Objective: To investigate whether fibroblast growth factor 18(FGF18) can induce human gingival fibroblasts(HGFs) isolatedin vitroto differentiate into osteoblast-like cells, and to explore the mechanism of osteogenesis. Methods : HGFs were isolated, cultured and identified by tissue block method. The third generation of HGFs were divided into experimental group and control group. FGF18 and L-DMEM was added to the experimental group while L-DMEM was added to the control group.The effects of different concentrations of FGF18(0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 mg/L) on proliferation of HGFs were detected by Methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. Alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and alizarin red staining were used to detect the osteogenesis and mineralization ability of the cells after induction. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry staining, and Western blot were used to detect the expression of genes and proteins related to osteogenesis and BMP2 in the BMP signaling pathway. Results: Compared with the control group, the experimental group could promote the proliferation of HGFs at 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11days(P<0.05),ALP activity and mineral salt deposition increased after induction at 14 and 21 days(P<0.05), and the expressions of ALP, OPN, OCN mRNA and BMP2 mRNA in BMP signaling pathway significantly increased(P<0.01). The expressions of OPN, OCN and BMP2 protein at 21 days were significantly higher than those at 14 days(P<0.01). Conclusion FGF18 can promote the proliferation of HGFs, and induce the differentiation of HGFs into functional osteoblasts. The osteogenic mechanism is related to the upregulation of BMP2.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and prognostic factors of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy as the first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA/M ESCC).Methods:A single-center, retrospective analysis was conducted for the recent efficacy, survival, prognostic factors, post-treatment failure modes, and treatment-related adverse reactions of 57 LA/M ESCC patients eligible for enrollment.Results:The entire group of patients had 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival (OS) of 86.0%, 57.5%, and 53.9%, respectively and 1-, 2-, and 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) of 61.4%, 31.0%, and 31.0%, respectively. The median OS was not reached, and the median PFS was 15.0 (95% CI: 10.77-19.23) months. These patients had an overall response rate (ORR) of 80.7% (46/57) and a disease control rate (DCR) of 94.7% (54/57). As indicated by the result of the multivariate analysis, the independent prognostic factors affecting the OS of the patients included their age, clinical stage, number of immunotherapy cycles, and recent efficacy ( HR = 0.25, 2.58, 0.35, 4.05, P < 0.05), and the independent factors influencing the PFS of the patients included their clinical stage and recent efficacy ( HR = 2.27, 1.97, P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the effects of irradiation ranges and the combination modes of immunologic drugs and chemoradiotherapy on both OS and PFS of the patients ( P > 0.05). A total of 32 patients suffered post-treatment failure. After the second treatment, they had 1- and 2-year OS of 55.7% and 25.3%, respectively, with median OS of 14.0 (95% CI: 5.17-22.83) months. A total of 26 cases experienced treatment-associated adverse reactions of grades 2 or higher during and after treatment. Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and immunotherapy is effective and safe as the first-line treatment for LA/M ESCC patients. The post-treatment failure modes still include local recurrence and distant metastasis. Therefore, such combination merits further investigation.

DNA barcoding has been widely used for herb identification in recent decades,enabling safety and innovation in the field of herbal medicine.In this article,we summarize recent progress in DNA bar-coding for herbal medicine to provide ideas for the further development and application of this tech-nology.Most importantly,the standard DNA barcode has been extended in two ways.First,while conventional DNA barcodes have been widely promoted for their versatility in the identification of fresh or well-preserved samples,super-barcodes based on plastid genomes have rapidly developed and have shown advantages in species identification at low taxonomic levels.Second,mini-barcodes are attractive because they perform better in cases of degraded DNA from herbal materials.In addition,some mo-lecular techniques,such as high-throughput sequencing and isothermal amplification,are combined with DNA barcodes for species identification,which has expanded the applications of herb identification based on DNA barcoding and brought about the post-DNA-barcoding era.Furthermore,standard and high-species coverage DNA barcode reference libraries have been constructed to provide reference se-quences for species identification,which increases the accuracy and credibility of species discrimination based on DNA barcodes.In summary,DNA barcoding should play a key role in the quality control of traditional herbal medicine and in the international herb trade.

Objective:To explore the pathological differences of surgically resected specimens of advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to different neoadjuvant therapies (neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy and toripalimab combined with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy).Methods:Thirty patients diagnosed with advanced ESCC who underwent surgical operation after neoadjuvant therapy in Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from October 2020 to September 2021 were included. Among them, 15 patients received neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy (radiochemotherapy group) and 15 patients were treated with toripalimab combined with radiochemotherapy (immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group). Surgically resected specimens were collected. The histopathological features of primary esophageal lesions and the responses of involved lymph nodes were analyzed and compared between two groups.Results:The major pathological response (MPR) rate in the radiochemotherapy group was 10/15, and 14/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.17). The pathological complete response (pCR) rate of the primary lesions in the radiochemotherapy group was 7/15, and 10/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.46). In the radiochemotherapy group, the incidence rate of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) was 7/15, and 12/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.02). The incidence rate of necrosis in the radiochemotherapy group was 6/15, and 1/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.03). In addition, the incidence rate of foam cell infiltration in the radiochemotherapy group was 6/15, and 13/15 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P=0.01). Furthermore, the pCR rate of involved lymph nodes in the radiochemotherapy group was 7/33, and 11/12 in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Compared with the radiochemotherapy group, the incidence of TLS and foam cell infiltration is higher, the incidence of necrosis is lower and clinical efficacy of involved lymph nodes is higher in the immunotherapy combined with radiochemotherapy group, prompting that toripalimab combined with neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy exert higher synergistic immune effect.

Objective:To establish a IgA nephropathy (IgAN) standard dataset for the structured and standardization of IgAN clinical information, which will be beneficial to the integration and utilization of clinical information among different medical institutions. Therefore, the IgAN Expert Collaboration Group composed the "IgA Nephropathy Standard Dataset".Methods:Referring to the domestic information standards, guidelines, data standard and consensus of related fields, based on electronic medical history, the patient identification number was used as the primary key of the system to collect information. By standardizing each data element in the data set, the standardization of the management system in data and information exchange, data collaboration and sharing was ensured, and a quality control system was developed.Results:This standard dataset included 607 data elements and 8 business domains, which were patient information, medical history information, physical examination, laboratory examination, assistant examination, renal pathology, drug treatment, and follow-up, respectively. Each module was composed of module name, data element name, English name, definition, range, reference standard, etc. At the same time, a corresponding quality control system was formulated to evaluate data quality from multiple dimensions such as completeness, standardization, accuracy, timeliness, and security for ensuring the high quality and security of the data.Conclusion:The IgAN standard dataset is established, which will contribute to the structuration and standardization of clinical information of IgAN patients.

In this paper, the domestic and international demand and development trend of clinical diagnostic radionuclides are analyzed, and the medium and high-energy cyclotrons, adequate and systematic facilities, and preparation techniques required for the production of medical radionuclides based on solid targets are introduced. This paper focuses on the research and development carried out by some important medical institutions and scientific research institutes in China over the years in the aspects of medium and high-energy cyclotrons, beam transmission lines, high-power irradiation target stations and new medical isotope production processes etc. It also looks forward to some new directions for the development of medical radionuclides in China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

Since synthetic pigments are potentially harmful to human health, natural ones such as bixin, one of the carotenoids, are favored. As the second widely used natural pigment in the world, there is significant interest in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin which has not been fully elucidated. This review summarizes the chemical properties, extraction methods, biosynthetic pathway and application of bixin. In addition, we compared the difference between traditional extraction methods and new extraction techniques. Moreover, we described the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of bixin and the effects of abiotic stress on the biosynthesis of bixin, and discussed the application of bixin in food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. However, the researches on bixin biosynthesis pathway are mostly carried out at the transcriptome level and most of the gene functions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we propose to characterize the entire bixin biosynthetic pathway using techniques of genomics, bioinformatics, and phytochemistry. This will help facilitate the synthetic biology research of bixin and development of bixin into new drugs.
Bixaceae/genetics* ; Carotenoids ; Humans ; Pigmentation ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVE: The design and development of split memory alloy sternum bone plate are discussed, and the effect of split memory alloy sternum bone plate internal fixation in the treatment of sternal fractures are analysed. METHODS: The structure of the product is designed according to the anatomy and physiological characteristics of human bones, and the cross section shape of the product is designed according to the cross section shape of human bones. Internal fixation is effective in the treatment of sternal fracture. RESULTS: The split memory alloy sternal plate was successfully designed and developed, and all the patients with sternal fractures treated by internal fixation were clinically healed, the hospitalization and fracture healing time were significantly shortened, and no obvious complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS The application of split memory alloy sternal plate internal fixation in the treatment of sternal fracture has the advantages of small trauma, simple operation, safety, reliable fixation, good histocompatibility and less complications, and is conducive to promoting fracture healing and respiratory function improvement.
Alloys ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Sternum/surgery*

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of severe infections. From a cohort including 3060 patients with confirmed COVID-19, 109 (3.4%) cancer patients were included in this study. Among them, 23 (21.1%) patients died in the hospital. Cancer patients, especially those with hematological malignancies (41.6%), urinary carcinoma (35.7%), malignancies of the digestive system (33.3%), gynecological malignancies (20%), and lung cancer (14.3%), had a much higher mortality than patients without cancer. A total of 19 (17.4%) cancer patients were infected in the hospital. The clinical characteristics of deceased cancer patients were compared with those of recovered cancer patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that a Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS2002) score ⩾ 3 (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 11.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.60-26.32; P < 0.001), high-risk type (adjusted HR 18.81; 95% CI 4.21-83.93; P < 0.001), tumor stage IV (adjusted HR 4.26; 95% CI 2.34-7.75; P < 0.001), and recent adjuvant therapy (< 1 month) (adjusted HR 3.16; 95% CI 1.75-5.70; P < 0.01) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death after adjusting for age, comorbidities, D-dimer, and lymphocyte count. In conclusion, cancer patients showed a higher risk of COVID-19 infection with a poorer prognosis than patients without cancer. Cancer patients with high-risk tumor, NRS2002 score ⩾ 3, advanced tumor stage, and recent adjuvant therapy (< 1 month) may have high risk of mortality.
COVID-19 ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; SARS-CoV-2