Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the tooth-supporting tissues, and it constitutes a major global public health concern. Methylation modifications, including DNA methylation, histone methylation, and RNA m6A modification, represent reversible processes coordinately regulated by methyltransferases, demethylases, and binding proteins. In periodontitis, aberrant methylation modifications suppress Toll-like receptor 2 expression, leading to oral microbial dysbiosis. These modifications further disrupt normal immune regulatory functions through C-C motif chemokine ligands, Fc-γ receptor-mediated phagocytosis, and NF-κB signaling pathways, resulting in localized immune-inflammatory imbalance in periodontal tissues. In addition, various methylation modifications regulate the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteoblast-specific transcription factor Osterix (OSX), and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), thereby interfering with osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation, disrupting bone homeostasis, and ultimately driving alveolar bone resorption. Methylation-related biomarkers demonstrate promising potential for periodontitis screening and prognostic evaluation. While numerous abnormally methylated sites have been identified in periodontitis, the precise signaling pathways and comprehensive epigenetic regulatory networks remain to be fully elucidated. This review systematically summarizes the functional roles of DNA methylation modifications in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and explores their potential value in etiological studies, diagnostic biomarker discovery, and targeted therapeutic interventions, with the aim of providing novel perspectives for periodontitis prevention and treatment strategies.

AIM:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of pneumoperitoneum-free single-hole endoscopy combined with ropivacaine local infiltra-tion anesthesia in pregnancy with ovarian tumor.METHODS:Twenty-eight pregnant women with ovarian tumor were randomly divided into two groups:observation group(n=16)and control group(n=12).The first time out of bed,ventilation time,postoperative hospital stay,non-invasive blood pressure,heart rate(HR),respiratory fre-quency(RR)and blood oxygen saturation(SpO2)were compared between the two groups.Pain score,Ramsay sedation score,SAS anxiety score,postoperative complications,patient satisfaction and recovery quality scale QoR15 were evaluated at 6,24 and 48 hours after operation.RESULTS:There was no significant difference in postopera-tive hospital stay,Ramsay score,RR,SpO2 and the incidence of complications between the two groups(P>0.05),but the time of getting out of bed and ventilation time were shortened,the scores of non-invasive blood pressure,HR,pain and anxiety in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,and the scores of patient satisfac-tion and QoR15 in the observation group were bet-ter than those in the control group(P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:The application of pneumoperitoneum-free single-hole endoscope combined with ropiva-caine local infiltration anesthesia in pregnancy with ovarian tumor can reach satisfactory clinical re-sults,including reducing postoperative pain and anxiety,which is worth popularizing.

Periodontal disease is a common and frequently-occurring disease in China. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease are of great significance for achieving universal oral health and even systemic health. Artificial intelligence endows machines with the ability to mimic human intelligent behavior, and is commonly used in medical field with both physical and virtual forms. Virtual artificial intelligence empowers traditional experience in the application of periodontal disease risk assessment and diagnosis, with the potential to develop a variety of oral health screening tools. It helps to provide new evidence for the prognosis of periodontal disease, improve the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis, reduce technical sensitivity and further promote the periodontal treatment transformation from "treatment-oriented" to "prevention-oriented". This paper reviews the current applications and progresses of virtual artificial intelligence in periodontal risk assessment and diagnosis, as well as its limitations, providing ideas for future researches on the application of virtual artificial intelligence in this field.

With the widespread application of colorectal cancer screening, the surveillance and management of the increasing number of screened population has become a pivotal aspect in preventing and controlling colorectal cancer. In recent years, researches have been conducted on the risk of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in the population after screening. At the same time, various organizations in Europe and the United States have continuously updated colonoscopy surveillance after screening and polypectomy based on the latest research evidence. In this review, we summarized the current progress of studies on colorectal cancer risk in post-screening colorectal cancer populations and the key points of relevant guideline updates, in order to provide a reference for conducting relevant studies and formulating surveillance guidelines or consensus in China.

Objective:To explore the differences in distribution of colorectal cancer-related risk factors between patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) and those with late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) in a Chinese cohort, and to provide reference and guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of EOCRC.Methods:Using data from the National Colorectal Cancer Cohort study cohort, 5377 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC) attending the Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2018 to February 2023 were included in the study cohort. Questionnaires capturing epidemiological features, including lifestyle and dietary habits, were administered. The patients were divided into two groups, the cut-off age being 50 years. Those aged ≥50 years were defined as having LOCRC and those aged <50 years as having EOCRC. Wilcoxon (continuous variates) or χ 2 tests (categorical variates) were performed to compare differences in epidemiological features. Results:A total of 3799 people who had completed the questionnaire were included in this study, 491 of whom had EOCRC and 3308 LOCRC. The response rate to the questionnaire was 70.7%. The median ages of patients in the EOCRC and LOCRC groups were 43 and 66 years, respectively. There was a higher proportion of female patients (48.5% [253/491] vs. 35.8% [1184/3308], χ 2=28.8, P<0.001) in the EOCRC than the LOCRC group. Patients with EOCRC and lower body mass index (medium 22.1 kg/m 2 vs. 22.9 kg/m 2, W=744 793, P=0.005) and lower proportion of abdominal obesity (87.2% [428/491] vs. 93.8% [3103/3308], χ 2=38.3, P<0.001). Patients with EORC significantly less commonly reported a history of hypertension (5.9% [29/491] vs. 41.6% [1375/3308], χ 2=231.8, P<0.001), diabetes (1.4% [7/491] vs. 14.4% [476/3308], χ 2=63.6, P<0.001) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (0.8% [4/491] vs. 7.3% [241/3308], χ 2=28.6, P<0.001). However, the proportion of patients with a family history of CRC was significantly higher ( P<0.05) in the EOCRC group (10.2% [50/491] vs. 6.9% [227/3 308], χ 2=6.5, P=0.010]. In terms of lifestyle, patients with EOCRC had shorter sleep duration (median: 8.0 hours vs. 8.5 hours, W=578 989, P<0.001), and were less likely to participate in physical exercise (29.5% [145/491] vs. 38.7% [1281/3308] χ 2=15.0, P<0.001) or engage in physical work (65.2% [320/491] vs. 74.1% [2450/3308], χ 2=16.7, P<0.001). Meanwhile, in the EOCRC group a lower percentage of patients were smokers (29.3% [144/491] vs. 42.7% [1411/3308], χ 2=46.9, P<0.001) and they smoked less (median 17.6 pack/year vs. 30.0 pack/year,W=55 850, P<0.001). Fewer patients in the EOCRC group habitually drank alcohol (21.0% [103/491] vs. 38.0% [1257/3308], χ 2=57.5, P<0.001) or tea (17.5% [86/491] vs. 28.7% [948/3308], χ 2=26.2, P<0.001) than in the LOCRC group. Compared with the LOCRC group, patients with EOCRC had a higher frequency of intake of fresh meat, fresh fruit, eggs, and dairy products and a lower frequency of intake of preserved meat and pickled vegetables; these differences are statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in consumption of fresh vegetables or a high-sugar diet between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusions:This study highlights disparities in adverse lifestyle and dietary habits between patients in China with EOCRC versus LOCRC.

Objective:To investigate functional outcomes and condition-specific quality-of-life (CSQoL) after intersphincteric resection (ISR) in patients with low rectal cancer using traditional and exploratory questionnaires.Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted in the Characteristic Medical Center of the People′s Liberation Army Rocket Force. Patients with low rectal cancer who underwent ISR with ileostomy reversal from May 2020 to April 2023 were enrolled. An electronic self-assessment survey was sent to enrolled patients at 3 to 6, 12, and 24 to 36 months after reversal, and differences in functional and CSQoL results between the 3 groups were analyzed with generalized estimation equations. Functional outcomes were determined by the Wexner incontinence score (WIS) and the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score. In line with the five frequency responses ranging from never (score 0) to always (score 4) defined by the WIS, an exploratory survey was used to measure the severity of 16 LARS-specific variables confirmed by the latest international Delphi consensus. Furthermore, CSQoL was evaluated using the fecal incontinence quality-of-life scale (FIQL) and the visual analog scale (VAS).Results:A total of 90 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 64 males and 26 females, aged (58.6±10.4) years (range: 28 to 79 years). The median distance from the distal tumor margin to the anal verge( M(IQR)) was 3.0 (1.5) cm (range: 1.0 to 5.0 cm). There were 55 patients who completed the questionnaires at 3 to 6 months, 59 patients at 12 months, and 40 patients at 24 to 36 months of follow-up, respectively. The summary score of FIQL and VAS improved significantly after reversal (2.33±0.69 vs. 2.40±0.66 vs. 2.79±0.76, χ2=11.703, P=0.003; 5.31±1.65 vs. 5.61±1.90 vs. 6.58±1.92, χ2=12.781, P=0.002), but the differences in the WIS and LARS score did not reach statistical significance (both P>0.05). The survey responses for the LARS-specific variables indicated that “emptying difficulties” and “dissatisfaction with the bowels” were the most frequent symptom and consequence after ISR, respectively. The exploratory severity score for LARS improved significantly among the 3 time periods(34 (14) vs. 31 (13) vs. 23 (17), χ2=13.952, P=0.001). Furthermore, the FIQL summary score was strongly correlated with the LARS severity score ( r s=-0.72, P<0.01). Conclusions:Although a high prevalence of LARS may persist for years, patients reported an improvement in CSQoL and functional outcomes after ISR. The highest priorities recommended by the international consensus might provide better assessments the severity of LARS.

With the widespread application of colorectal cancer screening, the surveillance and management of the increasing number of screened population has become a pivotal aspect in preventing and controlling colorectal cancer. In recent years, researches have been conducted on the risk of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in the population after screening. At the same time, various organizations in Europe and the United States have continuously updated colonoscopy surveillance after screening and polypectomy based on the latest research evidence. In this review, we summarized the current progress of studies on colorectal cancer risk in post-screening colorectal cancer populations and the key points of relevant guideline updates, in order to provide a reference for conducting relevant studies and formulating surveillance guidelines or consensus in China.

Objective:To explore the differences in distribution of colorectal cancer-related risk factors between patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) and those with late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) in a Chinese cohort, and to provide reference and guidance for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of EOCRC.Methods:Using data from the National Colorectal Cancer Cohort study cohort, 5377 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer (CRC) attending the Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2018 to February 2023 were included in the study cohort. Questionnaires capturing epidemiological features, including lifestyle and dietary habits, were administered. The patients were divided into two groups, the cut-off age being 50 years. Those aged ≥50 years were defined as having LOCRC and those aged <50 years as having EOCRC. Wilcoxon (continuous variates) or χ 2 tests (categorical variates) were performed to compare differences in epidemiological features. Results:A total of 3799 people who had completed the questionnaire were included in this study, 491 of whom had EOCRC and 3308 LOCRC. The response rate to the questionnaire was 70.7%. The median ages of patients in the EOCRC and LOCRC groups were 43 and 66 years, respectively. There was a higher proportion of female patients (48.5% [253/491] vs. 35.8% [1184/3308], χ 2=28.8, P<0.001) in the EOCRC than the LOCRC group. Patients with EOCRC and lower body mass index (medium 22.1 kg/m 2 vs. 22.9 kg/m 2, W=744 793, P=0.005) and lower proportion of abdominal obesity (87.2% [428/491] vs. 93.8% [3103/3308], χ 2=38.3, P<0.001). Patients with EORC significantly less commonly reported a history of hypertension (5.9% [29/491] vs. 41.6% [1375/3308], χ 2=231.8, P<0.001), diabetes (1.4% [7/491] vs. 14.4% [476/3308], χ 2=63.6, P<0.001) and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (0.8% [4/491] vs. 7.3% [241/3308], χ 2=28.6, P<0.001). However, the proportion of patients with a family history of CRC was significantly higher ( P<0.05) in the EOCRC group (10.2% [50/491] vs. 6.9% [227/3 308], χ 2=6.5, P=0.010]. In terms of lifestyle, patients with EOCRC had shorter sleep duration (median: 8.0 hours vs. 8.5 hours, W=578 989, P<0.001), and were less likely to participate in physical exercise (29.5% [145/491] vs. 38.7% [1281/3308] χ 2=15.0, P<0.001) or engage in physical work (65.2% [320/491] vs. 74.1% [2450/3308], χ 2=16.7, P<0.001). Meanwhile, in the EOCRC group a lower percentage of patients were smokers (29.3% [144/491] vs. 42.7% [1411/3308], χ 2=46.9, P<0.001) and they smoked less (median 17.6 pack/year vs. 30.0 pack/year,W=55 850, P<0.001). Fewer patients in the EOCRC group habitually drank alcohol (21.0% [103/491] vs. 38.0% [1257/3308], χ 2=57.5, P<0.001) or tea (17.5% [86/491] vs. 28.7% [948/3308], χ 2=26.2, P<0.001) than in the LOCRC group. Compared with the LOCRC group, patients with EOCRC had a higher frequency of intake of fresh meat, fresh fruit, eggs, and dairy products and a lower frequency of intake of preserved meat and pickled vegetables; these differences are statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in consumption of fresh vegetables or a high-sugar diet between the two groups (both P>0.05). Conclusions:This study highlights disparities in adverse lifestyle and dietary habits between patients in China with EOCRC versus LOCRC.

Objective:To investigate functional outcomes and condition-specific quality-of-life (CSQoL) after intersphincteric resection (ISR) in patients with low rectal cancer using traditional and exploratory questionnaires.Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted in the Characteristic Medical Center of the People′s Liberation Army Rocket Force. Patients with low rectal cancer who underwent ISR with ileostomy reversal from May 2020 to April 2023 were enrolled. An electronic self-assessment survey was sent to enrolled patients at 3 to 6, 12, and 24 to 36 months after reversal, and differences in functional and CSQoL results between the 3 groups were analyzed with generalized estimation equations. Functional outcomes were determined by the Wexner incontinence score (WIS) and the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score. In line with the five frequency responses ranging from never (score 0) to always (score 4) defined by the WIS, an exploratory survey was used to measure the severity of 16 LARS-specific variables confirmed by the latest international Delphi consensus. Furthermore, CSQoL was evaluated using the fecal incontinence quality-of-life scale (FIQL) and the visual analog scale (VAS).Results:A total of 90 patients were enrolled in the study. There were 64 males and 26 females, aged (58.6±10.4) years (range: 28 to 79 years). The median distance from the distal tumor margin to the anal verge( M(IQR)) was 3.0 (1.5) cm (range: 1.0 to 5.0 cm). There were 55 patients who completed the questionnaires at 3 to 6 months, 59 patients at 12 months, and 40 patients at 24 to 36 months of follow-up, respectively. The summary score of FIQL and VAS improved significantly after reversal (2.33±0.69 vs. 2.40±0.66 vs. 2.79±0.76, χ2=11.703, P=0.003; 5.31±1.65 vs. 5.61±1.90 vs. 6.58±1.92, χ2=12.781, P=0.002), but the differences in the WIS and LARS score did not reach statistical significance (both P>0.05). The survey responses for the LARS-specific variables indicated that “emptying difficulties” and “dissatisfaction with the bowels” were the most frequent symptom and consequence after ISR, respectively. The exploratory severity score for LARS improved significantly among the 3 time periods(34 (14) vs. 31 (13) vs. 23 (17), χ2=13.952, P=0.001). Furthermore, the FIQL summary score was strongly correlated with the LARS severity score ( r s=-0.72, P<0.01). Conclusions:Although a high prevalence of LARS may persist for years, patients reported an improvement in CSQoL and functional outcomes after ISR. The highest priorities recommended by the international consensus might provide better assessments the severity of LARS.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic and progressive arterial disease. It is an important cause of the occurrence and development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. With the development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), TCM has many advantages in the therapy of AS, with less adverse reactions. Studies have shown that TCM can resist AS, and the mechanism mainly belongs to regulating lipid metabolism, anti-lipid peroxidation, anti-inflammation, anticoagulation, and protecting the structure and function of vascular endothelial cells. The mechanism of TCM for AS is warranted to be studied systematically, and the chemical components need to be further clarified.