OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of aloesin, tea polyphenols, arbutin on melanocytes in the pigmented skin equivalent model.

METHODSFirst, we constructed the pigmented skin equivalent model in vitro. And then we detected the effect of aloesin, tea polyphenols and arbutin on the cells' shape, tyrosinase activity and formation of melanin in the constructed pigmented skin equivalent.

RESULTSThree depigmenting agents showed an inhibition effect on the tyrosinase activity of melanocytes and reduced significantly melanin content in the pigmented skin equivalent model, in which the tea polyphenols had the strongest effect, and then was the aloesin. But the tea polyphenols showed the strongest toxicity, while the aloesin and arbutin had a much lower toxicity.

CONCLUSIONSAll the three depigmenting agents showed a concentration dependent suppression effect on the tyrosinase activity and formation of melanin, in which the tea polyphenols was the strongest effect( P <0.05). Aoesin has a good suppression effect on the tyrosinase activity and formation of melanin, but has a much lower toxicity, which could be used as a safe depigmenting agent.

Arbutin ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Foreskin ; cytology ; Glucosides ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Melanins ; biosynthesis ; Melanocytes ; drug effects ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Pigmentation ; Polyphenols ; Skin ; drug effects ; Skin Aging ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of cycloheximide and TNF-alpha on melanocyte (MC).

METHODSMelanocyte apoptosis was studied with MTT, transmitting electron microscopy and fluorescence labeling of alive cells.

RESULTSWe added TNF-alpha and cycloheximide in melanocytes, and the typical apoptosis appeared 24 hours later, with chromatin condensation, nuclear pyknosis and apoptotic bodies formation. The results of cytometry showed the typical apoptotic peak.

CONCLUSIONTNF-alpha and cycloheximide together could inhibit MC proliferation and induce MC apoptosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cycloheximide ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Melanocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of lipo-sodium morrhuate on ECV-304 cell line.

METHODSThe effect lipo-sodium morrhuate was evaluated by toxicology trial (MTT), electron microscope, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometer.

RESULTSThe toxicology results showed, that the number of vital cells in lipo-sodium morrhuate group decreased slowly. The electron microscope exhibited apoptosis in the lipo-sodium morrhuate group. And there were typical DNA ladder in DNA electrophoresis and typical apoptosis peak in flow cytometer. The apoptosis rate was 22.23%.

CONCLUSIONSUnlike the normal preparation of sodium morrhuate, lipo-sodium morrhuate could induce apoptosis of ECV-304 cell line.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; pathology ; Humans ; Liposomes ; Sodium Morrhuate ; pharmacology ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to review the efficacy of curcumin in the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis systematically. METHODS: We searched seven databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP, to obtain randomized controlled trials related to the treatment of oral submucous fibrosis by curcumin. Each database was searched from inception to 30 June 2019. RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: Six randomized controlled trials involving 350 patients were included in this study. Meta-analysis showed that curcumin can increase the maximal mouth opening and improve burning sensation compared with placebo treatment. Curcumin was not as effective as the controls in achieving maximal mouth opening after 1 month of treatment. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the treatments from 2 months to 6 months. Curcumin significantly improved burning sensation compared with the controls after 3 months of treatment. No statistically significant diffe-rence in burning sensation was observed between the curcumin and control groups after 1, 2, and 6 months of treatment. CONCLUSIONS The current evidence shows that curcumin is an effective treatment for improving maximal mouth opening and burning sensation in patients with oral submucous fibrosis. Given the limited number and low quality of the included studies, however, more high-quality studies are needed to verify these findings.
Curcumin ; Databases, Factual ; Humans ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/drug therapy* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEMinimal residual disease (MRD) is one of the most important prognostic factors in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Flow cytometry and PCR are two common techniques for examining MRD in ALL. This study aimed to identify MRD targets by tandem application of both techniques in children with ALL.

METHODSFrom September 2001 to October 2003, 126 children with newly diagnosed ALL were enrolled on the treatment protocol ALL-XH-99. Tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR was performed to identify MRD targets in these patients.

