OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the impact of cell spreading area on odontoblast polarization and differentiation using micropatterned surfaces ge-nerated by photolithography. METHODS: Micropatterned surfaces with differential adhesive properties were prepared using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)-ba-sed photolithography. Human dental pulp stem cells (hD-PSCs) were isolated into single cells and cultured on micropatterned surfaces with areas of 1 800, 2 700, and 3 600 μm². Immunofluorescence staining was used to observe cell morphology and analyze the relocating of the golgi apparatus and nucleus. Alkaline phosphatase staining was preformed to examine odontogenic differentiation. RESULTS: The hDPSCs were successfully isolated and cultured on micropatterned surfaces mimicking the morphology of polarized odontoblasts. Phalloidin staining confirmed that the isolated hDPSCs successfully recapitulated the morphology of predesigned micropatterns. Immunofluorescence staining showed that the polarization and differentiation levels of the hDPSCs with a 3600 μm² area were significantly higher than those with 1 800 and 2 700 μm² areas (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The polarization and differentiation of single hDPSCs increased with the cell areas on micropatterned surfaces.
Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Odontoblasts/cytology* ; Stem Cells/cytology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cell Polarity ; Surface Properties

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is a common cause of ischemic stroke. The evaluation of its structure and function is of great significance for formulating clinical intervention strategies. The indications for endovascular treatment of ICAS lesions in the past were mainly based on the degree of luminal stenosis showed by cerebral angiography, which had certain limitations. The translesional pressure ratio (PR), as an important indicator for functional assessment after arterial stenosis, has gradually received attention in the evaluation of ICAS lesions in recent years. This article reviews the evaluation methods and clinical significance of PR in ICAS lesions.

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Leishmania infection and transmitted by sandflies. There are three main forms of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. China is mainly endemic for visceral leishmaniasis, which is a class C notifiable infectious disease in the country. Following concerted efforts, the transmission of visceral leishmaniasis had been controlled in most endemic foci of China by the end of 1958, with a few cases reported in western China. Due to global climate changes and population mobility, resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis has recently occurred in historical endemic areas of central and western China, which is characterized by gradual expansion of endemic areas and remarkable rebounding epidemics. Hereby, we summarize the national and global epidemiology and control strategy of visceral leishmaniasis, propose 8 key research areas and 12 key research topics for visceral leishmaniasis control, and recommend the establishment of the joint prevention and control mechanism of “human-animals-vectors” and the working mechanism of animal prevention for human diseases based on the One Health approach, so as to combat the resurgence of visceral leishmaniasis in China.

Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) is one of the main causes of ischemic stroke, but the international multicenter clinical studies, which are mainly based on the degree of stenosis to guide endovascular treatment, have not obtained positive results. In recent years, the evaluation of ICAS has gradually transferred from traditional anatomy (degree of stenosis) to hemodynamics and plaque characteristics. This article reviews the application of MRI in the hemodynamic evaluation of ICAS.

In order to investigate the enzyme production mechanism of yak rumen-derived anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces sp. YF3 under the induction of different carbon sources, anaerobic culture tubes were used for in vitro fermentation. 8 g/L of glucose (Glu), filter paper (Flp) and avicel (Avi) were respectively added to 10 mL of basic culture medium as the sole carbon source. The activity of fiber-degrading enzyme and the concentration of volatile fatty acid in the fermentation liquid were detected, and the enzyme producing mechanism of Orpinomyces sp. YF3 was explored by transcriptomics. It was found that, in glucose-induced fermentation solution, the activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, microcrystalline cellulase, filter paper enzyme, xylanase and the proportion of acetate were significantly increased (P < 0.05), the proportion of propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The results of transcriptome analysis showed that there were 5 949 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the Glu group and the Flp group, 10 970 DEGs between the Glu group and the Avi group, and 6 057 DEGs between the Flp group and the Avi group. It was found that the DEGs associated with fiber degrading enzymes were significantly up-regulated in the Glu group. Gene ontology (GO) function enrichment analysis identified that DEGs were mainly associated with the xylan catabolic process, hemicellulose metabolic process, β-glucan metabolic process, cellulase activity, endo-1,4-β-xylanase activity, cell wall polysaccharide metabolic process, carbohydrate catabolic process, glucan catabolic process and carbohydrate metabolic process. Moreover, the differentially expressed pathways associated with fiber degrading enzymes enriched by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were mainly starch and sucrose metabolic pathways and other glycan degradation pathways. In conclusion, Orpinomyces sp. YF3 with glucose as carbon source substrate significantly increased the activity of cellulose degrading enzyme and the proportion of acetate, decreased the proportion of propionate, butyrate and isobutyrate. Furthermore, the degradation ability and energy utilization efficiency of fungus in the presence of glucose were improved by means of regulating the expression of cellulose degrading enzyme gene and participating in starch and sucrose metabolism pathway, and other glycan degradation pathways, which provides a theoretical basis for the application of Orpinomyces sp. YF3 in practical production and facilitates the application of Orpinomyces sp. YF3 in the future.
Animals ; Cattle ; Neocallimastigales/metabolism* ; Anaerobiosis ; Rumen/microbiology* ; Propionates/metabolism* ; Isobutyrates/metabolism* ; Cellulose/metabolism* ; Fungi ; Starch/metabolism* ; Glucose/metabolism* ; Acetates ; Sucrose/metabolism* ; Cellulases ; Cellulase

