Objective:To compare the osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)induced by osteopontin(OPN)and mineralizing culture medium(MCM).Methods:DPSCs were cultured with OPN(OPN group)and MCM(MCM group)respectively. The morphology of the DPSCs were observed under inverted microscope.The mineralize nodules were observed by alizarin red staining. RT-RCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein (BSP),Runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx-2),osteocal-cin(OCN)and collagen-1(Col-1).Results:Similar number of mineralized nodules was found in the 2 groups(P >0.05)after 28 day culture.The mRNA expression level of BSP gene in OPN group was higher than that in MCMgroup(0.864 ±0.112 and 0.514 ±0.068, P <0.05),while the expression level of Runx-2 gene in OPN group is lower than that in MCMgroup(0.186 ±0.017 and 0.324 ±0. 058,P <0.05).The expression level of Col-1 and OCN genes in both groups were similar(P >0.05).Conclusion:The capabilities of OPN and MCMin inducing osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs are similar.

Objective:To observe the technique of using the random flap with a subcutaneous pedicle forone-stage reconstuction of anterior auricular conchal defect and its efficancy.Methods:Ten cases were involved in this study, including 3 cases of carcinoma, 6 cases of nevus, and one with iatrogenic detect. Six patients were men, and 4 were women. Their ages were 2 months to 68 years (mean 57 years). Surgical defect size ranged from 1.0 cm×1.0 cm to 2.5 cm×1.5 cm. They were resected and reconstructed using the retroauricular random flap of the subcutaneous pedicle.Results:10 wounds were healed by first intention. The appearance and functionality of the flap matched well with the receiptive site. During 6 to 24 months of follow-up, no tumor or nevus recurred. All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic results of the POSAS assessment scale.Conclusions:Aesthetic results are achieved with satisfactory appearance and functionality by this easy-to-learn technique in comparative short surgical time.

Magnesium sulfate has been administered to pregnant women at imminent risk of preterm delivery for fetal neuroprotection, but its adverse effects and target population have not been fully studied. This paper summarizes the current protocols according to the existing guidelines and the latest research progress, including the gestational age at intervention, dose, duration of therapy and the need for re-administration, hoping to provide a reference for the clinical use of magnesium sulfate for fetal neuroprotection in China.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features, prevention, and treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pregnancy.Methods:Clinical features, treatment, and pregnancy outcomes of ten pregnant patients diagnosed with DKA and treated at Peking University First Hospital from January 2004 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively using descriptive statistical analysis.Results:DKA was found in two cases in the first trimester, three in the second trimester, and five in the third trimester, respectively. Six had type 1 diabetes (including two patients with fulminant type 1 diabetes) and four patients had type 2 diabetes. Only two cases received regular pregnancy examinations, and two began prenatal care in the second trimester. The other six cases neither had prenatal examination nor regular examination. Infection, pancreatitis, and preeclampsia occurred in six, two, and one case, respectively, and among them, four had urinary system infection. Laboratory examination showed that the average pH, blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at onset were 7.06±0.16, (23.7±2.6) mmol/L and (9.2±0.8)%. All patients had different degrees of electrolyte disorder and tested positive for urine ketone bodies. After rehydration, glucose-lowering, and correction of electrolyte disorder, the acidosis was relieved, and the ketone bodies turned negative in all patients. There was no maternal death. The fetal loss occurred in five cases, including one with intrauterine fetal death in late pregnancy, one with embryo arrest in early pregnancy, one with unavoidable abortion, and two terminated on maternal request. The remaining three were term labor and two were preterm labor.Conclusions:The leading cause of DKA in pregnancy is poor control of diabetic blood glucose, followed by infection. Once DKA is complicated during pregnancy, the outcome of the mother and her baby is poor. Its occurrence should be actively prevented. For women with fulminant type 1 diabetes, DKA is easier to occur, and the prognosis is poorer, so strict management and follow-up should be warranted.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of thalidomide on acute lung injury (ALI) induced by paraquat (PQ) poisoning in rats and its possible mechanism. Methods Sixty SPF Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups with 10 rats in each group. The rat model of PQ poisoning was reproduced by intraperitoneal injection of PQ solution 20 mg/kg (PQ model group), and the rats were treated by intraperitoneal injection of gradient thalidomide (50, 100, 200 mg/kg treatment groups) 30 minutes later continuously for 3 days. The normal saline (NS) control group and thalidomide control group (thalidomide 200 mg/kg) were established. After 3 days, the abdominal aorta blood was collected, and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was determined by hydroxylamine method, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) content was determined by thiobarbituric acid method. The rats were sacrificed for lung tissue, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The phosphorylation levels of p65 and inhibitor-α of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) (IκB-α), which were the NF-κB signaling pathway proteins, were determined by Western Blot. The pathological changes in lung tissue were observed under light microscope by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Results Under microscope, obvious congestion of pulmonary interstitial and alveolar septum, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration and thickened alveolar wall were observed after 3 days of PQ poisoning, and the congestion of pulmonary interstitial and alveolar septum, edema and inflammatory cells infiltration in the lung tissue were significantly reduced after treatment of 50, 100, 200 mg/kg thalidomide, but compared with NS control group, there was still a small amount of edema fluid, inflammatory cells and erythrocytes in the lungs tissue. Compared with the NS control group, serum MDA content and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and the phosphorylation of p65 and IκB-α in lung tissue were significantly increased after PQ exposure, and the activity of serum SOD was significantly decreased. Treatment with 50, 100, 200 mg/kg thalidomide could significantly reduce the levels of MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, and phosphorylation of IκB-α and p65, and increase SOD activity, in a dose-dependent manner, and the levels were significantly different from PQ model group [MDA (mmol/L): 8.26±1.20, 6.72±1.18, 5.51±1.44 vs. 9.02±1.03, TNF-α (ng/mg): 3.00±0.14, 1.84±0.18, 1.58±0.11 vs. 3.30±0.14, IL-6 (ng/mg): 1.26±0.04, 1.06±0.04, 0.97±0.08 vs. 1.97±0.07, p-p65/p65: 6.01±0.35, 3.64±0.15, 2.89±0.18 vs. 6.34±0.23, p-IκB-α/IκB-α: 2.27±0.13, 2.14±0.22, 1.52±0.14 vs. 2.96±0.20, SOD (kU/L): 195.7±19.3, 207.1±25.6, 225.8±23.1 vs. 188.2±26.6, all P < 0.05]. There was no significant effect on lung by 200 mg/kg thalidomide alone. Conclusion Thalidomide has a protective effect on ALI induced by PQ poisoning in rats in a dose-dependent manner, the mechanism may be achieved by reducing the level of oxygen free radicals, reducing the inflammatory factor and inhibiting the IκB-α/NF-κB signal pathway activation.

Objective:To investigate the repair of the severe nasal deformity in the unilateral cleft lip secondary with the methods in the composite tissue Z-plasty and the nasolabial anatomical reconstruction.Methods:A total of 25 patients with severe nasal deformity due to secondary unilateral cleft lip underwent the reconstructive surgery using the technique of composite tissue Z-plasty and the nasolabial anatomical reconstruction for anatomical restoration of cartilage, muscle, and soft tissue layers. All patients were followed up for 3-24 months, with an average period of 7.6 months. The treatment outcomes were evaluated by a questionnaire in postoperative follow-up.Results:All the 25 patients had achieved satisfactory nostril shape and no other complications such as bleeding, infection and flap necrosis were recorded. A total of 25 patients were evaluated postoperatively. The average columella length was significantly improved from an average of 14.2 mm preoperatively to 20.2 mm postoperatively. The average ratio of the cleft side columella height to the alar base width was 0.18 preoperatively and 0.30 postoperatively. The postoperative basal and frontal views revealed a better shape of the nostrils, columella and nasal floor. GAIS questionnaires of 25 patients demonstrated that 20 patients reported great improvement, 4 patients reported moderate improvement, 1 patient had poor improvement in size and shape of the affected side nostril who undevwent the another repair of the rdure in 12 months postoperation. The ectopic muscles around the pear hole was completely released and the effect was good after repair. The satisfactory rate was 96%.Conclusions:Combining the composite tissue Z-plasty with the nasolabial anatomical reconstruction allows for thorough anatomical restoration of cartilage, muscle, and skin layers in unilateral cleftlip nasal deformities. This single-step approach is a safe and technically easy therapeutic option that is associated with high patients′ satisfaction. This method should be considered for promotion in clinic.