Objective: To explore the prospective association between multidimensional sleep indicators and the risk of newlyonset dental caries, providing a reference for childrens oral healthrelated sleep intervention. Methods: In October 2021, 1 417 students in grades 1 to 4 (aged 6 to 11) from two elementary schools in Bengbu, Anhui Province, were selected by cluster sampling method. Surveys and followup visits were conducted at baseline (T1), November 2022 (T2), May 2023 (T3), and November 2023 (T4), respectively, including parental questionnaires, oral health and physical examination. Bedtime, sleep duration, sleep midpoint, social jet lag, weekend catchup sleep, and sleep habits were collected and calculated. A multifactorial Cox proportional risk regression model was used to analyze the association between multidimensional sleep indicators and newlyonset caries in schoolaged children after 2 years. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in children was 65.1% at baseline, and the prevalence was 59.0% at the end of the 2year followup. Cox proportional risk regression model showed that for every 1point increase in the childrens bedtime resistance, nocturnal awakenings, parasomnias, and daytime sleepiness scores, the risk of newlyonset caries increased by 12% (HR=1.12, 95%CI=1.08-1.15), 22% (HR=1.22, 95%CI=1.15-1.29), 12% (HR=1.12, 95%CI=1.08-1.17), and 15% (HR=1.15, 95%CI=1.12-1.19), respectively; the risk of newlyonset caries increased by 23% for each 1 h increase in the length of weekend catchup sleep (HR=1.23, 95%CI=1.14 -1.33); compared with children who went to bed before 21:00 on school days, those who went to bed later than 22:00 had a 57% higher risk of newlyonset caries (HR=1.57, 95%CI=1.22-2.03). Compared to children who slept adequately (≥9 h/d), those with insufficient sleep had a 67% higher risk of new caries (HR=1.67, 95%CI=1.43-1.95) (P<0.01). Conclusions These findings suggest a significant association between sleep patterns/sleep disorders and the development of childhood dental caries. Incorporating sleep behavior optimization and sleep quality improvement into comprehensive caries prevention and oral health management protocols may represent a promising intervention strategy to enhance childrens oral health outcomes.

Advances in imaging technology have revolutionized the field of ophthalmology, changing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of ophthalmic diseases. Swept-source optical coherence tomography(SS-OCT)is a non-contact high-resolution imaging technology. It further improves imaging depth and scanning speed, adds new algorithms and features. The application of SS-OCT enables the three-dimensional evaluation of corneal structures, offering curvature and height maps for both the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cornea, as well as precise corneal thickness mapping. These invaluable tools aid ophthalmologists in effectively screening and diagnosing various corneal lesions such as keratoconus, corneal dystrophy, and degeneration. Moreover, the enhanced speed, accuracy, and sensitivity provided by SS-OCT measurements facilitate improved surgical planning and postoperative monitoring for patients undergoing refractive surgery or keratoplasty. This article reviews the development of SS-OCT technology and its potential clinical utility in corneal diseases and surgical application, in order to support more possible future research and clinical treatment.

To investigate the expression and significance of cell surface receptor signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family member 7 (SLAMF7) in normal intestinal tissues and intestinal inflammatory tissues of mice.

AIM: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3(TIMP-3)and collagen type III alpha 1(Col3α1)in the retina of guinea pigs with lens-induced myopia.METHODS:A total of 80 guinea pigs were randomly divided into the normal control(NC)group, negative lens-induced myopia(LIM)group, electro-acupuncture(EA)group, and sham group, with 20 guinea pigs in each group. The NC group did not receive any intervention, the LIM, EA and the sham groups were all wearing -6.0 D lens in the right eye and no lens in the left eye. The EA group was given electroacupuncture stimulation at Hegu Point and temple, and guinea pigs in the sham group were given intervention at false points. The refraction was measured by optometry, the axial length was measured by A-ultrasound, and the changes in retinal tissue structure were observed by HE staining. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Q-PCR)and western blot(WB)were used to detect the expression of MMP-3, TIMP-3, and Col3α1 at mRNA and protein levels before modeling and at 2 and 4 wk after modeling. RESULTS:The axial length of the negative LIM group was significantly increased compared with the NC group at 2 and 4 wk after modeling(all P<0.05), and the diopter was significantly decreased(all P<0.05); the axial length of the eye in the EA group was decreased compared with the negative LIM group(all P<0.05), and the diopter was increased(all P<0.05). HE staining showed that the boundaries of retinal tissue in the NC group were obvious and arranged regularly. The retinal thickness, the thickness of the inner and outer nuclear layers, and the number of cells were reduced and irregularly arranged in the negative LIM group. The overall structure of the retina in the group EA was relatively perfect, the arrangement was more regular, and the morphological structure of each layer of the tissue did not appear obvious abnormalities. Q-PCR and WB detection results showed that the mRNA and protein relative expression levels of MMP-3, TIMP-3, and Col3α1 in the negative LIM group were significantly higher than those in the NC group(all P<0.05); the expression levels of the EA group was significantly decreased after intervention compared with the negative LIM group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture can delay axial growth in negative LIM guinea pigs, and downregulate negative LIM induced expression of MMP-3, TIMP-3, and Col3α1 in the retina.

China is one of the countries with the highest population aging rate in the world, and the oral health of the elderly population has become increasing significant for the realization of healthy aging. Tooth loss is considered as the marker of oral disease burden. In recent years, a growing number of findings have suggested an association between tooth loss and cognitive decline. Also, given that cognitive function plays a crucial role in oral health, future researches should elucidate their bidirectional causal relationship, based on prospective cohort design that regularly monitors tooth loss and cognitive function. This article reviews the current research threads in terms of epidemiological evidences of the association, brain structure and function, and possible bidirectional associations and mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis for promoting healthy aging.

Objective:To study the effects of total flavonoids from Baeckea frutescens on the proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and cell morphology changes of cervical cancer SiHa cells.Methods:Cervical cancer SiHa cells were treated with different concentrations of total flavonoids from Baeckea frutescens. CCK8 method was used to detect the proliferation and 50% inhibiting concentration (IC 50) of SiHa cells in vitro. The control group without drug treatment and the experimental group with drug concentration IC 50 were set. Transwell migration and invasion experiments were used to detect the changes of cell migration and invasion ability in vitro in the experimental group and the control group. Laser scanning confocal microscope was adopted for observing the morphological changes of apoptosis in the experimental group and the control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rates of the experimental group and the control group. Results:Total flavonoids from Baeckea frutescens inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer SiHa cells in a concentration-dependent manner. After 48 hours of action, the IC 50 value was 110.8 mg/L. In the migration experiment, the number of transmembrane cells in the control group was 644.00±10.54 and the number of transmembrane cells in the experimental group was 266.00±5.57, with a statistically significant difference ( t=54.942, P<0.001). In the invasion experiment, the number of transmembrane cells in the control group was 298.00±14.36, and the number of transmembrane cells in the experimental group was 85.00±8.62, with a statistically significant difference ( t=38.247, P<0.001). Laser scanning confocal microscope observation showed that in the experimental group, the cell membrane crumpled and lost its original morphology, and the nucleus showed typical apoptotic morphologies such as fragments of different sizes and irregular shapes, and nuclear edge aggregation; but no apoptotic cells were observed in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate in the control group was (2.95±1.36)%, and the apoptosis rate in the experimental group was (27.54±1.94)%, with a statistically significant difference ( t=-17.949, P<0.001). Conclusion:Total flavonoids from Baeckea frutescens have obvious inhibitory effects on the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer SiHa cells cultured in vitro, and promote their apoptosis.

Objective:To explore the status of HBV infection, immune response to hepatitis B vaccine and its influencing factors of one-year old children born to HBV infected mothers in real world.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, eligible mothers infected with chronic HBV and children who completed standard vaccination against hepatitis B vaccine and hepatitis B immunoglobulin injection were selected. Clinical biochemical, virological measurements, data of antiviral therapy and complications during pregnancy and childbirth were collected by HIS(Hospital Information System)system and LIS (Laboratoty Information Management System) system. At one year of age, the children were tested for HBsAg, HBsAb and HBV DNA in venous blood specimens.Results:A total of 1 302 eligible mothers and children were collected, including 600 in high viral load group (mothers’ HBV DNA≥2×10 5 IU/ml) and 702 in low viral load group (mothers’ HBV DNA<2×10 5 IU/ml). In high viral load group, 587 patients received antiviral drugs in the middle or late trimester (Treated group) and 13 patients did not receive antiviral drugs (Untreated group). No chronic HBV infection occurred in children of low viral load group, and in 5 cases (0.83%) the infection occurred in high viral load group. In the five HBV infected children, 3 cases (0.51%) were in the treated group, and 2 cases (15.38%) in untreated group. The failure rate of mother-to-child blocking in low viral load group was significantly lower than that in high viral load group ( χ2=5.87, P=0.015), and it was significantly lower in treated group than that in untreated group ( χ2=29.195, P=0.001). The percentages of HBsAb level <10 mIU/ml, 10- <100 mIU/ml and ≥100 mIU/ml in 1 297 children without HBV infection were 1.15%, 15.65% and 83.19%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that maternal total bilirubin level and hypothyroidism during pregnancy were correlated with HBsAb level at 1 year of age ( χ2=29.003, P <0.05). Conclusions:Antiviral drugs taken during pregnancy by pregnant women with high HBV viral load can significantly reduce mother-to-child transmission of HBV. Follow-up on the response of children born to HBV-infected mothers to hepatitis B vaccine should be enhanced after birth.

Purpose: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) is a rare genetic autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in ATP8B1, ABCB11 or ABCB4. Mutational analysis of these genes is a reliable approach to identify the disorder. Methods: We collected and analyzed relevant data related to clinical diagnosis, biological investigation, and molecular determination in nine children carrying these gene mutations, who were from unrelated families in South China. Results: Of the nine patients (five males, four females) with PFIC, one case of PFIC1, four cases of PFIC2, and four cases of PFIC3 were diagnosed. Except in patient no. 8, jaundice and severe pruritus were the major clinical signs in all forms. γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was low in patients with PFIC1/PFIC2, and remained mildly elevated in patients with PFIC3. We identified 15 different mutations, including nine novel mutations (p.R470HfsX8, p.Q794X and p.I1170T of ABCB11 gene mutations, p.G319R, p.A1047P, p.G1074R, p.T830NfsX11, p.A1047PfsX8 and p.N1048TfsX of ABCB4 gene mutations) and six known mutations (p.G446R and p.F529del of ATP8B1 gene mutations, p.A588V, p.G1004D and p.R1057X of ABCB11 gene mutations, p.P479L of ABCB4 gene mutations). The results showed that compared with other regions, these three types of PFIC genes had different mutational spectrum in China. Conclusion The study expands the genotypic spectrum of PFIC. We identified nine novel mutations of PFIC and our findings could help in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of intensive cladribine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with major thalassemia. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 12 children with major thalassemia undergoing allo-HSCT from March 2017 to July 2018. All of them were diagnosed definitely and the median age at transplantation was 5 years (range: 2-13 years), including HSCT from HLA-matched unrelated donor (n=8), HLA8/10-matched unrelated donor (n=1), HLA-matched sibing donor (n=2) and haploidentical donor (n=1). They received a new intensive conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide (CTX), cladribine, busulfan (Bu) and antithymocytic globulin. The median doses of mononuclear cell (MNC) and CD34 positive cell were 10.97×10⁸/kg (range: 5.72-12.49×10⁸/kg) and 12.2×10⁶/kg (range: 6.7-22×10⁶/kg). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was prevented by cyclosporine A (CSA), methotrexate (MTX) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Results: Engraftment succeeded (n=11) and failed (n=1). The median time of neutrophil and platelet engraftment was 11 days (range: 8-17 days) and 13 days (range: 8-37 days) respectively. There were grade II acute GVHD (n=6) and grade IV intestinal acute GVHD (n=1) at 35 days post-transplantation. The latter one finally died of severe infection at 70 days post-transplantation. Two recipients of DLI developed limited chronic GVHD. Three cases (25%) developed cytomegaloviremia. None suffered from severe transplantation-related complications, such as cytomegalovirus diseases, hepatic veno-occlusive disease (HVOD), hemorrhagic cystitis or septicemia, etc. The median follow-up time was 15(8-18) months. Among 11 survivors, ten became transfusion-independent. Conclusions Cladribine-based conditioning regimen is both safe and effective for allo-HSCT in children with major thalassemia. However, vigorous immunosuppression may increase the risks of infection and viral activation after transplantation.