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Background: Low serum chloride (Cl − ) level is considered an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality associated with chronic hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. ClC-5, a member of the Cl − channel family, is sensitive to changes in intracellular and extracellular Cl − concentration and conducts outwardly rectifying Cl − currents. The aims of this study were to determine if ClC-5 is regulated by low extracellular Cl − , clarify its putative roles in hypertension-induced cerebrovascular remodeling, and elucidate the associated underlying mechanisms. Methods: Whole-cell patch technique, intracellular Cl − concentration measurements, flow cytometry, Western blot, Clcn5 knockdown (Clcn5 −/y ), and adenovirus-mediated ClC-5 overexpression mice, 2-kidney, 2-clip, and angiotensin II infusion–induced hypertensive models were used. Results: We found that low extracellular Cl − evoked a ClC-5–dependent Cl − current that was abolished by ClC-5 depletion in basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs). ClC-5 was upregulated in the arterial tissues of rats and patients with hypertension. Low Cl − –induced current and ClC-5 protein expression positively correlated with basilar artery remodeling during hypertension. ClC-5 knockdown ameliorated hypertension-induced cerebrovascular remodeling and smooth muscle cell proliferation, whereas ClC-5 overexpression mice exhibited the opposite phenotype. ClC-5–dependent Cl − efflux induced by low extracellular Cl − activated WNK1 (lysine-deficient protein kinase 1) which, in turn, activated AKT (protein kinase B), and culminated in BASMC proliferation and vascular remodeling. Conclusions: ClC-5 mediates low extracellular Cl–induced Cl − currents in BASMCs and regulates hypertension-induced cerebrovascular remodeling by promoting BASMC proliferation via the WNK1/AKT signaling pathway.

Platelet hyperactivity is essential for thrombus formation in coronary artery diseases (CAD). Dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in patients with cystic fibrosis elevates intracellular Cl

Radiation therapy, a major method of treatment for brain cancer, may cause severe brain injuries after many years. We used a rare and unique cohort of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with normal-appearing brains to study possible early irradiation injury in its presymptomatic phase before severe, irreversible necrosis happens. The aim is to detect any structural or functional imaging biomarker that is sensitive to early irradiation injury, and to understand the recovery and progression of irradiation injury that can shed light on outcome prediction for early clinical intervention. We found an acute increase in local brain activity that is followed by extensive reductions in such activity in the temporal lobe and significant loss of functional connectivity in a distributed, large-scale, high-level cognitive function-related brain network. Intriguingly, these radiosensitive functional alterations were found to be fully or partially recoverable. In contrast, progressive late disruptions to the integrity of the related far-end white matter structure began to be significant after one year. Importantly, early increased local brain functional activity was predictive of severe later temporal lobe necrosis. Based on these findings, we proposed a dynamic, multifactorial model for radiation injury and another preventive model for timely clinical intervention. Hum Brain Mapp 39:407-427, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinease-1 (SGK1) is a serine/threonine kinase regulated by hypotonic stimuli, which is involved in regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. Our previous study shows that activation of volume-regulated Cl− channels (VRCCs) protects rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated whether SGK1 was involved in the protective effect of VRCCs in BASMCs. We showed that hypotonic challenge significantly reduced H2O2-induced apoptosis, and increased SGK1 phosphorylation, but did not affect SGK1 protein expression. The protective effect of hypotonic challenge against H2O2-induced apoptosis was mediated through inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway, evidenced by increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), decreased cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and inhibition of the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. These protective effects of hypotonic challenge against H2O2-induced apoptosis was diminished and enhanced, respectively, by SGK1 knockdown and overexpression. We further revealed that SGK1 activation significantly increased forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) phosphorylation, and then inhibited the translocation of FOXO3a into nucleus and the subsequent expression of Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim). In conclusion, SGK1 mediates the protective effect of VRCCs against H2O2-induced apoptosis in BASMCs via inhibiting FOXO3a/Bim signaling pathway. Our results provide compelling evidences that SGK1 is a critical link between VRCCs and apoptosis, and shed a new light on the treatment of vascular apoptosis-associated diseases, such as vascular remodeling, angiogenesis, and atherosclerosis.

There is increasing evidence that cirrhosis may affect functional connectivity among various brain regions in patients prior to onset of overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, most investigators have focused mainly on alterations in functional connectivity strengths, and the changes in functional connectivity density (FCD) are largely unknown. Here, we investigated alterations in resting-state FCD in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBV-RC) without overt HE. Totally, 31 patients with HBV-RC without overt HE and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI examinations. FCD mapping was employed to compute local and global FCD maps. Then, short-range and long-range FCD values were calculated and voxel-based comparisons were performed between the two groups. The HBV-RC group showed significant decreases in FCD, including decreased short-range FCDs in the bilateral middle cingulum gyrus/precuneus, the bilateral cuneus, and the left lingual gyrus/inferior occipital gyrus and decreased long-range FCD in the bilateral cuneus/precuneus. In addition, the decreased long-range FCD in the bilateral cuneus/precuneus in the HBV-RC group was related to performance on the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) test. These findings suggest aberrant functional connectivity density in cirrhotic patients prior to overt HE onset, which may provide better insight into understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the cirrhotic-related cognitive impairment.

Diagnosis and staging of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) by noninvasive imaging is critical for effective treatment, but the imaging features of duodenal GISTs remain largely undefined because of their rarity. The purpose of this article was to characterize duodenal GISTs using CT.Thirty-four patients with duodenal GISTs were analyzed by clinical symptom evaluation, pathologic examination, and CT in this retrospective study. Unenhanced and contrast-enhanced examinations were performed in all patients. Imaging characteristics, including the lesion location, size, growth pattern, ulceration, internal components, arterial blood supply, intratumoral arterioportal shunting, intratumoral vessels, rim enhancement, and enhancement patterns were reviewed.The duodenal GISTs were solitary masses with well-defined margins. The average diameter was 7.1 cm. The second portion was the most common site (20/34). Ulceration was a common feature (15/34). Calcification was uncommon (3/34), and mixed growth pattern was more common (26/34). Rim enhancement (24/34) and mixed enhancement pattern (15/34) were common. Arterial blood supply, intratumoral vasculature, and draining veins were all detected and were obvious on the arterial phase. The portal venous trunk and superior mesenteric vein were the main veins into which early arterioportal shunting drained.Primary duodenal GISTs are generally large, well-defined, heterogeneously enhancing, and hypervascular masses with a prominent mixed growth pattern on CT images. Our findings suggest that CT can help depict the origin of the tumoral arteries and draining veins on the arterial phase and may be a key defining diagnostic feature for duodenal GISTs.

Background: A synovial sarcoma arising from the kidney is extremely rare. To date, few data are available on their radiological features. Purpose: To identify the computer tomography (CT) imaging findings of primary renal synovial sarcomas (PRSSs). Material and Methods: Five cases of PRSS confirmed by histopathological and cytogenetic studies were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had undergone unenhanced and multiphase enhanced CT examinations (one patient underwent CT twice). The CT characteristics, including shape, size, margin, attenuation, and enhancement pattern after intravenous contrast medium injection, were analyzed. Results: The study involved two female and three male patients (mean age, 27.4 years; range, 15–43 years). Unenhanced CT showed completely or partly well-defined masses, with heterogeneous ( n = 5) or homogeneous ( n = 1) patchy low density. On multiphase contrast-enhanced CT, in five of the six CT examinations, the tumors appeared as solid-cystic masses with cyst walls or pseudo-capsules, and demonstrated moderately heterogeneous ( n = 5) and/or septate enhancement ( n = 2), with a “rapid wash-in and slow wash-out” pattern of enhancement in the solid component. Only one tumor showed a simple cyst appearance and developed an irregular, intratumoral, septate soft density 8 months later. A renal vein and inferior vena cava thrombus was noticed in one patient, while lymphadenopathy was not observed in any patient. Conclusion: PRSS should be included in the differential diagnosis when an adolescent or young adult presents with a renal neoplasm appearing as a solid-cystic mass with well-defined borders, a cystic wall or pseudo-capsule, heterogeneous or septate enhancement, a “rapid wash-in and slow wash-out” pattern of enhancement in the solid component, and no sign of lymphadenopathy.

