Difference of lipid-lowering efficacy of "Xinjianqu" before and after fermentation and its mechanism based on LKB1-AMPK pathway and 16S rDNA sequencing technology / 中国中药杂志

On the basis of establishing the prescription of Xinjianqu and clarifying the increase of the lipid-lowering active ingredients of Xinjianqu by fermentation, this paper further compared the differences in the lipid-lowering effects of Xinjianqu before and after fermentation, and studied the mechanism of Xinjianqu in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Seventy SD rats were randomly divided into seven groups, including normal group, model group, positive drug simvastatin group(0.02 g·kg~(-1)), and low-dose and high-dose Xinjianqu groups before and after fermentation(1.6 g·kg~(-1) and 8 g·kg~(-1)), with ten rats in each group. Rats in each group were given high-fat diet continuously for six weeks to establish the model of hyperlipidemia(HLP). After successful modeling, the rats were given high-fat diet and gavaged by the corresponding drugs for six weeks, once a day, to compare the effects of Xinjianqu on the body mass, liver coefficient, and small intestine propulsion rate of rats with HLP before and after fermentation. The effects of Xinjianqu before and after fermentation on total cholesterol(TC), triacylglyceride(TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), creatinine(Cr), motilin(MTL), gastrin(GAS), and the Na~+-K~+-ATPase levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The effects of Xinjianqu on liver morphology of rats with HLP were investigated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O fat staining. The effects of Xinjianqu on the protein expression of adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK), phosphorylated AMPK(p-AMPK), liver kinase B1(LKB1), and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate monoacyl coenzyme A reductase(HMGCR) in liver tissues were investigated by immunohistochemistry. The effects of Xinjianqu on the regulation of intestinal flora structure of rats with HLP were studied based on 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that compared with those in the normal group, rats in the model group had significantly higher body mass and liver coefficient(P<0.01), significantly lower small intestine propulsion rate(P<0.01), significantly higher serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, and AQP2(P<0.01), and significantly lower serum levels of HDL-C, MTL, GAS, Na~+-K~+-ATP levels(P<0.01). The protein expression of AMPK, p-AMPK, and LKB1 in the livers of rats in the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01), and that of HMGCR was significantly increased(P<0.01). In addition, the observed＿otus, Shannon, and Chao1 indices were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01) in rat fecal flora in the model group. Besides, in the model group, the relative abundance of Firmicutes was reduced, while that of Verrucomicrobia and Proteobacteria was increased, and the relative abundance of beneficial genera such as Ligilactobacillus and Lachnospiraceae＿NK4A136＿group was reduced. Compared with the model group, all Xinjianqu groups regulated the body mass, liver coefficient, and small intestine index of rats with HLP(P<0.05 or P<0.01), reduced the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, and AQP2, increased the serum levels of HDL-C, MTL, GAS, and Na~+-K~+-ATP, improved the liver morphology, and increased the protein expression gray value of AMPK, p-AMPK, and LKB1 in the liver of rats with HLP and decreased that of LKB1. Xinjianqu groups could regulate the intestinal flora structure of rats with HLP, increased observed＿otus, Shannon, Chao1 indices, and increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Ligilactobacillus(genus), Lachnospiraceae＿NK4A136＿group(genus). Besides, the high-dose Xinjianqu-fermented group had significant effects on body mass, liver coefficient, small intestine propulsion rate, and serum index levels of rats with HLP(P<0.01), and the effects were better than those of Xinjianqu groups before fermentation. The above results show that Xinjianqu can improve the blood lipid level, liver and kidney function, and gastrointestinal motility of rats with HLP, and the improvement effect of Xinjianqu on hyperlipidemia is significantly enhanced by fermentation. The mechanism may be related to AMPK, p-AMPK, LKB1, and HMGCR protein in the LKB1-AMPK pathway and the regulation of intestinal flora structure.

Surgical principles and the decision-making for peri-implant keratinized mucosa augmentation / 中华口腔医学杂志

As effective modalities to improve the stability of peri-implant hard and soft tissue, keratinized mucosa augmentation has increasingly been applied in daily practice. Nonetheless, there is still lack of in-depth comprehensive discussion regarding the surgical risk factors, the decision-making strategy and the surgical principle. In this article, three routine procedures of peri-implant keratinized mucosa augmentation were introduced. The surgical principles were deeply discussed and summarized with five key principles. Based on the risk assessment of local factors, the effects of which were analyzed on keratinized mucosa augmentation comprehensively, the authors proposed a decision-making protocol for selection of surgical procedures in the end, intending to provide guidelines for clinical application.

Effectiveness and Safety of Acupoint Application of Guan Xin Su He Pill () for Patients with Chronic Stable Angina Pectoris: A Multi-Center, Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the clinical effectiveness of acupoint application (AP) of Guan Xin Su He Pill (, GXSHP) for patients with chronic stable angina pectoris (CSAP).@*METHODS@#This study was carried out in 3 local hospitals in Chengdu, China. After baseline evaluation, eligible patients were randomly assigned to the placebo application for acupoints (PAA) group or the herbal application for acupoints (HAA) group. Patients in the HAA group underwent AP with herbal powder, which was mainly GXSHP, and patients in the PAA group underwent AP with sham drugs. For each treatment session, unilateral acupoints including Neiguan (PC 6), Danzhong (RN 17), Xinshu (BL 15) and Jueyinshu (BL 14), were stimulated for both groups. AP was performed 3 times a week with a 2-day interval for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the frequency of angina pectoris attacks per week, while the secondary outcomes included angina pain intensity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), dose of rescue oral drugs (nitroglycerin), scores on the Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale scores (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores (SDS). Clinical outcomes were measured at week 0, 4 and 8. The safety of AP of GXSHP treatment for CSAP were assessed.@*RESULTS@#A total of 121 patients were enrolled. Baseline characteristics were comparable across the 2 groups. After treatment, the angina attack numbers in the HAA group were significantly reduced from 11.00 to 4.81 (P<0.05). While, for PAA group, the angina frequency was not significantly improved (baseline 10.55; post-treatment 11.05). The HAA group had significantly fewer angina attacks than the PAA group (P<0.05). Pain intensity measured by VAS in HAA group was significantly reduced from 4.06 to 3.02 (P<0.05). While, for PAA group, the VAS was significantly increased (baseline 3.62; post-treatment 3.96; P<0.05). Clinical outcomes showed better improvement after treatment in the HAA group than in the PAA group in terms of oral administration of rescue drugs, SAS, SDS and SAQ scores (P<0.05). The adverse events were also reported.@*CONCLUSION@#AP of GXSHP is a safe and effective treatment for CSAP patients (Registration No. NCT02029118).

Negative pressure drainage relieves respiratory discomfort for patients with medical face masks under ocular surgeries during COVID-19 / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM:To report our precaution practices for ocular surgeries under local anesthesia during COVID-19 outbreak and evaluate the respiration situation among the patients with medical face masks under ocular surgeries.<p>METHODS:Sixty Chinese patients needed eye surgery treatment were recruited and given medical face masks as one of the COVID-19 precaution practices during eye surgery with local anesthesia. Oxygen supplementation and negative pressure drainage were applied to relieve the potential respiratory discomfort, and the respiratory comfort score was evaluated.<p>RESULTS:Patients with medical face masks experienced mild to moderate respiratory discomfort with an overall mean score of 2.34±0.73. Supplementation of oxygen together with negative pressure drainage relieved this discomfort(overall mean score of 0.15±0.75; <i>P</i><0.001). There is no gender and operation time difference on respiratory discomfort or discomfort relieve. Failure in negative pressure drainage led to severe respiratory discomfort.<p>CONCLUSION:Negative pressure drainage could maintain the respiratory circulation in patients with medical face mask under eye surgery with local anesthesia. Application of medical face masks in patients under surgeries is recommended to protect the medical practitioners during the operations within COVID-19 outbreak.

Early treatment of suspension moxibustion for Bell's palsy in acute stage / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the efficacy of early treatment of suspension moxibustion for Bell's palsy and its influence on the prognosis, and to explore whether the early treatment of suspension moxibustion has non-inferiority effect to hormone treatment and whether suspension moxibustion combined with hormone treatment has the synergistic effect.@*METHODS@#A total of 132 patients with acute-stage Bell's palsy were divided into a hormone group (94 cases) and a moxibustion group (38 cases) by non-random method, and the hormone group was further randomly divided into a hormone with moxibustion group (48 cases) and a hormone without moxibustion group (46 cases). The acupuncture and oral administration of mecobalamin capsule were used as basic treatment. Acupuncture was applied at Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Quanliao (SI 18), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (TE 17), etc., with the needles retained for 30 min, once a day, 5 consecutive days per week; there was an interval of 2 days between two weeks, and a total of 4-week treatment was given. The oral administration of mecobalamin capsule was given 0.5 mg each time, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. The patients in the moxibustion group, on the basis of basic treatment, were treated with the suspension moxibustion at Yangbai (GB 14), Sibai (ST 2), Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Wangu (GB 12), Yifeng (TE 17) of affected side, 5 min per acupoint, once a day, 5 consecutive days per week; there was an interval of 2 days between two weeks, and a total of 4-week treatment was given. The patients in the hormone without moxibustion group, on the basis of basic treatment, were treated with prednisone acetate tablets. The patients in the hormone with moxibustion group, on the basis of basic treatment, were treated with suspension moxibustion and prednisone acetate tablets. All the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The House-Brcackmann facial nerve grading (H-B) global score and facial disability index (FDI) scale were used to evaluate the curative effect in the three groups before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks into treatment and 4 weeks after treatment; the efficacy was compared among the three groups.@*RESULTS@#Compared before treatment, the H-B grading and FDI scores were significantly improved 2 weeks and 4 weeks into treatment and 4 weeks after treatment (0.05); the H-B grading and FDI scores in the hormone with moxibustion group were superior to those in the moxibustion group and the hormone without moxibustion group 4 weeks into treatment and 4 weeks after treatment (0.05). At the end of follow-up, the cured rate in the hormone with moxibustion group was 81.3% (39/48), which was superior to 68.4% (26/38) in the moxibustion group and 60.9% (28/46) in the hormone without moxibustion group (0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The three treatment methods are all safe and effective for acute-stage Bell's palsy. The suspension moxibustion combined with hormone therapy are superior to suspension moxibustion or hormone therapy alone. Early treatment of suspension moxibustion is safe and effective for Bell's palsy, and has obvious synergistic effect with hormone. For the patients who cannot use hormone, suspension moxibustion could replace hormone, which is non-inferior to hormone.

Effect and Safety of CX-DZ-II Intelligent Electroacupuncture Therapeutic Instrument for Neck Pain Caused by Cervical Spondylos: Study Protocol for A Randomized Controlled Trial / 中国结合医学杂志

BACKGROUND@#Neck pain caused by cervical spondylosis (CS) is a chronic pain condition, with an increasingly high incidence in the general population. Electroacupuncture is a common analgesic modality that has been widely applied in neck pain treatment. However, current electroacupuncture instruments used in the clinic have low intelligence levels and obscure parameter standards. We here designed this study for assessing the effect and safety of a new, intelligent electroacupuncture instrument, the CX-DZ-II, in treating neck pain.@*METHODS@#The present study is a prospective, two-center, randomized, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial for CX-DZ-II on treating neck pain caused by CS. Totally 160 eligible patients will be included in this trial and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group in a 1:1 ratio. A semi-standard acupoint selection strategy will be employed. In the experimental group, selected acupoints will be stimulated by CX-DZ-II. Electroacupuncture treatment will be accomplished by a pre-existing electroacupuncture instrument in the control group. The duration of treatment will be 2 weeks. The primary outcome is the change of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score after one course of treatment. The secondary outcomes include the VAS scores after each treatment, the responder rate, drug-usage rate of non-steroidal antipyretic analgesics, the rate of adverse events occurrence, and the performance of instrument.@*DISCUSSION@#This study will evaluate the effect and safety of the CX-DZ-II intelligent electroacupuncture therapeutic instrument in comparison with a pre-existing non-intelligent instrument in the treatment of neck pain caused by CS. The results will hopefully demonstrate a more optimal electroacupuncture instrument for the treatment of neck pain. (Trial registration No. gov NCT03005301).

