ObjectiveTo explore the effects of Jingui Shenqiwan （JSW） and Liuwei Dihuangwan （LDW） on the reproductive ability and brain function of normal mice and compare the actions of the two medications. MethodsSeven groups of female and male mice were divided at a ratio of 2∶1. Except for the control group， the other six groups were as follows： a group of both males and females receiving JSW （3.0 g·kg^-1）， a group of both males and females receiving LDW （4.5 g·kg^-1）， a group of males receiving water and females receiving JSW， a group of males receiving water while females receiving LDW， a group of females receiving water while males receiving JSW， and a group of females receiving water while males receiving LDW. Each group was administered the drug for 14 days and then caged together at a 2∶1 （female∶male） ratio to detect the number of pregnant mice and calculate the pregnancy rate. Pregnant mice continued receiving the drug until they naturally gave birth， which was followed by the observation of newborn mice， calculation of their average number， and the measurement of the offspring's preference for sugar water and neonatal recognition index. At the end of the experiment， the weights of the thymus and spleen were measured to calculate the organ coefficients， and mRNA or protein expression was analyzed in the brain and testes or ovaries. A 1% sucrose solution was used to examine the euphoria of their brain reward systems， while novel object recognition test （NOR） was applied to assess their memory capabilities. mRNA expression was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） assay， and protein expression was analyzed with Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， oral administration of JSW to both male and female mice for 14 days significantly increased the pregnancy rate of female mice on day 2 after being caged together （P<0.05）， while LDW showed a trend but no statistical significance. Additionally， compared with the control group， JSW could upregulate the gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） in the thalamus， as well as reproductive stem cell factor （SCF） and tyrosine kinase receptor （c-Kit） in the testes and reproductive stem cell marker mouse vasa homologue （MVH） in the ovaries， upregulate the expression of proteins influencing neuronal functional activity， such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， in hippocampal neurons （P<0.05）， and enhance sucrose preference in male mice （P<0.05）. Compared with the control group， JSW significantly increased sucrose preference and novel object recognition index in offspring mice （P<0.05）， which was related to the upregulation of hippocampal dopamine D1 receptor （D1R） and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor （Nmdar） gene expression. Compared with the control group， both JSW and LDW could upregulate the protein expression of glucocorticoid receptor （GR）， BDNF， and tyrosine kinase receptor B （TrkB） in the hippocampus of offspring mice （P<0.05）. ConclusionJSW significantly enhances the reproductive ability of normal mice， which is not only related to the release of gonadotropin but also associated with its regulation of brain function. Additionally， JSW has a certain regulatory effect on the brain function of the offspring mice.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Shenge Bushen Capsules （SBC） on sexual development in normal 3-week-old mice. MethodsThe experiment consisted of two parts. In the first part， mice were divided into four groups： The control group and the low， medium， and high-dose SBC groups （234.7， 469.4， 938.7 mg·kg^-1， respectively）. In the second part， mice were divided into four groups： Control group， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide （PRP） group， total flavonoids group， and SBC group， all receiving a dose of 469.4 mg·kg^-1. After 7 days of administration， the vaginal opening of female mice and the descent of testes and scrotum in male mice， as well as the ovarian and testicular organ indices， were observed. After 4 weeks of administration， female and male mice were housed together for 2 days， and the pregnancy rate of females was monitored. After delivery， the pregnant female mice continued receiving the treatment for 4 weeks， and the sexual development of their offspring， including vaginal opening， testicular descent， and organ indices of ovaries and testes， was observed. Serum sex hormones were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone （GnRH） and growth hormone （GH） proteins in the hypothalamus was assessed by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group， there was no significant effect on the vaginal opening of female mice or the descent of testes in male mice after 7 days of SBC administration. After 4 weeks of administration， the pregnancy rate in the low-dose group was significantly reduced （P<0.05）， but no significant effects were observed in the other groups. The three doses of SBC did not significantly affect the ovarian or testicular organ indices， and there was no significant upregulation in the expression of GnRH or GH in the hypothalamus. The primary component of SBC， Pseudostellariae Radix polysaccharide， significantly reduced the vaginal opening in female mice after 7 days of administration （P<0.05）. After 4 weeks， the serum estradiol levels of non-pregnant female mice were decreased （P<0.05）， but there was no significant effect on the expression of GnRH or GH proteins in the hypothalamus of either male or female mice. Additionally， there were no significant effects on precocious puberty indicators， such as vaginal opening and testicular descent， in the offspring mice. ConclusionSBC does not significantly promote precocious puberty in young mice， and it does not have any noticeable effects on the pregnancy rate of adult mice or the sexual development of their offspring.

