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Objective: To explore the effect of kynurenine pathway on the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC). Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 19 patients with periodontitis (periodontitis group) and 19 periodontally healthy individuals (health group) in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from June to October of 2022. Contents of kynurenine and the metabolites in saliva samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The expressions of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) were further detected by immunohistochemistry in gingival tissues. The PDLSC used in this study were isolated from extracted teeth for orthodontic treatment in Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from July to November of 2022. Experiments were then conducted using the cells by incubating with (kynurenine group) or without kynurenine (control group) in vitro. Seven days later, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and assays of ALP activity were performed. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect the expressions of osteogenic related genes ALP, osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), collagen type-Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ) as well as the kynurenine pathway-associated genes AhR, cytochrome P450 family (CYP) 1A1, CYP1B1. Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of RUNX2, osteopontin (OPN) and AhR proteins on day 10 and alizarin red staining was performed to observe the formation of mineral nodules on day 21 in control group and kynurenine group. Results: Salivary concentrations of kynurenine [8.26 (0, 19.60) nmol/L] and kynurenic acid [11.4 (3.34, 13.52) nmol/L] were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the health group [0.75(0, 4.25) nmol/L, 1.92(1.34, 3.88) nmol/L] (Z=-2.84, P=0.004; Z=-3.61, P<0.001). The expression levels of IDO (18.33±2.22) and AhR (44.14±13.63) in gingival tissues of periodontitis patients were significantly higher than that of the health group (12.21±2.87, 15.39±5.14) (t=3.38, P=0.015; t=3.42, P=0.027). In vitro, the ALP activity of PDLSC in the kynurenine group (291.90±2.35) decreased significantly compared with the control group (329.30±19.29) (t=3.34, P=0.029). The mRNA expression levels of ALP, OCN and RUNX2 in the kynurenine group (0.43±0.12, 0.78±0.09, 0.66±0.10) were decreased compared with the control group (1.02±0.22, 1.00±0.11, 1.00±0.01) (t=4.71, P=0.003; t=3.23, P=0.018; t=6.73, P<0.001), while the levels of AhR and CYP1A1 were increased in the kynurenine group (1.43±0.07, 1.65±0.10) compared with those in the control group (1.01±0.12, 1.01±0.14) (t=5.23, P=0.006; t=6.59, P<0.001). No significant difference was observed in COL-Ⅰ and CYP1B1 mRNA levels between groups. The protein levels of OPN, RUNX2 (0.82±0.05, 0.87±0.03) were reduced and that of AhR (1.24±0.14) was increased in the kynurenine group compared with those in the control group (1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00, 1.00±0.00) (t=6.79, P=0.003; t=7.95, P=0.001; t=3.04, P=0.039). Conclusions: Over-activated kynurenine pathway in periodontitis patients can promote upregulation of AhR and suppress the osteogenic differentiation of PDLSC.
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Objective To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of one booster dose of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in young adults.Methods The subjects were selected from participants in the clinical trial of immunogenicity of inactivated and attenuated live hepatitis A vaccine in young adults.Eligible subjects were those who had received one dose of inactivated or attenuated hepatitis A vaccine,could be contacted and were sero-negative before primary vaccination.All qualified subjects were immunized with one booster dose of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine.The blood samples were collected before booster dose vaccination and 28 days after the immunization.Anti-HAV antibody titer ≥20 mIU/ml was considered to be sero-protected against hepatitis A virus.Results The GMCs in the inactivated HAV vaccine group and attenuated live vaccine group before booster dose vaccination were 70.80 mIU/ml and 50.12 mIU/ml,respectively,and the sero-protection rates were 94.7％ and 65.0％,respectively.After the vaccination of the booster dose,the sero-protection rates in both groups were 100.0％,and the GMCs were 2 816.09 mIU/ml and 2 654.55 mIU/ml,respectively.Conclusion The GMCs and sero-protection rates of anti-HAV antibody in young adults declined after three years of the primary vaccination.However,the higher GMC and sero-protection rate were observed in the inactivated vaccine group than in the attenuated live vaccine group.Significant increases of GMC levels were observed in both groups after one booster dose vaccination.
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Objective To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of one booster dose of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine in young adults.Methods The subjects were selected from participants in the clinical trial of immunogenicity of inactivated and attenuated live hepatitis A vaccine in young adults.Eligible subjects were those who had received one dose of inactivated or attenuated hepatitis A vaccine,could be contacted and were sero-negative before primary vaccination.All qualified subjects were immunized with one booster dose of inactivated hepatitis A vaccine.The blood samples were collected before booster dose vaccination and 28 days after the immunization.Anti-HAV antibody titer ≥20 mIU/ml was considered to be sero-protected against hepatitis A virus.Results The GMCs in the inactivated HAV vaccine group and attenuated live vaccine group before booster dose vaccination were 70.80 mIU/ml and 50.12 mIU/ml,respectively,and the sero-protection rates were 94.7％ and 65.0％,respectively.After the vaccination of the booster dose,the sero-protection rates in both groups were 100.0％,and the GMCs were 2 816.09 mIU/ml and 2 654.55 mIU/ml,respectively.Conclusion The GMCs and sero-protection rates of anti-HAV antibody in young adults declined after three years of the primary vaccination.However,the higher GMC and sero-protection rate were observed in the inactivated vaccine group than in the attenuated live vaccine group.Significant increases of GMC levels were observed in both groups after one booster dose vaccination.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To objectively assess the effect of Qiming Granule in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) by fluorescence fundus angiography (FFA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In a multi-center, randomized, parallel controlled clinical trial, patients with DR were randomly assigned to the control group (calcium dobesilate capsule) and the test group (Qiming Granule). Changes in the retinal blood circulation time were recorded by FFA after 3 months of medication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Significant reduction was observed in the retinal arterio-venous circulation time (AVCT) in both groups (P<0.01), the value was 7.635+/-3.149 s before treatment and 5.165 +/-3.382 s after treatment in the treated group, and 7.737+/-3.413 s and 5.313+/-3.472 s in the control group respectively. Qiming Granule also reduced the arm-to-retinal circulation time (ARCT, P<0.05). The value was 17.867+/-3.872 s before treatment and 15.643+/-4.648 s after treatment in the treated group, and 17.217+/-3.833 s and 16.312+/-3.613 s in the control group (P>0.05) respectively. The ARCT in the tested group was reduced, with a statistically significant difference post-medication (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>As a Chinese medicine complex prescription, Qiming Granule may alleviate retinal hypoxia and ischemia by increasing retinal blood flow and improving the blood circulation.</p>