The intraocular staining potential of anthocyanins and their retinal biocompatibility: a preclinical study

Purpose: To perform preclinical studies to determine the efficacy and safety of anthocyanins as stains for the internal limiting membrane (ILM) of the eye.

Materials and methods: Cyanidin (Cya), delphinidin (Del), luteolinidin (Lut), peonidin (Peo) and pelargonidin (Pel) were evaluated. These natural dyes were used to stain the lens capsule and ILM of pig eyes. The effects of these dyes on retinal cell viability was determined using a water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay, and oxidative stress was measured in vitro. Histopathology, in situ TUNEL labelling, transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), and electroretinography (ERG) were performed on rats following the intravitreal and subretinal injection of the neuroprotective dyes.

Results: All anthocyanins stained the lens capsule and ILM of the pigs at a concentration of 1?mg/ml. Del, Lut and Peo were non-toxic and produced survival rates in the ARPE19 and RGC5 cells that were similar to those in control cells. We treated eyes with H₂O₂ and three dyes (Del, Lut, and Peo) to explore the possible neuroprotective effects and observed significantly higher survival rates in the ARPE19 cells treated with Del, Lut or Peo and the RGC5 cells treated with Lut or Peo than those in the control cells. Three dyes were intravitreally and subretinally injected into rats in vivo, and the histology showed mildly disorganized retinal cell layers. TUNEL staining and TEM examinations did not reveal additional toxic effects. Rat ERGs were not altered after intravitreal injections.

Conclusions: This preclinical study, Del, Lut, and Peo show potential as staining agents and warrant further investigation as vital dyes.     

头颈部恶性肿瘤患者血清可溶性白介素2受体水平

目的:研究头颈部恶性肿瘤患者血清可溶性白介素2受体(sIL-2R)水平的变化。方法:用双抗体夹心法对60例头颈部恶性肿瘤患者,60例良性肿瘤患者以及50例健康对照者的血清sIL-2R水平进行检测。结果:头颈部恶性肿瘤患者组血清sIL-2R水平显著高于健康对照组(P<0.01),而良性肿瘤患者组血清sIL-2R水平与健康对照组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:血清中高sIL-2R水平可能与头颈部恶性肿瘤的发生有相关性。     

Shear bond strengths of plastic brackets with a mechanical base

This study compares the shear bond strengths of plastic brackets with a mechanical base and metal brackets using two different adhesives, and examines the modes of failure using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Forty extracted human premolars were selected for bonding. Two types of brackets: metal and plastic-Spirit MB, and two orthodontic adhesives: System 1 + and Enlight, were used. After bonding, all samples were put into a 37 degrees C distilled water bath for 24 hours before shear bond strengths were tested. The bond strengths of the plastic brackets were significantly lower than those of the metal brackets (P < .0001). There was a statistically significant difference in bond strengths between System 1 + and Enlight for plastic brackets (P < .05), but not for metal brackets. The modes of failure predominantly occurred at the enamel/adhesive interface in the metal bracket-System 1 + group, within the adhesive in the metal bracket-Enlight and plastic bracket-System 1 + groups, and at the bracket/adhesive interface in the plastic bracket-Enlight group.     

Risk factors for dental implant failure: a strategy for the analysis of clustered failure-time observations

This study's objective was to identify, in a statistically valid and efficient manner, the risk factors associated with dental implant failure. We hypothesize that factors exist which can be modified by clinicians to enhance outcome. A retrospective cohort study design was used. Cohort members had >or= one implant placed. Risk factors were classified as demographic, health status, implant-, anatomic-, or prosthetic-specific, and reconstructive variables. The outcome variable was implant failure. The cohort was composed of 677 patients who had 2349 implants placed. Based on the adjusted multivariate model, factors associated with implant failure were tobacco use, implant length, staging, well size, and immediate implants (p 相似文献   

Bilateral mesiodentes of identical twins--a case report

A pair of identical 10-year-old Chinese twins with bilateral mesiodentes of opposite orientation are presented. Three mesiodentes were conical and impacted, while the other one had erupted and was incisiform in shape. All roots of the mesiodentes were completely formed. Intrapair twin comparison showed a high degree of genetically determined concordance, with minor differences subject to environmental influences. The prevalence of mesiodens and rate of monozygotic twins in various ethnic groups are reviewed. Mirror image traits and verification of monozygocity in identical twins are also discussed.     

