Objective: To evaluate the effects of periodontal therapy on the quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Methods: In a randomized controlled pilot study, 60 COPD patients with CP were randomly assigned into three groups to receive scaling and root planing (SRP) treatment, supragingival scaling treatment and oral hygiene instructions only with no periodontal treatment, respectively. The scores of each patient′s quality of life at baseline, 1 year and 2 years, respectively, were evaluated by using the standardized St George′s respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). The SGRQ was composed of three dimensions: symptoms, activity, and impact. A score was calculated for each section and a total summary score was also calculated. A high score indicated poor health and a decrease in the score indicates an improvement in quality of life. Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the three groups for age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, lung funtion, periodontal parameters and the SGRQ scores (including total, symptoms, activity and impacts scores) among three groups at baseline (all P>0.05). The SGRQ scores were all significantly correlated with major lung function parameters (r=-0.54 --0.28). The result of ANCOVA analysis adjusted for the influence of baseline measurements showed that the total scores of two periodontal treatment groups were significantly lower (P=0.01) than that of control group at 2-year follow-up (SRP group: 31.1±12.1; scaling group: 28.9±9.8; control group: 46.5±24.9). The symptoms score of SRP group (45.4±19.7) was significantly lower (P=0.03) than that of control group (53.6±25.4) at 2-year follow-up. The impacts scores of two treatment groups were significantly lower (P=0.02) than that of control group at 2-year follow-up (SRP group: 15.2±8.3; scaling group: 14.9±7.7; control group: 34.8±18.8). Conclusions Our preliminary results from this study suggest that non-surgical periodontal treatment in COPD patients with CP might improve the quality of life of the COPD patient.

Objective: To investigate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and -8 in patients with chronic periodontal disease and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and the possible relationship between IL-6 and IL-8 with two diseases. Methods: A total of 40 cases of healthy subjects (control group 1) from graduate school of Anhui Medical University, and 120 cases (40 cases in each of the 3 groups) of eligible patients were collected, of which 40 were patients with chronic periodontal disease and AECOPD (experimental group) from Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and Anhui NO.2 Provincial People's Hospital, 40 were patients with chronic periodontal disease (control group 2) from Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, 40 were patients with AECOPD (control group 3) from Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The clinical indicators of all subjects were collected, including tooth mobility degree, probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI), attachment level (AL), vital capacity max (VC Max), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) and forced expiratory volume in first second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in the subjects of four groups. Results: The attachment levels had no significant differences between experimental group and control group 2 (P>0.05). The pulmonary function indices of experimental group including VC MAX% pre[(56.1±11.1)%], FEV1 %pre [(44.8±12.2)%], FEV1/FVC(%) [(56.8±11.4)%] were significantly different from those in control group 3 [(66.3±10.1)%, (53.0±10.4)%, (66.5±8.2)%, respectively]. The IL-6 levels of experimental group, control groups 1, 2 and 3 were (14.4±3.9), (2.1±1.1), (4.8±1.9) and (8.6±1.4) ng/L, respectively. And the IL-8 levels were (35.3±33.3), (4.8±1.7), (9.7±3.3) and (15.6±9.6) ng/L. In experimental group the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher than those in control groups 1, 2, and 3 (P<0.01). In control group 2 and 3 the IL-6 and IL-8 levels were significantly higher than that in control group 1 (P< 0.01). Conclusions The IL-6 and IL-8 levels of experimental group were significantly increased. IL-6 and IL-8 may be associated with the development of periodontal disease and AECOPD closely.

Phospholipase C (PLC) is a key enzyme in phosphatidyl inositol turnover during signal transduction. The 12 mammalian PLC isozymes identified to date can be divided into five subtypes, beta-type, gamma-type, delta-type, epsilon-type and zeta-type, with extensive difference in structure, regulatory mechanism and tissue distribution. PLC plays important roles not only in sperm acrosome reaction but also in egg activation. The present studies are reviewed on the structure, regulation and function of PLC, especially its function in male reproduction, including triggering Ca2+ oscillations in eggs to activate the eggs and helping embryo development. And the prospect of the clinical application of PLC is discussed.
Acrosome Reaction ; Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Humans ; Reproduction ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Type C Phospholipases ; chemistry ; physiology

Objective To study the regulation role on molecular level of hCG on P450scc,P450c17 and 3?HSD in adult mouse Leydig cells. Methods Leydig cells of adult mice were cultured in vitro for 1 and 8 hours with or without hCG,then P450scc,P450c17 and I,VI total 3?HSD mRNA levels were measured respectively by the semi quantitative RT PCR as well as Scal restriction endonuclease incised methods.Meanwhile,the testosterone contents were measured in two groups. Results 1.In stimulated group Leydig cells cultured for 1 and 8 hours with hCG,the testosterone contents were higher significantly than those in control groups(1 hour P 0.05),but the ratio of type VI/I 3?HSD mRNA gradually increased. Conclusion hCG can stimulate the transcription of P450scc,P450c17 and type VI 3?HSD in adult mouse Leydig cells.

Objective To study the function of the X\|zone cells in the 5 days old male mouse adrenal gland and the relationship between the function and the sexual differentiation. Methods The technique of in situ RP\|PCR was used to detect the expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ 17? HSD mRNA. Results In the cells of X\|zone which located in the interface between adrenal crotex and medulla, there were expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ 17? HSD.Conclusion\ The X\|zone cells of adrenal gland in immature mouse could synthesize androgen, enhanced the male sexual differentiation together with the androgen synthesized from the testis.\;[