Biomedical Journal最新文献

Background: The surgical outcomes and stability of patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion determine the success of treatment. Variations in surgical interventions, patient responsiveness, and growth patterns across vertical facial morphologies result in varying treatment outcomes and postoperative stability.

Methods: This retrospective study recruited 52 adults diagnosed with skeletal Class II malocclusion treated with bimaxillary surgery; these adults were divided into two groups according to their vertical facial patterns. Cone-beam computed tomography images were collected before surgery (T0), after surgery (T1), and after orthodontic treatment (T2). Reconstructed three-dimensional images were used for cephalometric measurements and analysis.

Results: From T0 to T1, the Frankfort-mandibular plane angle decreased in the high-angle group but increased in the low-medium-angle group. The mandible advanced 9.02 and 6.21 mm in the high-angle and low-medium-angle groups, respectively. From T1 to T2, significant changes were observed in the anterior mandible horizontal movement of the high-angle group (-1.91 ± 3.63 mm) compared with the low-medium-angle group (-0.57 ± 1.04 mm). There were more patients exhibit clinically significant relapse (> 2 mm) in the high-angle group (44%) than in the low-medium-angle group (20%).

Conclusion: The relapse patterns in the two groups were similarly upward and backward. However, the high angle group exhibited greater average postoperative changes. The proportion of patients who exhibited a clinically significant relapse was higher in the high angle group.

Background: Gastric ulcers are commonly caused by improper use of aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or Helicobacter pylori infection. Anisomeles indica (L.) Kuntze, a traditional herbal medicine enriched with ovatodiolide, possesses potent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and has demonstrated efficacy in improving gastric ulcers in animal models. However, its impact on the gut microbial ecosystem remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of A. indica fractions enriched with ovatodiolide on aspirin-induced gastric ulcers and to investigate their influence on gut microbiota composition.

Materials and methods: Aspirin-induced gastric ulcers were established in mice, followed by treatment with various A. indica fractions. The severity of gastric ulceration was assessed using histopathological analysis. Additionally, 16S rRNA V3-V4 sequencing and 16S amplicon library construction were performed to characterize gut microbiota composition.

Results: Our results showed that mice treated with ovatodiolide-enriched A. indica fractions exhibited significant amelioration of gastric ulcers compared to untreated controls. The treatment also enhanced the relative abundance of beneficial gut microbiota, including Lactobacillus and Adlercreutzia. Furthermore, histopathological examination revealed that A. indica treatment significantly upregulated mucin expression in ulcerated gastric tissues, suggesting a protective role in gastric mucosal integrity.

Conclusions: This study provides insights into the mechanisms by which A. indica alleviates gastric ulcers, highlighting its ability to modulate gut microbiota and enhance mucosal protection.

Background: Syphilis is a prevalent disease diagnosed primarily through serological tests. Although one confirmatory treponemal tests (TT), including Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) or fluorescent treponema antibody absorption (FTA-Abs), is required for syphilis diagnosis, multiple TTs are commonly administered throughout the disease course. Discrepant TT results can cause confusion and delay treatment. In this study, we identified the clinical characteristics of patients with discrepant TT results and developed a machine learning tool to evaluate the risk of TT discrepancies.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective cohort study, electronic health records were linked to national claims records collected from 2001 to 2018. Variables of interest in risk factor identification and machine learning model development included medical histories and demographic characteristics. The association between syphilis treatment and discrepant TT results was assessed.

Results: Among 5,780 eligible patients tested for syphilis, 133 (2.30%) had discrepant TT results. HIV and AIDS were identified as prominent risk factors associated with discrepant TT results (adjusted odds ratio = 2.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.4-4.7). Patients with a top 5% risk probability in the LightGBM model were 10 times more likely than others to have discrepant TT results. TPPA was more likely than FTA-Abs to become negative after treatment among patients with discrepant TT results (odds ratio = 9.18, 95% confidence interval = 2.05-41.07).

Conclusions: Risk factor identification and machine learning model development can support the interpretation of serological tests for syphilis, enabling accurate diagnosis and clinical decision-making.

The entry of pathogens into host cells is a critical and widely appreciated step in host-pathogen interactions. While significant progress has been made in understanding the various mechanisms by which microbes are taken up by host cells, an appreciation of exit strategies remains limited. Nearly two decades ago, in 2006, two independent groups observed the non-lytic expulsion of the opportunistic fungal pathogen C. neoformans from macrophages, a process also termed vomocytosis. Over the years, various host and pathogen factors have been implicated in modulating vomocytosis; however, a clear understanding of the triggers, the downstream signaling cascades driving expulsion, and the consequences of vomocytosis on pathogenesis remain elusive. In this review, I provide a historical account of vomocytosis in macrophages, summarize our current understanding of its mechanism, discuss its biological significance, and offer suggestions for future research directions.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses a photosensitizing agent and light to treat various medical conditions and ophthalmology including chronic central serous chorioretinopathy, cancer, skin disorders, and infections. Local inflammation in tumor environment after PDT can be effective in eliciting an immune response to improve treatment efficiency but it causes some early and long-term side effects in local and surround tissues, resulting leads to incidental effects and unwilling consequences such as pain, erythema and infection. Moreover, the mechanism of inflammation in PDT is not clear. Employment of non-optimized protocol including cytotoxic photosensitizer (PS) and fluence and fluence rate during PDT can bring biased outcomes for patients in terms of inflammation and treatment. In PDT, the minimum cytotoxicity and side effects of normal tissue depend on several factors, including the type and location of the tumor to be treated, the PS used, laser power, oxygen level, tumor properties and the patient's individual characteristics. Therefore, careful consideration and adjustment of these parameters are essential for achieving successful PDT outcome. However, in this topical review, various databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, were used to find relevant studies for this purpose. We highlighted various parameters that influence on cytotoxicity and inflammation response of normal tissue after PDT. Additionally, various pathways that PDT induced inflammation summarized as well as associated side effects have been categorized and finally, we proposed some factors to reduce the side effects and cytotoxicity to the normal tissue in future.

Background: Areca nut is a significant risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC), yet its molecular mechanisms, particularly miRNA-mediated regulation, remain poorly understood. This study investigates the regulatory networks underlying areca nut-induced HNC and explores therapeutic strategies through computational drug repurposing.

Materials and methods: Arecoline was used to assess its effects on invasion, migration, and cisplatin resistance in HNC cells and normal keratinocytes. Differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs were identified using high-throughput profiling, followed by integrative network analysis using TCGA-HNSC dataset and multiMiR. OncoPredict was used for drug repurposing to identify therapeutic agents targeting dysregulated miRNA-mRNA networks.

Results: Arecoline exposure promoted invasion and cisplatin resistance, with more pronounced effects in normal keratinocytes, indicating a potential role in early tumorigenesis. Integrative transcriptomic analysis revealed a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network comprising 1,971 oncogenes, 604 tumor suppressors, 35 oncogenic miRNA (OncomiRs), and 36 tumor suppressive miRNA (TSmiRs) regulating pathways related to cell motility and stress response. A tumor-suppressive network with miR-212-3p as a central hub and an oncogenic network modulated by miR-410 and miR-1-3p as critical hubs were identified. Drug repurposing analysis identified four potential therapeutic candidates (MK-2206, BYL-719, MG-132, and FGIN-1-27), with MK-2206 emerging as the most promising. MK-2206 effectively reversed arecoline-induced miRNA-mRNA dysregulation, mitigated malignant phenotypes, and selectively targeted HNC cells while sparing normal keratinocytes.

Conclusions: This integrative approach elucidates areca nut-driven carcinogenesis through miRNA-mRNA interactions and highlights MK-2206 as a promising therapeutic strategy for areca nut-associated HNC.