BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that neural stem cel transplantation combined with exercise training can promote the recovery of hindlimb motor function from spinal cord injury in rats, but its mechanism of action has not been fuly elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of early exercise training combined with neural stem cel transplantation on the recovery of hindlimb motor function in rats with spinal cord injury. METHODS:Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats with spinal cord injury were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=20, given conventional treatment after injury), cel transplantation group (n=20, given neural stem cel transplantation after injury), experimental group, (n=20, given neural stem cel transplantation combined with early exercise training after injury). Recovery of the hindlimb motor function was assessed by Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scale and inclined plane test before and at 1, 7, 14, 21 days after injury. Western blot assay was used to detect caspase-3 and myeloperoxidase expression. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was done at 21 days after injury to observe the structure changes of the injured spinal cord. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Scores of Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scale and inclined plane test were significantly better in the experimental group than the cel transplantation group folowed by the control group (P < 0.05). (2) In the control group, the expression of caspase-3 and myeloperoxidase was significantly increased at 14 days after injury. In the cel transplantation, the expression of caspase-3 and myeloperoxidase was significantly higher than the experimental group (P < 0.05). (3) Pathological inflammation was reduced most in the experimental group folowed by the cel transplantation group. In the experimental group, the structure of injured spinal cord was improved and became relatively clear and intact. These findings indicate that neural stem cell transplantation combined with early exercise training can effectively promote the recovery of hindlimb motor function from spinal cord injury in rats, by reducing the expression of caspase-3 and myeloperoxidase and alleviating secondary lesion of the spinal cord.

Objective To examine the prevalence of and risk factors for syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) in 16 cities/districts, 6 provinces in China. Methods Based on a previous survey on the entertainment place and population size of MSM, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007 using non-probability sampling method among MSM in 16 cities/districts in China.Information about the demography,risk behavior and syphilis infection was collected through questionnaires from MSM. Univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate independent factors associated with syphilis. Results A total of 4211 participants were recruited. The mean age of these participants was 28 years. Among them, 66.7% were self identified as homosexual, 72.5% were unmarried, and 76.4% had an education beyond senior middle school; in the past 6 months, 8.7% had sexual contact with more than 10 male sex partners, 5.6% had ever paid for male sex service, 11.3% had provided commercial sex service to males, and 18.9% had sexual contact with females, while condom was consistently used in only 36.3% of male-to-male anal sexual behavior. Syphilis was diagnosed in 10.6% of these participants. The risk factors independently associated with syphilis included being older than 25 years (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI:1.3-2.0), local residency (adjusted OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.7), being recruited from a bar or a park (adjusted OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.7), having ever paid for a male sex service(adjusted OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.0-2.1),inconsistent condom use during male-to-male anal sexual behavior(adjusted OR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0-1.5 ), self reported sexually transmitted infection history (adjusted OR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.0-1.7). Conclusions There is a high prevalence of syphilis in MSM in the 16 Chinese cities where male-to-male commercial sex service and unsafe sexual behavior are common. Further efforts are urgently needed to scale-up the prevention of and treatment program for syphilis among MSM, which should include syphilis and HIV screening as well as education on the use of condom.

BACKGROUND:Current osteoarthritis modeling methods include anterior cruciate ligament transection(ACLT)and ACLT combined with medial meniscal anterior horn resection.ACLT requires excessive postoperative exercise,which is time and labor-intensive.Complete removal of anterior horn of the medial meniscus can cause collateral damage and increase variability in modeling outcomes,requiring higher surgical skills from the surgeon. OBJECTIVE:To modify and simplify the traditional method to create animal osteoarthritis model and compare osteoarthritis symptoms of different modeling methods under a low-load exercise environment. METHODS:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned in four groups(n=12 per group):sham operation(complete exposure of the knee cavity of the left hind limb followed by suturing the joint cavity and skin),ACLT,ACLT+anterior horn resection(removal of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus)and ACLT+anterior horn tear(anterior horn tear of the medial meniscus).At 4 weeks after modeling,the rats were euthanized and their knee specimens were collected for gross observation,X-ray and CT scans,pathological observation,and PCR detection. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Gross observation:Mild meniscal wear was observed in the ACLT group.In the ACLT+anterior horn tear group,severe wear of the lateral condyle articular surface,mild wear of the medial condyle articular surface,severe meniscal wear,and full wear of the medial meniscus were observed.The ACLT+resection group showed severe wear of the lateral condyle articular surface,mild wear of the medial condyle articular surface,absence of the anterior horn of the medial meniscus,and meniscus wear area＞50%.Imaging examinations showed no significant difference among the four groups.However,the anterior tibial translocation sign was observed in the three operation groups and the anterior horn of the medial meniscus was missing in the ACLT+anterior horn resection group.Histopathological section observation:Hematoxylin-eosin,toluidine blue,and Sirius red staining showed smooth joint surfaces in the sham operation group and ACLT group;cartilage damage and matrix degradation were evident in the ACLT+anterior horn tear and ACLT+anterior horn transection groups,with less cartilage damage and matrix degradation in the ACLT+anterior horn tear group.PCR results showed higher mRNA expressions of interleukin 1β,interleukin 6,interleukin 8,tumor necrosis factor α,matrix metalloproteinase 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 3 and lower mRNA expressions of aggrecan in the ACLT+anterior horn tear group and ACLT+anterior horn resection group than in the sham operation group and ACLT group(P＜0.05).The mRNA expressions of interleukin 6,matrix metalloproteinase 1,and matrix metalloproteinase 3 were higher in the ACLT + anterior horn resection group than in the ACLT +anterior horn tear group(P＜0.05).To conclude,ACLT alone is less likely to induce osteoarthritis with obvious cartilage wear.ACLT combined with anterior horn resection or tear of the medial meniscus can induce obvious symptoms of osteoarthritis and achieve similar modeling effects.

Acute or chronic wounds are common clinical problems. Collagen, with advantages including rich sources, impeccable biocompatibility, and inherent biodegradability, has been widely used in fundamental research and clinical treatment of wound repair with broad prospects of clinical applications. This article provided a brief overview of the role of collagen in various biological processes related to wound healing and also outlined the sources of collagen. Furthermore, the article summarized the application and recent research advancements of collagen-based wound dressings in the field of wound repair.

Chinese president Xi Jinping made clear at the National Health and Wellness Conference that health is the prerequisite for people's all-around development and a precondition for the sustainable development of China. Oral health is an indispensable component of overall health in humans. However, the long neglect of oral health in overall health agendas has made oral diseases an increasing concern. With this perspective, we described the global challenges of oral diseases, with an emphasis on the challenges faced by China. We also described and analyzed the recently released health policies of the Chinese government, which aim to guide mid-term and long-term oral health promotion in China. More importantly, we called for specific actions to fulfill the larger goal of oral health for the nation. The implementation of primordial prevention efforts against oral diseases, the integration of oral health into the promotion of overall health, and the management of oral diseases in conjunction with other chronic non-communicable diseases with shared risk factors were highly recommended. In addition, we suggested the reform of standard clinical residency training, the development of domestic manufacturing of dental equipment and materials, the revitalization traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of oral diseases, and integration of oral health promotion into the Belt and Road Initiative. We look forward to seeing a joint effort from all aspects of the society to fulfill the goal of Healthy China 2030 and ensure the oral health of the nation.
China ; Health Policy ; Humans ; National Health Programs ; Oral Health

With the emergence of DNA nanotechnology in the 1980s, self-assembled DNA nanostructures have attracted considerable attention worldwide due to their inherent biocompatibility, unsurpassed programmability, and versatile functions. Especially promising nanostructures are tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs), first proposed by Turberfield with the use of a one-step annealing approach. Benefiting from their various merits, such as simple synthesis, high reproducibility, structural stability, cellular internalization, tissue permeability, and editable functionality, tFNAs have been widely applied in the biomedical field as three-dimensional DNA nanomaterials. Surprisingly, tFNAs exhibit positive effects on cellular biological behaviors and tissue regeneration, which may be used to treat inflammatory and degenerative diseases. According to their intended application and carrying capacity, tFNAs could carry functional nucleic acids or therapeutic molecules through extended sequences, sticky-end hybridization, intercalation, and encapsulation based on the Watson and Crick principle. Additionally, dynamic tFNAs also have potential applications in controlled and targeted therapies. This review summarized the latest progress in pure/modified/dynamic tFNAs and demonstrated their regenerative medicine applications. These applications include promoting the regeneration of the bone, cartilage, nerve, skin, vasculature, or muscle and treating diseases such as bone defects, neurological disorders, joint-related inflammatory diseases, periodontitis, and immune diseases.
Nucleic Acids/chemistry* ; Regenerative Medicine ; Consensus ; Reproducibility of Results ; DNA/chemistry*