Objective : To analyze the relationship between tongue volume, tongue position, dental and skeletal parameters in adult patients with different skeletal malocclusions, providing references for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of skeletal malocclusions. Methods: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee, and informed consent has been obtained from patients. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and cephalometric radiographs were collected from 60 adult patients, divided into three groups based on ANB angle values: skeletal Class I (0° < ANB < 4°), II (ANB > 4°), and III (ANB < 0°), with 20 cases in each group. Dental and skeletal parameters were measured using Dolphin software. Mimics software was used for 3D reconstruction of the tongue, oral cavity, and upper airway to measure tongue position, tongue volume, oral cavity volume, and upper airway volume, followed by statistical analysis. Results: The skeletal Class III group had significantly larger tongue and oral cavity volumes than the skeletal Class I and Class II groups (P = 0.02). Tongue length in the skeletal Class III group was also greater than in the skeletal Class I and Class II groups (P = 0.016). There was no significant difference in the ratio of tongue volume/oral cavity capacity among the three skeletal malocclusion groups (P > 0.05). Tongue volume was positively correlated with U1-SN and negatively correlated with overbite and overjet (P < 0.05). Additionally, tongue volume showed a significant positive correlation with Go-Gn and Pg-Np (P < 0.01), as well as with maxillary and mandibular dental arch width and basal bone arch width (P < 0.01). Upper airway volume was positively correlated with TT-VRL and TP-VRL (P < 0.05). Conclusion Patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion have larger tongue volumes and longer tongues. Patients with larger tongue volumes may also have larger, more forward-positioned mandibles. Patients with more posterior tongue positions may have smaller upper airway volumes. When developing orthodontic or orthognathic treatment plans, it is crucial to consider the relationship between tongue position, tongue volume, the jaws, and the airway to ensure optimal outcomes for both dental and orofacial function.

BACKGROUND:Physiotherapy is very important for the recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.In recent years,many doctors are optimizing the physical rehabilitation program after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.However,there is still a lack of efficient rehabilitation training after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of vibration therapy combined with suspension training on movement and knee joint function after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. METHODS:A total of 80 patients undergoing first unilateral anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at the Affiliated Sport Hospital,Shanghai University of Sport were randomly divided into vibration therapy group(n=40)and vibration therapy+suspension training group(n=40).In the vibration therapy group,vibration therapy(10 minutes each,once a day,6 times per week)was performed at the 13th week after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Patients in the vibration therapy+suspension training group were treated with vibration therapy(10 minutes each,once a day,6 times per week)and suspension training(twice a week)at the 13th week after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.Training in each group was performed for 8 weeks.Knee joint function was evaluated by knee joint Lysholm score before and 8 weeks after training.The symmetry index was evaluated by the isokinetic muscle strength evaluation training system.The balance test system was used to evaluate the average trace error difference of the bilateral multi-axes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with those before training,the knee Lysholm score and the knee extension and flexion symmetry indexes increased(P<0.05),and the average trace error difference decreased after training(P<0.05).Compared with the vibration therapy group,the knee Lysholm score in the vibration therapy+suspension training group increased(P<0.05),the knee extension and knee flexion symmetry index increased(P<0.05),and the average trace error difference decreased(P<0.05).To conclude,compared with vibration therapy training alone,vibration therapy combined with suspension training can significantly improve knee joint function,increase muscle strength and symmetry,and improve balance stability in patients undergoing anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

Objective To analyze chemical constituents of compound Maxing Shigan decoction by ultra-high perfor-mance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS). Methods The separation was performed on a UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.5 µm)，with a gradient elution applying 0.1% aqueous formic acid solution and 0.1% formic acid acetonitrile as a mobile phase. The column temperature was 40 °C. The flow rate was 0.4 ml/min and the analysis time was 15 min. Mass spectrometry (MS) data were collected in both positive and negative ESI ion modes. Results Through UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis and reference validation, a total of 59 chemical components in Maxing Shigan decoction were identified. Conclusion An ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) method was established to identify the chemical components of Maxing Shigan decoction. This method is simple, efficient, sensitive and accurate, and provides a basis for the elucidation of the pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of Maxing Shigan decoction. It can provide data reference for the optimization of the compatibility of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of COVID-19.

Objective:To verify the feasibility of using Elekta accelerated go live (AGL) standard process for the acceptance of multiple accelerators.Methods:The beams of three accelerators were adjusted by PTW Beamscan three-dimensional water tank to reach the AGL standard. Dose verification was performed for three accelerators that met AGL standards. A simple field test example from Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was used to compare the MapCheck 3 surface dose measurement results with the surface dose calculated by the same accelerator model. Images of 10 patients including head and neck, esophagus, breast, lung and rectum were randomly selected. volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment techniques were used for planning design, and the measured dose of ArcCheck was compared with the planned dose calculated by the same accelerator model. One-way ANOVA was used to statistically analyze the passing rates of two-dimensional and three-dimensional dose verification.Results:The 6 MV X-ray percentage depth dose at 10 cm underwater (PDD 10) of three accelerators was 67.45%, 67.36%, 67.47%, and the maximum deviation between the three accelerators was 0.11%. The 6 MV flattenting filter free (FFF) mode X-ray PDD 10 was 67.33%, 67.20%, 67.20%, and the maximum deviation between the three accelerators was 0.13%. All required discrete point doses on each energy 30 cm×30 cm Profile spindle of the three accelerator X-rays deviated less than ±1% from the standard data. Absolute γ analysis was performed on the results of MapCheck 3 two-dimensional dose matrix validation. Under the 10% threshold of 2 mm/3% standard, the average passing rate of the test cases in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was above 99%, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Absolute γ analysis was performed on the ArcCheck verification results. Under the 10% threshold, the pass rate of 2 mm/3% was all above 95%, the maximum average passing rate of the three accelerators with different energy and different treatment techniques was 0.28% (6 MV, VMAT), 0.19%(6 MV FFF, VMAT), 0.56% (6 MV, IMRT) and 0.05% (6 MV FFF, IMRT), and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with traditional accelerator acceptance process, the acceptance time of each accelerator is shortened by 4-6 weeks by using the AGL standard process, and the radiotherapy plan of patients can be interchangeably executed among different accelerators.

