BACKGROUND: Experimental proof for the efficacy, safety, and immunological assessment is needed when minocycline is used for root canal disinfection.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of minocycline for root canal disinfection on levels of interleukin-17 in apical exudates of periapical periodontitis and periapical exudate volume.METHODS: Sixteen patients with acute periapical periodontitis (16 teeth) scheduled for root canal therapy were enrolled and randomly divided into calcium hydroxide and minocycline groups, respectively, followed by root canal disinfection.One week after disinfection, periapical index, periapical exudate volume and interleukin-17 level were detected prior to the root canal filling. Another 16 patients with normal pulp vitality (16 teeth) scheduled for single root canal filling were enrolled as control group, in which periapical index, periapical exudate volume and interleukin-17 level were detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The periapical exudate volume and interleukin-17 level in the calcium hydroxide and minocycline groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The periapical index and interleukin-17 level in the calcium hydroxide and minocycline groups were decreased significantly at 1 week after root canal disinfection (P < 0.05), while there was no difference between these two experimental groups in the periapical index, periapical exudate volume and interleukin-17 level. To conclude, the use of minocycline significantly reduces interleukin-17 level and periapical exudate volume, and thus achieves effective outcomes in periapical disease.

Kidney plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis as an important excretory and endocrine organ.The occurrence and development of kidney disease is closely associated with glomerular filtration barrier dysfunction and renal interstitial remodeling.Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),a major enzyme in the extracellular matrix (ECM),plays an important role in the process of kidney disease by regulating the ECM components and its interaction with cytokines.The paper reviews the pathophysiology of MMP-9 in glomerular filtration barrier dysfunction and renal fibrosis to provide a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of kidney disease.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine pretreatment on activation of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway during intestinal injury in rats undergoing liver transplantation.Methods Thirty-two pathogen-free healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,aged 8-10 weeks,were divided into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S group),liver transplantation group (LT group),dexmedetomidine pretreatment group (D group) and dexmedetomidine plus atipamezole (specific α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) group (D+A group).The model of liver transplantation was established in LT,D and D+A groups except group S.In group D,dexmedetomidine 50 μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min before skin incision.In group D+A,atipamzole 250 μg/kg was injected intraperitoneally at 5 min before administration of dexmedetomidine.At 6 h of reperfusion,blood samples were collected from the inferior vena cava for determination of serum concentrations of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (iFABP),lipopolysaccharide (LPS),tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ct) and high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1).Intestinal specimens were then obtained for examination of the pathological changes of intestinal tissues (under light microscope) and for determination of the expression of activated caspase-3,phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2),phosphorylated STAT1 (p-STAT1) and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3).Intestinal damage was assessed and scored.Wet/dry weight ratio (W/D ratio) was calculated.Results Compared with group S,the concentrations of iFABP,LPS,TNF-α and HMGB1 in serum,intestinal damage scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased,and the expression of activated caspase-3,p-JAK2,pSTATI and p-STAT3 in intestinal tissues was up-regulated in LT and D groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group LT,the concentrations of iFABP,LPS,TNF-cα and HMGB1 in serum,intestinal damage scores and W/D ratio were significantly decreased,and the expression of activated caspase-3,p-JAK2,p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 in intestinal tissues was down-regulated in group D (P＜0.05).Compared with group D,the concentrations of iFABP,LPS,TNF-cα and HMGB1 in serum,intestinal damage scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased,and the expression of activated caspase-3,p-JAK2,p-STAT1 and p-STAT3 in intestinal tissues was up-regulated in group D+A (P＜0.05).The pathological changes of intestinal tissues were significantly attenuated in group D as compared with group LT.Conclusion The mechanism by which dexmedetomidine pretreatment reduces intestinal injury may be related to inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling pathway activation in rats undergoing liver transplantation.

AIM: To develop a method to determine the content of emodin and chrysophanol in Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets(Radix et Rhizoma Rhei, Flos Lonicerae, Radix Sophorae Tonkinensis, etc.). METHODS: HPLC was used to determine the content of emodin and chrysophanol in Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets. The separation was performed on YWG ODS column with methanol (0.1%) phosphoric acid(85∶15) mixture as a mobile phase and the wavelength of UV detector was at 254nm. RESULTS: The resolution and the linearity of this method was good. in the range of emodin was 50.2～401.6ng( r =0.9999); chrysophanol was 49.9～ 399.2 ng( r =0.9994); and with the average recovery of emodin: 99.4%( RSD =2.2%); chrysophanol:100%( RSD =1.1%). CONCLUSION: The method is simple, rapid and satisfactory and suitable for quality control of Fuyanling Effervescent Tablets.

Objective To asses the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in diagnosis of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder in the urine using directly labeled DNA probes to the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 3 , 7 and 17 and to the region of P16 tumor suppressor gene. Methods Chromosomal and gene abnormalities were detected using directly labeled DNA probes to the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 3 , 7, and 17 and to the region of P16 tumor suppressor gene. The sensitivity of FISH and Cytology in diagnosing transitional cell carcinoma of bladder was also compared. Results The sensitivity of FISH and Cytology in diagnosing the disease was 85.5% and 34.2%, respectively. The sensitivity of FISH was prior to that of Cytology( P ＜0.05 ) and increased with increasing tumor pathologic grade but not clinical staging. Conclusions High sensitivity of FISH in diagnosing transitional cell carcinoma of bladder was obtained and it might be a potent method to diagnose bladder cancer in Chinese people in the future.

Objective To investigate the effect of Janus kinase2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (JAK2/STAT1) signaling pathway on acute kidney injury induced by liver cold ischemia reperfusion (IR) in rats.Methods Thirty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were assigned randomly to 3 groups (n =10/group):sham operation group (Sham group);liver cold ischemia reperfusion model group (I/R group);JAK2 kinase inhibitor AG490 group (AG490 group) (AG490 at dose of 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before establishment of the model).Other groups were given the equal volume of normal saline at the same time points.Then the rats were sacrificed at 6 h after reperfusion (at 6 h after the end of operation in Sham group).The renal function and oxidative stress level were observed.The pathological changes of the renal tissues and nephritic cell apoptosis were analyzed,and the expression of p-JAK2,pSTAT1,Bcl-2 and Bax was detected by Western blotting.Results As compared with Sham operation group,renal histological lesion and renal dysfunction were aggravated,level of oxidative stress and apoptosis rate were increased in I/R group,the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was decreased and the expression of pJAK2 and p-STAT1 was up-regulated.As compared with I/R group,AG490 dramatically attenuated histological lesions and oxidative stress,restored the renal function,and reduced the number of apoptotic tubular epithelial cells.AG490 significantly increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio,and inhibited the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT1.Conclusion Blockage of JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway can alleviate acute kidney injury after liver cold ischemia reperfusion probable through inhibiting the oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Objective To evaluate the role of silent information regulator fac tor 2-related enzyme 1 (SIRT1)/Forkhead Box O3 (FoxO3a) signaling pathway in berberine pretreatment-induced reduction of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-caused injury to hepatic parenchymnal cells.Methods Hepatic parenchymal cells obtained from AML12 mice were cultured and seeded in 6-well plates (2 ml/well) and in 96-well plates (200 μl/well) at the density of l×l06 cells/ml.The cells were divided into 4 groups (n=36 each)using a randomn number table:control group (group C),group H/R,berberine pretreatment group (group BP) and SIRT1-siRNA group (group SS).The cells were cultured in normal culture atmosphere (5％ CO2-21％ O2-74％ N2) in group C.In H/R,BP and SS groups,the cells were exposed to hypoxic air (5％ CO2-1％ O2-94％ N2) for 12 h,followed by 6 h reoxygenation in normal culture atmosphere (5％ CO2-21％ O2-74％ N2).In group SS,small interference RNA targeting SIRT1 (SIRT1-siRNA) was added to the culture medium at 24 h prior to hypoxia.Berberine (final concentration 5 μmol/L) was added at 2 h prior to hypoxia in BP and SS groups.At the end of reoxygenation,the cell viability was measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay,the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,the expression of SIRT1 and FoxO3α was detected by Western blot,and the acetylation of FoxO3α was measnred by using immunoprecipitation.Apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Compared with group C,the cell viability was significantly decreased,the MDA content was increased,the SOD activity was decreased,apoptotic rate was increased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were increased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was increased in H/ R,BP and SS groups (P＜ 0.05).Compared with group H/R,the cell viability was significantly increased,the MDA content was decreased,the SOD activity was increased,apoptotic rate was decreased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were increased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was increased in group BP (P＜0.05).Compared with group BP,the cell viability was significantly decreased,the MDA content was increased,the SOD activity was decreased,apoptotic rate was increased,the expression of SIRT1 and ratio of FoxO3α expression in nucleus/in cytoplasma were decreased,and the acetylation of FoxO3α in the nucleus was decreased in group SS (P＜O.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which berberine pretreatment attenuates H/R-caused injury to hepatic parenchymal cells is related to promotion of SIRT1 expression in cells and inhibition of FoxO3α acetylation in the nucleus.

Sixty-four patients with Graves' diseases were divided into methimazole group ( n =30 ) and propylthiouracil group( n =34 ).20 healthy volunteers were used as the control group.The levels of interleukin (IL) -2,IL-6,and TSH receptor antibody (TRAb) were determined by ELISA after serum samples were eollected before treatment and after treatment for 3 and 6 months.The results showed that the general data of two groups were not significantly different before treatment.IL-2 and IL-6 levels at 6 months after treatment were significantly different from the baseline (P＜ 0.05 ),IL-2 being gradually increased while IL-6 decreased with time.The level of IL-6 in methimazole group was lower than that in propylthiouracil group after treatment for 6 months ( P＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in TRAb levels between two groups before treatment while differences became significant at 3 and 6 months of treatment ( all P＜ 0.01 ),being gradually decreased with time. IL-2/IL-6 ratio became significantly greater at 3 and 6 months of treatment compared with that before treatment in the same treatment group( P＜0.05 ) and the ratio in methimazole group was higher than that in propylthiouracil group by 6 months of treatment ( P＜0.05 ).IL-6level was positively correlated with FT3 and FT4 levels,and IL-2 level was negatively correlated with FT3,FT4,and TRAb levels in GD patients before treatment.The correlations of IL-2 and IL-6 with FT3 and FT4 disappeared by 3 and 6 months of treatment.IL-2 and IL-6 levels were related with TRAb level before and after treatment in methimazole group. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive effect of methimazole is more evident than that of propylthiouracil in patients with Graves' disease.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between sternum protection and bone marrow suppression in postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma. Methods Total of 98 postoperative patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma were randomly divided into experimental group (52 cases) and control group (46 cases). All patients were given intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), with the dose of 50-50.4 Gy. The patients in experimental group were irradiated by 6 fields (4-fields in front, 2-fields behind) which were crossed to avoid direct exposure to the sternum. The patients in control group were irradiated by 5 fields (3-fields in front, 2-fields behind) with front-middle of the field passing through the sternum. Concurrently all patients received 2 cycles of cisplatin chemotherapy. Results Dmean, V20 and V30 of the sternum in the experimental group were (20.21 ±3.60) Gy, (40.78 ±7.19) % and (33.78 ±9.44) %, which were lower than those in the control group [(30.91±5.21) Gy, (81.01±4.81) %, (51.60±6.84) %], respectively (P<0.05). However, the volume and dose distribution of lung, spinal cord and heart were similar between the two groups (P> 0.05). Both the incidence rates of bone marrow suppression at 14th day and 35th day after radiotherapy were significantly higher in the control group (52.2%, 73.9%) than those in the experimental group (28.8 %, 50.0 %) (P< 0.05), and the incidence rate of bone marrow suppression at 7th day after radiotherapy was similar between the two groups. Conclusion Protecting and sketching for sternum in postoperative radiotherapy for esophageal carcinoma can reduce the incidence of bone marrow suppression effectively, which would not increase the radiation dose in the lung, heart and spinal cord.

