Considering the World Health Organization's classification of Helicobacter pylori as a definite (class I ) carci- nogen, the relationship between oral microbial community and tumors is gaining increased interest. This review focused on three relationships between oral microbiota and tumors, i.e., between oral Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric tumors, between oral microbiota and oral squamous cell carcinoma, and between human immunodeficiency virus and tumors. The aims were to realize the early diagnosis of tumors with oral microbiota and support studies on treatment development.
Helicobacter Infections ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Mouth Neoplasms

[Objective] To assess the role of imbalance between regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper 17 (Th17) cells in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD).[Methods] Peripheral blood was obtained from 41 patients with AD and 38 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.Flow cytometry was performed to determine the percentage of Treg cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells) and Thl7 cells (CD4+ILl7+ T cells),real-time quantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR to detect the mRNA expressions of Foxp3 and RORγt,which are the specific transcription factors of Treg and Th17 cells respectively.Serum concentrations of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β,IL-17 and IL-23 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Data were statistically assessed by independent-samples t test and Pearson correlation analysis.[Results] The patients with AD showed an obvious decrease in Treg cell percentage,transcription factor Foxp3 mRNA level and Treg/Th17 ratio (2.01％ ± 0.57％ vs.5.04％ ± 1.44％,t =12.47,P＜ 0.01; 0.65 ± 0.19 vs.1.71 ± 0.69,t=9.47,P＜0.01; 1.26 ± 0.61 vs.14.53 ± 5.77,t =14.11,P ＜ 0.01),but a significant increase in peripheral Th17 cell percentage and transcription factor RORγt mRNA level (1.77％ ± 0.55％ vs.0.39％ ± 0.15％,t =14.82,P ＜0.01; 5.97 ± 1.45 vs.1.49 ± 0.57,t =17.78,P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with the healthy controls.Further comparison revealed that Treg/Th17 ratio was significantly lower in patients with acute AD than in those with subacute AD (0.88 ± 0.04 vs.1.29 ± 0.11,t =4.02,P ＜ 0.01 ) and those with chronic AD (2.05 ± 0.24,t =4.83,P ＜ 0.01 ),statistically different between patients with subacute AD and chronic AD (t =2.89,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the serum concentration of TGF-β between patients with AD and healthy controls ((15.28 ± 2.34) μg/L vs.(16.56 ± 3.27) μg/L,t =1.96,P＞ 0.05).A significant increase was observed in the serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in patients with AD compared with those in the healthy controls( (33.24 ± 7.06)ng/L vs.(11.68 ± 2.67) ng/L,t =17.96,P＜ 0.01; (56.35 ± 12.16) ng/L vs.(18.43 ± 3.90) ng/L,t =18.36,P＜ 0.01).In patients with moderate and severe AD,SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index was negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg ceils (r =-0.40,P＜ 0.05 ),but positively correlated with that of Th17 cells (r =0.42,P ＜ 0.05 ).[Conclusion]s There exists a change in Treg/Th 17 ratio,mRN A expressions of RORγt and Foxp3,and serum levels of relevant cytokines in patients with AD,which may lead to immune imbalance and subsequently contribute to the development of AD.

Objective To establish a method of large-scale cryopreservation of porcine hepatocytes to meet the need of the biological artificial liver. Methods Porcine hepatocytes were isolated from Chinese miniature swines by collagenase disgestion. The cells were suspended in self-made nutrient solution supplemented with 10% DMSO. The hepatocytes (1?10 10~2?10 10) were stored in liquid nitrogen (-196℃) after being treated with two kinds of freezing methods. The cryopreserved hepatocytes were thawed in 39℃ water after one month and cultured. The morphology, viability and the function of thawed hepatocytes were observed. Results The cell viability of cryobreserved hepatocytes after both freezing methods were high. However, synthesis of urea nitrogen and glucose was higher in stepwise temperature lowering group compared with programmed temperature lowering group. Conclusion The results indicate that the cryopreservation method is feasible and simple, large amount porcine hepatocytes can be cryopreserved.

The paper probed into corporate governance and the feasibility of introducing corporate governance into China' s public hospitals based on the principal-agent theory and successful experiences of overseas hospitals.It also described the incentive and restriction mechanism of such governance.The authors proposed such key factors as evolution in property right/shareholding relationship,organization structure of introducing corporate governance,appropriate supervision,sufficient competition,and perfecting corporate governance mechanism.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cellular stress protein, and its expression plays an important regulatory role in a lot of physiological and pathological processes. Although the expression of HO-1 in most tissues of body is low, a number of clinical and pharmacological experiments have proved that many compounds can induce HO-1 expression. The increase of HO-1 expression is the result of regulating different signaling pathways and transcription factors, and this induction of HO-1 is suggested to be partially therapeutic efficacy of these compounds. This article summarizes some kinds of compounds in this field of research at home and abroad over the last 10 years, and provides a brief analysis of the mechanism.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Induction ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide ; pharmacology ; Peptide Hormones ; pharmacology ; Probucol ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the in vitro anti-candidal activity of the essential oil of Illicium verum (EOIV) alone and in combination with fluconazole. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of EOIV were determined in 130 clinically isolated Candida strains by NCCLS-M27-A microdilution method, and fluconazole was used as positive control. Meanwhile the checkerboard microdilution method was applied to assay the combined effect of EOIV and fluconazole in 18 candidal strains. Results For the 18 candidal strains the MICs and the MFCs of EOIV were 1 517.16 ?g/mL and 2 248.55 ?g/mL for C. albicans, 1 169.24 ?g/mL and 2 338.49 ?g/mL for C. glabrata, 1 320.03 ?g/mL and 1 741.79 ?g/mL for C. parapsilosis, 1 203.50 ?g/mL and 2 407.01 ?g/mL for C. tropicalis, 1 516.32 ?g/mL and 2 144.40 ?g/mL for C. krusei, and 1 072.64 ?g/mL and 2 144.40 ?g/mL for C. guilliermondii, respectively. Significant synergistic and additive effects were observed after the combination of EOIV with fluconazole, and no antagonism was found. There was no significant difference in the mean fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) between the fluconazole-susceptible and the fluconazole-resistant candidal strains (P = 0.671). Conclusion EOIV has antifungal effects on medically important Candida spp.. The combination of EOIV with fluconazole presents a synergistic and additive effects.

Objective To genotype Candida strains by random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)technique,and to analyse the analogy of different Candida strains based on similarity coefficient.Methods Candida strains were isolated from vaginal secretion taken from patients with vulvovaginal can-didiasis by Sabouraud' s dextrose agar,C.albicans was differentiated from non-C.albicans strains by germ tube test,chlamydospore test and CHROMagar-Candida,and further identified by API20c Aux test Kits.The genomic DNA of45Candida isolates,including Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida krusei,Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis were amplified by RAPD,and DNA polymorphisms of inter-species and intraspecies were evaluated by using the DNA pattern-clustering of5primers.Results Thirty strains of C.albicans could be classified into7groups,and further divided into19subgroups,while15strains of non-C.albicans could be identified to species level.C.albicans isolates were related to each other with the similarity coefficients of more than90%,while different Candida species were connected to each other with the similarity coefficients of80%~90%.Conclusion C.albicans,which is the predominant pathogen of vulvovaginal candidiasis,could be classified into different genotypes by use of RAPD method.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate remineralization efficacy of an arginine containing dentifrice on initial enamel carious lesions in vitro.

METHODSHuman enamel blocks with early lesions were prepared and randomly divided into three treatment groups: negative control group (distilled and deionized water), positive control group (fluoride containing dentifrice and 0.14% sodium monofluorophosphate), and test dentifrice group (8.0% arginine and 0.14% sodium monofluorophosphate). The lesions were subjected to a pH-cycling regime for 10 days. Surface enamel microhardness of the enamel blocks from each group was measured before and after pH cycling, and the surface microhardness recovery was calculated. Then, specimens were analyzed for enamel fluoride uptake (EFU) through acid etching method, after which they were treated in demineralization solution for a 2 h period of acid challenge. The other specimens were sectioned and examined through polarized light microscopy.

RESULTSIn the test dentifrice group, microhardness recovery and EFU were significantly higher than those in the negative control and positive groups. The test dentifrice group was significantly resistant to the acid challenge compared with the other groups. Conspicuous remineralization of enamel subsurface lesions was observed under polarized light microscopy among samples treated with test dentifrice, whereas the control groups showed no significant changes on enamel subsurface lesions.

CONCLUSIONThis study presents the potential superiority of Pro-Argin dentifrice over conventional fluoride dentifrice in promoting the remineralization of initial enamel lesions.

Arginine ; Calcium Carbonate ; Cariostatic Agents ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Dentifrices ; Fluorides ; Hardness ; Humans ; Phosphates ; Tooth Demineralization ; Tooth Remineralization

Objective To study the relationship between the dynamic change of free DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)and the tissue injury in the patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage.Methods 54 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hemor-rhage were divided into 3 groups according to the glasgow coma scale(including 17 mild cases,21 moderate cases and 16 severe ca-ses).2 mL of CSF was collected for extracting free DNA on 1,3,7,15 d after stroke onset.The free DNA level was measured by the fluorescent real-time PCR.Results The free DNA level in the severe group was significantly higher than that in the mild and mod-erate groups.The free DNA level in the abnormal intracranial pressure group was higher than that in the normal intracranial pres-sure group;the intracranial infection group was higher than the non-infection group.Conclusion The free DNA level has certain value for diagnosing the craniocerebral injury in hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage and is conducive to monitor the occurrence of postoperative complications.

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in diabetes mellitus-induced reduction of hypoxic postconditioning (HPO)-induced protection of cardiomyocytes and the relationship with glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.Methods H9c2 cells incubated in high-glucose (30 mmol/L) medium for 24 h were divided into 6 groups (n =5 each) using a random number table:normoxia group (group N),hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) group,group HPO,PTEN gene silencing normoxia group (group P-N),PTEN gene silencing H/R group (group P-H/R),and PTEN gene silencing HPO group (group P-HPO).H9c2 cells were exposed to 95％ N2-5％ CO2 for 4 h followed by 2 h reoxygenation with 90％ O2-10％ CO2.HPO was induced by 3 cycles of 5 min reoxygenation followed by 5 min hypoxia before reoxygenation.At the end of reoxygenation,the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP were assessed by JC-1 fluorescence assay,the cell apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-FITC/PI flow cytometry,and the expression of PTEN and phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) was determined by Western blot.The JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were calculated.Results Compared with group N,the amount of LDH released,JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were significantly increased,and the expression of PTEN was up-regulated in H/R and HPO groups (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between group H/R and group HPO (P＞0.05).Compared with group HPO,the amount of LDH released,JC-1 monomer/polymer ratio and apoptosis rate were significantly decreased,PTEN expression was down-regulated,and the expression of p-GSK-3β was up-regulated in group P-HPO (P＜0.05).Compared with group N,the expression of PTEN was significantly down-regulated,and no significant changes were found in the other parameters mentioned above in group P-N (P＞0.05).Compared with group H/R,the expression of PTEN was significantly down-regulated,and no significant changes were found in the other parameters mentioned above in group P-H/R (P＞0.05).Conclusion PTEN is involved in diabetes mellitus-induced reduction of HPO-induced protection of cardiomyocytes,and the mechanism is associated with PTEN-induced activation of GSK-3β-modulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.