Objective: To investigate the effects of a Twin-Block appliance combined with slow maxillary expansion (SME) on transverse dental and skeletal parameters in adolescent patients with Angle Class Ⅱ division 1 malocclusion, and to provide a reference for clinical orthodontic practice. Methods: This retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee. A total of 21 adolescents with Class Ⅱ division 1 malocclusion who underwent two-phase treatment with a Twin-Block appliance combined with SME at the Department of Orthodontics, College & Hospital of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, in 2021 to 2023 were consecutively enrolled. In the first phase, a functional appliance was used to coordinate the skeletal relationship between the maxilla and mandible by leveraging growth potential. In the second phase, a fixed appliance was employed for fine adjustments of the dental arches based on the specific condition. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained before treatment (T0) and after the first phase of functional correction (T1). Transverse measurements at the first molar region, including molar buccolingual inclination, dental arch width, and basal bone width, were performed using Dolphin 3D Imaging software. Changes between T0 and T1 were statistically analyzed. Results: After the first phase of treatment, the left and right maxillary first molars showed a significant increase in buccal inclination by 5.47° ± 1.38° and 5.35° ± 1.61°, respectively (P<0.001). The arch width in the maxillary first molar region also increased by (2.68 ± 1.14) mm, and the basal bone width increased by (1.14 ± 1.24) mm (all P<0.001). The proportion of skeletal expansion accounted for an average of 42.86%, while dental expansion accounted for 57.14%. No statistically significant changes were observed in any mandibular transverse measurements (all P>0.05). Conclusion In adolescent patients with Angle Class Ⅱ division 1 malocclusion accompanied by maxillary transverse deficiency, Twin-Block appliance combined with SME can effectively expand maxillary dental arch and basal bone width while improving sagittal relationship, thereby correcting transverse discrepancy. The maxillary width changes were predominantly dental.

Objective:To analyze the differences in screening neonatal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in different birth seasons, establish screening thresholds for G6PD concentration in each season using indirect methods, and verify the reliability of the results.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.A total of 140 823 newborns were collected from the Neonatal Screening Center of Shanghai Children′s Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023, including 41 029 cases, 35 796 cases, 33 969 cases and 30 029 cases in spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, respectively.The concentration of G6PD on the dried blood filter paper was determined using an automatic fluorescence analyzer.The distribution and statistical index of concentration values in four seasons were analyzed.The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normal distribution.The skewed distribution data was converted into approximately normal distribution using Box-Cox.Outliers were eliminated using the interquartile range (Turkey) method.The cumulative frequency distribution map was drawn through R language programming.The linear regression equation Y=B X+ A was fitted.The 0.5th percentile ( P0.5) was used as the screening threshold, which was compared with the reference value given by the manufacturer or laboratory and with the reference change value (RCV). Results:In the spring group, the positive rate was 4.02‰, 91 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶451.In the summer group, the positive rate was 7.18‰, 90 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶398.In the autumn group, the positive rate was 3.21‰, 86 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶395.In the winter group, the positive rate was 2.26‰, 61 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶492.The incidence rate did not change significantly in the four seasons ( P>0.05).The G6PD concentrations in the four seasons were compared in pairs, and the result was winter>autumn>spring>summer.The thresholds for G6PD screening were established indirectly: 25.08 U/dL, 22.83 U/dL, 26.63 U/dL and 38.01 U/dL in spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, respectively.The relative deviation in the threshold between the summer group and the laboratory was lower than RCV, while that between the other groups was higher than RCV.According to the screening threshold, the negative and positive conformity rates of 12 batches of 120 samples in the inter-laboratory evaluation program of Chinese Taiwan Preventive Medicine Foundation of China reached 100%. Conclusions:There is no difference in the incidence of G6PD deficiency between birth seasons.It is feasible to establish the screening threshold in each season using indirect methods, which is conducive to improving the efficiency of screening.

Objective To evaluate the role of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) testing in evaluating early hearing loss among noise-exposed workers. Methods A total of 174 noise-exposed workers in a metal shipbuilding enterprise were selected as the research subjects by the convenience sampling method. Pure tone audiometry (PTA), DPOAE and the level of noise exposure were conducted on the workers. The rank correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between DPOAE amplitude and PTA threshold. The multilevel model was used to analyze the effects of gender, age, noise exposure intensity, cumulative noise exposure (CNE), hearing loss classification and PTA threshold on DPOAE results. Results At the frequencies of 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 6.00 and 8.00 kHz, the DPOAE amplitude was negatively correlated with the PTA threshold (rank correlation coefficients were -0.12, -0.48, -0.47, -0.18, -0.23, -0.44, -0.19, respectively, all P<0.01). At the most frequencies, DPOAE amplitude was negatively correlated with age and CNE (all P<0.05). The results of multilevel model analysis showed that there were significant differences in DPOAE amplitudes at certain frequencies across gender, age, noise intensity, CNE, and hearing loss classification (all P<0.05). Significant differences in DPOAE responses were found among different CNE and hearing loss groups (all P<0.01). Conclusion DPOAE testing can objectively reflect the hearing status of noise-exposed workers and could be considered for inclusion in routine hearing monitoring to facilitate early detection of noise-induced hearing loss.

