Objective To observe the antibacterial and synergistic effect of Xianglian Suppository with miconazole suppository for the treatment of simple vulvovaginal candidiasis ( VVC) , and to explore the advantages of integrative Chinese and western medicine for the treatment of simple VVC. Methods According to the principle of randomized trial, 65 simple VVC patients were divided into two groups, 35 cases in test group and 30 in control group. The test group was given Xianglian suppository and miconazole suppository, and the control group was treated with miconazole suppository, the medication lasting for 7 days. The changes of symptom scores before and after treatment were observed, and the therapeutic effect and safety were also evaluated in both groups. Results ( 1) After treatment for one course, the markedly effective rate and total effective rate were 60.00%, 88.57% in the test group, and were 23.33%, 60.00% in the control group, respectively, the differences being significant between the two groups ( P<0.01). ( 2) After treatment, symptom scores were decreased in both groups ( P<0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the decrease in the test group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01). (3) One case of the test group had the complaint of severer pruritus vulvae after medication, and the results of physical examination showed the case had vulvovaginal flush but had no edema, blister or other discomfort. The manifestations disappeared when the medication continued, indicating that the case had no allergic reaction. No case had allergic reaction in the control group. Conclusion For the treatment of simple VVC, Xianglian suppository combined with miconazole suppository can obviously relieve the clinical symptoms, and is effective and safe.

AIM:To explore the preliminary mechanism of senegenin ( Sen) on inhibiting hypoxia/reoxygenation ( H/R)-induced apoptosis of primary cortical neurons .METHODS:The cultured cortical neurons were randomly divided in-to normal group (control group), model group (H/R group), Sen+H/R group and Sen group.Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the effect of Sen on H/R-induced cell apoptosis .The protein levels of JNK , p-JNK, c-Jun, p-c-Jun, Bcl-2 and Bax were assessed by Western blotting .RESULTS:The apoptotic rate in H/R group was obviously higher than that in control group (P<0.05), while the apoptotic rate in Sen +H/R group was obviously lower than that in H/R group (P<0.05), suggesting that the model of apoptosis was established successfully .The results of Western blotting showed that Sen increased the expression of JNK and c-Jun, inhibited the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun (P<0.05), increased the protein level of Bcl-2 and inhibited the protein level of Bax in H/R treated primary cortical neurons (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Sen has a protective effect against H/R-induced neuronal apoptosis by increasing the expression of JNK and c-Jun, inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun, increasing the protein level of Bcl-2 and decreasing the protein level of Bax .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of microRNA-140 (miR-140) on the migration and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and the possible mechanism.

METHODSmiR-140 mimics, miR-140 specific inhibitor or small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Smad3 were transfected into human CRC cell line RKO cells respectively, using Oligofectamine or Lipofectamine2000. Quantitative real-time PCR (real-time PCR) was used to measure the expression levels of miR-140 and Smad3 mRNA. Smad3 protein was analyzed by Western blot. The in vitro cell migrating and invasive abilities were determined by wound-healing and Transwell chamber assay after up-regulating or down-regulating miR-140 or knocking down Smad3.

RESULTSThe Western blot assays showed that the Smad3 protein level was significantly reduced after up-regulating miR-140 (0.04 ± 0.01), compared with that of (0.47 ± 0.02, P < 0.05) in the control group and that of (0.52 ± 0.06) in the negative control group (P < 0.05 for both). The results of real-time PCR indicated that no significant difference was found in the levels of Smad3 mRNA between miR-140 transfection and NC groups (1.11 ± 0.13 vs. 1.00 ± 0.06, P > 0.05). The wound-healing assay showed that the migrating ability was dramatically attenuated by miR-140 compared with that in the control and NC groups, whereas no significance was found when compared with that of the Smad3 siRNA transfected cells. The number of cells migrating through Transwell chamber without matrigel in the miR-140 group was (76.2 ± 4.4), remarkably lowered than that in the control (267.1 ± 4.9) and NC (336.1 ± 5.7) groups (P < 0.05 for both), but no significant difference between the miR-140 (76.2 ± 4.4) and Smad3 siRNA (83.5 ± 7.3) groups. Transwell chamber with matrigel assay showed that number of cells penetrating through the membrane was (109.5 ± 7.4) in the miR-140 group, significantly lower than that in the control (403.1 ± 5.1) and NC (392.6 ± 8.4) groups (P < 0.05 for both), while Smad3 siRNA transfection had a similar effect (138.8 ± 3.6)(P > 0.05). Down-regulation of miR-140 increased the level of smad3 protein expression, and partially reversed the inhibition of the cell migration and invasion mediated by miR-140. Co-transfection of miR-140 inhibitor and Smad3 siRNA had no significant effect on the Smad3 protein expression and the abilities of cell migration and invasion.

CONCLUSIONSmiR-140 regulates the Smad3 expression at the post-transcriptional level. miR-140 suppresses the migrating and invasive abilities of CRC cells, possibly through down-regulation of Smad3. The findings of this study suggest that miR-140 may have a unique potential as a possible biomarker candidate for diagnosis and therapy of tumor metastasis.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation

Objective:To investigate the relationship between different fluorine concentrations in drinking water and dental fluorosis and caries of children.Methods:In 2014-2019, 5 cities and 6 counties (districts) were selected, which were Dali and Heyang counties of Weinan City, Liquan County of Xianyang City, Fugu County of Yulin City, Chencang District of Baoji City, and Yanliang District of Xi'an City, villages of different water fluorine contents were selected, 3 tap water samples were collected from each village to detect the water fluoride content. The prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries in children aged 8 to 12 years old in villages was investigated, and children's urinary fluorine level was determined.Results:Totally 48 water samples and 868 urine samples were tested, and the water fluorine content was from 0.23 to 3.70 mg/L, and the urinary fluorine mean was 1.47 mg/L; 1 021 children aged 8-12 years old were examined, 372 were diagnosed with dental fluorosis, the detection rate was 36.43%; 198 with caries, the detection rate was 19.39%. The detection rate of caries in children decreased and then increased with the increase of water fluorine ( F=14.470, P < 0.05), and the detection rate of caries was the lowest when the water fluorine was 1.2-< 2.0 mg/L. The detection rate of dental fluorosis in children increased with the increase of water fluorine ( F=52.215, P < 0.05), when the water fluoride was 1.0-< 1.2 mg/L, the detection rate of children's dental fluorosis was 31.90% (37/116), which was basically within the national control line (30%). Conclusion:The content of water fluoride in 1.0-< 1.2 mg/L, can not only reduce the detection rate of caries, but also control the prevalence of dental fluorosis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children and the intake of dietary nutrients. Methods A total of 81 children aged 8-12 (34 males and 47 females) with fluorosis were randomly selected in the districts of Daxu, Fuping, and Fuyang in Shaanxi Province where the drinking water had been changed for more than 5 years. The diagnosis of dental fluorosis was carried out using Dean's method. According to the 1:1 case-control study method, 81 children aged 8-12 (34 males and 47 females) without dental fluorosis were selected as a control group. A ^“double meal method^“ was employed for dietary investigation for 3 consecutive days. The differences in dietary nutrient intake between the two groups of children were analyzed and compared. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the difference in the dietary intake of vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, and selenium in the fluorosis group was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The logistic regression analysis of the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children showed that the dietary nutrient magnesium was associated with the onset of dental fluorosis. Conclusion Within a certain range, dietary magnesium is a protective factor for children with dental fluorosis. It is suggested that school-age children in areas with excessive water fluoride should be supplemented with sufficient magnesium in their diets.