BACKGROUND:The self-ligating bracket is superior to the conventional bracket in orthodontic treatment, but there are a lot of controversies. At present, researchers have different views on the function of self-ligating brackets. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the comparative study of self-ligating brackets and conventional brackest with the direction and development in recent years. METHODS:A computer-based search of PubMed (2000-2014) and CNKI (2000-2014) databases was done for relevant articles, using the key words of “self-ligating brackets; conventional orthodontic brackets” in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Self-locking brackets saves chair side time, which has been confirmed and accepted. There are different views for the issue that self-ligating brackets can reduce friction in orthodontic treatment. It is widely accepted that, the self-ligating brackets using thin round wire had less friction than the conventional brackets; whether the friction of self-ligating brackets in the closed gap and fineness adjustment stages is less than the conventional brackets stil remains unclear, which need further clinical comparative studies. The self-ligating brackets showed no significant difference with the conventional brackets in arch expansion, reducing anchorage loss and root adsorption. The majority of relevant studies is performedin vitro, and cannot exactly simulate the dental conditions. A large-size experiment with the uniform criteria for therapeutic efficacy is needed to objectively evaluate self-ligating brackets.

Objective To analyze the concentrations and sources of heavy metals in the soils in city parks,so as to improve the city ecological environment quality and protect the health of people.Methods In December 2007,the distribution characteristics and concentrations of heavy metals(Hg,Cd,Pb,Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr,As)were investigated by ICP-AES and mercury analyzer after the soil samples were collected from six urban parks in Pudong,Shanghai.Results The results showed that the ranges of concentration were 21.08-69.31 mg/kg for Cu,41.87-91.71 mg/kg for Pb,104.65-213.83 mg/kg for Zn,84.63-894.28 mg/kg for Cr,0.15-0.26 mg/kg for Cd,19.14-25.32 mg/kg for As,0.02-0.55 mg/kg for Hg,39.30-454.36 mg/kg for Ni,which indicated that all heavy metals,but Cd had been accumulated in varying degree compared with the soil background contents of metal elements in Shanghai. Conclusion Based on the assessment with the single contamination index,Ni and Cr is relatively in a high level of the pollution in Park 1,while the other heavy metals are in a lower risk.According to the comprehensive contamination indexes,the heavy metals pollution in Park 1 belongs to a high grade,while the other parks are in little pollution level.

Objective To design a private cloud storage system to guarantee intranet and internet data security and realize data sharing between multi platforms.Methods The idea and solution for building the system were proposed by analyzing the difficulty during hospital informatization.The infrastructure based on the idle computing resources in the existing virtual pool and the application platform by private cloud storage software were involved in the development of the system,and related software and hardware were integrated after adjustment and customization,and then the system came into being with easy operation and high performance-cost ratio.Results The system developed realized freely data storage and sharing,and implemented file encryption to control the applied range.Conclusion The system has the functions of malicious code scanning,cooperative office system and data auto-backup,synchronization,transmission,sharing and etc,which executes intranet and intemet data sharing based on physical isolation.

ObjectiveThe clinical features, bacteria distribution and antibiotic resistance proifle of blood stream infection(BSI) were investigated in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis for better management of such infections.MethodsThe clinical data of BSI were collected in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis between January, 2012 and December, 2014, and reviewed retrospectively in terms of risk factors, diagnosis and treatment, pathogen distribution and prognosis.ResultsOf the 1 071 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and suspected bacterial infection, 154 (14.4%) were diagnosed as BSI evidenced by blood culture. Of these patients, the leukocyte count in the peripheral blood was higher than 10×109/L in only 48 (31.2%) patients; neutrophil proportion>0.75 in 133 patients (86.4%); serum procalcitonin level>0.5 ng/mL in 74 patients (68.5%). A total of 155 bacterial strains were isolated, including 115 strains of gram-negative bacilli and 40 strains of gram-positive cocci. Most patients (68.8%) recovered and 31.2% died or discharged from hospital voluntarily. All these BSI patients had Child-Pugh grade C liver function. Some patients also had other serious systemic diseases or repeated hospitalization.ConclusionThe prevalence of BSI is high in the decompensated liver cirrhosis patients with poor prognosis. Gram-negative bacilli are the major pathogens of such septicemia. Early diagnosis and proper use of antibiotics based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing are important to improve patient outcome.

Objective To investigate the role of PI_3 K/Akt signal pathway in Ephrin-Al gene mediated invasion,metastasis of Huh-7 cells.Methods Western blot was used to test the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI_3 K)and mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)after Huh-7 cells were treated with Ephrin-A1/Fc fusion protein.According to the protein expression,LY294002 was used to block PI_3 K/Akt pathway specifically,then p-Akt protein expression,mobility and invasive ability of Huh-7 cells were examined.Results In Huh-7 cells actived by Ephrin-Al/Fc fusion protein,p-Akt expression was higher than that in control group(t=4.564,P＜0.05),but there was no difference of p-p38MAPK expression between Ephrin-Al/Fc fusion protein group and IgG/Fc fusion protein group(P＞0.05).PI_3 K/Akt pathway was specifically blocked by LY294002,the p-Akt protein expression decreased in Huh-7 cells,and the mobility and invasive ability mediated by Ephrin-Al in Huh-7 cells decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusions PI_3 K/Akt pathway effects an important role in mobility and invasive ability of Huh-7 cells mediated by Ephrin-A1.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; isolation & purification ; Paraffin Embedding ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of losartan on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) and transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) in the kidney of rats with unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO) and evaluate protective effect of losartan against reanal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODSRat models of UUO were treated with losartan at the routine dose, high dose, and very high dose (50, 200, and 500 mg/kg daily, respectively), and saline was given to UUO model rats and rats with sham operation. At 7, 14, and 21 days, the tail cuff blood pressure (TCP), 24-h urine protein (Upro), serum Scr, BUN, K(+), percentage of renal damage and renal interstitial fibrosis (%INT) were measured in the rats. MCP1 protein in the renal tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry, and MCP1 and TGF-β(1) mRNA expressions were assayed using RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs the UUO prolonged, Upro, TCP, tubular damage, %INT, and MCP1 and TGF-β(1) mRNA expressions all increased significantly (P<0.05). High and very high doses of losartan, compared with the routine dose, obviously reversed these changes.

