Objective To understand the situation of dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) quality control testing phantoms in radiation health technical service institutions in Guangdong province, analyze the differences among different phantoms, and provide a reference for dental CBCT quality control testing. Methods The testing phantoms of 49 radiation health technical service institutions were used as the research objects. The designated CBCT equipment was used for scanning and imaging. The Z-score method was used to evaluate the high-contrast resolution, low-contrast resolution, and distance measurement deviation of each phantom. Results The satisfaction rates of various items for the phantoms in 49 institutions ranged from 85.7% to 100%. The distance measurement deviations of four institutions were “suspicious”, and the high-contrast resolution of four institutions and the distance measurement deviation of one institution were “unsatisfactory”. Conclusion The overall performance of dental CBCT quality control testing phantoms in radiological health technical service institutions in Guangdong province is satisfactory. However, there are still some phantoms with poor results in items such as distance measurement deviation and high-contrast resolution. The structural design, material selection, and manufacturing process of the phantom may all affect the results of quality control testing. Therefore, appropriate phantoms, optimized exposure conditions, and suitable reconstruction algorithms should be used in CBCT quality control testing to ensure accurate and reliable measurements.

The clinical changes of ulcerative colitis （UC） with the main syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat and the alterations of intestinal flora in UC were summarized to reveal the underlying mechanism. After review of the treatment methods for UC with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat， we identified the representative traditional Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions and explored the treatment mechanisms. Furthermore， we probed into the associations of UC and the treatment methods with the intestinal flora. The related articles were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure （CNKI）. The available studies have shown that Akkermansia muciniphila， Escherichia coli， Enterococcus， and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are closely associated with Chinese medicines in UC patients with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat. However， due to the shortcomings in clinical research and the susceptibility of intestinal flora to diverse factors， it is still challenging to accurately characterize the intestinal flora changes associated with diseases. Additionally， the research on the mechanisms of Chinese medicines in regulating intestinal flora in UC patients with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat remains to be improved. The feasibility of using Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions for precise regulation of intestinal flora in these patients is still debatable. In this regard， scientific issues such as the biological connotation of UC with the syndrome of large intestine dampness-heat and the correlation between syndrome and intestinal flora have become primary research tasks. Additionally， attention should also be paid to the interactions between the intestinal lumen exposure profile of Chinese medicines and intestinal flora. Finally， the thinking of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and the concepts of modern medicine should be combined for the research on the formulation of TCM regimens for regulating intestinal flora in treating UC.

Objective:To study the the mechanism of action of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of cough variant asthma (CVA) in children based on the IL-4/signal transduction and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) signaling pathway using network pharmacology methods, molecular docking techniques, and in vitro cell experiments.Methods:The components and targets of various TCM components in Huanglong Mixture were searched in TCMSP database, HERB database and literature, and the disease targets of CVA were found in Gene Cards database, OMIM database, DrugBank database and PharmGkb database. The STRING database was used to construct the protein-protein interaction network, and Cytoscape 3.9.1 was used for topology analysis to screen out the core targets. The disease-drug-component-target network was constructed to screen out the core components. The KEGG enrichment analysis and GO enrichment analysis of the intersection targets were performed using Metascape software. PDB protein database, PubChem, Autodock and R language were used for molecular docking verification of core targets and core drug components. Finally, rat primary airway smooth muscle cells were cultured, modeled with interleukin-4 (IL-4), and p-STAT6 expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus was detected by Western blot.Results:A total of 122 effective components were obtained, including quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin and so on. The core targets included JUN, ESR1, TP53, MYC, HIF1, etc. GO enrichment analysis involved biological processes such as response to external stimuli, response to oxygen levels, positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, and regulation of cellular stress response. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the main pathways of Huanglong Mixture in treating CVA included advanced glycation end product-glycation end product receptor (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, Janus kinase/signal transduction activation factor (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway. Molecular docking found that the core targets and core drug components had good combination. Cell experiments also confirmed that Huanglong Mixture could inhibit p-STAT6 entering the nucleus.Conclusions:The effective components and targets of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of CVA are successfully predicted. The mechanism of Huanglong Mixture in the treatment of children with CVA may be related to the inhibition of IL-4/STAT6 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Nano-zirconium dioxide has good application potential in the field of bone tissue repair.Studying the effect of nano-zirconium dioxide on osteogenic differentiation will help to promote the clinical application of nano-zirconium dioxide in the treatment of bone defects. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of nano-zirconium dioxide on the osteogenic differentiation of ectomesenchymal stem cells in the nasal mucosa. METHODS:Ectomesenchymal stem cells derived from rat nasal mucosa were isolated and cultured,and the biotoxicity of nano-zirconium dioxide to the cells was detected by CCK-8 assay.The biosafety concentration was selected according to the cytotoxicity,and the cells were randomly divided into a control group,a nano-zirconium dioxide group,and a nano-hydroxyapatite group.Osteogenic differentiation of cells was directionally induced in each group.On day 7 of induced differentiation,alkaline phosphatase staining was performed.qRT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of early osteogenic markers(Runx2 and Osx).On day 21 of induced differentiation,alizarin red staining was conducted.qRT-PCR and western blot assay were utilized to determine the expression levels of late osteogenic markers(OPN and OCN). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The median lethal concentration of nano-zirconium dioxide on ectomesenchymal stem cells in nasal mucosa was 0.6 mg/mL.In the experiment,the mass concentration of 200 μg/mL was selected for intervention.Zirconium dioxide had no significant effect on the proliferation of the cells.(2)Compared with the control group,the alkaline phosphatase staining of the cells in the nano-zirconium dioxide group was more obvious and the level of cell mineralization was higher,but there was no significant difference compared with the nano-hydroxyapatite.(3)Compared with the control group,the expression of bone-related genes and proteins increased significantly,but there was no significant difference compared with nano-hydroxyapatite.(4)The results show that nano-zirconium dioxide has good biological safety and can promote the osteogenic differentiation of ectomesenchymal stem cells in the nasal mucosa.This promoting effect is equivalent to that of nano-hydroxyapatite.

Objective:To explore the effects of G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) antagonist CID16020046 on renal fibrosis in mice, and provide a new method and idea for the treatment of renal fibrosis.Methods:(1) GPR55 overexpression and GPR55 antagonist CID16020046 were used in renal fibroblasts (NRK-49F) of rats, respectively. Meanwhile,transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was applied in the NRK-49F cells to observe the expression of fibrosis-related factors and inflammatory factors. (2) A mouse model of renal fibrosis with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was established in vivo. Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (20-25 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to the random number table method: sham group ( n=6), model group (UUO group, n=7), model + CID16020046 drug (UUO+CID group, n=8). The drug CID16020046 (10 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 1 day before modeling, on the day of modeling and every day after surgery in UUO+CID group, and the corresponding dose of 0.9% normal saline was injected intraperitoneally in sham and UUO groups.The mice were sacrificed for sampling 7 days after UUO surgery, and their renal function indicators, liver transaminase, and cardiac markers were examined. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of renal fibrosis-related factors and inflammatory factors. Immunohistochemistry staining, Sirius red staining and Masson trichrome staining were used to detect the pathological changes of renal tissues. Results:(1) After NRK-49F cells were stimulated by TGF-β1, the mRNA and protein expression levels of GPR55 were significantly increased (both P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the mRNA expression of fibrosis-related factors fibronectin and collagen Ⅰ, and inflammatory factors interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α between TGF-β1 group and TGF-β1 + GPR55 overexpression group (all P>0.05). Compared with the TGF-β1 group, the protein expression levels of fibrosis-related factors alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, and the mRNA expression levels of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA were lower in the TGF-β1 + CID group (all P<0.05). (2) Compared with sham group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of GPR55 in UUO group were higher (both P<0.05). The serum creatinine in the UUO+CID group was lower compared to the UUO group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase isoenzyme between UUO group and UUO+CID group (all P>0.05). Compared with the UUO group, the protein expression levels of renal fibrosis-related factors fibronectin, collagen Ⅰ and vimentin, and the mRNA expression levels of fibronectin, collagen Ⅰ, collagen Ⅲ and α-SMA were lower in the UUO+CID group (all P<0.05). The degree of renal tubular dilation and interstitial collagen fiber deposition in the UUO+CID group was significantly reduced compared to the UUO group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:CID16020046 can reduce serum creatinine in UUO mice, protect renal function, and simultaneously decrease the expression of fibrosis-related factors in renal fibroblasts and mouse kidney tissues, thereby alleviating renal fibrosis.

Objective:To study the clinical application of a new classification on location of hepatolithiasis in guiding treatment using percutaneous transhepatic choledochoscopic lithotomy (PTCSL).Methods:The clinical data of 85 consecutive patients with preoperatively diagnosed hepatolithiasis who underwent PTCSL at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2017 to July 2021 were prospectively collected. There were 27 males and 58 females, aged from 15 to 86(62±14) years. Hepatolithiasis was classified into five types of stone location based on preoperative imagings: type Ⅰ ( n=12) , stones located in central bile duct, including hilar bile duct and common hepatic duct; type Ⅱ ( n=17) in unilateral hepatic duct with multiple branches; type Ⅲ ( n=24) in unilateral hepatic duct with multiple branches plus central bile duct; type Ⅳ ( n=31) in bilateral hepatic ducts with multiple branches; and type Ⅴ ( n=1) in unilateral hepatic duct with a single branch. Fistulation path, number of procedures, number of bile duct fistula, and complications were recorded. The residual stone rate and stone recurrence rate were compared among the five types. The follow-up was performed to analyse prognosis. Results:A total of 99 biliary fistulae were performed, with one single tract created in 74 patients, two tracts in 9 patients, three tracts in 1 patient, and four tracts in 1 patient. The fistulation path was B2 in 12 patients, B3 in 18 patients, B4 in 1 patient, B5 in 4 patients, B6 in 10 patients, B7 in 4 patients, and B8 in 50 patients. Altogether, 151 choledochoscopic lithotomy procedures were performed (1-3 times per patient, mean 1.78 times). For the 9 patients with residual stones (10.6%, 9/85), there were 3 patients with type Ⅱ and 6 patients with type Ⅳ. There were significant differences in the residual stone rates among the 5 types (χ 2=11.13, P=0.025). Stone recurrence developed in 33 (38.8%) patients, including 2 patients with type Ⅰ, 7 patients with type Ⅱ, 10 patients with type Ⅲ and 14 patients with type Ⅳ (χ 2=9.07, P=0.046). The total intraoperative and postoperative complications rates was 28.2% (24/85). The follow-up period was 4-58 months with the median follow-up time of 30 months. Twelve patients died during the follow-up period, including 1 patient who died from postoperative bleeding, 3 cholangiocarcinoma, 7 biliary cirrhosis-related liver failure, and 1 stone-unrelated disease. Conclusion:Type Ⅳ in the location classification of hepatolithiasis based on PTCSL had significantly higher rates of residual stones and stone recurrence. This new classification is helpful for clinicaians to determine the optimal path using a smaller number of fistulation tracts to clear stones. It improved the efficacy of PTCSL in treating hepatolithiasis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), in order to provide scientific evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in elderly patients.Methods:Clinical data of 102 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the B11 East Ward of the Zhongfaxincheng campus and the E1-3 ward of the Guanggu Campus of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan from 1 February 2020 to 28 February 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Patients were categorized into 2 groups: the elderly group(≥60 years old)and the young and middle-aged group(<60 years old). Differences in epidemiological features, demographics, clinical symptoms, laboratory results and imaging findings between the two groups were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 102 patients with COVID-19, 58 were in the elderly group(≥60 years old), with a median age of 67.0(63.8, 71.0)years old, and 44 in the young and middle-aged group(<60 years old), with a median age of 47.5(38.0, 51.8)years old.There was no significant difference in gender ratio between the two groups( χ2=0.033, P=0.855). Of 102 patients, 42.0%(21/50)had close contact with an infected person, 14.0%(7/50)were from infection clusters, and 18.0%(9/50)had suspected hospital-acquired infections.Fever and cough remained the most common symptoms, but gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, poor appetite, diarrhea and muscle cramps were also warning signs.Fatigue and cough were the most common presenting symptoms in elderly male patients.Bilateral patchy infiltrates(57.9%, 22/38)and ground-glass opacities(42.1%, 16/38)were the main imaging features and 42.1%(16/38)patients had multiple areas of the lungs involved.Over 50% patients had increased levels of blood glucose, D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, multiple cytokines and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, as well as decreased levels of albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes and serum calcium.Compared with the young and middle-aged group, the elderly group had higher rates of abnormality in levels of D-dimer and serum calcium( χ2=7.067 and 4.166, P=0.008 and 0.041). Conclusions:Fever and cough are the most common symptoms in elderly patients with COVID-19.Elderly patients with COVID-19 have multiple abnormalities in clinical laboratory test results, which show a certain level of specificity compared with young and middle-aged patients.

Objective:To identify a two-component signaling system (TCSS) composed of β-lactam antibiotic resistance-associated intracellular CiaR and transmembrane serine/threonine kinase StkP of Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S. pneumoniae). Methods:The intracellular segment of stkP gene (IC- stkP) was amplified by PCR and the PCR product was sequenced after T-A cloning. A prokaryotic expression system for IC- stkP segment was established. SDS-PAGE was used to detect the expression of the target recombinant proteins (rIC-StkP and rCiaR) by the established prokaryotic expression system and a previously established prokaryotic expression system for ciaR gene. Ni-NTA affinity chromatography was used to purify the recombinant proteins. The rIC-StkP-captured target proteins of S. pneumoniae were identified by LC-MS/MS after Co-IP. The ability of rCiaR to bind to rIC-StkP was detected by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Results:The established prokaryotic expression system for IC- stkP segment could effectively express rIC-StkP. Both rIC-StkP and rCiaR after purification showed a single protein band on SDS-PAGE. CiaR could be specifically co-precipitated with rIC-StkP. Three extracted cleaved peptides were found in CiaR molecule with exactly matched sequences. SPR and ITC showed that rCiaR could strongly bind to rIC-StkP with high affinity and the KD values were 1.526×10 -9 mol/L and 1.980×10 -6 mol/L, respectively. Conclusions:S. pneumoniae CiaR could act as the downstream response regulatory protein of StkP kinase to compose StkP/CiaR TCSS.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy with one-step biliary fistulation (PTCSL-OBF) for the treatment of hepatolithiasis.Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 59 patients with hepatolithiasis who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from March 2017 to December 2019 were collected. There were 16 males and 43 females, aged from 16 to 84 years, with a median age of 60 years. All patients underwent PTCSL-OBF. Observation indicators: (1) surgical and postoperative situations; (2) follow-up; (3) introduction of special cases. Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect the hepotolithiasis-related symptoms, recurrence of hepatolithiasis , and survival of patients up to December 2019. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were represented as absolute numbers or percentages. Results:(1) Surgical and postoperative situations: 59 patients underwent PTCSL-OBF successfully. Of the 59 patients, 48 cases had 1 biliary sinus tract, 8 cases had 2 biliary sinus tracts, 2 cases had 3 biliary sinus tracts and 1 case had 4 biliary sinus tracts. A total of 106 times of cholangioscopic lithotripsy procedure were performed in the 59 patients, including 20 cases with once of cholangioscopic lithotripsy procedure, 31 cases with twice of cholangioscopic lithotripsy procedure and 8 cases with 3 times of cholangioscopic lithotripsy procedure. Among the 59 patients, 14 cases were diagnosed with residual stones after operation, 45 cases had stones removed completely with the stones removal rate of 76.3%(45/59). The duration of hospital stay of the 59 patients were 24 days(range, 3-88 days). Of the 59 patients, 11 cases had 14 times of postoperative complications. The total incidence of complications was 18.6%(11/59). Among the 14 times of complications, there were 4 times of pleural effusion combined with infection, 2 times of liver abscess, 2 times of ascites, 2 times of intraoperative hypotension septic shock, 2 times of bleeding, 1 time of colon perforation and 1 time of bile leakage. Patients with complications were cured with symptomatic support treatment including puncture drainage, anti-infection and hemostasis. (2) Follow-up: 59 patients were followed up for 1-34 months, with a median follow-up time of 18 months. Of the 59 patients, 9 had recurrence of hepatolithiasis, with a recurrence rate of 15.3%(9/59); 17 had hepatolithiasis related symptoms, with an incidence of 28.8%(17/59). Of the 45 patients who had stones removed completely, 6 had recurrence of hepatolithiasis, with a recurrence rate of 13.3%(6/45); 14 had hepatolithiasis related symptoms, with an incidence rate of 31.1%(14/45). Of the 14 patients who had residual stones postoperatively, 3 had recurrence of hepatolithiasis, with an incidence rate of 21.4%(3/14); 3 had hepatolithiasis related symptoms, with an incidence rate of 21.4%(3/14). During the follow-up, 7 of 59 patients died, 2 of whom died of biliary neoplasms and 5 died of decompensated cirrhosis. (3) Introduction of special cases: among the 5 patients with biliary cirrhosis, 3 cases had stones removed completely, but the original symptoms of the 2 cases were not improved postoperatively and cholangitis occurred repeatedly. The other 2 cases underwent only once of cholangioscopic lithotripsy procedure because of severe cirrhosis combine with massive ascites.Conclusion:PTCSL-OBF can be used in the treatment of hepatolithiasis with appropriate indications, careful operation and strengthened perioperative management to reduce complications.

Objective:To study the clinical role of ultrasound image-fusion and navigation system (UIFNS), which works through image fusion with volume navigation of ultrasound (VNUS) and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopic lithotripsy (PTCSL) for treatment of hepatolithiasis.Methods:The data of 54 patients with hepatolithiasis who underwent PTCSL between January 2017 and October 2019 in Hepatobiliary Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University was retrospectively analyzed. Among 54 patients, 16 males and 38 females, aged 16-84 years with a median age of 59.5 years, were included. Preoperative ultrasound, CT, MRI and UIFNS were used to evaluate stone location and distribution in bile ducts. The rates of consistency of each single modality of evaluation with intraoperative examination by cholangioscopy plus ultrasound were compared. The stone clearance rates were compared among the different groups with different numbers of biliary sinus tracts used for stone extraction.Results:The rates of consistency of each single modality of evaluation, including ultrasound, CT, MRI and UIFNS, with intraoperative examination by choledochoscopy plus ultrasound were 75.9% (41/54), 55.6% (30/54), 72.2% (39/54) and 92.6% (50/54), respectively. The rates of consistency as assessed by UIFNS was significantly higher than that by CT or MRI (each P<0.05). The 54 patients were divided into the central-type group, the single-biliary-branch-type group and the multi-branch-type group according to biliary stone location and distribution, with 10 patients, 2 patients and 42 patients, respectively. Biliary sinus tract was established by the one-step method. One single tract was established in 43 patients, and two or more tracts in 11 patients. Each patient underwent 1-3 times of cholangioscopic lithotripsy (mean 1.76 times). The stone clearance rate in the central-type of patients and patients with single-biliary-branch stones was 100% (12/12). In 42 patients with stones in multiple branches of intrahepatic bile ducts, 31 patients underwent stone extraction through a single sinus tract while 11 patients through 2 or more sinus tracts. There was no significant difference in the stone clearance rate between patients with a single sinus tract and those with 2 or more sinus tracts ( P>0.05). The total stone clearance rate was 79.6% (43/54) and the total complication rate 18.5% (10/54). Conclusion:UIFNS was a useful tool with advantages in evaluating the location and distribution of biliary stones, and in selecting appropriate hepatic ducts for planning puncture routes to establish sinus tracts for stone removal.