BACKGROUND:Human periodontal ligament stem cells are potential functional cells for periodontal tissue engineering.However,long-term in vitro culture may lead to reduced stemness and replicative senescence of periodontal ligament stem cells,which may impair the therapeutic effect of human periodontal ligament stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of oxymatrine on the stemness maintenance and osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells in vitro,and to explore the potential mechanism. METHODS:Periodontal ligament stem cells were isolated from human periodontal ligament tissues by tissue explant enzyme digestion and cultured.The surface markers of mesenchymal cells were identified by flow cytometry.Periodontal ligament stem cells were incubated with 0,2.5,5,and 10 μg/mL oxymatrine.The effect of oxymatrine on the proliferation activity of periodontal ligament stem cells was detected by CCK8 assay.The appropriate drug concentration for subsequent experiments was screened.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of stem cell non-specific proteins SOX2 and OCT4 in periodontal ligament stem cells.qRT-PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression levels of related osteogenic genes and proteins in periodontal ligament stem cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The results of CCK8 assay showed that 2.5 μg/mL oxymatrine significantly enhanced the proliferative activity of periodontal stem cells,and the subsequent experiment selected 2.5 μg/mL oxymatrine to intervene.(2)Compared with the blank control group,the protein expression level of SOX2,a stem marker of periodontal ligament stem cells in the oxymatrine group did not change significantly(P>0.05),and the expression of OCT4 was significantly up-regulated(P<0.05).(3)Compared with the osteogenic induction group,the osteogenic genes ALP,RUNX2 mRNA expression and their osteogenic associated protein ALP protein expression of periodontal ligament stem cells were significantly down-regulated in the oxymatrine+osteogenic induction group(P<0.05).(4)The oxymatrine up-regulated the expression of stemness markers of periodontal ligament stem cells and inhibited the bone differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells,and the results of high-throughput sequencing showed that it may be associated with WNT2,WNT16,COMP,and BMP6.

Aldehyde oxidase (AOX) is a molybdoenzyme that is primarily expressed in the liver and is involved in the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics. AOX-mediated metabolism can result in unexpected outcomes, such as the production of toxic metabolites and high metabolic clearance, which can lead to the clinical failure of novel therapeutic agents. Computational models can assist medicinal chemists in rapidly evaluating the AOX metabolic risk of compounds during the early phases of drug discovery and provide valuable clues for manipulating AOX-mediated metabolism liability. In this study, we developed a novel graph neural network called AOMP for predicting AOX-mediated metabolism. AOMP integrated the tasks of metabolic substrate/non-substrate classification and metabolic site prediction, while utilizing transfer learning from ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance data to enhance its performance on both tasks. AOMP significantly outperformed the benchmark methods in both cross-validation and external testing. Using AOMP, we systematically assessed the AOX-mediated metabolism of common fragments in kinase inhibitors and successfully identified four new scaffolds with AOX metabolism liability, which were validated through in vitro experiments. Furthermore, for the convenience of the community, we established the first online service for AOX metabolism prediction based on AOMP, which is freely available at https://aomp.alphama.com.cn.

AIM:To observe the anti-scarring effects and safety of triamcinolone acetonide(TA)-loaded hydrogel sustained-release sheeting on stab incision glaucoma surgery(SIGS)with “one-step tunnel method” in rabbit eyes.METHODS:A total of 48 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups(12 rabbits in each group), trabeculectomy(Trab)group, SIGS group, polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel(PVAH)sheeting was implanted under the conjunctiva flap during SIGS(PVAH group), and hydrogel sustained-release sheeting loaded with TA was implanted under the conjunctiva flap during SIGS(TA/PVAH group). On the 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk after surgery, the intraocular pressure, filtering bubble morphology, anterior chamber reaction, and other complications were observed and recorded in each group. Then animals were euthanized, and the surgery area tissues of right eye were taken for pathological tissue paraffin section. Masson staining, picric acid-Sirius rose red staining, as well as α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and fibroblast growth factor 2(FGF2)immunohistochemistry staining was performed on every section. The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation of fibroblasts and synthesis of type I and type III collagen fibers in local tissues were observed. The average positive area ratio of α-SMA and FGF2 antibody immunohistochemical staining in each group was calculated and compared.RESULTS: The TA/PVAH group maintained diffuse and elevated functional filtering blebs, while flat filtering blebs appeared in Trab, SIGS and PVAH groups at 2 wk after surgery. Functional filtering blebs were present in 1 eye(33%), 2 eyes(67%)in the PVAH and TA/PVAH group at 4 wk after surgery, respectively, while the other filtering blebs were flattened. Masson staining showed that the hydrogels in PVAH and TA/PVAH groups did not degrade at 4 wk after surgery. Compared with the Trab and SIGS groups, the filtration passages were more obvious, with less collagen fiber proliferation. Sirius red staining showed that the expression of type I collagen and type III collagen in the TA/PVAH group was less than that in the Trab group, SIGS group and PVAH group at 4 wk after surgery. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the α-SMA expression in the TA/PVAH group was significantly lower than that in the Trab and SIGS groups at 1 wk after surgery(P<0.01). The α-SMA expression was the highest in the Trab and SIGS groups at 2 wk after surgery, while the α-SMA expression in the PHAP and TA/PVAH groups was significantly lower than that in the first two groups(P<0.01). Compared with the Trab group, the expression of FGF2 in the PVAH and TA/PVAH group was significantly increased at 1, 2, 3 and 4 wk after surgery(P<0.05). Compared with the SIGS group, FGF2 expression in the TA/PVAH group was significantly increased at 4 wk after surgery(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:In SIGS surgery of rabbit eyes, implanting hydrogel sustained-release sheeting loaded with TA under conjunctival flap can effectively inhibit the scarring of the filtering bleb, which may be the interaction of the anti-scar effect of TA and the stent function of hydrogel.

BACKGROUND:With the rapid development of minimally invasive spinal surgery and enhanced recovery after surgery,endoscopic intervertebral fusion techniques have gradually emerged and been widely used in clinical practice in recent years. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the early clinical efficacy of uniaxial spinal endoscopic intervertebral fusion combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. METHODS:135 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases treated by uniaxial spinal endoscopic intervertebral fusion combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the Suining Central Hospital from October 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study.There were 59 males and 76 females,aged 47-79 years.The lower limb and lumbar pain was evaluated by visual analog scale and lumbar function was assessed by Oswestry disability index before the operation,1 week,1,and 6 months after the operation,and at the end of follow-up.The overall pain recovery of patients was evaluated by the scoring criteria for low back pain surgery of Spine Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association and the lumbar physiological curvature and intervertebral fusion were evaluated on lumbar lateral X-ray preoperatively and at the end of follow-up. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The 135 patients were followed up for(17.8±3.0)months after surgery.There was 1 case of endplate injury,1 case of cerebrospinal fluid leakage,1 case of nerve root injury,1 case of intervertebral cage subsidence and displacement,1 case of chronic infection,and 1 case of pedicle screw rupture.The complication rate was 5.2%.(2)The lumbar visual analog scale score and Oswestry disability index significantly decreased in the waist and lower limbs at various time points postoperatively compared with those preoperatively in 135 patients(P<0.05).The scoring criteria for low back pain surgery of the Spine Group of the Chinese Orthopedic Association were significantly better at the last follow-up than that preoperatively in 135 patients(P<0.05).(3)At the last follow-up,there was no significant difference in physiological curvature of lumbar vertebra as compared with that preoperatively in 135 patients(P>0.05),with a fusion rate of 95.8%.(4)It is concluded that uniaxial spinal endoscopic intervertebral fusion combined with posterior percutaneous pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases has shown satisfactory early clinical results and is a highly safe minimally invasive spinal surgery mode.

Objective To analyze the diagnostic utility of combining susceptibility-weighted imaging(SWI)with arterial spin labeling(ASL)in patients with acute ischemic stroke(AIS).Methods Fifty AIS patients who admitted to Yongchuan Hospital,Chongqing Medical University from July 2020 to July 2021 were selected.Scans were performed using a 3.0T MRI scanner,including sequences such as FLAIR,DWI,3D-TOF-MRA,3D-ASL,and SWI.The perfusion status of the infarction core,the grading of draining veins around the infarction core,compensation by collateral circulation,the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation,and prognosis were assessed.Results The grading of draining veins around the infarction core was significantly correlated with NIHSS scores(r=0.869,P＜0.05)and prognosis(r=0.825,P＜0.05).In addition,significant correlations were found between the perfusion status of the infarction core and the occurrence of hemorrhagic transformation(r=0.873,P＜0.05),compensation by collateral circulation and prognosis(r=0.883,P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of SWI and ASL provides accurate indications of the hemodynamic conditions around the infarction core in AIS patients,and it can accurately assess the prognosis of AIS patients,contributing valuable information for clinical diagnosis and the selection of treatment strategies.

Objective:To analyze the genetic stability of two recombinant rotaviruses (rLLR/NSP3 NLuc) and (rLLR/NSP3 CoV2/RBD) that are inserted and express exogenous genes for continuous passage and proliferation on MA104 cells.Methods:After measuring the titers of two recombinant rotavirus strains, they were transferred to the P2 generation according to MOI0.01. Subsequently, the previous generation of virus lysate was diluted and activated at 1∶100, and MA104 cells were continuously infected for 18 generations (P20). The virus titers of the P1, P5, P10, P15, and P20 generation of cell lysate were measured using indirect immunofluorescence, and RT-PCR identification and dsRNA PAGE silver staining were performed. The luciferase activity of rLLR/NSP3-NLUc was also detected.Results:No inserted fragment loss was found in the recombinant rotavirus rLLR/NSP3 NLuc within 20 generations, with recombinant virus titers ranging from 3.85~5.16 × 10 6 FFU/ml, with strong luciferase signals in each generation. The recombinant rotavirus rLLR/NSP3 CoV2/RBD showed loss of inserted fragments in the 6th generation, with infectivity titers ranging from 2.6 to 3.36 in the first 5 generations of the recombinant virus × 10 6 FFU/ml. Conclusions:The recombinant rotavirus with 582 bp NLuc inserted at the end of the NSP3 gene has good genetic stability, while the recombinant rotavirus with 885 bp RBD inserted at the end of the NSP3 gene was only stable in the first 5 generations, indicating that foreign genes can be inserted at the end of the NSP3 gene of the recombinant rotavirus, and the insert can express, but its stability requires more in-depth research.

Background::Somatic copy number variations (SCNVs) in the CDKN2A gene are among the most frequent events in the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, whether CDKN2A SCNVs are useful biomarkers for the risk stratification and management of patients with esophageal squamous cell dysplasia (ESCdys) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognostic value of CDKN2A SCNVs in patients with mild or moderate (m/M) ESCdys. Methods::This study conducted a prospective multicenter study of 205 patients with a baseline diagnosis of m/M ESCdys in five high-risk regions of China (Ci County, Hebei Province; Yanting, Sichuan Province; Linzhou, Henan Province; Yangzhong, Jiangsu Province; and Feicheng, Shandong Province) from 2005 to 2019. Genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin biopsy samples and paired peripheral white blood cells from patients, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, P16-Light, was used to detect CDKN2A copy number. The cumulative regression and progression rates of ESCdys were evaluated using competing risk models. Results::A total of 205 patients with baseline m/M ESCdys were enrolled. The proportion of ESCdys regression was significantly lower in the CDKN2A deletion cohort than in the diploid and amplification cohorts (18.8% [13/69] vs. 35.0% [28/80] vs. 51.8% [29/56], P <0.001). In the univariable competing risk analysis, the cumulative regression rate was statistically significantly lower ( P = 0.008), while the cumulative progression rate was higher ( P = 0.017) in ESCdys patients with CDKN2A deletion than in those without CDKN2A deletion. CDKN2A deletion was also an independent predictor of prognosis in ESCdys ( P = 0.004) in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion::The results indicated that CDKN2A SCNVs are associated with the prognosis of ESCdys and may serve as potential biomarkers for risk stratification.

Dynamic changes in gut dysbiosis and metabolomic dysregulation are associated with immune-complex glomerulonephritis(ICGN).However,an in-depth study on this topic is currently lacking.Herein,we report an ICGN model to address this gap.ICGN was induced via the intravenous injection of cationized bovine serum albumin(c-BSA)into Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats for two weeks,after which mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)and losartan were administered orally.Two and six weeks after ICGN establishment,fecal samples were collected and 16S ribosomal DNA(rDNA)sequencing and untargeted metabolomic were conducted.Fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)was conducted to determine whether gut normali-zation caused by MMF and losartan contributed to their renal protective effects.A gradual decline in microbial diversity and richness was accompanied by a loss of renal function.Approximately 18 genera were found to have significantly different relative abundances between the early and later stages,and Marvinbryantia and Allobaculum were markedly upregulated in both stages.Untargeted metabolomics indicated that the tryptophan metabolism was enhanced in ICGN,characterized by the overproduction of indole and kynurenic acid,while the serotonin pathway was reduced.Administration of losartan and MMF ameliorated microbial dysbiosis and reduced the accumulation of indoxyl conjugates in feces.FMT using feces from animals administered MMF and losartan improved gut dysbiosis by decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes(F/B)ratio but did not improve renal function.These findings indicate that ICGN induces serous gut dysbiosis,wherein an altered tryptophan metabolism may contribute to its pro-gression.MMF and losartan significantly reversed the gut microbial and metabolomic dysbiosis,which partially contributed to their renoprotective effects.

Objective:To establish a rapid quantitative PCR (qPCR) technique for Mycobacterium marinum skin infections, and to analyze its clinical diagnostic efficiency. Methods:DNA was extracted from Mycobacterium marinum colonies and serially diluted (10 -1 to 10 -8). Twelve pairs of previously reported primers and probes, as well as 6 pairs of newly designed primers and probes in this study, were used for qPCR amplification to identify the most sensitive primers and probes for the detection of Mycobacterium marinum. Skin lesion tissues were collected from 72 patients with confirmed Mycobacterium marinum infections (experimental group) and 68 with other mycobacterial infections (control group) at Shandong Provincial Hospital for Skin Diseases & Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatology and Venereology, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences in 2021. These skin tissues were subjected to qPCR amplification, interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), acid-fast staining, and tissue culture to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy. Results:The newly designed primers and probes targeting the mycobacterial enhanced infection locus 2 (Mel2) demonstrated the highest sensitivity, with a detection limit of 0.86 copies/μl (cycle threshold value = 37) ; the qPCR amplification with the Mel2 primers/probes did not yield positive results when used for the detection of other mycobacteria (including Mycobacterium leprae and Staphylococcus spp) . Among the 72 patients in the experimental group, 44 were positive for qPCR with a sensitivity of 61.1% (95% CI: 49.6% - 71.5%), and 47 were positive for culture with a sensitivity of 65.2% (95% CI: 53.8% - 75.3%) ; all the 68 controls were negative for both qPCR and culture, with their specificities both being 100%. Among 65 patients subjected to IGRA, 31 were positive with a sensitivity of 47.7% (95% CI: 36.0% - 59.6%), while 16 out of 25 controls were negative for IGRA with a specificity of 64.0% (95% CI: 44.5% - 79.8%). Among 58 patients subjected to acid-fast staining, 37 were positive with a sensitivity of 63.8% (95% CI: 50.9% - 74.9%), and 52 out of 66 controls were negative for acid-fast staining with a specificity of 78.8% (95% CI: 67.5% - 86.9%). The combination of qPCR and culture resulted in a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 100% for the detection of Mycobacterium marinum. Conclusion:In this study, a highly sensitive qPCR assay was developed for the detection of Mycobacterium marinum, and its combination with culture could further improve the detection sensitivity.

Objective To investigate the effects of microRNA497 (miR-497) on the metastasis of gastric cancer and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods SGC-7901 gastric cancer parent cells were cultured in an ultra-low adhesion environment, and the anoikis resistance model of SGC-7901 cells was created after re-adhesion. Clone formation assay, flow cytometry, Transwell^TM test and scratch healing test were used to detect the differences of biological behavior compared with their parent cells. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-497. Western blot analysis was used to detect the changes of key proteins of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and epithelial mesenchymal transformation (EMT) related proteins such as vimentin and E-cadherin. Parent cells and anoikis resistant SGC-7901 cells were transfected with miR-497 inhibitor or miR-497 mimic, and CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activity. Transwell^TM invasion assay was performed to detect the invasion ability of cells. Transwell^TM migration test and scratch healing assay was used to determine the migration ability. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin, vimentin and E-cadherin. By transfecting miR-497 mimic into the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 cells and inoculating them subcutaneously in nude mice, the changes in the volume and mass of tumor tissues were measured and recorded. Western blot analysis was used to determine the expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin, vimentin and E-cadherin of tumor tissues. Results Compared with the parent cells, the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells had faster proliferation rate, stronger colony formation, lower apoptosis rate, stronger invasion and migration ability. The expression of miR-497 was significantly decreased. After down-regulation of miR-497, the proliferation ability, invasion and migration ability were significantly enhanced. The expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin and vimentin increased significantly, while E-cadherin decreased notably. The results of up-regulation miR-497 were the opposite. The tumor growth rate, tumor volume and mass of miR-497 overexpression group were significantly lower than those of control group. The expressions of Wnt1, β-catenin and vimentin decreased significantly, while the expression of E-cadherin increased significantly. Conclusion The expression of miR-497 is low in the anoikis resistance SGC-7901 cells. miR-497 can inhibit the growth and metastasis of gastric cancer cells by blocking Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and EMT.
Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Vimentin/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Anoikis/genetics* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway/genetics* ; Mice, Nude ; Cell Proliferation/genetics* ; Cadherins/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics* ; Cell Movement/genetics*