With the development of implant technology and materials, the aesthetic of implant prosthesis has been paid more and more attention. Implant prosthesis should be coordinated with patients’ characteristics, the existing aesthetic indices have no unified standard. Based on current research and clinical experiences, this review narrated the esthetic indices of implant crowns and peri-implant soft tissue and influencing factors of dental implant in the aesthetic area.

Objective To investigate the curative effect of benidipine hydrochloride on patients with coronary slow flow angina pectoris(CSFA).Methods Sixty cases patients with CSFA were randomly divided into two groups of 30 patients each.In the control group patients were received aspirin(100 mg,1 times/d) and atorvastatin(20 mg,1 times/d) as basic treatment;in the treatment group patients were received basic treatment plus benidipine hydrochloride(4 mg,1 times/d).Follow up for 6 mouths,the effectiveness rate of treatment(relief of angina and electrocardiogram of myocardial ischemia),the correction of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction(TIMI) frame count(CTFC) before and after the different intervention,and the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the treatment group and the control group.Results The effectiveness rate of treatment in the treatment group(86.7%,26/30) was significantly higher than that in the control group(63.3%(19/30);χ2=4.356,P=0.037).There were significant reductions of CTFC in both groups after the different intervention(treatment group:(28.43±3.95) frames vs.(18.40±3.73) frames,t=10.254,P=0.000;control group:(27.87±4.14) frames vs.(21.87±4.17) frames,t=5.580,P=0.000).There was more significant reductions of CTFC in the treatment group as compared to the control group(t=2.138,P=0.037).The incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in the treatment group(10.0%(3/30)) was significantly lower than that in the control group(33.3%(10/30),P=0.028).Conclusion Benidipine hydrochloride is effective in the treatment of CSFA.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the level of P34H expression and the activity of hyaluronidase in human spermatozoa. Methods: Eighty eight semen samples were collected, 68 cases were in the infertile group, and 20 in the normal control group. Semen routine analysis was referred to the WHO standard method. According to the difference of semen parameters, 68 cases of infertile males were divided into the infertile group with normal semen parameters and the abnormal semen parameters. Western blotting was used to detect the level of P34H expression on spermatozoa. The P34H-positive rate on human spermatozoa was determined by indirect immunofluorescent staining using anti-P34H antibody. The HYD-positive rate and HYD-activity intensity in all samples were examined by improved fixedsubstrate film method. Results: The level of P34H protein expression and the percentage of the P34H-positive rate in infertile groups with normal semen parameters and abnormal semen parameters were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The activity of HYD (HYD-positive rate, HYD-activity intensity) in the infertile groups with normal semen parameters and abnormal semen parameters were also significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The relation between the P34H protein expression and HYD-positive rate, HYD-activity intensity had a significant positive correlation (r = 0. 449, 0. 431; P < 0.01); the relation between the the percentage of P34H-positive rate and HYD-positive rate, HYD-activity intensity had a significant positive correlation (r=0.727, 0.691;P <0.01). Conclusion: The level of P34H protein expression and the percentage of the P34H-positive rate are decreased, while the activity of HYD (HYD-positive rate, HYD-activity intensity) is reduced in male infertility.

ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms of Leigongteng （Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f.） in treating rheumatoid arthritis （RA） using bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. MethodsBioinformatics approaches， including the Gene Expression Omnibus （GEO）， the traditional Chinese medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， Gene Ontology （GO） enrichment analysis， Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment， protein-protein interaction （PPI） network analysis， molecular docking， receiver operating characteristic （ROC） analysis， and immune infiltration analysis， were used to predict the key active components of Leigongteng and its target genes for RA treatment. Experimental validation was conducted using human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes （HFLS-RA） in vitro， with methotrexate as the positive control. A scratch assay was performed to assess cell migration after 24 hours of culture. Western blotting was used to detect protein expression levels， qPCR was used to measure target gene mRNA levels， and ELISA was conducted to evaluate inflammatory cytokine levels， including interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-10 （IL-10）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）. ResultsA total of 117 target genes of Leigongteng were identified and intersected with RA-related genes， yielding 55 key genes. Further screening identified three core genes： PTGS2， CXCR4， and TIMP1. Based on the correspondence between potential drug targets and key components， triptolide and nobiletin were identified as the primary active compounds. Molecular docking results showed that both triptolide and nobiletin had binding energies lower than -5 kcal/mol with their respective target proteins， indicating strong interactions. In vitro experiments demonstrated that， compared with the blank control group， the triptolide， nobiletin， and positive control groups exhibited reduced cell migration rates after 24 hours of culture （P＜0.01）. The expression levels of PTGS2 and CXCR4 （both mRNA and protein） were significantly downregulated， while TIMP1 expression was upregulated. Levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α decreased， whereas IL-10 levels increased （P＜0.01）. Compared with the positive control group， the triptolide and nobiletin groups showed increased cell migration rates， upregulated PTGS2 and CXCR4 expression （mRNA and protein）， downregulated TIMP1 expression （mRNA and protein）， increased IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α levels， and decreased IL-10 levels （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. ConclusionThe key active components of Leigongteng， triptolide and nobiletin， may alleviate RA by inhibiting PTGS2 and CXCR4 while promoting TIMP1 expression， thereby suppressing inflammatory responses.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of melatonin (MLT) on the proliferation and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma cell line RPMI 8226 and its possible mechanism. METHODS: RPMI 8226 cells were cultured in vitro, and different concentrations of MLT were treated on RPMI 8226 cells. The effects of MLT on RPMI 8226 cell proliferation were detected by CCK-8 assay and methylcellulose cloning assay, and the effects of MLT on cell apoptosis were detected by AnnexinV-FITC /PI, flow cytometry. Western blot was used to determine the expression of apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins in each group, and CCK-8 assay was used to determine the effect of MLT combined with bortezemib on the viability of RPMI 8226 cells. RESULTS: MLT inhibited the proliferation of RPMI 8226 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (r=-0.9777，r=-0.9951). With the increase of MLT concentration, the number of clones decreased, the apoptosis of RPMI 8226 cells increased (P<0.05), the expression of anti-apoptotic protein XIAP decreased, the expression of apoptotic proteins Bax and Caspase3 increased, and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins increased. Compared with the control group, the survival of RPMI 8226 cells in the MLT and BTZ combined group significantly decreased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION MLT can inhibit the proliferation of RPMI 8226 cells, promote the apoptosis of RPMI 8226 cells, and enhance the anti-tumor effect of BTZ on RPMI 8226 cells. The mechanism may be related to endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Humans ; Melatonin/pharmacology* ; Multiple Myeloma/pathology* ; Sincalide/pharmacology*

Background Fluorine accumulates in the brain tissue after long-term excessive intake and subsequently cause nerve damage and decline of learning and memory ability. Receptor of advanced glycation end-products (RAGE)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is considered to be involved in the associated mechanism. Objective To study the changes of RAGE/ p38MAPK/ NF-κB signaling pathway in rats with subchronic fluorosis, and to explore the protective effects of extract of Ginkgo biloba 761 (EGb761) and RAGE antagonist (FPS-ZM1) on neuromemory ability. Methods Ninety male clean SD rats were divided into 9 groups with 10 rats in each group. The modeling period was 6 months. Control group (C group): free drinking tap water (fluoride content <0.5 mg·L⁻¹), low- and high-dose fluoride groups (LF group, HF group): free drinking tap water with 10 or 50 mg·L⁻¹ fluoride; intervention group of Ginkgo biloba extract (CE, LFE, and HFE groups): on the basis of the C group, LF group, and HF group, 100 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ EGb761 was given daily via intragastric administration; FPS-ZM1 intervention groups (CF, LFF, and HFF groups): 7 d before the end of modeling, 1 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ FPS-ZM1 was injected intraperitoneally daily on the basis of the C group, LF group, and HF group. The contents of fluoride in brain and blood of each group were detected. The learning and memory ability was tested by water maze experiment. The histopathologic changes of the hippocampus were detected by Nissl staining. The protein expression levels of RAGE and its ligand high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1), NF-κB, p38MAPK, phospho-p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in brain tissue were detected by Western blotting. The mRNA expression levels of RAGE, HMGB1, and p38MAPK were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Results Compared with the C group, the contents of blood fluoride and brain fluoride in the LF and the HF groups were increased (P<0.05). The results of the water maze experiment showed that, compared with the C group, the escape latency time of the LF group and the HF group was longer and the crossing times were reduced; compared with the HF group, the escape latency time of the HFE group and the HFF group was shortened, and the crossing times were increased (P<0.05). The Nissl staining results showed that the number of Nissl body in the HF group decreased compared with the C group; compared with the HF group, the number of Nissl body in the HFE group and the HFF group increased. The Western blotting results showed that compared with the relative protein expression levels of RAGE, HMGB1, NF-κB, p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK, IL-6, and TNF-α in the C group , the levels of above indicators in the HF group and the levels of RAGE, HMGB1, NF-κB, p-p38MAPK, and IL-6 in the LF group were up-regulated (P<0.05); compared with the HF group, the levels of above indicators in the HFE group and the HFF group were all down-regulated (P<0.05); compared with the relative protein expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the LF group, the levels in the LFE group and the LFF group were all down-regulated (P<0.05). The quantitative real-time PCR results showed that compared with the C group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the LF group and the HF group were up-regulated; compared with the LF group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE in the LFE group and the LFF group were down-regulated ; compared with the HF group, the mRNA expression levels of RAGE and HMGB1 in the HFE group and the HFF group were down-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion The central nervous system injury caused by subchronic fluorosis may be related to the activation of RAGE/p38-MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, which can impair the learning and memory ability of rats, while EGb761 and FPS-ZM1 may have certain protective effects on the nerve injury.

Objective: To investigate theBMI1-NOTCH signaling pathway that regulates proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and cisplatin(CDDP) sensitivity in human oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) cells. Methods: Human OSCC cell line CAL27 was used to construct the CAL27 cell line with lentivirus, which knocked down or overexpressedBMI1gene. The knockdown and control groups included: shBMI1-1, shBMI1-2, shBMI1-3, and shNC group, while the overexpression and control groups were BMI1 and NC group. RT-qPCR and Western blot were employed to verify transfection efficiency and select the cell group with the most effective knockdown. Western blot was used to detect the expression of NOTCH signaling pathway proteins, including NOTCH1, Delta-like ligand 1(DLL1), Jagged1(JAG1), and Hairy/enhancer-of-split 1(HES1), in the transformed CAL27 cells. Subsequently, the cells in each group were cultured with the drug solvents dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO), CDDP, NOTCH pathway inhibitor gamma-secretase inhibitor(DAPT), and CDDP+DAPT, respectively, and the cell phenotype in each group were detected using CCK-8 assay, Wound healing assay, Transwell invasion assay, colony formation assay, and flow cytometry. Results: Overexpression ofBMI1increased the expression levels of NOTCH pathway gene proteinsNOTCH1,DLL1,JAG1, andHES1(P<0.05). Under CDDP intervention, cells in the BMI1 group exhibited increased viability, invasion, migration, and colony formation abilities, and decreased apoptosis compared to the shBMI1 group(P<0.05). When comparing the CDDP group with the CDDP+DAPT group, the combination of medications resulted in a significant increase in the apoptosis rate and an increase in the sensitivity of cancer cells to CDDP(P<0.05). Conclusion BMI1may increase the cellular malignancy of CAL27 cell line by activating the NOTCH signaling pathway, promoting cell viability, migration, and invasion, as well as decreasing the cellular drug sensitivity to CDDP. Inhibition of the NOTCH pathway increases the cisplatin sensitivity of CAL27, and CDDP+DAPT has a synergistic cytotoxic effect to promote OSCC cell apoptosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of iguratimod combined with the Chinese medicine Runzaoling in the treatment of primary Sjögren's syndrome （pSS）. MethodSeventy-two patients treated in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine（TCM） from January 2021 to June 2022 who met the Western medical diagnosis of pSS and had the TCM syndrome of Yin deficiency and heat toxin syndrome were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group， with 36 patients in each group. The observation group was treated with iguratimod combined with Runzaoling， and the control group was treated with iguratimod. The treatment in both groups lasted for 12 weeks. The clinical symptoms， EULAR Sjogren's syndrome patient reported index （ESSPRI）， EULAR Sjögren's syndrome disease activity index （ESSDAI）， erythrocyte sedimentation Rate （ESR）， C-reactive protein （CRP）， immunoglobulin （IgG）， Schirmer score， and saliva flow of the two groups were determined before and after treatment. Furthermore， the incidence of adverse reactions was compared between the two groups. ResultThe total response rate in the observation group was 75.0% （27 patients with response and 9 patients with no response）， which was higher than that （61.11%， 22 patients with response and 14 patients without response） in the control group （P<0.05）. After treatment， the ESSPRI， ESSDAI， and TCM syndrome scores in both groups decreased and the decreases were more obvious in the observation group than in the control group （P<0.05）. The treatment in both groups recovered the ESR， CRP， IgG， Schirmer score， and saliva flow （P<0.05）. Moreover， the observation outperformed the control group in terms of the ESR， CRP， IgG， and saliva flow （P<0.05） and had no significant difference in the Schirmer score compared with the control group. During the treatment period， 2 patients in the observation group had nausea， and 1 patient had an abnormal liver function， which were relieved after symptomatic treatment and did not affect the treatment. In the control group， 1 patient withdrew from the study due to rashes and showed no special discomfort in the follow-up 4 weeks， and 1 patient had nausea， which was relieved after symptomatic treatment. ConclusionIguratimod combined with Runzaoling has good clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of pSS.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune diseases are a class of diseases that cause a strong immune response to the continuous lack of self-tissue-specific antigens in the thymus. Hypothyroidism and unstable expression of tissue-specific antigens in the thymus can limit the therapeutic effect. The thymus is mainly composed of thymic epithelial cells, but the limited number of mature thymic epithelial cells and thymic epithelial progenitor cells in the thymus has greatly limited related research. OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of autoimmune regulator (AIRE) when mouse embryonic stem cells were transformed into thymic epithelial progenitor cells. METHODS: A two-step differentiation method was used to induce the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into endoderm and then into thymic epithelial progenitor cells. The cells were collected at 0, 3, and 13 days of induced differentiation. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of cell-associated genes and proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Positive expression of OCT4 and SSEA1 was detected by immunofluorescence at 0 day of induction. The double positive expression of SOX17 and FoxA2 was measured by immunofluorescence at 3 days of induction. The positive expression of EpCAM, K5 and K8 were analyzed by flow cytometry at 13 days of induction. During the directional differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells, real-time PCR indicated that the expression of PAX1, PAX9, FOXN1 and PLET1 showed an increasing trend. The expression of AIRE gene increased significantly at 0, 3, and 13 days of induction. At the same time, the expression of INS2 gene and GAD67 gene also increased. Western blot assay showed that the expression of AIRE protein gradually decreased at 0, 3, and 13 days of induction; however, insulin protein and GAD67 protein were not detected. Overall findings indicate that mouse embryonic stem cells can successfully differentiate into thymic epithelial progenitor cells with highly expressed AIRE gene, which promotes the expression of INS2 and GAD67 genes, and provides an evaluation basis for cell transplantation in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Background:Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies,and intestinal-type GC is the main histopathologic type of GC in China.We previously reported that casein kinase 2 interacting protein 1 (CKIP-1) acts as a candidate tumor suppressor in intestinal-type GC.CKIP-1 participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways,including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,of which caudal-related homeobox 1 (CDX1) may be a downstream target gene.The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between CKIP-1 and CDX1 in intestinal-type GC.Methods:Sixty-seven gastroscopy biopsy specimens and surgically resected gastric specimens were divided into four groups:gastric mucosa group,intestinal metaplasia (IM) group,dysplasia group,and intestinal-type GC group.The expression levels of CKIP-1 and CDX1 were detected in these groups and GC cell lines,and the correlations between these expression levels were analyzed.SGC7901 and BGC823 cells were divided into CKIP-1 shRNA groups and CKIP-1 over-expression groups,and CDX1 expression was detected.β-Catenin expression was detected in intestinal-type GC tissue samples and CKIP-1 shRNA and CKIP-1 over-expression SGC7901 cells,and its correlation with CKIP-1 expression in intestinal-type GC tissue was analyzed.The Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibitor DKK-1 and activator LiCl were incubated with SGC7901 cells,BGC823 cells,and CKIP-1 shRNA and CKIP-1 over-expression SGC7901 and BGC823 cells,following which CDX1 and Ki-67 expression were detected.Results:The expression levels of CKIP-1 and CDX1 were lower in patients with intestinal-type GC than in patients with IM and dysplasia (both P ＜ 0.05).CKIP-1 and CDX1 expression levels were positively correlated in IM,dysplasia,and intestinal-type GC tissue and cell lines (r =0.771,P ＜ 0.01;r =0.597,P ＜ 0.01;r =0.654,P ＜ 0.01;r =0.811,P ＜ 0.01,respectively).CDX1 expression was decreased in the CKIP-1 shRNA groups and increased in the CKIP-1 over-expression groups of SGC7901 and BGC823 cells compared to that in the corresponding control groups (both P ＜ 0.05).CKIP-1 expression was negatively correlated with β-catenin expression in intestinal-type GC patients (r =-0.458,P ＜ 0.01).Compared to the control group,β-catenin expression was increased in the CKIP-1 shRNA SGC7901 cell group and decreased in the CKIP-1 over-expression SGC7901 cell group (P ＜ 0.05).CDX1 expression was increased in SGC7901 and BGC823 cells treated with DKK-1,DKK-1 increased CDX1 expression and decreased Ki-67 expression in the CKIP-1 shRNA group;the opposite result was observed in SGC7901 and BGC823 cells treated with LiCl,and LiCl decreased CDX1 expression and increased Ki-67 expression in the CKIP-1 over-expression group (both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions:Through the Wnt/p-catenin signaling pathway,CKIP-1 may positively regulate CDX1 in intestinal-type GC.