TCP family as plant specific transcription factor, plays an important role in different aspects of plant development. In order to screen TCP family members in tobacco, the homologous sequences of tobacco and Arabidopsis TCP family were identified by genome-wide homologous alignment. The physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships and cis-acting elements were analyzed by bioinformatics. The homologous genes of AtTCP3/AtTCP4 were screened, and RT-qPCR was used to detect the changes of gene expression upon 20% PEG6000 treatment. The results show that tobacco contains 63 TCP family members. Their amino acid sequence length ranged from 89 aa to 596 aa, and their protein hydropathicity grand average of hydropathicity (GRAVY) ranged from -1.147 to 0.125. The isoelectric point (pI) ranges from 4.42 to 9.94, the number of introns is 0 to 3, and the subcellular location is all located in the nucleus. The results of conserved domain and phylogenetic relationship analysis showed that the tobacco TCP family can be divided into PCF, CIN and CYC/TB1 subfamilies, and each subfamily has a stable sequence. The results of cis-acting elements in gene promoter region showed that TCP family genes contain low docile acting elements (LTR) and a variety of stress and metabolic regulation related elements (MYB, MYC). Analysis of gene expression patterns showed that AtTCP3/AtTCP4 homologous genes (NtTCP6, NtTCP28, NtTCP30, NtTCP33, NtTCP42, NtTCP57, NtTCP63) accounted for 20% PEG6000 treatment significantly up-regulated/down-regulated expression, and NtTCP30 and NtTCP57 genes were selected as candidate genes in response to drought. The results of this study analyzed the TCP family in the tobacco genome and provided candidate genes for the study of drought-resistance gene function and variety breeding in tobacco.
Nicotiana/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Plant Breeding ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Arabidopsis ; Polyethylene Glycols

OBJECTIVE: To compare and analyze the feasibility of autologous facet joint bone block as an alternative to polyetheretherketone (PEEK) cage in lumbar intervertebral fusion surgery for patients with osteoporosis. METHODS: From December 2018 to June 2021, the case data of patients with osteoporosis (T value ≤ -2.5 on dual energy X-ray bone density) who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the Fourth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All the cases were followed up for no less than 12 months and were divided into two groups according to the differences of interbody fusion materials: the autologous facet joint bone block group (autogenous bone group) and the PEEK cage group (PEEK group). The general data [such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), primary diagnosis, distribution of fusion segments, bone mineral density of lumbar (BMD), incidence of preoperative complications], the perioperative data (such as duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion rate), and the incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Imaging parameters (disc height, lumbar lordosis angle, segment lordosis angle, segmental lordosis angle, disc height improvement rate, and fusion rate) and lumbar functional scores [visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) score for lower back pain] were compared to evaluate the clinical efficacy between the kinds of intervertebral fusion materials 1 week, 3 months and 6 months postoperative and at the last follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients were enrolled, including 68 cases in the autogenous bone group and 50 cases in the PEEK group, there were no statistical differences in age, gender, BMI, primary diagnosis, distribution of fusion segments, BMD, incidence of preoperative complications, duration of operation, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage, perioperative allogeneic blood transfusion rate, incidence of postoperative complications, all the preoperative imaging parameters and all the lumbar function scores between the two groups (P>0.05). Postoperative superficial surgical site infections occurred in 3 patients in the autogenous bone group and 2 patients in the PEEK group. At the last follow-up, 3 cases of intervertebral graft collapse occurred in the autogenous bone group and 5 cases in the PEEK group, 1 case of graft subsidence in the autogenous bone group and 1 case in the PEEK group. All the imaging parameters showed significant differences between postoperation and preoperation (P < 0.05), and all the imaging parameters showed significant differences between 1 week and 3 months postoperative in both groups (P < 0.05). The height, angle of fusion gap in the autogenous bone group were lower than those in the PEEK group 1 week postoperatively (P < 0.05), and the fusion gap height improvement rate in the autogenous bone group was lower than that in the PEEK group (P < 0.05). The cases in both groups started to show final fusion 3 months after surgery, and the fusion rate in the autogenous bone group was 75% 6 months postoperatively, which was significantly higher than the rate of 56% in the PEEK group (P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in the final fusion rate between the two groups (P>0.05). The ODI, the postoperative VAS score was significantly lower than that in preoperation, while the postoperative JOA score was significantly higher than that in preoperation (P < 0.05). The ODI was lower while the JOA score was higher of the autogenous bone group than that of the PEEK group 6 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION In osteoporosis patients, good interbody fusion rate and improvement of lumbar vertebral function can be obtained by using autologous facet joint bone block or PEEK cage, while the fusion rate and the improvement of lumbar function with autologous facet joint bone block are better than those with PEEK cage 6 months post-operatively. PEEK cage is superior to autologous facet joint bone block in intervertebral distraction and improvement of lumbar lordosis. Significant disc space subsidence occurred in osteoporotic patients within 3 months after lumbar interbody fusion, and the subsidence of PEEK cage was more obvious than that of autologous facet joint bone block.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Lordosis ; Zygapophyseal Joint ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ketones ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Osteoporosis ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Hemorrhage

With the continuous exploration of microemulsions as solvents for traditional Chinese medicine extraction, polyoxyethy-lene(35) castor oil(CrEL), a commonly used surfactant, is being utilized by researchers. However, the problem of detecting residues of this surfactant in microemulsion extracts has greatly hampered the further development of microemulsion solvents. Based on the chemical structures of the components in CrEL and the content determination method of castor oil in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(Vol. Ⅳ), this study employed gas chromatography(GC) and single-factor experiments to optimize the preparation method of methyl ricinoleate from CrEL. The conversion coefficient between the two was validated, and the optimal sample preparation method was used to process microemulsion extracts of Zexie Decoction from three batches. The content of methyl ricinoleate generated was determined, and the content of CrEL in the microemulsion extracts of Zexie Decoction was calculated using the above conversion coefficient. The results showed that the optimal preparation method for CrEL was determined. Specifically, 10 mL of 1 mol·L~(-1) KOH-methanol solution was heated at 60 ℃ for 15 min in a water bath. Subsequently, 10 mL of boron trifluoride etherate-methanol(1∶3) solution was heated at 60 ℃ for 15 min in a water bath, followed by extraction with n-hexane twice. CrEL could stably produce 20.84% methyl ricinoleate. According to this conversion coefficient, the average mass concentration of CrEL in the three batches of Zexie Decoction microemulsion extracts was 11.94 mg·mL~(-1), which was not significantly different from the CrEL mass concentration of 11.57 mg·mL~(-1) during microemulsion formulation, indicating that the established content determination method of this study was highly accurate, sensitive, and repeatable. It can be used for subsequent research on microemulsion extracts of Zexie Decoction and provide a reference for quality control of other drug formulations containing CrEL.
Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Castor Oil ; Methanol ; Surface-Active Agents/chemistry* ; Solvents ; Water/chemistry* ; Emulsions/chemistry*

Soft tissue is an indispensable tissue in human body. It plays an important role in protecting the body from external physical, chemical or biological factors. Mild soft tissue injuries can self-heal, while severe soft tissue injuries may require related treatment. Natural polymers (such as chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and collagen) and synthetic polymers (such as polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid) exhibit good biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity. It can be used for soft tissue repairs for antibacterial, hemostatic and wound healing purposes. Their related properties can be enhanced through modification or preparation of composite materials. Commonly used soft tissue repairs include wound dressings, biological patches, medical tissue adhesives, and tissue engineering scaffolds. This study introduces the properties, mechanisms of action and applications of various soft tissue repair medical materials, including chitosan, hyaluronic acid, collagen, polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid, and provides an outlook on the application prospects of soft tissue repair medical materials and products.
Humans ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Chitosan/chemistry* ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry* ; Collagen/chemistry* ; Polymers/chemistry* ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Soft Tissue Injuries

Electric field stimulation (EFS) can effectively inhibit local Ca ²⁺ influx and secondary injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, after the EFS, the Ca ²⁺ in the injured spinal cord restarts and subsequent biochemical reactions are stimulated, which affect the long-term effect of EFS. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a hydrophilic polymer material that can promote cell membrane fusion and repair damaged cell membranes. This article aims to study the combined effects of EFS and PEG on the treatment of SCI. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to SCI and then divided into control group (no treatment, n = 10), EFS group (EFS for 30 min, n = 10), PEG group (covered with 50% PEG gelatin sponge for 5 min, n = 10) and combination group (combined treatment of EFS and PEG, n = 10). The measurement of motor evoked potential (MEP), the motor behavior score and spinal cord section fast blue staining were performed at different times after SCI. Eight weeks after the operation, the results showed that the latency difference of MEP, the amplitude difference of MEP and the ratio of cavity area of spinal cords in the combination group were significantly lower than those of the control group, EFS group and PEG group. The motor function score and the ratio of residual nerve tissue area in the spinal cords of the combination group were significantly higher than those in the control group, EFS group and PEG group. The results suggest that the combined treatment can reduce the pathological damage and promote the recovery of motor function in rats after SCI, and the therapeutic effects are significantly better than those of EFS and PEG alone.
Animals ; Electric Stimulation ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recovery of Function/physiology* ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries/therapy*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influencing factors for the quality of bowel preparation before colonoscopy in children and the association of the interval from the last administration of laxative to the start of colonoscopy (shortly referred to as waiting time) with the quality of bowel preparation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the children who were admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from January to November 2020, and received bowel preparation with polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder combined with diet control before colonoscopy. According to the score of Boston bowel preparation scale, they were divided into two groups: adequate bowel preparation group (n=337) and inadequate bowel preparation group (n=30). Related data were collected from the children in both groups, including general information, possible influencing factors for the quality of bowel preparation, adverse reactions associated with bowel preparation, duration of colonoscopy, and postoperative diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the influencing factors for the quality of bowel preparation. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed that age, body weight, and waiting time were associated with inadequate bowel preparation (P<0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that older age (OR=2.155, 95%CI: 1.087-4.273, P=0.028) and longer waiting time (OR=1.559, 95% CI: 1.191-2.041, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of waiting time was 5.5 hours in determining whether bowel preparation was adequate or not, with a sensitivity of 90.0%, a specificity of 50.7%, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.708. After grouping based on waiting time, it was found that the incidence rate of inadequate bowel preparation in the ≥5.5 hours group was significantly higher than that in the <5.5 hours group [14.0% (27/193) vs 1.7% (3/174), P<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS For children who use polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder combined with diet control for bowel preparation, older age is an independent risk factor for inadequate bowel preparation before colonoscopy, which may be associated with an insufficient dose of polyethylene glycol in older children. Longer waiting time is also an independent risk factor for inadequate bowel preparation, and it is recommended that the waiting time should not exceed 5.5 hours.
Cathartics ; Child ; Colonoscopy ; Diet ; Electrolytes ; Humans ; Polyethylene Glycols/adverse effects* ; Powders ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical efficacy, advantages, and disadvantages of adaptive biofeedback training combined with oral administration of compound polyethylene glycol 4000-electrolyte powder in the treatment of children with outlet obstruction constipation (OOC). METHODS: A total of 168 children with OOC were enrolled in this prospective study. All the subjects were randomly divided into a test group and a control group based on the order of visiting time, 84 in each group. The test group was treated with adaptive biofeedback training combined with oral administration of compound polyethylene glycol 4000-electrolyte powder, and the control group was treated with oral administration of compound polyethylene glycol 4000-electrolyte powder alone. Eleven children in the test group and two children in the control group withdrew from the study since they could not finish the whole treatment course. Finally, 73 children in the test group and 82 children in the control group were included in this analysis. As clinical outcomes, the total score of clinical symptoms and overall response rate were compared between the two groups at weeks 4 and 8 of treatment. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the total score of clinical symptoms between the two groups at beginning of treatment and at week 4 (P>0.05), while the test group had a significantly lower total score of clinical symptoms than the control group at week 8 (P<0.05). At week 4, there was no significant difference in overall response rate between the two groups (P>0.05), while the test group had a significantly higher overall response rate than the control group at week 8 (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Adaptive biofeedback training combined with oral administration of compound polyethylene glycol 4000-electrolyte powder is significantly associated with improvement of clinical outcomes in the treatment of children with OOC.
Administration, Oral ; Biofeedback, Psychology ; Child ; Constipation/drug therapy* ; Electrolytes/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use* ; Powders/therapeutic use* ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials are very attractive for use in neural tissue engineering and biosensor coatings. CNT scaffolds are excellent mimics of extracellular matrix due to their hydrophilicity, viscosity, and biocompatibility. CNTs can also impart conductivity to other insulating materials, improve mechanical stability, guide neuronal cell behavior, and trigger axon regeneration. The performance of chitosan (CS)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite scaffolds could be optimized by introducing multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs). CS/PEG/CNT composite scaffolds with CNT content of 1%, 3%, and 5% (1%=0.01 g/mL) were prepared by freeze-drying. Their physical and chemical properties and biocompatibility were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the composite scaffolds had a highly connected porous structure. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy proved that the CNTs were well dispersed in the CS/PEG matrix and combined with the CS/PEG nanofiber bundles. MWCNTs enhanced the elastic modulus of the scaffold. The porosity of the scaffolds ranged from 83% to 96%. They reached a stable water swelling state within 24 h, and swelling decreased with increasing MWCNT concentration. The electrical conductivity and cell adhesion rate of the scaffolds increased with increasing MWCNT content. Immunofluorescence showed that rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells grown in the scaffolds had characteristics similar to nerve cells. We measured changes in the expression of nerve cell markers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and found that PC12 cells cultured in the scaffolds expressed growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), and class III β‍-tubulin (TUBB3) proteins. Preliminary research showed that the prepared CS/PEG/CNT scaffold has good biocompatibility and can be further applied to neural tissue engineering research.
Animals ; Axons ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Chitosan/chemistry* ; Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry* ; Nerve Regeneration ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Porosity ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has been widely applied in orthopedics because of its excellent mechanical properties, radiolucency, and biocompatibility. However, the bioinertness and poor osteointegration of PEEK have greatly limited its further application. Growing evidence proves that physical factors of implants, including their architecture, surface morphology, stiffness, and mechanical stimulation, matter as much as the composition of their surface chemistry. This review focuses on the multiple strategies for the physical modification of PEEK implants through adjusting their architecture, surface morphology, and stiffness. Many research findings show that transforming the architecture and incorporating reinforcing fillers into PEEK can affect both its mechanical strength and cellular responses. Modified PEEK surfaces at the macro scale and micro/nano scale have positive effects on cell-substrate interactions. More investigations are necessary to reach consensus on the optimal design of PEEK implants and to explore the efficiency of various functional implant surfaces. Soft-tissue integration has been ignored, though evidence shows that physical modifications also improve the adhesion of soft tissue. In the future, ideal PEEK implants should have a desirable topological structure with better surface hydrophilicity and optimum surface chemistry.
Benzophenones ; Ketones/chemistry* ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry* ; Polymers/chemistry* ; Surface Properties

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether cytokine profiles and virological markers might add value in monitoring the effects of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) therapy for hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: HBeAg positive patients with CHB were treated with PEG-IFN for 48 weeks. Clinical biochemical, and HBV serological indexes, as well as cytokines, were detected at baseline and every 12 weeks. Results: A total of 116 patients with CHB were enrolled in this study; 100 patients completed the 48-week treatment and follow-up, of whom 38 achieved serum HBeAg disappearance, 25 achieved HBeAg seroconversion, 37 showed HBsAg decreases ≥ 1 log ₁₀ IU/mL, 9 showed HBsAg disappearance, and 8 became HBsAb positive. The cytokine levels at baseline and during treatment were similar between the HBeAg disappearance group and non-disappearance group. The disappearance of HBeAg was independently associated with HBeAg levels at weeks 12 and 24, and with the HBeAg decline at week 24 ( P < 0.05). The HBsAg response was independently associated with HBsAg, the HBsAg decline, HBeAg, the HBeAg decline at week 12, and HBsAg at week 24 ( P< 0.05). Conclusion There was no significant correlation between the response to interferon (IFN) and cytokines during PEG-IFN treatment. The changes in virological markers predicted the response to IFN after 48 weeks.
Biomarkers ; Cytokines ; DNA, Viral ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use* ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use*