OBJECTIVETo investigate the functions of human periodontal myofibroblast (MFB) in vitro.

METHODSHuman periodontal fibroblast (hPDLFs) was cultured and induced to MFB by transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). MFB was denoted as the experimental group, whereas the hPDLFs was the control group. The groups were continuously cultured and harvested at 0, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. The MFB marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was examined by immunocytochemistry. The expression of fibronectin (FN) between MFB was examined by immunocytochemistry to detect the MFB contact relationship. The mRNA expression levels of α-SMA, collagen (Col) I, and Col III were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCT) to analyze extracellular matrix secretion. The protein expression levels of α-SMA and Col I were also assessed by Western blot.

RESULTSThe experimental group had significantly higher α-SMA expression than the control group at 0 h (P < 0.001). A positive expression of FN was found between MFB. The experimental group had significantly higher expression levels of Col I and Col III than the control group at 24 h (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONHuman periodontal MFB presents a continuous, high expression of α-SMA. MFB could interact through FN. MFB is significantly capable of extracellular matrix secretion.

Actins ; Epithelial Cells ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroblasts ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Jaw ; metabolism ; Myofibroblasts ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Objective To evaluate the clinical validity of physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) in aged patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Methods Physiological and operative severity scores were kept in 206 aged patients undergoing thoracic surgery, in which peritoneal soiling was converted to pleura soiling. The physiological score and the operative risk score were compared between the groups with or without the postoperative complications. The mortality and morbidity rates were calculated. Actual mortality and morbidity rates were compared with the rates predicted by POSSUM. Results Among 206 patients, there were postoperative complications in 97 patients. The physiological score and the operative severity score were significantly higher in the group in whom complications occurred compared with those without complications (19.3?0.7 vs 15.1?0.6 for physiological score, P

Objective To evaluate the outcome of valvular surgery in the elderly. Methods Between 1993 and 2004, 4546 patients underwent cardiac valve operation at our hospital. 252 patients (5.5%)(147 males, 105 females) were 65 or older [mean age (67.9?2.9) years]. Rheumatic valvular disease presented in 201(79.8%) patients and non-rheumatic valvular disease in 51 (20.2%). 56.0% of patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class Ⅲ-Ⅳ.63 (25%) patients had aortic valve replacement (AYR), 93 (36.9%) had mitral valve replacement (MVR), 42 (16.7%) had mitral valve repair (MVP), 47 (18.7%) had AVR + MVR/MVP, and 7 (2.8%) had isolated tricuspid repair or replacement.34 (13.5 % ) had concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) . Results Results The operative mortality was 9.1%, and the tendency of decline was observed in recent 3 years. As compared with the patients aged 16 to 64 years, the duration of mechanical ventilation, stay in ICU and in hospital postoperatively was longer [(30.6?42.8)h vs. (24.1?45.0) h,P = 0.02, (60.1?101.2) h vs. (43.0?70.6) h, P = 0.00, (25.7?41.3) days vs. (19.6?14.4) days,P=0.00]. In this group, the morbidity of postoperative complications was significant higher than that of the patients aged 16 to 64 years (10.6% vs.6.4% , P = 0.01). Preoperative NYHA function class was an important factor for postoperative mortality. Multivariate logistic regression showed that concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) , AVR+ MVR/MVP, and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, prolonged aortic cross-clamping time, postoperative acute renal failure demanding dialysis were significant independent predictors of operative mortality. Conclusion The mortality of cardiac valvular surgery in the elderly is acceptable. It is characterized by higher morbidity of postoperative complications and prolonged duration of stay in hospital. Concomitant CABG, AVR + MVR/MVP, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, prolonged aortic crossclamping time and postoperative acute renal failure were significant independent predictors of operative mortality.

Objective To detect the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) production in immunostimulated retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to seek for the supplying of the arginine, a substrate for NOS; as well as the effects of produced NO on the tight junction of RPE-J cells. Methods Rat′s RPE-J cells were treated with interferon-?(INF-?), tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and Northern and Western blotting were applied to analyze the expression of the citrulline-NO cycle enzymes and related enzymes and the effect of dexamethasone and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (camp) on the expression of iNOS. Immunocytochemistry reaction and Western blotting were used to evaluate the effect of produced NO on the tight junctions of RPE-J cells. Results iNOS and argininosuccinate synthetase (AS) were highly induced at both mRNA and protection levels in immunostimulated RPE cells while arginiosuccinate lyase (AL) was not induced. NO was produced by cells after stimulation with TNF?, IFN? and LPS. The induction of iNOS mRNA and the production of NO by these immunostimulated cells was further enhanced by cAMP. NO was produced from citrulline as well as from arginine. And the produced NO impaired the tight junction of RPE-J cells, decreased the production of tight junction related protein ZO-1. Conclusion In activated RPE-J cells, citrulline-arginine recycling is important for NO production, and the produced NO weakened the function of tight junction of RPE-J cells.

Whether three genes [?-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) gene, Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and hemochromatosis gene] can make certain individuals more vulnerable to lead are discussed. Polymorphisms of ALAD gene have been associated with the accumulation and distribution of lead in the blood, bone and internal organs in humans and animals. VDR gene has been implicated in the control of calcitriol levels in serum, which normally regulates calcium absorption and can in turn affect lead levels. Hemochromatosis gene, associated with a disease that leads to excessive iron accumulation, may also influence the absorption of lead.

Objective To study the effects of sulphur dioxide(SO 2 )inhalation on the blood pressure of rats.Methods The male Wistar rats were exposed to28.6,57.3and114.4mg /m 3 SO 2 six hours each day for7days respectively by the tech-nique of dynamic fumigation and the ratsblood pressures were measured using RBP-1model blood pressure meter every day af-ter the SO 2 inhalation.Results28.6mg /m 3 SO 2 inhalation could cause a decrease of the ratsblood pressures compared with the background value at3rd and4th day(P

Objective To discuss the spiral CT features of the bowel obstruction induced incarcerated abdominal external hernia and its value in clinical application.Methods The spiral CT feature of the bowel obstmction induced incarcerated abdominal external hernia which were confirmed by surgery in 14 cases were retrospectively analyzed and were compared with surgical results.Results The hernia sac of incarcerated abdominal external hernia in all cases of bowel obstruction were displayed by CT,in which the positions and varieties of the hernia were determined in 12 CaSes.the intestinal images within the hernia SaC were displayed in 10 cases,the epiploon image within the hernia sac was displayed in 1 case.homogeneus soft tissue density shadows were displayed in 3 cases,the intestinal wall thickening within the hernia sac was displayed in 4 cases.in which in 2 cases were involved in delamination of the intestinal wall.The intestinal wall thickening in abdominal cavity was displayed in 2 cases,the nuidify in abdominal cavity was displayed in 3 cases.the volvulus was displayed in 2 cases.Conclusion The spiral CT has an important value in determing the positions of bowel obstruction,varieties of the contents of hernia sac,th blood supply of the bowel within the hernia sac and proximate obstmction and other complieations.

We have trcated 40 cases of active peptic ulcer with Omeprazolc from Jun. 1990 to Mar. 1991. Compared with it, We have treated 40 cases of active peptic ulcer with Ranitidine during the same time. 80 patients with active peptic ulcer were divided into two groups. The age, scx and size of ulcer between the two groups have been compared. The ulcer diameter was from 3 to 20mm. The number of the ulcer was from 1 to 5.40 patients were treated with Omeprazole 20～40mg p. o. everyday. After a course of two weeks trcatment, the healing rate was 95%; 40 patients were treated with Ranitidine 300mg p. o. everday. After a course of six weeks the healing rate was 63%, The difference of the two groups was marked (P

BACKGROUND: Autophagy of osteocytes has been found to be implicated in the pathogenesis of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head and closely related to apoptosis.OBJECTIVE: To summarize the research progress of autophagy in the pathogenesis of steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head by studying the interaction between cell autophagy and cell apoptosis as well as osteocytes.METHODS: A computer-based online retrieval of PubMed, Embase and CNKI databases was performed for relevant literatures published from October 1996 to October 2016 with the keywords of steroid, necrosis of the femoral head, cell apoptosis, cell autophagy, osteocyte in Chinese and English, respectively. The articles concerning steroid-induced necrosis of femoral head and cell autophagy were collected, and the redundant and old researches or Meta analysis were removed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mammalian target of rapamycin, Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, bone morphogenetic proteins, fork box protein and transcription gene family and transcription factor 4 are closely related to autophagy. The interaction between autophagy and osteocytes is correlated with steroid dose: the autophagy shows protective factor under the low dose corticosteroids; however, with the increase of the dosage, a large number of apoptotic cells, and the phenomenon of bone loss can been observed. Furthermore, the relationship of cell autophagy with apoptosis and bone mass maintenance is still controversial, which needs to be explored in depth via a series of rational experiments.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of precancerous conditions and lesions of high-risk population in the high-in-cidence area of esophageal cancer in Ci County, Hebei Province. Methods:Esophageal cancer was detected early in 40 to 69 year old patients in Ci Xian through endoscopic screening data and endoscopic screening using iodine staining and indicative biopsy. The pa-tients were classified according to gender, age group, statistical esophageal precancerous condition, and lesion detection rate. Results:The analysis included 11 423 cases by screening queue, and the esophageal biopsy rate was 66.90%. The detection rates of squamous epithelium with mild, moderate, and severe dysplasia were 11.84%, 2.66%, and 1.04%, respectively. DCIS detection rate was 0.40%in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The detection rate of the patients had been infiltrated by the squamous cell carcinoma was 0.04%.The rate of the squamous cell carcinoma within the mucosa was 0.37%.The rate of the infiltration squamous cell carcinoma was 0.17%. The detection rate of the hyperplasia above average severe dysplasia and cancer was 2.01%. Conclusion: High incidence of esophageal precancerous lesions was found in the Ci County aged 40 to 69. A large number of asymptomatic patients with cancer were detected. Age and sex are closely related to detection rate.