Objective: To explore the prevalence of bone defect and alveolar bone thickness changes in the mandibular incisors of untreated adults and post-orthodontic treatment adults, with the aim of providing strategies for preventing and managing alveolar bone defects during orthodontic treatment. Methods: This study was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee. Clinical records, panoramic radiographs, cephalometric radiographs, and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and informed consent were obtained for 150 untreated adults and 150 post-orthodontic adults. The untreated adults and post-orthodontic adults were respectively divided into three subgroups: skeletal ClassⅠ, Class Ⅱ and Class Ⅲ, with 50 cases per subgroup. Meanwhile, 60 cases with completeness of pre- and post-orthodontic data were enrolled from 150 post-orthodontic adults, including 20 cases each of skeletal ClassⅠ, Class Ⅱ, and Class Ⅲ. Cephalometric radiographs were imported into Dolphin software to measure skeletal parameters. CBCT images were imported into Mimics software to assess alveolar bone defects and to measure alveolar bone thickness of mandibular incisors among three groups: 150 untreated adult groups, 150 post-orthodontic groups and the pre- and post-treatment status of 60 patients selected from the latter group. Results: Untreated adult patients: the prevalence of labial dehiscence and fenestration in the mandibular incisors was higher than that on the lingual side among skeletal ClassⅠ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ malocclusion patients, and there was a statistically significant difference in the alveolar bone thickness of the mandibular incisors among the three classes. Post-orthodontic treatment adults: for skeletal ClassⅠ and Ⅱ patients, the prevalence of lingual bone dehiscence in the mandibular incisors was significantly higher in the extraction groups than in the non-extraction groups; correspondingly, the lingual alveolar bone was also thinner in the extraction groups; Class Ⅱ non-extraction patients showed a higher prevalence of labial bone fenestration but a lower prevalence of lingual bone fenestration in mandibular incisors compared to Class Ⅱ extraction patients; the orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment group showed significantly higher prevalence of labial/lingual bone dehiscence and thinner alveolar bone at multiple sites in the mandibular incisors compared to the camouflage group in skeletal Class Ⅲ patients. Comparison of mandibular incisor bone defects and thickness before and after orthodontic treatment in adult patients: in skeletal ClassⅠ and Ⅱ patients treated with premolar extraction and Class Ⅲ patients treated with orthodontic-orthognathic combined treatment, the lingual alveolar bone of mandibular incisors exhibited significant resorption and thinned after treatment, and this was accompanied by an increased prevalence of dehiscence; in non-extraction patients, ClassⅠ non-extraction patients showed thinning of the crestal-labial bone and apical-lingual bone, Class Ⅱ patients showed thinning of the crestal-labial bone and middle-labial bone of the mandibular incisors, along with an increased prevalence of dehiscence Conclusion In malocclusion adults, alveolar bone defects were already present in the mandibular incisors before orthodontic treatment. The alveolar bone defects and thickness in mandibular incisors among post-orthodontic adults were influenced by the treatment plan and Class of skeletal malocclusion.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of esculetin （Esc） on acute myeloid leukemia （AML） HL-60 cells by regulating the protein kinase B （AKT）/S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 （SKP2）/MutT homolog 1 （MTH1） pathway. METHODS AML HL-60 cells were randomly divided into control group （routine culture）， Esc low-concentration group （L-Esc group， 25 μmol/L Esc）， Esc medium-concentration group （M-Esc group， 50 μmol/L Esc）， Esc high-concentration group （H-Esc group， 100 μmol/L Esc）， and high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 （AKT agonist） group （100 μmol/L Esc+5 μmol/L SC79）. Cell proliferation in each group was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay. The level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in cells was measured by using the CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins [B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved caspase-3]， AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway-related proteins （p-AKT， AKT， SKP2， MTH1）， along with the upstream and downstream proteins of AKT phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 （P21） and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B （P27）. RESULTS Compared with control group， the cell viability， colony number， and the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PI3K proteins as well as protein expressions of SKP2， MTH1 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while ROS level， apoptosis rate， and the expression levels of Bax， cleaved caspase-3， P21 and P27 proteins were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. Moreover， the effects of Esc exhibited concentration-dependence （P＜0.05）. Compared with H-Esc group， above indexes of high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 group were reversed significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Esc may promote massive ROS production and induce activation of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by inhibiting the AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway， thus inhibiting