OBJECTIVEThis research aimed to study the inhibitory effect of xylitol on the growth and acid production of Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus).

METHODSWe cultivated A. viscosus in anaerobic conditions with different concentrations (128, 64, 32, 16, 8, and 4 g x L(-1)) of xylitol brain heart infusion liquid medium and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Subsequently, we measured the pH value of the control group, as well as those of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 MIC, and MIC concentration groups at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The Delta pH and OD550 at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h were calculated. We discovered that the minimum xylitol concentrations suppressed 50% and 90% A. viscosus biofilm formation (i.e., MBIC50 and MBIC90). SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze the collected data, and conclusions were drawn afterward.

RESULTSXylitol inhibited the growth ofA. viscosus at MIC of 64 g x L(-1). After 12 h, the differences of pH value among groups were all statistically significant (P < 0.05), and Delta pH increased when the MIC concentration decreased. Except for the 1/2 MIC and MIC groups, the differences of OD550 among groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05), and OD550 also increased when the MIC concentration decreased. These results imply that the ability ofA. viscosus to grow and produce acid in 1/2 MIC and MIC conditions will be reduced with the increase in xylitol concentration. The value of MIBC50 was 64 g x L(-1), whereas the value of MIBC90 was 128 g x L(-1). This finding indicates that the xylitol medium can restrict A. viscosus biofilm formation.

CONCLUSIONXylitolcan effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, and acid production ofA. viscosus, protecting teeth from cariogenic bacteria and preventing caries to a certain extent.

Actinomyces viscosus ; Bacteria ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Xylitol

Objective To analyze the characteristics of gastroesophageal junction(GEJ) in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) using high resolution manometry (HRM),and the features in different GERD subtypes,reflux esophagitis (RE) and non-erosive gastrooesophageal reflux disease (NERD).Methods Sixty GERD patients were divided into two subtypes,RE (n =33) and NERD(n =27),based on the results of endoscopy.All patients received HRM,and were divided into three subtypes,type Ⅰ,type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ according to the GEJ pressure morphology.HRM results among different subtypes were investigated.Results In 60 GERD patients,the GEJ was divided into three subtypes,including 26 cases of type Ⅰ (RE =14,NERD =12),29 cases of type Ⅱ (RE =14,NERD =15) and 5 cases of type Ⅲ (RE =5).The characteristics of GEJ morphologic subtypes were analyzed.The total length of lower esophageal sphincter(LES) of three GEJ subtypes(type Ⅰ,type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ) were (3.35 ± 0.56) cm,(3.29 ± 0.87) cm and(2.43 ± 0.22)cm,respectively.The LES intra-abdominal length of three GEJ subtypes were(2.41 ± 0.68) cm,(3.07 ± 4.59) cm and (0.00 ± 0.00) cm,respectively.The LES rest pressure of three GEJ subtypes were (22.00 ± 8.00) mmHg,(16.46 ± 8.60) mmHg and (11.07 ± 5.80) mmHg,respectively.The total length of LES were significantly different among three subtypes (P ＜ 0.05).The LES rest pressure were not significantly different among three subtypes (P ＞ 0.05).Among type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ patients,there were no significant difference in LES-CD distance,total length of LES,LES intra-abdominal length and LES rest pressure between RE group and NERD group.Conclusion HRM can clearly distinguish the GEJ subtypes.To some extent,esophageal motility characteristics of the patients with different subtypes GEJ is various.However,it still needs further studies with larger sample size to confirm.

Objective To investigate the role of p38 MAPK in the trypsin-induced injury in human esophageal epithelial cells.Methods Primary cultured human esophageal epithelial cells were stimulated with trypsin (20,40,and 80 μg/ml) for4 hours,phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was evaluated by Western blotting.Primary cultured human esophageal epithelial cells were stimulated with trypsin (40 μg/ml) and treated with p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580,1 and 10 μmol/L) simultaneously.Four hours later,the cells were collected for analysis.Results Western blotting results revealed that stimulation with trypsin enhanced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK,indicating that trypsin activated p38 MAPK in esophageal epithelial cells.SB203580 treatment suppressed trypsin-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-8 (IL-8),cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2),and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFcα).Finally,SB203580 treatment suppressed trypsin-induced upregulation of protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),and subsequently reduced nitric oxide (NO) levels.Conclusions The regulation of p38 MAPK was involved in the trypsin-induced injury in esophageal epithelial cells.

The curriculum system of Proteomics was analyzed based on the teaching practice,the characteristics of ability training and gradation teaching were summarized and the prospect of curriculum optimization was proposed.These measures were conceived to enrich the course content and teaching methods for Proteomics course.

Gastric Lavage ; methods ; Humans ; Mannitol ; administration & dosage ; Norepinephrine ; administration & dosage ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy

Objective To study the efficacy and mechanism of compound Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) on photoallergic contact dermatitis in mice. Methods The photoallergic animal model of BALB/c mice was established by using photosensitizer chlorpromazine and UVA irradiation. The therepeutic efficacy was determined by measuring the thickness and the weight of the swelling ear and the number of infiltrated mononuclear cells in the ear tissue. Immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the ICAM-1 expression on keratinocytes, fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells. The serum level of INF-? was measured by ELISA. The tested animals were divided into 3 groups: compound THH, THH alone and normal saline. Results The difference of the thickness of left ear before and after challenge, the differences of the thickness and the weight of ear tissue, the difference of the number of infiltrated mononuclear cells of left and right ear after challenge were significantly less in the compound THH group than those in the THH alone group (P

This study was aimed to analyze the medication and herbal prescription rules in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome (NS) by Prof. Huang Chunlin with Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Support System ( TCMISS ) . Prescriptions used for NS treatment were collected and the data was entered into the TCMISS . The commonly used herbs and herbal prescription rules in NS treatment by Prof. Huang were summarized through the association rules, revised mutual information, complex system entropy cluster and other unsupervised hierarchical clustering methods. The results showed that based on the analysis of 280 prescriptions from 68 patients, the fre-quency of each herb and association rules among herbs included in the database were identified. And the basic NS treatment prescription by Prof. Huang Chunlin and 8 new prescriptions were mined from the database. It was concluded that data mining is of great practical value to the summarization of clinical experiences of well-known TCM doctors.

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between genetic polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha, sites at -238 nt and -308 nt) and susceptibility to chronic benzene poisoning.

METHODThe polymorphism of TNF-alpha gene were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique from 50 benzene poisoning patients and 60 control individuals exposed to benzene.

RESULTSThe frequency of the TNF-alpha-238G/G, A/G and A/A in controls (95%, 5% and 0%, respectively), were not significantly different from those in patients (92%, 6% and 2%, respectively, P > 0.05). The frequency of the TNF-alpha-308G/G, A/G and A/A in patients were 76%, 24% and 0% respectively, and that in control individuals were 93%, 7% and 0% respectively. Chi(2) test showed that frequency of TNF-alpha-308A/G in patients was significantly higher than that in controls (chi(2) = 6.22, P = 0.013). Logistic analysis showed that TNF-alpha-308A/G was the independent risk factor of benzene poisoning (OR = 5.3, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIndividuals with TNF-alpha-308A/G gene polymorphism are susceptible to benzene poisoning.

Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study psychiatric features and the manifestations of central nervous system involvement in Chinese patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (PSS).

METHODSThe Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to study 27 PSS female patients and 57 healthy women. The results from two groups were compared. Ten SS patients were evaluated by electroencephalography (EEG), transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

RESULTSOf 27 patients tested, the three highest clinical mean scales included Hypochondriasis (Hs), Hysteria (Hy), Psychasthenia (Pt) were found. When PSS group was compared with normal control, T scores of SS patients were significantly higher than the healthy women in Hs, Hy. Abnormal EEG was found in 3 of 9 PSS patients. TCD was abnormal in 5 of 9 patients. MRI in 1 patient showed abnormality.

CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that the personality of PSS patients is abnormal, the features are neuroticism. Central nervous system was markedly involved in Chinese patients with PSS, including abnormal EEG and TCD. The changes of central nervous system may be related to abnormalities of psychiatric changes.

Adult ; Aged ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Humans ; MMPI ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial