OBJECTIVEThis research aimed to study the inhibitory effect of xylitol on the growth and acid production of Actinomyces viscosus (A. viscosus).

METHODSWe cultivated A. viscosus in anaerobic conditions with different concentrations (128, 64, 32, 16, 8, and 4 g x L(-1)) of xylitol brain heart infusion liquid medium and determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Subsequently, we measured the pH value of the control group, as well as those of 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 MIC, and MIC concentration groups at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The Delta pH and OD550 at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h were calculated. We discovered that the minimum xylitol concentrations suppressed 50% and 90% A. viscosus biofilm formation (i.e., MBIC50 and MBIC90). SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze the collected data, and conclusions were drawn afterward.

RESULTSXylitol inhibited the growth ofA. viscosus at MIC of 64 g x L(-1). After 12 h, the differences of pH value among groups were all statistically significant (P < 0.05), and Delta pH increased when the MIC concentration decreased. Except for the 1/2 MIC and MIC groups, the differences of OD550 among groups had no statistical significance (P>0.05), and OD550 also increased when the MIC concentration decreased. These results imply that the ability ofA. viscosus to grow and produce acid in 1/2 MIC and MIC conditions will be reduced with the increase in xylitol concentration. The value of MIBC50 was 64 g x L(-1), whereas the value of MIBC90 was 128 g x L(-1). This finding indicates that the xylitol medium can restrict A. viscosus biofilm formation.

CONCLUSIONXylitolcan effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, and acid production ofA. viscosus, protecting teeth from cariogenic bacteria and preventing caries to a certain extent.

Actinomyces viscosus ; Bacteria ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Xylitol

Objective To make a further recongnizing of the manifestations of diffuse axonal injury (DAI)on CT images for the early accurate clinical diagnosis.Methods The CT image data and its correlated clinic features of 56 cases with diffuse axonal injury(44 male,12 female)were analyzed retrospectively.In this series,43 cases were caused by traffic accident,13 by falling from high place.Results 1. 44 cases had haemorrhage lesions(less than 2 cm in diameter)in brain parenchyma which were at the corticomedullary junction,corpus callosum,brain stem,basal ganglia,internal capsule.2. 41 cases had subarachnoid and/or intraventricular hemorrhage 3. 9 cases had acute generalized brain swelling 4. 5 cases were associated with epidural hematoma and 16 with subdural hematoma.Conclusion CT manifestation of DAI have some featrues,and can provide reliable evidence for accurate clinic diagnosis of DAI.

A two-year-old girl was admitted due to repeated yellowing of the skin and sclera for 2 years and had no other specific symptoms or signs. The use of phenobarbital could relieve the symptoms of jaundice. Multiple examinations showed increased indirect bilirubin levels, and the results of aminotransferases and liver imaging were normal. There was no evidence of hemolysis. The analysis of UGT1A1 gene in her family found that this child had double homozygous mutation of c.211G>A(G71R) and c.1456T>G(Y486D), which had been reported as the pathogenic mutation for Gilbert syndrome. Her parents carried double heterozygous mutation of G71R and Y486D and had no symptom of jaundice. The child was diagnosed as having Gilbert syndrome. It is concluded that as for patients with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia which cannot be explained by liver damage and hemolysis, their family history should be investigated in detail and gene analysis should be performed as early as possible, in order to identify congenital bilirubin metabolic disorders.
Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gilbert Disease ; diagnosis ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Sclera ; pathology ; Skin ; pathology

