Possible aerosol transmission of COVID-19 and special precautions in dentistry / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Since its emergence in December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted several countries, affecting more than 90 thousand patients and making it a global public threat. The routes of transmission are direct contact, and droplet and possible aerosol transmissions. Due to the unique nature of dentistry, most dental procedures generate significant amounts of droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and correction of negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, some special precautions that should be implemented during an outbreak have been raised in this review.

Interventional mechanisms of herbs or herbal extracts on renal interstitial fibrosis / 中西医结合学报

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common development in chronic renal diseases that can lead to uremia and be life-threatening. The RIF pathology has complicated extracellular and intercellular mechanisms, involving many cells and cytokines, resulting in an incomplete mechanistic understanding of the disease. Finding effective herbs or herbal extracts for prevention and treatment of RIF is crucial because current medical approaches do not reliably slow or reverse RIF. In recent years, many experts have worked to identify herbs or herbal extracts to combat RIF both in vivo and in vitro, with some success. This review attempts to summarize the possible interventional mechanisms of herbs or herbal extracts involved in protecting and reversing RIF. The authors found some herbs and their extracts that may ameliorate renal impairments through anti-inflammation, anti-fibrogenesis and stabilization of extra cellular matrix. Among them, tetramethylpyrazine/ligustrazine, curcumin and polyglucoside of Tripterygium have experimentally shown good potential for improving RIF. However, conclusive evidence is still needed, especially in randomized controlled clinical trials. We expect that herbs or herbal extracts will play an important role in RIF treatment and reversal in the future.

Azathioprine Treatment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Double Edged Sword

Extremely severe pancytopenia induced by low dosage of azathioprine in systemic lupus erythematosus patients is rare. A 40-year-old Chinese female was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. She suffered worse erythema, oral ulceration, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate and high anti-dsDNA in August 2013. Then she was initiated on oral azathioprine 50mg/d and extremely severe pancytopenia was seen in September 2013. She was recovered by a series of treatments. Regular monitoring of blood counts is highly recommended to reduce the possible serious myelosuppression induced by azathioprine.

Regulation effect of TCF7L2 gene silence on the expression of insulin degrading enzyme in insulin resistant HepG2 cells / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effects of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) silence on the expression of insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) in insulin resistance (IR) model HepG2 cells and its possible mechanism. Methods The HepG2 cells were divided into blank group, TCF7L2 interference group, empty vector group, IR group, IR+TCF7L2 interference group, IR+empty vector group. IR-HepG2 cell model was induced by in vitro cultivation o the cells in high concentration of insulin (5 X 10-6 mol/L) for 24 hours; GOD-POD and 2-NBDG method was used to verify successful reproduction of IR-cell model. TCF7L2 specific siRNA lentivirus vector (LV-TCF7L2-siRNA) was constructed with TCF7L2 mRNA coding sequence as the interference target, and it was used to transfect the cells in blank group and IR group. Empty vector virus was used to transfect the cells in empty vector group and IR+empty vector group. The expressions of TCF7L2 and IDE mRNA were detected by qRT-PCR, and the changes in the expression of TCF7L2, IDE, insulin stimulated protein kinase B(AKT) and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT) were detected by Western blotting. The uptake rate of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-NBDG) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Compared with that in control group, the glucose consumption and the uptake rate of 2-NBDG significantly decreased in IR group (P<0.01), proving that the IR cell model had been reproduced successfully. Western bloting and qRT-PCR revealed that the expression levels of TCF7L2 and IDE mRNA and protein were obviously decreased in IR group compared with that in blank group (P<0.05), in TCF7L2 interference group than in blank group and empty vector group, and in IR+TCF7L2 interference group than in blank group and IR+empty vector group (P<0.05). Afer physiological insulin stimulation, the expression levels of p-AKT protein decreased more signifcantly in IR group and IR+TCF7L2 interference group than in blank group (P<0.01), while no statistically signifcant difference in the total AKT protein level was found among all the groups. 2-NBDG uptake rate was significantly decreased in TCF7L2 interference group as compared with that in blank group and empty vector group, and also in IR+TCF7L2 interference group than in IR group and IR+empty vector group, respectively P<0.01. ConclusionTe mechanism of IR induced by the interaction of TCF7L2 and IDE might be related to the decreased expression of the insulin signaling pathway key enzyme p-AKT protein.

Long-term benefit of male circumcision to the reduction of urinary tract infections and genitourinary cancers in China / 中华男科学杂志

Increasingly accumulated results from randomized controlled trials and other clinical studies have demonstrated that male circumcision reduces the risks of acquisition and transmission of HIV, HPV, HSV-2, and other sexually transmitted infections, and thus has a potential role in preventing cervical cancer, penile cancer and prostate cancer. The prevalence of male circumcision in China is currently less than 5%. The clinical evaluation studies and randomized controlled trials of the Shang Ring device showed excellent safety profiles, extremely high acceptability, and satisfaction among the participants and service providers in Africa and China. Given the recent recommendations by the World Health Organization and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), voluntary medical male circumcision should be promoted in China at the national level as an important alternative intervention to reduce reproductive tract infections and prevent both males and females from reproductive tract cancers. More emphasis is required on the studies of the long-term health benefits of male circumcision in uro-andrology.

Correlation between atherogenic index of plasma level and metabolism components in adult growth hormone deficiency patients / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the correlation of atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) levels with anthropometrics, glycolipid metabolism markers and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) in adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) patients. Methods Retrospective analysis were carried out in 40 AGHD patients (AGHD group, admitted to First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University) and 40 healthy adults from physical examination centre (control group) during June 2009 to September 2012. The general anthropometries and blood biochemical indexes were collected and compared between two groups. AIP, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment β-cell function (HOMA-β), LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, and TG/LDL-C were calculated and compared between two groups. The correlation between AIP and these indexes was analyzed using Pearson correlation. Results Compared with control group, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), fasting insulin (FINS), HOMA-P, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, hs-CPR, IL-6, AIP were significant higher, but HDL-C levels were lower in AGHD group (P0.05). There was a positive association between AIP and all the WC, WHR, FINS, HOMA- β, HOMA-IR, TC, \LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C, TG/LDL-C, hs-CRP and IL-6 (r=0.349, 0.314, 0.347, 0.335, 0.297, 0.256, 0.576, 0.749, 0.702, 0.477, 0.226, respectively, P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that hs-CRP and IL-6 were independent risk factors of AIP. Conclusion AIP is significantly higher in AGHD patients than healthy people, and it shows a strong correlation with many risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in a chronic myeloid leukemia patient treated with imatinib mesylate / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Imatinib mesylate is a molecular targeted agent for treating chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Although imatinib mesylate is not regarded as an immunosuppressive agent, few studies have also shown that it may impair immune response. In this report, we present a case of transient hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation during imatinib mesylate treatment for CML.

Reactivation of chronic hepatitis B infection related to imatinib mesylate therapy in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: two cases report and literatures review / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the cause for triggering HBV reactivation and possible management of the chronic hepatitis B individuals received imatinib.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This study presented two cases of transient hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation and hepatic dysfunction during oral imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and made a literatures review about the pathogenesis, possible prophylactic and therapeutic management of such chronic hepatitis B individuals receiving imatinib.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two CML patients, without prior liver dysfunction but with chronic HBV infection, suffered from transient HBV reactivation occurred during oral imatinib. Both of them finally obtained good outcome following the additional oral nucleotide antiviral therapy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It remained unclear whether imatinib induced the reactivation of HBV in patients with a latent HBV infection. From our study, all candidates receiving oral imatinib should be screened for HBsAg and anti-HBc antibodies prior to initiation of imatinib. Prophylactic antiviral therapy should be offered to HBV-infected individuals along with a close monitoring for signs of reactivation.</p>

Membrane cholesterol mediates the endocannabinoids-anandamide affection on HepG2 cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of anandamide (AEA) on necrosis in HepG2 cells and to explore the role of AEA in progression of liver cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Localization of the fatty acid hydrolytic enzyme (FAAH), cannabinoid receptors 1(CB1) and cannabinoid receptors 2 (CB2) proteins was detected in L02 and HepG2 cells using immunofluorescence. L02 and HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of AEA and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, and the rates of cells necrosis were examined by PI stain. Meanwhile, the expression levels of FAAH, CB1 and CB2 receptor proteins, as well as P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-P38 MAPK) and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (p-JNK) proteins, were analyzed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The FAAH, CB1 and CB2 receptor proteins were observed both in cytoplasm and on membrane in L02 and HepG2 cells. The expression level of FAAH protein was higher in HepG2 than in L02 cells. The expression level of CB1 receptor protein was very low in both L02 and HepG2 cells. The expression level of CB2 receptor protein was high in both L02 and HepG2 cells. AEA treatment induced necrosis in HepG2 cells but not in L02 cells. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment prevented necrosis in HepG2 cells (t = 3.702; 5.274; 3.503, P less than 0.05). The expression patterns of FAAH, CB1 and CB2 receptor protein in L02 and HepG2 cells were confirmed by western blot, which were consistent with the immunofluorescence results. AEA treatment increased the levels of p-P38MAPK and p-JNK proteins in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells (F = 11.908; 26.054, P less than 0.05) and the increase can be partially by prevented by MCD (t = 2.801; t = 12.829, P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AEA treatment induces necrosis in HepG2 cells via CB1 and CB2 receptors and lipid rafts.</p>

Interferon-gamma and systemic lupus erythematosus / 第二军医大学学报

The etiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) remain unclear. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a Th1-type cytokine, may be involved in the pathogenesis and inflammatory process of SLE. This article reviews reports on the serum IFN-γ of SLE patients and mouse SLE models, in vitro secreted IFN-γ, expression of IFN-γ induced protein and IFN-γ related genes, and treatment with traditional Chinese medicines.

Changes in dietary patterns and certain nutrition-related diseases in urban and rural residents of Jiangsu Province, China, during the 1990s / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate into the changes of dietary patterns and their impacts on health of urban and rural residents in Jiangsu Province, China during the 1990s.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On the basis of the results of food consumption survey, the calorie intake was calculated according to the balanced diet method and the quality of diet was assessed by scores of desirable dietary pattern (DDP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that food consumption and dietary patterns changed remarkably during the 1990s. Grain consumption was decreasing year by year, but the consumption of animal food was markedly increasing. Although the score of desirable dietary pattern (DDP) in urban residents was more than 90, the deducted score due to over-consumption of animal food increased. The mortality from infectious diseases evidently decreased in the whole province, while the death rates of some chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, colorectal cancer and breast cancer, were increasing rapidly in urban areas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Sufficient attention should be paid to the negative effects of change in dietary patterns on people's health, especially in the urban residents.</p>