OBJECTIVE: To measure and analyze the occlusal force and contact in children with mixed dentition, and to preliminarily provide baseline data on the occlusion of individual normal occlusion children with mixed dentition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 20 children with mixed dentition and individual normal occlusion, consisting of 12 boys and 8 girls, aged 6.5-9.8 years. The Dental Prescale Ⅱ occlusal analysis system was used to measure the occlusal force and contact at the intercuspal position, including the maximum occlusal force (N) and the occlusal contact area (mm²) of the entire dentition, and the left and right sides, average occlusal pressure (MPa), maximum occlusal pressure (MPa), and to determine the position of the center of occlusal force. The gender differences in maximum occlusal force, average occlusal pressure, and occlusal contact area were analyzed, the bilateral symmetry of occlusion in children with mixed dentition and individual normal occlusion was compared, and the correlation between occlusal data and age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) was analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The average maximum occlusal force of the entire dentition in the 20 children with mixed dentition at the intercuspal position was (869.18±106.64) N, the average occlusal contact area was (25.19±2.89) mm², the average occlusal pressure was (34.37±5.98) MPa, and the maximum occlusal pressure M(P₂₅, P₇₅) was 120 (120, 120) MPa; (2) There was no statistically significant difference in the maximum occlusal force, average occlusal pressure, maximum occlusal pressure, and occlusal contact area between the left and right sides (P>0.05); (3) At the intercuspal position, the average occlusal contact area for 12 boys and 8 girls was (26.71±3.91) mm² and (21.62±3.08) mm² respectively, and the average maximum occlusal force was (911.92±145.05) N and (769.47±116.45) N respectively, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in the average occlusal pressure between boys and girls (P>0.05); (4) The maximum occlusal force at the intercuspal position was weakly correlated with age (r=0.219, P=0.046), and strongly positively correlated with the occlusal contact area (r=0.949, P < 0.001), while the average occlusal pressure, maximum occlusal pressure, and occlusal contact area were not correlated with age, height, weight, or BMI; (5) The center of occlusal force in the 20 children with mixed dentition and individual normal occlusion was located in the molar region, with 7 children having the maximum occlusal pressure point only in the first permanent molar region, 10 children having it in both the deciduous molar region and the first permanent molar region, and 3 children having it only in the deciduous molar region. CONCLUSION In children with mixed dentition and individual normal occlusion, the maximum occlusal force, occlusal contact area, average occlusal pressure, and maximum occlusal pressure at the intercuspal position show good bilateral symmetry; there are gender differences in the maximum occlusal force and occlusal contact area, with boys having greater values than girls; the maximum occlusal force is positively correlated with the occlusal contact area.
Humans ; Child ; Male ; Bite Force ; Female ; Dentition, Mixed ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dental Occlusion

The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of long-term hyperglycemia on renal pathology of type 1 diabetic mellitus(T1DM) cynomolgus monkeys by establishing streptozotocin(STZ)-induced T1DM. Methods: Eight 4-year-old male cynomolgus monkeys were randomly divided into control and model groups. Four cynomolgus monkeys were used in the control group, and four cynomolgus monkeys were injected with streptozotocin to create a T1DM model. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and periodic acid-Schiff(PAS) staining were used to observe renal pathological changes.The histological characteristics and changes were observed under transmission electron microscope. Morphometric measurements were used to analyze the glomerular area, the thickness of the glomerular basement membrane, the proportion of glomerular podocyte foot processes and the average area of foot processes. Results: In comparison to the control group, the model group showed pathological changes in the kidneys, including increased glomerular area(P<0.01), thickened basement membrane, capillary loop compression, disordered arrangement of endothelial cell fenestrations, proliferation of mesangial cells, mesangial expansion, accumulation of mesangial matrix glycoproteins, a decrease in the number of foot processes(P<0.001), a decrease in the average size of the foot processes(P<0.05), widened podocyte slit diaphragm, and an increase in the number of fused foot processes(P<0.001). Conclusion Cynomolgus monkeys with T1DM suffer from renal pathological changes due to long-term hyperglycemia.

During the carcinoma transformation of colitis， the imbalance of “metabolic-immune interaction” resulted from abnormal energy and metabolic substrates flow and direction was the key process， which caused by intercellular metabolic competition. Based on traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） theory and clinical research， we found that “fire failing to warm earth” is the key pathogenesis of colon-cancer transformation. “Fire” was a synonym for TCM to understand the energy metabolism， combined modern medical research findings， we thought energy metabolism disorders was a microcosmic manifestation of the “fire decline”， while abnormal immune function was the biological basis of “earth deficiency”. The imbalance between “metabolism-immune interaction” and the “fire failing to warm earth” pathogenesis of colitis-cancer transformation demonstrated the different understanding of the same pathological mechanism between western medicine and TCM. For treatment， it could be effectivce to delay the transformation of colitis-cancer by synergistically regulated the energy metabolism - “replenish fire” and enhanced the immune function - “nourish earth”， which was called the methods of replenishing fire to nourish earth.

Despite the availability of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Korea, need remains for pangenotypic regimens that can be used in the presence of hepatic impairment, comorbidities, or prior treatment failure. We investigated the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir–velpatasvir and sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir for 12 weeks in HCV-infected Korean adults. Methods: This Phase 3b, multicenter, open-label study included 2 cohorts. In Cohort 1, participants with HCV genotype 1 or 2 and who were treatment-naive or treatment-experienced with interferon-based treatments, received sofosbuvir–velpatasvir 400/100 mg/day. In Cohort 2, HCV genotype 1 infected individuals who previously received an NS5A inhibitor-containing regimen ≥ 4 weeks received sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir 400/100/100 mg/day. Decompensated cirrhosis was an exclusion criterion. The primary endpoint was SVR12, defined as HCV RNA < 15 IU/mL 12 weeks following treatment. Results: Of 53 participants receiving sofosbuvir–velpatasvir, 52 (98.1%) achieved SVR12. The single participant who did not achieve SVR12 experienced an asymptomatic Grade 3 ASL/ALT elevation on day 15 and discontinued treatment. The event resolved without intervention. All 33 participants (100%) treated with sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir achieved SVR 12. Overall, sofosbuvir–velpatasvir and sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir were safe and well tolerated. Three participants (5.6%) in Cohort 1 and 1 participant (3.0%) in Cohort 2 had serious adverse events, but none were considered treatment-related. No deaths or grade 4 laboratory abnormalities were reported. Conclusions: Treatment with sofosbuvir–velpatasvir or sofosbuvir–velpatasvir–voxilaprevir was safe and resulted in high SVR12 rates in Korean HCV patients.

With in-depth research and development of dermoscopy, the dermoscopic features including perifollicular pigments, perilesional pigments, pigment network structure, satellite phenomenon and "tapioca sago" appearance, micro-Koebner phenomenon and comet tail-like phenomenon have provided a basis for the evaluation of vitiligo activity. This review summarizes progress in the evaluation of vitiligo activity with dermoscopy in recent years, aiming to promote the application of dermoscopy in the assessment of vitiligo activity.

Objective:To study the prognostic impact of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) before radiotherapy in clinical stage Ⅲ esophageal cancer patients.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 125 esophageal cancer patients with clinical stage Ⅲ undergoing definitive radiotherapy in Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from 2013 to 2017. The PNI and nutritional risk index (NRI) were calculated before radiotherapy. The optimal cutoff value of PNI was determined by time-dependent receiver operating characteristics (ROC) at 49.925.The patients were divided into low PNI group(PNI<49.925) and high PNI group (PNI≥49.925). Based on NRI, the patients were divided into normal NRI group (NRI≥100) and abnormal NRI group (NRI<100). Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and to perform univariate analysis. The mutlivariate analysis was performed by Cox regression model.Results:PNI was positively correlated with hemoglobin ( r=0.505, P<0.001) and NRI ( r=0.594, P<0.001). The 1-, 3- and 5-year OS rates in the low PNI group were significantly lower than those of the high PNI group (67.5%, 27.3%, 11.4% vs. 85.4%, 45.8%, 27.4%, respectively, χ2=8.569, P<0.05). Moreover, the 1-, 3- and 5-year PFS rates in the low PNI group were obviously higher than those in the high PNI group (59.7%, 23.2%, 4.9% vs. 79.2%, 35.4%, 24.9%, respectively, χ2=6.715, P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that GTV, radiotherapy dose, chemotherapy, albumin, NRI and PNI were significantly correlated with OS and PFS (OS: χ2=6.822, 4.326, 4.474, 13.123, 8.846, 8.569, P<0.05: PFS: χ2=7.869, 4.636, 5.874, 10.911, 8.544, 6.715, P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that GTV, radiotherapy dose and PNI were independent prognostic factors for OS ( P<0.05). And GTV, radiotherapy dose, chemotherapy and PNI were independent prognostic factors for PFS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The PNI before radiotherapy is a significant and independent predictor for survival of clinical stage Ⅲ esophageal cancer patients. Based on simple and inexpensive standard laboratory measurements, PNI could be a promising prognostic biomarker for esophageal cancer patients.

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a clinically effective therapy in anemia, for example in patients with malignancies (Shander et al., 2020), bleeding (Odutayo et al., 2017), and preoperative anemia (Padmanabhan et al., 2019). The past few decades have witnessed a shortage of blood for transfusion due to limited health insurance coverage for blood use and the rapid expansion of hospitals (Chen et al., 2011; Shi et al., 2014). Blood donation levels may easily be affected by general changes in the environment, policy, major events such as disasters, and public sentiment (Hu et al., 2019). Meanwhile, the transfusion of allogeneic RBC is a double-edged sword, increasing the possibility of infectious and immunological complications, and also leading to higher morbidity and mortality after transfusion (Frank et al., 2012). Considering that the continual shortfall has been increasingly prominent, identifying the factors associated with RBC transfusion could help blood transfusion departments to improve their supply of blood products as well as their inventory management (O'Donnell et al., 2018).

Objective:To investigate the possible mechanism of learning and memory damage induced by arsenic exposure through studying the effects of arsenic exposure on levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinases B (TrkB) in hippocampus of offspring mice at different developmental stages.Methods:Twenty-four pregnant Kunming mice were divided into control (distilled water) group and 15, 30 and 60 mg/L sodium arsenite (NaAsO 2) groups according to random number table method, six mice in each group. The pregnant mice were exposed to NaAsO 2 until weaning. After weaning, the offspring mice were still exposed to NaAsO 2 through drinking water till postnatal day (PND) 40. Morris water maze was used to determine the effects of arsenic exposure on learning and memory ability in PND 40 mice. The body weight of the mice was measured at PND 10, 20 or 40, and brain tissues were taken after the mice were sacrificed and the hippocampus was isolated. The levels of BDNF and TrkB mRNA in the hippocampus of offspring mice were measured by Real-time PCR. Results:There was significant difference in body weight of PND 20 offspring mice among the control, 15, 30 and 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 groups [(14.42 ± 1.88), (13.50 ± 1.38), (13.00 ± 1.14), (11.75 ± 0.82) g, F = 4.000, P < 0.05], the body weight of offspring mice in 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 group decreased significantly than that in control group( P < 0.05); there was significant difference in body weight of PND 40 offspring mice among groups [(38.58 ± 2.35), (37.17 ± 1.78), (35.67 ± 1.69), (33.83 ± 1.47) g, F = 7.248, P < 0.05], the body weights of offspring mice in 30 and 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 groups were significantly lower than that in control group, and the body weight of PND 40 offspring mice in 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 group was significantly lower than that in 15 mg/L NaAsO 2 group ( P < 0.05); the results of Morris water maze showed that there were significant differences in the escape latency of offspring mice among groups since 3 - 5 days of training ( F = 3.380, 6.788, 7.240, P < 0.05), the escape latency of offspring mice in NaAsO 2 groups [(67.76 ± 6.45), (71.47 ± 12.19), (73.96 ± 10.42), (58.63 ± 9.24), (60.20 ± 3.74), (67.96 ± 15.41) s] was significantly longer than that in control group [(52.83 ± 8.33), (43.39 ± 8.98) s] since 4 - 5 days of training ( P < 0.05); on the other hand, in the probe trail, there was significant difference in time spent in the target quadrant of offspring mice among groups ( F = 5.709, P < 0.05), time spent in the target quadrant of offspring mice in 30 and 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 groups [(18.85 ± 3.97), (16.90 ± 1.62) s] was significantly less than that in control group [(24.48 ± 3.18) s, P < 0.05]; there was significant difference in BDNF mRNA levels (1.00 ± 0.05, 0.98 ± 0.06, 0.85 ± 0.06, 0.68 ± 0.03) of PND 20 mice among groups ( F = 9.368, P < 0.05), BDNF mRNA level of mice exposed to 60 mg/L NaAsO 2 was significantly lower than that in control, 15 and 30 mg/L NaAsO 2 groups ( P < 0.05); there was significant difference in BDNF mRNA levels (1.00 ± 0.03, 0.75 ± 0.02, 0.76 ± 0.03, 0.73 ± 0.06) of PND 40 mice among groups ( F = 3.998, P < 0.05), and that of PND 40 mice exposed to NaAsO 2 decreased significantly than that in control group ( P < 0.05); there was significant difference in TrkB mRNA levels (1.00 ± 0.08, 0.71 ± 0.02, 0.73 ± 0.02, 0.68 ± 0.09) of PND 20 mice among groups ( F = 16.158, P < 0.05), and that of PND 20 mice exposed to NaAsO 2 were significantly lower than that in control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:Arsenic exposure could decrease the mRNA levels of BDNF and TrkB in the hippocampus of offspring mice, which may affect the ability of learning and memory.

Objective: To carry out the 4^th round of third-party evaluation on the implementation and effect of the 1^st year of the 2^nd Phase National Healthcare Improvement Initiative(abbreviated as Initiative)since 2015. Methods: The 4^th round of the evaluation survey adopted the same methods, organization and execution, and technical roadmap as the former three rounds of evaluations. Results: The 4^th round of evaluation was carried out from 18 March to 9 April, 2019 at 185 public hospitals in 31 provinces(autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government)and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.Facility survey, health professional survey and patient survey were conducted at each of the sample health facilities. A total of 120 782 valid questionnaires were collected from 144 non-psychiatric health facilities, 16 246 valid questionnaires were obtained from 41 psychiatric health facilities, and 252 cases of outstanding departments/hospitals in healthcare improvement were also collected. The average overall scoring of the 12 dimensions to assess Initiative implementation at 144 non-psychiatric health facilities was 84.4%. The overall outpatient satisfaction scoring was 91.1%, 96.7%for the inpatients. The overall inpatient satisfaction(family members inclusive) at 41 psychiatric health facilities was 93%. Areas remaining to be improved include day-surgery, telemedicine and medical social work. Compared with technical services, non-technical care should be further strengthened. The compensation, workload and work environment of the healthcare providers are still to be improved. Conclusions The implementation of the Initiative by health facilities has been greatly improved. The percentage of health facilities and patients who had positive perceptions of improved doctor-patient relationship has been increasing. Patient care experiences at public hospitals have been generally improved, and the implementation of promoting traditional Chinese Medicine practices also made progress. However, work satisfaction of healthcare providers was found to be rather low, compared to the high level of patient satisfaction.