Animals ; Binding Sites ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activators ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glucokinase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Molecular Conformation ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Sulfones ; pharmacology ; Thiazoles ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the strengthening of fluorophlogopite-based dental machinable ceramic through developing a new type of calcium-mica-based ceramic.

METHODSBased on the analysis of the crystal structure of the fluorophlogopite ceramic of Dicor MGC, the structure of a new type of calcium-mica-based ceramic was designed and the corresponding composition of the new material was experimented. And the new glass-ceramic was obtained through the treatment of glass preparation and nucleation. Then crystal content of the glass ceramic was analyzed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and the 3-point bending strength of the new ceramic was recorded.

RESULTSA new type of calcium-mica-based glass ceramic was developed and had the 3-point bending strength of (210.2 +/- 14.7) MPa. Compared with the strength of fluorophlogopite-based dental machinable ceramic, such as Dicor MGC, which was reported in the range of 150 approximately 180 MPa within inclusive studies, the higher strength of the new ceramic was recorded.

CONCLUSIONSThe fluorophlogopite-based dental machinable ceramic could be reinforced through internal strengthening.

Aluminum Silicates ; chemistry ; Dental Materials ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Tensile Strength

OBJECTIVETo study the application of tissue granule of oral mucous in plastic surgery.

METHODSTissue granule of oral mucous was placed on glutin sponge and they were used for urethral (12 cases) and vaginal (14 cases) reconstruction in 26 cases.

RESULTSSatisfactory results were achieved in 24 cases. One case of urethral fistula and one case of urethral meatus stricture were happened. The two cases underwent secondary operation.

CONCLUSIONSTissue granule of oral mucous membrane is good supply for repairing mucous defect. It has the advantages of high growth and survival rate, and less shrinkage. It is useful for urethral or vaginal reconstruction which are covered with mucous membrane.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Urethra ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Vagina ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Young Adult

Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; POEMS Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Syphilis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the sera of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo on the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in U937 monocyte-derived macrophages.

METHODSAtherosclerosis was induced in rabbits by high-cholesterol feeding, and the serum was obtained from the rabbits after administration of the aqueous solution of Tongxinluo or simvastatin by gavage. U937 monocyte-derived macrophages were incubated with the sera at different concentrations for 24 hours, and the changes in MMP-9 and TIMP-1 gene expression and secretion were detected by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively.

RESULTSThe serum of rabbits fed with Tongxinluo concentration-dependently inhibited the expression and secretion of MMP-9 in U937 macrophages, but did not affect TIMP-1 expression or secretion.

CONCLUSIONTongxinluo may stabilize the atherosclerotic plaques by inhibiting the expression and secretion of MMP-9.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; etiology ; Cholesterol, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; U937 Cells

Oxidative stress can induce significant cell death by apoptosis. We explore whether prior exposure to H2O2 (H2O2 preconditioning) protects PC12 cells against the apoptotic consequences of subsequent oxidative damages and what role the ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels play in the preconditioning protection. PC12 cells were preconditioned with 90 min exposure to H2O2 at 10 micromol/L, followed by 24-h recovery and subsequent exposures to different concentrations (20, 30, 50 and 100 micromol/L) of H2O2 for 24 h respectively. We used PI staining flow cytometry (FCM) to observe the apoptosis of PC12 cells. It was shown that 24-h exposures to H2O2 at 20, 30, 50 and 100 micromol/L respectively induced substantial cell apoptosis, which was greatly prevented in the preconditioning cells, indicating that H2O2 preconditioning protected PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by H2O2. Administration of pinacidil (10 micromol/L), an K(ATP) channel activator, significantly attenuated the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by H2O2 at 30 and 50 micromol/L for 24 h respectively. Glybenclamide (10 micromol/L), a K(ATP) channel inhibitor, significantly suppressed or abolished the protective effects caused by the pinacidil but not by H2O2 preconditioning. However, when both H2O2 preconditioning and pinacidil were co-applied, their protection against the apoptosis of PC12 cells was much stronger than that of the individual one of them. These results suggest that H2O2 preconditioning protects PC12 cells against apoptosis and that the activation of K(ATP) channels is not involved in, but synergetically enhances adaptive protection of H2O2 preconditioning.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Oxidants ; pharmacology ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rats

Background At present, revascularization is still one of the most critical technologies in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Hepatic artery (HA) variations occur frequently in both donors and recipients. Moreover, there are always some pathological changes in the recipient hepatic artery. If handled improperly, it may cause complications after anastomosis.Therefore, arterial conduit could be used in primary OLT, re-OLT and multiple-OLT. This study aimed to investigate the indications, methods and techniques with usage of arterial conduit for HA revascularization during adult OLT.Methods We reviewed 1200 patients of consecutive OLTs performed during 2000-2009 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Of these patients, 48 recipients with artery variations received HA revascularization with usage of arterial conduit and special postoperative managements. The indications, methods, techniques, and the managements of postoperative complications in adult OLT with usage of arterial conduit for HA revascularization were analyzed.Results In 48 cases with artery bypass, the arterial conduit were anastomosed between donor hepatic artery and recipient infrarenal aorta (n=32), between donor hepatic artery and recipient suprarenal aorta (n=10), and between donor upper abdominal organ cluster artery and recipient suprarenal aorta (n=6). The technique was applied in 4％ (48/1200 cases) of the whole OLTs performed in the same period, and the patency rate of the conduits was 100％. Forty patients (83.3％) survived, and the average survival time was 3.9 years. Eight patients (16.7％) died (all due to tumor recurrence),while the average survival time was 1.2 years. All these patients have not experienced artery-related complications in their survival time.Conclusions When recipient HA has variations or pathological changes in OLT, the donor artery should be anastomosed to recipient abdominal aorta with an arterial conduit to achieve satisfactory outcomes. For arterial anastomosis can not be routinely performed, donor iliac artery as a conduit to be anastomosed with the recipient abdominal aorta is safe and effective.

Objective： The current study was designed to investigate the diagnosis and the treatment of osteoradionecrosis of the skull base (ORN) in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy. Methods： All patients (n=12) diagnosed as nasopharyneal carcinoma and osteoradionecrosis of the skull base were studied retrospectively with their clinical manifestations, diagnoses, therapies and prognoses. Results： ORN was found with characteristic CT and endoscopic findings, they were never seen in the patients with NPC relapse. The latent periods of ORN in the patients after primary radiotherapy were 3 - 15 years, while the periods were 7 months - 2 years in the patients after reirradiation. Six patients with local ORN were operated, 1 patients was died of exhaustion; Six patients with extensive ORN were treated using conservative methods, 3 patients were died of severe nasopharyngeal bleeding, while one were died of exhaustion. Conclusion： The ORN of the skull base after radiotherapy could be diagnosed by CT and endoscopic findings. The patients with extensive ORN or radiation induced cranial neuropathy were associated with poor prognosis. The most common causes of death were severe nasopharyngeal bleeding and exhaustion.

Background: The association of changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) with cognitive function remains unclear. We explored this association using prospective and Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Methods: MetS components including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and triglycerides were measured at baseline and two follow-ups, constructing a MetS index. Immediate, delayed memory recall, and cognitive function along with its dimensions were assessed by immediate 10- word recall test (IWRT) and delayed 10-word recall test (DWRT), and mini-mental state examination (MMSE), respectively, at baseline and follow-ups. Linear mixed-effect model was used. Additionally, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of MetS was conducted and one-sample MR was performed to assess the causality between MetS and cognitive function. Results: Elevated MetS index was associated with decreasing annual change rates (decrease) in DWRT and MMSE scores, and with decreases in attention, calculation and recall dimensions. HDL-C was positively associated with an increase in DWRT scores, while SBP and FPG were negatively associated. HDL-C showed a positive association, whereas WC was negatively associated with increases in MMSE scores, including attention, calculation and recall dimensions. Interaction analysis indicated that the association of MetS index on cognitive decline was predominantly observed in low family income group. The GWAS of MetS identified some genetic variants. MR results showed a non-significant causality between MetS and decrease in DWRT, IWRT, nor MMSE scores. Conclusion Our study indicated a significant association of MetS and its components with declines in memory and cognitive function, especially in delayed memory recall.

Background: The association of changes in metabolic syndrome (MetS) with cognitive function remains unclear. We explored this association using prospective and Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Methods: MetS components including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and triglycerides were measured at baseline and two follow-ups, constructing a MetS index. Immediate, delayed memory recall, and cognitive function along with its dimensions were assessed by immediate 10- word recall test (IWRT) and delayed 10-word recall test (DWRT), and mini-mental state examination (MMSE), respectively, at baseline and follow-ups. Linear mixed-effect model was used. Additionally, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of MetS was conducted and one-sample MR was performed to assess the causality between MetS and cognitive function. Results: Elevated MetS index was associated with decreasing annual change rates (decrease) in DWRT and MMSE scores, and with decreases in attention, calculation and recall dimensions. HDL-C was positively associated with an increase in DWRT scores, while SBP and FPG were negatively associated. HDL-C showed a positive association, whereas WC was negatively associated with increases in MMSE scores, including attention, calculation and recall dimensions. Interaction analysis indicated that the association of MetS index on cognitive decline was predominantly observed in low family income group. The GWAS of MetS identified some genetic variants. MR results showed a non-significant causality between MetS and decrease in DWRT, IWRT, nor MMSE scores. Conclusion Our study indicated a significant association of MetS and its components with declines in memory and cognitive function, especially in delayed memory recall.