Methylation Pattern of the CD14 and TLR2 Genes in Human Dental Pulp

Introduction

Pattern recognition receptors, such as toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) and TLR-4, participate in the activation of immune cells by microorganisms in dental pulp. However, the expression levels of pattern recognition receptors can be modulated by epigenetic factors, especially DNA methylation. In this study, the methylation status of the TLR-2 and CD14 (TLR4 co-receptor) genes in healthy and inflamed human dental pulp was examined.

Methods

The Methyl-Profiler DNA Methylation qPCR Assay was used to verify the DNA methylation patterns.

Results

No differences in the methylation patterns were observed between the 2 groups. Most DNA was unmethylated in both groups.

Conclusions

The hypomethylation of TLR2 and CD14 genes is a usual feature in human dental pulp.     

Long-term male-specific chronic pain via telomere- and p53‑mediated spinal cord cellular senescence

Mice with experimental nerve damage can display long‑lasting neuropathic pain behavior. We show here that 4 months and later after nerve injury, male but not female mice displayed telomere length (TL) reduction and p53‑mediated cellular senescence in the spinal cord, resulting in maintenance of pain and associated with decreased lifespan. Nerve injury increased the number of p53‑positive spinal cord neurons, astrocytes, and microglia, but only in microglia was the increase male‑specific, matching a robust sex specificity of TL reduction in this cell type, which has been previously implicated in male‑specific pain processing. Pain hypersensitivity was reversed by repeated intrathecal administration of a p53‑specific senolytic peptide, only in male mice and only many months after injury. Analysis of UK Biobank data revealed sex-specific relevance of this pathway in humans, featuring male‑specific genetic association of the human p53 locus (TP53) with chronic pain and a male-specific effect of chronic pain on mortality. Our findings demonstrate the existence of a biological mechanism maintaining pain behavior, at least in males, occurring much later than the time span of virtually all extant preclinical studies.     

IFNα-2a对乙型肝炎患者外周血细胞毒性T淋巴细胞CD95表达及其凋亡率影响的实验研究

探讨IFNα-2a对乙型肝炎患者外周血细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)CD95表达及其凋亡率的影响。分离 26例乙型肝炎患者(其中慢性乙型肝炎16例,慢性重型乙型肝炎10例)和20例健康献血员外周血单个核细胞 (PBMC),在IFNα-2a作用前后通过流式细胞仪分别检测PBMC中CTL CD95的表达及其凋亡率。结果表明,乙型肝炎患者外周血CTL存在活化诱导的细胞死亡(AICD)现象,而IFNα-2a对乙型肝炎患者外周血CTL CD95表达及 CTL凋亡率并无影响。     

Does Probiotic Consumption Enhance Wound Healing? A Systematic Review

The use of probiotics is one of the emerging lines of treatment for wound healing. This systematic review aimed to summarize currently available evidence on the effect of oral or enteral probiotic therapy on skin or oral mucosal wound healing in humans. To verify the developments in this field and the level of available scientific evidence, we applied a broad search strategy with no restrictions on wound type, target population, probiotic strain, or intervention protocol used. This review included seven studies involving 348 individuals. Four studies reported positive outcomes for healing improvement after probiotic therapy, and none of the studies reported adverse effects or a marked increase in wound healing time. The positive or neutral results observed do not generate strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of probiotics for wound healing. However, they suggest a promising field for future clinical research where the probiotic strains used, type of wounds, and target population are controlled for.     

Jatrophone Inhibits Platelet Rich Plasma Aggregation from Man,Rat and Guinea-pig Induced by Different Agents

The effect of jatrophone (2.5–100 μM ), a diterpene isolated from Jatropha elliptica , upon the aggregation (platelet rich plasma) induced by several agents in different animal species was examined. At the same range of inhibitory concentrations (24.0–43.0 μM ) previously shown to inhibit contractions triggered by different agents in isolated muscle preparations, jatrophone markedly inhibited platelet aggregation. This effect was dose-dependent and it was reversible for up to 30 min. It is concluded that this nonspecific effect could reflect an action of jatrophone either at an intracellular step in the signal transduction process, which is common to different agonists, or at the level of extracellular and/or intracellular Ca²⁺ mobilization.     

