Objective:To evaluate the clinical effects of short fiber ribbon combined with resin bonding technology for the treatment of food impaction between posterior teeth. Methods:98 cases of vertical food impaction between posterior teeth( total of 135 vertical food impaction units) were included. 73 units were treated by short quartz fiber ribbon combined with resin bonding technology( SQFRB) and 63 by resin bonding(RB). 12, 24 and 36 months after restoration, clinical effects were evaluated referring to the Modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Criteria, data were statistically analyzed. Results:12, 24 and 36 months after treatment the cure rate of SQFRB was 97. 3%, 97. 3% and 95. 9%, inefficacy rate was 0, 0 and 0;the cure rate of RB was 85. 5%, 82. 2% and 82. 2%, the inefficacy rate was 4. 8%, 11. 3% and 12. 9%, respectively(between groups, P<0. 05). Conclusion:Minimally inva-sive restorations using short fiber ribbon combined with resin bonding technology is effective in the treatment of vertical food impaction between posterior teeth.

Objective To investigate the effect of tripterygium on the grow th ,invasion and angiogenesis of melanoma A375 and its action mechanisms .Methods MTS was used to test the effect of tripterygium on proliferation of A375 melanoma;the nude mouse subcutaneous melanoma xenograft model was used to detect the effect of tripterygium on tumor growth ;the Transwell ex‐periment was used to determine the effect of tripterygium on invasion of A 375 melanoma;the tubule formation experiment was used to determine the effect of tripterygium on tumor angiogenesis ;ELISA was used to detect the influence of tripterygium on A 375 cel‐lular secretion factors ,such as VEGF ,bFGF ,TGF‐βand IL‐8 .Results The in vitro proliferation and in vivo growth of A375 mela‐noma cells after tripterygium treatment were significant inhibited ,the invasion ability of A375 melanoma cells was significant weak‐ened compared with the control group ;tripterygium could inhibit tumor cell‐induced vessel formation by down‐regulating the ex‐pression of VEGF ,bFGF and IL‐8 proteins ,but it had no influence on expression of TGF‐βprotein .Conclusion Tripterygium has anti‐growth and anti‐invasion effects on A375 melanoma ,its potential mechanisms may associated with the inhibition of tumor an‐giogenesis of A375 melanoma .

BACKGROUND: Tumor recurrence in liver transplant recipients greatly affects prognosis of liver transplantation with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). How to prevent tumor recurrence has aroused increasing attention. Arsenious acid chemotherapy is considered effective on treating moderate or advanced liver cancer, but its utilization following liver transplantation remains few. OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of arsenious acid on tumor recurrence in liver transplant patients with primary HCC extending Milan criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: All patients were routinely followed up for 3-32 months. Thirty recipients were presented with tumor recurrence, 16 in the chemotherapy group and 14 in the non-chemotherapy group. Tumor recurred in lung, liver graft and bones in most cases. The total recurrence rate was similar in these two groups, but chemotherapy could delay recurrence after transplantation (P=0.026). There was no significance in 6-month, 1-year survival rate between two groups, but the 2-year survival in the chemotherapy group was higher (P=0.037); 6-month tumor-free survival rates in the two groups had no significance, 1-year and 2-year tumor-free in the chemotherapy group were significantly higher than those in the non-chemotherapy group (P=0.030, 0.023). Intravenous arsenious acid chemotherapy can delay tumor recurrence and prolong survival in liver transplant patients with HCC extending Milan criteria.

Objective To examine the plasma β-catenin and DKK1 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore their relationship with bone and joint damage in RA.Methods One hundred and thirteen patients with RA and 120 healthy individuals were recruited into this research.Bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur and lumbar spine were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).Radiographs for two hands were evaluated according to the Sharp's method.Serum levels of β-catenin and DKK1 in all patients with RA and healthy controls were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The 2-tailed independent samples t test was used for measurement data.Chi-square test was used for the enumeration data.Correlation analysis,linear regression and Logistic regression analysis were used as appropriate statistical analysis.Results ① Significantly higher serum levels of DKK1 were observed in RA patients than that in healthy controls [(8±7) vs(6±4) μg/ml,t=2.552,P=0.012],while there was no sinnificant difference with regard to the levels of β-catenin between the two groups.② Compared to control groups,patients with RA had lower BMDs at femur and lumbar spine (P＜0.01).Furthermore,incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in RA (31.9％,36/113) was remarkablely higher than that in healthy subjects (15.0％,18/120) (x2=9.290,P=0.002).③ There were obvious discrepancies in age,swollen joint count (SJC),swollen joint count index (SJI),alkaline phosphatase (AKP),joint narrowing space score,joint erosion score,Sharp score between patients with osteoporosis and without osteoporosis (P＜0.05).④ In RA group,DKK1 level was posi-tively related with plasma erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR),28-jonit disease activity score (DAS28),AKP,joint narrowing space score (P＜0.05).Serum β-catenin level was associated with ESR,AKP in RA (P＜0.05).⑤ Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that in the RA group,disease duration (b=0.709,t=9.560,P＜0.01,95％CI:2.154-3.286),HAQ (b=0.151,t=2.052,P=0.043,95％CI:0.234-15.243),DKK1(b=0.286,t=2.057,P=0.043,95％CI:0.034-2.028)were the contributors for joint space narrow score(R2=0.580,F=24.745,P＜0.01).⑥ Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that the Sharp score (OR=1.018,P＜0.01,95％CI:1.008-1.028) was the risk factor for the occurrence of osteoporosis at femur in RA,while age (OR=1.087,P=0.012,95％CI 1.019-1.159) was the risk factor for osteoporosis at lumbar spine.Conclusion Serum DKK1 levels in RA increase significantly,while there is no apparent alteration in plasma β-catenin.Serum DKK1 is correlated with disease activity and joint space narrow score.

Objective To explore the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) and vertebral osteoporotic fracture (OPF) and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Method A total of 644 patients with RA from Jan.2010 to Oct.2013 were recruited,anteroposterior and lateral X-rays examination of vertebral column (T5-L5) were conducted,and semi-quantity method were used as the standard for judging vertebral OPF.Meanwhile,patients' clinical and laboratory data including daily dosage of glucocorticoid,duration of glucocorticoid usage,cumulative amount dosage of glucocorticoid were recorded in details.158 normal subjects were selected as control group.Results (1)The prevalence of vertebral OPF in patients with RA was 16.6％.Bone mineral density (BMD) of all measured lumbar vertebra in RA group were markedly decreased[(0.97 ±0.22) g/cm2].The total prevalence of OP at lumbar vertebra in RA was 17.9％ (81/452),which was significantly higher than that of control group (4.4％,7/158) (P ＜ 0.001).(2) The percentage of OP in RA patients with vertebral OPF was significantly higher than that in patientswithout OPF [40.6％ (41/101) vs 11.4％ (40/351) ;P ＜ O.001].Patients with OPF were of older age,longer use of glucocorticoid,more cumulative amount dosage of glucocorticoid,longer disease duration,higher scores of health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) and increased ESR (P ＜ 0.05).(3) Logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR =1.094,95％ CI 1.065-1.125,P ＜0.001) and gender(1 =male,2 =female) (OR=5.600,95％ CI 2.097-15.087,P =0.001) were the risk factors for the development of OP in RA,while body mass index (BMI) was the protective factor (OR =0.770,95％ CI 0.696-0.853,P ＜ 0.001).Age (OR =1.031,95％ CI 1.009-1.053,P =0.005) and occurrence of OP at lumbar vertebra (OR =3.765,95％ CI 2.092-6.776,P ＜ 0.001) were risk factors of the development of OPF in RA patients.Logistic regression analysis also showed that RA was the risk factor of OPF (OR =4.716,95％ CI 1.987-11.192,P ＜ 0.001),even after the adjustment of age,gender and BMI.(4) Receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curve in RA patients with OPF has found that age-OPF and daily dosage of glucocorticoid-OPF AUCRoC were 0.689 and 0.636 respectively.The cut-off value in ROC curve of age and daily dose or treatment course of glucocorticoid-OPF were 54.5 years and 6.25 mg(P ＜0.001),while duration of glucocorticoid usage-OPF AUCROC was 0.685,with cut-off value in ROC of age-OPF 135 days(P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Prevalence of OPF in patients with RA increases remarkably.Old age and OP at spine are risk factors related to the development of OPF in patients with RA.

Objective To investigate the value of serum receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegrin (OPG) ratio in osteoporotic fracture (OPF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Three hundred and eighty four RA patients with mean age of (49 ± 14) y (16-82) admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from 2010 to 2013 and 158 sex-and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study.OPF was diagnosed by X-ray examination and BMDs of femur and lumbar spine 2-4 (L2-4) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Levels of RANKL and OPG in the peripheral blood of 220 RA patients and 100 normal subjects were detected by ELISA method.Results Eighty-two cases of OPF was diagnosed in 384 RA patients (21.35％),the rate was higher than that in controls (3.80％,6/158,x2 =25.371,P ＜0.01).The peripheral blood levels of RANKL (0.150 ± 0.143 vs.0.101 ± 0.066,t =4.178,P ＜ 0.01),OPG (0.457 ± 0.293 vs.0.359 ±0.216,t=3.347,P=0.001) and ratio of RANKL/OPG (0.41 ±0.35 vs.0.34±0.20,t =2.111,P=0.036) in RA patients were significantly higher than those in control group.In comparison with normal controls,BMDs of all detected regions in RA were decreased significantly (P ＜0.01).The incidence of osteoporosis in RA (121/327,37％) was higher than that in normal controls (22/158,13.92％) (x2 =27.291,P ＜ 0.01).RA patients with OPF had higher age (t =4.377,P ＜ 0.01),longer duration of disease (t =2.612,P =0.009),higher RANKL level (t =3.554,P =0.001),higher RANKL/OPG ratio (t =2.651,P =0.010),higher health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) score (t =2.418,P =0.016),lower serum calcium level (t =2.183,P =0.030),lower hemoglobin level (t =2.125,P =0.036),higher Sharp score in hands X-ray examination (t =2.747,P =0.007),worse X-ray stage (x2 =7.856,P =0.049),higher glucocorticoid utilization rate (x2 =9.066,P =0.003) and higher incidence of osteoporosis (x2 =38.186,P ＜ 0.01),compared with patients without OPF.RA patients taking corticosteroids had higher incidence of osteoporosis (x2 =7.489,P =0.006) and higher incidence of OPF (x2 =9.066,P =0.003).Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR =1.029,P =0.039,95％ CI:1.001-1.057)and the occurrence of osteoporosis (OR =3.159,P =0.001,95％ CI:1.562-6.385),RANKL/OPG ratio (OR =3.516,P =0.013,95 ％ CI:1.305-9.647) were risk factors for RA patients with OPF.Conclusion A higher incidence of OPF is prevalent in RA patients,and age,osteoporosis,taking glucocorticoids and RANKL/OPG ratio are risk factors for OPF in RA patients.

Objective To explore the monitoring methods for pancreatic graft function after upper abdominal cluster transplantation.Methods Analysis of the clinical data of 5 cases of successful upper abdominal(cluster) transplantation in our center.Results The patients recovered well after the operation.Endocrine and exocrine functions of all the pancreas graft returned to normal without any rejection.Conclusions Dynamic monitoring of blood glucose,C-peptide,blood insulin,blood amylase,urine amylase,amylase in abdominal drainage and duodenal tube decompression drainage,in addition to Doppler color ultrasound examination,can effectively detect the endocrine and exocrine function of the pancreas graft.

Objective To evaluate the impact of steatotic hepatic grafts on postoperative early liver function and prognosis.Methods Clinical data of 35 cases receiving steatotic liver grafts in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The donor liver grafts were divided into 3 groups based on the degree of fatty infiltration(＜20%group,20%～40%group,≥40%group).Results were compared with that from control normal grafts(41 cases).Liver function parameters including AST,ALT,TB,PT on the day of surgery and 1,2,3,7 days later were monitored among the 4 groups,as well as the incidence of delayed nonfunction (DNF),and 3 and 6 months patient survival rate.Analysis of the correlation between degree of donor steatosis and liver function after operation was carried out.Resuits There was significant difference in postoperative ALT、AST、TB、PT level between≥40%group and 20%～40%group,and between 20%～40%and group＜20%group.There was no significant difference among the groups in DNF occurrence rate and 3 month.6 month patient survival rate.Correlation analysis suggested that the degree of donor steatosis was positively correlated with the damage of liver function.Conclusions Grafts with≤20% steatosis was safe,whereas≥20% especially ≥40% steatosis carries a high risk of posttransplant liver dysfunction even delayed nonfunction.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis,and management of aspergillosis infection in orthotopic liver transplant recipients.Methods The clinical data of 776 cases of orthotopic liver transplantation patients from 2000 to 2006 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results Aspergillosis infection occurred in 13 patients(1.68%),among those there were pulmonary aspergillus infection in 7 cases,hepatic aspergillus infection in 2,cerebral aspergillosis in one and multi-organ aspergillosis in 3.Liposomal amphotericin B was the main therapy especially for cases at early stage.7 patients died of aspergillosis and the aspergillosis-related mortality was 53.8%.Conclusion Early diagnosis and management remain the key for the prevention and cure for aspergillus infection and decreasing mortality.The use of anti-fungal therapy should follow the principle of eliminating the local infection,adjusting immunosuppressive regimen and use of sensitive anti-fungal drugs.Anti-fungal drugs should be started early,with sufficient dosage and long-term.

Objective To compare the effects of combined ‘en bloc' liver-pancreas transplantation (LPT) with portal vein drainage and simultaneous combined kidney-pancreas transplantation (KPT) with systemic venous drainage on the pancreatic endocrine function and related metabolism.Methods Four LPT patients and 6 KPT ones with normal hepato-renal function, good quality of life and periodic follow-up received measurement of serum insulin, insulin provocation test, fasting glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, triglyceride and total cholesterol; and their laboratory test parameters were compared and analyzed.Results In KPT group, 2-h insulin level, C-peptide level and total cholesterol level were significantly higher at 6th month, 3rd and 6th month postoperation (all P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in other parameters between the two groups at 6th month after operation.Conclusion Either KPT or LPT can achieve excellent endocrine function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism; and the results show that portal venous drainage does not offer major metabolic advantages within 6 months after operation.