[Luminescence properties of Gd2O3:Eu3+ sol-gel thin films].

In this paper, the sol-gel method with Re2O3 (Re=Gd, Eu) as parent compounds was introduced to produce Gd2O3:Eu3+ thin films. From the luminescence intensities of the films doped with different Eu3+ concentration and annealed at different temperatures, it was found that the optimal dopant concentration and annealing procedure was 10% and 800 degrees C for 2 hours, respectively. By comparing the excitation spectra of the Gd2O3:Eu3+ film and powder, the authors found that the film has higher efficiency for energy transfer from host to dopant, which means that the film would be more suitable than the powder as a radio-luminescence material. In addition, it was first discovered that the luminescence of the film nearly disappeared after 2 hours annealing at 1000 degrees C. The phenomenon was explained with the results of SEM and XRD experiments.

[Etiology of hand, foot and mouth disease in Qingdao during 2008-2009].

An etiology study on HFMD in Qingdao region during 2008-2009 was conducted. The virus RNA were isolated from throat swabs of HFMD,the EV, EV71 and CVA16 were detected by multiplex realtime RT-PCR. For those specimens with EV positive and both EV71 and CVA16 negative,a reverese transcription-seminested polymerase chain reaction (RT-snPCR) was perfomed to amplify part sequence of the VP1 gene for sabsequent analysis to identify the serotype. The results indicated that EV71 and CVA16 were the major pathogens of HFMD in Qingdao during 2008-2009. The proportion of EV71 was greater than CVA16 in either mild or serious HFMD cases. Sequence analysis showed that 5 non-EV71 and non-CVA16 serotypes (8 specimens) were obtained in 2008 including Coxsackievirus A5, A6, A10, A12 and Echovirus 9, which were well distributed. Three serotypes(13 specimens) were obtained in 2009 including Coxsackievirus A9, A12 and B2, of which CVA12 was of a big proportion (11/13). CVA12 became a new relatively major pathogen of HFMD in Qingdao during 2009.

[Molecular epidemiology of human enterovirus 71 strains in Qingdao region, Shandong province, 2007 - 2009].

OBJECTIVE: To study the molecular epidemiology of human enterovirus 71 (EV71) isolated from patients with hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Qingdao region between 2007 and 2009. METHODS: Throat swabs of HFMD were detected for total enterovirus (EV), EV71 and CA16 by fluorescence reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The VP1 region was amplified from positive EV71 specimens and 51 nucleotide sequences of VP1 gene were successfully sequenced. EV71 genotypes were characterized by phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: 51 Qingdao EV71 strains identified between 2007 and 2009 belonged to C4a cluster of subgenotype C4 and 5.3% nucleotide divergence and 1.7% amino acid divergence were found among them. The strains in 2008 and 2009 were respectively divided into several lineages on phylogenetic trees but there was a main lineage (namely prominent strain) every year. The Qingdao prominent strains identified in 2008 had high identities with the Linyi prominent strains in 2007. The Qingdao prominent strains in 2009 and the secondary prominent strains in 2008 had high identities with the Fuyang prominent strains in 2008. Two Qingdao strains in 2007 had high identities with the Linyi popular strains in 2007. CONCLUSION: Data showed that several EV71 transmission chains were co-circulating in Qingdao between 2008 and 2009. The main transmission chain in 2008 became the minor one but the minor transmission chain in 2008 was transferred into the main transmission chain in 2009.

Clinical characteristics and treatment of severe encephalitis associated with neurogenic pulmonary edema caused by enterovirus 71 in China.

BACKGROUND: Hand-foot-mouth disease has become a major public health issue in children in China. In the present prospective study we investigated the clinical characteristics and emergency management of children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by enterovirus 71. METHODS: The study was conducted in 2 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) over a 2-month period. Clinical records were reviewed of critically ill children with severe encephalitis associated with NPE caused by EV71 who were admitted to PICUs during the period of May to June 2008 in Fuyang. RESULTS: We reviewed the complete records of 36 children, of whom 23 (63.9%) were male and 13 (36.1%) female. Their age ranged from 4 to 48 months, with an average of 15.8 months. All children except one were under 3 years of age. The overall mortality in these children was 19.4%. The average duration of critical life threatening signs and symptoms was 2.1 days (12 hours-5 days). Nervous system diseases included brainstem encephalitis in 27 children (75%), brainstem encephalitis associated with myelitis in 6 children (16.7%), and general encephalitis in 3 chidren (8.3%), respectively. In 12 patients of NPE (33.3%) pink or bloody bubble sputum and asymmetric pulmonary edema or hemorrhage was the primary manifestation but no typical exanthema was observed. Five children died of acute onset of NPE and / or pulmonary hemorrhage with rapid progression of cardiopulmonary failure within hours after admission. Therapeutic management consisted of mechanical ventilation and administration of mannitol, methylprednisolone, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and vasoactive drugs, associated with the need of fluid volume resuscitation in 9 (25%) of the 36 children. CONCLUSIONS: In children less than 3 years of age found to be affected by severe EV71 encephalitis associated with NPE, one fifth may die. The major organ systems infected by severe EV71 include the central nervous system, the respiratory system, and the cardiovascular system. Early diagnosis and evaluation, respiratory support, treatment of intracranial hypertension, and mainttenance of function of the cardiovascular system are the most important therapeutic measures.

