Dental stem cells (DSCs), a distinct subset of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are isolated from dental tissues, such as dental pulp, exfoliated deciduous teeth, periodontal ligament, and apical papilla. They have emerged as a promising source of stem cell therapy for tissue regeneration and autoimmune disorders. The main types of DSCs include dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), and stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP). Each type exhibits distinct advantages: easy access via minimally invasive procedures, multi-lineage differentiation potential, and excellent ethical acceptability. DSCs have demonstrated outstanding clinical efficacy in oral and maxillofacial regeneration, and their long-term safety has been verified. In oral tissue regeneration, DSCs are highly effective in oral tissue regeneration for critical applications such as the restoration of dental pulp vitality and periodontal tissue repair. A defining advantage of DSCs lies in their ability to integrate with host tissues and promote physiological regeneration, which render them a better option for oral tissue regenerative therapies. Beyond oral applications, DSCs also exhibit promising potential in the treatment of systemic diseases, including type Ⅱ diabetes and autoimmune diseases due to their immunomodulatory effects. Moreover, extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from DSCs act as critical mediators for DSCs' paracrine functions. Possessing regulatory properties similar to their parental cells, EVs are extensively utilized in research targeting tissue repair, immunomodulation, and regenerative therapy-offering a "cell-free" strategy to mitigate the limitations associated with cell-based therapies. Despite these advancements, standardizing large-scale manufacturing, maintaining strict quality control, and clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of DSCs and their EVs with recipient tissues remain major obstacles to the clinical translation of these treatments into broad clinical use. Addressing these barriers will be critical to enhancing their clinical applicability and therapeutic efficacy. In conclusion, DSCs and their EVs represent a transformative approach in regenerative medicine, and increasing clinical evidence supports their application in oral and systemic diseases. Continuous innovation remains essential to unlocking the widespread clinical potential of DSCs.
Humans ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Translational Research, Biomedical ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Periodontal Ligament/cytology* ; Stem Cells/cytology* ; Regeneration ; Tooth, Deciduous/cytology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Regenerative Medicine

Myocardial fibrosis （MF） is a common pathological manifestation of various heart diseases. Due to the non-renewable nature of myocardial cells， the occurrence of MF represents irreversible damage to the myocardium. Previous studies have suggested that fibroblast-mediated collagen deposition is the main mechanism of MF. Recent studies have found that there is an immune regulation mechanism in the heart itself， and macrophage activation/polarization plays an important role in MF. With the deepening of traditional Chinese medicine research， scholars have found that traditional Chinese medicine can interfere with MF by regulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system （RAAS） system and the inflammatory process， repairing the extracellular matrix， managing oxidative stress， and maintaining the balance of autophagy. This process is closely related to the activation and M1/M2 polarization of macrophages. Throughout the MF process， macrophage activation is beneficial， but excessive activation will be harmful. In the early stage of MF， appropriate M1 macrophage polarization is conducive to activating immunity and removing harmful substances. In the middle and late stages of MF， appropriate M2 macrophage polarization is conducive to remodeling the damaged myocardium. If macrophage activation is excessive/insufficient， or the balance of M1/M2 macrophage polarization is broken， the effect changes from improvement to destruction. Traditional Chinese medicines that regulate the activation/polarization of macrophages have the effects of replenishing Qi and nourishing Yin， as well as regulating Qi and activating blood， but there are also some heat-clearing， dampness-drying， and detoxification products. Therefore， the occurrence of MF may be caused by Qi and Yin deficiency， damp heat accumulation， and Qi stagnation and blood stasis. By summarizing the biological processes involved in macrophage activation/polarization in MF， this paper expounded on the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating macrophage activation and M1/M2 polarization from different angles to improve MF， so as to provide a reference for the treatment of MF with traditional Chinese medicine.

