OBJECTIVETo study c-fos and substance P expression in the central nervous system following mechanical and chemical nociceptive stimulation to the masseters in rats with occlusal interference.

METHODSOcclusal interference was made by bonding a 2 mm long dentin screw in the pulp cavity of the first maxillary molar in the left side. Seven days after occlusal interference, the rats in occlusal interference and mechanical stimulus group and mechanical stimulus control group were light anesthetized and nociceptive mechanical stimulus were applied to the ipsilateral masseter. Pain response was recorded and all the animals were killed 2 hours later. The rats in the other two groups were deep anesthetized and 100 microL 5% formalin was injected into the ipsilateral masseter, killed 2 hours later. The brainstem and cervical spinal cord were processed c-fos and substance P immunoreactivity and data were quantitatively analyzed.

RESULTSBoth mechanical and chemical stimulus to the ipsilateral masseter induced increasing neuronal c-fos expression in the trigeminal nucleus and in the cervical spinal dorsal horn in occlusal interference and mechanical stimulus group and occlusal interference and chemical stimulus group (P < 0.05). Following mechanical stimulation to the ipsilateral masseter, substance P expression in the trigeminal nucleus transition zone was increased in occlusal interference and mechanical stimulus group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe central neuronal sensitization in the brainstem may play an important role in the masticatory muscle pain induced by occlusal interference.

Animals ; Masseter Muscle ; Masticatory Muscles ; Pain ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To establish the normal parameters of psychometric measures such as the number connection tests A(NCT-A)and digit symbol tests(DST)in assessment of minimal hepatic en- cephalopathy(MHE).Methods One hundred and sixty healthy volunteers(aged 25 to 64 years;educa- tional level＞9 years)were divided into＜35 ys,35～44 ys,45～54 ys and 55～64 ys groups.All of the healthy volunteers were assessed with NCT-A and DST to establish the normal value of age-related parameters,which can be used for diagnosis of MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.Two standard devi- ation of the normal mean was used as a diagnostic criterion for MHE.One hundred and six cirrhotic patients were assessed with these parameters.Results The parameters of NCT-A were(25.1?4.6) sec in＜35 ys group,(32.1?6.8) sec in 35～44 ys group,(38.6?7.1)sec in 45～54 ys group or (49.3?6.3)sec in 55～64 ys group.The scores of DST were 49.9?4.7 in＜35 ys group,44.6?4.8 in 35～44 ys group,38.5?5.0 in 45～54 ys group or 35.4?4.7 in 55～64 ys group.Thirty one out of 106 cirrhotic patients were diagnosed as MHE based on these parameters.Conclusion The NCT- A and DST are psychometric assessments for diagnosis of MHE.Age-based normal paramerters of NCT- A and DST are needed to be established.

OBJECTIVETo study the adaptive alteration in bilaminar zone of rabbits' temporomandibular joint following disc displacement.

METHODSTwenty-six Japanese white rabbits were used in this study. Among these rabbits,6 were used as controls. The right discs of other 20 rabbits were displaced anteriorly by operation. Four of these rabbits were killedatn 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks respectively after surgery. The TMJS were studied by HE staining, Alcin bluen staining and in situ detection of type II collagen mRNA expression.

RESULTSThere appeared cartilage metaplasia after one week following disc displacement. Typical chondrocytes could be found in the bilaminar zone. The new chondrocytes expressed type II collagen.

CONCLUSIONSThe bilaminar zone of TMJ will be remodeled following disc displacement and become a disc-like tissue to function as a disc.

Animals ; Collagen Type II ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; Joint Dislocations ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rabbits ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; metabolism ; pathology

BACKGROUNDThe urokinase plasminogen activator system is believed to play an important role in degradation of the extracellular matrix associated with cartilage and bone destruction; however its precise roles in temporomandibular disorders have not yet been clarified. The aims of this study were to investigate the gene expression of fibrinolytic factors urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the articular cartilage of rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with disc displacement (DD) and to probe the relationship between fibrinolytic activity and cartilage remodeling.

METHODSDisc displacement of right joints was performed in 36 of 78 rabbits under investigation. The animals were sacrificed at 4 days and 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, respectively. The right joints of these animals were harvested and processed for the examination of mRNA expression of uPA and PAI-1 in articular cartilage using in situ hybridization techniques.

RESULTSThe expression of uPA and PAI-1 was co-expressed weakly in the chondrocytes from transitive zone to hypertrophic zone and mineralized zone, while no hybridizing signals were shown in proliferative zone and superficial zone in control rabbits. The most striking was the up-regulation of uPA and PAI-1 mRNA in 4-day rabbits postoperatively at the onset of cartilage degeneration. The strongest hybridizing signals for uPA and PAI-1 were seen in 2-week rabbits postoperatively. After 2 weeks, the expression of uPA and PAI-1 began to decrease and reached nearly normal level at 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of the uPA/PAI-1 system coincides with the pathological changes in condylar cartilage after DD. The uPA/PAI-1 system may be one of the essential mediators in articular cartilage remodeling.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; metabolism ; Female ; Joint Dislocations ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Temporomandibular Joint ; metabolism ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of anterior disc displacement on the expression of urokinase plasminogen activator and its inhibitor-1 (uPA/PAI-1) in synovial tissues.

METHODSForty Japanese white rabbits were used in this study. The animals were killed at 4 days, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperatively, respectively. In situ hybridization technology was applied to detect the expression of uPA/PAI-1 mRNA in synovial membrane.

RESULTSIn normal synovial tissues, synovial lining cells and a few fibrosblasts with mild positive staining were occasionally seen. More synovial lining cells and fibrosblasts with moderate postive signals were found 1 week after operation. Since then, the degree of staining for uPA/PAI-1 increased gradually. By the end of 12 weeks postoperatively, strong signals of uPA/PAI-1 mRNA were detected.

CONCLUSIONThere is a harmonized uPA/PAI-1 system existing in synovial tissues. The high expression of uPA and PAI-1 mRNA in synovial tissues indicates that the uPA/PAI-1 system may play an important role in the process of synovitis resulted from anterior disc displacement.

Animals ; In Situ Hybridization ; Plasminogen ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; RNA, Messenger ; Rabbits ; Synovial Membrane ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVETo study the gene expression changes in extracellular matrix of condylar cartilage following disc anterior displacement of rabbit TMJ.

METHODSThe right sides of 28 joints in 40 rabbits were subjected to surgical operation of disc displacement. The condylar Collagen II and Aggrecan mRNA expression were detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSCollagen II and Aggrecan mRNA mainly expressed in the lower zone of condylar chondrocyte. Aggrecan mRNA decreased faster than collagen II following disc displacement, and adjusted to normal later.

CONCLUSIONAnterior disc displacement leads to alteration of extracellurar matrix gene expression in the condylar chondrocyte, which means the start of remodeling.

Aggrecans ; Animals ; Bone Remodeling ; Cartilage, Articular ; cytology ; Chondrocytes ; metabolism ; Collagen Type II ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Female ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lectins, C-Type ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proteoglycans ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Temporomandibular Joint ; cytology ; metabolism ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; surgery ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; etiology ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To introduce and conduct effectiveness evaluation of peer-group level care and management mode in people living with HIV and AIDS(PLHAs)in Jing'an District, Shanghai. Methods We recruited PLHAs who were managed by Jing'an District and participated in the peer-group care activities from 2015 to 2016, and collected their data of general conditions, behavior, antiretroviral therapy, life quality, social support, mental status and medical modes, and then conducted effectiveness evaluation of the mode by multivariate logistic regression model and linear regression model. Results A total of 300 PLHAs were included with 150 cases in each group. PLHAs in target group had higher proportion of antiretroviral therapy[82.7%(124/150)and 64.7%(97/150)]. In addition, they got higher scores in mental health(48.5±9.2 and 43.9±10.6)and social support(28.7±8.2 and 24.8±6.6), and lower scores in depressive severity index(0.5±0.1)and avoidance of medical modes(16.1±3.0 and 17.0±2.5). Multivariate analysis showed that PLHAs in target group had less sex partners(zero partner, OR = 2.1, 95%CI:1.1-3.9;one partner, OR = 3.6, 95%CI:1.9-6.8)and increased condom use(no sex, OR = 5.3, 95%CI:2.4-11.7;complete use, OR = 10.6, 95%CI:4.7-24.1;random miss, OR = 5.1, 95%CI:1.8-14.8)in the last 12 months. Conclusion The effect of peer-group level care and management mode is significantly good in promoting behavior change, enhancing health concern and increasing antiretroviral therapy.

Objective To explore the clinical features and surgical indications of patients with symptomatic intracranial arachnoid cyst (IAC) and their surgical effect. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 32 patients with IAC,admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to January 2010. Post-therapeutic results were clinically and radiologically assessed. Results The follow-up ranged from 12 to 108 months; 2 patients received conventional treatment were lost of follow-up.Good outcome was noted in 23 patients (shrank cyst volume or alleviated clinical symptoms,72％); 6 patients (no changes in cyst volume or clinical symptoms,18％) remained unchanged,while only 1 (3.1％) had worsened giant suprasellar cyst. lmageological diagnosis showed disappearance of cyst in 4 (12.5％),decreased volume of cyst in 16 (50％) and no changes of cyst in 12 (37.5％). Conclusion The major indications of surgery for IAC include intracranial hypertension, damage in nervous system and compression of the cerebral tissues. Surgery excision and marsupialization of symptomatic patients can provide good results.

OBJECTIVETo probe the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and cervical lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSThe microlymphatic vessel density was detected with enzyme histo-chemical method in 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa; 355 lymphnodes were detected with immunohistochemically using monoantibody AE3.

RESULTSThe mean MLVD was 14.04 +/- 6.92 in tumor group, or 5.48 +/- 2.62 in normal group. The difference was (P < 0.001). The percentage of tumor with expression CK was 48.9%. The mean MLVD was 16.94 +/- 5.43 in CK positive group, or 11.26 +/- 5.00 in CK negative group, There was difference significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSLymphangiogenesis plays a key role in cervical lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; secondary ; surgery ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neck

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and induced nitride oxide synthesizase (iNOS) expression in lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

METHODSSamples were obtained from 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 15 cases with normal oral mucosa, VEGF-C and iNOS mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR method. Lymph node micrometastasis of 10 normal lymph nodes and 355 lymph nodes from 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma was detected with immunohistochemical reaction in cytokeratin antibody.

RESULTSThe percentages in tumors with higher expression were 57.4% for VEGF-C, 68.1% for iNOS (P < 0.05). They were significantly higher than that of normal groups. Significant positive relationship was found between VEGF-C and iNOS (P < 0.01). The positive rate of cytokeratin (CK) was 48.9%. Significant positive relationship was found between VEGF-C and CK, iNOS and CK (P < 0.01). The expression rates of CK in positive group of VEGF-C and iNOS were 63.0%, 65.6% respectively, and were significant higher than negative groups.

CONCLUSIONExpression of VEGF-C and iNOS in lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma is significant related.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mouth Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism