Autonomous robotic ultrasound scanning system: a key to enhancing image analysis reproducibility and observer consistency in ultrasound imaging.

Purpose: This study aims to develop an autonomous robotic ultrasound scanning system (auto-RUSS) pipeline, comparing its reproducibility and observer consistency in image analysis with physicians of varying levels of expertise.

Design/methodology/approach: An auto-RUSS was engineered using a 7-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, with real-time regulation based on force control and ultrasound visual servoing. Two phantoms were employed for the human-machine comparative experiment, involving three groups: auto-RUSS, non-expert (4 junior physicians), and expert (4 senior physicians).

[Analysis of soft tissue healing after keratinized tissue augmentation in reconstructed jaws].

Objective: To evaluate the wound healing of recipient and donor sites following keratinized mucosa augmentation (KMA) around implants in reconstructed jaw areas and to compare these outcomes with gingival grafts in native jawbone, so as to provide clinical guidance for postoperative maintenance, and to investigate the impact of clinical experience on the evaluation of KMA postoperative healing through subgroup comparisons.

Methods: This study included patients who underwent resection of maxillofacial tumors, fibular or iliac flap reconstruction, and implant placement at Peking University Dental Hospital from October 2020 to April 2023. Three months post-implant placement, the patients were referred for KMA procedures.

Macroporosity-Heightened Mass Transfer Enabling Complete Benzene Oxidation over Pt/SiO Catalyst.

Mass transfer governs the overall catalytic performance of heterogeneous catalysts considerably; however, this fundamental research has often been ignored. Here, macroporous SiO-supported Pt nanoparticle (Pt/SiO-M) and mesoporous SiO-supported Pt nanoparticle (Pt/SiO-m) catalysts were specifically fabricated by a facile thermal reduction step to engineer the resultant Pt nanoparticles showing similar physiochemical properties while possessing completely different porous microstructures exclusively originating from SiO supports. On this basis, a platform to explore the crucial mass transfer difference affecting catalytic activity is then established by systematically practicing industry-important benzene oxidation measurements.

The Environmental Hazards and Treatment of Ship's Domestic Sewage.

With the rapid development of the modern shipping field, the damage caused by ship pollution to the global inland waterways and marine ecosystems has attracted extensive attention from the international community. However, there are fewer reviews on the environmental hazards of domestic ship sewage and its treatment, and a systematic summary of the environmental hazards posed by ship domestic sewage and its treatment is lacking. Based on summarizing the various environmental hazards brought about by a ship's domestic sewage and the corresponding treatment methods, this study elaborates, in detail, on the specific hazards of the main toxic and hazardous substances contained in a ship's domestic sewage on the environment and organisms, and the treatment methods of the ship's domestic sewage and their treatment effects, such as membrane bioreactor (MBR).

Multifactorial analysis of factors influencing premolar mobility in stage III/IV grade C periodontitis patients ≤ 35 years of age: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Previous studies have suggested a potential link between the crown-to-root ratio (CRR) and root morphology in patients with mild chronic periodontitis, which may be associated with tooth mobility. However, these findings have not been thoroughly investigated. Our previous study found that 76% of patients with aggressive periodontitis, particularly those with premolar involvement, exhibited abnormal root morphology, severe alveolar bone loss, and increased tooth mobility, leading to poor clinical outcomes.

Unravelling High Water Vapor-Induced Inhibitory Effects on Pt/CoO Catalysts toward Benzene Oxidation.

Water vapor inevitably exists in the environment, which causes adverse impacts on many crucial chemical reactions. However, high water vapor of up to 10 vol %─relevant to a broad spectrum of industrial practices-for catalytic implications has been less investigated or neglected. As such, we explored an industry-relevant, humidity-highly sensitive benzene oxidation only in the presence of 10 vol % water vapor using the well-established Pt/CoO catalysts, to bring such an important yet ignored topic to the forefront.

US-based Sequential Algorithm Integrating an AI Model for Advanced Liver Fibrosis Screening.

Background Noninvasive tests can be used to screen patients with chronic liver disease for advanced liver fibrosis; however, the use of single tests may not be adequate. Purpose To construct sequential clinical algorithms that include a US deep learning (DL) model and compare their ability to predict advanced liver fibrosis with that of other noninvasive tests. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included adult patients with a history of chronic liver disease or unexplained abnormal liver function test results who underwent B-mode US of the liver between January 2014 and September 2022 at three health care facilities.

[Relationship between short-chain fatty acids in the gingival crevicular fluid and periodontitis of stage Ⅲ or Ⅳ].

Objective: To analyze the concentration of formic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ periodontitis, and their relationship with periodontitis.

Methods: The study enrolled 37 systemically healthy patients with periodontitis and 19 healthy controls who visited Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from February 2008 to May 2011. Their GCFs were collected from the mesial-buccal site of one molar or incisor in each quadrant.

The long-term effect of periodontitis treatment on changes in blood inflammatory markers in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Background: Periodontitis is characterized by local inflammatory conditions in the periodontium, its severe form has been associated with elevated systemic inflammatory markers. However, the long-term effects of periodontal inflammation control on systemic inflammatory markers are unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of periodontal therapy on the levels of peripheral venous blood inflammatory markers in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), all of whom were now diagnosed as Stage III or IV Grade C periodontitis.

Collaborative Enhancement of Consistency and Accuracy in US Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules Using Large Language Models.

Background Large language models (LLMs) hold substantial promise for medical imaging interpretation. However, there is a lack of studies on their feasibility in handling reasoning questions associated with medical diagnosis. Purpose To investigate the viability of leveraging three publicly available LLMs to enhance consistency and diagnostic accuracy in medical imaging based on standardized reporting, with pathology as the reference standard.

[Histopathological characteristics of peri-implant soft tissue in reconstructed jaws with vascularized bone flaps].

Objective: To analyze the histopathological characteristics of peri-implant soft tissue in reconstructed jaws and the changes after keratinized mucosa augmentation (KMA) with free gingival graft (FGG).

Methods: Twenty patients were enrolled in this study. Five patients of them, who were periodontal and systemic healthy and referred for crown lengthening before restoration with healthy keratinized gingiva collected were enrolled as healthy controls.

Value of Multimodal Data From Clinical and Sonographic Parameters in Predicting Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Curative Treatment.

Objective: The objective of the work described here was to assess the value of the combination of pre-operative multimodal data-including clinical data, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) information and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) based on 2-D shear wave elastography (SWE)-in predicting early (within 1 y) and late (after 1 y) recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively included 101 patients with HCC who met the Milan criteria and received curative treatment. The multimodel data from clinical parameters, LSM by 2-D SWE and CEUS enhancement patterns were collected.

Preliminary study on the involvement of platelets in mouse experimental periodontitis.

Background/purpose: Although some studies have taken an interest in the participation of platelets in periodontitis, so far, we know very little about the roles of platelets in periodontitis. The objective of this study is to explore the involvement of platelets in the development of experimental periodontitis in mice.

Materials And Methods: Twenty C57BL/6 male mice were used for this study.

Extracellular Matrix Profiling and Disease Modelling in Engineered Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Tissues.

Aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) have an intrinsic role in regulating vessel homeostasis and pathological remodelling. In two-dimensional (2D) cell culture formats, however, SMCs are not embedded in their physiological extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. To overcome the limitations of conventional 2D SMC cultures, we established a 3D model of engineered vascular smooth muscle cell tissues (EVTs).

Interactions of periodontal pathogens with platelets in the gingival crevicular fluid of patients with periodontitis.

Aim: To explore the immunological defensive effects of platelets on periodontal pathogens in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).

Materials And Methods: GCF samples were collected from 20 patients with periodontitis and 10 healthy controls. Platelets in the GCF were detected by immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence.

Neutrophil-Derived Protein S100A8/A9 Alters the Platelet Proteome in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Is Associated With Changes in Platelet Reactivity.

Objective: Platelets are central to acute myocardial infarction (MI). How the platelet proteome is altered during MI is unknown. We sought to describe changes in the platelet proteome during MI and identify corresponding functional consequences.

Extracellular Matrix in Heart Failure: Role of ADAMTS5 in Proteoglycan Remodeling.

Background: Remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a hallmark of heart failure (HF). Our previous analysis of the secretome of murine cardiac fibroblasts returned ADAMTS5 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5) as one of the most abundant proteases. ADAMTS5 cleaves chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans such as versican.

PCSK9 Activity Is Potentiated Through HDL Binding.

Rationale: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) circulates in a free and lipoprotein-bound form, yet the functional consequence of the association between PCSK9 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) remains unexplored.

Objective: This study sought to interrogate the novel relationship between PCSK9 and HDL in humans.

Methods And Results: Comparing lipoprotein and apolipoprotein profiles by nuclear magnetic resonance and targeted mass spectrometry measurements with PCSK9 levels in the community-based Bruneck (n=656) study revealed a positive association of plasma PCSK9 with small HDL, alongside a highly significant positive correlation between plasma levels of PCSK9 and apolipoprotein-C3, an inhibitor of lipoprotein lipase.

A case of acute necrotizing periodontitis with not known origin.

In cases of aggressive periodontal bone destruction, subgingival microbial analysis should be done, tooth extractions should be planned to control disease progression if non-surgical periodontal treatment is ineffective.

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio but not platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio is associated with generalized aggressive periodontitis in a Chinese population.

Background: Host inflammatory mediators are associated with tissue destruction in patients suffering from generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP). However, the correlations between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with GAgP remain unknown.

Methods: Periodontal clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI) and attachment loss (AL) were collected from patients with GAgP and healthy controls.

Influence of local anesthesia on the outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment.

Background: There is limited evidence of the effects of local anesthesia (LA) on outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT), in particular among the Chinese. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effects of LA on short-term treatment outcomes of NSPT and to determine under what circumstances LA should be prescribed to improve these outcomes.

Methods: Data from periodontal examinations of 3980 patients were used.

The association of rs2237051 variant, serum EGF levels and generalized aggressive periodontitis: a preliminary study.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a pro-inflammatory small peptide that stimulates cell growth, proliferation and differentiation through binding to its receptor. rs2237051 and serum EGF levels have been demonstrated to be related with a variety of diseases, including several tumors and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association of the rs2237051 variant and serum EGF levels in Chinese patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).

Platelets as inflammatory mediators in a murine model of periodontitis.

Aim: To investigate the role of platelets during the development of ligature-induced experimental periodontitis in mice.

Materials And Methods: Experimental periodontitis was induced by placement of sterilized 5-0 cotton ligatures around the maxillary and mandibular second molars of C57BL/6 wild-type mice. Flow cytometry was used to analyse platelet activation and platelet-leucocyte aggregate formation, and histologic analysis was used to evaluate inflammation and localization of platelets and leucocytes in periodontal tissues during the development of experimental periodontitis and in experimental periodontitis with and without antiplatelet drug treatment.

A novel multi-locus genetic risk score identifies patients with higher risk of generalized aggressive periodontitis.

Background: Each genetic variant individually explains only a tiny proportion of the genetic variation with insignificant predictive power. The tool of multi-locus genetic risk score (GRS), which aggregates information from multiple genetic variants, has been widely used in many complex diseases but not yet applied to generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP).

Methods: A total of 335 GAgP patients and 114 healthy controls were enrolled in the case-control study.

Glycoproteomic Analysis of the Aortic Extracellular Matrix in Marfan Patients.

Objective: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is caused by mutations in FBN1 (fibrillin-1), an extracellular matrix (ECM) component, which is modified post-translationally by glycosylation. This study aimed to characterize the glycoproteome of the aortic ECM from patients with MFS and relate it to aortopathy. Approach and Results: ECM extracts of aneurysmal ascending aortic tissue from patients with and without MFS were enriched for glycopeptides.