Professor 's clinical application of the guiding- acupuncture technique / 中国针灸

In clinical practice, professor integrates the guiding- acupuncture technique of slow insertion and withdrawal of the needle with the thought of needling sensation reaching the affected site. These two theories were recorded in (Chapter 34 of ). Professor proposes that in acupuncture, both acupuncture physician and patient should be in a tranquilizing state. Firstly, the needle is inserted slowly so as to conduct the reversed turbid in back to . After arrival of , with the compound manipulation for promoting , is guided to the affected site. When the treatment ends, the needle is removed slowly to guide the reversed clear in back to and to guide of nutrient and defensive systems back to the original layers. Such acupuncture technique is applicable for various disorders induced by the impairment of activity. In clinical practice, it is adopted for the disorders of heart, lung, stomach, intestines, emotions and nervous system, as well as the obstruction disorders of meridians. The -spring and -stream points of the affected meridians are selected as the main acupoints in prescription. According the theory of four seas and street, the corresponding the front-, back- and -sea points are combined. In acupuncture, the needle is inserted and withdrawn slowly. After arrival of , the needle is manipulated to guide to the pathogenic locations.

Maxillary sinus floor augmentation with Bio-Oss as a sole graft: a histologic, radiographic and preliminary clinical study / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate new bone formation and preliminary clinical outcomes following maxillary sinus floor augmentation with Bio-Oss alone.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine patients were treated with ten maxillary sinus floor augmentations using Bio-Oss alone, and eighteen Straumann implants were placed. After five to eleven-month healing period at implant placement, cylindrical specimens were biopsied from the augmented area. The new bone formation of specimens was analyzed by histology and micro-computed tomography. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were performed for measurements of residual crestal bone height under the sinus, the amount of increased height immediate after the augmentation and before implant insertion. To monitor stability changes, resonance frequency analysis was performed and implant stability quotient (ISQ) values were collected at implant placements (baseline,0 month), one month, three months and six months after placements.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All implants were loaded six months after insertion and no failures were recorded. Compared to adjacent native bone, no significant differences of bone volume fraction were found in augmented area (P > 0.05), together with lower trabecular number (P < 0.05) and trabecular thickness (P < 0.01) as well as higher trabecular separation (P < 0.01) by microradiographic analysis.Histomorphometrically, there was no significant difference in the amount of new bone formation between the adjacent native bone and augmented area (P > 0.05). CBCT showed a bone height gain of (14.19 ± 2.02) mm immediate after augmentation, which stabilized at (13.68 ± 1.95) mm after bone healing period. Mean ISQ value was 71.94 ± 6.51 at baseline, decreased to 70.19 ± 6.38 at 1 month, and increased to 78.17 ± 3.83 at 3 month and 82.56 ± 3.20 at 6 month.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The use of Bio-Oss as the sole graft is reliable and can lead to satisfactory bone formation and clinical outcome.</p>

Influence of helix angle and density on primary stability of immediately loaded dental implants: three-dimensional finite element analysis / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze effects of different thread helix angles and densities on the primary stability of immediately loaded implants using the three-dimensional finite element model analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five models of three-dimensional finite element (0.8 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm, double-threaded, and triple-threaded) were created using the commercial codes of Pro/E software, Hypermesh software, and ABAQUS software. In conditions of horizontal and vertical loading, the micro-motion of the finite element models with different thread helix angles and densities were computed with ABAQUS software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Concerning different thread helix angles, the micro-motion of single-threaded implant was the minimum and that of the triple-threaded was the maximum with vertical and horizontal loading. The micro-motion of doubled-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 1.6 mm and the micro-motion of triple-threaded implant was the minimum compared with thread pitch 2.4 mm with vertical and horizontal loading.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The thread helix angle and density of implants can greatly affect the vertical interfacial micro-motion. With increasing thread pitchs, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread helix angle, the resistance of implant to vertical load is weakened; with increasing thread density, the resistance of implant to the vertical load is weakened.</p>

Diameter and length double objectives robust analysis of cylinder dental implant / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the jaw bone stress variation affected by cylinder implant diameter and length simultaneously in Ansys DesignXplorer module.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Finite element model of segment mandible with a cylinder implant was created. The range of the implant diameter (D) and length (L) were set from 2.5 mm to 5.0 mm and from 6.0 mm to 16.0 mm respectively. The maximum Von Mises stresses in jaw bone and sensitivity to D and L were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Under axial (buccolingual) load, when one variable equaled to median, the amplification of maximum Von Mises stresses in cortical bone and cancellous bone were 44.66% (71.32%) and 51.45% (58.50%) respectively with the D increasing. The amplification of maximum Von Mises stresses in cortical bone and cancellous bone were 45.97% (21.66%) and 52.15% (37.75%) respectively with the L increasing. When D exceeded 3.7 mm and L exceeded 10.0 mm, the response curve curvatures of maximum Von Mises stresses to L and D in jaw bone ranged from -1 to 0. And the variation of the maximum Von Mises stresses in jaw bone was more sensitive to D than to L.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stresses in jaw bone under buccolingual and axial load are apt to be affected by implant diameter and length respectively. And to a cylinder implant, the diameter exceeds 3.7 mm and length exceeds 10.0 mm are optimal selections. Diameter should pay more attention to than to length for cylinder implant. Expanding the width of the jaw bone is more important than expanding the height of the jaw bone in clinical experience.</p>

Optimized thread pitch design and stress analysis of the cylinder screwed dental implant / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the optimal thread pitch for an experimental cylinder implant in Ansys Work-bench Design Xplorer environment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Finite element models of segment jaw bone with a V-shaped thread implant were created. The thread pitch (P) was set from 0.5 mm to 1.6 mm. The maximum Equivalent stresses (EQV stresses) in jaw bone and in implant were evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Under axial load, the amplification of maximum EQV stresses in cortical bone, cancellous bone and implant were 7.1%, 123.4% and 28.7% respectively. Under bucco-lingual load, the amplification of maximum EQV stresses in cortical bone, cancellous bone and implant were 2.8%, 28.8% and 14.9% respectively. When P exceeded 0.8 mm, the response curve curvature of maximum EQV stresses in jaw bone and in implant to P was ranged from -1 to 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stresses in cancellous bone are more sensitive to thread pitch than in cortical bone. Stresses in jaw bone under axial load are easier affected by thread pitch than under bucco-lingual load. Thread pitch plays a greater role in protecting dental implant under axial load than under bucco-lingual load. Thread pitch exceed 0.8 mm should be the optimal design in a cylinder implant, but oversized pitch should be avoided too.</p>

Influence of bicortical anchorage on the natural frequencies of dental implant / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influences of bicortical anchorage on values of natural frequencies of dental implants utilizing the 3-dimensional finite element analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the commercial code of Solidworks, 3-D models of a screw-shaped dental implant and a mandibular bone segment were generated. After the 3-D implant-bone complex was meshed by ABAQUS software, effects of bicortical anchorage on the buccolingual and axial first-order natural frequencies of the implant were computed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Bicortical anchorage increased both the buccolingual and axial natural frequencies remarkably. As the bicortical anchorage got deeper, the frequencies correspondingly got higher.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bicortical anchorage can increase the buccolingual and axial primary stability of dental implants.</p>

Evaluation of therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on hyperosteogeny of lumbar vertebrae / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on hyperosteogeny of lumbar vertebrae.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two cases were treated with Huatuo jiaji (EX-B 2) of L2 approximately L5 as main acupoints, and their clinical therapeutic effects were assessed with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ODI was 0.562 +/- 0.199 before treatment and 0.123 +/- 0.196 after treatment with a significant difference before and after treatment (P<0.01), and the effective rate was 94.4%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Acupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) can improve functional activity for the patient of hyperosteogeny of lumbar vertebrae.</p>