Objective:To study the distribution and antibiotics resistance of the main pathogens of neonatal purulent meningitis in different regions of China.Methods:A retrospective descriptive clinical epidemiological study was conducted in children with neonatal purulent meningitis which admitted to 18 tertiary hospitals in different regions of China between January 2015 to December 2019. The test results of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, and drug sensitivity test results of the main pathogens were collected. The distributions of pathogenic bacteria in children with neonatal purulent meningitis in preterm and term infants, early and late onset infants, in Zhejiang Province and other regions outside Zhejiang Province, and in Wenzhou region and other regions of Zhejiang Province were analyzed. The chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 210 neonatal purulent meningitis cases were collected. The common pathogens were Escherichia coli ( E. coli)(41.4%(87/210)) and Streptococcus agalactiae ( S. agalactiae)(27.1%(57/210)). The proportion of Gram-negative bacteria in preterm infants (77.6%(45/58)) with neonatal purulent meningitis was higher than that in term infants (47.4%(72/152)), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=15.54, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in the constituent ratios of E. coli (36.5%(31/85) vs 44.8%(56/125)) and S. agalactiae (24.7%(21/85) vs 28.8%(36/125)) between early onset and late onset cases (both P>0.05). The most common pathogen was E. coli in different regions, with 46.7%(64/137) in Zhejiang Province and 31.5%(23/73) in other regions outside Zhejiang Province. In Zhejiang Province, S. agalactiae was detected in 49 out of 137 cases (35.8%), which was significantly higher than other regions outside Zhejiang Province (11.0%(8/73)). The proportions of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in other regions outside Zhejiang Province (17.8%(13/73) and 16.4%(12/73)) were both higher than those in Zhejiang Province (2.9%(4/137) and 5.1%(7/137)). The differences were all statistically significant ( χ2=14.82, 12.26 and 7.43, respectively, all P<0.05). The proportion of Gram-positive bacteria in Wenzhou City (60.8%(31/51)) was higher than that in other regions in Zhejiang Province (38.4%(33/86)), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=6.46, P=0.011). E. coli was sensitive to meropenem (0/45), and 74.4%(32/43) of them were resistant to ampicillin. E. coli had different degrees of resistance to other common cephalosporins, among which, cefotaxime had the highest resistance rate of 41.8%(23/55), followed by ceftriaxone (32.4%(23/71)). S. agalactiae was sensitive to penicillin, vancomycin and linezolid. Conclusions:The composition ratios of pathogenic bacteria of neonatal purulent meningitis are different in different regions of China. The most common pathogen is E. coli, which is sensitive to meropenem, while it has different degrees of resistance to other common cephalosporins, especially to cefotaxime.

Objective:To investigate the differences in cerebral oxygen metabolism in healthy volunteers at three altitude areas by MR quantitative magnetic susceptibility imaging (QSM) combined with three-dimensional arterial spin labeling (3D-ASL).Methods:From March 2019 to October 2020, Zhengzhou Han Chinese volunteers recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Xining Han Chinese volunteers recruited from the Fifth People′s Hospital of Qinghai Province, Lhasa Han Chinese volunteers and Tibetan volunteers recruited from Lhasa People′s Hospital were collected. They were divided into 21-30 age group, 31-40 age group, and 41-50 age group. All the volunteers underwent MR QSM combined with 3D-ASL sequence imaging, and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) images of gray matter, and white matter were collected, OEF and CBF values were obtained, and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO 2) values were calculated. The comparison of various indicators among multiple groups was conducted using one-way ANOVA, and pairwise comparisons were conducted using LSD- t test. Results:A total of 132 volunteers were included, including 38 Han Chinese volunteers in Zhengzhou, 9 in the 21-30 age group, 13 in the 31-40 age group and 16 in the 41-50 age group; 27 Han Chinese volunteers in Xining, including 9 in the 21-30 age group, 8 in the 31-40 age group and 10 in the 41-50 age group; 34 Han Chinese volunteers in Lhasa, including 13 in the 21-30 age group, 11 in the 31-40 age group and 10 in the 41-50 age group; and 33 Tibetan volunteers in Lhasa, including 10 in the 21-30 age group, 10 in the 31-40 age group and 13 in the 41-50 age group. In the group aged 21-30 years, the overall difference in brain gray matter OEF values among volunteers from different altitudes was statistically significant ( P<0.05), with statistically significant differences in OEF values between Tibetans in Lhasa and Han Chinese in Xining, Han Chinese in Lhasa ( P<0.05). The overall difference in CMRO 2 values in the gray matter of volunteers at different altitudes was statistically significant ( P<0.05), with significant differences in CMRO 2 values between Lhasa Tibetan and Han Chinese in Zhengzhou, Han Chinese in Xining, Han Chinese in Lhasa ( P<0.05). In the 31-40 age group, there were statistically significant differences in the overall CBF values of gray and white matter among volunteers from different altitudes ( P<0.05). Among them, there were statistically significant differences in the CBF values of gray and white matter between Han Chinese in Zhengzhou and Han in Xining, Han Chinese in Lhasa, Lhasa Tibetan ( P<0.05). The overall differences in OEF values of gray matter and white matter among volunteers at different altitudes were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among them, there were statistically significant differences in OEF values of gray matter and white matter between the Han Chinese in Zhengzhou and the Han Chinese in Xining, the Han Chinese in Lhasa ( P<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference in OEF values of gray matter and white matter between the Han Chinese in Lhasa and the Tibetan in Lhasa ( P<0.05). The overall difference in CMRO 2 values in gray and white matter among volunteers from different altitudes was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Among them, there was a statistically significant difference in CMRO 2 values of cerebral gray matter between Lhasa Tibetans and Zhengzhou Han, Xining Han, Lhasa Han ( P<0.05), and there was a statistically significant difference in CMRO 2 values of cerebral white matter between Lhasa Tibetans and Zhengzhou Han, Lhasa Han ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The cerebral oxygen metabolism of Tibetan living in the plateau is characterized by low oxygen consumption, low blood oxygen dependence and high tissue oxygen utilization. The CMRO 2 of the Han people who migrated to the plateau for a long time is maintained at a certain level, similar to that in the plain area. The effects of age factors on CBF, OEF and CMRO 2 are small.

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is one of the main causes of ischemic stroke. Imaging evaluation plays an important role in the formulation of treatment strategies. More and more studies have shown that the changes in hemodynamics after stenosis may have higher predictive value for stroke onset/recurrence compared to the degree of stenosis. This article reviews the evaluation of cerebral hemodynamics in intracranial atherosclerotic diseases.

Objective:To investigate the evaluation value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for carotid atherosclerotic plaques.Methods:Patients with carotid atherosclerotic stenosis underwent digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and OCT in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from January 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The demographics, baseline clinical data, DSA and OCT imaging data of the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. Results:A total of 39 patients were enrollded, including 21 in the symptomatic group and 18 in the asymptomatic group. The detection rate of fibrous plaque in the symptomatic group was significantly lower than that in the asymptomatic group (38.1% vs. 77.78%; P=0.023), while the detection rate of plaque rupture (38.1% vs. 5.56%; P=0.023) and macrophage infiltration (42.86% vs. 11.11%; P=0.037) was significantly higher than that in the asymptomatic group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that plaque rupture (odds ratio 6.982, 95% confidence interval 1.068-45.660; P=0.043) and macrophage infiltration (odds ratio 6.480, 95% confidence interval 1.009-41.625; P=0.049) were significantly independently associated with the symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. Conclusions:OCT is of value in evaluating the plaque characteristics of carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. Plaque rupture and macrophage infiltration are the independent risk factors for symptomatic carotid atherosclerotic stenosis.

Rickettsia felis is a Gram-negative prokaryotic organism that is obligatorically parasitic in cells. Cat fleas are the main vector of Rickettsia felis. Clinical symptoms of human infection with Rickettsia felis include fever, fatigue, headache, macular papules, and eschar. There are few reports of serious complications or deaths due to infection of Rickettsia felis. A confirmed case of severe encephalitis caused by Rickettsia felis infection was admitted to neurology department of Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University on January 29, 2020. After comprehensive treatment of antiviral by acyclovir, mannitol dehydration to reduce intracranial pressure, human immunoglobulin to regulateimmunity, minocycline hydrochloride capsule, levofloxacin mesylate and sodium chloride against Rickettsia felis infection, control of seizure and pulmonary infection, the patient's condition was improved and then discharged. By summarizing the experience and lessons in the treatment of this patient, we hope to remind everyone to strengthen the understanding of Rickettsia felis infection.