Induction of Retinol Dehydrogenase 9 Expression in Podocytes Attenuates Kidney Injury

The intracellular concentration of retinoic acid is determined by two sequential oxidation reactions that convert retinol to retinoic acid. We recently demonstrated that retinoic acid synthesis is significantly impaired in glomeruli of HIV-1 transgenic mice (Tg26), a murine model of HIV-associated nephropathy. This impaired retinoic acid synthesis correlates with reduced renal expression of retinol dehydrogenase 9, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of retinoic acid synthesis by converting retinol to retinal. Because retinoic acid has renal protective effects and can induce podocyte differentiation, we hypothesized that restoration of retinoic acid synthesis could slow the progression of renal disease. Herein, we demonstrate that overexpression of retinol dehydrogenase 9 in cultured podocytes induces the expression of podocyte differentiation markers. Furthermore, we confirm that podocyte-specific overexpression of retinol dehydrogenase 9 in mice with established kidney disease due to either HIV-associated nephropathy or adriamycin-induced nephropathy decreases proteinuria, attenuates kidney injury, and restores podocyte differentiation markers. Our data suggest that restoration of retinoic acid synthesis could be a new approach to treat kidney disease.Retinoic acids (RAs) are derivatives of vitamin A and have multiple cellular functions, including inhibition of proliferation, induction of cell differentiation, and inhibition of inflammation.¹ In addition to their established benefits in the treatment of a variety of cancers, RA has also been shown to protect against renal injury in multiple experimental models of kidney disease,² including HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN).³ Both in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that RA restores the expression of podocyte differentiation markers, including nephrin, podocin, and synaptopodin.^3,4 These studies provide strong evidence supporting the therapeutic benefit of RA in kidney diseases with podocyte injury. In fact, a phase II clinical trial examining the efficacy of RA for treatment of podocyte diseases, including minimal change disease, FSGS, or collapsing glomerulopathy, is ongoing (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00098020","term_id":"NCT00098020"}}NCT00098020). However, clinical use of RA is challenging because of its side effects.⁵After cellular uptake, retinol is converted to RA by two sequential oxidation reactions. Retinol dehydrogenases (RHDs) oxidize retinol to retinal,⁶ which is further metabolized to retinoic acid by retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs).⁷ The expression of these enzymes varies greatly among different cell types and at different stages of cell differentiation.⁷ Both the synthesis and metabolism of the bioactive metabolites of retinol are impaired in cancer cells.⁸ The kidney is a major organ for retinoid metabolism. However, not much is known regarding how retinoid metabolism is altered in renal disease.Our previous work showed that although the expression of retinoic acid receptor-α–target genes is suppressed in kidneys of a murine model of HIVAN (Tg26) and of patients with HIVAN, the expression of retinoic acid receptor-α is not different between normal and diseased kidneys.⁹ The concentration of RA, however, is significantly reduced in the kidney cortex and isolated glomeruli of Tg26. We also found that the glomerular concentration of RA is >10-fold higher than the concentration in the kidney cortex.⁹ Examination of enzymes involved in RA metabolism reveal that two key enzymes in the RA synthetic pathway, retinol dehydrogenase type 1 and type 9 (RDH1 and RDH9), were significantly downregulated in Tg26 glomeruli.⁹ RDH9 is a rate-limiting enzyme in RA synthesis. Because it is known that RA has renal protective effects and is able to induce podocyte differentiation, we hypothesize that overexpression of RDH9 to restore endogenous RA synthesis could slow the progression of renal disease.Consistent with our findings, recent studies also showed that endogenous RA synthesis is impaired in kidneys of diabetic db/db mice¹⁰ and TGF-β transgenic mice.¹¹ These data together with ours suggest that endogenous RA synthesis is impaired in diseased kidneys. Thus, a better understanding of RA metabolism in kidney disease could help us to identify potential new therapy for kidney diseases.     

Cardiac Transplantation and Concomitant Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Our Experiences in 11 Cases

Introduction

The shortage of donor hearts for transplantation could be alleviated by including the hearts of older donors. Previous literature revealed similar early and medium-term survival outcomes compared with those of younger donors. This study presents our experience with patients who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting at our institution.

Methods

We present our experience with 11 patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy (8 men and 3 women) undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting from September 2002 to November 2011 at our institute.

Results

All 11 donor organs would otherwise have been rejected, depriving potential recipients of organ transplantation. Two patients received concurrent 2-coronary-artery bypass, and the other 9 patients received concurrent single-coronary-artery bypass during orthotopic heart transplantation. All patients had an uneventful postoperative course, with follow-up completed 3 to 128 months after cardiac transplantation and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Conclusions

Our experiences suggest that donor hearts requiring coronary artery bypass grafting, which form a small but significant donor subgroup, can be used effectively and safely when matched to the recipients' age and medical condition.