Identification of the Key Regulatory Genes Involved in Elaborate Petal Development and Specialized Character Formation in Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae).

Petals can be simple or elaborate, depending on whether they have lobes, teeth, fringes, or appendages along their margins, or possess spurs, scales, or other types of modifications on their adaxial/abaxial side, or both. Elaborate petals have been recorded in 23 orders of angiosperms and are generally believed to have played key roles in the adaptive evolution of corresponding lineages. The mechanisms underlying the formation of elaborate petals, however, are largely unclear. Here, by performing extensive transcriptomic and functional studies on Nigella damascena (Ranunculaceae), we explore the mechanisms underlying elaborate petal development and specialized character formation. In addition to the identification of genes and programs that are specifically/preferentially expressed in petals, we found genes and programs that are required for elaborate rather than simple petal development. By correlating the changes in gene expression with those in petal development, we identified 30 genes that are responsible for the marginal/ventral elaboration of petals and the initiation of several highly specialized morphological characters (e.g., pseudonectaries, long hairs, and short trichomes). Expression and functional analyses further confirmed that a class I homeodomain-leucine zipper family transcription factor gene, Nigella damascena LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY1 (NidaLMI1), plays important roles in the development of short trichomes and bifurcation of the lower lip. Our results not only provide the first portrait of elaborate petal development but also pave the way to understanding the mechanisms underlying lateral organ diversification in plants.

Food emulsifier polysorbate 80 promotes the intestinal absorption of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate by disturbing intestinal barrier.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phosphate (DEHP) and its main toxic metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) are the typical endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and widely affect human health. Our previous research reported that synthetic nonionic dietary emulsifier polysorbate 80 (P80, E433) had the promotional effect on the oral absorption of DEHP in rats. The aim of this study was to explore its mechanism of promoting oral absorption, focusing on the mucus barrier and mucosal barrier of the small intestine. A small molecule fluorescent probe 5-aminofluorescein-MEHP (MEHP-AF) was used as a tracker of MEHP in vivo and in vitro. First of all, we verified that P80 promoted the bioavailability of MEHP-AF in the long-term and low-dose exposure of MEHP-AF with P80 as a result of increasing the intestinal absorption of MEHP-AF. Afterwards, experimental results from Western blot, qPCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence showed that P80 decreased the expression of proteins (mucus protein mucin-2, tight junction proteins claudin-1 and occludin) related to mucus barrier and mucosal barrier in the intestine, changed the integrity of intestinal epithelial cell, and increased the permeability of intestinal epithelial mucosa. These results indicated that P80 promoted the oral absorption of MEHP-AF by altering the intestinal mucus barrier and mucosal barrier. These findings are of great importance for assessing the safety risks of some food emulsifiers and clarifying the absorption mechanism of chemical pollutants in food, especially for EDCs.

Smart Responsive Quercetin-Conjugated Glycol Chitosan Prodrug Micelles for Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

The incidence and progression of inflammatory bowel disease are closely related to oxidative stress caused by excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To develop an efficacious and safe nanotherapy against inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), we designed a novel pH/ROS dual-responsive prodrug micelle GC-B-Que as an inflammatory-targeted drug, which was comprised by active quercetin (Que) covalently linked to biocompatible glycol chitosan (GC) by aryl boronic ester as a responsive linker. The optimized micelles exhibited well-controlled physiochemical properties and stability in a physiological environment. Time-dependent NMR spectra traced the changes in the polymer structure in the presence of H2O2, confirming the release of the drug. The in vitro drug release studies indicated a low release rate (<20 wt %) in physiological conditions, but nearly complete release (>95 wt % after 72 h incubation) in a pH 5.8 medium containing 10 µM H2O2, exhibiting a pH/ROS dual-responsive property and sustained release behavior. Importantly, the negligible drug release in a simulated gastric environment in 1 h allowed us to perform intragastric administration, which has potential to achieve the oral delivery by mature enteric-coating modification in future. Further in vivo activities and biodistribution experiments found that the GC-B-Que micelles tended to accumulate in intestinal inflammation sites and showed better therapeutic efficacy than the free drugs (quercetin and mesalazine) in a colitis mice model. Typical inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS were significantly suppressed by GC-B-Que micelle treatment. Our work promoted inflammatory-targeted delivery and intestinal drug accumulation for active single drug quercetin and improved the therapeutic effect of IBD. The current study also provided an alternative strategy for designing a smart responsive nanocarrier for a catechol-based drug to better achieve the target drug delivery.

Acceleration of Enamel Subsurface Lesion Remineralisation by Intralesion pH Modulation.

Remineralisation of demineralised enamel subsurface lesions can be enhanced by pretreatment of the lesions with base (NaOH). The aim of this study was to test the effect of intralesion pH modulation on remineralisation of demineralised enamel subsurface lesions by casein phosphopeptide-stabilised amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate (CPP-ACFP) in vitro. Two remineralisation models were utilised, the first involving 60-min cyclic pH modulation for 105 h and the second involved short-term cyclic pH modulation (12-min cycle, 240 min total duration) compared with the equivalent time of continuous treatment (200 min total duration). The intralesion pH modulation was achieved by cyclic exposure to a pH 12.9 NaOH solution and a CPP-ACFP remineralisation solution at pH 5.5. Percent remineralisation was assessed using transverse microradiography with data statistically analysed using a 2-sample Student t test. For the first model, the intralesion pH modulation group had significantly (p < 0.001) higher remineralisation (43.8 ± 6.9%) than the control group (28.2 ± 5.8%) cycled with water. For the second model, the intralesion pH modulation group had significantly (p < 0.001) higher remineralisation (23.1 ± 3.4%) than the group with continuous equivalent CPP-ACFP treatment time (1.9 ± 1.3%). In both models, intralesion pH modulation significantly accelerated remineralisation, and this was attributed to the effect pH modulation had on the diffusion gradients of ions/ion pairs and the degree of saturation with respect to apatite phases within the lesion fluid.

Effects of Bovine Serum Albumin and High pH Pre-Treatment on the Remineralisation of Enamel Subsurface Lesions in vitro.

Accumulated intra-lesion protein such as serum albumin has been speculated to impede remineralisation of carious enamel lesions. The aim of this study was to assess whether intra-lesion bovine serum albumin (BSA) affected subsequent remineralisation of enamel subsurface lesions. Confocal microscopy was used to confirm localisation of BSA in artificial enamel subsurface lesions and its subsequent degradation by a high pH sodium hypochlorite treatment. An in vitro remineralisation experiment tested the effect of intra-lesion BSA, and its degradation by sodium hypochlorite, on remineralisation of subsurface lesions by casein phosphopeptide stabilised amorphous calcium fluoride phosphate. In addition, lesions without BSA were pre-treated with one of 2 high pH solutions (sodium hypochlorite or sodium hydroxide) prior to remineralisation to test whether the high pH pre-treatment influenced remineralisation. Data were obtained on remineralisation using transverse microradiography and were analysed with a one-way ANOVA. Intra-lesion BSA had no significant effect on remineralisation compared with that of control lesions. Pre-treatment of BSA-containing lesions with sodium hypochlorite significantly increased remineralisation. The lesions without BSA that were pre-treated with either sodium hypochlorite or sodium hydroxide also showed the same level of remineralisation as the BSA-containing lesions pre-treated with sodium hypochlorite indicating that the increased remineralisation was pH related. Hence, it was concluded that intra-lesion BSA did not affect remineralisation of artificial enamel subsurface lesions in this model system and that a high pH pre-treatment enhanced remineralisation.

Epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: To systematically review the epidemiologic relationship between periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Four electronic databases were searched up until December 2018. The manual search included the reference lists of the included studies and relevant journals. Observational studies evaluating the relationship between T2DM and periodontitis were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using STATA. RESULTS: A total of 53 observational studies were included. The Adjusted T2DM prevalence was significantly higher in periodontitis patients (OR = 4.04, p = 0.000), and vice versa (OR = 1.58, p = 0.000). T2DM patients had significantly worse periodontal status, as reflected in a 0.61 mm deeper periodontal pocket, a 0.89 mm higher attachment loss and approximately 2 more lost teeth (all p = 0.000), than those without T2DM. The results of the cohort studies found that T2DM could elevate the risk of developing periodontitis by 34% (p = 0.002). The glycemic control of T2DM patients might result in different periodontitis outcomes. Severe periodontitis increased the incidence of T2DM by 53% (p = 0.000), and this result was stable. In contrast, the impact of mild periodontitis on T2DM incidence (RR = 1.28, p = 0.007) was less robust. CONCLUSIONS: There is an evident bidirectional relationship between T2DM and periodontitis. Further well-designed cohort studies are needed to confirm this finding. Our results suggest that both dentists and physicians need to be aware of the strong connection between periodontitis and T2DM. Controlling these two diseases might help prevent each other's incidence.

Transcriptomic comparison between developing seeds of yellow- and black-seeded Brassica napus reveals that genes influence seed quality.

BACKGROUND: Brassica napus is of substantial economic value for vegetable oil, biofuel, and animal fodder production. The breeding of yellow-seeded B. napus to improve seed quality with higher oil content, improved oil and meal quality with fewer antinutrients merits attention. Screening the genes related to this phenotype is valuable for future rapeseed breeding. RESULTS: A total of 85,407 genes, including 4317 novel genes, were identified in the developing seeds of yellow- and black-seeded B. napus, and yellow rapeseed was shown to be an introgression line between black-seeded B. napus and yellow-seeded Sinapis alba. A total of 15,251 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among all the libraries, and 563 and 397 common DEGs were identified throughout black and yellow seed development, including 80 upregulated and 151 downregulated genes related to seed development and fatty acid accumulation. In addition, 11 up-DEGs and 31 down-DEGs were identified in all developmental stages of yellow rapeseed compared with black seed. Enrichment analysis revealed that many DEGs were involved in biosynthetic processes, pigment metabolism, and oxidation-reduction processes, such as flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, and fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism. We found that more than 77 DEGs were related to flavonoid and lignin biosynthesis, including 4CL, C4H, and PAL, which participated in phenylalanine metabolism, and BAN, CHI/TT5, DFR, F3H, FLS, LDOX, PAP, CHS/TT4, TT5, bHLH/TT8, WD40, MYB, TCP, and CYP, which were involved in flavonoid biosynthesis. Most of these DEGs were downregulated in yellow rapeseed and were consistent with the decreased flavonoid and lignin contents. Both up- and down-DEGs related to fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism were also analyzed, which could help to explain the improved oil content of yellow rapeseed. CONCLUSION: This research provided comprehensive transcriptome data for yellow-seeded B. napus with a unique genetic background, and all the DEGs in comparison with the black-seeded counterpart could help to explain seed quality differences, such as lower pigmentation and lignin contents, and higher oil content.

Effect of verbascoside on apoptosis and metastasis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Despite significant advances in therapy, the 5-year survival rates for patients with advanced stage oral cancers still remains poor as an appropriate treatment has not been found yet, due to side effects of chemo/radiotherapy. Verbascoside (VB), a major bioactive constituent of the Tsoong herb, displays pharmacological properties by exhibiting anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, the underlining function and mechanism of VB in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. In this study, we show that VB significantly decreased the viability and metastasis of HN4 and HN6 tumor cells, while promoting apoptosis. A xenograft OSCC mouse model further showed that intraperitoneal injection of VB strongly inhibited growth and lung metastasis of implanted tumor cells. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that VB effectively suppressed nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and downstream Bcl-2/Bcl-XL expression, resulting in increased OSCC cell apoptosis. In addition, VB suppressed mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 via suppression of NF-κB activation, thereby inhibiting tumor cell metastasis. Inspiringly, compared to cisplatin-treated group, VB is a biocompatible agent without signficant side effects in vivo. Collectively, our results demonstrate that VB effectively inhibits OSCC tumor cell growth and metastasis via suppression of IκB kinase complex (IKK)/NF-κB-related signaling activation, suggesting that VB has potential use as a potent anticancer agent in OSCC therapeutic strategies.

A Review on Konjac Glucomannan Gels: Microstructure and Application.

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has attracted extensive attention because of its biodegradable, non-toxic, harmless, and biocompatible features. Its gelation performance is one of its most significant characteristics and enables wide applications of KGM gels in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, materials, and other fields. Herein, different preparation methods of KGM gels and their microstructures were reviewed. In addition, KGM applications have been theoretically modeled for future uses.

Mussel-Inspired Fabrication of Konjac Glucomannan/Poly (Lactic Acid) Cryogels with Enhanced Thermal and Mechanical Properties.

Three-dimensional nanofibers cryogels (NFCs) with both thermally-tolerant and mechanically-robust properties have potential for wide application in biomedical or food areas; however, creating such NFCs has proven to be extremely challenging. In this study, konjac glucomannan (KGM)/poly (lactic acid) (PLA)-based novel NFCs were prepared by the incorporation of the mussel-inspired protein polydopamine (PDA) via a facile and environmentally-friendly electrospinning and freeze-shaping technique. The obtained KGM/PLA/PDA (KPP) NFCs were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compressive and tensile test. The results showed that the hierarchical cellular structure and physicochemical properties of KPP NFCs were dependent on the incorporation of PDA content. Moreover, the strong intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions among KGM, PLA and PDA also gave KPP NFCs high thermostability and mechanically-robust properties. Thus, this study developed a simple approach to fabricate multifunctional NFCs with significant potential for biomedical or food application.

Comparative study of the measurement of enamel demineralization and remineralization using transverse microradiography and electron probe microanalysis.

Transverse microradiography (TMR) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) are commonly used for characterizing dental tissues. TMR utilizes an approximately monochromatic X-ray beam to determine the mass attenuation of the sample, which is converted to volume percent mineral (vol%min). An EPMA stimulates the emission of characteristic X-rays from a variable volume of sample (dependent on density) to provide compositional information. The aim of this study was to compare the assessment of sound, demineralized, and remineralized enamel using both techniques. Human enamel samples were demineralized and a part of each was subsequently remineralized. The same line profile through each demineralized lesion was analyzed using TMR and EPMA to determine vol%min and wt% elemental composition and atomic concentration ratio information, respectively. The vol%min and wt% values determined by each technique were significantly correlated but the absolute values were not similar. This was attributable to the complex ultrastructural composition, the variable density of the samples analyzed, and the nonlinear interaction of the EPMA-generated X-rays. EPMA remains an important technique for obtaining atomic ratio information, but its limitations in determining absolute mineral content indicate that it should not be used in place of TMR for determining the mineral density of dental hard tissues.

pH-responsive color-indicating film of pea protein isolate cross-linked with dialdehyde carboxylated cellulose nanofibers for pork freshness monitoring.

The limited mechanical performance and responsiveness of protein-based smart packaging materials have hindered their development. To address these issues, this study prepared a pH-responsive smart film by introducing dialdehyde carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (DCCNFs) as the cross-linking agent capable of covalently reacting with proteins, and bilberry extract (BE) as a pH-responsive indicator into pea protein isolate (PPI) matrix. The results demonstrated that adding DCCNF and BE enhanced the PPI film's thermal stability, density, and UV barrier properties. Tensile tests revealed significant improvements in both tensile strength and elongation at the break for the resulting film. Furthermore, films containing DCCNF and BE exhibited lower moisture content, swelling ratio, water vapor permeability, and relative oxygen transmission compared to PPI films. Notably, the anthocyanins in BE endowed the film with visual color changes corresponding to different pH values. This feature enabled the film to monitor pork freshness; a transition from acidic to alkaline in pork samples was accompanied by a color change from brown to brownish green in the film as storage time increased. Overall, these findings highlight that this developed film possesses excellent physicochemical properties and sensitive pH response capabilities, making it a promising candidate for future smart packaging applications.

Remineralisation of enamel and dentine with stabilised stannous fluoride dentifrices in a randomised cross-over in situ trial.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the remineralisation efficacy and ion bioavailability of two novel SnF2-containing dentifrices in a blinded, cross-over, randomised in situ clinical study. METHODS: Six participants wore removal palatal appliances holding human enamel and dentine blocks with subsurface lesions. Appliances were worn for two treatment periods of 14 consecutive days each, with a one-week washout period in-between. Participants were randomly allocated to rinse with a 1:5 diluted coded slurry of one of two dentifrices containing either 5 % casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) +1100 ppm F as SnF2 [MIPOP], or 1100 ppm F as SnF2 [CT], for 1 min, four times a day. Saliva was collected post-treatment and analysed for tin, calcium, inorganic phosphate and fluoride ions using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and ion chromatography. Enamel and dentine lesions were analysed for percent remineralisation (%R) using transverse microradiography and percent surface microhardness recovery (%SMHR). RESULTS: MIPOP released significantly higher F (3.00 ± 0.27 mM), Ca (15.23 ± 3.23 mM) and Sn (1.18 ± 0.13 mM) into saliva whereas CT released 2.89 ± 0.32 mM F and only 0.84 ± 0.11 mM Ca and 0.28 ± 0.10 mM Sn. MIPOP produced significantly higher %R than CT: 25.6 ± 1.5 % compared to 15.2 ± 0.7 % in enamel, and 33.6 ± 3.1 % compared to 20.6 ± 1.1 % in dentine. Additionally, MIPOP produced significantly higher %SMHR (18.2 ± 7.9 %) compared to CT (4.1 ± 0.6 %). CONCLUSIONS: Both dentifrices promoted remineralisation, but the MIPOP dentifrice with added CPP-ACP and the ion-stabilising effects of CPP released higher amounts of bioavailable tin and produced significantly higher remineralisation and surface microhardness recovery. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Modern dentifrices contain SnF2 for a range of oral health benefits. Challenges associated with stability of these formulations can affect ion bioavailability, reducing efficacy. Two dentifrices with SnF2 promoted remineralisation in situ, however the dentifrice with the added saliva biomimetic CPP-ACP was superior and therefore may produce greater health benefits.

Development of a multifunctional food packaging for meat products by incorporating carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal and beetroot extract into sodium alginate films.

Consumers' pursuit for safe meat products is challenging to develop smart food packaging with proper mechanical properties and multifunctional properties. Therefore, this work attempted to introduce carboxylated cellulose nanocrystal (C-CNC) and beetroot extract (BTE) into sodium alginate (SA) matrix films to enhance their mechanical properties and endow them with antioxidant properties and pH-responsive capacity. The rheological results showed the C-CNC and BTE were consistently dispersed in the SA matrix. The incorporation of C-CNC made the surface and cross-section of the films rough but still dense, thus significantly improving the mechanical properties of the films. The integration of BTE provided antioxidant properties and pH responsiveness without significantly changing the thermal stability of the film. The highest tensile strength (55.74 ± 4.52 MPa) and strongest antioxidant capacities were achieved for the SA-based film with BTE and 10 wt% C-CNC. Additionally, the films possessed higher UV-light barrier properties after incorporating BTE and C-CNC. More notably, the pH-responsive films discolored when TVB-N value exceeded 18.0 mg/100 g during storage of pork at 4 °C and 20 °C, respectively. Therefore, the SA-based film with enhanced mechanical and functional properties has a high potential for quality detection in smart food packaging applications.

Liposome-embedded SOD attenuated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in mice by ameliorating oxidative stress and intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Oxidative stress is generally considered inseparable from the development and exacerbation of ulcerative colitis (UC). Therefore, reducing oxidative stress has become a possible way to alleviate UC. In this study, the therapeutic effects of different doses of liposome-embedded superoxide dismutase (L-SOD) on mice with DSS-induced UC were systematically investigated. The results showed that L-SOD significantly attenuated the signs of colitis in mice, including colonic shortening, diarrhoea, bloody stools, and histopathological changes. L-SOD ameliorated DSS-induced oxidative damage, increased SOD, catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) activities, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. In addition, L-SOD ameliorated the inflammatory response by inhibiting the expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and pro-inflammatory cytokines and protected barrier function by promoting the expression of the tight junction proteins occludin and ZO-1 in the colon. Importantly, the results demonstrated a bell-shaped distribution of therapeutic effects relative to the administered dose, with an optimal dose of 150 000 U kg-1. These results indicate that L-SOD has great potential as an ingredient in functional foods for the prevention and mitigation of UC.

Genome sequence of Paenibacillus sp. strain Aloe-11, an endophytic bacterium with broad antimicrobial activity and intestinal colonization ability.

Paenibacillus sp. strain Aloe-11, a Gram-positive, spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium isolated from the root of Aloe chinensis in the southwest region of China, has excellent antibiotic activity and intestine colonization ability. Here, we present the 5.8-Mb draft genome sequence of Paenibacillus sp. strain Aloe-11.

Effects of thread depth, taper shape, and taper length on the mechanical properties of mini-implants.

INTRODUCTION: The primary stability of a mini-implant is critical, since most orthodontic mini-implant failures occur at an early stage. As orthodontic mini-implants have restrictions in diameter and length, an optimal design of the shape is important for sufficient primary stability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of various mini-implants design factors, including thread depth, degree of taper, and taper length on insertion torque, pullout strength, stiffness, and screw displacement before failure. METHODS: Finite element analyses were conducted first for identification of optimal design parameters. Four types of mini-implants with different design parameters were then custom manufactured and tested mechanically. All mechanical tests were performed in artificial bone with homogenous density to remove the variability associated with bone. RESULTS: Finite element results showed that, for mini-implants with a fixed external diameter of 2 mm, a thread length of 9.82 mm, and a pitch of 0.75 mm, those with greater thread depths, smaller taper degrees, and shorter taper lengths generated higher maximum stresses on the bone and thread elements. These mini-implants also had larger relative displacements. Maximum pullout resistance was attained with a core/external diameter ratio of 0.68. All mechanical results were compatible with the findings in the finite element analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Modification of the mini-implant design can substantially affect the mechanical properties. The finite element method is an effective tool to identify optimal design parameters and allow for improved mini-implant designs.

Metal-organic cage incorporating thin-film nanocomposite membranes with antifouling properties.

We report the antifouling properties of thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes containing two water-stable metal-organic cages (MOCs). The MOC-containing TFN membranes possess excellent antifouling properties against positively-charged foulants and protein (BSA, up to 99.7% water permeability retention) and achieve up to 100% water permeability recovery.

Dynamic variations of phthalate esters in PM2.5 during a pollution episode.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) as hazardous air pollutants can be easily released during the life cycle of plastic products. In this study, a thermal desorption aerosol comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometer coupled with a dual-trap was developed and used to measure the hourly-resolved PAEs characteristics in atmospheric PM2.5 at an urban site. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl (DEP), dibutyl (DnBP), benzyl butyl (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) in PM2.5 were analyzed. The most abundant compounds were DEHP and DMP, followed by DnBP and DEP. The mass concentrations of the detected PAEs are comparable to those at other urban sites measured using offline methods with a lower time resolution. The concentrations of PAEs showed intense change with the variation of PM2.5 mass concentration. The proportion of DEHP increased while that of DMP decreased with the increase in PM2.5 pollution. Positive correlations between PAEs and PM2.5, organic carbon, and elemental carbon were observed, while PAEs had negative correlation with the ambient temperature. Our observation provides evidences on understanding the volatile and semi-volatile PAEs in the ambient aerosols.

A randomized controlled trial to verify the irrigation of salivary glands in relieving xerostomia in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective: To verify the effect of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and major salivary glands saline irrigation on relieving xerostomia in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients. Methods: The enrolled 49 SS patients were randomly assigned to the control group (no irrigation, n=16), saline group (irrigation with saline, n=17) and TA group (irrigation with TA, n=16). Fourteen cases of each group were treated differently but received the same examinations. The examinations include unstimulated whole saliva flow (UWS), chewing-stimulated whole saliva flow (SWS), citric acid-stimulated parotid flow (SPF), Clinical Oral Dryness Score (CODS), Xerostomia Inventory (XI) and EULAR SS Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI) of 1 week before irrigation (T0) and 1 week(T1), 8 weeks (T8), 16 weeks (T16) and 24 weeks (T24) after major salivary irrigation. Results: Each group had 14 cases with completed follow-ups. Both TA and saline irrigation of major salivary glands resulted in higher SWS and SPF of T8, T16 and than those at T0. ESSPRI (oral dryness domain) of T8, T16 and T24 were significantly lower than that at T0, respectively (P < 0.05). SWS and SPF of T8, T16 and T24 in the saline group were significantly higher than in the control group (P< 0.05). XI and ESSPRI (oral dress domain) of T8, T16 and T24 in the saline group were significantly lower than those in the control group, respectively (P< 0.05). SWS and SPF of T16 and T24 in the TA group were significantly higher than in the control group (P< 0.05). All cases with completed follow-up in TA and saline groups were divided into responders and non-responders. Compared with responders, the UWS, SWS, SPF and CODS of T0 in non-responders were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with responders, the XI and ESSPRI of T0 in non-responders were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: The irrigation of major salivary glands by TA and saline relieve xerostomia in SS patients. Patients with non-severe xerostomia (responders) have better relief after irrigation than patients with severe xerostomia (non-responders). Clinical Trial Registration: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier (ChiCTR210052314).