To study the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome type and the ultrasound imaging changes in patients with limb lymphedema, and to provide evidence for TCM syndrome differentiation.

Objective:To evaluate the cytotoxicity of different dental bonding agents to human dental pulp cells. Methods:Four dental bonding agents(Prime & Bond NT,Single Bond,Xeno Ⅲ and iBond) were diluted with the culture medium by a ratio of 1∶1 000,1∶2 000 and 1∶4 000(v/v), and the fourth passage of dental pulp cells were then exposed to agent dilutions for 12, 24 and 48 h respectively, then the morphological changes of pulp cells were observed with microscopy and cytotoxicity was analyzed with modified 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results:There was significant influence of the type of dental bonding agents,exposure time and concentration on the cell morphology. Total-etch system was more toxic than self-etch system.Conclusion:Dental bonding agents are toxic to pulp cells,Single Bond is the strongest cytotoxic agent among the 4 adhesive agents.

Liver transplantation is an effective treatment of end-stage liver diseases. However, liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and rejection significantly cause the decrease of survival rate of liver graft. Therefore, it is urgent to explore a novel method, which can not only alleviate liver IRI, but also promote immune tolerance of allograft, thereby improving the survival rate of liver graft. Extracellular vesicle (EV) is nanoparticle released from cells into the extracellular microenvironment, which may alleviate graft injury by repairing autophagy, immunosuppression and accelerating tissue regeneration. Hence, EV becomes a research hot spot in the field of liver transplantation. Nevertheless, the clinical application of EV encounters multiple challenges, such as separation, purification, identification, storage of EV and how to deliver EV to the target cells. In this article, the mechanism of EV in liver IRI, the challenges in clinical application of EV and the potential application of EV were reviewed, aiming to provide reference for the clinical application of EV in liver transplantation.

Objective To evaluate the effect and mechanism of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) induced by donor liver after cardiac death in rat models. Methods Rat models of orthotopic liver transplantation were established by "magnetic ring + double cuff" method. SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group (Sham group), orthotopic liver transplantation group (OLT group), NMN treatment + orthotopic liver transplantation group (NMN group), NMN+sirtuin-3 (Sirt3) inhibitor (3-TYP) + orthotopic liver transplantation group (NMN+3-TYP group), respectively. Pathological changes and hepatocyte apoptosis of the rats were observed in each group. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were determined. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in liver tissues were detected. The expression levels of Sirt3, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)Ⅱ, PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin and translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOMM20) in liver tissues were measured. Postoperative survival of the rats in each group was analyzed. Results Compared with the Sham group, serum ALT and AST levels were higher in the OLT group. Compared with the OLT group, the levels of ALT and AST were decreased in the NMN group. Compared with the NMN group, the levels of ALT and AST were increased in the NMN +3-TYP group (all P < 0.05). The liver tissue structure of rats in the Sham group was basically normal. In the OLT group, pathological changes, such as evident congestion, vacuolar degeneration and hepatocyte necrosis, were observed in the liver tissues. Compared with the Sham group, Suzuki score and apoptosis rate were higher in the OLT group. Suzuki score and apoptosis rate in the NMN group were lower than those in the OLT group. Suzuki score and apoptosis rate in the NMN+3-TYP group were higher compared with those in the NMN group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the Sham group, the SOD content was decreased, whereas the MDA content was increased in the OLT group. Compared with the OLT group, the SOD content was increased, whereas the MDA content was decreased in the NMN group. Compared with the NMN group, the SOD content was decreased, whereas the MDA content was increased in the NMN+3-TYP group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the Sham group, the relative expression levels of Sirt3 and TOMM20 proteins were down-regulated, whereas those of PINK1, Parkin and LC3Ⅱproteins were up-regulated in the OLT group. Compared with the OLT group, the relative expression levels of Sirt3, PINK1, Parkin and LC3Ⅱproteins were up-regulated, whereas that of TOMM20 protein was down-regulated in the NMN group. Compared with the NMN group, the relative expression levels of PINK1, Parkin and LC3Ⅱproteins were down-regulated, whereas that of TOMM20 protein was up-regulated in the NMN+3-TYP group (all P < 0.05). In the Sham group, the 7 d survival rate of rats was 100%, 50% in the OLT group, 75% in the NMN group and 58% in the NMN+3-TYP group, respectively. Conclusions NMN may enhance the antioxidative capacity of the liver, induce PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy, and alleviate IRI of the liver by up-regulating Sirt3, thereby playing a protective role in the donor liver after cardiac death.

