Clinical efficacy of semiconductor laser-assisted minocycline in moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Purpose: To study the clinical efficacy of semiconductor laser-assisted minocycline in the treatment of moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis (CP) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.Methods: A total of 109 cases of CP combined with T2DM and obesity admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China, from November 2016 to November 2017 were included in the study. Among them, 54 patients in the study group were treated with semiconductor laser-assisted minocycline, while 55 patients in the control group were treated with minocyclin injection. Periodontitis, blood glucose and blood lipid levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results: Post-treatment (12 weeks), bleeding on probing, gingival index, periodontal probing depth (PD), plaque index (PLI), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and sulcus bleeding index (SBI) in the two groups of patients were significantly improved (p < 0.05). The levels of PD, BOP, PLI, and CAL in the positive SBI group (4.06 ± 0.25, 20.37 %, 0.50 ± 0.28, 3.42 ± 0.27, and 1.43 ± 0.26, respectively) were significantly lower than the corresponding levels in the control group (p < 0.05. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c for the two groups were significantly improved, when compared with values prior to treatment (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in FPG level between the two groups. Significantly lower HbA1c levels were found in the treatment group than in the control group (t = 4.2360, p = 0.0001). Post-treatment, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and body mass index (BMI) did not improve significantly in the two groups, nor were there significant differences in these parameters before and after treatment (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Semiconductor laser-assisted minocycline is effective in treating moderate and severe chronic periodontitis patients with type 2 diabetes, and can improve blood glucose. However, its effect on body weight needs further studies.Keywords: Semiconductor laser, Minocycline, Chronic periodontitis, Type 2 diabetes, Obesit

Effect of sinomenine on proliferation and apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells, and its underlying mechanism of action

Purpose: To investigate the effect of sinomenine on the proliferation and apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OCSSs), and its underlying mechanism of action. Methods: CCK-8 method was used to determine the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of sinomenine (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 ug/mL) on proliferation of CAL-27 cells on treatment for 24 and 48 h. Cell migration was assayed using scratch test, while cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry. Hoechst 33258 fluorescence staining was conducted to determine apoptotic morphology. The effect of sinomenine on the expressions of cyclinD1, cyclinD3, cyclin-dependent kinases-2 (CDK2), Bax, B-cell lymphoma/leukmia-2 (Bcl-2), Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 was determined by western-blotting (WB). Results: Sinomenine significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of CAL-27 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but not in a time-dependent fashion. It inhibited the transition from G0/G1 phase to S phase in CAL-27 cells. Sinomenine treatment also caused dispersion of CAL-27 cells. Moreover, the nuclei were pyknotic, and the cells translucent, indicating typical features of apoptotic morphology. Expressions of Bax, caspase 3 and caspase 9 protein were significantly upregulated, while expressions of Bcl-2, cyclinD1, cyclinD3 and CDK2 protein were down-regulated by sinomenine. Conclusion: Sinomenine induces apoptosis of OSCCs, and inhibits their proliferation and migration via a mechanism associated with up-regulation of Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9, and down-regulation of Bcl-2

Response of Fertile Tiller Characters and Seed Yield of \u3cem\u3eElymus sibiricus\u3c/em\u3e L. to Row Space Alteration

Elymus sibiricus L. cv chuancao NO.2 is widely planted in the eastern Tibetan Plateau of China. At present, the study about E. sibiricus L. seed yield has focused on the influence of fertilizing and harvest time on seed yield and its components. The response of fertile tiller characters and seed yield of E. sibiricus L. to different row space still has not been reported. This experiment analyzed the response of fertile tiller characters and seed yield to different row spaces, and presents the optimal spacing to increase seed yield and quality in the Northwest Plateau of Sichuan. The objective was to provide a scientific basis for large-scale seed production

Role of adiponectin in preventing chronic rejection and the underlyingmolecular immunoregulatory signaling pathway

Chronic rejection is a major obstacle to long-term survival of organ transplants. PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone has been shown to reduce graft rejection but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Combined treatment of rosiglitazone and anti-IL-5 antibody prevented MHC class II histoincompatiblecardiac graft rejection with a reduction of cellular infiltration, vasculopathy and interstitial fibrosis in a heterotopic heart transplantation model. In particularly, rosiglitazone decreased CD8 T cells infiltration and luminal occlusion, while anti-IL-5 antibody reduced eosinophil infiltration and collagen deposition. Adiponectin gene (APN) is a PPAR-γ target gene, and the expression of APN receptor AdipoRII in grafts, dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells are increased by rosiglitazone. These findings prompted me to further examine the immunomodulatory role of APN in graft rejection. APN is an anti-inflammatory adipocytokine, and has been shown to inhibitimmunostimulatory function of monocytes and macrophages. Rosiglitazone suppresses DCs maturation, activation and proliferation;hence, it is possible that APN could protect graft rejection through immunoregulation of DCs. Here, using in vitro culture systems, I found that APN has only moderate effect on the differentiation of bone marrow derived DCs but itcould alter DC phenotypes. APN-treated DCs showed an increased expression of PD-L1, which is consistent with the increased PD-L1 expression in rosiglitazone treated cardiac allografts. APN-treated DCs led to a decreased proliferation and reduction of IL-2production of T cell. Moreover, APN-treated DCs increased the expansion of Tregs (regulatory T cells) which could be inhibited by the blockage of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, suggesting that PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and expansion of Tregs played important roles in APN-treated DCs mediated immunomodulation. Further, I employed APN-/-mice for functional and mechanistic studies, and found that cardiac allografts were not rejected by APN-/-recipient mice even after 120 days post-transplantation. Histological analyses revealed very little eosinophils, CD4 and CD8 T cells infiltration; no collagen deposit and no vessel occlusion in the cardiac allografts. Furthermore, Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 were lower in cardiac allografts and in the serum of APN-/-recipient. Inhibition of AMPK signaling, a major APN mediated pathway, reduced the eosinophils infiltration in wild type recipient. In contrast, AMPK activation increased eosinophils infiltration in APN-null recipient. APN enhanced T cell proliferation. AMPK and P38MAPK inhibitors as well as anti-IL-4 antibody inhibited APN-induced T cell proliferation. P38 MAPK inhibitors reduced IL-4 production in mature DCs but enhanced IL-4 expression in immature DCs. In EL-4 T cells, APN increased nuclear expressions of GATA-3 and p-STAT6 and augmented IL-4 expression, and the phenomenon was suppressed by target specific knockdown of AdipoR I and II. In summary, current study provides new mechanistic insights of PPAR-γ activation and APN signaling in the modulation of adaptive and transplantation immunity, establishing a link between metabolism and immune regulation.published_or_final_versionSurgeryDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph

Molecular Mechanism of Cold Tolerance of Centipedegrass Based on the Transcriptome

Low temperature is an important limiting factor in the environment that affects the distribution, growth and development of warm-season grasses. Transcriptome sequencing has been widely used to mine candidate genes under low-temperature stress and other abiotic stresses. However, the molecular mechanism of centipedegrass in response to low-temperature stress was rarely reported. To understand the molecular mechanism of centipedegrass in response to low-temperature stress, we measured physiological indicators and sequenced the transcriptome of centipedegrass under different stress durations. Under cold stress, the SS content and APX activity of centipedegrass increased while the SOD activity decreased; the CAT activity, POD activity and flavonoid content first increased and then decreased; and the GSH-Px activity first decreased and then increased. Using full-length transcriptome and second-generation sequencing, we obtained 38.76 G subreads. These reads were integrated into 177,178 isoforms, and 885 differentially expressed transcripts were obtained. The expression of AUX_IAA and WRKY transcription factors and HSF transcription-influencing factors increased during cold stress. Through KEGG enrichment analysis, we determined that arginine and proline metabolism, plant circadian rhythm, plant hormone signal transduction and the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways played important roles in the cold stress resistance of centipedegrass. In addition, by using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), we determined that the turquoise module was significantly correlated with SS content and APX activity, while the blue module was significantly negatively correlated with POD and CAT activity. This paper is the first to report the response of centipedegrass to cold stress at the transcriptome level. Our results help to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the cold tolerance of warm-season grasses

Identification and Validation of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in Reed Canary Grass during Abiotic Stress

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is known for its tolerance to drought, heavy metals, and waterlogging, making it a popular choice for forage production and wetland restoration in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). To accurately assess gene expression in reed canary grass under different abiotic stresses, suitable reference genes need to be identified and validated. Thirteen candidate reference gene sequences were selected and screened using RT-qPCR to detect their expression levels in reed canary grass leaves under drought, salt, cadmium, and waterlogging stresses. Four algorithms were used to assess the stability of the expression levels of the candidate reference genes. The most stably expressed genes were UBC and H3 under drought Cd, ETF and CYT under salt stress, and ETF and TUB under waterlogging stress. GAPDH was found to be less stable under abiotic stresses. PIP-1, PAL, NAC 90, and WRKY 72A were selected as response genes for quantitative expression assessment under drought, salt, Cd, and waterlogging stresses to confirm the accuracy of the selected stable reference genes. These results provide a theoretical reference for assessing gene expression in reed canary grass under abiotic stresses

Effect of dexamethasone on levels of inflammatory factors and EGF mRNA in rabbits suffering from oral ulcers

Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic effect of dexamethasone on rabbits suffering from oral ulcers, and the underlying mechanism(s) of action. Methods: A rabbit model of oral ulcer was established by applying 40 % glacial acetic acid solution to the oral buccal membranes of the animals. Three groups of rabbits were used. Changes in area of the oral ulcer were recorded after dexamethasone administration. Levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) were assayed using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), while MDA levels and expression levels of IL- 6, IL-8 and TNF-α were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Local histopathological changes were examined histologically with the aid of hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining. Results: There were reductions in ulcer areas in group C on the 2nd, 4th and 7th days of dexamethasone administration, when compared with group B (p < 0.05). The EGF levels in the buccal mucosa of rabbits in groups B and C were significantly higher than those in group A (p < 0.05), while the highest EGF level was in group C (p < 0.05). The levels of MDA, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α significantly increased in groups B and C (p < 0.05). Results from H & E staining showed lower levels of inflammatory cells in group C than in group B, with visible proliferation of fibroblast cells and epithelial cells in group C after dexamethasone administration. Conclusion: Dexamethasone accelerates healing of oral ulcer by regulating EGF levels. This finding provides a new approach to the treatment of oral ulcers

Schematic diagram of Hooke’s law for plane stress state.

<p>Schematic diagram of Hooke’s law for plane stress state.</p