Objective To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of periodontal bone defects in the elderly.Methods The 38 teeth of 27 cases were collected and scanned both with CBCT technology and periapical radiography (PA).Periodontal bony defects were identified and linear measurements were made for all defects.All cases were treated with periodontal flap surgery with the bony defects and their linear measurements detected during operation as the gold standard.Results All periodontal bony defects were identified with CBCT with its accuracy rate of 100.0％ (72/72),but the buccal and lingual defects could not be measured by PA with its accuracy rate of 62.5％ (45/72).Linear measurements for all defects revealed no statistical differences between CBCT and direct measurement [(5.516 ± 0.393) mm vs.(5.385± 0.415) mm,t=1.948,P＞0.05],but there was a significant difference in linear measurement between PA and direct measurement [(6.311±0.439) mm vs.(5.411±0.418) mm,t=9.956,P＜0.05].Conclusions CBCT can offer the diagnostic information for periodontal bone defect from three dimensional direction in the elderly,provide objective and accurate assessment of alveolar bone resorption,and has higher accuracy and reliability.

Objective To observe any effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on the expression of integrin-focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mechanochemical transduction pathway-related proteins in the chondrocytes of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Methods Of the 18 New Zealand white rabbits selected for the study,twelve received knee anterior cruciate ligament transection to model OA.The remaining 6 rabbits served as normal controls.At the 4th week after modeling the rabbits were sacrificed and chondrocytes were isolated and cultured in vitro.All the cultured cells were randomly divided into three groups:a normal control group (NC),an OA model group (OA) and an OA model plus LIPUS group (OA + LIPUS).When the cells had been cultured to the 2nd passage,the NC group and OA group cells had received no treatment.The OA + LIPUS group cells were exposed to 40 mW/cm2 of LIPUS for 20 min,once a day for 6 days.The expression of collagen protein type Ⅱ,aggrecan,MMP-13,integrin β1 p-FAK and p-p38,p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK Mapks were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the NC group,the expression of collagen type Ⅱ and aggrecan was significantly lower in the OA and OA + LIPUS groups,with more significantly lower expression of collagen type Ⅱ and aggrecan in the OA group than in the OA + LIPUS group.Compared with the NC group,the expression of MMP-13 was significantly higher in the OA and OA + LIPUS groups,with a significantly larger increase in the OA group.Compared with the NC group,the expression of integrin β1 and p-FAK was also significantly higher in the OA and OA + LIPUS groups,with a significantly larger increase in the OA + LIPUS group.Compared with the NC group,the expression of p-p38,p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK was also significantly higher in the OA group,but compared with the OA group,the expression of those kinases was,on average,significantly lower in the OA + LIPUS group.Conclusions LIPUS can inhibit the degradation of collagen type Ⅱ and aggrecan,and inhibit the expression of MMP-13,p-p38,p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK in OA chondrocytes,at least in vitro.At the same time,LIPUS can increase the expression of integrin β1 and p-FAK.The results show that LIPUS may activate an integrin-FAK-MAPK mechanochemical transduction pathway to induce changes in the extracellular matrix of chondrocytes.

Objective To explore the effect of aldosterone on renal epithelialmesenchymal transition in streptozocin(STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy rats. Methods Wistar rats were intraperitoneally injected with STZ(60 mg/kg)for the preparation of diabetic model.After 4 weeks,the rats with urinary protein＞30 mg/d were regarded as successful diabetic nephropathy(n=16),and were randomly divided into diabetic nephropathy(DN group,n=8)and spironolactone group(SP group,n=8).Then eight healthy rats were selected randomly as control group(N group,n=8).SP group rats were treated with spironolactone 40 mg·kg-1·d-1,and N group and DN group rats were given equal water.After 8 weeks,rats were sacrificed to collect urine,blood plasma,kidney tissue for detection of 24 h urinary protein,creatinine and renal pathological changes.Aldosterone concentration in plasma and kidney tissue was detected by mdioimmunoassay;E-cadherin,α-SMA protein expression by immunohistochemistry,Western blotting; E-cadherin,α-SMA mRNA expression by RT-PCR. Results Compared with N group,serum creatinine, urinary protein excretion in the DN rats were significantly higher (P＜0.01,respectively), E-cadhefin protein and mRNA were significantly reduced (P＜0.01, respectively),α-SMA protein and mRNA expression was up-regulated (P＜0.01, respectively). Aldosterone level of kidney tissue in DN rats was increased obviously [(24.71±5.30) ng/g vs (16.38±2.85) ng/g, P＜0.01], which was positively correlated with urinary protein excretion, serum creatinine and α-SMA protein (r=0.737, 0.574, 0.688, P＜0.01, respectively), and negatively correlated with E-cadherin protein (r=-0.659, P＜0.O1). While no significant difference was found in serum aldosterone among three groups. Compared with DN rats, urinary protein excretion, serum creatinine were reduced (P＜0.01, respectively), E-cadherin protein and mRNA were increased (P＜0.01, respectively), α-SMA protein and mRNA expression were decreased (P ＜0.01, respectively) in SP group rats.Conclusions Local aldosterone involves in renal epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diabetic nephropathy rat. Spironolactone can block the effect of aldosterone and play a role in renal protection.

Objective To observe changes in the working memory and brain functional imaging on functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) after 36 hours sleep deprivation (SD) in healthy volunteers and to explore the possible mechanism of the changes.Methods FMRI scannings were performed in ten male healthy young volunteers before and after 36 hours SD and results were analyzed using SPM2 software.Subjects were also tested LTR and PLUS task to measure the persistence and operation of working memory before and after 36 hours SD.Results The reaction time of LTR task after 36 hours SD ( (866 ± 102) ms)was significantly longer than that before SD ( (754 ± 91 ) ms, t = 2.59, P < 0.01 ).The reaction time of PLUS task after SD ( (848 ± 94) ms) was significantly longer ( t = 2.37, P < 0.05 ) than that before SD ( (756 ± 79) ms).The error rate of LTR task after SD (95.3% ± 3.56% ) was significantly higher (t=3.52,P < 0.01 ) than that before SD (84.8% ± 8.71% ).The error rate of PLUS task after SD (95.7% ±4.72% ) was significantly higher (t =3.38 ,P <0.01 ) than that before SD (84.2% ±9.66% ).There were no significant differences between the two tasks.The frontal and parietal lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus and thalamus were activated during memory tasks testing before SD.Brain activation was broader and stronger in PLUS task than in LTR task.After SD, activation in parietal lobe was decreased and activation in prefrontal and thalamus was increased significantly.Conclusions The working memory performance decreased after SD.Both LTR and PLUS tasks of working memory activate frontal and parietal lobes, anterior cingulate gyrus and thalamus.The activation of parietal lobe decreased and the activation of prefrontal lobe and thalamus increased after 36 hours SD.This is the possible mechanism of SD to causes the cognition decline.

Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a continuous process of damage of liver cells,which could cause a series of clinic reactions.Early owing to IRI,organ failure reaches 10％,and easily leads to acute and chronic liver transplantation rejection.Therefore,study on the treatment method of IRI is very important.Decreasing the adverse effect of IRI could significantly increase the amount of successful liver transplantation.This paper will explore mainly on the pretreatment methods of IRI.

Objective To investigate Smoothened (Smo) expression in endothelial cells of synovial tissues in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and the expression of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathwayassociated factors after TNF-α treatment in EA.hy926 cells,and the effects of specific inhibitor of Smo (cyclopamine) on the apoptosis of EA.hy926 cells.Methods The Smo expression in endothelial cells in synovial tissue from 4 RA patients and 4 patients with traumatic or meniscal injury (with no arthritis,act as control group) were detected by immunohistochemistry assay.EA.hy926 cells were treated with different concentrations of TNF-α or TNF-α together with different concentrations of cyclopamine,and Shh,Ptch1,Smo,Gli1 mRNA expression levels were detected by real time-PCR.EA.hy926 cells were co-cultured with three different concentrations of cyclopamine for 24 hours before the addition of TNF-α and ActinomycinD (ActD).The cell survival rate was detected using CCK-8,and the population of apoptotic cells was detected using a flow cytometry.T-test and one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.Results The positive expression rate of Smo in endothelial cells of synovial tissue in RA group was (81±23)％,which was higher than that in the control group (20±17)％ (P＜0.05).After being treated with TNF-α,the expressions of Shh and Smo mRNA in EA.hy926 cells increased,while the expression of Gli1 mRNA decreased (P＜0.05),and the expression of Ptch1 mRNA did not change significantly (P＞0.05).The expressions of Shh,Smo and Gli1 mRNA were down-regulated (P＜0.05).EA.hy926 cells treated with different concentrations of cyclopamine (2,4 and 8 μmol/L) showed a significant decrease in cell viability,in cell survival rates (57±6)％,(44±8)％ and (32±5)％ compared with that of TNF-α/ActD group (64±6)％ (P＜0.05),and cell apoptosis rates [(12.4±3.3)％,(14.5±2.7)％ (15.7±2.4)％] compared with that of TNF-α/ActD group (7.1±1.3)％ (P＜0.05).Conclusion Shh pathway is activated in endothelial cells of synovial tissue in active RA.The apoptosis in endothelial cells is promoted after cyclopamine treatment.Shh pathway may play an important role in the antiapoptotic regulatory mechanism of endothelial cells.

Objective To observe the effect of low intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on chondrocytes co-cultured with infrapatellar fat pads.Methods Twenty-four infrapatellar fat pads and cartilages from female knee trauma patients aged between 25 and 35 were cut and stained using hematoxylin-eosin staining.Chondrocytes were isolated from part of the integrated surface of the cartilages to be cultured in vitro.They were then randomly divided into a normal chondrocyte group (the control group),a normal chondrocyte+FCM (fat conditioned medium) group (the model group),a normal chondrocyte+ FCM + LIP US group (the treatment group),and a normal chondrocyte+ FCM + LIPUS + GRGDSP (an integrin inhibitor) group (the inhibited group).The treatment group and inhibited group received LIPUS at 40 mW/cm2 for 20 min once a day,while the other groups received sham LIPUS treatment.Five days later,the cells were collected and western blotting was used to examine the expression of type Ⅱ collagen (COL2),aggrecan (Acan),matrixmetalloproteinase (MMP)-13,integrin β1,phosphorylation-focal adhesion kinase (p-FAK) and phosphorylation p38 (p-p38).Results Western blotting showed that compared with the control group,the expression of COL2 and Acan was significantly lower in the model group,but that of MMP-13,integrin β1,p-FAK and p-p38 was significantly higher.As compared with the model group,the expression of COL2,Acan,integrin β1 and p-FAK was significantly higher,and that of MMP-13 and p-p38 was significantly lower in the treatment group.The expression of COL2,Acan,MMP-13,integrin β1,p-FAK and p-p38 showed no significant difference between the inhibited and model groups,but that of COL2,Acan,MMP-13,integrin β1,p-FAK and p-p38 was significantly different between the control and treatment groups.Conclusions LIPUS provides a protective effect on chondrocytes through inhibiting the expression of MMP-13 induced by adipokines and the degradation of COL2 and Acan through activating the integrin-FAK-p38 MAPK pathway.

Objective To understand the general self-efficacy level of patients with tuberculosis(TB patients) and its influencing factors, provide evidence for improving the general self-efficacy of TB patients.Methods All TB inpatients in a comprehensive pulmonary hospital were conducted face-to-face survey through a general questionnaire and general self-efficacy scale, self-efficacy level of TB patients and its influencing factors were analyzed.Results Mean scale of general self-efficacy of 402 TB patients was (20.4±4.2), of which only 14 cases(3.5%)showed a high level self-efficacy.163(40.5%), 225(56.0%), and 14(3.5%)patients were with low(10~),medium(20~), and high(30~) self-efficacy scale.The general self-efficacy level of TB patients was influenced by the course of disease(P<0.001), residence(P=0.012), whether or not attended the lecture on tuberculosis education(P=0.034), whether or not conducted physical exercise(P=0.053,stepwise multiple linear regression analysis: P=0.017), working status(P=0.027), No.of hospitalization due to TB(P=0.002), family economic situation(P=0.027), and education level(P=0.020).Conclusion TB patients' self-efficacy level is low, and the general self-efficacy level and its influencing factors should be assessed by health care workers during the follow-up for patients, individualized nursing intervention for improving the TB patients' self-efficacy level should be developed.

Liver transplantation is a standard life-saving procedure for end-stage liver diseases.The therapeutic potential of this procedure may be limited by post-operative infectious complications.A better understanding on the common important infectious complications may improve the life quality and survival rate after liver transplantation.In this article,we review the progress on infectious complications after liver transplantation,with particular emphasis on risk factors,clinical manifestations,diagnostic methods,prevention measures and specific treatments for bacterial,fungal,cytomegalovirus infections.

Objective To determine the risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) after renal transplantation,so as to provide a theoretical basis of reducing the rate of postoperative UTI effectively.Method Such databases as CNKI,VIP,Wanfang,Pubmed,Embase,Ovid,and EBSCO were searched from January 1995 to December 2015 for collecting the studies about UTI after renal transplantation.The search keywords were renal transplantation,kidney transplantation,urinary tract infection and risk factors.Meta-analysis was performed by using the RevMan 5.2 software.Result Fifteen studies were identified,including 1 236 patients in UTI group and 2 729 patients in the control group (non UTI group).The two groups had no significant differences in recipient age,diabetes mellitus history,peritoneal dialysis,cytomegaovirus infection,acute rejection,usage of MMF,usage of Tacrolimus,usage of CsA and retransplantation.The incidence of UTI after renal transplantation was significantly higher in female patients than male patients (OR:2.69;95％ CI:1.92-3.77;P＜0.000 01).The incidence of UTI of cadaveric renal transplantation was higher than living donor renal transplantation (OR:1.51;95％ CI:1.71-1.95;P=0.002).Using D-J tube for urinary reconstruction significantly increased the incidence of UTI (OR:1.51;95 ％ CI:1.07-2.13;P =0.02).Patients in the UTI group had a significantly longer preoperative dialysis time (WMD:1.48;95％ CI:0.22-2.74;P =0.02).Conclusion The female recipients,cadaveric renal transplantation,using D-J tube and prolonged preoperative dialysis time were factors affecting the risk of UTI.UTI after renal transplantation had no relationship with recipient age,diabetes mellitus history,peritoneal dialysis,cytomegaovirus infection,acute rejection,usage of MMF,Tacrolimus and CsA,and retransplantation.