Recombinant adenovirus vectors carrying antisense MMP2 inhibit invasion of HCC cells in vitro / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To construct a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying antisense matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) and to study its inhibitory effects on the invasiveness and migratory capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2 in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Total RNA was extracted from HCC. Then a 500 bp fragment at the 5' end of the human MMP2 cDNA sequence was synthesized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and was reversely inserted into the multiclone site (MCS) of the shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV. With the resultant plasmid and the backbone plasmid pAdEasy-1, the homologous recombination took place in the E.coli BJ5183 and the recombinant adenoviral plasmid carrying the antisense MMP2 gene was constructed. The adenovirus (Ad-MMP2AS) was packaged and amplified in the HEK 293 cells and the viral titer was checked by GFP. Using the Boyden chamber model, the influence of Ad-MMP2AS on the invasion ability of HepG2 cells was determined in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recombinant adenovirus vector carrying antisense MMP2 was constructed successfully and a strong green fluorescence was observed in HepG2 cells under a fluorescence microscope. The viral titer was 1 x 10(8); Ad-MMP2AS can effectively inhibit the penetrating capacity of HepG2 cells through Matrigel in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant adenovirus with antisense MMP2 can effectively inhibit the invasiveness and migratory capacity of HepG2 in vitro and may have potential in treating HCC.</p>

Inhibition of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of antisense matrix metalloproteinase-2 on hepatocellular carcinoma growth in vivo / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate if a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying antisense matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) gene would inhibit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the recombinant adenoviral vector carrying antisense MMP2 gene (Ad-MMP2AS) which was constructed by us previously, to infect the human HCC cell line (Bel-7402). Then the invasiveness of the Bel-7402 cells was assayed in Matrigel, and the production of MMP2 in the Bel-7402 cells was detected with Western blotting analysis and Gelatin zymography. Then the Ad-MMP2AS-infected cells were subcutaneously inoculated in nude mice. After tumors developed, Ad-MMP2AS was injected intratumorally into pre-existing tumors. The tumors were removed, sectioned, and stained with H E.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with PBS or Ad-CMV-infected cells, the infected Bel-7402 cells with Ad-MMP2AS injections significantly reduced their MMP2 enzyme activity and invasiveness about 52.05% in Matrigel assays, and the tumor volumes in nude mice resulted in a 3.3-fold reduction. In addition, direct intratumoral injection of Ad-MMP2AS into pre-existing tumors significantly prevented further expansion of the tumor masses and resulted in a 63.06% reduction in tumor cell growth.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The recombinant adenovirus with antisense MMP2 can effectively inhibit the invasiveness and growth of Bel-7402 cells in vitro and in vivo, and it has a therapeutic potential for HCC.</p>

Improvement of osseointegration of titanium dental implants by a modified sandblasted surface / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study effects of the modified sandblasted surface of titanium implants, developed by authors, on the bone healing process.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Osteoblasts were derived from the 5th passage of human fetal osteoblasts after primary isolation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and protein contents of cellular layers, and osteocalcin contents in culturing medium were employed as criteria to evaluate osteogenic functions and differentiation of osteoblasts. The ALP activity was assayed utilizing the kinetic method, the protein content utilizing the Coomassie's method, and the osteocalcin content utilizing the radioimmune assay (RIA) method. Values of all criteria were divided by the corresponding cell numbers of different groups at a respective time point for the purpose of standardization. Samples were assigned to three groups-the modified sandblasted surface group, the smooth surface group and the blank control group, The culture was ended at, 4 days and 13 days.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 4 days of culture, the modified sandblasted surface group showed a superiority to the smooth group with respects to the ALP activity [(17.390 +/- 1.595) nmol PNP x min(-1) x 10(-6) cells vs. (10.978 +/- 1.879) nmol PNP x min(-1) x 10(-6) cells] and protein content [(152.7 +/- 16.3) micro g/10(6) cells vs. (58.0 +/- 5.9) micro g/10(6) cells] of cellular layers and the osteocalcincontent [(43.0 +/- 6.1) ng/10(6) cells vs. (24.9 +/- 6.0) ng/10(6) cells] in culturing medium. Till the 13th day of culture, no differences were detected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is cytologically proved that the modified sandblasted surface can accelerate the bone healing process of implants though the improvement of osteoblastic functions and differentiation.</p>