Prevalence and Associated Factors of Tooth Wear in Shanghai.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence and distribution of tooth wear among groups of adolescents and adults in Shanghai, China through an epidemiological survey, and explore the associated factors. METHODS: Multistage, stratified, constant volume and cluster sampling methods were used in an epidemiological survey conducted in Shanghai in 2014. The basic erosive wear examination (BEWE) index was used to screen for tooth wear in different age groups: 12 years, 15 years, 18 to 35 years, 36 to 49 years and 50 to 74 years. A previously published questionnaire collected information including dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and general conditions. RESULTS: This survey reports the results for 1806 participants in Shanghai. The prevalence of tooth wear was 59.7% in adolescents (BEWE ≥ 1) and 93.1% in adults (BEWE ≥ 2). The prevalence and severity of disease increased with age (P < 0.01). The teeth most susceptible to wear were the central incisors and first molars. Multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results showed that soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, pickled vegetables and hard food, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were statistically correlated with tooth wear in different age groups. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of tooth wear appears to be high in adolescents and adults in Shanghai. Frequent consumption of soft or alcoholic drinks, GERD, xerostomia and poor tooth brushing habits were positively associated with tooth wear in different age groups.

Relationship between periodontal disease and male infertility: A case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of chronic periodontitis between men who had semen abnormalities and those who had normozoospermia through a case-control study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male patients who visited the assisted reproduction clinic of a large general hospital and were diagnosed with semen abnormalities were included in the case group. The control group was composed of patients of the same clinic with normozoospermia. The semen analysis included sperm concentration, count and progressive and total motility, which were measured in the laboratory. A questionnaire and clinical periodontal examination were conducted for all participants. Logistic regression was performed to explore the relationship between chronic periodontitis and male infertility. RESULTS: A total of 192 participants were included: 63 participants (32.8%) had some type of semen abnormality (case group), while 129 participants (67.2%) had normozoospermia (control group). The case group had a significantly higher prevalence of moderate/severe periodontitis than the control group (33.3% vs. 17.8%, p = .012). The logistic regression showed that participants who had moderate/severe periodontitis had a greater chance of having semen abnormalities after adjusting for other confounding factors (OR = 3.377, p = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis is associated with semen abnormalities and sperm motility in men.

BAG-1L Protects SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells Against Hypoxia/Re-oxygenation Through Up-Regulating HSP70 and Activating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway.

BCL-2-associated athanogene-1(BAG-1) is a multifunctional and anti-apoptotic protein that was first identified as a binding partner of BCL-2. But the effects and mechanisms for BAG-1 against hypoxic damage is unclear up to now. Whether BAG-1 could protect the human brain against hypoxic damage through up-regulating 70 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70) and PI3K/AKT pathway activation? In present study, we examined the changes of HSP70 and AKT and p-AKT protein level in SH-SY5Y cells with BAG-1L gene over-expression subjected to hypoxia/re-oxygenation injury. BAG-1L over-expression increased neuronal viability, and it reduced apoptosis of neurons after hypoxia/re-oxygenation for 8 h. BAG-1L over-expression enhanced the HSP70 protein levels and increased p-AKT/total AKT ratio after hypoxia/re-oxygenation for 8 h. These results suggest that BAG-1L over-expression protects against hypoxia/re-oxygenation injury, at least in part, by interacting with HSP70, and by accelerating the activation of PI3K/AKT pathways.

[Investigation of sexual function in 623 patients with chronic prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of chronic prostatitis on premature ejaculation (PE) and erectile dysfunction (ED) and the correlation of chronic prostatitis with PE and ED. METHODS: We adopted NIH-CPSI, CISFPE and IIEF-5, interviewed 623 patients with chronic prostatitis, and recorded their scores on the above systems. RESULTS: The incidence of PE was 39.0% and the rates of the mild, moderate and severe types were 26.2%, 12.0% and 0.8%, respectively. It developed mostly among the younger patients, accounting for 42.9% (103/240), 37.0% (95/257) and 35.7% (45/126) in the 18-30, 30-40 and 40-57 yr age groups, respectively. The incidence of ED was 16.9% and the rates of the mild, moderate and severe types were 14.9%, 1.0% and 1.0%, respectively. It occurred mostly among the older patients, accounting for 13.8% (33/240), 11.3% (29/257) and 34.1% (43/126) in the 18-30, 30-40 and 40-57 yr age groups, respectively. Analyses revealed no significant correlation among the scores on NIH-CPSI, CISFPE and IIEF-5. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of PE and ED among patients with chronic prostatitis, but without significant correlation between the severity of chronic prostatitis and that of PE and ED.