Identification of common genetic polymorphisms associated with down-regulated gonadotropin levels in an exome-wide association study.

Objective: To investigate whether common genetic polymorphisms are associated with gonadotropin levels after down-regulation with daily gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and whether the polymorphisms of candidate variants influence the ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropins.

Design: Genetic association study.

Setting: University-affiliated in vitro fertilization center.

A Nested Case-Control Study of the Relationship between Salivary Inflammatory Mediators, Periodontal Parameters, and Preterm Birth in a Chinese Population.

Background: To explore whether salivary inflammatory mediators and periodontal indices at different gestational stages can be taken as indicators of preterm birth (PTB).

Methods: This nested case-control study enrolled systemically healthy pregnant women at 9 to 36 weeks of gestation. Periodontal indices were measured at the enrollment date, and interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the saliva were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Association between periodontal indexes and biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid and preterm birth in pregnancy: a nested case-control study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between periodontal indexes and biomarkers in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and preterm birth (PTB) in pregnancy, as well as to assess the clinical value of these indexes as predictors of PTB.

Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted. A total of 300 systematically healthy pregnant women were selected within 36 weeks of gestation and grouped according to the enrolled weeks.

The role of work resources between job demands and burnout in male nurses.

Aims And Objectives: To explore the regulation role of work resources in male nurses' job burnout and job demands.

Background: Burnout syndrome affects a wide range of nurses. Although burnout and turnover rate have drawn many researchers' attention, little is known of work characteristics that may cause a high burnout and turnover rate in male nurses.

Functional Characterization of c-di-GMP Signaling-Related Genes in the Probiotic .

The bacterial second messenger cyclic diguanylate monophosphate (c-di-GMP) regulates a series of cellular functions, including biofilm formation, motility, virulence, and other processes. In this study, we confirmed the presence of several c-di-GMP related genes and evaluated their activities and functions in species. Bioinformatic and biochemical analyses revealed that La-14 have an active c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase (PdeA) that may act in the metabolic cycle of c-di-GMP.

Osthole improves function of periodontitis periodontal ligament stem cells via epigenetic modification in cell sheets engineering.

Inflammatory microenvironment causes the change of epigenetic modification in periodontal ligament stem cells derived from periodontitis tissues (P-PDLSCs), which results in defective osteogenic differentiation compared to cells from healthy tissues. It's urgent to explore therapeutic strategies aimed at epigenetic targets associated with the regenerative ability of PDLSCs. Osthole, a small-molecule compound extracted from Chinese herbs, has been documented to promote osteogenesis and cell sheets formation of healthy PDLSCs.

Pamidronate Disodium Leads to Bone Necrosis via Suppression of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in Human Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells In Vitro.

Purpose: Pamidronate disodium-associated bone necrosis is poorly understood at the cellular and molecular levels. This study proposes a pathway leading to the pamidronate disodium-mediated inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) derived from the mandible in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Primary human BMMSCs were isolated from the mandible and marrow tissue.

Hyperlipidemia impairs erectile function in rats by causing cavernosal fibrosis.

Men with hyperlipidemia are more likely to have erectile dysfunction (ED) than those without hyperlipidemia, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of ED caused by hyperlipidemia. Fourteen 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: a control group and a hyperlipidemia group (fed chow containing 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid).

[Delayed DNA double-strand break in S-phase H1299 cells after thermal damage].

Objective: To study the pattern of DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation in S-phase cells after thermal damage and explore the mechanisms behind heat sensitivity of S-phase cells and delayed DSBs.

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to analyze the cell cycle arrest in H1299 cells exposed to thermal damage, and EdU incorporation assay was employed to evaluate the DNA replication capacity of the cells. The cells synchronized in S phase were obtained by serum starvation and DSBs were observed dynamically using neutral comet assay.

Sex Hormones Enhance Gingival Inflammation without Affecting IL-1β and TNF-α in Periodontally Healthy Women during Pregnancy.

Hormones (progesterone and estradiol) change greatly during pregnancy; however, the mechanism of hormonal changes on gingival inflammation is still unclear. This study is to evaluate the effects of hormonal changes during pregnancy on gingival inflammation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). 30 periodontally healthy pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second, and third trimesters.

Relationship between gingival inflammation and pregnancy.

An increase in the prevalence and severity of gingival inflammation during pregnancy has been reported since the 1960s. Though the etiology is not fully known, it is believed that increasing plasma sex steroid hormone levels during pregnancy have a dramatic effect on the periodontium. Current works of research have shown that estrogen and progesterone increasing during pregnancy are supposed to be responsible for gingivitis progression.

[Aldosterone antagonist inhibits fibrosis-induced NOX4 protein expression in hepatic cells and tissues of rats].

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory potential of aldosterone antagonist on NOX4 protein expression in hepatic fibrosis by using a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three equal groups: fibrosis model group (receiving three subcutaneous injections per week of 2.5 ml/kg 40% CCl4); spironolactone (Sp)-treated fibrosis model group (receiving CCl4 regimen plus three injections per day of 20 mg/kg Sp in olive oil); negative-treatment fibrosis model group (receiving CCl4 regimen plus three injections per day of olive oil alone).

[Angiotensin (1-7) inhibits angiotensin II-stimulated expression of connective tissue growth factor mRNA in hepatic stellate cells].

To explore the angiotensin peptide [Ang (1-7)]-mediated inhibition of Ang II in human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and determine the involvement of the ACE2-Ang (1-7)-Mas axis. The human HSC line, LX2, was used in all experiments, and divided into control (unstimulated) and Ang II-stimulated (10-6 mol/L) groups. The Ang II-stimulated cells were further divided among several pre-treatment (prior to Ang II) groups: ROCK-inhibited (Y27632 blocking agent, 10-6 mol/L); irbesartan-inhibited (AT-1 receptor antagonist, 10-6 mol/L); and Mas receptor-inhibited (A779 Mas receptor antagonist, 10-6 mol/L).

[Effect of hydroxyethyl starch on intracranial pressure and plasma colloid osmotic pressure in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury].

Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of hydroxyethyl starch on colloidal osmotic pressure (COP), and its effect on intracranial pressure (ICP) in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods: Twenty four male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and the hydroxyethyl starch group, each n =8. Cerebral I/R model was reproduced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by reperfusion after ischemia for 2 hours.

[The anatomic study and clinical observation of the neurectomy of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius muscle for calf reduction].

Objective: To introduce a method to reduce the volume of medial gastrocnemius for calf reduction.

Methods: Tibial nerve and nerve branches were dissected and explored at popliteal region for morphometry in 20 cadaver-legs. The length, width and the origination position of the nerve to the medial gastrocnemius were measured and recorded.

[Preliminary linkage analysis and mapping of keloid susceptibility locus in a Chinese pedigree].

Objective: To investigate the linkage between the susceptibility locus to keloid and two loci, 15q22.31-q23 and 18q21.1, the authors performed linkage analysis of a pedigree.

[Role of Rho kinase in reorganization of the vascular endothelial cytoskeleton induced by rat burn serum].

Objective: To investigate the changes in endothelial cytoskeletal reorganization and the role of Rho in the signal transduction pathway.

Methods: ECV304 cells were cultured and randomly divided into following groups: i.e.