The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of different posts on the fracture mechanics of endodontically-treated teeth with open apex. Forty-eight human maxillary anterior teeth were collected, and the root was transversely sectioned 12 mm under the cementoenamal junction (CEJ). These samples were then randomly divided into two groups, i.e., minor diameter open apex root (group A) and major diameter open apex root (group B), with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) placed into the apical 4 mm in the root canals. Subsequently, both groups were respectively further divided into three subgroups as follows: fiber-post (subgroup 1), metal post (subgroup 2) and non-post (subgroup 3) group. Teeth were restored with a composite resin crown and tested by using a universal testing machine at the rate of 1 mm/min cross-head. Values of the maximum fracture resistance and failure patterns were recorded and compared among all subgroups. In addition, the changes of MTA properties were carefully examined via X-ray photography. Our results indicate that (1) In group A, the mean value of fracture resistance for teeth restored with fiber posts were statistically higher than that with either metal post or non-post; (2) In group B, there was no statistically significant difference in the mean value of fracture resistance among three subgroups; (3) No statistical significance in the mean value of fracture resistance was found between group A and group B; (4) The failure modes of most samples (58%) were irreparable; (5) MTA in two teeth developed cracks after loading tests. In conclusion, endodontically-treated teeth restored with fiber posts are more resistant to fracture than those restored with either metal posts or non-post, and most of the fracture modes are catastrophic in nature.

Objective To investigate the influence of pravastatin on serum matrix metalloproteinases-1(MMP-1), MMP-9 and its role in prevention of restenosis following coronary intervention. Methods Totally 62 patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were randomly assigned to receive 10 mg/d pravastatin in 24-48 h after PCI for 6 months (n=32) or no therapy (n=30) as control. The blood samples of all patients were examined at admission and 7, 21 d after administration of pravastatin. All patients received follow-up and coronary checking within 6 months. Results TIMI 3 flow was achieved in all cases and residual stenosis was less than 20%. No severe complications were found. ①The use of pravastatin after PCI could significantly reduce serum levels of MMP-1 and MMP-9 as compared with control group (P

BACKGROUND:Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have became the hot topic in current studies and play an important role in the tumorigenesis. However, lncRNAs involved in the osteoblast differentiation remain poorly reported.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of human LncRNAs in osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2 and explore action mechanism.
METHODS:The induction of bone morphogenetic protein-2 was validated by alkaline phosphatase staining and the expression of corresponding genes was detected. The lncRNA expression profile was analyzed using the Arraystar lncRNA array in C3H10T1/2 MSCs undergoing early osteoblast differentiation. The expression with or without bone morphogenetic protein-2 induction was compared with high-flux sequencing, and the down-regulated genes were screened. The effect of lncRNA overexpression on osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells induced by bone morphogenetic protein-2 was observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The bone morphogenetic protein-2 induced C3H10T1/2 cells led to increased alkaline phosphatase activity. After 72 hours of bone morphogenetic protein-2 induction, alkaline phosphatase, Id1,osteocalcin, Runx2, sp7 expression were increased (P<0.05). There were 24 down-regulated lncRNAs identified between bone morphogenetic protein-2 treated and untreated groups, the decrease of expression was 1.5 folds, and among them, only AK035085 contained intron. Compared with control group with no AK03508 expression, over-expression lncRNA AK035085 decreased the expression of alkaline phosphatase, Id1, osteocalcin, Runx2, sp7 (P<0.05). Experimental findings indicate that bone morphogenetic protein-2 induces osteogenic differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells and AK035085 inhibits the osteogenic differentiation.

AIM: To examine the expression of miRNA-22 in the ovarian tissues and the effect of miRNA-22 over-expression on the proliferation, migration and invasion in SKOV-3 cells.METHODS: The expression levels of miRNA-22 in different ovarian tissues and SKOV-3 cells were determined by qPCR .miRNA-22 was over-expressed by trans-fection of miRNA-22 mimic.The cell viability was examined by CCK-8 assay.The cell migration was measured by wound healing test .The cell invasion was analyzed by Transwell assay .The protein expression levels of VEGF and P 53 were deter-mined by Western blot .RESULTS: Compared with the normal ovarian tissue , the expression level of miRNA-22 was remarkably decreased in the ovarian tumor tissues .After transfection with miRNA-22 mimic, the expression level of miRNA-22 in the SKOV-3 cells was significantly increased , while the cell viability , migration and invasion were obviously decreased .Moreover , the protein expression of VEGF and P 53 was dramatically inhibited after over-expression of miRNA-22.CONCLUSION:The decreased miRNA-22 expression may be correlated with the development of ovarian can-cer.Over-expression of miRNA-22 decreases the cell viability , migration and invasion by reducing the protein expression of VEGF and P53.

AIM:To investigate the production and activation of caspase-3 in primary rat renal proximal tubule cells in response to tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and the implication of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the process. METHODS:Isolated rat renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) from male adult Sprague Dawley rats were treated with TNF-α according to the indicated time courses. A specific NF-κB inhibitor,Bay11-7082,was used alone or as a pretreatment for 1 h followed by exposure to TNF-α for 24 h.The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3,caspase-3,I-κBα,phosphorylated I-κBα,and GAPDH were detected by Western blotting using specific antibodies. RESULTS:The protein level of cleaved caspase-3 relative to caspase-3 was significantly increased in the presence of TNF-α for 6 h,12 h,and 24 h. Protein levels of caspase-3 were significantly decreased by 12 h and returned to baseline by 24 h in the presence of TNF-α. Treatment with Bay11-7082 for 25 h alone or pretreatment with Bay11-7082 for 1 h followed by addition of TNF-α for 24 h caused a remarkable reduction in both cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 as compared to control and TNF-α treated groups. An increase in phosphorylated I-κBα was observed from 15 min to 60 min after treatment with TNF-α at a dose of 10 μg/L in PTCs. CONCLUSION:NF-κB is not only associated with the activation of caspase-3 but also the production of caspase-3 in primary rat renal proximal tubule cells in response to TNF-α.

For patients with malignant pancreatic cancer combined with vascular invasion,radical pancreaticoduodenectomy with vascular resection and anastomosis is the treatment of choice.Because this procedure is difficult to manage and with high risks,it is a great challenge to surgeons.A 50-year old patient with pancreatic head cancer whose portal vein and superior mesenteric vein were involved received radical pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University.In the surgery,the tumor and its surrounding tissues were dissected,and then the portal vein and splenic vein were reconstructed.The patient was discharged at the 10th day after the surgery with favorable prognosis.

Aim To investigate the effect of insulin glargine and human insulin on proliferation of a human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and the role of ERK in the process.Methods MDA-MB-231 cells were incubated with insulin glargine and human insulin at different concentrations and for different time courses.A specific ERK1/2 inhibitor,PD98059,was used either alone or in combination with insulin glargine or human insulin to test the involvement of ERK pathway in cell growth.Cell proliferation was evaluated using cell counting kit-8 reagents.Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Both insulin glargine and human insulin dose-dependently enhanced MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation at the concentrations from 1 to 100 IU?L-1 after treatment for 96 h.At the concentration of 10 IU?L-1,both drugs promoted cell growth at 48,72,and 96 h.The percentage of S+G2/M cells was significantly increased in both insulin glargine and human insulin treated groups as compared to untreated controls.No significant difference was observed between insulin glargine and human insulin in their effects on cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution.Cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by PD98059.However,in the presence of PD98059,both drugs still promoted cell proliferation significantly as compared to untreated controls.Conclusions Insulin galrgine and human insulin similarly promote proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells independent of ERK activation.

BACKGROUND:Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) regulates a series of physiological processes and it is considered to play important roles in the gene regulation of development, differentiation and metabolism. MC3T3-E1, C2C12 and C3H10T1/2 cells are able to differentiate into different celllineages, such as bone cells and muscle cells, and they can be used in the study of musculoskeletal diseases.
OBJECTIVE:To study the role of lncRNA in osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2.
METHODS:Osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1, C2C12 and C3H10T1/2 cells was induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2, and microarray expression profiling of lncRNA was undertaken in osteogenic differentiation. LncRNA simultaneous changes in three cells were found out. The siRNA interference of the lncRNA was used to study its effects on the osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2. Real-time PCR and alkaline phosphatase staining were applied to detect osteogenesis related indicators.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the process of osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2, osteogenic differentiation indicators were increased, while myogenic differentiation indicator myogenin was reduced. LncRNA AK007000 was screened out to play a role in osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2. Knockdown of lncRNA AK007000 decreased the expression of osteogenic differentiation indicators, while increased the expression of myogenin. Therefore, AK007000 may play a role in promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting myogenic differentiation.

BACKGROUND:A series of studies indicate that autophagy is closely linked with differentiation. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) is the classical pathway for C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation, and the ideal model to study osteogenic differentiation process.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the relationship between autophagy and BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation.
METHODS:Real-Time PCR was applied to detect osteogenic differentiation and autophagy related index after C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 were induced with BMP-2 (100μg/L) for 72 hours. The osteogenic index alkaline phosphatase in BMP-2-induced MC3T3-E1 and C2C12 cultured with different concentrations of 3-methyladenine (0, 1, 5, 10 mmol/L) was determined with alkaline phosphatase staining. Western blot analysis was applied to detect LC3-I/II expression levels in C2C12 and MC3T3-E1 induced with BMP-2 for different time points (0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours).
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The autophagy-related mRNA and protein expression showed an increasing tendency and autophagy-related protein LC3 levels was increased, which was associated with the time, during the BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation. Meanwhile, alkaline phosphatase expression levels were inhibited by autophagy in the process of osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, there is a close relationship between autophagy and the BMP-2-induced celllines C2C12, MC3T3-E1 osteoblast differentiation.

0.05,respectively).Plasma Mg2+,intracellular Mg2+,the beta 2-AR mRNA and protein in lung tissue in group C at 21st d and 34th d were significantly higher than those in group A at 21st d and 34th d 21st d:(0.84?0.09)mmol/L vs 0.57?0.10)mmol/L,(2.39?0.14)mmol/L vs(2.11?0.08)mmol/L,(0.75?0.09)pmol/g vs(0.59?0.06)pmol/g,(88.50?8.50)pmol/g vs(60.10?7.70)pmol/g,P