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*

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of deciduous fused teeth and their inherited permanent-tooth performance type by using panoramic radiographs. METHODS: A total of 14 404 panoramic radiographs of 3- to 6-year-old children with deciduous dentition were collected from January 2023 to July 2024. The incidence of deciduous fused teeth was observed, and the abnormality of permanent teeth was recorded. SPSS 24.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of deciduous fused teeth was 3.06% (441/14 404). The order of dental position was as follows: mandibular deciduous incisors and cusp teeth fused (58.18%) > mandibular deciduous central and lateral incisors fused (30.91%) > maxillary deciduous central and lateral incisors fused (8.89%) > deciduous incisors and supernumerary teeth fused (2.02%). Deciduous fused teeth were found in 226 boys and 215 girls, with no significant difference between the sexes (P>0.05). We observed one pair (87.76%, 387/441) and two pairs (12.24%, 54/441) of fused teeth (54/441), respectively. A total of 287 pairs of fusion teeth on the right side more than 208 pairs on the left side, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<0.01). More fusion teeth existed in mandibular deciduous teeth (443 pairs) than in maxillary ones (54 pairs), and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<0.01). More unilateral deciduous teeth (387 subjects) were found than bilateral ones (54 subjects), and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<0.01). Three types of deciduous fused teeth with inherited permanent teeth were observed as follows: 1) 49.49% (245/495) of inherited permanent teeth was absent, 2) 46.67% (231/495) of inherited permanent teeth was not absent, and 3) the number of fused permanent teeth accounted for 3.84% (19/495). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of deciduous fused teeth was 3.06%, mostly occurring in the lower anterior teeth region, with no gender difference. One pair of fused teeth is commonly observed, more often on the right than the left. These fusions occur more frequently in the mandible than the maxillary, and unilateral cases are more common than bilateral ones. Deciduous fused teeth had a certain impact on inherited permanent teeth. Pediatric dentists should pay attention to and closely observe whether any abnormality exists in the permanent dentition for early detection to prevent the harm caused by deciduous fused teeth.
Humans ; Tooth, Deciduous/abnormalities* ; Male ; Child ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Dentition, Permanent ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Fused Teeth/diagnostic imaging* ; Incisor/diagnostic imaging* ; Tooth, Supernumerary/diagnostic imaging* ; Incidence ; Mandible

Objective To explore the reliability and safety of continuous monitoring of vital signs in patients using wireless wearable monitoring devices after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer. Methods The patients undergoing VATS for lung cancer in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from May to August 2023 were prospectively enrolled. Both wireless wearable and traditional wired devices were used to monitor the vital signs of patients after surgery. Spearman correlation analysis, paired sample t test and ratio Bland-Altman method were used to test the correlation, difference and consistency of monitoring data measured by the two devices. The effective monitoring rate of the wireless wearable device within 12 hours was calculated to test the reliability of its continuous monitoring. Results A total of 20 patients were enrolled, including 15 females and 5 males with an average age of 46.20±11.52 years. Data collected by the two monitoring devices were significantly correlated (P<0.001). Respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation data collected by the two devices showed no statistical difference (P>0.05), while heart rate measured by wireless wearable device was slightly lower (=−0.307±1.073, P<0.001), and the blood pressure (=1.259±5.354, P<0.001) and body temperature(=0.115±0.231, P<0.001) were slightly higher. The mean ratios of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure and body temperature collected by the two devices were 0.996, 1.004, 1.000, 1.014, and 1.003, respectively. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) and 95% confidence interval of 95%LoA of each indicator were within the clinically acceptable limit. The effective monitoring rate of each vital signs within 12 hours was above 98%. Conclusion The wireless wearable device has a high accuracy and reliability for continuous monitoring vital signs of patients after VATS for lung cancer, which provides a security guarantee for subsequent large-scale clinical application and further research.

Clinical application of mass spectrometry technology has attracted the attention of clinical laboratory experts due to its high sensitivity, high specificity, and capacities of simultaneous detection of multiple compounds. In recent years, mass spectrometry technology has made significant achievements in the fields of identification of pathogenic microorganism, detection of trace elements and heavy metals, small molecule hormones, vitamins, amino acids, peptides and proteins, as well as therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and poisoning drugs screening. In order to further clarify the opportunities and challenges brought by this complex mass spectrometry technology in the field of clinical laboratory, the Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine invited experts and scholars of laboratory medicine to share their experience and opinions on related items focusing on the positioning of mass spectrometry technology in the clinical laboratory, the development and improvement of the clinical laboratory by mass spectrometry technology, the challenges of interpreting mass spectrometry test results, the challenges of operating and managing clinical mass spectrometry laboratories, and ways of improving the application of clinical mass spectrometry laboratories with this technology. Agreement was achieved in that the introduction of mass spectrometry technology into the clinical laboratory could bring new directions and opportunities for clinical testing and research, and also is associated with a series of challenges such as the difficulty of sample pretreatment, the high cost and complexity of mass spectrometry technology, the complexity of data processing and interpretation, the lack of standards and norms, and the issue of determining the price of mass spectrometry examinations.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology has the characteristics of high specificity and high throughput, making it rapidly applied and developed in the field of clinical testing. Its application in the monitoring of therapeutic drugs can effectively improve the quantitative accuracy and sensitivity, and formulate a personalized and optimal dosing plan for patients. However, this technology still faces some challenges, and automation, quality control, and quantitative traceability will be the future development direction.

Objective To investigate the mediating role of medical coping strategies in the relationship between perceived social support and resilience among patients with occupational pneumoconiosis (hereinafter referred to as pneumoconiosis). Methods A total of 240 pneumoconiosis patients were selected as the study subjects using the convenience sampling method. The Perceived Social Support Scale, the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Medical Coping Strategies Questionnaire were used to evaluate their perceived social support, resilience and medical coping strategies. AMOS 26.0 software was used to construct the structural equation model. Results The average scores of perceived social support and resilience were (56.6±0.9) and (20.9±7.5), respectively. The scores for the dimensions of confrontation, avoidance and resignation of medical coping strategies were (20.2±3.6), (11.2±3.1) and (18.1±2.9), respectively. The score of resilience was positively correlated with the score of perceived social support, avoidance dimension and confrontation dimension of medical coping strategies (r=0.260, 0.176, 0.174, all P<0.01). It was negatively correlated with resignation coping (r=-0.292, P<0.01). The results of mediating effect test showed that the total effect of perceived social support on resilience was 0.252 [95% confidence interval (CI) was 0.056-0.448], which mainly affected the resilience by affecting the resignation coping (95%CI: -0.458 to -0.104), with the indirect effect value of 0.120, accounting for 47.6% of the total effect. Conclusion The resilience of pneumoconiosis patients is moderately low. Resignation coping in medical coping strategies plays a mediating role between perceived social support and resilience in pneumoconiosis patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of esketamine combined with erector spinae plane block(ESPB)on the quality of early postoperative recovery in patients undergoing thoracoscopic pulmonary surgery.Methods Ninety patients who underwent thoracoscopic lung surgery(thoracoscopic radical resec-tion of lung cancer,thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy)from May 2022 to July 2023 were selected,47 males and 43 females,aged 18-64 years,BMI 18-25 kg/m2,ASA physical statusⅠorⅡ.According to random number table method,the patients were divided into two groups:the ESPB group(group C)and the esketamine combined with ESPB group(group D),45 patients in each group.Patients in the two groups completed ultrasound-guided ESPB,followed by sufentanil anesthesia induction and patient-controlled intra-venous analgesia(PCIA)in group C,while esketamineanesthesia induction,maintenance,and PCIA in group D.The intraoperative dosage of anesthetics,numerical rating scale(NRS)score during activity 1 hour,6,12,24,and 48 hours after operation,the number of PCIA compressions within 24 hours after op-eration,the number of rescue analgesia after operation,the recovery time of anesthesia,the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 2 days after operation and the adverse reactions related to esket-amine were recorded.The 40-item recovery quality scale(QoR-40)score was used to evaluate the quality of recovery of patients 1 day before operation and 2 days after operation.The hospital anxiety and depression scale(HADS)was used to assess patients anxiety and depression 1 day before surgery and at discharge.Results Compared with group C,the dosage of propofol and remifentanil intraoperatively,the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were decreased(P＜0.05),the QoR-40 score was increased 2 days after operation,HADS score at discharge was decreased in group D(P＜0.05).Conclusion Esketamine combined with ESPB is safe and effective for patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung surgery.The periopera-tive analgesia is perfect,the adverse reactions are few,and the quality of early recovery is high,which pro-vides a new anesthesia choice for such surgery.

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.

Chemical cleaning and disinfection are crucial steps for eliminating infection in root canal treatment.However,irrigant selection or irrigation procedures are far from clear.The vapor lock effect in the apical region has yet to be solved,impeding irrigation efficacy and resulting in residual infections and compromised treatment outcomes.Additionally,ambiguous clinical indications for root canal medication and non-standardized dressing protocols must be clarified.Inappropriate intracanal medication may present side effects and jeopardize the therapeutic outcomes.Indeed,clinicians have been aware of these concerns for years.Based on the current evidence of studies,this article reviews the properties of various irrigants and intracanal medicaments and elucidates their effectiveness and interactions.The evolution of different kinetic irrigation methods,their effects,limitations,the paradigm shift,current indications,and effective operational procedures regarding intracanal medication are also discussed.This expert consensus aims to establish the clinical operation guidelines for root canal irrigation and a position statement on intracanal medication,thus facilitating a better understanding of infection control,standardizing clinical practice,and ultimately improving the success of endodontic therapy.