This study was designed to explore the immune reconstitution efficacy of human thymic slices transplanted into renal capsule,subcutaneous or muscle of nude mice,and further explore the optimal location of heterotopic transplantation.The thymus tissue discarded from congenital heart disease patients was made into 0.5-1 mm thick tissue sections and cultured in vitro to remove immune cells.H&E staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to assess the residual tissue structure and cell types in thymic slices,while quantitative PCR methods were used to assess the function of residual cells in thymic slices.Then thymic slices were transplanted into the renal capsule,subcutaneous or muscle of nude mice,and the immune reconstitution efficacy was compared by flow cytometry and histology.Data showed that after 14 days of culture in vitro,the clearance rate of T lymphocytes in the thymic slices was more than 90%,and the epithelial cell network structure of the tissue was intact,while a large number of macrophages,dendritic cells and endothelial cells remained.Quantitative PCR results showed that the gene expression levels of epithelial cell markers and secreted cytokines in cultured thymic slices could be effectively maintained.Flow cytometry showed that at 16 weeks after transplantation,the proportion of T cells in peripheral blood of mice in different transplantation groups were significantly increased,whereas the proportion of T cells in muscle group was the highest.In situ histological examination showed that the regeneration of thymus tissue was detected at all three transplant sites.In addition,the graft detection rate was 40%in the renal capsule group,60%in the subcutaneous group and 100%in the musclegroup.In conclusion,the human thymic slices cultured in vitro for 14 days retain a complete thymic matrix microenvironment.Transplantation of human thymic slices can effectively reconstruct the ratio of T cells in nude mice,and the muscle is the most effective transplantation site.

Tumors of the digestive system are one of the most important factors affecting people′s quality of life and have become a serious public health problem globally.Early screening and intervention of tumor markers in high-risk groups for tumors is the key to tumor prevention. Follistatin-related proteins (FRP) are important members of the follistatin family and such proteins are involved in the pathological process of tumors of the reproductive system and respiratory system, among others. In recent years, FRP has attracted extensive attention in the study of digestive system tumors, suggesting that FRP may play a significant role in the development of digestive system tumors, and is a potential marker for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The article reviews the biological function, expression and potential mechanism of action of FRP associated with digestive system tumors, with a view to providing reference for the diagnosis and prevention of digestive system tumors, prognosis assessment and drug development.

Tumors of the digestive system are one of the most important factors affecting people′s quality of life and have become a serious public health problem globally.Early screening and intervention of tumor markers in high-risk groups for tumors is the key to tumor prevention. Follistatin-related proteins (FRP) are important members of the follistatin family and such proteins are involved in the pathological process of tumors of the reproductive system and respiratory system, among others. In recent years, FRP has attracted extensive attention in the study of digestive system tumors, suggesting that FRP may play a significant role in the development of digestive system tumors, and is a potential marker for clinical diagnosis and treatment. The article reviews the biological function, expression and potential mechanism of action of FRP associated with digestive system tumors, with a view to providing reference for the diagnosis and prevention of digestive system tumors, prognosis assessment and drug development.

Numerous studies have reported that the resistance of biofilm bacteria to antibiotics can be up to 10-1 000 fold higher than that of planktonic bacteria. Bacterial biofilms are reported to be responsible for more than 80% of human microbial infection, posing great challenges to the healthcare sector. Many studies have reported that plant extracts and their active ingredients can inhibit the formation and development of bacterial biofilms, including reducing biofilm biomass and the number of viable bacteria in biofilms, as well as eradicating mature biofilms. This review summarized the plant extracts and their active ingredients that are inhibitory to bacterial biofilms, and analyzed the underpinning mechanisms. This review may serve as a reference for the development of plant drugs to prevent and treat biofilm infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Humans ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology* ; Quorum Sensing

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a perioperative rehabilitation clinical pathway of acetabular fracture in light of orthopedics rehabilitation team approach. MethodsA prospective randomized control trial was conducted in 82 patients with acetabular fractures who had been admitted from the Emergency Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from June, 2019 to January, 2021. The patients were randomly divided into control group (n = 41) and intervention group (n = 41). The control group was managed routinely, while the intervention group received the rehabilitation clinical pathway, for 24 weeks. The Visual Analogue Score (VAS) of pain, the Barthel Index (BI) and Majeed Pelvic Score were compared. ResultsFinally, 76 patients completed the trial. There was no statistical difference in VAS score between two groups in all periods (|Z| < 1.926, P > 0.05). The BI score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group at discharge, two weeks, six weeks and twelve weeks after operation (|Z| > 2.121, P < 0.05); and no significant difference was found before operation and 24 weeks after operation (|Z| < 1.862, P > 0.05). Majeed Pelvic Score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group two weeks, six weeks, twelve weeks and 24 weeks after operation (|Z| > 2.428, P < 0.05). Six, twelve and 24 weeks after operation, the excellent rate of Majeed Pelvic Score was higher in the intervention group than in the control group (χ² > 6.136, P < 0.05). ConclusionIn comparison with traditional protocol in acetabular fracture, the perioperative rehabilitation clinical pathway was proved effective and of great safety in the light of the integration of orthopedics and rehabilitation mode for improving the function and activities of daily living of patients.

Immunology is a kind of important basic subject for medical education, involving theories and technologies covering many aspects of disease occurrence, diagnosis, prevention and treatment, and is also the source of new means of medical treatment in the future. Therefore, successful teaching of medical immunology is associated with high-level medical undergraduate education. An appropriate textbook is critical for curriculum construction of immunology. However, little analysis of immunology textbooks has been published. We selected several famous and popular English immunology textbooks and compared their teaching objectives, methods, and contents, concluding the features and targeting readers of each textbooks. Our research results could provide some advices for students to learn immunology theory and researchers to utilize immunology methods, and also give a glimpse of the development trend and direction of immunology.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of perioperative rehabilitation approaches based on the concept of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) for pelvic fractures.Methods:A prospective randomized control trial was conducted to include 114 emergency patients who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital for surgical treatment of pelvic fractures from June 2019 to December 2020. Of them, 57 were assigned into an intervention group according to a random digits table. They were 42 males and 15 females, aged from 18 to 77 years and subjected to management of pelvic fractures with tentative perioperative ERAS approaches which were adjusted at different stages. The other random 57 patients were assigned into a control group. They were 40 males and 17 females, aged from 17 to 70 years and subjected to management of pelvic fractures with conventional rehabilitation approaches which included postoperative in-hospital consultation and guidance by rehabilitation physicians. The 2 groups were compared in terms of Majeed pelvis scores and Barthel indexes at postoperative 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and SF36 scores at postoperative 12 and 24 weeks.Results:A total of 105 patients (55 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group) were completely followed up for 151 to 254 d (mean, 177 d). The 2 groups were comparable due to no significant difference between them in the preoperative general data ( P>0.05). The Majeed scores (44±13, 67±16, 86±14 and 98±7) and Barthel indexes (57±13, 79±16, 95±8 and 100±2) at postoperative 2, 6, 12 and 24 weeks in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(35±16, 51±16, 73±14 and 91±12) and (45±19, 67±18, 86±12 and 98±4)] (all P<0.05). At postoperative 12 and 24 weeks, the SF-36 scores (129±15 and 141±6) in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (114±15 and 131±12) ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the pain degree between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:In management of pelvic fractures, compared with conventional perioperative rehabilitation approaches, the perioperative ERAS rehabilitation approaches may improve early functional outcomes and thus help the patients restore their activities of daily living earlier.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) causes approximately 30% cirrhosis and 53% liver cancer in the world, and is still a serious threat to human health. Treatment CHB through therapeutic vaccination has long been a urgent goal of the medical community. In the past two decades, various therapeutic vaccines have been developed and studied in clinical trials, however, few has achieved satisfactory results. Recently, a nanoparticle therapeutic vaccine for CHB, εPA-44, has entered pahse III clinical trial. Results of phase II trial for εPA-44 showed that the vaccine had good safety profile and achieved profound clinical benefits in patients with CHB. Here, we first introduce the rational of therapeutic vaccine for CHB and summarize the progress of clinical trials. Finally, we t review the phase II clinical trial data of εPA-44 and discuss the posssible impact to the development of next generation therapeutic vaccine for CHB.

Objective:To explore the transcriptional regulation mechanism of transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF-β 1) on Meox1 and its effect on cell migration of adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDF-a). Methods:(1) HDF-a cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium (hereinafter referred to as routinely cultured). The cells were divided into TGF-β 1 stimulation group and blank control group. The cells in TGF-β 1 stimulation group were stimulated with 10 μL TGF-β 1 in the mass concentration of 1 mg/μL, while the cells in blank control group were stimulated with the equal volume of phosphate buffer solution. After 72 hours in culture, partial cells in both groups were collected for transcriptome sequencing. The genes with differential expression ratio greater than or equal to 2 and P<0.01 between the two groups were selected to perform enrichment analysis and analysis of metabolic pathways of the Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia with, and the expression value of Meox1 per million transcripts (TPM) was recorded ( n=3). Partial cells from the two groups were used to detect the Meox1 mRNA expression by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) ( n=3). (2) Cultured HDF-a cells in the logarithmic growth phase (the same growth phase of cells below) were divided into empty plasmid group, Smad2 overexpression (OE) group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmids separately carrying Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 for 6 hours, and then were routinely cultured for 48 hours. The Meox1 mRNA expression in the transfected cells of each group was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR ( n=3). (3) HDF-a cells were routinely cultured and grouped the same as in experiment (1). After 72 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the Meox1 promoter in the cells of each group was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) ( n=3). (4) HDF-a cells were routinely cultured and divided into negative interference group, small interference RNA (siRNA)-Smad2 group, siRNA-Smad3 group, siRNA-Smad4 group, empty plasmid group, Smad2 OE group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 50 μmol/L random siRNA, siRNA-Smad2, siRNA-Smad3, siRNA-Smad4, 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmids separately carrying Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 for 6 hours and then routinely cultured for 48 hours. The enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the Meox1 promoter in the cells of corresponding group was detected by ChIP-qPCR ( n=3). (5) Two batches of HDF-a cells were cultured and divided into negative interference group, siRNA-Meox1 group, empty plasmid group, and Meox1 OE group, which were transfected respectively with 50 μmol/L random siRNA, siRNA-Meox1, 2 μg empty pcDNA3.1 plasmid and pcDNA3.1 plasmid carrying Meox1 for 6 hours and then routinely cultured for 24 hours. One batch of cells were subjected to scratch test with the scratch width being observed 24 hours after scratching and compared with the initial width for scratch wound healing; the other batch of cells were subjected to Transwell assay, in which the migrated cells were counted after being routinely cultured for 24 hours ( n=3). (6) From January 2018 to June 2019, 3 hypertrophic scar patients (2 males and 1 female, aged 35-56 years) were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University (the Third Military Medical University) 8-12 months after burns. The scar tissue and normal skin tissue along the scar margin resected during surgery were taken, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the distribution of Meox1 protein expression. Data were statistically analyzed with one-way analysis of variance and independent sample t test. Results:(1) After 72 hours in culture, a total of 843 genes were obviously differentially expressed between the two groups, being related to tissue repair, cell migration, inflammatory cell chemotaxis induction process and potential signaling pathways such as tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 17, extracellular matrix receptor. The TPM value of Meox1 in the cells of blank control group was 45.9±1.9, which was significantly lower than 163.1±29.5 of TGF-β 1 stimulation group ( t=6.88, P<0.01) with RNA-sequencing. After 72 hours in culture, the Meox1 mRNA expression levels in the cells of blank control group was 1.00±0.21, which was significantly lower than 11.00±3.61 of TGF-β 1 stimulation group ( t=4.79, P<0.01). (2) After 48 hours in culture, the Meox1 mRNA expression levels in the cells of Smad2 OE group, Smad3 OE group, and Smad4 OE group were 198.70±11.02, 35.47±4.30, 20.27±2.50, respectively, which were significantly higher than 1.03±0.19 of empty plasmid group ( t=31.07, 13.80, 13.12, P<0.01). (3) After 72 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of TGF-β 1 stimulation group was significantly higher than that of blank control group respectively ( t=12.99, 41.47, 29.10, P<0.01). (4) After 48 hours in culture, the enrichment of Smad2 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was (0.200 000±0.030 000)%, significantly higher than (0.000 770±0.000 013)% of siRNA-Smad2 group ( t=11.67, P<0.01); the enrichment of Smad2 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was (0.200 000±0.040 000)%, significantly lower than (0.700 000±0.090 000)% of Smad2 OE group ( t=8.85, P<0.01). The enrichment of Smad3 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was (0.500 0±0.041 3)%, significantly higher than (0.006 0±0.001 3)% of siRNA-Smad3 group ( t=17.79, P<0.01); the enrichment of Smad3 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was (0.470 0±0.080 0)%, which was significantly lower than (1.100 0±0.070 0)% of Smad3 OE group ( t=9.93, P<0.01). The enrichment of Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of negative interference group was similar to that of siRNA-Smad4 group ( t=2.11, P>0.05); the enrichment of Smad4 protein on the promoter of Meox1 in the cells of empty plasmid group was similar to that of Smad4 OE group ( t=0.60, P>0.05). (5) Twenty-four hours after scratching, the scratch healing width of cells in siRNA-Meox1 group was narrower than that of negative interference group, while that of Meox1 OE group was wider than that of empty plasmid group. After 24 hours in culture, the number of migration cells in negative interference group was significantly higher than that in siRNA-Meox1 group ( t=9.12, P<0.01), and that in empty plasmid group was significantly lower than that in Meox1 OE group ( t=8.99, P<0.01). (6) The expression of Meox1 protein in the scar tissue was significantly higher than that in normal skin of patients with hypertrophic scars. Conclusions:TGF-β 1 transcriptionally regulates Meox1 expression via Smad2/3 in HDF-a cells, thus promoting cell migration.

Objective:To determine bacteriostatic abilities ofArtemisia argyi extracts,and to explore the effect ofArtemisia argyi extracts on oral ulcer in rats.Methods:We extracted the mixture ofArtemisia argyi volatile oils and water-extraction by leaching method and evaluated the anti-microbial effect ofArtemisia argyi extracts on common oral floras in vitro.The rat cheeks were burnt by NaOH to establish the models of oral ulcer.The curative effects of crude drug of Artemisia argyi extracts at 2.0,1.0,0.5 g/mL on oral ulcer in rats were evaluated by measuring the oral ulcer healing time.Serum TNF-α level and expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were analyzed by ELASA and immunohistochemical staining.Results:Artemisia argyi extracts obviously inhibited the Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus.NaOH-made oral ulcer in rats were successfully established.The crude drug at 2.0 and 1.0 g/mL obviously reduced healing time,significantly inhibited the release of TNF-α,and improved the PCNA level in the ulcer tissues (All P＜0.01).The extracts obviously reduced the local inflammatory reaction and promoted tissue repair of oral ulcer.Conclusion:Artemisia argyi extracts promote tissue repair of oral ulcer via inhibiting bacterial growth,reducing the release of TNF-α and improving the PCNA level.