Objective To screen the differentially expressed proteins in glomeruli during the treatment of lupus nephritis(LN)with hydroxychloroquine sulfate(HCQ).Methods Sixty female NZB/WF1 mice were used.At the age of 28 weeks,40 mice with proteinuria of 3+to 4+were divided into HCQ and control groups.After feeding for 36 weeks,the glomerular proteins were extracted by magnetic beads and analyzed by two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis(2D-DIGE)and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ioniza-tion time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS).The expression of the candidate proteins in the glomeruli of the LN mice was exa-mined by immunohistochemistry.Results A total of 31 differentially expressed proteins were identified between the two groups,including 24 upregulated and seven downregulated proteins.Conclusion The expression of proteins like RI and ENOA in the glomeruli of LN mice was significantly different during HCQ treatment.These proteins may be involved in the pathogenesis of LN and are therefore potential targets of HCQ in the treatment of LN.

ObjectiveTo investigate the menstrual conditions of women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai and analyze the influencing factors. MethodsFrom December 2022 to March 2023， menstrual data from 281 women infected with COVID-19 in Shanghai were collected with a questionnaire survey， including usual menstrual characteristics， the most recent menstrual period post-infection， symptoms of infection， and medication usage. According to the crossover period between the menstrual period and the infection period of the respondents， the samples were divided into two groups for comparative analysis： those whose menstrual and infection periods overlapped （positive group） and those whose menstruation started after conversion to virus-negative （negative conversion group）. ResultsAmong the 281 respondents， 196 （65.8%） experienced menstrual changes. Among them， 145 （51.6%） had changes in menstrual volume， color and texture， and 109 （38.8%） had changes in menstrual duration or cycle. Decreased menstrual volume （22.1%）， darker color （23.49%）， thicker texture （21.0%）， increased blood clots （16.7%）， and prolonged duration （21.8%） were observed in both groups. The rate of changes in menstrual volume， color， and texture was higher in the positive group （56.8%， 69/110） than that in negative group （37.3%， 76/171） （P<0.05）. Regarding the menstrual cycle changes， the rate of early onset was higher in the positive group （14.5%） compared to the negative conversion group （3.5%）（P<0.05）， while the rate of delayed menstruation was higher in the negative conversion group （25.1%） than that in the positive group （5.5%） （P<0.05）. Correlation analysis showed a weak association between sore throat and menstrual changes （r=0.154， P<0.05）. ConclusionSome women infected with COVID-19 experience short-term changes in their menstrual conditions， characterized by reduced volume， darker color， thick texture， increased clots， and prolonged menstrual duration， reflecting a pathogenesis of blood stasis. Menstruation during the infection period tends to occur earlier， while delayed menstruation is more prevalent at post-conversion.

Objective:To investigate the effects of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RP11-1212A22.4 on the cell viability and invasive ability of esophageal cancer cell lines by targeting miRNA-483-5p (miR-483-5p).Methods:The expression of RP11-1212A22.4 in esophageal cancer tissues was analyzed by using GEPIA online database. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of RP11-1212A22.4 in human esophageal cancer cell lines EC9706, KYSE30, TE-13, Eca109 and normal esophageal epithelial cell line HET-1A. The lowest expression level of EC9706 cell line in RP11-1212A22.4 was divided into RP11-1212A22.4 group (transfected with pcDNA-RP11-1212A22.4 plasmid) and the control group (transfected with pcDNA-NC plasmid). The cell viability of EC9706 cell was analyzed by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method, and the invasion ability of EC9706 cell was detected by using Transwell assay. The targeting relationship between RP11-1212A22.4 and miR-483-5p was verified by using StarBase database prediction and dual luciferase reporter assay. The relative expression level of miR-483-5p of EC9706 cell in two groups was detected by using qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) proteins in two groups.Results:In GEPIA online database, compared with adjacent tissues, the relative expression level of RP11-1212A22.4 in esophageal cancer tissues was decreased, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.001). The relative expression levels of RP11-1212A22.4 in esophageal cancer cell lines EC9706, KYSE30, TE-13, Eca109 and normal esophageal mucosal epithelial cell line HET-1A were 0.11±0.08, 0.32±0.09, 0.72±0.09, 0.59±0.13 and 0.97±0.12, and the difference was statistically significant ( F = 40.42, P < 0.001). The relative expression levels of RP11-1212A22.4 in EC9706 cells of RP11-1212A22.4 group and the control group were 11.9±2.4 and 1.0±0.3, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 8.89, P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the cell viability of EC9706 cell in RP11-1212A22.4 group was decreased (all P < 0.05). The number of invasive cells in RP11-1212A22.4 group was lower than that in the control group (48±12 vs. 106±22, t = 4.63, P < 0.001). StarBase database prediction and dual luciferase reporter assay both showed that RP11-1212A22.4 targeted miR-483-5p. The relative expression level of miR-483-5p in RP11-1212A22.4 group was lower than that in the control group (0.24±0.11 vs. 1.02±0.23, t = 5.98, P = 0.001). Compared with the control group, the expressions of CDK6, MMP-2, CDK4 and MMP-9 proteins in the RP11-1212A22.4 group were decreased. Conclusions:RP11-1212A22.4 is lowly expressed in esophageal cancer tissues and cell lines, and it inhibits the cell viability and invasive ability of esophageal cancer cells by targeting miR-483-5p.

Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main cellular components of the tumor microenvironment and promote cancer progression by modifying the extracellular matrix (ECM). The tumor-associated ECM is characterized by collagen crosslinking catalyzed by lysyl oxidase (LOX). Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) mediate cell-cell communication. However, the interactions between sEVs and the ECM remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that sEVs released from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-derived CAFs induce collagen crosslinking, thereby promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). CAF sEVs preferably bound to the ECM rather than being taken up by fibroblasts and induced collagen crosslinking, and a LOX inhibitor or blocking antibody suppressed this effect. Active LOX (αLOX), but not the LOX precursor, was enriched in CAF sEVs and interacted with periostin, fibronectin, and bone morphogenetic protein-1 on the surface of sEVs. CAF sEV-associated integrin α2β1 mediated the binding of CAF sEVs to collagen I, and blocking integrin α2β1 inhibited collagen crosslinking by interfering with CAF sEV binding to collagen I. CAF sEV-induced collagen crosslinking promoted the EMT of OSCC through FAK/paxillin/YAP pathway. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel role of CAF sEVs in tumor ECM remodeling, suggesting a critical mechanism for CAF-induced EMT of cancer cells.
Humans ; Paxillin/metabolism* ; Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase/metabolism* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology* ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Integrin alpha2beta1/metabolism* ; Mouth Neoplasms/pathology* ; Collagen/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts ; Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Tumor Microenvironment

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. The combination of the first-line standard agent gemcitabine (GEM) with the molecular-targeted drug erlotinib (Er) has emerged as a promising strategy for pancreatic cancer treatment. However, the clinical benefit from this combination is still far from satisfactory due to the unfavorable drug antagonism and the fibrotic tumor microenvironment. Herein, we propose a membrane-camouflaged dual stimuli-responsive delivery system for the co-delivery of GEM and Er into pancreatic cancer cells and tissues to block the antagonism, as well as reshapes profibrotic tumor microenvironment via simultaneous delivery of small interference RNA (siRNA) for synergistic pancreatic cancer treatment. This "all-in-one" delivery system exhibits sensitive GSH and pH-dependent drug release profiles and enhances the inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of tumor cells in vitro. Excitingly, the systemic injection of such a biomimetic drug co-delivery system not only resulted in superior inhibitory effects against orthotopic pancreatic tumor and patient-derived tumor (PDX), but also greatly extended the survival rate of tumor-bearing mice. Our findings provide a promising therapeutic strategy against pancreatic cancer through the enhanced synergistic effect of target therapy, chemotherapy and anti-fibrotic therapy, which represents an appealing way for pancreatic cancer treatment.

Objective To develop a simple,multi-dimensional self-screening questionnaire for som-atoform symptoms(SQSS). Methods Based on theoretical framework,the study developed the items of the questionnaire. The first draft of the questionnaire was screened through the expert evaluation method. Four groups of 359 subjects were selected to test the reliability and validity of questionnaire. Results The explor-atory factor analysis showed that the four factors(somatic symptoms,negative perception,illness behavior and social function) were extracted and the interpretable percentage of variance was 61. 165%. The correlation between the subscales and the total scales was 0. 740-0. 887,and the correlation coefficient between the sub-scales was 0. 503-0. 625. The Crobanch's α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0. 926,and the Spearman-Brown score of the questionnaire was 0. 868. The retest correlation coefficient of the total scale was 0. 876. A cutoff of 23 points in the SQSS was identified for screening somatoform disorders, and the sensitivity was 0. 880 and the specificity was 0. 606. Conclusion SQSS has good reliability and validity,and can be prelim-inarily used as a self-screening tool for patients with somatoform symptoms or disorders in clinical settings.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, increasing studies focus on digital complete denture. Digital complete denture has many advantages such as reducing patient visit times, saving chairside time, improving manufacturing precision in comparison with traditional complete denture.OBJECTIVE: To review the development of technology and clinical application of digital complete denture,and to analyze the existing insufficiencies.words were CAD/CAM complete dentures, digital complete dentures, rapid prototyping dentures, manufactured dentures, computer dentures, machined dentures, designed dentures, milled dentures, artificial tooth, 3D scanning, 3D printing in English and Chinese, respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Currently, the production of complete denture using digital technology cannot be fully realized. During digital impression, to scan the traditional dental casts is still the mainstream technology for data acquisition technology. Future investigations on scanning the patient alveolar ridge and its surrounding soft tissue directly and digitally recording the jaw relation directly are warranted. To develop 3D-printed artificial teeth and base materials with proper strength, aesthetics, comfort levels as well as 3D printing of the artificial tooth and the base as the final denture will make digital denture technology more mature.

Objective To study the PFGE type of Salmonella (S.) strains isolated from poultry production chains (hatching,breeding,slaughter,distribution and retail) of four cities in Heilongjiang province.Methods DNA collected from S.strains in 2012 was digested by Xba Ⅰ according to the standard PFGE protocol of US CDC.The PFGE patterns were then analyzed by BioNumerics software.Results The contamination of S.appeared most serious during the process of slaughtering (13.84％).PFGE was used to determine the genetic relationships between these isolates from poultry production chains,89 pulsotypes from 150 S.enteritidis isolates and 55 pulsotypes from 65 S.indiana isolates showed considerable diversity.The same pulsotypes ofS.enteritidis can be found between different food chains and cities.In contrast,no identical pulsotypes of S.indiana were found between different food chain and cities.In these four cities,the above said two kinds of S.were from different sources.The source of S.contamination in HLJ2 city had been traced back to the chain of poultry hatching.Conclusions The distribution of pulsetypes of the S.enteritidis and S.indiana isolates was from different regions and the dominant bands were also different between the chains of poultry production.Cross contamination existed in slaughterhouses and contamination can be traced back to the poultry hatching.