Geriatric oral health care encounters significant challenges with the increase in the proportion of older individuals. Age-related changes in the dentition, muscles, and joints result in a decline in objective masticatory function, subjective restoration requirements, and acceptability among the elderly population, with individual variations influenced by systemic health. Considering functional requirements, the adaptability of stomatognathic and systemic health conditions, health economics and other factors, the authors believe that it should not be limited to the conventional "one-to-one" strategy for replacing missing teeth in geriatric prosthodontics. There is an urgent need for a precise and adaptable restoration strategy that is more suitable for older individuals. The proposal of a new concept of functional tooth loss updates the minimal restoration standards for elderly patients and establishes the theory of age-friendly functional restoration. Based on the restoration strategy of functional tooth loss, this paper proposes a new concept termed "age-friendly functional restoration of the stomatognathic system", which integrates treatment considerations including endodontics, periodontology, mucosa, muscles, temporomandibular joint, and systemic health. Efforts should be made in four areas as follows. Firstly, the "assessment of accessible function" should be enhanced by considering the interrelationship between stomatognathic and systemic health. Secondly, the "evaluation of appropriate function" is supposed to be optimised in view of subjective needs and objective evaluation of the stomatognathic system. Moreover, the "formulation of treatment plans" needs to be accomplished with the aid of assistive technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to accurately exert appropriate functional restoration. Lastly, the "management and maintenance of health" is likely to be strengthened through follow-ups, propaganda and education, and preventive healthcare, so as to improve quality of life and ultimately achieve healthy ageing among older individuals.
Humans ; Tooth Loss/therapy* ; Aged ; Stomatognathic System ; Oral Health ; Dental Care for Aged ; Dental Restoration, Permanent/methods*

Objective To compare the accuracy of the original-mirror alignment algorithm and a landmark-indepen-dent method in constructing the midsagittal plane(MSP)of the cone beam computed tomography in patients with facial deformities,so as to provide a theoretical basis for symmetric analysis.Methods The study was approved by the hospi-tal ethics committee.Cone beam computed tomography data of 30 patients with facial deformities were obtained,and the output was saved in DICOM format.The scan data were imported into Mimics 21.0;after segmentation,three-dimension-al(3D)skull models were reconstructed.Furthermore,the 3D scan data of skulls were transformed into mirror skull models using Geomagic Studio 2014 reverse engineering software.The MSP of each skull was generated using both the original-mirror alignment algorithm and the landmark-independent method.Original-mirror alignment algorithm:the original skull model and its mirror model were combined,and the new data to calculate the MSP(S1)of the original data in Geomagic Studio 2014 were obtained.Landmark-independent method:the following anatomical landmarks were deter-mined using Mimics 21.0:nasion(N),crista galli(CG),sella(S),basion(Ba),vomer(V),posterior nasal spine(PNS),in-cisive foramen(IF),and anterior nasal spine(ANS).The MSP(S2)of best fit was then found by minimizing the mean square distance of these eight anatomical landmarks to a plane in Geomagic Studio 2014.The results of the S1 and S2 models constructed using the original-mirror alignment algorithm and the landmark-independent method,respectively,were scored subjectively by five senior maxillofacial surgeons,and a paired t-test was performed for the two groups.The internal consistency analysis was performed based on secondary experiments to verify the repeatability of the expert evaluation method.Results The average scores of the S1 and S2 models were 65.73 and 75.90,respectively.The aver-age score of the model constructed using the landmark-independent method was significantly higher than that of the model constructed using the original-mirror alignment algorithm(P＜0.01).Furthermore,the results of the internal con-sistency analysis showed that the expert evaluation method had good reliability and validity.Conclusion In patients with facial deformities,the MSP constructed using the landmark-independent method is superior to that constructed us-ing the original-mirror alignment algorithm.This study provides a theoretical basis for maxillofacial symmetry analysis in clinical settings and is clinically feasible.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and value of performing a three-sided encapsulation procedure based on fascia anatomy in laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) for middle and low rectal cancer.Methods:This was a retrospective review. The study cohort comprised patients who met the diagnostic criteria for rectal cancer according to the Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer, had a short lymph node diameter of >5 mm on the lateral side within the 15 days before surgery, were evaluated as feasible candidates for laparoscopic total mesorectal excision+LLND surgery, had been diagnosed with low or intermediate level rectal cancer, and whose tumor was less than 8 cm away from the anal verge according to pathological examination of the operative specimen. Patients with a history of other malignant tumors of the abdomen or with incomplete follow-up data were excluded. Forty-two patients with middle and low rectal cancer who had undergone lateral lymph node dissection in diagnosis and treatment center of Gastrointestinal Cancer of Guangdong Hospital of Chinese Medicine from Jan.2018 to Dec.2022 were enrolled. There were 24 men (57.1%) and 18 women (42.9%) aged 58.4±11.8 years and the median BMI was 22.5 (19.3–24.1) kg/m 2. The main point of the three-sided encapsulation procedure is to expand the external side medial to the external iliac artery and vein, narrowing the range of exterior side dissection. The anterior-medial side is designed to expand the vesical fascia to define the range of anterior-medial side extension. The internal side is fully extended to the ureterohypogastric nerve fascia; the distal point of the caudal extension reaches the level of the Alcock canal and the bottom reaches the piriformis, enabling dissection of the obturator nerve and No.283 lymph nodes. No.263D lymph nodes are dissected by exposing the internal iliac artery and its branches, dissecting the group No.263P lymph nodes, and severing the inferior vesical artery. Finally, the lateral lymphatic tissue is completely resected. Relevant variables were recorded, including the number of lateral lymph nodes detected, the rate of lymph node metastasis, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, and 3-year overall survival rate. Results:Laparoscopic surgery was successfully completed in all patients with no conversions to open surgery and no intraoperative complications. Twenty-seven (64.3%) of the study patients underwent left-sided LLND, 10 (23.8%) right-sided LLND, and five (11.9%) bilateral LLND, with lymph nodes cleared on both sides. All patients' lymph nodes were examined pathologically. A median of 17.0 (11.7, 26.0) lymph nodes was detected, the median of lateral lymph nodes being 5.0 (2.0, 10.2). The median operation time was 254.5 (199.0, 325.2) minutes. The median intra-operative blood loss was 50.0 (30.0, 100.0) mL. All patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma by pathological examination of the operative specimen. Two patients developed postoperative intestinal obstruction, one lymphatic leakage, and one a perineal incision infection. There were no cases of anastomotic leakage. The median postoperative hospital stay was 6.0 (5.0, 7.0) days and the median follow-up time 23.5 (9.0, 36.7) months. During follow-up, three patients (7.1%) died of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Two (4.8%) experienced mild urinary dysfunction, and one (2.4%) had moderate postoperative erectile dysfunction. One patient (2.4%) was found to have prostate and lung metastases 3 month after surgery. The 3-year overall survival rate was 74.4%.Conclusions:Three sided encapsulation is a safe and feasible procedure for LLND, achieving accurate and complete clearance of lateral lymphatic tissue.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and value of performing a three-sided encapsulation procedure based on fascia anatomy in laparoscopic lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) for middle and low rectal cancer.Methods:This was a retrospective review. The study cohort comprised patients who met the diagnostic criteria for rectal cancer according to the Chinese Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer, had a short lymph node diameter of >5 mm on the lateral side within the 15 days before surgery, were evaluated as feasible candidates for laparoscopic total mesorectal excision+LLND surgery, had been diagnosed with low or intermediate level rectal cancer, and whose tumor was less than 8 cm away from the anal verge according to pathological examination of the operative specimen. Patients with a history of other malignant tumors of the abdomen or with incomplete follow-up data were excluded. Forty-two patients with middle and low rectal cancer who had undergone lateral lymph node dissection in diagnosis and treatment center of Gastrointestinal Cancer of Guangdong Hospital of Chinese Medicine from Jan.2018 to Dec.2022 were enrolled. There were 24 men (57.1%) and 18 women (42.9%) aged 58.4±11.8 years and the median BMI was 22.5 (19.3–24.1) kg/m 2. The main point of the three-sided encapsulation procedure is to expand the external side medial to the external iliac artery and vein, narrowing the range of exterior side dissection. The anterior-medial side is designed to expand the vesical fascia to define the range of anterior-medial side extension. The internal side is fully extended to the ureterohypogastric nerve fascia; the distal point of the caudal extension reaches the level of the Alcock canal and the bottom reaches the piriformis, enabling dissection of the obturator nerve and No.283 lymph nodes. No.263D lymph nodes are dissected by exposing the internal iliac artery and its branches, dissecting the group No.263P lymph nodes, and severing the inferior vesical artery. Finally, the lateral lymphatic tissue is completely resected. Relevant variables were recorded, including the number of lateral lymph nodes detected, the rate of lymph node metastasis, operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay, and 3-year overall survival rate. Results:Laparoscopic surgery was successfully completed in all patients with no conversions to open surgery and no intraoperative complications. Twenty-seven (64.3%) of the study patients underwent left-sided LLND, 10 (23.8%) right-sided LLND, and five (11.9%) bilateral LLND, with lymph nodes cleared on both sides. All patients' lymph nodes were examined pathologically. A median of 17.0 (11.7, 26.0) lymph nodes was detected, the median of lateral lymph nodes being 5.0 (2.0, 10.2). The median operation time was 254.5 (199.0, 325.2) minutes. The median intra-operative blood loss was 50.0 (30.0, 100.0) mL. All patients were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma by pathological examination of the operative specimen. Two patients developed postoperative intestinal obstruction, one lymphatic leakage, and one a perineal incision infection. There were no cases of anastomotic leakage. The median postoperative hospital stay was 6.0 (5.0, 7.0) days and the median follow-up time 23.5 (9.0, 36.7) months. During follow-up, three patients (7.1%) died of tumor recurrence and metastasis. Two (4.8%) experienced mild urinary dysfunction, and one (2.4%) had moderate postoperative erectile dysfunction. One patient (2.4%) was found to have prostate and lung metastases 3 month after surgery. The 3-year overall survival rate was 74.4%.Conclusions:Three sided encapsulation is a safe and feasible procedure for LLND, achieving accurate and complete clearance of lateral lymphatic tissue.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of immune cross-reaction between herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in terms of serology and clinical protection aiming to provide data for the control and prevention of diseases caused by the two viruses.Methods:An attenuated HSV-1 strain M3 was used to immunize BALB/c mice. Specific immune responses indicated by the production of neutralizing antibodies were detected. Wild-type HSV-1 and HSV-2 strains were respectively used to infect the mice through different ways 28 d after the immunization to observe the protective immunity in the M3-immunized mice against HSV-1/2 infection.Results:M3 strain could not induce specific neutralizing antibodies against HSV-2. Therefore, viral loads in tissues of the immunized mice increased significantly following different modes of HSV-2 exposure. However, no obvious abnormal clinical manifestations were found and the histopathological damage was only slight inflammatory reaction. In contrast, HSV-1-specific neutralizing antibodies were elicited in the M3-immunizaed mice with significant protective effects against HSV-1 infection.Conclusions:The immune response induced by attenuated HSV-1 strain M3 in mice exhibited immune-protective effects characterized by production of neutralizing antibodies and inhibition of virus proliferation in vivo against wild-type HSV-1 infection. For HSV-2, instead of neutralizing virus in form of antibodies, it featured by more of clinical cross-immunoprotective abilities to control virus growth.