Do Maternal Microbes Shape Newborn Oral Microbes?

Strong evidence suggests that the early composition of the oral microbiota of neonates plays an important role for the postnatal development of the oral health or immune system. However, the relationship between the maternal microbiome and the initial neonatal microbiome remains unclear. In this study, 25 pregnant women and their neonates were recruited, and the samples were collected from the maternal oral cavity, amniotic fluid, placenta and neonatal oral cavity. High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform to analyze the correlation with microbial community structure between the maternal and the neonatal oral cavity. The results indicated that the number of shared OTUs was up to 635 in four groups. The PCoA showed that there were certain similarities in the microbial community structure of the four groups. The dominant bacterial genera of the shared OTUs were consistent with human oral microbes, including Streptococcus, Fusobacterium and Prevotella. The results showed that there might be a correlation between the maternal and neonatal oral microbiome, through the amniotic fluid and placenta.

Bioinformatics analysis of aberrantly expressed exosomal lncRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (CAL-27 vs. oral epithelial) cells.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent form of malignant tumour in the oral cavity and its early detection is critical for improving the prognosis of affected patients. The present study aimed to isolate and confirm exosomes derived from the supernatant of the OSCC cell line CAL-27 and human oral epithelial cells (HOECs), analyze long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression profiles and determine the diagnostic value based on bioinformatics analyses. The results indicated that the particles isolated from the supernatant of CAL-27 and HOECs were either round or oval, had a size range of 30-150 nm and were enriched with ALG-2 interacting protein X (ALIX) and tumour susceptibility 101 proteins (TSG101). These characteristics confirmed that these particles were exosomes. Three lncRNAs (NR-026892.1, NR-126435.1 and NR-036586.1) were selected as potential diagnostic biomarkers for OSCC. The expression levels of the selected lncRNAs were significantly different in CAL-27-exo vs. HOEC-exo, as well as in whole cells (CAL-27 vs. HOECs) (P<0.001). The expression levels of the three lncRNAs confirmed by quantitative PCR were consistent with the sequencing data. In conclusion, various lncRNAs were aberrantly expressed between cancerous and non-cancerous exosomes, suggesting that they may serve as biomarkers for cancer.

[Construction of human telomerase reverse transcriptase periodontal ligament cell line mediated by adenovirus].

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to establish an effective and stable periodontal ligament cell line stably expressing human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene by using the adenovirus method. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the full length of hTERT gene to construct recombinant adenovirus plasmid pAd-pshuttle-cmv-hTERT. Packaged adenovirus particles were used for infection of human periodontal ligament cells. The expression levels of hTERT and osteogenic genes, such as alkaline phosphatase, Runt-related transcription factor 2, bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and collagen Ⅰ mRNA, were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The ability of osteogenic differentiation was observed by alizarin red staining, and the cell proliferation was determined by CCK-8. RESULTS: Adenovirus particles containing the hTERT gene were successfully constructed and infected with periodontal ligament cells. The infected cells were similar to normal periodontal ligament cells. The qRT-PCR results showed that hTERT and osteogenesis-associated genes were highly expressed in the periodontal ligament cell lines constructed by adenoviruses. Alizarin red staining showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong osteogenic differentiation capability. CCK-8 showed that the periodontal ligament cell line had strong proliferation capability. CONCLUSIONS: The human periodontal ligament cell line with high efficiency and stable expression of hTERT was established by the adenovirus method, thereby providing an ideal cell line for studying the mechanism of periodontal regeneration.

Comparison of Periodontal Ligament Cell Lines with Adenovirus- and Lentivirus-Mediated Human Telomerase Reverse Transcription Expression.

The aims of this study were to generate periodontal ligament (PDL) cells that have adenovirus- or lentivirus-mediated overexpression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and to compare the osteogenic and proliferative abilities of the two cell lines to establish an efficient and stable cell model that will be more suitable for studies of PDL regeneration. After construction of the recombinant adenovirus plasmid pAd-pshuttle-cmv-hTERT, human PDL cells were infected by packaged adenovirus and lentivirus particles to establish two PDL cell lines. The expression levels of hTERT and mRNA for alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, core-binding factor (runt-related transcription factor 2), and type I collagen were assessed for each cell line. After culture in osteoinductive culture medium for 14 days, the PDL cells were stained with alizarin red to observe formation of mineralized nodules, and proliferation activity was measured with a CCK-8 kit. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay indicated that the two transduced cell lines expressed hTERT levels that were significantly higher than that seen for normal PDL cells. Expression of all osteogenic genes tested, with the exception of osteopontin, was higher for both the adenovirus- and lentivirus-transduced cells relative to normal PDL cells. The expression of bone sialoprotein, osteocalcin, and runt-related transcription factor 2 in adenovirus-transduced cells was significantly higher than that for lentivirus-transduced cells. Alizarin red staining showed that the adenovirus-transduced cell line produced more mineralized nodules than the lentivirus-transduced cell line, whereas a CCK-8 test showed that the adenovirus-transduced cell line had higher proliferation activity than lentivirus-transduced cells. In conclusion, a PDL cell line established by adenovirus transduction had superior osteogenic differentiation and proliferative activity compared to the cell line produced by lentivirus transduction. The results indicate that PDL cells having adenovirus-mediated expression of hTERT would be a more suitable model for studies of PDL regeneration.

