OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the effects of hirudin on the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in vitro, as well to explore its func- tion in the mechanism of gingival remodeling.

METHODSAfter culturing was performed with classic tissue-explant method, HGFs were derived from normal gingival and gingival hyperplasia tissues followed by orthodontic treatments with different concentrations of hirudin. The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1 and bFGF were respectively detected by real time quantity polymerase chain reaction and immunocytochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with normal HGFs, TGF-β1 expression promoted collagen synthesis of fibroblasts, whereas bFGF collagen synthesis was decreased in hyperplasia HGFs without hirudin (P < 0.05). Hirudin significantly upregulated the expression levels of bFGF but downregulated TGF-β1 in hyperplasia HGFs (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOrthodontic force may influence the balance of collagen synthesis and degradation in HGFs. Hirudin may modulate the balance of HGF collagen metabolism, thereby promoting gingival remodeling.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Fibroblasts ; Gingiva ; Hirudins ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo explore an effective orthodontic method for treating impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors.

METHODS12 impacted teeth of 11 cases were chosen. The position of the impacted teeth and the relations with neighbour tissues were assessed by X-ray images, oral examination and plaster model, etc. The impacted teeth were induced to erupt with the closed-eruption technique and fixed orthodontic appliances, root canal therapy, apicoectomy and prosthetic treatment.

RESULTS12 impacted teeth were moved into arches, and the occlusal relationship was normal. There were no root resorption or conglutination in those impacted teeth. The labial impacted teeth of nine cases had bigger labial crown torsion. The root apexes of four impacted teeth were palpable under mucosa of the labial sulcus and operated by root canal therapy and apicoectomy. One of them received prosthetic treatment. Others (five cases) hadn't accepted root canal therapy, and were observed temporarily. The effects of two palatal impacted teeth was stable.

CONCLUSIONIt was a good method to expand indication with sequence orthodontic treatment. The impacted dilacerated maxillary central incisors could be aligned with good esthetical and functional effect.

Bicuspid ; Humans ; Incisor ; Maxilla ; Orthodontic Appliances ; Tooth Crown ; Tooth Eruption ; Tooth Root ; Tooth, Impacted

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of huai qi huang, a traditional Chinese medicine, on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 levels and alveolar macrophage phagocytosis in asthmatic rats sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA).

METHODSForty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, untreated asthma, budesonide-treated, huai qi huang-treated and budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma (n=8 each). Asthma was induced by OVA sensitization and challenge. The levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using ELISA. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages which were isolated and purified from BALF was evaluated by the colorimetric assay.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increased, in contrast, the IFN-γ level decreased in plasma and BALF in the untreated asthma group compared with those in the normal control group. The IFN-γ level in the huai qi huang-treated asthma group was higher than that in the untreated asthma group. The IFN-γ level increased and the IL-17 level decreased more significantly in the budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma group when compared with the budesonide and huai qi huang alone treatment groups. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in the untreated asthma group was lower than that in the normal control group. Huai qi huang alone or combined with budesonide increased the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages compared with the normal control, untreated asthma and budesonid-treated asthma groups. The levels of IFN-γ in plasma and BALF were positively correlated with the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increase and the IFN-γ level decreases in plasma and BALF, and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages decreases in asthmatic rats. Huai qi huang treatment may increase the IFN-γ expression in plasma and BALF and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in asthmatic rats. There is a synergistic effect between huai qi huang and glucocorticoids.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

To study the dynamic change law of bioactive constituents from Polygonum multiflorum, and to explore the optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum. Determination of stilhene glucoside, anthraquinones and catechin from P. multiflorum in different harvest times by MEKC-DAD, and principal component analysis (PCA) was used to comprehensive evaluation for bioactive constituents. There are obvious differences among the contents of active ingredients in various collecting periods samples, the content of stilbene glucoside was the highest in November, the total content of combined anthraquinone was the highest in November and December, the content of catechin was the highest in September. The comprehensive evaluation index obtained with principal component analysis showed that the sample collected in November is significantly higher than those with other samples. The optimal harvest period of P. multiflorum is November.
Electrophoresis ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDPulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application to the dorsal root ganglia can reduce neuropathic pain (NP) in animal models, but the effect of PRF on damaged peripheral nerves has not been examined. We investigated the effect of PRF to the rat sciatic nerve (SN) on pain-related behavior and SN ultrastructure following chronic constriction injury (CCI).

METHODSThe analgesic effect was measured by hindpaw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL). Twenty rats with NP induced by ligating the common SN were then randomly divided into a PRF treatment group and a sham group. The contralateral SN served as a control. The MWT and TWL were determined again 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after the PRF or sham treatment. On day 14, ipsilateral and contralateral common SNs were excised and examined by electron microscopy.

RESULTSIpsilateral MWT was significantly reduced and TWL significantly shorter compared to the contralateral side 14 days after CCI (both P = 0.000). In the PRF group, MWT was significantly higher and TWL significantly longer 14 days after the PRF treatment compared to before PRF treatment (both P = 0.000), while no such difference was observed in the sham group (P > 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed extensive demyelination and collagen fiber formation in the ipsilateral SN of sham-treated rats but sparse demyelination and some nerve fiber regrowth in the PRF treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSHyperalgesia is relieved, and ultrastructural damage ameliorated after direct PRF treatment to the SN in the CCI rat model of NP.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; therapy ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors regarding the recovery of postoperative blood pressure of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) patients.

METHODSSixty-eight patients with APA were recruited and their data including retinal blood vessel by Doppler sonography, urinary trace albumin, pathological changes of renal biopsy and the adrenal tissues around the adenoma were analyzed in order to determine the correlation between these data and postoperative durative hypertension.

RESULTSPostoperative durative hypertension occurred in 14 cases (41.2%) with increased resistance of unilateral or bilateral central artery of retina, in 16 cases (66.7%) with increased level of urinary trace albumin. Fifteen cases underwent renal biopsy and all of them showed different pathological alterations, 11 cases (73.3%) of which presented with postoperative durative hypertension. The pathological changes of the adrenal tissues around the adenoma is either atrophy or non-atrophy (normal or hyperplasia), 8 cases (40%) and 10 cases (22.2%) of which showed postoperative durative hypertension, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe renal pathological changes and increased resistance of retinal blood vessel are the main reasons leading to postoperative hypertension in patients with APA.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenal Glands ; pathology ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retinal Artery ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Resistance ; physiology

Objective To explore the effects of benzalkonium bromide and citalopram on the corneal epithelium and corneal thickness of mice using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods Together 60 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (group A,B,C,D and E;n =12),with group A left untreated,group B receiving PBS eye drops,group C given benzalkonium bromide eye drops,group D undergoing intraperitoneal administration of citalopram suspension,and group E treated with combination of benzalkonium bromide eye drops and citalopram suspension.After 2 weeks,OCTA was applied for corneal subarea,followed by measurement of the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea of all mice,and then the mean values were calculated.Results The thickness of corneal epithelium and fullthickness of the cornea was (66 ±7) μm and (141 ± 11) μm in the group A,(66 ± 8) μm and (140 ± 12) μm in the group B and D,(73 ± 10) μm and (141 ± 14) μm in the group C,(76 ± 12) μm and (141 ± 15) μm in the E group,respectively.And there was no significant difference in the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea before treatment and 2 weeks after treatment in the group A,B and D (all P ＞ 0.05),but both variables were markedly thickened in group C and E 2 weeks after treatment,and the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜0.05).Moreover,the increased levels on the both variables in the group E was higher than those in the group C 2 weeks after treatment,and the difference was statistically significant (both P ＜ 0.05).The average thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea in the group C and E were significantly thickened after treatment,and the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The average values of both variables in the group C and E were obviously larger than those in the group A,and the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Citalopram alone has no significant effects on the corneal thickness by OCTA,whereas both the thickness of corneal epithelium and fullthickness of the cornea tend to thicken by benzalkonium bromide treatment,which has a synergistic effect on corneal thickening with citalopram.

Objective To investigate the effects of blue light on the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea in mice by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Methods Totally 40 mice were collected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group,with 20 mice in each group,and the experimental mice were raised in the blue light environment from 8 to 16 hours per day,while the controls were reared in normal environment.Then the thickness of corneal epithelium and full-thickness of the cornea in both groups were measured by OCTA before irradiation and one week,two weeks,one month,two months and three months after irradiation,respectively.Results Compared with pre-irradiation,the thickness of corneal epithelium of all regions did not change significantly in both groups at 1 week,2 weeks,and 1 month after irradiation,and the differences were not statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Compared with before irradiation,the corneal epithelium thickness of the control group at 2 months and 3 months after irradiation did not change significantly,and there was no significant difference (both P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the corneal epithelium at central,nasal 5 mm,inferior 5 mm,and temporal 5 mm regions in the experimental group were significantly thickened,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜0.05).Three months after irradiation,compared with the control group,the thickness of corneal epithelium in the central and inner regions of the cornea and nasal 6 mm and temporal 6 mm regions of the experimental group were significantly thickened,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant change in the corneal full thickness between the experimental group and the control group before irradiation and 1 week,2 weeks,1 month,2 months,and 3 months after irradiation,and the differences were not statistically significant (all P ＞ 0.05).Furthermore,the difference in the extremum value of corneal epithelial thickness,namely the maximum and the minimum,was significantly different in both groups (P ＜ 0.05),but the difference in the extremum value of the full-thickness of the cornea was not significant in the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The blue light can change the thickness of corneal epithelium in mice,and the change of the central region is obvious,but the full-thickness of the cornea do not significantly change in a short term.

Objective To explore the expression of miR-223-3p in the plasma of patients with diabetic kidney disease and its clinical significance. Methods The expression levels of plasma miR-223-3p in normoalbuminuric group (DM) , microoalbuminuria group (Micro-DKD) , macroalbuminuria group (Macro-DKD) and healthy controls were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) . To analysis the relationship with clinical pathological parameters,target genes of miR-223-3p were predicted with bioinformatics software. Results The levels of miR-223-3p in the plasma of the remaining three groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy controls (P＜0.001), and the decrease was positively correlated with the severity of the disease. The potential target genes of miR-223-3p identified by bioinformatics softwares include IL6ST and PRKCE. Conclusion The expressionof miR-223-3pin diabetic kidney disease (DKD) patients' plasma decreased and was positively correlated with the severity of the disease. It may play an important role in the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease through its target genes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentration in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and its clinical significance.

METHODSThirty-four children newly diagnosed with INS received oral prednisone for 4 weeks. Patients whose urinary protein did not become negative were classified as steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) group, while those whose urinary protein did become negative were classified as steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) group. Morning midstream urine specimens were collected from all patients before use of prednisone and after 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks of treatment with prednisone. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the urinary NGAL concentration. Meanwhile, urinary creatinine (Cr) concentration was measured, and urinary NGAL concentration in a single urine collection was adjusted according to the urinary Cr excretion. The two groups were compared in terms of urinary NGAL/Cr ratio.

RESULTSCompared with the SRNS group, the SSNS group had significantly decreased urinary NGAL/Cr ratios after 3 and 4 weeks of prednisone treatment (P < 0.05). Compared with the SRNS group, the SSNS group had a significantly decreased urinary β2-MG/Cr ratio after 4 weeks of prednisone treatment (P < 0.05). In both groups, urinary NGAL/Cr ratio was positively correlated with urinary protein/Cr ratio (r = 0.510, P < 0.01). The results of ROC curve analysis showed when diagnostic cut-off point of urinary NGAL/Cr was 0.043 by 3 weeks after treatment, sensitivity and specificity achieved 100% and 79.2% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSUrinary NGAL/Cr ratio remains high in children with SRNS, while this ratio decreases gradually during prednisone treatment in children with SSNS, and it falls ahead of urinary β2-MG/Cr ratio. These results suggest that dynamic monitoring of urinary NGAL/Cr ratio is useful for early judgment of response to prednisone in patients with INS.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; urine ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatinine ; urine ; Female ; Humans ; Lipocalin-2 ; Lipocalins ; urine ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; urine ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; urine ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; urine