Objective To explore the characteristics and its clinical significance of troponin I(cTnI),myo-cardial enzymes and intraoperative hemodynamic changes in the pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver trans-plantation. Methods Liver transplantation was performed in 50 congenital biliary atresia children who were ranged from grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in Tianjin First Central Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA),meanwhile,the method of the combined intravenous - inhalation anesthesia was ap-plied during operation. Blood samples were drawn from central vein before skin incision(T0 baseline),at 30 min of an-hepatic phase(T1),30 min of neohepatic phase(T2),and 12 h,36 h after operation(T3,T4). Levels of cTnI,crea-tine kinase(CK),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)and α - hydroxy butyric acid dehydrogenase(α - HBDH)were mear-sured,respectively. Furthermore,heart rate(HR),mean arterial blood pressure(MAP),central venous pressure(CVP) and arterial blood gas analysis[pH value,pa(O2 ),pa(CO2 ),and base excess(BE)]were monitored at the moment of T0,T1,T2 as well as the end of surgery. Results The levels of cTnI,CK,LDH and α - HBDH in T1 - T3 were in-creased,and there was a peak at the T2 compared with the baseline at T0(all P ﹤ 0. 05). At T3 and T4,cTnI,CK, LDH and α - HBDH levels significantly decreased compared with those at T2(all P ﹤ 0. 05),the levels of cTnI were (0. 06 ± 0. 02)μg/ L,(0. 37 ± 0. 52)μg/ L,(0. 05 ± 0. 02)μg/ L,CK levels were(344. 6 ± 209. 5)U/ L,(466. 1 ± 116. 4)U/ L,(219. 3 ± 111. 5)U/ L,LDH levels were(552. 3 ± 414. 9)U/ L,(966. 4 ± 454. 1)U/ L,(322. 8 ± 108. 8) U/ L,and α - HBDH levels were(301. 6 ± 124. 0)U/ L,(456. 4 ± 168. 4)U/ L,(146. 2 ± 80. 2)U/ L,respectively. The levels of hemodynamics significantly changed in anhepatic phase and neohepatic phase. Compared with T0:T1,HR ac-celerated,MAP,CVP decreased,BE value increased,and the differences were statistically significant(all P ﹤ 0. 05);T2,open vena cava and back to the blood volume surge,CVP,MAP increased,HR decreased but still higher than T0, BE value further increased,and the differences were statistically significant(all P ﹤ 0. 05). After the surgery,various hemodynamic indexes fell to preoperative levels,the levels of HR were(103. 1 ± 5. 9)times/ min,(128. 8 ± 8. 5) times/ min,(115. 1 ± 0. 3)times/ min,(103. 5 ± 5. 9)times/ min,MAP levels were(59. 7 ± 9. 1)kPa,(48. 7 ± 5. 4) kPa,(58. 6 ± 7. 1)kPa,(59. 1 ± 8. 6)kPa,CVP levels were(7. 5 ± 4. 3)kPa,(3. 9 ± 4. 6)kPa,(5. 8 ± 3. 5)kPa, (7. 2 ± 4. 1)kPa,BE levels were( - 1. 5 ± 5. 0)mmol/ L,( - 0. 4 ± 5. 7)mmol/ L,(1. 0 ± 3. 8)mmol/ L,(2. 4 ± 2. 2)mmol/ L,respectively. Conclusions The myocardial injury may appear during the perioperation of pediatric living donor liver transplantation and gradually aggravated during the anhepatic phase. The worst injury peaks at 12h and it gradually returns to the preoperative level 36 h postoperativelly.