Objective To study and assess clinical application of two Nickel-Titanium(NiTi)rotary instru- ments,namely ProTaper and Hero 642,in preparation of root canals.Methods 125 teeth were divided into three groups and respectively instrumented by stainless K-files,ProTaper or Hero 642 rotary instruments.All teeth were obturated with lateral condensation method.The efficiency of preparation and obturation was analyzed with radio- graphs.Results NiTi rotary instruments were better in keeping the curvature and flow of curved canals than stain- less K files.There was no transportation,apical blockage and ledge in NiTi groups.The operative time was shorter and endodontic flare-up seldom occurred in NiTi groups.Conclusion The NiTi rotary instrumentation technique could be used to prepare curved root canals effectively and quickly.The future use of NiTi engine-driven rotary in- strument appeared to be promising.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of proliferation effect induced by (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19).METHODS: Human retinal pigmented epithelial cells(ARPE-19) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to investigate the effect of (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 on cell growth,and their mechanisms of proliferative action by using ERK、 AKT、PI3K、Protein kinase C (PKC)and Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors.RESULTS: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 dose-dependently increased ARPE-19 cell proliferation,but not on HUVECs. When treated with proliferative inhibitors,H7(5μmol/L)、hypericin(20μmol/L)、PD98059(2μmol/L)、LY294002(50μmol/L)、SH-5 (10μmol/L) and L-NAME (100μmol/L),the proliferative effect was reduced by H7、hypericin、PD98059 and LY294002,but not by SH-5 and L-NAME.CONCLUSION: (R,R)-XY-10 and (S,S)-XY-10 can induce cell proliferation through MAPK and PI3K dependent pathway. KEYWORDS: age-related macular degeneration; (R,R)-XY-10; (S,S)-XY-10; ARPE-19 cells; human umbilical vein endothelial cells; proliferation

Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed in the streptozotocin- and high fat-induced diabetic rats and normal rats.The results of RT-PCR and Western blot showed that the expression of 11?- hydroxysleroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11?-HSD1) was higher in the diabetic rats than that in control and was correlated with fasting plasma glucose,insulin and AUC-I/G with respective correlation coefficient (r) of 0.870, - 0.799,- 0.850,suggesting that increased expression of 11?-HSD1 appears to damage?-cell function through magnifying the local effect of glucocorticoids.

Objective To investigate the effect of transient receptor potential M4 (TRPM4) on autonomous regulation disorder of cerebral blood flow following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats.Methods A total of 120 clean grade male SD rats were selected.They were divided into sham operation,SAH,negative control,and treatment groups according to the random number table.The dead rats were excluded.A SAH model was induced by using the suprasellar cistern injection method with a stereotaxic apparatus.Isotonic saline 0.2 ml was injected into the rats of the sham operation group and negative control group respectively,and autologous tail arterial blood 0.2 ml was injected into the rats of the SAH group and the treatment group respectively.The isotonic saline solution was continuously pumped into lateral ventricle of rats via implantable micro-pump in the sham operation group and the SAH group respectively,and the concentration of 0.03 mol/L of TRPM4 blocking agent was continuously pumped into the lateral ventricles of rats in the control group and the treatment group respectively.The 4 groups of rats received the regional cerebral blood flow and whole cerebral blood flow detection on day 3,5,and 7,respectively.Results One hundred and six (88.3%) of the 120 SD rats survived to the time point of study,data analyses were performed in the 4 groups (with 21 rats in each group) respectively (n=7 in each time point).There were significant differences in cerebral cortex local and whole cerebral blood flow at day 3,5,and 7 in the sham operation,SAH and negative control groups (all P<0.05).Cerebral cortex local cerebral blood flow (141±18,148±24,and 168±19 PU,respectively at day 3,5,and 7) and whole cerebral blood flow (93±5,85±5,and 85±6 ml/[100 g·min],respectively at day 3,5,and 7 in the SAH group) were decreased significantly compared with the sham operation group (cortex local cerebral blood flow:235±17,220±24,and 224±20 PU),whole cerebral blood flow (141±10,147±8,and 143±8 ml/[100 g·min]),all P<0.05).Cerebral cortex local and whole cerebral blood flow (cortical local cerebral blood flow:183±26,173±26,and 187±15 PU,whole brain:114±10,104±9,and 119±5 ml/(100 g·min) in the treatment group were significantly increased compared with the SAH group (all P<0.05).Conclusion TRPM4 has an obvious effect on improving the autonomous regulation disorder of cerebral blood flow after SAH.

OBJECTIVETo explore the application of serum protein pattern models in diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) by proteinchip technology.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-seven serum samples (55 CRC patients and 92 healthy individuals) randomly divided into training set (n = 87, 32 CRC patients and 55 healthy individuals) and test set (n = 60), were subjected for analysis by surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Four top-scored peaks in 5910, 8930, 4476 and 8817 were detected by proteinchip software version 3.0. and were trained by a multi-layer artificial neural network (ANN) with a back propagation algorithm. An artificial neural network classifier had developed for separating CRC from the healthy group. The classifier was then challenged with the test set (60 samples including 23 CRC patients and 37 healthy individuals) to determine the validity and accuracy of the classification system.

RESULTSThe artificial neural network classifier separated the CRC from the healthy samples, with sensitivity of 82.6% and specificity of 91.9%.

CONCLUSIONCombination of SELDI-TOF-MS with the artificial neural network yields significant higher sensitivity and specificity than CEA in the diagnosis of CRC, which should be further studied.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neural Networks (Computer) ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

3 mg/L was significantly worse than in those with hs-CRP≤3 mg/L (18.18%,5.45%;P=0.044,log-rank test). Higher hs-CRP concentration was an independent predictor of death or new vascular event(OR 3.609;95% CI 0.869—14.992;P=0.047).Conclusion Higher hs-CRP concentration in acute phase after ischemic stroke is an independent predictor of death or new vascular event in a year.

DNA microarrays have been acknowledged to represent a promising approach for the detection of viral pathogens. However, the probes designed for current arrays could cover only part of the given viral variants, that could result in false-negative or ambiguous data. If all the variants are to be covered, the requirement for more probes would render much higher spot density and thus higher cost of the arrays. Here we have developed a new strategy for oligonucleotide probe design. Using type I human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) tat gene as an example, we designed the array probes and validated the optimized parameters in silico. Results show that the oligo number is significantly reduced comparing with the existing methods, while specificity and hybridization efficiency remain intact. The adoption of this method in reducing the oligo numbers could increase the detection capacity for DNA microarrays, and would significantly lower the manufacturing cost for making array chips.

Objective To explore the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and perceived social support (PSS)ability among middle school students in earthquake-stricken areas after the Wenchuan earthquake accident. Methods A total of 1966 students from three secondary schools of Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas were evaluated by PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS). Results The overall incidence rate of PTSD was 78.3%, with severe PTSD as 24.38%. Significant differences on the incidence rates of PTSD were found among the students who were in different PSS levels (P<0.05) and significant negative correlation existed between the levels of severity on PTSD and PSS (γ=-0.226, P<0.05). Significant differences on PTSD incidence rates were found among those students who were from different families or out-family PSS levels (P=0.009, P<0.05). Significant negative correlation existed between the severity of PTSD and family or out-family PSS level (γ=-0.176, P<0.05, γ=-0.214, P<0.05). Conclusion Relationships between the incidence rate, severity of PTSD and PSS levels existed among the middle school students in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken areas, with higher PSS, lower incidence rate and lighter severity of PTSD. Psychological intervention for earthquake-stricken students should be carried out.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of rhVEGF on autologous free granular fat grafts in rats.

METHODSForty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, sixteen of each. After the autologous free granular fat transplantation, all groups were treated with the plasmid DNA containing cDNA encoding rhVEGF, the blank plasmid DNA and normal saline respectively as the experimental group, the negative group and the saline group. After 3, 7, 15, 30 days, the rats were sacrificed and the grafts were weighted accurately. Histological pathology was evaluated. Micro-vessel count and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were examined by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe weights of the two latter groups were significantly reduced on the 7, 15, 30 day compared with the experimental group. The expression of VEGF and the micro-vessel count in the experimental group were significantly higher than the other two groups during the latter periods.

CONCLUSIONThe cDNA encoding VEGF can induce the expression of VEGF in fat graft, angiogenesis and reduce the free fat graft absorption.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Animals ; Female ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Graft Survival ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

Using the absorbent resin, silica gel and ODS column chromatography as well as semi-preparative HPLC, ten compounds were isolated from 70% ethanol extract of tubers of Dioscorea zingiberensis C. H. Wright, and their structures were elucidated as trigoneoside XIIIa (1), parvifloside (2), trigoneoside IVa (3), deltoside (4), protobioside (5), lilioglycoside k (6), zingiberensis newsaponin I (7), deltonin (8), prosapogenin A of dioscin (9), and trillin (10) on the basis of NMR and MS spectral data analysis. Among these compounds, 1, 3, 5 and 6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. In the screening test on platelet aggregation, compounds 7 and 8 exhibited induction effect on platelet aggregation, while compound 9 exhibited significant inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation in vitro.
Animals ; Dioscorea ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; chemistry ; pharmacology