OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) and hair follicle regeneration.

METHODSPRP was prepared using the double-spin method and applied to DPCs. The proliferative effect of activated PRP on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. To understand the influence of activated PRP on the hair-inductive capacity of DPCs, freshly isolated epidermal cells and DPCs of passage 4 were resuspended, mixed with various concentrations of a PRP (0%, 5% or 10%) and were then transferred to a grafting chamber, which was implanted onto the dorsal skin of nude mice. The chambers were removed 1 week after grafting and HF formation was monitored for 4 weeks; the graft site was harvested and processed for histological examination.

RESULTSActivated PRP increased the proliferation benefited the aggregative growth of DPCs. There are significant difference in the yield of hair follicles compared with 10% PRP (344 +/- 27) with 0% PRP (288 +/- 35) in the area of reconstituted skin (P < 0.05). The areas treated with PRP demonstrated an increase in hair follicles density of 19.4%. Ten percent PRP (18 +/- 1) d also can significantly shorten the time of hair formation, compared with 0% PRP (20 +/- 1) d (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is a considerable effect of PRP on the time of hair formation and the yield of hair follicles reconstitution.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; growth & development ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Nude ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Regeneration ; Skin ; cytology ; Skin, Artificial

Objective To determine the correlation between papillary thyroid cancer( PTC) malignancy with thyroid antibody expression level. Methods In this retrospective study, 4046 goiter patients with complete clinical data who have undergone thyroidectomy were separated into the benign nodule ( n=1357) and PTC groups ( n=2689), and their preoperative thyroglobulin antibody ( TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody ( TPOAb) were assessed through antibody analysis. HT was determined based on the postoperative histopathology. The collected data were then evaluated for the correlation with PTC malignancy through statistical tests. Results In general, patients in the PTC group showed a significantly higher TgAb positivity ( 10. 9％) than those in the benign group ( 5. 6％, P<0.01) . Among female patients, a higher TgAb positivity was observed for those in the PTC group than those in the benign group (14.0％ vs 7.0％, P<0.01), while no significant difference between groups was observed in male patients. The high odds ratio of 2.18 supports the significant correlation between TgAb-positive status and higher risk of developing PTC in women (P<0.05). However, the risk of developing PTC was not correlated with higher TgAb titre. TgAb was not significantly correlated with the mass size, multifocality, lymph node metastasis or the TNM classification of malignant tumor stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ. Conclusion The increasing risk of PTC is related to TgAb among female patients, but it will not increase as TgAb titer rises. It is not associated with PTC aggressiveness.

Objective To identify the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of young patients with sporadic rectal cancer liver metastasis(RCLM).Methods The clinical data of young RCLM patients at 45 years or under(n=40,as younger patient group)in Peking University First Hospital from January 2016 to January 2021 were reviewed,meanwhile,elder RCLM patient group were comprised of 82 patients older than 45-year-old in a 1:2 ratio.Proportions of categorical variables were compared between young patients and old patients.The clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier method for demonstrating survival differences between the maximum diameter of liver metastasis and local therapy.Results One hundred and twenty-two RCLM patients were identified,the 1-,3-and 5-year survival rates of young patient group were 97.5%,47.5%,15.0%,those of elder patient group were 84.1%,26.8%,9.8%,respectively.The differences in BMI(P=0.008),primary tumor with obstruction and bleeding(P=0.006),synchronous rectal cancer liver metastases(P=0.005),the maximum diameter of liver metastasis>3 cm(P=0.019)were statistically significant between the two groups.And univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age(P=0.003),N stage(P=0.007),local therapy for liver metastases(P=0.047)and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis(P=0.030)were independent risk factors for influencing the prognosis of RCLM patients;curative resection or not of primary tumor(P=0.035)and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis(P=0.041)were independent risk factors for influencing the prognosis of young RCLM patients.Kaplan-Maier curve demonstrated survival differences between the maximum diameter of liver metastasis and local therapy for liver metastasis in RCLM patients(log-rank P=0.000).Conclusions Although with later staging of initial tumor station,young RCLM patients may obtain better survival benefit compared with old patients.Higher degree of lymph node metastasis,local therapy for liver metastases and the maximum diameter of liver metastasis>3 cm indicates poor prognosis in RCLM patients,and without curative resection of primary tumor and maximum diameter of liver metastasis are also considered as the independent poor prognostic factors of young RCLM patients.Local therapy for liver metastases appears to play an important role in the treatment strategy of RCLM patients.

Objective: To explore age-related clinical characteristics, early responses and outcomes in non-senile adults with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods: Data of consecutive cases of 18-65 years adults with de novo AML (non-acute promyelocytic leukemia) were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical characteristics at diagnosis, early responses and outcomes across different age groups of patients were analyzed. Results: 1 097 patients were enrolled. 591 (53.9%) were male. Median age was 42 years. Increasing age was significantly associated with decreasing WBC count (P=0.003), increasing PLT count (P=0.034), lower blast proportions in bone marrow (P=0.021). The incidence of NPM1(+)/FLT3-ITD(-) increased with age (P<0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that increasing age was associated with low probabilities of achieving morphologic leukemia free state (MLFS) (P=0.053) and complete remission (CR) (P=0.004) and poor overall survival (OS) (P=0.070) in the whole patients population. However, increasing age was not associated with low MLFS rate and poor OS, except low CR rate (P=0.075) in those receiving standard induction regimen instead of low-intensity regimen. Conclusions: There were significant differences on clinical characteristics, cytogenetics and molecular genetics across different age groups in non-senile adults with de novo AML. In the patients receiving standard induction regimen, age was not associated with MLFS rate and OS.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Nucleophosmin ; Prognosis ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3

ObjectiveTo study the effect-enhancing and toxicity-reducing activities of astragalus polysaccharide injection （APS） on U14 cervical cancer in model mice receiving X-ray treatment. MethodU14 mouse cervical cancer cells were cultured in vitro and injected into the right forelimb armpit of Kunming mice for constructing a subcutaneous tumor-bearing model of cervical cancer. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into the model group， X-ray intervention（IR， 6 Gy） group， APS （10 mL·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and IR + APS group. Following the observation of the state， body mass， and food intake of mice in each group， the volume of the tumor was measured. The tumor cell cycle and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins p53， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and cleaved cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed protease-3 （Caspase-3） in tumor tissues were assayed by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultThe comparison with the model group showed that mice in the IR group had poor mental status and reduced mobility. The IR group and IR + APS group exhibited reduced food intake and body mass since the 8^th d （P<0.05， P<0.01） and narrowed tumor volume since the 9^th d （P<0.01）. In the IR group， the proportion of cells in the G₁ phase was increased， while the proportion of those in the S phase was decreased （P<0.01）. In the IR + APS group， the proportion of cells in the G₁ phase rose， whereas the proportion of those in the G₂ and S phases cells declined （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The apoptotic rates in both the IR group and IR + APS group were elevated significantly （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the IR group and IR + APS group displayed up-regulated cleaved Caspase-3 and Bax protein and mRNA expression in tumor tissues， but down-regulated Bcl-2 and p53 protein and mRNA expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the IR group， the mice in the IR + APS group had better mobility and hair， normal body mass， and increased food intake （P<0.05）. The tumor volume in the IR + APS group was reduced （P<0.05）. The proportion of cells in the G₂ phase was reduced， but the proportion of those in the S phase was raised （P<0.05）. The apoptosis rate was increased （P<0.05）. The apoptosis-related protein Bax protein expression in the tumor tissue was up-regulated， while the protein expression levels of Bcl-2 and p53 were down-regulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionAPS maintains the life state of U14 cervical cancer model mice treated with X-ray and promotes tumor cell apoptosis， thus enhancing the efficiency and reducing toxicity.

This article reported a case of malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma with cranial metastasis. The patient was a 25-year-old man. At the age of 10, he was diagnosed with retroperitoneal paraganglioma. He received radiotherapy after partial resection of the tumor. At the age of 15, when he consulted for headache and hypertension, a space occupying lesion was found on the right adrenal without further diagnosis and treatment. His headache and hypertension were aggravated at the age of 25. Then he visited our medical center and diagnosed with right adrenal pheochromocytoma. He undertook an operation to remove the right adrenal lesion, and his blood pressured could be controlled in the normal range with oral antihypertensive medication. One year after the surgery, a cranial lesion with positive 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging was found following the increase of norepinephrine and dopamine in both blood and urine. The diagnosis of malignant pheochromocytoma with cranial metastasis was confirmed. The cranial lesion was treated with cyberknife therapy for 4 times, and the lesion was slightly reduced. Four year after the removal of right adrenal tumor, he developed multiple bone metastasis in the right ribs and left ilium, and then he received 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine radiotherapy. Additionally, the results of gene test indicated a pathogenic mutation of SDHB. During the follow-up period of one year after the treatment, his blood pressure fluctuated to about 140/90mmHg with 10mg of phenoxybenzamine once a day. The case is a malignant pheochromocytoma with multiple bone metastasis characterized by a long course with an ideal prognosis in a way. Consequently, we suggested the diagnostic pathway with genetic testing based on clinical phenotype to approach more timely diagnosis and reasonable evaluation of the prognosis in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Furthermore, clinicians should pay more attention to the long-term surveillance.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and transmission chain of an epidemic of COVID-19 in Haidian district, Beijing.Methods:Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the epidemic, and field investigation and big data technology were used to analyze the transmission chain of the epidemic.Results:From April 27 to May 13, 2022, an epidemic of COVID-19 occurred in Haidian district. The strains isolated from the cases were identified by whole genome sequencing as Omicron variant (BA.2.2 evolutionary branch). A total of 38 infection cases were detected, including 34 confirmed cases and 4 asymptomatic cases. Most cases were mild ones (88.2%), no severe, critical or death cases occurred. The early clinical symptoms were mainly sore throat (50.0%) and cough (29.4%). The epidemic lasted for 17 days, resulting in 7 generations of the cases and involving 3 community transmissions, 2 working place transmissions and 8 family transmissions; the main infection routes were co-residence (47.6%) and co-space exposure (31.6%). The intergenerational interval M( Q1, Q3)was 3 (1, 6) days. The overall secondary attack rate was 1.5% (37/2 482), and the family secondary attack rate was 36.7% (18/49). Conclusions:The cases in this COVID-19 epidemic caused by Omicron variant had mild clinical symptoms, but the case clustering in families and communities was obvious, the transmission was rapid, and the risk for co-space exposure was high. It is necessary to use information technology to identify close contacts in the local population for the rapid and effective blocking of the epidemic spread.

Objective To study the effect of Hedysarum polysaccharides(HPS)on the expression of transforming growth factor-β,(TGF-β1),smad homologue 3 recombinant protein(smad3)and smad7 in renal tissue of db/db mice with diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods According to their body weight,6-week-old male db/db mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:model group(0.9％NaCl 0.2 mL·d-1),positive control group(22.75 mg·kg-1·d-1 irbesartan)and experimental-H,-M,-L groups(200,100,50 mg kg-1·d-1 HPS),with 10 mice in each group;another 10 SPF grade male C57BL/6 mice of the same week were selected as normal group(0.9％NaCl 0.2mL·d-1).The mice in the 6 groups were given intragastric administration once a day for 12 weeks.The blood glucose concentration of mice was measured before treatment and at the 4th,8th and 12th week after treatment.The expression levels of TGF-β1,smad3 and smad7 were detected by Western blotting.Results After treatment,the blood glucose levels of the model group was significantly higher than those of the normal group(all P＜0.01);compared with the model group,the levels of blood glucose in the experimental-H,-M groups decreased significantly,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The relative expression levels of TGF-β,protein in normal group,model group,positive control group and experimental-H,-M groups were 0.71±0.16,1.66±0.18,1.00±0.17,0.88±0.15 and 1.23±0.15;the relative expression levels of smad3 protein were 0.89±0.32,2.26±0.35,1.24±0.31,1.05±0.30 and 1.67±0.35;the relative expression levels of smad7 protein were 1.66±0.03,0.60±0.03,1.10±0.07,1.48±0.08 and 0.97±0.09;there were statistically significant differences between the experimental-H,-M groups and the model group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Hedysarum polysaccharides can improve renal fibrosis and delay the development of diabetic nephropathy by regulating the level of blood glucose,inhibiting TGF-β1,smad3 and increasing the expression of smad7.

Hepatohilar cholangiocarcinoma is a common malignant tumor of the biliary system,and radical surgery is one of the important treatment methods.Due to the narrow space at the hi-lum and the high rate of anatomical variation,radical surgery is challenging.By using medical imag-ing technology and 3D reconstruction,surgeons can accurately determine the stage and classifica-tion of hilar cholangiocarcinoma preoperatively.They can assess the tumor's resectability by Ac-cording to the bile duct separation limit points(U point,P point)and anticipate the impact of portal vein,bile duct,and arterial variations on the surgical plan,thereby improving the rate of radical re-section and reducing complication rates.