Periodontal bone defects, primarily caused by periodontitis, are highly prevalent in clinical settings and manifest as bone fenestration, dehiscence, or attachment loss, presenting a significant challenge to oral health. In regenerative medicine, harnessing developmental principles for tissue repair offers promising therapeutic potential. Of particular interest is the condensation of progenitor cells, an essential event in organogenesis that has inspired clinically effective cell aggregation approaches in dental regeneration. However, the precise cellular coordination mechanisms during condensation and regeneration remain elusive. Here, taking the tooth as a model organ, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to dissect the cellular composition and heterogeneity of human dental follicle and dental papilla, revealing a distinct Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) population with remarkable odontogenic potential. Interestingly, a reciprocal paracrine interaction between PDGFRA⁺ dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) and CD31⁺ Endomucin⁺ endothelial cells (ECs) was mediated by Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and Platelet-derived growth factor subunit BB (PDGFBB). This crosstalk not only maintains the functionality of PDGFRA⁺ DFSCs but also drives specialized angiogenesis. In vivo periodontal bone regeneration experiments further reveal that communication between PDGFRA⁺ DFSC aggregates and recipient ECs is essential for effective angiogenic-osteogenic coupling and rapid tissue repair. Collectively, our results unravel the importance of MSC-EC crosstalk mediated by the VEGFA and PDGFBB-PDGFRA reciprocal signaling in orchestrating angiogenesis and osteogenesis. These findings not only establish a framework for deciphering and promoting periodontal bone regeneration in potential clinical applications but also offer insights for future therapeutic strategies in dental or broader regenerative medicine.
Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism* ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic/physiology* ; Dental Sac/cytology* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Transcriptome ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Bone Regeneration ; Animals ; Dental Papilla/cytology* ; Periodontium/physiology* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Regeneration ; Angiogenesis

Background Industrial emissions are a well-established major source of urban fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and associated heavy metals. To improve local air quality, Shanghai No. 1 Iron and Steel Plant in Baoshan District was entirely relocated, with all production lines successively shut down in 2018. Objective To evaluate the trends in PM_2.5 and three heavy metal concentrations - chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), and thallium (Tl) —in the local atmosphere pre- and post- relocation of the steel plant. Methods Taking the steel plant relocation in 2019 as the intervention cutoff point, this study was divided into two phases: pre-intervention (January 2017 to December 2018) and post-intervention (January 2019 to December 2021). Monthly mean pollutant concentrations were used to construct an interrupted time series (ITS) model, followed by segmented linear regression to assess the pre- and post-intervention trends in ambient PM_2.5 and three heavy metals surrounding thesteel plant. Results The ITS regression analysis revealed that the change in PM_2.5 concentration (b₂) after the intervention was −7.16 μg·m⁻³, while the changes in Cr, Hg, and Tl concentrations (b₂) were −0.46, −0.03, and −0.06 ng·m⁻³, respectively. Prior to the intervention, PM_2.5 mass concentrations exhibited a temporal decline with a slope of b₁ = –0.69 (P<0.05); seasonal adjustment further strengthened the overall significance of the model. Before the intervention, the concentration of Cr increased over time, with a slope of b₁=0.12 (P<0.05). After the intervention, the concentration of Cr showed a gradual downward trend over time, with a slope (b₁ + b₃) of −0.04, and significant seasonal variations were observed. The concentration of Hg decreased over time before the intervention, with a slope of b₁=−0.0029 (P<0.05). After the intervention, the slope was −0.0003, showing a further slow decline in Hg concentration over time. However, no significant seasonal trend was observed for Hg. The mass concentration of Tl decreased after the intervention, and the difference before and after the intervention was statistically significant (P<0.05). PM_2.5, Cr, and Tl better fit to the seasonal model, whereas Hg showed a better fit to the non-seasonal model. Conclusion The steel plant relocation intervention has markedly improved local air quality.

Objective:To explore the value of quantitative parameters of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) combined with dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) .Methods:A total of 97 patients with LABC admitted to the hospital from Mar. 2020 to Mar. 2023 were studied and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to evaluate the therapeutic effect, and DWI and DCE-MRI scans were performed before and after treatment. The difference of DWI and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters before treatment in patients with different therapeutic effects was compared, and the correlation between the difference of DWI and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters and therapeutic effect was analyzed. The predictive value of quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI before treatment was analyzed. The quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI in patients with different pathological reactions were compared before treatment, and the quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI were compared before and after treatment.Results:The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of patients with effective chemotherapy before treatment was higher, but transport constant (Ktrans) , extracellular space volume percentage (Ve) and rate constant (Kep) were lower ( t=5.0, 3.27, 3.55, 3.89, P < 0.05) ; Spearman correlation analysis showed that ADC was positively correlated with chemotherapy efficacy before treatment (r=0.66; P < 0.05) , while Kep, Ve, Ktrans were negatively correlated with it (r=-0.58, -0.47, -0.60; P < 0.05) ; ROC curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of ADC, Kep, Ve and Ktrans in predicting chemotherapy efficacy before treatment were 0.771, 0.797, 0.664 and 0.715, respectively, while the combined AUC value of each indicator was 0.832; Compared with patients with non-significant pathological response, ADC before treatment was higher in patients with significant pathological response, Kep, Ve and Ktrans were lower ( t=4.46, 3.32, 3.60, 3.95, P < 0.05) ; Compared with before treatment, ADC value increased after treatment, while Kep, Ve and Ktrans decreased ( t=8.77, 6.22, 9.34, 10.26, P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI can reflect the changes in the condition of patients with locally advanced neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the combination of the two can help to improve the predictive value of chemotherapy efficacy in patients.

