Animals ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Periodontitis ; complications ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Platelet Aggregation ; physiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; pathogenicity ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, PAR-1 ; metabolism ; Receptor, PAR-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Proteinase-Activated ; metabolism ; Receptors, Thrombin ; metabolism

Objective To compare the roles of inflammatory response in acute lung injury (ALI) induced by blunt chest trauma verus by blunt chest trauma-hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (double hits) in rats.Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8 weeks,weighing 240-280 g,were randomly assigned into 3 equal groups (n =10 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (S group),blunt chest trauma group (T group),and blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation group (THSR group).Lung contusion was induced in anesthetized rats by dropping a 300 g weight onto a precordial protective shield to direct the impact force away from the heart and toward the lungs.Blood was withdrawn via the left femoral artery 5 min later until MAP was decreased to 35-45 mmHg within 15 min and maintained at this level for 60 min,followed by resuscitation.At 6 h after the model was established,the arterial blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis and detection of serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),IL-1β and IL-10 (by ELISA).The rats were then sacrificed and pulmonary specimens were obtained for determination of contents of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and IL-10 in lung tissues and for microscopic examination.Results Compared with group S,PaO2 was significantly decreased,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and IL-10 in serum and lung tissues were increased in T and THSR groups.Compared with group T,PaO2 was significantly decreased,and the levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and IL-10 in serum and lung tissues were increased in group THSR.The histopathological damage to lung tissues was aggravated in THSR group as compared with T group.Conclusion The role of inflammatory response in ALI induced by blunt chest trauma-hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation (double hits) is significantly stronger than that in ALI induced by blunt chest trauma alone in rats.

OBJECTIVETo compare the influence of polishing and glazing on ceramic surface roughness and bacterial adhesion to the resulted surfaces.

METHODSThe surface of the ceramic plates were tested and analyzed by atomic force microscope. The influence of resulted surface on Streptococcus mutans adhesion were also evaluated.

RESULTSThe ceramic surface became much smoother after polishing with diamond paste or self-glazing. A positive correlation between surface roughness and bacterial adhesion were observed. Compared with surfaces polished with rubber-wheel, surfaces polished with diamond paste or self-glazing reduced bacterial adhesion to the surface (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPolishing with diamond paste could be an alternative to self-glazing on ceramic surface roughness and bacterial adhesion.

Bacterial Adhesion ; Ceramics ; Dental Polishing ; Dental Porcelain ; Diamond ; Humans ; Streptococcus mutans ; Surface Properties

In recent years, root rot diseases of Chinese herbal medicine have been posing grave threat to the development of the traditional Chinese medicine industry. This article presents a review on the occurring situation of the root rot disease, including the occurrence of the disease, the diversity of the pathogens, the regional difference in dominant pathogens,and the complexity of symptoms and a survey of the progress in bio-control of the disease using antagonistic microorganisms. The paper also discusses the existing problems and future prospects in the research.
Animals ; Antibiosis ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; Fungi ; physiology ; Nematoda ; growth & development ; Pest Control, Biological ; methods ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; parasitology ; prevention & control ; Plant Roots ; microbiology ; parasitology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology ; parasitology

Objective To screen serum proteomic marker of hepatic echinococcosis, establish a diagnotic model of serum protein fingerprint patterns, and evaluate its clinical application for hepatic echinococcosis. Methods Serum samples from 68 patients with hepatic echinococcosis matched with 73 controls composed of 33 patients with liver diseases other than hepatic echinococcosis and 40 healthy people were collected. All subjects were divided into training group (37) and testing group (67). Serum protein profiling of patients with hepatic echinococcosis and controls were detected using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(SELDI-TOF-MS) and weak cation exchange protein chip(WCX2). Peak intensities were compared, in the training group, between 37 patients with hepatic echinococcosis and 37 controls, 5 patients with HCE and 5 patients with HAE, and 8 patients with hepatic echinococcosis before and after operation, respectively. ZJU-Protein Chip Data Analyze System(ZJU-PDAS) was used for data analysis and the model of serum protein fingerprint patterns was build by support vector machine (SVM). The sensitivity and specificity of the model for diagnosis of hepatic echinococcosis were verified by blind method on samples of testing group. Results There were nine different protein peak spectra between hepatic echinococcosis group and control group, of which eight protein peak spectra decreased in patient group, their relative molecular mass were 1044, 1047, 1073, 1075, 1338, 6453, 6649, 8714 m/z, respectively, while one protein peak spectrum(5651 m/z) increased(P < 0.05). The sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of the model validated by blind method were 77.4% (24/31), 66.7% (24/36), respectively. There were two different protein peak spectra between HCE group and HAE group, Their relative molecule mass were 8716 and 2751 m/z, respectively (P < 0.05). Six different proteins were detected from pre-operation group and post-operation group. Their relative molecular mass were 1297, 1505, 1525, 1534, 5921, 5941 m/z, respectively(P < 0.05). Conclusions It is a successful way to screen serum proteomic marker in patients with hepatic echinococcosis by SELDI-TOF-MS and Bio-informatics, and the marker has a potential clinical value in diagnosis and judging prognosis of hepatic echinococcosis.

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in diabetes mellitus-induced reduction of hypoxic postconditioning (HPO)-induced protection of cardiomyocytes and the relationship with glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.Methods H9c2 cells incubated in high-glucose (30 mmol/L) medium for 24 h were divided into 6 groups (n =5 each) using a random number table:normoxia group (group N),hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) group,group HPO,PTEN gene silencing normoxia group (group P-N),PTEN gene silencing H/R group (group P-H/R),and PTEN gene silencing HPO group (group P-HPO).H9c2 cells were exposed to 95％ N2-5％ CO2 for 4 h followed by 2 h reoxygenation with 90％ O2-10％ CO2.HPO was induced by 3 cycles of 5 min reoxygenation followed by 5 min hypoxia before reoxygenation.At the end of reoxygenation,the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP were assessed by JC-1 fluorescence assay,the cell apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-FITC/PI flow cytometry,and the expression of PTEN and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) was determined by Western blot.The JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were calculated.Results Compared with group N,the amount of LDH released,JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were significantly increased,and the expression of PTEN was up-regulated in H/R and HPO groups (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between group H/R and group HPO (P＞0.05).Compared with group HPO,the amount of LDH released,JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were significantly decreased,PTEN expression was down-regulated,and the expression of p-GSK-3β was up-regulated in group P-HPO (P＜0.05).Compared with group N,the expression of PTEN was significantly down-regulated,and no significant changes were found in the other parameters mentioned above in group P-N (P＞0.05).Compared with group H/R,the expression of PTEN was significantly down-regulated,and no significant changes were found in the other parameters mentioned above in group P-H/R (P＞0.05).Conclusion PTEN is involved in diabetes mellitus-induced reduction of HPO-induced protection of cardiomyocytes,and the mechanism is associated with PTEN-induced activation of GSK-3β-modulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

AIM: To study the effects of insulin on the proliferation and function of osteoblasts and the relationship between insulin post-receptor change in osteoblasts and osteoblastic cell growth.METHODS: The effects of different levels of insulin on osteoblasts were assessed by MTT colorimetry.Osteocalcin in medium was measured by RIM.IGF-1 mRNA expression levels were determined by RT-PCR.The concentrations of free IGF-1 protein in serum-free medium were measured by ELISA.In addition,the protein level and phosphorylated protein of P~(44/42)MAPK were determined by Western blotting analysis.RESULTS: Insulin enhanced the proliferation of osteoblasts,depending on its dose and exposure time.Insulin at concentration of 10~(-7) mol/L showed the strongest effect,and the action attained the plateau phase beyond 96 h.The best concentration that stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin by insulin was 10~(-7) mol/L.When the insulin concentration beyond 10~(-7) mol/L,the osteocalcin concentration was decreased.Exposure time had no effect on insulin-stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin of osteoblastic cells.When the concentration of insulin reaches 10~(-6) mol/L,the IGF-1 mRNA expression stimulated by insulin was also decreased.The concentrations of free IGF-1 protein in insulin-stimulated groups were all higher than that in control group(P0.05).Insulin acute stimulation rapidly induced the activity of tyrosine phosphorylation of P~(44/42)MAPK.The degree of tyrosine phosphorylation of P~(44/42)MAPK was increased step by step along with the increasing doses of insulin from 0 to 10~(-7) mol/L(P

Objective To conduct a case-control study on the association of the nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene with phenotype of esophageal cancer. Methods All subjects were unrelated residents in northern regions of China. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was used to determine the MMP-9 genotypes. Results The overall distribution of genotypes in the patients was not different from that in the controls (OR=0.77, 95% CI=0.45-1.34; P=0.36). There were no significant differences between the patients and the control subjects in terms of the distributions of sex and age, smoking status, alcohol dependence, pickled diet status, or history of environmental exposure. The patients were further examined with stratifications by age, sex, grade, depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic invasion, venous invasion and TNM staging. The results showed no pronounced association among the stratifications. Conclusion There is no significant association between the MMP-9 single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes and phenotype of esophageal cancer.

Prostate cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of male urogenital system, and the incidence of prostate cancer in China has increased significantly in the past decade. At present, endocrine therapy based on androgen blockade is the main method of clinical treatment except radical surgery and radiotherapy/chemotherapy for prostate cancer. However, the clinical benefit can only be obtained in the early stage of treatment, and nearly 90% of patients will develop to the castration resistance, and among them, nearly 90% of patients will have bone metastasis. The quality of life decreases sharply with the progression of disease for patients. In addition to the androgen signal pathway, studies have shown that many other oncogenic signal pathways have involved in the development of castration resistance, including classic cancer signaling pathways, immune and inflammatory signaling pathways, etc. Understanding the mechanism of androgen independent signal pathway in the formation of castration resistance will help to understand the off-target effect of androgen blocking therapy and introduce new treatment targets or strategies to get rid of the "no drug available" dilemma for clinical treatment of castration resistance.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) on isolated rat heart subject to ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury and the mechanisms.

METHODSThe isolated perfused rat hearts on a Langendorff apparatus were subjected to global ischemia for 30 min and followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Hemodynamic index, the production of formazan and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the coronary effluent were determined. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in myocardial homogenates were measured.

RESULTSCompared with I/R group, the hemodynamics were greatly improved, the production of formazan was increased, and LDH level in effluent was reduced in SAC group. SAC improved the SOD activity and significantly decreased the level of ROS. In addition, threonine (Thr) attenuated the protective effect of SAC significantly.

CONCLUSIONSAC has protective effect against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury on rats. The possible mechanism is that SAC be transported into the cell through alanine-serine-cysteine-transporter 1 (ASCT-1) improves SOD activity and reduces the level of ROS.

Animals ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism