BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that the range,thickness and morphology of oral prosthesis directly influence patient's phonetic function,and titanium base and polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA)resin base yield different influences on phonetic function due to different thicknesses of materials.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the phonetic parameters in one complete denture patient who wear titanium base and PMMA resin base simultaneously and investigate the influences of maxillary complete denture base on phonetic function.METHODS: Through the use of computer-based voice analysis software PRAAT4.4.34,frequency value of the first concentrated frequency area when speaking consonant sounds/x,sh,r,zh,ch,j,q/and voice onset time when speaking consonant sounds/g,k,zh,ch,j,q/were statistically analyzed in the same patient who separately wear titanium complete denture base and PPMA resin complete denture base,and spectrogram of velar stops between complete denture bases was compared.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MMPA resin complete denture base was to some extent poor in promoting the recovery of phonetic function owing to great base thickness.Titanium complete denture base with less thickness in the tongue or palate region would help recovery of phonetic function.Extraction and analysis of phonological parameters,such as frequency value of first concentrated frequency area and voice onset time,using CSL computer*based voice analysis system,would provide objective evidence for lamprophony analysis after wearing complete denture.Maxillary denture with thinner base in tongue and palate regions better promotes the recovery of patient's phonetic function.

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to compare the fracture strengths of custom-fabricated Celay all-ceramic post-core, custom cast metal post-core, and prefabricated stainless steel post (Parapost) plus composite resin core with or without a 2.0 mm dentine ferrule.

METHODSA total of 60 recently extracted human maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated and divided into five groups of 12. They were given the following treatments: Group A: Celay ceramic post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule, Group B: Celay ceramic post-core with no dentine ferrule, Group C: cast metal post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule, Group D: cast metal post-core with no dentine ferrule, and Group E: prefabricated post and composite core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule. All specimens were stored at 100% humidity at room temperature for 30 days before testing. Each specimen was in a special jig at a 45 degrees angle to the long axis and subjected to a load on MTS 810 universal material testing machine until failure, with crosshead speed of 0.02 cm/min. Analysis of variance followed by the Newman-Keuls pairwise multiple comparison test was used to compare the results of the groups tested.

RESULTSThere was a statistically significant difference between five groups (P < 0.01). Celay ceramic post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule (758.35 N +/- 119.26 N) and cast metal post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule (756.63 N +/- 166.22 N) had a significantly larger mean failure threshold for fracture than the other three groups which had no significant difference between each other. There was a statistically significant difference between the fracture resistance of Celay post-core restored teeth with and without 2.0 mm dentine ferrule.

CONCLUSIONThe custom-fabricated Celay post-core could be a choice for clinical use in endodontically treated tooth when the final restoration is an all-ceramic crown and the preparation has a 2.0 mm dentine ferrule.

Ceramics ; Crowns ; Dental Porcelain ; chemistry ; Dental Restoration Failure ; Humans ; Incisor ; Inlays ; Materials Testing ; Post and Core Technique ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tooth Fractures ; prevention & control

