retreatment,and emphasizes pre-treatment risk assessment for optimal outcomes.The findings suggest that the presence of risk factors may correlate with the challenge of achieving the high standard required for RCT.These insights contribute not only to improve education but also aid practitioners in treatment planning and referral decision-making within the field of endodontics.