Dental Implants, Single-Tooth ; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported ; Esthetics ; Humans ; Maxilla

Objective To discuss the methods of selecting different shapes occluder and to evaluate the feasibility,safety and efficacy of them in transcatheter closures of congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children.Methods Transcatheter closures were performed in 226 children with congenital VSD,age ranging from 2 to 14 years(mean 5.62 years) under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and fluoroscopy.There were 14 patients with intracristal VSD,209 patients with perimembranous VSD and 3 patients with muscular VSD.Left ventriculography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed repeatedly after the procedure to assess the effect of occlusion.The echocardiography and electrocardiography were scheduled before discharge,1,6 and 12 months for the follow-up.Results The occluders were deployed successfully in 211 patients.The successful rate was 93.4%.Thin waist shape occluders,were deployed in 7 patients;equal side shape occluders,were deployed in 191 patients;eccentric shape occluders were deployed in 12 patients,and muscular defect occluders were deployed in 1 patient.There were no complications encountered during or after closure.Conclusions It is very important in transcatheter closure of congenital in children to select different shape occluder according to pathologic characteristics.In general,equal side shape occluder is suita-ble for a large number of defect and it is easy for deployment.In some conditions,the other shape occluder may be necessary.

Objective To repair segmental mandibular defects with autogenous bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs)and?-triealcium phosphate.Methods Isolated BMSCs were in vitro expand- ed.A 3 cm-long segmental mandibular defect was created at right mandible in 12 canines,of which de- fects in six canines were repaired with BMSCs and?-tricalcium phosphate(?-TCP)and that in other six cases repaired with?-TCP,which was used as control.The engineered bone was evaluated by X-ray, CT,DXA,gross and histological examination,immunohistochemistry and biomechanical test 4,12,26,32 weeks after operation respectively.Results In induced BMSCs,histochemistry showed AKP activity. Oral X-ray showed obvious callus formation 4-26 weeks after operation in experimental group but minimal bone formation in control group.At 32 weeks after operation,gross observation,X-ray and CT demonstra- ted well bony-union in experimental group but bony-nonunion in control group.DXA indicated that the bone density of experimental group was significantly higher than that of control group.Biomechanical test revealed no statistical difference upon mechanical strength of mandibula between experimental group and normal group.Conclusions Canine segmental mandibular defects can be well repaired with the tissue- engineered bone generated by autogenous osteogenic BMSCs and?-TCP scaffold.

Melittin exhibits high antibacterial potency against drug-resistant bacteria. However, the clinical utility of melittin is limited by its serious hemolytic activity. Thus, the need for developing novel melittin analogues with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity has grown. We designed, synthesized, and evaluated 20 novel melittin analogues with varying hydrophobic, polar or positively charged amino acids. The results showed that 8 compounds had antimicrobial activity (MIC: 1-4 μg·mL^-1) against gram-positive pathogens equal to or better than that of melittin, and 16 compounds had low hemolytic activity (HC₅₀ ≥ 11.9 μg·mL^-1). Compounds 13 (MIC: 2-4 μg·mL^-1) and 15 (MIC: 1-2 μg·mL^-1) showed equal or better antimicrobial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium compared to melittin (MIC: 4 μg·mL^-1). Compound 13 (HC₅₀: 24.0 ± 4.3 μg·mL^-1) displayed noticeably decreased hemolytic activity compared to melittin (HC₅₀: 5.3 ± 0.4 μg·mL^-1). This work established a base for further study on the structure-activity relationships and structure-toxicity relationships of melittin.

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to examine the impact of the antioxidant metallothionein (MT) on cardiac contractile, intracellular Ca(2+) function and oxidative stress in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated mice.

METHODSWeight and age matched adult male FVB and cardiac-specific MT-overexpressing transgenic mice were injected intraperitoneally with 4 mg/kg Escherichia Coli LPS dissolved in sterile saline or an equivalent volume of pathogen-free saline (control groups). Six hours following LPS or saline injection, cardiac geometry and function were evaluated in anesthetized mice using the 2-D guided M-mode echocardiography. Mechanical and intracellular Ca(2+) properties were examined in hearts. Cell shortening and relengthening were assessed using the following indices: peak shortening (PS)-indicative of the amplitude a cell can shorten during contraction; maximal velocities of cell shortening and relengthening (± dl/dt)-indicative of peak ventricular contractility; time-to-PS (TPS)-indicative of systolic duration; time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90))-indicative of diastolic duration (90% rather 100% relengthening was used to avoid noisy signal at baseline concentration). The 360 nm excitation scan was repeated at the end of the protocol and qualitative changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration were inferred from the ratio of fura-2 fluorescence intensity (FFI) at two wavelengths (360/380). Fluorescence decay time was measured as an indicator of the intracellular Ca(2+) clearing rate. Glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio and ROS generation were detected as the markers of oxidative stress.

RESULTSHeart rate was increased while EF was reduced in LPS-FVB mice and heart rate was reduced and EF increased in MT-LPS transgenic mice [(528 ± 72) beats/min vs (557 ± 69) beats/min, (66 ± 14)% vs (42 ± 10)%, P < 0.05]. Cardiomyocytes from the LPS treated FVB mice displayed significantly reduced peak shortening (PS) and maximal velocity of shortening/relengthening (±dl/dt) associated with prolonged time-to-90% relengthening (TR(90)), these effects were attenuated in cardiomyocytes from the MT-LPS mice [PS(5 ± 1.1)% vs (7.2 ± 0.8)%, dl/dt(160 ± 15) µm/s vs (212 ± 36) µm/s, -dl/dt (175 ± 32) µm/s vs (208 ± 29) µm/s, TR(90) (0.24 ± 0.03)s vs (0.19 ± 0.02)s, P < 0.05]. LPS treated mice showed significantly reduced peak intracellular Ca(2+) and electrically-stimulated rise in intracellular Ca(2+) as well as prolonged intracellular Ca(2+) decay rate without affecting the basal intracellular Ca(2+) levels, again, these effects were significantly attenuated in MT-LPS transgenic mice. Metallothionein overexpression also ablated oxidative stress [reduced ROS generation and increased glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio, ROS (0.35 ± 0.08) A/µg protein vs (0.24 ± 0.03) A/µg protein]. GSH/GSSG 2.1 ± 0.2 vs 2.6 ± 0.4, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONMT overexpression improved cardiac function and ablated oxidative stress in LPS treated mice.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Male ; Metallothionein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Transgenic ; Myocardial Contraction ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; physiology ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Abstract: To analyze the clinical, therapeutic and laboratory characteristics of disseminated cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans invading the blood stream in patient with liver cirrhosis and splenectomy. A 30-year-old male underwent splenectomy plus pericardial devascularization due to "splenomegaly and hypersplenism" in March in 2016. The patient had intermittent fever after operation for many times, and successively accompanied with back pain, left lower limb abscess and right hip pain. The highest body temperature was 39 ℃. CT and MRI revealed the lung lesion and multiple bone destruction. During that period, the effect of antibiotics was not good. On April 19th, 2017, Gram's stain, India ink stain, API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, ribosomal ITS and IGS sequence analysis were performed to identify the strain isolated from the pus and blood stream. The serum of the patient was detected for cryptococcal antigen. Antifungal susceptibility test was used to determine drug sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from fresh pus specimen showed a prominent, thick capsule after India ink stain. The colonies isolated from pus and blood stream were identified Cryptococcus neoformans using API 32C, Vitek 2 Compact, and sequence analysis of rDNA ITS and IGS. Cryptococcal capsule antigen was positive. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of 5-Flucytosine, amphotericin B, fluconazole, itriconazole, voriconazole against the isolate were <4 μg/mL, <0.5 μg/mL, 4 μg/mL, ≤0.25 μg/mL, 0.125 μg/mL respectively. The patient was initially treated with intravenous amphotericin B and flucytosine. After anti-Cryptococcus treatment for two months, the patient clinically improved, and the lesions were reduced on a follow-up CT scan. The patient made a full functional recovery after treatment for six months. Cryptococcosis has hidden onset, atypical clinical symptoms and lack of specificity. Blood stream is the main channel for Cryptococcus to spread and involve many organs of the whole body, including skin, bone and so on. Therefore, early use of blood culture to monitor blood flow dissemination, actively removing the primary focus and cutting off the infection route in time and carrying out effective anti-Cryptococcus treatment are conducive to the patient's early recovery.

OBJECTIVETo repair segmental mandibular defects with autogenous bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and coralline hydroxyapatite.

METHODSIsolated BMSCs were in vitro expanded and osteogenically induced. In 11 canines, a 3 cm segmental mandibular defect in right mandible was created. Five canine's defects were repaired with cell-scaffold constructs made from induced BMSCs and coralline hydroxyapatite (CHA); Others were repaired with CHA as control. The engineered bone was evaluated by X-ray, CT, gross and histological examination, biomechanical test 12, 26, 32 weeks post-operation respectively.

RESULTSBMSCs grew well on the CHA. X-ray and CT images showed better callus formation at connection sites in experimental group over time while worse formation at connection sites eventually in control group. At 32 weeks post-operation in experimental group, the defects were well repaired grossly. Histologically, there were bony healing and lamellar bone formation, in experimental group fibrous healing and woven bone formation in control group. Biomechanical test revealed no significant difference between experimental group and normal control group.

CONCLUSIONSCanine segmental mandibular defects can be ultimately repaired with the tissue-engineered bone generated by autogenous osteogenic BMSCs and CHA scaffold.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Substitutes ; Ceramics ; therapeutic use ; Dogs ; Hydroxyapatites ; therapeutic use ; Mandible ; physiology ; Mandibular Injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

AIMTo study the influence of astragalus and zinc sulfate on the viscosity in erythrocyte membrane during intestinal I/R and their mechanism of action.

METHODSModels of rabbits intestinal I/R injury were made. The effect of astragalus and zinc sulfate on the viscosity and malondialdehyde (MDA) in erythrocyte membrane, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in erythrocyte, oxidase (XO) in plasma and MDA tissues homogenate were observed.

RESULTSThe administration of astragalus and zinc sulfate decreased viscosity and MDA and XO, prevented the reduction of SOD, and alleviated I/R injury.

CONCLUSIONLipid peroxidation injury of the erythrocyte membrane was one of the pathogenesis of I/R injury, and astragalus and the zinc sulfate possessed effects of anti-lipid peroxide, stabilized erythrocyte membrane, increased red blood cell deform ability and raised microcircular perfusion.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; Blood Viscosity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythrocyte Membrane ; drug effects ; Female ; Intestines ; blood supply ; pathology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidoreductases ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; analysis ; Zinc Sulfate ; pharmacology

To investigate the prevalence of drug-resistance mutations, resistance to antiretroviral drugs, and the subsequent virological response to therapy in treatment-naive and antiretroviral-treated patients infected with HIV/AIDS in Henan, China, a total of 431 plasma samples were collected in Queshan county between 2003 and 2004, from patients undergoing the antiretroviral regimen Zidovudine + Didanosine + Nevirapine (Azt+Ddi+Nvp). Personal information was collected by face to face interview. Viral load and genotypic drug resistance were tested. Drug resistance mutation data were obtained by analyzing patient-derived sequences through the HIVdb Program (http://hivdb.stanford.edu). Overall, 38.5% of treatment-naive patients had undetectable plasma viral load (VL), the rate significantly increased to 61.9% in 0 to 6 months treatment patients (mean 3 months) (P＜0.005) but again significantly decrease to 38.6% in 6 to 12 months treatment patients (mean 9 months) (P＜0.001) and 40.0% in patients receiving more than 12 months treatment (mean 16 months) (P＜0.005). The prevalence of drug resistance in patients who had a detectable VL and available sequences were 7.0%, 48.6%, 70.8%, 72.3% in treatment-na(1)ve, 0 to 6 months treatment, 6 to 12 months treatment, and treatment for greater than 12 months patients, respectively. No mutation associated with resistance to Protease inhibitor (PI) was detected in this study. Nucleoside RT inhibitor (NRTI) mutations always emerged after non-nucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) mutations, and were only found in patients treated for more than 6 months, with a frequency less than 5%, with the exception of mutation T215Y (12.8%, 6/47) which occurred in patients treated for more than 12 months. NNRTI mutations emerged quickly after therapy begun, and increased significantly in patients treated for more than 6 months (P＜0.005), and the most frequent mutations were K103N, V106A, Y181C, G190A. There had been optimal viral suppression in patients undergoing treatment for less than 6 months in Queshan,Henan. The drug resistance strains were highly prevalent in antiretroviral-treated patients, and increased with the continuation of therapy, with many patients encountering virological failure after 6 months therapy.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of autologous peripheral CD(34)(+) cell transplantation for the treatment of severe autoimmune disease.

METHODSTen patients received mobilized and purified CD(34)(+) cells transplantation. The mobilization regimen was CTX plus rhG-CSF and the CD(34)(+) cells were selected by CliniMACS. (1.98 +/- 0.95) x 10(8) CD(34)(+) cells were obtained. The purity of CD(34)(+) cells was (91.4 +/- 10.6)% and the recovering rate was (60.5 +/- 19.8)%. The conditioning regimens were CTX (200 mg/kg) plus ATG (90 mg/kg) or CTX (150 mg/kg) plus TBI (4 - 6 Gy). (2.14 +/- 1.05) x 10(6)/kg CD(34)(+) cells were infused. The time of ANC >or= 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 8.6 +/- 2.5 days, and platelet >or= 20 x 10(9)/L was 9.0 +/- 5.2 days. After the hematopoietic recovery, the levels of CD(3)(+) T cell, CD(19)(+) B cells and CD(16)(+)CD(56)(+) NK cells were all below that of pre-transplantation. The main transplant-related complication was CMV infection. The transplant-related mortality was 2/10. All patients who survived showed improvement of the disease with DAI score decreasing from 17 to 4 in systemic lupus erythematosus patients, DAS 28 score from 6.4 to 1.8 in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

CONCLUSIONThe result suggests that autologous peripheral CD(34)(+) cell transplantation is an alternative choice for the treatment of severe autoimmune disease. The short-term outcome is satisfying.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; therapy ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; mortality ; Transplantation, Autologous