Reduction of the exchangeable cadmium content in soil by appropriately increasing the maturity degree of organic fertilizers.

To enhance the remediation effect of heavy metal pollution, organic fertilizers with different maturity levels were added to cadmium-contaminated soil. The remediation effect was determined by evaluating the form transformation and bioavailability of cadmium in heavy metal-contaminated soil. -Results showed that when the maturity was 50%, although the soil humus (HS) content increased, it didn't contribute to reducing the bioavailability of soil Cd. Appropriately increasing the maturity (GI ≥ 80%), the HS increased by 113.95%∼157.96%, and reduced significantly the bioavailability of soil Cd, among the exchangeable Cd decreased by 16.04%∼33.51% (P < 0.01). The structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that HS content is a critical factor influencing the transformation of Cd forms and the reduction of exchangeable Cd accumulation; the HS and residual Cd content were positively correlated with the maturity (P < 0.01), while exchangeable Cd content was negatively correlated with maturity (P < 0.01), and the correlation increased with increasing maturity. In summary, appropriately increasing the maturity (GI ≥ 80%) can increase significantly HS, promote the transformation of exchangeable Cd into residual Cd, and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of organic fertilizers in the remediation of soil Cd pollution. These results provide a new insight into the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil through organic fertilizer as soil amendment in Cd-contaminated soil.

Genetic Analysis and Fine Mapping of QTL for the Erect Leaf in Mutant mths29 Induced through Fast Neutron in Wheat.

The erect leaf plays a crucial role in determining plant architecture, with its growth and development regulated by genetic factors. However, there has been a lack of comprehensive studies on the regulatory mechanisms governing wheat lamina joint development, thus failing to meet current breeding demands. In this study, a wheat erect leaf mutant, mths29, induced via fast neutron mutagenesis, was utilized for QTL fine mapping and investigation of lamina joint development. Genetic analysis of segregating populations derived from mths29 and Jimai22 revealed that the erect leaf trait was controlled by a dominant single gene. Using BSR sequencing and map-based cloning techniques, the QTL responsible for the erect leaf trait was mapped to a 1.03 Mb physical region on chromosome 5A. Transcriptome analysis highlighted differential expression of genes associated with cell division and proliferation, as well as several crucial transcription factors and kinases implicated in lamina joint development, particularly in the boundary cells of the preligule zone in mths29. These findings establish a solid foundation for understanding lamina joint development and hold promise for potential improvements in wheat plant architecture.

Progress and trends in photodynamic therapy research in oral science: A bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: Photodynamic therapy is garnering increasing attention in oral science. Despite its promising potential, further exploration is warranted to delve into the research paradigms and evolving trends within oral science. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of photodynamic therapy in oral science (PDTOS), investigating research landscapes, identifying key contributors, analyzing collaborative networks, pinpointing emerging research directions, and exploring factors influencing high citations. METHODS: Research and review articles in PDTOS were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database up to December 31, 2023. The R package "bibliometrix" and VOSviewer were utilized for visualizing collaboration networks and keyword co-occurrence, alongside trend analysis. Negative binomial regression was used to model factors affecting citation counts. RESULTS: A total of 2784 articles with significant international collaboration (23.14 %) were analyzed. Brazil, China, the USA, Iran, and Italy led in publications, with predominant USA-European collaborations. The University of Sao Paulo in Brazil was the most published institution in the field. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy was the core journal in the field and has the highest number of publications. The main research fields included photodynamic therapy, antibacterial and anticancer treatment, management, and peri­implant periodontitis, with a recent focus on peri­implantitis. Factors such as international cooperation, funding, article age, type, author count, and references significantly influenced citations. CONCLUSIONS: This research provided valuable insights into PDTOS trends and knowledge structures. These findings underscored a significant increase in the number of PDTOS publications, urging strengthened international cooperation. Emerging research has focused on peri­implantitis and nano-photosensitizer materials. Authors should consider various citation-related factors in their research endeavors.

Sophoraflavanone G: A review of the phytochemistry and pharmacology.

Bioactive compounds derived from natural sources have long been investigated for the prevention and treatment of human diseases. Sophoraflavanone G (SFG), a lavandulyl flavanone naturally occurring in several Sophora plant species, belongs to the group of prenylated flavonoids that have garnered significant interest in contemporary research. The natural molecule exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties and shows remarkable efficacy. Its ability to effectively suppress a range of malignant tumor cells, such as leukemia, breast cancer, and lung cancer, is attributed to its multi-target, multi-pathway, and multi-faceted mechanisms of action. Simultaneously, it can also alleviate various inflammatory diseases by mediating inflammatory mediators and molecular pathways. Furthermore, it has the capability to combat antibiotic resistance, exhibit synergistic antibacterial properties with diverse antibiotics, and prevent and treat various agricultural pests. Theoretically, it can bring benefits to human health and has potential value as a drug. Nevertheless, the drawbacks of poor water solubility and inadequate targeting cannot be overlooked. To comprehensively assess the current research on SFG, leverage its structural advantages and pharmacological activity, overcome its low bioavailability limitations, expedite its progression into a novel therapeutic drug, and better serve the clinic, this article presents a overall retrospect of the current research status of SFG. The discussion includes an analysis of the structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, bioavailability, pharmacological activities, and structure-activity relationships of SFG, with the goal of offering valuable insights and guidance for future research endeavors in this field.

The coexistence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes synergistically enhanced the cadmium tolerance of maize.

Introduction: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytic fungi (DSEs) generally coexist in the roots of plants. However, our understanding of the effects of their coexistence on plant growth and stress resistance is limited. Methods: In the present study, the effects of single and dual inoculation of AMF and DSE on the growth, photosynthetic physiology, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, endogenous hormones, and cadmium (Cd) content of maize under 25 mg•kg-1 Cd stress were investigated. Results: Compared with that after the non-inoculation treatment, AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of maize leaves; promoted root GSH metabolism; increased the root GSH concentration and activity of γ-glutamyl cysteine synthase (γ-GCS), ATP sulfatase (ATPS) and sulfite reductase (SIR) by 215%, 117%, 50%, and 36%, respectively; and increased the concentration of endogenous hormones in roots, with increases in zeatin (ZR), indole-3 acetic acid (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA) by 81%, 209%, and 72%, respectively. AMF inoculation, DSE inoculation and AMF+DSE co-inoculation significantly increased maize biomass, and single inoculation with AMF or DSE increased the Cd concentration in roots by 104% or 120%, respectively. Moreover, significant or highly significant positive correlations were observed between the contents of ZR, IAA, and ABA and the activities of γ-GCS, ATPS, and SIR and the glutathione (GSH) content. There were significant or highly significant positive interactions between AMF and DSE on the Pn of leaves, root GSH metabolism, and endogenous hormone contents according to two-way analysis of variance. Therefore, the coexistence of AMF and DSE synergistically enhanced the Cd tolerance of maize.

Design and evaluation of mRNA encoding recombinant neutralizing antibodies for botulinum neurotoxin type B intoxication prophylaxis.

Among all natural and synthetic toxins, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by Clostridium botulinum in an anaerobic environment, are the most toxic polymer proteins. Currently, the most effective modalities for botulism prevention and treatment are vaccination and antitoxin use, respectively. However, these modalities are associated with long response time for active immunization, side effects, and donor limitations. As such, the development of more promising botulism prevention and treatment modalities is warranted. Here, we designed an mRNA encoding B9-hFc - a heavy-chain antibody fused to VHH and human Fc that can neutralize BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B) effectively - and assessed its expression in vitro and in vivo. The results confirmed that our mRNA demonstrates good expression in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, a single mRNA lipid nanoparticle injection effectively prevents BoNT/B intoxication in vivo, with effects comparable to those of protein antibodies. In conclusion, we explored and clarified whether mRNA drugs encoding neutralizing antibodies prevent BoNT/B intoxication. Our results provide an efficient strategy for further research on the prevention and treatment of intoxication by botulinum toxin.

Characterization of neutralizing chimeric heavy-chain antibodies against tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is one of the most toxic proteins. Neutralizing antibodies against TeNT are effective in prevention and treatment. In this study, 14 anti-tetanus nanobodies were obtained from a phage display nanobody library by immunizing a camel with the C-terminal receptor-binding domain of TeNT (TeNT-Hc) as the antigen. After fusion with the human Fc fragment, 11 chimeric heavy-chain antibodies demonstrated nanomolar binding toward TeNT-Hc. The results of toxin neutralization experiments showed that T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 completely protected mice against 20 × the median lethal dose (LD50) at a low concentration. The neutralizing potency of T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 against TeNT is 0.4 IU/mg, 0.4 IU/mg and 0.2 IU/mg, respectively. In the prophylactic setting, we found that 5 mg/kg of T83-13 provided the mice with full protection from tetanus, even when they were injected 14 days before exposure to 20 × LD50 TeNT. T83-7 and T83-8 were less effective, being fully protective only when challenged 7 or 10 days before exposure, respectively. In the therapeutic setting, 12 h after exposure to TeNT, 1 ~ 5 mg/kg of T83-7, and T83-8 could provide complete protection for mice against 5 × LD50 TeNT, while 1 mg/kg T83-13 could provide complete protection 24 h after exposure to 5 × LD50 TeNT. Our results suggested that these antibodies represent prophylactic and therapeutic activities against TeNT in a mouse model. The T83-7, T83-8, and T83-13 could form the basis for the subsequent development of drugs to treat TeNT toxicity.

Isolation and characterization of Hc-targeting chimeric heavy chain antibodies neutralizing botulinum neurotoxin type B.

Background: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) produced by Clostridium botulinum is one of the most potent known toxins. Moreover, BoNT is classified as one of the most important biological warfare agents that threatens the biosafety of the world. Currently, the approved treatment for botulism in humans is the use of polyvalent horse serum antitoxins. However, they are greatly limited because of insufficient supply and adverse reactions. Thus, treatment of human botulism requires the development of effective toxin-neutralizing antibodies. Considering their advantages, neutralizing nanobodies will play an increasing role as BoNTs therapeutics. Methods: Herein, neutralizing nanobodies binding to the heavy chain (Hc) domain of BoNT/B (BHc) were screened from a phage display library. Then, BoNT/B-specific clones were identified and fused with the human Fc fragment (hFc) to form chimeric heavy chain antibodies. Finally, the affinity, specificity, and neutralizing activity of antibodies against BoNT/B in vivo were evaluated. Results: The B5-hFc, B9-hFc and B12-hFc antibodies demonstrated high affinity for BHc in the nanomolar range. The three antibodies were proven to have potent neutralizing activity against BoNT/B in vivo. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that inhibiting toxin binding to the host receptor is an efficient strategy and the three antibodies could be used as candidates for the further development of drugs to prevent and treat botulism.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical constituents in goupi plaster prepared by various extraction methods using UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and UPLC-MS/MS.

Goupi plaster, a representative preparation of black plaster, has demonstrated promising effects in treating knee osteoarthritis. However, high temperature used in traditional frying extraction may cause decomposition of its effective components, thus limiting the efficacy. This study aimed to explore the scientific nature of the traditional preparation technology of Goupi plaster, and to compare the effects of different extraction methods on the types of chemical components and the content of index components. The UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS and UPLC-MS/MS technologies which have high efficiency, sensitivity and accuracy, were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the chemical components of Goupi plaster under different preparation processes. The results show that the extraction solvent approach is different from the traditional frying extraction method, and has a positive effect. However, the mechanism of action of Goupi plaster is complex and its pharmacological effects are diverse. Future studies should explore whether it necessary to change the frying extraction method. This experiment provides a theoretical basis that will guide further scientific discussion and research into the frying extraction of Goupi plaster.

