Relationship between carotid artery atherosclerosis and sulfatide in hypertensive patients.

Hypertension is a major traditional risk factor for atherosclerosis, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) is considered to be an important marker of atherosclerosis. Sulfatides have been shown to play a role in atherogenesis and vascular inflammation, resulting in atherosclerosis. This study aimed to assess the association between serum sulfatide and carotid artery IMT among hypertensive patients. We chose 60 hypertensive patients and 30 matched healthy controls. All subjects had medical examinations at Hebei General Hospital between March 2011 and March 2012. Measurements and other factors compared included serum sulfatide level, carotid artery IMT, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Hypertensive patients had higher BMIs (24.4 ± 7.6 to 23.1 ± 3.1 kg/m(2)), total cholesterol levels (5.5 ± 0.6 to 5.0 ± 1.1 mM), serum sulfatide levels (3.5 ± 3.9 to 8.3 ± 2.7 µM), and carotid artery IMTs (1.06 ± 0.15 to 0.79 ± 0.07 mm) (all P < 0.05) than control patients. Furthermore, the serum sulfatide level positively correlated with carotid IMT in the hypertensive patients (r = 0.39, P = 0.002). Multiple linear regression analysis showed serum sulfatide was an independent risk factor affecting IMT (P = 0.04). These results suggest that serum sulfatide is more strongly associated with carotid artery IMT than other traditional risk factors in hypertensive patients.

[Research and progress in etiology, prevention and treatment strategies of secondary caries].

Secondary caries is one of the main reasons that affect the service life of the restoration. Compared with primary caries, secondary caries have some particularities in etiology, disease progression, clinical manifestation, clinical diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Starting from the above aspects, combined with the latest basic and clinical research on secondary caries, this paper summarizes and analyzes its pathogenesis and prevention strategies, which will lay a certain foundation for in-depth understanding of secondary caries and promoting its clinical prevention and treatment.

[Saliva microbiota and metabolite in individuals with caries or periodontitis].

Objective: To detect and analyze the characteristics of oral microbiota in species composition, function and metabolism among caries, periodontitis and oral healthy individuals, hunting for the microbiome-derived biomarkers with specificity and sensitivity to estimate the occurrence of these two diseases. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 10 patients with high caries risk [decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT)≥6, HC group] in Department of Endodontics, 10 patients with periodontitis of grade Ⅱ A-Ⅲ C (PG group) in Department of Periodontology and 10 oral healthy individuals (HH group) from School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University during from March 2022 to June 2022. A baseline examination was conducted on all participants, including their oral conditions of caries and periodontal health. Metagenomic sequencing (Illumina PE150 platform) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to detect microorganisms and their metabolites in the samples respectively. The sequencing data were analyzed to obtain the information of microbial taxonomic composition, functional genes and metabolites in each group of samples. The basic oral conditions and saliva samples of subjects in each group were evaluated and collected by the same professional endodontist. Results: There were no significant difference in baseline characteristics such as age and sex among the subjects in each group (P>0.05). DMFT in HC group (9.0±1.7) was significantly higher than that in HH group (0) and PG group (0) (F=243.00, P<0.001). Sequencing data analysis showed that the taxonomic compositions of salivary microbiota in each group were mainly Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria at the phylum level, and Streptococcus, Neisseria, Rothia, Prevotella at the genus level. Differential analysis showed that, compared with the HH group, HC group and PG group had significant differences in taxonomic composition (P<0.05), and the most significant among them was Prevotella. At the species level, Prevotella pallens was the most significant change in HC group, and Porphyromonas gingivalis in PG group. Metabolite analysis showed that there were significant differences in metabolites between HC group and PG group. The results showed that, compared with the HH group, the most significant metabolite change was 3-hydroxy-1, 5-diphenylpentan-1-one in HC group (P=0.001) and N1 acetylspermine in PG group (P=0.002) respectively. Compared with the PG group, the metabolite of HC group with the most significant difference is D-glucosamine 6-phosphate (P=0.006). The metabolism gene function analysis showed that, the enrichment of carbohydrate metabolism related genes was highest in HC group, followed with HH group, and it was lowest in PG group. In addition, compared with the HH group, the abundance of functional genes related to glucose metabolism, such as ABC transporter and phosphotransferase system, were significantly decreased in PG group (P<0.05), but significantly increased in HC group (P<0.05). Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between the alternation of carbohydrate metabolism of salivary microbiota with the occurrence of caries and periodontitis. In the future, Prevotella pallens and 3-hydroxy-1, 5-diphenylpentan-1-one may be the potential biomarkers of caries; while Porphyromonas gingivalis and N1 acetylspermine work in the predictions of periodontitis.

[A 5-year retrospective study of computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing ceramic endocrowns in endodontically treated posterior teeth].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramic endocrowns in endodontically treated posterior teeth after five years by a retrospective study. Methods: Patients who received CAD/CAM ceramic endocrowns after endodontically treatment in Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University between January 2016 and June 2017 were invited for this clinical study. Clinical performance was evaluated in the aspect of color match, anatomic form,marginal adaptation, restoration integrity and secondary caries. Survival rate of the restorations was calculated by the use of Kaplan-Meier method. Log-rank test was applied as well for the sake of analyzing the effect of tooth position, sex and materials to the survival rate of the restorations. Results: Seventy-four patients, 25 men and 49 women with age of (38.8±10.2) years, participated in this study for a total of 101 CAD/CAM ceramic endocrowns after observation period of (62.8±12.0) months. There were 8 failed cases among 101 restorations, 5 were loss of retention, 2 were ceramic fracture and 1 was secondary caries respectively. In particular, 93% (89/96) restorations got score A on anatomic form and 95% (91/96) restorations got score A on marginal adaptation, while 38% (36/96) restorations showed the good color match compared with the abutment teeth. The estimated cumulative survival rate of CAD/CAM ceramic endocrowns in endodontically treated posterior teeth after 5 years was 93.0% (95%CI: 87.9%-98.1%). The single-factor Log-rank analysis demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference in the survival rate of CAD/CAM ceramic endocrowns among men and women, premolars and molars, position in the dental arch, or different materials (χ²<0.01, P=0.957; χ²=0.64, P=0.422; χ²=0.69, P=0.407; χ²=0.88, P=0.349). Conclusions: Based on this clinical study, the clinical performance of CAD/CAM ceramic endocrowns in endodontically treated posterior teeth after five years is reliable, which could be a general option to restore nonvital teeth.

[Associations between internet addiction, screen time and depressive symptoms].

Objective: To understand the associations between internet addiction, screen time (computer/mobile devices use and television watching time) and depressive symptoms in adults. Methods: A total of 6 932 adults aged <60 years from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Sgstemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) Cohort of 2013-2019 were surveyed. The information about their computer/mobile devices use and television watching time were collected by using a self-reported questionnaire. The depressive symptoms were assessed using the self-rating depression scale (SDS). The adults surveyed were divided into two groups: non-depressive symptom group (SDS score <45) and depressive symptom group (SDS score ≥45). The associations between internet addiction, screen time and depressive symptoms were estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models, with adjusting for multiple confounders. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, the hazard ratios (HRs) of depressive symptom in the adults who had internet addiction before, had light internet addiction and had moderate or severe internet addiction were 0.83 (95%CI: 0.56-1.23) , 1.20 (95%CI: 1.03-1.41) for light and 1.48 (95%CI: 1.16-1.89), respectively, compared with those without internet addiction. The linear trend test results of the association between internet addiction and depressive symptoms was significant (trend P<0.001). Compared with the adults who used computer/mobile devices for <1 hour/day, the HRs of depressive symptoms in those who used computer/mobile devices for >1 hour, >3 hours, >5 hours and >10 hours were 0.59 (95%CI: 0.40-0.88), 0.58 (95%CI: 0.40-0.85), 0.52 (95%CI: 0.36-0.76) and 0.69 (95%CI: 0.45-1.05) respectively, a U-shaped association was found between computer/mobile devices use time and depressive symptoms (trend P<0.001). Compared with the adults who never watch TV, the HR of depressive symptoms was 1.36 (95%CI:1.09-1.69) for those watching TV for ≥3 hours/day in crude model and 1.34 (95%CI: 1.07-1.68) for those watching TV for ≥3 hours/day in adjusted model (trend P<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that internet addiction and television watching time were associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms, while computer/mobile device use time was associated with a reduced risk of depressive symptoms.

[Epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in Guangdong province from 2016 to 2020].

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in Guangdong province from 2016 to 2020 and provide evidence for the prevention and control of pulmonary TB. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the incidence data of pulmonary TB reported in Guangdong from 2016 to 2020. Dynamic geometric series averaging and circular distribution methods were used to reveal the epidemic pattern. Results: A total of 356 748 pulmonary TB cases were reported in Guangdong from 2016 to 2020. The reported incidence of pulmonary TB decreased from 71.82/100 000 to 50.40/100 000 (trend χ2=6 905.57,P<0.001) , with an annual decline rate of 8.47%. Results from the circular distribution methods showed that the incidence peak would occur on May 4th-5th (Z=1 176.96,P<0.05), and the incidence was relatively higher in May compared with other months. The area distribution of the pulmonary TB epidemic was uneven, and the reported average annual incidence was in the order of the eastern area (72.15/100 000), the northern area (68.14/100 000), the western area (65.31/100 000) and the Pearl River Delta area (60.05/100 000). Results of dynamic geometric series averaging analysis showed a declining trend in the reported incidence of pulmonary TB in all areas, except Dongguan, with the average growth rate less than 0.00. The decline rate in the eastern area (-10.90%) and northern area (-10.63%) was higher than the provincial average (-8.47%). The male to female ratio of the cases was 2.63∶1 (258 562∶98 186). The reported average annual pulmonary TB incidence in men (88.37/100 000) was higher than that in women (36.86/100 000), the difference was significant (χ2=75.19, P<0.001). The reported incidence of pulmonary TB generally increased with age (trendχ2=123 849.44, P<0.001), and reached peak in age group ≥65 years (164.54/100 000). Dynamic geometric series averaging analysis showed an increasing trend of the reported pulmonary TB incidence in age groups 5-14 years and 15-24 years, with the average growth rate of 0.05% and 3.60%. Conclusions: The reported annual incidence of pulmonary TB showed a declining trend year by year in Guangdong from 2016 to 2020. However, an increasing incidence was reported in children and adolescents. Active case finding should be strengthened in the elderly and other key populations. With comprehensive TB prevention and control measures, it is still necessary to pay attention to the prevention and control of pulmonary TB in men, low-income groups and less developed areas in Guangdong and strengthen the comprehensive prevention and control in winter and spring.

Genetic relationships of Edwardsiella strains isolated in China aquaculture revealed by rep-PCR genomic fingerprinting and investigation of Edwardsiella virulence genes.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to classify Edwardsiella strains isolated from China aquaculture based on biochemical and molecular methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, biochemical characterization of 19 Edwardsiella tarda isolates and two Edwardsiella ictaluri isolates was performed with API 20E system. Other pathogenicity-related phenotypes such as haemagglutination, haemolytic activities and lethality to fish were also examined in these strains. As it was difficult to categorize the subgroups of Edw. tarda according to their origins or phenotypic properties, three PCR-based methods, i.e. PCR amplification of virulence genes, Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR and BOX-PCR, were carried out to further resolve the relatedness of the Edw. tarda isolates. As a result, all Edw. tarda isolates could be generally grouped into pathogenic and nonpathogenic branches before being classified into strain-specific or origin-specific clades. CONCLUSIONS: Biochemical characterization was sensitive for interspecific typing, while PCR-based approaches permitted a more accurate discrimination for intraspecific typing resulting in pathogenic and nonpathogenic clusters and further more delicate clades for Edwardsiella. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: PCR-based genomic fingerprinting to study the relatedness and trace the pathogenicity of the Edwardsiella strains will be helpful in investigating the virulence factors of Edwardsiella and in the development of vaccines and diagnostics for edwardsiellosis.

Effects of dietary Enteromorpha powder supplementation on productive performance, egg quality, and antioxidant performance during the late laying period in Zi geese.

This study investigated the effects of dietary Enteromorpha powder supplementation on the productive performance, egg quality, and antioxidant performance of Zi geese during the late laying period. Three hundred twelve Zi geese (1 yr old) were randomly allocated into 2 cohorts to form a control group and an experimental group (with each cohort including 6 replicates and 21 female geese and 5 male geese in each replicate). The control group was fed a basal diet, and the experimental group was fed a diet containing 3% Enteromorpha powder. The data showed that Enteromorpha powder supplementation significantly improved egg production, laying rate, average daily egg weight (P < 0.01), and egg yolk color (P < 0.05). Supplementation decreased the ADFI and feed conversion rate (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was significantly higher in serum and ovary tissue (P < 0.05), but GSH-Px activity was lower in liver tissue (P < 0.01). Malondialdehyde was reduced in liver and ovary tissue (P < 0.05) in the Enteromorpha powder supplementation group. Meanwhile, the expression of the CAT gene was significantly upregulated in the liver (P < 0.01) in the Enteromorpha group. These results indicate that dietary Enteromorpha powder supplementation improved productive performance and reduced the level of lipid peroxidation in Zi geese during the late laying period.

LncRNATCF7 up-regulates DNMT1 mediated by HPV-18 E6 and regulates biological behavior of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting miR-155.

OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to study the mechanism of lncRNATCF7 upregulating DNMT1 mediated by HPV-18 E6 and regulating the biological behavior of cervical cancer cells by inhibiting miR-155. PATIENTS AND METHODS: HPV-16 E6 enhanced DNMT1 expression in cervical cancer cells, which was detected by Western blotting. The expression of miR-155 in cervical cancer was detected by qPCR, the interaction between TCF-7 and miR-155 by Dual-luciferase reporter gene. The changes in invasion ability of cervical cancer cells and the effect of miR-155 on the invasion ability of cervical cancer cells after inhibiting TCF-7 were detected by the transwell invasion assay, while changes in migration ability of cervical cancer cells and the effect of miR-155 on migration ability of cervical cancer cells after inhibiting TCF-7 were observed by the scratch assay. The effect of inhibiting TCF-7 on the tumor size and volume of cervical cancer was detected by the subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice. RESULTS: E6 expression was significantly inhibited by E6 siRNA. The knockdown of endogenous HPV-16 E6 markedly inhibited the expression of DNMT1; TCF-7 specifically bound to the 3' UTR of miR-155; inhibition of TCF-7 can inhibit invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells; enhanced miR-155 after the inhibition of TCF-7 can promote the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells; compared with NC group, the tumor volume and weight of TCF-7-siRNA group tumor-bearing was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: TCF-7 plays an important role in the development of cervical cancer. TCF-7 can target miR-155 to regulate the invasion and migration of cervical cancer cells.

The activation of human platelets mediated by two monoclonal antibodies raised against CD9.

The platelet activation induced by two anti-human platelet P24/CD9 McAbs was investigated. The results showed that: the pathway of platelet aggregation induced by the two McAbs (HI117 and SJ9A4) is not the same; HI117 and SJ9A4 induced the phosphorylation of platelet proteins (40KD and 20KD) when platelets were activated; but HI117 didn't cause a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration in activated platelets compared with SJ9A4; the epitope recognized by HI117 and SJ9A4 is different and this is probably the real reason why the two CD9 McAbs play different roles in platelet activation. Additionally McAbs HI117 and SJ9A4 could not promote associates of other proteins (e.g.: GPIIb/IIIa) with P24/CD9 on activated human platelets. All these results indicate that the mechanism of platelet activation induced by HI117 or SJ9A4 is different form each other. It suggests that CD9 antigen play an important and complex role in platelet activation.

[Clinical observations on the treatment of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris infection with oxibendazole].

