In today's society， depression is a kind of highly prevalent chronic mental illness. It leads to a high disability rate and a heavy economic burden. Depression is defined by fundamental symptoms of low mood and diminished pleasure. Its causes and mechanisms remain unclear， and it presents a broad spectrum of symptoms and a persistent nature that significantly impacts both physical and mental well-being. Treatment in Western medicine primarily focuses on alleviating symptoms， yet it entails numerous adverse effects and contraindications. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment is based on resolving depression， which is often accompanied by soothing liver， and the key medicine is Bupleuri Radix. Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions refer to a class of prescriptions using Bupleuri Radix as the sovereign medicinal or having a high dose of Bupleuri Radix， which are widely used in the field of anti-depression. Previous studies from animal experiments， clinical research， and modern pharmacological research have confirmed that Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions have precise anti-depression efficacy in multiple ways and at multiple levels， but lack a comprehensive and systematic summarization. This paper summarized and analyzed the literature related to the clinical application and mechanism of action of Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions in anti-depression treatment. The results showed that the anti-depression mechanism of the Bupleuri Radix associated prescriptions （such as Xiaochaihu Tang， Xiaoyao San， Sini San， Chaihu Shugan San， and Chaihu jia Longgu Muli San） was associated with the effects of regulating monoamine neurotransmitters， the brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）， intestinal flora， and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis， inhibiting inflammatory responses， and modulating related signaling pathways. Applying them in clinical practice can effectively alleviate patient symptoms， lower the TCM syndrome score and the severity of depression， and also reduce adverse reactions. This underscores advantages of TCM in depression treatment， which offers patients a secure， effective， and more individualized alternative treatment regimen. On this basis， the shortcomings of current studies and the future trend were analyzed. This study aimed to provide an evidence-based medicine basis for the research and development of novel antidepressant medications.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is characterized by high mortality and recurrence rates. Common treatments include hepatectomy, liver transplantation, ablation therapy, interventional therapy, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). While exhibiting specific advantages, these approaches are associated with varying degrees of adverse effects. To alleviate patients' suffering and burdens, it is crucial to explore additional treatments and elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC, laying a foundation for the development of new TCM-based drugs. With emerging research on gut microbiota, it has been revealed that microbiota plays a vital role in the development of HCC by influencing intestinal barrier function, microbial metabolites, and immune regulation. TCM, with its multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics, has been increasingly recognized as a vital therapeutic treatment for HCC, particularly in patients at intermediate or advanced stages, by prolonging survival and improving quality of life. Recent global studies demonstrate that TCM exerts anti-HCC effects by modulating gut microbiota, restoring intestinal barrier function, regulating microbial composition and its metabolites, suppressing inflammation, and enhancing immune responses, thereby inhibiting the malignant phenotype of HCC. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of HCC and highlight the regulatory effects of TCM, addressing the current gap in systematic understanding of the "TCM-gut microbiota-HCC" axis. The findings provide theoretical support for integrating TCM with western medicine in HCC treatment and promote the transition from basic research to precision clinical therapy through microbiota-targeted drug development and TCM-based interventions.
Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology* ; Liver Neoplasms/microbiology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVES: To study the incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China from 1990 to 2021 and to predict the incidence of congenital birth defects in this population from 2022 to 2036, providing a reference for the prevention of congenital birth defects in children. METHODS: Using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) database, the incidence and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were employed to describe the disease burden. The Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the trends in incidence and DALY rates of congenital birth defects in children under five. A grey prediction model GM(1,1) was applied to fit the trend of incidence rates of congenital birth defects in this age group and to predict the incidence from 2022 to 2036. RESULTS: In 2021, the incidence rate of congenital birth defects among children under five in China was 737.28 per 100 000. Among these, congenital musculoskeletal and limb deformities had the highest incidence rate at 307.15 per 100 000, followed by congenital heart defects (223.53 per 100 000), congenital urinary and genital tract malformations (74.99 per 100 000), and congenital gastrointestinal malformations (62.61 per 100 000). From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate and DALY rate of congenital birth defects in children under five in China decreased at an average annual rate of 1.73% and 5.42%, respectively. The prediction analysis indicated a decreasing trend in the incidence of congenital birth defects among children under five in China from 2022 to 2036, with the incidence rate dropping from 892.36 per 100 000 in 2022 to 783.35 per 100 000 in 2036. CONCLUSIONS The incidence and disease burden of congenital birth defects in children under five in China showed a significant declining trend from 1990 to 2021. It is predicted that this incidence will continue to decrease until 2036.
Humans ; Congenital Abnormalities/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Male ; Forecasting ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years

Patients with periodontal disease often require combined periodontal-orthodontic interventions to restore periodontal health, function, and aesthetics, ensuring both patient satisfaction and long-term stability. Managing these patients involving orthodontic tooth movement can be particularly challenging due to compromised periodontal soft and hard tissues, especially in severe cases. Therefore, close collaboration between orthodontists and periodontists for comprehensive diagnosis and sequential treatment, along with diligent patient compliance throughout the entire process, is crucial for achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Moreover, long-term orthodontic retention and periodontal follow-up are essential to sustain treatment success. This expert consensus, informed by the latest clinical research and practical experience, addresses clinical considerations for orthodontic treatment of periodontal patients, delineating indications, objectives, procedures, and principles with the aim of providing clear and practical guidance for clinical practitioners.
Humans ; Consensus ; Orthodontics, Corrective/standards* ; Periodontal Diseases/complications* ; Tooth Movement Techniques/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Tumor cell-intrinsic programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) signals mediate tumor initiation, progression and metastasis, but their effects in ameloblastoma (AM) have not been reported. In this comprehensive study, we observed marked upregulation of PD-L1 in AM tissues and revealed the robust correlation between elevated PD-L1 expression and increased tumor growth and recurrence rates. Notably, we found that PD-L1 overexpression markedly increased self-renewal capacity and promoted tumorigenic processes and invasion in hTERT⁺-AM cells, whereas genetic ablation of PD-L1 exerted opposing inhibitory effects. By performing high-resolution single-cell profiling and thorough immunohistochemical analyses in AM patients, we delineated the intricate cellular landscape and elucidated the mechanisms underlying the aggressive phenotype and unfavorable prognosis of these tumors. Our findings revealed that hTERT⁺-AM cells with upregulated PD-L1 expression exhibit increased proliferative potential and stem-like attributes and undergo partial epithelial‒mesenchymal transition. This phenotypic shift is induced by the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis; thus, this study revealed a crucial regulatory mechanism that fuels tumor growth and recurrence. Importantly, targeted inhibition of the PD-L1-PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling axis significantly suppressed the growth of AM patient-derived tumor organoids, highlighting the potential of PD-L1 blockade as a promising therapeutic approach for AM.
Ameloblastoma/metabolism* ; Humans ; B7-H1 Antigen/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Signal Transduction ; Cell Proliferation ; Up-Regulation ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Telomerase/metabolism* ; Jaw Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Male

Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans ; Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects* ; Consensus ; Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*

Objective To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of miR-15b-5p on hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R)induced human renal tubular epithelial cell(HK-2)injury by targeting forkhead box O1(FOXO1).Methods HK-2 cells in the log growth phase were set up as follows:(1)control group(normal culture)and H/R group(H/R induced culture).The expressions of miR-15b-5p and FOXO1 mRNA were detected using qRT-PCR,and the protein expression of FOXO1 was detected using Western blotting.(2)Control group(normal culture),H/R group(H/R induced culture),H/R+mimic control group(cells transfected with mimic control then induced by H/R),H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic group(cells transfected with miR-15b-5p mimic then induced by H/R),H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic+OE-NC group(cells co-transfected with miR-15b-5p mimic and OE-NC plasmid,then induced by H/R),and H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic+OE-FOXO1 group(cells co-transfected with miR-15b-5p mimic and FOXO1 overexpression plasmid,then induced by H/R).The expression of miR-15b-5p was detected using qRT-PCR,and the protein expressions of FOXO1,cleaved caspase-3,Bax,and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting.CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability.Cell apoptosis was measured by the TUNEL method.(3)Control group(normal culture),H/R group(H/R induced culture),H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic group(cells transfected with miR-15b-5p mimic then induced by H/R),and H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic+OE-FOXO1 group(cells co-transfected with miR-15b-5p mimic and FOXO1 overexpression plasmid,then induced by H/R).The protein expressions of LC3,p62 and Beclin1 were detected using Western blotting.LC3 immunofluorescence was used to detect the cell autophagy.The target reaction between miR-15b-5p and FOXO1 was assessed using dual luciferase reporting assay.Results Under an inverted microscope,it was observed that the control group had a higher number of cells,most of which were in a typical cobblestone shape and grew in a cobblestone-like manner;most of the cells in the H/R group contracted and became round,with a significant decrease in the number of adherent cells.In H/R-induced HK-2 cells,miR-15b-5p was significantly down-regulated,while miRNA and protein expression of FOXO1 was up-regulated(P<0.05).Luciferase assay results showed that miR-15b-5p directly targeted the 3'-UTR of FOXO1.Overexpression of miR-15b-5p increased cell viability,reduced cell apoptosis,and decreased autophagy in H/R-induced HK-2 cells(P<0.05).Compared with H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic group,the viability of HK-2 cells was decreased,the apoptosis and autophagy level were increased in H/R+miR-15b-5p mimic+OE-FOXO1 group(P<0.05).Conclusion miR-15b-5p inhibited autophagy and alleviated H/R-induced HK-2 cell injury by targeting FOXO1.

In black tea,theaflavins (TFs) are one important class of substances that determine sensory quality and have significant medicinal activities. In addition to the four kinds of common TFs,there may be many other theaflavin analogues (TFAs) with similar chemical structures in tea,but the study on them is very limited. Based on the characteristic sub-structure,mass spectrometry (MS) and MS/MS information,a method for screening and annotation of TFAs from the complex ultra high performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) data was proposed in this work. By analyzing the oxidation and polymerization process of a few TFs,the theoretical reaction model of TFs were summarized,which was used to calculate the precursor ion values of potential TFAs. Meanwhile,the diagnostic fragmentation ions and neutral loss of TFAs according to the fragmentation pathways obtained from chemical standards or documented in literatures were summarized. As a result,36 kinds of compounds were successfully annotated based on the calculated precursor ion values and the MS fragmentation patterns,among which 6 kinds of compounds were reported for the first time in tea. In vitro synthesis experiments were carried out to verified the annotation results. Based on the results of quantitation of 36 kinds of TFAs,a partial least squares-discriminant analysis model was used to investigate the changes of these components during black tea manufacturing. The results indicated that these novel TFAs could be used to effectively distinguish the black tea samples before and after fermentation.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of thyroid globulin antibody(TgAb)and thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb)in the diagnosis and treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC).Methods A total of 346 patients with thyroid nodules who underwent surgical treatment in the hospital from August 2012 to October 2021 were selected as the research objects.According to the postoperative pathologi-cal results,the patients were divided into the benign nodule group,PTMC group and non-micro papillary thy-roid carcinoma(PTC)group.The general data of the patients and thyroid function indexes[free triiodothyro-nine(FT3),free tetraiodothyronine(FT4),thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),TgAb and TPOAb]before and after operation were collected,the tumor recurrence or lymph node metastasis after operation were ob-served,and the relationship between serum TgAb and TPOAb and the risk and prognosis of PTMC was ana-lyzed.Results The positivity rate of TgAb in the PTMC and non-micro PTC groups was significantly higher than that in the benign nodule group(P<0.05).The TPOAb positivity rate was not significantly different among the three groups(P>0.05).Only the TSH level in the PTMC group was higher than that in the non-micro PTC group(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic analysis showed that younger age,higher TSH and positive TgAb were independent risk factors for PTMC and non-micro PTC(P<0.05).However,the risk of PTC didn't increase with increasing TgAb titres.The positivity rate of TgAb in the PTMC and non-micro PTC groups didn't change significantly within one month after operation,but decreased in one year after operation(P<0.05).The TPOAb positivity rate decreased after operation,but the difference was not statistically sig-nificant(P>0.05).In the PTMC group,four cases had tumor recurrence or lymph node metastasis,and the TgAb level increased by 88.4%,49.5%,5.7%and 84.0%respectively when the tumor recurred or metasta-sized.Among them,the TPOAb level increased by 51.6%,30.0%and 2.9%respectively in three cases and decreased by 53.9%in one case.In the PTMC group,there were 11 patients with cervical lymph node enlarge-ment,and there was no statistical difference in TgAb and TPOAb levels when the condition changed(P>0.05).Conclusion TgAb is a risk factor for PTMC,and can be followed up regularly during the diagnosis and treatment of PTMC.The specificity of TPOAb is not as good as that of TgAb,and appropriate follow-up can be chosen during the course of the disease.