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The binary Ta-N chemical system includes several compounds with notable prospects in microelectronics, solar energy harvesting, and catalysis. Among these, metallic TaN and semiconducting Ta3N5 have garnered significant interest, in part due to their synthetic accessibility. However, tantalum sesquinitride (Ta2N3) possesses an intermediate composition and largely unknown physical properties owing to its metastable nature. Herein, Ta2N3 is directly deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and its optoelectronic properties are characterized. Combining these results with density functional theory provides insights into the critical role of oxygen in both synthesis and electronic structure. While the inclusion of oxygen in the process gas is critical to Ta2N3 formation, the resulting oxygen incorporation in structural vacancies drastically modifies the free electron concentration in the as-grown material, thus leading to a semiconducting character with a 1.9 eV bandgap. Reducing the oxygen impurity concentration via post-synthetic ammonia annealing increases the conductivity by seven orders of magnitude and yields the metallic characteristics of a degenerate semiconductor, consistent with theoretical predictions. Thus, this inverse oxygen doping approach-by which the carrier concentration is reduced by the oxygen impurity-offers a unique opportunity to tailor the optoelectronic properties of Ta2N3 for applications ranging from photochemical energy conversion to advanced photonics. This journal is

The path to realizing low-cost, stable, and earth-abundant photoelectrodes can be enabled through a detailed understanding of the optoelectronic properties of these materials by combining theory and experimental techniques. Of the limited set of oxide photocathode materials currently available, CuFeO2 has emerged as a promising candidate warranting detailed attention. In this work, highly compact thin films of rhombohedral (3R) CuFeO2 were prepared via reactive co-sputtering. Despite its 1.43 eV indirect band gap, a cathodic photocurrent of 0.85 mA/cm2 was obtained at 0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in the presence of a sacrificial electron acceptor. This unexpected performance was related to inefficient bulk charge separation because of the ultrafast (

Transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy is uniquely suited for understanding kinetic processes initiated by light over vast ranges of time. In combination with white light probes, the recorded differential absorption spectra can contain spectroscopic signatures characteristic of specific charge carrier population densities. However, disentangling the often-complex and convoluted spectra is made challenging without robust analysis methods relating the underlying physical mechanisms to the spectral components. In this work, we address the origin of the transient spectra of a model system of emerging solar energy harvesting materials using a monoclinic BiVO4 thin film. Using ground-state optical properties of the semiconductor, we find the main derivative-like spectral response to be related to shifting and broadening of oscillators, rather than specific carrier-related transitions. However, by using the Drude optical model of free carriers, we also identify the transient response related to free-hole density. Importantly, sample heating from the optical pumping, which begins at â10 ps and plateaus by â200 ps, dominates the overall spectral response at longer times. On the basis of a physical model of the spectral response, a kinetic model is developed that describes the pump power dependence of the free-hole density, as well as the temporal evolution of the spectral changes associated with shifting and broadening of oscillators. First-principles density functional theory calculations are used to rationalize experimental measurements. This comprehensive approach to analyzing and modeling the TA spectra offers a generalizable basis for understanding the complex pump-probe data, reveals thermal heating artifacts that are frequently erroneously assigned to long-lived photocarriers, and offers a path to eliminating ambiguity in analysis of photocarrier dynamics in solid-state systems.

Strong enhancement of exciton binding has been observed in valence-excitons in the optical regime of 2D materials. We report direct observation of long-lived core-exciton states in transition metal dichalcogenides by attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in the XUV.

The operando quantification of surface and bulk losses is key to developing strategies for optimizing photoelectrodes and realizing high efficiency photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion systems. This is particularly true for emerging thin film semiconductors, in which photocarrier diffusion lengths, surface and bulk recombination processes, and charge separation and extraction limitations are poorly understood. Insights into mechanisms of efficiency loss can guide strategies for nanostructuring photoelectrodes, engineering interfaces, and incorporating catalysts. However, few experimental methods are available for direct characterization of dominant loss processes under photoelectrochemical operating conditions. In this work, we provide insight into the function and limitations of an emerging semiconductor photoanode, γ-Cu3V2O8, by quantifying the spatial collection efficiency (SCE), which is defined as the fraction of photogenerated charge carriers at each point below the surface that contributes to the measured current. Analyzing SCE profiles at different operating potentials shows that increasing the applied potential primarily acts to reduce surface recombination rather than to increase the thickness of the space charge region under the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. Comparing SCE profiles obtained with and without a sacrificial reagent allows surface losses from electronically active defect states to be distinguished from performance bottlenecks arising from slow reaction kinetics. Combining these insights promotes a complete understanding of the photoanode performance and its potential as a water splitting photoanode. More generally, application of the SCE extraction method can aid in the discovery and evaluation of new materials for solar water splitting devices by providing mechanistic details underlying photocurrent generation and loss.

Thin films of n-type γ-Cu3V2O8 are prepared with high phase purity via reactive co-sputtering deposition. Complementary X-ray spectroscopic methods are used to reveal that the valence band maximum consists of O 2p states, while the conduction band minimum is primarily composed of Cu 3d states. Therefore, γ-Cu3V2O8 is classified as a charge transfer insulator, in which the 1.80 eV indirect band gap corresponds to the O 2p → Cu 3d transition. Through photoelectrochemical measurements, the surface of γ-Cu3V2O8 photoanodes is found to display intrinsic activity for catalyzing water oxidation that is stable with time. The combination of a small optical band gap, suitable valence band energy, and excellent photoelectrochemical stability suggests that γ-Cu3V2O8 could be a promising photoanode material. However, it is found that the charge extraction efficiency from these semiconductor photoanodes is strongly limited by a short (20-40 nm) hole diffusion length. Characterization of the electronic structure and transport properties of γ-Cu3V2O8 photoanodes suggests strategies for improving energy conversion efficiency and provides fundamental insights that can be used for understanding and evaluating function in a broader class of emerging ternary metal oxides.

Heterostructured nanocomposites offer promise for creating systems exhibiting functional properties that exceed those of the isolated components. For solar energy conversion, such combinations of semiconducting nanomaterials can be used to direct charge transfer along pathways that reduce recombination and promote efficient charge extraction. However, interfacial energetics and associated kinetic pathways often differ significantly from predictions derived from the characteristics of pure component materials, particularly at the nanoscale. Here, the emergent properties of TiO2/BiVO4 nanocomposite photoanodes are explored using a combination of X-ray and optical spectroscopies, together with photoelectrochemical (PEC) characterization. Application of these methods to both the pure components and the fully assembled nanocomposites reveals unpredicted interfacial energetic alignment, which promotes ultrafast injection of electrons from BiVO4 into TiO2. Physical charge separation yields extremely long-lived photoexcited states and correspondingly enhanced photoelectrochemical functionality. This work highlights the importance of probing emergent interfacial energetic alignment and kinetic processes for understanding mechanisms of solar energy conversion in complex nanocomposites.

The identities of photoexcited states in thin-film Co3O4 and the ultrafast carrier relaxation dynamics of Co3O4 are investigated with oxidation-state-specific pump-probe femtosecond core level spectroscopy. A thin-film sample is excited near the 2.8 eV optical absorption peak, and the resulting spectral changes at the 58.9 eV M2,3-edge of cobalt are probed in transient absorption with femtosecond high-order harmonic pulses generated by a Ti/sapphire laser. The initial transient state shows a significant 2 eV redshift in the absorption edge compared to the static ground state, which indicates a reduction of the cobalt valence charge. This is confirmed by a charge transfer multiplet spectral simulation, which finds the experimentally observed extreme ultraviolet (XUV) spectrum matches the specific O2-(2p) → Co3+(eg) charge-transfer transition, out of six possible excitation pathways involving Co3+ and Co2+ in the mixed-valence material. The initial transient state has a power-dependent amplitude decay (190 ± 10 fs at 13.2 mJ/cm2) together with a slight redshift in spectral shape (535 ± 33 fs), which are ascribed to hot carrier relaxation to the band edge. The faster amplitude decay is possibly due to a decrease of charge carrier density via an Auger mechanism, as the decay rate increases when more excitation fluence is used. This study takes advantage of the oxidation-state-specificity of time-resolved XUV spectroscopy, further establishing the method as a new approach to measure ultrafast charge carrier dynamics in condensed-phase systems.

TLK2 variants were identified as the cause for several neurodevelopmental disorders by impacting brain development. The incidence of mutation in TLK2 is low, which has common clinical features with other rare diseases. Herein, we reported a 5-year-old boy with TLK2 heterozygous mutation who presented distinctive facial features, gastrointestinal diseases, short stature, language delay, autism spectrum disorder, heart diseases, abnormal genitourinary system and skeletal abnormality. Moreover, we reviewed previous reported patients and our case in order to investigate more information on genotype-phenotype correlation and identify significant clinical characteristics for better diagnosis., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate This study was approved by Ethical Committee of Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health (no. 2024-IRB-0085-P-01). Consent for publication The written consent form for publication was obtained from the parents of the patient. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Liver has multiple functions such as detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage. Folate is a water-soluble vitamin B9, which participates in one-carbon transfer reactions, maintains methylation capacity, and improves oxidative stress. Folic acid is a synthetic form commonly used as a dietary supplement. The liver is the main organ for storing and metabolizing folate/folic acid, and the role of folate/folic acid in liver diseases has been widely studied. Deficiency of folate results in methylation capacity dysfunction and can induce liver disorders. However, adverse effects of excessive use of folic acid on the liver have also been reported. This review aims to explore the mechanism of folate/folic acid in different liver diseases, promote further research on folate/folic acid, and contribute to its rational clinical application.

Objectives: The research aimed to provide the most recent and comprehensive analysis and evidence update comparing outcomes in neonatal encephalopathy (NE) based on different glycemia levels., Patients and Methods: A comprehensive search of Cochrane, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang databases was conducted until September 2023. The purpose was to identify research that examined the effects of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and normoglycemia on NE outcomes. The hyperglycemic, normoglycemic and hypoglycemic group were compared. Outcomes measured were mortality, abnormal MRI, hearing or visual unfavorable outcomes, neurodevelopmental delay, cerebral palsy, and all unfavorable outcomes., Results: Thirteen literatures comprising 2,427 participants (1,233 with normoglycemia, 835 with hyperglycemia, and 359 with hypoglycemia) were considered. Pooled analysis showed more overall adverse outcomes, higher mortality and worse hearing or visual outcomes in the hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic group compared to the normoglycemic group. There was no notable distinction found in abnormal MRI and cerebral palsy among all groups. The hypoglycemic group exhibited greater neurodevelopmental delay than normoglycemia., Conclusions: Maintaining normal blood glucose levels in neonates with NE can help reduce the risk of adverse consequences such as hearing and visual impairment., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

We aim to evaluate the prevalence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) in United States (US) adolescents and explore whether metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) can identify individuals with clinically significant fibrosis (CSF) in this study. The prevalence of SLD and its categories, including MASLD, metabolic dysfunction and alcohol associated liver disease (MetALD), alcohol related liver disease (ALD) and other SLD were determined. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between MASLD and CSF in adolescents with SLD. Among the total 1,446 US adolescents, SLD was present in 291 (20.1%) of individuals, including 260 (17.9%) for MASLD, 9 (0.6%) for MetALD and 5 (0.3%) for ALD. Only 58 (4%) had CSF. Patients with SLD showed a higher prevalence of CSF (9.6% vs. 2.6%, p < 0.001). Among patients with SLD, 89.3% met the MASLD criteria. The risk of CSF in patients with MASLD was not significantly different (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.30-3.83, p = 0.9180) compared with those without MASLD. MASLD was met by most of the US adolescents with SLD. Moreover, MASLD was not associated with higher prevalence of CSF among adolescents with SLD., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Increasing studies have shown that poor oral health contributes to the progression of dementia. It is meaningful to find out the role of oral health interventions in maintaining people's cognition levels and delaying the progression of dementia. Thus, we conducted this review to summarize the present evidence on the effect of oral health interventions on the cognition change of people with dementia., Methods: Literature search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Dentistry and Oral Sciences by two independent reviewers from inception to 6 March 2024. Clinical studies such as randomized controlled trials reporting on the effect of oral health interventions on the cognition of people with dementia were included in this review. Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were used to measure cognition level. The mean deviation (MD), generated by subtracting the baseline MMSE score from the MMSE score at follow-up was used to assess the change in cognition. Studies with oral hygiene practice as an oral health intervention were further conducted with a meta-analysis., Results: A total of 6646 references were identified by the literature search, and 5 studies were eligible to be included in this review. Among the included studies, 4 studies reported the cognition change after having various oral hygiene practice as oral health intervention, while the other study adopted oral exercises as the intervention. Two studies presented positive MD values after intervention provided, indicating improved cognition level at follow-up (MD = 0.6, MD = 0.9, respectively). Another two studies reported less cognition deterioration with smaller absolute MD values in the intervention group, (intervention vs. control, -0.18 vs. -0.75, p < 0.05 and - 1.50 vs. -3.00, p < 0.05, respectively). The random-effect model was selected in the meta-analysis, and the weighted mean difference (WMD) was 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.44 to 1.71), favoring the intervention group., Conclusion: With limited evidence, oral hygiene care may play a positive role in maintaining the cognition level of people with dementia. However, further studies are needed to provide direct evidence on the effectiveness of oral health interventions on oral health conditions as well as cognition status and to disclose the rationale behind it., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Periodontal disease is a common infectious disease that can lead to the loss of teeth. Hower how to effectively suppress the inflammation with medication is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti‑inflammatory effect of Oroxylin A in periodontitis and its potential role through heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1). Primary rat gingival fibroblasts (RGFs) were cultured using the tissue block method and identified by immunofluorescence. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of RGFs, Oroxylin A was administered at 50, 100, 200 or 400 µg/ml. Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR was used to assess mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)‑2, TNF‑α, RANKL and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Western blotting was used to detect protein expression levels of COX ‑2, TNF‑α, RANKL and OPG. Following HO‑1 knockdown, the same treatment was performed. The expression of COX‑2 in rat gingival tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry. One‑way analysis of variance and Student's t test were used for statistical analysis. Oroxylin A downregulated mRNA expression of COX‑2, TNF‑α, RANKL and OPG in LPS‑induced RGFs. With increase of Oroxylin A dose, the expression of HO‑1 was gradually upregulated. When HO‑1 was knocked down, Oroxylin A did not downregulate the expression of COX‑2, TNF‑α, RANKL and OPG in LPS‑induced RGFs. Immunohistochemical results showed that expression of COX‑2 was downregulated by Oroxylin A, and the expression of TNF‑α, RANKL and OPG were also downregulated. Oroxylin A decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines in LPS‑induced RGFs and had a good inhibitory effect on periodontitis in rats.

Transition metal oxynitrides are a promising class of functional materials for photoelectrochemical (PEC) applications. Although these compounds are most commonly synthesized via ammonolysis of oxide precursors, such synthetic routes often lead to poorly controlled oxygen-to-nitrogen anion ratios, and the harsh nitridation conditions are incompatible with many substrates, including transparent conductive oxides. Here, we report direct reactive sputter deposition of a family of zirconium oxynitride thin films and the comprehensive characterization of their tunable structural, optical, and functional PEC properties. Systematic increases of the oxygen content in the reactive sputter gas mixture enable access to different crystalline structures within the zirconium oxynitride family. Increasing oxygen contents lead to a transition from metallic to semiconducting to insulating phases. In particular, crystalline Zr 2 ON 2 -like films have band gaps in the UV-visible range and are n-type semiconductors. These properties, together with a valence band maximum position located favorably relative to the water oxidation potential, make them viable photoanode candidates. Using chopped linear sweep voltammetry, we indeed confirm that our Zr 2 ON 2 films are PEC-active for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline electrolytes. We further show that high-vacuum annealing boosts their PEC performance characteristics. Although the observed photocurrents are low compared to state-of-the-art photoanodes, these dense and planar thin films can offer a valuable platform for studying oxynitride photoelectrodes, as well as for future nanostructuring, band gap engineering, and defect engineering efforts., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Background: Pyroptosis of the renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) and interstitial inflammation are central pathological characteristics of acute kidney injury (AKI). Pyroptosis acts as a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death and is mainly dependent on activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Previous studies revealed that acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) promotes inflammation during metabolic stress suggesting that ACSS2 might regulate pyroptosis and inflammatory responses of RTECs in AKI., Methods and Results: The expression of ACSS2 was found to be significantly increased in the renal epithelial cells of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI. Pharmacological and genetic strategies demonstrated that ACSS2 regulated NLRP3-mediated caspase-1 activation and pyroptosis through the stimulation of the KLF5/NF-κB pathway in RTECs. The deletion of ACSS2 attenuated renal tubular pathological injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in an LPS-induced mouse model, and ACSS2-deficient mice displayed impaired NLRP3 activation-mediated pyroptosis and decreased IL-1β production in response to the LPS challenge. In HK-2 cells, ACSS2 deficiency suppressed NLRP3-mediated caspase-1 activation and pyroptosis through the downregulation of the KLF5/NF-κB pathway. The KLF5 inhibitor ML264 suppressed NF-κB activity and NLRP3-mediated caspase-1 activation, thus protecting HK-2 cells from LPS-induced pyroptosis., Conclusion: Our results suggested that ACSS2 regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis by inducing the KLF5/NF-κB pathway in RTECs. These results identified ACSS2 as a potential therapeutic target in AKI., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is characterized by chronic low-grade renal inflammatory responses, which greatly contribute to disease progression. Abnormal glucose metabolism disrupts renal lipid metabolism, leading to lipid accumulation, nephrotoxicity, and subsequent aseptic renal interstitial inflammation. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the renal inflammation in diabetes, driven by glucose-lipid metabolic rearrangement with a focus on the role of acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) in lipid accumulation and renal tubular injury. Diabetic models were established in mice by the injection of streptozotocin and in human renal tubular epithelial HK-2 cells cultured under a high glucose (HG, 30 mmol/L) condition. We showed that the expression levels of ACSS2 were significantly increased in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) from the diabetic mice and human diabetic kidney biopsy samples, and ACSS2 was co-localized with the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β in RTECs. Diabetic ACSS2-deficient mice exhibited reduced renal tubular injury and inflammatory responses. Similarly, ACSS2 knockdown or inhibition of ACSS2 by ACSS2i (10 µmol/L) in HK-2 cells significantly ameliorated HG-induced inflammation, mitochondrial stress, and fatty acid synthesis. Molecular docking revealed that ACSS2 interacted with Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). In HG-treated HK-2 cells, we demonstrated that ACSS2 suppressed SIRT1 expression and activated fatty acid synthesis by modulating SIRT1-carbohydrate responsive element binding protein (ChREBP) activity, leading to mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation. We conclude that ACSS2 promotes mitochondrial oxidative stress and renal tubular inflammation in DN by regulating the SIRT1-ChREBP pathway. This highlights the potential therapeutic value of pharmacological inhibition of ACSS2 for alleviating renal inflammation and dysregulation of fatty acid metabolic homeostasis in DN. Metabolic inflammation in the renal region, driven by lipid metabolism disorder, is a key factor in renal injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) is abundantly expressed in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) and highly upregulated in diabetic kidneys. Deleting ACSS2 reduces renal fatty acid accumulation and markers of renal tubular injury in diabetic mice. We demonstrate that ACSS2 deletion inhibits ChREBP-mediated fatty acid lipogenesis, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in RTECs, which play a major role in the progression of diabetic renal tubular injury in the kidney. These findings support the potential use of ACSS2 inhibitors in treating patients with DN., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Pharmacological Society.)

Temozolomide (TMZ) offers substantial therapeutic benefits for glioblastoma (GB), yet its efficacy is hindered the development of chemoresistance. The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance has garnered great attention in studies on TMZ resistance. This study aimed to reveal the role of LINC00473 in TMZ chemoresistance and the underlying mechanism in GB. The expression of LINC00473 in TMZ-resistant and TMZ-sensitive GB cells was investigated using qPCR analysis. The role of LINC00473 in regulating TMZ resistance in GB cells was analyzed using the CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. The next steps included assessing if LINC00473 is regulated by CREB and whether LINC00473 promotes chemoresistance through MGMT regulation via CEBPα. Further, chemoresistance delivery between cells via exosomal LINC00473 was validated in vitro and in vivo. Results showed that LINC00473 levels were elevated in TMZ-resistant cells upon CREB activation, and the lncRNA promoted the chemoresistance of GB cells through the upregulation of MGMT expression. Mechanistically, LINC00473 regulated the MGMT expression by binding to CEBPα. The highly-expressed LINC00473 packaged in exosomes transferred chemoresistance to the adjacent TMZ-sensitive GB cells. In conclusion, a novel CREB/LINC00473/CEBPα/MGMT pathway was revealed in the GB TMZ-resistance formation. In addition, an exosome-based mechanism of chemoresistance transmission was revealed, suggesting that LINC00473 could be used as a novel therapeutic target for GB., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to strengthen China's connectivity with the world and, in doing so, improve health and well-being. There is a dearth of information relating to schoolchildren's oral health to inform oral health-related BRI initiatives. The aim of this research was to report on the oral health status of 12-year-old children across BRI countries and determine variations in oral health regarding geographic regions (BRI routes) and country-income levels., Method: Dental caries experience of 12-year-old children was obtained from the World Health Organization's (WHO) database. BRI countries were classified into BRI routes and country income level. Data were assessed for completeness and contemporariness. Variations in dental caries experiences were examined across BRI routes and with respect to country income levels., Results: Dental caries experience data were available in the WHO database for most BRI countries (95.7%, 135/141). Most dental caries data were collected pre-2010 (74.1%, 74/135). The mean number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) was approximately 2 (weighted mean, 1.7; SD, 1.2). Variations in DMFT existed with respect to BRI routes-WHO regions (P < .001) and World Bank regions (P < .001)-and with respect to country income levels (P < .01)., Conclusions: Dental caries data for 12-year-old schoolchildren are readily available (in the WHO database) for most BRI countries, although the data are not very current. In addition, dental caries experience varies with respect to BRI routes (geographic locations) and country income levels. These findings have implications by way of situation analyses to inform oral health-related BRI initiatives., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None disclosed., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Importance: Gastrointestinal injury progression induced by antiplatelet therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been well studied., Objective: To assess the association of aspirin, clopidogrel, and their combination with gastrointestinal injury progression among patients without high bleeding risk after PCI., Design, Setting, and Participants: This secondary analysis assessed data from the Optimal Antiplatelet Therapy for Prevention of Gastrointestinal Injury Evaluated by ANKON Magnetically Controlled Capsule Endoscopy (OPT-PEACE) double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter randomized clinical trial. The OPT-PEACE trial was conducted at 28 centers in China, and recruitment took place from July 13, 2017, to July 13, 2019. The trial included patients with stable coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation after PCI. Statistical analysis was conducted from September 13, 2022, to January 23, 2023., Interventions: Patients underwent magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy (MCE) at baseline and after 6 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin (100 mg/d) plus clopidogrel (75 mg/d). Those with no evidence of gastrointestinal ulcers or bleeding (ie, the intention-to-treat [ITT] cohort) were randomized (1:1:1) to aspirin (100 mg/d) plus matching placebo (aspirin alone), clopidogrel (75 mg/d) plus matching placebo (clopidogrel alone), or DAPT for an additional 6 months. A third MCE was performed 12 months after PCI., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the rate of gastric injury progression as assessed with the results of the 3 MCEs (at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months) in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population. The key secondary outcome was the rate of small-intestinal injury progression. Gastric or small-intestinal injury progression was defined as a quantitative increase in erosions or ulcers between the second and third MCEs (at 6 and 12 months, respectively)., Results: This study included the 394 patients in the mITT cohort. Their mean (SD) age was 56.9 (8.7) years, and most were men (296 [75.1%]). A total of 132 patients were randomized to aspirin alone, 132 to clopidogrel alone, and 130 to DAPT. Gastric injury progression occurred in 49 aspirin users (37.1%), 64 clopidogrel users (48.5%), and 69 DAPT users (53.1%) (P = .02), reflecting a lower rate of gastric injury progression among aspirin users vs DAPT users (risk ratio [RR], 0.70 [95% CI, 0.49-0.99]; P = .009). No significant difference was observed between clopidogrel alone and DAPT (48.5% vs 53.1%; P = .46) or between aspirin alone and clopidogrel alone (37.1% vs 48.5%; P = .06). A total of 51 aspirin users (38.6%), 65 clopidogrel users (49.2%), and 71 DAPT users (54.6%) (P = .03) developed progressive small-intestinal injury, reflecting a lower rate of small-intestinal injury among aspirin users vs DAPT users (RR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.50-0.99]; P = .01). No difference was observed between patients treated with clopidogrel vs DAPT (49.2% vs 54.6%; P = .38) or with aspirin vs clopidogrel (38.6% vs 49.2%; P = .08)., Conclusions and Relevance: In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, ongoing use of aspirin, clopidogrel, or their combination between 6 and 12 months after PCI was associated with progressive gastric and small-intestinal injury in a substantial proportion of patients, more so with DAPT than with monotherapy. Clopidogrel was at least as likely as aspirin to induce gastrointestinal injury progression. Future research is warranted to determine what impact the findings from MCEs would have on decision-making of antiplatelet therapy., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03198741.

Diet, nutrition, and oral health are closely linked. Malnutrition is a challenging health concern in older adults that is associated with physical decline affecting their daily activities and quality of life. The aim of this review is to provide an evidence-based summary of the relationship between diet and nutrition and oral health in older adults and its implications. The World Health Organization has declared healthy ageing a priority of its work on ageing. The American Dental Association confirmed the bidirectional relationship between diet and nutrition and oral health. The literature shows that diet and nutrition are related to oral diseases, including dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth wear, and even oral cancer. Insufficient nutritional intake and poor dietary habits increase the risk of oral diseases, such as dental caries, in older adults. On the other hand, in older adults, poor oral conditions such as periodontal disease may induce pain, infection, and tooth loss, affecting nutritional intake. Surveys have shown that older adults, in particular, those in disadvantaged communities, suffered from nutritional deficiencies or imbalances affecting their oral health. In addition, the current literature shows that malnutrition is associated with frailty, hospitalization, mortality, and morbidity. Good oral health and functional dentition are essential to maintain sufficient nutritional intake among older adults and reduce the risk of malnutrition. Therefore, integrating oral health into general health care service in older adults is imperative to improve their nutritional and oral health status to achieve healthy ageing.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the desensitizing effect of topically applied 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution on the exposed root surface of hypersensitive teeth in older adults., Method: This double-blind randomised clinical trial recruited healthy older adults with dentine hypersensitivity. A trained examiner tested the most hypersensitive tooth root surface with a blast of compressed cold air from a three-in-one syringe. The participants gave a sensitivity score (SS) in visual analogue scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (agonizing) at the baseline visit. Then, they received 38% SDF or 5% potassium nitrate solution (control) as intervention on the root surface. After the intervention, they received a compressed cold air test and reported the SS again. The compressed cold air test followed by intervention was repeated at 4- and 8-week follow ups. The primary outcome was the reduction in SS at 8-week follow-up with reference to the SS at baseline before intervention. Shapiro-Wilk and Mann-Whitney U tests were performed for data analysis following a normality test of SS., Results: This trial recruited 148 participants, and 139 (94%) participants completed the trial. The median percentage reductions in SS in the SDF and potassium nitrate groups were 60% and 50%, respectively (p < 0.001)., Conclusion: According to the results, 38% SDF solution reduced hypersensitivity on the exposed root surface of older adults. In addition, 38% SDF was more effective than 5% potassium nitrate solution to reduce hypersensitivity on the exposed root surface of older adults., Clinical Significance: Dentin hypersensitivity is common amongst older adults and negatively affects their quality of life. To date, there is no gold standard professionally applied desensitizing therapy in treating hypersensitivity. Evidence from this clinical trial could aid clinical practice and improve oral health in older adults., Trial Registration: This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05392868)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The prevalence of oral diseases in the older adult population remains high worldwide and is expected to surge in the coming decade. The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the oral health of older adults as one of its pivotal concerns. Oral health affects general health, and oral diseases increase mortality and morbidity in older adults. Integrating oral health into the general health service with a patient-centred approach can be an effective way to improve oral and systemic health for older adults simultaneously. This integration tackles the shared risk factors of both oral and noncommunicable diseases, aids in the early detection of systemic disease, strengthens health surveillance, enhances efficient data sharing, and allows for the better allocation of resources and the workforce in the healthcare system. However, the oral healthcare sector operates as an isolated field, with an emphasis on intervention rather than prevention, which presents a key challenge to the success of integration. Therefore, refocusing oral healthcare service on prevention is paramount. In addition, approaches taken in clinical practice implementation, interprofessional education and training, technology and innovation, research and evaluation, advocacy by national professional oral healthcare organizations, and policy making will ensure the efficient, effective, and long-term integration of oral and general health services. Integrating these services would foster the accessibility and affordability of oral healthcare services for older adults to improve their oral health and overall well-being in the coming decade. This review aims to discuss the merits and outline the challenges of integrating oral health into general health services for older adults and to propose the approaches that could be taken.

Objective: To explore the etiological diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis. Methods: The study was a retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of patients with PD-related peritonitis who were treated and underwent microbial cultivation and mNGS test at the same time from June 2020 to July 2021 in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University were analyzed. The positive rate, detection time and consistency between mNGS test and traditional microbial culture were compared. Results: A total of 18 patients with age of (50.4±15.4) years old and median dialysis time of 34.0 (12.4, 62.0) months were enrolled in the study, including 11 males and 7 females. Pathogenic microorganisms were isolated in 17 patients by mNGS test, with a positive rate of 17/18, which was higher than 13/18 of microbial culture, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P =0.219). Both mNGS test and microbial culture isolated positive pathogenic bacteria in 12 patients, and mNGS test isolated the same types of pathogenic bacteria as microbial cultivation did in 11 patients. In five patients with negative microbial culture, mNGS test also isolated pathogenic microorganisms, including 3 cases of Staphylococcus epidermidis , 1 case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 1 case of Ureaplasma urealyticum . In 1 patient, microbial culture isolated pathogenic bacteria ( Escherichia coli ) whereas mNGS test did not. The detection time of mNGS was 25.0 (24.0, 27.0) h, which was significantly shorter than 89.0 (72.8, 122.0) h of microbial culture ( Z =3.726, P <0.001). Conclusions: mNGS test can improve the detection rate of pathogenic microorganisms in PD-related peritonitis and greatly shorten the detection time, and has good consistency with microbial culture. mNGS may provide a new approach for pathogen identification of PD-related peritonitis, especially refractory peritonitis.

Evidence suggests that intracellular angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) contributes to peritoneal fibrosis (PF) under high glucose (HG)-based dialysates. It is generally believed that AT2 antagonisticly affects AT1 function. The aim of this study was to explore whether AT2 activation is beneficial for attenuating human peritoneal mesothelial cell (HPMC) injury due to HG. We treated a HPMC line with HG to induce extracellular matrix (ECM) formation. AT2 was increased and blocked using CGP42112A and AT2 siRNA. Lipid deposition was detected, signaling molecules associated with lectin-like oxidized lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) and ECM proteins were evaluated by real-time PCR and western blot. The results showed that HG led to AT2 inhibition in HPMCs, inhibition of AT2 further aggravated the expression of ECM proteins, including α-smooth muscle actin, fibroblast specific protein-1 and collagen I, while AT2 decreased the expression of ECM proteins, even during HG stimulation. Interestingly, there was a parallel change in lipid accumulation and ECM formation when AT2 was increased or depressed. Moreover, AT2-mediated decreased ECM production was associated with reduced lipid accumulation in HPMCs and depended on the downregulation of LOX-1. Further analysis showed that HG increased oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) deposition in HPMCs concomitant with an enhanced expression of ECM components, whereas blocking LOX-1 reversed ox-LDL deposition even in the presence of HG. This effect was also accompanied by the remission of ECM accumulation. Our results suggested that AT2 prevented ECM formation in HG-stimulated HPMCs by ameliorating lipid via LOX-1 suppression.

Dental graduates have a variety of career-path choices. After graduation, they may join private dental practice, government- or hospital-based dental care services, research groups, academia, business or industry. With globalization and frequent international exchange, dental graduates nowadays can explore careers outside their home country. However, dental education systems and job opportunities vary widely across different regions and countries. Diversity of accreditation in dental education, different licensure requirements, and lack of global competencies in dental care often limit the globalization, operation and survival of dental practice and education worldwide. The requirements for professional education and practice can be quite diverse, and these differences will be barriers to dental graduates seeking career development outside their home home country. Fresh dental graduates have minimal experience in job hunting. More specifically, they are unfamiliar with potential career paths. This paper was based on the 4th trilateral symposium 2022 organized by The University of Hong Kong, Tohoku University, and Fujian Medical University, which offered a lecture to discuss career paths for dental graduates in Hong Kong, Japan, and mainland China. The aim of this paper was to provide dentists, particularly fresh graduated dental students, with practical insight into different career paths in Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China, SAR), Japan and mainland China, and factors that may influence their career options. It assists dental students in exploring possibilities in dentistry and preparing for their career development after graduation from dental school., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2022 Jiang, Nishioka, Hong, Yu, Zhang and Chu.)

Background: Dentine hypersensitivity on an exposed root surface induces pain, affects daily oral hygiene practice, limits dietary choices and negatively affects quality of life. Silver diamine fluoride is marketed in the United States as a desensitising agent, but well-designed clinical trials are limited. This study evaluates the anti-hypersensitivity effect of silver diamine fluoride on hypersensitive teeth due to an exposed root surface in older Chinese adults., Methods/design: We will conduct a randomised double-blind clinical trial with a sample size of at least 148 Chinese older adults aged 65 or above who have dentine hypersensitivity due to an exposed root surface. We will collect written consent before the study. A trained examiner will examine the participants' teeth with a blast of compressed air from a 3-in-1 syringe. Those adults who report a self-perceived sensitivity score (SS) (0 to 10) of 8 or more on at least one tooth with an exposed root surface will be recruited. The recruited older adults will be randomly allocated into two groups using a block randomisation of six. Group 1 participants will receive the application of 38% silver diamine fluoride solution every 4 weeks. Group 2 participants will receive the application of 5% potassium nitrate solution every 4 weeks. Dietary advice, oral hygiene instruction and fluoride toothpaste at 1450 ppm will be provided to participants in both groups. The same trained examiner will perform follow-up examinations for the participants and determine the dentine hypersensitivity in SS of the most hypersensitive tooth (with the highest pre-treatment SS) immediately after the intervention and at 4-week and 8-week intervals., Discussion: There is no consensus on the standard of care for a professionally applied desensitising agent in older adults. This trial will provide evidence for clinicians to devise an effective dental care plan for older adults with dentine hypersensitivity., Trial Registration: NCT05392868 Registered on 22 May 2022.

Objective: To assess the clinical evidence for professionally applied fluoride therapy to prevent and arrest caries in older adults., Data/sources: Two independent researchers searched the English literature published up to 31st Dec 2021 in five databases (PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Web of Science) for clinical trials with a comparison group on professionally applied fluoride therapy for caries prevention or arrest at older adults aged ≥60 years with any follow-up period. The outcomes were the mean difference in the number of new caries/caries-prevented fraction and caries arrest rate. The Cochrane guidelines were used for the risk of bias assessment., Study Selection/results: Five hundred and twenty-seven studies were identified, and seven studies were finally included. Five studies were rated as having 'low risk'. The root caries-prevented fraction of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution, 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish, and 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) gel were 25-71%, 64%, and 32%, respectively. Meta-analysis indicated a decrease in the number of new root caries by 0.55 (95% CI: 0.32-0.78; p < 0.001) and an overall proportion of arrested root caries of 42% (95% CI: 33% to 49%; p < 0.001) after receiving 38% SDF application at the 24-month follow-up., Conclusions: According to the findings, 5% NaF varnish and 1.23% APF gel prevented root caries, whereas 38% SDF solution prevented and arrested root caries in older adults. More well-designed clinical trials should be conducted to investigate various methods in caries prevention and arrest in older adults., Clinical Significance: Preventive measures effective in other age groups may not suit older adults, as caries type and associated risk factors vary. To date, no systematic review has evaluated professionally applied fluoride therapy in older adults. Evidence from clinical trials in older adults could aid clinical practice and public health measures. The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration number: CRD42022307025., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate the short-term and long-term changes in parental satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children after receiving atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) with or without prior silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application., Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, preschool children with cavitated dentine caries lesions in their primary teeth were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either application of SDF solution or placebo (tonic water) on the caries lesions 10 weeks before receiving ART restorations. The information on parental satisfaction and OHRQoL of the children were collected through self-completed questionnaires at baseline, the 6-month and the 24-month follow-up. A five-point scale, from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), was used by parents to indicate their satisfaction with their child's dental conditions. A higher parental satisfaction score indicates that parents were more satisfied with their child's dental condition. In addition, the Chinese version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was adopted to assess the children's OHRQoL, and a higher ECOHIS score indicates greater negative impacts of oral health on the child's OHRQoL., Results: A total of 194 children participated in this study, with 101 and 93 children receiving SDF and placebo application before ART restorations, respectively. After placement of ART restorations, at 6-month and 24-month follow-up, parental satisfaction scores with their child's dental health status were significantly higher compared with those at baseline (P <.001) indicating the parents were more satisfied at follow-ups. Regarding OHRQoL, no statistically significant changes were found in the child impact section (CIS), family impact section (FIS) and total ECOHIS scores in both study groups at the 6-month follow-up. In contrast, at the 24-month follow-up, the CIS (P = .025) and total ECOHIS scores (P = .015) of the children in the control group were significantly higher than those at baseline (greater negative impacts), but not the FIS score., Conclusion: In this study, after one-off placement of ART restorations irrespective of prior SDF application, short-term and long-term parental satisfaction with their child's dental health status was improved, but not the children's OHRQoL., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Mechanical force-induced external root resorption is a major clinical side effect of orthodontic treatment. Recent work has revealed that M1 macrophages play a vital role in promoting orthodontic root resorption (ORR), but the mechanism of how mechanical force stimulation increases the M1/M2 macrophage ratio in periodontal tissue is poorly understood. In the current study, we showed that C-X-C motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12) + periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) + monocytes in the periodontal ligament (PDL) were significantly increased after force application with ongoing root resorption, and these effects were partially rescued after force removal in mice. The expression of CXCL12 in PDLCs was increased by force stimulation in a time- and intensity-dependent manner in vitro. Blockage of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis using CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 was sufficient to alleviate ORR and reverse the force-enhanced M1/M2 macrophage ratio. Further mechanism exploration showed that Ly6C hi inflammatory monocytes homed in a CXCL12/CXCR4 axis-dependent manner. The number and proportion of CD11b + Ly6C hi inflammatory monocytes in cervical lymph nodes were significantly increased by force loading, accompanied by decreased CD11b + Ly6C hi monocytes in the blood. These changes were blunted by intraperitoneal injection of AMD3100. In addition, blockage of the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis effectively reversed M2 suppression and promoted M1 polarization. Collectively, results indicate that force-induced CXCL12/CXCR4 axis mediates ORR by increasing the M1/M2 ratio in periodontal tissues through attracting Ly6C hi inflammatory monocytes and modulating macrophage polarization. The results also imply that AMD3100 is potentially inhibitory to root resorption.

We demonstrate a facile approach to solution-based synthesis of wafer-scale epitaxial bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4 ) thin films by spin-coating on yttria-stabilized zirconia. Epitaxial growth proceeds via solid-state transformation of initially formed polycrystalline films, driven by interface energy minimization. The (010)-oriented BiVO 4 films are smooth and compact, possessing remarkably high structural quality across complete 2'' wafers. Optical absorption is characterized by a sharp onset with a low sub-band gap response, confirming that the structural order of the films results in correspondingly high optoelectronic quality. This combination of structural and optoelectronic quality enables measurements that reveal a strong optical anisotropy of BiVO 4 , which leads to significantly increased in-plane optical constants near the fundamental band edge that are of particular importance for maximizing light harvesting in semiconductor photoanodes. Temperature-dependent transport measurements confirm a thermally activated hopping barrier of ∼570 meV, consistent with small electron polaron conduction. This simple approach for synthesis of high-quality epitaxial BiVO 4 , without the need for complex deposition equipment, enables a broadly accessible materials base to accelerate research aimed at understanding and optimizing photoelectrochemical energy conversion mechanisms., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

In June 2020, an observation experiment of O 3 and its precursors was carried out in Linyi City, Shandong Province. Based on the observation data and MCM photochemical model simulation, the formation mechanism and control mechanism of an ozone pollution case in mid-June were analyzed. The study found that, despite the high precipitation during the observation period, ozone concentrations rapidly accumulated and exceeded the limits once the weather cleared, with the 1-h average and 8-h φ (O 3 ) exceeding the national ambient air quality standards on 10 days (32% in frequency)and 14 days (45%), respectively. The diurnal variation in O 3 concentration was unimodal and accompanied by the afternoon peak at 16:00. MCM simulation results showed that the daily net reaction rate of O 3 was 20×10 -9 h -1 , and HO 2 ·+NO and RO 2 ·(except CH 3 O 2 ·)+NO contributed 49.0%-51.1% and 37.3%-40.2% of O 3 generation, respectively. The contribution of the·OH+NO 2 reaction to the total consumption of O 3 was 35.1%-57.4%. The results of VOCs reactivity, relative incremental reactivity (RIR), and the EKMA curve method showed that the generation of O 3 was more sensitive to alkenes (mainly trans-2-pentene and trans-2-butene)and aromatics (mainly m/p -xylene and toluene)but was negatively sensitive to NO x . In other words, the reduction in VOCs concentration would lead to the decrease in O 3 concentration, whereas the reduction in NO x concentration would lead to the increase in O 3 concentration. PMF source analysis results showed that volatile sources used by solvents and vehicle exhaust emissions contributed significantly to the above key precursor VOC species. Considering the titration effect of NO from vehicle exhaust emissions on ozone, controlling the use of volatile sources of solvents can realize the control of O 3 pollution accurately and efficiently.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in dentistry provide essential evidence for dentists to practice evidence-based dentistry. This study aimed to analyze the scientific impacts of the RCTs conducted among children and adolescents published in dental journals and summarize the main contents of these studies., Methods: An electronic literature search was conducted in the database Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection by two independent reviewers in June 2020, without an initial time limit. Articles reporting on RCTs conducted among children and adolescents in dental fields were identified. The most cited articles (the top 100 articles based on total citation counts and citation density) were selected. The bibliometric data were exported from the database WoS for further analysis. The citation counts were cross-checked in Google Scholar. In addition, the main content of the included RCTs was extracted and summarized., Results: A total of 132 papers published in 28 journals reporting on RCTs in dentistry on children and adolescents were included in this study. The mean total citation count (within WoS) of the included RCTs was 60.0, ranging from 17 to 300, and the mean citation density value was 4.6, ranging from 1.3 to 15.0. The majority of the articles were in the thematic field of cariology (n = 79, 59.8%). Other thematic fields, orthodontology (20.5%), endodontology (5.3%), behavior science and quality of life (5.3%), oral and maxillofacial surgery (3.8%), oral hygiene (3.8%) and periodontology (1.5%) were involved as well. Around one-fifth of the articles (n = 23) were produced by the United States, and the included articles were most cited by the publications (n = 1937) from the United States as well., Conclusions: A wide range of dental topics were covered in the included RCTs conducted among children and adolescents. These top-cited RCTs mainly focus on the thematic field of cariology. The United States is an influential country with a large number of publication outputs and citations., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this systematic review was to provide an update on caries prevalence in older adults aged 60 years or above around the globe. Two independent reviewers performed a systematic literature search of English publications from January 2016 to December 2020 using Pubmed, Scopus, Embase/Ovid and Web of Science. The MeSH terms used were "dental caries", "root caries", "DMF index", "aged" and "aged 80 and over". Further searches in Google Scholar retrieved eight additional publications. The epidemiological surveys reporting the prevalence of dental caries or root caries or caries experience using DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) and DFR (decayed and filled root) in older adults aged 60 years or above were included. Quality of the publications was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Studies Reporting Prevalence Data. Among the 5271 identified publications, 39 articles of moderate or good quality were included. Twenty studies were conducted in Asia (China, India, Vietnam, Singapore and Turkey), ten in Europe (Ireland, Norway, Finland, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Romania and Kosovo), three in North America (USA and Mexico), one in South America (Brazil), two in Oceania (Australia) and three in Africa (Malawi, Egypt and South Africa). The prevalence of dental caries ranged from 25% (Australia) to 99% (South Africa), while the prevalence of root caries ranged from 8% (Finland) to 74% (Brazil) in community dwellers. The situation was even worse in institutionalised older adults of which the mean DMFT score varied from 6.9 (Malawi) to 29.7 (South Africa). Based on the included studies published in the last 5 years, caries is still prevalent in older adults worldwide and their prevalence varies across countries.

The older adult population is increasing both in number and in proportion worldwide. In Hong Kong, the number of people aged 65 or above is expected to reach 2.5 million in 2039, thus becoming one-third of the population. With this growing population, the need for dental care among older adults is expected to surge. Oral health care is one of the government's core policy agendas and the Department of Health has emphasised its importance. It has implemented a number of policies, such as increasing the number of dental training places, setting up an expert group for oral health care policy planning, and conducting regular oral health surveys of the population. It is subsidizing several programmes, including the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme, Community Care Fund Elderly Dental Assistance Programme, Outreach Dental Care Programme, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Programme, in order to promote oral health care in older adults. These programmes have received support and positive feedback from both the public and dental service providers. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the oral health care of older adults in Hong Kong and recommendations to enhance their effectiveness.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the global research interest regarding silver diamine fluoride (SDF) in dentistry using a bibliometric approach., Methods: A literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify studies related to SDF. Bibliometric data from the selected publications were exported and analysed using the Bibliometrix Biblioshiny R-package software. The type of research and main contents of the publications were summarised. One-way analysis of variance was used to detect the differences in the citation counts of the publications with various types of research. In addition, Google Trends was used to investigate the popularity of the search term "silver diamine fluoride"., Results: A total of 259 publications were included and analyzed. The annual scientific production of SDF studies increased significantly per year in the past five years, and it mainly concerned dental caries. The three main types of research were laboratory/animal study (n = 114, 44%), review/guideline (n = 56, 22%), and clinical trial (n = 44, 17%). The citation count related to the type of research (p < 0.01). The citation count of clinical trials was significantly higher than that of laboratory/animal studies (p < 0.05). As quantified via data from Google Trends, the search popularity of "silver diamine fluoride" also increased significantly., Conclusion: Based on the results of bibliometric analysis, global research interest regarding SDF has rapidly increased in recent years., Clinical Significance: This paper presents an overview of scientific evidence and impact of SDF use in dentistry. SDF attracts a growing interest globally and there has been a steady increase in scientific research into its use in dental practice., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate the effects of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) on the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in myocardial injury induced by endotoxin. Methods: The endotoxic model of neonatal rats was made by intraperitoneal injection of LPS(5 mg/kg). Neonatal Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: ①control group (saline group), ②endotoxin (LPS) group, ③LPS + CaSR agonist group, ④LPS + CaSR inhibitor group, ⑤LPS + JNK inhibitor group, ⑥LPS + CaSR inhibitor + JNK inhibitor group. The morphology of myocardium was observed by HE staining. The content of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in serum was determined. And the expression of IL-6 mRNA was detected by PCR. The protein expressions of CaSR and JNK were analyzed by Western blot. Results: Compared with the control group, the myocardial injury was aggravated in the LPS group. The content of LDH and the expressions of IL-6 mRNA, CaSR and JNK were increased significantly ( P ＜0.05). Compared with the LPS group,myocardial injury was aggravated in the CaSR agonist group. The content of LDH and the expressions of IL-6 mRNA,CaSR and JNK were increased ( P ＜0.05). In the CaSR inhibitor group,myocardial injury was reduced. The content of LDH and the expressions of CaSR and JNK were decreased ( P ＜0.05). In the JNK inhibitor group,myocardial injury was further alleviated. The content of LDH and the expressions of IL-6 mRNA, CaSR and JNK were decreased ( P ＜0.05). Myocardial injury was significantly reduced in the CaSR inhibitor + JNK inhibitor group. The content of LDH and the expressions of IL-6 mRNA, CaSR and JNK were further reduced ( P ＜0.05). Conclusion: CaSR is involved in myocardial injury induced by LPS in neonatal rats perhaps through the JNK pathway.

