High Soluble Fiber Promotes Colorectal Tumorigenesis Through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Metabolites in Mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Dietary fibers are mainly fermented by the gut microbiota, but their roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) are largely unclear. Here, we investigated the associations of different fibers with colorectal tumorigenesis in mice. METHODS: Apcmin/+ mice and C57BL/6 mice with azoxymethane (AOM) injection were used as CRC mouse models. Mice were fed with mixed high-fiber diet (20% soluble fiber and 20% insoluble fiber), high-inulin diet, high-guar gum diet, high-cellulose diet, or diets with different inulin dose. Germ-free mice were used for validation. Fecal microbiota and metabolites were profiled by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. RESULTS: Mixed high-fiber diet promoted colorectal tumorigenesis with increased tumor number and tumor load in AOM-treated and Apcmin/+ mice. Antibiotics use abolished the pro-tumorigenic effect of mixed high-fiber diet, while transplanting stools from mice fed with mixed high-fiber diet accelerated tumor growth in AOM-treated germ-free mice. We therefore characterized the contribution of soluble and insoluble fiber in CRC separately. Our results revealed that soluble fiber inulin or guar gum, but not insoluble fiber cellulose, promoted colorectal tumorigenesis in AOM-treated and Apcmin/+ mice. Soluble fiber induced gut dysbiosis with Bacteroides uniformis enrichment and Bifidobacterium pseudolongum depletion, accompanied by increased fecal butyrate and serum bile acids and decreased inosine. We also identified a positive correlation between inulin dosage and colorectal tumorigenesis. Moreover, transplanting stools from mice fed with high-inulin diet increased colonic cell proliferation and oncogene expressions in germ-free mice. CONCLUSION: High-dose soluble but not insoluble fiber potentiates colorectal tumorigenesis in a dose-dependent manner by dysregulating gut microbiota and metabolites in mice.

Enhancement plaque control in preschool children by an intelligent brushing guide device.

This study aims to investigate the impact of a tooth-brushing guidance system on the enchancement of the dental plaque removal in preschool children. In this study, we selected a group of 124 healthy children in which their aged were between 3 and 5 years old following by treatment at the Pediatric Dentistry Center at Jinzhou Stomatological Hospital (JinZhou, Liaoning Province, China). We then followed up to check and identify the Turesky modification of the Quigley-Hein plaque index (TMQHPI). Study group was randomly assigned to an experimental group in which they received constantly guidance on intelligent tooth-brushing and a control group which was used by manual brushing techniques. The total numbers in each group were 62 participants that were gone under the clinical investigation for seven days. The plaque index of both groups were assessed by using a plaque display instrument and a periodontal probe for up day 28. It was shown that the experimental group had a lower average TMQHPI value (0.98 ± 0.15) in comparison with control group (1.41 ± 0.17), and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The experimental group had a significantly lower TMQHPI value (0.89 ± 0.13) on the tongue/palatal side of the anterior teeth area in comparison with control group (1.41 ± 0.17) (p < 0.05). We observed that experimental group showed significantly lower TMQHPI value (1.16 ± 0.12) on the tongue/palatal side of the posterior dental region in comparison with control group (1.70 ± 0.13) (p < 0.05). It was confirmed a significant difference in the average plaque clearance rate between the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Our study clearly indicates that a developed method of toothbrush guide effectively improved the removal rate of plaque compared with manual tooth-brush, specifically in hard-to-reach areas like the tongue and palate.

Management strategies of dental anxiety and uncooperative behaviors in children with Autism spectrum disorder.

BACKGROUND: Children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was frequently experienced dental anxiety and uncooperative behaviors during dental treatment. Oral health care was necessary because of the poor oral hygiene and prevalent dental diseases in this population. AIM: In this systematic review, we evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility for pediatric dentist to manage the dental anxiety in children with ASD. DESIGN: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were systematically performed on the literature search. The date of eligible publications was from inception to January 2023. After that, the quality of eligible studies was assessed by the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Review findings were summarized using the PRISMA Statement for reporting. RESULTS: A total of six studies were systematically evaluated according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Five studies were conducted to evaluate ASD Children's anxiety and uncooperative performance in the progressive oral examination, oral disease prophylaxis and fluoride application. The other one study evaluated the success rate of treatment in decayed permanent tooth treatment. In the included studies, four studies indicated that it was extremely necessary to reduce dental anxiety of ASD children to increase the cooperation in sensory-adapted dental environment (SADE). CONCLUSION: It is not always effective and feasible for pediatric dentist to manage the dental anxiety in children with autism during routine oral examination. Meanwhile, it is necessary for ASD children to conduct preoperative psychological assessment, to investigate parents' expectations and cooperation, and to determine whether to start corresponding dental treatment.

Electrochemical immunosensor AuNPs/NG-PANI/ITO-PET for the determination of BDNF in depressed mice serum.

A novel electrochemical immunosensor was developed for highly sensitive detection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a well-known depression marker. The immunosensor was fabricated by modifying indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate (ITO-PET) with N-doped graphene-polyaniline (NG-PANI) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to enhance the conductivity and protein loading capacity. Subsequently, BDNF was immobilized onto the electrode surface via gold-sulfur bonds, followed by the attachment of biotinylated antibody (Biotin-Ab) and horseradish peroxidase-avidin (HRP-Avidin) to create the final immunosensor (HRP-Avidin-Biotin-Ab-BDNF-AuNPs/NG-PANI/ITO-PET). The proposed immunosensor exhibited a linear range of determination (0.781-400 pg/mL) with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.261 pg/mL (S/N = 3) and excellent reproducibility (RSD = 1.4%) and stability (92.7%, RSD = 3.1%). Additionally, the immunosensor demonstrated good anti-interference performance and good recovery (98.1-107%). To evaluate the practical utility of the immunosensor, BDNF levels were quantified in the serum of mice with depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The results indicated that the serum BDNF levels were significantly decreased in the depression model group compared with the control group, highlighting the potential of this immunosensor for clinical detection of BDNF in depression diagnosis and treatment.

Unconventional implant strategy for patients with a limited interocclusal space in the posterior region: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Implant prostheses require sufficient interocclusal space. In cases of limited interocclusal space, reducing or extracting over-erupted opposing teeth, orthodontic intrusion, or surgical reconstruction of the edentulous space are commonly used to restore the interocclusal space. However, there are disadvantages to these approaches. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report describes a patient with a limited interocclusal space managed using an unconventional implant strategy. CONCLUSIONS: The patient presented satisfactory outcomes without any signs of implant failure, suggesting that the unconventional implant treatment strategy is a useful option for patients with a limited interocclusal space in the posterior region. This unconventional implant surgery provides a minimally invasive treatment alternative.

[Asymmetric crying facies and vocal cord paralysis accompanied by congenital heart disease in an infant].

A female infant was admitted to the hospital due to perioral cyanosis two hours after birth. The infant was born at the gestational age of 35 weeks by cesarean section with a birth weight of 2 400 g. Physical examination revealed wry mouth to the left side while crying, small auricles, and high palatal arch; fibrolaryngoscopy suggested bilateral vocal cord paralysis; echocardiography suggested ventricular septal defect; single nucleotide polymorphism testing showed 22q11.21 microdeletion. Therefore, the infant was given a definite diagnosis of asymmetric crying facies syndrome accompanied by 22q11.21 microdeletion. After 8-month follow-up, the infant still had asymmetric crying facies with presence of growth retardation.

Highly Sensitive Ratiometric Self-Assembled Micellar Nanoprobe for Nitroxyl and Its Application In Vivo.

Nitroxyl (HNO) is a derivative of nitric oxide (NO) that plays an essential role in various biological and pharmacological events. Until now, the in situ trapping and specific detection of HNO in living samples is still challenging. In this project, we fabricated a novel BODIPY-based micellar nanoprobe for monitoring nitroxyl in vitro and in vivo in ratiometric mode in aqueous solution. The probe (P-BODIPY-N) contains an asymmetrical BODIPY dye for fluorescent signaling and a diphenylphosphinobenzoyl as the trigger moiety; then we encapsulated P-BODIPY-N into the hydrophobic interior of an amphiphilic copolymer (mPEG-DSPE) and prepared a novel BODIPY-based micellar nanoprobe: NP-BODIPY-N. As far as we know, this probe is the first reported ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe for HNO, which exhibits ultrasensitivity, high selectivity, and good biocompatibility. Above all, this nanoprobe shows favorable cellular uptaken and was successfully used to detect intracellular HNO released by Angeli's salt in living cells and zebrafish larvae. These results indicate that our newly designed nanoprobe will provide a promising tool for the studies of HNO in living system.

HPLC Separation of 2-Ethyl-5(6)-methylpyrazine and Its Electroantennogram and Alarm Activities on Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta Buren).

2-Ethyl-3,6-dimethylpyrazine (EDMP) was an alarm pheromone component isolated from the mandibular gland of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren. Several pyrazine analogues have been previously found to elicit significant alarm responses in S. invicta workers. This study aimed to separate the commercially available 2-ethyl-5(6)-methylpyrazine (EMP), i.e., a mixture of 2-ethyl-6-methylpyrazine (2E6MP) and 2-ethyl-5-methylpyrazine (2E5MP), and to examine both electroantennogram (EAG) and behavioral responses of S. invicta workers to EMP and the purified isomers. HPLC separations were achieved using a polysaccharide chiral stationary phase (Chiralpak AD-H) column with both mobile phases: Cyclohexane/isopropanol, and hexane/isopropanol. A ratio of 99:1 was selected for the separation of EMP at semipreparative level. The structures of the isomers obtained through the cyclohexane/isopropanol mobile phase were confirmed by detailed analyses of 2D-HSQC- and -HMBC-NMR data. The two isomers showed differential methine C⁻H correlations evidenced by 2D-HMBC-NMR spectra. The two concentrated fractions obtained through hexane/isopropanol mobile phase were subjected to EAG test and behavioral bioassay on S. invicta workers. The two HPLC−purified isomers, 2E6MP and 2E5MP, and their mixture (1:1) at same dose elicited similar EAG and alarm responses, indicating that these two isomers are equally active. The 2D-NMR−spectroscopic characterization, and electrophysiological and alarm activities of 2E6MP and 2E5MP were reported here for the first time.

Schwann-like cells differentiated from human dental pulp stem cells combined with a pulsed electromagnetic field can improve peripheral nerve regeneration.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Schwann-like cells combined with pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) on peripheral nerve regeneration. Schwann-like cells were derived from human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and verified with CD104, S100, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), laminin, and P75NTR immunocytochemistry. Gene expression of P75NTR and S100 were analyzed. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g, 6-week-old) were divided into seven groups (n = 10 each): control, sham, PEMF, hDPSCs, hDPSCs + PEMF, Schwann-like cells, Schwann-like cells + PEMF. Cells were transplanted (1 × 106 /10µl/rat) at crush-injury site or combined with PEMF (50 Hz, 1 h/day, 1 mT). Nerve regeneration was evaluated with functional test, histomorphometry and retrograde labelled neurons. Schwann-like cells expressed CD104, S100, GFAP, laminin, and p75 neurotrophin receptor (P75NTR ). P75NTR and S100 mRNA expression was highest in Schwann-like cells + PEMF group, which also showed increased Difference and Gap scores. Axons and retrograde labeled neurons increased in all treatment groups. Schwann-like cells, hDPSCs with or without PEMF, and PEMF only improved peripheral nerve regeneration. Schwann-like cells + PEMF showed highest regeneration ability; PEMF has additive effect on hDPSCs, Schwann-like cell in vitro and nerve regeneration ability after transplantation in vivo. Bioelectromagnetics. 37:163-174, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Switchable Self-Assembled Micellar Nanoprobe: Ratiometric Fluorescent Trapping of Endogenous H2S Generation via Fluvastatin-Stimulated Upregulation.

H2S produced in small amounts by mammalian cells has been identified in mediating biological signaling functions. However, the in situ trapping of endogenous H2S generation is still handicapped by a lack of straightforward methods with high selectivity and fast response. Here, we encapsulate a semi-cyanine-BODIPY hybrid dye (BODInD-Cl) and its complementary energy donor (BODIPY1) into the hydrophobic interior of an amphiphilic copolymer (mPEG-DSPE), especially for building up a ratiometric fluorescent H2S nanoprobe with extraordinarily fast response. A remarkable red-shift in the absorption band with a gap of 200 nm in the H2S response can efficiently switch off the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from BODIPY1 to BODInD-Cl, subsequently recovering the donor fluorescence. Impressively, both the interior hydrophobicity of supramolecular micelles and electron-withdrawing nature of indolium unit in BODInD-Cl can sharply increase aromatic nucleophilic substitution with H2S. The ratiometric strategy based on the unique self-assembled micellar aggregate NanoBODIPY achieves an extremely fast response, enabling in situ imaging of endogenous H2S production and mapping its physiological and pathological consequences. Moreover, the amphiphilic copolymer renders the micellar assembly biocompatible and soluble in aqueous solution. The established FRET-switchable macromolecular envelope around BODInD-Cl and BODIPY1 enables cellular uptake, and makes a breakthrough in the trapping of endogenous H2S generation within raw264.7 macrophages upon stimulation with fluvastatin. This study manifests that cystathione γ-lyase (CSE) upregulation contributes to endogenous H2S generation in fluvastatin-stimulated macrophages, along with a correlation between CSE/H2S and activating Akt signaling pathway.

Indocyanine Green-Encapsulated Hybrid Polymeric Nanomicelles for Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

Indocyanine green (ICG), an FDA approved medical near-infrared (NIR) imaging agent, has been extensively used in cancer theranosis. However, the limited aqueous photostability, rapid body clearance, and poor cellular uptake severely restrict its practical applications. For these problems to be overcome, ICG-encapsulated hybrid polymeric nanomicelles (PNMs) were developed in this work through coassociation of the amphiphilic diblock copolymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-b-PEG) and hydrophobic electrostatic complexes composed of ICG molecules and branched poly(ethylenimine) (PEI). The ICG-encapsulated hybrid PNMs featured a hydrophobic PLGA/ICG/PEI core stabilized by hydrophilic PEG shells. The encapsulation of electrostatic ICG/PEI complexes into the compact PLGA-rich core not only facilitated the ICG loading but also promoted its aqueous optical stability. The effects of the chain length of PEI in combination with ICG on the physiochemical properties of PNMs and their drug leakage were also investigated. PEI(10k) (10 kDa) could form highly robust and dense complexes with ICG, and thus prominently reduced ICG outflow from the PNMs. The results of in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity studies revealed that the ICG/PEI(10k)-loaded PNMs significantly promoted cellular uptake of ICG by HeLa cells due to their near-neutral surface, and thereby augmented the NIR-triggered hyperthermia effect in destroying cancer cells. These findings strongly indicate that the ICG/PEI10k-loaded PNMs have significant potential for attaining effective cancer imaging and photothermal therapy.

Co-treatment effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) with human dental pulp stromal cells and FK506 on the regeneration of crush injured rat sciatic nerve.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether crush injured rat sciatic nerve could be benefit from pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) combined with human dental pulp stromal cells (hDPSCs), with FK506 (Tacrolimus) for immune suppression and neuropromotion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g, 6 week old) were distributed into 6 groups (n = 18 each): control, PEMF, FK506, PEMF + hDPSCs, PEMF + FK506, and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups. hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 µl/rat) were injected at the crush site immediate after injury. FK506 was administered 3 weeks in FK506 group (0.5 mg/kg/d) while pre-op 1 d and post-op 7 d in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group; cell tracking was done with PKH26-labeled hDPSCs (cell = 1 × 106/10 µl/rat). The rats were follow-up for 3 weeks. RESULTS: PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 group showed a sharp increase in sciatic function index (SFI), axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) than control at 3 weeks. Other three treatment groups also showed higher axon counts, densities, and labeled neurons than control. Higher axon counts and densities were found in PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups comparing with PEMF group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression pattern in nerve segment and DRG was almost same. Higher expression level in all the treatment groups was discovered in the follow-up period, but there was no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: All treatment groups can improve regeneration of neurons following crushed injury, PEMF + FK506 and PEMF + hDPSCs + FK506 groups showed higher regeneration ability than other three groups. FK506 plays an important role during hDPSCs transplantation.

Biodegradation of palm kernel cake by cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacterial cultures through solid state fermentation.

Four cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacterial cultures were purchased from the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Culture (DSMZ) and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). Two experiments were conducted; the objective of the first experiment was to determine the optimum time period required for solid state fermentation (SSF) of palm kernel cake (PKC), whereas the objective of the second experiment was to investigate the effect of combinations of these cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic bacteria on the nutritive quality of the PKC. In the first experiment, the SSF was lasted for 12 days with inoculum size of 10% (v/w) on different PKC to moisture ratios. In the second experiment, fifteen combinations were created among the four microbes with one untreated PKC as a control. The SSF lasted for 9 days, and the samples were autoclaved, dried, and analyzed for proximate analysis. Results showed that bacterial cultures produced high enzymes activities at the 4th day of SSF, whereas their abilities to produce enzymes tended to be decreased to reach zero at the 8th day of SSF. Findings in the second experiment showed that hemicellulose and cellulose was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased, whereas the amount of reducing sugars were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the fermented PKC (FPKC) compared with untreated PKC.

Efficacy of solution form of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on removing smear layer of root canal at different exposure time In Vitro.

This study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of solution form of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on removing smear layer of root canals at different exposure time periods and to provide scientific basis for EDTA as a choice of root canal irrigation in clinical practice. Twenty-five single-rooted teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group (group A) was given 2.5% NaOCl, and 4 experimental groups were given 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA, including groups B, C, D and E with exposure time of 1, 3, 5 and 7 min, respectively. After preparation of the root canals, the teeth were split along their longitudinal axis, and the root sections were examined under scanning electron microscope for evaluation of smear layer removal and erosion on the surface of the root canal walls. The specimens in group B showed presence of smear layer on the walls of the root canal with no statistical difference from that in group A (P>0.05). In groups C and D, partial removal of smear layer was obtained, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05), but there was significant difference in removal of smear layer between group C and group B (P<0.05). Root canal walls in group E specimens showed almost complete removal of smear layer, and the removal of smear layer was significantly different from that in group D (P<0.01). There was no significant change in the structure of the surface of root canal for each sample. It was concluded that combined irrigation with 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl could remove the smear layer with no significant alteration in dentinal structure when the chelating agent was applied for 7 min. At 3 and 5 min of application, partial removal of smear layer was observed and at 1 min negligible removal of smear layer was achieved.

[Extraction and purification technologies of total flavonoids from Aconitum tanguticum].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extraction and purification technologies of total flavonoids from Aconitum tanguticum whole plant. METHODS: With the content of total flavonoids as index, the optimum extraction conditions for the concentration, volume of alcohol, extracting time and times were selected by orthogonal optimized; Comparing the adsorption quantity (mg/g) and resolution (%), four kinds of macroporous adsorption resins including D101, AB-8, X-5 and XAD-16 were investigated for the enrichment ability of total flavonoids from Aconitum tanguticum; Concentration and pH value of sample, sampling amount, elution solvent and loading and elution velocity for the optimum adsorption resin were determined. RESULTS: The content of total flavonoids in Aconitum tanguticum was about 4.39%; The optimum extraction technique was 70% alcohol reflux extraction for three times,each time for one hour, the ratio of material and liquid was 1:10 (w/v); The optimum purification technology was: using XAD-16 macroporous resin, the initial concentration of total flavonoids of Aconitum tanguticum was 8 mg/mL, the sampling amount was 112 mg/g dry resin, the pH value was 5, the loading velocity was 3 mL/min, the elution solvent was 70% ethanol and the elution velocity was 5 mL/min. Under the optimum conditions, the average content of total flavonoids was raised from 4.39% to 46.19%. CONCLUSION: The optimum extraction and purification technologies for total flavonoids of Aconitum tanguticum were suitable for industrial production for its simplicity and responsibility.

