OBJECTIVE To study the protective effect and potential mechanism of chikusetsu saponin Ⅳ a （chsⅣ） on renal function in diabetic nephropathy （DN） model rats. METHODS DN rat model was established by high-fat diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Thirty-six model rats were randomly divided into model group （i.g. administration of normal saline， high-fat diet）， chsⅣ low-dose and high-dose groups （i.g. administration of 90， 180 mg/kg chsⅣ， high-fat diet）， with 12 rats in each group. Additionally， 10 normal rats were set as the control group （i.g. administration of normal saline， regular diet）. From the 5th to the 12th week after streptozotocin injection， they were given intragastric administration of relevant drug or normal saline， once a day. After the last medication， the levels of fasting blood glucose， fasting insulin， blood urea nitrogen， serum creatinine and urine protein as well as the levels of reduced glutathione （GSH）， superoxide dismutase （SOD） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in renal tissues were measured. Additionally， the insulin resistance index was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin， periodic acid-Schiff， and Masson staining techniques were employed to examine the histopathological alterations in the renal tissue. The expressions of Notch signaling pathway-related proteins in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot methods. RESULTS Compared with model group， the histomorphological of renal tissues in the chsⅣ low- and high-dose groups were significantly improved， with significant decreases in renal histological scores， mesangial expansion index， and glomerulosclerosis scores （ P ＜0.05）； the levels of fasting blood glucose， fasting insulin， blood urea nitrogen， serum creatinine， urine protein and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance， as well as MDA content， the expression levels of Notch1， Notch intracellular domain， hairy and enhancer of Split 1 and Delta-like protein 1 in renal tissue were all significantly decreased （ P ＜0.05）. The levels of GSH and SOD in renal tissue were significantly elevated （ P ＜0.05）. Moreover， the improvement in these indicators was significantly more pronounced in the chsⅣ high-dose group compared to the chsⅣ low-dose group （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS ChsⅣ can ameliorate renal pathological damage and functional impairment in DN rats. Its underlying mechanisms include restoration of glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity， attenuation of renal oxidative stress， and suppression of aberrant Notch signaling pathway activation.

BACKGROUND:Osteosarcoma has a complex pathogenesis and a poor prognosis.While advancements in medical technology have led to some improvements in the 5-year survival rate,substantial progress in its treatment has not yet been achieved. OBJECTIVE:To screen key molecular markers in osteosarcoma,analyze their relationship with osteosarcoma treatment drugs,and explore the potential disease mechanisms of osteosarcoma at the molecular level. METHODS:GSE99671 and GSE284259(miRNA)datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database.Differential gene expression analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis(WGCNA)on GSE99671 were performed.Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes separately for the differentially expressed genes and the module genes with the highest positive correlation to the disease.The intersection of these module genes and differentially expressed genes was taken as key genes.A Protein-Protein Interaction network was constructed,and correlation analysis on the key genes was performed using CytoScape software,and hub genes were identified.Hub genes were externally validated using the GSE28425 dataset and text validation was conducted.The drug sensitivity of hub genes was analyzed using the CellMiner database,with a threshold of absolute value of correlation coefficient|R|>0.3 and P<0.05. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Differential gene expression analysis identified 529 differentially expressed genes,comprising 177 upregulated and 352 downregulated genes.WGCNA analysis yielded a total of 592 genes with the highest correlation to osteosarcoma.(2)Gene Ontology enrichment results indicated that the development of osteosarcoma may be associated with extracellular matrix,bone cell differentiation and development,human immune regulation,and collagen synthesis and degradation.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment results showed the involvement of pathways such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,focal adhesion signaling pathway,and immune response in the onset of osteosarcoma.(3)The intersection analysis revealed a total of 59 key genes.Through Protein-Protein Interaction network analysis,8 hub genes were selected,which were LUM,PLOD1,PLOD2,MMP14,COL11A1,THBS2,LEPRE1,and TGFB1,all of which were upregulated.(4)External validation revealed significantly downregulated miRNAs that regulate the hub genes,with hsa-miR-144-3p and hsa-miR-150-5p showing the most significant downregulation.Text validation results demonstrated that the expression of hub genes was consistent with previous research.(5)Drug sensitivity analysis indicated a negative correlation between the activity of methotrexate,6-mercaptopurine,and pazopanib with the mRNA expression of PLOD1,PLOD2,and MMP14.Moreover,zoledronic acid and lapatinib showed a positive correlation with the mRNA expression of PLOD1,LUM,MMP14,PLOD2,and TGFB1.This suggests that zoledronic acid and lapatinib may be potential therapeutic drugs for osteosarcoma,but further validation is required through additional basic experiments and clinical studies.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms by which astaxanthin(AST)alleviates oxaliplatin(OXA)-induced neuropathic pain through antioxidant pathways so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical intervention.Methods Animal experiments:SD rats were divided into five groups(n=6):control group,OXA(4 mg/kg)group,OXA+Oil group,OXA+AST(5 mg/kg)group,and OXA+AST(10 mg/kg)group.Mechanical and cold pain thresholds were measured at day 0,7,14,and 21.Malondialdehyde(MDA)content and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG)were detected using the thiobarbituric acid(TBA)method and WST-1 assay,respectively.Western blotting was performed to analyze the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1.Cell experiments:neuro-2a cells were divided into control group,OXA(50 μmol/L)group,AST(10 μmol/L)group,and OXA(50 μmol/L)+AST(10 μmol/L)group.Cells were treated with nerve growth factor(NGF,50 ng/mL)to induce growth,and morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)level and mitochondrial superoxide were measured using DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and MitoSOXTM red,respectively.Mitochondrial function was assessed by JC-1 assay.Western blotting was used to detect Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions.Results Animal experiments:① Mechanical and cold pain thresholds were reduced in OXA and OXA+Oil groups(P＜0.05),while AST significantly increased these thresholds in OXA-treated rats(P＜0.05).② SOD activity decreased while MDA content increased in the DRG of OXA-treated rats(P＜0.05).AST restored SOD activity and reduced MDA level(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).③ Western blotting showed elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions in OXA group(P＞0.05),which were further upregulated by AST(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Cell experiments:① OXA reduced the number of neurite-bearing cells and shortened the average neurite length(P＜0.05).Inverted microscopic observation revealed that AST intervention increased both parameters(P＜0.01,P＜0.001).② OXA increased intracellular and mitochondrial ROS fluorescence intensity(P＜0.05),which was attenuated by AST(P＜0.01).③ JC-1 assay revealed decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in OXA group(P＜0.01),which was partially reversed by AST(P＜0.05).④ Western blotting results showed that OXA upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and AST further enhanced their levels(P＜0.01).Conclusion AST alleviates OXA-induced neuropathic pain by promoting Nrf2/HO-1 expression,enhancing SOD activity,reducing lipid peroxidation and ROS production,and improving mitochondrial function.

Large vessel occlusion due to intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD-LVO) is one of the types of ischemic stroke with poor outcome. This article summarizes the relevant studies of ICAD-LVO in recent years, and reviews the imaging evaluation and treatment regimens to provide reference for clinical practice.

Abnormal accumulation of collagen fibrils is a hallmark feature of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). However, the precise characteristics and underlying mechanisms remain unclear, impeding the advancement of potential therapeutic approaches. Here, we observed that collagen I, the main component of the extracellular matrix, first accumulated in the lamina propria and subsequently in the submucosa of OSF specimens as the disease progressed. Using RNA-seq and Immunofluorescence in OSF specimens, we screened the cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) responsible for the abnormal collagen accumulation. Genetic COMP deficiency reduced arecoline-stimulated collagen I deposition significantly in vivo. In comparison, both COMP and collagen I were upregulated under arecoline stimulation in wild-type mice. Human oral buccal mucosal fibroblasts (hBMFs) also exhibited increased secretion of COMP and collagen I after stimulation in vitro. COMP knockdown in hBMFs downregulates arecoline-stimulated collagen I secretion. We further demonstrated that hBMFs present heterogeneous responses to arecoline stimulation, of which COMP-positive fibroblasts secrete more collagen I. Since COMP is a molecular bridge with Fibril-associated collagens with Interrupted Triple helices (FACIT) in the collagen network, we further screened and identified collagen XIV, a FACIT member, co-localizing with both COMP and collagen I. Collagen XIV expression increased under arecoline stimulation in wild-type mice, whereas it was hardly expressed in the Comp^-/- mice, even with under stimulation. In summary, we found that COMP may mediates abnormal collagen I deposition by functions with collagen XIV during the progression of OSF, suggesting its potential to be targeted in treating OSF.
Oral Submucous Fibrosis/pathology* ; Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein/genetics* ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Fibroblasts/metabolism* ; Collagen Type I/metabolism* ; Arecoline/pharmacology* ; Mouth Mucosa/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique

Objective:To investigate the effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) on the biological performance of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) under oxidative stress status induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2). Methods:The hDPSCs were isolated by using tissue block separation method from healthy permanent teeth extracted for orthodontic reason. hDPSCs surface markers CD34, CD45, CD90 and CD105 were detected by flow cytometry. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alizarin red S (ARS), oil red O staining and colony formation assay were used to identify hDPSCs. After the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) detection, the optimal H 2O 2 concentration was used to construct the hDPSCs oxidative stress model. CGF conditioned medium was prepared by repeated freeze-thaw methods. After CCK-8 detection, the optimum CGF concentration was chosen for the subsequent experiments. The hDPSCs were divided into control group, H 2O 2 (only H 2O 2 processing), H 2O 2+CGF group (H 2O 2 processing in combination with the CGF) and CGF group (only CGF processing). Subsequent experiments were performed according to these groups. The oxidative stress model was verified by reactive oxygen species, β-galactosidase staining and Western blotting. The effects of CGF on the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs under oxidative stress status were detected by CCK-8 and cell scratch assay, respectively. ALP activity and ARS staining were used to detect the effect of CGF on the osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs under oxidative stress status. The mRNA expression levels of odontogenesis related genes were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and the expression levels of odontogenesis and osteogenesis related proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results:Isolated hDPSCs showed positive expression of mesenchymal stem cells surface markers of CD90, CD105, and negative expression of hematopoietic stem cells surface markers CD34, CD45. The hDPSCs were proved to have the capacity of osteogenic, adipogenic differentiation and clone formation. The optimal concentration to construct the oxidative stress model was 200 μmol/L H 2O 2. Twenty percent CGF was the optimal concentration for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of aging protein p53 was significantly up-regulated from (0.82±0.12) to (1.19±0.14) in H 2O 2 group ( P<0.05), with deepened β-galactosidase staining and increased fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species. The proliferative capacity of cells in H 2O 2+CGF group on day 1, 3, 5 and 7 (0.23±0.01, 0.50±0.02, 1.60±0.07, 1.80±0.21) were all higher than in H 2O 2 group (0.15±0.01, 0.14±0.02, 0.50±0.03, 0.90±0.09) ( P<0.05). Cell healing capacity of cells in H 2O 2+CGF group at 12 h and 24 h [(47±7)%, (58±44)%] also increased compared with the H 2O 2 group [(36±2)%, (44±2)%] ( P<0.05), and similar results in the activity of ALP and the formation of mineralized nodules. On day 28, the mRNA expressions of dentin sialophosphoprotein (0.52±0.16) and dental matrix protein 1 (DMP-1) (0.39±0.13) in H 2O 2 group were all significantly lower than those in H 2O 2+CGF group (0.96±0.24, 0.83±0.30, respectively) and CGF group (1.12±0.18, 1.23±0.19, respectively) ( P<0.05). On day 28, the expressions of odontogenesis related protein DMP-1 (0.27±0.04) and osteogenesis related protein Runt-related transcription factor-2 (0.42±0.15) in H 2O 2 group were all significantly lower than those in H 2O 2+CGF group (0.66±0.18, 0.68±0.04) and CGF group (1.15±0.13, 1.06±0.19, respectively) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:H 2O 2 can induce oxidative stress in hDPSCs, while CGF can promote proliferation, migration, odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hDPSCs under oxidative stress status.

Single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies enable the simultaneous analysis of thousands of cells in various states, revealing their transcriptional profiles, chromatin accessibility, and spatial positioning. Recent advances in single-cell multi-omics have led to significant discoveries regarding the definition, function, evolution, and interaction of various cell subtypes during tooth development. We summarize key findings from recent single-cell multi-omics studies on tooth development, highlighting their contributions to the field and discussing future perspectives in dental developmental genomics research.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of water-borne endemic fluorosis in Anhui Province, and provide basic data for the adjusting the prevention and control measures.Methods:Using cross-sectional survey method, all villages in the water-borne endemic fluorosis areas were investigated in Anhui Province from 2019 to 2022. In water-borne endemic fluorosis village, the situation of water improvement project and the fluoride level of drinking water were investigated, and dental fluorosis of all children aged 8 - 12 was examined. The criteria for determining the achievement of control targets for water-borne endemic fluorosis in affected counties were based on the "Evaluation Measures for Control and Elimination of Key Endemic Diseases (2019 Edition)".Results:From 2019 to 2022, the rate of water improvement village in water-borne endemic fluorosis areas were 88.47% (1 527/1 726), 100% (1 726/1 726), 100% (1 726/1 726) and 100% (1 726/1 726), respectively. The qualified proportion of water fluoride in water-borne endemic fluorosis villages was 33.84% (584/1 726), 63.09% (1 089/1 726), 70.74% (1 221/1 726) and 74.33% (1 283/1 726), respectively. The prevalence rates of dental fluorosis in children aged 8 - 12 were 25.48% (45 461/178 440), 15.78% (27 959/177 200), 13.68% (23 505/171 880) and 12.66% (23 315/184 200), respectively. The proportion of affected counties that had achieved the control target of water-borne endemic fluorosis was 16% (4/25), 60% (15/25), 36% (9/25) and 40% (10/25), respectively.Conclusions:The water-borne endemic fluorosis areas in Anhui Province have improved the water fluoride qualification rate and reduced the incidence of fluorosis in children through prevention and control measures such as water improvement and fluoride reduction. However, the prevention and control efforts in key areas and counties need to be further improved.

ObjectiveTo investigate the infection characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, from 2013 to 2023, so as to provide an evidence for the prevention and control of RSV in Shanghai. MethodsChildren who sought medical care at sentinel healthcare facilities in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, between January 2013 and December 2023 and met the case definition of ARI were included in the study. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and tested for viral pathogens using real-time fluorescene PCR, and the clinical information of whom was collected simultaneously. ResultsA total of 4 980 children were included in the ARI surveillance, among whom 231 tested positive for RSV, with an overall detection rate of 4.64%. Of these, 106 cases were type A and 125 were type B. From 2013 to 2023, the detection rate of RSV in children showed an overall trend of initial increase followed by a decline, with higher detection rates in autumn and winter and lower rates in spring and summer. The RSV detection rate gradually decreased with age, with the highest rate observed in children <1 year old, accounting for 16.33% (80/490) of RSV-detection cases. Cough was the most common clinical symptom. Among the RSV-positive cases, 36 involved co-infection with another virus, 6 co-infected with three viruses, and 1 with mixed infection of four viruses. The most frequent co-infection was RSV and human coronavirus. ConclusionChildren under 1 year of age are more susceptible to RSV infection, with cough being the predominant symptom. RSV infection in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, mainly occurs in winter. Targeted prevention and control measures should be taken for children under 1 year old during the winter season to reduce the risk of both RSV infection and co-infection with human coronavirus and influenza virus.

Acupuncture-moxibustion therapy has been known to ameliorate the symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), although its mechanism remains unclear. The paper reviews the articles on acupuncture-moxibustion therapy for FGIDs in recent 5 years, and it is revealed that acupuncture-moxibustion therapy can alleviate FGIDs symptoms through regulating gastrointestinal motility, modulating visceral hypersensitivity, improving the impaired gastric-duodenal mucosal barrier and inflammation, balancing intestinal microbiota, and adjusting the gut-brain axis. Currently, the molecular mechanism of acupuncture-moxibustion therapy remains unknown for FGIDs, the specific disease target is not identified, and the interaction among various molecules is not elucidated adequately. The researches in the future should employ advanced technologies and methodologies to comprehensively and deeply explore and clarify the mechanism of acupuncture- moxibustion therapy for FGIDs.
Humans ; Moxibustion ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/microbiology* ; Animals