OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of cryogenic treatment and age-hardening heat treatment on the corrosion behavior of a dental casting Ag-Pd alloy.

METHODSA low gold content dental casting alloy composed of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au was prepared for this study. Corrosion test was performed according to ISO 10271:2001 dental metallie-corrosion test methods. Experimental specimens were casted according to a standard dental lost-wax casting procedure, treated with solution by heating the specimens to 900 degrees C, and immediately quenched in ice water. The specimens were then divided into four groups and subjected to heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, and heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment. The specimens after the solution treatment were taken as control. The metallographic structures of the specimens were observed. The electrochemical parameters and the quantity of non-precious metallic ions released were evaluated via electrochemical and static immersion tests.

RESULTSMetallographic observation revealed that all the treatments resulted in a change in the microstructure of the alloy. The treatments were effective in improving the electrochemical parameters, such as an increase in Eocp and Ecorr and a decrease in Icorr (P < 0.05). The amount of non-noble metal ions released showed no difference compared with the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAfter different treatments, the antierosion properties of the alloy satisfied the ISO requirements. Age-hardening heat treatment and cryogenic treatment improved the corrosion resistance of the alloy.

Since the mechanism reform in 2001,the quality construction has been the center of our publication work.With the awareness of brand and service strengthened continuously,the publication quality is raised and the publication scope is widened so that the benefit in military,economy and society is enhanced comprehensively.This paper reviews the five-year publication practice of Chinese medical equipment journal and explores its prospects,which can be a reference for further development and the realization of new aim.

AIM　To determine whether O-β -D-fructofuranosyl-〔(2→1 )-O-β-D-fructofuransyl〕4α-D-glucopyranoside (inulin-type hexasaccharide, IHS), a monomer extracted from the roots of Morinda of ficinalis How, has antidepressant action. METHODS Fo rced swimming tests in mice and rats and differential-reinforcement-of-low-r ate 72 second schedule (DRL 72 s) in rats were used. RESULTS In the forced swimming test in mice, IHS (80 mg*kg-1, po), like the effe ct of clinically effective antidepressant desipramine (10 mg*kg-1, ip)， produced significant decrease in immobility time. IHS (20 mg*kg-1，po ) also elicited significant decrease in immobility time in forced swimming test in rats, which was comparable to the effect of desipramine (40 mg*kg-1, po). Moreover, in the DRL 72 s in rats, IHS (5～10 mg*kg-1, ip), s imilar to desipramine (5 mg*kg-1, ip), elicited significant increase in reinforcers. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that IHS has antidepressant action and is an effective component extracted from the root s of Morinda officinalis How.

Objective To assess the number of peripheral blood Th17 cells and mRNA expressions of IL-17A and IL-23R and their correlations with disease severity in patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV).Methods Tissue specimens were resected from the lesions of 25 patients with PV and normal skin of 10 human controls,and venous blood samples were obtained from 20 of the patients and all of the normal human controls.Reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry were carried out to measure the mRNA levels of IL-17A and IL-23R in these tissue specimens and quantify the number of peripheral blood CD4+IL-17+ T lymphocytes.Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was calculated for these patients.Results A significant increase was observed in the IL-17A and IL-23R mRNA levels in the patients compared with the controls (0.996 ± 0.231vs.0.437 ± 0.096,t =10.572,P ＜ 0.05; 1.006 ± 0.339 vs.0.491 ± 0.196,t =6.015,P ＜ 0.05).The levels of both IL-17A mRNA and IL-23R mRNA were positively correlated with PASI (r,=0.67,0.70,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).The number of CD4+IL-1 7+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood showed no significant differences between the patients and controls.No statistical correlation was observed between the counts of CD4+IL-17+ T lymphocytes and expression levels of IL-17A or IL-23R mRNA in psoriatic lesions.Conclusions In patients with PV,there is an increase in the expressions of IL-17A and IL-23R mRNA in lesions,which are correlated with disease severity,while no significant change is observed in the number of peripheral blood CD4+IL-17+ T cells.

Objective To investigate activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3 K)/protein kinase B(Akt)pathway in the endometrium of women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and its role in endometrium hyperplasia and carcinogenesis,and the factors affecting the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.Methods From Jan 2007 to Jun 2008,52 patients with PCOS who underwent dilatation and curettage were selected as experimental group matched with 32 non-PCOS patients as control group.Serous hormonal parameters,fasting blood glucose and insulin,body mass index(BMI),and endometrium pathology were measured and evaluated in all patients.The PCOS patients were divided into insulin resistance and non-insulin resistance group according to homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR).Meanwhile,the PCOS patients were grouped as normal,endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma depending on outcome of pathology.The expression of Akt and phosphorylated Akt(p-Akt)were determined by western blot.Results(1)The expression of p-Akt was significantly higher in PCOS group [(46±18)％]than that in control[(33 ±9)％,P ＜0.01)].(2)The expression of p-Akt was significantly higher in group of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma[(56 ± 19)％]when compared with those in normal endometria group[(31 ± 12)％,P ＜ 0.05]; the expression of p-Akt was significantly higher in group of insulin resistance[(50 ± 19)％]compared with that in non-insulin resistance group [(34 ± 10)％,P ＜0.01].(3)There was a positive correlation between the expression level of p-Akt in endometrium with PCOS and HOMA-IR and BMI respectively(r =0.400,0.326,both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The PI3K/Akt pathway was over activated in endometrium with PCOS which may be associated with the formation of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma in PCOS patients.Insulin resistance and obesity may be high risk factors for over-activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in endometrium with PCOS.

