OBJECTIVE To observe the intervention effect of puerarin on the rats with bacterial periodontitis by reg-ulating nucleotide-binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3/Caspase-1(NLRP3/Caspase-1)signaling pathways.METHODS Totally 44 male SPF rats were chosen as subjects and were divided into the blank group,the model group,the puerarin group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group.The models of rats with bacterial periodon-titis were successfully established.The periodontal indexes and alveolar resorption were observed and compared a-mong the groups.RESULTS The sulcus bleeding index(SBI)and plaque index(PLI)scores of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the blank group;the NLRP3 level was 0.87±0.09 in the model group,0.85±0.08 in the puerarin plus inhibitor group,higher than 0.18±0.03 in the blank group;the Caspase-1 level was 1.15±0.11 in the model group,1.03±0.10 in the puerarin plus inhibitor group,higher than 0.35±0.04 in the blank group.The trabecular separation spacing(Tb.Sp),cemento-enamel junction-facial bone crest(CEJ-FBC),interleukin--1β(IL-1β)level,interleukin-6(IL-6)level,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)level and osteoclast counts of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the blank group;while the trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),bone volume/tissue volume(BV/TV)and bone mineral density(BMD)of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were lower than those of the blank group.The SBI and PLI scores of the puerarin group were lower than those of the model group;the NLRP3 level of the puerarin group was 0.20±0.04,lower than 0.87±0.09 of the model group;the Caspase-1 level of the puerarin group was 0.37±0.05,lower than 1.15±0.11 of the model group.The Tb.Sp,CEJ-FBC,IL-1βlevel,IL-6 lev-el,TNF-α level and osteoclast counts of the puerarin group were lower than those of the model group;while the Tb.Th,V/V and BMD of the puerarin group were higher than those of the model group.The SBI and PLI score of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the puerarin group;the NLRP3 level of the puerarin plus inhibitor group was 0.85±0.08,higher than 0.20±0.04 of the puerarin group;the Caspase-1 level of the pu-erarin plus inhibitor group was 1.03±0.10,higher than 0.37±0.05 of the puerarin group.The Tb.Sp,CEJ-FBC,IL-1β level,IL-6 level,TNF-α level and osteoclast counts of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the puerarin group,while the Tb.Th,V/V and BMD of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were low-er than those of the puerarin group,there were significant differences in the above comparisons(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS Puerarin can effectively reduce the periodontal plaque index and bleeding index of the rats with bacterial,reduce the levels of inflammatory factors and alleviate the damage of tissue.The action mechanisms may be associated with the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE To observe the intervention effect of puerarin on the rats with bacterial periodontitis by reg-ulating nucleotide-binding oligomeric domain-like receptor protein 3/Caspase-1(NLRP3/Caspase-1)signaling pathways.METHODS Totally 44 male SPF rats were chosen as subjects and were divided into the blank group,the model group,the puerarin group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group.The models of rats with bacterial periodon-titis were successfully established.The periodontal indexes and alveolar resorption were observed and compared a-mong the groups.RESULTS The sulcus bleeding index(SBI)and plaque index(PLI)scores of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the blank group;the NLRP3 level was 0.87±0.09 in the model group,0.85±0.08 in the puerarin plus inhibitor group,higher than 0.18±0.03 in the blank group;the Caspase-1 level was 1.15±0.11 in the model group,1.03±0.10 in the puerarin plus inhibitor group,higher than 0.35±0.04 in the blank group.The trabecular separation spacing(Tb.Sp),cemento-enamel junction-facial bone crest(CEJ-FBC),interleukin--1β(IL-1β)level,interleukin-6(IL-6)level,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)level and osteoclast counts of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the blank group;while the trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),bone volume/tissue volume(BV/TV)and bone mineral density(BMD)of the model group and the puerarin plus inhibitor group were lower than those of the blank group.The SBI and PLI scores of the puerarin group were lower than those of the model group;the NLRP3 level of the puerarin group was 0.20±0.04,lower than 0.87±0.09 of the model group;the Caspase-1 level of the puerarin group was 0.37±0.05,lower than 1.15±0.11 of the model group.The Tb.Sp,CEJ-FBC,IL-1βlevel,IL-6 lev-el,TNF-α level and osteoclast counts of the puerarin group were lower than those of the model group;while the Tb.Th,V/V and BMD of the puerarin group were higher than those of the model group.The SBI and PLI score of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the puerarin group;the NLRP3 level of the puerarin plus inhibitor group was 0.85±0.08,higher than 0.20±0.04 of the puerarin group;the Caspase-1 level of the pu-erarin plus inhibitor group was 1.03±0.10,higher than 0.37±0.05 of the puerarin group.The Tb.Sp,CEJ-FBC,IL-1β level,IL-6 level,TNF-α level and osteoclast counts of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were higher than those of the puerarin group,while the Tb.Th,V/V and BMD of the puerarin plus inhibitor group were low-er than those of the puerarin group,there were significant differences in the above comparisons(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS Puerarin can effectively reduce the periodontal plaque index and bleeding index of the rats with bacterial,reduce the levels of inflammatory factors and alleviate the damage of tissue.The action mechanisms may be associated with the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathways.

Objective To explore the value of the ultrasound contrast agent in conjunction with advanced contrast imaging techniques in the evaluation of the renal cortical perfusion. Methods The animal model was established with ligating renal artery to cause the renal cortical perfusion decrease of rabbits. Real-time harmonic gray scale imaging was performed to visualize the contrast enhancement of the renal cortex. After bolus injection of contrast agent SonoVue, dynamic image was observed and recorded during the first three minutes. According to the time-intensity curve (TIC), accelerating time (AT),Peak intensity (A), time to half of peak intensity (T), difference between peak and base (PBD), slope rate of the curve (β) and the product of A and β (A·β) were obtained before and after the renal artery operation. The t test and correlation analysis was used to examine the above parameters. Results Before the renal artery operation, renal cortex enhanced rapidly and obviously, the way of the enhancement was renal artery-cortex-pyramids. After ligation of renal artery, AT prolonged evidently (P<0.001), A decreased obviously (P<0.001), T obviously shortened (P<0.001), PBD decreased markedly (P<0.001), while the decline of βinduced (P<0.002) and A·βobvious dropped(P<0.001). AT, BPD and A·βcorrelated with stenosis level of renal artery. Compared with 31%－69% group, AT prolonged evidently (P<0.001). A decreased obviously (P<0.029), PBD decreased obviously (P<0.001), A·β was dropped markedly (P<0.02) in 70%-93% stenosis group. Conclusions Contrast agent combining with developed contrast specific imaging is able to detect changes of renal cortical microcirculation sensitively with the help of analysis of TIC.