BACKGROUND:Exosomes can be detected in synovial fluid and plasma at levels that vary with the progression of osteoarthritis in patients with osteoarthritis,and may play a relieving role in the local inflammation of osteoarthritis,cartilage calcification,and osteoarthritic joint degradation. OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively understand the function and mechanism of exosomes from different stem cells in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis,and to present the prospects and challenges of exosome therapy for osteoarthritis. METHODS:We searched the articles published from October 2003 to October 2023 included in PubMed and CNKI databases with the keywords of"exosomes,osteoarthritis,mesenchymal stem cells,stem cells"in Chinese and English,respectively.A total of 99 articles were finally included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The appearance of exosomes brings hope to the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis.The differences of RNA,protein,and lipid content in exosomes can be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of osteoarthritis.At the same time,exosomes from various stem cells can effectively protect chondrocytes,relieve inflammation,maintain cartilage matrix metabolism,and regulate angiogenesis and subchondral bone remodeling,showing excellent potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis.The engineered exosomes break through the traditional limitations and enhance the specificity and efficiency of treatment by modulating the expression of specific non-coding RNA,providing a new strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective To investigate the impact of donor kidney histopathological lesions on the risk of BK virus (BKV) infection and progression after kidney transplantation. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 326 kidney transplant recipients from deceased donors at the Department of Kidney Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from January 2019 to June 2020. The recipients were divided into two groups based on whether BKV infection occurred after kidney transplantation: the BKV infection group (145 cases) and the non-BKV infection group (181 cases). The correlation between donor kidney histopathological findings from zero-hour biopsy and BKV infection, as well as the impact on the risk and progression of BKV infection, was analyzed. Results The incidence of BKV infection among the 326 kidney transplant recipients was 44.5% (145/326). The clearance rate of BKV after infection was 82.1% (119/145), while 17.9% (26/145) progressed to BKV viremia. Among the 326 qualified kidney biopsy specimens, 32 cases showed mild tubular atrophy, 324 cases had mild acute tubular injury, 27 cases exhibited mild hyaline arteriosclerosis, 10 cases had moderate to severe hyaline arteriosclerosis, 7 cases showed mild interstitial inflammation, 23 cases had mild interstitial fibrosis, 6 cases exhibited mild arterial intimal fibrosis, and 1 case had moderate to severe arterial intimal fibrosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that male recipients, donor age and tubular atrophy were independent risk factors for BKV infection (all P<0.05). Tubular atrophy was also an independent risk factor for the progression from BKV uria to BKV viremia (P<0.05). Conclusions Donor kidney histopathological lesions have a certain impact on BKV infection and progression after kidney transplantation. Patients with more severe tubular atrophy in donor kidneys have a higher risk of BKV infection after kidney transplantation and are more likely to progress to BKV viremia.

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical characteristics of patients with traumatic spinopelvic dissociation (SPD) and explore the diagnostic and therapeutic methods. METHODS: A clinical data of 22 patients with SPD who underwent surgical treatment between March 2019 and August 2024 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 9 females, with an average age of 35.5 years (range, 14-61 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 16 cases, traffic accidents in 5 cases, and compression injury in 1 case. Sacral fractures were classified based on morphology into "U" type (9 cases), "H" type (7 cases), "T" type (4 cases), and "λ" type (2 cases). According to the Roy-Camille classification, there were 4 cases of type Ⅰ, 12 cases of type Ⅱ, 2 cases of type Ⅲ, and 4 cases of type Ⅳ. The Cobb angle was (35.7± 22.0)°. Sixteen patients were accompanied by lumbosacral trunk and cauda equina nerve injury, which was classified as grade Ⅱ in 5 cases, grade Ⅲ in 5 cases, and grade Ⅳ in 6 cases according to the Gibbons grading. The time from injury to operation was 2-17 days (mean, 5.7 days). Based on the type of sacral fracture and sacral nerve injury, 6 cases were treated with closed reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation, 16 cases were treated with open reduction and lumbar iliac fixation (8 cases)/triangular fixation (8 cases). Among them, 11 patients with severe fracture displacement and kyphotic deformity leading to sacral canal stenosis or bony impingement within the sacral foramen underwent laminectomy and sacral nerve decompression. X-ray films and CT were reviewed during followed-up. The Matta score was used to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction. At last follow-up, the Majeed score was used to assess the functional recovery, and the Gibbons grading was used to evaluate the nerve function. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed. All patients were followed up 8-64 months (mean, 20.4 months). Two patients developed deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, 2 had incision infections, and 1 developed a sacral pressure ulcer; no other complications occurred. Radiological examination showed that the Cobb angle was (12.0±6.8)°, which was significantly different from the preoperative one ( t=6.000, P<0.001). The Cobb angle in 16 patients who underwent open reduction was (14.9±5.5)°, which was significantly different from the preoperative one [(46.8±13.9)° ] ( t=8.684, P<0.001). According to the Matta scoring criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was rated as excellent in 8 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 68.2%. Bone callus formation was observed at the fracture site in all patients at 12 weeks after operation, and bony union achieved in all cases at last follow-up, with a healing time ranging from 12 to 36 weeks (mean, 17.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the Majeed score was rated as excellent in 7 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 77.3%. One patient experienced a unilateral iliac screw breakage at 12 months after operation, but the fracture had already healed, and there was no loss of reduction. Among the 16 patients with preoperative sacral nerve injury, 11 cases showed improvement in nerve function (6 cases) or recovery (5 cases). CONCLUSION SPD with low incidence, multiple associated injuries, and high incidence of sacral nerve injury, requires timely decompression of the sacral canal for symptomatic sacral nerve compression, fractures reduction, deformities correction, and stable fixation.
Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Adolescent ; Sacrum/diagnostic imaging* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Young Adult ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Bone Screws

OBJECTIVE: To compare the registration accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images while registering to virtual craniodentofacial patients based on soft tissue and the dentition registration method. METHODS: Virtual dentofacial patients out of 13 selected participants who needed CBCT scanning were established by impression with a registered-block impression (RBI) based on digital dental images, three-dimensional (3D) facial images and maxillofacial CBCT images. CBCT images were processed in the Mimics software program, establishing the craniofacial virtual patients based on CBCT images (CCTs). Registration between virtual patients from RBI and CCT, using the soft tissue in lower half face (STE) and dentition (DTN) as the reference area, respectively, forming two kinds of virtual craniofacial patients based on digital dental images, 3D facial images and skeletal images of CBCT (hiding the soft tissue and dental casts from CBCT). Three-dimensional deviation analysis was performed in the upper half face and lower half face of facial images from CBCT between two kinds of virtual craniodentofacial patients and compared with 3D facial images from RBI and recorded as root mean square error (RMSE). Paired-t test was used to compare the deviations of RMSEs between the upper and lower half of the face and the upper half of the face of facial images from CCT, respectively, between the two kinds of virtual craniodentofacial patients based on STE and DTN methods. RESULTS: Paired-t tests showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the upper and lower half faces of facial images from CCT between STE and DTN (P>0.05), but the deviation of RMSEs of the upper half face of facial images from CCT in STE was smaller than those in DTN [(1.696±0.420) mm vs. (1.752±0.424) mm, P < 0.01]. CONCLUSION The registration accuracy of CBCT registered in virtual craniodentofacial patients using soft tissue as the reference area was higher.
Humans ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods* ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional/methods* ; Male ; Face/anatomy & histology* ; Female ; Adult ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Young Adult ; User-Computer Interface

Evading host immunity killing is a critical step for virus survival. Inhibiting viral immune escape is crucial for the treatment of viral diseases. Serine/threonine kinase 39 (STK39) was reported to play an essential role in ion homeostasis. However, its potential role and mechanism in viral infection remain unknown. In this study, we found that viral infection promoted STK39 expression. Consequently, overexpressed STK39 inhibited the phosphorylation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and the production of type I interferon, which led to viral replication and immune escape. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of STK39 significantly protected mice from viral infection. Mechanistically, mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation assays identified that STK39 interacted with PPP2R1A (a scaffold subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)) in a kinase activity-dependent manner. This interaction inhibited DDB1 and CUL4 associated factor 1 (DCAF1)-mediated PPP2R1A degradation, maintained the stabilization and phosphatase activity of PP2A, which, in turn, suppressed the phosphorylation of IRF3, decreased the production of type I interferon, and then strengthened viral replication. Thus, our study provides a novel theoretical basis for viral immune escape, and STK39 may be a potential therapeutic target for viral infectious diseases.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the changes in serum levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) proteins GRP78/CHOP in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and analyze their diagnostic value and association with renal pathological features. METHODS: From a sample bank established based on a multicenter cohort study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 60 LN patients and 35 SLE patients without renal involvement were randomly selected. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP in the patients to analyze their correlation with clinical features and their diagnostic ability for LN and active LN. MRL/lpr mice were used as an animal model of LN to examine their serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP expression and renal expressions of endoplasmic reticulum apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS: Serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were significantly higher in LN patients than in SLE patients without renal involvement (P<0.05), and were also higher in active LN patients than in patients in the stable phase (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were positively correlated with SLEDAI scores and 24-h urinary protein. ROC analysis showed that CHOP had a high diagnostic ability for LN (AUC=0.762) and active LN (AUC=0.933). Consistent with the clinical findings, serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were elevated in LN mice, and the expressions of PERK and IRE1α pathway proteins were also increased in the kidneys of the mice. TUNEL staining showed increased renal cell apoptosis and elevated renal expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in LN mice. CONCLUSIONS Serum levels of GRP78/CHOP are increased in LN patients possibly in association with ERS-induced apoptosis mediated by the PERK/IRE1α dual pathway.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Lupus Nephritis/blood* ; Transcription Factor CHOP/blood* ; Heat-Shock Proteins/blood* ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr ; Female ; Adult ; Endoribonucleases/metabolism* ; Male ; eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Kidney/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Signal Transduction

Digital technologies have become an integral part of complete denture restoration. With advancement in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), tools such as intraoral scanning, facial scanning, 3D printing, and numerical control machining are reshaping the workflow of complete denture restoration. Unlike conventional methods that rely heavily on clinical experience and manual techniques, digital technologies offer greater precision, predictability, and efficacy. They also streamline the process by reducing the number of patient visits and improving overall comfort. Despite these improvements, the clinical application of digital complete denture restoration still faces challenges that require further standardization. The major issues include appropriate case selection, establishing consistent digital workflows, and evaluating long-term outcomes. To address these challenges and provide clinical guidance for practitioners, this expert consensus outlines the principles, advantages, and limitations of digital complete denture technology. The aim of this review was to offer practical recommendations on indications, clinical procedures and precautions, evaluation metrics, and outcome assessment to support digital restoration of complete denture in clinical practice.
Humans ; Denture, Complete ; Computer-Aided Design ; Denture Design/methods* ; Consensus ; Printing, Three-Dimensional

Saponins associated with Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy across multiple diseases. However, certain high-yield saponins face limited clinical applications due to their reduced pharmacological efficacy. This study synthesized and evaluated 36 saponin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives of ginsenosides Rg1/Rb1 and notoginsenoside R1 for anti-adipogenesis activity in vitro. The research revealed that the ginsenosides Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 demonstrates superior adipogenesis inhibitory effects. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicates that incorporating an amidyl-substituted 1,2,3-triazole into the saponin side chain via Click reaction enhances anti-adipogenesis activity. Additionally, several other derivatives exhibit general adipogenesis inhibition. Compound a17 demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the parent ginsenoside Rg1. Mechanistic investigations revealed that a17 exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of adipogenesis in vitro, accompanied by decreased expression of preadipocytes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) adipogenesis regulators. These findings establish the ginsenoside Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 as a promising adipocyte differentiation inhibitor and potential therapeutic agent for obesity and associated metabolic disorders. This research provides a foundation for developing effective therapeutic approaches for various metabolic syndromes.
Adipogenesis/drug effects* ; Triazoles/chemical synthesis* ; Ginsenosides/chemical synthesis* ; Saponins/chemical synthesis* ; Animals ; Mice ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; PPAR gamma/genetics* ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/metabolism* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Drug Design ; Molecular Structure ; Humans ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/genetics*

Depressive disorder is a common psychiatric condition clinically characterized by impaired cognitive function， which profoundly affects patients' daily living and social functioning. Despite extensive research on the mechanism underlying the interaction between ghrelin and depressive disorder， comprehensive reviews， summary， and systematic organization of these findings remain lacking. To address this gap， this study aims to conduct a systematic evaluation of the effects and mechanisms of ghrelin on cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder， thereby providing references for targeted clinical interventions. On October 20， 2024， literature exploring the role and mechanisms of ghrelin in improving cognitive function in depressive disorder was sourced from the CNKI， PubMed and Web of Science databases， covering the period from the inception of the database till October 20， 2024. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction. Ultimately， 9 articles were included in this review. The findings suggest that ghrelin improves cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder through multiple mechanisms， including mitigating inflammatory responses， modulating oxidative stress， and activating the cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein-brain-derived neurotrophic factor （CREB-BDNF） signaling pathway.

Objective: To explore the facilitating and hindering factors of mental health promotion activities in junior and senior high schools from teachers perspectives, as well as coping strategies, so as to provide evidence for implementing teacher led mental health promotion programs. Methods: From September 2023 to September 2024, by using purposive sampling method, 5 junior high schools, 5 regular high schools, 2 vocational high schools in four provinces and municipalities (Tianjin, Shanxi, Shandong, and Jiangxi) were selected. A total of 92 teachers (78 homeroom teachers and 14 full time or part time psychological counselors) were interviewed using semi structured focus group discussions (one session per school, totaling 12 sessions). Thematic analysis was applied to code and analyze the interview transcripts. Results: The implementation of mental health promotion activities in middle schools was influenced by three levels: teachers, schools and society. Specifically, teachers exhibited a high support low capability phenomenon (81 participants supported conducting such activities, but 71 felt lacking in professional capacity); activity effectiveness and support systems were imbalanced (42 mentioned significant effects, while 78 reported insufficient support); there was a mismatch between student demand and activity content (9 mentioned students had psychological needs, but 11 indicated existing activities failed to meet these needs); administrative support and sustainability showed disparities (14 believed sufficient administrative support existed, while 37 noted sustainability issues); parental awareness and participation remained inadequate (11 highlighted parents need for mental health knowledge, and 37 perceived insufficient understanding of psychological issues among parents). Effective strategies included enhancing teachers effectiveness, providing essential skill training, focusing on the needs of teenagers,enhancing program sustainability, and eliminating misconceptions about mental health among parents. Conclusion Mental health promotion activities in junior and senior high schools should focus on enhancing teachers skills, improving activity sustainability, reducing stigma among parents, and establishing a collaborative network for school based mental health promotion.