Objective To analyze the PLCβ4 gene mRNA expression and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on TCGA database. Methods Based on the data on 424 clinical samples (including 374 cases of HCC tissues and 50 cases of nontumor liver tissues) in the TCGA database, Kaplan–Meier method, Cox regression analysis, and immune infiltration analysis were performed to evaluate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and the clinical characteristics and survival prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis between PLCβ4 gene and 24 types of immune cells was applied to investigate the relationship between PLCβ4 gene and immune cell infiltration and mRNA expression level of TP53 gene, a high-frequency mutation gene in HCC. In addition, paraffin sections of highly, moderately, and poorly differentiated tumor tissues and normal liver tissues from HCC patients were collected. The histopathological observation was carried out via HE staining method, and the expression levels of PLCβ4 and Ki-67 proteins in each clinical sample were verified through the immunohistochemical method. Results The expression level of PLCβ4 gene in HCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.01), and all patients in the PLCβ4 high-expression group had a significantly longer overall survival than those in the low-expression group (P<0.05), which suggested that PLCβ4 substantially affected the prognosis of HCC patients. Correlation analysis showed that the expression level of PLCβ4 gene was highly correlated with immune cell infiltration and the expression level of TP53 gene. As verified by clinical sample experiments, HE staining experiments and immunohistochemical results revealed that PLCβ4 gene expression in HCC tissue samples was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P<0.001), and it was negatively correlated with the degree of differentiation. Conclusion PLCβ4 may serve as an independent prognostic factor in HCC and is expected to be a novel molecular target for HCC treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on idiopathic facial palsy (IFP) at acute phase and recovery phase. METHODS: According to whether received acupuncture-moxibustion at acute phase or not, 198 IFP patients were divided into an early-phase intervention group (118 cases) and a non-early-phase intervention group (80 cases). With the propensity score matching employed, 70 cases were included in each group. On the basis of the conventional treatment of western medicine, acupuncture-moxibustion was supplemented in the two groups. In the early-phase intervention group, acupuncture-moxibustion was delivered at the acute phase (duration of illness≤7 days); in the non-early-phase intervention group, acupuncture-moxibustion was operated at the recovery phase (duration of illness>7 days). At the acute phase, warm needling was performed at Yifeng (TE17), Xiaguan (ST7), Hegu (LI4) and Zusanli (ST36) on the affected side; and at the recovery phase, electroacupuncture was delivered at Cuanzhu (BL2), Sizhukong (TE23) and Yangbai (GB14), etc. on the affected side, with the disperse-dense wave and 2 Hz/100 Hz of frequency. The intervention was operated for 30 min each time, once every two days, three treatments weekly and for 4 weeks. Before treatment, 1 week and 4 weeks of treatment, the House-Brackmann (H-B) facial nerve function grade, the score of Sunnybrook facial nerve function, and the score of facial disability index (FDI) were compared between the two groups. The clinical effect in 1 and 4 weeks of treatment and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: In 1 and 4 weeks of treatment, the H-B grade was improved when compared with that before treatment in each group (P<0.05), and in 4 weeks of treatment, H-B grade in the early-phase intervention group was superior to that of the non-early-phase intervention group (P<0.05). In 1 and 4 weeks of treatment, Sunnybrook scores and the scores of physical function of FDI were elevated in comparison with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05); and in 4 weeks of treatment, the elevation of these two indexes in the early-phase intervention group was greater than that of the non-early-phase intervention group (P<0.05). In 4 weeks of treatment, the scores of social function in FDI were reduced when compared with those before treatment in the two groups (P<0.05). In 4 weeks of treatment, the total effective rate (97.1%, 68/70) in the early-phase intervention group was higher than that (87.1%, 61/70) of the non-early-phase intervention group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy starting at the acute phase is more beneficial to the functional recovery of the impaired facial nerve than at the recovery phase in the IFP patients.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Moxibustion ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Facial Paralysis/therapy* ; Cohort Studies ; Aged ; Bell Palsy/therapy* ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVES: Calcium silicate (CSO) is modified to give it photothermal antibacterial properties. Its application potential in tooth mineralization and oral antibacterial is evaluated. METHODS: Based on defect-engineering modification strategy, a series of CSO-T samples (CSO-300, CSO-400, CSO-500, CSO-600) was obtained by introducing oxygen vacancy into CSO through thermal reduction using sodium borohydride. The samples were tested using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet near-infrared absorption spectroscopy, and infrared thermography. The powder samples with the best photothermal performance and the most suitable material concentration (CSO-500, 500 μg/mL) were selected for subsequent experiments. High resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to analyze the microstructure and morphology of the sample, and MTT assay and Calcein AM/PI live/dead cell staining were used to evaluate the toxicity and compatibility of the sample to human oral keratinocytes. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were selected for photothermal antibacterial experiments to evaluate their in vitro antibacterial performance. SEM, energy dispersive spectrometer, and micro Vickers hardness tester were used to evaluate the ability of materials to induce in vitro remineralization of detached teeth. RESULTS: Oxygen vacancies changed the crystal type and lattice spacing of CaSiO₃, broadened the light-absorption range, and gave it a good photothermal conversion ability in response to near infrared. Invitro experiments showed that the modified CaSiO₃ could promote the formation of hydroxyapatite on the tooth surface, thereby promoting the remineralization of teeth and improving the teeth hardness. Moreover, it had photothermal antibacterial properties and no cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS Defect-modified black calcium silicate has multiple functions, such as promoting tooth remineralization and photothermal bacteriostatic. When combined with the infrared luminescent toothbrush, it can simply and effectively treat tooth enamel erosion and oral bacteriostatic diseases caused by the excessive consumption of carbonated beverages and other daily bad living habits. This combination is expected to achieve the synergic treatment effect of tooth remineralization and oral bacteriostatic through daily cleaning is expected.
Calcium Compounds/pharmacology* ; Silicates/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Tooth Remineralization ; Escherichia coli/drug effects* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Keratinocytes/drug effects* ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning

CD20 is a surface marker protein of B-cell lymphoma, and its extracellular region is the target of specific antibodies and drugs. To obtain a cheap and easily modified specific preparation targeting CD20, we optimized the gene of CD20 extracellular region according to codon degeneracy to facilitate its expression in Escherichia coli. The optimized gene was cloned into pGEX-4T-1 vector, and the recombinant vector was transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3) for expression. The purified protein was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) was employed to screen the ssDNA aptamer that specifically binds to the fusion protein, and the affinity of the aptamer to CD20 was detected by flow cytometry. Then, the cytotoxicity test was carried out to examine the inhibitory effect of the aptamer on B lymphoma cells. In this study, we established the prokaryotic expression method of CD20 and obtained the aptamer specifically binding to the extracellular region of CD20, which laid a foundation for the development of therapeutic drugs targeting CD20.
Humans ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; SELEX Aptamer Technique/methods* ; Aptamers, Nucleotide/genetics* ; Antigens, CD20/metabolism* ; Ligands

OBJECTIVE To investigate the attenuation and synergism of Hugan buzure recipe （HBR） combined with oxaliplatin on hepatocellular carcinoma tumor bearing nude mice and its mechanism. METHODS Eight nude mice were selected from 40 nude mice as the blank group （normal saline）， and the remaining nude mice were inoculated with hepatoma cells Huh7 to establish the tumor-bearing model. The 32 modeled nude mice were randomly allocated to four groups： model group （normal saline， ig）， HBR group （0.69 g/kg， ig）， oxaliplatin group （10 mg/kg， ip）， and combination group （intraperitoneal injection of 0.69 g/kg HBR+intragastric administration of 10 mg/kg oxaliplatin）， with 8 mice in each group. Administer drug/normal saline once a day for 32 consecutive days； administer subcutaneous injection once every 7 days for a total of 5 times. During the experiment， the general condition of nude mice in each group was observed， and the tumor volume was measured every 4 days. On the 30th day of administration， the thermal stimulation paw withdrawal latency of nude mice in each group were detected. The tumor inhibition rate， spleen coefficient， the number of red blood cells， white blood cells and platelets in the whole blood of nude mice in each group， and the content of aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and creatinine in serum were detected after the end of administration. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in tumor tissues in nude mice in each group. The expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3），selective autophagy adaptor protein p62， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， and Caspase-3 protein in tumor tissues. RESULT Compared with the model group， the tumor volume， tumor weight， white blood cells，red blood cells in the whole blood and spleen coefficients of nude mice in the oxaliplatin group were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）； the thermal stimulation paw withdrawal latency， AST and creatinine in serum were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the oxaliplatin group， the tumor volume and tumor weight of nude mice in the combination group were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）； the white blood cells， red blood cells and platelets in the whole blood and spleen coefficients of nude mice were significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the thermal stimulation paw withdrawal latency， AST and creatinine in serum were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）； the expression levels of LC3， Bax and Caspase-3 proteins in tumor tissues of nude mice were significantly increased （P＜0.01）， and the expression levels of p62 and Bcl-2 proteins were significantly decreased （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS HBR enhances the tumor inhibition rate of oxaliplatin by inducing apoptosis and autophagy， and can alleviate the peripheral neurotoxicity， hematological toxicity， hepatorenal toxicity， and immune organ toxicity caused by oxaliplatin in nude mice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Cistanche deserticola in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease （IBD）. METHODS The active components of C. deserticola were screened based on TCMSP and literature reports. The targets of active ingredients were obtained via Swiss Target Prediction platform. Then the disease targets were obtained by searching GeneCards and OMIM databases. PPI network and “drug-compound-disease-target” network were constructed. The core components and core targets were screened. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed， and molecular docking verification was conducted for core targets and core components. The IBD mice model was established and divided into model group， positive control group （dexamethasone， 0.4 mg/kg） and C. deserticola extract group （100， 200， 400 mg/kg）； blank control group was set， with 8 mice in each group. Each group was given relevant medicine， once a day， for 7 consecutive days. Disease activity index （DAI） score and colon length were calculated， and the pathological morphology of the colon of mice was observed. The levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-1β， IL-10， myeloperoxidase （MPO），tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）] in colon tissue， and protein expressions of core targets were detected. RESULTS A total of 39 active ingredients and 232 potential targets of C. deserticola in the treatment of IBD were obtained. The treatment of IBD with C. deserticola might be related to core components such as quercetin， suchilactone， β-sitosterol and cistanoside H， and core targets such as TNF， AKT1， STAT3， EGFR and SRC. GO and KEGG pathway analysis predicted that the biological processes of C. deserticola in the treatment of IBD were mainly related to protein phosphorylation， and negative regulation of apoptosis， mainly involving PI3K/AKT and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance signaling pathways. The results of molecular docking showed that the binding energy between the core components and core target of C. deserticola was less than －4.7 kJ/mol. Animal experiment results showed that after intervention with C. deserticola extract， the body weight and colon length of mice significantly increased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， while DAI decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. The congestion and edema of colon mucosa were significantly reduced， and the pathological score of colon tissue was significantly decreased （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the levels of IL-6， IL-1β， MPO and TNF-α， as well as the protein expressions of PI3K， phosphorylated PI3K （p-PI3K）， EGFR， TNF- α， STAT3， phosphorylated STAT3 （p-STAT3）， AKT1， phosphorylated AKT1 （p-AKT1） and SRC in colon tissue were reduced significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， while the level of IL-10 was significantly increased in model group （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS C. deserticola may alleviate IBD by regulating the SRC/EGFR/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate the second-hand smoke behavior at home among smokers, so as to provide the reference for developing home tobacco control strategies. Methods: Permanent residents who were smokers and at the ages of 15 years and above were sampled from 10 streets (townships) in Xuhui District, Shanghai Municipality using the multi-stage random sampling and population-size proportional sampling methods in 2022. Demographic information, smoking status, awareness of second-hand smoke hazards and second-hand smoke behavior at home were collected by questionnaire surveys. Factors affecting second-hand smoke behavior at home were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 024 smokers were surveyed, including 769 males (75.10%) and 255 females (24.90%). The awareness of hazards of second-hand smoke was 33.59%; the awareness rate of second-hand smoke causing lung cancer in adults was the highest at 76.76%, while the awareness rate of second-hand smoke leading to premature birth and low birth weight in newborns was the lowest at 39.45%. There were 459 smokers with second-hand smoke behavior at home, accounting for 44.82%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that occupation (the retired, OR=2.320, 95%CI: 1.276-4.218), frequency of smoking (often, OR=5.722, 95%CI: 3.977-8.231), smoking duration (a year and above, OR=10.089, 95%CI: 5.508-18.480), electronic cigarette use (occasionally, OR=2.994, 95%CI: 1.283-6.986), living with pregnant women or infants (no, OR=2.171, 95%CI: 1.367-3.448), family indoor smoking restrictions (no restriction, OR=13.926, 95%CI: 7.538-25.727) and awareness of second-hand smoke hazards (unknown, OR=1.562, 95%CI: 1.067-2.287) were the influencing factors for second-hand smoke behavior at home. Conclusion There were 44.82% smokers in Xuhui District with second-hand smoke behavior at home, which was influenced by occupation, living situation, smoking status, family indoor smoking restriction and awareness of second-hand smoke hazards.

Objective:To investigate the impact of BMI1 expression in OSCC on the recruitment and differentiation of tumor-associat-ed macrophages(TAMs).Methods:BMI1 expression in 519 cases of OSCC tissues and 44 normal controls was analyzed using online datasets of GEPIA 2.0,and validated in 3 cases of OSCC samples and controls by qRT-PCR and western blotting.The function of BMI1/NF-κB axis during OSCC carcinogenesis was investigated by CCK8 assays,wound healing test and transwell assays.Macrophage phenotypes and recruitment were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting following coculture of the cells with human monocyte cells(THP-1)by OSCC conditioned medium.Moreover,a cell line-derived xenograft(CDX)model was used to detect the effect of BMI1 on tumor growth in vivo.Results:Compared with the normal tissues and cells,the expression level of BMI1 in OSCC tissues and cells was significantly upregulated.BMI1 knockdown impaired the proliferation,migration,and invasion abilities of OSCC cell lines in NF-κB-dependent manner.Furthermore,OSCC cells with high BMI1 expression inhibited the migration of THP-1 cells,promoted M2-like macrophage polarization through NF-κB pathway in vitro.Xenograft experiments further confirmed the inhibitory effect of BMI1 knockdown on the tumorigenesis ability of OSCC cells in vivo.Conclusion:BMI1 promotes M2-like polarization by regulating NF-κB and may be used as a potential therapeutic target for antitumor immunity.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Cichorium glandulosum in the treatment of liver fibrosis by using network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS A "component-target-pathway" network was constructed with the help of TCMSP, Pubchem, SwissTargetPrediction and Genecards databases, and the STRING database was used to predict the targets of Cichorium glandulosum against liver fibrosis. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis was performed in the DAVID database, and molecular docking of active ingredients and key targets was docked in AUTODOCK. PDGF-BB was used to induce activation of cells and verify the effects of six compounds, including quercetin, quercetin, chicoric acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and isochlorogenic acid, on the proliferation, apoptosis, and liver fibrosis indicators of HSC-T6 cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Ras, ERK1, ERK2, C-fos, and JNK proteins in HSC-T6 cells. RESULTS Network pharmacology screened 239 common targets between the components and liver fibrosis, PPI analysis showed that SRC, STAT3, HSP90AA1 and other targets were key targets, KEGG analysis showed that the pathways affected by Cichorium glandulosum included cancer pathways, metabolic pathways, etc. GO analysis predicted that Cichorium glandulosum mainly affected processes such as signal transduction. The molecular docking results showed that the target that could bind well with the components MAPK1, and the components that could bind well with the target aesculetin, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid. Compared with the model group, the inhibition effect of the six compounds on PDGF-BB-induced HSC-T6 cell activation was stronger, and all 6 compounds had the effects to reverse the index of liver fibrosis, in which aesculetin had the strongest activity(P<0.01). The expression of Ras, ERK1, ERK2, C-fos, and JNK in HSC-T6 cells decreased after the interventions of 6 compounds. CONCLUSION Each component of Cichorium glandulosum has different anti liver fibrosis effects, which are related to the inhibition of ERK/RAS pathway activation.

OBJECTIVE To screen out the pharmacodynamic substances of Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts, explore the basis of the pharmacodynamic substances and their mechanism of action in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy(DN), based on the spectral relationship between the mass spectral peak areas of different elution sites of Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts and their anti-DN effects. METHODS UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS technique was used to characterise the chromatographic peaks; MTT method was used to detect the effects of different elution sites of Cistanches Herba aqueous extract on the proliferation of high glucose and high fat HK-2 cells; grey correlation analysis and partial least squares method were used to analyse the spectral relationship between mass spectrometry peak area and anti-DN activity. MTT method was used to determine the anti-DN activities of the individual components of Cistanches Herba aqueous extract; biochemical kit and ELISA were used to determine the levels of oxidative indicators(SOD, GSH-P) and inflammatory factors(IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β); Western blotting was used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. RESULTS UPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS technique speculated and identified 72 common compounds; In Cistanches Herba aqueous extracts, water, 20% ethanol, and 40% ethanol-eluted sites differentially increased the proliferation rate of HK-2 cells in a high-sugar, high-fat environment; Partial least squares and grey correlation analyses showed that the constituents of the aqueous extracts of Cistanches Herba with greater anti-DN contributions were 8-epideoxymatricinic acid, geniposidic acid, pinoresinol, betaine and syringin, et al. MTT assay reveals that 8-epi-deoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid had significant proliferative effects on HK-2 cells in a high glucose and high fat environment; Biochemical kit and ELISA showed that 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid were able to up-regulate the activity of SOD and GSH-Px, and at the same time they had an inhibitory effect on the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and TGF-β. Western blotting results showed that 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid were able to down-regulate and up-regulate the markers of dermal mesenchymal transition: α-SMA, Collagen Ⅰ and E-cadherin, and they could exert anti-DN effects by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt pathway. CONCLUSION The two compounds, 8-epideoxystrychnic acid and geniposidic acid, which are screened by the spectroeffective relationship of anti-DN among the many chemical constituents contained in Cistanches Herba, can affect oxidative stress, inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of renal tubular cells by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, and improve renal pathology, degree of fibrosis and renal function, which will be useful for the in-depth study of aqueous extracts of Cistanches Herba in the treatment of DN.