[Associations between 24-hour urinary sodium excretion and all-cause mortality in adults living in north China].

Objective: To investigate the associations between 24-hour urinary sodium excretion (24hUNaE) and all-cause mortality in adult Northern Chinese population. Methods: Data from this study were derived from the prospective urban and rural epidemiology (PURE) study in north China. Baseline information of all participants were obtained by face to face interview through trained research staffs based on questionnaires, and morning fasting urine samples of participants were collected to estimate 24hUNaE and 24-hour potassium excretion (24hUKE). Multivariable frailty Cox regression models were used to explore the association between 24hUNaE (<3.00, 3.00-3.99, 4.00-4.99, 5.00-5.99 and ≥6 g/d) and all-cause death. Results: A total of 27 310 participants were included in this study. The mean 24hUNaE was (5.84±1.73) g/d. After a median follow-up of 8.8 years, 1 024 participants died (3.7%), including 390 cardiovascular related deaths and 591 non-cardiovascular related deaths. The cause of death of the remaining patients could not be determined. Using 24hUNaE level of 4.00-4.99 g/d as the reference group, after fully adjustment, 24hUNaE ≥6.00 g/d was associated with an increased risk of all-cause death (HR=1.24, 95%CI: 1.02-1.49) and cardiovascular related death (HR=1.39, 95%CI: 1.02-1.88). 24hUNaE<3.00 g/d was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.38, 95%CI: 0.96-1.99). There was no significant association between 24hUNaE and non-cardiovascular related death. Furthermore, using the combination of 24hUNaE 4.00-4.99 g/d and 24hUKE≥2.11 g/d as the reference group, the highest risk occurred in participants with the combination of low sodium (<3.00 g/d) and low potassium (<2.11 g/d). Conclusion: 24hUNaE equal or higher than 6 g/d or lower than 3 g/d is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular related death in Northern Chinese population. Besides, moderate sodium intake in combination with increased potassium intake might reduce the risk of all-cause death.

[Oxidative damage effects induced by CdTe quantum dots in mice].

Objective: To investigate Oxidative damage effects induced by CdTe Quantum Dots (QDs) in mice. Methods: 40 ICR mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: one control group (normal saline) ; four CdTe QDs (exposed by intravenous injection of 0.2 ml of CdTe QDs at the concentration of 0、0.5、5.0、50.0 and 500.0 nmol/ml respectively) . After 24 h, the mice were decapitated and the blood was collected for serum biochemically indexes、hematology indexes, the activities of SOD、GSH-Px and the concentration of MDA were all detected. Results: The results showed in the four CdTe QDs exposure groups, the level of CRE、PLT and the concentration of MDA were all significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01) ; the activities GSH-Px in 50.0 and 500.0 nmol/ml CdTe QDs group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.01) . Conclusion: It was suggested that CdTe QDs at 0.5 nmol/ml could induce Oxidative damage effects in mice.

Age-related expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II A in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of senescence accelerated mouse prone/8 mice is modulated by anti-Alzheimer's disease drugs.

Senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) prone/8 (SAMP8) is a good animal model to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of age-related learning and memory deficits such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) at the gene and protein levels, and SAM resistant/1 (SAMR1) is its normal control. Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-alpha (CaMKIIalpha) is one of the most abundant subunits of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and is closely linked to AD. In this study, we used real time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot techniques to examine the expression of CaMKIIalpha mRNA and protein in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of SAMP8 both with aging and following treatment with anti-AD drugs (for example, natural product huperzine A (HupA) and traditional Chinese medicinal prescription Liu-Wei-Di-Huang decoction (LW), Ba-Wei-Di-Huang decoction (BW), Huang-Lian-Jie-Du decoction (HL), Dang-Gui-Shao-Yao-San (DSS) and Tiao-Xin-Fang decoction (TXF)). The results showed that the levels of both CaMKIIalpha mRNA and protein decreased significantly in the cerebral cortex of SAMR1 with aging, but increased significantly in the cerebral cortex of SAMP8. Compared with age-matched SAMR1, the expression of mRNA and protein of CaMKIIalpha significantly increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of SAMP8 after 10 months of age. After SAMP8 was treated with the previously mentioned drugs, the abnormally high expression of CaMKIIalpha was relatively down-regulated. These results indicated that the expression of CaMKIIalpha in the brain of SAMP8 was abnormal and that this abnormality could be reversed with anti-AD drugs. These data suggest that CaMKIIalpha may play an important role in the age-related cognitive deterioration in AD, and may be a potential targets for anti-AD drugs.

