Objective:To explore the regulation mechanism of the quorum sensing regulator AphA on the functional activity of type Ⅵ secretion system VflT6SS2 in Vibrio fluvialis. Methods:Western Blot analysis was used to detect the relative expression and secretion of VflT6SS2 signature component hemolysin-coregulated protein (Hcp) in wild type (WT), Δ aphA, and corresponding complementary strains. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and luminescence activity assay of the promoter- lux fusion system was used to measure the mRNA expression levels and promoter activity of the VflT6SS2 core and accessory gene-cluster representative genes tssB2, hcp ( tssD2) and vgrG ( tssI2), and the quorum sensing regulator HapR in WT and Δ aphA strains. A point mutation experiment combined with a luminescence activity assay was used to verify the regulatory binding site of AphA in the tssD2b promoter region. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to determine AphA binding to the hapR promoter. Results:The mRNA expression levels of tssB2, hcp( tssD2), vgrG ( tssI2), and hapR as well as the protein expression and secretion levels of Hcp in Δ aphA strain, were significantly higher than those in the WT strain. The promoter activities of the VflT6SS2 core cluster, tssD2a, tssI2a, and hapR were higher in Δ aphA strain than in the WT strain, while the promoter activity of tssD2b showed the opposite trend. The promoter sequence analysis of tssD2a and tssD2b found significant differences in the region from -335 bp to -229 bp, and two potential AphA binding sites on tssD2b. The promoter activity of tssD2b decreased significantly after the point mutation of the two potential AphA binding sites. EMSA results showed that AphA binds directly to the promoter region of hapR. Conclusions:AphA indirectly inhibits the regulation of the VflT6SS2 core and accessory gene clusters at the promoter level by directly repressing the expression of hapR. AphA showed opposite regulation patterns for tssD2a and tssD2b, and AphA could positively regulate the expression of tssD2b by directly binding to the tssD2b promoter region (-335 bp to -229 bp).

Objective:To investigate the correlation between TNFAIP3 gene polymorphism and osteoporotic fractures in the elderly and bone metabolism indexes.Methods:A total of 115 patients with senile osteoporotic fractures admitted to Peace Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Changzhi Medical College from Jan. 2019 to Jun. 2021 were enrolled as the observation group, and 120 patients with senile osteoporotic fractures matched with gender, age and body mass index of the observation group were selected as the control group. The levels of blood calcium, blood phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, 25-hydroxyvitamin D and other bone metabolism indexes of all subjects were recorded. The genotypes of rs10499194 and rs13207033 in TNFAIP3 gene were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis and fragment analysis (SNaPshot) . The mRNA relative expression level of TNFAIP3 gene in peripheral blood of all subjects was determined by quantitative real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:There were statistically significant differences in genotype distribution and gene frequency of RS10499194 and RS13207033 between the observation group and the control group ( P<0.05) . For rs10499194, CT genotype carriers had a significantly higher risk of fracture than wild-type CC genotype carriers [OR=3.253 (1.223-8.652) , P=0.014]. The dominant model was also statistically significant ( P=0.003) . For rs13207033, GA carriers had a significantly higher risk of fracture than wild-type GG carriers [OR=3.775 (1.192-11.952) , P= 0.016]. The dominant model was statistically significant ( P=0.009) . The blood calcium level in AA+GA group was significantly higher than that in GG group at rs13207033 site ( P=0.006) . The mRNA expression level of TNFAIP3 gene in the observation group was 1.41±0.09, which was significantly lower than that in the observation group (2.07±0.12, t=6.69, P<0.001) . TNFAIP3 mRNA expression level of rs10499194 site TT+CT group was 1.35±0.11, significantly lower than CC group 1.43±0.13 ( t=2.82, P=0.007) . Conclusion:The polymorphism of TN-FAIP3 gene is related to the occurrence of osteoporotic fractures and bone metabolism, and may affect the gene expression level.

Objective:Activating platelets are associated with tumor development and progression.Platelet distribution width(PDW) is an early index of activated platelets.The goal of this study was to investigate the association between prognosis and preoperative PDW in gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 126 gastric cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed from January 2010 to January 2012.The optimal cutoff value of PDW was determined by time-dependent receiver-operating curves.The patients were divided into low and high PDW groups.The prognostic analysis was carried out with univariate analysis and the Cox regression model,which evalu-ated the association of PDW,with progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS).Results:PDW was closely related with differ-entiation and platelet count.Moreover,lower PDW was associated with decreased PFS and OS in gastric cancer.Multivariate analysis showed that patients with higher PDW had a lower risk of disease progression(hazard ratio:0.562,95% confidence interval:0.184-0.926,P=0.012)and death(hazard ratio:0.468,95% confidence interval:0.263-0.834,P=0.010).Conclusions:Lower preoperative PDW is a poor prognostic factor in gastric cancer,which may also be a prognostic marker in resectable gastric cancer.

Objective To investigate the application and the effects of individualized hollow resin plugs in the prevention of external auditory canal stenosis after canaloplasty of external auditory meatus for microtia patients . Methods The clinical data of 65 patients (68 ears) with microtia and aural atresia hospitalized in our department from January ,2006 to December ,2015 were summarized .Otoplasty of external ears and canaloplasty of external auditory meatus were operated on all patients under general anesthesia .Thigh flap transplantation was lined in the bony canal .One month later ,individualized hollow resin plugs were made and worn for 6 to 12 months ,and fol-lowed up for 1～2 years .Results The shapes of the reconstructed auricles were satisfactory .Sixty-four ears with wide external auditory canal openings were recorded in 68 ears .Preoperative hearing was 70 .45 ± 5 .5 dB HL ,and postoperative hearing was 55 .55 ± 5 .2 dB HL .Their hearing was not affected .External auditory canal restenosis occurred in 4 ears .Conclusion The individualized hollow resin plugs do not affect the hearing in use ,and can effec-tively prevent the restenosis of the external auditory canal after microtia reconstruction .

Objective To investigate the effect of intense low frequency noise on the different hearing functions and hair cell damage in bama pigs.Methods Thirteen bama pigs were randomly divided into a normal control group (3 pigs) and an experimental group (10 pigs).The pigs in experimental group were randomly divided into 50 Hz subgroup (5 pigs) and 70 Hz subgroup (5 pigs).The 50 Hz subgroup was exposed to intense low frequency noise at 167～170 dB SPL,50 Hz for 30 min,and the 70 Hz subgroup was exposed to intense low frequency noise at 164 dB SPL,70 Hz for 30 min.Auditory brainstem response(ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) were performed before and after noise exposure.The cochlear were collected and the inner ear morphology changes were studied.Results Before the experiment,the ABR threshold of the pig was 20～50 dB SPL,and the average of 50 Hz group was 33.5±9.4 dB SPL,the average of the 70 Hz group was 34.0±4.6 dB SPL.The level of the above 3 000 Hz DPOAE could be elicited.But they were not elicited after the exposure to the noise.The inner ear structures were damaged.The DAPI showed hair cell missing.Conclusion ABR and DPOAE were elevated after noise exposure.The auditory system of bama pigs had irreversible damages.Hair cells damaged were given priority to with necrosis,and the higher the level of intense low frequency noise,the more serious the damage to the hair cell.

BACKGROUND:The cell-sheet technology, based on a temperature-responsive culture, has been drawing more and more attention;however, the temperature-responsive culture dish is quite expensive. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a substitutive technique.OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of cell-sheet ulturing using common culture dish, and investigate the chondrogenesis of the cell sheet. METHODS: A piece of nasal septal cartilage was adopted from a patient with deviation of nasal septum to extract primary chondrocytes that were then cultured and amplified. The passage 3 chondrocytes were used to construct ell sheets. Monolayer cell sheet was formed by intensive culturing and allowing the extracellular matrix secretion. Bilayer cell sheet was constructed by seeding passage 2 chondrocytes on the monolayer cell sheet. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scraper, their properties were investigated prior to plantation into nude mice to construct the tissue-engineered cartilage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both bilayer and monolayer cell sheets with soft tremellose structures showed no significant difference through naked eyes. The newly harvested cell sheets appeared to have good fluidity and gelation. Eight weeks after mplantation into the nude mice, mature cartilage blocks were obtained. Histologically, the cell sheets were thin films composed by layered chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Glycosaminoglycan formation and type Ⅱ collagen expressions were observed in the cell sheets cultured in vitro. The explanted samples exhibited ature cartilaginous tissue at 8 weeks after implantation. Biochemical analysis showed that the DNA contents of the neocartilages were higher than those of native human costal cartilage, while the contents of glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline were similar to native human nasal septal cartilage. To conclude, the hondrocyte cell sheets are likely to be constructed and harvested successfully using common culture dish, and the cell sheets exhibit favourable chondrogenesis.

Objective]To study the feasibility of Cartilage engineering using fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.[Methods]rabbit auricular chondrocytes were isolated and cultured to form cell sheets in flasks. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scrapers,and cut into fragments. The two precursor solutions of Fibrin gel were used to suspend the cell sheet fragments and isolated chondrocytes,and then added into the wells of a 48-well plate to form Gelatinous chondroid disc constructs. After in vitro culture, the constructs were implanted into nude mice. After 8 weeks,the constructs were harvested,and the specimens were evaluated using grossly observing, histological and immunohistochemical observation. [Results]Mature cartilage discs were obtained. The histomorphology of the explanted discs appeared non-uniform cartilaginous tissue comprise of regenerated cartilage islands with different size and irregular shape. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that type II collagen highly expressed in the ECM of the cartilage islands. In 1 of the 8 discs,partial ossification was observed.[Conclusion]Fibrin gel is a favourable carrier. Artificial cartilage with stereochemical structure was constructed via combining the fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.

Objective: To explore the utility of pharyngeal pH monitoring which positive standard is Ryan index in diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease. Methods: In a retrospective study, clinical data of 590 patients who had symptoms laryngopharyngeal reflux disease from February 2016 to March 2017 were analyzed. All patients were received electronic laryngoscopy, assessment of reflux symptom index(RSI) and reflux finding score(RFS), and pharyngeal pH monitoring. SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyze the date. Results: There were 94 patients whose Ryan index were positive(15.93%). Among the 94 patients, 70 were positive during upright, 12 during supine and 12 during both upright and supine. There were 40 patients(6.78%)with pH decline events related to symptoms, while those Ryan index were normal. There were 536(90.85%), 417(70.68%), 233(39.49%) and 117(19.83%) patients with pH<6.5, pH<6.0, pH<5.5 and pH<5.0 events respectively. The positive rate of RSI, RFS, RSI and RFS, RSI or RFS were 44.24%, 16.78%, 7.12%, 53.90% respectively. The RFS score in Ryan index positive group was higher than that in Ryan index negative group[(8.2±2.4) vs (4.0±2.9), u=5.424, P<0.05], while the RSI score in Ryan index positive group was not statistically different from that in Ryan index negative group[(11.3±6.2) vs (12.7±5.8), t=1.247, P=0.167]. Conclusions Pharyngeal pH monitoring is an objective and non-invasive method which can reflect laryngopharyngeal reflux directly. However, with the Ryan index as a criterion for the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, partial patients may be missed. Further studies are needed to obtain more accurate and objective laryngopharyngeal pH statistical index for diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.

Objective: To observe the morphological changes on cochlear hair cells of rats in simulated weightlessness and inboard noise and to investigate the different changes in three turns of hair cells.Methods: Thirty-two healthy SD rats, all males, were randomly divided into four groups: control group, weightlessness group, noise group and weightlessness+noise groups (n=8).Then rats were exposed to-30° head down tilt as simulated weightlessness and inboard noise including steady-state noise which was (72±2) dB SPL and impulse noise up to 160 dB SPL in spaceship environment.The control group was kept in normal condition for 8 weeks.Bilateral auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were tested before and after exposure respectively, and immunofluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEMs) of basilar membrane were applied after exposure.Results: ABR threshold shifts of each group were higher after exposure.There was difference between ABRs of the experiment groups before and after exposure (P<0.05).IF showed that the inner hair cells (IHCs) missing was the main damage in the basal turn of weightlessness group, the hair cells in the middle turn were swell and in the top turn, the hair cells were not clear.In noise group, the main loss happened in the outer hair cells (OHCs) of the outermost layer.In weightlessness+noise group, the nuclear missing in the basal turn was apparent, and mainly happened at the outermost layer.Meanwhile, the missing of hair cells in the middle turn and top turn was seen at the innermost layer.SEM showed that the cilia in the basal turn of weightlessness group were serious lodging, and occasional absence.Furthermore, the basal cilia in noise group became lodged and absent, and the other two turns were seriously missing.And in weightlessness+noise group, the cilia missing in the basal turn was apparently seen.The damage degree of the four groups: weightlessness+noise group>noise group>weightlessness group>control group and the damage degree of the four turns of hair cells: basal turn>mid turn>top turn.Conclusion: The rats exposed to the above environment for 2 weeks displayed obvious changes in cochlea morphology, and the weightlessness+noise group had the most obvious damage.

BACKGROUND:To seek for ideal scaffold materials is still an important task for cartilage tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the application of the AviteneTM microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge in cartilage tissue engineering.METHODS:Rabbit auricular cartilage was harvested via surgical operation,and primary chondrocytes were isolated and amplified.Microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge was cut into small bricks.The passage 2 chondrocytes were suspended and seeded onto the spongy bricks.After 1 week of in vitro culture,the constructs were then implanted into nude mice.After 8 weeks,the specimens were collected and evaluated using gross,histological and immunohistochamical observation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the cell seeding,the scaffold maintained its dimensions.No shrinkage was observed when the cell suspension was added.There was no considerable change in dimensions during the 1-week in vitro culture and at 8 weeks after implantation in nude mice.At 8 weeks post-implantation,mature cartilage blocks were harvested,which were white,translucent,and flexible.Histologically,the constructs appeared to have typical mature cartilaginous tissues,with robust extracellular matrix secretion,in which the microfibrillar collagen was incompletely degraded.We conclude that the microfibrillar collagen is a favorable scaffold material for cartilage tissue engineering.