Mental health difficulties and related factors in Chinese children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective: To examine the mental health status and related factors in children and adolescents, and to assess age groups and sexes differences in factors influencing mental health. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on Chinese children aged 6-18 years from November 2021 to January 2022. Mental health difficulties were accessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with mental health status. Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate factors associated with the scores of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of mental health difficulties was 12.98% (n =1348). Age (OR, 0.909, [95%CI, 0.830-0.996]), sex (OR, 1.424, [95%CI, 1.033-1.963]) and screen time on weekdays ("≥2" h/d vs "< 1" h/d: OR, 2.001, [95%CI, 1.300-3.080]) were related factors for mental health difficulties. For children (year ≤ 12), the strongest related factor for mental health difficulties was screen time on weekdays ("≥ 2" h/d vs "< 1" h/d: OR, 1.821 [95%CI, 1.203-2.755]). The risk of mental health difficulties in females with ≥ 2 h/d screen time on weekends was 3.420 times higher than those with < 1 h/d (OR, 3.420, [95%CI, 1.923-6.081]). Conclusion: The prevalence of mental health difficulties among children and adolescents was relatively high. The lower age, female sex and excessive screen time were associated with a higher risk of mental health difficulties. The factors influencing mental health varied by different age groups and sexes. Thus, specific measures for different age groups and sexes should be adopted to mitigate the impact.

Unilateral parotid gland Simultaneously primary two different pathological tumors: a case report and literature review / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To explore the clinical manifestations, histopathological characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of simultaneous unilateral primary tumors of different pathological types in the parotid gland.@*Methods@#A case of simultaneous unilateral primary parotid gland tumors, i.e., adenolymphoma and basal cell adenoma, was reviewed and analyzed in combination with the literature.@*Results@#The patient discovered a lump in the right parotid gland area one month prior to presentation, and a tumor was palpated in the shallow lobe of the right parotid gland before surgery. According to MR images, the initial diagnoses were tumors of the shallow and deep lobes of the right parotid gland. The tumors of the deep and shallow lobes were excised with part of the gland, and the facial nerves were dissected under general anesthesia. Postoperative pathology revealed an adenolymphoma in the shallow lobe of the right parotid gland and a basal cell adenoma with cystic transformation in the deep lobe. The surgical effect was good, with no complications, and there was no recurrence after 1 year of follow-up. A review of the relevant literature showed that multiple primary tumors of the parotid gland can manifest as the simultaneous presence of two or more types of tumors on both sides or on one side, and the disease is mainly treated with surgery.@*Conclusion@#Multiple unilateral primary parotid gland tumors are rare. Imaging examinations need to be combined with clinical evaluations to prevent missed diagnoses. Surgery is the first treatment option, and patients with benign tumors have a good prognosis.

Application of digital surgery in the reconstruction of mandibular composite defects with chimeric deep circumflex iliac artery perforator flap / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#The purpose of this study was to explore the application value of digital surgery in the reconstruction of mandibular composite defects with a chimeric deep circumflex iliac artery perforator flap (DCIAPF).@*Methods@# Six patients with complex defects within half of the mandible underwent reconstruction using DCIAPF from January 2019 to January 2020 in Shenzhen People’s Hospital. Doppler was used to locate the deep iliac circumflex artery, the range of mandibular osteotomy was designed, and DCIAPF was used to repair the mandibular composite under the guidance of the guide plate during the operation. Twelve months postoperatively, the facial shape, jaw height, and occlusal relationship were evaluated@*Results@#DCIAPF was harvested successfully in 6 patients, and the heights of all alveolar ridges and occlusal function of patients were significantly restored, without pain or snapping in the temporomandibular joint area.@*Conclusion @#The blood supply of DCIAPF is rich, and soft-bone tissue is sufficient for the reconstruction of mandibular composite defects. Combined with digital surgery, the accuracy and safety are improved.

Effect of Notch signaling and autophagy on MTA induced differentiation of human dental pulp cells in vitro / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@# The aim of this study is to investigate the roles of Notch signaling and autophagy on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) induced differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). @*Methods @#Third molars from healthy human were collected and hDPCs were isolated by a combined digestion of collagenase Ⅰ and dispaseⅡ. Real time PCR were used to test the mRNA expression levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and dentin sialophoprotein (DSPP) in MTA treated hDPCs in different time (24 h, 3 d and 7 d). The mineralization nodules formed by hDPCs with or without MTA treatment were detected by Von Kossa staining. Expressions of Notch1, Jagged1, Hes1, LC3Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰand p62 in wild type and MTA treated hDPCs were detected by western blotting.@*Results@#MTA extracted in a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL could promote the differentiation of hDPCs. Compared with that of wild type hDPCs, the expressions of Notch1, Hes1, or Jagged1 and p62 (P<0.01) in MTA treated hDPCs were significantly increased. MTA treatment showed inhibition effects on autophagy flux similar to Bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of fusion between autophagosomes and lysosomes. @*Conclusion@#MTA could promote hDPCs differentiation with highly relevant in stimulating Notch1-Jagged1-Hes1 signaling and inhibition of autophagy flux.

The diagnosis and treatment progress of Gardner syndrome / 口腔疾病防治

@#Gardner syndrome is a rare disease in oral and maxillofacial diseases which is characterized by intestinal polyposis, multiple osteomas, skin and soft tissue tumors. Early treatment has a better prognosis; therefore the early diagnosis of Gardner syndrome is very important. Maxillofacial pathology always appears to precede the other pathologies, so the importance of early detection of the syndrome by dentists is also emphasized. This review summarizes the etiology of Gardner syndrome-related mutations and the clinical manifestations of Gardner syndrome characterized by oral and maxillofacial deformities, multiple gastrointestinal polyps, and desmoid tumour, and their associated treatment.