Application of cefuroxime in the eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection: A review article.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated diseases represent a significant global health concern. Patients who cannot use amoxicillin pose a therapeutic challenge and necessitate alternative medications. Preliminary research indicates that cefuroxime demonstrates promising potential for eradicating H. pylori infection, and there is a lack of comprehensive review articles on the use of cefuroxime. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study conducts a thorough systematic literature review and synthesis. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine disc, and Wanfang Data up to January 13, 2024. The search strategy utilized the following keywords: (Cefuroxime) AND (Helicobacter pylori OR Helicobacter nemestrinae OR Campylobacter pylori OR Campylobacter pylori subsp. pylori OR Campylobacter pyloridis OR H. pylori OR Hp) for both English and Chinese language publications. Sixteen studies from five different countries or regions were included in final literature review. RESULTS: Analysis results indicate that H. pylori is sensitive to cefuroxime, with resistance rates similar to amoxicillin being relatively low. Regimens containing cefuroxime have shown favorable eradication rates, which were comparable to those of the regimens containing amoxicillin. Regarding safety, the incidence of adverse reactions in cefuroxime-containing eradication regimens was comparable to that of amoxicillin-containing regimens or other bismuth quadruple regimens, with no significant increase in allergic reactions in penicillin-allergic patients. Regarding compliance, studies consistently report high compliance rates for regimens containing cefuroxime. CONCLUSION: Cefuroxime can serve as an alternative to amoxicillin for the patients allergic to penicillin with satisfactory efficacies, safety, and compliance.

Microstructure and Chlorine Ion Corrosion Performance in Bronze Earring Relics.

Chlorine ions play an important role in the corrosion of bronzeware. This study employs techniques such as XRD, OM, SEM, EBSD, and electrochemical testing to analyze the microstructure, crystal structure, chemical composition, and corrosion performance of bronze earrings unearthed at the Xindianzi site in Inner Mongolia. The results indicate the presence of work-hardened structures, including twinning and equiaxed crystals, on the earrings' surface. With an increase in chloride ion concentration in NaCl solutions from 10-3 mol/L to 1 mol/L, the corrosion current density of the bronze earrings increased from 2.372 × 10-7 A/cm2 to 9.051 × 10-7 A/cm2, demonstrating that the alloy's corrosion rate escalates with chloride ion concentration. A 3-day immersion test in 0.5% NaCl solution showed the formation of a passivation layer of metal oxides on the earrings' surface. These findings underscore the significance of the impact chloride ions have on the corrosion of copper alloys, suggesting that activating the alloy's reactive responses can accelerate the corrosion process and provide essential insights into the corrosion mechanisms of bronze artifacts in chloride-containing environments.

Merkel cell carcinoma overlapping Bowen's disease: two cases report and literature review.

PURPOSE: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor of the skin, which mainly occurs in the sun exposed sites of white patients over 65 years, with a higher recurrence and metastasis rate. Clinically, MCC overlapping Bowen's disease (BD) is a very rare subtype of MCC. Few cases in the literature have been described and the management is not well defined. We summarize and update the epidemiology, clinical and histopathological features, metastasis characteristics, local recurrence rate and management of it by presenting two cases of MCC overlapping BD and reviewing the literature over the last 11 years. DESIGN: We consulted databases from PubMed, ResearchGate and Google Scholar by MeSh "Merkel cell carcinoma" and "Bowen's disease", "Bowen disease" or "squamous cell carcinoma in situ", from January 2013 to December 2023 and reviewed the literatures. We reported two additional cases. RESULTS: Total 13 cases of MCC overlapping BD were retrospectively analyzed, in whom mainly in elderly women over 70 years, the skin lesions were primarily located on the faces, followed by the extremities and trunk. Most of them were asymptomatic, firm, dark red nodules arising on rapidly growing red or dark brown patches, or presenting as isolated nodules. Dermoscopy evaluation was rarely performed in the pre-operative diagnostic setting. All cases were confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The most definitive treatment was extended local excision, but local recurrences were common. Of the 13 cases, 4 cases experienced local or distant metastasis. One suffered from an in-transit recurrence of MCC on the ipsilateral leg after local excision and lymph node dissection, whose metastasis completely subsided after avelumab treatment and without recurrence or metastasis during 6 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: MCC overlapping BD is a very rare skin tumor mainly predisposed on the faces, with high misdiagnosis rate and recurrence rate. Advanced disease at diagnosis is a poor prognostic factor, suggesting that earlier detection may improve outcome. The acronym, AEIOUN, has been proposed to aid in clinical identification. Our reports and the literature review can provide a better awareness and management of it.

Gastrointestinal infections and gastrointestinal haemorrhage are underestimated but serious adverse events in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell recipients: A real-world study.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has achieved durable response in patients with hematological malignancies, however, therapy-associated multisystem toxicities are commonly observed. Here, we systematically analyzed CAR-T-related gastrointestinal adverse events (GAEs) using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) between January 2017 and December 2021. Disproportionality analyses were performed using reporting odds ratios (ROR) and information component (IC). Among 105,087,611 reports in FAERS, 1518 CAR-T-related GAEs reports were identified. 23 GAEs (n = 281, 18.51%) were significantly overreported following CAR-T therapy compared with the full database, of which 11 GAEs (n = 156, 10.28%) were associated with gastrointestinal infections (GI), such as clostridium difficile colitis (n = 44 [2.90%], ROR = 5.55), enterovirus infection (n = 23 [1.52%], ROR = 20.02), and mucormycosis (n = 15 [0.99%], ROR = 3.09). Overall, the fatality rate of 11 GI-related AEs was 29.49%, especially mucormycosis causing substantial mortality with 60%. In addition, 4 of 23 overreported GAEs were related to haemorrhage and the mortality of gastrointestinal haemorrhage was 73.17%. Lastly, 29 death-related GAEs were identified. These findings could help clinicians early alert those rarely reported but lethal GAEs, thus reducing the risk of severe toxicities.

Atopy in chronic urticaria: an important yet overlooked issue.

Chronic urticaria (CU) is one of the most common dermatological diseases and has a significant impact on the quality of life of patients. However, the pathogenesis of this disease remains unclear. Autoimmunity in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) has received considerable attention and has been studied previously. Atopy is an important characteristic of CU; however, it has not been fully recognized. Atopy predisposes individuals to immune responses to allergens, leading to type 2 inflammation and immunoglobulin E (IgE) overproduction. Compared with healthy individuals, patients with CU have a higher proportion of atopy, and an atopic background is correlated with the clinical characteristics of CU. The total IgE levels in patients with CU is significantly higher than those in healthy individuals. Although its level is not higher than that in classic allergic diseases, it is closely related to CU. Exogenous allergens, auto-allergens, and specific IgEs, which are closely related to atopy, have been reported, and their roles in CU pathogenesis are also being studied. Local and systemic atopic inflammation is present in patients with CU. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding atopy and CU, speculating that there are CU subtypes, such as atopic CSU or atopic chronic inducible urticaria (CIndU) and that atopy may be involved in the pathogenesis of CU. These findings provide a new perspective for a comprehensive understanding of the clinical features of CU and further research regarding its pathogenesis.

Ferroptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the evidence of ferroptosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: PBMCs were collected from 30 patients diagnosed as SLE and without any standardised treatment previously and 10 healthy controls. Meanwhile the clinical and laboratory data were collected. The intracellular Fe2+, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were detected by fluorescence probe and flow cytometry. The morphology of cells and intracellular organelles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. RT-qPCR and Western blot were applied to compare the expression of GPX4 in PBMCs. RESULTS: The concentration of Fe2+, levels of ROS and LPO in PBMCs from SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (p<0.05), and significant differences between the two groups were observed in CD14+ monocytes, CD19+B cells, and CD56+ NK cells respectively. The more prominent differences were observed in SLE patients with renal involvement, liver injury and higher disease activity score. There was no significant difference in GPX4 mRNA expression between SLE patients and healthy controls, however GPX4 protein expression was significantly lower in SLE patients compared to healthy controls, with a negative correlation with the SLE disease activity index. Transmission electron microscopy revealed typical morphological features of ferroptosis such as decreased mitochondrial volume, increased mitochondrial membrane density, and disappearance of mitochondrial cristas. CONCLUSIONS: Ferroptosis occurred more frequently in PBMCs of SLE patients than healthy controls, including CD14+ monocytes, CD19+B cells, CD56+ NK cells, and so on, with negative association with SLE disease activity, which indicated the correlation between ferroptosis with the pathogenesis of SLE.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SLE.

Little is known about the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and autoimmune diseases, especially in the case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE patients met with many questions during the pandemic in COVID-19, such as how to minimize risk of infection, the complex pathological features and cytokine profiles, diagnosis and treatment, rational choice of drugs and vaccine, good nursing, psychological supervision, and so on. In this study, we review and discuss the multifaceted effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients living with SLE using the available literature. Cross-talk in implicated inflammatory pathways/mechanisms exists between SLE and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and SARS-CoV-2 displays similar clinical characteristics and immuno-inflammatory responses to SLE. Current epidemiological data inadequately assess the risk and severity of COVID-19 infection in patients with SLE. More evidence has shown that hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine cannot prevent COVID-19. During the pandemic, patients with SLE had a higher rate of hospitalization. Vaccination helps to reduce the risk of infection. Several therapies for patients with SLE infected with COVID-19 are discussed. The cases in the study can provide meaningful information for clinical diagnosis and management. Our main aim is to help preventing infection and highlight treatment options for patients with SLE infected with COVID-19.

Biomarkers of Autologous Whole Blood Injection Efficacy in Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria with Autoreactivity: A Preliminary Study.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) with autoreactivity is often resistant to antihistamines. Autologous whole blood injection (AWBI) has shown potential efficacy in the treatment of this disease, but it is controversial. It is necessary to screen patients who are suitable for this therapy in advance. This study aimed to identify biomarkers that predict the efficacy of AWBI treatment in CSU patients with autoreactivity. METHODS: A total of 30 patients with autologous serum skin test-positive CSU treated with AWBI were included in this study; urticaria activity score (UAS7) was recorded and the treatment response was judged based on it. Levels of total serum IgE, anti-high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) IgG, and basophils CD63 and FcεRI expressions, and D-dimer of all patients were determined and analyzed. RESULTS: Baseline levels of total IgE, D-dimer, basophil FcεRI and CD63 expressions showed good correlations with UAS7 variations. D-dimer, basophil FcεRI and CD63 expressions changed significantly before and after AWBI treatment in AWBI responders, and the basophil FcεRI and CD63 expressions consistently and dynamically decreased in AWBI responders during the treatment. Baseline levels of total IgE, D-dimer, basophil FcεRI and CD63 expressions showed certain predictive values for AWBI response. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline levels of total IgE, D-dimer, basophil FcεRI and CD63 expressions could be biomarkers of predicting AWBI efficacy in patients with CSU with autoreactivity.

Vitamin D3 mitigates autoimmune inflammation caused by activation of myeloid dendritic cells in SLE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which defective T cells, immune complex deposition and other immune system alterations contribute to pathological changes of multiple organ systems. The vitamin D metabolite c is a critical immunomodulator playing pivotal roles in the immune system. Epidemiological evidence indicates that vitamin D deficiency is correlated with the severity of SLE. Our aim is to investigate the effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 (VitD3) on the activation of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) by autologous DNA-containing immune complex (DNA-ICs), and the effects of VitD3 on immune system balance during SLE. We purified DNA-ICs from the serum of SLE patients and isolated mDCs from normal subjects. In vitro studies showed that DNA-ICs were internalized and consumed by mDCs. VitD3 blocked the effects of DNA-ICs on RelB, IL-10 and TNF-α in mDCs. Further analysis indicated that DNA-ICs stimulated histone acetylation in the RelB promoter region, which was inhibited by VitD3. Knockdown of the histone deacetylase 3 gene (HDAC3) blocked these VitD3-mediated effects. Co-culture of mDCs and CD4+ T cells showed that VitD3 inhibited multiple processes mediated by DNA-ICs, including proliferation, downregulation of IL-10, TGF-ß and upregulation of TNF-α. Moreover, VitD3 could also reverse the effects of DNA-IC-induced imbalance of CD4+ CD127- Foxp3+ T cells and CD4+ IL17+ T cells. Taken together, our results indicated that autologous DNA-ICs stimulate the activation of mDCs in the pathogenesis of SLE, and VitD3 inhibits this stimulatory effects of DNA-ICs by negative transcriptional regulation of RelB gene and maintaining the Treg/Th17 immune cell balance. These results suggest that vitamin D may have therapeutic value for the treatment of SLE.

Atopy Does Not Influence the Clinical Outcome of Acute Urticaria: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Acute urticaria (AU) may be associated with atopy, but the relationship between atopic status and the clinical features of the disease has not been fully described. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine the proportion of atopy in AU patients and to see whether atopy is related to the clinical characteristics of AU and whether it has an impact on the outcome of the disease. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A retrospective analysis of patients with AU was performed. Demographic data, clinical features, and laboratory results were compared and analyzed between the atopic and non-atopic AU (napAU). RESULTS: In total, 139 participants were included. 54 (38.8%) patients were atopic AU (apAU) and 85 (61.2%) were napAU. Compared with napAU patients, apAU patients were more likely to have anaphylaxis, higher levels of C4, and lower levels of antistreptolysin. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of other clinical features, laboratory tests, the natural course of the disease, or disease outcomes. CONCLUSION: Atopy does exist in some patients with AU, and AU patients with an atopic background are at higher risk for anaphylaxis. Atopy does not influence the clinical outcome of AU and is not correlated with other clinical features and laboratory results of AU.

Retrospective Analysis of 397 Dermatoses Inpatients Associated with Blood Eosinophilia.

Background: Blood eosinophilia is often associated with various dermatoses, such as atopic eczema, urticaria, drug eruption, bullous pemphigoid, and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Differential diagnosis is very challenging due to the similarities of clinical and pathological characteristics. Purpose: To investigate and analyze the clinical characteristics of dermatoses associated with blood eosinophilia (DABE) to further optimize disease management. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 397 DABE patients with blood absolute eosinophil count (AEC) greater than or equal to 0.5×109/L. Clinical characteristics, laboratory values, treatment course, and associated diagnoses were evaluated. All DABE patients were grouped based on the severity of eosinophilia as mild group (0.5 ≤ AEC×109/L < 1.5), moderate group (1.5 ≤ AEC×109/L < 3), and severe group (AEC×109/L ≥ 3). Results: Our study revealed three distinct patterns: (1) Mild eosinophilia associated with localized skin lesions, atopic history, mildly elevated total serum IgE level, diagnosed with eczema/dermatitis, and frequent antihistamines use. (2) Moderate eosinophilia has the characteristics of both mild group and severe group. (3) The severe eosinophilia group had a high proportion of elderly people without atopic history, but with acute onset, generalized skin lesions, and high level of lactate dehydrogenase, and the majority of them were diagnosed with systemic diseases (HES or tumor). Conclusion: We summarize the clinical rules of dermatoses associated with blood eosinophilia, hoping to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment for patients.

Changing Patterns in Digestive Diseases Mortality in Urban and Rural Areas - China, 1987-2021.

What is already known about this topic?: Digestive diseases (DDs) are a global health concern with a substantial epidemiological and economic impact, given their high prevalence. What is added by this report?: This study investigated the trends in mortality related to DDs in China from 1987 to 2021, focusing on the urban-rural divide. Additionally, it aimed to determine the specific impacts of age, period, and cohort on DDs mortality. What are the implications for public health practice?: There is a need to prioritize and allocate more resources toward the future management of DDs in order to effectively address the challenges posed by urbanization and aging populations.

Hollow manganese dioxide-chitosan hydrogel for the treatment of atopic dermatitis through inflammation-suppression and ROS scavenging.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with immune dysfunction. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can lead to oxidative stress, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and T-cell differentiation, thereby promoting the onset and worsening of AD. In this study, we innovatively used quaternary ammonium chitosan (QCS) and tannic acid (TA) as raw materials to design and prepare a therapeutic hydrogel(H-MnO2-Gel) loaded with hollow manganese dioxide nanoparticles (H-MnO2 NPs). In this system, the hydrogel is mainly cross-linked by dynamic ion and hydrogen bonding between QCS and TA, resulting in excellent moisture retention properties. Moreover, due to the inherent antioxidant properties of QCS/TA, as well as the outstanding H2O2 scavenging ability of H-MnO2 NPs, the hydrogel exhibits significant ROS scavenging capability. In vitro experiments have shown that H-MnO2-Gel exhibits good cellular biocompatibility. Importantly, in an AD-induced mouse model, H-MnO2-Gel significantly enhanced therapeutic effects by reducing epidermal thickness, mast cell number, and IgE antibodies. These findings suggest that H-MnO2-Gel, by effectively clearing ROS and regulating the inflammatory microenvironment, provides a promising approach for the treatment of AD.

Dupilumab and subcutaneous immunotherapy for the treatment of refractory moderate to severe atopic dermatitis: A preliminary report.

Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and dupilumab are important treatments for patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD). However, in clinical practice, poor response to allergen immunotherapy (AIT) or dupilumab has been observed in some patients. It is unknown whether combining dupilumab and SCIT can improve treatment responses in patients with moderate to severe AD that is resistant to dupilumab or SCIT monotherapy. This single-centre, retrospective, observational, real-world study evaluated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab and SCIT for refractory moderate to severe AD. The data of ten patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis who were treated with dupilumab and SCIT were retrospectively analysed. The scoring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) score, numerical rating scale (NRS), and atopic dermatitis control test (ADCT) scores and eosinophil and total IgE levels before and after add-on therapy were compared and analysed. The SCORAD, NRS, and ADCT scores decreased significantly at four and 12 weeks after the initiation of add-on therapy and plateaued during maintenance treatment. The eosinophil and total IgE levels were not significantly different before and after add-on therapy. No serious adverse reactions were reported in any patient during add-on therapy. This study indicates that the combination of dupilumab and SCIT safely improves the treatment response of patients with moderate to severe AD who are resistant to dupilumab or SCIT monotherapy.

A Highly Flexible Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Sensor for Wearable Bone Density Testing.

Driven by the loss of bone calcium, the elderly are prone to osteoporosis, and regular routine checks on bone status are necessary, which mainly rely on bone testing equipment. Therefore, wearable real-time healthcare devices have become a research hotspot. Herein, we designed a high-performance flexible ultrasonic bone testing system using axial transmission technology based on quantitative ultrasound theory. First, a new rare-earth-element-doped PMN-PZT piezoelectric ceramic was synthesized using a solid-state reaction, and characterized by X-ray diffraction and SEM. Both a high piezoelectric coefficient d33 = 525 pC/N and electromechanical coupling factors of k33 = 0.77, kt = 0.58 and kp = 0.63 were achieved in 1%La/Sm-doped 0.17 PMN-0.47 PZ-0.36 PT ceramics. Combining a flexible PDMS substrate with an ultrasonic array, a flexible hardware circuit was designed which includes a pulse excitation module, ultrasound array module, amplification module, filter module, digital-to-analog conversion module and wireless transmission module, showing high power transfer efficiency and power intensity with values of 35% and 55.4 mW/cm2, respectively. Finally, the humerus, femur and fibula were examined by the flexible device attached to the skin, and the bone condition was displayed in real time on the mobile client, which indicates the potential clinical application of this device in the field of wearable healthcare.

Higher House Dust Mite-Specific IgE Levels among Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Patients May Implicate Higher Basophil Reactivity.

INTRODUCTION: Allergen-specific IgE (sIgE) sensitization exists in a considerable fraction of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) patients. Basophils have been implicated in the pathogenesis of CSU. This paper aimed to explore the relationship between allergic sensitization and basophil reactivity in CSU and the possible underlying mechanism. METHODS: Basophil-enriched leukocytes were isolated from the peripheral blood of 76 CSU patients and 9 healthy controls. Basophil CD63 and FcεRIα (the alpha subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor) expression in the blood samples with various house dust mite (HDM)-sIgE levels were determined by flow cytometry. Basophil reactivity and SHIP-1 (a molecule related to the IgE/FcεRI signaling pathway) expression were analyzed after stimulation with an HDM allergen or other stimuli. RESULTS: HDM-sIgEstrong positive (≥3.5 kU/L) CSU patients had a significantly higher mean percentage of basophil CD63 and higher baseline levels of FcεRIα expressed by basophils than HDM-sIgEnormal (<0.35 kU/L) CSU patients and healthy controls; the same went for total serum IgE. After stimulation with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus peptidase 1 (Derp1) alone or together with Derp1-sIgE, the stimulation index of CD63 and levels of FcεRIα expressed by basophils in HDM-sIgEstrong positive CSU patients were significantly higher than those in HDM-sIgEnormal CSU patients and healthy controls. Significantly more SHIP-1 mRNA expression in HDM-sIgEstrong positive CSU patients was induced after the combined stimulation in comparison to other subjects. CONCLUSION: CSU patients with higher HDM-sIgE levels (≥3.5 kU/L) may have higher CD63 and FcεRIα expression on peripheral blood basophils. Peripheral blood basophils in these CSU patients are more responsive to HDM allergen stimulation. Higher HDM-sIgE levels among CSU patients may implicate higher basophil reactivity.

Knockdown of TRPM2 promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells by modulating NF-κB /NLRP3 pathway.

Periodontitis is characterized by periodontal destruction triggered by chronic inflammation. The optimal treatment for periodontitis is to improve the periodontal microenvironment, reduce inflammation and achieve periodontal regeneration. Recently, the role of TRPM2 in inflammatory diseases has been reported. However, the function of TRPM2 in periodontal disease and the biological mechanism remain elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the role and explore the underlying mechanisms of TRPM2 in periodontal disease. Here, we first identified the characterization of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs). Oil Red O Staining and Alizarin Red mineralized matrix were used to evaluate the multi-differentiation capacity of cells. Flow cytometry was employed to detect MSC-specific surface markers of hPDLSCs. hPDLSCs were treated with 0, 5, 10 or 40 µg/mL of TNF-α for 72 h. Western blot assay were performed to examine the expression of Transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily M, member 2 (TRPM2) in hPDLSCs. CCK8 and colony formation assays were used to detect the cell viability and proliferation of hPDLSCs, which revealed that TRPM2 knockdown promoted hPDLSCs proliferation. Then, ALP activity in hPDLSCs was detected by ALP activity detection kit. Next, the expression of ALP and Runx2 in hPDLSCs was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The result showed that TRPM2 knockdown promoted osteogenic differentiation and affected the genes expression of osteogenic. Finally, the expressions of p-p65, p65, p-IκBα, IκBα and NLRP3 in hPDLSCs were detected by western blot assay. Together, these results suggested that knockdown of TRPM2 accelerated osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs through mediating NF-κB /NLRP3 pathway.

Exploring factors that influence the behavioural intention of medical students to use 3D gastroscopic model to learn how to operate gastroscope using UTAUT Model.

BACKGROUND: The application of virtual reality (VR) in gastroscopic operation teaching can be safe and effective, but the advantages can be realized only when students accept and use it. This study aims to identify the factors influencing Chinese clinical medical postgraduates on their intention to use the 3D gastroscopic model constructed based on VR technology using Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Students' demographic factors are also taken into consideration. METHODS: All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines. Data were collected from clinical medical postgraduates students in China using stratified sampling. A total of 292 questionnaires including valid responses were used in this study. Data were processed using Amos 24.0 and SPSS 26.0 software and the statistical analysis technique was based on structural equation modeling (SEM). RESULTS: The results showed that different from the mediator of home location and year of clinical learning, mediator of gender, university kind and graduate degree did not affect the behavioral intention. In addition, performance expectancy, facilitating condition, and social influence directly and indirectly have effect on behavioral intention. Also, the significance between social influence and performance expectancy, social influence and effort expectancy were verified. CONCLUSIONS: This study manifested that the proposed framework based on the UTAUT had explanatory power to identify the factors influencing the students' behavioral intention to use the 3D gastroscopic model constructed based on VR technology. Whereas, an important variable of effort expectancy in the frame of the SEM were not certified, thereby indicating that particular attention should be paid to this variable by universities and teachers before applying 3D gastroscopic model constructed based on VR technology in teaching. Added preparatory work is required such as explaining the basic knowledge of the operating steps of VR model and make students adequately understand its accessibility, which can probably improve the intentions of them to use it. The positive effects of social influence on performance expectancy and effort expectancy we proposed was also verified in this study, which provided a direction for future research.

First report of leaf spot caused by Botrytis cinerea on Bletilla striata in Anhui province, China.

Bletilla striata (Thunb.) is a perennial herb plant of the orchidaceous family and is used as an ornamental plant in Europe and the United States. Furthermore, it is important as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in East Asian countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Myanmar (Gou et al. 2022). In April 2023, a severe disease similar to gray mold occurred in a B. striata plantation in Anqing, Anhui province, China (N30°27'15″, E116°18'32″), causing disease on about 20% of the plants in the field. Early symptoms were characterized by brown spots or stripes on the leaves of B. striata, and as the disease progressed, large brown irregular spots appeared. Eventually disease spots coalesced, covering the entire leaf surface and causing leaf death. A gray mildew layer was observed on the senescent leaves. To investigate the causal agent, 10 plants with typical symptoms were collected from the field. Leaf pieces (5 × 5 mm) from the border of infected areas were soaked in 75% ethanol for 10 seconds, and then transferred into 0.1% mercury bichloride for three min, rinsed three times with sterile water, and transferred to PDA at 25 °C for three days. Pure cultures were obtained by single spore isolation, and the resulting colonies were morphologically similar, indicating a single pathogen, of which the representative BSFC-7 was selected for further study. BSFC-7 colonies were initially white to gray-brown, and cottony aerial hyphae grew over the entire petri dish after five days of incubation. Grayish, branched conidiophores and their terminal unicellular conidia were observed under a microscope after additional two days at 25 °C. Conidia were colorless or gray, elliptical or oval, and 7.06-12.54 × 8.33-13.55 µm (n=30). Sclerotia appeared in BSFC-7 culture up to about two weeks and were black, hard, and round or irregularly shaped (0.81-4.32 × 0.97-5.68 mm, n=20). The morphological characteristics fit the description of Botrytis cinerea (Li et al. 2016). To further identify the species, genomic DNA of BSFC-7 was extracted. PCR analysis was performed with species-specific primer pairs C729+/C729- and two nuclear genes G3PDH and RPB2 with their corresponding primer pairs G3PDH-F/G3PDH-R and RPB2-F/RPB2-R (Rigotti et al. 2002; Aktaruzzaman et al. 2018). The sequences for all three PCR products of C729, G3PDH, and RPB2 (GenBank accession nos. OR287069, OR255923, and OR255924 respectively) exhibited 99 to 100% similarity with other B. cinerea isolates. In the pathogenicity test, detached leaves of B. striata were inoculated with the BSFC-7 isolate. The leaves were soaked in sodium hypochlorite (1%) for two min, washed with sterile distilled water, and then inoculated with 10 µl of conidial suspension (106 conidia/ml). Sterile water was used as control and samples were incubated at 25 °C. After three days, all leaves inoculated with conidia showed dark brown water-soaked lesions similar to those observed in the field, while the control leaves remained healthy. The pathogen was re-isolated from the affected leaves, fulfilling Koch's postulates. B. cinerea is a common pathogen on a wide range of host plant species worldwide and has been reported to infect B. striata in Yunnan province, China (Romanazzi and Feliziani 2014; Zhang et al. 2020). To our knowledge, this is the first report of B. cinerea causing leaf spots on B. striata in Anhui province, China. This study will provide a basis for controlling the prevalence and economic losses of gray mold on B. striata.