OBJECTIVE To establish the project approval evaluation system for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） preparations in medical institutions guided by new drug conversion， to improve the success rate of approval for TCM preparations in medical institutions and lay the foundation for the later drug conversion. METHODS Research and development team used the literature research method and brainstorming method to list and organize relevant elements of project evaluation and determine the initial indicator system. Experts were consulted using the Delphi method to confirm the evaluation index. The weights were calculated based on the proportion of importance scores for each indicator and assigned specific scores to each item. The indicator system was used to evaluate 31 TCM preparations applied for filing by various departments of our hospital from April to July 2023. RESULTS After two rounds of 17 experts’ consultation， the final TCM preparation system included five primary indicators， i.e. theoretical basis， clinical research foundation， pharmaceutical foundation， prescription， and clinical value， as well as 17 secondary indicators including prescription source， traditional Chinese medicine theory， clinical positioning and so on. Human experience was considered as the item which would be rejected as one vote. Based on the above indicator system， our hospital further improved the filing and project approval process for TCM preparations in medical institutions. Among the 31 TCM preparations applied for filing by various departments from April to July 2023， 8 TCM preparations with a score ≥65 were selected for development. CONCLUSIONS The evaluation system is objective， comprehensive， and highly operable. It is suitable for the selection of TCM preparations in medical institutions before research and development.

Regenerative therapy holds great promise in the development of cures of some untreatable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) including induced PSCs (iPSCs) are the most important regenerative seed cells. Recently, differentiation of human PSCs into functional tissues and cells in vitro has been widely reported. However, although porcine reports are rare they are quite essential, as the pig is an important animal model for the in vitro generation of human organs. In this study, we reprogramed porcine embryonic fibroblasts into porcine iPSCs (piPSCs), and differentiated them into cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31)-positive endothelial cells (ECs) (piPSC-derived ECs, piPS-ECs) using an optimized single-layer culture method. During differentiation, we observed that a combination of GSK3β inhibitor (CHIR99021) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) promoted mesodermal differentiation, resulting in higher proportions of CD31-positive cells than those from separate CHIR99021 or BMP4 treatment. Importantly, the piPS-ECs showed comparable morphological and functional properties to immortalized porcine aortic ECs, which are capable of taking up low-density lipoprotein and forming network structures on Matrigel. Our study, which is the first trial on a species other than human and mouse, has provided an optimized single-layer culture method for obtaining ECs from porcine PSCs. Our approach can be beneficial when evaluating autologous EC transplantation in pig models.

Regenerative therapy holds great promise in the development of cures of some untreatable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) including induced PSCs (iPSCs) are the most important regenerative seed cells. Recently, differentiation of human PSCs into functional tissues and cells in vitro has been widely reported. However, although porcine reports are rare they are quite essential, as the pig is an important animal model for the in vitro generation of human organs. In this study, we reprogramed porcine embryonic fibroblasts into porcine iPSCs (piPSCs), and differentiated them into cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31)-positive endothelial cells (ECs) (piPSC-derived ECs, piPS-ECs) using an optimized single-layer culture method. During differentiation, we observed that a combination of GSK3β inhibitor (CHIR99021) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) promoted mesodermal differentiation, resulting in higher proportions of CD31-positive cells than those from separate CHIR99021 or BMP4 treatment. Importantly, the piPS-ECs showed comparable morphological and functional properties to immortalized porcine aortic ECs, which are capable of taking up low-density lipoprotein and forming network structures on Matrigel. Our study, which is the first trial on a species other than human and mouse, has provided an optimized single-layer culture method for obtaining ECs from porcine PSCs. Our approach can be beneficial when evaluating autologous EC transplantation in pig models.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Lipoproteins ; Mesoderm ; Methods ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; Swine

The standardized training of resident doctors is the main form of medical education after graduation. The standardization training of ultrasound doctors was guided by post competence, and was explored from the aspects, such as training target, teaching management, teaching method, teaching mode, and examination means. In this study, we adhered to the tutor responsibility system, and horizontal multi-module and vertical step-by-step teaching modes, made study plans according to local conditions, and improved the assessment system, so as to build a standardized and practical training system for ultrasound residents.

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system is a versatile genome editing tool with high efficiency. A guide sequence of 20 nucleotides (nt) is commonly used in application of CRISPR/Cas9; however, the relationship between the length of the guide sequence and the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9 in porcine cells is still not clear. To illustrate this issue, guide RNAs of different lengths targeting the EGFP gene were designed. Specifically, guide RNAs of 17 nt or longer were sufficient to direct the Cas9 protein to cleave target DNA sequences, while 15 nt or shorter guide RNAs had loss-of-function. Full-length guide RNAs complemented with mismatches also showed loss-of-function. When the shortened guide RNA and target DNA heteroduplex (gRNA:DNA heteroduplex) was blocked by mismatch, the CRISPR/Cas9 would be interfered with. These results suggested the length of the gRNA:DNA heteroduplex was a key factor for maintaining high efficiency of the CRISPR/Cas9 system rather than weak bonding between shortened guide RNA and Cas9 in porcine cells.
Base Sequence ; Complement System Proteins ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; DNA ; Genome ; Nucleotides ; RNA, Guide ; Swine

Objective To explore the feasibility of our method on assessing the three-dimensional facial morphological features based on three-dimensional surface imaging techniques.Methods According to the admission criteria,three-dimensional facial images of 34 attractive young Chinese women and 172 healthy reference young women were selected from the three-dimensional facial images database of our department.For those images,anthropometric facial measurements including facial height,width,the degree of convexity and concavity were computed using three-dimensional surface imaging techniques combined with three-dimensional coordinate system.The variance between attractive group and reference group was analyzed and the facial morphological features of each group were preliminarily summarized.Results Both groups met the criteria of mesoprosopy,not the "vertical facial trisection and rule of fifths".The attractive group had a relatively narrow anterior facial frame,a more rounded and full upper face compared with the reference group.They also had smaller intercan thai width compared with the reference group.Moreover,the attractive group showed more prominent nose,more full and prominent medial cheek.In addition,the attractive group shared less protruded upper lips and less retruded chin compared with the reference group.Conclusions Assessing facial morphology using three-dimensional surface imaging techniques is a convenient and feasible method.The evaluation of sagittal facial convexity and concavity is an indispensable part of facial morphology features assessment.

Our previous studies found that mitochondrial uncouplers CCCP and niclosamide inhibited artery constriction and the mechanism involved AMPK activation in vascular smooth muscle cells. BAM15 is a novel type of mitochondrial uncoupler. The aim of the present study is to identify the vasoactivity of BAM15 and characterize the BAM15-induced AMPK activation in vascular smooth muscle cells (A10 cells). BAM15 relaxed phenylephrine (PE)-induced constricted rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. Pretreatment with BAM15 inhibited PE-induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. BAM15, CCCP, and niclosamide had the comparable IC value of vasorelaxation in PE-induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries. BAM15 was less cytotoxic in A10 cells compared with CCCP and niclosamide. BAM15 depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, induced mitochondrial fission, increased mitochondrial ROS production, and increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate in A10 cells. BAM15 potently activated AMPK in A10 cells and the efficacy of BAM15 was stronger than that of CCCP, niclosamide, and AMPK positive activators metformin and AICAR. In conclusion, BAM15 activates AMPK in vascular smooth muscle cells with higher potency than that of CCCP, niclosamide and the known AMPK activators metformin and AICAR. The present work indicates that BAM15 is a potent AMPK activator.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyze the nasal morphological characteristics in Chinese adult, of Han nationality, by the measurements in sagittal plan and the proportionality between nose and facial structures, in order to provide aesthetic references for rhinoplasty, and individual surgical planning. Methods: During 2017 November to December, 258 healthy Han Youth volunteers were included. Three-dimensional (3D) models of the facial characteristic information were collected using Artec 3D scanner, by standardized procedures. The nasal and facial distances and angulations were measured, based on predesigned facial landmarks. Thereafter, the proportions of above measurements were calculated. Results: There was no significant difference between genders in absolute prominence. As for relative prominence, male nose is more prominent, resulted in a more stereoscopic facial profile. The nasal basal plane of both male and female, was more anterior than the infraorbital points, with 7% of the absolute degree of the infraorbital points. The range of the angle between the nasal basal plane and coronal plane was 2-4 degrees. Conclusions This study sets a database for the external nasal characteristics of the young adult in Chinese Han nationality, which could provide quantitative references for preoperative evaluation and individually surgical planning.

Objective To explore the levels of urine iodine in mothers and urine iodine and blood thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in their neonates, and the correlations. Methods A total of 695 pairs of mothers and their neonates were included. Urine sample of both mothers and newborns were collected and the levels of urine iodine were detected. Heel blood sample of newborns were collected and the levels of TSH were detected. Results The median urine iodine level in 695 mothers was 212 . 9μg/L, among whom 163 case ( 34 . 39%) were iodine deifcient (?5 mIU/L in neonates whose mother were iodine deifcient or excessive were higher than those in neonates whose mother were iodine adequate or more than adequate, and the difference was statistically signiifcant (P