Effect of electroacupuncture of "Jiaji" (EX-B2) on NOD-like receptor protein 3 mediated pyroptosis in spinal cord tissue of rats with acute spinal cord injury. / å¤¹è„Šç”µé’ˆå¯¹æ€¥æ€§è„Šé«“æŸä¼¤å¤§é¼ è„Šé«“ç»„ç»‡NODæ ·å—ä½“çƒ­è›‹ç™½ç»“æž„åŸŸç›¸å ³è›‹ç™½3介导的细胞焦亡的影响.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Jiaji"(EX-B2) on motor function, histomorphology, and expression of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and N-terminal domain of gasdermin D (GSDMD-N) in the spinal cord tissue of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of SCI. METHODS: Forty eight female SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery (sham), SCI model (model), EA, and NLRP3 agonist (monosodium urate, MSU) combined with Jiaji EA (MSU+EA) groups, with 12 rats in each group which were further divided into 3 d and 7 d subgroups, with 6 rats at each time point. Two EA groups received EA stimulation of EX-B2 with a frequency of 100 Hz, electrical current of 1-2 mA for 30 min, once a day for 3 or 7 days. After 5 min, 6 h, and 24 h of modeling, rats of the MSU+EA group received intraperitoneal injection of MSU (200 µg/kg, 200 µg/mL) . The motor function was evaluated using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale, the morphological structure of rat spinal cord tissue was observed by H.E. staining. The expression of pyroptosis related factors NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD-N of the spinal cord was observed by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot separately, the expression and localization of Iba-1 and GSDMD-N in the spinal cord tissue were observed using immunofluorescence double staining method. RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the BBB scores after modeling and on day 3 and 7 were decreased (P<0.05), while the average OD values (immunoactivity) and expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD-N proteins, and the immunofluorescence intensity of Iba-1/GSDMD-N (co-expression) of the spinal cord tissues on day 3 and 7 were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, the BBB scores on day 3 and 7 were obviously increased (P<0.05), while the immunoactivity and expression levels of NLRP3, cleaved Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins, and the immunofluorescence intensity of Iba-1/GSDMD-N on day 3 and 7 significantly down-regulated in the EA group (P<0.05) but not in the MSU+EA group (P>0.05), suggesting an elimination of the effects of EA after administration of NLRP3 agonist (MSU). H.E. staining showed obvious bleeding area in the spinal cord tissue, loose tissue and inflammatory cell infiltration on day 3 after modeling, and basic absorption of the bleeding, loose tissue, obvious vacuolar changes of the white matter area, loss and contraction of neurons with infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells, which was milder in the EA group but not in the MSU+EA group. CONCLUSIONS: EA of EX-B2 can improve the motor function of SCI rats, which may be related to its functions in inhibiting pyroptosis of microglia mediated by NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Dual Branch Multi-Level Semantic Learning for Few-Shot Segmentation.

Few-shot semantic segmentation aims to segment novel-class objects in a query image with only a few annotated examples in support images. Although progress has been made recently by combining prototype-based metric learning, existing methods still face two main challenges. First, various intra-class objects between the support and query images or semantically similar inter-class objects can seriously harm the segmentation performance due to their poor feature representations. Second, the latent novel classes are treated as the background in most methods, leading to a learning bias, whereby these novel classes are difficult to correctly segment as foreground. To solve these problems, we propose a dual-branch learning method. The class-specific branch encourages representations of objects to be more distinguishable by increasing the inter-class distance while decreasing the intra-class distance. In parallel, the class-agnostic branch focuses on minimizing the foreground class feature distribution and maximizing the features between the foreground and background, thus increasing the generalizability to novel classes in the test stage. Furthermore, to obtain more representative features, pixel-level and prototype-level semantic learning are both involved in the two branches. The method is evaluated on PASCAL- 5i 1 -shot, PASCAL- 5i 5 -shot, COCO- 20i 1 -shot, and COCO- 20i 5 -shot, and extensive experiments show that our approach is effective for few-shot semantic segmentation despite its simplicity.

Photodynamic therapy for refractory erosive oral lichen planus: a case series study.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs on the oral mucosa and is an oral potentially malignant disease. Treatment of oral lichen planus aims to promote healing of the erosion, relieve pain, reduce recurrence of the erosion, and prevent canceration. Corticosteroids are the first line of treatment for oral lichen planus. Refractory oral lichen planus is a clinical classification of oral lichen planus that has not responded to corticosteroid treatment for more than 2 months. Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy is an innovative and effective treatment for potentially malignant oral diseases and has been reported as an alternative treatment to conventional therapies for oral lichen planus. On this basis, we report 3 cases of refractory erosive oral lichen planus in which persistent erosive lesions healed after topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy without any adverse effects or any signs of recurrence. Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy will become an effective clinical treatment for refractory erosive oral lichen planus.

A potential broad-spectrum neutralizing antibody against Betacoronavirus.

Three pandemics caused by human Betacoronavirus had broken out in the past two decades. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was one of the novel epidemic strains which caused the third pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global public health crisis. So far, more than millions of people have been infected. Considering the public health and economic impact of Betacoronavirus pandemic, drugs with broad-spectrum activity against these coronaviruses are urgently needed. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) with good neutralizing activity were used to construct a novel immunoglobulin-like bispecific antibody BI31. The neutralizing effect of BI31 against the pseudovirus and the authentic virus is better than that of its parent antibodies alone and in combination. What surprised us most was that the newly constructed bispecific antibody also had the neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that the parent antibodies did not have. These suggested that the BI31 can not only be developed as a therapeutic drug against COVID-19 but it could also become a broad-spectrum therapeutic antibody against Betacoronavirus.

A human bispecific antibody neutralizes botulinum neurotoxin serotype A.

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) shows high lethality and toxicity, marking it as an important biological threat. The only effective post-exposure therapy is botulinum antitoxin; however, such products have great potential for improvement. To prevent or treat BoNT, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are promising agents. Herein, we aimed to construct a bispecific antibody (termed LUZ-A1-A3) based on the anti-BoNT/A human monoclonal antibodies (HMAb) A1 and A3. LUZ-A1-A3 binds to the Hc and L-HN domains of BoNT/A, displaying potent neutralization activity against BoNT/A (124 × higher than that of HMAb A1 or HMAb A3 alone and 15 × higher than that of the A1 + A3 combination). LUZ-A1-A3 provided effective protection against BoNT/A in an in vivo mouse model. Mice were protected from infection with 500 × LD50 of BoNT/A by LUZ-A1-A3 from up to 7 days before intraperitoneal administration of BoNT/A. We also demonstrated the effective therapeutic capacity of LUZ-A1-A3 against BoNT/A in a mouse model. LUZ-A1-A3 (5 µg/mouse) neutralized 20 × LD50 of BoNT/A at 3 h after intraperitoneal BoNT/A administration and complete neutralized 20 × LD50 of BoNT/A at 0.5 h after intraperitoneal BoNT/A administration. Thus, LUZ-A1-A3 is a promising agent for the pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure treatment of BoNT/A.

Diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in the preoperative evaluation of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been recently used for the assessment of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) to guide surgical operation in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the specificity and sensitivity of CEUS reported from previous studies are not consistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of CEUS for the metastasis of cervical lymph nodes in PTC patients based on data from one regional central hospital. METHODS: The diagnostic value of CEUS in preoperative LNM of PTC patients was concluded by comparing the results of CEUS on lymph node status with postoperative pathology examination. In addition, this study conducted hierarchical analysis of PTC patients to explore whether tumor size, different lymph node regions, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis influence the assessment of CEUS. RESULTS: This research study ultimately enrolled 965 PTC patients, including 266 males and 699 females with a mean age of 42.27 ± 11.34 years. A total of 527 patients were considered clinical-node negative, and 438 were clinical-node positive before surgery. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy of CEUS in the assessment of LNM in PTC patients were 56.00%, 71.00%, 57.06%, 69.76% and 62.59%, respectively. For central and lateral lymph nodes, the accuracy of CEUS in PTC patients was 49.43% and 54.30%, respectively. In addition, it was shown that the accuracy of CEUS in PTC patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) slightly decreased to 58.44%, and the accuracy of CEUS in PTC patients with non-HT in turn increased to 64.17%. The accuracy of CEUS in non-papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and PTMC patients was 65.68% and 61.24%, respectively. The accuracy of CEUS in predicting central LNM was significantly different between PTC patients with or without HT (P < 0.001) in this study but not for lateral lymph nodes (P = 0.114). CONCLUSION: The accuracy of CEUS in the assessment of LNM in PTC is not consistently satisfactory, especially for central lymph nodes, small tumor diameters, or patients with HT. More diagnostic technologies for abnormal lymph nodes should be considered in PTC patients.

Tetanus toxin and botulinum neurotoxin-derived fusion molecules are effective bivalent vaccines.

Tetanus toxin (TeNT) and botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are neuroprotein toxins, with the latter being the most toxic known protein. They are structurally similar and contain three functional domains: an N-terminal catalytic domain (light chain), an internal heavy-chain translocation domain (HN domain), and a C-terminal heavy chain receptor binding domain (Hc domain or RBD). In this study, fusion functional domain molecules consisting of the TeNT RBD (THc) and the BoNT/A RBD (AHc) (i.e., THc-Linker-AHc and AHc-Linker-THc) were designed, prepared, and identified. The interaction of each Hc domain and the ganglioside receptor (GT1b) or the receptor synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) was explored in vitro. Their immune response characteristics and protective efficacy were investigated in animal models. The recombinant THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc proteins with the binding activity had the correct size and structure, thus representing novel subunit vaccines. THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc induced high levels of specific neutralizing antibodies, and showed strong immune protective efficacy against both toxins. The high antibody titers against the two novel fusion domain molecules and against individual THc and AHc suggested that the THc and AHc domains, as antigens in the fusion functional domain molecules, do not interact with each other and retain their full key epitopes responsible for inducing neutralizing antibodies. Thus, the recombinant THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc molecules are strong and effective bivalent biotoxin vaccines, protecting against two biotoxins simultaneously. Our experimental design will be valuable to develop recombinant double-RBD fusion molecules as potent bivalent subunit vaccines against bio-toxins. KEY POINTS: • Double-RBD fusion molecules from two toxins had the correct structure and activity. • THc-linker-AHc and AHc-linker-THc efficiently protected against both biotoxins. • Such bivalent biotoxin vaccines based on the RBD are a valuable experimental design.

The evil companion of OSCC: Candida albicans.

OBJECTIVE: Microbial dysbiosis and microbiome-induced inflammation may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the most prevalent opportunistic pathogenic fungus in the oral cavity, and Candida infection is considered as one of its high-risk factors. Although oral microbiota-host interactions are closely associated with the development of OSCC, the interrelationship between fungi and OSCC is poorly understood compared to that between bacteria and viruses. RESULTS: We accumulated knowledge of the evidence, pathogenic factors, and possible multiple mechanisms by which C. albicans promotes malignant transformation of OSCC, focusing on the induction of epithelial damage, production of carcinogens, and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. In addition, we highlight the latest treatment strategies for Candida infection. CONCLUSION: This review provides a new perspective on the interrelationship between C. albicans and OSCC and contributes to the establishment of a systematic and reliable clinical treatment system for OSCC patients with C. albicans infection.

[Evaluation of the clinical effect of acupuncture in treatment of neck pain in cervical spondylosis based on propensity score matching].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect and safety of acupuncture in treatment of neck pain due to cervical spondylosis. METHODS: According to the patients' preference and acceptance for the interventions of neck pain induced by cervical spondylosis, an acupuncture group (221 cases) and a non-acupuncture group (251 cases) were divided. After the control of confounding factors with propensity score matching, 218 cases were included in either acupuncture group or non-acupuncture group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), ashi points, bilateral neck-Jiaji (EX-B 2), Fengchi (GB 20), Houxi (SI 3), Shenmai (BL 62), etc. The treatment was given once daily, one course of intervention was composed of 5 treatments and 3 courses were included. In the non-acupuncture group, the oral administration of imrecoxib tablets and cobalt tablets was prescribed for 2 weeks. Before and after treatment, the scores of Northwick Park questionnaire (NPQ) and the simplified McGill pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ) were observed, and the safety was assessed in patients of the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment completion, the scores of NPQ and SF-MPQ were all reduced when compared with those before treatment in each group (P<0.001), and the scores of NPQ and SF-MPQ in the acupuncture group were lower than those of the non-acupuncture group (P<0.001). The incidence of adverse reactions was 6.0% (13/218) in the acupuncture group and was 10.1% (22/218) in the non-acupuncture group, without statistical significance in comparison (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture is effective and safe in the relief of neck pain and the improvement of comprehensive quality of life in the patients with cervical spondylosis.

Predictive nomogram for central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma based on pathological and ultrasound features.

Background: Central lymph node metastases (CLNM) in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) are common, but management through prophylactic central lymph node dissection (pCLND) remains controversial. In this study, the independent predictors of CLNM in PTMC were retrospectively studied based on ultrasound and pathological data, and we aim to establish the prediction model to predict CLNM in PTMC. Methods: This study included a total of 1,506 patients who underwent thyroid surgery for PTMC at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from 2015 to 2018. Ultrasound and clinicopathological features were summarized and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the risk factors associated with CLNM. The prediction model is established and verified according to the multivariate analysis results. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used to evaluate the effect of CLNM on survival. Results: The CLNM rate was 44.5% (670/1,506). Multivariate analysis showed that men, younger age, smaller diameter, ETE, microcalcification, without Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and multifocal were independent risk predictors of CLNM. Nomogram has a good discriminative ability (C-index: 0.755 in the validation group), and the calibration effect is good. In the DCA curve, the CLNM prediction model performed better net benefit given any high-risk thresholds. The median follow-up time was 30 months (12-59 months), 116 cases were lost, and the follow-up rate was 92.8% (1,506/1,622). Of the 1,506 patients included, 12 (0.8%) experienced recurrence. Conclusion: The likelihood of CLNM can be objectively quantified before surgery by using this reliable and accurate nomogram that combines preoperative ultrasound with clinicopathological features. Clinicians can use this nomogram to assess central lymph node status in patients with PTMC and consider prophylactic CND in patients with high scores.

Comparative effectiveness of moxibustion and acupuncture for the management of osteoarthritis knee: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Moxibustion, a traditional Chinese medicine approach, stimulates blood circulation by burning wormwood at acupuncture points and is frequently used in conjunction with acupuncture for managing knee osteoarthritis. This review aims to compare the effectiveness of moxibustion and acupuncture in the management of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: Our team conducted a comprehensive search across several databases: PubMed Central, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and the Cochrane Library, covering the timeframe from January 1964 up until April 2022. We implemented a meta-analysis, utilizing a random-effects model, and we've presented the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and risk ratio (RR) inclusive of the 95% confidence intervals (CIs), in accordance with the nature of the outcome. Results: 21 studies were included, of which, half were identified as having high risk of bias. The pooled SMD for the pain score was found to be -0.53 (95% CI: -0.91 to -0.15). In-depth analysis focusing on the kind of moxibustion indicated that fire needle moxibustion was more effective in pain reduction (SMD = -0.56; 95% CI: -1.10 to -0.01) compared to alternative moxibustion methods (SMD = -0.47; 95% CI: -0.80 to -0.13). The pooled RR for the success rate in treatment was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.19 to 1.62). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that fire needle moxibustion reported a superior success rate (RR = 1.43; 95% CI: 1.19 to 1.72) in comparison to other types of moxibustion (RR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.74). Conclusion: Moxibustion, specifically fire needle moxibustion, demonstrated superior effectiveness in managing knee osteoarthritis compared to acupuncture.