Oxymatrine Attenuates Chronic Allograft Rejection by Modulating Immune Responses and Inhibiting Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rejection (CR) is a significant obstacle to long-term allograft survival. Oxymatrine (OMT) is a prominent bioactive compound widely utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for the management of inflammatory disorders and it has considerable potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of CR. METHODS: Well-established major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II mismatched B6 mice. C-H-2bm12-to-C57BL/6 mouse transplantation was used as a CR model. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry, and Masson's trichrome staining were used to assess pathological changes in the grafts, and the percentages of immune cells were determined by flow cytometry. The effects of OMT on the regulation of CD4+ T cell differentiation and cytokine secretion were verified in vitro. RESULTS: OMT effectively alleviated pathological graft damage, characterized by chronic changes in intimal lesions, vasculopathy, and fibrosis and significantly prolonged cardiac allograft survival. OMT exerted its immunomodulatory effects by inhibiting T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) cell differentiation while promoting Treg differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. Further studies revealed that OMT inhibited the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is a potential mechanism underlying its immunosuppressive effects. OMT also inhibited the activation of B cells and the production of donor-specific antibody (DSA). In addition, OMT effectively alleviated chronic changes in fibrosis in cardiac allografts, and these changes may be related to the inhibition of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß)-Smad 2/3 pathway. CONCLUSIONS: OMT attenuated CR by modulating the immune response and inhibiting graft fibrosis. Further in-depth investigations of OMT may provide valuable insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies for CR inhibition.

The Method of Lipemia Clearance Should be Based on the Characteristics and the Method of Testing in the Emergency Laboratory.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the lipemia removal efficiency of highspeed centrifugation, lipid scavengers, and dilution for biochemical analytes. METHODS: We collected 30 cases of lipemic plasma in an emergency laboratory and divided them into 4 aliquots. Lipemia was removed by highspeed centrifugation, lipid scavenger, dilution, and ultracentrifugation, then analytes were measured by an AU5800 analyzer. Taking ultracentrifugation as reference, the efficiencies of the other three methods were evaluated based on the deviation. RESULTS: When highspeed centrifugation was used for lipemia removal, DBIL (18.62%), and Magnesium (6.09%) could not satisfy the criterion. When lipid scavengers were applied to remove lipemia, CRP (-86.70%), TP (-8.29%), CKMB (-44.85%), DBIL (37.96%), Glu (4.20%) and phosphate (14.32%) were not suggested as lipid scavengers. For dilution, nearly half of the analytes could satisfy the criterion, including AMY (2.41%), CRP (5.54%), ALT (2.85%), GGTL (-1.73%), ALP (-0.04%), Glu (-0.84%), LDH (0.06%), CK (0.68%), BUN (3.80%), CREA (-1.54%), UA (5.42%), and magnesium (0.43%). CONCLUSIONS: Neither of the methods for lipid removal could satisfy all emergency department tests for lipid removal. This finding suggests that removing lipemia in the clinical laboratory should be based on the characteristics and the method of testing.

Successful Treatment Strategy for Duplicate Inferior Vena Cava and Deep Venous Thrombosis: Filter Placement and Thrombolysis Approach.

BACKGROUND Duplicate inferior vena cava (IVC) accompanied by deep venous thrombosis is rare. The optimal treatment plan is determined according to the results of imaging, including venography. In this report, we present a case of successful treatment of a patient with duplicate IVC and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). CASE REPORT An 84-year-old man with history of hypertension was admitted to the hospital because of 4 days of moderate left lower-limb edema. A thorough examination led to the diagnosis of the DVT. The duplicate IVC was discovered during venography. As the blood from the left common iliac vein mainly flowed to the left IVC, and there were no other communicating branches before the convergence of the left and right IVCs, which was located above the 1st lumbar vertebrae body near the junction of the hepatic vein and the IVC, the strategy of placing only 1 filter in the left inferior vena cava were chosen, rather than placing 1 filter above the confluence of bilateral IVC, or placing a filter in each IVC below the level of renal veins on each side. Following that, the DVT was safely treated with thrombolysis and aspiration without the risk of pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSIONS This case report presented the complete evaluation and management of a patient with lower-limb DVT accompanied by the malformation of duplicate IVC. The filter placement strategy with duplicate IVC in the literature was summarized. We concluded that even in emergency situations, with comprehensive consideration, it is possible to perform endovascular intervention successfully and achieve satisfactory treatment results.

Oxymatrine combined with rapamycin to attenuate acute cardiac allograft rejection.

Background and aim: Solid organ transplantation remains a life-saving therapeutic option for patients with end-stage organ dysfunction. Acute cellular rejection (ACR), dominated by dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4+ T cells, is a major cause of post-transplant mortality. Inhibiting DC maturation and directing the differentiation of CD4+ T cells toward immunosuppression are keys to inhibiting ACR. We propose that oxymatrine (OMT), a quinolizidine alkaloid, either alone or in combination with rapamycin (RAPA), attenuates ACR by inhibiting the mTOR-HIF-1α pathway. Methods: Graft damage was assessed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Intragraft CD11c+ and CD4+ cell infiltrations were detected using immunohistochemical staining. The proportions of mature DCs, T helper (Th) 1, Th17, and Treg cells in the spleen; donor-specific antibody (DSA) secretion in the serum; mTOR-HIF-1α expression in the grafts; and CD4+ cells and bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) were evaluated using flow cytometry. Results: OMT, either alone or in combination with RAPA, significantly alleviated pathological damage; decreased CD4+ and CD11c+ cell infiltration in cardiac allografts; reduced the proportion of mature DCs, Th1 and Th17 cells; increased the proportion of Tregs in recipient spleens; downregulated DSA production; and inhibited mTOR and HIF-1α expression in the grafts. OMT suppresses mTOR and HIF-1α expression in BMDCs and CD4+ T cells in vitro. Conclusions: Our study suggests that OMT-based therapy can significantly attenuate acute cardiac allograft rejection by inhibiting DC maturation and CD4+ T cell responses. This process may be related to the inhibition of the mTOR-HIF-1α signaling pathway by OMT.

Study on Oxymatrine-Based Research from 2001 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Oxymatrine is a quinolizidine alkaloid mainly derived from Kushen; it possesses various therapeutic effects, such as organ- and tissue-protective, anticancer, and antiviral effects. The research directions for oxymatrine remain broad. In order to explore the overall status of oxymatrine-based research, we carried out a bibliometric analysis to summarize the oxymatrine-based, English-written studies published in the past 22 years. In total, 267 studies were included, most of which were original. The number of annual studies slowly increased with some fluctuations. Other than China, 11 different countries conducted studies on oxymatrine; the variety in the country of origin of these publications is presented as a recently increasing trend. Many affiliates and researchers have participated in oxymatrine-based research. Various treatment mechanisms involving different oxymatrine pathways have led to research in a wide range of fields, being published in numerous journals. Two particularly popular research fields related to oxymatrine involved anticancer and anti-inflammation. From this research, we concluded that with increasing and continuous in-depth studies, more therapeutic effects and mechanisms will be elucidated, and oxymatrine may present as a viable option for the treatment of additional diseases.

[Investigation and analysis of dental and jaw deformities of junior middle school students and their parents' awareness of correction in Ganzhou city].

PURPOSE: To investigate and analyze orthognathic deformities of junior middle school students in Ganzhou City and their parents' awareness of correction. METHODS: From January 2019 to December 2020, a stratified cluster sampling method was adopted to select 2 189 middle school students in Ganzhou City and an anonymous self-filling questionnaire survey was conducted. The difference between the students with and without correction of dental deformities was compared. The difference between parents of students with and without orthodontic teeth deformity was analyzed. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS 18.0 software package. RESULTS: Among 2 189 junior high school students, the incidence of dental and jaw malformations was 54.04%, and the correction rate of dental and jaw malformations was 33.64%. The correction rate of dental deformities in girls was significantly higher than in boys(P＜0.05). The correction rate of tooth and jaw deformity in urban students was significantly higher than in rural students(P＜0.05). In terms of the students' judgment on the appearance and function of their teeth, some in the orthodontic group mentioned that their teeth were irregular, they would not intentionally cover their teeth with their hands, they cared about others' opinions on their teeth, not satisfied with their feelings about the appearance of their teeth and their teeth affected chewing or articulation were significantly higher than those in the group without orthodontic deformity(P＜0.05). In terms of students' cognition of teeth and jaw deformities, the proportion of students in the orthodontic group who did not know about the orthodontic treatment was significantly lower than that in the group without orthodontic treatment(P＜0.05). In terms of the concerns about orthodontic treatment, the percentages of the orthodontic treatment group worried about the impact of wearing orthodontic devices on eating, brushing, appearance, fear of tooth extraction and pain were significantly lower than those of the group without orthodontic treatment (P＜0.05). Bachelor degree or above educational level of parents and the proportion of working in institutions and public institutions and state-owned enterprises in the orthodontic group were significantly higher than those in the non-orthodontic group(P＜0.05). The family monthly income≥10 000 yuan, the proportion of those who thought their children need orthodontic treatment, the proportion of those who were willing to spend time to help their children with orthodontic treatment, and the proportion of those who supported to pay for orthodontic treatment for their children were significantly higher than those without orthodontic treatment(P＜0.05). The proportion of parents satisfied with their children's dental condition in the orthodontic group was significantly lower than that in the non-orthodontic group (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Junior middle school students in Ganzhou City have the characteristics of higher prevalence rate of dental and jaw malformations. The correction rate of dental and jaw malformations is significantly different between female and male students, as well as urban and rural students. The lack of cognition of students and their parents, education level of parents and family economic level may affect the demand for orthodontic treatment of dental deformities.

Efficacy of crown lengthening for restoration of maxillary anterior tooth defects.

OBJECTIVE: The appearance of the gingival tissue around the teeth is essential in the aesthetics of the anterior maxillary region of the oral cavity. Abnormalities in symmetry and contour can significantly compromise the appearance of the natural or restored dentition, so the outcome is highly relevant to treatment choice. This study evaluated the efficacy of crown lengthening for restoration of maxillary anterior tooth defects. METHODS: A total of 80 patients (87 affected teeth) diagnosed with maxillary anterior tooth loss in Ganzhou People's Hospital between May 2020 and August 2021 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into an experimental group or a reference group according to different treatment methods, with 40 cases in each group. The reference group received a post and core procedure, while the experimental group received crown lengthening plus a post and core procedure. Outcome measures included clinical efficacy, gingival periodontal-related indices, and dental aesthetics indices. RESULTS: Crown lengthening plus post and core procedure was associated with a significantly higher clinical efficacy (95.65%) versus post and core procedure alone (78.05%) (P<0.05). Postoperatively, the levels of probing depth (PD), plaque index (PLI), bleeding index (BI), and gingival index (GI) were lower in patients of the experimental group than those in the reference group (all P<0.05). Crown lengthening plus post and core procedure resulted in more Kay class I and II patients and fewer Kay class III and IV versus the post and core procedure alone (P<0.05). The position of gingival margin (PGM) and gingival recession (GR) of patients in the experimental group were higher than those in the reference group after operation (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the morphology of broken ends, plaque control, hygiene habits, and smoking were influencing factors for maxillary anterior tooth defects (all P<0.05). Patients were more satisfied (97.50%) in the experimental group than those in the reference group (80.00%) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Crown lengthening improves the periodontal condition of patients with maxillary anterior tooth loss, reduces gingival sulcus bleeding, and improves dental aesthetics and patient satisfaction. Further clinical studies are required prior to clinical promotion.

Epidemiological updates of post-traumatic related limb osteomyelitis in china: a 10 years multicentre cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic related limb osteomyelitis (PTRLO) is a complex bone infection. Currently, there are no available microbial data on a national scale that can guide appropriate antibiotic selection, and explore the dynamic changes in dominant pathogens over time. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of PTRLO in China. METHODS: The study was approved by the Institutional Research Board (IRB), and 3526 PTRLO patients were identified from 212 394 traumatic limb fracture patients at 21 hospitals between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2017. A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate the epidemiology of PTRLO, including changes in infection rate (IR), pathogens, infection risk factors and antibiotic resistance and sensitivity. RESULTS: The IR of PTRLO increased gradually from 0.93 to 2.16% (Z=14.392, P <0.001). Monomicrobial infection (82.6%) was significantly higher than polymicrobial infection (17.4%) ( P <0.001). The IR of Gram-positive (GP) and Gram-negative (GN) pathogens showed a significant increase from the lowest 0.41% to the highest 1.15% (GP) or 1.62% (GN), respectively. However, the longitudinal trend of GP vs. GN's composition did not show any significance (Z=±1.1918, P >0.05). The most prevalent GP strains were Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (17.03%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (10.46%), E. faecalis (5.19%) and S. epidermidis (4.87%). In contrast, the dominant strains GN strains were Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (10.92%), E. cloacae (10.34%), E. coli (9.47%), Acinetobacter Baumannii (7.92%) and Klebsiella Pneumoniae (3.33%). In general, the high-risk factors for polymicrobial infection include opened-fracture (odds ratio, 2.223), hypoproteinemia (odds ratio, 2.328), and multiple fractures (odds ratio, 1.465). It is important to note that the antibiotics resistance and sensitivity analysis of the pathogens may be influenced by complications or comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the latest data of PTRLO in China and offers trustworthy guidelines for clinical practice. (China Clinical Trials.gov number, ChiCTR1800017597).

Effect of Capsaicin Atomization on Cough and Swallowing Function in Patients With Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with hemorrhagic stroke have high mortality and disability rates. Nevertheless, early rehabilitation interventions can improve their outcomes. We aimed to apply capsaicin atomization as early intervention to patients with hemorrhagic stroke and explore improvements in cough and swallowing functions. METHOD: Patients with hemorrhagic stroke were randomly divided into the control group, which received routine care, and the intervention group, which underwent the capsaicin solution nebulization scheme in addition to routine care. Differences in the presence/absence of cough reflex and number of coughs in response to capsaicin, the presence/absence of swallowing reflex in response to water, the presence/absence of postswallow residue, substance P (SP) concentration, and pulmonary inflammation between the two groups were determined before and after the intervention. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients with hemorrhagic stroke were included. Results showed no statistically significant difference in cough reflex in both groups after the intervention (p > .05). The degree of cough in the intervention group was stronger than that in the control group (p = .046). No statistically significant difference was observed in the number of patients with swallowing reflex in response to water between the groups (p > .05). The presence/absence of postswallow residue of the intervention group was stronger than that of the control group (p = .032). No statistically significant difference was observed between the Glasgow Coma Scale scores of the groups after the intervention (p > .05). SP in the intervention group was significantly increased (p = .031). The Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score was significantly lower in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p = .028). CONCLUSIONS: Capsaicin nebulization can help enhance the number of coughs in response to capsaicin, reduce postswallow residue, and increase the level of SP in patients with hemorrhagic stroke and has a positive effect on pulmonary inflammation. This study provides intervention points for cough and swallowing rehabilitation after a hemorrhagic stroke. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21956903.

[Effect of ultrasonic curettage combined with sodium hyaluronate gel on chronic periodontitis and its effect on inflammatory factors hs-CRP, MCP-1 and MMP-13 in gingival crevicular fluid].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of ultrasonic curettage combined with sodium hyaluronate gel in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP) and the effect on inflammatory factor hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) in gingival crevicular fluid. METHODS: A total of 102 patients with CP from October 2021 to October 2022 were selected, divided into experimental group (n=51) and control group (n=51) by random number table method. The control group received ultrasonic subgingival curetage, and the experimental group received sodium hyaluronate gel adjuvant therapy on the basis of the control group. The periodontal rehabilitation indexes, clinical efficacy and the changes of gingival crevicular fluid hs-CRP, MCP-1 and MMP-13 were compared between the two groups. The periodontal pathogens, bone metabolism indexes and the occurrence of adverse events during treatment were compared between the two groups. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: After treatment, the sulcus bleeding index (SBI), gingival index (GI), plaque index (PLI), periodontal pocket depth (PD) and attachment level (AL) of the two groups were significantly lower than before treatment (P＜0.05), and even significantly lower(P＜0.05) in the experimental group. Total effective rate of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05). hs-CRP, MCP-1 and MMP-13 in both groups after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment(P＜0.05), and hs-CRP, MCP-1 and MMP-13 in the experimental group after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05). The detection rates of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Forsetanella and Treponema dentalis were significantly lower in both groups after treatment than before treatment (P＜0.05), and the detection rates of the above indexes in the experimental group after treatment were significantly lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05). After treatment, the C-terminal peptide(CTX) of type Ⅰ collagen was significantly lower than that before treatment, and bone gla protein(BGP) was significantly higher than that before treatment(P＜0.05). The CTX and BGP of the experimental group were significantly lower than that of the control group and significantly higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of total adverse reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS：Ultrasonic curettage combined with sodium hyaluronate gel in the treatment of CP can promote periodontal tissue rehabilitation, enhance short-term efficacy, inhibit synthesis of inflammatory factors in gingival crevicular fluid, kill periodontal pathogens, regulate bone metabolism, and is safe and reliable.

[Effect of dimethyloxalylglycine on angiogenesis in Choke â ¡ zone of cross-zone perforator flap and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) on angiogenesis in Choke Ⅱ zone of rats cross-zone perforator flaps and its mechanism. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-six adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into DMOG group, YC-1 group, and control group, with 42 rats in each group. Cross-zone perforator flap model with size of 12 cm×3 cm was made on the back of rats in the three groups. DMOG group was intraperitoneally injected with DMOG (40 mg/kg) at 1 day before operation, 2 hours before operation, and 1, 2, and 3 days after operation; YC-1 group and control group were intraperitoneally injected with YC-1 (10 mg/kg) and the same amount of normal saline at the same time points, respectively. The survival of flap was observed after operation. At 7 days after operation, the survival area of flap in each group was measured and the survival rate of flap was calculated. Flap transmittance test, gelatin-lead oxide angiography, and HE staining were used to observed the angiogenesis in the Choke Ⅱ zone of flaps in each group. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in Choke Ⅱ zone of flaps in each group. The expressions of VEGF and HIF-1α were also determined by ELISA at 3, 5, and 7 days. RESULTS: At 7 days after operation, there was no obvious necrosis at the distal end of the flap in DMOG group, while necrosis occurred in both the control group and YC-1 group, mainly located at the distal end. The flap survival rate of DMOG group was 90.28%±1.37%, which was significantly higher than that of YC-1 group (84.28%±1.45%) and control group (85.83%±1.60%) ( P<0.05). DMOG group had more angiogenesis in Choke Ⅱ zone and the vascular structure was clear and complete. In YC-1 group and control group, the vessels in Choke Ⅱ zone was less and the vascular structure was disordered. The number of vessels was (25.56±1.29)/field in the DMOG group, which was significantly higher than that in the YC-1 group [(7.38±0.54)/field] and the control group [(14.48±0.91)/field] ( P<0.05). At 3, 5, and 7 days after operation, HIF-1α and VEGF expressions in ChokeⅡzone of DMOG group were significantly higher than those in YC-1 group and control group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION: DMOG can promote angiogenesis in Choke Ⅱ zone, accelerate the early angiogenesis of the flap, improve the microcirculation and blood supply in the potential zone of the flap, reduce the injury of flap ischemia and hypoxia, and increase the survival rate of the flap.

