Objective: To understand the characteristics of injury cases in Longhua District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province from 2021 to 2024, so as to provide the evidence for the development of injury prevention and control measures. Methods: The data of injury cases in the first visit due to injury in the sentinel hospitals of Longhua District from 2021 to 2024 were collected from the Shenzhen Injury Surveillance System. The time, cause, place, activity, intention, nature, position, severity, and outcome of injury were described. Results: From 2021 to 2024, a total of 167 524 injury cases were reported in Longhua District, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.89∶1. The incidence of injuries was higher in cases aged 30-<45 years (49 957 cases, 29.82%). Injuries mainly occurred from July to August (31 272 cases, 18.67%). The main cause of injury was falls (52 048 cases, 31.07%). Injuries mainly occurred at home (64 110 cases, 38.27%). Leisure activities were the main activities when injuries occurred (79 008 cases, 47.16%). Most of the injuries were unintentional (159 173 cases, 95.02%). The main type of injury was contusion/abrasion (71 900 cases, 42.92%). The main injury site was upper limb (64 247 cases, 38.35%). Most injuries were mild (131 369 cases, 78.42%). The main injury outcome was discharge after treatment, 160 882 cases (96.04%). The second cause of male injury was blunt force injury (30 140 cases, 27.49%), and the second cause of female injury was animal injury (14 648 cases, 25.31%). Fall was the leading cause of injury in people aged 0-<15 years and ≥65 years, and blunt force injury was the leading cause of injury in people aged 15-<65 years. The second place for male injuries was industrial and construction places (23 722 cases, 21.64%), and for female injuries was school/public places (9 644 cases, 16.66%). The first place for injuries in people aged 45-<65 years was in industrial and construction places. The proportions of fractures, moderate injuries, and hospitalizations increased with age (all P<0.05). Conclusions The main injury cases in Longhua District were males and people aged 30-<45 years. July and August were a period of high risk for injuries. People aged 0-<15 years and ≥65 years were the high-risk groups of falls. More attention should be paid to the fracture risk in the elderly.

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized primarily by oral and periocular dryness. Astragalus-Salvia (AS) and Ophiopogon-Dendrobium (OD) represent two frequently utilized herb pairs in SS treatment. While the combination of AS-OD herb pairs demonstrates clinical efficacy in alleviating SS symptoms, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. This investigation sought to assess the therapeutic effects and elucidate the potential mechanisms of AS-OD in non-obese diabetic (NOD)/Ltj mice with SS. The study utilized NOD/Ltj mice as SS models, administering AS-OD treatment for 10 weeks at doses of 113.1, 226.2, and 339.3 mg·d^-1·20 g^-1. Results demonstrated that AS-OD improved SS symptoms, evidenced by enhanced salivary flow rate, decreased anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibody levels, increased swimming duration, and reduced lactate (LA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in NOD/Ltj mice. AS-OD reduced lymphocyte infiltration, enhanced Aquaporin-5 (AQP5) expression in the submandibular gland, decreased inflammatory cytokine levels in the submandibular gland, and reduced the T helper type 17/regulatory T lymphocyte (Th17/Treg) cell ratio in the spleen. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses indicated AS-OD's involvement in regulating phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and Janus kinase 3/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK1/STAT3) pathways, with inhibitory effects validated in both NOD/Ltj mice submandibular gland and A-253 cells. Furthermore, AS-OD enhanced cell viability and reduced A-253 cell apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT pathway. In A-253 cells, AS-OD reduced inflammatory cytokine levels, CXC chemokine ligand 9/10 (CXCL9/10), and T-cell chemotaxis by inhibiting the JAK1/STAT3 pathway. AS-OD mitigates SS by suppressing inflammation and immune responses through the PI3K/AKT and JAK1/STAT3 pathways.
Animals ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/genetics* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/immunology* ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Janus Kinase 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Female ; Astragalus Plant/chemistry* ; Male

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and serogroup distribution of meningococcal meningitis.Methods:This study was a case series summary of the demographic data, laboratory results, vaccination history, clinical diagnoses,treatment and prognosis of 16 children with meningococcal meningitis who were hospitalized in Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Children′s Hospital from April 2014 to March 2024. According to ages, these patients were divided into infants and toddlers (≤3 years) and school-aged children (6-15 years) groups. Between-group comparison was performed using Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:A total of 16 hospitalized patients were included, of whom 8 were male and 8 female. The age of these patients at visit was 4.25 (0.33, 12.30) years. The cases presented a sporadic distribution. There were 11 cases from rural regions, 6 patients were unvaccinated due to age restriction.All patients presented with acute onset, with neurological symptoms manifesting within 0.6 (0.5, 1.0) days, and the duration of hospitalization was 20 (12, 28) days. There were 10 typical cases and 6 fulminant cases, with fever duration ≤7 days in 7 cases. Clinical manifestations included petechiae and purpura in 8 cases, shock in 3 cases, respiratory failure in 3 cases, and disseminated intravascular coagulation in 4 cases. There were 8 cases in both the infant and toddlers group and the school-aged childrengroup, 5 cases in the infant and toddler group manifested seizures. In contrast, in the school-aged children group, 6 individuals exhibited headache, nausea, and vomiting, while 4 cases demonstrated signs of altered consciousness. The C-reactive protein level in the 16 patients was 124.5 (71.3, 212.3) mg/L, and the procalcitonin level was 26.8 (11.0, 92.8) μg/L, the normal values are 0-8.0 mg/L for C-reactive protein and 0-0.5 μg/L for procalcitonin. Compared to the school-aged children group, the infants and toddlers group showed lower white blood cell counts ((7±4)×10 9vs. (17±10)×10 9/L, t=-2.36, P=0.034). All patients tested positive for pathogens, serogroup identification revealed a diverse distribution, including 1 case each of serogroups C, W135, and X; 4 cases of serogroup B; 3 cases of serogroup Y; and 6 cases that remained ungrouped. A total of 10 strains of Neisseria meningitidis were cultured, 7 strains were resistant to sulfonamides, 5 strains to penicillin, and 3 strains to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. A total of 9 patients treated with meropenem, and all cases showed improvement and were discharged without any fatalities. At discharge, 1 case had profound sensorineural hearing loss, and 5 patients required rehabilitation treatment due to sequelae. Conclusions:Meningococcal meningitis predominantly affected children aged ≤3 years and 6-15 years. The white blood cell count in meningococcal meningitis patients aged ≤3 years was lower. The serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis were highly diverse, with cases of serogroups X and Y identified. Since isolated Neisseria meningitidis has shown resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics, it is crucial to be vigilant about potential antimicrobial susceptibility when clinical efficacy is poor.

Objective:To construct a dynamic competency assessment system suitable for standardized training of resident physicians in the department of pediatric infectious diseases, verify its teaching practice effectiveness, and enhance the core competence of specialist physicians.Methods:Based on the Delphi method, an evaluation system was constructed. Through two rounds of expert consultation ( n=20, authority coefficient Cr=0.889-0.895), 5 primary indicators, 13 secondary indicators, and 38 tertiary indicators were established, covering dimensions such as clinical thinking, operational skills, and professional ethics. The hierarchical and progressive design and dynamic feedback mechanism were adopted. Sixty residents were randomly divide into an observation group (dynamic evaluation system) and a control group (traditional evaluation). Differences between the two groups were compared in terms of short-term teaching effectiveness (e.g., OSCE assessment and Mini CEX score) and long-term clinical competencies (e.g., exit assessment pass rate and incidence of adverse events). SPSS 24.0 was used for t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and internal consistency test (Cronbach's alpha=0.89). Results:The observation group outperformed the control group in core specialty competencies and clinical practice outcomes. In terms of core specialty competencies, the observation group had a higher response speed score for pathogen results [(4.10±0.84) vs. (3.60±0.95), P=0.042]. This indicates that the dynamic evaluation system effectively enhanced the ability of trained physicians to quickly adjust treatment plans based on pathogenic evidence. The implementation rate of infection prevention and control standards and diagnostic accuracy were also higher in the observation group compared to the control group, reflecting the advantages of this system in standardizing clinical operations and improving diagnostic levels. In terms of long-term clinical competencies, the observation group showed significantly increased exit assessment pass rate and significantly decreased incidence of medical adverse events, further verifying the continuous promotion effect of the dynamic evaluation system on the clinical competence of trained physicians. Conclusions:The dynamic evaluation system constructed in this study can effectively enhance the core specialty competencies (e.g., pathogen response and infection prevention and control) and long-term clinical competence of residents in the department of pediatric infectious diseases, providing scientific basis for optimizing the training models of specialist physicians.

Objectives:Comparative analysis of the beagles acute-phase electrocardiographic,hemodynamic,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption characteristics of pacing at different sites of conduction system may help to elucidate the scientific mechanism of left bundle branch pacing(LBBP)as a option of physiological pacing therapy.Methods:Eight healthy adult beagles were used in this study.Initially,an active fixation lead was implanted in the right atrial appendage,followed by implantation of another active fixation lead at the right ventricular apex,distal His bundle,and left bundle septal branch,respectively.After connecting a dual-chamber pacemaker,electrocardiographic and acute phase hemodynamic parameters under sinus rhythm,right ventricular apex pacing(RVAP),distal His bundle pacing(DHBP),and LBBP states were collected and analyzed.Three complete cardiac cycles of standard apical three-chamber color Doppler dynamic images were acquired under vector flow mapping(VFM)mode.Offline analysis was performed on obtained parameters including isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,atrial contraction period,and left ventricular intracavitary energy consumption.These parameters were compared under pacing at different sites and the linear correlations of major parameters were analyzed.Results:The QRS duration of baseline intrinsic sinus rhythm,RVAP,DHBP and LBBP were(45.0±4.0)ms,(98.4±6.2)ms,(50.0±4.5)ms and(62.0±4.7)ms,respectively.The LBBP-QRS duration was significantly wider than intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP,but significantly narrower than RVAP(all P<0.01).Compared with baseline AOO mode(the pacing rate was performed at 10 beats/min above the intrinsic heart rate),the change of acute phase maximum left ventricular pressure rise rate(LVdP/dtmax)in RVAP,DHBP and LBBP was([-7.89±5.67]% ),([0.74±2.05]% )and([-0.14±3.59]% ),respectively.There was no significant difference in LVdP/dtmax changes between DHBP and LBBP(P=0.667),but both pacing modalities were significantly better than RVAP(all P<0.01).The average energy consumption of the left ventricle under RVAP was significantly higher than that of intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP in isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,and atrial contraction period(all P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in energy consumption among intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP during the above five phases(all P>0.05).DHBP and LBBP did not show a significant increase in the number of left ventricular vortices,vortex area,and circulation intensity compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm,and LBBP did not show a significant increase in vortex area and circulation intensity compared to DHBP.Conclusions:Although LBBP canines significantly prolonged the paced QRS duration,it showed no significant differences in acute phase left ventricular hemodynamics,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP.Performance of LBBP was superior to RVAP.This study may contribute to revealing the theoretical basis of LBBP as a feasible physiological pacing therapy.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a crucial process that produces functionally distinct proteins from a single gene, depending on the developmental or physiological state of cells in multicellular organisms. It plays a significant role in cellular proliferation, survival, and differentiation, including embryonic development, spermatogenesis, and a broad spectrum of diseases. However, the precise involvement of AS in embryo implantation is still unclear. In this review, we summarize the potential roles of AS in regulating mesenchymal-epithelial transitions during embryo implantation, specifically in epithelium regeneration and decidualization initiation via the mesenchymal-epithelial transformation process. Overall, this review emphasizes the impact of AS and splicing variants on embryo implantation and offers novel insights into the potential application of alternative splicing in the treatment of female infertility.

Alternative splicing (AS) is a crucial process that produces functionally distinct proteins from a single gene, depending on the developmental or physiological state of cells in multicellular organisms. It plays a significant role in cellular proliferation, survival, and differentiation, including embryonic development, spermatogenesis, and a broad spectrum of diseases. However, the precise involvement of AS in embryo implantation is still unclear. In this review, we summarize the potential roles of AS in regulating mesenchymal-epithelial transitions during embryo implantation, specifically in epithelium regeneration and decidualization initiation via the mesenchymal-epithelial transformation process. Overall, this review emphasizes the impact of AS and splicing variants on embryo implantation and offers novel insights into the potential application of alternative splicing in the treatment of female infertility.

