Esophageal cancer is a common malignancy with high incidence and poor prognosis. Conventional therapies fail to provide long-term benefits for patients, with postoperative recurrence and metastasis being the primary reasons for treatment failure. With the continuous development of nanomedicine, nanoparticle-based drug delivery has received widespread attention as a novel therapeutic approach. Among them, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles have achieved a series of encouraging advancements in the treatment of esophageal cancer, owing to their unique superparamagnetism and biocompatibility. This paper provides a review of the relevant research on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of esophageal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the inhibitory effect of multimerin-2 (MMRN2) overexpression on growth and metastasis of cutaneous melanoma cells. METHODS: Clinical data of patients with cutaneous melanoma were obtained from the GEO database to compare MMRN2 expressions between normal and tumor tissues. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database, and the intersecting genes from GEPIA2.0 were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The prognostic relevance of MMRN2 expression level was assessed using Cox regression and "timeROC". The correlations of MMRN2 expression level with immune infiltration and angiogenesis-related genes were analyzed using GSCA database and the ssGSEA algorithm. Colony-forming assay, Transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to examine the changes in proliferation and migration of cultured cutaneous melanoma cells following MMRN2 knockdown. In a mouse model bearing cutaneous melanoma xenograft, the effect of MMRN2 knockdown on vital organ pathologies, survival of the mice and GM-CSF, CXCL9, and TGF‑β1 protein expressions were analyzed. RESULTS: MMRN2 was significantly upregulated in metastatic cutaneous melanoma (P<0.001). Protein interaction network analysis identified 15 intersecting genes, which were enriched in endothelium development and cell-cell junctions. In patients with cutaneous melanoma, a high MMRN2 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis, an advanced T stage, a greater Breslow depth, and ulceration (P<0.05). MMRN2 expression level was strongly correlated with 24 immune cell types (P<0.001), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and expressions of the pro-angiogenic genes (KCNJ8, SLCO2A1, NRP1, and COL3A1; P<0.001). In cultured B16F10 cells, MMRN2 knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and caused remo-deling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS MMRN2 overexpression drives progression of cutaneous melanoma by enhancing tumor metastasis, angiogenesis and immune evasion, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for melanomas.
Humans ; Melanoma/metabolism* ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; Prognosis ; Skin Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Mice ; Cell Proliferation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Protein Interaction Maps

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

Objective: To investigate the effects of usnic acid(UA) on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and autophagy of lung cancer cells A549 and NCI-H358. Methods: The CCK-8 method was used to detect the inhibitory effect of UA on two kinds of lung cancer cells proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle arrest effect of UA on two types of lung cancer cells. The fluorescence amount of UA-induced reactive oxygen species(ROS) in two kinds of lung cancer cells were detected by DCFH-DA probe assay and flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression of apoptosis related proteins Bax, Caspase-3, Cleaved-Caspase-3, and autophagy related proteins LC3-Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ in two types of lung cancer cells after treatment with UA and UA+ROS inhibition. Results: (1) Usnic acid reduced the survival rates of two types of cells and had a stronger ability to inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells than NCI-H358 cells.(2) Usnic acid blocked A549 cells in the G0/G1phase, while NCI-H358 cells in the G2/M and S phases.(3) Usnic acid induced an increase in ROS content in two types of cells. Compared to A549, NCI-H358 cells showed a greater increase in ROS, and the ROS inhibitor reduced the intracellular ROS increase induced by UA.(4) Usnic acid induced high expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 and increased the ratio of autophagy-related proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ in both lung adenocarcinoma cells, and its pro-apoptotic and autophagic effects were stronger in A549 than in NCI-H358. After ROS inhibition, the expression levels of Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 and the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio of both lung adenocarcinoma cells decreased, and the decrease was greater in NCI-H358 cells. Conclusion Usnic acid inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer A549 and NCI-H358 cells, induces cell cycle arrest, and induces apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. The inhibitory and killing effect of UA on A549 cells is stronger than that on NCI-H358 cells. In this case, the induced cell ROS are involved in the action of UA in two types of lung cancer cells. In contrast to A549 cells,ROS might play a more significant role in mediating the apoptosis and autophagy induced by usnic acid in NCI-H358 cells.

Objective To observe the value of whole-brain CT perfusion(CTP)parameters at different time and clinical data for predicting delayed cerebral ischemia(DCI)and 3-month poor prognosis in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage(aSAH).Methods Totally 127 aSAH patients were retrospectively enrolled.Clinical and CTP data within 24 h of symptom onset and during DCI time window(DCITW)were collected.The patients were divided into DCI group(n=34)and non-DCI group(n=93)based on DCI occurred or not during hospitalization,also into poor outcome group(modified Rankin scale[mRS]≥3,n=36)and good outcome group(mRS≤2)based on 3-month's follow-up.Multivariate logistic regression was performed to select independent predictive factors among variates being significantly different between groups.Then receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of logistic regression model.Results Patients'age,modified Fisher score(mFS),subarachnoid hemorrhage early brain edema score(SEBES)and mean flow extraction product(mFEP)within 24 h of onset were all identified as independent predictive factors of DCI,and the AUC of their combination for predicting DCI during hospitalization was 0.817.Patients' age and mFS within 24 h of onset,alternatively,World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies(WFNS)grade and mFEP during DCITW were all independent predictive predictors of 3 months' prognosis,and the combination of the latter two showed better predictive performance(AUC=0.922)tahn the former two(AUC=0.822,P＜0.05).Conclusion Whole-brain CTP parameters combined with clinical data within 24 h of onset of aSAH could be used to predict the occurrence of DCI during hospitalization,whole-brain CTP parameters during DCITW could be used to predict 3 months'poor prognosis.

Lance-Adams syndrome (LAS) is a chronic neurological sequela secondary to cerebral hypoxic events, characterized by action or intention myoclonus, which can severely impact patient′s quality of life. A case of a 41-year-old male patient with LAS who was initially hospitalized due to trauma was reported in this article. During hospitalization, he experienced airway obstruction leading to respiratory and circulatory disturbance. After successful resuscitation, he developed frequent facial and limb myoclonus, accompanied by dysarthria, dysphagia, and ataxia. The myoclonus was triggered by emotional stress, voluntary movements, or external stimuli. Despite the use of multiple conventional antiseizure medications including valproate (1 g/d), clonazepam (6 mg/d), and levetiracetam (2 g/d), the therapeutic effect remained unsatisfactory. Upon adding the selective α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor antagonist perampanel (initial dose 2 mg/d, increased to 4 mg/d after a week) to the basic treatment regimen, the patient′s myoclonus symptoms significantly improved and he regained independent walking ability after 2 weeks. At the 6-month follow-up, myoclonus remained stably controlled, with the modified Rankin Scale score maintained at 3, indicating sustained improvement in quality of life. This case adds evidence to the clinical practice of treating LAS with perampanel. For LAS patients who respond poorly to conventional medications, perampanel may be an effective treatment option.

Objective:To explore advantages of CT and MRI imaging in clinical assessment of specific indicators (trochlear dysplasia and tibial tubercle lateralization) of acute patellar dislocation in adolescents by comparing CT versus MRI imaging.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the CT and MRI imaging data of 73 patients with acute patellar dislocation who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Tangshan from January 2014 to September 2024. There were 37 males (21 left knees and 16 right knees) and 36 females (19 left knees and 17 right knees), with a mean age of 15 (13, 16) years. On MRI images, the distance between the patellar tendon-trochlear groove (PT-TG) was measured. On CT images, the distance between the tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) was measured. Additionally, the distance from the tibial tubercle-Roman arch (TT-RA), the sulcus angle (SA), the trochlear depth (TD), the lateral trochlear inclination (LTI), and the trochlear facet asymmetry (TFA) were measured on both MRI and CT images.Results:The TT-TG measured on CT [(20.47±4.42) mm] was significantly greater than that on MRI [(17.89±4.23) mm] ( t = -4.047, P < 0.001). The TT-RA [(24.28±4.27) mm], TD [2.95 (2.36, 4.08) mm], LTI (15.4°±3.85°), and TFA [0.42 (0.38, 0.49)] measured on CT were all significantly greater than those on MRI [(21.34±3.99) mm, 2.52 (1.64, 2.98) mm, 14.11°±3.58°, 0.38 (0.34, 0.44)] ( P < 0.001). The SA measured on CT (151.30°±6.74°) was significantly less than that measured on MRI (159.06°±5.40°) ( P < 0.001). The intra-observer ICC values for all indicators were greater than 0.9, and the inter-observer ICC values greater than 0.85. Conclusions:There are differences between CT and MRI in each indicator in evaluation of acute patellar dislocation in adolescents. The PT-TG measured on MRI and the TT-RA measured on CT can better evaluate the tibial tubercle lateralization; the indicators for trochlear dysplasia measured on MRI respond better to the severity of trochlea dysplasia than those on CT.

Objective:To summarize the experience of designing hair transplantation for post-cleft lip repair moustache defects based on the morphological and tissue characteristics of the upper lip.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of male patients treated at the Hair Transplantation Center of Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College from January 2011 to July 2024. Based on the morphology and tissue texture of the upper lip after cleft lip repair, the position and shape of the moustache were designed. Hair follicles were harvested from the mid-occipital region and/or the jaw shadow area using either the strip harvesting method or the follicular unit excision (FUE) technique. Needles of 21 or 22 gauge were used to create incisions in the recipient sites down to the superficial subcutaneous layer. The hair shafts were clamped with micro-forceps and then transplanted into the recipient sites to restore the moustache shape. Postoperatively, the density, shape, direction of the moustache, and the condition of the donor site scars were observed and followed up.Results:A total of 47 male patients, aged 23-43 years (mean 28.7 years), were included. Among them, 29 had undergone lower triangular flap repair, 13 received the Millard technique, and 5 were treated with other surgical methods for cleft lip repair. For hair follicle extraction, the strip method was used in 7 cases, and FUE in 40 cases. The donor sites included the jaw shadow area (9 cases), mid-occipital region (23 cases), and a combination of both (15 cases). The number of transplanted follicular units ranged from 33 to 500 (mean 217). Follow-up duration ranged from 9 months to 10 years (mean 3.5 years). Postoperative complications included folliculitis in 6 cases, and 4 cases required additional transplantation due to insufficient density after one year. The remaining patients exhibited satisfactory hair growth, with natural mustache shape and direction. The graft survival rate was approximately 80%, and donor site scarring was minimal.Conclusion:When performing hair transplantation to treat post-cleft lip repair moustache defects, the design should prioritize the morphological and tissue characteristics of the upper lip, followed by consideration of overall position and bilateral symmetry of the moustache. Only by fully considering the characteristics of the recipient area can optimally repair outcomes be achieved.

OBJECTIVE By conducting evidence evaluation research on literatures,this study aims to reveal the o-verall characteristics and research hotspots in the field of combat trauma-related infections,ultimately providing data support for the prevention and control of such infections.METHODS Relevant research in this field was sys-tematically collected from open-source databases to construct a dataset.The overall characteristics,research hotspots,prevention and control strategies,and future challenges of trauma-related infections were summarized and analyzed.RESULTS From 2004 to 2024,184 papers were published.The United States contributed the most publications,with Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences being the most productive research insti-tution and Professor Clinton K.Murray as the author with the highest number of publications.The top five key-words with the highest frequency were combat related injury,infection,Acinetobacter baumannii,epidemiology and management.Among the publicly published literature data on war trauma-related infections,blast injuries ac-counted for the largest proportion,mainly multi-site injuries,with limb injuries being the most common.Bacteri-al infections were more common than fungal infections,with gram-negative bacteria being predominant and A.baumannii being the most common.Besides early wound management and the use of antibacterial drugs,in-creased attention should be paid to infection prevention and control in austere environments and the development of novel countermeasures.These advancements are critical to address projected changes in combat trauma,inclu-ding increasingly complex injuries and substantially elevated risks of infection and antimicrobial resistance.CONCLUSION This study systematically presents research hotspots,developmental trends,and prospects in com-bat trauma-related infections through evidence evaluation study,providing novel perspectives for researchers and facilitating further development in this field.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of applying function-related grouping model of Changsha medical insurance for patients convalescing from a cerebral infarction using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health′s rehabilitation set (ICF-RS).Methods:Ninety cerebral infarction patients in convalescence were treated according to their functional status, including clinical treatment, rehabilitation, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, and rehabilitation nursing. Within 3 days after admission and at the time of discharge, they were evaluated using a comprehensive assessment system for cerebral infarction based on the ICF-RS. The modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and the Boston diagnostic aphasia examination (BDAE) were also employed.Results:With the exception of ICF-RS item b280 (pain perception) and item x005 of the MAS, all of the remaining assessments indicated significant enhancements compared to the pre-treatment levels. Functional severity grading also improved significantly after the treatment. Thirteen of the ICF-RS categories indicated more favorable therapeutic outcomes after the treatment. That was accompanied by improvements in the FMA upper limb, lower limb and total scores, and in the MMSE scores. However, no significant disparity was detected in the MAS scores or the BDAE grades before and after treatment.Conclusions:The comprehensive evaluation system based on the ICF-RS effectively evaluates the effectiveness of rehabilitation after cerebral infarction in a way suitable for medical insurance purposes.