0.05).Conclusion:It suggests that HPDLFs exposured to static magnetic field produced by magnetic attachment have little mutagenic effects on chromosomes and DNA.

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to evaluate the influence of different bone types on the stress distribution in tooth implant-supported fixed partial prostheses by using finite element (FE) analysis.

METHODSFour FE models of mandibular arch containing one implant splinted to the mandibular second premolar were built according to bone types I, II, III, and IV. Dynamic loads of 250 N were applied to the buccal and lingual cusps of the prostheses in different directions to simulate the masticatory cycle. The maximum Von Mises stresses were calculated using the FE analysis software.

RESULTSThe maximum Von Mises stresses of the cortical bones were 89.229, 91.860, 125.840, and 158.420 MPa, increasing from type I to type IV, respectively. The maximum Von Mises stresses of the trabecular bone were 58.584, 43.645, 21.688, and 18.249 MPa, decreasing from type I to type IV, respectively. During the process of dynamic loading, the maximum Von Mises stresses of the cortical and trabecular bones followed the order buccal to tongue loading>tongue to buccal loading>vertical loading.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that bone type significantly influenced the stress distribution in bones, and that for tooth implant-supported fixed partial prostheses, bone types I and II were a better choice than bone types III and IV. More caution should be exercised when restoring missing teeth using tooth implant-supported fixed partial prostheses in softer bone regions.

Bicuspid ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; Dental Implants ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Denture, Partial, Fixed ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To investigate the effects ofamiodarone (AMD) on simvastatin (SV) in human liver microsomes and the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods Time-, NADPH- and concentration-dependent inhibitions were tested in HLM. The logarithm of relative inhibition values was plotted versus preincubation time (0, 5, 10, 15, 20min) for a series concentration of AMD used (0, 2, 5,25, 50 μ mol/L), and the slopes determined by linear regression. These slope values represente the observed inactivation rate constants (kobs). A double-reciprocal plot was then constructed using the reciprocal of the ko～ (y-axis) and the reciprocal of the associated inhibitor concentration (x-axis) to estimate the values ofkinact and K, which were two principal kinetic constants that were specific for mechanism-based inhibition (MBI).drug-drug interactions (DDI) potential was predicted based on in vitro data and by using the in vitro-in vivo extrapolation. Results The time-, concentration- and NADPH-dependent charactga'istics confirmed that when SV was the substrate of CYP3A4, the inhibition of AMD to CYP3A4 is MBI. Kj and kinact value were calculated to be 5.1 μ mol/L and 0.018min-1 The Clint of SV was reduced 2.96-5.63 fold when it was administrated with AMD. Conclusion Based on the results, AMD would inhibit SV metabolism via the mechanism-based manner, which would lead to DDI when they are taken together. Careful clinical observation is recommended when AMD and SV have to be simultaneously prescribed.

AlM: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment of idiopathic panuveitis.
METHODS: Totally 47 patients ( 69 eyes ) with the idiopathic panuveitis were included in this study, which were randomly divided into control group and treatment group. Twenty-four cases (33 eyes) with the method of Western medicine-glucocorticoid and mydriatic were in control group, while 23 cases (36 eyes) with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine were in treatment group. Those patients were followed up 12-36mo, the vision before and after treatment, the therapeutic effects, the complications and the side effects of glucocorticoid were recorded.
RESULTS: Both of two groups' vision after treatment were improved, but the vision of treatment group was better than the control group. The effective rate and the cure rate of the treatment group were increased significantly. Of all of the complications, the incidence rate of complicated cataract and secondary glaucoma of the treatment group were reduced significantly. Of all of the side effects of glucocorticoid, the central excitation, hypertension and central obesity of the treatment group were reduced significantly (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: Dialectical therapy of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine has better therapeutic effect than simple Western medicine treatment of idiopathic panuveitis, and could better reduce the side effect of glucocorticoid long-term use. lt is worthy applying in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the impact of nicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract (fCSE) on the serum testosterone (T) level and erectile function of male rats.

