Enamel pearl is an ectopic enamel, which usually occurs in the root bifurcate or approaching enamel-cementum site of the first maxillary molar. A case of multiple enamel pearls on the left maxillary third molar is reported in this paper, and relevant literature was reviewed.
Dental Cementum ; Dental Enamel ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Tooth Root

Objective:To study the clinical effect of corticosteroids (C S) with small dosage in the recurrence control of pemphigus. Methods: 25 cases of pemphigus were diagnosed by clinical and pathological examinati on.They were treated with CS at 60-80 mg/d in acute stage for symptom control.Th en,the dosage of CS was decreased by 5 mg in each following 2 weeks untill it re ached 2.5 mg/2 d. The treatment of 2.5 mg/2 d was continued for 1 year and was a ssisted with tripterygium polyglycoside, compound thalidomide, compound cyclopho sphamide (compounded with total saponins of ginseng), dapsone, and/or some kidne y-supplementing herbs. The patients were followed-up for 9~16 years.Re sults:No recurrence was observed in 16 cases(64%).Recurrence was found i n 9 cases(36%),among them 7(28%) were with light symptom and 2(8%) severe. Sever e side-effect was not found in all cases. Conclusion:The recurr ence of pemphigus may be controlled without severe side-effect by long-term us e of small dosage of CS assisted with proper immuno-inhibitors, immuno-regulat ors and/or some kidney-supplementing herbs.

The currently used heart valve prosthesis are still far from the ideal one in anticoagulation and longevity. The construction of tissue engineering heart valve leaflets are carried out recently. This article reviews the progress of tissue engineering heart valve leaflets in implanting materials, seeded cells, animal experiment and basic research. It also discusses the benefits and feasibility of tissue engineering heart valve leaflets.

Forms and Records Control ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods

Objective To compare the biomechanical properties between the two-level fixation by im- plantation of pedicle-screws into the adjacent upper and lower vertebrae of the fractured vertebra and the three-level fixation by implantation of pedicle screws into the fractured vertebra and its adjacent upper and lower vertebrae in the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods Eight fresh frozen calf spines were used in this study.Each specimen was tested in four models:intact model as the control,L1 burst fracture model,two-level fixation model, and three-level fixation model.The L1 burst fracture model was created on a biaxial material testing machine (MTS858 Bionix test system,America).During the experiment,the flexion,extension,bilateral bending and axial rotation loadings were applied to the specimens and the range of motion(ROM)was measured with a three-dimensional laser analysis apparatus and the stiffness was calculated subsequently.One-way statistical analysis was used.Results The ROMs under six different loadings in the fracture model became larger obviously(P＜0.05)and the stiffness decreased(P＜0.05).The ROMs in both fixation models were smaller than those in the other models(P＜0.01)and the stiffness increased distinctly(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in ROMs and stiffness between the two-level fixation and three-level fixation models(P＞0.05).Conclusion Two-level fixation provides similar biomechanical stability as three-level fixation does in the reconstruction of unstable thoracolumbar fractures.

Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Chondroma ; pathology ; Ear Auricle ; pathology ; Ear Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipoma ; pathology ; Male

BACKGROUND: It is proposed that elevated serum homocysteine is an important independent risk factor for ischemic stroke (IS), and 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is the key enzyme for homocysteine metabolism. The relationship between genetic mutation of MTHFR and IS remains controversial.OBJECTIVE: To examine the association of hyperhomocysteinemia and two MTHFR gene polymorphisms with IS in Northwest Chinese population.DESIGN: Case-control study.SETTING: Department of Neurology, First Hospital Affiliated to Jilin University, and Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients with ischemic stroke (71 males and 26 females) treated between November 2001 and May 2002were recruited, who were diagnosed by CT scan or MRI in the Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. The control group consisted of 94 subjects (58 males and 36 females) without history of ischemic stroke. All the subjects were free of intracranial hemorrhage, cancer, renal dysfunction, and none used multivitamins or estrogen.METHODS: Serum homocysteine was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was employed to detect the genotype at the two sites of C677T and A1298C in MTHFR gene.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum homocysteine levels and the genotypic frequency frequencies of the two mutations of MTHFR.RESULTS: The 677T allele frequency was 59.3% in IS patients and 44.7% in the controls, showing significant differences (P=0.006), but no difference in 1298C allele frequency was detected between the two groups (22.7% vs 19.7%, P ＞ 0.05). Homozygous 677TT genotype was closely associated with hyperhomocysteinemie (P ＜ 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis,677T gene mutation and hyperhomocysteinemie were all associated with the IS, with an OR of 1.870 and 1.031 (P＜ 0.05), respectively.CONCLUSION: Hyperhomocysteinemie is a risk factor of IS, and C677T mutation significantly increases homocysteine levels, and serves also as an independent genetic risk factor of IS.

Objective To explore the relevance between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods Clinical data of 5299 singletonpregnant women accepted antenatal examination and delivered in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University First Hospital from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Results (1) The pregnant women were divided into 3 groups according to their FPG levels at early stage of gestation: Group A, FPG ＜5. 1 mmol/L (n= 4565); Group B,FPG≥5.1, but ＜5.8 mmol/L (n=701); Group C, FPG≥5.8 mmol/L, but ＜7.0 mmol/L(n=33). The incidence of GDM in Group A, B and C was 10. 69% (488/4565), 26. 11% (183/701)and 54. 55% (18/33). (2) The incidences of large for gestational age (LGA), cesarean section,premature birth, preeclampsia, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal hypoglycemia, neonatal polycythemia, and neonatal infection were compared between Group A and B. The cesarean section rate [54. 63% (282/518)]and neonatal hypoglycemia rate [1.54% (8/518)]of those who were not diagnosed as GDM in middle and late term in Group B were higher than those of Group A [49.03%(1999/4077) and 0. 61% (25/4077)] (P＜0. 05); while there were no differences between the other six index of Group A and Group B (P＞0. 05). The prognosis of the GDM patients who did not accept gestational glucose management in two groups were similar (P＞0. 05), so did the prognosis of the GDM patients who accepted gestational glucose management in two groups. After combining the patients of the two groups who were not diagnosed as GDM as a new group, they were compared with those who did not accept gestational glucose management of the two groups (Group A2 and B2)respectively. The incidence of LGA rate of the new group was lower than that of Group A2 (12. 00%va 4. 94 %, x2=21. 4159, P＜0. 05) and Group B2 (18. 39 % vs 4. 94%, x2 = 28. 7189, P＜0. 05).Cesarean section rate of the new group was lower than that of Group A2 (57. 78% vs 49.64%,x2 =5. 6806,P＜0.05) and Group B2 (66. 67% vs 49.64%, x2 =9. 9003, P＜0. 05). And there were no differences between the other six index between the new group and the other two groups (P＞0. 05). Conclusions The diagnosis criteria of GDM set as FPG≥5.1 mmol/L at early stage of gestation, recommended by International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group, is not applicable in China yet. Oral glucose tolerance test in middle and late term is still the most important diagnostic tool for GDM.

Objective To investigate the effect of the examination mode which focuses on students' comprehensive skill and capability, and then provide some references for the consummation of the examination evaluation system of the course of pathogenic biology and immunology experiments. Methods Students of five-year class of stomatology of Grade 2009 were selected to sit the innovating examination. The evaluation of the effect was analysed by the way of a questionnaire. Results Many students set higher values on the innovating course arrangement and examination mode which improved their capacity of experimental design, operational technique, writing of laboratory reports, innovative ability and so on. Conclusion The innovating course arrangement and examination mode are superior compared to the old one and can improve students comprehensive ability.