Identification of Hedyotis diffusa Willd-specific mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA network in rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification.

Hedyotis diffusa Willd (HDW) possesses heat-clearing, detoxification, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain under-researched. In this study, we identified potential targets of HDW and collected differentially expressed genes of RA from the GEO dataset GSE77298, leading to the construction of a drug-component-target-disease regulatory network. The intersecting genes underwent GO and KEGG analysis. A PPI protein interaction network was established in the STRING database. Through LASSO, RF, and SVM-RFE algorithms, we identified the core gene MMP9. Subsequent analyses, including ROC, GSEA enrichment, and immune cell infiltration, correlated core genes with RA. mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory networks were predicted using databases like TargetScan, miRTarBase, miRWalk, starBase, lncBase, and the GEO dataset GSE122616. Experimental verification in RA-FLS cells confirmed HDW's regulatory impact on core genes and their ceRNA expression. We obtained 11 main active ingredients of HDW and 180 corresponding targets, 2150 RA-related genes, and 36 drug-disease intersection targets. The PPI network diagram and three machine learning methods screened to obtain MMP9, and further analysis showed that MMP9 had high diagnostic significance and was significantly correlated with the main infiltrated immune cells, and the molecular docking verification also showed that MMP9 and the main active components of HDW were well combined. Next, we predicted 6 miRNAs and 314 lncRNAs acting on MMP9, and two ceRNA regulatory axes were obtained according to the screening. Cellular assays indicated HDW inhibits RA-FLS cell proliferation and MMP9 protein expression dose-dependently, suggesting HDW might influence RA's progression by regulating the MMP9/miR-204-5p/MIAT axis. This innovative analytical thinking provides guidance and reference for the future research on the ceRNA mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of RA.

Salt-blocking three-dimensional Janus evaporator with superwettability gradient for efficient and stable solar desalination.

Solar interfacial steam power generation is a prospective method for seawater desalination. In this work, a salt-blocking three-dimensional (3D) Janus evaporator with a superhydrophobic to superhydrophilic gradient was fabricated by spraying a composite dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes/polydimethylsiloxane (CNTs/PDMS) onto the top side of a polyurethane (PU) foam and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution onto the bottom side. The CNTs/PDMS composite dispersion with nanostructured CNTs and low surface energy PDMS combined with the porous structure of the PU foam rendered the top side superhydrophobic. Therefore, a layer suitable for photothermal conversion was obtained. The hydrophilic PVA combined with the porous structure of the foam rendered the bottom side superhydrophilic, facilitating water absorption and transportation. The asymmetric wettability gradient of the CNTs/PDMS-PU-PVA as a 3D evaporator caused the evaporation rate and transportation speed of water to reach a balance, and the salt was quickly dissolved at the superhydrophilic interface. This 3D salt-resistant Janus evaporator achieved an evaporation rate of 2.26 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 kW m-2 illumination.

[Corrigendum] Involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in IGF­1 protects endothelial progenitor cells against injury from oxidized LDLs.

Subsequently to the publication of this article, the authors have realized that the name of the first author was spelt incorrectly: The name was spelt as 'Hao­jing Wen', whereas the name should have been presented as 'Jing­wen Hao. The name as it should have appeared in the author list is featured above. The authors regret that this this error was not corrected prior to the publication of the above article, and apologize to the author in question and to the readership for any inconvenience caused.[the original article was published in Molecular Medicine Reports 19: 660­666, 2019; DOI:10.3892/mmr.2018.9633].

Reliability of the measurement of glenoid bone defect in anterior shoulder instability.

BACKGROUND: The size of the glenoid bone defect is an important index in selecting the appropriate treatment for anterior shoulder instability. However, the reliability of glenoid bone defect measurement is controversial. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reliabilities of measurements of the glenoid bone defect on computed tomography and to explore the predisposing factors leading to inconsistency of these measurements. METHODS: The study population comprised 69 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for recurrent anterior shoulder dislocation in Peking University Fourth School of Clinical Medicine from March 2016 to January 2017. The glenoid bone defect was measured by three surgeons on 'self-confirmed' and 'designated' 3-D en-face views, and repeated after an interval of 3 months. Measurements included the ratio of the defect area to the best-fit circle area, and the ratio of the defect width to the diameter of the best-fit circle. The inter- and intra-observer reliabilities of the measurements were evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The maximum absolute inter- and intra-observer differences and the cumulative percentages of cases with inter- and intra-observer differences greater than these respective levels were calculated. RESULTS: Almost all linear defect values were bigger than the areal defect values. The inter-observer ICCs for the areal defect were 0.557 and 0.513 in the 'self-confirmed' group and 0.549 and 0.431 in the 'designated' group. The inter-observer reliabilities for the linear defect were moderate or fair in the 'self-confirmed' group (ICC = 0.446, 0.374) and 'designated' group (ICC = 0.402, 0.327). The ICCs for intra-observer measurements were higher than those for inter-observer measurements. The respective maximum inter- and intra-observer absolute differences were 13.9% and 13.2% in the 'self-confirmed' group, and 15.8% and 9.8% in the 'designated' group. CONCLUSIONS: The areal measurement of the glenoid bone defect is more reliable than the linear measurement. The reliability of the glenoid defect areal measurement is moderate or worse, suggesting that a more accurate and objective measurement method is needed in both en-face view and best-fit circle determination. Subjective factors affecting the glenoid bone loss measurement should be minimized.

Involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in IGF­1 protects endothelial progenitor cells against injury from oxidized LDLs.

A high level of oxidized low­density lipoproteins (oxLDLs) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether insulin­like growth factor­1 (IGF­1) protected endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from injury caused by ox­LDLs, and whether the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway was involved in this process. EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and characterized. In order to evaluate the effect of IGF­1 on EPCs, cells were incubated with ox­LDLs (100 mg/ml) for 24 h to induce a model of EPC dysfunction in vitro, which demonstrated a decrease in the number of EPCs, concomitant with increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation rates. IGF­1 dose­dependently increased the number of EPCs. Concurrently, IGF­1 decreased the levels of apoptosis of EPCs and improved EPCs proliferation following ox­LDLs challenge. In addition, IGF­1 significantly increased NO levels in ox­LDLs­treated EPCs, accompanied by an upregulation in eNOS expression. The protective effects of IGF­1 on EPCs and NO production were abolished by L­NAME, a specific eNOS inhibitor. These results suggested that IGF­1 protects EPCs from dysfunction induced by oxLDLs through a mechanism involving the eNOS/NO pathway.

Retrospective analysis of 52 patients with prolactinomas following endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prolactinomas affect patients' quality of life and even endanger lives. The study aimed to investigate the effect of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (EETA) on 52 patients with prolactinomas. METHODS: A total of 52 patients with prolactinomas who had previously undergone EETA in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Factors affecting the extent of resection and postoperative remission rates were also investigated. RESULTS: All the patients were pathologically diagnosed with prolactinomas. Compared with giant adenomas, the total removal rate of microadenomas and macroadenomas was significantly increased (P < .05). In addition, the total removal rate of patients with noninvasive prolactin adenomas was significantly higher than patients with invasive prolactinadenomas (P < .05). Furthermore, there were no significant differences in postoperative remission rates among patients with prolactin adenomas from different ethnic groups (P > .05). Also preoperative administration of bromocriptine and preoperative prolactin (PRL) levels did not significantly affect therapeutic outcomes postsurgery (P > .05). Postoperative menstruation was improved or normalized in 20 (38.5%) female patients, vision was improved or normalized in 15 (28.8%) patients, and headaches were improved or normalized in 22 (42.3%) patients. Sexual function was improved in 2 male patients following surgery. A total of 6 patients exhibited a recurrence following surgery. A number of patients suffered from postoperative complications, including transient diabetes insipidus in 5 (9.6%) patients and postoperative transient cerebrospinal fluid leakage in 2 (3.8%) patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that tumor size, preoperative PRL levels, and invasion of adenomas represent independent factors that can affect the success of surgery. The results suggested that EETA represents a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with prolactinoma with high remission rates and low complication rates. Therefore, EETA should be considered a primary treatment for patients with prolactinomas who are not responsive to treatment with medical therapy.

[In vitro anti-tumor effect of human dendritic cells vaccine induced by astragalus polysacharin: an experimental study].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the in vitro anti-tumor effect and mechanism of dendritic cell (DC) tumor vaccine induced by astragalus polysacharin (APS). METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from human peripheral blood. DCs obtained from human peripheral blood were cultivated and added with culture solution for in vitro inducing them to immature DCs. On the 5th day of culture, 100 microg/mL (as the final concentration) APS was added to cells in the APS group. DCs were induced to mature in the cytokine groups by adding 20 ng/mL rhTNF-alpha (as the final concentration). Changes of morphology and phenotype of DCs were observed. Mature DCs were sensitized with tumor antigen SGC-7901 and co-cultured with allogeneic T cells. The proliferative function of T lymphocytes was detected by MTT assay. Levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in co-cultured supernatant were detected by ELISA. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) activated by DC were co-cultured with tumor cell SGC-7901. The specific killing capacity of CTL to target cells was detected by LDH release assay. RESULTS: The morphological observation and phenotypic identification of APS induced DCs were in accordance with the characteristics of mature DCs. APS induced mature DCs could stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes. The proliferation index of T cells increased with increased ratio of stimulator cells to effector cells (P < 0.05). Levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in co-culture supernatant significantly increased in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CTL cells activated by sensitization of DCs could significantly kill tumor cells, and the killing effect increased along with increased effector-to-target ratio. CONCLUSION: APS could in vitro induce DCs to mature, promote its antigen-presenting capacity, effectively activate CTLs, and enhance anti-tumor function of the organism.

Research advances in treatment of cerebral ischemic injury by acupuncture of conception and governor vessels to promote nerve regeneration.

Cerebral ischemia is one of the most common diseases treated by acupuncture therapeutics. Recent studies indicated that acupuncture treatment by needling the conception and governor vessels had positive effects in promoting neural regeneration in patients after cerebral ischemia injury. Acupuncture intervention could continuously promote the proliferation and differentiation of the neural stem cells in the brain, obviously up-regulate expression of growth factors, accelerate angiogenesis and inhibit apoptosis. Hence, it is necessary to present an exhaustive review on the mechanisms. The present review gives a detailed description of pathological changes of cerebral ischemia and acupuncture intervention applied to the conception and governor vessels, and proposes research prospects in the future.

[Characterization of pure and doped amorphous WO3 films by Raman spectroscopy].

Pure, TiO2-doped and TiO2/Ag-doped WO3 films were prepared by evaporation and electron beam evaporating. Raman spectroscopy and chronoamperometry were used to characterize the electrochromic properties of the samples. The correlation between the relative intensity of the Raman peaks, corresponding to the Raman sharp peak of the crystalline phase at 810 cm(-1) is negative, that is to say the higher the relative intensity of the Raman peaks, the smaller the coloration efficiency.

[Performance of an innovative polyethylene carrier biotrickling filter treating hydrogen sulphide gas].

Characteristics of double-layer biotrickling filter using high density polythene rasching rings carrier treating waste gas containing hydrogen sulphide was studied. Results showed that biotrickling filter had significant advantages of low pressure drop and even load distribution along the reactor height. When removal efficiency was greater than 90%, gas retention time was 12 s, maximum inlet load was 110 g/(m3 x h), elimination capacity was 84 g/(m3 x h). At steady state, about 37%-55% of hydrogen sulfide load was removed from the lower layer. During long-term operation, pressure drop kept to less than 280 Pa x m(-1), the backwashing period was longer than two months, no biomass accumulation happened in the lower layer, and abnormal increase in pressure drop can be used as a indicator of backwashing. Reactor recovery and restart experimental results showed that removal efficiency recovered to 95% in 1 day after 6 days without H2S, pH dramatic variation of spray liquid had significant adverse impact on biotrickling bed reactor.

