[Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: a three-generation case report].

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a familial hereditary disease; while it is rare and usually benign, it is also characterized by the slow and progressive development of gingival tissue. This paper reports on the clinical examina-tion and history of HGF in a family of patients.

[Expression and significance of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 and ß-catenin in gingival tissue of patients with chronic periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression and correlation of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) and ß-catenin in gingival tissues of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). The role of the classical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in the development of periodontitis was also explored. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with CP (CP group) were enrolled in this study. Among them, 16 cases were moderate CP, and 12 demonstrated severe CP. Twelve healthy cases comprised the controls (normal group). Gingival tissue was collected, and the probing depth, bleeding index, and clinical attachment loss were recorded. The expression levels of SFRP1 and ß-catenin were detected by immunohistochemistry, and staining intensity was evaluated by double scoring method. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The staining strength scores of SFRP1 and ß-catenin were 2.16±0.65 and 1.12±0.51 in the normal group, 3.57±0.45 and 2.36±0.49 in the CP group, 3.61±0.40 and 2.30±0.44 in the moderate CP group, and 3.52±0.52 and 2.45±0.55 in the severe CP group, respectively. The expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin in the CP group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01). A significant difference was noted between the normal group and the moderate and severe CP groups (P<0.01) but none between the moderate and severe CP groups (P>0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin (r=0.657, P<0.01). The expression levels of ß-catenin and SFRP1 were related to periodontal indexes. The correlation between the expression of SFRP1 and probing depth was most significant (r=0.723, P<0.01), as well as that between ß-catenin and bleeding index (r=0.697, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CP exhibit elevated expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin in gingival tissues, and this event is related to the degree of periodontal destruction. Abnormal expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin may promote the development of periodontitis.

[Relationship between MAP3K5 and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded miR-BART22 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of MAP3K5 and miR-BART22 encoded by Epstein-Barr virus and explore their relationship in nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPCs). METHODS: Fifty-three archived specimens of NPCs and 30 nasopharyngitis specimens were collected for detecting the expression of EBERs and miR-BART22 by in situ hybridization, and the expression of MAP3K5 was detected using immunohistochemistry. Ten fresh NPC and 10 fresh nasopharyngitis specimens were also obtained for determining the protein expression of MAP3K5 by Western blotting. RESULTS: EBERs were positive in all the 53 NPC specimens, and miR-BART22 was positive in 49 specimens; all the 30 nasopharyngitis specimens were negative for EBER or miR-BART22. In the 53 NPC tissues, 50 were negative for MAP3K5 expression in the cancer areas but positive in the adjacent mucosal areas, with the other 3 specimens showing a weak positivity (+). In the 30 nasopharyngitis specimens, 25 showed strong MAP3K5 positivity, 3 showed weak positivity and 2 were negative for MAP3K5 (P<0.001). Western blotting showed that the expression of MAP3K5 protein was significantly higher in nasopharyngitis than in NPC tissues (P=0.029). The expression of MAP3K5 and miR-BART22 was inversely correlated (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Compared with the adjacent mucosal tissues, NPC tissues have a lower expression of MAP3K5 but a higher expression of miR-BART22. The expression of MAP3K5 and miR-BART22 is inversely correlated, suggesting the possibility of MAP3K5 to serve as target gene of EBV miR-BART22. miR-BART22 may inhibit the expression of MAP3K5, thus reducing the protein phosphorylation of MAPK pathway downstream genes, inhibiting NPC cell apoptosis, preventing their differentiation and promoting their escape from immune surveillance.

[A matched case-control study on the risk factors of burn injury among primary and secondary school students in Guangzhou].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relative factors of burn injury among primary and secondary school students in Guangzhou and to provide scientific evidence for intervention. METHODS: 1:1 case-control study was conducted in 428 cases and 428 controls based on different sex and classes. The relationship between relative factors and burn injury was analyzed by univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: Following facts were discovered: burn injury mainly occurred in the upper limbs (57.9%), home was the place that most of burn injury (58.2%) took place, 51.0% of the burn injuries was caused by hot liquid, 43.9% burn injury needed medical treatment and 7.7% burn injury left with sequelae as dysfunction or disability. Data from the multivariate conditional logistic regression showed that boarding students (OR = 2.47), older age of the mothers (OR = 1.03), non-nuclear family (OR = 1.25 - 1.84) were risk factors of burn injury. Being the only child (OR = 0.60), having sufficient time for sleep (OR = 0.84), good performance record (OR = 0.85), higher maternal education background were protective factors on burn injury. CONCLUSION: Among primary and secondary school students in Guangzhou, burn injury mainly occurred in the upper limbs, and home was the place that most of burn injury took place.