RAGE ligands stimulate angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1) via RAGE/AT1 complex on the cell membrane.

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and the G protein-coupled angiotensin II (AngII) type I receptor (AT1) play a central role in cardiovascular diseases. It was recently reported that RAGE modifies AngII-mediated AT1 activation via the membrane oligomeric complex of the two receptors. In this study, we investigated the presence of the different directional crosstalk in this phenomenon, that is, the RAGE/AT1 complex plays a role in the signal transduction pathway of RAGE ligands. We generated Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing RAGE and AT1, mutated AT1, or AT2 receptor. The activation of two types of G protein α-subunit, Gq and Gi, was estimated through the accumulation of inositol monophosphate and the inhibition of forskolin-induced cAMP production, respectively. Rat kidney epithelial cells were used to assess RAGE ligand-induced cellular responses. We determined that RAGE ligands activated Gi, but not Gq, only in cells expressing RAGE and wildtype AT1. The activation was inhibited by an AT1 blocker (ARB) as well as a RAGE inhibitor. ARBs inhibited RAGE ligand-induced ERK phosphorylation, NF-κB activation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of rat renal epithelial cells. Our findings suggest that the activation of AT1 plays a central role in RAGE-mediated cellular responses and elucidate the role of a novel molecular mechanism in the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Preventive effect of implicit priming of self-awareness on self-control depletion / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To explore whether implicit priming of self-awareness can prevent self-control depletion.Methods:Totally 60 college students volunteers were recruited,and were allocated pseudo-randomly and equally into the control group,the non-self-awareness priming group,and the self-awareness priming group,20 volunteers in each group.The scrambled sentence task was applied in implicit priming,the mental calculation task was used to induce self-control depletion indexed by task difficulty,the impulse to write down the intermediate answers,the number of response items and correct items,the handgrip test was used to measure self-control performance,and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) was used to measure affect.The self-control depletion,the handgrip time and the PANAS scores were compared among three groups.Results:There was no significant difference in task difficulty score,impulse score,the number of response items and correct items among the three groups (Ps ＞0.05).The group differences of the change of positive and negative affect before and after depletion were also not significant (Ps ＞0.05).After controlling the effect of the first handgrip time before depletion,the difference of the handgrip time after depletion between the control group and the non-self-awareness priming group was not significant (P ＞ 0.05).However,the handgrip time in the controI group and in the non-self-awareness group were both shorter than that in the self-awareness priming group [(69.2 ± 3.6) s,(71.1 ± 3.6) s vs.(81.9 ± 3.6) s,Ps ＜0.05].Conclusions:It suggests that implicit priming of self-awareness might hold promise in preventing self-control depletion.

The impact of short-term meditation on ego-depletion in college students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the impact of short-term meditation on ego-depletion in college students.Methods Sixty college students without any meditation and mental calculation experience were recruited voluntarily,and were allocated randomly and equally into three groups: the control group,the rest group,and the meditation group(n=20 in each group).Participants completed the positive affect and negative affect scale and the first handgrip test.A difficult mental calculation task was used to induce ego depletion.After that,the control group performed the second handgrip test immediately,and the rest group had a 5-min break,while the meditation group had a 5-min meditation practice following a meditation audio.Participants then reported the task difficulty and the impulse to write down intermediate answers during the mental calculation task.They also finished the positive and negative affect scale again.The task difficulty and impulse scores,the number of response items and correct items,the change of the handgrip time and the mood between pretest and posttest were compared among three groups.Results There were no differences in the task difficulty score,the impulse score,the number of response items and correct items among the three groups (all P>0.05).The handgrip time was shorter in posttest ((71.91±24.58) s) than in pretest ((91.39±37.63) s) in the control group (P0.05).There were no differences in the change of positive and negative affect between pretest and posttest (all P>0.05).Conclusions hort-term meditation buffers ego depletion in college students,which cannot be attributed to affect.

Effect of dexamethasone on the expression of ICH and APQ-4 in brain tissue of hematoma in rats / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of dexamethasone on the expression of APQ-4 and cytokines in the hematoma and brain tissue of ICH rats. Methods The treatment group was treated with injection of 1mg/kg and dexamethasone, and the model group and the sham operation group were injected with the same amount of normal saline. Results The model group APQ-4, TNF- positive cells. The proportion of second, third, the highest in the 7d after the operation, the sham operation group was the lowest (P<0.05). Conclusion Dexamethasone is beneficial to reduce the APQ-4 expression in brain tissue of rats in ICH, while reducing the expression of TNF- alpha.

Evaluation of concurrent operation for benign prostatic hyperplasia with inguinal hernia / 中国基层医药

Objective To summarize the operation period in the treatment of elderly patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)clinical effect with inguinal hernia.Methods 60-96years old in elderly patients with BPH complicated with inguinal hernia in 53 cases,transurethral plasmakinetic resection of prostate (TUREP)or open operation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia,while using bard tension-free repair of inguinal hernia, disposable operation treatment of BPH complicated with inguinal hernia,the clinical effect and safety were observed. Results 53 cases were cured all operation,followed up for 6months to 2years,there were no recurrence of hernia operation,incision infection and other complications of operation.Micturition was apparent improvement.The average postoperative hospital stay was 7.6days,14 863 yuan for hospitalization.Conclusion It is safe and effective for sim-ultaneous TURP andinguinal hernia repair,which can avoid pain,and two times the risk of operation and anesthesia, especially has the positive significance in aged patients.

Human stem cells from apical papilla can regenerate dentin-pulp complex / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To regenerate dentin-pulp complex by tissue engineering with human stem cells from apical papilla cells (SCAP) as the seed cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SCAP was separated from from normal human impacted third molars with immature roots by outgrowth culture. The cells were then cultured in the differentiation medium for 3 weeks or in normal medium for 60 days, and analyzed for mineralization potential by Alizarin red staining. The osteo/odontogenic markers including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteocalcin (OC) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) were investigated by immunofluorescence staining and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The co-cultured mixture of SCAP and HA/TCP, or HA/TCP alone was implanted subcutaneously on the back of nude mice for 8 weeks, and the implants were collected and examined by HE and immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Round alizarin red-positive nodules formed in the isolated cells after cell culture in the differentiation medium for 3 weeks or in normal medium for 60 days with positive staining for osteo/odontogenic markers. SCAP with HA/TCP could regenerate pulp-dentin complex-like tissue in nude mice. The cells near the dentin-like tissue were positive for DSP. No mineral tissue was found in mice receiving HA/TCP implantation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SCAP may serve as a promising seed cell for dentin-pulp complex tissue engineering.</p>

Effect of revascularization treatment of immature permanent teeth with endodontic infection / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of revascularization for treatment of immature teeth with endodontic infection mediated by calcium hydroxide.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventeen pediatric patients with endodontic infections of the permanent teeth were treated with routine root canal and pulp cavity irrigation and disinfection followed by application of calcium hydroxide paste to the root canal orifice to induce revascularization. Another 17 patients received conventional apexification procedures to serve as the control group. The patients were followed up to observe the therapeutic effect of the treatments.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the revascularization treatment group, 4 cases showed healed periapical lesions 6 to 18 months after the surgery with thickened root canal walls and closure of the apical foramen; in 10 cases, the periapical lesions healed 12 to 18 months postoperatively with lengthened root, thickened root canal wall, and narrowed apical foramen. One patient reported pain and swelling at 2 months, and 2 patients showed the formation of gum fistula and ceased development of the roots at 7 and 8 months. In the control group, the periapical lesions healed in 1 cases at 12 months postoperatively with apical foramen closure; in 11 cases, hard tissues formed in the root apex without obviously lengthened roots 6 to 8 months after the surgery; in 5 cases, no apical barrier formed even 12 to 18 months after the surgery. The overall effective rates were similar between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Revascularization by calcium hydroxide sealing can promote root development of immature permanent teeth with pulpitis or periradicular periodontitis.</p>