Objective To map the genome-wide distribution profile of histone H3K27me3 modification in diffuse gastric cancer tissues,identify target genes regulated by H3K27me3,and primarily explore the potential mechanism of its modification reprogramming in the occurrence and development of the tumor.Methods Normal gastric mucosal tissues and diffuse gastric cancer tissues were harvested from the patients who underwent examinations or treatments in the departments of gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery of our medical center between 2021 and 2023.There were 14 patients in the normal group(6 males and 8 females,average age of 46 years)and 14 patients in the gastric cancer group(8 males and 6 females,average age of 63 years).Cleavage under target and tagmentation(CUT&Tag)technology was employed to capture genomic regions modified by H3K27me3,and analyze the reprogramming characteristics of these modifications.RNA sequencing data,data from high-throughput chromosome conformation capture(Hi-C)technology,and publicly available single-cell data were integrated to investigate the target genes regulated by the reprogramming of H3K27me3 modifications in diffuse gastric cancer cells.Results The quality of the CUT&Tag and RNA sequencing data met the standards required for subsequent analysis.Histone H3K27me3 modifications in normal gastric mucosa and diffuse gastric cancer tissues were primarily distributed in distal intergenic regions and intronic regions.In gastric cancer tissues,compared to normal tissues,there was significant reprogramming of H3K27me3 modifications,characterized by a marked reduction in overall H3K27me3 signal intensity.The loss of 2 912 H3K27me3 signal peaks might lead to the up-regulation of 822 tumor-associated genes.Among them,56 genes displayed the most significant up-regulation(fold change in signal intensity≥2,P<0.05),with notable enrichment in the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1(mTORC1)signaling pathway.Specifically,the methionine transporter SLC7A5 and the cystine transporter SLC7A11 were found to have the highest expression levels in gastric cancer tissues.Single-cell data revealed that the abnormal overexpression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer was primarily observed in tumor epithelial cells.Further validation using public data and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed the elevated expression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer,which is associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients.Conclusion The reprogramming of histone H3K27me3 modification is an important epigenetic characteristic in diffuse gastric cancer.Loss of H3K27me3 signal peaks may up-regulate the expression of SLC7A11 in diffuse gastric cancer cells,and thereby promote tumor progression.

Objective To draw the genome-wide distribution and remodeling characteristics of H3K27me3 silencers in signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach(SRCC)through epigenetic sequencing technology,and to investigate their roles in transcriptional regulation in order to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of SRCC malignant progression.Methods The study was conducted on 35 gastric samples obtained by gastroendoscopic biopsy(15 normal and 20 SRCC tissues)from Department of Gastroenterology of Army Medical Center of PLA between January 2021 and December 2023.Multi-omics analyses,including assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing(ATAC-seq),cleavage under targets and tagmentation(CUT&Tag)and transcriptome sequencing(RNA-seq),were performed to identify chromatin accessibility,H3K27me3 silencer regions,and transcriptional changes,with aid of Illumina NovaSeq 6000.H3K27me3 related differentially expressed genes(|Log2FC|>1,FDR<0.05)were screened using DESeq2.Gene Ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis were employed to analyze the enrichment function,and Homer was employed to identify transcription factor motifs.A regulatory network was constructed using Cytoscape,and then validated using immunohistochemistry to explore its regulatory mechanism.Results H3K27me3 silencers were primarily located in distal intergenic regions(37.06%)in SRCC.Compared with the normal tissues,SRCC showed a significant reduction in H3K27me3 silencer signals(95%CI:1.34～2.30,P=0.007)with 6 257 lost sites(FDR<0.01).Integrating CUT&Tag and RNA-seq revealed 380 up-regulated immune-related genes,particularly in T cell receptor signaling(OR=4.2,95%CI:2.8～6.3,P=0.002).Immunohistochemistry confirmed elevated expression of transcription factor EHF(P<0.05).Conclusion There is the remodeling of H3K27me3 silencers in SRCC,and EHF may potentially play a crucial role in the SRCC malignant progression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the current status of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the elderly population in rural areas of Changxing County, Zhejiang Province, and to provide an evidence for the development of LTBI prevention and control measures. MethodsBetween January and May 2024, elderly individuals participating in urban and rural residents’ health checkups were screened for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection using a domestically produced interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) kit. Individuals tested positive by IGRA but without active tuberculosis were classified as LTBI cases. The prevalence of LTBI among the participants was subsequently analyzed. ResultsAmong the 6 765 subjects, 637 tested positive by IGRA, including one identified active tuberculosis patient, resulting in a LTBI prevalence rate of 9.40%. There was a statistically significant difference in positivity rates across different IGRA methodologies (χ²=35.530, P<0.001). Higher LTBI rate was observed in males, individuals with a history of diabetes mellitus, and those with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, exhibiting statistically significant differences (χ²=32.401, P<0.001; χ²=5.789, P=0.020; χ²=39.248, P<0.001, respectively.) No statistically significant difference in LTBI rate was found across different age groups (χ²=0.238, P=0.971). ConclusionThe prevalence of LTBI among the elderly rural residents in Changxing County is relatively low. Male, individuals with a history of diabetes mellitus, and those with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis have an increased risk of LTBI, warranting targeted risk monitoring and timely interventions.

The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification* ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Child

At present,more and more scientific experiments are used in the research of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),which promotes the elucidation of the effects of TCM.However,the real significance of scientific experiment lies in the discussion of the original theory,and in the guidance role in the original theory based on the discovery.Therefore,it will lose its real significance and value to only position scientific experiments as"explain"the mechanism of TCM effects rather than guiding the clarification and development of the principles of TCM.This paper analyzes the theoretical paradigms of modern science and TCM from the perspective of historical development,and theoretically discusses the due position and importance of scientific experiments in the theoretical research and development of TCM on their similarities and differences and their possible intersections.It holds that although scientific experiment and TCM belong to different theoretical paradigms,their objective materiality from clinical practice determines the interconnectedness between scientific experiment and TCM,that is,linking scientific experiment and TCM with the pathophysiological changes;In order to ensure the correctness of the connection between this scientific experiment and TCM,we should pay attention to the implementation of the scientific concept in scientific experiments to ensure the specificity of the research results,and finally making due contributions to the development of TCM theory.

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is an early and significant cardiac structural charac-teristic that contributes to the onset and progression of heart failure(HF).Its mainly structural feature is the abnormally enlarged cardiomyocyte.Effective intervention targets for abnormally en-larged cardiomyocyte remain to be identified.Previous studies have shown that the cellular shape and size can be regulated by the actin related protein 2/3(Arp2/3)complex,which is an actin-binding protein complex involved in the actin nucleation and assembly.However,the roles of the Arp2/3 complex in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy remain unknown.Here our study identifies its no-vel roles in the occurrence and development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.We found that mRNA levels of all subunits from the Arp2/3 complex are significantly upregulated(P<0.05)in the an-giotensin II(Ang Ⅱ)-induced neonatal rat primary and H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.Fur-ther studies showed that siRNA-directed ARPC2 silencing inhibits the reactivation of fetal genes and enlargement of cardiomyocyte area induced by Ang Ⅱ in neonatal rat primary cardiomyocytes(NRCMs)and H9c2 cells(P<0.05).In addition,the upstream activators of the Arp2/3 com-plex including SH3 protein interacting with Nck,90 kD(SPIN90)and Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1(Rac1)/WASp family Verprolin-homologous protein-2(WAVE-2)are upregu-lated(P<0.05)in Ang Ⅱ-induced neonatal rat primary and H9c2 cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,indicating the excessive activation of the Arp2/3 complex.We further show that CK666,a specif-ic Arp2/3 complex inhibitor,prevents the reactivation of fetal genes and the enlargement of car-diomyocyte area induced by Ang Ⅱ in NRCMs and H9c2 cells(P<0.05).Our results reveal that the Arp2/3 complex plays a crucial role in Ang Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,which is beneficial to further studies about the molecular mechanisms by which the Arp2/3 complex regu-lates pathological cardiac hypertrophy.

