The aim of the experiment was to study the effects of Echinacea purpurea extract on the digestive ability,immune function and intestinal barrier of the Bamei ternary pigs.Forty-eight healthy pigs of 50 days old were randomly divided into four groups,each with three replicates and four pigs in each replicate.The control group(CON)was fed a basal diet,and the experimental group was divided into 5 g/kg(T1),10 g/kg(T2)and 15 g/kg(T3)of Echinacea extract in the basal diet.The pre-test period was 5 days and the main test period was 35 days with free feeding and drinking during the test period.The results showed that:There was no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of nutrients and jejunum morphology in the test group compared to the CON group(P＞0.05).Amylase and trypsin activities were significantly higher in the experimental group and lipase activities were significantly higher in T2 and T3 groups compared to CON group(P＜0.05).GSH,CAT and T-AOC activities were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to CON group(P＜0.05).In comparison with CON group,the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 were significantly lower in the experimental group(P＜0.05),and the levels of TNF-α were significantly lower in the T2 and T3 groups(P＜0.05);and the levels of IL-10 were signifi-cantly higher in the T3 group(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of TLR4,MyD88,TRAF6,and NF-κB were significantly lower in the experimental group(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of CLDN-1,OCLN and ZO-1 were significantly increased in the test group(P＜0.05).The results between the test groups showed that the protein expression levels of CLDN-1 and OCLN were significantly increased in the T3 group compared with the T1 group(P＜0.05).In conclusion,the addition of Echinacea extract to the ration can,to a certain ex-tent,improve the digestive ability,balance the immune ability,and improve the intestinal barrier function of the Bamei ternary pigs,thus promoting the intestinal health of pigs.

BACKGROUND:Relatively or absolutely active bone resorption function of osteoclasts is one of the causative factors of osteoporosis. Therefore,how to inhibit the formation of osteoclasts and reduce the bone resorption activity is a key element in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Liquiritin,which is derived from licorice,plays a role in the clinical treatment of bone diseases,but there are fewer studies addressing the application of liquiritin in osteoporosis and the mechanism is unknown.OBJECTIVE:To confirm,through both in vivo and in vitro experiments,that liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss.METHODS:Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect whether Liquiritin exerts toxic or proliferative effects on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was performed to observe the effect of liquiritin in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The affinity of liquiritin binding to proteins related to osteoclast differentiation was verified by network pharmacology. RT-PCR and western blot assays were performed to detect the inhibitory effects of liquiritin on osteoclast-specific protein and gene expression as well as relevant signaling pathways. Finally,the mitigating effect of liquiritin on bone loss was verified in the C57BL/6J mouse osteoporosis model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Liquiritin,at concentrations of 20 μmol/L and below,could inhibit the formation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Concurrently,it exhibited a high affinity with osteoclast-specific proteins such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1,Cathepsin K,c-Fos,and matrix metalloproteinase 9,and reduced the relative expression levels of these genes and proteins. Liquiritin could also effectively lower the phosphorylation expression level of JNK in the MAPK signaling pathway at the 15th,30th,45th,and 60th minutes,and it could salvage the degradation of nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α in the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway at the 60th minute. In vivo experiments demonstrated that liquiritin could mitigate bone loss caused by osteoclasts and improve parameters related to trabecular bone. To conclude,liquiritin possesses the capacity to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and alleviate bone loss,thereby exerting a protective role against osteoporosis.

Objective To explore the application value of different deep learning models in predicting the lung cancer spread through air spaces(STAS).Methods A total of 203 patients with stage Ⅰ—Ⅱ primary lung cancer were included,of which 74 were STAS-positive and 129 were STAS-negative.Patients were randomly divided into training set(142 cases)and test set(61 cases)at a 7∶3 ratio.Region of interest(ROI)was outlined using ITK-SNAP software,facilitating the extraction of tumor and peritumoral images.The Resnet18,Inception_v3,and Vision Transformer(Vit)were employed for model training and feature extraction.Feature selection was performed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)algorithm and Spearman correlation coefficient,followed by the establishment of a predictive model using the Naive Bayes machine learning algorithm.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to compare the prediction performance of each model.The assessment of calibration was performed using calibration curves,and the evaluation of clinical application value was conducted using decision curve analysis(DCA).Results The area under the curve(AUC)for the training and test sets were as follows:the training set Resnet18 0.849-0.930,Inception_v3 0.848-0.888,Vit 0.747-0.842;and the test set Resnet18 0.796-0.846,Inception_v3 0.783-0.804,Vit 0.690-0.796.In tumor-peritumoral images,Resnet18 had a higher calibration and better clinical net benefit,while Vit showed superior calibration and clinical net benefit when only tumor tissue was considered.Conclusion Deep learning models can effectively predict lung cancer STAS,providing more decision support for the preoperative diagnosis and treatment of stages Ⅰ—Ⅱ lung cancer.

Objective To investigate the effect of percutaneous balloon compression on the ocular surface in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Methods A total of 30 patients (60 eyes) diagnosed with TN who underwent parallel balloon compression surgery from May 2023 to June 2024 were included in the study. Corneal sensation,Schirmer Ⅰ test results,tear film break-up time (TBUT),and corneal fluorescein staining scores were evaluated in both eyes one day before and one day after the surgery. Results The tear secretion values and TBUT in both eyes of TN patients were lower than normal. Preoperatively,there were no statistically significant differences in various ocular examinations between the two eyes (P=0.144,P=0.072,P=0.069,P=1.000). One day postop-eratively,the corneal sensitivity,tear secretion value,and TBUT of the affected eye were significantly lower com-pared to the contralateral eye (P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01),while the fluorescein staining score showed a slight increase but was not statistically significant (P=0.157). Compared to preoperative levels,the postoperative corneal sensitivity,tear secretion value,and TBUT of the affected side were significantly reduced (P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.01),while the fluorescein staining score showed a slight increase but remained non-significant (P=0.157). Conclusions TN patients patients exhibit reduced bilateral tear secretion and compromised tear film stability. Following balloon compression surgery,the corneal sensitivity of the affected eye diminishes,leading to a further decline in tear secretion and tear film stability. Consequently,it is imperative that TN patients receive ophthalmic intervention,treatment,and regular follow-up,irrespective of whether they undergo surgery.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of laryngeal diadochokinesis(LDDK)in children with functional articulation disorder(FAD)using different corpus.Methods A total of 23 children with FAD and 21 typically developing(TD)children,aged 4-6,from Shanghai's general kindergartens were recruited.Five types of acoustic parameters were collected:average rate and jitter(％)of LDDK(/?a/,/ha/,/??/,/h?/),the diadochoki-nesis rate(/pataka/),the jitter and shimmer of the vowel/a/,maximum phonation time(MPT).Differences across different corpora of the LDDK were analyzed between the two groups.Results ① Between-group compari-son:the rate of/?a/was significantly lower in FAD children than in TD children(P＜0.05).② Different corpora comparison:the LDDK speed of/?a/-/ha/was significantly different for both groups,/?a/-/??/was significantly different in TD children,and/ha/-/h?/was significantly different in FAD children.The LDDK jitter of/ha/-/h?/was significantly different among FAD children.Conclusion The LDDK of children with FAD is weaker than the TD children,and both groups exhibiting varying abilities across different corpora.

Objective This study aims to elucidate the functional mechanism through which seminal plasma exosomal miR-26a-5p and its target genes contribute to idiopathic teratozoospermia,with emphasis on their regulatory pathways in sperm morphogenesis defects,thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for novel diagnostic markers and targeted therapies.Methods A case-control study design was adopted,enrolling 154 male subjects(84 in the teratozoospermia group[TZS]and 70 in the normal control group[NC]).Seminal plasma exosomes were isolated to screen differentially expressed miRNAs,followed by prediction and analysis of target genes and signaling pathways.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were employed to validate the direct binding of miR-26a-5p to PTEN.Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure miRNA and protein expression levels.Spearman correlation analysis evaluated relationships between miR-26a-5p,PTEN,and sperm morphological parameters,while ROC curve analysis assessed diagnostic efficacy.Results Seminal plasma exosomal miRNA sequencing identified 11 differentially expressed miRNAs,with miR-26a-5p significantly upregulated in the TZS group(P<0.05)and negatively correlated with the percentage of normal sperm morphology in TZS(r=-0.762,P<0.05).PTEN was confirmed as a direct target of miR-26a-5p,with its expression significantly reduced in the TZS group(P<0.05)and positively correlated with normal sperm morphology(r=0.821,P<0.05).A negative correlation was observed between miR-26a-5p and PTEN(r=-0.878,P<0.05).Dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that miR-26a-5p specifically inhibited PTEN 3'UTR activity(45%reduction in luciferase activity,P<0.05).Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the miR-26a-5p-PTEN axis exacerbates oxidative stress,DNA damage,and abnormal spermatocyte division by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR,p53,Wnt/β-catenin,and NF-κB pathways.ROC analysis showed diagnostic efficacy for teratozoospermia with AUCROC values of 0.785(sensitivity 78.9%,specificity 71.3%)for miR-26a-5p and 0.754(sensitivity 73.3%,specificity 75.1%)for PTEN.Conclusions miR-26a-5p suppresses PTEN through targeted inhibition,activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways while impairing DNA repair functions.This cascade leads to accumulated oxidative stress and sperm morphological abnormalities.The combined pattern of elevated seminal plasma exosomal miR-26a-5p expression and reduced PTEN levels demonstrates diagnostic potential for idiopathic teratozoospermia,with its molecular mechanism providing a theoretical foundation for biomarker development.Targeted silencing of miR-26a-5p,either alone or in combination with AKT/mTOR inhibitors and antioxidant therapy,may represent a novel strategy for improving sperm morphology.

