BACKGROUND:Socket-shield technique can effectively maintain labial soft and hard tissues,but the incidence of postoperative complications such as exposure and displacement of root shield is relatively high.It is speculated that the root shield may be exposed and displaced due to excessive load after long-term function of dental implants. OBJECTIVE:Through three-dimensional finite element analysis,we aim to study the influence of varying root shield thicknesses on the stress distribution,equivalent stress peaks,and displacement in the root shield,periodontal ligaments,implant,and surrounding alveolar bone under normal occlusal loading.We also attempt to analyze the correlation between the thickness of the root shield and occurrence of mechanical events such as root shield exposure,displacement,and fracture. METHODS:Cone-beam CT data of a patient who met the indication standard of socket-shield technique for maxillary central incisor were retrieved from database.Reverse engineering techniques were used to build models of the maxillary bone and root shield,while forward engineering was used to create models for the implant components based on their parameters.Models depicting various root shield thicknesses(0.5,1.0,1.5,and 2.0 mm)were created using Solidworks 2022 software.ANSYS Workbench 2021 software was then used to simulate and analyze the effects of varying root shield thicknesses on stress distribution,equivalent stress peaks,and displacement of the root shields,periodontal ligaments,implants,and surrounding alveolar bone under normal occlusion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In all root shield models,the stress was concentrated on the palatal cervical side,both sides of the edges and the lower edge of the labial side.As the thickness of the root shield increased,the equivalent stress peak and displacement showed a decreasing trend.The 0.5 mm thickness model produced a stress concentration of 176.20 MPa,which exceeded the yield strength(150 MPa)of tooth tissue.(2)The periodontal ligament stress in each group was concentrated in the neck margin and upper region.With the increase of root shield thickness,the equivalent stress peak and displacement of periodontal ligament showed a decreasing trend.(3)Implant stress in all models was concentrated in the neck of the implant and the joint of the implant-repair abutment,and the labial side was more concentrated than the palatal side.With the increase of root shield thickness,the equivalent stress peak of the implant in the model showed an increasing trend.(4)In each group of models,stress of cortical bone concentrated around the neck of the implant and the periphery of the root shield,and the labial side was more concentrated than the palatal side.With the increase of the thickness of the root shield,the equivalent stress peak around the root shield decreased;the peak value of the equivalent stress of the bone around the neck of the implant showed an increasing trend.In the model,the stress of cancellous bone was mainly concentrated around the neck of the lip of the implant,the top of the thread,the root tip and the lower margin of the root shield,and the labial side was more concentrated than the palatal side.With the increase of the thickness of the root shield,the peak value of the equivalent stress of the bone around the root shield in the model showed a decreasing trend.The minimum principal stress of cortical bone in each group of models was concentrated around the neck of the implant,exhibiting a fan-shaped distribution.As the thickness of the root shield increased,the minimum principal stress of cortical bone showed an increasing trend.(5)These results indicate that different thicknesses of the root shield have different biomechanical effects.The root shield with a thickness of 0.5 mm is easy to fracture.For patients with sufficient bone width,the root shield with a thickness of 2.0 mm is an option to reduce the risk of complications such as root shield exposure,fracture,and displacement.Meanwhile,it should be taken into account to protect the periodontal ligament in the preparation process,and rounding treatments ought to be carried out on both sides and the lower edge of the root shield.

Objective:To investigate the expressions of cystathionine-β-synthase(CBS)and cystathionine-γ-lyase(CSE)and their effects on the malignant biological behaviours of breast cancer cells,and to elucidate their mechanisms.Methods:The breast cancer tissue and paracancerous normal tissue from 15 cases of patients were selected,and RT-qPCR and Western blotting methods were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of CBS and CSE in breast cancer tissue,paracancerous normal tissue,MCF-7 cells,and MDA-MB-231 cells.The MCF-7 cells were divided into siNC group(transfected with siNC)and siCBS group(transfected with siCBS),and the MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into ovNC group(transfected with CSE over-expression empty plasmid)and ovCSE group(transfected with CSE over-expression plasmid).CCK8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activities of breast cancer cells in various groups,Transwell assay was used to detect the numbers of migration and invasion cells in various groups,and Western blotting method was used to detect the protein expression levels of E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins in the breast cancer cells in various groups.Results:Compared with paracancerous normal tissue,the expression levels of CBS and CSE mRNA and proteins in breast cancer tissue were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with MDA-MB-231 cells,the CBS mRNA expression level in the MCF-7 cells was increased(P＜0.05);compared with MCF-7 cells,the expression level of CSE protein in the MDA-MB-231 cells was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with siNC group,the proliferation activity,the numbers of migration and invasion cells,the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins in the MCF-7 cells in siCBS group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the expression level of E-cadherin protein was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with ovNC group,the proliferation activity,the numbers of migratoin and invasion cells,and the expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin proteins in the MDA-MB-231 cells in ovCSE group were increased(P＜0.05),while the expression level of E-cadherin protein was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The expressions of CBS and CSE are upregulated in breast cancer tissue,and high levels of CBS and CSE promote proliferation,migration,invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)of breast cancer cells.

