Patients’ narratives of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry: a qualitative study

To explore patients’ experiences of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry and their adaptation to facial changes after surgery, we did a qualitative, cross-sectional study of patients after treatment for non-cleft asymmetry at two UK sites. A total of 15 patients aged 19-40 years were approached after being identified using patient databases and clinical notes. Individual and photo-elicitation interviews were conducted covering experiences prior to treatment, during treatment, and after surgery. Interviews were transcribed and thematic narrative analysis undertaken. Participants were largely positive about their orthognathic treatment. The following themes were identified: preoperative (becoming aware, negative impacts of asymmetry, committing to treatment, establishing expectations), pre-surgery orthodontics and inpatient experiences (challenges and coping strategies, preparedness, support, and shared experiences); and postoperative (surgery as ‘worth it’, positive impacts of treatment, adapting to facial change). Undergoing orthognathic surgery was portrayed as a journey involving recognisable narratives (treatment unfinished, threat of liminality, treatment as resolution, and treatment as transformation). Patients’ experiences of facial asymmetry are associated with feeling ‘abnormal’, and negative impacts, and orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry is worthwhile. Having the feeling that something is ‘wrong’ legitimised by clinicians allows patients access to a recognisable treatment narrative (resolution). Orthognathic treatment is also described as transformation from ‘normal abnormality’ to being ‘normal’. Nevertheless, the associated challenges can be frustrating, particularly if resolution is hard to envisage. Further psychological input could help patients cope with these challenges and the complex process of adapting to facial change.     

Oropharyngeal shedding of herpesviruses before and after BNT162b2 mRNA vaccination against COVID-19

IntroductionConcerns were raised over an increase in Bell's palsy, herpes simplex and herpes zoster after BNT162b2 vaccination, all are manifestations of herpesviruses reactivation. As herpesviruses commonly reactivate in the oropharynx, we have hypothesized that oropharyngeal shedding of herpesviruses will increase after vaccination.MethodsImmune-competent Adults, excluding those using topical steroids or manifesting symptomatic herpesvirus infection, were sampled before BNT162b2 vaccination and one week after. Herpesviruses 1–7 shedding was tested with a multiplexed PCR.ResultsIn 103 paired samples the prevalence of herpesviruses was similar before and after vaccination: HSV1, 3.9% vs. 5.8% (p = 0.75); HSV2, 0% vs. 1% (p = not applicable, NA); VZV, 0% vs. 0% (p = NA); EBV, 14.6% vs. 17.5% (p = 0.63); CMV, 0% vs. 0% (p = NA); HHV6, 4.9% vs. 7.8% (p = 0.55); HHV7, 71.8% vs. 72.8% (p = 1); any herpesvirus, 73.8% vs. 74.8% (p = 1).DiscussionWe did not find evidence for increased oropharyngeal reactivation of herpesviruses one week after BNT162b2.     

黄花蒿Dof基因家族鉴定及在GA-UV处理下对青蒿素生物合成的影响＊

目的 Dof（DNA binding with one finger）家族是高等植物中特有的一类转录因子家族，参与植物中光、激素、非生物胁迫等多种胁迫响应调控。本研究基于全基因组数据对黄花蒿Dof（AaDof）转录因子家族进行鉴定及表达模式分析，探究Dof家族基因在青蒿素合成调控中的作用。方法 经PFAM数据库鉴定获得AaDof序列，通过生物信息学软件分析其理化性质、亚细胞定位、基因结构、蛋白保守结构以及启动子序列结合元件等，并基于赤霉素（Gibberellic acid， GA）、紫外线B（UV-B）及二者协同胁迫下黄花蒿转录组数据对其表达模式进行分析。结果 本研究从全基因组水平共鉴定出51个AaDof基因，均含有保守的C₂-C₂单锌指结构，依据系统发育分析分为8个亚族，同一亚族内基因结构与蛋白保守结构域相对保守。亚细胞定位预测显示12个AaDof蛋白定位在细胞外，其余均定位在细胞核。启动子元件分析发现AaDof家族基因启动子区富含光、激素等多种响应元件。对AaDof在GA、UV-B和GA+UV-B处理下的表达模式分析发现，AaDof基因对GA胁迫处理响应较弱，仅有少量基因敏感，其表达主要受到UV-B胁迫影响。C1及C2.1亚族大部分基因在UV-B胁迫下上调表达，而A亚族大部分基因在UV-B胁迫下下调表达。qRT-PCR验证表明AaDof1、AaDof17和AaDof44在GA和UV-B处理下表达量显著上调，推测其可能通过参与GA和UV-B调控网络，正向调控青蒿素生物合成。结论 本研究系统鉴定了黄花蒿AaDof家族基因并筛选了3个可能正向调控青蒿素生物合成的候选AaDof基因，为黄花蒿Dof家族基因功能研究及其在青蒿素生物合成中的调控机制解析奠定基础。     

In silico repurposing the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for treating PTTG1-high expressing clear cell renal carcinoma

The pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1), also known as Securin, is considered an oncogene. This study aimed to investigate the role of PTTG1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) using in silico bioinformatics approaches. A pan-cancer analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data indicated that among all cancer types copy number amplification of PTTG1 gene was most frequently found in ccRCC. However, amplification of PTTG1 gene copy number did not correlate with the increase of mRNA level in ccRCC, and did not predict the patients' overall survival. Instead, ccRCC was correlated with overexpression of PTTG1 mRNA, and its expression level was stage-dependent increased in cancer patients. An outlier analysis using the Oncomine database suggested that PTTG1 mRNA expression served as a good biomarker for ccRCC. Pathway analysis for upregulated genes enriched in PTTG1-high expressing ccRCC patients found that PTTG1 overexpression was associated with mitotic defects. Mining drug sensitivity data using the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP) discovered that PTTG1-high expressing ccRCC cell lines were susceptible to a Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) inhibitor NSC23766. Therefore, this study provides an in silico insight into the role of PTTG1 in ccRCC, and repurposes the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766 for treating PTTG1-high expressing ccRCC.     

加味香砂六君子汤对胃癌大鼠的实验研究

目的:探究并分析加味香砂六君子汤通过抑制Wnt信号通路对胃癌大鼠桩蛋白(paxillin)、大鼠凋亡相关蛋白(RelA)表达的影响。方法:选取健康成年Wistar大鼠120只,按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组60只,对2组大鼠进行胃癌造模处理,对照组大鼠又随机分为未处理组、处理(生理盐水)后8周组、处理(生理盐水)后12周组,每组20只。观察组大鼠又随机分为未处理组、处理(汤药)后8周组、处理(汤药)后12周组,每组20只。观察2组大鼠处理前、处理后8周、处理后12周paxillin、RelA。结果:2组大鼠处理前后体质量差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),2组大鼠处理前体质量比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),处理后,2组大鼠体质量有所降低,但观察组大鼠降低程度明显小于对照组(P<0.05);2组大鼠处理前后wnt-1、paxillin、RelA水平差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),2组大鼠处理前wnt-1、paxillin、RelA水平比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),处理后,2组大鼠wnt-1、paxillin、RelA水平呈降低趋势,但观察组大鼠wnt-1、paxillin、RelA水平明显小于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:加味香砂六君子汤能有效通过抑制wnt以降低胃癌大鼠paxillin、RelA的表达。