Objective To establish a trimethyltin chloride (TMT) -induced learning and memory impairment model in rats, and to investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of ferulic acid. Methods Specific pathogen-free male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, TMT intoxication group, fluoxetine group and 25, 50, 100 mg/kg ferulic acid group. The rats in the last five groups were injected with a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight TMT solution, and the rats in control group were injected with the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution. After 24 hours of TMT injection, the rats in fluoxetine group were treated 10 mg/kg body weight of fluoxetine, the rats in the three ferulic acid groups were treated with ferulic acid at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The rats in the control group and TMT intoxication group were treated with the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution, once per day for continuous gavage for 28 days. Morris water maze experiment and light-dark box test were used to assess the learning and memory abilities of the rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the rat hippocampus were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the rat hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with the control group, rats of TMT intoxication group on day four had prolonged escape latency (P<0.05), fewer platform crossing (P<0.05), shorter time spent in the target quadrant and shorter latency to enter the dark compartment (all P<0.05). The mRNA and protein relative expression of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β increased (all P<0.05), ROS and MDA levels increased (all P<0.05), SOD and CAT activities decreased (all P<0.05) in the rat hippocampus of TMT intoxication group on day four compared with that of the control group. Except for the terms of escape latency and target quadrant period of the rats in the 25 mg/kg ferulic acid group, rats in three ferulic acid groups on day four had lower escape latency (all P<0.05), more platform crossing (all P<0.05), longer period in the target quadrant and longer latency to enter the dark compartment (all P<0.05), compared with TMT intoxication group. Except for the relative protein expression of TNF-α in the rats of 50 mg/kg ferulic acid group, the mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β decreased (all P<0.05), ROS and MDA levels were reduced (all P<0.05), and the activities of SOD and CAT increased (all P<0.05) in the hippocampus of rats of 50 and 100 mg/kg ferulic acid groups compared with TMT intoxication group. Conclusion Ferulic acid can reverse TMT-induced learning and memory impairment in rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to alleviating oxidative stress damage and excessive inflammatory response in rat hippocampus.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the osseous structure of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and three different status of anterior disc location, so that it could guide the clinical diagnosis further.Methods:Fifty-two patients [46 females and 6 males, with an age of (27.8±8.3) years] who treated with MRI and cone beam CT, were recruited from the Temporomandibular Joint Specialist Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, between March 2018 to December 2021. According to the radiographic findings of the level of anterior disc displacement (ADD) in TMJ, patients were divided into three groups: normal articular disc position (NADP, n=28 TMJs), anterior disc displacement with reduction (ADDWR, n=28 TMJs), and anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDWoR, n=28 TMJs). In the light of the reconstructed three-dimensional model, ten representative morphological parameters including condylar volume (CV), condylar superficial area (CSA), fossa volume (FV), fossa superficial area (FSA), the proportion of the condylar volume in the articular fossa (CV%), the proportion of the condylar superficial area in the articular fossa (CSA%), superior joint space (SJS), anterior joint space (AJS), posterior joint space (PJS), and medial joint space (MJS), were measured respectively under one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis Htest and receiver operator characteristic curve(ROC curve) analyses. Results:CV and CSA values varied significantly in the pathological progression from normal location to irreversible anterior displacement in TMJ. For CV value, NADP group [(1 834.90±667.67) mm 3]>ADDWR group [(1 747.34±369.42) mm 3]>ADDWoR group [(1 256.29±418.27) mm 3] [ t=4.31, P(NADP-ADDWoR)<0.001; t=3.66, P(ADDWR-ADDWoR)<0.001], for CSA value, NADP group [(859.27±216.01) mm 2]>ADDWR group [(838.23±118.82) mm 2]>ADDWoR group [(669.14±150.26) mm 2] [ t=4.27, P(NADP-ADDWoR)<0.001; t=3.80, P(ADDWR-ADDWoR)<0.001]. The difference of SJS value in NADP group [(2.22±0.88) mm], ADDWR group [(1.94±0.64) mm] and ADDWoR group [(1.45±0.57) mm], was statistically significant [ t=4.11, P(NADP-ADDWoR)<0.001; t=2.63, P(ADDWR-ADDWoR)=0.010]. The results of MJS in NADP group [(5.03±1.41) mm], ADDWR group [(3.86±1.32) mm], and ADDWoR group [(4.91±1.65) mm] were significantly different [ t=3.00, P(NADP-ADDWR)=0.004; t=2.63, P(ADDWR-ADDWoR)=0.009]. As calculated by the ROC curve analysis, CV, CSA and SJS showed that (AUC CV=0.77, AUC CSA=0.76; AUC SJS=0.76) for the NADP and ADDWoR groups, and (AUC CV=0.80; AUC CSA=0.80; AUC SJS=0.72) for the ADDWR and ADDWoR groups. While the diagnostic accuracy of MJS for the comparison in NADP versus ADDWR and ADDWR versus ADDWoR was respectively AUC (NADP-ADDWR)=0.73, and AUC (ADDWR-ADDWoR)=0.69. Conclusions:CV, CSA, SJS, and MJS were significantly associated with the different disc displacement status, and the condyle in TMJ ADD exhibited three-dimensionally altered dimensions. They could be considered as promising biometric markers to diagnose the ADD status.