Acylcarnitines are metabolic intermediates of fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids having vital biofunctions and pathophysiological significances.Here,we developed a high-throughput method for quantifying hundreds of acylcarnitines in one run using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).This enabled simultaneous quantification of 1136 acyl-carnitines(C0-C26)within 10-min with good sensitivity(limit of detection＜0.7 fmol),linearity(cor-relation coefficient＞0.992),accuracy(relative error＜20％),precision(coefficient of variation(CV),CV＜15％),stability(CV＜15％),and inter-technician consistency(CV＜20％,n=6).We also established a quantitative structure-retention relationship(goodness of fit＞0.998)for predicting retention time(tR)of acylcarnitines with no standards and built a database of their multiple reaction monitoring parameters(tR,ion-pairs,and collision energy).Furthermore,we quantified 514 acylcarnitines in human plasma and urine,mouse kidney,liver,heart,lung,and muscle.This provides a rapid method for quantifying acyl-carnitines in multiple biological matrices.

Objective This study utilized bioinformatics to investigate the role of secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)in tumors and assess its differential expression and prognostic significance across human cancers.Method Cancer sample data was sourced from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-tissue Expression(GTEx)database.Analysis of gene expression differences in pan-cancer involving SPP1 utilized the CPTAC database,correlations between SPP1 and patient survival outcomes were assessed using GEPIA2,and alterations in gene mutations for SPP1 across 32 cancers were appraised via the CbioPortal tool.Results Across 32 tumor types,SPP1 mRNA disparity is observed in eight cancer types,decreasing only in clear cell renal carcinoma while increasing in other malignancies.Expression in tumor stage is specific;SPP1 mRNA negatively correlates with patient overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS);low methylation associated with SPP1 gene activity promotes oncogene activation,impacting tumor cell generation,apoptosis,and proliferation,thereby influencing cancer progression;SPP1 primarily exhibits missense mutations that correlate with poor prognoses in prostate and stomach cancer patients.Conclusion Through pan-cancer studies,SPP1's selective expression in human malignancies was validated and found to be strongly correlated with clinical prognosis.This suggests that SPP1 is a viable target for cancer prognostic precision.

Objective To utilize bioinformatic approaches to elucidate the correlation between secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1)and immune infiltration in various malignancies,elucidating the mechanism of gene function in cancer-immune cell interplay.Methods Cancer samples were derived from the Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Genotype-tissue Expression(GTEx)database,examining SPP1 expression difference between tumors and normal tissues using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA2),and its correlation with different immune cells in extracellular matrix via TIMER2 Database.SPP1's association with interacting molecules was scrutinized on the STRING website,followed by assessment of its distinct functional state across various cancers from Cancer Single-cell State Atlas Database(Cancer SEA).Results In 32 tumor types,SPP1 mRNA is significantly elevated in 23 types of cancers and correlates heavily with fibroblast,integrin family,and CD44.Furthermore,the SPP1 gene exhibits profound specificity in tumor functions such as vascular invasion,metastasis,DNA damage,and repair.Conclusion Specific expression of SPP1 in tumors signifies a significant correlation with tumor immune cells in the extracellular matrix,promoting tumor progression and invasion.This suggests that targeted monitoring of SPP1 could serve as a prospective cancer diagnostics/therapeutics biomarker.

Objective To explore the effect of auto-segmentation based on deep learning(DL)and Atlas during online adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy.Methods Totally 15 prostate cancer patients undergoing MRI-guided online adaptive radiotherapy at some hospital from January 2020 to September 2021 were selected and divided into a training set(12 cases)and a test set(3 cases)by random sampling method.With the training set data the models of clinical target volume(CTV)and organs at risk(OAR)by DL and Atlas segmentation were established,and with the test set data the two segmentation models were modified and the modification lengths were recorded.DL and Atlas segmentation methods were compared on segmentation efficiency and accuracy in terms of Dice similarity coefficient(DSC),Hausdorff distance(HD)and mean distance to agreement(MDA).A joint auto-segmentation scheme based on combined DL and Atlas was constructed with considerations on the advantages and characteristics of the two methods,which was compared with the schemes respectively based on DL or Atlas from the aspect of the time consumed for segmentation.Results Accuracy comparison showed Atlas segmentation model behaved better significantly than DL model for CTV(P＜0.05),while obviously worse than the latter for DSC and MDA in bladder and rectum(P＜0.05).The doctor took 9.4 min in average for CTV and OAR modification based on DL model and 12 min in average for Atlas-model-based modification.The joint auto-segmentation scheme only needed 8 min in average for CTV and OAR modification,which gained advantages over the schemes based on DL or Atlas.Conclusion The auto-segmentation based on combined DL and Atlas during online adaptive MRI-guided radiotherapy behaves well in low time consumption,high accuracy and efficiency.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2024,45(6):59-64]