Dental caries, a chronic disease characterized by tooth decay, occupies the second position in terms of disease burden and is primarily caused by cariogenic bacteria, especially Streptococcus mutans, because of its acidogenic, aciduric, and biofilm-forming capabilities. Developing novel targeted anti-virulence agents is always a focal point in caries control to overcome the limitations of conventional anti-virulence agents. The current study represents an up-to-date review of in silico approaches of drug design against dental caries, which have emerged more and more powerful complementary to biochemical attempts. Firstly, we categorize the in silico approaches into computer-aided drug design (CADD) and AI-assisted drug design (AIDD) and highlight the specific methods and models they contain respectively. Subsequently, we detail the design of anti-virulence drugs targeting single or multiple cariogenic virulence targets of S. mutans, such as glucosyltransferases (Gtfs), antigen I/II (AgI/II), sortase A (SrtA), the VicRK signal transduction system and superoxide dismutases (SODs). Finally, we outline the current opportunities and challenges encountered in this field to aid future endeavors and applications of CADD and AIDD in anti-virulence drug design.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Objective:To explore the impact of sleep duration, physical exercise, and their interactions on the risk of dyslipidemia in older adults aged ≥80 (the oldest old) in China.Methods:The study subjects were the oldest old from four rounds of Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2014 and 2017-2018). The information about their demographic characteristics, lifestyles, physical examination results and others were collected, and fasting venous blood samples were collected from them for blood lipid testing. Competing risk model was used to analyze the causal associations of sleep duration and physical exercise with the risk for dyslipidemia. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) function was used to explore the dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk for dyslipidemia. Additive and multiplicative interaction model were used to explore the interaction of sleep duration and physical exercise on the risk for dyslipidemia.Results:The average age of 1 809 subjects was (93.1±7.7) years, 65.1% of them were women. The average sleep duration of the subjects was (8.0±2.5) hours/day, 28.1% of them had sleep duration for less than 7 hours/day, and 27.2% had sleep for duration more than 9 hours/day at baseline survey. During the 9-year cumulative follow-up of 6 150.6 person years (follow-up of average 3.4 years for one person), there were 304 new cases of dyslipidemia, with an incidence density of 4 942.6/100 000 person years. The results of competitive risk model analysis showed that compared with those who slept for 7-9 hours/day, the risk for dyslipidemia in oldest old with sleep duration >9 hours/day increased by 22% ( HR=1.22, 95% CI: 1.07-1.39). Compared with the oldest old having no physical exercise, the risk for dyslipidemia in the oldest old having physical exercise decreased by 33% ( HR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.57-0.78). The RCS function showed a linear positive dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk for hyperlipidemia. The interaction analysis showed that physical exercise and sleep duration had an antagonistic effect on the risk for hyperlipidemia. Conclusion:Physical exercise could reduce the adverse effects of prolonged sleep on blood lipids in the oldest old.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Objective To explore the effects of proteasome 20S subunit beta 8(PSMB8)on the prolif-eration,migration,and invasion of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC)cells and whether PSMB8 promotes tumor progression by activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase(MEK)/extracellular signal-regula-ted kinase(ERK)signaling pathway.Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas was employed to analyze the mRNA levels of PSMB8 in ccRCC and normal tissue,and the expression levels of PSMB8 in ccRCC tissue and cells were determined by real-time quantitative PCR,Western blotting,and immunohistochemistry.Furthermore,the cell lines with stable overexpression and knockdown of PSMB8 were constructed.The CCK-8 assay and colony forma-tion assay were employed to examine the cell proliferation,and the wound healing assay and Transwell assay were employed to examine the invasion and migration of cells.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrich-ment was performed to analyze the co-expressed genes of PSMB8.Western blotting was used to measure the phospho-rylation levels of the proteins in the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.Finally,the rescue experiment was carried out with the ERK agonist C16-PAF.Results Compared with the normal tissue,the ccRCC tissue showed up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of PSMB8(both P＜0.001),which were associated with the TNM stage of patients with ccRCC(P＜0.001).Compared with the negative control group,overexpression of PSMB8 promoted the prolifera-tion(P=0.021,P=0.039),migration and invasion(all P＜0.001)of 786-O and ACHN cells,and the knock-down of PSMB8 inhibited the proliferation(P=0.022,P=0.005),migration and invasion(all P＜0.001)of 786-O and ACHN cells.The pathway enrichment analysis of co-expressed genes of PSMB8 predicted the mitogen-ac-tivated protein kinase signaling pathway(P＜0.001).After the knockdown of PSMB8,786-O and ACHN cells showed lowered phosphorylation levels of MEK1/2(P=0.017,P=0.016)and ERK1/2(P=0.010,P=0.040)and down-regulated transcription levels of ERK downstream factors c-Myc(P=0.043,P=0.038),c-Fos(P=0.025,P=0.008),and CyclinD1(P=0.006,P=0.047).Compared with the ERK agonist C16-PAF group,the PSMB8 knockdown+C16-PAF group showed inhibited proliferation(P=0.003,P=0.002),migration and invasion(all P＜0.001)of 786-O and ACHN cells.Conclusion PSMB8 may promote the proliferation,migration,and invasion of ccRCC cells by activating the MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Specific tumor-targeted gene delivery remains an unsolved therapeutic issue due to aberrant vascularization in tumor microenvironment (TME). Some bacteria exhibit spontaneous chemotaxis toward the anaerobic and immune-suppressive TME, which makes them ideal natural vehicles for cancer gene therapy. Here, we conjugated ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks encapsulating eukaryotic murine interleukin 2 (Il2) expression plasmid onto the surface of VNP20009, an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain with well-documented anti-cancer activity, and constructed a TME-targeted Il2 delivery system named Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella maintained the tumor-targeting feature of bacteria, and could be effectively phagocytosed by intratumoral macrophages, thus leading to the expression and secretion of IL2 in TME. The detailed analysis of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) showed that one dose of combinatorial Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella achieved synergistic actions on a potent remodeling of TIME, marked by the activation of cytotoxic T cells and M1-polarization of macrophages in TME, thus leading to significant anti-tumor effects in melanoma, orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma, and pulmonary metastasis models. More importantly, Il2/ZIF-8@Salmonella exhibited high safety to major organs and hematopoietic systems. Taken together, we report a novel plasmid/ZIF-8@Salmonella system that simultaneously achieves effective TME-targeted delivery of therapeutic gene, as well as synergistic re-activation of TIME.

Dependovirus/genetics* ; Microglia ; Cells, Cultured ; Transduction, Genetic

Objective:To compare the clinical effects between Dynesys dynamic stabilization with microendoscopic discectomy (MED) and posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) treatment for the degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis in the elder, and to evaluate clinical advantages of Dynesys with MED according to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS).Methods:All of 79 cases (male 31, female 48) who suffered from the degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis were include mean age 67.32±5.88 years (from 60 to 81 years) during January 2012 to December 2017. Thirty-nine patients received Dynesys dynamic stabilization with MED (Dynesys group) and 40 cases undergone PLIF (fusion group). The operative time, blood loss, drainage, length of hospital stay, and complications were compared between the two groups. The visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to assess efficacy. The range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine and the adjacent segment by dynamic radiographs between two groups were reviewed to evaluate radiological results.Results:The fusion group was larger than Dynesys group in operation time (271.00±57.19 min vs. 193.85±32.17 min), blood loss (458.25±136.85 ml vs. 316.41±87.64 ml), drainage (143.12±47.46 ml vs. 101.67±31.23 ml) and length of hospital stay (15.70±3.01 d vs. 13.38±2.72 d) with statistics differences ( P<0.05). There was a significant difference in VAS and ODI between the two groups at the final follow-up, and Dynesys group was superior to the fusion group (VAS: 1.51±1.21 vs. 2.40±1.48, t=2.910, P=0.005; ODI: 11.90%±6.15% vs. 17.73%±6.85%, t=3.974, P<0.001). The lumbar ROM of Dynesys group increased comparing with the fusion group at post-operation one year (19.21°±6.08° vs. 14.08°±5.80°, t=0.425, P<0.001) and final follow-up (20.56°±6.37° vs. 16.33°±6.94°, t=2.828, P=0.006). ROM of the adjacent segment increased in fusion group at final follow-up (7.45°±2.45°) compared to pre-operation (4.68°±1.98°) and post-operation one year (4.83±1.43°) with significant difference ( F=24.437, P<0.001). The rate of epidural damage, delayed union, surface infection, internal fixation loose, thrombus, pulmonary infection, bedsore, reoperation of the fusion group were all higher than Dynesys group. Conclusion:The Dynesys with MED demonstrated better clinical and radiological results than fusion for degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. As a method of safety and efficiency, the Dynesys and MED can speed up postoperative recovery of elderly patients in line with ERAS.

Objective:To analyze the causes of puncture wound infections induced by the high pressure resistant injectable PICC catheter in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and management measures.Methods:linical data of 75 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who were treated with the high pressure resistant injectable PICC catheter in our hospital from Nov.2017 to Nov.2019 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether there were puncture wound infections, patients were divided into the infection group(n=26)and the non-infection group(n=49). Bacterial culture results of the infection group were recorded, and the related factors for puncture wound infections caused by the injectable PICC catheter were analyzed.Effective strategies to prevent high-risk factors, treatment frequency, treatment effect and healing time for patients with different degrees of puncture wound infections were discussed.Results:There were 26 patients in the infection group.The proportions of bacteria types associated with PICC catheter-related infections, in descending order, were as follows: Staphylococcus aureus(46.51%), Klebsiella pneumoniae(30.77%), Corynebacterium(15.38%)and others(7.69%). Significant differences were found in materials used, season of tube placement, timing of dressing changes, duration of catheterization, success rate of first tube placement and condition of dressing films between the non-infection and infection groups( t=5.5, 4.9, 5.0, 13.6, 9.4 and 6.2, all P<0.05). Logistic multi-factor analysis showed that non-U-shaped fixation, delay in dressing changes, long duration of tube placement, low success rate of first tube placement, and loose dressing films were the high-risk factors for PICC catheter-related infections( OR=2.78, 2.42, 3.16, 2.66 and 2.32, all P<0.05). Compared with patients with moderate and mild infections, patients with severe infections had a higher frequency of treatment, a lower total effectiveness rate and a longer healing time( F=10.353, 8.775 and 12.341, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Materials, timing of dressing changes, catheterization time, success rate of first tube placement and condition of dressing films are the high-risk factors for puncture wound infections caused by high pressure resistant injectable PICC catheters in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Developing effective intervention strategies can help control the incidence of wound infections.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the new Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging system and the serum CA125 level with the prognosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) .Methods:The clinical data of 74 patients with MPeM diagnosed by pathology and immunohistochemistry were collected from January 2005 to June 2016 in Cangzhou Central Hospital. According to the results of CT-peritoneal carcinoma index (PCI) , the tumor load was divided into T1 (PCI 1-10) , T2 (PCI 11-20) , T3 (PCI 21-30) and T4 (PCI 31-39) , combined with lymph node metastasis and extraperitoneal metastasis, a new TNM staging system was established. And serum CA125 level was measured in the same time. The median survival time of patients with MPeM, the effect of the new TNM staging system, and serum CA125 levels on their prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 74 patients with MPeM, 25 (33.8%) cases were males and 49 (66.2%) cases were females. There were 8 cases with systemic chemotherapy, 8 cases with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and 1 case with combination chemotherapy. 10 cases were T1, 22 cases were T2, 27 cases were T3, 15 cases were T4, 12 cases had lymph node metastasis and 10 cases had distant metastasis. The median survival time of T1, T2, T3 and T4 were 12, 10, 6 and 3 months respectively. There were 38 (77.6%) cases with high serum CA125 in all 49 cases who have been tested for CA125. The median survival time of positive group and negative group were 6 months and 11 months respectively. 68 (91.9%) patients had died by the end of collecting data. The median survival time was 8 months. Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in survival time between patients with different CT-PCI stages, serum CA125 levels, and with or without lymph node and extraperitoneal metastasis ( P<0.05) . Multivariate analysis showed that CT-PCI was independent risk factors for the prognosis of MPeM ( HR=2.203, 95% CI: 1.475-3.289) . Conclusion:The new TNM staging system and serum CA125 are important for the prognosis of patients with MPeM. Early detection, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment can improve the survival time of patients with MPeM.