Objective To investigate the effect of fucosyltransferase 7(Fut7) dysregulation on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response in human monocytes THP-1, so as to provide experimental evidence for the study of inflammatory induction mechanism of clinical related diseases.Methods THP-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of LPS(0, 0. 5, 1, 2, 4, 10 μg/mL). The transcription levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the cells were detected by RT-qPCR, and the LPS stimulation concentration for establishing inflammatory cell model was determined. THP-1 cells were stimulated with the optimum concentration of LPS to establish the inflammatory cell model. The effects of Fut7, sialyl Lewis X(sLeX) and Fut7 activity inhibitor SGN-2FF on the transcription levels of IL-1β, IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α genes in inflammatory cell model were detected by RT-qPCR.Results The LPS stimulation concentration for establishing inflammatory cell model was 4 μg/mL. Overexpression of Fut7 and sLeX significantly increased the transcription levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in LPS-induced THP-1 cell inflammatory model(t = 3. 93-30. 05, each P < 0. 05).Inhibiting the expression of Fut7 significantly decreased the transcription levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the inflammatory cell model(t = 6. 98-39. 50, each P < 0. 01). SGN-2FF significantly decreased the transcription levels of IL-1β, IL-6and IL-8(t = 5. 17-6. 44, each P < 0. 001), while significantly increased the transcription level of TNF-α(t = 12. 31, P < 0. 001).Conclusion Overexpression of FuT7 and sLeX can enhance the LPS-induced inflammatory response in THP-1 cells by promoting the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Inhibiting the expression of Fut7 and SGN-2FF, an inhibitor of Fut7enzyme activity, can effectively relieve inflammation, which provides a new strategy for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Objective To explore the role and mechanism of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL)-induced ferroptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Methods A model of oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis was established. VSMCs were co-treated with either the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin or the autophagy inducer carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), followed by detection of autophagy and ferroptosis-related indexes. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used respectively to analyze the expression of mTOR, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), sequestosome 1 (p62), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). Flow cytometry was employed to assess VSMC death. C11 BODIPY fluorescent staining was used to measure cellular lipid peroxidation levels. Colorimetric assays were performed to determine the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe²⁺) and glutathione (GSH). Results oxLDL significantly upregulated mTOR expression in VSMCs, while increasing p62 expression and reducing LC3 expression, thereby suppressing VSMC autophagy. Compared with oxLDL treatment alone, rapamycin co-treatment reversed oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis, as characterized by reduced VSMC death, increased GPX4 expression and GSH contents, along with decreased MDA content, Fe²⁺ content and lipid peroxidation levels. Similarly, CCCP co-treatment activated autophagy characterized by reduced p62 expression and elevated LC3 expression, which subsequently alleviated oxLDL-induced ferroptosis, showing reduced VSMC death, increased GPX4 expressions and GSH contents, and decreased MDA content, Fe²⁺ content and lipid peroxidation levels. Moreover, mTOR inhibition by rapamycin significantly reversed the oxLDL-induced upregulation of p62 and downregulation of LC3. Conclusion mTOR may promote oxLDL-induced VSMC ferroptosis by suppressing autophagy.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Lipoproteins, LDL/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism* ; Animals ; Rats ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects* ; Sequestosome-1 Protein/genetics* ; Phospholipid Hydroperoxide Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism* ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Sirolimus/pharmacology*

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 compare and analyze the therapeutic effects of open, laparoscopic and interventional treatments for refractory lymphatic leakage after radical neck dissection in thyroid cancer, and the feasibility of interventional treatment for refractory lymphatic leakage.Methods:Totally 41 patients with refractory lymphatic leakage after radical neck dissection in thyroid cancer at thyroid surgery department of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Jan.2018 to Dec.2023 were retrospectively enrolled. They were divided into open surgery group ( n=18), interventional surgery ( n=14), and laparoscopic surgery group ( n=9) based on surgical methods. The drainage volume, extubation time, hospital stay, and cost on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th day after surgery were recorded. Inter group comparison was conducted using analysis of variance and independent sample Kruskal-Wallis test. The effects of different groups on incurable lymphatic leakage after radical neck dissection in thyroid cancer were compared and analyzed. Results:The treatment of refractory lymphatic leakage after radical neck dissection in thyroid cancer using open, endoscopic, and interventional methods all improved. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th day after surgery, the drainage volumes were (96.67±46.40) mL, (64.44±30.46) mL, (72.86±57.70) mL, P=0.197, (43.89±25.70) mL, (33.33±12.25) mL, (39.29±36.68) mL, P=0.653, and (22.50±19.42) mL, (16.67±15.61) mL, (20.00±27.39) mL, P=0.806, respectively, and the differences were not statistically significant. The cost of open surgery was lower than that of the other groups (0.33±0.75 vs 0.56±0.70,0.76±0.84, F=126.245, P<0.01) and postoperative hospital stay for interventional surgery was lower than the other groups [ (2.36±0.50) d vs (4.67±1.14) d, (4.56±1.13) d, P<0.01]. Conclusion:Interventional therapy could be used to treat incurable lymphatic leakage after radical neck dissection in thyroid cancer.

Objective To study the brain functional connectivity(FC)changes in patients with normal tension glau-coma(NTG)and healthy volunteers using FC technique of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)based on V1 region seed point(ROI),so as to explore the pathogenesis and early diagnosis of NTG.Methods Fourteen NTG patients(NTG group)who met the inclusion criteria and 14 healthy controls(HCs group)were enrolled.The clinical data of all subjects were collected,and rs-fMRI was performed in both groups.The magnetic resonance data was pre-pro-cessed by software,and bilateral A1 regions were taken as the ROI to analyze their correction with the whole brain voxel time series and obtain the FC value between the ROI and the whole brain by comparison of FC values in resting state be-tween the groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between FC value in the brain regions with significant differences with the ROI and clinical variables in the NTG group.Results Compared with the subjects in the HCs group,there were no statistically significant differences in age,gender,body weight,cup-disc ratio and 24 h mean intraocular pressure of patients in the NTG group(all P＞0.05),and there were statistically significant differences in the best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)of both eyes and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness(RNFLT)(all P＜0.05).The Pearson correlation analysis showed that FC value of the brain regions with abnormal FC to V1 region were cor-related with RNFLT in the NTG group(P＜0.05).ROI1-left superior frontal gyrus,ROI1-right superior frontal gyrus,ROI2-left cingulate gyrus and ROI2-right middle frontal gyrus were significantly positively correlated with RNFLT(all P＜0.05).Compared with the HCs group,the brain regions with reduced FC to the right ROI in the NTG group were the left superior frontal gyrus and right superior frontal gyrus;the brain regions with reduced FC to the left ROI were the left cingulate gyrus and right middle frontal gyrus.Conclusion Compared to healthy individuals,NTG patients have significant changes in the functional connections between certain specific brain regions and V1 region,including bilateral superior frontal gyrus,left cingulate gyrus,and middle frontal gyrus.The changes in brain functional activity may be caused by visual dysfunction caused by NTG,leading to functional impairment of the visual and cognitive emotion processing brain regions,which may be one of the potential neuropathological mechanisms in NTG patients.

Objective To explore the changes in macular microcirculation status and visual function in patients with normal tension glaucoma(NTG)using the optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and microperimeter MP-3 and analyze the correlation between the two.Methods In this cross-sectional observational study,17 NTG patients(30 eyes)were collected as the NTG group and then divided into mild,moderate and severe NTG subgroups according to the severity of the disease.During the same period,13 healthy subjects(23 eyes)with the same age and gender distribution were selected as the control group.OCTA was used to obtain linear density(LD)and perfusion density(PD)of superficial retinal vessels in the macular area.The microperimeter MP-3 was used to measure retinal sensitivity(RS)within 10° and fixation rate at 2° and 4° of the macular area.The OCTA parameters and microperimeter MP-3 parameters were compared among all groups,and the correlation between OCTA parameters and microperimeter MP-3 parameters in NTG patients was analyzed.Results There were no significant differences in LD and PD between the control group and the mild NTG sub-group in the central and nasal sides of the macula;the LD and PD in the remaining regions and overall average LD and PD showed a gradual downward trend in the control group and the mild,moderate and severe NTG subgroups.Compared with the control group,the RS of the mild NTG subgroup was lower in the inferior and temporal regions of the macular area.The RS of each region and overall average RS in the macular area decreased with the aggravation of the NTG.In the NTG group,LD and PD were significantly positively correlated with RS in each region and overall average RS in the macular area(all P＜0.05).In the NTG group,LD and PD were positively correlated with P2 in some regions of the macular area.Con-clusion Compared with the control group,the macular microcirculation status and visual function of NTG patients signif-icantly decreased with the progression of the disease;there is a significant correlation between macular LD and RS in NTG patients.

Objective:To explore the deficits of facial expression recognition,theory of mind and empathy in patients with schizophrenia and to examine the association of facial expression recognition with theory of mind and empathy.Methods:Totally 47 patients with schizophrenia who met the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Sta-tistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fifth Edition(DSM-5)and 35 normal participants were selected.The Facial E-motion Identification Test(FEIT),Yoni task,and the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(QCAE)were used to measure expression recognition,theory of mind,and empathy.The main indicators were task accuracy and questionnaire scores.Results:Compared to normal controls,patient group showed significantly poorer perform-ance on facial expression recognition accuracy and the Yoni task,and lower scores on cognitive empathy and pe-ripheral responsivity subscale of the QCAE(Ps＜0.05).Regression analyses showed that performance on cognitive theory of mind(β=0.33,P＜0.01)and affective theory of mind(β=0.33,P＜0.01)of the Yoni task were posi-tively associated with accuracy in recognizing happy expressions.Cognitive empathy scores of the QCAE were neg-atively associated with accuracy in recognizing neutral expressions(β=-0.23,P＜0.05).Patients had lower af-fective theory of mind accuracy(β=-0.23,P＜0.05)and QCAE cognitive empathy scores(β=-0.34,P＜0.01).Conclusion:Patients with schizophrenia have deficits in expression recognition,theory of mind,and empa-thy,and that their abnormal expression recognition may be associated with deficits in theory of mind and empathy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between plasma total α-synuclein (α-syn), phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-α-syn), neurofilament light chain(NfL) and subtypes of Parkinson disease(PD).Methods:A total of 62 PD patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Huai 'an No. 1 People 's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from September 2021 to January 2023 were selected and scored on the Hoehn-Yahr stage(H-Y), unified Parkinson's disease rating scale Ⅲ(UPDRS-Ⅲ), levodopa equivalent daily dosage(LEDD), mini-mental state examination(MMSE), Parkinson disease quality of life questionnaire(PDQ-39) and activities of daily living(ADL). During the same period, 25 healthy individuals matched in age and sex were enrolled as the control group (HC). Clinical characteristics and blood samples were collected. The plasma levels of α-syn, p-α-syn and NfL were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). PD patients were divided into tremor dominant type (TD, n=27) and akinetic-rigid dominant type (AR, n=35) based on UPDRS-Ⅲ scores. Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis was performed by SPSS 25.0 software to determine the influencing factors of subtypes of Parkinson disease. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point of plasma NfL between the AR type and the TD type. Results:Plasma α-syn, p-α-syn, NfL levels in the PD group were significantly higher than those of the HC group ( Z=-2.537, -6.580, -7.101, all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the AR type and the TD type in disease duration, H-Y stage, UPDRS-Ⅲ scores, LEDD and MMSE scores ( Z=-2.503, -3.021, -2.025, -2.086, -2.409, all P<0.05). While no significant difference was found in plasma α-syn and p-α-syn levels between the AR type and TD type ( Z=-0.341, -0.085, both P>0.05), the plasma NfL levels were notably higher in the AR type(92.79(16.84, 117.53) pg/mL) compared to the TD type (12.10(6.99, 100.17) pg/mL)( Z=-2.236, P<0.05). Plasma NfL levels were correlated with rigidity scores ( r=0.438, P<0.001), UPDRS-Ⅲ scores ( r=0.337, P<0.05) and motor subtypes ( r=0.286, P<0.05) in PD patients. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that NfL was risk factor for AR( B=0.002, OR=1.002, 95% CI=1.001-1.003, P=0.017). The ROC curve analysis indicated that plasma NfL levels could predict different subtypes of PD with an AUC=0.667, optimal cutoff =26.527. Conclusion:There is a correlation between elevated plasma NfL levels and the occurrence of AR type of PD, suggesting that nerve injury is probably involved in the occurrence and progression of various motor subtypes of PD.

Objective:To compare the mechanical properties between our self-designed axially controlled compression spinal rod (ACCSR) and conventional spinal rod (CSR) for lumbar spondylolysis (LS).Methods:This study selected 36 ACCSRs (the ACCSR group) and 36 CSRs (the CSR group), both of which were in a diameter of 6.0 mm and manufactured in the same batch. They were subjected respectively to biomechanical tests of spinal rod and pedicle screw-rod internal fixation system. In spinal rod tests: the stiffness and yield load of the spinal rods were calculated using four-point bending tests ( n=7) and comparisons were made between the 2 groups; spinal rod fatigue tests ( n=8) recorded the successful compression loads after 2.5 million cycles of loading and compared them with the maximum force at the isthmus of a normal adult's unilateral lumbar spine (198.72 N). In tests of the pedicle screw-rod internal fixation system, the axial compression tests ( n=7) measured the axial gripping capacity, the axial torsion tests ( n=7) the torsional gripping capacity, and the lateral compression tests ( n=7) the stiffness and yield load of pedicle screws in the 2 groups respectively. Results:The stiffness [(1,543.37±61.41) N/mm] and yield load [1,338.57 (1,282.00, 1,353.80) N] of ACCSR group were significantly smaller than those of CSR group [(3,797.63±156.15) N/mm and 4,059.95 (3,813.80, 4,090.89) N] ( P<0.05). The spinal rod fatigue tests showed that the respective loads of CSR and ACCSR passing the 2.5 million fatigue tests were 640.00 N and 320.00 N, both larger than the maximum force at the unilateral lumbar isthmus of a normal adult (198.72 N). There were no significant differences between the ACCSR group and the CSR group in the axial gripping capacity and torsional gripping capacity, as well as in stiffness and yield load of screws between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In fixation of LS, although the yield load, stiffness and fatigue resistance of ACCSR are inferior to those of CSR, the biomechanical properties of the two sets of pedicle screw-rod internal fixation system are comparable. The fatigue resistance of ACCSR can meet the stress requirements of the normal human isthmus.

In recent years, the high temperature and heatwaves have seriously affected the health of Chinese residents, and there is an important need for public health protection guidelines for high temperature and heatwaves in China. The National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention has organized experts to fully investigate the evidence from epidemiological research on the health of populations in high temperature and heatwaves globally and in China, analyze the health hazards and protection needs of different populations, and put forward practical and effective individual protection measures and health recommendations. For this reason, the "Guideline for Public Health Protection against High Temperature and Heatwaves" (referred to as the "Guideline") was officially issued in June 2023. This article interprets the background and significance of the Guideline, the principles of compilation, the main considerations, the main contents, the implementations and promotions and other aspects, to improve the understanding of the content of the Guideline and strengthen the publicity and implementations.