Tooth loss is a common oral problem, and cognitive decline is a primary manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Both conditions affect their daily living abilities and quality of life. Studies have shown that tooth loss may negatively impact cognitive function through physiological mechanisms such as neural pathways and inflammatory factors, and social, psychological and behavioral factors are identified as important modifiable elements for preventing cognitive decline. This review examined literature about tooth loss and cognitive decline in the elderly, and explored the potential pathways of social, psychological and behavioral factors between these two conditions. The findings indicated that tooth loss may increase the risk of cognitive decline through reduced social participation, social isolation and limited social capital, increased chronic stress, depression and negative aging attitudes, as well as altered physical activity patterns, sleep duration and diets. For the elderly with tooth loss, targeted preventive and intervention measures addressing social, psychological and behavioral aspects can be implemented to prevent and delay cognitive decline, thereby improving their quality of life.

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are one of the major populations susceptible to tuberculosis. However, little is known about the unique characteristics and diagnostic biomarkers of tuberculosis in this population. In this study, 81 AYAs were recruited, and the high-quality serum proteome of the AYAs with tuberculosis was profiled by quantitative proteomics. The data of serum proteomics indicated that the relative abundance of hemoglobin and apolipoprotein was significantly reduced in the patients with active tuberculosis (ATB). The pathway enrichment analysis showed that the downregulated proteins in the ATB group were mainly involved in the antioxidant and cell detoxification pathways, indicating extensive oxidative stress damage. Random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were employed to evaluate protein importance, which yielded a set of candidate proteins that can distinguish between ATB and non-ATB. The analysis with the support vector machine algorithm (recursive feature elimination) suggested that the combination of apolipoprotein A-I (APOA1), hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB), and hemoglobin subunit alpha-1 (HBA1) had the highest accuracy and sensitivity in diagnosing ATB. Meanwhile, the levels of hemoglobin (HGB) and albumin (ALB) can be used as blood biochemical indicators to evaluate changes in the protein levels of APOA1 and HBB. This study established the serum proteome landscape of AYAs with tuberculosis and identified new biomarkers for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in this population.
Humans ; Proteomics/methods* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Apolipoprotein A-I/blood* ; Machine Learning ; Tuberculosis/blood* ; Proteome/analysis* ; Male ; Hemoglobins/analysis* ; Female ; Blood Proteins/analysis* ; Adult

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

Venous system diseases mainly include varicose veins and venous malformations of lower limbs and the genital system. Most of them are chronic diseases that cause serious clinical symptoms to patients and affect their health and quality of life. Sclerotherapy has become the first-line therapy for venous system diseases. However, there are problems such as incomplete fibrosis and vascular recanalization after sclerotherapy, and improper operation will cause serious adverse consequences. Therefore, exploring a safe and effective sclerotherapy strategy is essential for developing clinically successful sclerotherapy. To solve the above problems, we proposed a new sclerotherapy strategy with a dual mechanism of "vascular damage and plasmin (PLA) system inhibition." We intended to construct a novel cationic surfactant (AEO_x-TA) by reacting tranexamic acid (TA), a parent structure, with fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AEO_x) by ester bonds. AEO_x-TA could damage vascular endothelium and initiate a coagulation cascade effect to induce thrombus. Furthermore, AEO_x-TA could be degraded by esterase and release the parent drug, TA, which could inhibit the PLA system to inhibit the degradation of thrombus and extracellular matrix and promote the process of vascular fibrosis. In addition, such surfactant-based sclerosants have foam-forming properties, and they can be blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to prepare a highly stable foam formulation (AEO_x-TA/P), which can achieve a precise drug delivery and prolonged drug retention time, thereby improving drug efficacy and reducing the risk of ectopic embolism. Overall, the novel cationic surfactant AEO_x-TA provides a new avenue to resolve the bottleneck: surfactant sclerosants' efficiency is relatively low in the current sclerotherapy.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of simultaneous treatment of small hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)with transarterial chemoembolization(TACE)combined with cone-beam computed tomography-guided(CBCT-guided)microwave ablation(MWA).Methods The clinical data of 69 patients with small HCC(72 lesions in total),who underwent TACE combined with CBCT-guided MWA simultaneous treatment from March 2018 to December 2022 at First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University hospital,were retrospectively analyzed.Follow-up check was performed at 1,3,6,and 12 months after treatment.The mRECIST criteria was used to evaluate the tumor response.The objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),progression-free survival(PFS),local tumor progression(LTP),and adverse reactions were analyzed.Results The initial complete remission(CR)rate,ORR and DCR of TACE combined with CBCT-guided MWA simultaneous treatment for small HCC was 94.2％(65/69),100％and 100％respectively.44.9％(31/69)of patients experienced tumor progression,and 20.3％(14/69)of patients experienced local tumor progression.Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the maximum tumor diameter(≥2 cm and＜3 cm)was the main risk factor for PFS(HR=4.498,P＜0.001).No serious adverse events occurred during the study.Conclusion TACE combined with CBCT-guided MWA simultaneous treatment for small HCC is clinically effect and safe,and this therapy is particularly suitable for the treatment of lesions where the use of traditional image-guided methods is limited.

