Objective:To identify protein markers that may be associated with ulcerative colitis(UC)by analyzing differential proteins in the salivary exosomes from newly diagnosed patients with active UC and healthy controls(HC),and to investigate the function of salivary exosome-specific high-expression proteins in UC patients and their potential role in the pathogenesis of UC.Methods:All patients and healthy controls were recruited from Peking University People's Hospital.Whole saliva was obtained from 37 patients with newly diagnosed active ulcerative colitis(n=37)and apparently healthy controls(n=10).Salivary exosomes were extracted from samples,and the proteins within the exosomes were identi-fied by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer(LC-MS/MS).The differentially expressed protein genes underwent gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis using the DAVID tool.In vitro,macrophages were co-cultured with salivary exosomes from UC group and those from HC group,respectively,and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to detect levels of CD80+and CD86+.Additionally,ELISA was performed to measure secretion levels of interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the cell supernatant.Results:A total of 259 proteins were co-expressed in saliva exosomes from UC group and HC group,among which 11 proteins were highly expressed in the UC group,including PDIA4,A2M,EEF2,C3,PSMA2,PSMB6,PSMA1,IGHG1,IGHG3,IGHG4 and SERPING1,while 4 proteins were lowly expressed in UC group,including TCN1,SLPI and SERPING.Functional analysis of these 15 pro-teins,along with 129 specific proteins found only in the UC patients and 69 specific proteins found only in HC patients,respectively,was conducted using GO/KEGG.The results revealed that in the UC group,proteasome-related proteins such as PSMA1,PSMA2 and PSMB6 expressions were increased in salivary ex-osomes while many key molecules involved in complement cascade pathways,such as C3 were up-regu-lated.In vitro co-culture experiments demonstrated that compared with healthy controls,the salivary exo-somes of the UC patients in active stage could play a pro-inflammatory role by promoting the transformation of macrophages into M1 type cells that secrete inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α.Conclusion:Salivary exosomes in the UC patients may have the function of promoting inflammation.Analysis of protein levels in the saliva of the UC patients and healthy controls revealed significant differences in the expression levels of 15 co-expressed proteins between the two groups.Among them,C3,PSMA2,PSMB6 and PSMA1 were found to be mainly related to immune and inflammatory reactions in the UC group.These findings sug-gest that proteins with high specific expression in salivary exosomes of the UC patients have the potential to be used as a disease marker for UC diagnosis and may contribute to the pathogenesis of UC.

Objective·To evaluate the relationships between disc-condyle distance and anterior disc displacement,as well as between disc-condyle distance and disc morphology,in patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD)using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ).Methods·From September 2023 to March 2024,90 patients(180 TMJs)who visited the TMJ clinic of Department of Stomatology,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University,with clinical symptoms of TMD and were diagnosed via MRI with either anterior disc displacement or no significant displacement,were included.Clinical data were collected,and MRI images were used to measure the angle of disc displacement,disc-condyle distance,disc length,and thickness.The degree of disc deformation was assessed.The relationships between clinical symptoms and anterior disc displacement,between anterior disc displacement and both disc morphology and disc-condyle distance,and between disc-condyle distance and disc morphology were analyzed.Results·Among the 90 patients,there were 16 males and 74 females,with a mean age of(28.1±14.5)years.Among the 180 TMJs,175 had clinical symptoms and 5 were asymptomatic.There were 40 joints with no displacement,78 with reducible anterior disc displacement,and 62 with irreducible anterior disc displacement.In the joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,the proportion of those with two or more symptoms was slightly higher at 62.9%,but the difference was not statistically significant compared with the joints with no displacement or reducible anterior disc displacement.MRI assessment revealed that in the joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,the proportion of disc deformation type Ⅲ or higher was significantly higher compared with the non-displaced joints(P<0.001).The disc length was significantly shorter(P<0.001),and the intermediate zone thickness was significantly greater(P<0.001)compared with the non-displaced joints.The disc displacement angles at centric closure and maximum opening were also significantly larger(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was 3.10(2.70,3.70)mm for non-displaced joints,3.40(3.00,4.00)mm for joints with reducible anterior disc displacement,and 6.60(4.78,7.90)mm for joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,with significant differences(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was 3.10(2.80,3.60)mm for type Ⅰ discs,3.70(3.10,4.60)mm for type Ⅱ discs,5.10(4.00,7.30)mm for type Ⅲ discs,and 6.80(4.98,8.20)mm for type Ⅳ/Ⅴ discs,with significant differences(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was negatively correlated with disc length(rs=-0.469,P<0.001),positively correlated with intermediate zone thickness(rs=0.319,P<0.001),and positively correlated with disc displacement angle at centric closure(rs=0.626,P<0.001).Conclusion·With increasing severity of disc deformation,intermediate zone thickness,and disc displacement angle at centric closure,as well as decreasing disc length,the disc-condyle distance increases.The disc-condyle distance is an important indicator for MRI assessment of pathological changes in TMD.

Objective·To evaluate the relationships between disc-condyle distance and anterior disc displacement,as well as between disc-condyle distance and disc morphology,in patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD)using magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)of the temporomandibular joint(TMJ).Methods·From September 2023 to March 2024,90 patients(180 TMJs)who visited the TMJ clinic of Department of Stomatology,The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University,with clinical symptoms of TMD and were diagnosed via MRI with either anterior disc displacement or no significant displacement,were included.Clinical data were collected,and MRI images were used to measure the angle of disc displacement,disc-condyle distance,disc length,and thickness.The degree of disc deformation was assessed.The relationships between clinical symptoms and anterior disc displacement,between anterior disc displacement and both disc morphology and disc-condyle distance,and between disc-condyle distance and disc morphology were analyzed.Results·Among the 90 patients,there were 16 males and 74 females,with a mean age of(28.1±14.5)years.Among the 180 TMJs,175 had clinical symptoms and 5 were asymptomatic.There were 40 joints with no displacement,78 with reducible anterior disc displacement,and 62 with irreducible anterior disc displacement.In the joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,the proportion of those with two or more symptoms was slightly higher at 62.9%,but the difference was not statistically significant compared with the joints with no displacement or reducible anterior disc displacement.MRI assessment revealed that in the joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,the proportion of disc deformation type Ⅲ or higher was significantly higher compared with the non-displaced joints(P<0.001).The disc length was significantly shorter(P<0.001),and the intermediate zone thickness was significantly greater(P<0.001)compared with the non-displaced joints.The disc displacement angles at centric closure and maximum opening were also significantly larger(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was 3.10(2.70,3.70)mm for non-displaced joints,3.40(3.00,4.00)mm for joints with reducible anterior disc displacement,and 6.60(4.78,7.90)mm for joints with irreducible anterior disc displacement,with significant differences(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was 3.10(2.80,3.60)mm for type Ⅰ discs,3.70(3.10,4.60)mm for type Ⅱ discs,5.10(4.00,7.30)mm for type Ⅲ discs,and 6.80(4.98,8.20)mm for type Ⅳ/Ⅴ discs,with significant differences(P<0.001).The disc-condyle distance was negatively correlated with disc length(rs=-0.469,P<0.001),positively correlated with intermediate zone thickness(rs=0.319,P<0.001),and positively correlated with disc displacement angle at centric closure(rs=0.626,P<0.001).Conclusion·With increasing severity of disc deformation,intermediate zone thickness,and disc displacement angle at centric closure,as well as decreasing disc length,the disc-condyle distance increases.The disc-condyle distance is an important indicator for MRI assessment of pathological changes in TMD.

Purpose To investigate the predictive value of nomogram based on preoperative CT imaging for predicting programmed cell death receptor ligand 1(PD-L1)expression in patient with lung adenocarcinoma.Materials and Methods A total of 158 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled in Shenzhen people's Hospital from January 2021 to July 2022,of which 82 were negative for PD-L1 and 76 were positive for PD-L1.They were randomly divided into training set(n=119)and verification set(n=39)according to the proportion of 7:3.The significant characteristics between PD-L1 negative and PD-L1 positive were screened by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression to construct a clinical model.Radiomics features were extracted from preoperative CT images,and then features were screened and modeled.Finally,the combined model was established by clinical factors and radiomics features,which was visualized by nomogram.The diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve(AUC).Results The area under the curve(AUC)of the clinical model composed of carcinoembryonic antigen and vascular convergence sign was 0.774(95%CI 0.687-0.860)and 0.808(95%CI 0.670-0.947)in the training set and validation set,respectively.Through feature screening,the radiomics model was composed of 17 radiomics features,and the AUC of the training and validation sets was 0.837(95%CI 0.764-0.910)and 0.778(95%CI 0.633-0.923).The training set and validation set of the combined model composed of carcinoembryonic antigen,vascular convergence sign and radiomics score were AUC 0.892(95%CI 0.832-0.952)and 0.853(95%CI 0.737-0.968).In the training set,the AUC of the combined model was higher than that of the other two models(Z=-2.640,-2.855,P＜0.05).Conclusion Based on preoperative CT radiomics nomogram,it had high predictive efficacy on the expression of PD-L1 in lung adenocarcinoma and could provide decision-making support for the selection of clinical treatment regimens for lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) and cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and the role of deep medullary vein (DMV) score in this process.Methods:A total of 140 patients with CSVD admitted to the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Medical University from December 2022 to August 2024 were selected as the research objects. The basic data statistics, head magnetic resonance imaging examination, cognitive function assessment, serum sTREM2 detection and DMV score were performed. All data were analyzed by SPSS 29.0 software and GraphPad Prism 10.0 software packages. Logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment. Structural equation model was used to analyze the mediating effect of DMV score on the association between serum sTREM2 and cognitive impairment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum sTREM2 level and DMV score for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.Results:Serum sTREM2 level ( B=0.017, OR=1.017, 95% CI=1.003-1.031), DMV score ( B=0.375, OR=1.455, 95% CI=1.175-1.802) and years of education ( B=-0.248, OR=0.780, 95% CI=0.635-0.958) were risk factors for cognitive impairment (all P<0.05). sTREM2 not only directly affected cognitive function, but also indirectly affected cognitive function through DMV score. The direct effect (effect size=-0.022) and mediating effect (effect size=-0.007) accounted for 75.9% and 24.1% of the total effect (effect size=-0.029), respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of serum sTREM2 level, DMV score, and their combination for predicting cognitive impairment in CSVD patients were 0.880, 0.891, and 0.910, respectively (all P<0.001). Conclusion:Serum sTREM2 not only directly affects the cognitive function of patients with cerebral small vessel disease, but also indirectly affects cognitive function through DMV score. The combination of serum sTREM2 levels and DMV score has high predictive value for the risk of CSVD-related cognitive impairment.

