OBJECTIVETo evaluate the incidence of two-rooted mandibular premolar morphology using full-mouth periapical film series in a Chinese population, with particular emphasis on bilateral incidence, so as to provide a clinical anatomical basis for root canal treatment in mandibular premolars.

METHODSA total of 2015 patients who underwent dental treatment and had full mouth periapical radiographs at the Peking University School of Stomatology from April 2011 to April 2012 were enrolled in this study. Three experienced dentists reviewed the patients' periapical films and classified the root morphology of mandibular premolars bilaterally. The incidence of unilateral and bilateral double roots were recorded and calculated, including confirmed and suspected bucco-lingual root types.

RESULTSIn terms of the morphology of two-rooted mandibular first premolars, of the 2015 cases with complete root formation, two-rooted first premolars were detected in 120 cases, with a total number of 159 teeth. According to the number of teeth, the overall incidence of double roots was 4.03% (159/3972). In terms of the morphology of two-rooted mandibular second premolars, of the 2015 cases with complete root formation, two-rooted second premolars were detected in 24 cases, with a total number of 33 teeth. According to the number of teeth, the overall incidence of double roots was 0.85% (33/3880).

CONCLUSIONSThe roots of mandibular premolars display specific morphological patterns. Based on a large sample, we observed and calculated not only the occurrence rate of bucco-lingual and mesio-distal double roots in first and second mandibular premolars, but also the incidence of unilateral or bilateral double roots within the same mandible. These findings could provide useful information on the anatomical structure of mandibular premolars for endodontic, prosthodontic and surgical procedures, and could improve the quality of treatment and reduce complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bicuspid ; abnormalities ; Child ; Humans ; Mandible ; Middle Aged ; Periapical Tissue ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Tooth Root ; abnormalities

Objective To investigate the effects of isoflurane preconditioning on renal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and the role of TNF-α plays in the mechanism.Methods Male SD rats were used in the study.The animals were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n =12 each):shame operation group; I/R group; Isoflurane preconditioning group (inhaled 1.5％ isoflurane (1 MAC) for 30 min followed by 10 min washout before I/R).At 2 h reperfusion,blood samples were obtained for urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration and creatinine (Cr) content.The level of TNF-α in renal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Observe the pathological changes in H.E.staining slides under microscope.Results BUN concentration and Cr content and the level of TNF-α in I/R group and isoflurane preconditioning group were significantly higher than in shame operation group[ BUN:( 17.69 ±0.99)mmol/L vs (8.37 ±1.12)mmol/L,t =-23.55,P ＜0.01; ( 12.26 ± 1.11 ) mmol/L vs (8.37 ±1.12 )mmol/L,t =- 19.09,P ＜ 0.01 ;Cr:( 103.22 ± 13.42)μmol/L vs (71.48 ± 8.59) μ mol/L,t =-21.45,P ＜0.01;(86.51 ± 11.49) μmol/L vs (71.48 ±8.59) μmol/L,t =-9.87,P ＜0.01 ;TNF-α:(0.51 ±0.07)ng/ml vs (0.43 ±0.00)ng/ml,t =-5.79,P ＜0.01;(0.47 ±0.03)ng/ml vs (0.43 ±0.00)ng/ml,t =-8.86,P ＜0.01 ].BUN concentration and Cr content and the level of TNF-α in Isoflurane preconditioning group were significantly lower than in I/R group [ BUN:( 12.26 ± 1.1 1 ) mmol/L vs ( 17.69 ± 0.99 ) mmol/L,t =15.67,P ＜ 0.01 ; Cr:( 86.51 ± 11.49) μmol/L vs ( 103.22 ± 13.42 ) μ mol/L,t =6.68,P ＜0.01 ;TNF-α:(0.47 ±0.03) ng/ml vs (0.51 ±0.07) ng/ml,t =2.61,P ＜0.05].Therenal I/R injury which located around kidney tubules was increased in I/R group and isoflurane precondi-tioning group compared to shame operation group [ ( 17.26 ± 1.45 ) vs (0.00 ± 0.00 ),t =- 72.38,P ＜0.01;(12.69±1.83) vs (0.00 ±0.00),t =-39.53,P ＜0.01].The renal I/R injury which located around kidney tubules was decreased in isoflurane preconditioning group compared to I/R group [ ( 12.69 ±1.83) vs (17.26±1.45),t =19.87,P ＜0.01].Conclusions Preconditioning with 1.5％ isoflurane 30 min can protect kidney from I/R injury in rats by regulating the level of TNF-α in renal tissues.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the transduction ability of PEP-1-CAT fusion protein into human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVECs) and the effects on hydrogen-peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress injury in these cells.

METHODSWith the use of TA-cloning program and isocaudamer technique, the pET15b-PEP-1-CAT of prokaryotic expression plasmid was successfully constructed. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21 (DE3) and the protein expression was induced by IPTG. The recombinant protein has an N-terminal His-tag which could be used to purify the target protein by affinity chromatography on a Ni2+-NTA-resin column. The fusion protein PEP-1-CAT was prepared and confirmed by specific enzyme activity in vitro. The purified PEP-1-CAT fusion protein was added on cultured HUVECs in vitro. The transduction ability of PEP-1-CAT fusion protein into cells was analyzed by Western blot and specific enzyme activity. The cells were treated with H2O2 (0.5 mmol/L) alone and in combination with PEP-1-CAT fusion protein for 4 h. Then, the cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured.

RESULTSThe PEP-1-CAT fusion protein could be transduced into the cultured HUVECs in a dose- and time-dependent manner and be stable for at least 48 h. After H2O2 administration, cell viability was significantly reduced compared with control group (37.23%+/-5.68% vs. 100%, P<0.05), while LDH leakage (849.3 U/L+/-95.1 U/L) and MDA (8.23 nmol/L+/-1.58 nmol/L) content were significantly higher than that in control group (540.6 U/L+/-65.7 U/L and 2.46 nmol/L+/-1.42 nmol/L, respectively, all P<0.05). Preincubation with PEP-1-CAT proteins at various concentrations (0.25-2 micromol/L) significantly attenuated H2O2-induced cell injury.

CONCLUSIONThe PEP-1-CAT fusion protein could efficiently penetrate HUVECs and the transduced protein could attenuate cellular oxidative stress injury induced by H2O2. The PEP-1-CAT fusion protein might be a new strategy for preventing and treating oxidative stress induced diseases.

Catalase ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cysteamine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Oxidative Stress ; physiology ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in root of Coleusforskohlii.

METHODThe chemical constituents were isolated by column chromatography. The structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 2D-NMR experiments.

RESULTSix compounds were obtained and the structures were identified as 14-deoxycoleon U (1), demethylcryptojaponol (2), alpha-amyrin (3), betulic acid (4), alpha-cedrol (5) and beta-sitosterol (6).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1 and 2 were isolated from the genus Coleus for the first time. Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated from C. forskohlii for the first time.

Coleus ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Oleanolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of asthma and its correlated factors in Zaozhuang area in 2003, to provide a basic consideration for prevention/treatment and control policy.

METHODS6 points were selected by stratified-clusterd-random sampling with a total of 16,725 persons expected, but only 10,610 subjects investigated.

RESULTSIn this survey, 128 asthma cases were identified with a overall prevalence of 1.21%. The prevalence for children was 2.02%, and for adult was 0.90% with the former significantly higher then the latter (chi(2) = 21.39, P < 0.01). Rates for male and female were 1.08%, 1.32% with a ratio of 1:1.22. For 77.97% of children with asthma. The initiative age of asthma was before 7 years old among children while among 36.23% of the adults, it was before 15 years of age. Correlation analysis showed that upper respiratory tract infection (OR = 17.81, 95% CI: 12.25-25.89), cold air exposure (OR = 3.43, 95% CI: 2.41-4.90), stimulation through cooking and by harmful gases (OR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.80-3.63), allergic materials (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.80-4.17) were main inducing factors. 65.63% of the asthma cases having had history of allergic disease while 25.78% having had family history with the OR of allergic history and family history as 21.69 vs. 73.96.

CONCLUSIONThe epidemic status of bronchial asthma was serious, with an assumption that asthma cases might have reached the number of 43 thousand in Zaozhuang area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of volatile sulphur compounds((VSC)levels in periodontal pockets with severity of periodontitis, and the impact of VSC on the result of initial periodontal therapy.

METHODSTwenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis(CP)(13 males and 12 females with average age of 35) were included in this study. Clinical periodontal parameters, plaque index, probing depth(PD), attachment loss(AL), and bleeding on probing(BOP) were recorded before and 3 months after the initial therapy. VSC levels were measured with a portable monitor in a digital score ranging from 0.0 to 5.0. All of 5 054 sites for 840 teeth were included in this study.

RESULTBefore treatment the percentage of VSC-positive sites was 17.1%, 52.3% and 86.0% for shallow (PD<3 mm), moderate(PD 4-6 mm) and deep (PD>7 mm) pocket, respectively (P<0.001). In most VSC-positive sites the VSC levels were<1.0. Percentage of sites with a high VSC levels was significantly different among three groups (P<0.01). All clinical parameters in VSC-negative sites were reduced significantly following the initial therapy. The reduction of PD and AL in VSC-positive sites by treatment was less marked than that in VSC-negative sites.

CONCLUSIONVSC in periodontal pockets may be a potential indicator for detecting severity of CP and a useful predictor for therapeutic success.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontal Diseases ; therapy ; Periodontal Pocket ; metabolism ; therapy ; Sulfur Compounds ; analysis ; metabolism ; Volatile Organic Compounds ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the penetrating ability of fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP with human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

METHODSTwo prokaryotic expression plasmids pET15b-EGFP and pET15b-PEP-1-EGFP were constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) to express EGFP and fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP, respectively. The expressed EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP were purified with Ni(2+) -resin affinity chromatography, and their capabilities of transduction into human umbilical vein endothelial cells were evaluated. The time- and dose-dependent transduction of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP and its stability in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells were observed. The toxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP was detected by MTT method.

RESULTSEGFP failed to be transduced into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, whereas PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein was transduced into cells shortly in 5 minutes. Its transduction was time- and dose-dependent and the fluorescence in the cells were detected even 27 hours later. No cytotoxicity of the fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP to human umbilical vein endothelial cells was detected even when the dose reached up to 200 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONPEP-1-EGFP fusion protein can efficiently transduce the target protein into human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which provides a basis for future researches on the transduction of antioxidant enzymes mediated by the cell-penetrating peptide, PEP-1, in ischemia-reperfusion injury therapy.

Cells, Cultured ; Cysteamine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Protein Transport ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Songjiang District, Shanghai during 2014-2018, and to provide scientific evidence for the prevention of influenza. Methods We collected the data including influenza-like illness(ILI)report, etiological examination and influenza outbreak in Songjiang, and further characterized the epidemic of influenza using descriptive statistics. Results Data from the sentinel hospital-based surveillance system showed two peaks of influenza incidence in winter and summer in Songjiang, in which the winter peak was more significant. The largest proportion of ILI was the age group 0-4 years(57.90%). The proportion of being positive for influenza nucleic acid was 18.44%. All principal types of influenza were prevalent in Songjiang with a certain pattern of alternative circulation, in which influenza B virus accounted for 41.18% among all the types, followed by seasonal H3(36.95%)and H1N1(21.98%). A total of 650 influenza strains were isolated. The total proportion of isolation was 67.08%, which fluctuated by year with a peak of 79.37% in 2016. Of all the 27 outbreaks of influenza, 88.89% of them were identified in primary and middle schools and 70.37% occurred in December. Conclusion Different subtypes of influenza viruses were prevalent alternatively in Songjiang during 2014-2018. The etiological results and influenza outbreaks are generally in consistent with ILI report. It warrants necessary prevention in primary and middle schools in epidemic seasons of influenza.

The longitudinal study sought to examine the dynamic development of cognitive skills for reading among elementary-level students in Mainland China.Two groups of students in first (n=164,mean age=6.65 years at first test) and second grade (n=202,mean age=7.73 years at first test) were followed on orthographic awareness,morphological awareness and rapid automatized naming (RAN) for two years.The children exhibited significant improvement in orthographic awareness,morphological awareness and RAN from grades 1 to 4.More importantly,to the orthographic and morphological awareness,while the children took a leap from grade 1 to 2 and grade 3 to 4,the progress developed at relatively slow rates from grade 2 to 3.In order to assure children's development of orthographic and morphological awareness,evidence-based orthographically and morphologically enhanced instruction is needed for Chinese children in the early elementary years,especially for those at the stage from grade 2 to 3.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a microbe intricately linked to humans and animal health.A thor-ough assessment of its safety and potential benefits is imperative prior to its application in human and ani-mals.In this investigation,we performed a comprehensive analysis encompassing genome sequencing,genomic analysis,and phenotypic characterization of L.reuteri Q35,an exceptionally proficient producer of reuterin.The whole genome sequencing results showed that the complete genome sequence spans 2145158 bp with a GC content of 38.9％ and encompasses 2121 genes.Initial identification of antibiotic-re-sistant genes,virulence factors,and toxin-coding genes in the genome substantiated the strain' s low-risk status.Subsequent tests for antibiotic resistance,acute oral toxicology,and hemolysis further confirmed its elevated safety level.The genome of L.reuteri Q35 was found to contain genes associated with adhe-sion and stress tolerance.Following exposure to artificial gastric juice and bile salt,the strain exhibited a higher survival rate and demonstrated a strong scavenging ability for hydroxyl free radicals in antioxidant capacity tests.These findings suggested that L.reuteri Q35 possesses unique probiotic properties.Addi-tionally,the genome of strain Q35 harbors three truncated oxaloyl-CoA decarboxylase genes (oxc1,oxc2 and oxc3),overexpression of which resulted in a significant increase in ammonium oxalate degradation from 29.5％ to 48.8％.These findings highlight that L.reuteri Q35 exhibits both favorable safety charac-teristics alongside beneficial properties,making it a promising candidate for treating metabolic disorders such as hyperoxaluria.