OBJECTIVETo compare the initial penetration depth of nickel-titanium (NiTi) and stainless-steel (SS) spreader during lateral compaction and the quality of the seal in curved canals.

METHODSForty extracted mandibular premolars with a single curved canal were divided into two groups: no more than 20 degrees and more than 20 degrees based on degree of curvature. All canals were instrumented using a rotary instrumentation technique. NiTi and SS spreaders were used to obturate the canals containing a master cone while the penetration depths were measured. Horizontal sections were cut in 2 and 4 mm from the apex and photographed under stereomicroscope. The percentage of gutta-percha-filled are (PGP) of cross-sections was measured using an image analysis program.

RESULTSIn canals of more than 20 degrees, the penetration depths and PGP of 2 mm from the apex of NiTi spreaders were higher than SS spreader. In canals of no more than 20 degrees, there were no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). At 4 mm from the apex, there was no significant difference between two groups.

CONCLUSIONNiTi spreaders has a higher penetrated depth and obturation density than SS spreaders in severed curved canals.

Gutta-Percha ; Humans ; Nickel ; Root Canal Obturation ; Stainless Steel ; Titanium

OBJECTIVETo extract the effective ingredient (crystal I) from effective section (saponin) of Ligustrum Lucidum Ait, identify the chemical structure of crystal I, study the effect of crystal I on P. gingivalis, B. forsythus and P. intermedia.

METHODSIsolated crystal I from saponin using the silica gel column chromatograph. Identified crystal I with IR spectra, (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR. Measured the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) through micro-liquid dilution. Studied the killing curve of ursolic acid on B. forsythus and P. intermedia.

RESULTSThe crystal I was identified as ursolic acid; its MIC and MBC to P. gingivalis, B. forsythus and P. intermedia were 0.740 and 0.295 microg/L respectively. The killing curve indicated that 0.800 microg/L ursolic acid could kill P. intermedia and B. forsythus in 3 and 6 hours respectively.

CONCLUSIONUrsolic acid has obvious effect to inhibit periodontal pathogen.

Bacteroides ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Ligustrum ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Periodontium ; microbiology ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; drug effects ; Prevotella intermedia ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo probe into long-term therapeutic effect and safety of Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture for treatment of cerebral infarction in restoration stage.

METHODSTwo hundred and thirty-four cases of cerebral infarction in restoration stage were randomly assigned to a Xingnao group and a routine group. The Xingnao group (n=116) were treated by Xingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture (once each day, for 4 weeks) and routine treatment of western medicine, and the routine group (n=118) were treated with routine acupuncture and the routine treatment of western medicine. They were followed-up for 6 months. The main indexes living, treatment and recurrence at the end of the following survey and the secondary indexes assessment of nervous functions at the end of the following survey, and the incidence rate of bad events in acupuncture were observed.

RESULTSThe death rate was 0.86% and the continuing treatment rate was 36.21% in the Xingnao group, and 1.69% and 36.44% in the routine group, with no significant difference between the two groups (both P>0.05) at the following-up of 6 months; the Xingnao group in decreasing recurrent rate and improving nervous function was better than the routine group (P<0.01); no severe adverse response was found in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONXingnao Kaiqiao acupuncture is safe and it is superior to routine acupuncture in long-term therapeutic effect, decreasing recurrence rate, improving nervous function.

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Infarction ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVEHeart failure is responsible for a huge burden in hospital care. Our goal was to evaluate the value of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) on predicting death or hospital readmission after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSFrom March 2003 to April 2005, 135 consecutive patients (97 male and 38 female, mean age 60.7 years +/- 13.1 years) with chronic heart failure [dilated cardiomyopathy (44%) and coronary heart disease (35%)] were included in this study. Plasma concentrations of the Nt-proBNP were measured by ELISA on admission. All patients received conventional therapy and were followed up for 24 months. The primary end point was death or readmission.

RESULTS(1) During the follow up period (640 days +/- 100 days), 11 patients died and 39 patients rehospitalized, the median Nt-proBNP level on admission was significantly higher in patients died during the follow up period (5908 ng/L) than that of rehospitalized patients (2768 ng/L, P = 0.038). Plasma Nt-proBNP level on admission were significantly higher in primary end point group (n = 50, 2947 ng/L) than that in non-primary end point group (n = 85, 917 ng/L, P < 0.01). (2) Variables associated with an increased hazard of death and/or rehospitalization were Nt-proBNP and NYHA degree when analyzed by logistic regression models. Increased Log Nt-proBNP was the strongest independent predictor of an adverse outcome of CHF (odds ratio 13.8, 95% confidence interval 2.29 to 2.78, P < 0.01). (3) Area under the curve for Nt-proBNP in evaluating prognosis of CHF patients was 0.885 (positive predictive value 88.5%, negative predictive value 11.5%).

CONCLUSIONNt-proBNP level on admission is a strong predictor of rehospitalization and death within 24 months after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Prognosis ; Ventricular Function ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnostic methods and prognosis of small pancreatic cancer.

METHODSFrom May 2000 to January 2007, 89 patients with pancreatic cancer underwent surgery in our hospital. Of those, 14 had a tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter (small tumor group), and the other 75 had a tumor >2 cm in diameter (controlled group). The clinicopathological data of all the cases were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTSIn the small pancreatic cancer group, CT and MRI detected 66.7% (8/12) and 77.8% (7/9) of the tumors, respectively. Serosal infiltration was found in 2 cases, lymph node involvement in 3 cases, and retroperitoneal infiltration in 3 cases. The follow-up duration of this group was 4-86 months. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 42.8% and 31.7%, while in the control group, the overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 29.7% and 22.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the lymph node involvement, serosal infiltration and retroperitoneal infiltration were independent risk factors (P<0.05). However, the tumor size was not shown to be an independent risk factor (OR value = 1.45, P = 0.971).

CONCLUSIONCT and MRI are valuable in detecting small pancreatic cancer. Small pancreatic cancers are likely to have a better prognosis when compared with larger ones. Lymph node metastasis and local infiltration are independent predictors of prognosis but not tumor size.

Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retroperitoneal Space ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Serous Membrane ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tumor Burden

BACKGROUNDMucosal immunity is important to defense against dental caries. To enhance mucosal immunity, a DNA vaccine mucosal delivery system was prepared by encapsulating anticaries DNA vaccine (plasmid pGJA-P/VAX) in chitosan under optimal conditions and the characteristics of the microparticles was investigated. Furthermore, the release properties and protective action of microparticles for plasmid were studied in vitro.

METHODSPlasmid loaded chitosan microparticles were prepared by complex coacervation. Three factors, concentration of DNA, sodium sulfate, and the chitosan/DNA ratios in complexes [better expressed as N/P ratio: the number of poly nitrogen (N) per DNA phosphate (P)] influencing preparation were optimized by orthogonal test. The characteristics of microparticles were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). DNA release rate of microparticles in similar gastro fluid (SGF) or similar intestinal fluid (SIF) at 37 degrees C was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.

RESULTSHigh encapsulation efficiency (96.8%) was obtained with chitosan microparticles made under optimal conditions of 50 mmol/L Na2SO4, 200 microg/ml DNA and N/P ratio of 4. The size of particles was about 4 to 6 microm. The encapsulation process did not destroy the integrity of DNA. When incubated with SIL, after a release of about 10% in the first 60 minutes, no further DNA was released during the following 180 minutes. When incubated with SGL, the microparticles released a small burst (about 11%) in the first 60 minutes, and then slowly released at a constant, but different rate.

CONCLUSIONSThese chitosan microparticles showed suitable characteristics in vitro for mucosal vaccination and are therefore a promising carrier system for DNA vaccine mucosal delivery.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cell Survival ; Chitosan ; administration & dosage ; Cricetinae ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Particle Size ; Vaccines, DNA ; administration & dosage ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tongsaimai (TSM) tablets in treating foot trauma of diabetic foot (DF) model rats, and discuss its potential mechanism.

METHODMale SD rats were selected to duplicate the diabetic foot ulcer model and randomly divided into the blank control group, the model group, the metformin treatment group, and TSM 12.44, 6.22, 3.11 g x kg(-1) groups (n = 10). The healing of ulcer wounds were observed on day 1, 4, 8, 13 and 18. After 18 days, a histopathologic examination was conducted for ulcer tissues. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by hydroxylamine and TBA methods. The content of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined with the radioimmunoassay. The immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ulcer tissues and the number of capillary vessels.

RESULTTSM could alleviate the pathological changes of diabetic foot rats, accelerate the ulcer healing on 4, 8, 13, 18 d, reduce MDA, IL-6, TNF-alpha, VEGF content in rat serum at 18 d (after the rehabilitation period), and enhance the SOD content. Specifically, the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group showed significant differences compared with the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). At 18 d after the treatment (the late rehabilitation period), the VEGF expression of TSM 12.44, 6.22 g x kg(-1) groups and the number of blood capillaries of the TSM 12.44 g x kg(-1) group were significantly lower than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTSM could promote the foot wound healing of DF model rats, reduce MDA, IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels in serum, increase the SOD content and decrease the VEGF expression and the number of blood capillaries in the late rehabilitation period. Its action mechanism may be related to the inhibition of oxidative stress injury and the inflammatory cell infiltration.

Animals ; Diabetic Foot ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tablets ; administration & dosage ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

AIM:To investigate the effect of retinoic acid receptor gamma(RARG)on the viability and migra-tion ability of gastric cancer cells.METHODS:The expression of RARG in gastric cancer and normal gastric tissues and its correlation with the overall survival rate of gastric cancer patients were analyzed by bioinformatics.The expression of RARG was promoted and inhibited by over-expression plasmid transfection and RNA interference technique in gastric can-cer cells in vitro,respectively.MTT and Transwell assays were used to detect the effect of RARG on the viability and mi-gration ability of gastric cancer cells.The effect of RARG on regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was evaluated by Western blot and TOP/FOP dual-luciferase reporter assay.The protein interaction of RARG and β-catenin was deter-mined by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence co-localization assay.RESULTS:Over-expression of RARG en-hanced the viability and migration ability of gastric cancer SGC 7901 cells(P<0.05).Knockdown of RARG attenuated the viability and migration ability of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells(P<0.05).At the same time, RARG over-expression in-creased the protein expression levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, cyclin D1, Twist and Snail(P<0.05), and the activity of TOP/FOP dual-luciferase reporter gene(P<0.05).In addition, RARG interacted with β-catenin protein in the gastric cancer cells.CONCLUSION:RARG promotes the viability and migration ability of gastric cancer cells via activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,thus playing an important role in the development of gastric cancer.

AIM To observe the effects of Sangtongjian Mixture (STJ) on glucose and lipid metabolism,insulin resistance and fat cytokines in type 2 diabetic rats,and their mechanisms of action.METHODS One hundred and forty rats fed on the combination of STZ and high fat diet were established as the type 2 diabetic models.Fasting blood glucose (FBG) level reached more than 16.7 mmol/L and then the rats were randomly divided into model group,metformin (180 mg/kg) group,STJ (73.5,147 and 294 mg/kg) groups.Ten rats were set as the blank group.Each treatment group was intragastrically given the corresponding agents for twelve weeks.The fasting blood glucose levels of rats were measured once every two weeks after the administration.After a 12-week administration period,glycosylated serum protein (GSP),glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) and lipid profile indices (TC,TG,HDL-C and LDL-C) were determined.The serum insulin level was measured by radioimmunoassay,and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were calculated.The levels of serum adiponectin and leptin were detected by ELISA.RESULTS STJ remarkably decreased the levels of FBG,GSP,GHb,TC,TG,LDL-C,leptin and HOMR-IR in type 2 diabetic rats.Furthermore,STJ also significantly increased the levels of HDL-C,adiponectin and ISI.CONCLUSION STJ can improve glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetic rats by ameliorating insulin resistance and regulating fat cytokine levels.

Objective To construct recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid encoding Swedish and Flemish mutations of amyloid precursor protein (APP) fused with fluorescent protein and to investigate the APP cleavage progress. Methods The last 300 bases of APP (named as C99 containing Flemish mutation), together with cyan and yellow fluorescence sequence (named as CFP and YFP,respectively) were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The 54 bases in the middle of APP sequence were synthesized (named as 54 bp containing Swedish mutation). The 4 fragments mentioned above (CFP, YFP, C99 as well as 54 bp) were inserted into the vector pcDNA3.0. By genetic engineering, the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.0-CFP-54bp-YFP-C99 was constructed and identified by enzyme digestion, PCR and sequencing. Then the plasmid was transfected into SH-SY5Y cells. Its expression was examined by fluorescence confocal microscopy and the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) signal was collected. The amyloid beta (A) deposition was detected by immunocytochemistry. Results (1) DNA sequencing showed the sequence of the constructed recombinant plasmid was correct. (2) FRET and two types of fluorescence could be seen by the spectrum confocal fluorescence microscopy. (3) The expression product of fusion gene was correct and cleaved by and secretases. (4) The A deposition was detected in the cell membrane, cytoplasma and intercellular space. Conclusion (1) The fusion protein can generate A by and γproteolytic processing. (2) It is for the first time to observe the APP cleavage by FRET. (3) It is also the first time to find that APP may be cleaved during its transportation from cell plasma to cell membrane. (4) C99 is very important for the correct cleavage of APP. Our test data strongly suggest that C99 may function as the signal peptide. It might guide and direct the APP to the right location for the cleavage.