Objective:To construct a lentiviral interference plasmid targeting collapse response regulatory protein 1(CRMP1)gene,to establish a human neuroblastoma cell line(SH-SY5Y)with stable CRMP1 knockdown,and to investigate its impact on expression of NLRP3 inflammasome protein.Methods:Double-stranded shRNA was designed and synthesized targeting h-CRMP1 mRNA sequence,and cloned into PLKO.1 vector.Recombinant shCRMP1 plasmids were constructed correctly,which was transfected into HEK-293T cells for lentiviral packaging.Obtained lentivirus supernatant was concentrated and then infected into SH-SY5Y cells.The interference effect of shCRMP1 plasmid and protein expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome components in SH-SY5Y cells were detected by Western blot.Results:DNA sequencing results showed that insertion sequences of recombinant interference plasmids pLKO.1-shCRMP1 were consistent with designed sequences,which confirmed successful construction of shCRMP1 lentivirus interfering plasmids and transfected into HEK-293T cells for lentivirus packaging,and protein level of CRMP1 in HEK-293T cells were decreased.SH-SY5Y cells were infected with lentivirus concentrate obtained from packaging and screened with puromycin.Western blot results showed that shCRMP1 recombinant lentiviral plasmids could significantly down-regulate CRMP1 protein expression in SH-SY5Y cells.It was also found that in SH-SY5Y cell line with stable CRMP1 knockdown,inhibition of CRMP1 expression could effectively inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation under MPP+induction.Conclusion:pLKO.1-shCRMP1 lentiviral interfering plas-mids have been successfully constructed,and interference with CRMP1 can inhibit activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in MPP+-in-duced SH-SY5Y cells.This study provides guidance for further research on mechanism of CRMP1 in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease.

Objective:To investigate microbial ecology in restored milk (RM) -donor human milk (DHM) supplemented with mother's own milk (MOM)-under varying MOM ratios, incubation temperatures, and durations. Methods:This in vitro controlled study utilized breast milk samples collected from mothers of preterm infants (<37 weeks) admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children between December 2024 and March 2025, including five MOM samples and one DHM sample. Each MOM sample was mixed with DHM at 10% (RM-10 group) or 30% (RM-30 group) volume ratios. Samples were incubated at room temperature (23-26 ℃) and 37 ℃ for 1 h and 4 h, followed by collection. Microbial α-diversity (Chao/Shannon indices), β-diversity (principal co-ordinates analysis), and taxonomic composition (phylum/genus) were analyzed via high-throughput sequencing. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Results:No statistically significant differences in the Chao index or Shannon index were observed between the RM-10 and RM-30 groups across different incubation times and temperatures ( H or F values=7.61 and 93.20, respectively; both P>0.05). At 37 ℃, the microbial composition of the RM-30 group at both 1 h and 4 h showed no significant difference compared to the initial MOM samples ( R=－0.018, P=0.540), with Firmicutes abundance restored to 65%-90% of the initial MOM level. At room temperature, incubation of the RM-30 group partially restored microbial communities (50%-60%), but induced overgrowth of Proteobacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter). Incubation of the RM-10 group at 37 ℃ for 1 h and 4 h also showed no significant difference in microbial composition compared to the initial MOM ( R=－0.004, P=0.442). However, at room temperature, Proteobacteria consistently increased in the RM-10 group samples, and significant differences in microbial composition compared to initial MOM were observed at both 1 h and 4 h ( R=0.179, P=0.027). Conclusion:Under the experimental conditions of this study, preliminary evidence suggests that incubating a blend of DHM and 30% MOM at 37 ℃ for 1 h or 4 h may modulate the microbial composition toward a potentially beneficial profile.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hUCMSCs)in modulating the cGAS-STING-NF-κB signaling pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia(CIH)mice.Methods Twenty-four C57BL/6 mice were divided into the control group,the model group,the hUCMSCs group and the hUCMSCs+STING agonist(DMXAA)group,with 6 mice in each group.Except for the control group,the other groups were exposed to hypoxic conditions for 8 hours daily for a total of 8 weeks to establish the CIH mouse model.After 8 weeks,mice were anesthetized for cardiac blood collection followed by euthanasia and lung tissue collection.Serum levels of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-17A were measured by ELISA.Pulmonary inflammatory infiltration and collagen deposition were assessed by HE and Masson staining.E-Cadherin and α-SMA expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Expression levels of cGAS,STING and NF-κB mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR,while protein expression levels of E-Cadherin,N-Cadherin,α-SMA,Vimentin,cGAS,STING and NF-κB were analyzed by Western blot assay.Results Compared with the control group,levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and IL-17A increased in the model group,inflammation and fibrosis scores increased,mRNA expression levels of cGAS,STING and NF-κB increased,and protein expression levels of N-Cadherin,α-SMA,Vimentin,cGAS,STING and NF-κB increased.In contrast,E-Cadherin protein expression was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and IL-17A decreased in the hUCMSCs group,mRNA expression levels of cGAS,STING and NF-κB were decreased,protein expression levels of N-Cadherin,α-SMA,Vimentin,cGAS,STING and NF-κB were also decreased.Meanwhile,E-Cadherin protein expression was significantly increased(P＜0.05).STING activator DMXAA reversed the protective effects of hUCMSCs in CIH mice(P＜0.05).Conclusion Intravenous administration of hUCMSCs alleviates pulmonary inflammatory infiltration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in mouse model of intermittent hypoxia,which may be related to the down-regulation of the cGAS-STING-NF-κBsignaling pathway.

This article outlines the formulation process of the local standard of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chronic Disease Management Guideline for Menopausal Women with Emotional Disorders(DB44/T 2547-2024;hereafter referred to as the"Guideline").By analyzing its structural framework and content,this study elucidates the TCM-specific chronic disease management strategies incorporated in the Guidelines,aiming to supply references to the development of similar standards and provide guidance for TCM chronic disease management practices.The development for the Guideline involved a multi-dimensional evidence collection process,including literature review,summary of expert experience,and expert consultations.By employing a multi-dimensional evidence-based approach,the Guideline has effectively integrated diverse evidence sources,and ensures the standard formulation being scientific and precise.The Guideline proposes the requirements for TCM-specific chronic disease management of menopausal women with emotional disorders firstly.By incorporating TCM lifestyle regulation,TCM emotional management,TCM dietary therapy,medication guidance,exercise therapies,and distinctive external treatments,the Guideline has developed into a comprehensive TCM chronic disease management system for prevention,treatment,rehabilitation and health preservation.The integrated approach effectively reduces the recurrence of emotional disorder and enhances quality of life of the patients.

Objective:To explore the molecular epidemiological characteristics of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) in children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) in Beijing from 2023 to 2024.Methods:In the longitudinal study, 9 834 children with ARI were enrolled from August 2023 to December 2024, including the influenza-like illness (ILI) group from emergency and outpatient department receiving influenza virus (Flu) and HMPV test and the ARI inpatient group for 13 common respiratory pathogen screening test including HMPV, Flu, respiratory syncytial virus, and so on. All respiratory samples positive with HMPV were genotyped by amplifying and sequencing of G gene and further phylogenetic analysis. The χ2 test and Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used to compare the positive rate and basic clinical data of the 2 groups. Results:Among 9 834 enrolled patient, there were 5 276 male and 4 558 female children, with age 5.4 (1.9, 8.2) years. In ILI group of 1 460 patients, there were 83 cases (5.7%) positive for HMPV, with the age 4.9 (3.6, 6.6) years and children under 6.0 years old 59 cases (71.1%). Among 8 374 ARI inpatients, there were 256 cases (3.1%) positive for HMPV, with age 3.5 (1.3, 6.4) years and children under 6.0 years old 188 cases (73.4%). The HMPV positive rate and the age of children positive for HMPV in ARI inpatient group were significantly lower than that in ILI group (both P<0.001). In December, 2024, the HMPV positive rates of ILI and ARI inpatient group (21.3% (17/80), 15.0% (47/314)) were significantly higher than the total positive rates of each group (both P<0.001). Among 279 subtyped specimens, there were 155 cases (55.6%) belonging to genotype A and 124 cases (44.4%) belonging to genotype B. Sub-lineage A2.2.2 containing 111nt-insertions was predominate one in 2023 with positive ratio 89.2% (91/102), and B2 was predominate in 2024 with positive ratio 64.4% (114/177). Conclusions:From 2023 to 2024, the positive rate of HMPV in the ILI group was higher than that in the ARI inpatient group, suggesting a common epidemic of HMPV infection. Children positive for HMPV in the ARI inpatient group were younger than that in the ILI group. A severe epidemic of HMPV was observed in the winter of 2024, which requires attention. Sub-lineage A2.2.2 with 111nt-duplicate insertions and B2 were the predominant epidemic strains in 2023 and 2024, respectively.