[en] Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced MRI for benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods: 48 patients were scanned by conventional MRI and contrast-enhanced MRI, all cases had of X-ray, B-ultrasound, surgery and pathologic examinations. The authors analysed some characteristics of benign and malignant lesions after administration of Gd-DTPA, such as, shape, border, signal intensity, degree of enhancement, speed of enhancement and washout, and so on. Results: Correct diagnostic rate of 81 lesions in 48 patients with breast diseases for benign and malignant was 92.6%. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced MRI is a new effective medical imaging method for differentiating benign and malignant breast lesions

[en] V-ATPase plays important roles in controlling the extra- and intra-cellular pH in eukaryotic cell, which is most crucial for cellular processes. V-ATPases are composed of a peripheral V₁ domain responsible for ATP hydrolysis and integral V₀ domain responsible for proton translocation. Osteoclasts are multinucleated cells responsible for bone resorption and relate to many common lytic bone disorders such as osteoporosis, bone aseptic loosening, and tumor-induced bone loss. This review summarizes the structure and function of V-ATPase and its subunit, the role of V-ATPase subunits in osteoclast function, V-ATPase inhibitors for osteoclast function, and highlights the importance of V-ATPase as a potential prime target for anti-resorptive agents

[en] The incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles into polymers is a hot research spot, since it endows the nanocomposites with new or improved properties by exploiting synergistic effects. Here we report a facile one-pot synthesis of polyacrylamide (PAM)–metal (M = Au, Ag, or Pd) nanocomposites in ethylene glycol (EG). The simultaneous polymerization of the acylamide (AM) monomer and formation of metal nanoparticles lead to a homogeneous distribution of metal nanoparticles in the PAM matrix. The sizes of Au, Ag, and Pd nanoparticles are 55.50 ± 10.6, 14.15 ± 2.57, and 7.74 ± 1.82 nm, respectively. The reaction system only includes EG, AM monomer, and corresponding metal salt. EG acts as both the solvent and the reducing reagent. Also, no initiator for AM polymerization and no surfactant for stabilization of metal nanoparticles are used. Furthermore, this simple synthetic route does not rely on any special or expensive equipment, thus can be exploited to the synthesis of similar polymer–inorganic nanocomposites. Compared to PAM, the PAM–metal nanocomposites showed enhanced thermal stability and antibacterial properties

[en] Highlights: • An in vitro infection model of osteoclast precursors by E. faecalis was established. • E. faecalis infection upregulated the inflammatory response of osteoclast precursors. • E. faecalis infection attenuated RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of RAW264.7 cells. Persistent apical periodontitis (PAP) is characterized by refractory inflammation and progressive bone destruction. Enterococcus faecalis infection is considered an important etiological factor for the development of PAP, although the exact mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed at investigating the role of E. faecalis in cell proliferation, inflammatory reactions and osteoclast differentiation of macrophages using an in vitro infection model of osteoclast precursor RAW264.7 cells. A cell viability assay of cultured RAW264.7 cells exposed to live E. faecalis at a multiplicity of infection of 100 for 2 h, indicated that the infection exhibited no cytotoxic effect. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed no apoptotic changes but a rise of metabolic activity and phagocytic features in the infected RAW264.7 cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopic and flow cytometric analysis indicated that the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells was activated by E. faecalis infection. Furthermore, quantitative real-time PCR assays demonstrated that the expression of inflammatory cytokines was remarkably elevated in infected RAW264.7 cells. Differentiation of infected RAW264.7 cells into osteoclasts was remarkably attenuated, and expression of osteoclast marker genes as well as fusogenic genes significantly dropped. In summary, E. faecalis appears to attenuate osteoclastic differentiation of RAW264.7 precursor cells, rather stimulates them to function as macrophages.