Objective: To evaluate the performance of 5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in visualizing dental pulp and periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues in vivo in the young adult population, thereby providing a basis for the application of high-field MRI technology in clinical oral examinations. Methods: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital. A total of 15 healthy volunteers (413 permanent teeth altogether) were recruited and underwent full-mouth 5T MRI scans. Among them, six volunteers (168 permanent teeth) also received both 3T MRI and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Two dental specialists independently evaluated the imaging quality of the dental pulp and PDL on the images using a 5-point Likert scale and recorded the number of detectable root canals for each tooth. Inter-rater agreement was assessed using weighted kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Non-parametric tests were employed to compare differences in imaging performance among different tissue structures, tooth positions, and imaging modalities. Results: 5T MRI can achieve in vivo imaging for most dental pulp tissues and partial periodontal membrane structures. There was a high level of agreement between the two raters in their imaging scores for the dental pulp and PDL (dental pulp κ = 0.934, PDL κ = 0.737). The imaging scores for dental pulp were significantly higher than those for PDL (P < 0.001), and the scores for molar dental pulp were lower than those for premolars and anterior teeth. In the multimodal comparison involving six volunteers, the raters showed good consistency in scoring dental pulp and PDL imaging across 5T MRI, 3T MRI, and CBCT, as well as in root canal counts (5T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.971, 3T MRI for dental pulp κ = 0.933, CBCT for dental pulp κ = 0.964; 5T MRI for PDL κ = 0.625, 3T MRI for PDL κ = 0.667, CBCT for PDL κ = 0.571; ICC for root canal counts all ≥ 0.990). The imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL using 5T MRI were significantly higher than those using 3T MRI (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.022), but there was no statistically significant difference in the detection rate of the number of root canals between the two (P > 0.05). Although the imaging scores for dental pulp and PDL as well as the detection rate of the number of root canals with 5T MRI were inferior to those with CBCT (dental pulp: P < 0.001; PDL: P = 0.02; number of root canals: P < 0.05), 5T MRI can truly achieve "direct imaging" of these two soft tissues. Conclusion 5T MRI enables effective in vivo direct imaging of dental pulp and PDL tissues in the young adult population, indicating its potential clinical application value in the diagnosis and treatment of pulp and periodontal diseases.

The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as other potential future coronavirus has challenged the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, there remains a need for alternative antivirals that target processes less susceptible to mutations, such as the formation of six-helix bundle (6-HB) during the viral fusion step of host cell entry. In this study, a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) assay employing a yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) system was established to identify inhibitors of HR1/HR2 interaction. The compound IMB-9C, which achieved single-digit micromolar inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 and its Omicron variants with low cytotoxicity, was selected. IMB-9C effectively blocks the HR1/HR2 interaction in vitro and inhibits SARS-CoV-2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion. It binds to both HR1 and HR2 through non-covalent interaction and influences the secondary structure of HR1/HR2 complex. In addition, virtual docking and site-mutagenesis results suggest that amino acid residues A930, I931, K933, T941, and L945 are critical for IMB-9C binding to HR1. Collectively, in this study, we have developed a novel screening method for HR1/HR2 interaction inhibitors and identified IMB-9C as a potential antiviral small molecule against COVID-19 and its variants.

Objective:To establish and assess the quality control and improvement system for metabolic and bariatric surgery in Beijing.Methods:Based on relevant documents from the National Health Commission and the Beijing Municipal Health Commission,and referencing the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,a quality control system was developed under the Beijing Quality Control and Improvement Center of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The system incorporated on-site evaluations,data registration,and specialized training. From May to December 2023,on-site assessments were conducted at 21 hospitals in Beijing performing bariatric surgery,evaluating personnel qualifications,infrastructure,clinical workflows,and postoperative follow-up. A quality control database was created to collect real-time surgical data,and training was provided for data entry and professional skills. Assessment results were classified as excellent,qualified,or needing improvement,with rectification suggestions offered and follow-up visits conducted to track progress.Results:All 21 hospitals achieved a 100% compliance rate for surgical indications, 16 (76.2%) met standardized surgical operation criteria,and 14 (66.7%) had standardized postoperative management. However,only 5 (23.8%) achieved a 12-month postoperative follow-up rate of ≥60%,and 4 (19.1%) had established specialized databases. Key challenges included insufficient specialized staffing (19.1%), lack of multidisciplinary collaboration (47.6%), inadequate equipment (57.1%), and low follow-up rates (57.1%). The database collected data from over 2 000 patients across 111 fields. After rectification, specialized database coverage rose to 61.9% (13 hospitals). Multi-level training programs developed backbone physicians and specialized nurses,significantly addressing the shortage of specialized personnel.Conclusion:The quality control system established in this study,through the integration of on-site evaluation,data registration,and specialized training,effectively enhances the standardization of surgical practices and data management capabilities.

Objective To explore the effects of eugenol combined with traditional Chinese medicine Wuxing music(EUG+MUSIC)on skin inflammation,behavioral characteristics,hormone and neurotransmitter levels,and the intestinal microbiota in a mouse model of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene(DNFB)-induced atopic dermatitis(AD).Methods A mouse model of AD was established by induction with DNFB for 21 consecutive days;throughout the study,changes in dorsal skin lesions and scratching behavior were recorded in mice and changes in dorsal skin lesions and pruritus were recorded.Mice underwent open-field,elevated 0 maze,tail-suspension,and forced-swimming tests on days 19 and 20.The mice were then sacrificed on day 21 and the organ index was calculated.Serum levels of immunoglobulin E,interleukin(IL)-4,and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Pathological changes in back-skin sections were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and toluidine blue staining,and brain levels of corticosterone,dopamine,and serotonin were measured.The composition of the intestinal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results The skin lesion score and skin inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced in the EUG+MUSIC group.Regarding the behavioral tests,mice in the EUG+MUSIC group showed more active locomotion,an increased desire to explore unfamiliar environments,and increased struggling time in stressful situations.Brain levels of serotonin,dopamine,and corticosterone were also increased in the EUG+MUSIC group.16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that DNFB affected the diversity of the intestinal microbiota in AD mice,while EUG+MUSIC treatment remodeled the gut microbial composition,including increasing the relative abundance of gut microbes such as Ligilactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae and decreasing Parabacteroides and Bacteroides spp.Spearman's analysis showed significant correlations among altered gut microbiota,AD-associated skin manifestations,and anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors arising from comorbidities.Conclusions Eugenol combined with traditional Chinese medicine five-elements music therapy may have a positive effect on comorbid anxiety-and depression-like behaviors by regulating the intestinal microbiota and improving the behavioral performance in mice with AD,thus providing new ideas and method for improving AD and its associated anxiety-and depressive behaviors.

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity among adolescents. Spinal correction surgery is a complex procedure with a long operative duration and extensive tissue damage, frequently resulting in chronic postoperative pain. This type of pain imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, as well as considerable economic strain on families and society. This paper provides an overview of the concept, prevalence, assessment tools, influencing factors, and preventive and therapeutic strategies for chronic postoperative pain in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The aim is to offer a reference for managing postoperative chronic pain in these patients and to inform further research in this area.

Objective To explore the effects of eugenol combined with traditional Chinese medicine Wuxing music(EUG+MUSIC)on skin inflammation,behavioral characteristics,hormone and neurotransmitter levels,and the intestinal microbiota in a mouse model of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene(DNFB)-induced atopic dermatitis(AD).Methods A mouse model of AD was established by induction with DNFB for 21 consecutive days;throughout the study,changes in dorsal skin lesions and scratching behavior were recorded in mice and changes in dorsal skin lesions and pruritus were recorded.Mice underwent open-field,elevated 0 maze,tail-suspension,and forced-swimming tests on days 19 and 20.The mice were then sacrificed on day 21 and the organ index was calculated.Serum levels of immunoglobulin E,interleukin(IL)-4,and IL-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Pathological changes in back-skin sections were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and toluidine blue staining,and brain levels of corticosterone,dopamine,and serotonin were measured.The composition of the intestinal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Results The skin lesion score and skin inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly reduced in the EUG+MUSIC group.Regarding the behavioral tests,mice in the EUG+MUSIC group showed more active locomotion,an increased desire to explore unfamiliar environments,and increased struggling time in stressful situations.Brain levels of serotonin,dopamine,and corticosterone were also increased in the EUG+MUSIC group.16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that DNFB affected the diversity of the intestinal microbiota in AD mice,while EUG+MUSIC treatment remodeled the gut microbial composition,including increasing the relative abundance of gut microbes such as Ligilactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae and decreasing Parabacteroides and Bacteroides spp.Spearman's analysis showed significant correlations among altered gut microbiota,AD-associated skin manifestations,and anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors arising from comorbidities.Conclusions Eugenol combined with traditional Chinese medicine five-elements music therapy may have a positive effect on comorbid anxiety-and depression-like behaviors by regulating the intestinal microbiota and improving the behavioral performance in mice with AD,thus providing new ideas and method for improving AD and its associated anxiety-and depressive behaviors.

Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity among adolescents. Spinal correction surgery is a complex procedure with a long operative duration and extensive tissue damage, frequently resulting in chronic postoperative pain. This type of pain imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, as well as considerable economic strain on families and society. This paper provides an overview of the concept, prevalence, assessment tools, influencing factors, and preventive and therapeutic strategies for chronic postoperative pain in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The aim is to offer a reference for managing postoperative chronic pain in these patients and to inform further research in this area.

Objective:To establish and assess the quality control and improvement system for metabolic and bariatric surgery in Beijing.Methods:Based on relevant documents from the National Health Commission and the Beijing Municipal Health Commission,and referencing the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,a quality control system was developed under the Beijing Quality Control and Improvement Center of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The system incorporated on-site evaluations,data registration,and specialized training. From May to December 2023,on-site assessments were conducted at 21 hospitals in Beijing performing bariatric surgery,evaluating personnel qualifications,infrastructure,clinical workflows,and postoperative follow-up. A quality control database was created to collect real-time surgical data,and training was provided for data entry and professional skills. Assessment results were classified as excellent,qualified,or needing improvement,with rectification suggestions offered and follow-up visits conducted to track progress.Results:All 21 hospitals achieved a 100% compliance rate for surgical indications, 16 (76.2%) met standardized surgical operation criteria,and 14 (66.7%) had standardized postoperative management. However,only 5 (23.8%) achieved a 12-month postoperative follow-up rate of ≥60%,and 4 (19.1%) had established specialized databases. Key challenges included insufficient specialized staffing (19.1%), lack of multidisciplinary collaboration (47.6%), inadequate equipment (57.1%), and low follow-up rates (57.1%). The database collected data from over 2 000 patients across 111 fields. After rectification, specialized database coverage rose to 61.9% (13 hospitals). Multi-level training programs developed backbone physicians and specialized nurses,significantly addressing the shortage of specialized personnel.Conclusion:The quality control system established in this study,through the integration of on-site evaluation,data registration,and specialized training,effectively enhances the standardization of surgical practices and data management capabilities.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as a metabolic disease, has shown a constant upward trend in prevalence among the people in recent years. In addition to changing lifestyles and conventional drug treatment, bariatric surgery, represented by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy, has gradually become one of the treatment options for NAFLD. However, the mechanism of bariatric surgery in treating NAFLD remains to be studied. The "multiple-hit theory", which has gradually been recognized in recent years, believes that NAFLD is formed by the combined effect of multiple mechanisms such as insulin resistance, bile acid metabolism pathway, and intestinal flora. Based on relevant literatures and clinical practices, the authors explore the relevant mechanisms of bariatric surgery for direct or indirect treatment of NAFLD.

Objective:To report the long-term outcomes of Chinese rectal cancer patients after adopting a Watch and Wait (W&W) strategy following neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).Methods:This multicenter, cross-sectional study was based on real-world data. The study cohort comprised rectal cancer patients who had achieved complete or near complete clinical responses (cCRs, near-cCRs) after NAT and were thereafter managed by a W&W approach, as well as a few patients who had achieved good responses after NAT and had then undergone local excision for confirmation of pathological complete response. All participants had been followed up for ≥2 years. Patients with distant metastases at baseline or who opted for observation while living with the tumor were excluded. Data of eligible patients were retrospectively collected from the Chinese Wait-and-Watch Data Collaboration Group database. These included baseline characteristics, type of NAT, pre-treatment imaging results, evaluation of post-NAT efficacy, salvage measures, and treatment outcomes. We herein report the long-term outcomes of Chinese rectal cancer patients after NAT and W&W and the differences between the cCR and near-cCR groups.Results:Clinical data of 318 rectal cancer patients who had undergone W&W for over 2 years and been followed up were collected from eight medical centers (Peking University Cancer Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Shanghai Changhai Hospital, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, the First Hospital of Jilin University, and Yunnan Cancer Hospital.) The participants comprised 221 men (69.4%) and 107 women (30.6%) of median age 60 (26-86) years. The median distance between tumor and anal verge was 3.4 (0-10.4) cm. Of these patients, 291 and 27 had achieved cCR or near-cCR, respectively, after NAT. The median duration of follow-up was 48.4 (10.2-110.3) months. The 5-year cumulative overall survival rate was 92.4% (95%CI: 86.8%-95.7%), 5-year cumulative disease-specific survival (CSS) rate 96.6% (95%CI: 92.2%-98.5%), 5-year cumulative organ-preserving disease-free survival rate 86.6% (95%CI: 81.0%-90.7%), and 5-year organ preservation rate 85.3% (95%CI: 80.3%-89.1%). The overall 5-year local recurrence and distant metastasis rates were 18.5% (95%CI: 14.9%-20.8%) and 8.2% (95%CI: 5.4%-12.5%), respectively. Most local recurrences (82.1%, 46/56) occurred within 2 years, and 91.0% (51/56) occurred within 3 years, the median time to recurrence being 11.7 (2.5-66.6) months. Most (91.1%, 51/56) local recurrences occurred within the intestinal lumen. Distant metastases developed in 23 patients; 60.9% (14/23) occurred within 2 years and 73.9% (17/23) within 3 years, the median time to distant metastasis being 21.9 (2.6-90.3) months. Common sites included lung (15/23, 65.2%), liver (6/23, 26.1%), and bone (7/23, 30.4%) The metastases involved single organs in 17 patients and multiple organs in six. There were no significant differences in overall, cumulative disease-specific, or organ-preserving disease-free survival or rate of metastases between the two groups (all P>0.05). The 5-year local recurrence rate was higher in the near-cCR than in the cCR group (41.6% vs. 16.4%, P<0.01), with a lower organ preservation rate (69.2% vs. 88.0%, P<0.001). The success rates of salvage after local recurrence and distant metastasis were 82.1% (46/56) and 13.0% (3/23), respectively. Conclusion:Rectal cancer patients who achieve cCR or near-cCR after NAT and undergo W&W have favorable oncological outcomes and a high rate of organ preservation. Local recurrence and distant metastasis during W&W follow certain patterns, with a relatively high salvage rate for local recurrence. Our findings highlight the importance of close follow-up and timely intervention during the W&W process.