4 February 2022, the “start of spring” day, the first of the 24 solar terms of the year and also part of the Chinese New Year festival, marked the opening of the XXIV Winter Olympic Games (Beijing 2022). Beijing is now the first city to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics and Paralympics. These events are great opportunities for athletes and sports fans from all over the world to meet. We hope the pandemic will end soon, that the world will return to normal, and that we will work “together for a shared future”.
For our journal, with great support and cooperation from Berlin, London and Beijing, we have continued to work smoothly over the past year. We have welcomed 14 new members, who are renowned international scholars, to our editorial board. We would like to thank them for their support and contribution!
In this issue, I would like to recommend several articles. The first of these is “Emerging role of high glucose levels in cancer progression and therapy” contributed by Dr Cai et al, members of Prof Tie Jun Li’s team from Peking University School of Stomatology. The article offers a comprehensive review of this broad topic. Extensive research has indicated that high glucose plays an important role in the development and progression of cancer. As a novel finding in cancer progression and therapy, high glucose needs to be studied further, and I think this article may offer a new perspective for readers who work in cancer research.
There are also two other reviews. The first of these is “Exploration of genetic variants of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without palate and underlying mechanisms” by Prof Lin Wang’s team at the Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University. They performed functional studies on related loci and genes by using molecular biology, cell biology, animal models and other methods, which provide a basis for the construction of the NSCL/P genetic map in the Chinese population and help to implement individualized prophylaxis and treatment. The second is contributed by Prof Tian’s group at the West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, entitled “Microspheres and their potential in endodontic regeneration application”, which summarises the properties and characteristics of microsphere scaffold used in tissue engineering, placing emphasis on their advantages and applications in endodontic regeneration.
The systematic review on “Accuracy of mandibular reconstruction with a vascularised Iliac flap using 3D templates” and systematic review and meta-analysis “Relationship between presence of third molars and prevalence of periodontal pathology of adjacent second molars”, from Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, and School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, respectively, are sure to be helpful to clinicians in their practice. There is also a research article on “Near infrared laser photobiomodulation of periodontal ligament stem cells” from the School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and a case report on “Management of separated instruments extruded into the maxillary sinus and soft tissue” from the School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, China that are worthy of your attention.
I wish you a very happy, healthy and successful new year!
Prof Guang-yan Yu
Editor-in-chief