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

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

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of recombinant cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans (Aa).

METHODSCDT 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.

RESULTSRandom 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.

CONCLUSIONSCDT protein expression system was reconstructed and recombinant protein was obtained. Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans;

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

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

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 determine the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and investigate the related molecular mechanism.

METHODSAfter incubating cultured HSCs for 24 h with different concentrations of NGF (100, 200 or 400 ng/mL), the cell proliferation was observed by XTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Morphological changes in response to a 24 h exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSNGF significantly inhibited HSC proliferation (P less than 0.05) in a dose-independent manner. The optical densities of the XTT colorimetric assay were 0.66+/-0.03 for 100 ng/mL NGF, 0.69+/-0.03 for 200 ng/mL NGF, and 0.66+/-0.03 for 400 ng/mL NGF, all of which were significantly lower than that of the control group (0.73+/-0.01; P less than 0.05). All concentrations of NGF led to significantly higher numbers of HSCs in the G2 phase (100 ng/mL: 14.83+/-5.41%, 200 ng/mL: 14.73+/-2.50%, and 400 ng/mL: 14.87+/-2.06%), compared to that detected in the control group (7.47+/-4.39%; P less than 0.05). Twenty-four hours of exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF caused morphological changes indicative of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONNGF inhibits the proliferation of HSCs, possibly by arresting the cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. NGF-inhibited cells may also undergo apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo detect the distribution of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis in periodontally healthy adults and chronic periodontitis patients, and to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis and periodontal health status.

METHODSSubgingival plaque samples were collected from 136 periodontally healthy adults and 115 chronic periodontitis patients. The occurrence of P. gingivalis was determined by P. gingivalis 16S rRNA PCR. Distribution of fimA genotype was assessed in P. gingivalis positive samples by PCR using primers pairs homologous to the different fimA genes.

RESULTSP. gingivalis was detected in 22.1% of the healthy subjects and 81.7% of chronic periodontitis patients. A single fimA genotype was detected in most subgingival plaque samples. In P. gingivalis-positive healthy adults, the most prevalent fimA genotype of P. gingivalis was type I fimA. In contrast, a majority of chronic periodontitis patients carried type II fimA, followed by IV fimA and I b fimA. The univariate analysis illustrated that chronic periodontitis was associated with occurrences of type I fimA (OR = 0.97), I b (OR =13.26), II (OR = 36.62), III (OR = 4.57), IV (OR = 22.86), and V (OR = 1.19).

CONCLUSIONII fimA genotype of P. gingivalis followed by IV and I b were an important virulence factor that may account for the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis, suggesting an increased pathogenic potential of these types.

Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Fimbriae Proteins ; Genotype ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of T. forsythensis in Chinese chronic periodontitis patients, and correlate it with clinical parameters.

METHODS108 chronic periodontitis patients were selected according to clinical criteria. In each patient, subgingival plaque samples were collected from two of the periodontitis involved molar sites with the deepest periodontal pocket depth(diseased sites) and one healthy gingival sulcus (healthy sites). T. forsythensis was detected by 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction. Clinical assessments including probing depth, clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing, were made at sampling sites.

RESULTSThe prevalence of Tforsythensis in diseased sites and healthy sites was 59.72% and 3.70% respectively (P < 0.001). The prevalence of T. forsythensis was significantly higher in deeper pockets and more serious clinical attachment loss, Spearman rank correlation coefficient was 0.48 and 0.51 respectively. The prevalence of T. forsythensis in BOP (+)sites was 61.31%, and in BOP(-) sites was 8.80% (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of T. forsythensis was significantly correlated with clinical parameters, suggesting that T. forsythensis is closely related to chronic periodontitis in the Chinese population.

Adult ; Bacteria ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Gingiva ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Periodontal Pocket ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in Chinese chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and periodontally healthy adults.

METHODS116 chronic periodontitis patients and 111 periodontally healthy adults were included. In each CP patient, subgingival plaque samples were collected from two sites of different molars with the greatest probing depth (PD) and one periodontally healthy site (PD < or =3 mm). The samples of periodontally healthy adults were obtained from the mesio-buccal site of one first upper molar. Bacteria DNA were extracted for detection of H. actinomycetemcomitans by 16S rRNA PCR.

RESULTSThe prevalence for H. actinomycetemcomitans of diseased sites (33.62%) was significantly higher than that of healthy sites from CP patients (0.86%) and the periodontally sites (0.90%) (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between male and female CP patients (P > 0.05). A decreasing trend of H. actinomycetemcomitans was observed as the age increased. And the pocket depth and clinical attachment losswas associated with the occurrence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in a positive mode. And H. actinomycetemcomitans was more often detected in the bleeding sites on probing.

CONCLUSIONH. actinomycetemcomitans was more frequently detected in periodontitis sites than periodontally healthy sites. For CP patients, a higher prevalence was associated with the seriously involved sites than those moderate and mild implicated sites. H. actinomycetemcomitans is considered to be the one of the periopathogens involved in the etiology of chronic periodontitis.

Adult ; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Chronic Periodontitis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S