Celastrol reduces lung inflammation induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in mice via NF-κb-signaling pathway.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have numerous applications in the field of carbon nanomaterials. However, the associated toxicity concerns have increased significantly because of their widespread use. The inhalation of MWCNTs can lead to nanoparticle deposition in the lung tissue, causing inflammation and health risks. In this study, celastrol, a natural plant medicine with potent anti-inflammatory properties, effectively reduced the number of inflammatory cells, including white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes, and levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α, in mice lungs exposed to MWCNTs. Moreover, celastrol inhibited the activation of the NF-κB-signaling pathway. This study confirmed these findings by demonstrating comparable reductions in inflammation upon exposure to MWCNTs in mice with the deletion of NF-κB (P50-/-). These results indicate the utility of celastrol as a promising pharmacological agent for preventing MWCNT-induced lung tissue inflammation.

Medium composition optimization and characterization of polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma boninense along with antioxidant activity.

Ganoderma is a well-known medicinal macrofungal genus, of which several species have been thoroughly studied from the medicinal perspective, but most species are rarely involved in. In this study, we focus on the polysaccharides extracted from Ganoderma boninense and their antioxidant activity. Ganoderma boninense is a serious pathogen of oil palms that are cultivated commercially in Southeast Asia. Response surface methodology was conducted to optimize the liquid medium composition, and the mycelia biomass reached 7.063 g/L, that is, 1.4-fold compared with the seed medium. The crude and purified polysaccharides extracted from the fermentation broth showed well 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging abilities, and the scavenging abilities of purified polysaccharides reached 94.47 % and 99.88 %, respectively. Six fractions of polysaccharides were extracted and purified from fruiting bodies, mycelia and fermentation broth separately with the elution buffers of distilled water and 0.1 M NaCl solution. Generally, the polysaccharides from fruiting bodies showed stronger protective effect on H2O2-induced HepG2 cell oxidative damage than other fractions. A total of five to seven monosaccharides were identified in the six fractions of polysaccharides. The correlation analysis revealed that the content of fucose was significantly correlated with the antioxidant activity of polysaccharides, while xylose showed negative correlation results. In summary, the polysaccharides from G. boninense have a potential to be used as natural antioxidants.

Relationship between serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels and cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of thrombospondin-1(TSP-1)and thioredoxin 1(Trx1)and cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 155 patients with cerebral infarction(study group)admitted to a hospital from June 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the study objects,and were divided into normal cognitive function group(97 cases)and cognitive impair-ment group(58 cases)according to the scores of the montreal cognitive assessment scale(MoCA)after the pa-tients'condition stabilized.Another 150 healthy subjects in the same period were selected as the control group.Serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Spearman analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels and national in-stitutes of health stroke scale(NIHSS)score and MoCA score in patients with cerebral infarction.The predic-tive value of serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels in cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of serum TSP-1 and Trx1 in the study group were significantly higher,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the normal cognitive function group,the levels of serum TSP-1 and Trx1 in the cognitive impairment group were significantly higher,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the normal cognitive function group,the NIHSS score of the cognitive impairment group was significantly higher,and the MoCA score was significantly lower,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels were positively correlated with NIHSS score(P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with MoCA score(P＜0.05)in patients with cerebral infarction.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of serum TSP-1 to predict cogni-tive impairment after cerebral infarction was 0.834,and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.41％and 86.60％,respectively.Serum Trx1 level alone predicted the AUC of cognitive impairment after cerebral infarc-tion was 0.851,and its sensitivity and specificity were 70.69％and 85.57％,respectively.The AUC of the combined prediction of cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction was 0.926,which was significantly greater than that of serum TSP-1 alone(Z=3.050,P=0.002)and Trx1 alone(Z=2.846,P=0.004).Conclusion Serum TSP-1 and Trx1 levels are elevated in patients with cerebral infarction,and their levels have certain predictive value for cognitive impairment after cerebral infarction.

Exosomes derived from miR-133a-3p engineered mesenchymal stem cells promote myocardial repair in rats after acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of exosome derived from miR-133a-3p engineered human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (ucMSC) on myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats. Methods: UcMSC was amplified and cultured in vitro. Lentiviral carrying miR-133a-3p and negative control vectors were transfected into ucMSC. Exosomes secreted by the transfected ucMSC were named miR-133a-3p-Exo and miR-NC-Exo, respectively. The AMI model of rats was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. MiR-133a-3p-Exo or miR-NC-Exo were then injected into the border zone of the infarct area. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography after twenty-eight days of intervention, and Masson staining was used to evaluate the area of myocardial fibrosis post-AMI. The myocardial apoptosis after infarction was evaluated by TUNEL staining and the angiogenesis after infarction was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining in the current study. Results: Compared with the miR-NC-Exo group, the left ventricular ejection fraction in the miR-133a-3p-Exo group was significantly increased ((47.4%±9.8%) vs. (64.2%±8.9%), P<0.05). While the myocardial fibrosis area ((31.2%±7.3%) vs. (18.0%±1.5%), P<0.01) and the percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes ((25.6%±3.6%) vs. (15.1%±4.4%), P<0.05) was significantly reduced in the miR-133a-Exo group. Besides, the expression of CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also increased significantly in the miR-133a-3p-Exo group compared to the miR-NC-Exo group (CD31: (2.9±0.9) vs. (13.9±2.0), P<0.000 1, α-SMA: (3.5±0.9) vs. (11.0±1.6), P<0.000 1). Conclusion: Exosome derived from miR-133a-3p engineered ucMSC effectively inhibited myocardial apoptosis and promoted angiogenesis, thus improving the cardiac function after myocardial infarction in rats.

Exosomes derived from miR-133a-3p engineered mesenchymal stem cells promote myocardial repair in rats after acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To investigate the effects of exosome derived from miR-133a-3p engineered human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (ucMSC) on myocardial repair after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats. Methods: UcMSC was amplified and cultured in vitro. Lentiviral carrying miR-133a-3p and negative control vectors were transfected into ucMSC. Exosomes secreted by the transfected ucMSC were named miR-133a-3p-Exo and miR-NC-Exo, respectively. The AMI model of rats was established by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. MiR-133a-3p-Exo or miR-NC-Exo were then injected into the border zone of the infarct area. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography after twenty-eight days of intervention, and Masson staining was used to evaluate the area of myocardial fibrosis post-AMI. The myocardial apoptosis after infarction was evaluated by TUNEL staining and the angiogenesis after infarction was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining in the current study. Results: Compared with the miR-NC-Exo group, the left ventricular ejection fraction in the miR-133a-3p-Exo group was significantly increased ((47.4%±9.8%) vs. (64.2%±8.9%), P<0.05). While the myocardial fibrosis area ((31.2%±7.3%) vs. (18.0%±1.5%), P<0.01) and the percentage of apoptotic cardiomyocytes ((25.6%±3.6%) vs. (15.1%±4.4%), P<0.05) was significantly reduced in the miR-133a-Exo group. Besides, the expression of CD31 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were also increased significantly in the miR-133a-3p-Exo group compared to the miR-NC-Exo group (CD31: (2.9±0.9) vs. (13.9±2.0), P<0.000 1, α-SMA: (3.5±0.9) vs. (11.0±1.6), P<0.000 1). Conclusion: Exosome derived from miR-133a-3p engineered ucMSC effectively inhibited myocardial apoptosis and promoted angiogenesis, thus improving the cardiac function after myocardial infarction in rats.

Participation of clinical pharmacists in QTc interval prolongation induced by gilteritinib / 药学实践与服务

Objective To explore the role of clinical pharmacists involved in the case of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia whose QTc interval prolongation was induced by gilteritinib, and to provide reference for drug treatment and monitoring of those patients. Methods The abnormal electrocardiogram （ECG） of a patient with acute myeloid leukemia was found in time by clinical pharmacists, who participated in clinical diagnosis and treatment by analyzing the patient’s underlying diseases, diagnosis and treatment process, therapeutic drugs and their potential interactions. Results Clinical pharmacists suspected that the prolonged QTc interval was likely to be an adverse reaction caused by gilteritinib, and recommended immediate discontinuation of the drug and re-examination of the electrocardiogram.The physician took the suggestion to stop the suspected drug therapy with gilteritinib promptly, and ECG was rechecked 3 d later, and the QTc value returned to the normal range. Conclusion Clinical pharmacists participating in clinical diagnosis and treatment could provide better pharmaceutical care for patients.

Understanding of Co-boiling between Organic Contaminants and Water during Thermal Remediation: Effects of Nonequilibrium Heat and Mass Transport.

In situ thermal desorption (ISTD) provides an efficient solution to remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs). Establishing a relationship between the subsurface temperature rise and NAPL removal is significant to reduce energy consumption of ISTD. However, the co-boiling phenomenon between NAPL and water poses a great challenge in developing this relationship due to the nonequilibrium heat and mass transport effects. We performed a systematic experimental investigation into the local temperature rise patterns at different distances from a NAPL pool and under different degrees of superheat by selecting four representative NAPLs (i.e., trichloroethylene, tetrachlorethylene, n-hexane, and n-octane) according to their density and boiling point relative to water. The patterns of temperature rise indicated that the underground temperature field can be divided into three zones: the zone of local thermal equilibrium, the nonequilibrium zone affected by co-boiling, and the zone unaffected by co-boiling. We developed a pattern-recognition-based approach, which considers the effects of local heat and mass transport to establish a qualitative correlation between the temperature rise and NAPL removal. Our results give deeper insights into the understanding of subsurface temperatures in ISTD practice, which can serve as the guideline for more accurate and sustainable remediation.

Drought stress in rice: morpho-physiological and molecular responses and marker-assisted breeding.

Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) is an essential constituent of the global food chain. Drought stress significantly diminished its productivity and threatened global food security. This review concisely discussed how drought stress negatively influenced the rice's optimal growth cycle and altered its morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses. To withstand adverse drought conditions, plants activate their inherent drought resistance mechanism (escape, avoidance, tolerance, and recovery). Drought acclimation response is characterized by many notable responses, including redox homeostasis, osmotic modifications, balanced water relations, and restored metabolic activity. Drought tolerance is a complicated phenomenon, and conventional breeding strategies have only shown limited success. The application of molecular markers is a pragmatic technique to accelerate the ongoing breeding process, known as marker-assisted breeding. This review study compiled information about quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and genes associated with agronomic yield-related traits (grain size, grain yield, harvest index, etc.) under drought stress. It emphasized the significance of modern breeding techniques and marker-assisted selection (MAS) tools for introgressing the known QTLs/genes into elite rice lines to develop drought-tolerant rice varieties. Hence, this study will provide a solid foundation for understanding the complex phenomenon of drought stress and its utilization in future crop development programs. Though modern genetic markers are expensive, future crop development programs combined with conventional and MAS tools will help the breeders produce high-yielding and drought-tolerant rice varieties.

Characteristics of reflux and gastric electrical activity in gastroesophageal reflux disease with ineffective esophageal motility.

OBJECTIVES: The impact of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) on gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains unknown, and abnormal esophageal motility often coexists with abnormal gastric motility. We aimed to investigate the role of IEM in GERD and its relationship with gastric electrical activity. METHODS: Patients diagnosed as GERD based on GERD-questionnaire score ≥8 in our hospital from January 2020 to June 2022 were included. All patients underwent 24-h multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring, high-resolution manometry, and electrogastrogram and were categorized into the normal esophageal motility (NEM) and IEM groups, respectively. Reflux characteristics and gastric electric activity were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between gastric electric activity and reflux was analyzed. RESULTS: Acid exposure time, total reflux episodes, and DeMeester score in the IEM group were higher than those in the NEM group. Distal mean nocturnal baseline impedance was significantly lower in the IEM group. Compared with the NEM group, the power ratio (PR) of fundus, antrum and pylorus and premeal and postmeal normal wave ratio of antrum were significantly lower in IEM. The total reflux episodes were negatively correlated with the PR of fundus and pylorus, and the DeMeester score was negatively correlated with the PR of corpus and pylorus. CONCLUSIONS: IEM may lead to increased reflux, resulting in esophageal mucosal damage. There may be consistency between abnormal esophageal motility and gastric motility.

Clinical prospective study of Gallium 68 (68Ga)-labeled fibroblast-activation protein inhibitor PET/CT in the diagnosis of biliary tract carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate the [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI PET/CT diagnosis performance in biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) and analyze the association between [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI PET/CT and clinical indexes. METHODS: A prospective study (NCT05264688) was performed between January 2022 and July 2022. Fifty participants were scanned using [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI and [18F]FDG PET/CT and acquired pathological tissue. We employed the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare the uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI and [18F]FDG, and the McNemar test was used to compare the diagnostic efficacy between the two tracers. Spearman or Pearson correlation was used to assess the association between [68 Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI PET/CT and clinical indexes. RESULTS: In total, 47 participants (mean age 59.09 ± 10.98 [range 33-80 years]) were evaluated. The [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI detection rate was greater than [18F]FDG in primary tumors (97.62% vs. 85.71%), nodal metastases (90.05% vs. 87.06%), and distant metastases (100% vs. 83.67%). The uptake of [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI was higher than [18F]FDG in primary lesions (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 18.95 ± 7.47 vs. 11.86 ± 0.70, p = 0.001; extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, 14.57 ± 6.16 vs. 8.80 ± 4.74, p = 0.004), abdomen and pelvic cavity nodal metastases (6.91 ± 6.56 vs. 3.94 ± 2.83, p < 0.001), and distant metastases (pleural, peritoneum, omentum, and mesentery, 6.37 ± 4.21 vs. 4.50 ± 1.96, p = 0.01; bone, 12.15 ± 6.43 vs. 7.51 ± 4.54, p = 0.008). There was a significant correlation between [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI uptake and fibroblast-activation protein (FAP) expression (Spearman r = 0.432, p = 0.009), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (Pearson r = 0.364, p = 0.012), and platelet (PLT) (Pearson r = 0.35, p = 0.016). Meanwhile, a significant relationship between [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI metabolic tumor volume and carbohydrate antigen199 (CA199) (Pearson r = 0.436, p = 0.002) was confirmed. CONCLUSION: [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI had a higher uptake and sensitivity than [18F]FDG in the diagnosis of BTC primary and metastatic lesions. The correlation between [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI PET/CT indexes and FAP expression, CEA, PLT, and CA199 were confirmed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT 05,264,688.

Celastrol alleviates oxidative stress induced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) mainly induce oxidative stress through the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to cytotoxicity. Celastrol, a plant-derived compound, can exert antioxidant effects by reducing ROS production. Our results indicated that exposure to MWCNTs decreased cell viability and increased ROS production. Nrf2 knockdown (kd) led to increased ROS production and enhanced MWCNT-induced cytotoxicity. Keap1-kd led to decreased ROS production and attenuated cytotoxicity. Treatment with celastrol significantly decreased ROS production and promoted Keap1 protein degradation through the lysosomal pathway, thereby enhancing the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and increasing HO-1 expression. The in vivo results showed that celastrol could alleviate the inflammatory damage of lung tissues, increase the levels of the antioxidants, GSH and SOD, as well as promote the expression of the antioxidant protein, HO-1 in MWCNT-treated mice. Celastrol can alleviate MWCNT-induced oxidative stress through the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Visible Light-Induced Cross-Dehydrocoupling of 3-Cyanocoumarins with Unactivated Aliphatic Aldehydes Enables Access to 4-Acylated Coumarins.

We report visible light-induced cross-dehydrocoupling of 3-cyanocoumarins with unactivated aliphatic aldehydes for the direct synthesis of 4-acylated coumarins. Inexpensive and readily available (n-Bu)4NBr was used as a precursor of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalyst and [Ir(ppy)2(dtbbpy)PF6] as a photocatalyst. A variety of aldehydes including linear, branched, cyclic, and α,ß-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes were suitable for this reaction yielding the desired acylated coumarin derivatives in 41-98% yields. This method provides a mild, atom-economical, and environmentally friendly synthetic route for the direct acylation of 3-cyanocoumarins. This is the first example so far of C-4 aliphatic acylation of coumarins.

Analysis and suggestions on conflict of interest in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in medical institutions / 中华医院管理杂志

In recent years, the issue of conflicts of interest in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements in medical institutions in China has become prominent, mainly manifested as personal and institutional conflicts of interest, with the characteristics of complexity and sustainability. At present, there were some problems in the conflict management of scientific and technological achievements transformation of medical institutions, such as insufficient support of relevant laws, regulations and policies, insufficient supervision of medical institutions, and the lack of industry management atmosphere. The author suggestted that government departments should strengthen the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, medical institutions should establish an interest conflict management system and an independent management department, and industry associations should give full play to their role in assisting, so as to provide reference for promoting medical institutions to effectively manage interest conflicts in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Tislelizumab bridging to umbilical cord blood transplantation therapy for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia: report of 1 case and review of literature / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective:To explore the efficacy of tislelizumab combined with umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) patients.Methods:The diagnosis and treatment of 1 patient with R/R AML who received tislelizumab bridging to UCBT after the failure of re-induction treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in November 2021 was retrospectively analyzed.Results:The 59-year-old male patient with R/R AML achieved a complete remission after initial induction chemotherapy regimen of decitabine and venetoclax, and then additional consolidation therapy regimens of decitabine and middle-dose cytarabine, middle-dose cytarabine and idarubicin were performed. The patient relapsed 16 months later and failed to achieve a second remission after re-induction therapy regimens of cladribine, azacitidine, venetoclax combined with chemotherapy, and homoharringtonine, cytarabine combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Tislelizumab significantly reduced tumor burden and the patient achieved the complete remission after bridging to UCBT. After transplantation, the patient was given maintenance treatment with azacitidine and he had sustained remission without severe transplant-related complications during 9-month follow-up.Conclusions:The use of tislelizumab bridging UCBT can be a potential therapeutic strategy for R/R AML patients.

Diagnosis and treatment of passenger lymphocyte syndrome following secondary ABO-incompatible allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the clinical characteristics and diagnosis and treatment of passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) in patients following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). 【Methods】 A total of 489 patients who underwent allo-HSCT in Suzhou Hongci Hematology Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. The clinical process, diagnosis and treatment measures and prognosis of four patients complicated with PLS after transplantation were analyzed. 【Results】 Among the 489 patients, 4 were diagnosed with PLS. The blood types of donor/recipient ABO were all secondary incompatible (The blood type of donors were O and the recipients were A or B). The overall incidence of PLS in allo-HSCT was 0.82%(4/489)and 2.2%(4/179)in transplants with donor/recipient secondary incompatible ABO-blood types. PLS occured in 6-13 days after donor stem cell infusion. Clinical manifestations were dizziness and fatigue, low back pain, jaundice, deepening urine, rapid decrease in hemoglobin on laboratory tests, elevated indirect bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase, positive urobilinogen, positive direct anti-human globulin test (DAT), and anti-A or anti-B antibodies against recipient red blood cells were detected in plasma. After the treatment of O-type washed red blood cells, methylprednisolone, gamma globulin, rituximab and other treatments, the hemolysis was improved. All patients achieved engraftment of neutrophil and platelet. Red blood cell transfusion was halted in 3 weeks. 【Conclusion】 PLS is a rare complication of allo-HSCT, which mainly occurs in allo-HSCT patients with secondary incompatibility of ABO blood group of donor/recipient. The clinical prognosis is good after properly treatment.

Antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma on Enterococcus faecalis in dentinal tubules in vitro / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To construct a model of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) infection in dentinal tubules by gradient centrifugation and to evaluate the antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma on E. faecalis in dentinal tubules.@*METHODS@#Standard dentin blocks of 4 mm×4 mm×2 mm size were prepared from single root canal isolated teeth without caries, placed in the E. faecalis bacterial solution, centrifuged in gradient and incubated for 24 h to establish the model of dentinal tubule infection with E. faecalis. The twenty dentin blocks of were divided into five groups, low-temperature plasma jet treatment for 0, 5 and 10 min, calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope were used to assess the infection in the dentinal tubules and the antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma.@*RESULTS@#The results of scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that after 24 h of incubation by gradient centrifugation, E. faecalis could fully enter the dentinal tubules to a depth of more than 600μm indicating that this method was time-saving and efficient and could successfully construct a model of E. faecalis infection in dentinal tubules. Low-temperature plasma could enter the dentinal tubules and play a role, the structure of E. faecalis was still intact after 5 min of low-temperature plasma treatment, with no obvious damage, and after 10 min of low-temperature plasma treatment, the surface morphology of E. faecalis was crumpled and deformed, the cell wall was seriously collapsed, and the normal physiological morphology was damaged indicating that the majority of E. faecalis was killed in the dentinal tubules. The antibacterial effect of low-temperature plasma treatment for 10 min exceeded that of the calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and the 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d. These two chemicals had difficulty entering deep into the dentinal tubules, and therefore only had a few of antibacterial effect on the bacterial biofilm on the root canal wall, and there was also no significant damage to the E. faecalis bacterial structure.@*CONCLUSION@#Gradient centrifugation could establish the model of E. faecalis dentin infection successfully. Low-temperature plasma treatment for 10 min could kill E. faecalis in dentinal tubules effectively, which is superior to the calcium hydroxide paste sealing for 7 d and the 2% chlorhexidine gel sealing for 7 d.

Analysis of sentinel surveillance of influenza in Anhui province from 2018 to 2023 / 安徽医科大学学报

Objective @# To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Anhui province from 2018 to 2023 , and to explore the change rule of influenza etiology , so as to provide reference for the prevention and control of influenza. @*Methods @#Sentinel hospital surveillance data and network laboratory etiological surveillance data of influenza⁃like cases (ILI) in Anhui province from 2018 to 2023 were collected by " China influenza surveillance information system" , and the data were analyzed using Excel 2019 and SPSS 25. 0.@*Results @#From 2018 to 2023 , ILI% in Anhui province were 3. 74% , 4. 26% , 3. 53% , 4. 34% , 6. 80% , respectively. The positive rates of influenza virus were 14. 87% , 19. 98% , 0. 12% , 12. 39% and 24. 72% , respectively. There were significant differences in time distribution and age distribution of ILI% and influenza virus positive rates (P < 0. 001) . Influenza mainly occurred from December to March and from June to August in Anhui province. The positive rate of influenza virus detection was the highest among children under 15 years old , which was the main population of influenza cases. The outbreaks had mainly occurred in primary and secondary schools and childcare facilities.@*Conclusion@#There are two incidence peaks of influenza each year, one is in winter and spring , another one is in summer. From December to March , from June to August are the critical periods of influenza control and prevention. Children under 15 years old are the key groups and schools are the key places of influenza control and prevention. Continuous influenza surveillance can provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of influenza in Anhui province.

Risk factors for the long-term prognosis and recurrence of HIV-negative cytomegalovirus retinitis in North China.

AIM: To demonstrate the clinical features, the risk factors, the visual prognosis and the recurrence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (CMVR) in HIV-negative patients. METHODS: HIV-negative patients with CMVR were involved in this study. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), CMV-DNA load in aqueous and/or serum samples, treatment, follow-up time, recurrence and complications were recorded. Ocular characteristics were evaluated by fundus photographs. Association between ocular factors and visual prognosis were analyzed by regression analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-five eyes of 16 patients were included. All 25 eyes underwent intravitreal injections of anti-viral agents. The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.94±0.98 (0.98-0.78) initially to 0.77±0.73 (0.82-0.68) at last visit, but not significantly. After antiviral treatment, the aqueous CMV DNA load significantly reduced to (3.42±1.47)×102 copies/mL (P=0.001), compared with (2.51±3.11)×105 copies/mL at baseline. Macular involvement (R 2=0.475, P=0.049) and initial visual acuity (R 2=0.475, P=0.017) were significantly associated with the poor visual prognosis (BCVA<20/400). The extent of retinal lesions (R 2=0.064, P=0.04) was significant associated with the risk of recurrence of CMVR. CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection of anti-viral agents offers a safe and effective treatment for CMVR. Macular involvement and initial visual acuity significantly associate with visual prognosis. The extent of retinal lesions is significantly associated with the recurrence of CMVR. These ocular factors can be used as predictive risk factors for long term visual prognosis in HIV-negative CMVR patients.

Vascular toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes targeting vascular endothelial growth factor.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are currently widely used and are expected to be used as drug carriers and contrast agents in clinical practice. Previous studies mainly focused on their lung toxicity; therefore, their effects on the vascular endothelium are unclear. In this study, a human angiogenesis array was used to determine the effect of MWCNTs on the expression profile of angiogenic factors in endothelial cells and to clarify the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in MWCNT-induced endothelial cell injury at the cellular and animal levels. The results indicated that MWCNTs (20-30 nm and 30-50 nm) could enter endothelial cells and disrupt human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. MWCNTs disrupted the tube formation ability and cell migration function of HUVECs. The results from a Matrigel Plug experiment in mice showed that angiogenesis in the MWCNT experimental group was significantly reduced. The results of a protein chip analysis indicated that VEGF expression in the MWCNT treatment group was decreased, a finding that was validated by ELISA results. The protein expression levels of AKT and eNOS in the MWCNT treatment group were significantly decreased; the administration of recombinant VEGF significantly alleviated the migration ability and tube formation ability of endothelial cells injured by MWCNTs, upregulated the protein expression of AKT and eNOS, and increased the number of neovascularization in mice in the MWCNT treatment group. This study demonstrated that MWCNTs affect angiogenesis via the VEGF-Akt-eNOS axis which can be rescued by VEGF endothelial treatment.