Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that recognizes multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated molecular patterns. It is a cytoplasmic immune factor that responds to cellular stress signals, and it is usually activated after infection or inflammation, forming an NLRP3 inflammasome to protect the body. Aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation is reportedly associated with some inflammatory diseases and metabolic diseases. Recently, there have been mounting indications that NLRP3 inflammasomes play an important role in liver injuries caused by a variety of diseases, specifically hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. Herein, we summarize new research pertaining to NLRP3 inflammasomes in hepatic injury, hepatitis, and liver failure. The review addresses the potential mechanisms of action of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and its regulation in these liver diseases.
Humans ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/physiology* ; Animals ; Liver Diseases/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*

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*

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence （AI） technology， the ethical governance of AI has gained increasing attention. The Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence was issued by the United Nations Educational， Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2021， which clarified several principles for the ethical governance of AI. In the field of rehabilitation medicine， the research and application of AI technology have significantly improved patients’ quality of life and survival. However， due to the specificity of the service population in rehabilitation medicine， which is mostly for the sick， injured， disabled， and elderly， a series of complex ethical issues have also arisen. This paper analyzed in detail the ethical issues and challenges encountered in the research and application of AI technology in the field of rehabilitation medicine from various aspects， such as informed consent， security of privacy and data， patients’ physical and mental rehabilitation， compliance regulation， protection of specific groups， and promotion of equity. According to the principles of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and others， response strategies were proposed， including multi-party collaboration and interdisciplinary cooperation， improving and refining relevant laws and regulations， strengthening ethical education across society， establishing accountability mechanisms， increasing investment， promoting equity， and other measures， to promote the healthy development of research and application of AI technology in the field of rehabilitation， as well as benefit humanity.

Objective:To observe the safety and short-term efficacy of using an autologous fascia lata sling (AFLS) for tension-free mid-urethral sling (MUS) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods:Between February 2022 and December 2023, 11 patients with SUI underwent AFLS-MUS. Preoperative data were recorded, including basic patient information and completion of urinary distress inventory 6 (UDI-6). During surgery, AFLS was harvested through a small incision using a tendon extractor, and used as a sling for transobturator or retropubic MUS. Perioperative indicators were recorded, including surgical approach, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, duration of catheterization, perioperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification), and surgical costs. Follow-ups included outpatient physical examination at 2 months postoperatively, and telephone follow-up at 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. Follow-up content included the presence or absence of urinary leakage symptoms, UDI-6, satisfaction, patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I), and complications.Results:The age of the 11 patients was (54.8±10.9) years (range: 41-72 years), with body mass index of (23.9±1.8) kg/m2 (range: 21.4-27.3 kg/m2). All patients experienced urinary leakage after coughing, sneezing and physical activity, with positive SUI provocation tests. The preoperative UDI-6 was 50.0±21.6 (range: 16.7-79.2), the result of 1-hour pad test was (18.9±12.0) g (range: 2.5-71.2 g). Four cases underwent MUS only, with operation time of (98.0±13.3) minutes (range: 86-117 minutes), and intraoperative blood loss of (17.5±5.0) ml (range: 10-20 ml); 7 cases also underwent pelvic floor repair simultaneously. The postoperative hospital stay was (3.5±2.0) days (range: 2-9 days). The duration of catheterization was (4.5±3.8) days (range: 2-11 days), with postoperative urinary retention in three cases, one of which underwent sling release surgery due to severe postoperative voiding difficulty 1 week after MUS, with no other complications of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or above. The cost of AFLS harvest plus MUS was (2 762±293) yuan. At the 2-month outpatient follow-up, all patients were free of urinary leakage symptoms, with UDI-6 of 2.3±1.9 (range: 0-8.3); satisfaction was "very satisfied" in 10 cases and "fairly satisfied" in 1 case, with PGI-I all being "much better", and pelvic examinations were normal. Telephone follow-up showed one case lost to follow-up, and the remaining 10 cases had follow-up time of (18.6±4.9) months (range: 7-26 months), all without urinary leakage, with UDI-6 of 2.7±2.6, satisfaction rated as "very satisfied", and PGI-I all "much better".Conclusion:This modified AFLS-MUS for the treatment of SUI shows good short-term efficacy and high safety in harvest site, with the need for more data accumulation and long-term follow-up.

Objective:To observe the safety and short-term efficacy of using an autologous fascia lata sling (AFLS) for tension-free mid-urethral sling (MUS) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods:Between February 2022 and December 2023, 11 patients with SUI underwent AFLS-MUS. Preoperative data were recorded, including basic patient information and completion of urinary distress inventory 6 (UDI-6). During surgery, AFLS was harvested through a small incision using a tendon extractor, and used as a sling for transobturator or retropubic MUS. Perioperative indicators were recorded, including surgical approach, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, duration of catheterization, perioperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification), and surgical costs. Follow-ups included outpatient physical examination at 2 months postoperatively, and telephone follow-up at 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. Follow-up content included the presence or absence of urinary leakage symptoms, UDI-6, satisfaction, patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I), and complications.Results:The age of the 11 patients was (54.8±10.9) years (range: 41-72 years), with body mass index of (23.9±1.8) kg/m2 (range: 21.4-27.3 kg/m2). All patients experienced urinary leakage after coughing, sneezing and physical activity, with positive SUI provocation tests. The preoperative UDI-6 was 50.0±21.6 (range: 16.7-79.2), the result of 1-hour pad test was (18.9±12.0) g (range: 2.5-71.2 g). Four cases underwent MUS only, with operation time of (98.0±13.3) minutes (range: 86-117 minutes), and intraoperative blood loss of (17.5±5.0) ml (range: 10-20 ml); 7 cases also underwent pelvic floor repair simultaneously. The postoperative hospital stay was (3.5±2.0) days (range: 2-9 days). The duration of catheterization was (4.5±3.8) days (range: 2-11 days), with postoperative urinary retention in three cases, one of which underwent sling release surgery due to severe postoperative voiding difficulty 1 week after MUS, with no other complications of Clavien-Dindo grade 2 or above. The cost of AFLS harvest plus MUS was (2 762±293) yuan. At the 2-month outpatient follow-up, all patients were free of urinary leakage symptoms, with UDI-6 of 2.3±1.9 (range: 0-8.3); satisfaction was "very satisfied" in 10 cases and "fairly satisfied" in 1 case, with PGI-I all being "much better", and pelvic examinations were normal. Telephone follow-up showed one case lost to follow-up, and the remaining 10 cases had follow-up time of (18.6±4.9) months (range: 7-26 months), all without urinary leakage, with UDI-6 of 2.7±2.6, satisfaction rated as "very satisfied", and PGI-I all "much better".Conclusion:This modified AFLS-MUS for the treatment of SUI shows good short-term efficacy and high safety in harvest site, with the need for more data accumulation and long-term follow-up.

Objective To observe the value of tissue motion mitral annular displacement(TMAD)technique to assess left ventricular function in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.Methods A total of 34 adult patients with cardiac amyloidosis diagnosed by pathology were retrospectively included as the observation group,and 32 healthy adults were collected as the control group for the same period.Basic data of the subjects were collected,and data of routine ultrasonic parameters of left ventricular function and TMAD parameters were obtained,and then compared between groups.The correlation of TMAD parameters with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)or mitral annular plane systolic excursion(MAPSE)were assessed.Results Compared with the control group,the observation group had higher levels of body surface area(BSA),systolic blood pressure,N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),creatinine and urea(all P＜0.05).The observation group had increased values of ascending aorta(AO),left atrium(LA),interventricular septum(IVS),left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole(LVPWD),pulmonary artery(PA),and early diastolic peark velocity of mitral inflow(peak E),while smaller values of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),LVEF,fractional shortening(FS),early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity E'septal(IVS E')and lateral(LW E')and MAPSE(all P＜0.05),and the LVEF in observation group was(58.18±7.09)％.For TMAD patameters,the observation group had smaller values of the following parameters on apical four chamber(A4C)view as medial displacement of mitral valve annulus(A4C MV1),displacement of lateral mitral valve annulus(A4C MV2),displacement of the midpoint of the mitral valve annulus(A4C Midpt)and the corresponding percentage(A4C Midpt％),as well as smaller values of the following paramets on apical two chamber(A2C)view as A2C MV1,A2C MV2,A2C Midpt and A2C Midpt％(all P＜0.05).In the observation group,A4C Midpt％showed a moderate positive correlation with LVEF(r=0.488,P＜0.05),and A2C Midpt showed a high positive correlation with M APSE(r=0.712,P＜0.05),and A4C MV2,A4C Midpt,A4C Midpt％,A2C MV1,A2C MV2,A2C Midpt％all showed a moderate positive correlation with MAPSE(r=0.420 to 0.691,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with LVEF,the TMAD parameters might reflect the changes in left ventricular systolic function more sensitively in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

Objective To investigate the stability of the two kinds of rat models of chronic renal failure,aiming to provide a basis for establishing a feasible and stable animal model of chronic renal failure.Methods The rat model of chronic renal failure was established by unilateral nephrectomy+adenine gavage+high-phosphorus diet and high-phosphorus+adenine diet,respectively.Erythrocyte and hemoglobin levels,serum urea and creatinine levels were detected at the end of modeling and 6 weeks after modeling,and histopathological examinations of kidney and bone were performed.The tubulointerstitial fibrosis index(TBI)and the percentage of collagen fiber area in renal tissue were calculated.Results At the end of modeling,compared with the normal group,the erythrocyte and hemoglobin in the model group 1(unilateral nephrectomy+adenine gavage+high-phosphorus)were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),the serum urea and creatinine were significantly increased(P＜0.05),TBI and the percentage of collagen fiber area in kidney tissue were slightly increased(P＜0.05),and the femur lesions were significantly increased.6 weeks after modeling,compared with the normal group,the erythrocyte and hemoglobin in model group 1 showed a slight decrease(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in serum urea and creatinine levels.The TBI and collagen fiber area percentage in renal tissue showed a slight increase(P＜0.05),and there was no obvious change in femoral lesions.At the end of the modeling,the erythrocyte and hemoglobin in the model group 2(high-phosphorus+adenine diet)were significantly decreased compared with the normal group(P＜0.05),serum urea,creatinine,TBI and the percentage of collagen fiber area in kidney tissue were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the lesions of femur were obvious.6 weeks after the end of modeling,compared with the normal group,the erythrocyte and hemoglobin in the model group 2 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),serum urea,creatinine,TBI and the percentage of collagen fiber area in kidney tissue were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the lesions of femur were obvious.6 weeks after the end of modeling,compared with the model group 1,the erythrocyte and hemoglobin in the model group 2 were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),while the serum urea,creatinine,TBI,the collagen fiber area percentage of kidney tissue and femur lesions were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusions A stable rat model of chronic renal failure can be established by high phosphorus+adenine diet.

The development,progression,and curative efficacy of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)are influenced by complex interactions between epithelial and immune cells.Nevertheless,the specific changes in the nature of these interactions and their underlying molecular mechanisms in HNSCC are not yet fully understood.Cuproptosis,a form of programmed cell death that is dependent on copper,has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis.However,the understanding of cuproptosis in the context of HNSCC remains limited.In this study,we have discovered that cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs(CRLs)known as JPX play a role in promoting the expression of the oncogene urokinase-type plasminogen activator(PLAU)by competitively binding to miR-193b-3p in HNSCC.The increased activity of the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis in malignant epithelial cells leads to enhanced cell proliferation,migration,and invasion in HNSCC.Moreover,the overexpression of PLAU in tumor epithelial cells facilitates its interaction with the receptor PLAUR,predominantly expressed on macrophages,thereby influencing the abnormal epithelial-immune interactome in HNSCC.Notably,the JPX inhibitor Axitinib and the PLAU inhibitor Palbociclib may not only exert their effects on the JPX/miR-193b-3p/PLAU axis that impacts the malignant tumor behaviors and the epithelial-immune cell interactions but also exhibit synergistic effects in terms of suppressing tumor cell growth and arresting cell cycle by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and cyclin-dependent kinase(CDK4/6)for the treatment of HNSCC.

Toxoplasma gondii(T.gondii or Tg),is an obligatory intracellular parasite with humans as its intermediate hosts.In recent years,significant correlations between T.gondii infection and schizophrenia have been reported,including the possible mediating mechanisms.Currently,mechanisms and hypotheses focus on central neurotransmitters,immunity,neuroinflammation,and epigenetics;however,the exact underlying mechanisms remain unclear.In this article,we review the studies related to T.gondii infection and schizophrenia,particularly the latest research progress.Research on dopamine(DA)and other neurotransmitters,the blood-brain barrier,inflammatory factors,disease heterogeneity,and other confounders is also discussed.In addition,we also summarized the results of some new epidemiological investigations.

As an emerging drug delivery technology,microneedles can puncture the skin's stratum corneum to create micron-sized conduits,painlessly,minimally invasive,and efficiently deliver drugs into viable epidermis or dermis for local or systemic therapeutic effects.This paper reviews the current clinical trials of microneedles used in the treatment of various diseases,elaborates on the characteristics of various types of microneedles,and summarizes the latest research progress of microneedles used to treat skin tumors,including chemotherapy,photothermal and photodynamic therapy,immunotherapy,gene therapy,and combination therapy.This review provides ideas and directions for further research on microneedles in treating skin tumors.