Malocclusion,identified by the World Health Organization(WHO)as one of three major oral diseases,profoundly impacts the dental-maxillofacial functions,facial esthetics,and long-term development of～260 million children in China.Beyond its physical manifestations,malocclusion also significantly influences the psycho-social well-being of these children.Timely intervention in malocclusion can foster an environment conducive to dental-maxillofacial development and substantially decrease the incidence of malocclusion or reduce the severity and complexity of malocclusion in the permanent dentition,by mitigating the negative impact of abnormal environmental influences on the growth.Early orthodontic treatment encompasses accurate identification and treatment of dental and maxillofacial morphological and functional abnormalities during various stages of dental-maxillofacial development,ranging from fetal stages to the early permanent dentition phase.From an economic and societal standpoint,the urgency for effective early orthodontic treatments for malocclusions in childhood cannot be overstated,underlining its profound practical and social importance.This consensus paper discusses the characteristics and the detrimental effects of malocclusion in children,emphasizing critical need for early treatment.It elaborates on corresponding core principles and fundamental approaches in early orthodontics,proposing comprehensive guidance for preventive and interceptive orthodontic treatment,serving as a reference for clinicians engaged in early orthodontic treatment.

Objective:To explore the application value of histogram and texture feature analysis based on CT images in distinguishing long bone osteosarcoma (OS) from Ewing sarcoma (ES).Methods:A retrospective collection of 25 patients with long bone osteosarcoma and 25 patients with Ewing sarcoma confirmed by surgery and pathology in National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, from March 2018 to May 2023 was conducted. All patients were randomly divided into a training set (21 cases of OS and 19 cases of ES) and a validation set (4 cases of OS and 6 cases of ES) in an 8∶2 ratio. The region of interest (ROI) on CT images to extract texture feature parameters was manually sketched. Random forest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used for feature screening. Logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers were used to establish models respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve was drawn and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the four models.Results:A total of 100 texture parameters were extracted from CT images, and 8 feature parameters (maximum 3D diameter, 10th percentile, kurtosis, maximum pixel intensity value, inverse normalization, grayscale level variance, long range high grayscale emphasis, and low grayscale area emphasis) were obtained through screening. Four classifiers were used to establish models, and the AUC values of the four models (LR, RF, SVM, KNN) in the validation group were 0.92, 0.79, 0.83, and 0.73, respectively. LR and SVM classifier algorithm trains models had high diagnostic efficiency, with an accuracy of 90%, sensitivity of 83%, specificity of 100%, and AUC of 92% for the LR classifier validation set; the accuracy of SVM classifier validation set was 80%, sensitivity was 67%, specificity was 100%, and AUC was 83%.Conclusions:LR and SVM models have high value in distinguishing OS and ES.

Articular cartilage (AC) injuries often lead to cartilage degeneration and may ultimately result in osteoarthritis (OA) due to the limited self-repair ability. To date, numerous intra-articular delivery systems carrying various therapeutic agents have been developed to improve therapeutic localization and retention, optimize controlled drug release profiles and target different pathological processes. Due to the complex and multifactorial characteristics of cartilage injury pathology and heterogeneity of the cartilage structure deposited within a dense matrix, delivery systems loaded with a single therapeutic agent are hindered from reaching multiple targets in a spatiotemporal matched manner and thus fail to mimic the natural processes of biosynthesis, compromising the goal of full cartilage regeneration. Emerging evidence highlights the importance of sequential delivery strategies targeting multiple pathological processes. In this review, we first summarize the current status and progress achieved in single-drug delivery strategies for the treatment of AC diseases. Subsequently, we focus mainly on advances in multiple drug delivery applications, including sequential release formulations targeting various pathological processes, synergistic targeting of the same pathological process, the spatial distribution in multiple tissues, and heterogeneous regeneration. We hope that this review will inspire the rational design of intra-articular drug delivery systems (DDSs) in the future.

