Background and Aims:Intestinal obstruction is a common acute abdominal condition,and early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are critical to patient prognosis.After radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer,due to abnormal digestive tract reconstruction,mesenteric space formation,and peritoneal injury,the incidence of intestinal obstruction is relatively high,often accompanied by ascites of varying characteristics.Bloody ascites usually suggest intestinal wall ischemia and necrosis;however,current clinical indicators have limited effectiveness in the early identification of this condition.This study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics of postoperative small bowel obstruction with different types,with a particular focus on identifying markers with diagnostic values for bloody ascites.Methods:The clinical data of 65 patients with small bowel obstruction and ascites after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer admitted to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Jiangyin People's Hospital between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Based on the ascites characteristics,patients were divided into serous ascites group(n=42),chylous ascites group(n=9),and bloody ascites group(n=14).Clinical parameters and preoperative white blood cell count(WBC),neutrophil count(NEU),lymphocyte count,and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)were compared among the groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of inflammatory markers for bloody ascites.Results:The time from onset to hospital admission was significantly longer in the serous ascites group compared to the chylous and bloody ascites groups(P＜0.05).Postoperative hospital stay was significantly prolonged in the bloody ascites group compared to the other two groups(P＜0.05).The rate of small bowel resection in the bloody ascites group(6/14)was significantly higher than that in the chylous ascites group(0/9)or serous ascites group(7/42)(P＜0.05).Although the recurrence rate in the bloody ascites group(3/14)was higher than in the chylous ascites group(1/9)or serous(2/42)ascites group,the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).WBC,NEU,and NLR levels increased progressively from the serous to chylous to bloody ascites groups,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that NLR had superior diagnostic performance in predicting bloody ascites(AUC:0.84;sensitivity:75％;specificity:85％)compared to WBC and NEU.Conclusion:NLR is closely associated with the characteristics of ascites in patients with small bowel obstruction after radical gastrectomy and is significantly elevated in those with bloody ascites.Compared to traditional inflammatory markers WBC and NEU,NLR demonstrates higher sensitivity and specificity for identifying bloody ascites,making it a valuable adjunct diagnostic tool for predicting intestinal wall ischemia and necrosis.Furthermore,patients with bloody ascites showed higher rates of bowel resection and more extended hospital stays,suggesting a poorer clinical prognosis.

Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic inflammatory diseases that share similar inflammatory mechanisms and characteristics. Programmed cell death (PCD) has recently garnered attention for its crucial role in regulating inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis, as well as for its potential to link these two diseases. The various forms of PCD--including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis--are closely controlled by signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) /NF-κB and MAPK. These pathways determine cell fate and influence inflammatory responses, tissue destruction, and repair, and they both play important roles in the pathogenesis of RA and periodontitis. In periodontitis, periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and its virulence factors, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induce pyroptosis and necroptosis in immune cells such as macrophages via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which leads to an excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Concurrently, these pathogens inhibit the normal apoptotic process of immune cells, such as neutrophils, prolonging their survival, exacerbating immune imbalance, and aggravating periodontal tissue destruction. Similarly, in RA synovial tissue, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) acquire apoptosis resistance through signaling pathways such as the Bcl-2 family, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB, allowing for the consistent proliferation and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, the continuous activation of pyroptotic pathways in neutrophils and macrophages results in the sustained release of IL-1β, further exacerbating synovial inflammation and bone destruction. Notably, dysregulated PCD fosters inter-organ crosstalk through shared inflammatory mediators and metabolic networks. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and cytokines that originate from periodontal lesions can spread systemically, influencing cell death processes in synovial and immune cells, thereby aggravating joint inflammation and bone erosion. By contrast, systemic inflammation in RA can upregulate osteoclastic activity or interfere with the normal apoptosis of periodontal cells via TNF-α and IL-6, ultimately intensifying periodontal immune imbalance. This review highlights the pivotal bridging role of PCD in the pathogenesis of both periodontitis and RA, providing a reference for therapeutic strategies that target cell death pathways to manage and potentially mitigate these diseases.

Background and Aims:Intestinal obstruction is a common acute abdominal condition,and early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are critical to patient prognosis.After radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer,due to abnormal digestive tract reconstruction,mesenteric space formation,and peritoneal injury,the incidence of intestinal obstruction is relatively high,often accompanied by ascites of varying characteristics.Bloody ascites usually suggest intestinal wall ischemia and necrosis;however,current clinical indicators have limited effectiveness in the early identification of this condition.This study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics of postoperative small bowel obstruction with different types,with a particular focus on identifying markers with diagnostic values for bloody ascites.Methods:The clinical data of 65 patients with small bowel obstruction and ascites after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer admitted to the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of Jiangyin People's Hospital between January 2010 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Based on the ascites characteristics,patients were divided into serous ascites group(n=42),chylous ascites group(n=9),and bloody ascites group(n=14).Clinical parameters and preoperative white blood cell count(WBC),neutrophil count(NEU),lymphocyte count,and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)were compared among the groups.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of inflammatory markers for bloody ascites.Results:The time from onset to hospital admission was significantly longer in the serous ascites group compared to the chylous and bloody ascites groups(P＜0.05).Postoperative hospital stay was significantly prolonged in the bloody ascites group compared to the other two groups(P＜0.05).The rate of small bowel resection in the bloody ascites group(6/14)was significantly higher than that in the chylous ascites group(0/9)or serous ascites group(7/42)(P＜0.05).Although the recurrence rate in the bloody ascites group(3/14)was higher than in the chylous ascites group(1/9)or serous(2/42)ascites group,the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).WBC,NEU,and NLR levels increased progressively from the serous to chylous to bloody ascites groups,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that NLR had superior diagnostic performance in predicting bloody ascites(AUC:0.84;sensitivity:75％;specificity:85％)compared to WBC and NEU.Conclusion:NLR is closely associated with the characteristics of ascites in patients with small bowel obstruction after radical gastrectomy and is significantly elevated in those with bloody ascites.Compared to traditional inflammatory markers WBC and NEU,NLR demonstrates higher sensitivity and specificity for identifying bloody ascites,making it a valuable adjunct diagnostic tool for predicting intestinal wall ischemia and necrosis.Furthermore,patients with bloody ascites showed higher rates of bowel resection and more extended hospital stays,suggesting a poorer clinical prognosis.

Objective:To analyze the burden and changing trends of periodontal disease in adults of the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019, and to predict the incidence trends of periodontal disease in the next 25 years, with a goal to provide a basis for reducing the burden of periodontal disease and formulating relevant prevention and treatment measures.Methods:Data on the incidence, prevalence, and disability adjusted life years (DALY) rate of periodontal disease among adults in the mainland of China from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from the global burden of disease study 2019 (GBD 2019) database. The estimated annual percent change (EAPC) was used to estimate the temporal trend of periodontal disease, and the age-period-cohort model (APC) was used to predict the age-standardized incidence of periodontal disease in Chinese adults from 2020 to 2044.Results:From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, prevalence, and DALY rate of adult periodontal disease in the mainland of China showed an increasing trend, with EAPCs of 0.3 (95% CI: 0.1-0.6), 0.5 (95% CI: 0.1-0.8), and 0.5 (95% CI: 0.1-0.8), respectively. The incidence and prevalence of periodontitis among the population aged 35-39 years old and 40-44 years old increased the most significantly, with EAPCs of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, whereas the change in periodontal disease prevalence tended to be stable and the increase trend in prevalence was lower in the elderly group (EAPC=0.4). The incidence (EAPC=2.1), prevalence (EAPC=2.6) and DALY rate (EAPC=2.6) of periodontal disease in females increased more than those in males (EAPC=1.9, 2.4, and 2.4, respectively), of which the prevalence had exceeded that of males in 2019. The APC model predicted that the prevalence of periodontal disease in the period of 2020-2044 in China would still be on an upward trend, and the increase rate would be higher in females than in males. Conclusions:The burden of periodontal disease among adults in China had been increasing over the past 30 years, especially among young and middle-aged adults as well as females, and the incidence of periodontal disease will continue to increase over the next 25 years.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the compo nents of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）（total ginsenoside，total ketone ester of Ginkgo biloba ，total glucoside of Crocus sativus ）for invigorating qi and activating blood circulation on cognitive function of mice with chronic cerebral ischemia （CCI）and its related mechanisms . METHODS CCI model was established by stimulating bilateral common carotid arteries of C 57BL/6J mice with temperature controlled current . Model mice were randomly divided into model group ，aspirin group （positive control 10 mg/kg）and TCM group （the components of TCM for invigorating qi and activating blood circulation 33 mg/kg），sham operation group was set up additionally ，with 16 mice in each group. Except that the mice in model group and sham operation group were given water intragastrically ，the mice in the other groups were given corresponding medicine liquid intragastrically，once a day ，for 8 weeks. The latency of step down and the number of step -down errors of mice in each group were detected ；the ultrastructure of neurovascular units（NVU）in cerebral cortex and hippocampus was observed ；the protein and mRNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor（VEGF）and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors （α7nAChRs） in cerebral tissue were detected ；the contents of VEGF，angiopoietin 1 （Ang1） and basic fibroblast growth factor（bFGF）were detected . RESULTS Compared with model group ，the latency of step -down was significantly prolonged （P＜ 0.05），and the number of step -down errors was significantly reduced （P＜0.05）in TCM group . The ultrastructural abnormalities of NVU in cerebral cortex and hippocampus were significantly improved ，and the protein and mRNA expressions of VEGF and α7 nAChRs and the contents of VEGF ，Ang1 and bFGF in cerebral tissue were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The components of TCM for invigorating qi and activating blood circulation can improve CCI -induced cognitive dysfunction in mice，the mechanism of which may be associated with protecting NVU ，recovering ultrastructural abnormalities of injured NVU ， and regulating the expression of proteins closely related to NVU and memory function .

Efforts to control inflammation and achieve better tissue repair in the treatment of periodontitis have been ongoing for years. Human β-defensin 3, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide has been proven to have a variety of biological functions in periodontitis; however, relatively few reports have addressed the effects of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) on osteogenic differentiation. In this study, we evaluated the osteogenic effects of hPDLCs with an adenoviral vector encoding human β-defensin 3 in an inflammatory microenvironment. Then human β-defensin 3 gene-modified rat periodontal ligament cells were transplanted into rats with experimental periodontitis to observe their effects on periodontal bone repair. We found that the human β-defensin 3 gene-modified hPDLCs presented with high levels of osteogenesis-related gene expression and calcium deposition. Furthermore, the p38 MAPK pathway was activated in this process. In vivo, human β-defensin 3 gene-transfected rat PDLCs promoted bone repair in SD rats with periodontitis, and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway might also have been involved. These findings demonstrate that human β-defensin 3 accelerates osteogenesis and that human β-defensin 3 gene modification may offer a potential approach to promote bone repair in patients with periodontitis.
Animals ; Anti-Infective Agents ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Periodontal Ligament ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Periodontitis ; drug therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta-Defensins ; metabolism ; pharmacology

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of iodine density map and low keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT (DLCT) for the pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) detection.Methods:From January to June 2019, data of 23 pathologically confirmed patients of pNETs were retrospectively analyzed. All of the patients underwent pancreas enhanced DLCT scanning within 1 week before surgery. The conventional polyenergetic images (PI), iodine density map and 40, 50, 60, 70 keV VMI were generated. One resident radiologist with 3 years’ experience and one senior radiologist with over 10 years’ experience interpreted the images for the lesion detection independently using the following image series: PI, VMI (40-70 keV), PI combined with iodine density map. Lesion detection rates were recorded and compared among different image series. The CT value and noise of lesion, normal pancreatic parenchyma, and abdominal subcutaneous fat were measured in PI and VMI in both arterial and portal vein phases. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of lesion was calculated. The CT value of lesion and normal pancreatic parenchyma, CNR of lesion, and image noise were compared using repeated one-way ANOVA test. Subjective image quality was assessed with a 5-point scale and compared with Friedman test.Results:A total of 26 lesions were confirmed from 23 patients. For resident radiologist and senior radiologist, the detection rates of pNETs lesion using PI were 76.9% (20/26) and 84.6% (22/26) respectively, and both improved to 92.3% (24/26) using image series of 40 and 50 keV VMI. For senior radiologist, the pNETs lesion detection rate was further improved to 96.2% (25/26) using image series of PI with iodine map. The CT value of lesion and normal pancreatic parenchyma, CNR, and image noise had statistical differences among PI and VMI (40-70 keV) in both arterial and portal vein phase ( P<0.001). The mean CT attenuation and CNR of lesion in VMI increased significantly as the energy level decreased.The CNR of lesion in all VMI (40-70 keV) was significantly higher than that in PI. The median of subjective scores of image quality in PI and VMI (40-70 keV) were 3, 3, 4, 4, and 5 respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=66.393, P<0.001). Conclusions:The low keV VMI derived from DLCT can increase the CT value and CNR of pNETs, and the lesion detection rate can be improved combined with iodine density map. The CNR of pNETs is the highest in 40 keV VMI, and image noise is still lower than that of PI, so 40 keV VMI is recommended for clinical application.

Objective:To explore the optimal monochromatic level for the observation of coronary in-stent lumen by dual-layer spectral CT (DLCT).Methods:Forty-nine patients with 74 stents after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who underwent coronary CTA (CCTA) examinations by a DLCT between January 2016 and September 2017 were retrospectively enrolled. A total of 12 groups of images including 60-120 keV (kilo electron voltage) images with 10 keV interval, 140-200 keV images with 20 keV interval and conventional images. In-stent lumen diameter of proximal, mid and distal portion was measured. Difference of CT values between in-stent lumen and ascending aorta was used to describe as blooming artifact, and noise of in-stent lumen as image noise. Then Likert 5-point scale was performed to evaluate images noise, enhancement of in-stent lumen, blooming artifact and diagnostic confidence. Differences of objective and subjective parameters among conventional and various monochromatic images were compared by Friedman test.Results:In the diameter measurement of the proximal, middle and distal segments of the stent, the difference between the images of each group was statistically significant (χ 2 = 427.270, 426.375, 400.981, P< 0.001). The diameter of the lumen measured by 120-200 keV single-level image was larger than that measured by 60-100 keV single-level image, and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). In the comparison of CT difference between the stent lumen and ascending aorta, the difference between the images of each group was statistically significant (χ 2 = 242.193, P< 0.001), and 100-200 keV single-level images were lower than the conventional images, the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). In the comparison of noise values, the difference between the images of each group was statistically significant (χ 2 = 420.161, P< 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). In the subjective scores of noise, enhancement, halo artifact and diagnostic confidence, there were statistically significant differences among the groups (χ2= 333.827, 455.989, 276.824, 399.497, P< 0.001). The noise score of 100-200 keV single-level image was higher than that of conventional image, the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). The enhancement score of 60 keV was significantly higher than that of other images ( P< 0.05). The halo artifact score of 100-200 keV single level image was higher than that of 60-90 keV image, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The scores of 90-120 keV single-level images were higher than those of other single-level images, and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). Conclusions:CCTA examinations can be effectively performed by DLCT in patients after PCI in clinical settings, and 120 keV is recommended as the optimal monochromatic image for the observation of in-stent lumen.

Objective:To explore the image quality of 40 keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT （DLCT） pancreas dynamic enhanced scanning and its optimal window setting.Methods:From January to July 2019, 28 patients who underwent pancreas enhanced DLCT scan within one week before surgery and pathologically confirmed of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) were retrospectively enrolled. Conventional polyenergetic images (PI) and 40 keV virtual monoenergetic images （VMI 40 keV） were generated after scanning.CT value of normal pancreatic parenchyma, lesion, abdominal subcutaneous fat, abdominal aorta and portal vein were measured in PI and VMI 40 keV. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the pNETs lesion was calculated. All these objective results were compared between VMI 40 keV and PI using paired ttest. Individual window settings （W-Ind, including window width and window level） of VMI 40 keVwere recorded. Calculated window settings （W-Calc） were mathematically calculated via regression analysis and optimized window settings （W-Opt） were obtained.Subjective image quality was assessed with a 5-point scale and compared among VMI 40 keV with different window settings (W-Std, W-Ind, W-Calc and W-Opt) using Friedman test, and compared PI with standard abdominal window setting (W-Std) and VMI 40keV with W-Opt settings using Wilcoxon test.The maximum diameter of lesion was measured and compared with one-way ANOVA analysis among PI and VMI 40 keV with different windows settings. Results:For VMI 40 keV in both arterial phase and portal vein phase, the CT attenuation [(464.0±136.7), (375.4±79.2) HU] of pNETs lesion were statistically significantly higher than those in PI [（168.8±38.0), (140.5±23.5) HU] （ t=-16.107,-22.225, P<0.001）, CNR （16.5±11.1, 10.9±6.1） were also statistically significantly higher than those in PI （4.5±2.9, 3.0±1.9） （ t=-7.838, -9.781， P<0.001）,while with lower image noise in VMI 40 keV[（11.8±1.5),(11.8±1.4) HU] than PI （13.1±1.5,12.9±1.3 HU）（ t=6.356,3.891， P<0.001）. The subjective score for PI with W-Std and VMI 40 keV with W-Std, W-Ind, W-Calc, W-Opt in arterial phase were 4（1）, 1（0）, 5（0）, 5（0.75）, 5（1）, and which in portal vein phase were 3.5（1）, 1（0）, 5（0）, 5（0）, 5（1）.The subjective score of VMI 40 keV with different window settings had statistical differences （χ 2=76.143,76.000， P<0.001）. Compared to the image quality of PI with W-Std settings, VMI 40 keV with W-Opt settings have higher objective score （ Z=4.685, 4.235， P<0.001）. The maximum diameter of lesion has no statistical difference among PI and VMI 40 keV with different window settings （ F=0.008, 0.004， P>0.999） in both arterial phase and portal vein phase. Conclusions:The VMI 40 keV in pancreas dynamic enhancement scanning derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT have higher image quality than PI. Due to changes of CT value of tissue in VMI 40 keV, it is recommended to optimize window settings （window width/window level， 880/230 HU for arterial phase and 840/260 HU for portal vein phase） to obtain the best image quality.

Objective To explore the feasibility of the virtual non-contrast images derived from dual-layer spectral detector CT (SDCT) substitute for true non-contrast images.Methods From July 2017 to September 2017,40 patients under-went pre-and arterial-venous dual-phase post-contrast abdominal imagining on a SDCT in Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital.The images were retrospectively analyzed.The arterial VNC images (VNC-a) and venous VNC images (VNC-v)were derived from spectral based image (SBI) datasets of arterial and portal venous phase using a dedicated software respectively.Then mean CT attenuation,mean image noise,signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were compared with one-way ANOVA analysis among TNC,VNC-a,VNC-v images in liver,spleen,pancreas,abdominal aorta,inferior vena cava,psoas muscle,L4 vertebra and perirenal fat.And Bland-Altman plots was used to analyze the CT attenuation equivalence between TNC and VNC.Subjective image quality was assessed with a 5-point scale and compared with Friedman H test.The dose length product (DLP) of pre-and post-contrast scans were recorded.Results The CT attenuation of abdominal aorta,perirenal fat,L4.vertebra among three kinds of images had significant differences (P＜0.05)which overestimated the CT attenuation of perirenal fat and underestimated CT attenuation of abdominal aorta and vertebra compared to TNC,VNC.Except for pancreas,the image noise of all other tissues among three kinds of images had significant differences,images noise of VNC images were lower than TNC images (P＜0.05).The SNR of liver,spleen,psoas muscle and inferior vena cava and CNR of pancreas,abdominal aorta,inferior vena cava,L4 vertebra and perirenal fat were statistically significant among the three images (P＜0.05).Except for vertebra and perirenal fat,good equivalence between VNC and TNC images were observed in all relevant tissues with Bland-Altman analysis.Image quality subjective scoring of TNC,VNC-a,and VNC-v were 5.00(1.00),5.00(0.75),5.00(1.00) respectively which had no significant differences (P=0.20).The DLP of TNC,arterial and venous phase scan were (255.2±62.0),(258.9±62.9),(252.0±61.2)mGy·cm,and the total DLP of dual-phase contrast enhanced scan was (766.2± 185.3) mGy· cm.The DLP of TNC accounted for 33.3％(255.2/766.2) of the total DLP,and effective dose of TNC was (3.83±0.90)mSv.Conclusions CT attenuation in VNC image which exhibited lower image noise was identical to TNC images in the majority of abdomen tissues except for vertebra and perirenal fat.and the VNC image.The VNC image which reduces radiation dosage derives from SDCT enhanced image might be used as a substitute for the TNC image.