Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; methods ; Fluorescence ; G1 Phase ; Resting Phase, Cell Cycle

Objective To examine the expression of recombinant cytolethal distending toxin(CDT)produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans(Aa).Methods CDT encoding gene cdtABC was amplified by PCR.Through TA clone and restriction endonuclease digestion,gene cdtABC and vector pQE60 were ligated to form pQE60-cdtABC expression system which transformed into competent cells.Protein expression was induced by IPTG and examined by SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting.Results Random colony PCR of pQE60-cdtABC transformed cells demonstrated that all strains contained cdtABC gene.The DNA sequence was blast with cdtABC gene from GenBank and 99%homology was obtained.SDS-PAGE and Western-blotting confirmed that recombinant CDT was obtained.Conclusions CDT protein expression system was reconstructed and recombinant protein was obtained.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; enzymology ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo measure the utility value of different skeletal malocclusion for patients receiving orthodontic treatment.

METHODSUtility value of different skeletal malocclusion for patients was measured by rating scale and time trade-off.

RESULTSThe youth group had higher utility values than adult group for skeletal malocclusion Class II (protruding facial type) with median mandibular angle. The utility value of skeletal malocclusion Class III (concave facial type) with low mandibular angle was the lowest, and the utility value of skeletal malocclusion Class II (protruding facial type) with median mandibular angle was the highest. There was no difference in the utility values by rating scale and by time trade-off.

CONCLUSIONFor some skeletal malocclusion, the youth had different utility values with the adult.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Face ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III ; Mandible

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Erlotinib Hydrochloride ; Female ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Quinazolines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVE To investigate antibacterial activity and mechanism of Tibetan medicine Liuweidingxiang pills against Staphylococcus aureus,and provide theoretical basis for clinical application.METHODS M-H agar-punching method was adopted to research antibacterial activity of Liuweidingxiang pills against Staphylococcus aureus,and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured by broth dilution method.The absorbance OD600nm of culture medium mixed with medicine was continuously recorded for 36h and growth curve of S.aureus was drawn.Furthermore,the antibacterial mechanism was explored using scanning electron microscopy and cell wall permeability test.RESULTS The diameter of inhibition zone was (21.8±2.36) mm at 800 mg/mL,and the MIC was between 12.5 mg/mL and 25 mg/mL.This medicine had significant inhibition to bacterial proliferation.The structure of bacterial cell was changed and the permeability of cell wall was increased.CONCLUSION Liuweidingxiang pills had significant antimicrobial effect on multidrug-resistant S.aureus,which implied potential value in clinical application.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, T1 and susceptibility to mountain sickness.

METHODSForty-three soldiers with acute mountain sickness and 80 healthy soldiers matching with sex/age and training under the same condition were divided into case group and control group. A multiple polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood cells from both cases and controls.

RESULTSThe frequency of the GSTT1 positive genotype was significantly higher in cases (69.8%) than in controls (42.5%) (P = 0.004, OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.42 approximately 6.86). The frequency of GSTM1 negative genotype was also higher in cases (72.1%) than in controls (52.5%) (P = 0.03, OR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.05 approximately 5.02). Persons with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 negative genotypes had 5-fold more risk than those with GSTT1 negative and GSTM1 positive genotypes in developing mountain sickness (OR = 5.04, 95% CI: 1.00 approximately 25.3).

CONCLUSIONGenetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1, T1 may be the risk factors in the development of mountain sickness.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the number of the Tannerella forsythensis (T. forsythensis), total bacteria, and proportion of T. forsythensis in subgingival specimens in diseased sites of chronic periodontitis patients and in healthy sites of periodontally healthy subjects, and clarify the relationship between bacterial load and periodontal status.

METHODSSubgingival plaque samples from 61 chronic periodontitis patients and 12 healthy controls (positive for T. forsythensis by conventional PCR) were analyzed with TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for T. forsythensis and total bacteria. Quantification was performed with species-specific primer/probe, universal primer/ probe and serial dilution of plasmid standards.

RESULTSNumbers of T. forsythensis and total bacteria(P<0.001) , the proportion of T. forsythensis in subgingival specimens (P<0.05) were significant higher in diseased sites of chronic periodontitis patients than in healthy sites of healthy subjects. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the number of bacteria and various probing depth (P<0.001). There was no significantly difference between the proportion of T. forsythensis in subgingival plaque and probing depth.

CONCLUSIONNumber of T. forsythensis are closely associated with periodontal status, and demonstrate the broad potential of real-time polymerase chain reaction application on periodontology.

Adult ; Bacteroides ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides (Sup ODN) on interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (pSTAT4) expression of Silica-induced pulmonary inflammation in Mice.

METHODSSixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups, normal control group, silicious group, suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides (Sup ODN) group, control oligodeoxynucleotides (Con ODN) group. Except the normal control group injected normal saline, the rest groups were induced by the intratracheal instillation of 0.1 ml (5 g/L) of sterilized silica suspension. Sup ODN group and Con ODN group were treated by i.p. injection of 0.3 ml (1mg/mL) of suppressive or control ODN 3 h before silica administration. After 7 days, the animals were killed and levels of IFN-γ were detected by ELISA. The pathologic changes in lung tissues of mice were observed with HE staining. Expressions of IFN-γ and pSTAT4 in lung tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry and quantified by Image-Pro Plus 7.0.

RESULTSHE staining showed that the lung tissue of silicious group were damaged seriously than Sup ODN group. Compared with the normal control group (serum: (280.1±41.3) pg/ml, lung tissue: (0.249±0.373), IFN-γ increased in silicious group (serum: (886.3±81.7) pg/ml, lung tissue: (0.270±0.300) (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group and Con ODN group [(894.5±91.6) pg/ml], IFN-γ in the serum of Sup ODN group decreased significantly (P < 0.01). Compared with the silicious group , IFN-γ in lung tissue decreased in Sup ODN group (0.241±0.250) (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group (0.279±0.353), pSTAT4 in lung tissue increased significantly in silicious group (0.313±0.231) (P < 0.01). Compared with the silicious group, pSTAT4 in lung tissue decreased significantly in Sup ODN group (0.269±0.523) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSup ODN attained protective effect on Silica treated mice by suppressing expression of IFN-γ and pSTAT4.

Animals ; Female ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylation ; STAT4 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo observe the prophylactic effect of curcumin on hepatic fibrosis and the number, location, apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the livers and to discuss the relationship between the prophylactic effects and activated HSC.

METHODSA rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. Curcumin doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg per 100 gram per 100g of body weight were given to three groups of the model rats. No curcumin was given to one group of the model rats and it served as the control. After eight weeks, all rats were sacrificed and their left liver lobes were examined histopathologically with H.E and Masson stainings. Grades of hepatic fibrosis were evaluated according to the SSS system. Activated HSC was detected by the alpha-SMA immunohistochemistry staining. HSC apoptosis was detected by double-stainings of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and desmin immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSDegrees (SSS system scores) of hepatic fibrosis in the curcumin groups were all less severe in comparison with those of the control group. Activated HSCs in the livers of the rats of the control group increased significantly compared with that of the treatment groups, and also fewer apoptotic HSCs were detected in the control group. On the contrary, fewer activated HSCs and more apoptotic HSCs were detected in the curcumin groups compared with those of the control group. The degrees of the effects were curcumin dose-dependent.

CONCLUSIONSCurcumin can prevent hepatic fibrosis. It can inhibit activation and proliferation of HSCs and induce HSCs apoptosis, which may be the mechanism(s) contributing to the prophylactic effects of curcumin on hepatic fibrosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Curcumin ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley