OBJECTIVEScreening for special genes of matrix proteins of dentin and enamel of mouse dental germ.

METHODSA cDNA library of dental germ of mouse was screened by differential display. The interesting clones were sequenced.

RESULTSSix positive clones were isolated from the cDNA library. The sequence of one of the six positive clones was homologous with the ameloblastin sequence of rat. There are 497 homologous base pairs between the 526 base pairs sequenced by pTriplEX 3' primer of this clone and the 32-580 sequence of the rat ameloblastin gene; and there are 533 homologous base pairs between the 567 base pairs sequenced by pTriplEX 5' primer of this clone and the 1285-1854 sequence of the rat ameloblastin gene.

CONCLUSIONSThe full length cDNA sequence of the mouse ameloblastin was cloned.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Library ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data

Tricuspid regurgitation(TR) is a malocclusion of the tricuspid lobes during systole, resulting in blood returning from the right ventricle to the right atrium during systole. Functional TR is not associated with clear tricuspid valve disease, but is secondary to left heart disease and is often accompanied by dilation of the tricuspid ring. The main treatment for TR is to reduce the enlarged ring with tricuspid valvuloplasty or to replace the diseased valve with tricuspid valve replacement. Tricuspid valvuloplasty is the most common and safest surgical method for functional TR, but the specific treatment strategies for TR are still controversial. This article reviews the diagnostic evaluation, surgical strategy and prognosis of TR treated by tricuspid valvuloplasty.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with schizophrenia. Methods The composition of the fecal microbiota in 16 schizophrenia patients and 20 healthy controls was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Results At the phylum level, TM7 was increased in the patients (P<0.05). At the class level, the abundance of Peptostreptococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae and Actinomycetaceae in the patients increased (P<0.05), whereas the abundance of Tissierellaceae decreased relative to health controls (P<0.05). At the genus level, Actinomyces, Scardovia, Atopobium, Moryella, G07 and Lactobacillus were increased in the patients relative to healthy controls (P<0.05). Prediction of functional properties of bacterial flora showed that the metabolic pathways of fatty acids and pyruvate were different between the patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). Conclusion The present study reveals an alteration in the characteristics of gut microbiota in schizophrenia patients which may be an auxiliary diagnosis marker for clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and bone metastasis (BM) suffer from greatly reduced life quality and a dismal prognosis. However, BM in HCC has long been overlooked possibly due to its relatively low prevalence in previous decades. To date, no consensus or guidelines have been reached or formulated for the prevention and management of HCC BM. Our narrative review manifests the increasing incidence of HCC BM to sound the alarm for additional attention. The risk factors, diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic approaches of HCC BM are detailed to provide a panoramic view of this disease to clinicians and specialists. We further delineate an informative cancer bone metastatic cascade based on evidence from recent studies and point out the main factors responsible for the tumor-associated disruption of bone homeostasis and the formation of skeletal cancer lesions. We also present the advances in the pathological and molecular mechanisms of HCC BM to shed light on translational opportunities. Dilemmas and challenges in the treatment and investigation of HCC BM are outlined and discussed to encourage further endeavors in the exploration of underlying pathogenic and molecular mechanisms, as well as the development of novel effective therapies for HCC patients with BM.
Bone Neoplasms/secondary* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy* ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms/therapy* ; Prognosis