Pulpitis is an inflammatory response of dental pulp tissue triggered by external stimuli such as bacterial infection, mechanical trauma, and iatrogenic injury. Accurate diagnosis of pulpitis is essential for the success of minimally invasive endodontic treatments. However, the current diagnostic framework lacks objective indicators capable of precisely assessing the severity of pulp inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that biomarkers such as matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, chemokines, non-coding RNAs, growth factors, and signaling molecules are closely associated with the degree of pulp inflammation. These findings suggested that biomarker-based molecular diagnostics held significant promise for advancing precision and minimally invasive approaches in endodontics. This review systematically discusses the current research progress, challenges, and future directions of biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of pulpitis.

Pulpitis is an inflammatory response of dental pulp tissue triggered by external stimuli such as bacterial infection, mechanical trauma, and iatrogenic injury. Accurate diagnosis of pulpitis is essential for the success of minimally invasive endodontic treatments. However, the current diagnostic framework lacks objective indicators capable of precisely assessing the severity of pulp inflammation. Recent studies have revealed that biomarkers such as matrix metalloproteinases, cytokines, chemokines, non-coding RNAs, growth factors, and signaling molecules are closely associated with the degree of pulp inflammation. These findings suggested that biomarker-based molecular diagnostics held significant promise for advancing precision and minimally invasive approaches in endodontics. This review systematically discusses the current research progress, challenges, and future directions of biomarkers in the diagnosis and treatment of pulpitis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of online and offline blended teaching in microendodontics, attempting to promote the widespread application of blended teaching mode in Operative Dentistry and Endodontics.Methods:A questionnaire survey was carried out among 865 trainees who attended the blended teaching in microendodontics combined the online theory curriculum and offline practice training from April 6 to 28 in 2022, organized by Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatotogy, Sun Yat-sen University. The content of questionnaire included trainees′ basic information as well as their perspectives and expectations on the teaching mode. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0 and Chi-square test was used for enumeration data.Results:A total of 855 trainees participated in the valid survey with the effective recall rate of 98.8% (855/865), 50.3% (430/855) of which were young people in 18-30 years old. Their working period ranged from 0.5 to 40 years. Physicians and physician assistants occupied 40.9% (350/855) and 32.9% (281/855), respectively. And the intermediate and senior titles accounted for 26.2% (224/855). The proportion of trainees who had used and never used dental operative microscope (DOM) were 70.5% (603/855) and 29.5% (252/855), respectively. The blended teaching in microendodontics was universally approved by the trainees, which showed more superiority in the improvement of learning efficiency and interest, comprehension of knowledge as well as practical ability, etc., compared to the traditional offline teaching. For the current stomatology education, trainees were inclined to choose the blended teaching mode combining online theory curriculum and offline practice training, whereas 41.3% (353/855) and 39.6% (339/855) of trainees agreed that the teaching effectiveness was likely influenced by the condition and frequency of the offline training, respectively. Besides, significant differences were detected in the question about the factors affecting the blended teaching effectiveness of microendodontics between the trainees who had used and not used DOM (χ2=13.37, P=0.004). Conclusions:The application of online and offline blended teaching in microendodontics was affirmed to have some advantages, and it should be considered that the discrepancy in the level of expertise among trainees probably influenced the teaching effectiveness, which may promote the quality and effect of teaching, the spread and sharing of microendodontics, and provide experience and reference for the practice teaching of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics.

The release of the Measures of Ethical Review of Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Humans has brought new requirements to the field of ethical review in health management research.Based on the background of new regulations and combining the characteristics of the health management discipline,this paper explored the needs and necessity of ethical review in health management research.In the Measures,the ethical governance of health management research was updated,the concept of exemption from the ethical review was put forward,as well as the importance of protecting the rights and interests of research participants and the protection of personal information were emphasized.This paper also explored the ethical review framework for health management research,including the formulation of operational standards for exemption from ethical review,the refinement of standardized ethical review work systems and processes,and the clarification of information data source verification.These explorations aimed to provide an ethical guarantee for health management research,promote its healthy development,and ensure that the rights and interests of research participants are fully respected and protected.Through research,it is hoped that the ethical level of health management research can be further improved,promoting the development of the discipline and social progress.

Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a central nervous system disease with high morbidity,disability,and mortality.A series of pathological and physiological changes after SCI,including oxidative stress,can promote further deterioration of the microenvironment at the injury site,resulting in impaired neurological function.Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)is highly correlated with oxidative stress,suggesting that targeting the regulation of Nrf2 and alleviating oxidative stress may be an effective treatment for SCI.We consider the application of Nrf2 in post-SCI oxidative stress,based on the occurrence of oxidative stress after SCI and the relationship between oxidative stress and Nrf2.We also summarize the strategies for targeting and regulating Nrf2,including genes,non-coding RNAs,and drugs,with the aim of providing new ideas for targeted therapy of SCI.

Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a central nervous system disease with high morbidity,disability,and mortality.A series of pathological and physiological changes after SCI,including oxidative stress,can promote further deterioration of the microenvironment at the injury site,resulting in impaired neurological function.Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)is highly correlated with oxidative stress,suggesting that targeting the regulation of Nrf2 and alleviating oxidative stress may be an effective treatment for SCI.We consider the application of Nrf2 in post-SCI oxidative stress,based on the occurrence of oxidative stress after SCI and the relationship between oxidative stress and Nrf2.We also summarize the strategies for targeting and regulating Nrf2,including genes,non-coding RNAs,and drugs,with the aim of providing new ideas for targeted therapy of SCI.

Objective:To document the expression of aphasia-related progranulin gene (GRN) in mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood (PBMC) of patients with post-stroke aphasia (PSA).Methods:PC12 cells at the logarithmic-growth stage were cultured and divided into a non-specific interference group (the gene control group) and a specific interference group (the gene silencing group) when the cell density reached 30 to 50%. After the expression of GRN was knocked down in the cells, the occurrence of variable splicing events was analyzed using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). Meanwhile, 10 PSA patients were selected into a patient group and 10 healthy counterparts were chosen as a control group. Blood was collected from both groups and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reactions (RT-qPCR) were employed to determine any changes in GRN mRNA expression and the occurrence of variable splicing events in the nuclear factor related to kappa-B-binding protein (NFRKB) in their PBMCs. The patient group received conventional speech therapy, and immediately after their first and second blood collections their speech functioning was assessed using the Chinese Aphasia Battery (ABC). Pearson correlation coefficients were then computed relating the GRN expression and ABC scores.Results:After knocking down GRN in the PC12 cells, the expression of GRN in the gene knockdown group was significantly different from that in the control group. There were 237 genes with significant differences in variable splicing between the two samples. The number of genes with variable splicing events at the 5′ end was the largest. There were also significant differences between the groups in the average occurrence of NFRKB variable splicing events. And significant diffe-rences were observed in the mRNA expression of GRN between the two blood collections from the patient group, as well as between the first collection from the patient group and the controls. The average oral expression score of the PSA patients improved significantly, particularly the retelling score. The changes in the GRN expression level were positively correlated with the recovery of oral expression ability.Conclusion:GRN can promote the recovery of speech function in PSA patients by regulating the variable splicing of NFRKB.

Objective:To observe the temporal variability of functional connectivity between the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and rest of the brain in persons with Broca′s aphasia (BA) and to compare the connectivity between Uygur and Chinese aphasics.Methods:Thirty Chinese and Uygur BA patients (the patient group) and 30 healthy people speaking Uygur and Chinese (the healthy group) were included. rs-fMRI images were acquired, and the patient group was divided then into a Uygur language patient group (9 cases) and a Chinese language patient group (12 cases). The healthy group was divided into a Uygur language healthy group (13 cases) and a Chinese language healthy group (15 cases). Dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) calculations were performed, and a two-factor analysis of covariance was used to obtain the brain regions in which there was an interaction between language and aphasia and to analyze the correlation between the brain regions with abnormal dFCs and linguistic behavior.Results:Interaction between the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus and the left medial and paracentral cingulate gyrus and the right postcentral gyrus dFC was observed to vary. Temporal variability among the Uygur patients was significantly less than among the Uygur healthy and Chinese patient groups. The temporal variability of Broca′s mirror area and the right postcentral gyrus in the Chinese patient group was significantly greater than in the Chinese healthy group or the Uygur patient group. Variability of Broca′s area and the left medial and paracingulate cingulate gyrus in the Uygur patients group correlated positively with oral fluency, reading comprehension and writing.Conclusion:There are differences in the temporal variability of the dFC in the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus between Uygur and Chinese BA patients. The lower variability of Broca′s area with the left medial and paracingulate and cingulate gyrus may help to identify impaired language function in BA patients. The enhanced variability of the Broca′s mirror image area with the right postcentral gyrus may be the result of reorganization of the linguistic network in Chinese BA patients.

Objective:To observe the changes of optic disc structure in patients with high myopia and the correlation with the morphological markers of the fundus.Methods:A retrospective study. From July 2018 to January 2020, 90 patients (155 eyes) diagnosed as high myopia in Department of Ophthalmology of Beijing Friendship Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University were included in the study. Among them, there were 31 males (52 eyes) and 59 females (103 eyes), with age of 57.1±14.2 years old and axial length (AL) of 28.5±2.6 mm. According to the classification of myopic macular degeneration, patients were divided into 4 groups based on forms and degree of lesions, including non-pathological myopia group, mild traction lesions group, severe traction lesions group and neovascular lesions group, 35, 58, 41, 21 eyes, respectively. The digitized fundus photographs and an Image J system were used to measure the horizontal, vertical, maximal, and minimal diameter of the optic disc, the horizontal and vertical diameter of the parapapillary δ zone and γ zone, ovality index, distance between the most superior point of the temporal superior arterial arcade and most inferior point of the temporal inferior arterial arcade (VDA), angle between the temporal arterial arcade and optic disc (angle kappa), distance between the optic disc center and the fovea (DFD), angle between the horizontal disc axis and the disc-fovea line (DFA). The correlation between the diameter of the optic disc and other parameters was analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to compare differences between groups.Results:The horizontal diameter of the optic disc was positively correlated with the horizontal diameter of the δ zone ( r=0.300, P<0.001), Kappa angle ( r=0.260, P=0.003), and elliptic index ( r=0.650, P<0.001); it was negatively correlated with DFD ( r=-0.190, P=0.030). Optic disc vertical diameter and optic disc horizontal diameter ( r=0.280), δ-zone horizontal diameter ( r=0.330) and vertical diameter ( r=0.460), γ-zone horizontal diameter ( r=0.430) and vertical diameter ( r=0.390), DFD ( r=0.390) was positively correlated ( P<0.001); it was negatively correlated with DFA ( r=-0.210, P=0.001) and Kappa angle ( r=-0.210, P=0.004). Compared with the non-pathological myopia group, there were statistically significant differences in the horizontal and vertical diameters of the optic disc in the severe traction disease group ( P<0.05). Among them, the horizontal diameter difference did not depend on the eye axis and age difference; the vertical diameter difference was caused by the eye axis difference. Compared with the non-pathological myopia group, the difference in the horizontal diameter of the optic disc in the neovascular disease group was statistically significant ( P<0.05), and did not depend on the difference in the axis and age; the difference in the vertical diameter of the optic disc was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The morphology of optic disc was related to several fundus morphological markers, which was differentiated according to the age, AL and the degree of disease in patients with high myopia.

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of serum N-glycan alterations in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by measuring serum N-glycan profile and comparing glycosyltransferase gene expression between HCC tissue and adjacent tissue. MethodsThe samples of HCC tissue, adjacent tissue, and normal liver tissue were collected from 34 patients with HBV-related HCC who were admitted to Chinese PLA General Hospital, and serum samples were also collected. Among these 34 patients, 8 were randomly selected and their serum samples were established as HCC experimental group, and the serum samples of 20 healthy adults were established as control group. DNA sequencer-aided fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis was used to analyze serum N-glycan profile in the HCC experimental group and the control group. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of 8 glycosyltransferase genes (FUT3, FUT4, FUT6, FUT7, FUT8, Gn-TIII, Gn-TIVa, and Gn-TV) in the HCC tissue and adjacent tissue of 34 patients with HBV-related HCC, and Western blot was used to measure the expression of corresponding proteins. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group, the HCC experimental group had a significant increase in the abundance of N-glycan peak9 (NA3Fb) in serum(t=-2.514,P＜0.05). There were significant differences in the mRNA expression of FUT8, Gn-TIVa, and Gn-TV between HCC tissue and adjacent tissue, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of FUT8 and Gn-TV in HCC tissue were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissue (FUT8 mRNA: 1.50±0.34 vs 0.65±0.11, t=-2.354，P=0.022; Gn-TV mRNA: 3.57±0.64 vs 1.33±016, t=-3.384,P=0001; FUT8 protein: 0.70±0.11 vs 0.083±0.017, t=9.555,P=0.001; Gn-TV protein: 1.33±0.19 vs 0.60±0.15, t=5.097,P=0.007). The mRNA expression level of Gn-TIVa in HCC tissue was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissue (2.90±0.47 vs 1.68±0.19, t=-2.403,P=0.019), but there was no significant difference in the protein expression level of Gn-TIVa between HCC tissue and adjacent tissue (052±0.24 vs 0.24±0.11,t=1.833, P=0.141). The changes of glycosyltransferase gene expression in HCC tissue were consistent with the alteration of serum N-glycan profile. ConclusionSerum N-glycan alterations in patients with HBV-related HCC may be closely associated with the upregulated expression of the glycosyltransferase genes FUT8, Gn-TIVa, and Gn-TV in HCC tissue.