Objective To analyze the clinical features and prognosis of hyperglycemia and the relationship between the blood glucose level and the severity of disease in critically ill children.Methods A total of 349 critically ill children admitted in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from November 2009 to April 2010 were restrospectively analyzed.According to the levels of venous blood glucose within 24 h after admission,they were divided into very high level group (blood glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L,n =67 ),slightly high level group (blood glucose 6.3-11.1 mmol/L,n =134) and normal level group (blood glucose ≤6.3mmol/L,n =148).Blood glucose levels were measured within 24 hours,3 days and 7 days after admission.Electrolytes,inflammatory markers,cardiac enzymes,liver and kidney function as well as other biomarkers related to the severity and the prognosis of the patients were recorded after admission.The categorical variables were analyzed with Chi -squared test,the continuous variables were analyzed with t-test,F-test,U-test andH-test,and the correlation analysis was calculated by using Pearson Coefficients. Results In the very high level group,slightly high level group and normal level group,the average blood glucose levels were 16.98 ±7.08 mmol/L,8.25 ± 1.40 mmol/L and 4.89 ± 0.98 mmol/L ( P ＜ 0.01 ),respectively;and the Pediatric Critical Ⅲ Scores at admission were 81.22 ± 8.25,86.71 ± 6.40 and 86.15 ± 6.99 ( P ＜0.01 ),respectively,and the incidences of sepsis or septic shock were 55.23％,30.59％ and 14.18％,respectively (P ＜0.01 ),and the incidences of MODS were 46.26％,22.39％ and 16.23％,respectively (P ＜0.01 ).The blood glucose levels of patients with one organ failure and two organ failure were 8.27 ± 3.75 mmol/L and 8.88 ± 5.42 mmol/L,respectively ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The blood glucose levels of patients with two organ failure and multiple organ failure were 8.88 ± 5.42 mmol/L and 13.09 ± 8.23 mmol/L,respectively (P＜0.01).The mortality rates of three groups were 47.76％,14.93％ and 10.13％ (P ＜0.01 ),and the blood glucose levels at admission in survival group and death group were 7.57 ±4.11 mmol/L and 12.46 ± 8.17 mmol/L ( P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions Patients with hyperglycemia are often found in the PICU.It not only partially reflects the severity of the disease,but also serves as an important indicator for the prognosis.The blood glucose level is positively correlated to the number of compromised organs and the severity of the disease.Dynamic monitoring of blood glucose may be essential for controlling the symptoms and prediction of prognosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical performance of fiber post restorations in elderly patients with residual root and crown and to analyze the factors affecting the clinical success rate.Methods A total of 66 elderly patients requiring post restoration were selected.They were randomly divided into two groups:the observation group (n=33,restored with fiber post-resin cores) and the control group (n=33,restored with cast metal post-cores).All patients were rechecked 1 year and 2years after the restoration.The clinical efficacy and the failure types were recorded.The differences in clinical performance between the 2 groups were compared by using Fisher's exact test.Results The differences in the gingival index and periodontal index in the 2 groups between the experimental teeth and the control teeth were zero.There were no significant differences in dental morphology,root canal treatment failure,tooth color matching and marginal coloration between the 2 groups (all P＞0.05).1 case with post debonding and 1 case with fiber post fracture were found in the observation group and 1 case with marginal coloration was found in control group.There was no significant difference in clinical success rate between the 2 groups (93.94％ vs.96.97％,P＞0.05).Conclusions The clinical success rate in fiber post-resin core restoration is the same as in cast metal post-cores restoration in elderly patients.

Objective To analyze the clinical features of the hyperamylasemia in critically ill children and investigate the related risk factors in order to provide the basis for prevention and treatment. Methods A total of 1036 critically ill children admitted in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)from April,2011 to Oct,2012 were studied.They were divided into the high amylase group (n=82)and the normal group (n=954).According to the outcomes,the high amylase group was divided into survival group (n=61 ) and death group (n =21 ).The related risk factors of the occurrence and outcome of hyperamylasemia were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Logistic regression.Results There were statistically significant differences in rates of coagulation disorders, convulsions, disturbance of consciousness,pediatric critical illness score (PCIS)≤80,multiple organ dysfunction (MODS)≥3, sepsis,shock,and lactic acid (LA),procalcitonin (PCT),blood glucose (BG)between the high amylase group and the normal group (P<0.05 ).The differences in the rates of coagulation disorders,convulsions, mechanical ventilation,PCIS≤80,MODS≥3,and LA,PCT,oxygenation index,albumin,C-peptide,BG were statistically significant between the survival group and the death group (P <0.05 ).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors of the hyperamylasemia's occurrence were LA,PCT, BG,PCIS<80,MODS>3.Adjusted ORs confidence intervals of them were 1.662 (1.236-2.234),1.042 (1.025-1.060),1.612 (1.411-1.843),3.219 (1.311-7.905),3.411 (1.370-8.494),respectively. The hyperamylasemia's prognostic risk factors were PCT,C-peptide,PCIS ≤80,MODS >3,shock. Adjusted ORs confidence intervals of them were 1.066(1.021-1.113),1.437(1.017 ~2.030),16.137 (1.876-138.836),10.437(1.528-71.925),20.928(1.938-226.009),respectively.Conclusions The severity of the disease,the levels of LA,PCT,BG in critically ill children were positively correlated to the occurrence of hyperamylasemia.The severity of the disease,the incidence of organ failures,the levels of PCT,C-peptide combined shock in children with hyperamylasemia were positively correlated to the prognosis of hyperamylasemia.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of post-core structure on the strength of endodontically treated and crowned teeth with or without a 2.0 mm dentine ferrule.

