Spontaneous mandibular follicular ameloblastoma in a female Sprague-Dawley rat.

Ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive tumor derived from the odontogenic epithelium of the developing tooth germ. It is rarely reported in experimental Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this 90-day percutaneous repeated-dose toxicity study, mandibular nodules were observed from day 56 to 90. Upon necropsy, a well-demarcated nodule, approximately 1.2×1.0×1.0 cm, was found attached to the mandibular bone, alongside the unerupted left incisor. Histopathologically, the epithelial cells formed islands, nests, or anastomosing strands. The epithelial islands were surrounded by a peripheral layer of tall columnar cells with antibasilar nuclei arranged in a palisading pattern. Several mitotic cells were observed. Some epithelial islands displayed cystic degenerative changes and squamous metaplasia. Necrotic tissue with inflammatory cell infiltration was observed at the tumor margins. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic epithelial islands and mesenchymal components exhibited positivity for pan-cytokeratin and vimentin, respectively. Based on these features, the case was diagnosed as follicular ameloblastoma in an SD rat.

ApoE/NOS3 Knockout Mice as a Novel Cardiovascular Disease Model of Hypertension and Atherosclerosis.

Hypertension is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis. However, few models of hypertensive atherosclerosis have been established in medical research. In this study, we crossed the ApoE knockout (ApoE-KO; ApoE-/-) atherosclerotic mouse model with the NOS3 knockout (NOS3-KO; NOS3-/-) hypertensive mouse model to establish an ApoE/NOS3 double knockout (ApoE/NOS3-KO; ApoE/NOS3-/-) hypertensive atherosclerosis mouse model. We found that ApoE/NOS3-/- mice reproduced normally, had a blood pressure of 133.00 ± 3.85 mmHg, and developed hypertensive fundus retinopathy and hypertensive nephropathy. In addition, serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the blood were abnormally elevated, steatosis was observed in the liver cells, and atherosclerotic lesions were observed in the aortic vessels in ApoE/NOS3-/- adult mice. In conclusion, ApoE/NOS3-/- adult mice are a satisfactory model of hypertension and atherosclerosis and can be utilized for studies on cardiovascular diseases.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Bathing with Chinese Medicine Taohong Siwu Decoction () for Treatment of Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy and safety of bathing therapy with Taohong Siwu Decoction (, TSD) in the treatment of early-stage, mild-moderate diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc). METHODS: This randomized, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 148 men and women (18-60 years) with dcSSc (disease duration 12 months) and baseline modified Rodnan skin score (MRSS) 10. Patients were randomized into a TSD group (71 cases bathing with TSD plus oral prednisone) or control group (71 cases bathing with placebo plus oral prednisone). Bathing (40 °C, 30 min) of the upper and lower limbs was carried out once daily for 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome measure was MRSS; secondary outcomes were Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) score, quality of life (QOL), physician visual analogue scale (VAS), patient VAS, percent predicted diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) level and overall treatment effect. RESULTS: The final analysis included 135 patients (control group, 68 cases; TSD group, 67 cases). Primary and secondary outcome measures after 2 weeks of treatment showed no improvement (versus baseline) in both groups, with no differences between groups. At 12 weeks, QOL, physician VAS, patient VAS, ESR and CRP were improved in both groups, but MRSS and RP score were improved only in the TSD group (all P<0.05). MRSS, RP score, QOL, physician VAS, patient VAS, ESR and CRP differed significantly between groups (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, the overall treatment effect was significantly higher in the TSD group than in the control group (P<0.05). Adverse events in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Bathing with TSD plus oral prednisone achieves better outcomes than oral prednisone alone in patients with dcSSc and is not associated with serious adverse events.