AIM: To compare the pharmacokinetics and relative bioavailability of the domestic and imported sustained-release tablets of gliclazide in healthy volunteers. METHODS:The study was performed by an four-period crossover design with singledose and multiple-dose administration. The plasmadrug concentrations of twenty male healthy volunteers were determined by liquid chromatography with mass spectrum detector method (LC-MS). RESULTS:The pharmacokinetic parameters after a single oral dose of the domestic and imported gliclazide tablets were (7.2+s 1.5) h and (6.9 +1.4) h for tmax, (13.4 ±1.2) h and (13.7 +1.3) h for t1/2, (2.4 +0.8) mg ·L-1and (2.3 ±0.6) mg· L-1 forcmax, (48 ±14)mg · h · L-1 and (48 +14) mg· h · L-1 forAUC0-60,(51+15) mg· h· L-1 and (50±14) mg· h· L-1for AUC0-∞, (22.4 ± 1.9 ) h and (22.8 ± 1.9 ) h for MRT, respectively. The steady state pharmacokinetic parameters after multiple doses of the domestic and imported gliclazide tablets were (6. 1 ± 1.4) h and (6.5+1.4) h for tmax, (4.6±0.9) mg· L-1 and (4.7±1.1) mg· L-1 for cmax, (0.23 ±0.08) mg ·L-1and (0.26±0.08) mg· L-1 forcmin, (1.6±0.3) mg·L-1 and (1.6±0.3) mg · L-1 for mean value of steady plasma-drug concentration (cav),(94±19) mg· h · L-1 and (95 ±20) mg · h · L-1forAUCss, (282 ±33)% and (283 ±43)% for degree of fluctuation DF ), respectively. The relative bioavailability of the domestic gliclazide tablet to the imported gliclazide tablet following a single and multiple dose were ( 102 ± 9) % and (99 ± 10 ) %, respectively. Main pharmacokinetic parameters between the two formulations in both single and multiples dose studies showed no statistical difference ( P >0.05 ). CONCLUSION: The result of two one side t-test shows that the two formulations are bioequivalent.

In traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCM), including Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Danshen), Radix Puerariae Lobatae (Gegen), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui), and Rhizoma Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong) are widely used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and also often co-administered with Western drugs as a part of integrative medicine practice. Carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) plays a pivotal role in the metabolisms of pro-drugs. Since (S)-2-(2-(6-dimethylamino)-benzothiazole)-4,5-dihydro-thiazole-4-carboxylate (NLMe) has recently been identified by us as a selective CES1 bioluminescent sensor, we developed a rapid method using this substrate for the direct measurement of CES1 activity in rats. This bioluminescence assay was applied to determine CES1 activity in rat tissues after a two-week oral administration of each of the four herbs noted above. The results demonstrated the presence of CES1 enzyme in rat blood and all tested tissues with much higher enzyme activity in the blood, liver, kidney and heart than that in the small intestine, spleen, lung, pancreas, brain and stomach. In addition, the four herbs showed tissue-specific effects on rat CES1 expression. Based on the CES1 biodistribution and its changes after treatment in rats, the possibility that Danshen, Gegen and Danggui might alter CES1 ac-tivities in human blood and kidney should be considered. In summary, a selective and sensitive biolu-minescence assay was developed to rapidly evaluate CES1 activity and the effects of orally administered TCMs in rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between four serum fibrosis markers and liver function in patients with infantile hepatitis syndrome (IHS), and to explore the clinical significance of these markers in the diagnosis of IHS and the assessment of disease severity.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed on 60 patients with IHS who were divided into hepatic fibrosis and normal groups based on ultrasound diagnosis. Levels of four liver fibrosis markers, i.e., hyaluronic acid (HA), type III procollagen (PC-III), type IV collagen (IV.C), and laminin (LN), were compared between the two groups, and the correlation between these markers and liver function was analyzed.

RESULTSLevels of liver function markers (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), indirect bilirubin (IBil), and total bile acid (TBA)) in the hepatic fibrosis group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P<0.05). Levels of HA and IV.C in the hepatic fibrosis group were significantly higher compared with those in the normal group (P<0.05). Furthermore, HA, IV.C, and PC-III levels were positively correlated with those of ALT, TBil, GGT, DBil, IBil, and TBA (r=0.25-0.49), and the strongest correlation existed between HA/IV.C and ALT/jaundice markers.

CONCLUSIONSAssay measuring serum fibrosis markers (HA, IV.C, and PC-III) in combination with liver function tests and ultrasound examination has an important clinical value in the early diagnosis of IHS and evaluation of disease severity.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis ; blood ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Infant ; Laminin ; blood ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVEUsing high resolution melting (HRM) to analysis MDR1 C3435T in people exposed to benzene.

METHODSRestriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was utilized to detect the polymorphism of MDR1 3435 in 121 benzene-exposed workers, and the results were compared with the HRM in 10% samples and were confirmed with direct sequencing for six people in them.