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.

Enamel demineralization, the formation of white spot lesions, is a common issue in clinical orthodontic treatment. The appearance of white spot lesions not only affects the texture and health of dental hard tissues but also impacts the health and aesthetics of teeth after orthodontic treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of white spot lesions that occur throughout the orthodontic treatment process involve multiple dental specialties. This expert consensus will focus on providing guiding opinions on the management and prevention of white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment, advocating for proactive prevention, early detection, timely treatment, scientific follow-up, and multidisciplinary management of white spot lesions throughout the orthodontic process, thereby maintaining the dental health of patients during orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Consensus ; Dental Caries/etiology* ; Dental Enamel/pathology* ; Tooth Demineralization/etiology* ; Tooth Remineralization

The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification* ; Orthodontics, Corrective/methods* ; Consensus ; Child

Objective:To compare the accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound with three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction and conventional 2D ultrasound in measuring bladder volume in pelvic tumor patients, using computed tomography (CT) as the reference.Methods:A set of bladder phantoms were constructed to compare CT and ultrasound measurements with actual injected volumes. Clinical data of 104 pelvic tumor patients who received radiotherapy at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August and December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Portable transabdominal ultrasound was used to obtain the largest bladder cross-section, and the maximum diameters in the left-right (LR), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) directions (D LR, D AP, D SI) were measured. The 2D ultrasound volume was calculated as V=0.523 × D LR × D AP × D SI. Full-bladder transverse videos were recorded and processed in Matlab R2016a through frame extraction(60 images), followed by contrast enhancement, edge detection segmentation, cubic spline interpolation, and image smoothing to achieve 3D reconstruction. Paired t-tests, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Bland-Altman analyses were performed to assess systematic bias and consistency between ultrasound methods and CT. Multivariate linear regression was applied to evaluate the effects of slice thickness, posture, age, and other factors on CT measurements. Results:In the phantom study, deviations of 2D ultrasound and CT from actual injected volumes were (0.73±3.05) ml ( t=-0.48, P=0.667) and (1.52±11.27) ml ( t=0.17, P=0.875), with ICC values>0.999. In the clinical study, mean bladder volumes measured by 3D-reconstructed ultrasound, conventional 2D ultrasound, and CT were (373.5±153.31), (314.89±135.28), (382.82±157.57) ml, respectively. The 3D-reconstructed method showed excellent agreement with CT (ICC=0.98; Bland-Altman mean bias=-9.32 ml, P=0.096), while 2D ultrasound also showed good consistency (ICC=0.91), but significantly underestimated bladder volume (mean bias=-67.93 ml, P<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that 2D ultrasound had the best agreement with CT in the medium-volume group (200-500 ml, ICC=0.902), whereas agreement decreased in the small-volume (<200 ml, ICC=0.884) and large-volume (>500 ml, ICC=0.840) groups (all P<0.001). The 3D-reconstructed ultrasound maintained excellent consistency with CT across all subgroups (all ICC>0.95), and the measured bladder volume was not statistically significant. Multivariate regression showed that slice thickness, posture, age, sex, and surgical status had no significant effects on CT measurements. Conclusions:Ultrasound with 3D reconstruction enables accurate bladder volume monitoring through true 3D contour reconstruction, while conventional 2D ultrasound systematically underestimates bladder volume and requires correction.