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of gamma-secretase inhibitor blocking Notch1 signaling on retinal neovascularization caused by oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) in mice.Methods:To establish the OIR model, 7-day-old pups of C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 75% oxygen together with their mother until postnatal day (P)12.On P12, the mice were transferred to room air.All the mice were randomly divided into three groups, OIR group as control group, OIR+ DAPT group and OIR+ DMSO group receiving 1 μl intravitreal injection of gamma-secretase inhibitor (DAPT, 10 mmol/L) and 1∶20 DMSO dilution respectively.The right eye was taken as experimental eye.The mice were euthanized on P17 and the eyes were harvested to obtain retinas for further investigation.The total proteins were extracted from the retinas.The relative expression levels of Notch1 signal pathway and its downstream Hes1, the markers of M1 phenotype inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and M2 phenotype arginase-1 (Arg-1) microglia were measured by western blot.Retinal flat mounts were made and the retinal vessels were stained with isolectin B4 (IB4) to investigate the relative retinal neovascularization areas which was calculated as the ratio of neovascularization area/retinal area.The mumber of the neovascular endothelium cells beyond the inner limiting membrane was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The use and care of animals complied with ARVO statement.This study protocol was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (No.KY-Z-2021-2015-01).Results:The relative protein expression levels of Notch1 and Hes1 in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were 0.68±0.06 and 0.70±0.08, 1.00±0.00 and 1.00±0.00, 1.03±0.08 and 1.02±0.07, respectively, with statistically significant differences among them ( F=70.62, 53.65; both at P<0.01). Compared with the OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group, the expressions of Notch1 and Hes1 were significantly reduced in OIR+ DAPT group (all at P<0.01). The relative protein expression levels of iNOS and Arg-1 in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were 0.74±0.07 and 1.49±0.12, 1.00±0.00 and 1.00±0.00, 1.04±0.10 and 0.94±0.07, respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( F=31.63, 89.32; both at P<0.01). Compared with OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group, the expression of iNOS in OIR+ DAPT group was significantly reduced, and the expression of Arg-1 was significantly increased (all at P<0.01). The relative neovascularization area and the number of neovascular endothelium cells beyond the inner limiting membrane in OIR+ DAPT group, OIR group, and OIR+ DMSO group were (8.82±2.71)% and 38.17±3.29, (22.32±5.34)% and 60.83±5.11, (20.27±3.36)% and 58.67±4.75, respectively, showing statistically significant differences ( F=33.72, 39.44; both at P<0.01). The relative neovascularization area and the number of neovascular endothelium cells in OIR+ DAPT group were significantly reduced in comparison with OIR group and OIR+ DMSO group (all at P<0.01). Conclusions:Intravitreal injection of DAPT can inhibit the retinal neovascularization in OIR mice through blocking Notch1 signaling activation and promoting retinal microglia polarization from M1 to M2 phenotype.

Objective:To analyze variant patterns and characteristics of focal physiological uptake (FPU) in the tongue on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT imaging in patients without a history of oral tumor surgery and radiotherapy. Methods:A total of 6 233 consecutive patients who underwent routine whole-body PET/CT scan between January 2013 and December 2017 in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were investigated retrospectively, and 324 patients with a history of oral surgery and radiotherapy were excluded, the remaining 5 909 patients (3 418 males, 2 491 females, age range: 2-95 (average: 58) years) were enrolled. A part of the patients underwent local PET/CT scan and CT scan with diagnostic dose, covering the oral cavity on mouth-opening position. The morphological characteristics of FPU patterns were analyzed, and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max) was measured. Results:Seventy-six FPUs in 76 patients (49 males, 27 females, age range: 40-83 (average 64) years) identified by routine whole-body PET/CT scan were confirmed by clinical examination from a specialist in stomatology or follow-up for more than 6 months. Forty-one of the 76 patients subsequently underwent local PET/CT scan and diagnostic CT scan on mouth-opening position. The incidence of FPU in the tongue was 1.29%(76/5 909). The FPU patterns could be classified into three types: type Ⅰ with FDG uptake involved only anterior part of the tongue body in the midline (near the tip of the tongue), which showed as a " dotted" shape( n=68; 1.15%, 68/5 909); type Ⅱ with FDG uptake involved mainly middle part of the genioglossus muscle, which showed as a " bar-shorted" shape ( n=5; 0.08%, 5/5 909); type Ⅲ with FDG uptake involved large part of the tongue body and the genioglossus, which showed as a " T" shape( n=3; 0.05%, 3/5 909). The SUV max in patients with type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ were 5.53(4.53, 7.30), 19.50(17.10, 22.74) respectively. The SUV max in 3 patients with type Ⅲ were 23.34, 27.50 and 35.14, respectively. Conclusion:In patients without a history of oral tumor surgery and radiotherapy, the FPU in the tongue has its specific pattern, and PET/CT scan on mouth-opening position helps to reveal the detailed features.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection and conventional treatment for partial rotator cuff tear and analyze the possible mechanism.Methods:A prospective randomize control study was performed for clinical data of 100 patients with partial rotator cuff tear admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University between January 2019 and December 2020. The patients were assigned to observation group ( n=50) and control group ( n=50) according to the random number table. Both groups were given conventional non-operative treatment, together with PRP injection in observation group and steroid injection in control group. The visual analogue score (VAS), Constant-Murley Score (CMS) and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] were measured before and at 3, 6 months after treatment. The MRI images were also evaluated in observation group before treatment and at 6 months after treatment. Results:There were 55 males and 45 females with the age range of 40-75 years [(55.9±9.1)years]. All patients were followed up for 6.0-8.2 months [(6.2±2.9)months]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in VAS, CMS, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α before treatment (all P>0.05). The VAS was (3.5±0.9)points and (1.4±0.4)points] in observation group at 3, 6 months after treatment, significant lower than (4.1±0.9)points and (1.8±0.5)points in control group (all P<0.01). The CMS was (59.5±9.4)points and (86.5±7.9)points in observation group at 3, 6 months after treatment, significant higher than (53.5±8.6)points and (78.5±8.4)points in control group (all P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were (0.69±0.21)μg/L, (2.06±0.55)μg/L and (2.12±0.49)μg/L in observation group at 3 months after treatment, significant lower than (0.92±0.26)μg/L, (2.67±0.48)μg/L and (2.87±0.51)μg/L in control group (all P<0.01). The serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in observation group [(0.37±0.11)μg/L, (1.14±0.23)μg/L, (1.27±0.25)μg/L] were also significantly lower than those in control group [(0.45±0.09)μg/L, (1.36±0.27)μg/L, (1.88±0.26)μg/L] at 6 months after treatment (all P<0.01). In both groups, the VAS, CMS and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) showed significant improvement at 3, 6 months after treatment when compared to the pre-treatment levels (all P<0.05). Simutaneously, each group showed significant differences in each indicator at 3, 6 months after treatment ( P<0.05). In observation group, MRI showed that the high signal on the superior surface of the supraspinatus disappeared whereas the high signal in the tendon decreased at 6 months after treatment. Conclusion:For patients with partial rotator cuff tear, PRP injection can relive shoulder pain and improve shoulder function, which may be associated with the down-regulation of inflammatory responses.