Search

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on prevention of postoperative complications in the impacted third molar extraction. Materials and methods: A total of 25 healthy patients with symmetrical bilaterally impacted third molars (50 extraction sites) were enrolled in this split-mouth, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Third molar extractions were performed in both sites of the mandible at the same appointment. Randomization was performed using a coin toss to choose the test and control sites. CGF was placed in the extraction socket and the socket was sutured (test group), while the contralateral socket was only sutured (control group). Each patient acted as their own control. The primary outcome were pain assessed by visual analog scale (VAS) and facial swelling on the1st, 3rd and 7th postoperative days. The secondary outcomes were bone healing in extraction sockets through alveolar bone height (ABH) and alveolar bone density (ABD) evaluated by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) immediately after extraction and in the 3rd and 6th months. Results: Twenty-five patients (12 female, 13 male; mean age 29.17) with bilateral impacted third molars participated in the study. A statistically significant reduction in pain was determined on the 3rd and 7th postoperative days in the CGF sites compared to the control sites while no statistically significant difference was found between the groups on the 1st postoperative day (3rd day, p = 0.009; 7th day, p = 0.039). There were no statistically significant differences in facial swelling and bone healing between the test and control groups at different time intervals, although the data obtained were slightly favoring the CGF group (p > 0.05). There were no serious adverse effects such as infection, alveolitis, paraesthesia, fracture through the follow-up period in all of the cases. Conclusion: The study has demonstrated the effect of CGF on relieving the severity of pain after the third molar extraction. Clinical relevance: Placement of CGF in the extraction socket could relieve postoperative pain and reduce patient discomfort after the third molar extraction. CGF is recommended during the third molar extraction due to its good biological effects, low cost and simple preparation procedures. Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2300077819. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery, explores the pterygoid-sphenoidal fissure (PSF) as a key landmark for accessing the foramen lacerum in pediatric endoscopic endonasal surgery. The study evaluates the morphometry and developmental variations of the PSF in a general pediatric population using computed tomography scans. The results show that the length, width, and morphology of the PSF vary significantly across different age groups. Understanding these radiological findings is important for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance in pediatric endoscopic endonasal surgery. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses seven different techniques for pituitary transposition in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The techniques are categorized based on their relationship with the dura mater and include extradural, hybrid extradural/intradural, interdural transcavernous, extended interdural transcavernous, intradural hemitransposition, intradural, and pituitary sacrifice. The article evaluates the clinical application and selection of these techniques in different anatomical regions and types of pathology. The authors emphasize the importance of selecting the most appropriate technique based on the specific case and preoperative pituitary function for successful surgical outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

This article, published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery, explores the microsurgical anatomy of the "true" petrous apex and the feasibility of accessing it through the endoscopic endonasal approach. The study conducted detailed dissections of post-mortem human specimens and identified key anatomical landmarks and neurovascular structures. The authors found that the endoscopic endonasal petrosectomy approach provides access to the "true" petrous apex, with two variants based on its relationship with the internal carotid artery. The study concludes that this approach is an effective surgical alternative for accessing lesions in this region. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the extreme lateral supracerebellar infratentorial and transtentorial (ELSIT) approach for accessing lesions in the ambient cistern, a challenging area due to its deep location and vital neurovascular structures. The study conducted a systematic dissection on post-mortem human specimens to investigate the anatomical landmarks and measurements of this approach. The ELSIT approach provides a narrow corridor leading to the ambient cistern, with specific landmarks such as the superior petrous vein and posterior root of the trigeminal nerve. Understanding these anatomical nuances is crucial for optimizing surgical outcomes and minimizing complications. [Extracted from the article]

The ingenious hierarchical structure of enamel composed of rods and protein produces excellent fracture resistance. However, the fracture resistance mechanism in the inner enamel is unknown. The micromechanical models of enamel are constructed to numerically analyze the mechanical behaviors of the inner enamel with different decussation angles and different decussation planes. The results show that the manner of crack propagation in the inner enamel, including crack bridging, crack deflection, and crack bifurcation, is determined by both the rod decussation angle and the decussation plane. In the case of the strong decussation plane, the fracture strength and the required energy dissipation with the decussation angles of 15° and 30° are much higher than those without decussation, demonstrating that decussation is an important mechanism in improving the fracture resistance of enamel. The maximum tensile stress of enamel with the decussation angle of 15° is slightly higher than that of enamel with the decussation angle of 30°, illustrating that an optimal decussation angle exists which balances the strength and toughness. The synergetic mechanism of the decussation angle and the decussation plane on the crack propagation provides a new design hint for bionic composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enamel possesses ingenious hierarchical structure that gives rise to superior fracture resistance. Despite considerable efforts devoted to characterization of fracture behavior of enamel, the role of rod decussation in fracture of enamel is largely unknown. In this study, the features of rod decussation in the inner enamel are experimentally identified, and analyses of crack growth in enamel are carried out using a micromechanical model of enamel, in which the structural features of the outer enamel and rod decussation of the inner enamel are incorporated. We carry out calculations within a framework based on the extended finite element method, and the crack growth and crack path selection are natural outcomes of imposed loading. We show that crack deflection in enamel is controlled by rod decussation. For crack growth in the parazone, the crack path is oriented along the axis of enamel rods, leading to gross crack deflection. The microstructure of inner enamel with intermediate inclination angle enables multiple crack deflections, giving rise to enhanced toughness. For crack growth in the diazone, the transition in orientation of crack deflection occurs as inclination angle increases. The relatively straight crack path emerges in the case of the microstructure of enamel with intermediate inclination angle, leading to weak fracture resistance. It is further found that compared with the diazone, the gross crack deflection in the parazone provides greater contribution to fracture resistance of enamel. The findings of this study provide a good mechanistic understanding of the role of rod decussation in enamel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction  Understanding the anatomic features of the zygomatic nerve is critical for performing the endoscopic transmaxillary approach properly. Injury to the zygomatic nerve can result in facial numbness and corneal problems. Objective  To evaluate the surgical anatomy of the zygomatic nerve and its segments from an endoscopic endonasal perspective for clinical implications of performing the endoscopic transmaxillary approach. Methods  The origin, course, length, and segments of the zygomatic nerve were studied in four specimens from an endonasal perspective. Results  The zygomatic nerve arises 4.1 ± 1.7 mm from the foramen rotundum of the maxillary nerve in the superolateral pterygopalatine fossa (PPF). According to its anatomic region in endonasal endoscopic surgery, we divided the zygomatic nerve into two segments: the PPF segment, from origin to the point of entry under Muller's muscle, which runs superolaterally to the inferior orbital fissure (IOF) (length, 4.6 ± 1.3 mm), and the IOF segment, starting at the entry point in Muller's muscle and terminating at the exit point in the IOF, which travels between Muller's muscle and the great wing of the sphenoid bone (length, 19.6 ± 3.6 mm). In the transmaxillary approach, the zygomatic nerve is a critical landmark in the superolateral PPF. Conclusion  The zygomatic nerve travels in the PPF and the IOF; better visualization and preservation of this nerve during endonasal endoscopic surgery are crucial for successful outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reach to expose the peritrigonal/atrial territories poses special challenges. The highly functional overlying cortices and white matter tracts, such as the optic radiations lateral to the ventricle, postcentral gyrus laterally and more superficially, and the thalamus anteroinferiorly, constrain the surgical corridors to the atrium. Standard interhemispheric or transcortical approaches involve significant retraction and resection of the normal parenchyma. In this offering, the authors describe the contralateral posterior interhemispheric transfalcine transprecuneus approach (PITTA), which provides flexible working angles while protecting the functional brain tissues. In summary, the PITTA is founded on the concept of using a contralateral operative trajectory to augment a more tangential working angle to the more difficult-to-reach lateral target through a midline route. The PITTA emphasizes the importance of operative working angles (versus necessary operative space) through less disruptive exposures as a more viable parameter for achieving desirable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioma is a severe disease of the central nervous system. Although previous studies have identified the important role of the immune response in association with tumor intervention, it is still unknown whether PU.1, a transcription factor known for its role in myeloid differentiation and immune responses, is involved in the progression of glioma. In the present study, we found a significant increase in SPI1, the gene that encodes PU.1, in samples from patients with glioma. Through genotype‑phenotype association analysis several candidate factors that may mediate the role of PU.1 in glioma were identified. To further validate the association between PU.1 and glioma we found that the expression of BTK, a potential target of PU.1, was also upregulated in patients with glioma. We also demonstrated that various biological pathways could be involved in PU.1‑associated glioma by analyzing these potential targets in the Reactome database. These results provide evidence that PU.1 could serve a role in the progress of glioma through its transcriptional targets in multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, in addition to its role in hematopoietic linage development and leukemia, PU.1 appears to be involved in the regulation of glioma and potentially in other malignant cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axial vibration of liquid-pipes, considering the fluid-structure interaction (FSI), can be described by a four-equation model consisting of two equations for the fluid and the other two for the pipe wall. When distributed friction and damping were neglected, the model could be solved with an exact solution developed from the method of characteristics (MOC). The exact solution with a simple recursion process was presented instead of meshing the distance-time plane, introducing no numerical error, while the only weakness was the high time cost. An improved method based on this exact solution is proposed in this work, using the time-line interpolation rather than the recursive algorithm to speed the calculation. As numerical diffusion and oscillation affect the accuracy a lot, various interpolation techniques are investigated and compared. The mean absolute error (MAE) and the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) are employed to assess the accuracy of proposed methods, and the latter was originally developed for the image quality assessment. A hybrid interpolation scheme, mixing the cubic spline and linear interpolation, is proposed and achieves the highest accuracy and the quadratic-linear interpolation is found to be a good choice considering both accuracy and efficiency. The solution method developed here improves the efficiency significantly while retains an acceptable level of the accuracy, especially suitable for the long duration event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dentin possesses unique hierarchical structure through long-term natural selection, which imparts exceptional mechanical properties to this hard tissue. In this study, the combined effects of ductile fracture of intertubular dentin (ITD) and brittle cracking of peritubular dentin (PTD) on the crack initiation and propagation in the composite microstructure of dentin are explored. A micromechanical model accounting for the unique two-layer microstructure of dentin is developed and numerical simulations of fracture of microstructured dentin are performed. It is found that microcracking of PTD prior to the penetration of main crack into PTD and crack deflection along the interface between PTD and ITD are two major mechanisms involved in the fracture of microstructured dentin, which is in a good agreement with experimental observations. The competition between the two mechanisms is governed by PTD strength. Furthermore, we reveal that the elastic and fracture properties of PTD and strain hardening of ITD greatly affect the fracture behavior of dentin. The decrease in elastic modulus and increase in tensile strength of PTD elevate the notch tip plasticity, increasing the propensity of crack initiation at notch tip. Whereas such variations in elastic modulus and tensile strength of PTD can lead to the transition of fracture mechanism from multiple void interactions to crack-void interaction, thereby enhancing toughness of dentin. Increasing the strain hardening exponent of ITD can also give rise to the amplified toughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies evaluating the association between the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism and melanoma susceptibility remained controversial. To draw a more precise estimation of the relationship, a total of eight published case-control studies containing 5,212 cases and 7,045 controls were included for meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association was found between the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism and melanoma susceptibility for the dominant model (OR = 2.42, 95 % CI = 2.26-2.60). In subgroup analysis by source of control, there was an obvious association was found among Population-based subgroup for the dominant model CC+GC vs GG (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 2.28-2.77), among the Hospital-based subgroup, an obvious association was also found for the dominant model CC+GC vs GG (OR 2.34, 95 % CI 2.12-2.58). This meta-analysis suggested that the XPG Asp1104His polymorphism was a risk factor for melanoma susceptibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Complex pipelines may have various structural supports and boundary conditions, as well as branches. To analyse the vibrational characteristics of piping systems, frequency modelling and solution methods considering complex constraints are developed here. A fourteen-equation model and Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) are employed to describe Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) in liquid-filled pipes. A general solution for the multi-branch pipe is proposed in this paper, offering a methodology to predict frequency responses of the complex piping system. Some branched pipe systems are built for the purpose of validation, indicating good agreement with calculated results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The axial vibration of the liquid-filled pipes can be represented with a four-equation fluid–structure interaction (FSI) model. When distributed friction was neglected, this model could be solved with an exact solution without computational grid, while the only weakness was the high time cost. A fast meshless solution (FMS) developed earlier used the time-line interpolation rather than the recursive algorithm, to speed the calculation. For the purpose of practical applications, the FMS for supports at pipe end and middle position is proposed, and series connection is also studied in this paper. The support is described by the complex constraint including elastic, damping and inertial effects. A numerical case of the double-pipe water hammer is employed to validate the series connection and end supports. The FMS for the middle support is validated by an existing experiment, where the support can be described by the dry friction. Both numerical and experimental cases indicate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the proposed solution method. • The fast meshless solution for the double pipe is proposed. • Complex constraints at pipe supports are incorporated and solved. • Calculation efficiency is improved significantly and high accuracy is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling is involved in joint development and inflammation in Osteoarthritis (OA), while the biochemical mechanism remains unclarified. This study aims to investigate downstream molecular events of KOR activation, to provide novel perspectives in OA pathology. Methods: U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, was intra-articularly injected in mice upon destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) as OA models, with PBS injection as control. The behavioral and histological evaluation was assessed by hot plate test and red solid green staining, respectively. Alterations in mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RNA-seq, RT-qPCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting (WB) in chondrocytes treated with TNF-α or TNF-α + U50,488H. Proteins interacted with KOR were explored using proximity labeling followed by mass spectrometry and then testified by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay and immunofluorescence (IF). Results: OA-induced pain was reduced and cartilage degeneration was alleviated upon KOR activation in DMM mice. In chondrocytes, activation of KOR reversed the upregulation of MMPs, IL-6, IL-1β and phosphorylated(p-) STAT3, stimulated by TNF-α, while the expression of NF-κB, MAPKs and AKT signaling weren't reversed. RNA-seq and IF results presented that KOR activation evidently reduced STAT3 nuclear translocation in chondrocytes upon TNF-α stimuli. The reduction may be resulted from the binding of KOR and STAT3 in the plasma membrane, revealed by proximity labeling and Co-IP results. Conclusions: KOR activation protects cartilage from OA, and this protective effect is mainly exerted via sequestering STAT3 on the plasma membrane, resulting in inactivation of STAT3-dependent immune responses which otherwise contributes to OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, published in the Journal of Neurological Surgery, discusses a case presentation of a 2-year-old boy with a tubero-infundibular craniopharyngioma. The boy had a history of previous surgeries and developed visual abnormalities due to the growth of the tumor. The authors used an endoscopic endonasal transplanum approach to completely remove the tumor, resulting in improvement of visual symptoms. However, the patient did develop diabetes insipidus postoperatively. The article provides valuable insights into the treatment of pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the surgical anatomy of the transmastoid transcervical intradural approach to the jugular foramen, which is a challenging area for skull base surgeons due to the presence of critical structures. The approach is versatile and allows for modifications to tailor it to specific tumors. The article provides a detailed description of the surgical steps and relevant anatomy, including variations such as vertebral artery transposition and facial nerve rerouting. The transmastoid transcervical intradural approach provides excellent exposure to the jugular foramen and surrounding areas, but precise knowledge of the anatomy is crucial due to the complex relationships of vital structures in this region. [Extracted from the article]

Pituitary adenomas (PAs), or pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), are commonly found in the anterior pituitary gland. Although the majority of PitNETs are benign and stable, several tumors have malignant characteristics. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the process of tumorigenesis and is composed of several types of cells. Various cells in the TME are significantly affected by oxidative stress. It has been reported that immunotherapeutic strategies have good effects in several cancers. However, the clinical potential of immunotherapies in PitNETs has not yet been fully discussed. Oxidative stress can regulate PitNET cells and immune cells in the TME, thus affecting the immune status of the TME of PitNETs. Therefore, modulation of oxidative stress‐regulated immune cells using a combination of several agents and the immune system to suppress PitNETs is a promising therapeutic direction. In this review, we systematically analyzed the oxidative stress process within PitNET cells and various immune cells to elucidate the potential value of immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pogo is a longitudinal vibration of liquid rockets, which is considered as a fluid-structure coupling of liquid supply system and rocket's structure. Its suppression is a critical element in the design of the fluid piping systems in liquid rockets, for many of them have been reported suffering the pogo vibration worldwide. Pogo suppression is a systematic technology including fluid-structure modelling, stability analysis and suppression devices. The suppression methods for pogo attracted much attention in the 1960s–1980s, while rare review can be found in recent decades. This article is to review pogo suppression methods vastly, and find effective and potential approaches for the future. The research and experience on the suppression technologies of pogo are investigated comprehensively, including the passive and active schemes. The advantages and limitations of various methods are discussed carefully, which indicates that the suppression is a systematic consideration. Moreover, the progress of the active control of fluid pulsation in hydraulic systems is also introduced detailedly, expecting a combination with the pogo application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three principal fates of axillary meristem in flowering plants are growth (G), reproduction (R), and inactivity (I). The allocation relationships between each meristem and plant size in annual herbaceous plants tend to change with altered precipitation (P) patterns in arid and semiarid grasslands. Here, we examined the allometry and plasticity of meristem allocation in three dominant annual herbaceous plants: Setaria viridis, Corispermum macrocarpum, and Bassia dasyphylla in a semiarid sandy grassland in northern China. We determined the range of plant sizes for each of the three species in the following treatments: ambient environment (Amb), P increased by 30% (P[+]) and by 60% (P[++]), P decreased by 30% (P[−]) and by 60% (P[− −]), drought for 46 days from May 1st to June 15th (D1) and from July 1st to August 15th (D2). We found that meristem allocation to branching intensity increased while allocation to apical dominance decreased with increasing plant size under decreased precipitation and seasonal drought. Decreased precipitation and seasonal drought caused the slope of allometry of meristem allocation in the three species to be significantly different from 1. Plasticity of meristem allocation to G, R, and I in S. viridis tended to be significantly greater in August under P(+) and P(++) while in C. macrocarpum tended to be greater in July under P(−), P(− −), D1, and D2. Our findings are important components of an adaptive strategy in annual herbaceous plants throughout the development stage, which will contribute to predict their developmental dynamics in the semiarid sandy grassland under future climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Positive associations between periodontitis (PD) and atherosclerosis have been established, but the causality and mechanisms are not clear. We aimed to explore the causal roles of PD in atherosclerosis and dissect the underlying mechanisms. Methods and results A mouse model of PD was established by ligation of molars in combination with application of subgingival plaques collected from PD patients and then combined with atherosclerosis model induced by treating atheroprone mice with a high-cholesterol diet (HCD). PD significantly aggravated atherosclerosis in HCD-fed atheroprone mice, including increased en face plaque areas in whole aortas and lesion size at aortic roots. PD also increased circulating levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, hepatic levels of cholesterol, and hepatic expression of rate-limiting enzymes for lipogenesis. Using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, Fusobacterium nucleatum was identified as the most enriched PD-associated pathobiont that is present in both the oral cavity and livers. Co-culture experiments demonstrated that F. nucleatum directly stimulated lipid biosynthesis in primary mouse hepatocytes. Moreover, oral inoculation of F. nucleatum markedly elevated plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and promoted atherogenesis in HCD-fed ApoE −/− mice. Results of RNA-seq and Seahorse assay indicated that F. nucleatum activated glycolysis, inhibition of which by 2-deoxyglucose in turn suppressed F. nucleatum -induced lipogenesis in hepatocytes. Finally, interrogation of the molecular mechanisms revealed that F. nucleatum -induced glycolysis and lipogenesis by activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathway in hepatocytes. Conclusions PD exacerbates atherosclerosis and impairs lipid metabolism in mice, which may be mediated by F. nucleatum -promoted glycolysis and lipogenesis through PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling in hepatocytes. Treatment of PD and specific targeting of F. nucleatum are promising strategies to improve therapeutic effectiveness of hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought seriously endangers the development of agro‐pastoral ecotone in arid and semi‐arid regions. However, drought evolution characteristics of semi‐arid sandy grassland and its drivers are not well understood in the complex climate change context. Thus, in this paper, the revised standardized precipitation evaporation indices on one‐month (SPEI‐1) and growing‐season (SPEI‐6) scale, flash drought and dry spells (DS) were calculated as drought indicators, and the temporal variabilities and meteorological drivers of drought in Horqin Sandy Land during the growing period (April–September) from 2007 to 2021 were studied. The results showed that SPEI‐1 and SPEI‐6 exhibited negative trends and periodic change. This drought aggravation was manifested in increased grades and numbers of drought months. Flash droughts can occur every month during the growing season. And its occurrence was not only positively correlated with all drought events in frequency but also synchronized in time. The increased number of DS showed an asymmetrical shift towards 7‐day‐and‐longer DS. SPEI sensitivity to precipitation (P) was noticeably higher than to atmospheric evapotranspiration demand (AED) at both monthly and growing season scales. SPEI sensitivity to AED was modulated by P amounts, which was higher during low P period. Apart from the amounts of P and AED, their temporal variability also strongly determined how they affect the drought severity. P was also the main driver for flash drought and long DS, but AED with larger amount and higher variability is the reason for their aggravation. Our results demonstrate the complexity of drought intensification in semi‐arid sandy grasslands and highlight the important role of AED anomalies in it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although bioactive peptides enhancing bone healing have demonstrated effectiveness in treating bone defects, in vivo instability poses a challenge to their clinical application. Currently reported peptide delivery systems do not meet the demands of bone tissue repair regarding stability and peptide release efficacy. Herein, the self-assembling recombinant chimeric protein (Sbp5–2RGD) is developed by genetic engineering with cell adhesion peptide RGD as the targeted peptide and a newly discovered scallop byssal-derived protein Sbp5–2 that can assemble into wet stable films as the structural domain. In vitro studies show that the Sbp5–2RGD film exhibits excellent extensibility and biocompatibility. In vitro and in vivo degradation experiments demonstrate that the film remains stable due to the layer-by-layer degradation mode, resulting in sustained delivery of RGD in situ for up to 4 weeks. Consequently, the film can effectively promote osteogenesis, which accelerates bone defect healing and the implants osseointegration. Cell-level studies further show that the film up-regulates the expression of genes and proteins (ALP, OCN, OSX, OPN, RUNX2, VEGF) associated with osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Overall, this novel protein film represents an intelligent platform for peptide immobilization, protection, and release through its self-assembly, dense structure, and degradation mode, providing a therapeutic strategy for bone repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A foreground-foreground class balance method was proposed to address challenges caused by sample imbalance of different classes. • An improved YOLOv8s, NVW-YOLOv8s, was proposed for detecting and segmenting tomato fruits simultaneously. • In the NVW-YOLOv8s model, a C2f-N module, a variable focal loss and a regression loss based on WIoU were adopted. • The proposed method achieved promising results and processing speed for real-time detection and segmentation of tomato fruits. Tomato