Clinical efficacy and mechanism study of mid-frequency anti-snoring device in treating moderate obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS)is primarily caused by airway obstruction due to narrowing and blockage in the nasal and nasopha-ryngeal,oropharyngeal,soft palate,and tongue base areas.The mid-frequency anti-snoring device is a new technology based on sublingual nerve stimulation.Its principle is to improve the degree of oropharyngeal airway stenosis in OSAHS patients under mid-frequency wave stimulation.Nevertheless,there is a lack of clinical application and imaging evidence.METHODS We selected 50 patients diagnosed with moderate OSAHS in our hospital between July 2022 and August 2023.They underwent a 4-wk treatment regimen involving the mid-frequency anti-snoring device during nighttime sleep.Following the treatment,we monitored and assessed the sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores.Additionally,we performed computed tomo-graphy scans of the oropharynx in the awake state,during snoring,and while using the mid-frequency anti-snoring device.Cross-sectional area measurements in different states were taken at the narrowest airway point in the soft palate posterior and retrolingual areas.RESULTS Compared to pretreatment measurements,patients exhibited a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index,the percentage of time with oxygen saturation below 90%,snoring frequency,and the duration of the most prolonged apnea event.The lowest oxygen saturation showed a notable increase,and both sleep apnea quality of life index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved.Oropharyngeal computed tomography scans revealed that in OSAHS patients cross-sectional areas of the oropharyngeal airway in the soft palate posterior area and retrolingual area decreased during snoring compared to the awake state.Conversely,during mid-frequency anti-snoring device treatment,these areas increased compared to snoring.CONCLUSION The mid-frequency anti-snoring device demonstrates the potential to enhance various sleep parameters in patients with moderate OSAHS,thereby improving their quality of life and reducing daytime sleepiness.These therapeutic effects are attributed to the device’s ability to ameliorate the narrowing of the oropharynx in OSAHS patients.

The inhibitory effects of NKX3.1 on IGF- 1R expression and its signalling pathway in human prostatic carcinoma PC3 cells

NKX3.1, which is a prostate-specific homeobox gene, plays an important role in prostate cancer and usually functions as a tumour suppressor gene. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of NKX3,1 on insulin-like growth factor （IGF）- 1R expression and its downstream signalling pathway in PC3 cells, PC3 cells were stably transfected with NKX3.1 expression plasmid （pcDNA3.1-NKX3.1） or vector plasmid （pcDNA3.1＋）. The IGF-IR mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed in PC3-NKX3.1 transfectants by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and Western blotting. The expression and activation of IGF-1/IGF-1R downstream signalling targets were examined by Western blotting and luciferase reporter assay. The cells were subsequently treated with relevant concentrations of IGF-1. The effect of IGF-1 on cell growth was examined by 3-（4,5）-dimethylthiahiazo（-z-yl）-3, 5-diphenytetrazoliumromide （MTT） assay and flow cytometry analysis. A significant suppression of IGF-1R mRNA and protein expression was observed after forced expression of NKX3.1 in PC3 cells. Correspondingly, the forced expression of NKX3.1 decreased IGF-l-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 （ERK1/2） and protein kinase B （AKT） and activation of the Elk-1 transcription factor and downregulated the expression of the downstream target genes c-fos and cyclin D1. Furthermore, the forced expression of NKX3.1 inhibited IGF-l-induced cell growth. In conclusion, NKX3.1 could downregulate IGF-1R expression and could inhibit IGF-1R-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）/ERK and AKT signalling pathways, which might partially leads to the inhibition of IGF-l-induced cell growth. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms that NKX3,1 exerts against prostate cancer and ultimately expands the scope of alternative approaches in advanced prostate cancer therapy.

Ectopic expression of neurotrophic peptide derived from saposin C increases proliferation and upregulates androgen receptor expression and transcriptional activity in human prostate cancer cells

Aim： To determine the effects of the functional domain of saposin C （neurotrophic peptide [NP]） on androgen receptor （AR） expression and transcriptional activity. Methods： We constructed DNA vectors expressing NP or a chimeric peptide of the viral TAT transduction domain and NP （TAT-NP） using gene cloning technology. The effects of ectopic expression of NP or TAT-NP on cell growth were examined by 3-（4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, Western blot, transient transfection and reporter gene assays were used to determine the effects of NP on AR expression and activation. Results： NP stimulated proliferation of androgen responsive LNCaP cells in the absence of androgens. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that ectopic expression of NP resulted in induction of AR gene expression, and that the NP-stimulated expression of AR could be synergistically enhanced in the presence of androgens. Furthermore, reporter gene assay results showed that NP could enhance AR transactivation by increasing androgen-inducible gene reporter activity. Conclusion： We provided evidence that ectopic expression of saposin C-originated NP could upregulate AR gene expression and activate the AR transcriptional function in an androgen-independent manner in prostate cancer cells.

Apoptosis of pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells induced by indole-3-acetic acid in combination with horseradish peroxidase

AIM： To explore the mechanisms underlying the apoptosis of human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells induced by indole-3-acetic acid （IAA） in combination with horseradish peroxidase （HRP）. METHODS： BXPC-3 cells derived from human pancreatic cancer were exposed to 40 or 80 μmol/L IAA and 1.2 μg/mL HRP at different times. Then, Mn- assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell cycle. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated dUTP nick end labeling assay was used to detect apoptosis. 2,7-Dichlorofluorescin diacetate uptake was measured by confocal microscopy to determine free radicals. Level of malondialdehyde （MDA） and activity of superoxide dismutase （SOD） were measured by biochemical methods. RESULTS： IAA/HRP initiated growth inhibition of BXPC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry revealed that the cells treated for 48 h were arrested at G1/G0. After exposure to 80 μmol/L IAA plus 1.2 μg/mL HRP for 72 h, the apoptosis rate increased to 72.5‰, which was nine times that of control. Content of MDA and activity of SOD increased respectively after treatment compared to control. Meanwhile, IAA/HRP stimulated the formation of free radicals. CONCLUSION： The combination of IAA and HRP can inhibit the growth of human pancreatic cancer BXPC-3 cells in vitro by inducing apoptosis.

基于耦合仿真的追尾碰撞乘员保护分析（英文）

基于自动紧急制动系统,对乘员动态响应及损伤值的影响进行分析。自动紧急制动系统模型与约束系统MADYMO模型是基于NHTSA关于追尾碰撞的紧急场景与相应整车数模搭建而成。耦合模型基于以上两模型集成搭建,并且模型的有效性通过试验数据得以验证。研究表明:车辆匹配自动紧急制动系统后,乘员的头部3 ms加速度减小了8.6%,HIC36减少了18.3%,胸部压缩量减小了13.8%。

Serum Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 1 as a Potential Biomarker of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome

Background and Aims:The results of basic research implicate the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)family as a potential target of hepatopulmonary syndrome(HPS).However,the negative results of anti-angiogenetic therapy in clinical studies have highlighted the need for markers for HPS.Therefore,we aimed to determine whether VEGF family members and their receptors can be potential biomarkers for HPS through clinical and experimental studies.Methods:Clinically,patients with chronic liver disease from two medical centers were enrolled and examined for HPS.Patients were divided into HPS,intrapulmonary vascular dilation[positive contrast-enhanced echocardiography(CEE)and normal oxygenation]and CEE-negative groups.Baseline information and perioperative clinical data were compared between HPS and non-HPS patients.Serum levels of VEGF family members and their receptors were measured.In parallel,HPS rats were established by common bile duct ligation.Liver,lung and serum samples were collected for the evaluation of pathophysiologic changes,as well as the expression levels of the above factors.Results:In HPS rats,all VEGF family members and their receptors underwent significant changes;however,only soluble VEGFR1(sFlt-1)and the sFlt-1/placental growth factor(PLGF)ratio were changed in almost the same manner as those in HPS patients.Furthermore,through feature selection and internal and external validation,sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PLGF ratio were identified as the most important variables to distinguish HPS from non-HPS patients.Conclusions:Our results from animal and human studies indicate that sFlt-1 and the sFlt-1/PLGF ratio in serum are potential markers for HPS.

Determination of organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables by an enzyme inhibition method using α-naphthyl acetate esterase extracted from wheat flour

The widespread use of organophosphorus pesticides(OPs) poses a great threat to human health and has made the detection of OP residues in food an important task,especially in view of the fact that easy and rapid detection methods are needed.Because OPs have inhibitory effects on the activity of α-naphthyl acetate esterase(ANAE) in plants,in this work we evaluated the possibility of detecting OPs in vegetables with ANAE extracted from commercial flour.The limits of detection(LODs) obtained for methamidophos,dichlorvos,phoxim,dimethoate,and malathion in lettuce samples with crude ANAE were 0.17,0.11,0.11,0.96,and 1.70 mg/kg,respectively.Based on the maximum residue limits(MRLs) for OPs in food stipulated by Chinese laws which are 0.05,0.20,0.05,1.00,and 8.00 mg/kg for methamidophos,dichlorvos,phoxim,dimethoate,and malathion,respectively,the esterase inhibition method with crude ANAE had sufficient sensitivity to detect the residues of dichlorvos,dimethoate,and malathion in lettuce,but it could not be used to guarantee the safety of the same samples if methamidophos or phoxim residue was present.The sensitivity of the method was improved by the use of esterase purified by ammonium sulfate salting-out.The LODs obtained for methamidophos and phoxim with purified esterase were lower than the MRLs for these OPs in food.This is a very promising method for the detection of OP residues in vegetables using crude or purified esterase because of its cheapness,sensitivity,and convenience.