340 cases of hookworm infection, 196 cases of ascariasis and 178 cases of trichuriasis were treated with an anthelmintic, oxibendazole, 15mg/kg.d x 3d; 102, 70 and 66 cases of respective infections were treated with pyrantel 10mg/kg.d x 3d and 108, 74 and 63 cases took placebo for comparison and as control under double-blind observations. Re-examinations of the stool were performed after the treatment. Among the cases treated with oxibendazole, the egg negative conversion rates of hookworm, Ascaris and Trichuris were 70.3-80.6%, 92.5-97.8 and 67.0-71.0% respectively. The egg reduction rates of hookworm were 98.1-98.6%. The larval negative conversion rates of Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus were 77.7 and 83.2% respectively. Among the cases treated with pyrantel, the egg negative conversion rates of the three above mentioned parasites were 73.5, 90.0 and 28.8% respectively. The egg reduction rate of hookworm was 98.8%. Among the cases treated with placebo, the egg negative conversion rates of the three above mentioned parasites were 6.5, 29.7 and 7.9%. No marked adverse reactions were observed by clinical and laboratory examinations.

Plasma frequency and dielectric function dependence on doping and temperature for p-type indium phosphide epitaxial films.

The optical properties of p-type InP epitaxial films with different doping concentrations are investigated by infrared absorption measurements accompanied by reflection and transmission spectra taken from 25 to 300 K. A complete dielectric function (DF) model, including intervalence band (IVB) transitions, free-carrier and lattice absorption, is used to determine the optical constants with improved accuracy in the spectral range from 2 to 35 µm. The IVB transitions by free holes among the split-off, light-hole, and heavy-hole bands are studied using the DF model under the parabolic-band approximation. A good understanding of IVB transitions and the absorption coefficient is useful for designing high operating temperature and high detectivity infrared detectors and other optoelectronic devices. In addition, refractive index values reported here are useful for optoelectronic device designing, such as implementing p-InP waveguides in semiconductor quantum cascade lasers. The temperature dependence of hole effective mass and plasma frequency is also reported.

Three new diterpenoids from Coleus forskohlii Briq.

Three new diterpenoids, forskolin G(2), forskolin H(3), forskolin I(4), were isolated from the whole plant of the Coleus forskohlii Briq., and their structures were elucidated as 1alpha,6beta-diacetoxy-8,13-epoxylabd-14-en-11-one, 1alpha-hydroxy-6beta,7beta-diacetoxy-8,13-epoxylabd-14-en-11-one, and 1alpha,9alpha-dihydroxy-6beta,7alpha-diacetoxy-8,13-epoxylabd-14-en-11-one on the basis of spectral data.

Mutations in the ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease.

Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD; MIM 16960) is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder characterized by recurrent eruption of vesicles and bullae, predominantly involving the body folds. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in the ATP2C1 gene, encoding the human secretory pathway Ca2+/Mn2+-ATPase protein 1 (hSPCA1). When we studied Chinese patients with HHD, we found two different heterozygous mutations, Q506X and G353V, the former previously reported in a Hungarian patient, and the latter being a novel mutation. In a 38-year-old patient from a four-generation pedigree with a 3-year history of severe recurrent blisters, we identified a C-->T transition at nucleotide 1696, c(1696C-->T), in exon 17 of ATP2C1, resulting in a nonsenes mutation, Gln506X, which resulted in a premature termination codon. In the second patient, who represented a occurrence of sporadic Hailey-Hailey disease, a G-->T transversion of nucleotide, c(G1238T), in exon 13 of ATP2C1 was detected, which resulted in a Gly353-->Val amino acid substitution (G353V). Our molecular findings further demonstrate that the mutational events in the human ATP2C1 gene encoding the hSPCA1 pump play an important role in the pathogenesis of HHD.

[Application of low temperature demineralization and frozen section technique in the immunochemistry study of dental pulp]

The purpose of the study was to explore experiment method by means of periodate-lysine-parafoemaldehyde fixative,EDTA low temperature demineralization and frozen section technique.The results showed the technique suit either completely to immunohistochemical study of the pulp matrix and of the cell surface expression that was weaker antigenicity,or to enzyme histochemical staining of the dental pulp.