Objective:To construct a dynamic competency assessment system suitable for standardized training of resident physicians in the department of pediatric infectious diseases, verify its teaching practice effectiveness, and enhance the core competence of specialist physicians.Methods:Based on the Delphi method, an evaluation system was constructed. Through two rounds of expert consultation ( n=20, authority coefficient Cr=0.889-0.895), 5 primary indicators, 13 secondary indicators, and 38 tertiary indicators were established, covering dimensions such as clinical thinking, operational skills, and professional ethics. The hierarchical and progressive design and dynamic feedback mechanism were adopted. Sixty residents were randomly divide into an observation group (dynamic evaluation system) and a control group (traditional evaluation). Differences between the two groups were compared in terms of short-term teaching effectiveness (e.g., OSCE assessment and Mini CEX score) and long-term clinical competencies (e.g., exit assessment pass rate and incidence of adverse events). SPSS 24.0 was used for t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and internal consistency test (Cronbach's alpha=0.89). Results:The observation group outperformed the control group in core specialty competencies and clinical practice outcomes. In terms of core specialty competencies, the observation group had a higher response speed score for pathogen results [(4.10±0.84) vs. (3.60±0.95), P=0.042]. This indicates that the dynamic evaluation system effectively enhanced the ability of trained physicians to quickly adjust treatment plans based on pathogenic evidence. The implementation rate of infection prevention and control standards and diagnostic accuracy were also higher in the observation group compared to the control group, reflecting the advantages of this system in standardizing clinical operations and improving diagnostic levels. In terms of long-term clinical competencies, the observation group showed significantly increased exit assessment pass rate and significantly decreased incidence of medical adverse events, further verifying the continuous promotion effect of the dynamic evaluation system on the clinical competence of trained physicians. Conclusions:The dynamic evaluation system constructed in this study can effectively enhance the core specialty competencies (e.g., pathogen response and infection prevention and control) and long-term clinical competence of residents in the department of pediatric infectious diseases, providing scientific basis for optimizing the training models of specialist physicians.

Objectives:Comparative analysis of the beagles acute-phase electrocardiographic,hemodynamic,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption characteristics of pacing at different sites of conduction system may help to elucidate the scientific mechanism of left bundle branch pacing(LBBP)as a option of physiological pacing therapy.Methods:Eight healthy adult beagles were used in this study.Initially,an active fixation lead was implanted in the right atrial appendage,followed by implantation of another active fixation lead at the right ventricular apex,distal His bundle,and left bundle septal branch,respectively.After connecting a dual-chamber pacemaker,electrocardiographic and acute phase hemodynamic parameters under sinus rhythm,right ventricular apex pacing(RVAP),distal His bundle pacing(DHBP),and LBBP states were collected and analyzed.Three complete cardiac cycles of standard apical three-chamber color Doppler dynamic images were acquired under vector flow mapping(VFM)mode.Offline analysis was performed on obtained parameters including isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,atrial contraction period,and left ventricular intracavitary energy consumption.These parameters were compared under pacing at different sites and the linear correlations of major parameters were analyzed.Results:The QRS duration of baseline intrinsic sinus rhythm,RVAP,DHBP and LBBP were(45.0±4.0)ms,(98.4±6.2)ms,(50.0±4.5)ms and(62.0±4.7)ms,respectively.The LBBP-QRS duration was significantly wider than intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP,but significantly narrower than RVAP(all P<0.01).Compared with baseline AOO mode(the pacing rate was performed at 10 beats/min above the intrinsic heart rate),the change of acute phase maximum left ventricular pressure rise rate(LVdP/dtmax)in RVAP,DHBP and LBBP was([-7.89±5.67]% ),([0.74±2.05]% )and([-0.14±3.59]% ),respectively.There was no significant difference in LVdP/dtmax changes between DHBP and LBBP(P=0.667),but both pacing modalities were significantly better than RVAP(all P<0.01).The average energy consumption of the left ventricle under RVAP was significantly higher than that of intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP in isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,and atrial contraction period(all P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in energy consumption among intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP during the above five phases(all P>0.05).DHBP and LBBP did not show a significant increase in the number of left ventricular vortices,vortex area,and circulation intensity compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm,and LBBP did not show a significant increase in vortex area and circulation intensity compared to DHBP.Conclusions:Although LBBP canines significantly prolonged the paced QRS duration,it showed no significant differences in acute phase left ventricular hemodynamics,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP.Performance of LBBP was superior to RVAP.This study may contribute to revealing the theoretical basis of LBBP as a feasible physiological pacing therapy.