The computer three-dimensional reconstruction of serial sections is an important research area in the world at precent. In this paper, we combine the computer graphics, image processing and biomedical techniques to reconstruct the stereo model of intra-glandular lymphatics, veins, arteries and duets with the serial semithin sections of human submandibular gland.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates gene expression in a range of cells, including immune and epithelial cells. AhR signaling plays important roles in the immune system in both health and disease states. Tapinarof is a first-in-class small-molecule topical therapeutic AhR modulating agent launched for the treatment of psoriasis. To improve the activity and chemical stability of Tapinarof, a series of 2-phenylchromen-4-one derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel AhR agonists. Compounds 5a, 5c, 5e and 5f potently activated AhR with an EC₅₀ value of 7, 9, 6 and 6 nmol·L^-1, respectively, which are 10-14 fold more potent than Tapinarof. Compounds 5a and 5e exhibit comparable inhibitory effects on IFN-γ production as Tapinarof. Furthermore, compounds 5a-5f exhibited favorable photochemical stability compared to Tapinarof. The compounds may eventually serve as lead compounds for the development of new AhR agonists.

Humans ; Enhanced Recovery After Surgery ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery* ; Length of Stay ; Laparoscopy ; Postoperative Complications ; Gastrectomy

Introduction：Neonatal tetanus is a major cause of neonatal mortality in many developing countries and remains a major public health problem. This study aimed to determine risk factors associated with neonatal tetanus in Wenzhou, China.Methodology：Medical records of neonatal tetanus cases from 17 hospitals over a 13-year period (2000–2012) were reviewed for potential risk factors. Controls were selected from neonates with diseases other than tetanus who were admitted to the same facility during the same period. The potential risk factors of the neonatal tetanus group were compared with the control group using univariate analysis and an unconditional logistic regression model.Results：A total of 246 neonates with tetanus and 257 controls were included in this study. Univariate analysis showed that having untrained birth attendants, home delivery, an unsterile method of delivery and being a migrant to Wenzhou were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery were significantly higher in the tetanus group than the control group (odds ratio: 1371.0; 95% confidence interval: 206.0, 9123.5).Conclusion：This study identified that the main risks of neonatal tetanus in cases from Wenzhou were having an untrained birth attendant, home delivery and an unsterile method of delivery. Preventive measures directed to these risk factors may reduce the occurrence of neonatal tetanus in the studied area.

Objective To study the effect of exogenous rhBMP-2(recombinant human bone morpho- genetic protein-2)on the expression of endogenous TGF-?1 during osteogenesis in rabbits.Methods After successfully duplicating experimental rabbit skull defect model,we detected and analyzed the expression of en- dogenous TGF-?1 of the pericranium in different stages by using immunohistochemieal method in both the ex- perimental group and the control group.Results In the experimental group a lot of mesenchymal cells with positive expression of endogenous TGF-?1 of the pericranium aggregated in duramater in the early stage after operation,and the expression level increased rapidly with the differentiation of mesenchymal cells,and reached the peak at 17,19 day postoperation.Positive cell number of TGF-?1 of pericranium was statistically analyzed in both groups at 7,15,21 days,showing significant difference(t-test,P＜0.01 ).Conclusion Exogenous rhBMP-2 can induce and enhance the expression of endogenous TGF-?1 during osteogenesis.

Objective To evaluate effects of incorporating tetrapod-like zinc oxide whisker (T-ZnOw) antibacterial agent on the antibacterial activity of composite resin, compared with that of the silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent. Methods The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the two different antibacterial agents against Streptococcus mutans were investigated using the broth dilution test Then the antibacterial activities of the self-cured composite resin specimens with different incorporating concentrations of the two antibacterial agents were evaluated using direct contact test And the antibacterial activities of the resin specimens were examined again after 3 months of accelerating aging. Results The MIC (MBC) of the T-ZnOw antibacterial agent and silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent were 0.15625(0.3125) g/L and 0. 15625(0.15625) g/L When the concentrations of T-ZnOw added to composite resin were 3%, 5% , and 10% (w/w), the antibacterialratios of the resin specimens were (84.85±5.16)%, (94.22 ± 3.73)%, and (99.43±0.48)%respectively. When the concentrations of the silver-based antibacterial agent added to composite resin were 1%, 3%, and 5%, the antibacterial ratios were (71.01±7.67)%, (90.76±5.91)%, and (97. 19 ±4.10)% respectively. The antibacterial ratios of the resin specimens containing 5% of both antibacterial agents were (89.89 ± 5.55) % and (78.79 ± 7.81) % respectively after 3 months of accelerating aging.Conclusions Incorporation of the T-ZnOw antibacterial agent in composite resin can improve the antibacterial performance of the resin, and the resin exhibits better antibacterial performance than that incorporating silver-based inorganic antibacterial agent after 3 months of aging.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of siRNA targeting Livin and Survivin gene simultaneously on the proliferation and apoptosis of human colon cancer cells.

METHODSSiRNA recombinant expression vectors targeting Livin and Survivin gene simultaneously were constructed and transfected into human colon cancer cell line Lovo. The effects of siRNA recombinant expression vector on Lovo cells were detected by RT-PCR, Western blot, MTT reduction assay and flow cytometry.

RESULTSIt was confirmed by restriction endonuclease and sequence analysis that siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting Livin and Survivin gene simultaneously was constructed successfully. The suppressive rates of siRNA targeting Livin and Survivin gene simultaneously on Livin mRNA and protein expression were 27.9% and 22.3% respectively, and those on Survivin mRNA and protein expression were 32.2% and 40.9% respectively. The survival rate of cancer cells was decreased whereas the apoptotic rate was increased, but the coordinate repression was weaker than Livin and Survivin RNA interference alone.

CONCLUSIONSsiRNA targeting Livin and Survivin gene simultaneously can decrease the expression of Livin and Survivin gene, suppress cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in human colon cancer. The coordinate repression was weaker than Livin and Survivin RNA interference alone.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering

In order to maximize the efficiency and versatility of the vector-based siRNA approach, we have developed a novel siRNA expression vector containing multiple tandem siRNA cassettes to investigate the synergistic inhibitory effect of it on human colon cancer cells proliferation. Multiple siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting simultaneously Livin and Survivin genes was constructed and transfected into human colon cancer cell. The effect of multiple siRNA recombinant expression vector was detected by RT-PCR, Western blotting and flow cytometry. It was confirmed by restriction endonuclease and sequence analysis that multiple siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting simultaneously Livin and Survivin genes was constructed successfully. Livin and Survivin genes inhibition ratio of Livin and Survivin siRNA at mRNA levels were 27.90% and 32.24%, at protein levels were 22.28% and 40.86%, the apoptotic ratio was (11.69 +/- 1.37) %, but the synergistic effect was weaker than Livin and Survivin RNA interference, respectively. The multiple siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting simultaneously Livin and Survivin genes has been constructed successfully. It can inhibit the expression of Livin and Survivin genes in human colon cancer cells, but the synergistic effect was weaker than Livin and Survivin RNA interferences, respectively.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene on chemotherapy sensitivity of human colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil.

METHODSsiRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene was constructed and transfected into human colon cancer cell lines LOVO. After 48 hours of transfection, cells were harvested for analysis of survivin mRNA and protein expressions using RT-PCR and Western blot. In addition, after human colon cancer cell lines were treated with Survivin siRNA and/or 5-fluorouracil, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to analyze cell proliferation and apoptosis.

RESULTSRestriction endonuclease analysis confirmed that siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene was successfully constructed. Inhibitory ratios of survivin mRNA and protein expressions by Survivin siRNA were 36.33% and 44.65%, respectively. Survivin siRNA combined with 5-fluorouracil significantly increased the cell proliferation inhibitory ratio and apoptosis ratio compared with 5-fluorouracil treating alone (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe siRNA recombinant expression vector targeting survivin gene can inhibit the expression of survivin gene, and enhance chemotherapy sensitivity of human colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; chemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis