Polydopamine-modification of a magnetic composite constructed from citric acid-cross-linked cyclodextrin and graphene oxide for dye removal from waters.

The effect of polydopamine (PDA) modification on aminated Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NH2)/graphite oxide (GO)/ß-cyclodextrin polymer cross-linked by citric acid (CDP-CA) composites were studied for the removal of a cationic dye (methylene blue, MB) and an anionic dye (Congo red, CR) from waters. The micro-structural and magnetic characterizations confirmed the successful preparation of Fe3O4-NH2/GO/CDP-CA and PDA/Fe3O4-NH2/GO/CDP-CA composites. The maximum MB and CR adsorption capacities of Fe3O4-NH2/GO/CDP-CA were 75 mg/g and 104 mg/g, respectively, while the corresponding amounts for PDA/Fe3O4-NH2/GO/CDP-CA composite were 195 mg/g and 64 mg/g, respectively. The dye sorption behaviors of these two composites were explained by their corresponding surface-charged properties according to the measured zeta potential results. Moreover, the high saturation magnetizations and the stable dye removal rate in the adsorption-desorption cycles indicated the good recyclability and reusability of the fabricated composites.

A metagenome-wide association study of the gut microbiota in recurrent aphthous ulcer and regulation by thalidomide.

Recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU), one of the most common diseases in humans, has an unknown etiology and is difficult to treat. Thalidomide is an important immunomodulatory and antitumor drug and its effects on the gut microbiota still remain unclear. We conducted a metagenomic sequencing study of fecal samples from a cohort of individuals with RAU, performed biochemical assays of cytokines, immunoglobulins and antimicrobial peptides in serum and saliva, and investigated the regulation effects of thalidomide administration and withdrawal. Meanwhile we constructed the corresponding prediction models. Our metagenome-wide association results indicated that gut dysbacteriosis, microbial dysfunction and immune imbalance occurred in RAU patients. Thalidomide regulated gut dysbacteriosis in a species-specific manner and had different sustainable effects on various probiotics and pathogens. A previously unknown association between gut microbiota alterations and RAU was found, and the specific roles of thalidomide in modulating the gut microbiota and immunity were determined, suggesting that RAU may be affected by targeting gut dysbacteriosis and modifying immune imbalance. In-depth insights into sophisticated networks consisting of the gut microbiota and host cells may lead to the development of emerging treatments, including prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics.

Frequencies of abnormal humoral and cellular immune component levels in peripheral blood of patients with recurrent aphthous ulceration.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) has an incidence of approximately 20% in general population. However, its exact cause remains unknown. Increasing evidence suggests that immunologic mechanisms may play crucial roles in the etiology of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The peripheral blood samples were obtained from 85 patients with RAU during acute phase and 87 healthy controls. The serum levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C4 were measured by immunoturbidimetry. In addition, the serum IgE levels were measured by electro-chemiluminescence immunoassay. Furthermore, the percentages of B, T, CD4+ T, CD8+ T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Our findings showed that the serum IgG, IgA, IgE, C3 and C4 levels of RAU patients were significantly higher than those of healthy controls. The percentages of CD4+ T cells and B cells in peripheral blood of RAU patients were significantly decreased, whereas the percentages of CD8+ T cells and NK cells of RAU patients were remarkably increased. Our results indicated that the IgG level was elevated in 18 patients (21.2%) and that the IgE level was increased in 21 patients (24.7%). Our results also showed that the frequency of abnormal IgG or IgE levels were significantly correlated with that of abnormal CD8+ T cell percentage in RAU patients. CONCLUSION: The levels of both humoral and cellular immune components could be altered in RAU. The relationship between humoral and cellular immune may be potentially important immunologic aspects involved in the pathogenesis of RAU.

NOD1 agonist iE-DAP reverses effects of cigarette smoke extract on NOD1 signal pathway in human oral mucosal epithelial cells.

Smoking is a well-known risk factor for many systemic diseases and oral disorders. Smoking has been recognized to cause diminished defense, persistent inflammation and result in disease development. Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1) signal pathway plays a key role in innate immune and tissue homeostasis. Our recent studies confirmed that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) could inhibit NOD1 expression and affect expression levels of crucial molecules of NOD1 signaling in oral mucosal epithelial cells. In the present study, immortalized human oral mucosal epithelial (Leuk-1) cells were treated with CSE, iE-DAP (NOD1 agonist), CSE + iE-DAP, respectively. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that iE-DAP triggered NOD1 expression of leuk-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. iE-DAP also reversed the suppressive effect of CSE on NOD1 expression and prevented the overactivation of RIP2 and P-NF-κB following CSE exposure. Real-time PCR and ELISA results confirmed that iE-DAP reversed CSE-mediated effects on the mRNA levels and releases of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IFN-γ by Leuk-1 cells. Taken together, our results indicated that NOD1 activation with iE-DAP could reverse CSE-mediated effects on NOD1 signaling in human oral mucosal epithelial cells.

NOD1, RIP2 and Caspase12 are potentially novel biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma development and progression.

Although increasing studies have indicated that Nucleotide-oligomerization domain-containing protein 1 (NOD1) signaling could play an important role in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis, the protein expression and function of NOD1 signaling have not been understood well in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) progression. The objective of this study is, thus, to examine protein expression of NOD1 signaling immunohistochemically in normal, premalignant and malignant specimens of oral cavity, and to take insights into the association between the protein expression of NOD1 signaling pathway and OSCC precession. In this study immunohistochemical expression of NOD1, Receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2), Caspase12, human ß Defensin1, 2 and 3 (hBD1, 2, 3) was examined in 15 normal controls, 30 cases of oral leukoplakia (OLK) and 60 cases of OSCC. The immunostaining score was assessed by 2 pathologists, respectively. We found that the expression of NOD1, RIP2, Caspase12, hBD1, 2, and 3 decreased along with the progression of OSCC. NOD1 expression was correlated significantly to tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and tumor size. Our results also showed the correlation of hBD2, 3 to lymph node metastasis of OSCC. These results suggest that the dysfunction of NOD1 signaling pathways could be associated with OSCC development and progression. NOD1, RIP2 and Caspase12 could be used as potentially novel biomarkers for oral carcinogenesis.

Hydroxychloroquine decreases the upregulated frequencies of Tregs in patients with oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have emerged as important mediators in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We investigated the possible involvement of Tregs in oral lichen planus (OLP) and the influence of clinical therapy (hydroxychloroquine and prednisone) on the frequencies of Tregs in OLP patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred fifty patients diagnosed with OLP were the study cohort. Levels of Tregs in blood and tissues were detected using flow cytometry and immunostaining, respectively. Cytokine production was assessed using a proteome profiler array and determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. mRNA expression of transcription factors was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Hydroxychloroquine or prednisone was used to treat patients randomly. The frequency of Tregs was detected before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with healthy volunteers, OLP patients had a higher proportion of Tregs in serum and tissues before treatment (P < 0.001). Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1, and IL-10 were significantly higher in patients than those in healthy controls. mRNA expression of Treg-related genes, including TGF-ß, IL-10, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, and GATA binding protein 3, were upregulated significantly in OLP patients. The frequency of Tregs was downregulated after hydroxychloroquine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Tregs may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of OLP and may provide a new therapeutic target for OLP treatment. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: T cell-mediated immune dysfunction may have a crucial role in OLP development. However, T helper 1 (Th1)/Th2 imbalance does not appear to be sufficient to understand the pathogenesis of OLP. This is the first study to show that Tregs are involved in the immunopathogenesis of OLP.

[Use of 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS to screen differentially expressed serum proteins in patients with oral lichen planus before and after hydroxychloroquine treatment].

PURPOSE: To establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis images and compare the differences of serum proteins of oral lichen planus patients before and after hydroxychloroquine therapy. METHODS: The serum of oral lichen planus patients before and after hydroxychloroquine therapy were collected, and total protein were extracted. Differential proteome profiles were established and analysed by means of 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-MS. The types and functions of protein were analyzed. SAS 9.12 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Six proteins were well characterized including plasminogen precursor,Apo A-IV precursor, C4A/C4B complement, C2 precursor, Vitamin D binding protein and hypothetical protein. The differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Plasminogen precursor, Apo A-IV precursor, C4A/C4B complement, C2 precursor, Vitamin D binding protein and hypothetical protein are differentially expressed in oral lichen planus patients before and after hydroxychloroquine therapy, but the results need to be validated by other biochemical technologies.

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: a report of three cases and literature review.

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome (LHS) is an acquired pigmentary condition affecting lips, oral mucosa and acral area, frequently associated with longitudinal melanonychia. There is neither malignant predisposition nor underlying systemic abnormality associated with LHS. Herein, we present three uncommon cases of LHS with possibly new feature of nail pigmentation, which were diagnosed during the past 2 years. We also review the clinical and histological findings, differential diagnosis, and treatment of the syndrome in published literature.

[Resonance Rayleigh scattering spectra of berberine-tetraphenylboron association nanoparticle and its analytical application].

AIM: To study the relationship between resonance Rayleigh scattering(RRS) and the formation of association nanoparticle, and to develop a new and sensitive RRS method for the determination of trace berberine (BB). METHODS: The association nanoparticle between BB and tetraphenylboron (TPB) was investigated by means of RRS, absorption spectral method and transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: In pH 5.0 NaAc-HAc buffer solution, BB and TPB combine to BB-TPB association complex. The association complexes aggregate to (BB-TPB)n association nanoparticles, due to the strong hydrophobic force and Van der Waals force. It exhibits a resonance Rayleigh scattering peak at 470 nm, a maximum absorption peak at 368 nm. A new RRS method was proposed for the determination of 0.06 to 5.28 mg.L-1 BB in real samples with satisfactory results. The detection limit is 26 micrograms.L-1. CONCLUSION: The TEM of (BBjAgp-TPBj + p)h composite association nanoparticles was observed by means of composite association nanoreaction both TPB- and BB+ or Ag+. The results indicated that the formation of (BB-TPB)n association nanoparticles and interface of solid-liquid results in the enhanced resonance light-scattering. This new RRS method showed high sensitivity, and had been successfully applied to the determination of BB in real samples.