Bluetongue virus is an arbovirus that seriously harms ruminants such as sheep,this study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of bluetongue virus infection and host cell interferon antiviral immune response.The study was conducted to characterize the mRNA expression of inter-feron pathway genes by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,as well as Western blot analysis of MDA5,TRAF3,RIG-Ⅰ,and TBK1 protein expression in BHK-21 cells induced by BTV with a multiplicity of infections(MOI)of 1 for 18,24,and 36 h.The results showed that the most pro-nounced changes in the expression of interferon signaling pathway genes were observed at 24 h of induction,the gene mRNA expression levels of the IFN-α,IFN-β,RIG-Ⅰ,TBK1,MDA5,VISA,and TRAF3 genes were upregulated.However,the mRNA expression levels of IKKε and TRAF6 genes were downregulated.At the protein level,MDA5 and TBK1 proteins were upregulated while RIG-1 and TRAF3 proteins were downregulated,which showed that BTV infection induces a typeⅠ interferon immune response in BHK-21 cells.This study lays the foundation for further exploring the antiviral immunity mechanism of IFN-Ⅰ signaling pathway regulatory genes in host cells infected with BTV infection.

Minimal access breast surgery with the assistance of an endoscopy or robot has been an important advancement in surgical treatment in recent years. Compared to conventional open surgery, minimal access breast surgery only requires small incisions in concealed areas such as axillary fossa, avoiding visible scars on the surface of the breast, significantly improving the postoperative aesthetic appearance and patient satisfaction. With the rapid development of minimal access breast surgery, several institutions have established their own distinctive techniques. The concept of membrane anatomy in the breast, for example, has led to more natural-looking breast reconstruction following endoscopic procedures. The adoption of the reverse space dissection technique has greatly optimized the workflow of endoscopic breast cancer resection. Intraoperative navigation system for endoscopic breast-conserving surgery could allow precise localization of excision margins. Furthermore, the widespread use of the cold dissection technique for flap separation has reduced surgical duration and minimized flap damage. The emergence of unique techniques in the field of minimal access breast surgery promises to further advance and promote the adoption of minimal access breast surgery in China.

Objective:To examine the postoperative prosthesis-related complications, short-term surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction between patients who underwent endoscopic assisted versus conventional nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 104 women with breast cancer who received nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction from August 2021 to August 2022 at the Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach. A total of 53 patients, aged (43.3±9.9) years (range: 25 to 66 years), underwent endoscopic nipple sparing mastectomy (E-NSM group) and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction. The other 51 patients aged (39.9±7.8) years (range: 25 to 54 years) underwent conventional open surgery (C-NSM group). Short-term surgical outcomes including operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume in 2 days were recorded. Patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Postoperative prothesis-related complications were investigated to determine the experience to deal with them.Results:No postoperative prosthesis-related infection, prosthesis loss, or necrosis of the nipple-areola complex occurred in the E-NSM group, while 1 patient suffered from hematoma, whose wound was skinned with resuture after disinfection. Five patients in the C-NSM group had prosthesis-related infection, 2 of them received prosthesis removal surgery combined with sufficient antimicrobial agent, another one underwent surgery for subcutaneous placement of the drain, as well as antimicrobial agent therapy, and the rest of them healed up only with antimicrobial agent therapy. All recovered well after treatment. One patient recovered from necrosis of the nipple-areola complex through periodic iodophor disinfection and dressing which ended in improvement of necrotic areas, another patient who had hematoma accepted the same treatment mentioned above and also healed. All the patients mentioned above are now in stable conditions. Patients in the E-NSM group had higher satisfaction with the cosmetic results of the breast prosthesis implant than those in the C-NSM group ( Z=-4.511, P<0.01). Conclusions:Both surgical approaches were proven to be safe and effective with a low rate of postoperative prosthesis-related complications. Patients in the E-NSM group were more satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction than those in the C-NSM group.

Minimal access breast surgery with the assistance of an endoscopy or robot has been an important advancement in surgical treatment in recent years. Compared to conventional open surgery, minimal access breast surgery only requires small incisions in concealed areas such as axillary fossa, avoiding visible scars on the surface of the breast, significantly improving the postoperative aesthetic appearance and patient satisfaction. With the rapid development of minimal access breast surgery, several institutions have established their own distinctive techniques. The concept of membrane anatomy in the breast, for example, has led to more natural-looking breast reconstruction following endoscopic procedures. The adoption of the reverse space dissection technique has greatly optimized the workflow of endoscopic breast cancer resection. Intraoperative navigation system for endoscopic breast-conserving surgery could allow precise localization of excision margins. Furthermore, the widespread use of the cold dissection technique for flap separation has reduced surgical duration and minimized flap damage. The emergence of unique techniques in the field of minimal access breast surgery promises to further advance and promote the adoption of minimal access breast surgery in China.

Objective:To examine the postoperative prosthesis-related complications, short-term surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction between patients who underwent endoscopic assisted versus conventional nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of 104 women with breast cancer who received nipple sparing mastectomy and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction from August 2021 to August 2022 at the Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University. They were divided into two groups according to the surgical approach. A total of 53 patients, aged (43.3±9.9) years (range: 25 to 66 years), underwent endoscopic nipple sparing mastectomy (E-NSM group) and immediate prothesis breast reconstruction. The other 51 patients aged (39.9±7.8) years (range: 25 to 54 years) underwent conventional open surgery (C-NSM group). Short-term surgical outcomes including operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume in 2 days were recorded. Patient satisfaction with breast reconstruction was compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Postoperative prothesis-related complications were investigated to determine the experience to deal with them.Results:No postoperative prosthesis-related infection, prosthesis loss, or necrosis of the nipple-areola complex occurred in the E-NSM group, while 1 patient suffered from hematoma, whose wound was skinned with resuture after disinfection. Five patients in the C-NSM group had prosthesis-related infection, 2 of them received prosthesis removal surgery combined with sufficient antimicrobial agent, another one underwent surgery for subcutaneous placement of the drain, as well as antimicrobial agent therapy, and the rest of them healed up only with antimicrobial agent therapy. All recovered well after treatment. One patient recovered from necrosis of the nipple-areola complex through periodic iodophor disinfection and dressing which ended in improvement of necrotic areas, another patient who had hematoma accepted the same treatment mentioned above and also healed. All the patients mentioned above are now in stable conditions. Patients in the E-NSM group had higher satisfaction with the cosmetic results of the breast prosthesis implant than those in the C-NSM group ( Z=-4.511, P<0.01). Conclusions:Both surgical approaches were proven to be safe and effective with a low rate of postoperative prosthesis-related complications. Patients in the E-NSM group were more satisfied with the cosmetic results of breast reconstruction than those in the C-NSM group.

Objective:To compare the short-term clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction of single-port assisted endoscopic breast-conserving surgery versus open approach in the treatment of female breast cancer patients.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 129 female breast cancer patients admitted to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University from March 2022 to June 2023. In this study, 56 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery assisted by single-port endoscopy (endoscopic group) and 73 patients underwent conventional open breast-conserving surgery (conventional group).Results:Compared to the conventional group (73 cases), the endoscopic group (56 cases) had slightly longer operation time [(200.0±43.2) min vs. (185.3±56.5) min] and intraoperative blood loss [(34.0±25.4) ml vs. (27.2±21.8) ml, P>0.05]. The endoscopic group had a significantly shorter surgical incision length than the conventional group [(4.7±0.7) cm vs. (8.0±1.1) cm, P<0.05], the difference in postoperative tumor margin was not significant (endoscopic group: 3.5% vs. conventional group: 5.7%, P>0.05). In terms of postoperative complications, the endoscopic group had a significantly lower incidence of radiation-related skin reactions than the conventional group ( P<0.05). The endoscopic group had a higher satisfaction rate in terms of postoperative aesthetics (73.2% vs. 56.2%, P<0.05). Conclusions:The short-term clinical efficacy of breast-conserving surgery for female breast cancer by single-port assisted endoscopy is not inferior to that of conventional open breast-conserving surgery, with added better cosmetic results.

