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.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) plays an important role in various emotional and motivational behaviors that rely on heightened wakefulness. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the relationship between arousal and emotion regulation in NAc remain unclear. Here, we investigated the roles of a specific subset of inhibitory corticotropin-releasing hormone neurons in the NAc (NAc^CRH) in regulating arousal and emotional behaviors in mice. We found an increased activity of NAc^CRH neurons during wakefulness and rewarding stimulation. Activation of NAc^CRH neurons converts NREM or REM sleep to wakefulness, while inhibition of these neurons attenuates wakefulness. Remarkably, activation of NAc^CRH neurons induces a place preference response (PPR) and decreased basal anxiety level, whereas their inactivation induces a place aversion response and anxious state. NAc^CRH neurons are identified as the major NAc projection neurons to the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Furthermore, activation of the NAc^CRH-BNST pathway similarly induced wakefulness and positive emotional behaviors. Taken together, we identified a basal forebrain CRH pathway that promotes the arousal associated with positive affective states.
Animals ; Septal Nuclei/metabolism* ; Nucleus Accumbens/physiology* ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism* ; Wakefulness/physiology* ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neural Pathways/physiology* ; Anxiety/physiopathology* ; Reward

Objective:To enhance the understanding of hereditary protein C deficiency.Methods:A case of a child with severe hereditary protein C deficiency, presenting with recurrent muscle bleeding as the primary clinical manifestation, was reported. The diagnostic and treatment were detailed, and relevant literature was reviewed.Results:The patient, a 2-year-old girl, was admitted with "recurrent muscle hematomas for more than 2 years and intracranial hemorrhage for 3 months." Ecchymosis was observed on the skin of the left calf, with localized warmth detected on palpation. Muscle strength and tone in both lower limbs were within normal limits. The left thigh circumference measured 35.6 cm, compared to 29 cm on the right. Laboratory tests showed decreased fibrinogen, coagulation factor XIII activity, protein C activity, and significantly elevated fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer levels. Genetic testing identified compound heterozygous mutations in the PROC gene: c.565 (exon 7) C>T and c.983_988 (exon 7) del GCGAGC. The patient was diagnosed with hereditary protein C deficiency and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Treatment with fibrinogen supplementation, fresh frozen plasma, and anticoagulation therapy led to clinical improvement.Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of hereditary protein C deficiency are highly heterogeneous. While neonatal purpura fulminans is a common presentation, recurrent bleeding can also serve as a primary clinical manifestation.

Objective:To explore the effects of different graft to recipient body weight ratio (GRWR) on the efficacy of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in infants with biliary atresia (BA).Methods:Clinical data of 175 BA infants, including 98 males and 77 females, age at transplantation was 5.40 (4.77, 6.33) months, who underwent LDLT at the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from May 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into the routine GRWR group (2%≤GRWR≤ 4%, n=121) and high GRWR group (GRWR>4%, n=54). The preoperative general condition, intraoperative condition and postoperative recovery of children in the two groups were compared. Survival analysis was performed by using Kaplan-Meier method, and log-rank test was used to compare survival differences. Results:A total of 16 (9.14%, 16/175) children underwent unplanned surgery after LDLT. There were statistically significant differences in weight at LDLT and graft weight between children in the routine GRWR and high GRWR groups (both P<0.05). There were no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and postoperative complication rates (all P>0.05). There were no hepatic artery thrombosis or stenosis occurred in the children of both groups after LDLT. The cumulative survival rates of the children in the routine GRWR group were 97.5% and 95.5% at 1 and 3 years after LDLT, respectively, and 96.3% and 94.2% at 1 and 3 years after LDLT in the high GRWR group, and the difference in cumulative survival rates between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P=0.692). Conclusion:The use of liver grafts with GRWR >4% is also safe and effective for LDLT in infants with BA, which supposes that may not be necessary to reduce the transplanted liver volume in children LDLT with high GRWR.

Objective:To enhance the understanding of hereditary protein C deficiency.Methods:A case of a child with severe hereditary protein C deficiency, presenting with recurrent muscle bleeding as the primary clinical manifestation, was reported. The diagnostic and treatment were detailed, and relevant literature was reviewed.Results:The patient, a 2-year-old girl, was admitted with "recurrent muscle hematomas for more than 2 years and intracranial hemorrhage for 3 months." Ecchymosis was observed on the skin of the left calf, with localized warmth detected on palpation. Muscle strength and tone in both lower limbs were within normal limits. The left thigh circumference measured 35.6 cm, compared to 29 cm on the right. Laboratory tests showed decreased fibrinogen, coagulation factor XIII activity, protein C activity, and significantly elevated fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer levels. Genetic testing identified compound heterozygous mutations in the PROC gene: c.565 (exon 7) C>T and c.983_988 (exon 7) del GCGAGC. The patient was diagnosed with hereditary protein C deficiency and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Treatment with fibrinogen supplementation, fresh frozen plasma, and anticoagulation therapy led to clinical improvement.Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of hereditary protein C deficiency are highly heterogeneous. While neonatal purpura fulminans is a common presentation, recurrent bleeding can also serve as a primary clinical manifestation.

Background In the context of improving urban environment for healthy aging, it is necessary to rationally plan and provide community living space and public service facilities suitable for the elderly, and constantly optimize the built environment towards an age-friendly city. Objective To understand the relationship between community built environment and obesity in the elderly in Longgang City, and to provide a reference basis for improving the health of the elderly. Methods Elderly adults aged 60-90 years (n=6527) who completed a physical examination during the period from October 2020 to January 2021 in Longgang City were surveyed, and data on height and weight, waist circumference (WC), and other sociological demographic characteristics were obtained. Overweight was determined by 24 kg·m⁻² ≤ body mass index (BMI) < 28 kg·m⁻² and obesity by BMI ≥ 28 kg·m⁻². Men with WC ≥ 85 cm and women with WC ≥ 80 cm were considered central obesity. Based on the participants' residential addresses, geocoding was performed using a geographic information system, and built environment indicators such as restaurants, convenience stores, and basic medical facilities were obtained using Gaode Map. A binary logistic regression model with adjusted individual-level covariates was used to evaluate the relationship between obesity and built environment indicators among elderly adults by gender and age. Results Among the 6527 community elderly, 46.93% were male and 53.07% were female, with a mean age of (73.69±0.07) years, a mean BMI of (24.32±2.84) kg·m⁻², and 51.92% of the elderly were overweight or obese. The regression results showed that for elderly men, the more convenience stores and the higher mixed land use in residential areas, the higher risk of central obesity; however, the increases in street connectivity and accessibility to parks and recreational areas were associated a decreased risk of central obesity. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among elderly women with more convenience stores in residential areas, while increased street connectivity was associated with a lower prevalence of central obesity among elderly women. Accessibility to primary health care facilities was negatively associated with the risk of central obesity among the 60- to 70-year-olds. For elderly residents aged 71−80 years, higher mixed land use and better accessibility to transit stations were associated with a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity, while street connectivity was negatively associated with the central obesity. Proximity to parks and recreational areas was associated with a reduced risk of overweight/obesity among the 81- to 90-year-olds. Conclusion Among the variables of a 500-m neighborhood built environment, the number of convenience stores, mixed land use, street connectivity, accessibility to primary health care facilities, accessibility to public transit stations, and accessibility to parks and recreational areas are correlated with obesity among elderly residents, and the degree of influence varies by gender and age.

Objective:To understand the positive rate of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) specific IgG antibody induced by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) inactivated vaccine in healthy population in Xizang Autonomous Region, and evaluate the immune effect of the vaccine.Methods:Serum samples were collected from COIVD-19 vaccine immunized health population without history of 2019-nCoV infection from six prefecture-level cities in Xizang Autonomous Region. The IgG antibody against 2019-nCoV were tested by chemiluminescence method. Then, the positive rate of IgG antibody was analyzed for different immunization histories and age groups.Results:A total of 22 255 participants were enrolled in this survey. After full-access (two doses of vaccine) and booster immunization, the overall positive rate of specific IgG antibody against 2019-nCoV was 96.38%. The positive rate of IgG antibody in the booster immunized population was 97.12%, which was much higher than the 88.38% in the full-access immunization population, the difference is statistically significant ( χ2=381.11, P<0.001). There was a significant differences in the positive rates of specific IgG antibodies in different age groups ( χ2=138.28, P<0.001). Especially in the younger age groups, including less than 10 years old and the 11-20 years age group, the positive rate of specific IgG antibody were 93.44% and 89.03% respectively, which were lower than those in other age groups. Except for Naqu city and the age group ≤ 10 years old, the differences in antibody positivity rates were statistically significant between different age groups in the same region and between the different regions in the same age group for the two populations with different immunization histories ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The COVID-19 inactivated vaccine showed a good immune effect in the healthy population in Xizang Autonomous Region, and the booster immunization helps to increase the positive rate of specific IgG antibody in healthy population.

Under the situation of regular epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19, the hospitals need to establish an emergency personnel pool and update it regularly. The author introduced the experience of establishing and managing the emergency personnel pool in a hospital, including the use of information technology to achieve scientific grouping and dynamic management, strengthening the emergency response ability, epidemic prevention and control training and assessment of all staff, ensuring their mental health and logistics support, and improving the performance assessment, salary and welfare system of emergency personnel.From December 2021 to May 2022, the members of the emergency personnel pool completed a total of 62 emergency support tasks. The response time and team gathering time of all emergency tasks were reduced to less than 1 hour. A total of 4 421 medical personnel were sent. The nucleic acid test results of COVID-19 during the tasks were negative, the infection rate was zero, and no adverse events occurred.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α receptorⅡ: IgG Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) in the treatment of drug-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) .Methods:From 2009 to 2018, 22 patients with TEN were enrolled from 8 centers such as the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, including 10 males and 12 females, whose age ranged from 22 to 75 years. These patients were subcutaneously injected with rhTNFR:Fc at a dose of 25 mg once every 3 days for 6 - 8 consecutive sessions, and the initial dose was doubled. The drug eruption area and severity index (DASI) score and DASI improvement indices (DASI50, DASI75 and DASI90) were assessed before treatment and on days 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22 and 25 after treatment; cytometric bead array (CBA) technology was used to detect the level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α in peripheral blood and blister fluid samples. During the treatment, body temperature, rash changes, liver and kidney function of patients were monitored, and adverse reactions were recorded. Statistical analysis was carried out by using repeated measures analysis of variance, paired t test and Pearson correlation analysis. Results:Of the 22 patients, the temperature stopped rising in 20 patients without infections 24 - 72 hours after the first treatment, and returned to normal after 48 - 120 hours. Among the 22 patients, new blisters stopped appearing 24 - 48 hours after the first treatment, the skin color changed from bright red to dark purple after 48 - 96 hours, and most skin lesions subsided after 2 weeks. After 2 - 4 weeks of treatment, levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase returned to normal in 19 patients with abnormal liver function. After 4 - 13 days of treatment, levels of creatinine and urea nitrogen stopped rising in 7 patients with abnormal renal function. During the treatment, the DASI score of the 22 patients gradually decreased ( F = 532.81, P < 0.01) , from 53.64 ± 8.67 before treatment to 2.05 ± 1.21 on day 25 after treatment ( t = 26.60, P < 0.001) . On day 10 after treatment, 22 patients (100%) achieved DASI50; on day 19, 22 (100%) achieved DASI75; on day 25, 20 (90.90%) achieved DASI90. The level of TNF-α in peripheral blood of the 22 patients gradually decreased along with the extension of treatment duration, from 33.95 ± 27.90 ng/L before treatment to 2.38 ± 0.79 ng/L on day 25. Before treatment, the level of TNF-α in blister fluid of 15 patients was 111.99 ± 99.41 ng/L, and the ratio of blister-fluid TNF-α level to peripheral blood TNF-α level was 1.83 - 28.21. Before treatment, no correlation was observed between the serum level of TNF-α and DASI score in the 22 patients ( P = 0.10) , while the blister-fluid TNF-α level was positively correlated with DASI score in the 15 patients ( r = 0.59, P = 0.02) . No acute adverse reactions were observed during the treatment. All the 22 patients completed the treatment and were discharged with complete recovery. During 6 months of follow-up after discharge, no recurrence or any complication was observed. Conclusion:rhTNFR:Fc is effective and safe for the treatment of drug-induced TEN.