上海宝钢职工非酒精性脂肪性肝病消退率及其影响因素研究

目的探讨上海宝钢职工非酒精性脂肪性肝病(NAFLD)的消退率及其影响因素。方法回顾性分析1999年和2001年上海宝钢职工健康体检资料,选择无过量饮酒、基线时丙氨酸转氨酶正常以及乙肝表面抗原阴性者作为研究对象。结果基线时440例NAFLD患者2年后影像学脂肪肝消退60例(13.6%,脂肪肝消退组),380例脂肪肝持续存在(脂肪肝未消退组),另有4867例两次体检都无脂肪肝的个体作为对照(无脂肪肝组)。女性年龄<50岁者脂肪肝消退率显著高于≥50岁者[33.3%(3/9)对4.3%(1/46),χ2=4.969,P<0.01]。脂肪肝的消退率随着基线时体重指数(BMI)的增高而下降,体重正常、超重、肥胖和重度肥胖患者NAFLD消退率分别为18.2%、16.5%、13.5%、7.8%。随访期间,BMI差值在脂肪肝消退组(-0.26±1.18)、脂肪肝未消退组(0.39±1.13)、无脂肪肝组(0.50±1.29)之间差异有统计学意义(F=11.41,P<0.01);血清甘油三酯(TG)差值在脂肪肝消退组[(-0.27±0.79)mmol/L]、脂肪肝未消退组[(0.24±1.88)mmol/L]、无脂肪肝组[(0.11±1.07)mmol/L]之间差异亦有统计学意义(F=5.58,P<0.01)。多元回归分析显示,基线BMI和血清TG水平以及随访期间BMI、TG变化幅度与NAFLD的消退密切相关。结论 NAFLD的消退率相对较低,基线BMI和血清TG水平及其动态变化是影响NAFLD消退的独立因素。     

姜黄素的微生物转化产物体外抗低密度脂蛋白氧化作用

目的 利用红曲霉菌对姜黄素进行微生物转化,研究姜黄素微生物转化总产物对低密度脂蛋白氧化修饰的抑制作用,为进一步筛选新型高效的姜黄素类抗动脉硬化新药奠定基础.方法 利用红曲霉菌固体发酵法对姜黄素进行微生物转化,设立只加姜黄素不接种菌体的底物对照和只接种菌体不加入姜黄素的菌体对照,乙酸乙酯提取转化产物.从血浆中分离低密度脂蛋白,建立低密度脂蛋白在Cu2+诱导下的无细胞氧化体系和巨噬细胞氧化体系,姜黄素转化产物进行氧化干预,以低密度脂蛋白在琼脂糖凝胶电泳的迁移距离及硫代巴比妥酸反应物含量作为低密度脂蛋白氧化的指标.结果 姜黄素转化总产物在4～500 mg/L浓度范围内(相当于含姜黄素0.04～5 mg/L),能显著抑制Cu2+诱导下的低密度脂蛋白氧化,与菌体对照组相比差异有显著性(P<0.001);与底物对照比较在20 mg/L和4 mg/L浓度作用下差异有显著性(P<0.001).转化总产物作用小鼠巨噬细胞24 h能显著抑制低密度脂蛋白的氧化,其迁移距离比氧化对照组明显缩短(P<0.001);姜黄素对照组在5 mg/L时有明显的抑制作用;底物对照组和菌体对照组迁移距离与氧化对照组差异无显著性(P>0.05),基本无抑制作用.转化总产物在4～500 mg/L浓度范围内,能显著抑制小鼠巨噬细胞TBARS的产生,其抑制作用随着剂量的增大而增强.而底物对照组只在浓度为500 mg/L和100 mg/L(相当于含姜黄素5 mg/L和1 mg/L)、姜黄素对照组在浓度为5 mg/L和1mg/L时有一定的抑制,菌体对照组则无抑制作用.转化总产物对巨噬细胞氧化体系低密度脂蛋白氧化的抑制作用,与底物对照组、菌体对照组相比差异有显著性(P<0.001).结论 姜黄素经红曲霉菌转化后,对低密度脂蛋白的抗氧化作用显著增强,有望获得姜黄素类高效抗动脉硬化的新型化合物.     

改良酶法肌酐测定试剂的研制

目的探讨建立一种改良酶法肌酐(Cr)测定试剂,并考察其与进口Cr测定试剂(日本东洋纺公司酶法Cr试剂)对血清测定的可比性及偏倚。方法采用酶法测定Cr反应前后吸光度的变化,探讨试剂各成分和浓度对检测性能的影响,并在同一台全自动生化分析仪上同时测定两种试剂的空白吸光度(A值)、分析灵敏度,对自主研发试剂的精密度、线性范围及方法学指标进行评价。结果自主研发试剂的空白A值为0.009,分析灵敏度的A值变化率为0.13,优于进口试剂。自主研发试剂高、低值血清测定变异系数分别为1.5%和1.1%;线性范围为0~2 850μmol/L;方法学比对回归方程为Y=0.98 X+1.15,r=0.999;估计偏倚低于允许误差。以相对偏差不小于10%作为有明显干扰的评判指标,结果显示35mmol/L肌酸、3.42mmol/L胆红素、0.03g/L维生素C、5g/L血红蛋白、1 450浊度乳糜对高、低值浓度标本检测结果均无干扰。结论自主研发的Cr测定试剂性能良好,与进口试剂之间具有良好的相关性,符合临床应用基本要求。