Objective:To investigate the effect of remote ischemic preconditioning combined with postconditioning (RIPC+ RIPostC) on postoperative delirium (POD) in patients undergoing cardiac valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).Methods:Eighty patients aged 44-64 years old and scheduled to elective heart valve replacement under CPB in the operating room of our hospital were recruited and divided into control group (group C) and group R according to random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in group R underwent RIPC 30 minutes before the start of CPB and RIPostC 30 minutes before the end of CPB. The specific treatment measures were as follows: tie an inflatable cuff on the patient' s lower limb, inflate and pressurize until the pressure to 200 mmHg, hold for 5 minutes, and then completely deflate the cuff until the pressure to 0; after 5 minutes, inflate and pressurize again, and repeat for 3 cycles. The cuff was tied to the patient' s lower limb, but no inflation and deflation were performed in group C. Peripheral venous blood was drawn 1 day before operation and 1 day and 3 days after operation, and blood routine was determined. POD was assessed by the intensive care unit (ICU) consciousness disturbance assessment method (CAM-ICU) within 3 days after the operation. Neurocognitive testing was performed preoperatively, at discharge, and 3 months postoperatively, and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and dementia (AD) were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE), with exclusion of preoperative patients with <24 points. Intraoperative and postoperative adverse events including sinus bradycardia or hypotension/hypertension, postoperative infection, etc. were recorded. The length of hospital stay and 90-day mortality were recorded. After 3 months, data related to sleep, quality of life, anxiety and pain were collected using questionnaires.Results:The white blood cell count, neutrophil count and percentage of neutrophils in the two groups at 1 day and 3 days after operation were all higher than those at 1 day before operation, but the indexes in group R was significantly lower than those in group C ( P<0.05). A total of 13 patients (32.5%) in group C developed POD within 3 days after surgery, while 27 patients (67.5%) did not develop POD, and there was a significant difference between the groups ( P<0.05). A total of 5 patients (12.5%) in group R developed POD within 3 days after surgery, and 35 patients (87.5%) did not develop POD. At the 90-day follow-up, there was no difference in the MMSE score compared with the baseline ( P>0.05). A total of 4 patients (10%) developed neurocognitive dysfunction after surgery. There was no difference in the incidence of POCD between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of adverse events such as bradykinesia, hypotension/hypertension, and postoperative infection were similar between the two groups, and there was no significant difference ( P>0.05). During the 90-day follow-up period after surgery, no patient died in either group. There was no significant difference in postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). Using the EQ-5D questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life of the two groups of patients, the results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 months after operation, there was no significant difference in sleep quality between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:RIPC+ RIPostC can reduce the inflammatory response, reduce the incidence of POD and improve the quality of life after operation in patients with heart valve replacement under CPB.

Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) and its signal pathway-related molecules in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods:Peripheral blood samples, clinical data and laboratory test results were collected from 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis [50 patients with AS activity (ASA), 50 patients with AS stability (ASS)], 30 patients with osteoarthritis and 30 patients with gouty arthritis (as disease control group), and 60 healthy controls (HC). The mRNA expression levels of DcR3 and its signal pathway related genes (DR3, TL1A, Fas, FasL, LIGHT, LIGHTR, LTβR) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Measurement data among the three groups in normal distribution were analyzed by t test or one-way analysis of variance, pairwise comparisons using LSD- t test, non-normal distribution data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis H test, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Correlation analysis between variables were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Results:① By comparing the AS group, disease control group and HC group, the expression levels of DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in the AS group were lower than those in disease control group and HC group, and DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in disease control group were lower than those in the HC group {DcR3mRNA: [6.21 (3.89, 10.70)]×10 -4vs [9.51 (5.89, 16.65)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=55.28, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [41.05 (24.09, 66.95)]×10 -4vs [58.28 (28.41, 94.38)]×10 -4vs [94.79 (54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=37.10, P<0.001}. The expression level of TL1A mRNA in the AS group was higher than that in disease control group {[14.71(4.91, 42.22)]×10 -4vs [4.00(1.07, 16.60)]×10 -4vs [7.70 (3.52, 27.83)]×10 -4, H=17.71, P<0.001}; The expression level of Fas mRNA in AS group and disease control group was lower than that in HC group {[20.99(4.63, 62.89)]×10 -4vs [23.97(15.82, 38.99)]×10 -4vs [78.45 (27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=31.17, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in AS group was higher than that in disease control group and HC group {[42.87(6.57, 91.21)]×10 -4vs [5.45(2.83, 10.32)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=46.42, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in AS group was lower than that in disease control group {[52.66 (7.20, 143.21)]×10 -4vs [98.80 (53.11, 166.24)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.96, P<0.001}. There were no significant differences in LIGHT mRNA and LTβR mRNA among all groups ( H=0.86, P>0.05; H=3.18, P>0.05). ②The expression levels of DcR3 mRNA, DR3 mRNA and Fas mRNA in ASA group and ASS group were lower than those in HC group. DcR3 mRNA in ASA group was higher than that in ASS group, and DR3 mRNA in ASA group was lower than that in ASS group {DcR3 mRNA: [7.28 (4.92, 16.56)]×10 -4vs [4.59 (2.49, 7.03)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=62.63, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [30.93(16.18, 66.66)]×10 -4vs [47.17(29.91, 67.40)]×10 -4vs [94.79(54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=41.48, P<0.001; Fas mRNA: [20.04(3.29, 62.30)]×10 -4vs [22.49(5.63, 64.79)]×10 -4vs [78.45(27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=23.54, P<0.001}. The expression levels of TL1A mRNA and LTβR mRNA in the ASA group were higher than those in the ASS group and the HC group {TL1A mRNA: [32.36(10.09, 97.84)]×10 -4vs [9.98(1.29, 21.63)]×10 -4vs [7.70(3.52,27.83)]×10 -4, H=21.14, P<0.001; LTβR mRNA: [6.13(2.16,20.06)×10 -4vs [2.13(0.53,8.04)]×10 -4vs [2.72 (1.24,5.73)]×10 -4, H=12.86, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in the ASA group and the ASS group was higher than that in the HC group {[60.70 (8.16, 106.16)]×10 -4vs [30.14 (5.37, 78.40)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=18.99, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in ASS group was lower than that in HC group {[49.79(10.75, 168.48)]×10 -4vs [15.92(3.27, 105.91)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.80, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in LIGHT mRNA among all groups ( H=4.15, P>0.05). ③Spearman correlation analysis showed that DcR3 level was positively correlated with BASDAI score and hsCRP in AS patients ( r=0.52, P<0.001; r=0.35, P<0.01), and DR3 level was negatively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=-0.28, P<0.001; r=-0.25, P<0.001; r=-0.31, P<0.001). TL1A was positively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=0.23, P=0.046; r=0.26, P=0.015; r=0.25, P=0.017). Conclusion:DcR3 and its signal pathway-related molecules are differentially expressed in PBMCs of patients with AS, suggesting that they may participate in the occurrence and development of AS.

Objective:To investigate the appropriate pretreatment methods for single cell RNA sequencing of airway aspirate cells.Methods:Four fresh airway aspirate specimens were collected from four patients with acute respiratory tract infections. These specimens were digested with airway aspirate digester and prepared into single cell suspension. The cells were used for library construction directly (DE), or fixed with 10×Genomics Chromium Next GEM Single Cell Fixed RNA Sample Preparation Kit and then mixed to construct the library (DF), or cryopreserved, thawed, fixed (FF) before mixed to construct the library. All three methods were treated with oil emulsion using 10 4 cells and subjected to single-cell sequencing using the 10×Genomics platform. The number of obtained cells, data quality, annotated cell types and expression of marker genes were analyzed. Differences in the expression of highly variable genes (HVGs) of the same cell subsets obtained by the three pretreatment methods were compared using Pearson correlation. Expression of the differentially expressed genes in the same cell subpopulation obtained by different pretreatment methods was also compared. The correlation of the expression of differentially expressed genes between the same cell subsets obtained by the three pretreatment methods was analyzed by Pearson correlation. Results:The median numbers of single cells obtained using DE, FF and DF methods were 2 733, 1 140 and 5 897 ( P>0.05). The unique molecular identifiers were higher than 500. The median numbers of genes obtained using the three methods were 801, 887 and 1 259 ( P>0.05). The cells with novelty score over 0.8 accounted for 99%, 87% and 93%, respectively. There were nine cell subsets obtained by the three methods, including squamous cells, secretory cells, ciliated cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, plasma cells and neutrophils. DF and FF methods could obtain more basal cells with specific high expression of keratin 5 than DE method. The differentially expressed and highly variable genes in the same cell subsets obtained by the three pretreatment methods showed high consistency in their expression with a significant correlation ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Under the same sequencing data volume, the quality of data obtained from fixed airway aspirate single-cell suspensions using the method of probe hybridization and transcriptome sequencing was comparable to that obtained directly from fresh cells. This method was more suitable for the pretreatment of clinical samples used for single-cell RNA sequencing.

Objective:To explore the innovation mode of independent transformation-oriented science and technology research program approval by medical new research & development (R&D) institution.Methods:Through analyzing the program layout, funds, review experts, undertaking units, chief experts and interdisciplinarity to summarize the experiences of the independent transformation-oriented municipal program approval by Haihe laboratory of Cell Ecosystem in 2022.Results:As a new medical R&D institution, which vigorously constructed by Tianjin, Haihe laboratory of Cell Ecosystem has carried out the practice of the independent transformation-oriented municipal program through the measures of layout of full-chain transformation, conducting transformation-oriented review, gathering high-level research talents, and emphasizing interdisciplinarity.Conclusions:The experiences of Haihe laboratory of Cell Ecosystem make significance for medical new R&D institutions to explore and cultivate scientific research program with transformation potential and to promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, which are powerful factors for new R&D institutions to play a role of pilot and provide important support to scientific and technological innovation and transformation.

Objective:To explore the association between nutritional status and all-cause death in the centenarians in Hainan Province.Methods:Based on the survey data of China Hainan Centenarian Cohort Study from 2014 to 2021, a total of 1 002 Hainan centenarians with complete baseline data were included in this study, and their survival status and death outcome were surveyed. According to the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF), the centenarians were divided into three groups: well-nourished (12-14), at risk of malnutrition (8-11), and malnutrition (0-7). The survival status of the centenarians was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier curve. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between nutritional status and all-cause death.Results:After the follow-up on May 31, 2021, we had found that 522 centenarians died, with an all-cause mortality rate of 52.10% (522/1 002). Compared with the well-nourished group, the average life lost caused by malnutrition was 0.62 years. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that all-cause mortality rate was higher in the malnourished centenarians than in other groups ( χ2=16.45, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that the risk of all-cause mortality rate in malnourished centenarians was higher than that in well-nourished centenarians ( HR=1.65, 95% CI: 1.18-2.31). Subgroup analysis found that the association in female centenarians was more significant. Conclusions:Malnutrition was associated with a high risk of all-cause death in Hainan centenarians. It is suggested that we should timely evaluate and pay attention to the impact of nutritional status of centenarians on their health and longevity, and death, especially in the female elderly.

Aging-elevated DNMT3A R882H-driven clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a risk factor for myeloid malignancies remission and overall survival. Although some studies were conducted to investigate this phenomenon, the exact mechanism is still under debate. In this study, we observed that DNMT3A R878H bone marrow cells (human allele: DNMT3A R882H) displayed enhanced reconstitution capacity in aged bone marrow milieu and upon inflammatory insult. DNMT3A R878H protects hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from the damage induced by chronic inflammation, especially TNFα insults. Mechanistically, we identified that RIPK1-RIPK3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis signaling was compromised in R878H cells in response to proliferation stress and TNFα insults. Briefly, we elucidated the molecular mechanism driving DNMT3A R878H-based clonal hematopoiesis, which raises clinical value for treating DNMT3A R882H-driven clonal hematopoiesis and myeloid malignancies with aging.

Objective:To establish the reference for serum metabolomics profiles among healthy Han adults in China, and explore the variation on metabolomics profiles by geographic regions, sex, and age.Methods:Cross-sectional data and serum samples were obtained from the China National Health Survey. A total of 1 039 male and 1 032 female healthy adults(≥30 years) were included in this study. Serum metabolomics analyses were conducted with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS). Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) was performed to compare the differences of metabolomics among different region, sex, and age.Results:Significant differences on metabolomics profiles were identified among region, sex, and age. A total of 114 region-related metabolites were spotted, including 53 metabolites that involved in human metabolic pathways, mainly peptides(20 metabolites) and glycerophospholipid metabolism-related(14 metabolites). Fifty-nine metabolites were pinned down to be sex-related, among which cotinine was significant in all 7 provinces. Age-related metabolites were only found in Shaanxi and Hainan, with 22 metabolites were recognized.Conclusion:Serum metabolomics varies by geographic regions, sex, and age. When metabolomics is applied for diagnosis or biomarker screening in various studies, it shall take into consideration of setting tailored references.