Huang Li

Background: To evaluate agreement between assessments of post-treatment open gingival embrasure (OGE) presence and severity based on simulated three-dimensional gingival morphology in digital orthodontic setups and photographic reference classifications in adult extraction cases treated with fixed appliances. Methods: This retrospective study included 62 adults treated with extraction of four first premolars and fixed appliances, each contributing 10 paired anterior interproximal sites (620 sites). A single examiner independent of patient treatment graded post-treatment photographs as the reference classification and the software-simulated three-dimensional gingival morphology in setups generated exclusively from pretreatment digital models. Overall linear weighted Cohen’s kappa (κ) for modified Jemt grades was the primary endpoint. Binary classification measures were secondary, and arch-, sex-, and site-stratified analyses were exploratory. All performance estimates were site-level; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) accounted for patient-level clustering. Results: With 95% CIs in parentheses, overall linear weighted κ was 0.716 (0.657–0.769), exact-grade agreement was 0.808 (0.774–0.840), and mean absolute error was 0.194 (0.160–0.229) grades. Secondary binary accuracy was 0.918 (0.894–0.940), with sensitivity of 0.975 and specificity of 0.770. The photographic reference and setup-based proportions of OGE-positive sites were 71.9% and 76.6%, respectively, indicating a modest tendency toward setup-based overclassification (difference, 4.7% points). Conclusions: Examiner-rated digital setup-based classifications showed preliminary within-sample agreement with post-treatment photographic reference classifications in this selected retrospective cohort. The findings support feasibility rather than validated prediction or examiner-independent reproducibility; prospective external validation with independent examiners is required before clinical utility can be established.

Immune surveillance hinges on the precise regulation of molecular sentinels to maintain the equilibrium between physiological homeostasis and pathological distress. Central to this process is the sensing of exogenous pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and endogenous damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), or alarmins. Traditionally, PAMPs and DAMPs were categorized as triggers for local protective host defense or maladaptive inflammatory cascades. Recent insights have unveiled an expanded functional framework for these signals, where they orchestrate systemic processes, notably including trained immunity and interorgan communication. Despite these advances, existing reviews lack a unified synthesis that integrates classical functions with novel concepts. This review narratively synthesizes molecular sources, sensing mechanisms, and regulatory networks that control PAMP and DAMP signaling, followed by their diverse functions in modulating both immune and nonimmune landscapes. Critically, we dissect the intricate interplay between PAMPs and DAMPs, a dimension overlooked in prior reviews. We further discuss their contributions to various human diseases, highlighting their context‐dependent functions in different conditions. Finally, we evaluate their emerging role in biomarkers and therapies. By integrating classical concepts with recent discoveries, this review provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how danger signals shape human health and disease, offering insights for biomarker development and immunomodulatory therapies.

To investigate the impact of mask-wearing on orthodontic patient compliance and to identify factors associated with adherence. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 214 orthodontic patients (64.0% female; predominantly aged 19–30 years) who had used removable orthodontic devices. Data on demographics, treatment duration, appliance type, mask-wearing attitudes and wear times were collected. Key variables included mask-wearing attitudes, which were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale (ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree”), actual and recommended wear times of appliances, overall compliance (actual/recommended wear time), and daytime compliance proportion (actual daytime/total wear time). Although 52.2% of participants agreed that masks facilitated acceptance of unaesthetic appliances, this perception was associated with lower daytime (ρ = −0.568) and overall compliance (ρ = −0.245) (both p < 0.01). Daytime wear proportion strongly correlated with overall compliance (β = 0.74, p < 0.01). Patients with neutral mask attitudes showed higher daytime compliance than those with polarized views (p < 0.01). Gender was the only independent predictor of mask-facilitated compliance, with males reporting higher acceptance (coefficient = −0.71, p = 0.03). Most orthodontic patients believe that wearing a mask helps them accept less attractive appliances, but this belief did not lead to better treatment compliance. Those with neutral attitudes wore appliances more during the day. Daytime wear strongly predicts overall compliance. For clinicians, this means that patients who count on masks to hide their appliances may need extra attention. Rather than focusing only on reducing aesthetic concerns, efforts should also focus on helping patients build consistent daytime wear habits.

Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) involves progressive synovial inflammation-driven cartilage degeneration. While thermotherapy empirically al

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate differences in cortical and trabecular alveolar bone between normal dentition and edentulous sites across differ

Maxillary underdevelopment is a critical component of skeletal Class III malocclusion, closely linked to altered biomechanical signaling. Mechanical stimulation through early facemask protraction can effectively promote maxillary growth, yet the underlying mechanotransduction mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is identified as a key biomechanical responder in maxillary development. Secreted predominantly by osteocytes, FGF9 interacts with fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) on preosteoblasts to inhibit osteogenic differentiation. Mechanical stress reduces FGF9 secretion from osteocytes, thereby relieving its inhibitory effect and enhancing osteogenesis. Mechanistically, FGF9 promotes nuclear translocation of FGFR2 in preosteoblasts, which modulates transcription factors ATF5 and NR2F1 to suppress bone formation. In vivo, targeted overexpression of FGF9 in bone tissue led to significant maxillary growth impairment, underlying the pathological impact of disrupted mechanical signaling. These findings reveal a novel osteocyte–preosteoblast axis regulated by FGF9–FGFR2 signaling in response to mechanical stimulation and provide mechanistic insight into how biomechanical forces shape craniofacial development. This pathway offers new mechanistic insights and potential therapeutic targets for correcting craniofacial skeletal abnormalities.