BACKGROUND: The presence of various microorganisms in dental unit waterlines has been revealed by numerous reports previously. However, impact of different dental procedures on microbial contamination in dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) remains unclearly.OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of microbial contamination in water effluent from the high-speed handpiece line of dental chair units (DCUs) among different specialty departments in a provincial stomatological hospital. Thus, to propose individual infection control measures for different specialty departments according to their properties of microbial contamination.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A cross-sectional investigation was designed and conducted in Guangdong Provincial Stomatological Hospital and Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Southern Medical University, between May 2007 and March 2008.MATERIALS: The materials used in this investigation including nutrient agar, blood plates, biochemical testing kit, agglutination testing kit and Gram staining agents. These materials were purchased from Guangdong Huankai Microbial Science and Technology Co., Ltd.METHODS: Water sampling was conducted at 80 DCUs of different specialty departments in Guangdong Provincial Stomatological Hospital. A total of 60 mL, with 6 mL for once sampling of water effluent from the high-speed handpiece line of each DCU were collected aseptically after the finish of the daily clinical work on every second Friday between May and October in 2007. Standard isolation and identification technique of bacteria was adopted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Concentration of bacteria and prevalence of 3 species of bacteria in water effluent from the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs among different specialty departments were evaluated.RESULTS: Concentration of bacteria in water effluent from the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs averaged 5.67×10~2 cfu/mL, ranged from 5.15×10 to 1.59×10~3 cfu/mL. The microbial concentration of water samples from Department of Periodontics was significantly higher than that from other departments, while the microbial concentration of water samples from Department of Oral Surgery was the lowest (P = 0.000).CONCLUSION: Contamination in water effluent from the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs varied from different specialty departments in the provincial stomatological hospital. It is suggested that DUWLs flushing should be performed routinely, especially for the department without frequent use of the high-speed handpiece in the daily work, and extra infection control measures should be adopted for the department with severe clinical operative contamination.

BACKGROUND:Daily flushing of dental unit waterlines (DUWLs) is believed to be the least expensive and simplest method for reducing the level of microbial contamination in DUWLs.Authorities' guidelines suggest that high-speed handpieces should be run to discharge water for 30 seconds after use on each patient.However,the guideline is inaccurate for clinicians according to the time-dependent flushing since the maximum flow rate of flushing water varied from dental chair units (DCUs).OBJECTIVE:To assess the level of microbial contamination in water effluent from the air-water syringe and the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs and prevalence of three species of bacteria detected in DUWLs at each flushing volume.Thus,practical water flushing measures could be proposed according to the effect of volume-dependent dental unit waterline flushing on the microbial contamination in DUWLs.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:A cross-sectional investigation was designed and conducted in Guangdong Provincial Stomatological Hospital and Laboratory of Microbiology,School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine,Southern Medical University between May 2007 and March 2008.MATERIALS:The materials used in this investigation including nutrient agar,blood plates,biochemical testing kit,agglutination testing kit and Gram staining agents.These materials were supported by Guangdong Huankai Microbiological Science and Technology Ltd.METHODS:Water sampling was conducted at 80 DCUs in a stomatologicel hospital.A total of 6 mL,2 mL for once sampling,of continuous water flushing from the air-water syringe and the high-speed handpiece line of each DCU respectively were collected aseptically after the finish of the daily clinical work on every second Friday,between May 2007 and October 2007.Standard isolation and identification technique of bacteria was adopted.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Concentration of bacteria and prevalence of three species of bacteria in water effluent from the air-water syringe and the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs at each flushing volume were evaluated.RESULTS:The median concentration of bacteria in water effluent from either the air-water syringe or the high-speed handpiece line of DCUs was 5.67×10~2 cfu/mL,and there were no statistical differences among microbial concentrations of first three 2-mL flushing water samples (P>0.05).Prevalence of Staphylococcus spp.from the third 2-mL flushing water sample demonstrated an obviously higher level than that of Staphylococcus spp.from the first two 2-mL (P < 0.05),while prevalence of Streptococcus spp.and Actinomycete spp.kept at a relative stable level (P > 0.05) at each flushing volume.CONCLUSION:Volume-dependent water flushing procedure stays a more practical measure for reducing microbial contamination in DUWLs rather than time-dependent flushing,but the volume of flushing water needs to be further evaluated.

Objective To study the relationship between the expression of human Stanniocalcin-1(hSTC-1) mRNA in the peripheral blood from patients with colorectal cancer and its malignant behavior. Methods RT-PCR was used to detect hSTC-1 mRNA in the peripheral blood from 57 patients with colorectal cancer. The peripheral blood from 14 patients with gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, 15 healthy volunteers and 5 pregnant women were served as controls. Results The positive rate of hSTC-1 mRNA in 57 patients with colorectal cancer was 49.12% (28/57), and the mRNA expression of hSTC-1 was significantly related with the clinical stage of colon cancer (P

Objective To construct an eukaryotic expression vector carrying human glutathione-S-transferase(GST)A1gene and to provide study materials for toxicology and pharmacogenetic.Methods The GST A1cDNA was amplified and separated from human liver total RNAs by RT-PCR approach and recombined with eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.The recombined plasmid pcDNA3-hGSTA1was verified using PCR,restriction analysis and sequencing determination.Results Human GST A1gene was recombined correctly with pcDNA3,compared with Genbank,in code152T→C,amino acid Met→Thr.Conclusion The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-hGSTA1was constructed for research on toxicology and pharmacogenetics.