METHODSA total of 60 recently extracted human maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated and randomly divided into five groups of 12. They were given following treatments: Group A, endodontically treated; Group B, endodontically treated and crowned (PFM); Group C, cast metal post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule and crowned (PFM); Group D, cast metal post-core with no dentine ferrule and crowned (PFM); Group E, prefabricated post and composite core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule and crowned (PFM). All specimens were stored at 100% humidity at room temperature for 30 days before testing. Each specimen was in a special jig on the MTS 810 universal material testing machine and subjected to a load at a 135-degree angle to the long axis until failure, with crosshead speed of 0.02 cm/minute. Analysis of variance followed by the Newman-Keuls pairwise multiple comparison tests was used to compare the results.

RESULTSThere was a statistically significant difference between different restorative methods. The cast metal post-core with 2.0 mm dentine ferrule and crowned teeth had the highest fracture strength (1793.59 +/- 387.93N), followed by endodontically treated intact teeth (1466.68 +/- 240.11N). No significant difference in the fracture strength was found among the other three groups (958.49 +/- 286.02N; 992.98 +/- 291.00N; 994.94 +/- 285.04 N). There was a statistically significant difference in the fracture resistance between crowned teeth with and without 2.0 mm dentine ferrule (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNot all post-core structure could improve the strength of endodontically treated teeth. The dentine ferrule can effectively improve the fracture resistance of endodontically treated and crowned teeth.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Crowns ; Humans ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tooth, Nonvital

Objective To study the exocrine pancreatic function in critically ill children with septic shock,sepsis and hyperlactacidemia.Methods A total of 64 critical pediatric patients were admitted from Jan 2009 to Oct 2012,and clinical and laboratory findings including pancreatic function,and histopathological features and score after autopsy were reviewed.Results (1) Compared with non-septic shock children,the pancreatic pathology score and serum lipase in septic shock group were significantly higher and serum calcium was significantly reduced (P ＜0.05) ; (2) The pancreatic histopathology score was significantly increased in patients with elevated plasma lactate ≥2 times (P ＜0.05),but there were no significant differences in serum calcium and blood amylase and lipase between patients with elevated plasma lactate level and patients with normal plasma lactate level; (3) The concentrations of serum amylase,lipase and urinary amylase were significantly increased in patients with pancreatic histopathology score ＞4 points compared with score ≤4 points patients,but there were no significant differences in above three biomarkers between patients with score ≤3 points and patients with score ＞3 points.Conclusions The pancreas is vulnerable to damage easily occurred in septic shock children especially complicated with hyperlactacidemia.The pancreatic histopathology score ＞ 4 points can be as a sensitive and reliable indicator of pancreas damage.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients with sepsis.Methods A total of 162 patients was enrolled with consecutive pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions during the study period of Jan 1st,2013 to June 30th,2013 at Hunan Children's Hospital.The 162 septic patients were divided into sepsis group and severe sepsis group,sepsis group and septic shock group,and survival group and death group.NT-proBNP was tested in the first and third day after 162 septic patients in hospital.Pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) score was assessed in all patients.NT-proBNP was compared between groups.The change of NT-proBNP was summarized between groups.The relationship between NT-proBNP and PCIS was analyzed.Results (1) The plasma NT-proBNP level of the first day after admission in the severe sepsis group and septic shock group was higher than sepsis group,the PCIS in the sepsis group was higher than severe sepsis group and septic shock group,with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).(2) The plasma NT-proBNP level of the first day after admission in the death group was higher than the survival group,the PCIS in the death was lower than the survivor group,with significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).In the death group,the plasma NT-proBNP level of the third day after admission was higher than the NT-proBNP of the first day after admission (P =0.037) ; contrarily,the plasma NT-proBNP level of the third day after admission was lower than the NT-proBNP of the first day after admission in the survival group (P =0.023).Conclusions NT-proBNP could be used to assess the condition of septic patients,and dynamic test NT-proBNP can help to predict septic patient’s prognosis.

