Implementation of mind mapping with problem-based learning in prosthodontics course for Chinese dental students.

BACKGROUND: The traditional Chinese dentistry classroom teaching model focuses on the instruction of knowledge details, but less on the frameworks and learners' motivation. Here, we introduced a combination of mind mapping and PBL instruction (MBL)into the prosthodontics course for Chinese dental students. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of MBL in prosthodontics and make observations from the students' perspectives, based on their response with the learning process. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 56 fourth-year undergraduates of stomatology, and these participants were randomly allocated into either the combined mind map teaching group (MBL) or the problem-based learning group (PBL) to attend the prosthodontics course. An anonymous questionnaire was also administered to both groups to evaluate the students' perceptions and experiences, using closed and open-ended items. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. RESULTS: The students' responses to closed items indicate their experience in PBL and MBL to be positive, including increased motivation, improved memory of knowledge, enhanced discipline connection and raised teamwork, with fairly higher ratings for the MBL group. However, the tutor-guided competence scores including the memory and framework part, were significantly higher for MBL group than PBL group (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). Meanwhile, the self-perceived competence scores including the motivation, framework and teamwork part, were significantly higher for MBL group than PBL group (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that MBL teaching approach can help in integration of knowledge structure and enhance clinical reasoning. MBL is an effective and well-organized method in prosthodontics course for dental students.

Streptococcus mutans dexA affects exopolysaccharides production and biofilm homeostasis.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the role of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) dexA gene on biofilm structure and microecological distribution in multispecies biofilms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multispecies biofilm model consisting of S. mutans and its dexA mutants, Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) and Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) was constructed, and bacterial growth, biofilm architecture and microbiota composition were determined to study the effect of the S. mutans dexA on multispecies biofilms. RESULTS: Our results showed that either deletion or overexpression of S. mutans dexA had no effect on the planktonic growth of bacterium, while S. mutans dominated in the multispecies biofilms to form cariogenic biofilms. Furthermore, we revealed that the SmudexA+ group showed structural abnormality in the form of more fractures and blank areas. The morphology of the SmudexA group was sparser and more porous, with reduced and less agglomerated exopolysaccharides scaffold. Interestingly, the microbiota composition analysis provided new insights that the inhibition of S. gordonii and S. sanguinis was alleviated in the SmudexA group compared to the significantly suppressed condition in the other groups. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, deletion of S. mutans dexA gene re-modules biofilm structure and microbiota composition, thereby leading to decreased cariogenicity. Thus, the S. mutans dexA may be an important target for regulating the cariogenicity of dental plaque biofilms, expecting to be a probiotic for caries control.

Advances in the prevention and management of heart disease in pregnancy / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#With the opening of the two child policy in China, the number of pregnant women has increased. Pregnancy has a huge impact on the cardiovascular system, and heart disease during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal heart failure and death, intrauterine growth retardation, and the risk of complications such as premature birth. Pregnancy with heart disease ranks first among indirect obstetric deaths in China. Reducing maternal mortality is a global goal of the World Health Organization. Thus, to strengthen the prevention and management of patients with critical heart disease during pregnancy is important. However, clinical decision-making and management of pregnant women with heart disease is still controversial. This article combines relevant literature of pregnancy and heart disease published in recent years and reviews of relevant diagnostic and therapeutic methods, to provide clinical reference for pregnant women with heart disease preventive care and management of the whole strategy.

Current status of laparoscopic techniques in the surgical treatment of biliary carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

Biliary carcinoma includes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, hilar cholangiocarcinoma, distal cholangiocarcinoma, and gallbladder cancer. There are few studies about laparoscopic treatment for biliary malignancy due to the complicated dissection of porta hepatic structure, and even reconstruction of biliary tract and(or) vessel under laparoscopy, which increases the difficulty of the laparoscopic radical resection of biliary malignancy. To promote the standardized application and development of laparoscopic techniques in operation of biliary malignancy, the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic techniques are explained in this paper.

Efficacy of carbohydrate loading for preoperative preparation in patients undergoing cesarean section under epidural anesthesia / 中华麻醉学杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of carbohydrate loading for preoperative preparation in the patients undergoing cesarean section under epidural anesthesia.Methods Forty American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ patients,aged 20-35 yr,with body mass index of 19-30 kg/m2,scheduled for elective cesarean section,were divided into 2 groups (n =20 each) by envelope method:carbohydrate group (group CA) and placebo group (group C).Carbohydrate drinks 300 ml containing carbohydrate 14.1 g/100 ml was taken orally at 2 h before surgery in group CA,and the equal volume of distilled waster was taken orally instead in group C.Patients underwent routine preoperative fasting on the night before surgery,continuous epidural anesthesia was used,and lactated Ringer's solution 1500 ml was given to maintain the volume during surgery.Anteroposterior diameter and left-right diameter of gastric antrum and area of gastric antrum in this section were measured at fasting,immediately after oral intake and at 2 h after oral intake in group CA.Venous blood samples were collected after delivery of the baby for determination of serum malondialdehyde concentrations by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Thirst,hunger and anxiety scores were recorded after entering the operating room.The development of nausea and vomiting was also recorded in 0-12 h and 12-24 h periods postoperatively.Results Compared with group C,the hunger scores and concentration of serum malondialdehyde were significantly decreased (P＜0.05 or 0.01),and no significant change was found in thirst and anxiety scores or incidence of nausea and vomiting in group CA (P＞0.05).No significant changes were observed in anteroposterior diameter,left-right diameter and area of gastric antrum at 2 h after the oral intake when compared with that at fasting (P＞0.05).Conclusion Carbohydrate loading at 2 h before surgery can improve the efficacy of preoperative preparation without increasing the risk of reflux or aspiration in the patients undergoing cesarean section under epidural anesthesia.

Identification of Bletilla Striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f.and Bletilla Formosana (Hayata) Schltr.Based on ITS2 Sequence / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to identify Bletilla Striata (Thunb.) Reichb.f.and Bletilla Formosana (Hayata) Schltr.by ITS2 sequence.The leaves of 38 samples of Bletilla striata and Bletillaformosana from Yunnan,Hubei,Guizhou,Hunan and Sichuan province were used as experiment materials.The total DNA was extracted.Internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences were obtained by PCR.All of the ITS2 sequences were checked.The 8 ITS2 sequences from two species were downloaded from GenBank.The intraspecific and interspecific Kimura-2-parameter (K2P) distances of Bletilla striata and Bletilla formosana were calculated by MEGAS.0.And neighbor-joining (NJ) tree was constructed.The results showed that the full-length sequences of ITS2 from Bletilla striata and Bletillaformosana were 259 bp,with a total of 14 variable sites.The maximum intraspecific K2P distance of Bletilla striata and Bletillaformosana was 0.008,while the minimum interspecific K2P distance was 0.040.The ITS2 secondary structure showed that different origins of Bletilla striata were gathered together and could be distinguished obviously from Bletilla formosana by NJ tree.It was concluded that ITS2 sequence was able to identify Bletilla striata and Bletillaformosana quickly and accurately.

Molecular Pharmacognosy on Tibetan Traditional Medicine Dong-Na Duan-Chi / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To identify the common Tibetan herb Dong-Na Duan-Chi by molecular pharmacognosy. Methods Ethnopharmacology investigation was carried out and local herbalists were visited to observe which plants were being used as Dong-Na Duan-Chi. Then, nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences were amplified and sequenced for molecular identification. Results The botanic origins of Dong-Na Duan-Chi in Tibet Autonomous Region were authenticated as two species, i.e. Veronica eriogyne H.Winkl. and Veronica ciliata Fisch.. The sequences of ITS for Veronica eriogyne and Veronica ciliata are 551 bp and 552 bp in size. The results showed that nrDNA ITS sequences could be used to discriminate V.eriogyne and V.ciliata from closely related species. Conclusion nrDNA ITS sequences can be used as the molecular markers to identify the Tibetan herb Dong-Na Duan-Chi from other species of the same genus Veronica L.

Study on seed biological characteristics of Gentiana crassicaulis / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study seed biological characteristics of Gentiana crassicaulis.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The samples were collected from five localities, and the morphological observation, germination test and viability TTC test were carried out.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The seed morphological characters of all samples were similar to each other. The viability of all samples was similar to each other, but the germination rate of wild seed was the highest in all samples after stored for 8 months. Also, the seed energy of wild seed and sample 2008XR02 was higher than other three samples. There was no obvious correlation between thousand seed weight and germination rate.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The quality of wild seed and sample 2008XR02 was superior than that of the other three samples. The results can be used for basic data of in situ conservation and germplasm breeding of G. crassicaulis.</p>

Screening microRNAs related to systemic scleroderma with microRNA array / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective To screen, analyze and predict microRNAs (miRNAs) related to systemic scle-roderma (SSc). Methods Differentially expressed miRNAs between tissue samples from 3 patients with SSc and 3 normal human controls were screened with a gene chip including 924 miRNAs. Target genes regulated by differentially expressed miRNAs were searched with bioinformatics method. Finally, miRNAs related to SSc were predicted. Results There were 24 miRNAs differentially expressed between tissue samples of SSc and normal controls, including 9 up-regulated miRNAs and 15 down-regulated miRNAs. Literature review disclosed that SSc was associated with target genes regulated by hsa-miR-206, has-let-7g, hsa-miR-133a, hsa-miR-125b, hsa-miR-40-5p and hsa-miR-23b. In particular, 15 target genes regulated by hsa-miR-206 were closely correlated with the pathogenesis of SSc. Conclusions In lesions of SSc, there is an expression of miRNAs related to the pathogenesis of SSc, which may include hsa-miR-206 as well as 5 other miRNAs.

Change of gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 in hypertrophic scars skins / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the regulatory mechanisms of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and two transcriptional factors Smad 2, 3 on hypertrophic scar formation and fetal scarless healing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two cases were detected to compare the gene expression of TGF-beta1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 with RT-PCR. Among those cases, there were 8 cases of hypertrophic scars, 8 cases of control skins, 8 cases of fetal skins and 8 cases of adult skins.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TGF-beta1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 gene expression could all be detected in hypertrophic scars, fetal and adult skins. Among 8 groups examinated in this experiment (each group comprised a hypertrophic scar and its corresponding normal skin), there were 5, 8 and 5 groups in which TGF-beta1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 gene expression were higher in hypertrophic scars than in normal skins respectively. The fetal skins showed significantly lower level of TGF-beta1 and Smad 3 gene expression compared with adult skins (t = 2.204, P < 0.05 and t = 4.269, P < 0.01 respectively), while mRNA contents of Smad 2 were obviously higher in fetal skins than in adult skins (t = 6.685, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TGF-beta1 and its downstream signal molecules Smad 2, Smad 3 might be involved in hypertrophic scar formation. Higher gene expression of TGF-beta1, Smad 2 and Smad 3 in hypertrophic scars might lead to stimulating extracellular matrix deposition, inducing fibroblast proliferation and accelerating fibrogenesis. Lower mRNA contents of TGF-beta1 and Smad 3 in fetal skins compared with adult skins might be associated with fetal scarless healing.</p>

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE PROLIFERATION AND DIFFERENTIATION CHARACTERISTICS OF EPIDERMAL STEM CELLS IN NORMAL SKIN AND SCAR OF CHILDREN / 解放军医学杂志

To study the location and expression characteristics of epidermal stem cells in normal skin and scar epidermis of children, and to explore the relationship between the differences of these two epidermal stem cells and wound healing after burn. ?1 integrin and keratin 19 (K19) were used as the biochemical markers to identify stem cells and transit amplifying cell, keratin 14 (K14) and keratin 10 (K10) were used as the markers for post-mitotic cells and terminally-differentiated cells, respectively. Normal skin and scar tissue were obtained from children of 4 to 12 years of age. Elivision two-step immunohistochemistry was used. The results showed that in the immunostained tissue sections, the positive ?1 integrin and K19 expression cells were observed in 2～3 layers above the basal layer, whereas K10 expression cells were observed in all epidermal cells except basal cell layer in the scar tissue. Observations revealed that the number of stem cells and transit amplifying cells were less in the scar tissue than that in the normal skin, the differentiation process of scar epidermal stem cells was different from that of normal skin, and the proportion between post-mitotic cells and terminally-differentiated cells was abnormal. The results indicated that the self-renewal ability of the scar epidermis was lowered, and the differentiation process of it was deranged, and this might be considered to be a reason of abnormality of structure and function of the epidermis of scar tissue, and its poorer ability in wound healing.

Localization and expression of TGF-? _(1,2) in fetal and adult skins / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To explore the localization and expression of transfo rming grow th factor-? 1,2 (TGF-? 1,2 ) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (?- ASMA) in fetal a nd adult skins. METHODS: Skins of 15 cases of fetuses with different gestational ages and 5 cases of adults were taken, embedded with paraffin wax, and sectione d. Immunohistochemistry method and pathological method were used to detect the e xpression intensity and distribution of TGF-? 1,2 and ?-ASMA. RESULTS: Positive immunohistochemical signals of TGF-? 1,2 and ?-A SMA were found in fetal and adult skins. In skins derived from young fet us, the positive signals of these three proteins were very weak. Along with the incr ement in gestational age, the positive cellular rates of TGF-? 1,2 and ?- ASMA were elevated pro gressively. In elder fetal and adult skins, TGF-? 1,2 were mostly distributed i n epidermal cells, endothelial cells and some fibroblasts, while ?-ASMA was mainly located in myofibroblasts and sweat gland epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: The endo genous TGF-? 1,2 might be involved in the cutaneous development at embryoni c stage, in the cutaneous structure maintenance at adult stage, and in the wound healing af ter injury.

HPLC Fingerprint of Radix Gentianae Crassicaulis / 中草药

Objective To establish HPLC fingerprint of Radix Gentianae Crassicaulis.Methods The fingerprints were obtained on an Ultimate XB-C18 column(250 mm?4.6 mm,5 ?m)with the gradient elution solvent system composed of acetonitrile and 0.05% phosphoric acid.The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,the column temperature was maintained at 25 ℃,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.Results Ten common peaks were selected as the fingerprint peaks and the fingerprints also were evaluated by the Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint with the correlation coefficient of 0.98—1.0.Conclusion This method with good precision and reproducibility is reliable for the quality control of Radix Gentianae Crassicaulis.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF STEM CELL DIFFERENTIATION IN HUMAN SKINS FROM DIFFERENT DEVELOPED STAGES AND THEIR EFFECTS ON SKIN WOUND REPAIR / 解放军医学杂志

To gain insight into the mechanisms of an age related difference in ability of wound healing, the characteristics of stem cell differentiation in skins from fetus, child and adult were investiga ted. Integrin ? 1 and keratin 19 (K19) were used as the biochemical markers for stem cells and transit amplifying cells. Biopsies were taken from fetus (22～24week gestational age), children (4～12year) and adults (35～53year). Immunohistochemistry was used. As for the immunostainings of fetal tissue sections, integrin ? 1 and K19 expressions were observed in all epidermal basal cells. In children skin, the ratio of integrin ? 1 and K19 positive cells in the epidermal basal layer was 60%～80%. In adults, the ratio in the epidermal layer decreased. These results indicate that fetal skin epidermis contains a large number of stem cells and transit amplifying cells, and the proportion of stem cells and transit amplifying cells decreases with age after birth, which maybe a reason of the age associated difference in ability of wound healing.