Herbivorous ungulates are vital elements of forest ecosystems,yet their impact on tree regeneration and forest dynamics is challenging to assess.Despite their significant influence,few studies measure browsing pressur...Herbivorous ungulates are vital elements of forest ecosystems,yet their impact on tree regeneration and forest dynamics is challenging to assess.Despite their significant influence,few studies measure browsing pressure independently of precise ungulate population data.This study aimed to determine the regeneration mechanisms of palatable tree species in natural forest ecosystems by measuring the forage abundance from young trees of focal species and estimating the browsing pressure exerted by ungulates.We analyzed an extensive dataset of 2,838 tree saplings in two national parks in Poland to examine relationships between variables using a zero-intercept linear regression,and multiple linear regression models,and performed parametric and nonparametric tests.We found that the browsing intensity index(BI)is a good predictor of browsing pressure.Both total abundance and twig dry mass loss due to ungulate browsing were more pronounced in shorter saplings,with these effects decreasing as sapling height increased.Picea abies was the most abundant browse source in the Tatra National Park(TNP),whereas Fagus sylvatica dominated in the Roztocze National Park(RNP).Acer pseudoplatanus and Sorbus aucuparia experienced significantly higher browsing pressure in the TNP,whereas Carpinus betulus was more heavily browsed than other species in the RNP.The increase in browse abundance rapidly reduced ungulate browsing pressure on highly palatable tree species.We conclude that despite the high browsing pressure on the palatable species,the contribution of browse from focal species helps to mitigate this pressure and supports their regeneration in the forest canopy.Therefore,this finding provides valuable insights for managing and conserving tree species vulnerable to ungulate browsing in natural forest ecosystems.In addition,the method we used in this study is novel to estimate browsing pressure and assess the recruitment potential of vulnerable tree species;hence,it can be applied in large-scale studies with similar scenarios.展开更多
It is well known that the taste of sweet solutions produces a morphine-like analgesia in both rats and human infants, and under certain conditions, possibly in human adults. To further explore whether ingestion analge...It is well known that the taste of sweet solutions produces a morphine-like analgesia in both rats and human infants, and under certain conditions, possibly in human adults. To further explore whether ingestion analgesia persists into human adulthood, the present study was the first to utilize contact heat, a method of pain induction used commonly in both behavioural and pharmacological studies with laboratory animals. Left arms of 120 university undergraduates were exposed to a hot-plate, with pain responsivity assessed both before and after consuming either nothing (control group), or foods that they rated previously as unpalatable (e.g., black olives), neutral (e.g., rice cakes), or palatable (e.g., chocolate-chip cookies). Pain responsivity was assessed with four pain measures: pain threshold, pain tolerance, and visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Between-groups comparisons in 2 separate experiments revealed that women (but not men) who consumed a palatable food showed increased pain tolerance, relative to the nothing, unpalatable, or neutral groups. Collectively, these data support our previous findings that “palatability-induced analgesia” exists in human adults, at least in females. Moreover, the findings support contact heat as a suitable method for assessing ingestion analgesia to experimental pain with human adults.展开更多
BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compar...BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.展开更多
Background: In developing countries, charity cleft surgical mission is always operated by sporadic surgical teams without systematic follow up and quality assurance. In the past few decades, many mission projects have...Background: In developing countries, charity cleft surgical mission is always operated by sporadic surgical teams without systematic follow up and quality assurance. In the past few decades, many mission projects have been held regularly in China. The purpose of this audit was a retrospective analysis of a 9-year cleft lip and palate charity project operated in a tertiary hospital in China Shenzhen Area to evaluate perioperative and postoperative complications. Nevertheless, understanding the risk profile is essential for establishing a sustainable in-house cleft service in Shenzhen. Methods: A detailed analysis of hospital centralized record in the The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKUSZH) was reviewed since the first charity project held in 2015. The parameters of this audit were focused on perioperative complications including anesthesia related problems, early postoperative complications in patients who underwent primary or secondary cleft surgeries. A total of 430 consecutive admitted cases of 311 non-syndromic cleft lip & palate patients were enrolled into the charity project from June 2015 to July 2024. The main anesthesia related complications that occurred during general anesthesia were respiratory tract problems, while intraoperative complication was excessive bleeding, so as wound local infection and reaction were the main early postoperative