The influence of recombinant human BMP-2 on bone-implant osseointegration: biomechanical testing and histomorphometric analysis.

The healing period for bone-implant osseointegration lasts 3-6 months or even longer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether osseointegration can be enhanced by the use of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). In the femurs of 8 Japanese white rabbits, 16 implants were applied with 1.0 mg recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) as group A, and the other 16 implants without rhBMP-2 as group B. Calcein green 20 mg/kg and alizarin red 20 mg/kg were injected 4 and 8 weeks after implantation, respectively. At 12 weeks, the animals were killed. In 16 implant-bone blocks, binding strength was measured by pull-out test, and the extracted implants were observed under a scanning electronic microscope. The other blocks were analysed for percentage of marked bone adjacent to the implant surface by confocal laser scanning microscope. The pull-out strengths of group A were greater than that of group B (P<0.05). Scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) showed more calcified substances on the surface of the implants of group A than B. There was more marked bone around group A than B implants at 4 weeks (P<0.05) and 8 weeks (P<0.05). rhBMP-2 improves the quantity and quality of implant-bone osseointegration. Biomechanical testing and histomorphometric analysis are reliable methods to use in researching the implant-bone interface.

[A clinical investigation into the effect of comfort denture adhesive on masticatory function with complete dentures].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of the new developed form of Comfort denture adhesive (Comfort DA). METHODS: 10 edentulous patients with complete dentures were selected for this study. The maximum biting force and masticatory efficiency were recorded before and after application of the adhesive to all the new and old dentures. Subjective test was also used to evaluate this adhesive in enhancing retention and stability of complete denture using the questionnaire way. RESULTS: The data indicated that significantly greater biting forces were generated with old dentures than with the new dentures. The major findings were that the adhesive produced a statistically significant improvement in the masticatory efficiency after application. Subjective views of the patients indicated that this tested product significantly improved denture retention, stability and had other favorable features. The time of adhesion was about 6 8 hours. CONCLUSION: The generally favorable clinical performance of the developed Comfort DA formulation indicated that it might be an efficacious denture adhesive.

In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of denture adhesive.

OBJECTIVE: The ideal denture adhesive demonstrates a minimal toxicity to the mucosa. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of a new denture adhesive. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Samples were prepared and extracted in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium. The cell viability of human oral fibroblast cells cultivated for 24 hours with DA-containing medium was evaluated by the MTT assay to investigate cell proliferation. Optical densities were measured by a spectrophotometer at 490 nm. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of results showed that this denture adhesive displayed only slight cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION: The generally favorable in vitro cytotoxicity of the denture adhesive formulation indicates that this product may be efficacious.

Characterizations of three surface-modified titanium oxide films.

OBJECTIVE: To seek a new method of titanium passive treatment by combined anodic oxidation and thermal air treatment, which could increase the corrosion resistance and biocompatibility of pure titanium. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Characteristics of Titanium sheets with natural oxide film (NOF), anodic oxide film (AOF), or heated anodic oxide film (HAOF) were compared and tested by x-ray diffractrometer, electrochemical corrosive method, and contact angle device. RESULTS: HAOF had excellent corrosion resistance and greater crystallinity, indicating the crystal structure had changed. AOF had better hydrophily. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study showed that thermal air treatment, after anodic oxidation, was a reliable method for creating a passive, protective film on the titanium surface, which could greatly enhance the corrosion-resistance and crystallinity.