Unveiling the seroprevalence of human papillomavirus in Guangdong, China: Implications for vaccination strategies.

Seroepidemiological characteristics of human papillomavirus (HPV) in community residents reflect natural infection and can guide the reform of vaccination programs. A population-based serological survey was conducted in Guangdong Province. Serum anti-HPV IgG antibody levels were determined by an ELISA. Neutralizing antibodies against HPV6, 11, 16, and 18 were detected via a pseudovirus-based neutralization assay (PBNA). A total of 5122 serum samples were collected from community residents, including 1989 males and 3133 females, in three cities of Guangdong Province. The rate of HPV IgG antibody positivity in females was 5.39% (95% CI: 4.6-6.2), which was greater than that in males (2.36%; 95% CI: 1.7-3.1). HPV IgG antibodies were more frequently detected in females aged 51-60 years (11.30%; 95% CI: 7.6-16.0), whereas in males, the detection increased with age and reached 4.94% (95% CI: 2.8-6.9) in the group aged ≥71 years. The seropositivity of neutralizing antibodies against HPV6 and 11 was greater than that against HPV16 and 18. The serum neutralizing antibody titers in individuals who received three doses of a vaccine were 7- to 12-fold greater than those in individuals who did not receive the vaccine. The neutralizing antibody titers slightly decreased within 40 months and ranged from 0.038 to 0.057 log ED50 per month. A moderate consistency between the HPV ELISA and PBNA results was observed (Kappa score = 0.49, r = 0.249, 0.635, 0.382, and 0.466 for HPV6, 11, 16, and 18, respectively). The HPV seropositivity rate among healthy residents of Guangdong Province was found to be low among children and adolescents and to increase with age. The serum neutralizing antibody titers were significantly greater in the vaccine group than that in the control group, and this difference persisted over time, which indicated promising protection against HPV infection.

Organic carbon cycling in the sediments of Prydz Bay, Eastern Antarctica: Implications for a high carbon sequestration potential.

Understanding the dynamics of sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) in the productive continental marginal sea surrounding Antarctica is crucial for elucidating the effect of this sea on the global carbon cycle. We analyzed 31 surface sediment samples and eight sediment cores collected from Prydz Bay (PB) and the adjacent basin area. The element and stable isotope compositions, grain size compositions, and biogenic silica and lithogenic minerals of these samples were used to evaluate the spatial variations in the sources, transport mechanisms, and preservation patterns of SOC, with a particular focus on the efficiency of the biological carbon pump (BCP). Our findings reveal that the SOC originated from mixed marine/terrestrial sources. The δ13C values were higher in the Prydz Bay Gyre (PBG) region than in the open sea area. Biogenic matter-rich debris, associated with fine-grained particles (silt and clay), was concentrated in the PBG, while abiotic ice-rafted debris and coarse-grained particles were preferentially deposited in the bank and ice shelf front regions. Lithogenic matter predominated in the basin sediments. The annual accumulation rate of SOC in PB ranged from 1.6 to 6.2 g·m-2·yr-1 (mean 4.2 ± 1.9 g·m-2·yr-1), and the rates were higher in the PBG than in the ice shelf front region. Estimates based on our tentative box model suggest that the efficiency of the BCP, which refers to the proportion of surface-produced organic carbon successfully transferred to deep waters, is approximately 5.7 % in PB, surpassing the global average (∼0.8 %) and the efficiencies reported for other polar environments. Furthermore, our calculations indicate that the SOC preservation efficiency (the ratio of preserved to initially deposited organic carbon in sediments) in PB is approximately 79 % ± 20 %, underscoring the significant carbon sequestration potential within PB. The results of this study have important implications for the effects of sediment dynamics on the carbon cycle in the sea surrounding Antarctica.

Reliabilities of three methods used to evaluate computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions using free fibula flaps.

Objective: This study compared the reliabilities of three different methods used to calculate surgical deviations after mandibular reconstructions using free fibular flaps. Study design: This retrospective study involved 35 patients who underwent computer-assisted mandibular reconstructions using free fibula flaps. The deviations between the virtual surgical plans and the postoperative results were independently analyzed by two researchers using three distinct methods. In Method A, the fibular axis, the center of gravity, and the osteotomy plane served as landmarks when measuring surgical deviations. In Methods B and C, manually designated points were used to measure errors in the fibular length and intersegmental angle. The primary outcome variables were the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) that revealed the inter-rater agreements for all three methods. Results: The use of Method A was associated with good agreement in terms of the fibular length deviation (ICC = 0.765) and intersegmental angle (ICC = 0.897); both were higher than those afforded by Methods B (ICC = 0.158 and 0.108) and C (ICC = 0.406 and 0.463). The measurements of the fibular transfer osteotomy deviation (ICC = 0.888), linear deviation (0.926), and angular deviation (0.958) were very reliable. Conclusions: Method A afforded the highest reliability in clinical practice when evaluating surgical deviations after mandibular reconstruction using fibular flaps.

KIF1A, R1457Q, and P1688L Mutations Induce Protein Abnormal Aggregation and Autophagy Impairment in iPSC-Derived Motor Neurons.

Mutations in the C-terminal of KIF1A (Kinesin family member 1A) may lead to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through unknown mechanisms that are not yet understood. Using iPSC reprogramming technology and motor neuron differentiation techniques, we generated iPSCs from a healthy donor and two ALS patients with KIF1A mutations (R1457Q and P1688L) and differentiated them into spinal motor neurons (iPSC-MN) to investigate KIF1A-related ALS pathology. Our in vitro iPSC-iMN model faithfully recapitulated specific aspects of the disease, such as neurite fragmentation. Through this model, we observed that these mutations led to KIF1A aggregation at the proximal axon of motor neurons and abnormal accumulation of its transport cargo, LAMP1, resulting in autophagy dysfunction and cell death. RNAseq analysis also indicated that the functions of the extracellular matrix, structure, and cell adhesion were significantly disturbed. Notably, using rapamycin during motor neuron differentiation can effectively prevent motor neuron death.

Molecular epidemiology and population immunity of SARS-CoV-2 in Guangdong (2022-2023) following a pivotal shift in the pandemic.

The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant sparked the largest wave of infections worldwide. Mainland China eased its strict COVID-19 measures in late 2022 and experienced two nationwide Omicron waves in 2023. Here, we investigated lineage distribution and virus evolution in Guangdong, China, 2022-2023 by comparing 5813 local viral genomes with the datasets from other regions of China and worldwide. Additionally, we conducted three large-scale serological surveys involving 1696 participants to measure their immune response to the BA.5 and XBB.1.9 before and after the corresponding waves. Our findings revealed the Omicron variants, mainly the BA.5.2.48 lineage, causing infections in over 90% of individuals across different age groups within a month. This rapid spread led to the establishment of widespread immunity, limiting the virus's ability to further adaptive mutation and dissemination. While similar immune responses to BA.5 were observed across all age groups after the initial wave, children aged 3 to 11 developed a stronger cross immune response to the XBB.1.9 strain, possibly explaining their lower infection rates in the following XBB.1 wave. Reinfection with Omicron XBB.1 variant triggered a more potent neutralizing immune response among older adults. These findings highlight the impact of age-specific immune responses on viral spread in potential future waves.

The causal relationship between antihypertensive drugs and depression: a Mendelian randomization study of drug targets.

Background: Depression ranks as a leading contributor to the global disease burden. The potential causal relationship between the use of antihypertensive medications and depression has garnered significant interest. Despite extensive investigation, the nature of this relationship remains a subject of ongoing debate. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the influence of antihypertensive medications on depression by conducting a Mendelian randomization study focused on drug targets. Method: We focused on the targets of five antihypertensive drug categories: ACE Inhibitors (ACEIs), Angiotensin II Receptor Antagonists (ARBs), Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs), Beta-Blockers (BBs), and Thiazide Diuretics (TDs). We collected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with these drug targets from genome-wide association study (GWAS) statistics, using them as proxies for the drugs. Subsequently, we conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis targeting these drugs to explore their potential impact on depression. Results: Our findings revealed that genetic proxies for Beta-Blockers (BBs) were associated with an elevated risk of depression (OR [95%CI] = 1.027 [1.013, 1.040], p < 0.001). Similarly, genetic proxies for Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) were linked to an increased risk of depression (OR [95%CI] = 1.030 [1.009, 1.051], p = 0.006). No significant associations were identified between the genetic markers of other antihypertensive medications and depression risk. Conclusion: The study suggests that genetic proxies associated with Beta-Blockers (BBs) and Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs) could potentially elevate the risk of depression among patients. These findings underscore the importance of considering genetic predispositions when prescribing these medications, offering a strategic approach to preventing depression in susceptible individuals.