complications. Results: In our 9-year clinical audit of 430 cleft lip and palate charity surgeries in Shenzhen, we observed no mortalities and a anesthesia-related complication rate of 1.16%. Specific intraoperative complications included excessive bleeding, while early postoperative issues were dominated by wound infections. The fistula rate of 18.7% post palate repair and the average hospital stay of 3.71 days complete the profile of our surgical outcomes. These data underscore the project’s efficacy and offer a reference for international cleft missions aiming for safe and efficient surgical care. Conclusions: This study provides a thorough data review of the complications in the past 9 years charity missions for cleft lip and palate surgery in a well-structured hospital infrastructure and logistic support by local surgical team. There were no perioperative or postoperative death during the study period and the overall short-term complication rate was low. Therefore, it could be a reference model for other international cleft mission in developing country for a safe and efficient service in future.展开更多
Cleft palate is a common congenital malformation of the maxillofacial region,and its postoperative speech disorders(such as hypernasality,nasal emission,and articulation errors)can significantly impact patients’commu...Cleft palate is a common congenital malformation of the maxillofacial region,and its postoperative speech disorders(such as hypernasality,nasal emission,and articulation errors)can significantly impact patients’communication abilities and psychological well-being.Traditional speech-language therapy faces challenges such as insufficient personalization of training methods,limited scenarios,and low patient compliance,making it inadequate for long-term rehabilitation needs.The innovative intervention model of a mobile interactive platform combined with games and picture books,through immersive experiences,instant feedback,and engaging designs,holds promise for enhancing patient participation and overall treatment outcomes.Therefore,this paper provides a comprehensive review from five perspectives:the pathological mechanisms and treatment needs of cleft palate speech disorders,the advantages of games and picture books as carriers in cleft palate speech therapy,the technological implementation of mobile interactive platforms,clinical application effects,and current challenges and limitations.The aim is to offer valuable insights for clinical practice and technological development in cleft palate speech rehabilitation.展开更多
Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Cleft palate(CP),the most common congenital craniofacial defect,has a multifaceted etiology i...Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Cleft palate(CP),the most common congenital craniofacial defect,has a multifaceted etiology influenced by complex genetic and environmental risk factors such as maternal bacterial or virus infection.A prior case-control study revealed a surprisingly strong association between maternal periodontal disease and CP in offspring.However,the precise relationship remains unclear.In this study,the relationship between maternal oral pathogen and CP in offspring was studied by sonicated P.gingivalis injected intravenously and orally into pregnant mice.We investigated an obvious increasing CP(12.5%)in sonicated P.gingivalis group which had inhibited osteogenesis in mesenchyme and blocked efferocytosis in epithelium.Then glycolysis and H4K12 lactylation(H4K12la)were detected to elevate in both mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme(MEPM)cells and macrophages under P.gingivalis exposure which further promoted the transcription of metallopeptidase domain17(ADAM17),subsequently mediated the shedding of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1(TGFBR1)in MEPM cells and mer tyrosine kinase(MerTK)in macrophages and resulted in the suppression of efferocytosis and osteogenesis in palate,eventually caused abnormalities in palate fusion and ossification.The abnormal efferocytosis also led to a predominance of M1 macrophages,which indirectly inhibited palatal osteogenesis via extracellular vesicles.Furthermore,pharmacological ADAM17 inhibition could ameliorate the abnormality of P.gingivalis-induced abnormal palate development.Therefore,our study extends the knowledge of how maternal oral pathogen affects fetal palate development and provides a novel perspective to understand the pathogenesis of CP.展开更多
Protein content plays a crucial role in determining the eating and cooking quality of rice.However,the genetic and molecular basis underlying grain protein content remains to be elucidated.In this study,we identified ...Protein content plays a crucial role in determining the eating and cooking quality of rice.However,the genetic and molecular basis underlying grain protein content remains to be elucidated.In this study,we identified a genomic region associated with grain protein content in rice chromosome segment substitution lines containing the flowering gene Ghd7.1,which reduced grain protein content by repressing the transcription of the gene OsAAP6.Knockout of Ghd7.1 increased grain protein content and decreased the eating and cooking quality of rice.Introduction of the functional haplotype of Ghd7.1 into two elite rice cultivars reduced their protein content and increased their eating quality and grain yield with no effect on the regulation of flowering time.Ghd7.1 might be used for regulating the protein content and improving the eating quality of rice varieties.展开更多
There is emerging evidence implicating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in reward, including palatable food reinforcement and alcohol-based reward circuitry. While recent findings suggest that mesolimbic structures, su...There is emerging evidence implicating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in reward, including palatable food reinforcement and alcohol-based reward circuitry. While recent findings suggest that mesolimbic structures, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc), are critical anatomical sites mediating the role of GLP-1’s inhibitory actions, the present study focused on the potential novel impact of GLP-1 within the habenula, a region of the forebrain expressing GLP-1 receptors. Given that the habenula has also been implicated in the neural control of reward and reinforcement, we hypothesized that this brain region, like the VTA and NAc, might mediate the anhedonic effects of GLP-1. Rats were stereotaxically implanted with guide cannula targeting the habenula and trained on a progressive ratio 3 (PR3) schedule of reinforcement. Separate rats were trained on an alcohol two-bottle choice paradigm with intermittent access. The GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) was administered directly into the habenula to determine the effects on operant responding for palatable food as well as alcohol intake. Our results indicated that Ex-4 reliably suppressed PR3 responding and that this effect was dose-dependent. A similar suppressive effect on alcohol consumption was observed. These findings provide initial and compelling evidence that the habenula may mediate the inhibitory action of GLP-1 on reward, including operant and drug reward. Our findings further suggest that GLP-1 receptor mechanisms outside of the midbrain and ventral striatum are critically involved in brain reward neurotransmission.展开更多
Vertebrate Msx genes are unlinked,homeobox-containing genes that bear homology to the Drosophila muscle segment homeobox gene.These genes are expressed at multiple sites of tissue-tissue interactions during vertebrate...Vertebrate Msx genes are unlinked,homeobox-containing genes that bear homology to the Drosophila muscle segment homeobox gene.These genes are expressed at multiple sites of tissue-tissue interactions during vertebrate embryonic development.Inductive interactions mediated by the Msx genes are essential for normal craniofacial,limb and ectodermal organ morphogenesis,and are also essential to survival in mice,as manifested by the phenotypic abnormalities shown in knockout mice and in humans.This review summarizes studies on the expression,regulation,and functional analysis of Msx genes that bear relevance to craniofacial development in humans and mice.展开更多
Objective： To address the effect of intrinsic factors on craniofacial growth by analyzing the craniofacial morphology of unoperated isolated cleft palate in Chinese adult. Materials and Methods： This study included ...Objective： To address the effect of intrinsic factors on craniofacial growth by analyzing the craniofacial morphology of unoperated isolated cleft palate in Chinese adult. Materials and Methods： This study included 37 nonsyndromic isolated cleft palate and 39 age and gender matched non-clefts. Twenty-six cephalometric measurements were employed to evaluate the facial morphology. Independent samples T test and Mann- Whitney U were used for comparison. Significant difference was defined at 95% level. Results： Data from this study showed patients with unoperated isolated cleft palate have a reduced maxillary sagittal length （ANS-PMP, A-PMP, P〈0.05）, a smaller ANB angle （ANB, P〈0.05） and a retrusive ANS point （S-N-ANS, P〈0.05; Ba-N-ANS, P〈0.05）. Measurements descripted position of maxilla （S-Ptm, P〉0.05）, depth of bony pharynx （Ba-PMP, P〉0.05）, anterior and posterior maxillary height （N-ANS, P〉0.05; R-PMP, P〉0.05） and mandible morphology （including linear measurements and angle measurements） did not show any significant difference between case and control groups. Conclusions： Patients with isolated cleft palate were characterized by maxillary retrusion. Mandible morphology and cranial basal morphology in isolated cleft palate showed no significant difference with nonclefts. Patients with isolated cleft palate are more vulnerable to cross bite than nonclefts. Intrinsic deficiencies did detrimental effect on maxilla sagittal length, but did no detrimental effect on maxilla position, mandible size and position.展开更多
Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma （LGMS） is a rare, malignant tumor with myofibroblastic differentiation. Despite it being classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization, a few cases were reported ...Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma （LGMS） is a rare, malignant tumor with myofibroblastic differentiation. Despite it being classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization, a few cases were reported in the oral and maxillofacial region. Here, a LGMS developed on the palate of a 73-year-old man who presented with a 1-cm tumor on the posterior border of the palate. Based on the histological and immunohistochemical features, a diagnosis of LGMS was established. The tumor was resected, and no recurrence was observed over 2 years. Although the tongue is the most preferred site for LGMS, it may occur in any region of the oral cavity.展开更多
Hainan eldi’s deer is a precious species of deer in the tropic zone,it is regardedas the first—class animal under protection in China.Based on all-year-round observation on thedeer’s feeding habit in the reserve fr...Hainan eldi’s deer is a precious species of deer in the tropic zone,it is regardedas the first—class animal under protection in China.Based on all-year-round observation on thedeer’s feeding habit in the reserve from 1985 to 1988,we discovered that Hainan eldi’s deer is aeuryphangous herbivore.They take various herbs as their main food and have fairly strongselectivity for woody plants,especially tending to eat the tender parts of plants and some fruits andflowers.Like other species of deer,they also like to lick the alkaline soil.This paper reports the re-search and evaluation on the feeding and choosing food characteristics of Hainan eldi’s deer,and onthe palatability of the main plants in the reserve.展开更多
Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, enc...Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of folic acid biosynthesis, have shown inconsistent association of two common hypomorphic allelic variants, C677T and A1298C, in nsCL/P patients and, in some cases, their mothers. We have studied the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in nsCL/P patients, their mothers, and population-matched controls from northern Venezuela. We found no evidence for contribution of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants to the risk of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela. Overall, our findings fail to support a causal role of either the MTHFR C677T or A 1298C variants in the pathogenesis of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela.展开更多
In this paper, the authors present airflow field characteristics of human upper airway and soft palate movement attitude during breathing. On the basis of the data taken from the spiral computerized tomography images ...In this paper, the authors present airflow field characteristics of human upper airway and soft palate movement attitude during breathing. On the basis of the data taken from the spiral computerized tomography images of a healthy person and a patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome （OSAHS）, three-dimensional models of upper airway cavity and soft palate are reconstructed by the method of surface rendering. Numerical simulation is performed for airflow in the upper airway and displacement of soft palate by fluid-structure interaction analysis. The reconstructed threedimensional models precisely preserve the original configuration of upper airways and soft palate. The results of the pressure and velocity distributions in the airflow field are quantitatively determined, and the displacement of soft palate is presented. Pressure gradients of airway are lower for the healthy person and the airflow distribution is quite uniform in the case of free breathing. However, the OSAHS patient remarkably escalates both the pressure and velocity in the upper airway, and causes higher displacement of the soft palate. The present study is useful in revealing pathogenesis and quantitative mutual relationship between configuration and function of the upper airway as well as in diagnosingdiseases related to anatomical structure and function of the upper airway.展开更多
This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） by using dynamic 3-Dimensional（3-D） CT imaging.A tota...This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） by using dynamic 3-Dimensional（3-D） CT imaging.A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms,i.e.,daytime sleepiness and fatigue,frequent snoring,and apnea with witness,were diagnosed as having OSAHS.They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller＇s maneuver.The soft palate length（SPL）,the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region（mXSA-RP）,and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid（hhL） were compared between the two breathing states.These parameters,together with hard palate length（HPL）,were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups.Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index（AHI） and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen（LSaO2）] was examined.The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS,and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS.All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level.mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller＇s maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state.There were no significant differences in these airway parameters（except the position of the hyoid bone） between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups.And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found.The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group.The patients in group with body mass index（BMI）≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP,greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller＇s maneuver than those in group with BMI26（P0.05 for all）.It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients.All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level.But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS.The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI26.展开更多
基金funded by Polish National Science Foundation(NCN)(grant No.2018/31/B/NZ8/02786,project title:“How do largescale disturbances influence the relationship between ungulate herbivory and natural regeneration in temperate forests?”)from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland within the framework of statutory activities SUB/040011-D019/2020 of the Department of Forest Biodiversity,University of Agriculture in Krakow.
文摘Herbivorous ungulates are vital elements of forest ecosystems,yet their impact on tree regeneration and forest dynamics is challenging to assess.Despite their significant influence,few studies measure browsing pressure independently of precise ungulate population data.This study aimed to determine the regeneration mechanisms of palatable tree species in natural forest ecosystems by measuring the forage abundance from young trees of focal species and estimating the browsing pressure exerted by ungulates.We analyzed an extensive dataset of 2,838 tree saplings in two national parks in Poland to examine relationships between variables using a zero-intercept linear regression,and multiple linear regression models,and performed parametric and nonparametric tests.We found that the browsing intensity index(BI)is a good predictor of browsing pressure.Both total abundance and twig dry mass loss due to ungulate browsing were more pronounced in shorter saplings,with these effects decreasing as sapling height increased.Picea abies was the most abundant browse source in the Tatra National Park(TNP),whereas Fagus sylvatica dominated in the Roztocze National Park(RNP).Acer pseudoplatanus and Sorbus aucuparia experienced significantly higher browsing pressure in the TNP,whereas Carpinus betulus was more heavily browsed than other species in the RNP.The increase in browse abundance rapidly reduced ungulate browsing pressure on highly palatable tree species.We conclude that despite the high browsing pressure on the palatable species,the contribution of browse from focal species helps to mitigate this pressure and supports their regeneration in the forest canopy.Therefore,this finding provides valuable insights for managing and conserving tree species vulnerable to ungulate browsing in natural forest ecosystems.In addition,the method we used in this study is novel to estimate browsing pressure and assess the recruitment potential of vulnerable tree species;hence,it can be applied in large-scale studies with similar scenarios.
文摘It is well known that the taste of sweet solutions produces a morphine-like analgesia in both rats and human infants, and under certain conditions, possibly in human adults. To further explore whether ingestion analgesia persists into human adulthood, the present study was the first to utilize contact heat, a method of pain induction used commonly in both behavioural and pharmacological studies with laboratory animals. Left arms of 120 university undergraduates were exposed to a hot-plate, with pain responsivity assessed both before and after consuming either nothing (control group), or foods that they rated previously as unpalatable (e.g., black olives), neutral (e.g., rice cakes), or palatable (e.g., chocolate-chip cookies). Pain responsivity was assessed with four pain measures: pain threshold, pain tolerance, and visual analogue scale (VAS) ratings of pain intensity and unpleasantness. Between-groups comparisons in 2 separate experiments revealed that women (but not men) who consumed a palatable food showed increased pain tolerance, relative to the nothing, unpalatable, or neutral groups. Collectively, these data support our previous findings that “palatability-induced analgesia” exists in human adults, at least in females. Moreover, the findings support contact heat as a suitable method for assessing ingestion analgesia to experimental pain with human adults.
基金Supported by the 90th Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Fund(Ratchadapiseksomphot Endowment Fund)Ratchadapiseksompotch Funds,Graduate Affairs,Faculty of Medicine,Chulalongkorn University,Bangkok,Thailand,No.GA68/028.
文摘BACKGROUND Excipients may improve the palatability of polyethylene glycol(PEG),the firstline treatment for childhood functional constipation(FC),leading to good compliance and improved treatment outcomes.AIM To compare the developed PEG-based formula(PEG-Chula)to the commercial formula for treating childhood FC.METHODS In this randomized controlled trial,we enrolled children aged<18 years with FC diagnosed by the Rome Ⅳ criteria to receive PEG-Chula[four flavors:(1)Strawberry;(2)Lychee;(3)Apple;and(4)Lychee-rose]or Forlax(orange-grapefruit flavor)for eight weeks.The primary outcomes included changes in stool frequency and consistency measured by the Bristol Stool scale.The secondary outcomes were constipation-related symptom improvement,adverse events,and palatability measured by the facial hedonic scale.RESULTS Fifty-two children diagnosed with FC[median age:4.21(2.33,7.88)years;35(67.31%)females]were enrolled.After the 8-week treatment,the mean weekly stool frequency increased in both groups,the mean change was 4.02(95%CI:3.09-4.95)in PEG-Chula and 3.78(95%CI:2.79-4.78)in commercial PEG compared to baseline(P<0.001).The extent of stool consistency improvement did not differ significantly.The most preferred PEG-Chula flavor was rated more palatable than the commercial PEG.Treatment compliance correlated with medication palatability(r=0.34,P=0.013).No significant differences in adverse events were found.CONCLUSION Both PEG-based formulas are effective and safe for managing pediatric FC.
文摘Background: In developing countries, charity cleft surgical mission is always operated by sporadic surgical teams without systematic follow up and quality assurance. In the past few decades, many mission projects have been held regularly in China. The purpose of this audit was a retrospective analysis of a 9-year cleft lip and palate charity project operated in a tertiary hospital in China Shenzhen Area to evaluate perioperative and postoperative complications. Nevertheless, understanding the risk profile is essential for establishing a sustainable in-house cleft service in Shenzhen. Methods: A detailed analysis of hospital centralized record in the The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKUSZH) was reviewed since the first charity project held in 2015. The parameters of this audit were focused on perioperative complications including anesthesia related problems, early postoperative complications in patients who underwent primary or secondary cleft surgeries. A total of 430 consecutive admitted cases of 311 non-syndromic cleft lip & palate patients were enrolled into the charity project from June 2015 to July 2024. The main anesthesia related complications that occurred during general anesthesia were respiratory tract problems, while intraoperative complication was excessive bleeding, so as wound local infection and reaction were the main early postoperative complications. Results: In our 9-year clinical audit of 430 cleft lip and palate charity surgeries in Shenzhen, we observed no mortalities and a anesthesia-related complication rate of 1.16%. Specific intraoperative complications included excessive bleeding, while early postoperative issues were dominated by wound infections. The fistula rate of 18.7% post palate repair and the average hospital stay of 3.71 days complete the profile of our surgical outcomes. These data underscore the project’s efficacy and offer a reference for international cleft missions aiming for safe and efficient surgical care. Conclusions: This study provides a thorough data review of the complications in the past 9 years charity missions for cleft lip and palate surgery in a well-structured hospital infrastructure and logistic support by local surgical team. There were no perioperative or postoperative death during the study period and the overall short-term complication rate was low. Therefore, it could be a reference model for other international cleft mission in developing country for a safe and efficient service in future.
文摘Cleft palate is a common congenital malformation of the maxillofacial region,and its postoperative speech disorders(such as hypernasality,nasal emission,and articulation errors)can significantly impact patients’communication abilities and psychological well-being.Traditional speech-language therapy faces challenges such as insufficient personalization of training methods,limited scenarios,and low patient compliance,making it inadequate for long-term rehabilitation needs.The innovative intervention model of a mobile interactive platform combined with games and picture books,through immersive experiences,instant feedback,and engaging designs,holds promise for enhancing patient participation and overall treatment outcomes.Therefore,this paper provides a comprehensive review from five perspectives:the pathological mechanisms and treatment needs of cleft palate speech disorders,the advantages of games and picture books as carriers in cleft palate speech therapy,the technological implementation of mobile interactive platforms,clinical application effects,and current challenges and limitations.The aim is to offer valuable insights for clinical practice and technological development in cleft palate speech rehabilitation.
基金funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant numbers 82170912 and 82370910)the Beijing Stomatological Hospital,Capital Medical University Young Scientist Program(No.YSP202404).
文摘Periodontal disease is a risk factor for many systemic diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes.Cleft palate(CP),the most common congenital craniofacial defect,has a multifaceted etiology influenced by complex genetic and environmental risk factors such as maternal bacterial or virus infection.A prior case-control study revealed a surprisingly strong association between maternal periodontal disease and CP in offspring.However,the precise relationship remains unclear.In this study,the relationship between maternal oral pathogen and CP in offspring was studied by sonicated P.gingivalis injected intravenously and orally into pregnant mice.We investigated an obvious increasing CP(12.5%)in sonicated P.gingivalis group which had inhibited osteogenesis in mesenchyme and blocked efferocytosis in epithelium.Then glycolysis and H4K12 lactylation(H4K12la)were detected to elevate in both mouse embryonic palatal mesenchyme(MEPM)cells and macrophages under P.gingivalis exposure which further promoted the transcription of metallopeptidase domain17(ADAM17),subsequently mediated the shedding of transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1(TGFBR1)in MEPM cells and mer tyrosine kinase(MerTK)in macrophages and resulted in the suppression of efferocytosis and osteogenesis in palate,eventually caused abnormalities in palate fusion and ossification.The abnormal efferocytosis also led to a predominance of M1 macrophages,which indirectly inhibited palatal osteogenesis via extracellular vesicles.Furthermore,pharmacological ADAM17 inhibition could ameliorate the abnormality of P.gingivalis-induced abnormal palate development.Therefore,our study extends the knowledge of how maternal oral pathogen affects fetal palate development and provides a novel perspective to understand the pathogenesis of CP.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272071,No.32261143466)the Major Program of Science and Technology Development of Wuhan,China(2022021302024850)the Key Project for Research and Development of Hubei Province,China(2023BBB027)。
文摘Protein content plays a crucial role in determining the eating and cooking quality of rice.However,the genetic and molecular basis underlying grain protein content remains to be elucidated.In this study,we identified a genomic region associated with grain protein content in rice chromosome segment substitution lines containing the flowering gene Ghd7.1,which reduced grain protein content by repressing the transcription of the gene OsAAP6.Knockout of Ghd7.1 increased grain protein content and decreased the eating and cooking quality of rice.Introduction of the functional haplotype of Ghd7.1 into two elite rice cultivars reduced their protein content and increased their eating quality and grain yield with no effect on the regulation of flowering time.Ghd7.1 might be used for regulating the protein content and improving the eating quality of rice varieties.
文摘There is emerging evidence implicating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in reward, including palatable food reinforcement and alcohol-based reward circuitry. While recent findings suggest that mesolimbic structures, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc), are critical anatomical sites mediating the role of GLP-1’s inhibitory actions, the present study focused on the potential novel impact of GLP-1 within the habenula, a region of the forebrain expressing GLP-1 receptors. Given that the habenula has also been implicated in the neural control of reward and reinforcement, we hypothesized that this brain region, like the VTA and NAc, might mediate the anhedonic effects of GLP-1. Rats were stereotaxically implanted with guide cannula targeting the habenula and trained on a progressive ratio 3 (PR3) schedule of reinforcement. Separate rats were trained on an alcohol two-bottle choice paradigm with intermittent access. The GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) was administered directly into the habenula to determine the effects on operant responding for palatable food as well as alcohol intake. Our results indicated that Ex-4 reliably suppressed PR3 responding and that this effect was dose-dependent. A similar suppressive effect on alcohol consumption was observed. These findings provide initial and compelling evidence that the habenula may mediate the inhibitory action of GLP-1 on reward, including operant and drug reward. Our findings further suggest that GLP-1 receptor mechanisms outside of the midbrain and ventral striatum are critically involved in brain reward neurotransmission.
基金supported by the NIH grants(R01DE12329,R01DE14044,P60DE13076)the National Science Foundation grant(IBN-9796321)the Millenium Trust Health Excellence Fund(HEF-2000-05-04)from the Louisiana Bpard of Regents
文摘Vertebrate Msx genes are unlinked,homeobox-containing genes that bear homology to the Drosophila muscle segment homeobox gene.These genes are expressed at multiple sites of tissue-tissue interactions during vertebrate embryonic development.Inductive interactions mediated by the Msx genes are essential for normal craniofacial,limb and ectodermal organ morphogenesis,and are also essential to survival in mice,as manifested by the phenotypic abnormalities shown in knockout mice and in humans.This review summarizes studies on the expression,regulation,and functional analysis of Msx genes that bear relevance to craniofacial development in humans and mice.
文摘Objective： To address the effect of intrinsic factors on craniofacial growth by analyzing the craniofacial morphology of unoperated isolated cleft palate in Chinese adult. Materials and Methods： This study included 37 nonsyndromic isolated cleft palate and 39 age and gender matched non-clefts. Twenty-six cephalometric measurements were employed to evaluate the facial morphology. Independent samples T test and Mann- Whitney U were used for comparison. Significant difference was defined at 95% level. Results： Data from this study showed patients with unoperated isolated cleft palate have a reduced maxillary sagittal length （ANS-PMP, A-PMP, P〈0.05）, a smaller ANB angle （ANB, P〈0.05） and a retrusive ANS point （S-N-ANS, P〈0.05; Ba-N-ANS, P〈0.05）. Measurements descripted position of maxilla （S-Ptm, P〉0.05）, depth of bony pharynx （Ba-PMP, P〉0.05）, anterior and posterior maxillary height （N-ANS, P〉0.05; R-PMP, P〉0.05） and mandible morphology （including linear measurements and angle measurements） did not show any significant difference between case and control groups. Conclusions： Patients with isolated cleft palate were characterized by maxillary retrusion. Mandible morphology and cranial basal morphology in isolated cleft palate showed no significant difference with nonclefts. Patients with isolated cleft palate are more vulnerable to cross bite than nonclefts. Intrinsic deficiencies did detrimental effect on maxilla sagittal length, but did no detrimental effect on maxilla position, mandible size and position.
文摘Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma （LGMS） is a rare, malignant tumor with myofibroblastic differentiation. Despite it being classified as a distinct entity by the World Health Organization, a few cases were reported in the oral and maxillofacial region. Here, a LGMS developed on the palate of a 73-year-old man who presented with a 1-cm tumor on the posterior border of the palate. Based on the histological and immunohistochemical features, a diagnosis of LGMS was established. The tumor was resected, and no recurrence was observed over 2 years. Although the tongue is the most preferred site for LGMS, it may occur in any region of the oral cavity.
文摘Hainan eldi’s deer is a precious species of deer in the tropic zone,it is regardedas the first—class animal under protection in China.Based on all-year-round observation on thedeer’s feeding habit in the reserve from 1985 to 1988,we discovered that Hainan eldi’s deer is aeuryphangous herbivore.They take various herbs as their main food and have fairly strongselectivity for woody plants,especially tending to eat the tender parts of plants and some fruits andflowers.Like other species of deer,they also like to lick the alkaline soil.This paper reports the re-search and evaluation on the feeding and choosing food characteristics of Hainan eldi’s deer,and onthe palatability of the main plants in the reserve.
基金supported by the grant DE13571 from the National Institutes of Health (R.A.S.),USAthe support from Rotaplast International, Inc. (M.M.T.),USA
文摘Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （nsCL/P） is among the most common major birth defects, with complex inheritance involving multiple genes and environmental factors. Numerous studies of MTHFR, encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of folic acid biosynthesis, have shown inconsistent association of two common hypomorphic allelic variants, C677T and A1298C, in nsCL/P patients and, in some cases, their mothers. We have studied the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in nsCL/P patients, their mothers, and population-matched controls from northern Venezuela. We found no evidence for contribution of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C variants to the risk of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela. Overall, our findings fail to support a causal role of either the MTHFR C677T or A 1298C variants in the pathogenesis of nsCL/P in northern Venezuela.
基金The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10672036,10472025 and 10421002)the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province(20032109)
文摘In this paper, the authors present airflow field characteristics of human upper airway and soft palate movement attitude during breathing. On the basis of the data taken from the spiral computerized tomography images of a healthy person and a patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome （OSAHS）, three-dimensional models of upper airway cavity and soft palate are reconstructed by the method of surface rendering. Numerical simulation is performed for airflow in the upper airway and displacement of soft palate by fluid-structure interaction analysis. The reconstructed threedimensional models precisely preserve the original configuration of upper airways and soft palate. The results of the pressure and velocity distributions in the airflow field are quantitatively determined, and the displacement of soft palate is presented. Pressure gradients of airway are lower for the healthy person and the airflow distribution is quite uniform in the case of free breathing. However, the OSAHS patient remarkably escalates both the pressure and velocity in the upper airway, and causes higher displacement of the soft palate. The present study is useful in revealing pathogenesis and quantitative mutual relationship between configuration and function of the upper airway as well as in diagnosingdiseases related to anatomical structure and function of the upper airway.
文摘This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS） by using dynamic 3-Dimensional（3-D） CT imaging.A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms,i.e.,daytime sleepiness and fatigue,frequent snoring,and apnea with witness,were diagnosed as having OSAHS.They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller＇s maneuver.The soft palate length（SPL）,the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region（mXSA-RP）,and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid（hhL） were compared between the two breathing states.These parameters,together with hard palate length（HPL）,were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups.Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index（AHI） and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen（LSaO2）] was examined.The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS,and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS.All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level.mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller＇s maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state.There were no significant differences in these airway parameters（except the position of the hyoid bone） between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups.And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found.The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group.The patients in group with body mass index（BMI）≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP,greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller＇s maneuver than those in group with BMI26（P0.05 for all）.It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients.All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level.But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS.The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI26.
