Ferroptosis of chondrocytes is a significant contributor to osteoarthritis (OA), for which there is still a lack of safe and effective therapeutic drugs targeting ferroptosis. Here, we screen for anti-ferroptotic drugs in Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug library via a high-throughput manner in chondrocytes. We identified a group of FDA-approved anti-ferroptotic drugs, among which vitamin K showed the most powerful protective effect. Further study demonstrated that vitamin K effectively inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated the extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of vitamin K inhibited ferroptosis and alleviated OA phenotype in destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model. Mechanistically, transcriptome sequencing and knockdown experiments revealed that the anti-ferroptotic effects of vitamin K depended on growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6). Furthermore, exogenous expression of Gas6 was found to inhibit ferroptosis through the AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT) axis. Together, we demonstrate that vitamin K inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates OA progression via enhancing Gas6 expression and its downstream pathway of AXL/PI3K/AKT axis, indicating vitamin K as well as Gas6 to serve as a potential therapeutic target for OA and other ferroptosis-related diseases.

Objective:To identify potential therapeutic targets of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) through proteomics screening of and verify its effectiveness experimentally.Methods:The nasal tissue samples were collected from patients undergoing surgical treatment in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Yuhuangding Hospital of Yantai from June 2010 to December 2021, including 69 patients with CRSwNP and 39 patients in the control group. Tissue samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in data-independent acquisition (DIA) mode to find differentially expressed proteins. Bioinformatics tools were employed to analyze the functions of differentially expressed proteins. The expression of hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK) in nasal tissues of patients with CRSwNP was further confirmed by qPCR and western blot. The mouse model of CRSwNP was established and treated with HCK inhibitor. The levels of inflammatory factors IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of CRSwNP mice, both treated and untreated with HCK inhibitors, were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) across different experimental groups. The experimental data were analyzed by Graphpad Prism 9 software.Results:DIA analysis identified 1 850 differential proteins, including 760 up-regulated proteins and 1 090 down-regulated proteins. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) correlation analysis of phenotypic data such as cell count and CT score with the results of genomics indemnified 575 proteins of MEBrown module which intersected with 35 kinases further screened from 1 850 differential proteins, yielding eight protein kinases: HCK, SYK, PDK2, FGR, PRKCB, ROR1, CAMK1 and GRK6. qPCR showed that the expression of HCK in CRSwNP was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P<0.05). Further experiments in mice confirmed that the secretion of IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 in the serum of CRSwNP group was significantly higher than the control group (all P<0.05), indicating successful model establishment. The intervention of HCK significantly decreased the secretion of IgE, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of mice (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The HCK inhibitor can reduce the inflammatory index of mice with CRSwNP, and HCK is a potential therapeutic target of CRSwNP.

OBJECTIVES: Excessive production of AGEs in diabetic patients will affect the normal function of osteoblasts, and this process may be related to autophagy of osteoblasts. This study aims to explore the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on autophagic activity during osteogenic differentiation in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro, treated with different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/L) of AGEs for different time (3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). The proliferation activity was detected by CCK-8 method. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3 in cells were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively.The autophagic vacuoles were observed under the transmission electron microscope. The cells were treated with autophagy promoter rapamycin or autophagy inhibitor 3MA. After 7 days of osteogenic induction, we performed alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and real-time PCR to detect the mRNA expression levels of osteogenesis-related genes. RESULTS: In the low-concentration groups, the proliferation activity in BMSCs was increased ( CONCLUSIONS Low concentration of AGEs can enhance the proliferative activity of BMSCs and promote osteogenic differentiation by accelerating autophagy. High concentration of AGEs can suppress the proliferation of BMSCs and inhibit osteogenic differentiation by reducing autophagy.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Glycation End Products, Advanced/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVES: To explore the difference in odontoblast differentiation capacity between stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and to examine the expression level of ephrinB1 in odontoblast differentiation of these stem cells. METHODS: The stems cells were divided into a SHED group and a DPSCs group. After odontoblast differentiation induction, the above 2 groups were also randomly divided into a 3 d group and a 7 d group, respectively.The calcium deposition was detected by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining.The mRNA and protein expressions of ephrinB1, dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP-1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) were detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: ALP staining and alizarin red staining showed that there was stronger mineralization capacity in the SHED group than that in the DPSCs group. The relative mRNA and protein expressions of DMP-1, DSPP, and ephrinB1 in the SHED group were higher than those in the DPSCs group except for the protein expression of DMP-1 in the SHED 3 d group (all <0.05). CONCLUSIONS SHED has stronger odontoblast differentiation capacity than DPSCs. In addition, ephrinB1 may be involved in the processes of odontoblast differentiation in the SHED and DPSCs.
Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dental Pulp ; Humans ; Odontoblasts ; Osteogenesis ; Stem Cells ; Tooth, Deciduous