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of Xing's ureteroileal anastomosis technique in radical cystectomy.Methods:The data of 38 patients who underwent radical cystectomy with Xing's ureteroileal anastomosis technique at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Beijing Chaoyang Hospital from July 2013 to June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 30 males and 8 females. The mean age was 61.6±15.1 years old. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.1±2.7 kg/m 2. The American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) graded 25 cases as grade 1, 10 cases as grade 2 and 3 cases as grade 3. There were 35 cases with stage cT 2N 0M 0 and 3 cases with cT 3N 0M 0. All patients underwent radical cystectomy and ileal conduit, and the ureteroileal anastomosis was performed using the Xing's ureteroileal anastomosis technique. Afferent loop entry was divided equally into two lumens. After 1.5 cm-long lengthwise incisions, each ureter was directly and end-to-end anastomosed to the aforementioned lumens. Postoperative information was recorded, including ureteric stricture, ureteric reflux, hydronephrosis, anastomotic leakage, renal calculus, urinary tract infection, and pyelonephritis. Results:Ureteroileal anastomosis was performed successfully in 38 cases with 76 units. The median follow-up time was 35.6 (17.0, 46.3) months. Three patients developed unilateral anastomotic stenosis after operation. Five patients had unilateral ureteral reflux. Two patients had unilateral hydronephrosis. No anastomotic leakage, urinary tract infection, or pyelonephritis occurred after the operation. Renal calculus appeared in 3 cases, all on the left unit.Conclusions:Xing's ureteroileal anastomosis technique is a simple method with few postoperative and good functional outcomes.

Catalase is widely used in the food, medical, and textile industries. It possesses exceptional properties including high catalytic efficiency, high specificity, and environmental friendliness. Free catalase cannot be recycled and reused in industry, resulting in a costly industrial biotransformation process if catalase is used as a core ingredient. Developing a simple, mild, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach to immobilize catalase is anticipated to improve its utilization efficiency and enzymatic performance. In this study, the catalase KatA derived from Bacillus subtilis 168 was expressed in Escherichia coli. Following separation and purification, the purified enzyme was prepared as an immobilized enzyme in the form of enzyme-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers, and the enzymatic properties were investigated. The results indicated that the purified KatA was obtained through a three-step procedure that included ethanol precipitation, DEAE anion exchange chromatography, and hydrophobic chromatography. Then, by optimizing the process parameters, a novel KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflower was developed. The optimum reaction temperature of the free KatA was determined to be 35 ℃, the optimum reaction temperature of KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers was 30-35 ℃, and the optimum reaction pH of both was 11.0. The free KatA and KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers exhibited excellent stability at pH 4.0-11.0 and 25-50 ℃. The KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers demonstrated increased storage stability than that of the free KatA, maintaining 82% of the original enzymatic activity after 14 d of storage at 4 ℃, whereas the free KatA has only 50% of the original enzymatic activity. In addition, after 5 catalytic reactions, the nanoflower still maintained 55% of its initial enzymatic activity, indicating that it has good operational stability. The K_m of the free KatA to the substrate hydrogen peroxide was (8.80±0.42) mmol/L, and the k_cat/K_m was (13 151.53± 299.19) L/(mmol·s). The K_m of the KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers was (32.75±2.96) mmol/L, and the k_cat/K_m was (4 550.67±107.51) L/(mmol·s). Compared to the free KatA, the affinity of KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers to the substrate hydrogen peroxide was decreased, and the catalytic efficiency was also decreased. In summary, this study developed KatA/Ca₃(PO₄)₂ hybrid nanoflowers using Ca²⁺ as a self-assembly inducer, which enhanced the enzymatic properties and will facilitate the environmentally friendly preparation and widespread application of immobilized catalase.
Catalase ; Nanostructures/chemistry* ; Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism* ; Enzymes, Immobilized/chemistry* ; Catalysis