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Little is known about the relationship between antibody dynamics and positive bioassay with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in ducks. In this study, 42 ducks were allocated randomly into groups A, B and C with 14 birds of 14 days of age in each group. Three groups were infected intravenously with 105, 106 and 108 of T. gondii tachyzoites, respectively. Blood samples were collected on day 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70 postinfection (p.i.). Sera was prepared from each group to evaluate the anti-T. gondii antibodies by the modified agglutination test (MAT); from each group 2 duck samples were used to bioassay T. gondii in mice. The T. gondii were identified by PCR and nucleic acids sequencing. In group A, the parasite was successfully bioassayed from day 7, 14 and 21 in post-infected ducks, with the MAT titers of 1:2, 1:5 and 1:80, respectively. However, in ducks with MAT titers 1:80, 1:40, 1:20 and 1:4 on the following days 28, 42, 56 and 70 p.i., the bioassay was negative. In group B, T. gondii was successfully biossayed at all the time points, regardless of the seropositivity or seronegativity for T. gondii antibodies. All birds of group C died before day 4 p.i, and therefore they were not bioassayed. PCR and sequencing results confirmed that all the isolates belong to T. gondii. This study demonstrated that successful bioassay does not completely correlate with positive MAT diagnosis. The existence of T. gondii and the concentration of the parasite may be the key parameters during the bioassay studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Early prosthodontic treatment for cases of ectodermal dysplasia (ED) is usually difficult because of oligodontia, undeveloped alveolar ridges, and the young age of the patients. Although some cases of prosthetic management of ED patients have been reported in the literature, there have been few cases about prosthetic treatment in children younger than 5 years of age., Case Report: This case report presents early prosthetic oral rehabilitation of 2 twin sisters with ectodermal dysplasia and severe hypodontia in the primary dentition. Fixed partial dentures with bands retained on deciduous molars were fabricated when the girls were 3 years old. New flexible removable partial dentures were made when the girls turned 6 years to accommodate the ongoing alveolar development. After the dental treatment, the two girls' aesthetics, phonetics, and chewing functions all improved significantly, which in turn raised the girls' self-esteem and increased their overall quality of life., Conclusion: These two cases demonstrated that properly timed and managed early prosthodontic intervention can improve the overall life quality of young patients with ectodermal dysplasia.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the naked plasmid DNA encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the survival of random flaps on rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats whose random flaps were elevated on the back were randomised into three groups of 10 animals each. In the experimental group, the naked plasmid DNA encoding VEGF was injected directly into the panniculus carnosus of the flap. In the two control groups, either control plasmid DNA or physiologic saline was injected. After 7 days, the flaps were evaluated with the following devices: RT-PCR for the expression of VEGF gene, immunohistochemistry for the expression of VEGF protein, histology for vascular density, single photon emission computerised tomography for RBC in the flap, and image analysis for flap survival area. Notably increased expressions of VEGF mRNA and VEGF protein were found in the treatment group. Vascular density was markedly more increased in the treatment group than those in the two control groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the two control groups, the flap treated with VEGF plasmid DNA showed a more significantly enhanced tissue viability: 87 +/- 5 versus 47 +/- 6% for the control plasmid DNA group and 46 +/- 5% for the saline group (P < 0.01). Our results indicated that the VEGF gene therapy was able to enhance the survival of random pattern flaps by inducing angiogenesis.

Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPs) catalyzes condensation of eight molecules of isopentenyl pyrophosphate with farnesyl pyrophosphate to yield C(55)-undecaprenyl pyrophosphate. We have mutated the aspartates and glutamates in the five conserved regions (I to V) of UPPs protein sequence to evaluate their effects on substrate binding and catalysis. The mutant enzymes including D26A, E73A, D150A, D190A, E198A, E213A, D218A, and D223A were expressed and purified to great homogeneity. Kinetic analyses of these mutant enzymes indicated that the substitution of D26 in region I with alanine resulted in a 10(3)-fold decrease of k(cat) value compared to wild-type UPPs. Its IPP K(m) value has only minor change. The mutagenesis of D150A has caused a much lower IPP affinity with IPP K(m) value 50-fold larger than that of wild-type UPPs but did not affect the FPP K(m) and the k(cat). The E213A mutant UPPs has a 70-fold increased IPP K(m) value and has a 100-fold decreased k(cat) value compared to wild-type. These results suggest that D26 of region I is critical for catalysis and D150 in region IV plays a significant role of IPP binding. The E213 residue in region V is also important in IPP binding as well as catalysis. Other mutant UPPs enzymes in this study have shown no significant change (<5-fold) of k(cat) with exception of E73A and D218A. Both enzymes have 10-fold lower k(cat) value relative to wild-type UPPs.

A new chiral ligand 6, 6'-dihydroxy-5, 5'-biquinoline (BIQOL, 2) was prepared via Cu2+ mediated coupling. The resolution was carried out by separating the corresponding ditrifluomethanesulfonate on chiral column. When applied to the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to aromatic aldehydes, this ligand induced the reaction with enantioselectivity equivalent to that induced by BINOL. The effects of solvent and reaction temperature on enantioselectivity were also studied., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

OBJECTIVE: This study showed that the creep value of gallium alloy is higher than that of amalgam,but it was within the limits permitted by ISO.It was suggested that the poor handing characteristics of gallium alloy may make it difficult to use in clinic.So,if gallium alloy could use in the clinic or not,according to it's clinical handling characteristic.

The adhesion of plaque on dental restorative between gallium alloy and amalgam alloy were compared.The results showed that plaque index and plaque account of gallium alloy was higher than those of amalgam,there was statistically significance(P<0.01).It was possible that secondary caries of gallium alloy's restorative may be higher than those of amalgam.One the other hand,the surface of restorative polished was necessary to improve the adhesion of plaque and to prevent the secondary caries.

In this study we used light cured resin,opaque resin and composite resin/masking agent to bond 24 teeth in vitro and then we tested their bonding stress.We also used these three materials to treat 240 tetracycline stained teeth in clinic.After half a year,one year,two years follow-up we found:in vitro study,the highest stress of composite resin is 144.3kG/cm(2).There is no significant difference in statistics among these three materials if we used the masking agent or opaque resin or not.In clinical follow-up,there is no significant difference in shed,partial shed,margin stain,gingival inflammation,and unsatisfied rate in three groups.The author believed the masking agent or opaque resin has no influence on the stress of resin restoration.So when we treated tetracycline stained teeth,we could choose it to increase aesthetic feeling.

This paper described how to use hemorheology to observe the oral and maxillofacial inflammation.60 cases were reported,and 60 normal cases as control group.It revealed that etap of the oral maxillofacial inflammation were much higher than that of normal person(P<0.01),etab,etab-1/H,ESR,FA of the oral maxillofacial inflammation were higher than that of normal person(P<0.05).Because the disease belongs to the spectrum of blood stasis.The treatment method of the promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can be used in additional to the normal remedy.

The total detectable rate of Helicobacter pylori (HP) of 485 patients suffering from gastric diseases was 59.6%. The HP in gastric mucosa of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients was separated from the cell culture in vitro and transferred successively. The mice were perfused with exciccate alum, and the rabbits with aspirin to injure their gastric mucosa, then HP was perfused. Result showed that the change of experimental animals was identical with that of CAG patients by means of bacteriological and pathological examination. It revealed that HP was in agreement with Robert Koch's three principles about pathogenic bacteria. According to the bacterial infectious hypothesis of CAG, 53 Chinese medicinal herbs and prescriptions were investigated with bacteriostatic test. Panax notogenseng and Magnolia officinalis were discovered to be sensitive, Prunus mume and Corydalis yanhusuo were moderate sensitive, and Coptis chinensis and Rheum palmatum highly sensitive to HP. Decoction of Clearing up the Heat and Relieving the Blood Stasis and No.2 recipe of Huowei were used to treat 70 CAG patients with Stomach Heat Syndrome. The effective rate of gastroscopic examination was 85.7%, that of pathological study was 80%. In comparing with the group of Shanjiu Weitai, there was significant difference between the traditional Chinese medicine treated group and Shanjiu Weitai control group, the former being markedly better.