Comparison of changes in the nasal cavity, pharyngeal airway, and maxillary sinus volumes after expansion and maxillary protraction with two protocols: Rapid palatal expansion versus alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction

Weitao Liu,Shaonan Zhou,Edwin Yen,Bingshuang Zou 대한치과교정학회 2023 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.53 No.3

Objective: To evaluate and compare a series of volume changes in the nasal cavity (NC), nasopharynx, oropharynx, and maxillary sinuses (MS) in growing Class III patients after either rapid palatal expansion (RPE) or alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction (Alt-RAMEC) followed by facemask (FM) therapy, by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Forty growing Class III patients were retrospectively selected and divided into two matched groups: RPE/FM (14 females, 6 males; mean age, 9.66 ± 1.23 years) and Alt-RAMEC/FM groups (14 females, 6 males; mean age, 10.28 ± 1.45 years). The anteroposterior and vertical displacements of Point A, the volumes of the NC, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and MS were measured at different time points: pretreatment (T1), postexpansion (T2), and postprotraction (T3). Results: Both groups demonstrated significant maxilla advancement (by 1.3 mm) during expansion, with a statistically significant intergroup difference during protraction (RPE/FM, 1.1 mm; Alt-RAMEC/FM, 2.4 mm; p < 0.05) and throughout the treatment (RPE/FM, 2.4 mm; Alt-RAMEC/FM, 3.7 mm; p < 0.05). NC and nasopharyngeal airway volumes increased significantly in both groups after expansion, protraction, and treatment. The oropharyngeal and MS volumes increased in both groups after protraction and post-treatment. However, no volumetric differences were observed between the two groups. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in airway volume changes, including NC, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal airway, and MS, between RPE/FM and Alt-RAMEC/FM groups at different time points. Although there was significantly more forward movement after protraction in the Alt-RAMEC/FM group, the difference was deemed too small to be clinically relevant.

LncRNA MALAT1 protects human umbilical vein endothelial cells against ox-LDL triggered cell death through regulation of MGP

Xia Wang,Hongqin Zhao,Shaonan Yang,Xiaojun Shao,Shumin Nie,Xudong Pan 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2019 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.15 No.3

Backgrounds: Metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) is an lncRNA that has been suggested as a key regulator in the onset of atherosclerosis (AS). This study described the role of MALAT1 in oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced endothelial cells death. Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were subjected to ox-LDL, before which the expression of MALAT1 was overexpressed by transfection. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometer detection, and western blot were carried out to evaluate cell viability, apoptosis and autophagy. qRT-PCR and western blot analyses were performed to investigate the regulatory relationship between MALAT1, Matrix Gla protein (MGP) and mTOR signaling to decode the underlying mechanism. Results: Up-regulation of MALAT1 attenuated ox-LDLinduced HUVECs lose, as evidenced by the promoted cell viability, and the decreased apoptosis rate. This finding was coupled with the down-regulated p53, Bax, active-caspase-3, Beclin-1 and LC3-II, as well as the up-regulated Bcl-2 and p62. Meanwhile, MALAT1 upregulation promoted the phosphorylation of p70S6K and mTOR, and the expression of MGP. MGP up-regulation exhibited MALAT1-like propoties in preventing ox-LDL-induced cell death and mTOR deactivation. Of contrast, MGP silence affected HUVECs survival and mTOR signaling resulted in contrary impacts. Conclusion: The present work described that MALAT1 up-regulation prevented ox-LDL-mediated apoptosis and autophagy in HUVECs. The protective effects of MALAT1 might be partially via up-regulating MGP, which led to the activation of mTOR signaling.

Acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training for post-stroke dysarthria: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Qianwen Xie,Xueyin Chen,Jingmin Xiao,Shaonan Liu,Lihong Yang,Jing Chen,Jiaqi Lai,Rui Lan,Yi Chen,Haifang Yang,Xinfeng Guo 한국한의학연구원 2020 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.9 No.4

Background: The evidence of Acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training for post-stroke dysarthria is insufficient and there is no consensus on its efficacy. Methods: We searched seven Chinese and English medicine databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to November 2019. The primary outcome measure was the clinical response rate, assessed with the Frenchay Dysarthria Assessment (FDA) tool. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence (CoE). Results: Thirty studies were included in this systematic review, 23 of which were pooled in meta-analysis. Acupuncture combined with speech rehabilitation training is likely beneficial for was response rate (n = 1685; RR = 1.37; 95% CI [1.29, 1.46], P < 0.01, I2 = 34%; 17 studies, low CoE) compared to speech rehabilitation treatment alone. Conclusion: The combination of acupuncture and speech rehabilitation training may improve total response rate of stroke patients with dysarthria. However, more RCTs with rigorous study design and validated outcome measures are needed to confirm the evidence.

Cloning and analysis of the molecularly characterized chitinase genes of Daphnia carinata and Simocephalus vetulus

Lina Li,Yaling Chen,Jinsong Bao,Shaonan Li 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.12

Daphniidae plays an important role in maintaining the integrity and sustainability of food chains of freshwater ecosystems. However, studies on the intact genes of chitinase in Daphniidae have not been carried out till date. In this study, we obtained the full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) from Daphnia carinata and Simocephalus vetulus, members of the Family Daphniidae, by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and polymerase chain reaction. The two cDNAs were named DcChi and SvChi, respectively. The result showed that DcChi and SvChi were 1404 and 1319 bp in length and they encoded 383 and 382 amino acids, respectively. Based on their cDNA sequences, the genomic structures of the two chitinases were characterized. Sequence analysis revealed that DcChi was composed of three exons and two introns, while SvChi had four exons and three introns. Based on the presence of conserved catalytic domain sequences, the two chitinases could be clustered within the same phylogenetic group. Homology analysis showed that the two deduced proteins had a high similarity (65–88%) to those from published species in Family Daphniidae and a low similarity to those from the species in Class Malacostraca Subclass Copepoda (38–42%) and those from the species in Class Insecta Order Diptera (33–38%). Based on the results of multiple alignments of chitinases, we designed peptides that were specific to chitinases from the Family Daphniidae. The quantitative real time PCR analysis indicated that the transcript level of the chitinase gene increased with the growth of the two species.

Hypoglycemic Activity of the Hexane Extract of Oriental Melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) Seeds and Its Active Compounds

Chen, Lei,Kim, Hye Suk,Choi, Bo-Ram,Yang, Shaonan,Xu, Enning,Suh, Jun Kyu,Kang, Young-Hwa The Plant Resources Society of Korea 2014 한국자원식물학회지 Vol.27 No.6

The aim of this work is to evaluate the potential of oriental melon (Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seeds for the management of type 2 diabetes by controlling glucose absorption. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory effects of the hexane extracts from oriental melon seeds were investigated. A bioassay-guided fractionation technique was used to elucidate the principal active components. The results show that the hexane extract from oriental melon seeds exhibited high inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase and ${\alpha}$-amylase. The hexane extract was further fractionated into four sub-fractions. Among them, the sub-fraction F-1 exhibited the most potent anti-diabetic effect. The active components were isolated and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Free fatty acids showed significant hypoglycemic activity (p < 0.001) and fatty acid composition influenced enzyme inhibitory activities. These results suggest that oriental melon seeds could be used to prevent type 2 diabetes.