Vitamin D metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women

Objectives

The purpose of this review is to focus on the association of vitamin D and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women.

Methods

Review of the relevant literature and results from recent clinical studies as well as critical analysis of published results concerning the association of vitamin D and cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women obtained from both a PubMed and individual searches.

Results and discussion

Both basic science and clinical studies support the protective role of vitamin D on cardiovascular health, although there are controversial results in the literature. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with disturbed glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, lipoprotein alterations, hypertension, overweight and obesity. The evidence highlights the importance of improving vitamin D status in the general population for the prevention of adverse long-term health risks, including cardiovascular health. The optimal vitamin D dose remains to be determined. However, correction of low vitamin D itself does not guarantee the prevention of these conditions.     

Septoplasty alone is not suitable for most structural nasal obstructions

Septoplasty is widely used in the treatment of structural nasal obstructions, and it also has a good effect and a high degree of postoperative satisfaction. However, there a large number of structures demonstrate abnormalities related to structural nasal obstruction, including the external nose, maxilla, nasal cavity and paranasal sinus. Nasal septum deviation is only one signs of structural nasal obstruction and does not represent all possible structural abnormalities of the nasal cavity and its surrounding structure. Septoplasty is only performed to correct deviations of the nasal septum, which in many cases is obviously insufficient in restoring the symmetry of the nasal structure. Therefore, septoplasty alone is not suitable for the treatment of most structural nasal obstructions. Nasal ventilation expansion surgery, which typically covers more abnormal structural correction procedures than septoplasty, should be used when describing the treatment of structural nasal obstruction.     

Variation in the Developmental and Morphological Interaction Between the Nasal Septum and Facial Skeleton

While the nasal septum exerts a morphogenetic influence on the facial skeleton, there is evidence that this relationship is highly variable. To better appreciate the precise role of the septum, it is important understand the variable interaction between the septum and surrounding skeleton during ontogeny. Here we analyzed nasal septal and facial skeletal postnatal phenotypic variation using cross‐sectional samples of C3H/HeJ and C57BL/6J mice. Initial observations indicated between‐strain variation in the magnitude of septal deviation, suggesting differences in septal and facial skeletal interaction. We examined whether variation in septal deviation is due to ontogenetic differences in septal size, or whether variation in facial skeletal growth imposes spatial constraints on the septum. Using microCT we quantified septal size and deviation, and collected coordinate landmark data, which we analyzed using geometric morphometrics. C3H/HeJ mice were significantly more deviated than C57BL/6J during development. We found no differences in septal size between the two strains. However, while both strains exhibited an ontogenetic increase in snout length, C3H/HeJ mice exhibited a non‐allometric reduction in nasal bone length. This appears to be influenced by between‐strain variation in the spatial relationship between the nasal septum and nasofrontal suture. Unlike C57BL/6J mice, the C3H/HeJ nasal septum is positioned anterior to the nasofrontal suture potentially limiting an early direct influence of septal growth (e.g., through interstitial expansion) on sutural growth. Ultimately, our results underscore that while the septum is a key facial growth center, its precise influence on facial growth varies even in narrow morphological and taxonomic ranges. Anat Rec, 299:730–740, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Photodynamic therapy-mediated hypericin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers against vulvovaginal candidiasis

Introduction and Aim: The indiscriminate use and adverse effects of the main conventional antifungal agents compromise the effectiveness of treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), mainly caused by the species Candida albicans. This study evaluated the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the in vitro and in vivo anti-candida potential of the hypericin (HYP)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). Materials and Methods: Empty NLC and NLC-HYP were characterized by the dynamic light scattering technique and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the average particle size distribution and its morphologies. The in vitro inhibition photodynamic effect of the systems was tested to reduce the planktonic viability of C. albicans. The therapeutic assay photodynamic of the systems was performed to treat VVC in mice. Results: Empty NLC and NLC-HYP presented values of average hydrodynamic diameter, polydispersity index, and ζ-potential from 136 to 133 nm, 0.16 to 0.22, and -18 to -30 mV, respectively, on day 30. Microscopically, the systems showed spherical morphologies and nanoscale particles. Furthermore, in the in vitro inhibition assay, the treatment of PDT with NLC-HYP (NLC-HYP+) showed a significant reduction of the C. albicans planktonic viability compared to YNB negative control after 5 min of LED light irradiation. In the in vivo therapeutic assay, the antifungal group (vaginal antifungal cream) and NLC-HYP+ evaluated in the dark and by PDT, respectively, had a significant log₁₀ reduction in fungal burden compared to the infected group on day 8 of the VVC treatment. Conclusion: Due to the in vitro and in vivo anti-candida potential, PDT-mediated systems can be an effective strategy in VVC therapy.     

建立下肢形态学数据库为匹配术后即装假肢提供参考

文题释义：术后假肢：现代截肢康复的方法包括手术后安装临时假体,即在完成截肢手术后,医生为患者佩戴合适的临时假体。大腿影像数据：研究采集的大腿数据包括膝上缘周径、膝上缘5 cm处周径、膝上缘10 cm处周径和膝上缘15 cm处周径,将大腿MRI数据导入3D重建软件,得到大腿截肢范围段表面积、体积。大腿截肢范围段：为膝关节间隙上10-25 cm。背景：目前假肢的制作是通过取型、修型、成型3个步骤完成的,由于修型过程是人工完成,与临床技师的经验技术密切相关,制作出来的假肢不美观,接受腔与残肢很难做到全接触。目的：收集健康志愿者大腿MRI影像数据,评估成人大腿截肢范围段(膝关节间隙上10-25 cm)的对称性;将MRI影像数据建立成数据库,为下肢截肢患者匹配合适的术后即装假肢提供参考数据。方法：招募40名健康志愿者,采集基本信息：年龄、身高、体质量、膝上缘周径、膝上缘5 cm处周径、膝上缘10 cm处周径和膝上缘15 cm处周径。所有志愿者对试验方案均知情同意,且得到医院伦理委员会批准。对大腿截肢范围进行三维重建,以模型的表面积、体积为参数,对每一例志愿者大腿进行解剖测量,利用三维逆向工程软件对测量结果进行3D偏差分析,完成大腿形态对称性的定量化和可视化分析。结果与结论：①同体分析：同一个体左右大腿截肢范围段表面积之间的最大百分差异比不超过0.56%(P=0.109);左右大腿截肢范围段体积之间最大百分差异比不超过1.19%(P=0.182);三维偏差分析结果显示,最大平均负偏差为-1.47 mm,最大平均正偏差为1.14 mm。40例受试者的3D偏差分布78.02%在2 mm以内,20.97%在2.1-3.0 mm,仅1.01%大于3 mm。②异体分析：三维偏差分析结果显示,最大平均负偏差为-1.97 mm,而最大平均正偏差为1.89 mm。③提示成人双侧大腿截肢范围具有高度的解剖学对称性;当2名成人的膝上缘周径、膝上缘5 cm处周径、膝上缘10 cm周径和膝上缘15 cm处周径分别都相差在2 cm以内时,则认为这2名成人双侧大腿截肢范围段表面轮廓具有高度相似性,与性别、身高和体质量无关。ORCID: 0000-0001-6838-3042(伍笑棋)中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程     

1910名初中新生慢性鼻-鼻窦炎与鼻中隔偏曲的相关性分析

目的　了解初中新生慢性鼻-鼻窦炎发病与鼻中隔偏曲的相关性。 方法　分层随机抽取郑州市1910名12~15岁初中新生，采取问卷调查及专科体检的形式，根据量表、体检结果，了解鼻中隔偏曲和慢性鼻-鼻窦炎患病情况，分析两者相关性。 结果　抽样初中新生慢性鼻-鼻窦炎的患病率为6.2%（119/1910）；慢性鼻-鼻窦炎患病群体与非患病群体中，轻、中度鼻中隔偏曲的发生率分别为27.7%（33/119）和31.2%（559/1791），两者差异无统计学意义（χ2=0.632，P>0.05）；重度鼻中隔偏曲的发生率分别为13.4%（16/119）和8.0%（144/1791），两者差异有统计学意义（χ2=4.248，P<0.05）。 结论　初中新生慢性鼻-鼻窦炎发病与重度鼻中隔偏曲具有相关性。     

Thymocytes induced by antigen injection into the anterior chamber activate splenic CD8+ suppressor cells and enhance the antigen-induced production of immunoglobulin G1 antibodies

Injection of antigen into the ocular anterior chamber (AC) of a mouse eye (an immunologically privileged site) induces the activation of immunoregulatory NK1.1+, CD4- CD8-, T-cell receptor (TCR) alphabeta+ thymocytes. These thymocytes transfer the suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) when injected into mice sensitized to the same antigen but do not effect the suppression of DTH. On the other hand, the immunized recipients of these transferred thymocytes produce splenic CD8+ T cells that effect the suppression of DTH. However, it is unclear whether the thymocytes transferred from the AC-injected donor differentiate into and/or activate CD8+ T-splenic suppressor cells. We therefore sought to determine the origin of splenic suppressor cells produced in the recipients of immunoregulatory thymocytes transferred from donors that receive an injection of antigen into the AC. CD45.1+ thymocytes from mice that received an AC injection of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNP)-bovine serum albumin (BSA) were transferred to congenic CD45.2+ TNP-BSA-immune recipients. Spleen cells from the recipients were then sorted based on anti-CD45.1 or -CD45.2 antibody binding and assayed for suppressor cells. This was done by the injection of separated spleen cells into the footpad of TNP-BSA-immunized mice, concurrent with the induction of footpad swelling (contact sensitivity) of the footpad elicited by an epicutaneous application of picryl chloride. The systemic distribution of antigen after the injection of antigen into the AC was demonstrated by the injection of fluorescein or 125I-labelled TNP-BSA into the AC. The results demonstrate that (i) splenic CD8+ T-suppressor cells produced in the immunized recipients of immunoregulatory thymocytes are derived from the CD45.2 recipient of the CD45.1+ thymocytes; (ii) the induction of recipient splenic suppressor T cells by the transferred immunoregulatory thymocytes requires that the recipient be immunized to the same antigen as that used to induce immunoregulatory thymocytes; (iii) antigen is introduced to the thymus after an injection of antigen into the AC; (iv) although the transfer of the suppression of DTH by regulatory thymocytes was not dependent on interleukin-4 (IL-4), CD4+ NK1.1- regulatory thymocytes from AC-injected donors enhanced the production of immunoglobulin G1 antibodies to TNP-BSA by an IL-4-dependent mechanism. These observations suggest that the adult thymus plays an active role in the induction and maintenance of anterior chamber-associated immune deviation as manifested by the generation of the suppression of cell-mediated immunity to exogenous antigen and the antigen-induced production of IgG1 antibodies.     

Oral administration of an edible-mushroom-derived protein inhibits the development of food-allergic reactions in mice

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is a common disease without effective treatment. Since strict elimination of food allergens may be difficult, strategies for effective intervention are urgently needed. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the prophylactic use of orally administrated FIP-fve, an immunomodulatory protein isolated from the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes, in a murine model of food allergy. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized twice intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OVA), at an interval of 2 weeks. Before and during each period of immunization, FIP-fve (200 microg per mouse) or phosphate-buffered saline was given orally every other day with a total of five doses. Then OVA-specific antibodies and cytokine profiles were determined. Subsequently, the mice were orally challenged with OVA. Symptoms of anaphylaxis, levels of plasma histamine, and histology of intestines were examined. RESULTS: Mice receiving oral FIP-fve treatment during sensitization to OVA had an impaired OVA-specific IgE response with a Th1-predominant cytokine profile. These mice were protected from systemic anaphylaxis-like symptoms induced by subsequent oral challenge with OVA. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of FIP-fve has a Th1-skewing effect on the development of the allergen-specific immune response, and may serve the purpose of immunoprophylaxis for food allergy and other allergic diseases.