The periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a crucial role in transmitting and dispersing occlusal force, acting as mechanoreceptor for muscle activity during chewing, as well as mediating orthodontic tooth movement. It transforms mechanical stimuli into biological signals, influencing alveolar bone remodeling. Recent research has delved deeper into the biological and mechanical aspects of PDL, emphasizing the importance of understanding its structure and mechanical properties comprehensively. This review focuses on the latest findings concerning both macro- and micro- structural aspects of the PDL, highlighting its mechanical characteristics and factors that influence them. Moreover, it explores the mechanotransduction mechanisms of PDL cells under mechanical forces. Structure-mechanics-mechanotransduction interplay in PDL has been integrated ultimately. By providing an up-to-date overview of our understanding on PDL at various scales, this study lays the foundation for further exploration into PDL-related biomechanics and mechanobiology.
Periodontal Ligament/cytology* ; Humans ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Mechanotransduction, Cellular/physiology* ; Stress, Mechanical

Background::Hypothermia therapy has been suggested to attenuate myocardial necrosis; however, the clinical implementation as a valid therapeutic strategy has failed, and new approaches are needed to translate into clinical applications. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a novel selective intracoronary hypothermia (SICH) device in mitigating myocardial reperfusion injury.Methods::This study comprised two phases. The first phase of the SICH was performed in a normal porcine model for 30 minutes ( n = 5) to evaluate its feasibility. The second phase was conducted in a porcine myocardial infarction (MI) model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion which was performed by balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes and maintained for 42 days. Pigs in the hypothermia group ( n = 8) received hypothermia intervention onset reperfusion for 30 minutes and controls ( n = 8) received no intervention. All animals were followed for 42 days. Cardiac magnetic resonance analysis (five and 42 days post-MI) and a series of biomarkers/histological studies were performed. Results::The average time to lower temperatures to a steady state was 4.8 ± 0.8 s. SICH had no impact on blood pressure or heart rate and was safely performed without complications by using a 3.9 F catheter. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were lower at 60 min post perfusion in pigs that underwent SICH as compared with the control group. On day 5 post MI/R, edema, intramyocardial hemorrhage, and microvascular obstruction were reduced in the hypothermia group. On day 42 post MI/R, the infarct size, IL-6, CRP, BNP, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were reduced, and the ejection fraction was improved in pigs that underwent SICH.Conclusions::The SICH device safely and effectively reduced the infarct size and improved heart function in a pig model of MI/R. These beneficial effects indicate the clinical potential of SICH for treatment of myocardial reperfusion injury.

Objective:To investigate the causal relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (betaine, carnitine, and choline) and pancreatic diseases based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:Genome-wide association study data of TMAO, betaine, carnitine, choline, acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and circulating immune cell characteristics (white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were collected. According to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-MR reporting guidelines, the available genetic variants [single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] were strictly screened. The causal relationship between exposure (TMAO and its precursors) and outcomes (pancreatic diseases and circulating immune cell characteristics) was evaluated using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median. The reliability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis based on MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, Cochrane's Q test and leave-one-out method. Results:A total of 36 SNP associated with TMAO and its precursors were included. Five of these were associated with TMAO, 13 with betaine, 12 with carnitine, and 6 with choline. ① MR analysis showed that TMAO may increase the risk of AP [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.100, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.008-1.200, P = 0.032], and choline may reduce the risk of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP; OR = 0.743, 95% CI was 0.585-0.944, P = 0.015). The analysis results of MR-Egger regression and weighted median were consistent with the IVW results. There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between TMAO and its precursors and the risk of CP and PC. Sensitivity analysis indicated that SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and low pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. ② There was a positive causal relationship between plasma TMAO level and circulating monocyte count ( OR = 1.017, 95% CI was 1.000*-1.034, P = 0.048, * represented that the data was obtained by correcting to 3 decimal places from 1.000 1). The causal effect obtained by MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis was consistent with the results of IVW. Sensitivity analysis illustrated SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. Conclusion:TMAO and choline may change the risk of AP, and TMAO may contribute to the increase of circulating monocyte count in AP.

More and more evidence shows that there is a close relationship between the inflammatory state and coronary heart disease. Inflammatory state triggers the damage of vascular endothelium in the early stage of coronary heart disease and ultimately mediates the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. The mechanism of occurrence and development of heart disease is of great significance. Phlegm is a pathological product formed by the subtle imbalance of the spleen and stomach in the transportation and transformation of water and grain. It is the general summary of a series of abnormally accumulated inflammatory substances， such as low density lipoprotein， inflammatory cells， and inflammatory factors. The nature of Phlegm determines the invasiveness and turbidity of Phlegm. Phlegm invades the meridians， causing damage to the meridians and gradually accumulating， which eventually causes the local meridian damage to aggravate. This process is similar to the persistent damage of the vascular endothelium caused by inflammation. Phlegm blocks the meridians， affects the operation of Qi and blood， causes Qi stagnation and blood stasis， and finally forms the outcome of heart and blood stasis. This process is similar to the mechanism of atherosclerotic plaques formed by continuous inflammatory damage. Heart blood stasis， depression and heat， heat toxin endogenous， forming the syndrome of heat toxin stasis， which is similar to the process of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis causing acute cardiovascular events.The formation of Phlegm is rooted in the deficiency of spleen. Based on the ''phlegm，stasis，toxin'' theory， spleen deficiency is the intrinsic pathogenesis of the inflammatory state of coronary heart disease， and the invasion of phlegm， blood stasis of heart， heat and blood stasis are the evolution of inflammatory damage of coronary heart disease. Traditional Chinese medicine differentiation and treatment is based on strengthening the spleen and nourishing Qi to treat the root and removing phlegm and blood stasis， and clearing heat and detoxifying to treat symptoms. The related Chinese medicine compounds， Chinese patent medicines， and single Chinese medicines can reduce the inflammatory indicators of coronary heart disease， thereby improving the prognosis of coronary heart disease.

Post-stroke fatigue is one of the common symptoms of stroke patients. Continuous fatigue will affect the rehabilitation of patients' limb functions, lead to the decline of daily living ability, and at the same time, make patients lack energy, lose the initiative of rehabilitation exercise, and seriously affect the quality of life and social function. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, evaluation scales, influencing factors, pathophysiological mechanism and treatment of post-stroke fatigue.

Objective To measure the sagittal anatomical parameters of the spine and pelvis based on EOS imaging system, and to evaluate the stress of the lower lumbar spine by finite element analysis (FEA). Methods A total of 44 subjects examined by EOS imaging system were included, including 11 sacral lumbar vertebra patients and 33 normal subjects. The sagittal plane parameters of lumbar lordosis (LL), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT) and sacral slope (SS) were measured and compared in both groups. Pearson test was used to analyze the correlation between PI and LL in the two groups. At the same time, the finite element model of the lower lumbar vertebra was established. The stress condition of the lumbar spine model during forward bending, backward extension and left and right bending was evaluated by FEA method. Results The differences of PI, PT, SS and LL between the two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The correlation study found that there was a positive correlation between the two groups of subjects' PI and LL, including the lumbarization group (r = 0.69, P<0.05) and the normal group (r = 0.52, P<0.05). Under the conditions of forward bending, backward stretching, left bending and right bending, the bending moment of the model was 2 Nmm, and the stress concentration gradually decreased from bottom to top. The maximum stress concentration point was located at the lower articular process. Conclusion The physiological curvature and stress distribution of the lumbar spine in lumbarization population were different than normal, especially the stress concentration of the transitional intervertebral disc and articular process joint was obvious, and early degeneration of the spine was easy to occur.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is the subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with high heterogeneity and invasiveness. Though most ENKTCL patients are present as early-stage at diagnosis, clinical prognosis significantly differs due to the limitations of clinical staging. Radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT) are the first-line treatments for early ENKTCL patients. However, there is no consensus on the combined modalities of RT and CT, and their optimal strategy. With the continuous renewal of clinical staging and prognostic models, early-stage ENKTCL patients tend to accept risk-adapted treatment with proper stratification. In this review, the latest research progresses on clinical staging, prognostic models and treatment were retrospectively analyzed, aiming to provide references for clinical decision-making.

Objective To investigate the anti-HBs level in 15 years after vaccination in adults and newborns in Beijing and provide the suggestion for the adult hepatitis B (HB) immunization plan.Methods A serological survey was conducted in 6 705 subjects aged > 1 year old by multistage randomized cluster sampling in Beijing during August 2013 to February 2014.The subjects who had received a 3-dose recombination HB vaccine when they were newborns or adults aged ≥15 years old and did not undergo revaccination were selected.Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) titers and positive rates in 15 years after vaccination were evaluated.Results A total of 129 and 463 subjects who were vaccinated in adults and newborns were enrolled in the study.Based on the self-limited rate(30%) of HBV infection among the general population aged 15 to 59 years, anti-HBs positive rates for the subjects vaccinated in adults were estimated to be 58.6%,62.5 % and 48.4% during 0-4, 5-9 and 10-15years after vaccination respectively.The corresponding median of anti-HBs titers were 288.8, 120.6 and 62.6 mIU/mL.The anti-HBs positive rates for the subjects vaccinated in newborns during 0-4, 5-9 and 10-15 years after vaccination were 83.3%, 47.3% and 43.5%, respectively.The corresponding anti-HBs titers were 71.8, 8.9 and 6.7 mIU/mL.Conclusions The protection afforded by primary immunization with recombination vaccine in adults and newborns lasts at least 15 years.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)is a non-coding RNA which lacks a complete open reading frame (ORF)and plays an important role in biological processes such as cell proliferation,differentiation and apoptosis. At present,expression of lncRNA has been found to be abnormal in inflammatory reaction and inflammatory diseases. It might be involved in the development and progression of inflammatory diseases via regulating the expression of multiple genes and activation of signaling pathways. This article reviewed the progress in study on relationship between lncRNA and inflammatory diseases.

Anxiety is usually generated because of the threatened feeling. The data of electrocardio, respiration, blood volume pulse and skin conductance signals were collected. The arithmetic of Relief were used for the feature selection and combined with k-Nearest Neighbor (kNN) arithmetic and Support Vector Machine (SVM) arithmetic for classification. The results show that the combination of Relief-SVM is better than combination of Relief-kNN on the recognition of anxiety state. The emotion recognition based on multi-physiological signals is superior to that based on one single signal.
Algorithms ; Anxiety ; Artificial Intelligence ; Humans ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; Support Vector Machine