RESULTSBy direct sequencing, consistent results of benzene-exposed workers with RFLP or HRM were got. The new high resolution melting curve analysis is more efficient, more convenient, and cheaper than RFLP.

CONCLUSIONHigh-resolution melting analysis provides a valid approach to efficiently detect DNA genetic diagnosis, which is suitable for detect susceptible genes in occupational surveillance.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; Benzene ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of MDR1 C3435T on the peripheral white blood cell counts in workers exposed to benzene.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-one benzene-exposed workers and 110 healthy controls without benzene exposure were enrolled in this study. White blood cell counts influenced by the polymorphism of MDR1 gene were analyzed.

RESULTSThe frequency of MDR1 3435 C/C, C/T, T/T in healthy controls was 37.27%, 46.36%, 16.37%, respectively, and it was 38.84%, 41.33%, 19.83% in the benzene-exposed workers, respectively. The frequency of the MDR1 gene was also not significantly different between benzene exposed workers and controls. Subjects exposed to benzene with MDR1 3435 mutation genotype (T/T) had the significantly lower WBC [(5.46 ± 1.51) × 10(9)/L] than those carrying wild type (C/C) and heterozygous (C/T), whose WBC were (6.08 ± 1.28) × 10(9)/L (P = 0.044).

CONCLUSIONP-glycoprotein encoded by MDR1 gene may be implicated into the hematotoxicity of benzene. Subjects carrying MDR1 3435 T/T genotype may have a higher risk of benzene poisoning.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; Adult ; Benzene ; adverse effects ; Control Groups ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

To evaluate the impact of trisomy 8 on cytobiological and clinical features of acute myelomonocytic and monocytic leukemia (M(4), M(5)), a total of 56 cases of acute myelomonocytic and monocytic leukemia were investigated. Karyotypes were analyzed by G-banding or R-banding. The immunotypes in all cases were detected by flow cytometry. And the clinical characteristics at the first visit were analyzed retrospectively. The results showed that thirty-four of 56 (60.7%) patients had normal cytogenetics; 10 (17.9%) patients had trisomy 8 in their karyotypes, including 3 (5.4%) patients with trisomy 8 as the sole aberration; and 12 (21.4%) patents had other cytogenetic abnormalities (except trisomy 8). All trisomy 8 cases demonstrated a increased expression frequency of surface markers of myeloid progenitor cells CD34 (P < 0.01) and CD117 (P < 0.05) and a decreased expression frequency of surface markers of mature monocytes CD11c (P < 0.01) and CD14 (P < 0.05), compared with normal cytogenetics cases. Patients with trisomy 8 were slightly older (P < 0.05), which had lower percentages of peripheral blasts (P < 0.05) and lower WBC (P < 0.05) than the patients without trisomy 8. Patients with trisomy 8 had a shorter disease-free survival time than that of patients with normal cytogenetics (P < 0.05). It is concluded that trisomy 8 may play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of acute myelomonocytic/monocytic leukemia (M(4)/M(5)), whic seems to be related with a block in differentiation of monocytes. Therefore, trisomy 8 may be an adverse prognostic factor for patients with M(4) or M(5).
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; CD13 Antigens ; analysis ; Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR Antigens ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; immunology ; therapy ; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute ; genetics ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Prognosis ; Trisomy

In order to investigate the mechanism of acute lymphoblastic leukemic cell malignant proliferation, the expressions of hMSH2 mRNA and mutation P53 (mtP53) protein in bone marrow cells of de novo acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were determined by in situ hybridization and immunocytochemical methods. The results showed the that percentage of positive cell with hMSH2 mRNA expression was (32.88 +/- 11.46)% in the de novo ALL group and (64.22 +/- 8.51)% in the control group. The percentage of positive cell with mtP53 protein expression was (29.25 +/- 9.45)% in the de novo ALL group, and (12.63 +/- 6.66)% in the control group. There was a significant negative correlation between the positive percentages of hMSH2 mRNA expression and mtP53 protein expression (r = -0.45, P < 0.05). It is concluded that defective MSH2 mRNA expression plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, mtP53 protein mutation plays an important role in the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the hMSH2 mRNA defect can lead to accumulation of the mutant P53 protein in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and both jointly promote the pathogenesis of ALL.
Adult ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; Mutant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Mutation ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics