The role of mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes in age-related cardiovascular diseases / 生理学报

Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) are the physical connection sites between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER). As the compartments controlling substance and information communications between ER and mitochondria, MAMs were involved in the regulation of various pathophysiological processes, such as calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial morphology and function, lipid metabolism and autophagy. In the past decades, accumulating lines of evidence have revealed the pivotal role of MAMs in diverse cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Aging is one of the major independent risk factors for CVD, which causes progressive degeneration of the cardiovascular system, leading to increased morbidity and mortality of CVD. This review aims to summarize the research progress of MAMs in age-related CVD, and explore new targets for its prevention and treatment.

Ethanol Extract of Chaenomeles sinensis Inhibits the Development of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Exhibiting Anti-oxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects

Chaenomeles sinensis is known to inhibit the development and progression of many age-related diseases, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unclear. In the present study, we observed that the ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis scavenged 2,2’-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl and 2,2’-azinobis diammonium radicals in vitro. The ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensisactivated antioxidant response element-luciferase activity and induced expression of NRF2 target genes in HaCaT cells. The ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis also suppressed LPS-induced expression of COX-2 and iNOS proteins, and mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-2 in RAW264.7 cells. Finally, the ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis significantly suppressed testosterone propionate-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in mice. Together, our study provides the evidence that the ethanol extract of Chaenomeles sinensis inhibits the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia by exhibiting anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Liraglutide protects against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in ApoE knockout mice with high-fat diet and silenced Acrp30 by increasing AMPK / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of liraglutide-mediated protection against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using aApoE knockout (KO) mouse with high-fat diet (HFD) and Acrp30 knockdown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six male ApoE KO mice were divided into the following six modeling and experimental groups:regular chow fed (ApoE KO, n=10), HFD fed (HF, n=10), HFD+Adenovirus (Ad)-small hairpin (sh) Acrp30 (Ad-shAcrp30, n=10), HFD+Ad-shGreen Fluorescent Protein (GFP) (Ad-shGFP, n=6), HFD+Ad-shAcrp30+liraglutide (liraglutide, n=10), and HFD+Ad-shAcrp30+saline (saline, n=10). Weight-matched C57BL/6 mice on the regular chow diet were used as the control group (WT control, n=10).All mice were fed their assigned diet for 16 weeks.The Ad-shGFP or Ad-shAcrp30 was injected by tail vein at the end of 14 and 15 weeks.Mice in the liraglutide group received 1 mg/kg of the drug, twice daily, intraperitoneally for a total of 8 weeks (from the 9th to 16th week).Fasting blood samples were collected for testing levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Acrp30 and insulin.Liver tissue was procured for histological examination.Expression of mRNA was detected by real-time RT-PC and of protein was detected by western blot analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The Ad-shAcrp30 treated mice had reduced expression of Acrp30 at both the mRNA and protein levels in adipose tissues and plasma, as compared with the AdshGFP treated mice (all P < 0.01).Compared to the WT and ApoE KO groups, the HF group showed higher levels of FPG, FFA, TGs and TC (all P < 0.01); furthermore, the Ad-shAcrp30 treatment compounded these changes.The Ad-shAcrp30 treated group had markedly higher hepatic TC and TGs than the HF group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).Oil Red O staining showed that there was more lipid droplets in the liver tissue of the Ad-shAcrp30 treated group than in that of the HF group (P < 0.01), and hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed these results.Liraglutide treatment prevented the increase in body weight, FPG, FFA, TGs, TC and ALT levels, as compared to the saline controls (all P < 0.01), but the plasma Acrp30 levels and the Acrp30 mRNA and protein expression in adipose tissues were elevated (all P < 0.01).Oil-Red O staining indicated that the liraglutide group had a significantly lower hepatic lipid content than the saline group, and total hepatic TG and TC were reduced in the former group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05).The liraglutide treatment significantly attenuated the mRNA expression of ACC and FAS (both P < 0.01) but increased AMPK phosphorylation (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Administration of liraglutide prevented the development of HFD-and hypoadiponectinemia-induced metabolic disturbance and accumulation of hepatic lipids in this mouse model system of NAFLD.</p>

Efficacy of flowable composite resin as stress-absorbing liners in Class I cavity restorations / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of flowable composite resin(FCR) as stress-absorbing liners in Class I cavity restorations in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty Class I cavities of 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth were prepared in polycarbonate (PC) plates and divided into three groups, ten each. After application of an adhesive, cavities in each group were restored using one of the following methods: A: restored with Charisma without any lining of FCR; B: lined with Revolution Formula 2 twice before restoration with Charisma; C: lined with Teric Flow twice before restoration with Charisma. All cavities were observed under a photoelastic microscope and photoelastic images were recorded at 3 min and 24 h after curing and the shrinkage stresses on the cavity wall were calculated. The polymerization shrinkage(v%) of the three composite resins was measured using bonded discs method and their elastic moduli were measured according to ISO standard.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The shrinkage stresses at 3 min and 24 h of the three methods were as follows,A: (4.93 ± 0.28), (5.87 ± 0.40) MPa, B: (4.90 ± 0.30), (5.84 ± 0.33) MPa, and C: (4.76 ± 0.28),(5.83 ± 0.37) MPa.No significant difference was found in results among different groups. The polymerization shrinkage(v%) in group A,B, and C were (2.63 ± 0.04)%, (4.56 ± 0.06)%, and (3.98 ± 0.02)%. The elastic modulus in group A, B, and C were (9.59 ± 0.65), (4.25 ± 0.51), and (5.41 ± 0.79) GPa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Under present study condition, using a FCR as stress-absorbing liner under composite resin restoration does not significantly decrease the polymerization shrinkage stresses at the cavity wall.</p>

Detection of marginal leakage of Class V restorations in vitro by micro-CT / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the reliability and superiority of micro-CT in marginal leakage assessment of Class V restorations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Class V preparations with gingival margins in dentin and occlusal in enamel were made in sixteen extracted non-carious human molars and restored with dental bonding agents and composite resin. All teeth were then immersed in 50% ammonia-silver nitrate solution for 12 hours, followed by developing solution for 8 hours. Each restoration was scanned by a micro-CT and silver leakage was measured and three-dimensional image of the silver leakage alone cavity wall were reconstructed. Afterward, all restorations were sectioned and examined for leakage depth using a microscope. The silver leakage depth of each restoration obtained by micro-CT and microscope were compared for equivalency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The silver leakage depths in gingival wall obtained with micro-CT (0.78 mm) and microscope (0.74 mm) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), while the judgment of leakage depths in occlusal wall in micro-CT image (0.40 mm) was affected by adjacent enamel structure, giving less leakage depths compared to microscope (0.72 mm)(P < 0.01). The three-dimensional shapes of the microleakages displayed clearly by micro-CT alone wall of Class V restorations were multiform and some leakages showed channels on their way to spreading.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Micro-CT can detect precisely the silver leakage in the dentin wall of a restoration and display its three-dimensional shape fully. Enamel structure affects the detection of the silver leakage next to it.</p>

Effect of carbamide peroxide bleaching agents on micro-leakage of composite resin interface in vitro / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of carbamide peroxide (CP) bleaching agents at different concentrations and with different carriers on the micro-leakage of composite resin interface.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Class V cavity (2 mm in diameter and 2 mm in depth) preparations were made at the enamelo-cemental junction on the buccal and lingual surfaces of 35 extracted human premolars. The cavities were filled with hybrid composite resin. The teeth were stored for 24 h in distilled water at 37 degrees celsius; before thermocyling for 500 times between 5 and 55 degrees celsius;. The teeth were then randomly assigned into 7 groups, and in groups 1-6, the bleaching gels containing 10% or 20% of CP were applied on the buccal and lingual surface of the teeth for two weeks (6-8 h/day, 37 degrees celsius;, 100% relative humidity) using Carbopol, PVP or Poloxamer as the thickening carriers, respectively. The seventh group served as the control without bleaching treatment. Nail polish was applied to the surface of the tooth, and all the teeth were immersed in ammoniacal silver nitrate solution followed by developing solution. The teeth were finally sectioned through the midline of the restoration and observed under stereomicroscope. SEM micrographs were also made to observe the interface.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the same bleaching agent, the micro-leakage in the gingival wall was slightly greater than in the occlusive wall, but the difference was not significant. Only 20% CP with Poloxamer as the thickening agent significantly increased the leakage of dentine-resin composite interface, and 10% and 20% CP with Carbopol or PVP as the thickening agents and 10% CP with Poloxamer produced minimal effects on filling the micro-leakage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thickening carriers and the concentration of CP (20% or below) have no significant effect on micro-leakage of composite resin.</p>

Evaluation of porosity in the restorations of light-cured resin composite / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influence of the consistency of resin composite and insertion techniques on the homogeneity of the Class I restorations.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Standardized Class I cavities were prepared in polymethyl methyacrylate (PMMA) blocks and restored with three resin composites (Prodigy, Tetric EvoCeram and Tetric Ceram HB) using either a packing or an injection technique by six operators. Then the restorations were sectioned longitudinally and inspected for the presence of porosities and voids with microscope. The consistence of the three resins was tested using an area method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There is little porosity in original resin. After insertion, large numbers of porosities were observed in restorations, with Tetric EvoCeram presented much more porosities (1137.1 +/- 365.0 for packing and 566.1 +/- 206.4 for injection) than Prodigy (241.0 +/- 116.1, 195.8 +/- 28.7) and Tetric Ceram HB (193.1 +/- 35.8, 156.3 +/- 33.0). Tetric Ceram HB showed the highest consistency, followed by Tetric EvoCeram and Prodigy. No linear correlation was found between the consistency of the composite and the porosity of their restorations. For Tetric EvoCeram, the restorations inserted with packing showed significant more porosity than that with injection. Contrastively, the restorations of Prodigy or Tetric Ceram HB presented no apparent difference for the two filling techniques.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The porosity in restoration was primarily created during the insertion. There was no linear correlation between the consistency of the composite and the porosity of their restorations. The porosity of composite resin is material-brand dependent. The influence of filling techniques on the porosity of restoration is depending on the composite used.</p>

Two-dimensional morphology of microleakage between dentin and adhesives / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the two-dimensional morphology of microleakage between dentin and adhesives.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The occlusal enamel of human third molar was cut out and the dentin exposed, followed by the application of dental adhesive (Prime & Bond NT, Contax and Adper Prompt), then a composite resin crown was built up. After storage in water (37 degrees C) for 24 h, all teeth were vertically serially sectioned into matchstick-shaped specimens through the bond interfaces. Half of the specimens from one tooth were subjected to thermal cycling and another half was stored in water (37 degrees C). All specimens were then immersed in ammoniacal silver nitrate solution, followed by developing solution. At last all specimens were subjected to microtensile test at a cross-head speed of 1.0 mm/min and their fractured surfaces were observed under scanning electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The planar contour of all the silver leakage was various branching, treelike shape, spreading from the border of section to the center.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The planar contour of microleakage is treelike shape and its extent is influenced by adhesives and thermal cycling.</p>

Development of a visible light-curing calcium hydroxide cement / 中国医疗器械杂志

A visible light-curing calcium hydroxide cement is presented here and the effects of its resin matrix on the Ca2+ releasing, compressive strength of set material and the pH value of water in which set materials immersed are evaluated. Experimental results show that the effects of the selected resin matrix on Ca2+ releasing, compressive strength and pH value are significant. The calcium hydroxide cement containing BEMA or EMA and HEMA as resin matrix has good properties. The pulp capping test showed that an excellent dentin bridge appeared in dogs capped teeth at 70 days. pulp, pulp capping, calcium hydroxide, visible light-curing, dental materials