The traditional view of bacterial life cycle consists of four phases,namely,lag phase,exponential or logarithmic phase,stationary phase and death phase.Although the standard textbook description of the bacterial life cycle has been useful,might not always provide us the whole visage of bacteria growth process.Recently,it has demonstrated that bacterial life cycle is expanded to five phases.It is a significant different growth phase after death phase:long-term stationary phase,which may be more akin to the nature environment in which microorganisms exist.Microbial cells survive due to mutating,and forming growth advantage during stationary phase (GASP) phenotype in this phase.It is very important for further study the microorganisms in this phase.

AIM: To evaluate the effects of the extract of Buddleja officinalis eye drops in basic tears secretory volume, tear film stability, expression of androgen receptors(AR) in castrated rats with dry eye, and to investigate the therapeutic effects of extract of Buddleja officinalis on dry eye caused by gonadal hormones level imbalance. METHODS:A total of 45 Wistar masculinity rats were divided at random into 9 groups, including normal group(A1,A2 and A3), model group(B1,B2 and B3), therapy group with extract of Buddleja officinalis eye drops(C1,C2 and C3). The "1" stood for being fed for 1 month, and "2" for 2 months, and "3" for 3 months. The dry eye model was established with orchiectomy on group B,C. Group C was treated with Buddleja officinalis extract eye drops for one month. All rats were checked with Schirmer Ⅰ test (SⅠt) and tear film break-up time (BUT). Expression of AR was analyzed by flow cytometer(FCM). RESULTS:The SⅠt value of group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P<0.01) and the BUT value of group C was significantly longer than that of group B (P<0.01), which indicated the eye drop could significantly keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability. And the expression of AR of group C was much higher than that of group B,which showed that available composition of the eye drops maybe display androgen-like activity.CONCLUSION:The main components of extract of Buddleja officinalis is the flavonoids which could significantly inhibit happening of dry eye of rat after androgen level lowered. Its mechanism is like androgen's and it could display androgen-like activity to keep basic tears secretory volume and tear film stability.

Objective To investigate the type 2 diabetic patient's periodontal condition and to analyze the influencing factors of periodontitis.Methods A total of 182 type 2 diabetic patients were included in the survey and requested to fill out a questionnaire,and their periodontal status was evaluated by measuring probing depth(PD),attachment level(AL),sulcus bleeding index(SBI),simplified oral hygiene index(OHI-S).Results The prevalence of periodontitis in this group of patients was 96.7%(176/182),including 20 patients with mild periodontitis.156 with moderate to advanced periodontitis.The mean PD and AL of the 182 patients were(2.92±0.67)rain and(2.87-4-1.31)mIIL At least one tooth Was lost in57.1%(104/182)of the patients.The factors related to periodontitis were age,gender,smoking,living in town or country,and 2 h plasma glucose of oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT).There Was no relationship between the severity of periodontitis and education level. The majority of patients did not receive any periodontal therapy.Conclusions Periodontal status was bad in patients with type 2 diabetes.It is important to develop an education program on oral health for tvpe 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to explore and evaluate the effects of combination intervention model conducted by Center for Disease Control and Prevention and activity place to men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODSTo implement one-year combination intervention in 4 MSM venues during May, 2009 and April, 2010. Meanwhile, 3 similar MSM venues were chosen as control. MSM places introduced CDC to consumption crowds. Experts and volunteers sent by CDC undertook health education programme on site and condom, lubricant, pamphlet, consultation, test were provided at the same time. The intervention measures applied to control only included providing pamphlet, condom, lubricant by volunteers. Investigations were conducted among subjects of combination intervention group and control group before (111, 120 subjects) and after (105, 98 subjects) the intervention with questions related to knowledge and behavior of AIDS prevention.

RESULTSAfter one-year intervention, among MSM with combination intervention, the awareness rate of knowledge level about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) increased from 73.0% (81/111) to 91.7% (110/120), proportion of condom-use with male at last anal intercourse increased from 73.0% (81/111) to 85.0% (102/120), ratio of never-use condom with male decreased from 10.8% (11/102) to 1.7% (2/112), percentage of acquiring AIDS-related service and intervention improved significantly, acquiring condom (lubricant) increased from 70.3% (78/111) to 85.0% (102/120), acquiring peer education increased from 10.8% (12/111) to 24.2% (29/120), the proportion of acquiring counseling and testing of HIV increased from 69.4% (77/111) to 90.8% (109/120) (all P values < 0.05). The above index show no statistic difference before and after the intervention (all P values > 0.05) in control MSM venues.

CONCLUSIONCombination intervention model was an effective intervention model contributing to an increase in knowledge of AIDS prevention and decreasing high risk behavior in MSM population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; Adult ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Health Education ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Homosexuality, Male ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Risk-Taking ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior ; Young Adult

Objective To detect the putative periodontal pathogens in the subgingival plaque of chronic periodontitis ( CP) patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( DM) and to discuss the role of the periodontal pathogens in the CP and type 2 DM patients. Methods The study included 154 CP patients with type 2 DM ( DM graup), one hundred and twenty subjects with CP (CP group) and 40 healthy subjects. Subgingival plaque samples were obtained with sterile subgingival curettes and pathogens genomic DNA were extracted by phenol and chloroform from plaque. Taking Porphyromonas gingivalis ( Pg) , Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ( Aa ) , Fusobacterium nucleatum ( Fn) , Prevotella intermedia ( Pi) , Tannerella forsythia(Tf) and Treponema denticola(Td) as aim pathogens, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used to determine the prevalence of Pg, Aa,Fn,Pi,Tf and Td in the subgingival plaque samples.Results Pg, Aa, Fn, Pi, Tf and Td were all found in the subgingival plaque of DM group. In serious periodontitis, the detection rate of Pg, Aa and Tf in DM group [ Pg:78% (72/92) , Aa:27% (25/92) ,Tf: 67% (62/92) ] was significantly higher than in the CP group[ Pg:58% (35/60) , Aa: 17% ( 10/60) ,Tf: 43% (26/60) ] ,P <0. 05. In slight periodontitis, the detection rate of Pi in DM group was significantly lower than in the CP group. At the same time, the average gradation(AVG) ratio of PCR product of Aa and Tf in DM group was significantly higher than in the CP group and the AVG ratio of Pi in DM group was significantly lower than in the CP group ( P < 0. 05 ). Conclusions Compared with the pure CP, the quantity of Pg, Aa and Tf in the subgingival plaque of the periodontitis patients with type 2 DM increased, but the Pi quantity reduced.

OBJECTIVEThis study is to verify the use of rich BHI medium to substitute synthetic media for gene regulation studies in Yersinia pestis.

METHODSThe transcriptional regulation of rovA by PhoP or via temperature upshift, and that of pla by CRP were investigated when Y. pestis was cultured in BHI. After cultivation under 26 °C, and with temperature shifting from 26 to 37 °C, the wild-type (WT) strain or its phoP or crp null mutant (ΔphoP or Δcrp, respectively) was subject to RNA isolation, and then the promoter activity of rovA or pla in the above strains was detected by the primer extension assay. The rovA promoter-proximal region was cloned into the pRW50 containing a promoterless lacZ gene. The recombinant LacZ reporter plasmid was transformed into WT and ΔphoP to measure the promoter activity of rovA in these two strains with the β-Galactosidase enzyme assay system.

RESULTSWhen Y. pestis was cultured in BHI, the transcription of rovA was inhibited by PhoP and upon temperature upshift while that of pla was stimulated by CRP.

CONCLUSIONThe rich BHI medium without the need for modification to be introduced into the relevant stimulating conditions (which are essential to triggering relevant gene regulatory cascades), can be used in lieu of synthetic TMH media to cultivate Y. pestis for gene regulation studies.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacteriological Techniques ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; drug effects ; physiology ; Yersinia pestis ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate viral relapse and the associated risk factors during a long-term follow-up study of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who achieved end-of-treatment response (ETR) after interferon and ribavirin therapy.

METHODSThis retrospective study was conducted on 146 CHC patients treated with a combination of ribavirin and pegylated (PEG) interferon-alpha (IFNa) (n=126) or conventional IFNa (n=20) for 24 (hepatitis C virus (HCV) non-genotype 1b) or 48 (HCV genotype 1b) weeks. The main outcome measure was serum HCV RNA load. The risk factors analyzed included age, sex, HCV genotype, baseline HCV RNA load, and IFN type.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time for all patients was 33.45+/-16.41 months (range: 12-85 months). The cumulative relapse rate during follow-up was 14.80%. The relapse rate within six months (8.90%) was significantly higher than other periods during two years of follow-up, and no relapse occurred after 30 months. Of all relapsers (n=20), 65% occurred within six months, followed by 35% within 7-24 months after antiviral therapy. The relapse rates in patients with HCV genotype 1b and non-1b were not significantly different (20.37% vs. 12.12%, X2 =1.517, P=0.315). The mean baseline HCV RNA load was significantly higher in the relapsers than that in the non-relapsers (t=0.915, P=0.362). Relapse rates were similar in patients treated with PEG-IFNa-2b, PEG-IFNa-2a and IFNa (12.12% vs. 13.97% vs. 15.00%, respectively; X2=0.104, p=0.949). The mean age of relapsers was significantly higher than that of non-relapsers (P less than 0.005).

CONCLUSIONThe maximum probability of relapse for CHC patients exists within six months from when ETR is achieved by interferon and ribavirin therapy. A lower risk for relapse persists past this period. Thus, ETR CHC patients, especially older patients, should be carefully monitored during the two years after cessation of antiviral therapy. Standard antiviral therapy based on HCV genotype eliminates the influence of viral factors on treatment-response.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of multiple coatings of the one-step self-etching adhesive on immediate microtensile bond strength to primary dentin.

METHODSTwelve caries-free human primary molars were randomly divided into 2 groups with 6 teeth each. In group 1, each tooth was hemisected into two halves. One half was assigned to control subgroup 1, which was bonded with a single-step self-etching adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions; the other half was assigned to experimental subgroup 1 in which the adhesive was applied three times before light curing. In group 2, the teeth were also hemisected into two halves. One half was assigned to control subgroup 2, which was bonded with the single-step self-etching adhesive according to the manufacturer's instructions; the other half was assigned to experimental subgroup 2 in which three layers of adhesive were applied with light curing each successive layer. Microtensile bond strength was immediately tested after specimen preparation.

RESULTSWhen the adhesive was applied three times before light curing, the bond strength of the experimental subgroup 1 (n=33, 57.49 +/-11.61 MPa) was higher than that of the control subgroup 1 (n=31, 49.71 +/-11.43 MPa, P<0.05). When using the technique of applying multiple layers of adhesive with light curing each successive layer, no difference of immediate bond strength was observed between the control subgroup 2 and the experimental subgroup 2 (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONstrength to primary dentin when using the technique of light-curing after applying three layers of adhesive.

Adhesives ; chemistry ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Dentin ; chemistry ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; chemistry ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methacrylates ; chemistry ; Tensile Strength

Alzheimer′s disease ( AD ) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive memory and cognitive impairment and ul-timately leads to death of patients.Aggregation of amyloid β-peptide ( Aβ) is a central event in AD pathogenesis, which is based onβ-sheet formation of Aβpeptides.β-Sheet breaker peptides are oligopeptides that can prevent and/or reverse β-sheet formation and thus represent a promising class of candidates for treatment of AD. This review is to summarize the progress of β-Sheet breaker peptides made in the past few decades.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcome and toxicity of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) compared with CCRT alone for the treatment of children and adolescent locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LACANPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 194 locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients youngerthan 21 years who received CCRT with or without IC before were included in the study population. Overall survival (OS) rate, progression-free survival (PFS) rate, locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rate, and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test. Treatment toxicities were clarified and compared between two groups. RESULTS: One hundred and thiry of 194 patients received IC+CCRT. Patients who were younger and with more advanced TNM stage were more likely to receive IC+CCRT and intensive modulated radiotherapy. The addition of IC before CCRT failed to improve survival significantly. The matched analysis identified 43 well-balanced patients in both two groups. With a median follow-up of 51.5 months, no differences were found between the IC+CCRT group and the CCRT group in 5-year OS (83.7% vs. 74.6%, p=0.153), PFS (79.2% vs. 73.4%, p=0.355), LRFS (97.7% vs. 88.2%, p=0.083), and DMFS (81.6% vs. 81.6%, p=0.860). N3 was an independent prognostic factor predicting poorer OS, PFS, and DMFS. The addition of IC was associated with increased rates of grade 3 to 4 neutropenia. CONCLUSION: This study failed to demonstrate that adding IC before CCRT could provide a significant additional survival benefit for LACANPC patients. Further investigations are warranted.
Adolescent* ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Child* ; Cohort Studies* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy* ; Methods ; Neutropenia ; Radiotherapy