Since its emergence in December 2019, corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted several countries, affecting more than 90 thousand patients and making it a global public threat. The routes of transmission are direct contact, and droplet and possible aerosol transmissions. Due to the unique nature of dentistry, most dental procedures generate significant amounts of droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission. Understanding the significance of aerosol transmission and its implications in dentistry can facilitate the identification and correction of negligence in daily dental practice. In addition to the standard precautions, some special precautions that should be implemented during an outbreak have been raised in this review.

To investigate the chemical constituents of the whole plants of Bidens bipinnata, the separation and purification of constituents were performed by chromatography on macroporous resin, silica gel, MCI and Sephadex LH-20. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data as quercetin (1), quercetin-3-0-alpha-L-rhamnoside (2), keampferol-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), keampferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnoside (4), 3', 5-dyhydroxy-3, 6, 4'-trimethoxyl -7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside flavonoid (5), 7, 8, 3', 4'-tetraflavanone(6), (2S)- and (2R)-isookanin-7-O-beta-D- glucopyranoside (7a/7b), (2S)- and (2R)-3'-methoxy-isookanin-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (8a/8b), 6, 7, 3', 4'-tetrahydroxyaurone(9), maritimetin (10), esculetin (11), 3-O-caffeoyl-2-methyl-d-erythrono-1, 4-lactone (12), (7S, 8R) balanophonin-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (13), eugenyl-O-beta-apiofuranosyl-( 1"-6') -O-beta-glucopyranoside (14), and (+)-syringaresinol-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15). Compounds 8, 13, 14, and 15 were isolated from this genus for the first time. Compounds 1 and 6 were potent inhibitors against HSC-T6 cells in vitro and compounds 1, 2, 6, and 7 were capable of decreasing the inflammatory cytokine production of macrophage cells in vitro.
Bidens ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mandibular bone mineral density (BMD) change of senile osteoporosis patients and the relationship between the mandible bone loss and systemic bone loss.

METHODSForty senile osteoporotic patients (group A), 40 non-osteoporosis control elders (group B) and 40 healthy youths (group C) were included in this study. Standard digital panoramic tomography (SDPTG) was taken for each participant. Cortical width (CW), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), alveolar bone density and alveolar bone height were measured on the SDPTG. Lumbar and hip BMD were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

RESULTSClose relationship was found between CW (3.57 +/- 0.82) and systemic BMD for osteoporosis patients (P < 0.05). All the SDPTG indices including CW, PMI, alveolar bone density and alveolar bone height were different for osteoporosis patients from the healthy youths (P < 0.05). The osteoporosis patients had thinner CW (3.57 +/- 0.82) and smaller PMI (0.29 +/- 0.06) than non-osteoporosis control elders (CW: 4.07 +/- 0.75, PMI: 0.32 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05). The alveolar bone density (105.40 +/- 20.48) and alveolar bone height (10.42 +/- 1.82) of the non-osteoporosis control elders reduced compared with the healthy youths (alveolar bone density: 117.10 +/- 22.23, alveolar bone height: 11.69 +/- 1.63, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe senile osteoporotic patients had significant mandibular cortical bone loss.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography, Panoramic

OBJECTIVETo compare the mandibular indices differences between periodontitis and non-periodontitis subjects by digital panoramic tomograms in order to find a simple and effective method to evaluate the density of alveolar bone and study the relativity between local bone loss and systemic bone loss.

METHODSStandard digital panoramic tomograms of sixty periodontitis subjects and sixty non-periodontitis subjects were taken. Density and height cortical width (CW) and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) of alveolar bone were measured on the digital panoramic tomograms. SPSS 12.0 was used for statistics analyses.

RESULTSThe periodontitis subjects had lower height of alveolar bone (8.76 mm vs. 11.85 mm, P=0.000), lower density of alveolar bone (106.08 vs. 113.33, P=0.034), thinner cortical width (3.80 mm vs. 4.27 mm, P=0.008), while the difference of PMI between the two groups was not significant (P>0.05). The relativity between both density and height of alveolar bone with CW was significant (P<0.05), but not significant with PMI (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe optical method is a simple and effective method to measure the density of the alveolar bone. Compared with the non-periodontitis subjects, the periodontitis subjects not only have alveolar bone changed significantly but also have thinner cortical width.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Bone and Bones ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Periodontitis ; Radiography, Panoramic

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects of the single and mixed decoction of Thallus laminariae (kelp) and Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) on the metabolism and their difference. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice and the single decoction were made and intragastrically administered to the SD rats. The effect on system metabolism, the toxicity of liver and kidney were assessed by GC-MS profiling of the endogenous molecules in serum, routine biochemical assays and histographic inspection of tissues from SD rats, separately. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice induced more obvious pathological abnormalities in SD rats than a single decoction of kelp, while the extracts of licorice did not show any pathological change. Neither the mixed, nor the single decoction showed abnormal histopathology. After intragastric administration of extracts for 5 days, the mixed decoction induced a decrease of ALT (no significant change in the groups of single decoction) and an increase of BUN (so did the single decoction of kelp). Metabolomic profile of the molecules in serum revealed that the metabolic patterns were all obviously affected for the three groups, i.e., the mixed and single decoction of kelp and licorice. The rats given with the single decoction of kelp showed a similar pattern to that of the mixed decoction, indicating that the kelp primarily contributed the perturbation of metabolism for the mixed decoction. All three groups induced a decrease of branched chain amino acids, TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates (e.g., pyruvic acid and lactic acid) and an increase of 3-hydroxybutyric acid. Kelp decoction showed stronger potential in reducing TCA cycle intermediates and glycolysis intermediates than the other two groups, while the levels of branched chain amino acids were the lowest after licorice extracts were given. These results suggested that the effect of the mixed decoction on metabolism was closely associated with both kelp and licorice. The continuous administration of single decoction of kelp and the mixed decoction of licorice and kelp resulted in pathological abnormalities in kidney of SD rats. The mixed decoction of kelp and licorice distinctly perturbed sera molecules and hence system metabolism, which showed associated with those of kelp and licorice. Although the metabolic effect was associated with both kelp and licorice, the results suggested kelp contributed to it primarily.
Animals ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Kelp ; chemistry ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Metabolomics ; Plant Preparations ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEAlpha-thalassemia is one of the most common monogene disorders in the world. Most frequently, it is caused by deletions of alpha-globin gene (-alpha or --), and less commonly resulted from the non-deletional mutation (alpha(T)alpha). Hemoglobin H (HbH) disease is the most severe type among survivors of alpha-thalassemia. The clinical presentation of children with the disease was highly heterogeneous. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-globin genotypes in the children with HbH disease on predicting the phenotypic severity and to define the factors involved in the disease progress.

METHODSForty-three children with the disease in Zhuhai area of Guangdong, China were examined by using established techniques to detect genotypes of alpha-globin and to determine all hematological parameters. All detailed clinical data of the cases were recorded. Then clinical and hematological findings, and the correlation with genotypes were evaluated.

RESULTSSix alpha-thalassemia mutations were detected and interacted to produce 5 HbH disease genotypes. Of these genotypes, -alpha(3.7)/--(SEA)(60%), -alpha(4.2)/--(SEA) (19%) and alpha(CS)alpha/--(SEA) (12%) HbH diseases were prevalent in the area. Compared with -alpha(3.7)/--(SEA) HbH disease, significantly lower red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCHC) and HbA(2) (P < 0.05, 0.01, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively), and significantly higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin volume (MCV) and HbH levels (both P < 0.01), and more severe clinical phenotypes were found in the HbH disease with alpha(T)alpha/--(SEA) genotype. While the differences were much more significant when compared with -alpha(3.7)/--(SEA) then compared with -alpha(4.2)/--(SEA) not only in the hematological parameters, but also in the severity of clinical phenotypes. In addition, HbH levels showed anegatively correlation with the RBC count (r = -0.39, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe phenotypes of HbH disease may be mainly related to the underlying genotypes. The children with alpha(T)alpha/--(SEA) genotype presented with more severe hematological and clinical phenotypes followed by the -alpha(4.2)/--(SEA) and then -alpha(3.7)/--(SEA) genotypes. But phenotypic severity was not simply related to the degree of alpha-globin deficiency. HbH levels were found to exacerbate anemia. These data might provide comprehensive and very valuable and basic information for the management of HbH disease, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.

Child ; China ; Disease Progression ; Genotype ; Hemoglobin H ; genetics ; Humans ; Phenotype ; alpha-Globins ; genetics

Objective:To observe the effect of early intervention bundle on clinical prognosis of patients with latent/overt septic shock in emergency department and analyze the risk factors for mortality.Methods:Patients with latent and overt septic shock admitted to the North Hospital of Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into latent shock group and overt shock group. The gender, age, main infection site, the time of shock diagnosis, the indicators of early (3-hour) intervention bundle, 6-hour compliance rate of intervention bundle, the remission time and 28-day prognosis were observed. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for 28-day mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze its prognostic value.Results:Totally 181 patients were included in the analysis. There were 102 cases in the latent shock group, and 28-day mortality was 15.69% (16 cases); 79 cases in the overt shock group, and 28-day mortality was 31.65% (25 cases). Compared with the latent shock group, patients in overt shock group had higher compliance rate of early intervention bundle (93.67% vs. 58.82%), higher blood lactate acid at admission [Lac (mmol/L): 7.09±2.08 vs. 5.69±1.27], higher compliance rate of blood culture before antibiotics (93.67% vs. 63.73%), higher proportion of antibiotics use at the first and second hours (45.57% vs. 31.37%, 54.43% vs. 33.33%), higher proportion of rapid fluid resuscitation at the first hour (crystal liquid: 59.49% vs. 11.76%, crystal fluid combined with human serum albumin: 40.51% vs. 0%), and higher proportion of vasoactive use at the first hour (100% vs. 9.80%). The stable time was significantly prolonged (days: 4.40±1.35 vs. 1.49±0.55), while the onset time (days: 1.47±0.97 vs. 2.95±1.61), the time of diagnosis (minutes: 31.30±12.54 vs. 79.15±13.81), 6-hour lactate clearance [(50.27±21.53)% vs. (61.82±13.12)%], the proportion of antibiotics use at the third hour (0% vs. 35.29%), the proportion of rapid fluid resuscitation at the second and third hour (second hour crystal liquid: 0% vs. 60.78%, second hour crystal fluid combined with human serum albumin: 0% vs. 14.71%, third hour crystal liquid: 0% vs. 12.75%), 6-hour compliance rate of the standard of central venous blood saturation (ScvO 2, 60.76% vs. 78.43%) and the success rate of treatment (28-day mortality: 31.65% vs. 15.69%) were lower than those of the latent shock group (all P < 0.05). Ten patients with latent shock developed into overt shock within 24 hours after admission. All patients with overt shock needed vasoactive drugs to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) &ge; 65 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa). Compared with the survival patients, the Lac (mmol/L: 7.59±2.27 vs. 5.92±1.24) and the proportion of vasoactive drugs use (65.85% vs. 44.29%) were significantly increased in the death patients, while the 6-hour lactate clearance [(46.58±15.83)% vs. (59.60±17.92)%], the proportion of antibiotics use in the third hour (4.88% vs. 24.29%), and 6-hour compliance rate of urine volume and ScvO 2 (56.10% vs. 82.86%, 43.90% vs. 78.57%) were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that Lac at admission, 6-hour lactate clearance, the use of antibiotics at the third hour, rapid fluid resuscitation at the first hour, and 6-hour compliance rate of ScvO 2 were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality [odds ratio ( OR) was 1.618, 0.021, 0.100, 0.307 and 3.018, all P < 0.05]. ROC curve analysis showed that the Lac at admission had the highest predictive value for 28-day mortality, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.706; followed by 6-hour compliance rate of ScvO 2 (AUC was 0.673). Conclusion:Patients with latent/overt septic shock need early diagnosis and intervention bundle to improve the 6-hour blood lactate clearance and 6-hour compliance rate of ScvO 2 and reduce the mortality.

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of an agonist anti-CD(40) monoclonal antibody 5C11 on the induction and biological characteristics of leukemic dendritic cells.

METHODSCombinations of 5C11 and different cytokines were used to induce differentiation of leukemic blasts into dendritic cells. Morphology was observed by light microscopy. Surface antigens of the induced cells were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), the yields of dendritic cell by cell counting, the levels of IL-6 and IL-12 by ELISA, T cell proliferating activity by allo-mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) in vitro. Allogeneic T cells were stimulated with leukemic dendritic cells and T-cell cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay.

RESULTSWhen cultured with combinations of 5C11 and different cytokines, the leukemic cells isolated from the patients could differentiate into dendritic cells. The morphology showed typical features of dendritic cells, which expressed high levels of CD(40), CD(80) and CD(86). In comparison with the original leukemia cells, the leukemic dendritic cells secreted less IL-6 but more IL-12 (P < 0.05). The leukemic dendritic cells were potent to stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T cells, and the latter was able to lyse the original leukemia cells.

CONCLUSIONLeukemic blasts could be induced to differentiate into functional dendritic cells. It may be of great value in the adoptive immunologic therapy of leukemia.

Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; CD40 Antigens ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Immunotherapy ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Leukemia ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of life (QOL) outcome in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

METHODSA prospective trial was conducted to survey the QOL status of 101 AR patients, in contrast to that of 121 healthy individuals and 97 chronic pharyngitis (CP) patients by generic questionnaire medical outcomes study short-form 36-items health survey (SF-36), and to survey the most troublesome problems of AR patients by disease-specific questionnaire rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ). The correlation between SF-36 and RQLQ had also been analyzed. All the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSBy the assessment of SF-36, the scores of 3 domains (x ± s, the same as follow, the scores were 78.02 ± 18.37, 56.13 ± 17.49, 78.81 ± 16.47, respectively) of AR patients were less than those (84.00 ± 18.36, 74.69 ± 14.13, 83.78 ± 14.31) of healthy individuals (P < 0.05), and the scores of 7 domains (the scores were: 91.78 ± 11.78, 79.16 ± 30.23, 78.02 ± 18.37, 56.13 ± 17.49, 78.81 ± 16.47, 67.66 ± 39.57, 68.78 ± 13.65, respectively) of AR patients were similar with those (94.12 ± 6.88, 80.67 ± 32.38, 73.57 ± 17.96, 59.73 ± 16.58, 80.41 ± 17.01, 63.58 ± 39.99, 66.43 ± 13.71) of CP patients (P > 0.05). By the assessment of RQLQ, in AR patients, both the nasal symptoms and the practical problems got the highest scores (the scores were 2.70 ± 1.29, 2.53 ± 1.37 respectively). According to the assessment of the correlation between SF-36 and RQLQ, the correlation was weak (r = -0.199 ∼ -0.526, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe QOL of AR patients decreased compared with that of healthy individuals, but similar with that of CP patients. The most troublesome problems in AR patients were nasal symptoms and the practical problems. Both SF-36 and RQLQ were suitable for assessing the health status of AR patients. SF-36 and RQLQ each covered a different part of the QOL of AR patients, and the combination of the two questionnaires could improve the QOL measurement.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the effect of Da Chengqitang on the lung index,lung index inhibition rate,lung histological morphology,classification changes of inflammatory cells and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway in mice with allergic asthma.Method: Forty female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group,model group,dexamethasone group (0.005 g·kg^-1) and Da Chengqitang group (19 g·kg^-1).Murine allergic asthma model was established by sensitization and nebulization of ovalbumin (OVA).In brief,asthmatic mice were first sensitized by OVA and Al (OH)₃ mixture ip on day 0 and day 14,and then nebulized by OVA from day 21 to 27.At the same time,each mouse in the dexamethasone and Da Chengqitang groups were intragastrically administered with 0.2 mL corresponding medicine one hour before the nebulization challenge,while the normal control group was given with the same amount of normal saline.On day 28,pulmonary morphology was detected by htoxylin eosin (HE) staining and inflammatory cells from the brachial alveolar lavage fluid were counted by Diff staining.The expression levels of key proteins in MAPK signaling pathway were detected by Western blot.Result: As compared with the normal control group,the lung indexes were significantly increased in model group (P<0.01),showing obvious inflammatory pathological changes,and serious airway inflammation cells exudation (P<0.01),with a predominant percentage of eosinophils,moreover,the expression levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2) were increased obviously in asthmatic mice.After treatment by Da Chengqitang,lung indexes and pulmonary inflammation were significantly decreased,with an inhibitory rate of 68.4% for lung indexes,and inflammatory pathology of lung tissues was obviously improved and inflammatory cell exudation was alleviated,with the obviously lower levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 protein.Conclusion: Da Chengqitang based on "Pulmonary Intestinal Treatment" can effectively improve lung inflammation in mice with allergic asthma,which may be related to the expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 protein.