Theoretical investigation on particle transport in a 90 degree bend was carried out. The finite volume method was used to simulate the flow field in the bend pipe, and one-way coupled Lagrangian method was used to calculate the trajectory and deposition efficiency of microparticles. The unique relationship between the irreversible deposition efficiency and radius ratio of single-shell microparticle was given finally.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A), an intrinsic constituent of the Ca(2+)‐activated Cl(−) channel, is involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and hypertension‐induced cerebrovascular remodelling. However, the functional significance of TMEM16A for apoptosis in basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) remains elusive. Here, we investigated whether and how TMEM16A contributes to apoptosis in BASMCs. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Cell viability assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, immunogold labelling and co‐immunoprecipitation (co‐IP) were performed. KEY RESULTS: Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) induced BASMC apoptosis through a mitochondria‐dependent pathway, including by increasing the apoptosis rate, down‐regulating the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax and potentiating the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. These effects were all reversed by the silencing of TMEM16A and were further potentiated by the overexpression of TMEM16A. Endogenous TMEM16A was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. Co‐IP revealed an interaction between TMEM16A and cyclophilin D, a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). This interaction was up‐regulated by H(2)O(2) but restricted by cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of cyclophilin D. TMEM16A increased mPTP opening, resulting in the activation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3. The results obtained with cultured BASMCs from TMEM16A smooth muscle‐specific knock‐in mice were consistent with those from rat BASMCs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These results suggest that TMEM16A participates in H(2)O(2)‐induced apoptosis via modulation of mitochondrial membrane permeability in VSMCs. This study establishes TMEM16A as a target for therapy of several remodelling‐related diseases.

Orai1-dependent Ca

TMEM16A is a critical component of CaSerine 727 phosphorylation in TMEM16A by CaMKIIγ provides a new mechanism for regulating TMEM16A CaCC activity and Ang II-induced BASMC proliferation.

In East China Sea, especially in Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces, classic marine deposit soft soil with characteristics of high compressibility, high sensitivity and low strength is widely distributed. Seismic subsidence occurs under earthquake causing substantial losses. Though a number of effective studies are carried out on the causes, mechanisms and methods on seismic subsidence, there are more other aspects to be studied due to marine soil’s complexity. In this paper, the classic marine soft soil in southern sea area of Taizhou Bay is studied on its seismic parameter based on the tri-axial seismic experiment. The seismic parameters and residual strain formula are obtained, and compared with normal continental deposit soft soil.

The aim of this study was to analyze the imaging findings of 15 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the head and neck, in order to better understand the tumor characteristics based on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CT (n=11) and MRI (n=4) images from 15 patients with histologically diagnosed MFH of the head and neck were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging characteristics were analyzed and compared among different histological subtypes. The lesions were primarily located in the maxillary sinus in 5 patients, the ethmoid sinus in 1 patient, the infratemporal fossa in 2 patients, the neck in 4 patients, the left mandible in 1 patient, the gingiva in 1 patient and the epiglottis in 1 patient. A total of 4 cases were associated with radiotherapy. All the lesions were ill-defined, ranging in size from 2.1 to 5.1 cm in the largest diameter. Bone fractures were evident in 9 cases. The attenuation, signal and enhancement patterns varied, although inflammatory MFH exhibited prolonged enhancement in dual-phase enhanced CT scans. MFH of the head and neck is rare but may be associated with radiotherapy. Although the imaging manifestations of MFH are various and non-specific, inflammatory MFH exhibits prolonged enhancement on dual-phase enhanced CT scans.

To identify codeine-containing cough syrups (CCS)-related modulations of intrinsic connectivity network (ICN) and to investigate whether these changes of ICN can be related to duration of CCS use and to impulsivity behavior in CCS-dependent individuals.Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in 41 CCS-dependent individuals and 34 healthy controls (HC) were scanned at 1.5T and analyzed using independent component analysis (ICA), in combination with a "dual-regression" technique to identify the group differences of three important resting-state networks, the default mode network (DMN), the executive control network (ECN), and the salience network (SN) between the CCS-dependent individuals and HC.Compared with the HC, CCS-dependent individuals had aberrant intrinsic connectivity within the DMN, ECN, and SN (P0.05, AlphaSim corrected). Furthermore, a longer duration of CCS use was associated with greater abnormalities in the intrinsic network functional connectivity (FC, P0.05, Bonferroni correction). Intrinsic network FC also correlated with higher impulsivity in CCS-dependent individuals (P0.05, AlphaSim corrected).Our findings revealed aberrant DMN, ECN, and SN connectivity patterns in CCS-dependent patients, which may provide new insight into how neuronal communication and information integration are disrupted among DMN, ECN, and SN key structures due to long duration of CCS use.1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:177-186.

Models of heroin addiction emphasize the role of disrupted frontostriatal circuitry supporting cognitive control processes. However, heroin addiction-related alterations in functional and structural interactions among brain regions, especially between the cerebral hemispheres, are rarely examined directly. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) approaches, which reveal patterns of coherent spontaneous fluctuations in the fMRI signal, offer a means to quantify directly functional interactions between the hemispheres. The corpus callosum (CC), which connects homologous regions of the cortex, is the major conduit for information transfer between the cerebral hemispheres and represents a structural connectivity index between hemispheres. We compared interhemispheric voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and CC volume between 45 heroin dependent-individuals (HDIs) and 35 non-addict individuals. We observed significant reduction of VMHC in a number of regions, particularly the striatum/limbic system regions, and significant decrease in splenium and genu sub-regions of CC in HDI. Importantly, within HDI, VMHC in the dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) correlated with genu CC volume, VMHC in the putamen, VMHC in the DLPFC and genu CC volume and splenium CC volume were negatively correlated with heroin duration and impulsivity traits. Further analyses demonstrated that impairment of VMHC of bilateral DLPFC partially mediated the association between genu CC volumes decreased and increased impulsivity in HDI. Our results reveal a substantial impairment of interhemispheric coordination in the HDI. Further, interhemispheric connectivity correlated with the duration of heroin abuse and higher impulsivity behavior in HDI. Our findings provide insight into a heroin addicts' related pathophysiology and reinforce an integrative view of the interhemispheric cerebral functional and structural organization.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Codeine-containing cough syrups have become one of the most popular drugs of abuse in young people in the world. Chronic codeine-containing cough syrup abuse is related to impairments in a broad range of cognitive functions. However, the potential brain white matter impairment caused by chronic codeine-containing cough syrup abuse has not been reported previously. Our aim was to investigate abnormalities in the microstructure of brain white matter in chronic users of codeine-containing syrups and to determine whether these WM abnormalities are related to the duration of the use these syrups and clinical impulsivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty chronic codeine-containing syrup users and 30 matched controls were evaluated. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed by using a single-shot spin-echo-planar sequence. Whole-brain voxelwise analysis of fractional anisotropy was performed by using tract-based spatial statistics to localize abnormal WM regions. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 was surveyed to assess participants9 impulsivity. Volume-of-interest analysis was used to detect changes of diffusivity indices in regions with fractional anisotropy abnormalities. Abnormal fractional anisotropy was extracted and correlated with clinical impulsivity and the duration of codeine-containing syrup use. RESULTS: Chronic codeine-containing syrup users had significantly lower fractional anisotropy in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus of the bilateral temporo-occipital regions, right frontal region, and the right corona radiata WM than controls. There were significant negative correlations among fractional anisotropy values of the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the right superior corona radiata WM and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale total scores, and between the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and nonplan impulsivity scores in chronic codeine-containing syrup users. There was also a significant negative correlation between fractional anisotropy values of the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the duration of codeine-containing syrup use in chronic users. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic codeine-containing syrup abuse may be associated with disruptions in brain WM integrity. These WM microstructural deficits may be linked to higher impulsivity in chronic codeine-containing syrup users.

A novel benzo [1,5] oxazepin-4-one skeleton compound and its four derivatives were synthesized effectively from 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DFDNB) under mild conditions. In the process, four intermediates were synthesized by substitutions of the two fluorine atoms and reductions of the meta-dinitro groups in DFDNB respectively. The results showed that the key for synthesizing the intermediates was the substitution of one of the two fluorine atoms in DFDNB by 3-hydroxy butyric acid ethyl ester first, then the other fluorine atom by morpholine, and then the reduction of the meta-dinitro groups in the substitute by HCOONH4 with Pd/C. The products were purified with silica gel column chromatography, and confirmed by HPLC, LC-MS and 1H NMR. The should contribute to construct the molecular libraries for therapeutic applications.

Cerebrovascular remodelling is one of the important risk factors of stroke. The underlying mechanisms are unclear. Integrin β3 and volume-regulated ClC-3 Cl(-) channels have recently been implicated as important contributors to vascular cell proliferation. Therefore, we investigated the role of integrin β3 in cerebrovascular remodelling and related Cl(-) signalling pathway.Cl(-) currents were recorded using a patch clamp technique. The expression of integrin β3 in hypertensive animals was examined by Western blot and immunohistochemisty. Immunoprecipitation, cDNA and siRNA transfection were employed to investigate the integrin β3/Src/ClC-3 signalling.Integrin β3 expression was up-regulated in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, 2-kidney 2-clip hypertensive rats and angiotensin II-infused hypertensive mice. Integrin β3 expression was positively correlated with medial cross-sectional area and ClC-3 expression in the basilar artery of 2-kidney 2-clip hypertensive rats. Knockdown of integrin β3 inhibited the proliferation of rat basilar vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin II. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence experiments revealed a physical interaction between integrin β3, Src and ClC-3 protein. The integrin β3/Src/ClC-3 signalling pathway was shown to be involved in the activation of volume-regulated chloride channels induced by both hypo-osmotic stress and angiotensin II. Tyrosine 284 within a concensus Src phosphorylation site was the key point for ClC-3 channel activation. ClC-3 knockout significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced cerebrovascular remodelling.Integrin β3 mediates cerebrovascular remodelling during hypertension via Src/ClC-3 signalling pathway.

Evidence is accumulating that temporal lobe radiation necrosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy (RT) could involve gray matter (GM). The purpose of the study was to assess the radiation-induced GM volume differences between NPC patients who had and had not received RT and the effect of time after RT on GM volume differences in those patients who had received RT.We used magnetic resonance imaging voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess differences in GM volume between 30 NPC patients with normal-appearing whole-brain GM after RT and 15 control patients with newly diagnosed but not yet medically treated NPC. Correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship between GM volume changes and time after RT.Patients who had received RT had GM volume decreases in the bilateral superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, right fusiform gyrus, right precentral gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobule (p 0.001, uncorrected, cluster size100 voxels). Moreover, the correlation analysis indicated that regional GM volume loss in the left superior temporal gyrus, left middle temporal gyrus, and right fusiform gyrus were negatively related to the mean dose to the ipsilateral temporal lobe, respectively.These results indicate that GM volume deficits in bilateral temporal lobes in patients who had received RT might be radiation-induced. Our findings might provide new insight into the pathogenesis of radiation-induced structural damage in normal-appearing brain tissue. Yet this is an exploratory study, whose findings should therefore be taken with caution.

To study the relationship between resting heart rate and blood lipid level.A total of 9 415 subjects aged ⋝ 40 years were included in the present study. Their resting heart rate was monitored and their serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured to define dyslipidemia according to the 2007 Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults.The subjects were divided into group A with their resting heart rate70 beats/min, group B with their resting heart rate =70-79 beats/min, group C with their resting heart rate =80-89 beats/min, and group D with their resting heart rate ⋝ 90 beats/min. High TG, TC, and LDL-C were presented across the resting heart rate (Ptrend0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of high TG and TC was higher in subjects with their resting heart rate ⋝ 90 beats/min than in those with their resting heart rate70 beats/min (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.16-1.74 and OR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.09-1.64, respectively).Elevated resting heart rate is associated with high TG and TC in middle-aged and elderly Chinese subjects.

Purpose: To detect radiation-induced changes of temporal lobe normal-appearing white mater (NAWM) following radiation therapy (RT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Materials and Methods: Seventy-five H1-MR spectroscopy and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) examinations were performed in 55 patients before and after receiving fractionated radiation therapy (total dose; 66–75GY). We divided the dataset into six groups, a pre-RT control group and five other groups based on time after completion of RT. N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA)/choline (Cho), NAA/creatine (Cr), Cho/Cr, mean diffusibility (MD), functional anisotropy (FA), radial diffusibility (λ⟂), and axial diffusibility (λ||) were calculated. Results: NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr decreased and λ⟂ increased significantly within 1 year after RT compared with pre-RT. After 1 year, NAA/Cho, NAA/Cr, and λ⟂ were not significantly different from pre-RT. In all post-RT groups, FA decreased significantly. λ|| decreased within 9 months after RT compared with pre-RT, but was not significantly different from pre-RT more than 9 months after RT. Conclusion: DTI and H1-MR spectroscopy can be used to detect early radiation-induced changes of temporal lobe NAWM following radiation therapy for NPC. Metabolic alterations and water diffusion characteristics of temporal lobe NAWM in patients with NPC after RT were dynamic and transient. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2013;37:101–108. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

To investigate the distribution of sensory nerve fibers in the tissue of peri-implant bone and to study the reconstruction procedure of somatosensory evoked potentials of unloaded dental implant.The bilateral 2nd, 3rd and 4th mandibular premolars and the 1st molars were extracted from 3 beagle dogs. Three months later, 4 screw-type implants were inserted. Then 1, 6 and 12 weeks later, the sensory nerve action potential(SNAP) tests were performed. The stimulating electrode was connected to the implant, and the recording electrodes were fixed on the inferior alveolar nerve stem to record the amplitude of SNAP. Then the dogs were sacrificed, and the specimens were prepared for immunohistochemical examination. The SNAP results were statistically analyzed using SPSS17.0 software package.SNAP of the inferior alveolar nerve stem could be recorded following stimulations to each implant. The difference in SNAP amplitudes between the 1-week group and the other two groups was significant (P0.05) But there was no significant difference between the 6-week and 12-week group. Some NFP-positive nerve fibers were found in the tissues of peri-implant bone. These fibers localized in both the bone marrow space and in the peri-implant fibrous tissues.Neuroreceptors do exist in the tissue of peri-implant bone, but much less than the periodontal ligament. These neuroreceptors could receive electrical stimulus then evoke SNAP of the inferior alveolar nerve stem. In unloaded condition, the reconstruction of never endings in the peri-implant bone tissue is apparently time-dependent.

The study was designed to investigate the effect of surface chemical modification on the process of bone defect healing around implants in dogs.Six Beagle dogs were used in this study. The mandibular premolars and first molars were extracted bilaterally. Three months after tooth extraction the procedure of implant placement was performed. Four canals with a diameter of 2.8 mm and 10 mm in depth were prepared at the third premolar (P3) and the first molar (M1) sites of both sides of the mandible, of which the coronal 5 mm portion were further widened with the 5.3 mm diameter twist drill. In each side of the mandible one modSLA (chemically-modified SLA) implant and one SLA (sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched) implant with a diameter of 3.3 mm and 10 mm in length were installed, respectively. Thus, the circumferential defect that was 5mm deep and 1mm wide created between the implant surface and the bony wall. Four implants placed in both sides of the mandible were allowed for non-submerged healing. Two dogs were sacrificed at the week 2, 4 and 8 following implant placement, respectively, and the specimens were prepared and stained with trinitrophenol- fuchsin for histological and histomorphometric analyses to acquire the bone-to-implant contact (BIC%), new bone fill (NBF%) and the distance between the most coronal level of bone-to-implant contact and the bottom of the surgically created bone defect(B-D). Statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS13.0 software package.No implant was loosen or lost during the study. The histomorphometric results demonstrated that new bone formation was observed in the defect region around both groups of implants at all time points and the newly formed bone occurred initially from the apical and lateral bony wall of the defect region, the bone defect almost was filled at week 8. At 2 and 4 weeks of healing, the BIC%, NBF% and B-D values were significantly higher for modSLA implants (P0.05). At 8 weeks of healing, the difference was not significant (P0.05).The SLA implants processed by means of chemically-modified surface treatments exhibit more predictable outcomes than that of SLA implants by promoting the early bone regeneration when inserted into sites with bone defects.

A novel benzo [1,5] oxazepin-4-one skeleton compound and its four derivatives were synthesized effectively from 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DFDNB) under mild conditions. In the process, four intermediates were synthesized by substitutions of the two fluorine atoms and reductions of the meta-dinitro groups in DFDNB respectively. The results showed that the key for synthesizing the intermediates was the substitution of one of the two fluorine atoms in DFDNB by 3-hydroxy butyric acid ethyl ester first, then the other fluorine atom by morpholine, and then the reduction of the meta-dinitro groups in the substitute by HCOONH4 with Pd/C. The products were purified with silica gel column chromatography, and confirmed by HPLC, LC-MS and 1H NMR. The should contribute to construct the molecular libraries for therapeutic applications.

Bile acid metabolism was reported to be involved in glucose metabolism homeostasis. However, the exact relationship between bile acid and glucose metabolism as well as insulin sensitivity is not clarified. Therefore, we sought to investigate the association between insulin sensitivity and hyperbileacidemia in type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic population. This community-based cross-sectional study included 9603 residents from Jiading, Shanghai, China, who were 40 years and older. Standardized questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests were conducted. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.7 was defined as insulin resistance and fasting TBA ≥ 10 mmol/L was defined as hyperbileacidemia. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that HOMA-IR, age, and male sex were positively associated with hyperbileacidemia in both nondiabetic and diabetic participants. In multivariate logistic models, participants with insulin resistance had significantly higher risk of hyperbileacidemia compared to those who have no insulin resistance, in both nondiabetic and diabetic population (nondiabetic: OR = 1.76; 95% CI 1.42–2.19; P

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) is a neoplasm that arises from follicular dendritic cells. FDCSs originating in the abdomen are extremely rare. Clinically, they often mimic a wide variety of other abdominal tumors, and correct preoperative diagnosis is often a challenging task. To date, only scattered cases of abdominal FDCS have been reported and few data are available on their radiological features. Here we present the computer tomography imaging findings of 5 patients with surgically and pathologically demonstrated abdominal FDCS. An abdominal FDCS should be included in the differential diagnosis when single or multiple masses with relatively large size, well- or ill-defined borders, complex internal architecture with marked internal necrosis and/or focal calcification, and heterogeneous enhancement with “rapid wash-in and slow wash-out” or “progressive enhancement” enhancement patterns in the solid component are seen.