[Effects of cortical bone thickness and jaw bone density on pain during implant surgery].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of different cortical bone thickness and jaw bone density at implant sites on intraoperative pain during implant surgery. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients(263 implant sites) who underwent implant placement surgery at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from August 2021 to August 2022 were selected to investigate the effects of different cortical bone thickness and jaw bone density HU values at implant sites on the anesthetic effect under local infiltration anesthesia with epinephrine in articaine. SPSS 26.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The mean cortical bone thickness at the painful sites[(3.90±1.36) mm] was significantly greater than that at the non-painful sites [(2.24±0.66) mm], and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05). The differences in cortical bone thickness in the mandibular anterior, premolar, and molar regions were statistically significant in the comparison of pain and non-pain sites. The mean HU value of bone density was (764.46±239.75) for the painful sites and (612.23±235.31) for the non-painful sites, with significant difference(P＜0.05). The difference was not significant(P＞0.05) when comparing the HU values of painful sites with non-painful sites in the mandibular anterior teeth and anterior molar region, while the difference was significant(P＜0.05) when comparing the HU values of painful sites with non-painful sites in the mandibular molar region. CONCLUSIONS: Sites with large cortical bone thickness have a greater effect on blocking infiltrative anesthetic penetration and are more prone to intraoperative pain during implantation. In the mandibular anterior and premolar regions, the HU value of the implant sites had less effect on infiltrative anesthetic penetration, and the effect was greater in the mandibular molar region, and the implant sites with high HU values in the mandibular molar region were more likely to have intraoperative pain. When the cortical bone thickness in the planned implant site is greater than 3.9 mm and the mean bone density in the mandibular molar region is greater than 665 HU. If there is sufficient safe distance for hole operation, it is recommended to apply mandibular nerve block anesthesia combined with articaine infiltration anesthesia to avoid intraoperative pain and bad surgical experience for the patients.

Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain infection in China: A national multicenter survey of 35,566 individuals.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the epidemiology of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to COVID-19 in China. Methods: This study was conducted by 45 tertiary Grade-A hospitals in China. Online and offline questionnaire data were obtained from patients infected with COVID-19 between December 28, 2022, and February 21, 2023. The collected information included basic demographics, medical history, smoking and drinking history, vaccination history, changes in olfactory and gustatory functions before and after infection, and other postinfection symptoms, as well as the duration and improvement status of olfactory and gustatory disorders. Results: Complete questionnaires were obtained from 35,566 subjects. The overall incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunction was 67.75%. Being female or being a cigarette smoker increased the likelihood of developing olfactory and taste dysfunction. Having received four doses of the vaccine or having good oral health or being a alcohol drinker decreased the risk of such dysfunction. Before infection, the average olfactory and taste VAS scores were 8.41 and 8.51, respectively; after infection, they decreased to 3.69 and 4.29 and recovered to 5.83 and 6.55 by the time of the survey. The median duration of dysosmia and dysgeusia was 15 and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% of patients having symptoms lasting for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate was 59.16%. Recovery was higher in males, never smokers, those who received two or three vaccine doses, and those that had never experienced dental health issues, or chronic accompanying symptoms. Conclusions: The incidence of dysosmia and dysgeusia following infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is high in China. Incidence and prognosis are influenced by several factors, including sex, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, history of head-facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking and drinking history, and the persistence of accompanying symptoms.

A quality comparison of protein crystals grown under containerless conditions generated by diamagnetic levitation, silicone oil and agarose gel.

High-quality crystals are key to obtaining accurate three-dimensional structures of proteins using X-ray diffraction techniques. However, obtaining such protein crystals is often a challenge. Several containerless crystallization techniques have been reported to have the ability to improve crystal quality, but it is unknown which is the most favourable way to grow high-quality protein crystals. In this paper, a quality comparison of protein crystals which were grown under three containerless conditions provided by diamagnetic levitation, silicone oil and agarose gel was conducted. A control experiment on a vessel wall was also simultaneously carried out. Seven different proteins were crystallized under the four conditions, and the crystal quality was assessed in terms of the resolution limit, the mosaicity and the Rmerge. It was found that the crystals grown under the three containerless conditions demonstrated better morphology than those of the control. X-ray diffraction data indicated that the quality of the crystals grown under the three containerless conditions was better than that of the control. Of the three containerless crystallization techniques, the diamagnetic levitation technique exhibited the best performance in enhancing crystal quality. This paper is to our knowledge the first report of improvement of crystal quality using a diamagnetic levitation technique. Crystals obtained from agarose gel demonstrated the second best improvement in crystal quality. The study indicated that the diamagnetic levitation technique is indeed a favourable method for growing high-quality protein crystals, and its utilization is thus potentially useful in practical efforts to obtain well diffracting protein crystals.

Characterization of cellulolytic bacterial cultures grown in different substrates.

Nine aerobic cellulolytic bacterial cultures were obtained from the Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Culture (DSMZ) and the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). The objectives of this study were to characterize the cellulolytic bacteria and to determine the optimum moisture ratio required for solid state fermentation (SSF) of palm kernel cake (PKC). The bacteria cultures were grown on reconstituted nutrient broth, incubated at 30°C and agitated at 200 rpm. Carboxymethyl cellulase, xylanase, and mannanase activities were determined using different substrates and after SSF of PKC. The SSF was conducted for 4 and 7 days with inoculum size of 10% (v/w) on different PKC concentration-to-moisture ratios: 1 : 0.2, 1 : 0.3, 1 : 0.4, and 1 : 0.5. Results showed that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 1067 DSMZ, Bacillus megaterium 9885 ATCC, Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus 10248 DSMZ, and Paenibacillus polymyxa 842 ATCC produced higher enzyme activities as compared to other bacterial cultures grown on different substrates. The cultures mentioned above also produced higher enzyme activities when they were incubated under SSF using PKC as a substrate in different PKC-to-moisture ratios after 4 days of incubation, indicating that these cellulolytic bacteria can be used to degrade and improve the nutrient quality of PKC.

[Analysis of clinical effects and risk factors of short implant followed up for 7-9 years].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term clinical efficacy of short implants and analyze the influencing factors of the survival rate. METHODS: A total of 178 patients who received implant therapy in the Department of Stomatology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2010 to December 2014 were selected, including 334 short implants of Bicon (implant length ≤6 mm). The basic condition, restoration design, short implant survival rate and complications were observed and analyzed. SPSS 24.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The average follow-up time of short implants was 96±17 months. During the observation period, 20 implants failed, 1 implant had mechanical complications and 6 implants had biological complications. Based on the analysis of implants and patients, the long-term cumulative survival rate of short implants was 94.0%(over 5 years survival rate was 96.4%) and 90.4% respectively. There was no significant difference between the survival rate of short implants and the patient's gender, age, whether to use special operation and the type of jaw teeth(P＜0.05). Smoking and periodontitis were risk factors for failure of short implants(P＜0.05).The difference of short implant survival rate between short implants restoration with combined crowns and single crowns was statistically significant(P＜0.05). The survival rate of short implant in mandible was higher than that in maxilla(P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Under the standards clinical program and operation, short implant can be used to shorten the implant restoration cycle and avoid complicated bone augmentation which can achieve good long-term clinical effect. Short implant should be used to strictly control the risk factors that affect the survival of short implant.