RESULTS1. Using sets of combined antibodies, immunophenotypic expression of leukemia cells was observed in 95 of 106 B-lineage ALL cases (89.6%). Only one aberrant immunophenotype was observed in 11 cases (11.6%) and most patients with B-lineage ALL (88.4%) expressed at least two suitable targets. 2. Using PCR technique, T-cell receptor (TCR) or immunoglobulin gene rearrangements were identified in 26 of 27 patients (96.3%). Two or more monoclonal/ bi-allelic gene rearrangements were identified in 17 cases (65.4%). The majority (70%) of T-lineage ALL cases contained TCRVgammaI-Jgamma1.3/2.3. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements were found in 57.1% of cases with B-lineage ALL. 3. Suitable MRD targets of immunophenotypic abnormalities or antigen receptor gene rearrangements were detected in 121 patients (96.0%).

CONCLUSIONSMRD targets were identified using tandem application of flow cytometry and PCR in almost of children with ALL. Cross-lineage TCR rearrangements and bi-allelic gene rearrangements were observed in many patients.

Child ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVEThe prognostic significance of immunophenotyping in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been controversial. This study investigated the relationship of immunophenotypes with French-American-British (FAB) subtypes and chromosomal abnormalities and assessed the prognostic value of immunophenotyping in children with AML.

METHODSFrom January 1998 to May 2003, 75 children with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled on protocol AML-XH-99. Immunophenotypes were measured with the flow cytometry. According to the McAbs used, the patients were classified into five groups: panmyeloid antigens (CD13, CD33, and MPO), myeloid-lineage associated antigens (CD14, CD15), lineage-specific antigens (CD41, GlyA), progenitor-associated antigens (CD34, HLA-DR) and lymphoid-associated antigens (CD19, CD7). The probability of event-free survival (EFS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The distributions of EFS were compared using the log-rank test. Chi-square analysis or Fisher exact test was used to compare the differences in the distribution of biologic presenting features. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent prognostic factors.

RESULTSAt least one of panmyeloid antigens CD13, CD33 and MPO was expressed in 72 patents (97.3%). Two or more panmyeloid antigens were expressed in 45 patients (60.8%). The proportion of children with AML expressing one or more of the lymphoid-associated antigens was 24.3%. Lymphoid-associated antigen CD19 was expressed by blast cells in most of FAB M2 patients. The patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia were characterized by the absence of HLA-DR and lymphoid-associated antigens CD19 and CD7. Monovariate analysis showed immunophenotypes were not related to the complete remission rate after the first induction course and the 5-year-EFS. Multivariate analysis suggested immunophenotyping had no independent prognostic value in AML.

CONCLUSIONSImmunophenotyping can not be used independently in the evaluation of risk classification in children with AML. However, it is useful in the reorganization of special types of AML.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; immunology ; mortality ; Male ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo assess the prognostic value of the biological features and therapy-related factors in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSFrom January 1998 to May 2003, 75 patients with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled on the protocol AML-XH-99. Biological features at presentation [gender, age, white blood cells, platelet count, French-American-British (FAB) subtypes, cytogenetic abnormalities] and therapy-related factors [bone marrow (BM) blast cell counts at 48 h after the first induction course, complete remission (CR) rate after the first course of induction therapy] were analyzed. The probability of event-free survival (pEFS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the distributions of pEFS were compared using log-rank test. Chi-square analysis or Fisher exact test was used to compare differences in the distribution of presenting biological features. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS(1) Univariate analysis of the proportion of patients attaining CR after induction indicate that FAB M(5), BM blasts >or= 0.150 at 48 h after the first induction course and no response to the first induction course were associated with lower CR rates (P = 0.001, 0.011, 0.000 respectively). Univariate analysis also demonstrated that the 5-year pEFS for patients with age < 1 year or > 10 years, platelet count < 20 x 10(9)/L, FAB M(5), hepatomegaly, BM blasts >or= 0.150 at 48 h after the first induction course and no response to the first induction course, central nervous system (CNS) leukemia was unfavorable, while the outcome of patients with cytogenetic abnormalities of t (8; 21) or t (15; 17) were better. (2) Multivariate analysis suggested that cytogenetic abnormality of t (15; 17), achieved CR after the first induction course and no CNS leukemia were independent favorable prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSCombined analysis of cytogenetic abnormalities with early treatment response has an important prognostic significance, and can predict outcomes.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Male ; Prognosis ; Treatment Outcome

Abstract：Objective To improve the replication level of varicella⁃zoster virus（VZV）in human diploid cell line MRC⁃5 and increase the yield of VZV vaccine by reducing the expression of interferon（IFN）related genes via optimizing the cell line MRC⁃5. Methods Interferon receptor 1（IFNAR1）silenced MRC⁃5 cell line（MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃）was constructed by CRISPR／Cas9 gene editing technology，which was determined for the relative expression of IFNAR1 mRNA，and for those of mRNA of IFN related genes IFNβ and OAS1 after VZV infection by qRT⁃PCR to evaluate the effect of gene silencing. Gene mutation sequences were further identified by sequencing of the silenced sites. The replication of VZV in MRC⁃5 and MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃ cell lines was compared 168 h after VZV infection by using qRT⁃PCR and plaque formation unit（PFU）assay， to evaluate the effect of MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃cell line on VZV replication. Results The growth status of MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃ cell line wasconsistent with that of MRC ⁃ 5 cells，and the relative expression of IFNAR1 mRNA decreased by 73%；The relative expressions of IFNβ and OAS1 mRNA in MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃ cell line were 61% and 90% lower than those in MRC⁃ 5 cells respectively after VZV infection；In addition，168 h after VZV infection，the level of DNA replication and the titer of VZV increased by 5. 7 folds and 4 folds respectively. Conclusion The successful establishment of MRC⁃5IFNAR1⁃ cell line may be a potential scheme to increase the yield of vaccines based on human diploid cells，and provided a reference for expanding production of VZV vaccine.

Objective Based on the techniques of continual tissue slices, the human epididymis was rebuilt for understanding the anatomical and histological features of the epididymal ducts. Methods Continuous tissue slices of one human epididymis were performed and digital slice images were obtained through scanning with Leica-Aperio AT2; the pipe wall of epididymal duct was aligned in sequence with Photoshop CC 2018 software and VGStudio MAX V3.0 software was used for three-dimensional synthesis. Finally, the later modification was carried out with Materialise Magics V22.0 software. Another human epididymis was used for electron microscopy. The histological features of epididymal ducts were analysed by combining slices and three-dimensional reconstruction. Results A total of 4331 and 543 slices in transverse and sagittal section respectively were prepared with a thickness of 7 |ira. According to the three-dimensional structure, regional distribution of human epididymal duct could be found obviously and the caput, corpus and cauda of epididymis could be clearly divided into 7, 9 and 4 subregions respectively. There were tissue intervals among adjacent subregions and epididymal ducts were disordered within each subregion, but differences were existed in tubular diameter and epithelial structure, and adjacent subregions were connected by single epididymal duct in the corpus and cauda. Conclusion The human epididymal duct can be successfully reconstructed by continual tissue slices technique. The human epididymal duct has regional distribution in space obviously and there are differences between different subregions.

Objective To study and compare biomechanical properties of a newly developed magnesium AZ31B alloy intramedullary nail (AZ31B) with that of imported Poly-L-lactic acid intramedullary nail (PLLA) and pure titanium rib plate (TPRP), so as to provide scientific evidences for better internal fixation in clinical operation. Methods Forty fresh adult ribs were used and divided into 4 groups randomly. Three groups were made lateral rib fracture in midaxillary line and fixed by AZ31B, PLLA and TPRP, respectively, while the group with normal ribs was used as control. Biomechanical properties of specimens in each group were measured and tested using experimental stress analysis. Results (1) Three-point bending strength of internal fixation with AZ31B was close to that of control group (P>0.05), but significantly different to that of TPRP group and PTRP group (P<0.05); (2) No significant differences in torsional strength were found between AZ31B group, PTRP group and control group (P>0.05), and the torsional strength of both AZ31B and PTRP was superior to that of PLLA (P<0.05). Conclusions The internal fixation with AZ31B is an ideal mode for treating rib fracture since AZ31B has larger flexural strength than PLLA and TPRP, and its torsional strength was close to PTRP and normal ribs. This study provides some support for future research on biomechanical properties of AZ31B.