Mechanism study on a plague outbreak driven by the construction of a large reservoir in southwest china (surveillance from 2000-2015).

BACKGROUND: Plague, a Yersinia pestis infection, is a fatal disease with tremendous transmission capacity. However, the mechanism of how the pathogen stays in a reservoir, circulates and then re-emerges is an enigma. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied a plague outbreak caused by the construction of a large reservoir in southwest China followed 16-years' surveillance. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results show the prevalence of plague within the natural plague focus is closely related to the stability of local ecology. Before and during the decade of construction the reservoir on the Nanpan River, no confirmed plague has ever emerged. With the impoundment of reservoir and destruction of drowned farmland and vegetation, the infected rodent population previously dispersed was concentrated together in a flood-free area and turned a rest focus alive. Human plague broke out after the enzootic plague via the flea bite. With the construction completed and ecology gradually of human residential environment, animal population and type of vegetation settling down to a new balance, the natural plague foci returned to a rest period. With the rodent density decreased as some of them died, the flea density increased as the rodents lived near or in local farm houses where had more domestic animals, and human has a more concentrated population. In contrast, in the Himalayan marmot foci of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the Qilian Mountains. There are few human inhabitants and the local ecology is relatively stable; plague is prevalence, showing no rest period. Thus the plague can be significantly affected by ecological shifts.

A Facile Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Based on Poly-L-Lysine.

In this paper, we report a novel synthesis method for silver nanoparticles with facilely controllable morphology under mild conditions. The particles were synthesized by reducing silver nitrate in the presence of water soluble polymer of poly-L-Lysine (PLL) which was used as reducing agent and stabilizer. Experimental results revealed that size variation and overall formation mechanism of the resulting silver particles were mostly determined by the conformation of PLL which was in turn controlled by pH of solution and temperature. Due to biological activity and response ability of PLL to outer stimuli, the method provides a facile and controllable method for producing silver particles with different morphologies. We believe that the synthesis method will contribute to applications of the PLL and silver particles in biomaterials.

Poly-L-Lysine Mediated Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles and Biological Effects.

By using poly-L-lysine (PLL) as reducing agent and stabilizer, a novel method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles (GNP) under mild temperature conditions was reported. The morphology and size of these GNP could be easily controlled by changing the amount of PLL and temperature. And the GNPs prepared by this method had better stability than traditional methods. On this basis, the GNPs' biological activity was studied in detail using breast cancer cells MCF-7 as object. Experimental results indicated that the GNPs prepared by PLL had better endocytosis efficiency and higher proliferation inhibition rate than which prepared by traditional method. This method has valuable property for the application of GNPs in biomedical engineering.

A randomized controlled trial: preoperative home-based combined Tai Chi and Strength Training (TCST) to improve balance and aerobic capacity in patients with total hip arthroplasty (THA).

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of a 12-week balance training program, combined TCST, on balance activity and aerobic capacity in patients with hip osteoarthritis. METHODS: Single-blind randomized grouping cohort study was conducted at our hospital from December 2008 to December 2011. A total of 81 patients aged from 60 to 69 years old diagnosed with end-stage hip osteoarthritis were recruited. They were randomly divided into two groups: training group (TG) and control group (CG). Participants in TG should do the TCST program under family's supervision for 12 weeks. Parameters including WOMAC score, 6 min walk test, stand up, walk test, situation of the hip mobility were compared between TG and CG by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: There was no significant difference of baseline characteristics between these two groups (P>0.05). Participants in TG could complete 87.1% of movements of TCST. After training, the distance of 6-min walk was obviously increased from 409.59±51.31 m to 478.10±52.46 m (P<0.01), and the time for up and go was significantly shorten from 18.53±3.90 s to 14.61±2.60 s (P<0.01), and self-reported functional status scores evaluated by WOMAC was improved from 40.97±5.65 to 36.28±5.11 (P<0.01). However, there were no significant changes in pain WOMAC and side hip motion. CONCLUSION: The 12-week TCST program have good adherence, and can effectively improve balance and aerobic capacity status in patients with end-stage osteoarthritis, while this training can not effectively alleviate the pain and improve hip motion of patients. Hence, further THA is necessary to solve the problems. PRACTICE: Patients with osteoarthritis can do this training program under family's supervision. IMPLICATIONS: Providing a good advice on rehabilitation for patients preparing to do THA.

[Epidemiological investigation of imported falciparum malaria in Longlin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region].

Among 41 people returned from Equatorial Guinea, 16 persons were infected with Plasmodium falciparum (39.02%) in Longlin County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from October 2011 to February 2012. Among the 16 cases, Plasmodiumfalciparum was found in their blood smears of 15 cases, and 1 patient was diagnosed clinically as falciparum malaria. All the 41 people were once suffered from malaria and they received antimalarial drugs when they were in Equatorial Guinea. These imported malaria cases received the standard treatment and the foci were sprayed with insecticides. No secondary malaria cases were found. In conclusion, the measures of imported malaria control are effective. The persons returned from Equatorial Guinea have a high risk of malaria; therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of malaria for the floating population from high malaria prevalent areas.