[Effects of Enterococcus faecalis supernatants on inflammatory responses of human periodontal ligament cells under pressure]

Objective: To study the effect of various concentrations of Enterococcus faecalis (Ef) supernatants on human periodontal ligament cell (hPDLC) and the inflammatory response of hPDLC under static pressure. Methods: The method of methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) was used to detect the effect of various concentrations of Ef supernatants on the proliferation of hPDLCs and the flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) on the surface of hPDLC after 24-hour-stimulation of Ef supernatant. Furthermore, the hPDLCs were divided into non inducing group without Ef supernatant and inducing group with 5% Ef supernatant, and hPDLCs in each group were loaded with 0, 49 and 196 Pa static pressures respectively. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) after 24 hours. Results: MTT results showed that the supernatant of Ef with concentration≥5% could significantly inhibit the proliferation activity of hPDLCs at 48 hours of cell culture (P<0.05). Flow cytometry showed that the positive cell rates of TLR-2 increased with increasing volume fractions of the Ef supernatants. The values were (2.12±0.07)%, (2.41±0.32)%, (2.65±0.27)%, (4.76±0.46)%, (9.91±0.92)% and (12.01±1.35)%, respectively. The differences were statistically significant when the concentrations≥5% (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA between the non inducing group and the control group under the pressure of 49 Pa (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences in the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α mRNA between the non inducing group and the control group under the pressure of 196 Pa (P<0.05), while the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α in the inducing group were significantly lower than that in the control group under the pressures of 49 and 196 Pa (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression was significantly increased (P<0.05). The result of ELISA was consistent with that of PCR. Conclusions: High concentration of Ef supernatant could inhibit the proliferation of hPDLC. Ef supernatant might promote the expression of TLR-2 on the surface of hPDLC. Excessive mechanical pressure induced the inflammatory response of hPDLC. The presence of inflammatory mediators could lead to the intolerance of hPDLC to pressures and small pressure could aggravate the inflammatory response.

[Effect of imatinib on the height of children with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase]

目的

评估伊马替尼对慢性髓性白血病慢性期（CML-CP）儿童身高的影响。

方法

2018年7月至2019年7月，在全国范围内对诊断时年龄<18周岁、接受伊马替尼治疗至少3个月的CML儿童或其家长发放问卷，调查受访者伊马替尼治疗前后身高的变化。主要评价指标为身高标准差积分值（HtSDS）以及标准差积分的差值（ΔHtSDS），并分析其相关影响因素。

结果

共有238例受访者符合标准并被纳入研究，男性138例（58.0％），初诊时中位年龄11.0（1.4～17.9）岁，青春期前93例（39.0％），至填写答卷时，中位年龄15.0（2.0～34.0）岁，中位伊马替尼服药时间28（3～213）个月。受访者填写答卷时HtSDS（−0.063±1.361）较治疗前HtSDS（0.391±1.244）显著下降（P<0.001），71.0％的患儿出现身高增长减慢。青春期前服药者治疗后HtSDS下降显著（P<0.05），而青春期开始后服药者HtSDS变化不明显（P>0.05）。多因素分析显示，服药初始年龄较小（偏回归系数为0.122，B＝0.572，t＝10.733，P<0.001）和服药时间较长（偏回归系数为−0.006，B＝−0.211，t＝−4.062，P<0.001）是伊马替尼抑制身高增长的独立影响因素。

结论

伊马替尼引起CML-CP儿童身高增长障碍，服药初始年龄越小、服药时间越长，伊马替尼对身高的影响越明显。

Cellulose Aerogel Derived Hierarchical Porous Carbon for Enhancing Flavin-Based Interfacial Electron Transfer in Microbial Fuel Cells

The flavin-based indirect electron transfer process between electroactive bacteria and solid electrode is crucial for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Here, a cellulose-NaOH-urea mixture aerogel derived hierarchical porous carbon (CPC) is developed to promote the flavin based interfacial electron transfer. The porous structure of the CPC can be tailored via adjusting the ratio of urea in the cellulose aerogel precursor to obtain CPCs with different type of dominant pores. According to the electrocatalytic performance of different CPC electrodes, the CPCs with higher meso- and macropore area exhibit greatly improved flavin redox reaction. While, the CPC-9 with appropriate porous structure achieves highest power density in Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 MFC due to larger active surface for flavin mediated interfacial electron transfer and higher biofilm loading. Considering that the CPC is just obtained from the pyrolysis of the cellulose-NaOH-urea aerogel, this work also provides a facile approach for porous carbon preparation.

Electroacupuncture improves microcirculation and neuronal morphology in the spinal cord of a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion

Most studies on spinal cord neuronal injury have focused on spinal cord tissue histology and the expression of nerve cell damage and repair-related genes. The importance of the microcirculation is often ignored in spinal cord injury and repair research. Therefore, in this study, we established a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion by inserting a silica gel pad into the left ventral surface of T₁₃. Electroacupuncture was used to stimulate the bilateral Zusanli point (ST36) and Neiting point (ST44) for 14 days. Compared with control animals, blood flow in the first lumbar vertebra (L₁) was noticeably increased in rats given electroacupuncture. Microvessel density in the T₁₃ segment of the spinal cord was increased significantly as well. The number of normal neurons was higher in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In addition, vacuolation in the white matter was lessened. No obvious glial cell proliferation was visible. Furthermore, hindlimb motor function was improved significantly. Collectively, our results suggest that electroacupuncture can improve neuronal morphology and microcirculation, and promote the recovery of neurological functions in a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion.

Quantum dot-based nanocomposites for biomedical applications

Quantum dot (QD) has been extensively investigated as a nanoprobe to replace conventional organic dyes due to its unique optical properties. However, nanotoxicity of QD greatly hampers its biomedical applications, particularly in in vivo imaging. It is critical to functionalize QD and/or composite QD with other functional materials for biocompatibility, multifunction and expanded applications. In this review, advances of QD-based nanocomposites are addressed with emphasis of their synthesis, fundamental understanding and applications in biosensor, multimodal imaging, drug delivery, diagnostics and cancer therapy. Some specific QD-based bionanosystems and future development directions are also discussed.

Mesenchymal stem cell as salvage treatment for refractory chronic GVHD

Refractory chronic GVHD (cGVHD) is an important complication after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT and is prognostic of poor outcome. MSCs are involved in tissue repair and modulating immune responses in vitro and in vivo. From April 2005 to October 2008, 19 patients with refractory cGVHD were treated with MSCs derived from the BM of volunteers. The median dose of MSCs was 0.6 × 10(6) cells per kg body weight. Fourteen of 19 patients (73.7%) responded well to MSCs, achieving a CR (n=4) or a PR (n=10). The immunosuppressive agent could be tapered to less than 50% of the starting dose in 5 of 14 surviving patients, and five patients could discontinue immunosuppressive agents. The median duration between MSC administration and immunosuppressive therapy discontinuation was 324 days (range, 200-550 days). No patients experienced adverse events during or immediately after MSC infusion. The 2-year survival rate was 77.7% in this study. Clinical improvement was accompanied by the increasing ratio of CD5+CD19+/CD5-CD19+ B cells and CD8+CD28-/CD8+CD28+ T cells. In conclusion, transfusion of MSCs expanded in vitro, irrespective of the donor, might be a safe and effective salvage therapy for patients with steroid-resistant, cGVHD.

Nanostructured polyaniline/titanium dioxide composite anode for microbial fuel cells

A unique nanostructured polyaniline (PANI)/mesoporous TiO(2) composite was synthesized and explored as an anode in Escherichia coli microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results of X-ray diffraction, morphology, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption studies demonstrate a networked nanostructure with uniform nanopore distribution and high specific surface area of the composite. The composite MFC anode was fabricated and its catalytic behavior investigated. Optimization of the anode shows that the composite with 30 wt % PANI gives the best bio- and electrocatalytic performance. A possible mechanism to explain the excellent performance is proposed. In comparison to previously reported work with E. coli MFCs, the composite anode delivers 2-fold higher power density (1495 mW/m(2)). Thus, it has great potential to be used as the anode for a high-power MFC and may also provide a new universal approach for improving different types of MFCs.

[Preliminary screening of Chinese herbal medicine in inhibiting Helicobacter pylori]

At present Helicobacter pylori (HP) was taken to be closely related to chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer. 226 patients with symptoms of upper digestive tract by endoscope were examined and chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer were diagnosed. Mucous membrane from gastric antrum was taken and cultured, and found that 136 cases of 226 patients were HP positive and the rate of positiveness was 60.18%. 200 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine were selected to investigate its inhibitory action on HP. Results indicated that 38 among 200 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine had inhibitory effects on HP, which provided evidence for diagnosis and treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis and peptic ulcer, also for inhibition of HP growth.

[Changes in acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase in blood during pulmonary hypertension]

Two models of pulmonary hypertension in rats have been made with either monocrotaline or passive smoking (with or without infection). The decrease of RBC acetylcholinesterase activity and the increase of acetylcholine content in blood were detected in both rat models, but did not in rats which were only once infected by E. Coli, and the pulmonary pressure of the latter did not raise either. Comparing 30 cases of acute attack period of chronic pulmonary heart disease with 30 cases of normal persons, RBC acetylcholinesterase decreased significantly, indicating that hyperfunction of cholinergic nerve existed in pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary heart disease.

Relation between the therapeutic effect of moxibustion in treating arthralgia and SP and enkephalin in nervous tissues

Moxibustion can accelerate the relief of arthralgia of rats suffering from adjuvant arthritis. At the same time, it promotes the recovery of SP in the sciatic nerve, and maintains SP and leu-enkephalin at a higher level in the lumbar spinal cord. The results show that the therapeutic effect of moxibustion in treating arthralgia bears some relation to activating the spinal enkephalin system and modulating the function of primary afferent neurons.