Objective: To assess the effect of 12-year-old children s pit and fissure sealants on the health of first permanent molars, so as to provide evidence for optimizing caries prevention strategies among children. Methods: In March 2025, a cluster random sampling method was used to conduct oral examinations on 965 students aged 12 from Chengdu s 2021 Comprehensive Intervention Program for Pediatric Oral Diseases. Data from the Comprehensive Intervention System for Children s Oral Diseases were referenced. Participants were divided into a sealed group ( n =755) and an unsealed group ( n =210) based on whether they had received sealants on their first permanent molars. Chi square test or analysis of variance were used to compare indicators such as caries incidence, new caries detection rate, and new caries mean (DMFT increment) between the two groups Results: The sealed group showed significantly lower caries incidence, new caries detection rate, and new caries mean (33.38%, 17.65%, 0.59±1.00) compared to the unsealed group (43.81%, 24.70%, 0.87±1.22)( χ 2/F =7.79, 18.26, 9.55, all P <0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the filled teeth ratio between the two groups (20.38% , 20.16%; χ 2=0.01, P =0.94). In girls, the sealed group exhibited significantly lower caries incidence, new caries detection rate, and new caries mean (36.78%, 20.99%, 0.69± 1.10 ) than the unsealed group (57.55%, 33.52%, 1.15±1.29) ( χ 2/F =14.42, 23.76, 10.92, all P <0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed between boys in the sealed (30.47%, 14.85%, 0.50±0.89) and unsealed groups (29.81%, 16.18%, 0.59± 1.08) ( χ 2/F =0.02, 0.41, 0.74, all P >0.05). Boys had significantly lower new caries detection rates and new caries means than girls in both groups ( χ 2/F =16.20, 6.94; 29.93, 11.84, all P <0.05). In urban areas, the sealed group had lower new caries detection rates and new caries means (19.37%, 0.68±1.04) than the unsealed group (24.66%, 0.90±1.20) ( χ 2/F =6.86, 3.94, both P <0.05). In suburban areas, all indicators for the sealed group (24.71%, 13.77%, 0.42±0.87) were significantly lower than those for the unsealed group (38.81%, 24.77%, 0.82±1.28) ( χ 2/F =5.28, 15.36, 6.00, all P <0.05). Indicators from specialized dental institutions (11.25%, 4.81%, 0.16±0.56) were significantly lower than those from county level or above general hospitals (33.33%, 19.11%, 0.38±1.00) and primary healthcare institutions (37.59%, 19.24%, 0.67±1.05) ( χ 2/F =20.99, 34.31, 21.08 , all P <0.01). Conclusions The 12-year-old children s pit and fissure sealants effectively reduce the caries incidence in first permanent molars, particularly showing significant effectiveness in girls and suburban children. Intervention strategies should be optimized according to gender.

Environmental pollution is a significant public health challenge worldwide, and investigating the causal relationship between environmental exposure and population health outcomes is a key objective of environmental epidemiology research. In recent years, the complexity of environmental exposures has increasingly come to the forefront, making it challenging for observational studies that dominate environmental epidemiology to accurately estimate causal effects. Causal inference methods are particularly advantageous in controlling for confounding factors, thus holding great potential in environmental epidemiology research. Researchers can use appropriate causal inference methods to simulate the process of randomization, providing strong support for revealing the causal relationship between environmental exposure and health outcomes. However, there is a lack of reviews on the application of causal inference methods in environmental epidemiology studies in China. Therefore, this study introduced the basic principles of common causal inference statistical methods in environmental epidemiology, summarized the applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages of various methods, and provided R software implementation codes for these methods, aiming to offer guidance for optimizing research design and practicing causal inference statistical methods.

BACKGROUND:Nanogels can combine the properties of nanoparticles and hydrogels,which have multiple advantages and can play a great role in clinical translation.OJECTIVE:To summarize the self-and cross-linking properties of nanogels,the diagnostic and therapeutic integration strategies they played in a variety of imaging processes,in conjunction with their functional visualization and application properties.METHODS:By searching PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,and Wanfang databases,English and Chinese search terms were"nanogel,nanohydrogel,imaging,magnetic resonance imaging,fluorescence imaging,ultrasound imaging,photoacoustic imaging,multimodal imaging,therapy,treatment."According to the inclusion criteria,78 articles were finally selected for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The preparation process of nanogels is significantly affected by their multiple properties and cross-linking mechanisms.Optimization of these properties and mechanisms can help to improve their structural performance and accelerate the translation of their clinical applications.With the trend of integrated diagnosis and treatment,functional visualization of nanogels can effectively image tumors with the help of magnetic resonance imaging,fluorescence imaging,ultrasonography,photoacoustic imaging,and multimodal imaging,which can be of key value in the treatment strategies of various diseases.These findings not only pave the way for improving the preparation methods of nanogels,but also create a robust groundwork for hastening their clinical translation.

BACKGROUND:Nanogels can combine the properties of nanoparticles and hydrogels,which have multiple advantages and can play a great role in clinical translation.OJECTIVE:To summarize the self-and cross-linking properties of nanogels,the diagnostic and therapeutic integration strategies they played in a variety of imaging processes,in conjunction with their functional visualization and application properties.METHODS:By searching PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,and Wanfang databases,English and Chinese search terms were"nanogel,nanohydrogel,imaging,magnetic resonance imaging,fluorescence imaging,ultrasound imaging,photoacoustic imaging,multimodal imaging,therapy,treatment."According to the inclusion criteria,78 articles were finally selected for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The preparation process of nanogels is significantly affected by their multiple properties and cross-linking mechanisms.Optimization of these properties and mechanisms can help to improve their structural performance and accelerate the translation of their clinical applications.With the trend of integrated diagnosis and treatment,functional visualization of nanogels can effectively image tumors with the help of magnetic resonance imaging,fluorescence imaging,ultrasonography,photoacoustic imaging,and multimodal imaging,which can be of key value in the treatment strategies of various diseases.These findings not only pave the way for improving the preparation methods of nanogels,but also create a robust groundwork for hastening their clinical translation.

Objective: To explore the association between time to first cigarette (TTFC) and expiratory airflow limitation, so as to provide a reference for the prevention and control of pulmonary function decline. Methods: Based on the baseline survey of the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC), the demographic, lifestyle behavior, smoking behavior, and TTFC data of permanent residents aged 30 to 79 years in Chengdu City were collected from 2018 to 2019. The TTFC was divided into ≤5, 6-30, 31-60, and >60 minutes. Expiratory airflow limitation was determined when the proportion of the measured peak expiratory flow to the predicted value was less than 80%. The association between TTFC and expiratory airflow limitation was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model, and subgroup analyses were conducted according to smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration, average daily smoking volume, and the habit of deep inhalation into the lungs. Results: A total of 6 766 residents were investigated, among whom 6 402 were males, accounting for 94.62%. The median age was 52 (interquartile range, 19) years. A total of 2 468 residents were detected with expiratory airflow limitation, with a detection rate of 36.48%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for demographics, lifestyle behavior, smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration, average daily smoking volume, and the habit of deep inhalation into the lungs, TTFC ≤5 minutes (OR=1.203, 95%CI: 1.035-1.397) and 6-30 minutes (OR=1.174, 95%CI: 1.002-1.374) were associated with an increased risk of expiratory airflow limitation. Subgroup analyses showed that there was no interaction between smoking behavior and TTFC on the risk of expiratory airflow limitation (all P>0.05). Conclusion A shorter TTFC is associated with an increased risk of expiratory airflow limitation among residents aged 30 to 79 years, and the association is not affected by snoking behaviors such as smoking cessation, age of starting smoking, smoking duration and average daily smoking volume.

INTRODUCTION: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), originally an antimalarial drug, is currently used to treat multiple disorders, especially rheumatic diseases. Given its good efficacy and safety, HCQ is widely administered in pregnant patients. However, the safety profile of HCQ during pregnancy remains controversial due to limited research. In addition, HCQ has been reported to reduce preeclampsia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and could potentially alleviate the symptom of preeclampsia. However, the clinical profile and molecular mechanism of HCQ in preeclampsia is yet to be fully understood. METHOD: We reviewed the literature on HCQ treatment in pregnancy with rheumatic diseases and preeclamp-sia in PubMed and Web of Science. We also discussed the safety of long-term therapy with HCQ during pregnancy. RESULTS: HCQ mainly modulates autoimmune response through inhibition of lysosomal function, toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-mediated oxidative stress and autophagy. Benefits of HCQ in treating rheumatic diseases, including antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome during pregnancy, has been demonstrated in clinics. In particular, multiple clinical guidelines recommend HCQ as an indispensable therapeutic drug for pregnant patients with SLE. Additionally, it may potentially function in preeclampsia to improve clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION HCQ is effectively used for rheumatic diseases during pregnancy. The benefits of HCQ treatment in rheumatic diseases outweigh the risk of adverse reactions it induces in pregnant women.
Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology* ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Antirheumatic Agents/pharmacology* ; Rheumatic Diseases/drug therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy* ; Pre-Eclampsia/prevention & control* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/drug therapy*

Colorectal cancer(CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, primarily originating from recurrent inflammatory bowel disease(IBD). Therefore, blocking the inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon has become a focus in the early prevention and treatment of CRC. The inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon involves multiple types of cells and complex pathological processes, including inflammatory responses and tumorigenesis. In this complex pathological process, immune cells(including non-specific and specific immune cells) and non-immune cells(such as tumor cells and fibroblasts) interact with each other, collectively promoting the progression of the disease. In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon belongs to the categories of dysentery and diarrhea, with the main pathogenesis being cold and heat in complexity. This paper first elaborates on the complex molecular mechanisms involved in the inflammation-cancer transformation process in the colon from the perspectives of inflammation, cancer, and their mutual influences. Subsequently, by comparing the pathogenic characteristics and clinical manifestations between inflammation-cancer transformation and the TCM pathogenesis of cold and heat in complexity, this paper explores the intrinsic connections between the two. Furthermore, based on the correlation between inflammation-cancer transformation in the colon and the TCM pathogenesis, this paper delves into the importance of the interaction between inflammation and cancer. Finally, it summarizes and discusses the clinical and basic research progress in the TCM intervention in the inflammation-cancer transformation process, providing a theoretical basis and treatment strategy for the treatment of CRC with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Humans ; Colon/pathology* ; Integrative Medicine ; Animals ; Cold Temperature ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Hot Temperature ; Inflammation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy*

This study employed bioinformatics to screen the feature genes related to efferocytosis in diabetic kidney disease(DKD) and explores traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) regulating these feature genes. The GSE96804 and GSE30528 datasets were integrated as the training set, and the intersection of differentially expressed genes and efferocytosis-related genes(ERGs) was identified as DKD-ERGs. Subsequently, correlation analysis, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network construction, enrichment analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed. Consensus clustering was conducted on DKD patients based on the expression levels of DKD-ERGs, and the expression levels, immune infiltration characteristics, and gene set variations between different subtypes were explored. Eight machine learning models were constructed and their prediction performance was evaluated. The best-performing model was evaluated by nomograms, calibration curves, and external datasets, followed by the identification of efferocytosis-related feature genes associated with DKD. Finally, potential TCMs that can regulate these feature genes were predicted. The results showed that the training set contained 640 differentially expressed genes, and after intersecting with ERGs, 12 DKD-ERGs were obtained, which demonstrated mutual regulation and immune modulation effects. Consensus clustering divided DKD into two subtypes, C1 and C2. The support vector machine(SVM) model had the best performance, predicting that growth arrest-specific protein 6(GAS6), S100 calcium-binding protein A9(S100A9), C-X3-C motif chemokine ligand 1(CX3CL1), 5'-nucleotidase(NT5E), and interleukin 33(IL33) were the feature genes of DKD. Potential TCMs with therapeutic effects included Astragali Radix, Trionycis Carapax, Sargassum, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix, and Alismatis Rhizoma, which mainly function to clear heat, replenish deficiency, activate blood, resolve stasis, and promote urination and drain dampness. Molecular docking revealed that the key components of these TCMs, including β-sitosterol, quercetin, and sitosterol, exhibited good binding activity with the five target genes. These results indicated that efferocytosis played a crucial role in the development and progression of DKD. The feature genes closely related to both DKD and efferocytosis, such as GAS6, S100A9, CX3CL1, NT5E, and IL33, were identified. TCMs such as Astragali Radix, Trionycis Carapa, Sargassum, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Curcumae Radix, and Alismatis Rhizoma may provide a new therapeutic strategy for DKD by regulating efferocytosis.
Humans ; Computational Biology ; Diabetic Nephropathies/physiopathology* ; Protein Interaction Maps ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Phagocytosis/genetics* ; Efferocytosis

Investigating the correlation between micronucleus formation and male infertility has the potential to improve clinical diagnosis and deepen our understanding of pathological progression. Our study enrolled 2252 male patients whose semen was analyzed from March 2023 to July 2023. Their clinical data, including semen parameters and age, were also collected. Genetic analysis was used to determine whether the sex chromosome involved in male infertility was abnormal (including the increase, deletion, and translocation of the X and Y chromosomes), and subsequent semen analysis was conducted for clinical grouping purposes. The participants were categorized into five groups: normozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, oligoasthenozoospermia, and azoospermia. Patients were randomly selected for further study; 41 patients with normozoospermia were included in the control group and 117 patients with non-normozoospermia were included in the study group according to the proportions of all enrolled patients. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) screening was conducted through peripheral blood. Statistical analysis was used to determine the differences in micronuclei (MNi) among the groups and the relationships between MNi and clinical data. There was a significant increase in MNi in infertile men, including those with azoospermia, compared with normozoospermic patients, but there was no significant difference between the genetic and nongenetic groups in azoospermic men. The presence of MNi was associated with sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, immotile spermatozoa, malformed spermatozoa, total sperm count, and total sperm motility. This study underscores the potential utility of MNi as a diagnostic tool and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of male infertility.
Humans ; Male ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Adult ; Micronucleus Tests ; Semen Analysis ; Oligospermia/genetics* ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Sperm Count ; Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective ; Middle Aged

Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1 (Cre/loxP) technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and Leydig cells within the testis. However, the shortcomings of these genetic tools include high costs, lengthy experimental periods, and limited accessibility for researchers. Therefore, exploring alternative gene silencing techniques is of great practical value. In this study, we employed adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vector for gene silencing in Sertoli and Leydig cells. Our findings demonstrated that AAV serotypes 1, 8, and 9 exhibited high infection efficiency in both types of testis cells. Importantly, we discovered that all three AAV serotypes exhibited exquisite specificity in targeting Sertoli cells via tubular injection while demonstrating remarkable selectivity in targeting Leydig cells via interstitial injection. We achieved cell-specific knockouts of the steroidogenic acute regulatory ( Star ) and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor (Lhcgr) genes in Leydig cells, but not in Sertoli cells, using AAV9-single guide RNA (sgRNA)-mediated gene editing in Rosa26-LSL-Cas9 mice. Knockdown of androgen receptor ( Ar ) gene expression in Sertoli cells of wild-type mice was achieved via tubular injection of AAV9-short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated targeting. Our findings offer technical approaches for investigating gene function in Sertoli and Leydig cells through AAV9-mediated gene silencing.
Animals ; Male ; Leydig Cells/metabolism* ; Mice ; Dependovirus/genetics* ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Testis/cytology*