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Yan Guo, Hua-Ming Li, Wei-Qin Zhu, Zhen Li Department of Gastroenterology, Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yan GuoDepartment of Gastroenterology Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital, No. 38 West Lake Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 571 87823158Fax +86 571 87814481Email yanguodr1@163.comObjective: To investigate the role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) treatment.Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 522 patients with CSU who underwent a HP breath test in Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital between January 2018 and December 2019. The CSU-HP(+) group consisted of patients with CSU and HP infection, who were treated with antihistamines combined with HP eradication therapy. The CSU-HP(-) group consisted of patients with CSU alone, who were treated with antihistamines. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, using the nearest neighbor matching method on a 1:1 basis, was performed to ensure the characteristics of the CSU-HP(+) and CSU-HP(-) groups were similar. Factors, including age, gender, white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets, alanine transaminase, creatinine, immunoglobulin E, and pre-treatment urticaria activity score (UAS), were matched to obtain a balanced cohort of patients in each group. Therapeutic effects were compared after matching. t-tests, &KHgr;2 test, and McNemar’s test were used for comparison between the two groups before and after matching.Results: Patients in the CSU-HP(+) group reported significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms than those in the CSU-HP(-) group. UAS scores in the second week of treatment were significantly different between the two groups. After 3 months, the recurrence rate in the CSU-HP(+) group was lower than in the CSU-HP(-) group.Conclusion: Eradication of HP infection in patients with CSU helps relieve gastrointestinal symptoms, improves the therapeutic effect of CSU within 2 weeks, and reduces the recurrence rate 3 months after treatment.Keywords: chronic urticaria, chronic spontaneous urticaria, Helicobacter pylori, eradication therapy

Systems subjected to switching random excitations are practically significant because they include many safety-critical systems such as power plants and communication networks. In this paper, the reliability of multi-degree, nonlinear, non-integrable Hamiltonian systems subjected to switching random excitations is investigated. Such a system is formulated as a continuous–discrete hybrid based upon the Markov jump theory. Stochastic averaging is applied to suppress the rapidly varying parameters of the Markov jump process in order to generate a probability-weighted diffusion equation. The associated backward Kolmogorov equation is then set up, from which the approximate reliability function and probability density of first passage time are obtained. The utility and accuracy of this approximate procedure are demonstrated by two examples.

Systems which specifications change abruptly and statistically, referred to as Markovian-jump systems, are considered in this paper. An approximate method is presented to assess the asymptotic stability, with probability one, of nonlinear, multi-degree-of-freedom, Markovian-jump quasi-nonintegrable Hamiltonian systems subjected to stochastic excitations. Using stochastic averaging and linearization, an approximate formula for the largest Lyapunov exponent of the Hamiltonian equations is derived, from which necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability are obtained for different jump rules. In a Markovian-jump system with unstable operating forms, the stability conditions prescribe limitations on time spent in each unstable form so as to render the entire system asymptotically stable. The validity and utility of this approximate technique are demonstrated by a nonlinear two-degree-of-freedom oscillator that is stochastically driven and capable of Markovian jumps.

Systems whose specifications change abruptly and statistically, referred to as Markovianjump systems, are considered in this paper. An approximate method is presented to assess the stationary response of multidegree, nonlinear, Markovian-jump, quasi-nonintegrable Hamiltonian systems subjected to stochastic excitation. Using stochastic averaging, the quasi-nonintegrable Hamiltonian equations are first reduced to a one-dimensional Itô equation governing the energy envelope. The associated Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation is then set up, from which approximate stationary probabilities of the original system are obtained for different jump rules. The validity of this technique is demonstrated by using a nonlinear two-degree oscillator that is stochastically driven and capable of Markovian jumps.

In electric trains, a pantograph is mounted on the roof of the train to collect power through contact with an overhead catenary wire. The carbon-strip suspension of a pantograph, along which contact with the catenary occurs, is subjected to harmonic and stochastic contact-force excitations. In this paper, vertical dynamics of the carbon-strip suspension is studied with an aim of improving the reliability and safety of running trains. A single-degree-of- freedom model of the carbon-strip suspension with nonlinear stiffness is developed using parameter values of the DSA X pantograph. Through stochastic averaging, a Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation governing the stationary response of the carbon-strip suspension is set up. Based on the transition probability density of the stationary response, it is found that random jumps and bifurcations in the carbon-strip motion can occur. The possibility of motion bifurcations and the frequency of random jumps warrant consideration in advanced design of carbon-strip suspensions. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

In high-speed electric trains, a pantograph is mounted on the roof of the train to collect power through contact with an overhead catenary wire. The effect of fast harmonic and parametric excitation on a stochastically driven pantograph-catenary system is studied in this paper. A single-degree-of-freedom model of the pantograph-catenary system is adopted, wherein the stiffness of the nonlinear spring has a time-varying component characterized by both low and high frequencies. Using perturbation and harmonic averaging, a Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equation governing the stationary response of the pantograph-catenary system is set up. Based on the transition probability density of the stationary response, it is found that even small high-frequency parametric excitation has an appreciable effect on the system response. Among other things, it shifts the resonant frequency and often changes the response characteristics markedly. Copyright © 2014 R. H. Huan et al.

An innovative design procedure for controlling a nonlinear system subject to Poisson white noise excitation to target a specified stationary probability density function is proposed based on the approximate generalized Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation of a Poisson-white-noise-excited nonlinear system. First, the technique for deriving the generalized Fokker–Planck–Kolmogorov equation of the Poisson-white-noise-excited nonlinear system is briefly reviewed. Then, the approach for designing the feedback control of nonlinear stochastic systems under Poisson white noise excitations to target a pre-specified stationary probability density function is presented. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the procedure and effectiveness of the proposed control strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stochastic optimal semi-active control for stay cable multi-mode vibration attenuation by using magneto-rheological (MR) damper is developed. The Bingham model for an MR damper is used. The force produced by an MR damper is split into passive and active parts. The passive part is combined with structural damping forces into effective damping forces. The partially averaged Itô stochastic differential equations for controlled modal energies are derived by applying the stochastic averaging method for quasi-integrable Hamiltonian systems. Then the dynamical programming equation for controlled modal energies with an index involving control force is established by applying the stochastic dynamical programming principle, and a stochastic optimal semi-active control law is obtained by solving the dynamical programming equation. For controlled modal energies with an index not involving control force, bang-bang control law is obtained without solving a dynamical programming equation. A comparison between the two control laws shows that the stochastic optimal semi-active control strategy is superior to the bang-bang control strategy in the sense of higher control effectiveness and efficiency and less chattering. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Smart nanoplatforms designed for nuclear-targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to tumor sites are pivotal in advancing tumor treatment and immunotherapy. Herein, we introduced a novel nuclear-targeting double-shell smart nanoplatform (HMCuS/Pt/ICG@MnO 2 @9R-P201 (HMCPIM9P)), which synergistically enhances chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), immunotherapy and chemodynamic therapy (CDT). The core of this nanoplatform consists of double-shell multifunctional nanoparticles (HMCuS@MnO 2 ) that enable targeted delivery of the photosensitizer Indocyanine Green (ICG) and the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin (Pt). By effectively consuming glutathione (GSH), these nanoparticles boost the chemotherapeutic efficacy of Pt. Additionally, the manganese ion (Mn 2+ ) present activate the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) (cGAS-STING) pathway, bolstering adaptive immune responses against tumors and elevating the level of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. The incorporation of the hepatoma-targeting peptide (9R-P201 peptide) allows the system to exhibit FOXM1 receptor-mediated nuclear targeting properties specifically in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Notably, when combined with near-infrared (NIR) light, HMCPIM9P demonstrated a remarkable tumor inhibition rate of 95.6 %, fostered a robust immune response, and significantly inhibited tumor growth and recurrence. Overall, the smart nanoplatform boasts active nuclear targeting capabilities, enabling the enrichment of chemotherapeutic agents at tumor sites, and holds great potential for synergistic applications in enhancing chemotherapy and immunotherapy for HCC., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) levels increase the cardiovascular risk in populations with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Apolipoprotein (a) [apo(a)], a unique protein component of Lp(a), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Statins, the primary medication in managing ASCVD, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) but concurrently elevate plasma Lp(a) levels, contributing to an increased residual cardiovascular risk. In turn, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, a novel class of LDL-C lowering drugs, effectively reduce plasma Lp(a) levels, which is believed to decrease residual cardiovascular risk. However, the mechanism by which PCSK9 inhibitors reduce Lp(a) levels remains unknown. In addition, there are some clinical limitations of PCSK9 inhibitors. Here, we systematically review the past, present, and prospects of studies pertaining to Lp(a), PCSK9 inhibitors, and ASCVD., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bacterial testicular inflammation is one of the important causes of male infertility. Using plant-derived compounds to overcome the side effects of antibiotics is an alternative treatment strategy for many diseases. Schizandrin B (SchB) is a bioactive compound of herbal medicine Schisandra chinensis which has multiple pharmacological effects. However its effect and the mechanism against testicular inflammation are unknown. Here we tackled these questions using models of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mice and -Sertoli cells (SCs). Histologically, SchB ameliorated the LPS-induced damages of the seminiferous epithelium and blood-testicular barrier, and reduced the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in mouse testes. Furthermore, SchB decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibited the nuclear factor kB (NF-κB) and MAPK (especially JNK) signaling pathway phosphorylation in LPS-induced mSCs. The bioinformatics analysis based on receptor prediction and the molecular docking was further conducted. We targeted androgen receptor (AR) and illustrated that AR might bind with SchB in its function. Further experiments indicate that the AR expression was upregulated by LPS stimulation, while SchB treatment reversed this phenomenon; similarly, the expression of the JNK-related proteins and apoptotic-related protein were also reversed after AR activator treatment. Together, SchB mitigates LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting the AR-JNK pathway., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Identifying the atlas of immune cells from coronary sinus circulation (CSC) of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) may provide new insights into the role of immune cells in the progression of AF. Single-cell sequencing revealed substantial alterations in immune cells from CSCs of patients with PerAF, especially a markedly elevated abundance of T cells, after which we identified a T cell subset: FGFBP2(+)TRDC(-)CD4(-) T cells (Ftc-T cells), which can promote the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs),and the proportion of Ftc-T had a positive linear with AF recurrence post catheter ablation (CA). Moreover, IFI27 was found to be highly enriched in Ftc-T cells and promoted CFs proliferation and collagen expression. Altogether, our findings represent a unique resource providing in-depth insights into the heterogeneity of the immune cell from CSC of patients with PerAF and highlight the potential role of Ftc-T cells and IFI27 for AF progression., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)

3-Indole-3-one is a key intermediate in the synthesis of many drugs and plays an important role in synthetic chemistry and biochemistry. A new method for synthesizing trifluoromethylated 3-indoleketones by Pd(0)-catalyzed carbonylation was introduced. In the absence of additives, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropyl (an inexpensive and environmentally friendly synthetic block of trifluoromethyl) reacts with indole and carbon monoxide to generate trifluoromethylindole ketones with good yields, regioselectivity, and chemical selectivity; furthermore, the products exhibit strong resistance to basic functional groups, such as alkynes, aldehydes, and esters. In addition to the conversion of indole compounds into corresponding products, pyrrole and heteroindole may be suitable for corresponding chemical transformations. This study provides a synthetic method for the further construction of trifluoromethylated 3-indole ketones., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform a meta-analysis comparing the short-term and long-term outcomes in laparoscopic groin hernia repair with or without preservation of the uterine round ligament (URL) in females., Methods: We searched several databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and and CNKI databases. This meta-analysis included randomized clinical trials, and retrospective comparative studies regarding preservation or division of the URL in laparoscopic groin hernia repair in females. Outcomes of interest were age, BMI, type of hernia, type of surgery, operating time, estimated blood loss, time of hospitalization, seroma, concomitant injury, mesh infection, recurrence, uterine prolapse, foreign body sensation, chronic pain, and pregnancy. Meta-analyses and trial sequential analysis were performed with Review Manager v5.3 and TSA software, respectively., Results: Of 192 potentially eligible articles, 9 studies with 1104 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. There were no significant difference in age (MD-6.58, 95% CI - 13.41 to 0.24; P = 0.06), BMI (MD 0.05, 95%CI - 0.31 to 0.40; P = 0.81), blood loss (MD-0.04, 95% CI - 0.75 to 0.66; P = 0.90), time of hospitalization (MD-0.22, 95% CI-1.13 to 0.69; P = 0.64), seroma (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.41 to 1.24; P = 0.23), concomitant injury (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.24; P = 0.68), mesh infection (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01 to 2.61; P = 0.18), recurrence (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.18 to 7.25; P = 0.90), uterine prolapse(OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.07 to 6.94; P = 0.77), foreign body sensation (OR 1.95, 95% CI 0.53 to 7.23; P = 0.32) and chronic pain(OR 1.03 95% CI 0.4 to 2.69; P = 0.95). However, this meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in operating time (MD 6.62, 95% CI 2.20 to 11.04; P = 0.0003) between the preservation group and division group. Trial sequential analysis showed that the cumulative Z value of the operating time crossed the traditional boundary value and the TSA boundary value in the third study, and the cumulative sample size had reached the required information size (RIS), indicating that the current conclusion was stable., Conclusion: In summary, laparoscopic groin hernia repair in women with the preservation of the round uterine ligament requires a longer operating time, but there was no advantage in short-term or long-term complications, and there was no clear evidence on whether it causes infertility and uterine prolapse., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Recent evidence revealed that glucose fluctuation might be more likely to cause arrhythmia than persistent hyperglycemia, whereas its mechanisms were elusive. We aimed to investigate the effect of glucose fluctuation on the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia and its mechanism., Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were randomized to five groups: the controlled blood glucose (C-STZ) group, uncontrolled blood glucose (U-STZ) group, fluctuated blood glucose (GF-STZ) group, and GF-STZ rats with 100 mg/kg Tempol (GF-STZ + Tempol) group or with 5 mg/kg KN93 (GF-STZ + KN93) group. Six weeks later, the susceptibility of ventricular arrhythmias and the electrophysiological dysfunctions of ventricular myocytes were evaluated using electrocardiogram and patch-clamp technique, respectively. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized CaMKII (ox-CaMKII) were determined by fluorescence assay and Western blot, respectively. Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and H9C2 cells in vitro were used to explore the underlying mechanisms., Results: The induction rate of ventricular arrhythmias was 10%, 55%, and 90% in C-STZ group, U-STZ group, and GF-STZ group, respectively (P < 0.05). The electrophysiological dysfunctions of ventricular myocytes, including action potential duration at repolarization of 90% (APD 90 ), APD 90 short-term variability (APD 90 -STV), late sodium current (I Na-L ), early after depolarization (EAD) and delayed after depolarizations (DAD), as well as the levels of ROS and ox-CaMKII, were significantly increased in GF-STZ group. In vivo and ex vivo, inhibition of ROS or ox-CaMKII reversed these effects. Inhibition of I Na-L also significantly alleviated the electrophysiological dysfunctions. In vitro, inhibition of ROS increase could significantly decrease the ox-CaMKII activation induced by glucose fluctuations., Conclusions: Glucose fluctuations aggravated the I Na-L induced ventricular arrhythmias though the activation of ROS/CaMKII pathway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Phytochemical investigation of the seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi var. lacryma-jobi resulted in the isolation of eight compounds, including two new structures, coixdines A-B ( 1-2 ) and six known compounds ( 3-8 ). The structures of these compounds were determined by 1 D and 2 D NMR spectra referring to the literatures, together with HR-MS analysis. Coixdine A and B are first examples of spermidine skeleton in genus Coix . In the present paper, all compounds were evaluated for the cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (CT-26 and BxPC-3) in vitro , and none of the compounds exhibited obvious cytotoxic activity. The present investigation suggests that these amides seem to be of great chemotaxonomic value for C. lacryma-jobi .

Optical approaches are useful for studying the electronic and spin structure of materials. Here, based on the tight-binding model and linear response theory, we investigate the magneto-optical Kerr and Faraday effects in two-dimensional second-order topological insulators (SOTI) with external magnetization. We find that orbital-dependent Zeeman term induces band crossings for SOTI phase, which are absent for trivial phase. In the weak-magnetization regime, these crossings give rise to giant jumps (peaks) of Kerr and Faraday angles (ellipticity) for SOTI phase. In the strong-magnetization regime, we find that two nearly flat bands are formed at the high-symmetry point of Brillouin zone of SOTI phase. These flat bands give rise to two successive giant jumps (peaks) of Kerr and Faraday angles (ellipticity). These phenomena provide new possibilities to characterize and detect the two-dimensional SOTI phase., (© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)

Objectives: This systematic review was conducted to estimate the respective prevalence of gonorrhea among two high-risk populations in China and determine the epidemiological features of gonorrhea in them., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched to identify studies published between January 1, 1990, and October 31, 2022, with gonorrhea prevalence tested by polymerase chain reaction among female sex workers (FSWs) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were used to investigate potential factors of heterogeneity across studies. Trend analysis of prevalence was conducted by the Jonckheere-Terpstra method., Results: We identified 88 prevalence data points from 49 studies in China, with 30,853 participants of FSWs and 5523 participants of MSM. Pooled prevalence of gonorrhea among FSWs and MSM were 6.9% (95% confidence interval: 4.6-9.7%) and 2.5% (95% confidence interval: 1.5-3.7%), respectively. The subgroup analyses showed there were period, regional, and specimen collection methods diversities among FSWs, and diversities of the regions and specimen collection anatomical sites were found among MSM, in which the prevalence of rectum and pharynx was significantly higher than the urethra. A decreasing trend in the prevalence of gonorrhea was seen among FSWs (z = -4.03) from 1999 to 2021, not found for MSM in China., Conclusion: The prevalence of gonorrhea is high in two high-risk groups in China, with extragenital infections requiring particular attention. The findings of this study will provide evidence to formulate national policy and guidance for gonorrhea prevention and control., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Using network analysis, this study investigated how family communication patterns (Conversation and Conformity) were related to and predictive of adolescent overall depression severity and specific symptoms. A community sample of adolescents (10-17 years, n = 1327) completed the Children's Depression Inventory and the Revised Family Communication Pattern Instrument. Depressive symptoms were also re-assessed 6 months later. Results showed that Conversation orientation protected against, whereas Conformity orientation increased the risk of adolescent depression. Family communication particularly influenced the child's feeling of being unloved, and feeling unloved was the only symptom prospectively predicted by two communication orientations at baseline. These findings revealed the path linking family factors to adolescent depression and may have implications for future family-based interventions., (© 2022 Society for Research on Adolescence.)

Amide compounds are important organic compounds, which play an important role in biomedical chemistry, materials science, life science, and other fields. The synthesis of α-CF 3 amides, especially compounds containing 3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2 H -benzo[ b ][1,4]diazepine-2-one, has long been a challenge due to the tensile properties and instability of the rings. Here, we report an example of palladium-catalyzed carbonylation of CF 3 -containing olefin to form α-CF 3 acrylamide. By controlling the ligands, we can get different amide compounds as products. This method has good substrate adaptability and functional group tolerance., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Feeder cells are essential to derive pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) are widely used as feeder to generate and culture embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced PSCs (iPSCs) in many species. However it may not be suitable for livestock ESCs/iPSCs due to interspecies difference. Previously we derived bovine iPSCs from bovine Sertoli cells using MEF feeder. Here we compared the effects of MEF feeder and bovine embryonic fibroblasts (BEF) feeder on the maintenance of bovine iPSC pluripotency and morphology as well their contributions to the naïve-like conversion, based on a naïve medium (NM). The results showed successful conversion of the primed bovine iPSCs to naïve-like state within 3-4 days both on MEF feeder and BEF feeder in NM (termed as MNM and BNM respectively). These naïve-like iPSCs showed normal karyotype. There were more iPSC colonies under BNM condition than MNM condition. Epigenetically, histone modification H3K4 was upregulated, while H3K27 was downregulated in the naïve-like iPSCs. We further analyzed the naïve markers and differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo of these cells, which were all reserved throughout the maintenance. Together, bovine naïve-like iPSCs can be generated both on MEF and BEF feeder in NM condition. The BNM condition is able to sustain the pluripotency and differentiation potential of the naïve-like bovine iPSCs, and improve the conversion efficiency., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest The authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on syphilis case reporting in China, and provide evidence to evaluate the epidemic situation of syphilis and strengthen the prevention and control of syphilis during COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: The data were collected from the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention, National STD Management Information System, and the "nCov2019" R package of github website. The changes of reported cases of syphilis before and during COVID-19 epidemic in China were analyzed. Joinpoint regression model was established by using the reported case number of syphilis from 2010 to 2018, the data in 2019 was used for validation, and the number of syphilis cases in 2020 and 2021 was predicted. The impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the number of syphilis cases was evaluated with calculating the percentage error (PE) between actual number and predicted number of syphilis cases reported.The correlation between reported cases of syphilis and COVID-19 was analyzed by Spearman's correlation analysis. The softwares of Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 and SPSS 18.0 were used for statistical analysis. Results: In 2020 and 2021, the reported cases of syphilis in China decreased significantly by 13.32% and 10.41%, respectively, compared with 2019 (before COVID-19 epidemic), and the reported cases of syphilis in 2021 increased by 3.36% compared with 2020. The reported cases of syphilis in 2020 and 2021 decreased by 17.95% and 20.41%, respectively, compared with predicted numbers. From January to March 2020, the reported monthly case number of syphilis was completely negatively correlated with the confirmed case number of COVID-19 ( r s =-1.00, P <0.001). In the provinces with different scales of COVID-19 epidemic, there was also a negative correlation between the monthly reported case number of syphilis and confirmed case number of COVID-19 (all P <0.05). Conclusions: In China, the change of reported cases of syphilis was closely associated with COVID-19 epidemic in 2020 and 2021. Due to the influence of COVID-19 epidemic, the number of reported cases of syphilis decreased significantly, but it should not be thought that syphilis incidence will become a decline trend in the future. It is necessary to carefully and scientifically assess the changes in syphilis epidemic.

Long-term use of olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug, induces hypertriglyceridemia, resulting in a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. However, the effects and underlying mechanisms of short-term use of olanzapine on circulating triglyceride levels remain poorly understood. Here, the role of apolipoprotein A5 (apoA5), a regulator of triglyceride metabolism, was investigated in olanzapine-induced hypertriglyceridemia. Our multi-center clinical study recruited 36 schizophrenia patients who received short-term (8 weeks) of olanzapine. Besides, female C57BL/6J mice were treated with olanzapine (3 mg/kg/day versus 6 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. We demonstrated that short-term use of olanzapine increased plasma triglyceride and decreased plasma apoA5 levels in the patients and mice, with a negative correlation between the two factors. However, no obesity was observed in the patients and mice. Interestingly, olanzapine increased hepatic apoA5 protein in the mice, without significant changes in hepatic Apoa5 mRNA. Consistently, in vitro studies indicated that olanzapine increased medium triglyceride levels and decreased medium apoA5 levels in a dose-dependent manner in human HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes. Whereas the olanzapine treatment increased hepatic apoA5 protein in vitro , without effects on hepatic APOA5 mRNA. Of note, olanzapine increased the co-localization between apoA5 protein and accumulated lipid droplets in hepatocytes, as opposed to at the hepatocellular plasma membrane, in mouse liver as demonstrated by fluorescence staining. Therefore, our study indicated that short-term use of olanzapine induced hypertriglyceridemia due to defects of sorting and secretion of hepatic apoA5., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Huang, Zhu, Xiao, Zhang, Li, Yang, Shen, Luo, Dai, Lian, Tang, Ran and Huang.)

An isolated right atrial thrombus is a life-threatening entity that is extremely rare in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is characterized by a reduced left ventricular function and consequent left ventricular thrombosis. Here, we present the case of a mysterious isolated giant right atrial thrombus in a male patient with DCM. The presence of deep vein thrombosis prompted us to investigate for other underlying diseases for his right atrial thrombus. Interestingly, the elevation of two tumor markers indicated the likelihood of cancer-associated thrombosis. Further, the computed tomography demonstrated a spiculated mass in the lower right lung that was confirmed by an endobronchial biopsy as lung squamous cell carcinoma. Consequently, the giant thrombus in the right atrium should be attributed principally to lung squamous cell carcinoma on the background of DCM. After 3 weeks of enoxaparin, the echocardiogram indicated partial resolution of the thrombus. However, the patient suffered sudden death due to pulmonary embolism., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Lian, Long, Zhu and Huang.)

A major type of serious mood disorder, depression is currently a widespread and easily overlooked psychological illness. With the low side effects of natural products in the treatment of diseases becoming the pursuit of new antidepressants, natural Chinese medicine products have been paid more and more attention for their unique efficacy in improving depression. In a view from the current study, the positive antidepressant effects of berberine are encouraging. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to accurately elucidate the efficacy and mechanism of berberine in depression. In this review, the relevant literature reports on the treatment of depression and anxiety by berberine are updated, and the potential pharmacological mechanism of berberine in relieving depression has also been discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Zhu, Wu, Sun, Guo, Ge, Li, Li and Cui.)

Cuticle sclerotization is critical for insect survival. Laccase2 ( Lac2 ) is a phenol oxidase that plays a key role in cuticle formation and pigmentation in a variety of insects. However, the function of Lac2 in whitefly, Bemisia tabaci , remains unclear. In this study, we identified a BtLac2 gene in B. tabaci MEAM1 and found that BtLac2 was expressed in all stages. It was highly expressed in the egg stage, followed by nymph and adult. Moreover, the expression of BtLac2 was higher in the cuticle than in other tissues. Knockdown of BtLac2 in nymphs produced thinner and fragile cuticles, which significantly increased the mortality rate, extended the development duration of nymphs, and decreased the emergence rate of adults. This result demonstrates that BtLac2 plays an important role in the cuticle hardening of B. tabaci and suggests a potential management strategy using RNAi to knock down BtLac2 expression.

Zinc-modified titanium materials have been widely applied in oral implants. Among them, our previous studies have also successfully prepared a novel acid-etched microstructured titanium surface modified with zinc-containing nanowires (Ti-NW-Zn) and proved its excellent biocompatibility. It is well known that the functional regulation between angiogenesis and osteogenesis is of great importance for bone remodeling around implants. However, there are few reports concerning the biological safety of zinc ions released from materials and the appropriate concentration of released zinc ions which was more conducive to angiogenesis and bone regeneration. In this study, we investigated the effects of zinc ions released from Ti-NW-Zn surfaces on angiogenesis and osteogenesis using the zebrafish model and revealed the relationship between angiogenesis and osteogenesis via HUVECs and MC3T3-E1s in vitro . We found that the zinc ions released from Ti-NW-Zn surfaces, with a concentration lower than median lethal concentrations (LCs) of zebrafish, were biologically safe and promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis in vivo . Moreover, the proper concentration of zinc ions could induce the proliferation of HUVECs and osteogenic differentiation. The positive effects of the appropriate concentration of zinc ions on osteoblast behaviors might be regulated by activating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. These aspects may provide new sights into the mechanisms underlying zinc-modified titanium surfaces between osteogenesis and angiogenesis, to lay the foundation for further improving the materials, meanwhile, promoting the applications in dentistry., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Zhu, Li, Su, Chen, Liu and Qiu.)

Objective: To construct the lentivirus overexpression vector with two label genes fused with CopGFP and Puro R and to detect the emission of green fluorescence as well as resistance to puromycin in liver cancer cells infected with lentivirus packaged with the above vector. Methods: Firstly, two fragments containing copGFP and Puro R coding sequences were amplified from pCDH-CMV-MCS-copGFP and pLKO.1 respectively; secondly, the two amplified regions were fused with each other by recombinant PCR; thirdly, the fusion DNA fragment was cut and inserted into pCDH-CMV-MCS-copGFP vector, which was linearized with the same restriction endonuclease as used to digest fusion DNA fragment: BamH Ⅰ and Sal Ⅰ. The fusion region in the constructed vector was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The checked vector was co-transfected with package assistant plasmids, namely PLP1, PLP2 and VSVG into in 293T cells and the culture supernatant was subjected to centrifuge and infect liver cancer MHCC97H cells, which were then used to detect their resistance to puromycin (infected cells were treated with 1 mg/ml puromycin for 7 days after infection) and to observe green fluorescence emission in microscope. To determine its efficiency in expressing foreign target protein, the Sp1 coding region was inserted into the MCS sites of the vector, and Sp1 mRNA and protein expression levels were compared with the vehicle vector by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results: The lentivirus overexpression vector with two label genes fused with CopGFP and Puro R was successfully constructed, and the liver cancer cells infected with lentivirus packaged with the vector expressing two labeling genes fused with CopGFP and Puro R showed both emission of green fluorescence and resistance to puromycin simultaneously, while cells containing with the vector inserted with Sp1 coding region improved Sp1 mRNA level with 3.3 fold and protein level with 2.2 fold higher in comparison with cells containing the vehicle vector ( P ＜0.01). Conclusion: The fused label genes consisting of copGFP and Puro R are correctly cloned into the lentivirus vector and confer cells with the ability to emission of green fluorescence and resistance to puromycin, besides, the vector may promote the expression of the target gene with long coding sequence.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of cold snare endoscopic mucosal resection (CS-EMR) and hot snare endoscopic mucosal resection (HS-EMR) for colorectal polyps with diameters of 6-9 mm. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 485 patients with colorectal polyps (6-9 mm in size) who were treated with CS-EMR or HS-EMR in the endoscopy center of Hangzhou Third People's Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019. Colorectal polyps were lifted by submucosal injection of normal saline. The CS-EMR group used a cold snare to remove the lifting polyps, while the HS-EMR group used a hot snare. Propensity score matching analysis with 1:1 matching and the nearest neighbor matching method were performed to ensure well-balanced characteristics of the CS-EMR and HS-EMR groups. Matching factors included age, gender, body mass index, blood routine, coagulation indicators, polyp site, size, number, and morphology. This resulted in a balanced cohort of 128 patients per group. Polyp recovery, complications, clipping for disclosure, and length of hospital stay were compared after matching. t -Tests, χ 2 tests, McNemar's tests, and Fisher's exact test were used for comparison between the two groups before and after matching. Results: There were no differences between the two groups of intraoperative and postoperative bleeding ( P  > .05), but the CS-EMR clipping rate was lower than the HS-EMR group ( P  < .01). There was a higher incidence of post-polypectomy syndrome (PPS) ( P  = .03) and longer hospital stays ( P  < .01) in the HS-EMR group than the CS-EMR group. Conclusions: Compared with HS-EMR, CS-EMR is more convenient to operate, with a low incidence of PPS, clipping rates, and short hospital stays. It is a safe and effective removal method for 6-9 mm colorectal polyps.

Schisandrin A and B (Sch A and B) are the important components of Asian dietary supplement and phytomedicine Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis). They can enhance adult neurogenesis in vivo; however, these effects still need to be verified. Here NE-4 C neural stem cells (NSCs) were employed as the in vitro model and treated with Sch A and B at 0.1 μg/mL. EdU (5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling showed that both Sch A and B treatments enhanced NSC proliferation. Real-time PCR analysis showed the mRNA abundances of telomerase gene Tert and cell cycle gene Cyclin D1 were significantly up-regulated after the treatments. During the neurosphere induction, Sch B enhanced the neurosphere formation and neuronal differentiation, and increased the neurosphere semidiameters. Detection of the neuron differentiation marker Mapt indicates that both Sch A and B, especially Sch B, benefits the induced neuronal differentiation. Sch B treatment also enhanced mRNA expressions of the neurosphere-specific adhesion molecule Cdh2 and Wnt pathway-related genes including Mmp9, Cyclin D1 and β-catenin. Together, Sch A especially Sch B, promotes the proliferation, affects the survival, differentiation and neurogenesis of NSCs, which is consistent with their in vivo effects. This study provides further clue on the potential neuropharmacological effects of S. chinensis., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In recent years, the incidence of gastrointestinal cancer has remained high. Currently, surgical resection is still the most effective method for treating gastrointestinal cancer. Traditionally, radical surgery depends on open surgery. However, traditional open surgery inflicts great trauma and is associated with a slow recovery. Minimally invasive surgery, which aims to reduce postoperative complications and accelerate postoperative recovery, has been rapidly developed in the last two decades; it is increasingly used in the field of gastrointestinal surgery and widely used in early-stage gastrointestinal cancer. Nevertheless, many operations for gastrointestinal cancer treatment are still performed by open surgery. One reason for this may be the challenges of minimally invasive technology, especially when operating in narrow spaces, such as within the pelvis or near the upper edge of the pancreas. Moreover, some of the current literature has questioned oncologic outcomes after minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal cancer. Overall, the current evidence suggests that minimally invasive techniques are safe and feasible in gastrointestinal cancer surgery, but most of the studies published in this field are retrospective studies and case-matched studies. Large-scale randomized prospective studies are needed to further support the application of minimally invasive surgery. In this review, we summarize several common minimally invasive methods used to treat gastrointestinal cancer and discuss the advances in the minimally invasive treatment of gastrointestinal cancer in detail., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interests for this article., (©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Germplasm preservation of livestock or endangered animals and expansion of germline stem cells are important. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether supplementation of trehalose to the freezing medium (FM) reduces tissular damage and improves the quality of testicular cells in the cryopreserved bovine testicular tissues. We herein established an optimized protocol for the cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissues, and the isolation as well as culture of bovine germ cells containing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) from these tissues. The results showed that FM containing 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (Me 2 SO/DMSO), 10% knockout serum replacement (KSR) and 20% trehalose (FM5) combined with the uncontrolled slow freezing (USF) procedures has the optimized cryoprotective effect on bovine testicular tissues. The FM5 + USF protocol reduced the cell apoptosis, maintained high cell viability, supported the structural integrity and seminiferous epithelial cohesion similar to that in the fresh tissues. Viable germ cells containing SSCs were effectively isolated from these tissues and they maintained germline marker expressions in the co-testicular cells and co-mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) feeder culture systems respectively, during the short-term culture. Additionally, upregulated transcriptions of spermatogenic differentiation marker C-KIT and meiotic marker SYCP3 were detected in these cells after retinoic acid-induced differentiation. Together, FM5 + USF is suitable for the cryopreservation of bovine testicular tissues, with benefits of reducing the apoptosis, maintaining the cell viability, supporting the testicular structure integrity, and sustaining the survival and differentiation potential of bovine germ cells containing SSCs., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Germplasm cryopreservation and expansion of gonocytes/prospermatogonia or spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are important; however, it's difficult in cattle. Since inhibitors of Mek1/2 and Gsk3β (2i) can enhance pluripotency maintenance, effects of 2i-based medium on the cultivation of bovine prospermatogonia from the cryopreserved tissues were examined. The testicular tissues of newborn bulls were well cryopreserved. High mRNA levels of prospermatogonium/SSC markers (PLZF, GFRα-1) and pluripotency markers (Oct4/Pouf5, Sox2, Nanog) were detected and the PLZF + /GFRα-1 + prospermatogonia were consistently identified immunohistochemically in the seminiferous cords. Using differential plating and Percoll-based centrifugation, 41.59% prospermatogonia were enriched and they proliferated robustly in 2i medium. The 2i medium boosted mRNA abundances of Pouf5, Sox2, Nanog, GFRα-1, PLZF, anti-apoptosis gene Bcl2, LIF receptor gene LIFR and enhanced PLZF protein expression, but suppressed mRNA expressions of spermatogonial differentiation marker c-kit and pro-apoptotic gene Bax, in the cultured prospermatogonia. It also alleviated H 2 O 2 -induced apoptosis of the enriched cells and decreased histone H3 lysine (K9) trimethylation (H3K9me3) and its methylase Suv39h1/2 mRNA level in the cultured seminiferous cords. Overall, 2i medium improves the cultivation of bovine prospermatogonia isolated from the cryopreserved testes, by inhibiting Suv39h1/2-mediated H3K9me3 through Mek1/2 and Gsk3β signalling, evidencing successful cryopreservation and expansion of bovine germplasm., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Objective: Sertoli cells (SCs) are important sustentacular cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Isolation and identification of SCs are the premise for studying their functions. Since New Zealand rabbit is a stable strain which is widely used for biomedical research and animal farming, this study aimed to develop a simple and effective protocol for SC isolation in New Zealand rabbits., Materials and Methods: The SCs of three 30-day-old New Zealand rabbits were isolated by incubation with enzymatic digestion I (Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 1 mg/ml collagenase IV and 50 μg/ml DNase I) and digestion II (digestion I + 1 mg/ml hyaluronidase + 1 mg/ml trypsin), as well as differential plating. The cells were enriched and identified by using immunocytochemical staining and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis., Results: Homogeneous cells were obtained. They presented the typical large cell body and an irregular pyramidal shape after differential plating and passaging. These cells expressed mRNA of the SC marker sex-determining region Y-box 9 ( SOX9 ) instead of the Leydig cell marker StAR . Immunocytochemically, they are positive of SOX9 , GATA binding protein 4, and androgen-binding protein., Conclusion: The SCs were enriched from the testicular tissues of prepubertal New Zealand rabbits by a simple and effective protocol, which provides a basis for further theoretical researches and practical applications., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research.)

The development of effective methods to promote the osseointegration of dental implants by surface modification is an area of intense research in dental materials science. Exogenous metal ions present in the implant and surface modifications are closely related to the bone metabolism around the implant. In the complex oral microenvironment, the release of metal ions caused by continuous corrosion of dental implants has an unfavorable impact on the surrounding tissue, and then affects osseointegration, leading to bad results such as loosening and falling off in the late stage of the implant. Besides, these ions can even be distributed in distant tissues and organs. Currently, surface modification techniques are being developed that involve different processing technologies including the introduction of exogenous metal ions with different properties onto the surface of implants to improve performance. However, most metal elements have some level of biological toxicity and can only be used within a safe concentration range to exert the optimum biological effects on recipients. In this paper, we review the adverse effects of metal ions on osseointegration and highlight the emerging applications for metal elements in improving the performance of dental implants., Competing Interests: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The presence of metal ions, such as titanium (Ti) ions, is toxic to adjacent tissues of implants. Indeed, Ti ions may induce an inflammatory response through the NF-κB pathway, thus causing damage to soft and hard tissues. The involvement of Yes-associated protein (YAP), a key factor of the Hippo pathway, in an immuno-inflammatory response has been confirmed, whereas its role in Ti ion-mediated inflammation has not been elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of signal crosstalk between the Hippo/YAP and NF-κB signaling pathways in the pro-inflammatory effect of Ti ions on macrophages. In our work, RAW264.7 cells were cocultured with Ti ions. The migration capacity of macrophages under Ti ion exposure was measured by transwell assay. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expressions of related proteins. Polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The nucleus translocation of YAP and P65 was visualized and analyzed via immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the migration of macrophages was promoted under Ti ion exposure. Ten parts per million Ti ions induced nuclear expression of YAP and activated the NF-κB pathway, which finally upregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages. Moreover, the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway rescued the reduction of YAP expression under Ti ion exposure. Most importantly, the overexpression of YAP exacerbated the inflammatory response mediated by Ti ions through the NF-κB pathway. In summary, this study explored the mechanism of Hippo-YAP/NF-κB pathway crosstalk involved in the regulation of macrophage behaviors under Ti ion exposure., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Titanium (Ti) and alloys thereof are commonly utilized in biomedical settings owing to their desirable mechanical properties and good biocompatibility. However, when exposed to biological systems for extended periods of time, Ti still undergoes corrosion. In the present study, we therefore explore the impact of osteoclasts (OC) on the surface characteristics and corrosion of commercially pure Titanium (cpTi) in the context of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. We utilized tartrate resistant acidic phosphatase (TRAP) and fluorescence staining to assess OC properties, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), optical profilometer, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization tests, and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) were used to evaluate metal microstructure, surface composition and roughness, electrochemical corrosion properties, and metal ion release. SEM findings demonstrated that the surface of cpTi exhibited micro-pitting as well as the presence of viable OCs. Correspondingly, cpTi that had been exposed to OCs exhibited reduced levels of Ti, oxygen, and oxides within the corroded regions relative to smooth Ti as measured via EDS and XPS. OC exposure was also associated with significant changes in cpTi surface roughness, a significant decrease in corrosion resistance, and a significant increase in the release of Ti ions into the surrounding medium. In summary, these findings indicate that OC culture on the surface of cpTi can directly corrode titanium and lead to the release of Ti ions., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: During laparoscopic pelvic operational procedure for obese patients with rectal cancer, the large amount of fat in the abdominal cavity often impairs the exposure of the surgical field, resulting in technical difficulty. In contrast, robotic surgery has the advantages of being more minimally invasive, precise, and flexible. This study compared the clinical efficacy of robotic and laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer for overweight and obese patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Clinical data of 173 patients with rectal cancer and a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2) who received robotic or laparoscopic radical rectal resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2015 to February 2019 were retrospectively collected. Of 173 patients, 90 underwent robotic surgery and 83 underwent laparoscopic surgery. The intraoperative parameters, postoperative short-term and follow-up status were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The follow-up ended in December 2019. Results: Of 173 patients, 103 were male and 70 were female with a median age of 62 (range 29 to 86) years. The average BMI was (27.2±1.6) kg/m(2) in the robotic group and (27.3±1.5) kg/m(2) in the laparoscopic group. No significant differences in baseline data were observed between two groups (all P >0.05). As compared to the laparoscopic group, the robotic group had less intraoperative blood loss [(73.0±46.8) ml vs. (120.9±59.9) ml, t =-5.881, P <0.001] and higher postoperative hospitalization expense [(61±15) thousand yuan vs (52±13) thousand yuan, t =3.468, P =0.026]. The conversion rate in the robotic group was 1.1% (1/90), which was lower than 6.0% (5/83) in the laparoscopic group, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P =0.106). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in operative time, number of intraoperative blood transfusion, number of harvested lymph nodes, time to the first flatus, postoperative hospital stay and morbidity of total postoperative complications (all P >0.05). Five (6.0%) patients in the laparoscopic group developed urinary dysfunction, while no case in the robotic group developed postoperative urinary dysfunction ( P =0.024). The 173 patients were followed up for 8-59 months, with a median follow-up of 36 months. The 3-year overall survival rate of robotic group and laparoscopic group was 89.8% and 86.6%, respectively without significant difference between the two groups ( P =0.638). The 3-year disease-free survival rate of the robotic group and the laparoscopic group was 85.6% and 81.5%, respectively without significant difference as well ( P =0.638). Conclusions: Robotic radical surgery is safe and feasible for overweight and obese patients with rectal cancer. Compared with laparoscopic radical surgery, it has advantages of clear vision of surgical exposure, less intraoperative blood loss, less pelvic autonomic nerve damage, and operation in a narrow space.

The oral cavity is a complex environment that is constantly undergoing remodeling. This provides a favorable electrolytic aqueous condition, which causes the corrosion of titanium implants and the release of titanium (Ti) ions. The accumulation of Ti ions in the peri‑implant tissues may affect the osteogenesis process. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the possible effects of Ti ions on osteoblast physiology and its underlying mechanism, specifically the MAPK/JNK signaling pathway. In the present study, MC3T3‑E1 osteoblasts were cultured the medium containing 10 ppm Ti ions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to analyze cell morphology and adhesion. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay and western blotting were performed to evaluate the expression of proteins associated with osteogenesis such as Runx2 and Osterix. Nuclear translocation of JNK, a key factor of the MAPK signaling pathway, was visualized and analyzed using immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that 10 ppm Ti ions exerted negative effects on the biological behaviors of MC3T3‑E1 cells, which exhibited reduced adhesion, ALP activity and osteogenic differentiation. It was also found that 10 ppm Ti ions activated the MAPK/JNK signaling pathway by promoting the nuclear translocation of JNK via phosphorylation. In addition, the inhibitory effects of 10 ppm Ti ions on MC3T3‑E1 cells was found to be reversed by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. In conclusion, the preset study suggests that the MAPK/JNK signaling pathway serves a key role in the molecular mechanism underlying the changes in osteoblast behavior following Ti ion exposure. These findings may serve as a valuable reference point for the further in‑depth exploration of peri‑implant bone loss.

This paper presents a computational study of the adsorptive desulfurization of small aromatic sulfur compounds by conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs). The density-functional tight-binding method augmented with an R -6 dispersion correction is employed to investigate the physisorption binding mechanism and electronic properties of the CMP-aromatic sulfur complexes. We show that the widely extended π conjugation in the CMP skeletons is favorable for the non-covalent adsorption of aromatic thiophene and dibenzothiophene via π-π, H-π, and S-π interactions. The average binding energies are calculated to be -6.2 ∼ -15.2 kcal/mol for CMP- thiophene/dibenzothiophene systems. For the dibenzothiophene molecule with larger size and more extended conjugation, it binds more than twice stronger to CMP than the thiophene molecule. We show that the replacement of quinoline unit to the phenylene group in the network linker effectively enhances the average binding capacities by around 0.8-1.8 kcal/mol. Our calculations theoretically demonstrate that CMPs materials are kind of promising candidates for the adsorptive desulfurization of small aromatic sulfur compounds. This paper provides useful theoretical guidance for design of novel carbon-based adsorbents for adsorptive desulfurization., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)