OBJECTIVE: To study the durability of the anti-demineralization effects of fluoride varnish after being applied to dental root surfaces. METHODS: Coronal and radicular dentin samples were prepared from extracted human teeth. Duraphat^® (DP) was applied to the dentine surfaces to form a protective film. The film-dentin interfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the fluoride element was analyzed with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Thus, the differences between applying DP on crowns and roots were compared. Radicular dentin samples were prepared and randomly divi-ded into four groups: (1) Blank: DP was not applied, and demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (2) Blank+aging: DP was not applied, the samples were put into deionized water for 14 days at room temperature, and then demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (3) DP: DP was applied and demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (4) DP+aging: DP was applied, the samples were put into deionized water for 14 days at room temperature, and then demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days. Finally, SEM observation and EDS analysis of fluoride content were performed on film-dentin interfaces to evaluate the degree of demineralization, the morphology of DP film, and the penetration of fluorine. RESULTS: The immediate penetration depth of fluoride element from DP was deeper in the coronal dentin than that in radicular dentin. The samples in the blank and blank+aging groups demine-ralized significantly after acid etching. The DP group did not undergo demineralization, and the fluorine element penetrated to (76.00±8.94) μm below the interfaces. The structure of the protective film in the DP+aging group was damaged, but the underneath dentin did not undergo demineralization. The fluorine element still remained at a depth of (5.00±3.53) μm below the interfaces. CONCLUSION DP has an anti-demineralization effect on the root surface, and this effect can still be exerted for a period of time after losing the structure of protective film. It has the ability to prevent root caries and a certain durability.
Humans ; Tooth Root/drug effects* ; Fluorides, Topical/pharmacology* ; Tooth Demineralization/prevention & control* ; Dentin/drug effects* ; Fluorides ; In Vitro Techniques ; Cariostatic Agents/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological activity and antitumor effect of pegylated recombinant human interleukin 2 (PEG-rhIL-2) obtained by site-specific conjugation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) with non-natural amino acids, and to explore its antitumor mechanism. METHODS: The binding activities of PEG-rhIL-2 at three different sites (T41, Y45, and V91) to human interleukin 2 receptors α (IL-2R_α) and β (IL-2R_β) and were detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Western blot was used to detect the levels of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (JAK-STAT5) signaling pathway activated by different doses of rhIL-2 and PEG-rhIL-2 in CTTL-2 and YT cells. Blood was collected after a single administration in mice to detect the drug concentration at different time points and evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2. Mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1-6, pancreatic cancer cell line Pan-02, and colon cancer cell line MC-38 were selected. Tumor models were constructed in C57BL/6 mice. Different doses of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 and excipient control were administrated respectively to evaluate the tumor suppression effect of the drug. In the MC-38 colon cancer model, the tumor suppression effect of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 combined with anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody was evaluated. Hepa1-6 mouse tumor models were constructed and rhIL-2, Y45-rhIL-2 and Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 were administrated respectively. The proportion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The SPR detection results showed that the binding activities of PEG-rhIL-2 to IL-2R_α/IL-2R_β were both reduced. The affinity of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 to IL-2R_α was reduced to approximately 1/250, and its affinity to IL-2R_β was reduced to 1/3. Western blot results showed that the activity of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 in stimulating JAK-STAT5 signaling in CTLL-2 cells expressing heterotrimeric IL-2 receptor complex IL-2R_αβγwas reduced to approximately 1/300, while its activity in YT cells expressing heterodimeric IL-2 receptor complex IL-2R_βγwas reduced to approximately 1/3. The pharmacokinetic evaluation after a single dose in the mice showed that the elimination half-life of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 was 17.7 h. Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 has pharmacokinetic characteristics superior to those of rhIL-2. Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 showed dose-dependent tumor suppression activity, and the combination of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 and anti-PD-1 antibody had a better tumor-inhibiting effect than the single use of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 or anti-PD-1 antibody. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 72 h after the administration of Y45-PEG-rhIL-2, the proportion of tumor-infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8⁺T cells) increased by 86.84%. At 120 h after administration, the ratio of CD8⁺T cells to regulatory T cells (Treg) increased by 75.10%. CONCLUSION Y45-PEG-rhIL-2 obtained by site-specific conjugation via non-natural amino acids changed its receptor binding activity and inhibited tumor growth in dose-dependent manner in multiple tumor models by regulating CD8⁺T cells.
Interleukin-2/pharmacokinetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology* ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacokinetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; STAT5 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Interleukin-2 Receptor beta Subunit/metabolism*

Osteonecrosis of the mandible is also called avascular necrosis of the jaw, and it is a rare complication of bisphosphonates. It is characterized with pain, swelling, exposure of bone, local infection and pathologic fractures of the jaw. With the widespread usage of bisphosphonates in bone metastasis of malignant tumors and osteoporosis, this rare complication has received more attention in recent years. Here, we reported a case of bisphosphonates-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) caused by intravenous zoledronic acid for osteoporosis. A 62-year-old female patient with 7-year history of Sjögren's syndrome and 3-year history of osteoporosis developed BRONJ after 3-year treatment of zoledronic acid. Two months before she went to the Peking University International Hospital, she visited the dentist for periodontal purulent secretion and extracted one tooth from the right mandible. However, the condition was not improved and she felt persistent pain and swelling in the right mandible. Hence, she received repeated root curettage, but there was no improvement. Finally, she was diagnosed with osteonecrosis of the mandible based on the digital volume tomography scan, which showed right mandibular osteonecrosis bone destruction. She underwent surgical debridement of the necrotic bone and administered intravenous antibio-tics at the Peking University International Hospital. Histopathological analysis of the bone biopsy further confirmed the diagnosis of BRONJ. Her condition was improved successfully during a 3-year follow-up. Osteonecrosis of the mandible become more common with the increased use of bisphosphonates. Recent study has reported that osteonecrosis of the mandible is more likely to occur in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. In addition, age, long-term and irregular administration of glucocorticoids, irregular oral examination and treatment also might be the risk factors in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the mandible. For the elder osteoporosis patients who would receive or had received bisphosphonate-related drugs, oral health status and the disease states associated with necrosis of the mandible such as Sjögren's syndrome should be comprehensively measured and fully evaluated during the whole process. Furthermore, to better understand and prevent or reduce the occurrence of this complication, we reviewed the patho-genesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of BRONJ.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw/etiology* ; Diphosphonates/administration & dosage* ; Zoledronic Acid ; Imidazoles/administration & dosage* ; Bone Density Conservation Agents/adverse effects* ; Osteoporosis/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the hepatotoxicity of alkaloids from Euodiae Fructus combined with berberine (BBR) in Zuojin Pill, and to preliminarily explore the possible detoxification mechanism of the combination components. METHODS: The combination ratio of components was determined by the maximum concentration (Cmax) of the chemical components in Zuojin Pill. HepG2 cell model was used to investigate the combined toxicity of the hepatotoxic components from Euodiae Fructus, such as evodiamine (EVO) or dehydroevodiamine (DHED), with BBR for 48 h. The experimental groups were set as follows: the vehicle control group, the EVO group, the DHED group, the BBR group, and the combination group of EVO or DHED with BBR. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method was used to determine the cell viability, and the combination index (CI) was used to determine the combined toxicity of the components. The alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydroge-nase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities as well as total bilirubin (TBIL) content in the cell culture supernatant were detected. The protein expression levels of bile acid transporters, such as bile salt export pump (BSEP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2), were detected by Western blot. The intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in HepG2 cells were detected. RESULTS: Compared with EVO or DHED group, the combination of EVO 1 μmol/L with BBR 10 μmol/L or DHED 50 μmol/L with BBR 35 μmol/L significantly increased cell viability of HepG2 cells (P < 0.01), with CI values of 77.89 or 4.49, respectively, much greater than 1. Significant decreases in the activities of ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, and TBIL content in the cell culture supernatant were found in both combination groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the EVO group, the combination of EVO with BBR upregulated the protein expression levels of BSEP and MRP2. Compared with the DHED group, the combination of DHED with BBR significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of BSEP and MRP2 (P < 0.01). Compared with EVO or DHED group, the combination of EVO or DHED with BBR significantly reduced the MDA content in HepG2 cells (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION A certain ratio of BBR combined with EVO or DHED had an antagonistic effect on HepG2 cytotoxicity, which might be related to regulating the expression of bile acid transpor-ters, and reducing lipid peroxidation damage.
Humans ; Hep G2 Cells ; Berberine/pharmacology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/toxicity* ; Evodia/chemistry* ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Cell Survival/drug effects* ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/metabolism* ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 2 ; Quinazolines

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biological effect of medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressings in wound healing. METHODS: MTT assay and RTCA assay were used to detect cell toxicity and proliferation. Scratch assay and Transwell cell migration assay were used to detect cell motility and migration ability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) in the supernatant of four types of cells. After animal surgery, the surgical wound was taken at 1 week, 4 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively, for hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry to observe the inflammatory response and CD31 expression of the wound. RESULTS: Medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressing promotes cell proliferation and migration, enhances wound angiogenesis by upregulating the expression of VEGF, FGF, and CD31 in human dermal vascular endothelial cells (HDVEC) and human vascular endothelial cells (HVEC), thereby improving local blood supply to the wound, regulating the inflammatory response of the wound, and accelerating wound healing. CONCLUSION Recombinant type Ⅲ humanized collagen plays an important role in wound healing.
Humans ; Wound Healing/drug effects* ; Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Collagen/pharmacology* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Bandages ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To study hesperetin-induced vasorelaxation after depolarizing contraction in human umbilical veins (HUVs) to elucidate the role of L-type Ca²⁺ channel (LTCC) and related signaling pathway. METHODS: Isometric tension recording was performed in HUV rings pre-contracted with K⁺. Hesperetin relaxing mechanism was investigated using a LTCC opener (BayK8644) and blockers of cyclic nucleotides and phosphodiesterases (PDEs). Whole-cell patch-clamping in A7r5 cells, a rat vascular smooth muscle cell line, was performed to study the effect of hesperetin on LTCC current. RESULTS: After depolarizing precontraction, hesperetin induced HUV relaxation concentration-dependently and endothelium-independently; 1 mmol/L hesperetin reduced denuded HUV ring tension by 68.7% ± 4.3% compared to matching vehicle, osmolality, and time controls (P<0.0001). Importantly, hesperetin competitively inhibited BayK8644-induced contraction, shifting the half maximal effective concentration of BayK8644 response from 1.08 nmol/L [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49-2.40] in vehicle control to 11.30 nmol/L (95% CI 5.45-23.41) in hesperetin (P=0.0001). Moreover, hesperetin elicited further vasorelaxation in denuded HUV rings pretreated with inhibitors of soluble guanylyl cyclase, adenylyl cyclase, PDE3, PDE4, and PDE5 (P<0.01), while rings pretreated with PDE1 inhibitors could not be relaxed by hesperetin (P>0.05). However, simultaneously applying inhibitors of soluble guanylyl cyclase and adenylyl cyclase could not inhibit hesperetin's effect (P>0.05). In whole-cell patch-clamping, hesperetin rapidly decreased LTCC current in A7r5 cells to 66.7% ± 5.8% (P=0.0104). CONCLUSIONS Hesperetin diminishes depolarizing contraction of human vascular smooth muscle through inhibition of LTCC, and not cyclic nucleotides nor PDEs. Our evidence supports direct LTCC interaction and provides additional basis for the use of hesperetin and its precursor hesperidin as vasodilators and may lead to future vasodilator drug development as a treatment alternative for cardiovascular diseases.
Hesperidin/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Calcium Channels, L-Type/metabolism* ; Umbilical Veins/physiology* ; Muscle Contraction/drug effects* ; Animals ; Rats ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology* ; Vasodilation/drug effects* ; Muscle Relaxation/drug effects*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of cinnamaldehyde (CA) on systemic Candida albicans infection in mice and to provide supportive data for the development of novel antifungal drugs. METHODS: Ninety BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups according to a random number table: CA treatment group, fluconazole (positive control) group, and Tween saline (negative control) group, with 30 mice in each group. Initially, all groups of mice received consecutive intraperitoneal injections of cyclophosphamide at 200 mg/kg for 2 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of 0.25 mL C. albicans fungal suspension (concentration of 1.0 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) on the 4th day, to establish an immunosuppressed systemic Candida albicans infection animal model. Subsequently, the mice were orally administered CA, fluconazole and Tween saline, at 240, 240 mg/kg and 0.25 mL/kg respectively for 14 days. After a 48-h discontinuation of treatment, the liver, small intestine, and kidney tissues of mice were collected for fungal direct microscopic examination, culture, and histopathological examination. Additionally, renal tissues from each group of mice were collected for (1,3)- β -D-glucan detection. The survival status of mice in all groups was monitored for 14 days of drug administration. RESULTS: The CA group exhibited a fungal clearance rate of C. albicans above 86.7% (26/30), significantly higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30, P<0.01). Furthermore, histopathological examination in the CA group revealed the disappearance of inflammatory cells and near-normal restoration of tissue structure. The (1,3)-β-D-glucan detection value in the CA group (860.55 ± 126.73 pg/mL) was significantly lower than that in the fluconazole group (1985.13 ± 203.56 pg/mL, P<0.01) and the Tween saline group (5910.20 ± 320.56 pg/mL, P<0.01). The mouse survival rate reached 90.0% (27/30), higher than the fluconazole group (60.0%, 18/30) and the Tween saline group (30.0%, 9/30), with a significant difference between the two groups (both P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS CA treatment exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy in mice with systemic C. albicans infection. Therefore, CA holds potential as a novel antifungal agent for targeted treatment of C. albicans infection.
Animals ; Acrolein/pharmacology* ; Candida albicans/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Candidiasis/pathology* ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use* ; Kidney/drug effects* ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of bear bile powder (BBP) on acute lung injury (ALI) and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The chemical constituents of BBP were analyzed by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). After 7 days of adaptive feeding, 50 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups by a random number table (n=10): normal control (NC), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), dexamethasone (Dex), low-, and high-dose BBP groups. The dosing cycle was 9 days. On the 12th and 14th days, 20 µL of Staphylococcus aureus solution (bacterial concentration of 1 × 10^-7 CFU/mL) was given by nasal drip after 1 h of intragastric administration, and the mice in the NC group was given the same dose of phosphated buffered saline (PBS) solution. On the 16th day, after 1 h intragastric administration, 100 µL of LPS solution (1 mg/mL) was given by tracheal intubation, and the same dose of PBS solution was given to the NC group. Lung tissue was obtained to measure the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, the lung wet/dry weight ratio and expressions of CD14 and other related proteins. The lower lobe of the right lung was obtained for pathological examination. The concentrations of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α ) and IL-1β in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the number of neutrophils was counted. The colonic contents of the mice were analyzed by 16 sRNA technique and the contents of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). RESULTS: UPLC-MS revealed that the chemical components of BBP samples were mainly tauroursodeoxycholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholic acid sodium salt. BBP reduced the activity of MPO, concentrations of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibited the expression of CD14 protein, thus suppressing the activation of NF-κB pathway (P<0.05). The lung histopathological results indicated that BBP significantly reduced the degree of neutrophil infiltration, cell shedding, necrosis, and alveolar cavity depression. Moreover, BBP effectively regulated the composition of the intestinal microflora and increased the production of SCFAs, which contributed to its treatment effect (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS BBP alleviates lung injury in ALI mouse through inhibiting activation of NF-κB pathway and decreasing expression of CD14 protein. BBP may promote recovery of ALI by improving the structure of intestinal flora and enhancing metabolic function of intestinal flora.
Animals ; Acute Lung Injury/pathology* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Ursidae ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Bile/chemistry* ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors/metabolism* ; Powders ; Male ; Lung/drug effects* ; Mice ; Peroxidase/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Cytokines/metabolism*

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is one of the key indicators in evaluating the renal function of patients. Mild TIF can cause a vicious cycle of renal tubular glomerular injury and aggravate renal disease. Therefore, studying the mechanisms underlying TIF is essential to identify therapeutic targets, thereby protecting the renal function of patients with timely intervention. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a Chinese medicine component that has been shown to inhibit the occurrence and progression of TIF via multiple pathways. Previous studies have reported that AS-IV protected against TIF by inhibiting inflammation, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, macrophages, and transforming growth factor-β1, which laid the foundation for the development of a new preventive and therapeutic option for TIF.
Saponins/pharmacology* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Fibrosis ; Animals ; Kidney Tubules/drug effects* ; Kidney Diseases/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of stir-fried Semen Armeniacae Amarum (SAA) against aristolochic acid I (AAI)-induced nephrotoxicity and DNA adducts and elucidate the underlying mechanism involved for ensuring the safe use of Asari Radix et Rhizoma. METHODS: In vitro, HEK293T cells overexpressing Flag-tagged multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3) were constructed by Lentiviral transduction, and inhibitory effect of top 10 common pairs of medicinal herbs with Asari Radix et Rhizoma in clinic on MRP3 activity was verified using a self-constructed fluorescence screening system. The mRNA, protein expressions, and enzyme activity levels of NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) were measured in differentiated HepaRG cells. Hepatocyte toxicity after inhibition of AAI metabolite transport was detected using cell counting kit-8 assay. In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups according to a random number table, including: control (1% sodium bicarbonate), AAI (10 mg/kg), stir-fried SAA (1.75 g/kg) and AAI + stir-fried SAA (1.75 and 8.75 g/kg) groups, 6 mice in each group. After 7 days of continuous gavage administration, liver and kidney damages were assessed, and the protein expressions and enzyme activity of liver metabolic enzymes NQO1 and CYP1A2 were determined simultaneously. RESULTS: In vivo, combination of 1.75 g/kg SAA and 10 mg/kg AAI suppressed AAI-induced nephrotoxicity and reduced dA-ALI formation by 26.7%, and these detoxification effects in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Mechanistically, SAA inhibited MRP3 transport in vitro, downregulated NQO1 expression in vivo, increased CYP1A2 expression and enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Notably, SAA also reduced AAI-induced hepatotoxicity throughout the detoxification process, as indicated by a 41.3% reduction in the number of liver adducts (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Stir-fried SAA is a novel drug candidate for the suppression of AAI-induced liver and kidney damages. The protective mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of transporters and metabolic enzymes.
Aristolochic Acids/toxicity* ; Animals ; Humans ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)/genetics* ; HEK293 Cells ; Kidney/pathology* ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; DNA Adducts/drug effects* ; Male ; Kidney Diseases/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice ; Prunus armeniaca ; Plant Extracts