BACKGROUND:It has been proved clinically that adhesion of fibrous scar with the dura mater or nerve root after lumbar operation is an important factor for postoperative symptoms,such as postoperative pain and numbness. OBJECTIVE:To verify the inhibitory effect of autologous ligamentum flavum on the formation of epidural fibrous scar after lumbar surgery and explore the possible molecular biological mechanism. METHODS:Forty-eight Japanese white rabbits(6-8 months old)were randomly divided into three groups:a ligamentum flavum preservation group,a ligamentum flavum non-preservation group,and an autologous fat reposition group.A lumbar laminectomy model was established in all the three groups of rabbits,and rabbit epidural tissues were collected at 3 and 6 weeks after modeling.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe histological changes and the number and density of fibroblasts,VG staining was used to observe the percentage of collagen fiber area,and immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of transforming growth factor β1 and Smad3 proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining results revealed that fibroblasts in the ligamentum flavum preservation group were few and loosely arranged,while the cells in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups were more numerous and closely arranged.The number density of fibroblasts in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was lower than that in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05);however,there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.VG staining results showed that the collagen fibers in the ligamentum flavum preservation group were sparse and distributed unevenly,while a lot of red collagen fibers were gathered in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups.The area percentage of collagen fibers in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was lower than that in the ligamentum flavum non-preservation and autologous fat reposition groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the degree of positive staining of retained histone the ligamentum flavum preservation group was significantly lower than that of the other two groups.The absorbance value of transforming growth factor β1 and Smad3 in the ligamentum flavum preservation group was significantly lower than that in the other two groups at 3 and 6 weeks after surgery(P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the latter two groups.To conclude,there are different degrees of epidural fibrous scar formation after lumbar surgery.If the ligamentum flavum is preserved,it can help to reduce the number of epidural fibroblasts as well as the formation of collagen fibers,thus reducing the adhesion of the fibrous scar tissue to the dural sac and nerve root.The mechanism is not only a purely mechanical blockade,but also to reduce the formation of epidural fibrous scar by interfering with the transforming growth factor β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.

Background Coal workers' pneumoconiosis is a serious occupational disease in China. Exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can serve as the "breath fingerprint" of internal pathological processes, which provides a theoretical basis for exhaled VOCs to be used as potential non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Objective To screen out the characteristic VOCs and important characteristic VOCs of exhaled air in patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and to explore the potential of these VOCs as biomarkers for early non-invasive diagnosis of the disease. Methods In this study, 27 VOCs in the exhaled breath of 22 patients with stage I coal workers' pneumoconiosis, 77 workers exposed to dust, and 92 healthy controls were quantitatively detected by thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS). Substances with P<0.05 in univariate analysis and variable importance projection (VIP) >1 in supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model were selected as the characteristic VOCs for early diagnosis of coal workers' pneumoconiosis. Age was included in the LASSO regression model as a covariate to screen out important characteristic VOCs, and the diagnostic performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Spearman correlation was further used to explore the correlation between important characteristic VOCs and clinical lung function indicators. Results Through univariate analysis and OPLS-DA modeling, 8 VOCs were selected, including 2-methylpentane, 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, methylcyclopentane, n-heptane, methylcyclohexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, in exhaled breath of patients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis. The concentrations of 4 VOCs, including 3-methylpentane, n-hexane, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone, showed a decreasing trend with the increase of dust exposure years. By LASSO regression, the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the dust exposure group were n-hexane, methylcyclohexane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone, and the important characteristic VOCs of the coal workers' pneumoconiosis group and the healthy group were 2-methyl-pentane and 4-methyl-2-pentanone. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, and 4-methyl-2-pentanone were 0.969, 0.909, and 0.956, respectively, and the AUC of combined diagnosis was 0.988 and its Youden index was 0.961, suggesting that these results can serve as a valuable reference for further research on early diagnosis. The Correlation analysis found that there was a positive correlation between n-hexane and lung function indicators in the important characteristic VOCs, indicating that it could indirectly reflect the obstruction of lung function ventilation, further proving that important characteristic VOCs have the potential to monitor lung function decline. Conclusion Three important characteristic VOCs selected in this study have the potential to be used as non-invasive biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and are worthy of further study and verification.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion in relieving rat intestinal inflammation by focusing on the neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in Crohn disease(CD)development. Methods:Rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a herb-partitioned moxibustion group,and a mesalazine group.The CD rat model was prepared with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid except for rats in the normal group.Rats in the normal group and model group did not receive any treatment but had the same fixation as the other groups.Rats in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received herb-partitioned moxibustion at Qihai(CV6)and bilateral Tianshu(ST25).Rats in the mesalazine group received intragastric administration of mesalazine enteric-coated tablets.The general situation of rats in each group was recorded,and the histopathological changes in the colon were observed and scored by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The serum concentrations of NETs DNA(NETs-DNA),neutrophil elastase(NE)-DNA,and myeloperoxidase(MPO)-DNA were detected by ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the citrullinated histone 3(citH3),MPO,and NE protein and mRNA expression levels in rat colon tissue were observed by immunofluorescence and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with the normal group,the mucosal ulcer reached the muscularis,the epithelium was incomplete,the goblet cells decreased obviously with significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon;the colonic mucosa damage index(CMDI)score increased significantly(P<0.01);the serum NETs-DNA,NE-DNA,and MPO-DNA concentrations increased(P<0.05);the NE,citH3,and MPO protein and mRNA expression in the colonic tissue increased significantly in the model group(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the mucosal epithelium in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the mesalazine group was repaired and the goblet cells increased with a few infiltrating inflammatory cells in the colon;the CMDI score decreased(P<0.01);the serum NETs-DNA,NE-DNA,and MPO-DNA concentrations decreased(P<0.05);the NE,citH3,and MPO protein and mRNA expression in the colonic tissue was down-regulated(P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion:Herb-partitioned moxibustion reduced the serum NETs complex and inhibited the protein and mRNA expression of NETs complex in the colon tissue,which may be one mechanism of herb-partitioned moxibustion in relieving colon mucosal inflammation in CD.

Objective:To investigate the role of serotonin reuptake transporter(SERT)and P2X3 receptor of dorsal root ganglion(DRG)in regulating visceral hypersensitivity of rats with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by electroacupuncture(EA). Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley and SERT-/-rats were subjected to preparing IBS visceral hypersensitivity models with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)enema.Three weeks post-modeling,interventions including EA,intrathecal injection,and EA plus intrathecal injection were applied,respectively.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)score were used to confirm the successful establishment of the IBS model.AWR score,whole-cell patch clamp technique,and Western blotting assay were used to evaluate the changes in visceral pain sensitivity,electrophysiological properties of DRG neurons,and the expression of DRG P2X3 receptor and SERT in IBS rats. Results:Compared to the model group,the AWR score in the EA group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the resting membrane potential(P<0.05)and the number of action potentials(P<0.05)of DRG neurons reduced,and the baseline intensity increased(P<0.05);additionally,the expression of P2X3 receptor in DRG decreased(P<0.01),and the SERT expression increased(P<0.05).Compared to the P2X3 receptor agonist group,the SERT protein expression in DRG was higher in the EA group.In SERT-/-rats,the P2X3 receptor expression in DRG increased in the EA group compared to the model group(P<0.01). Conclusion:EA modulates the electrophysiological characteristics of intestinal primary sensory neurons by regulating the expression of SERT and P2X3 receptor in DRG of IBS rats.This modulation may contribute to the mechanism by which EA alleviates peripheral sensitization of visceral pain in IBS rats.

Curettage is the main treatment method for oral maxillofacial cystic lesions,but simple curettage may easily damage surrounding structures such as adjacent teeth and nerves,leading to incomplete removal of the cyst and large jaw defects.The curettage assisted by endoscopy can provide a good surgical field for the surgeons,can clearly identify the important anatomical structure during the operation and can remove the cyst wall tissue as much as possible,thereby reducing the damage and reducing the recurrence rate of the lesion.This article combines the characteristics of maxillofacial surgery with clinical treatment experience,summarizes relevant literature from both domestic and international sources,and engages in discussions with experts in order to provide reference for the clinical treatment of jaw cystic lesions with endo-scope assisted curettage.

The biological clock(also known as the circadian rhythm)is the fundamental reliance for all organisms on Earth to adapt and survive in the Earth's rotation environment.Circadian rhythm is the most basic regulatory mechanism of life activities,and plays a key role in maintaining normal physiological and biochemical homeostasis,disease occurrence and treatment.Recent studies have shown that the biologi-cal clock plays an important role in the development of oral tissues and in the occurrence and treatment of oral diseases.Since there is cur-rently no guiding literature on the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,researchers mainly conduct research based on pub-lished references,which has led to controversy about the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,and there are many confusions about how to rationally apply the research methods of circadia rhythms.In view of this,this expert consensus summarizes the characteristics of the biological clock and analyzes the shortcomings of the current biological clock research in stomatology,and organizes relevant experts to summarize and recommend 10 principles as a reference for the rational implementation of the biological clock in stomatology research.

Neck dissection(ND)is one of the main treatment methods for oral and maxillofacial malignancies.Although ND type is in con-stant improvement,but intraoperative peal-pull-push injury of the accessory nerve,muscle,muscle membrane,fascia and ligament induced shoulder syndrome(SS)is still a common postoperative complication,combined with the influence of radiochemotherapy,not only can cause pain,stiffness,numbness,limited dysfunction of shoulder neck and arm,but also may have serious impact on patient's life quality and phys-ical and mental health.At present,there is still a lack of a systematic evaluation and rehabilitation management program for postoperative SS of oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors.Based on the previous clinical practice and the current available evidence,refer to the relevant lit-erature at home and abroad,the experts in the field of maxillofacial tumor surgery and rehabilitation were invited to discuss,modify and reach a consenusus on the etiology,assessment diagnosis,differential diagnosis,rehabilitation strategy and prevention of SS,in order to provide clinical reference.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of density features of computed tomography(CT)of the fat around pericoronary artery of dual-source computer tomography angiography(CTA)combined with electrocardiogram(ECG)on the severity of disease condition in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods:A total of 120 CHD patients who admitted to Shanxi Bethune Hospital from March 2021 to March 2023 were selected,and they were grouped according to the New York Heart Association(NYHA).Among of them,86 cases at grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ were divided into grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ group,and 34 cases at grade Ⅳ were divided into grade Ⅳ group.A dual-source CT was used to detect the densities of different coronary branches of Pericardial Adipose Tissue(PCAT)of average coronary artery of proximal left anterior descending artery(pLAD),mid left anterior descending artery(mLAD),proximal left circumflex artery(pLCX),proximal right coronary artery(pRCA),mid right coronary artery(mRCA)and distal right coronary artery(dRCA)of all patients,and ECG was used to detect and record the value of QRS voltage,QRS time limit value and QTc interval of patients.The mean PCAT densities of pLAD,mLAD,pLCX,pRCA,mRCA and Drca,and the QRS voltage and QRS time limit,as well as QTc interval between the two groups were observed and compared.The receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacies of the above indicators in single diagnosis and combined diagnosis for the severity of disease condition of CHD patients.Results:The mean PCAT density of pLAD,mLAD,pLCX,pRCA,mRCA,mRCA and dRCA,and QRS time limit and QTc interval of patients in grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ group were significantly lower than those in grade Ⅳ group,with statistically significant difference(t=58.681,5.097,5.902,13.513,P<0.05),respectively.The area under curve(AUC)values of ROC curves of ECG and CT density of the fat around pericoronary artery of CTA were larger than 0.5 for the severity of disease condition in CHD patients,and the highest AUC value of combined diagnosis was 0.966.The results of Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that there were correlations among mean PCAT density,QRS voltage,QRS time limit and QTc interval,and there were significantly negative correlations between QRS voltage and mean PCAT density,between QRS time limit and QTc interval(r=-0.754,-0.280,-0.452,P<0.05),and there were significantly positive correlations among mean PCAT density,QRS time limit,QTc interval and the severity of the disease condition of CHD patients(r=0.983,0.435,0.547,P<0.05),respectively.There was a significantly negative correlation between QRS voltage and severity of disease condition of CHD patients(r=-0.776,P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination of CT density features of the fat around pericoronary artery of coronary artery CTA and ECG QRS wave group detection is helpful to the diagnosis for the severity of disease condition of CHD patients,which can improve the accuracy of diagnosis and has a certain of application value.

The incidence of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fracture (OTLVF) in the elderly is gradually increasing. The kyphotic deformity caused by various factors has become an important characteristic of OTLVF and has received increasing attention. Its clinical manifestations include pain, delayed nerve damage, sagittal imbalance, etc. Currently, the definition and diagnosis of OTLVF with kyphotic deformity in the elderly are still unclear. Although there are many treatment options, they are controversial. Existing guidelines or consensuses pay little attention to this type of fracture with kyphotic deformity. To this end, the Lumbar Education Working Group of the Spine Branch of the Chinese Medicine Education Association and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized the experts in the relevant fields to jointly develop Clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar vertebral fractures with kyphotic deformity in the elderly ( version 2024), based on evidence-based medical advancements and the principles of scientificity, practicality, and advanced nature, which provided 18 recommendations to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To analyze the dosimetric differences between gamma knife stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and linear accelerator-based SBRT for lung tumors by comparison to provide a theoretical basis for the selection of treatment strategies.Methods:Seven patients who underwent SBRT for lung tumors in the Cancer Center of Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University from January 2022 to May 2023 were enrolled. Plans of gamma knife SBRT (γ_SBRT) or linear accelerator-based SBRT plans (X_SBRT) were designed for the 13 lesions in the patients, with adjacent lesions in the same patient sharing one plan. As a result, 10 γ_SBRT plans and 10 X_SBRT plans were obtained. All lesions received 30-50 Gy of radiation in 5-10 fractions. Then, dosimetric parameters were analyzed and compared between γ_SBRT and X_SBRT plans, including the target coverage, gradient index (GI), conformity index (CI), maximum dose ( Dmax); mean dose ( Dmean), and minimum dose ( Dmin) of planning target volumes (PTVs); lung volumes receiving 20 Gy or more ( V20), 10 Gy or more ( V10), 5 Gy or more ( V5), 100% of the prescription dose ( V100%), and 50% of the prescription dose ( V50%); Dmean and the percentages of lung volume receiving doses of 20 Gy or more (Lung_ V20) and 5 Gy or more (Lung_ V5) of ipsilateral lung; Dmean and Lung_ V5 of contralateral lung; and Dmax values of the esophagus, spinal cord, and heart. Results:Compared to X_SBRT plans, γ_SBRT plans exhibited superior GI, V20, V10, V5, V50%, the Dmean, Lung_ V20, and Lung_ V5 of ipsilateral lung, the Dmean and Lung_ V5 of the contralateral lung, and the Dmax of esophageal and heart ( z = -2.81 to -1.99, P < 0.05), higher Dmax and Dmean of PTVs ( z = -2.80, -2.80, P < 0.05), and longer delivery time ( z=-2.70, P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in target coverage, CI, and Dmax of the spinal cord ( P > 0.05). Conclusions:Gamma knife SBRT plans can achieve sharper dose falloff outside target volumes than linear accelerator-based SBRT plans. Gamma knife radiosurgery is expected to reduce the radiation dose to low-dose areas around PTVs and normal lung tissue in SBRT for lung tumors. However, it significantly prolongs the delivery time.