ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of atorvastatin （ATV） on the proliferation and differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs）， periodontal ligament stem cells （PDLSCs）， and dental pulp stem cells （DPSCs） in vitro， and to validate the regulatory effect of ATV on periodontal bone formation and tooth movement using a rat orthodontic tooth movement （OTM） model. MethodsThe effects of ATV on the proliferation and osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs， PDLSCs， and DPSCs were assessed in vitro. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of the three types of cells. Alkaline phosphatase （ALP） staining and Alizarin Red staining were employed to evaluate osteogenic differentiation capacity. Western blot was used to detect the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins ［collagen type I （COL-I）， Runt-related transcription factor 2 （Runx2）， bone morphogenetic protein-2 （BMP-2）， osteocalcin （OCN）］ and the odontogenesis-related protein dentin sialophosphoprotein （DSPP） in BMSCs， PDLSCs and DPSCs. An OTM rat model was established， with rats randomly assigned to an ATV gavage group and a control group. The ATV gavage group received daily oral administration of ATV at a dose of 20 mg/kg， while the control group received an equal volume of solvent by gavage. Tooth movement distance was measured via Micro-CT on days 7， 14， and 21. Histomorphology of periodontal tissues was observed using Hematoxylin and Eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining. The gene and protein expression levels of osteogenic markers （BMP-2， Runx2， OCN） on the tension side of the first molar were detected by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry， respectively. ResultsATV at concentrations of 1×10⁻⁶ mol/L and 1×10⁻⁷ mol/L significantly promoted the proliferation and osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of BMSCs， PDLSCs， and DPSCs， manifested as enhanced ALP activity， increased mineralized nodule formation， and up-regulated expression of osteogenic/odontogenic proteins COL-I， Runx2， BMP-2， OCN， and DSPP （P<0.001）. In the OTM model， compared with the control group， the ATV gavage group showed a significant reduction in tooth movement distance （P<0.05）， enhanced osteogenic activity in periodontal tissues， and significantly increased gene （P<0.001） and protein （P<0.05） expression of BMP-2， Runx2， and OCN on the tension side of the first molar. ConclusionATV enhances periodontal osteogenesis by promoting osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation， thus inhibiting tooth movement.

Noise-induced hearing loss is a worldwide public health issue that is characterized by temporary or permanent changes in hearing sensitivity. This condition is closely linked to inflammatory responses, and interventions targeting the inflammatory gene tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) are known to mitigate cochlear noise damage. TNFα-induced proteins (TNFAIPs) are a family of translucent acidic proteins, and TNFAIP6 has a notable association with inflammatory responses. To date, there have been few reports on TNFAIP6 levels in the inner ear. To elucidate the precise mechanism, we generated transgenic mouse models with conditional knockout of Tnfaip6 (Tnfaip6 cKO). Evaluation of hair cell morphology and function revealed no significant differences in hair cell numbers or ribbon synapses between Tnfaip6 cKO and wild-type mice. Moreover, there were no notable variations in hair cell numbers or hearing function in noisy environments. Our results indicate that Tnfaip6 does not have a substantial impact on the auditory system.
Animals ; Mice, Knockout ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner/pathology* ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology*

Circular RNA(circRNA),as a kind of non-coding RNA,regulates a variety of biological functions.To explore the effect of circRNA on PEDV replication in the host porcine intestinal epi-thelial cells,this study screened and analyzed the differentially expressed circRNAs by bioinforma-tic software in African Green Monkey renal cells(Vero-E6 cells)infected by porcine epidemic di-arrhea virus(PEDV),the differentially expressed circRNA ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was identified and the secondary structure was analyzed.PCR was used to identify the ssc_circ_PIK3C2A circRNA structure,the model of PEDV-infected IPEC-J2 cells was constructed,the TCID50 test was used to validate the viral titer of PEDV.The expression of circ_PIK3C2A was detected by qRT-PCR in IPEC-J2 infected by PEDV.circ_PIK3C2A qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of N gene of PEDV when ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was over-expressed in IPEC-J2 cells.The results showed that ssc_circ_PIK3C2 A is a porcine circular RNA with a typical circular structure,the virus titer of PEDV reached 10-6/mL after PEDV infected IPEC-J2 cells for 48 h,the expression of circ_PIK3C2A increased extremely(P＜0.01)at 6 h after PEDV-infection,with the extension of infec-tion time,its expression gradually decreased,and the expression was the lowest at 24 h,but there was no time-dependent trend.The expression of PEDV N gene decreased significantly when ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was over-expressed in IPEC-J2 cells.In conclusion,when PEDV infects IPEC-J2 cells,the expression of porcine circ_PIK3C2A decreases,and replication of PEDV increases signifi-cantly in IPEC-J2 cells.our result provides a basis for further study of the mechanism of circular RNA on PEDV replication and its physiological activities in host cells in the future.

Circular RNA(circRNA),as a kind of non-coding RNA,regulates a variety of biological functions.To explore the effect of circRNA on PEDV replication in the host porcine intestinal epi-thelial cells,this study screened and analyzed the differentially expressed circRNAs by bioinforma-tic software in African Green Monkey renal cells(Vero-E6 cells)infected by porcine epidemic di-arrhea virus(PEDV),the differentially expressed circRNA ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was identified and the secondary structure was analyzed.PCR was used to identify the ssc_circ_PIK3C2A circRNA structure,the model of PEDV-infected IPEC-J2 cells was constructed,the TCID50 test was used to validate the viral titer of PEDV.The expression of circ_PIK3C2A was detected by qRT-PCR in IPEC-J2 infected by PEDV.circ_PIK3C2A qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of N gene of PEDV when ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was over-expressed in IPEC-J2 cells.The results showed that ssc_circ_PIK3C2 A is a porcine circular RNA with a typical circular structure,the virus titer of PEDV reached 10-6/mL after PEDV infected IPEC-J2 cells for 48 h,the expression of circ_PIK3C2A increased extremely(P＜0.01)at 6 h after PEDV-infection,with the extension of infec-tion time,its expression gradually decreased,and the expression was the lowest at 24 h,but there was no time-dependent trend.The expression of PEDV N gene decreased significantly when ssc_circ_PIK3C2A was over-expressed in IPEC-J2 cells.In conclusion,when PEDV infects IPEC-J2 cells,the expression of porcine circ_PIK3C2A decreases,and replication of PEDV increases signifi-cantly in IPEC-J2 cells.our result provides a basis for further study of the mechanism of circular RNA on PEDV replication and its physiological activities in host cells in the future.

BACKGROUND: The derivation of salivary gland (SG) progenitors from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) presents significant potential for developmental biology and regenerative medicine. However, the existing protocols for inducing SG include limited factors, making it challenging to mimic the in vivo microenvironment of embryonic SGs. METHODS: We reported a cocktail factor approach to promote the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC)-derived oral epithelium (OE) into SG progenitors through a three-dimensional co-culture method. Upon confirming that the embryonic SG can promote the differentiation of mESC-derived OE, we performed RNA sequence analysis to identify factors involved in the differentiation of SG progenitors. RESULTS: Our findings highlight several efficient pathways related to SG development, with frequent appearances of four factors: IFN-c, TGF-b2, EGF, and IGF-1. The combined treatment using these cocktail factors increased the expression of key SG progenitor markers, including Sox9, Sox10, Krt5, and Krt14. However, absence of any one of these cocktail factors did not facilitate differentiation. Notably, aggregates treated with the cocktail factor formed SG epitheliallike structures and pre-bud-like structures on the surface. CONCLUSION In conclusion, this study offers a novel approach to developing a differentiation protocol that closely mimics the in vivo microenvironment of embryonic SGs. This provides a foundation for generating PSC-derived organoids with near-physiological cell behaviors and structures.

Objective To explore the improvements of high-fat intake on lung injury induced by Paragonimus proliferus infection in rats, and to preliminarily explore the mechanisms underlying the role of cytochrome P450 4A1 (CYP 4A1) in the improve ments. Methods SD rats were randomly assigned into three groups, including the normal control group (n = 10), the infection and normal diet group (n = 12) and the infection and high-fat diet group (n = 12). Rats in the normal control group were fed with normal diet and without any other treatments, and animals in the infection and normal diet group were subcutaneously injected with 8 excysted metacercariae of P. proliferus via the abdominal wall, followed by feeding with normal diet, while rats in the infection and high-fat diet group were subcutaneously injected with 8 excysted metacercariae of P. proliferus via the abdominal wall, followed by feeding with high-fat diet. All rats were sacrificed 28 weeks post-infection, and serum samples and lung specimens were collected. Following hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of rat lung specimens, the rat lung injury was observed under an optical microscope, and alveolitis was evaluated using semi-quantitative scoring. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the cytochrome P450 4A1 (CYP 4A1) expression was quantified in rat lung specimens at transcriptional and translational levels using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting assays. Results Alveolar wall thickening, edema and inflammatory cell infiltration were alleviated 28 weeks post-infection with P. proliferus in rats in the infection and high-fat diet group relative to the infection and normal diet group, and no alveolar consolidation was seen in the infection and high-fat diet group. The semi-quantitative score of alveolitis was significantly higher in the infection and normal diet group [(2.200 ± 0.289) points] than in the normal control group [(0.300 ± 0.083) points] and the infection and high-fat diet group [(1.300 ± 0.475) points] (both P values < 0.05), and higher serum IL-1β [(151.586 ± 20.492)] pg/mL and TNF-α levels [(180.207 ± 23.379) pg/mL] were detected in the infection and normal diet group than in the normal control group [IL-1β: (103.226 ± 3.366) pg/mL; TNF-α: (144.807 ± 1.348) pg/mL] and the infection and high-fat diet group [IL-1β: (110.131 ± 12.946) pg/mL; TNF-α: (131.764 ± 27.831) pg/mL] (all P values < 0.05). In addition, lower CYP 4A1 mRNA (3.00 ± 0.81) and protein expression (0.40 ± 0.02) was quantified in lung specimens in the infection and normal diet group than in the normal control group [(5.03 ± 2.05) and (0.84 ± 0.14)] and the infection and high-fat diet group [(11.19 ± 3.51) and (0.68 ± 0.18)] (all P values < 0.05). Conclusion High-fat intake may alleviate lung injuries caused by P. proliferus infection in rats through up-regulating CYP 4A1 expression in lung tissues at both translational and transcriptional levels.

Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Placenta ; Nuclear Transfer Techniques ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Cell Nucleus

Objective:To establish scientific and objective indicators of basic professional competencies for undergraduate students of Public Management (Health Management specialty).Methods:Based on the 18 classic competency elements of Hay Group, the basic indicators of professional competencies for undergraduate students of Public Management (Health Management specialty) was established primarily through behavior event method and Delphi method. Data entry was made by EpiData3.1, and SPSS 26.0 and Excel 2010 were used for data analysis and descriptive statistical analysis.Results:The response rates of the two rounds of consultation were 100.0% and 95.5%, and the overall authority coefficient of experts was 0.80. Finally, the basic indicators of professional competencies of undergraduate students of Public Management (Health Management specialty) were developed, which constituted 4 primary indicators and 27 secondary indicators.Conclusion:The indicators of basic professional competencies of undergraduate students of Public Management (Health Management specialty) are scientific and practical, which will guide the cultivation, selection, training, and assessment for health management professionals.

Background::Urticaria is a common skin disease characterized by episodes of wheals, and it has a negative effect on patients’ quality of life. Large-scale population-based epidemiological studies of urticaria are scarce in China. The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria in the Chinese population.Methods::This survey was conducted in 35 cities from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities of China. Two to three communities in each city were selected in this investigation. Participants completed questionnaires and received dermatological examinations. We analyzed the prevalence, clinical forms, and risk factors of urticaria.Results::In total, 44,875 questionnaires were distributed and 41,041 valid questionnaires were collected (17,563 male and 23,478 female participants). The lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30%, with 8.26% in female and 6.34% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). The point prevalence of urticaria was 0.75%, with 0.79% in female and 0.71% in male individuals ( P < 0.05). Concomitant angioedema was found in 6.16% of patients. Adults had a higher prevalence of urticaria than adolescents and children. Living in urban areas, exposure to pollutants, an anxious or depressed psychological status, a personal and family history of allergy, thyroid diseases, and Helicobacter pylori infection were associated with a higher prevalence of urticaria. Smoking was correlated with a reduced risk of urticaria. Conclusion::This study demonstrated that the lifetime prevalence of urticaria was 7.30% and the point prevalence was 0.75% in the Chinese population; women had a higher prevalence of urticaria than men. Various factors were correlated with urticaria.

Background::Data on the glycemic profile of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the perinatal period are sparse. This study described the intrapartum and early postpartum glucose profiles among pregnant women with GDM, and analyzed factors potentially affecting glycemic parameters during the period.Methods::This was a prospective observational study conducted from March 2020 to November 2021. Pregnant women with GDM receiving lifestyle interventions alone during pregnancy and matched women with non-diabetic pregnancies (NDPs) were enrolled from among patients admitted to the obstetrics department for childbirth. Glucose monitoring was performed via a flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system on admission, and glucose readings during labor and early postpartum were analyzed. The clinical characteristics and FGM-based parameters of participants in the two groups were compared.Results::A total of 124 participants (mean age: 29.5 ± 3.5 years, 92 [74.2%] primipara) were included in the final analysis. A total of 17,571 glucose readings were retrieved. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the GDM ( n = 60) and NDP ( n = 64) groups. The average glucose level was 92.2 mg/dL, and the level was higher in the GDM group (95.5 ± 12.1 mg/dL vs. 89.1 ± 13.4 mg/dL, P = 0.008) during the intrapartum and early postpartum periods. The data were split into the intrapartum period (from the start of labor to delivery of the placenta) and the early postpartum period (within 24 h after placental delivery) for analysis. During intrapartum, women with GDM exhibited glycemic profiles and fluctuations similar to those in the NDP group. However, women with GDM had higher postpartum glucose levels (97.7 ± 13.4 mg/dL vs. 90.8 ± 15.3 mg/dL, P = 0.009), a longer time spent >140 mg/dL (8.7 ± 9.3% vs. 5.9 ± 10.3%, P = 0.011), and greater glycemic fluctuations than those with NDP. Postpartum hyperglycemia in GDM might be associated with high parity and postprandial glucose abnormalities in GDM screening tests. Conclusion::Compared to those with normoglycemia, pregnant women with GDM receiving lifestyle interventions alone had similar intrapartum glucose profiles but higher early postpartum glucose levels and greater glucose variability, providing evidence for modification of the current perinatal glucose monitoring strategy for GDM.Trial Registration::ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR2000030972