Objective To explore the influence of hypoxia on cystathionine gamma lyase (CSE) gene expr ession of rat cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and the mod ulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide on PASMCs proliferation.Methods Rat′s cultured PASMCs were randomly divided into contr ol group,NaHS group,hypoxia group and hypoxia +NaHS group. Each group contains 6 wells of cells. Hypoxic challenge was performed with oxygen concentr ation≤1%. The cell proliferation rate was measured by 3H-thymidine i ncorporation into DNA of the PASMCs. The expression of CSE mRNA was measured by quantitative competitive reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR ).Results For the PASMCs in hypoxia group, the amount of CSE mRN A was down-regulated about 67% (P

OJECTIVE: To explore the changes of serum IgE and tryptase caused by anaphylactic shock rats and discuss the relation to PMI and preservative environment of corpse and specimen. METHODS: Rats were used for establishing anaphylactic shock models and randomly divided into room temperature group, refrigeration group, frozen group, manual hemolysis group, specimen preservation group. And the control group was also established. The blood samples were collected after rats were sacrificed. The degree of hemolysis was graded according to the color of the upper layer of the serum. The mass concentration of IgE and tryptase in each group was detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in anaphylactic shock dead rats were higher than that of the control group. Room temperature and frozen made obviously differences on the levels of serum IgE and tryptase with various PMI. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase in refrigeration group showed relatively stable. The levels of serum tryptase and IgE were elevated with differently increasing hemolysis. The levels of serum IgE and tryptase showed no obvious changes during the specimen kept under different temperature conditions for 25 days. CONCLUSION Serum IgE and tryptase obviously increased in anaphylactic shock rats. However, the levels were influenced by PMI and environmental temperature, especially under the conditions of room temperature and frozen.
Anaphylaxis/blood* ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunoglobulin E/blood* ; Rats ; Temperature ; Tryptases/blood*

Fatal anaphylactic shock is common in forensic practice. However, it is difficult to diagnose for lacking specific pathological and morphologic changes in forensic autopsy. The application of some biochemical indicators is of great significance. This paper reviews the biological characteristics of some biochemical indicators and detection methods. The forensic application, problems and prospects of these indicators are also introduced in details. The stable biochemical indicators, IgE, tryptase and chymase, show great potential and advantages in the identification of fatal anaphylactic shock in forensic medicine.
Anaphylaxis/metabolism* ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers ; Chymases ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Tryptases

Objective To analyze the features of hypertensive retinopathy (HRP),and to evaluate the correlation of serum cystatin C (Cys-C) and retinopathy in patients with primary hypertension.Methods From July 2015 to October 2017,280 cases of primary hypertension in the Second People's Hospital of Ji'nan were recruited to receive fundus examination by funduscopy and eye-ground photography.Based on the findings,4 groups were established according to Chinese Ophthalmology (Third Edition) classification standard,normal,mild,moderate and malignant four levels.Clinical courses were monitored and Cys-C levels were determined.Results There were 204 cases of HRP,accounting for 72.86％.Compared with that of the normal fundus group (0.76 ±0.12)mg/L,the serum Cys-C level of the mild HRP group was (0.82 ± 0.19)mg/L,the difference was statistically significant (t =2.424,P ＜ 0.05).The serum Cys-C levels of the moderate HRP group and severe HRP group were (2.37 ± 0.13) mg/L and (3.24 ± 0.45) mg/L,respectively,the differences were statistically significant compared with that of the control group (t =80.917,42.153,all p ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The severity of HRP is positively correlated with Cys-C.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the associations between periodontal diseases, presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), serum levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and preterm low birth weight (PLBW).

