Different mechanisms of extinction of conditioned taste aversion are dependent on time intervals of extinction following conditioning.

After extinction, the reappearance of a conditioned response induced by an unconditioned stimulus which is weaker than that used during the conditioning training indicates that the extinction procedure does not eliminate the original conditioned memory. Recent studies on fear conditioning have shown that rats exhibited little or no recovery of conditioned responding if the time interval between fear acquisition and extinction was short, suggesting that the extinction process may erase the original conditioning trace in this situation. In the present study, a saving experiment was conducted in rats to investigate whether an aversive response could be recovered following extinction training with different time intervals after acquisition of conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Male Long-Evans rats developed CTA by associating a 0.2% sucrose solution with malaise induced by intraperitoneal injection of 4 ml/kg 0.15 M LiCl and were subjected to extinction training with an interval of 5 h (5H group) or 24 h (24H group) after acquisition of CTA. Rats in the 5H group, but not in the 24H group, exhibited no aversive responding to the sucrose solution followed by the injection of a lower dose of LiCl (1 ml/kg). These findings indicate that the extinction procedure administered at different time points following the acquisition of CTA affects recovery of extinguished aversive memory and suggest that an unlearning process may be involved in the mechanisms of CTA extinction with short intervals between acquisition and extinction.

Systematic Evaluation of Levodopa Effect on Visual Improvement in Amblyopia: A Meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of levodopa as a therapeutic drug in the treatment of children and adults with amblyopia. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with randomized controlled trials of levodopa and placebo in the treatment of amblyopia. All data were identified and extracted from the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane libraries, and the Chinese knowledge resource integration database. RESULTS: After screening the literature and evaluating the quality, 11 studies met the criteria from 308 studies. The mean difference of LogMAR visual acuity between levodopa and the placebo group was -0.1031 (95% confidence interval, -0.11 to -0.09; P < 0.0001). The improvement of visual acuities of the subgroup of younger patients with amblyopia was significantly higher than that of the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Increasing the dosage of levodopa and prolonging the treatment can significantly improve the curative effect. CONCLUSIONS: Levodopa is effective in the treatment of amblyopia by prolonging the treatment, especially for young patients.

LncRNA TUG1 positively regulates osteoclast differentiation by targeting v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B.

Osteoclast differentiation-mediates bone resorption is the key biological basis of orthodontic treatment while the specific mechanism of osteoclastogenesis remains unclear. This study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of the osteoclast differentiation from the perspective of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA). In the present study, the osteoclast differentiation of CD14+ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was induced by recombinant human macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), and LncRNA TUG1 expression was dramatically elevated during this process. Functionally, the silence of TUG1 in CD14+ PBMCs decreased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cell numbers and the protein levels of TRAP, nuclear factor of activated T cell c1 (NFATc1), and osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), whereas increased V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MafB) protein level. The subsequent experiments confirmed that TUG1 lessened the MafB protein level via accelerating its degradation. Then, the interference of MafB reversed the inhibitory effect of si-TUG1 on osteoclastogenesis, including increased the TRAP-positive cell numbers and up-regulated the protein levels of osteoclast markers. Finally, the in vivo experiments displayed that the increased TUG1 levels could promote tooth movement and bone resorption via facilitating osteoclast differentiation in the rat model of orthodontic tooth movement. In summary, TUG1 overexpressed during the process of osteoclast differentiation and positively regulated osteoclast differentiation by targeting MafB.

[Effect of anatomical parameters of maxillary sinus on the outcomes of transcrestal sinus lift].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of three anatomical parameters (maxillary sinus width, maxillary sinus angle, and residual bone height) on the outcomes of transcrestal sinus lift with simultaneous implant placement. METHODS: A total of 60 maxillary sinuses in 42 patients were included in this study. All patients were treated with transcrestal sinus lift procedure associated with simultaneous implant placement using a composite graft material of autogenous bone and Bio-Oss. For each patient, beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 6 months after surgery. The parameters were measured on the preoperative and postoperative CBCT images. The correlation of three anatomical parameters with graft resorption was analyzed using Pearson's correlation test. RESULTS: The average residual bone height was (4.46±1.55) mm. The average width of maxillary sinus was (13.86±2.71) mm. The average sinus angle was 78.09°±10.27°. A significant positive correlation was observed between maxillary sinus width and graft resorption (P<0.01). A positive association was also found between sinus angle and graft resorption (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that graft bone resorption in elevated sinus has a positive correlation with the sinus width and sinus angle.

Effects of the transcription factor Olig1 on the differentiation and remyelination of oligodendrocyte precursor cells after focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

The differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) is important for remyelination in the central nervous system. Nevertheless, this process is often limited and incomplete in ischemic injury. Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1) is important for the maturation of OPCs and the repair of demyelinated lesions. However, how Olig1 modulates the development of OPCs or the remyelination associated with ischemic injury remains unclear. The present study aimed to examine alterations in OPCs, and the expression of myelin and Olig1, at different time-points after focal cerebral ischemia using immunohistochemistry and western blot techniques to elucidate the role of Olig1 in the maturation of OPCs and remyelination. The present results showed that the expression of Olig1 significantly decreased at 1 day after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and returned to normal levels from day 3 to 28. Additionally, Olig1 was found to translocate into the nucleus following ischemia in the brain. The number of OPCs in the ischemic striatum significantly declined at days 1 and 3 following MCAO, and increased at days 7, 14 and 28 compared with the control. The expression of myelin basic protein, a marker of mature oligodendrocytes and myelin, gradually decreased from day 1 to 7 after ischemia and recovered at day 14 and 28; however, the levels were lower than those in the control group. The present results indicated that the restored normal level of Olig1 following ischemia may play an important role in the maturation of OPCs through its translocation into the nucleus, where it may promote the growth and development of myelin under pathological conditions. However, this endogenous recovery mechanism fails to fully repair the demyelinated lesion. The data of the present study may help clinicians understand the expression pattern of Olig1 and its potential role in endogenous remyelination after ischemia, which may have implications for the treatment of diseases that lead to demyelination.

Relationship between Maternal PBMC HBV cccDNA and HBV Serological Markers and its Effect on HBV Intrauterine Transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalenty closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid (cccDNA) and other HBV serological markers and its effects on HBV intrauterine transmission. METHODS: We enrolled 290 newborns and their hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers. HBV cccDNA in PBMC and HBV DNA in serum were detected by a real-time PCR-TaqMan probe while HBV serological markers were detected with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the levels of PBMC HBV cccDNA and serum HBV DNA and HBeAg (r = 0.436 and 0.403, P < 0.001). The detection rate of pattern A ['HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+), and anti-HBc (+)'] was significantly higher in the PBMC HBV cccDNA positive group than in the control group (χ2 = 48.48, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between HBV intrauterine transmission and PBMC HBV cccDNA (χ2 = 9.28, P = 0.002). In the presence of serum HBV DNA, HBeAg, and PBMC HBV cccDNA, the risk of HBV intrauterine transmission was three times higher (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.30-10.42) than that observed in their absence. The risk of HBV intrauterine transmission was the greatest (OR = 5.89, 95% CI: 2.35-14.72) when both PBMC HBV cccDNA and pattern A were present. A Bayesian network model showed that maternal PBMC HBV cccDNA was directly related to HBV intrauterine transmission. CONCLUSION: PBMC HBV cccDNA may be a direct risk factor for HBV intrauterine transmission. Our study suggests that serological markers could be combined with PBMC-related markers in prenatal testing.

Effect of anti-biofilm glass-ionomer cement on Streptococcus mutans biofilms.

Dental restorative materials with antimicrobial properties can inhibit bacterial colonization, which may result in a reduction of caries at tooth-filling interaction zones. This study aimed to develop antibacterial glass-ionomer cements (GIC) containing a quaternary ammonium monomer (dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate, DMADDM), and to investigate their effect on material performance and antibacterial properties. Different mass fractions (0, 1.1% and 2.2%) of DMADDM were incorporated into the GIC. The flexure strength, surface charge density, surface roughness and fluoride release were tested. A Streptococcus mutans biofilm model was used. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) staining was used to analyze the inhibitory effect of DMADDM on the biofilm matrix. In addition, biofilm metabolic activity, lactic acid metabolism and the expression of glucosyltransferase genes gtfB, gtfC and gtfD were measured. GIC containing 1.1% and 2.2% DMADDM had flexural strengths matching those of the commercial control (P>0.1). DMADDM was able to increase the surface charge density but reduced surface roughness (P<0.05). The incorporation of 1.1% and 2.2% DMADDM elevated the release of fluoride by the GIC in the first 2 days (P<0.05). The novel DMADDM-modified GIC significantly reduced biofilm metabolic activity (P<0.05) and decreased lactic acid production (P<0.05). The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results showed that the expression of gtfB, gtfC and gtfD decreased when mass fractions of DMADDM increased (P<0.05). EPS staining showed that both the bacteria and EPS in biofilm decreased in the DMADDM groups. The incorporation of DMADDM could modify the properties of GIC to influence the development of S. mutans biofilms. In this study, we investigated the interface properties of antibacterial materials for the first time. GIC containing DMADDM can improve material performance and antibacterial properties and may contribute to the better management of secondary caries.

[Effects of exogenous polyamines on the growth and activities of H+-ATPase and H+-PPase in cucumber seedling roots under hypoxia stress].

The effects of exogenous polyamines on the growth, polyamines contents, the activities of H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-PPase of plasma membrane and tonoplast in cucumber seedling roots under root-zone hypoxia stress were studied under hydroponic culture. The results showed that the growth of cucumber roots was significantly inhibited by hypoxia stress (Table 1). While the growth inhibition in cucumber roots by hypoxia stress could be alleviated by spraying exogenous polyamines. From these results (Table 1 and 2) we can conclude that Spd played an active physiological role in relieving hypoxia stress and Put exerted actively physiological role by enhancing Spd biosynthesis. The results also showed that the endogenous polyamine contents in cucumber roots were increased by hypoxia stress and spraying exogenous polyamines. Exogenous polyamines application obviously promoted the H(+)-ATPase activities of plasma membrane in cucumber roots (Fig.1), but did not significantly affect the H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-PPase activities of tonoplast in cucumber roots (Fig.2,3). The results suggested that exogenous polyamines could enhance hypoxia resistance of cucumber seedlings by increasing H(+)-ATPase activities of plasma membrane in cucumber roots.

[Study on hepatitis B virus intrauterine infection state and its correlation factors].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine infection and the influence factors of HBV infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and placentas. METHODS: HBeAg and HBsAg in 151 pregnant women and their newborns were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). HBV DNA in serum and PBMC of pregnant women and their newborns were determined by polymerase chain reaction. HBsAg in 151 placentas were detected by immunohistochemistry ABC. The correlation risk factors were analyzed by non-condition logistic regression model. RESULTS: HBV DNA positive in serum, HBV DNA positive in PBMC of pregnant women and HBsAg positive in placentas were the risk factors for HBV intrauterine infection. Their odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were 2.25 (1.08-4.72), 2.69 (1.26-5.73) and 4.63 (1.70-12.62), respectively. The influence factors of HBV infection in placenta included antepartum injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) over thrice and HBV DNA positive in serum of pregnant women with OR 0.08 (0.01-0.69) and 4.24 (1.22-14.69). The risk factor for HBV DNA positive in PBMC of newborns was HBV DNA positive in PBMC of their mothers with OR 24.53 (7.92-76.01). CONCLUSIONS: HBV infection in placentas, HBV DNA positive in PBMC and serum of pregnant women are the risk factors for HBV intrauterine infection. Antepartum injection of HBIG over thrice can protect placentas from being infected by HBV to some extent. PBMC HBV DNA positive in pregnant women is probably the independent risk factor for PBMC HBV intrauterine infection in newborns.

[Role of the cell transportion from mother to baby in the mechanism of HBV intrauterine infection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the route that the HBsAg positive pregnant women's cell entered fetal circulation, and to study the mechanism of HBV intrauterine transmission that the cell transported HBV to fetus and infected fetus. METHODS: 123 pregnant women and 123 newborns were collected from December, 2001 to October, 2003 in Taiyuan Infectious Hospital. The cell transportion from mother to baby were determined by allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) and heminested PCR(hemi-nPCR). RESULTS: Regarding GSTM1, ACE as maternal specific alleles: 42 mother-baby pairs were recruited from hemocyte specimens as informative cases, then examining 26 (61.90%) newborns' blood cell out of 42 informative cases had maternal cell DNA. There was significantly association between the cell transportion and HBV intrauterine infection (chi2 = 8.58, P < 0.01). There was significantly association between the cell transportion and HBV DNA positive in the newborns' PBMC (chi2 = 10.10, P < 0.01) . CONCLUSION: One factor of HBV intrauterine infection is in the result of the cell transportion from mother to baby; PBMC carrying HBV probably passed through placent barrier into fetus and infected them.

Target Selection Recommendations Based on Impact of Deep Brain Stimulation Surgeries on Nonmotor Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: This review examines the evidence that deep brain stimulation (DBS) has extensive impact on nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). DATA SOURCES: We retrieved information from the PubMed database up to September, 2015, using various search terms and their combinations including PD, NMSs, DBS, globus pallidus internus (GPi), subthalamic nucleus (STN), and ventral intermediate thalamic nucleus. STUDY SELECTION: We included data from peer-reviewed journals on impacts of DBS on neuropsychological profiles, sensory function, autonomic symptoms, weight changes, and sleep disturbances. For psychological symptoms and cognitive impairment, we tried to use more reliable proofs: Random, control, multicenter, large sample sizes, and long period follow-up clinical studies. We categorized the NMSs into four groups: those that would improve definitively following DBS; those that are not significantly affected by DBS; those that remain controversial on their surgical benefit; and those that can be worsened by DBS. RESULTS: In general, it seems to be an overall beneficial effect of DBS on NMSs, such as sensory, sleep, gastrointestinal, sweating, cardiovascular, odor, urological symptoms, and sexual dysfunction, GPi-DBS may produce similar results; Both STN and Gpi-DBS are safe with regard to cognition and psychology over long-term follow-up, though verbal fluency decline is related to DBS; The impact of DBS on behavioral addictions and dysphagia is still uncertain. CONCLUSIONS: As the motor effects of STN-DBS and GPi-DBS are similar, NMSs may determine the target choice in surgery of future patients.

Transient bullous dermolysis of the newborn: a novel de novo mutation in the COL7A1 gene.

BACKGROUND: Bullous dermolysis of the newborn (BDN), an extremely rare clinical type of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), is characterized by subepidermal blistering at birth or shortly thereafter, followed by rapid improvement with minimal scarring or pigmentation. A total of 38 cases have been reported in the literature since the disease was initially described in 1985, but only 14 mutations in COL7A1, the gene responsible for the disease, have been detected in families with BDN. OBJECTIVES: We report a Chinese male infant with BDN and indirect inguinal hernia, in whom a novel de novo mutation in COL7A1 was demonstrated. METHODS: DNA was obtained from the blood of the patient and his parents. The coding exon and flanking regions of COL7A1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to sequence analysis. RESULTS: Sequencing showed a heterozygous substitution of guanine by adenine at nucleotide position 6136 of exon 73 in the triple helical domain of type VII collagen, which predicts a change of glycine by serine at position p.G2046S. The mutation was considered to be a pathogenic and de novo mutation. CONCLUSIONS: The coexistence of BDN and indirect inguinal hernia may simply be coincidental. These data contribute to the expanding database of COL7A1 mutations in DEB and should be useful for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in affected families.

Infarction of the corpus callosum: a retrospective clinical investigation.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate patients with ischemic infarctions in the territory of the corpus callosum to advance our understanding of this rare stroke subtype by providing comprehensive descriptive and epidemiological data. METHODS: From January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2014, all cases of acute ischemic stroke diagnosed by clinical manifestation and diffusion weighted imaging in Dalian Municipal Central Hospital were investigated. The patients presenting with corpus callosum infarctions were selected and further allocated into genu and/or body and splenium infarction groups. Proportion, lesion patterns, clinical features, risk factors and etiology of corpus callosum infarction were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 1,629 cases, 59 patients (3.6%) with corpus callosum infarctions were identified by diffusion weighted imaging, including 7 patients who had ischemic lesions restricted to the corpus callosum territory. Thirty six patients had lesions in the splenium (61.0%). Corpus callosum infarction patients suffered from a broad spectrum of symptoms including weakness and/or numbness of the limbs, clumsy speech, and vertigo, which could not be explained by lesions in corpus callosum. A classical callosal disconnection syndrome was found in 2 out of all patients with corpus callosum infarctions. Statistical differences in the risk factor and infarct pattern between the genu and/or body group and splenium group were revealed. CONCLUSION: Corpus callosum infarction and the callosal disconnection syndrome were generally rare. The most susceptible location of ischemic corpus callosum lesion was the splenium. Splenium infarctions were often associated with bilateral cerebral hemisphere involvement (46.2%). The genu and/or body infarctions were associated with atherosclerosis. The most common cause of corpus callosum infarction probably was embolism.

[The relationship between the protection of ginsenoside for spinal cell and nitric oxide].

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the protection of Ginsenoside(GS) for spinal cells and nitric oxide (NO). METHOD: Spinal cells were cultured in vitro, the model of peripheral nerve was established by scarifying the cells, and NO was measured by Griess method. RESULT: NO in injury group was high than that in noninjury group and NO in group cultured by GS was less than that in group cultured by common medium. CONCLUSION: NO increases when peripheral nerve is injuried, and the protective effect of GS on spinal cells may be through inhibiting NO release.

Therapeutic effect of mesenchymal stem cells in rats with intracerebral hemorrhage: reduced apoptosis and enhanced neuroprotection.

Stem cell transplantation has been used to improve neural function in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, reports on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation in ICH are limited. We aimed to explore the therapeutic effect and related mechanisms by transplantation of MSCs in rats with ICH. An experimental rat ICH model was established by intrastriatal administration of collagenase. The rats were randomly divided to receive either rat MSCs or PBS solution intravenously. In addition, behavioral tests using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS) were performed following ICH. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the Brdu-labeled MSCs and the protein expression of caspase 2, NF200 and GFAP in neural tissues. Western blotting and ELISA were performed to measure the protein expression of Akt and bcl-2 or the protein content of G-CSF and BDNF. The MSC-transplanted group demonstrated better neural function on the mNSS test following ICH compared with the control group (P<0.05). The MSC-transplanted group also showed reduced hemorrhage volume at 24 and 72 h following ICH. In the perihematomal regions of rat brain with ICH, a substantial number of Brdu-labeled MSCs were observed, and a high protein expression of caspase 3, NF200 and GFAP was found in the MSC-transplanted group. The protein content of Akt, Bcl-2, G-CSF and BDNF were all elevated by MSC transplantation. Intravenously transplanted MSCs are capable of improving functional recovery and restoring neurological deficits in experimental ICH. The mechanisms are associated with enhanced survival and differentiation of neural cells, and increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and trophic factors.

Brief spatial experiences increase granule cell survival in the dentate gyrus of adult rats.

Rats of two experimental groups were placed in an open-field apparatus for 3-5 spatial exploration, each placement lasting 5min (total duration of 15-25min), and had a significantly greater newborn-neuron survival rate of the granule cells than the control group by evaluating the density of 5-bromo-2'deoxyuridine positive cells in the dentate gyrus. This study suggests that brief spatial experiences are sufficient to enhance the survival rate of newborn neurons.

[Effects of spermidine on seed germination and seedling antioxidant system of tomato under NaCl stress].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of exogenous spermidine (Spd) on the seed germination and seedling antioxidant system of tomato cultivar 'Baiguoqiangfeng' under NaCl stress. The results showed that after soaking with Spd, the tomato seed's germination rate (Gr), germination index (Gi), and vigor index (Vi) increased by 104.90%, 142.31% and 122.22%, respectively, and the mean germination time (MGT) shortened by 4.97%, compared with the control. Soaking seed with Spd increased the seedling leaf's superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities and soluble protein content, and decreased its superoxide anion (O2) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and electrolyte leakage of plasma membrane. The seedling growth was also promoted. It was concluded that soaking seed with Spd could promote the seed germination and seedling growth of tomato under NaCl stress, and enhance the salt-resistance of tomato plant.

[Study on depression in 212 patients with viral hepatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the symptoms on depression in patients with viral hepatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the patients with viral hepatitis in infectious diseases Hospital of Taiyuan. The questionnaire included a Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, self-rating depression scale (SDS), and a self-designed one related to information regarding general conditions of the disease and social support. RESULTS: (1) Depression symptom prevalence rate among chronic viral hepatitis patients was 54.7% (116/212). (2) Factors as age, occupation, education, confirmed time, number of recurrence and anti-virus treatment, self-confidence on recovery, satisfaction on the surrounding environment etc. that might be associated with depression. (3) The severity of depression was significantly negative correlation with social support scores, objective support scores, subjective support scores (r = -0.262, P = 0.000; r = -0.228, P = 0.001; r = -0.270, P = 0.000). (4) There was positive correlation noticed between severity of the depressive disorder and Eysenck Personality two dimensions scores, while the scores of introversion and extroversion scores were negatively correlated (r = -0.330, P = 0.000) but positively correlated to the emotional stability scores (r = 0.309, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: (1) Patients with hepatitis showed symptoms of depression to a certain degree. (2) Factors as age, occupation, education, economic situation, confirmed time of diagnosis, number of recurrence and anti-virus treatments, confidence on recovery, satisfaction on the surrounding environment might be associated with symptoms of depression. (3) There was positive correlation between severity of depressive and Eysenck Personality two dimensions scores but the scores of introversion and extroversion scores were negatively correlated.