Physically separated soil organic matter pools as indicators of carbon and nitrogen change under long-term fertilization in a Chinese Mollisol.

Isolation and quantification of soil organic matter (SOM) pools under the influence of management practices is needed for assessing the changes in soil fertility. However, the knowledge on how the active, slow and passive pools of SOM respond to long-term fertilization is scarce. Therefore, the present study was designed to isolate the active, slow, and passive pools of soil organic matter through physical fractionation under long-term fertilization. The treatments included; inorganic fertilization (NPK) either alone or combined with a normal dose of manure (MNPK) or a high dose of manure (1.5MNPK) with an unfertilized control (CK) for comparison. The isolated pools were analyzed and compared for their sizes, SOC and TN storage and their contribution to total SOC and TN sequestration. The results revealed that the fertilization enhanced the active, slow and passive pools of SOC and TN and their storage under applied treatments was patterned as 1.5MNK > MNPK > NPK > CK. The highest SOC and TN storage was observed in the active pool, while, greater response to fertilization (in terms of response ratio) was associated with the slow pool. Results show that fertilization enhanced the proportion of SOC and TN stocks to bulk SOC and TN stocks in active and slow pools, while a diminishing trend was found for passive pools. Moreover, the highest response ratio was found for TN sequestration in each pool as compared to SOC, suggesting preferential accumulation of TN over SOC in the studied soil. Nevertheless, the highest SOC and TN storage took place in the active pool. The slow pool showed greater response to applied fertilizer, with the highest values being observed under 1.5MNPK. This study concluded that long-term manure + inorganic fertilization is crucial for enhancing C and N sequestration by altering the size and response of SOM pools.

Efficacy of a four-curvature auxiliary arch at preventing maxillary central incisor linguoclination during orthodontic treatment: a finite element analysis.

BACKGROUND: Correct torque of the incisors is beneficial in the assessment of the effects of orthodontic treatment. However, evaluating this process effectively remains a challenge. Improper anterior teeth torque angle can cause bone fenestrations and exposure of the root surface. METHODS: A three-dimensional finite element model of the maxillary incisor torque controlled by a homemade four-curvature auxiliary arch was established. The four-curvature auxiliary arch placed on the maxillary incisors was divided into four different state groups, among which 2 groups had tooth extraction space retracted traction force set to 1.15 N. Initial displacements and pressure stresses of the periodontal tissue in the maxillary incisors and molars were calculated after torque forces (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 N) were applied to the teeth at different stable states. RESULTS: The effect of using the four-curvature auxiliary arch on the incisors was significant but did not affect the position of the molars. Given the absence of tooth extraction space, when the four-curvature auxiliary arch was used in conjunction with absolute anchorage, the recommended force value was < 1.5 N. In the other 3 groups (i.e., molar ligation, molar retraction, and microimplant retraction groups), the recommended force value was < 1 N. The application of a four-curvature auxiliary arch did not influence the molar periodontal and displacement. CONCLUSION: A four-curvature auxiliary arch may treat severely upright anterior teeth and correct cortical fenestrations of the bone and root surface exposure.

Stability of soil organic carbon under long-term fertilization: Results from 13C NMR analysis and laboratory incubation.

Long-term fertilization has shown a high relevance as regards soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, but the degree of stability of the sequestered SOC has not been widely studied up to now. Using physical fractionation combined with laboratory incubation and NMR spectroscopy, we evaluated the differences in SOC stability caused by long-term fertilization. Four SOC fractions were isolated and examined for contents and chemical composition and cumulative amount of CO2-C respired from the fractions under six fertilization treatments: control (CK); balanced inorganic fertilization (NPK); NPK combined with pig manure (MNPK); NPK combined 1.5 times of pig manure (1.5MNPK); and NPK combined with high amount of manure (M2NPK). The highest contents of SOC were recorded for the coarse particulate organic carbon (cPOC) fraction, ranging from 17.25 to 30.47 g kg-1 under CK and M2NPK. The highest cumulative amount of CO2-C was released from the cPOC fraction under manure treatments (M2NPK and 1.5NPKM), which was 56 and 43% higher than that from CK, whereas the lowest amount of CO2-C was released from the mineral associated-C (MOC) fraction under the same treatments, being 65 and 49% higher than that released from CK, suggesting low SOC stability in cPOC and high SOC stability in MOC fractions. However, manure treatments (M2NPK and 1.5NPKM) greatly lowered the specific amount of C-mineralized (C-mineralized per unit total SOC) in fractions and whole soil, suggesting the ability of manure to accumulate more SOC by reducing SOC losses. Moreover, carbonyl-C was found to be the form of SOC experiencing major degree of sequestration under current fertilization practices. The SOC stability indices; aromaticity index (AI), hydrophobicity index (HI) and alkyl-C/O-alkyl-C were found to be higher in manure treated plots further suggesting higher stability of SOC under manure addition. Thus, long-term manure combined with mineral fertilizers would enhance SOC stability through minimizing SOC losses and promoting accumulation of stable C forms in a Chinese Mollisol.

Prognosis of Neurological Improvement in Inpatient Acute Ischemic Stroke Survivors: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Stroke has become a national concern in China. Early prediction of stroke benefits patients and aids medical professionals in clinical decision making and rehabilitation plans to improve successful outcomes. To identify prediction factors influencing short-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based prospective observational study. Recovery of neurological improvement was represented by a percent reduction in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at discharge. We performed propensity score matching (PSM) to balance the NIHSS at admission and compared NIHSS scores before and after matching with PSM criteria. Finally, we assessed the prognosis of neurological improvement and patient-related variables. RESULTS: In the matched cohort, 92 pairs were matched by NIHSS admission after PSM. Modified Barthel Index, modified Rankin scale, NIHSS on admission, hypertension, sleep time, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were statistically different between the two groups (P<0.05) before matching. Multivariable analysis identified two factors independently associated with neurological improvement: diabetes (P=0.030; adjusted odds ratio, 2.129; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.078-4.026) and MoCA (P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio, 5.385; 95% CI 2.278-12.730). CONCLUSION: Consistent with previous studies, diabetes affected the short-term outcomes of AIS, while cognitive impairment had a negative effect on long-term AIS prognosis.Diabetes and early cognitive impairment have adverse effects on short-term prognosis after AIS.

Analysis of risk factors leading to postoperative urethral stricture and bladder neck contracture following transurethral resection of prostate.

PURPOSE: To determine risk factors of postoperative urethral stricture (US) and vesical neck contracture (BNC) after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) from perioperative parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 373 patients underwent TURP in a Chinese center for lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (LUTS/BPO), with their perioperative and follow-up clinical data being collected. Univariate analyses were used to determine variables which had correlation with the incidence of US and BNC before logistic regression being applied to find out independent risk factors. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 29.3 months with the incidence of US and BNC being 7.8% and 5.4% respectively. Resection speed, reduction in hemoglobin (ΔHb) and hematocrit (ΔHCT) levels, incidence of urethral mucosa rupture, re-catheterization and continuous infection had significant correlation with US, while PSA level, storage score, total prostate volume (TPV), transitional zone volume (TZV), transitional zone index (TZI), resection time and resected gland weight had significant correlation with BNC. Lower resection speed (OR=0.48), urethral mucosa rupture (OR=2.44) and continuous infection (OR=1.49) as well as higher storage score (OR=2.51) and lower TPV (OR=0.15) were found to be the independent risk factors of US and BNC respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Lower resection speed, intraoperative urethral mucosa rupture and postoperative continuous infection were associated with a higher risk of US while severer storage phase symptom and smaller prostate size were associated with a higher risk of BNC after TURP.

Synchrotron radiation (SR) diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) mode.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate microstructural changes in chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) rabbit model under diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) technology of synchrotron radiation (SR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) models were obtained within two months after 5 New Zealand white rabbits were treated with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Blood exams, urine tests and kidney histological studies were carried out after the 5 rabbits were humanely sacrificed by hyperanesthesia. The kidney tissues were fixed in 4% formalin for one week before DEI experiment, with another 5 normal rabbits used as the control group. The experiment was performed at Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF) with a 4W1A beam line (beam energy was 14keV). On routine scanning process, the rocking curve was detected, and slope position on the curve was selected to make a 360° spatial CT scan; DEI reconstruction software was used to generate a 3-dimensional image, from which the difference in grey value between the chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) group and the control group was measured and analyzed using MATLAB and SPSS. RESULT: Without radio-contrast, DEI provided clear visibility of the microstructures including artery, vein, straight collecting ducts, papillary tubules, glomeruli in both the chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) group and the control group, with a spatial resolution as low as 10µm. MATLAB grey value extraction and SPSS analysis showed that cortex of CGN group (91 to 112) lost more gray value compared to the control group (121 to 141), T tests P <  0.05. Equivalant cortical ROI (data points 450×80) quantitative analysis showed that gross grey value of CGN group (ranking from 55 to 160) was smaller than the control group (ranking from 75 to 175). DEI images correlated well with pathologic images. Morphological changes in the microstructure of contstartabstractCGN kidney was revealed, due to the advantage of phase-contrast imaging (PCI) mechanism, and the diagnostic value of CGN by synchrotron radiation (SR) phase-contrast imaging (PCI) technology was evaluated. CONCLUSION: Synchrotron radiation (SR) diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) experiment makes non-contrast CGN diagnosis possible in the rabbit model studied. With improvement of laboratory equipment and image analyzer in clinical practice, diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI) could fundamentally become a new diagnostic method for CGN.

Optimization of the electrodeposition process of a polypyrrole/multi-walled carbon nanotube fiber electrode for a flexible supercapacitor.

In the large-scale production of flexible supercapacitors, given the poor interface stability and the low mass loading of functional films on the fiber electrode, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and constant current (CC) electrodeposition methods were adopted to prepare polypyrrole/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PPy/MWCNTs) on the surface of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) carbon cloth to explore the optimization process. The surface morphology and structural properties of the flexible electrode were characterized, and the electrical and electrochemical properties were studied. The research indicated that the PPy/MWCNTs were uniformly distributed on the fiber surface in the form of a linear structure and were amorphous and rich in carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen functional groups. A higher deposition current density helped improve the degree of coating of the MWCNTs with PPy and the number of oxygen-containing functional groups. The electrical and electrochemical properties of the flexible electrode prepared using the CC method were excellent; the electrochemical properties of the samples in the bent state were not significantly different from those in the straightened state. Using CC and CV methods, the conductivities of the samples were 32.4 S cm-1 and 24.1 S cm-1, the area-specific capacitance values were C 96.24 mF cm-2 and 46.18 mF cm-2 at a scan rate of 100 mV s-1, the equivalent series resistance R s values were 2.74 Ω and 4.67 Ω, the specific capacitance retention rates were 94.4% and 88.3% after 1000 cycles, and the capacitance retention rates were 89.7% and 80.6% after 5000 cycles, respectively. The differences in the performances of the flexible electrodes using the same preparation solvent and different preparation processes were due to the higher deposition current density of the CC method compared with that of CV. The former enhanced the polymerization degree of the PPy/MWCNT flexible electrode and improved the electrochemical performance. The presented research results are significant for the optimization of large-scale production processes.

Short Sleep Duration as a Risk Factor for Depression, Anxiety and Fatigue in Patients with Leukemia.

Objective: Our study aimed to investigate the level of depression, anxiety, and fatigue in patients with leukemias, and analyze the influence of sleep duration on the mental symptoms of patients with leukemias. Methods: A total of 127 patients were enrolled in our study and completed the questionnaire survey. Self-Assessment Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Assessment Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Fatigue Scale-14 (FS-14) were adopted. The patient's lifestyle information, including exercise, alcohol abuse, and smoking, was obtained from the patient's self-report. Results: Depression score of patients with sleep duration >8 hours (long duration group) was 56.21±11.63, which was significantly lower than that of patients sleep duration between 6 and 8 hours (medium duration group) with 59.61±8.77 and patients sleep <6 hours (short duration group) with 64.82±6.42 (P = 0.007). Similarly, the anxiety score of long duration group, medium duration group and short duration group was 45.36±11.41, 48.26±6.96 and 53.53±5.87, respectively (P = 0.005). The fatigue score of short duration group is 8.47±2.45, which is higher than others (P = 0.046). To further identify the relationship, we evaluated physical fatigue and mental fatigue levels in patients with or without symptoms of depression. We found that patients with symptoms of depression have a higher score both in physical fatigue and mental fatigue (all p < 0.001). Similar trend was observed in patients with or without symptoms of anxiety (all p < 0.001). However, alzhough patients with leukemia in long duration group have the highest score of physical fatigue (p = 0.016), no significant difference in mental fatigue was found in different sleeping duration group (p = 0.587). Furthermore, multivariate analyses were conducted and revealed that sleep duration was the independent factor associated with depression (OR = 0.270, P = 0.003) and anxiety (OR = 0.473, P = 0.010). Conclusion: For leukemia patients with short sleep duration, a prompt evaluation of their level of depression, anxiety, and fatigue and the initiation of timely interventions is essential.

Modeling human hypertrophic scars with 3D preformed cellular aggregates bioprinting.

The therapeutic interventions of human hypertrophic scars (HHS) remain puzzle largely due to the lack of accepted models. Current HHS models are limited by their inability to mimic native scar architecture and associated pathological microenvironments. Here, we create a 3D functional HHS model by preformed cellular aggregates (PCA) bioprinting, firstly developing bioink from scar decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) and alginate-gelatin (Alg-Gel) hydrogel with suitable physical properties to mimic the microenvironmental factors, then pre-culturing patient-derived fibroblasts in this bioink to preform the topographic cellular aggregates for sequent printing. We confirm the cell aggregates preformed in bioink displayed well defined aligned structure and formed functional scar tissue self-organization after bioprinting, hence showing the potential of creating HHS models. Notably, these HHS models exhibit characteristics of early-stage HHS in gene and protein expression, which significantly activated signaling pathway related to inflammation and cell proliferation, and recapitulate in vivo tissue dynamics of scar forming. We also use the in vitro and in vivo models to define the clinically observed effects to treatment with concurrent anti-scarring drugs, and the data show that it can be used to evaluate the potential therapeutic target for drug testing. The ideal humanized scar models we present should prove useful for studying critical mechanisms underlying HHS and to rapidly test new drug targets and develop patient-specific optimal therapeutic strategies in the future.

Combined treatment of etanercept and MTX reverses Th1/Th2, Th17/Treg imbalance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of Etanercept in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we investigated whether the Th1/Th2 and Th17/regulatory T cells (Treg) imbalance could be reversed by Etanercept and whether the reversal was related to the improvement of clinical indications. METHODS: We conducted a 12-week study in 40 active RA patients, of whom 20 were given a stable weekly dose of methotrexate (MTX) alone and the other ten received a combined therapy of Etanercept and MTX. Ten healthy donors were chosen as controls. Frequencies of Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg were quantified using flow cytometry, and related serum cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The composite 28-joint count Disease Activity Score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein were assessed at each visit. RESULTS: Percentages of IFN-γ(+)Th1 and IL-17(+)Th17 among CD4(+) T cells were significantly higher, while CD4(+)CD25(high)Foxp3(+) Treg were significantly lower in RA patients compared with those in healthy control. After 12 weeks of therapy of MTX single or combination of MTX and Etanercept, the circulating Th17/Treg ratio significantly decreased, while no significant difference was observed in Th1/Th2 ratio. In combined therapy group, the Th17/Treg ratio was positively correlated with the remittance of disease activity. IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-23 were significantly decreased, while TGF-ß was significantly elevated. The Th17/Treg ratio was positively related to TGF-ß, but negatively correlated with IL-6. CONCLUSION: Etanercept in combination with MTX ameliorates RA activity by normalizing the distribution of Th17 and Treg, and their related cytokines, which may partly explain the mechanism of combined therapy of Etanercept plus MTX in RA treatment.

Surgical resection and liposomal amphotericin B to treat cavitary pulmonary zygomycosis in a patient with diabetes.

We describe a 24-year-old man with type 1 diabetes mellitus and a cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe, caused by a zygomycete. Surgical resection plus liposomal amphotericin B therapy was successful. We discuss predisposing condition, clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment of pulmonary zygomycosis.

Prevalence and risk factors of peripheral arterial diseases in male Chinese octogenarians and nonagenarians with hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in male Chinese octogenarians and nonagenarians with hypertension. METHODS: Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured in the noninvasive vascular laboratory for hypertensive male octogenarians and nonagenarians enrolled from outpatient and inpatient departments. The baseline conditions were investigated using standard questionnaire and by routine physical examinations. PAD was diagnosed when an ABI≤0.9 in either lower extremity. RESULTS: Totally 290 male Chinese octogenarians and nonagenarians [age: (84.61±4.20) years] with hypertension who were receiving antihypertensive therapy were enrolled in this study, among whom 9 men with missing data except age and ABI measurements. The ABI was 0.948±0.258, with the range of highest frequency of 0.91-1.30, and 106 patients were diagnosed as PAD, 182 as non-PAD, and 2 had ABI>1.3. ABI in hypertensive men with PAD were significantly lower than in those without PAD (P<0.05). On the contrary, age, blood urea nitrogen, white blood cell counts, platelets and aspartic transaminase were significantly higher in PAD patients than in non-PAD patients (all P<0.05). The prevalence of PAD in this study population were 36.5%; more specifically, it significantly differed between different subgroups when stratified by age (28.6% vs. 46.3%, below and above 85 years), with and without hypertension (27.5% vs. 40.1%), stroke (44.7% vs. 27.5%), dyslipidemia (41.4% vs. 33.3%), coronary artery disease (44.1% vs. 13.9%), and diabetes mellitus (53.7% vs. 21.8%) (all P<0.05). The prevalences of PAD in hypertensive patients treated with diuretics, calcium antagonists, beta-blocker, or angiotensin receptor antagonist were 41.4%, 36.1%, 22.4%, and 26.8%, respectively. No association was observed between the prevalence of PAD and smoking/alcohol drinking in these subjects. Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR 1.12, 95%CI 1.014-1.238), blood urea nitrogen (OR 1.15, 95%CI 1.025-1.301), aspartic transaminase (OR 1.05, 95%CI 1.005-1.089), diabetes mellitus (OR 4.02, 95%CI 1.797-9.009), coronary artery disease (OR 6.34, 95%CI 1.734-23.214) were strong risk factors of PAD. CONCLUSION: PAD is highly prevalent among aged Chinese hypertensive men, in which age, blood urea nitrogen, aspartic transaminase, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease may be involved in the development of this condition.

Severe skeletal bimaxillary protrusion treated with micro-implants and a self-made four-curvature torquing auxiliary: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Bimaxillary protrusion is a clinically common dentofacial deformity, particularly among Chinese patients. This kind of malformation can severely affect facial esthetics and, even in mild cases, is difficult to correct without surgery. Unfortunately, many patients abandon treatment because of fear of surgery. Here, we describe a case of severe skeletal bimaxillary protrusion treated with nonsurgical orthodontic treatments, highlighting an alternative treatment option. CASE SUMMARY: A 31-year-old woman wished to address a severe protrusion profile (approximately 8 mm overbite) and gummy smile. Cephalometric analysis and superimposition showed a severe skeletal class II pattern with a mandibular retrusion, and proclined and protrusive mandibular incisors. Panoramic radiograph showed a missing mandibular right third molar. A diagnosis of severe bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion was made. Taking into account the patient's fear of orthognathic surgery, she accepted the proposed alternative treatment using micro-implants and a self-made four-curvature torquing auxiliary. The treatment allowed for maximal en masse anterior tooth retraction, proper relocation of incisors, and alleviation of the skeletal class II pattern. Esthetically, the patient's lip protrusion was significantly decreased as was the overjet (from 10.5 mm to 1.8 mm), and the results remained stable throughout the 2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Nonsurgical treatment using micro-implants and a four-curvature torquing auxiliary may benefit severe cases of skeletal bimaxillary protrusion in adults.

Association of Dnmt3a and thymine DNA glycosylase links DNA methylation with base-excision repair.

While methylcytosines serve as the fifth base encoding epigenetic information, they are also a dangerous endogenous mutagen due to their intrinsic instability. Methylcytosine undergoes spontaneous deamination, at a rate much higher than cytosine, to generate thymine. In mammals, two repair enzymes, thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG) and methyl-CpG binding domain 4 (MBD4), have evolved to counteract the mutagenic effect of methylcytosines. Both recognize G/T mismatches arising from methylcytosine deamination and initiate base-excision repair that corrects them to G/C pairs. However, the mechanism by which the methylation status of the repaired cytosines is restored has remained unknown. We show here that the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a interacts with TDG. Both the PWWP domain and the catalytic domain of Dnmt3a are able to mediate the interaction with TDG at its N-terminus. The interaction affects the enzymatic activity of both proteins: Dnmt3a positively regulates the glycosylase activity of TDG, while TDG inhibits the methylation activity of Dnmt3a in vitro. These data suggest a mechanistic link between DNA repair and remethylation at sites affected by methylcytosine deamination.

The biological function and mechanism of IDH1 gene in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cell HuCCT1 / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the role and possible molecular mechanism of Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1)gene in proliferation and migration of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(iCCA)cell HuCCT1.Methods HuCCT1 cells with IDH1 gene knockout(HuCCT1IDH1-/-)were constructed by CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology.To investigate the capacities of proliferation,migration and invasion of HuCCT1WT(HuCCT1 cells with wild-type IDH1 gene)and HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells,assays of CCK-8,clone formation,scratch and transwell were performed.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)associated proteins E-cadherin,N-cadherin,Vimentin,MMP-9,Wnt3a and β-catenin in two groups of cells.The transcriptome sequencing data of HuCCT1WT and HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells were analyzed by bioinformatics methods,Western blotting was used to verify the expression of signaling pathway-related proteins.Results Compared with HuCCT1WT cells,HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells showed the number of proliferation and clone formation significantly reduced(P<0.05),the proportion of cells blocked in G2/M phase was significantly increased(P<0.01),the rate of scratch healing was significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the number of migrated cells(P<0.001)and invaded cells(P<0.05)was significantly reduced.qRT-PCR assay showed that the expression levels of IDH1,Vimentin,MMP-9 and genes related to the regulation of G2/M cycle proliferation,Cyclin A2,Cyclin B1 and CDK1 mRNA were down-regulated in HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells(P<0.05),and the expression of CDH1 mRNA encoding E-cadherin was up-regulated(P<0.01);Western blotting assay showed that the expression level of E-cadherin in HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells was significantly increased(P<0.05),and the expression level of N-cadherin,Vimentin and MMP-9 protein was significantly decreased(P<0.05)than that in HuCCT1WT cells.Data of transcriptome sequencing revealed 1476 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between two groups of HuCCT1 cells.Go enrichment analysis showed the DEGs were significantly enriched in cell biological processes associated with inflammatory response,cell signaling and cell metabolism.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis suggested that the DEGs may be involved in some signaling pathways such as Wnt,MAPK,Rap1,Hippo and TNF,which are closely related to the regulation of proliferation and invasion of tumor cells.Western blotting verification results showed that compared with HuCCT1WT cells,the relative expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin proteins of HuCCT1IDH1-/-cells was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions IDH1 gene may participate in the control of biological functions of HuCCT1 cells,including cell proliferation,migration,invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition.The mechanism may be related to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Construction and application of a management process for enteral nutrition-associated diarrhea in postoperative esophageal cancer patients / 中华护理杂志

Objective To explore the application effect of enteral nutrition-related diarrhea in postoperative esophageal cancer patients.Methods Based on literature search and expert meeting,a management process for enteral nutrition-associated diarrhea in postoperative esophageal cancer patients was constructed.A convenience sampling method was used to select a total of 68 patients with enteral nutrition-related diarrhea after esophageal cancer surgery admitted to the thoracic surgery department of a tertiary A cancer hospital in Jiangsu Province.Among them,patients admitted from January 2022 to December 2022 were set as an experimental group.The experimental group was implemented the management process for enteral nutrition-associated diarrhea in postoperative esophageal cancer patients.Those admitted from January 2021 to December 2021 were set as a control group with routine nursing.Then,the time of stopping diarrhea,the King's of Stool Chart(KSC-Tr)diarrhea score,and abnormal incidence of nutrition-related indexes,electrolytes abnormalities(low sodium,low potassium,and low calcium)were compared between 2 groups.Results The time of stopping diarrhea,KSC diarrhea score after 3 days of intervention and the time to achieve target feeding volume of the experimental group were lower than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in hemoglobin,albumin,prealbumin after 3 days of intervention,the incidence of electrolyte abnormalities(low sodium,low potassium,and low calcium)after 3 days of intervention,and the BMI index after 7 days of intervention between 2 groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion The management process for enteral nutrition-associated diarrhea in postoperative esophageal cancer patients can reduce the time of diarrhea,improve the severity of diarrhea,and shorten the time to achieve the target feeding,but has no significant change in the incidence of electrolyte abnormalities.

Advances in antitumor research of bifunctional small molecule inhibitors targeting heat shock protein 90 / 药学学报

The heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) protein family is a cluster of highly conserved molecules that play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Hsp90 and its co-chaperones regulate a variety of pathways and cellular functions, such as cell growth, cell cycle control and apoptosis. Hsp90 is closely associated with the occurrence and development of tumors and other diseases, making it an attractive target for cancer therapeutics. Inhibition of Hsp90 expression can affect multiple oncogenic pathways simultaneously. Most Hsp90 small molecule inhibitors are in clinical trials due to their low efficacy, toxicity or drug resistance, but they have obvious synergistic anti-tumor effect when used with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, tubulin inhibitors or topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitors. To address this issue, the design of Hsp90 dual-target inhibitors can improve efficacy and reduce drug resistance, making it an effective tumor treatment strategy. In this paper, the domain and biological function of Hsp90 are briefly introduced, and the design, discovery and structure-activity relationship of Hsp90 dual inhibitors are discussed, in order to provide reference for the discovery of novel Hsp90 dual inhibitors and clinical drug research from the perspective of medicinal chemistry.

Implantation of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (ADSCs)-Lining Prosthetic Graft Promotes Vascular Regeneration in Monkeys and Pigs

BACKGROUND@#Current replacement procedures for stenosis or occluded arteries using prosthetic grafts have serious limitations in clinical applications, particularly, endothelialization of the luminal surface is a long-standing unresolved problem.METHOD: We produced a cell-based hybrid vascular graft using a bioink engulfing adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ADSCs) and a 3D bioprinting process lining the ADSCs on the luminal surface of GORE-Tex grafts. The hybrid graft was implanted as an interposition conduit to replace a 3-cm-long segment of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in Rhesus monkeys. @*RESULTS@#Complete endothelium layer and smooth muscle layer were fully developed within 21 days post-implantation, along with normalized collagen deposition and crosslinking in the regenerated vasculature in all monkeys. The regenerated blood vessels showed normal functionality for the longest observation of more than 1650 days. The same procedure was also conducted in miniature pigs for the interposition replacement of a 10-cm-long right iliac artery and showed the same long-term effective and safe outcome. @*CONCLUSION@#This cell-based vascular graft is ready to undergo clinical trials for human patients.

Value of total bilirubin rebound rate and total bilirubin clearance rate in evaluating the prognosis of severe drug-induced liver injury after artificial liver support therapy / 临床肝胆病杂志

Objective To investigate the value of total bilirubin rebound rate (TBRR), total bilirubin clearance rate (TBCR), and TBCR after 1 week of treatment (ΔTBCR) in evaluating the short-term prognosis of patients with severe drug-induced liver injury (DILI) after artificial liver support therapy. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 203 patients with severe DILI who received artificial liver support therapy in Tianjin Third Central Hospital from September 2013 to December 2021, and general information, biochemical parameters, and clinical classification were collected. The patients were divided into improved group and unhealed group according to the prognosis at discharge, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, TBRR, TBCR, and ΔTBCR were calculated. The independent samples t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to investigate the value of assessment indices in predicting the prognosis of patients, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to investigate the difference in the length of hospital stay in the context of different assessment indices. Results Compared with the unhealed group, the improved group had significantly lower age ( t =-2.762, P < 0.05), white blood cell count ( Z =-3.184, P < 0.05), total bilirubin ( t =-2.809, P < 0.05), conjugated bilirubin ( t =-2.739, P < 0.05), international normalized ratio ( Z =-2.357, P < 0.05), MELD score ( t =-3.090, P < 0.05), and TBRR ( t =-4.749, P < 0.05), as well as significantly higher albumin ( t =2.198, P < 0.05), prothrombin time activity ( t =2.018, P < 0.05), TBCR ( t =2.166, P < 0.05), and ΔTBCR ( t =9.549, P < 0.05). MELD score, TBRR, TBCR, and ΔTBCR had an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.656, 0.727, 0.611, and 0.879, respectively, and ΔTBCR had a better predictive value than TBRR ( Z =3.169, P =0.001 5). The optimal cut-off value was 22.5% for TBRR (with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 45.2%) and 27.4% for ΔTBCR (with a sensitivity of 77.7% and a specificity of 86.5%). ΔTBCR showed a good predictive value in different clinicopathological types, with extremely high sensitivity (91.4%) and specificity (100.0%) in evaluating the treatment outcome of patients with mixed-type DILI after artificial liver support therapy. Conclusion TBRR and ΔTBCR have a higher value than MELD score in evaluating the short-term prognosis of patients with severe DILI after artificial liver support therapy, among which ΔTBCR has a higher predictive value.