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Objective To detect WNT10A gene mutations in patients with oligodontia or anodontia (≥6 teeth missing) and analyze their dental phenotype. Methods Patients with oligodontia or anodontia were enrolled from the clinic for oral examination, genetic history collection and whole exon sequencing, and patients with WNT10A gene mutations were included. Sanger sequencing was utilized to validate the WNT10A gene variations in probands and family members compared with the normal sequence. The pathogenicity of WNT10A mutations was evaluated by functional prediction, conservation analysis and structure prediction of protein mutants. Implant rehabilitation was applied to restore the patients' oral function. Results Five WNT10A gene mutations were detected in six unrelated patients, and c.26G>A (p. Trp9X) and c.1036delT (p. Cys346fs) were novel mutations with pathogenic potential. The mean number of missing teeth was (15.33±8.64) per case. The most frequently missing permanent teeth were maxillary canines (100%), and the least frequently missing teeth were mandibular first molars (25%). Implant rehabilitation was applied in five patients, and patients were found to have ideal implant osseointegration and functional restoration. Conclusion This study identified novel WNT10A gene pathogenic variants, enriching the WNT10A gene spectrum and providing new evidence for genetic diagnosis and prenatal consultation. Implant rehabilitation was also proven to be a treatment option for these patients.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely employed in modern dentistry, and tooth segmentation constitutes an integral part of the digital workflow based on these imaging data. Previous methodologies rely heavily on manual segmentation and are time-consuming and labor-intensive in clinical practice. Recently, with advancements in computer vision technology, scholars have conducted in-depth research, proposing various fast and accurate tooth segmentation methods. In this review, we review 55 articles in this field and discuss the effectiveness, advantages, and disadvantages of each approach. In addition to simple classification and discussion, this review aims to reveal how tooth segmentation methods can be improved by the application and refinement of existing image segmentation algorithms to solve problems such as irregular morphology and fuzzy boundaries of teeth. It is assumed that with the optimization of these methods, manual operation will be reduced, and greater accuracy and robustness in tooth segmentation will be achieved. Finally, we highlight the challenges that still exist in this field and provide prospects for future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral cancer (OC), characterized by malignant tumors in the mouth, is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for OC; however, it often leads to severe side effects on human bodies. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising solution for managing OC using nanomaterials and nanoparticles (NPs). Nano-drug delivery systems (nano-DDSs) that employ various NPs as nanocarriers have been extensively developed to enhance current OC therapies by achieving controlled drug release and targeted drug delivery. Through searching and analyzing relevant research literature, it was found that certain nano-DDSs can improve the therapeutic effect of drugs by enhancing drug accumulation in tumor tissues. Furthermore, they can achieve targeted delivery and controlled release of drugs through adjustments in particle size, surface functionalization, and drug encapsulation technology of nano-DDSs. The application of nano-DDSs provides a new tool and strategy for OC therapy, offering personalized treatment options for OC patients by enhancing drug delivery, reducing toxic side effects, and improving therapeutic outcomes. However, the use of nano-DDSs in OC therapy still faces challenges such as toxicity, precise targeting, biodegradability, and satisfying drug-release kinetics. Overall, this review evaluates the potential and limitations of different nano-DDSs in OC therapy, focusing on their components, mechanisms of action, and laboratory therapeutic effects, aiming to provide insights into understanding, designing, and developing more effective and safer nano-DDSs. Future studies should focus on addressing these issues to further advance the application and development of nano-DDSs in OC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The C‐terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II serves as a binding platform for numerous enzymes and transcription factors involved in nascent RNA processing and the transcription cycle. The S2, S5‐phosphorylated CTD is recognized by the transcription factor SCAF4, which functions as a transcription anti‐terminator by preventing early mRNA transcript cleavage and polyadenylation. Here, we measured the binding affinities of differently modified CTD peptides by hSCAF4 and solved the complex structure of the hSCAF4‐CTD‐interaction domain (CID) bound to a S2, S5‐quadra‐phosphorylated CTD peptide. Our results revealed that the S2, S5‐quadra‐phosphorylated CTD peptide adopts a trans conformation and is located in a positively charged binding groove of hSCAF4‐CID. Although hSCAF4‐CID has almost the same binding pattern to the CTD as other CID‐containing proteins, it preferentially binds to the S2, S5‐phosphorylated CTD. Our findings provide insight into the regulatory mechanism of hSCAF4 in transcription termination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) combined with immune-inflammatory markers in predicting axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in breast cancer patients., Methods: From January 2020 to June 2023, the clinicopathological data and ultrasound features of 401 breast cancer patients who underwent biopsy or surgery were recorded. Patients were randomly divided into a training set (321 patients) and a validation set (80 patients). The risk factors for ALNM were determined using univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and prediction models were constructed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess their diagnostic performance., Results: Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that systemic immunoinflammatory index (SII), CA125, Ki67, pathological type, lesion size, enhancement pattern and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category were significant risk factors for ALNM. Three different models were constructed, and the combined model yielded an AUC of 0.903, which was superior to the clinical model (AUC=0.790) and ultrasound model (AUC=0.781). A nomogram was constructed based on the combined model, calibration curves and DCA demonstrated its satisfactory performance in predicting ALNM., Conclusion: The nomogram combining ultrasound features and immune-inflammatory markers could serve as a valuable instrument for predicting ALNM in breast cancer patients., Data Availability Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article. Further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding authors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and the production of autoantibodies. Previous studies have indicated an association between high-salt diets (HSD) and an increased risk of RA, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Macrophage pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory form of cell death, plays a pivotal role in RA. In this study, we demonstrate that HSD exacerbates the severity of arthritis in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, correlating with macrophage infiltration and inflammatory lesions. Given the significant alterations observed in macrophages from CIA mice subjected to HSD, we specifically investigate the impact of HSD on macrophage responses in the inflammatory milieu of RA. In our in vitro experiments, pretreatment with NaCl enhances LPS-induced pyroptosis in RAW.264.7 and THP-1 cells through the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Subsequent experiments reveal that Slc6a12 inhibitors and SGK1 silencing inhibit sodium-induced activation of macrophage pyroptosis and the p38 MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, whereas overexpression of the SGK1 gene counteracts the effect of sodium on macrophages. In conclusion, our findings verified that high salt intake promotes the progression of RA and provided a detailed elucidation of the activation of macrophage pyroptosis induced by sodium transportation through the Slc6a12 channel., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Trophoblasts are significant components of the placenta and play crucial roles in maternal-fetal crosstalk. Adequate trophoblast migration and invasion are essential for embryo implantation and healthy pregnancy. Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), a member of the deubiquitinating enzyme family, regulates the processes of migration and invasion in multiple tumor cells. However, the effects of USP7 on trophoblasts and its possible mechanism in the development of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) are still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression of USP7 in villous tissues obtained from RSA patients and healthy controls, and then GNE-6776 (a USP7-specific inhibitor) and USP7 siRNA were used in a trophoblast cell line, HTR-8/SVneo, to further assess the effect of USP7 on the biological function of trophoblasts. Our results provide convincing evidence that USP7 is downregulated in the placental villous tissues of RSA patients. USP7 was found to have a crucial role in the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of trophoblast cells. Further experiments revealed that USP7 directly interacted with the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and regulated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in trophoblasts. Taken together, these findings indicate the vital role of USP7 in regulating trophoblast proliferation, migration and invasion, thus affecting the pathogenesis of RSA, providing new insights into the important role of USP7 in the maternal-fetal interface., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for the Study of Reproduction. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)