[Morphology and developmental groove of maxillary permanent central incisors in Sichuan people].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morphology of maxillary permanent central incisors of people in Sichuan so as to provide some guidance for emulational restoration of fixed prosthesis. METHODS: Fifty-eight extracted maxillary permanent central incisors were selected from people in Sichuan. All of the teeth involved in this study were selected according to certain criterions. The length and width of the anatomical crowns, the length and the width of the developmental grooves and the angles formed by the two sides of the developmental grooves were measured. RESULTS: The average length and width of anatomical crowns in Sichuan people were (11.9 +/- 1.3) mm and (8.7 +/- 0.8) mm respectively. And the average length and width of the developmental grooves were (5.7 +/- 0.9) mm and (2.1 +/- 0.5) mm respectively. There were no statistical differences between the length of the mesial and distal developmental grooves and so were the width. The ratio of the length of crowns to that of the developmental grooves was 2.1, while for the width, it was 4.2. The angles of the mesial and distal developmental grooves formed by its two sides were 23 degrees +/- 4.7 degrees and 23 degrees +/- 5.7 degrees respectively. CONCLUSION: The average length and width of maxillary permanent incisors were close to Wang's report, which means the length and width of the maxillary permanent incisors of people in Sichuan were quite close to those of Chinese people. The ratio of the length of anatomical dental crowns to that of the developmental grooves was steady, and so was the ratio of the width of them. The angles of the developmental grooves were quite steady too. These may help us in making fixed prosthesis.

[Effect of acupuncture serum on the number of osteclast cultured in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of acupuncture serum of ovariectomized rats on the number of in vitro cultural osteoclast of newborn rats. METHODS: Forty 12-month-old SD female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation control group, ovariectomized (model) group, acupuncture prevention group and acupuncture treatment group. Osteoclasts isolated from long bone of the newborn SD rat were cultured on 24-well culture plates with DMEM containing 10% the test serum. Forty-eight hours later, the osteoclasts were stained with tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and the number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells were counted. RESULTS: The number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells in the model group significantly increased as compared with the sham-operation control group (P < 0.01), and in the acupuncture prevention group and the acupuncture treatment group significantly declined compared with the model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture serum can equally reduce the number of osteoclasts in the two group.

[Preparation, characterization and preliminary application of monoclonal antibody against the transpeptidase domain of MRSA-PBP2a].

AIM: To prepare monoclonal antibody (mAb) against the penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP2a) of MRSA and establish a latex agglutination assay to detect PBP2a. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant transpeptidase domain of PBP2a expressed by gene-engineering. Mouse mAb against PBP2a was obtained with hybridoma technique. mAb's characteristics (IgG subclasses, titers, specificities, and affinities) were identified and determined by indirect ELISA and Western blot. Polystyrene beads were sensitized with mAb F2 by physical adsorption, and a latex agglutination assay was developed to detect PBP2a. RESULTS: Two strains of hybridoma cell lines, which could stably secret anti-PBP2a mAb were obtained, named F1 and F2. The isotype of F1 and F2 was both IgG1. Ascites titers were 0.5x10(-6)-1x10(-6) and the affinity constants (Kaff) were 1.57 x 10(8) M(-1) and 5.43 x 10(9) M(-1), respectively. Western blot analysis showed that both the mAbs had specific binding abilities with both recombinant protein and clinically isolated MRSA-PBP2a. The sensitivity of the anti-PBP2a latex agglutination assay with serial dilutions of purified PBP2a was found to be 1 mg/L. CONCLUSION: The obtained two strains of hybridoma cell lines can secret anti-PBP2a mAb stably, which lays the foundation for establishment of a simple and rapid anti-PBP2a latex agglutination assay kit.