Objective:To analyze the differences in screening neonatal glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in different birth seasons, establish screening thresholds for G6PD concentration in each season using indirect methods, and verify the reliability of the results.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study.A total of 140 823 newborns were collected from the Neonatal Screening Center of Shanghai Children′s Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023, including 41 029 cases, 35 796 cases, 33 969 cases and 30 029 cases in spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, respectively.The concentration of G6PD on the dried blood filter paper was determined using an automatic fluorescence analyzer.The distribution and statistical index of concentration values in four seasons were analyzed.The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normal distribution.The skewed distribution data was converted into approximately normal distribution using Box-Cox.Outliers were eliminated using the interquartile range (Turkey) method.The cumulative frequency distribution map was drawn through R language programming.The linear regression equation Y=B X+ A was fitted.The 0.5th percentile ( P0.5) was used as the screening threshold, which was compared with the reference value given by the manufacturer or laboratory and with the reference change value (RCV). Results:In the spring group, the positive rate was 4.02‰, 91 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶451.In the summer group, the positive rate was 7.18‰, 90 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶398.In the autumn group, the positive rate was 3.21‰, 86 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶395.In the winter group, the positive rate was 2.26‰, 61 cases were confirmed, and the incidence was 1∶492.The incidence rate did not change significantly in the four seasons ( P>0.05).The G6PD concentrations in the four seasons were compared in pairs, and the result was winter>autumn>spring>summer.The thresholds for G6PD screening were established indirectly: 25.08 U/dL, 22.83 U/dL, 26.63 U/dL and 38.01 U/dL in spring, summer, autumn and winter groups, respectively.The relative deviation in the threshold between the summer group and the laboratory was lower than RCV, while that between the other groups was higher than RCV.According to the screening threshold, the negative and positive conformity rates of 12 batches of 120 samples in the inter-laboratory evaluation program of Chinese Taiwan Preventive Medicine Foundation of China reached 100%. Conclusions:There is no difference in the incidence of G6PD deficiency between birth seasons.It is feasible to establish the screening threshold in each season using indirect methods, which is conducive to improving the efficiency of screening.

Objective:To analyze the difference and reliability of blood 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), an indirect screening index for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), between preterm and full-term infants.Methods:In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a total of 210 285 newborns who underwent CAH screening at the Neonatal Screening Center of Shanghai Children′s Hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were collected, including 14 312 premature infants and 195 973 full-term infants.The concentration of 17-OHP in dried blood spots on filter paper was determined by an automatic fluorescence analyzer.The distribution of 17-OHP levels in preterm and full-term infants and its statistical index were analyzed.The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used for normal distribution.The skewed distribution data was converted into approximately normal distribution using Box-Cox.Outliers were eliminated by the interquartile range method.The cumulative frequency distribution map was drawn by R language programming.The 99.5 th percentile value was used as the screening threshold and compared with the reference value given by the manufacturer or laboratory and with the reference change value (RCV). Results:According to the threshold provided by the laboratory, 26.76‰ of premature infants were tested positive in preliminary screening, and 4 were confirmed with an incidence of 1∶3 578, while 0.79‰ of full-term infants were tested positive in preliminary screening, and 11 were confirmed with an incidence of 1∶17 816.The thresholds for CAH screening established indirectly were 20.35 nmol/L in preterm infants and 10.78 nmol/L in full-term infants.The relative deviations between the indirect CAH screening thresholds and the manufacturer′s or laboratory′s CAH screening thresholds were higher than the RCV, respectively.According to the indirect CAH screening thresholds, the negative and positive coincidence rates of 65 samples in 13 batches from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention interlaboratory quality assessment program in the United States reached 100%.A retrospective analysis of 210 285 neonates showed that 17-OHP concentration was higher than the screening threshold in all CAH-positive neonates.The application of this screening threshold reduced the false positive rate of preterm infants by 59.79%.Conclusions:It is feasible to establish the CAH screening thresholds for premature and full-term infants by an indirect method, which can improve the efficiency of screening and provide better diagnostic basis for clinical practice.

Retrospective cohort study.

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:To improve the quality of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET images at different acquisition times through deep learning (DL) PET image reconstruction methods. Methods:A total of 45 patients (20 males, 25 females; age (52.0±13.6) years) with malignant tumors and PET/CT scans from September 2020 to October 2020 in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were included in this retrospective study. The short acquisition time 30 s/bed PET images from the raw list mode were selected as the input of DL model. DL image reconstruction model, based on the Unet algorithm, was trained to output imitated PET images with full dose standard acquisition time (3 min). The image quality evaluation and quantitative analysis were carried out for four groups of images: DL images, 30 s, 90 s, and 120 s images, respectively. The quality of PET images in four groups was evaluated using the five-point method. Liver background activities, lesions quantification parameters (maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV mean), standard deviation (SD), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)), and first-order texture features (skewness, kurtosis, uniformity, entropy) were measured. Kappa test, χ2 test and one-way analysis of variance (least significant difference t test) were used for data analysis. Results:The image quality scores between four groups were highly consistent ( Kappa=0.799, P<0.001). The number of patients with scores≥3 in DL, 30 s, 90 s and 120 s groups were 6, 4, 7 and 8, respectively ( χ2=125.47, P<0.001). The liver SD of DL group was significantly lower than that of 30 s group (0.26±0.07 vs 0.43±0.11; F=3.58, t=-7.91, P<0.05). The liver SNR of DL group was higher than that of 30 s group (11.04±4.36 vs 5.41±1.41; F=10.22, t=5.40, P<0.05). The liver SD and SNR of DL group were similar to those of 90 s group (0.39±0.16, 8.46±3.34; t values: -0.87 and 2.17, both P>0.05). In 18 tumor lesions with high uptake, SNR and CNR of DL group were significantly higher than those of 30 s group (60.21±29.26 vs 38.38±16.54, 22.26±15.85 vs 15.41±9.51; F values: 13.09 and 7.05; t values: 5.20 and 4.04, both P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences among four groups in the first-order texture features ( F values: 4.30-9.65, all P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between DL group and 120 s group ( t values: from -1.25 to 0.15, all P>0.05). Conclusion:DL reconstruction model can improve the quality of short-frame PET images, which meets the needs of clinical diagnosis, efficacy evaluation and radiomics research.

Liver transplantation is an effective treatment of end-stage liver diseases. However, liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and rejection significantly cause the decrease of survival rate of liver graft. Therefore, it is urgent to explore a novel method, which can not only alleviate liver IRI, but also promote immune tolerance of allograft, thereby improving the survival rate of liver graft. Extracellular vesicle (EV) is nanoparticle released from cells into the extracellular microenvironment, which may alleviate graft injury by repairing autophagy, immunosuppression and accelerating tissue regeneration. Hence, EV becomes a research hot spot in the field of liver transplantation. Nevertheless, the clinical application of EV encounters multiple challenges, such as separation, purification, identification, storage of EV and how to deliver EV to the target cells. In this article, the mechanism of EV in liver IRI, the challenges in clinical application of EV and the potential application of EV were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the clinical application of EV in liver transplantation.

Objective:To compare the incidence of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) between patients with non-obstructive and obstructive coronary arteries.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 97 patients with angina pectoris, who underwent the absolute quantitative PET examination of myocardial perfusion and coronary anatomy examination within 90 days. All patients were divided into two groups: non-obstructive group (72 cases, no stenosis ≥50% in all three coronary arteries) and obstructive group (25 cases, at least one coronary stenosis ≥50%; and at least one coronary stenosis<50%). Quantitative parameters derived from PET including rest myocardial blood flow (RMBF), stress myocardial blood flow (SMBF), coronary flow reserve (CFR) and cardiovascular risk factors were compared between the two groups. CMVD was defined as CFR<2.90 and SMBF <2.17 ml·min -1·g -1. Results:Incidence of CMVD was significant higher in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of the obstructive group than in the non-obstructive coronary arteries of non-obstructive group (47.1% (16/34) vs. 25.5% (55/216), χ 2=6.738, P=0.009) while incidence of CMVD was similar between non-obstructive and obstructive patients ((44% (11/25) vs. 33.3% (24/72), χ 2=0.915, P=0.339). RMBF ((0.83±0.14) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (0.82±0.17) ml·min -1·g -1), SMBF ((2.13±0.60) ml·min -1·g -1 vs. (1.91±0.50) ml·min -1·g -1) and CFR (2.59±0.66 vs. 2.36±0.47) were similar between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusions:CMVD can occur in non-obstructive coronary arteries in both patients with non-occlusive coronary arteries and patients with obstructive coronary arteries. Prevalence of CMVD is significantly higher in patients with obstructive coronary arteries than in patients with non-obstructive coronary arteries. The CMVD severity is similar between the two groups.