[Establishment and experimental study of alveolar preservation before dental implantation in Beagle dogs].

PURPOSE: To establish the model of alveolar ridge preservation after tooth extraction for dental implant replacement, and to observe the effect of tissue engineered bone on osseointegration. METHODS: Isolated BMSCs were expanded and osteogenically induced in vitro. The tissue engineering complex was constructed with BMSCs/A-PCPC in vitro. Six extraction sockets, with three on each side, were created in the mandibles of four Beagle dogs by extracting the second, third and fourth premolars. BMSCs/A-PCPC were placed on one side of the extraction sockets, while autogenous bone, A-PCPC and nothing were placed on the other side as control. X-ray and CT scans were conducted 1day, 4 and 12 weeks after operation to detect the change of the alveolar ridge. The bone of sockets were harvested at 8-week post-implantation and subject to histological for evaluating. SPSS17.0 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Radiographs demonstrated higher radiodensity in group of complex than in simple materials group, autogenous bone group after 4 weeks. Hard tissue biopsy at 12-week showed that bone activity of BMSCs/A-PCPC complex was better than the other groups. Spiral CT analysis showed that alveolar ridge of each group experienced a certain degree of absorption. At 12-week, the alveolar ridge height reduction values in A-PCPC group was smaller than in A-PCPC group, autogenous bone group and blank group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The BMSCs/A-PCPC complex is favorable for preservation of alveolar ridge.

A water-alcohol extract of Citrus grandis whole fruits has beneficial metabolic effects in the obese Zucker rats fed with high fat/high cholesterol diet.

Epidemiological studies suggest that citrus fruits and compounds such as flavonoids, limonoids and pectins have health promoting effects. Our aim was to study the effects of Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck var. tomentosa hort. fruit extract on the energy metabolism. A whole fruit powder from dry water and alcohol extracts of C. grandis containing 19% naringin flavonoid was prepared. The effects of the citrus extract were followed in the obese Zucker rats fed with the HFD. The circulatory levels of GLP-1 decreased significantly by the extract in comparison to the HFD group, whereas the decreased ghrelin levels were reversed. The levels of PYY were decreased in all HFD groups. The leptin amounts decreased but not significantly whereas insulin and amylin were unchanged. The cholesterol and glucose levels were somewhat but not systematically improved in the HFD fed rats. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and their mechanisms.

[Expression of NF-kappaB and COX-2 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma].

PURPOSE: To examine the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and their relationship in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and to evaluate their functions in the development and progression of TSCC. METHODS: The expression of NF-kappaB and COX-2 in 50 cases of TSCC was determined using SP immunohistochemical method. Data was statistically analyzed by Chi-square test with SPSS11.0 software package. RESULTS: In the poorly differentiated TSCC group, NF-kappaB an COX-2 positive expression rate was 48% and 68.0%, respectively, significantly higher than that in the moderately- and well-differentiated group (P<0.05); In the TSCC group with lymph node metastasis, NF-kappaB and COX-2 positive expression rate was 42.3% and 61.5%, respectively, significantly higher than that in the group without lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). In the cases with COX-2 negative expression, NF-kappaB positive expression rate was 3.8%(1/26), significantly lower than that in the cases with COX-2 positive expression (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NF-kappaB and COX-2 expressions in the poorly differentiated and lymph node metastasis TSCC cases are higher than those in moderate- and well-differentiated and non- lymph node metastasis cases, NF-kappaB and COX-2 may be involved in the carcinogenesis and development of TSCC.

[Quantitative analysis on Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae by NIR].

OBJECTIVE: Rapid nondestructive determination of salvianolic acid B and tanshinone IIA in Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae with near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. METHOD: A quantitive model was built up with near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. RESULTS: The RMSEP in quantitative calibration model for salvianolic acid B and tanshinone IIA were 0.259 and 0.0232 respectively. CONCLUSION: NIR technique can dispose the samples without complicated pretreatment. You can achieve the results rapidly and correctly. It owns many remarkable advantages that cannot be displayed by traditional analysis methods. It is qualified to rapidly analyze traditional Chinese medicine whose components are complex. NIR can control the quality in production process of traditional Chinese medicine.

Inhibition of rat vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis.

Ligusticum chuanxiong (LC) and Angelica sinensis (AS) have been widely used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat some pathological settings such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. The aim of this paper is to determine the effects of the extract of LC and AS (ELCAS) on serum-induced vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, cell cycle and nitric oxide production. The results show that ELCAS significantly inhibited proliferation and protein synthesis of VSMC in a dose and time dependent manner. The cell population assessed by flow cytometry in the G(0)/G(1) phase increased 74% versus 79.8%, concomitant with a decrease in the S phase, 7.4% versus 4.2%, for control versus ELCAS (300 microg/ml). On the other hand, ELCAS significantly increased nitric oxide production of VSMC. The data suggest that ELCAS markedly inhibited VSMC proliferation by arresting G(1) to S progression, which may be associated with nitric oxide production.

Protective effect of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis on endothelial cell damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat some pathological settings such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. We determined the protective effect of the extract of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis (ELCAS) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV304) damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. ECV304 cells were pre-treated with ELCAS and exposed to 5 mM hydrogen peroxide. The results show that ELCAS dose- and time-dependently protected ECV304 cells against hydrogen peroxide damage and suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The decrement of ROS may be associated with increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). Western blot analysis revealed that ELCAS significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK and promoted eNOS expression. These observations indicate that ELCAS protected ECV304 cells against hydrogen peroxide damage by enhancing the antioxidative ability, activating ERK and eNOS signaling pathway. Our data also provide new evidence of Ligusticum chuanxiong and Angelica sinensis in preventing both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.