Objective A model for studying oral ulcers induced by betel nut-extract was constructed in rats.Changes in the structure and diversity of oral flora were observed to explore the involvement of oral flora and local inflammatory factors in the pathogenesis of oral ulcers induced by betel nut-extract and to provide theoretical support for the prevention and treatment of oral ulcers in the clinic.Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into normal,model and intervention groups(Guilin watermelon cream,8 mg/d for 7 days),with 10 rats/group.The oral mucosa of rats was subcutaneously injected with 10 g/mL of betel nut-extract to generate an oral ulcer model.The histomorphological changes were observed,and ulcer area and ulcer scores were assessed.Local oral tissue tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-2 and IL-8 levels were determined.Oral mucosal tissues were sampled for HE staining and analyzed for the structural distribution of oral flora and the diversity of microbial communities using high-throughput sequencing method.Results Compared with rats in the normal group,those in the model group had an increased ulcer area,significantly increased ulcer scores(P＜0.01),and significantly increased levels of TNF-α,IL-2 and IL-8 in the oral mucosal tissues(P＜0.01).The amount Streptococcus(P＜0.05)and Veillonella(P＜0.001)in the oral saliva of the model group rats was significantly reduced.The model group rats showed oral mucosal epithelial cell hyperplasia or focal necrosis,mucosal lamina propria edema,and hemorrhage accompanied by mass neutrophil and monocyte infiltration.Compared with the model group rats,the intervention group rats had significantly reduced ulcerated area(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)and ulcer scores(P＜0.05).And oral mucosal tissue levels of TNF-α(P＜0.01),IL-2(P＜0.05)and IL-8(P＜0.05),as well as significantly increased Streptococcus(P＜0.001)and Veillonella(P＜0.01)and significantly reduced Staphylococcus(P＜0.01)in the oral saliva.The degree of lesions in the oral mucosal tissues was significantly improved in the intervention group.Conclusions Betel nut-extract can be used to successfully reproduce a rat model of oral ulcer,and it is speculated that the development of oral ulcers after exposure to betel nut-extract may be related to an imbalance in the oral flora and local tissue inflammatory mediators.

Objective This study established a model of invasive Aspergillus niger lung disease in immunosuppressed rats to provide theoretical support for the pharmacodynamic evaluation of anti-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis drugs and mechanism studies.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control group;cyclophosphamide control group,and cyclophosphamide+fungal infection low,medium,and high dose groups,with 12 animals in each group.General clinical observations were performed daily,and the serum levels of immunoglobulin(Ig)G and IgM and galactomannan(GM)were detected by ELISA on the 3rd and 7th days of modeling.Simultaneously,the ratio of CD4+and CD8+cells,content of white blood cells(WBCs)and neutrophils(Neu)in peripheral blood,the Aspergillus niger load in alveolar lavage,and morphological changes to rat lung tissue were observed.Results Rats in the cyclophosphamide control and cyclophosphamide+fungal infection groups showed reduced voluntary activity and erect hair after modeling,and rats in the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection group also had shortness of breath and audible wet rhonchi in the lungs.Compared with the normal control group,rats in the cyclophosphamide control group showed significant reductions in the levels of CD4+,WBC,Neu,IgG,and IgM in the blood,and their proportion of CD8+cells was significantly higher(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Compared with the cyclophosphamide control group,rats in the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection medium-and high-dose groups had significantly reduced blood levels of IgG,IgM,and CD4+cells(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);while the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection low-,medium-,and high-dose groups had significantly reduced blood levels of WBC and Neu(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Additionally,rats in the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection medium-and high-dose groups had significantly increased blood CD8+cells(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),Blood GM levels and the alveolar lavage Aspergillus niger load were significantly increased in rats in the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection low-,medium-,and high-dose groups compared with the cyclophosphamide control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The lung tissues of the cyclophosphamide+fungal infection low-,medium-,and high-dose groups showed mycelial distribution and destruction of alveolar epithelium,increase of bronchial epithelial cup cells in the alveoli,and infiltration of inflammatory cells,and the degree of lesions was positively correlated with the modeling dose.Conclusions In this study,we used Aspergillus niger combined with cyclophosphamide immunosuppressant to construct a model of invasive Aspergillus niger lung disease.The duration of the disease was positively correlated with the concentration of bacterial fluid and modeling time,confirming that cellular immunity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.At the same time,Ig can also affect the development of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis,and it is speculated that the pathogenesis may be related to the level of Ig produced by humoral immunity.

OBJECTIVE To explore the role of Yes-associated protein(YAP)in epidermal stem cell(EPSC)differentiation after ionizing radiation(IR).METHODS ① A punch was used to induce skin injuries on the back of mice.The IR group received localized irradiation with 60 Co γ-rays,while the normal control group did not.Samples were collected at 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 d for RNA and protein extraction.Western blotting was used to detect changes in YAP protein expressions during wound healing.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was performed to assess the mRNA levels of Yap and its downstream target genes,connective tissue growth factor(Ctgf),and cysteine-rich protein 61(Cyr61).② EPSCs were exposed to 60 Co γ at a dose of 4 or 8 Gy,while the control group was not irradiated.Cells were collected to detect the levels of YAP protein via Western blotting.Cells were collected at 4,12,24,and 36 h post-IR to assess the levels of YAP mRNA by RT-qPCR.③ Short hairpin RNA(shRNA)was used to establish stable YAP knockdown cell lines,and the knockdown efficiency of sh YAP was verified by Western blotting.RT-qPCR was then performed to detect the impact of YAP knockdown on mRNA levels of K1 and K10 after IR.RESULTS① Compared with the control group,the YAP protein level in the IR group during wound healing was significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),so were the mRNA levels of Yap and its downstream target genes Ctgf and Cyr61(P<0.05,P<0.01).② Compared to the cell control group,the mRNA and protein levels of YAP in the IR group cells were significantly reduced(P<0.01).③ In the sh YAP cells,the YAP protein level was significantly reduced(P<0.01).Furthermore,the mRNA levels of K1 and K10 were significantly decreased after IR in sh YAP cells(P<0.01).CONCLUSION YAP can regulate EPSC differentiation in wound healing after IR.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Forsythia suspensa ethanol extract on the proliferation， migration and invasion of lung cancer cells NCI-H226. METHODS As research objects， lung cancer cells NCI-H226 were divided into control group， F. suspensa ethanol extract low-， medium- and high-concentration groups （5， 10， 20 mg/mL）， activator group [10 mg/mL F. suspensa ethanol extract+0.5 μmol/L nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway activator PMA]， inhibitor group （10 mg/mL F. suspensa ethanol extract+10 μmol/L NF-κB signaling pathway inhibitor BAY 11-7082） and positive control group （20 μg/mL cisplatin）. Except for the control group of cells without intervention， all other groups of cells were cultured with corresponding drugs for 24 hours； the proliferation， migration and invasion of cells were all detected， and the proliferation rate， migration rate， and the number of invading cells were also calculated； protein expressions of NF-κB p65， NF-κB inhibitory protein α （IκBα）， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65） and phosphorylated IκBα （p-IκBα） were determined. RESULTS Compared with control group， the proliferation rate， migration rate， and the number of invading cells as well as the protein expressions of p- IκBα and p-NF-κB p65 were decreased significantly in F. suspensa ethanol extract groups and positive control group （P＜0.05）. Compared with F. suspensa ethanol extract medium-concentration group， the proliferation rate， migration rate， and the number of invading cells as well as above protein expressions were all decreased significantly in inhibitor group （P＜0.05）， while those of activator group were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS F. suspensa ethanol extract can inhibit the proliferation， migration and invasion of lung cancer cells NCI-H226， and the mechanism of which may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background::Given that seizures may be triggered by vaccination, this study aimed to evaluate the risk and correlative factors of seizures in patients with epilepsy (PWE) after being vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods::This study retrospectively enrolled PWE who were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the epilepsy centers of 11 hospitals in China. We divided the PWE into two groups as follows: (1) patients who developed seizures within 14 days of vaccination were assigned to the SAV (with seizures after vaccination) group; (2) patients who were seizure-free within 14 days of vaccination were assigned to the SFAV (seizure-free after vaccination) group. To identify potential risk factors for seizure reccurence, the binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Besides, 67 PWE who had not been vaccinated were also included for elucidating the effects of vaccination on seizures recurrence, and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine whether vaccination would affect the recurrence rate of PWE who had drug reduction or withdrawal.Results::The study included a total of 407 patients; of which, 48 (11.8%) developed seizures within 14 days after vaccination (SAV group), whereas 359 (88.2%) remained seizure-free (SFAV group). The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that duration of seizure freedom ( P < 0.001) and withdrawal from anti-seizure medications (ASMs) or reduction in their dosage during the peri-vaccination period were significantly associated with the recurrence of seizures (odds ratio= 7.384, 95% confidence interval = 1.732–31.488, P = 0.007). In addition, 32 of 33 patients (97.0%) who were seizure-free for more than three months before vaccination and had a normal electroencephalogram before vaccination did not have any seizures within 14 days of vaccination. A total of 92 (22.6%) patients experienced non-epileptic adverse reactions after vaccination. Binary logistic regression analysis results showed that vaccine did not significantly affect the recurrence rate of PWE who had the behavior of ASMs dose reduction or withdrawal ( P = 0.143). Conclusions::PWE need protection from the COVID-19 vaccine. PWE who are seizure-free for >3 months before vaccination should be vaccinated. Whether the remaining PWE should be vaccinated depends on the local prevalence of COVID-19. Finally, PWE should avoid discontinuing ASMs or reducing their dosage during the peri-vaccination period.

Objective To observe the effectiveness and safety of Kang′ai injection combined with docetaxel or gemcitabine chemotherapy in treatment of elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). Methods A multi-center,randomized and parallel control study was carried out in 150 elderly patients with ad-vanced NSCLC treated in 3 hospitals during the period from June 2013 to August 2014.The patients were randomly divided into platinum-based group(platinum-based doublet chemotherapy)and Kang′ai group(Kang′ai injection combined with single agent chemotherapy). The clinical efficacy,quality of life and adverse reactions were ob-served and compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference in the disease control rate between the two groups group(79.66% vs 81.82%)(χ2=0.101,P=0.751)while the effective rate of Kang′ai group was significantly higher than that of platinum-based group(30.51% vs 14.29%)(χ2=5.240,P=0.022). The effective rate of clinical symptom relief in Kang′ai group after treatment was significantly higher than that in platinum-based group(69.49% vs 48.05%)(χ2=6.278,P=0.012),and the increase rate of PS score in Kang′ai group after the treatment was also significantly higher than that in platinum-based group(18.64% vs 3.90%)(χ2=7.868,P=0.005).There was no significant difference in quality of life between two groups(P>0.05).The quali-ty of life score of Kang′ai group was significantly higher than that of platinum-based group at the second course of treatment(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in Kang′ai group was significantly lower than that in the platinum-based group(47.46% vs 71.42%)(χ2= 8.070,P < 0.05). Conclusion Kang′ai injection combined with single agent chemotherapy can effectively relieve clinical symptoms and reduce the tumor size in elderly patients with advanced NSCLC,with high safety.

BACKGROUND:Endplate cartilage degeneration initiates intervertebral disc degeneration. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates the formation and degradation of cartilage. OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of AMPK in an in vitro natural degeneration model of chondrocytes derived from endplate of rat intervertebral discs. METHODS:Morphology of in vitro subcultured endplate chondrocytes of rat intervertebral discs at passages 0, 2, and 5 were observed under an inverted microscope fol owing cytoskeleton staining. Chondrocyte phenotype, proliferation, and the cartilage marker genes (type II col agen, proteoglycan, SOX-9, matrix metal oproteinase-3 and-13), and AMPK phosphorylation were determined by toluidine blue staining, MTT assay, real-time PCR analysis, and western blot assay, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The altered morphology, decreased proliferation ability, and phenotype loss were observed in chondrocytes with increased passage number. Gene expression of type II col agen, proteoglycan, SOX-9 was significantly decreased;while gene expression of matrix metal oproteinase-3 and-13 was significantly increased in endplate chondrocytes at passage 5 compared with those at passages 0 and 2. AMPK phosphorylation in endplate chondrocytes at passage 5 was significantly decreased. These findings indicate that AMPK phosphorylation is involved in in vitro natural degeneration of chondrocytes derived from the endplate of rat intervertebral discs, and the degeneration of endplate chondrocytes and intervertebral discs can be inhibited through the regulation of AMPK activity.

Objective To explore the relationship of spinal tumors and endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor( EG-VEGF) .Methods 77 cases of spinal tumors and 17 cases of vertebral compression fractures were collected.The testing group were grouped according to the pathological type of spinal tumor,the observ-ing group was consisted of vertebral compression fracture cases.The samples of various types of tumors in patients were collected during operation and the positive rate and expression of EG-VEGF mRNA were detected by RT-PCR technique,and the results of each group were statistical analysed.Results The results of relative expression of EG-VEGF mRNA in the unknown primary spinal metastases group,osteosarcoma group and chordoma group were higher, there were no statistically significant difference compared between three groups(all P>0.05).Relative expressions of that in osteoid osteoma group and giant cell tumor group were lower,so was in the observation group,there were no sig-nificant differences in three groups ( all P>0.05);The relative expressions of EG-VEGF mRNA in CUP group, osteosarcoma group and chordoma group were significantly higher than the osteoid osteoma group,with statistical sig-nificance[(0.81 ±0.21),(0.84 ±0.22),(0.79 ±0.41)vs(0.53 ±0.19),t=0.86,0.82,0.81,all P<0.05]. Similar results were also found in EG -VEGF mRNA positive expression rate in three groups.Conclusion EG-VEGF in normal spine spinal vertebrae and primary benign tumor ( osteoid osteoma,giant cell tumor) showed lower expression,which consistent with its tissue specificity,but in primary malignant spinal cancer ( osteosarcoma, chordoma) and unknown primary tumor spinal metastases showed the higher expression, indicating that it may be a measure of an important indicator of spinal cancer, and may play a key role in early diagnosis and treatment of cancer of the spine in the future.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To observe the preventive effect of oxaliplatin induced peripheral neuropathy treated by fumigation of Siteng Yixian decoction.METHODS Totally 150 colorectal cancer patients from oncology department Of Hainan provincial hospital of TCM between January 2010 and December 2014 were enrolled in this study.And they were randomized into two groupswith 75 cases in each.The patients in the control group only received oxaliplatin based chemotherapy.While the pa-tients in the treatment group were given the chemotherapy combined with fumigation of Siteng Yixian decoction.The fumiga-tion lasted for forty minutes a timetwice a day.After the treatment of two cycles chemotherapythe incidence rate and sever-ity classification of peripheral neuropathy was analyzed one month later to evaluate the preventive effect.RESULTS The difference of incidence rate of peripheral neuropathy was significantwith the rate being 18.7% in the treatment group and 56. 0% in the control groupP <0.01.The severity classification was evidently higher in the control group90.37than those in the treatment group60.63and there exised a statistical significanceP <0.05.Among the patients who had second degree peripheral neuropathy or abovethe oxaliplatin accumulative dose was1 054.76±124.6in the treatment group and823.47 ±190.67 in the control groupand the difference was statistically significantP <0.05.Logistic regression indicated that fu-migation of Siteng Yixian decoction was the protective factor for the oxaliplatin?induced peripheral neuropathy.CONCLUSION Fumigation of Siteng Yixian decoction can reduce the incidence ratedecline the severity classification of oxaliplatin?induced peripheral neuropathy and increase the oxaliplatin tolerance dose.It is the independent preventive factor for oxaliplatin?induced peripheral neuropathy.

Objective To establish and identify the induced pluripotent stem cell(iPSC) line reprogrammed from human umbilical cord mesenchymal cells(HuMSCs).Methods HuMSCs were cultured by adhesion method,and OCT4,SOX2,KLF4,c-Myc,NANOG,LIN-28 were transfected into HuMSCs with lentiviral victor to reprogramme HuMSCs into iPSC.Morphological observation,pluripotency genes (SOX2,TDGF1,THY-1,OCT4,REX1 and TERF1) expression,alkaline phosphatase detection,karyotype analysis,embryonic stem cells (ESC) specific proteins (NANOG,OCT4,SSEA-4,TRA-1-81) immunofluorescence staining,differentiated into teratomas in vivo(inject the iPSC into SCID mice) and embryniod bodies in vitro were performed to exam the pluripotency of the iPSC.Results Four days after being infected by lentivirus,the HuMSCs became round-shape; 10 days after infection,some embryonic stem(ESC)-like colonies appeared.Fourteen days after infection,picked up the regularly shaped colonies and cultured several passages.About 1.25％ HuMSCs were reprogrammed into iPSC.The iPSC presented clone-like growth like ESC.All the cells were positive to alkaline phosphatase staining and expressed the pluripotency genes.The iPSC also expressed the ESC specific proteins,and karyotype analysis showed normal chromosome caryotype (46,XY).Furthermore,the iPSC could form embryoid bodies in vitro,expressed alpha fetoprotein(AFP),smooth muscle actin(SMA) and β-tubulin.The iPSC could alsoform teratomas in vivo.Conclusion OCT4,SOX2,KLF4,c-Myc,NANOG,LIN-28 can reprogram HuMSCs into iPSC efficiently.