[Research progress in clinical diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma of the jaw].

Osteosarcoma of the jaw (JOS), is a relatively rare type of osteosarcoma, with a unique pathogenesis and pathological manifestations. The clinical manifestation of JOS is not characteristic, and it often needs to be diagnosed by combining radiological and pathological examination. At present, the conventional treatment of JOS is a comprehensive treatment based on surgery and supplemented by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently, the emergence of new therapies such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, phototherapy and traditional Chinese medicine has provided more choices for treatment and brought new hope to patients with JOS. Therefore, this article summarized the current understanding of diagnosis and the latest treatment development of JOS.

[Establishment and validation of nomogram prediction model for complicated acute appendicitis].

Objective: To establish and internally validate a nomogram model for predicting complicated acute appendicitis (CA). Methods: The clinical data from 663 acute appendicitis patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from October 2015 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 411 males and 252 females, aged (M (IQR)) 41 (22) years (range: 18 to 84 years). There were 516 cases of CA and 147 cases of uncomplicated acute appendicitis. The minimum absolute contraction and selection operator regression model was used to screen the potential relative factors of CA, and the screened factors were included in the Logistic regression model for multivariate analysis. Software R was used to establish a preoperative CA nomogram prediction model, the receiver operating characteristic curve of the model was drawn, and the value of area under the curve (AUC) was compared to evaluate its identification ability, and the Bootstrap method was used for internal verification. Results: The elderly (age≥60 years) (OR=2.428, 95%CI: 1.295 to 4.549), abdominal pain time (every rise of 1 hour) (OR=1.089, 95%CI: 1.072 to 1.107), high fever (body temperature≥39 ℃) (OR=1.122, 95%CI: 1.078 to 1.168), total bilirubin (every rise of 1 µmol/L) (OR=2.629, 95%CI: 1.227 to 5.635) were independent relative factors of CA (all P<0.05). The AUC of this model was 0.935 (95%CI: 0.915 to 0.956). After internal verification using the Bootstrap method, the model still had a high discrimination ability (AUC=0.933), and the predicted CA curve was still in good agreement with the actual clinical CA curve. Conclusion: The clinical prediction model based on the elderly (age≥60 years), prolonged abdominal pain time, high fever (body temperature≥39 ℃), and increased total bilirubin can help clinicians effectively identify CA.

Preliminary study on alleviation of heat-induced intestinal inflammation through compensatory effects of glucose oxidase.

1. The influence of glucose oxidase (GOD) supplementation on growth, gut inflammation and its compensatory effects in broilers was investigated before and after heat stress.2. Before heat stress, one-day-old broilers were divided into two groups: the control (CON) and GOD (100 g/t complete feed) groups. On d 21, the CON group was equally divided into CON1 and CON2 groups, and heat stress (35°C) was applied to the CON2 and GOD groups for 8 h/day to the end of the study, d 27 of age. The chickens were either killed before heat stress and 2 d after heat stress for the determination of cytokines in the liver and ileum, serum antioxidant enzymes and ileal microbiota. Growth performance was determined before and 7 d after heat stress.3. The GOD decreased Clostridiales and Enterobacteriaceae families of bacteria and increased ileal nuclear factor-κB, interleukin-1ß, and interferon-γ (P < 0.05) before heat stress. The broilers exhibited compensatory effects, including increases in ileal sirtuin-1, heat shock protein 70 expression, liver nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 content, serum total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase level (P < 0.05). At 2 d after heat stress, inflammatory factors were increased in both the CON2 and GOD groups, but the levels were lower in the GOD than CON2 (P < 0.05). On d 7 after heat stress, GOS alleviated heat stress induced growth retardation (P < 0.05).4. These data suggested that GOD supplementation in broiler diets before heat stress stimulated intestinal oxidative stress and produced a compensatory response, which prevented a rapid increase in intestinal inflammatory factors and helped to maintain growth performance under heat stress.

JTE-013 supplementation improves erectile dysfunction in rats with streptozotocin-induced type â diabetes through the inhibition of the rho-kinase pathway, fibrosis, and apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) that severely affects the patients' quality of life. However, the effectiveness of oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in these patients is poor. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and S1P receptor 2 (S1PR2) are important factors regulating the Rho-kinase pathway, and understanding these factors may provide ideas for new therapeutic strategies for ED. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the S1PR2 receptor antagonist JTE-013 could improve DM-induced ED (DMED) in rats and to explore the potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used 50 male Sprague Dawley rats (8 weeks old) for this experiment. Type Ⅰ DM was induced in forty-two rats via streptozotocin administration; the rest of the rats served as controls. Eight weeks after DM induction, rats with ED were selected via an apomorphine test. Eight of them were injected intraperitoneally with JTE-013 each day for 4 weeks. The rest were fed under the same conditions for 4 weeks. Erectile function was measured by cavernous nerve electrostimulation. The expression levels of related signaling pathways were evaluated using Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Erectile function was significantly impaired in the DMED group compared with the control group and was partially improved in the DMED + JTE-013 group. The expression of S1PR2 and the activity of the RhoA/ROCK/phospho-myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (p-MYPT1) pathway proteins were higher in the DMED group than in the other two groups, and JTE-013 treatment significantly reduced the expression/activity of these proteins. Furthermore, the DMED group showed severe corporal fibrosis, a higher apoptotic index and increased activity in the TGF-ß1/LIMK2/Cofilin pathway compared with the control group. JTE-013 supplementation significantly ameliorated these pathological changes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: JTE-013 supplementation partially improved erectile function in rats with DMED, likely by inhibiting smooth muscle contraction, corporal fibrosis, and apoptosis.

Experimental study on oral sulfhydryl as an adjuvant for improving nitrate ester tolerance in an animal model.

OBJECTIVE: As an initial step in exploring the feasibility of oral sulfhydryl as an adjuvant for improving nitrate ester tolerance, this study was designed to experimentally test the adjuvant therapy in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis (AS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits with induced AS were randomly divided into four groups: AS group, AS + nitrate ester group, AS + nitrate ester tolerance group, and AS + drug combination group. Additionally, four equivalent groups with healthy New Zealand white rabbits without AS were also conformed. After feeding the animals for 5 days, the concentrations of superoxide anion (•O2-), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in blood and the relaxation response of the aortic ring were determined in each subject. The vascular plaques in different treatment groups were assessed by Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining to investigate the therapeutic value of sulfhydryl as coadjuvant for improving nitrate ester tolerance, and changes in blood vessels in different treatment groups were studied by immunohistochemical assays. RESULTS: Our results showed no significant differences through time in the concentrations of •O2-, SOD, MDA, NO, ET-1 between the healthy control and the nitrate ester groups (p > 0.05). The levels of SOD and MDA in the nitrate ester tolerance group increased with time, however, the levels of •O2-, NO and ET-1 decreased gradually (p < 0.05). The NO, •O2- and ET-1 levels in both the AS and AS + nitrate ester tolerance groups were significantly decreased, but SOD and MDA were significantly increased (p < 0.05). SOD and MDA in the AS + nitrate ester group decreased gradually with time, but •O2-, NO- and ET-1 levels increased (p < 0.05). The levels of SOD and MDA in the AS + drug combination and the drug combination group decreased significantly with time, in contrast, those of •O2-, NO- and ET-1 increased (p < 0.05). The results of HE staining proved that the atherosclerosis model was established successfully. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude the use of a sulfhydryl compound as an adjuvant significantly reduced nitrate ester tolerance, and this strategy was safe and looks promising for humans.

The development and testing of a prototype mini-baghouse to control the release of respirable crystalline silica from sand movers.

Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) is a significant risk to worker health during well completions operations (which include hydraulic fracturing) at conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction sites. RCS is generated by pneumatic transfer of quartz-containing sand during hydraulic fracturing operations. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researchers identified concentrations of RCS at hydraulic fracturing sites that exceed 10 times the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and up to 50 times the NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL). NIOSH research identified at least seven point sources of dust release at contemporary oil and gas extraction sites where RCS aerosols were generated. NIOSH researchers recommend the use of engineering controls wherever they can be implemented to limit the RCS released. A control developed to address one of the largest sources of RCS aerosol generation is the NIOSH mini-baghouse assembly, mounted on the thief hatches on top of the sand mover. This article details the results of a trial of the NIOSH mini-baghouse at a sand mine in Arkansas from November 18-21, 2013. During the trial, area air samples were collected at 12 locations on and around a sand mover with and without the mini-baghouse control installed. Analytical results for respirable dust and RCS indicate the use of the mini-baghouse effectively reduced both respirable dust and RCS downwind of the thief hatches. Reduction of airborne respirable dust ranged from 85-98%; reductions in airborne RCS ranged from 79-99%. A bulk sample of dust collected by the baghouse assembly showed the likely presence of freshly fractured quartz, a particularly hazardous form of RCS. Planned future design enhancements will increase the performance and durability of the mini-baghouse, including an improved bag clamp mechanism and upgraded filter fabric with a modified air-to-cloth ratio. Future trials are planned to determine additional respirable dust and RCS concentration reductions achieved through these design changes.

Isolation and characterisation of cDNA encoding a wheat heavy metal-associated isoprenylated protein involved in stress responses.

In cells, metallochaperones are important proteins that safely transport metal ions. Heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant proteins (HIPPs) are metallochaperones that contain a metal binding domain and a CaaX isoprenylation motif at the carboxy-terminal end. To investigate the roles of wheat heavy metal-associated isoprenylated plant protein (TaHIPP) genes in plant development and in stress responses, we isolated cDNA encoding the wheat TaHIPP1 gene, which contains a heavy metal-associated domain, nuclear localisation signals and an isoprenylation motif (CaaX motif). Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that the TaHIPP1 gene was differentially expressed under biotic and abiotic stresses. Specifically, TaHIPP1 expression was up-regulated by ABA exposure or wounding. Additionally, TaHIPP1 over-expression in yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) significantly increased the cell growth rate under Cu(2+) and high salinity stresses. The nuclear localisation of the protein was confirmed with confocal laser scanning microscopy of epidermal onion cells after particle bombardment with chimeric TaHIPP1-GFP constructs. In addition, TaHIPP1 was shown to enhance the susceptibility of wheat to Pst as determined by virus-induced gene silencing. These data indicate that TaHIPP1 is an important component in defence signalling pathways and may play a crucial role in the defence response of wheat to biotic and certain abiotic stresses.

Effect of preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen on neural cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats.

AIM: The aim of this study was to study the effect of preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen on neural cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats at different times, and to study the mechanism of neuroprotection with hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning after spinal cord injury. METHODS: Fifty-five adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, a hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning group (Hoping, N.=25), a normal injury group (NI, N.=25) and a control group (CON, N.=5). The acute spinal cord injury rat models were established using Allen's method, the spinal cord injury selections were obtained separately after injury day 1, 5, 7, 10 and 14, the neural cell apoptosis after the spinal cord injury in the rat was detected by the HE staining and TUNEL method. RESULTS: The TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were found in both the hyperbaric oxygen preconditional group and in the normal injury group. However, There was a statistically significant difference between each group (P<0.05). In the hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning group, the number of apoptotic cells decreased, while the neurofunction of the spinal cord was improved compared with the other two groups. CONCLUSION: HBO preconditioning can reduce the number of apoptotic cells and promote the nerve functional recovery in rats after spinal cord injury, which provide some experimental basis for currently clinical hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning protects against traumatic brain injury at high altitude.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) can reduce ischemic and hemorrhagic brain injury. We investigated effects of HBO preconditioning on traumatic brain injury (TBI) at high altitude and examined the role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in such protection. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: HBO preconditioning group (HBOP; n = 13), high-altitude group (HA; n = 13), and high-altitude sham operation group (HASO; n = 13). All groups were subjected to head trauma by weight-drop device, except for HASO group. HBOP rats received 5 sessions of HBO preconditioning (2.5 ATA, 100% oxygen, 1 h daily) and then were kept in hypobaric chamber at 0.6 ATA (to simulate pressure at 4000m altitude) for 3 days before operation. HA rats received control pretreatment (1 ATA, room air, 1 h daily), then followed the same procedures as HBOP group. HASO rats were subjected to skull opening only without brain injury. Twenty-four hours after TBI, 7 rats from each group were examined for neurological function and brain water content; 6 rats from each group were killed for analysis by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Neurological outcome in HBOP group (0.71 +/- 0.49) was better than HA group (1.57 +/- 0.53; p < 0.05). Preconditioning with HBO significantly reduced percentage of brain water content (86.24 +/- 0.52 vs. 84.60 +/- 0.37; p < 0.01). Brain morphology and structure seen by light microscopy was diminished in HA group, while fewer pathological injuries occurred in HBOP group. Compared to HA group, pretreatment with HBO significantly reduced the number of MMP-9-positive cells (92.25 +/- 8.85 vs. 74.42 +/- 6.27; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBO preconditioning attenuates TBI in rats at high altitude. Decline in MMP-9 expression may contribute to HBO preconditioning-induced protection of brain tissue against TBI.

Combined lithium and valproate treatment delays disease onset, reduces neurological deficits and prolongs survival in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mouse model.

Lithium and valproic acid (VPA) are two primary drugs used to treat bipolar disorder, and have been shown to have neuroprotective properties in vivo and in vitro. A recent study demonstrated that combined treatment with lithium and VPA elicits synergistic neuroprotective effects against glutamate excitotoxicity in cultured brain neurons, and the synergy involves potentiated inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) activity through enhanced GSK-3 serine phosphorylation [Leng Y, Liang MH, Ren M, Marinova Z, Leeds P, Chuang DM (2008) Synergistic neuroprotective effects of lithium and valproic acid or other histone deacetylase inhibitors in neurons: roles of glycogen synthase kinase-3 inhibition. J Neurosci 28:2576-2588]. We therefore investigated the effects of lithium and VPA cotreatment on the disease symptom onset, survival time and neurological deficits in cooper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) G93A mutant mice, a commonly used mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The G93A ALS mice received twice daily i.p. injections with LiCl (60 mg/kg), VPA (300 mg/kg) or lithium plus VPA, starting from the 30(th) day after birth and continuing until death. We found that combined treatment with lithium and VPA produced a greater and more consistent effect in delaying the onset of disease symptoms, prolonging the lifespan and decreasing the neurological deficit scores, compared with the results of monotreatment with lithium or VPA. Moreover, lithium in conjunction with VPA was more effective than lithium or VPA alone in enhancing the immunostaining of phospho-GSK-3beta(Ser9) in brain and lumbar spinal cord sections. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of enhanced neuroprotection by a combinatorial approach using mood stabilizers in a mouse ALS model. Our results suggest that clinical trials using lithium and VPA in combination for ALS patients are a rational strategy.

Formation of protoberberine-type alkaloids by the tubers of somatic embryo-derived plants of Corydalis yanhusuo.

The effects of 0.5 - 5 mg/l abscisic acid [ABA], 0.5 - 10 mg/l (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol [paclobutrazol] and 0.5 - 2 mg/l alpha-cyclopropyl-alpha-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidinemethanol [ancymidol], 0.5 - 5 mg/l gibberellic acid [GA(3)] and 15 - 100 mg/l polyethylene glycol [PEG] 4000 supplemented in half-strength Murashige and Skoog's (MS) medium on the production of the two major protoberberine-type alkaloids (D,L-tetrahydropalmatine and D-corydaline) by the tubers of somatic embryo-derived plants of Corydalis yanhusuo were examined. Somatic embryo derived plants were also maintained for 6 months on half-strength MS medium containing 0.1 mg/l GA(3) or 0.5 mg/l paclobutrazol. The alkaloid contents were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis revealed that the contents of D,L-tetrahydropalmatine and D-corydaline in the tubers of somatic embryo-derived plants were higher than the marketed crude drug and varied with growth regulator/PEG-4000 treatment and the age of the plant.

Di- and triterpenoids from Tripterygium wilfordii.

The ethanol extract of the dried root bark of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f. afforded one new triterpene: 24, 29-dinor-D:A-friedoolean-4-en-2 beta, 6 alpha, 22 beta-trihydroxy-3, 21-dione, 6 alpha-hydroxy triptocalline 1; one new diterpenoid: 11, 16-dihydroxy-14-methoxy-18 (4-->3) abeo-abieta-3, 8, 11, 13-tetraene-18-oic acid, 16-hydroxy triptobenzene H 2; and one new diterpenoid alkaloid, triptotin J 3. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic studies.

Use of historical uranium air sampling data to estimate worker exposure potential to airborne radioactive particulate in a uranium processing facility.

Historical industrial hygiene monitoring records from a uranium processing plant were collected and analyzed to characterize exposure potential to airborne radioactive particulate. More than 2,100 samples were collected during the period of 1954-1968. The data was organized by job title, plant number, and year of measurement. Laboratory analysis of air samples indicated a wide range of potential exposures to the alpha-emitting particulate. Logarithmic transformation of the data was necessary to approximate Gaussian distributions. Geometric Mean (GM) values were used as the measure of central tendency within years. GM values ranged from 23-49 disintegrations per minute per cubic meter of air sampled (dpm/m3) with the years 1963 and 1964 being significantly higher than other years (ANOVA: p < 0.05). When comparing exposure potential across plants, GM ranged from 20-68 dpm/m3, with plants 5 and 8 being significantly higher than the others (ANOVA: p < 0.05). Exposure potential for specific job titles across the plants varied widely. GM for clerks was the lowest (11 dpm/m3) while furnace operators were the highest (235 dpm/m3). Other job titles with potentially high exposures were chemical operators, forklift operators, machine operators, and furnace operators. This analysis indicates the magnitude and distributions of worker exposure to alpha-emitting airborne particulate. Additional analysis and epidemiologic studies are planned for this facility.

[Studies on chemical constitutents from Penthorum chinense Pursh].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Penthorum chinense. METHOD: Silica gel and macroporous resin were used as adsorbent for isolation and purification. The chemical structures were elucidated by spectral analysis and chemical methods. RESULT: Three compounds were isolated from the water-extract of P. chinense. The structures were identified as 5-hydroxy-flavanone-7-O-beta-D-glucoside (I), 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzoic acid (II) and quercetin(III), respectively. CONCLUSION: Compounds I and II were isolated from this plant for the first time.

IL-1 beta attenuates IFN-alpha beta-induced antiviral activity and STAT1 activation in the liver: involvement of proteasome-dependent pathway.

IFN-alphabeta is the only established treatment for viral hepatitis; however, more than 60% of patients are poorly responsive. Because viral hepatitis is associated with inflammation, we hypothesized that inflammation may attenuate the efficacy of IFN therapy. To test this hypothesis, the effect of IL-1beta, one of the major proinflammatory cytokines, on IFN signaling pathway in the liver was examined. Administration of IL-1beta in vivo attenuated IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation in the liver but not in the spleen. The inhibitory action of IL-1beta in vivo was not affected by depleting hepatic Kupffer cells, suggesting that IL-1beta may directly target IFN-alphabeta signaling in hepatocytes. Indeed, pretreatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with IL-1beta suppressed IFN-alphabeta-induced antiviral activity and antiviral protein MxA mRNA expression. Furthermore, IL-1beta attenuated IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 binding and tyrosine phosphorylation without affecting the level of STAT1 protein. This inhibitory effect can be reversed by pretreatment with either proteasome inhibitors or transfection of dominant negative NF-kappaB inducing kinase mutants. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-1beta attenuates IFN-alphabeta-induced STAT1 activation by a proteasome-dependent mechanism. In view of high levels of IL-1beta in the serum or within the liver of patients with chronic liver diseases, attenuation of IFN-alphabeta signaling in the liver by IL-1beta could be one of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to IFN therapy in chronic hepatitis C, and IL-1beta could be a potential therapeutic target for improving the efficacy of IFN therapy.

Molecular cloning and expression of a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase homolog in Oryza sativa.

A cDNA encoding putative phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX) was isolated from rice using rapid amplification of cDNA ends. This cDNA, designated ricPHGPX, includes an open reading frame encoding a protein of 169 amino acids which shares about 60% and 50% amino acid sequence identity with plant and mammalian PHGPXs, respectively. The gene is expressed at a relative high level in flag leaves and the expression can be markedly induced by oxidative stress, suggesting that the product of the gene plays a key role in defense against oxidative damage in rice.

[Synergistic interaction between Ys-96, a bisbenzylisoquinoline compound derived from Stephania tetrandra, and adriamycin or vincristine against human cancer cell lines in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To study in vitro the anticancer interaction between Ys-96, a bisbenzylisoquinoline compound derived from Stephania tetrandra, and adriamycin or vincristine against human cancer cell lines. METHOD: Using human breast cancer cell MCF-7 and its adriamycin-resistant cell line MCF-7/Adr, and human nasopharyngeal cancer cell KB and its vincristine-resistant cell line KBv200 in an in vitro system, anticancer interaction between Ys-96 and adriamycin or vincristine was evaluated with a method reported by Berenbaum. RESULT: The SFIC values (sum of fractional inhibitory concentration) of the combinations with 3 different ratios between Ys-96 and adriamycin or vincristine were markedly less than 1.0, and the shapes of all the isobologram curves were concave. CONCLUSION: The synergistic interaction between Ys-96 and adriamycin or vincristine against the above human cancer cell lines was positively observed in vitro.

[Effects of taurine and extraction of cristata L on serum Zn, Cu and Ca in rats].

Forty rats fed with basic diets were randomly divided into 4 groups. NG group were fed with basic diets. The other three groups were fed with high fat diets. The rats in TA group and EC group were given TA 100 mg/kg or EC 100 mg/kg each day respectively in addition to high fat diet for 8 weeks. The results showed that taurine and extraction of cristata L not only increased the level of red cell SOD and the content of serum Zn (P < 0.05), but also decreased the contents of TC, MDA in the wall of artery and decreased the level of serum LDH significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). TA and EC increased significantly the content of serum Cu and decreased the ratio of serum Cu to Zn in the high fat diet rats (P < 0.01), and decreased the contents of serum Ca also. The results indicate that TA and EC may play some role in lipid metabolism and inhibit atherosclerosis by regulating the levels of Zn, Cu and Ca in rats.