METHODSWe randomized 30 male SD rats to three groups of equal number to receive subcutaneous injection of PBS (1.0 ml / 300 g body weight per day), fCSE (1.0 ml/300 g body weight per day), and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH, 200 mg per kg body weight per day) in addition to fCSE (fCSE + GSH), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Then we evaluated the erectile function of the rats by measuring the maximal intracavernous pressure (MICP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), ICP/MAP ratio, time of stimulation to MICP (Tmax), and cavernosal filling fate (CFR). We determined the serum T level, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) , malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the cavernosal tissue, and also observed the morphological changes of the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the rats of the fCSE group showed obvious decreases in the levels of serum T ([5.37 ± 1.43] vs [3.22 ± 1.11] μg/L), NOS ([2.90 ± 0.27] vs [1.67 ± 0.18] U/mg) , and SOD ([18.41 ± 1.09] vs [13.36 ± 1.18] U/mg prot) and erectile function-related indexes MICP ([85.92 ± 6.36] vs [58.99 ± 10.76] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.86 ± 0.09 vs [0.56 ± 0.08]), and CFR (2.14 ± 0.44 vs 0.89 ± 0.44), but markedly increased Tmax ([29.90 ± 5.78] vs [42.90 ± 8.56]s), with a positive correlation between the serum T level and CFR (r = 0. 364, P < 0.05). Masson staining revealed a lower ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber in the fCSE group (0.27 ± 0.04) than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12). Compared with the fCSE group, the fCSE + GSH group exhibited significantly improved MICP ([58.99 ± 10.76 ] vs [77.95 ± 7.71] mmHg), MICP/MAP (0.56 ± 0.08 vs 0.77 ± 0.09), and CFR (0.89 ± 0.44] vs 1.76 ± 0.42) and shortened Tmax ([42.90 ± 8.56 ] vs [32.10 ± 5.84 ] s). The ratio of the corpus cavernosum smooth muscle tissue to collagen fiber was higher in the fCSE + GSH than in the fCSE group (0.77 ± 0.09 vs 0.27 ± 0.04) but still lower than in the control (0.98 ± 0.12).

CONCLUSIONNicotine- and tar-free cigarette smoke extract reduces the serum T level and erectile function of rats, which is related to oxidative stress. Antioxidant therapy can improve erectile function but has a limited value for morphological protection of the penile tissue.

Animals ; Erectile Dysfunction ; chemically induced ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Nicotine ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Penile Erection ; drug effects ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Smoke ; adverse effects ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tars ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo determine the physiological role of D-bifunctional protein (DBP) in bile acid biosynthesis through investigating the effect of increasing activity of DBP on bile acid biosynthesis.

METHODSTwenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, hepatic DBP activity, and fecal bile acids were assayed. The mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), DBP, and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) were detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared with control group, serum triglyceride level was decreased significantly and PPARalphamRNA level was increased significantly in DEHP group (P < 0.01). Together with a sharp induction of DBP mRNA expression and DBP activity in DEHP group (P < 0.01), the levels of CYP7A1 mRNA and fecal bile acids were significantly increased by 1.9 times and 1.6 times respectively compared to control group (P < 0.01). There was a significantly positive correlation between DBP mRNA level or DBP activity and CYP7A1 mRNA level (r = 0.89, P < 0.01; r = 0.95, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of DBP mRNA and activity in liver can result in the increase in CYP7A1 mRNA expression and bile acid biosynthesis, suggesting that DBP may be involved in bile acid biosynthesis together with CYP7A1.

