BACKGROUND:Activating transcription factor 4 is found as an activating factor that can regulate osteogenic differentiation and function, and plays a critical role in the osteogenic differentiation.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression and significance of activating transcription factor 4 in the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Sprague-Dawley rats.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Sprague-Dawley rats were cultured using the whole bone marrow adherence method, and ossification revulsant was added to induce passage 3 cells. cells with no osteogenic induction served as controls. RT-PCR and western blot assay were employed to dynamical y monitor expression of activating transcription factor 4.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:RT-PCR results showed that activating transcription factor 4 mRNA expression increased with the increasing osteogenic differentiation, and peaked at day 16. Western blot analysis showed that the protein expression of activating transcription factor 4 tended to increase with the increasing osteogenic differentiation, peaked at day 16 and stil maintained at a higher level at day 19. Compared with the uninduced cells, activating transcription factor 4 in the induced cells exhibited a higher expression at mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). These findings indicate that activating transcription factor 4 expression is elevated during osteogenic differentiation, showing a positive correlation with osteogenic ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To explore the effect of applying problem-based learning(PBL)in clin-ical anesthesiology demonstration for clinical undergraduates. Methods Eighty-nine 2009 clinical undergraduates were divided into two groups:experimental group and control group. Students in ex-perimental group received PBL while those in control group received traditional teaching. The effect was evaluated according to the results of case examination and investigation table. The results were analyzed by X2 test. Results Most students (42/45) answered questions correctly in experimental group while only 30 of 44 students(30/44)did in control group(P<0.05). Concerning the results of investigation,PBL had more advantages than traditional teaching method in the following 5 aspects:self-studying ability(86.7%,39/45),clinical thinking ability(73.3%,33/45),information seeking ability (75.6%,34/45),expressing ability (82.2%,37/45),communicating between students (75.6%, 34/45)(P<0.05). Conclusions PBL has evident advantages in anesthesiology clinical demonstration. It can inspire students,cultivate abilities,enhance critical thinking and finally improve teaching effect.

Objective To systematically review the efficacy of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) for relieving aphasia among stroke survivors.Methods The Chinese BioMedical Literature database,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang database,Chinese Scientific Journals full-text database,PubMed,Embase,MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for clinical randomized and controlled trials were searched for reports about the use of A-tDCS in the treatment of aphasia after stroke.The resulting reports were retrieved manually and evaluated by two independent reviewers according to pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria.The reports covered the period to November 2016.A meta-analysis was then conducted using RevMan software version 5.3.Results Seven studies covering 101 patients were selected for analysis.Meta-analysis showed that the average aphasia function score improved after A-tDCS significantly more than in the control group.Picture naming ability in stroke survivors with aphasia showed particular improvement.Only 11 patients in the 7 studies presented light adverse effects from AtDCS,always within the patients' tolerance range.Conclusion A-tDCS can significantly improve the speech of patients with aphasia after cerebral infarction.It is safe and easy to administer and is a rehabilitation technology worth popularizing and applying.Considering the limited number of articles,the conclusion remains to be further verified with randomized clinical trials of higher quality and a larger sample.

Objective To study the active constituents of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii MethodsThe compounds were separated by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography method, their structures were identified on the spectral analyses and physical data. Results Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as ?-sitosterol (Ⅰ), physalin A (Ⅱ), physalin B (Ⅲ), physalin O (Ⅳ), physalin L (Ⅴ), physalin M (Ⅵ), daucosterol (Ⅶ), ombuine (Ⅷ), 5, 4′, 5′-trihydroxy-7, 3′-dimethoxy-flavonol (Ⅸ), luteolin (Ⅹ), and luteolin-7-O-?-D-glucopyranoside (Ⅺ). Conclusion Compound Ⅸ is a new compound named physaflavonol.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the soft and hard tissue changes in Class II division 1 patients treated with Tip-Edge plus technique.

METHODSSixteen Class II division 1 patients (7 boys and 9 girls) with mandibular retrusion in permanent dentition were selected and treated with Tip-Edge plus appliance. Lateral cephalometric films were analyzed before and after treatment. The effects were evaluated with Holdaway soft tissues analysis and routine cephalometric analysis methods. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation were calculated for each variable. Paired t-test was performed.

RESULTSThe average treatment time was 16 months. Normal overjet and overbite were established with retroclination of upper incisors and proclination of lower incisors. U1-NA(°) and U1-NA (mm) decreaed by (15.40 ± 5.31)° and (4.16 ± 1.82) mm (P < 0.01). NLA showed an average increase of (-16.60 ± 5.29)° (P < 0.01). Remarkable soft tissue change was noted after the treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe profile in Class II division 1 patients could be quickly and efficiently improved after treatment with Tip-Edge plus technique.

Adolescent ; Cephalometry ; Child ; Esthetics, Dental ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Orthodontic Wires ; Orthodontics, Corrective ; instrumentation ; methods ; Radiography, Panoramic

Objective To study expression of CD147 in rabbit VX2 tumor tissues after transarterial embolization with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles loaded with lipiodol.Methods Thirty rabbits implanted with tumor tissue of cell line VX2 were divided into three groups: control group, lipiodol group, and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles loaded with lipiodol group. The transarterial embolization was performed superselectively via gastroduodenal artery of rabbits, and each rabbit in control group was infused with 1ml normal saline, that in lipiodol group was infused with 0.3ml lipiodol per kg, and o.3ml hydroxyapatite nanoparticles loaded with lipiodol per kg for that in the last group.Results of treatment were detected by using CT on day 3 after operation. After two weeks, three-step Immunohistochemical technique(S-P) and Western blot technique were used to investigate the expression of CD147 in tumor tissues of the 3 groaps. Results Immunohistochemical results showed that CD147 was expressed on membrane of tumor cells in all three groups. The positive ratios of CD147 in three groups were (31.33?5.88)%,(75.63?4.44)%, and (80.03?5.59)% respectively, while the expression of CD147 in tumor tissues in control group was significantly different from others(P0.05). Protein half-quantitation detecting of CD147 with Western blot technique displayed that expression of CD147 in tumor tissues increased after embolization in last two groups as compared to that of control group(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of pulsed ultrasound on the expressions of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) during root resorption in a mouse model of orthodontic tooth movement.

METHODSThirty-two male Wistar rats (6-8 weeks old) were randomly assigned into 4 equal groups, including the blank control group, two ultrasound exposure groups with daily local LIPUS stimulation (100 and 150 MW/cm(2)) for 10 days during mechanical loading, and the control group with mechanical loading but not LIPUS exposure. Nickel-titanium closed-coil springs were used to generate 100 g mesial force for 10 days to move the maxillary right first molars. The expression of OPG and RANKL proteins at the compression sites was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSUltrasound stimulation significantly up-regulated the expression of OPG and down-regulated RANKL expression (P<0.05). The expressions of OPG and RANKL showed significant differences between the two ultrasound exposure groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONUltrasound stimulation might be useful to protect against root resorption and accelerate its repair by regulating the expressions of OPG and RANKL.

Animals ; Male ; Osteoprotegerin ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Root Resorption ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed

OBJECTIVETo explore the renal protective effect of Tongxinluo (TXL) and its mechanism of action.

METHODSEight-week old SD rats were divided into the sham-operated group (A), the model group (B) and the TXL group, 6 rats in each group. Angiotensin II (Ang II) was administered slowly (200 ng/kg per min) to rats in group B and C via subcutaneously embedded osmotic pump to make them stimulative model of renal injury, while to rats in group A, pump embedding with saline infusion. After modeling, TXL was given to group C by gastric perfusion in dosage of 0.8 g/kg per day. And the following indexes were observed 14 days later: configuration of renal arterial endothelium by transmission electron microscope; pathologic figure of kidney with HE stain; renal apoptosis by TUNEL; expression of p53 and p22phox by RT-PCR;and level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in kidney.

RESULTSDifferent degree of congestion, swelling, denudation of endothelial cell in renal arterial endothelial cell; glomerular matrix proliferation and partial glomerular atrophy with tendency of fibrosis; increased renal parenchymal apoptosis; enhanced expression of p53 and p22phox; and elevated ROS were found in model animals. All the above-mentioned abnormalities, including glomerular injury, renal cell apoptosis, as well as the increased p53, p22phox expressions and ROS production were all alleviated in group C after TXL treatment.

CONCLUSIONTXL could protect renal against Ang II injury, and it may be realized by inhibiting NADPH-ROS/p53 pathways and suppressing cell apoptosis in renal parenchyma.

Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Kidney ; blood supply ; pathology ; Male ; NADPH Oxidases ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

Objective To observe the expression of Bcl-2,Bax and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in liver of rats with hepatic fibrosis and the effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-?1 vaccine on them.Methods Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into 3 groups,named healthy control group(n=10),hepatic fibrosis group(n=10) and TGF-?1 vaccine treated group(n=10).The animal model with hepatic fibrosis was established by injecting solution dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) into abdominal cavity with concentration as 0.5% and dose as 0.2 mL/ 100 g.In TGF-?1 vaccine treated group,every rat was not only injected with DMN but also 150?g TGF-?1 vaccine protein.On the 42nd day,all rats were sacrificed.Then the blood and the liver tis- sues were collected.The expression levels of Bcl-2,Bax and PCNA in liver tissues were detected by S -P immunohistochemistry and observed by routine pathological evaluation.Alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and albumin(Alb) were determined by auto biochemical analytical tool.Serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA),laminin(LN) were detected by radioimmunoas- say (RIA).Results The expression of Bax,which promoted apoptosis,directly correlated with pathological grade in liver of rats,while the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax,which protected a gainst apoptosis,inversely correlated with pathological grade in liver of rats.The expression levels of TGF-?1 and Bax in healthy control group were significantly lower than those of fibrosis group,how ever,the expression levels of Bcl-2 were comparable between these two groups.As compared with fi- brosis group,the expression of TGF-?1 was significantly lower while the expression of Bcl-2 was sig nificantly higher in TGF-?1 vaccine treated group.However,the expression of Bax was comparable between these two groups.The expression level of PCNA of fibrosis group was significantly higher than that of healthy control group but dramatically lower than that of TGF-?1 vaccine treated group (Both P