OBJECTIVE: The results of limited studies on the relationship between environmental pollution and dementia have been contradictory. We analyzed the combined effects of PM _2.5 and smoking on the prevalence of dementia and cognitive impairment in an elderly community-dwelling Chinese population. METHODS: We assessed 24,117 individuals along with the annual average PM _2.5 concentrations from 2012 to 2016. Dementia was confirmed in the baseline survey at a qualified clinical facility, and newly suspected dementia was assessed in 2017, after excluding cases of suspected dementia in 2015. National census data were used to weight the sample data to reflect the entire population in China, with multiple logistic regression performed to analyze the combined effects of PM _2.5 and smoking frequency on dementia and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Individuals exposed to the highest PM _2.5 concentration and smoked daily were at higher risk of dementia than those in the lowest PM _2.5 concentration group ( OR, 1.603; 95% CI [1.626-1.635], P < 0.0001) and in the nonsmoking group ( OR, 1.248; 95% CI [1.244-1.252]; P < 0.0001). Moderate PM _2.5 exposure and occasional smoking together increased the short-term risk of cognitive impairment. High-level PM _2.5 exposure and smoking were associated with an increased risk of dementia, so more efforts are needed to reduce this risk through environmental protection and antismoking campaigns. CONCLUSION High-level PM _2.5 exposure and smoking were associated with an increased risk of dementia. Lowering the ambient PM _2.5, and smoking cessation are recommended to promote health.
Humans ; Dementia/etiology* ; Male ; Aged ; Female ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Smoking/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Aged, 80 and over ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Prevalence ; Middle Aged

Objective To investigate the effects of dienogest on pain relief and inflammation in endometriosis(EMs),as well as its impact on the brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)/tropo-myosin receptor kinase B(TrkB)and nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammatory pathways.Methods An allograft method was used to establish an EMs rat model.The rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group(n=16),model group(n=16),low-dose dienogest group(n=16),medium-dose dienogest group(n=16)and high-dose dienogest group(n=16).After 7 days of treatment,the implantation volume and writhing response frequency were recorded.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were employed to measure the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in the EMs rat models.Serum levels of BDNF,TrkB,NF-κB and NLRP3 were detected.Results Compared with model group,dinorgestrel significantly reduced ectopic endo-metrial volume and torsion response of EMs(P＜0.05).Compared with model group,dinorgestrel significantly decreased the expression of VEGF,iNOS,IL6,IL-1 β and TNF-α in EMs model(P＜0.05).In addition,compared with model group,dienogest significantly decreased the expressions of BDNF,TrkB,NF-κB and NLRP3 in ectopic endometrium(P＜0.05).Conclusion Dinorgestrel can relieve EMS-related dysmenorrhea and inflammation,and its mechanism of action may be partly mediated by BDNF/TrkB pathway and NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of different bone graft materials in internal fixation surgery for Schatzker type Ⅱ tibial plateau fracture(TPF).Methods A total of 108 patients with Schatzker type Ⅱ TPF in Lianyungang Municipal Oriental Hospital were selected and randomly assigned to the allogeneic cancellous bone and the artificial bone groups,with 54 cases in each group.The perioperative indicators,four coagulation items[thrombin time(TT),fibrinogen(FIB),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT)],bone metabolic factors[bone gla protein(BGP),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),precollagen type Ⅰ N-terminal peptide(PINP)],knee motion,and numerical rating scale(NRS)score before and after operation,as well as complications,prognosis,bone graft stability were compared in the two groups.Results The hospital stay and fracture healing time in the artificial bone group were shorter than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).On the 7th day after surgery,the artificial bone group had longer peripheral blood APTT,TT and PT than the allogeneic cancellous bone group,and lower FIB level than the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The serum ALP,BGP and PINP levels 3 months after surgery in the two groups were higher than those before surgery(P<0.05).At 3 months after surgery,the ranges of knee extension and flexion in the artificial bone group were greater than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05),and the NRS score was lower than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in the artificial bone group was lower than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The excellent and good rate of knee joint function recovery 6 months after surgery in the artificial bone group was higher than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The overall collapse height of the tibial lateral condylar articular surface,overall increase of lateral compartment angle,and overall loss height of lateral compartment 12 months after surgery in the artificial bone group were lower than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with allogeneic cancellous bone,the use of artificial bone as the graft material during internal fixation in patients with Schatzker type Ⅱ TPF can more effectively ameliorate the postoperative coagulation status,reduce the incidence of complications,and enhance the graft stability,which is conducive to better prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with KOA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases each group. The control group received acupuncture at Neixiyan (EX-LE4)，Dubi (ST35), Yinlingquan (SP9), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Yanglingquan (GB34) and Zusanli (ST36) on the affected side, once every other day, 3 times a week. The observation group received blade needle therapy on the basis of the treatment in the control group, once every 3 days, 2 times a week. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. Before treatment, after 2, 4 weeks of treatment, and after 1 month of treatment completion (in follow-up), the scores of pain visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) and Lequesne index were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: After 2, 4 weeks of treatment and in follow-up, the pain VAS scores, Lequesne index scores, and pain, stiffness, function scores of WOMAC in both groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the VAS scores, Lequesne index scores and pain, function scores of WOMAC in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The effective response rate in the observation group was 76.7% (23/30), while that in the control group was 70.0% (21/30), there was no statistically significant difference in the effective response rates between the two groups (P>0.05). No adverse reactions were observed in either group. CONCLUSION Acupuncture combined with blade needle therapy could alleviate pain and promote functional recovery in KOA patients, and achieve long-lasting improvements.
Humans ; Osteoarthritis, Knee/physiopathology* ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Adult ; Needles ; Combined Modality Therapy

This paper explored the specific mechanism of ginsenoside Rg_1 in regulating mitochondrial fusion through the neurogenic gene Notch homologous protein 1(Notch1) pathway to alleviate hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R) injury in HL-1 cells. The relative viability of HL-1 cells after six hours of hypoxia and two hours of reoxygenation was detected by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8). The lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity in the cell supernatant was detected by the lactate substrate method. The content of adenosine triphosphate(ATP) was detected by the luciferin method. Fluorescence probes were used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species(Cyto-ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential(ΔΨ_m). Mito-Tracker and Actin were co-imaged to detect the number of mitochondria in cells. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1, mitochondrial fusion protein 2(Mfn2), and mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1). The results showed that compared with that of the control group, the cell activity of the model group decreased, and the LDH released into the cell culture supernatant increased. The level of Cyto-ROS increased, and the content of ATP decreased. Compared with that of the model group, the cell activity of the ginsenoside Rg_1 group increased, and the LDH released into the cell culture supernatant decreased. The level of Cyto-ROS decreased, and the ATP content increased. Ginsenoside Rg_1 elevated ΔΨ_m and increased mitochondrial quantity in HL-1 cells with H/R injury and had good protection for mitochondria. After H/R injury, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1 and Mfn1 decreased, while the mRNA and protein expression levels of Mfn2 increased. Ginsenoside Rg_1 increased the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Mfn1, and decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Mfn2. Silencing Notch1 inhibited the action of ginsenoside Rg_1, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Notch1 and Mfn1, and increased the mRNA and protein levels of Mfn2. In summary, ginsenoside Rg_1 regulated mitochondrial fusion through the Notch1 pathway to alleviate H/R injury in HL-1 cells.
Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Receptor, Notch1/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice ; Animals ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Cell Line ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Oxygen/metabolism* ; Cell Hypoxia/drug effects* ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Humans

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

This study explored the effect of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)PE/PPE family protein PE_PGRS37 on the growth of Mycobacterium smegmatis(Ms)and macrophage autophagy during Mtb infection.The pe_pgrs37 gene was amplified from Mtb genome through PCR,and the recombinant vector pAIN-PE_PGRS37 was successfully constructed through homologous recombi-nation.pAIN-PE_PGRS37 and pAIN were integrated into Ms through electroshock to construct pAIN-PGRS37/Ms and pAIN/Ms re-combinant bacteria.Western blotting indicated that the PE_PGRS37 protein was correctly expressed in pAIN-PE_PGRS37/Ms.The re-combinant bacteria were inoculated in 7H9/7H10 medium,and their colony morphology and growth curves were observed.No signifi-cant difference in colony morphology was observed between pAIN-PE_PGRS37/Ms and pAIN/Ms.The growth rate significantly in-creased between 10 and 16 h,and a plateau was reached at 26 h.After infection of U937 cells with pAIN-PE_PGRS37/Ms and pAIN/Ms,macrophage autophagy flow was detected with western blotting and immunofluorescence.In the pAIN-PE_PGRS37/Ms-infected group,compared with the pAIN/Ms-infected group,macrophage LC3-II and p62 protein expression was significantly up-regulated(P<0.001)and inhibited autophagosome and lysosome fusion.The intracellular survival of the recombinant bacteria was detected through colony counting,and pAIN-PE_PGRS37/Ms showed significantly greater survival in macrophages at 12 h,24 h,and 48 h than pAIN/Ms(P<0.05).Our results suggested that PE_PGRS37 protein promotes Mycobacterium survival in macrophages by blocking macro-phage autophagy flow,thus inhibiting macrophage autophagy.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of different bone graft materials in internal fixation surgery for Schatzker type Ⅱ tibial plateau fracture(TPF).Methods A total of 108 patients with Schatzker type Ⅱ TPF in Lianyungang Municipal Oriental Hospital were selected and randomly assigned to the allogeneic cancellous bone and the artificial bone groups,with 54 cases in each group.The perioperative indicators,four coagulation items[thrombin time(TT),fibrinogen(FIB),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),prothrombin time(PT)],bone metabolic factors[bone gla protein(BGP),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),precollagen type Ⅰ N-terminal peptide(PINP)],knee motion,and numerical rating scale(NRS)score before and after operation,as well as complications,prognosis,bone graft stability were compared in the two groups.Results The hospital stay and fracture healing time in the artificial bone group were shorter than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).On the 7th day after surgery,the artificial bone group had longer peripheral blood APTT,TT and PT than the allogeneic cancellous bone group,and lower FIB level than the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The serum ALP,BGP and PINP levels 3 months after surgery in the two groups were higher than those before surgery(P<0.05).At 3 months after surgery,the ranges of knee extension and flexion in the artificial bone group were greater than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05),and the NRS score was lower than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The incidence of complications in the artificial bone group was lower than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The excellent and good rate of knee joint function recovery 6 months after surgery in the artificial bone group was higher than that in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).The overall collapse height of the tibial lateral condylar articular surface,overall increase of lateral compartment angle,and overall loss height of lateral compartment 12 months after surgery in the artificial bone group were lower than those in the allogeneic cancellous bone group(P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with allogeneic cancellous bone,the use of artificial bone as the graft material during internal fixation in patients with Schatzker type Ⅱ TPF can more effectively ameliorate the postoperative coagulation status,reduce the incidence of complications,and enhance the graft stability,which is conducive to better prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.