Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy of a new temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsule suspension technique for stabilizing the TMJ after free fibular flap reconstruction of the mandibular condyle. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing the TMJ capsule suspension technique during free fibular flap reconstruction after mandibulectomy with condylectomy (study group; n=9) were compared with a control group (n=9). Mandibular movement trajectory and surface electromyographic signals of bilateral masseters were recorded. The neocondyle–disc relationship was examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 6 months after surgery. Results: Maximal mouth opening and bilateral marginal movement distances were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The asymmetry index of the condyle path length was significantly higher in controls (P=0.02). Bilateral mouth opening trajectories were symmetric in 7 patients and deviated to the affected side in 2 patients in the study group; they deviated to the affected side in all controls. The mean electromyographic values of the masseter on the affected side in resting, maximum bite, and chewing states were comparable between the two groups (P=0.13, P=0.65, and P=0.82, respectively). On MRI at 6 months, the thicknesses of the anterior, medial, and posterior bands and TMJ disc length were similar on the affected and normal sides in the study group (P=0.57, P=0.13, P=0.48, and P=0.87, respectively). Conclusion The proposed TMJ capsule suspension technique could improve postoperative TMJ structure and function after fibular free flap reconstruction following mandibulectomy with condylectomy.

Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy of a new temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsule suspension technique for stabilizing the TMJ after free fibular flap reconstruction of the mandibular condyle. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing the TMJ capsule suspension technique during free fibular flap reconstruction after mandibulectomy with condylectomy (study group; n=9) were compared with a control group (n=9). Mandibular movement trajectory and surface electromyographic signals of bilateral masseters were recorded. The neocondyle–disc relationship was examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 6 months after surgery. Results: Maximal mouth opening and bilateral marginal movement distances were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The asymmetry index of the condyle path length was significantly higher in controls (P=0.02). Bilateral mouth opening trajectories were symmetric in 7 patients and deviated to the affected side in 2 patients in the study group; they deviated to the affected side in all controls. The mean electromyographic values of the masseter on the affected side in resting, maximum bite, and chewing states were comparable between the two groups (P=0.13, P=0.65, and P=0.82, respectively). On MRI at 6 months, the thicknesses of the anterior, medial, and posterior bands and TMJ disc length were similar on the affected and normal sides in the study group (P=0.57, P=0.13, P=0.48, and P=0.87, respectively). Conclusion The proposed TMJ capsule suspension technique could improve postoperative TMJ structure and function after fibular free flap reconstruction following mandibulectomy with condylectomy.

Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy of a new temporomandibular joint (TMJ) capsule suspension technique for stabilizing the TMJ after free fibular flap reconstruction of the mandibular condyle. Patients and Methods: Patients undergoing the TMJ capsule suspension technique during free fibular flap reconstruction after mandibulectomy with condylectomy (study group; n=9) were compared with a control group (n=9). Mandibular movement trajectory and surface electromyographic signals of bilateral masseters were recorded. The neocondyle–disc relationship was examined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 6 months after surgery. Results: Maximal mouth opening and bilateral marginal movement distances were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). The asymmetry index of the condyle path length was significantly higher in controls (P=0.02). Bilateral mouth opening trajectories were symmetric in 7 patients and deviated to the affected side in 2 patients in the study group; they deviated to the affected side in all controls. The mean electromyographic values of the masseter on the affected side in resting, maximum bite, and chewing states were comparable between the two groups (P=0.13, P=0.65, and P=0.82, respectively). On MRI at 6 months, the thicknesses of the anterior, medial, and posterior bands and TMJ disc length were similar on the affected and normal sides in the study group (P=0.57, P=0.13, P=0.48, and P=0.87, respectively). Conclusion The proposed TMJ capsule suspension technique could improve postoperative TMJ structure and function after fibular free flap reconstruction following mandibulectomy with condylectomy.

Apoptosis is a process of programmed cell death,which has the function of maintaining skin balance.In psoriasis,the disturbance of apoptosis is characterized by abnormal prolif-eration of keratinocytes.Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has a regulatory effect on keratinocyte apoptosis,which can in-hibit the excessive proliferation of psoriasis epidermis,promote normal epidermal differentiation,and maintain epidermal homeo-stasis.It has the advantages of fewer adverse reactions and multi-targets.Therefore,this article summarizes and analyzes the specific mechanism of various active ingredients of TCM to in-duce the apoptosis of psoriasis keratinocytes by interfering with related factors and signaling pathways,hoping to provide a refer-ence for the treatment of psoriasis with TCM.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of drug-induced liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs in newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods A total of 133 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and HBV who were treated in Zhuzhou Central Hospital from January 2018 to early January 2022 were selected, and all were treated with conventional anti-tuberculosis 2HRZE/4HR regimen. According to the liver injury, the patients were divided into liver injury group and no liver injury group. Univariate analysis was used to analyze the related factors of liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs. Results Among 133 cases of newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients with HBV, 24 cases had liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs, accounting for 18.05%; 109 patients had no liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs, accounting for 81.95%. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in smoking history, drinking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, anti-tuberculosis treatment plan, malnutrition, and use of hepatoprotective drugs between the liver injury group and the no liver injury group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking history, drinking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, PZA-containing regimen, malnutrition, and no use of hepatoprotective drugs were independent risk factors for liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs. Conclusion Smoking history, drinking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, PZA-containing regimen, malnutrition, and no use of hepatoprotective drugs are the risk factors for drug-induced liver injury caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs in newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients with HBV.

Objective: To investigate the middle ear function of the patients with cleft palate pre and post palatoplasty. Methods: 76 patients with cleft palate were investigated by clinical history and audiology examinations including electric otoscopy,tympanometry and click-ABR threshold. Results: The risk for middle ear function decreased with advancing age in the first 5 years. It was noticed that the otologic outcomes was related to the CP type. During long time follow-up, the frequency with the middle ear function disorder was always high within the CP patients but the proportion of the patients received tympanostomy tubes was low relatively. The prevalence of middle ear dysfunction did not differ with the time of cleft palate repair. Conclusion: The patients with cleft palate have middle ear function dysfunction in a long period of time,therefore a standard long-time follow-up system is necessary.
Acoustic Impedance Tests ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Palate/surgery* ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media with Effusion/surgery*

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is regarded as the most common liver disease with no approved therapeutic drug currently. Silymarin, an extract from the seeds of Silybum marianum, has been used for centuries for the treatment of various liver diseases. Although the hepatoprotective effect of silybin against NAFLD is widely accepted, the underlying mechanism and therapeutic target remain unclear. In this study, NAFLD mice caused by methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet were orally administrated with silybin to explore the possible mechanism and target. To clarify the contribution of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), PPARα antagonist GW6471 was co-administrated with silybin to NAFLD mice. Since silybin was proven as a PPARα partial agonist, the combined effect of silybin with PPARα agonist, fenofibrate, was then evaluated in NAFLD mice. Serum and liver samples were collected to analyze the pharmacological efficacy and expression of PPARα and its targets. As expected, silybin significantly protected mice from MCD-induced NAFLD. Furthermore, silybin reduced lipid accumulation via activating PPARα, inducing the expression of liver cytosolic fatty acid-binding protein, carnitine palmitoyltransferase (Cpt)-1a, Cpt-2, medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1, and suppressing fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase α. GW6471 abolished the effect of silybin on PPARα signal and hepatoprotective effect against NAFLD. Moreover, as a partial agonist for PPARα, silybin impaired the powerful lipid-lowering effect of fenofibrate when used together. Taken together, silybin protected mice against NAFLD via activating PPARα to diminish lipid accumulation and it is not suggested to simultaneously take silybin and classical PPARα agonists for NAFLD therapy.

Buffaloes ; Cells, Cultured ; In Vitro Techniques ; Primary Cell Culture ; Stem Cells ; Tretinoin

Currently, the systems for culturing buffalo spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro are varied, and their effects are still inconclusive. In this study, we compared the effects of culture systems with undefined (foetal bovine serum) and defined (KnockOut Serum Replacement) materials on the in vitro culture of buffalo SSC-like cells. Significantly more DDX4- and UCHL1-positive cells (cultured for 2 days at passage 2) were observed in the defined materials culture system than in the undefined materials system (p < 0.01), and these cells were maintained for a longer period than those in the culture system with undefined materials (10 days vs. 6 days). Furthermore, NANOS2 (p < 0.05), DDX4 (p < 0.01) and UCHL1 (p < 0.05) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the culture system with defined materials than in that with undefined materials. Induction with retinoic acid was used to verify that the cultured cells maintained SSC characteristics, revealing an SCP3⁺ subset in the cells cultured in the defined materials system. The expression levels of Stra8 (p < 0.05) and Rec8 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased, and the expression levels of ZBTB16 (p < 0.01) and DDX4 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. These findings provided a clearer research platform for exploring the mechanism of buffalo SSCs in vitro.

Currently, the systems for culturing buffalo spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro are varied, and their effects are still inconclusive. In this study, we compared the effects of culture systems with undefined (foetal bovine serum) and defined (KnockOut Serum Replacement) materials on the in vitro culture of buffalo SSC-like cells. Significantly more DDX4- and UCHL1-positive cells (cultured for 2 days at passage 2) were observed in the defined materials culture system than in the undefined materials system (p < 0.01), and these cells were maintained for a longer period than those in the culture system with undefined materials (10 days vs. 6 days). Furthermore, NANOS2 (p < 0.05), DDX4 (p < 0.01) and UCHL1 (p < 0.05) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the culture system with defined materials than in that with undefined materials. Induction with retinoic acid was used to verify that the cultured cells maintained SSC characteristics, revealing an SCP3⁺ subset in the cells cultured in the defined materials system. The expression levels of Stra8 (p < 0.05) and Rec8 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased, and the expression levels of ZBTB16 (p < 0.01) and DDX4 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. These findings provided a clearer research platform for exploring the mechanism of buffalo SSCs in vitro.