Objective To evaluate the early diagnosis value of serum cystatin C in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) children with septic acute kidney injury.Methods A total of 196 children in PICU confirmed with sepsis in Hunan Province Children's Hospital was enrolled in this study.Patients were divided into acute kidney injury (AKI) and non-AKI group according to whether accompanied with acute kidney injury.The serum cystatin C and serum creatinine were collected in 2 h,48 h,and 96 h after admission,and the clinical data were collected.The serum Cys C was drawn in receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.The sensitivity and specificity of Cys C were evaluated in diagnosis of septic AKI.Results The incidence of septic AKI was 35.20％,higher Cys C levels were risk factors for the onset of AKI,and OR was 26.218 (95％ CI:6.235 ～ 110.232).In AKI group,the serum Cys C level in 2 hours after admission was (2.05 ± 0.90)mg/L,which was higher than 48 hours (1.72 ± 0.72)mg/L and 96 hours (1.62 ±0.95) mg/L(Z =2.169,P =0.030; Z =2.789,P =0.005).In the septic AKI group,cystatin C and creatinine were positive correlation (r =0.582,P =0.000).The area under the ROC curve at 2hours after admission for serum cystatin C in diagnosis of AKI was 0.831.A cutoff point of 1.325 mg/L for 2 hours after admission was identified for cystatin C in the diagnosis of septic AKI,with a sensitivity of 87.1％and specificity of 78.9％.Conclusions Higher level of Cys C was risk factor for the onset of AKI.Compare to creatinine,cystatin C was earlier increased in children with septic AKI and positively correlated with it.It might be a biomarker for early diagnosis of septic AKI in PICU critical ill children.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in septic children with myocardial damage.Methods From Jan 1 to Jun 30,2013,162 children confirmed with sepsis in PICU of Hu'nan Children's Hospital were enrolled in the study.Patients were divided into myocardical injury and non-myocardical injury group according to whether accompanied with myocardial injury.NT-proBNP,lactate dehydrogenase,creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB),troponin Ⅰ (cTnⅠ),myoglobin(MB) of patients were measured within 24 h after admission.The NT-proBNP level between two groups was compared.The correlations between NT-proBNP and cTnⅠ,CK-MB were studied respectively.Results The NT-proBNP level[M(Q)] in myocardial injury group[3 632 (668.5,15 453.5) pg/ml] was higher than that in non-myocardial injury group[349 (169,1 500) pg/ml],which was significantly different(Z =91.881,P =0.000).The levels of NT-proBNP,CK-MB,cTnⅠ,MB were abnormal distributions.There were positive correlations between logNT-proBNP and logCK-MB (r =0.367,P =0.000),logcTnⅠ(r =0.304,P =0.001) and logMB (r=0.302,P =0.000).NT-proBNP value of 1 163 ng/ml had a sensitivity of 76％ and a specificity of 74％ to diagnose myocardial injury.Conclusion NT-proBNP could help to diagnose sepsis with myocardial damage.