Combined peptides of human enterovirus 71 protect against virus infection in mice.

Human enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a cause of hand, foot and mouth disease (HMFD) in children under 6 years old, and could cause serious neurological complications in some patients. Numerous large outbreaks of EV71 caused HMFD have occurred recently in Asia, especially in China. The cross-reactivity of EV71 with human brain tissue was observed and the cross-reactivity inducing regions were identified in previously study, which suggested that there were two regions in structural proteins of virus should be avoided in the vaccine. Six peptides without cross-reactivity were selected and combined into three vaccine candidates and applied in further evaluation in neonatal mice. The Vac6 comprising the peptides of P(70-159), P(140-249), P(324-443) and P(746-876) of the structural proteins could provide effective protection on pups against virus infection, as shown in viral copies detection and histopathology examination. Immunohistochemical staining results indicated that Vac6 had no cross-reactivity with human brain tissues. Our results suggested that Vac6 could have potential clinical value against EV71 epidemics caused mainly by C4 strains in the mainland of China.

[Histomorphological effects of Nd:YAG laser for debonding ceramic brackets on rabbit pulp].

OBJECTIVE: Ceramic brackets debonding by Nd:YAG laser is based on the thermal effect of laser, which may cause injury of the pulp tissue. In this study, the histological changes of pulp tissue that subjected to Nd: YAG laser irradiation with different power and time were observed. METHODS: 20 New Zealand rabbits were included in this study. Ceramic brackets were bonded to the 4 incisors as routine. The ceramic brackets of left upper teeth that debonded mechanically were used as control group, while the brackets of right upper, left lower and right lower incisors were debonded by laser with 3 W 3 s (group A), 2 W 5 s (group B) and 5 W 2 s (group C) energies, respectively. The teeth were pulled out at 5 minutes, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week and 1 month after the debonding operations. Slides prepared from the pulp tissues of the debonded teeth were used to evaluate the injury of laser. RESULTS: In comparison with the control group, pulp tissue of teeth that exposed to laser with different energy for 5 minutes showed mild capillary dilation. One day later, group A, B and C showed moderate capillary dilation, and group C also showed moderate infiltration. At 3 days, inflammation was disappeared in group B, whereas capillary dilation was found in group A. Hemorrhage and inflammation cells infiltration were found in group C. At 1 week, alleviation of capillary dilation was found in group A but not in group C. One month later, inflammation disappeared in group A, while pulp tissue in group C showed mild edema and capillary dilation. CONCLUSION: Nd:YAG laser of high energy may cause injury of the pulp tissue during debonding. Laser energy of 3 W 3 s could effectively debond ceramic brackets without irreversible pulp injury.

[Effect of loop configuration on appliance stiffness of stainless steel round wire].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of loop configuration on appliance stiffness of stainless steel round wire. METHODS: Some stainless steel round wires with various cross-sectional dimension (0.36, 0.41, 0.46 mm) were selected. Box loops, double horizontal loops, and double vertical loops were manufactured according to established parameters, and loading experiments were carried out with a micro-orthodontic archwire testing apparatus. RESULTS: When the cross-sectional dimension and the span were identical, the appliance stiffness of the box loops, double horizontal loops, and double vertical loops increased successively. CONCLUSION: Configuration of loops exert a great influence on appliance stiffness, and the mechanical properties of box loop are optimal. The force generated by box loop was lighter, slowly decreasing, and easier to be controlled. The activation range of box loop (0.41 mm) was appropriate when the produced optimal moment was between 0.01-0.02 N.m. Box loop (0.41 mm) is preferred to rectify the individual tooth with mild or moderate mesiodistal displacement.

Repair of extended peripheral nerve lesions in rhesus monkeys using acellular allogenic nerve grafts implanted with autologous mesenchymal stem cells.

Despite intensive efforts in the field of peripheral nerve injury and regeneration, it remains difficult in humans to achieve full functional recovery following extended peripheral nerve lesions. Optimizing repair of peripheral nerve injuries has been hindered by the lack of viable and reliable biologic or artificial nerve conduits for bridging extended gaps. In this study, we utilized chemically extracted acellular allogenic nerve segments implanted with autologous non-hematopoietic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to repair a 40 mm defect in the rhesus monkey ulnar nerve. We found that severely damaged ulnar nerves were structurally and functionally repaired within 6 months following placement of the MSC seeded allografts in all animals studied (6 of 6, 100%). Furthermore, recovery with the MSC seeded allografts was similar to that observed with Schwann cell seeded allografts and autologous nerve grafts. The findings presented here are the first demonstration of the successful use of autologous MSCs, expanded in culture and implanted in a biological conduit, to repair a peripheral nerve gap in primates. Given the difficulty in isolating and purifying sufficient quantities of Schwann cells for peripheral nerve regeneration, the use of MSCs to seed acellular allogenic nerve grafts may prove to be a novel and promising therapeutic approach for repairing severe peripheral nerve injuries in humans.