BACKGROUND: Progressive body mass losses and physical strength decrease are common complications of malignant tumors, and they are important factors that affect the quality of life of the patients.OBJECTIVE: To probe into the curative effect of a Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules combined with antitumor drugs in the treatment of malignant tumors and its effect on the quality of life.DESIGN: A randomized controlled observation.SETTING:Clinical Tumor College of Peking University.PARTICIPANT: Totally 61 patients with malignant pulmonary carcinoma,breast or intestinal carcinoma hospitalized in the Wards of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Beijing Cancer Hospital from June 1999 to March 2002 were recruited.METHODS: Altogether 61 cases of malignant tumor were randomized into the treatment group (treated with Chinese herbal compound Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy)(n=34) and the control group (treated with only chemotherapy was used)(n=27). The difference in curative effect, survival period with tumor and the quality of life of the two groups were observed. The comparison of the curative effects of the two groups was performed according to Clinical Curative Effect Criteria for Solid Tumors stipulated by World Health Organization: completely response, partly response, stable disease, and progressive disease. X-ray examination was performed on the patients before the therapy and two courses of treatment after the therapy to evaluate the curative effect. Physical strength grading was made according to the evaluation criteria of Eastern Oneology Cooperative Group of the United States. The two groups were graded before and after the treatment. The group with decreased grade after the treatment was considered to be improving, but the group with increased grade after the treatment was considered to be worsening.symptom before and after therapyparison of the curative effect of the two groups: The cure rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (partial response rate,stability rate and progression rate of the two groups was 36% ,7% ;52%,survival with tumors: The mean period of survival with tumors of the treatment group was longer than that of the control group until March 2002ing: Physical strength grading status was better after the therapy in the treatment group than that in the control group [ In the treatment group, 9cases (26%)were ameliorated, 25 (74%)appeared stable , none was aggravated; in the control group, 1 case (4%) was ameliorated, 25(93%) appeared of qi-deficiency symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine before and after the treatment between the two groups. Symptoms such as sweating and qi deficiency manifested as disclination to talk, listlessness, debility, etc. were significantly reduced in the treatment group (The numbers of cases before and after the treatment were 20, 9; 17,9; 20,13 respectively). In the control group, the cases either were stable or showed an increase in symptoms (There were 13, 13; 14, 17; 18, 20 respectively before and after treatment).CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, in the treatment of malignant tumors, Yiqi Xiaozheng granules supplemented with chemotherapy not only enhanced curative effect, but also improved the quality of life and prolonged the period of survival with tumors.

Objective:To analyze the incidence trend, current status and survival period of young patients with lung cancer aged from 15 to 44 years in Shanghai between 2002 to 2005. Methods:All the data were collected from the database of registration and ma-nagement system of diagnosed cancer cases in Shanghai city organized by Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention. The incidence trend was analyzed by using APC(annual percent change)model. The survival period and median survival time were calculated by using SPSS 12.0 software and life table method. The univariate and multivariate analyses were analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier and COX regression model, respectively.Results:A total of 972 young patients with lung cancer who aged from 15 to 44 years were diagnosed in Shanghai between 2002 and 2005, accounting for 3.09% of the whole percentage of adenocarcinoma in young patients was higher than that in whole lung cancer population at the same period, while the TNM stage was not significantly different between male and female young patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that gender, pathological classification and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for young patients with lung cancer. Conclusion:The lung cancer had different characteristics in young patients compared with that in whole lung cancer population in Shanghai city. It was necessary to further investigate the biologic behavior of lung cancer in young patients.

Objective To compare the difference of ELISA and LABScreen in detecting HLA antibodies and evaluate their effects on allograft rejection.Methods Consecutive patients undergoing kidney transplantion from November,2008 to December,2009 in the First Affiliated Hospital and the following up patients during the same period,with abnormal Scr who had completed kidney biopsies,were included in this study.Patients' HLA antibodies were detected by ELISA (Lambda antigen tray,LATTM) and LABScreen Mix Beads (LABScreen MIX,One Lambda,Canoga Park,CA,USA) or LABScreen Single antigen beads (LABScreenTM single antigen beads,One Lambda,Canoga Park,CA,USA).Patients' Scr were also detected at different time potints.Results There were 277 patietns included.Among them 145 (52.3％) cases were HLA antibody positive detected by LABScreen,which including 118 cases ELISA negative but LABScreen positive,and 27 cases both ELISA and LABScreen positive.No case was ELISA positive but LABScreen negative.Among 118 cases which were LABScreen positive but ELISA negative,41 (34.7％) cases happened acute or chronic rejection.However,only 24 cases happened rejection in 132 double negative cases (18.2％,P =0.003).There were 31％ patients in rejection group while only 12.8％ patients (P=0.01) in non-rejection group whose HLA antibody fluorescence intensity detected by LABScreen single antigen beads still increased two weeks after transplantation.Conclusion LABScreen is more sensitive than ELISA in detecting HLA antibodies,and its result highly correlates with the incidence of allograft rejection.

Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of miR-183-5p, TβRⅠ and TβRⅡ in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods The mRNA and protein expression of miR-183-5p, TβRⅠ and TβRⅡ were examined in ESCC cell lines ECA-109, TE-1, normal esophageal epithelial cells, tumor tissues and tumor-free tissues from 72 ESCC patients. Their clinical significance and the relationship between miR-183-5p and the latter two were analyzed. The effects of miR-183-5p on the expression of TβRⅠand TβRⅡ in ECA-109 cells and the cell functions of ECA-109 were also investigated. Results Compared with the normal esophageal epithelia cells, ESCC cell lines TE-1 and ECA-109 were statistically characterized by a high expression of miR-183-5p (all P<0.05) and low expression of TβRⅠand TβRⅡ(all P<0.05). The expression of miR-183-5p in ESCC tissues was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues, while the expressions of TβRⅠ and TβRⅡ were lower (all P< 0.05). The expression of miR-183-5p was closely related to sex, tumor differentiation, tumor staging, distant metastasis, lymphatic metastasis, and tumor location (all P<0.05). TβRⅠlevel was associated with sex, lymph node metastasis and tumor size (all P<0.05). Experimental data showed the negative correlation between the expression of miR-183-5p and TβRⅠin ESCC tissues (r= -0.521, P< 0.05). Over expression of miR-183-5p significantly inhibited the expression of TβRⅠ in ECA-109 cells (P< 0.05) and promoted the growth, invasion and metastasis of ECA-109 cells (P< 0.05). Low expression of miR-183-5p significantly promoted the expression of TβRⅠ in ECA-109 cells (P< 0.05), and suppressed the growth, invasion and metastasis of ECA-109 cells (P< 0.05). There was no significant change in the expression of TβRⅡ in the transfection experiments. Conclusion MiR-183-5p is closely related to the abnormal expression of TβRⅠ, which may exert an important role in the progression of lymphatic metastasis.

Objective:To report the clinical features of KCNQ2-associated epilepsy and the novel mutations and unreported clinical phenotype of KCNQ2 gene, so as to provide help for treatment selection and prognosis evaluation.Methods:Among 979 patients with epilepsy and developmental delay who were admitted to the Department of Neurology,Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics from July 2015 to October 2019, a total of 13 patients were selected from 12 families with KCNQ2 gene mutation by whole exome sequencing technology. Suspected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing on the probands and their parents to identify the source. The clinical phenotype and genotype were analyzed according to these results.Results:Among the 13 patients with epilepsy, the onset age of four cases were older than six months [two cases in infancy (epilepsy encephalopathy), one case in early childhood (epilepsy encephalopathy) and one case in adolescence (benign epilepsy)]. Eight cases were treated with oxcarbazepine, of whom five cases were seizure free, and two cases showed partial response (>50%). Two cases treated with topiramate were seizure free. Five novel mutations were found in this research, including c.379T>G(p.Y127D), c.1A>C(initial codon mutation), c.708G>C(p.W236C), c.1027G>T(p.A343S) and c.1649T>G(p.V550G).Conclusions:Although it was rare in clinical work, the variation of KCNQ2 gene existed in patients with childhood-onset epilepsy and adolescent-onset epilepsy. Meanwhile, five novel mutations of KCNQ2 gene were reported, which further expanded its gene spectrum. This research supported that oxcarbazepine was the efficient medicine for the KCNQ2-associated epilepsy. Genetic testing showed great help to the treatment of epilepsy.

This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of artemether in combination with etoposide on the proliferation and invasion ability of human small cell lung cancer cell line H446.H446 cells were treated with different concentrations of artemether or etoposide alone or their combination.The inhibitory effects on proliferation were detected by MTT assay,while cell cycle and apoptosis of H446 cells in each group were analyzed by flow cytometry using PI and Annexin V/PI-staining,respectively.The invasion capability of H446 cells in different groups was tested with matrigel-coated transwell.The results implicated that artemether or etoposide or their combination does inhibit proliferation of H446 cells dose-dependently.Artemether alone had little effect on the apoptosis of H446 cells while its combination with etoposide resulted in significantly apoptosis of H446 cells comparing with other groups (P ＜ 0.05).Etoposide blocked H446 progression markedly by arresting cell cycle in G2 phase with percentage of cells in G1 phase decreasing significantly while artemether alone or in combination with etoposide had little synergetic effect on cell cycle.Artemether or etoposite alone or their combination could dramatically inhibit the invasion ability of H446 cells.