1.Study on the in vivo effects of 5T magnetic resonance imaging on the dental pulp and periodontal ligament in young adults
QI Zhengnan ; CAO Yiting ; WANG Yiwei ; SONG Qingbo ; ZHANG Peirong ; SUN Shuntao ; WANG Dengbin ; TANG Zisheng
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):139-147
Objective:
To evaluate the performance of 5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in visualizing dental pulp and periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues in vivo in the young adult population, thereby providing a basis for the application of high-field MRI technology in clinical oral examinations.
Methods:
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. A total of 15 healthy volunteers (413 permanent teeth altogether) were recruited and underwent full-mouth 5T MRI scans. Among them, six volunteers (168 permanent teeth) also received both 3T MRI and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Two dental specialists independently evaluated the imaging quality of the dental pulp and PDL on the images using a 5-point Likert scale and recorded the number of detectable root canals for each tooth. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using weighted kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Non-parametric tests were employed to compare differences in imaging performance among different tissue structures, tooth positions, and imaging modalities.
Results:
5T MRI can achieve in vivo imaging for most dental pulp tissues and partial periodontal membrane structures. There was a high level of agreement between the two raters in their imaging scores for the dental pulp and PDL (dental pulp κ = 0.934, PDL κ = 0.737). The imaging scores for dental pulp were significantly higher than those for PDL (P < 0.001), and the scores for molar dental pulp were lower than those for premolars and anterior teeth. In the multimodal comparison involving six volunteers, the raters showed good consistency in scoring dental pulp and PDL imaging across 5T MRI, 3T MRI, and CBCT, as well as in root canal counts (5T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.971, 3T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.933, CBCT for dental pulp κ = 0.964; 5T MRI for PDL κ = 0.625, 3T MRI for PDL κ = 0.667, CBCT for PDL κ = 0.571; ICC for root canal counts all ≥ 0.990). The imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL using 5T MRI were significantly higher than those using 3T MRI (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.022), but there was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of the number of root canals between the two (P > 0.05). Although the imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL as well as the detection rate of the number of root canals with 5T MRI were inferior to those with CBCT (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.02; number of root canals: P < 0.05), 5T MRI can truly achieve "direct imaging" of these two soft tissues.
Conclusion
5T MRI enables effective in vivo direct imaging of dental pulp and PDL tissues in the young adult population, indicating its potential clinical application value in the diagnosis and treatment of pulp and periodontal diseases.
2.Icariin-containing serum promotes chondrocyte proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells in the co-culture system of three kinds of cells
Qi LIU ; Linzhen LI ; Yusheng LI ; Hongzhuo JIAO ; Cheng YANG ; Juntao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1371-1379
BACKGROUND:The capability of repairing articular cartilage damage is very limited,and tissue engineering technology provides new therapeutic options for repairing damaged cartilage,in which the interaction and induction between chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,and synovial mesenchymal stem cells is the basis of autologous healing of cartilage damage. OBJECTIVE:To construct the chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system to simulate the in vitro microenvironment of chondrocytes,and to explore the optimal cell inoculation ratio,meanwhile to observe the effects of icariin-containing serum on the proliferation of chondrocytes and the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells in the system. METHODS:Rat knee chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells were extracted,cultured and identified,and a chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell non-contact co-culture system was constructed according to different cell inoculation ratios.After 72 hours of co-culturing,the chondrocyte proliferative activity and phenotypic ability were observed,and the co-culture system with the best overall effect was selected.New Zealand white rabbits were gavaged with icariin solution(0.25 mg/mL)to prepare icariin-containing serum,and cultured in conventional complete medium(high sugar DMEM culture medium containing 10%fetal bovine serum and 1%double antibody by volume)as the control group,while the experimental group was intervened by adding 10%icariin-containing serum by volume on the basis of above.The proliferative activity of chondrocytes and the expression of collagen type II were tested for the two groups after 24 and 48 hours.The differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes in the co-culture system was tested by immunofluorescence staining after 14 days. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The three kinds of cells grew normally adherently to the wall in different ratios of co-culture,where chondrocytes showed the best proliferative activity and phenotypic ability in the co-culture system when chondrocytes:bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells:synovial mesenchymal stem cells=2:1:1.(2)Compared with the control group,the proliferative activity and type II collagen expression of chondrocytes in the experimental group were significantly increased after 24 hours(P<0.01),and the two groups still had difference after 48 hours(P<0.05).The two groups showed obvious chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells after 14 days(P<0.01),and some of the cells appeared round or oval,and the cytoplasmic type II collagen immunofluorescence staining was positive.The fluorescence intensity of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.01).(3)The results showed that the chondrocyte-bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-synovial mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system could be successfully established by the non-contact co-culture method,and the best chondrocyte proliferative activity and phenotypic ability could be obtained when the cell ratio was 2:1:1.Icariin-containing serum had the promoting effect on chondrocyte proliferation,and chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and synovial mesenchymal stem cells in the system.
3.Guidelines of ethics review for clinical application of medical technology
Jiyin ZHOU ; Mingjie ZI ; Qi LU ; Hui JIANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(1):15-22
Access to the clinical application of medical technology is one of the core institutional contents of medical quality management, involving medical quality assurance, the achievement of patient safety goals, and medical service satisfaction. Medical technology is only permitted for clinical use after its safety and effectiveness have been verified through clinical research, as well as evaluated and reviewed by the medical technology clinical application management committee and ethics committee of this medical and health institution. Based on the relevant laws, regulations, and ethical principles, combined with the experience of ethical review in the clinical application of medical technology from some medical and health institutions, a thematic discussion was held to formulate ethical review guidelines for the clinical application of medical technology for references. These guidelines elaborated on the management system for access to the clinical application of medical technology in medical and health institutions, the system of ethics committees and the requirements of review norms, technical plans and their review points, key points for the implementation of informed consent, technical teams and conditions, and other aspects.
4.Influencing factors of bladder management practices in patients with spinal cord injury
Zhirong LUO ; Xuyan GUO ; Qi XUE ; Xiao TAN ; Yunhua JI ; Fuxun ZHANG ; Yong JIAO ; Bo ZHANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(4):284-289
Objective: To explore the key factors affecting the selection and effectiveness of bladder management modalities in patients with spinal cord injury,so as to provide reference for the optimization of individualized bladder management strategies. Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 78 patients with spinal cord injury treated in our hospital during Jan.1,2013 and Dec.31,2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The distribution of bladder management modalities among different grades of injuries was analyzed. Bowker symmetry test was used to evaluate the difference between bladder management modalities at discharge and at the end of follow-up. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the influencing factors of bladder management effects. Plotting Kaplan-Meier survival curves were adopted to calculate the median time of changes in bladder management. Results: At discharge,there were 9 cases of self-catheterization,19 cases of intermittent catheterization,22 cases of reflexive voiding,26 cases of long-term catheterization,and 2 cases using urinary collector.At the end of follow-up,there were 15 cases of self-catheterization,8 cases of intermittent catheterization,34 cases of reflexive voiding,14 cases of long-term catheterization,and 7 cases using urinary collector.There was a significant difference between the modalities of bladder management at discharge and at the end of follow-up (χ
=21.43,P=0.018).Multiple linear regression showed a significant decrease of 8.60 in the total neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS) for grade D injuries compared with grade A injuries (P=0.026). The median time to bladder management change was 7.93 months (95%CI:5.44-9.44), with approximately 50% of patients experiencing a change in bladder management within 8 months after discharge. Conclusion: The modalities of bladder management changed significantly after discharge.The grade of injury was a key factor affecting the effectiveness of bladder management.Higher grade was associated with worse effectiveness of bladder management.
5.Analysis of the causal relationship between gut microbiota and bladder cancer with Mendelian randomization
Xuyan GUO ; Zhirong LUO ; Qi XUE ; Yunhua JI ; Xiao TAN ; Yong JIAO
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(5):400-407
Objective: Previous observational studies have confirmed the correlation between gut microbiota and bladder cancer,but the causal relationship is still unclear.This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between them with Mendelian randomization. Methods: Genetic variation summary data of 211 gut microbiota and bladder cancer genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were obtained from the MiBioGen Consortium and Finngen database.Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) closely related to these studies were screened as instrumental variables.The causal relationship between gut microbiota and bladder cancer were analyzed with inverse variance weighting (IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median,maximum likelihood,robust adjustment feature score and MR-PRESSO,with IVW as the primary analysis method.Additionally,sensitivity analysis was used to test the heterogeneity (Cochran Q) and horizontal pleiotropy (MR-Egger intercept term and global test from MR-PRESSO estimator) to ensure the robustness of the results. Results: The IVW results indicated that Lachnospiraceae UCG004 (OR:1.42),Desulfovibrionales (Order) (OR:1.48),Eubacterium ruminantium group (OR:1.33),Olsenella (OR:1.24),Ruminococcaceae UCG002 (OR:1.39),Ruminococcaceae UCG005 (OR:1.42) and Ruminococcaceae UCG013 (OR:1.64) significantly increased the risk of bladder cancer.Conversely,Bacteroidetes (Phylum) (OR:0.61),Eubacterium brachy group (OR:0.80),Ruminococcaceae UCG004 (OR:0.73),Rikenellaceae (Family) (OR:0.67),Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group (OR:0.47), Adlercreutzia (OR:0.73) and an unknow genus (OR:0.75) were associated with a reduced risk of bladder cancer.Sensitivity analyses did not reveal any heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusion: This study reveals the causal role of 14 gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer,among which Lachnospiraceae UCG004,Desulfovibrionales (Order),Eubacterium ruminantium group,Olsenella,Ruminococcaceae UCG002,Ruminococcaceae UCG005 and Ruminococcaceae UCG013 are risk factors for bladder cancer,while Bacteroidetes (Phylum),Eubacterium brachy group,Ruminococcaceae UCG004,Rikenellaceae (Family),Lachnospiraceae ND3007 group,Adlercreutzia and an unknown genus are the protective factors.
6.Analysis of mental health status potential categories and related factors among primary and secondary school students in western Yunnan Province
HAN Fang, WANG Qi, WEN Yating, LI Xiaojuan, WEI Hongyu, JIAO Feng
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(7):1009-1013
Objective:
To investigate the mental health status and related factors among primary and secondary school students in western Yunnan Province, so ao to provide scientific evidences for advancing mental health education.
Methods:
In June 2024, a stratified cluster sampling method was employed to select 4 584 students from 18 schools across Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Lincang City and Baoshan City three regions in western Yunnan Province. The Mental Health Test (MHT) was used for assessment. Latent class analysis (LCA) and Logistic regression were applied for data classification and related factor analysis respectively.
Results:
The overall positive detection rate of MHT was 11.81%, with a mean total score of 40.50±19.25. The predominant issues were learning anxiety (58.4%), hypersensitivity tendency (31.1%), and self blame tendency (23.1%). LCA categorized students into four groups:severe psychological problems group (74.4% detection rate), learning anxiety hypersensitivity group ( 16.4 %), learning anxiety physical symptoms group (9.2%), and healthy group (0). Logistic regression revealed that compared with the healthy group, the severe problems group showed higher risks among females ( OR =3.01), junior/senior high school students ( OR =1.88/4.02), and those with authoritarian parenting ( OR =3.54); the anxiety hypersensitivity group had higher risks for females ( OR =1.87), senior high students ( OR =1.54), boarders ( OR =1.31), and authoritarian parenting recipients ( OR = 1.85 ); the anxiety physical symptoms group demonstrated increased risks among females ( OR =2.22), senior high students ( OR =2.58), and authoritarian parenting recipients ( OR =2.74), while lower risks were observed for students with parent/grandparent guardians ( OR =0.38) and non only children ( OR =0.58) (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
Mental health problems are prominent among students in western Yunnan, with gender, grade level, boarding status, guardian type, and parenting style being key determinants. Recommendations include strengthening mental health education, prioritizing left behind children s psychological well being and promoting healthy development.
7.Analysis of The Characteristics of Brain Functional Activity in Gross Motor Tasks in Children With Autism Based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Technology
Wen-Hao ZONG ; Qi LIANG ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Feng-Jiao WANG ; Meng-Zhao WEI ; Hong LEI ; Gui-Jun DONG ; Ke-Feng LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2146-2162
ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.
8.The clinical application value of coagulation function indicators in pediatric patients with Burkitt lymphoma
Ping GU ; Qi ZHANG ; Chengyun WANG ; Guoqing ZHU ; Qiuhui PAN ; Jing WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(9):1195-1204
Objective: To investigate the abnormal fluctuation of coagulation function indicators in pediatric Burkitt lymphoma patients, and to analyze its correlation with disease progression and prognosis. Methods: The data of 172 children with Burkitt lymphoma in Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, and 120 healthy children were used as control group. Plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fib), International standardized ratio (INR), D-dimer (D-D), fibrinogen degradation products (FDP), and antithrombin (AT) were measured. Appropriate statistical methods were used to compare the data between two groups, and the Cox regression model was employed to analyze the influencing factors. A P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Levels of D-D, FDP, INR, and PT were significantly higher in children with Burkitt lymphoma than in the healthy controls [median (P25, P75) for the case group: 0.35 (0.13, 1.22), 3.10 (1.30, 10.20), 1.16 (1.06, 1.24), 12.60 (11.43, 13.50); median (P25, P75) for the healthy control group: 0.10 (0.07, 0.15), 0.60 (0.20, 1.08), 1.06 (1.02, 1.13), 11.50 (11.00, 12.30)](P<0.05). Levels of D-D, FDP, INR, PT, and TT were significantly elevated in children with recurrence compared to those without recurrence [median (P25, P75) for the recurrent group: 0.44 (0.16, 1.42), 3.85 (1.50, 12.25), 1.17 (1.08, 1.24), 12.70 (11.73, 13.50), 16.20 (14.80, 17.80); median (P25, P75) for the non-recurrent group: 0.21 (0.11, 0.69), 2.00 (1.00, 6.85), 1.11 (1.03, 1.24), 11.90 (11.10, 13.43), 15.20 (14.50, 16.40)](P<0.05). Levels of D-D, FDP in children with metastasis were significantly higher than those without metastasis [median (P25, P75) for the metastatic group: 0.51 (0.17, 1.84), 4.38 (1.70, 13.45); median (P25, P75) for the non-metastatic group: 0.20 (0.11, 0.39), 1.50 (1.00, 3.10)] (P<0.05). Levels of D-D and FDP were significantly higher in children with advanced stage than in those with early stage [median (P25, P75) for the high-stage group: 0.33 (0.14, 1.20), 3.10 (1.40, 10.23); median (P25, P75) for the low-stage group: 0.12 (0.08, 0.24), 0.90 (0.50, 2.50)] (P<0.05). Levels of D-D and FDP in high-risk children were significantly higher than those of low-risk [median (P25, P75) for the high-risk group: 0.28 (0.13, 1.01), 2.90 (1.15, 9.65); median (P25, P75) for the low-risk group: 0.12 (0.08, 0.17), 0.80 (0.43, 1.98)] (P<0.05). Levels of D-D, FDP, INR, and PT were significantly higher in children with poor prognosis than in those with favorable prognosis [median (P25, P75) for the poor prognosis group: 1.76 (0.80, 2.72), 13.45 (7.20, 25.30), 1.19 (1.12, 1.32), 12.85 (12.10, 14.35); median (P25, P75) for the favorable prognosis group: 0.23 (0.12, 0.52), 2.00 (1.00, 4.80), 1.14 (1.05, 1.23), 12.30 (11.40, 13.40)] (P<0.05). INR levels significantly increased with accumulating chemotherapy cycles [median (P25, P75) for one session: 1.09 (1.02, 1.20); two sessions: 1.31 (1.23, 1.38); three sessions: 1.79 (1.52, 2.41)] (P<0.05). Age, APTT, D-D, FDP, INR, PT, recurrence and metastasis had a significant effect on the survival of children with Burkitt lymphoma (P<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with Burkitt lymphoma exhibit coagulation disorders, which are influenced by recurrence, metastasis, clinical stage, risk stratification, and prognosis. In clinical practice, it is crucial to prioritize the monitoring of coagulation indicators to facilitate timely detection of coagulation dysfunction.
9.Ameliorative effect of patchouli alcohol on mice with lung-heat syndrome based on PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway
Linze LI ; Yi LI ; Haoyi QIAO ; Jiakang JIAO ; Qi ZHANG ; Xiaofang WU ; Xingyu ZHAO ; Yinming ZHAO ; Chun WANG ; Jianjun ZHANG ; Linyuan WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(4):459-470
Objective:
To investigate the therapeutic effect of patchouli alcohol on mice with lung-heat syndrome based on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway.
Methods:
First, network pharmacology was used to predict the potential targets of patchouli alcohol in the treatment of lung-heat syndrome, and a "component-disease-key target" network was constructed for pathway analysis. Then, 40 BALB/c mice were assigned to the normal, lung-heat model, honeysuckle, and low-dose and high-dose patchouli alcohol groups. All groups, except the blank group, were intranasally infected with 50 μL (103 TCID50) of influenza virus solution. After two hours of infection, mice were treated once a day for seven consecutive days. The therapeutic mechanism of patchouli alcohol was explored by measuring pulmonary inflammatory factors, the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, hypothalamic fever markers (PGE2, cAMP, cGMP levels), rectal temperature, and tissue energy metabolism.
Results:
Network pharmacology identified 135 target genes related to patchouli alcohol and lung-heat syndrome, with the key targets being STAT3, H1F1A, and NF-κB1. In animal experiments, patchouli alcohol significantly alleviated influenza virus-induced lung inflammatory damage in mice with lung-heat syndrome, inhibited the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 in lung tissues(P<0.01), and suppressed the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway. It also reduced hypothalamic levels of PGE2 and cAMP(P<0.01), suppressed the increase in rectal temperature, significantly decreased liver glycogen and pyruvate levels(P<0.01), and increased the activities of SDH, LDH, and Na+ -K+ -ATPase in the liver(P<0.01)
Conclusion
Patchouli alcohol improves the symptoms of lung-heat syndrome in mice by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, reducing proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory damage, and regulating hypothalamic fever markers and energy metabolism.


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