the proliferation of HL-60 cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the contamination status of ochratoxin A (OTA) in commercially available food products in Shanghai, and to assess OTA exposure levels and the associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks among pregnant women by integrating dietary consumption data of this population. MethodsThe levels of OTA contamination in 1 520 food samples collected in Shanghai from 2022 to 2023 were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. An exposure assessment model was developed based on the dietary consumption levels of pregnant women from the 2016‒2017 Shanghai Pregnant Women Dietary Monitoring Survey to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of OTA, the margin of exposure for non-carcinogenic toxicity (MOE₁), and the margin of exposure for carcinogenic toxicity (MOE₂). An MOE₁ greater than 200 and an MOE₂ greater than 10 000 indicate that the non-carcinogenic toxicity and carcinogenic toxicity resulting from exposure are negligible, respectively. For samples with OTA contamination levels below the limit of detection (LOD), which accounted for more than 80% of the samples, the OTA levels were assigned values of 0 and LOD, respectively, for subsequent calculations. ResultsThe detection rates of OTA in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and alcohol samples collected in 2022 were 2.03%, 0, 0, and 0, respectively. The OTA detection rates in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol samples collected in 2023 were 2.50%, 0.39%, 2.47%, 1.67%, and 13.33%, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2022, simulation results indicated that when assigning a value of 0 and the LOD, theP₅₀ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.05 and 0.72 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, and the P₉₅ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.25 and 2.40 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2023, the P₅₀ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.04 and 1.00 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, and the P₉₅ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.23 and 2.67 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, both substantially below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for OTA [17 ng·(kg·d)^-1]. The EDI for dietary OTA exposure in 100.0% of Shanghai pregnant women was lower than the TDI, indicating an overall low level of dietary OTA exposure among this population. For 100.0% of pregnant women, the MOE₁ for dietary OTA exposure exceeded 200. When assigned a value of 0, the MOE₂ for 100.0% of pregnant women in both 2022 and 2023 exceeded10 000. When assigned the LOD value, 72.3% and 81.8% of pregnant women in 2022 and 2023, respectively, had an MOE₂ exceeding 10 000. ConclusionFrom 2022 to 2023, samples of cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol sold in Shanghai exhibited varying degrees of OTA contamination. The overall EDI of OTA exposure among pregnant women in Shanghai remained at a low level. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with OTA exposure were generally low and at controllable levels.

Alzheimer's disease （AD） is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β （Aβ） plaque deposition， neurofibrillary tangle （NFT） formation， and chronic neuroinflammation. Its global incidence and mortality continue to rise， yet effective curative therapies remain unavailable. In recent years， dysregulated cholesterol metabolism and immune-inflammatory responses have been increasingly recognized as key drivers of AD pathological progression. Both clinical and experimental studies have shown that patients with AD exhibit disrupted cholesterol homeostasis and aberrant T-cell function， with a significant correlation between these alterations， suggesting that cholesterol metabolic disturbances may participate in and amplify neuroinflammatory responses by modulating T-cell differentiation and activation states. This review systematically delineates the coupling relationship among cholesterol homeostasis imbalance， T-cell abnormalities， AD neuroinflammation， and related pathological injury. Specifically， we summarize the immunometabolic pathological links spanning the peripheral and central compartments， ranging from the effects of peripheral cholesterol metabolic disturbances on T-cell activation， differentiation， and blood-brain barrier permeability to the regulatory role of impaired brain cholesterol homeostasis in infiltrating T-cell inflammatory responses， glial activation， and neural microenvironment remodeling. We further highlight how abnormalities in cholesterol synthesis， transport， efflux， and oxidative product accumulation promote Th17/Treg imbalance， enhanced CD8⁺ T-cell effector activity， increased inflammatory cytokine release， as well as Aβ deposition， blood-brain barrier disruption， glial activation， and neuronal injury. In addition， we review recent progress in natural herbal formulas and bioactive phytochemicals that alleviate T-cell abnormalities and neuroinflammation through restoration of cholesterol homeostasis. Taken together， current evidence suggests that cholesterol homeostasis imbalance is not only a fundamental metabolic abnormality in AD， but may also construct and amplify AD neuroinflammation and related pathological injury by reshaping T-cell immunophenotypes. Therefore， immunometabolic intervention strategies aimed at restoring cholesterol homeostasis may provide a new theoretical basis for mechanistic studies and multi-target prevention and treatment of AD.

