Objective To investigate the correlation of serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) and calcium levels with cerebral microbleeds in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods A total of 97 patients with acute ischemic stroke were selected as the study subjects and divided into cerebral microbleed (group 31 patients with) and non-cerebral microbleed (group 66 patients) based on the results of susceptibility-weighted imaging. Demographic data and laboratory examination indicators were collected from the two groups, and serum OPG and calcium levels were measured. The levels of serum OPG and calcium were compared between patients with different degrees of lesion and bleeding sites. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to determine the correlations of serum OPG and calcium with cerebral microbleeds. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the influencing factors of cerebral microbleeds. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the predictive value of serum OPG and calcium for cerebral microbleeds. Results Significant differences were observed in age, proportions of patients with drinking and hypertension as well as diabetes, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and serum OPG and calcium levels between the cerebral microbleed group and the non-cerebral microbleed group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that older age, history of alcohol consumption, history of hypertension, high systolic blood pressure, and high OPG level were independent risk factors for cerebral microbleeds (OR=1.480, 1.330, 1.843, 1.632, 1.652; P < 0.05), while high calcium level was an independent protective factor for cerebral microbleeds (OR=0.721, P < 0.05). The AUC values for the prediction of cerebral microbleeds in acute ischemic stroke patients using serum OPG or calcium alone, and their combination were 0.853, 0.825, and 0.921, respectively, with the combined prediction showing higher value than the individual prediction (Z=2.895, 3.138; P < 0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between serum OPG and the severity of cerebral microbleeds (r_s=0.736, P < 0.05) and a negative correlation between calcium and the severity of cerebral microbleeds (r_s=-0.752, P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in serum OPG and calcium levels between patients with cerebral microbleeds in different locations (P > 0.05). Conclusion Elevated serum OPG and reduced calcium levels are observed in patients with acute ischemic stroke and cerebral microbleeds. The levels of serum OPG and calcium are closely related to the severity of cerebral microbleeds, and early combined detection can effectively predict the risk of cerebral microbleeds.

This systematic review and meta-analysis considered the results of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy of systemic or local antibiotic therapy in peri-implantitis. Two independent authors screened publications from three electronic databases to include RCTs meeting all the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the weighted mean differences in survival rate (SR) and changes in pocket probing depth (PPD), bone level (BL), and clinical attachment level (CAL). The study cohorts were defined as antibiotic and control groups with subgroups for analysis. Seven studies including 309 patients (390 implants) were considered. Within the limitations of this review, patients in the antibiotic groups exhibited significant improvements in PPD. Subgroup analysis indicated that the administration of systemic antibiotics or the use of antibiotics in non-surgical treatments did not result in a significant alteration in BL. It was established that the addition of antibiotics can ameliorate PPD and SR in the treatment of peri-implantitis, whether through surgical or non-surgical approaches, and also shows moderate performance regarding BL and CAL. Considering the lack of application of new technologies in the control group and the hardship of assessing the potential risks of antibiotics, careful clinical judgment is still necessary.
Humans ; Peri-Implantitis/drug therapy* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

We report a complete genomic sequence of rare isolates (minor genotype) of the SARS-CoV from SARS patients in Guangdong, China, where the first few cases emerged. The most striking discovery from the isolate is an extra 29-nucleotide sequence located at the nucleotide positions between 27,863 and 27,864 (referred to the complete sequence of BJ01) within an overlapped region composed of BGI-PUP5 (BGI-postulated uncharacterized protein 5) and BGI-PUP6 upstream of the N (nucleocapsid) protein. The discovery of this minor genotype, GD-Ins29, suggests a significant genetic event and differentiates it from the previously reported genotype, the dominant form among all sequenced SARS-CoV isolates. A 17-nt segment of this extra sequence is identical to a segment of the same size in two human mRNA sequences that may interfere with viral replication and transcription in the cytosol of the infected cells. It provides a new avenue for the exploration of the virus-host interaction in viral evolution, host pathogenesis, and vaccine development.
Base Sequence ; China ; Cluster Analysis ; Gene Components ; Genetic Variation ; Genome, Viral ; Genotype ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; genetics

Heme is a key cofactor in aerobic life, both in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Because of the high reactivity of ferrous protoporphyrin IX, the reactions of heme in cells are often carried out through heme-protein complexes. Traditionally studies of heme-binding proteins have been approached on a case by case basis, thus there is a limited global view of the distribution of heme-binding proteins in different cells or tissues. The procedure described here is aimed at profiling heme-binding proteins in mouse tissues sequentially by 1) purification of heme-binding proteins by heme-agarose, an affinity chromatographic resin; 2) isolation of heme-binding proteins by SDS-PAGE or two-dimensional electrophoresis; 3) identification of heme-binding proteins by mass spectrometry. In five mouse tissues, over 600 protein spots were visualized on 2-DE gel stained by Commassie blue and 154 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF, in which most proteins belong to heme related. This methodology makes it possible to globally characterize the heme-binding proteins in a biological system.
Animals ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Heme ; chemistry ; Hemeproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mass Spectrometry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Protein Binding ; Proteins ; chemistry ; Proteome ; Proteomics ; methods ; Sepharose ; chemistry ; Tissue Distribution