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 .

Objective:To investigate the differential performance of ultrasound between fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) and venous malformations(VMs).Methods:From January 2015 to December 2020, the patients diagnosed with lower extremity FAVA by pathology in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital were enrolled as FAVA group. The patients diagnosed with lower extremity VMs by pathology were enrolled as the control group. The clinical and ultrasound imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Through the single factor analysis of the two groups’data, the ultrasonic imaging indicators which may be valuable for distinguishing FAVA from VMs were screened. Further, the indicators valuable for differential diagnosis were determined by multi-factor Logistic regression analysis, and a multi-factor joint diagnosis model was constructed. The diagnostic efficiency of the joint diagnosis model was evaluated by the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve), sensitivity, and specificity of the subjects.Results:A total of 20 patients with FAVA were involved, including 11 males and 9 females. The mean age was (18.1±12.2) years. Forty-six patients with VMs were involved, including 20 males and 26 females. The mean age was (19.9±13.6) years. Results of the single-factor analysis were differences in the lesion echo, fascial tail, blood flow, extrusion test, and posterior echo enhance characteristics between groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed significant differences between groups in three aspects: fascial tail, extrusion test, and posterior echo enhancement ( P=0.001, 0.008, 0.007). The sensitivity and specificity of the multi-factor combined diagnosis model were 90.0% (95% CI: 68.3%-98.8%) and 93.5%(95% CI: 82.1%-98.6%), indicating high diagnostic efficiency. The ROC(AUC) area was 0.964(95% CI: 0.886-0.994), indicating high diagnostic efficiency. Conclusions:The ultrasonic imaging features of FAVA and VMs were different. The combined diagnosis of the fascial tail, compression test, and posterior echo enhancement has a higher auxiliary diagnostic value.

Objective:To investigate the MRI features of fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA).Methods:The clinical, pathological and MRI data of the FAVA patients confirmed clinically and pathologically in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2016 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 17 females and 13 males, aged 4-53 (18.5±12.8) years.Through the analysis of the MRI images of FAVA performance, including the lesion area, shape, signal, the degree of reinforcement, inner structure, outer structure and other image characteristics, summarize the MRI features.Results:The lesions located at the lower leg (12 cases), thigh (12 cases), upper arm (4 cases), forearm (1 case) and trunk (1 case). Twenty-four case of lower limbs. All cases involved the muscular layer, including 21 cases of superficial muscle layer, 7 cases of deep muscle layer, and 2 cases of both. Twenty-three cases of superficial muscle layer. Most of the affected muscles were quadriceps femoris and gastrocnemius. Morphology: all lesions were intramuscular solid masses growing parallel to the long axis of the muscle. There were 11 cases of focal type, 11 cases of locally infiltrating type, and 8 cases of diffuse type. MRI findings: all lesions showed mixed signal. On T1WI, 28 cases showed cloud-like, band-like and patchy high signal on the background of medium and high signal. On T2WI-FS, all the 30 cases showed low to medium signal areas on the background of high signal, which were dendrimer, ribbon and cloud-like. The lesions showed moderate to obvious heterogeneous progressive enhancement. Twenty-seven lesions had different shapes of vascular shadow, and 28 lesions had drainage vein shadow adjacent to the lesions, 24 of which were located at the proximal end of the lesions. Fascial tail sign was found at the periphery of the lesions in 26 cases, of which 23 cases were located at the upper and lower ends of the lesions.Conclusion:FAVA is a complex vascular malformation with unclear pathological classification. MRI usually shows a solid mass in the superficial muscle layer of the lower limbs parallel to the long axis of the muscle, with cloud-like, band-like, and patchy hyperintensity on the background of high signal on T1WI, and dendritic, band-like, and cloud-like hypointensity on the background of high signal on T2WI-FS, which is helpful for the diagnosis of FAVA. Combined with the data of fascial tail sign, draining vein and clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of FAVA can be confirmed to a certain extent, which can provide reference and basis for clinical decision making.

Objective:To investigate the MRI features of fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA).Methods:The clinical, pathological and MRI data of the FAVA patients confirmed clinically and pathologically in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2016 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including 17 females and 13 males, aged 4-53 (18.5±12.8) years.Through the analysis of the MRI images of FAVA performance, including the lesion area, shape, signal, the degree of reinforcement, inner structure, outer structure and other image characteristics, summarize the MRI features.Results:The lesions located at the lower leg (12 cases), thigh (12 cases), upper arm (4 cases), forearm (1 case) and trunk (1 case). Twenty-four case of lower limbs. All cases involved the muscular layer, including 21 cases of superficial muscle layer, 7 cases of deep muscle layer, and 2 cases of both. Twenty-three cases of superficial muscle layer. Most of the affected muscles were quadriceps femoris and gastrocnemius. Morphology: all lesions were intramuscular solid masses growing parallel to the long axis of the muscle. There were 11 cases of focal type, 11 cases of locally infiltrating type, and 8 cases of diffuse type. MRI findings: all lesions showed mixed signal. On T1WI, 28 cases showed cloud-like, band-like and patchy high signal on the background of medium and high signal. On T2WI-FS, all the 30 cases showed low to medium signal areas on the background of high signal, which were dendrimer, ribbon and cloud-like. The lesions showed moderate to obvious heterogeneous progressive enhancement. Twenty-seven lesions had different shapes of vascular shadow, and 28 lesions had drainage vein shadow adjacent to the lesions, 24 of which were located at the proximal end of the lesions. Fascial tail sign was found at the periphery of the lesions in 26 cases, of which 23 cases were located at the upper and lower ends of the lesions.Conclusion:FAVA is a complex vascular malformation with unclear pathological classification. MRI usually shows a solid mass in the superficial muscle layer of the lower limbs parallel to the long axis of the muscle, with cloud-like, band-like, and patchy hyperintensity on the background of high signal on T1WI, and dendritic, band-like, and cloud-like hypointensity on the background of high signal on T2WI-FS, which is helpful for the diagnosis of FAVA. Combined with the data of fascial tail sign, draining vein and clinical manifestations, the diagnosis of FAVA can be confirmed to a certain extent, which can provide reference and basis for clinical decision making.

Objective:To investigate the differential performance of ultrasound between fibro-adipose vascular anomaly (FAVA) and venous malformations(VMs).Methods:From January 2015 to December 2020, the patients diagnosed with lower extremity FAVA by pathology in Henan Provincial People’s Hospital were enrolled as FAVA group. The patients diagnosed with lower extremity VMs by pathology were enrolled as the control group. The clinical and ultrasound imaging data were retrospectively analyzed. Through the single factor analysis of the two groups’data, the ultrasonic imaging indicators which may be valuable for distinguishing FAVA from VMs were screened. Further, the indicators valuable for differential diagnosis were determined by multi-factor Logistic regression analysis, and a multi-factor joint diagnosis model was constructed. The diagnostic efficiency of the joint diagnosis model was evaluated by the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve), sensitivity, and specificity of the subjects.Results:A total of 20 patients with FAVA were involved, including 11 males and 9 females. The mean age was (18.1±12.2) years. Forty-six patients with VMs were involved, including 20 males and 26 females. The mean age was (19.9±13.6) years. Results of the single-factor analysis were differences in the lesion echo, fascial tail, blood flow, extrusion test, and posterior echo enhance characteristics between groups ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed significant differences between groups in three aspects: fascial tail, extrusion test, and posterior echo enhancement ( P=0.001, 0.008, 0.007). The sensitivity and specificity of the multi-factor combined diagnosis model were 90.0% (95% CI: 68.3%-98.8%) and 93.5%(95% CI: 82.1%-98.6%), indicating high diagnostic efficiency. The ROC(AUC) area was 0.964(95% CI: 0.886-0.994), indicating high diagnostic efficiency. Conclusions:The ultrasonic imaging features of FAVA and VMs were different. The combined diagnosis of the fascial tail, compression test, and posterior echo enhancement has a higher auxiliary diagnostic value.

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 clinicopathological features, and diagnostic and differential diagnostic characteristics of extranodal nasal type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) of the digestive system.Methods:Thirteen cases of ENKTCL in the digestive system were collected at the Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China, from August 2000 to August 2020. The histopathological, immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization features were analyzed, as well as those of T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement in some cases. The patients were followed up.Results:There were 11 males and 2 females. The age ranged from 28 to 80 years (median=53 years). Seven cases were present in the colorectum, and 3 cases were present in the small intestine. The other three cases were in stomach, gallbladder and liver (one case each). The main clinical symptoms were fever, and abdominal pain, often accompanied by fatigue, diarrhea, hematochezia, elevated serum albumin, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and increased peripheral blood EB virus DNA copy. Histologically, the tumor accompanied by a heavy admixture of inflammatory cells (small lymphocytes, plasma cells and histiocytes). There was diffuse dense tumor cell infiltrate, with prominent coagulative necrosis. The lymphomatous infiltrate had angiocentric and angio-necrotic changes. Immunohistochemically, lymphoid cells expressed CD3 in all cases. Some of them showed weakened/absent other T cell markers, while all of them expressed CD56 except 1 case. A few of the cases showed CD4 -/CD8 + killer T cell phenotypes. In situ hybridization showed EB virus encoded RNA (EBER) was positive in all cases. Clonal TCR gene rearrangement was not detected in all 7 cases tested. The median survival time was 9 months. Conclusions:ENKTCL of the digestive system is extremely rare. It often predisposes the patients to acute abdomen such as perforation of the gastrointestinal tract. The treatment outcomes are dismal, and the prognosis is poor. Clinical and imaging studies are often non-specific. It is also easy to be misdiagnosed as non-specific ulcers. Combined with immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and TCR gene rearrangement analysis and better understanding of this tumor′s clinicopathological characteristics can help improve its diagnosis and early treatment.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, and differential diagnosis of verrucous hemangioma (VH).Methods:Twenty-eight VH cases diagnosed from 2005 to 2020 in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China were analyzed retrospectively. Immunohistochemical studies were used to detect diagnostic markers. The mutation status of PIK3CA (exons 9 and 20) was detected using fluorescence PCR.Results:There were 13 males and 15 females in 28 cases, with the male to female ratio of 1.0∶1.2. There were 25 patients under the age of 18 years. The age range was from 10 months to 56 years (mean, 9.7 years; median, 4.5 years). There were 17 cases occurred in the lower extremities, 7 in the upper extremities and 4 in the trunk. All 28 cases were irregular red patches on the skin, which grew slowly. Some of them were thickened with uneven surface, which was light pink or red-white. Skin lesions of the 7 cases ranged from dark red and reddish brown, with a rough and hard surface. Satellite foci were present. Microscopically, 28 cases had a wide range of pathological features. Dilated, malformed vessels were observed from dermal papilla to deep soft tissue. Among them, the dermal papillary layer was mainly composed of many proliferating and expanding thin-walled capillaries and cavernous blood vessels. Thin-walled small vessels were found in the dermal reticular layer and subcutaneous fascia layer, with no obvious endothelial cell proliferation, occasional papillary hyperplasia, and lobular distribution of the malformed vessels in the fascia layer mixed with the fibroadipose tissue. There was epidermal papillary hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis, lengthening and mutual fusion of epithelial horns. Immunohistochemistry showed that CD31, CD34, ERG and WT-1 were diffusely and strongly positive. The expression of GLUT-1 was present in superficial dermal vascular endothelial cells, but undetectable in the deep layer. The PIK3CA tests of 13 cases showed that no somatic mutations were found in exons 9 and 20. Twenty-five patients were followed up for 5 months to 10 years. Seven patients underwent multiple surgical resections and plastic surgeries due to the large size, and 8 patients had recurrence.Conclusions:VH is a rare congenital vascular malformation and more commonly occurs in infants and children. It tends to appear in limbs, especially lower limbs and distal limbs. Its morphology and immunophenotype are characteristic and should be distinguished from other vascular malformations and the resolution phase of infant hemangiomas. In about one third of the cases, postoperative recurrence may occur and long-term follow-up is often required.