Influence of Educational Background on Untreated Dental Caries and Gingival Bleeding.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the impact of educational background on the occurrence of untreated dental caries and gingival bleeding, shedding light on the potential implications for public health policy and dental care. Methods: The study was conducted among 160 80 Shenggong Technology Company employees. An online questionnaire survey was administered to collect relevant data, focusing on the participants' educational backgrounds, income levels, and oral hygiene practices. Educational achievements were categorized into two groups: MSDB: middle school degree or below, and CDA: college degree or above. A team of three experienced dentists conducted comprehensive oral health assessments, evaluating untreated dental caries and the presence of gingival bleeding. Dental caries results were categorized as follows: less than 2 untreated dental caries, 2-4 untreated dental caries, or more than 4 untreated dental caries. Gingival bleeding results were classified as 0, slight, or severe. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), employing Fisher's exact test to compare untreated dental caries and gingival bleeding prevalence between the two educational background groups. Significance was determined at P < .05. Results: The analysis included 40 participants with an MSDB and 40 with a CDA. The findings revealed no significant differences in age or gender distribution between these groups. However, participants with an MSDB exhibited a significantly higher incidence of untreated dental caries (P = .0008) and were more likely to experience gingival bleeding (P = .0397) compared to their counterparts with a college degree or above. Conclusions: This study underscores that individuals with an educational background of a middle school degree or below are more prone to both untreated dental caries and gingival bleeding compared to those with a higher educational background.

[Value of High-Frequency Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Pronator Teres Syndrome].

Objective To investigate the clinical value of high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of pronator teres syndrome (PTS). Methods The high-frequency ultrasound was employed to examine and measure the median nerve of the pronator teres muscle in 30 patients with PTS and 30 healthy volunteers (control group).The long-axis diameter (LA),short-axis diameter (SA) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve were measured.The receiver operating characteristic curve of the median nerve ultrasonic measurement results was established,and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.The diagnostic efficiency of each index for PTS was compared with the surgical results as a reference. Results The PTS group showed larger LA[(5.02±0.50) mm vs.(3.89±0.41) mm;t=4.38,P=0.013],SA[(2.55±0.46) mm vs.(1.70±0.41) mm;t=5.19,P=0.009],and CSA[(11.13±3.72) mm2 vs.(6.88±2.68) mm2;t=8.42,P=0.008] of the median nerve than the control group.The AUC of CSA,SA,and LA was 94.3% (95%CI=0.912-0.972,Z=3.586,P=0.001),77.7% (95%CI=0.734-0.815,Z=2.855, P=0.006),and 78.8% (95%CI=0.752-0.821,Z=3.091,P=0.004),respectively.With 8.63 mm2 as the cutoff value,the sensitivity and specificity of CSA in diagnosing PTS were 93.3% and 90.0%,respectively. Conclusion High-frequency ultrasound is a practical method for diagnosing PTS,and the CSA of median nerve has a high diagnostic value.

Whole-Genome Resequencing Highlights the Unique Characteristics of Kecai Yaks.

Kecai yaks are regarded as an important genetic resource in China owing to their high fecundity and flavorful meat. However, the genetic characteristics of Kecai yaks have not been effectively characterized to date, and the relationship between Kecai yaks and other yak breeds remains to be fully characterized. In this paper, the resequencing of the Kecai yak genome is performed leading to the identification of 11,491,383 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Through principal component, phylogenetic, and population genetic structure analyses based on these SNPs, Kecai yaks were confirmed to represent an independent population of yaks within China. In this study, marker and functional enrichment analysis of genes related to positive selection in Kecai yak was carried out, and the results show that such selection in Kecai yaks is associated with the adaptation to alpine environments and the deposition of muscle fat. Overall, these results offer a theoretical foundation for the future utilization of Kecai yak genetic resources.

The Effect of Product Image Dynamism on Purchase Intention for Online Aquatic Product Shopping: An EEG Study.

PURPOSE: The normalization of epidemic prevention and control triggered a fierce scuffle in the e-commerce of fresh food, as well as for aquatic products online shopping. The main difficulty for consumers to buy fresh food online has always been information asymmetry. Previous study reported that the image is still the primary information source to address information asymmetry. Yet, few studies have focused on the image presentation of aquatic products in e-commerce. The current study aims to probe the effect of perceived movement of e-commerce pictures on purchase intention of aquatic products. Further, we examine how consumers' cognitive conflict and emotion occur when purchasing specific aquatic products with different image dynamism. METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects participated in an experiment with a 2-level product category (fresh vs frozen) × 2-level image dynamism (static vs dynamic) design. During the experiment, participants were asked to rate their purchase intention after they browse the experimental stimulus. We recorded subjects' electroencephalograms (EEGs) throughout the experiment. RESULTS: Behaviorally, participants' purchase intention for the dynamic image was significantly greater than that for the static image, regardless of aquatic product categories. At the neural level, we found that dynamic image produced less cognitive conflict and aroused consumers' positive feelings, which were reflected in decreased N2 amplitudes and latency as well as increased LPP (late positive potential) amplitude, respectively. This effect was enhanced for fresh aquatic products. CONCLUSION: Although picture dynamism only increases perceived movement, it can still induce positive emotions toward the product and lead to a greater purchase intention. The current study emphasized the value of the neuroscience method in revealing consumer cognition and emotion duration product evaluation.

Retracted: Minimally Invasive Unilateral vs. Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation and Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Treatment of Multi-Segment Lumbar Degenerative Disorders.

We have retracted this publication because we were informed that an image used by the authors was copied from the following article: J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2011 Nov; 50(5): 441-445. Minimally Invasive Multi-Level Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using a Percutaneously Inserted Spinal Fixation System: Technical Tips, Surgical Outcomes (https: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259464/pdf/jkns-50-441.pdf) (https: //www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259464/). Reference: 1. Xiaoyang Liu, Guangrun Li, Jiefeng Wang, Heqing Zhang: Minimally Invasive Unilateral vs. Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation and Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Treatment of Multi-Segment Lumbar Degenerative Disorders. Med Sci Monit, 2015; 21: 3652-3657. DOI: 10.12659/MSM.894890.

Loss of miR-217 promotes osteosarcoma cell proliferation through targeting SETD8.

Recently, many kinds of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to play a critical role in progression of osteosarcoma (OS). miR-217 was reported to function as a tumor suppressor in a number of human cancers but its precise mechanism to exert the suppressive role remains to be investigated. In this study, we found that miR-217 was downregulated in OS tissues and its downregulation predicts poor overall survival of OS patients. Importantly, we found that a lower expressed miR-217 in OS cell lines inhibited the cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. By bioinformatic analysis, we found that miR-217 targeted the SET Domain-Containing Protein 8 (SETD8), and there was a negative correlation between them in OS tissues. Furthermore, we found that miR-217 abolished the stimulation effect of SETD8 on cell proliferation and invasion. Taken together, our data provide solid evidence that miR-217 functions as tumor suppressor in OS, and its tumor-suppressive effect is exerted through interaction with SETD8.

Effect of combined chondroitinase ABC and hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of combined hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) enzyme therapy in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. A total of 48 healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham, SCI, vehicle, HBO, ChABC enzyme and HBO + ChABC. Excluding the sham group, SCI was established in rats by a clip compression injury and rats subsequently received HBO treatment for 2 weeks with or without an intraspinal injection of 0.1 U/µl ChABC. Neuromotor functions were examined using the Basso­Beattie­Bresnahan locomotor rating scale and the inclined plane assessment at baseline and for 4 weeks following SCI establishment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured, in addition to the expression of glycogen synthase kinase­3ß (GSK3ß) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4). Results revealed that combined HBO and ChABC treatment significantly improved neuromotor function compared with the HBO or ChABC treatments alone. HBO and/or ChABC treatment significantly increased SOD and decreased MDA levels, as well as GSK3ß expression, compared with the sham and SCI rats. The combined HBO and ChABC treatment significantly inhibited SCI­induced AQP4 expression, but ChABC alone did not. Functional recovery in the HBO + ChABC group was significantly increased compared with the HBO or ChABC groups. These results indicate that combined HBO and ChABC treatment is more effective in treating SCI than either therapy alone.

Prognostic Value of NME1 (NM23-H1) in Patients with Digestive System Neoplasms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is a heated debate on whether the prognostic value of NME1 is favorable or unfavorable. Thus, we carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between NME1 expression and the prognosis of patients with digestive system neoplasms. METHODS: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for relevant articles. The pooled odd ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95%CI were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of NME1 expression in patients with digestive system neoplasms, and the association between NME1 expression and clinicopathological factors. We also performed subgroup analyses to find out the source of heterogeneity. RESULTS: 2904 patients were pooled from 28 available studies in total. Neither the incorporative OR combined by 17 studies with overall survival (OR = 0.65, 95%CI:0.41-1.03, P = 0.07) nor the pooled OR with disease-free survival (OR = 0.75, 95%CI:0.17-3.36, P = 0.71) in statistics showed any significance. Although we couldn't find any significance in TNM stage (OR = 0.78, 95%CI:0.44-1.36, P = 0.38), elevated NME1 expression was related to well tumor differentiation (OR = 0.59, 95%CI:0.47-0.73, P<0.00001), negative N status (OR = 0.54, 95%CI:0.36-0.82, P = 0.003) and Dukes' stage (OR = 0.43, 95%CI:0.24-0.77, P = 0.004). And in the subgroup analyses, we only find the "years" which might be the source of heterogeneity of overall survival in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that statistically significant association was found between NME1 expression and the tumor differentiation, N status and Dukes' stage of patients with digestive system cancers, while no significance was found in overall survival, disease-free survival and TNM stage. More and further researches should be conducted to reveal the prognostic value of NME1.

Minimally Invasive Unilateral vs. Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation and Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Treatment of Multi-Segment Lumbar Degenerative Disorders.

BACKGROUND The choice for instrumentation with minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in treatment of degenerative lumbar disorders (DLD) remains controversial. The goal of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes in consecutive patients with multi-segment DLD treated with unilateral pedicle screw (UPS) vs. bilateral pedicle screw (BPS) instrumented TLIF. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-four consecutive patients who had multi-level MIS-TLIF were retrospectively reviewed. All data were collected to compare the clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS Both groups showed similar clinical function scores in VAS and ODI. The two groups differed significantly in operative time (P<0.001), blood loss (P<0.001), and fusion rate (P=0.043), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated similar clinical outcomes between UPS fixation and BPS procedure after MIS-TLIF for multi-level DLD. Moreover, UPS technique was superior in operative time and blood loss, but represented lower fusion rate than the BPS construct did.

Effect of variation of FGF2 genotypes on the risk of osteosarcoma susceptibly: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic factors play an important role in osteosarcoma (OS) etiology and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) gene single polymorphisms may be involved. The aim of this study was to test whether FGF2 variants are associated with susceptibility to OS in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 151 subjects who were diagnosed as OS and 225 healthy age-matched controls were enrolled in the present study. Thers11737764 C/T SNP in FGF2 gene was genotyped in all the subjects. The SPSS software was used to investigate the association between the rs11737764 genotypes and OS susceptibility or severity. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of the FGF2 rs11737764 C/T polymorphism were 44.4% (CC), 50.3% (CT) and 5.3% (TT) in OS patients, and 55.6% (CC), 43.1% (CT) and 1.3% (TT) in controls. Rs11737764 C/T was found to be significantly associated with increased risk and OS no matter what genetic model was used. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our data demonstrated the FGF2 SNP rs11737764 was significantly associated with increased osteosarcoma susceptibility in Chinese Han Population.

[Small partial laryngectomy without tracheotomy for T1-2 stage glottic carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and clinical characteristics of small partial laryngectomy without tracheotomy for T1-2 stage glottic carcinoma. METHOD: Forty-five patients with laryngeal squamaous cell carcinoma in T1-2 stage received small partial laryngectomy without tracheotomy. RESULT: All patients were primarily healed and were hospitalized for an average of 11.5 days post-operatively. In all patients, the function of respiration and the reflection of cough were normal, and laryngeal obstruction did not happen. The only postoperative complication was subcutaneous emphysema noted in 29 patients. Among them, subcutaneous emphysema extincted after 4-6 days in 26 patiens, only 3 patiens suffered from delayed healing because the subcutaneous emphysema extincted after 2 weeks. Mild subcutaneous emphysema did not affect the function of respiration and deglutition, healing of wound, and psychology of patients. All patients had been followed-up for 1-13 years. Only 2 patients died of tumor recurrence or metastasis. The function of respiration and deglutition were normal in the living patients, and no implanting metastasis on surface of trachea were found. CONCLUSION: The theoretical foundation of small partial laryngectomy without tracheotomy for T1-2 stage glottic carcinoma has been well established. This surgical technique is feasible, safe and effective. It can significantly improve clinical outcome of T1-2 stage glottic carcinoma with minimal invasiveness. Furthermore, it can obviously abate the surgical, physiological and psychological trauma on patients.