Involvement of Interleukin-17A in Pancreatic Damage in Rat Experimental Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis

Interleukin (IL)-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine, which has recently attracted much interest due to its pathogenic role in various inflammatory conditions such as ischemia/reperfusion injury, chronic inflammation, and autoimmune diseases, but the role of IL-17A in acute pancreatitis remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-17A in experimental acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). We analyzed the expression of IL-17A during the pathogenesis of ANP in vivo induced by 3 % sodium taurocholate (NaTc), by microarray test, quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry. The effects of IL-17A on pancreatic acinar cells and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) were further investigated in vitro using recombinant rat IL-17A (rIL-17A). Expression of IL-17A was significantly increased following experimental acute pancreatitis. In addition, rIL-17A induced rat pancreatic acinar cell necrosis and promoted expression of several target genes, including IL-6, IL-1β, CXCL1, CXCL2, and CXCL5, in acinar cells and PSCs. These findings suggest that IL-17A may be involved in pancreatic damage by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines during experimental acute pancreatitis.     

Characterization of Brain Microstructural Abnormalities in High Myopia Patients: A Preliminary Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging Study

ObjectiveTo evaluate microstructural damage in high myopia (HM) patients using 3T diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI).Materials and MethodsThis prospective study included 30 HM patients and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) with DKI. Kurtosis parameters including kurtosis fractional anisotropy (FA), mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (AK), and radial kurtosis (RK) as well as diffusion metrics including FA, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity derived from DKI were obtained. Group differences in these metrics were compared using tract-based spatial statistics. Partial correlation analysis was used to evaluate correlations between microstructural changes and disease duration.ResultsCompared to HCs, HM patients showed significantly reduced AK, RK, MK, and FA and significantly increased AD, predominately in the bilateral corticospinal tract, right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, superior longitudinal fasciculus, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, and left thalamus (all p < 0.05, threshold-free cluster enhancement corrected). In addition, DKI-derived kurtosis parameters (AK, RK, and MK) had negative correlations (r = −0.448 to −0.376, all p < 0.05) and diffusion parameter (AD) had positive correlations (r = 0.372 to 0.409, all p < 0.05) with disease duration.ConclusionHM patients showed microstructural alterations in the brain regions responsible for motor conduction and vision-related functions. DKI is useful for detecting white matter abnormalities in HM patients, which might be helpful for exploring and monitoring the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Comparison of cone-beam computed tomography and periapical radiography for detecting simulated apical root resorption

Objective:To compare the diagnostic accuracy between cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and periapical radiography for detecting simulated external apical root resorption (EARR) in vitro.Materials and Methods:The study sample consisted of 160 single-rooted premolar teeth for simulating EARR of varying degrees according to four setups: no (intact teeth), mild (cavity of 1.0 mm in diameter and depth on root surface), moderate (0.4 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.2 mm, and 1.6 mm root shortening), and severe (2.4 mm, 2.8 mm, 3.2 mm, and 3.6 mm root shortening). Two groups of radiographic images were obtained via CBCT and periapical radiography. The absence or presence and the severity for all resorption lesions were evaluated blindly by two calibrated observers.Results:With the CBCT method, the rates of correct classification of no, mild, moderate, and severe EARR were 96.3%, 98.8%, 41.3%, and 87.5%, respectively; with the periapical radiography method, the rates were 82.5%, 41.3%, 68.8%, and 92.5%, respectively. Highly significant differences were found between the two imaging methods for detection of mild (P < .001), moderate (P < .001), and all EARR (P < .001). For detection of all EARR, the sensitivity and specificity values were 75.8% and 96.3% for CBCT, compared with 67.5% and 82.5% for periapical radiography.Conclusion:CBCT is a reliable diagnostic tool to detect simulated EARR, whereas periapical radiography underestimates it. However, if a periapical radiograph is already available to the diagnosis of EARR, CBCT should be used with extreme caution to avoid additional radiation exposure.     

富血小板纤维蛋白对兔脂肪干细胞成骨分化的影响

目的：体外分离培养兔脂肪干细胞（adipose—derived stem cells,ADSCs）,鉴定其分化能力并观察富血小板纤维蛋白（platelet—rich fibrin,PRF）对ADSCs成骨分化的影响。方法：取新西兰兔腹股沟处的脂肪组织,将其分离获得脂肪干细胞,培养至第三代用于实验。分别以油红O、茜素红染色鉴定其成脂和成骨分化能力。取兔耳中央动脉血一次离心法制备PRF膜。将脂肪干细胞分为2组：对照组不含PRF膜;实验组含PRF膜。用碱性磷酸酶（ALP）试剂盒检测不同时间点PRF对ADSCs成骨分化的影响。结果：脂肪干细胞呈长梭形贴壁生长;油红O及茜素红染色均呈阳性;在不同的时间点,实验组ALP活性值均高于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论：ADSCs具有成骨的潜能,且PRF可以促进ADSCs向成骨细胞分化。     

A Single-Tube Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Clinical Specimens by Use of Multiplex PCR-Capillary Electrophoresis

In this study, we developed a single-tube multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) assay to type Mycoplasma pneumoniae directly from respiratory samples collected from children with respiratory infections. The multiplex PCR included four fluorescently primed VNTRs (Mpn13, Mpn14, Mpn15, and Mpn16) and was carried out in a single tube. A total of 137 M. pneumoniae-positive specimens, collected in 2013 from Beijing, China, were divided among four types (M4-5-7-2, M4-5-6-2, M3-5-6-2, and M5-5-7-2) using the amended MLVA system. The most prevalent genotype was M4-5-7-2. No correlation was found between macrolide resistance in the M. pneumoniae samples and the MLVA types. To our knowledge, this is the first study to type and analyze M. pneumoniae clinical specimens using multiplex PCR-capillary electrophoresis in a single tube. This novel low-cost method can be used to rapidly type M. pneumoniae clinical specimens directly and shows great potential for monitoring outbreaks of M. pneumoniae.     

Changes in compressed neurons from dogs with acute and severe cauda equina constrictions following intrathecal injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor-conjugated polymer nanoparticles

This study established a dog model of acute multiple cauda equina constriction by experimental constriction injury (48 hours) of the lumbosacral central processes in dorsal root ganglia neurons. The repair effect of intrathecal injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with 15 mg encapsulated biodegradable poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles on this injury was then analyzed. Dorsal root ganglion cells (L7) of all experimental dogs were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry at 1, 2 and 4 weeks following model induction. Intrathecal injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor can relieve degeneration and inflammation, and elevate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in sensory neurons of compressed dorsal root ganglion. Simultaneously, intrathecal injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor obviously improved neurological function in the dog model of acute multiple cauda equina constriction. Results verified that sustained intraspinal delivery of brain-derived neurotrophic factor encapsulated in biodegradable nanoparticles promoted the repair of histomorphology and function of neurons within the dorsal root ganglia in dogs with acute and severe cauda equina syndrome.     

Jiaweisinisan facilitates neurogenesis in the hippocampus after stress damage

The traditional Chinese medicine Jiaweisinisan has antidepressant effects, and can inhibit hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis hyperactivity in stress-induced depression. In this study, rat hippocampal neural precursor cells were cultured in serum-free medium in vitro and a stress damage model was established with 120 μM corticosterone. Cells were treated with 10% (v/v) Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and the corticosterone antagonist RU38486. Results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide assay showed that both Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and RU38486 promoted the proliferation of neural precursor cells after corticosterone exposure. Immunofluorescence detection showed that after Jiaweisinisan drug-containing serum and RU38486 treatment, the 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine/terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling ratio in hippocampal neural precursor cells significantly increased, and the apoptotic rates of glial cells reduced, and neuron-like cell differentiation from neural precursor cells significantly increased. Our experimental findings indicate that Jiaweisinisan promotes hippocampal neurogenesis after stress damage.     

北京市海淀区部分幼儿园36～42月龄儿童龋齿流行趋势及牙面分布的抽样调查

目的:调查北京市海淀区部分幼儿园36～42月龄儿童龋齿的患病情况和牙面分布情况,以了解该年龄阶段龋齿的分布特点,为指导早期预防幼儿龋提供依据。方法:选取北京市海淀区12所幼儿园,所有36～42月龄儿童为研究对象,2名经验丰富的儿童口腔医师依据WHO龋齿诊断标准进行口腔检查。结果:本研究共取样本630个,患龋儿童296名,患龋率47%。龋均(dmft index)2.17±3.31;龋面均(dmfs index)2.91±5.19。6≤dmft≤20的有90名,1≤dmft≤5的有206名。患龋牙面以乳磨面和上颌乳切牙邻面多见。结论:患龋牙大部分集中在患龋较重的儿童中,对于36～42月龄婴幼儿上颌乳切牙的邻面、上下颌乳磨牙的面是龋齿的高发牙面。对于患龋高危的患儿应早期干预,阻断龋齿的早期发生,并对重点好发患龋牙面应重点预防。     

应用康复教育光碟指导脑卒中偏瘫患者肩关节功能锻炼

目的探讨应用康复教育光碟指导脑卒中偏瘫患者肩关节功能锻炼的效果。方法将65例康复治疗的脑卒中偏瘫患者按照时间顺序分为对照组(n=33)与观察组(n=32),对照组接受康复训练治疗,观察组在观看康复教育光碟示范下行康复训练治疗。比较两组患者肩关节半脱位发生率及康复训练依从率,并采用Fugl-Meyer评分法(FMA)评定两组患者上肢运动功能。结果康复训练2个月后观察组肩关节半脱位发生率、康复训练依从率、上肢FMA评分与对照组比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论观看康复教育光碟可激发患者的康复欲望,提高上肢运动功能,减少脑卒中偏瘫肩关节半脱位的发生率,促进患者康复。