[Changes of vessel in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head: experimental study of rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of vessel function, vessel injury, blood viscosity and vessel regeneration in steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral head. METHODS: Forty Chinese white rabbits were randomly divided into 2 equal groups to be injected with: horse serum intravenously twice with an interval of 3 weeks and than prednisone intraperitoneally once a day for 5 days (Group A), or injected with prednisone once a day for 5 days (Group B). Whole blood samples were collected by intracordal puncture before intravenous injection in group A and B, 24 hr after injection of horse serum in group A, and 3, 7, and 21 days after prednisone administration. Radioimmunological methods were used to detect the plasma endothelin (ET) and thrombomodulin (TM), and ELISA was used to detect the plasma intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1. Some rabbits were killed before intravenous administration, 24 hrs after injection of horse serum in group A, and 3, 7, 21, 35, and 49 days after the first treatment with prednisone respectively and their bilateral femoral heads were taken out to undergo HE staining and microscopy and SP-VEGF immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The levels of plasma TM, ET, and ICAM-1 gradually increased in comparison with those before treatment in both group, however, not significantly (all P > 0.05). The levels of plasma TM 1 week and 3 weeks after the initial prednisone administration inn Group A were significantly higher than those in Group B (both P < 0.05). 3 weeks after the initial prednisone administration the levels of plasma ICAM-1 and TM began to decrease and were lower than those 1 week after, however, not significantly (both P > 0.05). Pathological changes could be seen 1 and 3 weeks after in both groups and then recovered by the 7th week after the treatment. The level of VEGF expression in the osteocytes, osteoblasts, and cells of bone matrix and endothelial cells increased first 1 week after and then decreased after the prednisone administration in Group A, and decreased after the prednisone administration in Group B, however, without significant differences between these 2 groups. CONCLUSION: After prednisone treatment, a pre-necrosis status occurs in femoral head with a potential to restore which can be affected by many factors. Long-term observation on this status is necessary.

[Study on the start-up of an innovative polyethylene carrier biotrickling filter treating waste gas containing hydrogen sulphide].

Start-up of an innovative biotrickling bed packed with high density polyethylene carrier was studied. Two biofilm formation methods, continuous liquid stream (CLS) and gas-liquid phase joint (GLJ) biofilm formation, were studied for a quick start-up of biotrickling bed reactor treating gaseous hydrogen sulfide. Results show that the start-up time of the former is shorter, i. e. about 7 d at temperature 20- 28 degrees C . More steady performance was found in the reactor with CLS biofilm formation when sudden changes of GRT and inlet sulfide concentration happened. The removal efficiency of the former kept above 95% when inlet hydrogen sulphide concentration below 343 mg/m(3). Furthermore, the removal efficiency of S2- from the liquid used as the monitoring parameter of biofilm formation is suggested. After start-up period accomplished, no notable influence observed on removal efficiency when reducing supply of carbon source in trickling liquid through two different methods. The results show that the elimination of hydrogen sulphide in waste gas mainly attributed to autotrophic bacteria.

[Influence of 89Sr on the cell immune function in patients with multiple bone metastases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of 89Sr on the cell immune function in patients with multiple bone metastases. METHODS: Patients with multiple bone metastases were treated with in vivo radiation of 89Sr. The T cell subsets, NK cell activities, and lymphocyte transformation rate (LTR) of multiple bone metastases before and after the 89Sr treatment were measured. RESULTS: With the palliation of the pain of the patients after the 89Sr treatment, the T cell subset level, NK cell activities, and LTR increased. There was no significant change in the patients with the pain. CONCLUSION: Treating multiple bone metastases with 89Sr can improve the cell immune function of the patients to a certain extent.

[Effect of 99Tc-MDP on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the immune mechanism of 99Tc-MDP in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In vitro, 99Tc-MDP was added to the cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from healthy subjects and RA patients. The levels of IL-1 and sIL-2R from PBMC affected by 99Tc-MDP were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbert assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The IL-1 production by PBMC of RA, either in the medium alone (spontaneously) or in the presence of lipopolysacchride (LPS) stimulation, was suppressed by 99Tc-MDP; and the sIL-2R by PBMC of RA, either in the medium alone (spontaneously) or in the presence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) induction, was inhibited by 99Tc-MDP. CONCLUSION: 99Tc-MDP acts on PBMC and a possible immune activity by 99Tc-MDP is related to the suppression of IL-1 and sIL-2R in RA patients.