Introduction of bifunctional alcohol/acetaldehyde dehydrogenase gene (adhE) in Fructobacillus fructosus settled its fructophilic characteristics

Fructophilic lactic acid bacteria (FLAB) are unique in the sense that they prefer D-fructose over D-glucose as main carbon source. If D-glucose is metabolised, electron acceptors are required and significant levels of acetate are produced. These bacteria are found in environments rich in D-fructose, such as flowers, fruits and the gastrointestinal tract of insects feeding on fructose-rich diets. Fructobacillus spp. are representatives of this unique group, and their fructophilic characteristics are well conserved. In this study, the bifunctional alcohol/acetaldehyde dehydrogenase gene (adhE) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRIC 1541^T was cloned into a plasmid and transferred to Fructobacillus fructosus NRIC 1058^T. Differences in biochemical characteristics between the parental strain (NRIC 1058^T) and the transformants were compared. Strain 1-11, transformed with the adhE gene, did not show any fructophilic characteristics, and the strain grew well on D-glucose without external electron acceptors. Accumulation of acetic acid, which was originally seen in the parental strain, was replaced with ethanol in the transformed strain. Furthermore, in silico analyses revealed that strain NRIC 1058^T lacked the sugar transporters/permeases and enzymes required for conversion of metabolic intermediates. This may be the reason for poor carbohydrate metabolic properties recorded for FLAB.     

Root coverage with enamel matrix derivatives

Different root coverage procedures have been used to treat cases of gingival recession defects involving single or multiple exposed root surfaces. A therapeutic advantage may be gained if periodontal regeneration is obtained in addition to coverage of the root with gingiva. This article describes the treatment of gingival recession by combining a surgical technique with an enamel matrix derivative.     

含氟封闭剂三年临床防龋效果观察

该研究主要观察含氟封闭剂扔临床防龋效果，并将它同其它几种防龋方法进行了比较。作者将上海市７８６名６－８岁儿童分成四组，分别作四种处理，它们是；含氟封闭剂，普通封闭剂，ＡＰＦＩ凝胶，普通封闭剂加ＡＰＦＩ凝胶。封闭剂在研究开始时使用于第一恒磨牙，ＡＰＦＩ凝胶每半年使用一次。３年后观察这四种防龋方法对儿童牙齿的保护作用，结果显示１；含氟封闭剂对受封闭牙面的防龋效果较普通封闭剂和ＡＰＦＩ凝胶为高；对口腔中     

Should dentists become 'oral physicians'? No, dentistry must remain dentistry

Dentistry is not an allied health profession. It is not a paramedical profession. It is time that dentistry be recognized as the profession that offers patients some of the most complex surgery performed on the human body--namely, restorative dentistry and rehabilitation of the masticatory system. Dentistry is the only anatomically focused health care profession that is university-based and for which primary care responsibility is maintained by the profession. An inferiority complex about what it means to be a dentist has served only to confuse the public and bring us further from our goal of improving the health of all our patients. This inferiority complex is driven by the public and the medical profession, neither of which understands how dentistry fits into overall health care. It is essential that every academic health center have oral health education as an integrated part of health care education for dentists, physicians, nurses, allied dental personel, physical therapists, psychologists and all who receive university-based health care education. In this way, all the health professions and the public will see dentistry and oral health as essential to patients' overall health. The idea of emulating those who do not have the strength of basic-science education, practice complexity, surgical skills or community status by seizing a new title will not elevate the profession for the future. The public knows what a dentist is. It is our task to inform the public about the capabilities of dentists and the value of oral health and our profession. We can accomplish this best by assuring that our profession's name, "dentistry," is understood to represent one of the world's most accomplished surgical endeavors, one that is thoroughly integrated into the fabric of health care. Thus, good oral health will be thoroughly integrated into what it means to be healthy.     

Angiogenesis inhibition and depression in older men

Background

Cardiovascular diseases have been associated with depression in later life, and a potential mechanism is inhibition of angiogenesis. We designed this study to determine if depression is associated with higher serum concentration of endostatin, an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional examination of a random sample of men aged 69–86 years. Those who scored 7 or higher on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale were deemed depressed. We determined the concentration of serum endostatin using a reproducible assay. Other measures included age, education, body mass index, smoking, history of depression, use of antidepressants, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, plasma homocysteine, triglycerides and cholesterol. We used logistic regression to investigate the association between endostatin and depression, and adjusted the analyses for confounding factors.

Results

Our sample included 1109 men. Sixty-three (5.7%) men were depressed. Their serum endostatin was higher than that of nondepressed participants (p = 0.021). Men in the highest decile of endostatin had greater adjusted odds of depression (odds ratio [OR] 1.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–3.06). A doubling of endostatin doubled the odds of depression (OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.31–2.84). The probability of depression increased with the concentration of endostatin in a log-linear fashion up to a maximum of about 20%–25%.

Limitations

The cross-sectional design limits the study’s ability to ascribe causality to the association between high endostatin and depression.

Conclusion

Serum endostatin is associated with depression in older men. It remains to be established whether correction of this imbalance is feasible and could decrease the prevalence of depression in later life.     

Multicompartmental Analysis of Cholesterol Metabolism in Man: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HEPATIC BILE ACID AND BILIARY CHOLESTEROL PRECURSOR SITES

The present report has presented the first clear evidence in man for the existence of specific hepatic cholesterol precursor sites associated with the formation and secretion of bile acids and biliary cholesterol. These hepatic compartments derive virtually all their cholesterol from newly synthesized and lipoprotein free cholesterol. The model which is presented was formulated on current concepts of cholesterol metabolism in man and is concerned, at this initial stage, with the elucidation of the bile acid and biliary cholesterol compartments. The complexity of cholesterol metabolism in man necessitated an initial approach that would minimize the number of inputs of cholesterol into the system, allow for the sampling of several cholesterol compartments, and permit the simultaneous labeling of newly synthesized cholesterol and preformed cholesterol. To achieve these objectives, we studied the patient with a total bile fistula. Six patients were administered simultaneously pulse injections of labeled mevalonic acid and [(14)C]cholesterol. The qualitative features of the specific activity time course curves after labeled mevalonic acid revealed no precursor-product relationship between bile acid, biliary cholesterol, and plasma free cholesterol. The peak specific activity of the bile acids was reached in approximately 100 min and was higher than the biliary cholesterol, which was higher than the plasma free cholesterol. The plasma free cholesterol specific activity became higher than the other lipids after 12 h and remained higher throughout the period of study. Similar related observations were made with [(14)C]cholesterol. The data were then subjected to simulation analysis and modeling using the SAAM-27 computer program. Computer least-square fits of the data were obtained after the model was evolved. During the model development, the least number of compartments and transport pathways were introduced consistent with a good fit of the data. Of particular importance was the constraint that the model fit the data obtained from both [(14)C]cholesterol and labeled mevalonic acid. The same parameter values were used to fit the data from both tracers. The fluxes arrived at in the model indicate that 31% and 20%, respectively, of the cholesterol input into the bile acid and biliary cholesterol precursor sites were derived directly from the newly synthesized hepatic cholesterol. The remainder had its origin predominantly from lipoprotein free cholesterol. Plasma esterified cholesterol (as free) made a small contribution (11%) to the bile acid compartment. Similarly, 10% of the biliary cholesterol arose from an unknown hepatic site.The present report has provided the basis for a new procedure for studying in vivo cholesterol metabolism in man. Examination of the derived cholesterol flux rates between the compartments suggests the presence of an important mechanism regulating the partitioning of lipoprotein free cholesterol between the bile acid and biliary cholesterol precursor sites. Aberrations in the proportioning of precursor cholesterol between these sites could be a causative factor precipitating the excessive secretion of biliary cholesterol and the production of lithogenic bile.     

Are they too old? Surgical treatment for metastatic epidural spinal cord compression in patients aged 65 years and older

Abstract

Objectives:

We aimed to assess the efficacy of surgical decompression of metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) in patients ≧65 years and review our multidisciplinary surgical decision-making process.

Methods:

We identified all patients operated for MESCC from August 2008 to June 2012. Patients ≧65 years, with a single area of cord compression, back/radicular pain, neurological signs of cord compression, surgery within 48 hours after onset of MESCC-related paraplegia, and follow-up for ≧1 year or until death were included. Files were reviewed retrospectively. The requirement for informed consent was waived. Neurological status was assessed with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS). Duration of ambulation and survival were assessed with Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analysis.

Results:

Twenty-one patients met inclusion criteria (11 women/10 men; mean age 73 years, range 65–87). All presented with debilitating back/neck pain. Ten patients (48%) were not ambulatory before surgery and four suffered urinary incontinence/constipation (19%). Preoperative AIS was E in 5 patients (24%), D in 11 (62%), and C in 5 (24%). Motor symptoms had been present for a mean of 3·8 days (range 1–14). All patients regained ambulation. Overall, mean survival was 320 days (range 19–798) and mean ambulation was 302 days (range 18–747). On 31 March 2013, 7 patients (33%) were alive and ambulatory at a mean of 459 days (range 302–747); 14 patients had died (67%) at a mean of 251 days (range 19–798), with a mean ambulation of 223 days (range 18–730).

Discussion:

With careful patient selection, surgery may achieve long duration of ambulation in patients ≧65 years with MESCC.