Objective:To explore the value of material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in predicting the recurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures after operation, in order to provide reference for the evaluation of postoperative recurrence of fractures.Methods:A total of 80 cases with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treated in the First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu, Henan Province from Jan. 2020 to Dec. 2021 were selected for pre-operative CT material separation examination and postoperative follow-up for at least 2 years. The patients were divided into recurrence group and no recurrence group according to the recurrence of fracture. The clinical data and the results of material separation technique by energy spectrum CT were compared. The relevant factors for fracture recurrence was assessed by Logistic regression analysis, and ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in the recurrence of fracture.Results:After a follow-up of at least 2 years, 26 of the 80 patients had a recurrence of the fracture. The age, calcium water and hydroxyapatite (HAP) -water values in recurrent group were higher than those in no recurrent group, and the proportion of bone cement leakage was higher ( t/ Fisher=2.57, 5.40, 3.96, - P = 0.012 < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.033) . Logistic regression analysis showed that calcium-water ( OR=2.321, 95%CI: 1.464-3.679) and HAP-water ( OR=1.784, 95%CI: 1.246-2.554) values were the factors for postoperative fracture recurrence in osteoporotic fractures ( P<0.001) . ROC curve showed that AUC, sensitivity and specificity of combined calcium-water and HAP-water values in predicting postoperative fracture recurrence were 0.868, 88.46% and 79.63%, respectively ( P<0.001) . Conclusions:The material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in predicting the recurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures after operation has high clinical application value, and provides a new idea for the clinical evaluation of postoperative recurrence of fractures.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between CT characteristics and related quantitative parameters of spectral CT in diagnosing the nature of thyroid nodules and lymph node metastasis in patients.Methods:This retrospective analysis included 198 patients with thyroid nodules who visited Shangqiu First People’s Hospital between Jun. 2019 and Dec. 2024. The patients included 53 males and 145 females, aged (50.96 ± 5.36) years. A total of 105 patients were classified as benign nodules and 93 patients as malignant nodules (45 with metastasis and 48 without metastasis). All patients underwent spectral CT scans to analyze the efficacy of spectral CT in diagnosing the nature of thyroid nodules and lymph node metastasis in malignant nodules. Continuous data were expressed as ±s, and intergroup comparisons were performed using independent sample t-tests. Enumeration data were expressed as [n (%) ] and tested using the chi-squared test. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the diagnostic efficacy of various CT features and related quantitative parameters in diagnosing thyroid nodules and cervical lymph node metastasis. Results:The AUCs of capsule, edge and shape for diagnosing malignant nodules were 0.706, 0.701 and 0.735, respectively. The AUCs of IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in arterial phase and IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in venous phase for diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules were 0.967, 0.992, 0.966, 0.819, 0.991 and 0.986, respectively. The AUCs of nodule number, capsule, edge, shape and long diameter of nodule for diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant thyroid nodules were 0.642, 0.617, 0.643, 0.619 and 0.651, respectively. The AUCs of IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in arterial phase and IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in venous phase were 0.941, 0.941, 0.955, 0.786, 0.881 and 0.824, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that multiple nodules, absence of capsule, blurred margins, irregular shape, nodule long diameter >10 mm, IC, NIC in the arterial and venous phases, and increased slope of the energy spectrum curve were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant thyroid nodules ( OR=2.631, 1.854, 2.694, 1.936, 2.657, 2.064, 2.314, 2.525, 2.342, 2.712, 2.986, P<0.05) . Conclusions:In spectral CT examinations of patients with thyroid nodules, malignant nodules often show characteristics such as no capsule and blurred edges, accompanied by changes in relevant quantitative parameters. These CT characteristics and quantitative parameters have good diagnostic efficacy for the nature of thyroid nodules and cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant nodules, and have high clinical application value.