Implant stability changes over time following implant placement in elderly patients: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of aging on the changes in implant stability over time following implant placement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 104 patients in four age ranges (group 1: <60 years, group 2: 61-70 years, group 3: 71-80 years, and group 4: >80 years) were included. Bone-level tapered implants were placed without implementing any bone augmentation procedure. The final torque value displayed on the implant engine during implant insertion was recorded. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed immediately after surgery to analyze the bone quality around the implant. Implant stability was measured immediately after surgery and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: In the CBCT image, higher grayscale values were observed in the order of group 1, group 2, and groups 3/4, with statistical significance (p < .05). There was no significant difference in the insertion torque values between age groups (p ≥ .05). Groups 1 and 2 showed lower implant stability values after 2 and 4 weeks compared to immediately and 8 weeks after surgery (p < .05); however, groups 3 and 4 showed no significant difference between the results measured at different timepoints (p ≥ .05). CONCLUSIONS: Implant treatment in elderly patients is successful showing a settled implant stability over time following implant placement when the implant is appropriately engaged in the alveolar bone in the absence of bone augmentation.

Research progress on pathogenic fusion gene in lung cancer / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

Lung cancer is one of the most harmful global diseases with high morbidity and mortality rate. As a unique kind of driver gene, the pathogenic fusion gene is a common mechanism of lung cancer. Most fusion genes are produced by chromosome rearrangement and encoding receptor tyrosine kinases, which could be potential lung cancer therapeutic targets. Since ALK was first identified in 2007, methods like FISH, IHC, RT-PCR and NGS have been intensively applied, leading to identification of multiple other lung cancer fusion genes including ROS1, RET, FGFR, NTRK1, NRG1, DNAH5 and LTK. These works broaden the spectrum of lung cancer related gene mutations, and support the customized treatment for clinical patients. For some fusion genes, corresponding kinase inhibitors have been developed with good efficacy, however, the treatment is still being challenged by several problems like drug resistance. Based on recent studies, the research development of lung cancer fusion genes will be discussed.

Molecular detection and genetic variability of Ehrlichia canis in pet dogs in Xinjiang, China.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: As a tick-borne zoonotic pathogen, Ehrlichia canis has already posed a threat to public health and safety. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence and molecular characteristics of E. canis in pet dogs in Xinjiang, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 297 blood samples of pet dogs and 709 skin ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato) were subjected to molecular detection using PCR for E. canis 16S rRNA gene, and then, positive samples were amplified, sequenced, and phylogenetically analyzed for E. canis gp36 gene. RESULTS: The PCR detection showed that the positive rate of PCR was 12.12% (36/297) in blood samples and 15.23% (108/709) in tick samples, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of E. canis gp36 protein, these E. canis strains in different geographical regions of the world can be divided into Genogroup I and Genogroup II. Among them, the Xinjiang epidemic strain XJ-6 and 533, 36, 1055, Kasur1, and Jake strains were clustered into subgroup 1.1 of Genogroup I, while the XJ-2, XJ-21, and XJ-35 strains and the TWN1, TWN4, CM180, and CM196 strains were closely related and belonged to subgroup 2.2 of Genogroup II, displaying high genetic diversity. CONCLUSION: This is the first study focusing on the molecular epidemiology of E. canis infection in pet dogs, which revealed that E. canis infection had been occurred in Xinjiang, China. More importantly, this study confirmed that the substantial variability in immunoreactive protein gp36 from E. canis strains circulating in pet dogs.

Structure and function of BmIntegrin β2 in silkworm, Bombyx mori / 生物工程学报

Integrins are cell adhesion receptors, which consists of several transmembrane glycoproteins. They are widely distributed on the cell surface and involved in signal transduction pathways. As a heterodimer, each integrin is composed of one α subunit and one β subunit. Integrins are mainly expressed on lepidopteran hemocytes and involved in cell immune response. The full-length cDNA sequence of BmIntegrin β2 was obtained by PCR and RACE, including 2 434 bp. BmIntegrin β2 was predicted to be a transmembrane protein. The BmIntegrin β2 expression profile was detected by qRT-PCR at L4D3 or L5D3 larval stage, and it was highly expressed in hemocyte and hematopoietic organ. Anti-BmIntegrin β2 polyclonal antibody was generated following prokaryotic expression, protein purification and animal immunization, which is highly specific and effective for recognizing BmIntegrin β2 protein through Western blotting. The results of plasmatocytes adhesion experiment showed that BmIntegrin β2 plays an important role on the adhesion and spreading of plasmatocytes to foreign surfaces. This study provides a foundation for further research of the biological function of BmIntegrin β2 gene.

Cloning and expression of Bmintegrin β1 in silkworm Bombyx mori / 生物工程学报

Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins, closely related to many physiological and pathological processes. In order to explore its role in silkworm, by PCR and Rapid-amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technology, the full-length cDNA of Bmintegrin β1 in silkworm was acquired. The domain was predicted by domain prediction website. Phylogenetic tree was constructed to analyze its evolutionary relationship. By prokaryotic expression system, protein purification method and immunizing mouse, the antibody against Bmintegrin β1 recombinant protein was obtained. The spatial-temporal expression profile of Bmintegrin β1 was investigated by semi quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Then we identified all 3 different spliceosomes, and they shared a common open reading frame of 2 502 bp, encoding 833 amino acids. Bmintegrin β1 contained all the classic domains of the integrin family, such as Integrin-B-tail, transmembrane domain etc. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Bmintegrin β1 was close to the homologous proteins from Heliothis assulta and Danaus plexippus. In order to understand the function of Bmintegrin β1 further, we generated the antibody. In addition, Western blotting demonstrated that the antibody recognized the Bmintegrin β1 recombinant protein. Then, semi quantitative PCR and Western blotting results showed that Bmintegrin β1 was widely expressed in most of tissues, among of them, it's exhibited the highest expression level in hemacyte. Overall, this study provides a foundation for the study of silkworm integrin family.

Cloning and expression of scavenger receptor class B BmSCRB8 in silkworm Bombyx mori / 生物工程学报

Scavenger receptor class B is involved in various indispensable physiological processes, like the formation and inhibition of atherosclerosis or other cardiovascular diseases, innate immune defense and the removal of apoptotic cells. Here, we cloned BmSCRB8, a member of scavenger receptor class B in silkworm. We obtained the full-length cDNA sequence of BmSCRB8 by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), including 2 668 bp. The ORF of BmSCRB8 is 1 704 bp, encoding 567 amino acids. Online software prediction indicated that the molecular weight of BmSCRB8 is 63.87 kDa and the isoelectric point (pI) is 6.06. The space-time expression profile of BmSCRB8 was detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), which implicated that BmSCRB8 is extensively expressed in each tissue and at each stage of blood. In addition, BmSCRB8 is highest expressed in fat body of silkworm, and is highly expressed in metamorphosis periods. Anti-BmSCRB8 polyclonal antibody was generated through prokaryotic expression, protein purification and mice immunization. Simultaneously, we constructed BmSCRB8 eukaryotic vector and then transfected embryonic cell line of silkworm. Immunofluorescence and overexpression showed that BmSCRB8 expressed specifically in membrane. Western blotting demonstrated that BmSCRB8 protein can be specifically recognized by anti-serum generated after mice immunization.

Effects of ephedrine on ovarian histological structure / 解剖学报

Objective To explore effects of ephedrine on epinephrine (EPI) and estradiol( E2)concentration in blood, histological structures and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and maleic dialdehyde (MDA) content in the ovary of female mice.Methods Pregnant female mice in the experimental group were treated with ephedrine (2g/L,4g/L, 6g/L), and the mice in the control group were treated with saline by intraperitoneal injection .Using ELISA method to detect concentration changes of EPI and E 2 in plasma, the changes in the enzymatic activity of SOD and MDA content were analyzed by colorimetry .The ovarian weight was measured , histological structures in ovary were observed by microscopy and the number of ovarian follicles were counted .Results EPI concentration in plasma of female mice increased , and the E2 concentration decreased dose-dependently in the experimental group .The activities of SOD were lower , and MDA content significantly increased compared to the control .The ovary weight of experimental groups was lower than the control group.The numbers of primary follicle , secondary follicle and atretic follicle increased and corpus luteum decreased in the experimental groups .There were pyknotic ovarian tissues , including oocyte ateophy , degradation granulose cells , and karyopyknotic granulose lutein cells in the experimental groups .Conclusion Ephedrine has a great effect on the ovarian histological structure and ovarian function of female mice , which may be correlated with the low activities of SOD .

Effects of heroin and ephedrine on the histological structure and ChAT activity of hypothalamus and hippocampus of filial mice / 解剖学报

Objective To explore effects of heroin and ephedrine on the histological structure and ChAT activity of hypothalamus and hippocampus of filial mice. Expression of Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax protein) and keratinocyte growth factor(KGF) of hypothalamus and hippocampus were measured. Methods One hundred and eight filial mice were given intraperitoneal injection of heroin and ephedrine by gradually increase of doses, apoptosis and expression of Bax protein and KGF of hypothalamus and hippocampus were observed by Giemsa staining and immunohistochemistry, and the ChAT activity was detected by colorimetry. Results After administration of heroin and ephedrine at 5,10,15,20 days, the number of apoptotic cells and expression of Bax protein and KGF of hypothalamus and hippocampus were significantly increased and ChAT activity was lower than those of the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01). There were differences between heroin group and the ephedrine group in the above-mentioned four indexes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of apoptotic cells and Bax protein and KGF immunopositive neurons of hypothalamus and hippocampus increased by the increase in dose of heroin and ephedrine. Conclusions Heroin and ephedrine had great effect on the histological structure and ChAT activity of hypothalamus and hippocampus of filial mice, and this effects would be related to the cell apoptosis of hypothalamus and hippocampus.