A combination treatment of drug-laser-photon for melasma: A retrospective study of clinical cases.

BACKGROUND: Combinational therapy such as taking tranexamic acid while using laser treatment has been proved potential efficacy by many experiments. However, there is few research which contains large samples and consistent observations. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated clinical efficacy and safety of a new systemic treatment of drug-laser-photon therapy. METHODS: Retrospective and randomized investigator-blinded study of 75 patients with mixed type melasma was analyzed. At each visit, standardized photographs were taken using VISIA. Modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) scores were marked using photographs by two dermatologists. RESULTS: The mMASI score decreased significantly from 6.92 to 3.84 after the treatment. The VISIA analyze right cheek data shows: Spots (from 49.67 ± 3.43 to 56.09 ± 3.31), UV spots (from 41.39 ± 24.45 to 44.56 ± 25.86), and Brown spots (from 23.97 ± 17.89 to 28.16 ± 21.28) are statistically increased (p = 0.035, p = 0.018, p = 0.07). All patients feel varying degrees of improvement, about 10.17% felt very much improved, 30.51% felt much improved (51%-75%), 45.76% felt moderately improved (26%-50%), and 13.56% felt little improved (1%-25%). LIMITATIONS: This study was no control group. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety profile of the combination of drug-laser-photon therapy systemic treatment in melasma patients has been proved. It has potential possibility to become a new, reliable, widely suitable therapy strategy.

[Pharmacodynamic material basis and anti-inflammatory mechanism of Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Fubaiju based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology].

The chemical components in rats after oral administration of the water extract of Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Fubaiju(CMF) were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technique. Forty-four compounds were identified from the water extract of CMF and 11 components were identified from the rat serum. A total of 264 potential anti-inflammatory targets were identified by network pharmacology based on serum components. The "component-target" network and protein-protein interaction(PPI) network were constructed, and GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. The molecular docking was carried out to validate the results of network pharmacology. The results showed that CMF might act on AKT1, TNF, TP53, IL6, INS, and other core targets through apigenin, luteolin, acacetin, diosmetin, 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and other active components, and exert anti-inflammatory effects by regulating PI3 K-AKT signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, and other pathways. The pharmacodynamic materials basis of CMF was identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS technology, and the core anti-inflammatory targets and the underlying mechanism of action were analyzed by network pharmacology and molecular docking, which provided a reference for comprehensively clarifying the pharmacodynamic materials basis and quality control of CMF.

[Dynamic Mechanisms of Groundwater Quality by Residual Contaminants of the Tanghe Wastewater Reservoir in Xiong'an New Area].

Tanghe wastewater reservoir(TWR) is located on the west side of Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, where sewage infiltration and irrigation has been taking place for 40 years, and a large number of contaminants have accumulated in the unsaturated zone. Identifying the mechanisms by which this combined system contributes to groundwater hydrochemical dynamics is important for the protection of the water environment in the area. Hydrogeochemical methods such as tracing and improved chlor-alkali index are used to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics and evolution mechanisms of shallow groundwater. The study shows that the groundwater chemistry in the sewage reservoir area is SO4·HCO3-Na type, with an average sewage fraction of 48.4%, and the contribution of Na+ from ion exchange and halite dissolution is 29.9% and 8.6%, respectively. The chemical type of groundwater in the sewage irrigation area is SO4·HCO3-Na·Mg, the average sewage fraction is 58.3%, and Na+ consumption of ion exchange is 8.1%. The mix dilution of precipitation and irrigation leads to a reduction in the effluent fraction and saturation index in the groundwater, and promotes the adsorption of Na+ from groundwater into the soil. Denitrification in aquifers can effectively reduce groundwater nitrate pollution. In addition, the sewage fraction before and after the restoration of the reservoir was 61.5% and 49.3%, respectively. Pollutants retained in the sewage infiltration and irrigation combined system will continue to affect the quality of shallow groundwater with varying degrees of mixing and water-rock interaction driven by rainfall and irrigation.

[Spatial and temporal variations of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and sources of water vapour indicated from satellite precipitation products along the transection of 38°north latitude in North China]. / 基于卫星降水产品的华北北纬38°å¸¦é™æ°´æ°¢æ°§åŒä½ç´ 时空特征及水汽来源.

The variations of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in rainfall are critical for understanding the sources of rainfall and the influence of local evaporation. Satellite precipitation products with high time resolution (for instance 1 h) could be helpful for testifying the accuracy of water sources, as it can clearly illustrate the route of cloud movement. In this study, we analyzed the composition of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in different rainfall events in three stations from 2015 to 2018 along the transection of 38° N latitude from Taihang Mountains to the coastal region in North China, Taihang Mountain Station (mountainous area), Luancheng Station (pre-mountain plain) and Nanpi Station (coastal low plain). By selecting typical rainfall events, water vapor sources and its influence rainfall on hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were analyzed with hourly available CMORPH satellite precipitation products. Results showed that the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of precipitation were cha-racterized by enrichment in the rainy season and depletion in the dry season. The hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the rainy season showed a tendency of depletion with the increases of precipitation. The slope and intercept of the fitted relationship of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in the piedmont region of the mountains were the lowest, indicating that precipitation in the piedmont plain was significantly affected by secondary evaporation fractionation. The effect of evaporation resulted in the largest variations of isotope ratio in the dry year. In the mountainous station, due to the heavy rainfall, large isotopic variation was found in rich precipitation year. Based on the route analysis of sate-llite precipitation products, dominant water vapor in the region was inland and northwest-oriented water vapor, while water vapor in the rainy season was from southwest and from the Pacific Ocean. There was a significant difference in the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of precipitation in the mountainous and plain stations in 2016, owing to water vapor sources and effects of rainfall for the mountainous and evaporation for plain. The results from HYSPLIT model showed that during the rainstorm on 19th July in 2016, water vapor at the mountainous station was mainly from the southwest, while that in the coastal plain was a mixture of southwest and southeast sources. Overall, our results showed that spatial and temporal variations of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes were controlled by both water sources and evaporation processes along the transection of 38° north latitude in North China.

miR-215 Targeting Novel Genes EREG, NIPAL1 and PTPRU Regulates the Resistance to E.coli F18 in Piglets.

Previous research has revealed that miR-215 might be an important miRNA regulating weaned piglets' resistance to Escherichia coli (E. coli) F18. In this study, target genes of miR-215 were identified by RNA-seq, bioinformatics analysis and dual luciferase detection. The relationship between target genes and E. coli infection was explored by RNAi technology, combined with E. coli stimulation and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection. Molecular regulating mechanisms of target genes expression were analyzed by methylation detection of promoter regions and dual luciferase activity assay of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in core promoter regions. The results showed that miR-215 could target EREG, NIPAL1 and PTPRU genes. Expression levels of three genes in porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) in the RNAi group were significantly lower than those in the negative control pGMLV vector (pGMLV-NC) group after E. coli F18 stimulation, while cytokines levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in the RNAi group were significantly higher than in the pGMLV-NC group. Variant sites in the promoter region of three genes could affect their promoter activities. These results suggested that miR-215 could regulate weaned piglets' resistance to E. coli F18 by targeting EREG, NIPAL1 and PTPRU genes. This study is the first to annotate new biological functions of EREG, NIPAL1 and PTPRU genes in pigs, and provides a new experimental basis and reference for the research of piglets disease-resistance breeding.

Chemical constituents and their cytotoxicities from mushroom Tricholoma imbricatum.

Two undescribed triterpenes, tricholimbrins A and B, three undescribed steroids, tricholimbrins C‒E, one undescribed 4-chromanone derivative, along with 27 known compounds were isolated from fruiting bodies of the mushroom Tricholoma imbricatum. Tricholimbrins A and B are two polycyclic triterpenoids with a carbon degradation, while tricholimbrin C is a ring-rearranged steroid containing an aromatic moiety that might be derived from an ergosterol. Isocyathisterol, 3ß,15α-dihydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8(14),22-trien-7-one, demethylincisterol A3, and volemolide showed cytotoxicities to six human cancer cell lines. 3ß-Hydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8,22-trien-7,15-dione and 3ß-hydroxyl-(22E,24R)-ergosta-5,8,22-trien-7-one showed preferable cytotoxicities against HL-60 while chaxine C and volemolide showed preferable cytotoxicities against A-549, with IC50 values less than 10 µM.

[Simulation of the Migration and Leaching of Nitrate Nitrogen in the Farmland Soil Profile in a Hilly Area of Taihang Mountain with the RZWQM Model].

Taihang Mountain region is the recharge area for groundwater in the North China Plain (NCP). In recent years, the elevated nitrate concentration in the groundwater in the Taihang Mountain has often been associated with the increased area of farmland and the excessive application of nitrogen. Thus, it is significant to study the soil nitrogen leaching process in typical farmland. In this study, the root zone water quality model (RZWQM) was used to simulate the nitrate nitrogen leaching of winter wheat/summer maize rotation systems in the Hilly Ecosystem Experimental Station in Taihang Mountain. The results showed that during the 2015-2016 winter wheat/summer maize season, the nitrate nitrogen from the soil leaching occurred mainly in the summer maize season (rainy season), with the nitrate nitrogen leaching amount reaching 59.9 kg·hm-2, while the nitrate nitrogen leaching amount during the winter wheat season was only 2.12 kg·hm-2. The soil nitrate nitrogen leaching condition was simulated using the RZWQM model for different nitrogen contents and years with different rainfall. Significant linear correlations were observed between nitrogen use and nitrate leaching in winter wheat/summer maize rotation systems. In summary, the results showed that the nitrate nitrogen leaching values were 10.5, 59.9, and 136.5 kg·hm-2 for nitrogen fertilizer applications of 0, 300, and 450 kg·hm-2, respectively, during extreme precipitation in a wet year (2015). The value of nitrate nitrogen leaching in the maize season of 2013 (dry year), 2015 (normal year), and 2016 (wet year) accounted for 9%, 10%, and 20% for the 300 kg·hm-2 of nitrogen fertilizer applied, respectively. However, the value of nitrate nitrogen leaching in the maize season of 2013 (dry year), 2015 (normal year), and 2016 (wet year) accounted for 11%, 17% and 30% of the 450 kg·hm-2 of nitrogen fertilizer applied. These results show that extreme precipitation events not only greatly recharge the groundwater, but also increase the leaching of accumulated nitrate nitrogen and potential nitrate contamination in the groundwater.

[Construction of human telomerase reverse transcriptase periodontal ligament cell line mediated by adenovirus].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish an effective and stable periodontal ligament cell line stably expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene by using the adenovirus method. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the full length of hTERT gene to construct recombinant adenovirus plasmid pAd-pshuttle-cmv-hTERT. Packaged adenovirus particles were used for infection of human periodontal ligament cells. The expression levels of hTERT and osteogenic genes, such as alkaline phosphatase, Runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and collagen Ⅰ mRNA, were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The ability of osteogenic differentiation was observed by alizarin red staining, and the cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8. RESULTS: Adenovirus particles containing the hTERT gene were successfully constructed and infected with periodontal ligament cells. The infected cells were similar to normal periodontal ligament cells. The qRT-PCR results showed that hTERT and osteogenesis-associated genes were highly expressed in the periodontal ligament cell lines constructed by adenoviruses. Alizarin red staining showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong osteogenic differentiation capability. CCK-8 showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong proliferation capability. CONCLUSIONS: The human periodontal ligament cell line with high efficiency and stable expression of hTERT was established by the adenovirus method, thereby providing an ideal cell line for studying the mechanism of periodontal regeneration.

[Source of Nitrate in Surface Water and Shallow Groundwater Around Baiyangdian Lake Area Based on Hydrochemical and Stable Isotopes].

In order to study the source of nitrate in surface water and groundwater near a domestic sewage discharge river in the Baiyangdian watershed, including the Fuhe River and Baiyangdian Lake, shallow groundwater and deep groundwater samples were collected in July 2014.Water chemistry and stable isotopes (δ2 H and δ18O) were used to study the relationship between the surface water and groundwater. δ15 N was used to explore the source of nitrate. The results show that urban and rural domestic sewage discharge to Fuhe River and then experience evaporation. Shallow groundwater is affected by the Fuhe River, Baiyangdian Lake, and lateral recharge from groundwater in the Taihang Mountain area. There are 16.7% of shallow groundwater samples exceeds the NO3- threshold for drinking water according to the World Health Organization standard. Due to the effect of self-purification capacity, the NO3- mass concentration in the Fuhe River is higher in the upstream area than in the downstream area. Due the regional water flow from northwest to southeast, the NO3- mass concentration in the shallow groundwater is higher in the south bank area than in north bank area. The shallow groundwater near the Fuhe River and Baiyangdian Lake is recharged by surface water. In addition, soil, fertilizer, and point sources are also major sources for groundwater nitrate. Urban and rural residential living and agricultural production activities are the main reasons for surface water and groundwater nitrate.

Development of a facescan 3D facial reconstruction technology method for quantitative evaluation of cheilitis granulomatosa.

We explored the applicability of Facescan three-dimensional (3D) facial reconstruction technology for adjunctive diagnosis and therapeutic evaluation of cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) in 33 patients with CG and 29 healthy controls at the Dept. of Oral Medicine, Peking University, School and Hospital of Stomatology (PKUSS), from January 2015 to May 2016. The Facescan structured-light 3D facial reconstruction scanner was used to scan the scope of lips in both groups, in order to acquire 3D morphological data of the lips. The lengths of six characteristic line segments were measured from the 3D lip model of the two groups, and the acquired data were compared. The results showed that the distance between the labiale superius and labiale inferius, and the lengths of the upper and lower vermilion borders showed significant differences between the CG and control groups, by using the 3D lip model. Thus, Facescan 3D facial reconstruction technology showed good reproducibility in the evaluation of lip swelling in CG patients, and it can be used to analyse the degree of lip swelling and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of different treatments for CG.

Is hydroxychloroquine effective in treating primary Sjogren's syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: To systematically review and assess the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for treating primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS). METHODS: Five electronic databases (Pubmed, EMBASE, Web of science, Ovid, Cochrane Library) were searched for randomized controlled trials and retrospective or prospective studies published in English that reported the effect of HCQ on pSS. The subjective symptoms (sicca symptoms, fatigue and pain) and the objective indexes (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and Schirmer test) were assessed as main outcome measures. A meta-analysis and descriptive study on the efficacy and safety of HCQ were conducted. The estimate of the effect of HCQ treatment was expressed as a proportion together with 95% confidence interval, and plotted on a forest plot. RESULTS: Four trials with totals of 215 SS patients, including two randomized controlled trials, one double blind crossover trial and one retrospective open-label study, were analyzed in this review. For dry mouth and dry eyes, the effectiveness of HCQ treatment was essentially the same as placebo treatment. For fatigue, the effectiveness of HCQ was lower than placebo. The efficacy of HCQ in treating pain associated with pSS was superior to that of the placebo. There was no significant difference between HCQ-treated groups and controls in terms of Schirmer test results, but HCQ could reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate compare with placebo. A descriptive safety assessment showed that gastrointestinal adverse effects were the most common adverse effects associated with HCQ. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review showed that there is no significant difference between HCQ and placebo in the treatment of dry mouth and dry eye in pSS. Well-designed, randomized, controlled trials are needed to provide higher-quality evidence to confirm our findings, and future studies should focus on some other index or extraglandular measures, such as cutaneous manifestations, to further explore the therapeutic effect of HCQ in pSS.

Characteristics of Labial Gland Mesenchymal Stem Cells of Healthy Individuals and Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome: A Preliminary Study.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by focal lymphocytic infiltration into exocrine organs such as salivary and lacrimal glands, resulting in dry mouth and eyes, and other systemic injuries. There is no curative clinical therapy for SS, and stem cell therapy has shown great potential in this area. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the salivary glands of healthy individuals and in patients with SS have not been extensively studied. The aim of this study was to elucidate the characteristics of MSCs from the labial glands of healthy controls and of those from patients with SS to elucidate the related pathogenesis and to uncover potential avenues for novel clinical interventions. Labial glands from patients with SS and healthy subjects were obtained, and MSCs were isolated and cultured by using the tissue adherent method. The MSC characteristics of the cultured cells were confirmed by using morphology, proliferation, colony forming-unit (CFU) efficiency, and multipotentiality, including osteogenic, adipogenic, and salivary gland differentiation. The MSCs from the healthy controls and SS patients expressed characteristic MSC markers, including CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, and CD105; they were negative for CD34, CD45, and CD106, and also negative for the salivary gland epithelium markers (CD49f and CD117). Labial gland MSCs from both groups were capable of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. The CFU efficiency and adipogenic differentiation potential of MSCs were significantly lower in the SS group compared with the healthy controls. Cells from both groups could also be induced into salivary gland-like cells. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining showed that the gene and protein expression of AMY1, AQP5, and ZO-1 in cells from the SS group was lower than that in cells from the healthy group. Thus, MSCs from the labial glands in patients with SS could lack certain characteristics and functions, especially related to salivary secretion. These preliminary data provided insights that could lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of SS.

[Distribution Characteristics and Source of Fluoride in Groundwater in Lower Plain Area of North China Plain: A Case Study in Nanpi County].

There is an obvious regional contradiction between water resources and agricultural produce in lower plain area of North China, however, excessive fluorine in deep groundwater further limits the use of regional water resources. In order to understand the spatial distribution characteristics and source of F(-) in groundwater, study was carried out in Nanpi County by field survey and sampling, hydrogeochemical analysis and stable isotopes methods. The results showed that the center of low fluoride concentrations of shallow groundwater was located around reservoir of Dalang Lake, and centers of high fluoride concentrations were located in southeast and southwest of the study area. The region with high fluoride concentration was consistent with the over-exploitation region of deep groundwater. Point source pollution of subsurface drainage and non-point source of irrigation with deep groundwater in some regions were the main causes for the increasing F(-) concentrations of shallow groundwater in parts of the sampling sites. Rock deposition and hydrogeology conditions were the main causes for the high F(-) concentrations (1.00 mg x L(-1), threshold of drinking water quality standard in China) in deep groundwater. F(-) released from clay minerals into the water increased the F(-) concentrations in deep groundwater because of over-exploitation. With the increasing exploitation and utilization of brackish shallow groundwater and the compressing and restricting of deep groundwater exploitation, the water environment in the middle and east lower plain area of North China will undergo significant change, and it is important to identify the distribution and source of F(-) in surface water and groundwater for reasonable development and use of water resources in future.

[Study on EEG changes after occlusal trauma during sleep in rats].

PURPOSE: To explore the electroencephalogram (EEG) changes after occlusal trauma in rats. METHODS: Health Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups: traumatic occlusion group (1-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day, 28-day group) and control group. The electrodes were inserted in the hippocampus of anesthetized rats guided by stereotaxic apparatus of brain and then the hippocampal EEG were recorded during sleep. Data were analysed by SPSS 17.0 software package for ANOVA. RERULTS: The δ waves were increased and the frequency and amplitude of EEG were significantly reduced in 1-day traumatic group(P<0.05); The waves were decreased and the frequency and amplitude of EEG were significantly increased in 3-day traumatic group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference compared with the control group. The δ waves were decreased in 7-day and 14-day traumatic group and the frequency and amplitude of EEG were significantly increased (P<0.05). The indexes in the 28-day traumatic group returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: Occlusal trauma can change the EEG of the rat during sleep. It mainly affects the deep sleep, and reduces sleep quality. Supported by Innovation Fund of Shandong University (2010GN048).

Antibody specific to thioredoxin reductase as a new biomarker for serodiagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in non-neutropenic patients.

BACKGROUND: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of mortality in critically ill patients, but the diagnosis is difficult as clinical and radiological signs are neither sensitive nor specific. Serum galactomannan (GM) is a useful marker for IA, but exhibits low sensitivity in non-neutropenic patients. In our previous work, strong antibody reactivity to thioredoxin reductase of Aspergillus fumigatus was found in non-neutropenic IA patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using recombinant thioredoxin reductase GliT (TR), an antigenic protein secreted by A. fumigatus, as the coating antigen, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting anti-TR antibodies was developed. The antibody response to TR in IA animal models and 42 non-neutropenic patients with culture- and/or histology-documented IA was investigated. The results showed that anti-TR antibody was detectable in rabbit serum 7-9 days after exposure to the fungus. The sensitivity and specificity of the anti-TR antibody assay in patients were 80.9% and 96%, respectively, while the sensitivity of GM in this group of patients was only 52.3%. The specificity of the assay was confirmed by testing the sera from patients infected with other pathogenic fungal species and bacteria.

Immunoproteomics based identification of thioredoxin reductase GliT and novel Aspergillus fumigatus antigens for serologic diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.

BACKGROUND: There has been a rising incidence of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in critically ill patients, even in the absence of an apparent predisposing immunodeficiency. The diagnosis of IA is difficult because clinical signs are not sensitive and specific, and serum galactomannan has relatively low sensitivity in this group of patients. Therefore, more prompt and accurate disease markers for early diagnosis are needed. To establish disease markers demands a thorough knowledge of fungal antigens which may be detected in the serum or other body fluids of patients. Herein we report novel immunodominant antigens identified from extracellular proteins of Aspergillus fumigatus. RESULTS: Extracellular proteins of A. fumigatus were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and probed with the sera from critically ill patients with proven IA. The immunoreactive protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF -MS). Forty spots from 2DE gels were detected and 17 different proteins were identified as immunogenic in humans. Function annotation revealed that most of these proteins were metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate, fatty acid, amino acid, and energy metabolism. One of the proteins, thioredoxin reductase GliT (TR), which showed the best immunoactivity, was analyzed further for secretory signals, protein localization, and homology. The results indicated that TR is a secretory protein with a signal sequence exhibiting a high probability for secretion. Furthermore, TR did not match any human proteins, and had low homology with most other fungi. The recombinant TR was recognized by the sera of all proven IA patients with different underlying diseases in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The immunoreactive proteins identified in this study may be helpful for the diagnosis of IA in critically ill patients. Our results indicate that TR and other immunodominant antigens have potential as biomarkers for the serologic diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis.