BACKGROUND:Interproximal contact loss is a complication of posterior crown/bridge restorations with a higher incidence, and it is induced by a variety of factors, such as age, tooth position, occlusal contact, tooth loss time, whether there is a repair on the free end.OBJECTIVE:To study and analyze the loss of interproximal contact between posterior crown/bridge restorations and adjacent teeth.METHODS: This was a single-center, prospective, observational clinical trial which has been completed at the Stomatology Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University, China. Totaly 82 patients who had underwent posterior crown/bridge restorations from June 2015 to June 2016 in the Stomatology Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University were selected. The time of denture wearing was 1-40 months, and the interproximal contact loss was defined by a 30 μm adjacent contact check or a flossing that can pass through the detection area with no resistance. Single-factor analysis and multiple correlation analysis were performed to analyze the interproximal contact loss at 1, 3, 6 months after posterior crown/bridge restorations. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Stomatology Hospital Affiliated to Southwest Medical University of China with an approval number of 2016024. All protocols were in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki, formulated by the World Medical Association. All patients and their relatives were informed of study protocols and provided a written informed consent prior to the beginning of the trial.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Of the 82 patients enroled, there were 41 adjacent contact zones with the emergency of interproximal contact loss, including 20 maxillary and 21 mandibular. It indicated that the interproximal contact loss had no association with the upper and lower jaw. Single-factor analysis showed that the time of denture wearing, tooth loss time and repair of the free end were confirmed as independent influencing factors for the complications (P < 0.05). Multiple correlation analysis found that free end repair and short-term tooth loss were independent factors of the interproximal contact loss. To conclude, free end repair and tooth loss time should be considered in the posterior crown/bridge restorations in order to minimize the occurrence of interproximal contact loss.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; immunology

With more and more attention and investment on acupuncture scientific researches, considerable outcomes and achievements has been acquired, but the shortcoming of low transformation rate of acupuncture research achievements is gradually exposed. Nowadays there is no related report on this problem, so based on achievement translational research in other areas and practical situation of acupuncture, the existing problems and solutions are analyzed. As a result, the existing problems include (1) the research content is mainly basic research and clinical research but less acupuncture device research, leading to limited transformation efficiency; (2) the evaluation system and transformation pattern are still needed to be perfect. The solutions are (1) to properly evaluate the research achievements of acupuncture, (2) to advocate the concept and method of translational medicine, (3) to reform the policy and system, and (4) to establish valid platforms covering research, outcomes and transformation.
Acupuncture ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; Biomedical Research ; Biotechnology ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; China ; Humans ; Technology Transfer

Objective To study the lysozyme activity in Oncomelania hupensis and observe its inhibitory effect on bacterial growth.Methods Soft tissues of Oncomelania hupensis were initially homogenized and immersed in Tris-HCl-TritonX-114 buffer solution for 24 hours then the supernatant was collected after centrifugation at 10 000 × g for 10 minutes.The supernatant was incubated in a 37 ℃ water bath for 15 minutes and centrifuged again at 2000 × g for 10 minutes.The precipitate was put into ultrafiltration tube (relative retention molecular mass =3000) and centrifuged at 4 ℃,5 000 × g for 30 minute to obtain concentrated enzyme.The protein content,lysozyme activity and the antibacterial effect on Micrococcus lysodeikticus,Shigella dysenteriae,Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were measured with bicinchonininc acid(BCA) method,turbidimetric method and agar diffusion (K-B) method,respectively.Results The antibacterial protein lysozyme was identified in gastropod protein concentration of the concentrated enzyme was 3.428 g/L.Average activity,total activity,and specific activity were (760 ± 120) × 103 U/L,(1520 ± 240) × 103 U/L and (221.70 ± 35.00)U/mg,respectively.The enzyme had produced exclusive inhibitory effects on growth of Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Shigella dysenteriae.Average inhibitory diameters were 10-12 and 12-15 mm,respectively.No inhibition zone was observed in saline control,Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.Conclusions Lysozyme can be extracted from soft tissues of Oncomelania hupensis with Tris-HCl-TritonX-114 buffer solution,and the enzyme has inhibitory effect on growth of Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Shigella dysenteriae but has no antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

In this study, we evaluated the difference ot biological characteristics in the MERS-CoV infected mice model in prior to transduction with different dosage of human DPP4. Firstly, we transduced different dosage of DPP4 (high or low) into mice, and then challenged them with MERS-CoV in order to establish the model. After establishment of mice model, we observed the clinical signs of disease, virus replication, immunopathogenesis and antibody response. The results indicated that the infected mice showed typical pneumonia, virus replication, histological lesions, and neutralizing antibody production. Moreover, the high dosage group was superior to the low dosage group. Fourteen days after infection, the specific antibody to virus structural protein and neutralizing antibody were analyzed, the high dosage group induced higher level antibody. In summary, the MERS-CoV infected mice model were established prior transduction with DPP4, and the level of DPP4 influenced the clinical signs of disease, virus replication and antibody response in this model.
Animals ; Coronavirus Infections ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; genetics ; physiology

AIM:To explore the expression level of tristetraprolin(TTP)in rats after subarachnoid hemor-rhage(SAH)as well as the potential role of TTP in the early brain injury(EBI)after SAH in rats.METHODS:In the first experiment setting,total 56 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into sham group and SAH group.The SAH mod-el was performed by endovascular perforation.The brain tissues were taken out after SAH at 5 different time points(0,12, 24,48,72 h and 1 week).The expression of TTP in the brain tissues was detected by Western blot.In the second experi-ment,a total of 60 SD rats were divided into 4 groups: sham group, SAH group, SAH +vector group and SAH +TPP group.Neurological score,brain water content and blood-brain barrier were evaluated at 48 h after SAH.TUNEL staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis in the rat brain tissue.ELISA method was used for quantitative detection of interleu-kin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α).The protein levels of TTP,Bax,Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 in the rat brain tissue were detected by Western blot.RESULTS:The protein expression of TTP in the brain was downregulated markedly from 12 h after SAH,reached the lowest level at 48 h,and then had an upward trend.After modeling for 48 h, Garcia neurological score was significantly reduced,and brain water content and Evans blue(EB)content of the brain tis-sue of the rats in SAH group were significantly higher than those in sham group(P<0.05).SAH induced significant in-creases in IL-6 and TNF-αlevels in the brain tissue(P<0.05).The number of TUNEL-stained cells was increased in the subcortical brain region after SAH compared with sham group.In addition,a lower level of Bcl-2 and higher levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 in the rat brains were observed at 48 h after SAH.However,the neurological deficit score was signif-icantly increased,and the brain water content and EB content in the rat brains were significantly reduced in SAH +TTP group in comparison with SAH +vector group(P<0.05).Over-expression of TTP dramatically suppressed the levels of IL-6 and TNF-αin the rat brains,and reduced the number of TUNEL positive cells.Furthermore,upregulation of TTP signifi-cantly decreased the levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and evidently enhanced the expression of Bcl-2(P<0.01). CONCLUSION:The expression of TTP is significantly decreased in early period after SAH, and enhancing the level of TTP effectively inhibits EBI following SAH in rats.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of huai qi huang, a traditional Chinese medicine, on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 levels and alveolar macrophage phagocytosis in asthmatic rats sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA).

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, untreated asthma, budesonide-treated, huai qi huang-treated and budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma (n=8 each). Asthma was induced by OVA sensitization and challenge. The levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using ELISA. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages which were isolated and purified from BALF was evaluated by the colorimetric assay.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increased, in contrast, the IFN-γ level decreased in plasma and BALF in the untreated asthma group compared with those in the normal control group. The IFN-γ level in the huai qi huang-treated asthma group was higher than that in the untreated asthma group. The IFN-γ level increased and the IL-17 level decreased more significantly in the budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma group when compared with the budesonide and huai qi huang alone treatment groups. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in the untreated asthma group was lower than that in the normal control group. Huai qi huang alone or combined with budesonide increased the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages compared with the normal control, untreated asthma and budesonid-treated asthma groups. The levels of IFN-γ in plasma and BALF were positively correlated with the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increase and the IFN-γ level decreases in plasma and BALF, and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages decreases in asthmatic rats. Huai qi huang treatment may increase the IFN-γ expression in plasma and BALF and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in asthmatic rats. There is a synergistic effect between huai qi huang and glucocorticoids.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

AIMTo provide experimental basis for clinical use of cryopreserved dendritic cells (DCs) by investigating the biological properties of cryopreserved DCs derived from cord blood.

METHODSThe biological discrepancies between unfrozen DCs (UFDC) derived from unfrozen cord blood (UFCB) and DCs from cryopreserved cord blood (CPCB) or cryopreserved DCs (CPDCs) were explored by morphological observation and immunophenotype analysis. Moreover, the stimulating index (SI) in mixed lymphocyte culture and cytotoxic eliminating rate (ER) were measured by MTT.

RESULTSThe TBR of CPCB and CPDCs were 95.8% and 88.7% respectively. Compared to UFCB, CPCB differentiated toward DCs in a delayed and decreased mode, displayed lower expression of CD1a, CD83 and HLA-DR, and had reduced SI and ER. Similarly, the CPDCs became adherent DCs later and grew less in number than UFDCs. After culture, the expression of CD1a, CD83 and HLA-DR as well as SI and ER were lower in CPDCs than those in UFDCs.

CONCLUSIONThough the biological properties of CPCB and CPDCs were injured after cryopreservation, they still had relatively complete basic function. Their recoveries rate were > 85%.

Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cryopreservation ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans

Background: and Purpose Mutations in the FIG4 gene have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 11 in Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to identify FIG4 variants in a cohort of 15 familial ALS (FALS) indexes and 275 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients of Han Chinese origin. Methods: All 23 exons of FIG4 were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing.An extensive literature review was performed to detect genotype-phenotype associations of FIG4 mutations. Results: No FIG4 variants were identified in the FALS patients. One novel heterozygous missense variant (c.352G>T [p.D118Y]) and one novel heterozygous nonsense variant (c.2158G>T [p.E720X]) in FIG4 were identified in two SALS patients. The p.E720X variant is interpreted as likely pathogenic while the p.D118Y variant is a variant of uncertain significance. The patient carrying the p.E720X mutation developed lower-limb-onset slowly progressive ALS, and survived for 11.5 years. The patient harboring the FIG4 p.D118Y variant also presented with progressive ALS, with the score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) decreasing by 0.4 per month. The rate of decrease in the ALSFRS-R scores from symptom onset to diagnosis seemed to be lower in the patients carrying FIG4 variants than the no-FIG4-mutation ALS patients in this study. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ALS patients carrying FIG4 mutations are not common in the Chinese population and are more likely to exhibit slow progression.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between genetic polymorphism of P53, P21, CCND1 and susceptibility of chromosomal damage induced by vinyl chloride monomer (VCM).

METHODS183 workers occupationally exposed to VCM were involved in our study. Cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CB-MN) assay was used to detect chromosome damage in peripheral lymphocyte. PCR-RFLP technique was applied to detect polymorphisms in P53 gene (exon4, intron3 and intron6), P21 gene (exon2 and exon3) and CCND1 (exon4).

RESULTSThe risk of chromosomal damage for VCM-exposed workers with more than 30 yr was 1.2202 (95% CI: 1.0580 approximately 1.4072, P = 0.0062) compared with the younger workers, and the risk of female workers was 1.1491 (95% CI: 0.9841 approximately 1.3416, P = 0.0772) compared with male workers. The MN frequency in subjects with P53 intron6 mutant homozygous and heterozygous was higher than their wild-type homozygous counterparts (OR = 1.3032, 95% CI: 1.1285 approximately 1.6405, P = 0.0285). P53 exon4, intron3 and intron6 haplotype pairs of BBB/AAA and BAB/AAA were associated with the increased frequencies of micronucleus.

CONCLUSIONAmong VCM-exposed workers, more than 30ys, female, carrying P53 intron6 mutated allele and BBB/AAA and BAB/AAA haplotype pairs have higher risk of chromosomal damage.

Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Humans ; Micronucleus Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Vinyl Chloride