Let $T_{1}$ and $T_{2}$ be two commuting probability measure-preserving actions of a countable amenable group such that the group spanned by these actions acts ergodically. We show that ${\it\mu}(A\cap T_{1}^{g}A\cap T_{1}^{g}T_{2}^{g}A)>{\it\mu}(A)^{4}-{\it\epsilon}$ on a syndetic set for any measurable set $A$ and any ${\it\epsilon}>0$ . The proof uses the concept of a sated system, introduced by Austin.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of severe periodontitis treated by Guchi Capsules combined with periodontal non-surgical treatment. Methods 123 patients with severe periodontitis were divided into two groups.At first the cases in two groups were given basic periodontitis treatment, then the patients in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group(n=61) were given Guchi Capsules combined with periodontal systematic treatments, the cases in periodontal systemly treatment group(n=62) were treated with periodontal systematic treatments only. After the treatments, the effects of two groups were evaluated and compared by symptomatic efficacy ofChinese medicine, periodontal comprehensive curativeeffect and periodontal clinical index, such as bleeding index(BI), probing depth(PD), periodontal attachment loss(PAL)and mean grey values(MGVs) of the alveolar bone of all teeth which were selected, were measured before and 3 months,6 months after treatments. Results The total effective rate in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group was 95.1%, which was superior to that in periodontal systemly treatment group(50.0%), with significant difference(P 0.01), while the effect in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group was better than periodontal systemly treatment group. 3 months after treatment, the PD and BI in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group and periodontal systemly treatment group were(3.30±0.90),(3.60±0.70) mm, BI were(2.05±0.23),(1.97±0.51), in both of the groups they decreased more than before significantly [PD:(6.46±1.09),(6.72±0.84) mm, BI:(3.43±0.47),(3.47±0.86), P 0.05]. MGVs in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group was(110.06±34.74), which increased more significantly than before(105.89±30.25), with no significant difference(P 0.05). MGVs in periodontal systemly treatment group was(122.73±26.91), which increased more significantly than before(109.17±28.24), with significant difference(P 0.05). PAL in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group and periodontal systemly treatment group before and after treatment for 3 months had no significant difference(P 0.05). The MGVs in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group showed better change than those in the periodontal systemly treatment group periodontal systemly treatment group(P 0.05), while the BI, PD and PAL had not significant differences between the two groups(P 0.05). 6 months after treatment, the results in both the combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group and periodontal systemly treatment group were similar with those of 3 months after treatment, while the PAL in periodontal systemly treatment group was(5.42±1.04) mm, and was(5.12±0.79) mm in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group, with no significant difference(P 0.05). BI in periodontal systemly treatment group was(2.22±0.36), and was(1.91±0.19)in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group, PD in periodontal systemly treatment group was(4.07±0.62) mm, and was(3.49±0.87) mm in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group, MGVs in periodontal systemly treatment group was(115.22±21.36), and was(124.14±23.17) in combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group, there were significant differences between two groups(all P 0.05), which prompted that, combine traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment group had better effect than periodontal systemly treatment group. Conclusion The effect of Guchi Capsules combined with periodontal non-surgical treatment is better than that of periodontal systematic treatments only on the treatment of severe periodontitis.

Obtaining high resolution images of space objects from ground based telescopes is challenging, and often requires computational postprocessing methods to remove blur caused by atmospheric turbulence. In order for an image deblurring (deconvolution) algorithm to be effective, it is important to have a good approximation of the blurring operator. In space imaging, the blurring operator is defined in terms of the wavefront of light, and how it is distorted as it propagates through the atmosphere. In this paper we describe an approach to reconstruct the wavefront. Accuracy is obtained by exploiting, and fusing, information from multiple measurements. Mathematically, this process involves solving a sparse, large-scale linear least squares problem. The least squares problem is efficiently solved using a conjugate-gradient-type method, such as LSQR.

We study the limiting behavior of multiple ergodic averages involving several not necessarily commuting measure preserving transformations. We work on two types of averages, one that uses iterates along combinatorial parallelepipeds, and another that uses iterates along shifted polynomials. We prove pointwise convergence in both cases, thus answering a question of I.Assani in the former case, and extending results of B.Host-B.Kra and A.Leibman in the latter case. Our argument is based on some elementary uniformity estimates of general bounded sequences, decomposition results in ergodic theory, and equidistribution results on nilmanifolds.

For multi-frame blind deconvolution (MFBD) it is important to obtain good initial approximations of the point spread function (PSF) for each frame. Here we show that if a Taylor frozen flow hypothesis holds for short periods, then by exploiting these correlations in multiple wavefront sensor measurements, it is possible to obtain accurate estimates of the PSFs. The approach requires solving a large and sparse least squares problem.

We prove mean convergence, as $N\to\infty$, for the multiple ergodic averages $\frac{1}{N}\sum_{n=1}^N f_1(T_1^{p_1(n)}x)... f_\ell(T_\ell^{p_\ell(n)}x)$, where $p_1,...,p_\ell$ are integer polynomials with distinct degrees, and $T_1,...,T_\ell$ are commuting, invertible measure preserving transformations, acting on the same probability space. This establishes several cases of a conjecture of Bergelson and Leibman, that complement the case of linear polynomials, recently established by Tao. Furthermore, we show that, unlike the case of linear polynomials, for polynomials of distinct degrees, the corresponding characteristic factors are mixtures of inverse limits of nilsystems. We use this particular structure, together with some equidistribution results on nilmanifolds, to give an application to multiple recurrence and a corresponding one to combinatorics.

This paper is devoted to a study of the multiple recurrence of two commuting transformations. We derive a result which is similar but not identical to that established by Bergelson, Host and Kra for one single transformation. We use the machinery of 'magic systems' established recently by B. Host for the proof.

Objective:To study the feasibility of guided tissue regeneration(GTR) in the treatment of periodontal bone defects following tooth injury.Methods:8 patients(4 male and 4 female),altogether 11 teeth with periodontal defects,received the surgery for repair of the defects by Bio-Oss and Heal-all membrane transplantation.Probing pocket depth(PPD),probing attachment level(PAL) and gingival recession(GR) were measured before treatment,12 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment.Radiographic measurements included the area of the dark space between two adjacent teeth,polygon area(PG),and the length from the root apex to the deepest point of angular bone defect along the tooth root surface(L) were analysed by Image Pro-Plus software.The complications were observed after the surgery.Results:Treatment was completed in all the patients,PPD and PAL values reduced 12 and 24 weeks after treatment(P0.05),while GR value increased(P0.05).PG value reduced 12 and 24 weeks after treatment(P0.05),while L value increased(P0.05).Radiographs showed a high degree of reliability of the stable landmark ICC0.8(α0.4).Conclusion:The application of GTR technique by using Bio-Oss and Heal-all membrane may be promising in the treatment of periodontal defects after traumatic dental injury.

Various 2-benzylidene-6-(nitrobenzylidene)cyclohexanones were prepared as candidate cytotoxins in which the nitro group was located in the ortho, meta and para positions leading to series 1-3, respectively. The CC50 values towards human HSC-2 and HSC-4 oral squamous cell carcinomas as well as human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemic cells are in the low micromolar range in general. On the other hand, most of the compounds afforded clear evidence of being far less toxic towards human HGF gingival fibroblasts, HPC pulp cells and HPLF periodontal ligament. broblasts which are non-malignant cells. Selectivity index (SI) figures were generated which are the ratios of the average CC50 values towards normal cells and the CC50 figure towards a malignant cell line. Huge SI values were obtained for many of the compounds. In particular 1c, 2f, 3c and 3g which have average SI values of >76, >38, 124 and 341, respectively, are clearly lead molecules affording direction for amplification of this area of study. A lead compound 1c caused internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 in HL-60 cells but not in HSC-2 carcinomas. In a short-term toxicity study, doses up to and including 300 mg/kg of the majority of the compounds prepared in this study did not cause any mortalities to mice. Some guidelines for development of these tumor-selective cytotoxins are presented. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Previous studies have shown anti-inflammatory potential of alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder (SE). The aim of the present study was to clarity the molecular entity of SE, using various fractionation methods. SE inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), but not tumour necrosis factor-α by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage-like cells. Lignin carbohydrate complex prepared from SE inhibited the NO production to a comparable extent with SE, whereas chlorophyllin was more active. On successive extraction with organic solvents, nearly 90% of SE components, including chlorophyllin, were recovered from the aqueous layer. Anti-HIV activity of SE was comparable with that of lignin-carbohydrate complex, and much higher than that of chlorophyllin and n-butanol extract fractions. The CYP3A inhibitory activity of SE was significantly lower than that of grapefruit juice and chlorophyllin. Oral administration of SE slightly reduced the number of oral bacteria. When SE was applied to HPLC, nearly 70% of SE components were eluted as a single peak. These data suggest that multiple components of SE may be associated with each other in the native state or after extraction with alkaline solution.

We prove the norm convergence of multiple ergodic averages along cubes for several commuting transformations, and derive corresponding combinatorial results. The method we use relies primarily on the "magic extension" established recently by B. ~Host.

A series of 1,3-diaryl-2-propenones 2a-j and analogous 2-benzylidene-1,3-indandiones 3a-j were evaluated against various neoplasms and normal cells. In general, greater cytotoxic potencies and selective toxicity to human malignant cells were observed by the compounds in series 2 rather than 3. In particular, 2i emerged as a lead molecule having an average CC(50) figure of 8.6 µM and a selective index value of 18. Various physicochemical features of 2a-j were correlated with the cytotoxic potencies to neoplastic cell lines which provide guidelines for expansion of this series of compounds. The enone 2i induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and activated caspase-3 in HL-60 cells suggesting that one of the ways in which the cytotoxicity of the compounds in series 2 is mediated towards some of the cell lines used in this study is by apoptosis. Neurotoxicity in mice was generally lower in series 2 than 3a-j.

Gefitinib is an orally active, selective epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The present study was aimed at evaluating the antitumor activity of gefitinib alone or in combination with other antitumor agents. Gefitinib showed higher cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines (HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4, T98G and U87MG) than against three human normal oral cells (gingival fibroblast HGF, pulp cell HPC and periodontal ligament fibroblast HPLF). Gefitinib showed little or no growth stimulation effects at lower concentrations (so-called hormetic effect). Non-cytotoxic concentration of gefitinib effectively enhanced the cytotoxicity of docetaxel against HSC-2 and T98G cell, but failed to enhance the cytotoxicity of other antitumor agents (mitoxantrone, doxorubicin, methotrexate, cisplatin, sodium ascorbate, sodium fluoride) or herbal extracts (Drynaria baronii, Angelica sinensis and Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc). Gefitinib alone and combined with docetaxel induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, but not in HSC-2 or T98G cells. Combination treatment with gefitinib and docetaxel induced the formation of acidic organelles (stained with acridine orange) and mitochondrial shrinkage, vacuolization and production of autophagosome and the loss of cell surface microvilli, without destruction of cell surface and nuclear membranes in HSC-2 and T98G cells (demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy), suggesting the induction of autophagy in HSC-2 and T98G cells.

Three Chinese herbal extracts of Drynaria baronii, Angelica sinensis and Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (referred to as DB, AS, CO, respectively) were investigated for their antitumor potential. These extracts showed very weak cytotoxicity against all nine cultured human cells (normal and tumor cells), but with some tumor-specific cytotoxicity displayed by DB and CO. These extracts showed little or no growth stimulation effects at lower concentrations (so-called 'hormetic effect'). Human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-2, NA) were relatively resistant to committing apoptosis, as compared with human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Electron-spin resonance spectroscopy shows that DB and CO scavenged superoxide anion (generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction) and hydroxyl radical (generated by Fenton reaction) more efficiently than AS. DB and CO, but not AS, produced broad radical peak(s) and enhanced the superoxide scavenging activity of vitamin C. However, none of the extracts clearly enhanced the cytotoxicity of mitoxantrone, an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. DB, but not CO and AS, showed weak anti-HIV activity. These data demonstrate several unique antitumor properties of DB.

A number of N-4-(2-aminoethoxy)phenylcarbonyl derivatives of various 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones 2-5 demonstrated noteworthy cytotoxic potencies towards human HL-60 leukemic cells as well as human HSC-2 and HSC-4 squamous cell carcinomas. In general, toxicity towards HGF, HPC, and HPLF normal cells was substantially lower. The highest selective toxicity was noted when the terminal base is morpholine. Lead optimization was based on finding compounds which had (i) high cytotoxic potencies, (ii) a greater toxicity to neoplasms than normal cells, and (iii) drug-likeness based on the rule of five. From the biodata generated, 5a evolved as a promising lead compound for further development. The mode of action of 5a included the induction of apoptosis in HL-60 cells in which internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3 was noted. In addition, 5a caused autophagy in HSC-2 cells.

The growth and amino acid utilization of a mouse macrophage-like cell line J774.1 was investigated in two different culture media supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). The J774.1 cells grew faster, and consumed glutamine and serine at higher rates in DMEM than in RPMI1640 medium. The consumption of other amino acids was much less, while considerable quantities of alanine, glutamic acid and glycine were produced by the J774.1 cells. When the cells became confluent, serine, but not glutamine, was nearly depleted from the culture medium, followed by cell death characterized by smear DNA fragmentation, slight caspase-3 activation and structural damage of the mitochondria. Serine is required for the growth of mouse macrophage-like cell lines, and DMEM is superior to RPMI1640 for long-term cell culture.

Three Chinese herbal extracts, Drynaria baronii, Angelica sinensis and Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (referred to as DB, AS, CO, respectively), were investigated for their possible anti-inflammatory activity. DB, AS and CO inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that this was due to the inhibition of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression at both protein and mRNA levels. Electron-spin resonance spectroscopy showed that DB, AS and CO dose-dependently scavenged the NO radical produced by NOC-7 in the presence of carboxy-PTIO. In order to confirm the anti-inflammatory potency, effects on prostaglandin (PG) E(2) production and the expression of enzymes involved in the arachidonic acid pathway were next investigated. DB and CO effectively inhibited the PGE(2) production by LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, although the extent of inhibition of PGE(2) production was slightly lower than that of NO production. AS only marginally inhibited the LPS-stimulated PGE(2) production. DB, AS and CO inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression at both protein and mRNA levels, but to much lesser extents as compared with that for iNOS expression. These data further substantiate the anti-inflammatory potency of DB, AS and CO.

The tumor-specific cytotoxicity and the type of cell death induced by thirty-eight newly synthesized tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were investigated. 6,7-Dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(1H)-yl)(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) methanone that has bulky substituents (such as 3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl group) (TQ9) and ethyl 2-benzyloxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1-carboxylate that has ethoxycarbonyl group and benzyloxycarbonyl group (TD13) showed the highest tumor-specific cytotoxicity (TS=12.5 and 5.3, respectively). This supports the importance of molecular size for the cytotoxicity induction. TQ9 induced internulceosomal DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation only marginally in HL-60 cells, whereas it enhanced the formation of acidic organelles (stained with acridine orange) without induction of DNA fragmentation or caspase-3 activation in human squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-2, HSC-4), suggesting the induction of autophagy in the latter cells.

OBJECTIVE To study the influence of transfection with human transforming growth factor-beta1 (hTGF-beta1) gene on the osteogenic potential and differentiation of the cultured human gingival fibroblast (GF). METHODS Enzyme kinetics method was used to measure the effects of the transfection on the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Immunohistochemistry stain and image analysis were applied to evaluate the alteration of the content of osteopontin (OPN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteonectin (ON), osteocalcin (OC) in the GF with transfection. Mineralization nodules formation in vitro was also used. RESULTS The ALP activity of the GF after transfection was higher than the GF without transfection significantly (P<0.05), and was close to that of the PDLCs (P>0.05). The content of OC in GF was not improved after transfection, was similar with that of PDLCs (P>0.05). Under immunohistochemistry stain, the contents of OPN, ON, BSP expressed in GF with transfection were higher than those of GF without transfection (P<0.05), but similar to those of PDLCs (P>0.05). In the mineralized cultured medium, the nodules were observed in the GF with transfection and PDLCs after 21 days and 24 days alternatively. After von Kossa stain, purple mineralization nodules were observed. CONCLUSION The GF transfected with pcDNA3-hTGF-beta1 could express some osteogenic characters, though these characters are restricted.