The Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on Fecal Flora and Serum Markers of Renal Injury in Mice with Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we analyzed intestinal flora in an experimental mouse model of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and investigated whether oral supplementation with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could slow the decline in renal function and inflammatory status of mice with CKD. METHODS: We surgically induced chronic kidney disease in C57BL/6J male mice aged 8-9 weeks. We used dual-stage 5/6 nephrectomy for this, while the mock group underwent a mock procedure. The experimental (CKD mice) and mock group were administered a daily dose of 10 × 109 colony forming unit (CFU) of probiotic L. rhamnosus GG or 2 g of maltodextrin as a placebo by oral gavage, respectively, for 5 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the fecal samples of the mice were collected and prepared for intestinal microbial diversity analysis. We examined the serum chemistry and renal histology of the mice. RESULTS: Important serum and blood biomarkers were associated with the development of CKD, including increased serum concentrations of creatine, cystatin C, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and a protein-interleukin-6 (denoted as IL-6), whereas decreased serum albumin concentration was also observed in the mice with CKD. The intestinal flora of the mice with CKD significantly declined in terms of diversity, richness, and homogeneity. The consumption of L. rhamnosus GG probiotic via oral gavage significantly decreased the serum concentration level present in creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. However, it increased albumin in the group with CKD. After probiotic treatment, serum IL-6 levels dropped considerably, and the kidney histopathology score in mice with CKD who were given L. rhamnosus GG improved. Moreover, supplementation with the probiotic significantly improved floral richness and lineage diversity in the mice with CKD.Conclusions: In this study, we found that probiotics significantly attenuated renal failure development, reduced serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6, and increased the abundance and lineage diversity of intestinal flora in mice with chronic kidney disease.

A Real-world Evidence-based Management of HIV by Differential Duration HAART Treatment and its Association with Incidence of Oral Lesions.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be estimated by the immunological response and the incidence of opportunistic infections. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of different durations of HAART in terms of immunological response markers (CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio) along with disease progression markers (incidence of oral lesions) in Chinese patients with HIV. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective, and real-world study included patients with HIV, grouped into a treatment group and treatment-naïve group, of which the former was further divided into 6, 12, and 18 months based on the treatment duration. The CD4 and CD8 cell counts were analyzed by the FACSCalibur flow cytometry. Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to determine the outcome of different duration of HAART. Oral examination was carried out according to the WHO type IV examination. RESULTS: In 246 patients with HIV, CD4 counts increased significantly post-HAART compared to pre-HAART in all three treatment groups (P<.001), while CD8 count decreased significantly (P<.05) in all three treated groups. A significant association of HAART with the CD4/CD8 ratio was observed (P<.001). A significant increase in CD4 count was observed between 12-months and 18-months treatment groups (P<.05). The occurrence of oral lesions reduced significantly in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: We observed a better response to the HAART regimen with 18-months of duration than 12-months and 6-months therapies and reduction in oral lesions.

[The effect of different gutta-percha master cones on first penetration depth of spreader and apical microleakage].

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effect of different master cones on apical microleakage through comparing first penetration depth of spreader and the leakage concentration of glucose in the curved root canal of the extracted posterior teeth filled with different gutta-percha master cones. METHODS: Sixty-six extracted roots of human posterior teeth with a single, curved canal were collected and divided into five experimental groups of 11 roots in each group (Group A:master cone 0.06 tapered, 25#; Group B: 0.06 tapered, 20#; Group C: 0.04 tapered, 30#; Group D: 0.04 tapered, 25#; Group E: 0.02 tapered, 25#) using cold lateral condensation as positive control group(group F, AH-PLUS sealer) of 5 roots and negative control (group G, integrated teeth) of 6 roots. The first penetration depth of spreader and the concentration of glucose in apical reservoir at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days were measured, respectively. The data was analysed with ANOVA and LSD test using SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS: The value of working length minus the first penetration depth of spreader in group D was significantly smaller than that in group A and group C(P<0.05),and that in group E was significantly smaller than that in group A ,B,C(P<0.05), but no significant difference(P>0.05) in other groups. The concentration of leakage glucose in group F was significantly higher than that in the other six groups(P<0.05),and there were no significant difference in the five experimental groups (P>0.05),which had no significant difference from the negative control group G(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Choosing smaller tapered master cone could get better apical filling in curved canals, but it has no superiority in apical sealing in short time.

[Experimental study of preparing curved root canals with different instrument].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the shaping ability and the influence on apical foramen among hand ProTaper, stainless steel K-files and rotary ProTaper in preparing different curved root canal. METHODS: Forty simulated resin root canal blocks were randomly divided into four groups and prepared by hand ProTaper, stainless steel K-file and rotary ProTaper, respectively. Of them, 12 blocks in group A, B, C consist of six 200 curved root canals and six 30 degrees curved root canals each group. The curvature of the other 4 blocks in group D was less than 5 degrees. Taking photos of the models to the root canal orthotopically and apical foramen using digital camera before and after instrumentation. Finally, the transportation of root canal and the size of apical foramen were analyzed using special image software Auto-CAD. RESULTS: The transportation of center in group B was the highest than that in group A and group C (P<0.05). In some portions of root canal, the transportation of center in group C was higher than that in group A. The size of the apical foramen in group B was significantly bigger than the other groups and the size of the apical foramen in 30 degrees root canal was significantly bigger than that in 20 degrees root canal after instrumentation (P<0.05). There was no significantly different between group A and group C, though the size of apical foramen in group C was bigger than that in group A at the same curvature, and that in 30 degrees root canal was bigger than in 20 degrees root canal (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Both of the two instruments engender root canal transportation, and curvature is the main reason of transportation. Comparing with stainless steel K-files, NiTi files can maintain the shape of the root canal and apical foramen well.

[The effect of smear layer on apical microleakage].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of smear layer on apical microleakage in extracted root-filled teeth by SEM and glucose penetration model. METHODS: 51 straight single-rooted human teeth were randomly divided into 5 groups, instrumented and irrigated differently by groups. 11 teeth in group A were irrigated with 17% EDTA and 1% NaClO,11 teeth in group B with 1% tetracycline hydrochloride and 1% NaClO,11 teeth in group C with 10% citric acid and 1% NaClO, 9 teeth in group D with 1% NaClO only and 9 teeth in group E with 0.9% NaCl. One tooth in each group was observed under scanning electron microscopy. The other teeth were obturated using lateral condensation technique. Leakage along the root filling was measured by the concentration of glucose in apical reservoir at 1, 2, 4, 7, 10, 15, 20 and 30 days respectively with glucose oxidase method. The data were analyzed with repeated measure ANOVA and SNK-q test using SPSS 16.0 software package. RESULTS: No smear layer on the root canal wall was observed in group A, B and C, the leakage was lower than that in group D and E (P<0.05). The smear layer occurred in quantity in group D, E and their leakage increased. The microleakage was higher in group E than that in group D (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Removal of smear layer on the root canal wall could reduce the root apical microleakage.