Diabetes patients in China is large in number, low level of health literacy, and their self management mainly relies on community doctor's health propaganda and education, as a result, it is very important to train community healthcare professionals to improve their communication skills with patients.Guided by the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the researchers developed a literacy-addressing training model specifically through: 1) low literacy healthcare education materials written in plain language, simple text, maximal white space, and behavior-oriented images or pictograms;2) a standardized health communication curriculum to promote simple communication with decreased jargon usage, teach teach back, and enhance shared goal-setting;3) use of standardized patients to enhance doctor-patient communication training;and 4) MOOC and a series of videos demonstrating doctor-patient communication scenarios.The novel training model can be used in continuing medical education through traditional on-site classes or by E-learning platform.It is expected to improve the communication skills of community doctors and patients, improve the satisfaction of both doctors and patients, and the effect of patients' self-management.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to analyze the three-dimensional crystal structure of SMU.2055 protein, a putative acetyltransferase from the major caries pathogen Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The design and selection of the structure-based small molecule inhibitors are also studied.

METHODSThe three-dimensional crystal structure of SMU.2055 protein was obtained by structural genomics research methods of gene cloning and expression, protein purification with Ni²⁺-chelating affinity chromatography, crystal screening, and X-ray diffraction data collection. An inhibitor virtual model matching with its target protein structure was set up using computer-aided drug design methods, virtual screening and fine docking, and Libdock and Autodock procedures.

RESULTSThe crystal of SMU.2055 protein was obtained, and its three-dimensional crystal structure was analyzed. This crystal was diffracted to a resolution of 0.23 nm. It belongs to orthorhombic space group C222(1), with unit cell parameters of a = 9.20 nm, b = 9.46 nm, and c = 19.39 nm. The asymmetric unit contained four molecules, with a solvent content of 56.7%. Moreover, five small molecule compounds, whose structure matched with that of the target protein in high degree, were designed and selected.

CONCLUSIONProtein crystallography research of S. mutans SMU.2055 helps to understand the structures and functions of proteins from S. mutans at the atomic level. These five compounds may be considered as effective inhibitors to SMU.2055. The virtual model of small molecule inhibitors we built will lay a foundation to the anticaries research based on the crystal structure of proteins.

Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; Cloning, Molecular ; Crystallization ; Crystallography, X-Ray ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; Streptococcus mutans ; chemistry ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To investigate the reaction of the limbs treated with different concentration of Trichostatin A(75?mol/L,750 ?mol/L,1.5mmol/L),a histone deacetylase(HDAC)-inhibitor.This may be useful to improve our understanding of the role of chromatin remodelling and epigenetic control of gene expression patterns and ultimately the development of drugs against cancer. Methods Using the chicken embryonic limb as an experimental model.The embryos received grafts of TSA soaked beads or PBS control beads into the right forelimb buds.Then they were submitted to in situ hybridization with probes and apoptosis test.Results TSA could modulate the expression of some myogenesis related genes,MyoD and Myf5 during chicken myogenesis.Using apoptosis staining methods,there was no significant apoptosis in the TSA(75?mol/L) treated embryos.However the induction of morphological changes and apoptosis at specific stage was possible with high concentration of TSA.Conclusion TSA(75?mol/L) regulates certain important transcriptional targets and strongly control muscle differentiation.Increasing the concentration of TSA(≥750?mol/L) can induce apoptosis and embryonic limb malformations.Chicken limb development can serve as a convenient in vivo model for studying the effect of HDAC inhibitors.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the effect of ptxA and ptxB genes, which are important genes in the L-ascorbate phosphotransferase system (PTS) of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans).

METHODSThe ptxA-, ptxB-, and ptxAB-double deficient mutant as well as ptxAB-complemented strain were constructed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to evaluate the expression of the target genes of wild-type S. mutans when L-ascorbate was used as the sole carbohydrate source. The OD₆₀₀ values of the wild type, deficient, and complemented strains were continuously monitored, and their growth curves were constructed to compare growth capacity.

RESULTSPolymerase chain reaction and sequencing analyses suggested that deficient and complemented strains were successfully constructed. The expression levelsof ptxA and ptxB significantly increased (P < 0.01) when L-ascorbate was used as the sole carbohydrate source. The growth capacity of the deficient mutants decreased compared with that of the wild-type strain. However, the wild-type phenotype could be restored in the complemented strain.

CONCLUSIONptxA and ptxB genes are associated with L-ascorbate metabolism of S. mutans. The construction of deficient strains and complemented strain lay a foundation for further mechanism study on L-ascorbate metabolism in S. mutans.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Phosphotransferases ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptococcus mutans ; physiology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

To reduce morbidity and mortality and improve quality of life for patients with diabetes,the China Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study was initiated as health education and behavior intervention in the 1980s in Daqing City.576 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were recruited and randonized into a clinical trial,either to a control group or to one of three active treatment groups:diet only,exercise only,or diet plus exercise.Follow-up evaluation examinations were conducted 2-year intervals over a 6-year period and after 20-year period to identify subjects who developed diabetes mellitus.Diet and/or exercise interventions led to a significant decrease in the incidence of diabetes over a 6-year and 20-year period among those with IGT.The implementation of this study indicates that diabetes can be prevented through health education and behavioral intervention,and the prevention of diabetes and other chronic diseases should also focused on strengthening the muhi-sectoral cooperation,developing professional skills of health care providers,re-orientating health care services toward prevention of illness and promotion of health.

OBJECTIVETo test whether Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) could produce bacterial signal molecule, bis-(3'-5')-cyclic dimeric adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) and lay the foundation for explorations of its roles in life metabolism and periodontitis immunity of P. gingivalis.

METHODSP. gingivalis standard strain ATCC33277 was used as the experimental strain to extract nucleic acids from the bacteria. Then, c-di-AMP was detected using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Subsequently, HPLC was used to validate the sample further.

RESULTSBased on the signal/noise (S/N) for 3 : 1, the limit of determination of HPLC-MS/MS for peak time of c-di-AMP standard substances was 7.49 min and nucleic acid extractions from P. gingivalis was 8.82 min (S/N > 3). Further confirmation of HPLC showed that nucleic acid extractions from both P. gingivalis and c-di-AMP standard substances pre- sented goal absorbent peaks at 15.7 min, with the same ultraviolet absorbent spectrum.

CONCLUSIONThe nucleic acid extrac- tions from P. gingivalis contained c-di-AMP, which shows that P. gingivalis could produce c-di-AMP.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyclic AMP ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; metabolism ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

ObjectiveThe?aim?of?this?study?is?to?analyze?the?three-dimensional?crystal?structure?of?SMU.2055?protein,?a?putative?acetyltransferase?from?the?major?caries?pathogen?Streptococcus mutans(S.mutans).?The?design?and?selection?of?the?structure-based?small?molecule?inhibitors?are?also?studied.?Methods???The?three-dimensional?crystal?structure?of?SMU.2055?protein?was?obtained?by?structural?genomics?research?methods?of?gene?cloning?and?expression,?protein?purification?with?Ni2+-chelating?affinity?chromatography,?crystal?screening,?and?X-ray?diffraction?data?collection.?An?inhibitor?virtual?model?matching?with?its?target?protein?structure?was?set?up?using?computer-aided?drug?design?methods,?virtual?screening?and?fine?docking,?and?Libdock?and?Autodock?procedures.?Results???The?crystal?of?SMU.2055?protein?was?obtained,?and?its?three-dimensional?crystal?structure?was?analyzed.?This?crystal?was?diffracted?to?a?resolution?of?0.23?nm.?It?belongs?to?orthorhombic?space?group?C2221,?with unit cell parameters of a=9.20nm, b=9.46nm, and c=19.39nm. The asymmetric unit contained four molecules, with a solvent?content?of?56.7%.?Moreover,?five?small?molecule?compounds,?whose?structure?matched?with?that?of?the?target?protein?in?high?degree,?were?designed?and?selected.?Conclusion???Protein?crystallography?research?of?S. mutans?SMU.2055?helps?to?under-stand?the?structures?and?functions?of?proteins?from?S. mutans?at?the?atomic?level.?These?five?compounds?may?be?considered?as?effec-tive?inhibitors?to?SMU.2055.?The?virtual?model?of?small?mole-cule?inhibitors?we?built?will?lay?a?foundation?to?the?anticaries?research?based?on?the?crystal?structure?of?proteins.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult residents of Shanghai Pudong New Area. Methods A total of 5584 residents aged 20-80 years old were randomly selected from Shanghai Pudong New Area through multistage sampling and interview between April and July 2008. Fasting blood samples and morning urine samples were collected to detect Scr and urinary albumin and creatinine. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated to estimate the renal function. Logistic regression model was used to examine the associations of demographic and lifestyle factors with indicators of kidney damage. Results The age-standardized prevalence of albuminuria, reduced renal function and CKD was 9.9% (male 8.0%, female 12.4%), 1.1% (male 1.3%, female 0.9%) and 11.0%(male 8.8%, female 12.7%), respectively. The prevalence of CKD was higher in female and increased with age. No significant difference in the prevalence was observed between urban and rural areas. Elder, female, high blood pressure, high fasting glucose, dyslipidemia and obesity were associated with CKD independently. Conclusions The prevalence of CKD in Shanghai Pudong New Area is comparable to that previously reported in China or other developed countries, and even higher. CKD is going to be a public health problem and warrants the community-integrated control strategy to prevent the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and related complications.

PURPOSE: Several studies have shown that the oral cavity is a secondary location for Helicobacter pylori colonization and that H. pylori is associated with the severity of periodontitis. This study investigated whether H. pylori had an effect on the periodontium. We established an invasion model of a standard strain of H. pylori in human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (hPDLFs), and evaluated the effects of H. pylori on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. METHODS: Different concentrations of H. pylori were used to infect hPDLFs, with 6 hours of co-culture. The multiplicity of infection in the low- and high-concentration groups was 10:1 and 100:1, respectively. The Cell Counting Kit-8 method and Ki-67 immunofluorescence were used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blots were used to detect cell cycle progression. In the high-concentration group, the invasion of H. pylori was observed by transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: It was found that H. pylori invaded the fibroblasts, with cytoplasmic localization. Analyses of cell proliferation and flow cytometry showed that H. pylori inhibited the proliferation of periodontal fibroblasts by causing G2 phase arrest. The inhibition of proliferation and G2 phase arrest were more obvious in the high-concentration group. In the low-concentration group, the G2 phase regulatory factors cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and cell division cycle 25C (Cdc25C) were upregulated, while cyclin B1 was inhibited. However, in the high-concentration group, cyclin B1 was upregulated and CDK1 was inhibited. Furthermore, the deactivated states of tyrosine phosphorylation of CDK1 (CDK1-Y15) and serine phosphorylation of Cdc25C (Cdc25C-S216) were upregulated after H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: In our model, H. pylori inhibited the proliferation of hPDLFs and exerted an invasive effect, causing G2 phase arrest via the Cdc25C/CDK1/cyclin B1 signaling cascade. Its inhibitory effect on proliferation was stronger in the high-concentration group.
Blotting, Western ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; Cell Count ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Colon ; Cyclin B1 ; Cytoplasm ; Fibroblasts ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; G2 Phase ; Helicobacter pylori ; Helicobacter ; Humans ; Methods ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Mouth ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontitis ; Periodontium ; Phosphorylation ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serine ; Tyrosine

Objective: To explore the dental deciduous teeth caries among 3-5-year-old children in Guangdong Province and to provide information support for oral health care of Guangdong Province. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 2 592 urban and rural residents in Guangdong. Subjects were from three different age groups (aged 3, 4 and 5), with 864 children in each group. Male and female were 1:1 in each group. An equal sized sampling with stratified multistage method was used. According to the criteria of clinical dentition examination of the fourth national oral health survey, the dental caries in deciduous teeth were recorded using CPI probe. And then the prevalence, the mean dmft (decayed-missing-filled tooth), the filled rate were calculated. Results : The prevalence of dental caries in deciduous teeth in the three groups of aged 3, aged 4, aged 5 were 58.33%, 68.40%, and 78.47% independently; the mean dmft were 3.03, 4.34, and 5.69 independently; the filled rate were 0.92%, 1.47%, 1.26% independently. There were significant differences in the prevalence and the mean dmft between urban and rural areas and among different age groups. There was no significant difference in the prevalence regarding the gender in each group, The mean dmft in the group of aged 3 in female were higher than that in male, while no gender differences were found in the groups of aged 4 and aged 5. The prevalence and the mean dmft of 5-year-old children were higher than that in 2005. Conclusion The 3-5-year-old children of Guangdong Province had a really high prevalence of dental caries in deciduous teeth. More than 98% of the caries are unfilled, treatment need is extremely huge. The 3-5-year-old children are the main target for us to prevent the early childhood caries.