OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of action of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction against atherosclerosis （AS）based on macrophage polarization. METHODS Using atorvastatin served as the positive control， the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction was prepared to treat RAW264.7 macrophages. Macrophage viability， apoptosis rate， and the fluorescence intensities of CD86 and CD206 were measured， along with the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β）. Apolipoprotei n E-deficient （ApoE －/－ ） mice （AS model mice） fed with a high-fat diet were randomly assigned to model group， atorvastatin group （2.6 mg/kg）， and low-， medium- and high-dose groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction （90， 180， 360 mg/kg）， respectively. C57BL/6J mice fed with a standard diet served as the normal control group， with 10 mice per group. The treatment group mice were administered the corresponding drugs intragastrically， once daily， for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured in all groups. Lipid deposition in the aorta （assessed by the percentage of plaque in the entire aorta and aortic root） and morphological changes in the aortic root were observed. Expression levels of CD86 and CD206 in aortic tissue， as well as the protein expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）， arginase-1 （Arg-1）， AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）， and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ （PPAR-γ） in aortic tissues were all detected. RESULTS Cell experiment results showed that， at concentrations of 5-100 μg/mL， the drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction significantly increased RAW264.7 cell viability （ P ＜0.05）. The drug-containing serum of the Qingre huatan huoxue decoction at concentrations of 10， 50， and 100 μg/mL， along with atorvastatin， significantly reduced apoptosis rates， CD86 fluorescence intensity， and TNF-α and IL-1β levels in RAW264.7 cells， while markedly enhancing CD206 fluorescence intensity （ P ＜0.05）. Animal experiment results showed that， compared with the model group， all dosage groups of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction and the atorvastatin group showed significantly reduced/down-regulated levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum， along with decreased aortic total and root plaque percentages， CD86 expression， and iNOS protein expression. CD206 expression and Arg-1， p-AMPK/AMPK， PPAR-γ protein expression were significantly up-regulated （ P ＜0.05）. Pathological morphology of the aorta showed varying degrees of improvement. CONCLUSIONS The formula of Qingre huatan huoxue decoction exerts its anti-AS effects by regulating macrophage polarization， increasing the proportion of M2 macrophages， thereby effectively inhibiting AS plaque formation and reducing inflammatory responses.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate among all malignant tumors, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 80%-85% of all lung cancers. Lobectomy and lymph node dissection are one of the most important treatment methods, and lymph node dissection, as an important part, has attracted much attention. And its mode and scope of dissection may affect postoperative complications, particularly the occurrence of chronic cough. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of lymph node dissection on postoperative chronic cough in patients with NSCLC undergoing lobectomy, and to provide clinical evidence for optimizing surgical strategy and reducing postoperative chronic cough. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 365 NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from December 2020 to December 2023. The relationship between clinical characteristics and postoperative chronic cough was analyzed. The Chinese version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ-MC) scores were collected from the patients at 2 time points: 1 day before surgery and 8 weeks after surgery. Patients were divided according to lymph node dissection methods, to explore the relationship between lymph node dissection and chronic cough after lobectomy. Additionally, patients were divided into chronic cough and non-chronic cough groups based on the presence of postoperative chronic cough, to investigate whether perioperative data, lymph node dissection methods, and lymph node dissection regions were influencing factors. RESULTS: Patients undergoing lobectomy were more likely to have chronic cough after surgery in the systematic lymph node dissection group than in the lymph node sampling group (P<0.05). LCQ-MC scale evaluation showed that the psychological, physiological, social and total score of the patients in systematic lymph node dissection group were significantly lower than those in lymph node sampling group (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that anesthesia time, operation site, lymph node dissection method, whether to perform upper mediastinal lymph node dissection, number of upper mediastinal lymph node dissection, whether to perform lower mediastinal lymph node dissection and total number of lymph node dissection were independent risk factors for postoperative chronic cough in NSCLC patients (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS When NSCLC patients underwent lobectomy, lymph node sampling was associated with a significantly lower risk of chronic cough than systematic lymph node dissection. Dissecting lymph nodes in the upper and lower mediastinal regions and the number of lymph nodes dissected may increase the risk of postoperative cough and reduce the quality of life of patients after surgery.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Cough/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Lymph Node Excision/methods* ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Postoperative Complications/etiology* ; Adult ; Lymph Nodes/surgery* ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects* ; Chronic Cough