Tumor angiogenesis is a core pathological driver of malignant growth, invasion, and metastasis, and represents a major obstacle to effective anticancer therapy. Conventional antiangiogenic agents, including neutralizing monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, are constrained by drug resistance, on-target toxicity, and the compensatory activation of alternative pro-angiogenic pathways. Targeted protein degradation (TPD) has emerged as a promising strategy that may overcome these limitations. Unlike traditional inhibitors that operate through an occupancy-driven mechanism, degraders function through an event-driven catalytic mechanism in which a single degrader molecule can catalytically promote the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal or lysosomal degradation of multiple molecules of the same target protein, thereby eliminating the target protein together with all of its functions rather than merely blocking a single active site. This review systematically delineates the pathophysiological basis of tumor angiogenesis, encompassing the angiogenic switch driven by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), the aberrant structural and functional features of the tumor vasculature, and the self-reinforcing vicious cycles that sustain malignant progression. We then categorize the principal TPD modalities, with particular emphasis on proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) and lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs), and describe their design principles and mechanisms of action. PROTACs recruit E3 ubiquitin ligases to direct intracellular targets to the ubiquitin-proteasome system for degradation, whereas LYTACs engage lysosome-targeting receptors to route extracellular and membrane proteins to the lysosome, thereby expanding the degradable target space beyond the intracellular proteome. We further summarize recent advances in the application of TPD to antiangiogenic intervention at four distinct levels. First, at the signaling initiation level, degradation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) by aptamer-engineered PROTACs, antibody-based LYTACs, and small-molecule VEGFR2 degraders blocks the upstream trigger of the angiogenic cascade. Second, at the signal transduction level, degradation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF), phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) interrupts intracellular signaling cascades and transcriptional responses. Third, at the microenvironment level, degradation of proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM) kinases curtails the pro-angiogenic signals secreted by tumor-associated macrophages. Fourth, multi-target synergistic strategies, exemplified by bispecific degraders that simultaneously target human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and VEGF-A, represent a preliminary exploration of cooperative intervention. Representative degraders reviewed herein elicit diverse antiangiogenic phenotypes, ranging from the direct inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation to reductions in microvessel density and the suppression of vasculogenic mimicry. Finally, we discuss the major challenges that remain, including the precise matching of degradation kinetics with the vascular normalization window, target selectivity and tissue specificity, and the activation of compensatory networks and the emergence of resistance. Since the application of TPD in this setting remains at an early stage, the clinical translation of these approaches will require careful optimization of degradation efficiency, spatiotemporal control, and delivery strategies. We also envision future directions toward immunotherapy-based combination regimens and precision-degradation approaches guided by single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. In our view, TPD should not be regarded merely as a substitute for conventional antiangiogenic drugs, but rather as a molecular tool capable of systematically remodeling the tumor vascular microenvironment. When precise control of degradation efficiency and spatiotemporal regulation are integrated with a thorough understanding of the heterogeneity and compensatory capacity of tumor vessels, the full clinical potential of this strategy can be realized.

BACKGROUND:Individuals with chronic ankle instability are prone to inversion ankle sprains during landing.Moderately increasing the foot toe-out angle during landing may reduce the occurrence of inversion ankle sprains,but no studies have directly demonstrated this effect. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of increased toe-out angle during landing on the peak inversion angle,peak angular velocity,and the time to peak inversion among individuals with and without chronic ankle instability. METHODS:A total of 60 participants were recruited for this study,including 30 individuals with chronic ankle instability and 30 without chronic ankle instability.The study utilized a simulated sprain apparatus for drop-landing tests,featuring a platform that could tilt forward by 24° and inward by 15°,thus simulating the foot position during an ankle inversion sprain.Participants were required to perform drop-landing tests under two landing conditions:natural landing and toe-out landing,with the latter involving a greater foot toe-out angle,over 150%more than the former.Kinematic data of participants were recorded using a 12-camera three-dimensional motion capture system.Data analysis was conducted using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Significant main effects of condition were found for peak inversion angle during drop-landing(P<0.001,η2 p=0.270),peak inversion velocity(P=0.015,η2 p=0.098),and peak inversion time(P<0.001,η2 p=0.260);a significant main effect of group was found for peak inversion velocity(P=0.029,η2 p=0.080).(2)There were significant negative correlations between the foot toe-out angle at landing and the peak ankle inversion angle(P=0.021,r=-0.310;P=0.042,r=-0.278)as well as the peak inversion time(P=0.018,r=-0.312;P=0.021,r=-0.309)in both chronic ankle instability and non-chronic ankle instability groups.Moreover,a significant negative correlation was also found between the foot toe-out angle and peak inversion velocity in the chronic ankle instability group(P=0.021,r=-0.312).(3)It is indicated that increasing the foot toe-out angle at landing can reduce the peak inversion angle,peak inversion velocity,and the peak inversion time during landing in patients with chronic ankle instability and non-chronic ankle instability,thereby decreasing the risk of ankle inversion sprains.

Ginsenoside Rg_2(GRg2) is a triterpenoid compound found in Panax notoginseng. This study explored its effects and mechanisms on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. The study employed endothelial cell models induced by glucose or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), the chorioallantoic membrane(CAM) model, the oxygen-induced retinopathy(OIR) mouse model, and the db/db mouse model to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GRg2 on diabetic retinopathy and angiogenesis. Transwell assays and endothelial tube formation experiments were conducted to assess cell migration and tube formation, while vascular area measurements were applied to detect angiogenesis. The impact of GRg2 on the retinal structure and function of db/db mice was evaluated through retinal thickness and electroretinogram(ERG) analyses. The study investigated the mechanisms of GRg2 by analyzing the activation of Yes-associated protein(YAP) and Toll-like receptors(TLRs) pathways. The results indicated that GRg2 significantly reduced cell migration numbers and tube formation lengths in vitro. In the CAM model, GRg2 exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in the vascular area ratio. In the OIR model, GRg2 notably decreased the avascular and neovascular areas, ameliorating retinal structural disarray. In the db/db mouse model, GRg2 increased the total retinal thickness and enhanced the amplitudes of the a-wave, b-wave, and oscillatory potentials(OPs) in the ERG, improving retinal structural disarray. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the TLR signaling pathway was significantly down-regulated following YAP knockdown, with PCR results consistent with the transcriptome sequencing findings. Concurrently, GRg2 downregulated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF6), and nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB) proteins in high-glucose-induced endothelial cells. Collectively, GRg2 inhibits cell migration and tube formation and significantly reduces angiogenesis in CAM and OIR models, improving retinal structure and function in db/db mice, with its pharmacological mechanism likely involving the down-regulation of YAP expression.
Animals ; Ginsenosides/pharmacology* ; Diabetic Retinopathy/physiopathology* ; Mice ; YAP-Signaling Proteins ; Humans ; Male ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neovascularization, Pathologic/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Angiogenesis

The incidence of malignant tumors among elderly patients is increasing.Influenced by multiple factors such as aging,tumor,and drug,this population exhibits a high prevalence of renal insufficiency.However,there remains a scarcity of research data and significant challenges in clinical management.This article systematically an-alyzes the challenges faced in administering anti-tumor therapies to elderly patients with renal insufficiency and pro-poses management strategies.Optimization approaches include precise assessment of renal function,selection of nephrotoxicity-sparing medications,appropriate dose adjustments,implementation of preventive measures,and em-phasis on comprehensive geriatric assessment and multidisciplinary collaboration.Renal injury management should be individualized,with considerations for special populations such as renal transplant recipients and dialysis pa-tients.Future efforts should focus on biomarker discovery and the development of low-nephrotoxicity therapeutic agents to address these complex clinical challenges.

ObjectiveTo investigate the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the level of serum homocysteine (Hcy) in association with the incidence of stroke in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. MethodsBased on the chronic disease risk factor surveillance cohort in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, excluding those with stroke in baseline survey, T2DM patients who joined the cohort from January 2016 to October 2020 were selected as the research subjects. During the follow-up period, a total of 318 new-onset ischemic stroke patients were selected as the case group, and a total of 318 individuals matched by gender without stroke were selected as the control group. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to adjust for confounding factors and explore the serum TyG index and the Hcy biochemical indicator in association with the risk of stroke. ResultsThe Cox proportional hazards regression results showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of stroke in T2DM patients with 10 μmol·L⁻¹-¹ and Hcy>15 μmol·L⁻¹ was 1.532 times (95%CI: 1.017‒2.309 times, P=0.041) and 1.738 times (95%CI: 1.119‒2.699 times, P=0.014) higher respectively, compared to T2DM patients with Hcy≤10 μmol·L⁻¹. T2DM patients with TyG>9.074 had 1.396 times higher risk of stroke (95%CI: 1.091‒1.787, P=0.008) compared to those with TyG≤9.074. The study found that urea and α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) were independent risk factors for the incidence of stroke in T2DM patients. For every unit increase in urea andα1-AT, the risk of stroke in T2DM patients increased by 233.6% (HR=3.336, 95%CI: 1.588‒7.009, P=0.001) and 11.3% (HR=1.113, 95%CI: 1.028‒1.205, P=0.008), respectively. Cumulative risk curves showed that Hcy>10 μmol·L⁻¹ and TyG>9.074 accelerated the time to stroke occurrence in T2DM patients. ConclusionElevated levels of Hcy>10 μmol·L⁻¹ and a higher TyG index are risk factors for stroke in T2DM patients. Effective interventions for Hcy and TyG should be conducted for diabetic patients to reduce the incidence of stroke.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system in patients with end-stage heart failure. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on patients with end-stage heart failure who were treated with Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system from March 2022 to June 2024 in 4 hospitals in Jiangsu Province. The efficacy of the device was evaluated by comparing changes in clinical indicators at preoperative, discharge, 3-month postoperative, and 6-month postoperative timepoints, including the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD). The safety of the device was assessed by analyzing the intraoperative position and orientation of the blood pump inlet cannula, as well as the incidence of adverse events. Results In this study, 39 patients were collected, including 34 males and 5 females with a mean age of (56.4±12.5) years, ranging from 20 to 75 years. There was no operative death. There was no death in postoperative 3 months with a survival rate of 100.0%. There were 3 deaths in 6 months postoperatively, with a survival rate of 92.3%. All patients had a preoperative NYHA cardiac function classification of class Ⅳ. The NYHA cardiac function class of the patients improved (P<0.05) at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery when compared to the preoperative period. LVEF was significantly higher at 3 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). LVEDD was significantly smaller at discharge, 3 and 6 months after surgery than that during the preoperative period (P<0.05). The safety evaluation's findings demonstrated that all 39 patients' intraoperative blood pump inlet tubes were oriented correctly, the artificial blood vessel suture sites were appropriate, there were no instances of device malfunction or pump thrombosis, or instances of bleeding or hemolysis, and the rate of the remaining adverse events was low. Conclusion With a low rate of adverse events and an excellent safety profile, the Corheart 6 left ventricular assist system can efficiently enhance cardiac function in patients with end-stage heart failure. It also has considerable clinical uses.