0.05), but significantly different between the cities(P

Background To maintain corneal transparency is important for good visual function.A new treatment concept and the selection of surgical techniques and timing of surgery are critical for stopping the infringement of cornea tissue after alkali burning and other chemical warfare agents.Objective This study was to investigative the ultrastructure and histopathological status following the femtosecond laser-assisted deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK) for acute alkali burn of cornea.Methods Acute corneal alkali burn models were established in 12 New Zealand rabbits by putting the 6 mm filter paper with 1 mol/L NaOH at the central cornea for 30 seconds.The rabbits were randomly allocated to femtosecond laser-assisted DLK group and model control group according to the randomized number table method.Femtosecond laser-assisted DLK was performed to transplant the corneal grafts of domestic rabbits to the model rabbits 24 hours after burning.The rabbits were sacrificed 1 week,2 weeks and 4 weeks after modeling,and the corneas were extracted for the preparation of corneal section.The cornea were performed with hematoxylin and eosin staining to assess the histopathological status under the optical microscope,and the ultrastructure of grafts and corneas was examined under the transmission electron microscope (TEM).Results Acute corneal alkali bourn models were successfully eatablished.In the fourth week after surgery,corneal graft was clear in the femtosecond laser-assisted DLK group.However,corneal swelling,conjunctival congestion and neovascularization were found in the model control group.Histopathological examination revealed the defect of corneal epithelium,edema of stroma,loose arrangement of collagen fibers,much vacuoles,few neovascularization and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells in the model control group,but in the femtosecond laser-assisted DLK group,the inflammatory response was slight.More desmosomes among the endothelial cells were seen,and the nuclei were intact in the grafts.In the fourth week after surgery,the transplanted corneas were transparent with the regular arrangement of collagen fibers and entire fibroblasts in the femtosecond laser-assisted DLK group under the TEM.However,flat surface corneal epithelial cells and shedding of some epithelial cells were exhibited in the modelcontrol group.Conclusions Femtosecond laser-assisted DLK can effectively alleviate the inflammatory response,promote epithelial healing and enhance intercellular tight junction in the cornea with acute alkali burn.

Triptolide, a compound extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine preparation of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, its effect on ovarian cancer invasion is unknown. We observed that MMP7 and MMP19 expression increased in ovarian cancer tissue. Triptolide treatment inhibited the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells SKOV3 and A2780 at the concentration of 15 nM. We also observed that triptolide suppressed MMP7 and MMP19 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner, down-regulating the expressions of these promoters on mRNA and protein level. Moreover, triptolide enhanced E-cadherin expression in ovarian cancer cells. In vivo, triptolide inhibited tumor formation and metastasis in nude mice, and suppressed MMP7 and MMP19 expression; it also enhanced E-cadherin expression in tumor in a dose-dependent manner. Over expression of MMP7 and MMP19, or suppression of E-cadherin expression partially abolished the inhibitory effect of triptolide on invasion of ovarian cancer cells. To summarize, triptolide significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells by suppression of MMP7 and MMP19 and up-regulation of E-cadherin expression. This study shows that triptolide is a good candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer and reduction of metastasis.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/*pharmacology ; Cadherins/*genetics/metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/drug effects ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/*drug therapy/pathology ; Diterpenes/*pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds/pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic/drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7/genetics/*metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted/genetics/*metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Ovarian Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology ; Phenanthrenes/*pharmacology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Up-Regulation/drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of cryogenic treatment and age-hardening heat treatment on the micro-Vicker's hardness of palladium-silver dental alloys.

METHODSA low-gold content dental casting alloy composed of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au was prepared for this study. Experimental specimens according to standard requirements were prepared following a standard dental laboratory casting procedure, cast specimens were heated to 900 degrees C and quenched in ice water. The specimens were then divided into 4 groups. They were subsequently subjected to different treatments, including age-hardening heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment. The non-treated group was used as control. The micro-Vicker's hardness value was examined. The significance of correlation was analyzed.

RESULTSThe micro-Vicker's hardness of specimens after age-hardening heat treatment, cryogenic treatment, heat treatment combined with cryogenic treatment increased by 129%, 13% and 141%, respectively, compared with that of the non-treated control group. Conclusion Age-hardening heat treatment and cryogenic treatment were effective in elevating the hardness of Ag-Pd-Cu-Au alloy.

Three cases of swimming pool granuloma are reported.Case 1:a 40-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of nodules and plaques on the right hand and forearm.She was a tropical fish salesperson but denied trauma history.Skin examination revealed multiple irregularly sized,dark-red nodules and plaques on the joints of right fingers,wrist,and elbow,as well as multiple subcutaneous nodules simulating strings of beads on the right upper limb.Case 2:a 48-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of nodules and plaques on the left hand and forearm.There was a history of trauma due to tropical fish tank and filter cleaning.Physical examination showed multiple deep purple plaques and painless subcutaneous nodules scattered on the left hand,wrist,and upper limb.Case 3:a 39-year-old male presented with a 3-month history of nodules on the fingers of both hands.There was no history of trauma,but he was a tropical aquarist.Skin examination revealed multiple soybean-sized dark-red nodules on the extensor aspect of interphalangeal joints of both hands.Fungal examinations yielded negative results in the 3 cases,while histopathology revealed infectious granuloma with a mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate.All of the cases showed positive results in purified protein derivative (PPD)skin test.Mycobacterium marinum was isolated from the lesional tissue of Case 1 and 2,but not from Case 3.All the patients were diagnosed with swimming pool granuloma,and given anti-atypical mycobacterial therapy including oral rifampin and clarithromycin.The lesions disappeared after 1 to 3 months of treatment,with the treatment course varying from 2 to 5 months.No recurrence was observed during a 3- to 12-month follow-up.