To investigate the expression of vaginal Th1 and Th2 cytokines in rats with experimental vaginal candidiasis under different immune conditions, ICR murine vaginal candidiasis model was established and immno-suppressed murine models of vaginal cadidiasis were established in estrogen-treated mice. Non-estrogen-treated mice were used as controls. The mRNA level of Th1 (IL-2)/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-beta1) cytokines in murine vaginal tissues was determined by RT-PCR. The cykotine in local tissues was increased to different extent under normal immune condition. IL-2 mRNA was increased during early stage of infection, while IL-10 was increased transiently during late stage of infection. TGF-beta1 production was found to be increased persistently. At same time, the expression of IL-2 mRNA was suppressed in immno-suppressed group, and the level of IL-4, IL-10, and TGF-beta1 were higher than the normal immunity group to different degree during infection. The high level of IL-2 mRNA during early stage of infection was associated with clearance of mucosal Candidia albicans (C. albicans), and its expression suppressed leading to decreased clearance of mucosal C. albican in immuno-suppression. The over-expression of IL-4 and IL-10 could significantly enhance the susceptibility to C. albicans infection in mice.

To compare the therapeutic effects of three different anti-fungal drugs (i.e., terbinafine, fluconazole and intraconazole) in the treatment of experimental vaginitis caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) in mice, the fungal vaginitis model was established in female ICR mice by intravaginal inoculation of suspension of C. albicans after the animal had been pretreated with estradiol. Mice were divided at random into different groups and then respectively treated with terbinafine, fluconazole and intraconazole given by gastrogavage. The burden of the fungus in the vaginal lavage fluids in the mice of the different groups was measured dynamically at different time points after the beginning of the drug treatment. The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken at different time points from the mice treated with terbinafine were significantly higher than those taken at corresponding time points from mice treated with fluconazole or itraconazole (P<0.01). The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken from mice 1 week after the beginning of the treatment with terbinafine remained at a relatively high level. A dramatic drop in the fungal burden was noted in the vaginal lavage fluids taken on the 2nd day of the treatment from mice treated with itraconazole or fluconazole group and the fungal burden on the 3rd day of the treatment in these mice were at a very low level, suggesting that fluconazole or itraconazole were highly effective for the treatment. However, the difference in the therapeutic effect between the two drugs was not significant (P>0.05). Itraconazole or fluconazole, but not terbinafine, is very effective for the treatment of fungal vaginitis caused by C. albicans in mice.

In order to study the susceptibility of murine vaginal mucosa to Candida albicans under different conditions, vaginal lavage fluid and vaginal tissue of mice were observed and compared between murine models with normal immune system (estrogen-treated mice) and immunosuppressed murine model, and between primary infection model of vaginal candidiasis and secondary infection one. The average level of colony forming unit (CFU) from the immuosuppressed group was higher than that from estrogen-treated group at each time point and the peak time was delayed. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05) from the fourth day after inoculation. A significant difference existed in the average level of CFU between the control group and the estrogen-treated group (P < 0.05), and between the control group and the immuosuppressed group (P < 0.01). It was concluded that the vaginal mucosa from the immunosuppressed mice is more susceptible to Candida albicans and no difference is found in susceptibility between mice with primary infection and secondary infection.
Candida albicans/drug effects ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/*etiology ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/*immunology ; Disease Susceptibility ; Estrogens/*pharmacology ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Random Allocation ; Vagina/microbiology

The expression of the interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF-4) and the IRF-4-binding protein (IBP) in psoriatic skin lesions was investigated.The expression of IRF-4 and IBP in skin lesions of 20 patients with psoriasis vulgaris were immunohistochemically dectected.Normal skin from 10 healthy people was used as normal control.The study showed that expression of IRF-4 was increased significantly in keratinocytes and inflammatory cells in the lesions of psoriasis vulgaris than that in the normal control.The detection revealed that IBP expression in keratinocytes,lymphocytes,hair follicles,and sebaceous glands in normal skin was significantly lower than that in the lesions of psoriasis vulgaris (P＜0.05).Both IRF-4 and IBP might be involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of the present study is to investigate the prognosis and influencing factors of crown-fractured young permanent teeth with pulp exposure.

METHODSCase records of crown-fractured young permanent teeth with pulp exposure in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology during 1991 to 2008 with more than 2 years follow-up were collected. These patients were treated with pulpotomy at the first visit at our hospital no matter whether these teeth were treated or untreated with direct pulp capping. The age of patients, interval between trauma and treatment, root development, mobility and tenderness to percussion were recorded. The prognosis was analyzed and Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors.

RESULTSTotally 118 cases satisfied the inclusion criteria, including 136 crown-fractured teeth with pulp exposure. The patients of (8.8 +/- 1.2) years old were periodically monitored for (46.1 +/- 22.0) months. The success rate of pulpotomy after pulp exposure was 85.3%. Pulp necrosis occurred in 20 teeth (25.0 +/- 19.0) months after trauma. The extent of tenderness to percussion showed significant correlation with pulp necrosis, while the age of the patients, interval between injury and treatment, and mobility of the teeth were not related to pulp necrosis.

CONCLUSIONThe success rate of pulpotomy after pulp exposure is good. Tenderness to percussion is an important signal of pulp necrosis. There are no evidence about the relationship between the patient's age, interval between injury and treatment, mobility of the pulp-exposed teeth and the pulp prognosis.

