Tooth pulpitis is a prevalent oral disorder. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of pulpitis and developing effective treatment strategies hold great significance. Ferroptosis has recently emerged as a new form of cell death, but the role of ferroptosis in pulpitis remains largely unknown. In our study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to identify cellular heterogeneity between 3 pulpitis tissue and 3 healthy pulp tissue, and explored ferroptosis occurrence in pulpitis tissue and inflamed dental pulp cells (DPCs). In scRNA-seq, 40 231 cells (Pulpitis: 17 814; Healthy pulp: 22 417) were captured, and visualized into 12 distinct cell clusters. Differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DE-FRGs) were almost presented in each cluster in pulpitis vs healthy pulp. ROS and Fe²⁺ levels significantly rose, and immunohistochemistry showed low expression of GPX4 and high expression of PTGS2 in pulpitis. In LPS-stimulated DPCs, thymosin α1 increased the expression of GPX4 and FTL, and decreased expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and Fe²⁺ levels. In rat pulpitis models, both prothymosin α (PTMA, precursor of thymosin α1) gelatin sponge placed at the hole of pulp (LPS-P(gs)) and PTMA injection in pulp (LPS-P(i)) significantly reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and expression of PTGS2, and increased the expression of GPX4. In RNA sequencing, the expression of DE-FRGs were reversed when thymosin α1 were added in LPS-stimulated DPCs. Collectively, single-cell atlas reveals cellular heterogeneity between pulpitis and healthy pulp, and ferroptosis occurrence in pulpitis. Thymosin α1 may reduce ferroptosis in DPCs to alleviate pulpitis and thus potentially has the ability to treat pulpitis.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Dental Pulp/drug effects* ; Animals ; Pulpitis/pathology* ; Rats ; Thymalfasin/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Male ; Thymosin/pharmacology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the transition intensity and transition probabilities of fall states among middle-aged and older adults in China,and to assess the impact of potential risk factors on falls.Methods We utilized in the study data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)and employed a multi-state Markov model(MSM)to analyze the transition intensity and probabilities between states of no falls or falls without treatment,falls requiring treatment,and death.Results A total of 14722 participants were enrolled,with a mean age of(59.4 years±9.7 years),and 47.9％were male.The median follow-up period was 9 years(interquartile range[IQR].7-9 years).At baseline,12381 participants(84.1％)reported no falls or falls without treatment,while 2341(15.9％)reported falls requiring treatment.Participants who experienced falls requiring treatment within one follow-up cycle had a 55.2％probability of not falling again or only falling without treatment in the subsequent two years,a 37.6％probability of continuing to experience falls requiring treatment,and a 7.2％probability of death.The risk of transitioning from a state of no falls or falls without treatment to falls requiring treatment increased by 8.6％for every 5-year increase in age.The risk was 35.1％higher for females compared to males.Rural residents had a 10.1％higher risk.Those who were divorced,separated,widowed,or never married had a 20.7％higher risk.Higher degrees of physical function impairment were associated with an increased risk.Depressive symptoms increased the risk by 31.6％.Having one chronic disease raised the risk by 9.6％,while multimorbidity led to a 28.8％increase in risk.Conclusion According to the findings of the study,falls are a dynamic process and emphasis should be given to fall prevention for older adults,individuals with a history of fall-related medical visits,those living alone,those with impaired physical function,and those with depressive symptoms.

Objective To observe the characteristic symptoms in breast cancer-bearing mice and the beneficial effect of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides on traditional Chinese medical symptoms.Methods Thirty-eight mice were used for modeling and divided into normal,model,positive,and low-,medium-,and high-dose ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide groups.Mice in the normal group were not inoculated with tumors and mice in the normal and model groups received physiological saline intragastrically.Mice in the positive group received celecoxib solution intragastrically,and mice in the low-,medium-,and high-dose groups received the same dose but different concentrations of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide solution intragastrically.Changes in body weight and tumor size were recorded after 4 weeks of continuous administration.Symptoms were observed at the end of the experiment.RGB values in photographs of the tongues,tails,and claws from mice in each group were analyzed and recorded.The degrees of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis were calculated based on the method of quantitative dialectical diagnosis.The tumors were isolated and weighed,and the tumor volume and inhibition rate were calculated to determine the beneficial effect of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides on traditional Chinese medical symptoms.Results Mice in the breast cancer model group showed signs of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and phlegm stasis.Tumor size was significantly reduced in mice in the ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide groups.Ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides inhibited tumor growth and improved blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis in breast cancer-bearing mice,with the best result in the high-dose group.Conclusions Ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides can improve the symptoms of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis in breast cancer-bearing mice,especially at high doses.

Background and Aims:Tumor deposits(TDs)may influence prognosis beyond the current 8th edition AJCC pTNM nodal classification in gastric cancer(GC).This study investigates the prognostic value of TD number and proposes an improved pN staging(mpN)that classifies patients with TD number>1 as pN3b.We validated the mpN staging against the 8th AJCC pN staging.Methods:A dual-center retrospective cohort study was performed,including 1 327 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center(2011-2015;test cohort)and 340 patients from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital(2015-2022;validation cohort).Patients were dichotomized into low-TD(≤1)and high-TD(>1)groups.Outcomes were overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS).Survival analyses used Kaplan-Meier curves,IPTW,and Cox regression.Predictive performance of staging systems was assessed by time-dependent ROC(tROC)/tAUC,concordance index(C-index)and Akaike information criterion(AIC).Results:TDs were present in 435/1 327(32.7%)in the test cohort.Presence of TD was associated with worse OS(IPTW-adjusted HR=2.69,95%CI=2.18-3.31,P<0.01)and DFS(HR=2.82,95%CI=2.32-3.42,P<0.01).In multivariable models,TD remained an independent adverse factor for OS(HR=1.65,95%CI=1.34-2.05;P<0.01)and DFS(HR=1.74,95%CI=1.43-2.11,P<0.01).Increasing TD number correlated with progressively poorer survival;X-tile identified>1 as an optimal cutoff,with high-TD patients showing markedly worse outcomes(OS:adjusted HR=3.65,95%CI=2.74-4.88;DFS:adjusted HR=3.74,95%CI=2.85-4.91;both P<0.01).Incorporation of TD number into the mpN staging(assigning TD>1 to pN3b)improved prognostic discrimination:in the test cohort 5-year OS tAUC was 0.746 for mpN vs.0.703 for AJCC pN(C-index 0.738 vs.0.721,AIC 5 805.27 vs.5 849.30);similar improvements were observed in the validation cohort.Conclusion:TD presence and number exert significant negative prognostic impact in GC.Classifying patients with TD number>1 as pN3b enhances prognostic accuracy.Routine reporting of TD counts and further prospective multicenter validation of mpN staging are warranted.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between macrophage activation related factors and clini-cal symptoms of schizophrenia(SCZ).Methods:Outpatient or inpatient SCZ patients(n=166)and normal con-trols(n=71)meeting the diagnostic criteria of DSM 4th edition were selected as subjects.The psychopathological symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),and the concentrations of α-Na-Galases,MAF and IL-18 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The correlation be-tween biological indicators and clinical symptoms was analyzed and the mediation effect was tested.Results:The concentrations of α-NaGalases(P＜0.001)and MAF(P＜0.01)in SCZ group were lower than those in normal control group.In SCZ group,IL-18 was negatively correlated with α-NaGalases concentration(r=-0.24,P＜0.01).α-NaGalases was positively correlated with MAF concentration(r=0.67,P＜0.001),and the total score of PANSS positive symptom scale was positively correlated with IL-18(r=0.21,P＜0.05)and MAF concentration(r=0.22,P＜0.01).The mediating effect of α-NaGalases and MAF was statistically significant,and the relative mediating effect accounted for 25.47％.Conclusion:The increase of IL-18 level may indicate the occurrence of positive symptoms of schizophrenia,and α-NaGalases and MAF may negatively regulate the inflammatory damage effect of IL-18 on SCZ,thereby reducing the positive symptoms.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between macrophage activation related factors and clini-cal symptoms of schizophrenia(SCZ).Methods:Outpatient or inpatient SCZ patients(n=166)and normal con-trols(n=71)meeting the diagnostic criteria of DSM 4th edition were selected as subjects.The psychopathological symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),and the concentrations of α-Na-Galases,MAF and IL-18 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The correlation be-tween biological indicators and clinical symptoms was analyzed and the mediation effect was tested.Results:The concentrations of α-NaGalases(P＜0.001)and MAF(P＜0.01)in SCZ group were lower than those in normal control group.In SCZ group,IL-18 was negatively correlated with α-NaGalases concentration(r=-0.24,P＜0.01).α-NaGalases was positively correlated with MAF concentration(r=0.67,P＜0.001),and the total score of PANSS positive symptom scale was positively correlated with IL-18(r=0.21,P＜0.05)and MAF concentration(r=0.22,P＜0.01).The mediating effect of α-NaGalases and MAF was statistically significant,and the relative mediating effect accounted for 25.47％.Conclusion:The increase of IL-18 level may indicate the occurrence of positive symptoms of schizophrenia,and α-NaGalases and MAF may negatively regulate the inflammatory damage effect of IL-18 on SCZ,thereby reducing the positive symptoms.

Background and Aims:Tumor deposits(TDs)may influence prognosis beyond the current 8th edition AJCC pTNM nodal classification in gastric cancer(GC).This study investigates the prognostic value of TD number and proposes an improved pN staging(mpN)that classifies patients with TD number>1 as pN3b.We validated the mpN staging against the 8th AJCC pN staging.Methods:A dual-center retrospective cohort study was performed,including 1 327 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center(2011-2015;test cohort)and 340 patients from Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital(2015-2022;validation cohort).Patients were dichotomized into low-TD(≤1)and high-TD(>1)groups.Outcomes were overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS).Survival analyses used Kaplan-Meier curves,IPTW,and Cox regression.Predictive performance of staging systems was assessed by time-dependent ROC(tROC)/tAUC,concordance index(C-index)and Akaike information criterion(AIC).Results:TDs were present in 435/1 327(32.7%)in the test cohort.Presence of TD was associated with worse OS(IPTW-adjusted HR=2.69,95%CI=2.18-3.31,P<0.01)and DFS(HR=2.82,95%CI=2.32-3.42,P<0.01).In multivariable models,TD remained an independent adverse factor for OS(HR=1.65,95%CI=1.34-2.05;P<0.01)and DFS(HR=1.74,95%CI=1.43-2.11,P<0.01).Increasing TD number correlated with progressively poorer survival;X-tile identified>1 as an optimal cutoff,with high-TD patients showing markedly worse outcomes(OS:adjusted HR=3.65,95%CI=2.74-4.88;DFS:adjusted HR=3.74,95%CI=2.85-4.91;both P<0.01).Incorporation of TD number into the mpN staging(assigning TD>1 to pN3b)improved prognostic discrimination:in the test cohort 5-year OS tAUC was 0.746 for mpN vs.0.703 for AJCC pN(C-index 0.738 vs.0.721,AIC 5 805.27 vs.5 849.30);similar improvements were observed in the validation cohort.Conclusion:TD presence and number exert significant negative prognostic impact in GC.Classifying patients with TD number>1 as pN3b enhances prognostic accuracy.Routine reporting of TD counts and further prospective multicenter validation of mpN staging are warranted.

Objective To observe the characteristic symptoms in breast cancer-bearing mice and the beneficial effect of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides on traditional Chinese medical symptoms.Methods Thirty-eight mice were used for modeling and divided into normal,model,positive,and low-,medium-,and high-dose ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide groups.Mice in the normal group were not inoculated with tumors and mice in the normal and model groups received physiological saline intragastrically.Mice in the positive group received celecoxib solution intragastrically,and mice in the low-,medium-,and high-dose groups received the same dose but different concentrations of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide solution intragastrically.Changes in body weight and tumor size were recorded after 4 weeks of continuous administration.Symptoms were observed at the end of the experiment.RGB values in photographs of the tongues,tails,and claws from mice in each group were analyzed and recorded.The degrees of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis were calculated based on the method of quantitative dialectical diagnosis.The tumors were isolated and weighed,and the tumor volume and inhibition rate were calculated to determine the beneficial effect of ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides on traditional Chinese medical symptoms.Results Mice in the breast cancer model group showed signs of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and phlegm stasis.Tumor size was significantly reduced in mice in the ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharide groups.Ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides inhibited tumor growth and improved blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis in breast cancer-bearing mice,with the best result in the high-dose group.Conclusions Ginger-processed Jiangxiangru polysaccharides can improve the symptoms of blood deficiency,yin deficiency,and tumor phlegm stasis in breast cancer-bearing mice,especially at high doses.

Zi goose is a small local variety with high fecundity,good meat quality,roughage resist-ance,strong adaptability and excellent down quality.It is an excellent female parent for cross breeding among varieties.With the rapid development of goose industry,the variety of Zi goose has not been well protected,the variety is hybrid and degraded seriously,and the number of pure Zi goose is decreasing day by day.This paper reviewed the research progress on the breeding distribu-tion and preservation status of Zi goose and the variety characteristics of Zi goose,in order to pro-vide reference for the research,protection and utilization of germplasm resources of Zi goose and the stable development of goose industry.

Objective:To evaluate the correlation between the degree of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) injury and various parameters of vertebral body injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods:A total of 48 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were admitted to the Spine Surgery Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between December 2022 and January 2024. The cohort consisted of 31 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 44.1±11.8 years (range, 18-65 years). Based on the PLL injury grading method proposed by Sun Zhaoyun, patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. However, due to an insufficient number of patients in the severe group ( n=3), the moderate and severe groups were combined for statistical analysis, resulting in two groups: mild, and moderate-to-severe. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Local kyphosis (LK), inversion angle (IA), horizontal rotation angle (HRA), increased interspinous distance (IISD), anterior vertebral body compression ratio (AVBCR), posterior vertebral body compression ratio (PVBCR), middle vertebral body compression ratio (MVBCR), the ratio of height of bone fragment (RHBF), the ratio of width of bone fragment (RWBF), and mid-sagittal canal diameter compression ratio (MSDCR) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Continuous variables were tested for normality, with non-normally distributed data analyzed using the rank-sum test and expressed as median (interquartile range). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate predictive performance. Results:Among the 48 patients, only 3 were found to have severe PLL injury, necessitating the combination of the moderate and severe groups for statistical purposes. Patients in the moderate-to-severe group demonstrated significantly higher AVBCR, PVBCR, RHBF, MVBCR, MSDCR, and IA compared to the mild group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, and IA as independent risk factors for moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( OR>1, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index could effectively predict moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( P<0.05). Notably, the combined index showed superior predictive performance (AUC=0.970) compared to individual parameters. Threshold values were determined as follows: AVBCR>45.30%, PVBCR>12.17%, MSDCR>27.13%, IA>5.90°, and the combined index >0.61, indicating PLL damage. Conclusion:AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index are significantly associated with moderate-to-severe PLL injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures. The combined index demonstrates superior predictive ability compared to single parameters, providing a reliable tool for assessing PLL integrity.