Objective To examine the composition and distribution of animal reservoir of plague in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and so as to accumulate basic data for making the plague prevention and control measures. Methods Rodents were captured by cages in six monitoring spots of Quanzhou city between 2000 and 2009. Then rodents and flea species were identified. Rats liver and spleen homogenates were detected of plague F1 antigen by reverse indirect hemagglutination test (RIHA); rats serum were detected of plague F1 antibody by indirect hemagglutination test (IHA). ResultsA total of 26 264 rodents were captured between 2000 and 2009.Rattus norvegicus and Rattus flavipectus were dominant species, which were accounted for 45.97％ (12 074/26 264)and 32.01％(8407/26 264), respectively. The account of Rattus flavipectus captured between 2005 and 2009 was (26.99 ± 2.46)％ and (37.03 ± 3.79)％ between 2000 and 2004. The difference was statistically significant (t =4.97, P ＜ 0.05). Total rodent densities was (6.86 ± 1.44)％, including(5.36 ± 1.83)％ in mountains and (6.81 ±1.66)％ in coastal areas, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant(t =1.01, P ＞ 0.05). Total flea index and flea infection rate of rodents were 1.39 ± 0.34 and (35.90 ± 5.34)％, respectively. Xenopsylla Cheopis index was 1.20 and free flea index was 0.009. Flea infection rate was (32.36 ± 0.96)％ between 2005 and 2009, which was lower than (39.44 ± 0.39)％ between 2000 and 2004(t =2.76, P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsThe major rodent species found in Quanzhou city is Rattus norvegicus. Xenopsylla Cheopis is the dominant flea species.Spreading of plague among Rattus is not found.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ozone on remineralization of enamel in vitro.

METHODSCaries-like lesions were prepared in the enamel of extracted cattle incisors with demineralizing solution. The specimens were treated with deionized water, 1000 mg/kg fluoride, 4.5 mg/L ozone, and pH-cycled. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to observe the surface of enamel specimens. The effect of remineralization was assessed by three lesion parameters (fluorescent area, total and average fluorescence), which were measured with confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The data were collected and analyzed by SNK test in ANOVA.

RESULTSSEM observation showed that the surface morphology of the deionized water group and ozone group were similar: porous and atactic; but the surface morphology of fluoride group was smooth and the aperture became smaller. The three parameters in the three groups were as follows, respectively. Delta A were (0.31 +/- 0.28), (1.73 +/- 0.63) and (0.28 +/- 0.19) x 10(4) microm2, Delta TF were (0.42 +/- 0.34), (2.53 +/- 0.73) and (0.48 +/- 0.27) x 10(5), Delta AF were (3.35 +/- 2.55), (46.51 +/- 16.64) and (4.95 +/- 3.05). The fluoride group was significantly greater than deionized water group and ozone group (P < 0.05); but there was no significant difference between the deionized water group and ozone group.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this in vitro study suggest that ozone has no effect on remineralization of enamel blocks.

Animals ; Cattle ; Dental Enamel ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; In Vitro Techniques ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Ozone ; pharmacology ; Tooth Demineralization ; pathology ; Tooth Remineralization

Objective To improve the conventional method of quantitative assessment of regional cerebral blood flows(rCBF)by a perfusion CT study based on maximal slope model at the general infusion rate(

OBJECTIVETo establish a salivary sediment malodor system, and to evaluate the effect of several kinds of bacteria dedicated to the halitosis formation, hence to identify halitosis-correlated bacteria.

METHODSThe proportion of the supernatant and sediment, gained from centrifugal whole saliva, was adjusted to establish a salivary sediment malodor system incubated in facultative aerobic environment under 37 degrees C for 7 hours. The halitosis indexes in both gaseous phase and liquid phase were checked by direct sniffing, and volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) and pH were determined by halimeter and glass electrode respectively between hours to evaluate the malodor formation. The suspended fluid of suspicious halitosis-correlated bacteria and non-halitosis-correlated bacteria and water control were introduced into the salivary sediment system incubated for 1 hour. The five groups were incubated in facultative aerobic environment under 37 degrees C in the residual hours. The halitosis indexes, VSCs and pH changes were recorded between hours.

RESULTSThe salivary sediment malodor system can simulate the metabolism of halitosis formation to produce halitosis. The odors of the suspicious halitosis-correlated bacteria introduced groups were higher than the non-halitosis-correlated bacteria and water control group.

CONCLUSIONWith its simple but fundamental manipulations, incubated whole saliva is a powerful model for study of the metabolism of the oral mixed microbial flora, malodor formation, and other oral diseases-related processes.

Bacteria ; Halitosis ; Humans ; Odorants ; Saliva

Objective To observe the influence of combination therapy ofprobucol,aspirin and statins drugs (PAS) on levels of serum oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL),pregnancy-associated plasma protein A(PAPP-A) and marix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3) and resolution of carotid vulnerable plaque in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI).Methods One hundred and thirty-five patients with ACI,admitted to our hospital from September 2007 to July 2010,were chosen in our study; according to the results of carotid artery ultrasound,these patients were divided into carotid stable plaque group (n=45) and carotid vulnerable plaque group (n=90).Stable plaque group was considered as control group; 90 patients with carotid vulnerable plaque were randomly subdivided into aspirin and statins drugs (AS) group (n=45,aspirin 100 mg/d,atorvastatin 20 mg/d,orally) and PAS group (n=45,aspirin 100 mg/d,atorvastatin 20 mg/d,probucol 0.25 g/time,2 times/day,orally).Levels ofOx-LDL,PAPP-A and MMP-3 were detected in all patients before treatment and four weeks after drug therapy.The intima-media thickness,plaque area and echogenicity of carotid plaques were evaluated by Doppler ultrasonography during a 12-month follow-up period.Results Before treatment,serum ox-LDL,PAPP-A and MMP-3 levels in AS group and PAS group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.05); no significant differences of ox-LDL,PAPP-A and MMP-3 levels were noted between AS and PAS groups (P＞0.05).Four weeks after treatment,levels of serum ox-LDL,PAPP-A and MMP-3 in PAS group were significantly lower than those in AS and control groups (P＜0.05); the decrease of levels of ox-LDL,PAPP-A and MMP-3 in PAS group was obviously higher than that in AS and control groups (P＜0.05).Twelve months after treatment,significant decrease of plaque area and intima-media thickness (IMT) was noted in the AS and PAS groups (P＜0.05); the IMT and plaque area in PAS group were significantly smaller than those in AS group (P＜0.05); obvious decrease of echogenicity of carotid plaques in PAS group was noted as compared with that in AS group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Combination therapy of PAS might have strong anti-oxidant function and lipid-lowering effect,which could reverse and stabilize the atherosclerosis plaque.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of adiponectin in regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production and preventing fulminant autoimmunological damage of hepatocytes following concanavalin A (Con A) injection into mice.

METHODSThree days after recombinant plasmids pAA-neo-mAd were injected into the mice via the tail veins, Con A was injected into the mice. Mice transfected with empty pAA-neo vector served as controls. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF alpha and adiponectin were detected, and histological examination of livers was carried out at different time points after the Con A injection. All results were subjected to statistical analyses.

RESULTSHistological examinations showed that the damage in livers of mice with high serum adiponectin levels was milder than that of the controls. The serum levels of ALT and TNF alpha were both lower than those of the controls (P less than 0.01, respectively). Statistical analyses showed the serum levels of ALT was negatively related to the levels of adiponectin in the sera (r=-0.5034).

CONCLUSIONAdiponectin is effective in protecting hepatocytes from Con A-induced immunological injury. The mechanism of this protective effect may be caused by inhibiting the synthesis and/or release of TNF alpha.

Adiponectin ; blood ; pharmacology ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Concanavalin A ; adverse effects ; Female ; Immune System Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and potential risk factors of dentine hypersensitivity of adults in rural of Sichuan province.

METHODSAll representative samples, including 630 adults living in rural of Sichuan Province, were selected by multi-stage, stratified and random sampling. The dentine hypersensitivity of all 630 cases was surveyed with questionnaire and oral clinical examination. SPSS 18.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS27.9% of all subjects were suffered from dentine hypersensitivity, sour was the most common stimulus of dentine hypersensitivity. The first premolar was the most common tooth with dentine hypersensitive, which occupied 27.4% of the total affected teeth. Female, acid regurgitation symptom, low frequency of toothbrush replacement (over 3 months), high tooth-brushing force and frequency of fresh fruits consumption (over 2 times per week) probably were high risk factors of dentine hypersensitivity.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of dentine hypersensitivity occurs in rural of Sichuan province is high, thus for future the publicity and education on dentine hypersensitivity preventive should be strengthened.

Adult ; Bicuspid ; Dentin ; Dentin Sensitivity ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Toothbrushing

BACKGROUND: Acetabular defect is one of the typical characteristics of adult developmental dysplasia of the hip. The acetabular defect caused an insufficient coverage to the femoral head, which means the contact area between them decreased and the pressure increased. Stress concentration could quicken hip wear and lead to arthritis or dislocation of the hip. Till now, there is no accepted objective criterion about what degree defect could lead to biomechanics changes in the hip. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of different degrees of acetabular defect on the stress distribution of hip joint by using three-dimensional finite element method, and provide theoretical guidance for clinical treatment of hip dysplasia. METHODS: CT thin layer scanning data of normal adult hip were selected. Hip dysplasia models with varying degrees of bone defect were built by using Mimics15.0 and Hypermesh software. Von Mises stress distribution on the subchondral bone of the hip was analyzed by using Ansys10.0 software in the case of single foot touchdown. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Each model result was consistent with the actual situation. The maximum Von Mises stress value appeared at the top of the acetabulum dome and medial posterior femoral neck. When simulating one leg standing, the smaller the CE angle, the greater the maximum Von Mises stress on femoral head was; and acetabulum increased from 2.768 MPa and 3.029 MPa with 30° CE angle to 11.075 MPa and 15.322 MPa with 5° CE angle. This change was more obvious when CE angle was less than 15°. These findings confirmed that acetabular defect increases the peak stress of the hip joint, and the greater the defect, the greater the stress was. It is suggested that clinical intervention should be done as early as possible in patients with acetabular defect.

OBJECTIVETo trace magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the rat livers by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSFeridex and DAPI labeled rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were injected via portal veins into carbon tetrachloride treated rats. MRI was performed with a clinical 1.5 T MRI machine immediately before the MSCs injection and at h 1, d 3, d 7, and d 14 after the injection, and then the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was measured. MRI findings were compared with the liver histopathologies after the slides were stained with fluorescence dye and Prussian blue.

RESULTSThe SNR for liver was 1.10+/-0.26 at hour 1, 8.18+/-1.55 at day 3, 11.08+/-1.30 at day 7, and 14.15+/-1.02 at day 14 respectively. Within 7 days after the MSCs transplantation, the SNRs of the livers were significantly lower than those before the transplantation (P less than 0.05). Histologically, the blue fluorescent particles under the fluorescence microscopy matched in distribution with the iron particles on the Prussian blue stained slides.

CONCLUSIONThe magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into livers give rise to an obvious signal decrease, and can be tracked with a 1.5 T clinical MRI machine for up to 7 days after MSCs transplantation.

Animals ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Liver ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Radioactive Tracers ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the biocompatibility of polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) for culturing bFGF gene-transfected bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and assess the feasibility of this cell complex for repairing cartilage defect in rabbits using tissue engineering method.

METHODSBMSCs transfected by bFGF gene were cultured on PLGA matrix to assess the biocompatibility of PLGA. The cell complex was then implanted into the cartilage defect in rabbits, and its effect in cartilage defect repair was evaluated by histological observation and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSBMSCs transfected by bFGF gene grew normally on PLGA matrix. After implantation, the complex showed good effect for cartilage defect repair in rabbits.

CONCLUSIONPLGA has good biocompatibility with the transfected BMSCs, and the cell complex can be used for repairing rabbit cartilage defect and may potentially serve as a substitute of cartilage autograft.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cartilage, Articular ; injuries ; surgery ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; genetics ; Genetic Engineering ; methods ; Implants, Experimental ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Male ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Transfection