CONCLUSIONHigh-dose losartan can effectively control blood pressure, reduce renal damage and fibrosis, and inhibit MCP1 and TGF-β(1) expression in rats with UUO, and at a very high dose, losartan can more effectively reduce 24-h Upro than the high-dose group. High and very high doses of losartan offer better protective effect on the kidney in rats with UUO.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Losartan ; pharmacology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction ; complications ; drug therapy

Objective To analyze the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC)on endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated HepG2 cells apoptosis and evaluate the role of NAC in the treatment of liver injury.Methods HepG2 cells were treated with thapsigargin(TG)to establish the model of oxidative endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis,and NAC was used to intervene in apoptosis.To evaluate the apoptosis,various methods such as MTT assay,flow cytometry,DNA ladder and Western blot were performed.Results After treated with 2 μmol/L TG for 0,24,36 and 48 hours,the vitality of HepG2 cells decreased.The ratio of apoptotic cells increased along with the prolonged treatment duration of TG(0.7%±0.5%,27.6%±6.3%,29.7%±3.3%,47.9%±3.5% respectively,P<0.05),and the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)also increased in time-dependent manner(14.0%±0.5%,36.1%±3.0%,38.2%±6.0%,48.3%±12.4%,P<0.05).The HepG2 cells showed typical morphologic change of endoplasmic retieulum stress induced by 2 μmol/L TG after 36 h and 48 h.DNA ladder was observed at the same concentration and time point correspondingly.Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated-apoptosis was confirmed by Western blot.Both 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L NAC could protect ceils from apoptosis.The ratio of apoptotic cells decreased to 14.0%±1.3% and 11.0%±0.3%,respectively.The production of ROS decreased to 34.7%±0.8% and 31.5%±2.9%,respectively.The effect was related to the concentration of NAC.Conclusions As a Ca2+-adenosine triphoshatase inhibitor,TG may disrupt intracellular calcium homeostasis,which can induce endoplasmie reticulum stress and apoptosis.NAC,the precursor of the synthesis of-SH,can directly inhibit the ROS reaction and alleviate liver damage,which may play a role in the treatment of liver failure.

Objective To elucidate the prevalence and risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and to investigate the associated problems in treatment. Methods A total of 254 PD patients in our division were enrolled in this study. CVD history, laboratory measurements, examinations of carotid atherosclerosis and left ventricular hypertrophy by ultrasonography were collected and associated factors were analyzed. The median follow-up time was 49 months. Results The overall prevalence of CVD was 37% (93/254). Diabetes, longer dialysis duration, hypertfiglyceridemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypoprealbuminemia were commonly found in the patients with new CVD event. The patients without pre-existing CVD had the higher Ccr, Kt/V, D/Pr, nPCR, serum albumin level. In those with pre-existing CVD, the hypertriglyceridemia and the duration of dialysis were independent predictors of progression of CVD. Differences of LAD, LVST, LVMI and IMT were significant between with and without pre-existing CVD groups. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the presence of CVD was the independent risk factor of survival. Alb<330 g/L, LAD>39.6 mm and peritonitis were risk factors of CVD. Conclusion The prevalence of CVD in PD patients is quite high. CVD history should be realized, dialysis adequacy should be maintained, and peritonitis should be prevented.

Objective This study was to investigate the role of lactoferrin and C-reactive protein (CRP)assay in ascitic fluid for diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP)in the patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.Methods Ascites was collected from the inpatients with decompensated liver cirrhosis before and after treatment from May to December 2011 for anal-ysis of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN)and bacterial culture.The level of lactoferrin and C-reactive protein in the ascites were determined.Results A total of 117 ascites samples were collected from 66 patients.Twenty-six patients met the criteria of SBP with PMN ≥ 250×106/L in ascites,were assigned to SBP group.Of these patients,11 presented with fever 37.3℃ to 38℃, and 11 patients had elevated peripheral blood white cell count > 10 × 109/L.Eleven patients had neutrophil cell percentage >0.75.Only 8 patients in this group had positive bacterial culture.Another 12 patients met the criteria of suspected SBP,and assigned to suspected SBP group.The remaining 28 patients did not satisfy the criteria of SBP,and assigned to non-SBP group.The pretreatment lactoferrin level was (768.46 ± 611 .70)ng/mL and (98.28 ± 56.81 )ng/mL in SBP and non-SBP group,respectively.The pretreatment CRP level was (9.397 ±3.737 )mg/L and (1 .786 ±0.52 )mg/L in SBP and non-SBP group,respectively.The lactoferrin and CRP levels decreased sharply after antibacterial and support-ive treatment in SBP group,which were 657.05 ng/mL and 8.13 mg/L,respectively.The cut-off value of lactoferrin for diagnosis of SBP was 233 ng/mL with sensitivity 96.2% and spe-cificity 97.5%.The cut-off value of CRP for diagnosis of SBP was 4.390 mg/L with sensitivity 92.3% and specificity 92.5%. However,lactoferrin combined with CRP had a sensitivity of 99.70% and specificity of 90.18% for diagnosis of SBP.Conclu-sions Lactoferrin and CRP levels in the ascites of patients with liver cirrhosis are useful for diagnosis of SBP with high specifici-ty and sensitivity.