BACKGROUND:Peripheral facial nerve injury first involves the retrograde reactions of central nervous system axons, and nerve regeneration wil depend on the survival and functional status of neuronal cel bodies. OBJECTIVE:To explore the expression of neuronal cadherin and placental cadherin in facial nuclei after facial nerve injury. METHODS:New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into model group (n=48) and control group (n=8). In the model group, every eight rabbits were used to carry out the test respectively at 1, 4, 7, 14, 21 days after the model of facial nerve injury (right side) was established. SP and real-time quantitative PCR methods were taken to test the expression of neuronal cadherin and placental cadherin in the facial nerve nucleus at mRNA and RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The control group had neuronal cadherin-and placental cadherin-positive neurons. In the model group, neuronal cadherin and placental cadherin positively expressed in the facial motorneurons (right side), and their expressions were peaked at 14 days. Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of neuronal cadherin in the facial motorneurons was increased significantly at 4-28 days after injury;the mRNA expression of placental cadherin in the facial motorneurons was decreased significantly at 1 day after injury, and then increased significantly at 7-28 days. It is suggested that the expression of neuronal cadherin and placental cadherin is positive in the early stage of facial nerve injury, and the expression of placental cadherin is always present, while the expression of neuronal cadherin relatively lasts for a short time. After facial nerve injury, the expression of neuronal cadherin and placental cadherin in the facial nerve nucleus is both increased, which indicates that the facial nerve regeneration may be related to the high expression of adhesion molecules.

Aim To investigate the effect of paeoniflorin(PF)on TLR2/4 pathway in AGEs-induced RAW264.7 macrophages.Methods RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated at different time points in AGEs stimulation,as well as different concentrations of PF,to optimize experimental conditions.RAW264.7 macrophages were randomly divided into five groups: control group(DMEM),bull serum albumin(BSA)group(200 mg·L-1 BSA),AGEs group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs),paeoniflorin group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs+10-5 mol·L-1 PF)and TLR2/4 inhibitor group(200 mg·L-1 AGEs+30 mg·L-1 OxPAPC).The expression of Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2),Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88),p-IRAK1,TIR-domain containing adaptor protein-inducing IFN-β(TRIF),interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3),p-IRF3,NF-κB p-p65,NF-κB p65,inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-l β(IL-1β)and monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1)were measured by Western blot.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA,while TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 levels in cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.Results Compared with control group,AGEs significantly increased the expression of TLR2,TLR4,MyD88,p-IRAK1,TRIF,IRF3,p-IRF3,NF-κB p-p65,NF-κB p65,iNOS,TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 proteins(P<0.01),as well as TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA(P<0.01).TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 contents were also elevated in cell supernatant(P<0.01).The effects induced by AGEs were decreased significantly in PF and TLR2/4 inhibitor group(P<0.01).Conclusion PF plays an anti-inflammatory effect via inhibiting TLR2/4 pathway on macrophages,which may provide a new theoretical basis for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective:To observe the effects of Yikunjing capsules on the bone histomorphometry indexes and the serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level in mice with osteoporosis.Methods:60 cases ofC57 female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,such as model group (equal volume of normal saline),estrogen group (nilestriol,0.25 mg/kg),Yikunjing capsules high dose group (1.44 g/kg),Yikunjing capsules medium dose group (0.72 g/kg) and Yikunjing capsules low dose group (0.36 g/kg),sham group (equal volume of normal saline) were treated with sham operation.The mice in each group was intragastrically administrated for 70 days.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum IL-6 level.The bone histomorphometry index were detected with BI-2000 Medical Image Analysis System.And the Number of blood vessels in distal femoral metaphysis of each group was measured by CT.Results:Compared with the sham group,the width and area of trabecular bone,the thickness of cortical bone,area of trabecular bone,the number of osteoblasts,the bone mineral density and the number of blood vessels in model group were significantly reduced(P＜0.05),while the number of osteoclasts and serum IL-6 level were significantly increased (P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,above indexes in estrogen group,Yikunjing capsules high,medium,low dose group were improved (P＜0.05),and the effect of Yikunjing capsules high dose group and estrogen group was almost the same (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Yikunjing capsules can rectify the bone histomorphometry indexes reduce the serum IL-6 level and increase the number of blood vessels in mice with osteoporosis,and intragastrically administrating 1.44 g/kg Yikunjing capsules could get the better effect.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and acute ischemic stroke.Methods:The clinical data of 235 patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving MHD were collected in our hospital from March 2018 to October 2021. According to the treatment methods chosen by themselves, these patients were divided into control group ( n=70, only receiving standardized secondary stroke prevention), rt-PA low-dose group ( n=85, receiving rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis, 0.6 mg/kg) and rt-PA standard-dose group ( n=80, receiving rt-PA intravenous thrombolysis, 0.9 mg/kg). The effective rate 24 h after treatment, good efficacy rate 7 d after treatment, and good prognosis rate and mortality 90 d after treatment were used to evaluate the effectiveness. The incidences of intracranial hemorrhage, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and severe extracranial hemorrhage 90 d after treatment were used to evaluate the safety. Results:There was no statistical difference in the good prognosis rate 90 d after treatment among the rt-PA low-dose group, the rt-PA standard-dose group and the control group (71.8%, 68.8%, and 64.3%; P>0.05), but the effective rate 24 h after treatment and good efficacy rate 7 d after treatment in the rt-PA low-dose group and rt-PA standard-dose group (44.7%, 57.7%; 46.3%, 62.5%) were both significantly higher than those in the control group (27.1%, 38.6%; P<0.05). The mortality 90 d after treatment in the rt-PA low-dose group (7.1%) was significantly lower than that in the rt-PA standard-dose group (22.5%) and control group (21.4%, P<0.05). The incidences of intracranial hemorrhage and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in the rt-PA low-dose group (8.2%, 3.5%) were significantly lower than those in the rt-PA standard-dose group (22.5%, 16.3%; P<0.05), and the incidences of extracranial complications and gastrointestinal bleeding (5.9%, 1.2%) were significantly lower than those in the rt-PA standard-dose group (18.8%, 10.0%; P<0.05). Conclusion:Intravenous thrombolytic therapy with 0.6 mg/kg rt-PA is recommended for acute ischemic stroke patients receiving MHD.

Objective:To document any improvement in the breathing control of stroke survivors with dysarthria after practicing Liuzijue qigong.Methods:A total of 157 stroke survivors with dysarthria and abnormal respiration control were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. Both groups were given traditional breathing training and basic articulation training (including articulatory organ training and speech training). The observation group also received training in Liuzijue qigong. It requires inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while producing the speech sounds xu, he, hu, si, chui and xi. The training lasted two weeks. Both groups were then evaluated using the modified Frenchay dysarthria assessment. Maximum phonation time, maximum counting ability and volume were also recorded as secondary indexes.Results:After the 2-week intervention, significant improvement was observed in the average scores on all of the indexes, with all of the observation group′s average scores except for volume significantly better than those of the control group. The average volume scores were significantly improved, but not significantly different.Conclusion:Supplementing basic articulation training with Liuzijue qigong can improve respiratory function and the speaking ability of stroke survivors with dysarthria. It is worthy of wider clinical application.

Objective To explore the pathogenesis of Russell-Silver syndrome (RSS). Methods Two milliliter peripheral blood samples were collected from 6 male patients aged 6 to 8 years with suspected RSS phenotype, the parents of 2 patients and 5 healthy boys. Mononuclear cells were isolated and genomic DNA was extracted. The methylation level of the H19 imprinting control region(ICR)1 on chromosome 11p15.5 was detected by pyrosequencing.The methylation status and the copy number variation in the corresponding region of one RSS patient with positive results by pyrosequencing were analysed by methylation-specific multiplex-ligation-dependent probe amplification assay (MS-MLPA). Results Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that the methylation rates on the 6 CpG targeting sites in H19 differentially methylated region(DMR)in the 6 RSS patients were about 11%~29%, which were significantly lower than those in their parents and normal controls (44%~59%). The MS-MLPA results of one patient with positive pyrosequencing showed that the methylation rates of 4 sites in H19-DMR were about 10%,which was obviously lower than the normal level.The methylation rates of the 4 sites in KCNQ1OT1 gene were about 50%, which was in the normal range. The copy number variations from all samples detected were in the normal range. Conclusion There is methylation aberration of H19-DMR in ICR1 in children with RSS.

Three-dimensional tooth segmentation is the segmentation of single-tooth models from a digital dental model. It is an important foundation for diagnosis, planning, treatment and customized appliance manufacturing in digital orthodontics. With the deep integration of artificial intelligence technology and big data from stomatology, the use of deep learning algorithms to assist 3D tooth segmentation has gradually become mainstream. This review summarizes the current situation of deep learning algorithms that assist 3D tooth segmentation from the aspects of dataset establishment, algorithm architecture, algorithm performance, innovation and advantages, deficiencies of current research and prospects. The results of the literature review showed that deep learning tooth segmentation methods could obtain an accuracy of more than 95% and had good robustness. However, the segmentation of complex dental models, operation time and richness of the training database still need to be improved. Research and development of the "consumption reduction and strong core" algorithm, establishment of an authoritative data sample base with multiple centers, and expansion of data application depth and breadth will lead to further development in this field.

Endogenously eliminating the hematoma is a favorable strategy in addressing intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study sought to determine the role of retinoid X receptor-α (RXR-α) in the context of hematoma absorption after ICH. Our results showed that pharmacologically activating RXR-α with bexarotene significantly accelerated hematoma clearance and alleviated neurological dysfunction after ICH. RXR-α was expressed in microglia/macrophages, neurons, and astrocytes. Mechanistically, bexarotene promoted the nuclear translocation of RXR-α and PPAR-γ, as well as reducing neuroinflammation by modulating microglia/macrophage reprograming from the M1 into the M2 phenotype. Furthermore, all the beneficial effects of RXR-α in ICH were reversed by the PPAR-γ inhibitor GW9662. In conclusion, the pharmacological activation of RXR-α confers robust neuroprotection against ICH by accelerating hematoma clearance and repolarizing microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype through PPAR-γ-related mechanisms. Our data support the notion that RXR-α might be a promising therapeutic target for ICH.

In the original publication Fig. 1D and supplementary material is incorrect. The correct figure and supplementary material is provided in this correction.

Recently we have established a new culture condition enabling the derivation of extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells, which, compared to conventional pluripotent stem cells, possess superior developmental potential and germline competence. However, it remains unclear whether this condition permits derivation of EPS cells from mouse strains that are refractory or non-permissive to pluripotent cell establishment. Here, we show that EPS cells can be robustly generated from non-permissive NOD-scid Il2rg mice through de novo derivation from blastocysts. Furthermore, these cells can also be efficiently generated by chemical reprogramming from embryonic NOD-scid Il2rg fibroblasts. NOD-scid Il2rg EPS cells can be expanded for more than 20 passages with genomic stability and can be genetically modified through gene targeting. Notably, these cells contribute to both embryonic and extraembryonic lineages in vivo. More importantly, they can produce chimeras and integrate into the E13.5 genital ridge. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of generating EPS cells from refractory mouse strains, which could potentially be a general strategy for deriving mouse pluripotent cells. The generation of NOD-scid Il2rg EPS cell lines permits sophisticated genetic modification in NOD-scid Il2rg mice, which may greatly advance the optimization of humanized mouse models for biomedical applications.