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome types and syndrome elements of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). MethodsRelated databases (CNKI, Wanfang Dota, and VIP)were searched for articles on the syndrome differentiation of NAFLD published up to July 2020. Two investigators independently performed literature screening and collection and summarization of syndrome types based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and an Excel 2010 database was established after the standardization of syndrome names, re-decomposition of syndrome types, and extraction of syndrome elements. The data were imported into SPSS 25.0 statistical software for the analysis of frequency distribution. ResultsA total of 45 qualified articles were collected, with a total of 8703 cases reported. A total of 14 syndrome types were obtained after standardization, and 10 syndrome elements reflecting the nature of disease and 4 syndrome elements of disease location were obtained after the syndrome types were disassembled. Stagnation of liver Qi and spleen deficiency syndrome (26.47%) and damp-heat accumulation syndrome (22.16%) were the most common syndrome types, followed by stagnation of phlegm dampness, intermingled phlegm and blood stasis, and stagnation of liver Qi and Qi stagnation. Dampness (23.75%), Qi stagnation (19.82%), Qi deficiency (17.12%), phlegm (15.43%), and heat (12.13%) were the most common syndrome elements reflecting the nature of disease, followed by stasis, Yin deficiency, and Yang deficiency, while fire and cold were relatively uncommon. Qi stagnation and Qi deficiency (26.63%), dampness and heat (22.30%), phlegm and dampness (16.17%), and phlegm and stasis (12.19%) were the most common combinations of syndrome elements. The liver and the spleen were the most common syndrome elements of disease location, accounting for 90.95% of the constituent ratio, and the combination of the liver and the spleen with the same disease accounted for 54.01%. The combination of one, two, three, or four syndrome elements was observed, and the combination of two syndrome elements accounted for 76.03%. ConclusionStagnation of liver Qi and spleen deficiency are the basic pathogeneses of NAFLD, and liver, spleen, dampness, Qi stagnation, Qi deficiency, phlegm, and heat are common syndrome elements. Dampness, phlegm, and heat are important factors for the development and progression of this disease.

Objective: To study the effect of the inhibitor of Notch signaling pathway-γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT on the ultrastructures of middle ear in the ovalbumin (OVA)-mediated allergic OME in vivo. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 250-300 g, were completely and randomly divided into three groups (5 rats, 10 ears in each group):(1)Control group(2)OME group(3)OME+DAPT group. Rats in the OME group underwent systemic and local sensitization by intraperitoneal and intratympanic injection of ovalbumin to make the model of OVA-induced OME. Rats in the control group were sensitized with PBS. On the basis of establishing the OME model, OME+DAPT group were intraperitoneal injected with DAPT (10 mg/kg) for seven consecutive days and were administered before intratympanic injection of ovalbumin. After the model was successfully established, endoscopy,H&E staining and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the histology and mucous-ciliary ultrastructures of the non-ciliated and ciliated mucosa in the middle ear of each group. One-way ANOVA and Tukey methods were used for statistical analysis. Results: H&E staining showed that the three groups had statistically significant differences in submucosal thickness both in non-ciliated and ciliated regions (non-ciliated area:(6.83±1.47)μm, (38.58±9.57)μm, (32.17±11.89)μm, respectively. F=107.9;cilia area:(26.69±3.22)μm, (30.41±6.75)μm, (26.76±4.06)μm, respectively. F=5.62,both P<0.01). The thickness of the submucosa in the non-ciliated area and the cilia area of the OME group were significantly thicker than that of control group (F=42.08 and 4.40,both P<0.05); the thickness of the non-ciliated area and the ciliated area in OME+DAPT group were reduced compared to OME group(F=1.55 and 2.77,both P<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the array of cilia on the middle ear mucosa was disorderly arranged and inversed, this phenomenon was relieved in the OME+DAPT group. The number of goblet cells in the control group, OME group, and OME+DAPT group were 9.87±1.92; 15.67±5.77; 10.33±1.99 respectively and the difference between them was statistically significant (F=11.43, P<0.01). The number of goblet cells in the OME group were significantly higher than those in the control group (F=9.00,P<0.01) and the number of goblet cells in the OME+DAPT group were decreased compared to those of OME group (F=8.41, P<0.01). Conclusions: The study demonstrates the pathological changes of the ultrastructure in middle ear in OVA-induced OME and the effect of the γ-secretase inhibitor on it. In OME group, the cilia are disorderly arranged and inversed, the number of goblet cell is increased and they are swelled which suggest the hypersecretion of the mucus. DAPT can regulate OVA-induced allergic inflammation and relieve pathological changes of ultrastructure in middle ear mucociliary transport system through alleviating submucosal inflammation, reducing the hypersecretion of goblet cell and the morphological damage of cilia through the Notch signaling pathway.
Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases ; Animals ; Ear, Middle ; Male ; Otitis Media with Effusion/drug therapy* ; Ovalbumin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective Breast cancer is one of the deadliest malignancies in the world. ebracteolatain A (EA) is a kind of acetylphloroglucinol extracted from ebracteolatain. To explore the specific mechanism of EA inhibiting the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7, so as to provide a new approach for the clinical treatment of breast cancer. Methods EA with different concentrations were added to breast cancer cell MCF-7 to detect changes in PKD1 protein expression. The plasmid with overexpressed PKD1 was constructed and transfected into cells, and the mRNA and protein expression levels of PKD1 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot assay. CCK-8 assay was used to detect changes in cell proliferation capacity. Western Blot assay was used to detect the expression level of PKD1 and its related signaling pathways. Results EA inhibited the expression of PKD1 protein in breast cancer cells with a dose-dependent manner (P< 0.05). When transfected with the overexpressed plasmid, PKD1 was significantly increased in mRNA and protein levels (P<0.001). At the same time, PKD1 overexpression significantly reversed inhibition of EA on MCF-7 proliferation (P<0.001). It was confirmed by signaling pathway analysis that EA might affect the proliferation ability of breast cancer cells by inhibiting PKD1-mediated MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling activity (P<0.05). Conclusion EA could inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells by regulating PKD1-mediated MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is commonly known as an environmental sensor. Polymorphisms in AhR gene have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, the results were controversial. This study was conducted to quantitatively summarize the association between AhR polymorphisms and cancer risk by meta-analysis. METHODS: Relevant reports were searched in four databases (Embase, PubMed, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). We used pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to evaluate the strength of the association in both standard and cumulative meta-analysis. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis was also performed, and between-study heterogeneity and publication bias were checked. RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies referring to three AhR polymorphisms (rs2066853, rs7796976, and rs2074113) were identified, and 9557 cases and 10038 controls were included. There was no statistically significant association of AhR rs2066853 polymorphism with cancer risk in the overall population, and the negative results were repeated in subgroup analysis by the ethnicity and cancer type. Concerning AhR rs7796976 or rs2074113 polymorphism, no significant correlation was detected. Moreover, these non-significant findings were stable in sensitivity analysis, and the cumulative meta-analysis indicated a trend of no significant link between this three AhR polymorphisms and cancer risk as more data accumulated over time. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis provides evidence that the rs2066853, rs7796976, or rs2074113 polymorphism in AhR gene is not a susceptible predictor of cancer. Further clinical and functional investigation between AhR polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility are needed.
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Confidence Intervals ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics*

The clinical characteristics of the pneumonia includes hyperthermia, cough and pectoralgia, etc with simultaneous mixed signs of inflammatory infiltration, consolidation, cavity/air sac and abscess in pulmonary CT scan, and these signs change rapidly. Respiratory failure and septic shock frequently occur in severe such patients, resulting in refractory management and relatively long therapeutic course. The timely diagnosis, use of sensitive antibiotics, respiratory and nutritional support, etc comprehensive effective measures can elevate the rescue success rate with severe hematogenous staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of of arterialized venous flap (AVF) with different perfusion strategies for repairing hand soft tissue defects. Methods Ninety-six patients with hand soft tissue defects from January 2015 to June 2018 in Gaozhou Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital were collected and randomly divided into two groups: the inverted group (48 patients) treated with anti-valve arterialized venous flap inverted anastomosis and the non-inverted group (48 patients) receiving pro-valve arterialized venous flap non-inverted anastomosis. The excellent and good rate of hand function recovery, flap survival rate,postoperative skin flap response degree and treatment satisfaction between two groups were compared. Results Compared with the inverted group, the flap survival rate in the non-inverted group increased significantly [97.9% (47/48) vs. 83.3% (40/48)], the proportion of mild flap response degree increased [45.8% (22/48) vs. 18.8% (9/48)], the proportion of severe flap response degree decreased significantly [12.5%(6/48) vs. 41.7%(20/48)], and the differences were statistically significant (χ2＝4.391, 7.032, 8.205, P < 0.05). The excellent and good rate of hand function recovery in inverted group and non-inverted group had no significant differences (χ2＝1.233, P＞0.05). There was no significant difference in satisfaction with the shape of skin flaps, finger function and donor site recovery between two groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions Compared with anti-valve arterialized venous flap inverted anastomosis, pro-valve arterialized venous flap non-inverted anastomosis on soft tissue defect repairment of hand can efficiently increase the survival rate of flap and improve the flap response degree after operation.

OBJECTIVE: To comprehend clinical features and patient's physician visit patterns at onset of immunoglobulin G4 related disease (IgG4RD). METHODS: In the study, 100 patients with IgG4RD who received treatments in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People's Hospital from Apr. 1st, 2017 to Apr. 1st, 2018 were investigated, including gender, age, height, body weight, age of onset, physician visit history, primary history and how did the disease affected their life, etc. RESULTS: In this 100 IgG4RD cohort (57 males and 43 females), the male/female ratio was 1:0.75, the mean age of onset was (51.51±12.9) years, and the median duration was 49 months (ranging from 4 to 231 months). The onset age of males was significantly older than that of females (P<0.01). The manifestations showed that up to 69% patients had submaxillay glands lesion, 59% patients had lacrimal glands lesion, 28% patients had pancreas involvement and 28% patients had parotid glands involvement. The females had more lacrimal glands involvement (P<0.05). 62% patients were complicated with anaphylactic disease. The primary physician visit departments concentrated upon general surgery department (19/100), oral and maxillofacial surgery department (17/100), rheumatology and immunology department (16/100), ophthalmology department (15/100) and gastroenterology department (10/100). The departments where the confirmed diagnose was made concentrated upon rheumatology department (67/100),oral and maxillofacial surgery department (16/100) and gastroenterology department (7/100). The mean diagnosis duration after 2010 was (16.96±2.163) months, significantly shorter than that before 2010, which was (113.3±11.01) months. Before the definite diagnose was made, 43% patients underwent surgeries and 12% patients had more than one time surgeries. The patients whose first-visit department was a surgery department were more likely to undergo surgeries (P<0.01). 18% patients (18/100) stated that the disease had affected their work. CONCLUSION In this cohort of the IgG4RD patients, female is common and has earlier onset age than male. The major manifestations of IgG4RD are salivary glands, lacrimal glands and pancreas involvement. The common chief complains are salivary glands and lacrimal glands enlargement. Accompanied by anaphylactic disease is a marked manifestation of this disease. Delayed diagnoses are not rare, though this situation has been improved since 2010, and more attention still should be paid to the disease.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Female ; Hospitals, Public ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/analysis* ; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/therapy* ; Lacrimal Apparatus/pathology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Referral and Consultation ; Salivary Glands/pathology*

Objective To study the curative effect and prognosis of malignant pleural effusion treated by staphylotoxoid injection and its effect on immune system.Methods A total of 65 patients with malignant pleural effusion from August 2012 to 2014 November in Lishui City Central Hospital were selected,and divided into observation group(n=33) and control group (n=32) in terms of different treating methods,two groups were implemented with thoracic closed drainage to drain pleural effusion up.The observation group was completely drained after 2 500 U intrapleural injection of staphylotoxoid injection,the control group to the traditonal method of bleomycin 1 mg/kg injection.The efficacy,prognosis and immune system were compared.Results The effective of rate of the observation group was significantly higher(72.7%) than the control group(43.8%);the adverse reaction rate of observation group was lower and its median survival time was longer;white blood cells counts of observation group was significantly more than control group ( P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with the traditional method of bleomycin intrapleural injection treatment of malignant pleural effusion, staphylotoxoid injection can be more effective control of the disease , reduce adverse reactions, and can improve their immunity and improve the body tolerance .