Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens inhibits bone loss in obese mice via modification of the gut microbiota.

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity results in bone loss associated with an imbalanced gut microbiota and altered immune status. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to the host and are important in maintaining bone health and gut homeostasis. In this study, the probiotic Lactobacillus coryniformis subsp. torquens (T3L) was isolated from traditional yak milk cheese produced in Lhasa and showed distinct acid and bile salt resistance as potential probiotics. Our data indicated that T3L not only reversed HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, as indicated by decreased Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratios but also reduced bone loss. The anti-obesity, microbiome-modulating, and bone-protective effects were transmissible via horizontal faeces transfer from T3L-treated mice to HFD-fed mice. The protective effects of T3L on bone mass were associated with regulatory T (Treg) cell-mediated inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. Our data indicate that T3L is a regulator of the gut microbiota and bone homeostasis in an animal model.

[Comparison of the application methods and effects of skin flaps in the repair of defects in different parts of the nose according to the concept of aesthetic nosesubunits].

Objective: To analyze the difference of application methods and effects of local flap in small and medium-sized defects of different aesthetic subunits of nose, in order to provide reference for clinical work. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on 59 patients with external nasal masses and scars who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from July 1, 2021 to January 30, 2022, including 27 females and 32 males, aged 15 to 69 years. Using Likert scale, the repair methods and effects of local flap for nasal soft tissue defects were evaluated and summarized from three aspects of texture, flatness and scar concealment. GraphPad Prism 5.0 software was used for data statistics and analysis. Results: The use of skin flaps to repair small and medium-sized areas of the nose could achieve satisfactory results. For patients with different subunits, in terms of skin flatness and scar concealment degree in the operation area, patients' satisfaction with the dorsal and lateral nasal areas was higher than that of the alar and tip areas, respectively (F=6.40, P=0.001; F=10.57, P<0.001). For patients with different skin flap repair methods, the satisfaction of patients with Z-plasty and Dufourmentel skin flap was higher than that of other skin flap repair methods (F=4.38, P=0.002), and the satisfaction of patients with Dufourmentel skin flap was the highest in the degree of scar concealment (F=2.57, P=0.038). Conclusions: In the small and medium-sized defects of the nose, the use of multiple local flaps can achieve good cosmetic effects and functional recovery. The operator should select the appropriate flap repair method according to the characteristics of different aesthetic subunits of the nose.

Effects of lncRNA DANCR on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts by regulating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the expression level of long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) differentiation antagonizing non-protein coding RNA (DANCR) in serum of patients with fracture and investigate its influences on the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum samples were collected from 44 fracture patients treated in our hospital and 24 healthy people receiving physical examination in our hospital. Then, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique was used to detect the expression of lncRNA DANCR in the serum of patients with fracture and healthy subjects. MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast cell line with stably-knocked out DANCR was further established using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and the effect of DANCR knockout on the proliferation of osteoblasts was determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). At the same time, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining assay was performed to detect the percentage of EdU-positive cells in osteoblasts in control group and DANCR knockout group. In addition, the mRNA levels of differentiation-related genes including Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), Collagen1α1, osteocalcin (OC) and osterix (OSX) were detected via RT-PCR, and the protein level of Runx2 was measured through Western blotting. Moreover, osteoblasts were cultured with osteogenic medium for 14 d, and then alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining assays were carried out to examine the differentiation of these osteoblasts. Lastly, Western blotting technique was employed to analyze the expression of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. RESULTS: The expression of lncRNA DANCR was significantly increased in the serum of fracture patients (p<0.05). The results of in-vitro cell experiments showed that the intervention of DANCR with siRNA was able to clearly promote the proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cell line. According to the results of Western blotting, DANCR promoted the apoptosis and proliferation, which was mediated by the activated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS: LncRNA DANCR inhibition can facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts by activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in osteoblasts. Therefore, DANCR is expected to be a new target promoting fracture healing.

Determination of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) as their 2-(5-bromo-2-pyridylazo)-5-diethylaminophenol chelates by reversed-phase HPLC.

This paper reports the separation and determination of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) by RP-HPLC using 5-Br-PADAP as a precolumn derivatizing reagent. On C(18) column, the three metal chelates can be separated on a baseline in 9 min with the mobile phase of methanol-water (59:41, v/v) containing tartaric acid (0.2%) and acetate buffer (pH 3.5, 10 mM). The detection limits of V(V), Nb(V) and Ta(V) are 0.13 ppb, 0.22 ppb and 1.79 ppb, respectively when S/N is 3. This method is simple and rapid, and has been used in mineral analysis with satisfactory results.