Role of enamel matrix proteins in inducing biomimetic mineralization of the enamel: a study with quartz crystal microbalance technique / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the adsorption behavior of enamel matrix proteins (EMPs) on the enamel surface and study their effect on biomineralization of enamel using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique.</p><p><b>METHODS AND RESULTS</b>The EMPs were adsorbed on the enamel surface to form a protein film, which was soaked in simulated body fluid solutions. After 30 days of biomimetic mineralization, the hydroxyapatite nucleation, growth and aggregation occurred with hydroxyapatite crystal formation on the enamel surface.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The EMPs play a key role in regulating enamel mineralization.</p>

Grafting functional groups on enamel surface by a self-assembled monolayer technique / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of various active groups grafted on the enamel surface by means of self assembly on enamel biomineralization.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The enamel was prepared by immersing the bicuspid tooth into 1 mmol/L ethanolic solution of a omega-functionalized (omega=PO4H2, SO3H, COOH or OH) group and deionized water solution of HSCH2CH2SO3Na for 24 h at room temperature. The contact angles and infrared (IR) images were used to identify the morphological changes of the enamel with chemisorption of the functional groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The contact angles and IR images showed that the omega-functionalized (omega=-PO4H2, -SO3H, -COOH, -OH or -CH3) group was chemisorbed on the enamel surface.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Self assembled monolayers with omega-functionalized (omega=-PO4H2, -SO3H, -COOH, -OH or -CH3) group can be successfully formed on the enamel surface by hydrolyzation.</p>

Study on an outbreak of echovirus type 6 of meningitis in Liu'an city, Anhui province / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the epidemiological, clinical and etiological characteristics of an Echovirus type 6 meningitis outbreak in Jinzhai county, Liu'an city in Anhui, and to find out the proper way in controlling the aseptic meningitis outbreak.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A surveillance system for aseptic meningitis was established in Jinzhai to confirm the case definition. Stool or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from some cases were collected for entero-viruses isolation and identification. Case-control study was conducted. The case group involved patients while the controls would include: patients' classmate with same gender and the age difference was not over one year. Neutralization antibody in serum specimens were collected and tested in cases and in healthy people.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>105 cases were distributed in 17 of the 30 towns in Jinzhai county while 41.0% of the cases were in Banzhuyuan town with an incidence rate of 203/10(5). Cases were clustered by school and classroom with age ranging from 3 to 15 years old and the highest as 10.9/10(5) in the 6 to 10 group. The incidence in males was 24.2/10(5) compared to 8.4/10(5) in females. The main clinic characteristics of cases were: fever, headache and vomiting. Echovirus type 6 from 25 of the 72 CSF samples (35%) was isolated. When comparing the cases group with control group, the OR of drinking home-made beverages was 4.1 (95% CI: 1.4-12.0), especially the beverages sacked by plastic bag: 3.3 (95% CI: 1.3-8.8). 6 out of 7 workers engaging in producing home-made beverages were detected to have carried Echovirus type 6 from their stool specimens. The Echovirus type 6 neutralization antibody positive rate in cases (73.5%) was significantly higher than that in 100 healthy people (46.0%) (X2 = 12. 526, P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This episode of meningitis outbreak was caused by Echovirus type 6. The proportion of drinking home-made beverages, especially the beverages sacked by plastic bag in cases group was higher than in control group.</p>

Isolation and structural elucidation of a bioactive saponin from tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the bioactive constituents from tubers of Bolbostemma paniculatum.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated by extraction and partition as well as several-chromatographic techniques guided with Pyricularia oryzae bioassay method. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis and chemical evidence.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Bisdesmoside (I) was isolated as active compound causing morphological abnormality of Pyncularia oryzae mycelia and elucidated as 3-0-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-bayogenin-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->3)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>I is a new natural product and exhibited significant cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines K-562 and BEL-7402, but no hemolytic activity to rabbit erythrocytes.</p>

Correlation between sensitivity to TRAIL and expression level of DR5 on surface of tumor cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and expression level of death receptor 5 (DR5) on tumor cell surface.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Anti-DR5 mAb was used to detect expression level of DR5 on surface of tumor cells by flow cytometry. Sensitivity to apoptosis induced by TRAIL was determined by TRAIL apoptosis kit. The correlation between expression level of DR5 and sensitivity to TRAIL was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of DR5 on surface of tumor cells was approximately 97.9% in U937 cells, 95.1% in Jurkat cells, 93.8% in SW480 cells, 86.2% in HCT116 cells, 64.2% in HL-60 cells, 46.6% in HeLa cells and 13.1% in K562 cells, respectively. The apoptosis rate induced by TRAIL was 72.6% in U937 cells, 85.2% in Jurkat cells, 78.6% in SW480 cells, 70.2% in HCT116 cells, 60.1% in HL-60 cells, 45.4% in HeLa cells and 12.3% in K562 cells, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the expression level of DR5 with TRAIL-inducing apoptosis (r = 0.997, P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TRAIL-inducing apoptosis is related to the expression level of DR5 on surface of tumor cells. The results confirm the importance of DR5 expression for induction of apoptosis by TRAIL.</p>

Study on the relationship between the functional integrity of sperm membrane and seminal parameters related to CASA / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the relationship between the functional integrity of sperm membrane and seminal parameters related to CASA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight fertile and one hundrend and twenty four infertile males were tested the functional integrity of sperm membrane by the kit and parameters by CASA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference in the functional integrity of sperm membrane between fertile and infertile group (P < 0.01). The items related to CASA between normal and abnormal group in the functional integrity of sperm membrane had a remarkable difference, except motion degree, seminal volume and pH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>To determine the functional integrity of sperm membrane can be used as a necessary supplementary method for CASA, and it has clinical significance in diagnosing, treating and researching male infertility.</p>