Effect of isoflavone on balloon catheter-induced neointimal hyperplasia in ovariectomised rabbit carotid artery.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the effects of phytoestrogen isoflavone on balloon catheter-induced hyperplasia of carotid artery. METHODS: Forty-eight female New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: control (balloon-induced carotid artery injury only); ovariectomy control (ovariectomy and carotid artery injury), oestrogen (ovariectomy, carotid artery injury and nilestriol, 5mg/kg daily for 28 days), and isoflavone (ovariectomy, carotid artery injury and isoflavone 120 mg/kg daily for 28 days). The arterial wall thickness was assessed by coloured ultrasonography, and the oestrogen-α and oestrogen-ß receptors in the abdominal aorta were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: The medial layer thickness in the isoflavone group was less than in the ovariectomy control group (0.28±0.03 vs. 0.35±0.04 mm, p<0.01), and the intimal/medial layer (I/M) ratio is the isoflavone group was also less than in the ovariectomy control group (16.85±3.79 vs. 48.94±8.92, p<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the medial layer thickness or I/M ratio between the isoflavone and the oestrogen groups. The optical density of the oestrogen-α receptors in the isoflavone group (0.317±0.002) was less than in the oestrogen (0.633±0.002) or ovariectomy control group (0.590±0.001, p<0.01). The optical density of the oestrogen-ß receptors in the isoflavone group (1.350±0.002) and the ovariectomy control group (1.2033±0.002) was less than in the oestrogen group (1.7699±0.003, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Isoflavone therapy in the ovariectomised rabbit model attenuated balloon catheter-induced intimal and medial layer hyperplasia in the carotid arteries. Down-regulation of the oestrogen-α receptors may be involved in the hyperplasia-preventative effect.

Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Depressive-Like Behaviors in Poststroke Rats via Activating the tPA/BDNF/TrkB Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of physical therapy that has been widely used in clinical practice in China. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric complication after stroke. EA has been shown to have beneficial effects on PSD patients. However, the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of EA on PSD remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathway participates in the therapeutic effects of EA in a rat PSD model. METHODS: Experimental PSD was induced by combining middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) in adult male rats. Bodyweight gain, neurological score, sucrose preference, and open field test were determined at 0, 7, 14, and 35 days after completing MCAO. The protein expressions of tPA, precursor BDNF (proBDNF), mature BDNF (mBDNF), and TrkB were measured by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. The tPA inhibitor plasminogen inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was used to explore whether tPA plays a crucial role in the protective effects of EA on PSD. RESULTS: Compared with the sham rats, the PSD rats showed decreased bodyweight, deteriorated neurological score, and significant depressive-like behaviors. EA remarkably reversed bodyweight loss, neurological deficit, and depressive-like behaviors in PSD rats. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis showed that PSD-induced decreased expression of tPA, mBDNF, and TrkB were prevented by EA. Furthermore, we found that the effects of EA against PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors were abolished by PAI-1, the specific inhibitor of tPA. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the improvement in depressive-like behaviors induced by EA is likely achieved via activation of the tPA/BDNF/TrkB pathway.

High bonding strength between zirconia and composite resin based on combined surface treatment for dental restorations.

Zirconia is the preferred material for dental restorations; however, dental restorations are usually affected by zirconia fractures due to chipping and delamination of the veneer ceramic. One effective solution for repairing chemically inert zirconia frameworks is to strongly chemically bond them with the composite resin via surface modification. Thus, the bonding strength between the zirconia and composite resin determines the performance of dental restoration. Herein, we investigate the shear bond strength between zirconia ceramic and two ceramic repair systems before and after thermal cycling based on different surface pretreatments, including air-abrasion and a novel silane coupling agent. When treated with combined sandblasting, novel silane and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl hydrogen phosphate act as a bonding agent for the zirconia surface, and the maximum shear bond strength achieves 27.5 MPa, as measured by a universal testing machine through the average of 16 separate measurements. The results show that the combined treatment resists the interface damage caused by expansion and contraction during thermal cycling. The long-term bond durability is due to the micro-mechanical bond force formed by resin and ceramic, and the chemical bonds of Zr-O-Si at the interface. Results indicate that selective pretreating the surface results in high bond strength between the zirconia and the composite resin, which is meaningful to optimize dental restoration.

Enhanced bonding strength between lithium disilicate ceramics and resin cement by multiple surface treatments after thermal cycling.

All-ceramic restoration has become a popular technology for dental restoration; however, the relative bond strength between the ceramic and resin limits its further application. Long-term high bond strength, especially after thermal cycling, is of great importance for effective restoration. The effect of physical and/or chemical surface treatments on bonding durability is seldom reported. To overcome this problem, we investigate the bond strength between lithium disilicate ceramics (LDC) and two kinds of resin cements before and after thermal cycling for a variety of surface treatments including hydrofluoric acid, two kinds of silane and a combined effect. The shear bond strength in every group is characterized by universal mechanical testing machine averaged by sixteen-time measurements. The results show that when treated with HF and a mixed silane, the LDC surface shows maximum bonding strengths of 27.1 MPa and 23.3 MPa with two different resin cements after 5000 thermal cycling, respectively, indicating an excellent ability to resist the damage induced by cyclic expansion and contraction. This long-term high bond strength is attributed to the combined effect of micromechanical interlocking (physical bonding) and the formation of Si-O-Si and -C-C- at the interface (chemical bonding). This result offers great potential for enhancing bond strength for all-ceramic restoration by optimizing the surface treatment.

Differential Expression Profiles and Functional Prediction of tRNA-Derived Small RNAs in Rats After Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is mostly caused by trauma. As the primary mechanical injury is unavoidable, a focus on the underlying molecular mechanisms of the SCI-induced secondary injury is necessary to develop promising treatments for patients with SCI. Transfer RNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) is a novel class of short, non-coding RNA, possessing potential regulatory functions in various diseases. However, the functional roles of tsRNAs in traumatic SCI have not been determined yet. We used a combination of sequencing, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), bioinformatics, and luciferase reporter assay to screen the expression profiles and identify the functional roles of tsRNAs after SCI. As a result, 297 differentially expressed tsRNAs were identified in rats' spinal cord 1 day after contusion. Of those, 155 tsRNAs were significantly differentially expressed: 91 were significantly up-regulated, whereas 64 were significantly down-regulated after SCI (fold change > 1.5; P < 0.05). Bioinformatics analyses revealed candidate tsRNAs (tiRNA-Gly-GCC-001, tRF-Gly-GCC-012, tRF-Gly-GCC-013, and tRF-Gly-GCC-016) that might play regulatory roles through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and neurotrophin signaling pathways by targeting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We validated the candidate tsRNAs and found opposite trends in the expression levels of the tsRNAs and BDNF after SCI. Finally, tiRNA-Gly-GCC-001 was identified to target BDNF using the luciferase reporter assay. In summary, we found an altered tsRNA expression pattern and predicted tiRNA-Gly-GCC-001 might be involved in the MAPK and neurotrophin pathways by targeting the BDNF, thus regulating the post-SCI pathophysiologic processes. This study provides novel insights for future investigations to explore the mechanisms and therapeutic targets for SCI.

[Induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 by Newcastle disease virus HN gene].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanisms of apoptosis induced in human hepatoma cell line SMMC7721 by plasmid pVHN constructed with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) HN gene. METHODS: Twenty-four h after transfection with liposome-plasmid pVHN complexes in vitro, the mortality rate of SMMC7721 cells was determined by MTT staining and flow cytometry (FCM) with PI staining. The alteration of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential of the cells was detected by FCM with rhodamine 123 staining. Cell genomic DNA was detected by agarose electrophoresis. The activation of caspase-3 was assayed by its substrate color reaction. RESULTS: Significant apoptosis was induced by transfection with plasmid pVHN into the cells for 24 h and the mortality rate was 50.0% (the mortality rate of control group was 5.2%). Genomic DNA was fragmented and mitochondrial trans-membrane potential was decreased, but caspase-3 activity increased. CONCLUSION: Significant apoptosis in SMMC7721 cells can be induced by NDV HN gene. Apoptosis may be resulted from the decrease of mitochondrial trans-membrane potential and activation of Caspase-3.

[Effect of fluoride on activities of enzyme and ultrastructure in primary cultured rat hepatocytes].

OBJECTIVE: To study the cell viability, activities of enzyme and ultrastructure changes induced by sodium fluoride in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated using half-in situ collagenase digestion method. Cellular viability was determined by MTT method. The activities of ALT and AST were determined by spectrophotography method. The ultrastructure changes of hepatocyte were observed under transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: After cultured with various concentrations of fluoride for 24 hours, a dose-dependent decrease of cell viability was detected in the hepatocytes. The activities of AST and ALT in the 2 mmol/L and 4 mmol/L groups were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscope study showed that in fluoride treated hepatocytes the changes included swollen mitochondria and disordered, disrupted endoplasm reticulum. CONCLUSION: Excessive fluoride induced significant toxicity in primary cultured hepatocytes which manifested the injuries of membrane and organell plasma membrane.

Effects of Mechanical and Chemical Pretreatments of Zirconia or Fiber Posts on Resin Cement Bonding.

The bonding strength between resin cement and posts is important for post and core restorations. An important method of improving the bonding strength is the use of various surface pretreatments of the post. In this study, the surfaces of zirconia (fiber) posts were treated by mechanical and/or chemical methods such as sandblasting and silanization. The bonding strength between the zirconia (fiber) post and the resin cement was measured by a push-out method after thermocycling based on the adhesion to Panavia F 2.0 resin cement. The zirconia and fiber posts exhibited different bonding strengths after sandblasting and/or silanization because of the different strengths and chemical structures. The zirconia post showed a high bonding strength of up to 17.1 MPa after a combined treatment of sandblasting and silanization because of the rough surface and covalent bonds at the interface. This effect was also enhanced by using 1,2-bis(trimethoxysilyl)ethane for the formation of a flexible layer at the interface. In contrast, a high bonding strength of 13.9 MPa was obtained for the fiber post treated by silane agents because the sandblasting treatment resulted in damage to the fiber post, as observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the improvement in the bonding strength between the post and the resin cement could be controlled by different chemical and/or mechanical treatments. Enhanced bonding strength depended on covalent bonding and the surface roughness. A zirconia post with high bonding strength could potentially be used for the restoration of teeth in the future.

Bonding of an opaque resin to silane-treated porcelain.

The repair of a fractured porcelain surface with a resin composite was investigated. The effects of applying an opaque resin to porcelain surfaces, which were silanated by a ceramic primer from a repair kit or by an experimental silane coupling agent, were studied. The porcelain surfaces were silanated for 10 sec and 60 min. Three types of adherents were evaluated: opaque resin with light irradiation (OWL), opaque resin without light irradiation (ONL), and no opaque resin (NAO). The shear bond strengths of the resins to the porcelain surfaces were measured before and after thermocycling. The maximum shear bond strength (6.7 MPa) after thermocycling was observed when the silanating period of the ceramic primer was 60 min. The opaque resin had no effect on the bond strength. Moreover, the bond strength obtained with the experimental silane coupling agent was found to be reduced by only 2 MPa, even after thermocycling.

An interdisciplinary approach to treat crown-root-fractured tooth.

Restoration of a crown-root subgingival fractured tooth, especially at anterior aesthetic zones is still a great challenge for restorative dentists. Crown lengthening procedure alone has the disadvantage of high gingival curve of the final restoration, which was not discontinuous to adjacent teeth and thus compromise cosmetic outcomes. The objective of this report is to display a new interdisciplinary approach which combining endodontic root canal treatment, orthodontic extrusion, periodontal crown lengthening surgery and prosthodontic post-core-crown restoration procedures to restore a crown-root subgingival fractured maxillary central incisor and achieved a satisfied cosmetic result. Computer-based spectrophotometer was also used to accurately select colour without objective interference to achieve ideal cosmetic effects.

