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6-Shogaol, an active phenolic compound from ginger (Zingiber officinale), can inhibit the growth of a variety of human cancer cells. Nevertheless, its underlying molecular mechanisms in cervical cancer remain unclear. In this study, we systematically examine the inhibitory effect of 6-shogaol on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK8 assay and colony formation assay in HeLa and SiHa cells. We analyzed cell cycle and apoptosis through flow cytometry. GFP-LC3 puncta and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe autophagic bodies. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used for evaluating the migration of cells. Western blot was applied to detect protein expression levels. 6-Shogaol could suppress cell proliferation and migration, cause cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase in HeLa and SiHa cells. Moreover, 6-shogaol triggered the apoptosis process through the mitochondrial pathway by downregulating the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR. Further research indicated that the induction of apoptosis by 6-shogaol was remarkably decreased after the treatment of ROS scavenger and PI3K agonist. Additionally, 6-shogaol increased the number of LC3-positive puncta and autophagic bodies per cell in both HeLa and SiHa cells. Pretreatment of cells with Bafilomycin A1, an autophagy inhibitor, accelerated 6-shogaol mediated cell apoptosis, suggesting that induction of autophagy by 6-shogaol is suppressive to apoptosis. Furthermore, in vivo data revealed that 6-shogaol significantly inhibited tumor growth and cell proliferation in tumor tissues. These findings suggested that 6-shogaol could be developed as a functional food ingredient, which is potentially used as therapeutic agents for patients with cervical cancer.

To translate and cross-culturally adapt the Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) into Chinese and to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the MIQ (MIQ/C) for use among adolescents with malocclusion in China. First, the MIQ/C was developed according to international guidelines. Then, the MIQ/C was filled out by 536 adolescents between 10 and 16 years of age. This study used exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MIQ/C. Following EFA, three domains were extracted, accounting for 65.950% of the total variance. The CFA results showed that the fit indices of each factor in the three-factor model all reached the standard (chi-square/DF = 2.591, GFI = 0.919, TLI = 0.926, CFI = 0.928, RMSEA = 0.076). The scale evidenced a good relationship with the two global questions, indicating good convergent validity. The Cronbach alpha value and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) value of the MIQ/C were 0.929 and 0.893, respectively. The MIQ/C demonstrated good reliability and validity and can be further studied and applied in Chinese adolescents with malocclusion. The MIQ/C can be applied to assess the psychosocial impact of malocclusion among Chinese adolescents.

Background The purpose of the study was to investigate whether dynamic monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) level might be as predictors of perceived pain during the first and second phacoemulsification eye surgeries in patients with bilateral cataract. Methods Consecutive bilateral cataract patients undergoing bilateral sequential phacoemulsification were retrospectively enrolled. Patients’ preoperative anxiety score and intraoperative pain score were registered. Aqueous humor samples were obtained during surgery. MCP-1 level in the aqueous humor was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa). Patients were assigned to seven subgroups based on the interval between first-eye and second-eye cataract surgery. Comparisons were performed for a subjective sensation and MCP-1 levels among different subgroups. Results pain score during second-eye surgery was significantly higher than during first-eye surgery. Whereas there was no statistical difference in anxiety score between both surgeries. Result from subgroups comparison showed that the visual analog scale (VAS) pain score was statistically greater in 1-group and 6-group during the second eye surgery. Anxiety score did not statistically differ in subgroups. Additionally, the second-eye MCP-1 level was significantly higher at week 1and 6 intervals. Preoperative MCP-1 level was positively correlated with perceiving pain score during both surgeries. Conclusions MCP-1 level in aqueous humor significantly correlated with perceived pain during cataract surgery. Dynamic MCP-1 level could function as predictors of perceived pain during the first and second phacoemulsification eye surgeries in patients with bilateral cataract, which might support clinicians in treatment optimization and clinical decision-making.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) belong to a large family comprising 22 FGF polypeptides that are widely expressed in tissues. Most of the FGFs can be secreted and involved in the regulation of skeletal muscle function and structure. However, the role of fasting on FGF expression pattern in skeletal muscles remains unknown. In this study, we combined bioinformatics analysis and in vivo studies to explore the effect of 24-h fasting on the expression of Fgfs in slow-twitch soleus and fast-twitch tibialis anterior (TA) muscle from male and female C57BL/6 mice. We found that fasting significantly affected the expression of many Fgfs in mouse skeletal muscle. Furthermore, skeletal muscle fibre type and sex also influenced Fgf expression and response to fasting. We observed that in both male and female mice fasting reduced Fgf6 and Fgf11 in the TA muscle rather than the soleus. Moreover, fasting reduced Fgf8 expression in the soleus and TA muscles in female mice rather than in male mice. Fasting also increased Fgf21 expression in female soleus muscle and female and male plasma. Fasting reduced Fgf2 and Fgf18 expression levels without fibre-type and sex-dependent effects in mice. We further found that fasting decreased the expression of an FGF activation marker gene—Flrt2 in the TA muscle but not in the soleus muscle in both male and female mice. This study revealed the expression profile of Fgfs in different skeletal muscle fibre types and different sexes and provides clues to the interaction between the skeletal muscle and other organs, which deserves future investigations.

The aim of this study was to validate the short form of the Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire (DHEQ-15) in Chinese patients with dentine hypersensitivity (DH).In total, 200 patients with DH were recruited to complete the questionnaire. The reliability of the DHEQ-15 was evaluated using internal consistency and test-retest methods. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify domains of the DHEQ-15. Convergent validity was determined by analyzing the correlation between DHEQ-15 subscale scores and the global rating of oral health question.Cronbach's alpha value (internal reliability) for the total DHEQ-15 score was 0.934 (higher to the original DHEQ-15' 0.924), and the intraclass correlation coefficient value (test-retest reliability) was 0.894 (lower to the original DHEQ-15' 0.939). The EFA identified three components with eigenvalues1, explaining 53.0, 17.1, and 12.3% of the variance, respectively, accounting for a total of 82.4% of the variance. The three components named 'restrictions' (three items), 'changes in eating habits' (six items), and 'emotions and identity' (six items). In terms of convergent validity, the DHEQ-15 subscale was significant highly negatively correlated to the global oral health rating.The results provide initial evidence that the DHEQ-15 can be properly used for assessment of patients with DH in China.

Proximally dietherified calix[4]arene at lower rim was selectively nitrated to give mononitrocalix[4]arene, dinitrocalix[4] arene, and trinitrocalix[4]arene, respectively, under different reaction conditions. These three nitrocalix[4]arenes could be purified in good yield just by recrystallization, which provided a concise approach to inherently chiral calixarene. It was disclosed by crystal structure of trinitrocalix[4]arene that R-enantiomer and S-enantiomer of it could form a self-included dimer by NO2–HAr hydrogen bond and CH3–Pi interaction in the cavity of the calixarene. In the presence of optically pure (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine, (1R,2R)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, cinchonidine, or cinchonine, the two enantiomers of trinitrocalix[4]arene could be discriminated by 1H NMR spectrum.

In this paper, a class of fuzzy BAM neural networks with time varying delays is discussed. By using the properties of M-matrix, Linear Matrix Inequality(LMI) approach and general Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional, some new sufficient conditions are derived to ensure the existence of periodic solutions and the global exponential stability of the fuzzy BAM neural networks with time varying delays. These results have important significance in the design of global exponential stable BAM networks with delays. Moreover, an example is given to illustrate that the conditions of the results in the paper are feasible.

Let (υ, u × c, λ)-splitting BIBD denote a (υ, u × c, λ)-splitting balanced incomplete block design of order υ with block size u × c and index λ. The necessary conditions for the existence of a (υ, u × c, λ)-splitting BIBD are υ ⩾ uc, λ(υ − 1) ≡ 0 0 mod (c(u − 1)) and λυ(υ − 1) ≡ 0 mod (c2u(u − 1)). In this paper, for 2 ⩽ λ ⩽ 9 the necessary conditions for the existence of a (υ, 3 × 3, λ)-splitting BIBD are also sufficient with one possible exception for (υ, λ) = (39, 9).