Objective:To investigate the differences between Tanner-Whitehouse (TW)3-Carpal and TW3-RUS(radius, ulna and short bone)-based artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted bone age assessment system using real world data.Methods:The image data of 262 children who received X-ray examination of left wrist in the Affiliated Children′s Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from July to September 2021 were retrospectively collected. The AI bone age assistant methods based on TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal criteria were used to obtain the bone age results, respectively. Two senior pediatric radiologists evaluated the bone age on the basis of TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal criteria, and the averaged values of two reviewers was calculated and taken as the gold standard reference. The cases were stratified into six age groups at 3-year intervals according to the gold standard reference, including 1-3 ( n=10), 4-6 ( n=35), 7-9 ( n=70), 10-12 ( n=118), 13-15 ( n=27) and 16-18 ( n=2) years old groups. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the consistency between AI results and the gold standard bone age results. Pearson correlation method was used to measure the reliability between AI results and the gold standard results. The difference of bone age results between using TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal criteria in different age groups was compared using paired t-test. Results:As for the whole sample, the results based on TW3-RUS criteria were 8.9±3.1 years old for AI assessment and 8.7±2.9 years old for the golden standard reference, with the ICC of 0.983; and the results based on TW3-Carpal criteria were 8.7±3.0 years old for AI and 8.8±2.8 years old for the golden standard reference, with the ICC of 0.976. Positive correlation were found in both TW3-RUS ( r=0.985, P<0.001) and TW3-Carpal criteria groups ( r=0.978, P<0.001). There were significant differences between TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal at age groups of 7-9( t=-3.36, P=0.001), 10-12( t=-1.77, P=0.046), and 13-15 years old ( t=1.84, P=0.040). The bone age assessment using TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal criteria were both in good agreement with the gold standard reference in age group of 4-6 years old (ICC=0.929 and 0.940), as well as in age group of 7-9 years old (ICC=0.882 and 0.927, respectively), with the results using TW3-Carpal criteria were slightly higher. As for the age groups of 10-12 and 13-15 years old, the method using TW3-RUS criteria showed excellent agreement with the gold standard reference (ICC=0.962 and 0.963, respectively), which were better than the performance of method using TW3-Carpal criteria (ICC=0.744 and 0.605, respectively). Conclusions:AI-assisted bone age system based TW3-Carpal and TW3-RUS criteria both show good reliability and accuracy in the bone age measurements. The AI method based TW3-Carpal criteria shows better performance in age group of 4-9 years old, while the method based on TW3-RUS criteria may be better for children of age 10-15 years old.

Objective:Our study aims to determine histological regression and clinical improvement after long-term antiviral therapy in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis patients.Methods:Treatment-na?ve chronic hepatitis B patients with histologically or clinically diagnosed liver cirrhosis were enrolled. Liver biopsies were performed after 5 years entecavir-based antiviral treatment. Patients were followed up every 6 months. Cirrhosis regression was evaluated based on Metavir system and P-I-R score. Clinical improvement was evaluated before and after the long-term treatment. Kruskal Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used for continuous variables, Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables and multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression analysis.Results:Totals of 73 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis were enrolled. Among them, 30 (41.1%) patients were biopsy proved liver cirrhosis and the remaining 43 (58.9%) cirrhotic patients were diagnosed by clinical features. Based on Metavir system and P-I-R score, 72.6% (53/73) patients attained histological regression. Furthermore, 30.1% (22/73) were defined as significant regression (Metavir decrease ≥2 stage), 42.5% (31/73) were mild regression (Metavir decrease 1 stage or predominantly regressive by P-I-R system if still cirrhosis after treatment) and 27.4% (20/73) were the non-regression. Compared to levels of clinical characteristics at baseline, HBV DNA, ALT, AST, liver stiffness(decreased from 12.7 to 6.4 kPa in significant regression, from 18.1 to 7.3 kPa in mild regression and from 21.4 to 11.2 kPa in non-regression)and Ishak-HAI score significantly decreased after 5 years of anti-HBV treatment, while serum levels of platelets and albumin improved remarkably ( P<0.05). In multivariate analysis, only the pre-treatment liver stiffness level was associated with significant regression ( OR=0.887, 95% CI: 0.802-0.981, P=0.020). Conclusions:After long-term antiviral therapy, patients with HBV-related cirrhosis are easily to attain improvements in clinical parameters, while a certain percentage of these patients still cannot achieve histological reversal.