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative measurement combined with serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteocalcin (BGP), and β-type I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide ( β-CTx) for the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Methods:A total of 90 patients with osteoporosis who underwent dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative detection at the First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu from Jan. 2020 to Jan. 2023 were selected as the research subjects. According to the occurrence of fractures within one year of follow-up, the patients were divided into the fracture group ( n=36) and the non-fracture group ( n=54). The clinical data, dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative parameters, and serum BALP, BGP, and β-CTx levels of the two groups were compared. Logistic multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for fractures in patients with osteoporosis, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative parameters combined with serum BALP, BGP, and β-CTx for fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Results:There were no statistically significant differences in gender, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, drinking history, or bone marrow CT value parameters between the fracture group and the non-fracture group ( χ2=0.66, t=1.86, t=1.59, χ2=0.19, χ2=0.98, t=0.40, all P > 0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the history of fragility fractures, regular calcium supplementation, lumbar bone mineral density (BMD), calcium CT value, mixed energy image CT value, calcium concentration, fat fraction, BALP, BGP, and β-CTx ( χ2=9.73, χ2=4.17, t=3.14, t=7.06, t=7.92, t=6.50, t=3.26, t=8.12, t=12.66, t=11.37, all P < 0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that the history of fragility fractures ( OR=1.863, P=0.023), regular calcium supplementation ( OR=1.728, P=0.031), fat fraction ( OR=1.685, P=0.009), BALP ( OR=1.815, P=0.002), BGP ( OR=1.605, P=0.003), and β-CTx ( OR=1.636, P < 0.001) were risk factors for fractures in patients with osteoporosis, while lumbar bone BMD ( OR=0.456, P=0.025), calcium CT value ( OR=0.486, P=0.005), mixed energy image CT value ( OR=0.490, P < 0.001), and calcium concentration ( OR=0.509, P=0.010) were protective factors. The ROC curve showed that the sensitivity of dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative measurement parameters combined with serum BALP, BGP, and β-CTx in predicting fractures in patients with osteoporosis was 94.68%, the specificity was 92.16%, the Youden index was 0.868, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.947, and the 95% confidence interval ( CI) was 0.905 to 0.982. Conclusion:Dual-energy CT lumbar quantitative parameters and serum BALP, BGP, and β-CTx levels have certain predictive value for the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis, and the combined prediction value is higher.

Objective:To explore the value of quantitative parameters of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) combined with dynamic enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) .Methods:A total of 97 patients with LABC admitted to the hospital from Mar. 2020 to Mar. 2023 were studied and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy to evaluate the therapeutic effect, and DWI and DCE-MRI scans were performed before and after treatment. The difference of DWI and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters before treatment in patients with different therapeutic effects was compared, and the correlation between the difference of DWI and DCE-MRI quantitative parameters and therapeutic effect was analyzed. The predictive value of quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI before treatment was analyzed. The quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI in patients with different pathological reactions were compared before treatment, and the quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI were compared before and after treatment.Results:The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of patients with effective chemotherapy before treatment was higher, but transport constant (Ktrans) , extracellular space volume percentage (Ve) and rate constant (Kep) were lower ( t=5.0, 3.27, 3.55, 3.89, P < 0.05) ; Spearman correlation analysis showed that ADC was positively correlated with chemotherapy efficacy before treatment (r=0.66; P < 0.05) , while Kep, Ve, Ktrans were negatively correlated with it (r=-0.58, -0.47, -0.60; P < 0.05) ; ROC curves showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of ADC, Kep, Ve and Ktrans in predicting chemotherapy efficacy before treatment were 0.771, 0.797, 0.664 and 0.715, respectively, while the combined AUC value of each indicator was 0.832; Compared with patients with non-significant pathological response, ADC before treatment was higher in patients with significant pathological response, Kep, Ve and Ktrans were lower ( t=4.46, 3.32, 3.60, 3.95, P < 0.05) ; Compared with before treatment, ADC value increased after treatment, while Kep, Ve and Ktrans decreased ( t=8.77, 6.22, 9.34, 10.26, P < 0.05) . Conclusion:Quantitative parameters of DWI and DCE-MRI can reflect the changes in the condition of patients with locally advanced neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the combination of the two can help to improve the predictive value of chemotherapy efficacy in patients.

Objective:To explore the value of material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in predicting the recurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures after operation, in order to provide reference for the evaluation of postoperative recurrence of fractures.Methods:A total of 80 cases with percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) treated in the First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu, Henan Province from Jan. 2020 to Dec. 2021 were selected for pre-operative CT material separation examination and postoperative follow-up for at least 2 years. The patients were divided into recurrence group and no recurrence group according to the recurrence of fracture. The clinical data and the results of material separation technique by energy spectrum CT were compared. The relevant factors for fracture recurrence was assessed by Logistic regression analysis, and ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in the recurrence of fracture.Results:After a follow-up of at least 2 years, 26 of the 80 patients had a recurrence of the fracture. The age, calcium water and hydroxyapatite (HAP) -water values in recurrent group were higher than those in no recurrent group, and the proportion of bone cement leakage was higher ( t/ Fisher=2.57, 5.40, 3.96, - P = 0.012 < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.033) . Logistic regression analysis showed that calcium-water ( OR=2.321, 95%CI: 1.464-3.679) and HAP-water ( OR=1.784, 95%CI: 1.246-2.554) values were the factors for postoperative fracture recurrence in osteoporotic fractures ( P<0.001) . ROC curve showed that AUC, sensitivity and specificity of combined calcium-water and HAP-water values in predicting postoperative fracture recurrence were 0.868, 88.46% and 79.63%, respectively ( P<0.001) . Conclusions:The material separation technique based on energy spectrum CT in predicting the recurrence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures after operation has high clinical application value, and provides a new idea for the clinical evaluation of postoperative recurrence of fractures.

Objective To investigate the relationship between triglyceride glucose body mass index(TyG-BMI),high density lipoprotein cholesterol to Apolipoprotein A ratio(HAR),glycemic risk index(GRI)and diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods A total of 159 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)complicated with DR(the DR group)were divided into the non-proliferative retinopathy group(NPDR group,66 cases)and the proliferative retinopathy group(PDR group,93 cases)according to DR international clinical grading criteria,and 159 T2DM patients without DR were selected as the control group.Clinical information and baseline laboratory test results were recorded,and TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI were calculated.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to analyze the related factors of the incidence of DR,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI for DR.Results The duration of T2DM,the proportion of hypertension,diabetic nephropathy and diabetic foot,levels of HbA1c,homeostasis model insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR),total cholesterol(TC),C-reactive protein(CRP),TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI were higher in the DR group than those in the control group(P<0.05).TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI were higher in the PDR group than those in the NPDR group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the longer course of T2DM disease[OR(95%CI):2.781(1.398-5.534)],high TyG-BMI[2.036(1.169-3.546)],high HAR[1.890(1.090-3.280)]and high GRI[1.836(1.065-3.167)]were risk factors for DR(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis results showed that,the area under the curve(AUC)of combined TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI diagnosis of DR was higher than that of single diagnosis[0.940(0.908-0.964),0.864(0.821-0.900),0.796(0.747-0.839)and 0.836(0.790-0.875),all P<0.05].Conclusion The increased TyG-BMI,HAR and GRI in T2DM patients is associated with the onset and severity of DR,and which can be used to assess the risk of DR.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between CT characteristics and related quantitative parameters of spectral CT in diagnosing the nature of thyroid nodules and lymph node metastasis in patients.Methods:This retrospective analysis included 198 patients with thyroid nodules who visited Shangqiu First People’s Hospital between Jun. 2019 and Dec. 2024. The patients included 53 males and 145 females, aged (50.96 ± 5.36) years. A total of 105 patients were classified as benign nodules and 93 patients as malignant nodules (45 with metastasis and 48 without metastasis). All patients underwent spectral CT scans to analyze the efficacy of spectral CT in diagnosing the nature of thyroid nodules and lymph node metastasis in malignant nodules. Continuous data were expressed as ±s, and intergroup comparisons were performed using independent sample t-tests. Enumeration data were expressed as [n (%) ] and tested using the chi-squared test. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the diagnostic efficacy of various CT features and related quantitative parameters in diagnosing thyroid nodules and cervical lymph node metastasis. Results:The AUCs of capsule, edge and shape for diagnosing malignant nodules were 0.706, 0.701 and 0.735, respectively. The AUCs of IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in arterial phase and IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in venous phase for diagnosing malignant thyroid nodules were 0.967, 0.992, 0.966, 0.819, 0.991 and 0.986, respectively. The AUCs of nodule number, capsule, edge, shape and long diameter of nodule for diagnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant thyroid nodules were 0.642, 0.617, 0.643, 0.619 and 0.651, respectively. The AUCs of IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in arterial phase and IC, NIC and slope of energy spectrum curve in venous phase were 0.941, 0.941, 0.955, 0.786, 0.881 and 0.824, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that multiple nodules, absence of capsule, blurred margins, irregular shape, nodule long diameter >10 mm, IC, NIC in the arterial and venous phases, and increased slope of the energy spectrum curve were independent risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant thyroid nodules ( OR=2.631, 1.854, 2.694, 1.936, 2.657, 2.064, 2.314, 2.525, 2.342, 2.712, 2.986, P<0.05) . Conclusions:In spectral CT examinations of patients with thyroid nodules, malignant nodules often show characteristics such as no capsule and blurred edges, accompanied by changes in relevant quantitative parameters. These CT characteristics and quantitative parameters have good diagnostic efficacy for the nature of thyroid nodules and cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with malignant nodules, and have high clinical application value.