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

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*

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Purpose To investigate the diagnostic value of immunohistochemical(IHC)and molecular markers in diffuse pleural mesothelioma(DPM).Methods A total of 114 cases of DPM were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and imaging manifestations,histologic subtype and tumor grade.The positivity rates of Calretinin,WT-1,CK5/6,MC,D2-40,UPK3B,and GATA3 were assessed by IHC,and the loss rates of BAP-1 and MTAP were determined.The concordance between MTAP IHC and p16 gene fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)status was calculated,a-long with the sensitivity and specificity of MTAP IHC relative to p16 FISH.Results Among the 114 DPM patients,66(57.9％)were male and 48(42.1％)were female,with a mean age of 58.1 years(range 16-85 years).Imaging predominantly demonstrated pleural effusion and multiple pleural nodules(55.3％,63/114).Histologically,epitheli-oid,sarcomatoid and biphasic subtypes accounted for 88(77.2％),17(14.9％)and 9(7.9％)cases,respectively.Within the epithelioid group,low and high-grade tumors numbered 69(78.4％)and 19(21.6％),respectively.In epithelioid DPM,the highest IHC positivity rates were observed for Calretinin(92.4％,81/88),D2-40(90.0％,79/88)and WT-1(90.0％,79/88).In sarcomatoid DPM,D2-40(76.5％,13/17),WT-1(64.7％,11/17),and Cal-retinin(29.4％,5/17)showed the greatest positivity.UPK3B was positive in epithelioid(59.1％,39/66)and bi-phasic cases(66.7％,4/6),but was absent in sarcomatoid tumors(0/12).Among all DPM cases,loss rates were 47.3％(53/112)for BAP-1 and 19.2％(20/104)for MTAP by IHC,p16 gene deletion by FISH was 31.5％(34/108);Concordance between MTAP IHC and p16 FISH was 81.0％(81/100);MTAP IHC had a specificity of 95.5％(64/67)and sensitivity of 51.5％(17/33)relative to p16 FISH.Additionally,GATA3 was highly expressed in sarco-matoid DPM(76.5％,13/17).UPK3B positivity differed significantly between thoracoscopic DPM(59.2％,32/54)and percutaneous biopsy samples(36.7％,11/30)in epithelioid DPM(P＜0.05).WT-1 positivity was higher in thoracoscopic than percutaneous samples of sarcomatoid DPM(90.0％ vs 28.6％,P=0.009).Conclusion Calreti-nin,D2-40,and WT-1 are highly sensitive mesothelial markers and should serve as first-line IHC stains in DPM diag-nosis.UPK3B is diagnostically valuable in epithelioid DPM,GATA3 may complement the diagnosis of sarcomatoid DPM,and MTAP IHC can be used as a surrogate or adjunct to p16 FISH.

Objective To analyze the risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 427 NSCLC patients who underwent pulmonary surgery in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, between January 2021 and June 2023. Patients were categorized into a chronic cough group (103 patients) and a non-chronic cough group (324 patients) based on the presence of cough at 8 weeks post-surgery. A comparative analysis was performed between the two groups, considering gender, age, smoking history, comorbidities, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration. Factors showing statistical significance in univariate analysis underwent multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 427 patients undergoing pulmonary surgery, there were 165 males and 262 females, with an average age of (59.93±12.11) years. The incidence of chronic cough was 24.12%. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in smoking history, preoperative pulmonary function indicators, pleural adhesion, anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes, surgical site, operative techniques, lymph node dissection methods, tumor maximum diameter, and postoperative chest tube duration (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the surgical site (right upper lung), operative techniques (lobectomy), lymph node dissection, and anesthesia time ≥135.5 minutes were independent risk factors for chronic cough following pulmonary surgery. Conclusion Patients undergoing right upper lung surgery, lobectomy, lymph node dissection, and experiencing anesthesia duration ≥135.5 minutes are at a higher risk of developing chronic cough post-pulmonary surgery.

Purpose To investigate the diagnostic value of immunohistochemical(IHC)and molecular markers in diffuse pleural mesothelioma(DPM).Methods A total of 114 cases of DPM were retrospectively analyzed for clinical and imaging manifestations,histologic subtype and tumor grade.The positivity rates of Calretinin,WT-1,CK5/6,MC,D2-40,UPK3B,and GATA3 were assessed by IHC,and the loss rates of BAP-1 and MTAP were determined.The concordance between MTAP IHC and p16 gene fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)status was calculated,a-long with the sensitivity and specificity of MTAP IHC relative to p16 FISH.Results Among the 114 DPM patients,66(57.9％)were male and 48(42.1％)were female,with a mean age of 58.1 years(range 16-85 years).Imaging predominantly demonstrated pleural effusion and multiple pleural nodules(55.3％,63/114).Histologically,epitheli-oid,sarcomatoid and biphasic subtypes accounted for 88(77.2％),17(14.9％)and 9(7.9％)cases,respectively.Within the epithelioid group,low and high-grade tumors numbered 69(78.4％)and 19(21.6％),respectively.In epithelioid DPM,the highest IHC positivity rates were observed for Calretinin(92.4％,81/88),D2-40(90.0％,79/88)and WT-1(90.0％,79/88).In sarcomatoid DPM,D2-40(76.5％,13/17),WT-1(64.7％,11/17),and Cal-retinin(29.4％,5/17)showed the greatest positivity.UPK3B was positive in epithelioid(59.1％,39/66)and bi-phasic cases(66.7％,4/6),but was absent in sarcomatoid tumors(0/12).Among all DPM cases,loss rates were 47.3％(53/112)for BAP-1 and 19.2％(20/104)for MTAP by IHC,p16 gene deletion by FISH was 31.5％(34/108);Concordance between MTAP IHC and p16 FISH was 81.0％(81/100);MTAP IHC had a specificity of 95.5％(64/67)and sensitivity of 51.5％(17/33)relative to p16 FISH.Additionally,GATA3 was highly expressed in sarco-matoid DPM(76.5％,13/17).UPK3B positivity differed significantly between thoracoscopic DPM(59.2％,32/54)and percutaneous biopsy samples(36.7％,11/30)in epithelioid DPM(P＜0.05).WT-1 positivity was higher in thoracoscopic than percutaneous samples of sarcomatoid DPM(90.0％ vs 28.6％,P=0.009).Conclusion Calreti-nin,D2-40,and WT-1 are highly sensitive mesothelial markers and should serve as first-line IHC stains in DPM diag-nosis.UPK3B is diagnostically valuable in epithelioid DPM,GATA3 may complement the diagnosis of sarcomatoid DPM,and MTAP IHC can be used as a surrogate or adjunct to p16 FISH.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features and genetic characteristics of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) of lung and CCAM associated lung cancer in adults.Methods:A total of 13 cases of CCAM of lung in adults, diagnosed from June 2015 to May 2023, were collected from the Department of Pathology, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, China. Their histopathological features were correlated with probable development into lung cancer. Next-generation sequencing was performed on the benign and malignant areas of all cases.Results:The pathological classification of all cases were of CCAM of lung type 1. There were 4 male and 9 female cases, age ranged from 18 to 65 years, with a mean age of 41 years. Six cases were accompanied by lung cancer, all of them were mucinous adenocarcinoma. Next-generation sequencing showed no gene mutation in 2 of the 13 cases; KRAS mutations in exon 2 were detected in 7 cases, in which there were 6 cases complicated with lung mucinous adenocarcinoma and no matter in the malignant or benign regions, the same case exhibited the same mutation sites in KRAS gene.Conclusions:CCAM of the lung is a congenital disease, and in adults, type 1 is most commonly found in the pathological classification, and it is often accompanied by cancer. Gene mutations are frequently detected in CCAM of the lung, KRAS being the most recurrent mutation which may play an important role in the carcinogenesis.