Neurofunctional changes related to methamphetamine and sexual cues in methamphetamine dependence from short- to long-term abstinence.

AIMS: Abuse of methamphetamine has aroused concern worldwide. Stimulant use and sexual behaviours have been linked in behavioural and epidemiological studies. Although methamphetamine-related neurofunctional differences are reported in previous studies, only few studies have examined neurofunctional changes related to methamphetamine and sexual cues in methamphetamine dependence from short- to long-term abstinence. METHODS: Neurofunctional changes were measured using a cue-reactivity task involving methamphetamine, sexual, and neutral cues in 20 methamphetamine abusers who were evaluated after a short- (1 week to 3 months) and long-term (10-15 months) abstinence. RESULTS: Five brain regions mainly involved in the occipital lobe and the parietal lobe were found with the group-by-condition interaction. Region-of-interest analyses found higher sexual-cue-related activation than other two activations in all five brain regions in the long-term methamphetamine abstinence group while no group differences were found. Negative relationships between motor impulsivity and methamphetamine- or sexual-cue-related activations in the left middle occipital gyrus, the superior parietal gyrus and the right angular gyrus were found. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggested that methamphetamine abstinence may change the neural response of methamphetamine abusers to methamphetamine and sexual cues, and the neurofunction of the five brain regions reported in this study may partly recover with long-term methamphetamine abstinence. Given the use and relapse of methamphetamine for sexual purposes, the findings of this study may have particular clinical relevance.

Disrupted individual-level morphological brain network in spinal muscular atrophy types 2 and 3.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common monogenic neuromuscular diseases, and the pathogenesis mechanisms, especially the brain network topological properties, remain unknown. This study aimed to use individual-level morphological brain network analysis to explore the brain neural network mechanisms in SMA. METHODS: Individual-level gray matter (GM) networks were constructed by estimating the interregional similarity of GM volume distribution using both Kullback-Leibler divergence-based similarity (KLDs) and Jesen-Shannon divergence-based similarity (JSDs) measurements based on Automated Anatomical Labeling 116 and Hammersmith 83 atlases for 38 individuals with SMA types 2 and 3 and 38 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). The topological properties were analyzed by the graph theory approach and compared between groups by a nonparametric permutation test. Additionally, correlation analysis was used to assess the associations between altered topological metrics and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Compared with HCs, although global network topology remained preserved in individuals with SMA, brain regions with altered nodal properties mainly involved the right olfactory gyrus, right insula, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, right amygdala, right thalamus, left superior temporal gyrus, left cerebellar lobule IV-V, bilateral cerebellar lobule VI, right cerebellar lobule VII, and vermis VII and IX. Further correlation analysis showed that the nodal degree of the right cerebellar lobule VII was positively correlated with the disease duration, and the right amygdala was negatively correlated with the Hammersmith Functional Motor Scale Expanded (HFMSE) scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrated that topological reorganization may prioritize global properties over nodal properties, and disrupted topological properties in the cortical-limbic-cerebellum circuit in SMA may help to further understand the network pathogenesis underlying SMA.

[Ecological Environment Dynamical Evaluation of Hutuo River Basin Using Remote Sensing].

Hutuo River Basin straddles Shanxi and Hebei provinces, and Hutuo River was once cut off due to economic development and urban expansion after 2000; however, with the national emphasis on ecological civilization and the implementation of the South-North Water Diversion Project, the ecological protection of Hutuo River Basin has been significantly improved. MODIS data, Landsat data, and night light remote sensing data were selected based on the google earth engine (GEE) platform, and a new evaluation index system was generated by combining the biological richness index, vegetation cover index, land stress index, and pollution load index in the ecological environment index (EI) and the humidity index in the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI), using the variation coefficient method and entropy weighting method to assign weights to these indices. An ecological environment evaluation model was constructed to evaluate and classify the ecological environment quality of Hutuo River Basin from 2000 to 2020, and the driving factors were interpreted by using geographic probes. The results showed that:① on a time scale, the ecological environment of Hutuo River Basin was in a decline period from 2000 to 2015 and a recovery period from 2015 to 2020. From a grid scale, the ecological environment quality in the central part of the basin showed a state of improvement year by year, and in the western and eastern parts of the basin, the ecological environment quality in the decline period decreased year by year, whereas the ecological environment quality in the recovery period improved. ② Hot spot analysis showed that the spatial distribution of the ecological environment quality in Hutuo River Basin was high in the middle and low on both sides. Cold spot regions were mainly located in major cities and towns in the eastern and southern parts and scattered in the river valley area on the west side. ③ Geodetection analysis showed that the single factor detection drivers were mainly population density, vegetation net primary productivity (NPP), fractional vegetation cover (FVC), and geomorphological type. The dominant factor of cross-detection was "geomorphological type + FVC." With the deepening of ecological civilization construction and the implementation of Hutuo River Protection Regulations, in combination with different factors such as the natural environment and social characteristics in this basin, the research on ecological environment evaluation in Hutuo River Basin can provide data support for proposing localized policies to improve the ecological environment.

Paired Electrolysis-Enabled Arylation of Quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones.

The first paired electrolysis-enabled arylation of quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones was achieved using cyanoarenes as the arylation reagents. A variety of 3-arylquinoxalin-2(1H)-ones with various important functional groups were obtained in moderate to good yields under metal- and chemical oxidant-free conditions. With a pair of reductive and oxidative processes occurring among the substrates and reaction intermediates, the power consumption can be dramatically reduced.

Translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation of the Provider Attitudes toward Cardiac Rehabilitation and Referral (PACRR-C) Scale in Simplified Chinese.

BACKGROUND: The Provider Attitudes toward CR and Referral (PACRR) scale was translated into Simplified Chinese and psychometric validation ensued. METHODS: Brislin's Translation Model was applied, with two independent forward translations followed by back-translation. Experts assessed the face, content and cross-cultural validity of items, and item analysis followed. For validation, 227 physicians from hospitals in 14 Chinese provinces completed the PACRR-C. Structural validity was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Internal and split-half reliability were assessed. RESULTS: Some items were rephrased and one item was deleted. The content validity index for the total scale was 0.965. The correlation coefficients between the 18 items and the total scale ranged between 0.28 and 0.76. Consistent with the English version, four factors were extracted (Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.671-0.959) through the factor analysis, accounting for 71.21% of the total variance. Split-half reliability was 0.945. The greatest factors impacting physician's CR attitudes were inconvenience of the referral process (3.93 ± 0.65/5); lack of standard referral forms (3.92 ± 0.66), perceiving referral as the responsibility of another clinician (3.89 ± 0.67), and need for support in completing the referral form (3.89 ± 0.64). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The reliability, as well as content, face, cross-cultural, and structural validity of the 18-item, 4-subscale PACRR-C, were supported.

The potential of Paeonia lactiflora pall seeds oil as a pure natural cosmetics raw material: In Vitro findings.

BACKGROUND: As a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Paeonia lactiflora Pall is rich in various active ingredients such as polysaccharides and total flavonoids while having ornamental value. It has potential application value in the development of food and cosmetics. OBJECTIVE: To study the in vitro efficacy of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil. METHODS: Firstly, the levels of linolenic acid and linoleic acid in Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil were quantified using gas chromatography. The impact of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on the proliferation rate of B16F10 cells was assessed through the CCK-8 method, while the melanin content of B16F10 cells was determined using the sodium hydroxide lysis method. The inhibitory effects of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil on elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase were evaluated by biochemical techniques in vitro. Lastly, the hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane test (HET-CAM) was conducted to confirm the absence of eye irritation caused by Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil. RESULTS: Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil within a certain volume concentration range (0.5%-4%) had no effect on the proliferation of B16F10 cells. Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil showed significant inhibition of elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase. Notably, the highest concentration tested, 4% Paeonia lactiflora Pall seed oil, yielded the most pronounced outcomes without causing any irritation. CONCLUSION: A certain concentration of Paeonia lactiflora Pall seeds oil has a significant effect on decreasing the melanin content in B16F10 cells and inhibiting the activities of elastase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase, which can provide a reference for the development of pure natural cosmetics raw materials.

Effect of deep learning image reconstruction with high-definition standard scan mode on image quality of coronary stents and arteries.

Background: The high-definition standard (HD-standard) scan mode has been proven to display stents better than the standard (STND) scan mode but with more image noise. Deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) is capable of reducing image noise. This study examined the impact of HD-standard scan mode with DLIR algorithms on stent and coronary artery image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) via a comparison with conventional STND scan mode and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-Veo (ASIR-V) algorithms. Methods: The data of 121 patients who underwent HD-standard mode scans (group A: N=47, with coronary stent) or STND mode scans (group B: N=74, without coronary stent) were retrospectively collected. All images were reconstructed with ASIR-V at a level of 50% (ASIR-V50%) and a level of 80% (ASIR-V80%) and with DLIR at medium (DLIR-M) and high (DLIR-H) levels. The noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), artifact index (AI), and in-stent diameter were measured as objective evaluation parameters. Subjective assessment involved a 5-point scale for overall image quality, image noise, stent appearance, stent artifacts, vascular sharpness, and diagnostic confidence. Diagnostic confidence was evaluated based on the presence or absence of significant stenosis (≥50% lumen reduction). Both subjective and objective evaluations were conducted by two radiologists independently, with kappa and intraclass correlation statistics being used to test the interobserver agreement. Results: There were 76 evaluable stents in group A, and the DLIR-H algorithm significantly outperformed other algorithms, demonstrating the lowest noise (41.6±7.1/41.3±7.2) and AI (32.4±8.9/31.2±10.1), the highest SNR (14.6±3.5/15.0±3.5) and CNR (13.6±3.8/13.9±3.8), and the largest in-stent diameter (2.18±0.61/2.19±0.61) in representing true stent diameter (all P values <0.01), as well as the highest score in each subjective evaluation parameter. In group B, a total of 296 coronary arteries were evaluated, and the DLIR-H algorithm provided the best objective image quality, with statistically superior noise, SNR, and CNR compared with the other algorithms (all P values <0.05). Moreover, the HD-standard mode scan with DLIR provided better image quality and a lower radiation dose than did the STND mode scan with ASIR-V (P<0.01). Conclusions: HD-standard scan mode with DLIR-H improves image quality of both stents and coronary arteries on CCTA under a lower radiation dose.

Plum blossom low molecular weight polypeptide protects HaCaT cells against UVB-induced oxidative damage in vitro and underlying mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Increasing amounts of ultraviolet radiation occur as ozone depletion causes the earth's ozone layer to be destroyed, making antioxidant efficacy a research hotspot. Previous studies on plum blossom have mostly focused on Volatile Oils, Flavonoids, Phenylpropanoids, and other compounds, whereas few studies have focused on low molecular weight polypeptide (LMWP) of plum blossom. This research provides a reference for the deep processing and utilization of plum blossom. OBJECTIVES: (a) Plum blossom low molecular weight polypeptides protect HaCaT cells against UVB-induced oxidative damage in vitro and the underlying mechanism. (b) Improve the theoretical basis for the intense processing and utilization of plum blossom. METHODS: The safe concentration of LMWP and the survival rate of HaCaT cells were determined using the CCK-8 experiment. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was identified using the dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method; Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured in ruptured cells; Western blot analysis was used to examine the expression levels of three proteins: nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and benzoquinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1). RESULTS: It was noted that a certain concentration of LMWP could promote cell proliferation. In oxidatively damaged HaCaT cells, SOD levels and survival rates were markedly reduced, but ROS and MDA levels were elevated. However, after treatment with LMWP, the survival rate of the cells and SOD levels were markedly increased, and the levels of ROS and MDA were markedly decreased. As shown by Western blotting, the model group exhibited lower levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 expression than the control group, whereas LMWP-treated cells had significantly higher levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO-1 expression than their model-treated counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: LMMP can effectively protect HaCaT cells against oxidative damage in vitro induced by UVB, and the underlying mechanism is linked to the activation of the transcription factor Nrf2.

Efficacy and safety of agomelatine in epilepsy patients with sleep and mood disorders: An observational, retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of agomelatine for treating the sleep and mood disorders in epilepsy patients. METHODS: Retrospective data were derived from 113 epilepsy patients for at least 8 weeks. All the subjects were divided into two groups, one was treated with agomelatine, the other was treated with escitalopram. Their depression and anxiety states were assessed by Hamilton Depression (HAMD) and Hamilton Anxiety (HAMA) Scales. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). RESULTS: The HAMA, HAMD and PSQI scores in both groups significantly declined after the treatments with agomelatine and escitalopram. However, the agomelatine group exhibited greater improvement in terms of HAMA and PSQI scores compared to the escitalopram group. No severe adverse events were observed in agomelatine group. SIGNIFICANCE: Agomelatine performed better in HAMA and PSQI scores compared to escitalopram, where no significant increase in seizure frequency or side effects were observed. Possibly, agomelatine presents a promising therapeutic option for treating the sleep or mood disorders in epilepsy patients.

Status and influencing factors of illness perception in atrial fibrillation patients during blanking period after pulmonary vein isolation and ablation / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To investigate atrial fibrillation patients′illness perception during the blanking period after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and to analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide a reference for improving patients′cognition of the disease and speeding up the rehabilitation process.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional survey. Convenience sampling method was adopted to select 320 patients with atrial fibrillation who were reexamined in the outpatient department during the blanking period after PVI from Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from Auguest 2022 to May 2023 as the research subjects. The General Information Questionnaire, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and the Control Attitudes Scale-Revised (CAS-R) were used for on-site investigation.Results:Totally 320 patients were included in this study, including 177 males and 143 females, aged (61.64 ± 10.74) years old. The total score of BIPQ was (42.98 ± 10.49) points, the total score of CAS-R was (27.20 ± 5.65) points. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, resting heart rate, postoperative course, and perceived control were the influencing factors of illness perception ( F = 25.24, P<0.05). Conclusions:The illness perception of atrial fibrillation patients during the blanking period after PVI needs to be improved urgently. Medical staff should pay more attention to patients with old age, fast resting heart rate, short postoperative course, and low perceived control, and take effective measures to reduce negative illness perception and promote postoperative rehabilitation.

Rapid Screening of 34 Emerging Contaminants in Surface Water by UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS / 法医学杂志

Objective To establish a rapid screening method for 34 emerging contaminants in surface water by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS).Methods The pretreatment conditions of solid phase extraction(SPE)were op-timized by orthogonal experimental design and the surface water samples were concentrated and ex-tracted by Oasis? HLB and Oasis? MCX SPE columns in series.The extracts were separated by Kine-tex? EVO C18 column,with gradient elution of 0.1%formic acid aqueous solution and 0.1%formic acid methanol solution.Q-TOF-MS'fullscan'and'targeted MS/MS'modes were used to detect 34 emerging contaminants and to establish a database with 34 emerging contaminants precursor ion,prod-uct ion and retention times.Results The 34 emerging contaminants exhibited good linearity in the con-centration range respectively and the correlation coefficients(r)were higher than 0.97.The limit of de-tection was 0.2-10 ng/L and the recoveries were 81.2%-119.2%.The intra-day precision was 0.78%-18.70%.The method was applied to analyze multiple surface water samples and 6 emerging contaminants were detected,with a concentration range of 1.93-157.71 ng/L.Conclusion The method is simple and rapid for screening various emerging contaminants at the trace level in surface water.

Role of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes in diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with a diameter of 40-100 nm, which contain a variety of functionally active substances such as proteins, microRNAs, and they are transported into the cell via different pathways. Studies have confirmed that exosomes slow down the progression of diabetic retinopathy by modifying changes in the levels of cell proliferation/apoptosis factors, antioxidant regulatory factors, inflammatory factors, and vascular endothelial growth factor in different ways, including direct regulation and delivery of different miRNAs, long-chained noncoding RNAs, which in turn inhibit high-glucose-induced retinal inflammation, neovascularization, microvascular damage, and vascular leakage and other retinal injuries caused by high glucose. This review summarizes the basic characteristics of exosomes and their research progress in diabetic retinopathy.

Effect of Modified Simiaosan on miR-223-3p and NLRP3/IL-1β Signaling Pathway in Rats with Acute Gouty Arthritis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of modified Simiaosan on miR-223-3p and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3）/interleukin-1β （IL-1β） signaling pathway in rat model with acute gouty arthritis （AGA） and explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of modified Simiaosan on AGA. MethodA total of 72 8-week-old male SD rats were selected. They were divided into blank group， model group， colchicine group （0.3 mg·kg-1）， high-dose modified Simiaosan group （31.75 g·kg-1）， medium-dose modified Simiaosan group （15.75 g·kg-1）， and low-dose modified Simiaosan group （7.875 g·kg-1） according to random number table method， with 12 rats in each group. Except for the blank group， monosodium urate （MSU） crystal suspension was injected into the right ankle joint of rats by the Coderre method in other groups to replicate the rat model with AGA. The drug administration groups were given the corresponding drug solution by gavage， and the model group and the blank group were given an equal volume of sterile sodium chloride solution by gavage for one week. The circumference of the rats' ankle joint was measured， and the swelling degree of the ankle joint was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to detect the pathological morphological changes in the synovial tissue of the ankle joint. The levels of IL-1β， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in the serum of rats in each group were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and apoptosis-related spot-like protein （ASC） in synovial tissue of rats in each group， and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and ASC and the expression of miR-223-3p in synovial tissue of rats. ResultCompared with that in the normal group， the swelling degree of the ankle joint in the model group was higher （P<0.01）， and the synovial tissue structure was disordered. Synovial cells proliferated obviously， and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated. The levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum of the model group increased significantly （P<0.01）， and the protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and ASC increased， while expression of miR-223-3 decreased. Compared with the model group， the swelling degree of ankle joint in the colchicine group and high-dose and medium-dose modified Simiaosan groups was lower （P<0.05）. Synovial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration of the colchicine group and high-dose， medium-dose， and low-dose modified Simiaosan groups were reduced to varying degrees， among which the colchicine group and high-dose modified Simiaosan group improved most obviously. The levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the serum of rats in different dose groups of modified Simiaosan and colchicine group decreased significantly （P<0.01）， while the protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and ASC increased （P<0.01）. The expression of miR-223-3p in synovial tissue of the medium-dose and high-dose modified Simiaosan groups and colchicine group increased significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the colchicine group， the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the low-dose modified Simiaosan group increased greatly （P<0.01）. In the medium-dose modified Simiaosan group， the protein expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and ASC increased， and the expression of miR-223-3p decreased （P<0.05）. In the low-dose modified Simiaosan group， the levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α increased greatly （P<0.01）， as well as the protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3， Caspase-1， and ASC， while the expression of miR-223-3p was decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionModified Simiaosan may play an anti-inflammatory role by intervening in the NLRP3/IL-1β signaling pathway via regulating miR-223-3p.

Preparation methods,advantages,and disadvantages of cartilage scaffold materials / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Scaffold materials serve as platforms that provide space and structure,playing a crucial role in the regeneration of cartilage tissue.Scholars from around the world are exploring different approaches to fabricate more ideal scaffold materials. OBJECTIVE:To review the design principles and preparation methods of cartilage scaffolds,and to further explore the advantages and limitations of various preparation methods. METHODS:Literature searches were conducted on the databases of CNKI,WanFang Data,PubMed,and FMRS from 1998 to 2023.The search terms were"cartilage repair,cartilage tissue engineering,cartilage scaffold materials,preparation"in Chinese and English.A total of 57 articles were ultimately reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The articular cartilage has a unique structure and limited self-repair capacity after injury.Even if self-repair occurs,the newly formed cartilage is typically fibrocartilage,which is far inferior to normal articular cartilage in terms of structure and mechanical properties.It is difficult to maintain normal function and often leads to degenerative changes.Currently,the design and fabrication of scaffold materials for cartilage repair need to consider the following aspects:biocompatibility and biodegradability,suitable pore structure and porosity,appropriate mechanical properties,and bioactivity.(2)Research on the preparation of cartilage scaffolds has made significant progress,continuously introducing new preparation methods and optimization strategies.These methods have their advantages and disadvantages,providing more possibilities for customized preparation and functional design of cartilage scaffolds according to specific requirements.

Effects of biomechanics on biological characteristics of osteoblasts / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Bone formation is the process by which osteoblasts synthesize and secrete osteoid and promote its mineralization,which generally involves mechanical signal transduction.Osteoblasts are primarily regulated by mechanical factors such as gravity,compressive stress,tensile stress,fluid shear stress,and hydrostatic pressure in vivo,and different mechanical stimuli modulate the proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis of osteoblasts through various mechanisms,including hormones,cytoskeletal proteins,and microRNAs.By clarifying the effects of biomechanical forces on osteoblasts,it provides ideas and a reference basis for the treatment of osteometabolic diseases involving osteoblasts. OBJECTIVE:To review the effects of different biomechanical forces on the biological characteristics of osteoblasts. METHODS:We conducted a literature search using PubMed,Web of Science,FMRS,CNKI,and WanFang databases for relevant publications published from 2000 to 2023,covering basic research and tissue engineering studies related to the effects of biomechanical forces on osteoblasts.Ultimately,a total of 70 articles were reviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Different biomechanical forces have an impact on the biological characteristics of osteoblasts,including proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis,and these effects are dependent on the intensity and duration of the applied force.Specifically,the effects are as follows:(1)Under microgravity conditions,osteoblast proliferation and differentiation are inhibited,resulting in a decrease in bone density and the development of osteoporosis.(2)Compared to microgravity,hypergravity has a promoting effect on osteoblast proliferation.(3)The effects of compressive stress on osteoblasts are dependent on the loading intensity and time.Appropriate compressive stress can promote osteoblast proliferation and differentiation,which is beneficial for bone tissue formation and repair,while excessive compressive stress can cause osteoblast apoptosis and bone tissue destruction.(4)The biological effects of different types of tensile stress on osteoblasts differ.Studies have shown that a strain rate within the range of 0-12%has a promoting effect on osteoblast proliferation.(5)Fluid shear stress can promote osteoblast proliferation and differentiation and enhance the bone-inducing effect of biomaterials.(6)Static hydrostatic pressure can affect the biological behavior of osteoblasts,including proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis,and these effects are closely related to the time and intensity of the pressure.Understanding the effects of different biomechanical forces on osteoblasts is of great significance for a deeper understanding of bone growth and maintenance mechanisms.

Effects of Bushen formulae on bone metabolism and ENaCα,NCC and ClC-3 expression in ovariectomized rats with high salt intake / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the effect of Bushen formulae(BHF)on bone metabolism and its possible mechanism in ovariectomized rats with high salt intake.METHODS:According to the random number table method,80 SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group,ovariectomy(OVX)group,medium-high-salt diet(MSD)group,high-salt diet(HSD)group,BHF group,BHF with normal saline(BHF+NS)group,BHF+MSD group,and BHF+ HSD group,with 10 rats in each group.After modeling,different diets and BHF formula interventions were administered,and the concentrations of sodium chloride added to MSD group and HSD group were 2%(w/w)and 8%(w/w),respective-ly.The dose of BHF was 7.8 g·kg-1·d-1,once a day,and the treatment lasted for 12 weeks.Bone density,bone microar-chitecture,bone parameters,bone metabolism biomarkers,bone histopathological changes,the expression of epithelial sodium channel α(ENaCα),Na-Cl cotransporter(NCC),and voltage-gated chloride channel 3(ClC-3)proteins in bone tissue were detected in each group.RESULTS:Compared with sham group,the rats in OVX group had reduced bone density and destroyed bone microstructure.Compared with OVX group,the bone microstructure in MSD and HSD groups was more significantly damaged,while the levels of bone formation markers,bone glycoprotein(BGP)and type Ⅰ procolla-gen N-terminal peptide(PINP),were significantly increased in HSD group(P<0.05).Moreover,the levels of bone re-sorption markers,such as amino-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(NTX),carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(CTX)and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRACP),were significantly in-creased(P<0.05),indicating that bone metabolism was in high-conversion state.High-salt diet accelerated the structural destruction of bone trabeculae,and Western blot results showed that high-salt diet caused decreases in the protein expres-sion levels of ENaCα and ClC-3 and an increase in the protein expression level of NCC in femoral tissues(P<0.05).After BHF intervention,the expression of relevant ion channels caused by high salt could be regulated to different degrees.CONCLUSION:Bushen formulae could differentially regulate the expression of relevant ion channels ENaCα,ClC-3,and NCC induced by high salt to different degrees,which has certain ameliorative and therapeutic effects on the imbalance of bone metabolism.

Investigation,traceability analysis,and discussion of food poisoning caused by Salmonella typhimurium ST19 / 中国人兽共患病学报

To perform a comprehensive analysis of the pathogenic causes of a food poisoning case in a district of Wuhan Cit-y,we investigated the molecular epidemiological relationships among pathogenic bacteria,to aid in traceability analysis of food-borne disease outbreaks,as well as clinical diagnosis and treatment.The pathogenic bacteria in this food poisoning case were i-solated and identified according to GB789.4-2016.The isolated strains were subjected to genotyping with pulsed field gel elec-trophoresis(PFGE).Drug resistance gene analysis,multi-locus sequence typing(MLST),and genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis(wgSNP)were conducted via whole genome sequencing(WGS).The evolutionary tree for cluster analy-sis was constructed in fasttree software.Drug susceptibility testing was conducted with the broth microdilution method.A total of 12 strains of Salmonella were detected in seven anal swab samples and two fecal samples from the case,as well as three anal swab samples from unaffected individuals.The serotype of the strains was Salmonella typhimurium.The strain exhibited severe multiple drug resistance,including resistance to amikacin,ampi-cillin,cefazolin,gentamicin,piperacillin,and tetracycline,but susceptibility to other antibiotics.The coincidence rate between drug resistance genes and drug resistance phenotypes was high.PFGE revealed that nine strains from this food poisoning case were highly homologous.WGS revealed that the MLST type was ST19,and varying numbers of SNPs(1-6)were present a-mong strains.The phylogenetic tree revealed nine isolated strains forming a distinct cluster,differing from other Salmonella strains in the database and belonging to a novel clonal branch.The single nucleotide site in the strains was highly homologous to that of GCF in Jiangxi_020221795.1.The food poisoning case was caused by Salmonella typhimurium ST19,and all nine iso-lated strains originated from the same source.The chef is closely connected to this food poisoning case.This strain of Salmo-nella typhimurium belongs to a new clonal branch and exhibits multiple drug resistance.

Effect of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone on apoptosis, autophagy, and the release and reception of some steroid hormones in yak granulosa cells through miR-23a/ASK1 axis.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), miR-23a, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), autophagy and apoptosis play crucial roles in follicular development. However, their role in yak granulosa cells (GCs) remains unknown. Therefore, we examined the effect of miR-23a, ASK1, FSH, and LH on apoptosis, autophagy, and the release and reception of some steroid hormones in these cells. Our results showed that miR-23a overexpression significantly increased the abundance of Beclin1, the LC3II/I ratio, and the number of Ad-mRFP-GFP-LC3-labeled autophagosomes, and decreased p62 abundance. Additionally, Bax abundance and the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxynucleotide triphosphate nick end labeling-positive cells were reduced, while Bcl2 expression was increased. Overexpression of miR-23a also significantly increased the abundance of estradiol receptor α (ER-α) and ß (ER-ß) and the concentrations of estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4) in yak GCs. Here, treating yak GCs with miR-23a decreased ASK1 expression, which regulates ASK1/JNK-mediated apoptosis, autophagy, E2 and P4 levels, and ER-α/ß abundance. In contrast, treatment of yak GCs with FSH (10 µg/mL) and LH (100 µg/mL) increased miR-23a abundance, regulating the subsequent effect on ASK1/JNK-mediated apoptosis, autophagy, ER-α/ß abundance, and E2 and P4 concentrations. In conclusion, miR-23a enhances autophagy in yak GCs, attenuates apoptosis, and increases ER-α/ß abundance and E2 and P4 concentrations by downregulating ASK1. Additionally, FSH and LH can regulate these effects of miR-23a by altering its expression. These results provide important insights that can inform the development of strategies to reduce abnormal follicular atresia and improve the reproductive rate of yaks.

Analysis of the heavy metal contents' effect on steroidal saponins and the anti-breast cancer activity of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Background: P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, as a near-threatened and ethnic medicine in China, used to be a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine in treatment of traumatic injuries, sore throat, snakebites, and convulsions for thousands of years. However, there were no reports on the inverse relationship between the contents of heavy metals and saponins and its anti-breast cancer pharmacological activity in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Methods: The present study aimed to reveal the characteristics of heavy metal contents and saponins and its anti-breast cancer pharmacological activity and their interrelationships in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from different production areas. The contents of heavy metal and steroidal saponins in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the high-performance liquid chromatography technique, respectively. The Pearson correlation was used to study the correlation between saponins and heavy metals. 4T1 mouse mammary tumor cells were selected and cultivated for antitumor studies in vitro. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst staining, and flow cytometry analysis were used for the examination of the proliferation and apoptosis of 4T1 tumor cells. Mouse breast cancer 4T1 cells were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice to construct a tumor model to explore the in vivo inhibitory effect on breast cancer. TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry were used for the examination of the effect of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from different origins on cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis induction in 4T1 tumor mice. Results: Heavy metal contents were highly correlated with the content of steroidal saponins. The overall content of 10 metals in the three producing origins was of the order C3 >C2 >C1. The total content of eight steroidal saponins in the extracts of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from three different origins was C1 >C2 >C3. The Pearson correlation study showed that in all of the heavy metals, the contents of Cd and Ba were positively correlated with the main steroidal saponins in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis, while Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Zn, As, Hg, and Pb showed a negative correlation. In vitro experiments showed that the extracts of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from three origins could inhibit the proliferation and induce cell apoptosis of 4T1 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, especially in the C1 origin. In vivo experiments showed that the extract of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from the three origins could inhibit the growth of tumors and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells. In the three origins, C1 origin had the lowest total heavy metal level but the highest total steroidal saponin level. Therefore, it showed a better effect in reducing the expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Kiel 67 (Ki67) and increasing the expression of p53 in tumor tissues compared to the other origins. In conclusion, in the three origins, C1 origin exhibits antitumor pharmacological effects in vivo and in vitro which are better than those in the other origins. Conclusion: In this study, we found that with the increase of the heavy metal content, the content of steroid saponins and anti-breast cancer activity decreased. The results showed that the high content of the total heavy metals may not be conducive to the accumulation of steroidal saponins in P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis and lead to the low anti-breast cancer activity. The results of this study suggest that the content of heavy metals should be controlled in the artificial cultivation process of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

[Retracted] miR­206 inhibits cancer initiating cells by targeting EHF in gastric cancer.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that the colony formation assay data shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 8 were strikingly similar to data that had already appeared in another article written by different authors at different research institutes [Chen W, Wang J, Liu S, Wang S, Cheng Y, Zhou W, Duan C and Zhang C: MicroRNA­361­3p suppresses tumor cell proliferation and metastasis by directly targeting SH2B1 in NSCLC. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 35: 76, 732516, 2016]. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published prior to its submission to Oncology Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [Oncology Reports 38: 1688­1694, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5794].