BACKGROUND:It has been found that the compressive strength and flexural strength of nano-hydroxyapatite combined with light-cured resin matrix can neet the requirements of dental restorative materials. OBJECTIVE:To detect the cytotoxicity of nano-hydroxyapatite/composite resin, and to analyze its effects on the dental restoration. METHODS:In vitro test:passage 5 periodontal ligament fibroblast-like cel s and L-929 cel s suspensions were cultured in the 10%, 50%, 100%of nano-hydroxyapatite/composite resin extracts, respectively, and fresh maintenance medium functioned as negative control group. Absorbance values were detected within 7-day culture. In vivo repair test:57 cases with tooth defect were enrol ed containing 37 males and 20 females aged from 15 to 31 years old, and al were subjected to nano-hydroxyapatite/composite resin treatment. A 3-year fol ow-up was undergone to detect the completeness, marginal adaptation and color matching of the restoration, as wel as the periodontal probing depth, sulcus bleeding index, tooth mobility, dental plaque index, gingival crevicular fluid and aspartate aminotransferase level. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In vitro test results showed that the different concentrations of nano-hydroxyapatite/composite resin extracts had no effects on both periodontal ligament fibroblast-like cel s and L-929 cel s. In vivo repair test results found that after 3 years of fol ow-up, the periodontal probing depth, sulcus bleeding index, tooth mobility, dental plaque index, gingival crevicular fluid and aspartate aminotransferase level of patients were significantly decreased than those before repair (P<0.05), but the alkaline phosphatase level revealed no significant change (P>0.05). Unfortunately, three cases with incomplete restoration, four cases with color mismatching, and three cases with the inadaptable edge occurred. To conclude, the nano-hydroxyapatite/composite resin holds good biocompatibility and no cytotoxicity, which can maintain a good periodontal health condition in the dental restoration.

Objective To report the clinical characteristics, biochemical profiles, diagnosis and treatment of one Chinese pedigree with glucocorticoid remediable aldosteronism. Methods Plasma and urine aldo~sterone and cortisol and plasma renin activity were dynamically tested and diagnostic therapy was undergone in 3 affected subjects. Results All of 4 affected members had hypertension, hypokalemia, 3 patients had low basic and provoked renin activity (0.017?0.015 vs 0.13?0.08)?g?L -1 ?h -1 . 3 patients were treated with 2 mg dexamethasone for 5～7 days, then the medication was reduced gradually and maintained at 0.5～0.75 mg per day after 1～1.5 month(s). 5 days after treatment, the plasma aldosterone concentrations (PACs) decreased significantly from (192?9)ng/L to (87?7)ng/L (P

OBJECTIVE: To determine the protective effects of nourishing spleen yin recipe (Zibu Piyin Recipe, ZBPYR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in neuronal cells responding to the stress by using sero-pharmacological method. METHODS: The mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2a cells were treated with tunicamycin (Tm, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation). The ZBPYR-treated cell group was established by incubating cells with ZBPYR serum for one hour and treated with Tm. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was utilized to detect the mRNA expressions from two genes after treatments, ER molecular chaperone glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and transcriptional factor CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP). Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was also carried out to determine the LDH leakage from Neuro2a cells after treated with Tm and staurosporine (STS). RESULTS: The ZBPYR-treated cell group at all tested ZBPYR dosages showed significantly reduced expressions of both genes compared with Tm (5 microg/ml) treated control group (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum inhibited the expressions of GRP78 and CHOP in mRNA level under ER stress induced by Tm. Different concentrations of ZBPYR serum pretreatment reduced the LDH leakage compared with the Tm and STS groups (P<0.05). Therefore, ZBPYR serum may inhibit the LDH leakage induced by Tm and STS. CONCLUSION: ZBPYR has neuroprotective effects. The mechanisms may be associated with inhibition of ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Zibu Piyin Recipe (ZBPYR) on spleen yin deficiency diabetes-associated cognitive disorder (DACD). Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group, spleen yin deficiency group, spleen yin deficiency DM group and spleen yin deficiency DM+ZBPYR group (treatment group). Type 2 DM models were established by high-fat food feeding and low dose STZ intraperitoneal injection for 4 weeks. Then the classical compound method was used to construct spleen yin deficiency rat models by improper diet, over exertion and yin fluids exhaustion. The treatment group was given ZBPYR by gavage for 15 days, and the other groups were given the same amount of normal saline. Then cerebral cortex, hippocampus, stomach and liver were obtained and the changes of protein expression of PDHE1α in them were observed by Western Blot. Results The protein expression of PDHE1αin cortex of DM group and spleen yin deficiency DM group were lower than control group (P<0.05). PDHE1α expression of treatment group in cortex and stomach increased more significantly than spleen yin deficiency DM group (P<0.05). The expression of PDHE1α protein showed no significant difference among all groups in hippocampus and liver. Conclusion ZBPYR improved spleen yin deficiency DACD by regulating PDHE1αin cortex and stomach.

Objective To develop a dental crown remover with the strength provided constantly and adjusted freely.Methods The remover was composed of a shell, a crown hook, a conduction mechanism, a strength generating mechanism and a percussion mechanism. The spring had the explosive force formed in the crown head to destruct the cohesion of the cement.Results The remover could remove the crown, with one hand freed for the protection of abutment and mucous membrane.Conclusion The remover has simple structure and easy operation, and is worth popularizing clinically.

Objective To investigate the synergistic effects of simulated microgravity and noise on the audito‐ry functions and corti organs in rats .Methods A total of 48 healthy rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=12):control group (Group A) ,microgravity only group (Group B) ,noise only group (Group C) and microgravity+noise group (Group D) .The microgravity environment was simulated by suspending the posterior limb using Morey-Holton method .The noise exposure was the simulation of the noise environment in spaceship including steady -state noise (72 ± 2) dB SPL and impulse noise up to 160 dB SPL .The control group was kept in normal conditions without any exposure .Auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) ,HE stainings ,immunofluorescence stainings and scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) were tested after 1week and 2 weeks exposure respectively (n=6) .Results The average of ABR threshold shifts of 2 weeks exposure were higher than those of 1 week in each group .Group D showed the highest ABRs (P<0 .01) .The HE stainings showed different degrees of injury in corti organs in all experimental groups ;which Group D being the most serious ,followed by Group C .The results of immunefluorescence in hair cells showed that swelling necrosis was the main damage of cochlear hair cell after 1 week's exposure .The swelling rate of Group D was the highest ,followed by Group C .Nucleus missing in hair cells was observed after 2 weeks'exposure . Group D had the highest missing rate and the main missing of Group B happened in the inner hair cells .SEM showed that the most serious damage of stereociliums in Group D ,followed by Group C ,then Group B .Conclusion The synergistic effects of simulated microgravity and noise lead to significant damage of the auditory function and cochlea Corti organs in rat .

This study was aimed to observe the protection ofZi-Bu Pi-Yin recipe (ZBPYR) on the cortex mitochondrial dysfunction of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction rats. SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, which were the control (Con) group, the diabetes (DM) group, the ZBPYR treatment (ZBPYR1) group and the ZBPYR protection (ZBPYR2) group. Morris water maze test was taken to evaluate the learning and memory ability of rats. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to detect the ultrastructure and quantity changes of cortex mitochondria. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Cyto C. The results showed that compared to Con group, the learning and memory ability were decreased in the DM group (P < 0.05); the learning and memory ability of the ZBPYR1 group was improved compared to the DM group (P < 0.05); compared to the DM group, the ZBPYR2 group was significantly improved (P < 0.01). Compared with the Con group, the number of cortex mitochondria in DM group was decreased (P< 0.05), and the structure was disordered, blurred, or even completely destroyed. After ZBPYR intervention, these pathological changes were reduced obviously. And the number of mitochondria in the ZBPYR2 group was increased than that of the DM group (P < 0.05). The expression of Cyto C in cytoplasm of the DM group was significantly higher than that of the Con group (P < 0.01). After ZBPYR intervention, the expression of Cyto C was decreased. It was concluded that ZBPYR regulated the mitochondrial morphology and changes of volume in the cortex, prevented the releasing of Cyto C from mitochondria to cytoplasm, and improved the cognitive function of diabetes rats.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with high level of plasma procalcitonin (PCT > 100 μg/L), and to improve the clinician's understanding, diagnosis and treatment of this kind of patients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical data of patients with plasma PCT over 100 μg/L within 48 hours of admission admitted to Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2013 to December 2016 were collected, and the clinical characteristics were analyzed. The patients were divided into survival and death groups according to 28-day prognosis. The general data and laboratory parameters including vital signs, 24-hour urine output, routine blood test, blood biochemical tests, coagulation parameters, myocardial enzymes and arterial blood gas analysis were collected. The risk factors of mortality were analyzed using multi-logistic regression analysis. Results 188 patients with high level of plasma PCT were enrolled. There were 128 male patients (68.1%) with the average age of 62 (49, 75) years. Most patients were admitted in intensive care unit (ICU, 70.7%, 133/188). Major diagnosis was sepsis (91.0%), followed by multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, 57.4%), post large operation of thorax and abdomen (20.7%), trauma/burns (13.8%) and post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR, 6.4%). Of all the 188 patients, 115 patients survived and 73 died with a mortality of 38.8%. The parameters in the death group, including the percentages of MODS (84.9% vs. 40.0%), trauma/burns (26.0% vs. 6.1%), post-CPR (13.7% vs. 1.7%), ventilator support (82.2% vs. 40.9%) and shock (100.0% vs. 60.0%), the numbers of principal diagnosis [2.0 (2.0, 3.0) vs. 2.0 (1.0, 2.0)], acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ score [APACHE Ⅱscore: 24 (19, 28) vs. 14 (10, 16)] and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score [16.0 (12.5, 18.0) vs. 9.0 (6.0, 12.0)], as well as liver function, coagulation parameters, myocardial enzymes and lactic acid (Lac) levels were significantly higher than those in the survival group, but the platelet (PLT) count in the death group was significantly lower than that in the survival group [×109/L: 62.00 (21.50, 111.00) vs. 93.00 (53.00, 136.00), all P < 0.05]. The parameters with statistical significance in the univariate analysis were enrolled in the multiple factor logistic regression analysis, which showed that patient with a high score of APACHE Ⅱ [odds ratio (OR) = 1.290, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.121-1.484, P = 0.000] or the occurrence of MODS (OR = 7.264, 95%CI = 1.762-29.941, P = 0.006) at admission had a poor prognosis. Conclusions The primary patients with high levels of plasma PCT (> 100 μg/L) were diagnosed with sepsis, MODS, trauma and post-CPR, complicated with respiratory and circulatory insufficiency. These factors of trauma, MODS and cardiac arrest, and some laboratory parameters including PLT, Lac, liver function, coagulation spectrum, and cardiac enzymes were correlated with the prognosis of the patients with high levels of plasma PCT. High APACHE Ⅱ score and the incidence of MODS might be independent predictors of poor prognosis in the patients with high levels of plasma PCT.

This study aimed to use the sika deer as a model to study the influence of IGF-1 on the expression of Col Ⅰ in antler chondrocytes.The chondrocytes were separated from sika deer antlers,cultured and were treated with recombinant human IGF-1 protein (rIGF-1),both rIGF-1 and PQ401,and transfected with IGF-1 over-expression plasmid or IGF-1 siRNA,respectively.The expression of Col Ⅰ which,a well-known marker for chondrocytes dedifferentiation,was detected by real-time PCR.The results showed that administration of rIGF-1 to antler chondroctyes resulted in an obvious decrease of Col Ⅰ mRNA levels,while PQ401 pretreatment could dramatically attenuate the effects of rIGF-1 on the expression of Col Ⅰ mRNA.After transfection with IGF-1 over-expression plasmid,the expression of Col Ⅰ mRNA was obviously reduced in antler chondrocytes compared with control.Conversely,knockdown IGF1 with specific siRNA could increase the expression of Col Ⅰ in antler chondrocytes.These results indicate that IGF-1 may play an important role in process of antler chondrocyte dedifferentiation.