The usefulness of traction-assisted endoscopic papillectomy for ampullary early tumors(with video).

Objective Endoscopic papillectomy(EP) is a minimally invasive treatment for early ampullary tumors. However, the optimal method is unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of traction-assisted EP treatments for ampullary early tumors.Methods We retrospective analyzed the patients with ampullary adenoma or early adenocarcinoma underwent endoscopic papillectomy between January 2010 and August 2023, including patient characteristics, lesion size, papilla type, pathological diagnosis and lesion surrounding conditions, en-bloc resection rate, complete resection rate, procedure time, complications, recurrences.Results During the study period, a total of 106 patients with ampullary adenoma or early adenocarcinoma underwent EP. The number of patients in traction group (clip combined with dental floss traction, CDT-EP) and non-traction group (hot snare papillectomy, HSP or endoscopic mucosal resection, EMR) were 45 and 61 respectively. The traction group has a higher en-bloc resection rate and complete resection rate than the non-traction group (92.86% vs. 68.85%, p = 0.003; 90.48% vs. 60.66%, p = 0.001), and the procedure time is slightly shorter[(1.57 ± 1.93)min vs. (1.98 ± 1.76)min, p = 0.039]. The complications and recurrence in the traction group were lower than those in the non-traction group (7.14% vs. 19.72%, p = 0.076; 7.14% vs. 11.78%, p = 0.466), and all complications were successfully treated by endoscopy or conservative medical treatment. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of patient characteristics, papilla type, pathological diagnosis and lesion surrounding conditions (p > 0.050), but there were differences in lesion size[(13 ± 1.09)mm vs. (11 ± 1.65)mm, p = 0.002]. The recurrence rate of the traction group is lower than that of the non-traction group, but the difference is not significant(7.14% vs. 13.11%, p = 0.335), and the non-traction group mainly has early recurrence. Further analysis shows that the size of the lesion, whether en-bloc resection or not, and the method of resection as independent risk factors for incomplete resection (OR = 1.732, p = 0.031; OR = 3.716, p = 0.049; OR = 2.120, p = 0.027).Conclusions CDT- EP, HSP and EMR are all suitable methods for the treatment of ampullary adenoma or early adenocarcinoma. Assisted traction technology can reduce the operation difficulty of large and difficult to expose lesions, thereby improving the efficacy and safety of EP.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Profiling Cellular Heterogeneity and Specific Responses of Fish Gills to Microplastics and Nanoplastics.

Fish gills are highly sensitive organs for microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) invasions, but the cellular heterogeneity of fish gills to MPs and NPs remains largely unknown. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the responses of individual cell populations in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus gills to MP and NP exposure at an environmentally relevant concentration. Based on the detected differentially expressed gene (DEG) numbers, the most affected immune cells by MP exposure were macrophages, while the stimulus of NPs primarily targeted T cells. In response to MPs and NPs, H+-ATPase-rich cells exhibited distinct changes as compared with Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells and pavement cells. Fibroblasts were identified as a potential sensitive cell-type biomarker for MP interaction with O. niloticus gills, as evidenced by the largely reduced cell counts and the mostly detected DEGs among the 12 identified cell populations. The most MP-sensitive fibroblast subpopulation in O. niloticus gills was lipofibroblasts. Cell-cell communications between fibroblasts and H+-ATPase-rich cells, neurons, macrophages, neuroepithelial cells, and Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells in O. niloticus gills were significantly inhibited by MP exposure. Collectively, our study demonstrated the cellular heterogeneity of O. niloticus gills to MPs and NPs and provided sensitive markers for their toxicological mechanisms at single-cell resolution.

Reducing Gut Dissolution of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles by Secondary Microplastics with Consequent Impacts on Barnacle Larvae.

The environmental impact of sunscreen is a growing concern, yet the combined effects of its components on marine animals are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the combined effects of sunscreen-extracted zinc oxide nanoparticles (nZnO) and microplastics (MPs) on the development of barnacle larvae, focusing on the different roles played by primary microplastics (PMPs) and secondary microplastics (SMPs) generated through the phototransformation of PMPs. Our findings revealed that a lower concentration of nZnO (50 µg/L) enhanced molting and eye development in barnacle larvae, while a higher concentration (500 µg/L) inhibited larval growth. Co-exposure to PMPs had no significant effect on larval development, whereas SMPs mitigated the impact of nZnO by restricting the in vivo transformation to ionic Zn. Accumulated SMPs reduced gut dissolution of nZnO by up to 40%, lowering gut acidity by 85% and buffering the in vivo dissolution of nZnO. We further identified a rough-surfaced Si-5 fragment in SMPs that damaged larval guts, resulting in decreased acidity. Another Si-32 resisted phototransformation and had no discernible effects. Our study presented compelling evidence of the impacts of SMPs on the bioeffect of nZnO, highlighting the complex interactions between sunscreen components and their combined effects on marine organisms.

The Association of Salivary Flow Rate and Sleep Quality among Head and Neck Cancer Survivors after Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer survivors suffer from xerostomia and sleep disturbances after radiotherapy, both of which affect their quality of life. This study aimed to explore the role of salivary flow in the oral health and sleep quality of head and neck cancer survivors. METHODS: We recruited 120 head and neck cancer survivors who were experiencing symptoms of dry mouth or sleep disturbances post-radiotherapy from a dental clinic. We gathered their socio-demographic and clinical data, measured their salivary flow rate, and recorded their dry mouth score using the summated xerostomia inventory. Additionally, a dentist collected the DMFT (Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth) index. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was employed to assess their sleep quality. RESULTS: In this study, xerostomia was observed in nearly 80% of the cancer survivors. The concurrent prevalence of sleep disturbance and xerostomia was at 55%. After five years post-radiotherapy, there was a significant improvement observed in both the quality of sleep (p = 0.03) and the stimulated salivary flow rate (p = 0.04). Additionally, these improvements were noted to have commenced from the third year onwards. A significant association was found between stimulated salivary flow and dry mouth scores with poor sleep quality (p <  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that dental professionals prioritize managing both dental and mental health issues equally for head and neck cancer survivors who have undergone radiotherapy within the past 3 years.

Novel beagle model of gastric local fibrotic target lesions for the evaluation and training of endoscopic techniques.

BACKGROUND: Novel endoscopic techniques used in the treatment of gastric lesions with local submucosal fibrosis need preclinical evaluation and training due to safety limitations. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to establish an animal model of gastric local fibrotic target lesions and assess its feasibility in the evaluation and training of endoscopic techniques. METHODS: In six experimental beagles, a 50% glucose solution was injected into three submucosal areas of the fundus, body, and antrum of the stomach to create gastric local fibrotic target lesions (experimental group). On post-injection day (PID) 7, the injection sites were assessed endoscopically to confirm the presence of submucosal fibrosis formation, and the dental floss clip traction assisted endoscopic submucosal dissection (DFC-ESD) procedure was performed on the gastric local fibrotic target lesions to confirm its feasibility after endoscopic observation. The normal gastric mucosa of six control beagles underwent the same procedure (control group). All the resected specimens were evaluated by histological examination. RESULTS: All 12 beagles survived without postoperative adverse events. On PID 7, 16 ulcer changes were observed at the injection sites (16/18) under the endoscope, and endoscopic ultrasonography confirmed the local submucosal fibrosis formation in all ulcer lesions. The subsequent DFC-ESD was successfully performed on the 32 gastric target lesions, and the mean submucosal dissection time in the ulcer lesions was greater than that in the normal gastric mucosa (15.3 ± 5.6 vs. 6.8 ± 0.8 min; P < 0.001). There was no difference in rates of en bloc resection, severe hemorrhage, or perforation between the two groups. Histological analysis of the ulcer lesions showed the absence of epithelial or muscularis mucosae and extensive submucosal fibrous tissue proliferations compared with normal gastric mucosa. Overall, endoscopists had high satisfaction with the realism and feasibility of the animal model. CONCLUSION: We developed a novel animal model of gastric local fibrotic target lesions to simulate difficult clinical situations, which strongly appeared to be suitable for the preclinical evaluation and learning of advanced endoscopic techniques.

Photodegradation of Microplastics by ZnO Nanoparticles with Resulting Cellular and Subcellular Responses.

Both zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and microplastics (MPs) were extracted from one commercial sunscreen, while other ingredients were removed based on the "like dissolves like" principle. MPs were further extracted by acidic digestion of ZnO NPs using HCl and characterized as spherical particles of approximately 5 µm with layered sheets in an irregular shape on the surface. Although MPs were stable in the presence of simulated sunlight and water after 12 h of exposure, ZnO NPs promoted the photooxidation by producing hydroxyl radicals, with a 2.5-fold increase in the carbonyl index of the degree of surface oxidation. As a result of surface oxidation, spherical MPs were more soluble in water and fragmented to irregular shapes with sharp edges. We then compared the cytotoxicity of primary MPs and secondary MPs (25-200 mg/L) to the HaCaT cell line based on viability loss and subcellular damages. The cellular uptake of MPs transformed by ZnO NPs was enhanced by over 20%, and MPs caused higher cytotoxicity compared with the pristine ones, as evidenced by a 46% lower cell viability, 220% higher lysosomal accumulation, 69% higher cellular reactive oxygen species, 27% more mitochondrial loss, and 72% higher mitochondrial superoxide at 200 mg/L. Our study for the first time explored the activation of MPs by ZnO NPs derived from commercial products and revealed the high cytotoxicity caused by secondary MPs, providing new evidence on the effects of secondary MPs on human health.

Accumulation Kinetics and Gut Microenvironment Responses to Environmentally Relevant Doses of Micro/Nanoplastics by Zooplankton Daphnia Magna.

Microplastics are emerging pollutants that have been widely reported in aquatic ecosystems. Based on the analysis of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics in global freshwater systems, herein, we employed aggregated-induced emission (AIE) microplastic fluorogens and imaged and quantified the bioaccumulation of differentially charged micro- (20 µm)/nano- (200 nm) plastics (MNPs) in zooplankton Daphnia magna. We found that all particles of different sizes and charges were readily ingested, especially larger-sized and positively charged MNPs, with over 50% of the ingested particles accumulating in the gut. Bioaccumulation of MNPs reached 50% of steady-state condition within 1 h. The presence of algae inhibited the ingestion and depuration of MNPs. To further demonstrate the effects of such accumulation on gut health, we further applied the AIE probes for visualizing the pH and esterase in the digestive tract, as well as the gut inflammation. An accumulation of MNPs in D. magna significantly and rapidly induced the acidification of gut pH while inducing esterase activity. The NPs apparently induced gut inflammation in contrast to the MPs, demonstrating the size-dependent effects on oxidative stress. Our results highlighted that MNP exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations perturbed the microenvironments of zooplankton guts, which may significantly affect their digestion and assimilation of food materials as well as contaminant uptake.

Tracking Nano- and Microplastics Accumulation and Egestion in a Marine Copepod by Novel Fluorescent AIEgens: Kinetic Modeling of the Rhythm Behavior.

Nano- and microplastics (NMPs) are now prevalent in the marine environment. This study quantified the uptake and depuration kinetics of spherical polystyrene NMPs of different particle sizes (200 nm/30 µm) and functional groups (-NH2/-COOH) in a temperate calanoid copepod Calanus sinicus (C. sinicus), which exhibited rhythmic feeding patterns in natural environments. Aggregated-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probes were employed to track and quantify the kinetics of NMPs with excellent photostability and biocompatibility. The results showed that C. sinicus consumed all NMPs types, with preference of NMPs to small size and amino group. Increased diatom concentrations also inhibited the bioaccumulation of NMPs. Influenced by rhythmic behavior, the bioaccumulation of NMPs by C. sinicus was nonstationary during the 6 h uptake phase. After 1-3 h of rapid uptake, the body burden peaked and then slowly declined. During the 3 h depuration phase, C. sinicus rapidly and efficiently removed NMPs with a mean half-life of only 0.23 h. To further quantify the body burden of C. sinicus under the influence of rhythmic feeding behavior, a biokinetic model was established, and the Markov chain Monte Carlo method was used to estimate the parameter distribution. Our results highlighted that copepods exhibited unique rhythmic feeding behavior under environmentally relevant concentrations of NMPs exposure, which may influence the bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and environmental fate of NMPs.

Isoindigo-Thiophene D-A-D-Type Conjugated Polymers: Electrosynthesis and Electrochromic Performances.

Four novel isoindigo-thiophene D-A-D-type precursors are synthesized by Stille coupling and electrosynthesized to yield corresponding hybrid polymers with favorable electrochemical and electrochromic performances. Intrinsic structure-property relationships of precursors and corresponding polymers, including surface morphology, band gaps, electrochemical properties, and electrochromic behaviors, are systematically investigated. The resultant isoindigo-thiophene D-A-D-type polymer combines the merits of isoindigo and polythiophene, including the excellent stability of isoindigo-based polymers and the extraordinary electrochromic stability of polythiophene. The low onset oxidation potential of precursors ranges from 1.10 to 1.15 V vs. Ag/AgCl, contributing to the electrodeposition of high-quality polymer films. Further kinetic studies illustrate that isoindigo-thiophene D-A-D-type polymers possess favorable electrochromic performances, including high optical contrast (53%, 1000 nm), fast switching time (0.8 s), and high coloration efficiency (124 cm2 C-1). These features of isoindigo-thiophene D-A-D-type conjugated polymers could provide a possibility for rational design and application as electrochromic materials.

Identification of Oak-Barrel and Stainless Steel Tanks with Oak Chips Aged Wines in Ningxia Based on Three-Dimensional Fluorescence Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics.

With the increased incidence of wine fraud, a fast and reliable method for wine certification has become a necessary prerequisite for the vigorous development of the global wine industry. In this study, a classification strategy based on three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy combined with chemometrics was proposed for oak-barrel and stainless steel tanks with oak chips aged wines. Principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares analysis (PLS-DA), and Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA) were used to distinguish and evaluate the data matrix of the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of wines. The results showed that FDA was superior to PCA and PLS-DA in classifying oak-barrel and stainless steel tanks with oak chips aged wines. As a general conclusion, three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy can provide valuable fingerprint information for the identification of oak-barrel and stainless steel tanks with oak chips aged wines, while the study will provide some theoretical references and standards for the quality control and quality assessment of oak-barrel aged wines.

Usefulness of the combined orthodontic rubber band and clip method for gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Effective traction is an important prerequisite for successful endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The combined orthodontic rubber band (ORB) and clip method was effective in colorectal cancer ESD. To date, the method was not reported in gastric ESD. This study aimed to investigate its efficacy and safety for gastric neoplasms ESD. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 118 patients with gastric neoplasms treated by ESD from November 2020 to April 2022, 43 by ORB-ESD and 75 by the conventional ESD. The primary outcome measure was the ESD procedure time. Clinical data on efficacy and safety were also collected and analyzed. Propensity score matching (PSM) matched the patients in both groups. RESULTS: PSM successfully matched 31 pairs of patients. The ORB-ESD operation time was shorter (median [interquartile range], 35 [30-48] vs. 49 [40-70] min, P < 0.001) and dissection speed was higher (median [interquartile range], 22.6 [14.4-29.3] vs. 13.5 [9.6-17.9] mm2/min, P < 0.001) than in the conventional ESD. The groups were similar in muscular injury rate, frequency and time of use of thermal hemostatic forceps, postoperative adverse events, en bloc resection, and R0 resection rate (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the conventional ESD, ORB-ESD significantly reduced the procedure time and increased the dissection speed, proving beneficial to gastric ESD.

Retrospective analysis of primary intraosseous malignancies in mandible and maxilla in a population of Taiwanese patients.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Due to the rarity and diversity of primary intraosseous malignancies in jawbones, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and discuss the findings of our collected cases with the literatures. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients (2000-2020) diagnosed with primary central malignancies of jawbones were selected from the database of Oral Pathology Department in our institution. Clinical features, radiographic appearance, and histopathological diagnosis of the 29 cases were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients aged between 19 and 84 years (average, 57.4 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1 were included. The most frequent site was the mandibular body and ramus, followed by the posterior maxilla and mandibular symphysis. The most common diagnosis was osteogenic sarcoma (n = 13), followed by odontogenic carcinoma (n = 7), hematologic malignancies (n = 5), salivary gland malignancies (n = 2), and neurogenic sarcomas (n = 2). The most frequent symptoms were swelling, pain, paresthesia of lower lip, and mobile tooth. Radiographically, they usually presented as ill-defined osteolytic to osteoblastic lesions depending on the amount of ossification. Wide excision comprising partial maxillectomy and segmental mandibulectomy were the most common therapeutic methods. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of primary central malignancies in jawbones, the clinical features may mimic infectious process or benign lesions. Detailed history-taking, clinical and imaging examination and awareness of the patient's signs and symptoms combining with the histopathological inspection are important for early diagnosis and improved prognosis. The current data contributes a useful basis for clinical investigation regarding intraosseous malignancies occurring in the jawbones.

Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome With a Mandible Advanced Device Increases Nitric Oxide Release and Ameliorates Pulmonary Hypertension in Rabbits.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of mandible advanced device (MAD) therapy for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on nitric oxide (NO) release and changes in pulmonary artery pressure and structure. METHODS: Thirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into OSAHS, MAD, and control groups (n = 10 per group). The soft palate of rabbits in the OSAHS and MAD groups was injected with hydrophilic polyacrylamide gel to induce OSAHS. The MAD group wore a MAD, and the control group was not treated. Cone-beam computed tomography scans and polysomnography recordings were performed to confirm successful model establishment. All rabbits slept in a supine position for 4 to 6 hours daily and were observed for 8 consecutive weeks. The pulmonary artery pressure was measured by right heart catheterization. Pulmonary artery morphometry was analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. NO levels in plasma and lung homogenate supernatants were detected by Griess reaction assay kits. RESULTS: The OSAHS group exhibited higher pulmonary artery pressure (57.74 ± 1.79 mm Hg) than the MAD (19.99 ± 2.04 mm Hg) and control (14.49 ± 0.54 mm Hg) groups. The media thickness percentage of the pulmonary artery was higher in the OSAHS group (46.89 ± 2.72%) than the control group (15.87 ± 1.18%) and was markedly reduced by MAD (21.64 ± 1.45%). Blood oxygen saturation was positively correlated with the NO concentration in both the lung and plasma, and the NO concentration was negatively correlated with the media thickness percentage and media section percentage. CONCLUSIONS: OSAHS induced a decrease in NO and pulmonary hypertension, which was relieved by MAD therapy.

Clinical manifestations of oral lymphomas - Retrospective study of 15 cases in a Taiwanese population and a review of 592 cases from the literature.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Due to the rarity of oral lymphoma (OL), we aimed to evaluate the clinical features of OL and discuss these findings in light of the literature. METHODS: English language literature (1980-2019) related to OL was searched in two electronic databases. Patients (2000-2019) diagnosed with OL were also selected from the database of the Oral Pathology Department in our institution. The clinical features, radiographic appearance, and histopathological diagnosis in these selected cases from publications and our institution were then analyzed. RESULTS: 607 cases of OL (15 in our institution and 592 from literature) in patients aged between 0 and 92 years (average, 51.8 years) with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1 were included. The most common diagnosis was diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 205), followed by Burkitt lymphoma (n = 72) and T-cell lymphoma (n = 37). The most frequent site was the gingiva, followed by palate, maxilla, mandible, tongue and buccal mucosa. The most frequent symptoms were swelling, ulceration, paresthesia, mobile tooth and pain. Radiographic findings included ill-defined osteolytic lesion, thickening of the periodontal ligament, loss of lamina dura and tooth displacement. CONCLUSION: Despite the rarity of extranodal lymphomas in oral cavity, their occurrence may be part of disseminated disease. Detailed history-taking, clinical and imaging examination and awareness of the patient's signs and symptoms are important for early diagnosis and an improved prognosis. The current data form a useful basis for clinical investigation and teaching regarding lymphoma occurring in the oral cavity.

Structural Changes in Milled Wood Lignin (MWL) of Chinese Quince (Chaenomeles sinensis) Fruit Subjected to Subcritical Water Treatment.

Subcritical water treatment has received considerable attention due to its cost effectiveness and environmentally friendly properties. In this investigation, Chinese quince fruits were submitted to subcritical water treatment (130, 150, and 170 °C), and the influence of treatments on the structure of milled wood lignin (MWL) was evaluated. Structural properties of these lignin samples (UL, L130, L150, and L170) were investigated by high-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC), FT-IR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), TGA, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), 2D-Heteronculear Single Quantum Coherence (HSQC) -NMR, and 31P-NMR. The carbohydrate analysis showed that xylose in the samples increased significantly with higher temperature, and according to molecular weight and thermal analysis, the MWLs of the pretreated residues have higher thermal stability with increased molecular weight. The spectra of 2D-NMR and 31P-NMR demonstrated that the chemical linkages in the MWLs were mainly ß-O-4' ether bonds, ß-5' and ß-ß', and the units were principally G- S- H- type with small amounts of ferulic acids; these results are consistent with the results of Py-GC/MS analysis. It is believed that understanding the structural changes in MWL caused by subcritical water treatment will contribute to understanding the mechanism of subcritical water extraction, which in turn will provide a theoretical basis for developing the technology of subcritical water extraction.

Association of gene polymorphisms of CD55 with susceptibility to and severity of hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71 in the Han Chinese population.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) can lead to high morbidity and mortality, and genetic background plays an important role during the disease process. We investigated the association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2564978 of the CD55 gene and susceptibility to and severity of HFMD using the SNPs can multiple SNP typing methods. Soluble CD55 (sCD55) expression was significantly lower in the EV71 HFMD group than in the control group and lower in severe cases than in mild cases (P < .001). Moreover, CD55 rs2564978 (C vs T OR = 1.300, 95% CI, 1.120-1.509) was associated with the risk of EV71 infection, and genotype TC was related to the severity of the infection (TC vs TT OR = 4.523, 95% CI, 2.033-10.066). Our results suggest that sCD55 expression and the CD55 polymorphism rs2564978 may influence the susceptibility to and severity of EV71 infection.

Vitamin D receptor gene methylation in patients with hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by enterovirus 71.

To evaluate the epigenetic regulation of the VDR gene in enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated severe hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), a total of 116 patients with EV71-HFMD, including 58 with mild EV71-HFMD and 58 with severe EV71-HFMD, as well as 60 healthy controls, were enrolled in this study. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the relative levels of VDR mRNA expression, and the methylation status of the VDR promoter was assessed using a MethylTarget™ assay. The DNA methylation levels of the VDR promoter in children with EV71-associated severe HFMD were lower than those in the healthy controls and in children with mild HFMD (P < 0.05). Hypomethylation at CpG site 133 and hypermethylation at the CpG 42 sites and 68 downregulated VDR expression. Moreover, the methylation level of VDR could be used for differential diagnosis of mild and severe EV71-associated HFMD (AUC56, 0.73; AUC68, 0.699; AUC42, 0.694; AUC66, 0.693). VDR expression and promoter methylation were associated with the progression of EV71 infection. Determining the VDR promoter status might help clinicians initiate the appropriate strategy for treatment of EV71-associated HFMD.

Auricular suppurative perichondritis secondary to exclusive endoscopic ear surgery for tympanoplasty: A case report and literature review.

Endoscope is an innovative method for otologists in middle ear surgery. Many previous studies have confirmed the safety and efficiency of the endoscopic technique, as a reliable therapeutic option with very low complication rates, clearly supporting the use of endoscopy in ear surgery. Auricular suppurative perichondritis secondary to exclusive endoscopic ear surgery for tympanoplasty is an extremely rare type of those without any previously reported cases. In this report, we describe the course of auricular suppurative perichondritis of a 55-year-old woman. The patient was ultimately healed through surgical debridement and postoperative dressing with no evidence of recurrence at two months follow-up. There were no auricle deformity or external auditory canal stenosis with six months following-up.

Inhibitory effects of homoharringtonine on foot and mouth disease virus in vitro.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious disease that affects cloven-hoof animals including cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and lots of wild species. Effectively control measures are urged needed. Here, we showed that homoharringtonine treatment exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against two different strains of FMDVs (O/MYA98/BY/2010 and A/GD/MM/2013) in swine kidney (IBRS-2) cells. Further experiments demonstrated that homoharringtonine did not affect virus attachment or entry. Using time-of-addition assays, we found that the antiviral activity of homoharringtonine occurred primarily during the early stage of infection. These results demonstrated that homoharringtonine might be an effective anti-FMDV drug. Further studies are required to explore the antiviral activity of homoharringtonine against FMDV replication in vivo.

Mimicking the endothelial glycocalyx through the supramolecular presentation of hyaluronan on patterned surfaces.

The glycocalyx is the immediate pericellular matrix that surrounds many cell types, including endothelial cells (ECs), and is typically composed of glycans (glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and glycoproteins). The endothelial glycocalyx is rich in hyaluronic acid (HA), which plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular integrity, although fundamental questions about the precise molecular regulation mechanisms remain unanswered. Here, we investigate the contribution of HA to the regulation of endothelial function using model surfaces. The peptide sequence GAHWQFNALTVR, previously identified by phage display with strong binding affinity for HA and named Pep-1, was thiolated at the N-terminal to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold (Au) substrates, and microcontact printing (µCP) was used to develop patterned surfaces for the controlled spatial presentation of HA. Acetylated Pep-1 and a scrambled sequence of Pep-1 were used as controls. The SAMs and HA-coated surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), contact angle measurements, and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring, which confirmed the binding and presence of thiolated peptides on the Au surfaces and the deposition of HA. Fluorescence microscopy showed the localization of fluorescently labelled HA only on areas printed with Pep-1 SAMs. Cell culture studies demonstrated that low molecular weight HA improved the adhesion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to the substrate and also stimulated their migration. This research provides insight into the use of SAMs for the controlled presentation of HA with defined size in cultures of HUVECs to study their functions.