OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of dental erosion among college students in Guangzhou and to provide necessary information for the prevention.

METHODSA total of 1704 16-24-year-old students from six colleges or universities were assessed for dental erosion. Data on the social economical status, eating habits, oral hygiene habits, and other related factors were obtained through questionnaire. The influencing factors were analyzed by chi(2)-test and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSFive hundreds and one of the 1704 subjects suffered from dental erosion (29.4%). The teeth most frequently affected were the upper and lower incisors and first mandibular molar. For tooth surfaces were incisal/occlusal surfaces [66.1% (5491/8311)] and labial/buccal surfaces [31.0% (2574/8311)]. Logistic regression analysis showed that female, those who were not the only child in the family, and students who consumed carbonated drinks more than once per week or drank 500 ml or more of acidic beverages per week were more likely to have dental erosion.

CONCLUSIONSControl of the consuming of acidic beverages is an important measure for the prevention of dental erosion.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Tooth Erosion ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo screen the specific antibody binding peptides of tuberculosis from phage-displayed random phage display (Ph.D.)-7 peptide libraries with purified IgG from tuberculosis serum, and to provide the basis for the development of serological detection reagent of tuberculosis.

METHODSPurified IgG of tuberculosis serum was used as solid ligand to screen the binding peptide from the Ph.D.-7 peptide library, according to the biopanning process of absorption, elution and amplification. Purified IgG of health people serum was used as the molecule of counter selection during the second and third selection. Phages were enriched after 3 rounds of screening, then 20 single phages separately eluted by IgG of tuberculosis and health people were randomly selected on each direction of the determination plates and amplified. The single chains DNA were extracted as template for sequencing. The combination abilities of selected clones to IgG of tuberculosis and health people were tested by indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the positive clone was identified. Serum samples, from 47 patients with tuberculosis and 37 healthy people vaccinated with BCG, were verified by positive phage clones using phage-ELISA. The verifying results of 24 serum samples used for panning were separately analyzed statistically.

RESULTSAfter 3 rounds of panning, remarkable enrichment of phages that could specifically bind with target molecules were observed. Single phages were randomly selected for sequencing analysis and 12 sequences were obtained. 12 phage clones with different sequences were amplified and detected with indirect ELISA and single phage H12 showed higher affinity with IgG of tuberculosis (S/N ≥ 2.1) and was identified as the positive clone. It was found that, in indirect ELISA with single Phage H12, the A(450) value of tuberculosis patients (0.105 ± 0.010) was significantly higher than that of healthy individuals (0.070 ± 0.005), and the t value was 2.912 (P < 0.0001). The A(450) value of 12 serum samples of tuberculosis patients and 12 samples of health individuals used for panning were 0.144 ± 0.016 and 0.052 ± 0.004, and the t value was 5.69 (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONBy using phage-displayed random peptide libraries, we obtained the specific antibody binding peptides of tuberculosis, which showed specific binding activity with IgG of tuberculosis. It can provide a basis for the establishment of a new serological detection method of tuberculosis with peptide.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; immunology ; Peptide Library ; Peptides ; immunology ; Tuberculosis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety on the efficacy of HBeAg-positive chronic Hepatitis B patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil for 4 years.

METHODSNinety-five patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B were treated with adefovir dipivoxil 10 mg per day orally. The patients were observed before and after treatment for their serum levels of ALT and HBV DNA, the new increasing rates of serum ALT normalization, HBV DNA clearances, HBeAg loss, HBeAg seroconversion and adverse drug events.

RESULTSAt 4 years on study, the rates of ALT normalization, HBV DNA clearances, HBeAg loss, HBeAg seroconversion and HBV DNA rebound were 89.5%, 63.2%, 47.4%, 41.1% and 8.0%, respectively. No drug related to renal function impairment was found during the treatment, eight patients had adverse drug events but all were mild.

CONCLUSIONAdefovir dipivoxil could effectively inhibit HBV replication, normalize ALT and enhance transformation from HBeAg to HBeAb for cases with naive and treated-first patients. The efficacy were increased with prolongation of the treatment period. It is safe and has a good tolerance.

Adenine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of HBsAg in predicting the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSThis trial enrolled 62 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable HBsAg for at least 6 months prior to screening, serum HBV DNA levels of at least 100 000 IU/ml. The efficacy assessment: viral suppression below 100 IU/ml. The patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml after 24 weeks therapy were divided into group A, in which monotherapy continued; While the rest were divided into group B, in which ADV was combined until week 48. In group B, at the end-of-treatment, the patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml were divided into group B1, the rest were divided into group B2.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference on the baseline characteristics of patients between B1 and B2. There was significant difference on the levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week between B1 and B2; while there was no significant difference on the levels of HBeAg.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week would be predictors to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; adverse effects ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo indentify the relation between hepatic cells apoptosis and the lesion of liver tissue in acute toxic lethal hepatitis.

METHODS60 Wistar mice were randomly divided into normal control, model group and treatment group. Normal control and model group were pretreated by portal vein injection of normal saline, the treatment group was pretreated by portal vein injection of BCL-X1 adenoviruses. The mice of model group and treatment group were received an injection of D-galn and LPS to establish fulminant hepatic failure models 7 days after pretrement. To observe BCL-X1 expression, serum ALT, AST, hepatocyte apoptosis rate, and mortality rate of the three groups.

RESULTSThe BCL-X1 expression was higher in treatment group than in model group; 6 hours after fulminant hepatic failure models were established,the serum ALT, AST level of treatment group was lower than model group;The hepatocyte apoptosis rate of treatment group was lower than model group. The death rate of treatment group was lower than model group.

CONCLUSIONIn fulminant mice hepatic failure models, the hepatocyte apoptosis rate has a positive correlation with death rate, the overexpression of BCL-X1 can decrease the hepatocyte apoptosis rate and the death rate.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; metabolism ; Liver Failure, Acute ; genetics ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of the serum IL-21 and its correlation with serum biochemical indices of liver function test in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

METHODSSixty patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (severe hepatitis group) and 18 normal cases (control group) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated and total RNA of lymphocytes was extracted by using Trizol. Real-time PCR was used to assay IL-21 mRNA level. The serum IL-21 expression level was detected by ELISA method. The correlation between IL-21 and ALT, AST, TBiL, ALB was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, respectively.

RESULTSSerum IL-21 expression level in severe hepatitis group was higher than that of control group. Moreover, the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Serum IL-21 level was positively correlated with serum ALT, AST, TBil, respectively (P < 0.05), but was negatively correlated with ALB, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum IL-21 expression level was increased in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure and was associated with the severe of inflammation. We, therefore, believe that IL-21 might be involved in the pathogenesis of acute-on-chronic liver failure and might be an index of the severity of liver inflammation.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukins ; blood ; genetics ; Liver Failure ; blood ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of children with high dmft.

METHODSIn suburban of Guangzhou, oral health of 401 3 - 4-year-old children were examined and structured questionnaire were completed by their parents. 120 children with highest number of dmft (dmft > or = 5) and 118 caries-free children were chosen for case-control analysis.

RESULTSThe results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with high dmft were developmental defect of enamel, visible plaque index, frequency of toothbrushing, frequency of sugar consumption, and income.

CONCLUSIONSAdvocating brushing teeth at least twice daily, controlling the frequency of sugar consuming, reducing the developmental defect of enamel and paying more attention to the oral health of lower income population may effectively reduce dental caries of the children.

Child, Preschool ; Dental Caries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tooth, Deciduous

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of cluster of differentiation 40 ligand immunoglobulin (CD40LIg) gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on liver graft rejection in rats.

METHODSThe orthotopic liver transplantation models were established with DA rats as the donors and Lewis rats as the recipient. MSCs infected with the recombinant adenoviruses containing CD40LIg gene were infused into the liver graft after transplantation. The liver function, survival of the recipient rats and the morphological changes of the liver grafts were observed after the transplantation. The serum levels of the cytokines interferon-γ (INF-γ) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the recipient rats were quantified by ELISA.

RESULTSThe survival of the recipient rats receiving transplantation of genetically modified MSCs (group D) was significantly prolonged compared with that of the control group (group A), MSCs group (group B) and gene transfection group (group C); the survival of groups B and C were significantly longer than that of group A (F=7.615, P<0.05). The level of serum alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, IL-2 and INF-γ were significantly higher in group A than in the other 3 groups (F=8.738, P<0.05). HE staining of the liver grafts showed severe acute rejection in group A, mild acute graft rejection in groups B and group C, but no rejection in group D.

CONCLUSIONCD40LIg gene-modified MSCs can prolong the survival of the recipient rats and suppress graft rejection following liver transplantation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Graft Rejection ; prevention & control ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Dahl ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the role of suPAR in the pathogenesis of podocyte injury in FSGS. Methods① The sera of primary FSGS patients （17 cases） were collected. Healthy volunteers （10 cases） and patients with other types of primary nephrotic syndrome （10 cases） were set as normal and disease controls. SuPAR levels were detected by ELISA； ② Podocytes were stimulated by suPAR in vitro， and cells were collected to analyze apoptosis by flow cytometry and for RNAseq analysis； ③ Differentially expressed genes （DEGs） were screened from RNAseq data. Both up-regulated and down-regulated genes were analyzed by KEGG and GO enrichment analysis. Heat map was used to show expression of genes related to podocyte focal adhesion， slit diaphragm and actin dynamics and endocytosis. Differentially expressed genes were verified by qPCR. Results① The level of suPAR in FSGS patients was significantly increased， and that in other nephrotic syndrome（NS） patients was also significantly increased； ② suPAR stimulation significantly altered the transcriptome pattern of human podocytes. A total of 272 up-regulated genes and 288 down-regulated genes were screened； ③ KEGG and GO enrichment analysis of up-regulated and down-regulated genes showed that Focal adhesion and DNA replication and DNA repair related pathways were significantly down-regulated； ④ suPAR did not increase podocyte apoptosis. ConclusionThe level of suPAR is significantly increased in patients with primary FSGS. SuPAR may promote podocyte injury by interfering with genomic homeostasis and disrupting focal adhesion， slit diaphragm， actin dynamics and endocytosis-related functional molecules of podocytes.

OBJECTIVETo study the specific cellular immunoresponse of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the chronic hepatitis B patients treated with different doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

METHODSSeventy-two chronic hepatitis B patients who did not use any anti-HBV drugs within 6 months were randomized into 3 groups (90 micrograms, 60 micrograms, and placebo) in a ratio of 1:1:1. The patients in different groups were treated with different doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in combination with IFN alpha 1b 50 micrograms with 3 times a week for 24 weeks. All patients were followed up for 24 weeks (W24). HBV DNA, HBeAg and liver functions were detected at different time points, and the number of cells that secrete IFN-gamma were detected by ELISPOT.

RESULTSThere were no significant difference in ELISPOT positive ratio among the 3 groups on baseline detection. At W24, 12 cases, 12 cases, and 7 cases showed ELISPOT positive in the group of 90 micrograms, 60 micrograms, and placebo. The proportion of patients who were ELISPOT positive was higher in the groups treated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (including the dose of 90 micrograms and 60 micrograms) than that in the placebo group (P=0.0446). HBV DNA turned negative in 6/24 of the patients treated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (at both the doses of 90 micrograms and 60 micrograms), and HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion or HBeAg became negative in 7/24 of them. In the placebo group, none of the patients showed undetectable HBV DNA, HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion or HBeAg disappearance. At the 24W of follow up, in the patients who were ELISPOT positive, HBV DNA became undetectable in 4 of the patients treated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine (at doses of 90 micrograms and 60 micrograms), and HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion or HBeAg disappearance were found in 9 of the cases. In the placebo group, none of the cases showed undetectable HBV DNA, and only 1 case had HBeAg/Anti-HBe seroconversion.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant hepatitis B vaccine may increase the function of specific T lymphocytes in patients with chronic hepatitis B. There were no significant differences between the patients treated with the dose of 90 micrograms and 60 micrograms hepatitis B vaccine.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology