Objective To observe the effect of acupoint sticking therapy along meridians on gastrointestinal function recovery in patients after lumbar internal fixation surgery.Methods From January 2020 to March 2022,125 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases were admitted to our hospital's Department of Orthopaedics and divided into two groups:control(n = 62)and acupoint sticking therapy(n = 63).The control group received standard postoperative care for lumbar internal fixation,while the experimental group received routine care based on acupoint sticking therapy along meridians.The NVAS scores for postoperative nausea and vomiting,abdominal distension and pain,bowel sound,initial exhaust,and defecation time were compared between the two groups.Results Both groups experienced gastrointestinal problems to varied degrees following surgery.The experimental group had signifi-cantly lower rates of nausea,NVAS score,vomiting grade,abdominal distension,return to normal bowel sounds,and time of first exhaust and bowel movement compared to the control group(P<0.05).However,there were no significant differences in abdominal pain and abdominal circumference(P>0.05).There were no adverse reactions in either group.The incidence of postoperative abdominal distension,nausea and vomiting in the observation group was lower than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupoint sticking therapy along meridians could accelerate the recovery of gastrointestinal function of patients after lumbar internal fixation,promote rapid recovery after surgery,and improve quality of life.

Objective:To analyze the bone turnover markers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with different disease activity and the risk factors of osteoporosis.Methods:In this retrospective study, a total of 417 SLE inpatients were enrolled from the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University, from March 2019 to June 2020. According to SLEDAI score, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 281 patients disease with inactive disease group; 99 patients with mild active disease group; and 37 patients with moderate/severe active disease. ANOVA test was used to compare the differences in serum bone turnover markers (PTH, NOST, VITDT, β-crossl, TP1NP, Ca and P) and bone density (Spine L 1~4 and left femur) among the three groups, and Tukey's method was used for the two groups comparison. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors of osteoporosis. Results:Serum VITDT, β-crossl and Ca levels were significantly different among the 3 groups ( F=11.66, P<0.001; F=7.22, P<0.001; F=29.38, P<0.001). Compared with patients in the inactive group, patients with both the mild disease group (VITDT: t=3.94, P<0.001; Ca: t=5.10, P<0.001) and the moderate/severe disease group (VITDT: t=3.33, P<0.001; Ca: t=7.19, P<0.001) had lower VITDT levels [(20.3±9.7) ng/ml vs. (15.9±9.3) ng/ml vs. (14.8±7.4) ng/ml] and serum Ca levels [(2.19±0.15)mmol/L vs. (2.09±0.21)mmol/L vs. (2.00±0.16)mmol/L]. Moreover, the moderate/severe disease group patients had much lower serum Ca levels ( t=2.36, P<0.05), compared with patients with the mild disease group. Compared with the patients with inactive group, both the mild activey group ( t=3.06, P<0.01) and the moderate/severe activie group ( t=2.99, P<0.01) patients had higher serum β-crossl levels [(419±316) pg/ml vs. (543±424) pg/ml vs. (586±343) pg/ml]. Compared with patients with the inactive disease group both patienes with the mild active group and the moderate/severe disease group patients had significantly decreased spine BMD ( t=2.75, P<0.01; t=2.71, P<0.01), Z-score ( t=5.65, P<0.001; t=4.70, P<0.001), T-score ( t=3.02, P<0.01; t=3.37, P<0.001), whereas, no difference was found between the mild disease group and moderate/severe disease group. Compared with the inactive group patients, both the mild active group and moderate/severe disease group patients had lower left femur BMD levels ( t=2.83, P<0.001; t=2.65, P<0.001) and T-score ( t=2.24, P<0.05; t=1.977, P<0.05) and no difference was found between the mild disease group and the moderate/severe disease group. Logistic regression analysis showed that age [ HR (95% CI)=1.080 (1.052, 1.109), P<0.001], BMI [ HR (95% CI)=0.801 (0.704, 0.911), P<0.001], SLEDAI score [ HR (95% CI)=1.047 (1.025, 1.076), P<0.05] and cumulative glucocorticoids dose [1.046 (1.006, 1.087), P<0.05] were associated with osteoporosis of SLE patients. Conclusion:Abnormal bone metabolism and decreased bone density are associated with SLE disease activity in SLE patients, especially in those with advanced age, low BMI and receiving high cumulative dose of glucocorticoids. Osteoporosis should be proactively prevented in the SLE patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the tumor-suppressing effect of Shenqi Yiliu prescription combined with cisplatin in hepatoma H22-bearing mice based on the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten （PTEN）/phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） pathway. MethodH22-bearing mice were prepared and randomized into model group， cisplatin group， and cisplatin combined with high-， medium-， and low-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription groups， with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 healthy mice were randomly selected as normal group. Shenqi Yiliu prescription was given by gavage with the high， medium， low dose of 54.06， 27.03， 13.515 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively， and cisplatin （2.5 mg·kg^-1） was administered by intraperitoneal injection， twice a week. Normal group and model group received normal saline. After 13 days of treatment， mice were killed and the tumor inhibition rate was calculated. The pathomorphological changes of tumor were observed based on hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） and immunofluorescence method were used to detect the content of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A （p21） and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B （p27） in tumor tissue of mice. The levels of PTEN， PI3K and phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt） in tumor tissue were measured by Western blot. ResultCompared with the model group， cisplatin alone and cisplatin in combination with the high-， medium-， and low-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription decreased tumor mass （P<0.05）， particularly the cisplatin in combination with the high-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription. Necrosis of the tumor tissue was observed in each group， especially the cisplatin combined with high-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription group. As compared with the model group， cisplatin alone and cisplatin in combination with the high-， medium-， and low-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription raised the expression of p21， p27， and PTEN （P<0.05） and lowered the expression of PI3K and p-Akt （P<0.05）， particularly the cisplatin in combination with high-dose Shenqi Yiliu prescription. ConclusionShenqi Yiliu prescription may regulate the expression of key molecules in PTEN/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， thereby upregulating the expression of downstream proliferation inhibitors p21 and p27， further suppressing the tumor in H22-bearing mice， and enhancing the effect of chemotherapy.

The crosstalk between the nerve and stomatognathic systems plays a more important role in organismal health than previously appreciated with the presence of emerging concept of the "brain-oral axis". A deeper understanding of the intricate interaction between the nervous system and the stomatognathic system is warranted, considering their significant developmental homology and anatomical proximity, and the more complex innervation of the jawbone compared to other skeletons. In this review, we provide an in-depth look at studies concerning neurodevelopment, craniofacial development, and congenital anomalies that occur when the two systems develop abnormally. It summarizes the cross-regulation between nerves and jawbones and the effects of various states of the jawbone on intrabony nerve distribution. Diseases closely related to both the nervous system and the stomatognathic system are divided into craniofacial diseases caused by neurological illnesses, and neurological diseases caused by an aberrant stomatognathic system. The two-way relationships between common diseases, such as periodontitis and neurodegenerative disorders, and depression and oral diseases were also discussed. This review provides valuable insights into novel strategies for neuro-skeletal tissue engineering and early prevention and treatment of orofacial and neurological diseases.
Bone and Bones ; Nervous System ; Stomatognathic System ; Humans

Objective:To explore the distribution characteristics of memory B cells and its relationship with bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to further understand the mechanism of B cells in the pathogenesis of RA.Methods:B cell subsets in peripheral blood of 200 RA patients and 50 healthy individuals were detected by flow cytometry. According to the surface markers CD19, CD27 and lgD, B cells were divided into CD19 +CD27 +lgD - switched memory B cells, CD19 +CD27 +lgD + non-switched memory B cells, CD19 +CD27 -lgD - double-negative memory B cells and CD19 +CD27 -lgD + naive B cells. B cells in RA patients with various disease activity score, course of disease and treatment were analyzed. Patients were divided into four groups according to the results of joint ultrasonography, including patients without bone erosion, patients with hand bone erosion, patients with knee bone erosion and patients with hand and knee bone erosion. The relationship between the distribution of B cell subsets, autoantibodies and RA bone erosion were analyzed. Differences between the groups were analyzed by independent-samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test. The analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis analysis were used for multi-group comparison, Spearman correlation analysis was also used for correlation analysis. Results:①RA patients showed significantly decreased non-switched memory B cells [(9.5±6.7)% vs (12.1±4.7)%, t=2.46, P=0.015] and increased double negative memory B cells [(3.8±2.5)% vs(2.7±1.3)%, t=-4.74, P<0.001] in comparison to healthy individuals. The percentage of non-switched memory B cells were decreased in RA patients with moderate disease activity [(8.4±4.7 )% vs (12.4±7.5)%, t=3.13, P=0.001] and high disease activity [(7.8±7.6)% vs (12.4±7.5)%, t=3.00, P=0.003] in comparison to those in RA patients who achieved remission. Meanwhile, the na?ve B cells [(70.3±15.0)% vs (63.9±14.6)%, t=-2.15, P=0.034] were increased in RA patients with moderate disease activity. No difference was found in RA patients with different disease courses. Total B cells [(4.8±2.9)% vs (7.2±4.1)%, t=-3.24, P=0.001], non-switched memory B cells (7.6±4.3)% vs (10.0±7.1)%, t=-2.63, P=0.010) in RA patients who received prednisone treatment were decreased, while double-negative memory B cells (4.9±3.0)% vs (3.6±2.3)%, t=-2.79, P=0.006] were increased compared with those in RA patients without prednisone treatment. Non-switched memory B cells was decreased in RA patients with hand and knee erosion compared with RA patients without erosion [6.8%(2.5%, 9.5%) vs 9.7%(5.5%, 17.5%), Z=-2.12, P=0.034]. Double negative memory B cells in subgroup with keen erosion [3.3%(2.7%, 5.0%) vs 2.6%(1.9%, 3.8%), Z=-2.09, P=0.036]as well as with hand and knee erosion [3.9%(2.3%, 5.6%) vs 2.6%(1.9%, 3.8%), Z=-2.41, P=0.016] were higher than those in patients without erosion. In addition, higher serum RF level was found in subgroup RA patients with hand and knee erosion compared with subgroup of RA patients without erosion [141.0 (38.0, 874.0) U/ml vs 53.5 (10.0, 106.0)U/ml, Z=-2.07, P=0.039]. Meanwhile, the positive rate of ACPA in RA patients with bone erosion of hand was significantly higher than that of RA patients without bone erosion [81%(52/64) vs 64%(38/59), χ2=4.44, P=0.043). Conclusions:The results suggest that the increase of double negative memory B cells, the decrease of non-switched memory B cells and higher level of autoantibodies may closely relate to bone erosion of RA, which may be one of the pathogenesis of disability in RA.

Multiple signaling pathways are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in odontogenesis and dental tissue renewal, but the details of these mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we investigated the expression patterns of a transcription factor, Krüppel-like factor 6 (KLF6), during the development of murine tooth germ and its function in odontoblastic differentiation. KLF6 was almost ubiquitously expressed in odontoblasts at various stages, and it was co-expressed with P21 (to varying degrees) in mouse dental germ. To determine the function of Klf6, overexpression and knockdown experiments were performed in a mouse dental papilla cell line (iMDP-3). Klf6 functioned as a promoter of odontoblastic differentiation and inhibited the proliferation and cell cycle progression of iMDP-3 through p21 upregulation. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that Klf6 directly activates p21 transcription. Additionally, the in vivo study showed that KLF6 and P21 were also co-expressed in odontoblasts around the reparative dentin. In conclusion, Klf6 regulates the transcriptional activity of p21, thus promoting the cell proliferation to odontoblastic differentiation transition in vitro. This study provides a theoretical basis for odontoblast differentiation and the formation of reparative dentine regeneration.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation/physiology* ; Cell Proliferation ; Mice ; Odontoblasts/metabolism* ; Odontogenesis ; Tooth Germ

Objective:To investigate the effect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the status of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and provide data for clarifying the relationship between autoimmunity and infection.Methods:SLE patients in the department of rheumatology and immunology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to December 2019 were screened. A retrospective case-control study was carried out. SLE patients with positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were gender and age matched with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in a 1∶4 ratio. Chi-square test was used to compared the positive rates of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and Paired-Samples t test or Signed rank Wilcoxon test was used to compare the HBV DNA load and HBsAg titer. Results:The positive rate of HBsAg in SLE patients was lower than the prevalence rate of HBsAg in general population in the second Chinese National Hepatitis Seroepidemiological Survey in 2006 [2.2%(27/1 227) vs 7.2%], but the positive rate of HBcAb was not obviously different from that in general population in China [33.9%(416/1 227) vs 34.1%]. Compared with matched CHB patients, the positive rate of HBeAg [37.0%(10/27) vs 58.3%(63/108), χ2=3.94, P=0.047], the HBV DNA load [0(0, 3.7) lg U/ml vs 4.8(2.2, 3.7) lg U/ml, Z=-5.37, P<0.001] and HBsAg titer [(2.0±1.5) lg U/ml vs (3.3±1.1) lg U/ml, t=-4.26, P<0.001] in SLE patients were lower. Conclusion:The HBV infection status of SLE patients is different from that of patients with chronic hepatitis B and the HBV infection is more likely to be controlled.

Background::Previous studies have shown that inflammation plays an important role in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) has recently emerged as a potential inflammatory biomarker. This study aimed to explore the association of the PLR with ICAS in a Chinese Han population.Methods::A total of 2134 participants (518 with ICAS, 1616 without ICAS) were enrolled in this study. ICAS was defined as atherosclerotic stenosis >50% or the occlusion of several main intracranial arteries. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of the PLR with ICAS. Additional subgroup analyses were performed according to age (<60 vs. ≥ 60 years) and acute ischemic stroke. Results::Multivariate regression analysis showed that a high PLR was associated with a higher risk of ICAS in all participants ( P < 0.001). Compared with the lowest quartile, the fourth PLR quartile was significantly associated with ICAS (OR 1.705, 95% confidence interval 1.278–2.275, P < 0.001). In the subgroups stratified by age, an association between the PLR and ICAS was found in the late-life group ( P < 0.001), but not in the mid-life group ( P = 0.650). In the subgroups stratified by acute ischemic stroke, the relationship between an elevated PLR and a higher risk of ICAS remained unchanged (stroke group, P < 0.001; non-stroke group, P = 0.027). Conclusions::An elevated PLR was associated with a higher risk of ICAS in a Chinese Han population. The PLR might serve as a potential biomarker for ICAS in the elderly population.