Background Researches demonstrated that dendritic cells(DCs) are uniformly immature in the central cornea but mature in the peripheral region of cornea.So an important question is which factor impact the maturation of DCs,especially in terms of corneal transplant rejection and the known roles of DCs in the development and persistence of some corneal diseases.Objective This study aimed to examine whether corneal stroma cells (CSCs) inhibit DCs maturation through secreting transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β2) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).Methods DCs,T cells and CSCs were isolated and cultured from clean BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.The level of PGE2 and TGF-β2in CSCs culture supernatant and the fresh RPMI 1640 medium were then analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).During the DCs maturation stage,the neutralizing TGF-β2 antibody and the EP2 receptor antagonist AH6809 were added in the CSCs culture supernatant respectively.According to the different treatment,cultured cells were assigned to different groups as follows:control group,CSCs culture supernatant group,AH6809 group,TGF-β2 antibody group,AH6809 +TGF-β2 antibody group.Subsequently,the cellular surface markers for DCs,including CD11c,CD80,CD86,and MHC- Ⅱ,were analyzed by flow cytometry.The capability of stimulating the proliferation of T lymphocytes was evaluated by allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions,and the function of endocytosis was assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran(FITC) uptake.Results The data of ELISA showed a higher concentration of TGF-β2 and PGE2 in murine CSCs culture supernatant than in the fresh RPMI 1640 medium.Compared with the CSCs culture supernatant group,the expression of CD80,CD86,and MHC- Ⅱ was up-regulated ( P ＜ 0.05 ),the expression of dextran was down-regulated ( P ＜ 0.05 ),and the stimulate index was increased( P＜ 0.05 ) in the TGF-β2 antibody group; the expression of CD86,and MHC-Ⅱ was up-regulated (P＜0.05),the expression of dextran was down-regulated ( F =13.740,P =0.006 ),and the stimulate index was increased(P＜0.05) in the AH6809 group;the expression of MHC-Ⅱ was up-regulated and the stimulate index was increased with statistical difference in interaction(P＜0.05 ) in the AH6809+TGF-β2 antibody group.Compared with the control group,the expression of CD80 and CD86,and the stimulate index was still lower(P＜0.05 ).Conclusions TGF-β2 and PGE2 contribute to the inhibitory effects on DCs maturation mediated by murine CSCs in vitro and further have additive effect on the immunosuppression of DCs.

Objective To study the different expressions of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligang(RANKL) mRNA in spleens of rats fed with diet of low calcium and high fluoride. Methods A 2× 2×2 factorial design was used and the factors were calcium, fluoride and action time. In the design, 40 Wistar rats [average body mass(118.9±13.5)g] were divided into four groups randomly by weight: control with normal diet (0.790%, calcium), low calcium group with low calcium intake(0.063%, calcium), high fluoride group with normal diet and high fluoride intake(100 mg/L, fluoride) and low calcium and high fluoride group with low calcium and high fluoride intake. After 4 and 8 months, 5 rats of each group were sacrificed and total RNA was extracted from spleen. And the expression levels of RANKL mRNA were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results At time of 4 months, the expression level of RANKL mRNA was 0.13± 0.05,0.13± 0.03,0.17±0.02,0.27± 0.05 and at time of 8 months, it was 0.11 ± 0.01,0.16 ± 0.02,0.16± 0.03,0.36 ± 0.07 in control group, low calcium group, high fluoride group, low calcium with high fluoride group, repectively. The factorial design AVONA showed that low calcium and high fluoride had significant effects on RANKL mRNA expression(F = 40.224,56.679, all P < 0.05) while action time had not(F = 2.850, P > 0.05 ). The interactions of low calcium with high fluoride or high fluoride with action time were signifieant(F = 7.247, 18.789, all P < 0.05) while the interaction of high fluoride with action time was not(F = 1.751, P > 0.05). Conclusions Low calcium alone or high fluoride alone or low calcium with high fluoride or low calcium with action time can increase the the RANKL mRNA expression level. High fluoride does not affect the RANKL mRNA level as the action time is prolonged.

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible mechanism of total flavonoids of Litsea coreana (TFLC) on reducing blood glucose level in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODSMale SD rats of T2DM allocated in two groups were treated with 400 mg/kg TFLC or metformin respectively via gastrogavage for 6 weeks. Blood routine biochemical indices in rats were measured; pathology of rats' liver was examined with HE stain under transmission electron microscopy; levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver homogenate were determined, and the expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in liver was detected using RT-PCR at the terminal of the experiment.

RESULTSBiochemical measuring showed that the glucose tolerance of rats after treatment was markedly improved in both groups. Meantime, levels of fast blood glucose (FBG), glycohemoglobin (HbA1c), fast blood insulin (FINS), free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as MDA level in liver were decreased, while levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in blood and SOD in liver were significantly increased in both groups after treatment, showing insignificant difference between two treatment groups. Light microscopic examination showed markedly fatty degeneration of liver, and electron microscopic examination found mitochondria swelling and endoplasmic reticulum breakage in liver of T2DM rats, but these changes were ameliorated to some extent after treatment. The elevated PTP1B expression in liver of T2DM rats was decreased in the TFLC treated group, but unchanged in the metformin treated group.

CONCLUSIONTFLC can significantly decrease the blood levels of glucose and lipid and ameliorate oxidation stress in liver; its mechanism of action in improving insulin resistance might be related with its suppression on PTP1B expression in rat's liver to enhance the insulin signaling pathway.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; drug therapy ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Litsea ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To investigate the effects of 125I radioactive particle implantation in the treatment of maxillofacial malignancy. Methods:43 patients with maxillofacial malignancy were treated with 125I radioactive particle implantation.The procedure was carried out according to the treatment planning system(TPS),with the particles spaced uniformly at 1 cm intervals and with the activity of 0.7 m Ciby 41 particles per case on a verage.All patients were followed up for 6-60 months.Results:The whole treatment procedurewas successful,and no particle displaced.The follow-up rate was 93.02% and treatment effective rate(CR+PR) was 90.70%.Norecur-rence was foundinall target areas.The mortality due to tumor was 9.30%and total survival rate was 74.43%.The cumulative survival rate of the patients in 0.5,1,2,3 and 5 years was 93.0%,85.7%,79.3,69.8% and 56.9% respectively.Survival periodon aver-age was 36.06-50.04 months,with the median of 43.05 months.The longest tumor-free survival period was 60 months.Radiation in-jury rate was 20.93% and only level 1 radiation injury was observedinall the cases.Facial nerve dys function was found in 2 cases and recovered after treatment.Conclusion:Treatment of maxillofacial malignancy by implantation of 125I particles is convenient and mini-mally invasive.The treatment canincrease survival rate of the patients and guaran tee the oropharynxes' function.

BACKGROUND:The bispectral (BIS) index is a processed electroencephalogram (EEG) parameter with extensive validation and demonstrated clinical utility. The study aimed to investigate the correlation between the BIS index and the prognosis of patients with coma in the ICU. METHODS:A total of 208 patients with coma in the ICU were enrolled in this study. According to the BIS value, the patients were divided into four groups:group I, BIS value 0 to 20; group Ⅱ, BIS value 21 to 40; group Ⅲ, BIS value 41 to 60; and group IV, BIS value greater than 60. The difference in BIS values with the differences in prognosis of patients with coma was compared between the four groups, and the prognosis of patients with coma was stratified into consciousness, coma, vegetative state, and brain death. Subsequently, the best cut-off score of BIS values calculated for determining the correlation between BIS value and mental state was proposed. RESULTS:There are no significant differences in the age and APACHE Ⅱ scores between the four groups (P>0.05). An inverse correlation was observed between BIS value and mental state (r=–0.749, P=0.00). According to the ROC curve, as BIS value was greater than 42.5, there were higher sensitivity and specificity in conscious-coma patients. CONCLUSION:BIS value is correlated with the prognosis of patients with coma in ICU, and BIS value can be a useful marker for estimating the prognosis of comatose patients.

3T3-LI preadipocytes were induced to differentiate and 3T3-L1 adipocyte or preadipocytes were incubated with oleate or palmitate overnight.RT-PCR was used to measure adiponectin receptor(AdipoR)1 and AdipoR2 mRNA levels.The results showed that the AdipoRl and AdipoR2 expressions were differentiation- dependent.Oleate only suppressed AdipoR mRNA expression in preadipocyte but not in adipocyte.However,high concentration of palmitate reduced AdipoR mRNA expression in both 3T3-LI preadipocyte and adipocyte.

AIM AND METHODSNew method to analyse nitrate and nitrite concentrations in saliva, serum and urine was developed using high performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTSThe whole isolation process was completed in less than 7 minutes, the determination linearity of nitrate and nitrite were 0.7 ng-100 ng and 5 ng-100 ng, respectively. MINIMUM: Detectable limits of nitrate and nitrite were 0.3 ng and 2 ng, respectively. Nitrate recovery ratio was 99%-102% and nitrite recovery ratio was 99%-104%. The RSD of nitrate and nitrite was 0.8% and 1.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIn comparison with other methods available, the present method seems to be simpler, more sensitive and specific.

Body Fluids ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Nitrates ; analysis ; Nitrites ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the stress distribution in all-ceramic crowns when it was subjected to load.

METHODSA 3D numerical model of the all-ceramic crown of the right mandibular first molar was generated from scanned CT images. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate the stress distribution in the all-ceramic crown when it was subjected to 5 load conditions.

RESULTSStress distributions under 5 loading conditions were obtained. Stress concentrations were generally found near the loading areas at the veneer and at the lower surface of the core beneath the loading areas. In the 5 loading conditions, it was found that when the crown was loaded with vertical concentrated load, the tensile stresses around the shoulder areas were uniform, while stress concentration with maximum of 32.25 MPa was found at the shoulder areas in lingual-buccal direction when loads were applied at an angle of 10 degrees with the tooth axis on the buccal side. The masticatory load which was applied at 20 degrees with the tooth axis on the buccal side would cause stress concentration at the shoulder in mesial-distal direction. The maximum value could reach 11.29 MPa.

CONCLUSIONSThe occlusal surface of the all-ceramic crown must be trimmed to increase multiple contact zones with the opposite surfaces in antagonist teeth to avoid excessive concentrated stress that may cause crown failure.

Crowns ; Dental Porcelain ; Dental Stress Analysis ; methods ; Finite Element Analysis ; Materials Testing

An extremely thermoacidophilic isolate K4-1 was obtained from an acidic hot spring in Teng- chong Rehai, Yunnan province. Morphology, growth characteristics, utilization of carbon compounds, en- ergy sources and 16S rRNA gene sequence of K4-1 were studied. Cells of K4-1 are irregular cocci with monotrichous flagella. The strain grew aerobically in either a lithotrophic or a heterotrophic mode. Growth on elemental sulfur occurred through oxidation of sulfur. It grew optimally at 75?C and pH 3.5. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain K4-1 was shown to belong to genus Sulfolobus, being related to the type strains of genus Sulfolobus (86.6%~94.3% similarity), and being most closely related to strain Sulfolobus tengchongensis RT8-4 (98.9% similarity). The GenBank accession number of strain K4-1 16S rRNA gene sequence is EU729124.

Objectives:To investigate the correlation between the systolic blood pressure variability and glomerular filtration rate in the elderly. Methods:From retired employees who participated in the third time physical examination of Kailuan group to underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A total of 3 064 subjects aged over 60 years were recruited by cluster sampling method. 2 464 participants who met the inclusion were included and tested the renal function, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as indicators of renal function evaluation. Finally, 1 382 cases up to the standard. Multiviate regression models were performed to analyze the correlataion beteen short-term MMD and eGFR. Results:The mean age of 1 382 participants was (67.16±5.86) years, and 905 individuals (65.5%) were male. Levels of eGFR decreased with the increased of MMD (P＜0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that eGFR was positively correlated with 24 hr-MMD、day-MMD and night-MMD(P＜0.05). Multivarite linear regrsssion analysis indicated that 24 hr-MMD、day-MMD were correlated with eGFR. Conclusions:24 hr-MMD、day-MMD are correlated with eGFR.