The (opto)electronic properties of Ta 3 N 5 photoelectrodes are often dominated by defects, such as oxygen impurities, nitrogen vacancies, and low-valent Ta cations, impeding fundamental studies of its electronic structure, chemical stability, and photocarrier transport. Here, we explore the role of ammonia annealing following direct reactive magnetron sputtering of tantalum nitride thin films, achieving near-ideal stoichiometry, with significantly reduced native defect and oxygen impurity concentrations. By analyzing structural, optical, and photoelectrochemical properties as a function of ammonia annealing temperature, we provide new insights into the basic semiconductor properties of Ta 3 N 5 , as well as the role of defects on its optoelectronic characteristics. Both the crystallinity and material quality improve up to 940 °C, due to elimination of oxygen impurities. Even higher annealing temperatures cause material decomposition and introduce additional disorder within the Ta 3 N 5 lattice, leading to reduced photoelectrochemical performance. Overall, the high material quality enables us to unambiguously identify the nature of the Ta 3 N 5 bandgap as indirect, thereby resolving a long-standing controversy regarding the most fundamental characteristic of this material as a semiconductor. The compact morphology, low defect content, and high optoelectronic quality of these films provide a basis for further optimization of photoanodes and may open up further application opportunities beyond photoelectrochemical energy conversion., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The aim of this study was to present a concise summary of the oral health policies and oral healthcare schemes for older adult populations in a number of selected countries around the world. In this paper, the current and planned national/regional oral health policies and oral healthcare schemes of nine countries (Australia, Brazil, China including Hong Kong, India, Japan, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are reported. Barriers and challenges in oral health promotion in terms of devising oral health policies, implementing oral health schemes, and educating the future dental workforce are discussed. In response to the aging of population, individual countries have initiated or reformed their healthcare systems and developed innovative approaches to deliver oral health services for older adults. There is a global shortage of dentists trained in geriatric dentistry. In many countries, geriatric dentistry is not formally recognized as a specialty. Education and training in geriatric dentistry is needed to produce responsive and competent dental professionals to serve the increasing number of older adults. It is expected that oral health policies and oral healthcare services will be changing and reforming in the coming decades to tackle the enduring oral health challenges of aging societies worldwide., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Jiang, Chu, Duangthip, Ettinger, Hugo, Kettratad-Pruksapong, Liu, Marchini, McKenna, Ono, Rong, Schimmel, Shah, Slack-Smith, Yang and Lo.)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of laser spot size on the mechanical properties of AISI 420 stainless steel, fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM), process. Tensile specimens were built directly via the SLM process, using various laser spot diameters, namely 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mm. The corresponding volumetric energy density ( E V ) is 80, 40, 26.7, and 20 J/mm 3 , respectively. Experimental results indicate that laser spot size is an important process parameter and has significant effects on the surface roughness, hardness, density, tensile strength, and microstructure of the SLM AISI 420 builds. A large laser spot with low volumetric energy density results in balling, un-overlapped defects, a large re-heated zone, and a large sub-grain size. As a result, SLM specimens fabricated by the largest laser spot diameter of 0.4 mm exhibit the roughest surface, lowest densification, and lowest ultimate tensile strength. To ensure complete melting of the powder and melt pool stability, E V of 80 J/mm 3 proves to be a suitable laser energy density value for the given SLM processing and material system.

The advancement of medicine has reduced the rate of mortality and older adult population is increasing. Among the 7,700,000,000 world population in 2019, 1 in 11 people were at the age of 65 or more. The population is expected to increase to 1 in 6 people by 2050. Older adults have degenerative changes that become more severe with age. This study used the World Health Organization's websites and PubMed and Google Scholar databases to review current global oral and systemic health issues. Studies generally reported that many older adults have no regular dental checkup. Common oral diseases such as dental caries particularly root caries and periodontal disease are highly prevalent among them. These oral diseases are often interrelated with their systemic problems. A meta-analysis reported diabetes increases the incidence and progression of periodontitis by 86%. A decrease in salivary output is common among older adults having polypharmacy. A review reported the caries risk in older adults increases by 60% with low resting pH and low stimulated salivary flow rate. Many older adults suffer from dementia and depression which complicates the delivery of dental treatment. Proper oral hygiene practice and dental care at supine position are often difficult to be carried out if they have rheumatoid arthritis. With the increasing need of elderly dental care, dentists and other dental personnel should understand interlaced oral and general health in order to provide a successful dental care plan for older adults. The aim of this study is to give an overview of the common medical conditions and dental problems and their impacts on older adults.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases; however, successful biliary cannulation is a prerequisite for this operation. We herein present a new method in a patient in whom cannulation was difficult. A 56-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with choledocholithiasis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed, and duodenoscopy revealed that the patient's duodenal papilla was located at the initial part of the horizontal segment of the duodenum. Because of the ectopic location of the duodenal papilla, the guidewire could not be inserted into the biliary and pancreatic duct. Therefore, we performed a new method to resolve the problem of difficult cannulation. A polypectomy snare was used to excise the mucosa covering the surface of the intramural segment of the common bile duct, and a dual knife was used to form a fistula. A guidewire was then inserted through the stoma into the bile duct. After the procedure, the bile duct was successfully cannulated and the stones were removed. No complications occurred. This new method may be an alternative treatment to precutting for difficult biliary cannulation in patients with a protruded papilla of Vater.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are considered important mediators of the periapical immune response to infection. This study aimed to clarify the putative relationship between MMPs and TIMPs by elucidating the activity of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in the temporal development of apical periodontitis (AP) in mice., Methods: AP was induced in the lower first molars of 30 male Kunming mice. The animals were randomly killed at 0, 7, 14, 28, 60, and 90 days after pulp exposure. The jaws were removed and subjected to quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemical analysis., Results: The MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 messenger RNA and protein expression levels increased with periapical inflammation progression (P < .05). The MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 messenger RNA and protein expression levels increased during the acute and chronic stages of periapical lesions, with less MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels at the chronic stage (P < .05). The MMP-8 expression increased at the chronic stage of inflammation (P < .05) but not at the acute stage. Immunostained MMP-2 and TIMP-1 were observed in all experimental periods., Conclusions: MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were expressed in all periapical samples with varying levels between them. MMP expression could be related to TIMP expression in the temporal development of AP., (Copyright © 2021 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The binary Ta-N chemical system includes several compounds with notable prospects in microelectronics, solar energy harvesting, and catalysis. Among these, metallic TaN and semiconducting Ta 3 N 5 have garnered significant interest, in part due to their synthetic accessibility. However, tantalum sesquinitride (Ta 2 N 3 ) possesses an intermediate composition and largely unknown physical properties owing to its metastable nature. Herein, Ta 2 N 3 is directly deposited by reactive magnetron sputtering and its optoelectronic properties are characterized. Combining these results with density functional theory provides insights into the critical role of oxygen in both synthesis and electronic structure. While the inclusion of oxygen in the process gas is critical to Ta 2 N 3 formation, the resulting oxygen incorporation in structural vacancies drastically modifies the free electron concentration in the as-grown material, thus leading to a semiconducting character with a 1.9 eV bandgap. Reducing the oxygen impurity concentration via post-synthetic ammonia annealing increases the conductivity by seven orders of magnitude and yields the metallic characteristics of a degenerate semiconductor, consistent with theoretical predictions. Thus, this inverse oxygen doping approach - by which the carrier concentration is reduced by the oxygen impurity - offers a unique opportunity to tailor the optoelectronic properties of Ta 2 N 3 for applications ranging from photochemical energy conversion to advanced photonics.

Background: We aimed to investigate the mechanisms of renal fibrosis and explore the effect of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) on renal fibrosis after the obstruction was removed., Methods: Fifty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group, the relief for unilateral ureteral obstruction (RUUO) group, and the RUUO+Treg group. Renal fibrosis indexes of RUUO mice were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and, Masson staining and immunohistochemistry after CD4+CD25+Treg cells were injected into the tail vein at the moment of recanalization. We detected the levels of Treg, M1, and M2 markers by flow cytometry, and the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 using ELISA., Results: The tubular necrosis score, AO value of α-SMA (smooth muscle actin), and collagen area on the 3rd and 14th days post RUUO were up-regulated compared with the 7th day post RUUO (P<0.05). After injection of Treg via tail vein, the tubular necrosis score, AO value of α-SMA, TGF-β1 level, and collagen area in the RUUO+Treg group on the 14th day were down-regulated compared with the RUUO group (P<0.05). Moreover, Treg could transform M1 macrophages into M2 macrophages, manifesting as up-regulated expression of CD206 compared with the RUUO group (P<0.05). Treg could also down-regulate the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β while up-regulating the secretion of IL-10 in vitro compared with the M1 group (P<0.05)., Conclusions: The kidney could deteriorate into a state of injury and fibrosis after the obstruction was removed, and Treg could effectively protect the kidney function., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)