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on osteoclasts at different stages of differentiation. METHODS: Raw264.7 cells cultured were induced for osteoclastogenesis using RANKL, and the stages of differentiation of the osteoclasts were determined with TRAP staining. The cells were then randomly divided into control group, early-stage AGEs intervention group and late-stage AGEs intervention group. The viability of the cells after AGEs treatment was assessed using CCK-8 method. The cells were examined after the induction for osteoclastogenesis using TRAP staining, and the expression levels of RANK, NFATC-1, TRAF-6, TRAP and CTSK mRNAs were tested with RT-PCR; the expressions of CTSK and RANK proteins were detected using Western boltting. RESULTS: We defined the initial 3 days of induction as the early stage of differentiation and the time beyond 3 days as the late stage of differentiation of Raw264.7 cells. Intervention with AGEs at 100 mg/L produced no significant effects on the viability of the cells, but AGEs suppressed the cell proliferation at a concentration exceeding 100 mg/L. The number of osteolasts in the early- and late-stage intervention groups was greater than that in the control group, but the cell count differed significantly only between the early-stage intervention group and control group ( < 0.05). The gene expressions of RANK, NFATC-1, TRAF-6, TRAP and CTSK all increased after the application of AGEs in both the early and late stages of differentiation, but the changes were significant only in the early-stage intervention group ( < 0.05). The changes in CTSK and RANK protein expressions were consistent with their mRNA expressions. CONCLUSIONS AGEs can affect the differentiation of osteoclasts differently when applied at different stages, and intervention with AGEs at the early stage produces stronger effect to promote osteoclast differentiation than its application at a late stage.
Animals ; Bone Resorption ; Cell Differentiation ; Mice ; Osteoclasts ; RANK Ligand ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B

Objective? To explore the specific supportive care needs of patients with gynecologic cancer, and provide evidence for health care personnel to assess and meet needs of patients with gynecologic cancer. Methods? Using phenomenological research method, 24 women with gynecologic cancer were investigated by in-depth interview. Themes and sub-themes was extracted through content analysis. Results? Three kinds of specific supportive care needs were found, including specific symptom management needs, spousal relationship consolidation needs and self-esteem maintaining needs, and there existed gaps between patients identified needs and actual acquisition from health care personnel. Conclusions? Health care personnel should accurately assess the specific supportive care needs of patients with gynecologic cancer and then carry out targeted professional social support services to further meet patients' needs.

In order to investigate the distribution of Yersinia enterocolitica in Citellus dauricus plague focuses in Inner Mongolia,three different ecological environ/ments were chosen as the sampling area.Feces,tongue roots throat swabs,and intestinal contents of rodent,livestock,and poultry were separately collected,and different Y.enterocolitica strains were isolated,and identified.PCR analysis was conducted to detect the toxicity genes of Y.enterocolitica.Statiscal analysis was performed by chisquare test.Of the 3 260 samples,65 Y.enterocolitica strains were isolated and the overall detection rate was 1.99％.To include O ∶ 3/3,O ∶ 5/1A,O ∶ 4/4 serum biological type,the pathogenic strain of serotype O ∶ 3 and biological typt 3 carryinq toxicity genes ail,ystA,VirF yadA and rfbc was isolated from pigs in Citellus dauricus plague focuses,Inner Mongolia are the major carrier of pathogenic Y.enterocolitica distributed in three different ecological environment,and distributed mainly in agricultural area.

Objective To investigate the effect of high-fat diet-induced obesity on oxidative stress and klotho promoter methylation in lung tissue of C57/BL6 mice. Methods Mice in the control group were feed with the normal diet,and mice in the obesity group were feed with high-fat diet. The lung tissue level of uperoxide dis-mutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)were determined by using mice enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)kit. The klotho mRNA and protein expression was determined by qPCR and Western-blot ,respectively. The Klotho gene methylation status was determined by methylation specific PCR(MS-PCR). Results Compared with the control group,mice in the obesity group had high level of oxidative stress in lung tissue. Meanwhile,mice in the experimental group had lower levels of klotho mRNA and protein expression than those in the control group. The high-fat diet increased the degree of Klotho gene methylation. Conclusion High-fat diet could lead injure in lung tissue in C57/BL6 mice,klorho promoter methylation may play an important role involved in the process.

Objective To investigate the effect of self-designed closed negative pressure drainage combined with sponge dressings on refractory wounds.Methods Sixty patients with phase III-IV pressure ulcers were randomly divided into experiment group and control group in equal number.The self-designed closed negative pressure drainage combined with sponge dressing was applied in the experiment group and in the control group the conventional dressings were used.The two groups were compared in terms of hyperplasia of fresh granulation tissue,time for filling the defect and the healing time and the medical expense.Results Compared to the control group,the time for hyperplasia of fresh granulation tissue,the time for filling the defect and the healing time in the experiment group were all significantly shorter,and the medical expense of the experiment group was significantly less(all P<0.01). Conclusion The self-designed closed negative pressure drainage combined with sponge dressings in the treatment of phase III-IV refractory pressure ulcers may effectively shorten the healing time,improve the curative effects and reduce the economic burden of patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship between essential hypertension and serum C-reactive protein and plasma lipids.Methods Detecting fasting serum CRP and plasma lipid in each group of hypertensive patients to investigate the relationship between hypertension and fasting serum CRP and plasma lipids.Results CRP,TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C level of A,B and C group had significant differences with that of D group(t =4.03, 4.23, 4.61, 3.12, 3.41, 2.76,2.98,2.56,2.64,2.57,3.05,3.68,2.54,3.16,4.28,all P＜0.05).CRP,TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C levels between A,B and C group had significant differences(F = 4.68,4.05,3.29,3.59,4.11,all P＜0.05).There was significant correlation between serum CRP level and TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C level in 186 hypertension patients(r =0.274,0.356,0.327,0.302,all P＜0.05).Conclusion CRP,TC,TG and LDL-C levels showed significant linear correlation in patients with hypertension.