[Electronic probe analysis of enamel remineralization effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate promoted by different concentrations of fluorine].

Objective: To evaluate the remineralization effect and mechanism of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) with different concentrations of fluorine on demineralized enamel using electronic probe. Methods: Extracted premolar teeth for orthodontic purpose were immersed into lactic acid gel to prepare artificial white spot lesions (10 teeth in each group). Then the specimens were randomly assigned to three groups: Control group, with 5% of the CPP-ACP+deionized water; Group A with 5% CPP-ACP+500 mg/L F(-) and Group B with 5% CPP-ACP+900 mg/L F(-). The teeth in each group were soaked in different solutions for 4 days and then were measured using electron probe tester. The changes of contents among the three groups were compared. Results: No statistically significant difference in the percentage of fluorine was found in the control group before and after treatment (P=0.06), and the difference in the percentage of fluorine quality in the other two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Statistically significant difference was found between calcium oxide and phosphorus peroxide in the three groups before and after mineralization (P<0.05). The percentage change of fluorine mass in group B [(0.107±0.035)%] was significantly greater than that in group A [(0.057±0.038)%] (P<0.05), while fluorine mass in group A was significantly greater than that in control group [(0.013±0.019)%] (P<0.05). In group A and group B, the change in quality of calcium oxide and phosphorus peroxide was significantly greater than that in control group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between group A and group B (P>0.05). Conclusions: The addition of fluorine in CPP-ACP increased the transport and penetration of calcium, phosphorus and fluorine on enamel surface.

Beneficial effects of low-level laser irradiation on senile osteoporosis in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) on bone mineral density (BMD), bone structures, bone biomechanical properties and bone metabolism in senile osteoporosis, and to explore a relatively more secure and effective way to prevent and treat osteoporosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats at different age stages (4 months old, 12 months old and 20 months old) were selected and randomly divided into six groups. The rats in the treatment group were treated with LLLI for 12 weeks, and then the microstructure of bones was analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanning. The biomechanical indexes of the femur were detected by the three-point bending test. Levels of the blood calcium (Ca)2+, blood phosphorus (P)3+, urine Ca, urine P and urine creatinine (CREA) were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The contents of serum osteocalcin (OCN) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The bone formation rate (BFR) was analyzed by double fluorescent labeling with calcein and tetracycline. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and toluidine blue staining were used to analyze the number of bone marrow osteoblasts and adipocytes. RESULTS: Micro-CT results showed that compared with those in the young group, the bone mineral density (BMD) in the old group was significantly decreased, and the trabecular microstructure was seriously damaged. LLLI could significantly enhance the BMD and improve the damage to the trabecular microstructure; the three-point bending test revealed that LLLI could significantly improve the biomechanical properties and enhance the mechanical strength of the femur in the old group; the biochemical analysis showed that LLLI could significantly reduce Ca and P losses and elevate the levels of serum BAP and OCN; the bone histomorphology analysis results indicated that LLLI could increase BFR and mineral apposition rate (MAR), increase the number of osteoblasts and decrease the number of adipocytes in the bone marrow in the old group. CONCLUSIONS: LLLI can effectively improve osteoporosis, increase BMD, improve bone structure and improve bone biomechanical properties in old rats; at the same time, it increases the levels of serum BAP and OCN and the number of osteoblasts in the bone marrow, suggesting that the osteogenesis function of osteoblasts is enhanced.

Exosomes secreted by mice adipose-derived stem cells after low-level laser irradiation treatment reduce apoptosis of osteocyte induced by hypoxia.

OBJECTIVE: Kienböck's disease is a commonly seen posttraumatic avascular necrosis characterized by avascular necrosis of the lunate bone of the wrist which involves the dominant hand. In our study, we aimed to present midterm outcomes of 12 cases treated with radial metaphyseal core decompression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In our clinic, 12 patients who applied to our outpatient clinic with intractable pain despite at least six weeks of conservative treatment were previously diagnosed and evaluated as Kienböck's disease between the years 2006 and 2014. Patients at early stage received radial metaphyseal core decompression. RESULTS: The patients were evaluated as postoperative grip strength, flexion-extension gap, ulnar-radial deviation gap, VAS, Quick DASH and MAYO wrist scoring and patient satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: We determined that interventions performed for Kienböck's disease cannot halt radiological progression. We are of the opinion that radial metaphyseal core decompression, aiming at increasing blood perfusion, improve early diagnosis and treatment of Kienböck's disease, increasing the patient satisfaction.

Evolutionarily conserved dual lysine motif determines the non-chaperone function of secreted Hsp90alpha in tumour progression.

Both intracellular and extracellular heat shock protein-90 (Hsp90) family proteins (α and ß) have been shown to support tumour progression. The tumour-supporting activity of the intracellular Hsp90 is attributed to their N-terminal ATPase-driven chaperone function. What molecular entity determines the extracellular function of secreted Hsp90 and the distinction between Hsp90α and Hsp90ß was unclear. Here we demonstrate that CRISPR/Case9 knocking out Hsp90α nullifies tumour cells' ability to migrate, invade and metastasize without affecting the cell survival and growth. Knocking out Hsp90ß leads to tumour cell death. Extracellular supplementation with recombinant Hsp90α, but not Hsp90ß, protein recovers tumourigenicity of the Hsp90α-knockout cells. Sequential mutagenesis identifies two evolutionarily conserved lysine residues, lys-270 and lys-277, in the Hsp90α subfamily that determine the extracellular Hsp90α function. Hsp90ß subfamily lacks the dual lysine motif and the extracellular function. Substitutions of gly-262 and thr-269 in Hsp90ß with lysines convert Hsp90ß to a Hsp90α-like protein. Newly constructed monoclonal antibody, 1G6-D7, against the dual lysine region of secreted Hsp90α inhibits both de novo tumour formation and expansion of already formed tumours in mice. This study suggests an alternative therapeutic approach to target Hsp90 in cancer, that is, the tumour-secreted Hsp90α, instead of the intracellular Hsp90α and Hsp90ß.

The influence of diets supplemented with conjugated linoleic acid, selenium, and vitamin E, with or without animal protein, on the composition of pork from female pigs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary manipulations on the fatty acid composition, Se content, and vitamin E content of pork. Sixty Duroc-cross gilts were randomly allocated at weaning to 1 of 4 dietary treatment groups (n = 15 per group). The 4 experimental diets were based on animal plus plant components or plant components only, with or without the inclusion of a dietary supplement (0.614%) containing CLA, Se, and vitamin E. The growth performance to approximately 100 kg of BW was similar with diets containing animal plus plant components or only plant components. Growth was also similar when either of these diets included the supplement. Inclusion of the supplement led to expected increases in Se and vitamin E contents (P < 0.001) of the LM. The differences found in the fatty acid profile of the lipid in LM, loin subcutaneous fat, and the belly cut (pork belly) between the groups with and without animal components in their diets largely reflected differences in the diet composition. Inclusion of the supplement led to greater CLA contents in all 3 tissues (P < 0.001), and also to lower contents of oleic acid (P < 0.001) and greater contents of stearic acid (P < 0.05), possibly due to an inhibition of stearoyl-CoA desaturase enzyme. The supplement also led to an increase in LM intramuscular fat (P < 0.05), but did not affect P2 fat depths (65 mm lateral to the midline of the spine at the last rib; mean depth of 11.8 mm). It is concluded that changing from a part animal component diet to an all plant diet will not change the growth performance of pigs but changes in the fatty acid profile of pork are likely to occur. It is further concluded that the nutritional value of pork may be successfully enhanced by simultaneously supplementing the diet with CLA, selenium, and vitamin E.

Two new triterpenoid saponins from Aralia subcapitata.

Two new oleanane-type saponins, subcapitatoside B and C were isolated from the roots of Aralia subcapitata. On the basis of chemical and spectral evidences, subcapitatoside B and C were established as oleanolic acid 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(l-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl- (1-->2)]-beta-D3--galactopyranoside, and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

Distribution and cellular localization of prostacyclin synthase in human brain.

Prostacyclin (PGI(2)) is a labile, lipid-derived metabolite of arachidonic acid synthesized through the sequential action of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) and prostacyclin synthase (PGIS). In addition to its well-characterized vasodilatory and thrombolytic effects, an increasing number of studies report an important role of PGI(2) in nociception in various animal species. In this study we investigated the regional distribution of PGIS in human brain by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. PGIS-immunoreactive (ir) protein was localized to blood vessels throughout the brain. Neuronal cells and glial cells, such as microglia and oligodendrocytes, also showed intense labeling. The strongest expression of PGIS was seen in large principal neurons, such as pyramidal cells of the cortex, pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Abundance of PGIS mRNA was observed in blood vessels and large neurons and correlated well with the immunohistochemical findings. The expression of PGIS in human brain was further demonstrated by immunoblotting and detection of 6-keto-PGF (1alpha), the stable degradation product of prostacyclin in human brain homogenate. These results demonstrate a widespread expression of PGIS in the central nervous system and suggest a potentially important role of prostacylin in modulating neuronal activity in human brain.

[An ELISA assay for humulus scandens specific IgE antibodies].

OBJECTIVE: Humulus scandens pollen (HSP) has been proved to be the one of the most important causative factors of autumnal hay fever in China. We established an enzyme immunoassay for specific IgE against HSP by using monoclonal anti-IgE antibody to detect sIgE in 143 patients with autumnal hay fever and 30 healthy volunteers. METHODS: An indirect method of ELISA was developed. The optimal conditions for the test were: coating the allergen at 4 degrees C overnight with a concentration of 12 micrograms/ml; the test serum was diluted 1:16 and incubated with allergen overnight at 37 degrees C; the most suitable dilution and incubative time of the peroxidase-conjugated mouse anti-human IgE antibody were 1:3,000 and 2 hours respectively. RESULTS: The patients' serum level of sIgE was significantly higher than controls (P < 0.001) and correlated significantly with the degree of skin test reaction (P < 0.01). The concordance between the results of skin test and ELISA was 74%-83%. The specificity of the assay was confirmed by heat inactivation and multiple absorption experiments. The coefficients of variation for the intraassay and interassay reproducibility ranged from 1.20%-8.30% and 8.63%-9.22% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Determination of specific HSP IgE with ELISA assay shows good specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility. It favours clinical practice due to its lower cost.