Objective To investigate the effect of astaxanthin on the peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) apop-tosis induced by oxidative stress in vitro and to explore its underlying mechanism .Methods Human peripheral blood EPCs were in vitro cultured and divided into the control group ,model group with 100 μmol/L tert-butyl hydroperoxide(tBHP) and the astaxan-thin plus tBHP group(with 0 .10 ,1 .00 ,10 .00 nmol/L astaxanthin pretreatment for 24 h ,then adding the final concentration of 100μmol/L tBHP for 6 h continuous culture) .The cell viability was measured by the MTT method .The level of reactive oxygen spe-cies (ROS) was determined by the DCFH-DA method .The changes of mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP) and the apoptosis ratio were detected by the JC-1 method and the DAPI method ,respectively .Results Compared with control group ,100μmol/L tB-HP could obviously caused the apoptosis of EPCs(P<0 .05) ,while astaxanthin could decrease tBHP induced apoptosis ,which man-ifested by the decrease of the apoptosis ratio (P<0 .05) and MMP increase .Conclusion Astaxanthin has the protective effect on the apoptosis of EPCs ,its mechanism may be related with the protection of the mitochondrial function .

AIM: To screen the cytotoxicity of degradable calcium metaphosphate (dCMP) compared with hydroxyapatite (HA). The proliferation and differentiation abilities of human marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were used to exhibit the cytotoxicity. METHODS: The cell morphology of MSC was analysed after direct contact with dCMP at different time points by scanning electron microscopy analysis. The degradation products of dCMP and HA were analysed with inductively coupled plasma torch and ion chromatography. The cytotoxic effect of degradation products of dCMP was evaluated by FACS, quantitative assay of ALP and ARS, respectively. RESULTS: dCMP enhanced the proliferation of MSC, but didn't interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC and its mineralization. HA inhibited the proliferation of MSC and the mineralization of osteogenic differentiated MSC, while it did not interfere the osteogenic differentiation process of MSC. CONCLUSION: dCMP had a better cytocompatibility with MSC than HA, which might allow for its use as skeleton scaffolds.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an increasing incidence in China. Chronic inflammation is considered as an important cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). IBD is correlated with ASCVD. IBD and ASCVD share common pathophysiological mechanisms in epidemiology, genetics and environmental factors. Many factors related to IBD affect the occurrence and development of ASCVD. This article reviewed the common pathophysiological mechanism of the two diseases and the research progress of related treatment.

OBJECTIVE:To conduct the quality assessment of artificial Aquilaria sinensis by"cutting inducing technique", and provide reference for its scientific planting and harvest. METHODS:GC-MC and HPLC were adopted to detect the volatile in-gredients,characteristic spectrum,incense tetraol and alcohol-soluble extract contents in 3 batches of artificial A. sinensis(Num. 1, 2,3,respectively for 5,10,20 years)by"cutting inducing technique". RESULTS:The volatile ingredients of 3 batches of artifi-cial A. sinensis mainly consisted of aromatic compounds,sesquiterpene compounds,fatty acid compounds and chromone com-pounds. The characteristic spectrums of samples 2,3 were basically the same with the reference substance of A. sinensis. The in-cense tetraol contents of 3 batches of samples were 0.078%-0.254%,and alcohol-soluble extract contents were 12.4%-20.8%. The characteristic spectrum and the incense tetraol content of sample 1 were not conformed to the standards in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2015 edition,part 1). CONCLUSIONS:Artificial A. sinensis by"cutting inducing technique"shows similar volatile ingredients to natural A. sinensis. The quality of artificial A. sinensis for more than 10 years is conformed to the standards in Chinese Pharmaco-poeia(2015 edition,part 1),which can be used as medicine,replacing the natural A. sinensis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) protein of PML protein in Bowen's disease (BD), skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and explore the role of PML in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

METHODSPML protein in normal skin tissues and lesions of Bowen's disease, SCC and BCC were detected with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSNormal skin tissues did not express PML protein. In BCC, PML showed rather low expressions in the skin lesions (8.69% in cell nuclei and 4.35% in cytoplasm). The lesions in BD and SCC (grade I and II) showed obvious overexpression of PML protein in the cell nuclei and cytoplasm, and its expression in the cell nuclei of these lesions was significantly higher than that in grade III-IV SCC.

CONCLUSIONPML protein may play an important role in the early stage of SCC, and its overexpression may contribute to the carcinogenesis and metastasis of SCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Bowen's Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the evaluation index of melasma staging by clinical manifestations and non-invasive skin detection technology.Methods A total of 195 patients with a clinical diagnosis of melasma were enrolled from the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University.The skin with lesion enlarged,color darker,erythema,red occured after scratching or lesion faded after compressing with glass belonged to the active stage;on the contrary,it was in the stable stage.Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM),dermoscopy,Mexameter 18 and LAB were used to observe skin lesions of different stage of melasma.Results There were 115 patients (59.0 ％) in the active stage of melasma and 80 patients (41.0 ％) in the stable stage.DMA score in active stage 35.08± 10.59 were significantly higher than that of the stable stage 15.06-4-9.20 (P＜0.05).There were statistically significant difference in the quantity of inflammatory cell and blood vessels between two stages of melasma (P＜0.05).Erythema index (EI) in active stage of melasma 376.35±61.39 were high-er than that of the stable stage 320.364± 62.40 (P＜0.05).A-value in active stage of melasma 13.28± 1.75 were higher than that of the stable stage 12.34± 1.78 (P＜0.05).However,there were no siginificant differences in the quantity of melenin,melanin index (MI),L-value and B-value.Conclusions Melasma could be divided into active stage or stable stage,respectively,according to its clinical manifestations.DMA score,quantity of inflammatory cells and blood vessels,EI and A-value could be used as the reference index of melasma staging.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of topical treatment with adenovirus-mediated promyelocytic leukemia gene (PML) gene in a psoriasis-like mouse model.

METHODSThe effect of adenovirus-mediated PML gene on the granular layer of mouse tail scale epidermis and epithelial mitosis were observed on longitudinal histological sections prepared from the tail skin and vaginal epithelium of the mice.

RESULTSAdenovirus-mediated PML gene significantly inhibited mitosis of mouse vaginal epithelial cells and promoted the formation of granular layer in mouse tail scale epidermis.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of PML gene in the psoriasis-like mouse model may be associated with increased granular cells and suppressed epidemic cell proliferation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Administration, Topical ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mitosis ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Psoriasis ; therapy ; Skin ; cytology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Vagina ; cytology

Background: Abnormal expression of leptin and brain⁃derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important link in the occurrence of ulcerative colitis (UC), but the mechanism of leptin and BDNF in UC is still unclear. Aims: To explore the effect and mechanism of leptin and BDNF in DSS induced colitis in mice. Methods: Thirty⁃six male 8⁃10 weeks healthy leptin⁃deficient ob mice and leptin⁃normal expressing wild type (WT) mice were selected and randomly divided into WT experimental group, ob experimental group, WT control group and ob control group. The mice in experimental groups were given 3% DSS solution for 7 days to induce colitis model, and the mice in control group were given distilled water. After modeling, disease activity index (DAI) score, colon length, behavior and visceral sensitivity were observed. The mRNA expressions of leptin and BDNF in colon and hippocampus were detected by real⁃time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and the protein expression of BDNF in colon was detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with corresponding control groups, DAI score, visceral sensitivity in WT experimental group and ob experimental group were significantly increased (P< 0.05), mRNA and protein expressions of BDNF in colon were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with WT control group, anxiety and depression⁃like behavior were found in WT experimental group, mRNA expressions of leptin, BDNF in hippocampus were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that anxiety was positively correlated with length of colon in WT experimental group (P<0.05), and negatively correlated with DAI score (P<0.05); depression, expression of BDNF mRNA in colon were negatively correlated with length of colon (P<0.05), and positively correlated with DAI score (P<0.05); leptin in hippocampus was positively correlated with anxiety (P<0.05), while was negatively correlated with depression (P<0.05); expression of BDNF mRNA in colon was negatively correlated visceral sensitivity (P<0.05). Conclusions: Colonic BDNF secretion is associated with leptin expression, and both may be involved in the DSS⁃induced colitis in mice by mediating anxiety, depression and visceral sensitivity.

Objective:To investigate the serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of seven invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) isolates. Methods:For 7 iNTS strains collected, serotype identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole genome sequencing were performed. We identified, annotated and analyzed the serotypes, MLST types, and antimicrobial resistance genes.Results:Among the 7 tested iNTS isolates, we found one Salmonella Typhimurium strain and two Salmonella Ⅰ 4, [5], 12: i:- strains whose MLST types were ST34, two Salmonella Enteritidis strains, one Salmonella Corvallis strain and one strain of unknown serotype with the antigenic formulae of Ⅰ 4, [5], 12: d:- (ST279 type). Six of seven strains were monophasic and the deletion or pseudogenization of Salmonella Flagellum gene might contribute to the enhancement of Salmonella invasiveness. None was found to be resistant to tigarcycline, aztreonam, amikacin, cephalosporins and carbapenem and one Salmonella Typhimurium strain was found to be co-resistant to eight classes of antimicrobials at the same time. Resistance genes were generally in accord with relative resistant phenotypes. Conclusion:The iNTS strains could show high level multi-drug resistance, indicating that close attention should be paid to the resistance of iNTS though the overall resistance might be relatively not high.

Objective:To investigate the dosimetric differences in volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients receiving adjuvant radiotherapy and internal lymph node irradiation after left-sided modified radical mastectomy.Methods:VMAT and IMRT radiotherapy plans were established for 20 patients undergoing left-sided modified radical mastectomy. The dosimetric parameters of the target area and organs at risk were calculated by the dose volume histogram. The categorical variables were tested by χ2 or Fisher′ s exact probability test. The continuous variables with normal distribution were analyzed by paired-t test or rank-sum test. Results:Among the two radiotherapy techniques, the homogeneity index of IMRT was significantly higher than that of VMAT ( P<0.05). The time of VMAT treatment was significantly shorter than that of IMRT ( P<0.01). VMAT was superior to IMRT in V 20Gy and V 30Gy of the affected lung (both P<0.05). VMAT was superior to IMRT in the left anterior descending coronary artery D mean, D max, and heart V 30Gy, V 40Gy, D mean and D max(all P<0.01). The esophageal D mean in the VMAT group was superior to that in the IMRT group ( P<0.05). The V 5Gy and V 10Gy of the contralateral lung and the D max of the esophagus in the IMRT group were significantly better compared with those in the VMAT group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:VMAT can significantly reduce the dose of the heart, contralateral lung, spinal cord, esophagus and other vital organs, and shorten the treatment time. For patients who need adjuvant radiotherapy and internal mammary lymph node irradiation after left-sided modified radical mastectomy, VMAT technology can better protect normal tissues than IMRT.