Objective: To investigate the effect of zinc supplementation on expression of MT-1 and MT-2 mRNA in placenta and small intestine of pregnant rats. Method: Eighteen healthy pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into two groups,normal control (ZC) and zinc supplement group (ZS). Rats in both groups were fed the same normal diet. Rats in ZC group drank deionized water and those in ZS group drank the water supplemented with 1.26 mmol/L Zn. At gestational 9.5d and 17.5d, serum zinc was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the expression of MT-1 and MT-2 mRNA of placenta and small intestine was examined by RT-PCR. Results: Serum zinc levels at gestational 9.5d and 17.5d were higher in ZS group. Relative expression of both MT-1 and MT-2 mRNA in placenta, MT-1 mRNA at gestational 17.5d and MT-2 mRNA at each time point were higher in ZS group. At gestational 9.5d, there was no difference between two groups in expression of MT-1 mRNA. Conclusion: The expression of MT-1 and MT-2 mRNA in placenta and small intestine was up-regulated by dietary zinc supplementation during pregnancy.

Objective:To construct the molecular transmission network of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epidemic strains in northern Zhejiang Province (Jiaxing City and Huzhou City) and to explore the HIV-1 transmission characteristics in this region.Methods:A total of 371 newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients in Jiaxing City and Huzhou City in 2017 were included as study subjects, and the blood samples were collected and the basic demographic and epidemiological information were obtained. RNA in plasma was extracted, and the pol region gene sequence was amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to construct phylogenetic tree for identifying subtypes. The pairwise genetic distances were calculated, and the optimal threshold of genetic distance was selected, and finally the molecular transmission network was constructed. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:The pol region gene sequences of 336 samples were successfully obtained, and 11 subtypes were detected, mainly including circulating recombinant form (CRF)07_BC (40.8%, 137/336) and CRF01_AE (31.2%, 105/336). Based on the 1.0% genetic distance threshold, the molecular transmission network of HIV-1 was plotted. A total of 38 transmission clusters (cluster sizes ranging from two to 28) including 119 patients were found, with males predominantly (82.4%, 98/119) and most of the patients aged over 40 (include 40) years old (52.9%, 63/119), mainly infected with CRF07_BC subtype (57.1%, 68/119) and CRF01_AE (24.4%, 29/119). The clustering rate of CRF07_BC (49.6%, 68/137) was significantly higher than that of CRF01_AE (27.6%, 29/105), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.27, P=0.022). Two large clusters C1 (28 cases) and C2 (11 cases) were identified, the majority of which were men who have sex with men (17 cases and seven cases, respectively). High-risk cases generally sought sexual partners in local or nearby cities through mobile phone dating software, of which the infected sequences mostly had high homology with other economic developed regions (Guangdong Province, Beijing City and Hangzhou City, etc.). Conclusions:The HIV-1 subtypes are diverse in Jiaxing City and Huzhou City, mainly CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The HIV-1 transmission networks are complex, among which high-risk cases may be the key factor leading to the HIV-1 epidemic in the region. Therefore, it is urgent to deepen the transmission network monitoring and formulate timely precise intervention and prevention strategies.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 involved in epithelial mesenchymal transformation(EMT)in chronic sinusitis(CRS).Methods The expression of MMP-9 from polypoid middle turbinate tissue was detected by immunohistochemical staining qPCR and Western blot assay in 42 patients with CRS and 8 patients underwent septoplasty.Primary human nasal epithelial cells HNEpc were cultured in vitro and divided into the control group,the TGF-β1 group(5 μg/L TGF-β1 intervention)and the TGF-β1+si-MMP-9 group(transfected with si-MMP-9 and 5 μg/L TGF-β1 intervention).The expression of MMP-9 was detected by cell immunofluorescence staining.Expression levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9 and EMT-related proteins E-cadherin,vimentin and α-SMA were detected by Western blot assay.Results(1)The positive expression rate of MMP-9 was significantly higher in the nasal mucosa of CRS with nasal polyps(CRSwNP)group(54.5%,12/22)than that of the CRS without polyps(25.0%,5/20)group and the control group(12.8%,1/8).The relative expression levels of MMP-9 mRNA and protein in nasal mucosa were higher in the CRSwNP group than those in the CRSsNP group and the control group(P＜0.05).(2)Compared with the control group,the expressions levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9,vimentin and α-SMA were increased in the TGF-β1 group,while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the TGF-β1 group,expression levels of TGF-β1,MMP-9,vimentin and α-SMA were decreased in the TGF-β1+si-MMP-9 group,and the expression of E-cadherin was increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of MMP-9 is increased in CRS patients,which may be involved in the development of CRS through the regulation of EMT.

In order to investigate the feasibility of the modified chitosan-gelatin crosslinked membrane (MC-Gel) and chitosan-gelatin crosslinked membrane (CS-Gel) to be a potential biomaterial for corneal regeneration, we evaluated their physicochemical properties and intraocular biocompatibility in this study. White light transmission and permeability of these membranes were detected. Results showed that white light transmission of both membranes was above 90% at 500 nm, which was similar to that of human cornea. The glucose, tryptophan and NaCl permeability of MC-Gel membrane and CS-Gel membrane was better than or similar to those of human cornea. The methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to assess cell viability and proliferation. Also, interlamellar corneal transplantation was carried out to evaluate ophthalmic biocompatibility of MC-Gel membrane and CS-Gel membrane. Results indicated that MC-Gel membranes could support the proliferation of HCEC and displayed good intraocular biocompatibility when implanted into rabbits. No severe inflammatory reaction occurred after transplantation and the implanted MC-Gel membrane degraded completely 16 weeks post-operation. Due to its good physicochemical properties and biocompatibility, MC-Gel membrane could be a promising candidate material for corneal regeneration.
Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Cornea ; cytology ; Corneal Injuries ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; Epithelium, Corneal ; cytology ; physiology ; surgery ; Gelatin ; chemistry ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; methods ; Humans ; Membranes, Artificial ; Rabbits ; Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds

Eucommiae Folium(EF),a traditional Chinese medicine,has been used to treat secondary hypertension,including renal hypertension and salt-sensitive hypertension,as well as hypertension caused by thoracic aortic endothelial dysfunction,a high-fat diet,and oxidized low-density lipoprotein.The antihyperten-sive components of EF are divided into four categories:flavonoids,iridoids,lignans,and phenyl-propanoids,such as chlorogenic acid,geniposide acid and pinoresinol diglucoside.EF regulates the occurrence and development of hypertension by regulating biological processes,such as inhibiting inflammation,regulating the nitric oxide synthase pathway,reducing oxidative stress levels,regulating endothelial vasoactive factors,and lowering blood pressure.However,its molecular antihypertensive mechanisms are still unclear and require further investigation.In this review,by consulting the relevant literature on the antihypertensive effects of EF and using network pharmacology,we summarized the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of EF in the treatment of hypertension to clarify how EF is associated with secondary hypertension,the related components,and underlying mechanisms.The results of the network pharmacology analysis indicated that EF treats hypertension through a multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway mechanism.In particular,we discussed the role of EF tar-gets in the treatment of hypertension,including epithelial sodium channel,heat shock protein70,rho-associated protein kinase 1,catalase,and superoxide dismutase.The relevant signal transduction path-ways,the ras homolog family member A(RhoA)/Rho-associated protein kinase(ROCK)and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)oxidase/eNOS/NO/Ca2+pathways,are also discussed.

Lamiophlomis Herba， one of the medicinal herbs commonly used by the Tibetan ethnic minority， has the effect of activating blood， stopping bleeding， dispelling wind， and relieving pain and is frequently used to treat trauma， traumatic bleeding， rheumatic arthralgia， and dampness and dampness-heat. By a review of ancient Tibetan medicine classics， materia medica classics， and modern literature， this paper systematically analyzed the name， nature， taste， original plant， medicinal part， harvest， processing， efficacy， and indications of Lamiophlomis Herba. The textual research showed that Lamiophlomis Herba was first recorded in the Somaratsa （《月王药诊》） in the middle of the eighth century. This medicinal herb was mainly recorded with a plain and warm nature and a sweet， bitter， and astringent taste. The herb was recorded as non-toxic in other books except the Tibetan Medicinal Plants in Gannan of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau （《青藏高原甘南藏药植物志》）. In the books of the past dynasties， the aboveground part of Lomiophlomis rotatd was used as medicine. In addition， there were also records of using the whole herbs of Ajuga ovalifolia， A. ovalifolia var. calantha， and Oreosolen wattii as the medicine. In ancient times， the herb was mainly harvested before Frost's Descent in the 8^th-9^th months of the lunar calendar， while it was mainly harvested during the flowering-fruiting stage in autumn in modern times. Due to the decreased reserve of Lamiophlomis Herba， the medicinal part evolved from whole herb or fresh leaves to the aboveground part. According to the ancient and modern records， this herb mainly has the functions of nourishing bone and marrow， eliminating dampness and dampness-heat， stopping bleeding， and relieving pain. In ancient times， it was used for treating parasitic diseases， menostaxis， spermatorrhea， diarrhea， and nourishing the body. This paper aims to provide a basis for further development and study of Lamiophlomis Herba through the textual research.

The clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has significantly improved the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. With the widespread applica-tion of ICIs in HCC, the management of immune-related adverse events (irAE) gained more and more attention. However, the complicated disease characteristics and various combination therapies in HCC throw out challenges to irAE management. Therefore, the editorial board of the 'Chinese expert consensus on the management of immune-related adverse events of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (2021 edition)' organizes multidisciplinary experts to discuss and formulate this consensus. The consensus focuses on issues related to HCC irAE manage-ment, and puts forward suggestions, in order to improve standardized and safety clinical medication, so as to maximize the benefits of immunotherapy for patients.