METHODS60 women (30 PLBW and 30 healthy women), were recruited after postpartum within 3 days in this case-control study. Periodontal measurements including plaque index (PI), bleeding index (BI), probing pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were assessed. The subgingival plaque was collected before periodontal examination and analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the 16S rRNA gene specific to P. gingivalis, while the venous and umbilical cord blood specimens collected were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe PLBW cases had a poorer oral conditions and the presence of P. gingivalis was found in a higher proportion in the PLBW than the healthy pregnant (56.7% vs. 30.0%, P < 0.05). Both of the presence of periodontitis and P. gingivalis have been found to be associated weakly with a shorter gestational age and a lower birth weight (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-1beta, IL-6 and prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) in both of the blood samples showed higer levels between the PLBW and normal groups (P < 0.01). The IL-1beta and PGE2 levels in maternal serum were higher with a severe periodontal disease in the PLBW group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere may be a possible link between periodontal diseases and PLBW.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Dental Plaque ; Dental Plaque Index ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Interleukin-6 ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Pregnancy ; Premature Birth ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a major marker for evaluating cardiac function and has been widely used in clinical practice. Recent researches show that BNP is also useful for identification of sudden cardiac death in forensic pathology. This article reviews the molecular structure and biological characteristics of the BNP and its application as a functional indicate in forensic medicine. It shows that the expression of BNP in cardiac muscles, together with the expression of BNP in blood and pericardium liquid can be used to evaluate the pathological physiology changes and dysfunction degrees of the heart during the cardiac sudden death.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Biomarkers ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Forensic Pathology ; Heart Diseases/physiopathology* ; Heart Failure/physiopathology* ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain/metabolism* ; Peptide Fragments/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immunohistochemical distributions and expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the model of rat myocardial ischemia. METHODS: The model of myocardial ischemia was established by ligating the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery of rats. The changes of VEGF expression were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot at time points after myocardial ischemia. The electrocardiographic changes were evaluated uninterruptedly. RESULTS: The expression of VEGF was not be found in control group. Fifteen minutes after LAD ligation, weak positive expression of VEGF were found in the ischemic myocardium. The expression of VEGF reached the peak at 3 hours after ligation. The VEGF distribution was mainly localized in the ischemic and peri-ischemic regions. Six hours after LAD ligation, the expression of VEGF decreased comparing with 3 hours and showed a relatively higher level. Fatal arrhythmia was found in nine rats by the electrocardiograph. CONCLUSION The immunohistochemical staining of VEGF could be helpful for investigating the location and severity of acute myocardial ischemia. Fatal arrhythmia may be secondary to myocardial ischemia.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electrocardiography ; Forensic Pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/mortality* ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1alpha), the expression in the early stage (within 6 h) of acute myocardial ischemia and to explore the potential forensic application. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into one control group, one sham operation group and five myocardial ischemia groups which received ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. The five experiment groups divided into 15min, 30min, 1 h, 3 h and 6h after LAD ligation. The expression of HIF-1alpha was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: Both the control group and sham operation group showed no expression of HIF-1alpha, whereas the expression of HIF-1alpha could be weakly detected beneath the endocardium at 15 min after LAD ligation. With the increase of myocardial ischemia process, the positive staining gradually extended from endocardium to epicardium, reached the peak at 3 h, and began to decrease gradually at 6h after LAD ligation but still maintained at a relatively high level. In addition, the expression of HIF-1alpha without a time-dependent way was also detected in full thickness of the right ventricle in occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia after LAD ligation. CONCLUSION HIF-1alpha may be regarded as a sensitive marker for sudden cardiac death induced by early acute myocardial ischemia, and may also be helpful for the diagnosis of fatal arrhythmia.
Animals ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism* ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo describe the dental caries of 15-year-old adolescents in Hubei province, and to determine the influence of various social-behavioral risk factors on dental caries in the population.

METHODSThe survey employed a multistage, stratified, non-geometric proportional randomized sampling, representing adolescents aged 15-year-old in Hubei province. The epidemiological investigation of dental caries was made by clinical oral health examination. Oral health knowledge, attitude and behavior investigated by questionnaire.

RESULTSThe prevalence and mean DMFT in 1,080 15-year-old adolescents in Hubei province was 24.4% and 0.45, respectively. 11.4% of the adolescents brushed their teeth at least twice a day, 33.1% of the adolescents ever visited the dentists. A significant higher prevalence of dental caries was observed in girls (OR = 1.70). In addition, those who visit dentists and those who the scores of the consumption of sugar drink were high tended to have a higher prevalence of dental caries.

CONCLUSIONThe dental caries prevalence of adolescents in Hubei province is low, but oral health habit of adolescents seems poor. Gender and consumption of sugar drink may be risk factors of dental caries.

Adolescent ; Dental Caries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oral Health ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of bi-annual professional application of 1.23% fluoride foam on caries reduction in the primary dentition over a two-year period.

METHODSIn a double-blind, cluster-randomised, placebo-controlled trial, 392 children aged 3 - 4 years from 15 classes were randomly assigned to two groups on a school class basis. The experimental group (8 classes) received a bi-annual fluoride foam application, and the placebo control group (7 classes) received the placebo. The analysis of caries increment was based on the class as the unit of analysis. The independent-samples t tests were performed to compare the differences in caries indices at baseline and caries increments between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mean caries increment in foam group was 3.8 dmfs while it was 5.0 dmfs in the placebo control group, resulting in 24.2% caries reduction (P < 0.05). The experimental group had a 37.6% caries reduction on approximal surfaces compared with the placebo control group (P < 0.01). Although the mean dmfs increment of bucco-lingual surfaces was lower in the experimental group than that in the control group, it was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). No significant difference in the mean caries increment was observed on occlusal surfaces between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBi-annual professional application of fluoride foam was effective in reducing the increment of dental caries in the primary teeth.

Cariostatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Fluorides ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Tooth, Deciduous