17-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bile Acids and Salts ; biosynthesis ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; analysis ; Enoyl-CoA Hydratase ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Multienzyme Complexes ; metabolism ; PPAR alpha ; analysis ; Peroxisomal Multifunctional Protein-2 ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on glucose metabolism,circulating resistin and adiponectin concentrations,and tissue resistin levels in rats with insulin resistance induced by free fatty acid (FFA).Methods A hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp and[3-~3H]-glucose tracing technique were used in awake rats.Insulin-mediated peripheral and hepatic glucose metabolism,plasma resistin and adipenectin levels, resistin levels in tissues were assessed by hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp with elevation of FFA by lipid infusion over 4 h in rats pretreated with or without pioglitazone.Results During steady-state of clamp,there was a significant increase in plasma FFA in lipid-infused group(L group)and pioglitazone-pretreated lipid-infused group(P/L group)compared to control rats(P＜0.01).The glucose infusion rate(GIR)in P/L group was significantly reduced as compared with controls[(20.6?0.9 vs 33.6?1.5)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01], whereas the GIR was lower in L group than in P/L group[(12.6?0.8 vs 20.6?0.9)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),P＜0.01].As compared with baseline,the hepatic glucose production(HGP)was significantly suppressed by 85% [(18.3?2.1 vs 2.7+2.4)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1) and (17.5?2.6 vs 2.6?1.0)mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1),both P＜0.01]during the hyperinsulinaemic clamp in control and P/L groups.The suppressive effect of insulin on HGP was significantly blunted in L group[(17.3?2.1 vs 15.8?1.5]mg?kg~(-1)?min~(-1)].The rate of glucose disappearance(G_(Rd))was reduced in L group and P/L group compared with controls(P＜0.01).Baseline plasma resistin level was lower in P/L group than that in the controls[(7.8?1.3 vs 29.1?3.1)?g/L,P＜0.01].After lipid infusion,plasma resistin levels significantly increased in P/L group,but remained lower than that of L group [(18.1?3.8 vs 47.0?2.2)?g/L,P＜0.01].Baseline adiponectin level was higher in P/L group than those in the controls and L groups[(3.9?0.2 vs 2.8?0.1 and 2.6?0.2)mg/L,P＜0.01].After clamp,plasma adiponectin levels were decreased in L group and L/P group compared with baseline(both P＜0.05).In addition, the resistin level in the liver of P/L group decreased compared with the controls and L groups(both P＜0.05), whereas significantly increased in the muscle of L group.Conclusion Lipid infusion induces an acute insulin- resistance in vivo.Pioglitazone pretreatment partly prevents FFA-induced insulin resistance possibly by changing resistin and adiponectin levels.

Acupressure ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Ankle Injuries ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Movement ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Young Adult

Traditional herbal medicines, Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolium and Panax notoginseng, attract our attention for their extensive and powerful pharmacological activities. Ginsenosides are the main active constituents of these medicinal herbs. The related glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis are the key enzymes which catalyze the last important step. Modification of ginsenoside aglycones by glycosyltransferases produces the complexity and diversity of ginsenosides, which have more extensive pharmacological activity. At present, ginsenoside aglycones and compound K have been obtained by synthetic biology. As the last step of ginsenoside biosynthesis, glycosylation of ginsenoside aglycones has been studied intensively in recent years. This review summarizes the basic strategies and research advances in studies on glycosyltransferases involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis, which is expected to lay the theoretical foundation for the in-depth research of biosynthetic pathway of ginsenosides and their production by synthetic biology.
Biosynthetic Pathways ; Ginsenosides ; biosynthesis ; Glycosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Synthetic Biology

Pichia pastoris is one of the most important systems used in the field of molecular biology for the expression of recombinant proteins. The system has advantages of high expression, high stability, high secretion, easy high-density fermentation and low cost. Many factors affect the expression of recombinant protein, such as gene copy number, codon usage preference, type of promoter, molecular chaperones, glycosylation, signal peptide and fermentation process. In this review, research advances of the above aspects are summarized, which lay a foundation for improving the expression of recombinant proteins in P. pastoris.
Fermentation ; Gene Dosage ; Glycosylation ; Molecular Chaperones ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Sorting Signals ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis