The number of dental schools increased from 55 in 2000 to 66 in 2019 in the United States. The number of public, private, and private-state-related dental schools were 40, 22 and 4, respectively. A majority of them were located in most developed areas, such as western, eastern, and southern regions of the country. In the same period, the number of freshman enrollees rose from 4 234 to 6 231 while the average of enrollees kept under 100. On the basis of learning relevant experiences of the United States, it might be necessary for China to expand the overall scale of stomatology education in order to address the shortage of dentists, take measures to increase the number of stomatology schools and improve their distribution, and control the number of enrollees per school to enhance the quality of education.

Objective:To observe the effect and underlying mechanism of down-regulation of VEGFA on the radiosensitivity of esophageal cancer ECA-109 cells.Methods:Esophageal cancer cells were divided into four groups: sh-VEGFA group, vector control group, X-ray plussh-VEGFA group and X-ray plus vector group. The expressions of VEGFA gene and protein were detected by qPCR and Western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation and survival was measured by CCK8 assay and cloning formation, respectively. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and γ-H2AX foci were detected by immune-fluorescence assay.Results:Compared with the vector group, the expression of VEGFA gene was decreased in sh-VEGFA group ( t=11.98, P<0.05), and the expression of VEGFA protein was also reduced( t=12.38, P<0.05). After VEGFA being down-regulated, the cell proliferation( A450)was obviously inhibited( t=2.78, 7.25, 21.93, 13.21, P<0.05), and the cell clone formation of the sh-VEGFA group was significantly decreased so that D0, Dqand SF2 of sh-VEGFA group were decreased( t=5.83, 8.56, 7.68, P<0.05), and SERD0and SERDqwere increased. Compared with the vector group, the apoptosis rate in the sh-VEGFA group and the X-ray group was significantly increased and further increased in the sh-VEGFA plus X-ray group( t=17.63, 22.48, 33.87, P<0.05), and the number of γ-H2AX foci in both sh-VEGFA and vector groups were significantly increased within 2 h after X-ray irradiation. At 24 h after irradiation, the number of γ-H2AX foci returned to normal level in the vector group but remained at a higher level in the sh-VEGFA group ( t=7.00, P<0.05). Conclusions:Down-regulation of VEGFA inhibits the proliferation and colony formation, promotes apoptosis and hence increases the radiosensitivity of esophageal carcinoma cells via a pathway related to DNA damage repair.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic cause for a child featuring growth and mental retardation. METHODS: Following conventional karyotyping analysis of the trio family, next generation sequencing (NGS) was carried out to explore the origin of the supernumerary marker chromosome. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to confirm the result. RESULTS: The karyotypes of both parents were normal, while the proband was found to be 47,XX,+mar. NGS showed that the supernumerary marker has originated from chromosome 9p13.1p24.3 with a size of 39.77 Mb. FISH has confirmed the above finding. CONCLUSION The 9p13.1-p24.3 trisomy probably underlies the abnormal phenotypes of the child. Cytogenetic analysis combined with NGS and FISH can provide accurate diagnosis for such disorders.
Child ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Trisomy

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is often complicated with damage of multi-organ function,among them,cognitive impairment has been noticed with a high prevalence.The abnormal intrinsic brain activity patterns in resting state is one of the manifestations of cognitive impairment in ESRD.Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) is divided into two categories,i.e.functional separation and functional integration,reflecting the changes of neural activity of the brain in different aspects.With advantages of non-invasive,no radiation and high spatio-temporal resolution,rs-fMRI has gradually become an effective method in studying the neurophysiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment.The pathophysiology and research progresses of rs-fMRI in ESRD with cognitive impairment were reviewed in this article.

Objective To investigate the changes of cerebral volume in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients with maintaining hemodialysis using voxel based morphometry (VBM),and to observe the correlation of these changes with sleep quality,anxiety and depression.Methods Twenty ESRD patients received maintaining hemodialysis (patient group) and twenty-one normal volunteers (normal control group) underwent MRI and neuropsychological scale evaluations,including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA),Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI),Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS).The changes of cerebral volume between the two groups were compared,and the correlation between the changed area of cerebral volume in patient group and the score of neuropsychological scale was analyzed.Results Compared with normal control group,significantly decreased volume in the gray matter of the left middle temporal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus and left medial frontal gyrus were observed in patient group (all P＜0.001,AlphaSim multiple corrections).The differences of MoCA,PSQI,SAS and SDS between the two groups were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).In patient group,the decreased gray matter volume of the left middle temporal gyrus negativity correlated with PSQI,SDS and SAS (r=-0.588,-0.456,-0.489;P =0.006,0.043,0.029),of the right middle frontal gyrus negativity correlated with SDS and SAS (r=-0.495,-0.466;P=0.026,0.038),of the left medial frontal gyrus positively correlated with MoCA (r=0.462,P=0.040),and negatively correlated with PSQI (r=-0.588,P=0.006).Conclusion Multiple grey matter atrophy and complicated neurocognitive dysfunction were noticed in ESRD patients with maintaining hemodialysis,and the associated poorer sleep quality,anxiety or depression severity might closely related to the decreased volume of corresponding brain gray matter.

Background:There is no specific therapy for inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),and the pathogenesis of IBD is not fully clear. Aims:To explore the expression and clinical significance of IL-17BR in colon mucosa and peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)of patients with IBD. Methods:Colon mucosal biopsy specimens of 40 Crohn's disease(CD) patients,32 ulcerative colitis(UC)patients and 25 healthy controls and PBMC of 30 CD patients,27 UC patients and 25 healthy controls were collected. The expressions of IL-17BR in colon mucosa and PBMC were determined by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry,respectively,and correlations between IL-17BR expression and levels of CRP, ESR,CDAI score and Mayo score were analyzed. Serum levels of TNF-α before and after infliximab(IFX)treatment were determined by ELISA,and correlations with IL-17BR were analyzed. Results:Compared with healthy controls,IL-17BR expressions in colon mucosa of CD and UC patients were significantly increased(P<0.05). IL-17BR expressions were significantly higher in active CD and UC patients than in remission CD and UC patients(P <0.05). No significant differences in IL-17BR expression in PBMC were found among CD,UC patients and healthy controls(P>0.05). The expression of IL-17BR in colon mucosa was positively correlated with CRP,ESR,CDAI score or Mayo score in CD,UC patients(P <0.05). After treatment with IFX,expression of IL-17BR in colon mucosa and serum TNF-α level were significantly decreased in CD patients(P<0.01). Expression of IL-17BR was positively correlated with serum TNF-α level in CD patients(P<0.05). Conclusions:The increasing of IL-17BR expression in IBD patients is closely correlated with activity of inflammation and TNF-α level. IL-17BR may play a vital role in immune response of intestinal mucosa,and can be used as a new marker for reflecting the activity of IBD.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of next generation sequencing (NGS) for the analysis of spontaneous abortion samples.

METHODSThe NGS analysis was carried out on 85 chorionic villi samples (taken between 42 days to 12 weeks of gestation) for which conventional cell culture has failed or chromosomal karyotyping has yielded normal or uncertain result.

RESULTSAmong 68 samples with a normal karyotype, the NGS analysis has identified 2 copy number variations (CNVs) and 2 chimeras. For 16 cases with failed cell culture, the NGS has identified 4 chromosomal abnormalities including 1 copy number variation and 3 numerical chromosomal aberrations. For 1 remaining case with uncertain karyotyping result, the NGS analysis has verified it as 46,XX,del(4) (p15.1p16.3).seq[GRCh37/hg19] (57 549 - 32 371 364)×1.

CONCLUSIONThe NGS analysis is capable of identifying novel CNVs in samples for which conventional cell culture may fail or karyotyping analysis may yield a normal result.

Abortion, Spontaneous ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; methods ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

Nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an ubiquitous and important transcription factor. It regulates antioxidant response elements (AREs)-mediated expression of antioxidant enzyme and cytoprotective proteins. A large body of research showed that Nrf2-Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, Keap 1)-ARE signaling pathway is involved in the endogenous antioxidant defense mechanisms. Nrf2 increases the expression of a number of cytoprotective genes, protects cells and tissues from the injury of a variety of toxicants and carcinogens. As a result, Nrf2 enhances the expression of glutathione and antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase, and subsequently scavenging free radicals. Air pollution especially from PM2.5 particles, is associated with an increasing morbidity of inflammatory pulmonary diseases and their deterioration. More and more studies demonstrated that Nrf2 was a novel signaling molecule in the modulation of inflammatory responses in these inflammatory respiratory diseases, such as asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. Therefore, Nrf2 targeting might be a therapeutic target, which will provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in asthma, acute lung injury (ALI) and COPD. This review focused on the relationship between Nrf2 and inflammatory respiratory diseases and oxidative stress.

The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of the adenosine derivative N6-(3-hydroxylaniline) adenosine (WS070117M1) on cigarette smoke plus LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mice and its mechanism. COPD model was established by exposing male BALB/c mice to cigarette smoke and challenged with LPS inhalation. Supernatants of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested and IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-β1 levels were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunesorbent assay). The number of total white blood cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was counted separately. Lung tissue was stained with Mayer 's hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic examination. pAMPKa protein expression and distribution of lung tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemistry method. In vitro, levels of AMPKα phosphorylation in phorbol-12- myristate-13-acetate (PMA) differentiated THP-1 cells was detected by immunohistochemistry, IL-8 level in supernatants of cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells was measured by ELISA. The results showed that WS070117M1 treatment significantly activated AMPKa in the lung tissue. It also resulted in down regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-β1 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and IL-8 level in cigarette smoke condensate stimulating PMA differentiated THP-1 cells. In addition, WS070117M1 could inhibit the recruitment of total white blood cells and neutrophils. These results suggest that WS070117M1 may alleviate the airway inflammation by activating AMPK in the lung tissue.

A sensitive determination method for sulfur mustard ( HD ) metabolites thiodiglycol ( TDG ) in rabbit urine was established and validated using isotope dilution negative ion chemical ionization ( NICI) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry ( GC-MS ) , in which deuterated thiodiglycol ( TDG-d8 ) was used as internal standard. Two solid-phase extraction ( SPE) steps were established and optimized in order to reduce the interfering backgrounds, one was used to extract thiodiglycol ( TDG ) from urine with self-assemblied Florisil SPE cartridges, another cleaning treatment of the by-products after pentafluorobenzoyl chloride (PFBZ) derivatization. The results showed that the limits of detection quantitation of this method were 0. 1 and 0. 3 μg/L, respectively. The exposure time-response relationship and exposure dose-response relationship of TDG in rabbit urine were studied after rabbit skin exposure to sulfur mustard (HD, 0. 02-0. 15 LD50). The TDG levels in the rabbit urine increased rapidly during the first day after application and then decreased over time for all dosage groups. A secondary release was also noted for the high-dose group, and the duration of high TDG excretion levels was correlated positively with the HD dosage levels. We thus concluded that abnormally high levels of TDG in urine could be used as a clear diagnostic indicator of HD exposure.