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2) and cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and the role of deep medullary vein (DMV) score in this process.Methods:A total of 140 patients with CSVD admitted to the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Medical University from December 2022 to August 2024 were selected as the research objects. The basic data statistics, head magnetic resonance imaging examination, cognitive function assessment, serum sTREM2 detection and DMV score were performed. All data were analyzed by SPSS 29.0 software and GraphPad Prism 10.0 software packages. Logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of cognitive impairment. Structural equation model was used to analyze the mediating effect of DMV score on the association between serum sTREM2 and cognitive impairment. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of serum sTREM2 level and DMV score for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.Results:Serum sTREM2 level ( B=0.017, OR=1.017, 95% CI=1.003-1.031), DMV score ( B=0.375, OR=1.455, 95% CI=1.175-1.802) and years of education ( B=-0.248, OR=0.780, 95% CI=0.635-0.958) were risk factors for cognitive impairment (all P<0.05). sTREM2 not only directly affected cognitive function, but also indirectly affected cognitive function through DMV score. The direct effect (effect size=-0.022) and mediating effect (effect size=-0.007) accounted for 75.9% and 24.1% of the total effect (effect size=-0.029), respectively. The areas under the ROC curve of serum sTREM2 level, DMV score, and their combination for predicting cognitive impairment in CSVD patients were 0.880, 0.891, and 0.910, respectively (all P<0.001). Conclusion:Serum sTREM2 not only directly affects the cognitive function of patients with cerebral small vessel disease, but also indirectly affects cognitive function through DMV score. The combination of serum sTREM2 levels and DMV score has high predictive value for the risk of CSVD-related cognitive impairment.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the pathogenic factors of retrograde peri-implantitis (RPI) and assess the effectiveness of treatment, and to provide clinicians evidence for the prevention and treatment of RPI.Methods:A total of 2 731 patients with missing teeth (4 016 implants) who underwent implant restoration in the Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2004 and December 2022 were included in the study. According to the diagnostic criteria of RPI, a total of 20 cases (23 implants) of RPI were collected, including 4 female (5 implants) and 16 male (18 implants), and the treatment medical records, intraoral photos and cone beam CT or oral panoramic radiographs records of each patient were collected. Each patient with RPI was treated accordingly and followed up regularly to evaluate its efficacy.Results:After treatment, the follow-up time for 20 patients with clinical symptoms of RPI was 13 (6, 40) months (1 month to 13 years), and the survival rate of the treated implants was 91% (21/23). There were 7 patients (8 implants) with inactive RPI, no clinical symptoms, no loosening of the implant, with normal occlusal load, and the disease was at the inactive stage and was not treated. The pulp vitality of the natural tooth adjacent to the implant was normal, and the implant could function normally. There were 13 patients (15 implants) with infected RPI, 1 patient (1 implant) had no loosening of the implant, and the periapical radiolucency of the implant disappeared after endodontic treatment of the natural tooth adjacent to the implant; 12 patients (14 implants) had clinical symptoms such as implant loosening, pus discharge, etc. Among them, 10 patients (12 implants) were successfully implanted in situ or in adjacent sites after removing the implants, and were successfully implanted after 3 to 20 months. Two patients(2 implants) were removed and no further implants were placed. Among them, 2 implants with infected RPI had cystic lesions, which was similar to natural root apex cysts.Conclusions:The etiology of RPI is related to inflammation of adjacent tooth root tips or bacterial residues from inflammatory lesions in the alveolar bone and bone augmentation. RPI can be treated by perfect root canal treatment of adjacent teeth, removal of inflammatory tissue, or simultaneous guided bone regeneration techniques.

Objective:To characterize the brain structure of Chinese children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using artificial intelligence automatic brain segmentation technique, and to analyze the correlation between the characteristics of the brain structure and the degree of brain development.Methods:A case-control study.The data of 52 children who were diagnosed with ASD according to the diagnostic criteria for ASD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition of the United States at the Department of Psychology of Qingdao University Affiliated Women and Children′s Hospital from January 2023 to April 2024 were prospectively analyzed.Meanwhile, 48 gender- and age-matched typically developing (TD) children in Qingdao were also included.The three-dimensional T1 weighted imaging sequences of all patients were obtained using a GE 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging scanner.Automated brain segmentation techniques were used to obtain the standardized volumes of each brain structure (the ratio of the absolute volume of the brain structure to the whole brain volume).Two-independent-samples t and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the standardized volumes of different brain regions between the 2 groups.Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were used to depict the correlations between volume data of brain areas with significant differences and Gesell Developmental Scale scores. Results:Compared with those in the TD group, the volumes of the left grey matter[25.45%(0.70%) vs.25.16%(1.05%)], the right grey matter [(25.89±0.71)% vs.(25.51±0.73)%], the right lateral orbitofrontal cortex [(0.62±0.03)% vs.(0.59±0.05)%], the right medial orbitofrontal cortex[(0.48±0.04)% vs.(0.46±0.04)%], the right pars triangularis [(0.38±0.07)% vs.(0.35±0.05)%], the left hippocampus [0.22%(0.04%) vs.0.20%(0.02%)], the right hippocampus [0.23%(0.04%) vs.0.22%(0.02%)], the left parahippocampal gyrus [0.15%(0.03%) vs.0.14%(0.02%)], the right parahippocampal gyrus [(0.15±0.02)% vs.(0.14±0.02)%], the left fusiform gyrus [(0.82±0.08)% vs.(0.78±0.08)%], the right superior temporal gyrus [(0.96±0.10)% vs.(0.90±0.09)%], the left insular lobe [(0.54±0.03)% vs.(0.53±0.04)%], the right insular lobe [(0.55±0.03)% vs.(0.53±0.04)%], the right inferior parietal cortex [(1.40±0.16)% vs.(1.33±0.12)%], the right precuneus cortex [(0.99±0.09)% vs.(0.94±0.09)%], the right putamen [(0.37±0.04)% vs.(0.35±0.03)%], the left pallidum [(0.14±0.01)% vs.(0.13±0.01)%], the right pallidum [0.14%(0.02%) vs.0.13%(0.01%)], and the right thalamus [(0.51±0.04)% vs.(0.49±0.03)%] were significantly increased in the ASD group (all P<0.05).Nonetheless, the volumes of the left pericalcarine cortex [(0.19±0.04)% vs.(0.20±0.04)%] and the corpus callosum posterior region [0.05%(0.01%) vs.0.06%(0.01%)] in the ASD group were considerably smaller than those in the TD group (all P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the right thalamus volume was negatively correlated with the Gesell-adaptation development quotient in children with ASD ( r=-0.276, P=0.048).The volumes of the left fusiform gyrus and left pericalcarine cortex were negatively correlated with the Gesell-fine motor development quotient in children with ASD ( r=-0.290, P=0.037; r=-0.368, P=0.007). The right precuneus cortex volume was negatively correlated with the Gesell-personal and social competence development quotient in children with ASD ( r=-0.396, P=0.007). Conclusions:Children with ASD show abnormalities in the volumes of multiple brain regions, and some brain regions are related to the degree of brain development.Automatic brain segmentation technology based on artificial intelligence can rapidly and directly measure and display the volume of brain structures in both ASD and TD children.

Dental impressions contaminated by Candida albicans(C.albicans)and Streptococcus mutan(S.mutans)were used to com-pare the disinfection effects of the 2 disinfection reagents.Digital technology was used to compare the effect on accuracy of the 2 reagents.After rinsing the dental impressions with 100 mg/L slightly acidic hypochlorite water(SSHW)for 2 min,the killing log values for C.albicans and S.mutan were 3.44 and 5.26,and the bactericidal rates(％)99.96 and 100,respectively,and the root mean square(RMS)of deviation before and after disinfection was(21.40±2.88)μm.After immersing the dental impressions with 0.525％sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes,the killing log values for C.albicans and S.mutan were 5.18 and 5.26,the bactericidal rates(％)was 100％for both.The RMS of deviation before and after disinfection was(28.50±4.25)μm.The SAHW rinsing method has good disinfec-tion effect,and has less influence on the accuracy of dental impressions.

Objective To analyze the prevalence status of cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF) and its aggregation among workers engaged in new forms of employment. Methods A total of 5 429 new employment workers (including couriers, online food delivery workers, and ride hailing drivers) who underwent health medical examinations at a tertiary hospital in Beijing City were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. Data on waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels were collected to analyze their CMRF [central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] and their aggregation (with ≥ 2 of the above 5 risk factors) status. Results The detection rates of central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced HDL-C were 61.2%, 38.2%, 29.5%, 40.9% and 22.6%, respectively. The detection rates of CMRF aggregation was 57.8%. The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male, age ≥45 years, smoking, overweight, and obesity were risk factors for CMRF aggregation (all P<0.05). Conclusion The detection rate of CMRF and its aggregation among workers with new forms of employment in Beijing City is relatively high. Targeted prevention and control efforts should be strengthened for high-risk populations, especially males, workers aged ≥45 years, smokers, and those who are overweight or obese.