[Research progress in the association between tooth loss and cognitive decline in the elderly population]

China is one of the countries with the highest population aging rate in the world, and the oral health of the elderly population has become increasing significant for the realization of healthy aging. Tooth loss is considered as the marker of oral disease burden. In recent years, a growing number of findings have suggested an association between tooth loss and cognitive decline. Also, given that cognitive function plays a crucial role in oral health, future researches should elucidate their bidirectional causal relationship, based on prospective cohort design that regularly monitors tooth loss and cognitive function. This article reviews the current research threads in terms of epidemiological evidences of the association, brain structure and function, and possible bidirectional associations and mechanisms, providing a theoretical basis for promoting healthy aging.

[The progress of clinical research and treatment of monocular elevation deficiency]

Monocular elevation deficiency (MED) is a functional defect in upward eye movement caused by paralysis, restriction, or a combination of factors. The affected eye experiences limited movement in the upward, nasal, and temporal directions, often accompanied by downward deviation and ptosis. Previously known as double elevator palsy (DEP), MED can result from muscle paralysis responsible for upward movement, restriction of the inferior rectus muscle, or lesions in the supranuclear pathway. The Knapp procedure was once the most commonly used surgical approach for MED. However, in cases involving restriction of the inferior rectus muscle, a staged approach combining inferior rectus muscle weakening and subsequent Knapp procedure is necessary to avoid anterior segment ischemia. This has led to the development of alternative surgical techniques, such as single-rectus muscle transposition, partial tendon transposition, and muscle belly transposition. Differentiating MED subtypes based on the underlying paralysis or restriction etiology is crucial for determining the appropriate surgical plan. This review article summarizes the clinical features, classification, and available surgical options for MED, aiming to provide valuable insights for clinical research and treatment.

Potential roles of exosomal non-coding RNAs in chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest digestive system tumors in the world, primarily attributed to difficulty in early diagnosis, early metastasis, and insen-sitivity to chemotherapy. The survival of advanced PC patients can be improved by chemotherapy, including gemcitabine, platinum drugs, and 5-fluorouracil, and targeted therapy such as PARP inhibitors. Nevertheless, primary or acquired drug resistance ultimately leads to treatment failure and poor prognosis in patients with PC. The mechanism underlying drug resistance in PC is complex and has not been fully elucidated. Recent studies have indicated that exsomes are the best natural carrier of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). They can regulate drug resistance by transporting ncRNAs. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that exosomal ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play an crucial role in regulating resistance to chemotherapy drugs in PC. In this review, we systematically focus on the emerging role and regulatory mechanisms of exosomal ncRNAs in influencing chemotherapy resistance in PC. We believe that exosomal ncRNAs can be considered as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of PC as well as new therapeutic targets.

[The role and mechanism of lncRNA C9ORF139 targeting miR-24-3P/TAOK1 in regulating the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells]

Objective: To investigate the role and mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) C9ORF139 targeting micro RNA(miR)-24-3P/TAOK1 in regulating the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Methods: AML cells HL-60 and THP-1 were purchased from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and divided into 4 groups:group A was negative control group (siNC group), group B was interference C9ORF139 group (siC9ORF139 group), group C was siC9ORF139+miR-24-3p inhibitor group, and group D was miR-24-3P+TAOK1 overexpression group (oe-TAOK1 group). Real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to detect the expression levels of AML cell lines of HL-60 and THP-1 in four groups. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was performed to measure cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was applied to analyze cell apoptosis. Transwell test was applied to detect cell migration and invasion ability. Western blot was used to detect p-serine/threonine kinase (p-raf) and p-mitogen activation proteinkinase (p-MEK), p-extracellular regulatory protein kinase (p-ERK) expression. The luciferase reporter gene plasmid was constructed to verify the binding ability of C9ORF139,miR-24-3P and TAOK1.Nude mice were inoculated with subcutaneous tumor cells of HL-60 (group A) and HL-60 (group B). Results: After the C9ORF139 gene was knocked down and cultured for 120 h, The cell proliferation ability (0.62±0.02, 0.82±0.02), migration ability (0.22±0.03, 0.05±0.01), invasion ability (0.20±0.02, 0.13±0.03) of group B were all lower than that of group A (1.30±0.02, 1.83±0.07; 0.99±0.02, 0.99±0.02; 1.00±0.01, 1.00±0.01) (all P<0.05). When co-transfected with miR-24-3 inhibitor, cell proliferation ability, migration ability and invasion ability were all higher in group B (all P<0.05). When co-transfected with miR-24-3P and oe-TAOK1 plasmid, cell proliferation ability, migration ability and invasion ability were all higher than group B (all P<0.05).When the C9ORF139 gene in the cells was knocked down, the apoptosis level of group B (28.56±8.07, 17.74±1.91) were higher than those of group A (0.31±0.27, 2.49±0.33)(all P<0.05); when co-transfected with miR-24-3P inhibitor, the apoptosis level (2.34±0.09, 3.06±0.06) were lower than those in group B (all P<0.05); when co-transfected with miR-24-3P and oe-TAOK1 in the plasmid group, the apoptosis level (2.16±1.29, 4.80±0.37) were also lower than those of group B (all P<0.05). In HL-60 and THP-1 cells, when C9ORF139 was not mutated, the luciferase activity of miR-24-3P group was lower than that of the miR-NC group (P<0.05). When the binding site with miR-24-3p in C9ORF139 sequence was mutated, the luciferase activity in miR-24-3p group was equivalent to that in miR-NC group (P>0.05).When TAOK1 was not mutated; the luciferase activity of miR-24-3P group was lower than that of group A (P<0.05). When the binding site with miR-24-3p in TAOK1 sequence was mutated, the luciferase activity in miR-24-3p group was equivalent to that in miR-NC group (P>0.05).When the C9ORF139 gene in HL-60 cells was knocked down and cultured for 72 h, the phosphorylation expression levels of Raf, MEK and ERK molecules in group B were significantly lower than those in group A (all P<0.05). By day 14, the tumor volume in the group A was greater than the tumor cell volume in the group B [(284.49±57.61) vs (125.70±18.64) mm³, P=0.017]. The tumor weight of HL-60 in group A was heavier than that of group B [(847.80±159.36) vs (408.40±113.16) mg, P=0.001]. Conclusions: LncRNA C9ORF139 regulates TAOK1 by sponging miR-24-3P to promote the proliferation, invasion and migration of acute myeloid leukemiacell.In vivo experiments have confirmed that the expression of C9ORF139 can promote the growth of subcutaneous tumors in AML nude mice.

[The clinical values of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an early predictor of anastomotic leak in postoperative rectal cancer patients]

Objective: To assess the clinical value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting anastomotic leak of postoperative rectal cancer patients. Methods: The clinical data of 787 rectal cancer patients who underwent anterior resection from January 2014 to December 2017 in Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected. The postoperative numbers of white blood cell (WBS) on postoperative day (POD)1, 3 and 5 were detected, and the NLR was calculated. The relationship of NLR and the incidence of anastomotic leak was analyzed, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves was calculated. The accuracy of postoperative NLR in predicting the incidence of anastomotic leak was evaluated. Results: WBC counts of patients with leak on POD1, POD3 and POD5 were 13.2×10(9)/L, 9.1×10(9)/L and 8.9×10(9)/L, respectively, while those of patients without leak were 12.9×10(9)/L, 9.0×10(9)/L and 8.8×10(9)/L. The WBC count was not significantly different between patients with or without leak (P>0.05). The average NLR values of patients with or without leak were 13.3 and 11.6 on POD1, 10.9 and 7.6 on POD3, 9.3 and 5.3 on POD5, respectively. The NLR values of patients with leak on POD3 and POD5 were significantly higher than those of patients without leak (P<0.05). The cutoff value of NLR on POD3 was 8.6, the sensitivity and specificity of detecting the leakage was 73.2% and 75.6%, respectively, and the area under curve (AUC) was 0.744. The cutoff value of NLR on POD5 was 5.5, the sensitivity and specificity was 69.6% and 75.5%, the AUC was 0.726. The multivariate analysis result showed that NLR >8.6 was an independent factor for anastomotic leak prediction. Conclusion: Postoperative NLR on day 3 is useful in predicting anastomotic leak and can decrease the incidence of complication in rectal cancer patients who underwent anterior resection.

[Coexisting mutations in NPM1-mutated elderly adults with acute myeloid leukemia]

Objective: To explore the coexisting mutations in NPM1 mutated elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia(AML). Methods: The clinical data of 152 elderly adults(aged≥60 years) and 49 young adults(aged 18-45 years) with AML between June 2013 and December 2018 in outpatient and hospitalized patients of Changzhou Second People's Hospital and Wuxi Second People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 51 gene mutations were detected using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and sanger sequencing. The general clinical characteristics, the occurrence of coexistence gene mutations, the correlation between coexistence gene mutations and some clinical parameters, and the initial induction remission rate between elderly and young adult AML patients with NPM1 mutations were analyzed and compared. Results: NPM1 mutations were detected in 46 of 152 elderly AML patients. Thirty eight patients (82.6%) with NPM1 mutations carried other gene mutations at the same time, among whom 8 patients (17.4%) carried NPM1 mutations alone, while 14(30.4%) carried 2, 16 (34.8%) carried 3, and 8 (17.4%) carried ≥ 4 mutations. NPM1 mutations frequently co-occurred with FLT3-ITD15 cases (32.6%) , DNMT3A10 (21.7%) , TET26 (13.4%) and FLT3-TKD5 (10.9%) . Compared with young adults with NPM1 mutations, elderly patients had higher TP53, FLT3-TKD rates, lower incidence of DNMT3A, RAS mutation (all P<0.05) and lower coexistence rate of 4 gene mutations (P=0.002).The presence of ≥ 4 mutations was found to be significantly associated with higher white blood level than those in patients with single, double and 3 mutations coexisted in elderly adults AML patients(all P<0.05). With the increase of the amount of mutations, the complete remission(CR) rate decreased gradually after the initial induction. Patients who carried 3 or more mutations showed a lower CR rate than those with single gene mutations (all P<0.05) . Patients who carried>4 genes also showed a significantly lower CR rate than those with double gene mutations (P=0.031). Patients with FLT3-ITD mutations exhibited higher white blood level and lower CR rate than that in nonmutant type group (all P<0.05). The CR rate of patients with DNMT3A mutation was also significantly lower than that with nonmutant type (P=0.033). However, patients with FLT3-TKD mutations showed a higher platelet level than that with nonmutant type (P=0.019). There was no significant difference in CR rate and peripheral blood cell level between TET2 mutated and nonmutant type. Conclusion: NPM1 mutated elderly patients with AML commonly show additional mutations, and the amount and type of coexisting mutations have an influence on the clinical features and CR rate of elderly patients with AML.

[Inhibitory Eefects of the novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor BGJ398 against human leukemic cell line KG-1 cells]

目的

探讨针对FGFR1的酪氨酸激酶抑制剂BGJ398对人急性髓系白血病细胞株KG-1细胞的影响及可能的作用机制。

方法

CCK-8法检测BGJ398对KG-1细胞增殖的影响；流式细胞术Annexin Ⅴ/PI双重染色法检测BGJ398对细胞凋亡的影响；RQ-PCR检测细胞凋亡相关基因的表达；Western blot法检测凋亡相关蛋白、FGFR1OP2-FGFR1融合蛋白及信号通路分子磷酸化水平的表达变化。

结果

BGJ398能有效抑制KG-1细胞增殖，抑制率呈剂量依赖性升高，并能诱导细胞凋亡。BGJ398作用KG-1细胞48 h后，与对照组比较凋亡相关基因Bcl-2表达下降（0.342±0.054对1.026±0.165，t=3.94，P=0.017），caspase-3表达上调（0.456±0.189对1.008±0.091，t=16.44，P<0.001），差异均有统计学意义。与对照组相比，BGJ398作用组caspase-3活化蛋白表达增加，同时Bcl-2蛋白表达下调；FGFR1OP2-FGFR1融合蛋白水平及AKT、S6K1磷酸化水平下调，差异均有统计学意义（P值均<0.01），但ERK磷酸化表达水平无明显改变。

结论

BGJ398能有效抑制KG-1细胞增殖并诱导细胞凋亡，其机制可能与抑制FGFR1表达、下调Bcl-2水平、促进Caspase-3活化及抑制AKT和S6K磷酸化有关。