This consensus was developed by the Orthodontic Society of the Chinese Stomatological Association to provide a systematic, scientific, and practical guideline for informed consent in orthodontic care. Orthodontic treatment is typically lengthy, highly individualized, and involves multiple factors such as growth and development, occlusal function, and facial esthetics. Rapid technological advances and diverse risk profiles make the traditional reliance on orthodontist experience or institutional templates insufficient to ensure patients′ full understanding and autonomous decision-making. To address this, the expert panel conducted extensive reviews of domestic and international guidelines, analyzed representative dispute cases, and performed multicenter patient-clinician surveys. Using a multi-round Delphi method, the group established a standardized informed consent framework covering the initial consultation, treatment, and retention phases. The consensus emphasizes that informed consent is not only a fundamental legal and ethical requirement but also a key step in building trust, improving patient compliance, and enhancing treatment satisfaction. Orthodontists should clearly and comprehensively explain treatment plans, potential risks, uncertainties, and associated costs, while respecting the autonomy of patients or guardians, and maintain continuous communication and dynamic evaluation throughout the treatment process. The release of this consensus provides unified and authoritative guidance for clinical orthodontics, helping to standardize informed consent, enhance its transparency, safeguard patient rights, reduce medical risks, and promote high-quality, sustainable development of orthodontic practice.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive double anchoring combined with percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) for Kümmell disease.Methods:The clinical data of 24 patients with Kümmell disease who were treated with minimally invasive double anchoring combined with PKP in Cangzhou People's Hospital from October 2022 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 2 T 10 vertebrae, 5 T 11 vertebrae, 7 T 12 vertebrae, 6 L 1 vertebrae, and 4 L 2 vertebrae. There were 6 males and 18 females. The average age was 72.05±4.52 years (range, 66-80 years). The bone mineral density T value was -3.41±0.77 (range, -2.5-4.5). The stages of Li's Kümmell disease included 13 cases of stage II and 11 cases of stage III. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and volume of bone cement injected were recorded. The vertebral index, vertebral angle and Cobb angle of diseased segment were measured before and after operation. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the degree of pain, the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) low back pain scale were used to assess spinal function. The Medical Outcome Study short form 36 item health survey (SF-36) was used to assess the general health status of the patients. The postoperative symptom recovery was evaluated by Odom criteria. Results:The mean operative time of the 24 patients was 35.32±6.86 min, the injected volume of bone cement was 4.39±1.72 ml, and the intraoperative blood loss was 16.56±5.21 ml. All patients were followed up for 10 to 14 months, with an average of 11.7 months. Postoperative CT examination showed that the screw positions were satisfactory, and no loosening or displacement of bone cement mass occurred. On the first day after surgery, the vertebral body index, vertebral body angle and Cobb angle of diseased segment were 77.71%±2.75%, 12.40°±1.53° and 25.77°±4.49°, respectively, which represented significant improvements from the preoperative values of 43.09%±5.66%, 22.12°±2.92° and 46.98°±5.68° before surgery ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the values were 76.18%±2.32%, 12.41°±2.53°, 26.14°±4.87°, respectively, which were significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05), but there was no statistical significance compared with the first day after surgery ( P>0.05). The VAS, ODI and JOA scores on the first day after surgery were 2.11±0.87 points, 22.46±5.49 points and 27.68±2.45 points, respectively, which were significantly improved compared with those before surgery 7.50±0.98 points, 76.25±8.56 points and 14.96±4.91 points ( P<0.05). At the last follow-up, the values were 2.26±0.88, 23.87±3.25 and 26.58±2.77, respectively, which were significantly improved compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05), and there was no statistical significance compared with the first day after surgery ( P>0.05). All 24 patients completed SF-36 scale assessment, and the results showed that there were statistically significant differences in physiological function, physiological role, physical pain, general health status, social function scores and mental health between the patients before surgery and the last follow-up ( P<0.05), while there were no statistically significant differences in vitality and emotional function ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the Odom criteria showed excellent results in 18 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases. Conclusions:The application of minimally invasive double anchoring (single nail fixation) combined with PKP in the treatment of Kümmell disease can effectively prevent the loosening and displacement of bone cement masses, and the fixation effect is satisfactory, which can restore the height of the injured vertebrum, reduce kyphosis and improve spinal function. The clinical symptoms of the patients were significantly improved, and the quality of life was enhanced.