AIM: To detect the expression of ALEX 1 in the breast cancer tissues in order to verify whether ALEX1 has correlation with clinical pathological features in breast cancer .METHODS:Real-time PCR and immmunohis-tochemistry were applied to detect the expression of ALEX 1 at mRNA and protein levels in the breast tissues .The statistical analysis were performed for determining the correlation with the level of ALEX 1 and the clinical pathological features in breast cancer .RESULTS:The protein levels of ALEX1 in the breast cancer tissues were lower than that in the non-breast cancer tissues (P<0.01).The expression of ALEX1 had correlations with pathological grade , clinical stage, molecular type (P<0.05) but had no correlation with the patients ’ age, tumor size and tumor types in breast cancer .Furthermore, the result of real-time PCR showed that mRNA expression of ALEX 1 was also significantly reduced in the breast cancer tis-sues (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The expression of ALEX1 in the breast cancer tissues is lower than that in non-breast cancer tissues .The pathological grade and clinical stage in breast cancer are negatively correlated with the expression of ALEX1.

Objective:To investigate the physical morphology of the root canal taper in human maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars.Methods: Forty maxillary and 44 mandibular extracted human permanent first molars were investigated.The roots were dissected transversely from their apical foramen vertical to the long axis of the root,and 1-mm-thick serial sections were made.The root apex side of each section was observed with a stereomicroscope at 30? magnification.The maximum and minimum canal diameters were measured at 0,1,2,and 3 mm from the apical foramen.The physical canal taper in the apical section was calculated.Results: 47.5%-60.0% of the narrowest diameter of root canals were present at the foramen,and 25.0%~42.5% located at the level of 1 mm from apical foramen.Almost all physical configurations of root canals in 3 mm apical region showed a bottleneck-like taper.Canal dia-meters increased rapidly at 1-2 mm with the biggest taper,and the taper had a bigger variance(0.07-0.35).The ring of shrunken bottleneck was formed at the level of 1 mm from apical foramen.The taper of canal in maximal diameter was larger than the one in minimal diameter.Conclusion: The physical morphology of bottleneck-like taper in apical canal was helpful to locate the canal apical stop in root canal treatment.

Adolescent ; Depression ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Tourette Syndrome ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:It is confirmed that the characteristics of soft and hard tissue development vary largely in different vertical facial types, which reflect the development trend of the patients and the control ing degree on anchorage.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the influence of different vertical facial types on the aesthetic evaluation of facial profiles in young females, and analyze the perception of facial attractiveness from different people.
METHODS:Three beautiful females, with high, average and low mandibular angle, respectively were selected according to the measurement data of projection and the orthodontist’s aesthetic appreciation. They were yel ow race, bilateral facial appearance was basical y symmetrical, and no other maxil ofacial disease was found. They also received no orthodontic or orthognathic treatment. The profile digital photographs and cephalograms of three females were col ected. The positions of soft tissue lip and soft tissue chin were altered incremental y with Dolphin Imaging and Management software. Twenty-five new pictures were generated by the smal scale (2 mm per unit) modification in the sagittal direction. By using“acceptable facial appearance”as a filter, 15 orthodontists selected 11 from 25 pictures. Fifty parents of orthodontic patients, 50 orthodontic patients, and 50 amateurs were taken as the evaluators for subjective aesthetic ratings and for the assessment of the influence of vertical facial types on the facial profile attractiveness.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:With low and average angle, straight profile, slightly protrude chin was perceived to be beautiful. With high angle, straight profile, slightly protrude profile was perceived to be beautiful, and evaluation results are consistent between men and women. Evaluators are in agreement when it comes to evaluating the perception of facial attractiveness of three different vertical facial types profile in young females. They also have certain difference in aesthetic tendencies, but when it comes to straight profile they share the same preference. Although different vertical facial types profile has an impact on the profile of lip and chin, but it can’t represent the aesthetic preference of al evaluators.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocyte (PMN) is an important member of the human immune cells. Recentyears, the recognition of the PMN function and the relationship between PMN and periodontitis have been updated. Besidesthe pathogens killing and phagocytosis, PMN also play an important role in immunoregulation and proresolving. The maintaining of PMN homeostasis is an intricate process and the precondition of defense function, which involves activation, adhesion, recruitment, apoptosis and efferocytosis. The regulatory mechanism of PMN homeostasis called neutrophil rheostat, it works through several cytokines and cells. Any factors that break the homeostasis will result in the damage of host immunity,and may relate to the occurrence of periodontitis. Moreover, PMN dysfunction, because of host factors or microorganism factors, is closely related to periodontitis, especially those associated with systemic diseases and gene defect.
Cytokines ; Homeostasis ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; Periodontitis ; Phagocytosis

OBJECTIVETo observe the prevention and clinical efficacy of combination of Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP) and Ginkgo Leaf Tablet (GLT) for early diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODSUsing randomized, double-blind, double simulation, parallel controlled clinical trial, 140 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients were recruited and assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 70 in each group. All patients received basic Western medicine treatment (such as blood glucose and pressure control). Patients in the treatment group took LDP (8 pills each time, 3 times per day) and GLT (19.2 mg each time, 3 times per day), while those in the control group took LDP placebos and GLT placebos. All treatment lasted for 24 consecutive months. All subjects were followed-up every month. The general clinical data as sex, age, and metabolic data such as blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid, and DR prevalence rate were collected and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in levels of blood glucose, blood pressure, or blood lipid between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the DR incidence rate was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [3.1% (2/64) vs 18.6% (11/59), P < 0.05)]. Meanwhile, the DR prevalence rate of the treatment group was also significantly lower than that of the control group [6.3% (4/64) vs 20.0% (13/59), P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONCombination of LDP and GLT could effectively prevent and treat the development of DR in T2DM patients.

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; drug therapy ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Ginkgo biloba ; chemistry ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets

Objective To establish a method for the determination of bacterial endotoxin in Ilex pubescens compound injection(LPCJ) .Methods According to China Pharmacopoeia (second part,2000),interference test was carried out to detect the endotoxins in LPCJ with limulus lysate agents (?was 0.25 EU/mL).Results Inhibition action was found in bacterial endotoxin test for LPCJ and in the 10-,20-,30-and 40-fold diluted liquid of LPCJ.It was proved that the maximum noninterference concentration was the 50-fold dilution.The inspection results are the same as that of rabbit pyrogen test.Conclusion The 50-fold diluted LPCJ is suitable for the determination of bacterial endotoxin and can be used as the quality control standard for its preparation.

A promoter fragment (7S?P ) of ? subunit gene was isolated by PCR from genomic DNA in various soybean accessions, including cultivars Nannong99-10,N2899,Nannong 88-1, and wild soybeans Jiangpu -1 and ZYD4174.The sequences of 7S?P fragment from these five soybean accessions shared 99% homology, this indicated that the promoter regions of ? subunit gene were conserved. Meanwhile , sequencing analysis showed that the 7S?P fragment contained several seed-specific motifs, such as RY motif, AGCCCA motif, ACGT motif and A/ T rich motif. The expression vector pBI121-7S?P was constructed with the 7S?P fragment (from Nannong99-10) and the GFP reporter gene for functional analysis. Arabidopsis plants were transformed by Agrobacterium mediated method. Southern blot results showed that the 7S?P had been integrated into the genome of Arabidopsis. Assay of GFP expression in the seeds of transgenic Arabidopsis was determined to identify the function of 7S?P promoter. The results showed that 7S?P was a seed-specific promoter.

Objective To give a summary of the current researches on hematopoietic stem cell niche.Methods Through extensive reviewing the related domestic and abroad literatures,the present summary reviews the compo- nents of hematopoietic stem cell niche,related cell factors and related cell signaling pathway participating in regula- tion of hematopoietic stem cell.Results The activities of hematopoietic stem cells are regulated by the niche(micro- environment),which is composed of hematopoietic stem cell and its surrounding cells.The regulation cannot be completed through one signaling pathway.Also,the self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cell can- not be completed only through osteoblastic cells.Conclusion The niche regulates hematopoietic stem cells by differ- ent ways.With study in-depth,we will comprehensively understand the nature of stem cells and the study will pro- vide a broader space to stem cell-based therapy.