Association of the invasiveness of colon cancer with the expression of C/EBPα

The present study aimed to investigate the association of the invasiveness of colon cancer (CC) with the expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα). Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expression of C/EBPα in the cancer and adjacent tissue samples from 48 patients with CC. A pCDGFP-C/EBPα eukaryotic expression vector was constructed, and a wound-healing assay was performed to observe the effect of transfection on the migration of SW480 cells. In addition, the expression levels of tumor invasion-associated proteins, including Kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5), matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and E-cadherin (ECD) were detected subsequent to transfection. Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that the rate of low C/EBPα expression in normal tissue was 6.25%, whereas the rate in CC tissues was 68.75%; this difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The patients with lower C/EBPα expression exhibited statistically larger tumor diameters, more advanced tumor-node-metastasis (TMN) stages and a greater likelihood of lymph node metastasis. The overexpression of C/EBPα significantly reduced the mobility of SW480 cells, and the expression of KLF5, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was reduced, whereas the expression of ECD was increased. In conclusion, C/EBPα was downregulated in CC tissue samples, and associated with the TMN stage and metastasis of CC; in addition, the overexpression of C/EBPα significantly reduced the invasiveness of CC cells. This may be significant for the diagnosis and treatment of CC in the future.

Neutron scattering measurements of spatially anisotropic magnetic exchange interactions in semiconducting K0.85 Fe1.54Se2 (TN = 280 K

We use neutron scattering to study the spin excitations associated with the stripe antiferromagnetic order in semiconducting K(0.85)Fe(1.54)Se(2) (T(N) = 280 K). We show that the spin-wave spectra can be accurately described by an effective Heisenberg Hamiltonian with highly anisotropic inplane couplings at T = 5 K. At high temperature (T = 300 K) above T(N), short-range magnetic correlation with anisotropic correlation lengths are observed. Our results suggest that, despite the dramatic difference in the Fermi surface topology, the inplane anisotropic magnetic couplings are a fundamental property of the iron-based compounds; this implies that their antiferromagnetism may originate from local strong correlation effects rather than weak coupling Fermi surface nesting.

Strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and origin of ferroelectricity in Cu2OSeO3

By performing density functional calculations, we investigate the origin of the Skyrmion state and ferroelectricity in Cu2OSeO3. We find that the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions between the two different kinds of Cu ions are extremely strong and induce the helical ground state and the Skyrmion state in the absence and presence of a magnetic field, respectively. On the basis of the general model for the spin-order induced polarization, we propose that the ferroelectric polarization of Cu2OSeO3 in the collinear ferrimagnetic state arises from an unusual mechanism, i.e., the single-spin-site contribution due to the spin-orbit coupling.

Giant ferroelectric polarization of CaMn7O12 induced by a combined effect of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and exchange striction

By extending our general spin-current model to noncentrosymmetric spin dimers and performing density functional calculations, we investigate the causes for the helical magnetic order and the origin of the giant ferroelectric polarization of CaMn7O12. The giant ferroelectric polarization is proposed to be caused by the symmetric exchange striction due to the canting of the Mn4+ spin arising from its strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Our study suggests that CaMn7O12 may exhibit a novel magnetoelectric coupling mechanism in which the magnitude of the polarization is governed by the exchange striction, but the direction of the polarization by the chirality of the helical magnetic order.

Further evidence for an HLA-related recessive mutation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma among the Chinese

We typed 247 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a disease predominantly of the southern Chinese, and 274 controls from the Chao Shan region of China's Guangdong province for HLA A and B. Besides confirming the established associations with A2, A33, B46 and B58 (positive associations) and A11 (negative association), the results demonstrated a number of rarer alleles with strong negative association with NPC. Our data, combined with those from the previous studies in Southern Chinese, displayed the protective effects for A31 (odds ratio (OR)=0.0; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0-0.11), B13 (OR=0.50; 95% CI=0.35-0.69), B27 (OR=0.49; 95% CI=0.25-0.92), B39 (OR=0.18; 95% CI=0.06-0.48) and B55 (OR=0.32; 95% CI=0.14-0.68), the ORs comparing individuals with or without each allele. Other ethnic groups do not display such large HLA-associated variation in NPC risk. We show that a linked NPC gene with dominant mode of action could not generate such large protective effects. The results provide strong supporting evidence for the existence of a southern Chinese specific, recessive NPC gene closely linked to the HLA region as a major determinant of the Chinese risk for the disease.

[Investigation on the excited state dynamics properties of hemicyanine molecules]

In this paper, the excited state dynamics properties of hemicynine were investigated by using time-resolved fluorescence and 3D fluorescence spectra techniques. The interaction of hemicyanine molecules caused formation of H-aggregates and a blue shift of the 3D fluorescence spectra in interleaving hemicyanine/arachidic acid multilayers. The peak of fluorescence was a red shift along with the time decay. The lifetime of the LB fluorescence was much shorter and the difference of beginning luminescence was less than that of the hemicyanine solution due to the stronger intermolecule interactions in the aggregates.

Number and distribution of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions and evolutionary relationships in domestic pigs

Variation in the numbers of silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORS) were examined in 36 breeds of domestic pig of different geographic origins and five subspecies of wild boar. The relationship between Ag-NORs and evolution of domestic pigs was investigated. In all pigs observed, Ag-NORs were localized on the secondary constriction of chromosomes 10 and 8. The mean Ag-NOR numbers varied from 2.0-4.0, and decreased gradually with the different geographical distribution from south to north in China and from east to west in Europe. This regular change was caused mainly by the differences of frequency in chromosome 8 Ag-NOR type and was closely related to the evolution of domestic pig breeds.

Antimycobacterial activities of two newer ansamycins, R-76-1 and DL 473

The antimycobacterial activities of two newer ansamycins, isobutylpiperazinylrifamycin SV (R-76-1) and cyclopentylrifamycin SV (DL 473), were compared with those of rifampin (RMP) both in vitro and in vivo. In terms of minimal inhibitory concentrations against a number of cultivable mycobacteria, R-76-1 was about eight times more active in vitro than RMP; whereas DL 473 was only slightly more active than RMP. Therapeutic activities of R-76-1 versus RMP and DL 473 versus RMP were compared, respectively, in the experimental infection of mice with Mycobacterium lepraemurium by different treatment schedules (immediate and delayed) and dosage regimens. R-76-1 appeared to have been three times more effective than RMP; DL 473 was also more effective than RMP in that an equivalent therapeutic effect could be obtained by fewer doses of DL 473 than of RMP, and in that DL 473 exerted a more prolonged activity than RMP. With the kinetic method and a dosage of 0.001% in the diet, R-76-1 demonstrated a bactericidal-type effect against M. leprae whereas RMP did not; with the proportional bactericidal method, R-76-1 possessed about three times the bactericidal activity of RMP against M. leprae. When drugs were administered once in 4 weeks, the RMP dose required to prevent multiplication of M. leprae in the foot pads of half of the mice was in the range of 1.25 to 2.5 mg/kg; whereas that of DL 473 was less than 0.625 mg/kg. With the proportional bactericidal method, even a single dose of 1.25 mg DL 473 per kg was active against M. leprae; whereas the smallest single active dose of RMP was 10 mg/kg. DL 473 in single doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg was significantly more effective than RMP in equal doses and, among the intermittent regimens administered four times, once every 4 weeks, no significant differences of bactericidal activity were observed between RMP at 20 mg/kg and DL 473 at 0.625 mg/kg. A preliminary clinical trial of R-76-1 in 20 patients with lepromatous leprosy showed that the compound, administered in a dosage of 150 mg daily, was very effective.

Non-A, non-B hepatitis in persistent carriers of hepatitis B virus

There are reports in the literature that infection with hepatitis A virus in hepatitis B carriers can result in resolution of the carrier state. In an attempt to induce clearance of the carrier state of hepatitis B virus in two persistently infected chimpanzees, the chimpanzees were infused with documented non-A, non-B infectious material. Biochemical and histopathological evidence of hepatitis was accompanied by the unique abnormalities of endoplasmic reticulum associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis in the chimpanzees. Elevation of alanine aminotransferase was accompanied by fourfold reduction in one chimpanzee and sixfold reduction in the other in the plasma levels of HBV-associated DNA polymerase activity and simultaneously by twofold reduction in the concentration of hepatitis B surface antigen in both chimpanzees. A mediator may account for these changes in markers of hepatitis B virus infection, and this mechanism may also explain the occurrence of spontaneous regression in some persistently infected carriers. The significance of transient red cell anaemia in non-A, non-B hepatitis, which was observed in one of the chimpanzees, is yet to be established.

A study of ultrastructural alterations in experimental non-A, non-B hepatitis by electron-beam analysis

An electron-beam X-ray microanalysis was carried out on sections of liver biopsy specimens obtained from chimpanzees infected with non-A, non-B hepatitis. The microanalysis was concentrated over areas where typical derangement of the endoplasmic reticulum, with the formation of tubular forms possessing walls with electron-dense central membrane, was visualized. These tubular structures are regarded as the most notable pathological alteration in affected hepatocytes. However, the electron-probe microanalysis showed no deviation of the energy spectrum when compared with the background or control analysis.