Background and Objectives: Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) play an important role in the repair of tooth injuries. Electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1 (NBCe1) is a Na＋ -coupled HCO3− transporter encoded by the solute carrier 4A4 (SLC4A4) gene and plays a crucial role in maintaining the pH of DPSCs. Our previous research confirmed that NBCe1 is highly expressed in odontoblasts during the development of the tooth germ. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of NBCe1 on odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs and further clarify the underlying mechanisms. Methods: and Results: DPSCs were isolated and identified, and the selective NBCe1 inhibitor S0859 was used to treat DPSCs. We used a cell counting Kit-8 assay to detect cell proliferative ability, and intracellular pH was assessed using confocal microscopy. Odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs was analyzed using real-time PCR and Alizarin Red S staining, and the NF-κB pathway was assessed using western blotting. Our results indicated that 10 μM S0859 was the optimal concentration for DPSC induction. Intracellular pH was decreased upon treatment with S0859. The mRNA expressions of DSPP, DMP1, RUNX2, OCN, and OPN were upregulated in the NBCe1 inhibited group compared to the controls. Moreover, NBCe1 inhibition significantly activated the NF-κB pathway, and a NF-κB inhibitor reduced the effect of NBCe1 on DPSC differentiation. Conclusions NBCe1 inhibition significantly promotes odontogenic differentiation of DPSCs, and this process may be regulated by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)in the treatment of patients with hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS).Methods From April 2015 to August 2018,at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China,21 patients with gynura segetum caused HSOS were selected.All the patients received TIPS treatment because of unresponsiveness to anticoagulant therapy for at least two weeks.After operation patients were followed up with liver and portal vein Doppler ultrasonography examination,liver and kidney function tests,and survival observation.T test,logistic univariate regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed for statistical analysis.Results Among the 21 patients with gynura segetum-related HSOS,18 patients were in the subacute phase and three patients in the chronic phase.All of them were moderate or severe patients and all successfully underwent TIPS.The postoperative portal vein pressure was (16.71 ± 4.68) cmH2O (1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa),which was lower than that before operation ((41.52 ±6.27) cmH2O),and the difference was statistically significant (t =16.936,P ＜ 0.01).The postoperation portal vein blood flow velocity was (41.52 ±7.70) cm/s,which was higher than before operation ((11.19 ± 3.29) cm/s),and the difference was statistically significant (t =-15.191,P ＜0.01).At one month after operation,15 of 21 patients were clinically cured;among the remaining six patients,four patients were improved and two patients were ineffective (including one patient died).At four months after operation,two patients died,and the remaining 19 patients were clinically cured.At one month after operation,the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),total bilirubin (TBil) and serum creatinine were (23.7 ± 16.8) U/L,(33.9 ±7.4) U/L,(52.7 ± 38.2) μmol/L and (62.7 ± 12.6) μmol/L,respectively,which were lower than those before operation ((60.5 ± 42.4) U/L,(78.4 ± 42.4) U/L,(74.9 ± 38.2) μmol/L and (82.4 ± 19.6) μmol/L,respectively),and the differences were statistically significant (t =3.193,3.493,2.378 and 4.519;all P ＜ 0.05).The level of albumin was (39.0 ±3.1) g/L,which was higher than that before operation ((30.9 ± 3.8) g/L),and the difference was statistically significant (t =-10.283,P ＜ 0.01).Portal vein thrombosis and preoperative TBil level had predictive value for therapeutic efficacy (both P ＜0.05).The one-year cumulative survival rate of patients was 90.5％.Preoperative TBil level and hepatic encephalopathy had effects on the prognosis of patients (both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion TIPS is a safe,reliable and effective treatment for patients with subacute and chronic gynura segetum-related HSOS who are not responding to ineffective anticoagulant therapy,which can improve the prognosis and survival rate of the patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) affects 45%-63% of lung cancer patients worldwide. Lung cancer patients complicated with COPD have decreased cardiopulmonary function and increased perioperative risk, and their postoperative exercise endurance and lung function are significantly lower than those with conventional lung cancer. Previous studies have shown that postoperative exercise training can improve the exercise endurance of unselected lung cancer patients, but it is unclear whether lung cancer patients with COPD can also benefit from postoperative exercise training. This study intends to explore the effects of postoperative exercise training on exercise endurance, daily activity and lung function of lung cancer patients with COPD. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) complicated with COPD who underwent pneumonectomy in the lung cancer center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from August 5, 2020 to August 25, 2021 were prospectively analyzed. They were randomly divided into exercise group and control group; The patients in the two groups received routine postoperative rehabilitation in the first week after operation, and the control group was given routine nursing from the second week. On this basis, the exercise group received postoperative exercise rehabilitation training for two weeks. Baseline evaluation was performed 3 days before operation and endpoint evaluation was performed 3 weeks after operation. RESULTS: The exercise endurance, daily activity and pulmonary function test results of the two groups decreased from baseline to the end point. However, after the operation and intervention program, the maximum oxygen consumption of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test and the walking distance of 6-Minute Walking Test in the exercise group were significantly better than those in the control group [(13.09±1.46) mL/kg/min vs (11.89±1.38) mL/kg/min, P=0.033; (297±46) m vs (243±43) m, P=0.041]. The average number of we-chat steps in the exercise group was also significantly better than that in the control group (4,381±397 vs 3,478±342, P=0.035). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the exercise group were better than those in the control group, but the difference did not reach a statistically significant level [(1.76±0.19) L vs (1.60±0.28) L, P=0.084; (1.01±0.17) L vs (0.96±0.21) L, P=0.467]. CONCLUSIONS Postoperative exercise rehabilitation training can improve exercise endurance and daily activity ability of patients with lung cancer complicated with COPD and promote postoperative rehabilitation.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/surgery* ; Exercise ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/surgery* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications*

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with interventional therapy for primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension.Methods:From October 2013 to December 2017, medical records of 141 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension hospitalized and treated in Anhui Provincial Cancer Hospital were collected. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 cases were in the TIPS combined with interventional treatment group and 29 cases were included in the intervention-only group after age, gender, mean tumor diameter and Child-Pugh classification matched with TIPS combined with intervention treatment group. The efficacy of TIPS was obsented, and the related complications and prognosis of the two groups at six, 12 and 24 months after treatment were compared. Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis, and Kaplan-Merier method was used for survival analysis. Results:There were no statistically significant differences between TIPS combined with intervention group and intervention-only group in age, gender, mean tumor diameter, Child-Pugh classification, Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, Barcelona staging, interventional treatment, causes of liver cirrhosis, portal hypertension related symptoms , portal vein tumor thrombus, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBil) (all P>0.05). The success rate of TIPS of patients in TIPS combined with intervention group was 100% (32/32). All the portal hypertension related symptoms after TIPS were relieved, and the remission rate was 100% (32/32). Compared with that before TIPS, after TIPS, the portal vein pressure decreased ((36.5±6.9) cmH 2O vs. (25.5±5.6) cmH 2O (1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa)), the diameter of portal vein decreased ((15.9±3.5) mm vs. (13.7±2.7) mm), and ascites volume decreased (abdominal circumference ((105.6±13.9) cm vs. (88.0±9.8) cm), red blood cell count ((2.6±0.8)×10 12/L vs. (3.3±1.3)×10 12 /L) and hemoglobin level ((78.9±15.5) g/L vs. (108.4±14.6) g/L) both increased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.866, 3.105, 10.769, -3.548 and -3.869, all P<0.01). The stent patency rate six months after TIPS was 100% (32/32), the 12-month patency rate was 94% (30/32), and the 24-month patency rate was 84% (27/32). Six months, 12 months and 24 months after treatment, the incidence of ascites of patients in the TIPS combined with interventional treatment group was 0, 3.1% (1/32) and 9.4% (3/32), respectively, and the incidence of bleeding was 3.1% (1/32), 9.4% (3/32) and 15. 6% (5/32), respectively, which were all lower than those of the intervention-only group (13.8%, 4/29; 27.6%, 8/29; 65.5%, 19/29; 20.7%, 6/29; 34.5%, 10/29 and 62.1%, 18/29), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.72, 7.24, 20.80; and 4.62, 5.72, 13.97; all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence rates of hepatic encephalopathy 6 and 12 months after treatment between the two groups (both P>0.05). The incidence of hepatic encephalopathy of intervention-only group (48.3%, 14/29) 24 months after treatment was higher than that of TIPS combined with intervention group (21.9%, 7/32), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.70, P=0.030). The results of Kaplan-Merier analysis indicated that 12 and 24 months after treatment the cumulative survival rates of TIPS combined with intervention group (84.4%, 27/32 and 53.1%, 17/32) were both higher than those of the intervention-only group (41.4%, 12/29 and 13.8%, 4/29), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=12.20 and 5.06, both P<0.05). The median survival time of TIPS combined with intervention group was 25 months, which was longer than that of the intervention-only group (12 months), and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=3.341, P=0.001). Conclusions:TIPS combined with interventional therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma complicated with portal hypertension, which can improve the quality of life and increase the survival rate.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on post-stroke upper limb spasticity and its mechanism. Methods From September, 2015 to December, 2017, 23 patients with post-stroke upper limb paralysis were randomly divided into control group (n=13) and experimental group (n=10). Both groups received routine rehabilitation, and the experimental group received 1 Hz rTMS at primary motor area (M1) for eight weeks. They were assessed with modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE) before and after treatment, while the activation under fMRI in the task state was observed and the laterality index (LI) was calculated. Results The scores of MAS, FMA-UE and MBI improved after treatment in both groups (Z>2.121, t=6.248, P<0.05), and improved more in the experimental group than in the control group (Z>2.084, t=-2.095, P<0.05). The ipsilateral M1, ipsilateral sensory motor cortex and bilateral supplementary motor area were activated more in the control group than in the experimental group during the movement of affected hand. LI in the M1 increased after treatment in both groups (Z>2.366, P<0.05), and was more in the experimental group than in the control group (Z=-2.430, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between the change of LI in the M1 and the improvement of the MAS and FMA-UE (r>0.612, P<0.05). Conclusion Low-frequency rTMS may improve the motor function and spasticity of upper limb after stroke by promoting reorganization of the cortex and inducing normalization of cortical function.

Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest morbidity and mortality in China. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the main pathological subtype of lung cancer. On April 13, 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) released the third edition of the 2023 NCCN Oncology Clinical Practice Guidelines: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, which reflects the latest advances in international lung cancer research. This article will interpret the main updated contents of the new edition of the guidelines, and compare it with the third edition of the NCCN guidelines in 2022, so as to provide references about the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC for clinical medical personnel in China.
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Humans ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; China ; Lung Neoplasms ; Thorax