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular calcification,two major age-related chronic diseases that China is confronting today,pose serious threats to public health.Previous studies have reported overlapping connections in the pathological processes and molecular mechanisms of these two diseases,particularly concerning inflammation,oxidative stress,and dysregulation of mineral metabolism,and that these two diseases tend to share common pathogenic factors.However,research exploring the comorbidity mechanisms of the two diseases remains limited in both depth and scope,largely due to the lack of widely accepted comorbidity animal models.Herein,we analyzed the latest research findings on the comorbidity mechanisms of vascular calcification and osteoporosis,focusing on summarizing the animal disease models currently in extensive use and the relevant evaluation criteria.We aim to provide new references for comorbidity research models and offer scientific evidence for future studies on pathological mechanisms and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Objective To systematically characterizes the temporal changes in urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA)over the course of neoplastic progression using a mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)model induced by 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(4-NQO).Methods A total of 65 wild-type C57BL/6 mice of 5 weeks old were randomly assigned to two groups,a 4-NQO group(n=50),which received daily administration of 100 μg/mL 4-NQO in drinking water,and a control group(n=15),which received sterile water.At 12,16,20,22,and 24 weeks,10 mice from the 4-NQO group and 3 from the control group were randomly selected,weighed,and sacrificed.Tongue tissues were collected for hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining to preliminarily assess OSCC development,and for immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate dynamic uPA expression in tongue tissues during OSCC progression.Results After 16 weeks of exposure,4-NQO-treated mice exhibited significantly lower body mass compared with that of the controls(P<0.05)and the weight loss became increasingly more pronounced over time.Histopathological changes in tongue tissues progressed in a clearly time-dependent manner—hyperplasia and mild dysplasia emerged at week 12,while moderate-to-severe dysplasia and carcinoma were observed by week 22,yielding a tumorigenic rate of 25%,which escalated to 70%by week 24.Immunofluorescence and qPCR analyses demonstrated a pronounced,progressive up-regulation of uPA expression in lesional tissues as OSCC progressed(P<0.000 1).Conclusion This study not only confirmed the uniqueness of the 4-NQO model in OSCC research,but also revealed the changes in uPA during tumor invasion.These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the development of early diagnosis and precision treatment strategies,holding significant potential clinical value and research importance for improving patient prognosis.

Objective To investigate CT features of Chlamydia psittaci(C.psittaci)pneumonia patients.Methods Ten patients with C.psittaci pneumonia were collected retrospectively based on macro gene second-generation sequencing(mNGS).The radiological manifestations of the disease were analyzed.Results Seven patients(70%)had contact history with birds(poultry)or their feces.Chest CT on the day of admission was mainly mass patchy consolidation,all of which were located in single lung,involving 8 cases(80%)with one lobe and 2 cases(20%)with two lobes.All of them were accompanied by air bronchogram,9 cases(90%)with ground glass shadow and 8 cases(80%)with interstitial changes.One case(10%)showed a reversed halo sign,and 1 case(10%)showed fan-shaped consolidation.Nine cases(90%)showed progress with increased fusion or new lesions within nine days.Conclusion CT findings of C.psittaci pneumonia have certain characteristics,and combining with history of contacting birds(poultry)can suggest diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:Bone tissue remodeling is closely related to stress loading.Currently,there are few studies or guidelines on the relationship between bone and occlusal adjustment of implant prostheses and there is also a lack of scientific evidence. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of different implant occlusal gaps on stress distribution,stress peak and displacement at the implant-bone interface under Ⅰ-Ⅳ bone conditions by a finite element method. METHODS:After scanning the equal-scale tooth model with an optical scanner,equal-scale models of the upper right first molar Straumann 4.8×8 mm BL RC implant and its related components was constructed using Solidworks 2022.Then,using Mimics,Geomagic,and Solidworks software,the maxillary and mandibular bone models of class Ⅰ-Ⅳ bones were established based on the bone classification proposed by ZARB and LEKHOLM in the literature,and the NORTON and TRISI bone density classification method.The models were assembled with the occlusal gaps of 0,20,40,60,80,and 100 μm for the restorations,and an additional set of homogeneous models without density ratio settings was constructed for comparison.After the above models were imported into Hypermesh for meshing,the material assignment,boundary constraints and parameter setting were performed for the finite element analysis.Finally,250 N was used as the loading force to simulate the maxillary and mandibular stress conditions.Stress distribution,peak stress and displacement of the implant-bone interface in each group of models were analyzed and compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the same loading conditions,the stresses in the implant restorations were evenly distributed with the occlusal contact points.When the occlusal gap reached 80 and 100 μm,stress interruptions occurred in the implant crowns under class Ⅰ bone and class Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ bones,respectively.The displacement of the implant-bone interface was mainly concentrated in the cortical bone region around the implant and transmitted down the long axis of the implant to the cancellous bone region at the bottom.With the changes of class Ⅰ-Ⅳ jaw bones,the displacement and Von Mises stress in the cortical bone region increased in all groups,and were greater than those in the cancellous bone region.The Von Mises stress in the cancellous bone region was similar to that in the cortical bone region except that it showed a downward trend from class Ⅱ bone.However,when the occlusal gap increased,the stress and displacement peak values in the cortical bone and the cancellous bone showed a decreasing trend.The stress of the implant-bone interface was between 20 MPa and 60 MPa when the occlusal gap was 0-40 μm for class Ⅱ-Ⅳ bones and 60 μm for class Ⅳ bone,and the stress of the other groups was less than 20 MPa.The Von Mises stress was mainly concentrated in the neck of the implant,and the peak value of von Mises stress in class Ⅱ-Ⅳ bones with the occlusal gap of 20 μm was higher than that(144.10 MPa)in class Ⅰ bone with the occlusal gap of 0 μm.In the homogeneous model with different elastic moduli,the distribution of stress and displacement was more uniform than that in the heterogeneous model and the occlusal space should increase with the decrease of jaw bone density in clinical practice.To conclude,from the perspective of biomechanics,the alveolar bone should be taken into account in the occlusal adjustment of implant denture.An occlusal gap of 20-40 μm between a single dental implant and a natural tooth in the opposite jaw is a relatively suitable solution for occlusal adjustment under different bone conditions.However,due to the particularity of finite element analysis method,it needs to be further studied in combination with clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the fluctuations in the population density of Aedes albopictus and changes in the population density of Ae. albopictus in different geographical areas and different breeding habitats in Guangdong Province from 2018 to 2023, so as to provide insights into prevention and control of mosquito-borne infectious diseases in the province. Methods Ae. albopictus surveillance sites were assigned in 1 609 townships (streets) from 121 districts (counties) of 21 cities in Guangdong Province during the period between March and November from 2018 to 2023. The surveillance of the population density of Ae. albopictus was performed once a month in each surveillance site, and once a month in specific settings in cities where dengue were highly prevalent in Guangdong Province from December to February of the next year during the period from 2018 through 2023. Four streets (villages) were selected in each surveillance site according to the geographic orientation, and mosquito ovitraps were assigned in gardens, rooftops or public green belts at residential areas, parks, hospitals and construction sites. All mosquito ovitraps were collected, and the mosquito ovitrap index (MOI) was calculated. The population density of Ae. albopictus was classified into four grades in each surveillance site according to MOI, including no risk, low risk, medium risk and high risk. The risk classification of the Ae. albopictus density was analyzed in each surveillance site each year from 2018 to 2023, and the population density of Ae. albopictus was analyzed at different months and in different geographical areas and breeding habitats. Results A total of 118 241 Ae. albopictus surveillance sites were assigned in 21 cities of Guangdong Province from 2018 to 2023, and there were 68.26% of the surveillance sites with the population density of Ae. albopictus that met the requirements for dengue prevention and control, among which low, medium and high risk surveillance sites accounted for 23.61%, 6.67% and 1.47%. The risk classification of the Ae. albopictus density increased rapidly in Guangdong Province since April to May each year from 2018 to 2023, and then gradually reduced since September to October, with the peak during the period between May and July. The mean MOI was 4.21 at each surveillance site in Guangdong Province during the period from 2018 to 2023, with 4.69, 4.80, 4.38, 3.82, 3.38, and 4.33 from 2018 to 2023, respectively. The MOI was 4.35, 4.43, 3.53 and 3.58 in the Pearl River Delta region, and eastern, western, and northern Guangdong Province, respectively, and was 4.18, 5.44, 4.75, 3.24, 4.27 and 3.70 in residential areas, parks, construction sites, hospitals, waste collection stations, and other breeding habitats, respectively. Conclusions The population density of adult Ae. albopictus peaked in Guangdong Province during the period between May and July from 2018 to 2023, with a high density of Ae. albopictus in the Pearl River Delta region and eastern Guangdong Province. Targeted Ae. albopictus control measures are recommended to be implemented prior to the peak of the Ae. albopictus population density to reduce the development of mosquito-borne infectious diseases.

Objective To explore the efficacy of the geriatric interdisciplinary team(GIT)service for elderly patients with multimorbidity and malnutrition.Methods We selected 109 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus(DM),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)or chronic heart failure(CHF)and multi morbidity to the Department of Geriatrics of The 2nd People's Hospital of Kunming City from January 2022 to January 2023.The patients were randomly divided into the control group of 53 cases and the observation group of 56 cases.The control group received routine management of multimorbidity and malnutrition,while the observation group used the GIT service model to manage multimorbidity and malnutrition.The disease,nutritional status,and quality of life outcomes of the two groups of elderly patients were evaluated before and 3 months after the intervention.(1)HbA1c was detected in patients with DM in both groups,and the aggravation of patients with COPD or CHF was observed and recorded.(2)Nutrition-related indicators(Tp,ALB and Hb)and Barthel index were evaluated in both groups.Results(1)The HbA1c of patients with DM in the two groups decreased after intervention(P＜0.001),and the decrease in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group(P＜0.001).(2)The number of AECOPEs in patients with COPD in the two groups decreased,and the observation group was less than the control group(P＜0.05).(3)The number of CHF acute exacerbations in patients with CHF in the two groups decreased and the observation group was fewer than the control group(P＜0.05).(4)The TP,ALB,Hb and Barthel index scores of the two groups increased compared with those before intervention,and the observation group increased more significantly than the control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The geriatric interdisciplinary team service for the elderly has a good effect in the intervention of elderly patients with multimorbidity and malnutrition.

Objective:To summarize clinical characteristics of and treatment experience with patients with critical illnesses in a dermatological ward.Methods:All patients with serious or life-threatening conditions, who were hospitalized at the dermatological ward of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 9, 2011 to December 31, 2020, were collected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, disease types and proportions, main complications, causes of serious or life-threatening conditions, important treatment measures and outcomes were summarized, and causes of death were also analyzed and discussed.Results:A total of 1 057 patients with critical illnesses were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.11, and 64.81% of them aged 18 to 65 years. The types of diseases mainly included drug eruptions (332 cases) , connective tissue diseases (226 cases) , bullous skin diseases (104 cases) , psoriasis (57 cases) , erythroderma (45 cases) , infectious skin diseases (67 cases) , etc. Among them, psoriasis (39 cases) and erythroderma (32 cases) mostly occurred in males, and connective tissue diseases (168 cases) mostly occurred in females. Common complications mainly involved infections, important organ damage or dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. A total of 94 patients were diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, which were found to be mainly caused by primary skin diseases, hematologic abnormalities, respiratory failure, nervous system abnormalities, renal failure, sepsis, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, etc. During the management of critical illnesses, 43 patients were treated with high-dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy, 264 were treated with gamma-globulin pulse therapy, 355 were transfused with other blood products, and 34 received special therapies such as hemoperfusion/immunoadsorption therapy, plasma exchange, dialysis, artificial liver support therapy; 42 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) , 12 were transferred to the department of surgery for operations, and 12 were transferred to the department of obstetrics and gynecology for delivery or induction of labor. After treatment, 989 patients (93.57%) achieved improvement and were discharged. A total of 14 patients (1.32%) died, of whom 7 died of secondary sepsis, 2 died of severe pulmonary infections, 2 died of asphyxia caused by respiratory mucosa shedding-induced airway obstruction, the other 3 died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively.Conclusions:Critical cases in the dermatological ward mainly suffered from serious skin diseases such as severe drug eruptions, connective tissue diseases and bullous skin diseases, as well as complications such as severe underlying diseases, severe organ dysfunction, sepsis or severe fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. In terms of treatment, it is of critical significance to make a clear diagnosis and assess the severity of disease as early as possible, monitor and prevent possible complications, and to consult with specialists in relevant disciplines in time.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease and is mainly characterized by abnormal proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS). The up-regulated cellular membrane expression of G protein coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) of FLS plays a critical role in RA progression, the increase of GRK2 translocation activity promotes dysfunctional prostaglandin E4 receptor (EP4) signaling and FLS abnormal proliferation. Recently, although our group found that paeoniflorin-6'-