Pulpitis is a common infective oral disease in clinical situations. The regulatory mechanisms of immune defense in pulpitis are still being investigated. Osteomodulin (OMD) is a small leucine-rich proteoglycan family member distributed in bones and teeth. It is a bioactive protein that promotes osteogenesis and suppresses the apoptosis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). In this study, the role of OMD in pulpitis and the OMD-induced regulatory mechanism were investigated. The OMD expression in normal and inflamed human pulp tissues was detected via immunofluorescence staining. Intriguingly, the OMD expression decreased in the inflammatory infiltration area of pulpitis specimens. The cellular experiments demonstrated that recombined human OMD could resist the detrimental effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. A conditional Omd knockout mouse model with pulpal inflammation was established. LPS-induced inflammatory impairment significantly increased in conditional Omd knockout mice, whereas OMD administration exhibited a protective effect against pulpitis. Mechanistically, the transcriptome alterations of OMD overexpression showed significant enrichment in the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Interleukin-1 receptor 1 (IL1R1), a vital membrane receptor activating the NF-κB pathway, was significantly downregulated in OMD-overexpressing hDPSCs. Additionally, the interaction between OMD and IL1R1 was verified using co-immunoprecipitation and molecular docking. In vivo, excessive pulpal inflammation in Omd-deficient mice was rescued using an IL1R antagonist. Overall, OMD played a protective role in the inflammatory response via the IL1R1/NF-κB signaling pathway. OMD may optimize the immunomodulatory functions of hDPSCs and can be used for regenerative endodontics.
Pulpitis/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Animals ; Signal Transduction ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Dental Pulp/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Lipopolysaccharides

Objective: To explore the effect of tumor cell perineural invasion on the prognosis of cervical cancer and the early predictive factors of perineural invasion in patients with cervical cancer. Methods: A retrospective a⁃ nalysis was conducted on the clinical , pathological , and survival data of 551 patients with cervical cancer. These patients were categorized into a survival group (n = 477) and a death group (n = 74) . The baseline characteristics of the two groups were compared using independent samples t ⁃tests , Wilcoxon rank⁃sum tests , and chi⁃square tests.Multivariate binary Logistic stepwise regression analysis was employed to identify independent risk factors associated with mortality. In addition , univariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictive factors for perineural invasion. A predictive model for perineural invasion in cervical cancer was subsequently developed based on the multivariate regression equation , and its predictive accuracy was assessed using the ROC curve. Results: In the basic data of cervical cancer patients , the high level of perineural invasion , lymphatic metastasis and postopera⁃tive pathological stage in pathological data had an impact on the poor prognosis of patients ( P < 0 . 0 5 ) , Lympho⁃vascular space invasion , parametrial involvement , and tumor invasion depth ≥ 1/2 were identified as significant predictors of PNI. The predictive value was the best in the multivariate model ( Area under the curve = 0. 80) . Conclusion Perineural invasion is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of cervical cancer patients , and the occurrence of perineural invasion can be effectively predicted by the constructed multivariate mode.

Objective: To explore the regulatory effects of ginkgo biloba extract on airway inflammatory injury and Toll⁃like receptor 4(TLR4)/nucleotide⁃binding oligomerization domain⁃containing 3(NLRP3) pathway in rats with vided into four groups : the normal control group , Methods: Thirty⁃six male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups : the normal control group , the model group , the prednisone treatment group , and the ginkgo biloba extract treatment group , with 9 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group , the COPD rat mod⁃els in the other groups was constructed by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) combined with ciga⁃rette smoke exposure. After successful modeling , the rats were continuously administered drugs for 12 weeks , fol⁃lowed by sampling. The general conditions and respiratory symptoms of the rats were observed. The pathological changes of lung tissues were observed by hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining technique ; the mRNA and protein ex⁃pression levels of TLR4 , tumor necrosis factor⁃α (TNF⁃α ) , interleukin⁃1β (IL⁃1β) and NLRP3 in rat lung tissueswere detected by real⁃time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT⁃qPCR) and Western blot. Results: Com⁃pared with the normal control group , the lung tissues of rats in the model group were significantly damaged , and the protein and mRNA expression of TLR4 , TNF⁃α , IL⁃1β , and NLRP3 increased ( P < 0. 05 ) . Compared with the model group , lung tissue damage was reduced in the prednisone group and the ginkgo biloba extract group , and TLR4 , TNF⁃α , IL⁃1β , NLRP3 protein and mRNA expression decreased (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion Ginkgo biloba airway inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with tumor deposits in the ipsilateral axillary region.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic data and follow-up results of 155 patients with breast cancer diagnosed for the first time and complicated with tumor deposits in the ipsilateral axillary region in the Department of Thyroid-Breast-Vascular Surgery of Xijing Hospital from January 2008 to September 2018. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis. Log rank test was used for the univariate analysis of prognostic factors, and Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis.Results:The median disease free survival (DFS), median distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), and median overall survival (OS) of the 155 patients were 52.0 months, 66.6 months, and 102.2 months, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year DFS rates were 45.7% and 23.1%, the 5-year and 10-year DMFS rates were 56.9% and 28.9%, and the 5-year and 10-year OS rates were 79.3% and 46.0%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that family tumor history ( HR=0.362, 95% CI: 0.140-0.937), clinical T stage (T3: HR=3.508, 95% CI: 1.380-8.918; T4: HR=2.220, 95% CI: 1.076-4.580), estrogen/progesterone receptor status ( HR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.261-0.866), number of tumor deposits ( HR=1.965, 95% CI:1.104-3.500) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( HR=1.961, 95% CI: 1.032-3.725) were independent influencing factors for DFS. Molecular subtype [human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER-2) positive and hormone receptor negative: HR=7.862, 95% CI: 3.189-19.379], number of tumor deposits ( HR=2.155, 95% CI: 1.103-4.212), neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( HR=5.002, 95% CI: 2.300-10.880) and radiotherapy ( HR=2.316, 95% CI: 1.005-5.341) were independent influencing factors of DMFS. Histological grade ( HR=4.362, 95% CI: 1.932-9.849), estrogen/progesterone receptor expression ( HR=0.399, 95% CI: 0.168-0.945), HER-2 expression ( HR=2.535, 95% CI: 1.114-5.768) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy ( HR=4.080, 95% CI: 1.679-9.913) were independent influencing factors of OS. Conclusions:The presence of tumor deposits weakens the influence of axillary lymph node status and distant metastases on the prognosis of breast cancer patients. Therefore, a clinicopathological staging system taking into account tumor deposits should be developed. Since the number of tumor deposits affects the risk of recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer patients, we recommend that the number of tumor deposits should be reported in detail in the pathological report after breast cancer surgery.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Qiangxin decoction on myocardial mitochondrial and energy metabolism in rats with chronic heart failure （CHF） based on mitophagy. METHODS Male SD rats were collected to establish CHF model by ligating the left anterior descending branch of coronary artery. The successful modeling rats were divided into model group， Qiangxin decoction group [12.25 g/（kg·d）， calculated by crude drug]， captopril group [10.38 mg/（kg·d）]， and Qiangxin decoction+captopril group （the same usage and dosage as single drug group） according to a random number table method， with 8 rats in each group. Another 8 normal rats were selected and received threading in the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery without ligation as the sham operation group. Starting from the second day after successful modeling， the rats in administration groups were given relevant drug intragastrically， twice a day， for consecutive 28 days. After the last medication， the levels of adenosine triphosphate （ATP）， adenosine monophosphate （AMP） and free fatty acid （FFA） in infarcted myocardial tissues were detected， the pathological changes and mitochondrial morphology of the infarcted myocardial tissue were observed， as well as the protein expressions of B cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 related X protein （Bax）， TANK-binding kinase 1 （TBK1）， p62 were detected in each group. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group， the infarcted myocardial tissue fibrosis was changed evidently， with a large number of mitochondrial swelling and fusion， and internal cristae rupture； the levels of AMP and FFA， the protein expressions of Bax and p62 were all increased or up-regulated significantly in infarcted myocardial tissue， while the level of ATP， and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and TBK1 were all decreased or down-regulated significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， the pathological changes of infarcted myocardial tissue and mitochondrial swelling had been improved； the levels of AMP and FFA， and the protein expressions of Bax and p62 in infarcted myocardial tissue were significantly decreased or down-regulated in administration groups， while the level of ATP， and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and TBK1 were increased or up-regulated significantly （P＜0.05）. And the effect of Qiangxin decoction+captopril group was better than that of single drug group. CONCLUSIONS Qiangxin decoction can alleviate myocardial fibrosis and mitochondrial swelling in CHF rats， and improve their myocardial energy metabolism， which may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2， Bax， TBK1 and p62 proteins and promoting myocardial mitophagy.

The methodological framework for interventional clinical research of Chinese medicine （CM） under the research mode of syndrome dominating disease provides a set of technical principles and methods to design， evaluate， and implement of this kind. It consists of three main parts including general principles， research points and key design elements， with a total of 25 items. This methodological framework proposes implementing requirements and recommendations in a variety of aspects， including basic norms to be followed in relevant studies， perspectives for selecting research topics， as well as the technological details on study population （P）， intervention （I） and comparison（C）， outcome measurement （O）， time frame （T） of treatment and follow-up， sample orientation （prospective versus retrospective）， study design （S） format and type. To provide practical guidance for future studies， this article clearly explains each items of the methodological framework through some supportive cases.

Objective:To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of primary bladder mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue extranodal marginal zone lymphoma (MALToma).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 9 primary bladder MALToma patients diagnosed and underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors at the Fujian Provincial Hospital, Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital, Mindong Hospital of Ningde City, Zhangzhou Second Hospital and Fuzhou Taijiang Hospital from December 2008 to December 2021 were collected. Paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were collected for HE staining, immunohistochemical staining and genetic testing, the clinicopathological characteristics of patients were summarized, and the literature was reviewed.Results:Of the 9 cases, 8 were female and 1 was male, the age was (59± 11) years old (range: 39-74 years old). Two cases had 3 lesions, 3 cases had 2 lesions, and 4 cases had single lesion. The maximum diameter of the mass was (3.2±1.9) cm (range: 0.3-7.0 cm). The follow-up time was 6-127 months, 4 cases lost to follow-up, 4 cases were disease-free survival, and 1 case was survival with tumor. Pathomorphologically, the bladder tissue consisted of diffusely infiltrating small-to-medium sized lymphocytes, with moderate amounts of pale-staining cytoplasm, without obvious nucleoli, some of them were translucent, and the mitosis was rare. Large cell proliferation in some areas was observed in 1 case, with prominent nucleoli and mitotic figures. Tumor cells in all 9 patients expressed CD20; bcl-2, CD43 and CD38 were positive in some cells in 4 cases, and CD138 was positive in a few cells in 2 cases; κ was positive in 4 cases, and scattered positive in 5 cases; λ was positive in 4 cases, and scattered positive in 5 cases. B-cell receptor gene clonal rearrangement was positive in all 8 cases who underwent the assay. No break-apart signal was observed in all 6 cases who underwent the fluorescence in situ hybridization assay with MALT1 gene segregation probe.Conclusions:Primary bladder MALToma is a rare low-grade B-cell lymphoma that is more commonly found in elderly women. There is no abnormal change in MALT1 gene.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features of pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALToma).Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 41 cases of pulmonary MALToma who were admitted to multiple centers from April 2002 to August 2023 were collected, including 33 cases from Fujian Provincial Hospital, 5 cases from Binzhou People's Hospital, 1 case from the Second Hospital of Zhangzhou, 1 case from the People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and 1 case from Jinjiang Hospital. The results of pathological morphological examination, immunohistochemical examination and genetic testing of patients were summarized, their clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed, and the relevant literature was reviewed.Results:Among the 41 patients, there were 24 males and 17 females, aged (58±13) years (range: 36-81 years). The longest diameter of the tumor under the gross macroscopic examination was (2.8±2.0) cm, with a range of 0.8-9.7 cm. Under the microscope, diffuse, flakelike and nodular patterns of lymphoid tissue were seen in the lung tissue with small- to medium-sized lymphoid cells including small lymphocytes, centrocyte-like cells, mononuclear cells and plasma cells. A small number of activated cells were noted, and the lymphoid cells grew along the alveoli. In some areas, the lymphoid cells invaded the bronchi, and lymphatic follicular implantation was rare; 1 case was accompanied by large cell transformation. Tumor cells expressed CD20, Pax-5, bcl-2, and CD43, with Ki-67 proliferation index of 2%-20%, and 50% in some areas of 1 case. The positive rate of clonal B-cell receptor gene rearrangement was 100.00% (29/29); the positive rate of MALT1 gene was 18.75% (3/16), and the positive rate of API2-MALT1 fusion was 66.67% (2/3). The treatment methods included surgery, anti-inflammatory therapy, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Follow-up for 4-143 months showed that 43.90% (18/41) had disease-free survival, 21.95% (9/41) had tumor bearing survival, 9.76% (4/41) died, and 24.39%, (10/41) were lost to follow-up. The progression-free survival of patients aged ≥ 60 years was worse than that of patients aged < 60 years ( χ2 = 5.39, P = 0.020). Conclusions:Pulmonary MALToma belongs to indolent B-cell lymphoma, and its diagnosis requires a combination of clinical imaging, pathology and immunophenotyping. If necessary, genetic testing can be used to assist in the diagnosis. The differential diagnosis should be made from pneumonia, low-grade B-cell lymphoma, and extrapulmonary MALToma with lung involvement. The treatment methods include anti-inflammatory therapy, surgical resection and chemotherapy, and the prognosis is good.

Objective This study aimed to explore the heterogeneity and gene ontology of Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked first branchial arch cranial neural crest cells(CNCs)in mice.Methods The embryos of Wnt1-Cre;R26RmTmG and Pax2-Cre;R26RmTmG at embryonic day(E)8.0-E9.25 were collected for histological observation.We per-formed immunostaining to compare green fluorescent pro-tein(GFP)-positive CNCs in Pax2-Cre;R26RAi9 and Wnt1-Cre;R26RAi9 mice at E15.5.Single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)was used to analyze the first branchial arch GFP-positive CNCs from Wnt1-Cre;R26RmTmG and Pax2-cre;R26RmTmGmice at E10.5.Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(q-PCR)was performed to val-idate the differential genes.Results Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs migrated from the neural plateto first and second branchial arches and to the first branchial arch,respectively,at E8.0.Although Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs were found mostly in cranial-facial tissues,the former had higher expression in palate and tongue.The results of scRNA-seq showed that Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs specifically contributed to osteoblast differentia-tion and ossification,while Wnt1-Cre-marked CNCs participated in limb development,cell migration,and ossification.The q-PCR data also confirmed the results of gene ontology analysis.Conclusion Pax2-Cre mice are perfect experimen-tal animal models for research on first branchial arch CNCs and derivatives in osteoblast differentiation and ossification.

Objective:To construct a multi-dimensional surgical equipment management and control platform based on artificial intelligence and Internet of Things(AIoT)to assist with the refinement and intelligent management medical equipment in hospital operating rooms.Methods:A multi-dimensional surgical equipment control platform based on AIoT was established by integrating the Internet of Things(IoT),big data analysis,indoor positioning technology,artificial intelligence(AI)technology and other technologies to collect real-time process data of surgical equipment such as endoscopy and electrosurgical,and to open up the relationships among information systems relating to surgical equipment,such as hospital information system(HIS),laboratory information system(LIS),radiology information system(RIS)and operation anesthesia management system(OAMS),so as to provide technical support for efficiency analysis,benefit analysis and assets management of surgical equipment.The platform was composed of 3 layers:data extraction layer,data engine layer and AI data analysis layer,including 4 functional modules:automatic data acquisition,deep data fusion,data mining and analysis and data visualization.Results:This platform was launched in Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in June 2022,and had realized achieving intelligent daily management such as indoor positioning of operating room equipment,one click inventory.A set of performance analysis method based on IoT and integrated with information systems was established to automatically count the utilization efficiency and cost-effectiveness of key surgical equipment to realize intelligent service,intelligent management,and digital operation.Conclusion:The construction and application of this platform improved the efficiency of medical equipment in operating rooms,reduced the cost and increased the efficiency,assisted in the refinement and intelligent management of hospital surgical equipment,and provided data support for scientific decision-making of hospital managers.