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.

Objective To investigate the effects of the zinc finger protein A20 on LPS-TLR4 signaling pathways in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP) rats.Methods 24 SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:group A(the sham operation group),group B (the SAP group),group C (the SAP group treated with LPS).SAP model was induced by retro-injection of intraductal 5％ sodium taurocholate into the biliary-pancreatic duct as previously described.The protein expression of A20,TLR4,NF-κBp65 and p38MAPK in pancreatic tissues was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Results The positive area of A20 in pancreatic tissues was decreased in group B and group C compared with that in group A (t =17.234,19.698,all P ＜ 0.05).On the contrary,the expression of TLR4,NF-κBp65 and p38MAPK in pancreatic tissues were up-regulated(t =15.909,20.432,16.543,18.629,22.105,19.006,all P ＜ 0.05).A20 was decreased in group C than that in group B (t =14.894,P ＜ 0.05),while TLR4、NF-κBp65 and p38MAPK were increased in group C than those in group B (t =14.047,15.582,17.070,all P ＜0.05).Conclusion The expression of A20 reduced and TLR4,NF-κBp65 and p38MAPK enhanced in the pancreas of rats with SAP,which indicated that A20 inhibited LPS-TLR4 signaling pathways which play important roles in the pathogenesis of SAP.

Objective To analyze the risk factors of laryngeal carcinoma.Methods The data of laryngeal carcinoma inpatients of our hospital from October 2005 to November 2007 were reviewed retrospectively by a case control analysis.Results The males who have smoking addiction,alcohol consumption,family history of malignant tumor and have more risks to suffer from laryngeal carcinoma.For The family history,OR is 2.01 in the single factor analysis,and in the multivariate analysis the OR is 2.27.Conclusion Gender,smoking,alcohol and family history of malignant tumor have great effect on the risk of laryngeal carcinoma.Family history of malignant tumor is an independent risk factor.

Objective To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in patients with incidental renal cell carcinoma.Methods Twenty-six patients with T1 incidental renal cell carcinoma treated with retroperitoneal LPN from Dec.2011 to Oct.2013 were analyzed retrospectively.The operation time,warm ischemia time,intraoperative blood loss,complications and prognosis of perioperative periods were collected.Results All 26 cases were operated successfully without conversion to open or other surgery.The operation period was 90-190 minutes.Blockage of renal artery was applied in all 26 cases,and the warm ischemia time was 15-30 minutes.The intraoperative blood loss was 100-360 ml.The drainage was removed 3-7 days postoperatively,and the hospitalization period was 7-12 days.All cases were clear cell renal cell carcinoma by pathological examinations,and showed negative surgical margins.No complications such as postoperative bleeding,inflammation and leakage of urine were occurred.All cases had normal renal function during the follow-up of 3-25 months without local recurrence or distant metastasis.Conclusion Retroperitoneal LPN for the treatment of T1 incidental renal cell carcinoma is worthy of application with the advantages of safety,minimal invasiveness,fewer complications,quick recovery and good nephron-sparing functional recovery.

Objective:To study 3-dimensional facial soft tissue reference values of Chinese Han nationality adults with normal occlusion and explore the facial morphology differences between men and women.Methods:3dMD images from 30 men and 32 women of Han nationality,aged 18-35 years,with normal occlusion were analyzed and compared between the men and women on 19 linear distances,8 angular measurements and 10 linear distance ratios.Results:Linear distances concerning the width and height of facial and organic contours were larger in men(P<0.05),while the ratio of facial height to width were larger in women(P<0.05);the nasofrontal angle and nasal prominence angle were both smaller(P<0.05) but nasofacial angle were larger(P<0.05) in men than in women.Conclusion:The facial and organic contours are larger in men than in women.Men have wide-elliptical face while women have thin-elliptical one.The nose of men is more prominent than women.

Objective: To study the clinic and pathological features of leukoplakia of the larynx, and reduce canceration rate. Method: Seventy-four postoperative patients of leukoplakia of the larynx were followed up for four years by telephone or clinic service. Result: None of eighteen cases of pure leukoplakia was recurrence. Fifty-six ca-ses were leukoplakia with epithelial dysplasia histologically. Seven out of fifty-six postoperative cases occurred hoarseness; three out of fifty-six postoperative cases recured, and accepted twice or more operations successively; three out of fifty-six postoperative cases occurred canceration. Conclusion:Operation is the main means for the treatment of leukoplakia of the larynx, and the effect is comparatively well. The patients with histological epitheli-al dysplasia should be pay great attention because of their higher canceration rate, and enlarged operation ranges appropriately with the patient consent could effectually prevent recurrence or canceration during the early lesions. Close observation is important for these patients.

AIM　In order to improve the biological activity and reduce the side effects and toxicity, a series of novel estrogen receptor antagonists were designed. METHODS　The key triphenylethylene intermediates were obtained by the McMurry reaction. The target compounds were prepared by etherification. The binding affinities of the target compounds for the estrogen receptor in rat uterine cytosol were measured by a competitive binding assay and their estrogen agonistic/antagonistic properties were investigated in the 3-day uterine weight assay in the immature rats. RESULTS　Thirty-five new compounds have been synthesized and their geometric configuration were determined by X-ray crystallography and 1HNMR spectral data. CONCLUSION　All of the test compounds showed affinity for the estrogen receptor (IC50<10-6 mol.L-1), especially compound 35 with IC50 1.07×10-8 mol.L-1. Some compounds are antagonists, inhibiting uterus growth; others are agonists, promoting uterus growth. Compounds 14 and 27 are superior antagonists to tamoxifen.

Carbon nanotubes, a new member of the carbon material family, can be considered as graphite sheets rolled-up into cylinders with diameters ranging in the nanometer scale. In recent years, carbon nanotubes have attracted intensive interests because of their unique nanostructures and outstanding mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties. In this paper, the structures and basic features of carbon nanotubes were described in brief. The research advances in the carbon nanotubes on the specific recognition of biomolecules by surface modification and functionalization, in the enhancement to cell growth as culture scaffolds in vitro, and in the improvement of biocompatibility for implantable biomedical material were reviewed. Also comments were made on their potential applications in biomedical sensor and biomedical microelectrics.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Biomedical Engineering ; trends ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; trends ; Nanotubes, Carbon ; chemistry

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of kidney transplantations from donors with acute kidney injury (AKI) and without AKI,and summarize the experience of evaluation and application.Methods The clinical data of 240 kidney transplantations from donation after citizen's death (DCD) performed in our hospital between November 2011 and March 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The recipients were classified into AKI group (n =37) and non-AKI group (n =203) according to donors' renal function and urine output.Basic characteristics and evolution of the donors and recipients were compared between the two groups.Results The donor serum creatinine was significantly higher in the AKI group than that in the non-AKI group (P＜0.01).Most transplant recipients accepted ATG for immune induction therapy in the AKI group,while Basiliximab was given in the non-AKI group,which was significantly different (P＜0.01).Delayed graft function developed more frequently and longer in the AKI group than in the non-AKI group (P＜0.01).However,patient and graft survival rates did no differ between the AKI and non-AKI groups (P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in other indexes between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The transplants from donors with AKI showed higher incidence of delayed graft function but no effect on 1-year allograft and patient survival.This type of kidney transplantation is safe and effective.

Background:1 α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25 (OH) 2 D3],the active form of vitamin D,is reported in some studies having antifibrotic potential in liver fibrosis,however,its mechanism is not fully clarified.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been shown could regulate the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs),and are involved in the promotion or inhibition of liver fibrosis.Aims:To explore whether the inhibiting effect of 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 on activation of HSCs is by regulating miRNAs expression.Methods:Literature review and qPCR method were used to screen out the differentially expressed miRNAs between transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-stimulated (activated) HSCs and the inactivated HSCs.Then the HSCs were co-cultured with TGF-β1 and the mimic of differentially expressed miRNA,the negative control mimic,1,25(OH)2D3 and DMSO,respectively,and the cell viability and apoptosis were determined by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry.Results:Expression of miR-146a was down-regulated in activated HSCs (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with HSCs in DMSO group,the expression of miR-146a was significantly up-regulated in HSCs treated with 1,25 (OH) 2 D3;meanwhile,the cell viability was decreased and the apoptosis was increased (P all ＜ 0.05).In HSCs transfected with miR-146a mimic,the expression of miR-146a was up-regulated,the cell viability was decreased,and the apoptosis was increased similarly with HSCs in 1,25 (OH)2D3 group (P all ＜ 0.05).Conclusions:Regulation of miR-146a expression might be one of the important mechanisms of 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 in inhibiting TGF-β1-stimulated HSC activation and inducing apoptosis in HSCs.