BACKGROUND:Various surface modification techniques have been used to improve the bioactivity of titaniumimplant in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) on the growth of apatite coatings on dual thermo-etching treated pure titanium. METHODS:EMPs were extracted from porcine tooth germs and then were identified. Dual thermo-etching was applied to treat titanium samples fol owing polished, and then immersed in a blank simulated body fluid supersaturated calcification solution (control group) or supersaturated calcification solution containing different concentrations of EMPs for 7 days. The morphology of samples was observed using scanning electron microscope, and element components and crystal structures of the apatite coatings were analyzed by energy dispersive spectrometer and X-ray diffraction. RESULTS AND METHODS:After double-etching, a pit-like rough surface was observed on the titanium plate. After 7-day mineralization, in the control group, no overt calcium-phosphate deposits were found on the titanium surface;however, in the experimental groups, there were calcium-phosphate deposits, whose quantity and morphology changed with increasing concentrations. Energy dispersive spectrometer showed that the main element components of the mineralized coating included calcium, phosphorus, oxygen and carbon, and the calcium-phosphate ratio ranged from 1.32 to 1.41. The apatite coatings were proved to be carbonate hydroxyapatite by X-ray diffraction. To conclude, EMPs promote apatited deposition on pure titanium surfaces in a concentration-dependent manner.

Objective To explore the effects of astragalus polysaccharide on paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats by regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. Methods Rats were divided into control group, APS, PQ and PQ + APS groups. Paraquat was used to establish the rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Lung wet/dry weight ratio and hydroxyproline content were measured; the pathological changes were observed by HE staining. The fibrosis in lung tissues was observed by Masson staining, and the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin 1β(IL-1β), and IL-6 were measured by ELISA kits. RT-PCR was used to detect the gene expressions of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad3, p-Smad3, and Smad7. Results Compared with the control group, in the PQ group the lung wet weight/dry weight ratio increased (t=12.922, P<0.001) and the hydroxyproline content increased (t=20.920, P<0.001). There were pathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues. TNF-α (t=23.932, P<0.001), IL-1β (t=34.826, P<0.001), and IL-6 (t=17.985, P<0.001) in alveolar lavage fluid all increased in concentration. TGF-β1 (t=20.934, P<0.001), collagen Ⅰ (t=26.853, P<0.001), and collagen Ⅲ (t=18.493, P<0.001) gene expressions increased. E-cadherin (t=25.456, P<0.001) protein expression decreased; α-SMA (t=26.980, P<0.001), Vimentin (t=23.862, P<0.001), and TGF-β1 (t=39.836, P<0.001) protein expressions increased. p-Smad3/Smad3 ratio (t=19.606, P<0.001) increased, Smad7 (t=30.904, P<0.001) protein expression decreased. Compared with PQ group, in PQ+APS group lung wet weight/dry weight ratio decreased (t=9.174, P<0.001), hydroxyl amino acid content (t=10.999, P<0.001) decreased, and lung tissue pathology and collagen deposition reduced. TNF-α (t=8.654, P<0.001), IL-1β (t=18.164, P<0.001), and IL-6 (t=7.573, P<0.001) concentrations in alveolar lavage fluid decreased. TGF-β1 (t=8.879, P<0.001), collagen Ⅰ (t=12.687, P<0.001) and collagen Ⅲ (t=11.333, P<0.001) gene expressions reduced. E-cadherin (t=14.255, P<0.001) protein expression increased; α-SMA (t=16.866, P<0.001), Vimentin (t=18.439, P<0.001), and TGF-β1 (t=14.688, P<0.001) protein expressions as well as p-Smad3/Smad3 ratio (t=11.384, P<0.001) were down-regulated; Smad7 (t=13.131, P<0.001) protein expression increased. Conclusion Astragalus polysaccharide can alleviate paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signal pathway.

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of normal liver ADC measurements by different respiratory motion compensation techniques. Methods A total of 31 young healthy volunteers who are 20 to 40 years old without any hepatic diseases were selected to research. Each volunteer underwent liver DWI twice in 24 hours with the same parameters and location. The imaging was performed with free-breath(FB), breathhold(BH), rspiratory-triggered(RT)and navigator-triggered(NT)techniques, and the ADC values of the left hepatic lobe and right hepatic lobe (upper, middle and lower) was acquired with two scans. Analysis the the ADC values of various anatomic locations of liver with two-way analysis of variance of randomized block design. Reproducibility of ADCs was assessed with the Bland-Altman method. Analysis of variance and paired-sample t test was used to assess ADCs from both right and left liver lobe among the four techniques. Result The ADC values acquired from the four techniques were significant differences (P<0.01),and the ADC values of the right lobe were less than the left lobe's(P<0.01). It showed a trend to decrease moving from superior to inferior levels in both left and right lobes, and the ADC values among The middle and lower were significant differences (P<0.01). The limit of agreement of ADC of twice imaging among the four techniques were as follow: the right lobe was less than the left lobes, and the breathhold was less the others. As the result, reproducibility in the right liver lobe was better to that in the left and the reproducibility with breathhold was better than the other respiratory motion compensation techniques. Conclusions Both anatomic location and DWI technique influence the liver ADC measurements and their reproducibility. The reproducibility of BH is the best.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and pathogenic characteristics of community acquired pyogenic liver abscess (PLA).Methods:The clinical data of 172 patients in First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University with community acquired PLA from March 2013 to September 2018 were retrospectively collected, including clinical characteristics, distribution of the causative pathogens, treatment regimens and outcomes. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results:There were 158(91.9%) cases with fever, 69(40.1%) cases with abdominal pain among 172 PLA cases. One hundred and forty-three (83.1%) were solitary, and 141(82.0%) cases localized in right hepatic lobe. One hundred and six (61.6%) cases were PLA of cryptogenic origin. There were 156 cases underwent etiology detection, with the positive etiology detection of 99(63.5%) cases. Ninety-two (92.9%) cases were infected with a single strain, and seven (7.1%) cases were infected with mixed strains. A total of 115 strains of bacteria were isolated. The main strains included 71 (61.7%) Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), 21 (18.3%) Escherichia coli (EC), among which 17 were extended spectrum β lactamase, and two carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Among the 61 KP-PLA patients, 42(68.9%) cases were diagnosed with diabetes, 16(26.2%) cases with biliary diseases, and one (1.6%) case with malignant tumor. Among the 15 EC-PLA patients, six cases were diagnosed with diabetes, nine cases with biliary diseases, and four cases with malignant tumors. There were statistically significant differences ( χ2=4.307, 4.784 and 8.536, respectively, all P<0.05). After admission, the patients were treated with antibiotics alone or combined with drainage. One-hundred and sixty-seven (97.1%) cases got improved. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of PLA are atypical, and the dominant pathogens are KP and EC. The risk factors of PLA are diabetes mellitus, biliary diseases and malignant tumors.

Objective To evaluate effects of tea polyphenols on the mRNA and nucleoprotein expression of Nrf2/Bach1 in human skin fibroblasts (HSFs).Methods Some HSFs were incubated with tea polyphenols at different concentrations of 0,2.5,5,10,20 and 40 mg/L for 24 hours.Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was conducted to evaluate the proliferative activity of HSFs to screen the optimal concentration of tea polyphenols.Then,some other HSFs were treated with tea polyphenols at this optimal concentration for 24 hours.Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine mRNA expression of Nrf2 and Bach1,Western blot analysis to measure nuclear expression of Nrf2 and Bach1 proteins,and immunofluorescence assay to determine the distribution of Nrf2 and Bach1 protein in the cell nucleus.Results MTT assay showed that 5 mg/L tea polyphenols had no obvious effects on the proliferation of HSFs,so 5 mg/L was chosen as the optimal concentration of tea polyphenols for subsequent experiments.HSFs cultured without tea polyphenols served as control group.After the treatment,the 5-mg/L tea polyphenol group showed significantly decreased mRNA and nuclear protein expression of Bach 1 (mRNA:0.629 ± 0.077 vs.0.940 ± 0.033,t =6.397,P ＜ 0.05;protein:1.424 ± 0.171 vs.16.966 ± 1.702,t =15.730,P ＜ 0.05),but significantly increased mRNA and nuclear protein expression of Nrf2 (mRNA:1.467 ± 0.076 vs.0.977 ± 0.091,t =7.133,P ＜ 0.05;protein:6.929 ± 0.121 vs.3.537 ± 0.126,t =33.636,P ＜ 0.05) compared with the control group.Immunofluorescence assay showed increased accumulation of Nrf2 protein,but decreased accumulation of Bach1 protein in the nucleus.Conclusion Tea polyphenols can promote the mRNA and nuclear protein expression as well as nuclear distribution of Nrf2,but suppress the mRNA and nuclear protein expression as well as nuclear distribution of Bach 1,finally exerting antioxidative effects.

Objective To compare the survival benefit of surgery combined with radiotherapy or surgery combined with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy for medulloblastoma patients,to analyze the related prognostic factors.Methods The clinical data of 79 patients with medulloblastoma,admitted to our hospital from June 2002 to January 2014,were retrospectively analyzed; the 5-year overall survival and event-free survival of patients accepted surgery combined with radiotherapy or surgery combined with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy were compared; Cox regression model was used to analyze the related prognostic factors.Results Totally,74 patients accepted total removal and 5 subtotal removal;after the surgery,radiotherapy only was performed in 41 patients and radiotherapy plus chemotherapy in 38.The overall survival (73.2％ vs.81.6％) and event-free survival (65.9％ vs.76.3％) showed no significant differences between patients receiving radiotherapy and patients receiving radiotherapy plus chemotherapy after surgery (P＞0.05).The 5-year overall survival in patients with residual tumor or recurrence and patients classified as high risk population was significantly lower than that in patients without residual tumor or recurrence and patients not classified as high risk population (P＜0.05); The Cox regression analysis showed that the high risk population (RR=22.461,P=0.038) and recurrence/metastasis (RR=65.547,P=0.000) are independent risk factors influencing the prognosis of medulloblastoma.Conclusions Surgical resection plus postsurgical radiotherapy acts as the first choice for treatment of medulloblastoma.Patients classified as high risk population and patients with recurrence/metastasis have poor prognosis.

Objective To evaluate three different peritoneal dialysis fluid collection methods for pathogenic bacteria culture in peritonitis dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP), and provide clinical basis for the use of simple and effective peritoneal dialysis fluid collection method in primary hospital. Methods A total of 32 cases of PDAP patients treated in Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital from June 2016 to July 2017 were included in the study using convenient sampling method. A number of 43 peritoneal dialysis fluid specimens were collected respectively using the traditional method, modified method and centrifugal method, and then were cultured for bacterial identification. Positive rate of bacteria, distribution of bacterial pathogens and reported time were compared among three groups. Results The positive rate of pathogenic bacteria showed that traditional method was 53.5%, modified method was 76.7% and centrifugal method was 83.7%. Compared with the traditional method, the positive rate of modified method and centrifugal method increased significantly (P<0.05). However, there was no statistical difference between the modified method and centrifugal method (P> 0.05). Three main species were epidermis staphylococcus, escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus in three collection methods. In the modified method and centrifugal method, the positive rate of gram negative bacteria were higher than the traditional method (P<0.05); but there was no obvious difference on the positive rate of gram positive bacteria culture (P>0.05). The average reporting time of traditional culture was longer than the modified method and centrifugal method (P< 0.05). Conclusions Compared with traditional collection method, both modified method and centrifugal method could increase positive rate of bacteria culture in PDAP patients, especially gram negative bacteria, and had the advantage of rapid detection, which could provide clinical guidance for early treatment of peritonitis. Compared with centrifugal method, the modified method is simple, and worthy of promoting in primary hospital.

Objective　Visfatin, a newly identified pro-inflammatory adipokine, has been related to atherosclerosis,therefore we explore the association between the visfatin rs61330082 and ischemic stroke risk. The -1535 polymorphism (rs61330082) located in the visfatin gene promoter is reportedly associated with inflammatory related atherosclerosis. Method　A total of 368 ischemic stroke patients and 381 healthy controls were enrolled for the study. The rs61330082 polymorphism was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) sequencing method. Results　No significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies between ischemic stroke patients and healthy controls were observed even when the OR was adjusted for the clinical variables. We also did not find any significant association from sex subtypes. Conclusion　Visfatin rs61330082 polymorphism is not associated with ischemic stroke risk in the northern Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between alcohol drinking and all-cause death in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: Between January, 2010 and July, 2018, consecutive patients with first-episode ischemic stroke admitted in the West China Hospital, Sichuan University were enrolled, and all the patients were followed up every 3 months.Chi-square test was used to compare the differences in the baseline characteristics between the pre-stroke drinkers and the nondrinkers.The Cox regression model was used to analyze the effects of drinking status, drinking years, drinking frequency, average single alcohol intake before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period on the mortality of patients after discharge. RESULTS: A total of 855 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled, and deaths occurred in 140 of these patients.Chi-square test showed significant differences in gender ( < 0.001), weekly physical exercise time (=0.035), smoking ( < 0.001), and heart disease ( < 0.001) between the pre-stroke drinkers and nondrinkers.Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that drinking during the follow-up period (=0.001), drinking for less than 28 years before stroke (=0.035) and a moderate drinking frequency (5 to 20 times per month for males and 4 to 9 times per month for females; =0.030) were associated with a lowered risk of death after discharge.No significant effects of pre-stroke drinking status or average single alcohol intake were found on death after ischemic stroke. CONCLUSIONS The drinking years and drinking frequency before stroke and drinking status during the follow-up period are related to the all-cause mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.Investigations of the more specific variables of drinking behaviors during the follow-up period are needed to further clarify the association between drinking and death after ischemic stroke.
Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Brain Ischemia ; etiology ; China ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; etiology

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4B (eIF4B) plays an important role in mRNA translation initiation, cell survival and proliferation in vitro, but the in vivo function is poorly understood. In this study, via various experimental techniques such as hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry, we investigated the role of eIF4B in mouse embryo development using an eIF4B knockout (KO) mouse model and explored the mechanism. We found that the livers, but not lungs, brain, stomach, or pancreas, derived from eIF4B KO mouse embryos displayed severe pathological changes characterized by enhanced apoptosis and necrosis. Accordingly, high expression of cleaved-caspase 3, and excessive activation of mTOR signaling as evidenced by increased expression and phosphorylation of p70S6K and enhanced phosphorylation of 4EBP1, were observed in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and fetal livers from eIF4B KO mice. These results uncover a critical role of eIF4B in mouse embryo development and provide important insights into the biological functions of eIF4B in vivo.
Animals ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Caspase 3 ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Eukaryotic Initiation Factors/metabolism* ; Fibroblasts ; Hematoxylin ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa/genetics* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases