Objective To study the effect of pulse pressure(PP)/mean artery pressure(MAP) ratio in evaluating arteriosclerosis.Methods Blood pressures from 200 subjects without cerebrovascular nor cardiovascular disease were obtained and analyzed by different age groups.PP/MAP ratio was calculated for each patient and compared.Results PP/MAP ratio was significantly different in different age groups.Conclusion PP/MAP ratio has clinical significance in evaluating arteriosclerosis and is worthy of further investigation.

Objective To explore the verification methods for the performance of quantitative detection kit of anti-dsDNA antibodiy with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Methods The precision was verified according to the EP15-A2 document approved by the American Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI).The accuracy was verified by detecting the samples of previous external quality evaluation(EQA),compared with the comparative kits and recovery test.The lower limit of detection(LLD) was calculated by the results of blank samples.The cut-off value was verified according to the C28-A3C document approved by CLSI and CNAS-CL39:Guidance on the Application of Accreditation Criteria for the Medical Laboratory Quality and Competence in the Field of Clinical Qualitative Immunology respectively.The improved Doumas method was used to verify the range of linearity.Results The measured intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation were lower than those announced by the manufacturer or the calculated values according to the EP15-A2 document.The coincidence rates for negative and positive EQA samples between detected and expected values were 98.4％ (63/64) and 100％ (20/20) respectively.The total coincidence rate was 98.8％ (83/84).The coincidence rate for negative and positive samples between the results from candidate and comparative kits were 91.2％ (52/57) and 87.0％ (40/46) respectively.The total coincidence rate was 89.3％ (92/103) and the Kappa value was 0.783 (P =0.062),which implied excellent consistency between the two kits.The mean recovery rate was 99.65％.The measured LLD was 0.5 IU/mL which was lower than 1 IU/mL as claimed by the manufacturer.The measured cut-off value according to the CNAS-CL39 document was 18.51 IU/mL,which was close to 20 IU/mL announced by the manufacturer.Based on the C28-A3C method,the cut-off value could be approved.The linear regression equation was Y =0.978 8X-3.125 4,r2 =0.996 1.There was no statistical difference between the intercept (-3.125 4) and 0 (t =-0.772,P =0.483).The range of linearity was from 1.6 to 212.5 IU/mL,which was consistent with the values declared by the manufacturer.All the verifications of the five performances above-mentioned could be passed.Conclusion The precision,accuracy,LLD,cut-off value and range of linearity of the candidate quantitative ELISA kit for anti-dsDNA antibody were consistent with the statement of the manufacturer,which indicated the performance of the kits may meet the requirements of clinic diagnosis and treatment.A series of methods used in this study provided a simple protocol for verifying the performance of quantitative ELISA kits.

Once pulp necrosis or apical periodontitis occurs on immature teeth, the weak root and open root apex are challenging to clinicians. Berberine (BBR) is a potential medicine for bone disorders, therefore, we proposed to apply BBR in root canals to enhance root repair in immature teeth. An in vivo model of immature teeth with apical periodontitis was established in rats, and root canals were filled with BBR, calcium hydroxide or sterilized saline for 3 weeks. The shape of the roots was analyzed by micro-computed tomography and histological staining. In vitro, BBR was introduced into stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs). Osteogenic differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla was investigated by alkaline phosphatase activity, mineralization ability, and gene expression of osteogenic makers. The signaling pathway, which regulated the osteogenesis of SCAPs was evaluated by quantitative real time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. In rats treated with BBR, more tissue was formed, with longer roots, thicker root walls, and smaller apex diameters. In addition, we found that BBR promoted SCAPs osteogenesis in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. BBR induced the expression of β-catenin and enhanced β-catenin entering into the nucleus, to up-regulate more runt-related nuclear factor 2 downstream. BBR enhanced root repair in immature teeth with apical periodontitis by activating the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway in SCAPs.
Animals ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Dental Papilla ; Male ; Osteogenesis ; drug effects ; Periapical Periodontitis ; therapy ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; Wnt3A Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; X-Ray Microtomography