Prediction of personalised postprandial glycaemic response in type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Objectives: Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face unique challenges in glycaemic control due to the complexity and uniqueness of the dietary structure in China, especially in terms of postprandial glycaemic response (PPGR). This study aimed to establish a personalized model for predicting PPGR in patients with T1D. Materials and methods: Data provided by the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, 13 patients with T1D, were recruited and provided with an intervention for at least two weeks. All patients were asked to wear a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device under free-living conditions during the study period. To tackle the challenge of incomplete data from wearable devices for CGM measurements, the GAIN method was used in this paper to achieve a more rational interpolation process. In this study, patients' PPGRs were calculated, and a LightGBM prediction model was constructed based on a Bayesian hyperparameter optimisation algorithm and a random search algorithm, which integrated glucose measurement, insulin dose, dietary nutrient content, blood measurement and anthropometry as inputs. Results: The experimental outcomes revealed that the PPGR prediction model presented in this paper demonstrated superior accuracy (R=0.63) compared to both the carbohydrate content only model (R=0.14) and the baseline model emulating the standard of care for insulin administration (R=0.43). In addition, the interpretation of the model using the SHAP method showed that blood glucose levels at meals and blood glucose trends 30 minutes before meals were the most important features of the model. Conclusion: The proposed model offers a heightened precision in predicting PPGR in patients with T1D, so it can better guide the diet plan and insulin intake dose of patients with T1D.

Rare presentation of maxillary osteonecrosis and tooth exfoliation induced by herpes zoster infection in a 29-year-old Chinese male: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: We present a case of a 29-year-old male patient without immunodeficiency who suffered from rapid osteonecrosis and tooth exfoliation resulting from herpes zoster (HZ) infection in the left maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve. Various complications associated with shingles infections have been reported, cases of osteonecrosis and tooth exfoliation due to HZ infection among young people without immunodeficiency are rare. In this case, we focus on the particular manifestation of HZ infection. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient presented with clusters of erythema and papules, along with non-hemorrhagic blisters on the left face and the loss of the left upper incisor. All lesions were localized to the left side of the face without exceeding the midline. After receiving antibacterial and antiviral treatment, successful control over the infection was achieved; however, he experienced the loss of all upper teeth on the left side except for the first and second upper left molars. CONCLUSION: This case highlights that rapid osteonecrosis and tooth exfoliation may occur among young individuals without immunodeficiency after HZ infection. HZ infection of the face should be taken very seriously to obtain prompt treatment to prevent the rare complications of bone necrosis and tooth loss as much as possible.

The application of 3D printing in dentistry: A bibliometric analysis from 2012 to 2023.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has had extensive applications across dentistry, but a comprehensive bibliometric analysis relating to the application of 3D printing in dentistry is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature concerning the application of 3D printing in dentistry from 2012 to 2023. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection Database. The retrieved literature data were downloaded as plain text file in "full record and cited references" format, with software programs (VOSviewer, CiteSpace, Biblioshiny, RStudio, Carrot2, and Microsoft Excel) used for bibliometric analysis and quantitative assessment. RESULTS: The bibliometric analysis incorporated 1911 publications. Revilla-León, Marta was the most productive author. Zurich University had the highest number of publications and citations. The United States dominated the research landscape with the highest publication volume and H-index. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry was the leading journal in both publication volume and citation frequency. Co-occurrence analysis of keyword and co-cited analysis of reference indicated a robust research environment, characterized by a strong focus on the pursuit of accuracy in dental restorative solutions, biocompatibility of materials, and clinical applications. CONCLUSIONS: Research on 3D printing in the field of dentistry continues to grow. Collaborations with leading organizations and countries have been established, with Revilla-León, Marta et al playing a pivotal role. Top journals represented included the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry and Dental Materials. Main research domain resided in prosthodontics and implantology. Hot research topics included improvements in accuracy, dental materials, and clinical applications centered on implant guide design.

Severe Organ Impairment Was Common in Elderly Individuals with Dengue in Guangdong, China.

Guangdong, China, has experienced several dengue epidemics involving thousands of confirmed cases in recent decades, and elderly individuals suffered severe dengue (SD) most seriously. However, the clinical characteristics and risk factors for SD among elderly patients in Guangdong have not been investigated. Patients older than 65 years were recruited and divided into a dengue fever (DF) group and an SD group according to the 2009 Dengue Guidelines of the WHO. We analyzed the clinical manifestations of the elderly patients with dengue and then assessed the risk factors for SD. Of a total of 1,027 patients, 868 patients were diagnosed as having DF and 159 as having SD. Of the 159 elderly patients with SD, 129 (81%) had comorbidities, with hypertension being the most common. Severe organ impairment (SOI) (115, 54%) was the most common presentation in SD patients, followed by severe plasma leakage (52, 24.4%) and severe hemorrhage (46, 21.6%). The most common symptom of SOI was kidney injury, followed by heart injury and central nervous system injury. Furthermore, multivariate regression revealed that the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lower red blood cell (RBC) count (≤3.5 × 1012/L; odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.17-0.55; P <0.001), lower serum albumin (ALB) (≤35 U/L; OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.09-0.32; P <0.001), and hyperpyrexia (body temperature ≥39°C; OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.6, P <0.001) were risk factors for SD. Severe organ impairment was the predominant manifestation in elderly individuals with SD characterized by kidney injury. The potential risk factors of SD such as presence of COPD and hyperpyrexia and lower RBC and ALB levels might help clinicians identify patients with SD early.

Correction: Incorporating mesopelagic fish into the evaluation of marine protected areas under climate change scenarios.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s42995-023-00188-9.].

Fusion with ARRDC1 or CD63: A Strategy to Enhance p53 Loading into Extracellular Vesicles for Tumor Suppression.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have emerged as promising therapeutic agents and drug delivery vehicles. Targeted modification of sEVs and their contents using genetic modification strategies is one of the most popular methods. This study investigated the effects of p53 fusion with arrestin domain-containing protein 1 (ARRDC1) and CD63 on the generation of sEVs, p53 loading efficiency, and therapeutic efficacy. Overexpression of either ARRDC1-p53 (ARP) or CD63-p53 (CDP) significantly elevated p53 mRNA and protein levels. The incorporation of ARRDC1 and CD63 significantly enhanced HEK293T-sEV biogenesis, evidenced by significant increases in sEV-associated proteins TSG101 and LAMP1, resulting in a boost in sEV production. Importantly, fusion with ARRDC1 or CD63 substantially increased the efficiency of loading both p53 fusion proteins and its mRNA into sEVs. sEVs equipped with ARP or CDP significantly enhanced the enrichment of p53 fusion proteins and mRNA in p53-null H1299 cells, resulting in a marked increase in apoptosis and a reduction in cell proliferation, with ARP-sEVs demonstrating greater effectiveness than CDP-sEVs. These findings underscore the enhanced functionality of ARRDC1- and CD63-modified sEVs, emphasizing the potential of genetic modifications in sEV-based therapies for targeted cancer treatment.

Risk factors and outcomes for refeeding syndrome in acute ischaemic stroke patients.

AIM: Patients with acute ischaemic stroke are more likely to develop refeeding syndrome due to increased need for nutritional support when suffering alterations of consciousness and impairment of swallowing. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of refeeding syndrome in stroke patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study, using the prospective stroke database from hospital, included all consecutive acute ischaemic stroke patients who received enteral nutrition for more than 72 h from 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2022. Refeeding syndrome was defined as occurrence of new-onset hypophosphataemia within 72 h after enteral feeding. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate risk factors and relationships between refeeding syndrome and stroke outcomes. RESULTS: 338 patients were included in the study. 50 patients (14.8%) developed refeeding syndrome. Higher scores on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, albumin <30 g/L and BMI <18.5 kg/m2 were risk factors for refeeding syndrome. Moreover, refeeding syndrome was independently associated with a 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of >2 and 6-month mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Refeeding syndrome was common in stroke patients and higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, higher Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, albumin <30 g/L and BMI <18.5 kg/m2 were independent risk factors of refeeding syndrome. Occurrence of refeeding syndrome was significantly associated with higher 3-month modified Rankin Scale and 6-month mortality.

BCSLinker: automatic method for constructing a knowledge graph of venous thromboembolism based on joint learning.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and complex treatment. A VTE knowledge graph (VTEKG) can effectively integrate VTE-related medical knowledge and offer an intuitive description and analysis of the relations between medical entities. However, current methods for constructing knowledge graphs typically suffer from error propagation and redundant information. Methods: In this study, we propose a deep learning-based joint extraction model, Biaffine Common-Sequence Self-Attention Linker (BCSLinker), for Chinese electronic medical records to address the issues mentioned above, which often occur when constructing a VTEKG. First, the Biaffine Common-Sequence Self-Attention (BCsSa) module is employed to create global matrices and extract entities and relations simultaneously, mitigating error propagation. Second, the multi-label cross-entropy loss is utilized to diminish the impact of redundant information and enhance information extraction. Results: We used the electronic medical record data of VTE patients from a tertiary hospital, achieving an F1 score of 86.9% on BCSLinker. It outperforms the other joint entity and relation extraction models discussed in this study. In addition, we developed a question-answering system based on the VTEKG as a structured data source. Conclusion: This study has constructed a more accurate and comprehensive VTEKG that can provide reference for diagnosing, evaluating, and treating VTE as well as supporting patient self-care, which is of considerable clinical value.

Characterizing Infections in Two Epidemic Waves of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variants: A Cohort Study in Guangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: After the adjustment of COVID-19 epidemic policy, mainland China experienced two consecutive waves of Omicron variants within a seven-month period. In Guangzhou city, as one of the most populous regions, the viral infection characteristics, molecular epidemiology, and the dynamic of population immunity are still elusive. METHODS: We launched a prospective cohort study in the Guangdong Provincial CDC from December 2022 to July 2023. Fifty participants who received the same vaccination regimen and had no previous infection were recruited. RESULTS: 90% of individuals were infected with Omicron BA.5* variants within three weeks in the first wave. Thirteen cases (28.26%) experienced infection with XBB.1* variants, occurring from 14 weeks to 21 weeks after the first wave. BA.5* infections exhibited higher viral loads in nasopharyngeal sites compared to oropharyngeal sites. Compared to BA.5* infections, the XBB.1* infections had significantly milder clinical symptoms, lower viral loads, and shorter durations of virus positivity. The infection with the BA.5* variant elicited varying levels of neutralizing antibodies against XBB.1* among different individuals, even with similar levels of BA.5* antibodies. The level of neutralizing antibodies specific to XBB.1* determined the risk of reinfection. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid large-scale infections of the Omicron variants have quickly established herd immunity among the population in mainland China. In the future of the COVID-19 epidemic, a lower infection rate but a longer duration can be expected. Given the large population size and ongoing diversified herd immunity, it remains crucial to closely monitor the molecular epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 for the emergence of new variants of concern in this region. Additionally, the timely evaluation of the immune status across different age groups is essential for informing future vaccination strategies and intervention policies.

N-acetylcysteine Protects Against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through Anti-ferroptosis in Type 1 Diabetic Mice.

The hearts of subjects with diabetes are vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). In contrast, experimentally rodent hearts have been shown to be more resistant to IRI at the very early stages of diabetes induction than the heart of the non-diabetic control mice, and the mechanism is largely unclear. Ferroptosis has recently been shown to play an important role in myocardial IRI including that in diabetes, while the specific mechanisms are still unclear. Non-diabetic control (NC) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic (DM) mice were treated with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in drinking water for 4 week starting at 1 week after diabetes induction. Mice were subjected to myocardial IRI induced by occluding the coronary artery for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion, subsequently at 1, 2, and 5 week of diabetes induction. The post-ischemic myocardial infarct size in the DM mice was smaller than that in NC mice at 1 week of diabetes but greater than that in the NC mice at 2 and 5 week of diabetes, which were associated with a significant increase of ferroptosis at 2 and 5 week but a significant reduction of ferroptosis at 1 week of diabetes. NAC significantly attenuated post-ischemic ferroptosis as well as oxidative stress and reduced infarct size at 2 and 5 week of diabetes. Application of erastin, a ferroptosis inducer, reversed the cardioprotective effects of NAC. It is concluded that increased oxidative stress and ferroptosis are the major factors attributable to the increased vulnerability to myocardial IRI in diabetes and that attenuation of ferroptosis represents a major mechanism whereby NAC confers cardioprotection against myocardial IRI in diabetes.

Incorporating mesopelagic fish into the evaluation of conservation areas for marine living resources under climate change scenarios.

Mesopelagic fish (meso-fish) are central species within the Southern Ocean (SO). However, their ecosystem role and adaptive capacity to climate change are rarely integrated into protected areas assessments. This is a pity given their importance as crucial prey and predators in food webs, coupled with the impacts of climate change. Here, we estimate the habitat distribution of nine meso-fish using an ensemble model approach (MAXENT, random forest, and boosted regression tree). Four climate model simulations were used to project their distribution under two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) for short-term (2006-2055) and long-term (2050-2099) periods. In addition, we assess the ecological representativeness of protected areas under climate change scenarios using meso-fish as indicator species. Our models show that all species shift poleward in the future. Lanternfishes (family Myctophidae) are predicted to migrate poleward more than other families (Paralepididae, Nototheniidae, Bathylagidae, and Gonostomatidae). In comparison, lanternfishes were projected to increase habitat area in the eastern SO but lose area in the western SO; the opposite was projected for species in other families. Important areas (IAs) of meso-fish are mainly distributed near the Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctica. Negotiated protected area cover 23% of IAs at present and 38% of IAs in the future (RCP8.5, long-term future). Many IAs of meso-fish still need to be included in protected areas, such as the Prydz Bay and the seas around the Antarctic Peninsula. Our results provide a framework for evaluating protected areas incorporating climate change adaptation strategies for protected areas management. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-023-00188-9.

Feasibility of implant placement in healed mandibular molar sites: A retrospective cone beam computed tomography study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant placement in the mandibular molar sites plays a crucial role in the restoration of edentulous mandibles. However, the evaluation of bone quantity before implant surgery using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate CBCT images of edentulous patients to analyze the feasibility of implant placement in healed mandibular molar sites. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CBCT data of 138 patients were analyzed in the sagittal plane for measurements of mandibular bone height (MBH), superior bone height (SBH), inferior bone height (IBH), buccal bone width (BBW), lingual bone width (LBW), and alveolar bone widths (ABWs). The edentulous sites were categorized according to the bone quantity and complexity of the implant surgery. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the site, sex, and age-related variations. An independent t test was used to compare the difference of bone dimension in different sites and between sexes. One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc tests were used to analyze the difference between different age groups. Categorical variables were presented as number of events and percentages. The chi-squared test was used to compare categorical variables (α=.05). RESULTS: A total of 534 sites of interest were recorded, including 274 hemimandibles. A significant difference in BBW was found between the first and second molar sites. Men had higher MBH, SBH, IBH, and BBW than women. The distribution of implant surgical complexity in the conventional group was 63.5%, while the buccolingual tilted implant group accounted for 17.0%, and the complicated group accounted for 19.5%. Of the 274 hemimandibles, an implant could be placed directly at molar sites in 88% of situations. CONCLUSIONS: The BBW at the mandibular second molar site was greater than that at the first molar site. The amount of available bone in the SBH and BBW was greater in men than in women at the healed molar sites. Age did not significantly affect the complexity of the implant surgery. Implants can be placed directly in healed mandibular molar sites in most patients who require a complete arch mandibular implant-supported restoration.

Research on Ocular Artifacts Removal from Single-Channel Electroencephalogram Signals in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Based on Support Vector Machine, Improved Variational Mode Decomposition, and Second-Order Blind Identification.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) has recently emerged as a pivotal tool in brain imaging analysis, playing a crucial role in accurately interpreting brain functions and states. To address the problem that the presence of ocular artifacts in the EEG signals of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) severely affects the accuracy of sleep staging recognition, we propose a method that integrates a support vector machine (SVM) with genetic algorithm (GA)-optimized variational mode decomposition (VMD) and second-order blind identification (SOBI) for the removal of ocular artifacts from single-channel EEG signals. The SVM is utilized to identify artifact-contaminated segments within preprocessed single-channel EEG signals. Subsequently, these signals are decomposed into variational modal components across different frequency bands using the GA-optimized VMD algorithm. These components undergo further decomposition via the SOBI algorithm, followed by the computation of their approximate entropy. An approximate entropy threshold is set to identify and remove components laden with ocular artifacts. Finally, the signal is reconstructed using the inverse SOBI and VMD algorithms. To validate the efficacy of our proposed method, we conducted experiments utilizing both simulated data and real OSAS sleep EEG data. The experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm not only effectively mitigates the presence of ocular artifacts but also minimizes EEG signal distortion, thereby enhancing the precision of sleep staging recognition based on the EEG signals of OSAS patients.