ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the action mechanism by which Banxia Xiexintang （BXT） inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in chronic atrophic gastritis （CAG） rats by regulating the interleukin-17（IL-17）/extracellular regulated protein kinases（ERK）/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β（C/EBPβ）signaling pathway， thereby providing new theoretical evidence for the treatment of CAG with classic traditional Chinese medicine formulas. MethodsA CAG rat model was established by using the combined factor method. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （0.549， 1.098， 2.196 g·kg^-1， respectively） of BXT， and the positive drug group （vitacoenzyme， 0.3 g·kg^-1）. A normal control group was also set up. After 8 weeks of intervention， the pathological changes of gastric tissue were evaluated. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the contents of IL-17， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2）， and C/EBPβ in serum， as well as the contents of EMT markers in gastric mucosal tissue including E-cadherin， N-cadherin， and vimentin. The immunohistochemistry method was employed to determine the localization and protein expression levels of IL-17， p-ERK， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosal tissue. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and its phosphorylated form （p）-ERK in gastric mucosa. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of ERK， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in gastric mucosa. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， the rats in the model group showed gastric mucosal glandular atrophy and inflammatory cell infiltration. The protein and their related mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBPβ in serum were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosal tissue were significantly increased， while the content of E-cadherin was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， after intervention with different doses of BXT， the pathological damage of the gastric mucosa was improved to varying degrees. The protein and mRNA expressions of C/EBPβ， ERK， and p-ERK in gastric mucosa were significantly reduced （P<0.05，P<0.01）. The levels of IL-17， TNF-α， COX-2， and C/EBP β in serum were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The contents of N-cadherin and vimentin in gastric mucosa tissue were decreased， while the content of E-cadherin was increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionBXT can effectively improve the pathological damage of gastric mucosal tissue in CAG rats. Its action mechanism may be related to reducing the levels of IL-17 and TNF-α in serum， regulating the IL-17/ERK/C/EBPβ signaling pathway and inhibiting the EMT process.

AIM:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of three types of spectacle lenses with different peripheral microstructure designs in controlling myopia progression among children.METHODS: Retrospective case analysis was conducted. Children diagnosed with myopia aged 6 to 12 y who were received initial spectacle fitting and completed 1-year follow-up at the Optometry Clinic of Suining Central Hospital between January 2023 and August 2024 were enrolled. Only right eye data of all subjects were included for analysis. Based on the type of spectacle lenses independently selected by the children and their parents/guardians, they were divided into four groups: diffusion optics technology(DOT), cylindrical annular refractive element(CARE), highly aspherical lenslets(HAL), and single-vision lenses(SVL). Changes in axial length(AL)and spherical equivalent(SE)from baseline were observed after 1-year lens wear in four groups. Variations between three peripheral microstructure-designed spectacles and single-vision spectacles were compared. The effects of different lens designs on spherical power, astigmatism, corneal curvature, corneal astigmatism, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, and vitreous cavity depth were analyzed.RESULTS:In this retrospective study, a total of 118 eyes from 118 myopic children were included. There were 28 eyes in 28 children in DOT group [16 males and 12 females, age 10(9, 12)y]. CARE group contained 26 eyes in 26 children, [12 males and 14 females, age 11(9, 12)y]. HAL group had 26 eyes in 26 children [16 males and 10 females, age 10(9, 11)y]. SVL group included 38 eyes in 38 children [20 males and 18 females, age 11(9, 12)y]. There were no significant differences in age, gender, baseline AL, or SE among the four groups(all P>0.05). After 1-year wearing, no increase and slight regression were observed in AL and SE in the DOT group, with no significant differences compared with baseline(all P>0.05). AL and SE increased to varying degrees in the CARE, HAL and SVL groups(all P<0.01). Significant inter-group differences were found in the changes of AL and SE(F=22.820, 30.949, both P<0.001). The mean changes in AL and SE for the DOT group(-0.034±0.180 mm, 0.040±0.243 D)were significantly smaller than those in the CARE group(0.225±0.174 mm, -0.375±0.308 D)and the HAL group(0.147±0.130 mm, -0.255±0.256 D). The changes of AL and SE in the three groups were significantly lower than those in the SVL group(0.355±0.240 mm, -0.891±0.592 D)(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: In children, short-term wear of spectacles with peripheral microstructural design demonstrates better myopia control efficacy compared to single-vision spectacles. DOT lenses show superior short-term efficacy compared with CARE and HAL lenses.

Objective:To explore the correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)parameters and serum level of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)with pathological characteristics and chemotherapy sensitivity of breast cancer patients.Methods:The clinical data of 102 breast cancer patients admitted to our hospital from Feb 2022 to May 2024 were respectively analyzed.Based on the principle of 1∶1 selection,102 patients with benign breast tumors during the same period were selected as the control group.The DCE-MRI parameters[transport constant(Ktrans),rate constant(Kep),volume ratio of the external space(Ve),and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)]and serum PCSK9 level were compared between the two groups and patients with different pathological characteristics,and the correlation was analyzed.The value of DCE-MRI parameters(Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC)combined with serum PCSK9 level in assessing the sensitivity of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients was analyzed.Results:The Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level in breast cancer group were higher than those in the benign breast tumor group(P＜0.01).Breast cancer patients with low-to-moderate differentiation,pathological stage Ⅲ,and lymph node metastasis had higher Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level compared to those with high differentiation,pathological stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,and no lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05).The degree of differentiation,pathological stage,and lymph node metastasis were positively correlated with Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level(P＜0.01).The Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level in breast cancer patients with chemotherapy resistance were higher than those in patients with chemotherapy sensitivity(P＜0.01).Patients with chemotherapy resistance had a higher proportion of low-to-moderate differentiation,pathological stage Ⅲ,and lymph node metastasis than patients with chemotherapy sensitivity(P＜0.05).After adjusting the degree of differentiation,pathological stage and lymph node metastasis,Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values and serum PCSK9 level were still the influencing factors of chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion:DCE-MRI parameters and serum PCSK9 level are correlated with the clinical pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients,and the combination of these indicators can provide certain reference value for clinical evaluation of chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients.

Deep learning(DL)technology has strong ability for acquiring and learning information,which has been widely used in the field of stomatology imaging,such as segmentation of oral and surrounding structures,diagnosis of tooth and dental pulp diseases,perioperative evaluation of implant surgery,localization of craniomaxillofacial markers,evaluation of temporomandibular joint diseases and maxillary sinus diseases,etc.,contributing to accurate and efficient individualized diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases.The research progresses of DL in oral cone beam CT were reviewed in this article.

Objective:The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors that affect implementation of the innovative technique of single-incision laparoscopic appendectomy (solo-SLA) without assistance in patients with complicated appendicitis, the goal being improving surgical success rates and reducing the incidence of complications.Methods:This was an observational study. Indications for solo-SLA surgery were as follows: (1) computed tomography or ultrasound findings suggestive of acute appendicitis, accompanied by a high white blood cell count and C-reactive protein concentration; (2) disease course exceeding 72 hours, standard anti-infection treatment ineffective, inflammatory reaction not localized, surgery mainly aimed at abscess drainage, and the appendix removed if indicated intraoperatively; (3) acute onset stabilized for more than 3 months after conservative treatment; and (4) recurrent chronic appendicitis. Relative contraindications comprised: (1) cardiopulmonary insufficiency, extremely high risk for general anesthesia for laparoscopic surgery; (2) severe coagulation dysfunction; and (3) imaging findings suggestive of formation of a peri-appendiceal abscess, stable after anti-infection treatment, and a tendency for the inflammatory reaction to localize. We retrospectively collected clinical data of 106 patients with complicated appendicitis who had undergone solo-SLA in the Department of Emergency Surgery, Peking University People's Hospital from February to October 2023. Preoperative computed tomography showed appendiceal fecaliths, blurring of the tissue surrounding fat, intra- and extra-luminal gas and exudate, peri-appendiceal abscess, ascites, and intestinal obstruction by appendicitis. The study cohort comprised 53 male and 53 female patients aged (41.4±17.4) years. The median body mass index was (24.2±3.6) kg/m 2 and median preoperative body temperature (37.3±0.9)℃ Appendicitis had been present for >3 days in 21 of the patients (19.8%) and the maximum diameter of the appendix was (12.4±3.8) mm. The efficacy of the surgery was assessed and logistic regression analysis used to explore the factors affecting the duration of the procedure. The relationship between the maximum diameter of the appendix and duration of surgery was non-linear and was explored using a logistic regression model with restricted cubic spline (RCS). Results:Only one patient required conversion to open surgery; all the other patients successfully completed solo-SLA with a median intraoperative blood loss of 10 (1-100) ml and a surgical time of (65.4±31.7) minutes. Pain scores on postoperative Day 1 and 7 were (3.4±3.2) points and (1.5±1.7) points, respectively. There were no significant postoperative complications .The postoperative hospital stay was (3.5±1.5) days and the interval to resuming normal activities 14 (2-40) days. According to univariate and multivariate analyses, disease course >3 days (OR=5.19, 95%CI: 1.59-16.98, P=0.006) and C-reactive protein >10 mg/L (OR=1.01,95%CI: 1.00-1.02, P=0.003) were independent risk factors for surgical duration >60 minutes, whereas the maximum diameter of the appendix was not independently associated with duration of surgery (OR=1.10, 95%CI: 0.97-1.25, P=0.119). RCS analysis results showed a "U-shaped" association between the maximum diameter of the appendix and duration of surgery, the inflection point of the RCS curve being at a diameter of 10 mm. When the maximum diameter of the appendix was <10 mm, increases in diameter were not associated with longer duration of surgery (OR=1.15,95%CI: 0.55-2.58, P=0.710); whereas when the diameter was ≥10 mm, the maximum diameter of the appendix was associated with increased duration of surgery (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.42, P=0.022). Conclusion:The solo-SLA procedure can be performed to treat complicated appendicitis. A disease course >3 days, C-reactive protein concentration >10 mg/L, and maximum diameter of the appendix ≥10 mm are all associated with greater difficulty of solo-SLA surgery.

Objective To investigate the mechanism underlying the effect of intra-articular injection of ozonated water on cartilage repair in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)rats via the miR-214-3p/nuclear factor(NF)-κB signaling pathway,to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical application of ozonated water.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into ozonated and experimental groups.Rats in the experimental group were further divided randomly into model,ozonated water,ozonated water+AAV-NC,and adeno-associated virus with ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups.The articular cartilage repair status was evaluated after the respective treatments,using articular cartilage surface gross scoring,hematoxylin/eosin staining,and modified Mankin's score.Expression levels of interleukin(IL)-1β,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-13 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Protein expression levels of IκB kinase(IKK)β,p65,and phospho(p)-IκBα were detected in cartilage tissues by Western blot,and gene expression levels of IKKβ,p65,IκBα,and miR-214-3p were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Rats in all groups showed different degrees of cartilage damage compared with the control group,and the scores were significantly lower in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).IL-1β,TNF-α,and MMP-13 levels detected by ELISA were significantly lower in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P＜0.05).According to RT-PCR,IKKβ and p65 mRNA levels were significantly down-regulated while IκBα mRNA was significantly up-regulated in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P＜0.05).Similarly,IKKβ,p65,and p-IκBα protein expression levels detected by Western blot were significantly down-regulated while IκBα protein expression levels were up-regulated in cartilage tissues from rats in the ozonated water and ozonated water+AAV-NC groups compared with the model and ozonated water+AAV-miR-214-3p inhibitor groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions Ozone hydrotherapy significantly ameliorated cartilage damage in KOA rats,possibly via inhibiting activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway through up-regulation of miR-214-3p expression and promoting cartilage repair in KOA rats.

Objective:To explore the correlation of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)parameters and serum level of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)with pathological characteristics and chemotherapy sensitivity of breast cancer patients.Methods:The clinical data of 102 breast cancer patients admitted to our hospital from Feb 2022 to May 2024 were respectively analyzed.Based on the principle of 1∶1 selection,102 patients with benign breast tumors during the same period were selected as the control group.The DCE-MRI parameters[transport constant(Ktrans),rate constant(Kep),volume ratio of the external space(Ve),and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)]and serum PCSK9 level were compared between the two groups and patients with different pathological characteristics,and the correlation was analyzed.The value of DCE-MRI parameters(Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC)combined with serum PCSK9 level in assessing the sensitivity of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients was analyzed.Results:The Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level in breast cancer group were higher than those in the benign breast tumor group(P＜0.01).Breast cancer patients with low-to-moderate differentiation,pathological stage Ⅲ,and lymph node metastasis had higher Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level compared to those with high differentiation,pathological stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ,and no lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05).The degree of differentiation,pathological stage,and lymph node metastasis were positively correlated with Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level(P＜0.01).The Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values,and serum PCSK9 level in breast cancer patients with chemotherapy resistance were higher than those in patients with chemotherapy sensitivity(P＜0.01).Patients with chemotherapy resistance had a higher proportion of low-to-moderate differentiation,pathological stage Ⅲ,and lymph node metastasis than patients with chemotherapy sensitivity(P＜0.05).After adjusting the degree of differentiation,pathological stage and lymph node metastasis,Ktrans,Kep,Ve,ADC values and serum PCSK9 level were still the influencing factors of chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion:DCE-MRI parameters and serum PCSK9 level are correlated with the clinical pathological characteristics of breast cancer patients,and the combination of these indicators can provide certain reference value for clinical evaluation of chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients.

Deep learning(DL)technology has strong ability for acquiring and learning information,which has been widely used in the field of stomatology imaging,such as segmentation of oral and surrounding structures,diagnosis of tooth and dental pulp diseases,perioperative evaluation of implant surgery,localization of craniomaxillofacial markers,evaluation of temporomandibular joint diseases and maxillary sinus diseases,etc.,contributing to accurate and efficient individualized diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases.The research progresses of DL in oral cone beam CT were reviewed in this article.

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea, possesses various biomedical activities and has garnered significant attention because of its notable anticancer properties. This article reviews the research progress on the antitumor mechanisms of EGCG, focusing on its roles in inducing tumor cell apoptosis; inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis; modulating the tumor microenvironment; and influencing epigenetic modifications. Given its natural origin, safety, and low cost, EGCG could be a preferred option for the development of new cancer therapeutic drugs or enhancing the efficacy of combination therapies. This work aims to provide a theoretical foundation for further research and development of EGCG and scientific evidence for its application in cancer prevention and treatment.