Age Factors ; Child ; Crowns ; Dental Pulp ; Dental Pulp Exposure ; Dental Pulp Necrosis ; Humans ; Incisor ; Male ; Prognosis ; Pulpotomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Root Canal Therapy ; Tooth Crown ; Tooth Fractures

The telomerase activity in condyloma acuminatum (CA) tissue with human papillomavirus (HPV) types of 6/11 and 16/18 was detected to investigate the function of telomerase in the occurrence, development and carcinogenesis of genital CA. Forty-two biopsies from patients with genital CA and 30 control tissue samples were tested for telomerase activity, HPV presence and types. The telomerase activity was determined by modified telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assay and HPV typing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with typing-specific primers. Results showed that HPV-DNA was negative and the expression rate of telomerase was 16.7% in all normal skin samples. All CA samples were positive for HPV (6/11 type was found in 32 cases, 16/18 in 3 and mixed type in 7). Telomerase activity was detectable in all CA patients. The telomerase activity in CA of 16/18 type was apparently higher than in CA of 6/11 type. It was concluded that the hyperplasia in CA might be increased as a result of HPV infection, suggesting that the activation of telomerase by HPV, especially by 16/18 type may play a role in the etiology and carcinogenesis of genital CA.
Adult ; Aged ; Condylomata Acuminata ; enzymology ; virology ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; virology ; Genital Diseases, Male ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; classification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; enzymology ; virology ; Telomerase ; metabolism ; Tumor Virus Infections ; enzymology ; virology

In order to investigate the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in the vaginal candidiasis caused by Candida, the fungal vaginitis model was established in female ICR mice by intravaginal inoculation of suspension of C. albicans after the animals were pretreated with estradiol. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1 in the vagina in the mice of different groups at different time points after the beginning of the experiment. The average expression level of IL-2 mRNA in group D (estrogen-treated mice) was significantly higher than that in groups H (estrogen-untreated mice) and I (control group) on the day 2. The average expression level of IL-4 mRNA in group D was significantly higher than that in groups I and H on the day 5. The average expression level of IL-10 mRNA in group D was significantly higher than that in groups H and I from day 7 to 11. The average expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA in group D was significantly higher than that in groups H and I at all time points. It was concludes that the high-level expression of IL-2 mRNA during early infection was associated with clearance of mucosal C. albicans, and the high-level expression of IL-10 mRNA during late stage of the infection was related to susceptibility to infection. TGF-β1 may play a predominant role when the virtual absence of changes in other Th-type cytokines during infection.

To investigate the expression of vaginal Th1 and Th2 cytokines in rats with experimental vaginal candidiasis under different immune conditions, ICR murine vaginal candidiasis model was established and immno-suppressed murine models of vaginal cadidiasis were established in estrogen-treated mice. Non-estrogen-treated mice were used as controls. The mRNA level of Th1(IL-2)/Th2 (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β1) cytokines in murine vaginal tissues was determined by RT-PCR.The cykotine in local tissues was increased to different extent under normal immune condition. IL-2mRNA was increased during early stage of infection, while IL-10 was increased transiently during late stage of infection. TGF-β1 production was found to be increased persistently. At same time, the expression of IL-2 mRNA was suppressed in immno-suppressed group, and the level of IL-4, IL-10,and TGF-β1 were higher than the normal immunity group to different degree during infection. The high level of IL-2 mRNA during early stage of infection was associated with clearance of mucosal Candidia albicans (C. albicans), and its expression suppressed leading to decreased clearance of mucosal C. albican in immuno-suppression. The over-expression of IL-4 and IL-10 could significantly enhance the susceptibility to C. albicans infection in mice.

In order to study the susceptibility of murine vaginal mucosa to Candida albicans under different conditions, vaginal lavage fluid and vaginal tissue of mice were observed and compared be tween murine models with normal immune system (estrogen-treated mice) and immunosuppressed murine model, and between primary infection model of vaginal candidiasis and secondary infection one. The average level of colony forming unit (CFU) from the immuosuppressed group was higher than that from estrogen-treated group at each time point and the peak time was delayed. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.05) from the fourth day after in oculation. A significant difference existed in the average level of CFU between the control group and the estrogen-treated group (P＜0.05), and between the control group and the immuosuppressed group (P＜0.01). It was concluded that the vaginal mucosa from the immunosuppressed mice is more susceptible to Candida albicans and no difference is found in susceptibility between mice with primary infection and secondary infection.

To compare the therapeutic effects of three different anti-fungal drugs (i.e., terbinafine,fluconazole and intraconazole) in the treatment of experimental vaginitis caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) in mice, the fungal vaginitis model was established in female ICR mice by intravaginal inoculation of suspension of C. albicans after the animal had been pretreated with estradiol. Mice were divided at random into different groups and then respectively treated with terbinafine, fluconazole and intraconazole given by gastrogavage. The burden of the fungus in the vaginal lavage fluids in the mice of the different groups was measured dynamically at different time points after the beginning of the drug treatment. The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken at different time points from the mice treated with terbinafine were significantly higher than those taken at corresponding time points from mice treated with fluconazole or itraconazole (P＜0.01). The fungal burdens in the vaginal lavage fluids taken from mice 1 week after the beginning of the treatment with terbinafine remained at a relatively high level. A dramatic drop in the fungal burden was noted in the vaginal lavage fluids taken on the 2nd day of the treatment from mice treated with itraconazole or fluconazole group and the fungal burden on the 3rd day of the treatment in these mice were at a very low level, suggesting that fluconazole or itraconazole were highly effective for the treatment. However, the difference in the therapeutic effect between the two drugs was not significant (P＞0.05).Itraconazole or fluconazole, but not terbinafine, is very effective for the treatment of fungal vaginitis caused by C. albicans in mice.