yield estimation relies significantly on the accurate detection of fruit quantity and size. And object detection and semantic segmentation of fruits emerge as efficacious methodologies for the realization of fruit counting and size detection. To address challenges associated with the detection and segmentation of tomato fruits in complex environments such as sample imbalance of different classes, small targets, and susceptibility to occlusion at varying stages of ripeness, this study proposed a foreground-foreground class balance method and an improved YOLOv8s network, NVW-YOLOv8s, for detecting and segmenting tomato fruits simultaneously. The foreground-foreground class balance method initially performed pixel-wise extraction on fruit samples with fewer instances. Subsequently, it synthesized them with original images containing a limited number of samples from the class, thereby augmenting the overall quantity of this specific category of fruit samples. In the NVW-YOLOv8s network, a C2f-N module, founded on the normalization-based attention module (NAM), was specifically crafted for residual feature learning. This design serves to augment the network's proficiency in extracting and integrating feature information pertaining to tomato fruits within intricate environments. Additionally, a variable focal loss (VFL) was introduced as the classification loss function to address the issue of positive and negative sample imbalance, and a regression loss function based on Wise-IoU (WIoU) was incorporated to tackle challenges related to fruit small targets and susceptibility to occlusion. The YOLOv8s models trained with the augmented balanced dataset revealed that the model's detection and segmentation performance, as indicated by mAP@0.5, improved by 4.8 % and 5.4 %, respectively, compared with the model trained with the augmented original training dataset. The test results on the augmented balanced dataset indicated that the proposed NVW-YOLOv8s network achieved a detection mAP@0.5 of 91.4 %, an F 1 -Score of 85.4 %, a segmentation mAP@0.5 of 90.7 %, and an F 1 -Score of 84.8 %. These results surpass the baseline YOLOv8s network by 4.3 % and 5.5 % for detection, 4.1 % and 5.0 % for segmentation, respectively. Additionally, the processing for concurrent detection and segmentation was measured at a speed of 60.2 FPS. Therefore, the proposed method has successfully met the precision and real-time requirements for intelligent yield estimation in horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: glioma is the most prevalent primary tumor of the human central nervous system and accompanies extremely poor prognosis in patients. The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels family consists of six different families, which are closely associated with cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and invasion. TRP family genes play an essential role in the development of tumors. Nevertheless, the function of these genes in gliomas is not fully understood. (2) Methods: we analyze the gene expression data of 28 TRP family genes in glioma patients through bioinformatic analysis. (3) Results: the study showed the aberrations of TRP family genes were correlated to prognosis in glioma. Then, we set enrichment analysis and selected 10 hub genes that may play an important role in glioma. Meanwhile, the expression of 10 hub genes was further established according to different grades, survival time, IDH mutation status, and 1p/19q codeletion status. We found that TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPC6, MCOLN1, MCOLN2, and MCOLN3 were significantly correlated to the prognosis in glioma patients. Furthermore, we illustrated that the expression of hub genes was associated with immune activation and immunoregulators (immunoinhibitors, immunostimulators, and MHC molecules) in glioma. (4) Conclusions: we proved that TRP family genes are promising immunotherapeutic targets and potential clinical biomarkers in patients with glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females. Dachshund Homolog 1 (DACH1) gene is regarded as an important tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer which plays an important regulatory role in the development disease progression, particularly in carcinomas. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNA (miRNA), regarded as a novel group of noncoding RNAs, are always involved in regulating gene expression. In this work, hsa_circ_0047604 expressed lower in breast cancer tissue and played the role of sponge of miR-548o. By this way, hsa_circ_0047604 could upregulate DACH1 to inhibit breast cancer. In conclusion, this study revealed that hsa_circ_0047604 acted as a tumor suppressor and regulated breast cancer progression via hsa_circ_0047604–miR-548o–DACH1 axis, which might provide a therapeutic method for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a liver disease caused by heavy drinking. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g), a major cause of periodontitis, whose antibodies are elevated in severe ALD patients in the plasma. The purpose of this study is to further study the role and the molecular mechanism of P.g in the progress of ALD. In this study, saliva of patients with ALD was collected. Then, an animal model of ALD with oral P.g administration was established, pathology of liver and spleen, intestinal microorganisms and metabolites were analyzed. The molecular mechanism of P.g on ALD was analyzed in vitro. ALD and intestinal microflora and metabolite changes were observed more serious in the alcohol and P.g groups than the alcohol group. Moreover, ferroptosis was aggravated by P.g in the liver. Meanwhile, P.g promoted ferroptosis accomplication with alcohol in vitro , which can be reversed by ferroptosis inhibitors. In conclusion, P.g aggravates ALD through exacerbation gut microbial metabolic disorder in mice with alcohol, which maybe depend on ferroptosis activation in hepatocytes. The study provides a new strategy for prevention and treatment of ALD by improving the oral micro-environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted molding process research on castings of complex engine blocks with a new Al–Si–Cu aluminum alloy material. Numerical simulation and experimental validation were used to investigate the effects of different pouring system design schemes on the casting performance, defect formation and mechanical properties of aluminum alloy castings. Based on the casting structure and alloy casting properties, three types of casting systems (i.e., A, B, and C) were designed and analyzed by numerical simulation and testing. The study shows that the molding process of casting system scheme C is more optimal, the numerically simulated porosity is reduced by 4.13 and 1.9% compared with those of schemes A and B, respectively, the defect volume is reduced by 205.87 and 94.7 cm3 compared with those of schemes A and B, respectively, and the average cooling rate is improved by 47.6 and 26.5% compared with those of schemes A and B, respectively. After experimental verification, casting system C exhibited optimal mechanical properties, good CT scan and the microstructure of aluminum alloy analysis results, and numerical simulation results consistent with the actual trial production results, providing guidance for relevant theoretical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To demonstrate the clinical value of epithelial membrane protein 3 (EMP3) with bioinformatic analysis and clinical data, and then to establish a practical nomogram predictive model with bicenter validation. Methods: The data from CGGA and TCGA database were used to analyze the expression of EMP3 and its correlation with clinical prognosis. Then, we analyzed EMP3 expression in samples from 179 glioma patients from 2013 to 2017. Univariate and multivariate cox regression were used to predict the prognosis with multiple factors. Finally, a nomogram to predict poor outcomes was formulated. The accuracy and discrimination of nomograms were determined with ROC curve and calibration curve in training and validation cohorts. Results: EMP3 was significantly higher in higher‐grade glioma and predicted poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis, high expression of EMP3 (HR = 2.842, 95% CI 1.984–4.071), WHO grade (HR = 1.991, 95% CI 1.235–3.212), and IDH1 mutant (HR = 0.503, 95% CI 0.344–0.737) were included. The nomogram was constructed based on the above features, which represented great predictive value in clinical outcomes. Conclusion: This study demonstrated EMP3 as a novel predictor for clinical progression and clinical outcomes in glioma. Moreover, the nomogram with EMP3 expression represented a practical approach to provide individualized risk assessment for glioma patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite nc-TiC/a-C:H films have been deposited via filtered cathodic vacuum arc technique, employing Ti target and C2H2 gas as material precursors. The composition and nanostructure of film, correlated to mechanical and tribological properties of film, are varied by changing C2H2 flow rate and filter coil current. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction has been used to show that salient TiC (111) peak exists in film with grain size of order of 8–10 nm, as a function of filter coil current. Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations demonstrate that the nc-TiC/a-C:H films mainly contain nanocrystalline graphite and sp2-bonded carbon, both as a function of C2H2 flow rate. Mechanical tests confirm that the nc-TiC/a-C:H films possess superior hardness of 33.9 GPa and elastic modulus of 237.6 GPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Neurotrophin receptor‐interacting MAGE homologue (NRAGE) plays a crucial role in the regulation of bone metabolism. The present study investigated the regulation role of NRAGE on autophagy activation and periodontitis process during experimental periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Six‐week‐old wild‐type (WT) and NRAGE−/− mice were randomly divided into three time points in the periodontitis groups (0, 2, and 4 weeks). Histopathological changes were determined using the tooth mobility, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT). Osteoclasts activation and number were investigated using tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, immunohistochemistry, and real‐time quantitative PCR (RT‐PCR). The level of autophagy‐related gene expression was measured using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and RT‐PCR. Results: H&E staining and Micro‐CT showed that the destruction of the alveolar bone was considerably more severe in the NRAGE−/− group than the WT group after ligation. Tooth mobility in the NRAGE−/− group was obviously higher than that in the WT group. The activation and number of osteoclasts and the level of autophagy‐related gene expression in NRAGE−/− group were significantly higher than that in WT group. Conclusions: The present study showed that knockout of NRAGE induced autophagy‐related gene expression and accelerated the process of periodontitis disease via increasing the activity and differentiation of osteoclast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether diabetes mellitus (DM) contributes to the drug resistance of carbamazepine (CBZ), we investigated the correlation between the blood glucose status and the CBZ resistance condition in patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Patients and methods: A total of 155 TN patients treated with the CBZ monotherapy were selected at Shanghai General Hospital and Shanghai Xinhua Hospital from September 2018 to January 2020. Among them, 15 were diagnosed with DM. Patients' CBZ resistance levels were evaluated according to progression-free survival. We utilized ordered multiple classification logistic regression to determine the dominant factors leading to CBZ resistance. We analyzed the correlation between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and progression-free survival using the Pearson correlation analysis. Results: The regression analysis showed that DM was the only factor affecting CBZ resistance (p = 0.035; OR = 0.327; 95% CI, 0.115–0.926). Progression-free survival was 28.5 ± 21.2 months in the DM group and 66.0 ± 33.2 months in the non-DM group. The concentration of HbA1c in the blood was negatively correlated with progression-free survival (r = − 0.197; p = 0.014). Conclusions: This study shows that blood glucose status is a significant factor contributing to the CBZ resistance in the treatment of TN. The progression-free survival of patients is affected by the status of DM and blood HbAlc levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pituitary metastasis is a rare situation in clinical practice and has been estimated to take up no more than 1% of tumors found in sellar region, in which the incidence of a secondary metastatic lesion to the sella by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is extremely rare, only 15 cases of which has been reported yet. The aim of this study is to share the detailed procedures and clinical strategies of this rare case and review the whole 15 HCC-derived PM cases since 1857. We present an extremely rare case of an HCC metastasis to the pituitary gland with his condition and clinical course. We then discuss the dominant diagnosis and clinical therapy of HCC-derived PM and review the literature. This case demonstrated the difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of PM and the need for accurate judgment when confronting pituitary tumors with atypical features. In addition, the appropriate therapy needs to be well considered, because of the poor prognosis and severe symptoms. Abbreviations: CTA: computed tomography angiography; ETTS: endoscopic transnasal transsphenoidal surgery; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; ICA: internal carotid artery; PET-CT: positron emission tomography-computed tomography; PM: pituitary metastasis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a chronic and infectious disease, dental caries has become a part of the heavy burdens of individuals and society, which is featured with tooth mineral loss and mainly caused by oral bacteria. Anti-caries agent should be safe, and capable of both high bacterial inhibition and remineralization, yet very few ones can meet these requirements simultaneously. In this study, a silver-doped amorphous calcium phosphate (Ag-EACP) is prepared by a biomimetic enzymatic reaction, with the in vivo energy storage biomolecule adenosine triphosphate disodium (Na 2 ATP) as the phosphorus source. Ag-EACP has an amorphous phase, with high content of ATP. The doped silver in the form of Ag+ ion is stabilized against transformation, can help adjust the size of Ag-EACP. The Ag-EACP can effectively inhibit the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus , two main cariogenic pathogens, both in planktonic and free states, and suppress the formation of bio-film. Moreover, this nanocomposite generates significant remineralization and micro-hardness recovery of initial caries lesion. Ag-EACP shows great anti-caries effects on initial caries lesions and is promising for caries prevention in dentistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy serves an important role in numerous diseases, as well as in infection and inflammation. Irreversible pulpitis (IP) is one of the most common inflammatory endodontic diseases, and autophagy has been reported to regulate IP in vitro. However, the level of autophagy in the IP pathogenic process in vivo remains unknown. The aim of the current study was, thus, to investigate the levels of autophagy-associated proteins in rats with IP in vivo. A rat dental IP model was successfully constructed, and five different time points (0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 days) were investigated. The levels of the autophagy-related 5 (ATG5), ATG7, light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 proteins exhibited a time-dependent increase in rats with IP, whereas the levels of mammalian target of rapamycin and p62/sequestosome 1 were decreased. In addition, the levels of ATG proteins were specifically increased in odontoblasts and microvascular endothelial cells in pulpitis tissue. Based on these findings, autophagy may serve an important role in IP, and the present study data provide a new insight into the IP pathogenesis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Neurotrophin receptor-interacting MAGE homologue (Nrage) plays an important role in bone development and the metabolism of normal skeletal structures. Our previous study showed that Nrage inhibited the odontogenic differentiation of mouse dental pulp cells. However, the potential roles and mechanism of Nrage in regulating odontogenic differentiation are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of Nrage in odontogenic differentiation of mouse odontoblast-like cells. Materials and methods: Endogenous expression of Nrage was stably downregulated by lentivirus-mediated shRNA. Mineralized nodules formation was detected by alizarin red S staining. Dmp-1, Dspp, and ALP mRNA and protein levels were detected by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. In addition, ALPase activity was detected. Confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) were used to analyze the interactions between NRAGE and NF-κB signaling molecules. An IKK inhibitor was also used in the study. Results: NRAGE expression in odontoblasts was downregulated during mouse first maxillary molar development. Moreover, NRAGE expression was downregulated during odontogenic differentiation of odontoblast-like cells. NRAGE knockdown significantly upregulated DMP1 and DSP expression, increased ALPase activity, and promoted mineralized nodule formation. In addition, NRAGE knockdown increased the translocation of NF-κB1 to the nucleus and phosphorylation levels of p65. Co-IP results showed that NRAGE bound to IKKβ. Most importantly, the promoting effect of Nrage knockdown on odontoblastic differentiation was reduced after treatment with an IKK inhibitor. Conclusions: Our data confirmed that NRAGE is an important regulator of odontogenic differentiation of odontoblasts by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway through binding to IKKβ. Abbreviations: Nrage: neurotrophin receptor-interacting MAGE homologue; DSP: dentin sialophospho protein; DMP-1: dentin matrix protein-1; BMP: bone morphogenetic protein; Wnt: wingless; NF-κB: nuclear factor of activated B cells; DAPI: 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; KO: knockout; DPCs: dental pulp cells; AA: ascorbic acid; β-Gly: β-glycerophosphate; Dex: dexamethasone; co-IP: co-immunoprecipitation; IκB: inhibitor of NF-κB; IKK: IκB kinase [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]