[In vitro study of non-thermal atmospheric plasma influencing the surface properties of dentin].

Objective: To study the influence of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTAPP) on dentine surface temperature, wettability and morphology of collagen fibrils under different treatment condition. Methods: Helium was used as the operating gas at the flow rate of 3, 4, 5 L/min respectively. The plasma jet was operated at various input power of 8, 9, 10, 11 W. Thermal accumulation on human dentine surface (6 specimens per group, acquired from Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University and Department of Stomatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University) of each group was measured continuously at 5 s intervals for 60 s by infrared thermography. Mean values were calculated and temperature curves were drawn. Dentine surface contact angles were measured after NTAPP treatment for 5, 10, 15, 20 s with gas flow rate and input power described above. The micro structure of the collagen fibrils of the negative control group (without NTAPP treatment) and NTAPP treatment groups (5 L/min gas flow rate, input power of 8, 9, 10, 11 W and treating time for 5, 10, 15, 20 s) was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). All data were analyzed by SPSS 18.0. Results: Input power, gas flow and treatment time all showed significant influences on dentine surface temperature and wettability (P<0.01). Dentine temperature rose along with time. The greater input power was, the higher dentine temperature was. The greater gas flow rate was, the faster the temperature rose. Dentine surface temperature reached the highest point of (35.10±0.24) ℃ with NTAPP treatment for 60 s, at input power of 11 W and flow rate of 5 L/min. The contact angles of each experimental group decreased with time, and significant differences were found in the contact angles between the experimental groups and the negative control group (75.57°±1.45°). The contact angles showed a decreasing trend as the input power and the gas flow rate increased. The contact angles reached the lowest point of 13.19°±2.01° with NTAPP treatment for 20 s, at input power of 10 W and flow rate of 5 L/min. The FE-SEM results showed that, along with the increase of input power and extension of time, the demineralized collagen fibrils were destroyed in varying degrees. The collagen fibrils were curled, fractured, fused, and even disappeared. Conclusions: NTAPP could significantly increase the surface temperature, modify dentine wettability and alter the micro structure, which was significantly influenced by input power, gas flow rate and treating time.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxocara infection in Korean, Manchu, Mongol, and Han ethnic groups in northern China.

Toxocariasis is a very prevalent zoonotic disease worldwide. Recently, investigators have focused more on Toxocara spp. seroprevalence in humans. Information regarding Toxocara seroprevalence in people from different ethnic backgrounds in China is limited. For this study, blood samples were collected from a total of 802 Han, 520 Korean, 303 Manchu, and 217 Mongol subjects from Jilin and Shandong provinces. The overall Toxocara seroprevalence was 16·07% (14·21% Han, 20·58% Korean, 11·22% Manchu, 18·89% Mongol). Living in suburban or rural areas, having dogs at home, exposure to soil, and consumption of raw/undercooked meat were risk factors for Toxocara infection. Exposure to soil was identified as the major risk factor for Toxocara seropositivity in all of the tested ethnicities. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning Toxocara infection in Manchus and Mongols in China. The present study provided baseline data for effective prevention strategies of toxocariasis in northeast China and recommends improvements in personal hygiene standards to achieve this goal.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2013 to August 2015 to determine the seroprevalence and possible risk factors for human Toxoplasma gondii infection in Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China. A total of 1842 serum samples, including Han (n = 802), Korean (n = 520), Manchu (n = 303) and Mongol (n = 217) groups, were analysed using enzyme-linked immunoassays to detect IgG and IgM T. gondii antibodies. The overall T. gondii IgG and IgM seroprevalences were 13·79% and 1·25%, respectively. Of these groups, Mongol ethnicity had the highest T. gondii seroprevalence (20·74%, 45/217), followed by Korean ethnicity (16·54%, 86/520), Manchu ethnicity (13·86%, 42/303) and Han ethnicity (11·35%, 98/802). Multiple analysis showed that the consumption of raw vegetables and fruits, the consumption of raw/undercooked meat and the source of drinking water were significantly associated with T. gondii infection in the Han group. Likewise, having a cat at home was identified as being associated with T. gondii infection in the Korean, Manchu and Mongol groups. Moreover, the consumption of raw/undercooked meat was identified as another predictor of T. gondii seropositivity in the Mongol group. The results of this survey indicate that T. gondii infection is prevalent in Korean, Manchu, Mongol and Han ethnic groups in the study region. Therefore, it is essential to implement integrated strategies with efficient management measures to prevent and control T. gondii infection in this region of China. Moreover, this is the first report of T. gondii infection in Korean, Manchu, and Mongol ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern China.

Experimental study on transplantation of autologous minced muscle with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells for urethral reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and efficiency of the autologous minced muscle-derived regenerate as a living patch graft for the urethral reconstruction with the assistance of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in the rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hUC-MSCs and minced-muscle-derived regenerate tissue was prepared and used as potential autologous patch graft for the reconstruction of the defective rabbit urethra. Animal with autologous free skeletal muscle piece was observed as control. Histopathological and immunohistochemical staining methods were adopted to evaluate the regenerating effect; the reconstructive effects in New Zealand rabbit were observed in both groups by retrograde urethrography and urinary microscopy. RESULTS: The expression of desmin and anti-human specific nuclear antigen (ANA) were positive for co-culture microsomes in vivo and in vitro; after the reconstructive surgery, histopathological studies revealed fibrous connective tissues and abundant muscle fibers constituted the main body of the patch-grafted urethra. Urethrography and urethroscopy showed no urethral obstruction, stenosis, fistula or diverticula anomaly existed in experimental group. CONCLUSIONS: Our preclinical study showed that the hUC-MSCs and minced-muscle-derived regenerate could be used as an autologous pre-vascularized living patch graft for urethral reconstruction.

Detection of placenta elasticity modulus by quantitative real-time shear wave imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical values in detecting the placental elastic modulus using real-time quantitative shear wave elasticity imaging. METHODS: A total of 30 women in the late pregnancy stage without complications and having normal, single pregnancies, as well as normal fetal growth, amniotic fluid index, and anterior placenta were selected. A real-time elasticity imaging shear wave ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus was used to randomly select regions of interest at the central and edge of the placenta. The elastography imaging mode was launched to measure the elasticity of the elastic modulus of these placental parts. A total of 15 measured values were obtained at the placental center and edge for each pregnancy case. Umbilical artery and uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) values for 18 cases were also randomly measured. RESULTS: The average value of 30 placental edges of the elastic modulus (n = 15) was (7.60 +/- 1.71) kPa. The average value of the 30 placental central elastic modulus (n = 15 ) was (7.84 +/- 1.68) kPa. No significant difference was observed between placenta central and edge elastic modulus. The PI mean value of umbilical artery in 18 cases was 0.94, whereas the average PI values of the uterine artery was 0.83. No linear correlation was found among the elastic modulus, the placental uterine artery PI values, and the umbilical artery PI values (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: No difference between the placental center of normal pregnancies and the edge of the elastic modulus was detected. The elastic modulus of the placenta could be obtained in the best position. The placenta varied greatly between elastic modulus. No correlation was found between the placental elastic modulus, the uterine artery, and umbilical artery PI values. Real-time shear wave elasticity imaging technology can provide morphological evidence of placental function, which may emerge as a new clinical assessment approach.