Oxymatrine protects cardiac allografts by regulating immunotolerant cells.

Organ transplantation is an effective treatment strategy for patients with irreversible organ failure or congenital organ dysfunction. Oxymatrine (OMT) is a quinolizidine alkaloid with protective and anti-inflammatory effects on tissues and organs. The objective of this study was to investigate whether OMT could exert protective effects in cardiac allografts by regulating immune cells. In vitro cell proliferation and co-culture experiments were used to measure the effects of OMT on splenocyte proliferation and differentiation. In the in vivo study, C57BL/6 mice transplanted with BALB/c cardiac grafts were randomly divided into untreated, low-dose OMT treated, middle-dose OMT treated, high-dose OMT treated, and rapamycin-treated groups. Haematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess pathological changes in the grafts, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis was performed to measure the percentages of immune cells. The results showed that, in the in vitro study, OMT inhibited splenocyte proliferation, decreased the percentage of mature dendritic cells (DCs), and increased the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and regulatory B cells (Bregs). In the in vivo study, OMT exerted allograft protective effects by prolonging survival time, alleviating pathological damages to the cardiac allograft, decreasing intragraft CD3+ cell and increasing intragraft Foxp3+ cell infiltration, decreasing the percentages of mature DCs, increasing the percentages of Tregs and Bregs, and inhibiting the function of DCs. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that OMT exerted a protective effect on cardiac allografts by regulating immunotolerant cells. More in-depth studies of OMT may provide additional insight into the use of immunosuppressive drugs as a post-transplantation treatment strategy.

Uncertainty and misinterpretation over identification, quantification and transformation of reactive species generated in catalytic oxidation processes: A review.

The identification of reactive radical species using quenching and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests has attracted extensive attention, but some mistakes or misinterpretations are often present in recent literature. This review aims to clarify the corresponding issues through surveying literature, including the uncertainty about the identity of radicals in the bulk solution or adsorbed on the catalyst surface in quenching tests, selection of proper scavengers, data explanation for incomplete inhibition, the inconsistent results between quenching and EPR tests (e.g., SO4•- is predominant in quenching test while the signal of •OH predominates in EPR test), and the incorrect identification of EPR signals (e.g., SO4•- is identified by indiscernible or incorrect signals). In addition, this review outlines the transformation of radicals for better tracing the origin of radicals. It is anticipated that this review can help in avoiding mistakes while investigating catalytic oxidative mechanism with quenching and EPR tests.

Anti-aging role of Chinese herbel medicine: an overview of scientific evidence from 2008 to 2018.

The aging of the population has become a global health problem. It is an important risk factor for major diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. Presently, there is no definite and effective anti-aging treatment. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of application and is often used for aging-related diseases in China. A large number of clinical and preclinical studies on the anti-aging effect of Chinese herbal medicine has been performed. Through literature research, we reviewed the anti-aging clinical research of Chinese herbal medicine and preclinical research of Chinese herbal medicine monomers, components, extracts, and compounds, and their mechanisms. Results from preclinical studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicines have beneficial anti-aging effects. The mechanism mainly includes anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotection, apoptosis and mitochondrial function regulation, etc. However, more detailed high-quality clinical trials are required for future investigation of the anti-aging effects of Chinese herbal medicines.

Increased health threats from land use change caused by anthropogenic activity in an endemic fluorosis and arsenicosis area.

Urbanization is conducive to promoting social development and improving living standards. However, the changing land use attributed to urbanization has placed both the environment and humans at risk. Based on the long-term monitoring and the land use change during 2010-2017, we investigated the exposure of fluoride (F) and arsenic (As) in groundwater. We analyzed the temporal and spatial variation of F and As from different land use changes. The study assessed health risk for children by calculating carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk. Furthermore, we mapped the distribution pattern of F and As using GIS. For the 768 water samples collected from 2010 to 2017, F concentrations ranged between 0.10 and 5.70 mg L-1 (M = 0.68 ± 0.02 mg L-1), As concentrations ranged between 0.50 and 71.50 µg L-1 (M = 4.28 ± 0.28 µg L-1). A concerning result showed that 6.77% of F concentrations larger than 1.5  mg L-1 and 11.46% of As concentrations larger than 10 µg L-1 based on the recommendation by WHO, respectively. Results proved that land use change caused by human activity increased groundwater pollution and placed human health at risk. High F and As risk were found in southern Taiyuan City. In particular, the groundwater of industrial land suffered from more severe pollution, especially at the frontier of urban and suburban areas in the southern part of Taiyuan City. Land use change attributed to industrial land resulted in major increases in the F and As concentrations in groundwater across 2010-2017. Both carcinogenic risk and non-carcinogenic risk in 2016-2017 were higher than that in 2010-2015. Rational land use planning, strict groundwater protection policies and the regular monitoring of pollution levels are necessary in order to prevent the adverse health of residents.

Oxymatrine exerts organ- and tissue-protective effects by regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis: From bench to bedside.

Oxymatrine is a quinazine alkaloid extracted from Sophora flavescens with various therapeutic effects such as organ- and tissue-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-viral effects. In this review, we summarize the protective effects of oxymatrine on damaged organs and tissues by analyzing both in vivo and in vitro studies. The mechanisms of protective effects of oxymatrine are mainly related to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, anti- or pro-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic, metabolism-regulation, and anti-nociceptive functions. In addition, a variety of signal pathways, cells, and molecules are influenced by oxymatrine, and by these comprehensive actions, maximum therapeutic effects can be achieved. Furthermore, we summarize the protective effects in clinical studies and adverse effects of oxymatrine. It is believed that through more in-depth animal experiments and standardized clinical research, oxymatrine holds a bright future in the process of organ and tissue protection and has a significant therapeutic promise to translate from bench to bedside.

Enhancing the performance of blue quantum-dot light-emitting diodes through the incorporation of polyethylene glycol to passivate ZnO as an electron transport layer.

The balance between charge transport and charge injection is always a key factor in enhancing the performance of quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs), particularly for the blue QDs due to their large optical band gap and relatively low valence band level compared with their green and red counterparts. High performance blue QD-LEDs have been demonstrated by blending polyethylene glycol (PEG) into solution-processed ZnO nanocrystals as the electron transport layer. PEG can effectively tune the electron mobility of ZnO and simultaneously passivate its surface defect states. As a result, the maximum current efficiency (CE) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) of the blue QD-LEDs increased from 4.33 cd A-1 and 9.98% for pure ZnO to 8.03 cd A-1 and 14.84% for 4% PEG blended into ZnO, respectively. Furthermore, operational lifetime of the device is also significantly improved from 8.95 h to 25.06 h. This result indicates that PEG is a promising material for regulating the charge balance of the blue QD-LEDs.

Preparation and Characterization of CuO/ZnO/PVDF/PAN Nanofiber Composites by Bubble-electrospinning.

BACKGROUND: Nanocomposites loaded with metal oxides, such as CuO and ZnO, have excellent optical, electrical, mechanical and chemical properties, which result in their great potential applications in optoelectronic devices, sensors, photocatalysts and other fields. Especially, electrospun metal- oxide-loaded nanofibers have attracted much attention in many fields. However, the single-needle Electrospinning (ES) inhibits the industrial application of these electrospun nanofiber composites. Bubble-Electrospinning (BE) is an effective free surface ES for mass production of nanofiber membranes loaded with metal oxide. Few relevant patents to the topic have been reviewed and introduced. METHODS: The BE was used to prepare mass production of Cu(Ac)2 /Zn(Ac)2/ PVDF/ PAN Composite Nanofiber Membranes (CNFMs). Then PVDF/PAN CNFMs containing CuO and ZnO nanocrystals were obtained by heat-treatment. Finally, CuO nanosheets and ZnO nanorods were successfully grown on the surface of PVDF/PAN CNFMs using hydrothermal method. In addition, the morphology and crystal structure of CNFMs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray Powder Diffractometer (XRD). RESULTS: The morphology and crystal structure of the samples were characterized by SEM and XRD. The results showed the heat treatment temperature of 150oC and the hydrothermal temperature of 150oC were the optimal process parameters for the fabrication of PVDF/PAN CNFMs loaded with CuO and ZnO nanocrystals, and a higher heat treatment temperature results in higher crystallinity of ZnO and CuO. CONCLUSION: CuO/ZnO/PVDF/PAN CNFMs were successfully prepared by a combination of BE, heattreatment and hydrothermal method. The ZnO/CuO beads obtained by heat treatment is the key point of growing ZnO/CuO nanocrystals, and the growth temperature has great effect on the morphology of ZnO/CuO nanocrystals.

PD-L1 is required for human endometrial regenerative cells-associated attenuation of experimental colitis in mice.

Endometrial regenerative cells (ERCs) are easily isolated from menstrual blood, and can be cultured in large amounts. Although, ERCs can ameliorate DSS-induced colitis in mice, the molecular mechanism underlying ERCs-mediated immunosuppression is unclear. This study was aimed to assess the function of PD-L1 expressed on ERCs in colitis attenuation. ERCs with and without anti-PD-L1 mAb-pretreatment were administered to mice by injection at 2, 5 and 8 days after colitis induction by DSS treatment. Blood, spleen and colon samples were obtained 15 days post-DSS-induction. Then, clinicopathological alterations, cytokine levels, immune cell types and cell tracking were assessed. ERCs or ERCs preincubated with anti-PD-L1 antibody were co-cultured with splenocytes, whose phenotypes was analyzed by flow cytometry. We found that PD-L1 on ERCs was upregulated by IFN-γ stimulation. The transplanted PKH26-labeled ERCs were engrafted to the lung, liver, spleen and injured colon. Interestingly, ERC-based therapy markedly attenuated mouse colitis, but blockade of PD-L1 on ERCs with a specific monoclonal antibody conferred severe colitis to the animals. These effects of PD-L1 inhibition on colitis were associated with reduced amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and infiltrated immune cells, including CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD3+CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD11c+MHC-II+ Dendritic cells and F4/80+ macrophages, both in vivo and in vitro, as well as with elevated levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and regulatory immune cells, including CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs and F4/80+CD206+ macrophages. These findings demonstrated that ERCs-based treatment promotes immune tolerance in mouse colitis, in association with PD-L1, thus indicating that PD-L1 modulates immunosuppression by ERCs.

Efficacy and safety of Xinnaoning capsule in treating chronic stable angina (qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome): Study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stable angina (CSA) is a cardiovascular disease with high prevalence. At present, drug treatment is still the main measure of stable angina pectoris. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history in the treatment of CSA. Qi stagnation and Blood stasis syndrome is a common syndrome of CSA. Xinnaoning (XNN) capsule is considered as an effective adjuvant treatment for CSA with the efficacy of promoting qi and blood circulation but lack of high-quality clinical evidence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of XNN capsule compared with placebo by clinical trial. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will be conducted with a total of 240 participants diagnosed with chronic stable angina (qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome). The participants will be randomized (1:1) into groups receiving either XNN or placebo for 12 weeks. After a 2-week run-in period, they will receive either XNN or placebo (3 pills, 3 times daily) for 12 weeks on the basis of conventional therapy. The primary outcomes include changes in the integral scores of angina symptoms. The secondary outcome measures include changes in the total score of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome, severity grading of angina pectoris, the number of angina pectoris per week, nitroglycerin dosage, score of seattle angina scale, serum homocysteine, incidence of cardiovascular events. Safety outcomes will also be assessed. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial. RESULTS: This study will investigate whether XNN capsule can alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve quality of life of patients with chronic stable angina (qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome). The results of this study will provide clinical evidence for the application of XNN capsule in the treatment of chronic stable angina. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03914131.