[Study on the resin-ceramic adhesive bond strength using silane coupling agent treated by hydrolysis catalysts].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of two kinds of silane coupling agent on bond strength of resin-ceramic adhesive. METHODS: Four hundred and thirty-two ceramic samples were divided into 9 groups (48 per group), and in each group the ceramic surface was treated with r-methacryloxypropyletrimethoxysilane (MPTS) (50 g/L) in 99% ethanol (Primer A) and the mixture of hydrochloric acid (0.10 mol/L), phosphoric acid (0.05 mol/L) and acetic acid (0.01 mol/L) in 99% ethanol with the same volume (Primer B). Then the treated ceramic was bonded with resin cement (Link Max). The shear bond strength was tested after 5000 and 10 000 thermo-cycles and standing for 24 h. RESULTS: The highest shear bond strengths [(19.5 ± 3.7) MPa, (15.7 ± 3.0) MPa and (14.6 ± 3.0) MPa] of the specimens were obtained with 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid. At acid solution of 0.10 mol/L, the specimens using hydrochloric acid [(10.6 ± 3.5) MPa] and phosphoric acid [(9.5 ± 2.7) MPa] showed remarkably higher strength than that using acetic acid [(6.3 ± 2.5) MPa, P < 0.05] after 10 000 thermo-cycles. When the concentration of acid solution was 0.05 mol/L, the shear bond strength of specimens from hydrochloric acid [(14.6 ± 3.0) MPa] was significantly higher than that using phosphoric acid [(6.3 ± 1.9) MPa] and acetic acid [(4.7 ± 1.8) MPa, P < 0.05]. When the concentration of acid solution reached 0.01 mol/L, the specimens using hydrochloric acid exhibited a dramatically increase in shear strength [(12.7 ± 3.2) MPa] compared with that using phosphoric acid [(2.3 ± 1.2) MPa, P < 0.05] and acetic acid [(1.5 ± 1.2) MPa, P < 0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: The maximum adhesive bond strength with highest durability was obtained using hydrochloric acid of 0.05 mol/L hydrolysis catalysts to treat siline couple agent.

[Antitumor research on mouse melanoma with combined application of Newcastle disease virus and its HN gene].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Although Newcastle disease virus (NDV) shows antitumor effect on many tumors, its mechanism is unclear. Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) gene was found to play an important role in NDV antitumor effect and HN protein located on tumor cell surface. This research was to evaluate the possibility of HN protein as a foreign antigen of tumor cell and the antitumor effect of the combined application of HN gene and NDV. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 2 x 10(5) B16 tumor cells in the right hindlimb. Combination group: on 2nd day post-inoculation, the recombinant plasmid containing HN gene was injected intramuscularly in the left hindlimb; on 7th day post-inoculation, 2 x 10(9) pfu NDV was administrated intratumorally. The alone HN gene group, NDV group, and PBS control group were treated as above. The antitumor effect was observed through tumor suppression rate, the antitumor mechanisms were researched with specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay, and the expression determination of HN protein, ICAM-I, and CD48 on the B16 tumor cells. RESULTS: The antitumor efficacy of the combined application of NDV and its HN gene increased compared with NDV,and its HN gene alone, the tumor suppression rates were 82.8%, 41.0%, and 56.6%; the specific CTL activity were 18.4%, 10.1%, and 4.4%, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of HN gene had been detected, and the expression of ICAM-I and CD48 were up-regulated on the tumor cells after NDV injection. CONCLUSION: HN protein located on the surface of tumor cells and mediated the specific repulsion to tumor cells; the antitumor efficacy increased after the combined application of NDV and its HN gene.