Objective To measure the curvatures of the distolingual root canals of permanent mandibular first molars by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods The CBCT was used to collect 230 cases of mandibular first molar distalingual root from 513 patients. The images were created by 3-D reconstruction based on the BECT data. Images were analyzed by NNT image analysis software. Each tooth was captured in clinical (CV) and proximal view (PV) image, and measured by the Schneider method. Results The average curvature of the distallingual canal was (13.27 ± 8.57)° in CV, and (30.96 ± 11.63)° in PV. Most of the distallingual root in the buccolingual view was mild bending or moderate bending , and the proximal view was severe bending. The distal lingual root bending was the most common in the crown third of the root , next in the apical third of the root, in the middle third of the root. Conclusion CBCT is an effective tool for the detection of additional distolingual roots and is a valuable aid for dentists in root canal treatment.

Genotype ; Humans ; Streptococcal Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; genetics

Child ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; complications ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

Objective To construct the vector that expresses the fusion protein of HIV-Tat protein and red fluorescent protein(mCherry) in mammalian cells,and observe by fluorescence microscopy the intracellular transduction and localization of recombinant protein in cells,in order to obtain a useful tool for the study of the uptake mechanism and intracellular localization of HIV-TAT.Methods With the designed primer coding mCherry sequence,the mCherry gene was amplified by PCR with the vector pmCherry-C2 as template,and inserted into vector pET14b-His-TAT to construct the expression vector pET14b-His-TAT-mCherry.The constructed vector was then transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3),which had been identified by PCR and double digested with restriction endonuclease,followed by sequencing.After IPTG induction,the recombinant protein of His-TAT-mCherry was lyzed and analyzed with SDS-PAGE.Purified His-TAT-mCherry recombinant protein was added to Hela cells and the fluorescence was observed to evaluate the transduction efficiency.Results The results of identification by PCR,digestion with restriction endonuclease and sequencing indicated that the vector His-TAT-mCherry was correctly constructed.His-TAT-mCherry fusion protein was expressed in mammalian Hela cell line and purified successfully,and the fusion protein showed cellular transduction activity.It was found by fluorescence microscopy that the red fluorescence protein located mainly over the cytoplasm,and also the membrane to some extent.Conclusion The expression vector is successfully constructed for HIV-TAT labeled with mCherry sequence.Effective expression and purification of this fusion protein is achieved.It has been observed that the constructed vector may be expressed in mammalian Hela cell under active condition.Thus,it might be useful in the study of uptake mechanism and intracellular localization of HIV-TAT.

Objective p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a crossing center of various pathways. In this study, protein transduction system based on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 transactivator of transcription (TAT), which is an efficient delivery peptide of the foreign proteins into cells, was employed to study p38 MAPK functions in eukaryotic cells. Methods p38 And its dominant negative form, p38AF, were constructed into pET-His-TAT vector correctly to verify that the recombinant plasmids were well-founded through restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing. The two proteins, His-TAT-p38 and His-TAT-p38AF, were expressed and purified in Escherichia coli by SDS-PAGE. Then they were incubated with ECV304 cells respectively and readily transduced into cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. The cells were stimulated by sorbitol. Activating transcription factor (ATF) 2 phosphorylation level was checked using Western blot to assess the activity of endogenous p38. Results Compared with controls, it was found that His-TAT-p38 increased the level ofATF2 phosphorylation in sorbitol-stimulated ECV304 cells, while His-TAT-p38AF inhibited it, indicating p38 MAPK protein delivery system based on TAT was constructed successfully. TAT-p38 and its dominant negative form possessed high biological activity after transduction into ECV304 cells by TAT protein delivery system. The results showed that p38AF fused with TAT could inhibit the transduction of endogenous p38 signal pathway in part, and other pathway might regulate p38 phosphorylation. Conclusions Our study provides a novel pathway to inhibit p38 signal pathway and establish a new method to study p38 function.

Objective To assess the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluation of the renal cortical and medullary perfusion changes before and after acute renal failure (ARF) in rabbits. Methods Rabbit ARF models were established with intramuscular 50% glycerin (12-15 ml/kg) injection into rabbits' thighs. One day before and after ARF models establishment, CEUS was performed on each rabbit. The renal perfusion time-intensity curve (TIC) was analyzed, including parameters like AT (arrival time), TTP (time to peak intensity), A (amplitude of peak intensity), AUC (area under the curve), β (slope rate of TIC) of renal cortex and medulla. Results The value of A and β before model establishment was (17.36±13.73) dB and (5.38±2.08) dB/s, respectively, both was significantly higher than those after glycerin injection ([6.59±4.25] dB and [1.58±1.41] dB/s, respectively) (P<0.05). The value of TTP and AUC before model establishment was (2.46±1.76) s and (329.31±171.70) dBs, both was significantly lower than those after injection ([5.93±4.80] s and [722.28±354.14] dBs, respectively) (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in AT of renal cortex and AT, A, TTP, AUC, β of renal medulla, nor in SCr or BUN. Conclusion CEUS can display the changes of perfusion image of the renal cortex of the ARF earlier than SCr and BUN.

Objective To explore the prognostic factors of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastasis. Methods 122 NSCLC patients with brain metastasis from Jan 2007 to Dec 2012 were incorporated, and followed with death as the end. The influence factors of prognosis were retrospective analyzed. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, the Log-rank test for single factor analysis,and Cox regression model for multiple factors analysis. Results The single-factor and multi-factor analysis showed that the influence factors of prognosis were age, pathological type, number of intracranial metastasis, presence of extracranial metastasis, treatment, Karnofsky score, the original site control situation (P<0.05). Gender, the size of the original site had no influence for prognosis (P>0.05). The average survival times of patients with palliative symptomatic treatment, simple whole brain radiotherapy, whole brain radiotherapy local lesion plus the amount of radiation, whole brain radiotherapy local lesion plus the amount of radiation combined with chemotherapy were (2.14 ±0.19) months, (7.28 ±0.60) months, (16.90 ±1.35) months, (17.7±1.12) months, 1 year survival rates were 0, 8.5%, 71.0%, 93.3%. Survival analysis showed that there was statistical significance among the four groups (P= 0.000). Conclusion The age, pathological type, number of intracranial metastasis, presence of extracranial metastasis, treatment, Karnofsky score, the original site control situation are the prognosis factors in NSCLC patients with brain metastasis, therefore the treatment of these patients should be comprehensively analyzed.

BACKGROUND: The dynamic characteristics of electroencephalogram (EEG) include a decrease in the chaotic dimension, the correlation dimen sion, the Lyapunov exponent, the chaotic complexity, the freedom of EEG and an enhanced synchronization and periodicity of the EEG from several minutes to tens of minutes before epileptic seizures. All these characteristics prefigure the forthcoming seizures. Some studies have proven that the non linear dynamical system can be used as a feasible approach to explore the potential variables for describing the chaos portrait of EEG. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the electric characteristics of EEG signal in the epileptic seizures in rat model by investigating the nonlinear dynamical variables, such as the approximate entropy (ApEn) and correlation dimen sion. DESIGN: Observational and experimental study based on animals. SETTING: Department of Medical Engineering, Department of Gastroen terology, Second Artilleryman General Hospital of Chinese PLA; Department of Physics, Faulty of Biomedical Engineering, Fourth Military Medical Uni versity of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: From September 2001 to January 2002, this study was conducted at the Complexity Laboratory of the Biomedical Department of the Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. Six male SD rats,weighing 150- 200 g, were selected.INTERVENTIONS: After intraperitoneal injection of chloral hydrate (0. 5 mL), the male SD rats were deeply anesthetized. When their EEG signal became stable, bemegride injection was diluted at 1:1 with saline and was given on a volume of 0.5 mL to the rats intraperitoneally. After a while,the epileptic seizures started marked by a spasm with a deep roar. The entire epileptic seizures were recorded. According to the shape of EEG waves and the corresponding symptoms of the rats during their seizures, data of the four phases, referring to normal condition, preictal phase, ictal phase and postictal phases of epileptic seizures, were selected for nonlinear analysis. The variations of the ApEn and the correlation dimension were calculated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In the four phases of the seizures, before seizures, preictal phase, ictal phase and postictal phases, the changes in the ApEn and correlation dimension were observed.RESULTS: All the 6 rats entered the statistical procedure. During epilepsy, the ApEn and correlation dimension of the EEG signal in ictal phases (0. 447 ±0. 126, 2. 166 ±0. 377) decreased significantly while those in preictal phases(0. 807 ±0. 182, 4. 773 ±0. 319) and postictal phases (1. 241 ±0. 125, 6. 042 ±0. 373) (t = -3. 984to 17. 902, P ＜0. 01). The ApEn and the correlation dimension of the EEG signal in preictal and ictal phases had significant difference with those observed under normal conditions (1.313 ± 0. 090, 6. 405 ± 0. 694) (t = -5. 228 to 12. 740, P ＜ 0. 01 ).CONCLUSION: The changes in ApEn and correlation dimension showed by nonlinear dynamical approach in this study reflect the characteristics of EEG signals in preictal time, ictal time and postictal timeof the epileptic seizures and the differences among them. Additionally, they also reveal the laws in the changes of the complex ictal EEG signal.

Objective To fractionate phosphoproteome of mouse liver by two-dimensional (2D) liquid phase chromatography fractionation. Methods Phosphoproteins were extracted from lysates of normal mice livers by phosphate metal affinity chromatography (PMAC) resin. The phosphoproteins were exchanged by start buffer and separated by chromatofocusing in the first dimension. Then the fractions between pH 8.5 and pH 4.0 were separated by non-porous silica (NPS) reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Finally, the UV maps were converted into gel-like maps by ProteoVue software. Results Phosphoproteins of mouse liver were successfully extracted and fractionated by two dimensional liquid phase chromatographic fractionation after concentration and desalt. Then pI/UV map of mouse liver phosphoproteome was successfully set-up. There are 16 fractions between pH 8.5 and pH 4.0 after chromatofocusing in the first dimension and the UV maps of each fraction were converted into pI/UV gel-like maps. Conclusions Combination of technique of phosphoproteins enrichment and 2-D liquid phase chromatographic fractionation is an effective approach to research phosphoproteome and the key base for further identification and investigation of phosphoproteins.

To explore the clinical characteristic and intervention strategies for pregnancy complicated with heart failure. The clinical data of 67 pregnant women with heart failure during January 1998 to December 2010 were collected and analyzed.The rate of heart failure in pregnancy with heart diseases was 31％ (67/216).The causes of pregnancy complicated with heart failure were peripartum cardiomyopathy ( n =33,49％ ) and hypertensive disorder complicating with pregnancy heart disease( n =28,42％ ).Heart failure in pregnancy appeared at an average of (36.0 ± 2.7 ) weeks.The average terminating time of pregnant women with heart failure was ( 36.5 ± 2.1 ) weeks.Cesarean section was the main safe choice of delivery for pregnant women with heart failure.The average weight of newborns for pregnant women with heart failure was(2517 ±541 )g.The rate of neonatal asphyxia was 22％ (11/50).Strengthening routine antenatal examination and treating pregnant complications timely can prevent and reduce the incidence of heart failure.